Don't Blink
Chapter 11
One by one the lower ranks of immortals have been targeted the past week. All those who serve high being such as Cupid, father time, Mother Nature, and many more have been killed and left for dead. The stakes were high that man in the moon knew who the criminals were but didn't know how to explained this. He debated on telling the guardians on demonic beast who appear in angelic form yet this was angel's kin. There was a major debated line on who is in charge of whom on the protection of the world's mortals.
The odds were slim and the man in moon notified the Covenants of the problem.
.o0o.
Delaney's POV
I sat on top of a roof watching over the town. It has been a bit over a week since the last I saw Jack and I talked. After him asking about y past I became insecure on everything which I distracted the situation on work. Sometimes I would catch a glimpse of Jack now and then playing with Jamie or other children after school. Although, he seemed to be focused on them than their surroundings.
"Delaney," shouted Cupcake from under a tree.
I smiled in seeing Cupcake. She was fourteen now no longer baby fat girl but a beauty young lady with long brown hair and eyes. She was wearing a black shirt, jeans, pink winter coat and backpack. I jumped down and stood beside her as she pulls out her cellphone to pretend she was calling somebody. It was serious age where teenagers needed to start growing up but that didn't stop us immortals. For example, Jack hangs with Jamie, Bunnymund with Sophie occasionally, and I with Cupcake. It was a bond that neither of us could break yet our humans friends have to reenact our conversation in public so no one would think they're crazy.
"How's it going?" Cupcake asked.
"I'm doing well, how was class?" I replied.
"It was okay, though some girls teased me," Cupcake answered.
I sighed, why are today's teenagers harsh on popularity and fashion? You see Cupcake has been bullied about her figure since elementary. Although she was now in middle school and grown out of her rather large in appearance and stature to be tall and curvy.
"They're just jealous," I assure her.
Cupcake rolled her eyes, "Yeah if you say so."
"Really," I told her. "I mean, I would be jealous of you miss curvy. Look I'm flat as a stick!" as I touch the front of my body for example on the lack of a bosom.
Cupcake lips twitched a little trying to suppress a smile. So I continued to praise on her beauty and humiliate myself on being skin and bones that I could actually be a ghost. Soon enough Cupcake was laughing.
"Are you laughing at me," I sarcastically said before joining the fit of giggles. "Or are you laughing with me?"
"With you," Cupcake giggled catching her breath. "Thanks Delaney."
"You're welcome, sweetie." I said tucking a strand of hair off her face. "What are friends for?"
Cupcake nodded and we headed back to her house to do our usually routine when I visit. We usually start with a snack of something warm in her room, and then I help tutor her with homework or a project. Afterwards it's just girl talk. Cupcake sat by her desk typing the final draft of her essay while I sat on her bed playing with a stuff unicorn.
"So any cute boys?" I asked
"No," Cupcake simply said.
"Oh c'mon Cupcake," I whined in playful tone. "What's the gossip, who's dating who, or any cute boys going around? Jamie looks smashing if I say so myself."
Blushed cascaded over Cupcakes cheek; of course Cupcake would fancy Mr. Jamie Bennett since the start of their friendship. All it took to get the serious girl to have fun was a bit of a snowball and belief in fairytales. Cupcake noticed me staring and chuckled with a nervous look. Although a frown soon appeared when she told about some of the spoil bitch's taunt her that she would never get a chance on getting a boyfriend, not even in high school. Oh that made my blood boil for no one dares patronized my kids under my wings. But taking a deep breath, I assure her that they probably watch Mean Girls to end up be a down cast wannabe. Cupcake chuckled, glad to have a friend in me, a girl and not the boys; as in Jamie, Caleb, Claude, Pippa, and Monty.
"What was your school life like was before you became an angel?" Cupcake asked.
I stiffen at first not sure what to say. My hand fiddle with the capsule in my jacket unsure I should show her my early life. Cupcake only knew my angel life never my human. With a deep breath I left the capsule be and look at her. "Well, I grew up during a time of war. First World War actually so I had to help out around the farm while my father and brother went to war. I probably made it through middle school before dropping out."
"Which war?" Cupcake now intrigued.
"World War one," I answer. "Back then education wasn't like today. Many public schools focused on reading, writing, and the basic of mathematics unless you were in a private school. Otherwise, girls were taught how to be a lady, to entertain future spouses and house cleaning."
"Wow, sexist don't you think?"
"You don't know the half of it."
"What about the twenties, is it like the movie Chicago?"
"Not quite," I sighed. "Only half of it is true. Yeah, it was roaring with music, dancing, and alcohol. All the gals in their glad rags with their daddy's going to joints to dance the night away." Then I realize I was speaking in my old slang. Cupcake was amazed asking more about my flapper life. I gave her a clean edited version of it, cutting out Dean and told her I was a singer at a club call the Cat's Meow in New York City. Cupcake offered to search the internet to find a pictures or documents, but I lied telling her the Cat's Meow was demolished after the great depression. That was a disappointment, but it was for the best. For if she knew what happen to Delly Evan's sympathy would cloud her brown eyes.
"Cupcake, Dinner!" Cupcake mom calls out.
"Well, that is my cue to leave." I announced standing out and headed towards the window.
"Will I see you again later?" she asked.
"Yep," with a salute I took off.
.o0o.
I silently open Sophie's window during the middle of the night to check on her. Once I got inside, I found the bed empty. That's odd; usually Sophie would be asleep at such hour. Also she grew out of the stages of climbing to her parent's room when scared. Then again, last time I saw the little seven years old she was gossiping about going to a slumber party. Guess she went to the party.
So taking a deep breath, I turned around in preparation on leaving when a hole suddenly appeared. I jumped on the bed attracting my spear and pointed it at the intruder. However I lowered my weapon down to see a familiar face.
"Bunnymund," I sighed in relief.
The Easter Bunny hopped out of his hole caring an unconscious Sophie. For the past five years, Bunnymund and Sophie have been best of friends. On rare occasions, he would visit Sophie and bring her to the warren to decorate eggs. The little girl was a ball of energy that Mrs. Bennett would need a helping hand. Little did she know that the helping hand was a paw of a guardian of hope?
The bunny's ears perked up and smirk, "Long time no see, eh Sheila?"
"Probably a month," I answered stepping down and sheathed my weapons. "Kidnapping no doubt."
"Awe, just takin' the ankle biter out." Bunnymund said, tucking Sophie in bed.
"You should be careful Bunny," I warned. "You can't take her out continuously."
Bunnymund shrugged at the comment finishing her work. I sighed shaking my head, why are male stubborn to realize the consequences on believers. Someday the children will have to grow up in a natural pace. What's the use? So saying bye quietly, I jumped out the window into the quiet neighborhood. I felt like walking for a bit, deciding to hang out at the park.
The park was quiet, empty, with nobody out at such late hour. A coat of winter snow covered the playground, no trace of green than the top of evergreen pine. With sigh, I dusted the snow off the swing and sat down, swinging some. Just a simple quiet night to be alone, humming a soft melody. Alone time, as I looked up to the sky to see the golden sand dance around the sky giving people sweet dreams.
Snap!
Immediately I got on my feet prepare for anything. After the incident with Pitch, I trusted no one except those worthy during the night. There was nobody in front, but when I turned around everything shattered. Standing before me were three statute appeal creatures each covering a certain part of their face? They stood under a street lamp in position similar to the Town squares statue but they could fool me. A moment of further examination when I realized what they were. Instantly I kept my eyes wide open.
Impossible!
Standing before me were three dark angels. Dark angels were not like fallen angels in biblical tales of Lucifer and hell. They are not the demons that prey on the mortal being but instead the living essences of the immortal. Long ago; dark angels converted from ordinary statues appeared as they did under the human eyes in resemblance of stone statues of winged, humanoid figure in chiton. The archives stated that was during the dark ages through renaissance before the covenant and other immortals vanquished them before the era of enlightened. How they were destroyed is unknown but in order to sustain these dark entities was by not blinking. My eyes were wide open trapping the fugitives in place while I grasped my pendant summoning Rafe.
Although their aura seemed dark their appearances differ from the contents in the archives. These Dark angels seemed familiar, dressed in modern wear except not quite. From what I could see under the street light completely said it all when they were revived into solitude sate. Regardless of original ethnicity, a dark angel's skin was exceptionally black like cast iron. Also they seemed more flexible instead of a statue, body movement similar to a mechanical robot. But what I found intriguing was the differences between the three. One had solid black eyes, the second one sharp enlarged teeth, while the others pointed ears with horns. All three hard sharp claws and black wings mixed with a bat physique, but each of them was different.
"So you guys are the one's causing trouble," I stated. Rumor spread about mass murders of the lower class of immortals. How one minute they seemed fine but days later found dead closely mummified.
The demonic eye one tilted her head. "Interesting, you can see us much clearly than the lower beings."
"You mean the cherubs, the fairies, and the respected immortals," I corrected.
The only male nodded, "You're heart beat is fast. Are you scared?"
"I'm cold," I sarcastically answered denying the fact I was somewhat scared. The odds were not in my favor and with the winds blowing in my face making my eyes dry. It was difficult to not blink.
The sharped mouth liked her teeth, "Her soul looks delicious."
"What are your names?" I demanded.
All three stopped their ranting and looked at me appalled. But after a moment of silences they frown. I take that they don't know their names since becoming dark entities. Black eyes, which seemed to be pack leader spoke, "We are Blind, Mute, and Deaf. That is all you need to know before we eat you."
"Blind, Mute, and Deaf, suits you monsters on the disfiguration on you sorry lot." I snorted.
Blind was the black eyes girl, Mute the sharp teeth girl, and Deaf the horned ear guy... How original on using the three wise monkey, but instead of blocking the invitation of evil they welcome it. Suddenly the street lamp above their head started to flicker. Mute snickered while Deaf smirk slowly crossing his arms. I gulped watching Blind who was tapping her foot on cracked concrete. If that light bulb goes out then I'm utterly screw. Cautiously, I keep my eyes on them while starting to take off. They are made of stone-ish iron so the ability to fly was impossible.
"Don't blink," Blink said.
I gulped trying not to blink when a sound of a car horn was heard. I blink turning my attention of a cat jumping on a car then realize what I have done. Immediately returning my focus on the Dark angels but they were gone. I gulped again flying up high and away from any source of solid mass. As I keep on high alert, I try contacting Rafe but he didn't answer. Okay, now it is time to panic.
I grit my teeth and flapped my wings around, feathers sharp at knives to slice anyone who dares touch me. Running away from your enemies was frown upon angelic society, but to retreat in warning everyone was brave than stupid. As I was about to fly away to realize I couldn't. I was stuck. I was stuck immobilized in the one area in open air. My body petrified while wings continued to flap. I looked up ahead to see Deaf casting his eyes on me on top of a house. Shit, shit, shit, and shit: I am totally fucked for I was trap under his gaze. Damn it all.
Something grasped at the humerus of my wings. I screamed in agony of pain and sudden force added to the other dark angels who had me in her grasped. The iron grip ripped down the wing yanking feathers, breaking bones, and everything till snap. A word to describe the pain I was in was unbearable or coherent proper words to describe it. A scream stopped in my throat, and I fall, crashing hard on concrete. I lifted my head to see my condition of my wings to find there was no wings but instead two long bones cover in blood, shredded muscles, and gunk covered feather as blood continued to fall. I gasped, they…they ripped my wings off of me.
"A downed angel... is a dead angel." Mute murmured from behind as she grabbed me by the hair and force me up on my feet.
I was about to draw my spear when Deaf grabbed my arms and locked them behind me so I force to face Blind. Blind wrapped a talon hand around my throat and lifted my face up to look at her. Talon thumb wedged under my chin digging into flesh. I panted glaring at the monster when she opens her mouth breathing a chilly breath. Her air went into my mouth going down my throat like water, freezing down to my very core. Until the coldness consumed my heart: as my soul was being pushed out if its vessel and pushed up through my throat. The last thing I saw was a blue apparition coming out of mouth knowing it was grace then everything went black.
.o0o.
Bunnymund was about to hopped down his tunnel when he heard screaming. His ears perked up instantly grabbing his boomerang as he hopped out of Sophie's room and ran towards the source of the scream. What he found was terrifying as he saw Delaney being restrained by two dark figures while a third was sucking some sort of blue mist.
"Oi," Bunnymund exclaimed throwing his boomerang at the entities hitting the creature with sharp teeth in the shoulder. The creature hissed at Bunnymund while the others look at their next guest. Bunnymund smirked grabbing his other boomerang. "You mess with the wrong Sheila."
Blind wiped her mouth against her sleeve licking her lips while dropping Delaney on the ground. She looked at her comrades and disappeared in a blink of an eye. Bunnymund didn't know he blinks but ran up to Delaney and stopped in what he saw. His angelic friend was cover in blood and so much more. Quickly kneeling down to see if she was okay but stop for her heart rate was fading.
"What did they done to you?" Bunnymund asked before picking Delaney up and tap his foot on a ground. A hole appeared as he jumped into the tunnels heading towards the North Pole for help. The bunny tries to be careful to make the condition worst, but for each passing second blood continued to fall.
.o0o.
North was in his office carving out ice to create a new plane. The workshop was quiet for the yetis were on holiday and the elves were somehow behaving. Just a nice simple day of relaxation or so he thought. A yeti barged into his office mashing the ice plane.
North groaned covering his face, "How many times have I told you to knock!"
The yeti raised his arms out speaking gurgled words on the intrusion. North eyes widen on the sudden news and ran out of his office towards the entrance of the palace to see Bunnymund panting with an unconscious girl on his back. As North got closer he realized the girl was Delaney whose wings were practically ripped if not gone. He orders his yetis to get a stretcher and take the angel to the infirmary. The Yetis complied carefully taking her off of Bunnymund.
"Bunny, what happen?" North asked.
"Don't know mate, but she was attack by three monsters." Bunnymund panted.
"Monsters?" North question.
Bunnymund nodded, "Yeah, none I've ever seen."
"We must contact the others!" North announced as he and Bunnymund
.o0o.
Mute and Deaf laughed on today's hunt as the three Dark angels waltz into the Victorian church's bell tower. They were pleased on feasting the essences of two cherubs and a dozen children's pleasant dreams. Of course they didn't harm the children who sleep peacefully but suck on the golden sand that hover their heads. After they consumed the golden sand, the children were left in a deep slumber of nothing. No nightmares or no pleasant dreams, just simple sleep.
"At last we even got a taste of that angel," Mute sharp whispered bragged holding a good chunk of silver feathers. "Did you see her face?"
"Oh I saw and heard her heart beat, shame Blind couldn't share," Deaf replied back to mute.
"Enough you Idjit," Blind ordered, she wasn't the one to brag on a good hunt.
Deaf and Mute shut up instantly at their leaders command. Blind sighed and walked past her comrades to the deepest part of the bell tower. She could feel her strength returning while the essence of an angel grace was like pure meth. The sensation of feeling high; the adrenaline rushing through her cold rusty veins while feeling the warmth on the tip of her fingers. But that wasn't the only thing going on with the dark angel; she was processing of the information that was given from the memories of the angel soul. It was intriguing in the ninety-one years of immortal history and the lack of creativity in the world. How the worshiping and beliefs of mankind towards the mighty spirits is on a tight wire.
Blind wanted answers in how she and her companion became to be. The first thing she could ever recall from her past was seeing a dark figure in the shadows and then that was it. Afterwards she had woken up in some cage with a burning hunger in her throat that screamed for nourishment. So sitting down, Blind searched for answering her feast and discovered from the angel Delaney, that a certain Nightmare king was involved along with some information of four angels missing.
Well, that explains about them but not much.
"Blind, come see this!" Mute called out telepathically.
Blind walked up to her sister on the balcony in seeing the Aurora Borealis. Blind smirked, "My dear sister, it seems we caught the guardian's attention."
"Guardians?" Mute asked.
"Yes, one of the most believed immortals of this time." Blind answered with a smirk.
"And who are these guardians?" Deaf asked sitting on top of the bell.
"The Sandman, Tooth fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter bunny," Blind said leaning against the balcony. "Along with a winter spirit name, Jack frost. The Angel essence was an excellent source on material than I thought."
Deaf licked his lips, "Now I'm in a mood for rabbit."
"Not too much," Blind warned. "We need them alive or the children of the world would stop believing in our food supplies."
Deaf scoffed hating that he couldn't feast on an important figure. Eating souls of the lower class was suitable, but it didn't stop the hunger for potential energy. Mute nodded agreeing with her sister when she noticed the sun was beginning to rise. The three Dark angels sigh, knowing it was time to sleep until sunset. So getting into position around the church camouflaging amongst many statues they cover their specific face and turned to solid stone.