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Palan hummed as he gnawed on a bony piece of meat while holding a metal rod in his hands. The rod glowed green, and bits of it were corroding off, dropping into a pouch by his feet. He was sitting cross-legged in the carriage with Cleo standing beside him, watching him create toxic weapons. Dark-green mist swirled around his arms, rushing towards the metal rod while Raea sat in a corner, her face slightly pale. The mist dispersed, and Palan nodded at his handiwork before handing the green rod to Cleo who stored it in her space. He kept the bag of powder for himself.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this cheerful before,” Elrith said to Palan. Sally had her wings draped over the archangel’s shoulders, her legs wrapped around his waist. He hadn’t been able to convince her to let go, but he really didn’t mind. It felt nice to share her warmth, and her legs were fluffy.
“Cities aren’t all that scary,” Palan said as he took another rod that Cleo handed him. “They’re quite fun actually—once you get past the smell and deafness and lack of all senses but sight. It’s also reassuring to know that most of the people out there aren’t greater angels. They can’t hurt me if I fly into the air and sprinkle poison on them.”
“Sprinkle and poison shouldn’t be used in the same sentence,” Raea said as she made a face. She put down the donut in her hands and sighed. During the past three days, she managed to drag Palan outside and went shopping with him. There was a sense of accomplishment when she made it back without anyone dying. Raea raised her head and looked at Palan. “You adapted really quickly.”
“If you can’t adapt, you die,” Palan said as more mist swirled out of his arms. Raea didn’t flinch or gasp for breath like she usually did when Palan drew on her powers. The more he used them, the more comfortable she felt. “Adapting was simple. I don’t want to die.”
“Couldn’t make it simple the first time?” Elrith grumbled. “We wouldn’t be wanted if you didn’t kill those guardians.”
Palan shrugged and continued making toxic spears. The door to the carriage swung open. Linda stepped inside and shut the door behind herself, leaning her back against the handle. “Okay,” she said. “I just heard something that you might want to hear as well.” Everyone turned to look at Linda. “Two archangels arrived in Ni’En: Lord Caelum and Lady Caelum. Your parents.”
“What?” Elrith and Raea asked at the same time.
Linda nodded. “They ordered a lockdown of the city. No one’s allowed in or out,” she said.
“Our parents!?” Raea asked, nearly shrieking.
Palan furrowed his brow and scratched his head. “I don’t suppose I’m allowed to eat them?” he asked.
“No!” Elrith said as he and Raea glared at Palan.
“What do we do?” Raea asked Elrith. She bit her lower lip as her hands clenched into fists. The donut by her feet combusted into ashes. “Why would Mom and Dad come out? They haven’t left the capital in decades!”
“This is all your fault!” Elrith shouted at Palan. Sally flinched, causing Elrith to pause and lower his voice. “You and your stupid plan. Is becoming an archdemon that important to you? We could’ve avoided this and we still would’ve made it to the capital if only you just kept your damn mouth shut. We could’ve turned Raea back to normal with our parents being none the wiser.”
“Are your parents that scary?” Palan asked. “Aren’t you archangels as well? It should be a fair fight, no?”
“They’re our parents!” Elrith said. “We’re not going to fight them!” He looked towards Raea, but she didn’t show any sign of agreeing with him. “Raea?”
Raea shuddered. “What if they’re here to kill me?” she asked. Her frame seemed to shrink as her face blanched. She looked at Elrith with wide eyes. “They must’ve heard about me from General Michael. They know I’m fallen. They’re here to kill me.” She took a step back as she hugged her shoulders and hunched over. Her body lurched, and a stream of vomit flew out of her mouth.
“They wouldn’t kill you, Ray,” Elrith said as he furrowed his brow. “They’re not here to hurt you. They’re our parents. Sure, they’ll be disappointed, and maybe they’ll berate us, but we can explain to them and they’ll listen. They could even help us fulfill your contract with Palan.”
“Wasn’t he the one who was panicking the most just a second ago?” Cleo whispered to Palan.
“Everything’s going to be all right,” Elrith said as he stepped closer to Raea.
“You’re wrong!” Raea said as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She crouched into a ball and wrapped her wings around herself. “They’re here to kill me—I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it!” She let out a screech as she grabbed her own hair. The carriage burst into flames, and Linda swore as she dove towards her merchandise. Thankfully, she sold the most expensive items of her stock the day before. Cleo grabbed Linda and dragged her out of the carriage. Elrith and Sally came out next.
Palan frowned as the heat of the flames caused his skin to blister. A layer of oily light covered his body as he used Raea’s powers of greed to protect himself from the flames. He ran towards Raea and lifted her up, despite her protests, bringing her out of the carriage. Screams echoed throughout the vicinity as the black flames began to spread from the carriage to the nearby stalls and to the buildings behind them.
Palan brushed Raea’s wings aside, and placed his hand under her chin. He tilted her face upwards until they made eye contact. “Are you going to fight your parents?” he asked. “If not, we need to get out of here.” He had confidence in his plan when he created it, but now, he wasn’t so sure. Elrith was unwilling to help, and Raea was practically paralyzed with fear. She reminded Palan of himself during the times when he was younger and had to hide underground because of his mother’s episodes.
“I’m scared,” Raea whispered. Her body trembled in Palan’s embrace.
Palan frowned. “Weren’t you strong? Aren’t you angry at your parents? They abandoned you in the borderlands. They were going to execute you when you fell. What would Selena think if she saw you like this?” he asked. “She lost her life so you could have this power to stand up for yourself. Does her life mean this little to you?” Palan set Raea on her feet and grabbed her hands, preventing her from falling.
“I, I won’t run,” Raea said, her voice shaky. Her face was pale, and the sweat in her palms made Palan’s hands slick. “You’re right,” she said as her wings unfurled. “You’re right. I should be angry. I’ve never stood up against my parents, but I should’ve a long time ago. I won’t let them kill me. This life is mine.”
“Why are you talking about fighting?” Elrith asked, shouting over the roaring flames. “When we see them, let me do the talking. I can convince them to help us. If you start off by attacking them, there’s no way they’ll listen to anything we say.”
“Is that them?” Cleo asked and pointed at a road. The black flames were parting, and two figures dressed in silver robes were walking towards them.