Author's note; I'm a new writer, this is my first fanfiction so if you have any advice I'd really appreciate it! Thanks.
Chapter 1
A mortal looking up would see the most ferocious thunder storm of the hot summer. Thick black clouds rolled across the sky, massive and powerful in their presence. Lightening flashed too quickly to see, a lingering burn on the retinas the only evidence it was there at all. Miranda saw something different all together.
Looking out past the nose guard of her helm she frowned at the Demon Lord. It roared its frustration to the sky, booming across the city she'd held for centuries. Mortals cowered under the thunder that shock their abodes, the blasts of wind tugged at the edges of Miranda's wings. The strength of the creature was astonishing. One blow could send her crashing into the earth far below, sending her instantly from this world and her city would be lost. Her legendary speed and agility were the only reasons she was still in the battle. The brute had only so far managed to clip her shin with a well-timed swing of its crude war hammer.
Wheeling around for another pass Miranda assessed her opponent, readying her thin reed-like sword. Huge wings seemingly composed of the blackest smoke and silky pitch feathers laboured over their burden, each downward swing scooping massive amounts of air under the Demon Lord. Heavy amour weighed it down, but covered most of its body effectively. Its helm kept its face hidden as well as Miranda's did; with the nose guard and sweeping cheek plates characteristic of an ancient Greek helmet. The only difference being the two high arches on the brow to accommodate its horns. The Demon Lord bled from the cuts she'd already dealt it, but they didn't seem to bother it, the dark red blood streaming to infect her city below. It'd already proved its stamina, even testing her limits.
The horns of the demon were some of the largest Miranda had ever seen, rivalling even those of Lucifer. Curled like a kudu they curved gently out from under the special made helm before ending in sharp peaks. The base of the horns was dark like polished lacquer, while the tips sported a stunning bright red. They would prove to be deadly weapons if the demon chose the wrong moment to swing or rear its head.
Taking a deep breath Miranda angled her white pearlescent wings and dove upon the Demon Lord. She grinned with grim satisfaction as her sword slid past thick plates to flesh beneath. Just as her sword sunk between ribs her icy white blue eyes met with the deep brown black ones of the demon for a moment, and she saw not the widened surprise of pain, but a narrowed calculating look and from the corner of her vision the blasted hammer swung into view; it was a trick. Her sword was wrenched from the demon's body as the iron head found its mark squarely on her chest. Her breast plate crumpled and suddenly she was soaring through the sky backwards. As she had predicted the demon was incredibly strong and she was driven into the unforgiving ground tumbling and rolling a dozen meters before coming to a crumpled stop.
Weakly she pawed at her belt for her horn. Her armour had protected her from the fall mostly, except her breast plate was pushing into her chest brutally, making it difficult to even pant shallowly. She blinked dizzily, watching as the Demon Lord's wing beats seemed to become irregular; her final blow had done more damage than expected. It was coming closer though.
Finally she'd freed the horn. A stabbing pain hit her as she tried to expand her lungs, gritting her teeth she felt the metal cut into her and she blew a single short note to the heavens. Hopefully it was enough; she couldn't muster the strength for another call. Miranda slumped to the ground defeated for the first time on the mortal plane. Wing beats nearing her made Miranda look up, tilting her head. The Demon Lord touched down, and the ground shook beneath its heavy steps. It held its massive war hammer down at its side, too weary to lift it or no longer wary of Miranda, she didn't know which. Absently Miranda noted the wild brunette hair that had escaped its helm flicking about in the gusts created by its wings settling. She closed her eyes in anguish, sending pleas of forgiveness to her girls, along with a fleeting thought of her young assistant Andrea; Miranda readied herself for the killing blow. Demons were always brutal, and being crushed to death by a huge hammer seemed like the kind of thing a demon would do.
The clang of armour caused Miranda to open her eyes again to find the demon kneeling above her. She gazed up into the depths of coffee brown eyes. She was again surprised to find them tired and not victorious as she thought. Long lashes caressed pale cheeks as the demon looked down; its horns dipping to exaggerate the gesture and making any movement of the head majestic. As gloved hands pulled her helm off Miranda began to struggle, not finding her sword she gasped trying to bring more air into her body. Her weak hands fluttered along the arm guards of the demon and her wings ruffled but beyond that she couldn't move.
Watching the demon as she was Miranda saw the soft mouth gasp delicately as her face was revealed. The skin between shown by the narrow opening between the swooping cheek plates was porcelain and gently flushed, elegant sculpted eye brows rose in surprise. Quickly though the demon cleared her throat and spoke gruffly;
"Ironic, that the Devil in Prada should be the Guardian of New York."
For once at a loss Miranda said nothing. She'd never encountered a female Demon Lord, much less one that could best her in battle. Breathing seemed more important at the moment than forming a scathing remark.
"If you wanted to talk you could have set up an appointment with one of my assistances."
Oh well, sometimes she couldn't help herself. The barb lost most of its sting as she panted it out. The demon found the comment amusing for some reason though, chuckling softly.
"To the point. With this defeat New York is no longer the final refuge of earthly angels. The doorway here to Hell will be opened."
Miranda's eyes closed without her willing them to. Defeat. She'd lost her city, the last major population center without a gateway to the underworld. She'd failed in her holy mission. The Demon Lord seemed to pick up where her thoughts were headed.
"This is a good thing we're doing here Miranda… God's army has become too brutal; so many souls are sent into the void without judgement."
"How dare you address me so casually? There is only one order in the universe and you demons are upsetting it."
The demon looked down into the icy wrath filled eyes and Miranda's anger doubled at the pity she found there.
"Just kill me already. I've failed. There is nothing in this world for me now."
"We both know that's a lie. And I never intended to kill you. We need powerful archangels like you to aid us. I had hoped to convince you-"
"I'd sooner send myself to the void than aid you!"
Miranda spat the words at the startled demon who sat back on her heels to consider the fallen angel. She picked up the horn from where it'd tumbled from Miranda's grasp, examining the design. Hesitantly, and with a grimace, she placed it to her lips and blew loud and clear, a long note which resonated across the city. Miranda shook her head, maybe she wasn't getting enough air; this day was becoming stranger and stranger. The demon had just summoned her back-up and touched a blessed object besides.
"Your lips should be burned. That horn is blessed."
The demon smiled ruefully, blood trickling beside her nose and over her lips from a wound Miranda had previously not noticed.
"You could not bless an object made from one of my dead brethren."
Miranda frowned in confusion as she digested this information before gloved hands cupped her face gently and suddenly the demon's deep eyes were much closer. They held such kindness and affection Miranda felt a sudden loss and sorrow she couldn't place. The demon smoothed her hair back from her face carefully, sliding her hands down to her crumpled breast plate. She looked regretfully down at the bent metal.
"I'm sorry I had to do this to you."
Those doe eyes looked back up into Miranda's pale blue orbs, letting her guilt bleed up through her darkened eyes.
"This is the only way to save them."
"Who?"
"The innocents sent to Hell."
The demon wasn't looking at her now, examining the metal pushing into her chest. Softly her hands ghosted over the armour, feeling for straps and buckles, and when that failed, she gently dipped her fingers into the space between the forged steel and Miranda's body. The warmth even through gloves, of the questing fingers made Miranda's breath hitch, and she squirmed as they paused in their search just over her collar bone. The Demon Lord looked intently into Miranda's blushing face before smiling shyly herself.
With a groan the metal moved beneath her careful fingers. Miranda gasped as her chest was finally allowed to expand. She panted quickly and the sudden influx of air made spots dance in front of her eyes. As her vision cleared she watched the demon rise unsteadily and flap, gusting wind over the prone angel. Miranda shuddered as the burning spread across her body; she was enveloped in blackness as she passed out, the voice of her second in command a distant sound in her ear.