When I opened my eyes my room had changed. The light of dusk slipped through the balcony curtains. I hadn't been asleep for long. I looked up to see Rail' s worried eyes.

"Get up." He ran over to the other side of the room stomping his feet until he found the hollowed floor board. Rail broke the floor board and stuck his hand down the dark hole. He pulled out a small faded black leather bag and stuffed it inside his robe.

I still was laying in bed when I heard the pounding on the door.

Rail' s eyes found mine and before I knew it he stood in front of me. He dragged me out of bed. Grabbing my hand as he pulled me towards the balcony.

"What's happening?" I whispered. "Where's Jay?" I asked franticly.

The wooden doors to my bedroom where about to crack.

"They got out."

To my horror, I saw this coming. Lucifer was working fast. Faster than I thought.

I masked my face into a blank stare.

Don't tell him

Rail and I stood on the edge of the white marble balcony.

"Jump." he breathed.

I looked over the railing to see dark figures storming through the open marble hallways below us. Demons.

"No i have to-"

Rail grabbed my waist that was still bruised from the attack. I jerked so hard back that I fell down from the edge with a surprised yelp. Rail held on to my wrist while he flashed us down to his bedroom balcony.

It was three doors down from mine. For the first time I could see the waterfall that was underneath mine.

The sun started to rise; it's sunbeams shinning through the water. It turned into a fiery orange and sprayed a mist of what looked like dimands. And for a moment I forgot my pain.

"It's breath taking." I didn't mean to say it out loud. I mean it wasn't really the time or place to be sight seeing.

"I could same the same about you." Rail whispered looking down at me.

Rail's eyes grew somber for just a moment before it twisted into an empty slate.

"What's going on, Rail?"

"I'm trying to help you escape. I'm saving your life."

He had herbs growing all around his balcony. Some bright yellow flowers caught my eye. I reached my hand out to touch it's peddles. Rail slapped my hand.

"Don't touch."

He picked purple flowers, a brown set of twigs and, orange berries. He out them in a bowl and started to ground them together.

"What are you doing!?" I huffed. "We got demons out there."

"My palace, my problem."

"I'm not going to run away like some coward. I'm going to stay here and protect your heaven; all of the True One's heavens."

He spun around. "You don't get it do you?" His emerald eyes shined brightly at me. For some reason it made me think of Jay. "The True One will kill you once he finds out your purity has been lost. He will kill you." He laid his hand on the side of my neck. I tried to pull away. "I won't let that happen." His voice was ruff.

"I'm not leaving The Heavens unprotected while there are demons out there!" Tears stung my eyes. Flashes of the attack passed through my head. " I cant just let any of them get away." I growled.

Rail tighten his grip instinctively. I duck under his arm, avoiding his touch. I turned my back to him walking to the edge of the balcony. I watched as more black figures make their way into Rail's palace.

"Them? Th-There were more?" His voice raised. "Why won't you tell me who they are? We could end this fight now!"

"Look at me, Rail."

"I'm not going to tell you who did this. I know you'll go looking for a fight. And you wont stand a chance. They were stronger than me."

His eyes locked in on my cracked skin and scratches. "I'm the Protector. And they broke me..even with The Cross Stone. That's what they wanted Rail."

He stiffed.

"What on earth did you give me?" I whispered shacking my head.

The ground shook hard. The marble stone cracked underneath our feet.

"Tell me so I can end this. So I can end them."

Rails face showed no emotion execpt the fear that was returning to his eyes. But his lip twisted into a snarl and his green eyes glowed with hate. Without realizing it, my hand reached out to him.

His skin was rough and dry as he grabbed my hips and pulled me towards him..

I blinked and snatched my hand back. I couldn't shake off the chill that rush down my body. I was scared. I never knew that it would be possible for me to fear anything. I lowered my eyes and stared at the ground.

Rail shook his head as he turned back to his herbs. "I cant let you stay here." He walked back to me. His eyes drawing me in. "I'm sorry."

His eyes went glossy as he raised his hand. He closed his eyes and blew a puff of orange powder in my face. Poof.

My legs gave out immediately and my head hit the marble floor. I looked up at the sky my vision blurred at the edges. I held my head tightly.

"What are-" Rail pulled me into his arms.

"I'm going to take care of them." He brushed my hair back. "Every single one that has ever brought danger into our lives."

"Rail.." I starred at him. I started to see black spots but I still saw the pleasure he was trying to mask. I moaned at the sharp pain starting to spread from my head to my chest.

"Who are you talking about?"

"The one who's been standing in the way this whole time."

"Are you talking about..?" I asked even though I had a feeling that already knew. My stomach turned.

"He's going to kill you."

"Rail you cant be serious!" He flinched at my sharp voice.

"Hush now. Not too much longer." He picked me up.

He carried me to his bed. The red satin sheets slid across my skin. The bed smelled of Rail's smokey scent. At any other moment it would have been pleasant.

"Sleep love, this is going to be over soon." I couldn't see clearly anymore, which must be why I thought I saw a large shadow above us.

I felt Rail grabbed me, whispering something I couldn't make out. I blinked in time to see him slit my chest opened. At the first sight of light I screamed. Then blood trickled down the cut.

Rail held a half of the green and white Cross Stone in his hand.

But I gave Jay-

"How did you get that.." I blinked heavily.

"Like you said. They have the Cross Stone. But they don't have enough power." He sighed. "I can hide you. Then they cant find the other half and youll be safe-"

"No."

He let out a sigh.

"Once we have both pieces we can do whatever we want. Be with whoever we want.. I'm doing this for us. I'm doing this for you. I need you to understand."

I blinked heavily.

"No, you need understand. They over powered me. Without the stone. They have something else. Rail The True One will need me. All of The Heavens will.

I took a shallow breath as the edges of my vision darkened.

" I'm going to keep explaining myself. I wont let anyone to take whats mine."

I laughed.

"I love you, Aderes and DAMMIT I know you feel the same way." He said.

I sneered at him.

"What's so funny?" His voice shook with anger.

" You think I love you? I can't stand to look at you anymore."

Hurt filled his eyes as he pushed me down into the bed.

"This is going to be painful."

My arms jerked forward to stop him. He grabbed my wrists with one hand while the other was shoving the Cross Stone back into my chest.

My eyes closed shut and all I could hear was Rails strained breathing and my whimpers of pain.

There was a flash of light that made me struggle to open my eyes. In the corner of the balcony I saw the bright red light that belonged to Athena. Beside her was a familiar face.

I'm here. The beautiful face mouthed.

***

I looked around me. I was back in the dark decaying house. The smoke from the woodstove clouded the room. The blood that came from my body when I died, laid splattered on the ground and on the old pink couch. And for Rail?

He held on to my hand. "Are you ok?"

I ripped my hand away from him. "That night." I stared at the ground gathering my thoughts.

"Yes?"

"That's the last night I remember before.." I looked at him as all the pieces began to fit together.

"Aderes, let me explain." Rail begged.

"That was the night you banished me." I could feel my skin start to get hot as if it was on fire. I could feel my heartbeat beating faster and faster.

My arms were turning green. It was the restored power of the Cross Stone. The pulse from my chest to the bottom of my feet made me shiver with pleasure. The dusty room lit up with white light and green light. I looked down to see my hands glowing, holding two silver orbs brighter than I've ever seen them.

" You baster."

"I did it to protect you Aderes." He said sternly.

I was back at where I started. Still fighting with Rail. Protecting me or not I wanted nothing to do with him.

But deep in my heart I felt the tug of something more urgent to attend to. I felt the relentless ace in my chest. I lost someone. I lost myself. The Protector they called me. I used to help spread peace among all of The Heavens. The Protector died the day Lucifer attacked me. I felt pissed.

But Now?

I was nothing. No more protector. No more being scared. No more pain.

I threw the orbs passed Rail's head. "You better hope I don't see you again," i yelled, "because if I do I'll kill you." I stared into his eyes that were full of tears. I didn't care anymore.

He left me a long time ago.

I turned to leave; extending my arms releasing a green and white wave of light. Warmth covered me in a way I'd never felt before. My light turned into smoky fog of black and tangled itself around my body. My skin turned an icy blue. I ran a figure over my arm, it was cold. Looking closer, I panted as I watched my veins turn black, my heart pumped it through my body. I smiled. It felt so..

Good.

I pulled for more power. It was like a fire had started in my heart.

The wind started to pick up around me. My hair hitting my face; I caught a stray hair. It was turning jet black; slowly forming into a soft curl. My skin began to warm. I could see my reflection in the pot of water sitting on the wood stove. I was stunning.

I felt like I was in new skin.

I felt stronger.

I surrendered to the powerful pain that fueled my desire to kill Lucifer and his demons. I hated Rail for forcing me to leave my home unprotected. He made me suppress this anger for centuries. No wonder he looked at me with scared eyes. Killing my creator and taking over The Heavens? Well, lets just say, I never wanted to see the god that made me feel love.

Love is what made me weak.

With no one to hold me back, I wrapped my arms around myself as the black fog engulfed me in darkness. Just like that, I flashed.