The Fallen Angel

54.What hast thou wrought?

The celestial being gazed upon me with a penetrating stare, yet his intense eyes remained fixated upon me. 'What hast thou wrought?' inquired the angel, his query leaving Adrian bewildered, though I harbored a suspicion of his intent. Yet, I remained reticent, unable to provide an answer.

Adrian shot me a worried glance, murmuring, "Don't sweat it, he ain't gonna lay a finger on ya," his voice hushed as the Angel kept his gaze on us. "Though I may not inflict harm upon thee, peril lurks nearby," the celestial being declared, his wings unfurling in a wild manner as I inched closer. "What's that supposed to mean?" I questioned, Adrian chiming in, "Why's she in harm's way?" The Angel cast his eyes downward, uttering in an ancient accent, "Hast thou not known? To entangle with the immortal breeds danger, drawing the gaze of all." Adrian looked puzzled, but I grasped the gravity of his words.

"I-" I began, but Adrian cut me off abruptly, his voice tense. "Don't tell me this is about Ero," he interjected, shooting me a meaningful glance. The Angel's voice broke through the tension, grave and resonant in its ancient accent. "Abandon all ties ere it be too late, for danger lurks nigh. Ero is no ally, nor lover to trust, for he is bound to the depths of hell." Nerves tingling, I felt Adrian's grip tighten on my hand. "Love?" he repeated, his eyes searching mine. "What does this mean?" Emotions churned within me as I struggled to find the words amidst the turmoil.

"I can explain," I said, locking eyes with Adrian, but before I could delve into my explanation, the Angel made his intentions clear. "I must take my leave," he stated with a faint chuckle, "had Ero been present, you would have been spared my presence." His gaze then shifted to Adrian, a solemn warning echoing in his ancient accent. "Keep these matters hidden from the king." Adrian's apathy was evident, but I persisted, addressing the Angel. "Weren't you once aligned with Ero? You stood by him that day. How could you—" The Angel cut me off sharply, his voice demanding attention. "I remained silent, offering him sanctuary for a time. However, he has erred, yielding to love for a mortal, a forbidden act. I am here before others intervene, but do not tempt me to betray him through your recklessness."

Anger boiled inside me. "Just 'cause you immortal ditched him don't mean I'm gonna bail," I spat, Adrian's eyes blazing with rage as he insisted, "You gotta listen to him." I shrugged off his grasp, standing my ground. The Angel's smile stayed serene. "I seek not harm for Ero, but he must return whence he came" he stated, his voice fading as he disappeared, leaving only a lingering scent. Suddenly, we were back in the midst of the bustling crowd, students going about their business like nothing had even happened.

"I don't get it," I muttered under my breath, but before I could process anything, a hand yanked me out of the crowd roughly. "Where're you dragging me?" I demanded, struggling to break free. "We need to talk," Adrian growled, his grip tightening painfully as he flung me aside. "What the hell's going on? You knew all along, didn't you?" I remained silent, only fueling his anger further. "Say something! You knew we were immortals," he exclaimed, frustration evident in his gestures. "That's fine and all, but what about Ero?" he continued, his hands trembling with agitation. "Answer me!" he barked, shaking me by the shoulders. "Do you two have feelings for each other?" His interrogation grew more intense, his face looming closer to mine, wild with emotion.

He yanked at his own hair in frustration. "Knowing he's a devil? Why him?" he demanded, his grip on my shoulder tightening as I struggled to break free. "Are you stupid? Why won't you answer me?" he yelled, his agitation escalating. "I like him," I managed to say amidst his aggressive behavior. "What—?" he began, his voice incredulous. "I like him, and I don't give a damn who he is," I repeated, holding his gaze defiantly.

He pulled me closer by the neck, his breath coming fast and furious. "Like him? He'll drag you straight down to hell with him," he spat, his hand tightening in my hair. I met his gaze squarely. "I don't care," I asserted. "What about me?" he demanded, his voice tinged with desperation. "Didn't you like me?" I refused to answer, looking away. "Say something, damn it!" he roared, pulling me into a kiss. I recoiled, pushing him away. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Adrian?" I demanded, my anger matching his own.

He stumbled back, cursing me under his breath. "You don't know a damn thing about us. You'll regret this choice, but it'll be too late," he warned, backing away. "I told you, Adrian, I don't give a damn about anything—angels, demons—," I declared, turning to leave. "Damn you, Isabelle! Damn you!" he shouted after me, his own anger boiling over as he stormed away.

I took a deep breath, watching Adrian's retreating figure, my hands trembling uncontrollably. Slowly, I sank to the ground, the cold seeping into my bones as I sat there, tears streaming down my face. "I'm scared," I murmured to myself, the fear palpable in my trembling hands. I heard my phone buzz, indicating a text from Ero, but my fingers were too numb to even hold it. It buzzed again, this time a call, but I couldn't bring myself to pick it up. Tears continued to cascade down my cheeks as I felt overwhelmed by the weight of everything.

Then, amidst my despair, I saw him—Ero, clad in black jeans, his presence radiating warmth and comfort. "Ero," I whispered, his smile like a beacon in the sunlight, momentarily blinding me. "Are you avoiding me?" he questioned, concern evident in his voice as he knelt down beside me. I couldn't hold back the flood of emotions any longer, and I began to weep openly. Worried, he reached out, gently holding my cheeks. "What's wrong?" he asked, his eyes searching mine for answers. Unable to speak, I buried my face in his shoulder, seeking solace in his embrace. He held me close, his hand stroking my hair soothingly. "It's okay, I'm here," he reassured me, his embrace offering a sense of security in the midst of turmoil. "I'm sorry," he whispered softly, his touch a balm to my wounded spirit.

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