Angel Chronicles 1

8/10/2019 Angel Chronicles 1

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Angel Chronicles 1: Halley and the Black Angel

Chapter 1: Silent Nights, Silent Wars

Are you all ready? A female shadow asked a thousand other

shadows around her. Her minions seemed like tall, ranchless trees inthe middle of a dark !lain, almost wraith"like in their lifeless forms.#hough they all seemed like shee! to the she!herd, the shadows wereall tight"li!!ed and !referred to kee! their !eace. #heir leader,howe$er, did ha$e none of it. % said, are you all ready?&?

'es, (istress )carlet, )aid one of the front shadows, his $oicetremling, either from the cold night or fear from his mistress* rage.+es!ite her featureless countenance, )carlet euded great con-denceand charisma and her followers felt the strength of her !resence.

ood, we strike at dawn, )carlet ordered them, turning herack with full clout. A rumle of con-rmation was her !eo!le*sres!onse, efore all of them disintegrated in the night*s ree/e, sa$efor one.

(istress, with all due res!ect0

% did not say you could s!eak, )he said harshly, $oice shar!erthan the edge of a sword. #aken aack, the shadow silenced himselfand took a few ste!s away from his leader. )carlet, in turn, let out amaniacal laugh. 'ou amuse me s!eak now, )er!ent.

2hy are we to war against the Holy round? % see no reason forus to gain interest there. #he shadow, )er!ent, said silently. )carlet letout a disa!!ro$ing growl, making )er!ent mo$e e$en further away.

)uch cowardice from a 3am!ire, )carlet mused. 2hy shouldwe not attack? #hey ha$e een on the u!!er lands -lled with fertilesoil, endless gardens and crystal clear lakes. 2e need to take theirlands for us to thri$e, )er!ent.

(istress, we cannot e$en set one foot on the Holy round. How

can we attack from outside the oundaries? And if we do con4uer themfrom such an uncon$entional tactic, how do you !lan on using a terrainwe cannot sur$i$e in? 2e*ll urn to ashes in seconds. )er!ent asked,his tem!er masked ut the acid in his $oice $ery much felt. 2ind lewthrough the !lains and dead grass rattled with its caress as deadsilence came etween the two. )carlet mo$ed slightly from her stand,not a chink in her con-dence made.


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2ith the hel! of insiders, of course, )he said sim!ly. )er!entgas!ed at the $enom in her $oice. #he wind whistled ominously, as iflaughing at his inaility to see )carlet*s !oint of $iew. 2as theresomething she wasn*t disclosing to them?

'ou say it as if it were so sim!le, (istress, He told her solemnly.#he wind left and the !lain was silent once more.

%t is as sim!le as % had said, )er!ent. 'ou disa!!oint me,)carlet said with no sign of any emotion. % ha$e e!ected 3am!ires toe intelligent, cunning creatures of the dark. But if it is your life youfear for, 5ust say so. % shall cut you o6 the attalion.

%t*s not that, (istress, ut the fact that there is no reason for us tocon4uer the Holy round. %t is of no use to us.

7h, ut there is great use for the Holy round, ut that is ato!ic for another day. As for con4uering it, we should ask the +e$il forhel!, shouldn*t we? )carlet told him, amusement in her tone. )er!entseemed furious.

(istress, the +e$il will not e dealt with he is a doule"crosserand a liar. His hel! will do us no good. He ellowed. )carlet silencedhim with a low of dark s!heres which knocked him to his knees, icinghis fall with a laugh.

+ear )er!ent, that is the main reason he is called the +e$il&

)carlet said. 2e are oth leaders of the +ark Half, and surely, he shalltake our side o$er theirs.

He will not take any side, (istress, for he does what !ro-ts himthe most. )er!ent countered. He will not hel! us.

2hy not? % am the 4ueen of the 8ight 9ealm and he is the kingof Cursed round. He cannot deny anything from the 4ueen& )carletsaid, her tem!er getting the etter of her.

7f course he can, )er!ent said, #rust me, %*$e faced him

efore and he does not think of anyody ut himself. He e$en kills his!eo!le for his own delight. 2hat !roof do you ha$e that he will not killyou, a foreigner?

)carlet turned her ack to )er!ent.


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According to the +e$il, % was a young, -ne"looking entity ofdarkness. 7f course, % knew what % looked like. % had lack hair andglowing, red eyes, eyes that remind me of my cursed state. % also ha$ea grayish com!leion as all entities that ha$e ne$er seen the sun. %*$eseen the sun, ut unlike other Creatures of the 8ight and +arkness,

sunlight does not urn my skin, though % always wear a long, lackca!e and lack clothes. And in case of an amush from the 8ight9ealm, % wore a elt that had a sheathed sword. #hough we do notmeasure our age y year, one would guess that % was 5ust in my middletwenties, though %*$e felt that %*$e li$ed in the Cursed round far longerthan % look.

#he +e$il always en$ied my !owers, ut did not ha$e the !owerto transfer into me like he did with other entities. )omething was!rotecting me from the +e$il, ut % was not certain of what. ntil now, %was still trying to -nd out, thinking that the thing that !rotected me

was from the Holy round. % didn*t know what it was or if it really!rotected me, ut %*m $ery thankful for it.

7ut, % re!lied. % didn*t like that the +e$il changed my name.#he +e$il did not stand from his throne and let me go. % knew hewouldn*t attack me, though % did not ha$e the !ower to destroy him,ut if he attacks me, the +e$il will surely die, and dying was somethingthat he did not want and did not elie$e !ossile. % was !ositi$e % cankill him.

% walked out of the !alace and from the Cursed round. But

efore % could go into the 8ight 9ealm, a woman co$ered in a tatteredca!e walked towards me. )he looked familiar, ut almost e$erythinglooks the same.

%s the +e$il in his 4uarters? #he woman asked.

'es, % said and !assed her. #he woman smiled at mymonotonous $oice and continued to the !alace.

% wondered what a woman would want with the +e$il. He won*tgrant good wishes like those in the Holy round, nor would he hel!

those in need. #hat*s why he was called the +e$il. % looked ack andfound the far away -gure of the woman heading towards the -eryinferno !alace. 2hy would she e$en want to go there?

% shrugged o6 the thought. #hat woman was not of my concern,neither did % care what ecomes of her, so % continued my 5ourney tothe 8ight 9ealm.


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7ne might ask me, why would % e$en e $enturing into anotherdimension? %t was a !retty good 4uestion, and % didn*t ha$e an answerfor it. #he only thing % could say aout my actions was ecause adream told me to go there, as if the thing that was !rotecting me fromthe +e$il was controlling my thoughts and my actions.

#he dream % had was aout a eautiful woman with long gold hairand sky lue eyes. )he wore a owing white dress and had si whitewings on her ack. #here was a circular light emitted from around herhead and a light glow coated her ody.

%*$e ne$er seen such a creature, so % guessed that she was fromthe =ight Half, most !roaly from the Holy round. % didn*t know muchaout those who dwelled under a ne$er ending sunlight, ut from thatdream, % -gured they were all ha!!y. #he woman was smiling at meand in$ited me to a!!roach her. % did so and she held my hand. How

warm she was& Her heat was di6erent from the thousand -res in the+e$il*s !alace which s!read out fear. Her heat ga$e me a sense ofcomfort.

% 5ust sat there with the woman silently. 2ait,* she told me. % nodded as she walked awayslowly until her -gure disa!!eared. #hat*s when % woke u!. % don*t knowwhy, ut that woman is the reason % set o6. % won*t e coming ack tothe +e$il*s dwelling !lace that*s for sure.

)im!letons, % thought to myself as % recalled the other +emons

in the +e$il*s !alace. 2hen the +e$il gets tired of them, they*d surelye eaten.

)lashing at the li$ing weeds which attacked me as % $entured intothe @orest, % found a ridge made of them. )omehow, it looked $eryfamiliar to me.

C*mon, don*t e afraid, )aid a $oice. % looked around and foundsomething glowing ehind a tree across the ridge.

%dentify yourself, % ordered. % heard giggling that might ha$e

een from a little girl. #he glowing -gure re$ealed itself and % found outthat it was indeed a girl. A Cheru.

'ou must e Ho!e, #he Cheru said, her long, curly, lack hairshaking as she giggled. Her red eyes twinkled as she a!!roached me.#hat was when % reali/ed that Cheruim didn*t ha$e red eyes.


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2hat kind of creature are you? % asked her. )he oated towardsme and smiled. )he tugged on my arm and % felt warmth, the samewarmth % felt in the dream % had.

#hat*s not im!ortant, )he said, 'ou need to hel! my twin

sister and my mother right now.

2hat? % don*t e$en know who your mother and twin sister is, %told her. Her smile faded and a teary frown took !lace.

'ou don*t know? )he asked 4uietly. But, why?

% was taken aack y the child. %t was as if %*$e done somethingso wrong to deser$e to see such a sad sight. )he looked at me as herwings folded ehind her. )he did look $ery familiar, and she also hadthose red eyes similar to mine.

Are you willing to tell me what % don*t know? % asked the girl.#he smile found its way to her li!s once more.

7f course, % am, )he said. 'ou must ha$e 5ust forgotten aoutit. (ommy had told me so much aout you.

2ho is your mother? % asked her. 2here are you from?

#he girl ew around me like some ee who found a !ros!erousower. )omehow, e$en though % felt slightly awkward with all her

attention, her !resence ga$e me a sense of !eace inside. And again, %ama/ed myself in thinking of another Holy round word.

7h, %*m from the Holy round. (y mother*s name is =ight. )hetold me that long ago, you used to look at her when she came near theBoundary. 'ou two used to talk each other. Ha$e you seen the tattoo onyour right chest? #he girl asked.

@or a moment % fro/e. At that time, %*$e ne$er considered lookingat my ody. #he thought actually sent goose"um!s down my s!ine.

2ell? )he asked again. % tried to look away ut she smiled slylyand ew u! to my face. C*mon, take your shirt o6 to see what %mean.

)ince the child was so !ersistent, % ga$e in and let my cloak fallto the ground. 8et came my armor. =astly, % unuttoned the lackshirt to -nd out that % did ha$e a tattoo on my right chest. %t was a


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cross inside a doule star and a circle. % uttoned my shirt u! at onceas if the tattoo was some sort of cursed mark % didn*t want to see.

% told you so, #he girl said and giggled. #hough it was the lastthing % thought she would do, the girl egan to cry. )he emraced me

and % found myself wra!!ing my arms around her as well.

%t*s me, +addy, Halley, don*t you rememer? #he girl, Halley,lurted out. Awestruck and confused, % tried to recall what she said.+addy?&?

Chapter 2: Three Angels plus One

+addy*? % asked her. Halley lookedu! to me and nodded. % looked at her lack hair and red eyes oncemore. 2e did ha$e some resemlance.

'es, % did& +o you rememer me now? 2e used to !lay in thegarden with


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Halley started crying again. % tried to console her, ut % didn*tknow what ha!!ened. % couldn*t rememer life efore the +e$il*s!alace, nor did % know % li$ed in the Holy round. (oreo$er, % couldn*telie$e that % fell in lo$e with an Angel and had two children.

Hush now, % told Halley. %f you don*t want to rememer thate$ent, then don*t. % 5ust ha$e one 4uestion to ask you, and % ho!e it*snot too much.

Ask me, )he said silently.

2hat am % su!!osed to do now? % asked her.

How delightful, #he +e$il said as the hooded woman entered

his !alace. 'ou grace me with your !resence, (istress )carlet.

)carlet !ulled down her hood and smirked at the +e$il with herlood red li!s. #he +e$il, still ehind his red curtain, motioned her tocome nearer. )carlet walked slowly towards the +e$il and stood in frontof the curtain.

reetings, +ark =ord, miss me? )carlet asked. #he +e$il let outa maniacal laugh. )carlet rolled her eyes at the +e$il*s oominglaughter.

7h, yes, % still rememer you years ack, #he +e$il said, 'ouwere such a small child of the +arkness and you were so cute.

)carlet*s hands urned with red ames and the +e$il laughede$en louder, making )carlet lose her tem!er.

+on*t laugh at me, )he roared. %*$e grown stronger in the8ight 9ealm, around 2erewol$es and 3am!ires, olins and 2itches%*$e e$en met with +eath himself.

#he +e$il sto!!ed laughing and mused at )carlet*s declaration.

)carlet calmed down and she crossed her arms in front of her chestwhen she saw that the +e$il was taking her seriously.

+eath, you say? How is the old sage? #he +e$il asked. )carletlooked u! !roudly.

7h, ut he*s not an old sage, +ark =ord, )carlet said, He*s ayoung looking man who has snow white hair and white eyes. He wore a


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long, night lue roe and held on a sil$er s!ear. )adly, he*s not sidingwith the +ark Half, nor is he siding with the =ight Half. #hat might ethe reason he was called the =ira.

3ery good, (istress )carlet, so you ha$e seen +eath. #he +e$il

said with admiration. But, no, it is not +eath*s neutrality that earnedhim the name =ira.

#hen why is he called so? )carlet asked, 4uite irritated that shewas wronged y the +e$il. )he ne$er liked eing !ro$ed wrong.

'ou see, young (istress, #he +e$il said, +eath is ca!ale ofentering oth Hal$es charmingly and !ossesses the !owers of =ightand +arkness. He is much stronger than a thousand of you.

)carlet let out ames from her !alms and urned the +e$il*s

curtain. #he -gure of the +e$il ecame $isile from the smoke. )carletsmiled at -rst, ut her face was -lled with fear when the +e$il*s lackclaw shot out of the smoke and lifted her y neck.

'oung (istress, % don*t like that you destroyed my curtain.9ememer, you are in my turf, and % can end your miserale life rightnow. %f you wish to continue our con$ersation in a sensile manner, youshall hold that dangerous tem!er of yours. #he +e$il said in an almostangry $oice. )carlet gas!ed for air as fear struck her greater than e$er.)he nodded slightly and the +e$il set her down.


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% like your guts, )carlet, #he +e$il commended. And for that,maye % could lend you what you need.

)carlet stood casually and !ut her hands on her hi!s. )he smiled

trium!hantly as she swayed little y little with ecitement.

2hat do you need? #he +e$il asked.

% need your Cloaks and your wea!onry. )carlet said. #he +e$illooked towards one of the


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sword. 7nce again, % ordered her to lea$e. Halley did not listen. % let hercarry on until she fell on the ground when a large hammer hit her. % ranto Halley*s side. )he looked at me with teary eyes.

%*m sorry, +addy, )he said.

%t*s okay, we ha$e to esca!e, % whis!ered to her as % tried tosto! her head from leeding. % carried her in my right arm as % foughtthe +emons with the sword in my right hand.

+addy& Halley shrieked. % looked ehind me 5ust to -nd anarrow ying towards us. =uckily, my left arm locked it with my swordand % managed to throw Halley in the o!en door of the castle, whichmight e our home, and was the only !lace where e$en CloakedCreatures couldn*t trek. )he got u!, ut % found my mouth talkingagain.

+on*t come out here, that*s an order& % ellowed. Halley*sknees weakened either from the low she recei$ed or fear from my$oice.

+addy, ehind you& )he shouted. % looked ehind ut that time,it was too late. A s!ear found my heart and % fell to the hard ground infront of the door. % heard +emons walking towards me and % tried tofocus my dying eyesight to Halley. )he was crawling towards me.

8ot another ste! closer, Halley& % said hoarsely. Halley sto!!ed

at her tracks. % felt my strength lea$ing my ody as my lood !ooledeneath me. 2ith the last of my strength, % !ulled a golden daggerfrom my elt and threw it to Halley*s side. #ake it, % said.

Halley graed the wea!on and watched hel!lessly as the+emons carried my dying ody away from her. % could hear her callingme, and then e$erything went lack, ut her $oice continued.

+addy, +addy, +addy

2A< ;&

% o!ened my eyes and found two red eyes staring at me andlack hair co$ering my face. Halley got o6 of me and sat down. )hesmiled as % got u!.

ood morning, +addy. )hould we return to (ommy and


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dream dominated me and % nodded. Halley ew u! and down thenemraced me. =et*s go, +addy&

2e walked along the grassy !ath that led to a forest. Halleysto!!ed ying and tried to !ull me ack.

2hat*s the matter, Halley? % asked her. )he seemed so afraid ofthe forest and % didn*t -nd anything that a!!eared to e daunting.

+ad, there are monsters in there, )he whis!ered, fearing thatshe might e o$erheard. % looked at her again and rememered thatshe was trans!arent. +id that mean that she was dead? @inally, % hadtime to think aout her !resent state.

Come here, % told her silently. )he ew to my arms and % heldher tight. 2hat ha!!ened to you? =ast night, % dreamt of the incident

you told me aout, the one with Cloaked Creatures attacking us.

#hen % told her of my dream. % left out some of the -ght scenes,thinking that % might only reli$e a horrile e!erience for Halley. 2hen %looked at her again, % reali/ed how small she was. )ince the day efore,Halley oated around me so she could see me face to face. But if shewould stand on her feet, % estimated that she was u! to 5ust u! to mythigh.

Halley how old are you? % asked her as % calmed her down.Halley started thinking.

%*m eight years old, +addy, Halley said when she sto!!edsoing. % thought that maye % could ask her aout my life efore %li$ed in the +e$il*s !alace.

How much do you know aout me? % asked again. Halley ewo6 me and looked at me.

% know e$er so much aout you, +addy& (ommy would tell mestories aout you whene$er you were out with the High Council of=ight. )he said.

2hy was % in the High Council of =ight? Halley, %*m a +emon. %fe$er, % was already lucky to e rought in the Holy round and e wedto your mother. % told her, feeling a little it confused. Halley smiled atme.

Chapter 3: The Seraph and His Queen


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+addy, you must ha$e forgotten that you also sa$ed mygrandfather from the +e$il. )he said. % was dumstruck. % fought the+e$il and won? But how come is it that the +e$il didn*t recogni/e andkill me?

Can you tell me more aout my -ght with the +e$il? % askedher. )he shook her head. 2hy not?

(ommy didn*t tell me much aout it, ut % can tell you otherthings like that you were twenty"four the last time we met, making youtwenty"-$e now, and that you were also head of the Angelic Army.Halley said. % looked away in diselief. 2hat kind of sane Angel would!ut a +emon in charge of his army? Halley noticed my incredulity andfaced me.

+addy, Angels don*t care whether you*re a +emon or an Angel

as long as you*re good. #rust me, when we return to the Holy round,rand!a and (ommy will tell you e$erything you need to know. )hesaid and !ulled me towards the forest. Again % was reminded that shewas trans!arent.

2hy can % see through you? Are you a s!irit? % asked her. Halleysto!!ed ying and faced me again.

2hen % was hit y the hammer, after you were taken away, theond etween my ody and s!irit roke. (y ody lies on my ed ackin the castle where it waits for my return. )he said. 8ow let*s go.

% let Halley lead the way as % !ondered e$erything that washa!!ening. Could all of this 5ust e a dream, or worse, the +e$il*s tra!for me? 2ould he make me elie$e that % had a family in the Holyround so % could e an insider? But the +e$il wasn*t !lanning onattacking again, was he? )o many 4uestions, and % can*t seem to -ndthe answers. % e$en dout the two dreams % had aout the Holyround, and the three Angels named =ight,


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it could hurt the child*s feelings. %f % were a child and my father wouldsay that % was 5ust the +e$il*s illusion, % wouldn*t take that !leasantly.

8othing, Halley, %*m 5ust confused of what*s ha!!ening aroundme. % told her truthfully. Halley sighed.

%f only you could y, +addy, then you won*t e confusedanymore. )he said and continued to y sadly. %t caused me so much!ain inside when % saw her like that. (aye this wasn*t the +e$il*s !lanafter all. #he +e$il didn*t know how guilt felt like, and the hea$y feelingin my chest might e ecause Halley was my daughter. 2hat didfathers do anyway? % ne$er thought of myself as a father efore. %didn*t e$en know that % was -t to e a father.

Halley, was % a good father? % asked out of the lue. Halleylooked at me and grinned. % felt at ease.

)er!ent, where are you going? @elin asked her husand as)er!ent armed himself. 2hat kind of foolish skirmish are you going toenter now?

@elin, %*m leading an army to war against the Holy round.)er!ent re!lied. @elin, whose 3am!iric ifts were s!eed and stealth,suddenly a!!eared in front of )er!ent. )er!ent was not sur!rised inany way.

2hat do you mean you*re leading an army to war against theAngels? )er!ent, those from the Holy round had een so kind to us&@elin ellowed at her husand. 'ou*ll reak the good relationshi! us3am!ires ha$e with the Angels to con4uer them? 2hat do you ha$e togain? #hough their arrier does not allow us Creatures of the +ark toenter, the Angels negotiate with us eautifully& How dare you 5oin areellion to o$erthrow the )era!h?&?

#he )era!h is long dead, @elin, )er!ent said solemnly. @elin wastaken aack y )er!ent*s words.

#hat cannot e& #he )era!h is immortal as us all& How could hedie? )er!ent, who killed the )era!h? @elin asked. )er!ent started tomo$e out when @elin sto!!ed him again. )he glared at him with hergolden eyes.

#ell me, )er!ent, who killed the )era!h? )he shouted. Before)er!ent could answer, their eighteen year old daughter, whose


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3am!iric ifts were #ele!athy and #elekinesis, materiali/ed in themiddle of the room.

(other, @ather, what is wrong? 2hy are you shouting at eachother? )he asked. @elin let go of )er!ent.

%t*s your father, Cassio!eia he*s leading an army against theAngels& @elin told her daughter. Cassio!eia confronted her father.

%s this true, @ather? %f it is, then why? )he asked. )er!entlooked away ut came face to face with @elin.

2hy don*t you answer, )er!ent? +on*t you ha$e a reason forthis treachery? @elin asked.

)er!ent lost his tem!er and used his 3am!iric ift, !sychic

shielding, and !ushed oth his wife and daughter away. Cassio!eia,with her instinct to -ght ack, o$erthrew her father with telekinesis.@elin stood u! from her !osition.

(y father is no traitor, Cassio!eia ellowed as she le$itated)er!ent and started anging him against the wall. #hat was when)er!ent found out that he was no match for his daughter. ;sychicshielding could not e used while in a !sychic"controlled state.Cassio!eia threw )er!ent out of the window after which she ew fromto continue her attacks. nfortunately, )er!ent had gained momentumand used his !sychic shielding to throw Cassio!eia into the (ist

Ca$ern.

Ha$e you gone mad?&? @elin shouted as she ew from thewindow and witnessed what )er!ent did to his daughter. #he (istCa$ern will not let her lea$e&

% needed to get rid of her. )he is a threat to my !lans. )er!entsaid. )uddenly, he was !ushed o$er to a tree y @elin.

'ou are not a 3am!ire anymore, @elin shouted. A 3am!irene$er etrays his allies&

Before she could say more, )er!ent was ale to thrust a stake toher heart. @elin*s lood"curdling scream -lled the area.

% lo$ed a traitor, @elin whis!ered as she slowly turned to ash.)er!ent*s eyes turned from gold to $iolet, marking his treachery. )iriuswill a$enge my death and free Cassio!eia. He will kill you& % !ut thistask on his shoulders&


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(y dear @elin, )irius is long gone. 2ho knows what ha!!ened tohim? @or all % know, he could e dead y now. )er!ent said as hewatched @elin*s ash eing lown away y the sutle /e!hyrs.oodye, my lo$e, )er!ent id her as he took out two lack feathers

and stuck them on his ack. After his wings s!routed, he ew awaytowards the rende/$ous !oint of the army.

% o!ened my eyes and found myself eside the 9i$er of +i$ision. %could see the Holy round from where % sat. % leaned o$er the 9i$er towash my face when % noticed that there was something di6erent withit, esides a few cuts on it.


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trying to feel where % was. #hen % found out that she could not see !astthe Boundary, % took her hand gently with my unglo$ed hand. % saw atint of !ink on her cheeks and maye there was some on my own.

'ou ha$e a warm hand for a +emon, )he said serenely. % smiled

and let her hand feel my arm. )he 5erked it slightly when she touchedone of my leeding cuts.

'ou*re in5ured, )he said. % didn*t know what to say, ut % -gured% would e saying something that % actually said in this memory. And %was correct.

ust a few scratches, % said as her hand reached u! to my face.% felt my cheeks urn dangerously that % was thankful that she couldn*tsee me.

(y name is =ight =o$e, )he said. % held her hand that was onmy face gently so not to startle her. % was going to say that my namewas Ho!e ut something else came out of my mouth.

(y name is @ail, % said as % my mind raced while looking for ananswer why % would say such a thing. =ight frowned.

@ail? #hat is such a !essimistic name& )he said.

(y father ga$e that name to me when % was $ery young so as toremind me that % was a failure and would ha$e an e$en worse future. %

said miseraly. =ots of other 4uestions -lled my head. 2ho was myfather? +id % ha$e a mother?

#hat*s a wrong way to look at life, =ight said,


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At -rst, % was silent. Angels were so !ersistent, ut % smiled at her!ersistence. % felt my heart eat faster until % felt her tug her handaway softly. )adly, % let it go.

2ill you come here tomorrow? )he asked.

% will, % answered. )he smiled and looked at where she thought% was. @rom where her eyes were looking, % -gured that she was lookingat my face, which % was $ery sure she could not see.

oodye, Ho!e, %*ll talk to you again tomorrow. %f you like, %would ring some food. =ight suggested.

#hat*s $ery kind of you, % re!lied. )he smiled again eforewalking away.

2hen % couldn*t see her -gure anymore, % waded away from the9i$er and dried o6 slowly as % sat on the cold ground. (aye ecause %was wearing warm clothing when % found myself in the Cursed round,% did not notice the low tem!erature in the area. (y heart*s !oundingnormali/ed and % sighed. =o$e at -rst sight was !ossile after all, ormaye it was eclusi$e to its namesakes. % lied down with my arms onthe ack of my head as a mock !illow and % crossed my legs as % staredat the Holy round*s !eaceful amience. ust then that % felt thelonging to want to go there, to feel what they call sunlight on my skinand to walk around without any worry at all ut mostly, to see theAngel =ight =o$e again.

% closed my eyes, ut when % o!ened them, % found myself lyingon the ground inside a ca$e, the ghostly -gure of Halley eside me,!roaly seeking fatherly lo$e as any child of eight would. )he mayha$e my eyes and hair, ut Halley had =ight*s face.

Chapter 4: Douts and !ullaies

A large grou! of Creatures of +arkness !iled in front of )carletand her Banshees who held the Cloaks the +e$il ga$e her. #here weresome +emons, a few 3am!ires, a handful of 2erewol$es, many Half"

(en, a small army of olins, houls and Domies and a single )ha!e"shifter. #he Banshees distriuted the Cloaks to the Creatures while)carlet con$ersed with )er!ent.

% heard you killed @elin, )carlet said. %t must*$e een hard foryou, dear )er!ent.


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% had to do away with those who are !otential threats to our!lans. )er!ent said emotionlessly. )carlet smiled.

'ou !lease me with your loyalty, )er!ent. )he said. And whataout Cassio!eia, what did you do with her?

)he is caged in the (ist Ca$ern, and % am !retty sure she shallnot e interfering with the war. )er!ent said. )carlet let out amaniacal laughter.

)er!ent, % am ama/ed y your canine loyalty. +o not fret yoursacri-ces will not e in $ain. )he said and raised her s!ear high.

All right, Creatures of +arkness, are you ready to in-ltrate theHoly round? )he asked.

'


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+o not fret, daughter, 7!han said reassuringly. Halley is a2arrior Angel who had ecome a tem!orary )!irit. )he cannot e hurty anything whatsoe$er. And she has Ho!e*s ;rotecti$e +agger. =ightlooked at her seemingly young father.

But @ather, what aout my lo$e? 2ill he elie$e Halley once shere$eals herself as his daughter? %t is not so sur!rising if he does note$en % won*t elie$e her at once if it were me, =ight told her fathergrimly.

(other, (other, where are you?

=ight and 7!han turned to the young feminine $oice coming from


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'ou*re lying, all of you,


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'es? )he asked. % took her in my arms and carried her. )helanketed herself with my cloak and held onto my armor. % felt a faintthud on my armor where she accidentally um!ed it with the dagger.

#ell me where to go and %*ll take us home. 'ou go to slee! and

get some rest. % told her. )uddenly, % saw a $ision aout my dream of=ight. %t showed the way towards the Boundary where % -rst saw =ight.2ait, % think % know where to go. 9est now, Halley.

Halley nodded and closed her ruy eyes. % felt the rhythmicreath of slee! and smiled to myself. 2alking towards where % elie$edwas the right direction, % 4uietly sang a song unconsciously to kee!Halley !eaceful.

#he littleness of your hands, the tenderness of your heart,'ou make me smile % can*t ear to e a!art,

'ou*re melodious laughter and that angelic smile,%t would kee! me li$ing, e$en 5ust for a while,

%t shocked me how % sung the words. % didn*t know where theycame from, ut % guess it was a lullay % sung to Halley and


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Be it through -re, e it through lake,2e*re only oth a ste! away,@rom the small dreams that are meant to stay,

#hat must*$e een the end of the song considering Halley had

drifted ack to slee!. % didn*t try to think of the following lyrics if it hadanymore and walked on.

Ho!e"=ess? Ho!e"=ess, where are you? #he +e$il called. #he-ery walls of his mansion echoed his $oice. He /a!!ed the nearest


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7f course, my sweet Betray, +arkness said, mentioning the+e$il*s name. #he +e$il let out a maniacal laughter.

'es, dear +arkness Hate, ut !lease refrain from calling me ymy name, #he +e$il said. % !refer +ark =ord much etter.

+arkness laughed and smoke oated around her, $anishing her-gure, ut not her laughter which was reected y the echoing walls.#he +e$il mused, his scarred eyes closed. He clenched his -sts on thearms of his throne in ecitement.

(aye % should get some action myself, He said and !ulled outhis tattered cloak and his sword. (aye % should 5oin in as a third!arty of )carlet*s war. And with that, he left his mansion.

Chapter ": The War A#ross the $oundaries

@ather, % couldn*t -nd


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#he Creatures of the +ark Half, they are attacking the main wallof the Holy round. 9afael informed.

2hat? 2hy? And how? @aith asked in shock.

#hey are wearing the +e$il*s Cloaks. #heir moti$e is stillunknown. 9afael continued. 7!han massaged his tem!le in stress.=ight continued to fret, her !inkish white face turning !ale. @aith !lacedher hands on her daughter*s shoulders to steady her !osition. 9afaellooked at them with his innocent eyes that ha$e yet to see e$il.

9afael, has the Angelic Army gotten to !osition? 7!han asked.9afael nodded. He sighed and came near the Angel and held on hisgold"!lated shoulder armor.

% need you to lea$e the war, 9afael. % need you to look for my

granddaughter,


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But what aout my mother and grand!arents? )he asked.'ggdrasil swayed a it.

#hey will not !erish, dear child. #he )era!h will return. He said.


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(y mind ran through a million things while we walked towards,dare % say, home. 2hat would it e like when % come ack? 2oulde$erything e etter? But % can*t 5ust ignore the fact that there mighte something wrong. #hen % saw smoke arise from afar. #here was

something $ery wrong aout it.

2hen we were in front of the 9i$er of +i$ision, % waded in, Halleysitting on my shoulders, her wings slightly sti6 from slee!. At -rst, %e!ected to e electrocuted so % acked a little.

+addy? 2hat*s wrong? Halley said. )uddenly, my $isionlurred. 2hen it cleared u!, % looked around to -nd that % was in amemory. % looked towards the Boundary as % stood in the midst of the9i$er*s sutle currents.

Ho!e, what*s wrong? )aid a familiar $oice. How could % ha$emissed =ight, who was on the other side of the Boundary, in front ofme?

8othing, %*m 5ust confused. % said suconsciously. =ightfrowned.

Ho!e, we*$e een meeting here for two years already. How areyou confused? %sn*t it understandale that % lo$e you? )he asked. (y5aw dro!!ed.

'ou what? % asked suddenly. How could you lo$e someonefrom the o!!osite race? How could you lo$e someone you cannot see?How can you lo$e someone who was destined to fail? =ight reachedher hand lindly u! to my face. #hen, she !inched my cheek.

7uch, what was that for? % asked her. )he giggled and % felt mycheeks go red. Again, % was thankful for the fact that she could not seemy face.

% can feel that you ha$e the same !hysical 4ualities of a maleAngel. 'ou may not ha$e wings ut that*s not im!ortant, is it? =ight

said softly as she waded nearer. % 5erked away when her cold, wetclothes touched my skin. =ight sto!!ed.

+on*t you feel the same? )he asked softly. Her hand started tolea$e my cheek when % tra!!ed it there with my hand.

2e can*t e together, % told her in the softest way % could. =ightwaded one ste! nearer.


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#here*s no law stating that an Angel and a +emon can*t lo$eeach other. =ight said and !ut oth of her hands on my cheeks. )heseemed to e looking into my eyes, ut % was sure she couldn*t seeanything. % felt a rush of heat throughout my ody.

+o you feel the same? )he asked again. (y free hand, the onethat wasn*t on =ight*s hand, mo$ed u! to her cheek.

'es, % whis!ered. =ight*s hand mo$ed to my chest. A goldenglow emitted from it and it lit u! the darkness around us. % saw =ight*seyes widen and her cheeks shine right !ink.

'ou*re $ery charming, )he said shyly. % felt the heat cree! ontomy cheeks. % was sure =ight saw it when a smile cre!t on her li!s.

#he $ision ended and % saw Halley looking at my face.

+addy? 2hat*s wrong? )he asked. % smiled at her.

7h, nothing, 5ust a little ashack, % told her and we e6ortlessly!assed through the Boundary.

'ay& 2e*re home +addy& 2e*re home& Halley shouted. % wasaout to say something when % saw armed +emons running towardswhere we were. % cu!!ed Halley*s mouth and !ulled her to a nearytree.


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7f course, % said silently. #here were ten of them. % couldn*t killthem one y one, considering some may esca!e and tell of mylocation.

#he ten got ack to destroying the rear wall while % stood ehind

them. % !ulled out my sword and looked towards where Halley hid. )hewasn*t !eeking nor did she mo$e, ut % could sense her from where %was. Call it a father instinct.

>%t*s now or ne$er,* % thought as % !ositioned to deca!itate all ten+emons. % inhaled dee!ly and stretched my hand that was holding mysword in a straight line.

2hat are you doing? 7ne of the +emons asked. Before other*scould react, % swung the sword as fast and strong as % could, causing aline of shar! /e!hyrs to deca!itate all ten +emons and lea$e a long slit

on the wall. % heard lea$es shuGe. % looked around. (aking sure no onehad seen me and my deed, % returned to Halley.

=et*s go, % told her. )he nodded and we made our way ack infront of the gashed wall. %t was $ery high, and was im!ossile to clim.#here was no !oint of entering through the front gate, considering it!roaly was the center of the war. @or the -rst time, % wanted wings.

+addy Halley whis!ered. % saw a single lack feather oat infront of me. 2hen % looked ack, % saw a !air of lack wings at myack. %t didn*t s!rout from my ack ut 5ust oated y it. % willed it to

y u!, and it lifted me u!. Beckoning Halley to follow, % ew u!e6ortlessly and soon was on the to! of the wall.

2here*s our home, Halley? % asked her. Halley !ointed to thecenter !alace surrounded y eautiful houses under a trans!arentdome. 2e 5um!ed o6 the wall and ew towards it.

#he feeling of ight was ama/ing. Ha$ing the wind hit your facewhile oating was truly unimaginale to me. +id % ha$e these wingsack then?

+addy, % thought you couldn*t y? Halley asked me as we!assed a few unattended towers.

)o did %, % told her as we reached the tower. #here, % sawHalley*s slee!ing ody. Beside it was =ight. )oon, % felt a rush ofmemories ood through me.


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% returned ack to the $ision % had almost an hour ago. =ightsmiled and !ulled me into the Holy round. % e!ected to eelectrocuted, ut % felt not e$en the slightest of discomfort when!assing the Boundary. % looked down at my chest. % !ut my hand on itand -gured that =ight must*$e gi$en me the tattoo.

#here, now oth of us are ale to go oth sides. =ight said,oth of us in the same !osition as efore.

#hank you, % told said. )he looked at me lo$ingly and gently!ushed my head towards her. Before % could react, her li!s !ressedsoftly against mine. As shocked as % was, % willingly returned the kiss.7ur odies closed the s!ace etween us and the kiss dee!ened.

=%H# =73


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%*m glad you*re alright, )aid =ight*s $oice. % looked at her andsmiled weakly. )he laid her head on my shoulder. A tear trickled downher cheek. %*m sorry,

'our father was 5ust trying to !rotect you, % told her. )he

nodded and looked at me with her warm lue eyes. Her father enteredthe room and =ight 5olted u!.

@ather, don*t hurt Ho!e anymore, )he said weakly, etendingher arms as if to !rotect me. Her father ignored her and turned to me.

+emon, % don*t know how you got in the Holy round ut %*mtelling you, after you reco$er, you*re to lea$e and ne$er return. Hesaid.

@ather& =ight said in defeat.

%*m eing merciful, =ight =o$e. % am not ordering you as yourfather, ut as the )era!h 7!han. )oon, the Angel you*ll e marryingwill ecome the )era!h and % will not allow that +emon to success my!osition. 7!han said. % looked down in humiliation. Before =ight couldsay anything in my defense, % decided to s!eak u!.

+on*t worry, (aster )era!h %*ll lea$e now if you wish. % said.

Ho!e =ight said.

3ery well. =et me escort you out of the Holy round. But % meanit. % will ne$er let =ight out of the walls again. 7!han said. % nodded.'ou can ha$e your -nal goodyes. %*ll wait for you outside.

2hen 7!han left, =ight roke into tears and uried her face inher hands. % !ulled her in an emrace.

% don*t want you to e on ad terms with your father. % told her.)he nodded as she soed 4uietly. % sighed. =ight, % ha$e to go now. %ha$e one thing to ask of you.

2hat is it? )he asked as her eyes met mine.


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=et*s go. He said curtly and we started walking away. (y eyeswere lurred y tears. % linked them away and % was staring ack at=ight and Halley*s ody inside the !alace.

(ommy& Halley shouted and ew in. =ight turned to her and a

warm smile crossed her li!s while she s!read out her arms in awelcoming emrace.

(y ay, =ight said as she emraced Halley tightly. Halleykissed her cheek and emraced her neck. %t was e!ected of her to doso. A small child who had een away from a mother -gure wouldalways miss her mother.

(ommy, +addy*s here, Halley said and !ointed to me. =ightlooked in shock.

Ho!e?


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#ake this, #he Archangel said and handed 9afael a sil$er sword.9afael looked and sheathed it then turned to the Archangel.

2hy did you gi$e me this, sir? 9afael asked.

#hat is )era!h Hea$en*s s!ade. se it if @ate wills it. (ichaelsaid. 9afael nodded and ew odd.

As he ew towards +a$id arielle*s turf, 9afael looked at swordwith high regard. %ts handle was !ure gold and was engra$ed withfeathers. #he sheath was of lack leather strung with gold chains.9afael unsheathed the sword and saw that its lade was of !ure sil$erand was engra$ed with an ancient !rotection !rayer written in anancient scri!t.

9afael sheathed the sword and wra!!ed the golden chain aroundhis lue sash, the sword hanging from it as he ew towards the secondArchangel. Another deafening low on the far away wall was audileand 9afael sto!!ed to look where the low was made and found that a!art of the wall was lown down. He gul!ed as a thousand thoughtsran through his mind.


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Belie$e me %*$e !aid enough for letting you li$e u! to now.7!han said efore sending another fatal lightning towards )carlet.)carlet didn*t make an e6ort to dodge the attack and stared at it, hertears streaming from her eyes.

%n the s!lit second efore the lightning could hit )carlet, herchildhood memories clouded her mind.

% was alone )carlet said as her child -gure a!!eared infront of the lightning olt, her arm outstretched, as if welcoming theattack to her emrace. Her $isions returned to her childhood.

)carlet stood among the numerous cada$ers slain y a singleAngel: the )era!h Holy 7!han. )he cowered in front of the holy Angelas she acked ste! y ste!, afraid that she might meet the sameloody end as her kin.

% elie$e in sal$ation in the youth, He said as he sheathed thesil$er sword in its lack scaard. % will let you li$e, guaranteed thatyou won*t follow those slain efore you.

#he snow"haired Angel walked away, disa!!earing into the mist.'oung )carlet linked away her tears, only to -nd herself in the!resent, in front of the shining olt that -red to kill her. )carlet lookeddown in shame as she acce!ted that she will die. But when she didn*tfeel the heat nor !ain of the lightning, )carlet o!ened her eyes to -nda !ale woman with short hair and short clothing in front of her who

sto!!ed the attack. 7!han looked in shock at the woman. )carletlooked at the woman to -nd out that she was one of the +e$il*sconcuines. +arkness

2hat? Has she gotten far? % asked =ight. =ight nodded, thenshook her head. % creased my eyerows. 2hat do you mean?

9afael is looking for her. % am not sure of her location, =ightsaid. Halley ew u! to her height.

9afael? #he 2arrior Angel who trained with us? )he asked,referring to her and me.

'es. He*s a full"!ledged 2arrior Angel now. =ight said. % thinkhe*s co$ering the Holy +ome at the moment.

Halley looked down. % turned to her and !laced my hand on hershoulder. )he looked at me with longing eyes.


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+ear 7!han, it is +arkness, 4ueen of the +e$il. +arkness said.)he turned to )carlet. 7h, why isn*t it the cute little +emon )carlet&

)carlet cringed at the word >cute*. )he hated such ad5ecti$esused on her, ut in her !osition, she had no right to com!lain. %nstead,

she looked away. +arkness smiled trium!hantly. )he turned ack to7!han.

'ou could*$e attacked me while my ack was turned, +arknessmused. 7!han shot her a glare.

% do not !lay dirty, =ilith, 7!han said. +arkness* smile turned toa frown as dark ames formed around her -sts.

% said, my name is +A982hat would % do?* )he asked herself, ignoring the noise of war

around her. )carlet looked u! to -nd that the attle etween the e")era!h and the +e$il*s concuine was e4ually matched.

2ould she hel! +arkness and hel! con4uer the Holy round? 7rwould she hel! 7!han and return the fa$or he ga$e her long ago? )heshook her head in confusion.

9afael sto!!ed eside the Archangel +a$id arielle, a female,eight"winged golden rown haired, green eyed Angel. +a$id arielleturned to the young angel in front of her.

%s there something wrong, 9afael? )he asked. 9afael reathedin and out efore he said anything.

% am looking for the 'oung =ady


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9afael&

9afael looked ehind him and saw a familiar lack"haired, red"eyed Angel named Halley. He felt his tiredness dwindle away at thesight of her. )oon, Halley crashed into him in a tight emrace.

Halley, it*s nice to see you, ut, you*re s!irit"like 9afael saidshee!ishly. Halley looked down.

% left my ody in the !alace. #rust me we*re etter o6 withoutit. Halley said. 9afael ga$e her a 4ui//ical look.

2e? 2hat do you mean? He asked with a slight lush. Halleyrolled her eyes at him.

2e*re going into the +ark Half to look for


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2hat aout your father, )era!h Ho!e? %s he !art Angel as well?9afael asked, his eyes ad5usting to the darkness.

8o, he was full +emon. (ommy lessed him and he gained

Angelic ailities o$er time. Halley said !roudly. 9afael could ne$erargue with that. He himself thought Ho!e as a highly res!ected)era!h, not caring if he was of the o!!osite race.

+arkness had urned two of 7!han*s wings and had woundedthe e")era!h adly. 7!han struggled to y, ut the !ain of his twowings !re$ented him from doing so.

Any last words, dear )era!h? +arkness asked as she !ointedher s!ear to 7!han*s throat. )carlet watched as her mind continued its

attle against itself. 2hat had +arkness e$er did for her ut insult herin any way she could? 7!han on the other hand had shown mercy ando6ered her a new life to start o$er with. ntil now, the o6er was still$alid. )carlet could still return the fa$or and turn away from her e$il!ast.

+ecided, )carlet stood u! and her hands amed u!. )hereathed in slowly. )he could die, ut at least she died for the one whos!ared her. %t was good enough.

8o last words? 2hat at !ity, +arkness said. )he was aout to

attack 7!han when she felt a hot, !iercing s!ear sta her ack. )heshrieked in !ain.

'ou traitor& )he shouted to )carlet. )carlet -red a ame at herand +arkness was o$erthrown to one of the tower walls. )he turned to7!han.

'ou s!ared me once, % shall return the fa$or. %f % li$e !ast this,would you allow me to stay in this !aradise with neither !re5udice norhate towards me? )he asked in a ho!eful $oice.

7ur )era!h is also a +emon, child. 2e neither send !re5udicenor hatred towards him. )ame goes for you, )carlet. Atonement is fore$eryody, Angel or +emon. 7!han told her. )carlet rued her eyesof her tears and smiled at 7!han.

o now, (aster 7!han. %*ll hold her o6 as long as % could.)carlet said and shot ames towards +arkness in a swift succession.7!han nodded then ran away, still unale to y. )carlet watched


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closely at +arkness while she tried to stand u!. )uddenly, she saw aame -red towards her. )carlet didn*t ha$e time to react as she wasthrown to the wall.

#his is not the end, traitor, )aid +arkness* $oice. )carlet looked

at the +emon as she dissol$ed in thin air. )carlet gas!ed for air.

Chapter *: The De'il+s Arri'al

After % roke the kiss with =ight, % looked around. =ight looked u!to me and !laced her hand under my chin.

%*m so ha!!y you*re ack. )he said. % nodded, lost for words. Atthat small moment, % felt as if e$erything was !erfect again. 2ait, did %say again? )o did that mean my life efore % was taken away y theCloaked Creatures was this !erfect? % suddenly had a dragon"like will to

do e$erything to sa$e the Holy round. #he sanctuary was rokenwhen a -reall hit the Holy +ome, making the land eneath it shudder.

Ho!e, =ight whis!ered, Are you lea$ing me as well to -ght inthe war? )adly, % nodded my head. )he looked down. % !laced myhands on her shoulders.

%*d e ack, ut right now, the Holy round needs all the hel! itcan get. % told her. =ight nodded.

% shall kee! the ci$ilian Angels safe from here, Ho!e. 'ou go out

there and e the )era!h that you are. )he said. 2ait, what did shemean >)era!h that you are*?

)era!h? 2hat do you mean? % asked her. =ight ga$e me a4ui//ical look. % thought that maye % hadn*t asked Halley enoughaout myself.

'ou*re the )era!h, silly& 2hen you married me, my father!ronounced you as the new )era!h, which you gladly acce!ted. =ightsaid. Before % could react, my $ision lurred and in came a memory. %saw myself in the same edroom, only at night. % ne$er knew there was

nighttime in the Holy round. % walked towards the mirror andeamined my reection. )o that was why it was cold, % was 5ust in my!ants, my hair tied at my ack. % looked towards the ed and saw =ightwearing a short silk night dress looking at me. % looked away,emarrassed at seeing her in such clothing.

#hen % rememered that she was my wife already. %t wasn*tunusual to see her dressed that way.


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Ho!e, what*s othering you? )he asked. % tried to make eyecontact, ut my eyes focused on some other !laces of the room.

8othing, %*m 5ust thinking aout the life % had efore, % said

automatically. =ight went ehind me and snaked her arms around mywaist as she rested her head on my ack.

2hy? %s it haunting you? )he asked gently.

8o, % was 5ust thinking of the time % wasted in killing otherCreatures of +arkness when % could ha$e done etter things. % said.

%s that still othering you? =ight asked. +on*t worry aout itanymore. 'ou*re a changed man who is ound to do good for the restof his life. #ell me %*m right.

7f course you are, you always were. % told her and % emracedher small frame. )uddenly, there came a knock on our door.

%*ll get it, % told =ight. =ight nodded and went under the co$ersof our ed. % lushed at the thought that we shared the same ed. %o!ened the door and saw 7!han, =ight*s father.

)orry to distur your night, son, ut % ha$e come to deli$er greatnews. 7!han said. % looked at his face, scanning for any clue on whatthe news was. % didn*t -nd any.

2hat is it, (aster? % asked.

%*m retiring as the )era!h. He said. 2hat was so great aoutthat?

And this is great ecause? % in4uired. 7!han ga$e a softchuckle. Angels were so weird.

%*$e recently met someone who*d do a etter 5o. He said. %cocked my eyerow. 7!han looked at me and then !laced his hands on

my shoulders. 'ou*re re!lacing me, son.

2hat? 2hy? % asked in a sur!rised tone.

'ou*$e shown much greatness in the !ast few days, des!ite the!re5udice and !ain we*$e made you go through. 'ou showed me andthe rest of the Angel !o!ulation that e$en a +emon can e great. 'ou


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deser$e the !osition as )era!h, Ho!e. +on*t dare decline my o6er,son. 7!han said.

How could % refuse anything my father"in"law !resents me? %said. 7!han smiled and looked towards =ight, who was giggling under

the co$ers.

% see you*$e trained my daughter to e a s!y, He 5oked. %laughed a little and so did =ight. 7!han cleared his throat. % e!ectthat you will !ersonally !rotect my daughter, err, your wife.

2ith my life, sir, % re!lied. % turned to =ight, who was cuddlingthe !illow, her smile melting my ody. 7!han nodded and handed me asword. %ts handle was gold engra$ed with feathers. #he scaard wasof lack leather with a elt of golden chains. % unsheathed the swordand saw unfamiliar writing on the lade.

#hat was )era!h Hea$en*s, 7!han told me. % nodded. (akegood use of it, unlike what % did some time ago. % looked at him.

%t*s alright, % told him. 'ou 5ust did that to !rotect =ight. % mightha$e done the same thing if % were in your shoes. 7!han nodded andleft without a word. #he surroundings ecame ha/y again. % shook theha/e o6 only to -nd me in the !resent. % looked at =ight*s face.

Ho!e, you*re the )era!h. 'our !eo!le elie$e you and you will!rotect them. #ell me, am % right? )he asked. % smiled at the dE5I $u.

7f course you are, you always were. % told her, recalling theanswer % ga$e her aout a decade ago. =ight smiled and emraced mein a 4uick hug.

o now, they need you. )he said. % nodded and stood outside.At -rst % wondered how %*ll get my wings ack, ut like a whim, theya!!eared ehind me like the -rst time. % 5um!ed o6 the window sill andstarted ying. #hen, % wondered where the sword 7!han ga$e to mewas. A logical e!lanation was that % left it somewhere when % wasknocked out and rought to the +ark Half.

Before % dug dee!er into my thoughts, % saw a familiar whitehaired man running from not too far. i$en the fact that % was a+emon, my senses were ten times etter than an Angel*s. % looked athim and recogni/ed him as 7!han. He looked hurt.

(aster 7!han& % shouted as % headed to him. He cocked hishead towards me and somehow, he looked relie$ed to see me.


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him. % could still feel the connection etween us going stronger andstronger.

2hy do % feel so connected to you?&? % asked him in rage. #he+e$il laughed again. )uddenly, my $ision lurred and once again, % was

in my memory. % could rememer that it was when 7!han wasescorting me out of their land.

)ir, 5ust so you know, % lo$e your daughter $ery much and myintentions are !latonic. % told him.

=ies, 7!han said harshly. % did not dare say any more,considering 7!han would not elie$e anything % said at that time. %5um!ed into the 9i$er of +i$ision when we heard an e!losion insidethe walls of the Holy round. 7!han*s wings s!routed from ehind.

)ir, let me hel!& % said suddenly.

'ou stay down& He said.

But % can hel!& % know only one eing who could !roduce lackand $iolet smoke. % said.

'ou stay down, oy& % don*t need you& He said. % rose o6 the9i$er.

'ou*ll need all the hel! you can get in -ghting this eing& He

isn*t 5ust someone you can kill in a slash& %t might e hard for you toelie$e it, ut you*ll need the son to defeat the father. % told him, utdee! inside % was confused y what % said. 7!han looked away.

2ho is the attacker, then? He asked. % looked down onto thegrass.

(y father, the +e$il, )ir. % told him. 7!han let out a furiouslaugh. #hen, he slashed at me with his sword, missing my neck y ahair. % gul!ed.

2hy should % elie$e you, you son of the +e$il? He asked. %looked down. 7!han ew away. % only knew how stuorn % was when %followed at lu!ine s!eed. A cou!le of 2arrior Angels came to lock myway.

et out of my way, )era!h 7!han needs my hel! whether youelie$e it or not& % shouted and % kicked them hard enough to makethem !ass out.


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2hen % arri$ed at the -ght, 7!han*s sword ew towards me,landing right in front of me. % sighed in relief. #hen, % looked towards the-ght. 2arrior Angels were in front of =ight and a woman who must eher mother. % looked at 7!han who was wounded and on the oor. %

looked towards the attacker whom % recogni/ed as the +e$il.

'ou were always the hothead, 7!han. =ook where it go you.#he +e$il said as he swung his lade around. )hould % end you rightnow?

% des!ise you and your clan& 7!han growled. #he +e$il raisedhis sword high. As if it were an instinct, % ran towards them, !ushing7!han out of the way. #he lade !ierced the $ery same s!ot where7!han staed me. % growled in !ain. #he +e$il 4uickly withdrew thelade.

% don*t elie$e that e$en my own son would turn against me 5ustto sa$e a !re5udicing Angel& #he +e$il said. )on?&?

% don*t care& 'ou*re the one in the wrong, father& % shouted as %clung on my leeding side. Before the +e$il who was my father couldreact, % swung my feet at his legs and he fell on the oor, his swordying u!. % caught it and stood u!.

Ho!e =ight said. 7!han looked at me with an une!lainalee!ression. % turned ack to my father who was standing u!.

'ou etrayed me, @ail. 'ou 5ust !ro$ed that you are a failure&He shouted. % looked down.

Ho!e, don*t look down& 7!han shouted. % reacted 4uick enoughto see my father aout to kill me with a dagger. % mindlessly swung thesword at his eyes.

A9H&&& (y father shouted in !ain. His lood s!luttered at me,and somehow urned my skin. % winced at the tolerale !ain.

%*ll ha$e my re$enge, @ail was the last this he said efore he$anished. % linked the memory away and % was in front of the +e$ilagain. )o % was the one who scarred his eyes. % gras!ed my sword.

Chapter : The Son o- Cold )ire


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)o, my dear oy, don*t tell me you can*t really rememer yourold daddy, can you? @ather said. % clenched my sword e$en tighter. %guess you don*t know me that much, @ail.

2hat do you mean? % asked through gritted teeth.

%f you knew at least half as much as efore, you wouldn*t eslashing at me with your sword. 'ou would*$e known that that !iece ofrust can*t kill me. He said. (y gri! loosened and the sword fell on thewall with a clank. How was % su!!osed to kill him then?

% looked ehind me and % saw my wings. % looked towards fatherand saw that we oth ha$e the same lack"feathered wings. % thoughtthat maye if % could summon wings then % could !ossily ha$einherited the +e$il*s !owers. Before % could think more, father -red alarge all of lack -re towards me. % rolled away 5ust in time, my sword

left to urn as it did. % ew u! towards him and kicked him as hard as %could to uy me some time.

% focused my mind in !roducing -re from my !alms. 8othing. %tried again in $ain. % tried and tried until % was so frustrated that %growled.

2hy won*t it work?&? % shouted. @ather ew ack towards meand returned the kick. % winced as % hit the wall*s hard eterior.

Ho!e& 7!han shouted from inside the wall. % got o6 the dent %

made on the wall and shook my head.

2hat are you trying to do? Co!y my attacks? ust ecause youha$e wings, son, doesn*t mean you can !roduce lack -re as well& %*malready sur!rised that you ha$e rought yourself to summon wings.#oo ad it*s all you can do& @ather shouted and -red another lackame towards me, which % didn*t luckily dodge. %t hit me s4uare in thestomach and it urned my armor. #he heat was intolerale and % tooko6 the armor as fast % could and let it dro! to the ground.

'ou must e ehausted. +on*t think you*d e lucky to defeat me

this time, @ail. @ather told me. % cursed my weakness against him. #wodaggers came my way and staed my wrists to the walls. % growled in!ain. Blood started to leak from my wrists and stained the wall. 7!hanlooked hel!lessly from ao$e. @ather ew in front of me and held myface y the cheek.


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)uch a waste of good +emons, He said. @irst )carlet, now you.2ell, +emons will e +emons. He let out another laughed and roughthis lade to my neck. % inched away as far as % could.

2hat did you do to )carlet?&? 7!han shouted from aout.

@ather turned to him.

8othing, 7!han. +arkness will take care of her. @ather said.7!han shut his eyes angrily. @ather turned to me again.

+o you want to die here, @ail? 7r maye, you*d like to e urnedto death? He asked. % growled in !ain as he twisted one of thedaggers. (ore lood streamed down the wall. )eeing that father wasusy tormenting me, % used it to my ad$antage. As a ditch e6ort, %kicked him hard and % !ulled my hands o6 the wall, not caring if thelood didn*t sto! dri!!ing. +emons had tremendous reco$ery and

gladly % was of no ece!tion.

%*m going to end this all. % told him.

)carlet echanged attacks with +arkness. #hey were of e4ualagility, ut not of e4ual strength. +arkness was o$iously stronger.)carlet ran around, making sure +arkness would not e ale to!in!oint her location.

2hen ha$e you decided to work for the Angels? #hey*ll ne$er

acce!t you. +arkness said. )carlet was not swayed.

#heir )era!h is a +emon, +arkness. % elie$e it*s Ho!e. )hesaid with con-dence. +arkness fro/e.

Ho!e? 'ou don*t mean @ail, the son of the +ark =ord? )he said.)carlet could not answer. #hat oy is the )era!h?

'es, he is, and % will ser$e his kingdom& )carlet shouted andthrew a -reall at +arkness* face. )lowly, her skin melted, re$ealing anugly face.

'ou treacherous little +emon, +arkness ellowed. % shouldha$e ne$er gi$en irth to you&


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=ight stood u! on the to! of the tower. )he had left Halley*s odyin the care of her maid to hel! in !rotecting the war. )he had thestrongest !rotection s!ell, after all.

But when she was in the middle of her concentration, =ight saw

Ho!e*s loody form in her mind. He could not rememer how to!roduce his !owers. =ight suddenly ecame afraid. Ho!e would notlose, would he?

Ho!e )he whis!ered. =ight then saw from Ho!e*s eyes andcaught sight of the +e$il. )he was only fourteen when she last sawhim, and his a!!earance had not changed, and his eyes had nothealed.

Ho!e, don*t lose don*t gi$e u! )he whis!ered. #he -ghtetween Ho!e and his father continued as =ight watched it in her

meditation.

% dodged most of father*s attack. )omehow, % weakened slowlydue to my wrists. #hey had not sto!!ed leeding and % still had no ideahow to defeat my father.

'ou look so !athetic now, @ail& % knew you*d always e a failure,5ust like your mother. @ather said. 2ho was my mother? @ather lookedat me. 7h, right, you don*t know her, do you? 2hat was the name ofmy mother? 2ho was she?

'our mother was a $ery charming woman. )he had red hair andeyes and was almost my e4ual. )eeing her strength, % willed her to emy wife. )he declined, and % had to, well, forcily make her my ride.After she ga$e irth to you, seeing that % cannot ring her to !ledge herloyalty to me, % urned her. )uch a waste too ad you*d e the same&@ather shouted and threw a -reall at me. % dodged it, ut arely. #hewounds of my wrists weren*t healing. %n fact, my lood s!latterede$erywhere % y to. 2eakness was slowly coming o$er me, ut % did notdare let my father see it.

=ook at you now, @ail& )o weak and !athetic& )ince you*$e orefeelings for these sim!letons, you*$e ecome as you are. 2hy, whereis the loodthirsty war"freak of a son % had? @ather shouteddistastefully.

He*s gone& And you should e gone as well& 7!han shoutedand a linding light hit father at his chest. He let out a growl andstarted dissol$ing into thin air.


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2retched Angel& 'ou are not concerned with this -ght& @athershouted. 7!han shot him another light ray and he dissol$ed faster.

#hat oy is not of your lood, Betray& He has a heart, which you

o$iously do not ha$e& 7!han shouted. @ather growled and started!um!ing his energy to his !alms. Black -re formed, and he aimedthem at 7!han.

8o& % yelled and went in front of my father"in"law. % had no ideaon what to do, ut as an instinct, % set loody !alms in front of me andclosed my eyes. % was sure it was my end, my heart sinking in defeatand sadness.

+on*t gi$e u!, Ho!e,

% o!ened my eyes and % wasn*t in the situation anymore. % lookedaround and % saw nothing ut light. 2as % dead?

8o, you*re not dead, Ho!e.

% turned around and saw a woman with red hair and eyes. Couldshe e?

'es, Ho!e, it is %, your mother. )he said and motioned me tocome closer. % walked in the light towards her. He held my face, and %felt the warmth of her hand. )he smiled as tears welled u! in her eyes.

'ou*$e grown, my son. )he whis!ered and emraced me. % feltthe connection etween a mother and a son. % returned her emrace,and like a little lost oy, % cried on her shoulder. Ho!e, don*t cry&

% sto!!ed my tears, ut % didn*t want to let go. #his woman wasmy mother, and % didn*t want to let go of her. % didn*t want to lose her,not yet.

% am so !roud of you, )he whis!ered as she comed my hairwith her -ngers. % elie$e you can defeat your father.

But % ha$e nothing against him& % said.

8onsense& (other said and held my !alms. % was sur!rised tosee no lacerations on my wrists. % felt my hands go cold, ut not num.Blue crystals started forming ato! my !alms, and soon, they ecamewhite ames.


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Cold -re? But how? % whis!ered to my mother.

Ho!e, ha$e you ne$er wondered why you are warm and theother +emons are cold? )he asked. % shook my head. %t*s ecauseyou ha$e life.

2hat? % don*t 4uite understand, mother. % said to her.

Heat comes from life, son. +emons !roduce hot ames for theygi$e life to them, ut cannot gi$e life to themsel$es. But you ha$e life.'ou !roduce cold ames for they*re so hot, so -lled with life, that theyalready feel cold, the strongest of the ames. (other said. % raised herhands to my face and !ressed my li!s on them. %ndeed, they werewarm.

#hank you for re$ealing this to me, mother, % said softly. (other

emraced me again.

#here is great destiny for you, Ho!e. 'ou ring your name tothose who let it go. 'our name alone rings itself to those who hear it. %lo$e your name, and % lo$e =ight for gi$ing it to you. %f % were ali$e, itwould*$e een the eact name % would want for you. )he said.

(other, what is your name? % asked her out of the lue. )hesmiled.

(y name is 8othing, for % was orn with nothing, and died with

nothing. But % am thankful that after +eath, % recei$ed e$erything.(other said. And let go of my hands. 8ow, you must gi$e e$erythingto sa$e the Holy round. se your skills.

And as 4uick as that, % was ack in the -ght. @ather*s face was inutter shock, and % found out why. % looked down and saw his lack -re,fro/en in a thick coat of white ice. % looked ehind me and saw 7!han,e4ually ama/ed.

#hat cannot e& % made sure you recei$ed none of 8othing*s!owers& (y father shouted. % smirked inwardly. % was going to win this

match, thanks to my mother.

% raised my hand and % sent a -reall towards father. #he -reallwas so fast that father could not dodge it. A loud roar eru!ted from himand he dissol$ed instantly. #hen, a laugh was heard.

'ou ha$e not defeated me yet, @ail. % will come and claim yourlife. @ather*s $oice said, then, e$erything was silent.


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'es, and % dee!ly regret it. )he shouted and -red a lack all to)carlet, who dodged it 4uickly.

But you*re a concuine of the +ark =ord& )carlet shouted and

sent a -reall towards +arkness, who dodged it arely due to her handlocking her face from $iew. +oes this mean % am the +e$il*sdaughter?

7$iously, )carlet& +arkness re!lied and sent an attacktowards her daughter. )carlet dodged it with ease and held her mothery the neck.

+oes this also mean that Ho!e is my half"rother? )he asked+arkness. +arkness kicked )carlet o6 her and sent lack lightningtowards her daughter. %t missed y a hair.

'our younger half"rother to e eact, and so what? @ail is!urely royal lood, ut you are merely a commoner. 'ou ha$e no rightto ha$e @ail as your half rother or the +ark =ord as your father&+arkness shouted and sent another lightning olt towards )carlet, andthis time, it hit her. )carlet let out a loodcurdling scream as she fellinside the wall.

% s!read out my hands and healed 7!han*s damaged wings. %ne$er knew % harnessed such !owerful skills such as healing and cold

-re. But % was still trouled with the thought that father was still ali$eand could a$enge his loss anytime. =ight*s hand held my face. % lookedat her.

'es? % asked softly. #wo tears left her eyes.

% thought you would die and lea$e me and the twins )hesoed. % held her in an emrace.

% !romised to !rotect the Holy =and and dying won*t hel! me. %assured her. =ight nodded and uried her face in my chest.

#he war*s not o$er yet, son, 7!han said softly. #here are stillmore Cloaked Creatures out there, and we are de-nitelyoutnumered.

% sighed. 7!han was right, ut % did not ha$e the heart to let =ightgo at that time. )he seemed so sad and fragile.


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% don*t want you to -ght anymore, Ho!e =ight told me. %looked at her and wi!ed her tears o6.

% can*t do as you wish, % said. =ight ke!t on crying.

But, you said that % was always right& 8ow %*m telling you thatyou shouldn*t -ght in this war& )he said half"heartedly. % frowned.


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%f you must, then go, she said, her $oice roken from crying. %stood u! and emraced her from ehind. % uried my face in hergolden hair.

% will ne$er sto! lo$ing you, =ight. % told her efore % ew away

to hel! in the war.

=ight turned around 5ust in time to see me looking at her as %ew. %t was hard lea$ing her, ut what could % do? % could not 5ust sitwith her and let the Holy round fall to !ieces. )he would understand %felt it.

)carlet stood u! from her fall. )he had lost consciousness for awhile and +arkness had thought she was dead. Holding her leedingside, )carlet gro!ed around, looking for something to lock her wound

with. 2ith a little !atience, she found some cloth. )he took out hercanteen of antise!tic and !oured it o$er the cloth. #hen, she !laced iton her wound. )carlet hissed in !ain.

% can*t elie$e it )he whis!ered as she tried to choke ackher tears. %*m a disgrace to )era!h Ho!e&

)he started walking, trying to dodge the falling deris of the wallof the Holy round. A lone tear fell of her eyes.

How foolish of me, )he said to herself, % started all of this. %f %

ne$er did, the +e$il and his concuine would*$e stayed in the Cursedround.

)he dro!!ed down to the ground and let more tears fall.

% wish % could undo e$erything now, )he whis!ered.

% scanned the grounds looking for the +emon named +arkness.8ot too long after, % found the roken down wall. % saw a woman

standing on its remains. % looked at her intently, not sure if she wasfriend or foe. )he turned to me. % was shocked. % wasn*t aware we wereca!ale of growing old.

#he woman*s face was contorted, large ags under her eyes andwrinkles e$erywhere. )he held a de$ilish grin as she held out her hand.


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Hello, @ail goodye Ho!e. )he said and ames ew from her!alms. % wa$ed my !alm against the air and there formed a solid shieldagainst her -re. % looked at her face and % found fear and sur!rise.

How, why? )he whis!ered, ut % attacked her efore she

could think of more words. )he ricocheted to the nearest tower and adent was made.

2ho are you? % asked as % ew towards her. )he tossed a smallall of ame which % sto!!ed with my !alm. )he gritted her teeth inanger.

Are you the +emon named +arkness? %f you are, what is yourmoti$e? % asked.

)he stood u! and dusted her clothes.

% am, and %*m here to hel! the +ark =ord to take o$er the Holyround. +on*t get me wrong, @ail, we are, after all, of the same race.)he said with a dense smirk.

% am not !art of your sorry race. % told her. )he let out a laugh.

7h, really? +o you really want me to elie$e that those Angelsha$e already acce!ted you in their clan? %n your dreams, @ail& 7nce a+emon, always a +emon. )he told me and attacked me with a olt of-re. % arely dodged it, the olt hitting my arm and urning my esh. %

hissed in !ain.

But though % was $ery angry at that time, % couldn*t hel! utconsider her words. 2hat if 7!han and =ight were 5ust using me to!rotect their kingdom? % shook o6 the thought. #hey would ne$er dothat. #hey were worthy of my trust.

Ah, attling with yourself, eh, @ail? +arkness mused. 'ou didthat 4uite often in your childhood. % know % was there.

+oesn*t mean that if you saw me grow u!, you*d know what %*d

ecome. % retorted. % hated this woman with so much !assion& )he letout another annoying laugh.

9eally? % knew you*d turn out like your stu!id mother. )he said.% cringed as she insulted my mother. @or that, she must die. 7h, @ail,lo$ely, innocent @ail. 'ou amuse me so much.


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ust kee! 4uite, heathen& % shouted to her. % was losing my!atience rather 4uickly than % ought.

%f %*m a heathen, @ail, you are as well. )he said, Being the sonof the +e$il, after all.

% looked down. #hat was one thing % could not change no matterwhat % do. % could not choose my !arents, and it was y Chance that %ended u! as the son of the +e$il. % could do nothing ut are the titlefor the rest of my life.

2hat, my words getting to you? 2ell, they are true. And they*reright. #ruth ites. +arkness shouted and sent a swirl of -re towardsme. % didn*t ha$e enough time to react and % recei$ed the hit fully. % wasdown, and +arkness !laced the heel of her oot on my chest.

7h, sweet handsome @ail. 'ou are as handsome as your @ather.(aye, % will s!are you if you would ecome my consort. +on*t eintimidated y this face % can return it to its youth in no time. )hesaid as she sat down on my stomach. 2ho did this woman think shewas? % would not lo$e a hag as herself&

o fall in a ditch, % said and !ushed her o6 me. But efore %could stand u!, another swirl of ames held me down. #he urningro!es were strong.

'our choice, handsome, +arkness said and made a ow of -re.

)he aimed an in$isile arrow at me. % cursed knowing there was noesca!ing her attack. But efore she could -re it at me, red amesencased her and negated her !ower.

2hat is this?&? )he shouted. 2ho did this?&? )how yourself,coward& % demand you to show yourself&

% turned to my right and % saw a lack ird of ames oating.2ith some more time, % managed to destroy those that ound me tothe wall and % stood u!. After a little more looking, % found out that the!hoeni was indeed a woman a +emon to e eact.

)carlet& 'ou are such a traitor& =et me out of this !rison now&+arkness screeched as she tried to destroy the s!here.

8ot on your life, mother, the woman"!hoeni named )carletre!lied. 2hen you mess with my half"rother, you mess with me.


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Half"rother? +id that mean that this woman was of my lood? %looked at her then to +arkness. %f +arkness was her mother and shewas a concuine of father, then indeed, )carlet was my half"sister.

)o you*re siding with the Angels now? #hey*ll ne$er acce!t you,

oth of you& +arkness shouted. #he s!here ecame smaller. =et meout, )carlet& #his is your mother talking to you&

'ou*re no mother of mine, +arkness. )he re!lied and let thes!here engulf the +emon that was known as +arkness. % lookedtowards )carlet ew towards me. As if it were an instinct, we emracedeach other.

%*m sorry, Ho!e, )he soed. % rought discord u!on yourkingdom, ut !lease ha$e mercy on me and let me li$e here.

% rued her ack and smiled.

'ou*re forgi$en, )carlet, % whis!ered. )he uried her face in thecrook of my neck and nu//led her nose on it.

%t*s so nice to ha$e a younger rother )he said. % smiledinside. #oo ad % was the younger one.

Chapter 11: Dar0ness )a#es /etreat

After +arkness and father were defeated, the other Cloaked

Creatures retreated from the war. #hough it was a $ictory, % was sure itwon*t last long.


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% know, % want them here too. % said. But %*m sure, the nettime we celerate $ictory, they*d e here.

=ight nodded.

% wish they*d -nd each other already, )he said rather childishlyand stood u! to look at the window. )ongs and merriment could eheard from where we stood. )omehow, % felt as if % were the oneworried for the twins when % was the one who told =ight to trust them.%ronic, isn*t it?

%*m ha!!y you met your sister, =ight said. %s she okay? Are theothers treating her well?

)he*s -ne, % re!lied, recalling )carlet*s shyness when %

introduced her to some Angels. A 2arrior Angel named ohann$olunteered to take her around the Holy round and gi$e her a taste ofher new home. ohann will take care of her while she*s inca!ale oftaking care of herself yet. And esides, they*re touring the kingdom.

#hat*s nice, =ight re!lied with utmost sincerity. % lo$ed hertruthfulness in her tone. % wish to meet her one of these days. Afterall, she is my sister as well, seeing as we are one, Ho!e.

% lo$e the way you think, % said with humor. =ight laughedangelically and held onto my arm gently. How % lo$ed how she would

take my arm in hers and hold on as if there was no tomorrow. @or longmoments, we stood there, 5ust smiling and en5oying each other*s!resence. A knock on the door distured us, though.

%*ll get it, % told =ight as she sat down on our ed. %t remindedme of a memory and the fact that % ha$en*t had slee! since % came tothe Holy round. % o!ened the door and % saw 7!han.

Hello, Ho!e, He said. He looked in and saw =ight sitting on theed with a !illow in her arms. % ho!e %*m not interru!ting something.

8ot at all, % re!lied. 7!han smiled at me and !atted myshoulder. Held my hand in his and owed efore me. % was shockedthat % took a ste! ack.

;lease, get u!& % told him, #here*s no need for you to owdown efore me& ;lease, stand u!,

7!han stood u! and looked at me with glistening eyes.


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'ou sa$e my life twice now, Ho!e, He said. % couldn*t thankyou enough, and words or !arcels won*t e enough to e!ress thegratitude % want to gi$e you.

(aster 7!han, you ga$e me your daughter*s hand in marriagee$en if % were a +emon. %*m the one who should e thanking you untilnow. % told him. =ight giggled from the ackground. 7!han smiled andnodded.

#hen we are e$en, He said. He turned away and looked atsomething else. % was wrong, Ho!e. An Angel would ne$er ha$e suitedmy daughter. 'ou are much etter than any Angel of high ranks.

7!han left, lea$ing me =ight in the room. % turned to her andsmiled.

'our father atters me, % told her 5okingly. 2e laughed togetheras she tried $ainly to su!!ress a loud giggle.

He*s your father as well, )he said. % smiled. 7!han was like afather to me. % looked outside the window and sighed.

=ight, do you acce!t me wholly? 2ould you ne$er send!re5udice to me? % asked her out of the lue. =ight smiled.

7f course not, )he whis!ered. % lo$e you and % can ne$er hurt

you. 2hy did you suddenly ask?

8othing, % re!lied, recalling my -ght with +arkness, % was 5ustcurious. #he +emon +arkness had told lies aout you and (aster usingme for $ictory.

% would ne$er do that, and neither would father, =ight said witha smiled and held my hand. #rust me, Ho!e. (y lo$e for you inunconditional.

% know that, % re!lied. How could % ha$e let +arkness* words get

to me? )he was a lying +emon. But then, % was a +emon. 2ould thatmean % was a liar as well? % !ushed the thought o6 my mind as %focused on =ight.

)carlet walked ehind ohann. #he Angel had een kind andcourteous to her all day, ut he wasn*t much of a talker, to )carlet*sdismay.


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'ou know, you don*t seem like the commander of the +emons.'ou*re so reser$ed and shy. #he )carlet on the attle-eld was ruthlessand rough. ohann said, making )carlet lush.

#he Angel took the +emon to the lake they called )erenity.

)carlet looked into the !ool and saw a lue light emitted from her leftchest. )he !laced her !alm on it.

'ou ha$e a eautiful heart, ohann said, And it*s lue, the colorof the lake, and the color of )erenity. )carlet lushed and lookedaway.

m, ohann, would it e !ossile for me to recei$e a new nameas my rother Ho!e did? )he asked hesitantly. ohann !ut acomforting hand on her shoulder.

7f course, He said. Being renamed is like eing reorn. =ady=ight renamed )era!h Ho!e ecause she wanted him to ha$e ho!e.ohann looked away with a tint of !ink on his cheeks. 2ould you gi$eme the honor of renaming you?

)carlet linked their arms.

7f course, )he said with a smile. ohann looked at her and!laced and arm o$er her shoulder.

#hen % name you )erenity. He declared.

7!han watched as the walls were eing reuilt. His long hairdanced in the wind while his eyes were gla/ed, dee! in thought.

+ear, you*$e een 4uiet, @aith told him, reaking him from histrance. 7!han looked at his wife and managed to reak out a smile.

%*m 5ust thinking aout the races, He said as he looked towardsthe Boundary. 2hat it would*$e een like if we li$ed together inharmony. #here would e no wars and the +e$il would not e such. #he

+emons won*t e named as +emons and would e named a etterrace, or, we shouldn*t gi$e our races di$iding names at all.

@aith !ut a reassuring hand on her husand*s shoulder.

'ou ha$e a eautiful $ision, 7!han. )he said. 2ith Ho!e and)carlet*s hel!, it won*t e too hard. %t was truly the right decision thatyou let Ho!e enter the Holy round. 2hen our !re5udice against him


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died, so did our !re5udice against his kind. But, tell me, how did youand )carlet meet?

7!han looked at her and sighed.

% met her when % was still a +emon )layer. He said. % slew herkin ut left her for the sole reason she was a child.

%t wasn*t an accident all of this ha!!ened, @aith said. +estinymust*$e een working.

7!han let out a little laugh.

'es, +estiny does ha$e a creati$e mind, He said. A little toocreati$e though. @aith let out a girlish laugh.

'ou can ne$er know with the #hree +imensions, @aith said.

But efore the cou!le could continue, the thoughts of theirgrandchildren entered their minds and with them came sadness.

'es, +estiny works creati$ely, 7!han said and nothingfollowed.

)er!ent watched from the Boundary of the +ark Half. He heldtightly on his sword.

8o, He said, %*$e sacri-ced way too much to ack out y somemere tem!orary defeat& =ady )carlet might*$e turned to the other side,ut % am not aout to lose. )he will !ay, and y death she will&

He turned to the remainder of his trou!e.

)carlet has etrayed us& 2e are not -ghting to con4uer the Holyround, ut to destroy the entity named )carlet& He shouted. #hearmy shouted their a!!ro$al and started raising their wea!ons aouttheir heads.

% will lead you towards $ictory, and nothing will stand in ourway& )er!ent shouted and earned another shout of $ictory. Andunlike that traitor )carlet, % will stand y you all until the end of the-ght, until we hold )carlet*s deca!itated head in our hands&&&

#here was a arrage of noise from their cam!, ut they did notknow aout a neutral s!y.


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)o that*s your !lan #he s!y whis!ered. And with that, hedisa!!eared with nothing much ut a small ree/e, unknown to)er!ent or to his and of Creatures of +arkness.

Chapter 12: There Could $e ore Ahead

% won*t allow this defeat to !rolong itself, #he +e$il said as heathed in the !ool of ame, soothing the wounds he recei$ed from7!han and Ho!e. %*ll make sure @ail dies the net time we meet.

+arkness entered the room, her face returned to theeautifulness it had efore the attle with )carlet, now )erenity. )hesat on the side of the -re !ool and di!!ed her legs in it.

% see you*$e een o$erthrown y )carlet, #he +e$il said.

+arkness looked away in shame.

)he was etter that imagined, +arkness said. )he must*$etaken from you, +ark =ord.

#he +e$il let out an e$il laugh.

+ear +arkness, you don*t actually elie$e % fathered that mere+emon, do you? He said. +arkness looked in sur!rise.

2hat do you mean, +ark =ord? )he asked. #he +e$il let out

another demonic laughter.

ust a 5oke, my dear +arkness. 'es, )carlet must*$e taken fromme. % guess she has learned on how to y as well? He asked. +arknessnodded. Ah, such a waste of +emons. But no matter, we could always!roduce more.

#he two Creatures of +arkness laughed out loud and the amesrose higher.

%t*s een weeks.

#he trou!e of +emons has not returned, ut % don*t want to takeany chances. % sighed as % looked o$er the Holy round.

+id % actually li$e here? 2as this reality?


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could they 5ust e my imagination? %t could e, ut it could also e thatmy memory is returning. % lowered down to the ti! of the rectangular!illar.

)o many 4uestions circle my head. % can*t think of anything ut

my confusion. % looked around again. +id % actually deser$e such a!aradise? %*m a +emon, for goodness* sake& % can*t e li$ing here&

Ho!e, what*s wrong? =ight said. % looked towards her as she satdown eside me. % held her hand in mine.

)ince the reak, you*$e een so di6erent. 'ou*$e een so 4uietand somehow, untrusting. )he said. 2hat ha!!ened?

8othing, % feigned. %*m 5ust confused aout e$erything. % stillcan*t rememer much, and the few things % rememer are hard to take

in too 4uickly.

=ight rested her head on my shoulder.

'ou don*t need to hurry. 2e ha$e our whole lifetime. =ight said.% smiled. )ometimes, =ight didn*t think like a child, ut as a wife. %sighed. #he things % were feeling were such a miture that % wanted toslee! for a good forty years. % sighed again. #he troule was, whene$er% wanted to slee!, the missing twins ke!t me awake. #hey were mychildren, after all. #heir asence is su!!osed to worry me.

% need to go and look for the twins, =ight. % said. =ight shookher head. % looked at her with awe and diselief.

'ou can*t look for them, =ight said gently.

2hy? % asked. 2as there a reason not to look for my onlychildren?

'ou*re )era!h now, =ight said, #he Holy round is 5ustreco$ering. 'ou can*t lea$e it now.

But, % muttered. % care for


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% see, % whis!ered.

=ight looked at me and held my hand. % couldn*t look at her yet,my eyes !referring to close. #here was little shame, ut then again, %

ne$er liked the feeling of shame. )uddenly, a $ision went in front ofme.

#he colors of the hori/on mor!hed s!irally. %t was nauseating, utintriguing at the same time. % could see a ca$e and something in it.#hat something was clawing on the earth outside, ut it was $eryconfusing why it couldn*t go out.

Ho!e, Ho!e, =ight*s $oice said to me

Angel Chronicles 1

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Transcript of Angel Chronicles 1