I don't know whether I can do it...

But I know that if I don't try, many will die!

-Saint Allen Walker

The wind was piercing through the demons' wings as they rushed back to their defenseless castle they had so foolishly left behind. Lavi didn't care about anything else other than the safety of his clan back home, doubling his speed and uncaring if he had left some slow-flying demons behind. They can take care of themselves; the ones back home cannot.

"Lavi, slow down! Going in without a plan is suicide!" Komui called out, his own sooty-coloured wings were already pushing hard to match the Demon Lord's speed.

Lavi swerved to the side to avoid one of the taller trees without breaking his stride, "stopping to think of a plan is suicide! I'm not gonna slow down and rest until I see everyone safe!" with that said, he increased his speed and forced his hardened soldiers to follow him. His very demon blood was screaming for battle, but his head and emotions were going crazy almost as if they too were ultimately worried for their clan. Shit… Please be safe!

~.~

Meanwhile, Allen and Lenalee were organising the retreat of the Black Order clan members. To and fro, they gathered the divided demons from the outside and commanded them to take cover inside the fortified castle. The entire household was in chaos as the attacking demons started raining down arrows of fire and casting wayward spells to curse some running demons.

"Allen! Help!" Cried the children, who were running away from a grinning demon with a notched arrow at its bow. One of the girls tripped and fell over, her leg twisted and she cried loudly at the searing pain. She shouted in absolute fear when she saw the intruder with the greyest wings and bloodiest of eyes aiming his weapon at her and releasing the fired arrow with innate precision, "ALLEN!"

The demon girl closed her eyes tightly to embrace for the attack that would certainly kill her, but all she felt was the cool, peppermint aura that belonged to none other than Saint Allen Walker. She felt her agonic pain dissipating into nothingness when she opened her eyes to see the most beautiful being with a wondrous smile on his scarred face. His precious wings curled around them both like a protective blanket made of smooth white feathers.

The angel had answered the child's plea for help.

"Come on, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for you," Allen's normally musical voice wavered, but the girl was too relieved to detect the hurt tone. The scary, flying demon was gone and Allen the angel was here. That was enough for her. She felt Allen's angelic aura putting her to sweet sleep, seducing her to just close her eyes for a while and assuring her that everything would be alright when she had woken up feeling refreshed.

Ignoring the cries and screeches around them, Allen carried the slumbering girl in his arms and avoided the attacking spells casted by the intruders. His body trying to fight against the burning pain of touching a demon. As he finally reached the outside steps of the castle's giant doors, he called out, "Lenalee! Take this girl and keep her safe too!" Allen shifted the demon child delicately as if the child was made out of glass into the open arms of the waiting mage. Lenalee nodded quickly as she took the child inside the castle with a hurried pace. Satisfied that everyone was safely inside the castle where Lenalee's magic seal would keep the demon invaders out as soon as those giant doors closed; Allen turned his back at them and walked slowly down the marbled steps again.

"W-Wait! Allen, what are you doing?!" Miranda shouted in panic when she saw Allen walking away from the castle while the doors began to close inwardly. She ran towards the entrance, but couldn't risk being trapped outside like somebody was right now! "Allen! Come back inside! There's too many of them!"

Allen only stopped his descent, but didn't turn around to answer the demon healer. He inhaled ash and dust before murmuring a prayer underneath his breath, "Conforta me , et Patrem ... custodiant tutus," After begging his Father to keep the demon clan safe, Allen spread his curled wings out high and ignored the cold sting of his magic shackles. He turned slightly to send a soothing smirk at the crying Miranda, "It's alright, Miranda; I'm an angel of the Lord,"

Miranda's last sight was the glowing of Allen's bright wings and a giant burnt scar from a demon's arrow running across his back like a permanent flaw before the doors closed completely, locking the powerless angel outside with the merciless demons.

~.~

Lavi landed onto the charcoaled ground with a loud 'thump', followed by a chorus of demons landing behind him. "Oh no…" His one good eye surveyed the destruction around him.

There was scattered fire everywhere, the smaller buildings around the castle were blazed to the ground and broken pieces of wood were splattered with the colour of black demon blood. The nearby trees were not safe from the abolition; strong branches were snapped into half and leaves were turned into sad brown. The old oak tree was a poor reflection of its prestigious self; yet it still stood rooted to the ground as if it alone was the lone survivor of the massacre that happened here just moments ago. Hell… I hope that isn't true! Lavi swore as they raced to open the castle doors.

"Kanda!" Lenalee rushed outside to hug the relieved swordsman tightly, burying her head into the crook of his neck and inhaling the secure scent of afternoon tea. Kanda purred as he hugged the smaller demon back just as tightly, his worst thoughts about what had happened were washed away by the warm, living Lenalee.

Many others came outside to greet the returning soldiers with happy tears and the need of instant solace. The Black Order clan didn't care of the destroyed houses or the burning weapons; as long as their family is alive and safe, then they knew for certain that everything was going to be alright. As long as they were together.

"Where is he?!" Shouted Lavi in frustration, breaking the gratitude ambience his demonic voice.

Krory released Miranda as he bravely asked his Demon Lord while searching around for any missing person but found none, "Who, Lavi? Everyone's here,"

Lavi's teeth elongated as his emotions were slipping out of control, his green eye turning black-red, "Where. Is. Allen?!"

Lenalee stepped forward with trembling hands, her eyes covered with bittersweet tears as she bowed her head, "Allen… He stayed outside to fight against the demons… After that, everything went silent until you came back,"

Lavi roared out into the reddened sky in complete fury, but he did not know who that anger was directed to. Without speaking, he searched high and low for the missing angel. His angelic scent that always followed him was long gone now, replaced by the awful smell of death and fire. The entire castle area was covered with ruins that had once been mighty and wonderful buildings. But Lavi cared none for the sorry remains of his stronghold; his mind, body and very soul was concentrated solely on the search. He didn't know what had gotten over him, why he was looking for a stupid angel who had his powers locked by the magical shackles and yet still tried to fight against demons' arms. Why was he so intent on finding the dumb thing when it wasn't even in his clan?

The very thought that the angel was one of the Black Order clan members made Lavi's mind numb.

But the afterthought of forsaking the angel, let alone leaving it to die, made Lavi's mind even number.

"Lavi, here!" Komui waved his hand, distracting the Demon Lord and this train of thought.

Komui was kneeling on one foot when Lavi landed by his side. The missing creature was lying on the scorched ground as if he was merely sleeping. But a quick run-though told Lavi otherwise. The angel had wounds all around his originally-smooth body, his dirtied wings laid unbroken yet torn to shreds on some edges. His arm had a demon's jaw bite and his right leg had ugly claw slashes, telling Lavi that the angel was caught off guard at some point of the fight, for him to receive such a fatal wound like these. And that was only some of the damages that Lavi could plainly see at first glance.

The Demon Lord didn't look for any further injuries; didn't want to look. Immediately, he cradled the unconscious angel in his arms as he carried him back to the castle. He internally cringed when he felt and smelt fresh blood seeping through his arms from the angel's back. No doubt that the angel's back was yet another assaulted area to look into later. The scalding pain he felt when he made contact with the angel can also wait for another time.

"Miranda!" Lavi pushed open the infirmary doors and laid the angel onto one of the neatly made beds, his gentleness contrary to a Demon Lord's normal demeanour. The demon healer took one look at the angel and started barking out orders for her other healers, calling out for her potions and spells and whatever she had for emergencies and "Oh my badness, where is my aid bag?! Somebody get my aid bag! Now!"

"L-Lavi-"a soft voice pulled Lavi away from watching the bossy healer.

The angel's eyes were not fully open and his once melodious voice sounded like he had swallowed sharp pieces of stones, "You came back… Are.. Are you hurt?" The angel's voice was strained, as if he was forcing himself to speak at all.

Lavi folded his black wings behind as he visibly relaxed, knowing that the angel was in good hands and was out of danger. He rolled his one green eye as he mumbled out in total relief, "I don't think you should be the one asking me that, Allen. Get some rest,"

Allen's body started to shake slightly, and Lavi instantly thought the worst as he was ready to call upon the lively healer again. But when the troublesome angel smiled brightly, Lavi found himself wanting to choke the life out of him. The heavily injured angel had the gall to laugh at him!

Before Lavi could reply with a sharp retort, the angel calmed himself down. But he wore such an accomplished face that it left Lavi with the inability to even breathe. The virtuous angel's smile started to fade away as he whispered sweetly before succumbing to darkness once more, "Allen… You finally called me Allen,"

I'm abusing poor Allen so much, and it's only chapter 8 of my long story haha Come come, let's know more about demons, why don't we?

You may or may not realise this, but Lavi and the others don't talk much in demonic language. That's because demons only use their special language during spells and incantations (or curses, whichever floats your boat, Kanda!). Lavi uses his demonic language during his Demon Lord mode only when he is giving commands or orders, or whenever his Demon Lord side takes over in a rampage. Still, I bolded Lavi's spoken words whenever he's in full Demon Lord mode so that you know that he's serious and he's about to rain down his wrath haha

Like Allen had discovered, Demon Lord Lavi doesn't take too kindly to strangers in his clan. As their leader, Lavi's quite (a lot) protective of his clanmates. So I supposed that's why Lavi's acting hostile towards the angelic Allen. I mean, if some stranger came into my house and started talking friendly with my family members, I'd be on guard too! From Demon Lord Lavi's point of view, everyone he meets is divided into two sections: friend, or foe. Unfortunately, our little Allen is thrown into the 'foe' area. All throughout this whole time, Lavi has never once acknowledged Allen as an equal or even called Allen by his name. (read back my last chapters if you don't believe me. Yes, Lavi is that stubborn!)

So could it be that Allen's last words here actually meant that Lavi had finally accepted him?

Oh well! It's up to you to decide what Allen meant when he said those final words to Lavi. I would really like to hear your opinions though, so don't hesitate to send me a review or comment whenever you're free! =D Have a wonderful day!