James barely reacted when the flower was knocked form his hand, his eyes following the patch of the flower as it fell before she stamped on it. he reached out a hand a moment as if wanting to stop her but it was already too late. The flower was crushed, and any chance of saving it was gone, James felt a slight wave of anger but subsided it, instead looking up at Alana as she shouted at him, demanding to know who he was then ordering him to leave.
He lowered his hand to his side, raising his head to look at her again, his eyes gracing over to the mark on her shoulder, but then he gazed at her one more time,
"I'm no-one.. I just wanted to help.." He lowered his head and turned, considering leaving, but looked over at her again, "I cant leave knowing you are out here. Not more then a small while ago I saw you smiling and happy.. Now all of a sudden you are fallen.. Angry.. Hurt.. It just doesn't sit well with me to just leave you here.."

============

The devil king smirked at the generals as they gathered and prepared for his plan. He himself seemed quite amused as he leaned against his hand, though he sat forward slightly, holding up his sword but then leaning against it,
"I have been thinking for a long time about this, it is something my predecessors never attempted either because they were cowards, or far too weak to attempt it.. But I am neither of these things, and neither are my trustworthy generals.." He chuckled, though looked at their confused faces,
"Don't get the wrong idea you fools, I don't trust any of you behind my back, but I know you'll damn well do as you are told.." He stood up and stamped, a number of them flinching at the sound, "The humans have enjoyed their peace and quiet for far too long.. And the Angels have become so easy to corrupt and defeat that no more than a few moments ago did Dante seduce one.." He chuckled, others joining in,
"Now be quiet! Dante, bring forth the world map, the main continent is our launching point for this strike.."

She looked at him a moment. He didn't care that she had just destroyed his flower. It was like it didn't bother him that she was grumpy. She fell to the ground crying. She didn't feel like being happy. She did not want to do anything at all. She just wanted to die. What was the point of being alive if she could not be happy?

"Who are you? What are you doing here and why do you care? What about me is so interesting that you want to bother me so much?"



Dante chuckled. He was so pleased with himself. He had deflowered an angel in the prime of her youth. He had pleased his lord. And now they were going to attack the earth.

"We will do whatever you please my lord."


Layla walked over to Lenshirs chambers. She knocked on his door and waited to see if he would answer.

James cautiously found himself a place to sit on the ground, not far from where she was and leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees,
"I'm just.. Well.. My name is James.." He replied, sitting a little straighter, "I kinda just came here for a stroll but I ended up coming across you.." The demon eventually stood up, "As I said.. I saw you smiling, happy, not more than a short while ago.. Something that you have done or that has been done to you, it has caused you pain and regret. Hasn't it..?" He stepped closer to her and offered his hand,
"I can't help you forget.. I have a hard time forgetting such things myself, but I can at least offer you my hand."

=========

The devil king waited for the map to be placed down before he held his hand out, several small lights appearing over the map, sitting above the eight towns that stood in a relative circle around the largest human city of Gesthalt,
"The angels commonly guard these eight towns, working as aids, protectors and wards, casting away demons of the lesser breed when the humans cannot deal with them. As for the human capital city of Gesthalt, the angels use this as a main base of operations, working more openly so much that they even are known of by the local authorities,"

He pointed at the surrounding towns, the lights above them going brighter,
"I want these towns attacked.. One-by-one, sometimes two at a time until sooner or later they are all under siege. Sacrifices will be made, as is war, the angels will spread out from Gesthalt and on their way we will ambush them on the roads, in the skies if we must, and while those who are being ambushed are kept busy our main forces will move on Gesthalt itself," Azaeril began to chuckle, "We will catch those fool angels unaware, whittle down their numbers and confuse them so much that raiding Gesthalt will be easy, and when the angels are defeated we will use the gate they created for themselves in the city to step into Celestia itself!! We'll wipe them out.. Kill that bitch Layla and eliminate the Angels then we will rule the Heavens, Earthrealm and even all of the Netherworlds!!"

=========

Lenshir had been pouring over the Tome of their lord when the knock at his door came. he froze for a while then lowered his head a little. The despairing feeling in his heart tore at him, clashing with the soothing feeling of the Seraph as she approached,
"Enter.. It is not locked.." He spoke out it was audible enough from his room. He closed the book and turned around on his chair, crossing his hands in his lap and lowering his head.

She stared at him a moment. She wasen't sure what to do or say to this. He seemed nice but he didn't ask any questions of her. He didn't ask her name or anything. She found that a bit odd. She could no longer feel tears running down her face. The rain made it impossible to notice it anymore.

"I don't know why you want to help me so bad James but I suppose I can accept your help. I appreciate it. You will not be able to assist me in the way that I need it but I will take any help your willing to give to me."

She reached out and took his hand in hers.


Dante grinned. This was perfect. He would be able to rape as many angels as he wanted to now. It was just what he was hoping for. The biggest angel rapefest ever available. THey would all be virgins and ripe for the taking. He just hoped they were as easy as Alana had been. She was to easy.


Layla walked in and looked at him her expression still sad.

"Are you doing ok? I was worried about you. I know how close you were to that girl and I was hoping you would be ok. I hate to see my angels in tourmoil."

James grasped her arm, holding Alana by the wrist as he helped her to her feet, once she was standing he reached a pale hand up to brush some of the wet strands before her eyes away, just so he could see them more clearly. He said nothing, shifting closer so he could put an arm around her back softly and motioned his other arm toward the town,
"Come. Lets get you out of the rain. I think that's a good start.." James, up close, could be seen smiling a little, "I didn't get your name.. But you don't have to give it,"

James lead her back to the town, bringing her to the hotel so he could sit her before the fire in the main entrance, he was lucky it had been kindled in time for the rain. The proprietress wasn't present yet, but he knew he would have to explain Alana soon, though meanwhile grabbed the hem of his hooded shirt, pulling it off to reveal the simple white vest beneath, then brushing a hand through his silver hair and sighing,
"Aaah! That's better, way warmer in here.. Not like the cold bothers me all that much but still.."

===========

"Dante, I leave you to choose which town will be attacked first.. And when you attack the town with that Angel in it, I want you to bring her back here, she is ours after all.. I want to be the one to make her scream this time around.. Now go! I trust you to command this new advance, ready our warriors! prepare the mages, the thieves, the archers, ready them all and ready them for the coming joys!" Azaeril smiled, "When you secure Gesthalt, I will join you.. And together we will make the final push into the heavens themselves.."

Azaeril moved back to his throne and sat down, leaning against his hand again with a grin and watching as the demons began to chuckle among themselves, all prepared to begin this new campaign. Their ascension into heaven would be a gloriously bloody business.. Just the way they liked it..

===========

Lenshir looked up at the Seraph for a long while but then lowered his head, a pair of tears making darkened lines down the sides of his face slowly, he took in a sharp breath but exhaled,
"Perhaps.. I should heave approached her sooner.. Not as the friend I enjoyed having.. But as the wife I would have loved for the rest of my life.. And now she is gone and where my visions could have helped me prevent what happened to her.. I simply failed.. What use are visions if I can do nothing to stand against what they present to me..?" He asked clenching his fists and gritting his teeth again, an angered expression on his face for but a moment, so unfitting of him, but he relaxed,
"I have failed..."

Alana let him help her up and to the hotel. She stood still by the fire. She may have accepted his help but she was still traumatized. She watched as he took off his shirt. When she saw his silver hair and red eyes she began to back away with a scared look on her face.

"Get away from me demon. Leave me alone."

She shrunk down into a corner and closed her eyes quivering in fear. She just knew he was here to take her to hell. She knew that he was here to hurt her. She was scared. She was scared that she would be hurt again.


Dante grinned and took off to the portal. He stood in front of it and organized the troups. He looked at the map. They would go for the city of Dodona first. It was average sized and it seemed to be perfect for what they needed. It would be just right to get the angels attention. He picked out four of the demons that he trusted the most and they stepped through the portal to the city of there choice.


She stared at him a moment. This was indeed a horrible predicament.

"Did you love the fallen Alana Lenshir? You never showed any enthusiasm except for your work. I would never have guessed she meant this much to you. I wish I could console you but all that I can say is that you can no longer be with her without losing your heavenly position. You should think long and hard. If she is truly the one you love then you should go to her but if you treasure your position here then you will get her out of your head forever."

She sat down on an extra chair closeby and waited to see how he would reply.

"Demon?!" James jumped, looked over both his shoulders quickly, as though confused, worried, "Where?!"
"Demon..? Hah! If there was a demon in my establishment I would have killed them already.." A sharp voice came from the back as a woman stepped out, a large towel in hand, walking past James and using her hand to whack him over the back of the head, not too hard, but enough for it to be noticed as James jerked forward slightly, holding the back of his head with one hand,
"Owww.. What was that for?" He asked, standing straight again as she walked over to where Alana was and knelt before her, offering the towel to her, "You should have at least gotten her a cloak and covered her up!"
"I'm sorry.. I guess I didn't think of that, we weren't really far from the inn or anything." James shrugged, cringing away when the woman threatened to smack him again, "Okay okay! My mistake! Eh-heh.."

=============

"But.. But I cant... If I leave my faith for my love then I am as damned, I would fall from grace and be left in the mortal realm, but if I leave my love for my faith I am equally damned.." Lenshir looked up at Layla, it wasn't a decision he could just make he would lose one of two things the mattered, no matter what he did.
He stood up and walked over to his bed, a hand on the corner post as he stood with his back to Layla, another hand to his face, trying to figure it out, "Even if he forgives, our people would not, but then.. I would be abandoning her down there, leaving her for the demons to finish what they started.. What can I do? What hope do I have against that?"

Alana didn't move from her corner. She was still scared to death. She didn't know what to do. She was sure he looked like a demon but he did not act like one. The human lady on the other hand made her feel better. She smiled as she handed her the towel. She took it and began to dry her wet hair. It was a mess from the rain.

"Thank you. I am sorry James but I mistook you for someone else. I never mentioned my name. I am Alana. I am......" Her voice cracked. "Human"

She could feel the tears whell up and she felt like she was getting her heart ripped out of her chest again.


She looked at him a moment and sighed. SHe wasen't sure what to tell him. If it was her choice she would choose her heavenly life but she had never been in love before. It must be so difficult for him.

"Lenshir You are my most trusted. Without you I would never be able to do anything. However you must make your own choice here. I cant make it for you nor can I influence the thing you choose. It is all up to you."

She put a hand on his back to comfort him. She would hate to lose him but she was not sure if he would choose his life here.

"Trust James to bring in another stray cat," The woman smiled, staying knelt by Alana, a hand on the younger woman's shoulder using her thumb to rub the flesh a moment before standing, "Well then I would have to take a guess that you are hungry at least." She stared at James, who grinned and put his thumb up in confirmation of this, but looked to Alana as well, "But what about you? Would you like something to eat? You'll need something to warm you up after having been out in the rain."
James threw his shirt over his shoulder and checked his money purse, he was lucky he was good at counting amounts not to mention.. With a little demon magic he could always access his emergency coffers.. But to live a normal life one had to earn and he had grown used to it,
"Ah how rude of me, Alana." She stated suddenly, placing her hand on her chest, "I am Lucianna, I am the proprietress of this inn.. And my husband is.. Well I believe he is out gathering firewood.. You'll see him later, he's hard to miss.. The big lug.." Lucianna smiled, James stepping forward a little and looking down at the fallen Angel,
"So its Alana, huh?" He asked, mostly a rhetorical question as he closed the moneypurse and tossed it in Lucianna's direction, who caught it absentmindedly and moved to the counter, "Its a nice name. I like it anyway," He added, grinning a little.

===========

Lenshir twitched slightly whens he put her hand on his back, he turned his head away from her for a moment, not wanting to discuss it further. The Archangel stepped forward, further along the bed but stood there, his head still lowered as he raised a hand to his heart, breath sharply again,
"Please.. Leave me alone for a moment.. I need to think.." He requested quietly, turning so he could sit on the bed and place his hand upon his lap, a cascade of orange as his sunkissed hair lowered to hid his features save the glimmering blue of tears colored by his eyes,
"I will see you when you next call.."

She looked at the lady through her tears and tried to smile.

"Very well. I have never eaten before. What does it do?"

She stared at them both a moment. She was so used to being honest it didn't even occur to her that humans had to eat unlike an angel who never actually had to eat anything. When James complimented her name she felt herself blushing and she put her head down so her long hair hid it from view. She pictured Lenshir in her mind and sighed. She missed him already. How could she have been so stupid? Why did she let a demon do this to her?

"Thank you. I was born with that name. It is a very special name. It......used to mean a lot to me. I guess it dosent matter anymore."

SHe felt the tears again.


Layla nodded her head and stood up. She walked to the door and turned and looked at Lenshir.

"I wish you luck on your mediatation. May the lord guide you where you need to be."

She walked out quietly.


"Why would such a pretty face make way for tears?"

A man who appeared to be in his early 30's appeared and smiled as he ran up to his wife and gave her a kiss. He had a bunch of firewood he dropped by the door.

"I heard something about food."

He grinned down at his wife.

"Certainly you can't have not eaten before.." Lucianna raised her brow, looking at her a little harder and frowning as she forked money out from the purse and placed it in the register, walking around to look at her as she leaned against the counter,
"You aren't a demon.. Those creatures need to eat but can go great lengths of time without it, but they grow steadily weaker till they eat again.. And Angels.. Well they do drink Ambrosia nectar or so the rumors go.."
Lucianna looked at the doorway as she heard the firewood drop, only to find herself overwhelmed by her husband,, the larger man easily outsizing her, but she grasped the side of his coat, another hand on one of his arms as they kissed, though when they broke she simply smiled,
"Galvin B-Valkynd, you can sleep through a dozen pots clattering on the floor but the moment food is mentioned.. Yes, I'm working on food now." She replied, reaching up to place her hand on his face as she kissed him one more time before pushing him off her lightly, "Now go put the firewood away and sweep the entrance." She ordered lightly before looking to James and Alana,
"Well.. What to do about this then.." She placed her hands on her hips as she shook her head, "Honestly James you put me in such a predicament sometimes, have you always been this naive? Where on earth did you get such a big heart to drag in every down-on-their-luck stranger?" She asked, but before he could answer, even opening his mouth and holding his hand up to talk she raised her hand again,
"No I haven't forgotten, Shalina taught you to help others when she helped you the first time, I get it." She rolled her eyes then looked to Alana, rubbing her chin, "Well.. If we get you properly dressed you could pay for room and board as my waitress when we serve in the evenings and do some chores around here. I have been looking for an able-bodied worker to get some extra things done around here."

James went over to Alana, sitting down beside her though making sure the jacket-like shirt was well adjusted on his shoulder as he looked aside to the tearful girl and put a hand on her shoulder,
"I didn't say anything wrong did I..?" He asked, tilting his head a little, "If you really dont know how to eat, I think I could teach you, if there's anything I'm really good at, it's eating," he folded his arms and nodded proudly,
"Dont I know it.." Lucianna commented in the background, James grinning a little more as though being mischievous. Lucianna had witnessed James' ravenous appetite on occasion, she had expected it of a demon but had never really understood how well they could metabolize food until James became the hotel's resident demon.

"Yes my dear. I will do as you request."

He gave her another kiss and then walked to the pile of wood picking it up and moving it to the area where to wood was piled. He then grabbed the broom and ran to go sweep.


Alana looked at the people around her. When she got offered the job and a place to stay she couldn't help but smile. The idea of these people treating her so well when she thought of herself as nothing more than a piece of worthless garbage was unbeilivable.

"You guys are so nice. I will repay your kindness somehow. I promise. I am sorry about the eating thing. I have lived a sheltered life and have never had a need for such sustinance. I will appreciate any help you have to offer. I would love the job and the place to stay and I appreciate it."

"Thank you, honey," Lucianna responded to Galvin, smiling at him a while before returning her attention to Alana, a hand on her hip as the girl offered to repay her for her kindness, "You'd already be paying me back by doing some work around here, but we cant have you doing that in tattered clothes," The proprietress motioned to Alana for her to follow,
"Come on, I think I have some things that will fit you," She mentioned, hoping that the girl would follow her, she could see the dress Alana had used to be quite something beautiful but in its destroyed state it had to be replaced.

James grinned at the fallen Angel, patting her on the shoulder,
"You'll be okay around here, see you soon?" He motioned toward Lucianna and stood, stretching a little, he had to go to his room and change to one of his spare pullovers anyway so he was sure he could leave the young woman in the proprietress' hands, however his mind was stabled on the mark on her shoulder. He walked to the stairs leading up to the second floor, however Lucianna walked to a place further back in the hotel, the area where she and Galvin lived, leading Alana to the master bedroom.

The woman had begun rifling through her cupboards, she had no end to exotic and hand-tailored clothing, she had tailored a lot of it in her spare time, having the time for it occasionally, her own outfit being a multi-layered custom piece, unique to her. She needed to size Alana up for the right clothes though so eventually turned to her again,
"Got any particular color you like?"

Alana looked at the lady a moment. This was so strange. They were treating her so well. She nodded at James with a smile and putting a hand out she grabbed his and pushed it against her right cheek.

"Thank you so much."

She regreatably released his hand and followed the innkeeper. She watched her as she went to her wardrobe and then asked about colors.

"I really love white and red. But I will wear anything. This dress deserves a hot painful death. It has seen to much problems."

James looked at his hand quietly as he walked to his room, smiling a little to himself, though stopped in place, wondering about it. That man she had been with.. Was he the reason she'd ended up in that state? He couldn't jump to conclusions but it was possible.. A human couldn't cause an Angel to fall not without inordinate amounts of power that would be hard to hide.. A demon would be capable but he hadn't sensed any demonic essence.. Had she let herself fall willingly..? He shook his head, remembering how he'd found her.. Something was off about this whole picture, and the demons mark on her shoulder.. It had to be a demon..!
I'll have to do something about that mark.. He thought to himself, frowning a little But then.. She'd find out what I am.. If a demon did that to her.. He rubbed his head, But if I dont, a demon will claim her.. Oh man.. Sin mulled the pros and cons in his head, maybe he'd tell her first, perhaps she'd trust him.. But then she freaked out just because of how he looked, right now she was probably convinced he was just a regular old idiot human..

Lucianna checked Alana a few times, using a measuring tape to see if she matched some sizes before she began to pull pieces from the wardrobe, she held them up against Alana a moment before tossing them aside and took a few other things out until she was satisfied with what she'd picked out, eventually placing then neatly on the bed and beginning to file the rest of the clothes away,
"You've taken a bath before at least, right?" The woman asked, closing the cupboards and turned to her, holding out on arm in the direction of a doorway, "There's a bathing room just through there, you may want to clean yourself up before you put your new clothes on."

Alana picked up the pile of clothes and took off towards the designated room. She put the clothes down on a counter and stripped herself of her white dress. She sat on the edge of the bathtub and stared at it. She imagined being back in heaven. She imagined Lenshir. She thought about all the times she had stared at him hoping he would ask her out. She wondered what he was doing now and if he even cared she was gone.

She dropped the ripped gown on the ground and ran a bath. She climbed in flinching at the hot water. She sat down and relaxed. It felt so good. She grabbed the soap and cleaned her entire body over with it three times doing the same with her hair. When she was done she stood up and let the water out. She wrung out her long hair and then climbed out. SHe dried herself quickly and put on her new clothes. She walked back out to the place they were all at before and looked to see who happened to be there.


Dante grinned as he looked at the mess they had caused. Dodona was a mess. They had caused wrecks and torn up the buildings. They had raped a few females including a couple of the angels. He had picked up some kid and put them on the top of the flag pole by his shorts. This was so much fun. He watched the kid scream.


Layla sent out a signal for her angels to all come to the throne room. There was an important meeting right now.

Lucianna looked over at Alana as she appeared smiling a little now that she was clean and properly dressed. The proprietress went over to her a moment, adjusting the clothes a little just to make sure it sat right on her before putting a finger to her lips,
"Hm.. Well need to get you something a little less revealing too, I dress like I do because the men that come here know I'm not up for grabs, either I'll kick their asses if they try anything, or Galvin will.." Lucianna mentioned, patting her on the shoulder,
"But still you look really nice, do you feel comfortable in it?"

The sound of footsteps made Lucianna look up at the stairs, she spotted James as he was coming down, he in turn looking at the proprietress but then at Alana and he seemed to miss a step,
"Holy c-" he was cut off as he tumbled down the stairs before hitting the ground, where he lay in a crumpled heap for a moment before groaning, "-ooooowwwww..."
"Oh it was barely a fall you big baby.." Lucianna replied, nudging him with her foot before grabbing him by the shoulder and helping him up.

Lenshir raised his head as his mind caught the signal that Layla had sent out. He stood, holding his book at his side as he solemnly left his quarters. The young archangel walked pas the younger angels as well as some of their soldiers and commanders, some stared at him oddly, so strange to see his gentle face so lost.. He followed the path to the throne-room and stood beside the other Archangels before the Seraph, staring almost blankly in her direction as he waited to hear what they would say, what the meeting was regarding.

Alana smiled at her as she spoke. This lady was so nice.

"Thank you I am very comfortable. I am not used to clothes that show so much skin but I can adjust to it just fine. Or at least I hope I can."

SHe saw James and smiled at him when he fell down the stairs. Her hand went to her face and she gasped. She ran to him and gave him a hug.

"Are you ok? Please tell me you are. I dont want to see you hurt."


Layla looked over at Lenshir and cast him a friendly smile.

"Attention all my friends. We have a problem. The town of Dodona has been attacked by demons. Several angels have been raped and the humans are in peril. We must defend this town and figure out why they were attacked. Do we have any volunteers to go to earth and see whats going on?"

"Woah what the-" James stared at Alana as she approached, the hug also confusing him. He stood stock still when she hugged him, the demon's face starting to go slightly red, "I'm fine, I've had worse falls.. I think.. or was that a dream..?" He pondered, seeming confused for a moment, but then looked at Alana and at her arms, "Maybe I'm dreaming right now.. Could somebody pinch me?" He asked out loud, Lucianna obliging him by grasping his cheek and pinching it, inciting a soft yelp from James,
"Oww.. Well that confirms it, this is just a very very vivid-" He was cut off as Lucianna pulled a little harder, clearing her throat as she did so "Ow!! Okay not a dream, not a dream!"

At that the woman let go with a smirk, the pinched side of his face definitely redder than before as Lucianna walked off to the kitchen to do her work in the kitchen, back in her days as a Templar she'd taken the cooking skills taught to her by her mother into the ranks and had become her groups cook for a long time, since they traveled a lot to hunt demons she was able to taste flavors form different towns and cities until she'd gathered a wealth of her own favored spices to bring back home and cook with, what had started as a restaurant five years ago had bloomed into a tavern then the hotel that it was now.

James slipped his arm from Alana's grasp so he could rub the one side of his face a little while mumbling a little,
"I think the worst thing I've hurt today was my pride.." He finally stated but then put his hand to his back a moment, "Oohf.. Got a bit of a crick in my back too, mind letting go a sec there..?" He asked, waiting for her to let go before he could pop his spine.

=========

Lenshir looked up at her his pale blue eyes somewhat dulled when compared before, the livid, bright blue seeming darker, emptier. He held his book close to his heart butt he other remained limp at his side, when she asked for a volunteer, Lenshir looked at the others first, to see if anyone else would step forward before doing so himself and lowering his head,
"If this is what you want, I will do it.."

Alana let him go quickly. She stared at him for a while. He was such a nice person but she felt sorta odd without wearing as much clothes as she normally did. She watched him. He was so handsome to her. She figured it must be the human emotions to explain this attraction. She was not feeling love or anything close to that just some sort of attraction. Perhaps this was what is called lust. She figured it was possible.


Layla looked at Lenshir with a sad expression on her face.

"Are you sure you wish to go?"

James placed his hand against his back, leaning back until his spine popped a couple of times, then heaved out a relaxed sigh, adjusting his fresh pullover so that it sat on his shoulders just right before looking at Alana again, grinning a little,
"You can carry on hugging me now if you want.." He stated in a joking term though brushed the underside of his nose with his thumb once, "You know Lucianna has an odd sense of style but it always turns out pretty good, you look good in that." He nodded to himself, confirming it as far as he was concerned, though looked in Lucianna's direction,
"Wonder what she's making today..?"

===========

Lenshir nodded his head once his wings flexing once before folding as he turned around immediately,
"It is my duty to serve Celestia, I will do so without hesitation," He replied, looking at those to his sides, "Muster an encounter party we will have to drive the demons away before they cause any further harm, if they refuse to leave.. We will kill them."

Alana just stood there staring at him a moment. She was a little shy now. She wondered why she hugged him like that? She never thought about doing anything like hugging someone of the opposite sex. She gazed up at him and smiled. Why not? She ran up and wrapped her arms around his neck giving him another hug. She kissed him on his neck gently as a way of saying thanks for everything.


Layla looked at all the volunteers. She was going to divide them up and send on to every city. Lenshir she purposly assigned to Deltania. She figured the best way for him to figure out what he wanted was to face the problem head on. And his problem lay in that city.

"You have your assignments. Make sure to report any demon attacks immediatly when they happen and we will send the troops to your city to help. I will be up here trying to find a pattern in the attacks. Good luck and may the mighty one be with you."

James looked down on the shorter being with a smile though felt himself a little surprised when she placed her arms around his neck. Before he could do anything she'd kissed him upon the neck which made him go further red. He was almost frozen in place, though Lucianna caught his attention when she reappeared, she had dressed herself in a more basic skirt and apron combo, hands gloved. She was chuckling as she watched the scene,
"Well that's about as much color as I've ever seen on your face James." She commented, the man rubbing the back of his head a little though then looked down to Alana again, placing his hands on her shoulders gently and smiling,
"Thank you.. But I don't deserve anything so nice from you.." He slipped from her arms and found himself a seat by the fire leaning on his knees and looking in Lucianna's direction, who had placed her hands upon her hips,
"You recieve a kiss and say you dont deserve it, you help people and say they shouldn't praise you, what on earth is wrong with you?!" She asked, shaking her head, "And don't give me that 'I'm jsut humble' nonsense you've been here for four years.."
"I'm sorry.. But that's just the way it is.." James replied, looking toward the fire and grimacing slightly,
"You weird.. Ugh.." Lucianna rolled her eyes and turned away, walking back to the kitchen, "Idiot."
James simply grinned then, sitting back a little in the seat and looking to Alana.

=========

Lenshir stared at Layla for a while, having been assigned to Deltania he felt a lump in his throat, and a little anger, why was she forcing him to go there now? He had already resolved to choose duty over his love, what was she going to obtain from sending him there now...? He simply bowed to her one more time and turned away, if it was her will he would obey..

Alana frowned when he left her. She thought it was odd. She thought he had wanted a hug and now he just left. She was confused and feeling shy again. She sighed and sat down on the opposite end of the table. She wondered why James was acting so odd. He asked for a hug and then got embarrassed when she gave it to him. She kept her head facing downward as she contemplated everything.

Being a human is hard work. Humans are strange creatures who don't know what they want. And now that she was a human she guessed she didn't know either.


Layla looked at her angels and smiled at them.

"Go to your assigned cities. Get undercover and watch out for anything out of the ordinary. Report back every evening."

The demon watched Alana, rubbing the side of his head and grimacing again, he wondered if he'd upset her.. James leaned forward, resting his arms on the table and smiling in her direction,
"I'm sorry, Alana.. I have a.." He looked over his shoulder a moment for any listeners, though, when he was sure that no-one was in earshot he rested a little lower on the table, "I have a grim past.. I've done things I wasn't so proud of.. Kinda just trying to make up for it as much as I can.. I don't deserve anyone being nice after what I-.." He shook his head and sat back, laughing suddenly,
"Never mind, its behind me now I guess, whats done is done, I just have to get on with it and hope I can forgive myself sometime, right?" He leaned back again and sighed, shaking his head, "I just don't know when enough is enough and I can allow it.. I certainly don't feel like I've leveled it out.."

==========

"Yes Lady Layla." Lenshir nodded his head calmly walking towards the portal once again with a grim face, trying to think what he would do.. He would have to avoid Alana, he could not pursue a relationship with her anymore, not while she was mortal. Now while she had been touched be a demon.. He froze in place, gritting his teeth before continuing, his aides following him out to the portal and sinking into it silently before vanishing.