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Demonizing an Angel *(Silvana | Areawin)

"I thought this would be more of a challenge. I'm disappointed, honestly." Lillian's voice purred, bolts of electricity visible as they licked against her skin, behaving in a manner similar to Mina's flames, as if they were alive. A extension of Lillian's will. Obviously toying with the two. Not even a fraction of her power being actually used in this fight. Laughing as bare feet touched down, walking towards them boldly.

Keiran having exchanged glances with Silennia. Seeing that trickle of fear as she too realized just how hopeless this was beginning to look, "Her lack of sight has never been a problem for her." He muttered in response to Silennia, remembering quite clearly just how attuned to the energies of others she was. As if she could feel them, able to track their every movement. No one was invincible, however. There had to be a weakness somewhere. A mistake. A flaw.

His thoughts were racing as she reached them once more, lunging at her quite abruptly, only to hiss out as his entire body went stiff, Lillian's electricity coursing through his body as she laughed, walking past him as if he wasn't even there, the incubus collapsing with a gasp,"This is the best you can do?" Clicking her tongue, "I expected better out of a child of Abigor's." The ground trembled beneath them as she spoke, lifting her hand up as various debris lifted up into the air, sending it all hurling towards Silennia, "All this time here, and you've learned nothing-"

Her words suddenly cut off abruptly as flames suddenly engulfed her form, the blind succubus letting out a surprised shriek, howling in pain and rage as she turned on the source. At the edge of the clearing where she'd been left forgotten, a weary and disheveled Mina stood panting from even that little bit of effort, blood having trickled down the side of her face from where she had been struck earlier, dried and cracked at this point. Her form going limp once more and as a bolt of electricity pierced the red head's chest.

But Mina's effort was not to be wasted, a opportunity having been presented with Lillian's mistake of considering Mina 'taken care of'.

"Silennia, NOW." Keiran's voice had sounded, black runes glowing blue as he slammed into Lillian, pinning her down against the ground.
 
Silennia had opened her mouth with a retort to Lillian's comment about her sire, but Keiran was deemed more important; briefly checking his condition. The succubus didn't do nearly as much damage as she could have: a reminder that she was just toying with them. Silennia silently wondered how long she'd push it before becoming bored, like so many other demons within this wretched realm.

Dodging the bits of debris, Silennia saw a flash of red just in time for flames to erupt around Lillian. The intense heat was felt from halfway across the clearing.

Keiran's voice snapped Silennia back to attention, and she watched him slam into the girl with a bit of awe. Those blue runes creating a sort of glow against his flesh.

Silennia took the opportunity, and ran to where Keiran had his younger sister pinned.

Shadows becan swallowing up all the light within the area, charging toward the succubus - making their way into her eyes and ears, darkening beneath her skin, pouring from her mouth. Silennia's eyes went completely black once again, looking, concentrating. What was she supposed to find? Her strength wasn't quite up to par, making it even more difficult.

"What did I tell you?" The voice came from just next to her, and fingers slid around her throat, lifting her away from Lillian. Shadows much darker than hers began engulfing the succubus, pulling out Silennia's concentration from the girl. Another hand snatched Keiran by the back of his neck, shoving him away abruptly, and Abigor came to stand at his full height, absolutely towering over his daughter. There was something there, though, in his expression - and she knew that he wouldn't have interfered unless he thought she would have succeeded in getting what she wanted from Lillian.

"You can leave," he said through gritted teeth, "if Mina stays. A simple concept, I assure you both." Dark eyes glared toward where he'd tossed Keiran, though they turned back to Silennia as she clawed at his wrist, holding her above him slightly by her throat. Her face reddening, trying to gasp for air. "You've learned nothing--"

Silennia's shadows slammed into him, tearing into the clothing he wore, slicing against his flesh. The abruptness caught him off guard, causing him to drop her. Although she'd attacked him, he did not retaliate. He sought not to kill her himself, but rather for them to just give him what he wanted. She saw that now, understood the realness that she was very much replaceable. What would she have to do to change his mind about that?

"An absolute nuisance you've become, child," he hissed.

"I want to go HOME!" Silennia screeched. She stood, her shadows shoving against her sire once again. "I'm done playing games, I'm done giving you the satisfaction."

A smirk touched Abigor's face, double-fanged teeth showing just a bit. "If you were done, you'd be dead."

He raised a hand slightly, making a circular motion with it, and his darker shadows formed a circle off to the side, swirling with a strange shade of purple. "You want out? It's right there. It's so close. What are you going to do, Silennia?" His eyes drilled into her, keeping his arm raised, keeping that portal open.
 
Beneath him, Lillian snarled, thrashing against Keiran as he struggled to hold her, those runes glowing even brighter with the effort, nearly shuddering as Silennia's shadows emerged, blotting out the light as they closed in on Lillian. Her body stiffening as those shadows forced their way into her eyes and ears, spasms ripping through her as she fought against them, determined not the let Silennia have what she wanted. Not so easily, at least.... but such resistance was no longer needed as Silennia was interrupted.

A chill running through Keiran's blood as Silennia's shadows were overpowered by more sinister ones, feeling that hand wrap around the back of his neck, knowing just who it was without even having to look. Abigor himself. Uncertain if it was a good thing or not that Mina was down and out of the count at the moment. If he had shown up sooner- there's no telling what would have happened in her state.

For the third time, Keiran was tossed aside like a toy, leaving Lillian freed. The succubus quickly getting back on her feet, darting away and behind Abigor, seeming shamed that she had been nearly taken advantage of, and even more so that Abigor had seen this. Not wishing to disappoint him. Hiding behind him as those burns quickly healed. Not saying a word, not wishing to draw further attention to her mistake.

When the portal opened, Keiran couldn't help but feel the desire to make a run for it. Getting out of this place having been his priority since he'd found Silennia... but yet again, Abigor's offer made itself known. Free to go... if Mina remained. There was no way that Keiran could return without her- surely Adriel would kill him, or worse. Facing the fallen angel's fury was something he wanted to avoid... not to mention, he already was ridden with enough guilt over Lillian, "What the hell do you need Mina for?" He snapped the words out before he had even really thought about it- A stupid question, really. He knew, but frustration gripped him tightly. Tired of feeling helpless to do anything every time this hell prince showed up.

While they were all occupied, Mina had stayed down, her skin burned where Lillian's lightning bolt had struck her... Crimson hues flecked with black as Abigor's presence flooded the room, even more prominent that Lillian's. That portal opening quite close to her. Making her see a opportunity while she still had the advantage of not being in anyone's focus. She had to get out before her sanity slipped away from her once more... Seizing the chance and springing up from the flowers as she made a leap for it, nearly passing through it before a black tendril grabbed her ankle, causing her to cry out as she was yanked backwards through the air, thrown towards the group with such force that she nearly came crashing down right at Abigor's feet, rolling several times before she just simply laid there, trembling.

Lillian's voice sounding, traces of laughter in her bell-like voice, "Oh? Where do you think you're going, darling sister~?"
 
Abigor sneered, watching black tendrils pull Mina away from the portal. "You've done enough, Lillian," he snapped. Clearly agitated. In one sense, he wanted Silennia to finally be the heir... the one he'd been waiting thousands of years for. When Leghadema became pregnant, she holed up in the halls of Valhalla. That was during the one of the infamous Saxon wars, or at least toward the end of it, over a thousand years ago.

Yet Silennia was only in her early twenties, because of the way time moved differently between each realm. In the meantime, Abigor had sired countless children -- each of them dying, most of them not even making it to five years old. He'd produced with fae, witches, succubi, vampires, demigods, shapeshifters... none of them added up to the magnificence that is Silennia. He found that it was truly a shame that she were female. Had she been a male...

There was, realistically, only one other being alive that he'd ever encountered, that could possibly give him a child even better than the one in front of him: Mina. The daughter of the blood-stained angel and, arguably, the most powerful succubus that had ever lived. And it would be so easy for him to take her. The only thing he was remotely concerned about was her sanity, and what that would do to any children she may have. He believed the main reason she was so in control of herself now was because of her father, doting on her the way he did, though he couldn't be entirely sure.

His black eyes broke from sapphire ones, and he watched Mina's tired body. She'd been through so much in just the course of a week, yet she remained determined. "If I truly wanted you, Little Phoenix, do you think going through that portal could possibly stop me?" There was the problem of Adriel, but there was an ancient law deep within the source of their blood that prevented them from truly attacking each other.

On earth, anyway.

Really, he wasn't sure if he wanted to pursue the girl, and she'd become wrapped up in his game as well. A test, to deem her worthy or not. Still he wasn't sure. She'd be fun, most certainly, but he'd become so focused on his own goals that 'fun' didn't appeal to him like it used to.

Silennia took the opportunity when she saw it; her sire's eyes focused on Mina, seemingly deep in thought. She jumped, arm pulled back, the whites of her eyes disappearing completely as her shadows matched the shade of Abigor's for the first time. The sharpened tips of her right hand sank deep into the spot around his eye, causing him to scream in such a way that it made her blood freeze.

It was nearly enough to stop her, but she took the state of the prince as a persuasion to keep going. His height grew, holding a hand over his eye, which was torn right from the socket, blood gushing out. Silennia drew the last bit of strength she could muster, from even the darkest corner of the cells within her, and sent the shadows through Abigor, cutting deeply into him - through him. Over and over again, watching the blood pour.

His skin paled, fangs grew, and his nails took the appearance of something similar to talons. Curved horns grew from his skull, parting bits of the long, black hair that so matched Silennia's. Glorious black wings, bigger than Silennia could have even imagined, spread from behind his back in a defensive manner, one of them slamming into the girl, attempting to pin her against the ground.

When Abigor opened his remaining eye, everything was black except the iris, which was a deep red. His snarl turned into a psychotic grin, laughter rumbling from his throat, shaking the ground around Silennia. The blood was pooling around him like it had a never ending source.

"My very daughter," he breathed, and his voice sounded truly terrifying - nothing anyone here had heard before. The voice children imagine when their parents tell stories of demons coming to take them away at night if they misbehaved; a shrieking, deep metallic sound that rang in her ears, making it difficult for her to understand what he was saying. "Has wounded me in a way that none other has yet to achieve." His laughter started again.

The girl was so tired, she could barely lift her head to hear him better. Vision beginning to blur as Abigor's shadows completely enveloped her, picking her up, tightening until small popping sounds could be heard.

"Out of all of the angels, demons, and mortals on earth," he began again, "none have given me a child so fitting as the Valkyrie." His expression soured suddenly, and his clawed hand pointed once more to the portal.

"Get out."

His shadows dropped her suddenly, and before she even hit the ground, she was unconscious.

Abigor turned to Keiran finally, "How I pity the soul she falls in love with." The words were venom, dripping like the blood was from his body. In an instant, he vanished, leaving the four while his portal remained open, yet ever-dimming. Becoming translucent, soon to disappear if they didn't leave quickly enough.
 
Abigor's words made Lillian flinch, her short moment of fun quickly coming to a end. Letting those tendrils of hers disaapate into a puff of smoke that dissolved into nothing, allowing Mina to scramble away. Ah, it was so hard to please the hell prince. His whims and wishes difficult even for her to follow, "I'm sorry." Lillian's words were hushed, falling back. Almost as if her feelings had been hurt. Coming to nestle herself amongst what flowers remained undamaged, those unseeing eyes focused in their direction as she intently listened. Waiting.

Mina having dodged behind Kieran, glaring in Abigor's general direction, "I'm not some toy!" Crimson laced with specks of black as her hunger gnawed at her. How many times had she been pushed to this edge in the last few weeks? More times than she cared to count. Having wandered the earth for hundreds of years- with the occasional venture into hell, had left her quite confident in herself. She'd always had the upper hand, but here... around Abigor.... She felt quite insignificant. Was this what Vermina had gone through with Adriel? Without being pursued? It was well known how the ancient succubus felt about the red angel, and it was also well known just how she despised him for the attraction she felt towards him. Mina hadn't been cast aside for being flawed- no, Mina had been perfect in every way. Strong, and able-bodied... No, it had simply been hatred for her sire that had prompted Vermina to take what actions she had taken. Adriel was the whole reason Vermina had abandoned her child deep within the hell plane to die.

Yet, Mina still lived. As if fate wanted to laugh in Vermina's face. Had the succubus just killed the child herself, things perhaps would have turned out much differently... But what kind of mother- even one as despicable as Vermina, could kill their own infant child? Instead, Adriel had found her. Raised her, cared for her. Nurtured her into the creature that she was at this moment.

When Silennia lashed out, it seemed as if everyone backed off. Lillian tensing, wanting to assist her master, but already she had been dismissed. Letting out a snarl of frustration as she kept her distance. It wasn't that she worried that Abigor would be over powered- no, it was more so her attachment to him that made her want to help him- all she truely desired was to please him... and at this moment, doing nothing was the only way to do such.

The scent of blood flooding the air, clouding Keiran's senses. When told to leave, they didn't need to be told twice. Keiran tensing slightly at Abigor's last words, having looked back just long enough to catch the Hell prince's gaze, Gold clashing against the black and red... and then once more, he was gone. Not wasting another moment as Keiran caught hold of Silennia, "Let's get the hell out of here." He murmured, his nerves on edge. Mina waiting for them for a moment before she quickly vanished through the portal when she was sure that they were following. She couldn't get out quickly enough, quite sure that another moment here would drive her into a frenzy if not careful.

Lillian sensing as they vanished, shaking her head slightly. Ah, what a mess. Flicking her wrist as she began to put things back together- rocks returning to where they'd been ripped out of the ground and clumps of dirt returning to the holes that they had originated from, flowers being planted back into the ground that weren't too damaged to do so. Not that it was necessary- no, she rather enjoyed this particular space within the hell plane. Nothing resided here, and in a sense, Lillian had claimed it for her own. The scent of Abigor's blood strong in the air, mixed with the scent of those exotic blooms. Indeed, Lillian had never known the demon to take such damage before. It was almost intriguing.
 
Silennia was in a daze as they passed through the portal, and at first she didn't recognize the surroundings. It had landed them in an alley, dark in this dead end corner, but a pink glow coming from around the corner of the other. She stumbled, hanging onto Keiran's arm tightly. The attack on her sire took the remainder of her energy. "Mina?" she mumbled, looking around in the dark for the redhead, not realizing that she'd gone first. Satisfied when a dull red caught her attention.

Silennia's hand moved along the brick wall, walking slowly, until she was nearly at the opening of the alley. A large chunk of brick was missing, crumbled on the ground, a fairly large crack there. A faint reminder of that night she'd walked out of the club and hit the wall in her frustration. The first real sign of her power yet to come.

They'd appeared just outside the club, then. "How considerate," she snapped, voice thick with sarcasm.

She flinched and looked down, realizing she was still barefoot. There was no way for them to leave without drawing attention of the crowd that was undoubtedly waiting to get in. Silennia could smell various perfumes and colognes from here, and there was enough chatter to drown out most of the street noise.

A cab wouldn't take them in such a state, surely.

The sound of wings drew Silennia's attention, coming from the darkest part of the alley behind them, completely shrouded in black. She was too tired to tense up; only waited for the newcomer to show themselves, shivering a bit in the cold.

A slim figure slowly stepped from the shadows, blonde hair cascading around her face; thin braids wrapping from the sides of her head to the back, looking almost like a delicate crown. A deep sapphire stood there, staring at the absolute mess that was the trio, unsure what to do or say.

Leghadema desperately wanted to approach her daughter, but she simply didn't know how. So she just stood, locking eyes with the girl as sapphire eyes shone a bit with pride and sadness. "Hello, Silennia," she finally said. "I'm... glad to see that you're all okay."
 
The dim glow of the street signs seemed surreal. As if they weren't really there, as if this was just a dream. They'd made it out, and still that knowledge was slowly sinking in, Keiran catching Silennia's elbow when she'd stumbled, offering her his support. Taking a moment to absorb his surrounding as he realized their location. This was the alley behind the club, was it not? Recalling the night Silennia had broken her hand after punching the wall... before they had discovered what she was to become. Oh, he could almost laugh at how naively he had followed her, like a puppy at her heels- when he had fancied himself the wolf. How wrong he had been. How differently he looked at the world, not even realizing that those runes were still spread across his skin, their glow lost and faded to black. Mina having leaned against the wall for support, exhausted.

The red head jumping at the sound of wings, clearly on edge after all that the three had been through. Only relaxing when she recognized the Valkyrie from before. The incubus, on the other hand, having a different reaction than his sibling, on edge and wary of her. The last time he'd met with her, he'd been blinded, and despite everything, he hadn't forgot. How long ago it seemed now. The flow of time within Abigor's realm leaving them feeling disoriented. While it had felt like days since they'd left, here, it seemed that time had barely passed in their absence. Was it still the same day?

Keiran's thoughts interrupted when Mina abruptly collapsed.

Not even having a chance to try and speak to the Valkyrie as he went to check on her, kneeling down at Mina's side and helping her back up, "Hold on, I've got you." He muttered, pulling her arm around his shoulders as he lifted her back up. Getting off the street being the most favorable course of action right at this moment.
 
All Silennia could think to do was stare at the woman before them. Remembering her face from their encounter with Erza; remembering how much pain was etched there as her infant self fell asleep. The face, the voice, nothing had changed about the Valkyrie except the clothes she was wearing.

The first thought that came to the Silennia was how beautiful the woman was before her, and how much she indeed looked like her mother. Yet it was surreal, as Leghadema looked no more than a few years older than Silennia herself.

She turned finally at hearing Mina collapse, and came back to her surroundings once more. "My apartment isn't too far away," she said quietly. Getting there without being spotted was another story, especially with how filthy they all were. If someone saw Keiran holding up Mina, they'd undoubtedly want to get involved. It was human nature. And walking out of the alley put them in direct view of the buzzing line that waited to get into the club.

"Damien has taken care of that for us," Leghadema offered in reply. She nodded her head toward the pink light, and the people waiting in line suddenly started talking a little louder as a limousine pulled up to the alley entrance. Her arms were crossed against her chest, still not liking the confined space of cars; the helplessness of them that she'd seen during so many wrecks in her various times visiting.

"Not very subtle, is he?" Silennia muttered. Ridiculous. Did he think that such a vehicle directly in front of his establishment wouldn't draw attention? And he thought it was a good idea for them to get in it, in their state? Though perhaps he didn't think they'd be as filthy as they were.

Silennia placed her hand in the small of Mina's back, opposite Keiran, and opened the door before nodding for Keiran and Mina to climb into the open space. She turned her head to see Leghadema parting enormous white wings much like how her own had been, before the black stain of her sire's blood within her had tainted the color permanently.

Leghadema caught her daughter's questioning look and smiled a bit. "I wanted to see if you were... okay."

Silennia said nothing.

"It'll take you to your home," Leghadema said vivant after several moments of silence. "I'll... come by soon."

This time, Silennia simply climbed into the vehicle and pulled the door shut, still not offering any words. What was she supposed to say?

It didn't take long for them to arrive at the locked gates of her apartment building, letting Keiran do the leg work on his own with his sister as she typed in her code, unlocking the gates. Dreading the two flights of stairs they had to maneuver in their exhausted state, and freezing in sudden realization that she didn't have the key to unlock the door with.

Though, as they came closer to the door, Silennia found that it was slightly ajar; turning her head to look at Keiran with a somewhat confused and concerned expression. The sound of someone rummaging inside.

The girl gingerly pushed the door open, peering into the fully lit apartment and suddenly remembering that nearly the entire place had been refurnished. It looked foreign to her. But not so much as the red-brown hair bobbing as a woman muttered angrily to herself inside, having pulled out the couch to make a bed.

"Korina?" Silennia breathed.

The other woman's head turned, and green eyes widened and glasses over with tears. "Oh my god, Silennia," she choked out, nearly knocking her friend onto the floor with how hard she'd run up and hugged her, still blocking the doorway with the siblings out in the hall. Not caring about the dried grime that covered them all from head to toe at first, but after a second the redhead pulled away and made a face. She moved to the side at seeing Keiran and Mina behind, and Silennia touched Keiran's arm gently. "Put her on that bed," nodding to where Korina had pulled out the couch and roughly thrown a blanket down.

"I, I didn't know where you were, or-or what happened to all of the furniture, or why you'd move without telling me or changing the locks--" She was sniffling now, stumbling over her words, bit Silennia could only offer a small smile.

"I've... been through a lot the past couple months," Silennia stated simply. But this only confused Korina more.

"Months?" Ah. Right. Time moved differently there. Though it had only been three weeks that Silennia was in hell, it was longer than that since this whole mess began happening.

Finally Silennia sighed, "Korina, we're all really tired, we really just need to--"

"You aren't blowing me off like this, are you?" Korina's expression was a mix between hurt and furious.

"We can talk tomorrow," Silennia offered.

Korina didn't say anything; just stared at her friend for half a minute before leaving completely - slamming the door behind her.

Silennia pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head.
 
From the darkness, violet hues watched the three climb into the car, a small smile touching painted lips. So they had made it out alive. All three of them. Interesting. Large black wings spreading out as she rose up, having been perched on the edge of the roof top, not even reacting as a flutter of wings sounded behind her, already knowing who it was without even looking, "You must be proud." She remarked, only now glancing over towards the crimson angel at her side, laughing softly as he merely scowled at her, "No? Furious? Not surprising. You should be glad she came back at all. If Abigor had truly desired it, she wouldn't be here. You can't control that girl forever, you know."

"How do you know so much about him to state such bold things?" Adriel eyed her, biting back on his hatred for the succubus, Vermina simply letting out a chuckle, "You don't live as long as me without your path crossing with someone like Abigor once or twice. He and I have similar interests, after all. We both desire a strong capable heir, we just go about it in... different ways." She mused, reaching up to stroke Adriel's cheek, not surprised when he slapped her hand away with a gruff response, "Don't touch me."

"You're never any fun these days, Adriel. Learn to loosen up, will you?" Vermina pouted, watching the vehicle pull out and proceed down the road.

---------------------

While Mina stayed conscious, it was only barely. Depending on Keiran as he supported her, something that usually would have irked her. At this point, however, she didn't care. It took all she had left just to keep her eyes open, just barely away of the car ride to Silennia's apartment. Not even able to recall the walk upstairs until she found herself being laid down on a bed, muttering a quiet 'thank you' when Kieran covered her up, asleep within seconds. Her lack of luster painfully obvious if anyone looked at her, her skin pale and dark shadows beneath her eyes. Her hair just barely reminesent of it's original crimson.

Keiran glancing towards.... what was her name again? Korlynn? Corey...? Coraline? no.... Korina. By time he'd recalled the human's name, she'd become angry and stomped out. Not that he was complaining. Not particularly fond of Silennia's friend. Not that he'd pass such information along, of course. Those golden hues sliding from the door to Silennia, "You should get some rest too, Silennia." His voice was concerned, tentively pulling her into his arms, unsure of how she would react, pressing his lips against her forehead in a fleeting kiss before allowing her space.
 
For a few seconds, all was well in the world as Keiran's arms wrapped around her. Slowly leaning into him, closing her eyes, until suddenly he was pulling away. Her entire body tensing, as if it just now caught up to his attention toward her. "I'm..." She hesitated for a moment, looking at where Mina was laying. She hadn't bathed in weeks, but she wasn't sure if she had enough energy. Finally deciding that she could just lay in the bath tub. "I'm going to... wash off... I think."

She still felt as if she were in a bit of a daze, and walked into where her father's room was, which had also been redone entirely. There was a box of his few belongings, off to the side of the closet, but the rest was brand new. Upon walking into the bathroom attached to his room, she noticed it had been picked clean - not a speck of dirt or dust anywhere. Fresh, fluffy-looking towels hung, and her favorite shower products had been restocked.

This didn't feel like something Abigor would do... then again, the note from before didn't seem like him, either. But it did have a very Damien vibe to it, wondering again if the demon was working with her sire. What was the point of trying to rent the place out, yet stock her favorite care products?

For having such a small apartment, the bathroom was a decent size. There was a shower, separate from the tub, a toilet, sink, and even small cabinets. The other bathroom didn't have a bathtub, nor did it have shelves or anywhere to store toiletries, except for on the sides of the tiny sink. She'd always preferred this one, especially since Richard was rarely home.

She stripped down, watching mud crack off of her clothes and fall to the floor from where it had hardened against her. How she didn't smell like a corpse, she wasn't sure, after having killed so many creatures and being covered in their blood. Even now, traces remained of it - in her hairline, the hollow of her throat, beneath her fingernails and in the crease of her elbows. She took several minutes just examining herself, looking for cuts or scars, but they had all gone. There was very slight bruising around her throat from where Abigor had picked her up, and she felt sore from when his shadows had gripped her so roughly... but that was it.

All of these sensations and abilities foreign to her, though it wasn't surprising. They'd all unfolded in the matter of... how long had it even been, since she'd met Keiran? She didn't remember a date, only remembering that it was relatively cool that night. The temperatures were dropping even more now, but at least the heat in the apartment was working.

Another perk was that this bathroom pulled from two water heaters. Essentially giving them endless hot water. A perk that she took advantage of, and was about to once again, first stepping into the shower and letting the water rinse off of her for a good ten minutes. Standing there with her face down, watching the different colors run off of her, like she'd rolled in earth-colored paints. Layer after layer of dirt and blood washed off, nearly clogging the drain, and even then she still looked rough. Scrubbing at her skin with jasmine-smelling soap, watching her loofah darken from a bright pink to brown. Unsure of how long she'd been in there by the time she took care of her hair, pulling out chunks of foliage from the matted strands and, to her horror, small bone shards.

More time went by before she felt sufficiently clean, running her fingers through her hair and turning off the water to the shower once it was brushed, looking at the bits of debris that the drain had caught, with disgust. The only thing she wasn't quite able to get rid of was the blood, deep under her fingernails, remaining there as a stubborn reminder all of what she'd just gone through.

She wrapped a towel into her hair, rubbing it dry and peeking into the bedroom - having left the bathroom door open without realizing it in her state of exhaustion. Wanting nothing more than to climb into the bed and sleep for an eternity, yet she wasn't sure where Keiran had nestled himself for the night.
 
While Silennia was in the shower, Keiran somehow managed to locate his phone, sighing when he realized it had been with him the entire time, ruined from his time underwater- shuddering as he pushed thoughts away of the creature that had nearly drowned him. Tossing the cellphone into the trash. He would have to replace it later. For now, it could wait. Where ever Shiori was, she was out of reach. Not even able to sense her at that moment. Strange. Had she made a run for it? Grimacing at the amount of mud still caked in his hair.

Knowing that Mina would be safe, he stepped out, not as concerned for Silennia because.... well, it was more than obvious that the girl could take care of herself. If anything, she could give HIM a run for his money if she decided she wanted to turn on him... a thought that he didn't entertain for long. Finding his way back to the hotel he had stayed in with Mina and Shiori, managing to stay out of sight. Upon entering the room, he wasn't too surprised to see it empty, save for Mina's luggage and his own. Ratri and Kenny having left long before any of them. For the best, most certainly. The two humans having only become a burden at this point in time. Taking advantage of the shower while he was still here, stripping free of his clothes, examining those runes that still hadn't vanished. They didn't just adorn his arms. No, they were all over his body. Lacing across his chest and collar bones, even trailing down his legs. Hot water running down his back as he leaned his forehead against the wall, closing his eyes. Unable to make sense of everything that had occurred in the last month.

Had it only been a month? It felt like a year, which was saying something considering how long he had lived, "The longest month of my life." He muttered to himself, squirting a glob of shampoo into his hands as he started washing, the soap producing brown bubbles as they mixed in with the dirt, eventually finishing up and stepping out, water dripping onto the tile floor as he reached for a towel, his hair back to it's pristine shade of white. Digging through his luggage as he found a set of clean clothes- a black button-up long sleeved shirt and a pair of jeans, literally tossing his old ones into the trash as he collected his and Mina's things. It was wondrous they they were still here, honestly. Surely someone had noticed how the room had been unoccupied for quite some time.

By time he made it back to Silennia's apartment, he walked in to hear the shower just as it turned off, setting Mina's suitcase down near where she rested, along with his own. Golden eyes following Silennia as she stepped out in nothing but a towel. Finally resembling the girl who had caught his eye that night. Coming up behind her as she peered into the bedroom, smiling softly, "Looking for someone?" His tone playful, hoping that she wouldn't over-react to him.
 
Silennia jumped a little at his voice, not expecting it to come from behind her, but she only smiled. "You've been busy," she chuckled, looking at his clean appearance. Not asking where he'd gone.

Her own cellphone had been lost in the midst of the chaos the day that Leghadema arrived at her door; having been tossed onto the floor, battery flying out. Now, however, it sat neatly on the table next to the bed. When she hit the power button, though, it seemed to be dead, and she plugged it in, leaving it off. The digital clock read 1:27. Still relatively early.

Not that it mattered. She had hardly slept in weeks. The towel unwrapped from her, not that she honestly minded - it was only Keiran. Different parts of her were screaming how she should react to the incubus, but she was too tired to listen to any of them; climbing into one side of the bed and letting out a long sigh. Keiran could either sleep here, or with his sister... she wasn't sure if she preferred one to the other, only watched him with sleepy eyes that finally drifted shut completely.

There most likely wasn't anything that could wake her at this point, and let God help whoever tried.

----------------

Leghadema was back in Damien's apartment, fiddling with a bit of fuzz that had wound up on the chair she was sitting in. Damien had left for his club while she was gone, not bothering to lock the door so that she could get back in. It left her wondering why he'd been so helpful in this entire situation - to herself, to Silennia, even to Mina, to a point - though, Mina was an attractive girl. That was probably his reasoning for the succubus, at least.

But what about the rest of them? He was a demon, so she honestly doubted that he was doing any of this out of the kindness of his heart. Yet, she couldn't find any kind of motive. Abigor most likely didn't have him under his thumb - not anymore, at least. And as far as she was aware, he didn't operate under any other demons.

It didn't make sense.
 
A sly grin met her words, "Well, I'm back on familiar grounds." He remarked, golden hues sliding over Silennia's body when she abruptly let her towel fall from around her body, admiring her without a ounce of shame. He almost regretted the fact that she was exhausted- himself having gone through quite a bit of energy, though, not quite like Mina had. Watching her slip into the bed as he made a last split-second decision to follow, sliding in on the other side. While he didn't mind Mina, there was the fact that she still hadn't bathed- not to mention, it was uncertain what state she would wake in. Not having forgotten the last time she'd gone into a frenzy.

No, how could he? She'd nearly killed him- or at least had certainly tried.

His body pressing against Silennia's as he gently drew her into his arms, more willing to take his chances with his lover rather than his sister. If he woke to Silennia trying to kill him, THEN he'd worry about the consequences. Until then, he took advantage of the opportunity to be near her once more. Drawn to her in a way that he couldn't explain... always drawn to her. Even from the very beginning. The only difference was... was that now, he understood why more clearly. Golden hues lazily closing as he snuggled his face into her hair, falling asleep that way at her side.
 
Silennia twined her fingers through Keiran's, scooting back against him so that she was closer, in the dead of her sleep. Falling deeper into it than she was before, feeling safe for the time being within his arms. She couldn't be sure if she'd ever feel the same about him again, not after what Abigor had put her through... but this was a start, at least. It was a surprise that she'd recovered as much as she had, in such a short period of time, but her feelings for the incubus had been strong from the very beginning.

When she finally woke, her eyes opened slowly, feeling as if she were in a fog. The blankets warm around her, feeling Keiran's skin still touching her own a she reached out and finally powered on her phone, though keeping it on silent. After a few minutes she checked it again, seeing that her voicemail was full with a whopping 28 messages - undboutedly, all from Korina. She typed in a password and began listening to them.

"Hey Silennia, what the fuck happened? Call me."

"Sil, I just want to make sure I remember everything right. I feel like I should be in a psych ward. Can you call?"

"Okay Silennia, seriously, what's going on? You always answer your phone. Call me."

There were nine more like that, each getting slightly more hysterical.

"If you don't answer your fucking phone woman, I'm coming over. Raoul wants me to rest, but fuck him, I'm so worried. Please let me know you're okay."

Four more, until...

"Silennia. It's dad." Her heart dropped, sitting up and pressing the phone closer against her ear. "I know it's, uh, been a little while, but I wanted to let you know that I'm fine. There's this woman out here, and she's really helping me get through some things. I... I still don't know when I can be home, kiddo, but you can call me on this number until Tuesday." What day was it now? She didn't have the slightest clue. "Well, anyway, I love you kiddo. Hope you're doing alright." The message clicked off, and started playing another one from Korina. She hit the delete button to all of them except the one from Richard, saving it and settling back down into the pillows.

Her phone displayed WEDNESDAY, and her heart sank a little, wondering just how her father was doing. Some weeks were better than others, with him. Sometimes he'd last months without popping a pill or shooting up. And his voice sounded so clear on the phone. But... she didn't want to get her hopes up. It seemed like right after he was doing well, were always the times he crashed the hardest.

Only then noticing that it was almost 5pm in the evening. Sixteen hours had gone by, then. A new day, the sun still shining from outside through a slit in the curtains on the other side of the room.
 
Keiran was unresponsive, until he became aware of a low-tone of hysterics, golden hues cracking open slightly, his hearing too sharp to simply tune the sounds out. Realizing that such annoying sounds were originating from Silennia's phone as she checked her messages. Ah, most likely Silennia's friend... Kerri? Karla...? Damn it all, why couldn't he remember something so simple? Shrugging it off, he didn't even bother to try and recall the name. Rolling over with a groan as he slowly stretched. A different voice playing out of the phone that really seemed to grab Silennia's attention more than the hysterical screeches that had been produced earlier.

Taking note of such, his interest piqued slightly. Though, he didn't ask. It wasn't as if she had many secrets left to really keep to herself, after all. One or two wouldn't hurt. Sitting up as he yawned, golden hues catching the afternoon sun that shimmered at the edge of the curtains. The last few hours of sunlight still remaining. Faintly wondering if Mina had come around yet. Not likely, but, well, Mina was full of surprises.

Smiling to Silennia softly as she laid back into the pillows, gently pushing a strand of hair back behind her ear, "How are you feeling?" A simple, casual question, but it was sincere. Studying her face carefully as he asked, coming to stretch out beside her, waiting for her response. Somewhere else in the apartment, the sound of running water distantly audible. Most likely Mina in the shower- so she was awake. That was a good sign, he hoped.
 
Sapphire met with gold, turning onto her side to face Keiran, watching as he stretched out. Also hearing the water run. At least Mina was okay enough to shower. That was a start.

She smiled sleepily and shut her eyes with the feel of his fingers playing along her ear to tuck away that raven strand. "I don't really know how I feel," she murmured, eyes still shut. "I know how everything else feels, which is... surreal. But not quite... how I feel." Things did in fact feel surreal. As if it were a dream, after so many nights of having nightmares.

Her expression soured a bit, furrowing her eyebrows as she opened her eyes once more. Looking just off to the side, not wanting to look Keiran in the eye. "I'm... sorry, for what happened." A lump welled in her throat, choking her a bit, but she swallowed it back. "If you just... knew what I went through." She began chewing on her lower lip. "So many nights, thinking you'd come for me. Thinking I was safe, at last. But I couldn't see. And..."

It took her a few moments to collect herself, finally looking up into gold, her own eyes slightly glassy. "He used you against me every chance he got. And it just. It broke me. It killed me. I died in there, and I still don't know how I came back. He said I was strong, but how does someone just come back to life?" She was talking faster and faster, even stumbling on her words a bit. "How does someone look at their body, look at what's around it, just to come back and kill? There was an incubus there. When I died. There were three demons. The... bigger one, was this... horribly grotesque creature." She shuddered, looking away from him again and off to the side. Remembering.

"I could see through his skin. One eye was bigger than the other. His fingers were so... long. Half as long as his arm. And they were broken, deformed, with claws like I've... like I've never seen before. And he felt just like you. And I thought, is this how you really are? Are you that... monster?" She knew the answer, but she couldn't help but ask it anyway. "Some... creature that deceives, mimics the person that someone loves, to try and get to them? Is that really all they do?"

The questions were unfair. Unnecessary. But they tumbled out anyway, feeling doubtful about everything now that she was able to actually sit and think about it. Her voice trembled just slightly, refusing to meet his gaze now. "Is that all you and Mina are? Are you all the same monsters?"
 
He was quiet as he listened, each graphic detail only building silent rage deep within him. The idea of another incubus near his Silennia.... touching her, tricking her... pretending to be him. The thought revolted him, biting back on his tongue as he let her continue talking.

Once, he had told Silennia that others of his kind, his gender, were grotesque. Monstrous.... but... he had hoped that she would never actually meet another of his kind. His hand coming up to cradle her cheek, coming to rest his forehead against hers in a comforting gesture as she asked that painful question.

Those golden hues closing a moment as he gathered his thoughts, before he blurted something out that would sound harsher than he meant. How could he tell her she was wrong? Before he had met her.... before he had ever laid eyes on her... he didn't give a second thought to the women he preyed on. He took those he fancied, ravished them, drained them... chased after the prettiest, most savory women he could find. Often having taken advantage of Shiori's unique situation of holding a human host, feeding from her... and Mina, a gifted shape-shifter, often would lead men astray, wearing the faces of those who appealed to them- whether a desirable woman, or a lover.

When Silennia put it that way... she wasn't wrong, despite his desire to argue against her.

Keiran's lips parting as he sought the words to answer her, "We..." He trailed off. Realizing this answer was more difficult than he had foreseen, "We are... and at the same time, we're not." He frowned, "What you seen in there... those other incubi... they are in fact the same... species as me." A fact he hated to admit, grimacing at the statement, "But, I'm not the same as them. They... are what I was supposed to be. What I would have been born as if Vermina had not been my mother." The words bitter as he spoke them, clearly struggling with them, "We... me and Mina, we're... superior. Stronger. More complete."

What a difficult thing to explain. He couldn't imagine a question more unfair. As if he had asked to be born as what he was, "I'm the only one like myself. I don't have to use glamour spells to entice women.... nor can I help what I have to do to survive." With those last words, he met her gaze hard.

"This is what I am, but to compare me to them would be like me to compare you to... to Abigor." The statement was blunt. Harsh, almost. While he might have been a monster in Silennia's eyes, Abigor was just as much so to Keiran. Just being in the demon's presence being enough to drain the blood from his face. The air suffocating when the hell prince was around... and at times... Silennia's aura had begun to match in some ways.

"You didn't ask for his blood in your veins any more than I asked for Vermina's."
 
Superior. Stronger. Accurate words, from what Silennia could tell. She was comforted when Keiran placed his forehead against hers, keeping her eyes shut as she listened to him speak. Honestly, she had not thought about the comparison he made to her own sire, but it was true. And he was right; she really had no room to judge. He did not choose the way he survived.

She wondered absently if Vermina knew the gender of the child within her. If she knew she'd name it Keiran. What she would do if he came out looking anything less than the perfection that he displayed. If she would have tossed him to the side, had he come out disfigured like the male Silennia met within Abigor's realm.

All questions she left unasked after a few short moments of contemplation.

She didn't doubt that Keiran didn't have to glamour women; she couldn't imagine anyone turning him down. Especially with his air of charm. Hundreds of years of practice would mold him to where it was second nature.

It then occurred to her that, realistically, Keiran could have hundreds of children... But because he was a perfect specimen, the mothers probably wouldn't even have noticed. The children had, more likely than not, the appearance and mannerisms of a human. Until sexual maturity, that is.

She heard the water turn off in the other bathroom, and took that moment to change the uncomfortable subject. "Is Mina going to be alright?" Knowing that the succubus had her fair share of beatings.

It hadn't gone unnoticed, the way the redhead acted around Abigor.
 
Thankful for the change of subject, Keiran frowned a little, "I have no idea. Mina is... always has been, unpredictable. I've never seen her pushed to this extreme before, though." From the feel of Mina's aura, she hadn't fed. It was dull, not as strong and demanding as it had been before, quite sure her lack of color was either the same or worse. Any further, and surely she would go into a frenzy. A thought that made his shudder, remembering how those crimson hues had bled black, even the whites of her eyes being overtake as her instincts took over and drove her. It was a pitiful state for any succubus or incubus to go into- no matter how weak or powerful.

For Mina though, it was downright dangerous to anyone around her. Male, female, it didn't matter. She could take advantage of anyone with her abilities, tailored to be a perfect predator amoung her own kind, "I would be... wary of her." A bit of advice to Silennia- who's aura had darkened- changed... and was now similar to her sire's- a sire that nearly drove Mina mad with want, hungry or not. In this condition... Keiran couldn't help but worry how she would react. In fact, the realization made him pale a little, hearing the water shut off.

Surely she wouldn't-
As much as he would like to entertain the thought that Mina would never try to hurt Silennia- at least, not in her right mind, there was the simple truth that right now, Mina herself didn't really have much of a choice in the matter if she surrundered to desire.
------------------------

Stepping out of the shower, she twisted the ends of her hair, water dripping into the tub as she reached for a towel, pulling it around herself. Mina, quite frankly, feeling like shit. Steam fogging up the mirror somewhat, but she knew the reflection in the mirror would reveal a dull and sickly looking girl. Her skin holding almost a greyish hue to it rather than it's alabaster glow. Red hair almost a dull brown, and if she pushed it any further- she knew it would fade to black all together. Dressing at the slowest of paces as she rummaged through her suitcase- something that she had very pain-stackingly had dragged into the bathroom in her weariness, still feeling exhausted after being asleep for so long.... but she had to do something, unable to stand the filth that had clung to her, grumbling under her breath about how Keiran had let her sleep in such a state.

Wiping steam away from the glass slowly as she took one disdainful look at herself in the mirror, jumping when a voice abruptly answered, "You look like shit." Her breath hitching when a hand came out of the glass, catching her by the throat, completely caught off guard as a soft laugh sounded, Shiori spilling out of the mirror, "What? Have you forgotten me so soon?" Her grip tightened, Mina too weak to really fight back as the demon's hand tightened around the succubi's throat, her other hand covering Mina's mouth so that the girl couldn't scream for help or cry out, pressing her hard against the floor as the door clicked- locking itself. The air growing colder by the second as frost crawled across the floor, originating from Shiori's hands.

Taking advantage of a rare opportunity to snuff the succubus out. After all, Keiran was too preoccupied with his lover... Adriel was at a distance... and it could well be over a century before Mina could be caught again in such a weak state. Those red nails clawing at Shiori's skin just barely scratching her, not even able to draw blood.

"How pitiful." She breathed into Mina's ear, "How humiliating."
 
Silennia didn't put two and two together, not really sure why Keiran told her to be wary of his sister. Other than the fact that succubus might be unstable in such a weakened state. She nodded anyway, tucking her head beneath his chin. Part of her wanted to go out into the sunlight, while the afternoon was still warm, but she also didn't really want to leave her bed. The stress of the past few weeks melting off of her, bit by bit, in Keiran's company.

Her brow furrowed, feeling... something. Extremely faint, just a tickle along her skin, accompanied by the sound of a voice. How strange. Mina talking to herself? She didn't know the girl; it could have been a habit she had.

Although she'd been in Shiori's presence before, she'd never been able to pick up on it, and didn't recognize it now. Her state of exhaustion wasn't helping matters either. She felt as though she could sleep for another week and still not be where she should. It was most likely going to be a long road to recovery.

What's taking her so long? Silennia had a general feeling of discomfort begin closing in around her, wondering why she hadn't heard the bathroom door open yet. Sitting up in bed to listen more closely. "I... don't know if she's alright," she said quizzically, turning to Keiran. After his warning, she wasn't sure if she wanted to check on the succubus, either. He wouldn't have told her to be wary for no reason.
 
Humiliating wasn't even the word for it, trying to call on her flames, but she simply... didn't have anything left. A faint flicker just barely making itself known, Shiori having to bite back on a laugh, not wanting to draw any more attention than necessary as she pumped more frost into Mina's skin, ice crystals literally forming on her throat- In her throat. Those red eyes growing wide as Mina tried desperately to fight back. Not like this. Not when she had just made it out of Abigor's realm alive and in one piece-

Suddenly sinking teeth into the hand that covered her mouth- biting down as hard as she possibly could, before Shiori could try to freeze her any further, causing the raven haired mirror demon to draw back with a hiss of pain, blood dripping from the wound as Mina's voice ripped out, yelling as loud as she could before Shiori violently slammed her fist into the girl's face, a sickening crack sounding, grabbing hold of either side of her head as she channeled her power straight into Mina, ice rapidly crawling across her cheeks, crawling downwards as Mina still tried to break free.

--------------------------------------------------

When Silennia had spoken- Keiran too had sensed something amiss, pushing himself up once more as he came to sit on the edge of the bed, frowning. Surely not. They had JUST gotten out of harm's way. Keiran was already halfway to the door, having gone from being wary of Mina, to suddenly wrenching the door open and running towards the bathroom as a cry sounded, a chill lingering just in front of the door, unnaturally so. His hand falling on the knob as he tried to twist it open-
locked. The sounds of a struggle going on inside that he knew all too well. His eyes widening as he felt the whisper of a elusive aura he knew well.

"SHIORI!" Slamming his fist against the door, he focused, billows of black smoke forming around him as they slipped under the edge of the door, using them to click the lock open as he shoved the door itself open.

The sight that greeted him stunning him as he took it in, black hues locking onto gold, releasing Mina's face as the succubus fell limp- still alive, but in rough shape, making a dive for the mirror as she realized her time was up-

But Keiran wasn't going to let that happen, a tendril of darkness catching the woman by the ankle in a manner similar to what Lillian had done to Mina just hours earlier, dragging the demon across the floor as he furiously came down on her, snarling as he roughly flipped her over unto her back, a string of laughter ripping from her, as if she enjoyed being rough handled by him, "Hey lover boy." She seethed, spitting at him, Keiran just barely dodging his head out of the way. Unsure what to do with her. Seeing that her mirror was absent. Without it, killing her wasn't a option. No, destroying her host would just set the demon herself free into whatever reflection or hell plane was nearest.

"I miss our little tumbles~ don't you?" Her voice purred, a long slender leg coming to wrap around his waist, taunting him, but he simply caught hold of it, slamming it back against the floor, "What the hell is wrong with you?" His words not seeming to affect her at all as she broke into a fit of laughter, suddenly slamming her palm against his chest as a chill ripped into the air once more, a sliver of ice ripping out of his back- going all the way through him. Enough to startle him into releasing her, the demon laying a rough kiss onto him, biting his lip and making another move for the mirror, which rippled like water in response to her- the reflection in the mirror a different being all together- similar, but her features were slightly different, icy blue eyes shimmering and white hair. Gone in a instant with the girl as she vanished into it's frame.

Gone just as suddenly as she had come.

Keiran hissing as his hand covered the now open hole in his chest, Shiori having just barely missed his heart.

The intent of her visit quite clear.
 
Silennia jumped from the bed upon hearing the commontion, quickly wrapping a robe around her and tying it in time to see Keiran jerk open the door. Seeing Shiori in there, pinning Mina down, brown hair spilling around the girl on the floor in her weakened state. Seeming to fade more black by the second with that ice climbing around her face and throat. Keiran's dark tendrils catching the other demon and dragging her down onto the floor.

A flush of anger pushing through Silennia as the demon's leg wrapped around the incubus. Her words causing fire to sear through Silennia's veins. Of course he'd have someone to regularly feed on. For all she knew, Shiori had fed them both; unknowing of how long the woman accompanied them in their travels. But in Silennia's current state... it didn't matter. It was another treachery from Keiran, as he hadn't told her of his unique relationship.

Sapphire went black as that shard of ice shot through Keiran, coated in blood. Shiori slipping through the mirror. Silennia running past Keiran and slamming her fist into the glass just as the last bit of the other woman disappeared. Mirror shards imbedded into her flesh, but it didn't matter to her. She hardly felt it. Blood pouring from her flesh as she turned and looked at the siblings before her.

Both of them were going to live; neither fatally wounded. She wasn't sure she wanted to touch either of them, the rage coursing through her. "How about it, Keiran?" she hissed, crouching over him. "Do you miss your little tumbles?" She reached down, ripping the ice from his chest and tossing it to the side before stepping over him completely and exiting the room. Pulling out the bigger pieces of glass, watching her skin stitch itself together. The trail of blood finally stopping as the last big cut healed up. Smaller pieces still remained, but she was too agitated to mess with them, tugging on a sweater and sweat pants after de-robing. She snatched her phone from the table and left the apartment, moving down the iced-over steps with finesse.

Heading in the direction of Korina's home, not bothering to take a taxi. Needing the fresh, crisp air to fill her as light began fading from the sky, the sun already lowered behind the buildings. Rational thoughts didn't occupy her mind, for the moment. Images of Keiran on top of Shiori, naked; even the other way around, hands wandering over each other's bodies... all of these, worming their way through.

She wasn't sure how long she'd walked when she finally reached Korina's house, but it was dark, and the temperature had dropped drastically. It was usually a twenty minute drive. As always, the door was unlocked, allowing her to slip inside. Korina nowhere to be found, though traces of life were left behind recently. Silennia hovered her hand over the stove top, still warm, just cool enough to touch. A single dirty pan and plate in the sink. She'd have left within the last ten minutes or so, then, and Silennia hoped that she wasn't making her way toward her apartment, dialing her friend's phone and growling in frustration when it went straight to voicemail.

It'd been some time since she'd been in this house. In a relatively decent part of the neighborhood, there weren't many break ins. A total of four in the past five years for the whole place. The poshness of it made Silennia feel uncomfortable. Everyone had trimmed lawns, and perfectly groomed tiny, white dogs. The home was actually owned by Korina's grandmother, who had all but disowned her alcoholic father after seeing bruises on younger Korina's tiny, malnourished form. The man hadn't been seen or heard of in years, so Korina lived here now, while her grandmother was placed in a nursing home due to debilitating seizures and dementia. A sad story, really.

Silennia turned on the kitchen light and looked around before seeing an empty coffee pot, promptly filling it with water and putting in the grounds. The smell was heaven. Ten minutes later, she was laying on the couch, absently watching television and sipping on the coffee. Not wanting to go through the events in her head, but acknowledging that it was something that needed to be done.

She wasn't sure if she could keep taking so much stress, sure that grey hairs would soon show up along her scalp if her life kept on this way.
 
Damn it all. Shiori slipping through his fingers- her intentional taunts setting Silennia into a rage, hissing when she'd yanked that sliver of ice out of his chest, shards of broken glass scattered across the floor- the incubus almost swearing that for a second, he could see Shiori still lingering for a moment, but, perhaps he was just seeing things. Having tried to grab Silennia's wrist, but she'd jerked away from his touch, not even slowing down or acknowledging his attempt to reason with him. Placing his hands over his face for a moment after she'd left, as if just needing a moment to recollect himself before finally returning to Mina.

Lifting her up so that she lingered in a sitting position, barely hearing her when she rasped out, "I'll..... kill her..." A sentiment he shared with her at the moment, shaking his head, "We'll get her later." He remarked, "For now," He paused, seeing those eyes of her's flecked with black, "For now," He started again, "You need to feed. Desperately." He muttered, wondering how exactly they were going to go about that. She needed to look healty to entice someone- which required glamor spells for her to hide her sicklyness.... and right now, she couldn't even defend herself.

Who did they know in this area who would willingly lie with Mina in this condition...? Shaking his head in frustration when none came to mind, "Damn it!" He snapped, scooping her up in his arms. He would find out later where Silennia had gone... let her cool off before attempting to explain himself. Wanting to rip Shiori's pretty head off for what she had done- both to Mina and himself. Driving a wedge between him and Silennia's already fragile relationship. Almost like she was.... jealous. Was she? The thought seemed ridiculous to him, keeping to the shadows as he found himself on the street, not even really conscious of actually leaving the apartment, so deep in thought as he was.

Keeping to the alleyways as he sought for a spot where no one would see him, white leathery wings spreading from his back. If he had to leave town, so be it. Flying into the steadily diminishing light, the sun having sunk deep enough now that unless someone was REALLY paying attention to the sky, they wouldn't notice him, keeping Mina securely held in his arms in the meantime. Conscious of those strands of hair that were steadily fading to black, Mina occasionally moaning in pain, "Hang in there..." His voice low, murmuring into her ear as he flew. Reaching out, searching- passing the occasional demon below, but none that he recognized. Unsure of how far he flew before finally- something caught his interest, landing abruptly.

Quite far out of town at this point, those wings folding down against his back as he waited, looking around slowly. Two of them- with quite similar auras. Paitent as they approached, the two stepping out of the tree line with identical faces- their coloration quite different, however. One with slightly tanned skin, garnet hued eyes and shoulder-length black hair. Seeming to be near nineteen years in age, but Keiran knew better, golden hues shifting towards the other who who was a pale replica, long silver hair falling down his back and red eyes- albino, it seemed, the front part braided back out of his face. Their ears pointed just slightly. The two perking up as they seemed to recognize Keiran.

Kerosha and Aeirulos, "What are the odds of finding you two clear out here?" Keiran mused, not surprised when Kerosha nearly bounced across the rest of the distance, ignoring Keiran and gasping as he seen Mina, "What the hell happened???" Aeirulos joining him, "Mina!" Their voices filled with adoration for the succubus, "Who hurt her? We'll kill them!" They hissed, both in a eerie unison that set them bickering with one another, Keiran wincing slightly, letting them take her into their arms, "Kill? No, too quick~" One of them mused, "A slow poisoning, perhaps?" Aeirulos clicking his tongue, "Unnecessary." He muttered, quieter, more mature seeming than his twin. Seeming to have forgotten to actually let Keiran explain. Not that he complained. It was better than having to deal with the two any longer than he needed to, Kerosha kissing at Mina's skin, clearly fond of her.

Keiran glancing around the clearing that he had landed in. Not surprised to realize that he was more of less in the middle of the woods. The twin serpents rather fond of such locations- the incubus seeing that even after hundreds of years they hadn't really changed much- just aged a bit more.

Aeirulos waving Keiran off, "Go... twiddle your thumbs or something- go find yourself a whore. Busy yourself." He remarked bluntly, waving at the incubus as if he was a pest rather than a supposed 'friend'. Keiran seeming irritated, but obliging. The twins adored Mina- they were perhaps the best demons to leave her with. He knew that they would never harm her. His wings spreading as he took off. While quite distant from where he had started, he knew she wouldn't have trouble finding her way back to him, not even hesitating when leaving her behind. Thankful that the twins hadn't been TOO far off- at least, not when flying.

By this time, night having settled in, blanketing the world in darkness, save for the dim light of the moon, which glistened off of his white wings.
 
Silennia wasn't sure how many hours had gone by, but she knew for sure that she'd watched one too many episodes of Rugrats on Korina's enormous television. The coffee pot had been drank and refilled, halfway gone once again. Tiny bits of glass lay on the table beside her from where she picked the rest out of her skin, and now there were only pink marks there as a temporary reminder of the damage she'd done. Putting off thinking about Keiran until... well, now.

Was there any reason he should have told her about his time with Shiori? She seemed like it was something reasonable for any other man to do, but Keiran was with her for a specific reason - feeding. Or was it that simple? Had he developed feelings for the woman, and had she reciprocated them, until Silennia came along? Had she destroyed something between the two? Obviously thinking drastically, she then wondered when the last time he fed on her was.

Was it... after he'd met Silennia?

She didn't realize how hard she was gripping the mug in her hands until it shattered, spilling hot coffee all over her chest and lap. "God damn it!" she snapped, jumping up and tearing off her top. Her proportions were different now, but she'd still fit in some of Korina's more comfortable clothes - making her way toward the bedroom when she heard the front door open and close. Silennia sighed in relief, letting her guard down completely, not worrying about her upper half being naked in front of her friend. They'd seen every bit of each other before; they were like sisters and shared just about everything.

"I'm so glad you're--" she froze, covering her chest, as it wasn't Korina standing there, but rather Raoul. He had what looked to be a paper bag filled with groceries in it, and he stood there with a confused expression on his face, taking in the sight of the black-haired girl. "Where's Korina?" Her voice was sharp, using the soiled shirt to cover her chest further.

"She went out," Raoul said simply. He turned, walking into the kitchen and setting down the groceries, pulling each item out of the bag and putting them in their designated areas. Small cans of juice, fruits, some vegetables, a loaf of bread, eggs, and a large bottle of some kind of pills. Vitamins?

"Went out where?"

The man looked at her, bored, but didn't answer the question.

It was then that Silennia realized he was a demon. He'd shown Keiran, but she hadn't been 'awake' enough to feel it. And... he was a relatively powerful one, at that. His presence giving her goosebumps, making her feel like she had to back away from him. Yet she stood firm, only turning to go into the bedroom, rummaging for another sweatshirt. She only found a hoodie - better, since she was in the house with a man she didn't know, without wearing anything beneath it. It displayed the mascot for some college sports team, a dolphin with a helmet on its head. She made her way back into the living room, where Raoul was now sitting in a recliner next to where she'd spilled the coffee on herself.

For a solid minute she stood there with her arms crossed defensively across her chest, eyes narrowed at him. He finally looked up. "Can I help you?" A strange question.

She sat down on the side of the couch that was furthest from him, but still stared. "Why are you here?"

"I've been here for a few weeks, now," he stated in monotone.

"Why?"

His eyes glittered with slight annoyance. "That's what people do, when they date. They move in together."

Silennia shook her head. "No, not this quickly. I just met you. She would have told me."

Now Raoul smiled, but it was sickeningly sweet. Causing a chill to run up the girl's spine. For a few seconds, he didn't answer, finally giving her, "You may not know your friend as well as you think you do."

Silennia abruptly stood, going to the kitchen where the pill bottle still sat, and picked it up. Displayed on the front was the silhouette of a dainty woman, holding a very swollen belly. No. She stormed back into the living room, holding the bottle. "She's pregnant?" she snapped.

"Eight weeks today," he chirped. Unfazed completely, not even looking at Silennia at this point - flipping through the channels. He was dressed quite elegantly, in a beige suit, complete with a black tie. He hadn't even taken off his shoes yet.

Silennia threw the bottle at him with a decent amount of force, but he caught it, as if she'd tossed him an apple. "There's no need for violence." There was a dangerous tone to his voice, and she truly wanted to back out of the room and go back to her own home. Yet something surged in her blood, told her to keep pushing forward. Testing her limits.

"What are you?" she finally asked.

Raoul looked at the vitamins in his hand and placed them on the side table, next to the shards of glass, before bending down and slowly untying his shoes. "I am a watcher of men," he started, then stopped. "I was a watcher of men. And then came The Fall." He sat up straight, meeting Silennia's gaze. "Angels that fell too far from God's grace, as they, too, fell in love with the beautiful, dying creatures of this plane. And he judged us." Raoul stood. "He judged us for loving his creations, as though they were made not to be loved. Judged us for giving them art, and music. Beautiful girl, we were judged even as we fell." His face turned grim, and only then did Silennia notice that he was standing in front of her. She'd been completely entranced by his gaze, only now snapping out of it enough to take a step backwards.

Not a demon at all, but an angel. Yet, what were fallen angels, if not demons?

"He took our grace," he continued, but he'd sat back down. "Blackened it. Distorted it, so all others would know how we loved. And I have loved, Silennia." Again he looked at her. "But please know, that none of them have ever equaled Korina. And I will protect her from everything on this earth." Brown eyes suddenly flashed gold. "Even you. I recommend keeping that new temper of yours in check, because I do not want to check it for you."

She sat quietly where she'd been before, as far away from him as she could get within the room.

"My true name is Ramiel." It was the last thing he said to her before the front door opened once more, and his flashing gold eyes returned to brown. Silennia turned her head just slightly, seeing her redheaded friend staring at her with a look of confusion upon her face.
 
She had failed to kill the little bitch. Irritation gripping her tightly as Shiori climbed once more of a mirror- only god knows where, taking a moment to familiarize herself with her new location. Though, she didn't give it much thought, exiting the bathroom as she blended in with the crowd, realizing that she had slipped into Damien's nightclub, apparently. Almost laughing, smoothing back black strands of loose hair. Feeling bruised where Keiran had rough-handled her. Thinking of her next course of action as she casually ordered herself a drink, settling down on a stool at the bar. She had missed her opportunity to kill Mina... and the red head was known for her wrath- perhaps just as much as Adriel was. A serious mistake on her part.

Tapping unpainted short nails against the bar top, barely even conscious of the bar tender when he slid her drink in front of her, mumbling a half-hearted 'thank you' before paying him, pulling cash out of her bra and tossing it towards him, "Keep the change."

Tipping the glass back as she savored the bitterness that hit her tongue, numbing the inside of her mouth as she swished it around, swallowing.

Turning away from the bar as her black gaze slid over the crowd. Busy as ever, it seemed. Reaching back as she braided her thick hair back into a braid, tying it off. Her nerves slowly settling. Lowly muttering to herself, "I fucked up." Indeed. Mina and Keiran would have a vendetta out on her. Adriel would want her head on a stick if he caught onto what had happened... but...

A small smirk tugged at the edge of her lips. She was free. Free from Mina... from Adriel... Keiran... Taking another swallow, she set the glass back on the bar- now empty, thinking of Keiran as a unexpected jolt ran through her. Sickened as she realized what it was- jealousy. She hated him. Despised him. Sickened by how those golden eyes had turned away from her, turning back to the bar as the realization set in, "I'm going to need another one." She muttered, settling back onto the bar stool.

Jealousy...? How could that be? Running the tip of her finger around the edge of the glass as it was refilled, resting her head against her hand. Breaking into a sudden fit of laughter as she thought about how she had set Silennia off- well aware that the mirror that she had attacked Mina through has been shattered- a strike that had been meant for her. Oh, she'd gotten beneath the hell spawn's skin for sure, and that satisfied her, despite how dangerous it was. Silennia could rip her in half if she wanted to, but Shiori didn't care- no, she had cared for too long, lived submissively for too long... she couldn't bear another moment of it. Wouldn't.

Such thoughts being the main drive behind her betrayal. She had grown weary of living under someone else's whims and control. Sipping at the whiskey in her glass, patting at her pocket in search for a cigarette- not caring if she wasn't supposed to smoke inside the club. Simply smiling when the bar tender shook his head, pointing towards the back exit, waving him off, "Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm going, I'm going." Sliding off the bar stool as she fumbled for a lighter, cursing as she realized she'd lost hers.
 
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