Golden wings

Chapter 37 - Eerie

"Careful."

"I- I-"

"You won't fall."

Alexis did not like this. Not one bit.

"I- I don't need your help."

Uriel still did not let go. Alexis could let go himself... But he did not. For some reason, he kept holding onto Uriel's hands, while the demon tried to help him stand. His amber eyes were fixed on the ground, his chest was moving with his trembling breaths, and his gaze had slight fear and distrust. Uriel was keeping some distance between them; his claws were only outstretched for him to hold and use as balance.

"I d-don't n-need-"

"You do. And I won't let you fall again."

Alexis snarled, angered. He could feel Uriel's eyes on him; he was looking down at him firmly. But he was patient as well... His demon was standing tall; he was not moving an inch while he shivered in front of him. He had barely managed to take a few steps away from the bed, even with his help.

Uriel couldn't allow that Alexis kept on falling. His angel had tried to stand and walk. He had tried to leave, because he did not want to stay at his side. But he only had crumbled down to the ground, every single time he tried to move. He ended up crawling, multiple times. He gave up trying after a few days, and he had not dared to try again since. It hurt him to do so; his wounds were not completely healed, even if they were already closed. His kind could take a lot, but they were not as fast healing as demons were.

As much as Alexis felt humiliated, angry and ashamed... He had not been able to object when Uriel decided to take things into his own hands. His demon had grown tired of the painful silence and his stubbornness. They both did not like this, but there was no other way.

Uriel looked away for a second, saddened by the apprehensive hold Alexis' hands had on his.

"Let me help you, I beg you... I know this won't make any difference, I know. Just... Once you can walk..." If he could at all... "I will leave you be. Just try."

He couldn't do this by himself. Not without something where to cling onto. The walls would not help; he would not learn to balance himself leaning against them. He would not learn to live without his wings like that.

Alexis' gaze moved up a little. He looked slowly at those sharp claws, with an expression full of rancor and... dread. Uriel had sharp claws... Almost as sharp as the dagger that ripped away his limbs, almost as feral as the ones that sunk into his flesh. They were the ones that let this happen. The ones that had made her forget.

"You should have not stolen her memories away."

Not again...

Uriel closed his eyes with a grimace, to not see the amber eyes that were now glaring at him.

"I could not let her see."

"She will never see you again... Indeed."

Uriel opened his eyes, because Alexis' voice had tangled with the most angered tone he had ever heard him use. He did not look like the same kind angel he knew. The angel snorted, almost growling while he continued to lash out verbally.

"You made us both ghosts in her memory... Even if only I needed to disappear."

Alexis did not flinch or cower when Uriel's claws clenched around his fingers, almost enough to hurt, but not doing so. Uriel let out a harsh whisper, almost menacingly.