Return of the Angels

It was a hot day and there was by far nothing to do that would entertain the slightest creature. Celine, having not being able to sleep through the night, was standing outside the base of the Guardian Force; leaning against its solid grey wall that surrounded its perimeter. She was swinging a foot back and forth, trying to decide what she should do for the rest of the day. The sun was nothing more than a beckon in the sky, indicating the time of day. The only time that she could see it being majestic was when it was rising or setting. Other than that, on hot days like today, the sun was nothing more than a bore that couldn't even have eyes look upon it.

The sands were a burning crisp underneath the intense gaze of the ball of fire in the sky. There were no clouds to cover it up, but the intense heat continuing to scorch the grounds. For some reason, no heat could affect her as she stood upon the sand with her feet baring no material. Her shoes were beside her, but she wore her normal battle suit. She would go nowhere without it. How could she never be affected by the blistering sun above? She didn't know. Perhaps it was what was in her blood that made her so different to the rest of the creatures on the planet. Her skin could never be tanned just remain the same creamy white as normal.

"Celine," a female voice called out and her body automatically pushed itself away from the wall and turned towards the speaker.

The girl was a silver haired female with wonderful blue eyes. She wore her battle suit as well, a one piece suit that covered everything to her knees and to her elbows. The heat must be affecting her as when she reached the blonde she was out of breath and her forehead was shining with sweat. She stood and wiped her forehead with her arm and gazed at her friend happily.

"What are you doing out here? The meeting has been called to order."

"A meeting that does not require my presence," Celine stated and turned back towards the horizon.

"What happens if there's an argument in there?"

"Does my presence really need to attend a meeting just to keep things in order?"

"People get inspiration from you," she tried to argue.

"Their minds have their own ideas, I do not help them. I would just be a watcher in what they do in human society. I want no part in that until my mission is completely fulfilled."

"Which is when, Celine?" she said as she stood with her hands on her hips. "When would your mission be finished? Or are you just cowering out of the things you could possibly do here?"

It was a strange turn of events that even surprised Celine to looking humane for once. Her dark blue eyes were wide as they turned towards her silver haired friend. Looking down and away her eyes casted sadness. Self pity…? Possibly! Celine has not yet indulged herself into this world like any other being would do. Instead she more fascinated on protecting this planet from demons that are coming. She wouldn't know when they would be here but she could feel them drawing ever closer. Foreigners to this planet, just like she was!

"Leave it alone, Storm. I don't need to argue with you what I must and mustn't do."

"Celine…" she spoke with sadness in her tone. Had she realized the steps she had taken? Realizing that Celine no longer wanted to share extra words with her, she turned around and walked back.

Were they breaking apart so early? Celine couldn't believe it but that step had been taken and she had reacted in a way she probably shouldn't have. She may be in the wrong this time, but she may only have caused half of what Storm has caused. Maybe the pair of them was to blame for this. The stress from her own mission was causing Celine's mind to become too warped around defending the planet that maybe she wasn't realizing what it was doing to the people around her. But at the same time, the ignorance that Storm was showing might be making her less observant of Celine's feelings and actions.

Grabbing her shoes she walked back towards the base with as much interest as the endless sands. Her feet touched the hot surface of the solid concrete that was built over the sand, but still the warmth of the ground came as no affect to her. She clenched the material of her boots in her hands as a thought dawned on her. Perhaps discovering her identity and blood had made her become so cold that nothing could so easily affect and sway her. Perhaps she had drawn herself a line from humans and grew distant from it that might be the reason why she was acting this way. Perhaps it was all her fault for discovering the truth about herself.

"Hey, Celine…"

Her eyes looked up from the grey floor and into the dark eyes of Van Flyheight. His brown hair was tied back and spiked like usual and the usual curiosity was set upon his face. She still had a feeling that this boy was taking a little bit longer to finally accept that she hadn't died back then. Maybe she had died as Sapphire, but she had been replaced by the truth, by the real her and not the lie. Sapphire was just someone who had been created by the Imperial Army and used for their own leverage. Now she stood before everyone as someone new and ready to make up for those mistakes she created in the past.

"What is it Van?"

"I was wondering if you want to go down and see how Raven's doing with me."

"I'm surprised you want to bother yourself with your rival."

"Well even if he is the most dangerous criminal found so far, we still have to treat our prisoners in the correct way."

"It's fine, I was just thinking stupidly."

"Well, do you want to come down with me?"

"Sure, I wouldn't mind tagging along with you."

So the pair of them walked together through the base and greeted those that had greeted them. But her mind couldn't help but unconsciously slip back to how she treated Storm. It was a little rude of her and she had never spoken like that to her before. Maybe it had really upset her and perhaps she should apologize after she's gone down to see Raven. She'd have to think about this once she and Van have sorted out Raven.

They entered the prison quarters and walked down the steps that soon grew into a long dark tunnel that was highlighted by the dim lights above their heads. Celine frowned at how poorly lit this place was. Sitting behind a desk was a giant muscled man. He was wearing a black top that had sleeves looked as if they were ripped off. He was already looking up as he must have heard their footsteps come down those stairs. He stood up and he towered the pair of them. He was a like a giant, literally. This was where she noticed that he wore dark jeans.

"Van Flyheight, Celine, what can I do for you?" he spoke in deep heavy voice, but there was most definitely respect in his voice.

"We're here to see Raven." Van announced in a calm voice.

He nodded and took a stick that he soon lighted as he led them down the tunnel. Celine walked last in the group and she looked in each of the cells. There were criminals of all kinds and it looked as if they were poorly treated. Does Van even know about this? She looked up at him and wondered whether or not this was what he meant by treating prisoners in the correct way. Each person from behind bars had slunk back as they walked down, but they were all looking at her, as if they knew what she was and if she was there to offer them salvation and a place in heaven.

Did they know she was part of that circle?

She kept behind Van and stopped when she no longer heard their foot falls on the stone.

"You must be careful that you don't go too close. He's already assaulted a few that brought him food."

Celine looked towards the cell that he lit up with the torch. Inside the cell was no better than any other. She could see that he was given a bed that was clung to the wall by two thick chains and one blanket. The floor was dirty and filthy and she could just barely see Raven as he lay on the bed, just looking at them with a mischievous glint in his violet eyes. She didn't hear when Van gave his thanks and the giant walked away, taking the light source with him. So it quickly darkened and she was no longer able to see his eyes until Van lit his own torch that he was given.

"Van Flyheight…" Raven spoke as if he could laugh that it was him who stood before him.

"Raven…" Van spoke scornfully.

There was a lot of history between the two of them, so much that there was anger in it. Celine knew the story of the pair of them, that they had fought so many times, they probably knew each other more than anyone else. She had no need to second guess the reason each other hated each other, but she had a feeling that there was something that was supposed to have developed but never even had the chance to. It doesn't matter, Celine was not one to dwell on the past, not no longer. She was someone else and only she and her friends of the Guardian Force knew it.

"What are you doing down here visiting a lowly criminal like myself?"

"I'm not a bad host to my prisoners, Raven."

"Certainly you disagree with that, don't you? Look around you, how else do you treat us?"

What could he be on about?

She looked at Van, almost as if she was asking him the same thing. Was he the one to have had the ones in charge of the prisoners treat them like this? No amount of criminal activities these people have done, they don't deserve the treatment they are being given. The only kind that should be given worse treatment than this is the ones that are born of evil. But surely, Van ordering this out? He couldn't, could he? He wasn't like one of those people, he couldn't be. There was only so much a person can be; but really, Van couldn't have that kind of meanness inside of him, can he?

"I never gave an order like that out, Raven. I never requested the prisoners to be treated so badly."

"You're the one in charge of the ones who look after us." He shouted.

She could feel Van's anger and she grabbed his hand before he could do anything stupid that would prove Raven to be telling the truth. Van looked at her and she met his questioning eyes. She shook her head, a silent plea within those deep dark depths that he saw as he gazed into those beautiful eyes. He sighed and nodded his head at her and took a step back. She filled his place by the bars of Raven's prison cell, Van still held the torch that deduced the darkness of the cell. She was able to see inside it and see him.

"Shouting is not going to get your point across." She told him, almost as if she was scolding him.

"And what's a bitch like you going to do? Slut your way around till you got what you want?"

For some reason, she felt her own anger ignite inside of her. Yes, she has had her dealings with Raven, but he didn't know that. He doesn't remember her, well not in this form.

"If you're willing to challenge me to a fight Raven, be prepared that you'll lose."

"I'll only lose because you'd cheat."

She smirked. "Care to try it?"

Suddenly he held his tongue as he stared at her with wide eyes. Again, it happened again. Only Sapphire dared him, only she challenged him. He was hoping that he could scare this female away, hoping that she'd back down so that he could no longer find a resemblance with the girl before. But she appears more like Sapphire now more than ever. Before this girl appeared inhuman, now there was a slight humane feeling about her, as if something had happened that had damaged a part of her, making her give off that humane vibe.

"What are you?"

"The first question you should really ask, Raven, is who are you?"