Chapter 13

I would just like to point out the song "I may fall" from Rwby is one of the inspirations to this and to angel wings. Because of the verse "Born an angel, heaven sent, falls from grace are never elegant"...yup... sorry about the wait please forgive me and thanks for waiting!

I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief as Sebastian came to my rescue, scrambling away from Ash as fast as I could. The pain from the slashes searing on my back like fire as my flesh began to close the wound. Sebastian circled Ash carefully, hellfire burning in his wild eyes. It was obvious he wasn't ready to let Ash off easy after his last trick.

"My, my, you're quite troublesome." Ash spoke, forcing a nervous chuckle, his lilac eyes never leaving the demon. Sebastian seemed unamused by the comment, keeping a straight face as he lunged at the corrupt angel. The clanging of knives and swords filling the air.

For a moment I could do nothing but sit at Ciel's feet, gasping as I waited for my scars to heal, the molding flesh searing into my back. I could feel the boy's eyes on me, analyzing me with his cold critical gaze, as if I was nothing more than a mere device waiting for him to put me to use. Only a few moments had passed, and Sebastian's attacks had grown only more ferocious. The angel forced farther and farther back, obviously on the ropes. The raven haired demon to powerful for the angel's petty mind games. It looked like everything was going to be fine, until there was a rustling behind me, Alois and his faithful demon emerging from the bushes into our circular arena.

No!

"Oi!" Alois snapped, his eyes landing on me angrily before rising to the commotion, his gaze sharpening. "You again?" he snarled, recognizing the angel from the ball, a personal hatred blazing in his heart and I couldn't help but wonder what had happened after I'd left them. "Claude kill the angel, then we'll deal with her." he paused, glancing down at my scarred and bloody back. "After all she's not going anywhere." I cringed at his words but before Claude could step forward he'd caught Ash's gaze, a wicked smile curving his lips, tilting his sword it seemed to vibrate, the spider demon doubling over in pain instantly, covering his ears from the shrieking sword, his golden eyes faded as he lashed out, slicing through the side of Sebastian's petticoat with his golden knives. Sebastian had no choice but to switch targets, turning his attention to Claude, the two slashing at each other.

"Claude what are you doing!?" Alois screamed from beside me, I could feel his dirty presence on my bare back, tensing painfully just from knowing he was there.

"It's not his fault." I told the boy. "That sword has a certain control over spirits...including angels and demons." The boy's eyes sharpened on mine but I remained unfazed, keeping a cold indifferent expression. Turning back to the battle to see Ash lunging after me, sword at the ready. Eyes widening I grabbed Alois and Ciel by the ankles, kicking off and sending us all tumbling backwards in a messy dogpile. The humans rolling off groggily to the side, grumbling. I was already on my feet, my chest heaving as I kept my eyes trained on Ash. What chance did an injured, and weaponless fallen angel have against a well powered arch like Ash? As he stepped forward I dashed to the side, retreating behind the large box tomb at the center of the clearing. Ash followed, the two of us mere blurs of colors, circling the tomb in a game of cat and mouse.

The world was a mess around me, the pain and adrenaline blurring everything. That's when I found it. A sign that God had not yet forgotten his angel. One final saving grace. Two swords sheathed in the crest of the tomb. With one frightened glance at Ash I dashed for them, slipping my hands around their hilts and pulling them free, spinning back to face the angel.

Ash paused, surprised by my resourcefulness...not that it made much of a difference. This time when he lunged, I didn't retreat, raising the swords in defense. The inevitable clang echoing a harmony to Sebastian and Claude. The two of us swinging and twirling around each other in some twisted dance of death. His sword glistening like diamonds in the moonlight, while I was just lucky mine didn't fall apart in my hands.

It only took a moment for Ash to get me on my knees, both swords raised to fend him off, but he just kept pressing me down, too powerful for me to outmatch. My heart buzzed in my chest, fluttering like a robin's, my eyes falling over the rest of his perfect porcelain body...and his not so perfect stance. With an instant to spare I took the shot, releasing one sword from our lock and striking the back of his locked knee with the back of the blade. The angel fumbled, my other sword slicing up, straight through the handle of the soul sword, blood staining his impaled hand with a yell as I sent his blade flying. With one final push of desperation I leapt up at it, dropping my weapons and taking it by the hand, landing gracefully on the roof of the mausoleum, staring down as Ash mourned his now crippled hand. Claude and Sebastian slowed to a stop, the usual sharpness returning to the demon's golden eyes as the swords spell on him was broken. I could feel the swords strength pulsing through me, seeming to swirl around me, the power nearly intoxicating. I could almost hear it, like the sword was whispering to me, and I knew instinctively how to use it. Pointing it at Ash's shriveled from my gaze sharpened. I could see his aura now. A murky white swirling around a blackened heart, no more than an illusion.

"That light is not yours." I growled, voice booming as the sword vibrated in my hand, the angel throwing his head back, howling in pain as his wings began to shrivel, feather by feather they turned black before falling apart completely, his crisp white tuxedo rotting with his flesh before with a final swing of the sword, he vanished all together, leaving behind nothing but a cursed memory. I could still feel the swords power, turning my gaze to each of the others in turn. Claude and Sebastian's souls were similar, darkness, pure and unrivaled darkness. However Sebastian's was increasingly more powerful than the spider's his aura larger, hidden within the folds of his suit. Next I turned to the boys, blue, purple and grey confusion tainted by the darkness of their given demon. My soul was a mirror image of Ash's. White, hidden by a veil darkness that the now fallen angel had placed over me. But now, with the sword I could slice through it, and return to the heaven I once knew. I was in the spotlight now, the moon's rays singling me out on my stage as, for the first time I unraveled my midnight wings, beautiful in their own cruel way. With a tightening grip on the sword my wings fell apart, feather by feather drifting painlessly to the ground, outgrown by their fresh, white replacements. The beautiful process lasting only a moment. Alois seemed more than satisfied with his show, his awe stricken lips twisting into a smirk.

"I saw them! I saw her wings Claude!" The blonde exclaimed to the all too unenthusiastic demon.

"Very well your highness. Do you wish to return home now?"

Ignoring the demon, Alois made his way up to me as I leapt down from the monument, my snow white wings spread out proudly, however I couldn't help but cringe as he approached, so familiar with the child's brash manner. However this time Sebastian did not stand up to defend me, instead the demon remained at his master's side.

"Are you satisfied child?" I asked, I couldn't help but remain on edge, staring down at him intently, with my nearly sarcastic comment.

"I finally got to see your wings...all it took was the death of another angel." he snickered, myself tensing at such a cruel phrasing. "They were amazing."

"Were?" I faltered? Causing the blonde to grin.

"Were." He stressed. "They were much more intriguing black. They are too bland now." he explained with a lazy wave of his hand. "To boring." I gaped at him as he returned to Claude's side, making his way towards the entrance of the courtyard, pausing to smile at me, over his shoulder. "Goodbye my angel." he teased. "It was fun while it lasted." as he walked away with a pep in his step, forgetting me the moment he turned away as if I was insignificant as he proceeded to talk with Claude excitedly, the demon glancing back at me in distaste before they vanished into the wooded graveyard, leaving me to stare after them dumbfounded.

"Crystal." Ciel demanded, both hands resting lightly on his cane as he stared at me. "I suppose this marks the end of our partnership?" I stared at him, confused for a moment before Sebastian placed a hand to his chest, bowing his head lightly.

"What my master means to say, is that now that the soul sword has returned to your hand and you have been redeemed, will you be returning to heaven?" I was surprised by Sebastian's polite tone, having expected his facade to fade or at least falter in the presence of a true angel.

"Yes." I answered, curtseying to the demonic souls. "Thank you for your protection for the last few days... it is truly appreciated." Sebastian's gaze lingered for only a moment, as if trying to convey a message, or sort through a puzzle before he turned his back, following after the now retreating form of his master. I couldn't pull my gaze from them right away, the entire ordeal taking a moment to sink in as I finally turned by head skyward. Holding up the sword, light rays flooded over me, bathing the silver blade in pale moon light. I was too lost in thought to enjoy the moment.

I wasn't sure what to do anymore. The ordeal not something easily forgotten. For even a few short days I had resided with a demon and his master for the betterment of humanity. It seemed like something to far-fetched for me to believe even for myself. It sounded unlike any story, or legend. It sounded like...a bad fanfiction.

The end

(AND IT'S DONE! lol it took me so long! I'm so sorry! But I had to include the last line lol)