They traveled by wagons that were pulled by hell hounds. They traveled at night and rested during the day. Arturo rode or rather drove the one that held Catarina and he noticed that she was praying, she was always praying. He wondred why for he believed praying wouldn't do anyone any good.

"Hey that's my food Che!" Sergio said as he and Che fought over meat.

"It is not!" Che objected.

From her cage she watched as the demons fought over food like savage wild animals. She felt neither fear, anger, or disgust when she saw them instead she felt pity for them. Once they had settled down she went back to praying. Then she heard the door to the cage open and saw Django enter.

"Can I help you?" She asked him.

His red eyes looked at her in a way she did not feel comfortable with.

"So this is what an angel looks like." He said. "I've never seen one up close and I must say you've got looks to march what you are."

"Is that a compliment?"

"Maybe." He walked toward her.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm guessing you've never been touched huh?" He grabbed her wrists, climbed on top of her, and pinned her to the floor.

"Get off me this instant!" She shrieked. "I refuse to do this!"

"Oh don't worry my dear I'm sure the Lord will be forgiving."

"No!"

She closed her eyes and prepared for the pain of this demon having his way with her but to her relief she felt his weight being lifted off of her. When she opened her eyes she saw Arturo holding him by the neck with his claws just centimeters from his throat.

"Let her be Django." Arturo growled. "She's too pretty and sweet for the likes of you so why don't you go find some dirty prostitute to fornicate with?"

"What's the matter Arturo? Jealous?"

"No but she's no good to us if you taint her with your filith."

"He's right Django!" Sartana agreed. "She must remain pure so forget her."

Arturo dragged Django out of the cage by his head and locked the gate then he threw Django into the river and walked back to her with cup of fresh water.

"Drink." He told her giving her the cup. She looked at him then began drinking every last drop of water inside until it was gone.

"Thank you." She said.

"I don't need thanks, can't have you thirsting to death."

"Still you gave me water and you saved my life."

"Don't think it's because I care. The gates might reject you if you're no longer a virgin."

"Nevertheless I am grateful."

She gave him back the cup, he handed her some bread. She thanked him for it and before eating she said a blessing.

"You know that praying doesn't do you any good " He scoffed.

"Why?"

"Because he doesn't answer."

"Why do you think that?"

"Well you've been praying to escape haven't you?"

"Yes."

"Well you're still here. Guess he doesn't care."

"He cares, he hears me and he'll answer, when he's ready."

"You angels are so naive."

"And you demons are so foolish. You know not of his love."

"Hate to break it to you doll but he has no love for demons."

"God has love for everyone even Satan but I know it's hard for most people and creatures to believe."

She looked into his eyes. It was so strange, hid face was so hard, cold, and stone bit his eyes were so soft, gentlr, and sad. Just what kind of demon was he?

"Why do you cry?" She asked him.

"What?"

"I've seen you before. In my dreams."

"Oh really? Let me guess in your dream I tear you limb from limb?"

"No. In my dreams you stand before dead bodies look angry and deadly but you have tears in your eyes. It's almost like you're crying because you killed those people."

"Demons don't cry."

"That's what I've been told but I think they can and sometimes I do."

"Look angel eyes I'm not a cryer."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a terrible liar? Because you're absolutely horrible at lying."

"I'm not a liar!"

"Listen senorita-"

"I would prefer to be called by my name if you don't mind and you do cry. It's alright I won't tell anyone but I'd like to know why."

"It's none of your business."

"Keeping quiet about it only makes it worse."

"Fine! You wanna know why I cry? Because I'm hated okay? The world hates me, my family hates me, and I hate myself! You know I never asked to be this! But I was born this way and someday I'm gonna go to hell just for that! There! Satisfied?!"

"You must be so very sad." She sighed.

"Well no one cares."

"I do."

"Why?"

"I just do, it's my nature."

"Then your nature is wasted."

He took off his shirt and went to get ready for bed. Catarina noticed a huge, scorching burn mark on his back.

"Could you come here for a moment and turn around?" She asked.

"Why?"

"Just do it."

He did as she asked. She gently put her hands on his back, he flinched at her touch and grabbed her wrist harshly while growling.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" He growled.

"I'm not gonna hurt you." She assured him. "Just trust me okay."

From the moment he was born Arturo had been told never to trust angels, that they would only try to destroy him for being a demon but there was something about this angel, something in her blue eyes that told him that she would never hurt him. So he turned back around and let her put her hands on his back. Light shined from her finger tips and the scars on his back were healed.

"That better?" She asked him.

"How did you do that?"

"I can heal others, it's my gift."

"Why did you heal me?"

"Because I wanted to, if you don't mind me asking where did you get those scars?"

"None of your business!" He snapped but her eyes were pleading with him to tell her. "My father gave them to me."

"Your family did this?"

"Don't act so surprised angel eyes, demons don't love anything or anyone not even their own children. My father's been burning my ass since I was five years old, sure it hurts real bad the first few times he did it but I got used to it and so did my brother so it's no big deal."

He saw tears stream down her cheeks.

"Hey why are you crying?"

"Because it's so sad. To have a father who's been hurting even when you were just a child. No wonder you're always crying."

"I do not cry! And...Stop crying for me!"

"I can't help it!"

"Please stop! You're not supposed to cry for me...You're not supposed to care for me you're supposed to hate me!"

"But I don't hate you."

"Why? I kidnapped you! I keep you in a cage! I'm forcing you to do a bad thing!"

"I know but your eyes have something in them that I've never seen in all the demons I've met. You know I'm glad you're the one they chose to guard me."

"Why?"

"Because I like you."

"You are so weird."

"So are you. I'm surprised you haven't tried to eat my heart yet."

"Why would I want to eat your heart?"

"Don't you know that if you eat my heart you'll live forever?"

"Oh yeah...I don't know I just always thought cannibalism was way too disgusting to do."

"You're not like the others. You feel regret and sorrow, demons never feel those."

"I'm going to get some sleep."

"You'll talk to me tomorrow right?"

"Maybe, I don't know. Probably not."

But he did in fact he ended up talking to her all the time. She told him stories about her life and he told her stories about his life. She told him how she, her older brother, and her younger sister sprang from angel's blood. How they spent their days traveling the earth trying to help people. How she would heal the sick and injures. How monsters and other demons would hunt her down and try to eat her heart. He told her about how his mother was once human but she was forced to become a demon and marry his father, how he and his twin brother Armand were born with bodies of flesh and blood abd an immortal soul because their mother was once human. How they were always abused and forced to do evil acts. His stories brought her to tears. Arturo was surprised, no one had ever cried for him. Ever, it was so strange having someone care for him. It felt weird but also nice.

"Arturo could let out of here to bathe in the river?" She asked him.

"I don't know, you might try to escape."

"Oh I'd never do that."

"And why is that?"

"Because if I did they'd destroy you and I don't want that."

"You're...You're lying."

"No I'm not. Angels can't lie you know. We can't lie, cheat, steal, have premarital intercourse, curse, worship false idols, dishonor our parents that is if we ever had parents, hold gudges, hate, and act violently or kill unless it's in self defense."

"Wow...I've done all those things. So what you can't do it? Your body won't let you."

"Let me phrase that we can do it but we choose not to. The only time we ever do stiff like that is if ut's to protect someone."

"Why?"

"Because it would be wrong. I promise I won't escape because the last thing I would want is for someone to hurt you."

Arturo looked around to see if the other demons were still asleep. They were so he unlocked the cage.

"Alright take a bath but if you run I swear I'll hunt you down and chop off your wings."

"Thank you."

She went down to the river, undressed, and began to bathe herself. Arturo wanted to watch her to make sure that she wouldn't run away but for some reason he felt like he'd regret if he watched her while she was naked. Which was weird since he had spied on naked women plenty of times and never once felt an inch of guilt. Temptation was screaming for him to look but his will over powered it and forced him to do something else to take his mind off of it. He took out some sliver he had stolen a couple years ago and decided to make something out of it. An hour later Catarina returned from her bath and returned to her cage.

"Wait!" He said. "You don't have to go back in there. You've proven to me that you can be trusted to be left out."

"Thank you."

"Hey what's she doing out of her cage?!" Diablo demanded. "Get back in there."

"She won't run away." Arturo defended.

"How do you know?"

"I...I just know."

"Arturo you're not getting soft on me are you?" Diablo growled. "Because you know what I do to softies."

"No but I...I...I."

"I won't run because he clipped my wings." Catarina said showing them her wingless back.

"Whoa! You clipped her wings? You're colder than I thought Arturo." He said. "Alright she can stay out. Angels can't get far without their wings."

He left to join the others.

"What happened to your wings?" Arturo asked her.

"I made them disappear, we can do that you know."

"You lied to him. I thought you were forbidden to lie."

"Unless to protect someone. If he thought you cared for me he would've hurt you so I lied and I hope God forgives me for that but I'm sure he'll understand. Cutting an angel's wings is the worst thing you can do to an angel. He'd never think you cared for me if he thought you did that."

"You're the weirdest angel I've ever met."

"I know."

As time passed the two continued to grow closer and they managed to keep it a secret from the other demons.

"I have something for you." He told her.

"What is it?"

In his hand was a sliver, heart shaped locket with a star in the middle of the pendent.

"I made it from some sliver and convinced a priest to charm it. If you wear it no one can steal your heart."

"It's lovely, thank you." He hooked it around her neck. "I'll never take it off."

"Well I hope not considering if you did it would be easier for monsters to eat you."

"No I mean I won't take it off because it's a gift from you silly." She giggled. She then threw her arms around him in a hug which made him freeze up and blush. No one had ever hugged him before and no one had ever touched him affectionately before. What was happening to him? Why was his heart beating so fast? When she released him from her hug she went to lie down somewhere and rest.

"How sweet." Django hissed. "I never thought you'd stoop to that."

"What are you talking about?"

"You hypocrite, you think I don't know what you're doing. You're trying to seduce her."

"Don't be stupid."

"I'm not. You traitor! I'll have you know I've wanted her longer than you have and tonight I'm going to take her!"

Arturo grabbed him by the throat and began to choke with his eyes blazing green with rage.

"You are not to touch her!" He hissed. "EVER! IF YOU LAY SO MUCH AS ONE FINGER ON HER I'LL TEAR YOU APART AND SEND YOU STRAIGHT TO HELL!"

Django was startled by his reaction. He had never seen Arturo so angry in all the years he had known him. What had come over him? Then he noticed that the look on his face said it all.

"Don't tell me." Django said. "You've fallen in love with her."

Arturo dropped Django in shock. That wasn't true, it couldn't be true. He couldn't have allowed himself to fallen in love especially with an angel. Demons couldn't fall in love. They couldn't because it made them weak.

"Well she's mine and when this is over I'm taking her as my woman and there's nothing you-"

SLICE!

Arturo had sliced off one of Django's horns. Horror and betrayal was written all over his face. He then sized him by his neck and gruffly whispered. "Stay away from her or the second horn is next."

After that Arturo avoided Catarina, he wouldn't talk to her or even look at her. If she spoke to him he just ignored her.

Then the night of the blood moon arised and the demons fought against human exorcists in a bloof battle while Diablo tried to force Catarina to open the gates but she refused.

"Do what you will but I won't do this evil deed." She said.

"You think you can just defy me?!" Diablo screeched. "One of the greatest evils in the world?!"

"I can and I will."

"You...You damnable wench! I'll destroy you for this!"

"Do what you will but if you kill me then at least I know you will never destroy heaven."

He slapped her face and struck her down. He prepared to give her the killing blow when an idea came into his head. A terrible twisted idea. He grabbed her by the hand and dragged her over to her cage, locking her inside then summoned Arturo from the fight.

"Arturo!" He called.

"Yes."

"Django told me the most interesting thing a few days ago."

"What was it?"

"He said that you had fallen in love this angel."

Arturo froze but hid his fear and nervousness.

"Oh really? That is ridiculous." He denied.

"I thought it was stupid too which is why I need you to do me a favor."

"What?"

"She refuses to do her part so I want you to kill her."

"What? What will that accomplish?"

"There's another angel living on earth will just go after her after this one is dead."

"But I-"

"Kill her! Now! Or I'll kill you both myself!"

Reluctantly and regretfully, he pulled Catarina out of her cage and dragged her over to a cliff where he clutched her throat with his claws. One squeeze and her neck would break ending her life immediately.

"Why?" He said. "Why didn't you escape when you had the chance? You knew you were gonna die if you refused so why didn't run when you had the opportunity?"

"Originally I wanted to run but over time I realized I couldn't without you. I didn't want to leave you Arturo because I fell in love with you."

"What?"

"If you're killing me then I won't resist m, do what you will but just know that no matter what Arturo I love you."

He couldn't do it. He just couldn't, he couldn't hurt her, he couldn't kill her, not now or ever. So he released her.

"What do you think you're doing?! Diablo shouted. "I told you to kill her!"

"Never." He whispered.

"I'll never hurt Catarina and I'll die before I let you lay a hand on her!"

"You useless fool!"

Catarina watched as Diablo and Arturo fought in a gruesome and vile way that ended with both of them pulling off each other's horns. Diablo vanished in ash while Arturo fell backwards off the cliff, Catarina jumped after him, grabbed his hand, spread her wings, and gently lowered him down. His body was broken and damaged fatally and without his horns he would surely die meaning he would go to hell. She couldn't let that happened to him.

When he woke up she was by his side with one hand on her heart and the other on his heart.

"Hey you're okay." He breathed.

"You musn't give up." She told him.

"It's too late for me. I'm done for."

"No! I won't let you die!"

"My horns are gone what can I do?"

"Not what can you do but what can I do."

"What do you mean?"

"I made a contract with death, I'll exchange my life for yours. You will live but not as a demon as a spirit who will live on by redeeming himself so when you die you won't go to hell. You'll go to heaven."

"No...No I can't let you do this." Tears were falling from his eyes.

"And I can't let you die."

"But if you do this then you will die."

She gently brushed his cheek, leaned down, and kissed him right on his lips. When she finished she leaned back up.

"Promise that you'll redeem yourself because that's the only way we'll see each other again. Now I know why you cry, you cry because you thought you could only do evil but now you don't have to anymore. Now you have a choice."

Their hands slowly reached for each other, they touched, and intertwined. Their eyes met, his green and bleeding, hers blue and shedding tears.

"You...Can't do this." His weak voice begged. "I...I...I won't...Let you."

"I must." Her frail voice sobbed. "It's your only chance."

A bright light came from her heart, it flashed, while his injuries were healed her body disappeared completely, she was gone and only her locket remained. He clutched it and heard her voice say one last thing.

"Until we meet again in heaven."

He broke down and wept into his hands, the image faded and Manny found himself alone with Catarina.

"It's you." He said.

"You're in love with Frida Suarez aren't you?" She asked. "If you wish not to tell me I understand but in order to save her you must risk your life, are you willing to do that?"

"Yes I am." ,

"And you mustn't give up, for her sake."

"I won't."

"Then wake up, wake up and save her."

He opened his eyes and found himself in the clinic. He was awake and he was ready.