Part two: Black dove, white raven

It was a long bus ride. Clouds enveloped the day, and tears fell from them. The bus was filled the crying of children and the pushing and shoving for more air. Old ladies snored in their seats and the younger crowd stood and listened to their noise.
Marron held close to a pole beside her, careful not to be swept away with the sea of people. Across from her, the man that called himself Balthazar leaned against the doorway, so steady and untouchable. The people seem to avoid exiting that door, or are they just avoiding him?
The strange one avoided her eyes. He knew the girl was watching him, but he chose not to look back. Instead, he kept his stare out in the rainy world.
Funny how the moment he met the girl, the world seemed a dark and scary place. He thought about this and wonder: Have they found out too?
He would have to be ready for anything.
Marron was very uneasy with all this silence between them. Sure, she has only known him for less than an hour, but it wouldn’t seem right if she was just silent about what was happening.
She spoke, “So, where are we going?”
Balthazar continued to stare out into the world. “No where in particular, really. I’m just taking you to my home.”
Some fear arose in her heart. “Why?”
He sensed the change in the atmosphere. He gave her a straight answer to calm her nerves. “Just to get out of this rain and dry up. Then we’ll go and get some food with some of my friends.”
As he hoped, Marron did calm down and remained silent for quite some time.

As the hour drifted aimlessly by, the crowd lessened and the bus was near the end of its route. Only two remained.
Marron had taken a seat near the second exit but Balthazar did not stir from his spot. He still stared out into the rainy world as if looking for something.
His gaze had hardened and the hairs on the back of his neck rose on ends. He felt a powerful aura very close and coming closer.
Marron did not notice this. She stared at her hands, folded in her lap. She was uncomfortable again with the silence.
“Okay kids,” the driver’s face reflected off the mirror, “this is the second to last stop. Do you guys get off here?”
Neither replied. The driver sighed and continued, “Well, I guess I’ll just have to kick you two off at the end of my route. Shoving off now, oh wait, someone’s waiting at the stop.”
Marron looked up as she saw Balthazar turn his head to the front entrance. His face turned pale and deadly.
As the bus stopped, the door opened and in came a single man with a purple umbrella covering his face. He was terribly strange with his indigo, long-sleeved shirt and violet shorts.
Marron heard a whispering growl from Balthazar and became terrified.
“You going to the last stop?” The driver asked.
The man closed up his umbrella showing no face with the cropped dove’s hair in his face. He slung it on his arm and pulled out a wallet. “Yep.”
Coins jingled and clinked into the coin machine and the man strolled carelessly into the back. He stopped in front of the two remaining beings in the bus and swept the hair from his eyes, giving them a smiled.
“A happy, dark afternoon to you two.” He winked a green eye at Marron. “Especially you dear girl.”
Marron timidly nodded in reply. The purple man took a seat, two seats to her left and began humming.
Balthazar did not look to the outside world any longer. Instead, he watched closely, at this new being in the bus.
I must keep her away from him.
The bus came to a stop, into a deep labyrinth of a city street. Not a soul was on that street in this rain, not at all.
“Last stop!” The bus driver called. “Everyone off!”
Balthazar moved forward, grabbed Marron by the wrist and quickly pulled her out of the bus. Marron stumbled forward and followed him.
“What’s wrong? Who was that?” Marron cried as they raced through the rain.
Balthazar did not stop to answer her. “No time! We have to get as far as we can!”
“Who was that man?” Marron asked again.
Balthazar glanced back and gave her a quick glare. “Someone dangerous.”
As he said this, an unseen wind sped past them and forced Balthazar to a stop.
The purple man appeared and stood in front of them, but a pair of bright wings fluttered behind him. White feathers lay around like small, fairy corpses. “Now really, Balthazar, shouldn’t I be saying that to you?”
Balthazar moved Marron to stand close behind him. “What do you want Morael?”
Morael laughed aloud. “Well, isn’t that a stupid question? What do we all of my kind wish of? Only that your kind should understand that God will never love you.”
“Your kind?” Marron asked. She looked up at Balthazar.
Morael gave Balthazar a scornful look. “Now don’t tell me you didn’t tell the poor girl anything about us? It’s a surprise that the catalyst followed you. Is she blind?”
Balthazar did not reply, but Marron was curious, as well as scared.
“What do you mean catalyst?” Marron asked.
Balthazar put a hand to her mouth. “Be quiet Marron. Do not speak.”
“No, no Balthazar.” Morael shook a finger. “I don’t mind answering questions. Little girl, you are a catalyst. A catalyst is one who brings great change or power. You are very special. Do you know why Balthazar wants you?”
“Don’t…” Balthazar warned under his breath.
Evidently, Morael heard him and continued on, only but giving him a cheerful smile. “Well, you see, he and his wretched kind want to use you to destroy my kind. Now isn’t that just mean of him, hmm? Would you like to come with me, little girl?”
Marron was completely confused. Morael looked like the sadistically evil kind but Balthazar was the one who wanted to do something that she thought was wrong. Who was she to believe and trust?
Balthazar turned around and put his hands on her shoulders. “Marron, I’m sorry but you do not know the whole story. Believe me, you should not trust him.”
“Little girl!” Morael called, as if she was a pet. “Come here and I’ll keep you safe from that wretched demon!”
“D-demon?” Marron shook herself away from him and farther from Morael. “You’re a demon?”
Balthazar’s face grew sad. “That is a name given by humans…”
Marron looked over Balthazar’s shoulder to Morael. “Then what is he?”
“Who me?” Morael smiled innocently. “Why an angel of course!”
Marron was in shock. Angels and demons? Is this some dream her mind had concocted for her? What was this all about?
All that went through her mind was cut short as her instincts told her to run away.
“Marron!” Balthazar began to chase after her.
A sudden push and he fell to the floor, Morael pinning him there with his umbrella. “Maybe you should worry about staying alive while dueling me first, than about poor, little girls.”
Balthazar fought back, trying to get up. “You sick bastard.”
“Oh am I now?” He laughed.
Balthazar freed an arm and hit the purple man on the side of the face. He took this chance to get away. Dark, feathered wings sprouted from his back and he took to the sky.
Morael licked the blood off his lip and decided not to follow. He opened up his umbrella. “Until next time, Balthazar. Bum-bum-bummm!”

Marron had ran off as far as an alleyway, where a little door roof became her sanctuary. She took in deep breaths and tried to focus. What was she to do? She was in a part of the town that she didn’t know of.
Will they find me? Part of her wanted them to, but the other half was still wary and afraid.
She dropped to her knees and began to cry into her hands. “I want to go home…”
A sound like steps and then a rustle of bird wings made her look up.
Balthazar held out his hand. “Are you felling all right?”
Marron rose and looked up into his storm-filled eyes. “What are you?”
The raven shook the rain out of his wings and sheathed them. “A forsaken, but my wings didn’t use to be so dark. Will you still come with me?”
Maroon nodded, solemnly. “I have nowhere else to go.”
A warm smile spread across his sodden face. “Then let’s get you out of this rain.