Redemption

Chapter 14

Azaleas sat up, leaning against the headboard as she blinked away the last remnants of sleep. Wincing, she rolled her shoulder, trying to get a feel of it. Getting ready and being careful not to impede the healing process, she walked away, disregarding Acrux as he tried to speak. Leaving her apartment, she walked to the nearest bakery and grabbed a loaf of bread with smoked meat. She ate it, savoring the warmth of the bread. A scream suddenly filled the air, tearing her out of her thoughts. She looked ahead to see people forming a group around someone lying on the floor. Curious, she moved closer, slipping through the crowd.

Gagging Azalea took a step back, the smell overwhelming her senses. A body lay sprawled out on the floor, its limbs at awkward angles. A sticky black substance covered every inch of the body, except for a brooch that remained clean and shining under the sun. It was the crest of a certain noble family, known for their hatred of the lower class.

Their limbs look like they were broken one by one. That's the third nobel that was murdered. She thought.

Cheers consumed the square, as they chanted. "Death to nobles. Death to nobles."

A single voice rang in the midst of the cheers. "Praise to the Resurrector of Souls."

Whipping her head back she searched for the voice, noticing a retreating figure. Following it is steps, they led her through back allies, twisting and turning.

Do they know I am following them or are they purposely going this way to make sure no one knows where they are going? She thought, annoyed at the path she's taking.

Leading her to the slums, they slipped through an abandoned building, almost falling apart from age. Waiting till they came back out, she leaned against a nearby wall, twirling her knife. Impatience eating away at her bones as the hours passed. Jolting up, she noticed the figure leaving. Waiting a bit, she went inside. Staggering backwards, a rotten smell filled the room. Tugging her mask up, to stop the gagging went to get a closer look. Walking towards the scent, her feet suddenly halted as she felt something soft and squishy beneath them. She cursed and glanced downwards, only to discover a pool of blood. Slowly lifting her head, to the sound of the drips she held in a gasp. A man hung upside down, his feet tied to the ceiling. Blank gunk covered his clothes and smeared on his face. Leaning forward, she noticed the slit across his throat that had drained the blood she was standing in. Studying the blue-black brushes across his face, he was clearly beat.

This one was personal.

Turning to leave, once again she was stopped in her tracks, "For you Azzy," was written on the walls, in blood.

The nickname brought out hidden memories that Azalea's heart cracked. "No, that's impossible. He died." She thought, wringing her hands. "Nope he can't be alive. This is a fucking joke."

"Wait he talked like he knew me through the Undead, Creed said the boy hadn't died.... No, nope. Did he leave a dead body as a present." She thought frantically.

"Wait was that... Samael, that led me here." She asked herself.

Numbly, she walked out her feet taking the lead. Her head is full of whirling thoughts. Blinking she found herself before three headstones; Marylin Thorne, Darius Thorne, and Samuel Strode. Tilting to face her parents grave.

Bowing her head she whispered. "I haven't visited in a while." Pausing, she realized that they might not be in Caelum but tortured in Gehenna. "When I get back I'll ask Iram to grant you passage to Caelum.If your not already there."

Moving to Samael's headstone, she stared. Not knowing what to say. "I guess this is useless then if you did not die." She said, tilting her head. "Why now, why did you wait all these years" she whispered her voice raw. "Why did you leave me," she choked out. Composing herself, she said. "Well I hope you know what you are doing, you are causing quite a stir, though you always loved to cause problems. She did not know how long she stood there surrounded by the memory of her family.

Finally coming to her senses, she realized the sun had set. Dusting off the dirt, she turned to leave. Pausing, she whispered something she hadn't said in forever: "I'm sorry, Samael." I have to put myself first." Walking off back to her apartment, her heart breaking.