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Epilogue: Last step
He had lighted a fire in the hearth though the sun was shining outside. The dancing light was drawing strange figures on the walls and floor, like bloody silhouettes. He looked quite lengthily at the two portraits handing on the wall over the hearth, but said nothing.
Slowly, he walked to the table where the chessboard was, with the tipped-over Archangel pawn and the human-girl facing the Demon. He eased himself in the chair that she had probably used herself. He looked at the board and, in an angry gesture, closed his hand, almost as if he wanted to bang his fist in frustration on the table. After a long time, he forced his fingers to open. There, on his palm, was lying a shining bracelet with very small pearls of onyx.
He took the silver bracelet with delicacy, held it a moment in the fire light then put it by the chessboard before absorbing himself in the contemplation of the board. The fire made a crumbling noise and he sighed. Slowly, as if he feared to commit a sacrilege, he put the Archangel back on its feet. Then, with like a wry grin on his lips, he tipped over the Demon. Finally, his hand caressed the head of the human-girl pawn and he gently tipped it over, whispered mournfully:
"Next step, the Guardian."
He made sure the human-girl seemed to be under the Archangel's protection. Then he rose with a sigh, put out the fire and, in two strides, was at the door. After a last look at the room, Rshkiel closed the door behind him and left.
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