"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Sahara whirled around, eyes narrowed, sword ready. An angel stood there, arms folded across his armored chest.
"Bartleby." Sahara hissed. He nodded. Sahara continued mockingly. "Herald of the Angel of Death. Servant to humans. A damned angel fallen further than I, willing to bow and scrape to humans."
Bartleby glared at her. "Don't make me angry. I am here to warn you of him." His eyes flew skyward. Sahara followed his glance. A dark winged shape blotted out the sun. It was Loki.
"So, Loki has come to call."
Loki alighted on the ground. The sun glinted off his silver chest plating. His sword was in his hand. His blue eyes flashed a cold fire at her.
Sahara started to back away. "Loki, Bartleby, so sorry I can't stay, but I'm needed somewhere else."
A hand closed around her wrist. Sahara looked at Bartleby. He stood with his hand around her wrist. His eyes were serious with a glimmer of anger in them.
"Let me go." Sahara said slowly and dangerously soft.
Bartleby shook his head. Then he glanced over her shoulder. Sahara turned to see Loki approaching, his sword held in front of him. He swung back, prepared to deliver the killing blow when Sahara sent a flash of flame down her arm, burning the hand that held her. Though she could not kill the angels unless she removed their wings, she could hurt them. Bartleby cried out when the Hellfire seared his hand and Loki glanced at him.
Instantly, Sahara was airborne. Knowing that the angels could easily follow her, she decided that it would end here and now. Loki flew up to meet her. Bartleby was kneeling on the ground, staring at his burned hand, pain painted on his face.
"See, Loki, Bartleby already kneels. Why don't you join him?" Sahara sneered.
Then she charged. Her sword swung forward, only to be blocked by Loki's own. His wings fluttered as he strained to rise above her. She realized this and smiled. Quickly, she pulled back, putting Loki off-balance. He lunged forward and caught himself, but it was too late. Sahara slashed across his unprotected side with her sword as she passed him. He gasped and pressed a hand to his side. Sahara grabbed his right wing and slashed upwards with her sword, cutting into the base of his wing. Loki screamed as she passed Hellfire into his wing. He struggled to stay aloft, but plummeted. She caught his fall, lowering him to the earth. Bartleby stood and walked towards them. Sahara pointed a finger at him. A loop of Hellfire swung out, binding his wrists together. A rope leading from his wrists to her hand jerked taut, throwing him to the ground.
Loki started towards his friend. "Bartleby…" he gasped weakly. A second noose of Hellfire pulled around his neck, dragging him back.
"Loki, Loki, Loki. I remember you from down below. You and Bartleby. New demons. Fallen angels cast out of Heaven. Even more laughable than that Muse, Azarel."
Sahara pulled Loki back until he was next to her, kneeling on the ground. His hands were clasped against his bleeding side, his wings were unfurled behind him. His right wing was slightly folded. Sahara crouched at his side.
"Is the pretty birdie hurt?" Sahara cooed mockingly.
Loki opened his mouth to reply, but she jerked the rope, cutting him off and sending him on his back.
"Don't talk to me, Loki. Spare me your angelic words, your pathetic excuses." Sahara curled her lip scornfully.
Loki stared up at her with sharp, unafraid eyes. Behind him, Bartleby struggled to his feet.
"Sahara, stop." Bartleby said, a commanding edge to his voice.
"Make me." she shot back. She sent Hellfire crackling down the rope leading to Bartleby, causing flames to flare around his hands. His eyes tightened with pain and he fell, gasping, to the ground.
Loki grimaced as Sahara smiled at him and her smile became a snarl. She dug her claw-like nails into his face, drawing blood. Loki fluttered his wings wildly in an effort to escape. The white feathers raised a cloud of dust as they beat against the ground. Sahara drew a pair of daggers. She threw one, hard and accurately. It drove through Loki's left wing, pinning it to the ground. She plunged the second dagger through his injured right wing into the ground.
White-hot sparks of pain flew behind Loki's eyes. He almost cried out, but caught his cry. However, his body shuddered involuntarily.
Bartleby threw off the pain of the Hellfire and tackled Sahara. Her wings swept out instantly, knocking Bartleby aside and almost gutting him with a sharp wingtip. Sahara turned to him and snarled.
"Foolish angel. You will regret that move."