So soon after the incident with the mysterious bracelet, Hellboy left. Angel had been stunned that she had asked him to leave under the premise of being exhausted (even though it was true) and needing to go to bed. She slept good and hard until she woke up in the mid-morning. She laid in bed contemplating. She looked at her arm and noted that the burns had already begun its healing process. It was so strange that it had been triggered by Hellboy's touch. Usually, it only happened when she tries to release her wings so she can get relief.

Other than the night before, it only had burned three times since it was slapped on her wrist. She thought back to Hellboy and she felt guilty about the way she reacted. She turned over to pick up her phone and shoot a text of apology.

I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to sound so harsh.

The text shot off and she laid there with the phone on her chest. She didn't have to wait long.

Not your fault. I didn't mean to hurt you.

Angel let out a soft sigh. She never really got to explain the whole deal with the bracelet and just freaked out then kicked the man out.

You didn't. It was the bracelet. It did what it was meant to do. And besides, it's already healing. I'm a fast healer.

She watched as the bubble appeared and she waited for his text.

Still. I've got a thing to do tonight. Want me to come by with some pizza? I might be late, but we could talk more about the bracelet.

Angel sat up surprised. He still wanted to talk to her? She thought she'd scared him off with her freak out. She raised her arm and looked at the bracelet. Maybe finally she met someone who wanted to help her.

Sure, why not? Ham and pepperoni if you don't mind. I'll leave keys under mat for you.

She dropped the phone on the bed. She couldn't believe she did that. The phone beeped but she ignored it. She pretty much knew what the reply would be. Her heart beat a little faster at the prospect of him coming over. Hellboy. What a strange name. She couldn't wait to hear his story.

Hours later had Angel laying on the couch, sleeping with a blanket over her and her book open on her chest. The door clicked open, and Hellboy walked in. He carried two large pizza boxes in his stoned hand and the key grasped in his other. He was greeted with silence as he walked in. He thought for a moment he entered the wrong apartment since he wasn't greeted by the brown-haired beauty he had thought about all day since the night before. He glanced around and saw her laying on the couch. He grinned.

He pushed the door with his tail, and it clicked shut softly. He made sure to lock it before he went into the open kitchen and set the pizzas down with the keys. He shucked off his jacket and set it on one of the island chairs. Then he turned and went over to Angel. For a moment he stood there and watched her. Sure, he felt little bit like a stalker, but he needed a moment where he could just look at her.

She wasn't Liz that's for sure. Angel's long hair trailed down in a braid, reaching the floor. With a better look in the light, he realized that her hair had a bit of gold in it as well. It matched her eyes perfectly. His eyes tracked down to her rising chest and he felt a twinge.

Shit.

He hadn't felt that since Liz passed. He needed her awake now before any more thoughts snaked through. He couldn't think about that. Not about sex. Especially with Liz dead. He raised his regular sized hand (he was afraid of using his stoned hand after the incident) and tapped gently on Angel's shoulder.

"Hey," Hellboy whispered. "Wake up."

Angel stirred with a groan. Her arms stretched out as her eyes opened to greet Hellboy's face. She smiled.

"Guess I fell asleep waiting on you.," She stated as she swung her legs over the couch to the floor. "What time is it?"

"Close to midnight."

"Damn, that late?" Angel stood up. She ignored the book as it fell to the floor. She stretched her arms again, slighting leaning them back. Hellboy nearly couldn't tear his eyes away from her chest and the rest of her body, but he did quickly before Angel could notice.

Hellboy turned away as he replied, "Yup. Pizza's on the counter." He headed to the island with Angel following. She passed him and pulled down some small plates from the cupboards. The plates were set as Hellboy arranged the boxes side by side and opened them up. Angel wrinkled her nose at the smell.

"What did you get?"

"There's yours with ham and pepperoni, and mine with all the meat possible and onions," Hellboy stated.

"Gross."

He looked at her with a grin, "Your pizza's boring. Pepperoni? Please."

Angel grabbed some paper towels and went around to sit next to Hellboy. She passed one to him. She picked up a slice of her pizza and took a bite of it while looking at him.

"Sometimes boring is just perfect."

Hellboy snorted as he took his own slice. Instead of just one, he took two and mashed them together on top of one another and took a big bite. Angel's eyes widened as she watched.

"Pig."

Hellboy replied by taking another bite of the pizza. Angel shook her head at him. They ate together in silence. Several slices later and they were full. They worked together putting away the food in the fridge and the plates in the sink.

"Thank you for the pizza. You didn't have to help clean up," Angel said as she headed to the couch. She picked up the book, closed it, and set it on the coffee table.

Hellboy shrugged as he followed her. He sat down at one end of the couch while Angel sat in the middle, close to Hellboy. Closer than the night before he realized, but he didn't say anything. He wondered why he was starting to see things about her in a different way compared to that first night he witnessed her in the rain and last night. Something changed and he didn't know. His eyes drifted from her to the book. He picked it up.

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

Hellboy snorted. Angel heard him. She looked at him.

"What?"

He turned his head to her and shook the book at her. "You. Reading about King Arthur."

"Why not?"

"We live too much in a world that's filled with magic. Why would you want to read something like that?" Hellboy said as he dropped it to the table and leaned back towards Angel, facing her. His regular arm slung over the back of the couch while his stoned one laid on his lap.

"It's one of the only books that got me through," Angel said. "Did I tell you I was homeschooled?"

Hellboy shook his head.

"Yeah, I've never been to school. Actually, until my father died a few years ago, I was never allowed out of the house. I was practically chained in, especially by the bracelet."

He flicked his eyes towards it. Angel followed his and glanced at the gold object.

"Tell me more about it," He asked.

She sighed.

"He spent years after I was born trying to figure out what I was. Nobody ever knew. He traveled all over the world looking for answers. Then one year he started looking into Dark Magic."

She looked up at him. Hellboy was watching her intently. He nodded to encourage her to continue.

"I was seven. He had found a dark priest. Someone who said they had the means to 'chain my wings down' so to speak," Angel continued. She brought her right arm up on the back of the couch, imitating Hellboy.

"I only remember bits and pieces about that night. Dad pulled me into some kind of dark room. I was forced into a black circle. I couldn't get out because the circle itself was magic. I remember the priest was holding the bracelet when he stepped into the circle. God, I was terrified."

She barely noticed as she told her story, but Hellboy's fingers unconsciously touched hers.

"He started speaking in another language. After that, things were a blur and the next thing I knew," Angel said as she raised her left arm with the bracelet. "The bracelet was on my wrist."

Angel stopped speaking. There were only seconds of silence as her eyes trickled over to Hellboy's fingers.

"What happens if you use your wings?"

Distracted by his voice, she looked at him. "It burns. Like it did last night."

"So, you haven't released them in how long?"

"Since seven, I've only released them three times. The first time was that night as a lesson. Dad forced me to let them out so I could experience it. Then after that…"

"And the other two times?" Hellboy asked in curiosity.

She shrugged her shoulders, "It itches when it hasn't been released. So, by letting them out, it helps relieve it. I've held it in for so long that sometimes…it's just too much."

"Damn," Hellboy said. "Your dad's shit for doing that to you."

Angel barked out a laugh then covered her mouth in embarrassment. She nodded her head.

"I agree. Thanks for the laugh."

He nodded. He looked at the bracelet.

"Think I can look at it closely?"

She looked at him. He raised his hands in a surrender position.

"I'll try not to hurt you."

Angel looked at his hands. She brought up her arm and he took her hand. He didn't try to touch the bracelet. She stayed silent as he inspected it by turning her hand around. She helped by moving it so he could see on the inside.

"There's writing on the inside," he noted.

"It's Latin," she said. "Dextera diaboli catenas exurere debet."

He looked at her.

"The Right hand of the Devil must burn the chains."