Pilate's Ring (Aine & Greeneyed23)

[Aine]

As if things couldn't get any stranger, the angel disappeared into a cut he made int he air. Lucia's mouth opened slightly, as she glanced around to room. How could one simple ring, create so much.....chaos. It was just a gold ring, it looked like something you could buy off ebay for twenty bucks. When he emerged, the angel looked different. The dark wings were gone, and he had eyes. Thinking about it she had never really noticed that they weren't there before. His face had been covered though, so she assumed that was the reason.

Now that she could actually see his face, he was quiet good looking. The eyes threw her off a bit, but she would probably flirt with him if she met him in a bar. She looked to the ring again as he spoke of it. Gripping it she tried to pull it off herself. Of course it wouldn't budge, but she just really wanted to be rid of it. "It just looked like a ring. I was going to turn it into the police station after work tonight." She frowned a little, the realization that life would no longer be the same hitting her.

Looking first at his hands, then is face when he took hers. The strange symbol disappearing to some place inside her. Nodding, " I promise, just make sure I don't hurt anyone else okay?" She agreed to what he told her, she couldn't image what the pain would feel like when she kept her promise though. "I'm ready," her frown still remained. "Is it going to be like this for a long time," she asked solemnly.

 

[Greeneyed23]

He shook his head as he lead her out onto the street just as the ambulances arrived to tend to the unhurt and forgetful pair sleeping in the corner. Somehow they did not see or notice Lucia and her escort.

He moved her along easily, his grip on her arm gentle yet still incredibly strong. he did not speak until they were well away from the bar. "The relics of Hell are often interesting and appealing treasures, and often formed as foul imitations as the relics of Heaven. You wear the ring of Pilate. Our Lord's earthly mother bears her own ring still. We have the spear of destiny under guard in the Vatican. They have the spear of Damnation, the spear that killed an entire church and tribe in Africa. The list goes on and on. The trouble is, and I mean no offense I assure you, that mortals such as yourselves cannot help being drawn to these items. They hold an allure and glamor all their own."

he gently squeezed her arm trying to comfort. "Even alone they beg to be returned to safety because even mortals without the sight can sense the danger they present, whether divine or infernal. I've no doubt you meant to return it. Had you meant to use it you never would have called on the Father for aid as it was. But you did, unknowingly, harm your very soul by putting the ring on. Better you had never found it. If you had not realized it was this wicked device that caused the deaths of the waitress and cook from the diner you found it behind."

They turned onto her street, he was moving them very quickly, and he nodded. "I'm afraid it will indeed take some time. We must avoid cities, and other population centers. there the demonic power might overcome you. Get your keys Lucia. we must hurry. I sense more demons coming in and though i can and will fight them they can hurt you before I vanquish them. And you should now I haven't actually killed any of them. I simply sent them back to the pit to be forced to restore themselves to new forms. A time consuming affair. Especially as they have to be punished first and the torturers of the pit are known for prolonging their work."

He said this with a certain knowledge and a dark coldness that sent a chill through the air but he nodded gently squeezing her arm again. "Please hurry."

 

[Aine]

Finding herself a few times glancing down at the hand gripping her arm. Maybe he thought she would try and run. She didn't see much point in running, he could probably catch her before she got even a few steps. He began to speak though, talking about different relics. Things she didn't even know existed, until just now. The thought of stuff like this existing was both frightening, and interesting. "None taken," she responded to his precursor apology. So far it was the only words she was able to squeeze out during this entire lesson.

For whatever reason, when he spoke of the waitress and cook who had died just a few days before, she looked back in that direction. The diner itself was no longer in view. Thinking about it now though, it made sense that the ring was the cause. She saw the entire events unfold, and the after math when she had been wearing it for only a few minutes. In a whisper tone, "I heard it was a jealous lover thing." Rumors were always quick to fly around though, and crime of passion was always the easy way to explain things. She thought about how they could have ended up with it, maybe she would ask that later though.

Of course deep down she knew this would take a long time. She knew that her life as she knew it, only this morning was completely over. School was out of the question, how could she put herself around that many innocent people? She also would never be able to pursue the career she thought she would have since a child. All this because of some stupid ring laying in the gutter. Some times being an honest person turned out to be only a curse. She should have left the piece of shit where it was, maybe it would have gotten swept down the sewer drain, never to be see again.

Oddly when she reached into the jacket that belong to Caleb, her keys were there. She had left them in her purse back at the bar. Pushing the oddness aside, after all this was not the strangest thing to happen today. She unlocked the door to her small apartment, just as she felt a slight chill. Nodding she walked to her bedroom, "I will only be five minutes." She called back to him once she entered the door closing it. Grabbing a back pack, she figured the less she had to carry the better. She filled it with a few articles of clothing, a hair brush, and some hair ties. Pulling out a pair of ripped leggings, a set of overall shorts, a white Mickey Mouse t-shirt, and a pair of black and red argyle knee high socks she threw it all on the bathroom counter.

There was blood in her hair and on her hands still. She had to wash it off before anything else. Turning the shower on she stepped inside, immediately feeling a little better as the hot water streamed over her. The water at her feet stained red as it swirled down the drain. Knowing she didn't have much time, she quickly washed herself. Scrubbing her hair and under her finger nails. Clean she turned the water off and stepped out, grabbing the towel hanging to the right. She wrapped it around her hair, and began to get dressed. She would do something with her hair once it was dry.

Grabbing a pair of ankles boots, she walked back into her living room. They had mostly a flat sole, and covered her ankles. They were the most practical shoes that she owned, besides the blood stained white sneakers. "Hey I know I said five minutes, but I still had Veronica's blood in my hair." When she was fully dressed she stood. Getting a sudden dizzy feeling, she reached out to grab him. "I don't feel very well right now," she said, her breaths a little labored.

 

[Greeneyed23]

He caught her gently. "I am not surprised. You are not a cruel or violent woman but much of both has been forced through your heart and mind."

He helped her sit then stepped back resuming his examinations of her entertainment selection. He had ignored her movies and tv, and instead was looking through her books, a soft smile curving his lips.

While she was near him he ensured her dizziness would be eased, while also her guilt and fears. This was why he had held her arm as they moved. He had vanquished the demons around and even in her, but the ring itself possessed evil and fear of such measure as to defy imagination, and these would continue to try and break her mind as long as she bore both the ring and it's mark upon her.

He drew one of her books out of a shelf, studying the title and author. "It has been many years since i was last able to see human print. Is this a popular work? The libraries of Heaven possess all published work entire so we have little need of such knowledge. But I know not this title."

He lay it on the table beside her and continued searching the titles. "One wonders why you mortals spend so much time in idleness. Would it not be better to work toward your dreams and goals?" he looked at her genuinely curious and the ring or something else gave her a flash of knowledge. The being before he had never been human. A warrior ancient beyond thinking he had served in the wars of Heaven during his whole existence. He had read much of human working, though much of it he did not understand, he had discovered much about human nature and communication.

He smiled at her and though his strange eyes glowed they were certainly not with human emotion. His smile was perfect and kind, but there was also the truth of him in it. He was a warrior made in and for battle. The way he stood his eyes on her but his body arched away from the door, one hand always free and near where his swords lay hidden, while his wings formed an impenetrable shield for his back.

"Feeling any better?"