Dominion Kendall walked through the halls of the palace confidently. Dusty walked just behind him, and Angelica stayed at Dusty’s side. Candith and Wirith padded along behind them. The angel had allowed them to come after stating that he would take care of them if he, at any time, determined that they were a danger.

Though at this moment Angelica was more worried about Dusty than the two demons who were causing every servant they passed along the way to pale considerably. He had said nothing since the angel’s announcement that he was the One King. She would have assumed that it was a mistake, except that angels did not make mistakes. If they said Dusty was the One King, he was, though she still could not understand how it was possible.

There were two guards standing outside the door of her father’s office. Both of them bowed out of the way as the Dominion stopped in front of them. He opened the door and made his way inside.

“What is going on out there…oh I did not realize there was a member of the Choir here.” She heard her father’s voice.

“I am Dominion Kendall, and yes, the issue has been resolved. In fact, that is why I am here.”

“Was it really Angelica out there?” Was there concern in her father’s voice, or perhaps anxiety?

Angelica stepped into the room just behind the angel. “Hi Mom, Dad.” She smiled.

The serine face on her mother turned venomous.

“So that’s it then?” The king said with a sigh. “And I suppose that boy is the new love of your life.”

“Actually,” the angel said. “This young man is the Heir.”

Her father looked at Dusty as if he had just sprouted horns and a tail.

“The Heir?” Angelica’s father stood up with hard stare. “How is that possible? It’s been years since anyone’s heard rumor of the Heir.. How do you know he is the one?”

“That is not important.” The Dominion said firmly. “The only thing that matters is that he is the Heir. The Seraph will be arriving in the next hour.”

“He cannot be the Heir.” The king snapped then glared at Angelica. “This is your fault somehow isn’t it? Why did you come back?”

“We never should have kept that thing in the first place.” The queen said stiffly, her beautiful face marred by a deep frown. “I kept it quiet about your infidelity in order to keep the throne, but now that it’s being taken away I want nothing more to do with you.”

“That thing?” Angelica whispered. Her temper flared. “What do you mean “that thing”? I am your daughter!”

“You may be his daughter, but you’re no offspring of mine. This bastard had an affair and got stuck with a child out of it. You’re nothing but an unwanted piece of trash that-”

“You will stand down.” The angel snapped.

Angelica’s father threw off his cloak. “I should’ve been rid of you, but no, you were planning this. You’ve been plotting to take the throne away from me. You’ve never been anything more than a thorn in my side, and now you’re taking the throne away from me with this false Heir. Well I refuse to believe it.”

“If you do not accept the authority of the One King, you will be forcibly retrained.”

“Where is Nell?” Angelica asked.

“What?” The king responded.

“Where is my sister!?” she yelled.

“Dead because of you.” The king sneered. “She didn’t believe you had run away, and she went looking for you. She’s probably dead or worse by now. You’re a poison to everything you touch.”

“Frozen wastes-” Angelica felt a hand on her shoulder and Dusty was looking at her. He shook his head gently.

“Feel free to finish up in here, I’m taking Miss Angelica away from this,” Dusty said.

“Have the guards outside take you to the angel’s quarters. The door will open for you.”

Dusty nodded and led Angelica out of the room. Her mind was numb; she could not think any thoughts besides placing one foot in front of the other as Dusty led her from the room and down the hallway. Wirith made cooing noises behind herm ruffling her feathers anxiously.

“It’s okay, little one. You’ll be able to comfort her soon,” Dusty said.

The room they entered was not one Angelica had ever been in before. Dusty sat her on one of the couches, and Wirith immediately shoved her head in the woman’s lap. Angelica buried her face into the feathers but tears would not come. She had lost her family, all of it. Of course maybe they were just never her family to begin with. She had been living a lie all this time. Is this what she wanted to come back to for so long? A mother who was not hers, a father who despised her, and a sister she had killed.

She just wanted the entire world to go away. If it would just disappear then it would all be okay again.