The Angel Called

Chapter 1

  Tick, tick. Tick, tick. Aiko watched her mother sleep on her laptop's screen, as the clock ticked on in the background, her bed dipping slightly under her weight. She wasn't sure how recent the footage was, but she was just relieved to see that her mum was okay at this point in time. She was thankful the security guard was tired enough to give her the footage anyway. She didn't feel guilty about abusing her power, but she didn't exactly feel good about it either. She pushed the feelings away – she really didn't have the energy to care about that right now anyway. The souleater continued to stare at the screen, watching intensely. It was almost creepy, but the thought never crossed her mind.

  "Delivery!" Someone called out. She ripped herself from the laptop, and looked up at her door. She didn't remember ordering any takeout, or if she was waiting for packages. Cautiously, she swiped up the knife sitting on her bedside table, and slowly walked to the door. The person, a man judging by the tone, banged on the door again. "C'mon, I don't have all day!"

  Aiko reached forward, grasping the handle firmly. She poised herself, ready to attack, and turned the handle. She dropped her weapon, shock rippling through and freezing her body.

  "I thought I'd have to break in," Elijah said, grinning. Regaining her senses, Aiko's face fell in nervous annoyance. She reached forward, grabbed her twin by the shirt and yanked him inside, slamming and locking the door behind them.

  "What the hell are you doing here?! You could get us both killed!" She hissed, angrily shoving past him and walking into the kitchen.

  "What? Am I not allowed to visit my sister?" He continued to smile annoyingly. Aiko rolled her eyes, pulling out two mugs from a drawer.

  Her wings drew tightly together on her back. Elijah's unfurled, stretching out, and knocking over a tissue box with his feathers. She narrowed her eyes, waiting for him to pick it up. He did, though without noticing his twin's glare.

  "Seriously, what are you doing here?" She said, busying herself with pouring hot coffee. She shoved the mug to her brother, pushing the milk and sugar cups to him. He put two teaspoons of sugar in and a bit of milk – the same as Aiko had. Elijah took a sip of the coffee, closing his eyes in bliss. Aiko stared at him, waiting for a response. He sighed, catching her gaze, and rested his mug on the kitchen bench.

  "Those were Dad's men, Eli. You can't expect me to understand what the hell you were doing with them," she said, taking a sip of coffee. Elijah rested his arms on the bench, leaning forward onto them.

  "They're not Dad's anymore. They're Kaeya's," he replied.

  Kaeya's? What happened when we died?

  Elijah looked at Aiko pitifully. He knew that she had no clue what happened to the family since their death. "I'm sorry Aiko."

  His twin sister stared at him, but not at him. She stared through him, thinking. Processing what he had just said to her. They couldn't be Kaeya's men now, could they? She was too young, she couldn't have. It was meant to be me. Her body stared shaking, her mind clouded with thoughts rushing at each other, confusing and constant. This isn't happening, this isn't happening, this isn't happening, this isn't happening-

  "Aiko."

  She glanced up. Elijah grasped her hands tightly. "Breathe."

  She inhaled slowly, and exhaled slowly. He smiled. "Good. Let me explain what happened after us, okay?"

  She nodded. His smile dropped, and he took a breath too. "After we died, the family stared falling apart. Let me start with Echo. They ran away, and is now Red Moon's heir."