Sometimes it wasn't what we wanted for ourselves that kept us moving forwards, it was the things that others wanted for us that drove us towards that final end point, to bask in the sense of doing someone proud. Other times it was the desire to prove to others that you could do something, a selfish motivation to be the best, to be better than anyone before you and anyone to come after you, and it was this type of motivation that had Night wing out in the barren landscape of home, body aching beyond belief, sweat running down her body in huge rivets, plastering her tied up hair to any skin it came into contact with, mind focused ruthlessly on practising her skills, the silver sword whirling through the air as she attacked an imaginary foe. Grunting with the effort, she spun round as she felt the air move behind her, only to spin the other way to barely block the blow stuck at her.

Her black eyes met those of her attacker and she found her mouth setting into an mirthless grin as the two backed away from each other and began to circle, their steps a careful dance, willing their opponent to make the first move and leave themselves open to an attack. Using her free hand to wipe the sweat from her brow, Night wing swirled her sword as she studied the person before her. It was as a fact that if Night wing hadn't blocked that blow, she'd have been killed in an instant, the person before her having clearly stated her desire to replace Night wing by their lord's side, as his right hand man. Fainting forward, Night wing pulled back in time to avoid her opponents blow as she spun low and tried to sweep her opponent of her feet, though this wasn't to be her opponent jumped over her out stretched foot and delivered their own high kick to where Night wing's was previously.

Finding their foot connecting with air, they spun quickly, trying to move out of the way of the slice Night wing sent into their side, though, their movement turned out to be a fraction too slow as Night wing managed to draw first blood. Smirking slightly, Night wing re-sheathed her blade, her eyes mocking as they took in the rage filled eyes glaring back at her from under a black fringe.

"One day Serena, one day I'm going to carve that smile from your face while your eyes stare out lifeless at the world."

"The day that happens Raye is the day you deserve to take my place…… Seeing as that's not today was there something you wanted or did you want to once again prove what a failure you are?" Night wing's head tipped to the side as she glanced "innocently" at the girl before her, eyes dancing with glee at the girl. Screaming rage, Raye spat at Night wing's feet, only gaining a raised eyebrow in return.

"Our master requires your presence…… though why our master seeks a glorified slut like yourself is –"

Raye found her words abruptly cut off as Night wing's dainty hand tightened around her throat. "It seems that you're getting above your station Priestess. Maybe you need a little reminder as to why I'm his right hand man while you're nothing more that an insignificant vessel for his use." As she was talking Night wing had been progressively been tightening her hold on Raye's throat, marvelling once again how someone who had already suffered death was still fearful of it; someone who took joy in bringing it to others found fear once it was brought to her. Bringing her free hand up to Raye's face, she caressed the back of it down the hysterical girls cheek before placing a single finger to the girls temple, her hand crushing Raye's windpipe as she tightened her hold to keep the struggling girl from leaving her grasp. Revealing in the girl's panic, Night wing closed eyes as she released her power, a small smile gracing her features, as she enjoyed the rush tingling through her body as she pulled up everyone of Raye's fears and had them come to life in the girl's mind. Gasping as she felt someone behind her, Night wing dropped the unconscious girl to her feet as she twirled around, blade flashing in the dull light before it disappeared just as quickly as she recognised her master standing before. His expression was mildly amused as he took in the unconscious girl at their feet, before his face cleared as he faced Night wing.

"I do believe I sent Raye to get you for me." Her master's slight pause indicated his expectancy of an answer.

"You did."

"Then why do I find you here and not where I wanted you to be?" His voice was a gentle caress edged with the promise of pain.

"It was you who taught me that all challenges to my position, any position, needed to be dealt with swiftly then and there. I was just following your…… advice."

"Ummmm, yes, I do remember saying that." Despite his reassuring words Night wing didn't release the tension that was coiling through her body and rightly so as she found her hair wrapped around her master's hand, her head tugged harshly backwards towards where he now stood behind her.

"Next time I expect you to deal with the problem quicker, is that understood?" His voice was nothing but a hiss in her ear, stinging warmth burning her as heat radiated off her master in his anger.

"Yes Master."

"Good." Releasing her just as quickly, Night wing schooled her face to show nothing at all, her thoughts guarded against all intrusion. "Now seeing as I've finally gotten your attention I would like you to retrieve something for me." Here his words trailed off as if waiting for her to speak, but Night wing had learned early on when she was and wasn't to speak and this wasn't one of them. His mouth took on its usual smirk and Night wing once again felt tension flickering through her body, heightening her senses and preparing her for the task that she was going to undertake.

"There are some ancient texts that document the where abouts of a weapon so great even the gods themselves feared it. No one knows what this weapon is, not its shape, power, not even its name. I want those texts Night wing and I want you to retrieve them for me."

The words "wild goose chase" filtered through Night wing's mind before she could rein them in. "While it may seem like a "wild goose chase" I can assure you my dear Night wing that my scholars have been very diligent with their findings… Just as I expect you to be when retrieving these texts. Is that understood?"

"Yes Master."..................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Hell have no fury like a woman scorned. Darien cradled his head in his hands as Beryl storm away, only raising his head high enough to slant a glare at the laughing figure of his best friend, who had miraculously recovered from his bout of depression to enjoy Darien's suffering.

"So…. What ever did you see in that woman? Or were you unable to look past those huge t-"

Andrew found his words muffled by his friend's hand. Holding his hands up in surrender he waited for Darien to remove his hands before continuing, "-its." Darien let out a groan at his friend's words, though he found himself unable to deny the truth as right this moment he himself couldn't remember what he had seen in Beryl. Not when all he could think of at night were hauntingly beautiful silvery blue eyes, eyes that he'd only glimpsed once, but were still managing to plague his dreams and leave him with the need for extremely cold showers once the first rays of light pierced the sky.

"She's always had that effect you know."

Somehow Darien got the feeling that they were no longer talking about Beryl, "Who has what effect?"

"Serena does…. She's always had this way of enticing people towards her, all she'd have to do was walk through a crowd and everyone there, no matter what their gender or sexual preference, watched her do it. It was like she was weaving a spell around the whole crowd."

"How did… How did she end up down there?" Darien knew he'd asked this question before but he just had to know what Serena had done in her live to be condemned to the pits of Hell.

"Like I told you before, only Serena knows, Serena, God and her Master."

He knew his face expressed his disbelief at those words, surely Andrew, as her brother, had to know what Serena did, it was obvious they'd been close in real life and still were so, he just had to know. As if feeling his friend's frustration at his words Andrew decided to elaborate on his answer, "I was dying when they brought her in. I remember being in extreme agony and could feel death grasping at the edges of my soul, but I could just make out that everyone was baffled at her sudden ailment. Sere was the best swordsman in our village, she was extremely fit and there was no visible wound on her to cause her to just collapse like she apparently had. And when they brought her in to where I was being kept she turned her head to look at me, smiled and said 'Know that you will be going to a better place because there is nothing I wouldn't do for you, even to give my own life'. Next thing I know I'm here and she's no longer with me."

"I… I really don't know what to say to that, I mean… What can you say to that?"

"Yeah I know what you mean and it still bugs me that I can't figure out what she meant, even after all this time."

Shaking his head, Darien once again contemplated the mystery that was Night wing; she was an enigma, a puzzle that he found himself yearning to complete. He opened his mouth to speak before his head snapped towards the window, his brow furrowing as he sent out his senses to determine just what had distracted him. Sensing nothing, he turned back to his friend before his head snapped round once again, his body already in the motion of running before his mind had given the order. Pushing his way through the crowd beginning to form, Darien halted at the God's side, his eyes intent on the tortured expression and hunched over figure that represented his master.

"Just what is causing this level of pain?"

"It's from the lunar temple, someone's killing the priests and priestess, such violence on this scale hasn't been felt since the War of the Fallen."

Darien sucked in as he realised the enormity of God's words. The War of the Fallen had been the first time that they'd encountered Night wing and witnessed the true devastation that she was capable of causing. They'd lost more people on their side than he cared to remember and had almost witnessed the rise of Lucifer. That day the heavens themselves had been stained red from the blood of friends and enemies alike.

"Why would he stage an attack now? After all this time?"

"Make no mistake Darien, he has always been binding his time to stage another attack, especially with the way Night wing has progressed over the ages. But I fear that this is not an attack."

Startled, Darien felt his eyes widen at this news. "All this pain and suffering, the death… how can you say that this isn't an attack."

"Because this was done by one person I'm afraid." Darien watched as the normally clear orb used to look upon Earth's events was completely covered in a cloud of darkness.

"How is that even possible?"

"It appears that Night wing has grown beyond even my expectations… so much so that I believe her master has no idea just what he's trying to control."

"Again I ask, how is that even possible."

The chill that pierced his soul left Darien numb as he received his answer, "I just don't know Darien, I just don't know."...........................................