"Obie Trice. Name No Gimmicks…"

Two trailer park girls go round the outside,
Round the outside, round the outside..

Two trailer park girls go round the outside,
Round the outside, round the outside....

Guess who's back, back again
Shady's back, tell a friend
Guess who's back, guess who's back,
Guess who's back. Guess who's back…

I created a monster, cuz nobody wants to
See Marshall no more they want Shady
I'm chopped liver
Well if you want Shady, then this is what I'll give ya
A little bit of me mixed with some hard liquor
Some vodka that will jumpstart my heart quicker
Then a shock when I get shocked at the hospital
By the Dr. when I'm not cooperating
When I'm rocking the table while he's operating "Hey"
You waited this long to stop debating
Cuz I'm back, I'm on the rag and ovulating
I know you got a job Ms. Cheney
But your husband's heart problem is complicated
So the FCC won't let me be
Or let me be me so let me see
They tried to shut me down on MTV
But it feels so empty without me
So come on and dip, bum on your lips
Jump back jiggle a hip and wiggle a bit
And get ready cuz this is about to get heavy
I just settled all my lawsuits, "F--- you, Debbie !!"

Now this looks like a job for me
So everybody just follow me
Cuz we need a little controversy
Cuz it feels so empty without me..

Little hellions kids feeling rebellious
Embarrassed, their parents still listen to Elvis
They start feeling like prisoners helpless
'Til someone comes along on a mission and yells "BITCH"
A visionary, vision is scary, could start a revolution
Pollutin' the air waves a rebel
So let me just revel and bask
In the fact that I got everyone kissing my ass
And it's a disaster such a catastrophe
For you to see so damn much of my ass you ask for me
Well I'm back da na danna nana fix your bent antennae
Tune it in and then I'm gonna enter
Into the front of your skin like a splinter
The center of attention back for the winter
I'm interesting, the best thing since wrestling
Infesting in your kids ears and nesting
Testing "Attention Please"
Feel the tension soon as someone mentions me
Here's my 10 cents my 2 cents is free
A nuisance, who sent, you sent for me..

Now this looks like a job for me
So everybody just follow me
Cuz we need a little controversy
Cuz it feels so empty without me..

A tisk-it a task-it,
I go tit for tat with anybody who's talking this and that shit
Chris Kirkpatrick, you can get your ass kicked
Worse than them little Limp Bizkit bastards
And Moby, you can get stomped by Obie
You 36 year old bald headed say blow me
You don't know me, you're too old
Let it go its over, nobody listens to techno
Now lets go, just give me the signal
I'll be there with a whole list full of new insults
I've been dope, suspenseful with a pencil
Ever since Prince turned himself into a symbol
But sometimes man it just seems
Everybody only wants to dis-cuss me
So this must mean I'm dis-gusting
But it's just me I'm just obscene
Though I'm not the first king of controversy
I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley
To do Black Music so selfishly
And use it to get myself wealthy
"Hey" there's a concept that works
20 million other white rappers emerge
But no matter how many fish in the sea
It will be so empty without me..

Now this looks like a job for me
So everybody just follow me
Cuz we need a little controversy
Cuz it feels so empty without me..

Hum dee dai la la Hum dei dei la la…la la la
Hum dee dai la la Hum dei dei la la…la la la

Copyright 2002 Eminem's "Without me" from "The Eminem Show"

Rayllom's original  "Dark Angel" has returned...
Gods help us all...

(The following web page is not suitable for younger viewers. It is intended for mature audiences over the age of 635. The following may include things that parents would not find suitable for their children, like coarse language, violence, suggestive dialogue and sexual situations. If you do not like the mention of blood or gore, or can't handle the fact that Chris looses his pants a lot, please do not read on. All kids out of the pool, welcome to adult swim.^.~  )

***

     "Christian!" Lady Darkness screeched with all the might and supremacy only the goddess of eternal darkness could muster, her yellows eyes brimming with a fierce hate as she leaned over the rafters of her castle glaring down onto all of her missionaries and servants. Black fingernails attached to thin pale fingers dug into the entirely black railing as she leaned over it, scanning the area with her all-seeing eyes. Clenching her teeth she uttered something foul that would make a soccer mom direct her children the other way, and she released the railing from her grasp turning around, and then taking a half step back in seeing what was now planted in front of her.

   Demon no doubt, morals questionable. He was as dark as the woman who stood in front of him, which was quiet a task if one be asked. Entirely black in his demonic form the only thing that dared to catch the faint glimmer of the sun far above was his eyes, blood red in color with thin catlike pupils. It was his eyes that took you and held you fast, forcing you to look past of all the smooth black feathers and up to their perpetual beauty, unmatched by any other demon to this day. In his day almost 500 years ago he was the first to have such eyes, most of his bloodline had green, being the race they were. 

    After the impact of his eyes you began to notice the rest of his feline body. Shaped like some sort of panther but lined up to the waist with sleek dark black feathers that seemed to repel all the light around him, keeping his blackness in tack. Not even the long dark claws placed on front hawk-like feet would reflect the light, and his back cat-like feet the same. A long whip of a tail emerged from his back and he held it straight on the ground behind him, like the train of some sort of dark king's robes. 

    You noticed the wings last, after you had taken his whole demonic gryphon apperance in, the long sleek black wings that he held out at his sides, tucking them into his sides as he strode forward to meet lady Darkness, eyes pulling her into their trance. He slunk like the part lion he was, head low eyes above the ground ears tucked back into his head in the mild state of mind he was in. A hunter he was, a great hunter, known in his day as the King of Queens. A hunter of women, the grandest and most prosperous player to ever walk Rayllom. In his day he had impregnated over 500 women, a task no one had ever been able to match. 

    Raising his hawk like head he pulled sleek feline hindquarters down and placed himself in a resting position, ready at any minute for a surprise attack. "Christian.." Zealtella said, fearless in the face of the demon who was feared by so many, less of course know that he had passed from the realms of mortal existence. "You have broken every rule i have bestowed upon you..." Zealtella's yellow eyes flickered dangerously. "I should kick you out know for defying me once again. I stick you in your demon form and your still off adding to your numbers! Your dreadful!" 

    A hawk like smile curled the feline muzzle of the demon and he laid down in front of the goddess of darkness rolling onto his back and looking up at her with those blood eyes. You wouldn't dare to kick me out would you? C'mon baby you know you don't want to... A strong and extremely sexy voice drifted into the Goddess's mind as she stared down at the demon who was putting on his best effort to make himself look helpless. 

    "Don't." Zealtella muttered, turning her back on the demon called Christian and staring back out onto her kingdom. "Go get out of here now and do not come back! Go frolic with Faveen and all of his goodies, by brother needs more rats in the light kingdom like you." 

    Ah, but Zeally, Zeal, Zealltelly....you wouldn't help me, a poor helpless sexy little guy be left alone with all those gorgeous goddesses? Christian's voice spoke slyly into Lady Darkness's head and she reached out again for the balcony clinging to it tightly and trying to control her anger. 

    "Christian i could care less if you went off and did whatever with any of the spirits. But you can't keep bothering goddesses! You already messed with Passion! Poor thing! How's she supposed to tell that daughter of hers that her father was dead when he gave her life? How is she supposed to tell her daughter that she's not a god and that she'll have to go live among the mortals? Demon gods are not good things to create!" Zealtella said turning the face the gryphon demon, eyes flaring again. "I'm sending you off soon, i just don't know where."

    The demon was silent for a while, taking it all in his extremely quick and cunning mind already ticking away, he knew Zealtella's weakness, he just had to use it to his advantage for once. Eyes shifting to the ground he opened his muzzle as if to speak, then closed it again. Watching with crimson eyes as the goddess turned around once more piercing him with her yellow eyed stare. she was more gorgeous than all of the women Christian had been with on his time on the ground, she was radiant through darkness, as dark as he in soul and state of mind and body. But she was far out of reach, her heart she had given to a mortal called Sabbar, and there was no getting it back. Not even her only son could patch those wounds that his father inflicted. ...I must truly go then? Your sending me away for good? He asked slowly trying to play on a pity trip, this was the only placed he belonged they wouldn't like him in the light haven, only here in the darkness was he welcome. 

    "Consider this to be probation. I could never truly send you back but i will pray that this will clear your head. Now come." She commanded stretching out a hand and gesturing for him to come forth. Christian did as he was told lowering his gryphon like head and closing his eyes, feeling the goddess's hand rest upon it. He barely had time to breath more or less think and then he was back in his more or less human form staring Zealtella straight in the face. 

    His eyes remained unchanged, smaller but all the same in their mysterious power and aura, sending chills down the spine of anyone who dared to rub the demon wrong. His face was narrow and his chin angular but he was definitely gorgeous, all demons of his line had the same angular face proportions.  Long black hair fell down around his facade, dark as his feline fur had been and refusing to reflect light in the same manner. Sharp pointed ears gave away his demonic heritage, and the black and silver earrings gave away his now eternal service to Zealtella, and as some would have noticed he had quite a few. Materialistic for one of the afterlife. On his left hand, the claw of it, the nail had been given to his true son the one he had trusted and loved the most, so it was oddly missing. It was the one thing of him he left on Rayllom, the one thing to mark his morality through immortality.

    He was built well, thin but yet still muscular. When close one could tell those muscles were hard as rocks. Christian was tough, and that thin build didn't reflect much of the strength stored within him, for even in this form he wielded a power greater than most in his time. But the most defiant thing about him were the wings that remained on his back.   Most demons in regular form have a pair of leathery wings, reflecting all demons once past, but his were different. Long black feathered angel like wings extended gracefully from his back and he held them out at an angle. They were pure black, exactly like the ones he held in gryphon-demon form and a long black whiplash tail extended form the end of his spine, matching the black wings. Though he knew it not, none of his bloodline had inherited the black angel wings, and he was the first in his family, making him the only demon to walk Rayllom and pass as an angel of hell.

    He was the dark angel. Locking eyes with the goddess he nodded slowly understanding that it was time for him to leave, he was going somewhere but where was still a mystery. "Do not do anything foolish, you shall pass as a mortal until you have found Faveen's fallen angel. I know it's  stupid thing to do but that stupid brother of mine lost another one of his precious angels. A female Christian, which is why i have chosen to send you besides the fact your to much for me to handle. Do this quick, go get her do whatever you have to, to keep yourself from...messing with every goddess around here. Have your fun, but remember you can't fall for this girl, she should have never been born when she is recalled all of her memories will die with her mortal body." Zealtella was serious as never before, her eyes glinting something strange as Christian looked into them.

    Chris just nodded, clueless at what else there was for him to do. He dare not blink watching Zealtella for slightest movement, the smallest sign she was making her move to send him back. He must have flustered because before he was aware of such a thing happening Zealtella's hand was on his forehead again and all the sudden he felt a jolt rock through his body and he was falling. But it all seemed in slow motion taking almost two minutes to do what could be done in ten seconds, he felt he'd never hit the floor. He tried to move but his body seemed to be paralyzed as he fell deeper and deeper into the darkness, the overwhelming presence of it all tugging on his beliefs of what was real and what was not as Zealtella's might kingdom blended into abyss.  

    He hit the ground with a thud and realized to late that he was now as mortal as ever, real bones real flesh, he flexed out one hand unsurely watching it shake before his eyes. Nerves no doubt, drawing his eyes from his hand and placing it at his side as he stood up to ease the pain of his throbbing buttocks, (thanks to the defiance of gravity in Zealtella's kingdom he must have been pulled back with extra force towards the ground) his eyes searched the lace trying to figure out were he was. some kind of mansion no doubt; to large to be a elder model and to small to belong to a mere mortal. He shouldn't' say that, mortals were making more of themselves these days, but this place reeked of demon. He was a full blood, and through his 'immortality' (even immortals can die if they are wounded bad enough) he could sense the presence of others like him. Demon no doubt, but not full blooded. The smell was strong but it also smelt of magic and tampered with blood, making what was once single now plural. What was this partial demon doing to himself? Or what was being done? 

    He was not alone, there was another, a female of lesser blood, cat it smelt most like. Chris grinned to himself removing his hand from his rear and listening with the most attentive ear , he had all the hearing of a hawk combined with that of a lion, needless to say he didn't miss much. Slight snoring, a child, two. Both full bloods, meaning parents were both not complete in their demon heritage like Chris had expected but combining their bloods created whole. One male, smallish but his scent was strong he obviously had found his altered form. The other was female, small but not small enough; she had blood that reeked as strong if not twice that of her father. Chris noted all of this quickly before moving flicking his head to face the front of the dark crimson painted room with big poofy cushions atop the old warm red magenta couch. 

    The eldest female was near and as she closed in on the room Chris slowly back ed away unable to run and unable to shift into true form, there was to much magic in the air, too much of a risk. He flexed his shoulders and watched as she entered the only thing demon about her was her eyes, green and mysterious as his and her long black cat's tail. Robes the color of dried blood encircled and covered the majority of her curvy form, cutting down low at the neck and up high on the hip, giving her a foxy cat like look. Chris could have purred aloud, given the chance. Her eyes grew wide as she spotted him dropping the glass she was holding and cringing as it shattered on the floor. "Excuse me?!?" She muttered so low only she and Chris were able to hear her, trying to to rouse her sleeping offspring. 

    The dark angel swallowed hard seeing this female as no threat he extended his wings and bowed low to her one hand on his chest and the other tucked neatly behind him. "I am sorry to intrude Madam, but i would like to inform you right now that i am no threat to you and your children as long as you re no threat to me.  I have traveled far and though i think not you will believe my story so i will tell you this; i have been sent form somewhere of a higher power than that of even the most feared and revered demon lord." content with his minor white lie that wasn't a lie merely a variation of the truth Chris nodded to her form his bent over position. He knew better than to tell anyone of his mission though Zealtella had not informed him he couldn't do so. No one would believe it in this modern day and age.

    The woman nodded and walked cautiously towards him, showing more of her demon side. Chris recognized those fierce green eyes as she neared and almost winced under their pressure. No doubt she was descended from Zair, the very cat demon who had been one of Christian's allies. Allie because friend was such a strong and trusting word, Zair was not the type to trust. "I have never seen wings quite like those, and your tail it is clearly demon. Spill, who are you?" She said taking him in in one sweep of her eyes before fixing them back on his face.

    Christian pulled himself erect, seeing that she was quite a bit shorter than him but saying still nothing those eyes and their haunting appearance was enough to make him sick as the memories floated in and out of his head.  "They call me Christian, i am a full blood gryphon/dragon/lion demon, and i believe you to be a descendant of Zair, though i know not your name. 

    She swallowed still watching him intently and slowly nodded. "I guess that is what they called the rat of a demon who raped my mother." she paused seeing that Chris wasn't even phased by this comment. Allie not friend, trusted but not completely. Zair was wicked in his manner and when under the influence of his hate for mortals he often did things worse than his understanding of them. "I am Serangina, more commonly known as Seran." she said in a sweeter voice than her previous tone holding out a hand to shake Christian's. "I understand by your accent and your choice of vocabulary you aren't form around here. If you need a place to stay i could possibly arrange for you to stay here.." Her offer was kind and being deposited her by some means of Zealtella Chris knew better than to refuse. 

    He took her hand and kissed it gently never once removing his eyes from hers and watching as her well tanned skin flushed pinkish red. "What a discerning woman to worry about the likes of me, i shall be ever grateful Madam." He said not even realizing his slight almost rayllomain-type-french accent. He would have said more, if he would not have suddenly been shoved with a force slightly less than his own back a good twenty yards. He regained his footing, instinctively flaring out his wings and his eyes dangerously flashed red and low and almost inaudible hiss projecting form deep within him. 

    His hiss was met by a low growl, as his hawk-like eyes scanned the room sensing the presence of the partial demon-male, the obvious head of the family. But he was partial demon, so why did he eluded the well trained eyes of the dark angel? Only true demons of great power could do that in their altered forms, and even then their smell gave them away. "Chaos!" Serangina hissed slamming her hand forward and grabbing what seemed to be air, immediately revealing to Christian what looked like a cat pulled from out of a comic book. Red and white striped with large demonic wings. The cat glared at Christian with all the hatred and superiority one of his stature could muster. 

    The cat erupted into a very large 2/3 blood red, no doubt from a fierce line of fighters, Christian could tell as he glared into electric blue eyes that this part demon was powerful. And ignorant, he held himself in a way that just shouted to all around them that they weren't even worthy of licking the dust off his feet. But as blood red eyes met cold blue ones, something familiar flickered between the two. Something simple, as clear as water from a mountain creek but as mysterious as Christian's unduly morals. "Who are you to intrude upon my home and make a pas on my lady?" His voice was thick and powerful and something unearthly rang deep within chords of it. 

    "I will tell you who i am only if you speak first." Chris ehcoced the power in the blood red's voice, with a far more powerful tone in his velvet smooth chocolate coated voice that could have only been given to one in his bloodline. All players are smooth talkers, and he to be one needed a voice as rich as double-chocolate covered devil's food cake. 

    The blood red's eyes wavered temporarily but form within the depths of his tattered cloak the color of Seran's he drew a long black claw, that of a gryphon's, it glinted only black the color of death. "If you have even the slightest bit of knowledge of other demons you are sure to recognize this. For i am Lord Chaos, high lord of the dark arts, son of Airleo the white, son of Christian the dark angel.." The dark lord said replacing the claw into the depths of his robe.

    "So this is what has become of my legacy.." Christian said mockery thick in his velvety voice, disgust clear in his tone. "You..." He said tone changing to slight amusement.  "What became of your father?"

    Chaos snarled. "Your legacy? You claim this claw to be yours?" He laughed, a loud and hallow sound that seemed to rock the hold mansion as it ehcoced off walls. Serangina looked at him quite as ever, knowing not to intrude upon Chaos' conversation. He was ever so edgy about his family and quick to be aggressive. "Everyone knows Chris was betrayed by the woman he loved, everyone knows a player like him could never truly find love."

    Christian cracked his knuckles the anger rising in him. He did not care if he was able to love or not, the woman he had finally thought he had fallen for had betrayed him. Everyone knew, i was what mothers told their daughters and fathers their sons, make sure it's the right one before you go and do something stupid kids, wouldn't want to end up like that poor Demon fool. He didn't love her, he couldn't have loved someone so pure on the outside but so black hearted. Never could he love a backstabber. He could not love, he had learned that by now. "Quiet." Chris' smooth voice flowed out of his lips and he gritted his teeth baring feline fangs. Chaos topped laughing and turned to him outstretching an arm in a ready sign that he would be willing at any minute to do battle. "Thou's head is clouded by those old fairy tales Dark Lord." Christian said feeling the strength slowly returning to his body and he turned and walked away, through the kitchen and out onto the second floor landing pad. He knew the way, this home was once his. 

    Chaos followed along with the ever quiet Serangina, both watching. One in sheer awe, the other in amused denial. Chris turned and felt spread his black angel wings, feeling the power return in full stride and watching before his very eyes as his body shifted back into his true form, the dragon gryphon demon one. Chaos stood dumfounded and Serangina with a slight smirk. She had believed for she was a sorcerer and knew their traps set for intruders can only be broken from the outside. Appearing in the middle of the room like Chaos did by porting, well that was allowed. Need more proof? Christian said, feline muzzle spread rows of pearl white teeth glistening with saliva as he leaned over Chaos ready to pounce at any moment. 

    Chaos, for once, remained silent, his lightning blue eyes staring into his grandfather's bloody red ones. He shook his head, silent out of respect. Chaos was dangerous to everyone and everything in his time, but Chris was a fear for all ages, he was not your every day ordinary killer. 

***

    Chris had refused Seran's cooking, and decided to go out to one of what Chaos had called "Rayllom's single guy hang-outs, the perfect place for you to meet some girls." No doubt that the dark lord was of Christian's bloodline, he himself was rather made for girls, though he was quite devoted to his lovely cat-lady. Walking quickly down a dark and almost deserted street the dark angel quickly realized why, all the action was going on at a club, by the name of "cloud nine" or so the sign above it said. Loud retro-style music pumped through the air, Christian heard it clearly from almost two blocks away.    

    He opened the doors blinking to let his sensitive eyes adjust to the neon lights that lined the walls and his attention quickly focused on the bar were a lovely young bartender passed out drinks. Chris licked his lips, assuming that the ultra low shirt she was wearing was meant for him and him alone. He grinned despite himself, happy to be back in the swing of things.  He walked swiftly over bumping into quite a few people as he passed this place was packed! 

    As he got closer he noticed that the long white almost celestial wings on her back were real, not like the ones the other barmaids and waitresses had, they were fake either strapped or glued on. Ah so this was heaven? Ha. Hell is so much better, at least the girls are sexier, well she's pretty sexy herself by far the hottest in here..Chris thought to himself sliding quickly onto a chair at the end of the bar using the darkness at that end as a cover so he could wait for the perfect minute to make his move. 

    He watched her in silence, slipping himself a few seats over so quick that a mortal would have thought it an illusion. A thoroughly drunk man trying to sweet talk her was greeted by his half finished beer being tipped over his head, drenching him with the thick foamy liquid. He got up and left, silent in defeat. "Feisty, eh?" Chris laughed to himself amused with his own silent observation. The white winged woman turned around bending down to retrieve something she had dropped. Chris couldn't help but notice the long white feline tail of hers, and that her underwear were silken red in color. "Feisty and naughty huh? Seems like the puuur-fect woman for me.." He muttered cackling at one of his many self-absorbed bad jokes.  

    She then caught sight of him, standing up magnificent blue eyes with a more subtle electricity than Chaos' meet Chris' bloody red ones. She walked towards him, more like glided towards him. She barely needed to move, it seemed as if her whole body on chord just levitated and floated towards Chris. He blinked as she neared, reminding himself to concentrate on her face. "And how may i help you?" She asked brushing her hands together gently. 

    Christian looked her up and down slyly pretending he had just noticed her. Huh, yeah right as soon as he entered the room he picked out the hottest babe in less than 20 seconds, now that's talent. "Give me the strongest stuff you got." The dark angel said, a hint of malice in his voice. The bar tender looked at him, one thin eyebrow raised as if to say 'you sure?' but she sighed and pulled it out anyway. The bottle was plain enough, labeled with blue and silver flames dancing around the sides of it, and form the looks of the silvery blue solution inside it was chemically engineered.   

    "Last guy who tried this ended up in the hospital for 3 weeks." The bar tender said pouring some into a small crystal clear shot glass and sliding it across the neon pink painted bar to Chris who instinctively caught it. He sniffed it glaring at the metallic almost liquid and doused it in one swig. He breathed out rather loudly and smacked his lips together feeling a slight burning at the back of his neck. 

    "That wasn't so-" At that moment it felt like someone hit him on side his head or his equilibrium had gone crazy, for his h\body seemed to want to hit the ground but his black wings failed out and he caught himself in time glancing back up with a wild look in his crimson eyes. "More!" He said holding out his shot glass.

    The bar tender laughed her eyes fixed on his black wings. "I think your the darkest angel ever to enter her, or at least the bravest one. I've never seen anybody be able to sustain their consciousness after a swig of that!" She smiled, revealing rows of pearly white teeth that contrasted her honey colored skin very nicely. Chris smiled, mirroring her pearly white smile but he knew all to well his skin was pale, really pale, one of the bad things about being an angel of hell. He re-folded his wings watching her eyes slide him in turn up and down and then fix back on his face. He leaned on one hand trying to down the woozy feeling in the pit of his stomach. "you knew around here?" she asked him.

    "Um...yeah." He said. "I'm from Halillet, in Rictor." He said naming the first city that popped into his mind. Not a very well known city in his time, little did he know that it had become large enough to rival that of Solaria, which was a little to the north of the place he was located now.  

    "Really?" She said. "Wow that place is so amazing! I'd have loved to go there but i mean this bar is like my life, if anyone gets sick i have to fill in..." Her voice trailed off and something flicked beneath those soft ocean blue eyes. She would have said more, Chris could tell if one of her assistants hadn't grabbed her on the arm at the exact moment.

    Chris blinked, checking the dark brown haired fake angle winged girl out quickly and then dismissing her with a glance, he'd never date a mere human ever again. Not after Adina, his heart, his true love. Oh how he had gotten mixed in deep with her and what pain that had caused him. Dreams haunted him frequently even in his death. Christian closed his eyes and drained the second glass of silvery blue liquid using his ultra super hearing to listen in on the bartender's private conversation.  "There's someone or something at the door, i think it's feminine or at least it's voice is but every time i get close to the door, i just can't leave the light. It keeps repeating over and over that it must seek revenge on someone, i dunno she called him Corivas Angials or some ancient Rayllomian nonsense. Seems like sorcerer with a bad attitude, might need to call the ministry.  "  

    Chris felt his heart skip a beat and it wasn't from the metallic drink. He wondered if she could still be alive after the big battle that ended all battles, he had always silently wondered if she was lost somewhere in purgatory. "Um...well let me talk to her.." The blonde began looking sideways at the door but only seeing darkness, still and silent blocking the doorway and seeming to seep through the cracks of it and into the bar/club. Soon the whole place would be feeling like someone was watching them and when they'd look away over their shoulder they wouldn't feel anymore; they'd just be gone. Chris had dealt with such creatures before.   

    Chris had his hand placed on her shoulders before the blonde bartender could even take a step, and the brunette looked up at him in mild surprise. She blinked and the clear expression of bewilderment passed her face for a brief second before he spoke and all the while his eyes remained locked on the doorway and the slowly conquering darkness. "Tell everyone there's something dangerous outside. Get everyone under a table and keep your eyes closed really tight. Don't open them until i come and find you, ok? The lights will be going out very soon." He commanded not missing a single beat as a long and remorseful sounding howl shook the entire building and everything went silent as all eyes turned to the door.  

    "You know this sorcerer?" The blonde asked as the brunette scrabbled over the top of the bar grabbing a loud speaking and repeating the orders that Christian had just given. She blinked noticing that the lights were suddenly missing and felt herself being lead by a pair of strong arms. They gently helped her underneath a table and she looked up seeing bloody red eyes staring down at her, alight despite the darkness of the room. In fact they were the only thing she could see, all the rest was dark and a feeling of dread was closing in on her quickly along with everyone else in the bar. She reached out clinging onto Christian's arm. She didn't know his name, she only knew his face and not that well to be quite honest, but for some reason unclear to her, she knew that he was the only thing that could save her from the darkness now sinking into what felt like her very soul.  

    "Keep your eyes closed babe, it's not going to be pretty. Ignore the images in your head." Were the words he left her with as he slunk away towards the door unafraid in a situation that would make even a gladiator wet himself and run away tail between legs. Chris closed his eyes flicking his tail back and forth letting his eyes adjust to the light. When he reopened them another pair of eyes glared back at him, hallow and vague but all the more familiar and cruel, just as the dark angel knew they would. "Why hello." Chris sneered fangs bright white in the darkness. He cracked his knuckles, thing black claws invisible against the darkness, ready to crave holes into those deep gray eyes that peered at him. 

    "Christian, long time no see. And all the while you were hiding in Solaria? Naughty wicked boy aren't we, Corivas Angials." The voice was feminine for certain but were it came from was a mystery to even Chris, for it seemed to come form the very pit of the dark angel's mind, and not from the darkness spread out in front of him. "Who was that lady you were talking to? You next bitch? I thought after Adina you'd never love again." Chris winced as pictures of his former lover popped into his mind and the mind of all those surrounding him, the pictures of him and her together. Memories of a past and painful love. "Hurt didn't it? When she killed you.." More pictures, these more recent in Chris' time span, seen through his eyes as the woman he trusted allowed him to die. Allowed him to be caught and tortured by his enemies, by the people she worked for. Allowed him to be beaten and bruised his skin broken by whips. Allowed him to die a slow and painful death that lasted for about a year. It takes a lot to kill an immortal especially an immortal of his stature, removing the heart and letting the blood run out seemed to be Adina's best strategy since she did it herself.

    Chris clenched his jaw as the memories took full control of his vision and he heard the words she told him after she ripped the bloody muscle form his body, finding some sick pleasure in the fact that even his blood was black. "I've tricked you now haven't i? But don't feel bad, players always get theirs in the end. You took the hearts of so many girls and now i shall take yours.." And her laughter hallow shallow laughter metallic empty and cold. Like beating on a pipe with a metal spoon in the middle of the winter, it meant absolutely nothing, it was just noise. 

    "ENOUGH!" The word bellowed out so loudly and so strongly that the eyes blinked and when they did Christian struck swift and fast knocking the darkness down and feeling his hand hit something hard. With that all the darkness that had preceded seemed to be sucked into a void, all into the place were the eyes had been. What remained was a very small very pitiful looking black skinned demon who blinked hissing at the lights that flickered on. "Try your mind games elsewhere, next time i will not be kind to you. I lost my life not my power." He said and turned to walk away then thinking on second thought whirled back and hissed fiercely sending the demon running out of the doors as the room returned to normal status. Music pumping but no one dancing, neon lights glowing but no one daring to move or even breathe for that matter.  

    Chris strutted over and leaned down to the table reaching a hand towards the blonde who took it afraid still to open her eyes. She did though, slowly seeing blood red ones staring back at her and she smiled very weakly raising to her feet. She tried to stand up but felt very light headed, very weak. Leaning on Chris for support she looked across the bar, thankfully, nothing had been damaged. "Everyone up." He shouted. "Any one her partially demon?"  Eyes looked at him in awe and some in mild terror from the crowd, not one daring to say if they were.  "Good, because it's rougher on them. Everyone-go home get some rest and take a hell lot of Tylenol in the morning. your going to have weird dreams and the only way to fix that is to get beyond drunk. So go, you not going to want to stay her in case she comes back." 

    The blonde looked up at him and the brunette strode over looking thoroughly scared. She of course, being human was perfectly fine and seeing her boos in such a wild state made the poor girl nervous. "Roxi? You ok?" She asked as everyone made it as quick as possible to the back door, moving in herds like cows, afraid to go near the front door in fear that she might still be there. 

    The blonde, a white cat demon called Roxanne nodded weakly still clinging tightly to Chris. "I'll...be... fine..." She managed to say before loosing consciousness and collapsing into the hell angel's arms. It was quite a sight, one of her radiant beauty and one of his dark stature holding each other there in that slight moment before she lost all realization, their contrast was almost unreal. He was an angel of hell, she was unknown to it all, just a simple demon trying to make a honest living by running a bar. 

    ***

    Christian laid her down gently on top of blood colored satin sheets, in one of Chaos' spiffed up many guest rooms in his mansion. Chaos stood to Christian's left, towering over him at least by a foot and glaring grudgingly down at the blonde angelic woman as Chris pulled off her shoes for her. He was gentle despite his rough tough exterior and even though he was a killer, turned colder and meaner by the passing years he had a soft spot for woman and that's why he made such an awesome player. He'd always try to give them everything they wanted, but after a while if he got bored....well he'd leave. Which was why he made such a terrible father. "Don't wake up the kids..." Chaos said turning his back to leave.

    "What's that supposed to mean?" Chris said knowingly the answer but asking anyway. Chaos laughed gently and disappeared in a pop, leaving Christian to what could have been his exact opposite as she slowly regained consciousness. He crawled up onto the crimson colored sheets and stared down at her watching to make sure that when she passed back into right state of mind nothing as left behind. Only demons were affected by that sort of creature, one of those who worked mental magic. Chris knew that by now they were a dying race if not dead altogether, they were first invented in order to collect demons of all kinds and bring them to serve Garth while he rule don his throne. Christian was one of the few who remembered the pain and torture they caused him mentally, for back then the demons that were around (and there were few on Rayllom at least) were powerful extremely powerful. Modern day power of their descendants had diminished somewhat but it could still be told if one's bloodline was true. 

    The white-blonde demon stirred from beneath Chris as he leaned over her gently, trying not to crush her thing frame under his weight. She opened one blue eyes and then the other very slowly, blinking them and widening them when she realized that a man-or a male something- she had just met had her pinned down to a bed. She tried to sit up quickly but Chris pressed her down. "Whoa, whoa, whoa." 

    She obeyed but reluctantly he was strong and try as she might she could not break his grasp. "What are you doing? We just met a few-er- a little while ago and then that thing came and then-" She was cut off again as Chris gently pressed one hand against her lips to silence her.

    "Ssshhh...this is my friend's house, he has kids keep your voice down." He said looking over his shoulder at the door, nothing stirred and he listened quietly for the sound of four partial demons breathing in their sleep. Good, they weren't awakened. Without removing his hand he turned back and looked at the blonde who's name was unknown at this point to him. "Now I'm going to get off you, but you have to promise you won't try and move your going to be really weak. Don't even get up, the only thing i want you to try and do is blink and breath, and to keep yourself awake because that is important, try talking." She nodded but something suspicious was alight in her eyes. Chris nodded in response and slowly slid himself off the blond woman and curled a foot underneath him sitting next to her on the crimson colored sheets, looking around at his settings for the first time. 

    He remembered these rooms pretty well, this one especially, if he was correct it was the redone version of Adina's old room. It was much nicer now, Chaos obviously had a thing for red, because not only was his whole house decorated in the bloody color but the rooms and even down to the carpet glowed like crimson. He knew that the blonde was watching him, he could feel the presence of her eyes on him the whole time as he kicked off black and white addidas shoes and threw them at the end of the bed then, revealing black clawed feet that resembled a smaller size feline paw like his back demon-feet. "Your not going to try anything funny are you?" She asked suspiciously and Chris detected a hint of fear mixed with something else, amusement maybe? He shook his head grinning slightly to reveal white fangs. The blonde remained silent. "You're not human are you?"

    "I'm as human as you babe." He laughed looking her up and down again letting his eyes rest on her pair of large white feathery wings. She blinked taken aback that he would make such a statement, for all he knew she could be a human! or at least part! "I know your thinking it's odd for me to know but those things only affect demons and part demons. From what I've seen part demons are able to walk after that but real demons...well..." He gestured to her grinning even more wickedly. Blood red eyes met blue ones and she smiled despite her best efforts not to looking away though he looked on. "I'm Christian." He said holding out a hand.

    "Roxanne, but everyone calls me Roxi." She said reaching out to shake it but dropping her arm halfway, feeling a pain jolt through her body. She winced but continued speaking with her eyes closed. "So, where'd you get your wings? I've only know one other demon with angel wings so to speak and it was my mom. I'm a descendant of Zair, you know the ancient cat black? That's why I'm part cat-demon, but I'm also part hawk-demon." She reopened her eyes and watched Chris closely as he laid down next to her placing his hands behind his head onto of the red satin pillow. This was a nice place she had been brought to, and she had been saved by a nice guy, but he was being a  bit forward now wasn't he?

    Christian closed his eyes, the short encounter with the dark assistant of Garth had drained him a bit too, though he in dealing with them before, wasn't as prone to falling for their mental mind tricks and energy sucking games. "Ah.." He said, old Zair had done himself good, what a gorgeous mom she must have had. But Chris would keep his mouth shut, no need to let her know of his age. "I'm gryphon-dragon-demon. Mom was hawk-dragon dad was cat-dragon, but i look mainly like a gryphon with dragon's tail and claws i guess." He shrugged keeping his eyes closed.  

    "So why are you here?" Chris knew that question was coming, he had known it all along, and if there was one thing he could do and do well it was lie. But this Roxanne, he felt was different, plus he wouldn't know what the modern people of today do when they go from town to town. He could go with the old routine see if she bought it...nah. It wouldn't work, Garth was dead by now.  

    Chris let out a long low breath and reopened his fiery red eyes turning his face towards Roxanne. "Would it be possible for me to tell you that i can't tell you?" He asked raising both eyebrows and putting on the most innocent face he could manage. She turned her face weakly and looked him straight in the eye. "Oh fine." He muttered horribly disappointed that he had to tell someone else a story they'd be sure not to believe. "I've been sent down here by Zealtella to retrieve one of her brother's fallen angels. Poor girl was never supposed to live, and i have to come down here collect her and then break to her the bas news. Zealtella sent me because she knows-um well...did your mom ever read you those bedtime stories?" Roxanne nodded her face a mix of confusion. "Do you remember the one about ..Adina," He swallowed hard, "And Christian?"

    She looked at him still intensely with those vivid blue eyes looking him over slowly. "Your the player who got played." She said almost breathless. Chris nodded clenching his teeth together and going rather red. She blinked turning her face away and not daring to say another word.

 "And when I'm down here i plan to take out what remains of her family line." He said grudgingly and sat back up, but stopped feeling a hand pressed against his chest. Raising one eyebrow he couldn't help but half smile at the white demon as she glared up at him so solemnly. "What?"  

    "You can't really be Christian..." she said removing her hand since the pain running up it was excruciating. "I don't believe you." She said softly trying her best to scoot away from him her eyes going wide with fear. "Your just a shifter aren't you? It can all be done with magic, I've seen it before." Roxi's voice was raised and had a higher pitch to it, her terror at an ultimate high using her wings to push herself up at glared at Chris from across the crimson sheets pulling them u to her nose and trying to make herself as small as possible next to the cheery headboard. "What? What are you smiling about?" She asked slinging down the smooth wooden headboard as Chris neared her pulling off his black collared shirt.

    "Now tell me, you seem to know so much about me right? then tell me what was i known for? Something that no one else on this planet would ever have?" He was a few inches away from her face leaning over her in what he would alter claim to be an attempt to keep her still so she wouldn't hurt herself, but let's face it, he was Chris. 

    Roxi's big blue eyes scanned his from underneath her only protection against Christian's wrath. She thought for a moment, trying to remember the book report she did on demon-history in her last year of school before she graduated, the year when everything happened. The year her fathered beat her, and the year her mother left, the year that she turned to books to keep herself sane in the hell that was her life. The one book she remembered the clearest was the one about Adina and Christian the man who she had felt sorry for all her life and felt she could relate with most. They both had people in their lives that they loved betray them. And she remembered. "The moon scar?" She asked weakly backing away a bit more, there were two things Chris was well know for, the moon scar and the other was so embarrassing she turned the page instead of reading it.

    Chris nodded smiling a bit. "I'm not going to hurt you, Mademoiselle. Please don't worry yourself." He said using a bit more of the warped-French that was so prone to him. He backed off her , and turned around so that the moon shaped scar just above his left hip was visible, it had been inflicted in one of his early battles and he had kept it all his life, for some reason it was the one scar that didn't heal. Hearing her gasp was good enough for him as to her realization, he glanced sideways at the clock, and in seeing the numbers he began to feel like he and taken a direct blow from that dark thing earlier in the day. He pulled up the sheets at the other end of the bed and slipped under them, reaching out t click the lamp off. "Sleep, you'll be better in the morning." And with that he turned over and closed his eyes to sleep, for the first time ever he had no plans for the woman besides him. 

    But Roxanne remained in her sitting upright position, a little afraid of the full blooded ancient demon. She knew he wouldn't hurt her intentionally but something was bothering her again, it was like how all those earthian teenagers fell for Elvis even though he was already gone. She had long ago fallen for a man-or demon- who she thought to be dead. But know, impossibly he was back, had her innermost wishes been granted by the gods? On a mission to find another woman, Zealtella would do that send a player to reel in a girl. She slipped down into the silky red bed, Christian claimed to belong to one of his friends and closed her eyes though her thoughts didn't stop. 

    Find another girl, ho maybe she'd help, help him find the most ugliest horrible girl on the face of Rayllom so that maybe he'd look at her. He might have looked at her before, all the guys Roxanne found did, but she liked it the least bit. She didn't need another person in her life like her father, abusive always wanting to be in control. The blonde haired white demon rolled over tying to forget Zair completely and all of his evil intentions. She found herself staring blankly at the dark angel's back and her eyes immediately found the odd moon shaped scar on his lower back. She listened quietly to the sound of his breathing it had changed, he was asleep, or so she thought. 

    Gently reaching a hand down she traced the crescent shape just to be making sure it wasn't drawn on there by some sort of magic. Slowly retrieving her hand she blinked as Christian rolled over in his sleep slipping and arm around her and burying his face unknowingly into her neck. "Your just a big under-confident no self assuring bitch Zealtella.." He muttered in his sleep from somewhere in the region of Roxi's left ear. She giggled quietly to herself, and closed her eyes drifting off into a long deep sleep, along with the dark angel. Demon no doubt morals questionable, for the question of his consciousness still remained as one red eye slid open and the corners of demon lips drew themselves into a smile. Let her think what she wants to for the moment being, i won't try anything yet. 

***

   Roxanne woke slowly opening both eyes staring at the clock in slight disbelief, it was two hours before noon and she was late for work. She rose to a sitting position looking weakly around the red colored room trying to remember where she was. Oh yes, Christian. She blinked and rose completely to her feet walking towards the door and opening it taking a step out and blinking as she looked down upon a small white cat demon, holding a cookie in hi mouth and staring innocently up at Roxanne before he disappeared in a poof of smoke. the blonde angel-wing blinked, still not completely awake. she continued down the hallway and then the stairs into what looked like some kind of living room and slowly sat down on the couch flickering her fluffy cat like tail out in front of her, every muscle in her body burning.  "Christian?" She called weakly out, wondering if the player had left her already.

    Roxi blinked in slight-but-not total disbelief as a black cat-tailed woman walked into the room. Roxanne covered one hand with her mouth, wondering who much weirder her life could become from this point forward, so many people form her past in so little time. And to think it all happened in one night because she trusted in someone she didn't even know. Curse her trust, or love it. "In the name of Zealtella, I though I'd never see you again!" she exclaimed and on cue, Chris and the 2/3 blood red she knew to be Chaos walked through the door their conversation seeming to be serious until they caught sight of the two women embraced. 

    Chaos blinked grinning like a fool and his blue eyes met Christian's. "Did we interrupt something ladies?" He laughed but dodged the blow Serangina aimed at his head, moving from her sister's arms and taking a wild swing in less than a blink of the eye. "Yesh!" Chaos spat and recovered from the near miss giving Seran a half cocked smile. 

    "She's my sister you pervert!" Seran shot back grinning though her words we harsh. Roxanne blinked still not fully awake and in watching the two red cloaked go at it, she watched through sleepy blue eyes as Chris walked towards her avoiding the now fist-fight going on between husband and wife.

    "You know this isn't good for the children to see..." Chris laughed having to avoid Chaos' wings as he failed them out for balance as Seran hit him square in the chest. He took Roxi's arm and drug her out of the family room and into the kitchen where the small white offspring she had run into earlier sat contently on the table, eating a cookie. He glanced up at Roxi and Chris and cleared his throat slipping the half finished cookie behind him. "Ah go ahead Sheik." Chris laughed walking past him and messing the demon's black hair up, something he had no doubly got form his father, meaning he had gotten it from Christian as well.  

    Sheik, the full blooded white offspring watched Roxanne with crooked eyebrows as she walked into the kitchen and plopped herself down opposite of him. He watched her intently blue eyes meeting a blue as deadly as their own as he took a bite out of the cookie and dared not say a word though thoughts far more advanced than his look ran through his head. Scanning the other white demon, he couldn't help but notice her shirt was tight really tight and he could see right down it. He smiled but didn't say anything. Yup, it ran in the family alright. His glace was broken as the other kiddo of the family entered the room choosing to make a flying entrance. 

    Destiny, only 3 years old compared to Sheik's 11 crash landed on the table red wings tangled up with tail and feet. Sheik was of Zair's cat looks, and Destiny of Chris' gryphon-dragon-comic-cat (thanks to Chaos) genes. She blinked big green eyes that resembled her mum's and looked from Roxi to Sheik in slight fascination. Sheik had resumed his stare and was leaning half way over the table chewing absentmindedly on his cookie. 

    "Uncle Chris!" Destiny shouted leaning her head back and waiting until "uncle Chris" turned around with four bowels of some kind of Rayllomian fruit in hand, and tail.  "Sheik's being naughty!"  Destiny bellowed hopping off the table and shifting into her humanic form prodding her older brother in the leg. 

    Christian glanced at Sheik, watching his stare. He laughed and slid a grapefruit like thing into four of the eight places in the kitchen table. "Hey Sheik, son, i bite harder than i may look like i do when people are messing with my property."  Chris reached a hand over and placed it on Roxanne's neck pushing her back into a sitting position. 

    She blushed figuring out the 11 year old's ambitions, and crossed her arms angrily. "Who says I'm your property?" she shot back at Chris though she rather liked the thought of his protection. She heard a  variety of words that would make her mother cringe echo down form the hall as something big no doubly crashed. She looked over at Destiny who sat innocently eating her grapefruit and watching with big innocent green eyes. "Your mom and dad do this often?" 

    Destiny nodded but it was Sheik who answered. "Yup. That's why i have a little sister." He smiled wickedly as he dashed out of the room before Christian could think of pummeling him for his rudeness. Rather he laughed that loud ominous sound that drove so many insane, shaking his head he glanced over at Destiny who looked up at him innocently.

    "Poor kid, have to have a brother that horrible." Roxanne said, totally serious, her mind drifting back to her former siblings. All of them jerks, inheriting that from their father no doubt.  She shook her head looking back over at Chris as he stared off into space. "So....how long did i sleep?"

    "3 days." The answer shocked her, the thought of her bar being run by her assistant driving her to the point of passing out. "Don't worry Mademoiselle, i took care of  the management position. Let me tell you, Solaria's not like it used to be." He shook his head, it hurt a bit from taking to much medicine last night to clam his pounding headache. Evil insane be-bop crap they played at Cloud 9 was worse than anything he could handle. And oh the weirdoes they got in there! When he was alive they only had a limited amount of freaks, this place was stocked with them. "I had 6 people hit on me in a hour. Two of them were men." Chris shook his head sticking out his tongue disgustedly. 

    Roxanne laughed, covering her mouth with one hand as Destiny raised an amused eyebrow giggling to herself. Roxi decided not to ask if he hit back on some of the women. She knew there were a lot of pretty girls that waltzed into her bar, though their morals were as questionable as his. Instead she decided to ask a question of more necessity. "Did you find that women you were looking for?" Chris looked up from eating the pinkish colored fruit and swallowed hard shaking his head. "Any clue as to were to find her?" She played with one strand of hair twirling it and re-twirling it, a nervous habit she had developed since she was young. 

    "Actually, that was the part i thought you could help me with. You know you ways about town better than i do, and since this is were Zealtella decided to place me she must be here." Chris looked skyward on the mention of Lady Darkness' name, though Roxanne wondered why. she was always taught hell was underground. He looked up hopefully at Roxi stirring what remained of the fruit around in the bottom of his bowel with a silver plated spoon. 

    Roxanne sighed thinking it over and forming a plan in her mind. As long as she was with him she was safe, well protected from any of those horrible people. She'd never tell but recently it had gotten worse, Zair had come back again, sent his minions who seemed to think her to be their play toy. It wasn't fair, it wasn't safe, one of these days, someone would surely notice right? I mean the bruises were bad enough, the fact no body seemed to realize her problem and her need for help was even worse. She needed to keep Chris around, she needed someone to protect her, but after what happened to the last man she chose to be her temporary protection, she was glad Chris had offered a place to stay. "Sure."

    Christian stared at her, red eyes scanning the surface and trying to find a way past the icy cold barrier Roxi had drawn up around her past. Maybe he needed to talk to Seran, he knew Zair was a horrible person and if worse came to worse Chris wouldn't mind resuming his old job again. They say assassins get paid big, and it was true. Just look at the Dark Angel, he had 8 mansions and at least 5 beach houses. He'd take care of this girl time being, for he had long ago sworn to Zair that he wouldn't let him hurt another. After what the cat demon had done to his own sister. Chris blinked seeing the pain in Roxanne's eyes as he realized the truth in a sudden jolt. And he was the only one who understood. "I won't let him hurt you anymore. He's a filthy stinking pervert. His type is scum." Chris said trying to keep his language at a minimum due to the fact Destiny sat with wide open ears just to his left. One quick glance and she knew it was her time to go chase her brother. 

    Tears leaked from the corner of Roxanne's blue eyes and she wiped them away again and again, only causing more to appear. "You had Adina. I had Zair. And what bothers me was that no one ever seems to notice. I guess being a forced mistress is a silent problem huh?"  She said choking back her tears.

    Christian's eyes went wide for a second before rage took over. "He did what?!?" The voice as powerful as when he faced the darkness in the bar ehcoced from all sides the small kitchen and the on goings of Serangina and Chaos temporally stopped. Chris stood up clenching his fists together again and again looking own at a very shocked Roxanne with fire a light in his bloody red eyes. Watching as Roxanne nodded the tears flowing freely know his temper died down as he bent and took her into his arms trying his best to comfort her. Poor girl, he would make Zair pay! Beating was bad enough, but violating a child! sick! "Sssssshhhhh.." He muttered soothingly pulling his chair closer and sitting down on it. 

    Roxanne cried almost silently, the shaking and tears streaming down her face were the only things giving away the pain stored within her. She cried for a good twenty minutes, not realizing that she had attracted the attention of Chaos, who had a blackening bruise above his right eye, and Seran who as a few good rips in the most important parts of her dress. She stopped her crying slowly, raising her eyes form the ground up to Chris' as he stared back at her bloody red eyes wide and forcing out all the compassion inside him he spoke. "It's a dire sin Mademoiselle, I'll hunt that bastard down and make him pay if you wish it. Say the word and I'll slit his throat with a ribbon if you wish it." 

    Roxanne shook her head glancing up at Chaos and Serangina. "We should get going." She looked back over at Christian trying to regain her composure. "We have a lot of work to do."

***

    The sound of beating wings was silent and ominous as the dark night sky they flew against, and if one were to look up on this night, they would not believe their eyes. Christian, looking almost elegantly lethal as he flew in the dark above the tree line, wings never once missing a beat as they made the only steady rhythm in the deep of night. He looked at home more than ever in the pitch black, the only thing visible was those bloody eyes, and the white maiden perched on his back clinging on tightly to his feathered neck and not daring to open her eyes. she was a flier, but never by night, and never did she pull anything this quickly. 

    It had been about three weeks since Christian and Roxanne had found each other, but it was all to short in both of their opinions. Already they acted like they had known each other longer, and Chris had taken a liking to the revved up highly social life of Solaria and Cloud Nine. Tonight though, as he cut through the air like a knife through cheese he knew what awaited him when he were to arrive. Roxanne did also, though she knew not the seriousness of it. 

    Chris had at first refused to bring her, until she pleaded with him, worried that once he left her Zair would return. Chris had given in, it was true, when he'd turn his back for just a few seconds the mighty cat demon's henchmen would be all over, ready to grab the thing that his perverse wanted the most. So Chris had brought her, reluctantly for fear of her own safety. Out of the frying pan and into the fire would have described it better., because it had ten Chris a while, but after he had given her a few beers and a wad of cash, Adina's daughter agreed to give up her mother's hiding place. 

    Though he knew the trade well and was flawless in his days, never once feeling the ping of fear, Chris felt it now. Chris felt it fast and hard, he knew Adina was good, she was almost as good as him back in their day. Almost. Almost was what hope he had, along with time. He had been dead for around 500 years, even Adina with her tricks and spells to keep her young would be vulnerable. Her blood was mortal, Christian knew it all to well. 

    Pulling his wings closed and mentally reminded Roxanne to keep silent or he'd be forced to make her. She didn't scream as Chris hit the ground with startling force but emerged unhurt in a small black cloud of smoke, invisible almost against the starless black sky. Zealtella cast her cover to the travels of the dark, not matter their morals. It was her promise, her safe haven, for those who weren't as light as the norm. 

    Roxi blinked, finding herself somehow in the arms of her temporary guardian, in his human form once more staring blankly ahead his eyes focusing on the looming red-brown bricked building. Her blue eyes found it two, and thanks to the cat side of her, she could make out the fine details. It was the only thing from her father she appreciated; the night vision. "Should i stay?" She asked weakly looking about but seeing no one, the trees and plants from the darkened forest stared back at her in solitude as if they knew that something other than clouds blew in the air. 

    Christian looked down on her, sizing her up for the first time, and resuming more of his old self. For a long time as they flew he was distant and detached, the way he always was, before the hunt. Before the kill. A feudal grin stole his handsome face, and fangs of draconic nature gave him an almost vamparic look.  "It would be an honor Mademoiselle, but i do hope that you know how to...defend yourself?" He would have said kill, but she was not Adina. No matter how she reminded him so, she could never be his former lover, present hater. She was not cold and wicked, there was something about her, that was kind. And that something he dared not to mess with, for fear that if it was she might loose it all together and history would repeat. 

    His weakness sowed again, his weakness for women. Not for all women as you know, only certain few, the ones he felt sorry for most of. But this, Roxanne he did not feel sorry for. She and He were on the same plane, screwed over by former loved ones. He sought revenge but she only sought protection, the same yet so different. "Um...well.." Roxanne said blushing to a shade of red. She had taken karate classes when she was a kid, and you can't be a pushover to be a bar tender, but she didn't really want to hurt anyone. "If need be." She said stating only the truth. He nodded as if he expected it and flexed black wings. 

    "You run. I'll fly. Your color makes you easy prey for guards and I'm sure their will be some." He leaned close to her putting their eyes on the same plane and outlined the back of the large cliff the mansion sat upon. "There's a slim passageway back up there and if you climb high enough around the back you'll make it. Take the back door in , if need be use the key underneath the mat. "Find the stairway and then use your hearing. You'll know where i am." He said very quietly. She nodded trying not to look confused though her mind was a jumble. She'd do as he said, but maybe she'd wait in the front lobby until he was done. She began to say something but felt a demonic hand on her cheek and was instantly silenced staring into those bloody red eyes as if staring into Christian's very soul. "Don't get killed. Kill." 

    And he was gone, even the silent sound of his flapping wings vanished as Roxanne watched head spinning as if she had gotten off some kind of carousel of the heart. She had known it since the first day, that she shouldn't fall for the demon that was so unpredictable, so fickle. She knew not to fall for the player of all players. But she did anyway, despite her inner warnings. Worst of all....he was dead...

    Chris knew he shouldn't but he did anyway, he so far had kept himself clean of all sin, but if thoughts were counted he would have been sent straight into the fiery inferno of hell. He didn't try to make an advance upon a single woman, most of the time because of Roxanne, he had met her on the first day and been her protector ever since. He knew she had something for him, friendship if not slight interest, but she hid her feelings well. Abuse will do that to you he guessed letting out a sigh as he landed gently on the rooftop of the mansion he knew by heart.  Cocking his ears and listening for the slightest sound of breath he curled his wings inward blending into the darkness that was so familiar to one born into it.

    Nothing, they were all asleep, all unsuspecting for the thing they never thought to see again. A wicked smile curved the lips of the reinstated assassin, only this time it would be for revenge, not for cash. He slipped down through a vent on the roof and crawled through the small dark space trying to remember the twists and turns of the house as he passed over them, searching for the right room. But upon passing the lower level kitchen and planning to drop out there, to meet up with Roxi he heard her voice already along with another. "Liar! Why were you trespassing!" Feminine, it was cold as steel and twice as tough, but something in it seemed age and withered by the passing of years. Chris sneered rubbing his hand with the back of his head from the four story drop through the vent system he had miscalculated, he crawled forward finding the opening just above the center of the room and waited for the right moment to drop down. 

    His eyes caught sight of Roxanne, being held still by an overly large freakish looking mortal with a  broken nose. Blood smeared on his face and hands was a sign of it's freshness and the matching crimson on Roxi's left hand proved the culprit. Good for her. Christian thought to himself watching the white try and break free of the man's grip, a small drop of blood mixed with sweat sliding down her forehead. "I told you! Wrong address!" she hissed tone rising with the last word.

    "Right." The metallic voice said again and she emerged into Christian's small field of view through the  vent, he could make her out perfectly. Disgusting! Wrinkles all over and bag under her yes! Grotesque! And he had planned to love her for ever and after. The woman called Adina dangled a silvery key in front of Roxi's face. "Then how'd you get a key? Especially this key?" She mused staring at the only other copy of the mansion key to ever be made, it was as black as Adina's was silver. Roxanne refused to speak only glaring icily at the ancient mortal her eyes narrowing slightly. "This key belonged to....oh what was his name? Ah yes, Christian. That demon fool."

    Christian's blood began to pump and his fingers curled beneath him unintentionally bending the metal prongs of the vent. He'd slice that bitch into ribbons and then give them to little girls to make hair pieces out of. "Yeah, he was the biggest player Rayllom had even seen, a good assassin too if i remember correctly. But he had a soft spot, that made him weak, all i had to do was trick him into loving me. Then when i got sick of him i killed him." Adina ran the key along her chin thoughtfully unknowingly staring just to the left of the vent Chris was hiding in. She seemed caught up in her little self absorbed memory. "I'll give him one thing though, his blood was true." He laughed coldly. "He was quite amazing child, quite amazing in his art. No wonder he had so many women come crawling to him. I should have kept him alive just for the sex.." Chris was about at the point of hurling thinking of this old women talking of the subject so freely. He was both disgusted and embarrassed beyond belief at the thought of Roxanne hearing things she shouldn't. She was the only women he didn't want to think of him in that way. 

    "Shut up!" Roxanne said shocking everyone in the room and above it. "In the name of Faveen! You are the most cold hearted freaky self absorbed jerk of a woman i have ever had the displeasure to meet!" Her comment was met by a sharp slap on the face from Adina who stood still slightly smirking in her over confidence. When Roxanne looked up face burning red she was met by another.

    Christian's blood was past the boiling point and in the time it takes to blink he was standing in between Roxanne and Adina back turned to the first, eyes narrowed at the second. She was old, maybe she'd have a heart attack and die, but of course Chris' luck was never that good. Her look of shock was only temporary and she laughed coldly and cruelly as she stared at Christian as he stood there treating as he may be. He merely narrowed her eyes and her laughter was cut short by the sheer power that seem to radiate from him. "Found yourself a new girlfriend?" She laughed seeing the girl blush to a shade to match her stinging cheek. 

    Christian didn't bother to respond he stepped forward bloody red eyes locked on his betrayer. The light in the room was dim to begin with due to the hour, but when Christian broke the only light bulb in the room causing it to go almost pitch black, Adina realized the state of her present situation. She tried to Scream for her guards but she felt a hand against her throat pressing down harder each second. 

    Pressing his claws harder into the old woman's throat he gritted his teeth, not that it took a lot of effort, he was just beyond the point of rage. He could have snapped her like a twig if he had pleased. But he wanted to do it slow, cutting off her airway and causing her to choke to death, so that he could avenge all the lives she cut short. Her hands claws at his desperately as he continued to press harder and harder. "Surely you wouldn't kill an old woman?" She managed to squeak from somewhere within.

    Christian narrowed the only visible light source in the room, eyes glowing almost out of his rage. "You are no old woman. You are liar, a deceiver, a betrayer, you make the rest of us look like scum. And for that, you should have been taken out a long time ago..." He spoke out of reference to all assassins, their were codes and laws. The job was bloody, but it was not without honor. "Nowhere in my code of Chivalry does it say not to avenge one's self." He pressed harder seeing the terror in the one he hated the most eye's driving him to do so. "Guess what Adina, Ma Cheri, you loose." And he dropped her gasping to the ground. She would not live through the night, her airway was punctured and the line o blood that trickled down from her throat was evidence enough. She would die the way she had killed so many others, slow and painfully, cutting off their air supply by horrid means. 

    Feeling a hand on his back Christian turned and instinctively grabbed the wrist and turned it, but on hearing Roxi's soft voice he released for a moment forgetting she was there. All of the cruelty and coldness he had just shown vanished from him the instant he realized it was her. "Gee i hope i never piss you off.." She said laughing a bit to ease to mood. Her attempt failed, bringing only a subtle smile to Chris' face, painful memories over taking his thought again.  

    "Let us fly then." He said still holding onto Roxanne by the wrist. Walking out the back door shifting seamlessly into his true form and taking wing, blending flawlessly back into the night. And if one were to look up then and see the thing that flew above the tree line and hear the ever steady rhythm of beating wings, they would assume him to be; demon no doubt, morals questionable.   

    Halfway back to Chaos' mansion, near Roxanne's bar, Christian tucked his wings and came crashing down to the soil once more, once again holding the second woman he cared for so dearly in his arms. Still she wondered how he was able to transform so effortlessly, from beast to humanoid and how every time she slid from his back to his arms without even noticing the move. Maybe it was a demon thing of old, or maybe he used that amazing speed he had displayed earlier. Either way it was rather staggering. "Um...huh?" She said blinking at the all to familiar neon signs of her bar as Chris strode forth, still clutching his opposite in his arms. 

    "Demon Barriers." He barely whispered, though it was around one or two in the morning, usually there was activity in the streets of Solaria until about four-ish. Roxanne shut down Cloud Nine for today, aware that Christian had planned to seek revenge on Adina later. Usually she shut it down around 2, knowing that not to soon after, bad things happened. Assassins or worse nature than her Chris crawled the streets looking for jobs, or looking for worse.  Roxanne felt chills run up her arms as she held tighter to the black satin collar of the dark angel's shirt. Assassins of Solaria were good at what they did, but as always some were better than others. It was only natural their be competition. From her book she remembered, that it had been like that for a long time, and Christian had been at the top of the food chain when he had been in prime. "Adina mustn't have passed into hell yet. She's still about, these are of her magic. We'll have to wait possibly overnight in your bar. If-" He was cut off by a howling shriek of demon nature and Roxanne intuitively turned to the left, where the noise seemed to be coming from.  She watched as a blood colored demon shrank down in pain, his face and left arm smashed into bloody pulp, as he ran into what looked to be plain air. 

    Roxi whispered, afraid that if she talked to loudly someone or something would hear. "Around back, i can climb in through the top window." Chris moved mechanically forward. " can walk by myself thank you." She hissed sarcastically under her breath. She didn't want to offend him or push him away, the extra attention and carefulness he gave to her made Roxanne feel like a fairy princess. She just didn't want to become any sort of a burden, she was no thorn in anyone's foot. 

    She slipped in through a window at the top of the building, as she had said she would, and carefully clamored back down to the first floor, popping open the door and letting Chris in. Only the security lights flickered, scarcely illuminating the darkness. The bar looked dim and lifeless without the usual crowd of loud obnoxious people. Chris took a deep breath taking in the clam scent and used his hearing, listening for any sign whatsoever of danger. None, the place was secured calm, peaceful, but still. Eerily still. Perhaps bars thrive on crowds like weeds on water.  Another demonic scream. They'd have to stay the entire night and most likely some of the morning. Even in her old age, Adina refused to give up that easily. 

    Roxanne was behind the counter, she slammed two glasses down onto the smooth black marble countertop and returned to scavenging underneath the bar top. Chris neared curiously, and listened as a muffled voice asked him if wanted anything to drink. "Um....it's been so long since I've had a choice." He grinned sheepishly, he hadn't had anything since that silvery-blue metallic liquid about put him under. "Whatever you're having i guess." He mumbled letting his eyes wonder. He pulled them away as Roxanne stood back up, bottle of some kind of alcohol in one hand. "What is it?" He asked innocently taking a seat onto one of the fluffy bar cushions, speaking through one hand at it rested his chin on it innocently, not to give away his prior doings. 

    She grinned. "New stuff. I don't think they had it in your days. It's some kind of beer, made from this weird pink rice they have out in Ritor. Tastes really sweet, but you can't have more than one glass of it if you want to stay on top of things. It's twice as powerful as rum." Her tone was serious but there was a wild grin on her face Chris hadn't seen before. He smiled, maybe he'd get a taste of her wild side. Maybe, maybe not.  

    And it was strong stuff, it was really sweet, but it brunt the back of your throat in an odd soothing way. Chris drained the glass in one shot and looked over at Roxanne trying to match him. His grin grew more insane as he poured himself another glass racing to chug it down before Roxanne could get her second. It took him brief seconds to slam this one and on his third he kept the bottle at arm's distance from Roxanne so she couldn't get it. "Not fair!" She said leaning over him and snatching the bottle away, sticking her tongue out at him childishly. She drained tow twice as quickly as the dark angel her head feeling very light already.

    It was not to long before both angels of opposite colors were staring haplessly at the empty glass bottle. Christian's head was feeling very light and he himself very loopy. Not to mention under the influence he was feeling more like him old self with a very foxy woman leaning against him, feeling just the same. "Je me'en fou.." He muttered in a loopy voice, his his awkward drunken cackle was interpreted by a belch and he laughed even more in chorus with Roxanne, who hadn't the least idea what he had just said. All she knew was that it sounded pretty, and funny at the same time. Boy French was interesting. 

    "Bottle all gone.." She giggled pointing at the glass bottle and suddenly feeling more light headed than she thought possible. Everything was beginning to spin. "Sleeep.." She muttered closing her eyes and resting her head on Christian's shoulder, thinking only of a warm bed somewhere far away where she could crash eternally. Somewhere in her subconscious she realized she'd have a hell of a hangover. 

    "Where?" Christian muttered, reverting to the primitive one word speech that was so common in the days of cavemen, and also common to over tired drunken demons.

    Roxanne yawned and pointed to the steps leading up to the second floor. "Rooms up there. Warm fluffy pillows." She giggled obscenely. "Fluffy fluffy fluffy.." Chris laughed and rose unsteadily to his feet, helping his opposite up. They climbed the stairs together holding onto the rail and to each other to keep from falling off. Kicking the door open without thought to whether it was locked or not Chris walked side by side in, leaning on Roxi as she leaned on him to keep from toppling over, and staring blankly at the two post bed. Chris dared not to ask why there where rooms upstairs, perhaps this place had once been a boardinghouse. The bed looked old enough to have been around when Solaria was a pleasant place. 

    Chris eyed the room drunkenly and somewhere in the back of his mind some assassinish instinct kicked in as he saw the window shade drawn up and the moonlight spilling in. He walked Roxanne over to the only other door in the room, swung it open to fid a closet, packed with clothes but since it was a walk-in there was room enough for a group of four or five adults. She didn't say anything as she slid down against the back wall, watching him pick up the pillows and bed linen, and walking woozily back over to where she sat. "What?" She managed to mutter as he closed the door, and she lost all sight for a brief second, as her feline eyes adjusted. Her site did not return, they where in a  closet it was pitch black and all that she could make out was Chris' drunken faintly glowing eyes looking sideways.

    "Shhh..." Christian mumbled and she felt a hand press tightly over her mouth. She shut her mouth, squinting as she vaguely made out the shape of his body pressed to the door listening closely to whatever was on the other side. He said nothing else, simply acting on instinct, this and happened once or twice to him before, but he had never had to care for another. At least she was demon, she'd be able to stand it, he prayed, and the alcohol numbed her a bit. Good, she wouldn't fell it as much. Grabbing at the fluffy white pillows and be sheets barely visible in the dark Christian moved swiftly trying to keep himself clear headed, though it was near impossible. Throwing them down against the wall he reached out an arm and pulled Roxanne over to him. Whispering so softy even with his face inches form hers it was hard for the white to make out his words. "Sit here. Close your eyes and don't think. Just sit. I'm here. Be calm." And he used his arm to push hers against the linen, showing her where he wanted her to rest.

    Dazed and confused she vaguely understood, blind in trust she sat down where he had indicated. Roxi fought to keep herself from slipping down that wall and into unconsciousness while her head spun from the intake of too much alcohol. That wasn't' a smart thing. she'd have the biggest hangover in history tomorrow! She blinked her eyes fighting to stay aware of her surroundings and watched Chris intently as he leaned against the door listening carefully. 

   Seconds turned into minutes as Chris listened quietly, hearing nothing he knew the strike would come later, probably the summoning of Adina's final whim. He crawled over to the wall besides Roxanne and sat down next to her, his eyes blurring in and out. He needed rest, they had been up most the night, and he knew it was for her the same. We'll be fine if we sleep. He thought to himself and then repeated it mentally to Roxanne she nodded subconsciously closing her eyes. Her body loomed forward doomed to fall over if Chris hadn't caught her grabbing her up before she hit the ground with a thump. The liquor was screwing with her system pretty badly. "Roxi?" He asked looking down at the white demon, she looked back up, her eyes bloodshot.

    "See what the gods have given me? A guardian blackbird.." She muttered almost incoherently, sliding her arms around Chris' neck and allowing herself to drift into sleep. Chris chuckled a bit to himself, then slipped into the realm of the unconscious along with his light. 

*** 

    It all happened so quickly that it was rather hard to tell what was going on. The dark angel awoke, feeling himself pulled out of a rather pleasant but yiffy dream, to find that his head hurt like hell and the scar on his back burned wretchedly. He squinted his eyes clearing the sleep form them in the pitch black of the closet, this had to be wrong, surely it was morning? The shifting of his position awoke Roxanne, curled comfortably in his arms with a start and she soon realized the pain in her head as well. "Shit.." Chris muttered raising to his feet and pulling the string attached to an overhead light inside the closet and blinking again as the light switched on. He leaned sideways, unsuccessfully trying to see the lower back of his shirt. "Roxi...?" Christian said looking over his shoulder at the yawning white demon. 

    Blinking Chris watched her eyes follow down to his lower back, where his scar burnt in pure agony. "Chris! Oh geeze!" She said leaping to her feet and taking a step forward. "What is that?!" She pressed her hand against the darkened part of the satin shirt, and then pulled it away staring at her hand with disbelief. It was stained with a slick black liquid, along with the lower back and upper part of Christian's jeans. 

    "Shit." Chris repeated looking blankly at the back of Roxanne's hand. "My scar's bleeding.." He muttered unbuttoning his shirt and throwing it aside, once again revealing the moon shaped scar to Roxi, only this time it had reopened and was spilling the demon's black blood everywhere. He winced in pain, it seemed to hurt more now that he saw it.  "Double crap! My good jeans!" He sighed and pulled those off as well, discarding them like the shirt.  

    Roxanne turned around blushing to see him standing half nude in front of her. She tried to focus her blurry eyes on the rack of clothes behind her and grabbed at a white shirt. Taking it she turned back around to a very frustrated Christian as he tried to see behind him. "Calm down!" She scolded him, watching as he turned on her and suddenly realizing that she shouldn't have. Though the glare was only brief, knew and had known that the dark angel was a force to be reckoned with. Powerful as he was somewhere deep down she knew he wouldn't hurt her, after he had protected her for so long. 

    "No!" He shot back though he was full of rage it was not directed at her, it was at him for being so stupid. He fidgeted as she walked behind him pressing something, he assumed the shirt, against his scar. The fabric was terrycloth, and it irritated already sensitive skin. That was no normal scar by any means. Zair had given it to him, when he had put an enchantment on his claws, so that it would burn every time the black-demon cat was near. It only bled on special occasions, requiring Zair to be close, and full of hate. "Ouch! Je suis Demanou! Does this place have like a bathroom or something? This isn't going to stop bleeding you know!" 

    Roxanne sighed, for an assassin he was a baby! "Your such a chicken!" She laughed hearing only an internal rumble in response for her protector as he stood silenced in pain. "C'mon, i'll take you downstairs and fix you up." She said. "Well if i can make it down the stairs." She added, taking a step and all but fell into Christian's arms. She grinned sheepishly holding the bloody shirt as Chris scowled down at her.  He pushed her back up onto her feet and folded slowly down the stairs and back behind the large wooden stage where Roxi usually held karaoke night on Fridays and Saturdays. 

    Behind the stage and past the dressing rooms was a large kitchen like place where Cloud nine made all of it's 'bar food' and also where they stored extra drinks. To the left was the private bathroom, one Chris had failed to noticed before, perhaps boxes where just stacked in the way or something. "Sit." She commanded and pointed to the tabletop. He grudgingly obeyed, pulling himself to sit on the cedar table, trying to make his boxer shorts longer by pulling at the edges. Stupid modern day underwear. Roxanne reappeared from somewhere in the bathroom holding a bottle of some kind of sterilizer and a lot of gauze wrap. 

    Chris didn't budge as she dabbed on the stinging liquid though it hurt so bad a little kid would have passed out at the thought. She cleaned the majority of the black blood form the wound and pressed a gauze pad down on it, as she reached for the medical tape. "So what happened last night?" 

    Christian sighed long and heavy, he couldn't tell her the truth, she'd flip if she knew Zair was out and about setting demon barriers and sending people to look for her. "Adina's demon barriers. And she set a trap for us, the window was open in that bedroom as soon as someone fell asleep her thugs would be all over. Yeouch...i don't think that skin is supposed to come off!" Chris snapped as Roxi removed a piece of tape she set to close to the wound. Muttering an apology she refixed the tape and unrolled a long strip of white gauze, beginning to wind it around Chris' middle so that if the wound bled through, it wouldn't drip down his back. Content with her work she stepped back giving a wild grin. 

    Chris sneered at the white wrapping and began to pull it off, then stopped upon feeling Roxi's hands on his. "It keeps it form getting infected! And that way it's like your red badge of courage. the bigger the Band-Aid the more people think it hurts." 

    Chris scowled but his scowl quickly flickered to a grin. "Yeah well who's going to be seeing under my shirt anyway?" That suave voice of his teased and he watched Roxanne blush red as she turned to hid her face and feelings. It was useless, Christian knew he had some kind f feelings for her, even if she was just a friend she was bound to be a tad bit jealous. 

    "I don't know whatever women you mess around with." She said though her face was turned away. She thought for a moment she was seeing Christian's true colors. She thought he only needed her because she might be the one to help him find who he was looking for, Faveen's fallen angel. She was only good to flirt with and tease if there was no one else around. She didn't know how wrong she was. 

    "Ah don't be like that Mademoiselle..." Chris said, maybe he shouldn't mess with her feelings as much. He glanced back down at the bandages. "thanks for fixing me up.." He tried desperately and watched her eyes flicker quickly back at him before she was staring off into space. He sighed. "Roxanne, Roxanne what i am going to do with you? Can't i tease you just a little bit without you getting offended? I'm me. that's what i do.." 

    She nodded shaking her head. "Sorry just a bit sensitive i guess.." Turning and walking back around to him she knew the pain in her heart was for him. She longed to tell him that she cared, wanted to tell him that she had loved him before they had met.  But she couldn't, he was already gone, already dead. 

    There was something hidden beneath Christian's smile, perhaps it was a similar feeling towards the light of his kind, perhaps it was something else. Whatever it was it drew him towards her and he reached down placing his large hands on top of hers and pulling them upwards. "Do tell...what's bothering you?" Her saddened smile was enough to tell the player that something was bugging her deep within, something that was like a pitcher ready to overflow. At any minute she could dump, but she'd refuse to, until he told her it was ok. 

    She stared up at him with her radiant blue eyes catching and holding his red ones. She looked downwards at his demon clawed feet. She opened her mouth but was quickly cut off as the door she knew she had closed swung open and in the doorway stood the person she'd never think she'd see in her mortal life on Rayllom. "CHRISTIAN!" The powerful godly voice of Zealtella shook the room, as she walked towards the pair. Roxanne watched helplessly as Christain fell on one knee one arm across his chest wings unfurled and he starred at the floor, frozen by his duty to the god. Walked would be the wrong way to describe it, she didn't walk she more like floated. her feet hovering in the air and when she took a step black smoke swirled around the base of her feet, blending into the blackness of her long dark dress. Yellow eyes flickered from Christian to Roxanne beneath a golden crown and long thick black hair. "Is this the one?" She demanded pointing an accusing finger tipped with a deadly black nail to the white demon. 

    Christian bolted upright and moved protectively in front of Roxi. "Um...no m'lady. Does she look like a fallen angel to you?" He blinked realizing the obvious. "I mean she's all demon Zeal. Can't be an angel. You said look for a mortal. This one is immortal by blood. " He nodded as if to reassure himself more than the goddess. 

    She narrowed wolven eyes, crossing her arms and leaning backwards lightly to increase her stances. "I have come to check up on you and i see you haven't changed a bit Chris.." She sighed. "Did you at least explain to that girl that you can't marry her and start a family because your dead before you two...well.." She rolled her eyes and gestured to his boxer shorts. 

    "Um...M'am?" Roxi whispered very quietly, despite Chris' attempt to silence her. "We did nothing of the sort. He was bleeding and i just wanted to-" Zealtella blinked, phased for the first time on record. "Bleeding? He cannot bleed. He's dead young one. He shouldn't have even felt pain, only pleasure." 

    Roxanne shrugged looking to Christian for help. He shook his head along with her, turning around to revel the already bloodied gauze. "Zair is near." He said and that's when things got hectic. A loud crash and the sound of running feet ehcoced down the hallway behind Zealtella and she moved out of the way, watching one eyebrow raised as a man cloaked in dark green dashed in, green eyes on fire as he stared at the half nude dark angel and white demon, completely missing Zealtella. Panting three others ran up behind him, an elf cloaked in red, a half wolf in violet and a full blooded Fein-crackin. Who entered next did not surprise Christian the least. Zair, cloaked in black calmly entered in his humanic form, eerie white face carved into a sneer. 

    "That's them, i saw them fleeing from the scene of the incident.  I set demon barriers and had men follow them to this place." His raspy serpentine voice quietly accused them. "I would have captured them myself, had the black not been such a chicken and mentally blocked me." His eyes found Roxanne and his face grew cold in hearing her whimper. She tried to make herself as small as possible by hiding behind the dark angel as he angrily cracked his knuckles. 

    The man in green nodded to the fein-crackin, watching him seamlessly shift into his demon form, his true form, and carefully start towards the pair of demons. An ear piece buzzed and he grinned in victory, or so he thought. "Christian and Roxanne, you are under arrest for the murder of the white mage Adina. We're taking you in." As the fein-crackin neared Christian snarled stopping him dead in his tracks. Dereo feared nothing, he was only taken a back. 

    Zealtella quiet until now decided to speak. "Raydel dear, please inform this fool that you work for that he will not touch my angel and his companion until i say so or i will befall upon him and that fein-crakin something fierce." She spoke to the elven, her son-in-law.

    "Um Redge? Call Dereo back. Not only could she lick the both of you, Christian could do it twice as bad." The elven said to the man in the green cloak, Redge. He snarled, thoroughly disappointed he wasn't going to bust someone. Sighing he nodded to Dereo who retreated with a 'i could kick your butt if I wanted to' stare aimed at the dark angel. 

    Zair, teeth clenched looked back and forth from Chris to Redge to Zealtella and then back at Chris who's bloody eyes hadn't left him since he entered the storage room. Cracking his knuckles again Christian made it only fair to give a warning. "To all of the ministry, i suggest you leave it is about tog et ugly. Zealtella, you can go back to your kingdom I'll find Faveen's fallen angel when the time is right. And Roxi, come with me." He walked forward following after a fleeing Zair. The cat demon sped out the back door and out into the streets. Known Christian knew it was morning, light was all around him and it stung with blood-shot eyes and only increased the pain of his hangover. 

    Christian let Zair lead the way, walking slowly after him Roxanne hanging on him afraid to death of her father. And all the while Christian attracted the attention of women along the way, still half nude in his boxer shorts. The cat demon turned on his tail in the middle of an abandoned lot somewhere three blocks away from the bar and in a poof shifted to his normal state. Big bad ugly and black the demon glared at him dangerously. Now we fight old friend. Winner takes the bitch. His cackle was insane and sent shivers down Roxanne's spine as his eyes locked on her. 

    Christian's eyes blinked red and in the time it takes to blink he stood towering over Zair. In the light Roxanne could see the gryphon-demon-dragon's features more clearly though the mass of him was still dark, as if it refused to reflect the light around him. He took a step forth, great black hawk feet crunching the charred remains of the building that stood before in this lot into ash. I was never your friend you sorry excuse for a cat. You give felines a bad name. And no, the winner walks out of here alive. His eyes narrowed and even in the midst of his hangover something remained strong and clear and it burned like fire in his raven eyes, it was the same consciousness among unconsciousness that he had retained last night.

   Fear flashed in Zair's eyes for a second then vanished and he lowered his neck to the ground, ready to battle for it all. Though he was smaller in stature and in power,  his speed was unmatched, even by Christian. The black cat demon was first to make his move, rushing forward and slashing at Christian right shoulder. He took the blow, only to grab the cat demon with his other front arm rearing back onto feline legs and snarling. Tossing Zair like a dirty tissue, Christian watched as the cat demon impacted with the building behind him, causing it to topple down upon him. A snarl came from within and the cat demon leapt out slashing wilding.

    Black blood along with red soon stained the concrete all around the two demons as the ministry, Zealtella and Roxanne looked on in horror along with a group of random people and furries. Roxanne covered her mouth with her hands cringing every time Christian took the blow she thought he'd go down on. But he staggered back, always constant on his rebound. This one refused to fall. "Behind!" Roxi shouted as the cat demon used magic to transport himself because his speed had no effect.  

    The dark angel dodged the attempted blow to his back and whip lashed his tail, bringing the bladed end down on Zair's right arm and severing it from his body. The cry form the cat demon shook the walls and windows of the surrounding buildings, almost loud enough to break the window glass. He looked weakly down upon the stream of red blood that flowed from the stump of what arm he had left, only black magic could fix that arm now and only Chaos had the skill to do it. Narrowing his eyes he turned back towards Christian as the dark angel faced him. 

    And it wasn't like Chris would walk away unscathed, areas of his feathered body were matted with blood just beginning to dry. A drop of black blood slid off his feline face and landed in the stream of red flowing from Zair. Front hawk like feet tight with tension Christian waited for the attacked he knew that Zair would launch. He'd go for his throat if nothing more. And when the cat demon did jumping and slashing desperately with one arm Christian brought those hawk feet together and smashed Zair down onto the ground with a loud crack. The gathered audience let out disgusted nosies as blood collected around their feet.

    Roxanne stood her heart beating a million miles and hour and almost fainted when Chris spoke into her head. If i leave him he'll live. But give me the word and I'll put him down. His words were harsh but hinted with some kind of compassion. Even if he was scum, he was still Roxanne's father, Chris would spare him for that and only that if she told him to.

    Eyes watery Roxanne clenched her teeth glaring hatefully back at the two green eyes now fixed on her from the broken cat demon. They were weak eyes, Roxanne saw, and now she saw in this state of anguish that he was weak. He would no doubt live, one armed or not, he was immortal and knew magic. Roxanne was strong, she had lived through his torture and all of his foul things. And she no longer feared him as she stared at him now, as he lay in the mercy of Christian looking to his enemies for saving. "You don't deserve it father." The words tasted bad in her mouth. "But i will not let you die because now you'll have to suffer like i did. Whether your pain be outward or in." And on that she nodded to Chirstian.

    The guardian blackbird nodded in response solemnly understanding her judgment. He left Zair face down in his own blood, lying helplessly on the cement and cautiously walked over to Roxanne, shifting himself back into his mortal form. It was then as he smiled grimly, that it was her turn to catch him in her arms as he fell. Though he showed it not, a battle against Zair one of his worst enemies took a lot out of him.

    "Help?" Roxi muttered straining not to fall over, he was a lot bigger than she was and a lot heavier. Raydel immediately rushed to her aid, being the good hearted man that he was, accompanied by the other wolven, Zaephess, who had remained quite during this whole ordeal. Together they lifted Chris, who was on the verge of loosing consciousness. "Redge call for Chaos.." Raydel muttered looking at the scratches across Christian's right shoulder and neck.  Redge sneered angrily fists in balls. Everyone knew Chaos and Redge were like cheese and ice cream, they just couldn't work together no matter what you did with them. "Redge! Just do it! This poor dude needs assistance! He'd rather have his bloody grandson fix him up them some other magician of the dark arts. Zair used something to drain his power. Demon's don't fall easy!"

    Redge grudging agreed, as he often did and in seconds flat Chaos arrived rushing over to his forefather and staring blankly at a horrified Roxanne as she stared weakly down at her shirt. It was stained with Christian's blood from when he had fallen onto her. She was stunned, she thought he had not been wounded as bad as it now looked. And to think he did this all, for her. On the verge of tears she fought them back telling herself not to cry and forced the words out. "Chris almost killed Zair but he got a few hits on The dark angel it seems."

    Chaos nodded and waved an arm out and Raydel and Zaephess backed off, seeing Christian go totally unconscious and begin to float in mid air, surrounded by a misty white fog. "And to the think, the poor guy did it all in his boxers." He chuckled to himself a bit still raising one arm and puling on an imaginary rope. Chris' unconscious body moved forward and his head lolled unnaturally on his body. "C'mon girl, we go back home and fix this dude up."  And with that, Roxanne, Chaos and a unconscious Christian vanished into oblivion. 

***

    Two days after Chaos fixed up Christian, he was back, and back again. Demons rebound incredibly quickly from injuries. Roxanne however didn't, the blood thing scared her badly, and she still felt bad for having Chris fight her battle. Somehow she'd make it up to him somehow. But first she needed to tell him something, something that'd been bugging her since day one. She planned on spilling her feelings. They were preparing the bar, cleaning it and whatnot, tonight would be a big night, Roxanne had hired extra help and pulled all strings to get enough people to cover the security issue. She even had Chaos helping out. Tonight Chatoe was doing her dance, and when she danced she filled the house. Rarely did she come to Cloud nine, but tonight Roxi had practically begged her, business had been down since Chris' arrival when the dark-thing attacked.

    Scrubbing a particularly stubborn spot on the marble countertop, Roxanne looked up, her white-blond hair tied back into a neat ponytail so it wouldn't fall into her face. "Hey Christian? Can we talk?" The dark angel, decked out in a tight red shirt the color of his eyes,  and a pair of all to sexy leather pants looked up from the table he was preparing. His normal satin shirt and black cargo-pants were at the washers, along with Roxi's white angel-heart shirt and her blue jean shorts. Both were covered in black blood, especially hard to get out. "No i mean privately.." Roxi muttered and Chris had to only glance at Roxanne's other friend, the brunette he had met the first night and she looked the other way, intently working on scrubbing the stage clean. 

    Christian looked back and forth, he was edgy almost. "I need to talk to you, too. Do you think this outfit looks good, with the jacket?" He asked, his tone honest and he gestured to the leather jacket sitting on top of one of the repaired tables. Roxanne nodded, thinking it looking more than good but said nothing. "Tonight. She's coming tonight i know it. I feel her presence even stronger, like she wants me to know she's more than just some random stranger." Roxanne didn't have to ask to know who he meant. "Roxi?" She looked up from her feet, feeling her heart beginning to ache. "I want to tell you something very important. You know why Zealtella sent me down her right? Because I'm a horrible guy and I'm a player and that's just what i do. All i want out of women is sex and only sex, there's no way i can be with a woman successfully." He sighed, his words her harsh and though Roxanne suddenly felt ill because she knew that if he only gave her a chance-"Roxanne, Mademoiselle, please don't hate me for it."

    If only he'd give her a chance! She loved him even though, but he couldn't see it. Of course h couldn't men were always blind to her feelings, always. "So what you're saying is don't try to stop you from laying whoever this chick is?" Chris nodded. "Why would i care?" She asked rather hotly beginning to feel offended. At least one side of her was, the other was crushed. 

    "Because I'm dead. No body can love a dead man." His eyes were searching and his tone harsh but he needed to make his point clear. He knew that she had fallen for him, he just knew it. But he couldn't hurt her like her hurt all the others, he had taken the time to get to know this one, and he had began to love her in return. He could break her heart, but at least it would heal, if and when Zealtella took him back, she'd be crushed even more. "Roxi you can't fall for me."  

    Jaw dropped Roxanne blushed bright red and then retreated to the safety of her upstairs bedroom, the one she had built so she didn't have to leave the bar. No that was embarrassing. Tears streaked her face as she slammed the door shut, so all the time he had known. All the time he just went along with it. Roxi forced her eyes shut as tight as they would go, pulling her legs up to her face and wrapping her arms around her knees. He could be the biggest bastard in the world and she would still love him, deep down she knew it. 

    Back downstairs, Christian looked weakly up, inside his heart brunt as badly as his scar had two days before, but he knew he had done the right thing. Or so he thought. Sighing deeply and catching the gaze of both Chaos and a stunned brunette, Chris shook his head and concentrated back on fixing the tables. He could only wait until tonight to find and convince whoever that she should fall madly in love with him and come back to his place. Zealtella awaited patiently at Chaos' house, babysitting Sheik and Destiny like she had for the past two days. That woman was patient i tell you, she put up with a lot. Shiek and Destiny weren't very nice to house guests...

    Blankly staring at the massive crowd, Christian stood behind the bar leaning on the top of it back jutted out behind him one leg locked for support. The leather jacket completed his ultra sexy look, or so Roxanne had said. She stood next to him as he helped her serve drinks to bar-goers, but her jaw was locked as tight as his leg. She hadn't said a word to him since his comment. Sighing and feeling awfully bad though he knew somewhere inside he had done good, Chris watched with his blood red eyes as a nice looking woman walked up to the bar, she wore a long sleek looking crimson dress, a shade or two lighter than Chris' shirt, and gold bracelets and ears danced about on her arms and legs. She pulled up a chair just to his right and glanced around. 

    Roxanne walked over to serve the woman as Chris glanced at it and the feeling he had had, the feeling that something godly was among them increased by the tenfold. He blinked, surely this woman couldn't be the one? Oh well he wouldn't doubt Faveen for having blondes as his angels. Shaking his head he waited patiently for Roxanne to pour her a drink and the stalk past him, shooting daggers with her eyes. Ouch. Still feeling like a jerk he walked a few steps past the red-dressed woman then stopped and did a double take, like he hadn't noticed before. "Why hello Madam..." He said, ultra-smooth voice near a purr. He smiled, fangs visible beneath his lips.

    She looked up blinking the grinned, turning a shade of red. "Me?" She looked behind her shyly to see if there was someone else. But when she looked back she saw Chris' expression hadn't changed. "Oh hello, um I'm Mira." She giggled when Chris took hold f her hand, planting a kiss on it. 

    He looked up his bloodly red eyes full of lust. Roxanne or not she was still pretty, though he felt bad about it, he was rather frisky. And he surely wouldn't get anything from Roxi after the move he made earlier. "I'm Christain but you can call me Chris." He all but whispered. 

    The woman called Mira laughed again, her eyes catching hold of Roxanne's fierce blue ones and she stopped dead pulling her hand out of Chris'. "Um...your not with anyone are you?" She asked as Roxi narrowed her eyes even more at the woman in red. What a total whore, she doesn't deserve Chris!  He is so totally mine! Watching Chris work his magic with greedy eyes Roxi absentmindedly grabbed a glass from beneath the bar and slammed it down on the hard marble countertop, watching in dull shock as glass flew everywhere. The man sitting in front of her grinned grimly and picked a piece out of his hair before offering to help her clean it up. She nodded, still watching jealously as the dark angel flirted shamelessly. 

    "Of course not.." Chris was saying, and he ignored the pain in his heart leaning closer to the red dressed woman called Mira. "And i get off my shift in about 10 minutes you want to go back to my place after that?" Blushing at the rather quick invitation. She had barely met the guy! But he seemed more genuine that the other freaks around here. Mira bobbed her head in agreement, practically drooling over herself as she watched Christian smile again. "Great, have fun with the show for now.." His blood red eyes floated to the stage behind the bar, and over the heads of the crowd as they began to sit down at their tables, Mira waited for the lights to flicker off and the main attraction to dance onto the stage. 

    Dressed in brilliant reds and oranges a half dragon woman raced onto to the stage, dancing about rather sexily with flames flying up all about her. Christian said nothing, though he smelled the work of demon some kind of fire one. Flames don't usually do things like that. He walked over to Roxanne and leaned against the back wall behind the bar as Roxanne dumped shattered glass into a trash can, shaking her hand and sucking on a small cut. She turned around to face Christian blue eyes narrowing. "She's the one Roxi....." Chris said a hint of sadness in his voice, as he knew this would probably be the last time he'd ever get to talk to her. 

    Roxi sighed looking at Chris with wavering eyes. "Well i wish you luck, and if i ever make it to Zealtella's place will ya please give her a good word for me?" She smiled weakly. "Thanks for everything you've done, protecting me from Zair and all and saving me from that dark thing. I guess I'm trying to say, thanks for being my guardian blackbird." Her smile grew a bit though the corners of her eyes were beginning to leak.

    "Your welcome Roxanne, I'm sorry it had to be this way. Of course I'll give Zeally a heads up on your account. And i won't let you die a painful death ok? That's the best i can do...." Christian said  knowing nothing more to do, he knew he had feeling for this girl but he couldn't hurt her any further. Glancing at Mira he watched as she turned around, and with the light of the fire behind her  illuminating her blonde hair he all but gasped feeling another surge of power that about knocked him off his feet. When it faded he looked down to see that Roxanne had slipped her arms around his neck and was crying uncontrollably into the folds of his crimson shirt. He patted her back weakly trying not to create a scene. Good thing Mira had only glanced back at him for a second or she'd doubt Christian's morals even more than he doubted them. 

    Regaining control of herself, Roxanne pulled and away and walked calmly towards the bar clutching tightly to the silver metal ring that ran around it. Bottles of vodka and tequila sat there, glistening in the radiant light of the fading fire. The skin around Roxanne's knuckles began to turn white as she clenched the metal bar fighting an inward battle to keep herself calm. She stretched her wings out slowly so that she couldn't see the gorgeous creature Christian had chosen over her. Maybe he was right, it was never meant to be. If the gods had intended it, then Roxi would have been born hundreds of years earlier, or vise versa.  

    Glancing up in time to see Chatoe leap and fall to the ground with a triumphant clash of the gong, as the tape of her music ended, the crowd erupted into applause but Roxanne's eyes lingered. She looked up in time to watch Christian slide his arms down the fallen angel of Faveen's. His eyes remained constant staring at her with almost unnerving certainty. He slipped his hand into hers, and Roxanne's eyes narrowed the the woman as she giggled with delight following after the dark angel as he dragged her away. 

    Feeling herself choking back tears Roxi rushed after the only man (or whatever) who dared to ever see her as more than just some bartenderess or a potential date. He saw her as someone, as something other than some cheap white demon. Dashing madly after him, caw like white feet never missing a beat silently pushing her towards the door she came to a dead halt. Hair flying out behind her wings failed to catch her balance she watched as the man she loved kissed another with enough passion to light a fire. Blue eyes caught crimson as they opened for a brief second before both Mira and he dark angel vanished into dead air. He wasn't gone, he couldn't truly be gone. There's no way! "Why does shit like this always happen to me!?!? Why in the name of the gods do them men i love always leave me?" Normally gods would hear these pleas and try there best to respond to them best ways they could from their kingdom. But there was one god out there on this night that heard the white demon's plea, and responded. 

    Christian pressed a half-naked Mira down onto the crimson red satin sheets of Chaos' guest bedroom, his hormones taking over and he lost control of all other senses. Zealtella awaited patiently in one of the other rooms, she had sent Sheik and Destiny to Cloud Nine to meet with their parents. They'd see worse if they stayed. Sighing as she tried to block out all of the noises coming from the bedroom down the hall Zealtella concentrated very hard on listening to other things and it just so happened she heard one very important one. 

    Gods and Goddesses you see, can hear the pleas of their followers who use their names in the comment. Like "Praises be to the gods!" or "Damn the gods for this!". The first obviously being better than the second. Interesting an anything other than Christian's affairs in the other room Zeal cast open a window and watched as the night sky darkened right on time. Good, Turmoil had done a fair job in replacing her for a few days as he had been instructed to do so. And on this night, she heard the call of the white demon and immediately recognized her. Clicking her tongue she stood up looking out the window and using her all seeing vision to find the hawk-cat demon. Shame on Chris for breaking that poor girl's heart. 

    Zealtella watched Roxanne, curled over in front of the bar tears running down her eyes as she stared blankly at the dimming sky. Her brown haired friend walked out seeing the white demon in state of such pain and handed her something warm to drink. Only a few hardcore guests partied on, but it was a slim number. Curling her arms tighter around her small frame Roxi wiped angrily at the salty tears running down her face. "Why?" She asked the air again. "In the name of Zealtella...why have you stolen your angel away from me? couldn't you have left him here for a bit longer? I know he's yours and you'd be missing him but why must you have fated him to meet me?"

     I do not influence Christian's actions, since he was sent down from my kingdom to earth their is no control over his actions. Their is no control over your actions, we gods and goddesses simply have given you mortals concuises, minions of our advise you can call upon whenever in time of doubt. We do not make fate, you do. Zealtella spoke her words thoughtful trying to push the girl into the right of direction. Her godly mind at work, a plan formed in Zealtella's mind. She knew the thoughts of her angels very well. Christian burst through the door of her room, holding a bedsheet around his waist and panting. 

    "Zeal now! Do it now! Send her back, she's gorgeous and everything but she's brutal! Make her go away! That's four times already and she wants a fifth! This is a complete stranger! I may be a pervert but I'm not that sick!" his voice barely above a whisper was filled with panic. 

    Zealtella smirked. "Nope, i don't think so. I sent you down here because you were horny. Now just go and do your thing enough to last you for all eternity." She laughed turning around and looking again for Roxanne but finding her gone. The mug of coffee her friend had brought sat on the concrete, wisps of steam floating towards the sky. "Go!" Zealtella demanded and Christian grudgingly agreed, his thoughts only on Roxanne, as they had been since the time he walked out of the bar.  

    Finding Mira with her hands over her eyes giggling excitedly as she lay underneath the satin covers, as Chris had left her. "C'mon big boy! what's the surprise!?!?" She giggled more as Christian slipped back under the sheets, his face all but serious. He pulled her hands off her seeking eyes and forced a fake smile. He kissed her again, and immediately his thoughts floated away, to some other warp-Rayllom were he could be with whoever he wanted whenever he wanted to and he didn't have to hide his feelings for the sake of the other person's safety.

    "Christian!" He recognized the voice and for a brief instant he thought his wonderings of the mind had come true until the girl he was really with pulled away from him. He blinked, brought out of his passionate kiss to find that he was back in Zeal's kingdom, or so he thought. Framed in the light of the doorway an angel stood wings unfurled piercing blue eyes staring at him unblinkingly. Her body shook violently, as Christian's usually did after he flew for a long while.

   The realization hit him straight in the face when he heard Mira besides him cry out in shock as Roxanne rushed forward leaping onto Christian with feline grace and throwing her arms around his neck. Her lips found his in the confusion and she kissed him enthusiastically. It seemed she had waited forever for him and now finally she could tell him. The kiss lasted a whole two minutes before Christian pulled back, needing to breathe. He was panting almost as hard as Roxanne who had flown a whole twenty miles to get to him. "Who is she?!" Mira's voice was rather skittish and cruel as she sat, wearing only her birthday suit and pulling her covers up around her as if Roxanne would bite her at any given second. 

    "Sorry." Christian said to the golden haired woman, looking up as Zealtella entered the room , blushing to a shade of pink and quickly looking away from a very naked Chris as Mira pulled the sheets off the bed retreating farther away from the pair of demons. Roxanne still exhausted glanced over her shoulder at Zealtella. All she could do to thank to woman was smile and so she did.  

    "What is this?!? Are you all insane!?" Mira shrieked baking away from Lady darkness and the black mist that floated around her heels. 

    "Silence." Zealtella mumbled and raised one hand and Mira fell to the floor unconscious. "I will take her back tonight. Christian you may stay until i have decided further. I need to have a good long talk with Faveen." She sighed. "Please be wise Chris. Do not get yourself hurt and keep this one safe as well." The dark angel nodded, watching the goddess he served take away the fallen of Faveen and exit the mansion of Chaos. So on her leave, Roxanne and Chris were left alone, again. 

    Blushing Roxanne realized the naked truth and walked over to where Mira had fallen, retrieving the blanket and handing it to Chris with one hand, using the other to cover her beet red face. But instead of taking the blanket, the gryphon-dragon-demon took hold of Roxanne's arm and drug her back onto the bed. And then Roxanne knew why Christian was of questionable morals. 

***

    The very next day, Christian was more relaxed by still en garde so to speak. Accompanied by his light, he sat patiently at one of the many cafes in the great mall of Solaria, sipping an espresso. The caffeine wasn't doing him good, but he drank it regardless, the weather was beginning to warm up thanks to the coming of spring and he wouldn't have a taste for these much longer. Warm weather and coffee didn't mix for him. Soon this cafe would be adding their annual iced-coffees to the menu. "Chris, you ok?" The demon looked up from over his coffee across the table to a interestingly dressed Roxanne. She had gone on a shopping spree earlier, with the extra cash she had earned in tips last night. Wearing a long sleeve button up silky shirt, similar to Chris' black one, she kept the top two buttons open, so that the silvery heart necklace she always wore could be visible. Her skirt was plaid and reminded Chris of a school girl's, but it was rather short and the black leather belt that ran around the waist proved it to be less innocent. Chunky black leather boots that ran up to her knees completed the outfit that complemented her honey colored skin so nicely. Chris had been pleased to find out she was that color all over last night, it wasn't just a tan. 

    "Do you know those people?" He asked moving his eyes in the direction of a man and woman, both wearing odd looking leather pants and gloves, with matching boots. Roxanne shook her head. "They keep looking over here.."

    "Dragoners or Gryphoners, no need to freak out. Quiet common around here. Chris what are you-" To late Christian was stalking over to the pair, eyes raging. Followers of Garth still around? How dare they even come here! He'd teach them for believing that greasy scuzz ball's words. For back in Chris' day, when the Sanrixes were controlled by Garth and all dragons that hatched were evil and blood thirsty beasts, dragoneers were bad people. 

    From out of nowhere Christian came, gritting his teeth and shoving the female of the two up against the wall in which they stood in front of with a loud smack. The male, startled protested with a shout, but Chris slammed his in the face with one wing. "How dare you show your face here..." He snarled clenching his fingers tighter around the woman's throat she she tried to free herself, clawing at his hands. "Dragoneers and their beasts are not welcome here!" A roar from not far away caused  Chris to turn and see a golden beast accompanied by a smaller blue waiting for their masters in the middle of the plaza. The gold was in a fit of rage, gaining on the dark angel every second waiting for him to dare hurt her bond any more. If he even tried she'd pummel him to dust. 

    Thankful for the distraction, the young weyr woman of Ryslen, Jeyann kicked Christian were it counted and felt herself drop at least a foot to the ground. Grabbing at her throat and gasping for air she glared at Chris as he lay on the ground crumpled in pain. "Y-You tired to kill me!" Jeyann accused staring from G*non, head knight of CK and rider of the blue, back to the dark angel. "Why?"

    Running up onto the scene Roxi knelt down to Christian, then fell backwards laughing when she realized what had happened. "I'm sorry! He tends to freak out a bit. He's not from around here, last he heard all dragoneers were vengeful psychopaths. So sorry."  She laughed more at Chris' glum expression.

    Sitting up he glared at Jeyann with hatred, but it was the male who spoke. "Well not all of us are like that. I do admit there are quite a few...unbalanced ones but me and Jeyann aren't. We came to see Sargon, his mum found us a pair of candidates" 

    "So?" Chris spat all but growling, his ego bruised... and possibly bleeding, Jeyann's boots could have been steel plated for all he knew! He knew who Zealtella spoke of, and he would not agree to it willingly. "Give me one good reason why Roxanne and i should go with you." 

    "You don't have a choice, you have been searched. If you stand a dragon up....it could never hatch. Or worse it could hatch and find that the one it has waited for all it's life walked out on them." Jeyann said with all solemnity.

    Looking back and forth from Roxi's pleading blue eyes to the eyes of two very angry beasts Christian sighed. "Fine. Where to?" Was it possible that he had made the worst decision of his life? Or could it be the best?

   "You go with me to Ryslen Weyr, I'm weyr woman there. Roxanne goes with G*non to CY Dragonstake, he's the head knight."  And then she added with a sigh. "Mom told me of how much trouble Chaos was....i bet you're going to be even worse." So in watching Roxanne leave with G*non Chris reluctantly waddled after Jeyann, glaring up at her giant gold.  "Mez...be nice." Jeyann warned her gold as she growled warningly at the dark angel. 

    I don't like him... And then she added silently to her rider:....He's Demon no doubt.  Morals questionable. 

***

    It had only been a short while since Roxanne had come to stay at Cy Dragonstake and she was beginning to grow nervous. Why did she leave? Why did she even consider it? Why did the wind seem to howl at night, and why did she feel so alone in the candidate's chambers? Sure there where others around, even the slightest danger could be taken care of by one swing of G*non mighty sword. But she wasn't afraid of the things that go bump in the night. She was afraid, of begin left again, on her own out to face the cold world. 

    Rolling over in the normally warm and friendly beds that the dragonstake had so kindly let her use, she clutched the blankets closer to her, though it was quite warm out. Closing her eyes tightly she forced herself to think of other things than her love. Other things, sighing to herself Roxanne tried not to think of impressing upon a dragon. She had seen the gorgeous creatures that had hatched from Cy, and she knew deep sindie that none of those would want someone like her.  

    She sat in her bed glancing out the open window at the cold and luminous moon. She wanted so badly to be staring at one of Rayllom's three moons instead of this planet's solitary one. She felt so alone, so cold and confused and alone. It had seemed so customary to her to crawl into bed with that black haired angel of a man on nights before. On those nights his morals where clean, wrapping an arm around her in protection. Smiling grimly she remembered the first night, when he had subconsciously pulled her into his arms, the night he had saved her from the darkness.

    Shoving her face back into the pillow, Roxi tried t get some sleep, her thoughts drifting back to her love and the many times he had saved her from sure death. But one seemed to stick out to her, in her sleep-like state as her brain crossed the boundaries into the realms of the gods, lingering like sleepers do, he had always been there to save her form the darkness. But what about the light?   

    Roxanne awakened with a start and almost flew to the window. Baby dragons!? They weren't there before! Grabbing at the only outfit she had brought, she threw it on and leapt out the window, using those white angelic wings for once. Before she had met the dark angel, she saw no point in using her gift from the gods, she found them a burden. Only recently had see seen their real powers. Only recently had she been awoken.

    She ran down to the sands and stood breathless gasping at the line of candidates, one seemed mainly of male and the other of female. She snuck in on the end, hoping no one would notice. Not likely, though she was small her wings were rather large. Taking a deep breath and calming herself she leaned to the girl next to her and was relieved to find out that only two eggs had hatched out of an expected 15. Breathing one last time she let her mind go blank and watched as another bond was made. Both dragon and rider seemed so instantly filled with love for each other, and almost immediately Roxanne's thoughts drifted again to her beloved.  

    Near the end of the hatching Roxanne was filled with so much regret it hurt her. She felt sick inside, why was she here? Why? Why hadn't she just stayed with the one person in this entire damn universe that could make her happy?!? Why was she such a fool! If not this dragon then I'm leaving. She thought to herself, watching as a creamy white shell broke and a red tipped nose slide through the cracks. Turquoise eyes peered about at the crowd as a crystal white body followed the red marked head. Feet and wings where tipped red, like the nose and tail of this little beauty. Red, but not to the degree of Chris' eyes, Roxi thought silently to herself. A single bud was apparent on the dragonet's forehead and would soon be  a full fledged horn. Spreading her pink colored wing sails the hatchling looked about. 

    Sighing and turning to go, Roxi mentally wished the little hatchling luck with her new bond and began to walk away. ...you don't like me Roxanne? A small yet rich feminine voice called into the lighter angel's head. Stopping dead in her tracks Roxanne turned, white blonde hair flicking around her almost like a halo. I'm sorry i took so long to get out of that egg but it was...hard... Heart skipping a beat Roxanne realized that it was the hatchling calling to her, and that the small dragonet was about to plummet face first into the sands! 

    Racing quickly Roxanne catch the baby dragoness just as she was about to fall. "It's ok Wrasionth, it's ok." Roxi said closing her eyes, tears stinging the corners of them. Without realizing it, the gorgeous little dragon's name had come to her without the dragon telling it. And on the instance that Roxi knew, she just knew that that dragon was calling to her something empty inside of her flickered to life as the dragonet's mind touched hers creating a bond so strong that not even death could break it.  

    Hugging the baby dragon tightly Roxanne the white  cat-hawk-demon rose to her feet and began to walk to the feeding area.  Clutching Wrasionth tightly she knew she had just receive her little slice of heaven. Later when Wrasion was strong enough to walk on her own, the poor thing was obviously too weak to break through a thin shell, she'd talk to G*non. Then they could go to Ryslen and be with Christian and his dragon. Roxi had no doubts it would be a giant evil beast if she was given a small delicate siamese marked white. Might one's draogn reflect their inner soul? Delicate and kind Wrasionth surely was, like Roxanne on the inside. Did this mean Christian's beast would be a  cold-hearted killer with a fiery passion for women?

    Shaking her head Roxi smile dot herself. She didn't know nor did she care, for some kind of vision danced in her head at the moment, a vision of a better life for her that for once seemed in her reach. In it: Christian held her tightly in his arms, smiling down at her as a blurry black beast behind him sat next to Wrasionth, her gorgeous little Siamese. The wind blew across her face but she smiled happy to be back in her love's arms and a tiny red tipped dragon nuzzled her leg. for an instance Roxanne realized that perhaps she had finally found her Cloud 9. Perhaps if something hadn't been terribly wrong with that vision. Little did she know it to be a premonition, for as the moment passed and she was busy with her little red-white pink. 

    But i didn't miss it; in the background faded yet still visible was the dark and metallic castle of Zealtella. And if one where to look closer, the chains of Zancardion, the beast who guards the entrance to Zealtella's grand castle where al to present on the feet and legs of Chris's black beast.  There was only one thing certain about it; Chris would bond something, something fierce... 

***

    All was a blur as the dark angel rose form his bed and walked down to mud red sands of Ryslen as someone yelled into his room. He believed it to be Jeyann, for her heard the Weyrwoman's familiar voice calling to other various candidates as she ran down that wing of the building. He cared not. This where running through his mind lately, things of greater importance than dragons and gryphons and fairy tales. For that is what it all seemed to the dark angel, a fairy tale; one that would never come true. 

    Roxanne was the second thing he thought of as he pulled on his pants, walking slowly out the doorways as everyone dashed past him. A few gave him odd looks as they cantered past, eager for their own dragons. Christian stared at them blankly, ominous red eyes deflecting their questioning stares. He could block out all emotion, all of his trade could. All of his kind could. He would do it today. 

    Chris told himself not to be crushed as he stood against a pillar, out of the sunlight of the fresh morning staring soberly out onto the pale white eggs. A blue and green had just made their choice; a pair of equally skippy humans. Chris made a low noise in his throat. If a dragon like that even neared him he'd just walk away. He he was to be here and to bond, his dragon must be something like him.  

    More dragons hatched, these of more brilliant colors, a brown-blue, a Siamese-brown and a white with gold wings. All gorgeous but nothing to Christian's tastes. He closed his eyes, shifting one big black wing and glaring angrily at another candidate who stood to close. Eyes wide she took a step back; that's when Chris noticed the rose bush she held. He sensed a presence form it, like the one he sensed from Zealtella when he walked to close to her. But this one was faded, shriveled broken. This odd was barely there. It acknowledged Christian and he acknowledged the god. 

    He must have drifted off into space for when his red eyes focused again a jet black haired man with a white robe and large hawk like wings was staring out onto the sands at the small white gold winged beauty. To Christian he looked like a white version of himself somewhat, except for the fact his four wings glittered-white purple. And as he bonded to the small dragon and regained himself the best way he could, Chris' thoughts fled back to Roxi.

    My only true opposite, he thought and pictures of her face floated into his mind. But he could not focus them, or make them clearer, lately all was seeming to be a blur. What was that Zealtella had said? Ever since then time had just seemed to be irrelevant to Christian. Everything and nothing seemed to m after at the same time. He had experienced this feeling once before, he realized in those few minutes while he stood there thinking. He had known that feeling along with a strong feeling of hatred when he was dying. 

    Chris' head rolled on his shoulders as the world blurred for the second time in his life. If it hadn't been for the pillar behind him he would have collapsed upon himself. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he fought to keep himself up. No one noticed; no one would. He kept everything inside, his face straight. He looked simply dazed to the rest of the world. He was fading fast. 

    He noticed not as the black shadow crept from it's shell, making it's way slowly over to the only candidate that would ever be worthy of such a beast. Tears stood in the eyes of the elder weyrwoman, as she realized what was happening. Never had a black hatched at Ryslen, never had a black. Tiyanni smiled warmly, surely it was no mere coincidence that this candidate hailed from Rayllom, and happened to be so intimately involved with Zealtella. Surely Sargon had more than a paw entwined in this. 

    The jet black dragonet moved forward his head topped with two small horn nubs along with the classic Ryslen crest, stained black though it seemed. His beauty would be unmatched at Ryslen, until he grew large enough to breed. Making his way to his chosen it was no surprised when he came to sit in front of the angel of hell. Staring up at the man who could have been used as a synonym to describe himself. Everything was black, except for the eyes. 

    Reaching a paw out to his chosen the dragon tugged on his pants leg. It looked to everyone surrounding him that Chris was simply lost in a daze and the dragon was trying to gain his attention. But like all good assassins, the black dragon already knew to hide his emotions completely. Hide his real assignment so that the strike would be unforeseen. The dragon knew of Christian's state of peril, and dug his claws deeper into the angel's black pants until they caught on flesh. Chris's head snapped forward and he found himself staring at the gorgeous black beauty lost in a surreal state of being.

    Anubyss has come for me again, and he was brought along Hellion. Was Christian's thoughts as he stared down at what he thought to be the grim reaper's assistant. But the dragon was determined to free Christian from his inevitable doom. So, just because you are all zoned out I have to wait here until I'm forced to eat my own tail? His words came like the saving cup, forcing their way into Christian's mind. He heard the words, in his head, like the way gods or demons talk when they are in their ture forms. Or like the way dragons talk to riders. 

    He may have been on the last verge of his life, but he was not about to loose his brains. Dragons. He responded, his mental speech as rich and black as the creature who stood in front of him. The black understood immediately and forced his mind fully into Christian, creating a bond strong enough that even death in it's wake could not break it. Never had a Rayllomain found a match so perfect for himself. The dark angel had bonded a darker angel. 

    "No, of course not Tahroath." Chris said, his voice returning to him like air to one re-emerging to the surface, after a deep swim at sea. With those words, Christian knew he had been reborn. This time for sure, for now two things bound him to this world. Love was strong enough to break the chains of death, and love is made and kept within one's soul. He loved Roxanne, that freed his soul. But he had bonded a fully living breathing creature, that had just stepped out of it's shell for the first time that day. That kind of mental bond surpassed all others; Christian would never be alone again. His mind was bonded to Tahroath, that freed himself. 

    "Thank you." Chris said as he sat opposite the black dragonet watching his crimson eyes as the black shadow of a dragon devoured the meat placed in front of him. He knew out of all the people in the world that this dragon, having an eternal connection to his mind would know how hard it was for him to utter those words. Christian's heart was black as the dragon who sat in front of him. 

    It was all a part of the plan Christian. If i would not have been here to free your mind, then you would have not realized it. He said slurping down a big chunk of meat. 

    "Realized what?" Christian said raising one thin black eyebrow, though floated past Tahroath and to the lovely black haired lady sitting behind him. His mind kicked itself back into shape and he looked away reminding himself of Roxanne how how much he missed her. Already his heart ached.

    Tahroath smiled the way only dragons can smile and ate another chunk of meat. Didn't you find it funny Christian that you never felt that one last ping of death? His voice was strong and dark, black like the rest of him. Now that he mentioned it Christian did realize that he had never breathed for a last time, eh had just woken up, staring at Anubyss as he stared back at him. The jackal god had placed him in the Kingdom of Zealtella where he went to find Lady Darkness.

    "Zealtella spared my body. You freed my mind. Roxanne saved my soul..." Christian breathed his mind putting it all together. "I was never truly dead. I am ...alive..." His heart skipped a beat in his chest and Christian knew. But he doubted, cracking his knuckles he drew a line across his wrist watching the skin peel back and black blood ooze form within. Spirit Walkers, which would be what he would have been cannot bleed. They can eat and they can most defiantly not do the things that Christian had done. "Why? Why did you...they...save me?"

    Christian you are the dark angel. you are one of a kind. Though you were an assassin and your sins were piled high as they could be; you were betrayed by your one good quality. You and i were destined to meet, and Ryslen would not see dragons for 500 years or more the day you were to die. Zealtella simply fixed the problem. There could be not other for me...

    "Same here. I can see myself with no other dragon Roath. These rysleneseque dragons are so smooth and they are so graceful." Chris grinned. "Sexy almost. No better match for me, n'est-ce pas?" He asked, falling back into his casual French tongue.

    Oui Monsieur. The black responded a draconic grin flickering at the corners of his mouth. 

***

    "Roxanne!" Christian cried as the blonde haired white angel winged woman ran towards him a medium sized dragoness trailing her by only a few feet. There was a slight thump as she collided with him with such a force it almost threw him off his few. Almost but he clutched her tightly to him, thankful to once again have her in his arms. He had gone weeks without her, Tahroath had grown into a weyrling and had started his flight trainings. Now the French speaking player of a dragon sat back in the cool shade watching as the small pink and red Siamese dragon approached him. He was large, already for a fledging, and his attitude and arrogance had grown along with his body. His darkened body blended almost perfectly into the shade of the buildings, only his cool blue-purple eyes whirled yellow with curiously as the dragoness approached. 

    Chris' attention was drawn back to Roxi's beaming face as she looked over him. "You're not as pale anymore...did you get a suntan at Ryslen or something?" She asked looking at him with one thin eyebrow raised. Christian laughed, he had never seen so much damn sunlight in his life. He was about to go crazy sitting indoors, more over and Roath had forced him out into the light to watch him train. 

    "Je suis bronzer?" He snorted looking at his tanned arm in disgust. "I guess it runs in the family." He ran one arm though his thick black gelled hair and kept the other tucked around Roxi's waist, turning to see Tahroath slinking farther into the shadows. 

    Your broad's dragon is getting to close. Tell her if she doesn't move I'll snap her head off. White metallic teeth gleamed in the darkness of the shadows, giving the night black a cheshire look. That seemed to also run in Chris' bloodline apparently...insano cat-like smiles.  

    But the small pinky winged red-white remained, retreating a few steps when teeth greeted her sniffing. She bravely took another step forward, pressing the little patience the black dragon had. He took a step back and leapt over her head swatting her on the rump. EEE! She screamed mentally and took cover behind Roxanne. Roath continued his assault chasing the tiny Siamese all down the long street of Herth, where Cloud 9 just happened to be located. 

    Chris laughed and made no effort to stop his big black dragon, he wouldn't kill her, at least not yet. Roxanne however feared for the safety of her dragoness, Wrais was still just a weyrling! That black could've taken her head off is he chose. 

    "Christian, stop that beast before he kills your girlfriend's poor little pink and white thing." A familiar voice muttered and both the dark angel and his counterpart whirled to see Zealtella standing at the entrance to the bar. She held a mocha chiller in one hand and a very interesting abnormally shaped item in the other. A spear with a cross through the center, coated red with something that looked oddly like blood. 

    Tahroath, however, stopped on his own accord in spotting Lady Darkness. He sauntered up to her eyes whirling clouded purple as he stared into her yellowy ones. By any chance are you a rider? with a  dragon so equal to you in beauty and color?  Zealtella laughed at the weyrling's question and took a sip of coffee.

    Her laughed died short and something dark flickered in her eyes. "Be serious from now on. We need to talk. To not question anything i tell you and believe everything is ay. Chris it is good you have waited to tell her. For i will do the talking and you the listening." She was interrupted by the loud rumble of a dragon and 5 pairs of eyes looked up to see a giant bronze black shaded dragon coming to make a landing in the alleyway. He beat his wings three times, sending gusts of air down onto the assembled party as they looked up in awe at the Ryslenesque beast. A night bronze, a ferociously huge one at that. As he landed the clouds above broke open and rain began to fall, first in tiny drops and then in large drips, forming puddles on the concrete ground. "Right on time." Zealtella laughed as from the top of the beast slid a very angry Lord Chaos.

    "I assure you that this was not my idea Christian." He snarled, low voice booming like thunder as lighting flickered above. 

    Nor mine. The very thing of it is absurd! Using dark magicians for such goodness. I'd rather like to...The large black-bronze dragon, who was called Daimadenth began. But his eyes, whirling red-orange found Zealtella glaring at them with an anger larger than the dragon's attitude. 

    "Diamadenth, Tahroath stay. You could use a little bonding time, you'll be seeing a lot of each other form now on. Wraisonth, since you're small enough come with us." Zealtella yelled through the rain, then added as she and Chaos filled in last. "Faveen sends his cover. Keep on the down low, do not frighten the girl yet."  An eyebrow raised about electric blue eyes, even something like this almost twice experienced, should frighten even the likes of Christian. "You under estimate my dark angel, he gave up fear when he became my servant." And she walked leaving Chaos only to follow, careful to avoid the billows of her long black dress. 

    Taking a seat next to his grandfather he flung back the hood of his blood colored cape and sighed, allowing the goddess to speak first. "I'll get some drinks." Roxanne announced, raising from the table and beginning to walk to the bar. It was around noon time, no one would be here for anther good 10 hours, which also meant they needed a little bit a of light. 

    "I'd like a refill on this coffee like thing if you could?"

    "Vodka, jsut give me the whole f!@$ing bottle of vodka.."

    "Whatever you wish, mon cherie" And Chris turned his head away from his love and stared into Zealtella's cold emotionless eyes, she did a better job of hiding her emotions than he did. She stared at him as blankly as Chaos was staring at the clock on the wall. He raised one hand, acting as if it took great pain and pulled a second chair towards him putting up his red feet. "You know you can take those chains off.." Christian said half laughingly, the 2/3 had never bothered to take off the silven white chains the ministry and used to bind him.

    "Go ahead try to. I've done everything i can. They just don't budge. Ah thank you." Chaos said grabbing greedily as Roxi handed him one of the best bottles of vodka Cloud 9 stocked. "I've always liked you best." He grinned popping the top off and taking a large swig. Roxi laughed and handed Chris a margarita. She took Zealtella's glass and walked back over to the bar to fix up another drink. 

    More flapping of wings and a crooning sound as pink white-winged Jiguyth came to a landing, resting besides her large bronze black bond. Wrasionth raised a head to peer at the rider who walked in. Serangina lowered her hood as Chaos had and walked in, her face looked puzzled and worried at the same time. "More to come." She laughed at Roxi who busily had asked her what would be her poison. 

    She came and sat on her fiancée's lap, staring solemnly at the door. Chaos took another swig out of the large bottle of vodka. He sighed and looked to the door as Raydel cloaked in eternal hunter's green and the ever beautiful Zaephess walked inside. Zae took a seat besides Chaos and Seran and Raydel took one besides Christian, though Chaos knew he longed to sit besides the wolven. Oblivious to Raydel's long time affection for her Zae, shook her head as Roxi offered the two new guests drinks.  

    Last to come was Dereo, late always to make a statement. The Fein-Crakin strode inside with larger ego than even the dark angel. His eyes immediately found Roxanne and he strode up to the bar watching her lean down to reach a draft beer for Raydel. He opened his mouth and purred "Hey honey..." 

    His face suddenly met the hard black countertop as Christian about broke his nose. He snarled and whirled on him throwing punches and clawing but only hitting air. Fein-Crakin or not, even the fiercest of Rayllom's mortal creatures couldn't match the power of a demon, especially an assassin. Chris slapped him across the head and left the black haired horned man's head spinning temporarily until he cooled won and took a seat eyes still lingering to Roxanne.  

    Blood near boiling point Christian smashed the thick glass Roxanne had handed him and crushed the pieces in his hand. He released and watched as black blood oozed down form multiple cuts in his flesh. Clamed temporarily he waited until Roxi re-took her seat. 

    "It is time then." Chaos said and Zealtella nodded in accord. His static blue eyes found the two angels next to him. "It has come to our attention that a mistake has been made."

    "A grand mistake." Zealtella added silven-yellow eyes finding the pair as well. "One of you has died and you should have not been reborn. Your soul should have stayed where it was placed, it was not one chosen for reincarnation. Mistakes such as this happen every so often."

    ""Is this not settled?" Christian asked in a low and silent tone he rarely sued, drawing attention to his hand the blood dried on it, eternally black like his very soul. "We have determined this; Zealtella saved my body, Roxi my soul and Tahroath was there on time to free my mind." 

    "It's always about you isn't it?" Chaos chuckled, finding amusement where everyone else was silent. "You should know by now immortals never die.." His classic smirk took over his handsome face, vanity rearing it's ugly head once more. 

    The little color in Christian face gave way, and he was once again as pale as sin itself, his head turning slowly to face Roxanne who despite her honey like complexion was looking the same. 

(Background is Christian's demon form-made by Sargon along with the top image Roxanne and Christian's dragon were made by their respective Weyrwoman.)