We should all know the routine by now so say it with me. I do not own Darksiders. If you do, you didn't have to say that, congratulations, and why aren't you working on a third?! Also, thank you detrametal. Also also, I respect all religions. I'm just throwing mine in here a bit cause it's easier and I don't really care what you think.

"Tiamat I assume? Guess she wasn't up for having visitors today." The Watcher said, showing off his uninjuredness. Stupid sprite.

I'll have to pause here for a moment. So I was eaten by a huge bat. Thatwas the huge bat that ate me. That just so happened to also be Tiamat. Tiamat is one of the Chosen. I was eaten by one of the Chosen. Is this somehow significant? Un-pause.

"Sonova mother… that frikkin hurt!" I said, rolling off the Horseman, onto the ground, and continuing to roll around until the pain went away. That was the closest I was probably ever going to get to being hit by a truck. Did not want to do it again.

"Hey Big Red, ya alright over there? Ya ain't dead are ya? Cause that would be a total bummer."

He got up with a grunt, otherwise seemingly okay.

"Allefty then, that makes one o' us." I tried to stand as well but only managed to sit up. In my defense, I am a fragile human and was more-or-less hit by a bus. "Thanks fer the save and all that but can I ask why ya did it? Cain't be easy travelin around with so much baggage."

"I cannot let the last human die."

"Again, ya mean. You cannot let the last human die again. And I'm sensin an 'and' here."

"You… remind me of someone else." This was the first time I could actually get the Horseman to talk to me. I was going to milk it for all its worth.

"What, were they a smart-ass too?"

"Yes."

"I see… so was this someone a girl?"

"…Yes."

The Horsemen had relationships? Wow… didn't see that coming. Though, they're living creatures too so it kinda makes sense.

"So what happened? Did you two break up er somethin?" Don't judge me, I'm a girl. Most of us are suckers for a good love story. Or maybe bad love story in his case.

"No." He said, giving me a look that was probably supposed to scare the pants off someone. Somebody was in denial.

"Then wha happened?" What can I say? The Curiosity Demon had taken hold of me again and wouldn't let go until he was satisfied. Plus, again, I'm a girl.

"I answered the call."

I let out a sigh, "So ya said before but that really don't tell me-"

We heard the screeches of Bat Bitch and Griff as they fought and War figured that was enough questions for today as he started for the Twilight Cathedral.

Getting up, strangely feeling much better, I followed him.

"That must be the Twilight Cathedral where Tiamat's holed up…" the Watcher said as we drew closer to the giant building, "let's not wait around for an invitation."

I believe the "invitation" would be more of a… what word would you use for "get out before I rip you to shreds in the most painful way possible"?

The Cathedral was… well, amazing. And creepy. Spires that reached the clouds, grand decorations… bats and lava. And this was just the outside. Lightning flashed in the background and it started to drizzle rain, adding to the "creepy abandoned church, don't you dare go in there if you value your life and/or sanity" feel. Guess what we did. Go on, guess. That right! We went in anyway…

War kicked down the door and we went in to see a long hallway lit up by candles with a huge angel statue in the middle.

"Who lit these candles?" I wondered out loud. "Seems like a very meticulous and unimportant task fer demons er bats… Can the bats even light candles? I reckon the fire ones could. Unless these are from a century ago, then it's a wonder they haven't burned down yet..." As expected, my rambling was ignored.

"Over here!" the Watcher said as we neared the angel statue, flying over into a small alcove and to a sword stuck in the ground in front of another angel statue. Well, this is a cathedral I suppose. That doesn't explain the swords however.

The Horseman drew the sword and placed it on his back where Chaoseater used to be. Speaking of which, where did it go? Taking the sword, we continued on down the hallway and to the door barred by steel. Probably wasn't steel but it sounds better than just metal. On one side of the door sat another angel statue holding a glowing sword identical to the one War now had except this one was red. Opposite of that was the same statue but its hands were open, as if waiting for something…

Jumping up onto the statue, War placed the crystal sword into the slot. A blue magic circle thingy appeared around the blade and the angel statue - I emphasize statue here because statues aren't supposed to move - grabbed the hilt of the sword, mysteriously turning it red. Then, the steel barring the door started to retreat into the walls and floor, giving us access said door. Also, Chaoseater reappeared somehow…

The Horseman kicked open the door to show Griff getting thrown through the chapel, followed by Bat Bitch Tiamat. She took a swipe at Griff but he dodged out of the way and retaliated by knocking her into a wall and attacking her face. Good boy. Unfortunately, she pushed away from the wall and slammed Griff into the one opposite then threw him across the floor.

"Griff!" I shouted running into the chapel. He couldn't take on Bat Bitch by himself. Not sure what I would be able to do but… War was being way too slow again.

Being the brave soldier he is, Griff refused to give up and took the fight outside through a hole in the roof.

"Don't worry buddy! We're comin!"

"I never did like going to church. Let's gut the Bat Queen, and make this a short mass." The Watcher said.

"Quick question, when have ya ever been ta church? Wouldn't they have taken one look at ya and try ta exorcise ya er somethin? Is that why ya didn't like church? Poor baby, ya need Jesus. Where's a bible I can throw at cha?" I asked, searching the few remaining pews and not finding one of the books.

The sprite just growled before disappearing back into Big Red's gauntlet. My job is so fun.

"Hey, do ya think we're comin back by here before we leave?" I asked the Horseman. Not getting an answer, I swung my book bag off of my shoulders anyway and hid it under one of the pews, keeping Barsus, and ran after War across the lava pool.

While he quickly dealt with the bats, I explored, dodging the annoying creatures' attacks. The walls of the once beautiful Cathedral had been covered with what looked like grotesque flesh. Gross. From the ceiling hung a…

"Oh… My… Globwhatizzat?!"

From the ceiling hung a giant claw thingy that came out of a mouth thingy that was breathing out disgusting yellow gas… thingy. The claw was holding on to the head and shoulders of the huge statue that stood at the front of the chapel. Directly below the claw was a spider web of cracks in the floor. There were two doors on either side of the room, the left was blocked by steel and beside it sat another waiting angel, the right was free though and obviously the correct way to go.

Seeing the Horseman done with the current enemies, I called him over so he could kick down the door. Seemed like he had fun doing it so who was I to take that away from him?

The door led us to a courtyard outside where it was still pouring rain. As soon as we stepped out the door, lightning struck the ground and portals appeared where it hit to let skeletons come up and out. Which was strange because this definitely didn't look like a graveyard. I spun to go back inside only to find that the door had shut behind us and had been sealed with an orange and black… seal. But not an artic seal sadly.

"Good luck!" I told the Horseman, dodging the Mr. Bones and climbing the angle statue in the middle of the courtyard that looked as if it were either about to take off or dancing.

I watched and cheered Big Red on as he sliced his way through the first few, easy peasy lemon squeezy. Then more of them appeared along with a couple of bats.

Jumping up, War grabbed one of the bat's head and hung there while it struggled to stay aloft with the extra weight. He then ran it through with Chaoseater before doing a neat flip in the air and over to the other bat and repeating the process. Dropping the ground, he just so happened to land on a skeleton, instantly crushing it. He turned into a blur as he whirled around and took out the remaining undead.

With all the enemies now dead, or re-dead, the orange seals disappeared and I climbed down.

The Watcher appeared again to get in my face… again. You would think he'd have learned by now. "Why aren't you helping?"

"Simply cause Mr. Frowns over there looks like he needs ta constantly blow off some steam. Not ta mention that I am far too fabulous fer this."

"What?"

I patted his cheek, almost cringing at the feel, "Do not question the Queen, silly little jester. Just follow along and do as you're told." I said, stalking off to the door opposite of the one we came in, seeing as how the other one was blocked by a Key Eye thingy, and wiping my hand on my pants.

Yeah… Did I mention that I have a queen complex sometimes? No? Well… yeah. It's there. Not necessarily proud of it but it's just one of the few (many) disadvantages of being me.

I finally got to open a door to find a short hallway and a room. After that, there was nowhere else to go as the next doorway was blocked by a huge red rock. Beside it sat two rocky cradles holding a spikey ball that was slightly on fire and emitted an orange gas. Bombs. Awesome.

As War came into the room, I became aware of sounds behind the red rock. Crashing, explosions, and… growling. Crud. Oh well.

Before the Horseman could, I picked up one of the bombs, - which wasn't easy, let me tell you - stuck it on the rock wall, and ran as fast as my legs could carry me. Apparently it wasn't fast enough as the bomb went off and the force of the blast caught up to me and sent me flying.

I landed at the Horseman's feet and looked up at him with a smile, "Can I do that again?"

"Are you crazy or just stupid?" asked the Watcher.

"Maybe a wee bit o' both."

Getting up, I ran ahead of them and into the next ro- pool of lava. Turning to War, who was right behind me, I wiped imaginary tears from my eyes, "Well Big Red, it seems you're gonna have ta go on without me fer now. *sniff* I wish ya luck. I know it's hard but cha gotta."

"Finally we get to be rid of this nuisance." Stated the… I'm waiting for you to finish. That's right! The son of a bi-… The Watcher!

"Excuse me but you're the one who insisted upon me comin with ya in the beginnin. Now if ya need me, and I desperately hope that cha won't, I will be in the courtyard. Later loser."

I went back the way we came and into the courtyard. "Sooooo booooored." And I'd only been out here for two seconds, that's a new record! Actually, it's not. Luckily, it wasn't long before I saw War up on the ledge and heading for the door on the other side.

I started forming a map of the Cathedral in my head. Judging by placement of the door and blahdy- blahdy-blah, it would lead to another ledge beside the giant claw thing in the chapel. Which was a dead-end. So he would have to come back through here and the only other way to go, until Key Eye was destroyed - killed? -, was blocked by red rock and there was no way to make the bomb attached to the rock explode - that I could see anyway. Unless… he jumped and blew the Horn at exactly the right moment and the force could possibly make the bomb go off and open the way. This was great in theory, however… the explosion could also hurt the Horseman, as could the fall. Plus, I couldn't tell what exactly was up there from where I was. I didn't see any doors but there could be a chest holding the Key, or there could be nothing. Just another dead-end. We could go back through the chapel but the only other way in there was block by steel until War got ahold of another crystal sword. The only ways to go now were up… and down.

I ran over and studied the spider web of cracks in the concrete. Usually, if it was broken up like this you would be able to see the ground underneath. Here, there was nothing. Just darkness. I even reached my hand down through one of the larger cracks and felt nothing but air.

On the ledge, right above the cracks, stood a statue. A statue that could be pushed off.

When War came out of the chapel door, I yelled at him, "Hey Big Red! Push that statue off!"

He looked like he wanted to argue or ask why or something but whatever.

"Just do it! We ain't got time fer this!" I could hear Griff and Bat Bitch's screeches in the background. They didn't sound too good, I just hope that Griff was winning.

Anyway, he did as I asked - told - and kicked the stone man off the ledge.

Needless to say, I had already gotten out of the way before it fell and crashed through the ground to reveal a hole beneath the concrete leading to parts unknown.

Time ta do my "I was right!" dance! Er maybe I'll save it fer later.

War jumped straight down from the ledge while I took my time climbing down on the gross vines. I found him on the other side of another lava pit fighting skeletons.

Determined I wasn't going to stay behind this time, I took a running start, jumped and glided across. Accomplishments! By now, the Horseman was already done and continuing on.

Ashamed as I am to admit this, I actually ended up clinging to his back as he ran across the wall over another lava pit by hanging on to some metal jutting out of the wall. We made it to the other side only to immediately be attacked by more undead.

Across more lava, down more hallways, through a door the Horseman had to lift up. We found four skeletons on the other side but they didn't last long against Big Red and he was able to get the key out of the chest they were guarding. The other two doors block by iron gates, the only way to go was back the way we came. Great.

I'll spare you the boring details of our trip back and skip to after War stabbed Key Eye.

We entered a long hallway split up into three sections and separated by lava. At the end of the hallway was a large circular room and an obvious trap. C'mon, dead-end, guardian angel, the crystal sword we just so happened to need? How could this not be a trap? Honestly, I would be majorly disappointed in our enemies if it wasn't.

Turns out there was no need for disappointment as when we stepped into the room an undead covered in blue armor and holding a giant ax thingy rose from a portal in the ground and roared at us.

Come ta think o' it, I haven't seen any demons here besides Bat Bitch and her baby bats… that's weird.

"You are foolish to come here." He said, charging at us.

The blade of his weapon started to glow a bright blue before he swung it at the Horseman. We managed to get out of the way - meaning I was thrown clear across the room - and Crystal's ax hit nothing but empty air.

Why do I call him a girly name like Crystal? One: because he's an enemy, two: because I love to piss people - or undead, no discrimination here - off, Three: …you'll see in a second.

"Your soul is mine." Next he swung his ax in a downward strike but War managed to get out of the way again. When the deadly weapon made contact with the floor, blue crystals shot up, probably to do additional damage. Thus, he was named Crystal.

Big Red finally got the chance to retaliate and actually knocked some of Crystal's armor off, showing rotting green flesh. He looked way cooler with the armor. First a pauldron, then the other, then the helmet, finally the breastplate. Now he's ready for execution! Yay! War cut off the arm holding the ax then separated Crystal's top from his bottom and it was over. Spectacular, but I'd seen better.

I joined the Horseman as he took the sword from the guardian angel and we went back the way we came and back to the waiting angel. Seriously, where did Chaoseater go?

Blah, blah, blah, we got there safe and sound and opened the door with a little help from the Watcher who only thought he was being helpful. Boooooriiiiiing!

Fighting could clearly be heard on the other side of the door and I rushed ahead to push it open only to see Griff and Bat Bitch rolling around on the ground outside, fighting. Again, they took it to the skies where we couldn't help.

Again - there are a lot of "agains" here - we were at a dead end. The only other door was blocked by steel, a waiting angel beside it. There was a crystal sword nearby but directly above it was a small Creepy Claw that opened wider as we got closer as if readying to pounce. Also nearby was a bomb.

My serious thinking power used up for the next hour at least, I left it up to the Horseman. Grabbing the bomb, he lobbed it at the claw. Hurt by the explosion, the claw withdrew into the mouth on the ceiling and War took the chance to retrieve the sword. Apparently, Creepy Claw wasn't that hurt as it came out not too long after Big Red got the crystal weapon. Perfect timing.

Also, skeletons appeared! Along with another Crystal! Yay! Kill me now…

"You are weak." Crystal said, charging at the Horseman.

"If he's so weak, how did the last one o' ya get his rotten ass handed ta him on a silver platter?" I asked, going after the Mr. Bones myself. See? I can help… if I feel like it.

"I will cleave the flesssh from your bones."

"That's gross man! That's also what ya do ta fish! Mmm, fish." I yelled at him, dodging a skeletons attack and retaliating with my own.

Anyway, soon all of the undead were gone, the doors were unblocked, and we were on our way. Ya know, the usual.

I followed War into the new room, which was split in half by a pool of lava, up onto the ledge above us, with help of the blue orb, and out the door. We're going in circles! Then we had to climb. Meaning the Horseman had to climb while I hung on for dear life. Embarrassing much? All this to push a pedestal off of the ledge. What was an empty pedestal doing up there anyway?

War punched, yes I said punched, the mysteriously empty pedestal off and we jumped down instead of going all the way back the way we came. He pushed it towards the wall, while I sat on it, since that was obviously the only way to go and this was obviously the only way to get there.

Up on the ledge, we went through the door closest to us, seeing as how the other one was being guarded by Creepy Claw, which led us back into the chapel and beside Giant Creepy Claw. And beside the bomb. And also Mr. Bones but he doesn't matter here.

"I wanna do it!" I yelled, going for the bomb. I know now what I have to do. What I was sent here for. Nah, I'm kidding.

"No!" The Watcher said, getting in my way.

"Why not?"

"You'll blow yourself up!"

I couldn't help the involuntary tilt of my head to the side, "What do you care? Ya want me gone anyway."

I dodged past him, grabbed the bomb, and threw it at Giant Creepy Claw. Who was holding part of the statue. With a spider web of cracks below it. I think you can guess where I'm going with this.

On a side note, I'm proud to say that I didn't blow myself up.

The bomb exploded, Giant Creepy Claw went back into the mouth thingy - come to think of it, maybe the claw is actually a tongue… gross - and dropped the statue piece, which hit the floor and made a huge hole. Is that it? I think so.

We jumped down from the ledge - these wings are useful - and down into the hole of no return. Dun-dun-dun! There was a vine thing that we could have climbed down on, but where's the fun in that?

So we jumped down the hole of no return, went down the hallways of no return, saw a skeleton of no return. Wait…

"Wait Mr. Bones!" I chased after him as he ran away and rounded the corner. Now I know what you're thinking, "Stupid girl, it's obviously a trap". And all I can say is… yeah, I know. As soon as I rounded the corner also, I went running back to the Horseman with Mr. Bones and a few of his friends following close behind me. In my defense, Big Red would have had to fight them anyway.

So he beat them and we moved on, but what else is new? We finally got to a large room with cages hanging from the ceiling and bones stacked into piles. The whole thing looked like some kind of alter, but not the kind that you would usually find in a cathedral.

"What…is this place? I have to admit, for a bunch of weaklings, those humans were full of surprises. Who knows what secrets they buried down here?" the Watcher said, actually impressed.

"First off, I wish ta thank ya fer what I'm takin as a compliment. Second, we're not all weak. Third, I'm curious as well so let's move on!"

We jumped off the ledge, with no way back up, and went to the alter looking thing. On it was a… well I'm not sure what it was. It was three stone faces held together by chains, with a face on it, which were connected to the alter and floated a few feet above it. The whole thing was actually humming and my whole body became pins and needles as we got closer to it. I got the feeling that this whole room was built for this one thing, meaning this thing was either really awesome or really bad. Let's hope for awesome.

It took a few slices for War to cut through the chain and every time he hit it, it let off a green light. When they finally came off, it rose higher and started spinning as the faces came apart to reveal a… shuriken? Four curved blades with a handle in the middle to hold it by… yeah, a shuriken. It floated back down as the faces dissipated and the Horseman grabbed the handle and gave it a good test throw. It flew all the way across the room before coming back to him and he caught it. Guess it's also part boomerang.

Then the fire bats appeared out of the lava. And they stayed over the lava so that the only way to get rid of them was to use the Crossblade – Big Red told me the name later. What a coincidence. Then undead came out of the lava. How they survived it, I have absolutely no idea. Anyway, they were defeated with a mixture of War's new toy and his old one, Chaoseater.

That's when that… thing appeared out of the hole we came through. I couldn't tell if it was an undead or a demon or… what but it was gross. Red, veiny, walked with a limp, and constantly emitting a noxious yellow/green gas… yeah, gross and probably an undead, now that I think about it. Let's call him Mr. Cuddles!

Mr. Cuddles roared, jumped down from the ledge and started quickly limping towards War, as I had gotten as far away from both of them as possible earlier.

Big Red held the Crossblade until it was surrounded by blue energy before letting it fly at Mr. Cuddles. The blades mysteriously stayed in one place as they cut the undead - we're going with undead - until the toxic gas disappeared and War could move in for the kill. And move in for the kill he did.

Stabbing Chaoseater into the thing's chest, the Horseman grabbed its head and simply ripped it off then casually tossed it to the side. Ew! The body spewed out toxic liquid as it stumbled around, just like a chicken, before exploding into a shower of rotten flesh! Yay!

After all that, a thing above the door opened up showing a blue crystal.

"Throw that fancy saw blade around a bit… maybe you can find a way out of here." The Watcher said, being unhelpful as usual.

War did throw the Crossblade and hit the crystal above the door, turning it red and successfully unblocking the door.

We went through and into a room filled with… oh my glob so much lava! What I found weird was that there was a faceless statue just sitting in the molten liquid. How has it not melted? Seriously, c'mon laws of physics or whatever.

Big Red killed the fire bats flying around and tried to turn the lever thingy, that I guess was supposed to make the statue rise up, but it wouldn't budge. It did however make the ground shake. I hinted that maybe he should hit the bomb on the statue to destroy the rocks. He did that, still didn't move. So he went on to find another one on the statue's back. Destroyed that, came back, turned the lever, and it worked this time. Oh joy.

The statue rose up and we found that it was holding another one of the blue crystals. War hit it, blah, blah, blah, doors opened, we went through, more lava! Good thing is that the heat didn't seem to affect me as much now, maybe I got used to it. I mean, there was lava everywhere on the surface now so it kinda made sense.

Going through the newly opened door, we found ourselves stuck… again. Except we weren't! Big Red hit the bombs attacked to the one pillar holding up the ceiling, making the whole thing come crashing down in front of us. Okay, maybe not the whole thing, just part of it. Enough to give us a walkway across the lava and into the next room where War had to repeat the process. Except these didn't explode like they were supposed to. I guess noticing the odd torches, Big Red hit one, which somehow carried the fire to the screwed up bombs and causing them to explode then. Hmm… Then we could jump across, careful of spewing lava, and climb onto the ledge on the other side, and go through the door.

On the other side was a huge room with a platform in the middle with three waiting angels on it. Which meant three crystal swords needed to be found. Joyous frikkin days. More cages hung from the ceiling and demonic looking goats barfed up lava. Honestly, whoever built this place had absolutely no taste, nor decorating skills, whatsoever.

Moving on, three doors, only one blocked, and three missing swords? Let's do this.

We went to the closest door, that wasn't blocked, and through it. On the other side was… a stone walkway connecting our side to the other which was blocked by another demonic face barfing magma. I guess the whole thing was supposed to turn as there were gears down below but they were stuck by more red rock.

I waited on the center platform as War ran back and forth down below. First, he dropped straight down onto the gears below then onto a lower level alcove to grab the inactive bomb there then carried it over to the rocks blocking the gears and blew them up, with help of a random torch.

I would have helped and turned the lever attached to the statue but it was way too heavy for me, so the Horseman had to climb back up and do it himself. That activated whatever mechanism made the gears turn and the walkway moved and he had to hurry to get on.

Once it stopped, he got off and had to make a line of inactive bombs to the rocks blocking the path before hitting the only active one and causing a chain reaction. With the rock out of the way, War made it to the lever and turned it to make a statue holding a blue crystal rise up out of the lava. How had it not melted either? I mean really, you would think that at least science would hold up after the apocalypse. Cause science dictates that shit melts when it gets hot enough! But noooo this fucker gotta defy all that and stay un-melted while the rest of the world literally burns down around it! Fucking statue!

…Sorry, sorry. I'm cool now. Let's move on.

He made it back to the platform but that's when the fire bats attacked and he couldn't make his stop. So we waited in awkward silence as it turned around again. It wasn't actually all that awkward since he probably didn't care and my mind was totally elsewhere.

He got to the other side only to find that he needed a bomb so he ran all the way to the other side and back, but still had to wait for the walkway to turn. Rocks exploded, lever was turned, crystal holding chick came up, blah.

War hit both crystals with one throw and the demon face shut its trap and steam came out of its nose. Lava was still coming out of the corners of its mouth though. Big Red went through, got the sword, and came back. Unfortunately for me, the walkway had stopped spinning. Boo. I was having fun.

We left there and went back into the waiting room where he placed the sword in one of the waiting angel's hands. One down! We went on to the only other unblocked door, besides the one we first came through, with help of the ever present blue orb.

The next room was nothing but lava with two square platforms all the way on the other side of the room. The only way to get across was a thick cable blocked two by cauldron things holding lava. These were easily taken care of as War hit the bombs attached to them with the Crossblade, causing them to explode and the way to be freed up.

I decided to not take any chances and wait where I was as he slid down the cable and to the other side of the room where there was solid ground to stand on. There, he turned a lever and more platforms rose out of the lava and the two that were already up sunk down. Also bats appeared. They weren't there for long.

He jumped from platform to platform until he could reach the crystal holding chick on my side of the room and hit the crystal with the Crossblade. More platforms rose up and he could reach the other crystal on my side. More platforms rose up, few sunk down, more bats appeared, few slices of cake would be nice right now, and now he could reach the third crystal on the left side of the room.

Quick question, if humans built all of this, how were we supposed to reach all of this stuff? What, did they throw rocks at the crystals or something? Remember, the Crossblade was locked up. Even if it wasn't, I seriously doubt that any human could have wielded that thing. Just some food for thought, I guess.

War hit the crystal and a single platform rose up in the middle with a bomb on it. Jumping over onto it, Big Red picked up the round explosive and threw one at the rocks covering a hole on the other side of the room.

Jumping from platform to platform again, he was able to jump through the hole and grab onto another cable on the other side and use it to move on. After a while he dropped down and I lost sight of him.

So here I was, all alone. No one here beside me. I lay on my back, hands behind my head, and stared at the ceiling. For the first time in a very long while, I let my mind drift into its deepest, darkest recesses. Things I almost never think about started to come to the forefront. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes, feelings, faces, memories. People and places I would never see again, things I would never do, foods I would never get to taste. All of them now just a simple memory of a life long past gone. A life that didn't seem like it was mine to begin with.

A weird feeling bubbled up in my chest, a feeling I didn't like. Tears prickled in my eyes, demanding release, but I held them back. I had already cried once and that was enough.

I was so out of it that I didn't even realize when the Horseman came back and was standing right above me until he grabbed my arm to help me to my feet.

Pushing the dark thoughts back into their corner, I gave him a smile, "Thanks. So ya got the next sword? Then we best be movin on."

We went back into the waiting room and War put the sword into one of the remaining two waiting angel's hands, causing the iron grate blocking the third door to lift up.

On the other side was just a simple desolate room. No doors, no ledges, no sword, nothing. The only thing noteworthy there was a guardian angel standing over a chest. We went further into the room but as soon as we did the door behind us sealed shut and the chest disappeared through a red and black portal in the ground. More portals appeared to let skeletons into the room.

As usual, it didn't take us long to deal with the undead and the chest reappeared and the door unsealed. Big Red smashed open the chest to find… a key. Which meant we had to go all the way back to the Key Eye in the room with the faceless and un-meltable statue I thought, and hoped, that we could ignore. What a pain.

We made it back, only running into two undead, and through the door to find another lava filled room… and fire bats. There was no way to the left ledge but the right one could be reached by climbing, jumping and the Horseman. Meaning I was being left behind… again. Something tells me Shadow Man wouldn't be too happy about this but oh well.

Big Red left and I watched as he climbed across to the right ledge and turned a lever, making a platform rise up out of the lava on the left side. After he went through the door, I lost sight of him. Duh.

I took a nap. Hey, don't judge me. Rest while ya can right? I did wake up briefly when the ground started to rumble and got up to see another platform rising up and War jumping across them to the other side. I just rolled over and went back to sleep.

Sometime later.

"Wakey, wakey, human." The Watcher's voice came from beyond the beyond.

"I got a name." I yawned, stretching. It seemed War had gotten the last crystal sword and was ready to hand it over to the waiting angel.

So we went back to the waiting room, the Horseman placed the sword in the last slot and the ground started to rumble.

"Enough with the damn earthquakes already! We get it! The world ended, no need ta keep showin off!" Except it wasn't an earthquake. Honestly, I should have known. Then again, I think I was still half asleep.

The last sword in place, the floor started to rise and piece by piece the ceiling opened up so that were back outside and being pelted by rain. After the floor came to a stop, the orange seal blocking one of the doors dissipated and the door opened. And it did it all by itself! I'm so proud.

"Wait here." Big Red told me, going through the now open door.

As soon as he was through, the door started to close behind him and I slipped in just in time.

"Oopsies."

Before he could say anything, if he was that is, I ran up the spiraling stairs ahead of him and onto the roof where it was still pouring rain.

Said roof was cover in rotting corpses and blood. Yuck.

"Has the Council reduced the Horsemen to common assassins?" asked Bat Bitch, hanging on to the side of a tower and holding Griff in one claw, "Or has Samael bought your loyalty?" She dropped Griff where he landed with a splat and climbed down to meet us. "Because, if you are for sale, Rider… perhaps we can strike a deal."

"You won't like my terms."

I was still staring at the body of Griff. I didn't know him that well or for long but I loved him. "Big Red, do me a favor and make this bitch suffer."

"The last human." She said with a creepy bat chuckle.

"The Bat Bitch." I shot back.

She laughed and War stepped forward, pushing me behind him and drawing Chaoseater from his back.

Tiamat let out a roar and took to the air, spitting fireballs and destroying our only way off of the roof as she flew away. Coward.

"This will not end well for you, Horseman."

She came back and floated just on the edge of the platform and spat fireballs at War from there. He grabbed one of the inactive bombs lying around and threw it at her then threw the Crossblade at one of the torches then at the bomb, carrying the fire with it and making the bomb explode. Yay! Also, how are these torches still lit while it's raining?

She, in turn, lost control and crashed onto the roof where the Horseman could attack her. Recovering from her fall, she flew off again and swooped down, racking her claws across the roof a few times. Each time War just barely managed to dodge out of the way.

They did the bomb thing again but this time she didn't fly away but flew up and dropped onto the roof, creating a shockwave that knocked us both off our feet and instantly destroyed all the bombs. She charged at Big Red and he tried to hold her off but failed and was thrown into the air. She flew above him and shot a fire ball at him, making him crash to the ground.

"Now, see what your arrogance has brought you!"

Ya mean what your attacks have brought 'im. I thought, trying to stay out of the way as she stalked around the roof.

"Don't take it easy on her just 'cause she's a girl! I'll bet she's got a taste for steel!" the Watcher said, unhelpfully.

And human flesh apparently.

Bat Bitch did her shockwave thing again but this time War was prepared and jumped in time to miss it. She also charged again but he was ready for this too as he punched her off and jumped up to do it again, knocking her all the way across the roof. Go Big Red!

"You should have considered my offer. Such a pity."

The stalking resumed and War used the Crossblade to attack from afar, since if he got to close she would try to tear him apart with her claws.

Every once in a while Tiamat would bomb the roof - I'm surprised it's still intact - or shoot fireballs at the Horseman or do both, or pretend she was going to do one then do the other. Just like a woman, can't make up their mind.

A/N real quick: before any of you start ranting at me, remember I'm a chick too so ha.

After a few more hits with the Crossblade, Bat Bitch fell to the ground and War moved in for the kill.

Jumping up, he stabbed Chaoseater into one wing then reached over and grabbed hold of the other before ripping them both off. Amazingly, he was able to flap them and rise higher into the air but then let go with a flip and landed on the Bat Bitch's chest.

"Horseman…" she began.

"Do it! Tear out her Heart while she still lives… I want to hear her scream!" the Watcher yelled.

I don't usually enjoy the sound of screaming but I can make an exception this time…

"…I am… one of the Chosen… I can grant… your every wish…" Sounded like she was in pain. Good.

"Can you restore the Balance?" the Horseman asked. She just laughed and I guess War took that as a no. He plunged his gauntlet into her chest, spraying blood and, indeed, making her scream in pain. Pulling his hand out, he held her Heart, which was still beating.

"No wonder Samael want's this thing, it's COURSING with power! You really think he's going to let you live long enough to collect on your end?" asked the Watcher

For whatever reason, the Horseman crushed the heart and I was wondering "What the hell?" when I realized that it was probably just absorbed into his gauntlet like the souls were.

Tiamat dissipated and, with the way we got here destroyed, we had no other choice but to step onto the blue circle that mysteriously appeared in the middle of the roof.

We arrived outside and I ran back in to get my book bag while War tried to find a way off this Jeebus forsaken island.

I stepped out to see Vulgrim floating towards the Horseman, "Tragic… Without your feathered friend, how will you escape this prison of rock?"

"I'll find a way." answered War.

"Ya bet we will." I said, joining them.

"You have certainly proven yourself… resourceful."

Big Red ignored him and walked on to try and find another way but was followed by the demon.

"Perhaps I can provide a quicker way."

"Speak plainly, Demon…"

"Serpent Holes… Ancient paths that worm their way beneath the husk of this dead world… and beyond." He explained, poking War in the shoulder. "I use them to get about, and for a price… so can you."

"Great, another 'sell your soul' deal." Again, I was ignored.

"What do you want… Vulgrim?"

"Nothin good…"

"A trifle really… the Chosen's heart. I felt its power the moment you stepped form that tower."

"Oh Hells naw."

War glared angrily at the merchant, looking as if he was getting ready for a fight.

"You wound me, Horseman…"

Can I do it instead?

"I would never come between you and your friend Samael. No, I only wish to look at the heart."

This guy's really expressive with his hands, ain't he? And who said Sammy was our friend? Right now he's just an acquaintance.

"One glance… and our bargain is sealed."

War brought out the heart and Vulgrim started to reach for it hungrily.

"Big Red…" I whispered, nudging him with my elbow. This demon wanted more than a simple glance and if the Horseman wasn't careful, he would get it.

War snatched the heart away and Vulgrim glared at us for a second before quickly masking his anger.

"Samael will be pleased." He started to float off before remembering something, "The Serpent Holes are yours, Horseman. Seek me out when you wish to use them."

"Let's take the Heart back to Samael and see what he has to offer. A deal's a deal." The Watcher said as we followed Vulgrim back to his little circle where another blue portal like the one on the roof opened up.

Stepping onto the small portal, we were instantly transported to…someplace. The best I can describe it is as some unending space. Nothing but blue and black clouds. Crumbling columns stood next to the stone walkway we were on and could also be seen farther out and Vulgrim's medallion thing could be seen hanging above us at regular intervals.

As we walked, I noticed that some of the walkway was missing but sometimes flat stones would rise up from somewhere beneath us to fill in the space. When we stepped on the stones, the rune thingies on them began to glow. Talk about weird.

We went downstairs, upstairs, across more bridges, to Grandmother's house we weren't going, until we finally reached another portal.

We stepped onto it and…

Does anyone realize how annoying that place was?! The cathedral, not the Serpent Hole or whatever. That place was pretty cool.

Really needing another nap,

Hope