The Exiled King | ✔

Chapter 15 - A Careless Curse

Aidan landed lightly on his feet and retracted his wings, standing a little away from the Blackrose castle gates, behind a thicket of trees. He didn't trust the archers manning the walls to not shoot him out of the sky and it definitely wasn't worth the risk, when the safer alternative was just a short walk into the castle.

He felt a gust of wind against his back and sensed someone behind him all of a sudden.

"Hey... archangel?"

Aidan whirled around, his senses on high alert.

He came face to face with a faintly glowing figure of a man with wild blue-black hair and green eyes, who wore colourful robes and had his snowy wings out on full display.

Awe was the first emotion Aidan thought he should have felt, but instead he felt an intense rage well up inside him.

Not his rage—Cress's.

What's wrong, Cress? Aidan thought.

Cress responded with fury etched in his every word, That's Cassiel... the one responsible for the curse on the darkangels!

"That's Cassiel?!" Aidan yelped aloud without realizing.

Cassiel took a step forward and smiled, saying, "I'm Cassiel... who are you?"

"I-" Aidan hesitated as Cress yelled in his mind to not tell Cassiel anything.

Tell him what he did! Ask him why he cursed us! Aidan... let me talk to him! Please... I need to do this!

Aidan agreed instantly, Of course.

He met Cassiel's eyes and said monotonously, "I am Aidan Illuen, the last prince of the archangels. Now, please allow me to introduce you to someone you must meet."

At those words, he allowed Cress to take over his body and gritted his teeth to bear the uncomfortable feeling of his appearance changing. His scalp tingled as his hair paled and lengthened and his facial structure shifted with a slight twinge of pain. He was grateful that they stood at the same height, or the transitions would be more painful.

Cress opened his eyes and gazed upon Cassiel, who had a stunned look on his face.

"Better close your mouth before you catch flies in it," Cress said tensely, clenching his fist so hard it hurt.

Cress, keep a level head, Aidan warned, we are no match for him and you cannot honour the legacy of your clan if you're dead!

Cassiel blinked and schooled his expression into a sheepish grin and replied, "I was merely caught off guard. You look a lot like my son."

Cress scoffed audibly and retorted, "Guess the blood runs thick."

"So you are-" Cassiel asked, and Cress cut him off.

"What does it matter to you? Are you trying to finish off what you started with Raizel?"

Cassiel took a step back, seemingly unnerved by Cress' venomous words.

"Started? What do you mean?" He asked.

Something in Cress snapped and he yelled, "Are you going to kill me now that you know I'm a darkangel? Are you going to murder me like you murdered my whole clan?!"

When Cassiel said nothing, Cress continued, "When is it enough? When will this curse end?! When will we stop having to pay for the crimes of a single person?! Will you only be satisfied when we're all dead?"

Cassiel suddenly slumped to his knees and covered his face with his hands.

"The curse!" His words were partly muffled by his hands.