Fate To Fake: Loved by the Fallen; Fated to Kill the Divine

"This thing?" Azrael bristled, feeling oddly offended by the choice of words.

Leo let out a shaky laugh but didn't turn back. "Well, I got drenched in the rain, so I had to shower and change clothes. Maybe that's why."

Raphael frowned, thinking it over, but then nodded slowly. "All right… Now go." Her tone was clipped, but she let him go. Leo didn't wait another second—he practically bolted out of her line of sight, sighing heavily in relief.

Azrael exhaled quietly... A small, amused smile crept back to her lips as she hopped onto the platform, "Well, I guess everything's cleared up—"

Thud!

Before she could finish, she was slammed against the wall, the wooden sword pressed close to her throat, so close she could feel the cold wood bite against her skin. Azrael's heart hammered, sweat beading on her brow, as she stared into Raphael's eyes—eyes that had transformed, once again, into those of a merciless monster.

"W-what? I told you everything… We were just trying to surprise you!" Azrael's voice shook, her hands rising in surrender as the room seemed to shrink around her.

"Hmm… that's okay… but, more than twelve hours… You were with him?" Her eyes narrowed, gaze turning as cold as winter steel, her voice dropping to a frosty whisper.

"You didn't do anything… weird, right?"

Azrael's heart hammered as flashes of those heated moments surfaced—her body pressed close, breath mingling, hands wandering places they shouldn't. She swallowed, forcing her voice steady.

"O-Of course not! I-I would never harm him, Raphael."

Raphael stared... A shadow passed over her face, lips pressed into a hard line. Azrael's cheeks lost colour, her hands clenching at her sides. "Come on, Raphael—"

Raphael cut her off, "Promise in the name of your god."

Azrael blinked, "Why are you taking this so far? I… I haven't—"

Raphael's gaze turned lethal. "Promise, or I won't see you as a friend anymore. You understand what I'm saying, Azrael? If you've done anything questionable to my nephew… you're nothing to me."

A cold wind seemed to pass between them, making Azrael shiver. She knew how much Raphael treasured her nephew... she'd seen the way Raphael's protective instincts could spark into something fierce... even dangerous!!

Azrael sighed, shoulders slumping, feeling the old ache of memories. 'She hasn't changed at all, even after her memories were sealed away,' she thought, shaking her head, resigned. Slowly, she lifted her hand, voice trembling with both defiance and mischief.

"In the name of bitc— Ouch!"

Raphael's fist landed on her head, quick and merciless. Azrael winced, eyes narrowing, rubbing the spot. Then, with a glare and said with a hurried voice,

"In the name of God, I promise you, my fingers didn't touch only one part of his body." "

"Okay, now?" Azrael asked, trying to keep her cool, though her brow furrowed in annoyance.

"Can you trust your own friend, or what?"

Raphael finally exhaled. The darkness faded from her eyes, her lips curving into a softer smile. For the first time, her expression gentled, worry giving way to relief.

"I suppose I got a little too worried. It's just—never mind. I trust you, Azrael. Just… don't make me regret it," she murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

Azrael let out a low laugh, "Don't worry. With your blessing, maybe someday I'll really take this body—"

Thud!

The wooden sword hit the wall, the impact echoing through the corner.... The blade was embedded inches from her neck—dangerously close. Azrael's breath stilled, sweat beading along her brow as she turned, eyes wide.

Right beside her throat, the wooden blade stood quivering in the stone wall. She tried to force a shaky smile.

"Hah… Haha… you've still got that monstrous strength, Raphael. Remind me not to piss you off, alright?"

While Azrael fought to keep calm and not provoke Raphael further, in another room, Leo moved quickly, packing for school. He'd already washed and changed; all that remained was to grab his notes for the day.

"You did it."

Leo jerked, startled, turning to see Ophis sitting on his bed. She wore her uniform, eyes bright and lips curled in a sly, knowing smirk.

"Did what?" Leo asked.

Ophis' grin deepened, eyes glinting with mischief and something darker.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You were with her, weren't you? All night. You didn't just talk… did you?" Her tone coiled, slow and dangerous, as if daring him to deny it.

Leo maintained his calm expression, though a faint tension traced his brow. "I'm not sure what you're talking about," he replied, methodically packing his things.

Ophis' smirk widened, her lips curling into something almost predatory.

"Oh boy… oh little boy, have you forgotten who I am?" She leapt from the bed, posture arrogant, head held high. Her hands folded behind her back as she strolled closer, each step measured and bold.

"I can see what others cannot," she declared, eyes flickering with a sudden crimson light, "And I can smell… what others cannot," she continued, letting her gaze drift deliberately down, locking onto his crotch with shameless intent.

Leo's composure broke for a split second, "What the hell are you looking at?" he snapped, instinctively covering himself with one hand, even though he wore both pants and underwear.

Ophis' smirk twisted with mischief. "Your blood was running hot last night, wasn't it?" she teased, her voice dropping low, taunting.

Leo gulped, throat tight... He couldn't hide the faint flush rising in his cheeks.

Ophis let her smirk grow, "When you both arrived… it wasn't just her scent clinging to you. Yours was all over her, too. I wonder, Leo… what could have caused such an exchange?"

Leo shook his head, trying to recover his stoic mask. "I told you, I don't know what you're talking about. Nothing happened between us," he said.

Nothing happened, right?

Other than the dream?

Then why was Ophis looking at him as if she knew everything?

Ophis stepped closer, wickedness dancing in her eyes. "RAPH—Hmff!!" Leo lunged and clamped a hand over her mouth before she could finish.

Ophis' eyes flashed dangerously, but Leo leaned in, voice a strained whisper. "Don't." That single word carried the weight of a silent confession, an admission he couldn't speak aloud.

Ophis arched her brow, then nodded slowly, lips curling in silent triumph. Leo let go, biting his lower lip in frustration.

"Look, we didn't do anything—"

"One week."

"Huh?"

"If you don't want me telling Raphael about this little secret… then I get to drink your blood for one week," Ophis said, folding her arms, her tone matter-of-fact, as if naming the price for silence.

Leo blinked in disbelief. "Hell no!"

Ophis turned as if to leave, tossing her hair, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Alright, I'll just have a nice chat with Raphael, then."

Leo caught her wrist before she could take a step, teeth gritted in panic. Ophis turned back, her smirk deepening.

"Come on, we didn't do anything—" he insisted, desperation leaking into his voice.

"Then why are you scared?"

Leo's fists clenched... Why was he so afraid?

He honestly couldn't say.

He didn't know why the thought of Raphael finding out filled him with dread—even if it was all just a dream.

He bit his lip, then finally gave in. "Fine... Fine… you win." He nodded twice, breath coming out sharp. "You can have my blood—but only for two days."

Ophis shook her head, "Nope."

Leo groaned, "Come on… how about three?"

Ophis only arched a brow, her smirk growing. "More than twelve hours alone with Azrael… I'm sure something happened—"

"Four?" Leo interrupted, desperation sneaking into his voice.

"Rap—" Ophis began.

"Six! Six, okay?" Leo blurted out, barely holding back his irritation.

Ophis finally nodded, satisfaction shining on her face. "Six days. And whenever, wherever I want, I'll drink your blood," she declared.

Leo gritted his teeth, muttering under his breath, 'This little brat!' He raised his hand as if to smack her in the ass... yes, he had had enough of this little body trick, but—

"LEO! OPHIS! COME AND EAT BREAKFAST… IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR SCHOOL!"

Raphael's voice rang through the hallway... Leo clicked his tongue in annoyance, shooting Ophis a glare before walking out of the room.

Ophis chuckled softly as she watched him leave, the triumphant spark in her eyes flickering.

Alone now, her face changed, growing soft... and was that sadness clouding her gaze?

"So he really did it with her… ah," she murmured, the words barely more than a breath.

She let out a sigh, voice edged with uncertainty. As if, deep down, all her threats and games were only guesses—until now.

Leo's reaction confirmed it... He'd done the deed with that woman.

Ophis blinked, her hand drifting to her chest. Confusion flickered in her eyes. "Why am I feeling this?" she whispered, pressing her palm over her heart, a strange ache blooming within her.

Hurt?

Was she… hurt?

A sharp, twisting pain she couldn't explain or understand.

She shook her head, trying to banish the emotion, but her mind kept spinning. Lifting her shirt, she looked down at her pale abdomen.... her stomach seemed caved in, bruises darkening the skin as if something was eating away inside her.

"Sorry, Leo… but I really do need more blood," she whispered, her voice trembling. Her fingers brushed against the hollow of her stomach and she gasped at the pain.

"Arrhh!!"

Ophis dropped to her knees, clutching her abdomen, her breath coming out in ragged bursts as agony washed through her.