Disclaimer: (see chapter 1)
Chapter 10
"Yes, I still want the bottom half to sparkle…and yes, I'm aware that it won't be ready until the afternoon of the opening night of Skywalker." Erik grunted patiently into the phone. He had made sure he was alone in the house before contacting his seamstress. He was having Angel's outfit specifically made for the party after the show. Erik had tailored his own suit and that left no time to do hers. "No, I'll have someone pick it up." Erik talked with the seamstress a bit more about the details of the dress. "Thank you." He then hung up once they both felt satisfied.
Erik sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His eyes were captured by the violin and sheet music scattered on the bed. When he attempted to return to his music, his stomach rumbled. "I suppose I should eat. Angel would be furious if I didn't." Erik casually entered the kitchen and quickly rustled a meal together. Moments later, he sat at the small table in the kitchen, ready to enjoy his creation. As he ate, the majority of his mind was on his music.
The piece was suggestively dark and obviously erotic. Each note was its own haunting melody. When the notes combined with the words, they wove a warning within a song of a femme fatale. Both the notes and the words came easily to him while composing. The song was about her, named after her—his lover, his fiancée, his Angel. He knew her true past now, even witnessed a part of it. Angel held an insatiable craving for him and—despite her denial—she hungered just as much for another. But losing her to the other would not just be devastating for him (as he would then be losing the only thing besides music that mattered to him), but for the world as well (as she would then be wrongfully unleashed upon it).
Erik shook his head, "No, he'll never get her!" Anger flushed through his entire being and deep through to his soul when he thought about her other as he slammed his dish into the sink. He retreated from the room as if he really thought that by leaving the room, he could leave behind all thoughts of her other.
But as he stared once again at his music on paper, he helplessly fell into those horrid thoughts about her other. Erik knew she was truthful when she swore she'd never willingly leave him. But he knew the struggle to resist the other was weakening as the days went on. Erik was more amazed than proud at how she held steadfast against the advances of the other. He recalled that morning, when in the midst of pleasure between them, her other was suddenly there.
And just as suddenly, she had called out the other's name—Reece. The bastard just stood there, gloating, fully knowing that she wanted him and not me. Erik tapped page one of his composition. Prophetical lust, that's what the hidden meaning of this song is. "Just like it is with her."
"A look or a touch between them, and everything else ceases to matter."
Erik sighed as words from Andrew's first explanation of Reece's connection to Angel seeped into his thoughts. "But he never explained how it began. Was it a ritual that made her that susceptible to him? Was it scientifically inserted into her DNA from birth?" He paused, nearly forgetting that he was the only one present at the time and his questions wouldn't get answered. Erik then felt resolve setting in, "The hell with how it started. I will decide how it ends—before it truly begins!" He'll never have her, echoed through his mind with sternness.
They had snagged a table at the rear of the restaurant—the best one in the place to hold a highly sensitive discussion even with a crowded house present. Andrew and the others assured her many times, but still Angel remained silent.
Now they sat with their breakfasts in front of them. "Angel, please…now is the time to share your thoughts with us." Tobias urged her after the waitress left.
"It's bad enough they're in my head…why must I voice them?" She replied.
"Talking does help, Angel." Finn eased her. When she glanced at Andrew, he nodded.
Angel sighed, took a quick sip of her juice and proceeded to humor them, "What should I start with? Perhaps you want to know why I slept naked last night under the table with my fiancée. Or how about the time I snuck off to have a phone conversation with Reece?"
"Angel, cut that…" Andrew began sternly reprimanding her.
But she cut him off, "I didn't know it was him on the phone. Not until I answered it. And last night? Last night happened because Erik tried to argue with me about using my powers against him. Oh, and we also semi-argued about me kissing you but wishing it was Reece."
Andrew paled slightly. Finn and Tobias had stopped eating and stared shockingly towards Angel and her sudden willingness to talk. "Angel, please." Andrew meekly spoke up.
"I'm sorry, Father. I truly am." She turned to Finn, "You're right, I do need to talk…even if it's something neither of us wants to hear." Finn could only nod.
"Ok, continue then." Andrew regained.
"Wait…you used your powers on Erik last night?" Tobias asked.
"Well, it was more of when I came home that afternoon. I only used a smidgen though—just enough to pull him safely from his composing." She recalled the music he was playing. Maybe it was the haunting erotic music he created that trigged my carelessness?
Andrew sent a guarded glance to Finn and Tobias before focusing back on Angel, "Since Father Rashad and Father Bennett are your guardians as well; I see no harm in wanting to discuss what you meant that you can easily sense Reece's presence now."
Angel nodded, "I think I always could do that. I remember that one time, when Chancellor Cheyvon tested me after a year living with him; I felt a tingling sensation deep within me—just before Reece was suddenly in my face when the session went AWOL. There were times before then, but I had always figured it was because of something else." Angel took a quick bit of her eggs. "Having you guys explain it to me made sense of it all."
"I see." Andrew simply replied.
"But I'm scared, Father." Suddenly her voice was shaky. "In our argument, Erik insinuated that I was losing control of myself." Angel took slight comfort when her three guardians reached out to comfort her. "He meant it about my power…but I'm scared to lose myself to HIM. It terrifies me to even contemplate that I'm riding the borderline to a life that doesn't include any of you or Erik." She buried her face in her hands, but Andrew and the others knew that she shed tears.
"Shh, it's gonna be ok, Angel." Finn pulled her into his embrace in order to comfort her better. Andrew gently squeezed her shoulder as her tears subsided.
"Let's get out of here." Andrew spoke quietly. They had all finished eating and would pay the bill on their way out.
"I better get going, Sir." Claire received a nod from Reece before she left for the day of Skywalker rehearsals.
"Contact Bennett once rehearsals are done." He called out to her. In his solitude, Reece took the time to contemplate all that has happened so far. I still have yet to figure out what caused Angel to be sickly upset that day. Come to think of it, Keirnan seemed really edgy himself. He was so eager for me to leave. Maybe she had done something to him.
Reece shrugged and tapped his fingers on his knees as he fell into thoughts about how this all began—all those years ago.
Reece had been one of those young restless young men with no clue about their place in life. Spending a bored-out-of-his-mind afternoon in a public library that day, he had stumbled across a snippet of an article of a foreign ancient tribe. The article spawned an insane need to know more. After a bit more searching, Reece had his first question answered: Did they still exist? Yes, but now in two sanctions. Sanction one still resided in the foreign land where they formed. Sanction two lived among modern society—appearing as normal but carrying the secrets started millennia ago.
It took him one and a half years to find even one member. But the one member he did find revealed that his tribe caught wind of the search. Within months, the tribe accepted Reece and began to teach him their ways. Another year went by before Reece mastered the lifestyle.
"It was then that they showed me their prophecy." Reece spoke aloud in the empty room. "They claimed that I was the one to start it."
And he was. A year after learning the prophecy, Angel was born. Most babies came into the world screaming laced within their cries. But Angel was different. Not even a day old and she already seemed unearthly aware of her surroundings. The woman that gave birth to Angel hated her from that moment on. During Angel's infancy, she appeared to not care much about the woman in return. The woman seemed to be the only Earthly soul that was immune to Angel's angelic cries. Even then, Angel's voice was deadly and caused those that heard her to become just a bit shy of mindless slaves for her.
Reece smiled. "Her voice was only beautiful for me. I knew there was no threat of me ever becoming one of those drones…I was the start of the Prophecy, after all." He chuckled then; recalling that moment Araphim realized that Angel was what the Prophecy spoke of.
Araphim had just laid witness as a perfectly sane person became affected by her cries. "During her toddler and childhood years, she must be taught our ways, Reece." Araphim focused on instructing Reece on how to handle their Prophetic Child.
"But what of the Prophecy? When should I teach that to her?" Reece asked.
"In eight years, at the edge of her childhood, we shall return for her. Angel will live among us exclusively to learn of her role in our Prophecy."
"Very well, Your Grace." Reece nodded as he allowed Araphim to hold Angel.
"Until then, I'm issuing an order to restrict her social life. As of now, she has no control or awareness of her power." Reece nodded at Araphim's instructions. "But once she is old enough she'll have learned control and will—at first—desire to test it."
Reece understood then, why Araphim put a restriction on her social life. "I understand, Your Grace."
Reece shook himself from his historical reverie and glanced up to the clock. He had been thinking so much about Angel that the urge to see her pulled him into motion. "I wonder where she could be now." His minions had informed him earlier that her filming schedule for today wasn't until nightfall. "Certainly you can't be holed up in the bedroom with a monster." Quickly he was out the door with a plan of immediate action.
Angel, Tobias and Andrew set foot on the grounds of a nearby park. Finn had volunteered to take the car home and wait for the call to pick them up. Angel had wanted to visit the park, as it was such a warm day considering winter was just around the corner. There was only a small group already occupying the park—young children with their mothers and an occasional dog walker or jogger. Angel had almost lost the blissful moment as thoughts of her own mother threatened. Instead, she opted to put her mind to focus on something pleasant and she purposely strolled to the swing set.
As she sunk down on one at the edge, Andrew and Tobias moved to stand next to her. Tobias leaned against one pole that made up the swings framework. "Join me." Angel urged after eyeing Andrew and then Tobias.
Both her guardians shook her head. Andrew chuckled, "No can do Angel. I'm too stuffed to swing."
She gave a knowing smile as Tobias added, "You hardly ate anything, Angel. How can you swing on a near empty stomach?"
Angel glanced at the mothers and Andrew caught on. "My mother never took me to the park. And it didn't matter that I wasn't allowed to go and engage in something so trivial." Angel kicked at the rocks below her. "She never once offered to WANT to be in my presence."
"Well, Jeannette was afraid of you." Andrew offered.
Angel roughly shook her head, "NO, she hated me."
"How can you be sure?" Tobias asked.
"She said it to my face enough times." Angel replied with a sigh. "But I wasn't upset about it—ever! I hated her too, yet I hadn't known why for the longest time."
"What do you mean?" Tobias stood up straight then.
"Once I realized what I was, my whole perspective changed. That's when I also realized that treated me so coldly for a reason." Angel glanced up, "And she was immune to me." She pushed herself in motion, "I wasn't looking though to purposely persuade her. I was just testing out my abilities…in my discovery of them I wanted to test them on others…and she was my first obvious choice."
Andrew nodded, "Don't worry; we won't reprimand you for that now. That's too far in the past for you to be punished now anyway."
"Oh..." Angel's lips twisted. "…Reece already punished me that same day."
"What ever happened to her?" Tobias was curious. He wasn't around before, as he had joined Sanction Two not too long ago. Andrew only knew things since Araphim confided with him.
"Plain and simple, Father Bennett…" Andrew answered. "…she just left, with no word of where to."
"Doesn't matter." Angel mumbled. She then straightened up, "But c'mon now…ONE of you has to join me." They both shook their heads again and chuckled. "Fine, then ONE of you has to push me!" Andrew volunteered then. Just as he was about to push her, she suddenly planted her feet into the ground to give resistance.
"Angel…I can't push you if you…" Andrew starting protesting, but was cut off as Angel sharply was off the swing and on her feet. "Angel?"
She quickly made a hush motion with her hand. Tobias and Andrew grew nervous as they watched her scan the area. In a barely audible whisper she finally replied, "He's here."
"What?!" Tobias suddenly glanced around but saw nothing.
"You sense him. Where?" Andrew stood by her side as Tobias flanked her other side. Her eyes narrowed to a slit. She had been so busy arguing with her guardians to push her on the swing that she sensed Reece's presence just a bit too late. "Angel." Andrew sternly commanded her to answer him. He knew what the look on her face meant: She was dangerously close to being unable to resist Reece.
"Hello love."
Angel spun on her heal and there he was—right behind her and her guardians. She mentally cursed at herself for not having enough practice at sensing him. She knew she just HAD to hone that ability real quick if she wanted to survive this whole ordeal. But as of now, she was overwhelmed. Andrew and Tobias were briefly surprised, allowing her the opportunity to run into Reece's arms. "Reece…"
"Angel no!" Andrew reached out a bit late to snag her arm. They watched helplessly as contact between her and Reece was made. Angel's figure sank into his embrace and trembled with obviousness as Reece's hand softly caressed her cheek. "Father Bennett, why didn't you hold her back?"
Tobias quickly conjured up an excuse, "I…he took me by surprise." Reece smirked, knowing the truth. Tobias secretly worked for him now and wanted just as much for Reece to succeed. Andrew only grunted and turned back to Reece.
"Let her go." Andrew lunged forward in a surprise move of his own. Angel cried out in protest when Andrew's hand latched onto her and proceeded to drag her from Reece's comforting embrace.
"NO!"
"Angel, fight it!" Andrew bellowed, ignoring a frowning Reece. Tobias then made all appearances to scramble to Andrew's aid—successfully keeping up pretenses. Angel continued to fight against them, now growing completely upset as coldness set in around her where Reece's warmth once had been. "Reece, get the hell out of here." Andrew seethed at the other man. Tobias gave Reece a subtle nod.
"Alright, alright. I get the message. But I'm not leaving till you explain something to me, Keirnan." Reece folded his arms.
"What?" Andrew snapped, almost losing his grip on Angel—who now was growing weak and lethargic from her struggling.
"Why did she miss that other day of filming? You refused to explain it to me before, but I demand a reason now!" Reece threatened to make another move toward Angel.
"If I tell you, will you leave?" Andrew countered.
"Reece…no…please…I need you." Angel wailed upon hearing that Reece was leaving now.
"Father Bennett, get her away from here now!" Andrew quickly commanded him. Tobias nodded and finally proceeded to drag Angel away. "Ok, now I'll tell you."
"I'm waiting!" Reece started getting impatient—as well as growing upset towards Angel's distraught. Just take it easy Reece. Can't let this one little moment ruin our big night. She'll understand then.
Andrew hated having to reveal one of Angel's key abilities, but he desperately wanted Reece gone. "She knows when you're near."
Reece watched as Andrew gritted his teeth. "See, now was that so hard?" She can sense me now. So does that mean she knew I was here before I announced my presence? He glanced to Angel, and wheels began to turn. Oh this definitely adds a unique element to my plan—which I can still make work even with this ability of hers. Reece smirked from his thought. "Well now…I shall bid adieu." And with that, he turned and walked away.
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