Chapter 9: Transpiring Kindesses
~.~.~Toris, Eduard, and Raivis~.~.~
Hell, Treachery, 3:36 AM, July 13th, 2013
Eduard's POV
What we are doing is crazy.
No scratch that, what we are doing is downright dangerous.
Completely, no questions asked, we risk our souls, dangerous.
All three of us are cloaked, veils over our faces. I don't really prefer my vision being obscured, even a little bit, but Toris insists. He says we need to be secretive with this strange process. At the moment, I have my personal bag with me, with items in it. Medical items, mind you. Simple things like alcohol, peroxide, and healing herbs, all of which I got from Earth. Not all demons have the ability to heal simply by touch or thought, so I like to be prepared. I could have gotten bandages, but Toris said they would give us away, and what we're going to do. Getting caught, was the last thing either of us wanted to think about.
Raivis has a warm bowl filled with scentless soup and some of my herbs while Toris had a bucket of warm water with 3 washcloths in it.
All three of us are following the instructions of a dream. A dream. We had no idea if it was even real, and that was indeed something asking us to help the Angel. As usual, I was the reluctant one of our close little trio. I didn't want to think about getting caught, being tortured by the hands of...him.
We've all seen what Ivan is capable of, and if we're caught, there is no doubt in my mind that he will punish us. We are his servants, so by conduct, he is the one to punish us.
No one else.
However, Toris is firmly set on this, and Raivis follows him without question. I still applaud Toris's natural leader-like ability, because I am still following him. In my heart, I know I want to follow him and help in this. My mind will always be reluctant.
What we are doing is very simple to everyones eyes: clean the Angel, aid some of the Angel's treatable injuries, warm him in this blistering cold, and feed his starving soul.
If we could, we could also get him out of this place, and somehow getting him back to Earth where his Angelic allies can take care of him.
But we can't.
I, Toris, and Raivis are but assistants, mere servants. Servants are powerless.
We cannot fly unless told too.
We cannot leave unless our boss allows us too.
We only have access to very few rooms, set aside our own, and as demons, we would not have trouble getting through a barred area, but the Angel can't possibly have the same abilities, especially in his condition.
We, as servants, are bound. Bound to our bosses...to Ivan, forever.
Thankfully for us, demons captains must rest as well so sneaking became easier. We crossed the dimly lit lounge, looking around, seeing it was empty, before we went to the doors leading to the Punishment wing. The doors are large though. I helped Toris gently push one door open enough to let all three of us inside, and quiet enough to wake nobody. Once we were inside, Toris closed it enough so that we could leave and it appeared closed if a captain were to wake.
Once that was done, we started for the Special Punishment wing. As we neared it, Toris started talking.
"Alright you two, when we see him, we mustn't tell him our names. We can talk to him, but we cannot show our faces or tell our names." Toris said.
I rose my brow and looked over to Raivis. I couldn't see his face, but I could tell he was doing the same thing.
"W-Why not, Toris?" Raivis asked, beating me to it.
Toris sighed.
"Because, Raivis, even if we are helping him, he still mustn't know who we are. Yes, we are showing peace to him, but remember: we are still of a different Divine Realm. He simply mustn't know who we are personally." Toris said.
His words still left confusion hard on I and Raivis. However, we both took to Toris's word. He was right. Who knew what would happen if we made friends with the Angel. Perhaps something bad, either way.
Be that as it may, I sucked up my reluctance and entered the smaller wing once we reached it, Raivis behind me.
I cannot help but wonder something though. Who exactly is the Angel's soul left too? We are just helping him with little things, so it is obviously not us, but then who is it? Who's hands are the Angel's soul depending on?
I guess the answer is left to whoever sent us this message in our dream.
~.~.~Alfred~.~.~
Alfred's POV
On the one good night I get tired and comfortable enough to sleep, I wake up not some hours later, sweating and shivering, not just from the cold. I've been up for probably 30 minutes now...I don't want to go back to sleep…
I don't know exactly when I went to sleep, just that I did. I guess I had a lucky day yesterday since hardly any demons came to fuck around with me. Ivan came, but all he did was push me to the ground and leave. It confused me since I didn't see his cold smile when he left. Oh trust me, I was glad I didn't need to see that again, but it was weird not seeing it. After all, that smile was like another body part. Again though, I was relieved not to see it. Yesterday though, was a 'good day' I guess. I called extra bonus points when I found I wanted to sleep.
Ha, I'm still wrong.
Apparently, I can't even have the simple luxury of sleeping in this hellhole because of nightmares, as if I wasn't tortured enough when awake. Weather its my own doing or some asshole's, it still shook me enough to make me wake up, shaking, and scared.
The dream seemed so real though. It was me, in the middle of some room, tied up by something. I tried struggling out of it, but I couldn't. Surrounding me with the nameless and dark faces of laughing demons. I felt bruising grips on my limbs and claws digging into my skin. I screamed out for someone, anyone, to help me. I felt...naked. My skin felt colder. I immediately knew my toga was gone. Curling myself up, I tried keeping all those laughs and yells from my ears.
I felt so...naked, so bound, so small.
When I managed to wake up with a yell, I sat up, hissing in pain as I did. Immediately, the first thing I checked was if I still had my raggedy ass toga around me. I felt so relieved when it was. I also checked my surroundings, seeing I was still in my prison. For once, I was thankful to be in this spot. Even if I did find just a bit of relief, I still felt the same fear and humiliation from my dream. When I curled up in a sitting position, I knew it shook me to the core. I just wanted to shield myself from being exposed to any eyes that I knew weren't there.
I felt like crying, honestly, as I sat there trembling. I didn't though.
This place is making me go mad I think. Hardly anyone's come in to even insult me, much less beat the hell out of me. I have a couple theories though. Maybe they want me to break with the little to no contact of anyone or anything. That, or wait until some time os right to gang up on me and torture me until I can barely even flinch. Well, the lack of warmth and demons can probably create this type of thinking to any being, dead or alive, Divine or not. At least now I know this, because I can't really just ask a Divine what this is like, mainly because they may be gone for good. Either way I look at it, there's obviously any way to torture me, physical, mental, or otherwise.
...Its getting real hard to keep up my big badass bravado facade. Trying to keep from cringing in fear of what someone will do to me, is getting to be a real challenge. I have no idea how long I've been here. It could have been a few days or more, but I know I can feel this facade crumbling...crumbling.
But...but fuck if I'll let it though!
Knowing Heaven and its Angels, they'll come for me soon. Heaven wouldn't let one of it's Angels go to be tortured by Hell's minions. I mean, Mattie had to have noticed my disappearance by now and informed the Council. He has to have.
Well, that's what it boils down to for me trying to keep strong: Mattie.
Me and Matthew have been through thick and thin, he's been through the same crap I've been through, before...before he died. True, now that I'm where I am, I can't really lose him again, but...we both still worry for each other. Even in life, we were like two peas in a pod...I was devastated when he died.
We're pretty much a two man team now that we're in the same place, at least until the rest of our family comes and joins us. Then all of us can be together again.
Until then, I've only got Mattie, and I'll be damned before I separate from him again. I'm keeping this facade up for Mattie.
Occasionally though...I'll let it rest...let it rebuild. Like right now. This ball I've curled myself in is my little sanctuary...a sanctuary to let my facade crumble and rebuild itself for whatever forces will come for me tomorrow...and give myself a little comfort.
However, I feel my sanctuary dwindling, when I hear the doors to this place open.
I-Its late at night, or day, whatever...who wants to come in here so late!?
Snapping my eyes up from my knees, I see shadows coming this way. Mainly out of instinct, I'm backing away. These damn chains though don't let me go far, so I stopped after I tugged too hard on my neck. It didn't help that my body felt too broken to move too far. The footsteps that were getting closer, were in my vision now. They...didn't look like the other demons that would come in. There were 3 of them and they were cloaked and I couldn't see their faces of course, but they didn't have those creepy masks, just veils. All 3 of them had something in their hands. They were slowly coming up to my cell. I kept trying to back away as they got closer.
They stopped in front of the bars and started whispering to one another. Either I couldn't understand what they were saying or I couldn't hear them, but all I know is that they agreed to what they were talking about. Then, they stepped through the bars. I backed up more, gasping at his point, terrified at what they might do.
"S-Stay back!" I yelled.
No good. They still were slowly approaching me.
"Stay the hell away from me!" I yelled again, still backing away.
Just as I yelled that, the smallest and the tallest of the 3 stopped, while the middle still slowly approached me. I continued trying to back away.
"S-Stay the FUCK away from me! Why can't you bastards just leave me alone for one fucking day!?" I screamed, my throat too painful to bear anymore.
"P-Please be quiet. We won't hurt you." the middle one, who I assumed was the leader, said calmly and gently.
That stopped me if nothing else would. I stopped backing away, and he stopped coming towards me. I felt my eyes go wide at his cloaked figure, but I still remained cautious.
"Wh-What the hell…?" I stuttered.
"We're not here to hurt, we're here to help...a-as best we can anyway, but if we are to do that, you must be quiet." he said in a quiet voice.
I sat there, mouth agape and staring. I...simply couldn't believe them...DIDN'T believe them. These are freaking demons saying they want to help me in some way! I wasn't going to be easy like some dumb bimbo on a first date! I didn't step towards them.
"I-I don't f-fucking trust you! Wh-What if your lying!?" I yelled.
He visibly flinched before putting down the...bucket he had in his hands, and reaching in his cloak. I gasped a bit before seeing it was...a blanket?
He took out a blanket...the bad thing was, it looks inviting in this cold place. No! I can't trust these guys because of some damn blanket! They might shank me in between my ribs when I'm not looking!
"P-Please trust us as best you can...we...we just want to ease your suffering, just a bit...it won't be much, but...it will help." the leader said calmly, patiently.
I blinked in surprise. He sounded legit. Even if he did, it still took me a while to start crawling back towards them.
Well, to the best of my ability. Once I stepped just a few inches towards them, I felt my knees give out, and I was on my side against the cold ground. He yelled out in pain when pain wracked my whole body again. No sooner...did I feel 3 pairs of hands gently help me sit up. I felt dizzy suddenly, and I felt another coughing fit coming along. Once I was sitting up, I immediately keeled over forward again to let it all out, though one of these guys were holding me up by my chest and shoulders.
Once I finished, I was trembling again, and my throat was raw. Then...I felt something soft go around my body. That blanket the leader had. I was sat up straight again, wheezing. I peered up through my dirty matted and kind of longer bangs to see the the smallest of the trio approach with what looked like a bowl in his hands. I saw steam come from it, but I didn't smell anything.
"P-Please tilt his h-head back a bit. I-I need you t-to relax while I do this. I-I may s-spill some." he stuttered.
Not a second later, I feel hands gently tilt my head back. I flinched, still not quite trusting them.
"O-Open your mouth, please." the smaller guy asked.
I peered at him before opening my mouth. Seconds later, I nearly choke on something warm and liquidy going down my throat. I manage to swallow it though as this weird liquid waterfalled down my throat. It felt...good on my raw and sore throat. It tasted funny, but it didn't taste bad; how I couldn't smell it though, I'll never know. I closed my eyes when this soup, I guess I could call it, started to really sooth my throat. The soreness and pain I generally felt when I talked or even breathed, soothed away.
Of course, it had to run out eventually. I already missed those weird effects. Was it some sort of healing soup or something?
After he took the empty bowl away, my head was gently tilted back to where it was seconds before. My eyelids started to feel a bit heavy and my stomach felt full as well. Well, half, but its still good. I haven't eaten in a while.
"Listen, we are going to wash the blood and the dirt off. I just wanted to warn you because of some of the open wounds." I heard the leader tell me.
"Also, I'll be using some medical substances on you...it may sting so, please keep calm." the tallest one said.
I turned my head in a bit of worry to the leader, but I felt an encouraging hand gently squeeze my shoulder. Panting, I nodded a bit. All 3 of them went to the bucket the leader put down, and got 3 separate washcloths out of it. I then felt warm water on me. It felt greeted and denied. Greeted, because it was finally washing away this filth all over me, finally cleaning my wounds. Denied because they still brushed against my open wounds, causing pain to shoot through my body.
Though, I would gladly have warm water than whatever the tallest guy was applying to my wounds directly. I could tell he was trying to be gentle, but it still shot more pain through my body, making me cry out.
Wait. Was that rubbing alcohol I smell?
Ignoring the obvious smell of alcohol, I quickly focused on the stinging pain going through every nerve in my back. I arched, hissing. The tallest guy was cleaning the wounds on my back. Those weren't stinging, they were getting to be very painful. The string of whimpers that escaped my mouth lasted for at least 2 minutes before the pain became more bearable. Panting, holding the blanket close to me, I noticed they didn't touch my wings. Maybe it was a good idea though...from the damage Ivan had done to them, they weren't healing properly. It only got worse since the demons liked to target my wings more than anything else. I'm surprised they haven't been torn off yet...I hope they're not though, that's a pain too unbearable for any Divine.
"W-Why...are you...helping me?" I managed to say in a low voice. The leader, who was washing my arms, looked to me, even if I couldn't see him for sure.
"Well…" he started before stopping.
He sighed and reached his hand out to clean my chest. I stopped him though and took the washcloth from him. I could wash my chest myself. I started gently wiping at my bloody and dirty body part, being even more gentle with any of the wounds.
"...We are the ones who sympathize…" the leader suddenly said, head lowering to his lap.
I stopped, looking at him, eyes widening a bit. I started slowly and silently wiping my face.
"So...you were the guys...who Ivan said could hear me?" I asked.
All 3 of them either flinched, slowed what they were doing, or both...maybe I shouldn't have mentioned Ivan. I wiped my face fully by now and put the cloth down.
"I'm sorry...you don't need to answer." I said to the leader.
He looked up at me. I tried giving him a smile, one that says its alright. I don't think I did it right though, I can't see my face. Then again, I guess I did. The leader straightened his position a bit and went for the washcloth to clean it in the bucket he brought.
Another 20 minutes or so, they were done. I felt somewhat refreshed. With this blanket, I was also starting to get tired. My eyelids by now were just begging to close. I was snapped awake however by the leader of the trio talking to me.
"If you can, you may fall asleep. You can use the blanket, though...it will be gone by morning." he said.
Sighing, I laid down, using my arms and the blanket as a pillow. I saw all 3 of them about to leave.
"Wait…" I croaked out.
All 3 turned to me. I felt a genuine smile cross my face.
"Thank you…" I said.
I meant it.
The leader stepped up and kneeled to my level.
"We'll come back when you need us most." he whispered.
That sort of made my heart sink, but it made me feel better that I wasn't completely alone in this place. Even as I watched them leave my cell and the wing itself, I couldn't help but thank them to myself again…
...Now, to hopefully get a dreamless sleep at the least. Seconds later, I let my eyelids close, the blanket enveloping me in warmth.
~.~.~Ivan~.~.~
Hell, Treachery, 8:56 AM, July 13th, 2013
Ivan's POV
I got up with an early start, I think. When I dressed and went to the lounge, no one was there yet. Raising a brow, I figured the other captains are still sleeping the morning away. Winter will most likely lash them if they sleep any longer, but that isn't my problem.
I didn't feel particularly hungry this morning so I decided to just get ready for the day itself.
General Winter had announced that the captains were to meet today over the overall statues of his plan. Starting a Divine war takes time, afterall, and in order to do that, one opposing team must come for what is lost. It is already to have one Angel on our territory, but 2 or more Angels will cause an even bigger fuss.
Just what we want.
Entering my assistants bedroom, I was surprised to find them still sleeping. Raising a brow at the sight of all 3 of them still tucked in their beds, I decided to wake them.
Stretching my arms wide, I clapped my hands together in a fast motion. This caused a small shockwave to go through the room, waking all 3 of them with a start. I folded my hands behind my back.
"I suggest you 3 don't pick up the other captains sleeping habits. Get up." I told them, leaving the room after receiving an agreement from them.
I headed for the punishment wing. For some reason, my need to see the Angel grew. I figured I may as well pay him a visit before I start the day.
Upon entering the wing, I notice it was more quieter. Generally, these halls are filled with cries of pain, pathetic whimpers, and maniacal mumblings. I didn't even hear those going through the halls. Of course, I started hearing fearful gasps as I went through, but I heard nothing else. Once I reached the entrance of the wing Alfred was in, I listened.
It was...quiet. I became even more suspicious.
I slowly opened the door and entered, going to the cell. Alfred was still there, but...he was sleeping. To baffle me even more, there was a blanket around him to shield his body from the cold. Narrowing my eyes, I stepped through the bars and kneeled down to get a better look at him. Even though his whole body was covered by the suspicious piece of cloth, it was still evident of bruising on his paler skin, along with scrapes and scratches and cuts. Even so, why was he so clean?
The day before when I saw him, his skin was caked in blood and dirt, including his face. Now it seemed the only visible places on his body that held any dirt, was his hair, and of course, his wings.
Rubbing my chin, I continued wondering how this could be possible...a prisoner cannot easily clean himself, he has no access to anything, and there is no way Alfred could escape the bindings I have him in. I wanted to check further and see if anymore of his body was the same as his face. Reaching a hand out, I started to pull the cloth away. When it was down to his waist, I saw Alfred shiver and curl up, and continuing to shiver. I stopped lifting the blanket away to blink and look at Alfred. Indeed, his body was clean as well, void of any blood or dirt that painted his tanned and bruised skin yesterday. This made me more suspicious. How did he get clean in a matter of hours?
That is...unless someone helped him last night.
I felt my grip on the blanket tighten a bit, already thinking of who it was.
Although, I may have cracked the floor and woken Alfred, if I hadn't heard the blonde mumble something.
Calming my rising rage and suspicion, I raised a brow at the sleeping Angel, leaning in closer to hear what he was still mumbling about. Glancing at his face, his brows were furrowed, but in a worried sort of way instead of angry or fearful.
No.
He looked worried.
I leaned in closer until I could just hear his words.
"M...Mat…Mat...tie..." I heard.
I furrowed my own brows in confusion. 'Mattie'? Who was this person he was speaking of? Is it someone he knows? It has to be, otherwise, Alfred wouldn't be speaking of him in his sleep. He continued doing so. From the look on his face, this 'Mattie' must be important. I've seen some humans make a similar face expression for people they worried for. Quite pathetic, but its basic human nature.
Alfred continued doing it, as well as shivering. This 'Mattie' and Alfred must have been very close for Alfred to still be muttering about him. For some odd reason though, I sat and watched Alfred in his curled position for what seemed like hours, when it was merely minutes. I just sat there, looking at the sleeping Angel and his cleansed skin.
During that time, I had the sudden urge to touch Alfred, just to feel his skin.
Reaching a gloved hand out, I stroked Alfred's cheek with my index finger and middle finger. Even through the gloves...his skin had a...softness to it.
I don't know why, but I found myself liking this sort of feeling. Through these damned gloves though, it made it harder to properly feel the skin on Alfred's bruised face.
Bruised…
Ah, that's right...Alfred's face is bruised from being hit so many times…
Bruises are rough and ugly to look at.
This one little patch of unmarked skin has its color still, and its...soft.
I retracted my hand quickly.
Its not that I didn't like touching him, its just...why did I? And...so gently?
It took me a moment to realize that silence hung heavy in the air. I looked back down at Alfred's sleeping face. He wasn't mumbling anymore and his brows were their original straight shape.
He looked...peaceful. Well, besides the shivering of his body. Sighing, I put the blanket back over his body. What does it matter if we lose one blanket?
He stopped shivering once I did, and even brought it a bit closer to him.
Standing up, I turned around to leave. I gave one glance to Alfred before stepping through the bars and finally, leaving the wing. Upon leaving, I noticed Toris, Eduard,and Raivis on walking down the hall. They had passed this wing already so they didn't see me.
Immediately, I took a step forward, before stopping.
My mind told me to punish them...I know it was them who cleaned and warmed Alfred, but...at the same time...I gave thought to just leave them alone. At the very least, not go to them about it today. If my suspicions are correct though, I won't be gentle. For now though, I felt the need to be alone for a brief time. Leaving the Punishment wing, I started for amy bedroom, many thoughts on my mind...too many thoughts.
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to properly grasp what I did.
I just wanted to touch Alfred, and leave no marks on his skin...by now I should be punishing my assistants or interrogating them.
...I can still feel that softness to Alfred's skin, even if I didn't quite feel him with my own fingertips. I was like it was purposefully lingering on my gloved hands to antagonize and laugh at these sudden...gentler wants.
I still wanted Alfred, and I may keep wanting...just for now, I wanted to feel that softness.
For once in my existence, I did not want to...hurt. That's the only word I can think of…
Maybe I'm losing my touch...I need to heighten my punishments to other souls...maybe I could light the fire to that feeling again, that sadistic maiming feeling. Its kept me where I am as a captain, and a well respected one...a simple Angel won't change that...he can't.
~.~.~IX~.~.~
The Angel is not alone,
for not all Demons are cruel and cold.
One particular Demon though,
his stone cold heart feels a strange and warm spark.
AN: Uuuuuummmmm….fuck.
I have no idea what might piss my viewers off more, the fact that i've been missing from planet Earth for a month, or the fact that this chapter MAY not be as some had planned it to be.
To start off with, here's an apology for my absence. -inhales-
I'M SO SORRY GUYS! After I posted the last chapter, I got real sick for two weeks, and then got caught up in some convention drama! To make matters worse, I went through an infamous writer's block for a while, doubled with the lack of motivation!
Reading your guys's comments though, asking where I was and how you missed this story kinda helped in getting me back some motivation C:
Though, I still have a smidge of insecurity since some commenters, what I can assume, must have thought the Baltic Trio would save Alfred, but you must remember, this is a RusAme, and as spoken before, the Baltics are assistants to Ivan (again), and assistants don't ever have as much power as a boss can. I don't know, I'm trying to stick with good or decent ranking with the Hellions that make sense.
Either way, here's the long awaited chapter 9, and I will try, I WILL TRY, to get chapter 10 posted before the 20th, because I really shouldn't have left like that :C
Read, review, and favorite if you like it enough~!
~Sunny