Adrian sat on the edge of his bed and watched Damien as he busied himself with getting his paints, brush, and paper set up on the floor. It had only been a day since Holly's death, and Thorn and Katharine had been concerned about how witnessing her sudden suicide would affect Adrian and Damien, but they need not have worried.

Damien seemed to have forgotten what had happened already. He apparently didn't think it was that big of a deal. Adrian had been informed of Holly's fate beforehand, and as such was nonchalant about the whole affair. Katharine had thought his cavalier attitude strange at first, but had evidently jumped to the conclusion that it was the eternally calm Adrian's way of "dealing with his own emotions," as he had overheard her telling Thorn last night as he was walking past their door, on his way to the balcony to view the sunset and hoping that the mess of shattered glass from the broken window had been cleared away. Adrian did not think much about Holly's death, but thought constantly about what would come of it.

The second new protector was supposed to arrive soon, and Adrian wanted to make a good impression on him or her. He didn't want this protector to think of him as an immature, incompetent child who was unfit for his monumental task of watching over Damien. He had to show he was just the opposite. He was inexperienced and young, true, but that didn't necessarily mean he wasn't a capable protector. But how was he to prove himself?

He rolled over onto his back and stared at the ceiling, as though it might hold the answer to this question. Finding no such revelation, Adrian pulled himself back up to a sitting position and focused his gaze on the flames dancing in the fireplace behind Damien, who was busily painting. Why is there a fire burning in a room with a two unsupervised kids in it? he wondered. Then his attentions were directed back to Damien.

"I'm painting a tiger!" Damien announced to him. He lifted his hands like paws, curled his fingers into claws, and let out an aggressive but very non-threatening roar. "Graaaaawr!"

Adrian smiled and did the same to humor Damien. "Raawr."

"Wow." Damien was impressed. "You do it really good! You sound just like a tiger!"

"I do?" Adrian was unaware that he was capable of making realistic sound effects. Put that on my résumé for proving my worth.

"Yeah!"

Just then the doorknob clicked, and Adrian's eyes snapped to the door immediately. Damien either didn't notice or didn't care. It opened, and a woman that Adrian estimated was in her early forties stepped in. Adrian went into a watchful, catlike stance as he observed her. He sensed the same aura about her that he sensed around Shaeido and the dog that had sent Holly to her death. A new protector?

She noticed Damien first, as he was the more conspicuous of the brothers. He looked up and noticed the newcomer, and he regarded her with curiosity, not shyness as usual. They looked at one another for a second, Adrian a silent, unseen observer, and then the woman said cryptically, "Have no fear, little one. I am here to protect thee." Damien smiled, finding the statement friendly. To Adrian, it was almost ominous.

Adrian's thoughts were confirmed. This woman was the new protector.

"I'm Mrs. Baylock," the woman said, in a normal voice. "I'm going to be your new nanny."

"I'm Damien," Damien said brightly, gesturing to himself with the paintbrush. "I'm five. And that's my big brother Adrian. He's eight." He turned and pointed across the room to Adrian, motionless on his bed in the shadowy corner, the light of the flickering fire illuminating his impassive face and alert, attentive eyes. Mrs. Baylock turned more slowly to face Adrian and appraised him, smiling. She looked back down at Damien, who had resumed painting his tiger, which to Adrian resembled an orange and black striped potato with blocky legs, a straight and rigid tail, and a head that looked like an upside down tree stump with pointed ears. He wasn't paying attention to either Mrs. Baylock or Adrian, absorbed in his artwork. Mrs. Baylock looked up at Adrian, and turned to go into her new room, which was adjoined with theirs. She motioned with her hand for Adrian to follow, which he silently did.

Once they were in her room, it didn't change much at first. She continued to look him over; and Adrian stood and solemnly looked back, doing the same. She honestly did not look very strong or very impressive to him. But she was likely acting to avoid suspicion, just as he was; and he realized he probably did not look very strong or impressive at first glance himself.

His eyes shot down to look at himself: dressed in his favorite outfit of a brilliant flame-red collared shirt and coal-black jeans, his short, thick gold hair combed neatly back, and his simple yet nice-looking pendant of tiger's eye in its place around his neck. He had examined his eyes in mirrors occasionally, and knew they burned with intelligence and inner power. He exercised and practiced fighting techniques that Shaeido had taught him frequently, thinking with satisfaction of his well-worn punching bags, and he liked the way his wiry limbs looked. He was certainly stronger than most other children his age. Then again, he thought wryly, most other children my age aren't the offspring of Satan. But the point remained: he was still just a child, a state that was irritatingly unfit for fighting Damien's enemies to the death.

"You don't need to look so tense. You're not in trouble," Mrs. Baylock said. She smiled knowingly. "Trying to look intimidating?"

Adrian hesitated before admitting, "Yes. Actually, it comes sort of naturally. Thorn is always saying 'There's no need to look so battle-ready all the time, Adrian'." He half-smiled, appreciating the irony.

"If he only knew," Mrs. Baylock agreed. "So. You are Damien's current protector?"

"Yes, I am. And you are one of the new protectors?"

"Yes," she said. "The second will join us soon. I believe you've met him already?" She spoke lightly, having the same feelings about Holly's death as Adrian.

"He was the Rottweiler I saw at Damien's party, right?"

"Correct."

"Is he a hellhound?"

"I suppose you could call him that. But enough about him. It's you I'm interested in."

"Where to start then? Do you want to know about my position? My knowledge? Or my abilities?"

Mrs. Baylock thought for a moment. "Let's begin with what you know. You are fully aware of your heritage?"

"I know that my biological father is Satan, and I inherited much of his powers. I'm far stronger, faster, and more agile and intelligent than I should be for my age, for instance. But, I know nothing of my mother except that she died giving birth to me." Adrian's voice rose at the end of his sentence in an inquiry, and he raised his eyebrows questioningly. He had always wondered and wondered who had been his mother, and he hoped wildly that he might get some clues as to his mother's identity from Mrs. Baylock, since Shaeido had never told him anything regarding her.

But she shook her head, saying, "I'm sorry, Adrian. I wasn't told about your mother. Only Damien's."

"In that case, who is Damien's mother?" He was in the dark on her identity as well.

"Her name was Maria Scianna." Mrs. Baylock seemed hesitant to tell him the rest. Adrian did not want to wait patiently.

"And…who was she? What kind of a person was she?"

The time it took for Mrs. Baylock to answer was agonizingly long, and he was greatly disappointed by the answer: "My apologies, Adrian. But I'm not sure you're ready to know all the details about your and your brother's births just yet."

Adrian opened his mouth to object almost before she was done speaking, but closed it again and swallowed hard. "I understand."

"Now, let me hear about your knowledge of the purpose that comes with your origins," Mrs. Baylock said, deliberately changing the subject.

"It was determined that the Antichrist should have the most powerful protector as possible, and I was specially born to be that protector. My purpose in existence is defending him from those who want to kill him before he can realize his own destiny. When he is old enough to begin doing that, I am going to assist him, and act as his second-in-command."

"Excellent," Mrs. Baylock said, with the air of a teacher applauding a student. Suddenly, she laughed and remarked, "You realize that when you both come of age and Damien is fully aware of his own purposes, you'll be taking orders from your little brother?" She inclined her head to the door, beyond which Damien was occupying himself.

Adrian laughed a little, finding it difficult to picture himself one day taking orders from his five-year-old brother. "So is that all you wanted to know, regarding my understanding of what I'm meant for?"

"One more thing. You are completely aware of what your purpose entails? The things you will have to do?"

Adrian knew what she meant. "I accepted the sacrifices that would have to be made long ago," he said with finality. "I see bloodshed and death as necessary. It's something that must happen for our purposes to be fulfilled. It doesn't disturb me."

"And you realize the danger that you are in? That you will have to fight and endure a great amount of pain?"

"I know. I've been trained to fight for a long time now and pain…" Adrian thought for a moment, looking hard for the right words to describe his feeling. "Pain just doesn't seem to bother me most of the time. I feel it like any other person, but it affects me differently, I think."

Mrs. Baylock looked slightly puzzled by his explanation, but seemed to understand to some extent. "I see. You have been trained for your purpose? By who?"

"Do you know a demon named Shaeido?"

Mrs. Baylock's eyes narrowed slightly, and she frowned. She knows him, Adrian thought, though he guessed from her expression that their relationship was far from friendly.

"Shaeido? Untamable dark black hair, vibrant green eyes, fair skin? Wild and roguish, reckless, devil-may-care personality? Does that sound like him?"

Adrian nodded. "That sounds exactly like him. He's my mentor."

"I'm genuinely surprised you're so well-mannered and conscientious, with someone like him teaching you. He's known well, first for his recklessness and second for his…prowess in certain areas."

"Do you know him personally?" Adrian wanted to know.

"I don't want to offend you by saying 'unfortunately,' but I have to: Unfortunately, yes, I have met him and have had to work with him personally."

Adrian felt the need to defend his friend. "He's an excellent mentor. He's taught me very well."

"I'm sure he has. If he weren't one of the most powerful, he wouldn't be mentoring you. I have to say I don't like him very much, but one has to respect his skills if nothing else. But where were we? Ah…So, what kind of fighting has he taught you?"

"He mainly taught me all kinds of martial arts: Karate, kung fu, jiu-jitsu, tae kwon do, judo, and some others. He also taught me to use anything I can for defense, and to be resourceful that way."

"Have you ever had to use what he taught you?"

"Well…No, not yet," Adrian admitted. "But he warned me I would need to soon. They…They're coming for Damien soon, right? And I need to be ready." Or he could die.

Mrs. Baylock's voice and expression were equally grim. "Yes. That's why I'm here; to make sure that you both are safe." She looked a little sad, but she looked him firmly in the eyes when she said 'both.' She's trying to say I matter as much as Damien? Adrian thought, contemplating raising one eyebrow and deciding against it. I suppose I do, but either way Damien is the priority, whether she thinks so or not. And I don't need to be looked after. I can fight for myself, he thought, and said so.

"I'll fight to the death to protect Damien if I have to. Don't underestimate me. I can take anything." Adrian looked away and tried to make himself sound brave. When he looked back, Mrs. Baylock was still looking at him intensely.

"You're not afraid?" It sounded like half a question, and half trying to catch him out or challenge him.

The words struck a nerve in Adrian, though he would never show it. Ever since he had fully realized what he was expected to do, he had expended a lot of effort beating the tough core of fear at what he was facing down inside of him so that it barely existed. The fact he tried the hardest to deny was that it still did exist. To his mind, in a truly powerful being, there was no room for any fear.

He clenched his fists and teeth, and he felt his eyes narrow. "Fear is not a part of me," he declared, trying to make himself believe it. "Fear is a human emotion. Fear is for the weak. I am not weak!"

Mrs. Baylock looked at Adrian for a few moments before quietly responding. "Fear is universal. Fear is felt by all beings. There is no escaping it. If you feel fear in yourself, you are not weak."

"Then why does the slightest edge of apprehension make me hate myself for feeling it? Why does it make me feel less than what I could be? If fear does not make you weak, why do I feel weak because of it?"

"Because fear is not weakness. It's giving in to your fears and letting them overcome you; that is the weakness."

Adrian was taken aback. Was that what was going on? How was that happening to him? He could not be weak. And he did not give in to anything!

"That…I'm not weak like that!" he protested. That didn't sound good. "I'm not weak at all! I have to be the most powerful, if I'm to perform my duty properly! How could I be weak?"

Mrs. Baylock waited to let him breathe for a moment before answering. "You are not weak in terms of physical strength. Pure power runs in your blood, and merely needs to be cultivated, enhanced, and refined to bring out your full potential. But you are still young, and a young mind, even one as brilliantly precocious as yours, Adrian, can be easily corroded. If something can make a profound effect on you, you could begin to doubt yourself, or believe something you are not meant to believe."

Was she trying to say Adrian would stray from the path he had been chosen for? Never. "I won't do that. Nothing will make me abandon my fate."

Mrs. Baylock locked her gaze onto him. "Even the strongest of warriors have a weak point. You must learn to overcome yours before it becomes your downfall."

Adrian remained silent. He had no protestations or any other words. What could he say to this?

"Go back with your brother. It's getting late, and I can't keep you here all night. There will be work to do, but not just yet. Besides, your dreams are quite important to you, aren't they?" She said this with a knowing smile.

Adrian nodded, not returning the smile. "Yes. My dreams are either prophetic, or Shaeido wants to talk with me, but can't see me in person." Adrian paused before asking the next question. "Shaeido can shape-shift, and appear in a person's dreams, and he has several other abilities as well. I don't know the extent of a demon's power, since Shaeido was the only one I knew until now. Do you have the same abilities?"

"Well, I can shape-shift. You don't think this is my actual form, do you?" She moved her hand downward from her head as she said this. "But I can't affect dreams the way he can. That is a talent possessed by few of us, and Shaeido happens to be one who possesses this talent."

"Okay. I'll go now?" When she nodded in farewell, Adrian turned and left the room. He took his former position on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Fear. She had said his weakness was fear. No –his fear was getting the better of him, and that was what was making him weak. The true impact of that hit Adrian as he lay there, thinking about what Mrs. Baylock had told him. The hidden shadows of fear within him, silently gnawing at him and preying on his emotions, were a virtually unavoidable weakness. He was unwilling to admit even to himself that the realization unnerved him.

But, he contradicted himself, how can that be? There is nothing I truly fear. I am not afraid of any creature. I am not afraid of any human. I am not afraid to fight. I am not afraid to die.

Adrian's mind then turned to his inherent enemy.

I have never faced anyone of God before. I don't know exactly what I should do to fight such an opponent, that seems so strong and prevalent. I have no idea what I'm up against, really. Could that be it? Fear of the unknown…It seems so natural, but it's also glaringly obvious that it would make one weak…

Adrian rolled over on the bed, thinking he had pinpointed the source of his apparent weak point, and thinking of ways to rectify it immediately. But his thoughts stopped short when he caught sight of something else.

His little brother, humming something to himself as he put the finishing touches on his tiger painting. On completing it, he held it up and admired his work, and smiled with satisfaction. To his eyes the amateurish painting was a work of art, worthy of a place on the refrigerator, even. He got to his feet and placed the painting on his nightstand. He turned and saw Adrian watching him.

"Do you think Mummy and Daddy will like it?" he asked brightly.

"I think they'll love it, Damien," Adrian answered quietly. He realized now, what the immense fear was that made him weak. But it also made him strong. He didn't want to get rid of it, but he couldn't have it impairing him. What was he to do?

His greatest fear was losing Damien. The nagging fear that he would fail the mission he had been born to complete, and some mistake on his part would cause Damien's death.

This fear had, he saw now, grown inside him when he learned in full what exactly he was to protect Damien from, and had taken root there. It made him rethink his every move, and threatened to become consuming of him. But protecting Damien was his only duty in life. The very real danger that he could fail, that Damien could be killed, was a large part of his motivation. The fear that his brother could die if he failed greatly fueled his innate drive not to fail, to keep that fear from coming true by giving everything of himself to defend him.

Adrian rolled off the bed suddenly. With this new protector for Damien and apparently trainer for him, and this new revelation of weakness in himself and the need to combat it, he needed sometime to be alone to think things over.

Without a word, he crossed the room to the door. He turned his head to see Damien watching him, his dark eyes at first questioning, but then remembering where his older brother often went in the mornings and nights. He nodded assent, and turned his attentions to his toy chest in the corner, looking for something else to do before bed now that his painting was done.

Adrian pushed open the door and strode out to watch the sun set.

~0~