CHAPTER ONE

The warm summer breeze made the grass sway gently, tickling my ankles.

I sat down - watching the sunset and all its beautiful shining colours. It was mesmerizing; the clouds swirled like an oil paint on a large, vacant canvas. They slightly hid the sun, making the golden light peak over them.

I didn't want to go back. It's nice here.

I slowly begin to extend my feathered wings. They sparkled in the sunshine, and when stretched out cast a gigantic shadow. I could wrap myself in a cocoon sometimes, hide away from all the ugly things and vile people.

Escape to my own little world.

I used to love flying. It was the only time I felt truly free - no cage to imprison me. Nothing to get me down. Mesmerizing views and places that brought a sense of enlightenment to my soul.

But now, I hate flying. It's a way of escaping from my nightmares. My only exit plan - a painful one.

And when I look down - the only thing I see is the violence and disgrace of the human race. Filth and misery. Hate and deceit.

This world is built on lies. Hideous things that no longer fear the daylight, nor do they fear the truth. They are friends of it all.

I look down. The grass is getting thinner. The air is getting colder. Soon I will not be able to return here. Soon I will be chased away.

Like always.

Thunder growls. He is hungry for battle. Electricity buzzes through my fingers. I know that the lightning will strike soon. The clouds are becoming darker, murkier. A menacing storm is on its way. It is looking for vengeance and it will stop at nothing.

Clouds of familiarity surround me. They are clouds of my childhood. Back when -

Back... Then.

I look up. A face of beautiful death greets me. A fallen - he calls himself Kai, after the Burmese word meaning 'strong' and 'unbreakable'.

Pale faced and maroon haired, he is a menace of hate and violence.

"Nel. You're looking particularly cold today." A sharp tooth is revealed.

"I'll leave." I stand, wings outstretched, ready to leave. I want no part in this duel - it will be bloody and fatal.

"How sad. I was looking forward to your presence."

His words ran a shiver down my spine. They had other intentions in mind.

I glared at him.

His eyes held a mad spark, a clear message. The fact that you hate me only makes me stronger.

I can't stop hating you, but one day my hatred will end you - you and all other Fallens.

Angels whose sins begin to pile up so much that they overshadow their good deeds, which causes our leaders - The Council - to ban them from Heaven.

Of course, Lucifer then welcomes them to Hell with open arms, and sucks them into a world made up of deceit and demise.

Lucifer was the first Fallen, but at first - he was the only son of The Council's leader, Kane. He was our strongest protector.

He lied and became vengeful.

He was through into The Abyss, and the rest, is history.

I began to fly back home. Over mountains and valleys, to the cliff where my Aunt's fortress lay. A never-ending tower - watching over fields, glades and houses of innocent and not-so-innocent people, waiting to protect them from whatever we'd been sent to Earth to protect them from.

Whatever it was.