The Angel, the Vampire, and the Demon

Chapter Four- Trust and Hatred

 Abrariel

Abrariel sat on one of the leather-covered barstools in the dark, moonlit kitchen, a half empty bottle of blood on the counter in front of him. How dare Raziel bring a Demon here! How dare he! He clenched his fist tighter, the nails digging into his skin. There was a loud hiss from down the hall that made him look up. It was followed by a cry, not one of pain, one of heartbreak.

Raziel...

Something must have happened between him and the Demon. Serves him right! But still, the sound of his cry tugged at Abrariel's non beating heart. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. It wasn't his problem. He didn't care, or did he? No, I don't, he thought as he finished his meal and left the kitchen.

I don't care, he thought as he walked down the hall.

I don't trust him. Was that true?

Abrariel stopped at his bedroom and looked in through the open door. The Demon was gone, probably to another room. Raziel was balled up on the floor, legs pulled up to his chest, head down, hair falling and hiding his face. His hands were wrapped around his legs, his shoulders shaking. Hard. His wings were limp and spread across the floor, the feathers squished into the wood like he didn't have the strength to keep them folded. He was crying bitterly; his breaths were strangled and gasping.

Abrariel gripped the door frame tightly. What had happened? Instinct kicked him to care, but he didn't want to. But the Angel's cries were heartbreaking. How often did Angels cry? He guessed not that often. Abrariel stepped into the dark room, he walked over slowly and knelt in front of Raziel and raised a hand. He hesitated before resting it on Raziel's shoulder. Raziel looked up at him, tears streaming down his cheeks, his honey-coloured face was red from crying. He looked heartbroken and strangely small and vulnerable. Abrariel gave into his instinct to care, but before he could say anything, the Angel cried out to him.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" His voice was strangled by tears, "You're both going to hate me now!" He added crying even harder.

Abrariel was shocked. "I never said I hated you!" He said.

Raziel just looked at him, eyes streaming, face red and scrunched up. He looked pathetic and vulnerable. Abrariel didn't know what to do, he felt angry at the Demon, Raziel had saved him, what right did the Demon have to make Raziel feel like this?

When Abrariel was little, he used to get picked on by the older Vampires, they picked on his size, and how he looked, and sometimes they even beat him up. One way or another, he would end up in some dark corner bawling his eyes out. His parents had never cared, not even when he went to them bruised and looking for help. Jeremiah was the only one who had cared, he came to find him when he didn't show up. He would put a hand on Abrariel's shoulder, observe, then pull him in for a hug, telling him everything would be ok. Jeremiah had been his parent more than his own parents; he had made sure he was safe and cared for.

Abrariel looked back at Raziel, he knew what he was going to do. He had to help the Angel. He pulled Raziel in for a hug, shocking him into a sobbing silence.

"It will be ok," Abrariel whispered, mimicking the words Jeremiah had always told him, "It will all be alright, you're safe now..." I'm here, I will always be here, he finished in his head. He swallowed his own tears; he wasn't going to cry now.

Raziel started shaking in his arms as he started crying again, but Abrariel knew he was thankful. He hugged the Angel closer, his wall of mistrust melting like ice cream under the summer sun, he couldn't help trusting the Angel, but he hoped the Angel knew his trust was held by a thin thread. If Raziel snapped it, it could never be fixed.