Richard laid on his bed still processing the news he had just gotten. His best aunt had been attacked and her body burnt to crisps alongside her house. He laid still fighting back the tears and trying to channel his anger towards a positive thought but nothing seemed to work. All he felt now was rage and hate. Her killer was still at large but whoever or whatever it was, he was going to find them and bring home their head.
His family had been a wreck since Jeffrey's attack, and now the demise of his aunt had thrown more coal into the already blazing inferno. As the new heir, he was caught in the middle of everything, his father was constantly blaming him for treachery and his mother's ill state, and Rachel grew distant from him every passing day. He felt alone.
His brief chat with Daniel had somewhat revived him a bit but he feared they couldn't be friends again. If the elders of the clan ever discovered or even heard a whim that he was friend with a blood sorcerer, then it would be immediate execution even worse hearing it was a Bruce, his whole family could go down for it.
He finally managed to rollover on his bed, tired of his stagnant position. He needed to escape from this cruel world into a better one. At least in his sleep he wouldn't hear the tormenting voice of his father.
He closed his eyes waiting for his subconsciousness to take over, to drift him into a world where he was in control but the sudden uneasiness in the air didn't let him get a shut eye.
He recognized the pure aura that filled the air, but another accompanied it. A stronger one that almost choked him of air. An aura so strong that it made Jeffery's look almost incompetent.
He swerved from his position immediately he felt contact, barely being able to keep himself from falling off the bed.
Angus was laughing at his sudden reaction, humorous as usual, but beside him stood a total stranger. The crippling aura he felt earlier, could it be from this child? Richard chose not to believe his thoughts. A boy this young couldn't possibly hold in a power that radiated such a powerful aura.
"Angus!" He almost shouted, shocked to see the figure still laughing at him. It wasn't possible to teleport to a place one hadn't seen before so his presence here still baffled him, or could it be this child?
Richard felt rather disturbed by the newcomers presence, something felt odd about him that he wasn't willing to waste his energy on thoughts on what was true or not, it didn't matter anyway.
"What are you doing here?" He asked after the mocking laughter had subsided.
"It's Daniel, he's not doing so good" Angus relayed.
If only his day could get worse.
"What's going on?" Richard questioned, fear already written all over him. His mind was already imploding with different scenarios and imaginations, and each scene bore a more gruesome interpretation of Daniel's condition.
"Pretty sure he's doing much better than what you have in mind" Angus assured seeing through Richard's mental panic.
Without saying another word, Angus teleported the three of them back to his apartment where Daniel lay on floor still unconscious but physically unharmed.
"You said he's not doing well" Richard asked a slight feeling of anger welling inside him. He knew Angus was the playful kind but this was a bit too far. Especially in the condition he was in at the moment.
"He's not" Angus assured as if feeling the anger that brewed in his friend. He perfectly understood Richard's condition at the moment, but distancing himself from them wasn't the answer, he missed their trio even though he was also guilty of the same crime.
"I think the book's curse has done something to him but he's fine now. Wilson and have taken care of the situation"
Richard's gaze slowly diverted from Daniel's frozen body to that of the boy that stood beside him. He didn't know why but this child's presence riled up a certain sensation in him, an unpleasant one.
"Who's he?" Richard asked, his gazed still fixated on the boy whose eyes was also locked in on a fierce staring contest.
"He's my student I suppose. A new brother of Stigma" Angus answered walking in between the two to stop the tension that was slowly but surely building up in the room.
Even though he had some serious questions he had for Wilson, he didn't want to publicize anything that might jeopardize the boys safety. Wilson had already made it clear that he didn't need protection by going toe to toe with the embodiment of evil himself, Jeffery Bruce.
"Why then did you bring me here if you already had the situation under control?" Richard asked changing the subject about the mysterious child. He even felt uneasy talking about him.
Angus paused, his mind racing for an answer but failed. He really didn't have a reason other than to save their friendship, but he didn't want to give the wrong impression, especially not to a grieving person.
"Just wanted to let you know" He finally managed to say "I know you've been on the edge lately but I still think you should show a bit of concern" Angus added.
Richard turned towards Angus, anger written all over his face. He was enraged. Angus saying he didn't care? He had no idea. He contained his rage trying not to engage in any fight not when his first priority should be Daniels wellbeing.
He scoffed instead, while fighting hard to contain the curses he so desperately wanted to release on Angus. Richard fell backwards onto the couch behind him. Ignoring the existence of the two beings that stared down at him, he fell asleep without another word.
Wilson made for thr stairs immediately their new visitor fell unconscious, but Angus held him back.
Angus was sure Wilson was trying to dodge his own dose of questioning.
"Don't you have something you have to say?" Angus asked before releasing his grip on the boys arm. "I don't really know but with your tremendous healing capabilities, human disguise, and the power you wield, I can only think of one biblical adaptation to such capabilities. You're the Archangel Raphael" Angus revealed
Wilson's facial expressions altered for a bit before returning to their normal calm state. His eyes stayed fixated on those of the curious Angus, before he finally spoke,
"I am the Archangel Raphael" He solidified Angus's theory.
"You're the one who blessed me?" Angus asked. He was excited rather than surprised.
"You're a child of prophecy Angus, born with three marks of Stigma. You were chosen from birth. I was only assigned to look after you and as such, you were ordained with the gift of healing, Which granted you the power to wield a weapon feared by angels" Wilson or rather Raphael spoke. His shallow intonation was gone, and was replaced with a more soothing and alluring tone.
"Why now? Why didn't you save the Brothers from that monster?" Angus's once cheerful face fades and was replaced by anger towards his guardian angel.
"In this human form, I do not possess the same power as do in my celestial form. My physical capabilities are those of a nine year old. I was in the captivity of the nuns when your brothers were murdered, I sought my way out immediately I envisioned the tragedy but it was too late" Wilson explained, his voice husked with sorrow and sympathy.
Angus fully understood, he wasn't lying that's if he could. 'I mean angels can't lie can they?' he asked himself inwardly.
"I can read your mind" Wilson said "And no, we do not speak lies" He assured.
"Can I see your celestial fo..?"
"No!" Wilson shunned, preventing him from finishing his sentence. "Humans aren't allowed to bear witness to the existence of celestials"
"So that means you could be lying?" Angus said trying to psychologically pull the angel's wings. "And you're basically withholding the truth of your existence" He added.
"Those vulgar tricks won't work on me" Wilson said walking past his teacher and heading towards the stairs. "My physical body is exhausted, goodnight Angus" He said before disappearing into his room.