17: frequent

~~Week~~

I walked down the desolate halls towards Lucifer's chambers to update him. This was going to be a long conversation of explaining how his granddaughter has died and that I wasn't there to protect her.

I stared at the oak doors, willing this to be over.

"Xaphan. I know you're out there."

I jumped at his voice. It was laced with an undertone of despair.

I pushed the door open and saw Lucifer and Grace, both had their faces blank like mine had been for the last few hours. Another person was in the room with them. His hair was a brown with under-lacing red tones. His eyes were a blue that reminded me of Rose's angel eyes. He stood tall with a huge pair of white wings on his back.

He was an archangel.

"What did you all do to her?" I asked, my voice remaining monotone even though I had wished for anger.

"Her soulmate and promised, correct?" he asked.

"Yes. What did your council do to her?"

"Xaphan," Lucifer warned me. I peeked over and saw pain in his features.

"Xaphan. You were named after the second demon in command?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. I didn't like my name coming from him.

"Gabriel, introduce yourself before he rips you apart," Grace said, her voice holding a musical tone as it always had, but it was a tone with depression.

"Right. Xaphan, my name is Gabriel, I am the second-in-command on the archangel council, right under Archangel Rosalina and Archangel Zayn" he said, a slight bow at his waist.

This hit me in the gut, and I felt a hint of anger before it disappeared from me again.

"Archangel...Zayn...?" I asked, looking for confirmation.

"That wretched boy is still alive," Grace snarled. I hated the sound of anger coming from her mouth.

"Rose was an archangel?"

"Still is, she took Michael's place when he died," Lucifer added, standing beside me.

"Not possible, I felt our bonds shatter. I watched it-"

"Shattered, boy, or just dulled out and empty?" Gabriel asked, staring seemingly into my soul.

I paused. I tugged on the cords, yet didn't find any end to them, they continued on, but their coloration was off.

"They're just dull," I said, feeling slight relief before it went away and I was left an empty shell again.

"That means she's alive. Is there anything else you've noticed missing about yourself?" Gabriel asked, stepping towards me, just a small step. I waiting for my demon to snap at him but he didn't even stir.

"My demon and my emotions just flash in and out."

"That's her. She's protecting you from something inside. Most likely from you going to hunt her down and putting yourself and your daughter at risk."

"How do you know about Mauraline?"

"Because she told me all about her family she someday wanted by her side when it was safe. She wanted to end the war before she came to get you."

I paused. She was going to come back for us, but what happened that she had to cut us both off?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~Rose~~

I whimpered at the restraints on my wrists. This was how he planned to keep me submissive to him, by chaining me up. I longed to pull the blasted ring off my finger that held me under his constant control.

"Princess, are you ready to behave?"

I stared up at Zayn who had appeared in front of me, a smug look on his face. I tried to stand, but I felt so weak. I collapsed back down and stared at Zayn with defiance written on my features.

He slid a finger under my chin and lifted my face up towards him. "My pretty princess, why are you being so naughty lately? Did I not do you a good service of removing that man from your life?"

I leaned forward, looking to just be resting my head on his shoulder, just like he would want me to do. I could hear his chuckle as he though I had finally given in before I bit down as hard as I could, feeling the chunk of skin come out as I pulled back.

He let out a startled gasp, but did not give me the satisfaction of hearing him scream.

My demon inside was cheering on the metallic taste in my mouth. I watched his wound gush blood from the spot in his robe, but the skin easily closed up without so much as a scar left behind.

I spit out the chunk of skin and it slid to right in front of his feet. Zayn clicked his tongue and shook his head at me, as if I was a child in need of discipline.

Pain began to travel through my body and I screamed at the burning feeling of my blood in my veins.

It lasted so much longer than the last time and once it faded away I tried lifting my body up off the ground again, panting.

His shoe came down on my head and pushed me back to the cold, damp floor beneath me. The power began to fill up my veins and I stored it for later.

After all, I was the archangel of wrath. Anything that made me angry, built up strength in my veins, ready to burst and take Zayn down, but this wasn't the right time yet.

I had a plan.

"My pretty princess, you seem to still have a bad attitude problem, and here I was ready to feed you. Should I leave you hungry for another few days?"

I tried to shake my head, but Zayn put more weight on me.

"Use your words, princess."

"No," I stuttered out.

"Good, will you be my good girl, princess?"

"Yes," I cried out as he stepped away from me. He smiled and victory was written on his features. He had me down here for the past week after the 'wedding' where they forced a soulmate bond between us.

I spit the blood in my mouth out as he turned to give me food.

For once, I ate silently and with no defiance within me left to fight him.