Chapter 10 - Unrequited

Author's Notes: Let's retract a little here. This following paragraph happens some time after Celestine left Angel Land in search of Devil's Hollow. It may seem pointless now, ut it has a role to serve, believe you me.

By the way... welcome on board again, shootin'star! It was great as usual to see your wonderful name up here again! And to all of my reviewers, and I thank you for your support even though my updates have been truly erratic due to a costly interruption by a most annoying worm. Not to delay any further... here's the main story....

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Damien stared unblinkingly, and uncomprehendingly at Tanya.

"She asked you to give this to me?"

"Yes, she did." She replied, her entire demeanor and voice softened dramatically from her usual hard-edged one... for who could stand to act in such a way in front of the object of her affections? Definitely not Tanya Gildfeather.

"Why didn't she speak to me in person? Not as if I'm THAT hard to find!" He was terribly perplexed, showing it with his knitted eyebrows and down-turned mouth.

"I have no idea... but she was crying when I asked her for a reason... 'I can't!' was the only answer she gave." Tanya touched him on the shoulder to convey a portion of her feelings for him.

"Why didn't you stop her then?" He shouted red-faced at her in vexation, showing an unresponsiveness to her displays of affection as was the norm ever since she started to look at him in a different light.

She was hurt by his curtness... she didn't want to know it, but she was.

"How was I supposed to know what's going on with you and her?" She yelled back.

And I wouldn't care to know either... She muttered under her breath.

"Fine, give it to me."

"Here..." She held it out towards him, but didn't want to let go of the recorder. Instead, she covered his hand with her other palm, looking at him with a gaze so intense it could have burnt holes in any thick carpet if it were to be a tangible one.

"Let go!" He pulled it out of her grasp, and turned to leave.

She stared after him with a broken expression, only to be met with coldness of his distant back, gradually moving further away from her.

"I love you, Damien! Why do you act as if you can't see it? Surely you're not blind to that extent?" She called out after him, in a vain effort at stopping him from leaving.

Damien's footsteps stopped.

"I know, Tanya. But I'm sorry... I can never accept you, not while my heart lies with her..."

"Why? She will never reciprocate your feelings! But I will! I will cherish you with my very soul; I am willing to give up my life for you, if you could just look at me!"

He shook his head mournfully.

"I'm truly sorry..."

He walked away without a second glance backwards.

Maybe it's a mistake to treat her with such aloofness... but I can't give her any false hopes.

He thought to himself, trying to stop his feet from turning and running back to Tanya... for he knew that it would only be pit that compels him to comfort her in his arms, and not the thing that she wanted.

He would probably spend the rest of his days alone, pining after that one Angel... It wasn't something he could stop without destroying some part of him.

As he floated out of her sight, Tanya clenched her fist as the toxins in her soul started to spread outwards, as gush after bitter gush smothered her chest... she could hardly breath as it pressed against her throat, her chest, her abdomen...

"WHY???!!!!!" She screamed to the heavens, to Hyne, her voice reaching even the furthest corner of Angel Land.

Curious Angels poked their heads through the clouds to look at her, some enquiring if anything was wrong.

"Everything! Everything about this damn place is wrong!" She shouted in response.

A collective gasp went around the watching ones, for seldom did anyone speak in such a blasphemous way in their land, especially in full public view.

"Think about it... do you really think our system is as perfect as the Great Lord tries to convince us it is? Shame on you if you're as contented as thus! Why should HE monopolize all of our land? It's blatant despotism at work, and you folks just go about your ways as if everything's peachy!"

"But he's only following the word of Hyne. Surely that doesn't count as despotism?"

"You're all too naive! So what if it's the word of Hyne? Who needs her, when she lets us suffer so? I'm sure many of you must have experienced the pain of losing a loved one... be it a fellow Angel, or a Master or Lady... some time in your long, 'glorious' existence. Why does SHE let it happen? Isn't She supposed to be omnipotent?...."

On and on she spoke, unable to contain her anger, her exasperation any longer. It was not hard to understand, for life had dealt a hard hand to her, as completely opposed to the blessed one of Celestine, and before long, she had become disillusioned with Hyne.

At first, many of the Angels turned away, disgruntled by her loud, objectionable voice.

But as the hours passed, a rather large audience had gathered in front of her, some openly nodding at her words.

It was not known what had contributed to the sudden eloquence of this maroon-haired Angel; nor was it known why so many of them were attracted by her speech.

Perhaps there were many who were as disenchanted as her with the way things were going then... for nobody said Hyne was perfect.

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The wheels of revolution turn without a single sound......

And by the time you realize what had been brewing behind your back, it will be too late to stop the catastrophe from happening......

I envision a delightful exchange between us, old friend...

Especially since I have the jewel of your eye cradled in my palm, waiting for me to destroy or make use of...

Nothing shall stop me... the least of all you!