Behind My Eyes {Raziel}

[Despair]

To a normal human, the figure croached upon the rooftop was clandestine; delineation indiscernible to all but the sharpest of gazes. The heavy shadows cast from the gargoyles lining the old, now-unusued church building obfuscated the figure, giving it a cadaverous sense of presence to those walking by.

Another pedestrian glanced up at the rooftop as his hair stood on end, then hurried onward. Within the shade, the lithe form shifted backwards, securing itself further into the obscured hideaway.

Two russet orbs beamed out from the darkness abruptly, a thrill of electric viridian passing through them as they locked upon their prey. The man walked quickly in a suspicious manner, his eyes shiftily glancing around. The form immersed in shadows leaned forward eagerly, a faint hiss escaping from its throat.

The man stepped into line with the creature hidden in the shadows; the only two living beings for ten or so minutes in any direction but south. This was the edge of the city; the dirtiest, low-classed, scrum-filled section. And that man stepped directly into the creature's sights, his arms crossed to hide the goods in his ratty old jacket pockets.

In a blur, the creature sprang from the alcove and flew through the air, covering the thirty or so feet between it and its prey in a fraction of a second. In one movement, a piercing screech like no other filled the air; the shriek of a dragon about to take it's prey to Death's door. Blade-like talons flashed. Blood splurted. Massive wings obscured the sunlight as darkness clouded the man's eyes. It was over.

Slowly, the reptillian creature's piercing, blood-thirsty viridian orbs faded back to a gentle fawn, wide-eyed and shocked. The blood that had coated it's scaley body now coated the fair skin of the beautiful brunette standing over the body in horror.

Fae gazed down upon the mutilated man below her, frozen. It had happened again. It had taken over. She had been too weak. And now another was dead for her pathetic lack of will.

The dragon coiled back around her heart, content with it's kill, but her soul screamed in agony. She was a murderer, intent disregarded. Another life, lost. Another man, dead.

She fell to her knees beside him, eyes glazing over as she stared at his torn form. Everything was a daze. It had been months since her last attack; why now? Why ever? Why her?

"Forgive me..." She whispered. It was unclear, even to her, who she asked forgiveness of; the man, or the gods, or both...or someone else entirely. Even so, her heart and soul cried out in unison for a savior. Someone, anyone, please...save me from this...

[{K}itsune]

Another thousand years had passed. In the golden kingdom of Heaven an angel had only to close his eyes for a fraction of a second, and hundreds of years would disappear in the Plane below. As Lord Raziel's eyes opened, a gold as bright as the sun but as light as a star fading in the distance broke through dullness of the mighty empire of the Gods. Posed halfway between flight and the ground, Raziel's booted foot lightly touched down without a sound. His silver hair fell lightly around his shoulders, waving lightly against his side in the still winds of Heaven.

His eyes turned downward and broke through the dimensions separating his world and the world of the humans below him. Previously his eyes had been sharp like the edge of a knife, but as he gazed down at the land of Ivalia below him, his stare became gentle, the stereotypical look of an angel. While the Gods around him brought his anger as close to the surface as possible, the world below still pulled at his heartstrings. He wanted to help the poor beings below, it was what he had been made for afterall, by the Great Power, but the Gods of this knew age knew nothing about them and were slacking in their duties. Angels were not the only ones meant to look after the lesser beings below.

From the darkness of the world he was gazing at, he suddenly saw crimson flash from seemingly nowhere. The demonic blood was obvious in those eyes, and the evil intent even more apparent. Instantly the look of gentle, compassion slipped from his face and a cold, cruel mask slipped into place. His teeth, which usually were as straight and white as possible, were now marred by two enlarged canine teeth. They weren't precisely necessary, but it added to the contrast of what he was meant to be, and what he was willing to become to bring Heaven to the beings below.

A sudden, haunting Song burst from his lips as he dove through the golden clouds he was standing on, ripping through the dimensions like a rock tearing through paper. Never once did his eyes leave the figure as he plummeted through the Planes, and he saw as the scales slid back from the figure's body, giving way to a beautiful female with elven beauty. She stared at her bloody hands in horror, and he could practically see the way she shied away from what she had done. His discent slowed. This female did not mean to be a murder - this was the only time he sometimes questioned his mission. She had caused the death of another, therefore she must pay, and she was obviously a danger, but the agonized saddness that was suddenly radiating off her being Called to him.

The sudden intensity of her inner cry struck him, and he suck in a breath, his fangs disappearing, and his eyes losing a little bit of their coldness. "Forgive me..." she had whispered, yet he could hear what was in her heart just as clearly as the words that came from her lips. "Someone, anyone, please...save me from this..."

As if in response to her plea, the sky above her head suddenly burst open revealing for just a second the golden glory that was the Deities' home and then from the center of the radiant glow a silver being was spit out the center. Beauty and grace were wrapped around his form as surely as a noose around the neck of a criminal. A moment later, Raziel, a sight in pure silver, with golden sparks jumping from his perfect skin hovered before the murderess, his giant wings holding him in the air even without flapping. Raziel's silver hair twirled around his sides in the gentle wind. He looked amazing, like a hero out of a story-book. His beauty was uncomprehensible.

His gentle golden eyes held an ancient wisedom to them that seemed to say that all would be forgiven, that he had seen much worse. However they were slightly guarded. "Femme, you ask for forgiveness. Yet you are a danger to the beings here. What are you willing to do to return to the graces of the Gods?" he asked, his voice carrying a tune even when he wasn't Singing. The power was obvious in his voice, as was the gentleness, but he also sounded all business, as if he were preparing himself to be the Sword of the Gods, and would do whatever was necessary.

[Despair]

She whirled around as a crashing noise sounded, as though the skies themselves were being torn apart by the hands of the gods. An impending danger drew the reptillian fangs to her lips, but only until she saw the etherreal form lowering itself from the heavens above.

I've gone mad.

But oh, if this was insanity, she was willing to suffer. He was immaculate, breath-taking, wonderful. She wanted to reach out and never let go, sure that his Divinity would cast away the monster within her forever. But there was a coldness in his eyes, and she shrunk away, the blood of the man before her dripping from her fingertips.

"Femme, you ask for forgiveness. Yet you are a danger to the beings here. What are you willing to do to return to the graces of the Gods?"

Oh, that voice....

But as she gazed up at him, his silver hair falling into those nihilistic eyes, Divinity radiating from him as surely as light from the sun, she felt her knees give way and land in the dirt before him, kneeling. Tears rushed to her eyes. He would end her, she was certain...though it would be naught but help to the world.

"I...I..." she whispered, struggling to find her voice. One eye flickered viridian, and with a soft whimper she doubled over, forcing the demon back down. No no no...not again...help, please, someone, help...

"I can't...please, kill me, if that's the only way. I don't...I don't want to...t-to..." The tears were coming too quickly now, and she closed her beautiful mocha orbs in humiliation, struggling to remain in one piece before this magnificent, dangerous creature. "I can't stop it...this...this demon. It...it controls me, and I..."

It was too much. She couldn't explain. She was merciless, naked before his piercing gaze, warm and yet so cold....

Slowly, she raised her gaze to his, breath hitching, and looked at him with her tortured soul in her cinammon-auburn eyes.

"End this, please. I can't bear to awaken to another death on my conscience..."

[{K}itsune]

Almost instantly the female saw something in him that caused her to cringe away in horror. If he were any other Angel she would have never seen something to fear in him, and if here were any other Angel he would have also instantly manipulated the coldness away from his face. However, in this case this woman before him was a danger to the beautiful humans of this world. They may be cruel, and they may be usually not as beautiful as the Angels, but they were also weak. They needed to be protected, and this girl was a threat to that unbalanced peace.

The blood on her hands was like a homing becon. She was caught red-handed, literally. As if she knew it, and the thought brought her pain, she fell to her knees in front of him, prostrating herself before his Divinity. His eyes became emotionless, but inwarldy he worried. This wasn't an act. She really was split, the demon in her having the ability to take over her better self and destroy even though she didn't want it. Then again, that was why she was a threat. Delicate, liquid tears dripped from her eyes into the parched earth, and his heart lurched painfully in his chest. This was one problem about his new ways. His nature was to help all in trouble, and this woman was hurting, he wanted to help her.

"I...I..." she stuttered, before doubling over in agony as she attempted to hold off the return of the demon within her. Perhaps it was his presence, the darker being must want to strike out at him. "I can't...please, kill me, if that's the only way. I don't...I don't want to...t-to... I can't stop it...this...this demon. It...it controls me, and I..."

His eyes hardened instantly. Must she make this so much harder. Her eyes lifted to him, allowing him access to his soul, and instantly he seemed to fill her gaze, forcing his way into her being. Although he was entering her mind, it was with the softness of a feather brushing over her mind, healing and soothing at the same time. Cruising quickly through her consciousness he snarled at the beast, but ignored it other than that. The pureness of her soul surprised him despite the horrors she'd commited and seen because of the demon inside her. Pulling back, his eyes softened ever so slightly.

"End this, please. I can't bear to awaken to another death on my conscience." she whispered.

Golden eyes seemed to suddenly radiate intensely as he gazed down at the girl, his fury melting away to his better nature. "You. Your soul is clean. Your wish is to be free of the influence of the monster inside you. Without it, you could live." he said, his voice curious, yet distant.

His eyes met hers again, and his body floated cloated towards her until his feet gently touched down on the ground in front of her. The blood on the ground evaporated, as if it couldn't bare to be close to his purity. "Stand, femme." he murmured, his voice taking on the tone of judgment. "Take my hand. Let me see if it is enough to hold back the demon. Tell me whatever you experience." he added, his eyes looking half-hooded and beautiful as he gazed at the woman before him.

His hand stretched out to her, giving off a faint white light in the night. If his presence repelled the demon, he would stay with her for a while, to try to expell the demon. He wanted this girl to live, and as long as the demon was gone... he could let her.

[Despair]

She flinched, nonplussed, as his mood shifted from angered to calm, then back and forth with an abandon she didn't comprehend. He was terrifying. Fai felt her body begin to quiver uncontrollably as she stared up at him, seeing the rage in his eyes be replaced by gentleness once more.

Something brushed her consciousness, and she jolted slightly, a hiss rising in her throat as her russet orbs flashed a dangerous shade of viridian. Almost immediately, though, it retreated as though sensing a power it could not win against. She gasped.

"You. Your soul is clean. Your wish is to be free of the influence of the monster inside you. Without it, you could live."

She could live? As in with it, he would be forced to kill her? Her mouth went dry, and all thoughts escaped her mind, leaving her vacuous.

"But...how?" she whispered, hardly daring to hope. He didn't reply, only watching her with a piercing sienna gaze. Slowly, he raised a hand, the golden sparks leaping off of his skin like electricity.

"Stand, femme." He ordered, and his voice had a resonance she had never heard before. Immediately, she lurched to obey.

"Take my hand. Let me see if it is enough to hold back the demon. Tell me whatever you experience."

She stared at him. He wished her, a lowly human, to take his hand? For a long moment, she could do nothing but look at him incredulously, lips parted in a silent gasp. Then, finally, her slender hand rose from her side and touched his.

Immediately, the beast within her reared and jolted in agony. Her frame shook as she cried out softly, breathless. Her fingers tightened around his as her legs gave out, light pouring through their connection. It felt so good, a healing, light, warmth...but then it burned, oh it burned, deep within her, where the creature dwelled...

A screech was ellicited from her mouth as her body writhed, the demon taking her body as her eyes burned viridian.

[glow=54EC40,2,300]"Let go, da.mn you, begone! She's mine, you can't have her, beda.mned angel!"[/glow]

it roared. But the light soared on through, and slowly her voice faded to her own melodious pitch as she collapsed against him. Her breathing was ragged and her hands clutched at him to prevent her from colliding with the hard ground. Her heart pounded a thousand miles a minute, it seemed, in her chest. But it didn't hurt anymore.

"I...I'm sorry." she whispered when she finally opened her eyes, now back to their familiar auburn, and saw her position pressed against him. His scent was, no pun intended, heavenly. Everything about him was alluring....

[{K}itsune]

While the air around them had long since stilled, his hair and garments continued to undulate as if his body was still affected by the elements in another Plane instead of the one he was currently residing. His Heavenly presence warned off the darkness that seemed to clutch at the earth and brought his body into clear, illuminated definition, casting hers as well into partial light. She was nothing if not beautiful, but that only made her more dangerous. Should she ever team up with the monsterous creature inside her, her looks would only add to the lure she could cast over her victims. They wouldn't last a second. Still, he had to believe that she wished to remain as good as humanly possible, as his true nature dictated.

The light that burned brightly in her eyes at his mention of possible survival told him that she truly wished to banish the demon within her, words were not necessary. Seconds had passed, and his hand was still outstretched invitingly before her, awaiting her hand in his own larger one. The woman, who had staggered to her feet by this time, was staring at him incredulously, her mouth open like a fish out of water, wondering if she'd heard him right. He'd have thought the hand stretched out before her would have made his meaning clear enough, but he had to be patient. This must surely be a confusing situation.

Slowly, her hand rose and was placed ever so lightly on top of his silken skin. Instantly her body convulsed as the spirit within her reared in fury and disgust. Her human hand clenched down tightly upon his own and she sagged forward, her body collapsing against him as her legs fell out from underneath her. Raziel's free arm shot out, wrapping around her waist to keep her from slipping to the hard earth. A blinding light was projecting from their intertwined fingers, and he stared at it curiously. If anything he'd have expected the light to flow through her body, lighting her from the inside. He never would have expected the light to erupt from their hands like that. Even in his millenia or more of existence he'd never seen such a thing, and that being said, he had no definite clue as to what it could mean.

While her body continued to shudder against him he could differentiate two meanings behind her convulsing: one of pleasure, one of pain, her two different sides making themselves known. His golden eyes dropped to her face as her eyes opened, crimson having taken the place of the doe-like brown that had been there just moments before. Ah, the demon must be suffering, if she was showing herself to an Angel, a Greater Angel, no less.

"Let go, da.mn you, begone! She's mine, you can't have her, beda.mned angel!" she screeched. Her voice had taken on a rough, almost husky quality but still remained beautiful despite the demonic flaw. As a near ear-splitting wail continued to pour from her lips he listened to it as it slowly rose in pitch until cracking with the return of the human's voice. The second the demon had lost her control, the girl's body became slack, losing all strength. His arms tightened around her, as he quickly adjusted to the change in weight. Her chest rose and fell quickly against his with her uneaven breathing, and he listened to the frantic racing of her heart.

"I...I'm sorry."

With the ease and grace that only an Angel could ever master, he swung her up into his arms, allowing her a moment's rest as he looked off to the side thoughtfully. "It is no fault of your own," he said finally, his voice liquid honey. "What did you feel? Explain to me what you felt, please, femme. Perhaps what I have planned might work afterall. Can you still feel the demon there? Is anything different?" he said, his voice a low thrum in her ear.

[Despair]

"It is no fault of your own," he replied after a moment. She closed her eyes, the serenity captured in his voice washing over her. It was irresistable. Truly, he was a God.

Then her petite body was lifted into the air. For a brief second, Faicianna struggled. A millisecond later, her brain concieved the situation, and she melted into his strong arms, gazing up at him with her great doe eyes, lovely features appearing bemused.

His presence was like a warm, feather blanket on a bitter, icy night. It wrapped around her with a comfort incomparable to anything else in the entire world. There was no way to describe his allure, and being so close to such a clearly divine creature had her completely dazed and bewildered.

"What did you feel? Explain to me what you felt, please, femme. Perhaps what I have planned might work afterall. Can you still feel the demon there? Is anything different?"

What had she felt?

"It...it hurt. Almost like...the same kind of pain you feel when you look into a bright light, only everywhere. Well, not you, probably, but me. Uhm. Humans. Most of them." Heat rushed to her face, and she ducked her head, humiliated and scrambling for a recovery.

"It was...uhm. It was like you were tearing at the...the demon, or whatever it is. The dragon...like light goes through shadows, kind of. And it seemed to hurt it a lot. It's there, still...but, cowering."

Which was true; the demon had taken up a residence far in the back of her mind, hissing and spitting resentfully. It was giving her one heck of a headache, though she was too immersed in the angel's aura to feel much of it at the moment. Still, she felt like a rambling idiot, blathering away. Under the force of his golden gaze she quieted, flushing a bright scarlet.

"I promise I'm not usually so...uneloquent." she apologized weakly.

[{K}itsune]

Her body instantly began to struggle in his Divine arms, unsure of what was happening. Or perhaps she was just fighting his Divinity. He'd seen it happen a number of times, a few humans who were unable to handle the purity of an Angel. A few had been driven to madness, and for a moment he considered releasing her from his grasp to save her from that horror, but the moment before he could the female settled in his arms. Her chocolate eyes stared up at him beautifully and his lips allowed a small smile to pass his lips, perhaps one of the first in a billion years. Humans always brought out his gentle, caring side.

"It...it hurt. Almost like...the same kind of pain you feel when you look into a bright light, only everywhere. Well, not you, probably, but me. Uhm. Humans. Most of them."

Her cheeks turned a beautiful crimson, and his eyes smouldered as he gazed down at her encouragingly. It was true that light didn't affect him in such a way. As he was made from the purest light possible, no light could compare to his own perfection, and as such light didn't affect his eyes. He could see in any lighting.

"It was...uhm. It was like you were tearing at the...the demon, or whatever it is. The dragon...like light goes through shadows, kind of. And it seemed to hurt it a lot. It's there, still...but, cowering."

His eyes darkened in thought as her face became scarlet. "I promise I'm not usually so...uneloquent."

Glancing down at her he smiled, and he instantly became the face of heaven radiance leaking from every pore. "I believe you wish to fight it. If you think my presence might help, I would be glad to stay with you a while. I do not wish any harm to come to you, or any human, but I can only get away with this if you truly think I might be able to keep the demon away." he murmured, as his brilliant eyes caught her own.

ooc// itll get better, im working on my muse for this one

[Despair]

"I believe you wish to fight it. If you think my presence might help, I would be glad to stay with you a while. I do not wish any harm to come to you, or any human, but I can only get away with this if you truly think I might be able to keep the demon away."

Did she wish to fight it? Of course she did. There were no words that could describe her hatred for the creature that resided within her with it's coils wrapped around her heart and mind.

He smiled, and the sheer beauty of it drew a hesitant smile to her lips, but the cryptic, dark promise ominously hidden in his words sent a cold shock through her body. What he was really saying was that, if she didn't believe his presence would eventually ward off the demon, she would have to die.

"What do you mean?" she whispered, her russet eyes widening. She already knew, though. It was difficult to miss something that obvious...and threatening.

And so, the choice was obvious. But was it a lie? Would he be enough to force the demon from its choke-hold around her neck?

The only thing she could do was be truthful. It was no use lying to an angel, right? Though survival instinct demanded that she give a total affirmitive, something drove her to complete honesty.

"No, I understand..." she murmured. "I don't know. You being here right now is driving it crazy, and I think there's a chance that, if you stayed, it might leave...but there's no way for me to know for certain." she admitted, looking him in the eyes despite the terror flooding through her.

An odd sense of calm descended upon her suddenly, and it was as though she weren't completely...there. Another, less important concern occured to her vaguely. How would he "stay" with her? Would it be more of a...guardian angel, invisible thing, or would he be physically with her 24/7? Oh no. Her lodgings weren't suitable for a human, let alone an angel!

Why her mind went on about such pointless things when her life was at stake, she wasn't sure. Even so, she was looking death--or perhaps salvation--in the eye without fear at the moment, and she could be proud of that, at least.

[{K}itsune]

With his angelic abilities, it was easy for Raziel to focus on many different things at once, and while he felt an urge to pay most of his attention to his girl - a heroic feat - Raziel continued to survey the land around them. The demon inside the woman wrapped in his arms seemed to have chosen one of the most horrendous, dark areas of Erebos. Corrosion had destroyed parts of buildings all along the alleyway in various spots, and lush vines of ivy were creeping up the sides of practically every building, leaving only a few of the old stones visible. Stains dusted the ground all over making it obvious that many other crimes had been commited in this horrible place.

The Earth really was no place for an Angel. With the way heavenly light floated from their skin like fireflies and their purity radiated from every pore, this sort of filth just darkened in comparison. It became disgusting. No wonder some of the Gods had chosen to forsake this land. No. He couldn't let himself think like that. His creator had made it very clear that this land was blessed, and he and his brothers and sisters must help the creatures here until the glory of Heaven could be seen over the whole world. That was his mission, and that was why he wanted to save this female. Even the thought of failure wasn't an option.

His eyes flashed to her face as he forced himself to focus on her, taking in her features. The way her long, brunette hair tumbled down from her head and lightly brushed his arm; how her beautiful chocolate eyes stared up at him in fear and confusion; even how her chest rose and fell with her quick, unsure breathing. Under his gaze she slowly gave him a small smile, although it was obvious that she could comprehend that he might still have to kill her. Perhaps it would have been better to do it when she had asked instead of allowing her this small hope.

"What do you mean?" she whispered, her eyes wide.

"Ah, femme, I cannot allow you to hurt others, and don't say that you wouldn't, for the man at my feet would say otherwise." he murmured, gently. He could see the way her eyes flickered slightly as her mind began running through the options. It would be pointless for her to lie to any Angel, but especially to him, for his mind would just discard any false words. He would see the truth whether she told it to him or not. He hoped however that she would fess up without him asking her to. It would only be points in her favor.

"No, I understand... I don't know. You being here right now is driving it crazy, and I think there's a chance that, if you stayed, it might leave...but there's no way for me to know for certain." she whispered.

Raziel's eyes instantly flashed brightly at the truth, the golden hues of his eyes lightening enough so that she could see the darker flecks swirling within his irises. The terror that was flowing through her body caused his arms to become gentle yet firm around her, as he hugged her lightly against his solid chest. The thin, light metal armor on his chest was almost soft to the touch, as it should be. It had been created by a master in Heaven.

His lips pressed together in a fine line for just a moment with his indecision. "You wish to change. That's enough for now. I will stay." The moment he said it, he was bound. He would have to attempt to save this girl now, and it would take no less than a herculean effort to do such, even for a Greater Angel. Demons were never easy to cast off, especially when they were angry.

"For now I will stay in physical form, but at some times I may have to leave your side. I will continue to watch, however. If you so chose, I will leave you at night." he said, his eyes meeting hers. "Try your best." he said, his voice suddenly sounding like thousands more had spoken at the exact time, the power booming behind his words. It wasn't a command, but it was a request, and from an angel, only an idiot would refuse.

[Despair]

Her decision to speak the truth seemed to please him. She flinched once, lightly, when his eyes flickered a brighter shade of gold than she was used to, and the haze began to lift from her mind. Things appeared to be returning into her favor...

"You wish to change. That's enough for now. I will stay."

Faicianna breathed a sigh of relief, her body melting against his as she sagged. Thank the heavens. For a long moment, she had been oh-so-certain that he would be forced to destroy her. Life had never been so clear as it had been right then; how much she might have missed truly frightened her.

But then again, his remaining with her was a frightening concept. There were so many ways she could humiliate herself in front of him...

"For now I will stay in physical form, but at some times I may have to leave your side. I will continue to watch, however. If you so chose, I will leave you at night." he added.

Faicianna attempted to consider this, but it was difficult to do so with her slender frame nestled in his arms. She needed space and time...and sleep, for that matter. The events of the day had completely drained her. "Whatever you think is best...I don't mind either way."

Even so, she knew that she had to push herself, and so she attempted to think of how to handle the situation? A few moments ago she had shied away at the thought of an angel seeing her everyday life, but now a vague sense of uncaring had settled upon her. Yes, she was a complete sinner. Hell, she had to sell her body, sometimes...but there was a reason for that. There was.

Because, though she was single and never had a child, a young orphan had come to stay with her. She had found him on the streets in the middle of a thunderstorm, crying and shivering beneath a makeshift fort of trash from the alleyways. Though she could barely take care of herself, who was she to leave a five year old out on the streets? With her, he at least had a chance.

So, sometimes, to make sure that that baby would have food to eat when he used to have none, she occasionally played sleeper for the soldiers that frequented the town. Or whoever could pay her. The soldiers, at least, would not be around long and couldn't blackmail her. Only when she absolutely had to did she resort to such disgusting things, however.

Her chocolate eyes were downcast and filled with tears as she realized just how pathetic and worthless she was. And this divine, pure being was touching her. He was abasing himself simply by that. Fai pulled away gently, ashamed.

"Some of the things you may see, though...I promise I only do what I have to. I can only pray you dont feel the need to kill me out of disgust." she murmured wretchedly.

"Mama! Mamaaa!" a child's voice caused her to snap her head up.

"Tyrel!" she gasped as the little boy rushed towards her, azure eyes frightened. She glanced up at the sky in shock and realized that it was getting late. He had probably gotten scared and gone looking for her.

She knelt down just in time to catch him as he launched himself forward and flung his tiny arms around her neck. Her own arms closed around his too-thin form instinctively, and she glanced up at Raziel self-consciously. What was he thinking of her?

[{K}itsune]

Raziel's ice-like expression softened as the form in his arms seemed to sag down in relief. He hadn't always thought of himself as a terrifying figure, different for sure, but scary? Now that he had taken on this new oath, perhaps he was a bit cold at times, but that thought didn't usually bother him. Then again he usually didn't show himself to innocents. His physical presence was saved for sinners, the last pure sight they would ever see before an eternity in Hell. In this case, however, he would have to work on looking less threatening.

With that thought in mind, Raziel took in a deep breath, his chest expanding against her soft form. Golden pools disappeared, taking the light away with them, as his eyes closed, his visage relaxing. When he opened again, he looked completely, changing from a being of ice to an Angel of fairy tales, pure sunshine and warmth. Well, as warm as a being of justice could be. It wasn't like he was beaming and frolicing through fields or anything, his expression just became very peaceful and forgiving. In truth he was more beautiful than even the Gods, and had at least a thousand or so years on most of the current Deities. Instead of ruling, however, it was his job to Protect and Serve. Raziel still did so, he just changed who his master was.

"Whatever you think is best...I don't mind either way." she answered finally, her voice revealing her exhaustion. It seemed that now that the threat of imminent death had passed, her need for sleep had caught up to her weary body. Her voice, while frightened before, now just echoed with a sense of tired uncaring, like she was giving up trying to hide her true self from his Glory.

Lord Raziel's arms tightened around her, bracing her against his chest and the cool armor that resided there, protecting his Heart of Hearts from danger. If she stilled herself for long enough, she might be able to feel it, even through the expanse of the metal.

"It is not a matter of what I think is best, femme," he said, his voice floating smoothly across the wind, "It is what makes you feel more comfortable and safe." Angels really were self-less beings, even a changed one like Raziel. It was still his job, no matter what, to protect and help the innocent, and for the moment at least, that was exactly what this woman was, an innocent. For an Angel it was uncommon for them to ask for the name of the person they are aiding, so even though the situation was different, it was unlikely that Raziel would ask for her name, it was just so unusual. Angels never stayed physically with their targets, it was always easier to watch from between the worlds or even Heaven than have direct contact, so they never asked for names. If they learned them, it only happened through an action of the humans they were protecting.

Looking down instinctively as her eyes fell from his face, his own golden eyes turned worried. She looked ashamed of herself and embarrassed in her own skin. This was another reason why Angels never remained around humans because their own purity seemed to attack the souls of those with a less clean track record. As if she could suddenly no longer take it, she twisted out of his arms, pulling away from him. Even though she was still decently sized, it seemed as though she was shrinking, trying to take up as little space as possible, to force his eyes away from her. Raziel, however, could not look away. The emotions of humans always took the breath from his lips; innocents especially. They always thought they were so vile, so low, and because of that they tried to remove themselves from sight, and yet doing that showed just how pure they really were.

A human might have thought to step forward and embrace her to take away her pain, but Angels were more prone to letting humans figure things out on their own, it was their nature.

"Some of the things you may see, though...I promise I only do what I have to. I can only pray you don't feel the need to kill me out of disgust." she whispered suddenly, her eyes downcast.

Silver eyebrows knit together in agitation. He had said she was safe for now. What would he care if she sinned otherwise. All humans sinned, it was their nature just as being pure was Angel nature. The only thing that would make him have to kill her would be if the demon took over. That he couldn't condone.

"Mama! Mamaaa!" a high pitched voice suddenly screeched.

Looking up in surprise, Raziel's internally lit eyes fell upon a toddler waddling toward the female with his arms open wide and his eyes round with panic. Mama? This woman had never had a child though... he could sense that. Ah, it must be an orphan. Yet again his smile softened toward the female. She might be afraid that he would misunderstand or be angry, but an Angel could only see the truth, and this was a pure act. The kindest he'd seen in ages, actually.

"Tyrel!" she gasped as her eyes looked up at the darkened sky in shock. Obviously she hadn't realized that it had gotten so late. The demon must have taken control of her body for a while if she hadn't noticed how late it was, it was practically midnight. Just as the young male flung himself at her, she fell to the ground with her arms outstretched to catch the boy.

"I underestimated your kindness." his said, his silver hair blowing in the wind as he knelt down on the filth beside her. His golden eyes gazed at the boy and out of his pocket he suddenly drew a glistening, ripe fruit. It had been cultured and grown in heaven, it would fill the child like no other.

"Angels have a residency in every kingdom in Ivalia. If you would like, you and your son could come with me to the hall and stay there." he said, his eyes gentle.

[Despair]

As the angel's gaze softened, Faicianna breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to the child clinging to her frantically. "I'm sorry, baby." She whispered quietly, stroking his blonde hair. The trembling ceased after a moment, and she slowly began to draw back.

"I underestimated your kindness." Raziel's voice sounded, unexpectedly close. She gasped softly and looked over, stunned to find that the angel had knelt down beside her as well, and was gazing at the boy. Something appeared in his hand--a fruit? Tyrel reached out with both hands, the golden pear-like fruit falling into his tiny palms. He held it uncertainly, sniffing it and blinking. Clearly, Raziel knew that Tyrel wasn't her blood-son, she noted with surprise. Then again, what did she expect? He was from the Heavens, after all.

"Hardly a kindness. Just decency. If anyone else had any around here, they would have done so too." she mumbled, resentfully thinking of the cold-hearted civilians of Ciardha.

"Angels have a residency in every kingdom in Ivalia. If you would like, you and your son could come with me to the hall and stay there."

Her eyes widened. "A...a reside....wouldn't that be, uhm, illegal or something...? To bring a human...but..." Da.mn it all! Would he ever cease confusing her and reducing her to such desultory responses?!

Finally, she sighed, and shook her head in wonder. "That would be...incredible. Who ever thought that this demon would ever bring me such good fortune?"

She was still having trouble wrapping her head around the fact that this dazzling, immortal, handsome angel wasn't going to kill her, but was instead going to help her and her adopted son. He.ll, she was still having trouble wrapping her head around the fact that he was a real angel and not just some beautiful dream or hallucination.


Tyrel, on his part, simply stared at the glorious being before him without fear nor disbelief. As most young children did, he knew exactly what Raziel was. His gaze was merely filled with awe and curiousity.

"Mommy..." He whispered suddenly. She turned her head back towards him from her silent scrutinizing of Raziel. "Is one of those people up There mad at me?" he asked in his adorable little voice, pointing at the sky.

Startled, she shook her head. "Wha--...No. No, baby. Why would you say that? Nobody's mad at you." she stumbled over her words, bewildered.

He ducked his head miserably, his pretty blue eyes focusing on the ground before shyly rising to look at Raziel. Fai blinked, wondering what was upsetting him. "I thought that was why they took my mommy and my daddy and sent all them mean men to you and putted that bad dragon inside you! Because I been bad. And now they sent this man to take you too and I don't want you to go and I'm sorry if I been bad!" He burst into tears and took her shirt in his little fists, clutching at her desperately. Looking up at Raziel, he wailed, "Dun take mommy away from me!"

"Oh!" Faicianna gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. She was completely blown away. He thought this was his fault? Because he'd been bad, the gods took his parents and sent her the men that Tyrel had seen hitting her after their business had been concluded? He thought this was because of some silly little thing he had done?

Tears flooded her eyes, and she pulled the child to her chest, burying her face in his hair. "No, no, no! Oh, honey! Why didn't you ever tell me you felt this way? No! It's not your fault, oh God no, it's not! Mommy and Daddy had to leave you because....because the gods needed them to keep them company up in heaven! And all those men weren't mean, baby. They didn't hurt me."

Okay, so she was lying, but still. And obviously, Tyrel wasn't buying it. He looked up with a light of hatred in his eyes, and she blanched, feeling as though the wind had been knocked out of her. What was happeing to him? What had she done?

"I saw dem! They hitted you and then you cried! And they called you mean names and hurted you so you had big marks on you! And I hate dem for hurteding you like dat!" He cried, his voice wavering, but filled with passion. She felt the tears falling now, Raziel forgotten as she held Tyrel close to her heart.

"But I'm not hurting now, TyTy, so it doesn't matter. And it sure as hel--heck--wasn't your fault that all of this happened!" she exclaimed, abruptly remembering that the presence of the unknown angel beside her and helplessly looking to him for help.

[{K}itsune]

"I'm sorry, baby," she crooned. She gently stroked the golden haired boy in her arms as he trembled until his body slowly began to still.

Ignoring her gasp of surprise at his closeness, his golden eyes remained focused on the small child who had taken the fruit from his hands hesitantly. Having been grown in the Gardens of Eden the fruit was like no other. It would bring the boy warmth, fullness, and peace, he only had to eat it.

Raziel's eyes kindly slipped away from the child as the boy seemed to stare at him in awe. "Hardly a kindness. Just decency. If anyone else had any around here, they would have done so too." she murmured, her eyes falling to the side as her tone took on a note of vast dislike. His own brilliant orbs flashed to her face in silent curiousity. Humans interested him as they did all Angels. They had such a strange range of emotion, going from dislike to disgust so quickly yet they were all alike, or at least they could be with just one change of fate. This woman could very easily be as vile and disgusting as the people she lived near if she lost herself to the demon within.

As if she had only just heard his invitation, her eyes widened in surprise and Raziel felt his lips curve upward in a radiant smile. "A...a reside....wouldn't that be, uhm, illegal or something...? To bring a human...but..."

"No, femme, it would not be "illegal". Angels are allowed to do whatever they want in their residency halls, and it is quite alright for me to bring a human and her child to the hall if that is my current desire." he murmured his voice as gentle and fluid as the wind.

"That would be...incredible. Who ever thought that this demon would ever bring me such good fortune?"

Raziel's golden eyes flashed to her face quickly. "I would not thank that demon." he said, his voice momentarily regaining its edge before the coldness left his face yet again. If she began to look like the demon was growing on her, it was only a few steps away from her losing herself completely, and then this fairy-tale would end. Her time would have to be cut short, then.

Quite suddenly the young male was looking to his mother worriedly, "Mommy...Is one of those people up There mad at me?" Raziel turned to look at the boy silently, the lack of sound making him seem unreal. Not even the swish of the stagnant wind through his hair made a noise. "Wha--...No. No, baby. Why would you say that? Nobody's mad at you." she whispered, glancing at him in shock. The boy avoided her gaze and instead his eyes lifted hesitantly and innocently to Raziel's own pools. "I thought that was why they took my mommy and my daddy and sent all them mean men to you and putted that bad dragon inside you! Because I been bad. And now they sent this man to take you too and I don't want you to go and I'm sorry if I been bad!" As his voice broke off in a high-pitched wail, he turned to clutch onto his mother's shirt. "Dun take mommy away from me!" he cried as his eyes flashed to Raziel's face pleadingly.

"Oh!"

Looking to the female as tears filled her own eyes, he sat back on his heels, content with just listening for the time being. This was something for her to solve. She was the child's mother, afterall, at least that was what she had made herself. This woman had to be able to deal with the responsibilities that came along with it.

"No, no, no! Oh, honey! Why didn't you ever tell me you felt this way? No! It's not your fault, oh God no, it's not! Mommy and Daddy had to leave you because....because the gods needed them to keep them company up in heaven! And all those men weren't mean, baby. They didn't hurt me."

Raziel's eyes tightened at the obvious lie in her voice. He couldn't condone lying to a child, but he wouldn't speak up just yet. The child's eyes lifted and glared at her unhappily causing the blood to drain from her face and her body cringed away from him momentarily. This was why lying was pointless, it did more harm than good. It seemed that only the Angels understood that truth, however, no matter how obvious it seemed.

"I saw dem! They hitted you and then you cried! And they called you mean names and hurted you so you had big marks on you! And I hate dem for hurteding you like dat!"

"But I'm not hurting now, TyTy, so it doesn't matter. And it sure as hel--heck--wasn't your fault that all of this happened!" she responded, her voice filled with passion, maybe more than the child's had been.

As she turned her gaze to him helplessly, his eyes softened as he decided to take pity on her. "Child, I am not going to take your mother away from you, and at least for a time she will be safe from those men. If you want her to be safe during that time, would you be willing to come to the Angel residence with us? She will be safer there than anywhere else. She is fine now, and that is all that matters. Don't you want her to remain that way?" he murmured. His eyes caught the child's persuasively, his orbs glowing brilliantly. Slowly he got to his feet and held a hand out to the child and to his mother so that they could get to their feet.

"This place is in no way a good spot for either of you to be. Let us go." he added a moment later. His eyes shifted Heaven-ward for just a second as his outline suddenly wavered for just a second. He listened to the sudden music coming from above in silence. The Gods had realized his absense and had asked his siblings to call him back. The persuasive calling from above commanded his form to return even while he wished to remain. They could not make him come, but if he didn't move from this spot where they had obviously located him soon, then his form would continue to waver, and would draw attention to them.

Plus, the music would continue to speak to him all the while, and it might bring on delusions, if not to him than to the humans he was attempting to protect who would be able to hear the Songs, even if they didn't know what it was or where it was coming from. "Come. Quickly." he said, his eyes flashing intently, suddenly completely focused on the two before him, the first time that had happened since he had come down from Heaven. The first time that his attention was focused one-hundred percent on one thing; them, getting them out of there.

[Despair]

"Child, I am not going to take your mother away from you, and at least for a time she will be safe from those men. If you want her to be safe during that time, would you be willing to come to the Angel residence with us? She will be safer there than anywhere else. She is fine now, and that is all that matters. Don't you want her to remain that way?"

Tyrel gazed up at the angel for a long moment, his tears slowly subsiding as he struggled to understand the words of wisdom. Then, finally, he nodded. "Promise?" he asked, only a little doubtful. Something in the angel's eyes seemed to reassure him, and he nodded.

Fai, for her part, listened to the melodious waves of sound washing over her in a trance-like state. God. His voice was incredible. She just wanted to stay like this forever, listening to him....and the way he had calmed down the hysterical child was sheer magic. Ugh. Why couldn't mortal men be like that?

Ooh. Bad thoughts. She shook her head quickly and stood, picking Tyrel up as she did. It was just as well, because suddenly, Raziel seemed to get agitated, glancing up at the sky. She blinked and followed his gaze. As soon as silence fell, she realized what the problem was; something was Calling. A beautiful song, echoing through the great expanse of blue above.

"What is that?" she gasped, enthralled by the beauty of it.

His only response was to look around anxiously and bark, "Come. Quickly."

Something was clearly wrong. Nonplussed, she nodded and stepped towards him, unsure of what he wanted them to do. "How are we getting there? I might have enough money for a horse...barely." she said reluctantly.