The Unprevailant | Book 2 | The Irangel arc trilogy

Chapter 10 ~ Iredescent's Underwater World

Distressed thoughts roused Demian from a nice evening shower. After putting on black jeans and a dark forest green long sleeve shirt, his black hair still wet from the shower, Demian followed the direction of the distressed thoughts. He opened the door to Cydtin's room and slowly walked inside.

Cydtin had his head in his hands as he sat on the edge of his bed. Cydtin looked up when he heard Demian open the door. Though he had showered and was clean shaven, wearing nice formal clothing as usual, he looked like he hadn't slept for days. There were dark circles under his eyes, and he looked thin and pale. His eyes were red-rimmed, evidence he was crying earlier.

Cydtin froze in surprise when he felt Demian place a hand on his shoulder, followed by Demian's familiar voice. "I am aware of what you're going through, and I want you to know I'm here for you."

"Even after what I've done?" Guilt seeped into Cydtin's tone. "I threatened to kill you, Demian. I forced you to do things against your will. That doesn't even begin to cover the litany of my sins. I toyed with people's lives. I nearly caused a war between humans and irangels. Kaylie, Yennisse, Neveah, Klas, Neva, and Qiang are dead because of me."

"There is no need to beat yourself up for what you've done," Demian said firmly. "It's over, Cydtin. Move on from it."

Cydtin's voice broke as tears reappeared in his eyes. "She's gone. Kaylie and the child I never even knew I had until they were both gone."

His thoughts were full of so much pain that Demian felt the need to help him with his trauma and grief, wanting Cydtin to heal.

"I know it's extremely shocking to you, finding out you're a father just seconds before the death of your fiancée and your unborn child. I understand this is very painful. But despite everything, I am here for you, and so is Valerie. The others might take some time, but they are there as well. Even though you lost your family, you are part of our irangel family. I consider you my irangel brother."

Cydtin's eyes welled up with tears, unable to stop crying. "Demian, I'm so sorry for – "

"Don't worry about it, Cydtin. I completely forgive you. You are my irangel brother, so how about we go play catch?"

Surprise and confusion appeared on Cydtin's face. "Play catch? Do I look like a sports person to you? I spent most of my life working at business centers and wearing suits. I don't have the slightest interest in sports."

"I know you're not into sports; that's why I was teasing you. I do think you should get a coffee scented candle. I think it was a good idea how you made the glass building smell like coffee. I want you to continue that good idea. Shall we search for an Iredescent coffee scented candle to light the room?"

Not waiting for Cydtin to respond, Demian urged Cydtin to rise, pulling him up by his arm.

"C'mon, brother, we've got coffee scented candles to take down. We must plan our line of attack, starting with a wallet, a credit card, stylish leather jackets, and an excellent nose to sniff out the best scented candle. Oh wait, there's no money on Iredescent. We would just take the candle with no payment required. Gotta love planet Iredescent."

Cydtin couldn't help but smile, feeling better and uplifted.

And so, Demian and Cydtin went to an Iredescent shopping center. Lights glittered brightly as electronic pop music played. People either walked or flew with shopping bags on their arms and wings. Most stores were halfway underwater and halfway on land, accommodating both finned and winged Iredescents.

While they were walking around and smelling different candles, a flashback attacked Cydtin out of nowhere. He set a candle down as irangel deaths replayed in his mind, showing up in the middle of a good time. He hadn't even been thinking of the memory; it leaped out of nowhere, suddenly appearing in his mind like an unwanted thought.