~Rin~

"Grace, what's going on?" I asked. For some reason I had a strange feeling in my chest. I wasn't sure why I didn't run to her and take her into my arms like I so wanted to at that moment. I guess something told me not to. I wasn't so dumb as to not be able to see that Mikael was unsteady.

"You're so naïve, Prince," she said. Her tongue snaked out of her mouth and slid along her lips. I took a step back.

"Grace, this isn't you, is it?" Mikael asked.

"What are you talking about? My name is Grace." She'd been walking towards us slowly, step by step. My legs pressed against the wall behind us. I glanced behind me and quickly looked away. If I were to fall over the edge I'd most likely die. I'm not a fan of four hundred foot drops. I'm not really afraid of heights…but this was pretty high. Mikael tightened his grip on my arm and I tried to shrug him off.

"Rin, don't do anything dumb," he hissed into my ear.

"That's Grace…I know it is. There's just something wrong with her."

"That's not Grace anymore, Rin. Don't be an idiot!"

"Let go, Mikael! I know it's Grace!" I shouted. He stared at me and I glared back. We stayed like that for a moment.

"I don't mean to interrupt your conversation, but I have a question for you," Grace said. I turned to he and took a step forward. "Who wants to die first?" she asked, "Will it be the demon or the angel? I personal couldn't care less, but its up to you."

I took another step forward and she tensed a bit. I raised my hands, "Grace, I know that's you."

"What are you doing?" she asked. She took a step backwards. I took one forward.

"I know you're in there, Grace. I need you to come back. You promised me that you wouldn't leave me."

"I didn't promise you anything!" she spat, "The Grace you knew is dead!"

"I know that's not true!" I shouted. Her eyes went wide and a droplet of sweat slid down her face. "Grace," I whispered. I saw her eyes un-cloud.

"Rin," she said hesitantly. She took a step toward me and put a hand on the side of my face. I felt every muscle in my body relax.

"Rin! Her wings are still dark! Idiot!" Mikael bellowed. My eyes went wide moments before an unbelievable pain struck my stomach. I suddenly couldn't breath and my vision blurred. I looked down and realized that there was a poke sticking through my stomach. I looked back up.

"You're dumber than I thought," she said. She leaned closer to me and smiled, "I guess that would be why you have a spear through your gut." She released me, laughing cruelly.

I struggled to breath and dropped to my knees. I was the one sweating now. I looked up at her. She was still laughing.

"You're wrong," I growled. I gritted my teeth and wrenched the spear from my flesh. I howled in pain and double over. A disgusting sizzling sound emanated from my mending skin. My wound started to smoke and close up.

"What did you say?" she cooed, leaning down and taking my chin between two fingers. I stared into her eyes. They weren't the same eyes. They weren't the same eyes that I remember staring into so many times before, but I saw something reflected in them that gave me hope.

"I'm not dumb," I said, "I'm in love." With that I leaned forward and kissed her. She froze up. She didn't move. We just stayed like that, kissing. It made me remember the Grace I knew. I missed her. I knew, though, that she wasn't gone. I was going to get her back. Suddenly, Grace relaxed a little. I pulled away and looked at her.

"What are you doing here? You idiot!" she screamed. She punched me in the stomach and I fell to the side. I smiled. She stood over me, tears leaking down her face. Her wings were a pale gray.

"What a nice way to greet your boyfriend after not seeing him for so long," I said, sitting up. I clutched my stomach. She really hadn't held back.

She fell to her knees and hid her face in her hands, "I'm so sorry, Rin."

I reached forward and took a lock of her hair in my hand, "Now you're the one being an idiot. You know I would do anything for you…even see my asshole of a father."

She choked out a laugh and dove into my chest, "I missed you."

"Same here," I said, grinning and wrapping my arms around her.

"I don't mean to break up this reunion, but we need to go. Who knows who'll be coming," Mikael said. I grumbled and pulled Grace to her feet.

"Ok, then. Let's go," I said. Grace clutched my hand tightly and I refused to let go of her.

"Now, now, now. We wouldn't want that, would we? I bet big, bad demons are going to swarm you any second now…or just one," said a voice. I froze and pulled Grace closer to me. She shrunk into my chest and mumbled something. It hurt me to think about what they'd done to her to make her like this. Normally she'd be screamed something dumb up at our enemy. Instead she was clinging to my shirt and shaking.

"I'll take her. You get Grace out of here," Mikael said to me quietly.

"Cool, but you're forgetting something."

"What's that?"

"I don't have wings and Grace seems to be a little out of it."

"You're right," he growled, "Should we take her together?"

"I don't think she'll stand a chance against us together. It's unfair, but I don't really care at this point."

"Sounds like a plan. Let's do it." I kissed Grace on the forehead quickly and then pried her hands off of me. She reached for me.

"Stop it, Rin," she said. Her face was still wet from tears. My heart lurched. I wanted to return to her side and whisk her away from this horrible place. Unfortunately, a certain redhead was making that impossible. "She's strong," Grace warned.

"Yeah, well so am I. I'll be back. I promise," I said. Her hand slid from mine and I resisted the overwhelming urge I had to take it up again. I walked towards the demon in front of us, Mikael at my side.

"That's so touching," said the woman, "Too bad you're about to die."

"We'll see about that. I don't die easily," I called up to her. She leapt down. It almost looked like she was floating down. Her red dress billowed around her as she gently touched down.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"My name is Scarlet, if that's what you're asking. The only other thing you should know about me is that I've been ordered to bring the immortal girl back to My Lord."

"Immortal girl…you mean Grace?"

"I don't care what her name is. I care about my orders," she said, looking bored, "Now, let's do this. I don't like being late."

"Scarlet!" called a voice. My eyes followed another man, presumably a demon, as he jumped from above as well. I wondered where they were coming from, then realized that there must have been some sort of room high up in the towers. I stared at the guy who'd joined us. "Don't do this, Scarlet."

"Don't be so weak, Jude. It's sickening," she growled.

"Scarlet, stop," he said. He grabbed her wrist and she froze. She closed her eyes and turned to him.

"Judiyah," she said softly, "I need to do this. You know better than anyone what happens when we don't obey orders."

"Sometimes it's worth the pain."

"I don't want that for myself."

"Nobody does, but that doesn't make this alright."

"How come you've suddenly grown a backbone?

"I don't like it when other people are hurt."

She smiled, "I knew that already. You're such a softy. I'm sorry, Jude. I can't disobey him. I won't. I guess I can do one thing, though." She smiled sweetly and then sucker punched him in the face. He flew backward and lay crumbled against the wall.

"Jude!" Grace screamed. She knows him?

"Why would you do that to your ally?" Mikael shouted.

Scarlet simply smiled, "Because that way he doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to. I've at least saved him from that."

I reached up and took the hilt of my sword tightly in one hand, "I see."

"You do, do you?"

"Who am I to judge, though?"

"A demon showing mercy. Pitying him. It's truly pathetic, isn't it?"

"Pathetic isn't the word I'd use to describe it," I said. With that I lunged for her. I drew my blade and swung with all the force I had. She dodged messily.

"B-Blue flames? You're a Son of Satan!" she screeched. I brought my sword down on her and she barely dodged.

"It's not something I'm proud of," I yelled as I launched another attack at her.

"Stop! I can't fight you!"

"Now who's the weak one?!"
"My Lord will be angry if I act without his permission." I paused, breathing hard. I narrowed my eyes.

"I imagine he'll be even angrier if you let us get away with Grace."
She swallowed nervously, "I…can't let you go either."

"Then you'll have to fight me, because I'm not about to leave the girl I love in Gehenna!"

"Rin! We have a problem!" Mikael shouted. I turned around to see what was happening just in time to see Mikael backhanded ten feet into the air.

"That's not very nice. I don't like being called a problem," Satan said, "Scarlet, you are too weak to best my son. Leave."

"My Lord, I apolog—"

"Silence, girl!" Satan spat, "Leave this place!" Scarlet flinched and shrunk back towards the shadows.

"Now for you," he said. He turned towards Grace.

"Don't touch me," she growled. That was more like the usual Grace I knew.

"I'm afraid that's not a wish I can grant."
"It wasn't a wish. It was a warning."

"Grace! You have to run," Mikael said. His voice sounded labored. I glanced over at him and realized that he'd just gotten to his feet. I guess Satan had hit him harder than I'd thought.

"It's not like I'm going to get far," she grumbled.

"Enough talk," Satan said. I barely had time to blink before he'd knocked Grace unconscious and slammed Mikael over the edge of the wall. I froze up. I'd forgotten. Satan was more powerful than I'd ever be.

"I suppose I'll let you live…just in case I have a use for you," Satan said, looking down at me, "But don't try this again."

"Rin!" shouted a voice. I whirled around and saw Mikael. He snatched me from where I stood and flew away.

"Wait! I have to get Grace!" I yelled. I looked behind us and saw Satan leaning over her unconscious body. He raised his arm and darkness seemed to swirl around them. I closed my eyes. I couldn't watch it.

I heard her scream and that was it, "Mikael! I'll kill you!" I screamed at him, but he didn't turn around.

"I can't take you back! We'd die!" Mikael shouted.

"I don't care if I die!"

"But Grace does!" I fell silent. He was right, but I didn't want to admit it. I couldn't save Grace if I died. I hated all of it. Why did it have to be Grace? She didn't deserve this. She didn't have to be an immortal…but she was. And there was nothing I could do about it. I stopped fighting.

"We'll get her back. I won't let her stay here forever." Mikael's words didn't comfort me at all. I knew that they were true, but I still worried. I knew what was going to happen to Grace. She was going to be possessed again…corrupted. I couldn't stand to see her again like that. I didn't want it.

But there was nothing that I could do…for now.

I'm sorry, Grace. Forgive me.

I'm sorry that I took so long to update...I sort of missed Friday by a lot this time around. Eh...can't change it now. I hope you liked the chapter, (and are looking forward to the next one). I'd love for you to leave me a review telling me what you think is going to happen next...or just what you thought. :)