The Unseen

Chapter 3

As he was making the call, I tried eavesdropping on the conversation. However, it was a futile effort because the language he spoke was a foreign one that I didn't know. Nevertheless, there was something vaguely familiar about it, like a long-forgotten childhood lullaby. Understanding it seemed to be just out of reach.

I couldn't shake off the familiarity of it, the warmth.

Before I could start figuring things out, the dark stranger had finished his conversation and looked at me the way one studies a virus under a microscope, as if he could see deep into who I was and who I could be. It was unsettling, to say the least.

"Shall we?" He asked, gesturing like an old-timey gentleman when the bus reached the next stop.

My throat was so dry that I didn't trust myself to say anything. Thus, I nodded and exited the bus, although I had no idea where we were going. I needed to know what was going on, and everything else seemed to fade in comparison.

When we exited the bus, I realized we were in a bustling part of the city I knew very well. Letting out a soft breath of relief, I walked towards my favorite cafe, hoping he would follow my lead and not question my choice.

The place was usually crowded enough for me to feel safe with a complete stranger. Its familiarity was bound to give me even more courage to ask the questions I needed the answers to.

When the waiter arrived, I ordered two cups of coffee, ignoring the funny looks he was giving me. It was distracting, but I chose not to pay any attention to it as that had happened before. Whether it was because of my strange dressing style for someone my age or my unusually colored hair that went from red to different shades of orange, I became used to people staring at me for far longer than it was appropriate.

"So," I started, unsure how to continue.

There was a polite way to do so and a direct one. I wasn't sure which one to go with.

"So?" he asked, his expression unreadable, the perfect mask only slightly cracked by the bright curiosity I could see dancing in the depths of his eyes.

"My name is Angela," I said, choosing the polite approach, hoping it would be a better icebreaker.

"Yes, I know," he said as if that was the most natural thing ever. "You are Angela Cifarelli Agosti."

His answer made me freeze mid-motion as I was about to drink some water the waiter brought with the coffee. My hand halfway to my mouth, I stared at him, not knowing if I should be flattered or terrified, or both.

"And you are?" I managed to ask, sounding relatively calm.

I didn't feel how I was trying to sound, but I didn't want him to sense my fear. Animals can smell fear. Maybe he can too.

"My name is Andromalius Omael," he said, looking into my eyes. "And we have met before."

"We have?" I squeaked far louder than appropriate in a packed cafe.

This time the looks they gave me were completely justified, so I tried to get myself under control.

Voice I could temper, but my heart was beating a mile a minute as if wanting to confirm the truthfulness of what he was saying. But that couldn't be true. I would have remembered a guy like him. Surely, I would?

"Miss, are you okay?" the waiter came to ask before I could think about this surprising piece of information any further.

"Yes, yes," I said hurriedly, wanting to get rid of him as soon as possible.

The skeptical look on his face told me he didn't think so, which annoyed me even further.

"I feel like, at this point, I should inform you that you are the only one who can see me," Andromalius said with a mischievous smile that told me he might even be enjoying my utter embarrassment.

"Huh?" I asked unintelligently.

"It's just that you've been sitting here talking to yourself and yelling at empty air," the waiter responded instead of Andromalius. "I wanted to check that you weren't having a nervous breakdown or something.

The poor guy shifted uncomfortably, wanting to help but feeling embarrassed that he was saying such things to a stranger, especially a girl approximately his age.

Andromalius waved his hands in front of the waiter's face, silently proving his claim when the guy didn't react in any way.

"Ahem, I am okay," I said, gulping down my scorching hot coffee. "I was talking to myself. It helps me with...ah... my acting classes? Yes, my acting classes."

"Oh, I see," the waiter said, smiling brightly. "I am sorry for disturbing you then. Is there anything else I can get you?"

"Just the bill, please," I said, contemplating if I should gulp down the second coffee as well, deciding it would be impossible.

"Nice save," Andromalius said, downing the coffee, not reacting in the slightest way to the heat.

"You know you could have told me that little fact before I made a fool of myself," I said out of the side of my mouth, trying my best ventriloquist act to avoid further embarrassment.

"I could have, but would you have believed me if I had?" he asked.

"No, probably not," I said, sighing in resignation.

I still felt he was having fun at my expense, but I chose not to dwell on it. I didn't get any of the answers I needed. Just more questions and I was starting to wonder if knowing the answers would be worth it in the end.

"Here is your bill," the waiter said moments later, startling me as I was too focused on the person before me to hear his silent approach.

"Thank you," I said, paying the bill and hurrying outside.

"Shall we go to a more private place?" the velvety voice asked, far closer to me than I anticipated.

"No!" I yelled out on reflex. "I mean, yes. I mean, what did you have in mind?"

"Are you afraid to be alone with me?" he asked, dark mischief in his eyes and a seductive smirk on his lips.

I knew he wanted to scare me and make me give up the questioning but I refused to be intimidated, not this time when it felt like my life depended on knowing the truth. Also, at this point, I thought the danger that threatened to consume me wasn't that of being harmed by him but falling hard for him, giving him a chance to break my heart.

"I am not afraid of anything, especially not people like you, who pretend to be tigers when they are just little kittens," I stated bravely.

However, I was not sure if even I believed my words.

I knew he COULD be dangerous if he chose to, but I still didn't think he was evil, that he would harm me on purpose. It was the strangest feeling to know things without having any substantial proof. Even though I felt uneasy at doing so, this one time, I chose to follow my instincts.

He smiled at my statement for the first time, seeming genuinely amused by what I said, and I couldn't help but admire the sight. His perfectly white teeth glistened in the sun, two tiny dimples barely visible on his cheeks. It was all dazzling.

Still, I could tell he didn't often smile because the expression was soon washed away by a thought I could see running through his head even though he didn't really do or say anything.

"How about we go to the park?" he said, back to his usual grumpy self.

Although the park was not be the best idea, I chose to go further down the rabbit hole I had found myself in. If he wanted to harm me, surely, he would have done so before. Thus, I chose put some trust in the hands of the guy who was in danger of stealing my heart.

Even before we had the chance to settle down, I couldn't help but fire away the strange questions buzzing around my mind from the moment I saw him standing over those bodies, from the moment I saw those souls trusting him implicitly.

"What are you? Are you the Angel of Death?" I blurted out, my old habit of saying whatever I was thinking returning with a vengeance.