Blackened Feathers

Official

Omega paced back and forth through Terzo’s office. Fucking Alpha, he always got himself into these situations. He could seriously strangle him right now! Why hadn’t he come to them sooner?

“Come and sit down, Omega. You’re making me dizzy,” Seren said from her place on the sofa.

Mist had made her some tea and she was trying her best to stay calm, but he could see that she was worried. Alpha stood leaning against the wall and Papa sat at his desk with a weary look on his face.

“What did he offer you? What was so tempting that it had you agonising over this decision, Alpha? The decision to hand Seren over to a fucking demon! It must have been something mind-blowingly epic!”

He felt the waves of guilt and sadness rolling off Alpha and crashing into him, stinging his skin like lashing rain.

“It doesn’t matter what he offered me. I would never do that to you, or to her, whatever it was! Do you think so little of me, Meg? You think I would sell out my best friend, my brother, for some stupid promises? That fucking cuts.” 

“Then why didn’t you come to me with this, or Papa, or even Seren? What was it you were agonising over?”

He hung his head.

“I thought I could think of something to get out of it, something that would make everyone happy. I knew this would be how you’d react, though. I knew you’d blame me. Everyone always fucking blames me.”

Omega barked out a humourless laugh.

“That’s because it’s always your fault, Alpha!”

Alpha flinched at his raised voice. Omega rarely used that tone with him, or with anyone.

“Omega, that is enough!” Terzo interjected. “We are not pointing fingers. We need to sort this out. Why does Inigo want Seren, Alpha?”

Alpha glanced at her briefly and gave her a half smile before looking at Papa.

“He wants to hurt Raziel. He figured out she’s his daughter, and there was bad blood there that goes way back. I can guess what he planned to do with her,” he glanced back to Omega. “Which is why I would never have helped him to get to her.”

Omega sighed and went to sit next to Seren. She seemed better, but she was still not 100% well. He put his arm around her and she leaned into him, taking small sips of her tea.

“He mentioned something along those lines when he spoke to me. He said Raziel has killed more of his demons than the other angels, so I guess that wouldn’t do him any favours," she said with a shrug.

Terzo huffed out a frustrated breath.

“So now we are stuck in the middle of a grudge match between an elemental demon and an angel. Eccezionale!”

A knock sounded at the door and Secondo walked in, followed by Fire, who glared daggers at Alpha. Alpha curled his lip in response to the other fire ghoul and Omega rolled his eyes. He felt Seren’s amusement at their display and he found himself smiling as well.

Secondo nodded a greeting to everyone and sat opposite Terzo at his desk.

“So, we have made progress and we think we might have a solution to all of this, but we need to speak with Inigo again.”

All eyes swung to Seren, and Omega held his breath. Surely they wouldn’t ask her to commune with Inigo again after what happened last time? Secondo looked at Omega and shook his head.

“Do not worry, Omega. We would not ask that of her. We were thinking of summoning him.”

Omega didn’t know which was the worst option out of the two. Summoning and holding an elemental demon was a lot more difficult than your average demon. It was an all-or-nothing kind of deal. There would only be one chance to do it, and the time would have to be extremely limited. Even a supercharged summoning circle couldn’t hold one for long, they were just too powerful.

“When do you plan on doing this? Because Seren hasn't fully recovered yet. It would be stupid to go into this any less than full strength.”

Seren looked at him, annoyed.

“Omega, I’m fine. I’ve had a healing potion and I can feel my strength coming back by the hour. By tomorrow I’ll be firing on all cylinders again, I guarantee it.”

Terzo stood and poured some drinks from the whiskey decanter on his desk. He handed them out to everyone, but Seren declined hers.

“We will meet for breakfast and make our plan tomorrow. I suggest everyone get some rest because we are going to need it. It will be Helena’s first big ritual. She is powerful, but she is not Anya,” he said regretfully.

They made their way out and Alpha grabbed Omega’s arm as they left.

“We good?” he asked.

Omega saw how much he was worrying about the answer to that.

“We are, Alpha, but please tell me if something like this happens again. He could have tried anything in the last few days to get her. She’s been through enough lately without having to contend with Inigo as well.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. You don't know how fucking hard it’s been. He offered me the world and I knew I couldn’t accept it, but I thought that maybe if I found something to keep him happy that it would go in my favour.”

Omega shook his head.

“You’re an absolute tool, Alpha, you know that, right?”

The fire ghoul grinned at him and draped his arm around his shoulders.

“Of course I do. That’s why you love me.”

Seren laughed and snuggled into his other side as they walked.

“You’re both idiots. No wonder you’re stuck with each other,” she said teasingly.

Alpha laughed as he took the turning to their lair.

“Are you coming back to the lair or going to Seren’s?” he asked

Omega looked at Seren. He didn’t care where he slept as long as she was there, so it was up to her.

“We can stay at yours? But I need to grab a few bits from my place first,” she said.

“Okay, I’ll come with you if you like?”

He didn’t like the thought of her being on her own in her apartment, even for a few minutes at the moment.

“It’s okay. It won’t take me long. I fancy a hot chocolate, though, if you want to make us one?”

Alpha looked at them and frowned.

“I’ll make it. You go help Seren,” he said, and Omega smiled his thanks at him. It wasn’t like Alpha to be so astute, but he must have realised that he didn’t want to leave her side.

“Thanks," they said in unison.

Alpha waved dismissively, and he turned and walked to the lair.

Seren packed some clothes and toiletries into a bag and locked up. Omega carried it for her, and they strolled back to the ghoul lair.

“Maybe I should leave some stuff at yours?” she said hesitantly.

Omega felt himself smiling.

“Whatever you like. You’re always welcome there.”

“You can leave stuff at mine too? Seeing as we seem to be a bit of a couple now.”

He looked down at her, and she was blushing. He felt her uncertainty about how he would react, so he took her hand as they walked.

“It seems like we are, doesn’t it? At least that’s how everyone else seems to see us.”

He felt her relax and she beamed up at him.

“So is that us all official now then, Omega?”

He stopped and stepped in front of her, cupping her cheek in his hand. His eyes roamed her face and he leaned in to kiss her. She snaked her arms around his neck and kissed him back sweetly.

“I guess it is,” he said as a stupid grin stretched its way across his face. He took her hand again and pulled her towards the lair. “Let’s go find out what chaos Alpha has caused in the kitchen. I think hot chocolate might be ever so slightly beyond his culinary skillset.”