Chapter 358: Paradise Lost
Smoke warned Rainier of what awaited when they neared the village.
Above, members of the Expedition flew their watch while below, in an arc that encompassed the only way out, the rest of the angels and Elevated stood guard. A few of the huts had been burned, but the mud buildings were mostly intact.
Though some of the demons had gathered in the center, the rest hid in their homes. At the center of the gathered, Garnet stood, her head held high even with a bloodied brow.
Auric led Rainier into the half-circle and ordered him to wait.
The moment Rainier entered her sight, Garnet’s composure faltered. "Gale, what is the meaning of this?" she asked.
"Gale?" Auric asked, waving off an angel who came to offer healing.
Rain didn’t answer. The question wasn’t directly aimed at him, so he was able to ignore it.
"Why does this demon call you ’Gale’?" Auric asked.
Because he was maintaining the previous compulsion, he didn’t have to compel Rain any further to answer.
"I told them my name was Gale," Rain answered, lowering his eyes.
"You told them?" Auric’s voice lifted with glee. "So you knew there were more demons. You treated them like people, and they tried to poison and kill you..." He started to laugh, and half of the gathered angels and Elevated laughed with him.