Words had already reached every townfolk in Branchwood about the death that was going to take place.
Most of the townsmen, townswomen, stall owners, and keepers did their work as early as they could, so they could get the front view.
Nobody wants to be left behind on the trends of the town, especially the townswomen, who were reliable rumor mongers. The closer they are to the show, the better for them.
And another reason is that no angel had been caught in Branchwood before; the least most of the townsfolk who visited other towns had seen were witches, who were burned immediately when caught.
In Branchwood, when most of the townsfolk were rushing to the town square to see the angel get killed, a man walked into the street.
Seeing everyone, including one of the stall keepers, in a hurry to close his shop, he asked, "Why is everyone in a rush today?" as he had been to the town many times in the past and the villagers weren't this busy.
"You don't appear to be from here." The stall keeper replied quickly, still packing his goods and then placing the locks to his stall.
He turned around to look at the visitors, who had a curious expression while looking at all the passersby, and answered the man's earlier question.
"Everyone is rushing to the town square to watch an angel being hanged to death." The tower bell rang, making everyone who heard it know that an hour had passed. "If you'll excuse me." The stallkeeper left.
The visitor turned around with a frown in his face and moved his feet to walk in the direction everyone was going.
"Master Sirius!" His coachman ran up to him and informed, "I have done as you said." Sirius only gave a curt nod before continuing to walk.
The coachman, seeing his master walking in a different direction from the one they were supposed to be heading, walked with his master, putting a little distance between them.
"If you want to take more strolls in this town, I can go prepare the carriage." The coachman offered.
"No, that won't be necessary, Silas." Sirius answered. "We will take a stroll to the town square; there is an angel that is going to be hanged."
"Oh! That." The coachman said, with a smile, that he knew about it and nothing was new to his ears. Which earned him a questioning look from his master, who turned to look at him.
He was quick to explain, "I overheard one of the women talking about it to her friend." As if in thought, he added, "And the most interesting part of it all is the fact that his wife and child went missing just before he was arrested."
The frown that had been on Sirius face since the stallkeeper had first talked about the angel, deepened.
They made their way through the crowd of people to the front so they could have a better view.
A few moments later, a man was dragged towards the raised platform—the scaffold. His face was covered in blood, which definitely belonged to him.
Sirius' eyes narrowed upon recognizing the man, and his eyes quickly moved away from him to scan the area to see who was in charge here.
His eyes fell on Councilman Louis, who was giving orders on something, and the head of the town, who stood close by.
He took long strides towards them with his servant trailing behind, unaware of what was brewing in his master's mind.
"Why is an angel going to be hanged without a trial?" Sirius did not bother to greet the new councilman, who had just been recruited.
Louis heard the question and turned to look at who it was. "Good day, Duke Sirius," he greeted with a polite bow. "Angels don't need trials." He had a proud smile on his face, like he had just said the most accurate thing ever.
"Who are you to decide that? You are new to the council, so you don't understand this little thing." Sirius snapped at him. "Stop the execution right now!"
"I'm sorry, Duke Sirius. I cannot do as you have said, it was an order from Lord Kegan for the angel to be executed today."
On the raised platform where Edward now stood, a rope was tied into a loop and wrapped loosely around his neck.
A blue bird, which was flying past, came to sit on one of the wood close to Edward. Its black eyes met Edward's for a brief second before it flew away from there while chirping.
"Kill him! Kill him!" shouted some of the townsfolk.
Not too long after, Edward lost his footing as the wood below his feet was taken away; making him struggle for air.
His hands, which were tied behind his back, prevented him from stopping the rope from wrapping tightly around his neck.
Edward's struggling continued for a few more seconds, until his body went limp and still. The villagers, seeing the show over, started to disperse away from there to continue their usual lives.
Only a few people remained, including Sirius, who had decided to take Edward's body.
Back in Lasburgh, little Belle had been told not to step out of the room. It was the safest place for her now.
It was an elusive room—someone with no idea of it will see it as an empty space when viewing it, but on a closer look, it was a bedroom.
Belle, who didn't want to disobey her mom and uncle, went to stand by her window instead. She saw a blue bird perched on one of the tree branches, chirping happily.
Her hand stretched out to reach for the bird, but at the same time, it snapped her head to look at the human skeptically.
"I love you, my angel; always take care of yourself and your mom." Were the words Belle heard before the bird flew away, a voice that belonged to no one else but her father.
"What are you doing there, Belle?" Her mother asked.
Belle turned to look at Piper. "I heard my father's voice." Belle answered in a low voice, as if she were telling a secret.
Piper saw her daughter's face glow slightly before it disappeared, and she frowned at the sight.
She forced a smile to her lips and walked to her daughter before bending down to her level to kiss her forehead.
"What did your papa tell you?"
"He said he loved me, and I should always take care of you." A big grin on her small face. "When is Papa coming?"
"Come, let's sit." Her hand caressed the little girl's face. She said, "You are an angel."
"I know that already." Piper's mouth went wide in shock, but it was quickly replaced with a hearty laugh when she heard what Belle said next. "Father always calls me that."
"I mean that you are a real angel." She revealed. Belle's silver-grey eyes met her mother's brown ones with a question.
"But I don't have wings." She pointed out the obvious.
"Of course you do. Would you like to hear a story about it? Angels and wings?"