Chaos & Order

Chapter 11

Aliyah sighed as she closed her bedroom door. She took off her shoes before going to the bathroom. She ran the water and prepared for a nice, hot bath. As she undressed, she sensed Siel nearby. He hadn't passed the doorway. She contemplated calling for him, knowing he would come in an instant, but thought better of it. Instead, she slowly lowered herself into the steaming water.

"I drank blood...and I'm still in control. But...it was Siel's. I don't know if I can face him after that." She blushed, hugging her legs tight.

Aliyah sat in the bath quietly. When she was finished, she came out in only a robe without drying her hair. And, still in her bathrobe, she collapsed onto her bed. She soon felt her eyes become heavy and she drifted off to sleep. Too much had happened today. Too much and not enough time to register it.

When she woke up, Aliyah still felt chilly. Blankets were another thing she didn't bother with. With a sniffle, she stood up and got dressed for the day.

Moments later, the bedroom doors opened and Aliyah came out and walked past Siel without a word. Her angel followed after her, turning invisible.

"Princess." Siel simply said.

"Morning, Siel..." Aliyah muttered.

"How are you this morning?" Siel asked in a formal tone she hadn't heard before.

Aliyah frowned at his new tone, "I'm still tired. I might just stay in my room today after my lessons."

"Very well." Siel said, "If anything occurs, I shall appear."

Aliyah only nodded as she walked into the dining hall and sat in her usual chair, Siel remaining invisible behind her. A servant came with a plate full of breakfast food and was about to set it in front of Aliyah only to be stopped, "I'll just have some fruit this morning."

"Y-yes, ma'am..." The servant bowed and took the plate back to the kitchen.

"I would suggest nothing too strong. You made a wise choice." Siel's voice said to her.

Aliyah didn't respond to him. Not long after, the servant returned with a bowl of fruit salad, leaving it in front of the princess. All the while, Siel was silent. The two seemed to engage in some level of silent treatment--showing neither hostility nor acknowledgement towards each other. Aliyah quietly ate her dish before leaving a half-eaten bowl. She walked away without a second glance, going to her lessons. When she left, Siel floated to wander the castle in his incorporeal state.

Hours later, after completing her lessons, Aliyah walked through the corridors. She made her way back to her room. Vaguely, she sensed Siel's presence behind her. She briefly looked back and saw nothing. The angel was still invisible.

"Good afternoon, princess." Siel said in his stiff, formal voice.

Aliyah stopped just outside her bedroom door, "Stop it."

"What?" Siel simply asked.

"Since when are you so formal around me? Please, go back to the way you were before..." Aliyah choked, keeping her back to him, not wanting to face him.

"I can't. Because circumstances were different." Siel answered.

"You're supposed to be my best friend. Friends don't treat each other like that." Aliyah's voice cracked. It was getting hard for her to hold it together.

"Friends don't do what we did last night. Aliyah, I'm a Guardian Angel. I've had over sixteen charges before you and, afterward, I'll go to the next one." Siel stated, a bit more defensively than what he intended, "Aliyah...I'm a guardian. Allow me to be JUST that."