The Devil's Love

||. Chapter 55: Preceding .||

Loud screeching and roaring sounds pierced through the atmosphere, halting the actions of every guardian and angel.  Snowbreaker made her way through the air, her long whiskers succeeded in blocking the knife that was thrown towards her to harm the child standing behind her. She snarled at Carson's soldier, swallowing him up in a large gulp. Turning around to face the child, she extended her talons to gently push the child into the home and shut the door. If looks could kill, everyone who met her eyes would immediately turn to dust. He only managed to smile, burying the proud feeling at the core of his heart. Angelo scanned the surroundings, meeting Carson who snarled ferociously at his presence. Clearly, he was not welcome. Lithius swooped down from Angelo's side to the ground to break the fight between one of his own from Carson's chosen soldier who immediately stepped back. 

"It cannot be," a voice emerged among the crowd. "It's not real. A Srake does not have an owner."

"They are all dead," another said, dropping the weapons as shuffling boots were heard. "Even its last kin was killed during the Aurora Battle. This is not possible." 

Angelo's dark eyes scanned the surroundings. It would fuel his satisfaction to see his enemies defeated, but the thought of soldiers who were recruited by force because of promises the elders did, Angelo prayed he could save the innocent ones. Snowbreaker sailed upwards towards her owner, circling his body gracefully and stopped behind his grey wings. From afar, it felt as if Snowbreaker herself had merged with Angelo, claiming him as her official owner. She snarled at Carson who flew a little forward with the tip of his sword pointing towards Angelo. The younger tapped on her cheeks gently, soothing her rage and watched as she flew off towards the red tigers who stopped themselves by the balcony of a half-ruined tower.  Their heads bowed lowly, submitting obediently towards Snowbreaker. 

"Angelo, making such a big entrance just like you always do," Carson mused, tilting his head to the side. "Do you think you and your little army can destroy my plan? Such disrespect for your lover when you did not even spare some time to mourn for her. Do I have to remind you that she is dead, or soon to be?"

Angelo stood still. His wings steadied, basking under the sunlight that stopped behind him. From afar, Carson seemed to be living beneath Angelo's shadow.

"Death is not your department Carson," Angelo spoke. "She is never dead. You make it looks like she is dying, but you will not succeed." 

Carson clicked his tongue, turning his head to the opposite direction as he huffed. He crossed his arms, sword in between his arms as he shook his head. 

"The resemblance between the both of your actions really annoys me. I see what you are doing," Carson mused, untangling the sword, holding it in his right palms. "You want to plummet into her lands. You have such a huge desire to live in Ansel's dimension now, don't you? Here I thought, you might be working your way to bring her back. You just proved to me how ignorant you are, Angelo. Ansel's disappearance from my mansion was just to return her body so the humans would believe you. Are you so desperate to gain their trust? Are you even planning on saving her? Or do you want to join my side? I could save a space for you to rule if you listen to every single bit of my word." 

Two rulers in Halion is out of the question. Angelo knew it deep down. And he knew, he promised Ansel that Carson would never walk on Earth again and never had a chance to ruin anyone's life. He closed his eyes, trying to swallow the guilt of leaving Ansel's mending process behind. Time is still his enemy at the moment, but Carson needed to be gone because he could have a peaceful process. Halion back in order, then, Ansel. 

Life always works in a funny way. Not everything will process the way a person desired it. He would desire a peaceful life within the walls of his caves, yet he was dragged into a mess that has been lasting for possibly a century or more.  Even he had lost count to it. At that moment, he realized that he never knew how long he had lived.