The Wrong Side #2

Chapter ~ 1 ~

"It has been two years. Two years since I last set eyes on him. I would like to think that nothing has changed. That, when I finally find him, everything will go back to the way it was. That he will welcome me with open arms. Unfortunately, life does not work like this.

"In the first year, we searched high and low for any trace of him we could find. As you can already guess, we came up empty handed. So we found Rhazien Devonshire, and that was where this entire organisation started. Right here, with a vampire, a warlock, and a demon. We started this rebellion, over a year ago. We stepped up. We spoke up. Every single one of you came to me because you wanted to make a difference. You wanted this foolish war to end. You knew the risks, and you knew what they said about me. But you came anyway, with these thoughts in your minds. You are strong, worthy people. All of you. The angels... they do not think this. They want the world to end, so they can build a new one from its ashes. One that they control. But I will not let that happen. We will not let that happen. And we will get my brother back. All we need is hope."

Sound erupts from the silence that carried my voice out, and I feel the sudden urge to smile. But I promised myself. Not until I see his first.

"That was great," Xavier murmurs from my side, and I turn to him, sighing heavily.

"That was exhausting, that is what that was," I retort, pursing my lips in thought. "Has it really been two years?"

"That is what you said, my lady," Rhazien confirms as he glides over to us, standing on my other side. I don't know why they make me sit in this chair; it's hard, it's uncomfortable and it's really high up. I get dizzy up here, sometimes. I have to hold on to the stone so I won't fall over.

As I look around the massive room full of people surrounding me, my heart churns in my stomach as I remember my first encounter with the angel Nathaniel, as he sat in the very chair I sit in at this moment. He spotted me across the room without anyone else knowing who I was, and he had me right where he wanted me. And I watched as he dragged my brother away from me, and abandoned his 'home' like a coward, taking his 'family' with him. My fists clench at the thought of this memory. I know it's been two years, but I remember that day like it was yesterday.

"Cecily, you should go talk with Mikal," Rhazien says finally, interrupting my thoughts rather swiftly. "He has some upgrades in the Armory he wants to run by you. And Mlandris has a few new recruits she picked up from the city. They are going to want to meet you."

I soothe an oncoming headache by rubbing my temple with the fingers on my right hand. "I will make my way down to the gardens right now," I decide, rising from my seat. "Xavier, walk with me." So Xavier and I make our way down the steep steps that lead up to that stone chair at the top of the room and we squeeze our way through the people, who all nod and smile at me like I'm some kind of hero.

"Everyone looks up to you, Cecily," Xavier announces when we're clear of earshot, as if he read my mind. I glance at him, an eyebrow raised.

"I am just like everyone else," I reply with a shrug, turning left and pushing through the double doors that lead into a corridor that ends outside. "If not, then I am at least like every other Warlock."

"I beg to differ," Xavier sings. "I mean, have you met you? You are an inspiration to them. You are their hope of a better future. You give their lives meaning."

"Yes, I know," I sigh, moving to the end of the corridor before breaking out into the day. We walk through the shaded pathway on the right of the gardens and split from it by taking the stone path out from the cover. "I just... I do not feel like I have done enough to earn this respect from them yet. It will take time for me to adjust to this status. But I assure you I will get there."