Book One of Virtues Series: Numbness

Chapter Five: Promotion?

I walked behind the two Angels as we turned a corner where they stopped infront of a wall which made me confused because when I looked at it....there was nothing there until I began to hear them chant something in Latin as I waited and watched them.

"Aperi nobis ad portas coeli..." Both of them say at the same time while they kneeled down in front of the brick wall. Suddenly as if responding to their plea, the brick wall suddenly shows white dual doors with golden designs on the rims and at the sides and even the handles were golden as well as it suddenly opens as they stand up moving to the sides.

I started to walk in ahead with them following behind me as I looked up a bit to see the other Angels at the sides leaning against the marble pillars of the room with the Guardians sitting on thrones in front of me. The room was all white and had only a few paintings of the bases all over the world. I walked to the center where the symbol of Heaven Sphire was marked on the floor as I looked up at the council and saluted by putting my right fist on the left side of my chest and an arm across my stomach.

"My superiors...I have heard you summoned me for something?" I say and my eyes darted to the side to see Commander Monday looking at me with seriousness as I watched her walk over giving her salute as well. There were five members each were leaders of the known bases, they only came together when they need to discuss an issue together.

There was Lady Moon Wildvine, who was the leader of the Greek base in Athens. She had black hair with a wreath around her head, her clothes composed of a white sleeveless blouse that made it look like a tunic for her top and black skinny jeans and she had brown eyes like the color of rich chocolate.

To her left was Lord Kiyoshi Akira, leader of the Japan base in Tokyo. He had a gentle color of light blue for hair and yellow eyes, a common trait in the Akira clan. He had glasses on but they looked like they were modified by him so it looked high tech. He had a long dark blue coat on, a black shirt underneath and white pants with black shoes as his footwear.

In the other end was the leader of the South Korea base in Seoul, Lady Areum Li. She had beautiful raven black hair and heterochromatic eyes. Her left eye was blue and her right eye was red. She had a professional looking magenta blouse on and skinny jeans that were color white with doll shoes on her feet.

To her right was Lord HuiZhong, the leader of the China base in Beijing. He had the traditional Chinese top on and grey pants while his shoes were traditional Chinese slippers that matched his top. He had brown eyes and his hair was divided into two one side was white the other was black.

Lastly between the China base and Japan base leaders was our leader, Gabriel Lazarus

"Yes Miss Casablancas...we have an important issue we would like to address...regarding your rank as a Virtue..." Lord Gabriel said as he looks at me seriously.

I gulped at this. Usually when they say this it means they don't find you worthy. But what did I do...? I know I haven't been on time in awhile but I do keep training hard as always.

"oh! Don't worry Miss Casablancas! You're not in trouble! Actually it's something else!" Gabriel said while rubbing the back of his neck when he realized what his previous sentence was a bit misleading.

"Oh Gabriel you never change do you?" i hear Lady Moon say as she looks at me. "Actually my dear we would like to promote you! What do you say?"

Wait....promote? me? Oh this is an honor! Though this would mean leaving the Virtues to be with the Angels...I know I couldn't deny this honor...I have to accept I have to—

"I refuse..."

At that statement the whole room gasps and even I was surprised when I turned to look at the person who stated this refusal...Commander Monday denied my promotion? I watched her walk out as I bowed in apology towards the Guardians and started to follow after her. Once we were out I felt the dual doors close behind us and we were standing in the dead end once again.

"Why did you refuse? You know how badly this was for me to have! Commander i—"

"No...Chara I understand how you wish to be my equal....but I have to deny this promotion....". She says in that serious tone not meeting my eyes.

"But why?! I worked hard! Harder than anyone and trained for years! Undefeated! Why won't you let me—"

"Because Chara....you are still weak..." As she says this she looks away not meeting my gaze. "Chara..you must understand....the things I do....the things I have yet to see....you are not ready yet...because Chara...there are some things that YOU don't even know about yourself..."

"What do you mean?..."

Just as she was about to say something my communicator started to buzz and a hologram started to appear of Andre on the other end.

"Andre what is it?..."

"Sinfuls and Monsters of Lust and Pride are appearing just west of here...they are attacking a village nearby and turning people..."

I sighed. This couldn't have gone on at a better time.

"All right I'm coming....I'll meet you guys there...send me the coordinates..." And with that the hologram went away as I looked at Commander Monday as she nodded and I ran off towards the direction on my communicator on my wrist which was a holo watch.

Things I don't know about myself....? What did she mean by that....?

I suddenly have an aching feeling in my chest that somewhere deep down....i know what she was talking about....