I feel ridiculous in all of these fancy dresses and modeling them. This princess shit is not my thing anymore. I blow a chunk of hair out of my face as I shimmy out of this dress and reach for another one.

"What happened to you? All you used to talk about when we were young was how you wanted to go shopping. It drove me nuts."

"You and me both." Ash chuckles. I mentally flip them off as I pull on the next dress. The last one, I think cheerfully.

"I miss those days," Abby says with a dramatic sigh. "When she used to be all girly. At least she didn't lose her sense of fashion. She hates shopping but always comes back with something cute if she ever goes."

"All her jeans do make her ass look great," Dean says. I can imagine him fondling the air and I laugh softly.

"If I started dressing poorly I'd never hear the end of it from you and all we'd do is go shopping," I yell through the door. "Come zip me up."

"Coming," Dean responds in less than a second. "Ouch." I hear a smack. Good lookin' out Abby. She closes the door behind her and makes quick work of zipping my dress.

"This is definitely the one." Abby nudges me out into the living room. The soft red fabric clings to my breast and stomach and loosens up when it hits my waist. A slit running up my left thigh makes the dress sexy but elegant at the same time.

"I don't understand why I even have to wear a dress," I grumble.

"I could lie and say I did it for you but I did it for myself and the rest of the guys. Seeing you modeling those dresses made my life worth living." He lets out a low whistle and laugh. I roll my eyes and try to suppress my smirk.

"You are my hero." Dean praises.

"If you play with fire Dev. You'll get burned." I warn.

"Alright, alright. You're wearing the dress because I'm going to introduce you as my girlfriend. It's the best cover for why you'll be glued to my side starting tonight." Zach lets out a snort making me snap my attention in his direction.

"I'm sure Barron will understand that she's not your girlfriend but your bodyguard."

"Don't be jealous that I have a beautiful girl on my arm and you're alone. You should have moved faster." I lift my hand stopping Zach from responding. I'm pretty sure I don't want to hear whatever it is he has to say.

"If your hand goes anywhere inappropriate I will have your nuts in a jar," I say pointing at Deyvon. My sequin heel glistens when I lift my foot and set it on the table. The fabric falls from my leg leaving it bear and keeping my underwear covered. "Keep it in your pants guys and someone get me my thigh holster and some throwing knives," I say as I finish fastening up my shoe. Ash being the only one not distracted brings me what I asked for.

"That is going to bring up a few questions," Deyvon says as he eyes my guns and throwing blades.

"A girl should always be prepared," I say innocently. "There's no way I'm going anywhere without a weapon of some kind on me. I'm also bringing my blades just in case." I lift my leg from off the table and set it back on to the floor.

"It is hot; you have to admit," Dean says to Deyvon.

"Never said it wasn't." Deyvon replies.

"Oh god, you two becoming friends is not a good idea. He," I say pointing at Dean, "Will make you a man whore. Be careful. Let's go to this dinner before I make Abby and I switch positions." I toss my loosely curled hair behind my back and head to the door. "Come on people. The sooner we get this over with the better." We make our way to the limo quickly. I fight the urge to run back upstairs and change into something more comfortable. This isn't me. The fancy dresses and makeup. Yeah, I can kick some ass in this dress but I'd prefer doing it in my own wardrobe, preferably jeans. Not overpriced clothes picked out for me for fancy meals. I already miss the feel of my blades on either hip. This is ridiculous, I think to myself for the millionth time.

After a short ride, we drive up to a secluded home that looks like a castle. The wards covering the house make it look like an abandoned warehouse to the human eye. Most of the house is made up of light-colored stone with dark accents here and there. Large bronze werewolf statues stand guard at the front doors.

"Deyvon, I'm so glad you could make it." Barron greets him as we head up the steps. He doesn't bother hiding the yellow color of his eyes. His dark brown hair is tied up in a short braid and his tall lean body is well muscled. At first, I'm surprised at how young he is until I remember he recently replaced the previous council leader for the werewolves. This must have been quite a change from what he was doing before. "And this must be the lovely Jade." He lifts my hand and gently kisses it. I stare into his eyes as I concentrate and try to look inside his head. It's been a while since I've called upon this ability but after letting the walls waver I can see everything clearly. Nothing to worry about that puts Deyvon in immediate danger.

"It's an honor to meet you. I've heard wonderful things about you."

"I'm glad to hear it. I try my best to make everyone happy." Barron smiles politely. "Come in. The food should be ready any moment." We follow Deyvon and Barron who chat away. He must be barely twenty. Besides Deyvon and his parents, I've never met any other council member. Deyvon's parents are unpleasant, to say the least, but Barron doesn't seem so bad.

We walk down a hallway that seems to go on forever. The walls are decorated with large ornate paintings and every surface is spotless. At the end of the hall, we enter a large dining room with a table at least thirty feet long. Why does anyone need a table this big?

"Dean and Abby, stand outside the door," I tell them softly. Metal trays sit in three spots. One is at the head of the table and the other two are across from each other. We take our seats and the waiters lift the lids off our trays simultaneously. Steam pours out from the tray and a delicious scent fills my nose. Thank god it's not a plate of raw meat.

"So tell me, how did the two of you meet?"

"Well, it was love at first sight. When I saw her I knew I had to have her." He exaggerates. I restrain myself from rolling my eyes or gagging.

"Actually I was assigned as Deyvon's protector when we were young. I was stuck to his side like glue." I say using his phrase from earlier. "Unfortunately when we were twelve his parents decided they wanted him to come home and introduce him to all the Nephilim. He only recently came back into my life for a job he needed me to do. Since then we've been inseparable." I give him a fake loving head over heels smile. From the corner of the room, Ash coughs to cover his laugh. A little truth sprinkled with a lie always makes it more believable.

"I've heard a lot about you. I'm surprised that Deyvon's parents are okay with this." Barron says as he casually takes a bite of his rare steak. How subtle of him.

"You shouldn't believe everything that you hear." The wine I take a sip of goes down smoothly but I don't taste it.

"Are you not the youngest women to join the academy and then murder one of her instructors." The glass in my hand shatters from my grip. I clear my throat and take a deep calming breath.

"You are mistaken in thinking it was murder. I killed him because he was trying to kill me. Better to kill than be killed. That's what the academy teaches." Venom drips from every word I speak. One of the waiters' scurries to the table to clean up the shattered glass.

"Barron that wasn't polite," Deyvon says through clenched teeth.

"I'm just looking out for you. I've heard many other whispers about you Jade. The most repeated is you're dangerous." It seems I was too quick to judge. Barron is as unpleasant as Deyvon's parents.

"Barron, enough," Deyvon says angrily. Before I can respond I snap my mouth shut and look toward the direction of the front door. The familiar smell of cinnamon fills my nose and it's not from the dessert being placed in front of me.

"That's not possible." I murmur.

"Why not? Because Deyvon has fallen head over heels for you?" Barron scoffs and continues eating his steak. "I don't believe that for a minute." I ignore him and get up from the table.

"Ash and Zach stay close to Deyvon and Barron. Do not let them leave this room." I pull the nine millimeter from my leg holster and cock it to put a round in the chamber.

"What is it?" Ash takes out his sword and moves toward me.

"Someone's here and if it's who I think it is then something bad is going to happen. Close the door behind me. No one gets in." I order Abby and Dean. From behind me, I hear the thud of the large doors closing. I run to the entrance of the house arriving in only seconds.

"Open up, luv. You already know who it is." My heart slams into my chest from his voice. It's as soft and smooth as silk. Exactly like the last time I heard it. "I can hear your heart beating and your breathing. Let me see you. It's been too long." I open the door and aim the gun at his head. It won't kill him but it'll hurt like hell.

"What are you doing here?" I make my face an expressionless mask but inside my minds running a mile a minute. Him being here brings up a lot of questions but I can't think of anything except how he's even more beautiful than the last time I saw him. That's not even possible. He's a vampire, they don't change. His blond hair is cut short and those same glacier blue eyes I remember so well stare back at me. In my heels, I stand over him.

"No hello or how've you been?"

"What are you doing here?" I repeat.

"I'm here to save you, again." Before I can process his words he runs past me into the house. The whole you need to invite a vampire in or they can't enter, isn't true. "I had a vision yesterday and came as soon as possible. I'm glad I was close by. They'll be here soon. We need to get you and your precious council members out of here." I lower my gun and stare at him curiously. I knew him being here wasn't good.

"What'd you see," I ask as I head back to the dining room at a regular pace this time.

"Lots of demons with a fallen leading them."

"Shit!"

"Indeed but we can take them if need be. They're very close. I can hear them now."

"Me too but just barely. They're trying to be quiet. What I don't understand is how they found us. No one was supposed to know we would be here."

"If I was able to see this future that means someone else could have too."

"It's not possible. Deyvon and Barron are shielded for that reason. If they weren't who knows who would constantly be tracking any council member. No one knows my team and I'm protected by my guardian angel." I stop in my tracks. In half a second I have him pinned against the nearest wall with my gun to his head.

"How did you see us?" I hiss out.

"I'm almost seven hundred years old. Your angel is strong but I caught glimpses of you and those shields that protect your council members are strong but not stronger than me." He gently tucks a mess of curls in my face behind my ear. "You look even more beautiful than when we were last together. Will you tell me why you left?" My throat closes at the question.

"Jade, you okay?" Ash yells from the entrance of the dining hall.

"Of course I am," I yell and head the remaining distance down the hall. "But you won't be when I make it down this hall. That door is supposed to be shut and you're supposed to be watching Deyvon and Mr. Douche."

"Your words wound me?" Barron says covering his heart.

"MY words are true. You may not trust me or like me but I'm about to save your life. Not like you deserve it. I'd kick your ass if you weren't on the council."

"Give it your best shot. I'd love to rip your head off." He threatens. A low growl rises from the back of my throat. The feral sound causes Barron to step forward and give a growl of his own. His yellow eyes glow bright and his teeth start extending to sharp fangs.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. She'd kill you where you stand."

"And who are you," Deyvon asks from beside Barron.

"You never told your friends about me. I must say that hurts. My name is Constantine. I'm Jade's boyfriend." He grins at everyone's dropped jaws and shows off his fangs.

"Told you she can't be trusted," Barron says.

"That's it!" I yell and lunge at him but Constantine blocks my path.

"Calm down, luv. He isn't the enemy here." He says softly but the grip on my upper arm is as strong as iron.

"He could have fooled me," I growl. "Your reason for picking a fight with me is petty but I never back down from a challenge. Remember that next time you piss me off."

"My reason is completely valid. You could be a spy."

"We both know that's not the reason little boy." I grin slyly and he looks at me in surprise. "I guess the people who whisper didn't let you in on something very important. I can see inside people's heads. Hear your thoughts and see your deepest desires just from being near you."

"What is she talking about?" Deyvon asks confused.

"It'll have to wait for another time. A hoard of demons is almost here. We need to get them out of here."

"What's the plan?" Ash asks his stance and body showing he is ready for whatever happens next.

"Some of Barron's guards are on the way toward us. We take them with us to a protected part of the house and open up a portal to the safe house." The sound of running footsteps sound from behind me.

"Sir, there is a hoard of demons inbound. They are on foot coming fast and close to the perimeter. We need to get you out of here." A guard relays quickly. The six men slow to a walk when they near our group. Then out of nowhere four of the men draw their weapons and attack. I tackle Barron and Deyvon to the floor taking bullets to the back. The searing pain shoots through my body but I ignore it. If I'm still alive then the wounds aren't fatal. What I need to do is get everyone out of here.

"All of you protect the Prince and Barron. Run to a safe room and get them out of here." I yell as I roll onto my back and do a kick up to get back on my feet.

"We can't leave you here. The demons are almost here. It'll be suicide leaving you alone." Zach argues. I grab my throwing blades and let the knives fly, piercing two of the traitors in the heart. Energy ripples through the air as the remaining two shift forms. The sound of cracking bones fills the hallway. I pull my gun out and unload the magazine into one of the seven-foot-tall wolves. Ash unsheathes my blades and tosses them to me.

"She isn't alone." Constantine grunts as he rips out the throat of the last remaining wolf. "We can easily take them." From down the hall, the front doors burst open. Demon after demon floods through the entrance.

"You need to go!" I yell looking over my shoulder briefly. "Run!" Without looking back, I charge down the hall to the group of demons. My team will do as I ordered. Now, I need to do my part. The smell of rotten flesh and blood fills the air. A serpent demon slithers toward me with fangs at the ready. It flings itself at me and I slice through its body in midair.

From beside me, Constantine slices through a demon sending black blood spattering against the wall. The sound of hisses and snarls surround us. We stand back to back slicing and kicking the demons circling us.

"Duck!" I yell to Constantine. A spray of acid flies over our heads. I slice its head clean off and its body topples to the floor. "There are too many." I continue striking sending one after the other down but as soon as one falls another fills its place.

"You're still pyrokinetic, right? Why don't you start lighting these bastards up?"

"I can't," I grunt as I pull my sword out of another body. Black blood sprays across me. "You know my powers are suppressed."

"You can at least try. You've done it before."

"After months of practice. I haven't used my powers since the last time we were together."

"Try!" He yells.

"Don't order me around."

"Seriously, Jade. You're worried about seniority? Stop being afraid and use your fucking powers!"

"Don't be an ass!" From behind me, Constantine barks out a harsh laugh.

"Just as hard headed as you were back them."

"I heard that." I finally manage to kick a path open. "Let's go." I dart through the gap not looking behind me. The tattered ends of my dress tickle my legs. Out of nowhere, a rich dark laugh fills the air and a figure blocks our path.

"We meet again little one. What a coincidence that you are here." The fallen raises his hand in a stopping motion. All of a sudden the sounds of hisses and footsteps die out behind us. "Have you come to tell me what you've decided." He grins.

"My answer before was no and my answer now is no. I will never help you or join your side but I would enjoy ripping out your throat." I spit out and grip my swords harder to stop the quakes running through my arms.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You disappoint me. I thought you were smarter than this. I'll give you one last time to say yes before I unleash my demons on you. Think of all the power you could have. My master will show you what you really are. All that you are capable of."

"No," I say through clenched teeth. "Send all the demons you want after me. I'll slice all of them apart until I get to you."

"Don't be dumb little one." He steps closer to me and I lift my sword pointing it at his heart.

"No means no. I wouldn't push her or else that sword will go through your heart." Constantine warns.

"Go ahead, ask me again. Give me a reason to run this blade through your heart." I say with a sweet smile. Then from behind the fallen, I hear footsteps and the smile falls from my face. Zach runs toward us with his sword drawn. I'm going to kill him if he doesn't die in the next minute. A wide grin spreads across the fallens face.

"Get him." He says happily. The demons launch themselves around us. Zach slices through the first one that reaches him. I thrust my blade into the fallens heart and run to Zach. A demon knocks him down causing him to lose his blade. I won't make it in time with all these demons in my path. Fire, think fire. I chant to myself repeatedly but nothing happens.

"Try harder Jade!" Constantine orders when he sees the look on my face. A demon in a humans' body raises a blade and strikes toward his heart. The walls that I always keep up fall immediately. As if time slowed all the demons stare at me. Beady red, black, and even human eyes all look at me. Then suddenly time picks up again. A bolt of flames causes the head of the demon about to kill Zach to explode. I look at my arms and hands to see them engulfed in flames but not burning me.

"Stop her!" The injured fallen orders from the floor. They hesitate momentarily before all heading toward me. Sharp teeth and barbed tails fill my vision. Anger and rage fill my veins making me feel as if I'll combust.

"Constantine run!" Flames spread all over my body covering my legs and torso.

"Do not fight it. Let the rage consume you." The fallen angel whispers. "Embrace the darkness running through your veins." I try controlling it. The small spark has turned into an uncontrollable fury. I can't put the walls back up. The flames explode away from my body setting everything ablaze around me. Shrieks and the sound of sizzling flesh surround me along with the smell of burning corpses. Bodies fall all around me in a blaze of red.

_________________________

Author's Notes:

I know this chapter is really long but I hoped you liked it. I actually cut it in half because I already know that my chapters are long and I didn't want this one to be over the top. Stick around for chapter eight. If you liked this chapter then you'll like the next chapter too.