Inheritance

Chapter 4- Memories Better Forgotten

"I'll get it." Ash volunteered, but I shook my head and stopped her.
"No, its alright, I will."
"But your half naked..?"
I blinked. I didn't seem bothered by it, but I now noticed Ash blushing around me. I wrapped my wings around me and walked to the door. Ash's eyes widened but I paid it little attention.
"You have-" She stopped as I opened the door, revealing Scratch. As soon as he saw me he froze, and I heard a slight pop from behind his back, like from a fire. He appeared to hold something behind his back but as he brought them forward I saw nothing in his hands. Suspicion grew inside me.
"Is that you, Solus?" He seemed quite friendly, if nervous.
"Azriel...?"
"Great, you remember me."
"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to visit Ash, you know, since I was free. Are you ok?"
"I... I don't know."
He hesitated, then shrugged. He was acting a little too open, and I wondered what happened these last 7 months.
"Well, either way, I'm glad your up now. You must be feeling well rested after that big sleep."
"Yeah I guess."
Ash chimed in "he passed out five minutes after waking up."
"Really?"
"Yup."
I stepped aside as Scratch entered the house. He continued to chat with Ash.
"So anything new today, besides Solus waking up?"
I tuned out their conversation as I walked around, looking at my surroundings. We were in a fairly nice apartment building, filled with simple yet fascinating décor. As I was walking through the living room I froze.
Two swords rested in a corner. One was a whitish metal hewn with gold, my sword, while another lay directly against it. It was a long black blade with a worn hilt. A single blood red ruby rested in the pommel, like a blood thirsty eye. As I stared at it memories flashed through my mind, memories best left forgotten. I again relived my one fatal moment...


He threw a short dark blade, piercing my hand... I remembered the fiery feeling as it got stabbed into the ground... The blade must have been coated with angel metal I knew...
...Then he stood over me, one heavy foot planted on my chest. Shadows crossed his face, hiding his ruby red eyes as he grinned in delight...
...I watched as the glistening, beautiful blade pierced itself into my chest... I felt as my crystalline heart broke, cracked as a ravine....
I remembered as the sword stood there, standing tall as a totem poll... sprouting from my chest...
I remembered crystal tears falling as they struck me.... Ash's face going red from crying...
And I remember the sense of peace as I gave up any hope of living.

I stumbled back and rubbed my forehead. That's when I realized my whole body, except my shoulders and head, was glowing with golden magic. I let it fade away. As it did I felt a small wave of exhaustion come over me from the use of magic. I sighed and rested against a wall, trying to recuperate.
What was wrong with me?
I heard Ash enter the room behind me, but I gave no inclination to face her. I was too disturbed by the memory I was forced to relive. I remembered it all too clearly... and the scar on my chest only seemed to remind me again, and again, of the horrors I had to endure--
"Hey, are you ok...?" Ash placed a hand on my shoulder. Her voice was filled with concern.
My face softened and I sighed. I was grateful she intervened, or else I might have lost myself there.
"Just... thoughts. And memories."
"You know you can always talk to me about it. I'm all ears, angel boy."
I smiled. Even though I hated being called angel boy, the way she said it made it sound like a good thing. I pushed myself off the wall and faced her.
"I'll be sure to remember that, blackhole girl."
"Hey!" she laughed. I smiled more and reached forward, holding a strand of her hair gently in my hand. I looked her in the eyes.
"I'm really glad I have you. If I didn't I don't know what I'd be."
"You'd be dead dummy. So your welcome."
I looked around then saw Alex's sword again. I got goosebumps as I pointed to it with my thumb.
"Why did you keep that?"
Her expression darkened, but she quickly replaced it with a blank face.
"I don't know."
Before I could respond Scratch spoke.



*Art belongs to Kiarafox21*