The Devil's Daughter

Chapter 11 ~ Intruder

Chapter 11 ~ Abbegael

My eyes drift around the magnificent cavern with a mind of their own; my feet follow them all too willingly, around the crystalline water, through the heat of the brightly lit centre, into the shadowy edges, and on until I have seen as much as I can possibly take in and am probably much closer to the outside world than I should be. The distant voices of the other four echo around me as they bounce from wall to wall; barely a muted mumble from where I now sit just inside the main entrance to the cavern. As far as I can tell yet another argument is in full swing. Sighing, I lean my head back against the gravelly wall and focus my gaze out into the multitude of trees mere metres from the tunnels entrance; it's all too easy to remain where I am.

As much as I love a good argument it's nowhere near as much fun when people are arguing over whether or not you should die. Perhaps it's even worse when you're supporting the side that has you winding up dead; Zak asked Isa to call her mother, Ahriel, because if we're going to get back into Heaven we'll need an Angel's assistance. Isa said no; apparently she thinks he's using me to get himself back into Heaven and according to her it doesn't matter if it's what I want to do, he's an angel and it's his job to protect both humans and angels. It didn't seem to cross her mind that by going back that is exactly what we would be doing; protecting everyone, humans and angels alike. I left not long after that but their argument seems to be never ending.

For once in my life I wish people would just listen to what I want. I don't want to go back to Lucifer, I refuse to be used as a weapon against my own race, and the only ones that could possibly protect me probably want me dead because of the threat I could be. And if those are my only options, I choose dying.

"Shouldn't it be my choice?" I ask the empty air around me, my eyes never leaving the ruffling leaves just beyond my reach.

"Of course it's your choice, Abbegael." Heart racing, I'm up and facing the intruder, weapon at his throat before he can even get half way through his sentence.  Though it doesn't seem to faze him in the slightest, he just finished his sentence and stares down at me almost as if he half expected the reaction and was just waiting for me to get over it and let him go. As my heart rate slows, back to its regular, steady beat, I actually take a look at who I have trapped behind my blade and release him immediately.

"Oh. John? I'm sorry." The words trip over themselves on their way out, leaving a jumbled mess that the doctor may or may not have comprehended as I step back, away from him, "Sorry, I didn't realise it was you." Half a smile tugs up his lips as his kind eyes meet my own.

"Don't you worry about it; I should never have snuck up on you like that my dear, I do apologise." His words are sincere, despite the fact I just had my blade at his throat, and disconcertingly his smile seems almost vindictive as he says them. It's an odd look for a man so genuinely kind and honest.

"Did you...did you do that... on purpose?" This being the only conclusion I have for his reactions, though the idea in itself is ridiculous; why would he want me to attack him? Without a word he tips his head to the space I was occupying prior to his interruption and slides into the space across from it, his eyes not breaking contact until I stepped back to my wall and slid back into place.

"You felt threatened just now, did you not?" I'm not sure if he meant this as a rhetorical question but dip my head in a slight nod anyway and he continues, "Your automatic response when you feel threatened in any way is to attack. Instantly. And without question or thought.  You, Abbegael, are not the sort of person that runs away. You're not the sort of person that gives up. You fight. You've been fighting your entire life as far as I can tell. So, yes it is your choice. It's your life to do with what you will. But never let your head talk you out of what your heart is saying. Because fear resides in your mind and fear controls your thoughts. Listen to your heart. Your instincts. What do they tell you Abbegael? Do they want to die?" His words leave me stunned for a moment, of all the people that could have tried to convince me not to go back to die, he is probably the last one I expected, and yet here he is, and making a valid point I'm not entirely sure I want to hear.