Chapter 5 Angel of Death
Chapter Five
Angel of Death
KAIROS
The streetlights are all that are left in the city as Mio and I keep watch in town.
Shops are closed and people are finally off the streets and safe at home.
It’s just the two of us in our fighting leathers and armor strolling through the sleepy little town of Mackinac Island, long swords strapped to our backs and celestial daggers in each of our hands.
The quiet streets are what I prefer, but even if the streets were still crowded with tourists and residents, they wouldn’t see us, not really.
They’d see two men in their mid-twenties, fierce and a bit rugged to them, maybe, but our wings, weapons, and magic would go unseen through their oblivious mortal eyes.
I open my palm, letting little bursts of lightening dance along my skin, the cracking and popping of thunder overhead following seconds after.
I like a good thunderstorm, and the city could use a little rain.
With the recent uptake in evil that’s been creeping in, black venom stains the streets and the sulfuric scent of the Underworld and the demons who continue to crawl out of it, permeates the air.
It needs a good cleansing. The stench of them is so intense I can almost taste it.
There could only be one reason Nyx is sending her minions here, of all places, when there are much bigger cities full of people she could easily torment or torture and enslave, but I am not ready to face that truth yet.
She couldn’t possibly know Nora is here, could she?
The attacks are getting more violent and happening more often.
It’s taking away from my time of guarding Nora, and I don’t much like it, especially after what happened tonight on the bridge.
It leaves me with no choice but to rely on Katie’s wards of protection she places around Nora wherever she goes, and as much as Katie cares for her and tries her best to keep her safe, those witchy wards aren’t full proof.
They can’t save her from herself. Nora needs me, and yet here I am, hunting demons again instead of being there for her. I should be there.
“Kairos, I know you’ve had a rough day, but you have got to stop sulking. You’re killin’ my vibe, here, man.” Mio turns to face me while continuing to walk backwards down the cracked, uneven sidewalk.
His dark hair cascades over his eyes, but even with the dim lights shining overhead, I can see the green glinting with amusement. I hope he fucking falls. I hope he trips and lands on his ass simply for talking like that.
“Really, Mio? You are one hundred and thirty years old. Only young, hip kids say things like ‘killin’ my vibe,’ and I’m sorry to tell you this, but you are neither of those things. I’m embarrassed for you.”
My first in command flashes his pearly whites as he comes around to walk beside me, slapping me on the back as he does.
“There he is. I know your mood is improving when you revert back to making fun of me.” He glances up at the dark clouds and the flashes of blue and white streaking across the sky then striking on the ground around us. He shakes his head. “Letting your frustration out in the sky always helps, too.”
“You know giving you shit is my favorite hobby. Next to killing demons, of course.”
His burst of laughter is short, as he tells me, “That I do.” He slows his walking down to a crawl. “You know she’s going to be okay, right? We will all do whatever it takes to protect her.”
“Thank you. I know she will be, because I will make sure of it.” I stop, twirling my dagger in my hand and keep my gaze pinned on him.
He nods once before continuing forward, letting the conversation end.
Mio and I have known each other for over a century, and one thing I enjoy about our friendship is the way we both know when to let conversations die.
We say what we need to. Nothing more and nothing less.
Nora is a tough subject for me, and Mio respects that.
I want to believe Nora is my fated mate reincarnated—the one who built my army from the ground up to fight against Nyx and her demon hoard a century ago.
Being with Hemera felt like fate. Like a destiny I never dreamed could be real.
If I was to be king one day, she would have stood by my side as queen.
No one else existed when it was her and I.
Ever since her death, I’ve barely existed at all.
The gods wrote prophecies that promised her return, but that was over a century ago.
I’m still alone. I’m still burdened by memories of the day she died and how the gods allowed her to be taken from me.
Maybe the gods lie. Or maybe Nora truly is her.
Gods, I’d give anything for that to be true.
“Let me ask you something, Mio.” I pause as he glances back at me, nodding and furrowing his brows. “Do you think we could have more than one fated mate? If one dies, do you…” I swallow thickly, shrugging my shoulders and averting my gaze. “What if she isn’t Mera? What if Gaia is wrong?”
He steps forward, placing his hands on my shoulders, his eyes softening in a way that only happens when he’s using his power to calm my spiraling emotions.
“Listen, Ro. I know this is hard for you. I know it has to be hard to accept what Gaia has said to be true, but… the celestial prophecies never lie, man. Nora is the one. Why do you think our queen above has me tagging along with you day and night?” His lips curve up at the corners just slightly as his emotional manipulation continues to swirl and sparkle in golden rays around me, easing my anxiety ridden mind.
“Someone will need to take your place as head Guardian and commander of the Dark Legion of warriors. You will be king soon. Your fated mate, your queen has risen.”
My weak, unsure smile comes out lopsided, but it’s the best I can offer him.
He’s right. Nora is my fated mate and will be my queen when I choose to accept the crown in the Realm of Darkness.
Fear holds me back from fully accepting the truth because I am terrified of losing her again.
The moment I laid eyes on Nora it felt like a part of my soul had left my body, like it knew it must make more room for her soul within me.
Every part of me screams that she’s my fated mate the same way it did for Mera, though Nora’s soul doesn’t seem to recognize me.
I would sense it if it did. Telling her the truth would solidify the bond for us both and she wouldn’t be able to deny her soul of what it craves, what it was born to love, but I haven’t gathered the courage yet to tell her about us or celestials or any of it.
Fuck, her human boyfriend will be a problem for us, I can feel it.
He’s not going to let her go easily. I don’t blame him, but she is not his to claim.
“What if I don’t want to give up my position as commander of the army? I can do both.”
“No. You can’t. Your queen will need you by her side, not out here on the streets fighting demons while she rules the realm.
Leave that to us lowly norms who weren’t birthed by royalty and destined to rule.
He throws his huge, muscular arm over my shoulder, glancing over at me. “You will be a great king.”
“Sure. If you say so.” I push his arm off me. “If you’re to learn how to be head guardian and commander, then we should keep practicing.”
“It’ll be an honor and a privilege to replace you, my king.” He bows his head low, crossing one ankle behind the other in a sort of curtsey that has me rolling my eyes and shaking my head.
I sigh heavily, stopping and gazing into the heavens, up to the gods and goddesses hidden away on Mount Othrys or wherever the hell they are, begging for them to look past Mio’s bullshit to see him for who he truly is.
A damned good leader and the most trustworthy celestial I know.
There’s no one who’d be better for this role than him.
“Tapping in on the future celestials emotions here on Earth isn’t easy.
It takes a lot of concentration and patience to focus on only one of them when there are so many.
You’ll fail many times while learning to block out all but the one you’re assigned to.
Once you hone in and sharpen your skills, it’s easy.
Sometimes, in cases like Nora, where depression and grief have taken over their every waking and sleeping thought, it hurts.
” I shoot him a quick, comforting smile, slapping him on the back.
“Luckily for you, you’re the master of emotional manipulation.
It’ll hurt much less if you use that to your advantage on either them or yourself. "
He nods. “In cases like those, I’ve learned, it’s nearly impossible to help them.
Even my power can’t fix the kind of broken that comes from grief.
Their hearts aren’t open to healing quite yet.
” He strolls away, then leans his back against the brick wall of a coffee shop, crossing his arms over his chest. “You want me to check in on her? I can try, but you’re much better at connecting with her than I am. ”
It’s not that I’m better at it, he simply doesn’t enjoy doing it. Her thoughts are dark, and her feelings are messy, and her pain has a way of clinging to you even after you disconnect. I get it.
Depression is a bitch. I wish I could take it away and absorb it into the depths of my own corrupted mind instead. It wouldn’t survive there. That darkness would run away screaming in fear rather quickly, I think. I’m a much scarier monster than it could ever pretend to be.