I stared at him in shock. "Who hurt you?"

"Everyone."

"How did everyone hurt you, Angel? Tell me everything."

"I didn't come here for school. My parents sent me here because I caused trouble. It was a form of punishment. I was actually supposed to be in a reform school in Europe. I went for a month, then left. Something happened that my supposed friend arranged to happen. I had to leave."

"What happened?"

"Just these guys were assholes. Anyways, my parents sent me here to live in an apartment and set me up to go to Montaery. I got a scholarship for singing and dancing. I've been here ever since. They bought Blu to keep me company and…as a guard dog. Those idiots were harassing me. I had to fight several times…alone. Blu started doing the work for me. He put two of them in the hospital and one in the ground. He isn't just a normal dog." As if on cue, Blu hopped up on the bed and rested his head in my lap. I rubbed his head gently with a smile. "He understands me. He's extremely smart…as if he's human. He has a sort of power; he knows when I'm in trouble. He knows who is planning on hurting me before anyone else does. And no matter how far away he is from me, he gets to me in a matter of seconds."

"Is that why you do not fear me or my children?" I nodded.

"If you were going to hurt me, Blu would've been here already. He would've been there yesterday when your…son was there before you came." I smiled down at Blu and he looked up at me. "I wish I'd had him before. My parents always took care of my sister and brother first. I was last. I fell in love. His name was Tulio. I was finally someone's first choice. I let him do whatever he wanted and he gave me everything. But he began to control me in ways that didn't seem healthy or natural. He hurt me in the most horrifying way possible. Isolated me from everyone until he was the only safe place. He was obsessed. When I tried to leave, he tried to kill me. My brother got there in time. He'd been looking for me because I'd been gone for weeks, staying with Tulio. I'd faintly told him about Tulio. He was the only person I trusted with my life. I knew he'd never hurt me. My trust grew stronger, but I became a completely different girl. I was a rebel, some said," I said with a smile and looked back up at Kalona. "That's when my parents sent me to Europe. Tulio was there. He must've had friends or something. But I don't understand it because…I was the only one that saw him. Luis told me that Tulio had died two weeks after the incident with me." I chuckled a little. "He thought I was crazy. That I was paranoid and he'd messed up my head so much, that I was seeing him, even after his death. But I began seeing many of them. Spirits, I mean. I can see earth-bound spirits and I help them crossover. That's why I'm not afraid of you. I've seen things much scarier than you. I've experienced things much scarier than you." He sat silently and his amber eyes went dark as he smirked.

"You speak to spirits?"

"Earthbound spirits. I…you don't believe me, do you?"

"No. I believe you. Very much, actually. So, you cannot bring spirits back…or humans?"

"Yes, I can. But I never will. I can't bring myself to do that." He watched me for a while and his eyes lightened again.

"I understand. I couldn't ask you to do that. There could be severe consequences."

"And I know a lot about consequences. I'm the queen of them. Capable of taking anything someone throws at me without hindrance or hesitation."

"Why is that?"

"Back in Rio, I was the one everybody wanted. The guys were dogs chasing behind me with their tails wagging and the girls were trying to hurt me because of that. Now, I wasn't much of a peaceful princess. I was rather prone of snapping back at the speed of light and going from 0 to 600 in a matter of seconds, but I never started anything…I just ended it. I'm really quick-tempered, by the way."

"I'm sure I can handle you, Angel." I stared at him for a second and paused with rubbing Blu's head.

"Can I ask you something?" He nodded and waited. "What would you do to get to me? What would you say to have your way?" His eyebrows formed a line in confusion.

"Where did that come from?"

"Animosity. I don't really trust you. You may not physically hurt me, but verbally or emotionally, those are two completely different things."

"Well, it depends. If my goal were to use you, then I would gain your trust and make you feel like this is the only place you are safe."

"But…isn't that your goal? To use me for whatever your plans are? That's what you told me and that's what you told your son."

"I have changed my mind. Yes, you may be of use, but that is not my reason for keeping you here."

"Then what is it?" I asked skeptically, not believing him.

"I do not know. You intrigue me so. I do not know what my plans are." I sat then snapped my head up to look at him, my gaze menacing.

"You know what I think? I think you know exactly what you're keeping me here for! You're just not stupid enough to tell me what it is because you know I'll leave the instant you tell me! Well, listen, Kalona, I don't quite like being used or played and as I've told you already, I'm highly flammable, and I will burn you to ashes if I find out you're lying to me right now, do I make myself crystal clear?" He stared at me in shock then nodded slowly. "Good. Now, please leave. I want to sleep and I'd rather not have you in here when I'm doing so because I can't trust you." He stood and walked out, closing the door behind him. Slipping into the shower and quickly changing into a silk black night gown, I thought of what his motives could be. I tried thinking of positive ones, but they always somehow turned into something bad. I sat on the edge of my bed and brushed my hair gently. "What do you think, Blu?" I asked him as he moved to sit by my feet. He laid his head on my knee and huffed. "Bark if you think he's got good intentions." He barked once and watched me with crystal blue eyes much too intelligent to belong to a dog. "Huff if you think there are bad ones, too." He huffed and I smiled. "I thought so, too. Good and bad. I agree." I flipped my hair over my shoulders as I finished brushing them and pulled it up into a ponytail before flicking off my light and climbing into bed. Blu hopped up beside me and laid down at the end of the bed. "Nitey-nite, Bluey." He gave a mini bark before I slowly drifted into a deep sleep.

Everything was more lifelike than anything I'd ever seen. It was all bright, green and fresh. I looked around with a smile, though I was confused.

"I see you like my home," an angelic voice said behind me. I turn to see a beautiful woman with a white glow on her. She was absolutely freaking gorgeous!

"Uh, yeah. It's beautiful."

"I'm Nyx, goddess of the night. It is so very nice to meet you, Angel."

"How did you know my name?"

"I have been watching you, daughter. You are very talented. You use your gift to help others, instead of using it to destroy. My fallen warrior, Kalona, on the other hand, has a mixed mindset. He has ideas of destruction, then something odd happens that has to do with you, and he forgets it. He has gravely incompetent emotions for you that have no likeness to any of the others he has loved, even me. You must try to change him. The one he was once in love with, Zoey Redbird, no longer holds him. He is yours now. Change him, Angel. Lead him back to me."

"How do I do that?"

"Love. Kindness."

"Um…not to burst your bubble, your graciousness, but love and kindness aren't really my thing. I work more along the lines of persuasion, manipulation, ya know." She smiled and I gaped at her beauty.

"And I'm aware as to why. You barely believe in love, let alone abide by it. You must try to change him, regardless. In any way you think will be successful." I shrugged and nodded.

"Okay. I can do that for you. It was very nice meeting you, Nyx. And thank you for bringing me into your home. It's beautiful." She nodded and started to disappear. I could feel him before he even touched me. "

Awaken, my daughter. Kalona is solely forbidden from entering my realm. He needs you." I obeyed. My eyes fluttered open and I found Kalona sitting beside my head watching me. I sighed in restfulness and turned towards him.

"Good morning," I said with a small smile. His eyes glinted then they returned to normal.

"You're going to school. I have your uniforms." I looked away from his face and began tracing along the veins in his forearm and hand.

"Tell me about your banishment." He tensed and I glanced up at his face. His eyes were grave and now had a growing dark shadow around them. "Relax. I don't judge. I'm not particularly fit to judge anyone, you know."

"I don't…you have to get ready for school." I sat up and cocked my head to the side a little. "No. You can't miss school." I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

"Oh please. You could care less about me going to school. You'd rather I not, but it's what I want." He narrowed his eyes and I smiled. "Okay," I said with a laugh. "If I get out of your hair for the 8 ½ hours I'll be in school, will you promise to tell me about it later and keep that promise?" He pondered it and sighed in defeat.

"Yes." I beamed and stood up.

"Yay! I can't believe you just let a 15 year old bribe you that easily." I grabbed a ponytail holder off of my dresser and scurried off into the bathroom to get ready. Three hours later, I came out wearing my silk black robe over a pair of matching green Victoria Secret underclothes. My hair was perfectly straightened from its stubborn curls, my eyeliner and lip gloss were done to perfection and I smelled of warm vanilla. I moved to my closet and searched for my uniforms, but they were nowhere to be found. I searched the rest of the room, but still came up with nothing. I tied the strings of my robe tight around my waist and padded down to Kalona's room. He wasn't there. I slowly walked down the million stairs that formed a box version of an S. I found nothing but an extremely nice foyer, a huge and fancy kitchen, a small library, the front door and a dining room. I rushed upstairs and walked back to his room. His patio door was open. I walked out onto the patio and searched the skies. I found something with black wings, but it damn sure wasn't Kalona. A pair of bright red eyes set on me and a sneer pulled at the beak as the man-sized raven hopped off the roof. I backed away back inside and he followed me. "Where is Kalona?" I asked, trying my hardest to sound braver than I felt. I knew he wouldn't hurt me. Blu wasn't in here trying to kill the damned thing, but it's kinda hard to stay calm when there's a huge black raven with red eyes the size of a full grown man moving towards you with an evil sneer. I felt my heart begin to pump quickly, but Blu wasn't here, so this bird thing must not want to hurt me…though he seemed pretty convincing. My back hit the door and he smirked.

"My father is gone. He has taken your pet with him." My eyes widened as I felt my heart crash. I was about to be hurt…Blu just wasn't here to let me know that. Oh shit.

Kalona's POV

This insolent dog won't stop barking and trying to run. He knew there was a reason he didn't like animals. He grabbed the dog's leash tighter and yanked it. This is what happens when he tries to please a woman. He gets dragged all around the city looking for a spot for the damned thing to relieve itself then it goes berserk and tries to get away. Kalona growled, losing his patience and the dog growled back, staring at him with annoyance and slight urgency. Kalona sighed in anger then the dog's blue eyes locked with his and he was in a trance. He saw Angel. Her silver eyes filled with fear and tears that streaked down her cheeks. She was backed against the wall crying.

"Please! Please, just stop! Let me go!" His son appeared then in front of her, his body pressed to hers. He smiled.

"Now, why on earth would I do that?" he hissed before tearing away her robe. She screamed, then his son was on the ground shaking spasmodically. Her eyes widened as she stared at him. Another person stepped over his body and smirked at Angel. He had curly black hair cut short, red eyes and an evil sneer.

"Angel. You have no idea how much I've missed you." He touched her cheek gently, lovingly. She froze and cringed a little.

"Tulio? You're…you're alive."

"Not necessarily, love. I'm actually the living dead…undead." The vision disappeared and Kalona growled before allowing the dog to run towards the condo. Kalona moved out of human eyes and shot up into the sky in rage before flying to the condo. He and the dog arrived at the same time. Kalona entered through his room and found Angel balled up in by the door with her legs pulled to her chest, her arms wrapped around them and her head buried in her knees as she cried. He knelt beside her and touched her arm.

"He left," she said in a low voice. "Please don't ever take Blu away from me. He knows how to take care of himself." She looked up at him, her face streaked with tears and her eyes were reddening. She quickly grabbed hold of his shirt and placed her face into his chest before moving closer and fully burying herself in him, her body curling with his. He was unsure at first, but then he wrapped his arms around her. He never comforted anyone. He was usually the one who caused pain. He had never been gentle with anyone aside from Nyx, A-Ya and Zoey, and even they couldn't compare to this. He touched her as if she was a priceless fragile object that even the slightest touch would break her. She began whimpering again and he pulled her closer. Why was he feeling like this so quickly? With Nyx, it was automatic because you automatically love her because she is your goddess, A-Ya was beautiful and reminded him of Nyx, and Zoey is the reincarnate of A-Ya and has qualities of Nyx, so that makes easy sense, but Angel is nothing like Nyx or A-Ya or even Zoey. She's stubborn and quick-tempered and it takes a lot to scare her. What is it about this utterly disrespectful girl who can't keep her mouth shut long enough to spare her own life? "Why did you take him?"

"Humans do so to relieve the dog. I was doing the same."

"You took him out to use the bathroom…even though you have no idea how to handle a dog, let alone a special one like Blu?" He shrugged slightly and she looked up at him, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "You know, for an evil immortal/fallen warrior, you're a big sweetheart." He narrowed his eyes and she snuggled back into his chest. "That doesn't affect me, ya know."

"Really?" She giggled and shook her head.

"Not even the slightest. I only have one major fear."

"And what is that?"

"Being forced to wear the color pink or white." She gave a faux shiver of disgust and Kalona's laugh boomed.

"Out of all the things to fear, you fear a color."

"No. Not just a color. Pink and white." She sighed and began tracing his veins like she'd done earlier that morning. "You know, now would be a good time to tell me about your banishment." Kalona tensed and his veins popped out more, causing her to look up at him.

"I said later."

"It is later. Why not now? What's wrong with right now?"

"I didn't give a specific day of later. I could mean days, weeks, months, years even decades or centuries from now." She froze and her eyes grew dark.

"Well played," she said in a stone-like voice as she pushed away from him and walked out the room with the dog following behind. "And where the hell are my uniforms?" she screamed angrily. Kalona smirked and rose to get her the uniforms that were in his room. He retrieved them and took them to her. She snatched them out of his hand and slammed the door in his face after a sarcastic 'thank you'.

Angel's POV

I cannot believe he really played me like that. When I said later, I meant later today, not years from now. I might be dead by then, and between his bird boy son and Tulio coming back, that's not really a farfetched thought. I looked down at my uniform lain across my bed. A pleated gray skirt that stopped just above my knees and a red polo shirt with the school logo on it. I slipped it on along with a pair of dark shear stockings and a pair of black combat boots. I put on my ruby earrings and my 'V' necklace before grabbing a coat and walking downstairs. Kalona was in the kitchen pacing, but stopped when I entered. His eyes traveled from my face to my feet and back slowly. I felt myself blush and mentally slapped myself. I was being the biggest pussy in the history of pussies. I had been ever since he'd brought me to this damned condo. It'd only been 3 days and already I'd cried my eyes out twice and shared basically my entire life story. And to top it all off, he'd seen what changes my emotions. Fear, anger, pain. And I hated that he knew what to do to affect me. He also knew how to make me happy, which could easily be used for manipulation. I should know. Manipulation is my thing, you know. I made an effort to glare at him as I grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge and slam the fridge shut. His face was unreadable, but his eyes lit up with amusement. "I'm leaving. Blu!" I called. He came jogging down the steps much too gracefully for a 150 pound pure muscle dog that stands 4'11'' tall. He moved to my side and I rubbed his head and grabbed an apple off the table where a bunch of fruit sat in a glass bowl. So cliché, but whatever. I pivoted and walked towards the door with Blu right behind me. Kalona grabbed my arm and Blu spun around and growled ferociously, his razor teeth flashing bright white. Kalona ignored Blu's warning and I turned to face him quickly, glancing down at his hand on my arm then up to his face.

"Are you upset?"

"Kalona, let go of me."

"I assume that is a yes. I don't want you to be upset, Angel."

"Well, I want you to tell me about your banishment, but we don't always get what we want, now do we?" He smirked and in one swift motion I couldn't keep up with, he yanked me forward and I slammed into his chest. I tried to replay everything in my mind as he slipped his arms around my waist and traced his finger up and down my spine. Now, if you were in the arms of an extremely hot, cocky, sexifide guy who you notice just so happens to be a perfect fit with your body as you are wrapped in his strong arms, what would you do? Me? Well, I just stared in his face like a big idiot and froze like a statue. But, I'm an idiot, so I have an excuse. Right? He smiled and moved his face close to mine until his lips were centimeters from mine. I sucked in a breath, parted my lips and closed my eyes, waiting for the kiss that I knew would make my knees weak.

"Are you still upset?" he whispered in a knowing voice.

"Y-yes," I whispered, my voice trembling. He kissed the corner of my mouth softly.

"How about now?"

"Kalona…please…don't."

"Kiss me." I hesitated then shook my head.

"No."

"What?" He looked stunned at my rejection, which gave me a huge boost of much needed confidence.

"I said…no." He furrowed his eyebrows and watched me. I pushed away from him and almost made it out of his grip, but he tightened his arms and pulled me close again before crushing his lips to mine. As expected, I was a wimp and my knees gave out on me. He tightened his arms more to hold me up and I wrapped my arms around his neck. My fingers laced into his thick black hair and gripped. I forced my body closer and his head closer, deepening the kiss and making it almost impossible for him to move away. I began slipping down. He grabbed my thighs and lifted me up, forcing my legs around his waist. I gasped for air as we pulled away for all of 2 seconds before our lips were connected again. He moved to my neck and began kissing my throat.

"Ka…Kalona. I have to go." He smiled and gave one breathed laugh.

"No you don't. Stay with me," he mumbled against my skin.

"I can't. I have to go. Stop."

"No. You don't want to leave me." My cell phone rang and I leaned back to break our contact, which didn't work because he just moved forward.

"Kalona, stop. I have to answer the phone and I have to go." He ignored me and I loosened my legs from around his waist. He slammed me against the wall and gripped my waist tight before crushing his lips to mine in a kiss that made my knees buckle and I slumped on the wall. It was like the time I took a hammer and smacked a girl in school with it, leaving her with a damaged skull and a really bad concussion. She almost died. Almost. I pushed against his chest, and suddenly he wasn't on me anymore. I heard a loud crashing sound, then my mind registered that he was lying across the room and there was a huge dent in the wall. My eyes widened and I looked at Blu for confirmation. He gave a low bark that meant he was just as clueless as me and cocked his head to the side a little. I turned back to Kalona and he was getting up. "What did I do?"

"I don't know…but we're not going to find out. Get your phone, go to school." He grabbed my phone, but it crumbled in his hand.

"Kalona! Why would you do that?" I yelled as I snatched the remains from his hand. "Do you know how fucking much this shit cost! Have you lost your fucking mind? I really hope you plan on buying me a newer and better phone because if not, I am going to kill you in the most torturous fucking way I can think of! And just a heads up, I'm not too right in the head, so I can think of billions of fucking ways! What the hell is your prob─" He kissed me again, silencing my angry rant. A few sweet moments later, he pulled away. I glared at him and looked down at my phone in a pout. "Dude, that credit card is so mine and I'm using it to buy a new phone." I tossed the phone onto the table not far away and grabbed my backpack as I hurried out the house with Blu right behind me before he could do anything else to make me fall. I opened the door for Blu to get in then slid into the cool car and started it before driving in the direction my built-in GPS gave me to get to my all-girls charter school. When I arrived, it was in the middle of first period. I climbed out and Blu hopped out after me. I checked myself in my window before walking up the path to the school. As I entered the warm building, I couldn't help but smile as memories flooded back to me. Damn, I really missed this place. I followed my routine way to get to my first period class and smiled as I opened the door slowly. My teacher, Miss Berish, turned in my direction as I stepped into the classroom. Everyone gasped then erupted in applause, shocking me. Well, I had been gone for about a month on a break away from everyone. I didn't know I would be missed this much…nah, I'm just joshing ya! I knew I would be terribly missed because without me, this school is completely dead. I moved to Miss Berish's desk where she stood getting notes for the lecture she was in the middle of.

"Well, Miss Cavalcanti, so nice of you to join us again. Are you well?"

"Yes. Just a minor migraine." She smiled and motioned me to my seat. I moved to it and my acquaintance, Lira, turned to me with a small smile before returning her attention to the lecture. I don't have friends here. I have acquaintances and associates. I don't get close to anyone due to the fact that I don't really plan on being here long. Plus, I have a hard time trusting people. Once class was over, I was ambushed by everyone with questions of my MIAism. By the time I'd gotten to my locker, I'd shooed them all off.

"Wow. Angel Cavalcanti and her groupies," a deep musical voice said behind me in amusement and I turned to see super hot bad-boy/nerd/player/Mr. Popular, Blaine Perez, who goes to MCSAB. I gave him a quick look-over then turned back to my open locker, hiding my swoon easily and seeming unfazed by his presence.

"Oh, hey. It's Blaine, right?"

"Really? 'It's Blaine, right'? You're not sure?" I turned to him and gave a longer look-over before turning back again.

"No. Am I supposed to be?"

"Kinda."

"Didn't get the memo. What's up?" I asked as I looked down at my binder and adjusted the papers in it. He slammed his hand onto the door of my locker and closed it. His body was extremely close to the point that I felt his cool breath on my neck and the hairs on the back of it stood up as a silent, unnoticed shiver ran up and down my spine. He slid over and leaned onto the locker next to mine.

"Why are you so…nonchalant?" I looked at him, my perfect eyebrows furrowed.

"Am I supposed to be anything else?"

"Maybe a little stunned that I came to see you. Me. Blaine Perez, came to see you, a sophomore with a bad attitude." I rolled my eyes and switched my weight to my right leg.

"Look, Blaine, you're cute and you may be a nice guy way, way , way deep down inside, but I'm really not interested." He smiled then and I was wondering if he was mentally ill.

"Ah. That's what it is. You have heard of me…just not good things." Well, damn. How did he know that? Maybe he's a psychic mind-reader, too. "Angel, you shouldn't believe everything you hear and you definitely shouldn't judge. I was told a lot about you that turns out to be completely wrong."

"Like…?"

"I was told you were a bitch, you glared at everything, you were a bitch, you thought you were better than everybody, you were a bitch, you liked attention at all times, you were a bitch, you talked a lot of shit…shall I continue?" I shrugged and looked away from him. "But none of that is true. You're not a bitch, you just speak your mind, you only glare at nonsense, you don't think you're above anyone, you just carry yourself like a smart, independent and respectable girl, you're not attention hungry, you're just overly fed with it, you don't bitch, you're just stubborn and you talk shit about things that make no sense."

"How is it possible to be hot, a nerd and a player?" He grinned and shrugged.

"Just a gift. So tell me, Angel, what are your own thoughts of me so far? Not what you've been told and not what others think. I want your opinion. That's the only one that counts." I gave a breathed scoff/laugh.

"Cute. Really?" He nodded and I sighed. "Uh, I don't really have any. You're cute, funny, a total nerd, completely full of yourself and an objection to nature."

"Objection to nature?"

"Yes. You can't be Mr. Popular and be the biggest nerd at MCSAB. It just doesn't work that way." He laughed and moved a stray strand of hair from my face. "So, did you just come see me to see if the rumors were true or were there other intentions? Because if not, you can go now." He watched me for a second then smiled.

"There were other intentions. I was hoping you would give me a chance to show you that I'm not just a conceited, stuck-up asshole."

"I never said─"

"You didn't have to. I know that's what you thought. Am I wrong? If I'm wrong, tell me." I smiled, impressed.

"You're good at that mind-reading thing."

"So, is that a yes on my chance?" I thought about it and was about to say yes, then remembered Kalona. There was no way in hell he was going to be fine with me going out with another guy after that little incident this morning, and I'm not talking about the unknown happenings of me pushing him across the room or the phone crushing. But, technically, he did say I could do whatever I wanted, basically…

"Yes." His face lit up like a five year old on Christmas.

"Great! Friday?" I nodded and he kissed my hand. "See you then. Pick you up at seven."

"You don't even know where I live, Romeo."

"Yes I do. I was at every party you threw. I could get to your house blindfolded and handcuffed," he called as he headed to the exit. I shook my head and turned back to my locker to see a piece of paper stuck to my locker. On it was Blaine's cell number.