The Devil's Love

||. Chapter 17: Dilemma .||

The scent of coffee beans stung his nose as he worked on blending the fresh mangoes and kiwis. It was a blessing to his mind, to keep his thoughts to himself. He sighed, picking up the cheesecake from the showcase to slice it for the customers. During weekdays, the café was crowded with customers, especially during noon and tea time. Dinner would be optional. Angelo settled the drinks and cakes in a tray before tapping the bell to alert his customer about their orders. Wiping his palms on his apron, he was startled when he came face to face with Jonathan who appeared out of nowhere.

"Jon, please, stop doing that," Angelo said with gritted teeth, trying his best not to give the younger boy a punch. "What happened this time? When I saw your face around here, it is usually bad news, so now, spit it out before I have orders sailing in through delivery."

Jon cleared his throat as he took the tray from Angelo's grip and tightened his palms around Angelo's wrist. The elder was taken aback by his actions yet he let it slide when Jon dragged him back to the kitchen behind, shutting the door. Jon's blue eyes glanced around the place attentively, sucking in the tense air around them.

"The guardians are rebelling, Angelo. We need some kind of order up there. The missing ashes are now the news headline. They are fighting among themselves. Your brother disappeared when I gave him a visit. Three guardians of the trees were murdered and they are putting blame on each other," explained Jon, his blue eyes fixated on Angelo dangerously. "We need you back there. Your brother, Lithius is missing. We searched for him among all the planets and no one saw him, not even his closest allies. You need to return before things turned upside down."

"I cannot return, Jon. You and I both know that. I caused this. I lost my powers. If I were to return, they would put the blame on me again. It is better if I stay on Earth. Stay mundane," argued Angelo. "They put the blame on me when Carson decided to conduct a military rule in the Heavens and when I saved them, I too was blamed for the mess I created. What do all of you want from me? I can't go running my life pleasing everyone around me, Jonathan. I can't and I won't return back again."

Jonathan silenced himself at those words. His blue eyes met those broken black ones as he recalled the times when the guardians went knocking onto Angelo's door with pity. Angelo shut them out, explaining kindly that his business was to deal with the souls. In all fairness, Angelo's main duty was to guard the souls of all beings, making sure they obtained the punishment they deserved and move on to assigned paths for their next life. Nothing about position matters to the angel. Angelo wasn't just the guardian, he had been the angel of Death. They should fear him, but instead, they mocked him for his hiding without understanding his one true duty. Just because he had been Carson's brother, Angelo was dragged into this mess.

"If you do not return, Angelo, the war would happen on those golden tiles again. I have no power to protect them. Their patience is running thin. Some are demanding your return. We no longer have democracy in our hands, Angelo," stated Jon truthfully, leaning his back on the cold refrigerator behind him. "I understand that you have no power, but again, you could try. The curse Angelo. You have to sacrifice something to gain your powers again. You have to do it. She's a mortal. Are you going to choose the girl over us?"

Angelo scrunched his nose as he grabbed Jonathan by his collar, slamming him onto the wall next to the fridge angrily. His eyes turned dark with rage only to earn a soft chuckle from the younger.

"I am not dragging her into this pain, Jonathan. You are asking me to love her and then break her just for my own benefit. I'm not doing that, Jonathan. I might be an angel of death once but I do not use someone who has nothing to do with whatever that is happening to us," warned Angelo. "I am not watching her die just because I need to restore my abilities to save those selfish people up there. Tell them I am not returning back to them. It's their mess now. I save them once. That's enough."