Yes, I know I haven't updated in almost two weeks. There's three reasons for this: 1) I had writer's block and couldn't really think of anything to do for this chapter (although now we will hit twenty-five chapters!) 2) I had the plotbunnies going after me with random ideas for other stories, and last, and probably least too 3) I was lazy and a procrastinator. Yup, I said it! I was being an addict to online RPGs and didn't really think about this story for at least a week. But now I've figured out what I want done, and the next update will be quicker, I assure you! Read on, readers and reviewers, and enjoy the latest chapter of Fallen Angel!

Summary: Kurt is a Fallen, an indescribably beautiful race of demon–angels. Kitty is a fledgling priestess with a hidden power. Kitty knows that Kurt isn't her enemy, but can she prove it?

Fallen Angel

23. Within the Shadows

Kitty blinked open her eyes slowly, then closed them again; the bright onslaught of light was too much for her eyes. Slowly, she opened first one eye, then the second, finding the bright light to be a little more tolerable. She looked around. There was practically nothing to see—all there was in this strange place was…light.

And lots of it, too.

Kitty grumbled to herself. Is this where people were sent when their bodies were taken over by elements? If so, then Karma must be here too! Eagerly she looked around, but the light was unending, unbroken.

Sighing, she forced herself to start walking.

Because there was probably a lot of walking and/or flying ahead of her.

Silence blanketed the white realm; Kitty yawned. She'd been here a while, right? Might as well just let herself go to sleep…

After all, it wouldn't be for too long…

Just a quick nap…

It seemed as though her eyes had only just closed and she was being shaken awake. "Mmph…?" mumbled Kitty, blinking and shifting her gaze upwards, meeting clear blue eyes.

"Karma?" asked Kitty.

The first all-elements wielder looked over at her. "Ah, Kitty, you're awake."

"When did you get here?" Confusion colored Kitty's voice.

"A while ago," Karma shrugged.

"So…you managed to contact Spirit?" Kitty asked.

"Yeah… You connected to Light, I see."

Kitty nodded absently; "We just sit here, then?"

"Pretty much. Hopefully the others will be able to defeat the Darkness. That was the entire reason we summoned Light and Spirit…" murmured Karma.

"We're expected to just sit here? I don't know about you, but I'm already bored…" grumbled Kitty.

Karma smiled faintly. "Why not talk? I have never met another who held my abilities before you."

Kitty paused. "I've had them forever…even when I was a human."

"You were born with them?"

Kitty nodded.

Karma frowned. "This is very strange…"

"Why?" Kitty stared at her.

Karma shook her head. "Never mind. I am sure you will learn of it anyways soon enough."

Kitty frowned. What did Karma mean? Was the fact that she had had her powers as a human significant somehow? She didn't know, but someone was sure to tell her eventually, and Karma had even said 'you will learn of it anyways'. She was just tired of being the last to know about everything, and/or understand something.

"So…" Kitty mumbled, trying to sort through her jumbled thoughts, thinking of something to talk about. "How do you use Spirit?"

Karma blinked, as though not having expected that question. She laughed quietly and held up one hand, an orb of Spirit power appearing before her. "It is not hard for me," she said. "But I have had long training sessions to understand it. I suspect it only truly comes easily for one person and them alone."

Kitty nodded. "So would it work for me?"

"I do not know." Karma let the Spirit orb dissolve. "You can control the other elements, yes, but Spirit does not really exist within the minds of many." She paused. "I learned of Spirit when I was twelve, and I had already shown signs of controlling all the other elements as well. I could easily tap into the other elements, but Spirit was another story. The only one who could teach me anything was Fervior. And he gave me this advice: The key to unlocking Spirit lies within your soul."

Kitty frowned. "Is that some sort of cryptic riddle or something?"

Karma smiled. "Perhaps," she said mysteriously. "And that is what I shall tell you, in turn."

"But it makes no sense!" Kitty pretested. "How am I supposed to use Spirit? What's this key?"

But Karma only smiled and shook her head, saying, "You'll understand, with time."

Kitty crossed her arms and glared at the non-existent ground, muttering, "That is oh-so-helpful."

Karma laughed. "I didn't understand it at first either. But trust me; knowledge will come, just give it time."

Kitty sighed, but she accepted the other's judgement; after all, Karma knew more about her abilities than Kitty did, at any rate.

She sighed and thought back to why they were here, in this plane, in the first place. What had happened? Had anything happened at all? Was everyone still alive? (Though she supposed she'd be able to figure out if any of them had died, a morbid thought) She voiced her concerns, and Karma's eyes darkened.

"I do not know of what has transpired within the material world," she said carefully. "Although I could try to make a window perhaps, though you must remember that we cannot affect reality, not while we are trapped within this plane."

Kitty nodded carefully; she just wanted to know. "Can you try?"

Karma gave a little sigh, but nodded all the same. She closed her eyes, a faint, silvery light glowing around her. Kitty closed her eyes in case there was going to be any sort of flashing lights, but there was only a slight shimmering in the air, and when she opened her eyes, an oval mirror hung in the air between her and Karma.

Karma reached out and placed one hand against the surface. "Show us our friends," she commanded, and the surface of the mirror rippled, displaying a picture.

Kitty could see faint shadows at the edges; were they in some sort of clearing? All within held weapons, as far as she could tell: Kurt and Fervior each had a sword and spear, perhaps more; Sparks had a spear, but she had already shifted to dragon form; Spirit had a bow, with a arrow notched at the string while Light had a spear, and a sickle (which really made Kitty wonder—why the sickle?) and Shade, looking much more evil than she ever had before, was carrying a large broadsword.

"Well…" Kitty muttered, staring; "They've certainly got a lot of weapons…"

She was then very surprised when the Darkness split into three—evidently, one for each group, and apparently Sparks was enough of a threat to warrant having a Darkness clone to fight with by herself.

"I was so not expecting that…" mumbled Kitty, while Karma didn't say anything, simply watching the mirror through narrowed blue eyes. Was she worried? If so, what about? Or maybe who was the right word?

Kitty asked quietly, "Do you think they'll be able to defeat the Darkness?"

Karma shook her head. "I do not know. We can only hope."

So she wasn't willing to even think about the outcome?

Maybe it was best that way—Kitty didn't want to think about it either.

She realized she was drifting off; she re-focused her attention on the mirror; while she'd been off in her own thoughts, the battle had begun.

Kitty couldn't really follow what was happening; was it just her or did it seem a little fast? But it was obvious that Karma was paying attention, because when an explosion of white light appeared in the mirror's depiction, Karma's eyes widened and she leaned forwards, staring.

Kitty inched closer to the mirror as well, asking, "What? What happened?"

Images flicked across the mirror, and Kitty stared, too, as she realized what had happened. Karma was silent, but then her eyes fell on something within the image; she stood slowly.

"Er, Karma? What are you doing?" asked Kitty.

Her pre-incarnation turned to her excitedly. "I've remembered! We can't affect the material world as we are, but our powers can, if we affix them to something else!"

"…What?" Kitty blinked.

"The spear!" Karma said quickly, pointing to the object in question. Kitty frowned. "So you're saying…we can attach our powers to that spear?"

Karma nodded.

"And how, exactly, do we do that?"

Karma extended one hand towards Kitty, the other touching the surface of the mirror. Hesitantly, Kitty took her hand, mimicking Karma's stance.

She could feel the elemental power flooding through her, guided by Karma's directions. She watched the mirror's image, only slightly surprised when an orb of multi-colored light appeared at the tip of the spear. It grew slowly as she and Karma channeled their energy; Kitty closed her eyes, focusing on the elements.

Kitty opened her eyes again slowly; the mirror had gone white. She could feel herself dissolving slowly—was the battle over? But then she realized she could still feel the Darkness.

How was it still around? She answered that question in her own head; there was probably still some attached to Shade. Before Karma could stop her, she leaped forwards, fully expecting to hit a cold wall.

Yet she passed right through the mirror with barely a ripple against the cool surface; before she had a chance to do anything at all, everything spun away into nothingness.

So now we know what the multi-colored lights are! Yay! But now we have more confusing questions, though: Kitty jumped through the mirror, but where did she end up? You'll just have to wait and find out! I swear I will update quicker next time! Really! Getting close to the end, we are! Review please, because I'd at least like to get to 75 reviews before the end of this story!

~ Shadey