The Devil's Crown

LX Like Fire, I Vanish.

He was finally home.

The moment was the happiest he has ever been during the last 6 months that they have been in that hell hole. David has reached a point where he almost forgot the warmth that he could get from holding someone, the pain he went through made it hard…but now that he was really here. Those people won over the pain.

“I-I can’t believe that it’s really you!” Allen exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears. Julian yanked him away and embraced them both in turns.

“You guys…” Julian sniffed, causing the others to chuckle.

Amidst the hugs and joy, Elfric felt left out it wasn’t his place to take part. Part of him hoped to be able to join in the future. But that was not the time to think of such things, this place is too exposed…the White Cross knows about it too, it was a risk to stay here for long.

“I’m sorry to interrupt the family moment but,” Elfric interrupted. “We need to keep moving. Margret, Park, and Zach are here?”

“I’m here,” Margret and Park said in unison. They shared a look when a third voice never joined them.

“Where is Zach?” West asked.

“He is the last one that’s supposed to leave but he is not here yet,” Margret replied, her eyes started to show some guilt that she left him behind. “We can go back and…”

“No, no one leaves,” Elfric interrupted.

“What is going on?” David questioned, catching up with the conversation. “Why isn’t Zach here?”

“The plan stated that we withdraw slowly one after the other,” Park answered. “It’s Zach’s turn now.”

“We have to go get him then!” Mathew finally joined in. Before waiting for a reply, he was already taking a step back inside the tunnel.

Elfric stepped sideways, obstructing his way. “No one goes inside,” Elfric uttered every word carefully.

“Who the hell are you to tell me what to do!?” Mathews growled. “Do you have any idea what would happen to him if he is taken?!”

David understood what it meant to Mathews. They haven’t been together, that much the White Cross insured. Even the comfort of having a partner next to you was stripped. They were treated worse than animals.

“He won’t be taken anywhere. I’ve made sure of that,” Elfric tried to reassure him. There was no way they were going to take another step inside if they treasured their lives. They have lost too much to gamble, this brought them the certainty of a safe way out.

“The White Cross is not going to take a step inside this hotel,” Elfric narrowed his eyes. What he saw in Mathew was nothing but triggered trauma at the thought of losing another one of their own. “They treasure their lives; they won’t come in.”

Mathew’s flinched as he took a step back, remembering the scene from the earlier, the blood…the smell. It made his stomach turn. That was all the work of this man who reveals only his golden eye.

Nevertheless, it was more than enough to know that there was no messing with him.

“He is right,” West stepped forward, placing a hand on Mathew’s shoulder. “We can’t have another one go in.”

Mathew let his head hang low on his neck, clenching his fists next to his thighs feeling the pain of his overgrown nails dig into his rough skin. Elfric once again witnessed the effect of the leadership that West has over them…something that can never be sold or bought…loyalty.

A bunch of barely grown-ups brought together with one goal to save themselves from. Their heads hung low at the thought that might lose another one of their own again this time when they have barely gotten two back.

The moment of silence took longer than it should. Margret was sitting on the ground with Park both dwelling in sadness. West despite the pain in his leg, he was standing letting the pain pull him to harsh reality.

“We have to leave,” Elfric turned around.

Their heads shot up with shock and almost cries.

“We won’t leave without him!” they said in unison. “If he falls, then we fall!”

Elfric’s brow flinched in annoyance. ‘They are making a death wish!’ he screamed inside. He let out a shaky breath before turning to them again. “Remember who you are! If you all fall then who the hell is going to carry on your cause when you are all dead and no one knows you! Are you going to allow everything that you have done today to go in vain?! This might be the turn of your lives! A step towards the future. What hope would Zach have when you all throw away yourself so…recklessly?!”

They were quiet.

“B-But…he is our family…” Margret stuttered as a tear escaped her dark eyes. That woman was in the face of danger unwavering, standing tall and proud to the cause. Now, she was shedding tears over her comrade.

Elfric saw Joanna’s face in front of him with a tear rolling down her cheeks. He closed his eyes to wipe away the image from his mind. He took in a shaky breath before turning to them again. “Then I will go get him,” said Elfric. “You get out of here. We can’t waste more time.”

They were silent and staring blankly at him hesitant to his offer. But yet again, who was he to them? Someone they met today. Someone who brought them victorious for the first time…It was because of that that they nodded.

A feeling quivered down their spines that if someone could do it then it was him Elfric…Samael. He was their chance of survival.

 Elfric sighed heavily as he turned on his heels to head back inside. ‘Don’t even think of using your power,’ Orathan surfaced. Was he mad at him? Is that why he was silent all this time.

“Don’t worry, I won’t…” he mumbled under his breath. At this point, it would be suicide to not listen to him. He could feel the cause in the strength that was seeping from his muscles with every extra step that he takes, his vision was a blur and he could taste the blood in the back of his throat.

“Samael,”

West placed a hand over his shoulder, it took Elfric by surprise. “Take care,” he said. “We will be waiting for you.”

“There is no need for that,” said Samael, a smirk visible through his mask. “I’ll come back soon.”

Elfric has got to say that these emotions were getting out of hand. This wasn’t why he was doing this. He needed to get it together! Nevertheless, he allowed himself to enjoy this comfort from the hand on his shoulder, just this once.

Before Elfric could say anything else, they heard a clatter coming from the tunnel. Without notice, they were all in a position to fight. There was no guarantee that this was Zach and not someone else. But from the sound of those sloppy footsteps couldn’t belong to a soldier.

It was soon that Zach appeared and out of breath from running all the way over.

“Where the hell were you!”

It was impossible to say which one said it in the noise that rose out of thin air. Even Elfric sighed in relief.

“I-I…I’m sorry,” he stuttered as he caught his breath, leaning on his knees for rest. “It was Scarlet.”

‘Again,’ Orathan pointed out.

“I was on my way out just in time but she couldn’t let go of me!” he exclaimed. “She was clinging to me for answers. She wanted to know what was happening.”

“And you told her?” West raised a brow.

“Just enough to get her off me,” he replied.

“Go now,” Elfric stated. “Get out of that disgusting blue clothing and blend with the crowd.”

They did as they were told, they were already prepared underneath the jumpsuit. They heard a commotion heading their way and it was before long that they all scattered on their way.

“H-how are we going to meet again!” West looked over his shoulder.

Elfric was leaning down towards the pile of clothes they made. No evidence should be left of their existence. “I’ll appear to you again when you need me,” he simply said. “I don’t have a phone number.” He chuckled and West spared one as well.

West watched as the pile of clothes was set on fire. So blue that you couldn’t point out what was burning. It burnt silently without ash or smoke, in a blink there was nothing left…only Samael struggling to his feet.

‘I told you no more,’ Orathan pointed out.’

“Sorry,” Elfric barely said.

West was still connecting the dots. That man was really the one that set the Tower on fire. That was how no one heard anything, how there was no smoke. No evidence. He looked at him once again, engraving him in his memory. This man….

With him, he can do it.

“Just like this fire,” Elfric mumbled. “I appear and vanish.”