Chaos & Order

Chapter 6

Meanwhile, Siel carried Aliyah's unconscious body back into the castle. The party-goers had left, apparently in a bit of a panic. Siel didn't blame them, considering their rulers left and immediately after, there was the sound of a chaotic struggle. The angel began walking up the stairs, finding Xavier, who was still struggling with the silver stake. Still holding onto Aliyah, he yanked the silver weapon from the king's shoulder.

Xavier fell to the ground, weakened. He grabbed at his still-steaming wound, looking at Siel. More specifically, he saw who he was carrying.

"My daughter..." he choked out.

"She's fine. Just exhausted." Siel reassured.

With a grunt, Xavier pulled himself to his feet, "Then...you did well, angel."

"Are you well, your majesty?" Siel asked, concerned.

"Wounds from silver take a little longer to heal, but I should be fine." Xavier said, "Just...keep an eye on her, Soterasiel."

"Understood." Siel nodded. He noticed his actual name as he took Aliyah to her room. He then felt her stir as her hand grabbed his robe, "Are you awake, princess?"

Aliyah slowly opened her eyes and weakly squeaked out, "Siel?"

"Hello." Siel nodded.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"The castle. You're safe." Siel nodded.

"The hunter?"

"He left when he found out you're..." Siel stopped himself. He smiled, "He just left."

Aliyah looked at Siel. "Found out I'm what?"

"It's not important." Siel said. If she pried further, though...

"Siel, you can put me down." Aliyah said. Siel obliged, setting her down. She gingerly walked up the stairs, Siel staying behind just in case she was too weak. Aliyah turned around and took his hand, leading him through the doorway to her room when they got to the top of the staircase. She shut the door behind them.

"I would have followed you, anyway." Siel said.

"I know." Aliyah said, gripping Siel's hand before looking him in the eye, "Cerberus called me a half-breed. I think it's time I knew the truth. Don't you?"

"I...I...do." Siel said.

"Then tell me, Siel."

"You...you..." Siel said. He wished he could stop, but being a guardian angel meant that any secret could be ended if asked. So, the mere fact that she asked this compelled him to answer truthfully, "Your mother was an angel."

Aliyah stared at him for a moment before giving a small smile, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Siel said, surprised at her response.

"I...had a feeling honestly. I mean, for one; what kind of vampire can't even drink blood?" She said, playfully.

"Yes, in retrospect, that was a giveaway." Siel said with a sheepish chuckle.

Aliyah laughed a bit before realizing she was still holding his hand. She quickly let go, blushing a bit, "Ah, sorry."

"No, it's quite alright." Siel nodded.

"I'm going to go change and then...maybe you can tell me more?" Aliyah asked, hopefully, still a bit red in the face.

"Of course." Siel nodded.

Aliyah then disappeared into her walk-in closet to change out of her ballgown. Siel turned his back to the closet, putting a finger to his chin as he leaned against the door, "Why was she so embarrassed?"

Moments later, the door suddenly opened. Siel yelled in surprise before stumbling, but caught himself with his crook. He looked around, perplexed, and found Aliyah in the doorway while wearing a nightdress.

Aliyah giggled, "Sorry, didn't know you were leaning on it."

"It's nothing to apologize for. You can't see past doors." Siel said, helping himself up with a playful smile, "If you could, I would have more concerns than you opening a door behind me."

Aliyah rolled her eyes and walked past him, heading toward the kitchens, "Come on. And...uh...tell me more, if you please."

"Very well." Siel said, "I'd prefer to be sitting. It's a long story."

"Well then, it's a good thing we're going to get some ice cream." Aliyah laughed.

The two walked through the halls of the castle until they came to the kitchen. Siel sat at the now familiar table where they had shared ice cream when he first came to her. Aliyah walked over to the ice box and pulled out a case of ice cream, licking her lips. She set it down on the table and put two spoons next to it.

"So...where do you want me to start?" Siel asked.

"At the beginning, of course." She said as she took a bite of the frozen treat.

Siel took a deep breath before explaining, "Okay...so...angels aren't born in the traditional sense. First I wasn't there...then I just...was. Around the same time, there was another that came into being. It was an angel named Celestia. Because we had a similar interest in joining the ranks of Guardian Angels, we were put under the same tutor...and we became good friends. And she certainly was one. I had others, of course, but she was my best one."

"One day...I saw her peering through the veil to the mortal realms. She denied it, but I could tell she was observing something she shouldn't have. With a little examination, I found she was looking at this land, at the prince of this vampiric realm. Being her friend, I told her that I would keep her secret. And I did...but it turned out our teacher wasn't as forgiving as me. He dragged her before the Holy Council, where she was to be judged."

"What happened next?"

"She was judged guilty...but she accepted it. She was to have her position stripped and exiled from Heaven." Siel said.

"She couldn't go back...?" Aliyah asked, shocked.

"She couldn't." Siel nodded, "I spoke with her before it was enacted...because it meant she could be with the entity she gave her heart to and who she had been meeting in secret. That man was none other than your father."

Aliyah smiled, sadly, "I'm guessing you haven't seen my mother since?"

"I hadn't." Siel said, "When I saw you, I was...surprised, but chalked it up to coincidence. But I was told shortly after that it wasn't. She was your mother...and died shortly after giving birth to you."

"Yeah. I never met her. I wish I did though." Aliyah said.

"She was a woman who had a heart full of love for every being. It's why she wanted to be a guardian." Siel said, patting her head.

Aliyah gave her guardian another small smile, "Thank you for telling me, Siel."

"You're quite welcome." Siel nodded with a smile as well.

Aliyah then made to take a spoonful of ice cream. Instead, she found a soupy substance inside. She gave a small laugh, "Oops, it melted."

"Sorry, the story must have gone on longer than I anticipated." Siel chuckled.

"It's okay."  Aliyah started cleaning up with a laugh, "Ready to head back? We should go before my father finds us here. He still doesn't know I come here for a late treat."

"Good idea." Siel said with a conspiratorial wink, "It's not a lie if I don't say anything, right?"

"Hehe, right." Aliyah chuckled as she walked out of the kitchen and into the hallway. With Siel behind her, she walked back toward her room.