The Demon Lord Is An Angel
Chapter 251: Followership

Chapter 251: Followership

"I can’t believe you just attacked without orders! Do you know how embarrassing that was for me?" Cassie paced in frustration on the other side of the library table from Rain and Ozzy.

Rain knew it was probably the most private place in House Eros’ manor she could think of that could host all three of them.

Well... all three of them and Malzkael, who was reading a book in the corner of the room when they arrived. Her dark hair was up in twin-tails today, tied off by skull-decorated ribbons in streaks of white that rested on her shoulders. Rain couldn’t see her, but he almost felt he could sense whenever she paused in her page-turning to watch.

Had Cassie invited Malz because the three of them were in a relationship? No matter how platonic and professional Rain wanted to keep things, sex was sex, and it seemed to mean more to him than to Cassie... but almost the same as Malz.

Cassie hadn’t yet brought Malz in on the truth about the demon attack, and Rain had been about to ask Cassie about that before the dressing down had begun.

"He was clearly not serious about us trying to save that angel’s life," Rain said. "About you."

"Don’t you think I knew that? Adashiel’s a fucking pornstar, he just says things that don’t matter because it’s all about him looking hot and getting laid." There was that word again. Pornstar. What did it mean? Rain wondered. "And the man who died wasn’t a House angel, aside from his family, few people would care about him..." The way she held herself, she cared. "I just feel... I wish I knew what I did wrong..."

She chewed her lip, as she did when she thought sometimes. Rain knew how certain she’d been that the man was stable. That he’d pull through, even after his heart stopped and she used Rain’s lightning-aspected magic to revive him.

So even amongst angels there are greaters and lessers... Rain knew this already, because according to Heaven he was Rainier l’Eros, his family name modified to include a modifier for lesser.

Cassiel shook her head. "But that still doesn’t excuse what you did, Rain. People are going to think I can’t control my team. They’re going to think I can’t lead."

Control!?

Rain bristled. "We still won, didn’t we?"

"By brawling in a duel of honor," Cassiel said. "You don’t make the calls, Rain. I do. Because no matter what you do, I’m responsible."

"You didn’t seem to mind during the race," Rain shot back.

"I told you to be flexible for the race. You didn’t even give me the chance during the fight! You made me look like a joke!"

"Then what was I supposed to do? Let that guy make fun of you?"

"Yes!" Cassie slammed her fist on the table. "Regular old words don’t do shit unless they’re part of a spell! I don’t need you to protect me, Rain, I need you to follow orders! I’m the angel. I lead! And unless you have a way to transubstantiate into a seraphim, I will always outrank you! That’s the order! The seraphim, Executioners, Choir Leaders, House angels, angels, then you. I shouldn’t have to tell you how to live up here because you were supposed to get that education before we even met! Just like Ozzy! Just like every Elevated before they’re even allowed to become an Executioner candidate!"

Rainer wasn’t a usual Elevated, however. He was already born a half-angel, angelkin, and hadn’t been subjected to the same transubstantiation as an Elevated like Ozzy. And as far as his hospital lessons, he’d been too busy focused on recovery and too unable to focus on the piece of equipment - a magic tablet that created illusions and sounds - because it hurt his eyes to stare at a screen for hours on end.

A strange look had come over Ozzy, almost like pride. It registered in the slight almost-smile of his lips just behind his small tusks. In the way he looked sideways at Rain, knowing his loyalty wasn’t being questioned.

So that’s how it is... Rain no longer knew how far he was willing to trust Ozzy as a person... But perhaps that division had always existed, but from Ozzy, not Rain until this moment. The orcish Elevated was dedicated to serving angelic society in a way Rain wasn’t, and Rain had long ago figured out that Cassiel kept Ozzy at a bit of distance. Perhaps fearing he was more loyal to angelic society than to her. To that end, Cassie’s revealing of the truth about Mr. Atelo was probably a test, to see if he reported it to the House, the Executioners, or anyone else in authority.

Cassiel started pacing, touching her forehead. "I hate to do this, Rain, but if you pull anything like that again - win or lose - then the House, the Choir, or even the Executioners can get you reassigned. You don’t want that. I don’t want that... So come tomorrow, I need you to obey. Please. And if you don’t unquestionably say ’yes’ then I am obligated... to compel you... at least until after the fight is done tomorrow."

Below the table, Rain let his hands drop as he balled his hands into fists.

He wanted to shout "How is that fair?" but instead he said, "You promised..."

"Yeah, well, there’s the promise I made to you and then there’s the Oath we take to become Executioners." It was clear which side Cassiel favored more. "I don’t want to compel you, Rain. I want to keep my promise."

"And I want..." What did he want? He wanted to not feel like a stranger in this place. He wanted not to be trusted one day and distrusted the next. He wanted... to be equal with Cassiel... equal as a person to any angel. But he couldn’t say it. He didn’t have the words. "...I want to be trusted."

"I do trust you, Rain," Cassiel said. "But that goes both ways. If you trust me as your squad leader, you need to let me be a leader. Angels lead, Elevated follow. That’s the law of Heaven. That’s what all of us are being measured against. So help me, please. It’ll only help you in the long run too. Please tell me you understand."

Rain remained silent. He felt so mixed up inside... Like his body wanted to fight. To take control of the situation... But in his head and heart, he couldn’t do that to Cassie. Wouldn’t.

He nodded.

"I need to hear it," Cassie said.

"Yes... Angel." Rain replied.

"Good. Because we’d better be finished with this sort of thing as a team. I’m going to the spa, you do whatever it is you have to in order to recover, but tomorrow, I need you on point and ready to obey. Not rush out there and potentially get hurt. Because that’s what you almost did. You can’t go wing-to-wing against an angel with a form of power, and Jassiel definitely has his war form already."

It was a reminder that if Cassie really wanted to, she could outclass him with magic alone, as their recent training had proved.

War form and magiform... two things Rain would never have.

In Norneau, he’d been something of a star amongst the mage students. More physical and athletic, more capable of magic in the midst of a melee than everyone he knew except for his lover, Kir. But in Heaven, he was one amongst many. Better than most, but he’d enjoyed having peers in his particular skillset, combining magic and weaponry. But now...

Rain was falling behind. And in Heaven, that meant falling down.

If he fell far enough... he didn’t know what would happen.

No... he knew. He just didn’t want to admit it to himself, because it hurt to do so.

He’d lose what little control he’d gained over his life by being here.

Maybe it was better to just obey...

"Yes, angel," Rain intoned.

Now Cassiel remained silent as she gathered herself.

She didn’t dismiss the team; merely turning to leave the library while Ozzy wasted no time to stand and followed behind her.

For a long while, Rain just stared down at his hands beneath the table...

A hand touched his shoulder. "Hey..." Malz greeted him. He’d forgotten she was even in the room.

"Yes, angel?" Rain replied.

"Ugh, stop it. Come with me," she started walking toward the door, before pausing to wait for Rain.

With a slight skidding sound, Rain stood, pushing his chair back into place.

He followed Malz through the manor, watching the stares of some of the angels as they took in Cassiel’s subordinate following another squad leader.

Once they were past the wing for the Executioner candidates, however, things in the manor grew different. He was led into a room that was... very black.

"This is my room," Malz said. "Well, my room-room. I still have a dorm with the rest of the candidates."

Rain remained silent. There were a lot of skulls with candles on them and books and a painting of a lady that very-much looked like Malz only mature and with six black wings, bearing a massive tome in front of her.

Malz sighed. "You want to know why I brought you here?"

Rain shrugged. "If you wish to tell me, angel."

"Stop it! Fuck! I brought you here because you look like you need to let out some steam. And... I want you to do it in a way no one’s ever done for me..." her voice grew a bit nervous as she leaned against a drawer.

"I... don’t understand," Rain said.

"Finally, there you are," Malz said, reaching behind her, opening the drawer, and pulling out some kind of silky...

"Is that... rope?"

"Sure is."