Gehenna's Gate

Gethsemane

"Do you want to be alone while you do this? I don't mind either way. Whatever you need from me, just let me know, okay?" Xiao's voice was as gentle as the morning breeze, helping to soothe the girl's nerves as always with how almost sickly sweet it was.

Vena had only given herself one full day to rest and sleep in as long as her body wanted before it was back to business the next.

Now she was seated in the middle of Xiao's bed, in her comfiest sleep clothes, her legs crossed as her father's journal sat closed between her hands.

For a few moments, she remained silent, mulling over the choice in her own head quietly as her eyes drifted over the intricate design carved into the leather of the cover, admiring every line.

The flower of life. How poetic it was that her father had chosen this symbol to be the only thing etched onto the cover of his journal.

Often times, the symbol represents creation and how all things in life were connected. A visual expression for the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Renewal.

She wondered if that was an omen for the contents hidden inside. Only one way to find out.

"I think I want to be alone... at least at first. I don't know how I'm going to react. I'm sorry..." Vena felt the tinge of guilt ping in the bottom of her stomach, her brow creasing as she looked up at him.

"Don't apologize, sweet girl. Whatever makes you the most comfortable is completely fine with me. I can go get us something to eat. I'll have my phone, please call me if you need me, okay?" Xiao questioned softly, coming over to stand beside the her, leaning down a little to cup both sides of her face in his hands, eyes full of admiration for the girl who was seated on his bed.

A smile broke through her previous expression, realizing how lucky she really was to have ever met Xiao and that he'd chosen her. He spoiled her rotten and she knew it, even if she felt like she didn't deserve him. Little did she know, he felt the same about her.

"Thank you, Xiao." Her voice was a whisper, content, at least for now.

Until she turned that very first page and everything came back to hit her all at once again.

"I love you, Vena." Xiao leaned in close, nudging his nose against her's before pressing a sweet kiss to her lips.

"I love you too." She whispered back, unable to keep the smile off her face.

No matter what was going on, she at least had him. He had no idea how much that truly meant to her.

Xiao gave her one last long look before turning to leave the bedroom, grabbing his keys from the counter top and heading out the front door. The sound of the lock turning reached her ears, amused by the fact that he still insisted on locking her in despite the fact that this entire complex was owned by Raiden and absolutely bustling with other fallen angels and hybrids. There probably wasn't a safer place on this planet for her than where she was right now.

A few painfully silent moments passed before she let out a deep breath, eyes closing as she tried her best to steady her heartbeat and steel her nerves. Deciding to dive in headfirst, the girl opened the cover carefully, almost as if she was scared she'd rip the pages or hurt the book in some way.

After all, this was one of the few things she had left of him. It was fragile and delicate in her mind, a treasure to be handled with the lightest of touches and greatest care.

Slowly, her eyes scanned the first page, not the least bit surprised by the random doodles and symbols scrawled across the page, remembering how often her father had enjoyed doing that. It was funny how that habit had even rubbed off on her. Many of her school notes or journal entries of her own often had little doodles drawn in the empty spaces.