Degana opened her eyes and was numb with shock and horror; newly cried tears stained her face. She had betrayed her Lord to Lucifer only to save her own head. Degana was still too in shock to respond to the knock on her door and only lay there as the door opened.

"Degana, breakfast is ready. Do you want some?" Alessandra said hesitantly as she stood at the foot of the bed. Degana recovered quickly and hid her emotions as she sat up and forced a smile.

"No thank you, love. I'm really not that hungry," she said. Alessandra nodded, a bit confused, for Degana had never missed a meal or an opportunity to be with the family. She smiled back quickly, though, and left Degana alone. As soon as Alessandra left, Degana dressed quickly and went out the window launching herself into the air. She flew over the trees and not through the town, wanting to get to the Valerious Manor as quickly as possible. When she arrived she beat on the door. When no one answered it quickly enough, she took flight again and rose to the second floor and went in a window that was open.

Degana found herself in the weapons chamber not alone. Gabriel stood a ways off admiring a pistol. At her entrance, Gabriel turned and immediately rushed to her when he saw her grief stricken face. She collapsed in his arms, the tears she had been holding back running freely now. Gabriel soothed her and stroked her hair as he knelt down with her, holding her close to him.

"What happened, Degana?" he whispered once she had calmed down considerably. She sniffed and wiped the remainder of the tears from her face.

"I remember, Gabriel. I remember why I was cast down, oh, it's terrible!" she exclaimed and buried her face in her hands.

"Calm down," Gabriel said, gently pulling her hands from her face and wiping away the tears. "Tell me what happened." Degana took a deep breath and told him everything. When she finished, he was staring at her in shock, his mouth hanging open. He quickly closed his mouth.

"Wow…" was all he could say. Degana stared mournfully at the ground as she sat on the floor with Gabriel, her back up against the wall.

"I can't believe I did that," she whispered. Gabriel looked over at her with sadness in his eyes. Degana sighed and brought her knees up under her chin. "I just can't believe it." Gabriel went and sat next to her and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it. What's done is done and you can't go back to change it. You just have to move on," Gabriel reassured her. He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head.

Degana ended up going back home and spending the rest of the day locked in her room, just staring out the window. She didn't respond to anyone knocking on her door, nor did she go and greet Gabriel when he came calling for her. When he came but she didn't come to the door, he went around the back and stood outside her window where she was sitting.

"What do you want, Gabriel?" Degana asked wearily.

"I'm worried about you, Degana," he answered. Degana sighed and moved away from her window.

"Go away," she said before disappearing from view.

"Degana, wait!" Gabriel called. Degana came back. "Please come and talk to me."

"Goodbye and goodnight, Mr. Van Helsing," Degana said and drew the curtains on her window. Gabriel stood there for a few minutes, dejectedly, and then turned and went back to the Valerious Manor.

The next morning Degana woke up and wiped her face, trying to wipe away the trails the tears had left from the night. Her eyes, she knew, were puffy and red and she felt like throwing herself from a cliff. She laughed sardonically.

"If only that would work," she said bitterly. After lying in bed for about an hour, she rose and washed her face and arms and dressed in a black dress she had made from the normal materials. It had a high collar, was long sleeved and floor length. After dressing and thinking what to do, Degana walked out of her room and went to the cliff, sat on the ground, and stared at the sea. As she sat and stared, she thought about what she should do. She couldn't stand living like this any longer. But when she thought about leaving Romania, she thought about the Borokov's. They were the humblest family and took her in when she was newly fallen and cared for her when her mind was at its darkest. She in turn had helped with the children, watching Nicholas grow to now be 15 years old and Alessandra 11. It had been 5 years since Degana first came to the family.

Tears came to Degana's eyes as she thought about Alessandra. She was so naïve and innocent. Degana cursed herself for being such a terrible role model when she knew the child adored her.

"Angel?" came a meek voice from behind Degana. Degana quickly wiped away her tears and turned to see Alessandra standing with her hands clasped together holding a bouquet of flowers. Her green eyes were worried.

"I brought you some flowers from the meadow," Alessandra said coming to sit beside Degana. Alessandra handed her the flowers and tears immediately sprung to Degana's eyes again.

"Thank you child," she whispered, praying that her voice would not break, betraying her emotions as she was looking down at the moment and her face could not be seen. There was silence between the both of them as they sat there, staring out at the sea.

"Its so beautiful," Alessandra said. Degana nodded. "When I grow up I want to see the other side of the sea. Will you come with me?" Degana nodded again, her throat closing as she held back tears.

"I promise, Alice," Degana said, using the child's nickname. Degana gave Alessandra a hug and then watched as she ran away happily, reveling in the promise Degana had made, unaware that it would never be carried through.

"Goodbye, Alice," Degana whispered and then spreading her wings, took flight towards the forest, soaring over the trees, her tears dropping like rain as she sped on towards Castle Frankenstein, racing the coming dusk.