Chapter 72: VERY MANY YEARS AGO (SIDE STORY 5) <VARZIEL’S POV>
"The monsters in the snow?" Varziel’s eyes widened. His hands paused mid-bite. These were the monsters that had been chasing him and his father. If they were here, did that mean that they had gotten to his father? Did that mean that his father might very well be dead?
Did that mean that he was now truly alone?
Arella nodded at his words, her expression serious. She was nibbling on the cookie and looked like a chipmunk. "Not far from here, at least. That is why Cassie and I are here. He needs to deal with them, and I tagged along to learn. Although if mother finds out, he is going to be scolded. Hehe." She giggled as if the thought of her brother getting scolded by their mother was what she lived for.
"But he might get hurt." Varziel muttered, his appetite now fully lost, "Those things might be dangerous."
Arella looked up at Varziel, with crumbs of the biscuit dusting her chin. "Do not worry. Cassie is super strong, much stronger than many angels I know."
Despite her reassurance, Varziel could not help but feel a cold shiver of fear run down his spine. The memory of the glowing eyes and sharp teeth flashed through his mind. He could still hear his father’s voice in his mind, urging him to run and carrying him when Varziel’s feet were too tired to work. Tears pooled in Varziel’s eyes, and he curled into himself as he blinked them away.
Arella immediately noticed his unease, so she reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Hey," her voice was gentle. "You are safe with us, okay? I will not let anything happen to you. That I promise." She rummaged around her pocket and dug out a small water pouch.
"Here, have some water. I am sure you are a bit thirsty." Varziel did not see the need to inform her that he had stood outside of the shelter for five minutes a day to take snow in his mouth so that he could drink and fill his stomach.
She pushed the water pouch into his hand and helped him open the cap as she continued to chatter on. Varziel looked at it warily. He was a demon; he knew that water from angels was not good for them. It could even kill a demon who was too weak. "Those monsters are nasty things. Big ugly and mean from what I have heard the humans say. They have been attacking travelers and villages. Cassie insisted on coming out here, but I can tell you for sure that he snuck out without informing father. He is good at taking care of things like that, but I heard father tell him not to step out of his bounds. Castiel does not like to listen though."