When I opened my eyes, I found myself looking at myself. Past me was getting on Wes's bike to go find Xavier. I Looked around, but no one seemed to be able to see me. The scene changed and I found myself in the cemetery where Jake and his followers had gathered. I saw my self, shaking hands with Jake, that twisted smile on his face. I watched my body fall to the ground as Bethany screamed and Xavier tried to get to me and Maghen. The next was of me and Jake before prom. He was handing me the hoop earrings, my family standing ridged, but a smile on my face. After was my meeting Bethany, Gabriel, and Ivy after their decent. I saw the summer morning and myself waiting as they made there way down.

These memories seemed to be getting further and further apart. I saw the wars of the 1900's, the Civil War, the French Revolution, the New England Witch Trials . By this point, I was back in the middle ages. A dark time. Many of the reapers were out dealing with the Crusades, but I covered most of Europe, taking care of the black plague. I saw myself walking through medieval towns, an emotionless look on my face as I reaped millions of souls. I walked through the towns, not even bothering to put away my scythe, my long black hooded cloak dragging the ground behind me as I moved from person to person. I saw the cold look in my eyes as I reaped men, women, children that died from the plague as well as the general brutality of the time. No wonder people feared death...What had made me that way?

Jake's POV

I made my way back to Azrael's room. It had been a few hours since dinner and I couldn't get the look that had been on her face out of my head. She had looked so upset at the thought of losing her wings. I got it. I'd lost mine from being here...from lack of use... I swore I would never let her lose them. Not down here. Not because of me. I remembered her wings when I first met her. They were a beautiful shade of light silver; she looked so pure and delicate. The last time I'd gotten a good look at them, they were black and strong, her eyes filled with and inner fire, making her look dangerous. She'd never been more attractive to me then she had in that moment.

They had been spread in defense of her mortal friend...Maggie...Mary...Meg... Something like that. While I hadn't added her to my followers, I did find a very interesting bit of information by asking her out. She had one of Azrael's feathers. It was no small matter for an angel to give up a feather. It meant the owner was under their protection and had their trust. I would kill to get even close to getting one for myself. I hated that little mortal for it. And then there was Bethany and her little boyfriend. What made them a "special case"? I knew more about our worlds than that pathetic little human could ever hope to understand.

I walked into Azrael's room, Tucker sitting guard in the corner, right where I left him. Azrael was curled up in bed, breathing softly. I turned and glared at him. "Get out." He stood and limped out of the room, closing the door behind him. Good boy. I quietly made my way over to her, sitting on the edge of her bed. Her eyelashes moved against her cheeks as her eyes twitched. She was dreaming...I couldn't help wonder what about. I moved her dark curled hair away from her back. I'd taken special care to make sure that the majority of her wardrobe was backless so she'd be comfortable.

She was in a dark blue nightgown, the neckline lined in lace. I touched her back, between her wings, gently. They were retracted, giving her back the appearance of being tattooed. Anyone who looked close enough or knew better would know that wasn't the case. The outline of her wings was slightly risen, like how veins looked and felt on a wrist. I felt them twitch under my cold touch. Here, I could control how I affected her. I didn't have to burn her alabaster skin, just for the smallest touch anymore. Her wings felt stiff under her skin...Just spreading them wasn't enough. She needed to fly, and soon.

I reluctantly stood up and with one last glance at her, human-yet beautiful, sleeping form, left her room. I knew she hated it here, and probably me for all I'd done...But maybe one day she'd see I had to do what I did. I had to get her before she left that sleepy little town and was lost to me for another two and a half million years. If only she knew what all I had done for her. How much I'd given up so that we could be together. Of course I could never tell her. She'd liked the way I was well enough when she thought I was human. That was a good thing because I couldn't remember how to act any differently.

I went down to my office on the ground floor, where, unsurprisingly, Asia was waiting for me, a lusty look on her face. I sighed and sat down at my desk, Asia to my dismay, sauntered over and sat in my lap.

"Hey Baby." She smirked licking her teeth, "I missed you last night. Wanna make up for lost time?"

She began fiddling with the buttons of my shirt but what was once a fun pass time, no longer seemed to satisfy me. I pushed her off of me, onto the floor, her head making a sickening cracking sound as she went down. She pouted up at me but began reaching for the zipper of my pants instead. "Not now, Asia." I glowered at her. I couldn't forget how she'd tried to hurt Azrael the other day.

"Aww, Jakey." She stood and leaned against the desk. "That angel has made you soft."

"That angel has a name. It's Azrael. And a single kiss from her was better than any sex I've had with you. You're nothing compared to her and are lucky I decided to keep you around. Remember that."

Her mouth formed an appalled 'o'. Since I'd come back... Since I'd realized I'd Found Azrael, what Asia thought didn't mean a thing. She and anyone I'd slept with before her were just substitutes for the one I wanted, the sleeping angel upstairs. "You...you can't mean that..."

"I do. Don't make the mistake of thinking you were anything more than a pass time. Now leave. I have important business to take care of."

She shuddered with rage and embarrassment and stormed out. I wasn't an idiot. I knew that If Azrael managed to find a way out before I could make her come to care for me, she'd leave and never come back. She'd always have her guard up and it would be nearly impossible to get close to her again. It might take eons and if it did, I might need Asia again...I did have one bargaining chip though...Her precious little mortals. I wouldn't use them unless I had to. I wanted her to chose me of her own free will. But If it came down to it I would do whatever it took to make her mine and mine alone.

Azrael's POV

The scenes continued to change and I found myself in Ancient Rome, reaping anyone that Caesar chose to put to death, which unfortunately included some holy men. I watched as I brought back souls as Our Lord performed his Miracles on earth and the time before that as the Jews were abused by one civilization after another, bringing up their ways and expanding none the less. It was a lot like watching an old VSR tape. When you were done You had to rewind it; basically watching the movie in reverse.

Eventually, I made it back to Ancient Egypt. I watched myself taking the souls of every first born in every house in Egypt that didn't have lamb blood on the door. Even then, I was cod and unfeeling. I did the job, I reaped the souls, but I didn't seem to have emotion. I was like all of my brothers and sisters. Caring about humanity, but seeing them as 'poor little things' who 'didn't no better' when they sinned. I worked my way back, coming to the great flood where the reapers and I had to work non stop to take care of every living thing that had died.

At that time, my wings were only steel gray, but that one event would make them the color of a storm over water. I saw me training the first reapers, showing them how to find the dying, reap their souls, catch the run-a-ways, and how to take the dead to judgement and beyond. I watched myself go back to watch curiously as man grew. I saw myself, merely a century old, timidly, wielding my scythe for the first time to reap the soul of Abel after Cain killed him. I watched as I carefully brought down my scythe upon him and his soul separated itself, looking dazed and confused. I watched as I was told my purpose was now to reap man's soul, not merely to watch over it as Adam and Eve were exiled.

Then came my time before I was the Angel of Death. I watched as I looked on in sad confusion as eight of my brothers and sisters, Jake among them lined up behind one, looking at the rest of us with an emotion new to existence, pure, unfaltering, hatred, their brilliant wings dimmer than usual. And then I watched as all nine of them were cast out, fallen from Heaven, to be locked in the bowels of the earth, no longer permitted the privilage of being of our kind. By then I was already a part of the covenant, the only sister in it and the youngest, but with an important purpose.

I watched as the Seraphims told me what Father wanted me to do with my existence. To watch over man, just in case... I was so young then. Only a few decades old. It was a big step up from the mere existence of pure love and devotion most of us had at that point. Then there was nothing to protect man from. It was a small purpose at the time, but a purpose none the less. Thinking back, I knew Father gave me that role knowing what Lucifer would do, even though at the time, he'd done nothing wrong.

I saw myself dancing and laughing with my family in celebration of the creation of Adam. We were all so happy then. I watched as I played and sang with my brothers and sisters, holier than I ever would be again. I looked around. There was no judgment, no souls, no frantic worrying about the earth I saw the Covenant at the time, all with smiles on their faces. I watched as Lucifer and the others were just angels. No malice or anger any where in their hearts. I watched as I danced with angels, some still in Heaven, others fallen. I turned, seeing Jake standing in the crowd, watching the merriment, a soft, peaceful smile on his face.

Then I saw myself slowly taking shape from light, my violet eyes filled with wonder at the bright world around me...my home, and a glowing halo shining brightly around my head. I saw a thin ray of light touch my upper spin and glorious silver wings grew, a perfect gift from my perfect Father. All I knew then was over and devotion for him; not who nor what I was, nor anything else. This memory was different from the others. it was slightly hazy and hard to see, being so far back. I couldn't make out their face though they seemed familiar- another angel came and helped me find my feet, taking me to learn about our world.

I shot up trying to catch my breath. Looking around, I was alone and my wings were absolutely buzzing. I wanted to immediately try to project again and go to my friends and family, but like Tuck had said, I had probably been asleep for hours. I couldn't let anyone find out, or Tucker and I would both be in huge trouble.