The incredibly busy morning led to an even busier lunch period.
The five of us, not including Delic, sit under the tree in the quiet garden like we always do for lunch. After we all take our spots and begin eating, I get into business mode.
"Xander, what information did you manage to get regarding Nakir between classes?" I ask, shoving a whole piece of rolled egg into my mouth.
Xander sets his water bottle down and clears his throat. "Overall, he's a jerk. During the first break, he pressured one of his lackeys to pour water into one of the lower-wealth class student's locker because said student accidentally brushed his shoulder and 'sullied his clothes' or so he says. For the second break, he was with this one girl and when another girl showed up, Nakir disregarded the first girl as if she was just some object that wasn't amusing enough. You have no idea how hard it was to hold back my urge to smack some sense into him."
"Did you happen to hear any outside conversation regarding Nakir?" I continue to ask.
"Actually, Nakir's little entourage isn't very fond of him. They are just angels that force themselves to associate with Nakir in order to get in his father's good graces to secure a future in the hospital," Xander adds as he reaches over for a sandwich. "When Nakir isn't around, they have very nasty words to say about him."
So the other angels aren't as twisted as Nakir is. They are just hanging on for survival. Maybe if I can get in contact with the other angels, I use them to my advantage.
"Xander, during the next set of breaks today, find a time when Nakir's entourage are separated from him and invite them over to the estate today after school," I instruct as I take a few sips from my juice. "Tell them that the Winter Vessel has some matters to discuss with them and to not let Nakir know about it. Make sure you hide your face though. I don't want you to get tied up in anything unnecessary."
"Do you think that they would actually come?" Alex questions as he takes a tissue and wipes the leftover sandwich crumbs from my face. "Maybe they might tell Nakir about it."
"They won't tell him," I assure Alex. "Judging from what Xander said, those angels are only with Nakir for a job in the future. If they are given a chance to secure a job through the Winter Vessel without the help of Nakir, they will immediately take the jump for it. They are getting personal help from a prominent person in the city, so of course, they won't tell Nakir that such an opportunity arose for them."
"You know, Lady Viola, you're a lot scarier than you let on to be," Isaac comments as he passes me the pudding I couldn't reach.
"Oh, come on. I'm not that scary," I remark opening the pudding cup. "I just know how to fully utilize the people around me in the most effective and efficient way possible."
'She's not scary,' Isaac thinks to himself.
'She's low-key manipulative,' Michael finishes the thought.
As the five of us finish our lunch and clean up, Michael stays behind to be by himself for a minute. I notice this, so I take this chance to talk to Michael alone since there might not be another opportunity like this.
"What's on your mind?" I ask as I plop down next to Michael.
"You can smell it. Right?" Michael begins while staring up at the tree.
"Smell what?"
"Don't pretend like you don't know. Your fox nose picks up on everyone's emotions."
"If you're referring to your anger and frustration, then yes, I picked up its suffocatingly thick scent."
"Not that one. This one is more subtle." Michael rolls over and pulls me down into his arms. "Does this help in finding out the scent?"
"You're talking about the scent of infatuation, correct?"
"I wouldn't say it's infatuation," Michael corrects as he hugs me tighter. "Maybe it's more like first love."
The scent is getting stronger. His body is getting warmer. He must be very aware of himself if he can figure out that I was able to pick up his scent. Is it really safe for me to stay like this?
"What do you mean by first love?" I question as I slightly push myself off of Michael's chest to look at him in the eyes.
Michael stares down at me as he keeps his arms around me. "I guess, at first, it was just pure curiosity and admiration. The way you hold yourself up while under all of this pressure of being the backbone of the city. I was taken back when I saw a girl younger than me with so many official responsibilities. I remember when I was still in the Sky District, they broadcasted your announcement of leadership, but I was so busy with training that I didn't actually see your face on the tv. I was amazed at how brave and courageous you must have been in order to jump into the world of city leaders with the responsibility of keeping the whole city in check.
"The moment I saw you in the training hall. The moonlight made the white tips in your hair glisten like snow. Your glowing blue eyes were utterly mesmerizing to look at. The warm and reassuring way you spoke to me was so inviting and sincere. I haven't met someone as honest as you are. Meeting you in person was the biggest moment of my life. It was just embarrassing that I met you in the state that I was.
"I had admired you since before I actually met you. Now that I know who you are, I couldn't help but develop feelings for you. I guess you can call it love at first sight."
There wasn't a speck of lies in that whole speech. His scent came off as honest and sincere the entire time.
"Then? What do you plan to do when you get your revenge and have your blessing back?" I ask maintaining eye contact in order to get him to give me a real answer.
"At first, I was just planning on returning back to the Sky District. However, I didn't realize that my feelings for you would have developed so much in such a short amount of time. I was thinking of staying here and continuing to serve you."
"Just to give you a heads up, Delic and the twins have strong feelings for me as well. That means that you will have to compete with them as well as join their truce. I'm still unsure about Isaac, but he might also become an obstacle. Are you sure you can keep up with those that came before you?"
Michael wraps me tightly in his arms and rolls me over to where he's on top of me. "I think I can handle myself just fine against those five," he replies with a smirk growing on his face.
"I guess that means your first obstacle is me," Delic announces as he approaches. He grabs Michael's collar, picks him up, and tosses him a good distance away. "I am first in line for Viola's love. Don't think that you can just skip over the competition?"
"What are you doing here, Delic?" I ask when I take Delic's outstretched hand so that I can stand up.
"I went over to your classroom to give you something, but the twins said that you stayed back with Michael," Delic explains as he pats away some dirt on my skirt. "I know that you can handle yourself, but I also know that your beauty and power is too captivating for other men. I had a feeling that Michael would make a move on you, so I hurried over. It appeared that my hunch was right."
Michael manages to get back on his feet and walk over to where Delic stands. "I will have Lady Viola fall in love with me. So don't think that just because you are so called 'first in line' that you can just do what you want. Don't worry. I'll join your little truce with Alex and Xander. My actions and servitude will do the battling for me."
Delic and Michael just about bump heads when I stand in between them. "Fighting between student and faculty is prohibited on school grounds," I declare in my Student Council President voice. "If you wish to duke it out, do so outside of school so that I will not have to take authoritative actions against you two. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Master," Delic agrees as he glares at Michael.
"Yes, Lady Viola," Michael replies, crossing his arms.
"So what was it that you needed to give me?" I turn to Delic who stands in front of me.
"Oh! Here," Delic says as he hands me a small box. "Alex told me that your job in your class's Winter Festival activity is to play the female lead in your play. I wanted to give you a good luck pendant that the wolves made for you."
I take the small box and remove the ribbon tied around it. Sliding the top off, the box reveals a shining blue pendant of a snowflake. Delic picks up the pendant and pins it on my uniform.
"The wolves wanted to show their support somehow, so they told me their idea, and I created it," Delic proudly says as he straightens back up. "I just finished it during lunch, so I thought it would be best to give it to you right away."
"Tell the wolves that I love it. I will wear it everyday even after the play is over."
The bell for the next period rings over the intercoms.
"Well, I should head back. I have a class to teach this period," Delic mentions as he walks off. "You should begin heading back as well, Master."
I wave Delic off and turn around to face the doors that lead to the second-year building. "Let's go?"
Michael wraps an arm around my shoulder and starts walking towards the door. "I'm not going to lose," he whispers in my ear before we enter the building.
The last bell of the day rings, and Michael and Isaac with Nakir's entourage meet up with the rest of us in the school's parking garage.
"Greetings to the snow's descendent," the entourage of angels say with a small bow.
"Raise your heads. I don't have much time to waste on formalities," I respond as I head over to my side of the car. "I see that you all agreed to meet with me. You understand that meeting me and coming to my estate could come at the cost of Nakir's trust. Correct?" The group of angels firmly nod their heads. "Since you understand the potential consequences, follow the car to my home. We can talk more about it there."
—
The four angels take a seat around the table in the meeting room while I proceed to my chair at the head of the table.
"Delic and Alex, please prepare some refreshments for the angels. I know that it's not a long way to my estate, but I would hate to have my guests parched," I command the two aides. Delic and Alex exit the room leaving Xander, Isaac, and Michael standing by the door. "You must be wondering about the matter that I invited you here for. Let me start off with a question, then. Do you four really want to work at the hospital under Nakir?"
The angels look at each other for a bit. Their expressions are telling me that they don't want to work for Nakir under any circumstances.
"We actually don't want to work at the hospital in the first place," one of the angels mentions.
"What's your name?" I question pointing at the angel who spoke.
"Raphael Raphtale," answers the angel.
"Raphtale? You're related to Nakir then?" I assume sitting back in my chair as Delic and Alex set out drinks for everyone.
"Yes, Miss Viola. But I am just a cousin from a family branch. I hold no real power, so my family told me to stay close to Nakir," Raphael explains.
Hm... Raphael might come in handy more than I originally planned.
"Can you elaborate on what you mean by none of you want to work in the hospital?" I continue to question.
"To be more precise, we don't want to work in the hospital if Nakir is going to be the one who runs it," Raphael states as he takes a drink of the water. "Nakir is just as horrible as his father is. He is selfish and doesn't really care for others. He just wants their money. The only reason why we cling to him is because we know that Nakir can stop any other clinic from hiring us, so what's the point of fighting it."
"In other words, if someone else is running the hospital, you would gladly work there. Correct?" I pursue.
"Hypothetically, yes, we would," Raphael clarifies. "But no one is strong enough to overthrow Nakir's father."
"If I told you that I could get Nakir's father fired from his spot as Head of Directors, would you side with me and help me with a little problem I'm having?" I offer to the angels. "You can discuss it first with each other if you need to."
The angels are shocked by the sudden offer. They talk among themselves for a few minutes before Raphael turns to face me.
"What is the problem you're having?" he asks as he adjusts himself in his seat.
"As you all probably know, Michael has been demoted to a fallen angel. He claims to be falsely accused and was even told by Nakir himself that he paid off the Sky Council to have a guilty verdict. I plan on taking down Nakir for hurting one of my aides. Collaterally, his father will be affected as well, leading both of them to be in the bad graces of the city. The possibility of Nakir's father being fired by the mayor is extremely high especially if I have something to say about it."
"So you want our help to get Michael his blessing back?" Raphael questions crossing his arm.
"No, I don't. I can do that myself," I promptly reply, surprising the angels. "I have another task for you."
Raphael supports himself with his elbows as he leans onto the table. "What is it?"
"I'm going to need you four to round up as many angels from the secret teenage spy operative as you can and convince them to join me," I announce.
"You-you know about that?" Raphael stutters.
"Well, I do have Michael over there in my rank of aides. He told me the gist of the operative, so I got the basic idea. I'm planning on disbanding the operative when I take on the Sky Council after I deal with Nakir. I'm going to need those displaced spies for the next part."
"What's the next part?" Raphael tries to pry.
"That's a secret until after you agree to my offer. Don't worry, though. Each of you will receive a substantial reward once you complete the task I give you. Do we have a deal?"
The angels talk amongst themselves again for a minute or two before coming to an agreement.
"You are the Winter Vessel. It's not like we are going to pass up this rare opportunity to help the leader of this city and get in her good graces," Raphael responds. "You got yourself a deal."