The Inn

(Gabe pov)

         I looked around as we entered a nice-looking inn. Of course, everything appeared faded. Similar to most of the Dark World so far, the colors aren’t as bright. In fact, most things appeared black and white, like my now soaking clothes.

As soon as we were in the foyer, Ava called out to her sister.

“SIS!”

Ava had introduced herself quickly on the way here. She works at the inn with her elder sister and something about fashion designing?

“WHAT IS IT!?”

“WE GOT COMPANY!”

My eyes widened as Ava’s sister walked into the room, “Really? Who the heck did you bring in this time??”

Her clothes were…. Different. Unlike back at home, where even the woman soldiers fought hard to conceal their skin. She had her cleavage and stomach showing. Was she even wearing a shirt? I glanced down and noticed she was wearing pants with holes on the legs.

She noticed me looking at her, “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR LOOKING AT!?”

“Nothing.”

The girl looked like she was inspecting me suspiciously before sighing and turning away, “My name is Ace. We have some warmer clothes in the other room. They were our father’s.”

I gasped, “I-I really shouldn’t-!”

Ace looked at me like I was crazy, “What are you talking about?” An idea then struck her, “Oh… Do you think we actually CARE about our father? Nope, not at all. He and our mother hit the road as soon as we were old enough to run the inn ourselves. So, don’t worry about it.”

“That’s horrible….”

“And common. What are you exactly? No demon would even think twice to feel bad for others.” She took note.

My eyes widened before I looked down at the ground, “I-I don’t know….”

In truth, I really did not know. The preists took my angel essence from me, so I was no longer an angel. However, I still do not think I am a demon. Well, yet anyway.

“Hmph! Whatever! Follow me. We will show you to that room. Consider it free of charge.” she then started walking as I followed.

Soon we were in a small room with a closet across from the bed. Ace went over to the closet and opened it. She looked through it for a few minutes before throwing an outfit at me.

“Wear this. I will wait outside the door. When you are done, you can give me the wet clothes so we can get them dry.”

I nodded, “Thank you.”

She shrugged it off before shutting the door behind her.

(Titus p.o.v)

I creaked the door opened. It was very late at night. My assigned team to take Gabriel into The Dark World didn’t get back till close to midnight. The queen was delighted to hear from us and decided that there will be a celebration for our good deeds.

Looking back, my little bro- no. Gabriel had even said he was innocent once we stripped him of his angel essence. Something was not right here….

I shook my head of such thoughts. My queen is always right. There is no need to question it.

Once I stepped foot in the door, I was surprised to see father up and awake. He was sitting in his chair, looking weary. It’s like he hasn’t slept for days.

He looked up at me, “T-Titus….”

Dad got up and put his arm on my back, forcing me into a hug.

He sobbed, “You’re back… You are really back….”

My eyes widened. Why was he so concerned? It was a simple mission.

“D-Dad?” I questioned.

“It’s just… I was worried… that something would happen to you too-!?”

I pushed him away.

He looked at me questionably, “Son?”

Looking him straight into the eyes, I screamed, “NOTHING HAPPENED TO THAT TRAITOR! HE chose THIS PATH!”

Suddenly, something happens I thought would never happen.

He slapped me.

“Use your common sense! You should know Gabe better than anyone!” He then turned away from me, “The queen has become corrupt. There will be war soon, and it will not be between us, angels and demons anymore. Your mother and I are leaving the capital of light until this mess is over.”

“What?” I looked at his back in shock.

He said quietly with a cracked voice, “You may join us if you wish. However, you are not to talk like your brother like that again.”

“No. I won’t. I refuse to leave my queen.” I shook my head defiantly.

“It’s your decision then.”

With that, my father took his leave. Feeling betrayed, I slammed my fist on the wall and then ran up to my room.

(Ace POV)

“Is he asleep?” my sister asked hesitantly.

I nodded.

I really didn’t want to tell Ava that this was the worse place to bring him to. That fallen angel will have to die tonight either way, kindness or not. I don’t want to see him hurt my sister. Ava is and always has been too good for the Dark World that we live in.

Sniffing the air, I raised my eyes in suspicion, “Did you put incense in his room?”

“Oh? You mean Gabe?” she cocked her head. “I wanted to make sure he slept soundly, so I made sure to use a sleeping incense to help him sleep. Though, I probably didn’t need to because of how exhausted he seemed.”

I rolled my eyes like normal before answering, “Hmph, whatever….”

The truth is, I don’t care if my sister hates me. She’ll be safe from that fallen angel. That’s all that matters.

Thanks to Ava, all I must do is wait until she falls asleep. Then I will make it swift.

Ava’s eyes gleamed, “All right then! I’m going to sleep! See you in the morning!”

I made a fake yawned, “K.”

Ava is a strange one. Sure, there are some demons who are wimpy and kind when they are kids. Nevertheless, they’d grow out of it by now.

I sighed, the task itself isn’t that difficult, but the aftermath is. If I am lucky, Gabe will stay asleep. If not, I don’t want to think of the outcome.

(??? POV)(Same guy as before.)

I can barely see the mountain village now. I’m almost there. I turned on my tracker just to see where they are.

My eyes widened, “CRAP!”

They were in the worse place that a fallen angel could go for shelter! The inn!

It is well known that those sisters are manipulative. I NEED to hurry! Maybe it’s not too late!

(Ace POV)

I creaked the door open. Ava’s asleep. Good. I had grabbed a knife from the kitchen to perform my assignment. With it at my side, there was no way I’d lose.

I walked swiftly towards that thing’s room. Every step felt like agony for me because I had no idea what the outcome would be.

Once there, I slide the door open. He was still asleep and judging by how much smoke from the incense was in his room. He is probably paralyzed too.

“Easy game,” I smirked.

Wanting to make this as quick as possible, I climbed onto the bed and hovered over him.

I unsheathed my knife.

With precision, only I could have, I pointed it towards his chest where you could hear his heartbeat.

It was dead silent as I drew nearer.

My hands were still as the knife came even closer to his chest.

Ready to strike, I swung it up in a straight line and-!?

Clang!

My knife was thrown from my hands as a very muscular man with a sword suddenly appeared crashing through the window. Before he could make another strike, I jumped off the bed and tried to ram him with the knife. However, he grabbed my wrist and made me drop the knife.

He reached over to where the incense was and blew it out. The smoke immediately fled through the window.

I heard a groan and looked over to see that the fallen angel had awakened from his deep slumber.

“Wha-!?” his eyes widened.

I grabbed the knife from the floor in the moment of distraction and sprinted towards him in furry.

He dodged. However, he was still too slow from sleep, and I managed to nick his arm.

The fallen angel grabbed his arm in pain, and before I could make another strike, the other more muscular man grabbed me. I could not move. I couldn’t go anywhere. I was dead for sure.

Then, just as I thought it couldn’t get worse, my sister came in the check on all the ruckus.

“W-What’s going on?!”

(Gabe’s p.o.v)

‘What’s going on?! Are we being attacked!?’ I looked around, startled.

That is when I noticed Ace. Before I could let out a gasp, she rushed at me with a knife. Luckily, I still had my training as a knight. If I hadn’t been able to dodge, I don’t want to think of the consequences. However, she nicked my arm because I still felt fatigued for some reason.

It hurt a lot. I wonder why Ace was attacking me suddenly. Doing nothing wrong, I must’ve assumed there were good people in this dark world. I don’t know why though, that isn’t what I was taught growing up. Angels are good. Demons are bad. That’s solid information.

But, if that’s true, what about the bad angels?

“W-What’s going on?” I heard Ava gasp.

That’s when I noticed someone had Ace in a stronghold. Who was this guy? HE’S HUGE!

Ace turned toward Ava, “RUN AVA! RUN!”

“Get off my sister!” she tries to pry him off instead.

Not entirely sure what was happening, I cried, “Ava, why is your sister attacking me!?”

Ava was weaponless. I can tell from the way she was acting that she didn’t come in here to kill me. Does she not know what’s going on?

She stopped and shrieked, “WHAT!?”

The man with Ace in his grasp nodded, “Yes, she attacked him. Your sister was going to kill him if I had not gotten in here in time. Just look at his arm.”

She did as she was told, and her eyes widened In understanding. Ava then did something I thought she would never do: She slapped Ace.

Ace looked shocked.

“That’s not all,” she said sternly before yanking the knife out of her sister’s hand. “You must’ve killed all of those other kind people. This is… unforgivable.”

Ace didn’t even look at her in the eyes.

I was still quiet to see what she would do.

She raged, “All this time, I thought you were a good person like me!”

Then, before anyone could stop her, she slashed her sister’s eye with the already bloody knife. Ace screamed.

“This is what you get for being a murderer.”

Tears streamed from the girl’s face, “B-But I’m your sister!”

“That doesn’t matter anymore. Go find a new job. I will not allow someone like you to stay at my inn.”

“Our-!”

She slapped her again, “You no longer are welcomed here!” Ava tilted her head up at the stranger, “Release her please… she needs to leave my establishment….”

He nodded, releasing her, “Of course.”

She fell to her knees as her hand went up to her face in shock, “W-Why?”

Ava didn’t listen to her, “I SAID LEAVE!”

The girl threw the knife at her, “GO!”

Knowing she was no longer welcomed here, she dodged the blade and ran out the window for her life.

The man then yanked my good arm, “C’mon! We have to get going!”

My eyes widened, “What?”

He rolled his eyes, “I’ll explain later.”

“So your leaving?” Ava questioned.

He nodded, “Yes. Actually, while I have you here….”

The strong man let go of my arm before fumbling in his pocket. He then handed a piece of paper to Ava.

“If you want to really be good, come to the capital. We will have a place for you there. It explains everything. Now, I must take my leave.”

“Wait-!” I tried to say something.

She nodded, “thank you! Have a safe journey!”

He then grabbed my arm again, leading me out of the building and into the unknown.