AN: Because this is a story about angels and demons the story will contain some religious beliefs, and anything involving Christianity. Everything that is shared within this story doesn't necessarily have anything to do with my belief. It is just a story. Enjoy!

Chapter One

Latvia...

Population: about two million or at least it is what this thing called internet says.

It is covered in pure white snow. The architect in Riga is very different from Gate 7. Many of the buildings are a bright red, beige, and a bridge divide the city. Its beauty.

But...

But!

There is a sudden breeze brushing passed Alfred shoulders. Alfred wraps his arms over his arms, his teeth chattering.

It is extremely cold.

This coldness, I've never experienced it in my life. Gate 7 is never cold and it's never hot; its just warm. I wore the wrong clothes to Latvia. My wings wrap around me like a blanket. Its not enough, I'm still cold, but I have to deal with it. I walk on the streets of Riga. I'm caught in awe by the scenery around me and I want to explore all that it offers despite the cold.

I don't.

I walk until I spot the hospital.

And.

I narrow my eyes.

"MATTIE?!"

A boy, who looked similar in appearance to Alfred, but with light color hair, was standing out front of the hospital. His hair had a nice wave as its reached the bones of his cheeks. His eyes were a mixture of light purple and blue, and his features were much more gentle than Alfred's. If one saw Matthew or was ever around Matthew they knew (just knew) they were safe. Alfred's features in contrast to his twin were on the more childish side. Matthew was wearing a similar attire like Alfred, however, over his clothes he wore a white coat made of fake fur.

Alfred ran his brother's side. "Why you here?"

"I heard," Matthew began unzipping his coat. It slid from his shoulders and fell to the open of his hands. "A Grim Reaper?" He gave the coat to his brother.

Alfred sniffed the coat. It smelled of maple trees. He slid his arms in the coat. It was warm, really warm, blocked the cold breeze. "Thanks. I thought I would freeze to death."

"Even if you did want it; it can't happen," Matthew said. Angels, they felt pain, both physically and mentally, could detect the difference in weather, but they couldn't die from the mere cold or heat. He turned so his back was facing the road and his front facing the hospital. He lifted his head, taking in the details of the hospital.

Alfred snuggled in the coat.

"I came here, because I was worried for you and I am also happy. I know you always dreamed of visiting this world."

Alfred smiled. "Yes and I have to say its just as I dreamed it would be. Perfect in every way."

Matthew frowned. He placed a hand on Alfred's shoulder. The real test, the test that will decide if Alfred was truly a full-fledged angel began now. He patted his brother's shoulder. "I will let you be the judge of that." Matthew took a step back. "I have to go, but if you need me; call."

"Don't worry so much," Alfred waved at his brother.

Matthew smiled lightly. He faded like dust into the sky.

The hospital is very white inside. The counter tops and rails attached to wall had a wooden brown color. The chairs for the waiting guest in the lobby had a faded pink or blue color. In door plants were placed in the corners of the walls giving a bit of green to the lobby. Two receptionist sat behind the counter, one of them on the phone talking tiredly.

Alfred pressed his fingers on the button for the elevator. It currently was on the fourth floor. Alfred didn't have to experience the elevator to know it would take time. He didn't have the patience to wait. He flapped his wings, sprinted to a jump, and flew through the floor until he was on the third floor hallway. The only difference the third floor had compared to the lobby on the first floor was that it had countless doors, but still had the faded white color. He passed each room then stopped in front of room 308: Raivis room.

He entered the room by going through the door.

Raivis was spotted sleeping in the only bed in the room, soothingly as if there were no needles in his hand and arm. A mask was over his mouth and nose to help him breathe. Beside his bed was another person sitting on a chair with his head held low.

Strangely Alfred knew the person without actually meeting him. The person's name is Eduard Von Buck, Raivis's older step-brother.

They had a rough start: Eduard and Raivis. Eduard couldn't stand Raivis constant attachment and demand for attention. He thought Raivis was annoying. To him, Raivis needed to grow up despite only being thirteen. Then out of the blue Raivis fell sick, had cancer, and the cancer was killing him. Now all Eduard wanted was for his little brother to recover. He prayed at night, cried alone, had sleepless nights. He blamed himself for the cancer.

Alfred felt a twist in his heart. He switched his focus from Eduard to Raivis.

Raivis...

Age: 13

His whole life has been nothing but constant illness. When he was born, he wasn't breathing. By some miracle-with the help of a Guardian Angel- Raivis fought death. At the age of three he drank contaminated water, falling sick, and nearly dying. Having a death experience made Raivis embrace life to the fullest. He was very selfless, always placed others before himself. He only became attached to Eduard, because he always wanted a brother of his own. Eduard was everything to him.

Alfred sighed.

At age ten Raivis fell sick to cancer. The cancer was incurable. If Raivis lives he will continue to suffer the disease, his soul will be left trapped in a vegetable body. Raivis had to die to end the pain.

Only three more weeks.

Alfred could do this; for Raivis.

Alfred moves to Eduard's side, places a hand on top of Eduard's head. It caused the older teen to sleep. He needed it after those sleepless nights.

Alfred stays in the corner of the room for nearly the whole day.

Eduard wakes after a two hour sleep. He takes one glance at his brother, leaves the room for a prayer room that is somewhere in the hospital. An older lady takes Eduard's seat. She is Raivis mom and Eduard's step-mom. Alfred views her life story. It is all a mess: an abusive relationship leading to divorce, constant drinking while pregnant. Only after she met Eduard's dad did she recovered from her drinking habits. Raivis sickness brought it back. She relies on the alcohol for healing.

Nurses check on Raivis every three hours, giving him medicine, and changing his bandages. A doctor examines the child. He is confident with whatever medication he is giving Raivis is working. He believes Raivis will be up and running within a week. He is not the best doctor, sadly many patients died under his care.

"Having confidence is not a crime," Alfred whispers. "But pride will be your undoing."

Raivis open's his eyes. He sees his mother and is happy to see her. He also senses another presence in the room. He can't see it though.

"Mom, I am not alone," He says. His voice is weak, barely a whisper.

Raivis's mom runs to the bed, takes his hand in hers. She is tempted to squeeze, but is weary of the needles. "Of course you aren't, my love. I'm here."

Raivis shakes his head. "No, mom, this presence is different. It strange, but I feel safe."

Raivis's mom's finger twitches. "What do you mean, Raivis?"

"I can't explain it," Raivis whispers. "Mom, maybe I am dying."

"D-don't say that!" She yells. "The Doctor promised me you'd be out of this hospital by next week. You'll be able to go to school." She kisses the back of Raivis hand, tears are streaming from her eyes. "And you'll get to see your friends. I promise, I promise."

"I believe you, mom."

We can't be seen by normal people unless we want them to. However, I've heard of humans gifted with the ability to see beyond the physical world. There are also people who don't see yet they know another presence is there. Either Raivis was one of them or he came to the realization that he is dying.

I sit on the edge of the roof.

Night has fallen on the city. There are countless stars glittering the sky and colorful rays flow through the sky. Strange, I think, how we angels view the night as evil, dangerous. To me the night has a calmness to it.

A week passes in the human world.

Raivis has suffered a heart attack. He is fighting internally to live. Doctors are scrambling to save him. A doctor nearly kills Raivis during surgery. I stop him. He corrects his mistake. Raivis lives through the surgery, yet he is looking sicker. His body is covered in bruises from the internal bleeding.

"Raivis," I take his hand.

Raivis wraps his fingers in mine.

He knows I am here. He wakes, looks to my direction, and misses like a blind man. "I am dying, aren't I?"

I don't answer.

"I-it is okay," Raivis smiles. "I'm not scared of death."

There is no reason to be afraid. Raivis this is just a temporary thing. The suffering, the pain, it will end.

"I was given a brother," Raivis explains. "Mom is no longer alone. She is having a baby. Hey! Does that mean when I die the baby will be born? That must mean I have to sacrifice myself for the baby!"

The door to his room burst open. His mom freezes for about a few seconds, runs out of the room calling the doctors, and crying saying her son is hallucinating. For someone who claims to be christian she does not believe in our kind. She lost that faith ages ago.

Raivis talks to me a lot. He tells me stories of his childhood, his brother (he really loves his brother), and of his soon to be little sister (he doesn't know it though). Doctors are worried, thinking he is suffering mentally. They claim its the effects of the medications. They decreases his douses.

Another week passes by. Raivis can barely talk.

His family is begging for him to live, but they only pray for themselves. They spit out lies-yet-true to them about Raivis desire to live. Raivis though, he is happy to have lived thirteen years of his life.

He is ready to move on.

He still has another week.

He is struggling to breathe. I dig out my spell book, move my hand over his body whispering the spell from the book. His struggle for breath ceases.

He smiles. "Thank you..." and falls asleep.

"I can't bare to see him like this anymore," Eduard mumbles. He is kneeling in front of the altar, his hands held together, his knuckles touching his lower lip. "I just want the suffering to end. If that means taking him, lord, then please. That is all I am asking." He is crying, the tears dripping from his chin, down his neck.

Alfred leaves the prayer room after listening to Eduard's prayer. He returns to Raivis room. Raivis body is already dying, one kidney already dead, and his stomach can no longer take in any food. The doctor gives him medicine to ease the pain. It is not enough for Raivis. He is in too much pain. Alfred uses the spells to make the pain cease. He places Raivis in coma so his death is less painful. He wants to give him a painless death. He gives Raivis dreams of paradise, gives him glimpse of what heaven could be. Bunnies visit Raivis in his sleep, even unicorns. Raivis is laughing, enjoying the illusion.

Alfred visit Raivis in his dream.

Raivis is sitting under a tree with a fawn on his lap.

"Hey, Raivis," Alfred greets.

Raivis lifts his head, his eyes meeting Alfred's.

"This presence, you are the one I've been sensing in my room," Raivis states, not accusingly, but happily. "You made the past few days peaceful, haven't you?"

Alfred holds his hands behind his back. "Yeah. You were in lots of pain so I placed a soothing spell on you."

"Thanks, really," Raivis pats his own chest. "I hated the feeling of drowning." The fawn moves from Raivis's lap. It joins its mother, and the both move up the hill. Raivis stands. He is very small in height. "So...does this mean it is time?"

"...yes," Alfred answers.

Raivis smile weakens. "I knew this day would come, yet it is sad."

Alfred wasn't sure how to respond.

"C-can I say bye to my brother?"

"If I do that your last minutes of life will be extremely painful. The medicine those doctors give you won't be enough," Alfred warned.

Raivis falls quiet.

"There is also another way," Alfred begins. "You will die within three minutes. However, before you are taken to your next journey I will allow you to visit your brother in his dream."

Raivis looks at Alfred surprised. "But what if he think it is an illusion. That it is just a trick of the mind?"

"It is up to the person to believe rather or not it is true, but at least your brother will get to see you once more."

Raivis bites his lower lip. If he chooses to say bye now his last minutes will be painful; heck! The last he recalls he can barely even speak. "O-okay, promise?"

"I promise." Alfred leaves Raivis in his paradise, but leaves the dream. His phone makes a buzz.

He digs in his pocket, taking the phone in hand.

Raivis Galante

Age: 13

Cause of Death: Lung Failure

Date of Death: December 14

Time of Death: 11:15 AM

I kept my promise to Raivis. Raivis was able to tell his brother bye before his soul was taken to the sky. What happens to him then is up to the higher ups to decide.

I stand outside the Buck family home. My first assignment as a Grim Reaper successful, yet depressing. It wasn't as bad as I thought. If I can help people with a terrible sickness pass onto the next life then its not bad. I did a good job. Now to explore this city before I have to return to Gate 7.

I remove the spell that keeps me invisible to the human world. The only thing not visible are my wings and the sword on my hip. The scent of coffee hits my nose. Curious, I follow the smell. It leads me to a coffee shop called: Starbucks?

Odd name.

I enter the shop. The smell stronger, it is addicting.

"Hello, how can I help you?" A girl greets me at the register.

We angels are gifted with the ability to speak every language and understand all the languages. It is a must have.

"Yes. um..." I read through the menu.

Wow!

So many strange names.

Caramel macch-a-what?

Strawberry, huh?

A mocha what?

This menu has so many options I don't know where to start. "What is the best coffee here?"

"It depends on the person, really, but if you ask me I would recommend our caramel macchiato," She answers.

"Okay. I think I will have the caramel Macchiato."

She punches the order onto the screen. She looks to me with a wide smile. Her smile is fake. I won't dig into why.

"Your total is five euros and thirty cents," she says.

I place my hands on the counter. "Sorry um...what are euros?"

Her smile drops. "Uh...money."

"Money...oh," I dig in my pockets for this money. I don't have the money.

"Are you American?"

"American?...What is American?" I lean over the counter.

She gives me are-you-an-idiot look.

I blink, waiting for the answer of 'American'.

"ANY, IT IS NOT NICE TO ASK PEOPLE WHERE THERE FROM!" Another girl appears. She is older than Any.

"But he is weird! He doesn't know what Euros are!"

The new girl also looks at me as if I am an idiot.

"I am an angel in training," I explain.

I'm not an idiot!

Any and her manager think the teenager in front of them is mentally ill. Now that they look at him closely, he is wearing pure white to trick them!

"Give him his drink. I will pay for it," The manager says. She can't help, but feel sorry for the kid. There must be an explanation as to why he believes he is an angel. She takes out her credit card from her apron, sticks the card onto the card reader, and pays for the drink."Please, wait over there for your drink."

The boy smiles in gratitude . She freezes. The smile is like a ray of sun, pure like an...okay maybe she needs to sleep. She grabs a cup. "What is your name?"

"Alfred," He answers.

She writes his name on the cup.

Alfred thanks both the manager and Any. He stand near the counter where people pick their drinks. He takes hold of a cup from its display, spinning it around. It has the logo of Starbucks and a forest design traced around. He places the cup back in its place, and focus on the different types of coffee bags being sold. There is coffee beans from Brazil, other coffee beans from Italy, and coffee from countless other places in the world.

"Your drink is ready," The manager places the caramel macchiato on the counter.

"Thank you," Alfred picks up the cup. Aroma hit his nose, and he has to say it smells good.

The manager waves him off.

Alfred sits down at one of the tables, taking a sip of the macchiato. "So sweet," He mumbles to the cup. "Yet delicious."

Alfred likes the human world, probably more than Gate 7. He finds the different kinds of coffee and colors fascinating. His phone vibrates in his pocket. He reaches to take it out of his pocket when the cup slips from his fingers, spilling all over his white clothes. He stands, ignoring the spill for now.

'I know you've never been to Earth, never encountered a demon, but you will know who they are. You will just know. '

A dark aura surrounds Starbucks. Warmness from the store falls into a deep coldness, imitated from the outside cold. Only Alfred notices the drop in temperature, all the other people inside the shop weren't even aware of the darkness in the shop. They couldn't sense it. They were focused on their own thing, except Any who rushed to clean the spill.

"Sorry, I'm so sorry," Alfred quickly apologizes to Any. He did not mean to spill the drink. It was just the sudden chill that distracted him. He apologizes once more to Any and the manager before leaving the shop. The dark aura follows him outside. Elizabeta words ring in his head once again. He hadn't encounter such an aura when he had been with Raivis. Now that he thinks of it, it had been a very easy three weeks. There was no evil aura surrounding the hospital. Alfred's wings spread, his body disappearing from the human eye. He flies into the air. He studies the land for any odd behavior. There is none, yet the darkness remains. Night has yet to fall so Alfred did not understand how a demon was capable of traveling during the day. He lands on a random roof.

The dark aura vanishes.

"I'm not alone," He whispers.

His phone buzzes again. He looks to the screen.

He can't return to Gate 7; another person is on the death list.

-to be continued

A/N: Thank you guys for the reviews. Sorry, this story is a bit slow, but Ivan will appear in the next chapter.

AN: This chapter was influenced by my experience when my dad was dying. I remember wanting my dad to live so we could live a normal life again. My mom though told me to pray to God to take my dad and end his suffering. I had to accept he would die and be happy he was no longer suffering. It was a difficult experience and a memory I cannot forget.