Chereads / Rage to Ruin:The Fallen Angels (BL) / Chapter 14 - Blood Spilled is on Your Hands

Chapter 14 - Blood Spilled is on Your Hands

(BLAINE)

"We have these rules in place for a reason," he continues. "Humans are not allowed here. Period. I never even brought Danny here." 

"I know." I say.

"So tell me again why you felt it necessary to bring this human into our home." 

Unlike earlier, he doesnt sound angry. He is truly perplexed by my actions. Well, that makes two of us. I tell myself it has nothing to do with the way I feel when around Zane and everything to do with our duty as warriors. 

"We've never dealt with anything like this before," I respond. "The demons want whatever's in that box. And Zane is caught in the middle. It's our duty to protect humans from dark forces, and that's exactly what I'm doing. The box left some kind of trace on him, I believe. It's why the shades still think he has it, or at least, why they think he knows where it is. He'll be safe here, at least until we can figure everything out." 

"What about after?" Kian sips his tea, then sets it back on the table. "You told him about us. He won't ever be able to go back to the real world now. Not with his memory intact anyway. He knows too much. It's too dangerous."

"Danny knew about us too." Referring to him in the past tense while he still is very much alive makes Kian flinch a little. I can't find the will to care right then though. I am too irritated. 

"That was different. I didn't tell him for months, not until I knew I could trust him." 

Kian's pale blue eyes narrow. "We know close to nothing about this Zane Parks. Humans are easily corrupted by demons. He could betray us the moment he leaves. That doesn't include the trouble he can cause while he's here." "I'll take full responsibility for anything that happens." 

"Damn right you will. You'll stay by his side and watch him the entire time he's with us. Make sure he doesn't sneak off and meddle in things he shouldn't. Am I clear?" 

"Yes." 

"Though as displeased with you as I am…your decision might not have been totally foolish." Kian taps a finger on the arm of his chair. 

"None of us can open the box. But the human can." 

"You wish to use him?" 

"He's here. He might as well be useful to us." 

The idea makes sense. I nod before standing and walking toward the door. 

"And Blaine?" 

I glances back at Kian. 

"If I believe for even a moment that this human plans to betray us in any way… I won't hesitate in killing him." 

I exit the study, my hands fist at my sides. He was right, of course. If Zane becomes a threat to us, we'll have to dispose of him. Human or not. 

So why does the thought of it cause a knot in the pit of my stomach? I picture how peaceful Zane looked as he slept, his lips slightly parted and his chest softly rising and falling. The memory of his scent tickles my nose, how he smells of rain showers and earth.

The urge to protect him strengthens. 

"Well, aren't you acting out of character," a voice says from the shadows. Cassius steps out from his place against the wall, his long, slender body decked out in leather pants and a crop top that shows his toned belly. The back of the shirt is open so he can spread his wings without having to undress. Envy. Out of the seven of us, he tends to keep to himself the most. 

"How so?" I ask. 

"Bringing the human home instead of letting him die." Cassius tilts his head at me, expression puzzled. Medium-length brown hair fell a bit into his face, and his bangs swooped over his emerald-green eyes. 

"I wonder why." 

"I'm getting really sick of all of you asking me that." 

"Can you blame us?" The small silver cross on his bracelets jingles as he steps over to the window and peers out into the night. The moon reflects off the sea. 

"The last time any of us allowed a human into our home was in the Renaissance era. And you remember how that turned out." 

We lived in Russia at the time—we changed location at least once every century, moving across the globe. Kaiser had met an artist in Donetsk, took him as a lover, and invited him to stay with us for a few nights. That's all it took for the demons to zero in on him. The man got captured after leaving our home one day and was tortured by demons until he gave up our location. Astaroth sent demons to attack in the dead of night, taking us by surprise. Cassius and Thereon had nearly been killed. 

As Nephilim, we can heal from almost every injury, but we aren't indestructible. A specific kind of weapon—a celestial blade—can be used to weaken our healing abilities. When used, it injures us as if we were human. Thereon's neck was sliced so deep it took him weeks to heal. Cassius had taken a dagger to the heart and barely survived. 

"That won't happen again," I say. 

"If you say so." Cassius looks at me, and sadness radiates off him. Part of the sin he holds. 

"Any blood spilled is on your hands.