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It never accured to me that when I decided to take a walk and get away from it all that I would truly be getting away from it all. I never thought when I stepped outside into the crisp cool air that September morning that my life and my world as I knew it would never be the same. But as they say, you never see the one that gets you.
And this I suppose was my proverbial bullet...

She stood staring down at the darkness. Her body and mind not her own, her soul silent and unlit. Her lashes blinked but it was not her doing, nor as she lifted her hand and felt through the fog was it her brain signal that did this. No her movements had not been her own for some time now.
Clearly it had been her body that walked through each room and clearly it had been her voice that had given orders that had claimed so many lives. And clearly it had been her hand that took their lives from them. But was it really 'her'?
The answer was an unequivocal no.
But who was left to answer for what had been done? Who stood on the edge of a great precipice, staring down at insane angry faces?
The answer was her and her alone. And that had always been the answer, since the beginning of time.
Even her creator, the great light had made her different from all of her siblings.
She stood with two legs, two arms, two eyes, a mouth and a nose. Her beauty was better than average but not better than all others. Her hair was soft but not the softest. Her mind though, and her soul; those were the two things that set her apart from the others.
When she was born, war was waged. There was nothing and still they faught. And they faught all because there was nothing.
But it had been her and her alone that had stopped and had taken time to think, to listen. And through that she had gained the knowledge and the power to make something. And for a time the fighting stopped.
But if one thought that peace was a thing that could be achieved than that person would be a fool. And oh she did make a fool of herself, hoping; dreaming, that one day her eyes would see peace.
But as time moved forward in the unyeilding march it does she saw that peace was no more than a fantasy, a pipedream.
And as time moved forward she stopped dreaming and stopped hoping, but instead anything she ever had hoped for she worked for, and made a reality.
And it was for that very fantasy that was peace that she waged war herself.
How ironic was it not? The one who wanted nothing more than peace would wage war in its name.
But oh yes, she waged war and for many different reasons and in many different ways.
Some bloody, some profitable. But all wars she faught, she faught for the greater good and for her children; the hopeless race of humanity.
And it was this very war that tainted the hearts of her children, that caused them too to fight and forsake the dream of peace.
It was this very war that started it all....
The fog seemed to hide all things...
It hid the blood, and it hid the wild eyes.
But one thing it did not hide was the evil that encompassed this place, wherever it was.
A silent breathe escaped him, this man that stood out of the fog. He stood tall, pale; almost sickly pale. But at the same time of this sickness, this man stood a ungodly beauty. His soft raven strands waved about in the bitterly cold air as he stared down with madning blood colored eyes. His face was etched in every line with glory, pride and joy but in those smoldering eyes lay pain, pain like no other.
Still at the sight of what he stood over one could hardly find time to see pain, nor pity for this man, this murderer.
Under the thick blanket of fog, lay a cold figure, a motionless form, a lifeless body.
The body belonging to a soft haired woman lay crumpled like a rag doll, oozing blood about the ground.
And as this man looked down upon the face that had once been so beautiful so pure his eyes that played pain seemed to swell with sorrow.
A tear came to the surface and slid down his face, falling to the ground being lost in the fog like all other things. The moment the tear escaped his eyes the man lifted his sizable hands and wiped his eyes clean.
A soft voice came from behind and he stood to attention, his hand falling to his side.
"Abyssus?" the female voice called.
The man shook his head.
But of course that would do no good, the fog hid him as well after all.
"No, not anymore."
From the cover of the fog a langy, tan skinned woman appeared. Her features were carved from the night sky and her skin lit up with a vague glow like starlight.
Her eyes sparkled with a blue gray, hazel color to them. And her hair, soft waves of dark brown, tumbled about her shoulders as she walked.
She stopped when she saw him.
"Lu, why would you take the body back in a time like this? You supported her, and knowing her fate you set your eyes on her body. Were you even thinking?"
The man frowned and then turned to face the woman growling.
"Don't call me Lu!"
She blinked unfaised.
"Fine then Lu-Lucifer," she said at last finding it better not to test this man.
Lucifer still frowned, looking down.
"As I'm sure Abyssus has told you her death was necessary. Peace is not something that can be obtained and anyone with the power that she had that dreams of peace has no business in this universe."
Lucifer did not look up from the ground, but he did mumble slightly.
"So we killed her all because she dared dream a dream?"
The woman smiled eager now, as if in hopes that Lucifer was understanding.
"So many deaths have accured because of this 'dream'," she explained.
He turned his flaming gaze on her in anger. His hand came up and wrapped around mousy neck.
"And do you know how many deaths this will have caused?! We have made her a martyr lilith! A MARTYR!"
Lilith's eyes swirled with anger and became snake like slits of red. This to any normal person meant death.
"You are the only one that seems to care Lucifer. Remember your place. When you gave your soul to Abyssus and turned your back on good and you became one of us. Why should you care if a thousand, a million or even a billion die?"
His hand fell away and she half collapsed, nearly gasping for air. He turned away from her, lowering his head in defeat.
"I care because out of all the people in this universe she had hope, a quality that is rare today."
Lilith stopped huffing for air and an evil grin came over her face suddenly.
"You had hopes that one day if she succeeded you would be freed and made a man of honor?"
Lucifer shook his head.
"Just freed Lilith, simply freed."
"And by what means had you hoped that freedom come to you?" she asked, her eyes thin slits now.
A small grin came over his face as he looked down on the bloody face of the woman they spoke of. He laughed and it took Lilith aback.
"By my death of course. My life should have ended the day I damned the gods for taking Ena from me."
Lilith's cackling made him turn around, staring in confusion.
"You are a hopeless romantic Lucifer."
He shook his head.
"And you are a deviant slut Lilith."
She giggled and turned, sweeping her skirt about her, walking off.
"Can't wait to see what this brings," she yelled behind her.
He watched her fade into the mist. He waited for the smell of sex and blood she left in her wake to disapate. He waited for her aura to fade from the area. And when it finally did disappear he turned round and continued to stare down at the face of the woman he had been so found of.
"Nevermore my lady, Nevermore."
And with that Lucifer closed his eyes and his body turned into shadows and faded into the fog.

Ch 1
The streets were lit only by faded lights, glowing through the eary fog and the icy rain that poured down. There was no noise in the darkness of the night, no cries, no honks of a horn, no laughter, no anything, just the icy rain and the shadowy fog.
A door creaked open, revealing a young woman who tottered out, shaiking open an umbrella and hoisting it above her brunette covered head. She stepped lightly down old cracked stairs and hightops met concrete. From under the umbrella staring into the vacency of night set two chocolate brown orbs, twinkling in the downpour. Her skin surprisingly amply lit by the glow of the street light shown a soft ivory color. Her lips where painted a dark maroon in color and shaped finely and softly in her face. Her long legs were covered in denim black skinny's and her curved busty form was covered by a dark purple tank that was half covered by a knee length peecoat.
She looked up to the sky and sighed before looking back down and walking on. She walked down the street in silence, blinking soft lashes as she moved about.
She found herself eventually surrounded by trees.
Central Park... she thought.
"What a perfect place for a walk at night," she laughed in sarcasm.
Even so, she thought stepping into the dark park that lay in slumber. She shook the water from her umbrella and closed it, letting rain drop down onto her head and slide down her body. She set her umbrella down by a tree and took off, running into the greens and blacks of the park.
She was free now, truly free. No one could tame her now. As she ran and the roaring wind tore through her hair she smiled and it touched her eyes.
When she was running, free in the woods no one mattered. No problems could touch her, no drama could hold her attention, no chains could keep her down.
She came to a stop and her heart pounded against her chest, her breathing coming in half gasps. Cold beads of sweet rolled off her forehead and mixed with the rain.
She raised her head up suddenly hearing a cackle and turned to see who or what was making the noise. To her right ahead of her stood two figures, one a man who stared down at something and ahead of him a woman who walked off laughing, yelling something behind her.
Grace sidestepped behind a tree and peared out from behind it at the man whose face seemed contorted with agony and sorrow.
The man was certainly beautiful and this pain on his face made Grace feel the need to call out to, to comfort him. But did she do those things? No.
The man continued to look down and suddenly smiled and spoke four words that were clearly audible to Grace.
'Nevermore my lady, Nevermore,' he said.
She blinked and to Grace's utter confusion the man was gone. She stepped out from behind the tree and ran forward to where he had been, spinning around, looking to see if she could find him. But of course the man was gone with no trace. It was if he had never existed.
Grace shook her head, sending rain flying off straightened bangs and turned around to go back the way she came when her eyes, widening fell on something ill.
Her brown eyes swelled with horror and fear as she looked down upon the remains of a once beautiful woman.
Grace took a step back, blood seeping from the body closer and closer to her feet. She couldn't believe her eyes.
Could she have been witness to the aftermath of a murder? Could she have just seen this woman's murderers? She had to tell someone, find someone!
She reached into her pocket for her cellphone and pulling it out started to dial the three numbers that would alert the world of a crime.
Suddenly as she was about to dial the last one the body glowed. From the body and the blood a wisp of light came swirling around her. Grace stepped back dropping her phone and falling back on her butt.
From the light came an appirition of beauty, glowing from light that could only be from heaven. The appirition stood with glowing white hair, pale white skin, and luminecent silver eyes. And those silver eyes stared with percice persition down at Grace. She was afraid and with good measure but at the same time she couldn't help feel safe. Those eyes that stared down at her so calmly, so softly made her feel more at peace than she had ever been before. And just as she was being drawn into that peace the appirition opened its snow white lips.
"You are the one."
The apirition speaking in a rasp of many voices burst into rays of light. The light surrounded Grace. She fell back, slamming her head against the ground and was lost to the light, her eyes closing as unconcessness took her.
Ch2

Black hair covered his face, covered mournful silver eyes. No one spoke with care of where they were or took a moment for anyone else. Instead voices molded together in a mesh of chaos and confusion. Men and woman and monster alike all cawwed and yelled and shouted in anger and pain.
Those eyes that shown with sorrow suddenly flashed with anger as the man stood bursting his voice over all.
"I KNOW FOR GODS SAKE BUT YELLING ABOUT IT WON'T BRING HER BACK."
His soft face pulsed now with anger and pain as they quieted and stared at him. He sat back down, his face softening, folding his hands under his chin in tight locks.
"Perhaps we should leave Damian alone for a bit," called a singsong voice from behind them. The crowd turned and parted for the one known as Danu.
Danu stood in tight green silk garbs flowing about her body. Above hanging from atop her head gold locks flowed down like the green garbs. The green garbs added to the forest color in her eyes that watched each person like a cat its prey.
Danu stepping lightly walked forward and placed herself between the man known as Damian and the crowd.
The crowd turned and walked away and as it did Danu turned and looked at Damian. His hair fell over his hands and his head and hands slid down onto the desk at which he sat.
"Damian no one could have know that-"
"Dana I do not need your comfort."
Danu frowned and pressed her lips into thin lines.
"It is my job to comfort Damian. She was your wife, your soul-"
"She was many things to many people and most importantly she was a good soul and one of the few truly good ones in this universe. But thats changed, shes gone now, they've won."
Danu shook her head slightly.
"Oh but thats simply not so! Her body may be gone but she isn't. She is and has always been the strongest of us all. If anyone could pull a vanishing act and return from it, its her," assured Danu.
Damian looked up at her through jet black hair.
"Even she cannot make a body from nothing. Theres no coming back from this."
Danu barked out her words at him, in clear annoyance.
"But I feel her Damian. As I have always felt my sister I feel her now! She's not gone and surly you must feel her too."
Damian raised up sighing.
"I do feel her soul. Her soul has never left me, but the fact remains I cannot speak with her, I cannot touch her. Her soul is beyond us."
Danu opened her mouth to speak when suddenly the doors to the dimly lit room burst open. Damian stood at the sight of the red head.
Danu turned about facing the woman. She was tall and featured a dark tan. Her hair waved about her body in colors of firey orange's and hellish reds. Her eyes set a madning orange in fine lines of black liner and her vuluptous form was covered in a corset armor dress made from the oddest red metal.
She stopped short of the two and bowed for a moment before speaking.
"Lady Danu, Lord Damian."
"Pele?" asked Damian, stepping around the desk and standing beside Danu.
Pele stood facing them in silence in the dimmed room. For a time everything was silent and dark but as the silence continued a firey glow that seemed to lighten the room a bit eminated from Pele's body. And it was Pele that broke the silence.
"I come baring news of m'lady Oracle."
Danu glarred for a moment as if to say, 'why remind us' and Damian who was already upset became even more so.
"What news bring you?" Danu asked.
Pele turned her orange gaze on the great lady and answered her.
"Themis has had a vision."
Damian growled slightly.
"We have no time for Themis's vision. The whole country is mourning her loss."
Pele shook her head.
"Not madness my lord! Themis said The Oracle came to her in a vision after her death."
Danu turned her cat eyes on Damian who returned her confusion.
"Sh-e what?" he asked.
Pele nodded.
"Themis said that there is another body. That a time has come when-"
Pele's voice was cutt off by a bang. Light surrounded them and took them over and great all powerful voice overwhelmed them.
'The time has come when a new Oracle must take my place.'
Danu and Pele looked around in awwe. Damian simply blinked.
"Vitae..."
At the mention of the name Danu and Pele lowered their gazes.
'Damian my love, you must be angry.'
"Angry? What, how could I be?"
'Angry that I never told you.'
"Told me what? That you were going to die? How could you have known?"
'I didn't at the time. But at my death something happened. The great Light spoke to me once more. It told me it was my time and that it was time for a new soul to take on this role.'
Damian shook his head and his brow tensed.
"I don't understand. Another soul take on the role?"
'Yes. The knowledge to do my job, it has already been passed down to another. At my death she appeared to me, a girl-'
"A human?" he demanded suddenly.
'Yes, a human.'
Danu looked up suddenly and spoke.
"Surly there must be someone better for the job than a human sister. I mean I love humans as much as anyone but a human? A human would be destroyed mentally by the task at hand, a human would go insane."
' Humans have the grand ability of adaptation. A human perhaps might be the best thing for us. She is the only one suited for this. It has already been predeteremined. I speak to you now with the last strength I have in my body. I speak to you through my astral form.'
And with that the light faded and there was silence.
Pele and Danu's blinked looking at each other in utter amazement. All the while they did not notice Damian in thought.
'Find her Damian my love.'
Her voice was soft in his head. It soothed him and caused him some peace of mind. But at the same time it pained him to hear her. But nevertheless he thought back to her.
'I will Vitae, I will.'
'You are the only one that can help her with this task Damian. There will be times when she is frightened, confused and someday feel more alone than she has ever felt. And Danu is correct she may, if not helped, go mad.'
'I just don't see why this had to happen.'
He frowned.
'Oh but it was my time. You will see in time why this had to happen. And when you do I hope that you will no longer hate me.'
He almost shouted. Hate her? How could he ever hate her?
'Oh but I love you. I don't hate you. I'm simply angry that I won't be able to see you again.'
She laughed.
'But I'm always with you and I will continue to be. I'm simply in your head and heart rather than in your eyes and hands.'
He smiled. Of course she would say something like that. She could never let him be sad, or angry or upset. And it was thanks to her that he had never stayed sad or angry for a lengthy period of time in the past few billion years.
'I trust you. If you say theres a good reason behind this then I believe you.'
He imagined her smiling as she often did when he put his faith in her.
'Thank you my love. Thank you.'
He nodded.
'I will come to you in spirit when I can.'
'I take it you have to go then?'
'She is waking up. My power will fade into her when she does.'
'This girl, do you trust her soul? Is she fit, are you sure?'
She sighed and he saw her nodding in his head.
'I have never been more sure of something in my eternal life. I have faith that in time she will save us all.'
Her last words took him by surprise.
'I don't understand.'
'In time dearest one, in time.'
And with that she was gone and Damian was left to think and pretend to listen to Danu and Pele's ramblings on what had just accured. He was delighted that she had given him this task, had trusted him and only him to do this. He was belated that she had spoken to him one last time but even with this he felt a sad emptiness creep over him. And this emptiness he knew was something he would need to grow accustom to or he too might lose his mind.
This was fate she had said. This was happening for a reason and everything would turn out as planned she had meant. Even with this he couldn't help be upset that fate had taken her away. No that damed Abyssus and the cursed Lilith had swept her life away. And even with this new girl to take over Vitae's job there was no one in Damian's eyes that would do it quite like her. But because she had given him this job he would honor her wishes and help the girl. He would do all in his power to see that she was safe and carried out her new job. And hopefully with time and effort she would as she had put it 'save them all.'

Ch. 3
The room was lit only by sunlight that faded in from behind purple curtains. Soft rays floated over her and got it golden specks on her golden brown hair as she lay
There, eyes closed in a soft bed of satin and egyptian silk. Her face was set softly and her mouth lay relaxed in a soft plain smile as if she was dreaming a peaceful dream. And dream a sweet dream she did....
She dreamt she lay in a meadow of whiteness where no one's voice could reach her ears and no drama could hold her attention. Nothing lay in that whiteness except peace and a holy silence that stretched on until the end of the world. And it was that very silence that caused that feeling of peace to fade. She did love the abcence of drama but she knew better. Silence was not the norm for her life and this, a never ending silence meant something ill to her. She stood in the whiteness of her dream and walked on, searching for something out of the nothing. But as she walked she found nothing but the silence and the whiteness, and the silence and whiteness took her; drew her in. She was drawn in to the point that when it took her she was falling and it took her some time to realize that this was the case. But when she realized this she opened her mouth to scream and found she had no voice to scream with. And so she fell in silence into a now blackened world.
And from the blackness she stopped in the now nothingness. The black surrounded her and she neither fell or stood on a surface. She was simply there, or maybe perhaps she wasn't. She looked back and forth to each side of the nothing, looking on for any rays of light and when finding none closed her eyes.
'I would like to wake up now.' she thought.
And she found her voice resonated across the blackness when she thought.
'But you have nothing to wake up to do you? Do you even remember who you are?' said a voice in her head.
The voice too resonated across the empty space of nothing and so keeping her eyes closed she shrugged. Finding that there was nothing better to do she answered the voice.
'Of course I know who I am. I'm Grace Alwin.'
'A name, how funny. Does a name tell someone who you are?'
Does it tell someone who I am? How odd this voice was.
'Its my name. What else could I say to tell someone who I am?'
She imagined the owner of the voice laughing at her when it spoke again.
'Ah but that is a question indeed. When one asks who you are what does one say? Do they simply give a name? That of course is correct, but is your name you, in all your glory can be summed up in, a name?'
She shook her head.
'I'll play your game then whoever you are. I am Grace Alwin. I am 20 years old. I was born and raised in New York City and have lived here all my life. My mother and father raised me to be loving and kind to all people. I hate drama but deal with it with a fair amount of patience. I am a freshman at an Art college here in New York and am at the top of my class. I plan to be an artist. It makes me happy.'
There was a pause for a moment and then the voice spoke again.
'Ah but stations. Those are just names as well.'
Grace frowned. She was starting to get annoyed now at this thing, whatever it was.
'Well its who I am! Theres nothing more about me than years of study and hard work.'
She imagined the voice grinning.
'Ah but who you are is a sum of what you are and what you will become. Your life is a sum of memories and reactions to situations. What is planned for you in life is who you are. Your destiny is who you are.'
She shook her head.
'I do not believe in fate, destiny, whatever you wanna call it. I'm a believer that one makes their own life. Nothing is predetermined, decided by some all powerful being.'
The voice laughed and this time Grace became angry.
'You couldn't be more wrong. We all are fated to life. Yes you may decided for yourself. But those decitions have already been fortold. We are all bound to our destinies.'
And as the voice said those words it faded and the blackness started to crack and it leeked drops and puddles of white. It was like ink dripping from a pen as it poured down, a never ending river. And with that as the two colors mixed the silence broke as well.
Screams filled Grace's dream world, or perhaps it was her head. She lifted her hands to her head and covered her ears and as she tried to ignore the voices they grew louder. Voices screeched at her in a multitude of pitches and accents. Some were male, some female and some she couldn't tell which. But as she kept her hands on her head they grew louder and louder until she too screamed, finding her voice once again.
The moment she screamed the voices silenced and were gone. She opened her eyes in hopes of finding her dream world and found her room staring back at her.
She raised up, with sweat covered skin and the covers fell slightly off her body as she blinked her eyes, adjusting to the light.
That dream...she thought.
What the hell was wrong with her? What had she been doing before bed?
She bolted upright jumping out of bed the sheets sliding off her, piling on the floor beside her.
The man! And the body......
She turned around looking at her room.
Had those been a dream too? She didn't remember returning home from her walk. Did she even go for a walk?
She shook her head and walked on dismissing her thoughts as dreams.
She opened the door to her room and turned left walking down a dimly lit hallway. The hallway was covered in paintings and furnishings that was befiting a well payed person. She payed no mind to the faces in each portrait as she continued to walk on, stopping at the top of a staircase before tiptoeing down it.
Back to the mundane, she thought stopping in a new room, a kitchen.
'No more odd dreams for this girl,' she told herself.
Frowning slightly she opened the refrigerator door and stared into its midsts. Deciding on her breakfast she pulled out a plate of bacon and closing the door she turned around and walked over to a microwave. Popping the door open she let the plate slide in before closing the door again and punching in numbers.
The microwave wirred and wizzed as it cooked her cold food. She stared vacently out the window waiting for her bacon to cook and smiled.
A small blond boy ran around in circles tailing a golden puppy who, yapped and wagged its tail.
Cute, she thought.
The microwave beeped and she turned away from the window and walked over to her food. She turned around once she had it and with a gasp she dropped her plate. Lucifer, the man from the park sat at her table.
"Hello, love."
She distanced herself from him, pressing her back against the wall.
"Wh-o are you?!" she demanded.
The man grinned.
"I'm known by many names sweetheart," he said standing.
Not taking her eyes off him she felt around with her hand on the counter and grabbed a knife holding it in front of her.
"No tricks. Who are you and how'd you got in here?!"
He stood, pushing his chair in and shook his head.
"You remind me of a mouse. Your eyes show fear in every glimmer."
She held the knife more firmly.
"I'll show you mouse," she hissed taking a step forward.
Lucifer laughed.
"Fine little girl. I'm Abyssus, though you may know my body as Lucifer."
Her grip loosened on the knife as her eyes widened.
Lucifer?!
Grace wasn't one for religion but the name was a legacy unto its own. Lucifer; meaning morning star was the angel that was cast out. Lucifer, the favorite of gods children, the creature that was the route of all evil, the betrayer, the life taker, the heart of all that was mad and dark.
Her grip tightened.
"LIAR!!!" she screamed.
He stopped moving and grinned.
"I think I scared her Lucifer."
At the mention of his name Lucifer became the master of the body and his face furrowing a frown spoke with a soft voice.
"Run, you must run. He is not as I. He is the true evil and he will kill you."
Grace was utterly confused. One moment the man had evil and murder in his eyes with a sadistic grin upon his face and the next he had a pained expretion that came with soft words and a kind soul.
The sadistic grin returned and the man's eyes smoldered red as he looked at her.
"You saw the body."
The body...
Flashes of the blood soaked woman she found in the park echoed in her head.
So it wasn't a dream.
Grace pushed her self closer to the wall.
"And you murdered the woman?"
Lucifer/Abyssus grinned again and nodded.
"She had it coming. The b***h faught me for ages. It was because of her that people like you exist."
Grace's eyes closed half way as she tried to mold over what he said.
"I have no idea what your talking about!"
He was suddenly inches from her and the sudden closeness made her raise the knife in defence. He cuaght her hand and she struggled. This did no good. Lucifer held her, face first against the wall. He laughed and his hot breath against her neck.
"Strong one aren't we. Do you honestly think your a match for the Devil?"
She struggled more, kicking against his legs and nearly managing a groan kick but this did nothing to him.
"Chaos has told me you are the new Oracle. She told me my sisters' soul is yours now."
Grace closed her eyes in fear.
"I don't know what your talking about!" she repeated.
He laughed.
"Of course not. You wouldn't. Let me explain it to you then. There are many people like myself who have faught since the beginning on sides. Some would call it good vs evil. I have since my creation faught against that woman, my sister Vitae for dominance. She has never lost. No she has never faltered of failed until today. Her death was the only way I saw to put myself in power, for without there stood little oposition. But knowing my sister she had this set out, that if she did fall this would happen. Being a powerful being her soul has jumped into your body and has given you the task of her pervious job, Oracle to the Light."
Grace's head pounded with frustration, fear, anger and confusion.
She only understood part of it but getting the jist of the situation she came to understand that an all powerful god like figure's body was destroyed and her soul was sharing her body. What the hell was going on?!
"This is another dream," Grace groaned.
He laughed.
"No dream deary."
Grace shook her head.
"This kinda stuff doesn't really happen. This is out of a comic book!"
He shook his head.
"Ah but it does."
She banged her head against the wall.
"But I have come to offer you a choice."
She opened her eyes, stopping the banging.
"A choice?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"And what might that choice be?"
"Join me, my side and fight for me."
She turned her eyes towards him as best she could.
"And if I refuse."
Before he opened his mouth she knew the answer.
"And if you refuse I shall kill you."
And just as she was about to open her mouth the raven haired man Damian appeared.
"Let her be Abyssus!" he commanded.
Abyssus turned and losing his grip on Grace laughed.
"Ah Damian, come to protect your mistress's soul?"
Damian growled, his eyes luminecently silver.
This man was towering, beautiful, strong by the looks of him. She thought she should be afraid of him but she felt oddly calm and like the woman safe with him. And yet with all of this said all she could find to say was,
"Holy s**t, you look like Andy Sixx!"
Lucifer/Abyssus flicked his tongue, his eyes swirling in their evil red.
"I said leave her be."
Grace stood behind Lucifer/Abyssus who growled like the beast he was.
"Who is this?!" she demanded.
"Oh just the husband of the late Oracle, the lady in you I told you about."
Damian's eyes watched her as she took in this news. He spoke Lucifer who frowned, not to fond of this.
"Grace, I'm here to take you away from him. You'll be safe."
Grace stood, holding the knife firmly still.
"Your not taking me anywhere!"
Lucifer/Abyssus laughed.
"I don't think likes your presumtous attitude knight of the weak."
Damian's eyes flashed as Lucifer/Abyssus suddenly turned and rounded on Grace.
Silence...
The room seem to fade in and out as time slowed.
The knife pearched him only slightly and that all together frightened Grace. With a knife embedded in his chest Lucifer/Abyssus grinned and as blood dripped down he flicked his tongue against a lip ring Grace hadn't noticed before.
"And now you've annoyed me little mouse."
And as his came up the room faded and light burst from her body.
Neither Damian nor Lucifer had excepted this, that when she was attacked her new found power would react. The girl with a terrified look on her face glowed with blinding light and her eyes swirled silver, the color of stars.
A sudden wind picked up in the house and swirled around her, objects about the room floating and throwing themselves at Lucifer who dodged with only hairs space to spare. Knives picked themselves up and threw them at Lucifer who managed to miss a few of them, only to growl as one ripped into his shoulder. The knife that stabbed in was held by Damian who grabbed it out and growing claws ripped into Lucifer/Abyssus's back.
Abyssus turned and with angry eyes growled again.
"FINE," and with that he was gone.
Grace stood still glowing, her eyes now vacently white as the room's objects continued to levitate about the air. Damian approached her slowly and carefully as he stared her in the eyes. His hands raised as a knife flew towards him and just as the tip was inches from his face he called out to her.
"Vitae..."
Her head raised up, eyes staring at him as her eyes stopped glowing.
"Vindexin..." she trailed.
And with that she fell, her eyes closing and all the objects falling to the floor. Damian caught her in his arms and stared down at her with careful eyes.


Damian glided through room of white, carrying Grace firmly in his arms. He had done the first of his job, find the girl. This task; Damian thought, was going to prove difficult. It hadn't been a day since she died and yet Abbysus had already found out about the girl that laid so innocently in his arms. He looked over her. She looked no different from many humans. She had a healthy frame shaped with soft curves that flowed like butter on her bones. She had long strands of dark silk falling from her head. Her skin was pale as ivory tusks. Her lips were finly shaped, easy to paint. Her lashes were long and dusty moonlight black/silver and her legs were long and toned. She was the image of a well bred mortal. But this girl, any man or beast could tell was not normal in any sence of the word.
No, this girl held something greater than him, greater than any person in the place he led her through. And it was not simply his late wife. No, what this girl had in her was a rare gift. Vitae had once said to be a oracle, nae a leader in all one must have the virtue patience and the ability to listen. And this girl, if she was the only person in this whole universe that had it in her to carry out this tasky job than she must be more patient and be a better listener than any other creature. It would take a pure ungreedy heart, and a eager to learn mind to carry out this task to fruition. He sighed and stopping in his tracks looked down at her soft face. He hoped for the sake of Vitae's soul, his people and even the whole free loving society that she had it in her.
For if she did not it would mean the end of them all.
Whispers came from all around them as doors opened and figures came pouring in from every size, shape and race. Some gasped, and some awwed, but most simply stood and stared. From the back of the crowd shouting could be heard as Danu's figure could be seen, with Pele pushing her way through. The crowd parted for their entrance and many bowed when they saw Danu. She smiled and nodded in acknowledgement and walked on behind Pele.
When Danu stood in front, staring at Grace in Damian's arms Pele turned on them and adressed the whole court.
"Alright you lot, get going. There's nothing to see here!"
Some grumbled but none dared challenge the firey woman as they were pushed out of the room by guards who shut the doors behind them.
Danu walked a few paces forward and stopped just short of Damian.
"So this is the girl then?" she asked looking at Damian's face for a clear answer.
Pele smiled and walked over to her side and nodded.
"It must be Lady Danu. I recognize that soul anywhere."
Danu nodded, understanding Pele's meaning. She gave a questioning looking to Damian who in returned stared confused at her.
"You've run into my brother."
It was not a question but Damian nodded none the less.
"He offered her his protection if she serve him instead of us."
Pele growled and her eyes flarred with fire and Danu shook her head.
"Oh dear."
He looked down at the girl and smiled.
"She didn't take to kindly to him. I witnessed her power."
Pele stared at the girl in idle worship and Danu simply smiled.
"What did you see?"
His eyes trailed to some far away place.
"I saw the glow in her eyes Vitae used to get when she went to battle. I felt the feeling you got when she was around you, when she was reassuring you. I felt like for the first time in a long time there was hope."
The great goddess's eyes sparkled with wonder as she stared at the girl who was destined to save them all.
"She is indeed Light incarnate."
At the mention of the Light Pele's eyes widened.
"Wait I thought M'lady's soul simply went into this girl?!"
Danu and Damian shook their head in unisun but it was Danu who spoke.
"No this girl is purer I dare say. If she has something my sister did not than she must be born straight from the Light."
Pele's eyes rounded on Grace.
"Light, incarnate...."
"Isn't is amazing?" a voce called.
The three sets of eyes turned on the end of the room to where a shadow loomed.
"I told everyone to leave!" called Pele, rounding on the figure.
But as she said this the figured stepped out of the shadows and into the light revealing himself to be the man known at Quetzatcoatl.
Quetzatcoatl was a tall tan man, who with his long flowing chalk black hair gave off a Myan sense to him. His eyes were yellow snake like eyes that followed each movement of each person. The feather's in his hair gave him an earthy feel about him but the wonderously beautiful green feathered bird tail that trailed behind him gave him the feel of a god. And that was just what he was.
Pele's eyes softened when she saw this man. She bowed gracefully to him and he waved her off.
Pele was a powerful woman. She had beauty, poise and even power. Pele had once been loved and feared and still some loved and feared her, for she was the goddess of fire and with good measure. Knowing this, that she bowed to this man said something about him.
He was afterall a legend, not an ancient like Danu but a legend none the less.
"Quetz," Damian mumbled with a nod.
Quetzatcoatl smiled and bowed slightly to Danu first and the to Damian who though not an ancient either was an even greater man than the feathered god.
"What brings who here?" asked Danu pretending not to know.
The feathered god laughed and stared like the others at the girl.
"I have come to see for myself something my mind did not believe possible."
"What the soul of the Oracle?" Pele asked.
He shook his head.
"No another ancient born."
Danu's and Damian's eyes widened.
"I would hardly call her a-"
"I would. Thats what she is Dana my lady."
Dana frowned.
"How so feathered god?"
He smiled and pressed his red lips together.
"Allow me to explain. She is not in fact of the Oracle's power.-"
"This we know," they all said.
He nodded.
"Alright then let me say this, she is then in fact able to speak to the light and that is what makes her an Oracle. Only those born of the light can speak to it. She must be born of the light then, therefore making her an ancient."
"Why not say Archon then, rather than ancient. Ancients are the oldest of all and she is not."
He laughed.
"Potato, Potato," he mused.
Danu smiled slightly at this and shook her head.
"Though I have to say I'm going to miss her."
Danu and Pele looked down with frows on thier faces. Damian held the girl even more firmly in his arms.
"But she is never gone. Shes with us, her more so than any other."
Quetzatcoatl nodded with a powerful smile.
"That is true. But you do realize this girl like our lady was is now in danger of death. She holds possibly the purest concentration of untapped energy there is. She is a child of the Light. Many will fear her; worship her."
"Many will want her dead," nodded Damian understanding.
As Damian said these words they seemed to resonate about the room and flow softly like a tune into Grace's ears. This dark melody woke Grace's soul and she fluttered to concessness, opening her eyes to four figures.
Pele motioned with her eyes to Grace who they saw waking up. Instantly Danu and Quetzcoatl looked with weary eyes at her.
Grace's eyes blinked opened a few time registering the people and room. Once she was aware there were people around her, her eyes grew wide as she looked them over. She was instantly aware of Damian holding her. She struggled and with great effort of her own escaped his arms. On quick feet she turned and distanced herself from them.
"She's afraid," Pele frowned.
Quetzatcoatl shook his head.
"There is no need to fear us Grace."
Grace's eyes grew even wider.
"Excuse me if I dont believe you," she said with a stuttering breath.
Danu made a motion to move when Damian lifted his hand to stop her. He instead walked forward in her place. Grace's eyes followed him, watching him carefully.
"Grace. We mean you no harm. You can trust us. We're not like Abyssus."
At the mention of the name she stiffened.
"You mean Lucifer?"
Damian nodded.
"One in the same."
Grace seemed to muddle things over silently, all the while watching them all.
"And you? Who are you? Who are they?"
She said the last words motioning with her head towards the Danu and the others.
Damian smiled softly to reassure her and spoke.
"I am known by most as Damian."
Something changed in Grace's eyes that startled the group, for they watched her even more closly.
Grace seemed to be half in a trance as she said the words, they trailing from her mouth.
"Vindexin firma...."
At the mention of his name Damian's eyes swirled red for a moment and the group lowered they're heads. This seemed quite a personal thing to say, something one would say perhaps to a lover and certainly not to a group of people. But despite that Damian, with glowing red eyes nodded.
"That is the name given to me by the Oracle; my beloved."
Grace's eyes shifted a brilliant shade of gray as silver and brown mixed in a surprising color.
"And them?" she asked pointing with her eyes again at them.
Damian kept his eyes firmly planted on Grace who watched the group now more than him.
"Before you stands two legends and a warrior. The red headed woman of fire is Pele the goddess of fire. The golden haired is the mother of all pagens; Dana'. And the man with the brilliant tail is the feathered god Quetzatcoatl."
Pele bowed as a man would, the same as Quetzatcoatl and Danu cursied.
Fear seemed to raise on her skin, as it came into her eyes.
"Where am I? Why am I here?"
Damian spoke once more.
"You are safe. You are currently in the capital of Avalon, Lux."
Grace's eyes moved around the room.
"Avalon..."
She knew that word. She knew the legend well. She knew what it meant."
He nodded.
"As to why you are here I believe Abyssus told you whats going on."
She thought a moment before speaking.
"Something to the effect of playing host to your 'Oracle?'"
He nodded.
"Why is this so?"
Damian kept his powerful eyes on her, which were now a wonderful gray/silver.
"There has been a war going on between her and Abyssus since time began. He opossed her views of peace and love, calling them false fairytails. But until recently he hasn't made much effect on her. They convinced Asmodeus to take hold of her powers and distract her. She faught him, all the while Lilith and Abyssus were waiting until finally they attacked and the three of them together brought her down, Abyssus giving the final blow. It was you that came along and apparently you are the only one that is capable of doing what she did."
So many thoughts and questions came to mind. So many voices yelled in her head and brought to fruition a pounding migrain. she heard so many names, knew their legends and stories instantly.
Asmodeus, seventh and most powerful of the sins; Lust. The man of destruction and sex. Lilith of Hades, the garden of Eden, born from the tree of knowledge. Lilith the infant killer, the mutilator, the siren, the soul stealer, the corrupter. Abyssus the evil one, the fallen angel, the master of chaos and destruction. Master of madness.
Grace's eyes closed in pain as images, ancient scenes swirled in her head. So many different images and voices and faces. Particullarly one face swirled in her head and that was the face of Abyssus. He was a man of many faces and many legends. But it was not this image that startled her. It was the youthful look upon his face. Oh of course Abyssus was young looking before but now he looked no more than 17 or 18 and it was this youth that shown in his gleeming red eyes. He stared up in clear frustration at the woman Grace knew to be Vitae who sat calming in a soft chair.
Vitae was younger as well. She seemed to be a young loving maiden. Though the look of youth was not present in her eyes. Her eyes worn with the start of age.
"Brother, what brings you here?"
Vitae was adorned in soft silk robes that flowed down to the floor over her legs and feet. Abyssus did not have the face he wore as Lucifer, instead his hair was pale silver and his skin softer and lighter. Abyssus sported a soft golden tunic that flowed like a robe downward. A robe wrapped around over this tunic in a darkening black color.
"I have come to challange you!" he said clearly.
There was silence for a moment until Vitae stood. She frowned slighty and shook her head.
"Why brother? It was decided by our master that I would be the one to take this task. Brother you couldn't handle-"
"I cannot handle it?!-
In clear anger he pointed up at her.
-And what makes you qualified for the job?"
Vitae pressed her lips together and spoke through the thin line of her mouth.
"Those who are power hungry would surly be driven mad by this task. Brother I deny you this simply out of care for you."
Abyssus turned and with a burst of energy yelled behind him.
"FINE THEN. I'LL FIND MY OWN POWER."
Grace's eyes fluttered open as she looked up from the floor and Damian's face came into focus.
"Shes awake," said Pele and Danu hushed her.
"What happened?" asked Quetzatcoatl.
Her eyes moved from Damian's face to his and she shrugged.
Damian's eyes stared down at her firmly and he frowned.
"You saw something didn't you?"
"Saw something?" Danu asked him confused.
Grace nodded.
"You said there names. So many images; voices..."
She trailed staring up at Damian in utter confusion.
"Voices?" asked Quetzatcoatl.
Damian nodded.
"What else did you see?"
Her now silver eyes stared back at him in fear as if what she saw shocked her.
"I saw not Lucifer but the same soul.-"
"Abyssus," Damian enterupted.
She nodded.
"I saw her. They were arguing. They were younger."
Danu looked at Quetzatcoatl who returned her look of shock but then grinned and nodded.
"You must be remembering things The Oracle saw."
Her eyes shut half way as they slowly faded to Grace's normal brown.
"Memories..."
Damian held a hand out to her, helping her up with little effort. When she stood, the others too raised. There was a moment of silence before Danu turned to Pele and pushed her forward torwards the door.
"We should be going don't you think?"
Pele simply nodded following the great mother. Quetzatcoatly bowed his head and with a smile turned on his tail and followed the woman.
"Surly you must be needing a moment to take all this in."
And with that Grace was left at the hands of Damian who stood never taking his eyes off her. When she was sure they were alone she turned to him. At first she had no idea where to start but then getting an idea she held out her hand.
"We know each others name already but I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Grace Alwin."
Damian raised his hand and with a smile shook hers.
"Damian."
She nodded and let her hand fall the same as he.
"So Ms. Alwin you must be quite confused."
She shrugged.
"For the most part not really but its just, alot..."
He nodded.
"Your taking this well," he smiled.
She grinned nervously.
"I don't know its just I feel safe here. Its odd, I'm never this calm."
He laughed slightly, trying to soften the air.
"I'm sure you want to get back to your home, lay down perhaps?" he asked.
She sighed.
"Is it safe to go home even?"
He blinked and then frowned.
"Perhaps not."
She seemed rather crestfallen at that but did her best to hide it from this man. There was something about this tall dark beauty that made her feel happy, safe and even calm. She also felt the need to cause these feelings in him and this in any normal situation would startle her. In fact the whole situation she had fallen into was frightning. And any other day she would be screaming in fright and hypervenalating. Magic didn't exist in her world, except in fairy tells and disney movies. People like the feathered gods and the fearful Lucifer only existed in books and history. And to suddenly have these things brought to her reality as truth would make any normal person go insane. But she was taking it surprisingly well. And Grace, though afraid knew things were going to be alright. Something told her as long as she was here and around this man she didn't need to worry about her current situation. And this feeling she trusted as if it were hearts desire. Damian's voice brought her out of thought and she shook her head not hearing him.
"I'm sorry, what?" she asked.
He smiled and repeated himself.
"I said, would you like somewhere to rest? If your going to be here awhile then you'll need a room."
She nodded, trusting his word.
Damian offered her his hand and taking it she followed closly behind him as he led her forward and out grand doors.
"Before we go is there someone you need to call? Family, friends, boyfriend/ girlfriend perhaps?" he asked.
She continued to walk with him and spoke with a whisper.
"The only family I have are some cousins down south. Friends, not anyone who cares enough. And as for 'boyfriend' we broke up."
He frowned.
"I'm sorry to hear that," he said sincerely.
She shook her head.
"Don't be, he was no good."
She said those last words with obvious anger.
Damian made a mental note to stay out of it but couldn't help himself. Curse his nature of having to help people; it made him a nosy person.
"Whats with that there?" he asked.
She stopped.
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"Your boyfr-er, ex-boyfriend. Why was he no good."
She frowned and looking down she bit her lip.
"He was controlling, lets just say that."
Damian dared not violate this woman's privacy and pry into her life. He never did that without premission unless it was required of him. He was certainly curious about the situation but he dared not push her further and risk causing her anger. Damian turned and reach for a door handle.
"Here we are."
Grace was instantly aware of her surrounding as she looked around to see a great hallway lit by a sort of odd lightbulb that flickered with blue flames.
"I ordered the guards to send everyone home for the day so you should have some silence for a while."
She nodded with a smile.
"Thank you."
He nodded.
"Your safe here so you needent worry. And I'll have Pele fetch some of your things for you."
She nodded again.
"Your quite kind."
He waved her off.
"You've been put in this situation and its somewhat our fault. This is the least I can do."
She turned to walk into her room when she whispered a few words to him as she shut the door.
"Thank you Vindexin firma."
His eyes widened slightly as the door shut and they swirled slightly. Only one person ever said that name and it was quite a personal name indeed. His beloved had given him that name. It meant to anyone hearing it that he was a knight of the people but to Vitae it meant that he was a champion, her champion. And that name uttered in Vitae's voice, coming from Grace's lips startled him. It was going to take some getting used to but it seemed as though it caused the same effect as if Vitae had said it herself.
He groaned. May the spirits help him. This girl was going to be a handful. And he feared for her, for both his people and for her, herself.

Grace plopped down on a soft bed that was covered in a soft egyptain cotton like material that flowed white down the bed. She turned to look around her room and saw only low light covered furniture. Closest to her on the gold colored wall lay a painting of a soft colored woman with long flowing black hair adorned in a red flowing kimono. Under the painting read, 'Kaguya-hime ( The lady who shines so bright she becomes the moon.)'
She smiled.
"The tale of the bamboo cutter," she laughed.
Grace knew of that legend well. She had been interested in Japanese lore since childhood. She sighed shaking her head. She supposed that this legend wasn't a legend. From what all she had learned today she was going to have to reivaluate what was fantasy and what was reality. She looked downward with a frown. Her whole world was spiraling; changing before her eyes and she didn't seem to truly mind or be dsitrubed by it. Before today if someone had told her Lucifer was real she'd have thought them a bible freak. If someone had told her that magic existed she would have laughed at them, but she certainly wouldn't have believed them.
And now here she sat in a bed in the legendary realm Avalon, holding in her possession a woman whose power seemed to be as great as her legeacy, speaking to gods and goddess who until now she believed to have been mere legends.
Grace shook her head and let her body fall into the soft sheets.
"Just my luck mom."
She smiled and laughed at nothing in particular.
"This is your idea of a joke."
And with that said and left in the air to mix she closed her eyes yawning and let her body rest.
Grace's body floated in that whiteness again, unchanging, unfeeling and unafraid.
She had since opened her eyes and felt used to the place as if it was a second home to her and though she felt as if she should smile she felt neither the happiness to smile nor the need to do so. To most the light of this nothingness would be blinding but this was nothing but whiteness and this was a place where light could not touch and therefor could not blind.
But Grace reaching past the nothingness felt a glimmer of peace and let it cover her in a blanket of security. And so a feeling was born and that brought color to the vacency and covered her realm black once more. Again she fell and again she stopped when the voice came over her, washing her in chaotic unbriddled emotions.
"Things have change for you Grace."
She looked around, not bothering to lift her head.
"Quite. I suppose its Vitae?"
The voice laughed.
"Indeed. Smart one."
Grace sighed.
"Not really, just made sence for it to be you."
Out of the darkness came a glowing light and from this light appeared the form of the beautiful woman known as Vitae. She smiled soundly and bowed her head.
"I am sorry for the pretence. I know this is a terrible burden on you."
Grace looked the woman over quickly before speaking.
"Its just...alot to take in."
The great Oracle nodded.
"Why did you choose me?" Grace asked suddenly serious.
The Oracle raised her head and looking with her silver eyes she breathed the words of Grace's conviction.
"It was not I Grace. No my dear that decision was decided long ago, along with my death and Abyssus's rise to power."
Grace frowned.
"But nothings set in stone."
"True but thats why they call it forsight. Based on the decisions you have planned to make this is your outcome, thus seeing the future."
She shook her head.
"Arguing Philosophy. I try my best never to do so."
Vitae laughed lightly and it warmed Grace.
"On a more serious note I need to tell you something. As my powers obsorb more fully into your body and become not mine but your powers you will start to change."
Grace's eyes sparked with confusion.
"Change? In what ways?"
She shook her head.
"It is not certain but you will have a sence of knowledge about you and a certain ability of forsight and instint. You will be gifted with the voices of ages."
"The voices of ages?"
Vitae hummed lightly.
"You will suddenly be privy to all peoples needs. Thats the best way I can explain it."
Grace sighed.
"You know your sort of like a fortune cookie, giving me only enough information to tell me something and confuse me."
She laughed and shaiking her head, her body faded slightly.
"I'm sorry but I can only tell you certain things. I assure you I only have your best intentions at heart."
"And then you leave."
She sighed.
"My soul fades in and out when I have done my job. And seeing as theres only one thing left to tell you today my soul is fading."
"One thing left? Then tell me..."
"Trust in my beloved. He is a true champion of the people and weak. He will keep you safe and guide you."
Grace nodded.
"Where do you go when you fade from my mind?"
She smiled and her body almost gone she spoke clearly as ever.
"To wonderland perhaps."
And Grace could not reply, she was gone.
Grace's eyes flew open to a bang upon her door. She sat bolt upright and stared around her room. Light came in from the small window she hadn't noticed before and it showed that mid-day had risen. She looked towards the door just as it opened to reveal Danu who smiled lightly, holding a scrap of soft white cloth in hand. The golden haired goddess seemed quite frazzeled.
"Afternoon," Grace breathed.
"Yes it is..." she sighed.
Grace, standing and stretching looked with concern at her.
"Something wrong?" she asked.
Danu let the material fall to the bed as she looked Grace over.
"Word has gotten out that your here. All of Avalon's people are here. A council meeting has been issued by Themis."
Grace, though not having a clue what she was talking about knew that it wasn't good.
"Council meeting? Themis?"
Danu paced and spoke in frustration.
"A council meeting is when the 12 of us Ancients come together to discuss an issue. Council meetings are usually only called on unless something significant has accured like a death or war. And Themis the the judge over these meetings. She is not an ancient herself but she is the 'will of nature'."
Grace's head spun with all the new information and she felt dizzy with it.
"And what does this mean?"
She felt that was the best place to start.
Danu stopped pacing and walked over to the bed taking up the material and handing it to Grace.
"It means you need to put that on and come outside with me. The meeting has been called on my sisters death and you taking her place."
Grace turned to the scrap material that looked soft and lacy as she bent over to pick it up and finding it was some form of shinny white material that she had never seen before she looked to the goddess in confusion.
"Elfen silk, my sister always wore this type. I figured you about a 6 so I hope the dress suits you."
She frowned.
"Its so white..."
Danu laughed.
"Your such an odd one."
She turned moving to walk out when she stopped just short of the door and spoke softly so only Grace could hear her.
"Grace..." she trailed.
Grace looked up from the dress and stared at the goddess nodding, knowing Danu could see it.
"Some of the people you are about to meet, be weary of."
And with that the goddess opened the door and was gone as it closed behind her. Grace sighed. Be weary? What and who was she about to meet? Grace shoot her head and proceeded with taking off her clothes only to hold up the dress and slip into it. The dress fit perfectly, not to tight, not to loose. It felt soft to the touch and fit confortly, despite the look of it. And as she sighed and relaxed into it the dress gleemed with unseen sparkles as it somehow caught the light. Her brown eyes glowed in soft chocolate colors. They suited her soft soul. It showed she cared and yet she wasn't weak at the same time.
Her brown hair gave her natury air about her. In all her features were quite beautiful and she was confident about her looks enough to walk forward and face whatever was on the otherside of that door.
"Into the rabbit hole," she thought aloud as she opened the door and looked upon the man that had brought her here.
Damian smiled and holding out a hand he led her onward. An onslaught of eyes followed her as she walked gracefully by his side. Whispers trailed in her shadow as she moved forward.
She wanted to shrink into the walls and become one with the furniture but she dared not show her nervousness. She knew the trick to this. Look confident and everything would be fine. Sencing her tention, Damian held her hand more firmly and smiled.
"Stay close. Everything will be fine," he assured her in a soft whisper.
She gave him a look that said she understood and looked ahead, not paying attention to any of the crowd who now seemed to be drawing nearer to her. A man blocked their path ahead with a tall frame and a powerful smile. His features showed boldness and confidence; true confidence.
His hair lay half over his eyes in black locks as he stared from golden eyes to her. Grace felt power from this man, though seemed to know not to acknowledge this.
Damian stopped them about a foot from the man and smiled.
"Old friend..." the man breathed and held out his arms for a hug. Damian patted the man on his back with one hand, the other still in Grace's.
"And what do we have here?" asked the man.
Damian laughed.
"I think you know."
"Just so," the man nodded.
Damian turned to Grace and with a smile he introduced the man.
"Grace, this is Marcus."
Marcus, the golden eyed man bowed.
"M'lady."
His eyes met her and something in them drew her nearer.
"Hello, I'm Grace," she curtsied.
He nodded.
"I know," he nodded again.
She laughed nervously.
"It seems everyone does, and yet I know nothing of you."
"I am m'lady a fare cousin to the tick."
Damian's laughter surprised her and touched her heart, even as she stared at Marcus confused.
With laughter in his voice he explained.
"He's a Vampire."
Grace's eyes got slightly wider. She hadn't thought of Vampires but did it surprise her? The answer was no.
"V-Vampire..." she said.
Marcus nodded and flashing the tips of his fangs he smiled.
"The king of Vampires to be precise," Damian explained.
She lowered her head, trying to be polite.
"My Lord."
He shook his head.
"Oh dear me no, The Lady of Light should never lower her head to me. You are above all of us."
She sighed.
"I'm just Grace."
Marcus smiled.
"She's cute Damian."
Grace blushed and Damian frowned at the man.
"Well I better move for you and let you on into that court of crazies."
"If you were any other man I know of about a hundred people here that would have killed you for that," Damian taunted.
Marcus grinned slyly.
"Ah yes but I am me and thats the beauty of being me."
Damian shook his head and pulled Grace past the man who waved, flashing his fangs again.
"See ya later young one."
Damian stopped though, just short of a gargancous wooden curved door.
"This is it Grace," he whispered.
Her heart was suddenly pounding against her chest and she felt as though she might be sick.
"Eh, I don't think I shou-"
Damian shook his head.
"You'll be fine. Remain calm, or at least look calm and everything will be alright."
Grace nodded.
"Besides I'll be right beside you to help you."
She blinked with a start.
"Your a-
she paused thinking of the word.
-Ancient? Your one of them?"
He shook his head and facing forward the door swung open to emit them and once in it closed.
Grace blinked back surprise at the beings she faced. Most bore same features as most humans did but even looking as those one knew they were not normal in some way. Her eyes lowered as she felt all eyes on her as most of them turned to face her. Damian pushed her forward with a nudge and she continued walking ahead. Under dark lashes she spoted a vacent seat by Danu who smiled, seeing her and waved.
She all but ran to the goddess, slipping gracefully into her seat, Damian standing close behind her. She turned away from the others to Damian and looked up at him.
"Your not going to sit?" she asked him pointing to the vacent seat be