Chapter 3 Asta
“Where is he?” The question is little more than a growl as I slam Josiah back into the stone wall in the alley beside the club, knocking the wind from his lungs.
I know that if he can't breathe, he can’t answer, but I can’t bring myself to give a damn as I yank him back toward me so that we're only a few inches away.
He cringes, shrinking in on himself in an attempt to get away from me, but it’s no use. He’s got all of my attention right now; unfortunately for him.
“I-I don’t know,” he stammers, his voice shaking in fear. Good, he should be afraid. “He hasn’t answered any calls in almost a month,” he quickly adds as I continue to glare at him for his lack of information.
How does no one know?
Despite how pissed off I am, I can see that he’s telling the truth. After all, I’ve known Josiah for over a millennium.
With a growl, I toss him to the ground, and he quickly scurries away on his hands and knees, desperate to put some distance between us.
Not quickly enough, though.
Before I can think better of it, my rage gets the best of me.
Pressing my foot to his back, I slam him down onto the ground.
“Call them,” I hiss, and despite my lack of explanation, I know he knows exactly what I’m talking about.
“No, please,” he whimpers, clawing at the ground as if he has a chance to get away.
“Call them,” I repeat, my voice deeper and more haunting than usual as my demonic form begins to seep through as I lose my temper.
“Wh-what a-are you going to d-do?” His whimpering only pisses me off further, but before I can smash his head into the pavement, the shimmer of his wings appearing saves him… Sort of.
“I’m going to ensure you know whose side you belong on.”
“Wh-Ahh!” I cut his question short as I grip his wings, digging my claws into them as I begin to tear them from his back.
I don’t sever them completely, despite the urge. No, that would defeat the purpose. I need him to tell me if he sees Rome, and if I rip his wings from his back, he’ll be unable to enter Heaven.
So I fight against every urge in my body to make him like me, like us, and only sever them enough to leave him in excruciating pain.
His screams and pleas for mercy are like music to my ears, and while it might not have been what I craved, I know it will do the job.
My black boot rests in the center of his back, keeping him pinned to the ground, though I’m sure he wouldn’t be able to move right now even if I released him.
The contrast between us is striking. His wings have feathers that are soft, plush, and white.
The only thing that taints them is his own blood, but even that shines gold, while my own is black.
Just like I swore my heart was.
Shaking my head, I dislodge the thought. I don’t have time for sentiment right now.
I lean down, having had enough of his whining, as my head begins to throb.
“When you see him, you let me know.” Stepping back into the shadows to teleport to the apartment, I don’t wait for his response, but I hear it nonetheless, and I can’t fight the smile that tugs at the edge of my lips.
I’ll find her, because my brother needs her. I might not believe demons get mates, but he does, and I’ve seen the damage that comes from losing a mate.
After all, many of my fallen brothers are now demons because of that, by my own hand.