The dance is tomorrow night. Scarlet has yet to make a move against us. She is not usually smart enough to attempt to lure her prey into a false sense of security, not that it would work on me anyway. No, she has to be planning something. Something big, and definitely terrible. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen soon, and we better be ready.

I'm sitting on my bed in the safe house that Halo and the old guy set up. Trying to think of a plan to be prepared is proving to be harder than I first thought. There is more at stake than what these Righteous think. I'm putting a lot at risk for even thinking about helping them. Which is why I have to win. There is no option. If we fail everything I have ever worked for will be nothing. I'd have the same fate as my father. Not that banishment sounds completely terrible to me. But the loss of reputation is something I am not willing to risk.

A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. I look towards the door to see Halo standing there.

"Ready for tomorrow?" She asks in excitement. It's as if she isn't aware of the increasing danger we are all in. I don't bother to respond. "What is it?" She continues.

I raise an eyebrow at her. "You don't find it odd that she hasn't even tried to make a move yet?"

"So," she starts. "You think what? She's going to try something tomorrow at the dance?"

"I wouldn't put it past her," I respond. "I'm not saying that something will happen. I just think we should be prepared."
She nods, in understanding or agreement, it doesn't really matter. "You're probably right. What do you suggest we do? Go to the dance with some sort of weapon stashed on us? I don't know if you've noticed but my dress doesn't have a lot of room to be hiding a dagger or something in."

I roll my eyes at her, "You've always been resourceful before Angel. I'm sure we can think of something. You'd be stupid to assume that she wouldn't have anything on her."

After a pause she sighs. "We can't have one night of normalcy can we?"

"You're a Righteous angel, I'm the closest thing to a demon. This is our normal. You may have been playing as a human for a while, but remember that you aren't one," I remind her.

"I guess you're right," she says under her breath. "This is who I am. This is the path I chose."

"Would you have made a different choice if given the chance?" I ask curiously.

She shakes her head, "Not for the world."

"Exactly. You're different than any other Righteous I've ever run into," I start to explain.

She cuts in, "Because I'm an independent thinker. I know."

I shake my head. "No, you're willing to make the tough decisions. You actually put aside your own desires and wellbeing to do your job. I have never seen your level of dedication before. In any kind of Righteous, or Fallen for that matter." I see her smile at my long winded compliment. "That is to our advantage you know. If I couldn't even get the better of you because of your dedication, I seriously doubt that she can."

She smiles sadly. "You seriously think I survived everything through determination? I left! I walked away from my charge, my duty. That isn't commitment or determination, that was cowardice."

I was expecting this from her. "Let me ask you something Halo, why did you feel you needed to leave in the first place?"
After taking a minute to think she answers slowly, "Because you were after me. My presence was a danger to Tony."

I nod, "Exactly. You chose to leave and give him his best chance. Even risking the punishment of your society to do so. You're willing to make the hard decisions. You're willing to make the sacrifice for him. That's why we'll get through this, I know it."

"What if the hard decision means I don't get through this?" She asks in a scared tone.

"Hopefully it won't come to that," I tell her in reassurance.

"Hopefully?" She inquires.

"Like I said, this is kind of who we are. We knew what we were signing up for with this way of life. So I can't promise that it won't happen," I tell her honestly.

She nods in understanding, "At least you're honest."

I smirk, "Don't tell anyone." In my pause she gives a small laugh. "I have a reputation to protect here!" I insist.

She smiles and nods in response, "Okay. Not a soul."

I smile back at her. Then I sober my expression. "Are you ready for tomorrow? You know what could happen?"

With a sigh and a nod she replies, "I'm ready."

I smile at her. When we met we hated each other and she was so naive about her own world. Now we're working together and have both learned a lot. I can't help but be proud of how far she's come.

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A/N: Okay so I know this is really late. I've had a lot going on at home and school. For the record I have 6 classes this semester and at least 20 hours of homework every week. I'm already working on what I will be putting on Wattpad after this is finished really soon. Depending on the response this gets when it is finished I may do more work in this world I've created and these characters after I finish this book. Thanks for sticking with me through this.