Hello everyone, this is my first attempt at a fanfic that follows a story and a first attempt at a supernatural, so my writing will be sketchy, don't be too harsh.

I decided to write more in the world of Penryn and The End of Days because as much as I loved the series I was left with a lot of questions at the end of the last book and of course I just wanted more Raffryn-who doesn't ;-) Would love to get some feedback and thoughts on my approach, don't be shy and leave a review.

P.S. I decided to write this in sections so that I don't overwhelm myself. This first part is mainly about Penryn struggling with her unraveling mind.

Thanks.

Maybel

Chapter 1

It's been almost three weeks since the blood hunt battle and a lot of the angels have fled Earth back to wherever it is they came from. I was afraid that their retreat would bring about another round of natural disasters as it did when they came through in the first place but thankfully that hadn't been the case. Some have remained behind to help in the chaotic aftermath of their visit-namely the watchers and of course Raffe-their leader and my boyfriend. I'm still having trouble with that definition, I'll have to come up with a better term for what we are because boyfriend sounds too mundane a word to define Raffe.

Raffe insists that some angels-Uriel's followers-are in hiding, biding their time until they can bring their vengeance upon us for killing their leader. I'm not worrying about it for the moment though, my main concern right now is my baby sister Paige. She's doing a better, Raffe got Laylah to help her and after a couple of sessions Paige is beginning to eat cooked food-mostly meat-but is better than the alternative.

Laylah says it's a slow process but that eventually she'll be normal again or as close to normal as can be expected. I'm taking it a day at a time, getting little Paige back to her old self is something I've only dreamt about and haven't truly allowed myself to believe. When I look at her small, scarred body that still moves in painful robotic ways and her unsmiling face as everyone tip toes around her, a piece of my heart breaks.

After the bloodhunt, most of us returned to the resistance camp feeling safer in numbers. The word that the angels had abandoned their attack spread like wildfire. We picked up on a radio signal on repeat, it was staticky but clear enough to get the gist; world leaders had come out of their bunkers and piece by piece our world was beginning to flourish again. Electricity was on in most areas as well as hot water, but people were still scare. It would take a while before we could fully reclaim our humanity and form a working government. Gangs were still a problem out there, it's funny how when the world goes to hell and the rules of society no longer bound you to any sort of morality, the true nature of a person emerges. We hadn't only had the natural disasters, angels and things that go bump in the night to worry about; sometimes the biggest adversity was our own kind. In the last few months I'd seen some of the worst humanity had to offer but I've also seen great fits of sacrifice and bravery. I guess the the rebuilt of our world is sort of like Paige's condition-a slow, tedious ordeal that would take a lot of patience to become even a shadow of what it used to be. The world falling apart in chaos took only days but fixing it would take months maybe even years.

I sigh, feeling exhausted and drained of all energy. I couldn't remember the last time I'd gotten a full night sleep. In some ways the new beginning was even more unpredictable than the end of days. In the world after I was constantly moving forward; there was no time to think or wonder or worry about menial things. I had the mind of a fighter, determined and set in the mission to find Paige and protect my family.

In the light of a new day as the dust settled, I found myself at odds. Paige was doing better and mom was acting like a mother and actually taking care of us for a change. Raffe was caught up in angel politics back at the aerie which left very little room to see each other and the Watchers were on a mission to find the other children like Paige. Everyone had a purpose and a place in the new beginning which left me feeling unbalanced and with too much time on my hands. Now everything I had fought so hard to keep locked in the vault inside my head was fighting to break free. The nightmares I kept tightly locked away were starting to resurface.

My dreams are filled with nightmarish monsters, wasted desert lands of snapping teeth that take chunks of my skin and hands that drag me under the Earth and gag my mouth with worms, as winged creatures blot out the sky above. My baby sister being bound to a shiny, surgical table and cut up like poultry then stitched back together over and over again. Bodies hang from the ceiling all around, small bodies of children just like Paige; some look like her-broken and sewn back together. Others are half eaten with their intestines hanging out of their stomach and eyes gaping wide open in an eerie expression straight out of a horror movie-the lids completely removed. All the while I just sit and watch while Paige screams for my help until her throat goes dry, voice hoarse and her tears run with blood and I do nothing but watch until her screams of agony wake me in a puddle of sweat and I taste my own tears running down my face-choking me. My entire body shakes and trembles as I fight to catch my breath. Unlike most dreams these nightmares I remember vividly and I have them night after night after night, making sleep unbearable.

I've taken to climb up the roof of the resistance camp almost every night after I wake up-which is where I am right now-It takes a while for my body to stop shuddering and my heart to resume its normal, steady beat. Paige and mom sleep soundly, they have their own room since most of the other families are skeptical and even afraid of sleeping with the little monster that is my sister. I share the same room although I don't bother sleeping there anymore. When the nightmares began my screams and constant muttering would wake them, so I settled for sleeping a few hours in the attic where no one could hear me breaking apart.

I look up at blanket of blackness that stretches from one end to another as far as my eyes can see. The stars are out, shimmering in their lovely light and unconcerned with the troubles of humans. It's chilly but I can breathe and the cold pinpricks on my skin helps block out the images that plague my mind.

I close my eyes and concentrate on breathing in the clean air of night, letting my lungs luxuriate with the action. A gust of wind sends strands of my hair flying around my face and neck as a shiver runs down my spine. Then Raffe is sitting beside me, his bat wings resting behind him on the up incline of the roof. His warm fingers grab the rogue hairs around my neck pushing them back.

"This is the third night I see you up here, why aren't you in bed sleeping like a normal human?"

I give him a noncommittal shrug, purposefully avoiding his eyes, afraid that he'll see the truth in my bloodshot eyes. I haven't told anyone about my lack of sleep or the sea of nightmares, It all seems insignificant compared to the real problems around us. What's a bad dream compare to being sucked dry by a locust or having your child ripped apart and put back together like a lab rat.

"How many did they find today?" I changed the subject quickly, wanting to throw my focus on something else, anything else.

"Two."

I turned to look at him this time. My eyes wide with disbelief.

"Only two, how's that possible? There are dozens and dozens of them Raffe, they have to find them, we have to make this better." My voice sounds high pitched, I could taste the rising panic coating my mouth and I hate it, I hate how weak I sound.

Raffe cocks his head to the side accessing me in that quiet way he does.

"I know Penryn, the watchers are doing everything they can. We will find the low demons."

I inhale sharply at his choice of words.

"They are not demons! They're children who've been tortured and turned into monstrosities by your kind. We need to find them and help them, their families are looking for them and and…"

I feel my heartbeat rising and rising until it's almost stuck in my throat. I keep my hands locked between my thighs, since they're shaking like leaves. A part of my mind knows I'm being unreasonable but my head feels too fuzzy to grab onto reasonable thought.

"Hey," I close my eyes tightly and concentrate on breathing. Raffe holds my shoulders and turns me towards him.

"I know what they are Penryn, I haven't forgotten the deeds of my kind and I promise you we're doing everything we can to find every last one of those children and help them."

I open my eyes and nod, unwilling to trust my voice at the moment. I know he's right, I'm just used to doing things myself and this whole sitting behind the scenes is... unnerving.

"Are you feeling alright? You don't look...well." He cups my face in one hand, his thumb caressing the skin right above my cheek in a comforting gesture. I'm sure the dark circles under my eyes resemble blackholes.

"I'm fine, just tired I guess. Couldn't sleep." There, that as close to the truth as I would get.

He remained quiet, his deep eyes intent on my face as if he was considering my words. I hated when he looked at me that way, it felt as if he could see straight through me. I try a small smile for reassurance.

"What's keeping you up?"

I shake my head and pull out of his hand.

"I don't know probably a bumpy mattress, is not a big deal."

"So the roof and a cold night is your best alternative?" He muses bumping my shoulder with his.

"I'm starting to doubt your intellect." I bump him right back with a low chuckle. Always a smart ass. But he has managed to put me somewhat at ease.

"Shut up…" My words turn into a wide open mouth yawn right in his face.

He raises an eyebrow.

"Sexy."

"Sorry." I retort sheepishly

"You really should go inside and try to get some sleep; it's cold out here and you're starting to feel like a popsicle."

The mere mention of sleep has me cringing. I immediately shake my head in refusal.

"It's just as cold in that attic and really I'm not that sleepy."

"Been sent to the attic already cinderella, are the rags jealous of your beauty or your uncanny ability to find trouble?"

I roll my eyes, but my heart flutters inside my chest.

"That was cheesy angel boy." Another yawn overtakes my face and I shiver in response.

Raffe exhales.

"Come here stubborn girl, maybe you'll find me less bumpy."

He opens his arms for me and I hesitate for only a minute, then curl up to his side. He puts his strong arms around me and I rest my head against his solid chest. He leans back on the roof bringing me with him, the warmth of his body immediately penetrates my frigid skin.

"Are you ever going to wear a shirt?" I ask sarcastically.

"You'd be devastated if I did." I chuckle, yawning and snuggling closer into the cocoon of his embrace.

Raffe and I haven't had much time for private moments since he decided I was in fact his daughter of man, we haven't even talked about what brought on his decision. He's had his hands full serving as substitute for Michael-the would be messenger-who has pulled a disappearing act. No one has been able to find him.

I feel Raffe's wings wrap around us, successfully blocking out the cold and I allow my body to relax in this rare moment of intimacy.

"Sleep cinderella, I got you."

"Are you my prince charming?" I yawned again, feeling exhaustion settling around me, making my eyes tired and my lids droopy. Raffe's steady heartbeat was like a soothing lullaby rocking me into oblivion and I couldn't fight the sleep any longer.

"Absolutely."

Something brushed the top of my head softly before unconsciousness took me under.