Black Vow
[This story is based on the song "Alluring Secret, Black Vow" by ひとしずくP (Hitoshizuku P) which you can listen to on YouTube here] I woke up in a clearing in the woods. It was a small, round clearing, no more than 2 metres in diameter, in the center of a dense forest like somebody burned away a perfect circle. I stood up, slightly dizzy, and spread my wigns - at least, I tried to, but it didn't work. When I turned my head to look at my back, I noticed my wings hung down limply and slowly I began to remember what happened.
The first thing to return to me was my name. My name is Rivka, which means 'Servant of God'. I am an angel, but I fell. Not as in 'fallen angel', but I literally fell down. For some reason that was possible... Maybe just a worn-out piece of cloud. This clearing probably originated when I fell, with fallen angels it always happens too. The worse your sin, or the higher you fall from, the larger the mark. I just tripped and fell, so it's pretty small. It will probably [dichtgroeien] in no time, because once a fallen angel is taken back into heaven all traces of their fall disappear. When literally fallen angels return their spot also [dichtgroeien]. Yes, this happens every now and then. When an angel doesn't pay attention and steps on a piece of cloud that's too thin for example, and I heard someone was once doing some kind of experiment and dropped certain substenances which ate a hole straight through. My wings are weakend because of the fall, they'll soon heal enough to move again but it will take some time before I can even use them again, let alone fly all the way back to heaven. I decide to start walking, the sun is already at it's highest spot and I don't know the paths of this forest. While walking, I start to remember more...
The girl clasped her hands over the blue-haired angel's eyes. "Guess who I am?" He smiled "I would recognize your voice anywhere Rivka!" and turned around. Together they dropped to the ground in the meadow, amog flowers and staring at the clouds. "Hey, Kazic..." she turned on her side, "Close your eyes for a minute, will you?". He looked at her quizically. "Why?" "Just do it!" The boy closed his eyes and while trying to keep in her laughter, Rivka started tickling his face with a fuzzy dandelion. He veered up, "Hey, don't do that!" but Rivka had already stood up. "Catch me if you can!" she yelled laughing and ran away. Kazic ran after her and together they fell into the grass below the hill. "Rivka?" Kazic sat up straight. "What's wrong?" she turned around and sat up as well. He didn't answer, but places his hand on her cheek and moved his face closer to hers. Only then did Rivka realise what he wanted to do, pulled her face away and ran, not looking where she was going which caused her to overlook the extended treeroot and fall... fall... fall...
After having walked for a while, I arrived at the edge of the forest, where a road was. It probably leads to a village and therefore I decide to follow it. Just before sunset I enter through the citygates, but I have no idea where to go next. A little lost, I wander around until I feel a slim hand on my shoulder...
"Are you lost?" a voice, clear as the silver bells I so often heard at home, asked. I turn around and behind me stands a girl, in a black dress with her lichtblue hair skillfully put up and the most beautiful eyes I had ever see, "I am Milou" ze said smiling and she extended her hand. I took her hand and said stammering "I'm Rivka.. And yes, I have never been here before". "Then it's a good thing you're inside now, the gates are about to close and then you would have been forced to spend the night outside. Are you looking for something?" I shook my head "No... I came from the forest but I don't know where I need to go or where I came from..." That was a lie, but what else should I do, tell her I'm an angel?! "Oh no, do you have amnesia?" she looked at me sadly. "Do you maybe want to stay with me for a while, until you remember something?" "I would love that, thank you Milou" I smiled and she gently pulled my arm. "Come, it's this way."
A few weeks past and I became good friends with Milou. If she smiles I was happy as well and every time she gave me that sweet smile, I felt incredibly happy and got a weird feeling in my stomach. Could this be what humans call love?
Another couple of weeks later my wings had haled completely and I should terug, but I prefered to stay here. The earth was so full of surprises, with lots of things I didn't know. And of course Milou... I am now certain this feeling is love. But it cannot be. Still I recklessly decided to try it and kissed her. Shocked she pushed me away "Rivka... This- this is impossible... I'm engaged and we are both women..." Exactly at that moment my wings unfurled, Milou's eyes widened and I, I disappeared, leaving a single white feather behind. "...you are an angel?" she stammered, picking up the feather.
I flew to the clearing where I had fallen down to earth and untied something from my belt. It was a small, white gun, one all angels have in case we encounter a demon and need to defend ourselves. I always contains five silver bullets, but the sixth chamber remains empty. It is made so our silver bullet won't fit in it. I open a hidden compartment, containing a single black bullet, slightly smaller than the others. Effortlessly, it slides into the sixth chamber. The chamber we are not allowed to talk about but is there anyway. What I am about to do is unforgivable, reckless and definitive. But still I place the gun against my forehead and pull the trigger. A flash of white and then everything turns to black.
I know where I am now. I have heard and read all the stories about it. The sixth bullet was placed there by Lucifer, to give all angels a choice. If it hadn't been like that, I wouldn't have known what to do. I know the rules. They are very simple: you say what you want and pay the price, but your decision to come here basically seals your fate. The moment you fire the black bullet you are no longer welcome in heaven.
Without hesitation I cut off my wings. Again everything turns to black and when I regain my senses on the clearing where I left I know he held up his end of the deal. Rivka no longer exists. From now on I am Lemari. I stand up and leave the forest.
At the edge of the forest Milou stands. She looks quite unhappy in her black bridal gown. When she turns around to the forestedge suddenly there stands a boy, smiling at her with sad eyes. At that moment she realises the strength of love at first sight. She casts away her veil and together they run away from here.
For a while everything seemed to go well. They had broken all bonds, together they were happy.Although showing remorse might grant them forgiveness they didn't do this; they had each other and that was enough. But like it always is the case with good things this had to end as well.
Ah~, the forbidden sin / Kept cutting at the unhealed wound
He was furious. She had everything in heaven: friends, a good 'job'... him... But she had thrown it all away. And for what? A stupid human. Blinded by rage hij raised his arm. Especially for this he had looked for a human gun, because angel bullets did not kill. He aimed his silver pistol at her.
The angry judgement of the arrow / Penetrated the pitch black girl
And fired. Milou heard the shot, cried out, wanted to turn around but it was already too late. The bullet had found her heart and she fell backwards.
"My dear, lying cold"
Lemari had heard the shot and came running to the site. When he saw Milou laying there, he froze where he stood.
"I will spend all my life for you as I swore on that day..."
No... This couldn't be...! He ran towards her, hoping there was something he could do.
"My sin against God..."
In vain. Crying he took her lifeless body into a last embrace.
"All my acts of treachery should be paid by my death,"
That one moment of hopelessness made everything perfectly clear.
"So I will die for you..."
Determined he closed his eyes. He would die to take her place so she cold live. Heaven had to accept this - she had never done anything wrong.
"I believe, that's my fate."
Because this action was so pure the dark contract ended. The form of Lemari was washed away and Rivka's appearance returned. Milou opened her eyes and jsut barely saw this transformation happen. Sadly smiling, Rivka looked into her eyes. "I love you" And disappeared, leaving behind a single black feather.
