You are My Doom

Chapter 6: Doom

Chapter 6: Doom

"Help me." Karma's plea is a knife in my heart, a blade of steel directly to my soul.

She is bloody and bruised, violated and scared. I cannot save her, and she knows it. Her unyielding begging for me to break the bonds tying her to the monster in the court is a cruel punishment I deserve.

I am her brother, her Prince, and yet, I did not have the power to save her from a fate worse than death. She is a lamb, kept to bleed in the name of an absentee King; only this lamb is deprived of the comforting embrace of the end.

A small hand caresses my cheek in a silent, plea. The gentle touch captures my heart, and violently rips the beating organ out of my chest as she is dragged from my sight, back into the arms of her capture.

I couldn't watch over Eden today. Pain had an assignment for me. It was the first time he's given me a task to do with the family business since my transition and subsequent coronation. I think he feels strange giving his older brother orders, especially now that I have come into my full power.

Pain was the only one who watch me transition. He saw the agony I went through during the twelve-hour process. When it was finished, I had to prove to Lucifer I would be a worthy successor if he was ever unable to fulfill his roll as leader of the Dark Angels. Bail, my father's oldest friend and Angel of False Idols, was the only one to contest my claim to the title.

Ever since coming home, Pain has only called on me for emergencies. So, when he reached out to me this morning, asking me to investigate one of his casino's dealers, I quickly accepted the job.

I found out Dylan was not only skimming off of the house's share, but he was stacking the deck to allow local card sharks to win more of their hands. His little arangment was clever, and probably would have gone unnoticed in most casinos. However, no one can take money from Pain without him noticing. The man loves his wealth and won't let anyone diminish it.

After dealing with the sticky-fingered dealer, I checked my phone and realize I have two missed calls. One, from an unknown local number and one from Eden. A bolt of fear shoots through me at the thought something could have happened to Ceribe. I quickly hit redial, but get no answer. Only then, do I check the time, it's nearly 11pm. She's probably asleep.

I decide to check on her anyways. Cloaked in shadows, I stand in the far corner of her small dingy apartment. My catches when I see Ceribe curled up in bed with Eden. My big bad Hell Hound is snuggled into the side of my sleeping cherub. The image makes me smile.

I can see her creamy skin shining like a beacon in the dark space. I try and nearly fail to staunch my desire to run my fingers along her smooth, bare legs. When my hand moves out from my cover, Ceribe's head shoots up. She can sense my presence. I take my hand back, hoping she doesn't wake Eden, but it's too late. Ceribe is hobbling out of the bed and making her way towards me.

In that moment, I hate myself for forgetting even for a second how much my best friend is hurting. I can't believe I allowed myself to get distracted when Ceribe is clearly in so much pain. I reach my hand out and rub her between the ears. She licks my hand softly, and I allow the shadows to consume my hand once again. Satisfied with her contact with me, Ceribe moves back towards the bed. That's when I notice Eden staring straight at me.

It take a moment to check that I am still safely in the shadow realm. She can't actually see me; I'm sure. The thought is little comfort when her terrified gaze is aimed directly at me. I've scared her. I try to make my self leave, I really do, but I can't shake the feeling that I need to watch out for her. This world is too tainted and cruel for her sweet and caring nature to survive, but I don't want her light to die. I can't explain why, but knowing that there is still one unselfish innocent in the world is important to me. Eden gives me hope, hope that humans can be redeemed, that they are not all beyond help.