Black Moon

Chapter 9: Echo

Eyes open. Lucas wakes up with the sound of the neighbors. Again. He does his daily morning routine; only to find out that Tie wasn't in the apartment. He was used to the silence already. Lucas didn't tell Tie about Seraphina's appearance the other day. He didn't wanted to lure any more complications to his life.

A week had passed since then. It was the Winter Dance at the school. Emma has asked him to keep him company. At first neither of them wanted to go. She said school dances were overrated and Lucas just didn't felt like celebrating anything, not even the end of the semester; but in the end they gave in. Every day that passed by, he fell deeper and deeper to the abyss that was Skytheria. He knew he should go back, but what to do with Emma? After all, it was highly possible that Adramelech is to be hurting her. She's the reason why he stays.

Dawn came down that day. It was time to escort Emma to the dance. Outside was a torrent of icy winds against Lucas' s body, yet the snow rested soothingly on his eyelashes and hair. The wind raged on and on, yet no sound came from it. It's as though everything was in mute. A women stopped Lucas's way and asked him about his destination.

"I'm going to a school dance." Lucas murmured kindly.

"That explains your gallant clothes!" the women said optimistically. " Would you be so kind to buy me some flowers? Well, I bet a young man as yourself has a lady of his own."

"I don't, but I'll buy you those violet tulips."

"Oh! Faithfulness, I see." Lucas smiled and gave the money to the nice women and continued on his path.

He halts his steps in front of Emma's little house. He knocked three times, it took a short while of time for Emma to come out. And she did. She was wearing a light blue vintage dress. It was square shaped up in the torso and it popped in the bottom. It had lace and a big bow tie on the back.

"It's beautiful." Lucas said with a smile.

"It was actually my mothers. Her favorite and mine." Lucas smiled even more and reached for her hand. Then suddenly, all the muteness faded and the lousy car horns, the violent winds, the city roar woke in a boom.

"I've had enough of this foolish game, Lucifer!"

Lucas sighted and glanced back. Tie had a portal open. His demon wrath was shredding his skin away. His sharped teeth and claws brought forth the final decision. Lucas knew this was it. His resolution was near seconds.

"You're coming with me, right now!" Tie was hellish as he spoke. "So, bid your final farewell."

"Lucas, what is he talking about?" asked Emma.

Lucas glanced at Emma's frighten feature and back at Tie. He thought of something to say:

"Not with out a fight."

"So be it." Tie cocked an eyebrow and came rushing like an untamed beast. It caught Lucas off guard. He pushed Emma aside and stopped Tie's fist. He threw him away.

"I'm sorry for that." Lucas said to Emma. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine." Emma smiled, but Lucas noticed the blood running down her arm, which blemished her dress.

"Stay here and you'll be safe." Then Lucas rushed towards Tie. They engaged on a fierce hand to hand combat. There were back flips, and kicks, and punches right after the other. After this, they held each others fist. You could actually hear the stretching noise that the muscles emanated.

"Tie, you know how this will end." Lucas said deeply into Tie's eyes. "Drop the pride."

"Speak for yourself." Tie replied and pushed him away. Lucas landed next to Emma. He grasped on her gentle hand and walked towards Tie. He frowned in response. He gave Lucas a penetrating stare; as though it had physical form, as though it was a lanced arrow.

"I see..." Tie said. "You know you are being really selfish right now. Skytheria is in danger and all you think about is that human."

"Was that really for me?" Lucas replied. Emma taped his shoulder and asked for answers. Lucas had no other choice but to explain to her that he is expected to go back to settle things with Adramelech, one of the member of his army, but that she's the reason he has been held back.

"I understand, go" Emma said cheerfully. Lucas was perplexed.

"Lucifer, we don't have much time!" Tie raged on as he insisted with the open portal.

"Lucas, go!" Emma raised her voice a little.

"I won't" Lucas said eyeing Emma.

"Lucifer!" Tie wrath on.

"Lucas!" Emma said.

"Lucifer!" Tie yelled.

"Lucas!" Emma yelled.

"Lucifer!" Tie yelled.

"Lucas!" Emma yelled.

Everything became pitch black. Both names, both worlds rebounded in his head like an endless echo. Lucas now travels back to Skytheria, in the portal, with two heavy burdens. On his left hand he has the burden of his disappointed best friend, who will forever hate him for his rash decision. On his right hand he has the burden of an unconscious Emma, who will now experience a whole new world where she could either be completely safe or completely hurt in it. And thirdly he keeps repeating to himself: "What have I done?, what have I done?"