The Devil's Love

||. Chapter 6: No Hospital? .||

Without warning, a faint sound of the trigger being clicked filled the air. Daniel's dried lips curved up with satisfaction. He would not let anyone be in his way that includes Mr. Porcelain Vase. The sound of Ansel's warning collided with the sound of clicking bullets, masking away the gore in Angelo's chest while Daniel did his winning dance. He stopped when he heard the sound of Angelo's fake groan. Daniel froze in his spot, his fingers went numb as his pupils widened at the sight of it. 

Angelo grinned mischievously. Triumph coursed through his veins when Daniel took several steps backward, giving a signal for the rest of his group leave. As they fled, the scent of terror and fear aroused Angelo's mind. He was almost tempted to feed over their avarice and fright. However, his attention was diverted towards Ansel when she let a soft whine escaped her lips. It was that once he had seen her expressed her feelings, but she disguised it easily.

Ansel felt the numbness on her shoulder and her arm. Pushing herself up softly, she felt an arm around her waist. The world seemed to be spinning around her, but she wasn't sure if it was due to the shot or the amount of blood that had left her wound. Ansel took a deep breath. Yanking herself away from the body, she hissed at him who tried to reach out to her again. Her blurred sight was not helping at all. He was her saviour, but, that doesn't mean she should appreciate him.

"You," said Ansel stubbornly while stumbling again. "Are supposed to stay out of business like this. Never poke your nose around like a bee searching for honey. You might die."

Angelo raised his eyebrows at her words before rushing forward to hold her. Her white sleeves were covered with crimson blood, reminding him of the blood-red walls. Silently, he wished she would not be a part of those. There was so much he did not know about her. It was the truth yet it did not stop him from getting to know her. Angelo could see secrets in her eyes. In between those black orbs, he knew that her life was filled with unrevealed secrets and he planned to learn them all. He wanted to be a part of her life regardless how messy or pleasant they are. Nothing matters as long as he got to be close to her.

"You are welcome," answered Angelo as he let her go when she pushed him away again. "You don't look like you are hurt. More like you have an overdosage of beer."

Ansel gripped onto the bark in front of her as she chuckled. "I did not say Thank You" she hissed dangerously like a serpent and added. "If it comforts you that I am overdose with alcohol, keep it that way."

Angelo tried to maintain a calm expression. His lips were threatening to betray them as he felt the humour erupted from the bottom of his chest. Clearing his throat, Angelo studied her carefully before reaching out to grab onto her waist gently. "Look," he said softly, brushing her damp hair away from her face. "I am getting you to the hospital and we will get the wound treated..."

"No!" Ansel warned. "No hospital...," she paused before taking out a card, handing it to Angelo. "Get me to that address. I will be fine. And, don't you dare question me about my own purposes. You know how to get there, don't you? I don't want to get abducted by anyone for the night again. I am done running. For now."

"I do and I will get you there immediately with a strong promise of no questions, my lady," Angelo stated with a grin on his lips.

"My lady?" Ansel scoffed weakly. "What are you? A Prince from the 17th century?"

Ansel felt her energy draining from her body. Her grip on her trousers was loosened. She shuddered at the cold air that seeped through her clothing. Right at that moment, she wondered if this was what her mother had once felt; pain, hopeless and lifelessness. Tears were threatening to fall as she shut her eyes tightly. Her chest ached at the memory. Anger. That was the only feeling she had when she was forced to leave that night. She never got a chance to be at her funeral, not even to see her for the last time. Her fingers itched to grab hold of the lifeless body again, but she knew she would never have the chance.

You did this, you ungrateful child! Remember, her death was your fault. No one else.

How can it be hers when she sacrificed everything just to save her?

One day, you will crawl back here to ask for forgiveness, but she will no longer be her. You are a disgrace to our family. Don't ever come back.

Taking another step forward on her own, she stumbled as she felt her strength perished. Right at that moment, she felt a strong grip on her waist. Ansel sniffled at the memory. The pain on her wound was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. She hated everything about her life. Her mistakes and her stubbornness, but that was not entirely her fault. There was one person she wished she could eliminate in this life. Ansel sucked in the cold air, trying to calm herself when she felt a sting in her head. She would never forgive him.

Angelo had remained silent, refusing to expand his speech. He studied her features carefully. Her body was already going limp. Her eyes half-closed, but Angelo was pretty sure that she would fight him if he broke his promise. Blood was seeping through her clothing, even more, thus he wasted no time and read the address, heading towards the house, silently praying that Ansel knew what she was doing. A wound like that needed professionals to handle or those he would call a medic, but Ansel doesn't seem to pay too much attention to the wound. Her stare earlier confirmed that her mind was elsewhere, further from her wound.

The night was warm yet assuring. The rustles of trees produced a soft comforting lullaby to his ears as he made his way towards their destination. Even the winds were strumming their own music. Angelo felt the blended scent of coffee beans, metallic blood and forest stung his nose. It came from Ansel and it smelt so attractive that his only desire was to make sure she would be awake again. She seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber. From the corner of his eyes, Angelo stole a glance of her innocent beauty.

Angelo remembered the road to her home. The address was not necessary. In fact, he was pretty sure that she would have figured out it was him that had been staring at her every morning and night. He supported Ansel's weight with one arm before giving a desperate knock on the door. Adjusting his grip on Ansel, he felt her head moved. She left a soft groan escaped her lips, leaning her forehead at the crook of his neck and her warm breathe swarmed his skin. Angelo gulped and stiffened before reaching out for another more desperate knock.