No one's POV:

Another day came by and the four friends had the quite enjoyable first half of school.

Angelica's POV:

I just returned from the third library after submitting the songs list for the performance at the festival and weirdly no one was there so I just kinda slipped it under the door.

„Do you know which lesson we have after lunch?" Azuna asked.

„I think it's going to be history," Ritsuka answered.

„History? Wonderful!" I said excitedly.

„You seem very excited," Ritsuka smiled.

„Yeah. I find history interesting since it can teach us the mistakes of others so we can avoid them. But some are not willing to learn these lessons. Take Napoleon's wars and the second world war. Napoleon was prideful enough to think that he will be able to take Russia easily, underestimating their winters. Much later Hitler did the same mistake. And at that time they actually knew about Napoleon's wars. Oh sorry, this turned into the lecture," I apologized.

„It's okay it signals you are really passionate about this," Lindo smiles.

„But we should get going if we want to be on time for the lesson," Azuna jumped in.

„Yeah your right we should really get going," Ritsuka agreed.

We sat down in the classroom and the lesson began. „March of the eleventh century, the Byzantine empire requested assistance from pope Urban the second," the teacher started. Ah, the holy war I remember those times. Quite messy actually.

„They needed his help to recapture the holy land which was being occupied by the Seljuq dynasty after their convergence -"

The teacher's monologue was cut by a loud thud of a large classroom door hitting the floor which made me jump a little. In the now-empty door frame stood lo and behold the secretary of the student council. I knew today was way too peaceful, so someone obviously had to ruin it.

„What is the meaning of this? We are in the middle of class! Mister Nanashiro!" the teacher shouted.

Mage did not even bet an eye and went straight to my seat.

„You're coming with me today, babe," he said and grabbed me by the hand, pulling me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

He was holding me in the middle of my thighs, and I couldn't help but blush.

„What do you think you are doing?" I shouted and tried to get out of his grasp. Azuna and Lindo stood up furious.

„Put her down, she is clearly uncomfortable," Azuna shouted. Mage again didn't bet an eye.

He jumped out of the window and ended on the ground without a hitch. At that moment all student attention was focused on this incident.

„Chill out," I heard him mutter before he snapped his fingers and we teleported away.

Once we landed somewhere else nausea came over me. I don't have a problem with heights and fast movement to the moment when I'm the cause. Once it's someone else doing the transporting it doesn't do me any good. To sum it up I was quite pale in the face. I finally looked around, we were on top of some tower.

„Aw, what's the big deal scared of heights?" Mage said standing on the edge of the building.

„I can understand that I mean human would die if they fell," he continued leaning off the edge backward, appearing that he fell.

I walked up to the edge to check it, for some reason. I leaned forward for a better look, when suddenly he grabbed my hand, and caught me off guard, causing me to lose balance, purely relying on balancing on one foot and his grip. I drew a sharp breath, from surprise more than from fear. I was looking down on the street, watching people walking by below, I easily calmed down.

„You won't drop me, you want information. And if you drop me you'll catch me because you need me," I said confidently.

„And how would I catch you?" he asked amused.

„Don't play dumb with me, you are a demon. You are more capable than humans. And I know what you are thanks to your buddy who just materialized the whole amusement park out of thin air. Action hard to sugarcoat as normal," I explained and he pulled me back up to him.

„That absolute idiot!" he cursed.

„So are you willing to tell me?" he asked in a pushing tone.

„No, because I don't even know what is this about," I said innocently with a smile.

„He didn't tell you?" he asked in an 'I'm so done' tone.

„No, he charmed me. I slapped him. Ran from his cult. He tried it again and I ran away," I said.

I put up this sassy persona to appeal to him. He is the only one I could get some information from.

„Interesting that he didn't mention the slap part," he laughed at that.

„So do you know anything about the blood gem?" he continued.

„Never heard of it," I immediately replied. He pushed me into the wall. That shadow came over him.

„If you don't want me to devour your soul tell me where it is," he threatened.

He tried to get close, but once that happened, he was hit by bright light, he was pretty annoyed by that.

„I had enough with that exorcist, he thinks he is so damn clever. How about it let's officially make you mine. Then you can stop playing hard to get and tell me the truth about the blood gem," he grabbed my chin.

„No way I'm not interested in any of you," I said.

„Don't be shy. I know you already started to fall in love with me. Trust me it happens every time, a soul can't help but fall around me," he said grabbing me again and with a snap, he opened a portal. Not this again.

He sat me on his arm and jumped in. I had a hard time trying not to scream, so at least I grabbed on pretty tightly and closed my eyes.

We lent somewhere else, we definitely weren't in Japan. We arrived in front of a restaurant. Two girls walked out, took my hands, and pulled me inside. I did not get what was even happening. They pulled me into some backroom full of clothes. They closed the curtain behind us. Their eyes were completely dead. I wouldn't be surprised if they had the marks. They were trying to get rid of my clothes.

„Let me go, I can do it by myself," I said and they surprisingly let go.

I stripped to my underwear, and once I did that they shove me a typical Chinese dress, back colored with golden roses as ornaments. It was actually good-looking, but I reluctantly got in them. They made my hair into a bun and put a gold hairpin with crystal in it. It wasn't a bad look but the concept behind it repulsed me.

They revealed the curtain once again and behind it on the couch was sitting Mage in the same style of clothing. I was a bit flustered so I anxiously stood there. He seemed really to enjoy my mood. Then someone appeared and guided us to the table full of food. All that food made me nauseous more than hungry.

So there I was sitting at the table watching, this creature eat, with disgust.

„Disgusting, human food always tastes like crap. I would kill for a soul right now," he started to complain. That second throw-away line caught my interest.

„I thought you can get souls any time you want," I said sparking a bit of conversation.

„If it was that simple. Down there the royalty is detaining souls so you couldn't get to them and here you can get hunted at best by exorcist or worst straight-up angels," he groaned. Well, that was easier than I expected.

„Why aren't you eating?" he asked straight away.

„I lost my appetite. I won't act like everything is okay," I shot back.

„You're a stubborn one. I can see why they can't handle you. I never liked them anyway. They are smug, think of themself so highly and they are creeps," he started to rant.

„Can't really disagree with that honestly. Then why join with them? Aren't these things dependent on trust and those things?" I asked, hoping this ranting train will continue.

„Souls that's the answer. Since that douche Rem is the Arlond heir. He's considered royalty and can grant soul income," he said.

„Well, that explains a lot. So everyone is in because of souls?" I asked.

„Hey! I'm not in only because of souls! The others, the womanizer is in because of his friendship and to get more of his butterflies. That creep, I don't know, I guess to see the world burn. And the last one not really sure," he said with irritation, not really noticing that he pretty much confirmed that there is one more demon with them.

During that whole conversation, he managed to eat a whole duck. What a pig.

„Those guys rely on lies. I like to be a little more straightforward and a lot less manipulative, the truth is I don't really need to lie to you because I'm so powerful. So tell me your in love yet? Let's face the facts everyone falls for my charms and good looks and they all want to be with me. Come on it's time to stop being afraid and embrace what you are feeling," he said so confidently.

That ticked me off real hard. I stood up slamming my hands on a table.

„How could I ever have feelings for someone who kidnapped me! You never even considered what I might think!" I finally spoke my mind.

„What? Wait a second I haven't gone this much effort for anyone and you are totally not appreciating it, " he also stood up.

Then he stopped and sniffed the air. He got around the table and came to me. Grabbed me by the shoulder to get me to him closer. Then he sniffed me.

„You smell delicious," he said enchanted. Too close, he could smell my true scent.

„I-I have to go," I said and pushed him away.

„Go where?" he asked.

„To the bathroom!" I shouted irritated, stormed to the bathroom, and slammed the door behind me.

I let the water run in the sink so I at least could wash my face. Then I picked up my pendant and smelled it. It's weaker. This isn't good.

„I need to get out of here," I said, thankfully I got my clothes with me so I could change.

Once I changed I found a backdoor and ran out of it. I just need to get far enough. I was running through so many different alleyways. Until I accidentally ran into only what I could assume was a drug deal. Those men immediately noticed me.

„Co tu děláš?! Nevíš že tu nemáš být?! " one of those men said in a foreign language.

„Zbavte se jí," the older men said and from the stances of others, I could only guess that did not mean something pleasant.

„This is gonna just slow me down, but alright you asked for it," I said in response.

They started to attack me with knives. I grabbed the first one's hand and twisted it to make him lose grip on the knife, then I knock him out with a hit to the back of his neck. I tripped the other one and punched him in the face. The third one I slammed against the wall and the old men I just knocked out the same way as the first guy. I tried to use as little force as possible. I just needed to knock them out. Since this was dead-end I used the wall to bounce off and got on top of the dead-end wall. Once I was on top of it I jumped down to the other alleyway. I wanted to start running but somebody caught my hand. Of course that someone was Mage. And he was grinning.

„I thought you were a bit special but that what you showed there, was incredible," he said.

„Alright, you caught me," I sighed.

„One last place," I quietly said.

„What was that?" he asked with a wider grin.

„You can take me to one last place," I said blushing a bit.

„Alright," he said took me again on his arm, and once again opened a portal. Here we go again. I already braced myself for that journey. I gripped on tightly and closed my eyes.

„You really don't like this type of travel," he laughed. I just nodded.

„Alright, you can open your eyes, we are here," he said after a while.

I opened my eyes to beautiful, colorful sunset on some beach.

„This is the kind of thing you humans like to look at, right? he asked.

That little question sparked something in me. Neither you nor I are humans. How should we know the simplicity of human life? For some reason, my eyes started to fill with tears.

„Are you crying?" he asked quite softly. He reached his hand to my face to wipe off one tear and he proceeded to lick.

„So sweet," he said so quietly. At that moment our gazes met. We looked at each other for a while.

„Hey! Look you are not supposed to put spells on me. I don't like it," he suddenly was red as a tomato.

„It's weird," he complained but at that moment I was so surprised by his newly found softness that I accidentally leaned backward, and kinda fell out of his grasp, straight into the sea under us.

From sheer surprise, I screamed but that was instantly cut by the water surface claiming me. I instantly closed my eyes to not get the saltwater in them. I was gracefully sinking down. I wasn't bothered by that, I didn't need to breathe anyway. Then the water parted once again and strong hands grabbed me and pulled me above the water. I coughed up water and pretended to catch my breath. Mage carried me out of the water in his arms. After I 'caught' my breath I looked at him.

„I thought someone like you would be stronger when holding a girl above the sea," I teased him.

„It wasn't my fault that you leaned backward," he immediately shot back.

And with that, the somewhat wholesome moment was brought to an end by our bickering.

„I'm sorry," after some while he apologized.

„I-It's okay, I guess. Just take me home," I said silently.

He once again opened a portal. It's okay this is the last time, I can stand it.

We ended up in some old abandoned warehouse. Once we landed light blue circle of ruins appeared, which meant only one thing Lindo was here.

„You better not laid hand on her," out of the darkness came Lindo.

„Some exorcist you are. Hate to break it to you, but you are a little late this one is all mine. Man, let me tell you you missed out," Mage immediately proceeded to taunt him like he was not already fuming with rage.

„What are you talking about that is not true at all," I came in.

As expected that angered Lindo to the point that his dhampir side showed up.

„Don't make a mistake that you can violate her and walk away," he almost growled.

„Interesting, alright then you don't fool me. Your eyes just told me everything I need to know," Mage said and lunched in the air.

I dashed to the side to not be caught in a crossfire.

„Silence devil," Lindo shouted, and the first set of spells met.

And the next and the next. Every spell proceeded with a loud bang and a lot of dust from the destruction of the surroundings.

„Listen carefully it doesn't matter who you are. I will crush anyone who stands in my way. And I do it with the strength of my bare hands, nothing personal but you don't have a shot," Mage gloated.

Lindo muttered something under his breath in the style that he will kill him. I was sure that the next attack would be something different. They gonna kill each other. My body moved before I could think. I ran in between them just as they fired their spells.

„That's enough, stop it!" I yelled.

At that moment I was fully prepared to nullify both of the spells, their lives mattered more than my secret. But both of them once they actually realized what I did withdrew their spells. But one managed to graze my shoulder. I could feel the blood coming out so I quickly covered it, praying that the scent or color won't get leaked. Mage looked in surprise but behind that surprise, I saw fear and disappointment, maybe in himself, he just turned and vanished in a puff of dark purple smoke. After that, I let out a huge sigh of relief and put my hand down from the wound. I quickly turned to Lindo.

„Are you okay?" I asked worriedly. He was staring at me, no not at me at my wound. After I asked him that he quickly pushed me aside and turned away from me. I realized what was happening, so I kept my distance.

„Go, home. I will come later," he said struggling. I wanted to help him but my presence here would only worsen his situation so I left.

I arrived at their home.

„You are okay!" Ritsuka came out of the door and hugged me.

„Yeah, I'm okay, no need to worry," I said, thankfully during the walk there the wound had healed.

„Whare is Lindo?" she asked.

„Don't worry he is okay as well. He just said he will come later," I said and we walked inside.

I told her everything that happened excluding that fight at the end. Then we went straight to bed, I wasn't even hungry. I just hope Lindo will be okay. With that, I closed my eyes.

I woke up in the middle of the night with an absolutely dry mouth. I carefully went to the kitchen so I wouldn't wake up Ritsuka. I grabbed one glass and filled it with water, which I proceeded to drink. After that, I wanted to go back until I heard something coming from the backyard. I looked through the glass door and saw Lindo pouring down his back holy water to burn himself. I quickly opened the door, ran to him, and slapped the cup out of his hands.

„What are you doing?" I yelled.

„What I need to do, " he said silently.

„No, you don't need to do this to yourself," I said hugging him.

„I do. I nearly jumped at you from thirst. I tried to hurt you," he said.

„But you didn't. You stopped yourself, that's what counts. It doesn't matter what you are, what matters are your actions. And your actions are pure. You don't need to hurt yourself because of what you are, it isn't your fault, you couldn't change anything about your birth. You can only affect your actions for the best. When Jesus allowed himself to be beaten, mocked, and nailed to a cross to die. He paid the price for any wrongs. He bled so we don't have to and gave grace, love, and forgiveness. His perfect love casts out fear. Remember that," I said wholeheartedly.

I could feel that he suffered a lot. Something like maternal instinct kicked in, I just wanted to calm him down. This wasn't the first time I felt this way, although the first time it didn't end so nicely. It took him a moment but he calmed down.

„Better? " I asked with a kind smile.

„Yeah, sorry you had to see - " he started.

„Shush I don't wanna hear any of that," I stopped him. We both smiled at that.

After a while, we went to the living room.

„Our assumptions were correct. There is one more demon with them. Although they don't know his motives," I said.

„How do you know that?" Lindo asked.

„Ask stupid egoist questions and he shall answer them," I said smiling.

„Don't tell me actually benefited from that situation," Lindo laughed.

„Well I got that information and some minor ones. I wouldn't call that benefit," I said.

„Oh yeah, I just remembered I will need more Potpourri. Mine is losing its scent, he nearly smelled through it," I said.

„You can take some in the morning. Now go rest up, it was a hard day," Lindo said.

„You better too mister," I said strictly. We laughed, said our goodnights, and went to sleep.


So it's been a long time, again. Nah nobody is reading this anyway, and if you do hope you enjoyed it. If you are wondering what kind of language those mafia men spoke it's my mother language since I didn't want to butcher any Chinese, butchering English is enough. So see you in the next chapter, which I have no idea when that will come out. Bye!