My hands are sweaty. They've never been this sweaty. Angel's presence is real, and here, and I don't know what to do.
The bench creaks from Lily leaning forward, her voice in disbelief. "Peasant?"
Angel huffs, their otherworldly presence radiating waves of heat and the smell of cinnamon on us. I sneeze.
"Boy, you know what we have to do," Angel states, not even giving the plan to Lily.
"What's goin' on here?"
"What's going on? Your little guest has made a few plans with me. Or rather, a wish that I, the Angel of Wrath, have decided to grant."
"Angel of Wrath?! This better not be some sick joke..."
"Oh, I assure you, it isn't," Angel purrs, their voice getting closer to us. "That boy there is your friend, is he not? And you want to see him succeed, yes?"
"Of course. But where did you come from? How did you even get here?!"
"The boy is wearing a necklace. I reside in it, and can never leave it. I was trapped there, by those idiotic worshippers. The ones from this district. Ira. And all because I decided to answer their call, to be summoned. No divine being would ever want to contact a human, or be in the mortal realm... except for me."
"Why?" Lily snaps.
"Because of revenge. But don't worry, I won't destroy everyone, just one person. And I have the perfect person to help me with my plans: Aster."
I jump out of my seat. "Wait! I thought your plans were about giving me power!"
"Yes, but didn't you think I would take advantage of my circumstances? In exchange for our services, which is my protection and you agreeing to help with my plans... It's about getting my revenge and you getting power!"
"Ugh..."
Lily leans back in her seat, the wood bench creaking. "And you really think Aster's gonna go along with you?"
"Why, of course. He will get power. He'll just have to work with me."
Lily turns to me. "Aster, you shouldn't believe this monster. Angels are horrible things, and they're mean as sin! They'll do whatever it takes to hurt people. Even give you stuff in exchange, just so they can come out on top."
"But-but Angel said-!"
"Angel said this, Angel said that. Don't believe in 'em! Wrapping the whole nation 'round yer finger, all that- don't you see what's happenin'? This Angel here's dangerous!"
Angel's voice is weirdly hypnotic to me now, with how calm and soothing it is. "Your name is Lily, isn't it?"
"How did ya know?"
"I can hear what goes around me in this necklace the boy is wearing."
"Take it off, Aster."
"I can't! I have to help them. I don't want humans to kill Angel if they spot them."
"But why? Divinity's horrible."
"Because... Because Angel freed me. And they're protecting me now. I have to pay that debt. So that's why I have to go along with Angel's plans. I have to help Angel get their revenge. And maybe it's a good thing. I mean, I don't trust Angel, but they know how to give me power. That aligns with my goals."
"Aster, you don't have to follow Angel to get power."
Angel cackles, "It's too late, mortal! Aster already agreed to the deal. He has no choice but to go through with it."
YOU ARE READING
The Pawn
FantasyA young blind boy named Aster has been kept from the real world in a pitch-black room. But when he finally gets a chance to escape from his father after his 14th birthday, he finds himself in a world that hates divinity. Helped by a friendly blind w...
