I do not own anything but my characters (Iris, Amon, Axel, etc), the Galileus (but sadly I do not own the creature design) and Cryal.
Quotes and meanings below.
"Speaking aloud"
'Speaking telepathically'
Subconscious thoughts, deep in the mind and cannot be heard by others at all.
My fanfiction & Wattpad: VivicaNight
My deviantart: Horrorgir1
Chapter 30: New horizon
By sunrise, the bedroom is completely set up, having found a large chest to use as a dresser for my clothes, and a very comfortable brand new mattress the Asylum had yet to unwrap and use for its patients.
In the same area the mattress was found, sheets and blankets were also gathered.
Although we found a new blanket, I still favor my large fluffy blanket from the factory.
Axel, well aware of what he had tried to do when we woke up, willingly went into his holding cell. Celest created a chain that begins in the middle of the floor, with a decent amount of slack it is connected to a collar made of the same unbreakable material as the chains.
Axel allowed Celest to close the collar around his neck, in case Axel were to find a way out (ex. ripped his head off and regrew a new one to escape from the collar), Celest created a wall of chains in front of the door of the cell, making it impossible for him to get through the door.
Amon had no choice but to go hunting for Axel, his growing aggression tells us he is hungry, and both him and Amon know what his body needs to renew.
Sitting in the room with Axel, I have made myself cozy in one corner of the room, away from Axel's reach in case things get bad.
Celest remains outside the cell, Axel still wanting nothing to do with her.
"Axel?" I mutter, watching him as he stares at me with hungry eyes. He removed his clothing before entering the room, since he wouldn't need them anyway.
His eyes travel along my now-clothed body, wearing skinny jeans and a black shirt with blue sneakers to keep my feet from getting dirty or stabbed by anything sharp on the ground.
His eyes lock onto mine, seeming to have been snapped out of his trance by my voice.
'Yes, my little dove?' He responds, knowing how much I like the nickname, my body heats up and my cheeks blush.
"I'm just wondering how you are feeling-"
'Hungry.' He cuts me off, his voice suddenly becomes deeper with a hint of aggression in his words.
'Very. Hungry.' He continues, taking in my scent from 5 feet away, sitting as close to me as the chain will allow him.
"...Oh. Yeah, Amon is hunting for you. He should be back soon-"
'Why.' He cuts me off in the same aggressive tone, once again.
"...Why what?" I ask him, furrowing my brows.
'Why have I become so weak in your presence, why have I agreed to such a pathetic idea of 'purification'.' He emphasizes the word, baring his teeth to me in an angry snarl as a low growl rumbles from his throat.
"So you won't have to hibernate anymore...you wanted to do this for us...remember?" I remind him, my voice softening in hope to avoid further fueling his aggression.
'For 'us'. Why did I break so easily, I should have finished the job before you had a chance to become my strongest weakness, and greatest regret.' His voice dripping with venom, continuing to threaten me with the sight of his piercingly sharp teeth, his face full of aggression.
Listening to his words, my heart aches once he finishes, taking a deep breath in an attempt to remain strong before him, my exhaled breath becomes shaky despite my efforts to hide my growing sadness and fear caused by his words.
Hearing my shaky breath, my fear fills his lungs as a sadistic grin forms across his lips, 'There it is...your weakness. Your fear is so irresistible to me...so deliciously ambrosial.' He speaks while continuing to fill his lungs with my scent, growling deeply with such a strong desire to taste my flesh between his teeth.
Being well aware that this is not him speaking, but his hunger and desire for anything resembling human flesh fueling his uncontrollable aggression, I try my best to not take his words to heart, yet my heart defies me.
With another uncontrollable shaky breath, my vision fills with tears as I continue to stare at him, quickly I turn my head away, shifting my gaze in the same moment.
"LOOK AT ME!" His loud, aggressive voice roars out at me, making my heart skip a beat from the sudden jolt of fear. The tears flow down the sides of my face as my attention is quickly shifted to him again.
A sinister grin forms onto his lips, '...I never loved you. Those words I used served only to draw your simple, pathetic soul closer to destruction.'
The door to the cell screeches open, "Alright, that's enough, come on, Iris." Celest tells me, moving a hand in my direction to help me up off my sitting position.
Axel suddenly rises to his feet, his mandibles spring open as he lets out a loud screech at Celest out of anger, lunging at me in an attempt to grab me before I slip out the door with Celest.
Celest slams the door shut, leaving Axel in the cell alone to let out roars of protest, wanting me back.
Tears begin to flow freely, collapsing onto my knees I sob into my shaking hands, hyperventilating uncontrollably.
Celest kneels down and pulls me close, letting out a sigh of disappointment.
"He is lying to you. He needs to eat...that's all it is." She explains in an effort to comfort me.
"I-I know..." The words escape my lips through labored breaths and sobs, rubbing my eyes before wiping away my tears, I recollect myself before standing.
Axel continues to howl and screech for my attention, my heart nearly shattering while listening to him cry out for me.
"Go relax for a while, take a walk if you need to. You don't need to hear any of this right now." She suggests, crossing her arms while leaning against the door of Axel's cell.
Shifting my gaze to meet hers, I slowly nod before forcing my legs to move away from the scene.
Soon Axel's cries grow quieter the further I walk, not having any particular destination, I keep walking.
I soon find myself on the top floor, the sun's piercing rays bleeding through the torn curtain hanging from the window.
Becoming distracted by this particular room, a number of utensils grab my attention, especially a large pair of heavily rusted scissors sitting upon a counter connected to a large mirror.
Before the counter sits an old barber's chair, telling me this was a room where patients would get the occasional haircut.
Making my way to the chair, I look over the thick dust layering the torn leather chair. Effortlessly flapping a wing, the dust scatters into the air.
Taking a seat upon the boosted chair, I take in my appearance.
My face and skin is littered with dirt and dust particles from cleaning my room out, my hair has become a wreck and tear streaks line my face.
Sighing heavily, I let my eyes wander the counter before me, gently taking the scissors, I begin to attempt to cut my hair.
My emotions soon ease themselves to a point of reasonable contentment as time goes on. Snip after snip of my hair with scissors calm my pained heart, for my first attempt at cutting hair, I am impressed with my result.
Looking close to how my short hair looked the first day I met Axel, I rise from the chair, brushing off stray hairs from my shirt.
Hearing footsteps, I move my attention to the door, seeing Amon peek into the room.
"Hey...are you feeling better?" He worries, entering the room to take a closer look at my hair.
"I guess so...how's Axel?" I ask him, watching him approach me.
He stops before me, giving me a smirk of adoration, "He ate good, and is now regretful...I like what you did with your hair, reminds me of when we first met." He tells me, running his fingers through my soft black locks.
A smile grows upon my lips, "Thanks. It was getting long..." I add, looking up at his unique eyes.
He moves his gaze to meet mine, "Mind telling me what happened between you and Axel? If you feel comfortable sharing." He wonders, withdrawing his hand from my hair.
I grow quiet, "...I'm okay with not recalling that event..."
"That's okay." He tells me, softly purring at me before taking a look at himself in the mirror, putting his hands on the chair behind me to lean down against.
"Maybe I need a haircut too." He teases, running a hand through his straight long black hair stemming from the back of his head, moving his attention to me as he grins.
"Nah, your hair is perfect." I tell him, giggling.
He chuckles, looking at himself again proudly.
Rising from the chair, I stretch my wings, grabbing Amon's attention as it shifts onto them.
"I still can't get over how stunning your wings are, Iris." He admits, standing up straight again.
Looking at him, I giggle and keep them spread, "Not as stunning as Celest's. Have you seen her's in the lights and shadows?"
"Yes, your wings are more impressive." He tells me, taking one of my feathers into his hand gently to look over the colors.
He soon moves his attention to the skin of my wings, frowning at the sight of how bad of a shape they are in.
"How are you keeping up? Since...everything." He asks me, looking me in the eyes.
Memories flood into my mind, immediately depressing me, "...I haven't thought too much about it...my brain is working on locking up those horrible memories...with Axel locked up, I might end up sleeping in a crevice again...or not sleeping at all. Being wrapped in his arms protectively is the only way I can sleep in a bed now..." I admit to him.
His eyes fill with sympathy, "Celest may be able to stay with you to help you sleep."
Slowly I shake my head, "It won't feel the same..."
He remains quiet for a few moments as he thinks, "...I could stay with you until Axel is ready to return to you..." He hesitantly suggests, gently running a hand through my hair again, lingering on the feeling of it with his fingers.
Taking a moment to think about it, I slowly nod.
"...That might work..." I say quietly, looking up at him as he feels my hair again.
I giggle, "You really need a girlfriend."
He looks at me before laughing, "I'm sorry, your hair is just so smooth." He explains, feeling more of it.
I giggle, letting him feel it comfortably.
An hour passes, currently I am lying upon my bed, a flickering candle dimly illuminating the room, trying to sleep.
Although Amon suggested he could help me sleep, I don't want to bother him too much or become a burden, if that is even possible.
Axel's constant apologetic telepathy keeps me from relaxing fully, I have been ignoring him since he began.
I don't want to talk to him right now... I think to myself.
His telepathy goes silent, finally it seems as though he has given up, my eyes slowly close.
'...I love you, Iris...' His sorrowful, regretful voice quietly seeps into my mind.
Opening my eyes at his words, my heart begins to beat faster, nearly making tears swell into my eyes again.
Hesitantly I respond, '...I love you too, Axel...'
.
Sitting in the familiar corner of Axel's cell, I sit silently with him, having made sure he ate heavily before returning to him once night has fallen.
Earlier I had tried to sleep, but was sadly unsuccessful.
Amon had brought a decently sized stag into Axel's cell an hour prior to my visit, having removed its remains half an hour ago.
Axel appears stronger compared to how he seemed earlier this morning, telling me his body is using the meat to his advantage.
Unable to make eye contact with him, I play with my hair, knees to my chest with my eyes elsewhere.
Axel remains patient with my uneasiness, sitting as close to me as the chain will allow him to, again.
His constant, quiet, alluring purrs are the only sounds filling my ears.
Neither of us speak a word, the tension in the air feeling heavy on my shoulders.
"...Iris." He breaks the thick silence between us by speaking aloud, his voice laced with shame in himself and affection for me.
Fighting oncoming tears, I close my eyes.
"Look at me, my little dove." He coos, his eyes memorizing every detail of my face and clothes.
Giving into his voice, I open my eyes and settle my gaze upon his shyly.
His purring immediately grows louder, giving me a faint smile in response.
"...You are elegant, my love." He purrs, using my new nicknames to break down the thin wall I built between us in an attempt to make me happy again.
Blood rushes to my face, giving him a faint smile. He slowly reaches a hand out to me, wanting me to take it so he can hold me in an attempt to comfort me.
Looking at his hand, I hesitate before trusting him.
Slowly I rise to my knees, moving closer to take his hand.
Hand in his, he effortlessly slides me over to him, pulling me onto his lap and into his warm embrace.
Arms around him, I quietly begin to weep against his chest, letting out the pain he caused me to replace it with his love.
His purrs grow louder in an attempt to stop my tears, slowly he runs his claws through my hair.
He begins to apologize, now that my attention is on him.
"...It's okay..." I respond, keeping my eyes closed, my voice cracking.
"...It's not." His deep voice rumbles quietly in my ear, he moves a hand to my chin as he gently moves my head up to look at him.
Opening my eyes, I look into his, taking in the strong emotions behind them, the regret, affection and hint of contentment.
"It is...I forgive you. You were hungry...I shouldn't have been around you while you were hungry..." I trail off, becoming lost within his eyes.
His quiet purrs of affection begin to rumble from his chest, seeming to be lost within my dimly glowing purple orbs.
"...Yes. I was. Very hungry...I wanted to devour the beautiful meat off your precious bones...what I said was a lie...my love for you is true. Despite never feeling this kind of strong emotion in my long lifetime on this Earth, it burns deep within my heart and soul. That is why I chose you to be mine for eternity." He tells me, his deep, quiet voice soothing me into near slumber with each word that slides off his tongue.
Listening to him speak, tears threaten to fall following his affectionate words, the tears brimming in my eyes as I look into his.
"...I'm glad..." I respond, the tears fall following a blink of my eyes.
Axel's eyes follow the tears as they run down my cheeks, gently wiping them away.
His purrs continue, the soothing sound beginning to lull me to sleep in his arms, unable to keep my eyes open anymore.
Aware of my lack of sleep for nearly 24 hours, Axel allows me to rest in his arms, slowly running his claws through my hair.
Having noticed my trim, he holds back from speaking about it as an effort to please me, instead he allows me to drift away in his arms.
.
An unfamiliar scent grabs Axel's attention from beyond the door to his cell, holding Iris against him he begins to growl aggressively as a warning.
Celest's familiar scent remains beyond the door to join the other, her calmness toward the stranger slightly lessens his weariness.
The door to the cell slowly opens as an unfamiliar female steps into the room, bearing four black and purple wings, the feathers the opposite of Iris's, bearing short dark purple hair that is similar to Iris's hairstyle, the door is shut behind her.
Axel begins to snarl at her, his growls becoming louder, holding Iris's sleeping body closer to his.
"Hello, Axel. My name is Vivica, I'm so glad to finally meet you. I am the one who sent Celest, my sister, to help Iris escape Alexander's grasp. I also destroyed the Cryptsin who attempted to steal her from you." She speaks to him, her eyes looking over Iris's damaged wings and what scars are exposed with her clothes on.
Hearing her words, he lets out a loud hiss of aggression as she looks his mate over, rising to his feet swiftly before gently placing Iris down upon the damaged bed in the cell.
Clearly wanting all attention on him instead of Iris out of protection, he walks toward the woman until he no longer has enough slack to take another step.
She looks him over, a smile creeping onto her lips, "You definitely look much more magnificent up close." She admits.
Axel sends her a sharp glare, a threatening snarl formed onto his lips.
"You can speak to me, I know you can. I've seen you do it plenty while Iris was in Alexander's possession, that entire atmosphere was created and fueled by me, and Amon of course." She tells him with a smirk.
'Leave.' Is all he says to her.
"I will. But first, I'm here to give her a boost. I can also significantly help you with this diet change of yours, if you wish." She tells him, walking past him fearlessly to sit down at the foot of the bed.
Axel, unable to smell even an ounce of fear off this powerful creature, holds back from his instinct screaming at him to get her away from his mate.
Vivica looks over Iris's damaged body, sighing empathetically. She places a hand on Iris's leg before a flood of energy drains from her, going directly into Iris.
Axel nearly loses it the second she touches her, but remains still to observe.
Before his eyes, all the small scars disappear from her skin, her wings heal and her body begins to dimly glow violet for a few moments until her hand is removed.
"She has been healed, she has become stronger. Celest will begin training her on her full potential starting tonight."
Axel watches her as she speaks, beginning to snarl again, 'Tell me this.' He begins. 'If you are truly as powerful as my senses tell me, why didn't YOU save her once the Shadow Reapers weakened Alexander's defenses?' His voice hisses into her mind.
She looks at him while he speaks, rising up off the bed, "I do not only exist in this realm, Axel. There are other, more serious problems that require my attention. I knew she would survive, and what she had experienced not only made her a stronger person, but showed her a hint of what she is fully capable of doing as a Cryptsin. She is much more powerful than you can imagine, that is why the reapers want us extinct." She reveals to him.
"We, too, are a species that was never meant to walk upon this Earth. We are powerful enough to destroy God's archangels if we willed it, maybe even nearly destroy God himself." She continues.
Axel, dumbfounded, takes a step back from Vivica, receiving a smirk.
"Luckily for the Galileus, I am on your side of this war over existence." She reassures him.
'Why us?' He asks, no emotion in his voice.
She gives him a warm smile, "Your father was an extraordinary man, his sons were forced to seek revenge. Although he was extraordinary, his sons don't even realize their own potential. They focus too much on how powerful their beloved father was, and not enough on their own potential." She explains, taking a step toward him as he stands his ground before her.
Standing inches from him, she speaks, "You are the leader of your species, not only does your father's blood course through your veins, but so does your mother's, an angel, a creation of God. You are both capable of much more than your father was, you and your brother are able to reach potential way beyond Alexander's range of power. Feeding upon mere humans does increase your strength much more efficiently than it would be by feeding upon animals. But imagine devouring the flesh of your only species' equivalent...the Cryal. The more powerful the entity you feed upon, the stronger you will become. Alexander discovered this and hid it from your father's knowledge, therefore tested his theory by devouring your sister. Through all these years, he has forgotten the boost of power he had received." She explains to him.
Axel absorbs all the information he was given, having listened closely to her words, unable to come up with a response, at a loss for words.
She gives him a smirk, "Weaning yourself off human meat is the first step you must achieve before feeding upon a Cryal, unlike feeding upon humans, devouring Cryal does not come with consequences. No curse, you will be doing God a favor, neither species were meant to exist, who knows what gift would be given by returning the Cryal to the void. As long as humans are off your species' menu, I can guarantee you would change God's perspective when it comes to proving your species has a purpose to exist upon his Earth." She tells him, smiling.
'What are you willing to give to assist me in this transition?' He asks, having a new opinion on this female standing before him.
Her smile widens and she steps away from him, laying a flat hand out, a bundle of berries appear in the palm of her hand. The berries look similar to grapes, but are an unnatural color of shimmering gold, glowing a bright familiar color of purple, telling that the berries are infused with her power, among other things.
"Eat these, they will help eliminate your body's craving for human flesh." She informs him, allowing him to take the berries from her hand.
Just like that, she disappears before him, leaving him to consume the berries.