Hey guys! This week is my school's spring break, and I'm enjoying it at home. It kind of sucks because for some odd reason, mine's is earlier than most schools. But anyway, here is an update. In addition, it is the halfway point of my semester, so I might be a bit more busy than usual. I'll try to update as much as can, but no promises. Enjoy!


Meanwhile with Crimson…

He threw Arbil into the portal, his heart breaking in half at the prospect of never seeing his secret crush again. He reminded himself that it was better she was safe and happy elsewhere than here.

His fire shield was slowly dissipating, so he tapped the doorway again, and it transformed into a sphere. He grabbed it, held it close to his chest, grabbed his giant broadsword, and ran past Revlis. The God threw more shadows at him, but because of his injury inflicted by Arbil, they weren't as strong as before and Crimson easily deflected them.

The black-winged angel burst through a window and immediately flew away from the castle. He flapped his wings wildly when he heard Revlis' guttural yell echo loudly throughout the night. Crimson didn't dare look back as he flew to Arbil's home. He threw stuff around, searching for something. He didn't bother with the mess he made, seeing as how Arbil wouldn't be returning anytime soon, and he wouldn't either.

He found what he was looking for, a satchel. He stuffed the Gray Garden orb into it. He flung the strap over his shoulder and ran out of the house into the Dead Woods. He decided to run on foot so he wouldn't be seen so easily from the sky.

He ran faster when he heard multiple wings flapping behind and above him. He looked over his shoulder and saw several demons and Darkened angels pursuing him. Some of them he recognized as his co-workers that he didn't really like. He took out his broadsword and prepared to fight.

A demon swooped down with his claws out. "I knew that you were a traitor," he angrily stated. "Give us the orb!"

Crimson swiped at him with his sword and the demon was swatted aside. He banged against a dead tree, rendering him unconscious. Crimson continued onward with more of his co-workers attacking him. He knocked out some of them, but the others were slightly more powerful than him. They managed to get a few hints on him using their magic.

He slid to a stop and took them head-on. It took longer than he expected since he had to protect the portal, but he managed to defeat them all. He ran again to anywhere but the city and castle.

Not five minutes later, another wave of demons and Darkened angels came after him. He growled loudly and decided to make the first move this time. He flew up to them and performed a mighty slash with his flame-encased blade. He took them out with one swipe.

As he ran farther and farther, he was constantly being pursued. He fought back, but he was slowly losing magic energy and power. The chase lasted three days straight, and he finally managed to shake them off. With every trembling step he took, blood dripped from his wounds and his muscles screamed. Black spots danced across his vision.

I have to keep on moving, he repeated to himself like a mantra.

His willpower was strong, but his body was slowly failing. His legs shook and he fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. His vision slowly faded to black.

Stay safe, Arbil.


Crimson fluttered his eyes open. He felt that all of his pain was gone. He looked down at his body and found that his wounds were completely healed. He jolted up from his supine position and frantically looked around him for the satchel. He sighed in relief when found it right beside him, sensing the magic from the orb.

He took a look at his surroundings. He was in a tree hollow sitting on a soft bed of moss and leaves. He gazed down and saw leaves containing food and water next to him. Off to his left side, he saw another bed made out moss small enough for a young child.

"Yay! You're finally awake!"

He turned his head to the entrance and saw a little angel girl about six years old smiling at him. Her white dress was tattered and dirty. Dirt and grime was smeared across her cherub face. Her short black hair was tangled, and he didn't see any halo on her head.

He ran a hand through his hair. "Hello," he croaked before clearing his throat. "Where am I? What happened?"

The angel girl's smile stretched. "You're in a forest far away from the city. I found you, brought you to my home, and healed your wounds."

She pushed the food and water to Crimson. "Here, eat. You've been unconscious for three days."

"Three days?" Crimson responded incredulously. "But I feel fine now."

"That's because I've been feeding you liquid medicine while you were out, but I wasn't able to feed you solid food," she explained as he ate.

The food wasn't great, but it was better than nothing. His stomach felt like it was curling into itself from lack of food. He felt awkward eating because the girl was staring at him so intensely, like he was the most interesting thing ever.

"So… why are you out here alone," he asked the little girl, trying to have a conversation.

"A few days ago, my parents went into the forest to collect herbs," she explained. "You see, they used to own an apothecary in the city."

Crimson remembered passing by that store a few times. "Doesn't that store also sell poisons?"

"Yes."

"And you're their daughter?"

"Yes."

He leaned away from the food and water, and shot the girl a suspicious look. He was tempted to gag the food he just consumed. He wiped his lips to get rid of any possible poison that touched it.

She put her hands up defensively. "Don't worry. I didn't poison you or anything. What would I gain for poisoning someone that was nearly dead?"

"I suppose you're right." He resumed eating. "Continue your story, please."

"I noticed that they didn't return the next day, so I went looking for them. I found their bodies ripped to pieces and a monster not too far from them dead as well. I guess they were attacked from behind unawares, and the monster died by eating the poison they held with them."

The entire time she was telling the story, she had a neutral expression on her face, as if this happened all the time. Crimson should've been surprised, but he wasn't. It was pretty common in this world for kids to become orphans since everybody died practically every day. Because of that, children were forced to grow up quickly and act like adults sooner without being a kid first. He hated it.

"And you've been living here since your parents passed away?" he inquired.

She nodded. "I've tried to see if anybody could take me in, but they rejected me. So, I had to live in the woods."

"And you've survived on your own for this long?"

Arbil had someone teach her how to survive on her own, with monster attacks constant outside of the city. But this little girl didn't have anyone. She should have been dead by now, so how was she still alive?

"Someone's been taking care of me," she replied happily.

"Oh really?"

"Mmmh-mmmh," she hummed. "I never saw him or her, but I always woke up to find fresh food and water for me. One day, I got curious and woke up early to see who was bringing me food. As the person walked away, I opened my eyes and saw that it was a demon woman by her gypsy outfit, red-veined bat wings, scythe-tipped tail, and twisted horns."

Crimson's body straightened still at the girl's description. His eyes widened and his breath hitched. He didn't recall the gypsy attire, but the wings, tail, and horns he remembered with clarity. Could it be…?

"Do you remember seeing anything else," he asked urgently.

She put a finger on her chin. "She was blocking it with her body, but I think I saw a crystal ball on a staff."

There's a possibility that it is Arbil's caretaker, Crimson thought. She had a crystal ball but not on a staff. After all these years, she's still alive. But if that's the case, why did she abandon Arbil without any warning?

"Has she come back here at all," he questioned the child.

She shook her head. "No. She hasn't returned since I brought you here. I have a feeling that she's not coming back any time soon."

He groaned, rubbing his face. So, she remembers who I am and left so I wouldn't see her. Why would she avoid me? So many questions with no answers.

"Do you know her?"

"Yes," he answered softly. "I knew her a long time ago."

The little girl didn't ask any more questions.

He finished eating and drinking. He felt his strength slowly returning. The black-winged angel licked his lips as he reached for the satchel. "Well, thank you for healing me kid, but I must keep on moving."

He put the strap over his shoulder and crawled out of the hollow past the girl. As he walked away, the girl stared after him with a slightly anxious expression.

"Wait!" she called out. "Where are you going? Can't you stay a little longer?"

"Unfortunately, no." he responded as he continued his walking. "I'm on the run, and I don't want to drag anybody into it."

The little girl ran after him but stopped after a few steps. She struggled with her words, trying to find the right ones to make Crimson change his mind.

"At least take me with you. I don't want to be alone." Her voice turned somber. "That nice woman isn't coming back, and you're the only other nice person I've met. Please, let me come with you."

Crimson stopped mid-step at her plea. Her tone right now reminded him of Arbil when she was younger after her caretaker left; how helpless and sad and frightened she was. He did everything in his power to make her happy as possible.

Now, this angel girl was going through the same situation as his crush. He was tempted to say yes, to make sure another innocent being didn't grow up like Arbil did, but he couldn't. Not right now when he was a fugitive.

He clenched his hand tightly and grinded his teeth. I hate leaving her like this, but I have to keep moving.

"I'm sorry," he replied softly without turning his head, "but I can't let you come with me. You'll only be in danger. I'm sure that woman will come back since I'm leaving."

He walked on, not looking back once. He ignored his conscious telling him to help the girl anyway, no matter the risks.

The girl uneasily shuffled her feet as she watched his figure walk further away from her. She stomped her foot like the child that she was and gripped the end of her dress.

Fine. If you won't take me, I'll just follow you.

She ran back to her temporary home, grabbed a makeshift bag, and shoved what little she possessed in it. She packed her medicinal herbs and poisons into one pouch, and carefully placed her poison mixture equipment into her bag. She placed pouches of food that the demon woman left for her last, then ran after the midnight-colored winged angel. The little girl silently followed after him a few feet behind, hiding behind trees and thick bushes.

Crimson heard steps behind him. He swiftly twisted his head, but whatever was behind him disappeared. He didn't sense that it was a threat, so he resumed walking. As he kept on going, he heard occasional rustling and footsteps. Every time he looked back, the figure would be gone but he caught glimpses of the person.

Don't tell me that girl has been following me this whole time.

He rolled his eyes upward. "I know it's you, kid," he yelled out. "Go back to your home. It's for your own good, trust me."

He didn't receive any response or hear any movements. He sighed, feeling a headache coming on.

This child is going to be on my back the entire time, he thought tiredly. It's obviously too late for her to go back now. This is probably a bad idea, but I don't have any choice.

"Come out, kid. You can stick with me."

She peeked out from behind a tree, hope glittering in her sky blue irises. "Promise? I can stay with you for a long time?"

Crimson curtly nodded, his eyes definite with his decision. "Yes. Indefinitely if you so wish."

The little girl did a small jump of joy, and ran to his side, all giddy.

"But, behave yourself," Crimson warned. "Stay close to me at all times and do what I tell you to do."

The little angel eagerly nodded. "Okay, I promise."

"All right. Let's go."

She kept pace with his long strides by half-running and half-jogging. Seeing her struggle with his gait of walking, he took shorter steps in order for her to catch up.

"My name is Hikari, by the way," she introduced, divulging her name. "What's your name, mister?"

"Crimson," he responded. "And you can just call me that. No mister, no sir, none of those titles please."

Hikari nodded. "Okay, Crimson. So, what's your power? I have knowledge on different poisons, but my actual magic is light and healing."

"My magic is demonic fire, but it used to be light before I Darkened."

She grinned brightly. "Yay, we have something in common!" She glanced to his bag. "Do you mind if I ask you what's in your bag? I never looked inside, but I sense very strong magic from it."

He might as well tell her since she's involved in his affair. "It's a portal to another world, specifically the Gray Garden."

"A portal? Why are you carrying a portal to a world?"

"A friend of mine escaped to the Gray Garden world without the permission of our God. I had to take the orb so he wouldn't go after her. That's why I didn't want you to come along. When he sends people after us, they will kill you too, no matter if you are a child."

Hikari gave Crimson a determined look. "I don't care. If she's important to you, then she's important to me. I may be a little kid, but I have powerful magic, so I can handle myself."

Crimson gave her a skeptical look then looked away. "If you say so. We need to move faster. With me out of commission for a few days, they probably got closer. We have to gain much distance."

She ran after him. "Okay!"

"And keep quiet," he added, giving her a stern look.

She silently nodded her head and they continued their trek as rogue angels.


That's it for now. I decided to cut this chapter into two. It would've have taken too long for me to write over the break, so I cut it short. I don't know when my next update will be, but I will try my best to update as soon as I am able. Review please!