Chapter 2
Isalla found herself confined to bed for another two days, though she did make a single brief attempt to walk the next day. The results had made her unhappily aware of just how weak she was, and the attempt had been quite short, as her legs had given out within three steps and Kanae had barely caught Isalla before she hit the floor. So instead of trying again immediately, Isalla had given her body a bit more time to recover, despite how much a part of her mind was screaming not to just lay in bed.
It became readily apparent that Isalla could have escaped if her body was able to move properly, too. Kanae had informed Isalla that she was leaving the next day to gather herbs, and for hours the angel had found herself alone in the building. It was eerie, how a demon had saved her and was trusting her to stay in her home… but in the end, Isalla had decided that she had jumped to conclusions, as much as it pained her to admit that. The only demons she’d ever encountered were those who were involved in the war, and when Isalla considered most of her kindred who’d fought against the demons, she realized that, from another point of view, it might seem like all angels were violent warriors. It wasn’t a pleasant thought.
Eventually Kanae had returned and put something on to cook before coming to check on Isalla and her injuries. Now that she’d stopped objecting at every turn and watched her hostess, Isalla found Kanae to be brisk and almost always on the move, but neither was the demoness inattentive. Yes, she scolded Isalla when she nearly injured herself, but at no point had she brought up any form of compensation for her treatment.
The second day was far better, though, because, under Kanae’s watchful gaze, Isalla had managed to put on a thin shift and totter out into the main room of the small house. She might have almost immediately collapsed into a chair, but she made it, which was an achievement all on its own, and an immense relief for Isalla.
“Congratulations, you managed to get out of bed without completely collapsing. Would you like a mug of water?” Kanae asked, a faint smile flickering across her face. A tiny part of Isalla wanted to complain about the smile, but it wasn’t really fair. Had their roles been reversed, Isalla probably would have laughed.
“Please. Heavens, I never thought that walking was so hard,” Isalla complained, breathing quickly to try to still the trembling in her legs.
“I’d recommend trying to avoid oaths like that. They’ll give your nature away if you aren’t careful.” Kanae said, stepping over to a cabinet and pulling out a ceramic mug. Next to the cabinet was a large copper barrel on the counter with a spigot at the bottom. Isalla watched in fascination as the demon turned the spigot, releasing a stream of water into the mug, then shut it off.
“I’ll try to remember that. But… won’t it be fairly obvious anyway?” Isalla asked, frowning as she considered the situation and growing less pleased as she did so. “I’ve heard plenty of demons can detect us by smell.”
“That’s quite true.” Kanae agreed, setting the mug in front of Isalla. “In fact, I had a solution for that in mind. If you’ll give me a moment, I’ll go find it.”
“Sure.” Isalla said, a little surprise surging through her at the offer. She took a sip of the water and blinked. It had a faint coppery taste to it, but it was surprisingly good despite that.
Kanae stepped away and headed for a back room, and as she did so, Isalla examined the room again, curious despite herself. She didn’t feel nearly as awkward looking around without the demon there to see it.
The house was different than Isalla had expected. Most demon structures were all dark stone, skulls, and images of horrible things that Isalla shuddered to think on. This was dark, yes, because the smoothly planed wooden boards were almost pure black, but that was where the similarities ended. The room was reasonably large, with a table big enough to seat eight and four chairs at its heart, as well as a single, heavily stuffed leather chair near the fireplace that a part of Isalla longed to collapse into. Five doors pierced the walls, one obviously the exit, while one was to her own room and another that Isalla suspected led to an identical room, while Kanae had gone through a third into the back. The last door Isalla wasn’t sure about, but she gave even odds that it led to a privy or a root cellar.
The wood by the fire was just as dark as that which made up the walls, while the bricks that made up the fireplace were a simple brown, which told Isalla that the planks were simply what had been available, not a deliberate attempt at making the house oppressive, though they succeeded at that anyway. A couple of cabinets adorned the walls, one crowded with books, and other with a variety of jars of different herbs and substances Isalla couldn’t identify on its shelves. Considering that a couple of the items looked like they might be organs, Isalla didn’t really want to know what they were. Conversely, the kitchen was much more heavily built, with several counters, including the one the copper keg was on, and a fireplace filled with what looked like burning coal to Isalla, with a wide grate over the flames. It was kept clean, and there were several washbasins about, ones that were ceramic, and she could see that they’d fit onto the grate. Most remarkable was the large mirror on one wall, though, the edges of it finely carved wood that shone with a gold luster, and with a dozen jewels that glittered with internal light set around the edges of it.
The room was fascinating to look at, but Isalla thought it’d get boring eventually. Taking another sip of water, she waited for Kanae to return patiently. Or as patiently as she could, as she’d fallen into the hells, of all places.
Eventually Kanae opened the door and stepped through, holding a copper bracelet in one hand as she sighed. “Well, that took longer than expected. My apologies, this wasn’t where I left it.”
“What is it, exactly?” Isalla asked curiously, looking at the bracelet and tilting her head to try to get a better look. The outside was smooth, but she thought she could see some symbols on the interior.
“This bracelet is enchanted. I had a human brought to me for healing, but it was far too late to save him, unfortunately, and he didn’t have any companions. With no one to claim his things, I kept them.” Kanae explained, coming over to the table and sitting gracefully. “These bracelets are relatively common among merchants and other mortals who come to the hells. They adjust the wearer’s scent so they seem like a demon, or at least a native of the hells. While it isn’t made specifically for an angel, it should work well enough, since you don’t have your wings.”
Isalla winced at the reminder about her wings, her back muscles twitching painfully, but nodded, swallowing and looking at the bracelet as she did so. Kanae’s offer sounded good, but she couldn’t help a niggling feeling that there might be a catch.
“That does sound useful,” she admitted, then hesitated before asking. “What about my appearance?”
“That? You’re beautiful and unusual, but not that strange. If you had a halo, or the innate glow of a few angels, we might have issues, but not now.” Kanae explained, frowning thoughtfully at Isalla. “Doubtless someone saw you fall from the sky, but I think I can keep you safe enough until you’re ready to attempt your escape.”
“Attempt my escape? Why do you assume I will? I had other angels cut my wings off. I could be a traitor,” Isalla said, looking at the bracelet as Kanae set it on the table in front of her. She wanted to snatch it up, since it would make her a little safer, but she didn’t want to appear too eager, no matter how helpful Kanae seemed to be.
Kanae simply laughed and shook her head, her reaction prompting Isalla to flush. “You, a traitor? One who was wearing the armor of the Order of the Phoenix? No, I don’t think so. You won’t be comfortable in the hells, Isalla. Your very nature will rebel at it, and eventually you will attempt to escape if you avoid capture. That won’t be easy, even with a disguise and that bracelet, but I believe you’ll have decent odds. For now, though, my goal is to make certain you’re well enough to manage it.”
“You recognized my armor?” Isalla asked, fighting back the heat in her cheeks, and a little su
rprised.
“Of course. How could I have realized how foolish the conflict between the heavens and hells was without seeing it in person? I’ve faced angels before, Isalla, and even slain them.” Kanae’s slight smile faded as a hint of sorrow crossed her face. “I regret that, at least in some cases. Some angels are brutal, and others… were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“O-oh,” Isalla said, a bit of her relaxation around Kanae fading away. The idea that the demon had killed other angels was… worrisome. Even so, Isalla didn’t have a choice but to trust her, at least for the moment. That being the case, she took a breath and continued. “I… you said that you’d help me recover, but I don’t really see how you could, at least not in a reasonable amount of time. I lost more strength than I can believe, and I think it’ll take years or more to fully recover.”
“True, if I was going to allow you to do it normally. I can’t have patients staying indefinitely, not with so few rooms available. No, I have a few alchemical concoctions I can brew to help,” Kanae said, her voice lightening as she smiled. “I don’t have one of the ingredients just now, but I was planning to go looking for that in the next few days. It’s a bit hard on the body, so we need you fully stable before I go stressing you even further. I expect it’ll take a few months despite that, and it won’t be the most pleasant sensation in the world, but it’s possible.”
“If you say so. It’s a bit… strange, to me,” Isalla said, reaching for the bracelet, then paused and admitted nervously, “You know I can’t pay you for what you’ve done, don’t you? I didn’t have any money on me when I was attacked, and the only thing I had was my armor.”
“Which, if you think I want your armor, you’re crazy. That’s dangerous to have around,” Kanae said, sniffing. “No, that’s going with you when you leave… or you can bury it or something. I hid it for the time being, just to be safe. I don’t expect you to repay me, Isalla. You don’t have anything that I’d value in that manner, and I’m not one to take advantage of my patients. Once you’re well enough to walk around, you can help around the house, or even help me gather herbs and alchemical materials, but that’s it. You don’t have some huge debt hanging over your head, girl.”
“That’s a relief… and I’d be very willing to help with things around the house,” Isalla said, smiling in relief as she picked up the bracelet. After a moment, she slipped it around a wrist, well away from one of the injuries. She felt the faintest tingle from it, but nothing more. Suddenly she stopped, though, and she asked, “Girl? I’m not that young.”
“Perhaps not,” Kanae agreed, standing and moving over to the cabinet, pulling out a pot. “I’m going to start on dinner, I think.”
“Kanae… how old are you?” Isalla asked, growing more concerned as her sense that something was off about Kanae grew stronger.
“Older than you,” the demon replied casually, and the confidence in her tone was startling as the demon smiled. “That’s all the answer you’re getting, Isalla. It’s rude to ask a woman’s age, you know.”
Isalla let out a breath of annoyance, watching the graceful, practiced movements of the demon, and wondered. There was just something intriguing about Kanae, something she couldn’t quite place.
Chapter 3
The sound of an axe splitting wood startled Isalla awake the next morning, and her abrupt movements nearly caused her to fall out of the narrow bed. After a few moments, she calmed down, and as the steady rhythm of the axe continued, Isalla dragged herself out of bed and moved into the main room. About half an hour later, the sound stopped and Kanae returned, this time not wearing the robes that Isalla had grown used to seeing her in. Instead, Kanae was wearing trousers and a simple tunic, and the sight was surprising enough to Isalla that her mouth hung slightly open in shock.
Isalla had thought that Kanae was pretty before this, but having not seen anyone else next to the demon, she hadn’t realized just how large Kanae was. Kanae must have been close to six feet in height, but her shoulders were also broader than those of most women Isalla knew, while her hips were also wide and she had an almost unnaturally thin waist and large bust. The demon’s arms revealed a surprising amount of muscle, though it was toned enough to not be overly obvious, and Isalla shut her mouth after a moment, trying to figure out why her heartbeat had quickened at the sight.
“Is something the matter?” Kanae asked, closing the door behind her as she stepped inside, taking a cloth by the door to wipe some sweat from her forehead. “You were acting like a landed fish.”
“I just… I didn’t realize how tall you were. Or… well, you don’t look like any other variety of demon I’ve seen before. Your horns are fairly small, but you don’t have even vestigial wings, and you’re surprisingly… humanoid,” Isalla said, flushing slightly in embarrassment. “What type of demon are you?”
“I’m a mutant. Oh, there are other demon-blooded creatures around who’re similar to me—the children of demons and mortals, for instance—but in my case, I’m the offspring of an incubus and succubus, and their bloodlines mixed… oddly,” Kanae replied bluntly, shrugging as she slipped off her heavy boots. “I’m most likely unique.”
“Oh. That does explain why you’re so unusual…” Isalla murmured, filing the information away, even if she wasn’t sure what she’d do with it.
“Quite. Now, I’m going to take a bath and make breakfast and lunch for each of us. I’m going to be going into the forest to gather herbs, so you’re going to have to fend for yourself for much of the day,” Kanae told Isalla, heading for the door in the back.
“Okay…” Isalla replied, slightly taken aback by how brusque the woman was being. She hadn’t thought she was being rude.
It did answer the question of what the rear door was for, though. Isalla waited patiently, and in relatively short order, Kanae returned, once again wearing robes that shrouded her figure as she dried her hair. Breakfast was a simple meal of porridge, and the demon’s idea of lunch seemed to be a couple of slices of dense bread, hard cheese, sliced meat that looked much like ham, and a handful of berries.
Every attempt Isalla made to strike up a conversation was met with relatively short responses that cut Isalla off, and at last she stopped trying. Finally, the demon left, and Isalla found herself with only her own company while she wondered what she’d done.
The evening wasn’t much different, though at least the food was better. Isalla barely spoke, afraid that she was going to upset her host. Eventually they went to bed, and the next morning started much the same, though instead of going into the forest, this time Kanae announced she was going to town. As she was about to leave, Isalla finally screwed up her courage and spoke.
“May I ask why you’re so upset with me?” Isalla asked, bracing herself for a harsh response.
“Upset with you?” Kanae asked, pausing by the door as she looked at Isalla with just a trace of surprise in her voice. “Why would I be upset with you?”
“You’re treating me… differently. Like you want to keep your distance, or like you dislike me,” Isalla explained, growing confused at Kanae’s response. It wasn’t as though Kanae had been incredibly nice to begin with, but the change was obvious to Isalla.
“Ah, that. The issue isn’t with you, Isalla. The problem is with me, and I’m attempting to minimize conversation to quell a rather unwelcome instinct,” Kanae replied, her lips thinning slightly. “I anticipate this to last about a week, unfortunately.”
“Uh, what kind of instinct?” Isalla asked, almost afraid to know, but her worry easing slightly at the information that she wasn’t at fault for Kanae’s reaction, and that Kanae wasn’t upset with her. In fact, it was a bit surprising just how much of a relief it was.
“You’re an angel, and you’re so weak that anyone in the hells would have little issue defeating you. I am a demon descended from an incubus and succubus, creatures who have a nigh-legendary libido. What sort of instinct do you think it is?” Kanae asked, and without pausi
ng, she took a basket and stepped through the door. The lock turned behind her as Isalla sat there, staring after Kanae in shock.
As she stared, Isalla slowly flushed bright red as she realized what the demon was talking about. She hadn’t even thought about the possibility, though every angel had heard tales of demons taking advantage of captured angels. The thought that Kanae was deliberately suppressing any similar instincts was… strange. It wasn’t as though Isalla was a virgin, but she hadn’t even considered the demoness in that manner. At least, she hadn’t consciously thought about Kanae that way, until now.
Her thoughts thrown into chaos for several hours, Isalla almost forgot to eat her lunch, distracted as she was by Kanae’s revelation. Shortly after she ate, there was the sound of the key again, and Kanae returned. A part of Isalla was flustered, mostly because she hadn’t figured out how to react yet.
“There, done. Finding them was a bit more difficult than I would’ve preferred, but…” Kanae said, closing the door behind her. The basket she was holding had several bundles in it, and Isalla frowned at them.
“What was more difficult than you’d prefer?” Isalla asked hesitantly, resisting the urge to fidget.
“Finding clothing which will fit you, as well as shoes,” Kanae answered briskly. “I found two shirts and one pair of trousers, along with two skirts that will fit, and I also managed to get three sets of socks. Shoes were much harder, but they should work. I’ll take them into your room, so you can try them on in private.”
“You got me clothing?” Isalla asked, slightly stunned, considering the conversation earlier. “Why?”
“I can’t have you wandering around naked, and as I said before, your previous clothing is not acceptable,” Kanae replied, taking the basket into the small room. While she was gone, Isalla looked down at the thin gown she’d been wearing and blushed slightly, since it would’ve fit most humans, though not very well. Until now she hadn’t thought about how poorly it fit her. At that point Kanae came out again, speaking quickly. “Now, try it on. I need to take it back to get adjustments if it doesn’t fit.”
Heaven's Fallen Page 2
