...I have given up and accepted my fate long ago. I do not own Darksiders or... wait, I used the same song as last time... well carp it... Oh well, it's Beauty From Pain by Superchick.

"Alina"

"After all this has passed, I still will remain, After I've cried my last, there will be beauty from pain, Though it won't be today, someday I'll hope again, And there'll be beauty from pain, You will bring beauty from my pain." Alina continued to sing after War left.

After she was sure that he had left the realm, she called out, "You can come down now. He's gone."

A man landed on the grass beside her. He was identical to her in almost every way, his eyes, his hair color, even his wings and horns. Like her, he was also a clairvoyant.

"Hello Brother, how are you this fine evening?"

"What were you doing with the Horseman?"

"What were you doing watching?"

"At least I was not doing something forbidden, Br-"

She jumped up and grabbed the front of his shirt, "Don't you dare say it. You don't know who could be listening."

"It's just us here."

"Alright then Zeph-"

"You're right." He cut her off.

Yes, she lied to War. She knew her true name, but to the specific race of demon that she and her brother belonged to, names held tremendous power. Telling someone her real name would give them power over her and she would have to obey their every command. Which is how their parents died. Samael got ahold of their names, by threatening her and her brother, bending them to his will. They were killed because of this by angels. Despite this, she held no contempt for either creature, simply accepting it as their nature.

Alina, or Briar, released her brother, "So what are you doing here, brother?"

"I came to warn you."

"Of what?"

"To stay away from the Horsemen, but it seems I'm too late for that now."

"Yeah, just a bit. Enlighten me as to why I should stay away from them though, I'm very curious."

"…I saw your future."

"Oh did you now? What, exactly, did you see?"

"You will be killed."

"By?"

"Death."

"Hmm, seems fitting."

"I've kept the Council off your back so far, I can't do so if you actively go against them."

"Which I do not plan to do."

"Then why did I see your death at the Kinslayer's hands?"

"Who knows?"

"If you join the rest of us in aiding the Council, it should prevent what I saw."

"And you know this for certain?"

"Well, no but-"

"Then no. I'd rather be dead than chained to a Council who gives nothing but false promises."

"But Briar-"

She glared at her twin for using her name out loud, "But nothing, Zephyr. Listen, I appreciate your concern but I can handle myself."

Zephyr put his hand on his sister's shoulder, "I just worry for you."

"Don't, I'm fine. So, you wanna go to a party?"

"I can't, I'm not even supposed to be here."

"Tch, forget chained, you're in a cage."

"A cage can also be meant to protect the thing inside it dear sister."

"It also confines them until their master feels like letting them out."

Zephyr decided to ignore the jab, "Why are you so against serving the Charred Council?"

"It's not that I'm against serving them, I'm just a bit too fond of being able to do my own thing."

"I can't change your mind?"

"Not even if you begged."

"Damn, I was planning to do that next."

Briar laughed, "I missed you brother."

"I missed you too sister. So… you and the Horseman…" He said, trying to change the subject.

"Don't ask 'cause I don't know myself."

"What's there not to know? After all you were kis-"

"Don't… say it. I was drunk and teaching him how to hug, then he did…. that and-"

"You did not seem opposed to it."

"You were watching?! That's sick!"

"It's not like I meant to. Besides, you shouldn't have been doing it out in the open if you didn't want someone to see."

Briar was blushing profusely now and Zephyr thought it funny to see his sister so flustered for once. Everyone who knew the twins knew that Zephyr was the sensible one, responsible, and stuck in reality. Briar was the colorful one who looked at life from behind a glass wall, stuck in her own world, and usually had her emotions under control. Even at their parent's deaths, Zephyr swore revenge against Samael and the angels while Briar accepted it as fate. Zephyr blamed his sister for not caring about their parents. Briar threw him through a window at the accusation and warned him never to say that again with no emotion on her face or in her voice.

He sighed, "I do not approve of your relationship with the rider-"

"There is no relationship!" She shouted.

He ignored his sister's words, "-but I won't get in your way."

"There's nothing to get in the way of!"

"Just be careful."

"Listen to me! Ugh! You're such a… AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! I hate you."

Zephyr laughed at his sister's plight, "I know. So, are you still going to that party?"

"No, I don't feel like going now thanks to somebody." She said, glaring at said somebody.

"Oh no, don't let me get in the way of your having fun and doing your own thing."

"Too late, but whatever." She turned to leave.

"It was good to see you again Briar."

Despite the risks, it was good to hear her name called out again. "You too Zephyr." She took to the air and headed off.

Okay, yeah, she's going by Briar from now on but War doesn't know this so get ready for some confusion… maybe… whatever.

Briar landed just as something was coming out of the Veil. Well, this is rare.

It was Death. She thought of her brother's prediction but tossed it back into the abyss that was her mind.

"If you're looking for my brother, he's in the field over there. If you're looking for your brother, he left some time ago."

Death just nodded and started for the field she just left.

Briar never like people who wore masks, it felt as if they were trying to hide more than just their face. Maybe it was because of this that she said what she did next. Perhaps it was just her nature to taunt those she knew she shouldn't. Perhaps she simply wanted to tempt fate. Or maybe it was her drunken state making her do something stupid.

"So the Charred Council taught their dogs to play fetch, hm?"

The next thing Briar knew, she had a scythe at her throat and Death's mask was inches from her face, "What was that?"

Despite what Zephyr saw and what her own mind was telling her, she continued, "They should have taught you not to jump. Say, can you do any other tricks?" She didn't know why she was doing this but she enjoyed this dangerous feeling. Huh, she thought, maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Eh, who cares?

Death pressed his scythe closer, piercing the skin, "Shut it, demon. I am in no mood for your death."

She felt the sting from the wound, the blood trickling down her neck, but what she didn't feel, refused to feel, was fear, "Aw, does the puppy not like to be verbally kicked?"

Briar wondered briefly if it would hurt when he took off her head. The Council wouldn't be mad about the death of one demon, clairvoyant or not. As long as she didn't serve them, they would label her death as an "oh well, it couldn't be helped" incident and Death would be off the hook.

My fault for taunting the Reaper. Either way I had a good run.

Distantly, she heard someone else exit the Veil but refused to look away from Death's orange glare. "Go ahead. Do it already. I'm sure we've both got better places to be."

Briar felt herself being lifted and thrown over a huge shoulder. Again.

"War," she heard Death say, "what are you doing?"

"I will take care of her."

Briar just hung upside down on War's shoulder as he carried her away from the Reaper. She looked up to see Death still standing there and waved to him, "Bye Death! It was nice meeting you! We should totally do this again sometime!"

War stepped through the Veil and Briar wondered where he was taking her.

I can finally stop putting quotation marks at the very beginning and use her real name! This has been my dream all along. Jk. Not kidding. Or am I? You'll never know… *maniacal giggles*