Seraphic Wings

132. Burgundy Roses

The following morning, Lucette wakes up feeling awfully drained. As she stared up at the ceiling, she heard that voice again, but she realised that it was now in her dreams. It wasn't one of her 'special' dreams, it was just a normal one. One that perhaps an average human could have.

"May there be angels?" She said out loud to herself.

"Angels?"

Getting startled at the sound of the second voice, she sat up and she saw that someone was looming near her. Instinct took over at this point, and she tried to scream but, at that moment, a hand grasped her mouth. The figure then made a 'shh' sound at her. As her eyes tried to adjust properly from waking up, she saw that it was Sanctus who had his hand over her mouth. As she panics a little, she struggles against him and tries to actually bite his hand but, as she does so, she realises that she is biting nothing. Lucette looks at Sanctus, feeling rather confused, as Sanctus removes his hand from her mouth and speaks to her.

"I'm not that one."

Lucette tilts her head as she tries to comprehend that until, after a moment or two, it finally hits her.

"Ohhh.... Sorry...."

"Well... It was kinda my fault...." He shrugged casually at her.

"Wait a minute.... Last night, I forgot about you...."

"Ah, it's fine." He waved his hand nonchalantly at her.

"No, it's not."

"I mean... I suppose it was kinda awkward? I mean, you slumped onto the bed and went to sleep, so I was like.... Now what?"

"I'm really sorry." Lucette apologises to him again.

"Well, what's done is done... However....." She watched him as he leaned forward a little and held something up. Sanctus was now curious. "What's this?" Lucette saw that there, dangling from his hand, was that talisman that Nocte gave her last night.

"You don't know?"

"..... I may look like this, but I'm technically considered a baby. The human equivalent of a five year old, maybe?"

Lucette blinked at him.

"Oh, well...." She took it from him. "It's something that Nocte gave me. He also said something about it too.... 'When the darkness has been snuffed out, make sure that this shines instead'...."

Sanctus tilts his head curiously. "Is it going to be a dark day?"

"I don't know...." She started to twirl the talisman a little in her hand.

"Oh.... I just noticed that there's writing on it."

Sanctus edged a little closer and peered at the talisman.

"'Carpe diem, carpe noctem and carpe omnia'.... Hmmm...." He leaned back again. "'Seize the day, seize the night and seize it all'?"

"Huh?" She looked straight at him. "Wait, you know what they mean?"

"Well, kinda? I mean, I know what they translate to."

"... I can never really understand that man...." Lucette sighs.

"You mean Nocte?" Sanctus questions her.

As Sanctus replies, she only nods.

"Hmm, well... I have noticed that he takes on a lot of people's burdens, mostly without telling them...."

"That.... That I can believe."

"However...." Sanctus moves his hand to his chin. "When the darkness is snuffed out... Hmm.... Couldn't it be...?"