It didn't take a genius to figure out that they were getting ready to go somewhere, but I still asked:-They are going out?Mom immediately turned around on her stool and nodded enthusiastically, looking strange—and somewhat comical—with just one eye shadow."We're going to dinner with a colleague of your father and his wife," she replied with a wide smile, and the expression lines at the corners of her eyes appeared on her face. But we won't be back late."That's great..." I made a somewhat nervous gesture, and before I regretted it I added: "I'll go out too."My father snapped his head around, directing his attention from the sleek appearance of his tie to my face.-Again? —She blurted out. The accusation in her tone was palpable."Frankie..." Mom murmured in a disapproving tone, looking at him condescendingly."You went out last night," he insisted in my direction, ignoring him. One of his eyebrows rose in rebuke. And you arrived quite late."Y-yes, but..." My teeth gripped my lowe
Those words threw me off balance.I blinked, seeing a more noticeable concern than before appear on his face. However, far from moving me, what she told me caused the anger that I was trying to calm out of respect for him to increase in an unhealthy way."What do you think I do?" —I asked, with shock and rage seeping into my tone—. Do you think I'm going out to get high or something?"You went out drinking last night," he replied, placing both hands on his hips in an accusatory gesture. Blood immediately covered my face and revealed the shame that statement caused in me. And you're not even twenty-one yet. Do you know how much trouble you could get into for that?"Please, Dad," I huffed, fully aware of how much he hated us doing that in front of him and in the middle of an argument, because I considered it rude. No one waits until twenty-one to start drinking.Surprise took over his features, and at the same time it also crossed my insides, just because I knew that, not long ago, I wo
I turned on my axis, encountering the figure of Akhliss at a disturbing and almost terrifying closeness. I leaned back on instinct, but then my back collided with someone else's torso. I had to turn and look up to see Khaius, who was immediately more cautious than the devil and moved away to give me personal space. Something suspicious flashed in his amber eyes, especially the way he lowered his head and looked away from me. Akhliss, for his part, had a radiant smile on her face.—Did you hear everything? —I murmured, feeling how the anger from before was overshadowed by shame."Just parts," she replied, shrugging nonchalantly. I tell you? I'm very curious.I looked at Khaius, who continued to look at the ground strangely. When he noticed my scrutiny, he grimaced in apology."I... I can hear a wide radius away," he said under his breath. Immediately, a half smile that emanated discomfort appeared on his lips. Plus, they were screaming.“I agree with your parents in some ways,” Akhliss
Akhliss raised an eyebrow impatiently, a gesture she seemed to share with her cousin. Then, I looked down at the ground."He told me," I mumbled, hysterics wreaking havoc inside me.I didn't have to explain anything else. My words seemed to be enough for them, because none of them replied. Unease seemed to settle in the atmosphere as the tense and taciturn seconds passed.Until the devil spoke.-All? —Akhliss raised the tone of her voice because of the astonishment that assailed her, moving a little away from me." Everything, " I agreed. I turned my head to look at Khaius, who had his eyes wide open. Surprised— Are you part of the Legions of Azazziel?Immediately, his jaw tensed. I could see her swallow, before lowering her head and staring at the ground. Something inside me stirred uncomfortably, but at no point could I detect the betrayal or disappointment I was supposed to feel toward him.—Do you support the war that is going to end us? —I asked, more with disbelief than pain. Wo
"I know..." he murmured, closing his eyes and nodding slowly, as if in an act of self-conviction. He never told me about Azazziel. I had no idea he existed until what happened happened. And I know he gave himself up to save him, but…” He paused briefly and shook his head. I think that, if he was able to do that to save him, then my son had a great… appreciation for him. —His brow furrowed, as if the word he used was not the right one. He shook his head again. Sometimes I think that was why I decided to make it remain in existence; because somehow I feel like Kaspiel would have wanted that. And that, if he was still alive, then his sacrifice would not be in vain.She continued staring straight ahead, into the distance, with half-closed eyes and a serious face. Deep in a thought or memory that seemed too dark. A place in which, surely, I should not investigate.Khaius remained taciturn and respectful, intelligent enough not to add anything that would worsen his mood. I, however, wanted
I made an apologetic face and shook my head.—And you have no idea who he was? Doesn't it sound even a little familiar to you? —She urged, narrowing her eyes suspiciously—. You said the guy had the same eyes as you.—But I don't know who he is. —I shrugged, feeling equal parts annoyance and frustration. I'm sure I've never seen him again.—Do you think that if you ran into him, you would be able to recognize him? Khaius asked.I grimaced, unsure of that. I couldn't even say yes or no. The face of the man from my memories was already blurred in the images in my mind."But she didn't even know that memory existed until they were about to break her skull," Akhliss replied, looking at him with some reflection. What if she has more repressed memories like that?—And what do you propose? —he asked between his teeth, sinking his brow slightly—. Hit his head with a bat to see if another memory comes to light?I opened my eyes with shock, slightly disturbed. The she-devil next to me snorted an
—I want you to go back and apologize to your parents, do you hear me, spoiled girl? —She said in a severe tone, close to my ear. Then she gave a long, regretful sigh. Believe me, if I had known that Kaspiel was involved in something so screwed, he would have done anything to prevent it.—So I should tell them about you? —I asked without hiding the horror in my voice.She stepped away from me, her hands on my shoulders, and stared at me before rolling her eyes."Don't be an idiot," he snorted wearily. You can't do that unless you want to kill them with one attack. "But fix things," he advised me, with such an unnatural tone from a creature of Hell, that an unknown pang passed through my chest.I nodded, trying to return my best smile.Akhliss walked away from us as Khaius walked me home. Curiosity to know what she would do alone made me watch as she walked away from her along the sidewalk in long steps, but without losing that elegance of hers, until she moved too far from my field of
As I approached him, I noticed the cigarette butts scattered on the floor. How long had you been smoking? I looked carefully at my brother, wondering what could have happened to him, what he could have learned that made him look like this, so distraught. So… devastated . Could it have something to do with Jessica, perhaps?—Hey, what do you have? —I inquired cautiously, knowing that Anthony did not like people digging into his problems.“I solve my shit on my own ,” was what he had told me on more than one occasion. And woe betide anyone who tried to delve into his dilemmas, because he got quite angry... Especially with someone as nosy as me."Anthony?" —I insisted when she didn't respond. I reached out an arm toward him and hesitantly touched his drooping shoulder. She was aware of how likely it was that he would react aggressively. But instead, he didn't move a single muscle at my touch. Come on, what's wrong with you?His shoulders spasmed repeatedly and he let out an unintelligibl