The Stranger- Chapter 7

When I woke up, the moonlight was replaced by the golden glow of the sun. Golden light flooded the entire room and my eyes fluttered open. I love gorgeous mornings like these, but I had clearly overslept a little.

“Tomorrow I want you to come to the library with me, alright?”

Right, Kendell wanted me to go to the library with him… My spirits soared as I thought about spending the day with him. I quickly bounced off the bed and ran to the bathroom, flinging my clothes off and turning on the water. The crystal pool quickly grew in the porcelain tub, the heat of the water warming the cool room. I smiled at the mirrors, already starting to cover themselves in steam. When I decided the tub was full enough, I turned the water off and slipped in. The hot water felt wonderful on my skin. Shreds of memory from last night flooded into my mind. The more I thought about Jacob, the more I was able to piece things together. I still hadn’t regained all of my memory to know Jacob’s business at the lake, but I knew that he was influencing people. My father was never so cold and distant. People seemed to be worshipping the ground Jacob walked on, but then again, he was a lord… His hatred for Kendell was astounding, and I was sure that they hadn’t even met before I realized Jacob was a demon.

So what was Kendell, then?

As time went by, my thoughts caused me to grow impatient. I finished my bath and hurried out of the tub, drying off and dressing as quickly as possible in a simple corset, shirt and pants again. I dashed towards the stairs, only to run into Katherine. Her face was creased with fear and worry.

“Katherine? Is something wrong?”

“Oh, Annabelle… Your father had raised a hand to Nichole and has been shut up in his study ever since. Lord Wraith hasn’t been seen at all since he was last with you…”

I stood shocked. My father, my loving, caring father, raised a hand to our oldest and most loyal maid? It was madness.

“Are you sure that’s what happened?”

“Absolutely, I saw it with my own eyes. Nichole was lucky, she fell to the ground and managed to get up with no broken bones. And do you know where Lord Wraith might be?”

“I haven’t a clue… And tell Nichole that I’m sorry for my father’s actions. I need to go.” My voice was monotone and hollow as I stepped around Katherine and continued down the hallway and down the stairs. Even more impatient now, I threw my boots on and started walking quickly out the door towards the library. Uneasiness rooted itself in my stomach as I thought of Nichole. My father would never even think of hurting someone, he was clearly disturbed in his mind. Thoughts of Jacob flooded my mind, causing me to run faster out of pure anger. The few people on the streets stared at me with awe as I hurried through the streets. The distance to travel was longer than I liked. I had to pass by the church, in which the priest watched me from the doorway, eyes filled with suspicion. I passed building after building, earning stares from every possible place in town. I knew Kendell was already at the library, because Mr. Calsworth had told me he spent almost every morning there. Little about Kendell was unknown to me, we had been practically inseparable upon becoming friends so many years ago. A hand grabbed my shoulder, a weak and dainty one.

“Annabelle, what on Earth are you doing walking the streets like that, again? Haven’t I made it clear that young ladies don’t wear pants, but skirts?” Larissa tightened her grip on my shoulder, her voice full of strained friendliness.

I swatted her hand away and continued down the road in silence. Her irritating voice floated back to my ears as I heard her stomp back over to me.

“Annabelle! Don’t ignore me you disgusting harlot-“

“Harlot? Woman, have you seen yourself? If anyone is a disgusting harlot here, it’s you. By the by, I’d suggest you stay away from Kendell, seeing as he hates your conceited face!” The words flew off my tongue as I spun on my heel to face her. Larissa’s mouth fell open and she scoffed, lifting her chin up.

“And you claim to be a lady! I’ll have you know that I’m the most pure soul in this town! God has always favored me with the love and adoration of everyone in town, and you must be jealous, with your one ‘friend’. Kendell is mine, and you’re just trying to steal him from me!”

“Didn’t the church ever tell you that greed was a sin? Kendell was never yours, and he never will be. Ugh, I don’t have time for your pig-nosed face,” with those last words, I continued on my way and ignored every other word to come out of Larissa’s wretched face. Her ignorance was the last thing I could tolerate at the moment. Why people like her had to exist, was a mystery to me. I climbed the wooden steps of the library and pushed the door open. The librarian, Mrs. Spencer, looked up at me and smiled,

“Hello, Ms. Drevensek. Mr. Inkcrest is waiting for you in the old storage room.”

I smiled back and nodded, walking to the back of the library to an old wooden door. Pushing it open, my smile grew bigger as I saw Kendell sitting in a tattered red chair reading a book. He looked up and smiled, then got up and walked towards me, kissing me on the forehead. For a moment I had forgotten what I wanted to tell him, until I saw the book in his hands. Spiritual Beings; Angels, Demons and Fairies. I had seen that book before, but the librarian would never let me near it. It was only to be read by a “special reader”. Kendell was this reader?

“Kendell, have you seen Lord Wraith?”

His smile fell into a suspicious frown, “No, why?”

“Because…” Surely if Kendell was reading that book about angels and demons, he would believe me, “Because he’s a demon and I think he’s influencing my father.”

“Wraith is a demon?” Kendell’s eyebrow shot up as he chuckled, “I think you were dreaming again.”

“No, no, no! He came in after you left and made me tell him about the nightmare. And he just looked so similar to the demon in my nightmares that I had to find out! So I dropped my rosary on him, and-and he burned! His eyes turned black and red and I remembered most of what happened up to the time I saw him at the lake. I’m absolutely sure I wasn’t dreaming that!” I stared straight into his eyes and hoped he’d believe me.

Kendell’s entire expression darkened and he looked away, sighing.

“Please believe me… My father hit our oldest maid today… He’d never raise a hand to anyone, I know this,” tears stung my eyes and threatened to fall. I was scared.

“He what?” Shock overtook Kendell’s features before they fell back into darkness.

I lowered my head, waiting for him to speak again. When I heard nothing but silence, I grew worried, until I felt his hand on my back.

“Annabelle… It’s time you knew. Your father isn’t really your father, and Wraith and I… We’re different. So are you.”

“Different?” I lifted my head to meet his icy blue eyes, the ones that sparkled with sadness despite the somewhat forced smile on his face. His hand slid up my back and into my hair, pulling me up as he leaned down to kiss me. Once again, a current of emotions connected us both, and for a few seconds I felt every sadness, fear, regret and longing he had.

Looking at me as he pulled away, Kendell whispered, “Yes, Wraith is a demon. And I’m an angel. And so are you.” Even thought he smiled, tears formed in his eyes.

Confusion swallowed me as I stared back at him silently, “You really expect me to believe that I’m an angel? And that you’re one?”

“I know it seems ridiculous, but…” Kendell stepped back, the sad smile still on his face. With a gasp, I watched a pair of brilliant, snow white wings sprout from his back. My mind screamed at me to run, but my body moved towards him, a hand stretching up to touch his wings. They were softer than the softest silk, and seemed to glow.

“If I’m an angel, and my parents aren’t really my parents, how did I end up with them?”

“How else?” Kendell gently took my hand in his, “You were given to them by Gabriel. Your mother was infertile and her prayers for a child rang through Heaven daily, so God granted her wishes. We had to hide you from Lucifer’s demons so you wouldn’t be assassinated, thus God disguised you as an infant. Gabriel delivered you to the Drevenseks under the condition that they let you join God’s army again when the time came.”

”Army…?” My voice was low as I took in the information.

“Wraith… He’s a demon sent to kill you. There’s a great war that’s about to take place between God and Lucifer, and we believe that you’re the angel to lead us to victory. That’s why you’ve been in hiding. Too many demons were after you, and still are.” Kendell pulled me to him and wrapped his wings around me. “The altar boy, the librarian and I have been put here to keep you safe, and we… We were destined to be together.”

What felt like an enormous pressure seemed to crash down on my shoulders. I pushed Kendell away and paced, “War? With Lucifer’s army? And you and I? We’re to be together?” Before he could speak, something else crossed my mind, “And why does Wraith claim to be my father’s friend, then?”

A long sigh escaped Kendell’s lips, “Wraith is a tricky one. For the past ten years he’s been searching for someone with your description. You stand apart from humans because you’re so powerful. He found connections and found your father, played with his memories so that he’d think of Wraith as a friend, and was able to find you. He watched you through your dreams every night, and I was able to keep him away just enough so he couldn’t hurt you. Wraith became too strong and decided he would see you in person, and it took all of my strength to keep him from killing you. You kept drawing him over and over again, he was all over your sketchbook. Why?”

The question caught me off guard, “Well, I thought he looked good enough to be in my sketchbook… When he wasn’t scaring me half to death. I enjoy drawing angels and demons…”

“Ah…” A strange glaze crossed Kendell’s eyes. He awkwardly cleared his throat, “Well, your wings will appear soon, if anything.”

“How soon?”

He grimaced, “I’d rather not say.”

“Kendell!” My voice grew stern as I shot a demanding look in his direction.

“Fine… Within three weeks…” He bent slightly, cowering at the rage he knew would come. And he was right to do so.

“Three weeks? Kendell Inkcrest, if that’s even your actual name! You could have told me any day what was going on, you could have told me at any time that there was a demon manipulating my father! But no, you keep it a damn secret to the point where one of my maids was hurt, to the point where-where a massive war is about to take place and I just found out, to the point where I have three weeks left of not having wings on my back!” I stamped my foot, my hands on my hips, “What is wrong with you? All this time, you’ve kept this bottled up? And if you’re an angel, why have you had sex before marriage? Especially if we’re supposed to be ‘together’?” Anger radiated off of me like heat from a fire.

“I-uh-well, this was my wrong-doing, I suppose. But I mean, it’s the first time in centuries since I’ve had a physical body, and one of a teenager no less-“

“Alright, alright… Just… Hush,” shakily, I wandered to the chair in the corner of the room and collapsed, “What is Mr. Calsworth, then?”

“Brainwashed human…”

“Ah.”

“I know this is a bit much to handle right now, I’m sorry. Uh, but if you go home, take this book with you,” Kendell awkwardly spoke as he handed me the book he was reading. I took it half-heartedly and sighed, rubbing my temple before standing and walking towards the door.

“A-Annabelle-?”

“Goodbye, Kendell. If you must talk to me, please do it later this evening. You know quite well where I live. I just need a bit of time to comprehend what I’ve just seen and heard.” My chin held a bit higher than usual, I stormed out of the library. Mrs. Spencer gave me a sympathetic look as I walked by, and I softened my expression before slamming the door on the way out.

What is wrong with that damn boy? Or angel, I should say. I wasn’t sure if I was smart or stupid for believing all of this, but then again, how could I not?

He had wings, for Christ’s sake!

Or were my eyes just playing tricks on me? Was that it? Well, his story somewhat made sense… My mother and father have black hair, and I have white hair. What kind of human has white hair? I’d have thought I was a demon or something, the way people look at me. And my dreams? The man that looks like Wraith? My father acting strangely? It can’t be coincidence.

I trudged along the dirt roads, kicking pebbles across the ground. The book in my hands, old and worn out, was making me painfully aware that I wasn’t living some kind of fairytale. In fact, it might as well be a horror story. Being attacked by demons is terrifying enough, but now I’m an angel to fight in a war?
            The thoughts kept circling my mind over and over again, a tumble of the same images and questions. And every time they came, I thought of a different answer. I was walking aimlessly, and so slowly, that I had barely walked a block in what seemed like forever. Home was the last place I wanted to be, I didn’t want to see my father in his crazed state. The thought took effect as I stopped at a crossroad, the decision to return home or take the road to my left into the forest hovering over me.

Of course, I took the road to my left.

I could see it on the horizon, the green of the tree leaves. The sun’s rays were unbearable at this point, as I had been walking in the sun for some time now. As my discomfort grew, I quickened my pace towards the sanctuary of the forest shade. Sunlight didn’t exactly burn me, despite my extremely pale skin, and I don’t recall ever having any form of burn. People frowned at my pale skin, I myself not liking how easily I could see my veins through it. It was a reminder that every day, little more than a knife to my skin could free the red liquid inside them and end my existence. Ugh, look how easily my mind wanders.

The first line of trees in the forest grew more visible, I was almost there. The distance between the forest and I was short, so I ran the rest of the way. As soon as the shade covered me, I slowed and felt the familiar peace I often got here. A smile lazily spread on my face as I wandered into the forest. Only small rays of sunlight made it through the leaves and small shrubs and leaves brushed my legs as I walked by. The forest was the perfect place to clear any mind.

A few bugs floated by, the sound of birds echoing through the trees. I walked through the forest until I came by a small stream. Something moved in the water, and I noticed a loach drifting in the current. It seemed to look up at me before quickly dashing up the stream. Hopping over the stream, I continued into the brush, glad that I wore long pants. Thorny vines grabbed at my legs and some even grew tall enough to reach my hands. I winced as a thorn scraped my knuckle, relieved when it ended and I entered a small grove. A large headstone stood in the middle of it, the sun shining down on it through the break in the trees. Vines covered the stone to the point where it was near impossibly to see the words.

My mother’s grave.

“Hello, mother.”

The wind swirled through the trees, leaves rustling and the grass swaying. The violets planted at her headstone seemed to reach up more towards the sunlight. I smiled and wandered to the headstone, sliding down its side to sit in the grass.

“Mother, I’ve heard some strange things today…”

Author's Note

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