Chapter 4

7 months had passed since Daniels birth. In spite of his mixed parentage, the boy was growing up healthy and strong. Christine read him passages of the Bible as bedtime stories, to which Daniel listened to eagerly with his ears perked and his crimson eyes begging for more. Daniel also proved to be intensely curious about the world around him and wasted no time in mastering crawling. Each night, Christine took him to the Middle Realm with her so that she could continue to watch over Miles. At first, Miles was frightened by Daniel but he soon grew accustomed to the hybrid. However, Christine never allowed them to play together out of fear that Daniel might accidently hurt Miles. She learned early on that despite his young age, Daniel processed incredible strength. The child had once unintentionally dislocated Christine's left index finger when he grabbed it in the spirit of play. By the time Daniel was 8 months old, he was too mobile for Christine to take with her.

Margret stood in the doorway of her dwelling and looked at her longtime friend with uncertainty, "I don't know Christy…"

Christine stared back at her friend with Daniel squirming in her arms, "Please Margret, I'm begging you. There's no one else I trust to take care of him. It's only till morning."

Sighing Margret replied, "Alright. Come on in." Christine instructed Margret on Daniel's care and needs. When she was about to leave, she hugged Margret gratefully, "Thank you so much. Don't forget to read him the Bible at bedtime. He won't go to sleep unless you do."

"Don't worry Christy I will. Now go on."

Christine sat on the floor of Miles' room. As she looked around, Christine knew that she had chosen wisely. The room was open and had several toys scattered about. It was a nice place for an orphan child to grow up. Helga, the woman who ran the orphanage, was a kind woman who treated all of the children here as if they were her own. Christine watched as she entered Miles room with a candle and went to the crib. She peered inside and saw that Miles was fast asleep. With a smile she turned and left. Miles was now 1 year, 10 months old and he could toddle about and talk in short, simple sentences. Christine ears perked up when she heard Miles stir. She approached the crib and saw him rubbing his eyes. Miles spotted her and said, "Pretty."

He reached upward towards Christine who chuckled and replied, "No, Christy. Chris. Ty."

After a moment Miles said, "Isty!"

Christine couldn't help but laugh out loud. She picked up Miles and said with a smile, "Close enough."

Christine returned to Margret's house. She rapped on the door but there was no answer. Christine went to the main square and began to ask around for Margret. Most turned away with disproval in their eyes. Finally she ran into the same old mongoose who had spoken out about Christine's child when Umbra's deed had been announced. When asked about Margret he snorted in contempt, "Yeah, I saw her alright. She's up at St. Michael's place sticking up for that demon spawn of yours." Christine felt rage burn through her but she decided that now was not the time and hurried to St. Michael's dwelling. She entered to find Margret sitting at the dining table looking quite distressed and St. Michael was on the other side rubbing his temples as if he had a headache. Daniel was nowhere to be seen.

"What is going on? Where is Daniel?" asked Christine as she entered the room.

St. Michael replied, "He is in a dungeon on the other side of Heaven."

Christine nearly blew her top but she managed to calmly asked, "Why exactly is my 8 month old son in a dungeon?"

Margret burst into tears, "I'm so sorry Christy it's all my fault! After you left, I took Daniel to the gardens to look at the flowers. He touched one petal on a daisy and an entire section went up in flames! It took five other angels besides me to get the fire under control. They demanded that Daniel be locked up until a punishment is thought of. There was nothing I could do! They tore him from my arms screaming and dragged him off. I'm so sorry!"

Christine put a hand on Margret's shoulder, "Its ok I understand." With that she turned to St. Michael, "Please. Isn't there some way you can get my son out of that dungeon?"

The archangel sighed, "I cannot simply release him. Vandalizing one of Heaven's gardens is a crime that must be punished."

Margret burst out once more, "He's only a baby!"

St. Michael was beginning to become angry, "He's not an ordinary baby Margret! He's the bastard child of Christine and that monster Umbra Diaboli! If I let him off the hook, it's going to seem like special treatment! I know it seems ludicrous and I know that what happened was most likely an accident, but almost everyone here thinks the boy is a demon!" Christine paced the floor, her mind filled with the want to protect her child.

She stopped suddenly, "Wait. What if, we suppressed his ability of fire casting and any other demonic powers he may have?"

St. Michael considered, "Yes. Something special can be made for him. Shackles perhaps." Christine appeared appalled but St. Michael said, "It's either that, or him staying that cell." Christine sat down in a chair next to Margret who put a supportive arm around her shoulder.

Christine mumbled, "Fine. Just as long as he comes out of the dungeon."

Years went by without much excitement. Miles was four while Daniel had turned three. While Miles ran and played throughout the orphanage freely, Daniel was confined to Margret's house. The shackles on his wrists and ankles were engraved with the holy cross so as to keep his demonic powers inside. Both children could talk well and were never afraid to speak their minds. But while Miles chattered about what he done in the day, Daniel babbled about how he would like to go outside and see what it's like.

One day, Christine took Daniel outside, making sure to keep him close. As they walked along, a dove flew from the sky and landed in front of them. Christine knelt and held out her hand. The bird eagerly hopped on. Christine stroked the dove and showed it to Daniel who was fascinated. "See Daniel? Birdy."

Daniel mimicked, "Birdy!"

"Shh. You'll startle her." warned Christine.

Daniel whispered, "Birdy. Daniel wants to pet."

Christine held out the dove for Daniel to pet, "Be gentle." Daniel carefully stroked the bird, trying to copy how his mother had done it. The dove cooed happily as it received all of the attention. After a minute Christine stood up and released the dove so it could fly away. They stopped in a park like area of Heaven's gardens with benches and gazebos. Christine sat down but Daniel ran around the small clearing, exploring every bush and shrub.

Satisfied, he ran back to his mother and said, "Watch this Mommy, watch this!" Daniel ran towards a tree and took off in a flying leap at it. He sunk his claws halfway up the trunk. Like a bizarre little squirrel, Daniel climbed up the tree with lightning speed and perched on the highest branch.

Christine laughed, "Well aren't you quick? Maybe I'll call you Sonic because you're so fast. Now come down." Daniel blew a raspberry at his mother and leaped onto the roof of a nearby gazebo. Christine stood up from the bench and shouted, "Daniel, you get back here this instant!"

Daniel jumped into another tree giggling, "You can't catch me!"

Christine ran to the base of the tree, "Daniel get down NOW!" Not so much as a giggle came in reply. With a flap of her wings, Christine was flying around the tree but Daniel was gone.

Daniel ran and promptly fell. The shackles round his ankles still tripped him from time to time. He got up and dusted off. His mother had not caught up to him yet so he might be able to win this game of tag yet. Suddenly a cry rang through the gardens, "DANIEL!"

Upon hearing his mother's voice sounding so furious and distressed, Daniel thought, Uh oh. Mommy sounds mad. I should go back. With his ears and wings drooping, Daniel turned round and began to walk back to his mother. Half way back, a dove flitted down in front of Daniel and began to peck about the ground. Daniel stared at it with his head cocked to the side. Maybe if I give Mommy a present, she won't be so mad. She really liked the birdy so I can give her that. Daniel tip-toed up to the dove. When he was close enough, he lashed out and grabbed it round the middle. Startled, the bird began to struggle. In an attempt to get a grip on the dove, Daniel sunk his claws into it, unaware that he was hurting the dove. Bird in hand, Daniel took off in a sprint towards his mother who had screamed his name again. Daniel burst from the bushes shouting, "Mommy, Mommy! I have a present for you! It's-Ow!" Once more the shackles caused Daniel to trip and the wounded dove flew from his hands. It landed with a sharp chirp and blood trickled from its wounds. Everyone watching the spectacle gasped and some even screamed in horror. But shock quickly turned to rage as the other angels in the area began to shout angrily at Daniel and his mother. Confused and frightened by all of the noise and hostile faces, Daniel began to cry.

Author's Note: Uh Oh! What's going to happen to Daniel now? Poor little thing. Well stay tuned for the next chapter everyone. Thx for reading!