Disclaimer: I don't own The Walking Dead.
Warrior Angel
His heart was pounding like a jackhammer against his rib cage. His breathe came out in shaky, ragged breathes. His head was spinning. Panic coursed through every vein in his body. He felt like he was going to throw up right then and there. He didn't know what to do; should he run, scream, get mad, tell these people to get the hell up? He wasn't sure.
Daryl looked down at the giant crowd of bowed people with wide, wild eyes. He could hear them whispering prayers, crying the name Zerachial as they did so. His gaze drew to the preacher at his feet. He looked over his shoulder, eyeing his group. A couple of them poked their heads up, but stayed bowed like everyone else. He could tell they wanted to get up and get out of the weird ass town as fast as they could, just like what he felt like doing.
Rick was eyeing Daryl from his obviously uncomfortable position on the stage. He was staring Daryl down, as if he as waiting for the hunter to make a move.
Daryl didn't make the ex-officer wait very long. He turned his attention to the preacher by the hunter's feet. The old man was crouched like everyone else, lost in his silent praying. Daryl sighed in frustration at the sight. Ever so slowly, he knelt down next to him.
Daryl carefully grabbed the man's arms, pulling just slightly. "Hey," He said in a wary whisper, unsure if it was okay to pull the elder up. "Get up, man."
Preacher Malory's head shot up in shock, not expecting the sudden contact. With wide, confused eyes, Malory did what Daryl had asked. He awkwardly stood back, whipping his tear streaked face as he did so. Daryl took his hands off the man and walked back a few steps, feeling uncomfortable to be in a certain distance of Preacher Malory.
"Come on, people. Everyone get up." Daryl's sounded more sure of himself now. His voice rose a little so the crowd could hear him. He looked over to his group and gestured for them to get up too, which wasn't all that necessary seeing as they were mostly standing, already.
Preacher looked at Daryl in confusion as the rest of the crowd slowly got to their feet. "Is there something the matter, Zerachial? Does our praising not please you?" He asked with curious, childlike eyes.
Daryl shook his head at the old man. "You don't need ta be bowin' ta me. It ain't necessary." Daryl said to the man.
Preacher Malory's eyes widened, flabbergasted. "What are you saying? Of course we do! It is our honor to bow to our beloved Prince of Heaven." The elderly man insisted.
Daryl cringed at the unwanted title and shook his head again as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I don't want to be bowed to." Daryl said in a simple tone.
The entire community stared up a their "angel", shocked that he had told them not to bow to him. Preacher Malory mirrored their expressions. Suddenly, more tears popped up at the corners of his eyes, his lips pulled into a smile. The old man grabbed Daryl's shoulder. He jumped, not expecting the contact.
"Oh, Zerachial." Preacher Malory said. "You're too humble for your own good." He started patting Daryl's shoulder. "Alright. If you don't want your people to bow to you, then we wont."
The redneck gave the man a quick, unsure nod. "Good." He said in a wispy sigh. "Now c'n we git outta here?"
Malory took Daryl's request as a command. Eager to please his "Prince", the preacher immediately turned to the crowd and ordered them to disperse. Though confused and disappointed, the townspeople complied to their leader's demands. "Charlotte," Preacher Malory said. "Take his majesty and his holy followers back The Shrine. Make sure they're comfortable."
The woman's graying ebony hair bobbed a little as she nodded. " Of course, Preacher. It would be my pleasure."
"I must go and address the council. I will join with shortly there after." Preacher Malory suddenly walked up to Daryl and grabbed his hand. He held his grip as the redneck tried to pull his hand back and pressed his lips against the other man's knuckles. "Farewell my Angel." Malory let go of Daryl's and fast walked off the stage. The group watched as the old man walked down the long street and disappeared around a corner.
"Come." Charlotte said, gesturing for them to follow her. The group followed her without protest, none of them wanting to stay on the stage. At that moment, Daryl couldn't bring himself to care where the woman was taking them. She led them to a beautiful home. "There's enough rooms for all of you. The boy will go with his mother, though and Zerachial will be put with The Authority in the master bedroom." Charlotte said.
"What?" Lori asked in horror. "No, I want my husband with me and my son." She argued.
Charlotte turned to Lori and gave her a forced grin. " I'm sorry, but you must earn the right to share a room with The Authority. As a sinned mother, you have a lot of earning to do."
"Excuse me?" Lori asked, extremely offended.
"Zerachial is the angel of children, especially of those who's parents have sinned. Is that not why you have joined his following? Well, that and your husband was revealed to be The Authority. That, of course, is a great honor." Charlotte rambled on.
Lori glared at the woman with a burning hatred. "I think it's time you leave, we'll call you if we need you." She hissed.
Charlotte turned to Daryl, her smile never leaving her face. "Is that what you wish, Zerachial?" She asked.
Daryl shifted uncomfortably when everyone's attention went to him. "Yeah, ya can leave." He mumbled.
Charlotte nodded. "Very well, but remember, Zerachial and The Authority must stay in the same room together. Zerachial's safety is top priority." She said as she left the large home. She locked the door as she did so.
Everyone sat down in the living room and got comfortable. "I think we should do as she says. We don't need to do anything that would cause these people to question who we are." Hershel stated.
Lori let out an angered huff and crossed her arms. "These people here are insane and that woman is incredibly rude. Rick's is my husband, it only makes sense that he sleep with me."
"These people sure don't seem to see it that way. "T-Dog chipped in. "They're acting like the whole world will implode if Rick and Daryl are separated."
"You mean The Authority and Zerachial?" Glenn corrected with a grin.
"Oh, right. My bad." T-dog joked.
Daryl rolled his eyes. "Wh'n the hell are goin' to git outta here? I don' wanna deal with these people more th'n I have ta."
"It's probably best if we try to integrate ourselves into their community so we can learn how these people run. Learn how big of a threat they are, learn the guards' schedules so we know when to slip out."
"Daddy, that can take forever." Beth said.
"I know, but I think we should be safe than sorry. But that also means that have to keep up this act. Let them believe that Daryl's and angel."
Daryl scoffed "I'd rather shoot ma foot off." He said.
"It's not the perfect way to go at it but right now, it's our best bet."
Next chapter, the group gets some insight about the town and discovers a certain resident that may be the single reason for The Temple's existence.