The sky was bluer than Belial remembered. He awoke all at once and for that moment between sleep and wakefulness he was without pain. Moments, however, are fleeting things. Belial's body spasmed as he burned with the painful fire of injury. He wasn't sure where he was and he was remembering things he didnt understand. Around him were white feathers that cradled and protected him. He didnt understand. His mind was going into shock and his body was going to follow suit if something didnt happen soon.

Belial was one of the few angels born without the ability to heal or regenerate. The few that are still alive anyway. The bone in Belial's right arm was racked with pain when a sudden jostle knocked against it. All Belial could do was sniffle, he didnt have the energy to cry out or scream.

"I want to go home..." He whimpered unsure of where home was.

Joora walked and walked along the streets. Belial was becoming heavy and every little movement she made caused him to quiver in pain. She had run out of her room and sent a message to Jewel blindly. The only thought she had in her mind at the time was running away with Belial and getting him to safety. She felt like a human woman whose tiny family of mother and child had been badly beaten by her husband so she chose to flee. She found a beautiful park filled with trees and green grass. She sat on a bench and leaned back. She looked up and closed her eyes, taking in the smell of the grass and the air. She had to clear her head and think rationally. No more running. She was a seraphim, one of the most powerful angels in all of Heaven and here she was running like a scared child. She chided and demeaned herself in her head. Her thoughts drifted to Lucifel and what he might be doing.

Damn you Lucifel for reducing us to this. You will get yours, I promise.

As the bitter thought drifted away the cherub had somehow managed to find her here. He didn't look too bad, a little worse for wear perhaps but he had just gone to Hell after all. She took the parchment and cracked the seal, instructing the cherub not to leave. He rolled his eyes but said nothing and sat down while she read. If the cherub could find her it would be easy for Lucifel as well.

"Injuries healed by potions of the mind and soul, those containing the elements from few. What is it that these entrail? Inability to explain? A passage may be set. You will not have to stay there in your bodily form. For a soul passed off as a body, can be seen as one to the most bright of the many.

What do you need? I cannot help you with Eve of Eden. Not yet"

She pursed her lips and folded the parchment turning it in to ashes and then swallowing it. She grimaced as she swallowed it. She could not risk it falling in to the wrong hands. She had been blinded by love for Belial and also fear of Lucifel. She felt so stupid. Of course a potion could help heal his bodily injuries. Mind and soul were another matter. Doing what Jewel suggested was very risky and it would leave Belial unprotected for a time.

Unless Eve could help her

She waved her hand and another parchment appeared. She quickly scribbled and sealed it, sending the cherub on his way.

Potions can fix body. Mind and soul doubtful. Will see when the full moon rises on Earth. Necro and possessed, that sucks but get it.

She rose suddenly causing Belial to whimper. "I'm sorry baby", was all she could say. She flew quickly to a local potion master and threatened the owner with death if he revealed that she had been there. He hastily gave her what she asked for and backed up against the wall. She left the shop and went back to the bench, unfurling her wing so that she could see Belial's little face. "Drink this. It's cherry flavor and it should make all the aches and pains go away and fix whatever is broken on your body... even your little wing." She helped him drink it, wiping away any errant drips with her hand. "You'll feel better soon I promise."

"I want to go home..."

She wrapped him up tightly once again and looked off in the distance. "I know Belial and I'm trying to do everything I can to get you there."

• "Whats that?" He asked he was pointing directly at a very old handwritten book. "Jewel? That book is on Life magic, you're writing it aren't you?" He hissed at her.
  
  "Jewel! Don't! Life magic is the one thing-" he only got to start before she cut in.
  
  Jewels eyes suddenly turned to slits. "Lucifer. It has nothing to do with you, read it. It's the history of the earth, I'm not writing it, its being written. It's being written in both of the celestial lands. Its details, its wierd. It's nessaccary and very easily destroyed. It's under a barrier at the moment. I can't even read it." She stopped and glared at him, she could feel the presence of a being from heaven once again.
  
  "Stay here." She commanded him before leaving the room, locking it on her way out.
  
  ---
  
  Inside, Lucifer tried to follow her. He ran up to the way that he shoudl ahve been able to get out, but it was stuck. He couldn't pass through and it had turned to a wall.
  
  "Imprisoned by my wife..." He said to himself. He started to think, the history of the world? Written in no-ones persepective? Or is it just a cover up for what she's really writing? He thought to himself. He walked up to it, there was no barrier. He had to see what was inside that book.
  
  ---
  
  Outside, Jewel saw the Cherub. "Another?" She asked it. The Cherub nodded at her and she took it, it looked as if it was about to go away, she thought about stopping it, but whispered a message in its ear.
  
  "I'm going to meet you on Earth. This night. She sent it on its way as she opened the letter and read it.
  
  Potions can fix body. Mind and soul doubtful. Will see when the full moon rises on Earth. Necro and possessed, that sucks but get it.
  
  Jewel smiled. of course a potion could mess with the mind, alternate personality implantation was one way in which they could be used. Changes in thoughts and new ideas. Removals of them, but they required hefty amounts of magic, as did memory regeneration, She though for a moment and opened the door to where Lucifer was.
  
  ---
  
  Lucifer was reading what appeared to be blank pages, Jewel now stood in the doorway and she watched him. "Deary me darling your too curious." She smiled and slammed the book shut.
  
  "What the hell was that?" He asked
  
  "Nothing you need to know about." The smile on her face was so untrustworthy, it was unreal.
  
  "Come on, I'm your husband." He pleaded. She wasn't going to give in to his pathetic pleading though.
  
  "No, I can't" She said, a smile on her face still. "You've seen it. I told you what it was or wasn't thats your call afterall. You get to decide." She smiled much more sincerely that time, yet she was leaving him with a riddle.
  
  "Jewel." He said, about to get into an argument with her. She stopped him with just her eyes.
  
  "Nope. Belial has been beaten. I believe we have necromancer potions, yes?" She asked him.
  
  He nodded, but he was disagreeing with its use.
  
  "Well, I'm off to go take one." She grabbed an array, changed her clothes to a corset, tight trousers and a cloak before leaving, wearing heavy boots on her feet. "I'm off to see someone, You know who she is." She smiled as she walked out, handing a small letter she'd written to the trees, in the trees where the critters, she instructed it to go to a certain angel, Joora.
  
  I'm going to meet you soon and fast. Assuming you have a healing potion, whatever you'd want necromancer for I have no clue."

• "You heard me. Leave." The demon told her again. "This is my territory, and you need to go away before you become a pile of ashes." She didn't know demons could claim areas as their own. The demon didn't have any weapons that were visible, but she was sure a demon like that was not a peacemaker.
  
  Another demon showed up in front of her. He was still larger than her, and carried some sort of weapon. Is that what demons used to fight? That one had green wings, which she thought was quite rare. The other demon looked at him with a glare. Robin thought the two demons would be working together, but apparently not. She didn't know if she could take on two demons, or even one. He called out 'Niltze!' but Robin wasn't sure if that meant something, or if it was a common greeting in Hell.
  
  The only weapon she had was a knife, held by a strap to her leg. She didn't have any other gadgets. She knew if any of the demons made a move, she would have to defend herself.
  
  The first demon was furious by now. She guessed it was because two creatures were invading his territory. She tried to look calm, but that just seemed to make the larger demon angrier. It screamed out "Leave, both of you!" A dark red glow appeared around the demon as he panted from the screaming. His hands were turned into fists, ready to hurt someone. She didn't move towards her, so she didn't move either.

Belial had tasted many things in his short life and he was very sure that the red potion Joora poured down his throat was far from "Cherry-flavored". Belial grabbed Joora's arm as icy fire ran through is veins. His wing popped, straightened, then thankfully numbed. His wounds closed and healed everything was going blissfully numb. When the ice receded Belial sat up and looked with expectant eyes to Joora. "Can I go out and play now?" He asked displaying the usual resilience of children.

Belial was waiting for an answer till he spied his reflection in the mirror. He struggled out of Joora's wings so he could get closer. He poked the mirror as if expecting it to change the image it was displaying. When it didnt he made faces at the mirror trying to tempt it to change. "I had a dream I was bigger and stonger and everyone loved me!" He told Joora throwing his arms overhead illustrating how big he was. "Well ok not everyone loved me, but I was still bigger. I was in this place where there is a biiig wall of fire and there are things inside the wall I think they're people." Belial's mind was suddenly occupied by other thoughts as he spied a big rainbow lollipop on the counter. "Candy!" He cried jumping up and down as his short little arms failed to reach the top of the counter. "Pretty angel gave me some candy, but it didnt taste good. She said I have to unwrap it. Is candy like fruit? Does it grow on trees and that's why you have to peel it?"

Joora watched as the potion took hold of Belial's body and mended it. She was relieved to see his spirit return. She was always amazed at the resilience of children, especially in the face of serious injury. Now it seemed she and Belial had moved from the coddling loving stage back to the monkey "teach them to walk and talk" stage. Showering with love and affection was easy. It was the other part that Joora loathed.

She listened intently while Belial told her about his dream. He had a dream of Hell. That's good. Eve must be influencing his thoughts while he sleeps.

She surmised that Belial had locked her in so that she could hold his memories during the regeneration and this was why she didn't disappear completely. She turned to Belial as he held on to his piece of candy. "The place you saw in your dreams and the people...do you remember about the people, especially the ones that loved you? Can you tell me about them?"

...Is candy like fruit? Does it grow on trees and that's why you have to peel it?"

She wasn't sure if Belial had heard her or not. Her experience told her he probably had but that his little mind could only focus on one thing at a time.

"Candy is made of sugar and does not grow on trees. You have to unwrap it because otherwise you eat paper along with the candy and beware that not all candy is good candy. Some of it is yucky and will do bad things to you." She knew he wouldn't necessarily understand but Eve would and hopefully she would help Joora keep Belial out of trouble.

She turned to see the cherub appear from his journey. She took the message and sent the cherub on his way. He had done enough for one day and the poor thing couldn't fly away fast enough.

I'm going to meet you soon and fast. Assuming you have a healing potion, whatever you'd want necromancer for I have no clue."

Of course she had no clue. That was not part of helping Belial at the moment. Later probably but not now. Realizing that she wouldn't be able to keep Belial from Lucifel forever and that at some point they would have to separate, she smiled at Belial, making mental notes of what she would need to say and do for her journey to meet Jewel.

"Take us to wherever you would like to go play. I have to go do some grown up stuff right now."

"Leeve," Tlanextli repeated, taking a moment to translate in his mind. It had been quite some time since he had last found it necessary to deal with anyone in Common, and as a result, he had gotten a bit slower at understanding it.

After a second, though, he laughed and shook his head, causing the collection of long colorful striped feathers in his headdress to rustle in the air. "Ahmo nitlaloa!" he told the demon, then laughed again. "Tehuatl xititlaloa nimanic." Ah... how to say it in Common? Tlanextli somehow doubted that the demon would listen either way, though.

"I wont run. You run away." The green-winged man's voice carried a thick accent when he was not speaking in his native tongue, particularly when he pronounced his r's. Regardless of language, though, he also sounded like he would be perfectly willing to continue whatever fight the demon wanted to start, and was also planning on enjoying it.

Crouching down a little, he took hold of the leather-wrapped wooden handle of his weapon in both hands, lifting the end off of the cracked ground. Part of the strange angel hoped that the little girl would not get in the way, since she seemed so small, and not likely in his mind to really contribute much either way to this battle. She was kind of cute, Tlanextli thought, which was not going to remain true if he had to beat her up like he planned on doing to the demon.

Not that he was going to kill either of them, whether they attacked him or not; Tlanextli rarely killed anyone, since it was a waste of those who could later be sacrificed. He was no priest, so he was under no obligation to go cutting out any hearts for his god and master Tezcatlipoca; there were other green-winged angels like him for that, but he rarely saw them anymore. It was an old habit more than anything else - battles were for captives, and a dead man was useless, even if it was not the warriors who ultimately had to make use of those captives. Things were different in the afterlife, but Tlanextli still only actually killed others when he needed the hearts for himself. And even then, that felt awkward.

Grinning, Tlanextli prepared himself for the demon's first move, but still tried to keep half an eye on the girl. With any luck, she would think he was doing this to protect her, and stay out of the way, or at the very least, refrain from attacking him.

• "Jewel! This is over Belial? Isn't it!?" Lucifer roared.
  
  "What is it with you and that man? That creature!"
  
  "I cannot leave a friend to die so easily. He may well be healed through a potion. But I wish to know what she wants with such a potion. I was to see this Joora again. Its been so long since I've seen many of my fellows, thsoe who feed me information, as a friend. She has not been able to get through into hell and therefore I feel the need to speak with her face to face, as it is the iron walls of hell which have managed to keep friend and foe alike away. Yet I need to know the state of Lucifel." She said, walking away in her most urgent while slowest fashion.
  
  Lucifer was partially stunned in his position. "What do you want with my brother?" He asked calmly.
  
  "If I was to kill him. If you where to kill him, it would be nothing compare to the amount of pain he has put the both of us through." She said staring him in the eyes.
  
  "We caused heaven hell. We deserved it"
  
  "We never deserved this. My family never deserved this. My mother, she never deserved her fate. I don't know. Lucifer, I'm loosing all my rationality, my false hope. I used to be able to stand up in the face of adversity." She paused for effect, and to think of what to say. " They are doubting me, everyone now doubts me and they are correct to do so. I am a useless being to this place, a shell filled with an over the top amount of power." Lucifer was holding her. She hadn't noticed him grab her, but he was holding her. "I can never understand, how devils can understand feelings"
  
  "We understand impulse. Impulse is what drives feelings, we cannot controll our feelings." He smiled and hugged her before letting her go. "Jewel, you're not useless, heck people think more of you than they do of me. Go on, do what you have to do if you feel the need to do it. I'll be waiting again" He smiled and walked up the stairs to their room, smiling before going in.
  
  "Why do devils have a heart that they can show? ug!" Jewel said. As she stormed her way out to the very barrier of hell, between hell and earth.
  
  where the desperate can enter oblivion
  
  She looked around. A small demon made its way to her, she attatched a small message to the demon and handed it the scent of the angel Joora. It was gone. The message was;
  
  I need to know your whereabouts, or come to the gates. Otherwise, I'm going to have to use a beast to find you. That could be nasty
  
  Jewel stood and waited, her hair flowing in the wind.

"Take us to wherever you would like to go play. I have to go do some grown up stuff right now."

Belial tilted his head to the side. He wasn't really sure where the place was that he wanted to play. Little Eve showed him a cave in his dream, but she didnt tell him where it was. "I wanna go here!" He said excitedly touching Joora's hand and thrusting an image of a cave into her mind. The cave mouth sheltered a long flight of stairs that glowed from hellish fires that raged at the bottom. "Take me there please, yes?" He asked Joora assured that she, an almighty grown-up, would be able to find this elusive place for him.

A murmur at the entrance of the potion store caught Belial's attention. Ever full of curiousity he trotted over to see what the Fuss was. Lucifel stood proudly in the middle of the square. His six wings were tipped with gold and glowed with heavenly glory in the false sunshine. He had changed his clothing so he wore flowing gold and white silk robes trimmed with silver tooled gold ribbon. His hair was loosely braided and the white strands where held back with gold clips. Belial was stunned by his beauty. When Lucifel reached out his hand and called his name it was all Belial could do not to shriek and run into his arms. Instead, he called back "Hang on Papa I forgot my candy!"

He ran back to Joora, bit his thumb and allowed three drops of blood to fall on her hand. "Look! Now you're a key! Isnt that fun?" He grinned mischeiviously and snagged the lollipop off the table. As he left he glanced at her over his shoulder. "Remember Joora, Home is where the heart is!"

Lucifel nodded at Joora, pleased with her quick thinking to patch up his toy. He still had use for Belial and it wouldnt do if he couldnt fufill those plans. As Belial neared, Lucifel closed the gap taking Belial in his arms. In an eyeblink they were gone to Eden.

• Robin thought the two demons were together, but apparently not. The other demon didn't seem to speak english well. He seemed ready to fight even though he was not involved in the beginning. She didn't know what his intentions were. Whatever the reason, Robin didn't want to die, not yet. Compared to other angels and demons, she didn't live long. On earth it's considered slightly long, due to the short life span. She still wanted to live for hundreds or thousands of years, until she got tired of living.
  
  The larger demon was getting furious. It eyes turned red, and a slightly visible green glow surrounded it's body. "Die" the demon said. It didn't seem to have a large vocabulary. She was an angel that lived on the fifth level, hid her aura well and kept a low profile. It was possible for her to live on the higher levels, but she didn't want to 'disappear' along with the other angels. Yet, are demons more powerful than angels?
  
  She didn't have to ask herself this, seeing as the demon sent a blow of fire from it's mouth towards the other demon. Robin didn't know if it was intentional or not, but the demon reverted it's attack towards her. It surprised her, and almost caught her off guard.
  
  She didn't have time to dodge it, or take out a weapon, but her strength was her mind. She concentrated on the fire, and it stopped right in front of her. It was fairly close, making her body warm, and burned off a piece of her clothing. She placed her hand in front of her and straightened her arm, sending a blow of wind towards her enemy. She didn't know if it was necessary, but the heat was making her feel uncomfortable.
  
  The fire was sent back slightly towards the demon. It slapped it's fist into his other hand, creating a sword made from fire and ran towards the other demon. She figured the other demon was strong, since it did not seem scared by the larger one whom threatened them.

Joora stood momentarily awestruck at just how beautiful Lucifel looked at that moment. If she hadn't known him for who he truly was she could easily find herself running to him just as Belial had. She closed her wings tightly around her and stood aloof and held her head up high, motionless and expressionless. She returned Lucifel's nod and watched as they vanished, presumably back to Eden.

She exited the potion shop turning her mind over and over on what Belial had said. "Look! Now you're a key! Isnt that fun?" What did he mean by that? The image he had burned in to her mind had to be of the gates of Hell. How was she going to get him there? She could not enter...unless that is what he meant by key. She mulled over this a little more, realizing that she had been walking for a while. She hoped that Belial would remember his promise or at least Eve would. She knew that children often spilled the worst of secrets under the guise of innocence, not really knowing the affect they have on things.

She sighed heavily and and flew down through the levels of Heaven and on to Earth. She spotted a small demon lurking in the shadows. When it saw her it came rushing out and stood in front of her. Her eyes narrowed as she did not know if he meant to attack her or not, seeing the crazed look in it's eyes did not reassure her one way or the other. The flames on the tips of her wings burned brighter as if to warn the creature not to come near her only it did not move. It just stood there. She noticed a small note and approached the demon. "Is that for me?", she asked. "Joora", the demon grunted and handed her the note. She quickly scanned it and looked up. "Take me to the gate", she told the demon. Eager not to disappoint his own mistress he quickly complied and walked away; pausing every now and again to make sure Joora was following. When they arrived she could barely make out a figure. She couldn't see who it was but she couldn't think of anyone else who would be waiting for her.

"Hello Jewel."

Flames? Lovely. Tlanextli would be molting singed feathers for weeks. The little girl had some sort of fancy magic, but the green-winged man just had to do things the old-fashioned way. He shifted his weight a little from his ready stance to prepare for the wind resistance, then lowered his arms and swept his wings forward in an effort to blow the flames back at the demon. This way, even if he could not deflect all of the fire, Tlanextli would still be able to protect his face and body, at least, from the heat.

As he spread his wings again, Tlanextli lunged forward and, gripping the handle of his sword in both hands, readied to make an upwards diagonal swing at the demon. The attack would not be anywhere near as powerful as an overhead strike, but the Aztec warrior knew he could not risk raising his arms over his head, in case he had to defend against more fire. Even then, his slick green feathers would only work as a shield for so long.

Faeun followed hurriedly after Llyandria.
"Torment?! Anguish!? My friend, you may have felt this emotions a great deal differently than I, but do not speak to me as though you were only one that felt pain!", she shouted at her friend's back.

Llyandria paused her sauntering, and glanced back at Faeun with a puzzled look upon her face. The look of bewilderment was soon squandered by a look of shock, as she realized that Faeun's expression had turned from apologetic and sorrowful to frustrated and dire. To her, Faeun's eyes seemed wild with the need to correct Llyandria's statement.

"I may not have been bound and chained physically as you had been...but my oath was my prison...my curse!", she continued to cry out. "I was bound by the legacy of my ancestors to secrecy over the only secret I have ever wanted to share! I wanted nothing more than to warn you of what was to happen, and to inform you of who had deemed this horrible action to be brought upon you, so that you make take your vegence on them before they had the chance to do so. But you knew that I could not tell you, no matter how much I may have wanted to. So please...stop acting as though I felt no loss when you were condemned to the Earthly realm."

Llyandria walked back toward Faeun, approaching her cautiously, for she wanted Faeun to remain calm.

"So, if that is how you have felt about the situation, why did you release me from my prison on Earth? And if that was your intention, why did you wait for so long before coming to free me?", Llyandria asked demandingly.

"How did you know that I..."

"Freed me from my Earthly binds?", asked Llyandria. "My dear Faeun...you should know as well as I that because of the closeness of our friendship, and the strength of our bond, that we are able to commune with one another abstractly............I sensed you...your aura," she answered. "Now, I've done my fair share of explaining...I believe it is your turn."

"I could not free you so suddenly after your downfall because it would go against my oath...I would be assiting a person who was a part of a plan that was to be keep hidden and unspoken of...Not to mention that following your retreat, Heaven began it's collapse, and I was needed to aid as best I could to regain it to it's former glory."
"And as for why I have come to you now and freed you...", Faeun said as she neared her friend and knelt, head bowed, before her feet, "...is to ask not only for your forgiveness and to regain your trust as a friend...but to ask if you will stand alongside me as you once did in the days when Heaven was a place of paradise and wonder."

"Will you fight with me, my dearest of friends? Fight with me, and I will prove to you that I am ready to make amends for how you were wronged in the past..."

"How?", questioned Llyandria. "How can I be certain that you will not betray me again? What proof could you offer me of this statement? Why should I trust you?"

"Because", stated Faeun, "I am willing to reveal to you the person who wished to condemn you. I wish for nothing more than for you to right the wrongs that have been dealt upon you, and so, I swear upon our friendship that you can trust me, Llyandria."

"Heaven has begun to disintegrate into a place of decrepency and disorder, Llyandria. I pledge my allegiance to the Holy Order of the Heavenly realm, but while this chaos continues to exist until balance is restored, my oath cannot be expected to be upheld in these dire circumstances. Therefore, I have no qualms with sharing private information with you, if that is what you wish. And if I become condemned for my treason towards my oath, then so it shall be. I would rather die a thousand deaths and face all the pains of this world and the next than betray you, the only person I ever considered almost family, again."

Eve had been jabbering Belial's mental ear off for the last candlemark. Belial was sitting in eden where Eve's tree had been in his dream. It was no longer here, only a large circle of scorched earth marked its grave. This spot did not heal like the other things in Eden. Belial asked his papa about the wound in Eden, but his papa just slapped him across the face and stormed into his workshop.

You should have told Joora what the key went to dummy! How can you expect her to know about the chest in your room? Dummy dummy dummy!

Belial covered his ears, but it did not dampen the jabber in his mind. His pinky tingled reminding him of the promise he made to Joora not to reveal eve. "Shush! I couldn't tell Joora alla it 'cause papa woulda heard and he woulda wanted my treasure for himself!" he shouted at the trees and grass around him. "That apple from your tree is the only thing that will fix this and I dont wanna share it with nobody!" He screamed pounding his fists into the ground. He screeched and wailed and threw a royal tantrum till he was exhausted.

Eve was getting weaker in his mind. She had been ever since she started showing him those images of what happened in his past. He was afraid if she showed him more she might disappear forever. He wondered how he could tell Joora what she was looking for without letting his papa know. An idea struck him in his time of need. He touched the ground and a little earth golem in the shape of a squirrel popped out. He took a wide banana leaf from one of the trees and scratched a treasure chest with a keyhole on it. At the bottom of the leaf he wrote 347, he used to live there in hell. Atleast, he thought he did. These memories were not easy to understand and the timeline was jumbled up in his head. "To Joora." He said sending the squirrel off with a rough shove.

He watched the squirrel disapear into the ground, relieved that his message would be received. A cold venemous voice spoke out behind him, its every word dagger sharp. "So what treasure are you hiding from me little mouse." Lucifel stood with his arms crossed and a sneer slashed across his hard face. Belial cried out a single name before Lucifel decended on him in a flurry of blows. "Joora!"

• "Hello Joora." Jewels harsh smile highlighted her face, it was almost mocking. "Now dear, tell me what you want this delightful potion for, and hey, I'll give it. You lie. Well hey, i can't do much about that. what you want it for, you want it for, end of story m'dear." Jewel felt almost crippled. She was smiling, purely because she rarely went to the gates feeling cared for. Funny everytime she was there she was dealing with an incident.
  
  "No Belial I see. Terrible that. Poor boy, if I know Lucifels temper well, and funnily enough you might agree if anything its only gotten worse in the past god only knows how long, he'll be being beaten again." Jewel stopped. The thought of her old friend being beaten was quite extraordinary to her. Belial was pretty untouchable in hell. At least that was how she saw him.
  
  ((OOC: sorry its short. I've been at Glastonbury for days. I'm knacked. D:))

Joora looked Jewel up and down, her face remaining expressionless. She could see this whole ordeal was taking its toll upon the woman. She looked tired and worn out and her tight smile seemed to hide a boiling rage that was inches from spilling over. She looked as though she had lost the one person who cared about her the most and that her care for herself and others had vanished with them.

"Eve is weakening. Each time Belial sees her reflection she is lighter, almost a shadow, and Belial is filling in the light spots. If we do not do something soon she will be lost forever. I can of course take him to the lab and make the spot in his brain stronger to hold on to her longer, but it will not last forever. Belial's mind is not strong enough as a whole to maintain them both as it is the mind of a child and gives in easily to childhood fancy. I hesitate to take him to the lab as it is. There is too much pain there...for everyone involved." Joora lowered her eyes and stared at a spot in the ground. She sighed heavily before looking up again. "I can speed up the generation so that Belial ages faster but then there is Lucifel to consider..."

She paused for a moment, motion in the bushes catching her attention. She turned to see a stone squirrel skittering toward her as though it was off balance from a heavy shove. It climbed up her leg and she took the banana leaf. She turned it over in her hands and then replicated it and handed it to Jewel.

"This will probably make more sense to you. I cannot be with Belial every moment although I am hoping that I can change that. I know that you understand Lucifel and you are right. His temper has worsened, both due to the challenges he didn't forsee with attempting his plans with a child, but also due to the other voice in his head." Joora didn't elaborate on this as she figured Jewel probably already knew. Lucifel's ego often got the better of him and he suffered intense cases of verbal diarrhea.

"The potion was originally going to be for me to deliver him here. As you know I cannot pass the gates but I was planning another way. However it seems that Eve has helped me with that challenge I believe and I will put it to the test soon. You will know if I succeed."

Nothing like stating the obvious Joora. she chided; her mind spinning and trying to weave her next steps.

JOORA!!

Her name roared from Heaven and shook the Earth and probably echoed in to Hell. The tiny voice was in trouble. She quickly turned away from Jewel, "I will see you again soon." She flew off and started her ascent in to Heaven.

A large concentrated bold of fire came down in to Eden and blasted its way in front of Belial and Lucifel, knocking Lucifel back. She surrounded Belial in a ring of fire, whispering to him, "I am not strong enough to keep him from you, but combined you and me, we can do it." She winked at him and winced at the new injuries he had sustained. She reached down in to the folds of one of her wings and took out some candy she had made from the potion shop. She unwrapped it and tossed it to Belial and told him to eat it. She could see his body returning to normal as he sucked on it.

She turned and faced Lucifel, who had picked himself up on the ground and was dusting himself off. He had that arrogant cocky smile on his face that Joora hated. She spread all of her wings out as if to block the boy. "Leave him alone Lucifel. He has done nothing. We are playing a game, a pirate game if you must know." She walked toward him holding the banana leaf in her hand. She presented it to Lucifel. "If you notice the treasure chest and the key...I am on a secret mission to locate plundered treasure in Heaven." She got closer to him so she could whisper in his ear. "He is the secret pirate king but his identity cannot be reveiled. The other pirates might mutiny you see, and we cannot lose control."

She turned the leaf over and on it was now a child's drawing of a little boy with a man and a woman holding hands. She ran her hands up his chest and pressed herself in to him. "He fancies us together, his mommy and daddy if you will. You really must control your temper you know. You don't want to shatter his dreams before he can do what needs to be done, do you?"

• Jewel stood and her smile faded as Joora left. She had more hope once again. "Of course I know about the other voice. My mothers voice I suppose" She sighed and looked at her the leaf. Her eyes grew somewhat wider and she hesitated backwards.
  
  Thats belials room number. A chest? He had a chest?
  
  It suddenly occured to her how little she really knew about her friends life. She was just there, and just ordered him around or did she? She couldn't really decide. She smiled and walked back away down the stairs, stuffing the leaf in her rather tiny pocket which was quite a feat in itself, she was wracking her brain with thoughts as she came to the bottom.
  
  She breathed in the heavy air, which would make most feel as if they'd had an overdose of powerful drugs, powerful enough to make them chuck up their lungs. yet she was so used to the paticularly heavy, oxygen lacking air that it was almost a relief to her. Normal oxygen was like laughing gas in a way.
  
  She stumbled around and up the stairs. Lucifer stood looking out the window and ushered her to come towards him, she did so, her head held high as always.
  
  "What happened?" he asked innocently
  
  "Like you don't know. Spy" She hissed at him. He smirked and let his wings erupt from his back. "Making me think you cared about me. Bollocks Lucifer."
  
  "Don't be like that. You know I care about you. A lot." He started to kiss her lightly but she was ignoring him, she was just thinking. "I just can;'t care about you in the open. I'll get a name for being weaker. I can't have that, just as you can't have that, iron maiden of hell"
  
  Jewel broke away from him, almost hitting Lucifers face in the process. "Lucifer. Belial what did he have in his room? You'd know better than me. Wouldn't you?" She asked desperately.
  
  Lucifer started to think then snapped out of it. "He's gone Jewel. Let him. Can't you just accept your fucking husband? Just having him around?" He asked asking for it. Jewel spun around and thrashed him, hard. He just took and sat on the floor untill she realised what she'd done. He could see it coming, she'd had to live in hell for so long without him, with only Belial. She couldn't forget such a friend. never could she forget someone who'd kept her sane.
  
  She sunk to the floor and just started sobbing. Jewel never cried. And when she did it was always red tears, but for the first time in an eternity, black tears stroked her cheeks.
  
  "So tainted. Such a devil you are." He said, looking miserable as he barely managed to pick her up in the state he was in. "I'm sorry. I should never have said that. Devils don't apologise? Do they? Shouldn't they? Everything and Everyone can apologise" He asid as he placed her on her bed and collapsed. Funny how the two strongest in hell where married and the only people in hell who could really damage each other mentally like they did. Well, Except Lucifel, but in reality they where all one big messed up family.
  
  Jewel was his Sister in law afterall since she was married to Lucifer.

• Robin watched the demon defend itself, as he attacked with his sword. A little mark was left with drops of blood. There was no reaction to the blood, but soon the demon became furious and annoyed. It increased the heat and size of the flames, without aiming. Robin assumed it was hoping it would burn either of them to ashes or scare them away. It didn't seem like the type that would negotiate. This demon would definitely be classified as hot-headed.
  
  This time the blow was a little stronger. She surrounded herself with a wind barrier, protecting most of her body excluding her clothing. The end of her dress burned partially, and the fire touched the skin on her leg. She winced but tried to hide it. If this were to get out of hand, Robin would have to leave. She couldn't risk being kicked out of hell.
  
  In heaven angels were easily manipulated. She was able to control their minds without other creatures finding out. Would she be able to do that to demons? She had several errors that could have been prevented in Heaven. She perfected her technique to work best on angels.

• It didn't take young for the female devil to wake up. She sighed and realised she was in her bed, familiarly unclothed She could have sworn she was wearing something prior. Her eyebrow twitched in horror at the distinctive face of her obnoxious lover.
  
  "Why the hell...?" She asked about to thwack him. She seemed to be back to normal, at record speed in fact.
  
  "Ah Darling!" Now this was wierd to her. "Sorry I was in such a good mood. I felt like it!" She just blinked and sat up, not bothering to hold the covers up against herself.
  
  "Who are you and what the fuck have you done with Lucfier?" She asked, she could have sworn that she'd beaten up Lucifer last night. She realised she had a rather bad temper when she eventually lost it.
  
  Lucifer laughed, in a devil may car fashion propping himself up on his elbow and smiled as devilishly as ever. " Oh come on, you know I'm like this when I'm-" She didn't need him to finish his scentance, she darted off in the direction of the shower and had bolted the door as he sighed.
  
  "Damn." He said to himself as he clambered out of bed and though about everything that had gone on the night previous. She's back to normal I suppose, but FUCk does she hurt when she hits and she's pissed off. I can't believe she Actually broke down still He was thinking as he heard the water run, getting dressed her left and walked rather procariously up a few steps of hell after exiting the room, he was dressed in a familiar floor length black cloak and tight leather trousers, heavy boots, a hat and tight top with lots of belts strapped around it. Not long after his walk had begun he heard a commotion and exited to watch it.
  
  "What the hell are you doing?" He hissed at them. His left eyebrow raised in a menacing fashion, if that was even possible. He looked fairly angry, considering he had no idea what was going on. "Robin I suppose? I've spoken to you before, you two, whichever one of you decided it would be a pleasent idea to pick on this angel, you where quite mistaken. Scram before I have to fight with you" He spat. "If you can't understand that, just fuck off" He snarled.
  
  Back in the shower, Jewel had sunk to the basin again to think; she always thought best somewhat naked. I wonder how Belial Is, I wonder If Joora's alright, she's a very powerful angel, but, but he's just...just horrible. His temper, its not worth thinking about An image replayed of a previous incident where she had come face to face with his temper, and it was certainly less than pleasent.

Joora turned to look at Belial. His body was healed but she couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind. On the surface he looked like a normal boy but his eyes often gave him away. Joora couldn't put her finger on exactly why. She thought that perhaps his eyes changed depending on who was "driving" the body so to speak. She made a mental note to pay more attention.

The truth was that she was trying to think about anything but what she was about to do. It took all of her strength to be able to touch Lucifel without gagging in his face. Her skin felt like things were crawling on it and she felt dirty. It had to be done she told herself over and over again. Lucifel's lack of response had her a bit worried but she mustered up her resolve and turned back to him, a lascivious grin on her face. She began to run her hand up his inner thigh.

"Really Lucifel...so quiet. I really enjoy your company when you are like this. You are almost serene and I must say so very beautiful right now. Look at how happy Belial is." Joora nearly choked on her own words but kept it up. She hoped he wouldn't turn her away or worse...see right through her, but if she was to be with Belial all of the time she had to get closer to Lucifel.

• A greasy smile plastered itself across Jewels face. Feeling somewhat happy as she remembered her memories in a happy fashion. She felt the need to be positive for once in her life, internally positive. She was generally negative, she always said that she only ever had the worst to look out for, but one could never tell if that was the right way to look at things or not.
  
  The water shut itself off suddenly and Jewel jumped up, looking shamelss as ever as she cast her eyes around the room, the only person who usually turned off the water when she went into a daze was Belial, and he certainly wasn't around to do so, her husband had buggered off somewhere and there was no-one to be seen, she was left with her hands on her hips looking somewhat confused. Instead of trying to comprehend it further Jewel got up speedily and spread her eyes around the room in one final glance before grabbing a towel and moving towards her extensive, and rather gothic, closet full of clothing.
  
  Her mood change, as she knew too well, could not be displayed to the rest of hell, she was going to have to dress in the same cold hard fashion as usual, afterall, she did wonder what was even going on further up and was about to make her way that way to investigate, wondering how Robin, and various others she had become almost friends with where doing. She even started to wonder if the usual bar she visited was curently having a scuddle, since hell never slept, it would only e right for them to be fighting at such a time.
  
  After a while of comprehension, she forgot about it and walked through her closet in search for a favoroite outfit of her, Black, White and Red. A typical colour combination, but divine in every way. It was lacey, tight and short, everything she loved in a few items of clothing, it was also well detialed another delicate factor of everything in her wardrobe. Endowed with stunning white and red patterns painted upon the black velvet material, the top was a tight corset shaped one, no chord at the back, but tight as anything, the strong metal like material under the velvet kept it in perfect shape, the elegant frontless skirt which flowed out to all sides, but was menacing all the same if used in battle, the spinnning colours enough to send the enemy into a trance. The short and tight PVC hotpants and frilled garter belt matched up with her normal belt with the addition of a swrod holder in which she kept her sacred sword, keeping it most hidden under her skirt.
  
  The overcoat, which was a pitfull excuse for a coat, came down to her breasts, it was long sleeved and never did up anymore, but the long flowing sleeves where a great protection and hid her hands, leaving only her nails to the eyes of those around her unless she chose to move the arms up in which case they would float down. Jewel could only smile as she caught a glimpse of her knee high boots, which almost appeared to be held up by her garter, buckled and belter, in 12 inch heels, topped off with a bowler hat she was ready to move on to her inspection, and everyone would know she was dressed up for the part as she dramatically left the appartment her eyes narrowed and her grin sinister.
  
  
  As she walked down the steps on her way to the bar, to get her first top up of the day and in ages, all she could do was wonder and think, she had come across so many ideas in her few moments of rest and thought, but she could hardly put any into words, yet there was one plan standing out in the back of her mind, a plan was in the works. She wasn't as ready to share it as she should have been, it wasn't even mapped out clarified, checked or even discussed with who it would include, but that wasn't going to stop her. With consultation from Joora, she wondered if she could possibly put it into action, and if she could, get her loving man to use a spell concerning time, to halt the time around the woman to allow her into the pits of hell, without tainting her soul. But a plan like that was destined to go wrong if ever put into action and she couldn't see Joora approving of such a plan either.

Tlanextli hissed something presumably obscene in his native tongue as he did his best to shield his face again from the fire. He grimaced as he smelled burnt feathers and faintly-singed hair, but by the look in his eyes, he was not about to let up on his attack.

He swung the shark-tooth-edged wooden sword again at the other demon's legs, hoping to slash at the muscles there and get his opponent off his feet. The quicker this guy went down and stopped fighting, the better, since the green-winged man was not exactly thrilled about losing all these feathers to fire. If his wings took much more punishment, he would not be able to fly until all the feathers grew back. And, while Tlanextli was certainly not short on time, being undead and all, he still hated waiting.

Lucifel snorted in disgust at Joora's Actions. With a sweep on his angelic wing he shoved her into Belial. "You think me a fool Joora? You truely believe an insolent worm like you could possible scheme in my kingdom without me noticing? Every Cherub in this kingdom bows before my will, yet you use them to deliver messages to Hell?" His anglic features transformed into the devilish grin of a rabid hyena. His prey was before his eyes and he would not let them go this time. He would destroy them for plotting his downfall. Yes, they would pay for their insolence in pain and death.

He called on the trees to do his bidding. They creaked and groaned in protest, but Lucifel's will was strong and soon they uprooted themselves and bent to capture the two traitors.

Belial was too terrified to move. Eve was screaming orders into his head but he couldnt find the will to follow them let alone listen. He shivvered hard, unable to reason why this should be happening to him. His mind was torn asunder by the conflicting memories he was quickly losing who he was. If the stress of battle continued for much longer Belial would snap. Whether this was good or bad would soon be determined.

Lucifel's cackle rang through the Garden of Eden. "Before this day is out, there will be blood."

Joora was disappointed that her plan had failed and was a little surprised at the force with which Lucifel tossed her aside and in to Belial, but she had been prepared for it. She knew that there would be a fight and it was one she couldn't win. She was simply not powerful enough to overthrow Lucifel by herself. "Yes Lucifel, there will be blood", Joora hissed in defiance. "But it will not be ours."

As the trees bent to capture them she shot out huge walls of flame that consumed them and charred them black. They would soon recover and grab at them again. Her face and arms became scratched and blood was dripping down her arms. The trees were recovering faster than she could burn them. She created a huge ball of fire and threw it directly in front of Lucifel. The sheer force of the explosion created an enormous hole in the grounds of Eden. Angels on all levels looked up to see the battle ensuing.

This was it. It was now or never. She could keep fighting and if it were simply her death she would but she could not have Belial's death on her hands as well.

She scooped up Belial and closed all her wings tightly around them both and transformed herself in to a snake. "Catch us if you can you piece of shit excuse of an angel."

She threw herself through the pit and down to Earth. She slithered as quickly as she could through the grass and slipped through the Gates of Hell. She slithered in to a dark corner to catch her breath. This had been the farthest she had ever gotten and needed to prepare herself for what might happen to her.

• Both of them having a strong connection with hell, made them immedately aware of the entry through gates which knew no bounds of reason. This was a living one. In fact, it felt like more than one. Jewel immediately bolted up from her new found seat in the bar, Lucifer ran at speed from the scene he was at.
  
  Jewels command, and current actions where possibly contradicting each other, but things didn't usually walk in the gates of hell, and if it was any angel, anything like that, hell help them if the gatekeepers get to them.
  
  Although Lucifer was running as fast as he could, he felt as if he was being pulled back by something, a sense of loss. Not so long ago, he'd been almost lifeless, senile and tortured. Now he was back to his cold calculating self, feeling somewhat ashamed. However he heard the clinking of the chains which bound the gatekeepers to the gates. He could hear there stormy footsteps and his fear increased as he saw them, approaching a figure in the corner.
  
  "Joora..!?"