The Fallen Angel

Chapter 27: Lodge

My fingers folded as his own brushed against my calves, effectively causing fireworks to go off with each trail.

I could hardly suppress the look in my eyes when he glanced at me again for my uncharacteristic reaction.

It was clear he saw the emotions surging within me as he gave a light, comforting tap onto my toes before standing up to his full height.

"Follow me closely, I'll show you two where you can take a shower and get a change of clothes." Was all he said while looking back and forth between me and Genie.

We followed him like two lost puppies inside the huge mansion.

During the time of getting to our rooms, I was surprised and happy that for once someone shared the same feelings as me when it came to his world.

It was crystal clear that Genie hadn't visited here before.

That could be the only explanation to her wondrous and childlike gaze as we passed old artifacts, paintings on the wall and closed doors that made questionable sounds.

"Is there anyone else here?" She was bold enough to ask.

I was relieved that she did because it was taking so much self restraint for me not to.

I didn't want to look nosy but for some reason, the question didn't bother Angelo at all.

"No, no one else is here."

"No one else?" Genie repeated, noting how weirdly he said it as well.

He hummed.

"What about something else?"

"Now that is something I cannot afford to answer. Though I can advise it's in your best interest not to become too curious about those rooms. It's not for humans like yourselves and you could end up getting hurt. So stay away, understand?"

He looked at me in particular and I couldn't help but feel discriminated against.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Because I know you...and your never-ending curiosity."

I scoffed.

"If you say don't be curious, I won't."

He raised an eyebrow, his handsome face showing just how unconvinced he was.

But just seeing it use its muscles for me was oddly satisfying.

Gosh, I sound like such a creep.

"I'll hold you to it then." He smiled.

***

"How are you feeling?"

My head snapped up from the chair I was sitting in by the windowsill.

Strategically between the darkness of the room and half light of the moon, I saw a silhouette I knew all too well.

Angelo's shoulders were stiff as he leaned against the wall and my own pair followed suit seeing his eyes.

They glowed within the darkness — the silver hue of them slicing the night like the starlights in the sky.

I held my breath as he continued to look. The weight of them bringing the pressure any human would feel as a mythical creature stared them down.

I fumbled with the edges of my oversized t-shirt and brought my legs to my chest; the momentary revelation of my bare skin having that gaze flicker onto it like a spotlight.

It only happened for a millisecond, making me question if it really did, before his eyes dimmed a small fraction of its shade.

"I was just looking outside and I couldn't help but think." I started cautiously.

"Think about what?"

He still hadn't shown himself.

"Everything..." I sighed heavily. My head had indeed been racing a million miles per second since the moment I got out of the shower. It didn't help that the mood of this fancy, quaint room with a spectacular view added to it. "Here, this land, Cupid, Genie, you...us."

I swore I saw him stiffen at the end of my dialogue.

"I don't know why, but it seems like it's not the first time I've been here. I've been seated by this window for over two hours now and it seems like down to this chair has remembered the shape of me within it. To put it lightly, I've been glued to this spot. I don't know if it's because of the unimaginable view or because of something else."

He kept quiet.

I was beginning to wonder if this had turned into a monologue now.

"Anyway, I don't know. What I do know is I feel like I've been forced to become more pensive here. Funny, isn't it? How a strange place brings about strange thoughts?"

I tried to laugh but it ended up sounding very suffocated.

"I even wanna fool myself into believing that this too was another important part of our 'past'. The one that you can't seem to forget but I have so effortlessly."

"Don't say that. You didn't have much of a choice."

His voice was thick and heavy.

"Oh? I clearly remember you saying I made you make me forget about everything."

"Yes, but if it weren't for my neglectful actions you wouldn't have been pushed that far. I'm...sorry that you had to go through that kind of torment."

"You know what's funny, Angelo?" My eyes glanced up at him and somehow they could suddenly see him as clear as day despite still being shadowed.

"It still feels like I am."

His sharp intake of air resonated throughout the room.

I felt like I opened up an old wound; or rather poured salt into it.

But it didn't matter.

I was being unapologetically honest. If we were to talk about it the least I could do was say what I was feeling. This entire time of having known him I have felt like I was in some sort of weird fever dream. One that I could not wake up from. Only to be continuously proven that no, this is not a fantasy— this is real life.

Angelo being here; a figment of some strong and passionate love affair that I cannot recall.

It's all real.

And despite being a key player, it's clear that I've been stripped of all my armor and have no choice but to be a bench girl.

It's frustrating and pure agony.

Now I have no way not to believe in everything I've been told because I've seen it.

It's not just all a made up fairytale.

But how am I supposed to be completely okay with that when I don't even know who I am anymore?

It hurts even more because deep down I knew that I never did.

Angelo didn't say anything in return.

He just left.

Not only physically.

It seemed his entire being had just dissolved into nothingness within the darkness.

And even though I sat by the windowsill the entire night basking in the moonlight, I had undergone the same fate as he did.