Chaos & Order

Chapter 9

Back in the present, Aliyah sat there and listened quietly as her father's story came to a close. He smiled in nostalgia before concluding with, "And that's how I first met her."

    "So....you were both rebels back then?" Aliyah asked with a sly smile.

    "Yes." Xavier nodded, "The new king who hadn't felt the weight under the crown, the angel who let curiosity get the better of her...it was a perfect storm, really."

    "When did you know you loved each other?" Aliyah asked, curious.

    "I think it was the fourth time we met." Xavier said, "She would make any excuse to come to this realm and...well I asked if she would prefer dining with me the next time she appeared. She accepted and...well, maybe it was the wine, but it slipped out of me just as our meal was finishing."

    Aliyah frowned a little, "Siel told me that she was exiled for meeting with you..."

    "She reappeared two years after our first meeting." Xavier said, "She told me, 'you have no idea what I've gone through to be here'. We were married shortly after that."

    "And then there was me, right?" Aliyah said with a smile.

    "And then there was you." Xavier nodded.

    "What happened to her?" Aliyah asked.

    "She died giving birth to you." Xavier said, "She had enough vitality to put a hand on you, give you your name, and say that she loved you."

    Something seemed wrong, though, as Aliyah asked, "But...I don't understand. She was an angel. How could giving birth...?"

    "I don't know. But apparently, her being exile took her immortality from her." Xavier said.

    "Was it me then?" Aliyah asked, quietly.

    "What?" Xavier asked.

    Aliyah looked at Xavier, sadly, "Did I...did I k-"

    "No, no, no." Xavier said, putting his hands on her shoulders, "It wasn't you."

    "How do you know?" Aliyah asked, eyes starting to fill with tears.

    "I'm your father. I know." Xavier said, hugging her now.

    Aliyah hugged him back, tightly. Tears still flowed down her face, "I wish she was still here..."

    "I do, too." Xavier said.

    Aliyah looked up at her father, eyes still filled with tears, "Father? Thank you for telling me about mother. But...from now on, promise me. No more secrets."

    Xavier looked at his daughter before nodding, "Very well. I should have told you earlier."

    "You told me. That's all that matters." Aliyah said, hugging Xavier. Her father was surprised, but brushed her hair. She reminded him so much of her mother. Aliyah took a few steps back before asking, "Is it okay if I go out of the castle today?"

    "Yes, it's fine." Xavier nodded.

    "I'll be back before nightfall." Aliyah smiled before walking off.

    Xavier waved as she left. When he heard a rushing noise, he knew that the angel wasn't far behind her. He wondered why the angel made himself scarce...but then again, the look on her face...

    "This won't end well for either of them." He murmured to himself.