Almos

Stop

Fifty-Six:

Into the Deep

As dark as the surroundings are, so is my feeling. After I heard the last words of Almos, I felt great sadness and pain I couldn't stop my tears from flowing. And now I can only thank the darkness that surrounded us because it was able to hide my tears that I did not expect. I just silently cry into the dark as I let Almos continue his stories.

"And loving her is a fatal sin to us as an Angel." He continued that surprised me but I keep myself quiet and let him talk more. "As an Angel, we are born to guide and protect Humans and falling for them will only put us on hold to our duties. The reason why God made us not to feel love for those we will protect and to take care but that is something I can't do because Lady Fe has become important to me causing me to abandon my next assignment just to stay by her side. That even though I knew what I did was wrong and deserved punishment I ignored it and didn't leave her side because I knew that was my only mission why I live. But as expected, a Goddess came and she made me aware of the things that can happen if I didn't follow what was supposed to be set for me."

'Goddess? Who was that?'

"She's someone you know." He answered. "And you'll find out once we get out of here." He added that I just nodded as I try my best not to make any sound while my tears keep flowing. "As the Goddess said," he inhales before he continues. "I finally surrender even though it breaks my heart, that's the reason why I made a condition."

'What condition is it?' I asked by telepathy since he can hear my thoughts because it will be saver for me not to be discovered, as I continue to cry in silence.

"One condition. That was the only thing I ask of her. To make sure Lady Fe will live a long and happy life."

My heart aches and I couldn't stop myself to fold my knees and hide my face between them. Because I feel Lady Fe's suffering after Almos left her.

"Jeanne, are you alright?" I heard him asked and I can sense from his voice how worry he is to me.

I took all my effort not to let him know that I'm crying and answered. "I-I'm fine. I'm just... cold that all. Just, continue and I'll listen."

Silence.

'Please.' I pleaded through my mind. 'Tell me what happens next.'

"She promised... and I really thought she did what I ask for. Until one day, Asim came to me and..." he scoffs. "He beat me hard I couldn't stand at him."

"Why?"

"Because..." there is sadness, pain and guilt as he continued. "Lady Fe died in a fatal wound."

Deafening thunder and lightning broke through the noise made by the rain and lit up the dark sky after he told of Lady Fe's end.

And from hiding my face between my knees, I raised it to look at Almos and that's how surprised I was to see him in tears and hurt by what he revealed.

"Almos..." I don't know what else to say I just stare at him.

"I am to blame, Jeanne." He said as he weeps. "Because of me, her life was put into danger. I couldn't do anything to save her and I live in suffering after all those years. A thousand years or more, I wait Jeanne. And I hope and pray with all my heart that you'll be safe in your next life, and then we've met unexpected."

"When we were at the school to watch the full moon," I answered.

"No, that wasn't the first place..." suddenly the ground shake that made him stop talking.

The ground that I'm sitting suddenly cracks open and before I could speak a word, I just fall from the hole and the last thing that I saw and hear was Almos.

*** ***

Gyles Residence

Almos wings shines bright that covers the whole residence.

Ilmatar, Dione and Asim were blinded from the light and quickly covered their eyes and wait till it subsides.

"What happened?" Asim asked as soon the light has gone.

"They're back." Dione answered.

From above, Almos came down while carrying the conscious Jeanne in his arms.

"Jeanne!" Asim immediately went to help her to stand. "You're finally awake."

Jeanne swallows before she answered. "It's all because of Almos." She said while still intently looking at Almos. "And I'm glad to hear the story about Lady Fe, Almos." She added that everyone in the room surprise.

"You already told her the truth?" Ilmatar asked first.

"Indeed, I already told her what I only knew." Almos answered and look at her intently. "And it's your turn to tell us the whole truth, Goddess Ilmatar. Who am I before I became an Angel?" he seriously asked.

Jeanne immediately turned her head towards Ilmatar and quickly understands her connection from Almos's story.

"You are the Goddess that he mentioned?" Still, she asked even though she already got it.

"Yes, she is." It was Dione who answered. "So, I think this is the right time for you to confess the truth, Ilmatar before---" she was instantly stopped when the Earth begins to crumble and before they can react or say a word, someone came out of the blue.

"God of Time, what are you doing here?" Ilmatar surprisingly asked when he came unexpected.

"I'm sorry to disturb your conversations but I need to bring you all to Erix Realm."

"What! Why?"

"I can no longer move the time that we stop, Ilmatar." Everyone in the room is puzzles from what he just said. "It was Azazel's doing. He already plotted everything before the Special Spirit reincarnation. And stopping the time is what he was planning to do from the very beginning and no knows until today."

*** ***

Jr.