A giant marshmallow was eating her, that was the only explanation. Evangeline enjoyed the moment where she was utterly relaxed but aware of the voices around her. The bed keeping her utterly comfortable.
'Since Heca called me only half hour ago? No Adonis, nothing has changed.'
'Remember she'd bash your heads together--'
'--Or worse--'
'--Yes, or worse, if you don't focus on the last exams today, go take your tests gents.' DeeDee's voice was firm.
The determined sound of a phone being put down almost made Evangeline laugh. She forced her face to stay neutral and waited for the chide she knew was coming,
'Quiet DeeDee,' Tien hissed.
Evangeline bit her inner cheek. Trust those two to still be sniping at each other despite all that had happened.
'She'd tell us off for camping out at her bedside too you realise.' Orion chided, and Evangeline felt warmth pool in her chest.
'And I'd scold her right back. For keeping us waiting so long.'
'Calm down DeeDee, she'll wake up soon, I'm sure of it.' Brianna whispered.
Her voice was soft, like a quiet bird in the early morning, but the kind hand that rested on Evangeline's was strong.
'I'm still going to tell her off.' DeeDee grumbled.
Books rustled, the slam of them being put down echoed and sighs erupted from two different parts of the room.
'I'll say it again, quiet DeeDee!'
Evangeline shifted, ready to open her eyes, all set with her opening shot.
'Jeez you lot never shut up do you?!' she teased, 'how unruly you all are.'
Her announcement of consciousness made every single person in the room, start.
Orion even lost balance on the chair he had tipped back, the comical wobble as if in slow motion was caught by them all, before he toppled off it onto the ground. Easy laughter melted with the air, which was a stream of golds and yellows, the sunlight warm through the ceiling to floor glass of the angelus medic wing.
'Welcome back... Angelus Evangeline.' Zeru said.
He recovered first, leaving his perch against the window as he moved to her bed. 'I presume you could do with a drink?' he asked, a water jug and cup already in his hands.
DeeDee rose from her seat, close to Evangeline's side and slammed the book in her hands shut with a loud snap.
'She will have no sympathy until I've given her a verbal neutering!'
Evangeline pushed herself up on her pillows. She laughed guiltily, holding out her hand to DeeDee.
'Oh yes, I hear you want to give me quite the scolding,' she agreed.
'Don't think your charm will get you out of it.' DeeDee countered. 'How could you be so foolish?! Skӧll venom can be fatal in small amounts. What made you think you could go running around, pumping that filth around your blood, and get away with it!' DeeDee's voice went from high, to all out surround sound, even the others shrank back a little. 'I love you Evangeline, but if you ever make me worry this much again... I swear to Jeremial I'll make you suffer.'
'I'm sorry...' Evangeline murmured, getting cut off by DeeDee holding up a hand.
'No apologies, I'm yelling irrationally, we are a world of fighting and injuries, and you were taking up the cause, yada yada yada, but I am still angry. So will speak my mind.'
'DeeDee is slightly sleep deprived, but she is right that we'd all enjoy a little less drama from you miss.' Orion spoke up.
His large frame rose from his spot on the floor and settled on Evangeline's bed. Tien and Brianna moved in and for a few moments the group of them just remained silent. Together, but with their individual thoughts filling the room.
'I'm not trying to attract drama, you guys.' Evangeline bit hard onto her lip and informed her tear ducts to, calm the frick down. 'I didn't summon Darklore.' she finished.
Again she was embarrassed, confused by everything. It was dawning on Evangeline that she did seem to be a magnet for these events.
Suddenly, the sun coming through the windows was less warm. Memories and flashes of the last moments Evangeline remembered stormed her mind. She leant back on her pillows, tired all over again.
DeeDee gripped her hand and for a second Evangeline considered not asking the next two questions and just hiding from it all a while longer. Sighing she sat up again and looked from one face to the next. Only DeeDee met her gaze outright, the others began to fidget, and Evangeline wasn't sure if that meant the answers wouldn't come or just that the answers were not going to be pleasing to hear.
'Catch me up on everything. How long have I been out?' she asked.
'We don't have to do this now.' Tien offered.
'You've only just come back round after all.' Orion added
'One of us should go let the Angyali tutors and Headmaster Rivas know Evangeline is awake.' Brianna reminded the group.
The four other voices in the room murmured assent to that point. Evangeline though, started, her mind whirring like helicopter propellers.
'Wait, what?'
*
Evangeline rubbed her temples. Dusk was falling, the light sliding lower and lower down the walls. In the brief quiet she was unsure how much had sunk in. Uncle Luther, headmaster? As a tarnished film reel would jutter and flash, her memories of that night, after the bite of the skӧll, were hazy.
She remembered the medic bay at Warriod.
The fight to get to DeeDee.
The Fallen one known as Lucifer, Vessel of War.
Who could forget a face that handsome or eyes that monstrous? But it was a flash of onyx she couldn't quite grasp at properly that frustrated her. She knew she was missing something important, but it just wouldn't expose itself.
She did now remember the image of Headmaster Thantos. His decapitated body crumpling as a pyramid of cards might. Death struck so fast, so brief, that blinking might cause one to miss it. The consequences, the aftermath of his visit though, that could take weeks, months, a lifetime to move past.
Evangeline folded her arms, one hand coming up and distractedly, she ran her thumb over her lips trying to order her thoughts.
'Don't tell me you're worrying about your exams.'
Her uncle's voice was jovial, and she grinned. One thing he did know about her most definitely was that she never prepared well or thought overly about exams.
Somehow, she had always muddled through things like that and they were never long on her mind. He bent and gave her a swift hug.
'Oh yes, uncle, I cannot wait to be out of this bed and back to my textbooks.' she teased.
'Well then, shall I tell Angelus Marguerite you do not want the free pass she has granted you, in light of your new status as an Angelus?' Luther asked.
A serious look took over his features. Evangeline blinked like a fool and nearly fell over her next words.
'What, well no no, no!. I mean no, don't cause confusion. I'm sure there are exams next year. I can enjoy those ones.' she blabbered.
With a firm grip onto her uncle's forearm she struck him with an I-mean-it look. He laughed and patted her vice-like grip on his arm.
'I am so proud of you. I daresay that night at Warriod was test enough for first years.'
'I'm so sorry about Headmaster Thantos, Uncle.'
He turned to look out the window and Evangeline did the same, not wanting to press him.
'He was a good man. A phenomenal warrior and a good friend.' he said eventually, 'he died in service, so I believe his soul will find peace.' Luther returned his gaze to his niece, 'I just hope I can fill his role with honour.'
'You will. You do, I'm sure of it.' Evangeline stated.
'I wasn't, not while you were unconscious. I feared I'd lose you, as I lost your parents.'
Evangeline swung her legs to the side of the bed, pushed aside her covers and rose, her arms going around her uncle.
'I can't go meet them, not yet. They'd tell me off for leaving you alone.' she said softly.
'They'd be so proud of you too.'
Evangeline didn't let her uncle go. The war she had only just tasted was coming for them all. As the dusk came fast against the glass, she pondered her life in this moment. Pondered at all she had left to learn, at the danger of this place and the scars both on her body and on the walls of both castles.
How did people step forward after tragedy?
Eros had almost been lost, only Tien's Elysium light had broken his shackles. Every student in Warriod that night had been given a glimpse at the power Satan could wield, some had already retreated from the prospect.
Evangeline reprimanded herself; others had risen to the challenge. According to Zeru, several of the other angelus candidates who had been moving through Warriod academy had also summoned their wings, and the fight-over-flight instinct had kicked in.
The group that Evangeline had run from in the Upper Main Hall too, had dug deep and found strength to invoke a ritual far beyond their training to expel the Horde from the keep.
'Everyone should be proud of how we handled ourselves that night. We are all together in this. And whatever comes next.' Evangeline decided.
Voicing her conviction aloud for the first time since this part of her, this war, world, had been revealed, felt incredibly empowering and Evangeline let herself smile a little.
'Indeed, my students were rather extraordinary.'
'Ahh uncle that's because extraordinary is just ordinary with a little more oomph.'
'Smartass, when did you get so grown up?' he asked pulling out from her arms as the bells high, high above them began to ring out. 'I should return to Warriod. I'll come back tomorrow.' he promised.
'Please do, it's not like I have exams to study for.' Evangeline winked.
'Oh my niece how mischievous you are.'
Luther rose from his chair, mussing her hair and cupping her cheek for a moment before moving leisurely across the room towards the door, 'oh, and there is someone, several someone's waiting to see you.' He pushed the door back fully as a number of people filled the space. 'You lot have ten minutes and Mr. Alverez, I expect you to act like the perfect gentleman.'
Luther's voice was past strict, and Evangeline had to stifle her giggle so her uncle could enjoy his power over the warrior in this moment. Evangeline would never want to deprive him of being overprotective and fatherly. Not now she understood his motives and how he had chosen to raise her better.
'You lot better not disobey your headmaster.' Evangeline informed them as they drew closer to her bed.
'You don't look too bad, nearly dying must agree with you.' Adonis joked.
His leg was in plaster, but his face was almost healed.
'Two weeks is a little overkill don't you think?' Morgana asked as she and Kleio perched on Evangeline's bed.
'I have been told my beauty sleep was considered lengthy, yes.' Evangeline replied.
Her gaze flickering over Gabe, who was still a little pale and clearly not fully recovered himself. Proteus and Cay stood shoulder to shoulder; the cousins looked put out.
'What's with those faces?' she asked.
'Ohhh ignore those two, they're still mad they missed all the action.' Adonis said.
He waved a hand at the pair who both grumbled, their words undecipherable.
'Zeru and the others must have given you quite a telling off.' said Blair.
He stepped forward, clearly trying to deter the conversation away from possible chaos and argument.
'You know it. Yes, but they couldn't stay mad at me, especially not since I am still healing.' Evangeline informed him with a grin.
She tried to meet Heca's gaze, but the warrior had hung back. When Heca kept his gaze deliberately on the floor she asked;
'How is Eros? And all of you?'
'Eros is doing better, the darkness in him has faded entirely but we can't figure out how it gripped him so fully, he feels like he's let himself and everyone down.'
The group around her bed seemed to part as Alecto moved passed them to stop beside her bed. Evangeline couldn't help but be stunned, the guy was holding himself much more regally than she remembered.
His whole aura seemed stronger, more hope filled his eyes, his grin was a touch predatory, but Evangeline wasn't concerned. Which was obviously wrong as Morgana in particular seemed to tense.
'As Alecto says, we can't figure it out, yet.' Morgana affirmed, her gaze still on him.
'Are you sure you're okay Evangeline, those phantom tendrils got you and me quite a bit, didn't they?' Alecto asked.
His golden eyes flickered over her as if assessing the very blood in her veins. Evangeline caught her breath; she remembered the brief moment between them in the library and realised the hope in Alecto's eyes now matched the one when she was trying to break the tendrils holding him. She had taken it as a good shimmer in his gaze, but now, she questioned herself. Was she drawn in by his shift in personality or wary?
Either way something about him was both attracting her and concerning her in equal measure. The attraction shouldn't be there. But it was. Evangeline flushed and nodded in response to his question, which was still hanging in the air.
They did face the same battle, perhaps what she sensed was their connection over the adversity they'd faced. She smiled and thanked him for his concern as a male voice cut over hers.
'We should leave now.' Heca bit out.
His first comment since they'd all come into the medic bay was the hardest thing Evangeline had heard all day. And the day had been full of comments about death, destruction and uncertainty. She clenched her fists, not willing to shout but angry, nonetheless.
'I suppose. See you later Eva.' Morgana agreed.
''Kay, bye troublemaker.' Adonis teased, he came down and pulled her into a hug, 'and thank you, Angelus, for saving my life. Twice, at least,' he whispered when his mouth was by her ear. 'I think you and me need to talk, I sense that we have a link that goes deeper than good looks and charm.' He finished.
His forehead met hers and pressed against it for a moment. Evangeline blinked again, the feeling of a safe harbour, and a new layer of support came over her, and she felt changed. Adonis was going to become very dear to her, perhaps he already was, blood of her blood almost.
'I'll see you real soon,' she promised, 'all of you.'
The group began to leave, she looked for Heca, but he must have already gone to the door after his comment. As the medic bay's large oak doors closed with an echoing finality, a voice in the dark corner behind her bed made her jump.
'You know, you're lucky to be alive.'
'Shit, Heca. I won't be alive much longer if you scare me like that.'
Heca returned to the lighter area of the room, Evangeline leaned over and flicked on her bedside lamp.
'I am such a ruddy idiot. I saw the skӧll latched onto your arm, how did I not consider the poison of its bite?' he snapped.
Evangeline almost wished someone else was in the room, so she could share a confused expression with them.
'You're not in charge of my decisions. I chose to keep fighting.'
'But I am a Warrior, you are just an Angelus-- '
'Just an Angelus?' Evangeline spluttered, 'watch your mouth.'
'I mean an Angelus, I should have forced you to stay at the library, it is not your place to battle foul beasts like that.'
'You sound like you come from the middle ages, stop it.' Evangeline said, attempting to keep her tone level.
'You could have died. Is that what you want, to die before your time?' Heca shouted, 'A wound like that should have killed you, thank the gods your transformation was still so volatile, or you would have!' he continued.
'My wings are not just for decoration, they have uses you know. Ergo I am here and I'm fine.' Evangeline replied.
'Well, fighting is one use, if I have any say in it, they won't have to do.'
His voice was so firm Evangeline knew he meant it. But she was mad now and confused that he seemed so incensed by her actions.
'Again not your call...'
'Then stop making it my call and nearly die in my arms!' he hollered.
His eyes were the brightest green and so on fire with emotion that Evangeline couldn't help but suck in breath like a startled animal. She had not thought of that or how hurt she would be in his position or knowing that she caused him so much pain. Pain that was even now filling his eyes.
She moved towards him, her legs shook a little as she stood, having not been used for a while. She paused and silently summoned her new source of strength; the extra part of herself she had once not known she had needed to be complete. Almost complete.
Her wings unfurled from within, a slight slicing sensation ran up her shoulder blades, but it was a pain she relished, as it was the warning something vital had come from within her body.
No light filled the feathers now, she didn't need Elysium light, she just wanted their softness and their warmth. Heca watched her wings appear with what to her looked like pride etched on his face. She noticed his hand jolt as if wanting, of its own accord, to touch the feathers.
'Heca, I never meant to cause you pain. I can't imagine what that felt like for you. To see me like that. I'm sorry.' Evangeline murmured.
Her fingertips came out and grazed over his forearm travelled up to squeeze his bicep. The other gripped the tips of her left wing, the feathers silk and velvet against her skin.
'You scared me, and I don't get scared,' he replied in equally quiet tones. 'Are you sure you're alright?'
'Of course, the venom isn't in my blood anymore, Angelus Marie believes the scars will heal with time. And the tendrils didn't get me, not really, I think Alecto was just worried because we were surrounded by them for a moment there.' she explained.
Her right hand moved up from Heca's bicep to tug his chin round so that the infuriating guy was looking at her and not her shoulder.
'Look at me, you can see I'm all good.' she informed him.
'I was beginning to believe Lucifer would claim your death, as well as my father's'.
Evangeline knew her legs had given out, but in her shock, she wasn't able to catch herself. Thankfully Heca was, he darted to save her, like he had done many times already.
As he carried her back to her bed, she was angry with herself. She wanted to say something, anything, but everything was stuck and she had no words.
Heca tried to place her down but she gripped his neck, so he was forced to settle on the mattress with her sat in his lap.
'Your father's...?'
'Headmaster Thantos yes.' Heca confirmed hoarsely.
'Heca...'
Evangeline's voice failed her again. Her hand slid down from Heca's neck and came to rest against his chest. Her other set of fingertips played with the hair curling a little at the base of his neck.
Why she wondered, did she feel so comfortable with this warrior, and so heartbroken for him. This was a new feeling to her, and Evangeline wasn't sure how to handle it. Along with everything else she was uncertain of what next step she should take; in this moment no answers came to her mind.
'What have I told you?'
Heca let a ghost of a smile touch his mouth as those big mahogany eyes turned to his. Those eyes that whenever he held her close, he could see flecks of gold, of sunlight within the rich brown,
'What did I warn you of, if you kept saying my name like that?' Heca whispered.
He finally felt his mind let in the fact that his father was dead. Murdered in front of his eyes. Tears had already been shed, but he didn't know how to grieve or how to move on to the next stage of his emotions regarding his father.
There had often been so much distance between them. Now though, with this girl in his arms, her wondrous wings curled around them; an extension of herself, his body relaxed at last. His body began to lose the tension he was holding in each muscle and the deep breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding was released.
The warmth and silk caress of her feathers were an unexplainable support, they were comforting him, either as she willed them or subconsciously as she tried to figure out what to say to heal him. Evangeline was like that, he had witnessed her capacity for kindness, for compassion and the core deep need to support all and any who needed a hand, who needed help.
Heca took a deep breath; this need inside him was a new experience. Never before had he been so focused and yet so out of control of his own feelings. Evangeline was pivotal to him, and the warrior he would become.
He had known that from the first afternoon they'd played in the snow together. Pain and grief faded a little and despite knowing it was selfish, he latched onto this new colour in what had been two weeks of grey and black.
'I should have gone to the headmaster's aid.'
'Heca, we were--'
'No. No in the chaos, Lucifer hadn't replaced the curse keeping us forced to the floor on me...'
Evangeline's eyes widened and she shook her head in disbelief. Heca felt shame crash in but he continued speaking.
'I am a Warrior, but in that moment, and honestly, whenever I'm with you, my oaths fall at the wayside. If they stand between me keeping you safe... I chose to protect you and let him take on that Fallen alone.'
Heca wrenched his gaze away, refusing to let himself see the empathy in her expression. He tried to untangle himself from her hold, but her hands came up and encased his face, turning it back.
'Your father saw you lay your life down to protect others, he will have seen you try and save me from their fight.' She searched his eyes, her own absolutely believing what she spoke, 'Headmaster Thantos is, was, will be so proud you are his son.'
Heca wavered, she was voicing certainties he daren't believe. She refused to release him, and he was astonished that she shed tears for him. For his loss.
'Don't let your father's sacrifice be for nothing, don't put this on your shoulders. He wouldn't wish it; I know he wouldn't. Heca, he will be watching over you, show him you are the warrior I see in you.'
As Evangeline made to let him go, Heca lost the battle in his heart, for this night at least, he would give in. He surrendered.
'Angelus, I cannot contain my want. My need,' he pulled her closer to him, his arms locking her within them, '...for you.'
Their mouths met and Evangeline dared not move in case she broke whatever spell had settled over the two of them. She gladly let him take comfort in her, however he chose to take it. Heca controlled the moment, his hands finding her hair and holding tight to the back of her head.
As the kiss deepened, turning from seeking comfort to exploring passion her lips parted, and he traced her bottom lip with his tongue before dipping inside. Evangeline gave herself over. Her arms came up and tightened around his neck.
He tipped her back a little, giving greater access to trace the arch of her neck, kiss her more deeply. She was still essentially in his lap, so she had no choice but to hold tight to him, as his hands moved down to grip her waist and pull her close. Her hands then returned into his hair, gripping hard. One hand ran over his face and down his neck, her thumb tracing his jaw.
'So now I have my wings, do you plan on kissing me senseless every time we meet?' she whispered against his mouth.
His deep chuckle warmed her heart, and he pulled her close for a moment before standing and placing her back onto the bed.
'I might, if you keep fixing me every time we meet, Angel Face.'
His thumb traced her lip, his rough, battle hardened fingers brushing over her cheek. She enjoyed his touch until he withdrew it.
'I can't say I'm fixing anything, but I will hope that I am in some way washing away your grief... I mean, grieve obviously, but I'm here, uh, too--' she began to babble. Evangeline forced her voice to cut off and let her eyes settle on her hands. She had always been without parents so she couldn't quite relate to what Heca was going through. '--I am so sorry for your loss, Heca, truly.'
Suddenly his lips were on her temple. She closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth from him and the silent moment of comfort between them.
'You're not doing so bad.' he whispered.
He rose and Evangeline let her mind rest, he was the embodiment of the tattoos she gave him.
'Well thanks.' she teased softly, and a smile just touched his lips.
'Rest now, the last thing I need is DeeDee on my case.' he informed her.
As he departed from the room, Evangeline couldn't help but smile, a glowing heat settling in the base of her tummy. What a life she now had; so full of colour and ye danger, but bursting with dazzling people, who made her better and, in comparison to the spring before; life whole.
Her heart ached, caring for so many might be seen by some as weakness. True, her emotions felt a burden right now. But they strengthened her too, the loneliness she used to feel hadn't haunted her mind in nearly twelve months.
Evangeline shuffled down in her bed, her hand coming up to play with a lock of hair. Heca, DeeDee, Adonis; each friendship with the others, was precious to her. This war, this world was already tarnishing them all. But Evangeline wasn't going to shy away from the danger. It wasn't in her nature.
~
YOU ARE READING
Risen: Beginning of a Legacy
FantasyHidden within the world of mortals, the offspring of legends, of immortals and those beings thought to be only myth, begin to join the war. An ongoing secret battle between two ancient brothers, who keep the entire world in balance. Legacy; a fragme...
