Into the Mind
Roman had barely mentioned his name when he noticed this animal-like thing wither in agony. There she lay in a pool of her dried blood, coughing and panting. Part of him felt minor sympathy but the other half delighted in curiosity. Here he had in his possession a mystical creature, all his and free of authority. That is, Roman was free of pressures of mankind and he could tend to the angel anyway he saw fit.
He knelt on her right side and every few seconds Roman glanced at his kneecaps. No, you haven't crossed the borders of the circle. You are fine. A deep breath and Roman furthered his examination of angel.
She is suffering. Maybe you should offer her a pillow or least tend to her wounds. Look, she coughed again and barely has the strength to lift a hand. What if she dies and you're left alone?
"She will not die!" Roman yelled, shaking his head back and forth.
He studied the angel again and noticed she was staring back at him in disbelief.
"Sorry," he said softly. "I was… I was thinking of someone else. Don't worry. I'm sane, I promise," he lied.
Sane indeed! What man strikes a deal with the Boss Devil himself? Are you actually prepared for his payment?
"Yes, I am," Roman said softly.
A rustle of sheets and moaning echoed throughout the stone walls. His purchase stirred and wiggled. When she stopped moving, the angel turned and stared blankly in his direction.
"Are you OK?"
She shook her head slowly. "My wings, they ache."
Roman shrugged. "It's understandable. I would be hurting if I was in your position too. Anything you need though?"
"I feel too weak to drink but I have a question."
His heart began to quicken its pace. Foolish man, now she wants to know. Be careful to not reveal too much.
"I won't." he said.
"You won't what?" she asked.
He noted her tone; it was an octave higher, as if she was nervous. "What is your question," Roman inquired, ignoring the angel's second question.
A wheeze and another cough. She leaned over the wood plank, frowning in his direction. "Earlier you said, 'Yes, I am.' What do you mean?"
Might as well tell the truth now, imbecile. You are already in over your neck. Maybe speaking of some truth will give you some repent from hiring a middleman from hell, stealing her.
Roman swallowed and rubbed the wrinkles on his cheek nervously. "You really want to know?"
She nodded immediately.
"I have a terrible debt to fill. Actually, I have two technically. To bring you here I agreed to give up my wife in a swap; her life for yours. My wife, she… she..."
His head dropped sadly towards the stone floor.
"What is it?" he heard the angel ask.
Roman slowly lifted his head and shivered. "My wife; her health was failing. It was only a matter of time before the immense loss of blood took its toll. One day, I prayed for a solution and a little grayish man with a top hat appeared almost instantly. He said he could help but the cost would be great. I mentioned to the Boss Devil, I wished for my wife to not suffer and asked if there was a way to save her. I also told the little impish creature I didn't want to be alone either. He said there was a way, but I wouldn't like the choice. The deal was I would place my wife's soul in his hands and the Boss Devil in return would steal an angel from Heaven. This way I would have an immortal wife, one who would never die and leave me."
He noticed her face pale into a light shade of blue. "Well, that's the short version of the story anyway," Roman added.
The angel stared open-mouthed.
Roman shrugged, "You asked, not me."
"So, you gave up her for me?"
"I did. It was the hardest decision I ever made."
"Is she… Is it dead? That's what humans call it right?" the angel said.
"Not yet. Tomorrow though. Tomorrow… Are you sure you don't need something?" he asked.
"What was the other debt?" she said curiously.
"Uh hem!" Roman said, and swallowed more saliva. "If by some chance you don't survive the impish figure will extract my own soul. He mentioned it was an extra payment for his own hard earned work. I agreed since you are an angel, therefore you're immortal right? You can't die, so I have no reason to worry. You are immortal right?"
"I'm bleeding," she said simply. "I've never bled before."
Roman stiffened and before he could ask what the angel meant, a puff of whitish and blackish smoke appeared, inches from the circle.
Both Roman and the angel gawked north, where the smoke appeared. A man or something that resembled a man stepped into view.
The angel noticed the corners of Roman's eyes twitched and his hands shook slightly. A tail wagged behind the figure as it walked over to Roman. As the figure stood, he tipped a brown hat and bowed. She noticed when the thing tapped the human called Roman with his triangle tail; Roman jumped and eased away from the wood plank.
It can't be! It's too soon, too soon. Why is he here?
"Why are you here?" Roman blurted.
"Payment time. By the way, how is the little lass holding up?" the figure snickered.
Roman stood angrily and clenched his fists by his waist. "She is fine. Why are you here?"
"Your wife's days are nearly over. I'm afraid plans will have to be changed. I thought it would be in the best interest of my current client that you are aware that I will in …-" The figure stopped, and checked his wrist watch. "It's quarter of twelve and in fifteen minutes I'll will kindly take your wife's soul, as planned, rather than tomorrow. A fresh aura is more easily controlled then one that has been dead for a day."
"But Boss," Roman started, reaching his arm outwards, "We agreed, you can't! Wait, so I can say goodbye at the hospital," he pleaded.
He staggered towards the Boss Devil and before Roman had a chance to grab the devil's purple cloak, the devil smiled and eased away a few inches from his grasp.
"I see your precious lass is bleeding. Better take care of her or she'll die," the devil roared with laughter and with that, he disappeared into thin air.
Imagination coaxed my finger tips while Smaur's story Wraith inspired my outlook. Have fun with this one.
http://www.youngwriterssociety.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7276&highlight=
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