Abraham remained silent throughout the ride back to the carriage house. In truth, he didn't know what to say and yet he wanted to say so much. It wasn't often he was at a loss for words, in fact he couldn't recollect the last time he had been.

He's always been so confident and why shouldn't he be. He had had wealth, a good education and the right family name. He had always prided himself on his high social status, he would walk into every room as if he owned it, like the very ground upon which he stood on was his own personal property and to be honest a lot of the time it was. His family owned many estates in Sleepy Hollow. The fact he knew that he could choose any woman in the room and their fathers would parade them like prized mares in his presence gave him such self-satisfaction.

And yet, feeling this woman's arms around him now, almost made him feel self-conscious. He could barely concentrate on where he was going.

What was wrong with him?

He was the Horseman of Death not a lovesick adolescent.

He pulled on the reins, signalling to Daredevil to slow down before coming to a complete stop outside his home. He hoped that Katrina was still asleep, he didn't want to have to make introductions just yet.

He held out his hand to help her down, taking care to be gentle, before following suit. He led her to the door of his home, peering towards the sky he noticed the first light of dawn was slowly washing away the night sky.

He watched her as she made her way through the hall and into the living quarters, taking in her surroundings.

'Phanuel'. He finally spoke.

She rotated on the spot, smiling at him.

'Phanuel? I haven't gone by that name in a very long time. You can call me Anastasia'.

'And you think I'm Azrael?'

'I don't think, my love. I know you're Azrael'.

He couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head lightly as if he had heard a punchline from an amusing joke.

'After everything you've seen and experienced, this is what you choose not to believe?'

'Alright, I'll play along for a moment. How did an angel become a horseman of the apocalypse?'

She stood there in silence. He rolled his eyes in exasperation, taking a deep breath he willed all the patience he could muster, he didn't want to lose his temper with her.

'You said if I spared the witnesses, I would have the answers I seek'.

'Believe me, my love, I understand your frustration. But you will hear the truth when you're ready to listen'.

'Do all angels speak in riddles?'

'Some habits are hard to break, I guess. Why did you not release Katrina? That was the deal you made with Ichabod, was it not?'

His eyes narrowed.

She had known about that?

Had she been spying on him or was it some kind of omnipresent angel ability he was not aware of.

In truth, he had only kept Katrina to hurt Ichabod. To prove to him that he was the one with the power, that it was Ichabod's own wife who chose to stay with him. A part of him knew it was petty but he had wanted his former friend to feel the pain he had felt.

But it was Anastasia who had promised him answers not the other way round.

'He told me another angel desired you and after Azrael was not mentioned again…and you are wearing a wedding ring'.

'I sense there's an accusation somewhere in that sentence'.

She gave him a moment to confirm her suspicion but he remained silent, almost looking ashamed that he had brought it up.

'I didn't leave you for another, if that's what you're asking'.

She walked up to him, raising her left hand so he could have a closer look at the ring.

'Our Father forbade me from going to Earth but I was always so fascinated with the humans and their customs. Whenever you would come back from carrying out Father's commands, you would tell me stories of their trials and accomplishments. One day you came back and you presented me with this ring, you said the humans had made a tradition to give a band of gold to the one they loved most. So, you slid the ring onto my finger, saying it was a token of your love and I promised you that I would never take it off. And from that day to this I never have'.

Her face had become unbearably close to his. He could feel her warm, soft body fit perfectly against his own. He couldn't help but lower his hungry eyes, studying her full supple lips.

By gods, she was beautiful. He knew he had absolutely no doubt in believing she was an angel, she radiated beauty as no mortal could.

He had a strong, overwhelming desire to kiss her.

Could he even kiss her?

She had touched his face in the meadow.

To have his answer all he would have to do is lean down slightly and…

'Abraham?'

He growled softly, he had been so close to fulfilling his wish.

'Abraham, where have you…' Katrina stopped as she noticed the stranger in the room.

'Hello Katrina'.

'You're an angel'. Katrina noted before she looked at the horseman 'How can I see you, Abraham? I'm not wearing the necklace'.

Abraham had actually left the necklace with Ichabod purposefully, he hadn't wanted to explain to Katrina what was happening between Anastasia and himself. Perhaps it had been cold of him to do so but at that moment he couldn't bring himself to care.

'I'm projecting my sight to you so you may see and hear him'. Anastasia stated as if she was on autopilot. She could sense something was wrong with Katrina, not just by the sight of her but there was something deep down within her.

Something unholy.

She guided Katrina to a chair, placing a hand upon her brow, she was burning up. She was sweating profusely and yet the colour had drained from her face.

'I awoke to an unbearable pain, like something evil has taken root deep inside me'

'You have to protect her, Azrael'.

He quickly moved towards the kitchen, a series of bangs and scrapes could be heard.

'Azrael?' Katrina questioned only to be softly shushed by Anastasia as she moved her red hair from her sticky forehead, like a mother trying to comfort their sick child. For a brief moment the angel's touch had eradicated the pain, the illness lifted and then all at once it came flooding back.

'This should make you feel better. You need to at least try to drink'. Abraham pleaded, offering her a cup of water.

'This illness is unnatural. It's like poison inside of me'.

Katrina stood from her chair, walking past him, completely ignoring the offered beverage in his hand.

'You think I did this to you? I swear this is not my doing'.

The door slammed open, Henry and three henchman barged in.

'Sorry to arrive unannounced. Proceed'.

Henry seemed to be momentarily stunned as he caught sight of a woman he had never seen before.

Abraham cursed his luck, of all the days Henry could of visited his home, it had to be today. How could he ever explain as to why he was keeping an angel for company rather than kill her.

'Anastasia, wait outside' he turned to face her when she had not moved 'please' he begged quietly.

He knew he couldn't protect both her and Katrina, especially with Henry involved. And he knew deep down which woman he would choose if he had to pick.

She seemed to understand the situation and left without complaint. With her out of the room he turned once more to Henry.

'Katrina is not well. What is the meaning of this?'

'A house call, if you will. These men are here to care for her'.

The henchmen roughly grabbed Katrina by the arms, she tried to fight them off but she barely had enough energy to stand under her own weight.

'Tell me what is wrong with her?'

'I'm sorry old friend. I'm here at Moloch's command'.

'Everything is as expected'. The henchman informed the Horseman of War.

'Now Moloch has a new purpose for her'.

'There must be another way'.

'Time to go'.

'Stop!' Abraham stood toe to toe with the Horseman of War 'I beg you, stay this madness. Let me speak to Lord Moloch myself'.

'There is no time. We are his servants and he does not tolerate disobedience lightly'. Abraham knew Henry wasn't only speaking of Katrina.

'Abraham please help me'.

Abraham thought on what Anastasia had asked of him and decided to act. He moved with purpose towards the men who were dragging out Katrina, lifting his mighty axe in the air preparing to strike at them, when Henry used his magic to open the shutters.

The sunlight felt like a thousand hot needles piercing his flesh, draining him of his energy and absorbing his power but he couldn't fail Anastasia and that thought was the only thing that allowed him to push forward as Katrina continued to call out for him, begging him for his help.

'Katrina!'

He pushed past Henry, throwing his axe through the air, striking one of the men in the back. Killing him instantly. This allowed Katrina the opportunity to fight off the two remaining men before making her escape in the woods.

'Abraham' Henry warned before once again using his magic to open the barn doors.

The flood of sunlight paralysed Abraham causing him to instantly fall to his knees, not that it mattered. With Katrina gone there was no more he could do to help her. He allowed the sun to continue its work as the smoke rose from his body.

He was vaguely aware of the barn doors shutting, darkness once again swallowing his home as he heard someone approach him. Looking up, he expected to see Henry standing there, instead he found himself staring into two blue eyes that held so much concern for him. She bent down on one knee so they were the same level and placed a hand on his arm.

Her touch instantly took the edge off his pain as he took a sigh of relief.

'Moloch will not be happy about this, Abraham' Henry warned.

'You and your thugs enter my home without any explanation, try to steal what was promised to me and you thought I wouldn't put up a fight?'

'You know that's not what I speak of. The angel' Henry's eyes landed on Anastasia with a look of contempt on his face.

'She is not your concern, War. Leave her be'.

Henry left without another word but Abraham knew he hadn't heard the last of it, Henry would inform Moloch the first chance he had.

'Come, my love. You need rest'.

She took his hand, gently guiding him back into the living quarters and encouraged him to sit in a chair. To his astonishment she sat on his lap, without a word of permission or invitation, guiding his hands to hold her waist. He had never met a woman who was so forward, not that he was complaining.

'Close your eyes'.

He narrowed his eyes, curious as to what she was planning.

But he did as he was told, the warmth of her hands traveled up his chest to rest upon his shoulders as she began to hum a tune.

Immediately he felt the tension leave his body, his strength slowly seeping its way back through his muscles.

What was this power she had over him?

And why was he so willing to give it to her?

He had no idea how long they sat like that. Minutes, hours, days. All he knew was he could of stayed there, holding her for all eternity.

'I'm sorry'. He whispered, breaking the enchantment.

'For what?'

'For not being able to protect Katrina'

'My love, you don't need to apologise. Everything happened the way it was supposed to happen'.

'Please tell me you're not about to give me the whole God has a plan speech'.

'Well, if he does, it's a shitty plan'.

To say Abraham was surprised to hear such a word coming from a woman's lips, let alone those of an angel, would be an understatement and yet he couldn't help but chuckle wholeheartedly at it.

'I've never imagined hearing such language from an angel'.

'Well I have been living amongst the humans for a long time now, I was bound to pick up a few bad habits'. She laughed softly.

'How long?'

'A little before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah'.

'Why?'

'Because without you, Heaven was no longer Heaven. It was just a hurtful reminder of what I no longer had'.

The need to console her overwhelmed him, a creature like her belonged in the serenity and beauty of Heaven not down here on Earth with nothing but evil and chaos for company.

He wanted nothing more than to tell her that he was here now, that he would protect her and would never leave her again but he found the words dying on his tongue as if something deep within him was stopping him from saying it.

'You asked me how did an angel become a Horseman of the apocalypse. I did not answer because I'm afraid I do not know. After you…left, the very next time I saw you was during the great flood. I couldn't believe that I was seeing you, I thought I had gone mad. You were sitting atop of a pale horse and I ran towards you, as fast as my legs would allow. You looked my way but you didn't see me. Your eyes were empty, hollow and I knew in that moment you had no idea who I was. That alone hurt more than if you had used your weapon to cut me down. And every apocalypse since then you've had no memory of me or yourself'.

His mind was racing from her revelations, this was not the first time he had been the Horseman of Death?

How many apocalypse's had there been?

Had she ever attempted to rekindled his memories before now?

But all those questions melted away when he witnessed tears rolling down her cheeks, his right hand acted before he could think what he was doing as he wiped them away with the pad of his thumb. She captured his hand within her own, the look on her face was not one of repugnance as he would expect from an angel if a demon had dared to touch them but one of the purest love he had ever seen.

Even if he had been Azrael, he was no longer an angel, how could she stand the sight of him?

He was a creature of darkness, a soldier designed to only bring chaos, destruction and death. An abomination in the eyes of God and men. A tool to bring about the apocalypse and the end of days.

'What's the matter, my love? You don't believe you're worthy of the love of an angel?' She asked, almost as if she could hear his thoughts.

She brought their hands down from her face to rest in between them, lightly tracing the scarred white-raised bow on the back of his hand.

'It doesn't disgust you?' He asked.

'No, it just makes me sad to think of all the pain and suffering you've had to endure'.

Against all his expectations, she raised his hand to her lips, kissing his scarred flesh. He felt a pulse of electricity surge through him, her lips were soft and delicate upon his skin. A wave of desire and possessiveness washed over him as he tightened his hold around her, pulling her flushed against his chest.

Her heavy breathing portrayed her own lust and desires were growing as she leaned in closer. He closed the gap between them, their lips moulding together.

It felt numb as it had back at the meadow, he could not feel the warmth or wetness of her mouth as he had on his hand, just a vague sense that he was being touched, almost as if he was experiencing a memory of the sensation.

They both lost themselves in the kiss. Deep down he knows this has been denied to both of them for far too long.

She gripped the lapels of his red coat, her soft moans were the sweetest music he had ever heard as his trousers became uncomfortably tight.

Everything was going well until suddenly she broke the kiss, her eyes flickered towards the window as if something else had abruptly caught her attention.

'I must go, my love'. She stated sadly as she climbed off his lap.

'What? Why?' he asked, confused at the sudden turn of events.

'I'll be back within the hour'.

'You can't'

'I wasn't aware I was your prisoner, Azrael'

'It's daylight, I can't protect you if you go out there'.

'You fear the Horseman of War will harm me. I promise you, my love, he is not a threat to me. I'll be back as soon as I can'.

And with that she vanished in a blink of an eye, leaving Abraham standing there, feeling a little perplexed to say the least.

Abbie walked through the winding trees, she was making her way to the carriage house, though what she was going to do once she got there, she wasn't quite sure. She had left Ichabod and Katrina at the archives, she knew they needed Phanuel's help to understand what was happening to Katrina and maybe get some answers as to why she left with the horseman.

'Hello Abbie'.

She spun around, unholstering her gun to find Anastasia standing behind her.

'Jesus Christ'. Abbie cursed, her heart racing.

'I apologise for startling you'.

'Why are you here?' she didn't quite mean it to sound like she was unhappy to see the angel but she had been gearing herself up for a fight with the horseman just to have a moment alone with her.

'I heard you calling out to me'.

'Wait, you can hear my thoughts?'

'Don't worry, I know when not to pry'. Anastasia assured her.

'I came here for your help but first, I would kick myself if I didn't ask this…what's he like, if he is a he and not a she'.

Abbie couldn't contain her curiosity. After all, it wasn't everyday that an actual angel stood in front of her with knowledge of the world's mysteries.

'By he you mean God'.

'The all mighty, Yahweh, Jehovah. Whatever name you use'.

'Concept of names does not apply nor does the concept of gender. God is whoever you need God to be. A father, a mother, a friend or a stranger. It is all the same'.

Anastasia laughed lightly at Abbie's unimpressed expression.

'You're not satisfied with my answer'.

'Not when you answer like that. Does Heaven exist? Why are we here? Did creation take seven days?'

'No'.

'No, you won't answer my questions or No, creation didn't take seven days?'

Anastasia just looked at her bemused.

'What about dinosaurs? You ever seen a dinosaur?'

'Once'.

When it became apparent that Anastasia wasn't going to elaborate on that any further Abbie continued with the real reason she had sought the angel.

'Katrina needs your help'.

'I'm aware of her situation, she has a demon inside her'.

'So how do we get it out. I read that you were the angel of exorcisms, is there something you can do?'

'Unfortunately this is not a possession in the traditional sense. I believe the demon is growing within her'.

'Like a pregnancy?'

'Exactly. Planted inside of her by the Jincan venom. But there might be a way to destroy the creature before it is born. There's a stone Benjamin Franklin created, the Aurora Borealis, it's being held by the Hellfire club. Find them and retrieve the stone. It has the power to banish a demon from Earth'.

'Wait. You're not coming with me?'

'My place is with Azrael'.

'You're the Archangel of Life, how did you ever fall in love with Death?'

'Because I know him to be beautiful'. Anastasia smiled.

'You think death is beautiful?' Abbie asked as if it was a punchline to some bad joke 'death destroys everything you stand for. He is merciless, cold and uncaring. Death steals the ones we love'. Abbie spoke with venom.

'You're right, death always pilfers life. But he also brings peace to those who suffer and guides them to their eternal life. From the smallest of insects, to the mightiest of beasts. From the richest of kings, to the poorest of beggars. You are all equal in the eyes of Death. Is that not beautiful? Believe me, I understand how mortals feel about death, more so than the rest of my kind. I too have experienced the cruelty and unfairness of having lost someone I love to the power of Death'.

'Who?'

Anastasia chose to ignore Abbie's question, the memory was still too painful to share. Even after all these years, she still couldn't bring herself to think about that day.

'You should go back to your friends, Abbie. I'm sure our paths will cross again'.

Abraham had been pacing back and forth, his axe ready in his hand from the moment Anastasia had left. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, he was all but ready to go out and look for her, sunlight be damned.

'My love?'

He turned and saw her standing before him.

'You came back'.

He sounded surprised that she had kept true to her word.

'As I said I would'.

'Where did you go?'

'I spoke to the witness, Abbie Mills'.

'You should stay away from the witnesses. Ichabod has already stolen one woman I cared for, I won't let him take another'. Abraham said through clenched teeth, trying to swallow his rage.

'Your anger and jealousy do not serve you well, my love'.