Strings of Fate

Chapter 31: Bride of Ashes

Alastor's POV

"How fucking long did you all knew he is the one who killed me?"

Their words bled through my ears and left my throat dry. This is the first time it ever done this to me: being speechless, completely and utterly to a point where no words would be enough to explain anything to them. 

"How long did you all fucking knew he's the one who shot me?"

No words would be enough to say what I want to say and I know it: no words would be enough, even if I'd like to be able to say those words.

For the first time in so long, I felt my smile falter to their words.

No one answered. No one knew what to say. Seeing Y/n snap was a shock to everyone, even though the reason for it wasn't. Their wings were wide open behind them, the ash black feathers standing straight like a weapon ready to be used. Their tail behind brushed the floor more furiously than usual, It was a whole other view of them we were seeing: one no one thought they would ever see. 

But behind that angered face was tearful eyes; I think that's what hurted the most in the whole story.

"Answer me Alastor, goddamn it!"

They yelled again, their eyes being more tearful each second as their eyes kept looking at my own, searching for an answer. But I couldn't give any. Nothing would past my lips, only the shouts of other sinners looking for more mischief and territory.

All I could want to tell them is how sorry I am. How sorry am I now to know that this almost wedded, this near wedded I mistaken for a bird was them. How I wish they could forgive me now, even though this would be a crazy demand at the moment. But I am crazy enough already.

Crazy metally and crazy for them.

Because I was crazy for them from the start. Since I was human I mean. 

I remember how they were: silent, fragile but also so strong in a way no one else could be. 

A silent force of nature I couldn't explain.

It was January 26th 1925: a night like usual where I hunted my next victim. It was some Big Shot I had when starting my radio host journey. Some racist gentleman of four outs that couldn't shut up once in a while, always on my back. Now that I found him, in some expensive suit in a church, I knew this would be the perfect night to finally blow him off, him and his pepper and salt hair and beer belly.

But then, just a small angle away on my left, there was a young one, surely not older than early twenties, looking at themselves in the mirror. Upset, obviously, the boss was some late thirties, near fourty at the moment. Their beauty was undeniable, and the thought of killing their near to be husband in front of them was thrilling, but weirdly enough for me to wish killing him before they get in the aisle. So that's what I did. I aimed, made sure I was aiming right and shot... The bullet hitting something else than the man I wanted to blow off.

A bird was my first guess. But it was too big to be a bird, even from far away. The loud thud could be heard meters away, too much for a bird. No, it was not a bird, even though I was sure it was one: I was determined to understand what got that bullet instead of that racist faggot.

I approached, gun in my left hand as my tall body moved closer to what seemed like stained red fabric. The body was there, unable to move, the last breath just being took: their eyes were now glassy from death. It was the end of the little twenty folk I saw in that church's window. Their end started because of my bloodied hands and happened in front of my eyes.

For the first time, I didn't know what to do. So I did the last thing I could do before the voices I was hearing from afar comes to find them: I let them there, around the white flowers that was stained in their blood. A bride of ashes.

"Answer me, for Satan's sake Alastor!"

They yelled, now in front of my face as I tried to talk. But I know the best was to tell them the truth.

"Since he kidnapped you."

I could only say. Me, the Radio Demon. The radio host, the one who should talk and always did. I couldn't say more.

"Since Andrew kidnapped you, Y/n. Since I saw you singing and knew what I really felt for you."

" "Since I knew what I really felt for you?" Do you even hear yourself here?"

A single tear fell down their eyes, roll on their cheek and stopped at the start of their lips. One I kissed only last name, and God does it feel like it was long ago.

"Did you even loved me at all or was I just another stupid game you played, Alastor?"

They didn't speak more, looking at everyone around who kept silent all along.

"I can't believe it."

Their right hand moved to their left ring finger.

"I can't believe you. Not anymore."

My heart ripped, their right hand removing completely the ring I gave them before throwing it lightly on the floor, just at my feet.

"I can't be with a monster like you, Alastor Hartfelt."

And that's all they said before turning back out that alley and not looking back at us. At me. At me who know I fucked up and don't know anymore how to repair everything.