Feathers & Scythes (Angels & Grim Reapers BOOK III)

Chapter 17: A crow's tears and the smile of an Angel

Anastasia

The next morning Marco and I flew again to Raphael's HQ. But instead of seeing the magnificent tree and its large branches reaching the skies, we met with a tree entirely made of metal. Marco whistled surprised as he made a vertical drop into the air, trying to find a good landing point.

"And to think that nothing would surprise me these days," Marco murmured close to my ear, sending shivers to my back.

We had spent the first morning hours in a passionate dancing of kisses and touches, our lovemaking desperate like a thirsty man in the desert. I still wondered if we could have moments like these but I sealed the box deep into my mind, trying to concentrate to today.

Arsenia and Leonard called us from above and Marco flew up to meet them. They told us that Meli and Moli had requested for my presence and quickly they flew back, towards the direction the first troops were gathering. I looked at Marco; his expression was grim.

"Let's go. They'll be at the common room with the others."

When we entered the room, Kachina, Haimei and Persea hovered to my side, speaking in low voices. "Shiro... he wants to see you."

"Me? Why?"

Kachina shrugged. "I am not sure Otekah."

This was not good. I squeezed Marco's hand and he offered me a soft thought. He called Rath and Tomo and the men together exited the room, leaving me, Christin, Kyoko and the ghosts behind. Feith and Murasaki were already arranging the Angels and the Grim Reapers together.

"In here." Kyoko showed me the room and I followed her, leaving the others behind.

The room was small with no windows and the faint light from the small floating orbs was giving an eerie feeling to the room. Meli and Moli were looking at a bed, their heads tilting down in concentration. I could feel their aura pulsing all around the room. When Kyoko closed the door behind us, they looked up and slowly they stepped back, binging their wings closer to their back, just to make more room.

Shiro was covered with a white blanket and I could smell the foul scent of burnt flesh. His usually long black hair was now short while the cloth on his face, which was letting only his eyes showing, was black. His breathing was ragged and his hands were twitching from time to time.

"Shiro."

His eyes opened at the sound of my voice. His eyes were deep purple, having lost the brightness I knew they held. He looked at my right, where Kyoko stood, and left a pain moan. I took the wet cloth from Kyoko's hand, ready to wipe his forehead, but he denied my touch.

"Ie." No, and I turned to Kyoko and the Protectors. "Leave us alone, please."

Without a word, they left and the door closed behind me. I brought the chair from the corner of the room closer to Shiro and sat down, fixing gently the pillow on his head.

"Tell me Shiro. Why did you ask for me?"

He tried to breathe and when his voice was heard, the words slurred slowly. "I knew of the power you held... I had felt it the first day. But... this...you...now, this is the real you."

"The real...me?"

"Hai, this power will bring back the light, but darkness must die first."

He spasmed fiercely and I rose to my feet, trying to hold him down. "Shiro!"

He spoke rapidly in both Japanese and in the dialect of the Tengu. His eyes started to glow purple and his breathing became frantic.

"The darkness must die and the tears must fall.