“Still, I can taste you, even now-you, who led me to lower worlds you, who is the origin of my tears you- who made me uniquely vulnerable.”

-Segovia Amil

___________________________

Adeline

Instead of walking through as he suggested, I tumbled through the door. Falling onto my knees when I finally enter his palace. Looking around I can barely see much, the lights are off and it's dark through the foyer windows. The small sound of the portal closing is all that I hear as I stand from the polished floor.

I’ve never known how this place looks like in the dark, it was always lit and the sun was always up no matter what time of day it was here or back home. Why the sudden change, has something terrible happened?

I stay in the shadows, afraid of any light, I did not want someone to find me. Explaining anything right now would be dangerous for me, I don’t know how he’ll react to finding me here. It’s bad enough he has no idea about my intentions, of what I really want, to be normal.

The silent walk through the hallway under the stairs is brutal, all I hear is the sound of my racing heartbeat and my shallow breathing. I nearly stop breathing as I reach his office door, turning like I did before I end up in the small living space.

Ulsif said to look for the falling angels but I don’t see anything that looks slightly like what he described. I enter another room along the living room, it's where I didn’t go when I was originally here. In the dark I can barely make out where I am. The large bay windows that reach the high ceiling soon gives me the light I need. The moon casts its light into the room and I can't help but gasp. It’s massive for one and by the look of its sheer beauty I know it's a ballroom.

The chandeliers above still glint even if there is barely any light to make them shine. The beautifully designed marble floor and walls are every girl's fantasy, I can practically imagine hundreds of people twirling and dancing in breathtaking gowns and various men in a tux. I shake my head not really believing this place actually exist. Quietly giggling to myself, I try to picture myself in a dress, it would be blue with lace and I would dance with everyone, even him. His hair slicked perfectly back, his dark eyes would sparkly with mischief as he would take my hand to begin a dance. The dance would last all night and it would be as if we were made for…

I snap my eyes open, not realizing they had closed. Just as I adjust to the dark once more I hear the distant sound of footsteps, coming from the area on the other side of the ballroom. I quickly try to find something to hide behind and so I opt in for a giant plant and vase.

With the softest of steps possible I dunk behind the massive decoration just in time too, someone with a lit candle comes striding down the unknown hallway. I try to squint to look harder to see if I know who it could be, my eyes widen when I recognize it as Death’s reaper. The girl Reaper, I have forgotten her name but it was Val something I’m sure. The sound of her heeled boots hitting the floor sends my heart into cardiac arrest, she is coming straight for me.

I stop all forms of breathing as she passes the large plant I’ve chosen to hide behind, as she’s a few steps away I breath out, taking in oxygen. However, my breathing rustles the leaves slightly, the sound attracts her attention and she whips around in a smooth motion, directing the candle where I am hidden. I shrink into the ground, hiding further behind the vase, I close my eyes and pray she does not find me. The candlelight reflects the shadow of the leaves along the wall and as soon as it is directed elsewhere I relax somewhat. I stay frozen on the floor, my hands ache from the awkward position and my muscles are strained but I don't move.

I hear the sound of her heels leaving the ballroom and entering the same living space. I cover my mouth, breathing more slowly this time, my hands shake crazily as I wipe the sweat from my forehead.

That was too close.

Quietly standing, I check to make sure no one else is out there, when the coast is clear I run to the same spot she came from. More hallways, more places to get lost, I swear I will never find it in time. I don’t know how many hallways I walk through, but I end up with the same thing over and over again, nothing. I can’t find anything that has an angel or demon on it, it’s as if it doesn’t exist.

Try to remember Adeline, you’ve seen it, she said, the succubus thinks I’ve seen it before but I don’t remember seeing it at all. The master is smart; the painting is forgotten once you see it but you have seen it Adeline.

There is no possible way I can trust what you say, I tell her. We've been over this, I can't still can't trust her.

I understand, but for once trust me. If you have seen it, you did not travel as far as this before so it could not possibly be here. It is strange that there are no lights and it is dark but I am sure it will not last. I suggest you hurry with your search. She has a point, I didn’t travel this far over here, if it's anywhere it's back where his office was or maybe it’s inside, who knows.

I’m trusting you, for once but don’t think I will change how I feel. I had a right to be so cautious, even if she just wanted to help.

Go, before it is too late. I wanted to thank her but then again she might be lying so I hold off on the compliments.

I turn back, going back to the ball and through the living area until I reach his office. Do you think he’s inside?

Listen, you have the power to do so. Sighing I place my ear close to the large black door, I hear nothing but I’m not sure if that’s just my ordinary human ears. A little help, please.

A warm feeling spreads through my chest, it spreads until it reaches my eyes and ears. My vision blurs for a second before turning into swirls of light, I can see clearly, the dark no longer affecting me. I jump slightly when a popping sound spreads through my ear drum and soon after I can hear everything. My heartbeat is louder in my ear and I can hear the floor creak under my weight.

Now listen.  Not bothering to move my head toward the door, I listen for the sound of someone inside. After a few minutes I don’t hear anything. Placing my hand on the doorknob I turn it slowly still unsure if there’s anyone on the other side. I peek around the door finding it empty, calming myself down I go inside making sure to close the door behind me.

His desk still has yet to be fixed, the splintered glass remains. I search his walls but find nothing like the warlock described, there was only a statue of an angel placed on a shelf with books and things. I pick it up, it's heavy in my hands and is cold to the touch. It is small but the details in the angel’s face is so detailed and beautifully done that it appears real. I go to place it back on the shelf and as I do something falls from underneath the angel. I kneel down searching the floor with new eyes until I find what it was that fell out; it’s a key.

I place the angel back onto the shelf, keeping the key close at hand as I leave his office. The only other way is on this side of the hallway so I run feeling energized at finding the key. I nearly pass the painting all together, stopping just before I catch a glimpse of it and I knew immediately that this was it.

The painting was haunting, in a morbid but beautifully done way when it was created. The angels above weep for the ones that fall and the demons below greedily take them in, the ones that resisted still looked pained as they moved away from the demons down below. The faces of the angels were strong, even the female angels held a strength unlike what you see on earth. Their flowing like dresses seemed weightless as did the clothes on the men.

The angels above had the most beautiful of wings, I had to stroke the painting to see if the artist had captured their softness. The fallen had wings that were scorched but still beautiful in a way, the sorrow on their faces formed a knot in my throat. The demons held onto their wickedness as the angels descended, their wings nearly gone and crumbling. Whoever could have drawn something so realistic, it seemed all too surreal and yet it was simply a painting?

I turn away, wiping the few stray tears, now what do I do. He never mentioned anything else only to find the painting, well I’m here. I grip the side of the frame, maybe there’s a door behind it, the picture was big enough to hide something like that. I pulled but it didn’t give way, it’s like its latched onto the wall.

Latch?

I skim my hands underneath the picture frame, searching for what I know has to be there, I almost miss it but I feel the small bump of a button. Pressing it softly, I hear the small tick of the frame give way. The painting swings out and behind it is a door, with an old fashioned keyhole and doorknob. I fish the key out from my pocket and place the key inside, I twist it to the right and turn it all the way around until a loud click comes from inside the door. The sound of gears and other metal objects moving indicates that this was really working and I really got all the way here.

The massive door opens, I take the key and enter Death’s trophy room. A light still shines above, I nearly scream from what I see, gold, jewelry, everything you could imagine was inside this room. It was a pirate’s wet dream in here and every girl's fantasy of having every piece of jewelry ever made. You could fund an army with all of the swords and axes on the walls. I was completely overwhelmed at the sight and I honestly didn’t know where to begin finding this relic that Ulsif was speaking of. I could be here for days looking for the damn thing, is he insane. Death needed some form of a directory to find anything inside this room.

I blow out air from my mouth, rubbing my head as I stare at every little thing, think Adeline. The warlock said, the relic will find you. I have no idea what that means or how it will work but I feel really weird right now. Almost hungry, thirsty maybe.

I am sorry, that will be me. I have not eaten since your last incident. The small flashback that came with her mentioning it sent my heart racing. The mere idea of taking a life sent me on edge but the effect, the part where it happens fills me with joy, that just maybe I would be able to do it again.

What are you doing to me? Stop putting things into my head. I have to concentrate not think about what I want to do to the next person with a beating heart comes waltzing by.

I didn’t mean for you to remember what happened, I’m just so tired is all. I won’t last very long in this body. I shake my head several times, to maybe knock some sense into me. It’s not working as much as I would like it too but it’s better than leaving and running rabid.

Focus, look for the damn relic and leave. I walk further inside and I swear my vision becomes worse even the hunger intensifies. I stumble back and it's bearable again so I walk inside again and it’s the same effect. The closer I get to this thing, the worse this craving becomes, how exciting.

••••••••••••••

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Until next time,

-Ash
Xoxoxo

Part 2, I have to admit is filled with the better parts. I split the chapter because it's very long.