Devery once again had the displeasure to wake with shackles on her body, only this time they held her body down at her wrists and ankles. She shifted in pain, her limbs contorted at awkward angles by the chains. She tried to sit up farther and hissed, her eyes slamming shut as her wound on her shoulder stabbed with pain.

An unpleasant laugh jolted her eyes open and she found an 8-ball watching her from outside the cell. He smirked at her. "You should save your strength. Gabriel will be by soon."

Devery glared at him, "Fuck off."

The man looked her body over and grinned, "With you? Gladly."

Devery's stomach flipped in revulsion and she turned her face away. The 8-ball cackled and made smooching noises at her, taunting her with crude comments. She steadfastly ignored him, closing her eyes to try and meditate.

If she wanted to try and escape, she would need to heal, and to heal, she needed her powers.

Her breathing slowed and she felt the pain in her body recede as she concentrated, letting everything fall away. Her power was a flickering ember within her. She would need it to be a roaring forest fire if she wanted to escape.

Only rest and food would help that.

Some part of her realized the 8-ball had stopped taunting her and she breathed a sigh of relief, her shoulders unconsciously drooping. Her power flickered stronger within her, becoming a small flame.

The sound of the cell door clanging against the stone jarred her out of her meditative state, her eyes flying open. Gabriel stood in the doorway, smirking at her. He gave her a faux apologetic look.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I wake you?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Not at all, I was meditating. If I can ignore your disgusting lackey, I can endure you."

She started to close her eyes again when Gabriel smiled, stepping out of the cell and reappearing a moment later with a tray of food. The scent of the food hit her a moment later and her stomach rumbled loudly.

Gabriel smirked broadly.

He dragged a chair into the room and sat across from her, setting the tray in his lap. His long fingers wrapped around a large piece of bread, tearing off a hunk and held it out to her.

Devery stared at it, her stomach protesting her reluctance until she slowly, achingly, leaned forward and reached for it. Gabriel tilted his hand up and smiled deviously.

"Ah-ah-ah. Question first."

Devery closed her eyes, of course. She sank back and stared resolutely at him.

Gabriel smirked. "Who are you?" he demanded.

Devery sighed. This again. She contemplated. She could be a smart ass…and starve. Or she could tell him who she was and what she was trying to do, and get food…maybe. Neither were great options.

She lifted her dark eyes from the floor and frowned at him. "What's to stop you from starving me if you don't like my answer?" she asked.

Gabriel shrugged, "You'll just have to trust me" he said with a sly grin.

Devery laughed bitterly, that would never happen. She sighed. "Nindayaa"

Gabriel's eyes darkened with anger. He snatched the bread back and popped it into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. He tore off a new piece and held it out to her, "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

Devery considered that.

"My…father. Miles." Her brow furrowed. "He raised me from the time I was four till I was 16 to fight, to handle what this world had become." Devery's heart ached at the thought of Miles.

Gabriel studied her for a moment. Complex emotions were passing across her face. He tossed the bread into her lap and watched as she ate it slowly, her face still troubled. She looked concerned that she had spoken.

He scoffed internally. All his prisoners quavered that they had some earth shattering secret. Foolish humans.

He tore off another piece of bread.

"Miles. How was he able to stand against an archangel?" he demanded.

She shook her head, denying him. Gabriel frowned.

"Where did you both come from?" he demanded, his voice louder.

She shook her head.

Gabriel made a noise of exasperation and tossed the hunk of bread on the tray. He stood and carried it out of the room, setting it aside before coming back for the chair. He went back one last time to crouch in front of her, grabbing her chin roughly, turning her face up to his.

Her dark eyes searched his.

"You won't eat until you tell me something" he told her solemnly.

"You won't believe me if I do" she murmured.

To his surprise, he could see the truth on her face and hear it in her words.

"Then you'll starve" he whispered, tossing her head out of his hand, standing and stalking away.

Devery closed her eyes as the cell door clanged shut.

Gabriel came back the next day, demanding answers.

She refused.

Her power had died back to an ember; with no food and little rest to sustain it, it was unable to grow.

Devery lay on her side, clutching her stomach. It had been three days since she had eaten, with only small sips of water. She was barely sleeping, and she knew if she didn't tell Gabriel something soon, she would die.

If Miles could see her now, he would kick her ass.

She shivered, her wounds burning.

She was pretty sure they were infected.

She tried to breathe evenly and not think, ease herself into sleep, but like everything else, sleep wouldn't come.

The sound of footsteps outside her door alerted her to Gabriel's presence, and a moment later the familiar sound of the chair being brought into the room made her struggle to sit up.

Gabriel watched as Nindayaa (as he had come to call her) rose up slowly. Her hair was dull, her skin was dirty, and her eyes were lackluster. She looked pale and hungry, and she was trembling as she wrapped her shackled arms around her knees.

A pang of pity went through him for this shadow of the warrior woman who had attacked him just three days ago.

She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. "I'll tell you who I am and how I know the things I know" she whispered.

Gabriel stared at her in shock.

She opened her eyes and stared at the tray of food. "I want the food first."

Gabriel smirked, studying her for a minute. He nodded. Lifting the tray he set it in front of her before sitting back in the chair. He watched as she reached out with a shaky hand and tore off a piece of bread, bring it slowly to her mouth.

Her eyes closed in satisfaction as she chewed. After a moment she nodded and began.

"My name…" she reached out and sipped on the water before continuing. "My name is Devery Jacobs. I'm almost 30 years old if my math is correct. My mother was Sarah Jacobs, and I don't know who my father was, she never talked about him. My family died two days after the angel invasion began. I was four years old."

She paused and ate a few bites of soup, sipping on water. She sighed and continued. "My mother says that I never cried when I was born. Not a peep. She also says that a strange man came and told her that I would save the world. She thought he was crazy and wanted to hurt me or her."

She smiled faintly, "Turns out she was wrong. His name was Miles. Four years later, when the angel invasion happened and we went to my grandfather's reservation in Wyoming, he saved me."

Her eyes left the tray of food and rested on Gabriel. "The 8-balls attacked the reservation. They took possession of my grandpa Bill, and he killed my mother in front of me. He tried to kill me. Miles saved me and took me away."

She looked away, emotion strangling her voice. She took a deep drink of water before continuing. "He raised me. From the time I was four, he showed me how to survive and fight the 8-balls. It was unconventional, but it was what I needed. I didn't know anything else."

She sighed, "When I was 16 I heard a radio transmission about Vega being safe and I tried to convince him that we should go live there and help protect the city. He told me we couldn't, that you would attack the city, it wasn't safe, I wasn't ready…it made me so mad. I was so sure I was right."

She shook her head, rubbing a hand over her face.

"You ran away."

Gabriel's voice made her look up, pain etched into lines he hadn't seen before.

She nodded. "After two nights of keeping a close eye on me, I finally made a runner. I made it to the walls before 8-balls attacked and you showed up. Miles followed of course…and you know the rest."

She leaned back and closed her eyes.

Gabriel studied her for a moment. She looked weary and sorrowful. He leaned forward, "What else?" he asked softly.

She smirked faintly and opened her eyes. "I took his body back to our home and burned it, got drunk for the first time. I went inside and found a letter from him. It explained why he had followed me, protected me, and saved me."

She grew serious and leaned forward, her eyes intent on him. "We-Miles and I- are part of an order—the Knights of Heaven. It's only called upon in the direst of times for humanity. He searched across the earth to find more members after I was born, but wasn't able to. It was him and an infant. The rest had died."

She shook her head, "By the time I was four, the angel invasion happened and things were…dire. It's my calling to stop the war between humanity and Heaven, and right the balance. I'm supposed to help you."

Devery stared at Gabriel, wondering if he would believe her, if he would ever be able to accept her help, change, and repair the damage he had done. She seriously doubted it.

Gabriel ran a hand across his jaw, contemplating what Nindayaa—Devery had told him. The idea that there was a secret order dedicated to saving humanity and Heaven…wasn't so farfetched. There was a Chosen One after all…

An idea swirled in his head.

He leaned forward, "What do you know of the Chosen One?" he asked.

Devery frowned, "Almost nothing. Just what I've heard from others. Why?" she asked cautiously.

Gabriel sighed, falling back in his chair. "I've been looking for him."

Devery's eyes narrowed, "Why?" she asked suspiciously.

Gabriel heard her tone and chuckled. "You don't trust me?"

She shook her head and ate another hunk of bread, "Not an inch" she murmured around her mouthful.

Gabriel laughed and nodded his head. He watched her and then stood, leaning down to take the tray. Devery made a noise of protest and Gabriel laughed, "That's enough, wouldn't want you getting sick."

She sighed and relaxed against the floor, frowning after him. She was no longer painfully hungry, but her wounds would sap her of energy soon enough.

Gabriel reappeared a moment later, followed by a beautiful woman who carried a basket on her arm. He wrapped an arm around her waist and smiled down at Devery.

"This is Nadia. She's going to clean your wounds and treat you. Be nice."

Devery nodded and waited until he had left to whisper to the woman, "Let me out, please."

Nadia smiled softly as she crouched down, shaking her head. "That's up to Gabriel."

Devery cursed and rolled her eyes. She was surprised to find Nadia was a competent nurse, stitching her wounds and giving her antibiotics. When the other woman wiped her face and body with wet wipes so she was clean, Devery nearly cried with relief.

Nadia brushed her hair back and smiled, "I think he's going to release you. He seems intrigued."

Devery laughed softly, wearied. "Is that really a good thing? Him intrigued by me?"

Nadia nodded, "He wants to know more. He wants to treat you as an equal."

Devery's brows shot up. Nadia smiled at her and stood, "Get some rest."

Devery nodded and when the cell door shut she lay down, closing her eyes. Her stomach was fuller than before, and she no longer was aching from her wounds. Soon, sleep overtook her.

Devery was awoken once again by the sound of the cell door being opened. This time when she sat up, Nadia was standing before her. She gave Devery a smile and approached slowly, holding a key in her hand.

"If you'll cooperate, Gabriel would like to see you."

Devery nodded slowly.

"Good. First, let's go for a bath, and wash your clothing."

Devery nodded and watched as Nadia unlocked her shackles, rubbing her wrists and ankles after they were freed. She stood slowly, her limbs aching and shaky from remaining in limited positions for so long.

Nadia took her arm and led her down the hallways until they came to a solid oak door. She pushed it open and Devery sniffed. Nadia smiled, "Natural hot springs. Come."

Devery followed her inside and as her eyes adjusted to the low light, saw hundreds of candles spread around the room. Steam filled the room and wafted upwards towards an opening in the roof that showed the stars in the sky.

It's nighttime? Huh. Her internal clock was all whacked out.

Nadia gently touched her arm, "You can leave your clothes and I'll wash them. Fresh ones will be provided."

Devery nodded and quickly stripped, walking to the nearest hot spring. She sank in; her bruised and damaged body grateful for the heat. She spent long minutes simply letting the water ease her tense muscles.

Swimming away from the wall, she sank under the surface of the water and headed for the other edge. She swam a few more laps before climbing out and grabbing the soap at the edge, walking over to the waterfall that ran into a small creek and over a cliff and began lathering her skin and hair.

When she was done she stepped under the waterfall and let it wash her clean. Her fingers worked the knots out of her hair, humming in pleasure.

Gabriel watched Devery from the entrance of the springs.

Her long muscled limbs were marked by what he assumed were battle scars, but they didn't detract from her appeal. If anything they lent a wild allure—he could picture her dressed in armor for battle, her swords flying much as they had years before, cutting down her enemies.

She wouldn't help him find the Chosen One. He knew that from speaking with her—she was dedicated to helping humanity, not killing them. If he let her go and pointed her in the right direction though…she might very well lead him right to what he wanted.

Smirking, he turned and left her to finish her bath.

Devery followed Nadia down the halls; fidgeting with the clothes she had been given. The pants felt like they had been painted on, and the tank top was about a size too small. Looking over at Nadia she sighed, she should have guessed the clothes would be inappropriate.

At least they had let her keep her own boots.

Nadia pushed a door open and led her into what Devery could only guess were Gabriel's rooms.

He was reclining on a couch, for the first time not dressed in armor.

It was unsettling.

Nadia led her to a chair across from him and disappeared for a moment, returning with a tray of food. Gabriel dismissed her with a wave of his hand and then stared across the table at Devery.

She stared back. Nadia had said he was going to let her go. Could she trust a word either of them said?

Gabriel leaned forward and smiled faintly, pouring out two cups of wine. He held one out to her, nodding when she took it. Devery held it in her hand, not drinking.

Gabriel smirked, "Worried it's poisoned?" he drawled.

Devery grinned, "Something like that."

He nodded and then lifted his cup in a salute before sipping it. Devery watched him for a few moments and then drank a sip of hers. It was tasty…though wine wasn't her favorite drink.

She leaned forward and snatched up a bundle of grapes, popping them in her mouth. "So, what would you like to talk about?" she asked.

Gabriel smiled, tilting his head to watch her. "Where would you go if I release you?" he asked.

Devery stared at him thoughtfully before popping a grape into her mouth. She chewed and then murmured, "Where do you want me to go?"

His smile grew wider and he laughed. "You're quite smart, aren't you?"

Devery shook her head, "I'm not a fool. What do you want from me Gabriel?" she demanded.

"I want to find the Chosen One."

"To kill him."

"To fulfill a prophecy."

She crossed her leg over the over and narrowed her eyes at him. "Bullshit. You want to kill him."

Gabriel leaned forward, "And you want to kill me."

Devery hesitated. Perhaps she did still want to kill him. She thought about what he had done to Miles and a hot anger boiled through her. She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them Gabriel was looking at her with triumph in his eyes.

"You're no better than I am" he murmured.

"I didn't start a war that killed billions of people" she retorted.

Gabriel snarled and threw himself back in his chair. He ran a hand through his hair and clenched his jaw. Devery sighed and shook her head, "Why do you want to kill the Chosen One?"

Gabriel looked at her in surprise. She shrugged, "Explain it to me. You might have a good argument."

He raised a brow. She smirked, "I doubt it, but give it a try."

Gabriel laughed despite his annoyance. "Fine. There is another prophecy that says that the Chosen One will not save humanity, but will fall to the darkness and will destroy both humanity and Heaven."

Devery's brows shot up. Well. "Well. That's a hell of an argument. How do I know it's true?" she asked.

Gabriel was on his feet and across the room, rummaging through parchment. A moment later he stalked back to her and thrust a scroll at her. She unwound it and frowned, it was in a language she couldn't read.

She looked up at Gabriel, "This doesn't prove anything. This could be a recipe for pancakes."

He rolled his eyes and passed a hand over the parchment. Devery's eyes widened as the letters re-arranged themselves into English. "Holy shit" she whispered.

She read quickly, confirming what he had told her.

Looking back up at him she frowned, "That doesn't mean you have to kill him. If anything, you should try to help him."

Gabriel sighed, exasperated. "That is such a typical human thing to think. Take the high road—look for the bright spot! It doesn't work like that!" he snarled. He snatched the parchment out of her hand, shaking it, "These prophecies never end well."

Devery raised a brow, "Never?" she asked sarcastically.

Gabriel stalked away and tossed the prophecy aside. He began pacing, "Almost never. If the Chosen One dies, our Father will return, the danger to Heaven gone, and the threat of humanity diminished." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

Devery shook her head, "Gabriel, I won't help you do that."

He rounded on her, glaring. "Then I have no use for you."

He stalked over and grabbed her arm, dragging her out of her chair, his fingers like a vice on her arm. He wrenched her down the halls until they were back in the large reception room she had first been in days before. He tossed her bag at her feet, "Get out."

Devery lifted it to her shoulder and regarded him calmly. "Where are my weapons?"

Gabriel made a strangled noise and stalked away, reappearing minutes later with her guns and swords. He tossed them on the floor and she knelt, strapping them on, before rising.

Devery stared at Gabriel for a moment and sighed. "If you ever want to get that devil off your back and change your path, come find me." There was little love lost between them, but it was her calling to help him. She could see the pain he was in, and despite the pain he had caused her, something within her called out to help him.

He glared at her, "Get out."

An 8-ball appeared before her and slipped a blindfold over her eyes, leading her down the stairs. They drove in silence, a different way than they had come, and Devery kept track of the twists and turns as she had before.

When they came to a stop the blindfold was ripped from her head.

She looked around; they were back at the waystation. She jumped from the truck without looking back and made her way to the building, hoping her motorcycle was still there. She circled the building and smiled faintly when she found it tucked behind the building, next to the bartender's truck.

She slipped her scarf out and covered her head and face, swinging a leg over the bike. As the engine roared to life and she edged away from the waystation, the bartender ran outside, shotgun in hand.

She tugged the scarf down and grinned at him, waving. He lowered the gun, shock on his face.

She lifted the scarf back up and pointed the bike down the road.

It was a long ride to Vega.

AN: Hey everyone! I hope you're enjoying the story! Thank you to SummerMistDragon for following! I hope to hear from you all and get some reviews!