The occasional swish of his staff disrupted the serene night, past few days had drained him of his essence. The presence of another healer had lessened the burden but he was tired nonetheless. Not physically ofcourse, or he would not be twirling his staff here in the Serenity Garden. The familiar moves took over and he lost himself to his muscle memory. 

  Block, strike, duck, strike, jump, block.

  He had heard of the rumours circulating about him and Alanna, the other healer. Strike. It would be easy for anyone to misunderstand their friendship since they spend so much time together. Jump. He did care for her, not in the romantic sense. Heavens no, she was too young, too innocent. Alanna Quade reminded him of himself back home when he was a mere boy, green toed, wanting to save the entire realm with the gifts he possessed. Block. 

  Nikolai ceased his training, an eerie feeling of being watched pricked at the back of his head. 

 "Nik-o-lai…" it whispered, it's breath caressing his nape. The voice so sweet it reminded him of the sirens dwelling in the Strongmist Sea back home in Omria.

 Goosebumps erupted on the way paved by the trailing fingers on his arm. He shut his eyes not daring to look at it, some creatures could stun you with their eyes, turn you to stone, your soul forever trapped inside a sculpture struggling eons for release.

  "Look at me oh silver haired warrior," the icy fingers now caressed his hair, the strokes so delicious he almost moaned. 

  He struck, only for the silver tipped staff to cut through empty air.

  "Tsk, tsk, tsk," a tinkling laughter resounded through the garden, a gentle caress on his cheeks greeted another unfruitful strike. Nikolai walked cautiously towards the trickling fountain, silently praying to the Blessed Moon. The louder trickling and wet dripping sounds indicated that the fountain was closer, a few steps and he could feel the cold marble pressing onto his calves. 

  Nikolai opened his left eyes ever so slightly to see his reflection in the water peeping at him. 

  "Very cunning indeed, warrior," Alanna materialized right next to him, her lips an inch away from his ears. 

  "Very convincing," He yawned, "just so you know Alanna is a tad shorter." 

  The creature smiled, revealing a row of sharp pointed teeth.

  "Nice teeth. Although, I must say mine looks better," Nikolai bared his fangs, hissing a little. Now that he could see it's reflection, a sharp scent of sulphur assaulted his senses, "You reek of hell."

  The creature ignored him, the features melting into a white haired, leather clad celestial. 

 "Ah, so you prefer the celestial," Sapphire snickered, "I went by the rumours about you and the other healer, should have trusted my instinct."

  The creature snaked its arms around Nikolai's rigid torso, the claws appearing for a second before morphing into well manicured fingers. 

  "If you are done rubbing yourself all over me I would like to know who you are and why are you here?"

  "So eager to be rid of me?"

  "You should have bathed, your stench is unbearable. Now that I think about it," Nikolai willed his arms to go around the creature's waist in a lover's embrace, crushing her to his side,"We should definitely do it together." In a swift motion he lifted her body and dunked it under water. 

  The awful screeching made him want to claw his eardrums out. The thrashing limbs were no longer clad in leather and the dark hair floating in the water reminded him of seaweed. 

  "What do you want?" He yanked her head out of the water, risking to look directly at her. Her skin shone in the moonlight, deep dark eyes stared right at him. Not a Gorgon then, too pretty to be one. He pushed her underwater, keeping her down for a good minute before bringing her back for air. 

His eyes travelled to her back, stopping at the stumps sticking out right by her shoulder blades. 

  "Nephilim," The stumps were from the wings being severed after they had fallen from grace. 

  "What took you so long, warrior?" She smiled.

  "Why are you here?" 

  "There is a lot going on warrior, the boundaries between the realms has been breached. I am not the only one who has escaped the underworld." She thrashed around, trying to free herself from the warrior's grip only to be yanked down again. She gave him a strained smile, with a grip so strong he would be a delight to bed.

  "How did this happen?" 

  "I do not know, all I wanted was to be free. When I saw the opportunity I took, you shouldn't worry about me, I only wanted to have a little fun with a handsome man. Can you loosen your grip a little? I won't run, I promise." Nikolai let go of her wrists and neck, Nephilims could never break their promises. She sat at the edge of the fountain, her dark hair now draped sensually over her naked breasts. 

  Eyes fixed on her face, "Who else escaped?" He asked. She blanched, her lips slightly quivering.

  "His name holds power, we don't speak of him but know that he'll stop at nothing to gain more power. After a millenium of being trapped in the world of the dead he's desperate and raving mad."

 "What is he?"

Plump lips parted in a seductive smile she inched a little closer,

 "Are you just going to ask questions or are you going to have some fun with me?" Nikolai moved a little further, adding an inch of distance to every inch she subtracted.

 "Err.. Questions?" 

 "You are no fun" 

 "Really? Ladies tell me I am fun, all the time."

 "I would like to see that," cold hands trailed up his torso. He copied her movements, trailing his hands up her arms, "you would love it, the best 2 minutes of your entire existence."

  "Ah, yes.. the best. What?" Her pretty eyes almost fell out of the sockets.

  "The best 2 minutes darling," He almost missed the cold hands up his torso.

  "You last 2 minutes?"

  "Yes, fantastic I know. Let me show it to you," 

   The Nephilim jumped back, brows furrowed and a frown upon her pretty face, the last thing Nikolai noticed was her lips pouted in disappointment as she spelled herself out of the academy.

  Sapphire admired the view, the breeches stretched taut on his derriere as he bent to pick the staff. 

 "2 minutes, really fae?" She stepped out of the darkness, his eyes registered surprise and then embarrassment before settling into a narrow squint. 

 "You were there the entire time," Nikolai stated.

  "Not the entire time. I wonder what the academy would think of your 2 minutes scenario,"

 "Chase off everyone and have me to yourself, eh celestial?" 

 "You wish. Tell me what you got out of her." Sapphire beckoned him to walk with her to the Alpha residence.

 "A breach has been made in between the realms, souls and creatures trapped in the world of the dead are crossing over to the other realms."

 "A rip in the veils,"

 "A desperate, vengeful soul has also escaped and might create havoc, the nephilim warned me about him,"

 "Who?"

  "Apparently, he shall not be named," The bronze door to the Alpha residence creaked as he held it open for Sapphire, allowing her to walk in. Just because he wasn't in court doesn't mean he should forgo all the chivalry, "Death might know about him. Ask him about it tomorrow, the sooner we get to the bottom of this the better."