"Bad news isn't wine, it doesn't improve with age." ~Colin Powell

"My name was Ayperos, and I ruled alongside Daemon. The Nether Realm was as beautiful as heaven. It was a never ending night filled with stars strewn across the night sky." Angelo recalled in a dream like state.

"My older brother Daemon sent me on an errand to retrieve souls that 'refused' to let go." He chuckled at the thought.

"I've never been on Earth. To say, that I was excited was an understatement."

"Once I arrived, I was blinded by a bright light. I soon realized that was the Sun. I was used to the comforting chill of the Nether Realm that this new feeling I've never experienced before, took over my entire being. Hope is what humans called it. I guess you could say, the poor devil I once was craved for the light in his dark and lonely world."

"I...finished all my errands that I was told to do. I didn't realize that the souls Daemon wanted me to retrieve were the souls of children. They didn't refuse to let go, it was just not their time yet. I had the power to see into the future of the souls that we're doomed in the Nether Realm and what I saw within the future of these children were important. Some could have grown up to cure a disease, remove oppression and hate in this world, and turn other souls to our enemy in Heaven; God."

He paused, his features changing into a grimace as if this memory haunted him the most. "Daemon wanted to avoid any children who will bring good into this world from living. And like a fool, I trusted my brother blindly. I returned to Earth to pretend I'm taking more souls for Daemon when I'm actually meeting with an angel who will purify me and turn me into one of them."

Angelo ran his hands through his hair again. "Daemon saw it as a betrayal when he looked from the bottom of the Nether Realms abyss while I flew with Heaven's ethereal Angels. Instead of taking the souls of the innocent, I was assigned to protect the souls instead."

He took my hands into his and continued with his story, "I'm your guardian angel. Your life is valuable in this world. I've seen the great things you will do in the future." His words were so strong that I almost believed him. I pulled my hands away, worried of what future he saw.

"And what future would that be?" I asked him.

Lifting my chin with one finger, I met his hazel eyes with my dark ones.

"Your soul is the last thing Daemon needs to become powerful and destroy the balance of power between Heaven and the Nether Realm."

"And why is my soul so important?" I looked away, my head pounding in pain.

"So important that whose side you'll choose will make that side powerful. Your soul can make Daemon powerful because it's no ordinary soul. Blessed by Heaven, your soul can strengthen anyone. In order to fully possess the strength many creatures in the Nether Realm crave, you must die." Angelo replied, his voice fell to a whisper when he uttered the last few words.

It was confusing at first. Then I remembered the expressions of the ghosts in the Nether Realm had; hunger. Their weak energy craved for something pure and it was my soul.

"What happened to Daemon after?" I asked Angelo.

He sighed before answering, "He didn't take my betrayal well. Once he learned of my transformation into an angel of Heaven and changing my name, he sent more of his goons to capture more innocent souls, dragging them all to the Nether Realm."

Ending his story with a final note, he finally admitted, "Since then, he was hell bent on capturing your soul; the last and most powerful one. The game he's playing with you and your friends is his way of playing with his prey before finally capturing them.

"So what will happen to us if we lost the game?" Brittany asked twirling her hair around her finger. It was a nervous habit of hers.

"I know my brother well enough to say that he will send your souls to the fiery abyss of the Nether Realm where you will suffer for eternity." He looked away ashamed.

"And what will happen to me if we lost the game?" I asked worriedly, a lump of fear forming at my throat.

Angelo opened his soft looking lips to speak but shut them instead. Like always, he's protecting me from the hard truth of things.

"Please," I begged him, grasping his shoulders.

"Tell me."

"He has to drink your blood first before ripping your heart and eating it. Your body will be useless to him and will be fed to the souls of the Nether Realm." Angelo winced.

"Whatever that will happen to all of you in your 'dreams', will affect your physical body on Earth. If you die in a 'dream'—"Angelo informed.

"We'll die in real life." I said, completing his sentence.

His graphic description of my possible death brought me to realize the gravity of the situation as well as my friends. I was afraid. This fear I have in the pit of my stomach was different from the ones I've had as a person. This type of fear cripples you inside like a disease that spreads from the top of my spine to the tips of my fingers.

Daemon's recurring visits in me and my friends' dreams made me realize something. I remembered reading an article about many people dying because of their nightmares at night. The devil strikes when our barriers are down, making our souls easy preys to be taken to the Nether Realm.

I have so many questions to ask Angelo when exhaustion settled over my body like a cloud. The rush of adrenaline from Brittany's dream had faded. I looked over to Brittany and found her eyes drooping slightly.

"One last question," I informed Angelo.

"When Brittany and I were in the Nether Realm, how did you find us? How were you in the Nether Realm when we were in the middle of playing the game?"

Angelo sat on my bed with a soft smile on his face. "As your guardian, I have a one way bond with you, I know when you're in danger," he murmured, "and when you're sad." He whispered as he tucked a loose strand behind my ear.

To me, it made sense. Although he might be an angel now, Angelo knows his way around the Nether Realm. After all, he was a demon once.

I don't know how I should feel about this knowledge. I was overwhelmed. This changes everything.

My gaze went to the orange purple light creeping through the curtains. It was dawn. I know I should fall asleep, but after the first game, I'm afraid of Daemon coming into my dreams and making my friends suffer. I was not afraid of the dark until now. Although Angelo always showed me the way out, there's no knowing whether he can do it again. He's loyal, but what of his brother Daemon? Who will be next in this deadly game of ours? My friends and I are at a disadvantage. Once we play the next game, we will know more. But what if one of doesn't survive?

Angelo's voice interrupted my thoughts. "It's okay to fall asleep. I'll be here."

"I don't think I'll ever want to sleep again," Brittany murmured. And I couldn't agree with her more.

Hesitantly, she took hold of my hand and from this small gesture, the bonds our friendship strengthened.

Hi everyone! I updated earlier than usual because I will be VERYYYY busy the next two weeks because of AP Exams. Thank you so much for the support for Enamored through votes! <3 As I've said before, Enamored is in a competition for the Brigades Watty Awards and if you could head on to the link I provided below and on my profile to vote that would be so amazing!

https://www.wattpad.com/224806975-the-brigade-watty-awards-2016-t-h-i-r-t-e-e-n

What did you guys think of this chapter? Let me know in the comments below! Next update will be on May 21st. (I know I'm sorry, it's just AP exams and preparation for the end of senior year is coming up soon and my schedule will be overloaded with work >.< Please don't forget to comment, vote, follow, and add my book to your library! :D

Xoxo,

Angelique <3

P.S.

If you read until the end of this author's note, comment your favorite ice cream flavor! Mine is cake batter flavor <3