Strings Of Fate

Chapter 84 Muddled mind Part 1

 Something felt wrong.

The thought repeated itself in his head as he walked through the forest of red. This place, it felt wrong, yet..familiar. A bell chimed in the distance, but it sounded broken and distorted, almost warped. The air was heavy, and the sky was a dark grey filled with swollen clouds. The trees were red, petals slowly falling to the ground with each blow of a soft wind.

Something felt wrong.

He looked down at himself, clothes bathed in white..the crystal around his neck glowing a warm red; it made him feel safe.

His eyes scanned the path, looking for something - no, someone.

They stopped as they landed on a figure just ahead. His long blonde hair was waving in the wind, wearing a dress bathed mostly in red from the neck to the hip, with only the ends being white.

The bell chimed again.

He yelled, calling out his name, but his voice was drowned out. He called again.

Another chime.

The blonde's body perked up, looking over his shoulder, his eyes widening at the sight of the brunette. He looked...lost, yet relieved. And....scared.

He reached his hand out...

One last chime.

"Alastor!" His eyes flew open, heart in his throat...his mind felt muddled as he blinked to focus his vision on the blur in front of him. "Alastor...hey." He let out another groan as he inhaled the scent; it was familiar to him. He looked up, his vision focusing just enough to see the blonde on top of him in an oversized dress shirt.

His shirt...he remembered with a smile, taking note of the fresh purple marks on his beloved's neck.

"Hello, amor." Alastor chuckled with a smile; Angel returned it.

"Hey, sleepyhead." He teased, "how are ya' feelin'?"

Alastor looked in confusion. "I'm feelin' fine, Anthony. Why do you ask?"

Angel frowned, concern on his face. "Well..today's New Year's. Righ'?" Alastor nodded, vaguely remembering the overbearing party last night. They had just barely gotten back before..well.. "Rememba' back when we went campin'...an' ya' told me all that stuff."

"Yes..." He mumbled, still trying to wake up. His chest felt tight and his head was dizzy. Perhaps a side effect of all the alcohol he'd consumed.

"Well, I wanna know if you're doin' alrigh'? I mean...do ya' feel any different? Bein' like...a full mortal?" The mix of concern and curiosity stemming from his soulmate was oddly adorable to him.

With a soft laugh, he caressed his lover's cheek. "I feel fine, my love. Aside from that pesky facial hair growing back again.." He could already feel his face itching.

That got a laugh from the blonde. "Well, I dink you'd look good wit' a beard, Al."

....

Al?

Alastor's smile shrunk, "...is everything okay?"

Now it was Angel who looked confused. "Yeah? Why?"

There was a short pause, Alastor running over the last few seconds to check. "You called me 'Al'..that's correct, yes?"

More confusion came from the blonde. "Yeah? Dat's your name, isn't it?" He laughed nervously.