Angels May Cry

Darkness

***Warning***

Chapter may contain graphic violence, depictions of explicit sexual scenes, nudity, and vulgar language. Please be advised.

Chapter 16: Darkness

20 July 2015

Noelle

My body feels heavy. Like lead weights tied to my feet and wings pulling me down. I blink but only see darkness. My lips part in a scream, but my throat burns as if inhaling fire. There are voices, sometimes. Memories I don't recall from past lives my human soul lived. I float in this darkness; the only thing I can feel is calm or pain. Time is nothing here. It could be days... Or months. I just feel... Alone. Empty. I need to remember. Why can't I remember? Theres someone who used to make me feel... feel... what? I'm not sure. My mind is fuzzy. It hurts to think.

Lately I have felt like two halves of the same whole. There's a dark part of my soul... the part that has wings. She is wicked and cruel. Thirsting for something we cannot have. But then she can be kind. Her wings are different. One is black, the other is a beautiful white. I like the white wing... She is kinder when she preens it. The black wing... She is angry. Hurt. I don't understand why.

Sometimes there is a fresh memory. Warm and soft, like the coo of a newborn child. It is fleeting. But the darkness seems to keep it protected. I don't understand. I am so tired. So alone...

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Alexis

With a soft sigh, I covered Noelle's body with a warm blanket. Dante hovered, like always. His gaze was protective and worried. Hell, we all were. Noelle had been unconscious for a month. Her body was pristinely preserved thanks to my healing ability. But she was comatose, and we all felt it. Dante seemed to struggle most of all. His demon side had chosen Noelle as a mate. And without her, he was a little lost.

"Any improvement?" He asked, trying not to pressure me, but still hovering.

"No. Whatever this is.. Nothing is working. No tonics... healing. Not even aura work. I don't know what we are supposed to do." I said.

Both our eyes landed on Noelle's wings. They had never gone away after the incident. One was completely black, the other still a pristine white. The feathers would ruffle and reposition, as if being preened by some unseen force. But none of us could touch them. Not even the Archangels could. The brethren had been significantly quieter since telling them what had happened. None of them came to earth anymore. It was too risky. We were on our own for now. Dante settled beside her, taking up his place as he held her hand. I watched for a moment, then left the room. He needed time with her.

Vergil caught me in the hall. Cold, strong, and steady, he never let me fall apart in places where others could see. I had to be strong. I had to keep it together. Sage had not stopped worrying and crying. She tried to be strong. But Noelle was the anchor we all held to. The trinity needed her. We needed her. I pressed my cheek into his hand as he reached for me. It was such a simple gesture. But it was enough for now. He knew I was trying my best. The demons had all but ceased, giving us a calm that was before the inevitable storm.

The main floor was quiet when my feet landed on the hard wood. A glance at my lover told me that Nero and Sage were upstairs. Sage barely left anymore, letting other reapers handle her tasks. I stopped at Vergil's desk, picking up a tome and flipping it open. His large hand plucked it away, making me frown.

"You need a break. There is nothing in this that you have not read already." He murmured, holding me close.

"At the risk of sounding crazy, there is one thing we haven't tried." I said.