Chapter 6
The Angel of Ruin
Joshua followed in Lina's footsteps as he could smell where she had been, what hallway she had taken to get to where it was she was going. He ended up at a door that was connected to room. He looked at the door as it was already opened, cracked a few inches. He pushed it open as he slowly looked around the room. It was an empty room, not even any pictures. He looked around as he found another door that was on the opposite side of him. He looked at the door for a moment as he wondered if it was a closet or another passage way. He pulled it open to see yet another door? He felt like he was becoming a male version of Alice in wonderland with all the complicated house objects. He twisted the handle as he pushed the door open, seeing Lina sitting on the bed. He slowly walked over to her as he wasn't sure what she would do. He preferred not to be slapped again.
He couldn't tell if she was crying, but even if she was...Lina was good at hiding things. She was at least good at hiding them with him. He came around to face her as he sat down on the bed. She looked at him for a moment, trying to say something as nothing came out. They had taken her voice from her. Why? He looked at her as this wasn't something of angelic power. Something darker. "Hold on Lina. I'll get someone to help you." He spoke to her as he added," Just stay here. " He went through the different doors to get back to the hallway, going for help. Joshua couldn't understand why she was here. Angie had spoken something about how she came to them. But why?
Lina was sitting on the bed as she had a hand against her throat, looking down at the sheets. She had traded her life as human for an Angel's. She had got what she wanted. Her voice was part of the deal. They had wanted her to be silent, being the prize of the tournament so that she could be Charlotte's guardian. She sighed as her hand fell to her leg as she would of never expected that Josh would be the one who would win the tournament.
Lina turned around when she heard noises coming from behind her, seeing Joshua coming back. It was then that she saw who was following him. Peter. Joshua stood near the end of the bed as Peter came to her. He started to move his hands towards her neck as she slapped them away, giving him a glare. How dare he even think about touching her!
"Lina. Come on. He's going to help you. He's not going to hurt you." He assured her as he looked at Peter for a moment. Peter looked at him as he shrugged his shoulders, looking back at Lina. "Do you want your voice back? Then give it a rest old Hag." He told her as he moved his hands to her neck again. She slapped him away harder this time, giving him an even worse glare. He was not touching her. Peter sighed as he moved aside for Joshua. "Lina." He spoke to her seriously as he pleaded with her." Please. For Charlotte." She looked at him for a moment, then turning to Peter. She bit her lip for a moment before she clinched her teeth. She had no choice.
Peter came back over to her as he gave her a mischievous smile when his hands touched her neck. He liked to torture her so because it bothered her so much. He closed his eyes for a moment as he felt for where the poison was in her neck. He moved his finger tips over her neck, finding the spot after a few moments. It was there, a few fingers after her gland. He pulled out a knife as he quickly slammed it into her neck. Not only was Lina squirming to get away, but Josh was yelling at him. He paid no attention to either one of them until he felt Joshua pulling against him. He pulled the blade out of her neck as green goo came out of her neck. He tucked the knife back into his belt as he spoke."Let it drain and then when its done, Heal it. It will be a few days before she's better. " He looked back at her as she didn't seem to be in any pain. That was because it didn't hurt. It was a blade that numbed the area as it went into the skin. It was more effective in killing an enemy. "Your welcome Your Highness." He told her as he spoke it with sarcasm.
He looked at Josh for a moment as he spoke. " In a few days when she has her voice back, you'll be wishing you hadn't called me." he told him, smirking at his own words. He darted his eyes at her, grinning at her. She had her hands at her own throat as she was trying not to panic at the fact that she was bleeding. She was bleeding this...who knew what it was that they had done to her. She shot him another glare at his words as she left it there until he left. "It'll be fine Lina." He told her as he pushed her hands from her neck. She closed her eyes tight as she held her hands in her lap, trying her best to stay still. How did people stay still when they had an open wound that was bleeding? It was taking all her strength to not apply pressure. It was going against self preservation. "I'll protect you." He promised to her as he gave her a small smile. She opened her eyes at his words, looking at him. She gave him a small smile in return, knowing his words to be true. She hand her hand against her neck as she looked at him for a moment, looking around and then down at the bed.
He looked at her as she was doing her best trying to avoid his gaze. He moved to sit next to her as he check the wound. "It looks like its almost done. " He moved his mouth to he wound as he started to suck out the rest. Lina's cheeks went a little red from the contact on her neck, his lips on her neck. She would never admit to herself that it felt incredibly nice. She stayed still as he pulled away, sitting there wondering what he was doing. "This is going to hurt. I'm sorry." He pulled out a bottle from his jacket pocket, pulling out the stopper. He squeezed the top as it sucked in the clear liquid, squeezing it again over her neck. Lina opened her mouth to gasp, but she wasn't able to make any sound by it. The wound seemed to burn up, healing the wound over as a little steam came from the contact. He looked at her wound as her fingers moved over her skin. It was gone. It was smooth and just like it was before. She turned to him as she had her hand against her neck still, giving him a smile.
The Next Day
Andreelle was making her way down the hallway, smiling at everyone as she did. She was to look perfectly normal, not like she was doing anything out of the ordinary. Other than kidnapping a child. Andreelle walked up to Charlotte's door, opening it as she came in. "Pst. Charlotte." She whispered to her as Charlotte bolted to Andreelle's leg. " Can we go?" Charlotte asked as she held onto Andreelle's dress. "Yes. Let's go quickly." She held out her hand for Charlotte to take as she gave the child a grin. Charlotte took her hand as she followed her out of the room. They were both walking down the hallway as Charlotte almost bounced with excitement the whole way there. They stopped in front of a door as Andreelle knocked on the door. "Come behind me." She told Charlotte as she helped her to stand behind.
Jessica opened the door as Charlotte flew past Jessica, squeezing between her and the door way. Jessica was jerry's wife and an old time friend of Lina's. Jessica tried to catch up to her as Andreelle stood at the door, smiling as she watched Charlotte. She held her hands behind her back as she grinned, watching Jess chase her down. She chuckled to herself as she turned around, making her way back to her own room. Charlotte escaped Jessica's grasp as she came into Lina's bedroom, ramming into Lina's leg. She put her arms around her, hoping that she would let her be there. Jessica let out a huff as she closed the door, letting the two of them be alone as she rolled her eyes. Charlotte grinned as she noticed Lina sitting on window seat. She climbed onto Lina's lap as she helped her up, giving lina a hug. She gave Charlotte a hug as she tucked some of her lose hair behind her ear. She hadn't even noticed the commotion until she felt Charlotte there on her lap.
Charlotte looked out the window as she saw her mom doing the same. She put her arms up against the edge, leaning her chin against it. She looked out at the village as she tilted her head towards her mother. She seemed to be somewhat memorized in it. "What are you looking at?" Charlotte asked as Lina turned to her. She started to make gestures, pointing at the village as she explained. Charlotte moved to stand on her toes as she stared at it again. She wasn't so sure what was so special about it. It was the village she had seen several times before. She turned to her mother again as she spoke."Why?"
Charlotte was looking at Lina as she was starting to gesture again. Charlotte stared at her as her eyes started to look a little bug eyed. Lina stopped, taking a deep breath as she looked around. She would try to find another way to explain. She had used all sorts of gesturing to get her to understand, trying to tell her that she had designed the village. That it was close to her heart. She found a notepad with a pen as she started to explain it this way. She wrote it wrote it down for Charlotte, handing it to her as she waited. Charlotte took the notebook from her mother as she read it over. She had finished reading it, looking back out the window as she took another look at the village. She smiled a little as she spoke." Its' prwetty." she leaned her chin against the edge as she held the notebook in her hand still, sighing a little as she stared out at it.
Lina tilted her head at her child, gently taking the notepad from her. She was starting to write a something as Charlotte watched her. Lina gave the notebook back to her as Charlotte starting to read, seeing new writing. She read it over again as she looked up at her. "Nothing." She held the notebook still as she turned to stare out at the window. She stared out as Lina watched her, worried about her. She nudged Charlotte as she took the notebook from her again. She wrote something else, giving it to her again. She looked down at it as Charlotte smiled at the words. Im always here for you. Charlotte stared down at the words as she thought them over. She bit her lip a little as she looked at her mother, leaning into her. She felt Lina's arms around her, so warm. She was hardly there. Only every once in a while. When she decided to come, not when Charlotte wanted her there. She had wanted her there all the time. Her last birthday...and every birthday before that. Lina was the only thing she wished for. She would close her eyes, think of her mother and blow the candles out.
Charlotte looked down at the piece of paper as it had more. She read the last bit, something about remembering promises. She held on to the pieces of paper binding together, thinking about it. "Mommy..." She spoke as she pulled away, sitting on her lap. " I don't remember the promise. What was it?" She asked as she then held out the paper for her to take. Lina looked hurt at her words as she turned to look out the window. She saw her mother bite her lip, just like she always did. She helped Charlotte off her lap as Lina moved to the opposite side of the room, looking out the window. Charlotte sat there for a moment before sliding off, taking the paper with her. She started towards her mother, but she had forgotten the pen. She ran back to the seat, grabbing the pen as she headed to her mom. She was standing beside her as she took her hand, holding it in hers. She was trying to get her attention as Lina turned to give her a smile. Charlotte noticed it, but it wasn't like the others. It wasn't like the ones she always received. "I'm sorry Mommy..." She wasn't sure what she had done, but she knew she had done something wrong. She could feel her mother slipping from her. She saw Lina turn her attention back to the window as Charlotte moved to hold her hand tighter." I'm sorry Mommy.. Please..." She asked as she held her hand tight.
She felt someone take her hand from her mothers, turning to see that it was Jessica. " Come on, Leave mommy alone." Jess spoke as she picked the little girl up. She started towards the door while Charlotte held onto the paper. " Mommy Please! No.." she pushed against Jess as the paper slipped through her hands. She stretched her fingers out as she tried to catch it, watching it fall to the floor. She looked back at her mom as she held her hand out to her." Let me go.. MOMMY!" She was pushing against Jess as tears were coming down her cheeks, Lina still staring out the window. She cried for her still as she held her hand out, trying to push it further. Jess turned around, closing the door shut as she held Charlotte. The little girl was streaming tears as she stared at the closed door. She moved her hand closer to her chest, holding onto her dress as she leaned her head against Jess's shoulder.
The image of her mother just standing there while she called for her, it was burned in her mind. She started to sniffle as Jess's shirt became damp from her tears. "I'm sorry Mommy." She whispered, looking up towards the door as she hoped that saying it once more would bring Lina to her. The door remained shut. Jessica held Charlotte in her arms as she took her back to her room. It seemed like no matter how much she had wished or called for her...she didn't come. She was not always there. If she was she would of came. She would of came when she blew out all those candles. She would of came when she held her teddy bear and talked to it about her mother. About how pretty she was and how she was gentle. How her fingers were so soft when she stroked her cheeks, to help her sleep. How she felt so safe in her arms. She would of came when she called for her. She would of came.
Once joshua heard what was done he was heading straight to Lina's room. He did not care that she couldn't talk or that she had been through a lot. She did not know what she had just put charlotte through. The only thing she had wanted more than a duck was her mother. They had both wanted Lina there. To push her away like that... It was fine if she wanted to push him away, but not her. Not Charlotte. She had cried in Andreelle's arms for a while until he came into the room. She would hear about this. She should be better than this for her. Just for her. It was all he was asking for.
He came into the room, seeing the first one empty. He went into the second one as he was about to speak, seeing Jerry and Jessica looking at her. He looked at them as he looked Lina over, she seemed fine from behind. He was starting to be slightly worried at the looks on their faces. " What happened?" He asked as he came towards Lina. " Not sure dude. She just started to shake...and then this." He told him as his wife then asked if he would get some water. He left the room, fetching the water that she had wanted. He moved to look at her face, looking pale. Her eyes were glazed over with a whitish gray coloring. You couldn't see her green eyes, they were covered by this haze. "Lina...Please." He spoke her name, no longer upset at her. He moved to his knees as he looked up at her. "Lina..." He spoke her name.
The room flashed into darkness as it was only the two of them. It was just him and then Lina in her chair. He looked around for a moment, seeing no one else. Lina was still sitting in her chair, looking like she was out in space. He touched his hand to hers as he spoke." I'm here..." It was just the two of them and all the darkness. She started to speak, staring straight ahead in some sort of trance. "Father...wont you love me. Wont you take me to the park. Father...Wont you love me. Won't you take me to the park. Father...Won't..you...love...Me." She spoke then looking at Joshua. He looked at her as he spoke to her," Lina.. I'm still here." He put his hand to her cheek as he made her gaze stay on him."I'm here. It's alright. I'll protect you. I'm here Lina." He tried to comfort her as he held her face in his hand.
"Josh..." She spoke as she looked at him. "I'm here.." He spoke to her a little more hopeful." I'm sorry. I only caused you pain." You could see that the fog had left, seeing her green eyes again. "Lina. Stop. You didn't cause me pain. Stay with me." He asked her as she shook her head at him." Yes I did. I Hurt you. I hurt you. And Charlotte..." She was crying now at the truth of her own words. "Well.." It was true. She had hurt them both so much. Charlotte so much more. He had tried his best to pick up the shattered pieces that she left them both in. "It doesnt matter because your worth it all. We both love you. She loves you Lina. I love you. "He stroked her cheek with his thumb as he continued." Since the first day I met you." He looked into her eyes as he wished he could make her see how much they both wanted her love. "You're worth it all Lina. Just stay. Just stay this time. Life without you...It isn't anything near life with you." He smiled at her as he spoke." Can't you see..Your our life and your worth everything to the both of us."
She was looking up at him now with teary eyes and water stained cheeks. Her tears had made a path down her cheeks, allowing others to follow with ease. "Really?" She asked in a low voice, tears following those before it. "Yes. Of course you are. I love you." He told her as he gave her a smile, stroking her cheek again. She had spoken the words In half belief, but she wanted to believe them. Even if he had meant them. Joshua was confused when he heard light chuckling. "How cute...Don't listen to him Lina, You caused him pain. Along with everyone else you've met. You're nothing but Pain." You could hear a dark voice coming from the black abyss as the word pain seemed to echo. "Don't listen to him Lina...You aren't." The voice continued as Joshua turned his attention from Lina to look around.
He moved to his feet as he clinched his fingers into a fist. "Leave her ALONE!" He yelled at the voice as he looked around for the voice, turning his head towards the small whispers. "Or are you to afraid to face me." He moved in front of Lina as he spoke again. "You'll lose." He would make sure of it. He didn't know what this thing was, but if it was Lina's demon... He would destroy it to bring her back to peace. He heard the whispers disappear for a moment as he started to turn around, looking for the voices. He heard voices all over the room as they spoke the same words over and over. "You can't stop Destiny.."
Destiny was a Bitch. He heard gasping coming from behind him as he whipped around, seeing Lina gasping from the pain. Josh stood in shock as knives were being stabbed into her body, no one there doing it but the air."Lina.." He spoke her name as he ran to her, sliding onto his knees in front of her chair. He looked at one of the daggers in her side as he looked up at her." I'm sorry." He knew it was going to hurt, along with all the other knives in her body. She had so many of them stuck in her body. Her chest, arms, and legs. They were just every where. He pulled the knife out, throwing it at some of the voices in the darkness. He put both his hands on top of each other as he tried to heal her wound. He was about to pull his hands away when he heard something being thrown at them. He heard the whooshing sound as he felt the impact in his hands. The dagger had gone through both his hands and right into her side. He made a breathless gasp as he looked up at lina, seeing her such pain.
He clinched his jaw as he pulled his hands free from her. He started to pull his hands apart as he yelled from the pain. He pulled the dagger out as he could feel the rage growing inside of him. The rage filled his body as his hands healed themselves within a few seconds. "Hold on Lina." He asked her as he told her as he pulled out two knives from her, putting his hand against both wounds. He started to heal it as he let his power flow from him to her. He was almost done healing them when he heard a voice from behind him speaking." You can't stop destiny Josh Moonson. You can't protect her. No matter what you promise her." You could hear the creature behind him chuckling louder and louder. They were enjoying their torture. He clinched his jaw more as his eyes drifted from her wounds to her face. He would protect her. He would.
He let out a loud groan from the pain as he closed his eyes. He opened his eyes to see knives in his hands again, moving their way towards her healed wounds. He pulled his hands away from her as the healed wounds were being pierced by two other knives. He looked down at his hands as he tilted them to see the blade. They had gone through his hands, the blade still stuck at his palms. He watched the blood trickle down his wrist as he looked up at Lina. He could see the blood spots forming from under her clothes. He had realized he couldn't help her. He was being sentenced to watch her die. His hands fell beside him as he watched. "I'm...Sorry." He told Lina as his face scrunched from the noises the knives were making against her skin. Not to mention the pain coming from her lips. "I'm sorry Lina.. I can't.." He looked up at her Green eyes as he kept repeating it to her.
She gave him a half smile as it was the best thing she could do from all the pain. "It's...Alright. Just promise... me..you..'ll love...me. When I wake." she asked him as barely had any of its bright green left. Her eyes started to fade into a deeper green as a gray started to form around her Iris's. "I..." He started to speak, but he felt a hand on his shoulder. He had turned to see who it was as he saw that it was Jerry. He turned to look around the room as it was her room in the castle. He looked at them both for a moment before looking down at his hands. They had no scars or even a scratch from where the knives were at. He turned to look at lina as he moved to shake her a little." Lina...Wake up. Lina please wake up." he asked her as he then added," Please Lina. I'm sorry I couldn-" Jessica put her hand against her shoulder as she got his attention. " It's no use Josh. She's gone." She told him as he looked at her. It wasn't possible. She couldn't leave him. Not this way.
"She'll be okay...But she'll be different." She told him as she started to explain."Some angels...Well they have jobs that bring them into a depressed state. So..their still good angels like you and I. But they have darker ..they are darker." She tried to explain to him. He was still looking confused at her words as she tried again. " She's still an angel Josh, but she's so close to the darker things. Death and Pain that she becomes it. " She told him as he turned to look at her. She was in such pain the moments before he had left. He wasn't sure how he came to be there with her, or how he came to be here. Yet here he was. He moved to stay near her as he would keep his promise to her. He would always love her and he would always protect her. In any way he could. He wouldn't fail again. They would have to kill him first. He would stay by her side till she woke. He wasn't going to give up now. She was one of the few things that was worth fighting for. She always was and would always remain so.