When I step into the tavern, the smell of beer and whiskey hits my nose. Men sit around at each table and the bar seats are all full. Some catch up, while others whisper, with dangerous looks in their eyes. We all wear the same blue coat, strapped with swords across our backs; the uniform of the brethren.
The Celestial Summit is in exactly a week, and there are numerous reports of demons attacking small villages and other cities nearby. It is our responsibility to protect the citizens as part of the brotherhood.
"Ah, there you are, Damon. I was wondering when you were going to get here." James, the head of our sector, approaches me. His blue eyes gaze into mine, and I smile at my dear friend.
"My apologies, I was visiting my sisters today."
"It is not a problem. I hope they are well." His eyes crinkle in a smile, and his gray hair stands out among the black, yet he still has a youthful appearance. I have known him since I was a child before my parents died. He took us under his wing and taught me the path to righteousness.
"They are." I was worried when I decided to send them all to a boring school. But since I was just ten when I became their guardian, I decided I was not capable of raising four girls. It was the right choice.
"Very good," He gives me another smile, but it soon falls weary. "While some of our men were out on patrol, they found a man and a woman."
"Dead?"
"Alive. Over there." He motions his head to our right.
My eyes fall onto the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, perched on a wooden crate. Her delicate hands grip a shawl that covers her chest and even from where I am standing, I can see her eyes are glassy with tears.
"Poor thing could hardly say a word when the officers stopped to question them." His normal happy demeanor changes to sadness.
"Who is the man? Her husband?"
"No, her brother. He did most of the talking, though he was nervous the whole time. Their home was attacked, and their grandmother, whom they lived with, was murdered. And since they have close to no money to their name, the estate was taken from them. They decided to venture west to find somewhere safe."
"Even after the horror they survived, they still took their home?" Angels above should damn them.
"Damon, they need a home. I know it is a lot to ask, but you have spare rooms with your sisters gone. Will you take them?"
"Of course." I do not need to think about it, my estate is huge, and except for the servants, it is only me. And I can tell that the two need a break from the world. My home is quite far from town and will hopefully bring them solitude until they can find their own place.
I take another glance at the woman, and my heart sinks. Her brown eyes are now on me, and her lip quivers. Instantly, she turns away, dipping her head down in embarrassment. For some reason, I feel oddly drawn to her, like I am a crow drawn to a corpse.
"What are their names?"
"Lilith and Fergus."
Lilith. Even her name is beautiful.
I approach them slowly and reach for Fergus's hand. He stares down at it, for a while, so I lower it. I do not want them to be uncomfortable, not after what they faced. "My name is Damon, I hear you and your sister require housing. I would be glad to offer my estate to you."
His eyes finally meet mine, and I can truly see the fear that resides in them. His frame is tiny and his shirt and pants are loose. He whips his head over to Lilith who still sits on the box below her. His face searches for her approval, but we both see the broken woman staring up at him.
YOU ARE READING
Fated Souls
Romance"She may have always been born from death, but there was always light inside her. Only now it was buried deep, deep down. And now, it would only go deeper." ... Lilith was just eight years old when she watched her mother die. That night changed her...