Degana spent the rest of the day at the manor helping Gabriel and Carl and Anna search through old documents that may lend some help as to the location of Castle Dracula. As it neared dusk, however, Degana said her goodbyes and made her way quickly back to her home. When she arrived the sun was setting and Michael was putting his farming tools away in the shed behind the house. Inside Gretchen was climbing down from the loft after putting the children to bed.
"Where have you been all day, Degana?" Gretchen asked.
"Sorry. I was at the Valerious Manor helping princess Anna and Gabriel. I should have sent word to you," Degana apologized as she hung up her cloak on the peg near the door.
"That's all right, love. You just had me worried for a bit. I know you can look after yourself though," Gretchen said. Then she smiled slyly. "You've sure gotten to know that Gabriel pretty well, haven't you?" Degana blushed and she helped Gretchen put away the dinner dishes.
"He's an old friend. I knew him when I lived," Degana said. Gretchen didn't look at her but only raised an eyebrow and gave a half smile.
"Really? Well that's special." Degana finished helping and then said goodnight to Gretchen and Michael and retired to her room. She laid on her back, staring up the ceiling for a few minutes. But then she closed her eyes and let the memories come.
Vladislaus' blood dripped onto the ground as she squeezed the shards of the glass in his hand. His face was livid as he stared at the shocked Gabriel and horrified Degana.
"Vladislaus, let me explain," Gabriel started.
"Silence!" Vladislaus yelled, dropping the remainder of the glass. Degana backed away, her eyes wide. She had never seen him so angry before and it frightened her greatly.
"How could you, Gabriel. You knew our situation and yet you toy with her heart," Vladislaus said, his voice eerily calm. Gabriel closed his mouth which had been hanging open and he straightened.
"I was only saying goodbye, my friend. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be leaving," Gabriel said and then left Degana and the Count alone. Degana opened her mouth to call to Gabriel, but as she watched, he disappeared into the crowds and left her home.
"My love, you must understand. He meant no harm. He was only doing as he said: saying goodbye," Degana whispered. The fire in Vladislaus' eyes vanished and he sighed.
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me, Degana. I was only trying to protect you," he said. Degana gave a small smile and approached her fiancé.
"You're bleeding. We really must fix that," Degana said taking his bloodied hand in hers. Vladislaus watched as she took her scarf and wrapped it tightly around his hand, tied it securely, and then pressed her lips gently to his palm. Vladislaus titled her chin up so she was staring into his mahogany eyes.
"I love you, Degana," he whispered.
"And I, you. May nothing ever separate us until our dying day," Degana replied quietly, her face an inch away from Vladislaus'. Then she pressed her lips firmly to his, but pulled away before the kiss could deepen.
"We must rejoin the party or my parents will wonder where we've gone," Degana said. Vladislaus nodded and led her inside and back onto the dance floor.
Degana opened her eyes and as the same as before, an onslaught of emotions came on: fear, apprehension, and then love, but the lingering emotion was fear. She smiled at the last feeling her memories left her with. As she lay in bed, Degana thought about Vladislaus. She wanted to see him so badly now, and she knew where to find him. Only Gabriel's warning in the back of her mind kept her from going to him. His warning troubled her and she wondered how well did she really know the man called Dracula. She cleared her mind of all these troubling thoughts, however, and dressed quickly, eager to spend the day with the children.
Degana spent the day playing various games with Alessandra and Nicholas such as tag and hide-and-go-seek. Near lunch time she helped them pick some berries and wash them. By the end of the day they were so tired that they fell asleep during the story Degana was reading to them. Gretchen smiled warmly at the sight of her two children draped over each other fast asleep and helped Degana put them up in the loft and tuck them in. Then she and Degana sat down at the kitchen table with a cup of hot tea.
"How have you been lately, Degana?" Gretchen asked. Degana shrugged.
"I've been good. Meeting back up with Gabriel brought some shock and the memories that came with him, but the initial shock has passed," she said. Gretchen nodded and by the look in her eyes, Degana knew she was holding something back from her.
"Degana, I'm worried about you," Gretchen said suddenly. "You're an angel, yet you haven't attended mass since the first week you joined us. I've never seen you pray, and you've even given away your necklace." Degana looked down, unable to meet Gretchen's eyes.
"I knew from the first time, the first night I came to you, and I tried to pray, I met a impassable wall. I've been shunned and with a reason of which I still do not know. It is hard for me to leave my faith, but I really have no choice. Otherwise I would just be wasting my time praying," Degana said. Her blue eyes met Gretchen's stormy grey ones and they were filled with tears.
"I've given up one life many times, also, did you know that? I've tried to kill myself numerous times, but have been unable since I've been cursed with eternal life. I've tried to slit my wrists only to watch the blood stop flowing and the skin heal. I've thrown myself from buildings and cliffs and lay on the ground perfectly all right. I've even stabbed myself through the heart. I cannot die," Degana said in a whisper. Only her voice broke at the last thing she said and a single tear ran down her cheek.
Gretchen was crying openly for her, her tea forgotten as she rushed over and took Degana in her arms, holding her tightly.
"Don't you ever give up, Degana, ever. Because there are always people that believe in you, whether they let themselves known or not. Remember that you always have me here for you. As well as Michael. And you can't forget the children. Nicholas loves you and Alessandra has taken your ways to heart, wanting to be exactly like you in every way. Think of her when you feel your confidence fail," Gretchen said as she clutched Degana to her. Degana shed no tears, but was instead numb as she just sat there, hands folded on lap, letting Gretchen hug her.
That night, Degana lay awake in bed into the early hours of the morning, waiting for sleep to take her. Eventually though she closed her eyes and began to remember…
All around her were the effects of war: screams of the dying, blood, and the clashing of swords. Degana's eyes watched fearfully as she surveyed the battle from the air, her powerful white wings almost faltering as she watched angel after angel perish under the power of Satan and his minions.
Suddenly, the whizzing of arrows brought her back to the present. Another arrow nicked her arm and she fell a few feet, her wings stopping from surprise. Degana spotted the archer and zoomed towards him, her wings plastered to her body as she plummeted to the ground, sais at the ready. The archer's head rolled onto the ground as Degana daintily landed and wiped her weapon on the enemy's cloak.
She was now in the midst of the battle and had to think to duck and or move so she wouldn't be killed. As she parried another's sword, a shadow fell over her and others that were close by. The battle seemed to stop as everyone shielded their eyes against the sun and looked up. Degana's mouth dropped open.
A man with great feathered wings, the color of ebony was descending to the ground. Clothed all in black and blood red, he looked very much the part of the harbinger of doom and the bringer of death. He was Satan, or Lucifer, the original angel that had betrayed the Lord and had in turn been cast down to the fiery pits of Hell. As he landed, he held in his right hand a large broadsword, forever stained with the blood of the good and innocent. His red eyes glowed merciless and with an internal fire that seemed to out burn the sun, the sign of the light and goodness, itself.
"I am here!" he cried in a booming voice, a voice that was so inhuman and unnatural it sent chills down everyone's spine who heard it. "Let any who dare challenge me do it now, and face your impending doom!" All of the Hell Angels gave a mighty battle cry and the battle started again with a new vigor.
Many of God's Angels attempted to attack Lucifer, but he cut them down with his sword before they could even draw another breath. He slowly made his way in Degana's direction, and she was too petrified to move. All she could do was watch as Satan himself came closer, swinging his weapon of death. As he was before her, standing over her since she was now crouched on the ground in terror, he raised his sword, ready to bring it down on Degana.
"Stop!" she cried, seconds before she met her death. Surprisingly enough, Lucifer stopped the down stroke of his sword and looked down his nose at her.
"Who are you to command me about?" he said, his voice making Degana shiver. Her mind raced as she thought up reasons for him to let her go. Her mind finally met one, one that would only and could only be used if she were desperate enough. Event then it was a hated decision, but she was desperate and fear refused to let her think straight.
"I can tell you where my Lord is in exchange for my life," Degana said quickly. Lucifer stopped and his sword dropped to his side as a wicked smile came to his horrific features.
"Lead on, little angel. Your life has been spared," he said. Degana took to flight quickly with Satan behind her and she flew to where she knew her Lord was residing, guarded by many of the greatest and strongest angels.
The bloodshed that followed was almost too much for Degana to bear as she hid herself behind a pillar and watched as Lucifer's mighty sword came down again and again on the opposing angels, felling each. Suddenly, the three archangels, Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel flew out, swords blazing brilliantly. They would have attacked had not a great voice called out for them to stop. Even time itself seemed to stop as all noises around them ceased as the Lord himself stepped down to the battlefield.
"You have returned I see, Lucifer. But again, you will not prevail," the Lord said and held out a mighty hand. "I banish you and your demons once more to Hell where you rule over the wicked and spiteful." Lucifer's fiery eyes flashed.
"I will come again and the war will be great. Then is the time that I prevail," Lucifer said and then beat his might ebony wings and him and his demons left, disappearing back down into the depths of Hell where they had come from. Degana trembled with terror as the Lord looked sadly around at the bodies of his fallen angels and he wept for them.