Pentagram City Outskirts: Forgotten Manor

"I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid" Emily had to keep telling herself that as she looked up at the stone ravens guarding the gates. She gasped and stepped back when they moved and looked back at her. "I'm not afraid I'm not afraid I'm definitely not afraid" she said it faster to calm her racing heart. She shouldn't be here, she knew that. It was dangerous for an angel in heaven. But there was no going back now, she was determined to meet this evil head on, to know this threat. Nothing happened for the longest time, then finally the gates swung open and she was allowed in.

When the doors of the manor slammed shut behind her, she was alone, in the dark and very afraid no matter what she tried to tell herself. "Hello?" she called out, starting to regret this decision. She'd been in dark places before, but this was pure, pitch black. Light did not exist here. Closing her eyes was a different kind of darkness, but it allowed her to center her mind and herself. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" Her teachings, the words she knew by heart were her comfort in times of need and they would be her salvation now. The walls began to creak, the mansion itself groaning with its age and she froze, a small gasp being heard in the silence. "I…I…I shall not fear, you are the stronghold of my life and I shall not be afraid"

Eyes were on her from the moment she stepped foot through the door. From the front gate to where she stood now, Caine had watched every step. An angel within his walls. He never thought he'd see the day, and a seraphim no less. What could she want in a place like this? Darkness crept in every corner, every crevice. The place was a veritable pit of despair. How easy it would be to strike her down where she stood. No one would ever know or come looking. His hand was on his cane, pulling the handle and the sword silently released from inside just an inch. One move, that was all it took. Yet his hand stayed. She was not afraid. He could feel her trembling, an involuntary reaction to being in such a place, the quickening of her heart, the shortness of breath. But he closed his eyes and concentrated. He felt no fear in her soul. Innocence for sure, naivete' definitely. Yet such beauty and grace, a stark contrast to her surroundings.

When she spoke he closed his eyes again. He knew those words. From his perch on the balcony above he levitated himself up and around her over to the large window behind her that would look out onto the front gardens if it wasn't shrouded to keep out the light. His movements made the mansion creak and seemingly come alive. It startled her, but she continued on, stepping further into the darkness. That voice, angelic, melodic, determined gave voice to her bravery "Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…"

"I will fear no evil" His voice boomed around them, causing her to jump and for the first time he saw her eyes, even in the dark. Somehow, they glowed, like sapphires. There was a steel to them, but a softness as well. They searched for what they could not see and as he descended and circled her, he waved his hand to open the curtains above, a perfect circle of light cast down around her and allowing her to see, though only just.

"You don't have to hide Caine, I mean you no harm" this was met with the sickening sound of an evil cackle "Well thank goodness for that little angel, and here I was worried" his voice dripped with sarcasm as he watched her every move. He stalked like a predator, watching, waiting. He was almost toying with her. "Why does seraphim come to my home? Have the powers above finally decided to destroy me? Am I such a threat that it's better if I was erased from all existence?" Again, he pulled the sword from his cane, poised to strike.

"You asked for help, didn't you?" He froze, his whole-body tensing. She'd be able to feel the room shift around her as he retreated and rose back onto the balcony. "I asked to be let into that pathetic hotel. That is all. What help I need beyond that is none of your concern…angel" he practically spit the word out of his mouth. She closed her eyes and he saw her draw in breath, her chest rising and falling as she centered herself, turned, opened her eyes to see and try and make some kind of contact with him even if she didn't know where he was. She was trying to talk to him calmly, to offer an olive branch.

"You could have stormed the hotel any time you wanted to. I know who you are Caine, even heaven knows of the great war you waged on Hell. You fear no one, not Alastor, not Lucifer. You could have walked right in and yes you asked. You reached out and you asked. So what is it you need?" Those eyes glistened, pure light that he could not look into, he looked away from her, almost feeling a hint of shame, though quickly dismissed it. "Do you want help?" She didn't wait for him to answer, just flew straight up within the circle and around its edge to try and call to him. "Then face me! Face me and tell me that you want my help!" There was a slight edge to her voice.

Caine saw it as a challenge. She was in the most dangerous place in all of Hell and could have been killed at any time, yet she issued a challenge. "YOU DARE CHALLENGE ME IN MY OWN HOME SERAPHIM!" He used the full power of his voice, the full power of darkness to intimidate her. "You have no idea what I am, no idea the power I possess!" Around her the darkness and gusts of wind moved like a hurricane. Surrounding her in a cyclone. "I am darkness! I am death!" The whole place stormed and raged around her. If she ran now, he wouldn't stop her, he was giving her every chance.

At first, she threw up her hands to defend herself, but once she found her footing within the storm, her wings only flapped harder, her fists clenched, and she fought back the storm. When she opened her eyes, though she didn't know it, she was staring right into his. The eye on her tiara opened as well as the one on her chest and she radiated light in the darkness. He had to lift his arm to cover his eyes. She stood her ground and as she spoke, he swore her voice was as powerful as his "I am the way, the truth and the light! Goodness and mercy will follow me all the rest of my days and I will dwell in heaven forever!" She felt the winds dying and slowly lowered to the ground till she stood at the edge of the circle.

"Truly you are not afraid of me" his voice was so quiet, much more so than it had ever been. It came from right behind her and she gasped as she turned, still seeing nothing. "I trust in a greater power than myself, I have no reason to be afraid. I meant what I said. You asked for help, and I will give it if I can" She stepped back a bit, right to the center of the light "But if you want my help, then face me and ask, so that I know you mean what you say" She waited with bated breath, unsure if he'd face her or not. For a long moment nothing, then she heard the tap of his cane, the slow steps of heavy boots and the glide of a cloak along the floor. She watched him step into the light and properly looked upon him for the first time.

The corners of her mouth twitched and slowly turned up into a small smile "The way everyone talks about you, I almost expected you to have horns and a tail. Or tusks and claws." To everyone else he was a monster, an animal. She saw a man, albeit a horribly disfigured and ancient being, but a man, nonetheless. For a moment there was pity in her eyes, but also compassion. He only scoffed, "I'm quite sure they all say so." He met her gaze and they stood there staring at one another, unsure what to say.

"You don't have to tell me why, but the forward toward the redemption you seek will be challenging. It will be long, and you may discover things about yourself, some good, some bad. You'll find yourself, but you'll have to lose what you are now in order to do so." Carefully she stepped toward him "But if it's really what you want, truly, then I'll stand by you, every step of the way" she let out her hand for him to take. He found himself lost in her, and for a moment almost reached for it, but then stepped back, looking away from the intensity in her eyes.

"Why? You're an angel, a high seraphim. I'm a sinner, an overlord, the worst in all of Hell remember. Why would you help me?" Everything in him wanted to retreat back to the safety that was the darkness, eyes glancing in that direction. When the cool touch of her hand came down on his, everything ceased to exist except that small circle of light they found themselves in. He looked down at her touch then up and she was right there, her eyes so full of hope and light and more courage than anyone had ever had in his presence. "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find…" she waited and he took a deep breath before finishing it for her "Knock and the door will be open to you" She smiled even more, which only made her eyes shine brighter "I can see you want this. I'll help you, but only if you let me" It felt like an eternity, the way they stood there together. After a while he took his hand back and "I'll be there in three days, then we'll see if you're still willing to help a sinner like me"