Later in the Angel base .
Some of the angels were present in the common room as Joseph was giving them necessary instructions regarding their jobs when one member came hurriedly attracting everyone's attention .
Joseph was about to ask what was wrong when the person spoke .
" Joseph , something bad happened . Erika .... she ..."
And the next moment , they watched Riley walking in , with an unconscious Erika in his arms .
Everyone widened their eyes as the room filled with indistinct chatter .
Everyone was wandering what had happened to Erika .
Joseph questioned Riley , " What happened to her ? "
" I don't know . "
" Riley ! " , Joseph strict his tone .
" I found her like this . " , he briefly said .
Joseph had a frown on his face as he wanted to know everything in detail but this was not the right time .
At the moment , they needed to see if Erika was okay .
" Take her to her room first . " , said Joseph .
Riley nodded and left .
Joseph turned to the other people and continued , " You guys can go back to your work . And Aiden , ask Enilese to come to Erika's room . "
.........
( Later , in Erika's room )
Joseph , Rain , Aiden and Riley were present in the room .
Enilese walked in and couldn't help but glance at Riley who was standing near the door .
Riley's face was devoid of any expression as always as he stared back at Enilese .
She pursed her lips and approached the bed reverting her eyes .
On the bed , was lying Erika , motionless .
Enilese sat on the edge of the bed and then touched Erika's forehead gently . She stayed like that while the others continued to look at her .
After some moment , she reverted her hand .
" Is she okay ? " , Joseph asked immediately .
But Enilese remained quiet , subtle disbelief in her eyes .
" Why are you silent ? " , Joseph sounded impatient , " Enilese , is she okay or not ? What's wrong with her ? "
Enilese turned to him slowly as she started in low voice .
" Some of her spiritual power is taken out by force . " , she spoke , bit by bit , given the gravity of the situation .
Silence filled the space as if a bomb had been dropped in the room .
After some time did they finally react .
" WHAT ? " , Joseph said raising his voice , " What did you say ? "
The others were also shocked , because it was something that was too hard to believe , nobody had ever heard or seen such thing .
" Do you even know what you are saying ? " , Rain spoke up .
Enilese didn't reply to her and turned to Joseph .
" It's true Joseph . " , she said , " My powers can't feel any damage that needs to be healed . Her spirit power is affected a bit . It would be revived within one or two days . "
" But is it really possible to take out the essence of spirit power ? " , Aiden asked .
" It is possible . " , said Enilese ," Those who have passed the final level of their spirit power can share their power with others and extract parts of other people's powers as well . " , she stopped for a moment and continued again , " Or else , there is also the darkness spirit . I've heard , he grants unusual abilities in exchange of sacrifice ... "
In the middle of the conversation they noticed slight movement from Erika .
Erika was gaining consciousness .
---------------------------------
After leaving hospital , Melvine was returning home .
Ryan kept his word and came to meet her . Currently they were returning to her quarter .
Ryan was walking a bit fast so Melvine was having a hard time catching up with him . After some time , she couldn't take it anymore as she said , " Can you walk a bit slower ? Why are you in such a hurry ? Is someone waiting for you ? "
" I have some business to take care of ." , Ryan replied as he slowed down a bit .
" Really ? " , she said covering the gap between them .
The disbelief in her tone didn't go unnoticed by Ryan .
He turned and looked at her with a frown . He asked , " What do you mean ? "
" No , it's just , I thought , you're busy again ... picking up random women at the bar and fooling around with them . " , she sneered .
Ryan's expression didn't change as he stared straight into her eyes . Then he spoke.
" And can I ask , what made you think that ? "
" Huh ! " , Melvine extracted a self depricating smile as she spoke , " Aren't you busy with the very thing , lately , Ryan ! "
" And you are again spying on me ! "
" I don't have to spy on you to know everything . And that is not important either . Just tell me , am I wrong !? Aren't you going to the bar after walking me home ? "
" That's right . " , Ryan replied .
Melvine pursed her lips .
She had expected the answer . But she didn't expect him to accept it so easily .
His blatant acceptance of the accusation made her speechless that she couldn't find her next words .
None of them spoke for some time before Melvine finally broke the silence .
" What's so special about those girls ? "
Ryan stared at her for a moment and spoke without emotion , " I have something to attend to . It'd be better if we just get going . "
He turned and prepared to go when she said from behind , " Can't you ..... "
He looked back staring deep into her eyes . His eyes looked exceptionally cold .
Melvine let out a small sigh as she continued , " .... be a bit considerate about how I feel ! "
" Let's talk later . "
Ryan said as he prepare to leave when Melvine said again .
" Why later !! I don't want to talk later . Let's talk right now . " , she said raising her voice .
Ryan let out a sigh and said .
" Normally you are understanding but it seems , today , for some reason you chose not to understand . "
" Right .... for some reason . Do you know what it is ? "
Ryan knew it was more like a statement than question , so he chose to be silent .
Melvine continued , " You say , you are very busy , you have something important to do . But it doesn't look like that . Whenever I call you , I hear sound of loud music , chattering and laughter , flirting words of women and God knows what else . "
She stared at him with teary eyes as she said , " And whenever you come back I can smell the cheap female perfume all over you . " , she clenched her teeth as she spoke in an exasperated voice , " I feel disgusted . "
Ryan's lips formed a cold smirk as he spoke in a deep chilling voice , " No one is forcing you to be in this disgusting relationship . You can leave for something better , whenever you feel like it . I won't stop you . "
Melvine's heart sank , Ryan's cruel words completely shattered her from inside .
She looked up to meet his eyes as she said in a calm voice .
" You are done with me , aren't you ? You are done sleeping with me , so .... "
" Wait wait , did you just say that I'm done sleeping with you ? " , Ryan said in an extremely chilly tone , " Right , I slept with you and what were you doing ..... if not enjoying ! "
She remained silent . She couldn't find any word to refute his statement .
On the other hand , Ryan took a few steps towards her . His tall figure casted a dark shadow over her as he spoke in a clenched tone .
" Got nothing to say ? Huh ! ... A small correction , darling ! I didn't sleep with you against your will ..... I never forced you ... we slept out of our own will . So from next time , keep this kind of bullshit to yourself ."
He stopped for a moment and continued again.
" And what were you saying , you feel disgusted !! But can you really blame anyone for that ??..... You can't .
You chose this disgusting man yourself . Just try to remember how you were behaving that night , crying in the middle of the street . Don't tell me , back then , you didn't know that you were running after a playboy . "
" I have not forgotten anything . And my emotions haven't changed . But you ....." , Melvine said in a low voice but Ryan cut her off .
" For me , nothing has changed either . I've always been like this . "
He stopped for a moment as he saw Melvine looking down .
After a moment of silence , he continued , " I really don't know what kind of expectations you have from this relationship but let me make one thing very clear to you . I will never settle . I don't want to settle ..... at least , not with you . "
Melvine looked up , her expression unreadable , she slowly parted her lips to say something but no word came out .
On the other hand , Ryan went on .
" I have always respected the decision of the women who had been in a relationship with me . It's the same for you too . You can decide anything on your part , I would never oppose to it . "
Melvine didn't feel like continuing the argument anymore . Suddenly she felt very tired . She sighed and said in a blank voice .
" I really want to be with you . "
Silence fell between them as they stared at each other , each having different emotions in their eyes . After some time , Ryan said in an emotionless voice .
" Then don't try to change anything. "
None of them spoke anymore . The suffocating silence finally came to an end with the vibrating sound of a phone .
Melvine came out of her thoughts as she took out her phone and received the call .
Ryan watched her in silence as she ended the call after a short conversation .
Then she said in a low voice without meeting his eyes , " You go back . There's some emergency in the hospital . I need to go . "
They were not very far from the hospital . So Melvine prepared to go back without wasting much time .
She glanced at Ryan one last time and before he could say something , she turned and walked away in hurried steps .
----------------------------------
Later in Joseph's room .
" Riley , tell me , in detail , what exactly happened there . "
Riley glanced at the other person , present in the room , which was none other than Brad and pursed his lips .
After some hesitation , he finally started .
......
Joseph had a big frown on his forehead when Riley finished his report .
The room fell into silence .
" Riley . " , Joseph finally broke the silence , " You shouldn't have agreed to the idea of going separately . If you had been together , this wouldn't have happened to Erika . "
" I am sorry , I failed in my job . "
" We don't yet know what those dark souls are plotting this time that they openly attacked one of our members and even took some of her spirit power . " , he stopped for a moment before continuing , " I was telling everyone to be extra careful because they have been quiet for a while . And that means they are definitely planning something . See , they have made their move . And I am sure , it's not all , there are more to come . "
" I'm really sorry , Joseph . "
" It's okay , but be careful from now on . "
Riley nodded and prepared to leave .
It was then , Brad suddenly spoke up , " By the way , didn't you find anything ? "
Riley squinted his eyes and asked coldly , " Find what ? "
" Erika said , you two sensed dark energy from different routes , and that's how you guys ended up going separately . And you also confirmed that in your report . So , the dark energy source that you followed , did you find that ? Or did you find anything as such ? "
" Unfortunately no . "
" And you didn't sense anything from the other side , I mean , the side , Erika took ? "
Riley knew , where this conversation was leading to . Still he remained unfazed and said , " No . "
" But following that route , Erika did find the source of the dark energy . " , Riley raised his eyes as Brad continued in a grave tone , " In fact , she got badly affected by it .... I really wonder how you didn't sense such a grave danger ! "
Joseph was listening in silence . He had always been appreciative of Riley as the latter was always perfect in his job . But today he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed in Riley for not being able to comprehend the trap and the danger it led to. But he didn't intervene in their talk .
Brad and Riley always had a sense of animosity between them . So he didn't think much of it when another clash started between them .
Brad went on , " You really didn't sense it ? Or .... " , Riley's eyes were cold as ice as he stared at Brad who said , " You didn't want to admit that you did feel something , in that direction ? "
" And why would I do that ? " , Riley spoke .
" To send Erika alone . "
" I did not send her alone . She insisted on going separately . "
" Of course ; she told us that . But with you , the master of mind powers , present there with her , we can't really discard the idea that she wasn't influenced , or should we say manipulated , by your powers . Can we ? "
" If that is the case , I think , there is no point in continuing this conversation . Since you have already presumed what had happened there , why wasting time with these unnecessary questions ! "
Brad let out a small chuckle as he continued , " You are very clever , Riley . I often wonder , behind this cold demeanor of yours , is not hiding any unexpected role . Is it ? "
Riley remained silent . Brad continued .
" You are not playing the spy of the dark souls . Are you ? "
" Since you are not interested in anything I have to say just stop asking questions to me . And you have so many suspicions about me , I see . Prove it then . Let's talk after you find appropriate evidence . Good luck . "
With that Riley turned his heels and walked away .