The old, yellow and brown leaves hustled in the wind, as the sounds of dead, weak trees, creak at every push the wind gave. It's the end of fall in Rizrana and the air is colder than an ice cube, as it climbs through Basilia's jacket to the bottom of her spine. Most of the leaves were already gone. And the sight of every living thing coming to an end, depressed her. The crumpling of the brown stiff leaves creates a home to many animals that need a place to hid during this time of empty sorrow. The birds have ceased to sing no more.

"I've heard there's a common Angel living here," Atlas murmured.

"Marina Roosevelt," Basilia said, walking through a trial that has been created by many footprints.

Atlas kneeled on to the ground and took a glimpse at the footprints. "Wolves," he whispered. "Not one but four."

Basilia closed her eyes and concentrated. She heard a beat, four unique beats beating to an unusual rhythm. 'They are close to us," she whispered.

Atlas stood up from the ground and held out his hand; blue sparks grew from his fingertips.

"We have less time," Basilia said and took a deep sigh. "Whether they like this or not we have to take one of them to the Capital, alive."

Atlas saw a bright blue light. He wondered how he saw the light when his eyes were closed. He saw his mother in the distance, she was smiling at him. He clenched his fist and determined to protect his mother and his land. He opened his eyes and his Angels wings appeared at his back, cracking his shirt. With his Angel wings Atlas looked like a God.

From the shadows came four wolves running toward Basilia and Atlas. Basilia held out her hand and pressured the air around them. The air created a storm so the wolves could not reach the Angels. The four wolves backed.

"Fight mode or discussion mode?" Basilia asked.

Atlas took a moment to respond, his mind had been busy replaying the scene in slow motion. "Discussion mode."

Basilia snorted, "I'll do the talking."
Atlas rolled his eyes. "Okay but control your temper."

"I'm Basilia Angel Air," Basilia shouted.

The four wolves walked circles around them silently; the only audible sound of the environment was their heavy breathing.

'I'm Basilia Angel Air," Basilia repeated. "I really you would cooperate with us or I'll turn you into dust within seconds."

"Basilia," Atlas hissed.

Three wolves walked away and the last wolf gestured Basilia and Atlas to follow them.

* * *

The water tumbled down the hillside in a series of mini-waterfalls. The water tinkled in a laughing sort of way and Cedric remembered that once when they were children he, Ever, Julian and Elizabeth imagined that this was the sort of places faeries might live. The rocks were slippery as they crossed the stream but there was an iron rope to hold on to. As they walked on that music of the woods became ever quieter until they could hear it no more

Derath was not the gentle sort of waterfall you might see in a stately home garden, it was the kind where torrents of water are poured over rocks hard enough to crack your skull and mash your brains on the way down, then swirl in a plunge pool below deep enough to drown you if you survived the fall. From the bottom it was awe inspiring, from the top it was brutal and terrifying.

Cedric reached for another hand hold. The rock was slippery with water from the plunge pool mist. One miss placed hand or foot and his lifeless body would be dragged around in the circular current until it rotted away. He dug his fingers into the crevice and pulled, this is where all those mis-spent hours climbing trees would pay off. The noise pressed in on him, pounding at his thoughts. This waterfall that had inspired Julian's poetry now scared him senseless. Cedric turned to look at Alexander who was following him.

"I'm sorry for troubling you," Cedric said.

Alexander smiled lightly. "Cedric, why do you always keep thinking that you are a burden to me?"

Cedric stopped where he was and turned to face Alexander.

"This was to be done by me and Julian not you and me," Cedric said, looking into Alexander's earthly eyes with the intention of reading his thoughts.

"Aren't you happy because we are together?" Alexander asked, placing his hand on Cedric's waist.

"I am, Alexander but you have other things to take care of. You have to work with Eli and others to fight against the blood drinkers. They have already captured the Capital. You have to protect..."

Alexander cut him off with a kiss. The kiss was gentle and passionate. The world around them slowed and they enjoyed their moment. Alexander put his hand on the back of Cedric's head, pulling Cedric closer to him. They pulled back and smiled.

"I love you, Alexander," Cedric whispered.

"I love you too," Alexander said and placed a kiss on Cedric's cheek.

"Will we be able to make it?" Cedric asked, placing his head on Alexander's broad chest.

Alexander sighed and stroked Cedric's hair. Alexander inhaled the flower like scent of Cedric. "I'm sorry for telling this but I think Elizabeth is a coward." For Alexander's surprise Cedric showed no reaction so he continued. "Because she ordered us to hide in a bunker we lost the Capital, because we lost the Capital we can't reach the other lands so the other lands are in danger."

"Can't you disobey Elizabeth?" Cedric asked.

Alexander laughed lightly. "We can."

"Then why are you wasting your time?"

"We are not."

"You are."

Alexander smiled and stroked Cedric's Roosevelt black hair. "Parisa, Albia, Alicia and Joseph are already on their way to the other lands with the Capital's army."

"Does Elizabeth know about this?" Cedric asked.

Alexander shook his head. "Joseph will be leading us."

Cedric took his head from Alexander's chest and began to walk toward the statue of Zeus which was bonded to the Derath. "Why aren't you joining them?"

"I am."

"How?"

"I'm here to protect the rest of us in the Capital."

"The blood drinkers will soon discover the bunker."

"Have you ever seen the sword of life?" Alexander asked, changing the subject.

"I've read about it. Zeus has called it the God killer. It must be somewhere around the feet of the statue of Zeus."

"What's that?" Alexander pointed his hand in the direction of a huge black hole.

The cave was built into the muddy brown rock in between the waterfall and the statue of Zeus. The stone guarding the entrance was jagged and uneven, arranged in such a way, that it would be difficult for the passersby to spot.

"I've never seen this cave before," Cedric said, moving into the cave following the damp wall of the cave with his hand.

"That's strange."

In the cave the only sound that met their straining ears were their own echoing footsteps.

As they explored further into the cave, they came across frigid pools of stagnant water.

From the gloom of the cave came a white glow. Alexander twirled his fingers, creating brown sparkles. The sparkles created a plant on his palm. A chill breeze pushed back pushed black Cedric's black hair and blew some dust into his eyes. He blinked furiously. Alexander held out his hand to attack the light, but instead a glowing form stepped into Alexander's line of sight. It was tall woman of sorts, not carrying a source of light but glowing like sunlight was trapped within her and seeping through her pores. "Do not fear child. I am Angel Earth."

Alexander took few steps toward his mother. He couldn't recognize her due to the uncomfortably bright light emitting from her. "Ma," he muttered under his breathe.

"My child," she spoke, stretching her hand toward Alexander.

Alexander tried to touch his mother but he failed.

"Child, I'm not a living anymore." She moved her gaze from Alexander to Cedric. "I'm here to deliver a message from God."

"What is it, mother?"

"Fallax aspectus eorum

quae auditis et videtis non habeat fiduciam

potest esse rosa et ad inferos

hoc bello de cordibus vestris.

habemus fide in Deum"

Some residual smoke hung in the air, shifting like ghosts in the breeze. It obscured Angel Earth like fog.

"Ma!" Alexander shouted but the Angel was already gone. He turned to face Cedric and asked, "What does that mean?"

"Looks are deceptive

Don't trust everything you hear and see

A rose can also be hell

This is war of hearts

Have faith in god"

* * *

Moving into the light is a wolf. He is white-silver, fur glossy and thick. He took a flight and when he landed on the Earth he was human. He was nude. Basilia moved her gaze from the nude werewolf to the other wolves that were circled around her and Atlas. There were hundreds of them but there was pin drop silence. Basilia looked again at the nude werewolf, he was now wearing black trousers but he was still shirtless.

"Where is your Alpha?" Atlas asked, playing with the air around him with his index finger.

"I am," answered the werewolf in black trousers.

Basilia noted the appearance of the werewolf. His rich chocolate hair had tousled griminess which promised finesse. He had strong arched brows and thick eyelashes. When she looked into his eyes, she saw the pine trees of the forest. He had distinct cheekbones and an angular jaw, his pale skin made him look devilishly handsome.

"I'm Atlas Angelo Air. We are here to get a sacrifice for Angelic," Atlas spoke, walking closer to the alpha. "Do you know the cause for the sacrifice?"

The handsome alpha nodded. "A werewolf sacrifice can't be attained that easily, Angel."

"We've got no time to waste," Atlas hissed.

"Sacrifice for a sacrifice."

"What do we have to do?" Basilia asked.

The alpha looked at Basilia as if he just noticed her. "One of you have to fight with one of us until the death of one party."

"That's ridiculous," Atlas said, amused.

"Then you can leave Rizrana," the alpha said and began to walk away from them.

"We wish to meet Marina Roosevelt." Basilia moved her gaze around, trying to read the creatures gathered around them.

The alpha smirked. "She doesn't wish to see any Angel." He focused his gaze on Basilia. "Do you wish to proceed?"

"Yes," Basilia said and unbuttoned her blue jacket.

The alpha chuckled. "My lady, we don't fight against women."

Basilia gave her jacket to Atlas. "Werewolf, I'm not just a woman, I'm a child of God."