Fee's Writings
An Angel's Touch: Chapter Twelve
Warnings: Mild Violence
The house was quiet. Even Suzie wasn't moving, but for one paw that was flicking slightly as she slept. In the smaller bedroom, Ameron stirred. The curtains were open, and the second full moon he had seen since his arrival streamed pale light across the bed.
A shadow crossed the light and the male woke with a start, sitting up, the hairs on the back of his neck prickling.
"Verhasnen dan..." he murmured, frowning slightly, pushing the covers back and setting his feet on the floor, standing and padding quietly out of the room, eyes covering every point possible as he moved nervously through the semi-darkness.
Awoken by his presence, Suzie began to growl - but she wasn't looking at him, her head was turned to the door of Natalie's bedroom.
It had been a slightly confusing day. Natalie had confided in her brother and her sister-in-law, and as all young children did (somehow instinctively), her niece and nephew had known straight away. It had been... well, fun, he supposed. He'd laughed, a few times. Yeah, it had been fun.
Hesitantly, he reached for the door handle, turned it, and leaned in through the door.
At first, nothing seemed out of place, then he felt a cold chill shoot through him, eyes widening as his gaze fixed on a slight glint next to the woman's bed. The glint of a knife. He drew in a sharp breath, attracting the attention of the person holding the knife, and when they looked up he felt his blood turn to ice in his veins.
"Maz..." His strained whisper was so soft that even he barely heard it. He saw the demon look up and grin, and the ice flowing through him turned suddenly to a hot, burning fire, his slim frame shaking. If Maz stabbed her with a demonic weapon, no matter where it hit her, she'd die.
Maz raised the knife, and Ameron shouted out, stepping forwards, one hand desperately raised. He'd never stop Maz in this state and he felt an overwhelming urge to protect Natalie. Not simply because she was the only one he had in this world, but because she had taken him in, cared for him, and showed what he considered an almost celestial kindness despite not knowing who he was or where he came from.
The heat over his body prickled, then without warning a blindingly brilliant white-blue light erupted from his outstretched palm, sending him to the ground with the force of it and lifting Maz from his feet, slamming him hard into the wall beside Natalie's bed.
Natalie woke quickly, taking in the situation in a millisecond and shrinking back with a horrified gasp.
The heat over his body prickled, then without warning a blindingly brilliant white-blue light erupted from his outstretched palm, sending him to the ground with the force of it and lifting Maz from his feet, slamming him hard into the wall beside Natalie's bed.
Natalie woke quickly, taking in the situation in a millisecond and shrinking back with a horrified gasp.
The demon used the wall to ease himself back to his feet, fingers covering a bleeding and burned gash down his left upper arm. Ameron was cowering on the floor, cradling his right hand to his chest, the skin on his palm smoking.
"This isn't over yet, not by a long shot," Maz hissed. "Caelestis."
Before either of them could do anything, he disappeared, and Natalie shakily reached over to turn the bedside light on. The pale yellow light lit the room dimly, and she looked over to Ameron.
The male was still down, leaning heavily on the doorframe, breathing hard and shaking. His bottom lip was caught between his teeth, eyes tightly closed.
Natalie just stared. "What...?" she whispered weakly.
"Caelestis tianir..." Ameron responded softly. His body hurt. All of it hurt. Even his hair felt like it was hurting. Most of the pain, however, was coming from a scald-like burn on his palm. Lifting his eyes to Natalie, he trembled violently and tentatively opened his right hand to investigate the damage.
Have no doubt that Ameron had taken worse hits than this before, but his pain tolerance had been far higher then.
Natalie just stared. "What...?" she whispered weakly.
"Caelestis tianir..." Ameron responded softly. His body hurt. All of it hurt. Even his hair felt like it was hurting. Most of the pain, however, was coming from a scald-like burn on his palm. Lifting his eyes to Natalie, he trembled violently and tentatively opened his right hand to investigate the damage.
Have no doubt that Ameron had taken worse hits than this before, but his pain tolerance had been far higher then.
Natalie noticed the burn, and also noticed that Ameron looked about to faint. Getting out of bed quickly, she hurried over to him and crouched beside him.
"Here- Come here, let me see." She took his arm and he flinched, but gingerly opened his hand when she touched his fingers. It covered his entire palm, and looked like someone had spilled boiling water over his skin. Though, it wasn't as bad as it looked.
"Ameron,"
He looked dazed.
"Ameron!"
Shaking his head slightly, he snapped out of it, meeting her eyes.
"Get up."
"Here- Come here, let me see." She took his arm and he flinched, but gingerly opened his hand when she touched his fingers. It covered his entire palm, and looked like someone had spilled boiling water over his skin. Though, it wasn't as bad as it looked.
"Ameron,"
He looked dazed.
"Ameron!"
Shaking his head slightly, he snapped out of it, meeting her eyes.
"Get up."
He did so, and she took him in to the kitchen, turning the cold tap on and forcing his hand under the water. Ameron winced and tried to pull away, but she held him there and after a couple of minutes he relaxed, the fingers of his free hand relinquishing their vice-like grip on the counter.
Moving behind him to get to a cupboard for the first-aid box, something caught her eye - something shining. Turning her head she found the source to be the scars on his back, which were glowing faintly. Frowning, she reached out and touched one of them, a spark making them both flinch. Ameron looked over his shoulder and Natalie met his eyes with a smile.
As she moved away, he returned his attention to his thoughts. What had just happened there? That power was nothing a human could have managed. It could have only come from one source, and that meant that a part of him was still linked to Heaven. But still, something must have triggered it.
He glanced at Natalie just in time for her to catch his eye, and he felt himself blush darkly, looking away quickly and focusing intently on his injured hand.
The only way he could have sustained an injury like that would be celestial power - a force that strong simply couldn't be contained within a mortal body.
He glanced at Natalie just in time for her to catch his eye, and he felt himself blush darkly, looking away quickly and focusing intently on his injured hand.
The only way he could have sustained an injury like that would be celestial power - a force that strong simply couldn't be contained within a mortal body.
He felt hands on his waist and froze as Natalie wrapped her arms around him from behind, her head resting on his back, just against the scars. A small frown flitted across his face as he flexed his fingers under the still running cold water.
"Thank you." He heard her mutter quietly.
A small smile touched his lips and he felt himself blushing again, thankful that this time there was no way she could have seen it. "You're welcome."
"Thank you." He heard her mutter quietly.
A small smile touched his lips and he felt himself blushing again, thankful that this time there was no way she could have seen it. "You're welcome."
* * *
"And this...?"
"No, no... look here."
Two heads lifted as the sound of oddly noisy footsteps clattered into the library. One of the two, a glass of water just nearing her lips, raised on eyebrow and cast her eyes to her male companion, who shrugged slightly and looked towards the door, just in time to see Iowynne skidding to the doorway, uncharacteristically flustered.
"No, no... look here."
Two heads lifted as the sound of oddly noisy footsteps clattered into the library. One of the two, a glass of water just nearing her lips, raised on eyebrow and cast her eyes to her male companion, who shrugged slightly and looked towards the door, just in time to see Iowynne skidding to the doorway, uncharacteristically flustered.
"Ameron and Natalie were attacked!"
The male was on his feet instantly as Iowynne ran in, holding up her skirts so she didn't trip over them. "What?!"
Cenandra, the other, simply closed her eyes and rested her forehead against a spread forefinger and thumb. "Predictable." she murmured.
The male was on his feet instantly as Iowynne ran in, holding up her skirts so she didn't trip over them. "What?!"
Cenandra, the other, simply closed her eyes and rested her forehead against a spread forefinger and thumb. "Predictable." she murmured.
Both sets of eyes came to rest on her. "How is it predictable?" Trysios demanded.
"Simple," she said shortly, getting to her feet. For a female, she was impressively tall, standing at almost six feet. On the desk, disturbed by her movement, her two small pet Beagon rising from the desk to hover around her head, looking accusingly at Iowynne for disturbing their mistress. Cenandra lifted one hand to the one closest to her, and it nudged her fingers lightly. "Most of us remember Maz how he was, and remember his zeal... he will not have failure. He will have Ameron dead, no matter who else he has to hurt."
Iowynne frowned, her usual composure now fully regained. "What can we do?"
Distracted from her pet, Cenandra turned her dark eyes on Iowynne. "Nothing."
The door of the room, which had swung closed after Iowynne had entered, banged open suddenly, causing all except Cenandra to flinch, and the two Beagon to chitter agitatedly.
Imandor had always held a grudge against Maz. It stemmed from a long time ago, when the girl he was in love with had been killed in a brutal attack by the demon when she was trying to protect a group of children from him. Phaedra had been his life, and after she'd gone it was only his devotion to his post that had stopped him becoming so embittered that he followed the same fate as Maz had in the beginning.
"This is going too far," The blonde male said sharply. "He's always done this and he will not stop until he destroys everything that is dear to us!"
Iowynne frowned, her usual composure now fully regained. "What can we do?"
Distracted from her pet, Cenandra turned her dark eyes on Iowynne. "Nothing."
The door of the room, which had swung closed after Iowynne had entered, banged open suddenly, causing all except Cenandra to flinch, and the two Beagon to chitter agitatedly.
Imandor had always held a grudge against Maz. It stemmed from a long time ago, when the girl he was in love with had been killed in a brutal attack by the demon when she was trying to protect a group of children from him. Phaedra had been his life, and after she'd gone it was only his devotion to his post that had stopped him becoming so embittered that he followed the same fate as Maz had in the beginning.
"This is going too far," The blonde male said sharply. "He's always done this and he will not stop until he destroys everything that is dear to us!"
"Enough!" It was the first time any of them had heard Cenandra raise her voice for decades, and it threw all of them in to silence. "I am growing tired of your bickering and petty accusations! We will bring Ameron back to us, but we must be patient, and not lose ourselves amongst other tangled issues!"
They were all cringing away from her by now as her irritation forced her aura to radiate immense power.
They were all cringing away from her by now as her irritation forced her aura to radiate immense power.
There was a long silence, then Trysios cleared his throat and cast his eyes to each of the others, purposefully avoiding Cenandra as he did so. "You're right, of course."
"There must be something we can do." Imandor protested, now sounding slightly helpless. His previous demeanour was gone, and he stood with his shoulders slumped and one hand running fretfully through his hair. Smiling softly, Cenandra went to him and pulled him close, embracing him gently.
"Just have patience, dear one. All will come right in the end."
Trysios laughed quietly. "And here I thought Sirae was the only one with Seer status."
Cenandra just smiled, and nodded her head slightly.
"What have you been researching?" Iowynne asked, drifting over to where several books lay open on the table where Trysios and Cenandra had been sat. The two Beagon had settled now, and the older angel gently shooed the smaller of the two creatures out of the way to allow her to pick up one of the books that Trysios and herself had been looking at. "Excuse me, Grztaka." she said kindly, petting the top of the animal's head with the tip of one finger. It chirped, then went back to ignoring her as she hefted the weighty tome as if it was nothing, holding it in the crook of one arm as she flicked through the pages.
"There must be something we can do." Imandor protested, now sounding slightly helpless. His previous demeanour was gone, and he stood with his shoulders slumped and one hand running fretfully through his hair. Smiling softly, Cenandra went to him and pulled him close, embracing him gently.
"Just have patience, dear one. All will come right in the end."
Trysios laughed quietly. "And here I thought Sirae was the only one with Seer status."
Cenandra just smiled, and nodded her head slightly.
"What have you been researching?" Iowynne asked, drifting over to where several books lay open on the table where Trysios and Cenandra had been sat. The two Beagon had settled now, and the older angel gently shooed the smaller of the two creatures out of the way to allow her to pick up one of the books that Trysios and herself had been looking at. "Excuse me, Grztaka." she said kindly, petting the top of the animal's head with the tip of one finger. It chirped, then went back to ignoring her as she hefted the weighty tome as if it was nothing, holding it in the crook of one arm as she flicked through the pages.
"Here," she said then, indicating a passage to Iowynne who looked carefully over her shoulder. "It says, roughly condensed, that a damned angel - a demon - can return to Heaven if they speak their true name with purity in their heart."
Imandor had recovered himself now, and cleared his throat slightly. "Is that even possible?"
"You know full well that it is..." Cenandra told him calmly. Outside, two voices were heard - a male and a female. As they passed the closed door it seemed they would carry on, but then the doors were pushed open, a slender, pale hand slipping in to be followed by a female.
"Yirisa, what excellent timing." Trysios said, his expression fond.
Yirisa looked startled, and her companion stuck his head in through the door, a quizzical expression on his face.
"Oh, are we interrupting something?"
Cenandra smiled and shook her head. "Not at all, Aisyr. Come in. You too, Yirisa."
Imandor had recovered himself now, and cleared his throat slightly. "Is that even possible?"
"You know full well that it is..." Cenandra told him calmly. Outside, two voices were heard - a male and a female. As they passed the closed door it seemed they would carry on, but then the doors were pushed open, a slender, pale hand slipping in to be followed by a female.
"Yirisa, what excellent timing." Trysios said, his expression fond.
Yirisa looked startled, and her companion stuck his head in through the door, a quizzical expression on his face.
"Oh, are we interrupting something?"
Cenandra smiled and shook her head. "Not at all, Aisyr. Come in. You too, Yirisa."
Both of them edged in, Aisyr nudging Imandor with his elbow and Yirisa drifting over to where Trysios was stood.
Shifting the book in her arms, Cenandra lowered her eyes back to the page. "As I said, you know full well that it is possible." Both newcomers as yet had no idea what she was talking about, but they remained silent. "It has never happened yet, because our Father took this information away from any who knew it after the Rebellion took so many from us." Out of the corner of her eye she saw Yirisa's eyes drop, and gave a small, sympathetic smile. Everyone's attention was riveted on her now. It was so unusual to hear her speak this much, and nobody wanted to interrupt her.
Shifting the book in her arms, Cenandra lowered her eyes back to the page. "As I said, you know full well that it is possible." Both newcomers as yet had no idea what she was talking about, but they remained silent. "It has never happened yet, because our Father took this information away from any who knew it after the Rebellion took so many from us." Out of the corner of her eye she saw Yirisa's eyes drop, and gave a small, sympathetic smile. Everyone's attention was riveted on her now. It was so unusual to hear her speak this much, and nobody wanted to interrupt her.
"It is also, as you all know, forbidden to freely give this information out to any who might use it. Some angels, under torture, have given it, but no demon has yet successfully managed to achieve their aim in using this method... It usually results in their being completely destroyed."
Trysios placed a friendly hand on Yirisa's shoulder and frowned slightly. "So why is it a problem now?"
Coughing slightly, she put the book down on the table, her pets rising from the wood to hover around her head. Thoughtfully, she took a seat and brushed a curl of hair away from her face. "Because, it has been a long time since a human has had contact with both sides. She has spoken with Sirae, and to some extent Ameron is still part of us, and she has spoken with Sirae's brother Azriel."
"Saethundugina." Imandor murmured.
Cenandra just gave a slight nod. "Indeed..."
Something seemed to click with Yirisa, and she drew in a breath sharply. "It isn't forbidden for angels to tell humans of this 'method', is it?" The older angel shook her head, and Yirisa went on. "So that means that if Sirae tells her, or Ameron tells her when- if he comes back... she could tell Az..."
"It means she could tell any demon." Trysios murmured. "Luckily she has no reason to tell any but perhaps Sae... but is there a risk there? I have not spoken to him in a long time but last I did he seemed genuinely contrite, and he obviously hasn't given in completely to his demonic nature..."
"Perhaps so," Imandor stated then. "Perhaps this is something that we all need to be made aware of."
Trysios placed a friendly hand on Yirisa's shoulder and frowned slightly. "So why is it a problem now?"
Coughing slightly, she put the book down on the table, her pets rising from the wood to hover around her head. Thoughtfully, she took a seat and brushed a curl of hair away from her face. "Because, it has been a long time since a human has had contact with both sides. She has spoken with Sirae, and to some extent Ameron is still part of us, and she has spoken with Sirae's brother Azriel."
"Saethundugina." Imandor murmured.
Cenandra just gave a slight nod. "Indeed..."
Something seemed to click with Yirisa, and she drew in a breath sharply. "It isn't forbidden for angels to tell humans of this 'method', is it?" The older angel shook her head, and Yirisa went on. "So that means that if Sirae tells her, or Ameron tells her when- if he comes back... she could tell Az..."
"It means she could tell any demon." Trysios murmured. "Luckily she has no reason to tell any but perhaps Sae... but is there a risk there? I have not spoken to him in a long time but last I did he seemed genuinely contrite, and he obviously hasn't given in completely to his demonic nature..."
"Perhaps so," Imandor stated then. "Perhaps this is something that we all need to be made aware of."
******
Verhasnen dan - Something's wrong
Caelestis - Angel
Caelestis tianir - Angel magic (rough translation)
Verhasnen dan - Something's wrong
Caelestis - Angel
Caelestis tianir - Angel magic (rough translation)
Beagon - From the Gaelic 'beaghmeid dragan' - Little Dragon