Missouri awoke with a pain she'd never experienced, her head throbbed and ached, the light that illuminated the room yelled for her to shut her eyes but observing the perfectly still figure right beside her, she ignored the commands of her brain. She tried to move her arm to reach out to him but a sharp pain shoot through her and intensified as she realised she'd been bound. Looking around just once she made the assumption that they were in a dusty, wooden structure which might have once been a house but now by the looks of the empty crates and damaged furniture, was uninhabited.

Hadriel was aware of Missouri gaining consciousness, how could he not, they were bound so closely together, it took everything in him to not notice the warmth her body provided. Since the moment Hadriel laid eyes on Missouri he was struck with an unfamiliar longing. Perhaps it had more to do with the fact that a human's life is filled of privileges whereas he was just destined to be a soldier, following orders. He's always envied humans free will but then they were susceptible to ailments and death followed quickly. He snapped himself out of his train of thought and tried to contemplate a way to escape. He couldn't break the bonds, because unlike Missouri who was held in place with rope, he was bound with iron cuffs that were created to prevent angels from escaping, He had to think of something else and quick.

Before he could even contemplate on his escape plan, his mind urged him to ensure Missouri was alright. "Missouri?" his voice a sweet silent whisper that caressed Missouri's inner ear. Her breath caught, she hadn't known he could sound so...tender. "Yes?" she answered breathlessly.

"Are you alright?" His voice still tender and the proximity of him made her squirm, which was a terrible reaction since pain shut through her again causing her wince and respond in a shaky voice. "It's not so bad." 

"Really, what could be worse?" he inquired. "I could be dead." Missouri answered and swore she heard a slight chuckle. But she couldn't believe it, he actually laughed? She though it impossible for him to possess such a human like quality.

Hadriel was about to tell Missouri that he was going to try and get them out of here, but at the same moment a wooden door that was barely hanging on to its hinges swung open to facilitate about a dozen demons headed in by a demon whose eyes where black rather than red. The other demons spread themselves around the room while the black eyed demon walked up to where Missouri and Hadriel were bound. 

The demon examined Missouri, "You're not what I expected, you seem so innocent and ignorant of the reason you're here, but we know of you." He turned his head to Hadriel and a smile spread over his features. "Hadriel, its been a while, how are you mixed up in this, dear friend?" 

"Varcan, I should have known you were involved, the half assed demons you sent out reeked of inexperience. I thought that you'd be able to train them to be more efficient, since last time we met your forces were...depleted." Hadriel replied and to Missouri he was confident and unafraid, curious qualities seeing that he was the one bound and unable to defend himself.

The demon's eyes flashed darker, he bent down to look at Hadriel in his eyes. "I guess I'll have to show efficient we can be. And it's King Varcan to you but I doubt you'll have a chance to address me as such." He straightened and turned his attention to the other demons in the room, "Kill him, and bring the girl to me." he looked at Hadriel now, "I have a message to deliver." his eyes shone with secrets and then to Missouri's surprise the Varcan grew wings and his entire body turned grey, but unlike the gargoyles, he still possessed the shape of a human, arms and legs but his face was much more ferocious, two horns adorned his forehead, he then flew up, out of the wooden building creating a hole in the roof as he exited.

A demon walked up to where Missouri and Hadriel lay, and he knew it was the end for him, but his whole life was lived in preparation for this day. Angels died young so he wasn't scared but he had some regrets, somehow his life felt empty, yeah he saved the world a couple of times, but he had nothing to show for his time spent. He would die and his existence would be forgotten as many others.

Missouri felt all the hairs on her body stand on end, they would kill him. This was all her fault! As the demon got closer Missouri saw a blade in his hands and heard herself plead, "Please don't harm him, I'll do anything. Please!" she spoke in vain and she saw a vein in Hadriel's jaw bulge. Her features panicked, "Please!" she screamed again, "Kill me instead!" she yelled. Hadriel looked at her this time, "Don't be ridiculous! And please stop that infernal screaming; I want to die in peace." His head turned away from her.

She couldn't believe it! He was willing to die! How could he? The demon raised his hand up, the blade glistening in the light, as he brought it down Missouri let out an earth shattering "NO!"

A force ran through the room, one that seemed to radiate from one central point; Missouri. The demons where sent flying backwards, howls of pain filling the deafening silence. Hadriel's cuff snapped open, he stared around him in disbelief, how did she do that? He rose from where he was bound and immediately bent in front of Missouri, her breath was shallow, her nose was bleeding and she was barely conscious, he ripped the ropes securing her apart, gathered her in his arms and bared his wings, he stayed in angel form. Before he left, he spun around with Missouri in his arms, all he saw was dead demons, everyone with their mouths agape in such a way that it was no doubt that they suffered immense pain. Smoke emerged from every opening; eyes, ears and mouth. 

Committing the scene to memory he flew up and out of the building the same way Varcan did.