The Devil with White Wings: Unholy Awakening [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 9

The heavy silence in the Occult Research Club room was punctuated only by the rhythmic ticking of the clock. Aebelle, her ears uncovered, sat slumped in a chair, her face pale and drawn. The echo of the battle against Freed still reverberated in her mind, a traumatic symphony of pain and helplessness.

"So, this is what she did when Aebelle almost died last time?" Issei blurted, his voice laced with a mix of concern and frustration.

Rias, ever the composed leader, responded calmly, "It's okay now. She'll recover."

"A-All right," Issei mumbled, unsure if he believed her.

Akeno, her voice soft and soothing, interjected, "It seems like it will take a little while to heal completely. The stray exorcist wielded a powerful light magic."

Rias nodded, "Indeed. It seems he has strayed quite far from the Church's teachings."

Aebelle, still shaken, spoke up, "Then, it's not just devils who become strays?"

Kiba, ever the knowledgeable one, explained, "There are many who get expelled from the Church and end up serving under a fallen angel. It often happens when they stray too far from the Church's rigid doctrines or become disillusioned with its methods."

Issei, his brow furrowed, asked the question that was on everyone's mind, "Does that mean Asia is one of those stray exorcists?"

Rias's eyes narrowed slightly, "Either way, both of you are devils and she is a servant of a fallen angel. Those are facts."

Aebelle, her voice suddenly sharp and filled with rage, shouted, "SHUT UP!"

The room fell silent. No one expected such an outburst from Aebelle.

"SERVANT OF A FALLEN ANGEL!?" Aebelle continued, her voice cracking with emotion, "SHE WAS BEING VIOLATED! HER CLOTHES WERE RIPPED OUT BY THAT FREED GUY! SHE EVEN BEGGED HIM TO SPARE ME! BEGGED!" Her voice rose to a near scream, "I just do NOT understand how any of you are okay with THIS! In case you've forgotten, both of my mom and our friend are back there and they weren't saved, THANKS TO YOU!"

Issei, taken aback by Aebelle's outburst, tried to calm her, "A-Aebelle! Calm down! Please!"

Aebelle, her face contorted with anger and distress, replied in a distorted voice, "I WILL NOT CALM DOWN! I CAN'T EVEN SAVE ANYONE BECAUSE OF YOU! YOU TOOK ME AWAY FROM NOT ONLY THE ONE PERSON WHO IS IN NEED OF SAVING BUT TOOK ME AWAY FROM MY MOM! SHE IS THE ONLY FAMILY I HAVE LEFT!" Her eyes, momentarily blazing red, seemed to reflect the fiery inferno of her emotions.

Rias, sensing the rising tide of Aebelle's emotions, tried to interject, "Aebelle..."

But it was too late. Aebelle’s eyes, now back to their usual blue, went blank. Her body slumped forward, and she fainted. Issei, quick as a flash, caught her before she hit the floor.

"Oh god..." he whispered, concern etched on his face.

Rias’s internal monologue echoed with a deep understanding, “Is this how you feel, Aebelle?”

Kiba, ever the practical one, stepped forward, "Lay her in the guest room."

Issei, still shaken, nodded, "Okay..."

He carefully carried Aebelle to the guest room and laid her gently on the bed. As he did so, he noticed her white eyelashes, long and feathery, and felt a strange pull towards her.

“Rest easy, Aebelle,” he murmured, a blush creeping up his cheeks.

He then left the room, leaving Aebelle to rest, her unconscious form a silent testament to the pain and turmoil she was struggling with.