I don't see myself as miserable. Misery is a negative concept, it would give the impression that I act like I hate myself when I know nobody is against me and I'm just wasting my own time being angry for no reason whatsoever.

Nah, that isn't me.

Firstly - I don't hate myself, I'm the only bloody thing I can stand to look at.

Secondly - I know people hate me so technically it's okay for me to hate them back. You get what you're given after all.

Finally – I sure as heck am never angry without reason. I honestly can't see why anyone would act like a dick unless they had a damn good reason; no one just wakes up and is like "Hmm, what to do, what to do today…Oh, by jolly, I've got it! I'm gonna just sit on a bench growling at any poor fool who looks my way! Oh, that does sound like fun. Maybe I could even throw some cigarettes on the Priests today, that sounds absolutely delightful."

I can't stand people like that.

Which is why I had a reason to be angry when Xaphan accused me of being one of those losers.

"Shut up." I said plainly, trying to drown out his words with a third cup of coffee. It'd been a sleepless night previously, and I was far too tired to deal with any moaning today, especially at 8 o'clock in the morning. See, reason to be mad. There's a difference.

"That!" Xaphan growled, "Is exactly what I'm talking about." He pressed a fading cigar onto the, already burn stained, table and threw the remains into a dying pot plant. "Seriously, kid, I'm done with your pouting already."

"I'm not pouting, Xaph," I said, swallowing down a mouthful of burnt toast. "And, for real, could you stop burning this place up?! You think Artie's gonna let us stay after he finds out we, no, you've trashed the place after a week?"

Xaphan rolled his eyes and pulled out another cigarette, "You let me worry about that," He said with a snap of his fingers, immediately a small pale flame erupted from the finger tips which he used to light the disgusting stick. He waved away the flame, and my complaints, with a twist of his hand. "And don't think about changing the subject. We're talking about you right now!"

It was more like he was talking and I wasn't listening, but the look in his eyes made me hold my tongue. Even though nothing reflected in the pale white orbs, I could still see the agitation growing in the knot on his brow.

"Look, I honestly don't know what you want me to do." I mumbled, resting my cheek in an open palm.

"Anything!" Xaphan exclaimed, setting himself down at the table, "Anything else then wandering around the district like a lost child! What do you even do?"

For the past few days I'd entertained myself by taking walks around Safe Haven and biding my time in various stores, mostly spending my time in a local library browsing through the history sections, by now I practically could recall the founding fathers of every district by name. I'd also read through a particular book that made me crack a smile; Good old Dante, 800 years on and still nobody had realised he was a rogue Demon unleashing the mysteries of Hell onto a sceptical world. Lucifer still wanted his head for the incredibly false description of him, that was the only part of 'Inferno' that was untrue, and while most Surface dwellers believed the description, every Daemon knew it was only an incredibly bitter, but hysterical, lie.

Seriously, three heads each eating a person? Ridiculous.

"Stuff." I said, taking another bite of toast.

"Uh huh," Xaphan leant back irritably, "And, uh, what about your appearance?"

I groaned, did he think I was stupid? "Yes! Of course, I'm in façade!" I snapped. That was what we called the disguises we wore on the surface, we needed to change if we wanted to survive, creatures like us would be in danger otherwise.

Well…maybe not me, but other demons? Definitely.

Xaphan rubbed his bare head with disbelief, "Yes, well, I've got news for you, my friend." I saw the tips of his drumming fingers begin to spark, each drum on the table darkening the perfect circles of scorched wood. "You may not be needing that anymore."

"What?" I raised a brow, unsure of what I'd just heard. Xaphan grinned at me - That was new. I didn't like new. - sharp fangs aligned in a mocking pattern, a sense of dread dripping off them like poison. "You want me to go out like this?" I almost laughed at the insanity of his suggestion. "Wow. Didn't know you wanted me strung up like a gutted pig. And here I thought you liked me." I said, returning his fake grin with a glare, I wasn't in the mood for this childish crap.

Xaphan chuckled falsely, "Don't flatter yourself, boy." He muttered, scratching a green cheek with a claw. "But, in all seriousness, you won't be needing to style yourself like a damn…what the hell is that?" He snapped, pointing at my disguised face.

"Leopard."

"Leopard! Christ in Hell, have some damn dignity boy!" Xaphan said contemptuously, sipping off the silver flask he always kept in a pocket. He smacked his lips, "You're a damn Hellhound for God's sake, don't shape up like some ink splattered feline."

"Least it kept me alive." I said blankly, "Where the Hell were you going with this?"

"Oh yeah," He grumbled, setting the flask down. "Where was I…oh, right." When his smile returned I knew it was bad news for me.

Not bad, terrible.

"You're going to ZPA." He said, pulling up a newspaper and glancing at the sports section passively.

For a moment the room was silent, me staring down in blank disbelief, and him muttering about the baseball scores, it almost seemed normal. Then I ran his words round my head again. Then I erupted. "What?!" I yelled, my palms slamming down on the table. "I-Just- What?!" I rarely raised my voice, but this was different.

ZPA? Zoo Phoenix Academy? Had he gone insane? Did this fool really expect me to set foot in on the most populated areas of the surface? By God, he actually did want me dead!

"Are you nuts?" I bellowed, "Why the heck would I go to a damn College?!"

He didn't look up from his newspaper, his face seemed painfully content. "Because I said you are?" He said plainly, licking a fingertip to turn the page. "Besides it'll do you some good."

"Is that supposed to be funny?" I growled, trying to get my glare over the rim of his paper. "In what way is stepping into the freakin' social ground of those Celestial worshippers 'doing me good'? It's more like I'm nailing myself to the damn cross before they cut me up!"

"Don't be dramatic!" Xaphan said, "Nobody crucifies anyone anymore, they'll just get straight to the vivisection."

I ripped the paper out of his hands, I could already feel my eyes gleam black. My hand burned crimson and immediately it burst out a jet of fire that enveloped the papers and transformed the sheets into a scattered cloud of ash in a matter of seconds. Xaphan stared on boredly as the particles gently set onto the carpet.

He looked up at me, unimpressed, "You haven't done that in a while."

"This isn't a joke, Xaphan!" I yelled, waving my hand to remove it of smoulder. "I ain't doing it, but why the Hell would you expect me to?"

He stared at me for a moment, pulling out his flask again to take another swig of whatever it was he had this time. His eyes kept on mine the whole time, unafraid and unflinching. Then he stood up and walked towards me slowly.

Unwillingly, I took a step back. Even though he was several thousand years old, the broad lines of muscle still protruded behind his gown, and he still towered a good foot above me, and he still was the only person I actually gave a damn about, and thus was the only person who could evoke a hint of surprise, or worse fear, out of me.

His hand rose and my eye twitched foolishly, it showed distrust to one of the few rules we shared, we'd never physically hurt each other, we needed that rule, we knew so many people would try to hurt us, it would be the end of things if we turned on each other.

It rested momentarily on my shoulder before travelling to rest on his hip, he stared down at me with a half-lidded gaze. "You done. Ready to listen?"

I sighed hazily and sat back down.

"Great." I was surprised when he offered me the flask, but I hid it behind a tired stare. I took the sliver bottle from him and took a quick gulp, gagging at the burning taste.

I heard Xaphan laugh crudely and I glared back up at him, shoving the flask back into his grasp. "You know I hate whisky!" I said.

He shrugged, "Yep, that's what makes it funny." He sat before me and stretched the tired muscles in his arm. "Back to business. Trust me kid, you're gonna be fine. I made a deal with the peacekeeper of the Academy and he's just dandy about it."

"You what?" I said with a start. A peacekeeper actually allowing a demon was something I'd never heard of before, and I'd never seen a demon in the streets before. "When did you do that?"

"While you were leaching around that library yesterday, I went in façade, of course, but when I unveiled myself before him he didn't look like he gave two shits what I was." My jaw almost dropped, he revealed himself before a surface dweller?!

"You could have been killed!"

"Well I wasn't." He said, waving the worry off like dust, "Anyway, I talked to the guy for a couple minutes and he says it's fine. They're a very 'accepting' 'non biased' Academy." We both rolled our eyes at the clichéd language. "So, yeah, you're in. Have a blast." He leant back in his chair and sighed.

As good as he made that sound, it didn't change one major thing. "Xaph, I don't want to go there." I said, crossing my arms in silent anger. "I've learnt enough on my own for seventeen years, I don't need to be among a horde of cheerleaders and jocks to know anything else."

Xaphan shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not. But I'm sick of you just roaming around all the time with your thumb up your ass." He said harshly, I scoffed with a dagger cast frown. "At least if you're there, I know you haven't been taken hostage by some crazy extremists."

"I can handle myself." I said it plainly because we both knew I could.

Xaphan grumbled, "Be that as it may, it still takes the blame off my back if you do kick the bucket." He paused for a moment, like he was going to say something else, but he kept silent, a deep shadow over his gaze which made me raise a brow. Whenever Xaphan was looked in thought it gave me discomfort; thought wasn't him, going along with the plans was him. That's why he was where he was now. He went along with Satan's revolution and was cast out of Heaven as a fallen angel, and for reasons I still didn't know, was left as my guardian.

Which in turn, also meant I was left travelling from home to home; for the first eight years through the levels of Hell, and the last nine on the surface, both of which always ended with the rucksack on my back again, and I was expecting it would happen again in the next year or so. This Academy thing, if I actually was gonna do it, wouldn't have lasted long.

Some might call it lonely, I'd say otherwise. Was I always in danger? Sure. But it was just me and the one guy I knew wasn't going to kill me the whole while, I'd call it semi-comfortable.

"Besides," The fallen angel said with a mocking smile, "Maybe it'll be fun."

"Yeah, I don't think so." I said quickly, I just wanted this conversation to be over already, "Thanks but no thanks Xaph." I said, walking away from the scene. Just a couple minutes reading would get my head out this nonsense.

"Where you heading?"

"Out."

"You're forgetting something." He chuckled darkly.

"No, I'm n- OW!"

I thought he pushed me when I felt something hard against my back. My hands barely had time to hold by body up while my knees collided with the floor. "What the Hell, Xaph!" I yelled, whipping around and readying myself to kick his thigh. But he hadn't pushed me, he was still sat down in his chair grinning lazily at me. I looked to my left and grimaced at the sight, "Way to waste your money, Xaph." I said, grabbing the full schoolbag to hurl back at his stupid grin, "Good aim though."

"I know," Xaphan said, clapping his hands together lightly, "A bit lucky, though, that you fell where I wanted you to."

My face grew cold, "What are-?" My breath faltered as I felt my feet sink lower, I barely had time to look at the swirling orange portal he had opened before I began falling through at a rapid pace. Even above my angry scream I heard his last words scratch my brain.

"Just take the façade off when you enter the Academy! Oh, and I left you some deodorant in the front pocket. A shower would mean you'd have agreed to this!"

…

The only good thing about portals is that they last no time in all. You go in, you go out, that's it.

The bad news is that it's the orchestrator that decides where you come out. Which means I fell from the damn ceiling, ten feet onto the hard ground.

My back exploded with pain as I hit the floor. I had no time to groan before the heavy bag also fell straight into my stomach, causing me to turn onto my side clutching my winded chest in furious discomfort. From my blurred vision I could make out that I was in an office of some sort, a thick desk was placed just ahead of me and I could almost make out a set of long shapes rush towards me

"Are you all right, young man?" A deep voice at my side said, touching my shoulder gently. I coughed and spluttered for a second, slowly regaining my breath before forcing myself to sit up. I turned to the voice and was greeted with a long yellow chest.

"Up here," I heard the voice chuckle. When I glanced up I was met with the face of a cheetah, his eyes carried a sense of concern even behind his sleepy gaze. The guy must be the principle of the- Xaphan dropped me in the Academy! The green dickhead! "Are you okay?" The cheetah said, ignoring my audible irritation. His voice was low and smooth, carrying a slight African accent.

I pushed myself to my feet, allowing him to guide me up from under my arm before quickly creating some distance. I wasn't going to stay long, I didn't want to augment the guys disappointment. "Yeah, I'm great, thanks."

"Are you sure? That was quite a fall." He said, a disbelieving frown evident.

I scoffed, "Yeah, I know." And was I gonna have some fun paying the cause of the fall back times fifty. "But I'm just fine." I rubbed myself off, straightening out my jacket.

"Oh, all right then." The cheetah backed off, he wore a confused frown. "Would you happen to be Abaddon?"

"Is the demonic portal so telling?"

He laughed but he didn't smile. "Yes well…I was under the impression that you were of a different species."

Oh, right. I still looked like a cat. I stared at him warily, I knew-as a rule-to never let my guard drop until I was certain I was in safe keeping. For all I knew he could be badgering me into unveiling myself just so he could set a pack of wires and holy water on me. "You talked to him?" I didn't mention Xaph's name, just because he was stupid enough to let his guard down, it didn't mean I was gonna put myself in a fight as well.

"Your guardian? Yes, yes. Everything is in order." He must have noticed the distrust in my eyes because he quickly added, with a warm smile, "Don't worry, Abaddon, I promise you this is a safe place."

I smiled thinly at him. "Someone's said that to me before." My voice lowered. "That's how we were kicked out of three homes." I softened the numbers slightly, it was actually seven homes. I'd let my true form out to a 'kind' soul and within two minutes I was being chased by a storm of Xirxine officials or a horde of savage Demons.

The cheetah's smile faded. "I'm sorry that's happened, but believe me when I say that Zoo Phoenix Academy is an interspecies society that will gladly accept you." The guy seemed like a genuine guy, but I needed more than seemed if he wanted me to risk my life. He clearly knew this too. For a moment we both just stared at each other until he added, "If it makes you more comfortable, we do have another Demon attending this school."

My eyes widened but I kept calm, "Really? What kind of Demon?"

"He happens to be the heir to the Hell Royal family." My heart almost leapt into my mouth, Satan's kid was in the school! No way, that family would never allow that! "It was a deal made with his own guardians, I did not wish to discriminate against him because of his kind," His voice was a stone of sincerity, but his eyes maintained an honest softness. "The same way I do not wish to discriminate against you."

For a moment I felt a sting of guilt. Like I was the bad guy here, so distrusting of such a nice guy. Then I reminded myself of every shot and scar that had painted my body red because of the dangerous emotion of trust and I swallowed the sick kindness down.

Still, maybe I could indulge him.

After all, there was a certain difference from the previous times I'd unveiled myself when I was just a runty little pup.

If this guy tried anything, I could kill him and all his cronies in an instant.

I shrugged. "Fine, fine. Just give me a sec." I snapped my fingers and concentrated the spell in my mind, immediately my body grew warm and I felt a quick jet of transition energy surge through my body. Within no time the paws had stretched into hands, my face had-painlessly-thrust my nose forward into a normal snout and had allowed those hideously small tufts grew into long pointed ears that lay down my back, those normal white eyes blinked and turned black, and the red shade of my fur crept across my flesh to stain the black spots of the disguise. It was over in a second and I stood before him in my true self. A Demon by all means,

A Hellhound.

The last Hellhound.

The cheetah looked me over, and I tensed my hands, the moment he screamed out was the moment I ripped that voice from his throat.

He smiled again. "Excellent. It's nice to meet the real you, dear boy."

Wasn't expecting that. It was at that moment I felt the calm air of the room gently stroke my nerves. I relaxed, staring at the cheetah in wonder. "What's the catch, here?" I pressed, crossing my arms.

"There is no catch." The feline said plainly, pulling out a document from his desk. He motioned to the chair in front of him and I slowly sat down before him, not being able to stop myself from noticing its comfortable padding, opposed against the harsh wood and rock I was used to. He placed a pen in front of me, "If you'd just sign here, we can get to work."

I looked down at the paper inquisitively. "Feel free to read through it as many times as you like." He said, leaning back softly.

Right answer.

I scanned every line, searching for any hidden trick, any dangerous clause, any deadly enigma. But it was as plain and direct and safe as it could get; all I had to do was sign the dotted line, right below what I recognised as Xaphan's signature, and I would join this little parade.

One thing was certain, as far as this cheetah went, I was actually safe.

Didn't change one thing though.

"Look, you seem like a nice guy, Mr…" I almost blushed when I realised I didn't know his name.

"Zechariah," the cheetah smiled, his voice was as soft as velvet.

"Right," I said, nodding gratefully, "Zechariah, I'm sorry you've been told differently, but I didn't really want to come here." I felt a tinge of sympathy when Zechariah's smile dropped.

"Oh?"

I shrugged at him, "Xaphan didn't even tell me about this until ten minutes ago."

Zechariah's tail swung carefully in the air, "Hm, I suppose that explains the sudden entrance."

"Exactly. Look it's nothing against you, but I just don't want to do this, thanks," When neither of us said anything for a few seconds I got ready to step up and take my leave. I needed to have a talk with Xaphan.

"May I ask why you don't want to join?" Zechariah asked gently, his voice as stoic and cool as ever.

I paused, this was turn awkward. I just wanted to get out of there! "I…just like my own company," The cheetah may have thought of me as a loner, but if wasn't going to stat there much longer, damned if I care. "Plus, while you seem like a good guy, I'm pretty sure that someone here won't take kindly to a Demon as their classmate."

Sure. I was certain. There was no way in Hell that this place was such a fantasy that every student would be 'welcoming' to the presence of Satan's creations. This guy could sugar coat it all he liked, he wasn't gonna fool me.

Zechariah shrugged, "Of course not."

My jaw dropped, "Huh."

"There will undoubtedly be a few issues while you're here, that's expected of every student in this Academy." He said it plain and simple, unforgivingly to the point. "But I also know that there are many students here who will be happy to meet you, your performance teacher Jackie has already spoken in delight about getting to know her new student."

I couldn't believe it.

This guy was saying all the right things.

He didn't beat around the bush, he even acknowledged it, he was painstakingly honest. And the worst part, he meant every word with an impossible sense of kindness.

Unbelievable. I already respected this guy.

"Oh," Zechariah lit up with a realised beam, "Your guardian also told me of your love of reading, and I can promise that you will get no greater a library than ours. We have several first edition copies with unedited texts by the founding fathers of Safe Haven themselves."

Damn it Xaph! That was a low blow!

I looked back down at the paper, the dots beckoning me closer and closer, my hand twitched and formed a fist ready to grasp the pen.

"Wait!" My eyes met his in stone. "Did you say performance?" No…nononononono, please tell me he didn't.

"That was our suggestion after your guardian mentioned that you owned a guitar and a notebook of lyrics."

GOD DAMN IT! He'd found out! I'd bought that damn thing just a few months ago, it wasn't because I was interested or anything, it was just something I could use to pass the time. And I'd made sure that it was hidden away. Had he really been snooping in my damn bedroom walls?!

"Oh God." I muttered, my face sinking into my hands. I was never gonna hear the end of this.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Abaddon." The cheetah said proudly, "This school indulges in the talents of our students!" Yeah, well it wasn't them I was worried about. I could already feel Xaph's mocking grin on my back, the songs he would spontaneously sing erupting into my ears. If I went back now, he would.

I started up and blinked. The clever bastard.

If he thought embarrassment was gonna keep me at this Academy throughout the day… He was partly right.

It's not like I had to talk with the fools, and if any of them actually wanted to start a real fight, well it'd be their funeral. Maybe it'd just be like a normal day, I'd go to these lessons, keep my head down, do what the teachers wanted, and then I could retreat to the library until I had to face my treacherous guardian again. It's not like they're were any better options, as long as I did what Xaph wanted, he'd leave my phone clear of his taunts.

I sighed, and gave in, picking up the pen.

"All right, you win." I said, signing my name on the parchment and sliding the paper towards Zechariah. He smiled and rose to hold out an open paw.

"Welcome to Zoo Phoenix Academy, Abaddon, I hope you enjoy it here." I half-heartedly shook the paw. It was done. I was now part of this circus. Now it was time to sink into the shadows and let these hours pass by.

"So, now what." I said, eager to retreat away as soon as I could.

Zechariah looked at his watch patiently, "Just a moment, I'll call someone to give you a tour soon, but I just want to wait a while longer, there's another new student who I want included on the tour."

Huh. Another new student? Did that mean I had to be shown around like a lost sheep with another friendless chump? Great, that idiot would probably wanna fill me in the blank space of 'new best friend.' Well, they had a rude awakening coming their way.

Then the door creaked behind me, and I saw Zechariah's warm smile return. "Oh, hello there, you must be Gabrielle, please take a seat." A girl, huh? Well that didn't matter, either way they'd probably freeze at the sight of the Demon.

"Yep! So sorry I'm late!" A chipper, high voice seemed to sing back; I cringed. "My friend Jess was just showing me to the office." She already had a friend, that was better for me.

"It's no issue at all, I was just welcoming another new student while you came."

"Oh really?" I could hear her footsteps increase, along with a hasty flap of wings. An avian then. "Nice to meet you!" I heard the sickly sweet voice chirp at my side and I caught sight of a welcome hand from the corner of my eye. "My name's Gabrielle."

I exhaled softy, better get this over with. "Yeah, same here, I'm Abaddon." I placed my hand in hers before turning to face her.

The world stopped.

A white dress perched lightly on her thin shoulders. Her hair was golden and cut short, resting just below her ear. Two white wings protruded from the surface of her shoulders, almost like a dove. But the human figure gave everything away.

She was a Celestial.

An angel.

And despite the fact she could see the black eyes, the sharp fangs, and the shocked face up close, she just carried on smiling her wide, friendly smile. Hell, it even broadened!

Then in her sweet, chipper, kind little voice, she exclaimed, "I hope we can become friends!"

…

This is a redo of an old story I lost touch with a few years ago. But recently these characters have made their way back into my mind, and I couldn't help myself from writing down their words. I hope you guys enjoy these characters as much as I do.

As for the next chapter of 'Unexpected', well I'm not really sure when it will come out. I've tried to write down several ideas and every time I feel unsatisfied with the result, I hope with this story I can at least create something I'm proud to have written, but I'm not cancelling 'Unexpected', I'll get the next chapter out and then I'll put the story on a brief hiatus.

Until next time.

Abaddon/Xaphan/Gabrielle belong to me.

Zoophobia and its characters belong to Vivziepop.