The Codex: An Angel's Guide To Seducing A Human (23 page)

"No," Heliose said as he walked to the Grimoire and picked it up with a silk cloth, holding it away from his body. He snapped his fingers, and the book disappeared. "Once the demon is summoned, I will take care of him personally. No one will be hurt."

"But I can't betray Narius like this!"

A smile appeared on Heliose's face. “Are you sure? At this rate, there will be no one to betray... all because you stubbornly refused to help a kind and caring archangel rid the world of one of its greatest threats." He shrugged and turned away. "I see that I have wasted my time here. Goodbye."

"No, no, please, that's not what I mean. Just heal him. You're an angel. You can't leave him like this."

"So, you want him to hate you when he wakes up and realizes he has been traveling with an abomination like you?"

I shook my head as tears gently slid down my cheeks. "N-no."

"Don't be so worried. Erasing his memories is perfectly safe." Heliose faced me again, his chin held up. "Oh, speaking of which, I wouldn't break our deal by telling Narius. If you do, then I fear he may decide to kill you himself, and that would be problematic. Do you understand?" he said, running his hand through my hair.

I shivered at the touch.

"Or, I could snuff out both of your miserable lives. I can't have anyone going around spreading made-up stories. But don't worry, my little spawn of evil. We honor our promises. Keep your mouth shut and everything will work out." He tilted his head and forced me to look into his eyes, shining with hints of insanity. "Do we have a deal?"

I nodded. Tears continued to flow down. They dripped upon Narius's face while his hand became colder with every passing moment. The life in his eyes was almost gone now. “I-I’ll do it.”

The angel clasped his hands together. "Good girl." He placed his hands on Narius and his Codex. A bright flash of light emanated from Heliose's palms.

Releasing his hand, the angel glanced at me and winked. “Relax. I am an archangel of love. Your twisted romance will continue as if nothing had happened.”

I buried myself against Narius and cried. 
I'm so sorry.

Narius

I stirred awake. My wings were spread out, and I basked in the heat of the afternoon sun. My head rested against something soft and warm. I turned and found myself resting my head on Emily's lap, her staff lying on the patch of grass next to her.

She stared off into the distance, her eyes drooping and lips quivering.

We were on a small hill that smelled of summer. Seagulls cried out, and the sound of the waves smashing against the rocks echoed from somewhere beneath us. 
This is nice, but where am I? How did I get here?

The Codex groaned. 
No idea. But it feels like a page was ripped out of me.

Off in the distance, a large city of massive stone buildings rested next to an ocean. There, a great number of wooden buildings floated to and fro. Unlike any other houses I had seen, these had large bed sheets hanging from rows of tall poles with tiny figures moving atop them. Some climbed large nets near the poles, while others scurried around on top of the houses.

"Wow. I didn't know humans could build houses on water."

"Those are ships, idiot." Emily's blue eyes looked down at me and widened. "Narius, you're awake!"

"Ships? They are beautiful. Maybe we could ride in one." I reached up and brushed her cheeks, enjoying the sensation of resting on her tender legs. “I wish we could stay like this forever.”

She gave a half-hearted smile, much like the one she had shown me in Arehan when she told me she would leave me.

I wanted her to smile with her heart and blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "I really like you, and deep inside, I think you're one of the kindest souls I ever met."

Emily's eyes turned puffy, and she buried her face in her hands. "Why do you have to say things like that right now?"

I rose from her lap and sat next to her. "What’s wrong?" I tried to take her hands from her face, but she backed away. "You don't like me?"

She lowered her head. "I like you. It-it's nothing. Forget it."

"Does it have anything to do with how we ended up here?" I scratched the back of my head. "Wait, how did we get away from those gnomes? The last thing I remember is being shot by them. How did you rescue me? You aren't hurt, are you?"

Emily muffled some unintelligible words and started to cry.

The Codex screamed. 
What are you doing, you stupid angel?

I don’t know. She just started to—

Do something! Don’t just sit there.

I grabbed Emily's shoulders and gently shook her, studying her for any sign of injury. “Don’t cry, Emily. You did great, dealing with those dastardly gnomes while I was knocked out.”

She replied by sobbing uncontrollably.

My heart hurt as if someone was squeezing it. I needed to make her happy. 
What should I do?
 I asked the Codex.

Normally, 
Codex said, 
I'd say you would have to rub her chest, and massage her between the legs. But desperate times call for desperate measures. I think you should talk to her. Try to find out why she is crying.

I nodded at the wise advice. "Emily, are you sad because I won that bet against you, and now you have to give me all your gold?"

Emily twitched, betraying her true desires of wanting to keep her shiny coins.

I sighed. "You can keep your gold. I'd rather see you smiling like a goblin."

"That's not it, you idiot!" Emily screeched. She grabbed her staff and swung it to smack me in the head.

To my surprise, I moved my hand just in time to catch the wooden shaft before it could strike me.

The corners of my lips lifted. "Did you see that?"

Emily took her free hand off her face, revealing her flushed face. Tears rolled from her blue eyes as she swung her remaining hand.

I caught her wrist.

With both of Emily's hands disarmed, I brought her closer to me, taking in her minty scent. She was so beautiful, and my heart grew louder until it blocked out the sound of the birds and the waves. “There is something I should have done long ago. Thank you.”

"Wha—"

I placed my lips against hers. Emily's cheeks reddened. Her pupils expanded for a moment before she closed her eyes and pressed her lips against mine. It felt amazing, so soft and sweet. Happiness filled my heart, and the world around me brightened. 
So this is why humans thank each other like this.

We stayed together until I had to breathe. When our lips parted, tears still poured out from her eyes, even more than before.

How bad are you at kissing that a girl cries?
 Codex asked.

"Huh? I thought it was good."

Do it again. Better this time. Stick your tongue in her!

Emily mumbled. "Well, it was, I'm just surprised that my first kiss—"

I kissed Emily again, to see if I could suck away her sadness. To improve on my performance, I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to me, holding her in a tight embrace.

Emily dropped her staff and flailed before shutting her eyes. I closed my eyes as well and enjoyed the wonderful sensation.

When we parted, Emily had stopped crying. "That was... umm... I didn't see that coming." She avoided my eyes and glanced down at her staff. "Narius, can you promise me something?"

I nodded, unable to suppress my happiness.

"Can you just kiss me and no one else? Not even Lord Halfaya?"

I smiled. Placing my hands on her cheeks, I wiped her tears away. "Only if you stop crying."

The sadness in her eyes vanished and was replaced with a hint of determination as she sniffed. "I promise."

After her tears had dried, I pointed to the city where ships floated together, forming a small forest of wooden beams. "Where are we?”

She brushed the blades of grass off her skirt and rose to her feet. "Lodina. The capital. My home. Where Mafis and his precious Grimoire is." Offering her hand, she smiled. The smile still looked a little sad, but she seemed to be in a better mood, ready to tackle any challenge.

I took her hand and rose to my feet. "You think he's here? Do you think I can find him?"

The grip of her hand tightened. "Yes, and I will help you every step of the way.”

Narius

The guild Emily worked for and resided in was a huge building that resembled a castle disguised as a mansion, complete with small, pointy towers. Once inside, we walked down corridors lined with white stone that stretched throughout the building, our dirt-caked shoes leaving footprints across the blue carpet.

"Wow. Do you really live here?" I asked.

"Why are you so surprised?" Emily answered, grabbing hold of my arm and resting her head against my shoulder. "Are you impressed by how rich I am?"

Blood rushed to my face at her touch. "Well... no. It's just that I am a little surprised. I thought you lived under a bridge."

She narrowed her eyes and loosened her grip a little. "Well, I'm sorry I'm not a troll."

"What? No. I... I mean, since you always try to find a way to get a lot of shiny coins. So, I thought you lived in a simple place." I looked away from her glaring eyes. We passed a number of doors, but no people. "So... ummm... where is everyone?"

Emily sighed and pulled away from me. "Probably working," she said, coming to a halt in front of a door with 'Alchemist' inscribed on it in golden letters. "There have been some guilds from the Empire trying to take control of the market, and we need to maintain our client base."

"Oh. Can I do anything to help?"

"Don't worry about it. That's not your concern." She smiled and placed a finger against my chest. "You know, maybe we should relax a little. I know a nice beach where we can walk in peace. Take our minds off things for a bit. You know... enjoy the scenery."

Yes... and we could also take off her clothes to further enjoy the view,
 The Codex whispered.

I shook my head. "Going after the Grimoire is my commandment. Everything else is just a distraction."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Even me?"

"No? No!" I placed the tips of my index fingers together and lowered my gaze to her boots. "I mean, the mission is important, but I really like you, and you make the world seem better to me, and—" My head grew hotter with every word. "...and I think you are really pretty. And... and... and..."

Emily tapped my wing with the orb of her icy staff, making me twitch. "Stop babbling, you adorable idiot. Now come on." She grabbed the silver handle and opened the door.

Dozens of birds chirped as we entered, some trapped inside cages and others flying freely. A young, raven-haired man with glasses sat behind a desk with the sun streaming in from the window behind him. He wore a white shirt and blue-striped pants, similar to the patterns in Emily's clothes. In one of his hands he held a vial containing a purple liquid. In the other, he held a squirming pigeon as the man poured the contents of the vial into its beak. The human was completely absorbed in his work, muttering to himself quietly, and failed to see us.

Emily coughed into her hand. "Nathen, I'm home with a lot of money and a very exotic bird."

With his gaze focused down at the paper on his desk, the man waved his bird at us. "I'll sign for the delivery later. Just leave the power generator next to the other gadgets from the Republic."

Emily slammed her staff on the table, frosting the wooden surface.

Nathen yelped and shoved the vial into the pigeon's mouth, forcing down the purple liquid. The bird gagged, burping lavender bubbles every time it opened its beak.

The man's blue eyes looked up at her. "Emily?"

She ran around the table and hugged him. "I missed you, Nathen."

"I missed you, too," he said, returning her hug with the vial and the bird still in hand, his back facing me.

My wings twitched. I wanted to tell Emily to step away from him, but she seemed so happy, grinning like she had found a piece of chocolate lying on the ground.

"So I brought us enough gold to keep the guild on its feet for a while," Emily said. "What about you? Did you sort out the paperwork? Expand your bird collection? Do anything with..."

Feeling left out, I ignored the conversation and gazed at the rest of the room. Scraps of paper littered the wooden floor, and sour-smelling liquids dried on the metal tables. Hundreds of birdcages, vials, and fancy glass tubes filled with colorful liquids sat in disarray. In particular, a red vial labeled "illusion" caught my eye, the word reminding me of how Emily once tricked me with her fake fire.

I glanced at Emily. She was still having a great time. To distract myself further from the uneasy feeling that boiled in my heart, I reached for the vial.

What are you doing? 
Codex screamed, making me flinch. 
You are losing Emily to that handsome human!

I glanced back at the two humans. The smiles on their faces annoyed me. 
No, no. Emily said she liked me, so I don't need to worry.

Gah! Stop being so naive! I bet he is her lover.

That's ridiculous.
 But to my horror, as I continued to stare at them, they did seem very happy with each other. Emily beamed with delight like he was a long lost book she had just found. 
But... but Emily said she didn't have a mate!

She clearly lied. What, did you expect a pretty girl like her to be alone? She was just toying with you to pass the time. I'm sure she has lovers in every town.

Anxiety clawed its way into me. I grasped my head and squirmed. 
No! That's impossible!

The Codex tsked, and her pages vibrated, jolting me. 
Remember that letter filled with flattery and undying declarations of love? You know... the one that called her the 'gentlest soul'? That’s probably from him. Face it, Narius. The way they hugged each other proves that they have been together for years. In fact, I'm sure she prefers someone with a bit of experience over someone so inexperienced like you. Look! They even wear similar clothes like a couple.

I clenched my fists at the thought of her leaving me for him. 
But I can get experience! What... what should I do?

Hmm… if you want to win her back, you should prove to her how much she means to you.

How?

The Codex sniggered then exited my mind without answering. Left to my own devices, I thought hard for a way to bring Emily back to me. Then I remembered what she had made me promise earlier, and a brilliant idea formed.

I walked up to Emily and tapped her on the shoulder.

Her black hair swished as she turned to face me, and she held up her hand. "What? Hold on a second Narius, I'm—"

I pulled Emily towards me. Her lips met mine, and I enjoyed the soft sensation. She let out a muffled cry but didn't pull away, choosing to close her eyes instead. I squeezed her in my arms and covered her with my wings. When I pulled away from the kiss, I growled at the wide-eyed man.

"An angel? Here?"

I snorted at his attempt to distract me. "Emily's mine! Shoo!"

The surprise in his eyes evaporated, replaced by burning rage. His fists clenched, cracking the vial. "What the hell are you doing to my sister?"

I tilted my head. “Who?”

Narius

After Emily calmed her brother, she stuck her head out into the hallway and ordered a passing manservant to bring us three cups full of liquid that smelled like roses.

Once we were all settled in our seats, Nathen grinned. "Sorry. I just never expected something like that to happen."

Emily took a sip from her cup and let out a satisfied breath. She placed her glass down onto the table next to the poisoned pigeon who lay on its side, belching violet bubbles.

Unwilling to watch it suffer, I placed my hand against the creature and healed it. The pigeon cooed its thanks, flapped its tiny wings and flew towards freedom, only to smash into the window and crash back onto the table.

You know,
 the Codex said, 
now that I think about it, the two of them do look like brother and sister. Funny how "we" didn't notice that.

I glanced at the Codex, slightly disappointed with her. 
I am not listening to you until dinner.

Emily raised her eyebrow at me just as the Codex replied. 
Then you did not hear it from me that they might be performing incest.

Incest?

That's when a brother and a sister get together and do naughty things.

Naughty things? Why would Emily do that?

The Codex snorted. 
If you don't believe me, rip open Emily's shirt and see how he reacts to it.

What?

Do it!

But if I do that Emily might get mad.

Emily poked my cheek and made me twitch. "Narius? Are you all right?"

I grabbed hold of her hands and made her look me in the eye. "You're not doing naughty things with your brother, right? Like holding hands in a special way to make a baby?"

Emily scowled and struck me in the head. "What's wrong with you?"

Grasping my head, I moaned. "But the Codex said that you might be lovers of some kind."

Emily slapped her hand against her forehead and sighed. "You are dumber than a brick, aren't you? Don't listen to her if she is telling you something weird."

Nathen coughed into his fist. "So! Emily, you finally met someone you like." He faced me and smiled. "Did you know she scared away all potential suitors after she beat up a Baron's son because she thought he was trying to steal her coin purse? Such a shame. He was only picking it up after she dropped it."

Emily winced. "I really thought he was a thief."

"Needless to say, after that little incident, no one ever went near her. Of course, as her loving brother, I sent her kind-hearted letters to encourage her to find someone and escape her fortress of solitude—"

Emily swung her staff against Nathen's head.

The wood struck true and hard, but he continued as if nothing had happened. "Anyway, I knew that praying to the gods would work one day. But who knew they would answer a prayer so literally when I asked for an angel to save her?"

"Stop!" she hollered, her fists planted firmly against the table and her face completely crimson.

Nathen laughed and waved his hand in dismissal. "So, tell me. How did the two of you meet?"

Emily sank back into the seat and cleared her throat. She held her cup with both of her hands, the edges of the glass frosting as she spoke. "We met in a rose garden, on a warm sunny day. I was just taking a break from my travels to get rid of the dragon and decided to pick some flowers, thinking about how I could help the world with my kindness. Then, Narius appeared, his dark, chestnut hair swaying with the wind. He looked at me with his brown eyes. Closing his pristine white wings, he descended to the ground, his armor glowing in the sunlight. He grasped my hand and flashed me his perfect teeth. 'By the gods,' he said, 'You are the most stunning creature I have ever seen. Even the flowers here pale against your beauty.'"

I tilted my head, wondering what she was talking about, while Nathen raised an eyebrow and sipped his drink.

Emily continued, "'I am enchanted by your gorgeous eyes and the curves of your form. Will you let me be in your heart for all eternity?'

"To which I answered, 'Thank you for your kind words, but alas, I am just a simple girl looking for a special someone to—'"

Nathen raised his hand, his face calm. "Stop. Narius, what really happened?"

Thinking back on our first encounter, I answered, "She helped me get my butt out of a hole then forced me to draw a naked picture of her while wearing all her clothes."

Nathen closed his eyes and sighed, then started to laugh like someone who had found one of the funny books in the library. He continued until a pained expression flashed across his face. "This is too much," he said, struggling to catch his breath.

Emily paled, and her mouth widened. She waved her hands wildly and spoke rapidly. "W-well... that could be how it all started. But then, after some introduction, he said, 'I cannot let a young, attractive, virgin maiden go fight a dragon. I do not want those pretty azure eyes to lose their innocence—'"

Nathen let out a long breath and regained his composure. "Really? I think you tricked him into helping because you were too scared to go fight the dragon by yourself."

Panic blossomed on her face. "No! He didn't help me at all. I did all the work."

He crossed his legs and smirked. “Interesting. That's not what Pannaxx told me."

I edged forward on my seat. "Pannaxx?"

Nathen nodded. "A week ago, a dragon came into the city carrying a wagon full of gold, demanding that he be led to a bank to make a deposit. But, long story short, the dragon, calling himself Pannaxx, got hired on the spot to guard a vault for a meal and a pile of gold to sit on. People asked him questions, and he explained that an angel, accompanying a rude little girl who did nothing but try to kill him—" Nathen pointed at Emily. "—convinced him to get a job.”

He flicked the tip of his nose. "Speaking of which, quite a brain on that one. He managed to convince the banks to store the majority of their wealth in a single bank with him guarding. He claimed that it would ensure its safety from any burglars and be an effective marketing campaign to convince people that the banks are a much safer spot to store money than their mattresses."