THE ARCHANGEL'S SECOND CHANCE

CHAPTER 6

Uncanny resemblance.

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“If she was someone you knew,” Elliana’s eyes began to waver as she tried to focus on her words as she speaks slowly. The building panic and her heart beat unknowingly give her the chills, causing her to hesitate before continuing her question. “Then… why am I-”

Before she can finish her question, Vincent spoke. “You should stop thinking about it.” She looks nothing like Samantha. She’s completely different from her but why...? “I don’t know the answer to that either but I think it’s best for you to forget about it.” I have to know more about this. She shouldn’t be involved further while I know nothing about this. His grey orbs looked straight at her fearful emerald eyes.

“You are an angel that matches the ability range of an archangel. That must be the reason why you reacted to her name. She’s an archangel, that must be the reason why you felt a connection with her.” He said despite the fact that he knows how shallow and nearly unbelievable his statement was.

Elliana, on the other hand, failed to focus on what he’s saying because of her roller coaster set of emotions. There’s this part of her that enjoys the touch of warmth his cold flesh emits as her own skin reacts with his ice like temperature, then the part that wants her to stay staring at his comforting set of grey orbs, and the unsettling feeling that makes her uneasy for a reason she can’t determine.

Noticing how oddly quiet she is, Vincent spoke. “Hey.” Snapping her out of her thoughts, she shook her head and looked down on her lap, slightly seeing his hands that remained on her cheeks on her peripheral view. “Elliana.”

Hearing him mention her name for the first time this day, her heart skipped a beat, and the unsettling chills that disturb her nerves were replaced with a different vibe, but gives the same result- her heartbeat fast for a reason she doesn’t know.

“Angel. Hey.” Slightly shaking her as his hands traveled down her shoulders, she blinked twice and looked up to him, now seeing his furrowed brows as he stared at the woman who seemed off after being pulled in an unknown sensation brought by the unexpected mention of the archangel only him knows.

“I-I don’t care a-about it.” She said, struggling to figure out her response as she nervously pulled his hands away from her before standing up, hurriedly fixing up her messed up coat and fixing her disturbing hair. “It’s over now.” She then looked down on the vampire who stood up, causing her eyes to follow his orbs and lift her head up as he stood tall.

Unconvinced, Vincent took a step closer to her, instinctively making her take a step back. “Really?” Why won’t she mind about it? That’s more unrealistic than what I told her. “Are you sure?” he asked as he took another step closer, causing for Elliana to feel the cold wall behind her as she reached the elevator’s limit.

“Yeah.” She replied, but her voice is so soft and unsure that even her straight face failed to hide how hesitant she is in responding. Seeing that, Vincent’s lips curved into a small smile, genuinely intrigued by how amusing the angel is in front of her.

Elliana, on the other hand, felt lost once again when she saw how real his smile is. The soft, red, lips that showed no sign of hostility nor malice as it curved up, his eyes that presents nothing but amusement, and his physique that portrayed nothing but humoristic caging as she found herself trapped between the wall and his arms.

“You’re funny, don’t you know that?” his low voice followed by a chuckle made her speechless as she just remained quiet, still stunned on how things quickly changed without her processing anything. Before she can even speak, Vincent moved away and snapped his fingers, causing for time to flow properly again.

Ting! Her heart nearly jumped out her chest when the elevator began moving again. Once the door opened, Elliana stood up tall and smiled at the medical staffs who entered, temporarily pausing their chattering to smile back at her.

Quietly, she took a side glance and saw Vincent on his usual appearance- blank face, intimidating presence, and a formal man standing on the other side of the elevator with his one hand inside his pocket. How can this man trouble me and then look all cool and hot as if he did nothing wrong to me?! Cursing him inside her head, her eyes widened when Vincent turned and looked at her with a smirk.

In return, she glared at him before averting her gaze. Despite that attempt to act normal, her pinkish cheeks and loud, quick heartbeats that Vincent’s aware of because of his high senses made her look more adorable than fierce. Samantha used to glare at me too. But her heartbeat gave away her nervousness when she’s with me.

With that sudden thought entering his mind, the small smile playing on his lips as he stared at the woman who’s a mess of loud heart beats and blood rushing disappeared. Why am I comparing her to a woman who’s been gone for centuries?

Without even reaching the 59th floor, Elliana quickly went out on the 13th floor, mingling with the other employees who’s actually on their way on one of the rooms located in the said floor. Confused with his building conclusions and unexpected comparisons,

Vincent followed her, a few seconds later.

Staring at her back as she moved in a quick pace, Samantha’s back figure began to form, matching up with the woman in front of her- her straight, golden hair, and white, thick, robe she often use while strolling in the human world, everything is different on how Elliana carries herself- blue, wavy hair, and white coat that covers her grey sweater and denim pants, how can this girl remind him of someone who’s not supposed to exist anymore?

“Earl.” Samantha calls him with gentleness and sincerity. “This will be the last time I’ll side with you.” Elliana talks to him with nothing in between them except acquaintances who met in an unexpected time. They have nothing in common except that they’re both angels. So why?

Seeing that she turned left, Vincent sped up and caught her arm, causing for her to gasp and look at him with surprised eyes, saying nothing as her breathing remained unsynchronized with her insanely quick heart beats. “Let me go…while I’m asking nicely.” she slowly said, careful of not disturbing the hospital floor as she stared deep in his calculating eyes.

Is this fear? Elliana can’t function anymore. The beginning of all the changes she felt rooted at the foreign sensation brought by the pain after hearing a name she’s not familiar of. What am I afraid of? Seeing how her words didn’t affect the man who stared at her without moving an inch, she looked around and saw some of the people beginning to take interest of the two of them.

Gulping, she took his hand and began walking towards the stairs on the other side of the left corner. “Elliana Winters.” She temporarily paused after hearing her name. “Tell me, have-” before he can continue, she turned around with her finger on her mouth, telling him to stop talking.

“Not with humans.”

“Not with humans.” Same words, the usage of the same set of words took him aback. Samantha said that softly and gently, but Elliana said it fearfully. Same words, different women with different expressions. Just what exactly is this? Ever since he witnessed the unusual reaction brought by a single utterance of her name, everything began connecting to each other like little pieces waiting to form a puzzle.

Reaching the stairs, Elliana closed the door and looked up the CCTV camera. After checking it, she looked at Vincent and ordered him. “Stop the time.” She said, panic doubling up inside her as she asks for something she knew is bad for her right now. “Vincent.”

For the first time, he heard her call his name. It wasn’t sweet nor comforting, but in some sense, it was addicting. “Say my name again.” He said, then pulled her closer till she hit her head on his chest. “Elliana-” before he can continue, she already spoke.

“Vincent.” Unknown to both of them, they both felt the chills of hearing their names mentioned by each other. “Stop the time…again.” She said, unable to lift her head up as her skin almost match up with the coldness of the skin of the man who had her still and motionless.

Following her, Elliana heaved a deep sigh of relief once everything aside from them lost its ability to move. “Listen,” her voice that came out small, almost like a whisper made her bite her lip as she tried to muster up the courage to speak up for herself.

“I hate you. I want you to never bother me again. You understand?” She said, moving away from him, finally freeing her wrist that was unknowingly getting squeezed by the man who is confused with everything as well, just like her.

“I don’t care if you don’t want me around, I will still bother you, Earl. You understand?” Again, her words gave her another fragment of memory. They are different. Why? “You hate me?” he asked, his deep voice muttered he stayed still, staring at her with all the unmixed emotions within him.

Samantha welcomes him with a smile, yet Elliana who’s in front of her pushes him away with hatred. What makes them similar? “I never liked your presence. You are a threat to humanity and that’s never alright with me.” She boldly stated.

“Why? Well, I like you. You won’t hurt humans so I’m comfortable with you.” Hearing the malevolence in her words that contrasted the words of the woman who showed him everything that he was deprived of, made anger rise up within him. “Why do you hate me, Elliana?” he growled, his eyes turned blood red as fear crept up faster in Elliana’s system.

“H-hey.” Elliana gulped as she moved backwards, but she was pulled back in which caused her to gasp as her back hit the wall in a split second. This time, it didn’t give her reasons to stay calm. Everything about the man in front of her scream danger. “H-hey…calm down and-”

“Tell me!” hearing his terrifying voice made her close her eyes and tears to slowly build up. “Why do you remind me of her even when you’re nothing alike!” having no strength to talk back, Elliana used his remaining strength to remain standing despite the overwhelming emotions flowing from the man he triggered with mere words.

There’s pain, anger, and sadness, all mixed up together and created a dangerous presence. “I’m not her…” her broken voice as she speaks up slowly with her eyes closed and tears flowing down temporarily stopped the man who was taken aback with her response. “Please…let me go.”

“Please…let us go.” The scene wherein a bloodied place without any humans, a forest dyed red that stands on a cliff with a ranging ocean underneath, Samantha who’s on her knees, begging for their freedom while her chiton’s stained with gold and black ichor, face painted with sadness and tears overflowing with fear despite his cry of disagreement and wrath; everything flashed in one, swift, second.

A single similarity between them- their pleading for their lives.

Snapping back to reality, Vincent finally saw how vulnerable and terrified the crying angel is. Saying nothing, his eyes returned to normal and he hugged her, surprising Elliana who opened her eyes with disbelief as comfort began to surround her again. “I’m sorry.”

He’s cold, but his embrace is warm. What’s this? Before she knew it, her hands made way on his back and hugged him back. Everything happened without a warning and all their actions are unplanned, unexpected, and definitely not given any forethought. Is this normal?

Vincent isn’t the type of person who apologizes first, whether it’s his fault or not. Elliana, on the other hand, isn’t the type who offers hugs or returns one whenever she gets one. But right now, both their normal ways of dealing with people in everyday life is broken by themselves.

No words were exchanged between the two of them. However, the presence of all the thoughts that kept them busy as they enjoyed each other’s company made the silence filled with tenderness; as if they were meant to hurt each other, but at the same time, the only person who can give them solace and remedy is each other.