Angel With No Wings

Part 10

Angela felt a lump in her throat. Her heart began to beat. Everything around her became a blur. Before she knew it, The man dipped her down, pulled her close, and kissed her. She had no time to react. She didn't even know what happened until it was over. She stumbled away, nearly falling to the ground, but was caught by Moira. The man disappeared into the crowd, and Angela watched Genji. She knew he saw it. He looked broken as he stared back at her, but his attention was caught by something else.

"Angela, are you alright? You seem out of sorts." Angela looked away from the preoccupied Genji, who now seemed to not even know she was there.

"I.. yes, I'm alright." As she came to her senses, she realized the severity of the situation. "Who was that I was dancing with?"

"Moira looked at her, hesitant to answer. "That was Hanzo Shimada. Heir to the Shimada business." Shimada? Angela remembered when she first found Genji, and he screamed out the name. That was the man who tried to murder Genji. And Angela just kissed him.

Angela watched Them for the rest of the night. Genji was escorting a beautiful woman, with pale skin and raven black hair. She wore a purple backless dress with a pleated skirt. It shimmered from the light above, and made her look like a princess. She wore diamonds around her neck and on her wrists. All night long, people came to her to apologize about her late husband, but she seemed unfazed.

The lady of honor, there to find her future husband, with every compatible man begging for her hand, cried for the one man she couldn't have. She excused herself from the party for a moment and walked onto the balcony of her room. She tore off her long gloves and pulled the band from her hair as she sobbed.

"I can't. I can't go back out there. I can't take it!" she fell to the floor of her balcony, her dress surrounding her like a blooming flower. She held her face in her hands, and felt the drops of tears cover her skin.

Genji saw it all. The wretched man was there, dancing with his...dancing with Angela. He forced himself on her. Forced her to kiss him. Genji couldn't take it.

As Angela laid there, she thought her life was over. She had no more freedom, and if her parents saw that Hanzo kissed her, they would make him marry her. She would never see Genij again. The thought sent a shiver down her spine like none other.

The night was cold. Her sleeveless dress was offering no warmth. As if called upon, she felt a warm jacket wrap around her shoulder and a hand on her back, rubbing in circles slowly. She looked up from her hands and saw Genji crouched down next to her. He wore a black suit, hemmed with green stitch, and a green tie. Her smile grew wide through her watery eyes.

"You look beautiful tonight, darling." Angela lunged forward and dug her head into his shoulder. He was startled at first, but once he realized what happened, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

"You came back."

"I had to see my best girl on her special night," Angela laughed through her sobs.

"Don't leave me again."

"I wouldn't dream of it." his arms tightened around her and he kissed her forehead.

"How did you get here? Who was that girl I was dancing with? Where did you go?"

"I was invited back." Angela was surprised by those words. Invited back?

"By who?"

"By your father." She couldn't believe the words coming from his mouth, but at that moment, every word was genuine. He held so tight onto Angela, and he never wanted to let her go again. He never wanted him to take her in his arms again.

"Angela," Genji took her chin and lifted her head up and their eyes met, "Run away with me." Angela didn't understand what he said, the moment was a blur to her.

"We can start our own life, and be happy. You could get a job at the hospital alongside Dr. O'Deorain. I can get a job in the city, maybe two! We can have a family, and be free from all of this!." Angela looked deeply in his eyes. She wanted so desperately to go with him. In the corner of her eye, she saw a shadow. A man stood in the doorway of her room, his bow drawn, aimed at Genji's heart.