Des' breath became fast as she realized she was going to be burned to death. There was no way she was going to get out of this alive….she was going to die. Ayan had been proven wrong. And where was the great spirit now? Shouldn't she be here, helping her disciple? She was nothing more than a power mad being. Suddenly, Ayan appeared, a ghostly golden form. Only Des could see her, and only Ayan would be able to hear Des' words. "You doubt me." Ayan sneered.

"No, Goddess, never." Des replied. "I would never doubt my master…"

"You have thought it…as you know, I am a Seer demon…I can hear your thoughts…..do not deny that you doubted me!" Ayan roared deafeningly after that sentence. "Never have I had a disciple so willingly think of me in a way! You are now on probation, Des…I'd kill you now, but I believe in second chances."

"Thank you, Goddess." Des nodded, and returned to the human world as they were about to light the fire. She wriggled slightly, trying to free herself.

"Just dive in, let the good times roll, nothin' feels better than lettin' go, just dive in, you know it feels good so go on and dive in…" Syd sang as she mopped the floor.

"Sydney!" Syd's head whirled around as she heard the unmistakable voice of her goddess, Ayan.

"A-Ayan?" Syd asked in disbelief. To have a visit from Ayan and not be a prophet was, to say the least, impossible.

"Your sister needs your assistance, Sydney."

"Des? But she's a pro…"

"She has denounced my name."

"I don't understand….If you're a goddess…why does Des need my…"

"Only demons can see me, Sydney, or hear me for that matter. She needs you." While it was true that Ayan didn't trust Des, she would not allow a member of her race to die at the hands of a few prejudiced individuals.

"Very well." Syd's fists met each other and she brought them both to her breastbone, bowing gracefully.

"You must enlist the help of all the demons that are not on Daemon's side…foes should be easy to detect."

"Thank you."

Syd found, after minutes of searching the part of Demon Island designated for hunting, her two friends. The Forest twins were scavenging for food, having been nearly starved as punishment for letting their friends escape. Scott looked up from his kill as he heard the flap of landing wings. Seeing that it was Syd, he gently nudged the carcass over to her. Syd bent over to eat some of what was left. She ate quickly, time was of the essence, but she was starving. Flying took her energy out of her. "Thanks," she smiled.

"What's the problem?" Scott asked.

"It's Des…Des is….she was captured!" Syd yelled nervously. "A group of Christians found her a-and…"

"What!" Nick roared. "Does your aunt know?"

"I don't want to worry her." Syd replied. "I'm thirteen and I'm no normal human….I can certainly take down a few adults."

"We've gotta get going!" Scott took command. "Syd, get on my back if you're too tired to fly."

Syd nodded and stepped over to Scott, wrapping her arms around his neck and grabbing her left wrist with her right hand. He took flight, followed closely by Nick. As they reached Syd's church, they landed. Nick took off to save Des, and Syd and Scott watched him as he let loose every single instinct. He roared violently, a roar that normally claimed Daemon's throat, and stepped toward the attackers. Des was beginning to lose consciousness from the fumes of the smoke, although the flames weren't near her body.

Nick roared again as Des coughed, and the crowd suddenly split. He got down on all fours so to move faster in addition to scaring the attackers. He growled as he tore the ropes that were constricting Des, using his horns to cut them. Using his claws would have taken too long, and he didn't want to take that chance. The ropes snapped, and Des' limp body fell into his hands. Hoisting Des up over his shoulders, he carried her off. One of the people in the crowd threw a stone at his face, hitting his forehead. He grunted and looked at the person who had thrown it at him.

He gave Des to his brother and then raced toward the man, who upon Nick's arrival, snickered. Although he was young, he was completely bald, and one of his teeth was golden. Something clicked in Nick's mind…

Tynan, Daemon's brother, was discussing things with Daemon just outside Scott's cell. "I want you to capture Destiny." Daemon growled. "Capture her and bring her to me."

"Why?"

"I just don't like her…she's weak."

"Ah, an excellent reason to hate anyone in our colony, brother." Tynan smiled. "Those who are weak don't belong."

Scott noticed a golden fang appearing now and then as Tynan's lips moved.

This was the very same person, Nick could see it in Tynan's eyes. Tynan smirked. "Boy." He addressed Nick quietly, hissing. "Bow to your beta."

"Never." Nick hissed. "I won't bow to you."

"Then face the consequences." The evil one, thanks to an invention of Daemon, could transform at will, and did so when he led Nick to a clearing nearby. "And now, my boy," Tynan snickered. "We duel."

"I'm not afraid to." Nick glared. "It is you who should be afraid. I was taught to fight by one of the greatest…"

"A woman!" Tynan roared. "You were taught by a woman!"

"Jessie is one of the greatest fighters to grace our species!"

"Then why isn't she here helping you?" Tynan smiled. "Where is your savior?"

"That doesn't matter now." Nick growled. "I am here, and I am enough to bring you down."

"We shall see."

"He's not alone." Syd snickered. "He's got me."

"And me," Scott announced, smiling triumphantly, Des .

Demon fights were not to be held without wagers. "What are the stakes?" Tynan questioned.

"Full leadership." Scott suggested. "I will challenge you for full leadership of the American Demons."

"And if you lose…" Tynan began, "What do you plan to do?"

"If we lose…we will find a new home for ourselves amongst another colony."

"Excellent." Tynan smiled. "Let us begin, under this moon of Ayan." He stated almost poetically as he gestured toward the moon.

Both opponents bowed, and then Tynan drew his chin closer to his chest in an effort to protect his neck. Scott, Nick, and Syd did the same, Nick doing it after setting Des down gently by a tree. Syd attacked Tynan's left wing, ripping it off viciously with her teeth. Blood spurted from the one-winged, which was the common name for demons with only one wing. "I am a threat now, you see? Not just some useless female!"

"Get off me." Tynan roared. With that, he forced his toe talons into Syd's chest, knocking her off of him and into a rock. Syd's horns prevented her from any injuries, but she was slightly stunned. Scott pounced at him, clubbing him hard over the head. The foe was dead, Scott saw, when blood seeped from his ear.

"Thank you." Syd smiled, her white fangs glistening. She ran over to Scott and hugged him.

"Are you injured?" He asked.

"Only slightly. Des is the greater concern." Syd pulled away from him, walking over to her sister. "She's still alive, but her breathing is very, very shallow."

"I'll take her to your aunt's place." Scott nodded. "You make sure no one's watching."

"Gotcha."