D. Gray-man © Katsura Hoshino.

"Look, it's the angel…!"

"She can destroy Akuma? She must be an Exorcist…"

"Mama, mama, isn't she the Angel Exorcist?"

The Angel Exorcist: I'd adopted that nickname from everyone. In the three days it took me to get to England, I had encountered the monsters (called "Akuma," I learned), fought them, and killed them. It started out as those two homeless men from Glasgow calling me an angel, and then a villager from another town recognized me as an Exorcist. After saving yet another town from Akuma, I heard a child ask his mother if I was the so-called Angel Exorcist. I don't think I've ever gotten so much attention in my life! After every kill, I was exhausted, so hotels allowed me to stay for free. "We'll put it on the Black Order's bill, mistress Exorcist," they'd say.

In the three days that I grew a reputation in the United Kingdom, the temperature had cooled to a moderate degree, and for that I was grateful. I had finally made it to England where I was supposed to meet my escort to the Black Order. The bench I waited on was starting to make my butt hurt; how long was I to wait anyway? I took out the map and made sure that this was the location I marked three days ago. As my brown eyes scanned the page, someone stepped in front of me, bringing my gaze up to see a man wearing a black and white uniform. He had dark blue eyes and slicked, brown hair. "Are you Karena?" he asked with a rough, edgy voice.

I nodded in confirmation.

"Then come on." And he spun on his heel and walked off. I blinked twice in confusion and hurried after him.

"Hold on, hold on," I called. "Who are you? What's your name? Where exactly are we going?"

The man growled quietly and rolled his eyes. "I'm an Exorcist of the Black Order, foolish girl. Suman Dark is my name, and I'm here to take you to the Order. Though, from the rumors I've heard, you really are an Exorcist, so you'll be an official Apostle in no time."

Suman was a rude little thing, wasn't he. A frown pulled at my lips. OK, so am I an Apostle or an Exorcist? I thought bitterly.

| – – – – |

To get into this Black Order place, I was led to a hidden underground passageway. The passageway was a long channel: The water flowed freely, a little boat drifted on the water, waiting for us; torches lined the walls, making the place dim and eerie. My only thought was, Kinda cliché. Suman didn't bother helping me in the boat, so I felt like I'd fall over into the water, but I caught my balance and sat quickly. The man watched me and let out a tsk! He impatiently grabbed a long shaft – the oar – and pushed off, rowing us down, down, down the waterway. There was nothing around for me to admire, just water and torches. A thought struck me – what if I was wrong to trust Suman so quickly?

He claimed he was an Exorcist…Apostle…whatever of the Black Order, but how could I know? I've never seen an Exorcist before and I've never been to the Black Order before. For all I knew, I could have just walked right into a trap. I looked back at Suman, his dark blue eyes stern, locked ahead on the path as he rowed. "Suman," I said, "I'm wondering: How can I trust you? How do I know you're not one of those Akuma things?"

Suman scoffed. "See this badge here?" he asked, pointing with a gloved hand to a shiny silver badge over his heart. It was in the shape of a cross and had many intricate designs on the circled center. I nodded. "It's called the Rose Cross and only those associated with the Black Order bear the Cross. Now stop asking me such annoying questions," he snapped, "You can ask the Chief when we get there."

I was going to comment him on his rudeness but decided against it and allowed the man to keep rowing…

…Until we arrived at a platform where Suman brought us to a halt. He hopped out of the boat and headed up the flight of stairs without once looking back at me. I stood abruptly, the water shifting the boat almost threw me right in the water had I not gotten scared and jumped on the concrete platform. I stumbled into the wall and caught my breath. "Suman, wait!" I called after him. Hurrying up the steps, I came to a stop in the doorway where I bumped into a tall man.

He had dark hair and dark eyes, wearing all white and a funny beret. His glasses shined in the dim torchlight and his ponytail draped down his back. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "So, you're the new Exorcist – Karena, correct?"

I nodded. "Yes, um…who are you?" I tilted my head to the side and the man grinned.

"My name is Komui Lee. I am the new chief of the Black Order." He placed his arm around my shoulders and led me inside the bright building. "Welcome, Karena, to your new home."

| – – – – |

The Black Order was amazing! Komui gave me a personal grand tour: There was a lounge – soft-looking couches and coffee tables scattered across a spacious room with a large window that gave us a wondrous view. A cafeteria – with wood benches lined about the room, eerie pictures on the cream-colored stone walls, and on the far end of the room was a window for ordering your food. Behind that window were chefs cooking nonstop. On the third floor of the castle was the training area. The entire third floor of the Black Order was a training ground: Dummies, wood blocks, weights, space to run, pull-up bars, pads to do sit ups and push-ups, big bouncy balls for even more aerobics, and even some weapons for sparring! It was all just so cool; I knew I'd like it here.

On the floor up, Komui showed me the library. I marveled at the sight of so many books I could read. With so many books, the people here must be very educated, I thought. And with so many educated people, someone could teach me how to write! Growing up, I learned to read, but never wrote. I shrugged to myself secretly. I'd learn soon enough. There were so many hallways in this place, it was hard to think that I could ever remember my way around.

Along every hallway, there were doors and corridors. Though Komui showed me where the corridors led, I didn't get to see what was inside the doors. Komui and I walked side-by-side, passing by people. Everyone was either wearing a lab coat, a tan uniform, or a black and white one. The ones in black and white glanced at me and whispered. Their uniforms had the same badge as Suman did. Currently, Komui was telling me how sorry he was for forgetting to show me the infirmary on the first floor and that we'd see it later.

"Komui," I said.

He stopped in his babble. Boy, this Chinese man could talk. "Hm? Yes, Karena?"

I gestured around to the doors around. "What are all these rooms?" I asked curiously.

Komui smiled. "Bedrooms – for the Finders. The Exorcist's bedrooms are the floor up."

I blinked, confused. "Wait, what are Finders?"

Just as I asked that, Komui led me into a corridor and into a large room where books lined the walls, papers were scattered across the floor, and men and women did paperwork on tables. A young blond man looked up from his work and noticed Komui, but not me. "Chief, what did I tell you?" he groaned. "There are papers to fill out in your…Oh." So, now he noticed me. A smile curved his lips as he approached us. He was young, still in his early twenties – blue eyes and spiky hair.

"Please excuse me, miss. You must be the new Exorcist, huh?" He gave me a smile.

I nodded, feeling better about how his personality might be like. "Yeah, that's me, I suppose." I held my hand out. "My name is Karena."

He took my hand and shook it. "Reever Wenhamm," he said in return. And then his blue eyes realized what I was wearing – a dusty black shirt that was getting too small for me, ripped jeans, and old tennis shoes. He made a face briefly. "Ah, that's right!" He grinned. "OK, Karena, once the Chief here takes you to Hevlaska, come back here and we'll fix you up with a uniform for you."

I touched my hair without thinking – it was so long and tangled. I'd need more than a uniform to feel better. Komui Lee touched my shoulder and gave me a sympathetic smile. "Don't worry," he said, "we'll get you all cleaned up in no time."

And I smiled back at him because now I had a home.