Hi guys! Sorry I've been away for so long. Busy, busy. You know how it is. Stupid real world. Anyway, this chapter isn't part of the story. It's some background on the new characters and places I've introduced thus far. You can skip this chapter if you like. The next chapter (I'll post soon. I promise.) will pick back up where we left off at in chapter 9.

As for this chapter, I might add to it as the story continues. Some of the characters have backstories that are important for what will happen later, so I don't want to spoil anything. Right now, there are three sections. 1) New characters - a very brief description of the physical appearance of some of the new characters. 2) The Founding of Fairmont - exactly what it sounds like. 3) Danilo Terrinetto - Bound - Dan's backstory. Remember chapter 2? This explains it.

New Characters

Kenna – Mid to late thirties. 5 feet, 7 inches. Long dark brown hair. Blue eyes. Slender build.

Charles Bell – Mid fifties. 5 feet, 9 inches. Dark blonde hair, going bald. Gray eyes. Solid build with a slight stomach.

Edgar – Mid forties at time of possession. 6 feet, 2 inches. Light brown hair, graying. Brown eyes. Lean build.

Danilo Terrinetto – Late fifties. 6 feet. Buzz cut gray hair. Brown eyes. Solid build.

Bookie – Late fifties. 5 feet, 8 inches. Gray hair. Brown eyes. Slightly overweight.

The Founding of Fairmont

A light, cool breeze made the tall grasses dance and the leaves rustle. Kenna stopped to gaze up at the sky. Small puffy clouds glowed golden in the rising sun, not yet visible behind the towering mountains. She preferred the mountains. There were fewer people and those that did reside there kept to themselves. Occasionally, she would run into an eight-ball or two, but they were easy enough to destroy. She sat upon a rock outcropping, carefully arranging the swords at her waist so they wouldn't be in the way and dropped her pack at her feet. The metal inside clanged. Her armor and swords were the only things she had from her past, but it was too much to wear all the time.

The peaceful morning was interrupted. Shouts echoed against the rocky landscape. Kenna sighed and stood up. She contemplated just ignoring the sounds, but curiosity drove her to investigate. She slipped silently between trees, drawing closer to the shouts. She stopped inside the tree line and watched the fighting before her. An all-out battle raged. Humans and eight-balls clashed together, pulling and tearing at each other. Though there were more humans, they were losing. They weren't as fast, strong, or agile as the eight-balls.

"Turn around. Turn around and leave," Kenna grumbled to herself.

She sighed and joined the battle. She drew her swords and stepped in just in time to save an older man, about mid-fifties. The man was fit, but the eight-ball he was fighting was heavily muscled. The body must have once belonged to a fighter. Kenna got between the two and faced off with the eight-ball. It bared its teeth at her and she snarled back. It ran at her, knocking the swords from her hands. They tumbled to the ground. Kenna wrapped her legs around the eight-ball and grabbed it in a chokehold. It bucked and squirmed in her grip. She held on tighter, putting more pressure on its throat. She snapped its neck and it went still. Kenna tossed it off of her and got back up. Behind her, the man stared from the ground, astonished. She turned and offered her hand. He accepted and got to his feet. He nodded a silent thanks and stood back-to-back with her.

More and more eight-balls came at them. For several long minutes, Kenna cut down the attackers, never slowing, never tiring. She faced off with another male. This one was tall and lean. His eyes were bright and keen and his light brown hair was streaked with gray. An unkempt beard stubbled his jaw. They circled each other, eyes locked. The eight-ball lunged. Kenna side-stepped and slashed out with a sword. The eight-ball was fast. He dodged, backing up quickly. Kenna narrowed her eyes. She attacked, but something in the eight-ball's gaze made her falter. She paused, studying the person in front of her. He was fighting well, but he was tense and didn't attack with the same ferocity as some of the other eight-balls.

"We don't have to do this. We don't have to fight." Her voice was hushed.

The eight-ball swayed, preparing to jump at her. He took a slow measured step forward.

"You've lost your family, your Father. You've lost your home, but that doesn't mean you can't have a new home. We can't change the past, but we can heal together and build a better future."

Kenna slowly lowered herself and placed her swords on the ground. She kept her gaze on the eight-ball. As she stood, the eight-ball took another step toward her. She held her hands out, palms up, showing she meant no harm. The battle raged around them, but the air between them was silent and pregnant with tension. The eight-ball lifted a foot to take another step forward. He hesitated. His foot hovered just above the ground. Suddenly, he ran at Kenna. His arms wrapped around her and they tumbled to the ground. He gripped her tightly, but instead of trying to throw him of, Kenna held him close and murmured soothingly.

"It's alright. It's alright. You're fine. We are all going to be fine."

Kenna had never seen an eight-ball cry. She kept ahold of him, patting and rubbing his back. Kenna felt someone kneel beside her. The man she had saved earlier was beside her. He reached out a shaking hand, stopping just before touching the eight-ball. He looked at her, confused. She nodded slightly. He placed his hand on the eight-ball's shoulder.

The eight-ball looked up and saw his own thoughts reflected in the expression of the human man. So much violence. So much bloodshed. He had thought it was the only way. The day the seventh seal had been broken and the lower angels released, he had felt fleeting freedom and then a rush of rage. Humans, filthy humans. They were the cause of all the strife the angels had felt. Now that the lower angels were free, they would make the humans pay. They would take their lives. They would take their futures. It had been a rush at first. Now an eight-ball, as the humans called them, he had killed many and could do whatever he wanted. It had been exhilarating. But, after three years, he had begun to realize all the death and destruction was wearing on him. He withdrew and hid for many years until he was approached by a large, intimidating eight-ball. They had teamed up and eventually wound up in the current situation. This woman and man who now comforted him saw something good in him, and it had filled him with such a longing to feel Father's presence, that for the first time, he cried.

Stiff and sore, the eight-ball stood. After the death of their leader, he became the head of the eight-balls. He hollered for them to stand down. Those nearest glanced at him in surprise. The human male yelled for the humans to stop fighting as well. The group of three moved through the fighting, breaking it up. Some retaliated. They were given a chance to leave peaceably, or be killed. Just over half of the eight-ball force left or were killed. Several humans also left and about a dozen fought, despite the warning. Kenna did the killing, grimacing with each blow she dealt. With the battle finally over, the group moved up a slight hill and faced everyone left. Kenna withdrew, standing about three yards away.

"For those of you who don't know me, I am Charles Bell."

"And I am Edgar," the eight-ball said.

They looked at each other, silently agreeing.

Charles spoke again. "It has taken us twenty-four years, but today we learned that war isn't the answer to our struggle. We have a choice, and I believe we must band together and build a new life for ourselves. We have all suffered losses. We don't have to lose anymore. Together, we can protect and help each other. Together, we can become a new family and find what we have lost."

Edgar took a step forward and addressed the crowd. "I agree with Charles. I don't want to fight anymore. This is an opportunity few are granted. We have the chance to prove that angels and humans can coexist, and perhaps that will be the first step in returning our world to what it once was."

Charles and Edgar spent the day talking to their survivors and coming up with a plan. Kenna drifted away, quietly watching. She knew she should leave, but she was intrigued by the kindness she was witnessing. It had been a long time since she had seen genuine compassion. Edgar came up to her.

"You can stay. Without you, this might not have been possible. You're a part of our family now."

Kenna swallowed around the lump in her throat. "Thank you," she whispered.

Danilo Terrinetto – Bound

Age: 13

Danilo Terrinetto grasped his mother's frail hand. Her thin, bony body shivered under the layer of blankets. She smiled weakly at him and sighed, closing her eyes. Dan kissed her forehead and left her to sleep.

He rummaged through the kitchen cabinets. In the back, he found a small bag of crackers. He opened them as quietly as he could and ate half of them. He folded up the bag and put them back in the cabinet. It was all the food he could afford to eat that night. What they had needed to last through the week. He slipped out of the house, careful to avoid the holes in the floor. His mother wouldn't be able to help him this time if he got his leg stuck.

Once outside, he dashed through the streets. Within minutes, he stood in front of a gate. A burly man came out of the guardhouse on the other side of the gate.

"What do you want, boy?"

Dan straightened his spine and met the man's glare, speaking confidently. "I have a proposition for your employer."

"Get out of here, kid. You don't know what you are getting into."

The guard shooed at Dan. Dan glared at him and opened his mouth.

"Get, boy!" the guard said.

A smooth, velvety voice with a light Italian accent drifted from the shadows. "Ah, what have we hear?"

A man with a slightly rounded belly and dressed in an expensive tailored suit walked toward them. Dan smiled politely and gave a little bow.

"Sir, I'd like to make a proposition to you. I think you'll find it worth a moment of your time."

The newcomer chuckled. "Why don't you come inside?"

The guard let Dan in through the gate and watched him suspiciously as he followed the man in the suit toward the house.

"My name is Maurice Velmaz. You look hungry. How about a meal?"

"Thank you. I would appreciate that," Dan said.

A moment later, Dan sat at a mahogany table eating a bowl of stew. Once finished, he pushed his bowl out of the way and mirrored the relaxed position of Maurice across from him. Maurice watched him with curiosity. Dan took a deep breath and plunged in.

"Senior Velmaz, I would like to offer you my services, for a small price of course."

Maurice raised an eyebrow. This child was amusing. He spoke and acted like someone much older, but the naivety of youth still clung to him.

"What services can you offer me?" he asked, indulging the boy.

"First, I think it would be better to tell you my price. If it is not possible, I don't want to waste any more of your time. My mother is very ill. Cancer. She needs help."

"That can be arranged, if you are worth it."

"Sir, having a child on your side could be very useful. We are irresistibly adorable." He smiled sweetly.

"If I take you in, you will be in my service until I say otherwise. You will do as I ask, without question."

"I will stay in your service until my mother is gone," Dan said fiercely.

Maurice chuckled again. The kid was growing on him.

Age: 15

"Come on, mom. They'll be here to pick us up any minute."

"Sweetheart, who is picking us up?"

Dan's mother tottered through their small house, clutching to each piece of furniture she passed. She was doing much better, now that she had been on medicine for the past two years. But, her condition had progressed too far. They were moving to Maurice's estate, where a specialist was going to be available at all times to care for her. Dan couldn't keep his secret any longer. She was going to be furious.

Once settled in her new room, Dan's mother made her feelings clear.

"What were you thinking? Did you really think I would want you to do something like this for me? I would rather be dead than have you be indebted to these people. Seriously, Dan. This was foolish."

Dan squared his shoulders. "What about me, mom? I need you. I can't survive without you."

Tears slid down his cheeks. His mom's expression softened.

"Oh, honey. I'm sorry I yelled. I love you sweetie."

"I love you too, mom."

Age: 17

Dan huddled down in the driver's seat of the van. Tonight was the first time he had ever gone out on assignment. He shifted nervously. It was a routine assignment. Well, routine for the mafia. The rest of the crew was inside, convincing a young officer that he really was better off not visiting their establishments. The cop had been scaring off customers, and Maurice didn't like that.

Dan heard a yelp from inside. A little girl screamed. It was the officer's daughter, only five years old. Dan shuddered. He hated this. There was more yelling and a gunshot. Forty seconds later, one of Dan's crew mates stumbled out of the house. He struggled to the van and pulled open the side door. As it slid open, Dan craned his neck around to see the other man. He held a hand to his side, blood seeping from between his fingers. Dan cursed.

"What happened?"

"Pig had backup. The girl's scream was the cue. Start the van. Get us out of here."

"What about the others. We can't leave them."

"The Hell we can. Start the damn car."

The man pulled out a gun and pointed it at Dan. Dan scowled and tossed the keys over his shoulder to the other man.

"Do what you want."

He jumped out of the van and hurried inside. He crept through the house, pulling out his own gun as he moved. Two cops stepped out of a room ahead of him. Dan didn't hesitate. He didn't flinch. The men dropped to the ground, a bullet having ripped through their hearts. Dan kept going. Crashes and grunts led him to the living room. The little girl had disappeared, probably to hide with her mother. In the middle of the living room, five men wrestled on the floor. Three were cops, including the one they were here to see. The other two men were part of Dan's crew. He jumped into the fight with two cops. He clocked one on the temple and the cop collapsed, eyes screwed up in pain. Dan wrapped an arm around the neck of the other cop from behind and squeezed. The cop stood awkwardly and slammed backward into the floor, trying to dislodge Dan. His crew mates were busy with the other two cops. Neither noticed Dan's struggle. His cop kept throwing himself backward. Dan was getting dizzy from hitting his head so many times on the floor, wall and an end table. He reached his free hand to his hip and fumbled with the clasp over his knife. Finally getting it free, he plunged it into the gut of the cop. He pulled it out. It made a sickening squelching sound. Dan's stomach turned. There was no going back now. He drove the knife into the cop again and again. Blood spilled over his hand and the handle of the knife slippery. He closed his eyes and squeezed the cop's throat as hard as he could. The cop struggled a few seconds more, gurgled, and then fell still.

Dan released him and looked around for his crew. Both of his men were fine and were watching him.

"Come on. We need to get out of here," he said.

He led them back out to where the van was parked. It was gone.

"Damnit. Should've known."

Dan scanned around, searching for some way to escape. They were just a couple blocks from a bad neighborhood. Cars disappeared there all the time. He took off at a brisk walk. He didn't want to raise suspicion if anyone was looking out their windows. It was dark, but he didn't want to take any chances. They reached the bad neighborhood and speed up to a jog. Dan kept his eyes open and peered around. Seeing a nondescript car, he raced towards it. As he hoped, it was unlocked. Dan opened the door and quickly searched for keys. They were in the glove compartment. The only reason to leave keys in a car around here was if no one would steal it. That probably meant it was loaded with drugs. Dan wasn't worried. Maurice would have something to say about dealers in his territory. Dan motioned for the others to get in. He cranked the car and tore out of the stony driveway.

Maurice was waiting for them when they arrived.

"You handled yourselves well," he said.

The three men nodded and began to head inside. Maurice reached out to grab Dan's shoulder and stop him.

"The doctor needs to speak to you."

Age: 23

Dan rubbed at his tired eyes. Six years. He had spent six years after his mother died trying to figure out how he could escape the mafia's grip. He had stolen and killed for them. He had put himself in danger countless times. Today, he was making his escape. He had hid information all over the country. He had prepared for it to be released upon his death. It was enough information to put away Maurice and the family for good. Dan also made sure to provide a way to get to them. The mafia could chase him, but he had made sure he was several steps ahead.

A week later, he was in Las Vegas. Since he couldn't exactly put mafia hitman on his resume, he started at the bottom. By the time he was thirty, he headed security for three casinos. He never did have any friends or a relationship. That was leverage the mafia could use against him, if they ever caught him. It was a lonely life, but it was a safe life.