Just Checking Part Sixty-Nine: Harbored Secrets!

Silks:

Kicking at the rug, Dollzy spun into the room. Too many files had piled up in front of me. Sleep had evaded me once more, a long sigh drawing from my lips. Tugging at my hair, this length was pissing me off. 

“Thinking about cutting it?” Dollzy queried playfully, her gentle eyes twinkling as she checked the time. “The others won’t be here for another three hours. Do you want to watch a show or something? Hell, I’ll cut it if you w-” An exhausted Rip collapsed into the spot next to me, his messy hair causing my breath to hitch. Rocking the twins back and forth, his eyes lingered on on his borrowed simple black t-shirts. Fussing with the hem, they always hit around my knees.  

“Nightmare, again?” He asked gruffly, his tender gaze meeting my shattered expression. “No, this is a spell of grief. How about I make you a cup of tea?” Shaking my head, my claws scratched the side of my head. Discomfort, discomfort was my main issue at the moment. Rising to my bare feet, a word with God needed to be had. Excusing myself, protests fell on deaf ears the second I launched myself out of the closest window. Shooting into the clouds of Heaven, a huff slipped off of my tongue. No one seemed to be awake, silent sorrow staining my cheeks. Sneaking into Bless’ old office, a deep layer of dust covered everything. Clapping my hands, golden flames crackled to life. So many fond memories had passed here, all of me aching for them.

“You must have been her favorite project. My sister was quite fond of you, Miss Silks.” A calm male voice uttered half brokenly, half vibrantly. “My name is Electrox, the main angel of invention and wit. Something you clearly have. Spin around and face your new assistant.” Placing my hands in the air, a slow turn revealed a seven foot male angel with equally curly golden curls and matching golden eyes. Dusting off his golden armor, his shimmering bright sunshine golden angel wings fluttered a couple of times. Pulling his shoulder length hair into a small bun, curiosity did indeed shimmer in his eyes. 

“Your performance and numbers have been, well, quite impressive. Each time you face them, a good chunk of them go down.” He complimented me sincerely, his eyes lingering sadly on my wings. “She picked a fine host for her powers.” Guilt devoured me whole, the corner of my lips quivering out of habit.

“Sorry for ending her life. All of it was my fault.” I confessed tiredly, the nightmares of her death preventing sleep from visiting me. “All I wanted was for her to have a bit of a break from this stress. Look where it got her.” Approaching me cautiously, our height difference was obvious. Shrinking down further, such grace should never be granted to me. 

“Don’t tell anyone this but you made me jealous. Literally to the point of almost going to the other team.” He admitted honestly, scarlet flushing my cheeks. “No one made her smile like that. No one gave her a proper friendship. Angels up here tend to shut you out if you stand one step out of line. What can I say? Thank you for that. As for her death, none of us saw that coming. Not even God. Permission was granted to live by your side. How does that sound?” Bewilderment shocked the sorrow out of my system, a bit of hurt dimming the shine in his eyes. Shit, I uttered under my breath. Shooting him a shaky thumbs up, his features brightened visibly. Snapping his fingers in some sort of reminder, his palms opened up to reveal my mask. Images of it hanging off of Bliss’ arm had me stumbling back from a moment of PTSD. Sorrow poured from the corner of my eyes, every breath shortening. Panic rounded his eyes, the golden layer inside forcing my breathing to steady. 

“Many apologies. Such things still upset my soul.” I choked out between sniffles, longer claws than usual extending from my fingernails. “Give me a minute to settle down my fraying nerves.” Scratching the back of his neck, a sad bit of adventure swirled in his aura. 

“How about I show you where we grew up?” He suggested with a shrug of his shoulders, his fingers working quickly to tie my mask around my mouth. “That layer of angel magic should do the trick when it comes to your poison allergy.” Shooting him an odd expression, his brow cocked in response. Motioning for him to lead the way with a busted thank you, pride glittered in his eyes. 

Jumping through the clouds, his hand yanked mine down. Flying towards where I grew up, dread bubbled in my gut. Why the hell was he heading here? Zooming into an abandoned Dutch Colonial, dried blood stains spoke of a tragic ending. His eyes refused to meet mine, his lips parting several times. Whispers had borne truth, the haunting nature rising from him coming back home.  

“So you were the kid who shot his father due to a monster of a parent?” I queried cautiously, his head bowing in a quiet fear. “Welcome to my mental strife. People tortured me endlessly, so I get it. What did they do to you? No, I don't mean the spooky television interview version.” Leaning onto the closet wall, his arms folded across his chest. Digging at the beat up wooden board with his boot, a painful silence hung in the air.  

“I didn’t know what else to do besides shooting my drunkard father when I was ten.” He confessed blankly, his normal joy slipping away. “Everyone believed it was an accident. A big fight broke out, his anger getting released on my mother. Bless helped convince everyone, her tongue sleek as the Devil’s. When my sister kicked the bucket, she convinced the big guy to let me in. What an amazing sibling. Before you ask, my dumb ass was seven feet tall.” Snorting under my mask, tragedy taught us both to laugh at the little things. Clearing my throat, his past matched mine. Comforting him would prove to be difficult if he was essentially the male version of me, the corners of my lips twitching underneath my mask once more.

“If it means anything, the guilt never left my soul either. However, people like your sister are lanterns in the shadows.” I uttered gently, a shadow of his smile haunting his lips. “Do you desire me to be yours?” Parting his lips several times, familiar black arrows shortened my breaths. Images of Bless’ death played out in my mind, a clammy sweat drenching my skin. Jet black sand poured onto the floor, scarlet waves crashed into the room. Golden gloved hands ripped me from the horrid memory, his kind eyes reminding me of hers. Throwing me through the rotting floor, his wings curling around my trembling body. Taking the brunt of the fall, the dirt floor of the cellar caught us. The sickening cracks on the way down spoke of broken wings, guilt ate at me. Rolling off of me, his eyes fluttered shut. Sheer panic rounded my eyes, every shake sending me further into a worsening panic attack. 

“Wake up! Wake up, damn it!” I wheezed desperately through a wall of tears, inky drops splattering onto his face. Breathing in and out to steady my nerves, clarity took over my mind. Dragging his heavy body into a tool closet, a dragon magic grenade hissed into the cellar. Slinking into the shadows, two could play at this game. A dozen dark angels dropped into the tiny space, a couple of taps blossoming a field of orange fire lilies. Summoning my carved pieces of wood, orange flames crackled into their usual curved blades. Midnight black lightning snapped to life, the energy dancing to the tips. Flipping to the middle, a pop off my toes sent them flying after me. Whistling down the halls, that damn dragon magic spread like the Black Plague. More grenades bounced past me, true fright almost starting my heart. Crashing into the closest room, a chill ran up my spine. Pictures of Bless and Electrox lined the wall, layers of dried blood stains telling the opposite story of those false smiles. Copper eyes replaced their golden eyes, their golden curls remaining the same. Soaking in their old fashioned suits, grief stained my cheeks. Locking the door like it was going to do something, a black and white photo gave me pause. A nasty man with a ragged beard and rough wool suit paralyzed me, a big hand knocking me to the floor. Cold icy eyes met mine, his translucent form limping towards me. Muddy liquid oozed from his chest, a broken bottle flipping over his fingers. Shouting out a couple of curse words, bad luck embraced me rather tightly today.  

“Who are you?” He demanded hotly, his wild eyes darting around the space. “You smell like my Bless but you aren’t her! She used to come and talk to me! What did you do to her!” Fury boiled in my veins, a kick to his chest smashing him into the wall. Pictures shattered upon meeting the worn floors, a pop to my feet reminding me of the exhaustion creeping into my bones. 

“I had nothing to do with it, you fucking bastard!” I coughed bitterly, inky rivers dripping from underneath the bottom of the mask. “Fuck, his magic didn’t work. People like you will never understand the damage you c-” Pinning me to the wall, jagged glass pressed into my neck. What now! When would the universe stop punishing me!

“A little thing like you wouldn’t understand the progress I was making by talking to my daughter.” He threatened darkly, the doorknob rattling as everything slapped me in the face. “Why are you crying so damn much!” Bowing my head in regret, glass sank into the tender flesh of my neck. Dark lines dancing into the collar of my borrowed shirt, hesitation softening his expression. 

“Alcohol turned me into a monster but that doesn’t excuse my behavior.” He mumbled dejectedly, his hand dropping limply to his side. “What do you need me to do and where is my son? What tier in Hell do I belong in?” Sliding down the wall, a lump formed in the building blood in my throat. Lifting up the bottom of my mask, a spit relieved me for a bit. Lowering my mask, an anxiety filled silence poisoned the air.

“Judgement day doesn’t fall on my shoulders.” I wheezed between coughing fits, fresh hope that my unborn child was holding up okay keeping me going. “Maybe I can get you a second chance. Yet, the true opinion belongs to your son. Family drama has haunted me long enough. As for help, I happen to think that I can handle it.” Tragedy bound him here, a slim chance of him leaving not exactly proving to be an easy goal. Hoisting myself to my feet, our level of guilt matched. Using the wall to make it to the window, a pond captured my attention. Tugging on the window, squeaks announced its damn opening. Woods shards whistled past me, shouts for me freeze in place fell on deaf ears the moment I leapt off the windowsill. Holding them back for me, he bellowed for me to keep going. Flashing a broken grin, a hand ran through his soul.  

Shortened breaths plagued my chest once more, an arrow of trauma striking me. Crashing inches from the lake, golden armor glinted in the corner of my eyes. Golden emotional strife dripped onto my face, his broken wings hanging jaggedly by his sides. A dented up rusted staff bounced off his palm, his eyes darting towards the winged idiots fast approaching us.  

“Create a bit of lightning for me.” He requested between his own wheezes, muddy blood having splattered his face a bit ago. “Getting out here wasn’t easy, if you catch my drift.” Huffing a bit, a loose curl floated up. Building up as much lightning as I could manage, his staff glowed to life. Flipping it his fingers, every ounce of lightning shot towards the top of his staff. Tossing it into the air, the dark angels began to flee. Nope, not on my watch. Tapping the ground a couple of times, fire lilies shot into the sky. Curling around their ankles, bigger blossoms began to hold them down stronger. 

“Cook them with the honor of Heaven!” He commanded boldly, screeches and ash shot into the air upon first impact of my supercharged lightning. An eerie silence bit the air, neither of us wanting to administer what just occurred. Hungry flames roared to life behind him, his father standing in the window. Waving sadly, hurt cascaded from both of their eyes. Darker energy fluttered in the distance, a whisk of fiery lily petals threw us onto the sands of my beachy hideaway. Scanning the space for any stragglers, not one could be sensed or seen.  

“Are you okay?” I queried softly, my eyes lingering on his broken wings. “Do you mind if I repair those?” Sitting up in a stiff position, a dull golden glow hummed to life around my palms. Hovering it over the base of his wings, bones clicked back into place. Feathers repaired themselves, a sigh of relief slipping off of his tongue. Collapsing onto the sand, his fingers rested on his stomach. 

“Never been better.” He returned sarcastically, his wet eyes meeting my terror filled expression. “No one made it. Wrath drove me out to you and that blast of lightning cooked any dark angel in a second. Boy did it feel good. Not that I want to ditch you but my father’s soul is in question.” Disappearing in a flurry of electrical shocks, empty sorrow remained in my soul. Slicing my hair, long locks drifted to the sand. Fluffy layers spoke of a cleanly cut inverted bob, the longest sections tickling my shoulders.  

“Nice hair! Such a cut suits you!” Dollzy sang out jovially, her new ballet shoes crunching in the sand. “Rip sent me to retrieve you but I think he can wait a bit. Seeing you on edge ninety percent of the time has been a bit rough on me, my dear pal.” Shutting down my blades, smoke curled into the air. Sand scratched my cheek, the beach catching my face. Untying my mask, her smile faded into concern. Watching her face triple in my quaking vision, a welcome slumber stole me away.  

Groaning awake, tired eyes illuminated upon me struggling to sit up. Collapsing back down, Bless’ powers weren’t coming through for me. Cupping my mouth, a flop over the closest trashcan had me painting it with poisoned blood. Rip held my longer hair back, his other hand massaging my back. Sobbing through each heave, a final bit of relief hit me upon him helping me lay back down. Clammy sweat drenched my skin, his trembling hand dabbing a cold cloth against my forehead.  

“Where is that bastard angel?” He hissed venomously, Electrox stumbling into the room. Grief stained his face, three last vials of Bless’ blood shaking in his hands. Parting his lips to speak several times, his bright smile failed to make an appearance. A sad smile haunted my lips, not one word getting spoken.

“This was all I could find.” He wept uncontrollably, his eyes refusing to meet mine. “Everything is my fault. Call me cocky for thinking that I could stop the dragon magic poisoning. Fuck, I am so sor-” Waving my hand around, a pissed off Rip snatched the blood out of his slick looking palm. Marching over to me, a low growl rumbled in his throat. Popping open two, a couple of pours down my aching throat beginning to reverse serious damage.  

“Normally my cool would be kept but a male version of Bless is standing a couple of feet away from me. Also, healed fractures line his wings. How could you not harness the healing gift for yourself?” He questioned fairly, the corners of my lips quivering. “Must you run blindly into shitty situations or am I going to find your carcass on the side of the road!” Massaging my forehead, truth laced his words, trouble finding me this time.  

“Your majesty, she joined me.” Electrox confessed urgently, his boots tapping incessantly. “The fault rests on my shoulders. Beyond that, she merely got poisoned. They passed away and we stood tall at the end. Fuck, she let me kind of talk things out with my father. Long story short, I shot him to save my family. Turns out my sister has been chatting it up with him this entire freaking time! No offense, not one part of me is okay with that. Before you ask, Miss Silks, He is getting one second chance. Not that he deserves it. Besides all of that bullshit, everything is fine!” Judging by the bitterness of the last sentence, nothing was okay about his personal life. Rip’s expression softened, a mumble about getting tea leaving me alone with someone who felt like a brother. 

“Clearly nothing is fine. Anyone with eyeballs can see that. Rest easy knowing that you can always talk to me. Thanks for stepping up and protecting me by the pond. No plan existed in my mind at that time.” I comforted him between pain spasms, my fingers gripping the sheets. “Please get some rest.” Bowing on the way out, the war ahead felt like a torture festival. Please protect us from whatever you throw our way.