Training wasn’t over, but Leo insisted that Missouri try to conjure the power lying dormant within her. She seemed more at ease today and he was delighted to witness her in her usually amiable character.  He saw her inhaling deeply, the mask of concentration enveloping her. Leo stared; he straightened almost instantly when the faint hint of flames sparked from Missouri’s finger tips. They doused just as quickly, he was about to say something but decided not to interrupt her concentration.

The flames grew stronger, their blend of orange and red spiralling their way up the creak in her elbow. This time it didn’t flicker and extinguish but rose to extreme intensity. Missouri’s eye’s widened; she looked at Leo who shared the same expression of complete wonder and relief.

Missouri’s eyes clouded in pain, huge shocks of lightening kissed her shoulder blades and spread out in fluid motion, she fell to the floor and closed her eyes. She was faintly aware of the gentle hand resting on her shoulder and the panicked voice begging her to return to reality. Everything shifted and she heard the world again, Leo’s voice was a shout, no longer lost in the comparison of her pain.

“What happened, Missouri? What did you feel?” He inquired, kneeling on the floor beside her. He saw the awareness flood back into her and he helped her up. 

“I-I felt, I don’t know, it was like my shoulder blades were on fire.” She answered and brought her head up to observe Leo, whose gaze was nowhere near her face. Cocking her head to the side, she saw what intrigued him; red wings sprouting from behind her.

Missouri swallowed hard, “Did it hurt the last time they showed themselves?” Leo asked, stilling averting his gaze. Missouri racked her memory and decided that, “It was a hell of a lot more excruciating. This time I felt the shocks but it was nothing compared to the first time.” He looked at her then, a smile forming.

Hadriel was less tense and he felt as if his purpose returned. He had always wondered what emotion would overwhelm him when he found unparalleled happiness; but now he still couldn’t pin point that exact feeling. All he knew; he was energetic and felt as if he could live on little or no rest at all. And he wouldn’t rest until Missouri was safe; he would die to protect her. Despite what happened last night, despite everything that may continue to happen; they would never be able to live a normal life together, his place was here, and hers was elsewhere. 

Dying was his best scenario, as cynical as it may be. She would leave and soon enough when she realised that any hope for a relationship was improbable she would move on and Hadriel knew he would be unable to cope with the knowledge. For now he just wanted to live in the moment. They were on borrowed time, he didn’t know how long the knowledge of him and Missouri would stay secret but it didn’t bother him now. He wouldn’t allow it to.

The door to the roof slammed opened violently and Hadriel turned his head slightly so that he would be able to hear the footsteps leading to him. “What is it Leo?” He didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. 

Leo came to stand at the side of Hadriel, his gaze passing over the view of the city. Hadriel could tell he was in a good mood, the reason was what sparked curiosity in Hadriel. Leo regarded Hadriel.

“I saw it.” Hadriel considered him, realisation striking him. “The wings or the holy fire?”

“Both, her wings only show themselves after she uses her power. She is not in the habit of having wings so they cause an immeasurable amount of pain to her, but I’ve come to guess that with each time her wings show themselves the less pain she feels.” Leo ranted.

Hadriel processed what Leo said, the idea of Missouri undergoing pain caused him chest to constrict. “She needs to reach a point of no pain, she will greater control then.” Leo nodded in agreement.

“The battered wing is still a mystery to me. It’s not a mark I recognise. Her origin is still unknown.” Leo contemplated.

“I will find answers soon; just ensure she is ready to defend herself.” Hadriel instructed; Leo exited to resume his training with Missouri.

“Where have you been?” One of the entities spoke, it was the first time he saw them all together, he would always be addressed by two but all four where here. “I was in hiding, in case that Hadriel tried to find me.”

“You coward! We gave you the perfect opportunity to capture the girl, but you threw it away.” Aggression was the only expression Varcan could remember this being exposed; he spoke more often than his fellow associates. Varcan couldn’t help but darken his features; they were self-righteous and believed themselves to be above the world’s inhabitants.

He glared at all four of them, “You’re the cowards, I have opposed Hadriel with my true being whereas you all cower in the mask you feed him. He scares you and when your true intent is in front of him, he will not stand for it, he will oppose you and you will have gained the most feared angel as an enemy.” Varcan spat in the faces of the four entities.

They all glared at him, except for one who stood at the back of the group, his eyes shining with malice.

“You have failed us.” The obvious leader spoke; he circled Varcan, who did not follow the being’s movement. “We will have to capture the girl ourselves.” He stood at the back of Varcan, his words sounding at the back of the demon’s ear. Varcan smirked, his temper flaring. It all doused as the light left his eyes. His hand shakily rose to encircle the area around the blade that struck his heart. His head bent to view the wound; a blade kissed with the sigil of death. His eyes flashed grey, a sign of his demise; his head flew back as he gave into his end. 

Varcan’s body slumped to the stone ground; the entity grabbed hold of the knife and yanked it free, leaving the body for his own to find.