Chapter 34

**Merianna**

A bright golden white light suddenly jumped up between me and the Ripper, blinding me with its brilliance as I heard the creatures screech in terror and pain. The light was so intense and so bright that I expected my skin to burn straight down to the bone as it engulfed me and anything that was close enough to be touched.

I didn't burn... It didn't hurt me as it washed over and blinded me, even though I had covered my eyes with my arms, in fact my body felt numb. I could see nothing but white light as I cowered and continued to hear the Rippers screech and writhe through the foliage as a high pitched vibration rang through the air.

The vibrations gradually lessened and the brightness surrounding me started to dim.

Taking my arms away from my face I tried blinking to get them to adjust to the lingering brightness. I needed to see what was happening in front of me, for all I knew it could be a new threat.

I noticed that I had dropped the Rune Reaper somewhere during the chaos. I quickly scanned the floor by my feet and spied the staff of the Reaper in front of my toes. In the dimming light I grabbed the Reaper and held it ready in my trembling hands. The poison was still painfully working its way through my system, I could feel myself breaking out in a cold sweat as my stomach roiled.

The brightness dimmed enough for me to see the rippers in front of me, they had been ... burned alive. At least, that is what it looked like to me. Their black skin now looked dull and dried with blisters littering their bodies from head to toe, some even had holes on their bodies where sections burned right down to the bone.

I looked up in astonishment as the light took on a shape and dimmed even further. The shape took on the form of a tall man, maybe even taller than Noch. His head was blessed with an abundance of silky golden blonde hair that fell to his shoulders in a wavy drape. His broad back was turned to me as he continued to stare down at the mangled remains at his booted feet.

And on his broad back...

Was a pair of wings?

I blinked quickly and shook my throbbing head. I looked up at him again. Yes... there was indeed a pair of pearly white wings on his back. No they weren't strapped on. No they weren't an illusion (that I could sense anyway). And yes, they most definitely seemed to be a part of him. All speculations were reinforced by the fact that the wings furled open and closed against his back as he moved to turn around and look at me.

Oh my poor little bloodthirsty heart.

His eyes shone like the light blue diamonds that I had once seen Raska bring back from a bounty hunt. They glittered as if they held all the secrets of the ages. His face was strong with high cheek bones, soft lips and - I never thought I would think this - a handsome nose that finished off his whole face as a work of perfected art.

His stern face broke into a brilliant smile of joy as he saw me. I was pointing a Reaper in his face, and he was smiling...

"My Lady..." He breathed and suddenly moved closer to me. I stumbled back a step or two. Clearly something he didn't notice as he abruptly went down on one knee in front of me and bowed his head. His wings slightly drooped around him and touched the ground on either side of him.

"My Lady, I Hezerial, fallen archangel of the heavens, has finally returned to your side once again." He announced proudly.

Wait...

Fallen archangel?

As in, damned never to return to heaven again, angel?

With still snowy white wings???

My head was starting to feel light as the Rune Reaper fell from my fingers and landed with a thud in the dirt. Something was tickling my memory, like a smell I couldn't place.

I felt my leg starting to burn now that the rippers were gone, it felt uncomfortably swollen and tight. Oh yes, I was poisoned. Certain poisons could cause hallucinations. That's right, I must be hallucinating.

"I'm hallucinating." I said weakly as I pressed the palm of my hand into my throbbing forehead that felt burning hot, even though I was cold, oh so cold...

The hallucination that called himself Hezerial raised his head with a frown. "My Lady?" He asked in puzzlement as my legs started to wobble.

My legs suddenly gave out from under me and before I could touch the ground I was in a pair of rock solid arms. He looked down at me with genuine worry furrowing his brow as he held me securely. It felt like I was about to die, well at least I was going to die with a handsome angelic hallucination being the last thing I see instead of Rippers.

My eyes were drooping and I thought I could feel my teeth starting to chatter. I caught glimpses of Hezerial, the drool worthy hallucination, scanning my body for wounds. One of his hands lifted up the hem of my long skirt and exposed my aching leg.

His face turned grim and furious as he examined the wound.

"I apologize that I had not arrived in time My Lady. And I must apologize again." He said looking me straight in my blurry eyes. "This will hurt immensely." He then touched my poisoned leg gently, and pain engulfed my world.

I wanted to scream, to writhe, to thrash about in absolute agony. The pain was so much that my muscles all clenched together tightly. I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't scream. I couldn't even hear anything beyond the ringing in my ears.

My whole body felt like it was burning from the inside out. Like something was being purged from my body.

I tried telling this hallucination to stop. To please just stop, but nothing really escaped my clenched jaw but a strangled groan.

"Shhh..." Hezerial whispered as he pulled me close to him. "It is almost finished."

A few moments might have passed in reality, but to me it felt like that agony had stolen a good decade off from my life before it finally started to ebb.

My lungs finally opened and I sucked down a good gulp of air as my muscles started to un-clench. I panted as the last of the pain echoed through my body and finally dissipated.

I opened my eyes to find my hallucination staring down at me serenely. I blinked up at him a few times and then frowned. Lifting my right arm, I brought my hand to his beautiful face, and poked him.

He seemed startled at the gesture and looked worriedly down at me again. "My Lady? Are you alright?" He asked while lifting an eyebrow.

"I don't know." I mumbled. "I don't know if I'm hallucinating or not." I said, and poked him in the cheek again a few more times to see how solid he actually was.

Through my poking assault he smiled down at me joyously. "I can assure you My Lady, that I am quite real."

Damn, I could even feel the dimple that appeared while I poked him. "Right." I said and stopped my poking.

I startled when he suddenly lifted me clear off the ground with no effort at all and scanned the surrounding area. I on the other hand, spied the Rune Reaper lying dejectedly on the damp ground.

"You can put me down." I said in a small voice.

"I refuse to have My Lady trample through this unsavoury undergrowth. This place reeks of darkness and evil. No. This land is not fit to grace My Lady's feet." He announced in all seriousness.

There was only one response that I was capable of after that. "Huh?"

"I shall carry you." He said simply with a smile. I swear his face lit up with an inner light when he said that. I almost felt blinded by the brightness he radiated.

"Put me down." I mumbled again a little stronger. Even though he was handsome, his declaration to carry me around like a helpless infant had indignation rising its stubborn head up from inside me.

His big shiny blue eyes seemed to fill up to the brim with worry. "But My Lady!" He piped up in what seemed to be desperation.

"Put. Me. Down." I said slowly and clearly. Not budging on my decision. I needed to pick up the Reaper before it grew a sentient mind and decided to hate me. I hated myself for leaving it there already.

A defeated look sunk onto his face as he reluctantly put my feet gently on the ground. "Very well."

A rush of light-headedness washed over me as my feet touched the ground. I wobbled on the spot without moving for a minute, making sure that my shakey legs would be able to support me. A light sweat broke out over my skin with the effort of not falling over onto my face as this fallen Angel or whoever he was supported me.

Giving him a sidelong glance when I was sure I wouldn't topple over, I asked the question that has been nagging me. "So, who are you exactly?"

He froze on the spot. He didn't even breathe. Not even his eyes moved. I had the urge to poke him in the eye to see if he would move then, but stifled the urge quickly.

"Hello?" I said as I waved my hand in front of his face. "It was a simple question."

He suddenly fell to his hands and knees with a painful thump. For some odd reason I thought that his mind might have just broken. An explosive exhale suddenly erupted from him. His face was downcast as he kept his torso suspended above the ground, so I couldn't quite make out what he might have been thinking.

He suddenly lifted his face and I squeaked. A squeak was about the only thing I was able to manage while slowly getting used to being vertical again.

"You do not remember me My Lady?!" He asked with tears gathering in his eyes.

I blinked down at him. "No." I said simply. On the outside I was as calm and unaffected as could be. While on the inside, I was slightly losing my mind.

*He's crying!*

*Why is he crying?!*

*I only just met him!!!*

*I've never seen a man cry before!*

*Why does he have to look good even when he is crying!*

*Why is his face looking so innocent and young?!*

*What in the blessed pits of Tartarus and highest Heavens is going on?!!!*

I felt like I wanted to run screaming for the safety of the Order, but my body was starting to break out in pins and needles. I didn't think that my legs would be able to carry me all the way home as they were at that moment.

"Are you sure My Lady? I do not look familiar to you in the slightest?" He asked, a note of desperation colouring his voice.

I coked my head slightly and studied his features closely. I felt a small nudge of familiarity from his presence, but other than that, he was a complete stranger to me.

"Well, you feel a little familiar to be honest, but, no, you don't look familiar to me." I told him honestly.

The small light of hope that had started to spark in his eye got snuffed out just as quickly as it was lit. His shoulders sagged in defeat and his head hung back down again as a heavy sigh left his body.

I had to admit. Even though he didn't look familiar to me, I felt slightly bad for seemingly having hurt his emotions.

"I'm ... sorry?" I hedged hesitantly, while at the same time carefully shuffling my way to the Rune Reaper. Even though this man saved and healed me, I still was not sure if he was trustable.

He gave another heavy sigh as he slowly looked back up dejectedly. "It is not your fault My Lady. After the last time I had been in your presence I expected a similar reaction." He looked at me sadly and then gave me a small smile.

For some odd reason, it struck a chord in me to see that smile on his face. I had the impression that he did not smile genuinely too often. Not around others in any case.

My thoughts came to a skidding halt. "The last time?" I asked while raising an eyebrow.

He sat back on his heels, his leathered pants getting dirtied by the damp earth and undergrowth as he looked up at me with lonely eyes.

"Yes My Lady. I am your Guardian, I have been in your service for a while. Even though it always starts out like this. You seem to only be aware of me when you call out in desperation, and I'm as a stranger all over again." He sagged in disappointment. The strong feeling of confusion rose up again, but now, it felt as if he were hiding something.

What he said held truth, but only a small piece of the bigger truth, or that was what it had felt like. For some reason this felt like too much. I needed him to go away from me so I could think with a clear mind. Nothing was making sense.

The feeling disappeared as he swiftly stood up to tower over me again.

"My Lady. I have no intention of wandering away or going away after I had just found you again. Your body is too weak to move around on your own as well." He bent at the waist to skewer me with a peeved glare. "You can give all the commands under this dreary sky as you please. But. I. Will. Not. Leave." He said firmly.

I blinked up at him again.

*What could I say to that?*

Could* I say anything to that?*

*How did he know I wanted him to leave?*

He smiled as he noticed that I wasn't going to fight him on the subject.

"Well, if that is that?" I asked while raising an eyebrow at him.

"It is." He said smugly.

"Then I better get back home. I'm sure my sister would start worrying herself into a state if I am not on time." I said while slightly straightening my spine. Swirling spots started crowding my vision as my head started feeling light.

"Sister?" He asked in shocked confusion.

"Yes, I have a sister." I panted as I took a shuffling step to the Reaper.

"A sister? A sister? This is new, I wonder..." I tuned him out as he started mumbling more to himself than to me.

As he muttered I heard him also shuffling closer to me as I moved. I groaned internally at the realization. I really was not up to trying to answer 100 questions that I did not have answers to while tromping back to the gateway's area where Noch will be opening it soon.

It was a good thing that the satchel of Herbs I had already managed to pick was still slung across my chest and in one piece.

Bending down to pick up the Rune Reaper looked like more of a chore already than it was probably worth. Even though I knew it wasn't worth the effort. I didn't want the Reaper to end up hating me either way.

"My Lady?" I heard Hezeriel as he tried to get my attention.

"What?" I groaned as I started preparing myself to bend down. Hopefully without falling flat on my face.

"Do you need assistance?" He asked hopefully while looking over my shoulder.

"No. No assistance needed. I'm good. I'm great. I can do this just fine. The Reaper doesn't like other people." I said exasperatedly.

I didn't see Hezerial's face at my comment. I didn't need to. I could practically hear his thoughts broadcasting his doubts and his over-driven urge to scoop the Reaper and me up into his arms.

I didn't turn around or give him a glance. I just stared stubbornly down at the Reaper, almost wishing that I still had a bit of energy to pull it off of the ground with some wind, and into my hand without having to bend. Giving a deep huff I started to bend down to pick it up.

A few funny things started happening then.

My ears started ringing and I couldn't make out any distinct sounds. Next my fingers started tingling with pins and needles and the edges of my vision started blurring out. The next thing I knew was the ground rushing up to my face and all sound leaving my ears in a rush.