”You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Echoed an all too familiar tone, ringing like the crackling fires of death in her ear.


    Katherine snapped straight up out of her bed. Her eyes wide open, her dark scleras tainted with bloodshot veins. She stared at the shadow of the man before her and an unknown fear crawled up her spine at the sight of the faded green eyes behind his foggy glasses. It took a second for Katherine to realize where she was, and once that second passed, the pain that was briefly hidden took over her body once more. She collapsed back against the puffy pillow. Looking around, she saw herself in a normal hospital room except for the lack of any windows. A machine beeped gently to her left in the rhythm of her heartbeat. Wires and tubes dangled off of IV poles and into her bandaged arms and body.


    “H-how long have I been out…?” She said weakly, between coughs.


    Octavian did not reply. He only tilted his head slightly to the side. “Three months.” His voice fell like a body being cut from a noose. “Give or take.”


    Katherine''s eyes went wide, but she quickly realized she was not as surprised as she initially seemed. She pulled herself up, forcing herself to sit instead of laying down, despite the aching pain deep inside her chest and stomach.


    That long huh..? She pondered, staring at her pallid skin. My muscles feel so… frail... I did not think one battle would take me out as it did. I pushed myself so much… was it not enough still?


    “So what now?” She whispered.


    “Pfff, now?” Octavian burst into laughter. “Now we’ll wait a couple days until the doc says you can leave the hospital and then a couple more weeks for you to get back to where you were and we’ll take it from there.”


    Katherine stared dumbfounded at him. “W-wha…?” She mumbled.


    “What, what? What’re you blabbing about? You thought I was gonna kill you for your failure? For getting your ass handed to you by Mephisto? Nah…” Octavian smirked as he began pacing around the room. “Getting Wrath is our priority. Matters not to me how long it takes. Especially seeing how she’s in one of the most secure places of creation, I don''t think she’s in any danger.”


    “Mephisto could never do something like this to me..” Katherine said, the blood in her veins heating with anger. “I did this to myself.”


    “A very poor strategic decision on your part then?” He smugly chuckled while raising an eyebrow.


    “Wait…” Katherine began, ignoring his comment. “How did you know Mephisto was there? None of the troops that survived know him or what he looks like… I don’t even think anyone got a good look at him in the chaos...”


    Octavian was silent for a moment. Katherine stared unblinking at him, the realization of his malicious intentions coming forth.


    “Mephisto was-” He began before Katherine cut him off.


    “Your man on the inside… am I right?”


    “Well if you’d let me finish. But yes, exactly that.”


    Katherine grit her teeth and smashed her fist with fury into the metal frame on the side of the bed. “Then… why?” She said, “Why did you send me on the attack if we were both under your control?”


    “I don’t need to explain myself to you Katherine. Remember your place.” Octavian said with a cold and vile undertone in his voice.


    Katherine wanted to throw the machine she was hooked up directly at his head. The instant her muscles tensed to move however, she was frozen solid, her breath choking in her lungs and the mark on her cheek searing into her flesh.


    “Y-you... threw me… in the lion’s mouth…” She said, fighting against the restrictive powers holding her back.


    “Don’t even try it Kathy.” He said, barely a whisper. His voice floated through the air and passed through her like a cold wind in a dark forest. He then continued. “Yes, I did. And I will again. I don’t take risks. Everything is calculated to precise perfection. You, or Mephisto. One of you was going to win that night. If it was you, great, Wrath’s in my grasp sooner than anticipated. If Mephisto does, like he did, now I still have my man on the inside able to open the gates of Dudael wide when we arrive. Baal’s forces are now reduced, thanks to you-”


    “And it only cost you three months and half your troops. Some strategy.” She shouted back at him. “And you dared mock mine.”


    “Expandable costs of war.”


    “You’re insane. You want me to break into Dudael? A prison built by angels, now run by demons? Filled with nothing but prisoners that I''ve sent there myself?”


    Octavian stepped back, his expression changing to one like that of a wounded puppy. He placed a hand over his heart and said with a soft, childish voice: “Why of course not Kathy. We will be breaking into Dudael.”


    Katherine sat in dumbfounded silence as her superior laughed to himself. A bead of sweat dripped down her temple as she remembered the piercing unblinking eyes of the last being she saw that night.


    “You’re awfully brave. You have no fear of Asmodeus then?”


    The man stayed unflinching. He appeared to collect his thoughts for a moment before.


    “Why would I? Demons are nothing to me. You’re all playthings for me to use as I see fit.”


    You dare call me a demon you fucker… She thought. “You’re a lying bastard. Or worse, you’re really stupider than you seem.”


    “Careful, I told you before I like you Katherine but you’re kinda pissing me off. Just because you fear the warden does not mean I do. Oh yes, worry not, I know the stories of the Writhing Flesh. I know what your bloodline did to bind him to the pact. Does not change anything. I need Wrath, and no primordial demon will stop me.”


    Katherine swallowed her words. Octavian’s piercing gaze forced her to look away. She once again was hit by the feeling of overexertion. A loud, deep cough escaped from her chest. Winded, she slid back against the cold pillow. Octavian saw her state and turned to leave.


    “Rest while you can Katherine. I''ll come visit you once you’re set to be dispatched.” He paused in thought for a second then added. “And when you’re fully recovered… I’ll detail you on the plans for our assault.”


    Katherine watched him leave, wallowing in the silence that followed for some time. Her thoughts lingered on the earlier exchange.


    I wonder why I got so upset over him calling me a demon, when just the other day… I suppose the other month now, I willingly accepted myself as such? She slumped to the side, before anger shot her back up again. The irritating beeping of the machine next to her ended up being its downfall, as Katherine smashed her fist down on it, silencing it after its long beep.


    “Ah fuck him and fuck that beeping! Maybe its hypocritical, but just because I accepted it doesn’t mean I''ll allow that cunt to insult me like that.” She said to no one in particular, but nevertheless a reply came.


    “Yeah I completely agree frankly.” Kaidan’s tired voice came from the doorway. “”What’re you talking about… exactly?”


    Katherine’s head swiveled towards the opening of the room, and a powerful expression of annoyance and disgust manifested over her face. “Another one of you fucks… I guess my days of resting are over then?” She said coldly.


    “Bleh, don''t look so disappointed to see me. Besides, I feel like you’ve had enough. More than any of us got anyway.” He said, pulling the armchair from the opposite wall towards himself and sitting on it. He plopped his feet on the rail at the end of her bed and leaned back. A smug grin crawled across his face.


    “Surprised to see you here so fast. News travels fast or were you waiting outside worried sick over little old me?” Katherine said, making sure to add an appropriate amount of snark in her voice.


    “Actually I was in the area and happened to see the boss go into your room and not come out for a while. I assumed he wasn''t just talking to himself although… he does do that sometimes. More often than you’d think actually.”


    A shock of pain passed through Katherine’s body, making her grunt and preventing her from continuing her snarky commentary. Awkward silence settled between them until Kaidan broke the ice.


    “So what have you accepted?” He asked quietly.


    Katherine just silently massaged her left shoulder. Her thoughts raced silently for a moment if she wanted to open the subject or not. She sighed. “My blood. My family descends from Samson the Rageful. Our blood is unholy, unclean, sinful. But I could never accept that. I could never accept being half-demon.”


    Kaidan’s cheery grin slowly faded, replaced by a grim sorrowness. But intuition kept him from saying anything, instead just listening.


    “I don’t know why I’m even talking to you, let alone telling you all this. Whatever, I guess my body being so frail has influenced my mind similarly. I guess I feel vulnerable.” She said coughing again. “So, as I was saying… I didn’t want to use it, so I trained. I had a lot of responsibilities on my shoulders from a young age, but I never wanted to use the gifts I’d been granted. Not entirely. It would be impossible to not use them completely. The blood made me stronger, faster, more vicious than a regular person no matter what I did. But I wanted to become a demon hunter like my father, who had no special blood or gifts, just his human will. I’ve faced many horrors from the first day I could swing my mother’s halberd. But I persevered and overcame them with my own strength. The monsters that I’ve faced never required more than that. Until our last battle, where it wasn’t enough anymore.”


    “Your mother’s halberd… he took it didn''t he?” Kaidan asked. “The black-haired fella. From what I can remember, its been a while.”


    “Its the only thing I have left of her. I have nothing else... I couldn’t bear to see it in a soulless demon’s fucking hands.”


    “Y''know, Im basically like really fucking good with a chainwhip, I coulda gotten your halberd back if you just asked me to." He commented, shrugging his shoulders.


    Katherine was not amused. Her expression turned to that of someone looking at pure filth. Kaidan felt her burning stare and slowly sank into the armchair, making himself small. He quickly looked away and faked a cough. She then continued.


    “I’ll keep that in mind for the future I suppose… Anyway, as I said, in the last battle, I embraced it. I performed one of many rituals that I hoped to never rely on. And I still failed. My powers were still not enough. I embraced my unholy blood and for what… for nothing. I blinded myself with rage and still lost the battle. ” She lamented, her voice aching with sadness and bitter disappointment.


    “Perhaps you just did not go far enough?” Kaidan asked.


    “What?”


    “I mean, hear me out. You act like embracing a part of yourself is such a horrible thing-”


    “It is a horrible thing. I broke a promise to my parents, to myself. And that’s what hurts the most. Fuck, I shouldn’t have told you, a demon like you would never understand.”


    “You think I can’t understand your little sob party? You and I are more similar than you think, Katherine.”


    “I am nothing like you.” She said, with an unusual melancholy in her voice. It was as if she tried convincing herself the fact was true, but she no longer truly believed it.


    “You’re wrong. You didn’t choose the family you were born in. You didn''t choose to be some great demon hunter. It was all forced upon you. Just like it was all forced on me too. We’re both slaves of fate and nothing more.”


    Now it was Katherine’s turn to be silent. Her quietness invited Kaidan to continue. He changed his position, moving his legs down and leaning forward.


    “I wasn’t always a demon, you know. I also never had a choice. I was just some peasant farmer a couple centuries ago. Might have been more, not like they give you an exact date when you arrive in hell. Anyway, I had a family, a wife and two sons. Just like you, I had ambitions, desires, dreams of my own. None of them matter anymore. One day, a great army strolled through our little village, slaughtering everything and everyone. The general killed me last, after watching him hang my whole family in front of me. But I had the misfortune of being the only one to die directly by his hand. That meant my soul was now under his control. Oops, bad roll of the cosmic dice. I could have died a million different ways, but I died by the hand of some cruel bastard who decided my soul was his property.”


    Silence. A pause lingered in the air as Kaidan caught his breath before continuing. He bit his lip, drawing just a single drop of blood that he quickly licked up.


    “I can’t remember how many years I spent in hell. Until Azazel first summoned me back here. But by then, what was left but this hollow husk of a man you see before you. Worst of all, I can’t even remember any of their names or faces. I sometimes find myself wondering if I even had a family, or if it was just some memory tortured into my mind all those years ago.”


    Katherine mulled over the newfound story she had been told. “So, what? You heard my sob story so you decided to impart yours onto me? What do you want me to do? Forgive every demon that might have once been a man with dreams and ambitions?” She said, gritting her teeth. “How many people have you killed since?”


    “How many have you killed just before your coma?” He asked, and she immediately fell silent. Her lip trembled. “You think all those working for Baal were demons like me? Or everyone working under Octavian that died because of you?”


    “I don’t care. I accepted what fate wanted from me. It wanted me to be a monster, and thus I became a monster. I accepted what was always part of me.”


    “And in return, lost what you cherished most in yourself, just like you said.”


    Katherine looked away, her head hanging in shame. Her hands curled into fists and her muscles trembled. “I’ve lost what I cherished most in myself long ago.” She said, barely a whisper. “Something… happened to me during, and after that battle. Something has been taken from me and I don’t know what… something that I once thought was important. Its all a flash, an image that keeps fading and reappearing. Something Death took from me.”


    Kaidan looked down at the ground. He then said: “Death takes something from each of us. I’ve never seen it give anything back.”


    Katherine chuckled. A part of her found the comment amusing in some capacity. “Perhaps you’re right.” She said. Maybe I should embrace what I’ve been afraid of for so long. Maybe some part of me still fought against it, and that''s why I ended up losing. I’ve already done so much wrong in this world. What’s a little more before I die? She thought, resigning herself to the cage of fate that surrounded her. Maybe dying is the only way I can reclaim what was mine.


    <hr>


    “Six...ty… THREE!” Evan grunted as he pushed himself up from the cold sterile faience floor of his prison cell. The skin on his back stretched and tensed along with the muscles underneath. A stinging pain still ached all over his bare back, sending slight electric shocks through him.


    It was a reminder of a foolish, arrogant mistake. A fight, a moment of disobedience, followed by the flash of a bright red whip out of the corner of his eye as the beasts held his arms against the wall. Moments later, pain, searing, unbearable pain as his flesh was split open, again and again. Later he would find out from Wrath that the Serpent branded him in a peculiar and extremely precise pattern: a symbol, almost like a left hand placed on his back. It was an insult, a demonic word for ‘cripple’. Somehow, that stung more than the pain.


    “I told you to straighten your back more Evan!” Wrath called out from the cell across from him, snapping him out of his thoughts.


    “You keep telling me that, but I’d like to see you straighten your back while doing pushups with one bloody arm.” He yelled at her. “Also, morning, I thought you were still sleeping.”


    “Yeah. And if you want that other arm to not end up a limp noodle you better listen to my advice. What time is it?” She said, her voice clearly straining to speak.


    “If the clock in the corridor is to be believed, almost twelve p.m.” He said, getting up from the floor. He then walked over to a large nearby sink and cleaned himself off with a damp towel.


    The prison cells that the two of them have lived in for the past months were spacious and exceedingly clean despite minimal cleaning by either of them. Both had a decently sized bed in the corner next to a desk and even a walled off bathroom across from that. Over the first few weeks, Evan had requested many things, such as books, writing material and even some training equipment from Aramia. Despite his tensions with her, following approval from the warden, he was eventually given all. This even included a workbench and a set of weights which he had put to great use, with Wrath’s helpful advice.


    Her treatment however had not been as kind. Most of her requests had been denied, for reasons unknown to either of them. Despite the fact that all that separated them was two glass walls and the corridor between them, he was powerless to help her in any way. The glass walls were impenetrable, as was proven when Evan tried smashing it with the weights he was gifted and didn''t even leave a scratch. Additionally, both were even given different time schedules, making sure there was no overlap for the other when one was at the showers or out in the main lounge. Clear order had been given that Wrath was to be physically isolated from all other inmates, especially Evan.


    “Honestly, it could be midnight right now and I wouldn’t have any way of knowing.” Evan continued. “You doing okay though, Wrath? You wake up later and later each day, and go to sleep earlier and earlier. I honestly didn’t even think you could sleep until we first came to this ugly place.”


    There was silence from the other room. Concerned, Evan put aside his water bottle and went to the glass wall, knocking on it. A startled Wrath jumped from her dark corner of the bed and looked at him.


    “Sorry… I’m just… being kept at the bare minimum. Asmodeus is… afraid. He knows I can be trouble for him, and he makes sure to feed me enough blood to not starve.”


    Thump came the dull sound of Evan smashing his fist down on the glass, to no effect. “Fucking bastard. Don’t worry Wrath, when Constantine breaks us out of here you’ll get the chance to pay the demon fucker back for everything.” He said, nodding to himself as he turned away to put on a shirt.


    “You still think they’ll come?” Wrath said pessimistically.


    “Not a single doubt in my mind.” Evan responded without skipping a beat. “Its just… taking a while for them to find us. Mephisto wasn’t able to let them know while he was still out so-”


    “I told you not to fucking talk to me about Mephisto!” She shouted. ”He could have told us about his plans when he had the chance. Maybe things would have gone differently then. Urhg.” She said, finishing with a groan from deep within her weakened core.


    “Yeah well… that doesn’t really matter anymore. He’s a prisoner here like the rest of us.”


    “Oh is that what he told you? Or is he still using that one imp idiot as a messenger, what was his name Jimothy or something.” Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    “Jeremiah. And no. He gave up and just meets me directly when he''s in the lounge. Asmodeus doesn’t seem to care.”


    “Why would he? Mephisto is powerless.” Wrath said, followed by a wheezing cough.


    “Not completely. He’s still allowed much more freedom than us. In fact, he’s been exploring the different layers, levels, whatever. This place is apparently even more gigantic than we thought. Like a whole underground metropolis. Apparently the fourth level above us, its all about artefacts and weapons and wicked occult shit.”


    “Its been months and he''s barely at the fourth level?” She said, followed by an exhausted hanging of her head. “We’re fucked. Has he even found anything useful?”


    “Well, like I said, its a large place and he''s being thorough. While also trying to stay out of trouble. Apparently there’s some restricted areas in the second level, in security, and he suspects there might be some interesting things in there. He also suspects my half of the dagger is kept safe in one of the levels, probably the fourth.”


    “Why are you telling me all this Evan? What good will knowing it do for me?”


    “I’m… trying to get your spirits up.” He said with honesty in his voice. “Trying to give you hope, to reassure you. Do you think I’m not afraid too, Wrath? Do you think I don’t wake up every day hoping that Mephisto might come running to give us a sign from the outside, anything? Don’t you think I’m scared for my own life and sanity everytime I''m in the main room with all the other demon inmates, especially after what happened? And that constant, rumbling screaming that’s so very faint, but always there. Just enough to make me doubt my own sanity.”


    “Evan…” Wrath’s said softly.


    He paused for breath, before he continued again, his voice quieter this time. “Do you think I don’t notice how thin and frail you’re becoming, how you heave and pant and cry out in your sleep and there’s nothing I can do? Do you think I don’t wonder if maybe Constantine or Uriel are already...” His voice trailed off, stopping the dark thoughts in its tracks. He hit his forehead hard against the glass, startling Wrath once again. “No. No, Constantine is like… no, more than a brother to me. I refuse to believe he would abandon us here. Constantine would never abandon anyone. Not us, not Nikolai, hell I think he wouldn''t abandon Katherine if he had the chance. Same with Uriel. Neither of them would die and let us here to rot. They just need more time. That’s all.”


    “He hates me, Evan. He said so himself. I’ve… my actions have wounded him too deeply. He won''t come...“ She said, leaning her head against her knees as she looked at Evan. The golden gaze of her eyes now faded and bleak.


    “Wrath… Constantine wasn’t the only one who loved Nikolai… I did too.” He confessed. Wrath looked at him, her brow furrowing in confusion. “As a friend. Purely platonically.” He quickly added. “Don’t look at me like that, we all grew up together. But… Yes, when you attacked us that day, I was just as wounded on the inside too. I also hated you. I found it hard to stomach your help afterwards, especially seeing the… state… Nikolai ended up in.” He paused for a second, rubbing the sweat and redness from his forehead. His missing limb seemed to ache, as if was still there, but he grit his teeth and did his best to ignore it.


    “But… when I was lost after that night… after I got my arm chopped off… it wasn’t Constantine, or Uriel, or even Mephisto who helped me push through… even though Mephisto tried.” He said, following with another pause where he locked eyes with Wrath, smiling gently to her. “It was you.”


    “Evan…” Her voice echoed once again, but Evan continued.


    “I want to believe that you changed. And maybe what you’ve done is unforgivable, but I know you will atone for it in time. Not like I’m one to talk about atonement, my failures have led to the apocalypse after all… but I believe in you. And I will make Constantine believe in you as well.” He finished with a wide grin. Then he laughed and Wrath felt a warmth within her chest that made her laugh as well. “Also, you kinda saved my life from the giant snake-chicken thing that kidnapped me so, I kinda owe you, hah.” Evan added, sticking out his tongue and rolling his eyes.


    “Hmhm. I’m pretty sure I’ve saved your life more than just then...” Wrath began, with a conflicted smile on her face. “You know when we first arrived here and passed through the veil?”


    “Don’t remind me.”


    “Sorry but… well... for me it was different than for you. I felt… pure nothing. Nauseating silence. Even my eyesight turned to blackness. I was suffocating. That lonesome void swallowed me, and then… you bumped up against me and it all faded. I was so shocked to see you there next to me, all meek and embarrassed. I was so surprised to find out I wasn’t alone.” Wrath quietly poured out her heart, while the faint echoing in her voice still lingered in Evan’s ears. “I was always alone. For centuries, millenia, even when I was partnered with Azazel. When I joined you guys, it was purely to take revenge on Katherine for defeating me but now… I want more than that. I want to become worthy of your belief in me.” She said, ending her monologue with a strained smile.


    “Hah… well… that’s good!”


    “By the way, your hair’s getting long.” She said, realizing the heaviness of her earlier subject and trying to lighten the mood some more.


    “Yeah it’s starting to annoy me, I should probably shave it soon... So wait, does that mean you don’t want revenge on Kath anymore…?”


    “Oh absolutely not, I’m gonna fuck that bitch up if I ever meet he-uyrggh.” Wrath said before suddenly collapsing on her bed, her body shivering violently and blood dripping from her mouth.


    “Wrath? Wrath? You okay? Should I call Snaketits?” Evan asked, concerned.


    “You could have picked a nicer nickname for me, Sweetie…” A melodious voice called out from a blindspot in the corridor. From that place, Aramia soon slithered out, her dark black scales glimmering in the blue-ish lights that shone from above. She was followed by two hulking flesh golems, each carrying a tray of food and drink.


    “I was wondering when you’d bring us lunch. How long have you been eavesdropping on us, Snaketits?”


    “Long enough, my sweet. Lots of interesting discussions you all had. So cute! That Nikolai person, she seems intriguing. What’s she like? Ah… oh, what a horrid resurrection.” She laughed, feigning a horrified expression. At least, Evan assumed as much, given the fact that Aramia’s face was almost completely still at all times, stitched as it was.


    “Shut up! Get the fuck out of my head!” Evan shouted, backing away from the glass.


    “Tsk, tsk, tsk, careful Sweetie, I like you, but if you keep being mean to me I’ll just have to skip your lunch today…” She said, doing what could be described as a pout.


    “Fine, but please… Wrath, help her, she doesn’t look okay.” He said, pointing to the other cell, where Wrath was still convulsing.


    Aramia slithered to the front of the cell, where she took her index finger and stuck it in the glass. Her sharp, long, red nail pierced through its like a needle through water. The glass rippled, waves spreading out from where her pale finger rested, and when she dragged it across, a perfect horizontal opening formed.


    “Lucky day, Mademoiselle Wrath, today you get a nice juicy blood bag for you to indulge in.” She mocked, as she motioned for one of the golems to put the tray into the slot. It didn’t take a second for a black tendril to lash out from Wrath’s arm and savagely grab the bag from the tray. Like a starved animal, she began sucking the slick red liquid from the tiny plastic tube above the bag. Her shivering soon came to a stop as she satiated herself.


    “A vile sight…” Continued Aramia with disgust. “...Wouldn’t you agree sweetie?”


    “No. Fuck yourself.” Evan responded plainly.


    “You think the warden will keep you safe, don''t you? Asmodeus has his rules, I have mine… One more word out of you, Mister and you’ll be even more starved than she is. And if you keep pushing… How''s your back doing?” The serpent said with a mocking smirk.


    Evan swallowed, taking a step back from the glass. He forced himself to stay quiet, and meekly looked away. The serpent’s stitched face filled him with dread, and everytime he looked at her he felt a pressing sensation within his very consciousness. The edges of his vision seemed to fade and break.


    Don’t think anything, don’t think anything, don’t think anything, don’t think anything. His thoughts rang out, hoping to not accidentally insult her once again.


    “Adorable. Give him the food before he starts begging too.” Aramia said with a flick of her wrist. The golem obeyed and Evan accepted the tray. It contained a pile of goopy mash, rock hard stale bread, a few slices of fruit that had rapidly browned, and some meat on the bone. Evan desperately prayed to every God he could think of hoping it was chicken or pork and not something else.


    “I’ll come back for your allotted open time in an hour Sweetie. Enjoy your meal.” Aramia cooed before she slithered away.


    Wrath and Evan remained across from each other in silence as they both ate. After a while, she quietly asked: “Evan, when you get back, will you read me a story tonight?”


    “Of course, why do you think I asked for all those books?” He responded, smiling.


    <hr>


    Breathe in… Breathe out… Just like Insect taught you. Uriel focused, hoping her thoughts could somehow find their way into Constantine’s mind. He stood concentrating in the middle of the field as she watched from the sidelines. His hands gripped his dagger-turned-spear down towards the ground. His eyes were closed, but he knew exactly how far away the dummy was. One strike, he could not miss. Uriel saw the flash of the crimson steel followed by Constantine’s dash. He sliced forward. She held her breath, watching with pale eyes as he cut the target with his full force. But it did not land, not perfectly. The strike was too forward, the flat of the pole hit the base side of the dummy’s neck. Instead of a clean, precise cut, his strength smashed it to bits. There was a collective sigh of disappointment from Insect, Nathaniel, and herself.


    “God, DAMN it!” He shouted, throwing the spear aside and looking for something to kick and let out his anger on. The splintered remains of the dummy proved to be the best target.


    “Hargh-haha!” Nathaniel chuckled. “He’s a fiery soul that one. His moves are there, but he''s still inexperienced. Lacks confidence in his muscles. But seeing that white coat in action again, its almost nostalgic… reminds me of...“ He said but trailed off when he noticed Uriel looking at him, listening closely.


    “What was that?” Constantine asked as he approached. He had picked up his weapon and quickly rushed over to them. Uriel could see the disappointment hidden behind his eyes. He dusted himself off with his bandaged, calloused hands. The fruits of his training were obvious in his physical form, but the toll of the mistakes was also apparent. “Who’d I remind you of Nate?” He said, clearing his throat with a cough.


    “Insect, can I ask you to get the car ready? Its getting late, we’ll be going soon.” He delayed answering, and she obliged, although Uriel could sense her desire to object. Once she put some distance between them Nathaniel turned with a sigh. “Katherine’s father. You remind me of him in his youth.”


    “I remember him.” Constantine said. “I met him a few times. Emmanuel, right?”


    “Yes.”


    “He was… nice to me. I was sad when I heard what happened.”


    “The fire… correct?” Uriel interrupted for clarification. “Same fire that scarred Nikolai?”


    “It was… much more than that… it was a tragedy.” Nathaniel continued. “One I can never not feel responsible for.”


    Uriel and Constantine both stared in silence at him. Constantine did take a drink from his water bottle before Nathaniel began speaking once again.


    “As you both know, Katherine comes from her mother’s long line of demon hunters. Aliliana and Emmanuel, they did their best. He was not as powerful as her, not being part of the family. But he made a name for himself, became one of the most successful hunters in our recent history. Things however, changed when Katherine was born, and especially after the young Nikolai did.”


    “How so?” Asked Uriel.


    “You see, when Katherine was born… Alilana instantly began making preparations for her. She knew that her bloodline would continue through her, and sought to make her prepared, as she had been in her youth. But Emmanuel… he disagreed. He kept her existence hidden, even to me for a time. He wanted his daughter to live in a peaceful world. One without the risk of the horrific evils that lurked in the dark. His resolve was only strengthened when Nikolai was born. He objected to any attempts at putting her through similar preparations.”


    “While I don’t disagree with his intentions, did he seriously believe demons like Azazel would just leave them alone? Seems foolish.” Constantine said, his voice trembling with anger.


    “He was not the only one. I also believed. Lily and Emmy had fought and banished Azazel years before he returned. Very few demons remained who would dare threaten either of them.”


    “So, what happened?”


    “Emmanuel, in one of his last missions with me, found a young child. A cult attempting a horrific summoning ritual involving… anyway, we rescued all we could and slaughtered the cultists. We soon learned of the child’s connections to the family, and he entrusted me to care and look after her.”


    Insect… Uriel realized. The look on Constantine’s face told her he did as well.


    “They came to me. He argued to make her Aliliana’s successor in name, only partially in blood. That way, he would spare his daughters whatever fate might await them. Aliliana argued vehemently. She believed her blood to be cursed. And that curse would follow them no matter what.” Nathaniel paused, rubbing his weary eyes. “I was to be the deciding vote. And I agreed with Emmanuel. Wasting your years away hunting an endless legion of dark creatures and corrupt beings, hoping to not die in every waking moment. That’s not life. This was a chance for those two girls to be free.”


    “And in return… doom Insect’s fate?” Uriel stepped back, distraught at what she had heard. In the end, your choice ended up dooming all three, hasn’t it Nathaniel?


    “Yes. I do not ask for forgiveness for my choice. Especially given the circumstances. This was a choice I would come to regret, in many forms. Not only do I regret bringing an innocent child into this world, a child whom I grew to love and care for, but the choice ended with the death of my life-long partner, my brother, and his wife, someone I respected and cared deeply for.”


    “It was an accident Nathan. Nothing more. You couldn’t have known what the future would bring.” Constantine said firmly. “We won’t tell Insect. But if you want forgiveness, asking us for it doesn’t make sense. We should get going.” He said, turning to leave, but was stopped in his tracks by Nathaniel grabbing his arm.


    “I wish it was only that. I wish. But… after they found Nikolai, me and a small team investigated the cabin and surrounding area. Emmanuel and Aliliana, their bodies were… gone. But the chaos we found there… It was nothing like a typical gas explosion.”


    “Nathaniel, be very exact with your next words. What are you trying to tell me?”


    “The fire became a simple cover-story we gave to the authorities. I believe… a demon attacked them that night. Specifically, the demon Azazel.”


    Constantine closed his eyes, and took deep breaths. Uriel looked at the back of his head. She lifted her palm, feeling the rage that began boiling within him. The pure-white spectre of his soul shivered and convulsed.


    “How?” Constantine viciously spat out a single question.


    “We later found Katherine, she had survived... somehow. She never told us what happened, only demanded that we keep Nikolai out of everything, keep her in the dark. But I could see it in her eyes, in that terrifying determination she had to hunt Azazel with all her power. The evidence at the cabin was like a puzzle, and once Katherine was found, so was the final piece. I never told this to anybody but... you two were closer to them than I ever was. In these last few months you’ve proved yourselves as valuable hunters, time and time again. If anyone should know, its you two.”


    Uriel reached her hand over, intending to comfort Constantine, but the appearance of Insect, and a familiar face next to her in the distance interrupted and prevented her.


    “Sean!” She said gleefully, her eyes lighting up, and trying to put away the subject at hand.


    “Excellent timing! We should get going.” Nathaniel perked up, rolling away. His voice immediately shifted from the earlier quietness to his usual loud booming cheer.


    “Its been so long, Sean!” Constantine exclaimed, trying to match everyone’s enthusiasm. Uriel could tell that he was still affected however. “Its good to see you!” He said, giving the man a handshake followed by a hug.


    “Constantine, Uriel, Sir.” He said, offering Uriel a warm hug after as well. She accepted. “It has been huh. Wowe you two look… Well, to be honest you look awful. Worse than when we dragged you out of that burning city. I hope its just my glasses being dirty. What has this old turgid lump of a man put you two through? C’mon, you can tell me over dinner, I made a really great roast and I’d hate for it to get cold.”


    <hr>


    Constantine made his way outside while wiping some leftover sauce from his lips. The chill breeze of the midnight sky caressed his face. Sean insisted he’d clean everything up so he decided to take a break. It had been a long while since he had such a hearty, homely meal. Sean’s return apparently warranted a special occasion, or so Nate told everyone. He assured everyone that supplies in Venandis would last for a decent length of time, but celebratory evenings like these were a rarity. Sean’s cooking reminded him of Nikolai’s and once his thoughts rested on her, they quickly moved on to the chaotic events that unfolded over the past year of his life.


    Here I am having roast chicken and pretending to be cheerful with everyone while Evan’s rotting away in some forgotten demon hole… God, I know I don’t pray to you often but please, make sure they endure just a little more. Uriel is trying day in day out to find them… I wish I could help her in any capacity. He thought to himself as he made his way to a nearby park bench near the church.


    He sat on the bench, but immediately noticed a shadow moving above the streetlamp next to him. It was Insect, sitting on top of it. She hadn’t noticed him coming, or did and simply ignored him.


    “Hey Teach’!” He greeted her. She turned to him and frowned before jumping down from the streetlamp. She began walking away before Constantine called out to her. “Hey come on, you really gonna keep ignoring me except when you’re handing me my own ass?”


    She stopped, turning to him with bored eyes. She hand signed something, which Constantine understood as “No point, you can’t understand, I dont have my notebook.”


    In response, he signed back with robotic motions: “I want to try.”


    Insect was surprised. Her eyes went wide. “Who taught you?” She asked


    “Uriel.” He said out loud. “Sorry I… don''t know how to sign names yet.”


    Insect chuckled. She came closer and began showing him the motions. She placed her gloved fingertips on her shoulders before turning her hands away and doing a slight flapping motion with her open palms. Constantine repeated, and for the briefest of moments, he believed he saw the inkling of a smile on her face. She then walked back and sat on the bench next to him, letting out a pleased sigh. They sat in silence for a few moments before she tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention and asked:


    “Why so concerned?”


    “I…” He began signing but then just continued by speaking. “I’m worried. I’m scared for my friends. I’m scared for the future. I’m scared that I’ll learn all your and Nathaniel’s teachings and royally fuck up despite them. Like I’m heading straight for the lion’s teeth and nothing I can do will avoid that fate.”


    She twacked him on the back of the head. “What was that for?” He yelped.


    “You better not.” She signed. “I’ll be watching you.”


    He laughed while massaging his head. “I just… wanna make things right you know? I always promise I''ll get all my friends back together again but so far… I’ve only succeeded in losing more and more of them.”


    Insect looked away somewhat disappointed, before Constantine continued with vigor in his voice. “But hey, I did find some new ones, like you. You might be a bitch and a half and my face still hasn’t forgotten you for the last time you punched me into the dirt but I want you to be there when I get everyone back. You still owe me a pool match too.” He chuckled.


    The corners of Insect’s mouth curved upwards for a moment, but then she shook her head and stood up. “Its late, go sleep.” She said to him.


    “It’s not that late though.” He protested, which earned him another twack to the head. “Fine… sure thing I’ll go. Nice chatting with ya.” He said as she walked away.


    After enough time passed, he stood up as well, and made his way back to his and Uriel’s cabin house. He snuck around the place, hoping not to wake her up but it turned out she was still awake. The light coming from her room gave her away. He knocked on her open door, startling her.


    “Hey its late, what’re you doing up?” He asked her


    “Couldn’t sleep.” She said, her voice echoing quietly. “I’m guessing you were feeling the same way?” Uriel continued, putting the music box she held in her hands on her nightstand.


    “Yeah I uh... took a little walk after that meal and ran into Insect, hung out a bit.” He sat next to her. She shimmied closer, her face close to his shoulder, her hot breath pressing against his neck. Chills traveled up his spine, and he had to look away to keep his heart from thumping out of his chest.


    “I feel stuck, Constantine.” Uriel confessed, slightly disappointed that he turned away. “I keep trying every day and every night. But its like there’s some barrier preventing me from finding them. Stopping me from going any further.”


    “Madame not able to help?”


    “No, nothing I do seems to work… my brain feels… fuzzy. Ever since I’ve been studying with Madame Erika I’ve been getting more and more… attuned to other people. I can see the shapes of their souls, their emotions, sometimes even their thoughts. Its overwhelming sometimes. Too much stimulus.”


    “Hey its okay... take it easy… you’ll find them eventually. You must. I believe in you.” He said, walking over and giving her a tight embrace. Uriel’s dark wings wrapped around him and she pressed her head into his chest. “Is there anything I can do to help? Maybe you can jump in my head again?”


    “I’d really rather not.” Uriel sighed. “No offense.”


    “Wow.”


    Uriel laughed at his reaction, but then her smile faded. “I tried everything I could think of. I tried finding memories of Evan, Wrath, even Mephisto. Anything to connect to where they might be. The furthest I can get is this facility from where they escaped for a brief moment but… its all void from there. Fuck, why was it so easy with you and your father.”


    Father?


    “Uriel…” Constantine perked up. “Have you tried finding Mephisto?”


    The angel looked at him as if he had a third arm. “I just… said…”


    “No, no. Not directly… I meant, have you tried finding him through yourself? The same way you found my father through me?”


    “I don’t have any memories of him though. That''s not how…” She began protesting, but then her eyes went wide. “Maybe…? It never crossed my mind to try that different path.”


    Uriel stood up from the bed and walked over to the window of the room. She took a deep breath and stretched out her arm, pressing it against the glass. Constantine watched her in silence. A minute passed, then ten, then half an hour. Boredom began taking over his mind, then tiredness, with sleep waiting on the horizon. He gave Uriel one more check, but she was still as a statue in front of the window. He then collapsed onto her bed, asleep.


    It was a dreamless sleep, one that felt like it had been an instant, a blink, but instead hours had passed. He didn’t know why he was suddenly standing, awake. His body had reacted to the booming shout faster than his mind did. He turned to Uriel, who was kneeling on the floor, gasping for air. Her breathing was loud, heavy and labored. He was beside her in an instant, helping her breathe and reassuring her. She turned to him, her face an expression a mixture of of exhaustion, worry, and ecstatic glee.


    “I… found them…” Was all she could say before collapsing into blissful unconsciousness.