Warning you lovelies all right now: Buckle in for this chapter. :)

Chapter 11

Miranda knew she was brooding but it didn't stop her. Her thoughts had stolen to themselves and she was helpless to stop them. Standing as she was at the tallest spire of the bridge she should have had plenty to distract herself with, but the view went unnoticed by the angel. The wind played with her hair and feathers, and she waited, listening intently for the soft wing beats she knew would come soon enough.

Andrea…

The demon had certainly fooled her. She'd almost believed she could trust the girl, and she'd begun to reconsider her original assessment of the Demon Lord. Finding out the two were one and the same had shocked, than angered her. She'd been duped, betrayed by those doe eyes pretending to be so innocent. Her jaw cracked with the force of her clenching as she recalled the moment she'd seen the bandaged hand. She'd almost lost control then and there, but there were too many mortals around. She'd known instantly, one wound could be a coincidence, but two? Miranda was no idiot, putting two and two together.

Tonight, I'll play her like she did me.

Miranda didn't shiver this time when the wind pulled through the thin fabric of her blouse; she was so cold the feeling was now lost on her. The heart seemed restricted, her face stony. She felt, wooden, happiness and kindness had fled her hold and now mostly anger bubbled within her. Her mask of indifference had gradually leaked into her soul, making her wonder vaguely when that had occurred within her long life. Anger and a continued disappointment in humanity and all those around her who failed again and again; never seeming to improve despite, almost in spite of, her best efforts.

The cold knife hidden against her back continued to leech her power. She'd pulled at the power of Heaven until she nearly lost control of her form on the mortal plane, but the blade still took from her. It would have to be enough; she couldn't afford a long drawn out battle such as their first in her now weakened state.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The vibration of the heavy evening air tipped her off long before she could actually hear the wind moving about those huge blackened wings. Miranda didn't give the demon any time to figure out how to land near her precarious perch, instead unfolding her own wings to glide down to the water's edge. Andrea followed, landing in the soft muck a few feet from Miranda. A human might have been leery of the setting; secluded and darkened, the bank was surrounded by industrial buildings now emptied for the night. The demon however cast a disinterested eye about before settling once more completely focused on the angel in front of her. Miranda knew she wouldn't be threatened by the dark places of earth after the eons spent within Hell.

Andrea had for gone her helm this time around, she knew Miranda was aware of her identity and if anything she'd learned not to waste Miranda's time while at Runway. It was eerie to see the face and form she was so familiar with subtlety changed. The slim arms and shoulders now muscled, the pointed ears peeking through her long brunette tresses and most obviously the towering horns dominating her features. Gone was the nervous submissive assistant, Andrea's eyes were locked boldly on her own, her head held high and her spine straightened. A small spike of excitement made its way down the angel's back and she was helpless to stop the warmth creeping up her throat. Rather than try and banish these reactions however Miranda let the blush spread, parted her lips and stared hungrily at the other woman.

"Come here Andrea."

Miranda purred out the name, curling her lips as she did. Andrea's pupils blew out and Miranda could practically see the steam rising from that hot mouth as she exhaled sharply. Whatever the demon thought was about to happen this was not it, but she willingly stepped forward into Miranda's embrace. The angel didn't stop the sigh of contentment which left her lips as the demon's heat soaked into her chilled body, in fact she pressed closer into it, savoured it. Andrea seemed confused, but she put her arms around the shorter woman's neck all the same, tilting her head so that their lips were inches apart. Miranda had snaked one arm around her waist, and could feel the demon's soft feathers trembling with excitement against her skin. Her other arm reached behind herself and she slowly drew out the blade hidden there while Andrea contemplated her lips.

"I am of the darkness Miranda, I can see the knife."

Miranda froze, surprise now colored her cheeks, but Andrea did not step away. Her eyes were sorrowful as she looked down at the angel. Miranda found her wits quickly and as she simultaneously pushed the demon away and stabbed with the blade, Andrea made no move to block her, no retaliating strike came. Instead she closed her eyes and seemed to accept the knife into her flesh. The blade sank into her gut and she gasped with pain, stumbling to her knees. A low keen escaped her throat before she bowed her head and looked at the knife still embedded in her abdomen.

Miranda backed away on shaking legs as Andrea screamed, the first pulse of power had entered her and Miranda could see the white light streaming into the demon, lighting up her veins and consuming her. Miranda retched, and threw up as the second, than third screams filled the air, so terrible were the sounds. Humans paused, and shuddered throughout the city with a sudden chilling of heart they could not place. In desperation Andrea wrenched the knife from herself, flinging blood and lingering flesh but the power still entered her and she slumped, finally unconscious into the mud.

Miranda wiped her mouth with a violently trembling hand. Standing she tried to walk but nearly fell. Her eyes were drawn again and again to the beautiful creature now left to die in the filth of the earth. Her dark hair was strewn out about her; the moon now lit her pale skin, making the black blood even more horrible as it continued to leak. The lips with the always ready smile were now only graced with ragged weakening gasps.

"I did this… I did this evil…"

Miranda crawled back to Andrea; shaking fingers gently touched the rapidly cooling skin. The only movement came from the wind gently playing with the white feather still tied fast to the demon's horn.

"How could I have done this…?"