Hey, guys. Welcome back :). This story might be ending soon so I want to take this second to let you all know how much I love you guys and how thankful I am for reading this. There will only be , at maximum, three more chapters and at minimum, just this one. Oh, and I'm sorry the last chapter sucked so much. No, none of you said that. I just read it and totally hated it. So, sorry. Anyways, because it was so bad I'm going to wing it a bit because I can't work with that last chapter too much. Well, guys, cross your fingers. Read On!

Damien

I laid awake, Phelos beside me in my bed. Part of me ached to touch him, to stroke the soft feathers that I had come to love. But, he looked to peaceful, and I didn't dare to wake him up.

"No," he mumbled to soft I almost didn't hear him. I looked at his face and saw his eyes were squeezed shut, his dreams turned to nightmares. "Father, no." I was trying to decide if I should wake him up. "Father, please!" I took his hand and his face softened slightly. "Father…" Then, all at once, his faded back into the peaceful mask he had worn before.

Phelos

Father was angry. He called for me and, like the good son I had always wanted to be, I came to him. I could see the rage in his eyes, could feel the blows before they came. He didn't even bother saying anything. He just fisted his hand and rammed it into my stomach.

"No," I moaned. He punched me harder for having made any noise. He took my wing and broke it in his palm and, hard as I tried, I could not prevent the scream that left my lips. "Father, no," I groaned, feeling in my heart how I would never fly again. His fist slammed into my mouth, busting my mouth. He broke my wrist in his hands. "Father, please!" I begged. He hurled me across the room to lie in a pool of my own blood and walked away. "Father," I whispered. I felt the pain in every piece of my body. I saw black around the edges of my vision and I was unsure if I would die, or if I was just blacking out in pain. My vision narrowed and I prayed for rescue from Rephaim…

The world faded to black and when I opened my eyes again I did not immediately comprehend. It was still black and the images around me faded.

"Hello, Phelos," said a voice in the darkness.

"It was a dream," I stated but she replied as though it was a question.

"Yes, a nightmare which I pulled you out of."

"Why?"

"You did not deserve to suffer like that." The unsaid again hang in the like whisper, echoing again and again until it made his head spin.

"Why do you care?" he asked. This person had done so much to help him, even when he did not deserve it, though he did not even know her name.

"I care for all who live in Light." He felt a light caress like a kiss on his forehead but still could not see a form. "Go now, for your Damien awaits you. He is concerned for your well-being." I cocked my head, a question mark on my face. There was a short chuckle and I could hear the smirk in her voice. "You talk in your sleep." With that, the dream fell away as I was accustomed.

I awoke to Damien hovering over me, love and concern obvious in his eyes. I put a hand on his cheek and his brown eyes shut in content.

"I was worried."

"It was only a bad dream, Damien. I am fine." He kissed my forehead and I felt a rush of pleasure. I found my thoughts wandering to how it must be to have to lips, to be able to kiss him as I longed to. But, I simply leaned my head towards him and allowed him to cradle me.

"I love you, my Phelos."

"And I you, my Damien." I gripped his hand, wanting more than I've ever wanted anything to be normal, to be human and to be mortal for him. "I'm sorry," whispered, too quiet for him to hear. There was a rap on the cave wall beside the blanket covering his, our room. We did not jump apart but moved into a less intimate position. We stayed with our hands gripped but, rather than him holding me, he simply sat beside me.

"Come in," he said. Rephaim walked in, hair braided with a single black feather. He only took a glance at our entwined fingers and I felt a rush for my brother. He didn't even seem to care that the person I loved was not of the opposite gender. He sat next to me.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," I said back. I wanted so many things at this point. I felt a rush of anger at him for leaving, I felt a rush of gratitude for all the times he'd saved me. I felt joy at his happiness but jealousy because he could kiss Stevie Rae and be human with her. I didn't know what to say. Damien kissed my forehead again and left. Rephaim- rather unexpectedly- hugged me.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I left and he almost killed you, Phelos. Why didn't I take you with me?"

"Because you wanted to escape. You wanted Stevie Rae. You didn't think I would leave." I sighed. "But I would have followed you anywhere. You were my savior, the only reason I didn't die as a child. I owe you my life and I am so thankful." Anger and gratitude had been handled. "I'm glad you are happy, Rephaim." I know he detected the undercurrent of jealousy but did not comment on it. There was nothing to be done.

"Thank you. Remember, little brother, love is eternal." Rephaim then sighed and looked my in the eye. "Father is coming." My heart skipped a beat. When it started again it was much faster and each beat was accompanied by one word. No. No no no no no no nonononononono.

"No," I finally said out loud. He nodded sadly.

"I saw him flying, looking for you. We are his sons and blood calls to blood. Two of us in such close proximity makes us easier to find. He is coming and he is coming for you." Then, as if to enunciate the end of the sentence, there was a sound of great, rushing wings.

"My sons. They are here. Where are they?" my father's voice echoed through the tunnels. I felt sick to my stomach but, with no other choice, I rose to my feet. Damien waited for me out of the door. He held out his hand and I gripped it tightly.

"I love you, always," I told him. He just squeezed my hand, but he didn't have to say anything in return. I already knew. We walked slowly, together, Damien gripping my hand and Rephaim with his arm around my shoulders. We walked upstairs to the entrance to see everyone already gathered. Rephaim squeezed my shoulder once but went to stand with Stevie Rae. I understood. Damien was the only one I wanted to stand with.

"Ah, Phelos," Father greeted me. I resisted the ingrained urge to kneel.

"Father," I said back, my voice stiff but strong. I saw his eyes narrow and his jaw clench as he caught sight of Damien's hand in mine.

"And what," he said through his clenched teeth, "is this?"

CLIFF HANGER! MWAHAHAHAHA! I think I've figured out how I want to do this. One or two more chapters after this and then an epilogue. We're so close to the end, guys :'(. Well, review. Tell me what you thought. I like this chapter because it gives you not only a view of Damien and Phelos but also Rephaim and Phelos. Erm, Kalona's here to cause problems :). That's really all I have to say, except that I can now insult people in Elizabethan language. TRIP ON THY SWORD THOU LUMPY MILK-LIVERED FOOT-LICKER (or bladder, whichever you prefer :D). Laughing, StevieRae2011, signing off!