Penumbra.

-10-

"So," I ask Bartholomew. "how's all the paperwork going for you?"

"Well, how would you feel if you had to write invites for all the districts?" I grab a chair and position it next to him. "It doesn't sound that bad."

"Oh yes, not to mention that they have to each be two paragraphs long." He says grinning at me. I look at him with an 'Are-You-Shitting-Me?' Face, "That is still not a lot, you know?" I exclaim. He scoffs,

"Twelve districts, twelve. Each two paragraphs long. Usually, I'll end up writing the wrong district names on these papers and will have to start over from 'Dear _____ District'. Which, might I add is all the way at the top. " He says pointing his pen at the top of the paper.

"C'mon, you can do this." I smile while giving him a thumbs up, "Thank you but, I don't think that will be of any help." He says adjusting his posture, "Hey, at least I tried, though." I say while patting his back. "Try your best, I'm sure you'll get it done in time." He nods while still working on the papers. "Alright, I need to go, still have to turn in my reports and punch out." I stand up and place the chair back where it once was and leave his office, closing the door behind me.

Once I'm in the elevator going from the seventh floor to the first I begin to wonder: Should I go back and help him finish them? I mean, it wouldn't hurt to help a little bit. And plus, if I stay longer I can get more hours and more hours means more money. And more money means more video games!

I turn around and start walking back to his office. Halfway there my phone rings, snapping me out of my thoughts. I answer it,"Hello?"

The voice that replies is that of a woman. "Unless you want to die, I suggest you get out of the building. Now."

"Huh? Who's this?" I check the caller I.D.

Unknown Number.

" Don't worry about that. If you want to get out alive, you should leave immediately. Even a creature of your caliber will not withstand the blast."

How did she know?

" What are you talking about?" If this lady is saying the truth I have to get Barth out of here.

I press the stop button on the elevator and press the seventh floor.

"I know everything about you, Luciel G. Archer. I know that your so called 'family' was slaughtered by Lycans when you were at a young age. And you were taken in by this so-called alliance by the late head Capitan, Lace Bile."

"They were my real family. What the do you want ?" I growl out. At this point, i'm passing the fifth floor. Could this elevator go any slower?

She laughs, "Oh dear, that is a lie. They were not your real siblings or parents. You are not just a simple mix between a vampire and a human. You are much more complex than you might have thought."

"What?"

The doors open and I break into a full-sprint towards Barth's office. I get to the entrance. The woman on the phone says something that makes my blood run cold.

"I will make this plain and simple," I place my hand on the door and push it slightly open,

"I will kill the Alpha, and take you back."

With that, the call ends and I enter the room. His desk chair is empty, papers are scattered across the desk and floor.

"Barth?! " I yell out, "We don't have much time, where are you?"

He doesn't respond at all, I look for him around his office but no dice. He's not here.I check under his desk and there he is, passed out curled up into a ball.

"Hey. Hey! You okay?" I shake him, he slowly opens his eyes and looks at me, "What are you doing here?" He mumbles out.

"Don't worry about that right now. Get up we need to leave asap." He looks at me confused. "Why?"

"What part of 'asap' did you not understand? Get up, NOW!"

The first blow hit the left side of the building, making the rest of the building shake. Then two more.

You can hear people screaming and yelling outside, running for their lives.

"Now do you want to get up?" I ask annoyed. He nods and gets up from under the desk. We run out of the room into the corridor packed full of people in panic looking for an exit.

"C'mon, we'll go through the window then," I say and grab him by his wrist. "Wait what?! This is a seven-story building, Luciel. Are you crazy?" We start making our way towards the window, I turn my head to face him. "Damn straight." Before he could protest even more, I break the glass, "You'll be fine. I swear." He scoffs. "WE'RE ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR!!!" He snaps at me.

"Luciel..."

"What?"

"Who is that?"

"Who?"

He turns my head the other direction and points towards the hallway.

"That."

There in the hallways stands a person, with a hood covering their face, looking straight at us in the sea full of people.

Fuck.

"Hurry up, Barth. They're here."

"Luciel what are you talking about? Who's here?"

"Jesus fucking christ, jump now ask questions later." I look at him angrily. "I'll catch you just jump first," I growl out. He nods and steps halfway out. He looks down then back towards me. "Behind you!"

I turn around in time to see the person who was in the hallway, right in front of me.

"I have finally found you." They say and grab me by the throat.

"Let her go!" Barth calls out, he steps back in from the window. "Did you not hear me? I said Let. Her. Go!" He growls out. I take the opportunity that the figure is paying attention to Barth and kick it away from me making it stumble backward. Which also makes Barth stumble backward and out the window since he was behind me.

"FUCK!" I yell out and jump right behind him. I reach him in the free fall grabbing his wrist and pulling him close into a hug. "I got you don't worry." I shift around making him lie on top of me. He looks at me and for the first time in years, I can see pure fear written all over his face. "We're going to hit the ground!" He yells out.

Upon impact, I could feel each of my bones break, one by one in slow motion. Bartholomew's weight made it worse, he knocked the air out of me and probably ruptured half of my organs.

"Luciel you have an arrow on the back of your shoulder," He says getting off of me.

"Honestly, I think that's the least of my problems...." I say trying to catch my breath.

"Why did you do that? Why did you save me?" He croaks out, lifting me halfway up before I start to whimper at the pain. "Please don't...this hurts way too much." I can hear him sniffling, "Luciel. Answer me, Why did you do it?"

"Because.."

"Because of what?" Barth insists. I can taste blood in my mouth and each drop of his tears hitting my cheek.

"I made a promise." I finally manage to gurgle out the words without choking on my own blood. I feel dizzy, my eyes are slowly closing by themselves.

"Luciel? Luciel stay with me!" I can hear his screaming fading out little by little and suddenly all the noise is drowned out by sweet, rich silence.  

//Even the devil weeps

When he remembers

He once had wings.

Yaaaaaaa'lllllll I cannot even rn, i am so sorry like really

Have a nice day/evening/night ヾ(*'∀｀*)ﾉ //