The Rise and Fall

19 - Plan of Reassurance

Something had switched in Emiliana. Over the past few days, she'd been weakened by the ongoing waves of information that she'd been gaining in what seemed like little steps. Ever since she'd been kidnapped by the Fallen Angels, i.e. Leo and friend, her wicked, malicious, cunning side had been dimmed down as though someone had turned the nozzle on a gas burner. 

Haven had helped her to switch herself back on though. His threats were met with her own and the way that she felt no guilt when she made them just screamed to her that she'd re-obtained herself and was now just a little short of the most dangerous she'd ever been in her life. Once her stab wound had healed up completely, which would be very soon because she'd been given the herbal remedy that the angels had been brewing since the beginning of time. It was a blend of spices and herbs mixed together with the tears of an angel, meaning it would heal just about anything it surfaced on. 

Now that Gabriel had betrayed her, there was nothing keeping her back from wanting nothing but death, so little of her humanity remained now, retained only by Leo. If he died, everything else that Emiliana would set her eyes upon would die too and she knew that at this rate and with Leo so weak in this state, if the Risen were to attack now, it was only a matter of time. 

Mira, the young nurse, was wondering outside in the clearing, just round the side of the medical tent. Emiliana still didn't quite understand how they'd set themselves up so quickly, even if she had been out for almost half a day. 

It was very dark now and the Fallen angels had bought electric lights with them so that they didn't have to light fires - that would have given them away in a heartbeat - and a dim, white glow had filled the small clearing with dark shadows from the trees or angels that walked across it. Mira was peering into the dark abyss of the rest of the forest, squinting her eyes nervously to try and strain them to see more. 

"They won't find us," Emiliana had slowly and silently walked up behind her and was now stood next to her with her arms crossed over her chest, an eyebrow arched at the small girl's paranoia. Mira was about the height of Emiliana but there was no meat on her bones and she was a frail looking girl who'd always looked timid and fragile. But that part of Emiliana that would have felt pity or sorrow for the small skeleton was long gone. She was simply the pawn in a plan of reassurance.

"Wha-" Mira jumped away from the edge of the clearing and brought a bony palm to her chest. Her black jacket looked a little too big for her, but Emiliana's smirk widened when she noticed that it probably wasn't hers. 

"You don't have to worry," Emiliana raised the pitch of her voice to make it sound more innocent and friendly. "If they do, they won't know what's hit them."

"I just don't want anyone to get hurt," Mira let her head fall into her hands and her shoulders juddered up and down showing signs of sobbing. Emiliana let her eyes soften and she stepped forward. 

"Hey, why did you come if you don't want anyone to get hurt?" Mira didn't answer, but lifted her head and looked back at the tent. Emiliana knew from her own recent experiences what Mira was feeling. She came because Haven came. 

"Boys. You can't live with them. Neither can you live without them," Emiliana stated matter-of-factly with a hint of humour lining the edges of her words. The two girl sat down on the log that was next to them and Emiliana crossed her legs as Mira wiped the sadness from her eyes. "It's alright Mira, stick with me and we'll make sure that no one gets hurt, yeah? Well, apart from Gabriel. And some Risen angels that get in our way. Maybe civilians..." She trailed off when Mira looked up at her with wide eyes. 

"Civilians?" She squeaked. Emiliana's mouth broke into her smile and she threw her head back, letting out a sharp bout of laughter. 

"Loosen up, girl," she giggled, looking back at Mira, "I'm joking!" Mira's whole body relaxed and she let out a shaky laugh, wiping her nose with the sleeve of "her" jacket. 

"It's nice to have someone my age around here. Only Haven and Leo are and they're always busy," Mira whispered, biting her top lip whilst furrowing her brow. 

"Not to mention they're both boys," Emiliana chuckled, nudging Mira with her elbow. "I see what you mean though," she added with a little more seriousness. "I've never had a friend." This was true and the part that Emiliana thought she'd gotten rid of was seeping through the cracks in her guard and she was realising that parts of her act were shining through to be real. 

"Really?" 

"Really."

"That sucks." 

"It does." Emiliana let a cracked smile spread across her face and Mira returned it instantly and spread out her bony arms, pulling Emiliana in for a hug with a strength that Emiliana couldn't understand how she'd gained. 

Emiliana returned the warm, friendly hug that Mira had dragged her into, but then she saw a silhouette in the dimness of the clearing, standing tense just outside of the tent entrance. Emiliana waved slyly at Haven, seeing the tense muscles in his face and body scrunched up so much that she wondered briefly for a moment why he hadn't scrunched up into a tight little ball. 

Mira pulled away and smiled sweetly at Emiliana, who was too busy looking at behind her at Haven, who had now been joined by Leo. At least he was standing now. Mira glanced behind her and got up when she saw Haven. She made her way back to him and Emiliana followed slowly, watching as Haven embraced Mira, caging her in his arms even though his eyes never left Emiliana's face as she continued to smirk at him. 

"How are you doing, Leo?" She asked sweetly, putting on an act that roughly replicated her personality that she'd had over the last few days. She moved forward and planted a sweet kiss on his cheek before leaning in for a hug as well. She knew that Haven was still eyeing her up, but the feelings for Leo that she felt were still there, even if anything else wasn't.

"Better, nearly healed now," his voice was raspy and muffled by her hair as they embraced one another. "And yourself."

"All better," Emiliana smiled and let the palm of her hand run down Leo's arm as she pulled away from him.

"What were you talking about?" Haven's voice was serious and hard, matching the expression on his face.

"Oh not a lot," Mira answered, breathing out heavily. "Just girly stuff."

"Yep," Emiliana answered, beaming over at Haven. "We're all going to be very good friends."