I awkwardly looked down at my feet as Dante stepped into Miguel office with a round band aid on the right side of his nose. Okay, so maybe punching him was a little too far off. I wasn't myself the other night, I had been seeing red about losing. I felt pretty bad now.

''Nevaeh, why don't you apologize while Father Miguel and I talk alone.'' Uncle Carter said before they both stepped out.

Dante sat on a chair, arms spread put on the arms, and waited for me as my hands nervously played together. I sighed, ''Dante, I'm sorry. Punching you—it was uncalled for. I tend to do crazy thing while I'm having a mini-freak out.''

''You're uncle did say you don't usually act this way.'' he said.

''I was a sore player. Happy?" I asked and he grinned, waving like I should continue. I scoffed, but forced a smiled on my face, ''And I'm happy you could join my uncle and I to New Orleans.''

He got up and pointed at me, ''I forgive you, Nevaeh. You are a strong Hunter, but answer my questioned. How long have you really been training? A year and half is not enough for you to fight like that.''

I shrugged, ''Wanna know?" I asked. ''It can't really stay a secret. I'm a Nephilim.''

He blinked, staring down at me, and stuffed his hands in his pocket. He looked up and down, then circled me and I gave him a 'you're weird' look. ''Are you lying? Nephilims are rare creatures.''

''Go ask my uncle.'' I said. ''My real mother Aracelia, an Angel.''

''No wonder you can fight pretty impressively for a new Hunter.'' he said, crossing his arms over his chest. ''Most fight with a gun, no many could swing a dagger around like yourself.''

''Thanks.'' I said. ''I'm surprised you're not more surprised.''

''Oh, hold on.'' he said and cleared his throat. He widen his eyes and gasped, bring his hands up to his face, ''Oh my, Nevaeh, this can't be real! Let me ask a million and one annoying questions.''

I scoffed, but chuckled, ''Okay, okay.''

He dropped his hands, stuffing them on his black pants, ''I hide my emotions very well. I may not seem like I'm surprised, but I am. Just not rather make a big fuss about it. I'm not going to treat you any different than any other Hunter.''

''Good, I wouldn't have it any other way.'' I said, raising my chin. ''But remember, I gave you that pretty scar on--''

''My cute face?" he asked, grinning as he chuckled and I pressed my lips together tightly as my nose scrunched.

My hands balled into a fist, ''Whatever.'' I scoffed.

''You should go talk to my uncle in the confessional stands and admit your sins to crushing on me. I feel dirty at the thought of a girl lusting after me.'' he said and I was ready to give him another punch, hopefully breaking it this time.

''I have a boyfriend, so don't fill that head up so quickly.'' I said, than realized how wrong I was to say that.

'Oh? And who is he?" he asked, leaning against the wall. ''I sure to hope you are following God and not doing anything sinful with this boy.''

''You don't need to worry what H—Nick and I do.'' I said than almost face hit myself in the face. How stupid of me to say that! I suck so much under pressure still.

''Nick?" he questioned. ''Well, how does your boyfriend feel about you being gone for so long?"

''He's a Hunter to, his name Nicholas Morrow.'' I said and I couldn't believe I was going along with the lie! Oh, this is horrible. I just know it's going to blow up in my face later.

+

I almost fell when there was a knock on my motel door and jumped off my bed. I stopped to check myself in the mirror and smiled when I didn't find anything out of place. I fixed my creamy white blouse that had a black collar and fixed my high waist shorts.

I ran over to my door and opened it. Hadrian turned to face me since he was looking down the motel and a big smile appeared on my face. I hugged him and he lifted me up.

''You actually came.'' I whispered in his ear. ''I thought you might not of.''

''I never lie, Uccellina.'' he said and set me down. ''Did you get pretty for me?" he asked, looking at down at me.

''Maybe.'' I said, leaning up on the palms of my foot in my ballet flats and kissed his cheek. ''My Uncle and Dante are sleeping in the other room. It was a long car ride there and stupid Dante got us lost but that means we won't be bothered.''

''Hiding away like criminals again though.'' he said and I frowned. He grinned, 'I think that's what makes it more interesting.'' He kissed me and pushed me back further into the room. He closed the door and I pressed him against it. ''Just like Romeo and Juliet.'' he said as he kissed me. ''Sneaking around from disapproving families.''

''Let's not compare us to them, they didn't have a happy ending.'' I said.

He broke the kiss, ''I have something for you.''

''Really?" I asked, surprised as he reached into his pocket.

''I missed your birthday, so I got you a late present.'' he said as he took the lid off the white box, showing me the gold Dove shape necklace. My eyes widen at how beautiful it was, ''My excuse so I can buy you this and you'll accept.''

''A dove, you said I remind you of them.'' I said, remembering what he told me once.

''My Uccellina.'' he said as he took the necklace and turned me around. I pulled my brown hair that lightened up from the sun to one side as he clasps the necklace around my throat. I turned right when he pulled a necklace out from his shirt where a bigger bird had its wings spread out, it's mouth opened a little like it was crying out loud.

I grinned, ''A falcon.'' I said. I touched the necklace around my throat, ''I love it, Hadrian.''

He kissed me softly on the mouth. My hands nervously touched his gray T-shirt and I pulled it up slowly. I lifted his arms up a little and I pulled it off him. I stopped him before he could kiss me, ''You look pale, Hadrian, do you . . . do you need to feed?"

He shook his head, ''Not you, I don't want to put you threw the anymore.''

I put my hands around his neck, ''You can't breathe on petty criminals forever.''

''I can try, I lasted a whole year.'' he said. ''Being friends with a few Demons who work in a jail means I'm never out of supplies.''

''I can't let you do that, only I should do it.'' I said. ''I want you healthily and alive here with me, Hadrian.''

''Why don't you just kiss me?" he asked, leaning his head down but I stopped him again.

''My gift for you.'' I said.

''I don't need a gift.'' he said.

I breathed out roughly at his stubbornness, but then I knew a trick, ''Come on Hadrian, remember that high feeling? Feeling strong and powerful? You only need a little of it.''

+Hadrian.+

''You are evil.'' I said and she chuckled. ''Tempting me, how bad of you. Are you the same girl I knew?"

''People change, Hadrian. You changed,'' she said.

''I have,'' I agreed. ''I'll only do it this once, last time it lasted a good awhile.''

She tilt her head back a little and opened her mouth. I put my hand behind her neck and brought my mouth near hers. I breathed in and soon her cloud like soul came out. Her nails dug into my skin, but she stayed strong threw it. I could feel every part of my body come alive like I have some kind of energy rush. I could feel the warmth back in my skin, as if I was outside on a warm sunny day. I haven't enjoyed the sun in a while, it mostly bothered me these days.

I knew I had to stop, but I didn't want to. It felt so good, I haven't had such a pure soul in such a long time, and I was being selfish at the moment. Only until she gasped is what made me shut my mouth, breaking it. I saw her starting to fall, but I grabbed her.

''No, no, I'm so sorry Nevaeh.'' I said, pulling her hair out of her face.

''I-I'm fine.'' she breathed and I put her on the bed. She was dead weight, making me scared.

''Nevaeh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to take so much, honestly. I never wanted to hurt you.'' I rushes out since I was panicking. ''Nevaeh, you'll be alright, I won't let anything happen to you--''

''Hadrian,'' she said, cutting me off. ''Go in my black bag and at the bottom showed be a vial, bring it to me.''

+Nevaeh.+

I fell off the bed as the pain rushed through my body. I forced Hadrian hands off me since being touched was the last thing I wanted when my body felt like it was on fire as Aracelia blood healed my body.

When it was over, I was panting a little catching my breath. I felt good though, I felt better from the weak state I was in a few minutes ago. I felt like I could go running for hours and never stop. Aracelia filled my vial with her blood for me before I left just in case of anything. Thank God because I felt faintest after Hadrian breathed too much in.

Hadrian helped me up, ''Nevaeh, I'm so sorry.'' he rushed out and he was shaking. He was scared actually as much as he looked jumpy. He was the Hadrian I remember though with thick dark hair, beautifully tan skin, piercing gray eyes, and strong as he held me.

''I'm fine.'' I said. I touched his cheek, ''You look like yourself.''

We stared at each other for a moment before he kissed me. I wrapped my arms around him as he lift me and placed my down on my back. He crawled on top of me and he kissed near my ear, making me giggle.

+Dante.+

I couldn't wake up. I couldn't wake up from the nightmare. I wasn't even sure where I was, but I swear I was in the sky. It was inky black and only a few stars around.

Dante.  . .Dante. . .

I heard something say myself and I brought my hands up my ears, ''No!" I yelled. I was never scared awake, but my dreams can terrify me. I squeezed my eyes shuts, crying out. ''Leave me alone!"

Dante!

''No!" I yelled. ''Leave. Me. Alone!''

I knew that voice, I've been hearing it since I was three years old. It haunted me a few times every month, torturing me. I heard a growling sound and I turned around quickly, but I only saw an outline of him. I could never really ever see him but those intense blue piercing eyes staring at me with gold pupils. But there was always there behind me before I woke up.

I sprung up as I woke up. I was panting as I looked around the motel room. I was soaking wet from sweat and my chest rise up and down quickly as my heart raced. Carter was still asleep on the bed next to me.

I got up and threw a shirt on. I walked out of the room and over to Nevaeh door, banging on it. I couldn't be alone after those dreams, I need to talk to someone to bring me back to reality.

''Nevaeh.'' I called, pounding. ''Nevaeh, it's Dante. Open up. Nevaeh!" I yelled when she didn't answer. I turned to see a Wine and Sprite store across the street and I went back to the room to grab my shoes and wallet.

+Nevaeh.+

I walked in front of Hadrian, walking backwards down as I talk to him, ''New Orleans is beautiful, I can't believe I hadn't thought about coming before.''

He took my hand and brought me to his chest, ''Feels nice to be able to go somewhere together, where no one knows us.''

''I know,'' I said. ''It was a nice date, Hadrian. I had always wanted to go on one back in Charleston.''

''I took you skating,'' he said.

''We weren't together though at the time.'' I said. ''I keep forgetting you're Demon, you can act so normal.''

''Normal is boring, bella mia.'' he said as he pecked me and put his arm around my waist, ''I love seeing that happy look on your face though.''

I opened my mouth, but a man with a French southern accent stopped us in front of a flower stand, ''Flowers for your pretty lady?" he asked, holding out a half a dozen pink roses. My eyes widen at how beautiful they are, but Hadrian pulled me away.

''No thanks.'' he said and I frowned.

''I'll get them, their beautiful—Hadrian!" I cried in surprised he pulled me away. ''What is your problem?" I asked when he turned the corner of the block.

''They aren't real flowers, it's a trick. Their poisonous.'' he said and my mouth made an 'O' shape.

''What? Really?" I asked.

''Yes, they'll give you a rash on where you skin touched them. A horrible terrible rash that'll make you insane until you commit suicide.'' he said.

''Oh,'' I said awkwardly. ''I need to go stop—''

''Nevaeh, it's day light and people are around.'' he said, pulling me back. ''Wanna do something later, fine. Not with me. Ever hear of see no evil, hear no evil? Do something about the man, you do something about the flowers. He powers them.'' he said, hinting as he winked at me. ''Want flowers? I'll buy you normal flowers.''

+

Hadrian and I turned towards the motel, but I gasped when I saw Dante on the staircase, his back to us. I pushed Hadrian back to hide him, ''He's out there.''

''Who?" he asked.

''Dante.'' I said and he leaned over, looking at Dante as he brought the bottle of Jack to his mouth. ''Is he getting drunk?" I questioned myself.

''I don't like him.'' Hadrian said. ''He's worse than Nick Morrow. Make sure he keeps his hands off you.''

I know I shouldn't, but I found Hadrian jealous very cute. I chuckled, ''Don't need to be jealous, Hadrian.'' I said. ''You know I'm only for you.''

''I know, I just like to hear it.'' he said, grinning. He put his arms around my waist tightly and kissed me, ''Tomorrow night, right?"

''Eleven o'clock.'' I said, smiling. ''I'll meet around the corner and we'll be together again.''

''Perfect.'' he said and kissed me one last time. I held the flowers Hadrian got me in one hand as I turned, but he grabbed my hand, pulling me back to kiss me again. ''Okay, now you can go.''

I chuckled as I turned and walked around the building. I went over to the staircase and Dante didn't look up at me when I walked up the first few steps, ''Where have you been?" he asked. ''It's seven o'clock.''

''Excuse me?" I asked, looking down at him. ''Last I check, you should be minding your own businesses. I went on a walk since I didn't want to be stuck in my room all day while ya'll took your naps.''

He looked up at me finally, ''Who's the flowers from?"

''Me. I like flowers.'' I said. ''What's the bottle for?"

''Bad dreams.'' he said as he brought the bottle up and took a sip. He got up and I had to look up at him, ''You shouldn't go alone, there are crazy people.''

''I can take care of myself.'' I said as I walked around him and back to my room.