Kiizary spent the rest of the night teaching Rose about meditation and pulses of energy. Crale and Sandy left some time around midnight and the house went silent. The only thing tbg5fv4rhat could be heard was Kiizary's exciting and soft voice and Rose grunting because she couldn't find her inner mental focus. When Rose finally went to bed, with a killing headache, she fell into a deep sleep. However, a few hours later shouting coming from the kitchen woke her up. She went running downstairs thinking that something bad had happened but she found Hariiel and Sandy in a verbal fight in the kitchen.
"And who do you think you are to tell me how much noise I can make? I am a guest here and if you don't like it... oh! There is the door!" Sandy shouted.
"What? This is my house! Who do you think you are singing so loud at seven in the morning! And for God's sake put on some trousers!" Hariiel's sleepy voice sounded louder than usual, making Rose's head throb. She didn't really understand what they were fighting about but she just wanted them to stop. However, they had their own plans and kept on going.
"Oh I'm sorry. Does the way I look annoy you? Or is it just that you're a jerk with a hangover? At least take a shower and stop drinking cheap liquor!" Sandy grabbed a saucepan she was using to cook something in the cooker with strenght. Please, Sandy, don't do it. We'll be in a lot of trouble, even if Angels can't die. Rose thought and took one step closer to them. If they decided to go all out, there was little she could do but at least, she could help Sandy not to die by Hariiel's hands.
"What did you just call me? You're the one who has zero modesty! Look at you! It's the first time I've ever seen you and you're in MY kitchen eating MY food and invading MY space!" Hariiel approached Sandy. Sandy was almost as tall as Locious but Hariiel easily was a head taller than her. However, she had zero survival instict because she just raised her head and looked at him dead in the eyes.
"Oh sorry grandpa. Send me the freaking bill. But I'm staying! As long as my friend is here you will see my face!" Sandy retorted just as she noticed Rose standing there. Hariiel glared at them, his nostrils flaring as he took a deep breath before storming out of the kitchen.
Rose was speechless and a anxious about what Hariiel might do. However, as days passed and the same situation arose every time, she learnt to just ignore them.
She spent her days waking up and finding Sandy bickering with Hariiel. Going to the office and watched Sandy bicker with Mike. Her afternoons were filled with lessons and training by Kiizary. And her nights were all about the drinking and the movies. Kiizary, Sandy and her would make popcorns adn choose a movie, which was not an easy task as Zary liked Love movies, Sandy liked horror movies and Rose liked comedy movies. So, after a lot of debate, they made a habit of watching each day one different movie.
Crale would choose one of the days. Usually he opted for a documentary. Sandy would complain about it the whole time, Zary would get distracted and start talking about some random thing and Rose… Well, those were the worst movies for her. Not because she hated them but because they let her mind wander. And it would find its way to Locious's land.
She was usually too busy to have a moment to think about him and despite the fact that there were still moments where she felt as if a vacuum sucked all her energy and emotions. The attacks were coming less frequently. However, when she found herself with nothing to do, either the empty feeling would appear or Locious would fill her mind. She missed him so much and she still had one more week to go. It was strange. She was dying to see him but at the same time, she didn't want that day to come.
-What will happen with us? Will we be able to remain as friends at least or will we go our separate ways? - She was wondering one day while walking in the garden when a sharp pain hit her heart out of the blue. She tried to breathe but she felt as if rope was tied around her neck cutting her air and it made her vision blur. The darkness was surrounding her, suffocating her, owning her. She was sure she was about to die and the worst part was that she didn't even care.
Suddenly, a hand touched her shoulder and Kiizary's melodic voice broke through the void.
"Rose, are you okay?" Rose blinked a few times. She was in the same position as before the attack but now, Kiizary was in front of her. Her usually cheerful face contorted by worry.
"Yes I'm sorry. Since the demons drugged me I've been having episodes where I feel the same dark hole sucking me in as that time. They've been getting less intense but this one was unexpected and … strong," she said between rough breaths. Kiizary looked at her strangely. She started walking lost in her own thoughts while Rose followed at a distance.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed before Kiizary stopped in her tracks. "Angels are completely different from us. They are not affected by illnesses and human laws have no power over them. However the rules of their existence and the consequences for breaking them go far beyond any of us could ever think of."
Rose looked at her, not understanding why she was suddenly talking about that but she remained silent and waited for Kiizary to explain herself.
"For example the Angel Aura. You have felt it. For us humans it's like a pull that makes us want to possess them. We may even confuse it for love but it's superficial—like a weak breeze that touches your heart until you understand it's not deep. For Angels it's a defense mechanism. While people are mesmerized by their appeal they won't try to attack or let anyone come closer. When the people around them prove their hearts the aura stops working on them and the feelings it created vanish. In general it takes a few weeks for a human to prove their value."
Kiizary took a deep breath and Rose felt a rock crushing her heart. She had gone through the effect in just a few days. Had she proven her heart in such a short time?
But if the aura had faded, why did she still feel so much for him? She had thought she liked him mostly because of those lingering effects. Does it mean my feelings now are one hundred percent mine? Do I really love him? She wondered, scared of finding out the answer to those questions. If she really loved him as intensely, what would she do if he decided to leave her? She knew she had the option of leaving the Society and losing her memories but... Would she really lose everything just because the guy she liked rejected her?
"My point is that even if they look like humans, the rules that govern them are not. They are spiritual. They govern their souls and their whole existence. You may think they are indestructible Angels but these laws are out of their control. They affect their entire being and let me tell you, that there are many worse destinies and punishments than death for them" Her eyes dropped and a sad smile appeared in her face. Rose wanted to ask her more about it but she was too confused to speak.
"Anyway, whether you moved past the Angel Aura because your heart is pure or because you synthesized his energy is something only you can figure out. But I will give you some unsolicited advice: before talking to him you need to be sure of how you feel and what you want. If not, whatever he or I say will be like throwing a bottle of water into a fire. It will do nothing but make the flames roar higher."
Kiizary finally turned around and hugged her. Rose was surprised by the sudden warmth around her but the gesture felt so refreshing that it made her smile. This elven-looking woman carried more Angelic Aura than any of the Angels she had met. Which was funny as she was born a human. Was she really willing to forget all the good people she had met? Of course not, she wasn't going to leave her place. If the worst came, she could just move teams. She couldn't let a heart break determine her whole future.
Suddenly Sandy's voice startled them.
"Girlies! The food is ready! Come eat before Grandpa eats it all!"
"Why are you still calling me Grandpa? I am not your grandfather. I would have taught you some manners if I were!" Hariiel's voice erupted from outside. Rose knew Sandy was doing it on purpose to piss him off as a vendetta for the way he looked at Rose. There was only one more week left before they would all return to their own lives. She just hoped Sandy didn't push Hariiel's buttons too far.
"Oh! Once Locious comes back and talks to you... call me. There is something I need to tell you both," Kiizary said with an enigmatic smile as they entered the battlefield of Hariiel vs Sandy.
***
Less than a week later Rose was leaving the office alone because Sandy went on a secret mission. She stood in front of the door waiting for Crale to pick her up when a car turned the corner at maximum speed. The tires screeched as it stopped in front of her and she gripped the bo staff in her pocket. She didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to attack her in front of the Society but it was better to be ready. However, the person who stepped out of the car was none other than Xar.
"Oh! Luckily it's you. Listen, we came back earlier because your man went rabid. I don't know what's going on with him but I had to fucking knock him out. Anyway, now he's your problem," Xar said and left an unconscious Locious at her feet. She didn't have time to ask what he meant because Xar rushed to his car and disappeared in a smoke cloud.
She watched the car disappear and focused her sight on Locious. He looked so beautiful and she missed him so much. All her worries vanished in an instant and now, more than ever she knew what Kiizary meant when she said she had to be sure. She knew right that instant that she loved him.
She also knew that it wasn't the moment to be daydreaming. She had to take him inside but she wasn't going to be able to move him alone. After a moment of pondering what she should do, she called the only person who would help her cover for the boss.