Cold rain dripping down my face, leaving wet trails, mixing with my salty tears. My family gone, my sanity and… my humanity with it. There was no hope at all for me. Not without him. I hadn't chosen this path, nor did he. But I remembered perfectly how it came to be.

I laid frozen half to death, snow forming a cruel blanket around my pale body, beaten by a mere street thug. His triumph hadn't lasted very long, the bitter scent of my blood luring him towards me. The crimson red blood fell upon the snow, the thief's crowbar smeared with the liquid that had previously flowed from my bloody chest. The man's laughter had died suddenly, transforming into an ear-splitting scream. Lying there, I saw her 'killers' body lay unconscious close to me. Far enough so I was unable to touch him but close enough that my blood stained the man's clothing. Then I had lost all feeling, not just my physical numbness but the thoughts running through my head began to slow and eventually stop completely.

I had felt something, for the first time in what seemed an eternity. After opening my eyes slightly to see what had given me this feeling of life back, I winced in pain. The numbness which the snow had given me had melted away, giving back my unclaimed pain which burnt though my chest mercilessly. Surely death would come to cure me of this, the only thing I wished for… No one had cared for me earlier so why would anyone care for me now. The icy stone floor had slightly delayed the burning sensation but it intensified the feeling. The little hope that remained in me had shattered when the stone floor had not ceased the pain within her, the hope that the cold would extinguish the non-existent flame in me shattered. Only leaving an abnormal longing for death. With no other choice, I sat up leaning my head against the freezing, grey wall. The burning subsided a little, to my relief. Looking around the area in I was held prisoner. Stonewalls and identical floors, I was trapped within this freezing dungeon. Alone, cold and mentally broken. Tiredness unexpectedly began to consume me, despite my pathetic attempts of trying to remain awake, my eyes slowly began to droop and everything soon turned black.

Waking as the result of a strong pull, I realised that I was moving. Someone… or something was taking me somewhere. The darkness of the tunnels made it next to impossible to see what was pulling her, it was human. Well it appeared human anyway. Then my 'escort' and me came to a large wooden door. Wooden torches were lit next to the door, revealing drawings carved into the oak door. I was only given a few seconds to try and make out the drawings until the door opened. The light which came from the room almost blinded me the instant the carven doors opened. I was pulled into the well-lit room, but it was much darker than what it appeared to be at first. The room was only lit by more flaming torches. There wasn't a lot of furniture in this particular room, but at the end of the long hall-like room sat a throne. Just a wooden oak throne but the materials did not catch her attention, it was a magnificently carven throne. I could find no words to describe the extravagant throne. It was beautiful, also there seemed to be some symbols carved into it, not unlike the massive door.

I heard a cough from behind me, so I turned around slightly and I had nearly screamed. A terrifying, huge, intimidating beast. Suddenly my knees gave way and I just laid there, on the cold stone ground, with this monster towering over me. It was just there, monsters didn't exist. Well, at least that is what I had believed before. Surely my poor bewildered mind was just hallucinating this… creature. I closed my eyes tightly, awaiting its likely decision to end my life in a painful, bloody way. This seemed to take forever, the suspense seemed to give me more pain then the actual event would. My breathing became much heavier, there seemed to be no air inside my lungs, no matter how much I tried to fill them.

Opening one eye awfully slowly, I saw that it was just standing there. Looking at me, the creature's eyes just seemed to pierce through my skull. I opened my other eye, just as slowly as the first, I saw that it just seemed to gaze into my eyes. "W-w-why a-a-are y-y-you j-j-just staring at me?" I managed to whimper. The creature began to bent down beside me and just continued to stare into my eyes. "You… fascinate me, Epona." It was actual English coming from the beast. If was possible for me to had been even more stunned, I surely would've had been. His face was so close to me, I could feel his hot breath on my cold, pale face. Despite his kind of… deformed face and the demon-like horns and the dangerously sharp teeth, he didn't look so ugly. In fact his face was kind of mesmerising… in a strange unhuman way. He still just seemed to be there, not moving or anything, just looking at my face. What was there to be fascinating about me? My dull green eyes, my pale face? I am… or was just a mere human. Uninteresting, unexciting and unlovable. Not even my own parents seemed to even pretend that they loved me. But this creature, who didn't even know my name, seemed to care about me. More than anyone… or thing in this matter, had ever had before. His mysterious red eyes just stared at me, I was still on the grey stone ground. He just looked at me, I tried to look away but it seemed not possible. "How are your injuries?" He suddenly asked me softly. Even though his voice was deep and intimidating, it was surprisingly calm. "My injuries?" My voice was almost inaudible; fear seemed to make me more human. He seemed to hear me though, his hand rose from the ground slightly and the top of his hand brushed against my cheek slightly. His hand was freezing yet it seemed to burn my face. "You were half dead and you ask what injuries." He bluntly stated with a look of disbelief on his monstrous face. His voice was almost mocking; I never thought that words could have such impact, just plainly spoken words having the ability to break someone. His voice had been harsh but somehow kind at the same time. "Why am I here?" I tried to shout at the beast but my words didn't seem to have the effect I was hoping for. Instead of him rising then threatening me, he just grabbed my face gently and looking in my eyes yet again. "What the hell is wrong with you?" I couldn't hold it in anymore. "Why do my eyes interest you? Why am I fascinating?I am just a stupid human!" My struggles to free myself from his grasp were useless, resulting in my legs giving way and I fell to the ground. Pathetically, pitifully… like a human.

Opening my eyes, hoping this nightmare would be an actual nightmare. Well, I wasn't home yet I wasn't in the darkness. This bed was unusually soft, like what I would've imagined a royal bed would be. This did look likeone though, how many beds do have silver railings and golden flowers with rubies as the nectar inside of them? I must be in this cold hell, danced with the devil and lost my soul. What else could it be? Wait, was there really music playing? A frozen hell with… music? How could it be? Music is the sound of angels singing, magic dancing and happiness spreading. Music is the sound of bells chiming and couples kissing. Not the sound of treacherous dreams and torturous screams. Those are not music; they are merely sounds which haunt all who have heard them. Yet music playing in my private hell was unusual. I yearn to close my eyes and wish for the sounds, the music, to take me somewhere safe. With my guardian by my side. The angel who saved me from the harsh, ruthless snow, the dark tunnels of death and also from my own thoughts. The torturous thoughts which consumed me long ago. My guardian could not save me now, not in this misery that I reside in. Angels cannot be in hell as demons cannot be in heaven. My angel lies within this music playing now, his embrace surrounds me as I listen to his soothing sounds. The peace lies within music as his words become clearer and more protecting. His hand guides me; my eyes are closed yet he helps me see all that is around me. The crystal walls and silver doors surround me. Beauty all around, yet my angel is unseen. His hand guides me but I never see his face. I must see him, I must open my eyes…

Wait, my angel is gone. Crystal walls are just grey stone, many passages in sight but which is the right? My angel should be here to guide me, not just leave me in this dungeon to deteriorate. My knees scrape against the sharp stones, which lie forever set into the floors of this prison, but pain doesn't bother me. My angel is gone. "Why must you leave me? My angel which protects me from all harm, my angel which calms me with his music, my one angel who sees my pain and hears my thoughts. Where have you gone?" my tear mixing with the blood from my knees, stinging and my angel does not see. "But my dearest, I am here. Behind you." My angel speaks to me. "Just close your eyes and you will see. You will see all which I see. True beauty in these cold stonewalls." Obeying his orders, his hand now touches mine once again. "My angel, why am I trapped within these walls?" I could feel his hand rubbing against my cheek gently; he is behind me once more. "You are not trapped, you are allowed to leave anytime… it's just once you leave, harm will come your way once again." Now we stopped outside of a large metal door, the emeralds and sapphires encrusted into it gave the room behind the door a significant feels to it. Why would such an impressive door lead to just any room? My angel now stopped and continued to grasp my hand. "You cannot enter this room as of yet." His leathery voice sound even harsher than if a brute had said. "Why cannot I enter this room?" Curiosity leading my thoughts, but as people may say 'curiosity killed the cat'. But how could this magnificent room harm me? "You cannot enter until you can see true beauty." He continued to speak, yet refusing to face me. "But I do see true beauty. These stone walls are crystals and there are silver doors are around us." I tried to steal a look of my angel's face, but he still turned from me. "Are you sure you can see true beauty. Beauty without seeing through my eyes. You do not seem to be ready yet. If you wish to try, just open your eyes." With that my angel disappeared. Why does he have to do that? It's irritating. Opening my eyes at his request, the crystal walls melted away as they became stone. The magnificent silver jewelled door wasn't metal or stone at all. Just a carven oak door. Actually, I have seen this door. When the beast kept staring at me, this door was the door which I walked through. Then why is my precious angel here? Here in this hell in which I am trapped. "Oh angel, why do you leave me, I was in heaven until you left and turned it to hell." Tears filled my eyes yet again. "Why should I believe what you say? You leave me to hell when I could be in heaven!" I turned my back to the door, the previously beautiful door that is now only wood. "Ignorant child, you are not in hell. Neither you are in heaven." This voice was strange and unfamiliar… yet it was like the voice of a long lost friend. "If I am not in heaven or hell, where am I then?" wind started to blow as if an invisible force was here in this very corner where I sat. "You may perhaps be in heaven, only if you opened not only your eyes, not only your mind but your heart." The voice grew friendlier as it continued but an edge was still detected in their voice. "If you are my angel, if what I believe is true, how can I open my mind if I have lost it. Open my eyes while there only lies darkness." "You need not to open these two parts of you, only your heart." This voice seemed to become closer but the cold also grew stronger. Rising from the ground, I began to walk around, trying to find this… 'angel'. "How can I open my heart if there is no one to offer it to?" "My beloved, I am here. Awaiting your decision to decide when you will give in to me." "If you are here, then you must show yourself. Let me see your face, let me see who you are." The wind ceased but something blew on the back of my neck. "You have seen me, my glorious spirit and also my repulsive carcass."

The flames were blown out, now I could not see who this was, but I managed to grab his wrists and began to pull him into the room that lied behind the door. A room full of light and truth, not this constantly deceiving darkness. "No!" I stopped, my angel roared at me. My perfect angel had just made the sound of a beast, a demon. "No, I must see you." Pulling with all my strength, I managed to stumble into the room bringing him with me. Horror filled my face and my heart. It was the beast. The monster that I had seen before. "You little Pandora! You wanted to see this! An ugly gargoyle, a gruesome demon. The one thing you despise. Now I can never let you go!" I started to retreat, the rage I had expected before now filled him. A desire to kill me. "You hate me! I disgust you, my hideous form is what you fear… but you… all you feel is hatred and fear for me but I…" He broke off there. I was petrified; he turned to glance at me. Not like before when he had the blank expression. Emotion now filled his eyes. Longing. "But fear can turn to… love." I managed to work the strength to speak again. "It is true. Fear isn't a lasting emotion, but how can my longing, my desire, and my need for you, Epona, Just wait for all eternity?" Damn, he knew how to get to me. Both the angel and demon did. "My name is not Epona, it is…" "Stop, your name is a mere human name. Epona is your true name. The name of the goddess, your name." He stressed the word your "What is your name then?" He finally turned to me; I could see his face clearly. Now I could feel more than fear, pity began to engulf me. His sorrow, being alone and hopelessly lost would change people… and demons.

"Why would you care to know my name? Is it so you can escape and find people to pursue me then kill me?" he turned away once more, as if in pain this time. "My angel has been with me for many years, so if you were my angel, I would wish to know his name." I took a small step towards him, towards the demon of my nightmares and the angel of my dreams. "You still believe that I was your angel. I never once had white wings or a glowing halo around my head. My wings are black and I have horns on my face. Not quite the angel you think of, I am a demon to your eyes." the longer he continued to speak to me; I felt more pity for him but something else also. "Even though you may not be an angel of heaven, you were an angel to me. The higher being which approached me in music." As I spoke, he continued to stare at the ground. "You give the impression that I am your angel of music. Well that is untrue. You are a human, you must stay in your own world." He began to walk towards the grand door. "You should go to your chambers now. Nighttime isn't so safe for a young woman. The seventeenth door to your right." As he said the last word, he disappeared into the darkness. But why does he do this? Constantly puzzling me, speaking in a language that sounded like English but makes no sense. I decided to obey his orders, but how was I able to tell which room I was supposed to be in if I could not see the way. "Angel of music, demon of light. How do I see in darkness?" I called out but as I expected, no response. "My angel of darkness, demon of protection." I called out again, but he just seemed to disappear. Unable to hear my cries or my thoughts.

In what had seemed hours, I had only walked outside the door and refused to walk any further. My footsteps echoed faintly through the stone halls, this prison just seemed so real. Even children know that demons and angels don't exist, let alone creatures which contain part of both unearthly beings. This monster which hated and cared for me at once. Like a bittersweet victory. You may gain a trophy but you will deny your principles. In this case, I am the trophy and the demon denying the distance that the supernatural and natural are supposed to keep. Since when was there a distance to be kept? Has it just been second nature all this time or was there an occurrence that had caused this fear? As I am damned for all eternity, I ought to seek the answer to this question. Placing the palm of my pale right hand on the stonewall, which I lent against, the burning sensation began to devour me all over again. Clutching my stomach tightly, as if I was trying to prevent myself from exploding. My bloodless hand wasn't helping; the cold only intensified this pain. As I had learnt from earlier sometime. I tried to remember how long I have resided in this dungeon, unable to see the light of day, I wasn't sure about the amount of days which had passed by now. Was it night or day, or was it just a lightless land where evil lurks? Darkness had fallen and would never depart, it seemed at times. I was exhausted. Physically and mentally. Crimson blood began to stain through my white blouse and onto my frozen hands. Even my blood had been affected by this torturous hell. Losing all my strength just by merely standing, I began to lower myself slowly towards the ground. Blood had spilled onto the stones beneath me, for all I knew creatures which only exists in my worst nightmares would soon come to consume me. The bitter smell of blood overpowered me. The sheer loss of blood had weakened me terribly. Soon I was unable to click or even just move my fingers in general, if only this pain would fade away, only if I would awaken from this nightmare. But that was unlikely to happen. In fact, anything positive to occur would be improbable. Even just staying conscious was difficult. It began impossible to merely blink anymore. trying to conserve what little strength that remained, I closed my eyes and they stayed closed for a long time…