The heavens and seas were again enveloped by darkness that fell onto the earth, As a routine it did every day. Though it felt different today. It felt dreadfully sad.
The vibrating roaring of the machine of the speed boat was the only sound that resonated throughout their journey back to the Island.
There was a substantial amount to let out, yet Astraea chose to think and meditate quietly as she detached herself from the world, from the situation itself, wanting to see it rationally, as a whole.
Everything that has been said and done cannot be turned back, no matter what she does now. She must bear the consequences of her mistakes and make the right choices from now on.
"Dae we're approachin the island."
Daniel turned away his concentration from the reflection of the moon from the luminous, slow, transversing waves. Saying as softly as he could, calling the attention of his internally turmoiled cousin, who wrapped herself in a large shawl. Her visage was dark and her expression unclear to him due to the darkness that invaded his sight. He understood that she needed time to figure out her confusion and to sink in all the new information that shook every fiber of her soul.
She had explained it to him so vaguely, nonetheless, he understood what mess she had become ever since he came see her after their family dinner.
"Can I- just stay with you. I don't want to go back there. Please, I don't want to face him right now, I-" His cousin pleaded to him, her voice shaking then breaking "I feel so so so sick!" The motion of the boat and the salty humidity of the seas only contributed to it.
Shivering from the harsh cold wind, almost fighting with her. She could only tighten her light layered shawl in attempt to block the coldness trying to invade her skin. Hot tears began streaming from her eyes, as her heart ached increasingly.
Approaching his cousin, he grabbed her back in attempt to comfort her, at loss of the words words he could utter to soothe her at best. All he ever wanted was the best for his cousin.
"If you really want to, I'll do it for you. You don't have to pull the trigger yourself, Dae. I'll do it, you don't have to get blood on your hands. It's not you're fault, remember, you're not your father. You'll never be him!"
Allevating her fears, sobbing was heard throughout the boat as Astraea buried her face in Daniels' chest, wanting to suppress her loud cries.
He enveloped her in his arms as he softly sang a children's lullaby to comfort her. His warmth and smell began to sooth Astraea.
In her cousin's arms she felt slightly better, knowing that he was there for her. And with him in her life there was not a single need to put on walls or act strong. She believed that he would always try to always understand her.
They just stood there in each other's embrace as the boat was driven by Daniels' assistant.
Looking back on her journey through life, her cousin, Daniel, has become a significant figure, being a brother and a father to her. He was always there watching out for her and the least that she could do was to protect him.
With the boat coming to a stop, implicating that they had reached their destination, she got out of his embrace. Looking up at him with her still teary eyes, she reached out for his hand, then held it.
"No."
Shaking her head, snufflying due to her sniffy, stuffed up nose. Daniel handed her his handkerchief where she blew her nose on. lifting her head to face him again, with a sense of unbreakable determination forming behind her orbs.
"We've come this far. We'll fix this- you've told me before that Aziel might have the answer to my questions and- I can't- I don't want to end this the way my father wants."
Without a doubt, she unconditionally loved her family. No matter how much pain and torment they've put her mentally, physically and emotionally on, she's come to forgive them every single time. Her love always outweighed her hate for them, but it doesn't mean she'd do everything to gratify their fervor for bloodshed and tolerate their cruelty towards living individuals, especially towards the people she was greatly fond of.
And that boy in the pictures only added to her profound guilt along with the overwhelming emotions and she didn't know what to do with.
"Take this."
Daniel grabbed her right hand and handed her a gun. She could only give him a bewildered look. 'Another gun?'
"What- what is this Daniel?! Why are you giving me a gun?!"
She expressed alarmed, because why would her cousin hand her another gun? He angled in to show her its grip. Though it's dark she could see that there was a small emblem or symbol embedded on its side grip.
"Uncle gave you his personal gun, right? Hand it to me. Aziel will get a sense of who you are, since he recognizes your father's symbol."
Voicing out in a tense voice. She sensed his distress for her and understood the consequences of Aziel finding out her connection to his cardinal enemy. She then went to find the gun in the medium sized luxury bag she brought and handed it to him.
"Do you think... father wants him to know who I am?"
Such thought repelled her. Not him finding out who she was, but the possible purpose of her father. She was well aware that he was never fond of her, but she'd never pertained to the concept of her death being due to her own father. Like little thorns stabbing her guts, it was uncomfortably painful.
"I- I'll always be here for you, my Astraea Daenne. You're my sister and I'll die protecting you from that family."
Soft to rough, showcasing the contrast he felt between her and her blood family. Daniel condemned his father and brothers. They'd never truly appreciated his dear cousin. He wasn't a saint either, but his cousin was special.
She deserved all the familial love the Spellmans gave and so much more.
"I know," she acknowledged and trusted he'd never betray her. "And I'll protect you too."
Handing him her father's gun in exchange for the new one, he showed her. He trusted that he'd know what to do with it.
"We're both in this together, I'll always stand by your side, remember that." He gently held her face. Brushing the viable drop of tears from the corners of her eyes. "Make him believe his uncle betrayed him, that you are sent to kill him, make him give his full trust in you. I know that you've made sense of their connection and there are numerous why's and how's in your mind and Aziel might be the only one to answer that, Dae."
He consolidated firmly. He knew sending her back to that Island would create new twists and turns in their relationship and cousin's future. That's why he proposed a plan to her that would strategically make sense.
"Is the gun-"
She was aghast at the realization of who this gun belonged to. Her cousin had always been full of unexpected surprises.
"Yes, it's his uncle's. He's not dead, you know that I have my ways… Showing this to him- I'm not sure how it'll transpire but you're a survivor Dae. I know that you'll give him a purpose to need you alive."
Creativity was her forte, after all.
She gave a little laugh then embraced him again, as tightly as she could. Wanting to convey how grateful she was for everything that he'd done and had continued to do it for her sake. He was the pillar of support that helped her survive this far. Daniel was someone who was there to catch her every time she fell, yet he also made sure that she grew her own wings.
Maybe that's why, despite all the intense freezing coldness that she had endured growing up, she still knew warmth. Her mother side of the family coddled and loved her, it was on behalf of them that she learned how to love.
Uncircling her arms, she held his shoulders with a firm hold.
"I'll figure it out. Let me protect you and our family this time."
She promised her heart still heavy, hoping that it reassures both of them.
"You have to go now, Dae."
Closing his eyes, as if to hold back the tears that were wanting to be let out.
His dear Astraea was slipping from his fingers, he could only watch as she grew her wings, hoping to soar higher than ever. She had so much good in store for her and for her to truly unlock her full potential she must detach from her past that gripped her body in a rigid, like a vine.
"I'll see you soon, Daniel."
Giving him a smile for the last time before, she got down from the boat and walked away from the mysterious waters.
Bidding a goodbye in the darkness that was lit up by the small lights coming from the boat. It started again then drifted away, getting smaller and smaller.
Her small smile turned into a frown. She turned her head towards her villa far ashore. Lit up by the lights inside, she didn't bother switching off.
She doesn't desire to go back right now. She doesn't want to see Azile's face and be reminded of the evil her own father was capable of.
Bending her body, then taking her high heels and held them it her hands. Taking a step forward on the shore of the beach that was illuminated by the moon, only a few hours from now the sun will rise and light the world with its radiant shine.
The world continues on revolving, she won't be able to stop it.
Feeling the coarse sand in her uncalloused feet. She could already feel the irritating blisters increasing, not that she minded presently. Her mind and heart were too numb to concern themselves with such irrelevant pain, in comparison to theirs.
Leaving footsteps along the sand, things that can be erased with a stroke of the seashore, branding everything new 'how easy would that be if everything was that simple?', yet, humanss were complex, intricate creatures.
She could never run away or hide from her father. He knew of this island from the beginning, didn't he? He would always be 10 steps ahead of her. She'll never escape him. That's why this must end with Aziel's death at her hands. He wanted Aziel to know who ended his life and torment her for eternity with the guilt of unaliving somebody. This was the only way she could protect the people she held dear in her heart.
The child who was holding his mother's decapitated head flashed in her mind, that flayed memory replaying over and over again. Sitting down on the sand, she felt her body trembling in dread and sigust from the memory.
She pulled her legs near her chest, resting her head on her knees.
She didn't know what to do with the growing guilt either.
Sensing a presence on her back, she didn't need to turn back to know who it was. She wouldn't be surprised if he had been awake all this time, which would mean he was ever-still cautious and distrustful towards her.
He shuffled the sand beside her, then sat down. theye were near each other that she could feel his body heat radiating from him.
Only the sussuration of the waves was heard as it slapped unevenly along the shores.
"Why?"
In a brooding low voice he began in a question.
She didn't know why or what why he was referring to, but she knew that one word was all it took from him, for Astraea to begin weeping again. From nothing to everything, he re-triggered her sadness. She turned towards him, it was dark and she couldn't clearly see his reaction, tears kept pouring out, dehydrating her even further.
Aziel was taken aback with Astreas state, even more so when he felt her body on his, embracing him.