Golden wings

Chapter 17 - Truth

The breeze was comforting.

A demon was sitting on a hill between the trees. He was staring intently at his claws, while some small violet flames tangled around them. His gaze was full of doubt.

He knew why he had acted. He knew perfectly. He would feel guilty now if the angel had died. For one single reason... The reason which made his mind pound. He was beginning to believe in his innocence.

He saw everything. How Alexis had tried to run again, how he had tried to reason first instead of fighting, and once he did fight, how it was barely a struggle to flee from that axe. Any angel would have been outraged, by the simple fact that humans dared to think of themselves as a worthy match. But not him.

That truth only made Uriel feel horrible. He still dreaded; he still shivered every time he thought Alexis could murder him. But how could he keep feeling that way? How could he, when he had seen him multiple times, when he had heard the same affirmation over and over again... That he did not hold any intention of killing.

Uriel let out a trembling breath. He clenched his claws and let the flames die. The breeze became cold again. He hugged his knees and let his head rest on them, while he stared at the dark.

"Am I just being what they think we are?"

An evil creature which just wished to oppress?

Who had more right to fear? He was always around, watching. Accusing someone who was thinking the same as him: that he may die. Both had right to assume.

He knew. He knew that angels thought wrong, that in reality, not every demon was evil.

Then, why would all angels be evil as well?

Uriel sighed, and then began to fumble with the point of his tail.

"...But he is the first..."

He gasped and jolted when a voice called behind him.

"Well, it's the first time he meets a demon without intention of killing."

Uriel tensed up and gulped. He leaned his head slowly to look behind. His whole body froze when he saw Ayako there, looking at him with an amused smile, like if she had heard the juiciest information in the world.

The human chuckled when Uriel stumbled quickly onto his feet. He almost tripped with his hurry, and when he managed to stand upright, he questioned her with a nervous look and voice.

"Wha- How much time have you been there?!"

She raised a finger to her lips and looked up to the sky with a thoughtful expression. Uriel leaned his head to a side with bafflement, because she only ended up shrugging.

"Enough time! I was going home... And I saw you there, moping!"

She finally had left Alexis be, after their traditional argument. She should rest and get better. She was not worried about leaving, even if Lykaios was probably far and busy now. She had no reason to worry.

Uriel grumbled when she steeped closer, with no second thoughts.

"I- I was not moping!"

"Ok Uri, whatever you say."

He gave her a clueless look, still unable to react to her easiness. She sat on the grass at his side calmly, and began to look at the sky. He did not move; he only stared at her for a while. He listened when she said the next words, because he saw how her eyes had gratefulness.