Chapter Text
Lute
Is it really that difficult to imitate? I was getting frustrated with some of the soldiers. Everything was wrong! How much more could I spell it out?!
Great, this one was crying. She looked down, sniffling and apologizing to me.
“I promise I’m trying!”
“You’re not trying hard enough. You must want to die next extermination.”
“I—I don’t!”
“Stop your crying already. If you’re this sensitive after all this time, you might as well kick it and become a kitchen girl. Permanently.”
She hurriedly wiped her eyes and tried to get her breathing under control. The exorcist who was practicing with her patted her back and eyed me with contempt.
“Lute, why do you have to be so hard on her?”
“Why are you questioning my training? I’m looking for warriors, not crybabies.”
“Adam never pushed her this hard. He knew she had limits.”
“Where is Adam now, Hollywood? Where has his training got him?” I asked in an angry whisper. When she didn’t answer, I said it for her. “Dead. I don’t want the same thing to happen to you or her. So I must train her until she’s nearly invincible.”
“I’m just saying, you don’t have to be so mean about it,” she griped, taking her hair to one side and combing her fingers through it. I rolled my eyes at her feminine display.
Doll, the crying Exorcist, was finally done sniffling and looked back up. She motioned for Hollywood to get into position and managed a decent strike. That was all I wanted. I clapped my hands and gave an approving nod.
I’m glad that blew over quickly. Had she kept crying I wouldn’t have known what to do. Might have even felt bad.
The mention of Adam made me grind my jaw. He knew his girls well, that was true. He had different expectations for those who needed…accomdating. I thought my methods would work, but looks I still had to tailor the rules.
Exhausting.
…
After training was over, of course Abel had to swoop in and be the good guy. He somehow got permission to take not ten Exorcists to the city, but all of them. I seriously didn’t know how he did it. I hated that he was trying to win my girls over with favors and it was WORKING!
The Exorcists happily flew out the golden gates and cheered as the larger ones that kept us enclosed in this space slowly creaked open. Abel hovered in the air with me, making sure everyone was accounted for.
“I rented out the unicorn polo stadium! Team building is always important, and it’ll get them to use strategic thinking. Haha, I’m incredible,” he blabbed, squeezing his hands together and gushing. I wasn’t having it. My arms were crossed and I was biting my lip to stop myself from screaming at him.
“Am I doing well at being a general so far, Lute?”
“You don’t want to know my opinion,” I grumbled.
“That blabbing would turn into blubbering real quick, loser,” co-signed the person on my right, Adam. He was sucking loudly on a straw, drawing out as much juice as he could. When there wasn’t anymore he shook it for good measure before chucking it into the void.
The final girls left the building and Abel and I hurried to catch up. We had to keep high above the clouds and remain spread out to not draw too much attention to ourselves.
Abel, ironically enough, was not able to keep his mouth shut. He continued talking to me, and while I tried to drown most of it out, he wouldn’t stop and I had no choice but to listen.
“I think they’re starting to warm up to me. Yesterday they even invited me to the sauna, and that Brick gal nodded at me today instead of whamming me into the floor! I’m making good progress.”
“You’re winning them over with gifts and promises. That’s not the same.”
He pursed his lips in guilt and shrugged sheepishly. “Well…everything I told you was before I told them we were going out today. This is just a bonus!”
“What are you doing to get them to like you anyway?”
“Being nice and approachable. That’s my motto and I’ve always stuck with it. You know…” he leaned in and whispered, “I’ve noticed they all kind of avoid you. Why is that?”
“They respect me,” I said, but I also knew that wasn’t the whole truth. Abel shook his head, sympathy on his chubby fat face. I wanted to punch it right off.
“Try being a little nicer to them, Lute.”
I was really pissed now. I gritted my teeth and flapped my wings as hard as they could go, until I was far away from him and near the front of the formation. I rose above them, passing into the clouds until I was alone.
Adam appeared beside me again, tsking his tongue.
“Don’t let that brat get to you. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about! The girls love you!”
“I know that.”
“He’s not going to take your place. I’ll fight Sera if I have to, I don’t give a damn. I don’t give a shit! My son has nothing on you.”
“Thank you, sir” I sighed. I appreciated his support. If only he could do that…
I turned my head to look at him. He was smiling. Translucent. The near bottom of his body was faded.
I blinked and he was gone. The whistle of the wind talked to me instead. The thoughts of my mind tried to talk over it and I had to stop to give myself a breather.
Please don’t cry. You’ve had it under control for a month now. Don’t. DON’T!
It’s all your fault
You’re alone
In a swarm, at the table, and even one one, nothing changes. You have no one to call a friend. You had him, only him, and you are the reason he is gone
This plan of yours won’t work. You know someone will stop you. There will be no turning back from what you are going to do. Are you willing to risk what little you have left?
Are you doing this, because you loved him?
STOP!
STOP IT ALREADY!
…please
…
The girls spun mallets in their hands. They’re spread out over the thousands of chairs, making for a scattered crowd. We watched the girls on the field. None of them had ridden a horse before, so the real game hadn’t even started yet. They were falling all over the place and it gave me something to laugh at; distract myself from earlier.
Abel was the one instructing them, which I was completely fine with because I didn’t have to deal with him. I kicked up my legs on the seat in front of me and draped my arms over the side of the chair. Head all the way back. When would this be over?
In my upside down view, I spotted the Exorcists behind me. They were whispering to one another, pointing at the field occasionally and breaking into bursts of laughter.
“What’s so funny?” I asked them. They moved their hands from their faces and tried explaining to me, but instead doubled over holding their stomachs. One of them managed to keep their voice steady.
“The unicorn ran off with one of them! They’re holding on for dear life!”
I tilted my head up and indeed, they were right. The unicorn zoomed in our direction and an Exorcist was clinging to its tail, screaming at the top of her lungs. She knew she had wings, right? She could let go and fly…
I shook my head at the stupidity. What’s worse was that the others were standing there watching. Abel was the only one actively trying to stop the unicorn. I waited a few more minutes before rushing in and grabbing the unicorn by the mane and tugging with all my strength. It neighed and reeled back, kicking up its hooves.
“Stop this nonsense already!” I demanded, kicking the Exorcist’s hands off the tail and giving the unicorn a final tug before dropping it. The unicorn sniffed haughtily at me and stalked away.
The Exorcist removed her helmet and shook out her hair. I recognized her as Satin. She was one of the six who would be participating in my personal training. I didn’t expect such childish behavior from her.
“I never want to ride a unicorn again,” she rasped, holding her throat. I bet it hurt, screaming that damn loud. I landed on the ground and voiced my displeasure with her.
“All you had to do was let go.”
“I panicked, ok?!” she exclaimed, fitting her helmet back onto her head. The mask connected with her face and showed a deep frown. “You try riding one of those and tell me it’s not nervewracking!”
“I will, just to prove a point,” I replied. I went to the sidelines where the unicorns were standing in a row. I picked the most serious looking one and got on the saddle. How did I work this? I took the reins in my hands and shook them. The horse stirred and whinnied, but it didn’t get that I was trying to tell it to move.
Some Exorcists already on horseback wandered over.
“Lute’s joining the game!”
“Am not. I’m just showing how simple it is to ride one of these things.” I shook the reins again and this time the unicorn made a more annoyed bray. It stamped its hoof on the ground a few times and refused to move more than that.
“You have to be gentle, Lute,” an Exorcist, Pumpkin, advised. She was seated on a rather majestic unicorn. Its mane was so silky and shiny. She patted its neck and the unicorn snuffed in pleasure. “Try that!”
“...ugh” I grimaced and patted my own with a stiff hand. The unicorn became somewhat more content but still refused to move. Satin came over, arms crossed and a smug grin on her face.
“See? I told you, lieutenant.”
“I know how to make this thing move,” I growled. I was not about to be humiliated. I twisted around and gave it a hard smack on its rear. The unicorn neighed in alarm and kicked up its legs. I almost fell backwards but grabbed the reins just in time before it started dashing to the other side of the field.
The Exorcists followed, laughing and trying to give me instructions. I jerked the reins and the unicorn responded by making a hard left. Huh, must have done something right. Its hooves skidded on the ground and it stumbled. It caught itself and ran off again. I tried doing the same thing as before in the opposite direction, but it wasn’t listening. Oh shit—I didn’t have control of it anymore.
“Lute! Careful!” There was Abel, calling for me. I ignored him. I could fix this—!
The unicorn started to run again, but this time it went in all kinds of directions. It was trying to throw me off! Haha, this was like one of those automated bull rides at Heaven’s mall. I grinned and held on. I never lost to that thing before.
“Lute’s a real cowgirl!”
“Yassss you go Lute!”
“You really shouldn’t anger the unicorn Lute…” Abel was hovering above me, holding out his hands in worry.
“What do you mean? We’re having fun!” I exclaimed. I leaned to the side a little to see the unicorn’s face. Its eyes were full of anger. The second our gazes met it clamped its teeth on my sleeve and yanked me off.
Was not expecting that—!
OW!
It was driving its hooves into my chest. Stomping on me. I fought to get from underneath it but I was trapped. The Exorcists were screaming now. I saw them fly over, grabbing the unicorn and trying to hold it back.
I crawled forward, until I was just out of its reach. The unicorn brayed and snuffed and neighed and…
Blasted me with magic. I hit the wall across the stadium. My head started to throb terribly. Shit. Shit shit shit.
Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed it so hard…
MC
We gathered in a circle. Lute was unconscious. Abel was on the phone with Sera, hurriedly explaining what happened and pacing like a madman.
I gnawed on my knuckles as I watched her. She was breathing, but she had a mark on her clothing from where the unicorn hit her and hoof stamps all over. I bent down and carefully lifted the front of her dress. There were bruise marks alright.
“How bad is it?” Peachy whispered, bending down with me. I angled Lute’s body toward her and she pursed her lips, sucking in some air. “God…why did she do that?”
“She’s so damn prideful, that’s why,” Brick interjected. She lightly moved Lute with her boot and sighed. “Of course something bad had to happen. What if we’re not allowed in the city again after this?”
“No offense guys but—I’d probably go off on her,” Peachy said, standing back up. The Exorcists around us nodded their heads.
“Ya right! You don’t have the guts,” Satin said next. She had her hand on her hip and was typing on her phone with the other hand. I saw “what to do when a unicorn magically hits you” in her search bar. Peachy’s bravado disappeared and her frown wavered.
“Yaaa you’re right, I could never.”
Abel joined the circle again. He shook Lute and even smacked her cheeks a few times, but she wasn’t responding. I could see the terror in his eyes. He was probably worried about how much trouble he’d be in, haha. He got permission to use this place, and not even 30 minutes in there was already a disastrous situation.
“Sera said she’d come. They’ll remove the unicorn too. They aren’t supposed to hurt us…” he mumbled, more to himself than us. Said unicorn was happily eating some grass in the corner. It didn’t seem like a threat now.
“While we wait, can we continue playing? If we get kicked out of the city for this I want to enjoy my last moments,” Hollywood asked, swinging her mallet onto her shoulder and throwing the ball up and down. So far, the game was hit and miss for me. I didn’t mind sitting this one out.
Abel gave a weary nod and most of the Exorcists dispersed. Peachy asked if I was going to play again but I told her I’d rather stay with Lute. She shrugged and left.
The few Exorcists who stayed were whispering to one another and casting worried looks at our lieutenant. I knew she would wake up, but concern still ebbed at me.
She looked so happy when she was riding that thing. I hadn’t seen Lute smile like that ever since Adam died.
Battle and violence was where she truly thrived, huh?
The flap of wings alerted me and I looked up to see Sera and another seraphim enter the arena. As they came closer, I realized it was Sera’s sister, Emily. I wasn’t sure of her exact title, but I knew she was supposed to keep everyone happy. An angel of joy.
“Oh my god, the unicorn did this?!” Emily gasped, hands flying to her mouth. “They’ve never done anything like this before!”
“They’ve also never been provoked before,” Sera countered, glaring at Lute as she did so. I think Lute felt that. Her head moved and she frowned.
Sera continued, “But, I cannot have animals who harm our people.” She waved her hand and the unicorn was encapsulated in a ball of magic. Its eyes widened in panic and then—it disappeared. Wiped from existence. I gaped at the now empty spot. Did she really just…?
“Sera!!! How could you?!” Emily shrieked. She opened her hands to shoot another ball of magic, but Sera grabbed both her wrists and gently forced them back down. Don’t tell me Emily could bring the unicorn back. The powers these two had were insane.
“Emily, leave it be. I only transported him to the garden. He will be happy there.”
“Ok…but what about Lute?”
Sera brushed her hand over Lute’s forehead and an aura started to glow around her. Spots on her body lit up; the same places where she was hit. Magic started to feed into her and within moments her eyes were opening.
When she seemed to have a sense of what was going on, Sera removed her hand and crossed her arms.
“Lute, I am very disappointed in you. You made a horrible example for your army and you endangered yourself and that poor animal!”
“Ughhhhh, my head…” Lute was hardly paying attention to Sera’s scolding. She staggered to her feet and scanned the field. The Exorcists were having fun in the distance. The game had changed from classic polo to using the mallets like lances, trying to knock one another off.
“Lute? Did you hear me?”
“Yes, your highness. I’m sorry. I was…”
“Was what, Lute?”
“Sera,” Emily tugged on her sister’s dress and said, “give her a break.”
Sera looked ready to refuse but I didn’t think anyone could resist Emily’s natural charm and pleading eyes. She heaved a heavy sigh and addressed Abel next.
“Take the Exorcists back—no. Actually. Reprimand your lieutenant, Abel.”
“Huh? But—”
“Abel.”
Is anyone going to talk to me? I was in the middle of all this and it’s like no one was aware I was standing by them. The Exorcists who were here a minute ago had already moved.
I looked for a way out without being obvious but there was no such exit. Damn. Guess I’ll have to watch the show.
Abel fumbled with his hands, then adjusted his crooked halo like five times. Lute stared at him, annoyed, as she rubbed her head and cracked her neck.
“Lute, I…I don’t like that you didn’t listen to me—”
“Firmer, Abel,” Sera interrupted. Abel gulped and stood as tall he could, looking Lute in the eyes.
“I’m your commander Lute. You need to follow my instructions.”
That was better. I felt myself stand at attention with the change in tone. Lute scoffed and—walked away. Sera yelled for her to come back but she pushed through the stadium double doors and didn’t return.
Emily came forward and gave Abel a hug. “You did great! Don’t worry about her.”
“Haha, ya. Thanks Emily.”
Ok, I can’t take this anymore.
“Um hello??? Is anyone going to say anything to me?” I waved my arms around and finally the three angels looked my way.
“I’m sorry, Exorcist. I didn’t realize you were standing there,” Sera said. She bowed her head and said, “I’m Sera, a high seraphim. This is my sister,” she lowered her hand to the much shorter girl beside her, “Emily.”
“Ya I know that already.”
“And what is your name?” Emily asked rather excitedly. She grabbed my hands and I slightly reeled back. This girl had a lot of energy. Very similar to a certain princess…
“I don’t have one, yet. Lute’s working on it.” At least, I hoped so. She said she would be watching me.
“Awww, why not let Abel do it? He comes up with such good names for the million petting zoos we have!”
Abel’s face flushed red and he put up his hands. “No no, I already tried Emily. She wants Lute to do it. It’s fine, she’s known her the longest anyway.”
“Okkkk,” Emily let go of my hands but continued to smile at me. Now I know why she’s the angel of joy. I sense nothing but happiness from her.
The two seraphim wrapped up their business and Sera took Abel aside. I wondered what they were whispering to one another. I’d bet my money it’s about Lute. Oh! Or maybe the next extermination.
Everyone was anxious to know if it was going to happen or not. I thought about it everyday. Without exterminations, we’d just be useless soldiers left to rot in our little corner of the world.
Or maybe—if they did end—
…we could finally live our lives.
Go into the city as much as we wanted. Make all sorts of new friends. No more lying about who we were and what we did. Life would be so much better.
Sigh—I took pride in my job and the meaning it had, being heaven’s protector and all, but it wasn’t wrong to want a little freedom, was it?
…
I slipped off my uniform and dropped it in the massive community pile. Taking a black robe off the hook, I shrugged it on and tied a clean knot in the front.
I pushed open the door and steam wafted into my face. We were all bathing after getting dirty from polo earlier. We smelled like outside.
I peered through the crowd and looked for my usual circle of friends. So many heads, it was hard to find them!
I walked around the pool several times and came across them sitting on the steps at the far end. They hadn’t even started bathing yet. I plopped down beside them, sending a little water up and into the face of Destiny.
“Oh hey girl. You’re just in time.”
“In time for what?” I questioned. Destiny motioned for me to look at Peachy’s phone, which was right in front of her. Peachy was scrolling through dozens of pictures of everyone’s first ride on the unicorns. They were pictures of scared faces, happy smiles, and the occasional failure. I put a hand on my mouth to stop the laughter.
Peachy couldn’t conceal her giggling, but luckily it was covered by the chatter of the others. “I should totally post some of these on our socials. Look at the one I got of Lute though! It’s so badass.” She quickly swiped to the end of the photo reel.
“Damn, calm down Peachy. It’s not a race!” Destiny laughed. “You’re going to break your screen like that.”
“Sorry! Just trying to find it…here it is!” she angled the phone back towards us and we awed in unison.
It looked like a professional action shot. It showed the unicorn with its front legs in the air, reared back and mane flowing. Lute had her wings extended and a giant smirk on her face. Destiny grabbed the phone and zoomed in on some parts.
“That should be a portrait,” she said, handing the phone to me now for a better look. I nodded my head, staring at the picture of our fierce lieutenant before she was brutally attacked. No matter what, she would always be on a different level than the rest of us. I threw the phone to Peachy and stretched my arms.
“Alright, let’s get clean now. I’m so dirty. Wash my wings?” I turned my back to Destiny and she immediately got to work. Peachy switched seats and came in front of me, handing me a sponge from behind her back.
“You wash mine, soldier!”
“Will do.”
And so began the washing train.
…
When we came out of the sauna, the girls who got done before us had already started working on dinner. I was drawn to the smell of savory goodness. My stomach growled and I hurried to the dining room.
I took a seat at the middle table and bounced my knee up and down. I got a glimpse of the kitchen. They were preparing the plates now.
More Exorcists trickled in and within minutes the place was packed. Some girls I didn’t know too well sat beside me. I didn’t try engaging in their conversation. I was too focused on trying to eat.
Exorcists flew out of the kitchen and started handing us our plates one by one. Sitting at the front, I got my food first, hehe. I stabbed my fork into the food and happily munched on it. Juice was poured into cups and we even had the option of wine, but I wasn’t feeling it today.
The empty, gold embossed seat beside me screeched a little as it was pulled out and someone sat in it. I glanced up from my food and saw Lute, which was surprising. I expected Abel to try sitting in that seat again.
“Hi Lute.”
“Hey,” she rasped, rubbing her throat. Poor lieutenant, the unicorn must have stomped her there too. She moved her fork around her food, not picking anything up. She took a tiny sip of her juice and then snapped her fingers. An Exorcist flew over and leaned down.
“Yes, lieutenant?”
“Get me some wine please,” she said. The Exorcist nodded and flew away. It didn’t take her long to retrieve it. She switched out Lute’s cup for a fancy glass one that was nearly filled to the top. I hoped she wouldn’t drink all that. It looked like too much.
She took a considerable sip and leaned back in the chair. Her eyes flicked to something in the corner. She mumbled under her breath and rolled her eyes. I was used to Lute talking to herself, so I didn’t think much of it. I tried saying something to her.
“How are you feeling? After, you know…”
“Incredibly sore. I wish I never got on that damn horse.”
“Unicorn,” a passing Satin corrected, plate in her hand. “And may I say, now we understand each other?”
“Go AWAY!” Lute barked, swiping at her. She managed to knock her fork off her plate and Satin scurried down the room, laughing. “God, she always gets on my nerves. I’m starting to regret inviting her to train.”
“Oh, she’s part of the group?”
“Ya.”
Satin was one of the top Exorcists. Second to Lute, actually. She was strong and fast, and very contradictory. Sometimes she was sweet. Other times….not so much. She should have been named Gemini instead.
I swallowed my food and continued the conversation. “Are you in trouble?”
“You mean besides Sera yelling in my ear? Ha, this is nothing,” she took another gulp of wine and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Did you—enjoy the outing today?”
“Oh definitely. I had fun!”
“Good…” she trailed off, clearly peeved about something I didn’t understand. The way she was glaring down the table gave me an idea though. Abel was telling some story and the Exorcists around him were laughing.
“Soldier, what’s your opinion of our new commander?”
Oh no. Please don’t get me mixed up in this. “Uhmmm…he’s nice, I guess. A bit naive and unsure of himself, but it’s kinda cute.”
“Cute? Ha. Hahaha,” she chuckled to herself and swirled the wine in her cup. I could see her fingers tensing around the skinny handle. “That’s not going to save him in the next coming months.”
“You know, he actually managed to attack me last training session. He has a chance…maybe…” I couldn’t finish my sentence with the way Lute was looking at me. She was—smiling—but it was all wrong. Her eyes portrayed a deep anger. I could almost see the fire in them.
She put down her glass and held her head.
“I should get over it. I should just accept he’s our leader now. That puppy dog boy is my commander and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Lute…?”
“I mean, he hasn’t shown any initiative for training you guys. We have a war to win and he wants to play mister good guy. He wants to traipse around a field with you all and I’m the bad guy for making sure we can fight.”
“Lieutenant—”
“My sisters know I’m doing what’s best for them, don’t they? Don’t they know that I actually care?!” She looked up at me for the first time since her rambling spiral. I didn’t hesitate—I put a hand on her arm and squeezed it.
“Of course we do, Lute. Liking Abel doesn’t mean anything.”
“I don’t even know why I’m saying this. Telling you this,” she tried pulling away but I didn’t let her go.
“No, say what’s on your mind.”
She stiffened. Her hand opened, as if to grab my arm and pry me off, but she closed her fist again and relaxed, defeated. She looked away from me and at the floor instead.
“I really hate that what he said got to me earlier. It’s true, very true…and I always ignored it because I had him, and so it didn’t matter,” she brushed her hand along the arm of the chair. Pressing her finger into the raised gold designs. “But now. I feel so—” she stopped, biting her lips.
I waited, hoping she would continue. What Abel said I did not know, but it’s obviously made her really upset.
She took a deep breath and finished her thought. “Isolated.”
“...really?”
“Yes, really,” she snapped. She eyed my hand and jostled my arm. “I’m going to my room now. Goodnight.”
“Oh.” I let go and she got up, but not before downing the rest of her drink. She dropped it back on the table and the glass clinked as it fell over. “Goodnight, Lute.”
She put up her hand in goodbye and stalked down the row. As she passed Abel she knocked his hat off and continued walking, holding her arms across her chest until I couldn’t see her anymore.