T W E N T Y - S I X
Shame

BIRDS OF A feather flock together, that's how the saying goes. Guilt was the first emotion in which I had felt when Cassiel had revealed, along with Bella's confirmation, that Lucius was the one that had attempted Bella's murder. The feeling of guilt was present due to the fact that it was me that had trusted him in the first place. I knew first hand that Lucius was not a character to be trusted, and yet, I still added him into our little band of merry men, only to have it come one big round to bite me back when I wasn't looking for not learning my lesson the first time around.

The second emotion I had felt was a pure boiling rage. How dare he even pull a stunt like that, and act like he had been our ally, our friend, the whole time? Regardless of our multiple differences growing up, Bella was as good as a sister to me. She had understood me on levels in which I could not even understand myself, and to see her hurt by someone I used to consider as a friend as well made me see a pool of red.

The third emotion was the inevitable disappointment that could be described as sadness, even. It felt horrible to be betrayed the first time around. The feeling cannot be placed into simple words, but let me just say that the term 'a stab in the back' certainly did not justify the sensation properly. It was worse than that. To put all your trust into one person, only to have that said person flip the table over and throw a dagger your way is a pain more intense than a physical wound. And to have that table turned twice due to naive forgiveness felt even worse. I should have listened when they said not to so easily trust the people that had hurt me in the past.

I felt foolish for believing in Lucius. He helped me solve the first orb and as a result also helped to save all of our lives. Foolishly, I had thought that the small action was enough to set aside whatever feud we had and move on to be better people.

As much as I hated to admit my mistakes, there was no denying the fact that I was wrong this time around. Apparently, some people simply could not be trusted. As the saying goes, 'fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me'.

Shame on me indeed.

"We have to move Bella over to somewhere safe. We're in the middle of nowhere and those grim reapers could attack at any moment." As he spoke, Cassiel's eyes glanced nervously around us, as if certainly for any imminent danger.

"You are right." I agreed, eyes peering down at our surroundings in hopes to find somewhere safe. When I spotted a single door at the end of the corridor, I grinned, pointing at it. "What about that room? It's not too far away and we should be able to reach it without much trouble."

"Yeah, that seems alright." Standing to his full height, Cassiel easily picked Bella up in his arms, carrying her bridal style as he waited for me to get to my feet. I struggled a little, the cut on my hand irritating me as I pushed myself to my feet. Gritting my teeth, I ignored the searing pain.

Once I was up on my feet, Cassiel began to lead the way, easily crossing the entire corridor as we stood outside the room. Due to the fact that he was carrying Bella and his arms were occupied, I had to reach forward at the door handle, pushing the door open as I scanned it quickly. Thankfully, it was empty; both of dead bodies and enemy figures.

Immediately after we entered the room, I locked the door behind us, pressing my back against the wooden door as I watched Cassiel set Bella gently to the ground. From where I stood, I could see his tightly pursed lips and Bella's longing gaze set upon his handsome features. I tried hard not to listen to the thundering heartbeat that pounded against my ribcage.

"What now?" With great thanks to Cassiel's help, Bella was healing at tremendous rates. Color was starting to come back to her cheeks as she nibbled on an Oreo biscuit that she had pulled out from her pockets, slowly chewing on it as she rested against the wall. The room had a table in it, along with chairs and a vase of wilting flowers. The said table and chairs had been pushed to bolt the door shut, serving as an additional layer of protection to shield us from what was outside.

"I'm going to kill him. I am going to kill that man for doing this to you." I muttered sternly, leaning against the stacked furniture.

The corners of Cassiel's lips tilted slightly at my response, a small grin appearing on his features as his beautiful green eyes sparkled in amusement. He stood right in between Bella and me, smack dab in the center of the room. "As entertaining as that would be, I don't think it would be wise."

"Why wouldn't it be? With your help, and I am taking that you will help me since you said it would be entertaining, it's two against one. We can take him." Frowning, I stood up a little straighter, ready to argue my side of the case till the end of time as Cassiel shook his head.

"Haven't you noticed that those creatures that are sent after us can fly?" Bella piped in, her eyes darting back and forth between Cassiel and me as she swallowed the bit of cookie. "We heard footsteps the other night when Porsha died, Addison. Those ghouls don't have footsteps. They float on thin air."

I felt sick to my stomach. The backstabber just got backstabbed. She had a taste of her own poison after all.

"Exactly. And if Lucius had indeed been the one to kill your friend Porsha—"

"She's not my friend." I cut in with a frown. I crossed my arms over my chest, the cogs in my head whirling as Cassiel confirmed my silent suspicion that it was indeed Lucius that had ended Porsha's life.

"—Who is to say he will not pull tricks again? You already have someone that wants you dead, Addison. You do not need another."

I stood there without words, knowing fully well that I had lost the argument this time around. Cassiel's grin only widened when I opened my mouth, only to have no words coming to my aid.

What my two companions said was, unfortunately, true. If Lucius could pull off a possible murder for Porsha, and a near murder for Bella, who is to say that he will not succeed the next time he tried? And possibly, the next time in which he tries a murder attempt might be on me. Besides, as much as I would hate to say it, Porsha was one difficult girl to kill. The girl had the ferocity of a lioness and the cunning mind of a snake. She was a force to be reckoned with.

"Well." I snorted, folding my arms across my chest as I gave the two a stink eye. "Whether we go after Lucius or not, we still have to go get Minnie. I don't trust Gabriel any more than that killer clown back from the maze and is now graciously offering me candy."

"She isn't in the state to walk." Cassiel piped in, a single eyebrow lifted in a challenging manner as he gestured towards Bella who was seated on the ground still.

"No, no. I can stay here. The door is bolted and I have food. I am pretty much set for the next few hours, in fact." However, Bella's words fell on deaf ears as I stood to my feet, glaring down at Cassiel. I took a few steps closer towards them, hands rested on my hips.

"And what? You stay here to watch her?" I asked Cassiel with a mocking incredulity, almost as if I was daring him to answer.

"Come on, Addison. Don't tell me that you are jealous."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes defiantly though I did not reply simply because he had hit the nail right on the head. I did not know why I was even bothered by such a simple fact. Whether Cassiel stayed with Bella or not should not have influenced my reaction as greatly as it did. This was simply not the place and time for this.

"And I was just suggesting that she, and she alone, stay here. I was going to say that I could go with you." By now, Cassiel had taken a few steps towards me as well. I barely even noticed Bella glancing between Cassiel and me worriedly. It was as though she was expecting us to begin wrestling with each other to our deaths.

"I'm not going to go out searching for one friend while leaving the other here to die!"

"For Pete's sake, she will not die! Her condition is already no more than a scrape on the knee! You need my help more than she does. Out there, you are vulnerable. Strength in numbers, remember?" Cassiel roared, slightly agitated as he took yet another step closer towards me. "What if what happened back at the corridors last night happened again? What if Death sent his little cronies out to get you, and I am not there to shoot the thing down?" His expression softened for a second, his hands lightly grasping my arm. "What if I lose you?"

I was at a loss for words. I hadn't expected Cassiel to say out that last part. For this whole time, I had thought that his obvious attraction towards me – as seen from that near kiss – was simply just lust and nothing more. You see, when a blissful relationship failed, one will tend to grow more towards the pessimistic side. After Lucius, the time alone made me give up on a happy relationship altogether.

"I can't lose you, Addison. Not again." His voice was barely above a whisper, eyes softening and eyebrows furrowed as if he was in tremendous pain. Cassiel lifted a hand, his thumb grazing my bottom lip lightly before resting against my cheek.

"It is my duty to keep her safe." I breathed out in exasperation, desperation and conflict clear in my voice as I gestured to Bella. Turning my attention to her now, I could not stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks. "I was the one that brought you and Minnie here, and I was the one that put you in such danger. You cannot die because of me."

"And I won't." An assuring smile appeared on Bella's face as she patted my hand that was dangling by my side. Due to how far we've moved, both Cassiel and I were already right beside Bella, who was still seated on the ground. "I promise I will bolt the door as soon as you guys leave. A little bit of blood won't kill me."

She struggled to her feet, a hand still pressed against her wound as she wrapped her other arm around me. Through all of this, I could still smell the faint scent of her Dior perfume, a subtle tinge that represented her for as long as I had known the head-strong girl.

"I swear you are the only person that could defy death. That stab could've killed you." I mumbled into her sweater, wrapping my arms tightly around her, being extra careful not to agitate her wound.

"And you, my friend, are courting it." She teased. "Minnie needs you and you can always come back for me once you win this. Once we are all safe."

Right now, safety felt like nothing more but a distant memory. Barely 24 hours here and my whole perspective on life had changed. If I were to get out of this alive, I will never take simple things for granted ever again. Never had I so missed an ordinary and boring everyday life.

When I turned to Cassiel, he only offered a single sure nod, his eyes grave and lips set into a thin line. He gestured towards the door, a hand already placed on the furniture, ready to move it.

"Go and bring Minnie back, Addy." Bella smiled, patting my shoulder lightly. "Bring her back to us."

The second we had stepped out of the door, I could already feel the darkness creeping back in. Faintly, I could register the scraping of furniture from inside the room as Bella pushed the tables and chairs back to bolt the door. I glanced at my watch, biting my bottom lip in anxiousness.

7:35

The time would explain the missing sun, and the appearance of the glittering stars and moonlight streaming in from the windows outside. A hand was placed on my shoulder, sending me a wave of confidence as I stared back at Cassiel's gorgeous green eyes.

Time to find out if another companion was a traitor or not.

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