Diabolus: The Lost Phoenix

Chapter Thirteen

KAI WOODS

I tossed and turned, but it was impossible to find the right position. A lingering haze of sleep sat somewhere at the back of my mind, but it's too far away to reach, floating in the river of my anxious thoughts. Only when I finally managed to fall asleep, Lexi's shaky voice woke me up in the middle of the night; though I can't say I was actually sleeping through this tense period. Thinking about Leonardo, Avery, and someone named Yellow Eye. Not having any answers for days, finally, we got one.

Avery is alive.

I don't think I can fall asleep, not after the news. Thinking about the next step, planning it all over and over again in my head; at this point, I know our only task is to get Avery out of there alive. I won't repeat the past mistakes. I won't lose anyone else.

Still somewhere deep inside me, I can't stop blaming myself for the past mistakes. Especially that I left Brent behind, and for a year I thought he was dead. If I hadn't left him there, alone with Pereira... Everything would still be the same. I was selfish, that's why we are where we are now. I am short tempered and did some wrong in my life but I can see myself as a bad man. I was just washed with bad experience and born more short-tempered than most.

But it's the pride. Pride that stops me from getting things back to how they were. And I begin to feel that no matter how hard I try, I just can't do anything right. My strength seem to disappear. My every move doesn't feel adequate to the demands. The raw feeling in my chest is something to be ashamed of. I need to change something.

And that means the blood has to be spilled.

I watched Beverly, sleeping so calmly, sometimes she snuggles deeper into the silken duvet. Her golden hair spread out around her head like a halo, making her look more like an angel than a human. She's my angel, my light, my love. I chuckle when I realize that the devil could fall in love with someone so pure and good. But she makes me a better person, a better version of my own self.

God, how much I love this woman. How much I love her silky skin, her perfect blue eyes, deep like the ocean. Only now I realize I have been in love with her since the day I saw her, and yet I still get the same feeling I got when she first told me she loves me back.

Her lips against mine gives me such a rush that nearly makes me fall over. Each day with her is another day I fall more for her smile, her laugh, her personality and everything else about her.

She's my number one, my priority, and I'll do everything to keep her safe and happy.

Even if I'll have to sacrifice my life for her.

But as soon as her glimmering eyes opened early in the morning; about 7 A.M., we both made a decision. We had a conversation about her dreams, and there's only one person that deserves to know what Beverly was seeing for a year.

"Kai? Beverly?"

I knocked on Brent's door, and with seconds he opened it; I know him long enough, he's definitely a morning person. He wears his shorts and a t-shirt, and the sweat covering his skin and soaked into his clothes means he was working out. Like he does every morning.

"Morning. We need to talk."

"Um... Sure."

Brent steps aside, letting us enter the room. The room is light blue with beautiful murals on the wall, just like ours and probably any other room in the hotel; but the it's so neat that even I start to feel dirty. That's the thing about Brent, he's a pedant, and can't stand anything that's dirty or not right.

Funny, considering that blood doesn't bother him at all.

And of course, everywhere he goes, he always carries a framed picture of Avery; a picture he took when they were together. This is probably the only thing he has to remind him of their relationship; though no matter how many years have passed, he still feels the same about her.