Vindictive Seraph

CHAPTER ONE

Corpses and broken bodies were strewn everywhere Azrael turned, a scene right out of an abattoir. The night breeze hummed a melancholy harmony, a fitting finishing touch to the macabre performance. Azrael waited for the uninvited feeling of guilt but like always it never knocked her door. The excitement thrumming in her veins had subsided giving way to emptiness. The air was soaked with the stench of fresh blood, time was fiend.

"Azrael," James' voice called out. His breath hitched in his throat as he caught sight of her face illuminated by the moonlight. Her piercing silver eyes held secrets horrifying while her poise was imposing. Her dark hair falling gracefully over one eye while it arched above the other had a mysterious red hue. Such venomous beauty, he thought to himself. He’d been a god fearing man until his time with Azrael showed him a reality he wasn’t ready to see and never wanted to relive. He could’ve washed his hands off all this, he knew that. But something about those lost, empty eyes always drew him back in. A mistake he would come to regret. Nothing good ever comes out of associating with the demon.

"You gonna be done anytime soon?" Azrael raised her eyebrow, amusement evident in her eyes. Snapping out of it, James gathered himself, "It's time we left." Azrael nodded in acknowledgement. The two of them silently headed to a clear patch of land where the rest of her team were winding up. The atmosphere was grim as it usually was after a mission of such sorts. They were nothing like her ...She dragged them down into this world; she regretted it more than anything. 

“Any damage incurred by our side?” she enquired with a stone cold expression. It was hard to pinpoint the concern over her indifferent façade. James raised his eyebrow, “Does Sakura trying her luck with an army blade and nearly slitting apart Terry’s arm count?” As if in response, angry shouts made themselves audible in the milieu. Terry joined them later muttering something about women. He had a gash running across his muscular arm. Sakura followed looking apologetic, she was a doctor Azrael always brought along. She didn’t participate in their missions as such but she was a capable assassin too. The others were busy with the work assigned to them earlier. Azrael considered them all as dear friends and even though she never let what she felt for them show, she knew they had a fair idea already. Azrael’s musings were rudely interrupted by the ringing of her handset. She raised an eyebrow at the unknown caller I.D. She froze the second she heard the speaker on the other end.

“It’s been a while, Kira.”

She could recognize him anywhere. Her silver eyes darkened several shades, the otherwise blue specks threatening to dominate. Images of her past flitted before her wreaking havoc. She was trembling with pure rage, her knuckles white from clenching them so hard. James and a few others bought the danger sign. They knew her long enough to identify the man on the line.

“Eugene,” she spat the name as if it was the most degrading swear word.

The so called Eugene chuckled, “You could’ve been a bit cuter there. Anyway, how’s it going in India?” Azrael was startled but made no show of it, how did he know? It didn’t take long for her to put two and two together. She hissed in frustration as it dawned on her.  

“Don’t go hurt that poor soul now. More importantly, did you even think of your mum? If she were here…” he ended with a dramatic pause.

“If I ever hear you mention her from your vile mouth, I’ll rip your tongue out and nail it to your forehead. Believe me, I definitely will.” She stayed rooted in her position trying to regain control, her audience wary.

Eugene chuckled, “you’re not any different from me, ‘Azrael’. That’s the name you’re going by, aren’t you? Well, I like it…it’s rather sexy. You’ve got the whole medieval evil jazz in your bag. ” She couldn’t take it anymore. All she wanted to do was rip him apart limb by limb and savour every scream that escaped his lips. The moment was broken by a high-pitched scream. A child.

Trent, one of Azrael's men joined them carrying the kid by the scruff of his neck. The kid thrashed and kicked relentlessly into the air to fight off the more burly and strong hands. "Put him down," Azrael's voice rang loud and clear amidst the chaos. Trent released his death grip only to shift it to the boy's hands. Azrael stepped closer to study the new arrival. She saw a lad of not more than ten years smeared in soot, blood and dirt. But what unhinged her were his eyes. They were mad with rage, revulsion and bore into her silver ones fearlessly. Azrael flinched at the sight, the sight bringing up unpleasant memories buried deep. A similar picture sprung up in her head, of a thirteen year old girl wanting nothing more than the blood of the man before her. The man who overturned her life, took away everything she held precious and irreplaceable. Azreal was what remained of that little girl after that night, every ounce of humanity destroyed...

She didn't lift her gaze from his which were overflowing' with hatred. Her voice was powerful, "Azrael." Turning away from him, she made her way into the opposite direction. Trent unhanded the kid and followed suit along with the others. They were done here.

What happened in the next few seconds was like a blur. There was an angry shout, the flash of a knife and more angry noises. Azrael had her hands around the knife threatening to enter her stomach. Her attacker was using all his might, putting his entire body weight and cutting through her hands. Her men stood rigid feeling useless; Azrael had signalled them to stay clear. Apparently she predicted this; there was little that went past her astute mind. The little boy's face was scrunched with anger, his eyes wide. Azrael saw fear in them for the first time. She flung the kid away; he'd never really stood a chance. Her hands were soaked in her blood but her eyes were kind, her smile sad. She recognized every emotion that rattled the child, she was there once.

"I HATE YOU!! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!! I'LL KILL YOU LIKE YOU KILLED THEM!" his childish voice screamed, fear not getting the better of him. He shuddered when Azrael reached for him, he was sure he'd be dead in a few minutes. However, Azrael palmed his cheek gently and spoke softly, "I'll be waiting." The kid stood there in shock while he watched her give him one last warm smile. There were so many emotions that flitted between her eyes but he couldn't decipher any of them.

They'd gone leaving him alone among with the remains of those he'd spent all his life with. He searched for his father in the dark, the only light coming from the last flames meant to incinerate their hoard of drugs. He knew his father didn't love him, he was beaten black and blue by that man. But all said and done, his father still fed him. He had a roof over his head. For a street urchin like him, there was nothing more he could possibly ask for. He would get back at the silver-eyed woman, he determined. No matter what.

“That was a sick display of remorse,” Sakura turned to face Azrael as she cleaned the deep wound in Azrael’s hands from stopping the knife. She carefully disinfected it and wrapped it up in bandage. She hated it when Azrael was hurt, there were so many times she’d come wounded head to toe and not tell anyone about it.

Azrael shrugged indifferently but there was a pain lingering in her eyes, “gave the kid an aim in life. He looked like he could do with one. Don’t think papa pimp was much inspiration.”

Sakura scoffed, “you just want him to hunt you down like you and Eugene.” Azrael winced at his name; it was like the air was knocked out of her. “Your whacked up idea of justice! It’s like you’re looking for someone to kill you and end your misery,” Sakura threw her hands in the air in frustration.

Azrael stiffened, “You’re not making sense, woman.”

“Hell yeah I am! This circle of revenge…it’s never going to end, Akira. I see how you live everyday hoping it’ll be your last. Just stop already, Kira.” Sakura’s voice broke at the end, she was tired. Tired of watching the one who dragged her out of the darkness becoming one with it herself. Tired of watching her friend becoming more and more similar to the man she loathed. Sakura could predict how it would all end, Azrael would die. The worst part was that’s exactly what Azrael wanted for herself.

Azrael sighed, Sakura had got it all right as much as she hated to admit it. There were times she was sick of it, sick of living a pathetic life dedicated to revenge. There were times, she just prayed she died. But they were moments of cowardice and not feasible. She felt bad for what she was doing to her loved ones, the ones who were still around. However could she console them?

Knowing she couldn't deny Sakura's accusation, Azrael merely pulled Sakura in her arms and spoke softly, “Sorry.”