Angelica's POV:

„Ah who do we have here innocent, defenseless angel," a voice woke me up.

But instead of the normal room, I saw a pitch-black abyss. Not this again.

„Sleep well, butterfly? Or maybe dove would be more fitting," the voice asked and then softly laughed. I looked around.

„Where are you hiding?" I asked irritated.

„A bit grumpy at the morning aren't we?" the voice laughed.

„My, my you were quite cruel back then," it cooed and in that darkness, my memories were showing up.

„What are you trying to do here?" I asked still irritated.

Sudden ghostly touches came across my body, they were cold at first but after a while, they almost burned. I shrieked and pulled away.

„I just want a good chat and maybe have some fun," he laughed.

„Get that idea out of your head quickly," I threatened.

All of a sudden I felt a warm, kinda wet, and mostly painful sensation on the back of my neck. I quickly pulled away holding my hand on the place I felt the sensation.

„What did you do?" I asked nervously.

„Ah, so sweet. I can't imagine that something so sweet managed to avoid me for so long," the voice said, I felt the weird touches around my arms and waist.

„Show yourself!" I demanded.

„Alright if you want to see me so badly I don't really mind," the voice said right next to my ear, I shivered.

„Let go of me!" I yelled.

„You should know I'm not keen on following orders," he said.

„Sogami, you have 5 seconds to let me go before you get hurt," I threatened.

This is a dream, after all, I have unlimited magic so hurting him won't give me too much trouble.

„Uh, scary," he laughed.

„You will find that I'm dead serious," I said. I hit him in the stomach with my elbow.

And to add insult to injury I stepped on his toes. The air began to spark around me. I was fed up with the audacity.

„You made a mistake to confront me in my subconscious mind," I smirked.

„Getting a bit prideful, aren't we? Darling, you are forgetting something. As an incubus, dreamscape could be my second home," he said after he stood up.

„The same you could say about brothels," I mocked him, and it showed it got to him.

I had a very easy plan in mind. To get him ticked off enough so he shows his abilities so I could turn them on him causing the link to sever, kicking him out.

„You are way more clever than I thought. But admit it you would like to see me all angered up. Now, I must warn you darling that isn't usually a pretty sight," Urie smiled, he caught up to my plan in an instant. That shocked me.

„Out of ideas already?" he mocked me.

„We have all the time in the world, don't push yourself. You will be just peacefully sleeping this whole time," he shrugged his shoulders.

„Just make it easier on yourself. Just give in," he said.

„Are you that delusional?" I said, developing a large amount of energy. It's gonna hurt but I can sever the link myself. But then he just let the dream go, he vanished with a smirk.

„Doushe!" in half asleep I said and threw a pillow somewhere.

„I have a feeling you did not have a good sleep," Lindo said and I realized that I threw the pillow at him.

„I'm so sorry. Yeah, it already started they won't even let me sleep peacefully," I sighed, and rubbed the now burning spot on the back of my neck.

Lindo noticed that and looked at that spot.

„Those guys!" Lindo was angered by the thing he saw.

„Huh? What is it?" I asked.

„It seems they gave you a hickey," he sounded angered, at that statement my eyes widened and I felt that place again.

I got all red in the face, partially from anger but also from getting flustered.

„They are really getting on my nerves. Well, thankfully yesterday I visited father Noel and got, a few things that might help me," I said with a smile.

„Never hurts to be prepared," Lindo nodded. I pulled my bag toward us. Lindo looked inside.

„Well, maybe just maybe isn't it a bit of an overkill?" he asked.

„Maybe but my purpose is on the line here," I shrugged it off and pulled out one of the items, which was the cleansed dagger.

„Yeah you're right," Lindo nodded.

„Now if you excuse me, a lady has to change," I smirked, he nodded and left the room.

I changed into my uniform and fastened the dagger to my right tight so it would be hidden by the skirt.

„Are you sure you want to go to the art club?" Ritsuka asked.

„Yeah I just want to relax, and art is perfect for that," I smiled.

Ritsuka smiled at me as well. We ended up before the art room. I opened the door and right behind it was Shiki. I slammed the door in his face immediately.

„You know what, a walk in the gardens would be better," I said, grabbing her hand and pulling her away. She had this pitiful look on her face.

„Oh come on don't give me that look, this isn't some tragedy, yet," I said.

„You worry me a bit," Ritsuka nervously smiled. We sat on the bench between the rose bushes.

„Well this situation isn't really light," I sighed.

„Yeah, I know," she nodded. We sat there and mostly we were just looking around.

Once the time came we went to class.

„Attention, please class," the teacher came in.

„Today, we will have an informational lesson," he continued.

„We will use this to discuss plans for the school festival," he said. The class was excited.

„Miss Ross, you have scheduled the same lesson but with the comity in charge of music and performance. You should head to class 104. It should take about an hour, then you are dismissed, but if you want you can help your classmates after," the teacher informed me.

„Of course, I will head there right away thank you," I said and stood up.

I headed to the class where the meeting should be. Inside were already some students, more boys than girls actually. I sat somewhere and waited. It took a few minutes and all the students had gathered. The last one to come in was Mage at that moment I wanted to pack my things and leave. The other students were surprised.

„Excuse me but shouldn't the president be here," one student raised their hand.

„The prez had last-minute family issues so he couldn't show up," Mage explained. Someone threw a fit because he didn't get what he wanted at the snap of his fingers.

„Let's just start this," Mage sat down and he was the whole time staring at me. The whole meeting was about the organization of the performance and band at the ball. Honestly, at least for me, it was just the things they already told me except for one part.

„We received the list of songs you will perform. Has anything changed?" Mage suddenly spoke to me.

„No not at all," I replied and that was surprisingly the end of that. After it ended, I snuck out mixed with the other students.

Since I had free time I called Ritsuka to help them. They were in the supermarket buying materials for the decorations.

„Hey! I'm here!" I said and greeted Azuna and Ritsuka.

„Was everything okay?" Azuna asked worriedly.

„Yeah the meeting went smoothly," I said.

„I'm glad," Azuna smiled.

„So what are we buying?" I asked and they showed me the list.

„That's a lot," I sighed.

„Yeah, I mean how should we get all those things to school," Azuna sighed.

„Well I think that the store offers deliveries," Ritsuka said.

„That would really help us," Azuna smiled.

„Yeah but girls our shopping cart is still empty. Let's fill this up and then worry about the delivery," I laughed.

„Yeah, you're right," Ritsuka smiled.

„Well, that is almost everything I should go ask about the deliveries," Azuna said.

„I will go find what is missing," I said.

„Now listen here you stay right there," Azuna warned Ritsuka.

„Yeah, yeah. I will be here," Ritsuka nodded. We went our ways.

Once we got back Ritsuka wasn't there.

„Damn it," Azuna said and picked up her phone.

„Language," I slipped.

„Sorry," she smiled.

She called Ritsuka it seemed she wasn't picking it up. But after a while, she picked it up from what I could understand she had to run an errand. It seemed a bit fishy but it was true I couldn't feel any demon or vampire presence anywhere.

„Let's trust her for once," I said.

„If she won't show up home later, go after her," Azuna said.

„You don't have to tell me that twice," I said.

„So see you tomorrow," I said goodbye.

„See ya," Azuna waved. We went our separate ways.

I walked through the street when a sudden chill of danger crept up my spine. Suddenly a loud ringing sound hit my ear. And then someone landed right behind me. It was Shiki. He stood right behind me like he was trying to hide from something.

„Nah-uh," I just made a sound, grabbed him by his collar, and threw him over my shoulder. Coidiecently I managed to throw him into those other two, right when they teleported there. Three birds with one stone, not bad me.

„What was that supposed to be?!" Mage stood up first.

„Firstly, that was kinda my line, and secondly a warning to leave me be," I spoke sternly.

But I knew that wasn't gonna happen, this was honestly their best chance, I was alone in quite a remote street, I still haven't regained my full power, and they had strength in numbers. Luckily, I was prepared for exactly this situation.

„Like that's gonna happen," Mage scoffed.

Then the first blow came which I dodged. And then more of them came, I dodged all of them again, they were quite predictable. Which unfortunately made my dodging quite predictable too. So once I moved out of the way of Mage's fist a thorny vine wrapped around my neck. I reflexively grabbed onto the vine since it was harshly tugged back so the thorns dug into my neck and hands, enough to draw blood. How clever using Mage as a frontline so Shiki and Urie will be able to use ranged attacks, making me constantly move so I could not really attack back. Mage was coming for his next blow, blocking Urie's view in the process. I used the situation to pull out the dagger and cut the vine, causing it to decay around my neck, tho I still kept hold of the living part of it. Once Mage came I managed to tie the vine around one of his arms. The tug from Urie caused Mage to instinctively tug back and with his brute force, Urie was sent flying.

„Idiots," Shiki sighed already in the air using his feathers as projectiles once again.

I dodged the first few incoming then the other two began to stand up again. I managed to hide behind Urie causing friendly fire.

„How about aiming a bit?!" Urie angrily exclaimed.

„I was! Not my fault that she hid behind you," Shiki shouted back, getting distracted in the process.

I used Mage as some kind of stepping stool to get in the air to knock Shiki down, which thankfully worked out. I had to dodge a whip attack still in the air, causing me to land not so elegantly as I planned.

„Well that hurt," I said as I got up with bruised knees. Thankfully I did lend next to my things so that allowed me to pull out the bottle with holy water to better defend myself.

„Back off!" I spoke out firmly and sprinkled some of the water on them when they got close.

„You are really testing our patience angel," Urie commented and tried to get closer.

„I said, back off!" I spoke again and sprinkled some more. Well, it mostly worked on Urie and Mage but Shiki was the difficult one, since the immunity to the water.

„Oh ye who was born in light and fell to darkness hear my word to bow to the heavenly might," I proclaimed which put Shiki down pretty fast. Well, that should get him off my back for some while. now to take care of those two. The two of them charged at me as I was neutralizing Shiki. I reflexively splashed them with the water, but I used more than I would have liked. That will be a problem.

„Ignite!" I tried to get the best out of the situation so once they were drenched with the water I lit it up into the holy flame.

It sure has to hurt but I acted fast to get them on the ground planning to flee afterward. It worked, I did get my sweet revenge on Urie for that morning by getting a good kick to his private area. Well as I tried to take off a few feathers flew by one almost expertly stricken the bottle out of my hand dropping it to the ground spilling it. Good shot.

„You are really trying to piss us off. I did warn you didn't I?" Urie threatened his tone sending a chill down my spine.

I took a deep breath, dropped my bag on the ground, but not before taking something sacredly out, calmed myself as much as possible, and then I turned to them.

„Fine then. Let's get serious," I said with absolute calm.

That did pique their interest, they might have guessed what was coming and I hoped for them to make some assumptions. My sword materialized in my hand, I took a clear stance prepared for attack.

„Oh, now we're talking!" Mage exclaimed excitedly.

A sly smirk crossed my face as I dashed towards them and halfway there I just let go of my sword, which they immediately dashed towards it. As enough distance was between us I stopped turned to them and then three loud shots could be heard. Right before that as the sword met the ground it dispelled into stardust. The sight of this scene must have been quite unbelievable. Three demons were caught off guard, with each one having a bullet wound somewhere on their bodies and an angel holding a gun.

„Did you really think that would be that easy?" I asked. They slowly got up clearly irritated.

„And did you think this would do anything but piss us off more," Mage spoke.

Yet my slight smile still stayed on my face and Shiki quickly caught up that there was more behind the curtain. And it took only a few moments to show its head. It was visible that they started to feel excruciating pain.

„I'm not a newbie, I wouldn't use normal weapons against demons. This is a specialty from the exorcist society. Quite an easy design this is just a simple gun with bullets containing holy water. Hurts don't it? I'm afraid the pain is the least of your troubles. What I heard it has paralyzing powers," I really leaned into the last part, and they went pale white. Not saying anything else they disappeared.

„Well, I thought so," I said to myself smiling, my wounds managed to heal up by that time only thing amiss was my bit torn-up stockings. I will replace them later.

„Angelica!" a voice called out to me from the other side of the street.

„Lindo, what are you doing here?" I asked.

„Neither you nor Ritsuka were answering my calls since you didn't show up home I got worried," Lindo explained.

„I have my phone always on silent. Wait, Ritsuka isn't home yet? I should have expected that!" I panicked.

„Then you have no idea where is she," Lindo concluded.

„Well, she disappeared on us in the mall but she claimed she had some errand and I did not sense demon or vampire presence," I explained quickly. Then I thought for a while.

„The fifth one!" I exclaimed and so did Lindo, we had the same idea.

„We should hurry," he said and I clearly nodded.

„Well let's make use of this mess," I said and walked towards the spilled bottle.

„What even happened here?" Lindo asked.

„Can we talk about it later, now we have to save your cousin," I said moving the water into a specific shape.

„Should I even ask how do you know?" Lindo said.

„Just logic thinking. Dhampir child and human child born from the same mother is quite improbable," I said.

„Aperi ad id quod perierat," I placed an incantation. The shape amitted lite blueish light.

„Shall we?" I gestured towards it.

As we stepped through the shape we appeared in this weird hall/corridor room that seemed to be infinite. Labyrinth of lost soules, huh? First thing I looked around to assess the situation. It appeared we showed up between Ritsuka and Rem. Ritsuka was visibly bleeding tho with better inspection of Rem, he wasn't the one to do it. His standing position and his expression clearly said so. So I quickly looked for the true culprit. It took a few seconds to find him. A blue-eyed, blue-haired boy in all blue uniform was hiding behind one of the many pillars there, our surprise fifth demon, now I could finally catch his scent. And at moment something clicked in my brain. This whole time. Our fifth demon was right under our noses just by using a clever disguise. Disguise akin to his kind. A Cerberus.

„How dare you!" that sentence brought me back from my thoughts. Lindo was blinded by the thought of Ritsuka being hurt that he couldn't see the bigger picture.

„Stay and down boy," I mumbled under my breath, and then I focused on stopping the incoming trainwreck that was that situation.

Lindo went into a rage with all his vampire characteristics clearly showing.

„Lindo, calm down Rem isn't at fault here!" I stepped in between them.

„Lindo she is right! Rem was protecting me!" Ritsuka joined in.

„Lindo you just need to calm down we can talk about it and solve it peacefully. Everything will be fine," I continued. I don't want to use force or magic, I know he can do this.

„No one wants to hurt anybody here it's okay," I said and took a step toward him, as an answer he growled angrily.

I looked slightly behind me and I could see Rem's shocked face, no wonder he made that expression angel taking his side was really unheard of. Unfortunately, Lindo did use that opportunity to appear between me and Rem ready to pounce at him.

„No, you don't," I grappled him from the back pulling him down.

„Listen, Rem protected Ritsuka, clearly showing he cares for her so snap out of this!" I firmly said and those words actually did it for him, he calmed down after that clearly ashamed.

„Thinking clearly now?" I asked with an understanding expression.

„Oh, Lindo," Ritsuka ran up to him and hugged him.

„Yeah, I'm better now, thanks for helping," Lindo said.

„Well, that's good. Now to the real culprit -" I started.

„Don't bother, Roen is sure a long time gone," Rem interrupted.

„I wouldn't be so sure about that," I said and walked behind one of the pillars.

„Turning into your dog form won't help," I said, picking up the brown little pomeranian and bringing him to the others.

„How?" was the only thing that Rem managed to say.

„Well, the Cerberus race was guarding the gates of hell but also the gates to haven. But the last one lasted like only then years if I remember correctly. But the bond was never severed, so as the demon king, we archangels can still control them. Kinda holding the leash situation," I explained.

„I will leave him to you to decide what will happen to him," I said lending Rem the puppy.

Only then I got a good look at him, he was in a quite horrid state, seeing the marks left after the punishment from his father. Even in this state, he protected Ritsuka. Guess it's undeniable now.

„I did all this to mainly help my friends but you can also take it as some kind of apology. I'm afraid the other three will be out of commission for the rest of the day," I said and slightly smiled.

With that, we turned to leave the endless maze. Ritsuka and Lindo went first both silent I stayed a bit longer.

„You have a warm heart, even if you don't think so. Let that warmth shine through a bit more don't get chained up by this," I said pointing out his wounds, he just kinda stared at me and I wisely decided to leave. As I came out those two were just standing there silently, clearly just sorting things in their heads. I left them to it, and we went home.

We arrived home, I didn't want to start talking, just giving them space to go through their thoughts, once they settle with themselves we could talk.

„I'm sorry for what happened earlier," Lindo spoke out first.

„You don't need to apologize. I told you everything is fine," I said softly, it seemed to suit him a little.

„Then what happened Ritsuka, if I may ask?" I asked her startling her from her thoughts.

„Well, once you left I found Roen just between the merchandise I did follow him outside and then he turned human. He was talking about the blood gem and... its origin," she went silent.

„I won't deny it, that tale is true. Even the purest intentions unfortunately can lead to evil ways. I'm deeply sorry that such a burden fell on you. I can take that gem off you and take it far away. You two suffered enough from my decision and from my presence," I said softly.

„What are you even saying? Neither I nor Lindo doesn't blame you for this decision, you couldn't have anticipated it. And do you really think we will let you go on your own when we know the dangers waiting for you?" Ritsuka started worried but then it shifted into caring.

„You are in no way shape or form bother to us. Just today was enough to prove it," Lindo joined in.

Tears just suddenly started to fall down my face, their words just touched me that much. I just felt their warmth as they hugged me after seeing that. It was a very strange feeling, that kind of comfort that was unknown to me. I did enjoy it tho it really helped me.

„Okay, you two I'm better now," I said softly and I smiled. Both backed off, and it was clear they were relieved that I seemed better.

„Well, I had my little misadventure too today," I started.

„They escalated things quickly let's just say," I said.

„They attacked you?" Lindo connected the dots.

„Yeah, but honestly it wasn't that difficult. They made a lot of mistakes so that made things much easier, " I shrugged.

„Well, that's good, we will try to be there as much as possible," Lindo smiled.

„Thank you I really appreciate that," I said.

Then after that, we went with our night routines and went to sleep. I did put some of the holy water from the other bottle at the entrance to the room to avoid another surprise dream appearance.


So another chapter is here. Did you like it? Be prepared for the upcoming ones they gonna be something else.