• New plan


    Hades walked the hall with Hatchet, his brother and second in command. Though there was no such thing as brotherly love to them, there was still a strong bond between the two.
    “Have the takers made a move yet?”
    “No, sir, they haven’t been outside for awhile. Our patrols haven’t caught any of them.”
    “Keep the patrol doubled, I don’t trust those bludgers.”
    Hades stopped outside his office door. “Leave me alone. Don’t let anyone come near my room.”
    Hatchet nodded and left without another word. Hades closed his doors, already trying to piece together a plan. He walked to the window overlooking what used to be circular quay. The opera house that once held famous concerts and operas was now his home to do with as he pleased. The great halls were hollowed out to make room for bunks and closets of weapons. All the technology broken or pawned for money.
    Hades looked at his reflection. He ran his fingers along the scars crisscrossing just above his nose and between his dark eyes. Not a day went by he didn’t imagine killing that brat in charge of the takers. Killing him with his own two hands.
    Hades fists clenched and punched the window, sending a spider web of cracks through it, while blood seeped slowly into them. Hades pulled back from the window to lick his knuckles.
    “I’ll break him. I’ll crumble his pathetic gang. I’ll destroy the one thing he lives for.” Hades narrowed his eyes at the bright sunset, impatiently waiting for the night, for his window of opportunity.

    Distraction
    I was pleasantly surprised and a little suspicious when Julian led me to my previous room instead of back to the cell.
    “what...?”
    “I think Angel would want you in here. He just needs to calm down.” “Why is he ticked in the first place? Did he want my company that bad?”
    “Not really, he couldn’t really care less, it was when I told him you were getting along that he went off.”
    Now I was confused. Why would he care wether I was pampered or pulverised?
    “So he made a personal appearance because I was having fun?”
    “that’s the idea.”
    I got it! He wanted me to suffer! He wants my stay here to be miserable! Well, he’s got another thing coming!
    “Julian, can you take me to see him?”
    “of course”
    “now?”
    “of course not.”
    “Why?”
    “You did see him right? You think he’s calmed by now? Believe me it will take a lot longer and a lot of space.”
    “I don’t care about his personal issues! I want to see him now!” I ran out of the room past Julian. It took him a moment to respond, but when he did, boy did he put the pedal to the metal! Thankfully, I memorised the route we took to Angels suite. I was smaller and faster than Julian, which earned me a few extra metres on him. He was slowing down, i was speeding up. If I ever get out of here, I will never complain about P.E. class again! I found myself in the same hallway to the elevator leading to Angels. I could hear others joining Julian, asking what was going on. There was no way I was going to stop now, temper or not, I wasn’t going to be controlled by Angel.
    I got to the elevator, got in, and quickly shut the door just as Julian and the boys turned the corner.
    “Misty, don’t!”
    But the elevator had closed. Did they think I couldn’t Handle him? Please. As I said, I beat him once and I can do it again.
    The elevator dinged and opened to the same hallway. I stomped to the door and threw it open.
    “Listen here Angel, I...I...” and there he stood in nothing but his shredded jeans with his shirt hanging from his fist. His toned body still rigid in anger, but shining from the rays of the sun just beginning to set. But that wasn’t what stopped me. His hair had now gone dark red, almost a purple colour. And his still burning eyes took an ethereal black colour. His hands had tuned to small claws and clicked against each other as he moved his fingers. He turned he smiled at me, showing elongated canines.
    Oh s**t.
    “What...what....?” I backed toward the door, and heard the elevator open. Julian and jack came running. They reached for the door with what seemed to be horror or worry on their faces but it was slammed by an invisible force, making me yelp. I turned back, seeing Angel had turned fully to face me. His breathing was incredibly slow... no, he wasn’t breathing at all. I heard Julian and Jack banging on the door, yelling and begging for Angel not to do anything stupid or that he’d regret later. Obviously at this point, I wasn’t a worry.
    “so...” I almost jumped when Angel spoke. It was like chocolate being poured on silk, but it had a dangerous edge to it.”...you decide to grace me with your prescenccccccccccccccce.” He hissed bowing low.
    Honestly, I knew what he was. The problem was it was just too fantastical for me to believe. I just couldn’t say it out loud or in my mind. Here was the boy who seemed so beautiful even when angry, so gentlemen even when I was sarcastic. Now...now he was something worse than a nightmare.
    “I really couldn’t comprehend why you would choose to sit with those pests instead of me. I was surprised when my charm had not been welcomed with open arms.” He stepped toward me making me flinch.
    “And still you insist on stabbing me in the heart” he chuckled “well, whatever’s left of it.” He continued walking toward me at a steady pace, my own heart climbing with each inch closed. I tried working the doorknob, which was locked by the same strangeness than had closed it. I panicked and turned my back to try and force it open. Now, I think I mentioned this earlier...
    Oops.
    Large, clawed hands pressed against the door on either side of me. I heard as Julian and Jack grunted. It only took a second to hear the crash as they landed, at the other end of the hall.
    I knew this was bad. I knew I could do something. I knew defensive moves, but I couldn’t turn around. But it wasn’t Angel stopping me, It was my own fear. Something inside me fought with another something. My own little personal war. ‘to turn or not to turn...’, why the hell was I thinking of Shakespeare?! But, my question was answered for me. I couldn’t turn, because Angel had pressed himself so close, I could feel his nose pressed into my hair. Somehow he was able to inhale. What came out next sounded much like purr.
    “mmmmmmm” he nuzzled against my ear. I shivered and went completely still. He wasn’t human, he was more animal now, and animals always react to movement. Hi nose skimmed along the edge of my jaw, rising so he was cheek to cheek with me. He got so close I had to move forward a little. Only to push myself fully against the door. He pressed himself up against me. I could feel every contour of his body against my back. I could feel the muscles in his legs, and immediately knew I could never hope to outrun him.
    I felt a breeze against my back, only now noticing he was trying to pull my shirt up. I wanted to slap his hand away, and with some effort, turned around, and truly wished I hadn’t. I was right, he wasn’t human. As if to prove this, large black wings towered over the both of us.
    Well, it was one mystery solved, I knew how he got his name.
    The wings came down so suddenly I reflexively put my arms over my head and shut my eyes. I waited, but I didn’t feel anything. As I opened my eyes, I still saw Angel standing there, but the wings had wrapped around and enclosed me in a black cell. Worse, they started to move toward me, pushing me in different directions as Angel moved. It was torture to my nerves, but he smiled like we were dancing to the music of his rustling wings.
    I yelped again when something hit the back of my legs and made me tumble backwards, onto his wings. They were surprisingly soft. The lightest parts brushed my cheeks, reaching for my skin and falling gently back into place. Angel loomed over me so his long hair spilled over my body and his wings.
    “I love a meal with so much appeal.”
    He lowered his head toward me, and kissed me.
    My heart lurched and my body shook. I was so afraid of this thing, but his kiss was amazing. Whether he was just good, or it was my only and first kiss, I couldn’t fight it. If you’ve never been kissed before, imagine for just a minute. If his voice was chocolate on silk, then his kiss was like a “death by chocolate” plate while lying on a king sized bed covered in silk sheets and pillows.
    Damn.
    He pulled back and I sighed the breathe I’d been holding. When I opened my eyes, his eyes were slitted and all his teeth had sharpened. I felt ready to scream, as he leaned toward me again. I couldn’t take this, it was too much. My eyes rolled back and I blacked out.

    I woke up when I felt the sun shine on my face. I opened my eyes as the rays flooded the room with the morning. Everything seemed normal. Except for the memories of a monster.
    I shot out of bed, making myself dizzy as I tried to walk to the door. Ever done that before? I fell flat on my face, talent huh? When the room stopped spinning, I noticed the itchy feeling on my legs. I looked over my shoulder to find that I was in only the sweatshirt from the day before. I heard a chuckle from the door. My heart slowed when I found it was only Julian, with a tray of food and orange juice.
    “That was the funniest thing I’ve seen this morning, and that’s saying something.” He said looking sideways at me. My heart sped up again. This couldn’t be good for my health.
    I sat up to pull the sweatshirt over my knees and cover as much as possible. Julian chuckled again as he moved to sit the tray at a small table in the middle of the room. “Don’t worry, Angel didn’t dress you, or undress as the case may be.”
    Angel.
    “Julian, where is Angel?” Julian stopped cold. His smile faded to an expressionless face. We both could only hear the others breath, I waited for his answer as he waited for me to lose it. I was getting close. Finally he walked past me and went through a door near the bed. He came out with a plain white t-shirt and a pair of jeans.
    “You should get dressed and eat. I’ll come back later to talk.” He briskly left the room before I could ask anything. I knew he was avoiding what happened. Oh well, I was stuck here, I had all the time in the world. I hoped.

    Lies
    Julian came back as he promised. I had just finished my shower and put on my clothes. My breakfast was eaten and I had a lot of questions in my head ready to burst through my skull. Julian picked up the plate and made to leave, but I was smaller and quicker.
    “uh-uh, don’t think you’re leaving without giving me answers.”
    We glared at each other. Finally, I did something so embarrassing, so low, I felt like I was doing something wrong by nature.
    I put on a sad puppy face.
    I worked tears into my eyes to add to the effect. At first he was a little taken back, but he sighed and sat in the chair by the table. He was so huge, who knew it would work?
    I have got to remember to try it on mom.