Stars Beneath Hellfire

Chapter Four

"Did you even hear a single thing I said?" Kaelen asked, amused with the distracted expression on Cassiel's face.

"You said something?"

Kaelen chuckled. "Let me guess, our new student?" he teased. "What? No... no," Cassiel replied, again distracted. That earned a laugh from Kaelen.

"Yeah, sure," he drawled, popping a grape into his mouth.

Cassiel shook his head, but he knew he was distracted. What he had not realised was how obvious it had been.

"Speak, what's so special about this girl?" Kaelen asked. Cassiel contemplated how to respond.

How would he explain to Kaelen that Vespera could easily provoke him?

How would he make him understand that he suddenly knew the feelings of boiling rage and annoyance?

Kaelen was his best friend, but also one of the highest of Seraph beside him. He also prided himself in the unshakeable restraint and composure expected of a divine being as them. Telling him a spawn of Hell managed to shake the composure would provoke judgement from Kaelen, and not the good, friendly kind. It didn't help that Kaelen was one to easily dislike anything that posed a threat to their reputation as forever calm, forever composed Seraph, and would most likely act on the dislike.

No, he couldn't tell him. He wouldn't tell him. And with that thought, Cassiel realised another shift in him.

Secrecy. Secrets were considered a sign of vulnerability. They could be used as weapons and were taken as weakness among the Angel folk.A Seraphim had no business having secrets, and yet there he was, hiding his first secret from his friend. 'Cassiel, oh Cassiel,' he sighed wearily.

"See, now I'm definitely sure something's up," Kaelen said, taking a grape from Cassiel's tray. "There is, Kae. Actually there is," Cassiel answered carefully. "Have you crossed paths with her yet?"

Kaelen paused mid chew, and thought. Then he shook his head.

"Well... I might be uncertain on what she is," Cassiel confessed. Kaelen turned sharply. "Okay... so maybe this is a problem," he said slowly.

"Not necessarily, but you know we always have to know what we're dealing with, so I might be a little..." he trailed off, trying to find the right word. It never came.

Kaelen nodded, seeming to understand. They sat in a silent moment, each one's thoughts taking a different track.

Cassiel felt a twinge of guilt pass through him. He had told his friend a half-truth, and it concerned him how natural it had flowed from his tongue.

Another new feeling again.

And this was only day two of knowing Vespera. It all came down to her.

Cassiel suddenly stood from the desk he had been perched on for the past hour and moved to the window. He stood before the frosted glass, hands clasped behind him. He liked standing in that spot in his room. It allowed him to think.

And at that moment, he had a lot to think about.

Except he wasn't sure where to start. He sighed deeply.

"When next will you see her?" Kaelen asked, returning his focus to the grapes. Cassiel glanced at his watch.

He turned.

"Right about now."

"I'll go with you."

Kaelen looked at the girl who sat by a table in the empty classroom. She sat with her back straight, poised with the confidence of a queen. Her face bore no expression, and she didn't raise her head from the book she was reading to acknowledge their entry.

Kaelen stopped by the door, his eyes narrowing.

'What is this?' he thought, suspicious. He couldn't read her, nor could he sense anything from her, which deeply unsettled him. He understood why Cassiel had been so distracted.

Cassiel cleared his throat.

"I know you're here," she muttered, turning a page. "And you brought a friend, another Angel."

"Respectfully, a Seraph," Kaelen stated. Vespera scoffed lightly, and raised her head to fix a cold, grey gaze at them. Kaelen felt like the room had suddenly became colder as he watched the grey pools darken. Then she lowered her head and returned to her book.

"You're from Hell," Kaelen said, his suspicion deepening.

"How very observant of you," was the sarcastic reply.

"You're not a demon, too," Kaelen pushed. Vespera stopped reading, and raised her head slowly. "Tell me something I don't know," she said, her voice level.

"You're disrespectful," he answered, not missing a beat. Vespera scoffed, and Kaelen furrowed his brow. "I know that too, but I love the effort," she said, giving him a sardonic smile.

"Uh... Vespera, this is-" Cassiel began, but trailed off when Vespera raised a hand to stop him.

"I almost thought you'd gone mute," she said as she stood up and shut the book. She tossed it to a nearby shelf and with a flick of her fingers, it slipped in amongst the books. She looked at Cassiel. "This is Kaelen, another Seraph that demands attention like it's owed to him," she fired, walking towards them. She passed them and stopped suddenly. She glanced over her shoulder at Kaelen, who glared at her with a rising suspicion and dislike.

She looked at him from top to bottom, then back to his face.

"If your friend didn't tell you, I will. I don't care if you are descendants of the Primarch or God or whoever your leader is, but get one thing clear. They will bow down to you, but don't think I will. If you do, well... that's on you and your delusions," she said, her voice icy. She turned back and walked away. Kaelen stood rooted to the spot in disbelief.

'Did I just get looked down on? By... whatever she is?'

Cassiel placed a hand on Kaelen's shoulder. He gave a nod, and moved past him.

For one brief moment, Kaelen felt an unfamiliar surge of rage flow through him.

The feeling vanished as quickly as it came.

That unsettled him more than Vespera ever could.

"Where do you know Kaelen from?" Cassiel asked. Vespera decided not to answer.

"Oh, so now you're the mute one?" he fired. "Now now, Angel. You're not supposed to be one to provoke," Vespera fired back. Cassiel is stumped, but recovered quickly.

"I asked a simple question."

"And I chose not to answer. Did that hurt your feelings?"

Vespera watched as the annoyance and irritation passed over his features, darkening the gold eyes to deep molten gold. For someone who claimed strong composure, his emotions were surprisingly easy to read, she noted, slightly amused.

"My next class is Combat Fundamentals," she said.

"Great," Cassiel said, herding her into a different hallway. They stopped before large, heavy oak doors.

"What exactly do you mean by 'great'?"

Cassiel smiled, pushing the doors open to reveal a large court.

"We're in class together."