OTA

[whispersoflove]

Coby wasn't home, and hadn't left a note for him, so Anael was walking through the streets of London to get to Alcuin's home, enjoying the chill in the air, the way his breath fogged on the way out, the ebb and flow of love in the hearts around him. Hands in his jacket pockets, he paid no mind to the odd looks he occasionally received for wearing nothing but a denim jacket over a t-shirt in this weather.

It began as an itch in his back, a barely there scratch where his wings would be. He did not think much of it, only shifting his shoulders the way he normally did when the urge to let them out came over him. But then the itch burrowed deeper, and increasingly hotter, until it was more of a burn than anything else, and his lungs were alive with it.

He'd hurried into a side street with little foot traffic and leaned against a wall there, his breathing short and heavy. He tried to cloak himself, but he couldn't keep a hold on the miracle through the pain he was so unused to, and he collapsed to his knees as he heard words in a rough language that scraped against every fiber of his being, a language of Hell. His wings wouldn't come out and he folded to his side on the wet ground, seeing shadows on the other side of the street. They were all saying the words, out loud and right into his mind, and one of them came forward, a pair of boots stopping right in front of him. They pulled his t-shirt collar down and drew a symbol between his collarbones, their fingers red with - blood? The symbol felt like it was searing into his flesh. Anael cried out, physically as much as spiritually, praying out to God with all of his being.

The words ceased suddenly, pain abating slightly, and the dark figures dispersed as someone ran over to him.

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[whispersoflove]

Anael leaned back against the wall, his hand still held over the mark between his collarbones. "An itch," he said, struggling to think clear, to remember. "Like my wings wanted to come out. Then it grew, and..." He shook his head, unable to put words on what had happened just yet.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin wanted to look at the mark again, to see his wings and if they were alright- But he knew the lift wasn't the place to tend to such things. He'd have to wait just a bit longer.

"Nothing else?" he asked softly. "When I felt you near I wasn't using my full vision, but my magic did sharpen slightly. I'd swear I saw- I don't know. A mist? A fog or something?"

[whispersoflove]

"They were casting something," Anael stated, his words coming out in a rush. "On me. The spell - the curse - it came from Hell."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"They?" Fin asked, pausing as his brain caught up with the rest of what Anael had said.

"Oh my god, do you mean... Demons or something? Bloody he-"

He cut himself off, deciding that might not be appropriate right now, then moved to help Anael again as the lift doors pinged open.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

[whispersoflove]

"Thank you," Anael told him, even as he pushed off the wall to lean against Fin again. He would bless the water, clean himself up, and all would be well. There was no need to panic.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin guided him into the flat, getting him over to the sofa and then rushing off the fetch washcloths and water.

[whispersoflove]

"Thank you," Anael said as Fin came back, having already stripped out of his jacket and t-shirt. He reached for the basin and set it on his lap, muttering in a sibilant language as he swiped a hand over the water. The blessing was Heavenly, rather than Christian, but the water was now Holy Water all the same. Oblivious of the dirt and grime on the side of his face where he had hit the ground, he only focused on washing off the bloody glyph.

But he could still feel it there, even once the blood was gone. He could feel its dark edges across his skin, and all the way down to his soul, through his Grace.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Taking one of the cloths, Fin dipped it in the water and gingerly began to clean Anael's face.

"That symbol," he said softly. "What does it mean?"

[whispersoflove]

"It's... it's binding me," Anael answered, turning his face to look at Fin. There was fear in his eyes, the sort Fin would never have seen in him. "In this form."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Like this, human looking you mean?" Fin asked, his hand going still. "Why? I don't understand..."

[whispersoflove]

"Not just human-looking, but on this plane," Anael answered, still frowning. He shook his head. "I don't know who they were, and what they wanted. You might have interrupted them before they were done."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Frowning, Fin was silent for a moment, before he moved to finish rubbing away the dirt from Anael's skin.

"What will you do then? I mean, how do you call for help? Are you going to pray or something?"

[whispersoflove]

"I will pray," Anael confirmed, resisting the urge to nod for emphasis, since Fin was cleaning his face. "But God is not very likely to intervene. They hardly ever do."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Aren't they supposed to- I don't know. Look after you?" Fin said, looking a bit annoyed on Anael's behalf.

[whispersoflove]

Anael smiled tenderly. "No. No, They're not. Can your magic feel it? What they did to me." He had no idea whether Fae magic would be able to sense the workings of Hell.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I'm not sure. It feels something, but- Nothing I'm familiar with. I don't think it likes it though, whatever it is."

When his magic enjoyed something or was attracted in some way, it took far more energy to keep it in check. ...It wasn't reaching for whatever had touched Anael though. It was keeping back a bit, actually.

[whispersoflove]

"Smart magic," Anael answered. Emotional intelligence, of course; the sort he favoured. "Thank you, for your help," he added, reaching for his t-shirt to get dressed again.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"You're not leaving, are you?" Fin asked, frowning slightly and visibly concerned. "No offence, but you're not looking your best. Do you not want a cup of tea or... There's a guest room if you want to rest a bit."

[whispersoflove]

"I can fly," Anael assured him with a small smile. "I'll go to Coby's." T-shirt back on, he ignored the feel of the brand under the fabric and cupped Fin's cheek in a tender gesture. "Thank you. If it weren't for your arrival..." Who knew what they might have had planned for Anael.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Oh. Right. ...Well, bye then," Fin said awkwardly.

[whispersoflove]

Anael looked at him curiously, but then dropped his hand and pushed up to his feet, shrugging on his denim jacket. "You've scared them off this time, but be careful if you see them again," Anael told him, stepping towards the window. "Whatever they are, they're very powerful." He was not sure whether Fin knew what kind of angel he was, but it took an awful lot of power to affect him, especially as thoroughly as they had managed.

He truly hoped that this was all the trouble he would cause Fin, but he would rather warn him.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin wasn't sure how to beware of something he knew nothing of, but he nodded anyway. Clearly Anael was in a rush now.

"Right, um- Take care then."

[whispersoflove]

Anael frowned slightly again. "Are you all right? Their magic didn't touch you, did it?" Surely Anael would have sensed it in him.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Fine," Fin assured him. "Worried about you is all. A moment ago you were barely holding yourself upright, now you're rushing off. I wont keep you though, I'm sure you know what you're doing."

[whispersoflove]

"I've never known anything like this," Anael admitted. "I have no idea what I'm doing, but Coby might be able to help." He would go to Felix, too; a wizard's help might be welcome. But... later. "And I think I need him, regardless," he added with a soft smile.

He wouldn't let himself take in the scope of what had happened to him until he was with Coby, or he was not sure that he could get there at all.