The Above || Completed

51 Venus

Maddison's POV

"Maddison, don't do this," Aeron pleaded, cutting in front of Venus.
"I don't care whether you want to stay here or not. I did not come here for nothing," I said determinedly.
He stepped closer and Venus made a noise of warning in her throat.
"What has she threatened you with?" I demanded.
"Nothing."
"You're lying," I retorted.
Venus pulled Aeron back. "No, Maddie, you're just in denial."

I couldn't hold back any longer. I had her by the throat in seconds.
"Shut up," I said through gritted teeth.
She cackled through her choked windpipe. "That's the spirit."
I thrust my knee into her stomach hard enough to break a rib. My grip on her throat tightened as my hatred reached its peak. Blood trickled down her chin and I relished it.
"Maddison, stop!" Aeron screamed, yanking at my tense shoulders.
"Why should I?" I snarled, not taking my eyes off of Venus.
"This is exactly what she wants. Don't become like them, please!" he begged, his voice breaking with anguish.
I was barely listening to him. My hands just kept squeezing, constricting. I gritted my teeth and watched her lose consciousness slowly. Her eyes were already lifeless. I was barely even thinking. My entire being just wanted to kill the woman who now lay in a crumpled heap before me.

Before I could get the job done, I felt my father's arms come around me and rip me from my victim. I roared like a wild animal. It was savagery and I didn't know what had come over me. But it wasn't over. She needed to be dead so she could never hurt me or anyone I loved ever again. I was aware that we had come to ask the council for change. But Venus could never be capable of anything good. She deserved to die. Venus' body lay limp on the ground, blood covering her face, neck, chest and staining her satin purple dress. She was a mess for all but her shining silvery hair. My father held me in his arms but couldn't look at me. Nevertheless, I rocked back and forth in his embrace. I'd gone through too much change in the time I had forgotten him. He was still my father, but I felt so different from the child he raised me to be.

"Maddison..." Aeron's voice came from behind my dad.
I broke apart from my father and looked up at Aeron. His face was streaked with tears and his hands shook at his sides. I finally realised I was sorry for what I'd done.
"Aeron..." My voice cracked.
Dad moved aside and Aeron fell to his knees in front of me.
"I'm sorry." He shook his head as more tears surfaced.
I am the one who should be sorry.
I pulled him into a hug so forlorn I feared it would break me. Tears escaped my eyes as I rested my head on his shoulder and breathed him in. His scent could arouse a vast intensity of emotion within me.
"They told me you were going to be executed," I said, breathing deeply.
"I thought you were already dead." He sobbed and held me tighter.
I kissed his temple and looked him in the eyes. "I'm still here, thanks to Erica."
The realisation hit him immediately and he shook his head, sobbing in agony.
Erica, you heroic idiot.

"Now, let's get you out of here and figure out what to do about our unconscious council rep," Luziel spoke up.
"You mean dead council rep," one of the guards shouted in rage. "She hasn't taken a breath since you let go."
The angel holding him did us all a favour and knocked him out. The rest of the angels followed suit in order to get the guards out of the way for good. Aeron rose and walked towards Venus' still body. He knelt and felt for her pulse.
"Venus is dead," he said heavily.
My breath ceased. It was real. I killed her. That animal part of me had died out now, and I felt guilt pierce me like a spear to the heart. I caved in where I sat and sobbed into my palms.
What kind of monster am I?

Aeron did her the honour of closing her eyes and we watched as she faded into stardust.

^^^

Zachariah's POV

The old man took a sip of his whiskey before addressing us verbally.
"Now, what brings a bunch of angels to our office this evening," he said obliviously.
When I realised I was the voice for my host, I spoke up confidently, "We demand an audience with the entire council."
"I hardly find that possible, with only half the angels here," he said, raising a bushy grey eyebrow.
"You know what we're here for," I said pointedly.
"Why, of course, I do. You're all slaves and you have a problem with it," he said, seeming quite humoured.
"I don't see what's so funny, head councilman." I tried to ignore my own fury.
He actually laughed. "Obviously not. But I'm afraid this matter is not up for negotiation."

A large fist came down on the table. The angel with whom I'd had an exchange with just then.
"Patience," I reminded him smugly under my breath.
I looked at the head councilman maliciously. "My friends here aren't at all happy with their circumstances. What's more, your attitude only worsens your circumstances. I don't have control over their actions, so I suggest you establish some over yours."
The old man downed the rest of his whiskey. "I understand your concern. You know, my daughter happened to fall in love with one of you. Unfortunately, I had to have her killed and her husband enslaved. It's just how these things work. I can do nothing about it."
I scowled. "Yes, you can. The fact that you didn't bother doing anything for your daughter makes you a cruel sociopath."
"No need to get offensive here." He chuckled.
"May I ask your name, head councilman?" I asked, still suppressing the waves of my emotions.
"The name's Bruno, some of you may know me as Doctor-"

"Griffin." Maddison's seething voice emerged from the doorway.
She was next to me in no time, a murderous look in her eyes as she beheld the head councilman.
"How dare you speak of my mother that way?"

^^^