The Nearness Of You

25

Jinnie

"Rafael is here.." I barely spoke the words but it came out from my mouth in a whisper. My pulse raced in an instant.

Three of the higher beings are here. Jegudiel, archangel of responsibility and merciful love; Cassiel, archangel of solitude and tears; and Rafael, one of the three leading archangels and leader of the virtues. I am grateful that they've arrived in time, but I can't deny the terror that seeps in me, gnawing my chest whole as I come to realize what this situation will lead to.

"Eshriel," I felt Cassiel's soft hand touch my shoulder. "Let's go." She tells me in her soothing voice. I turn to her and the moment I look at those golden eyes of hers I began to calm down and nod my head. Seungri still holds my arm, I broke free from his grasp and took hold of his hand tightly.

We ran away from where Rafael and Jegudiel are battling with the daemon but then, I stop and looked back. Seungri turns his head towards me, his eyebrows creased out of confusion.

"Jinn, we have to go." Seungri tells me in a pleading voice. "It's not safe here."

"No." I tell him firmly. "I have to help them." I was about to change form when Cassiel took hold of my arm.

"Eshriel, don't." She warns me. "Don't. You know you're not allowed--"

"But I can't just stand here and watch!"

Cassiel went surprised, and I also realized I just raised my voice at her. I shook my head as it hit me that I just raised my voice to an archangel. "I'm.. Forgive me, Cassiel.." I bowed down.

Cassiel helps me back up. "I understand." She touches my face and it sends a sense of calm in me. "You're a Grigori. It's your nature to help your brothers. But as of now, you can't do anything about it. Right now you're the one in need of saving."

"But Cassiel.."

"Eshriel," She shakes her head. "Rafael and Jegudiel can handle it themselves. I know you want to help, but it will only endanger you." Cassiel's eyes were pleading. Out of all the archangels Cassiel is my favorite. I like her. She's always calm and concerned. She's one of the two archangels who stood up for me when my punishment was laid down upon me, the other one being Hesediel, archangel of freedom and benevolence.

I turn my head and watch as Rafael and Jegudiel battle with the hideous daemon. I can feel the itch of wanting to fight alongside them but I held myself and just clenched my fists. Cassiel is right. Based on what I'm seeing Rafael and Jegudiel are handling it well themselves.

I see the undulating colors of gold and black and hear the clanking of swords as Rafael and Jegudiel made attempts to hit the daemon on it's head but it only deflected their swords with it's sharp talons. Rafael and Jegudiel are gracefully synchronized with their attacks and move in a swift. I took a step forward when the daemon almost clawed Jegudiel's back but Rafael swung his sword just in time and cut the daemon's arm. The daemon made a loud screech and wriggle as if in pain and gruesome gore splattered on the ground along with it's broken arm. This made the creature feral but vulnerable giving Rafael the chance to jump on the air levelling with the daemon's head and unmercifully cutting it off. Black gore spurted out of it's neck before it fell down and within a few seconds it's huge body materialized into an oozing tar. Rafael and Jegudiel successfully defeated the unearthly creature, their bodies without a single scratch.

Rafael, followed by Jegudiel, made their way towards us. Rafael's penetrating stare bore through me and I can feel his anger boiling up inside him.

"That mortal," He points a finger at Seungri, "..has seen enough."

Rafael walks directly at him making me stand in front of Seungri in a protective stance. Rafael stopped as he saw the gesture but he's already a mere three steps away from us now.

"I have to erase his memories." Rafael's voice was firm.

"No." I tell him defiantly. It made me cover Seungri more and I feel him tense at my back. I can hear his thoughts. Jinnie, please don't let him.. I really won't.

"Why? What's with this human and why don't you want him to forget?" Rafael asks me, incriminating.

"I-I.." I stutter. What can I say? I couldn't possibly lie. It won't work.

Rafael let out a moue of distaste. "You're in love with him." His voice slither in my ears. It sounded accusing. "You know the consequence of this." His tone was indicting.

My heart stopped when I heard his words. There's no escape from the ill-fate I'll soon face.

"You will not harm her!"

Seungri's voice made my stiff body jerk out of surprise. He now stood in front of me and I didn't even notice. He is now the one protecting me.

"Don't involve yourself in this, mundane." With that, Rafael looks deeply into Seungri's eyes and he fell to the ground.

"Seungri!" I shout and kneel beside him and cradle his head. "No.. What have you done, Rafael.." Tears began to well up in my eyes as I touch the face of the man I love. "What have you done?!" I screamed at Rafael.

"I didn't erase his memory. I just made him unconcious." Rafael tells me with an expressionless face. Relief washes over me. "I will give you that chance to do it to him," He tells me. "And after doing so, it's time for you to meet your fate."

I hear Cassiel gasp. Jegudiel places a hand on Rafael's shoulder. "Rafael, brother--"

"What's done is done." Rafael said with finality. "We cannot bend the rules for the sake of her. We must be fair."

Tears were now streaming on my face. "I know. I understand." I try to look brave.

Rafael turned his back away from us and let out a deep sigh. "You have one day to erase that man's thoughts. After that, you'll face the council of archangels. You know what this means."

I bit my lip. I know very well what it means.

"Cassiel, Jegudiel, we must leave." With that, Rafael and Jegudiel's wings spread and they took flight.

Cassiel lifts my chin and have me look at her. "I'll try to talk with the council." She smiles at me. "Have faith." She kisses my forehead and wipes a tear on my cheek before taking flight.

My shoulders slump and I drown myself in my sobs. I look at Seungri's face and feel nothing but helpless. I don't care what happens to me now, but the thought of making him forget me sends a rippling pain in my chest. That's not what he wants, nor do I.

"I'm sorry.." Was all I could ever say as I cradle him in my arms.