"One wrong move, Composer, and I'm taking her with me."

My eyes widened as I felt my heart stop completely. My wings were spread out uncomfortably and my hands were confined at my sides as his arm was wrapped securely around my waist. Nikolai pressed the blade further into my neck, just above the collar and I felt the prick of the cool metal on my neck as a drop of blood flowed down my neck. Joshua stopped, his expression unreadable from where I was. Nikolai took a step back, forcing me to go back with him.I nearly stumbled, being weak from before.

"If you know what's best, you'll end your life here," Nikolai said to Joshua. I shook my head at Joshua, mouthing the word 'no'. "Quiet dear," Nikolai mumbled threateningly into my ear. My adrenaline was racing throughout my body. Taking my chances, I took my knee and tried to kick his out from under him, but he was quicker and jumped back, so I twisted my body, squirming in his grip. I managed to free an arm, elbowing him in the stomach. As he was distracted, I jumped back and held my hands out, with the palm of one hand on the back of the other. They were glowing a white, blinding color as a ball of light shot out of them. Nikolai dove out of the way and snapped his fingers. I fell to the ground in pain again as a shock erupted from the collar, forcing me to my knees. I barely recognized when Joshua was at my side, kneeling down next to me. The pain in my neck, however, refused to cease and I had to refrain from reaching for it. The pain was so unbearable that I couldn't scream and Joshua held his hand out like he had done before and attempted to destroy the collar but it didn't work and only caused him to be blown back a couple of feet. Nikolai's laughter cut through the air like a knife. The ringing in my ears was now becoming more intense until it finally stopped as soon as Joshua was away.

"I told you. I'm the only one who can take it off!" Nikolai laughed as if it was amusing to him to see me in pain like this, unable to be with Joshua. "I've had enough entertainment from you though," Nikolai said, turning towards Joshua with a sadistic grin on his face. "I have no more reason for you to be here, and I'm sure (Y/n) here will be fine with seeing you die in front of her." The pain finally stopped and I was certain there was a burn around my neck. I looked up towards Nikolai and Joshua with what little strength I had. Nikolai dashed side to side as he rushed Joshua, who levitated above him, allowing him to sprint fast. Both of them raised their hands, summoning their own attacks which flew through the air and crashed mid-air. The affect from the crash caused both of them to be pushed back, but the both of them quickly recovered, prepared to unleash another attack. Nikolai spun around, sending black feathers flying through the air razor fast. They stuck into the wall right behind me and thinly sliced my cheek. I held a hand up to it and pulled it up to my eyes to see a warm, red liquid. Joshua reacted by levitating and quickly resuming ground attacks when the feathers with edges like a knife's blade zoomed towards him.

Both Nikolai and Joshua were quick to attack again, unleashing a flurry of attacks that I could barely follow over my blurred vision. Lying my head back on the floor, I managed to roll over onto my side. My breathing was uneven as I took in large gulps of air. My vision was going to go out, but I struggled to remain awake. I can't black out now. Not when Joshua's life is on the line for someone like me.

Why would he go to all of these lengths for me? I get that we've known each other for as long as I can remember, but this is extreme. I let the faintest smile reach my lips as I thought about how Joshua genuinely seemed concerned through me. Though, he's an expert at masking his emotions nearly all of the time, there's always some kind of crack in the mask he wears. I grunted as I leaned over, and clutched my stomach. A sharp pain shot through it and I couldn't remember the last time I ate. I ate small pieces of food when Nikolai had forced me to, otherwise, I never touched it. I looked up and held back tears that were threatening to fall. Nikolai had a slice on his left shoulder that cut through his white coat that was now covered in dust and areas of fresh blood. He was holding his hand in pain as he clutched it to his chest, glaring at Joshua, who was standing across from him, smirking.

"Aw~" Joshua chuckled. "What's the matter? Does your hand hurt?" Joshua giggled and I couldn't help but think that he was slightly sadistic himself.

"How dare you!" Nikolai shrieked, his temper clearly boiling over. "I'll kill you!" Just as Nikolai tried running towards Joshua with his hand raised, his footing was sloppy and Joshua landed a direct hit with a large beam, causing Nikolai to scream out in agony. Wherever his skin showed, there was some kind of second (almost third) degree burn which caused me to flinch and look away at the welts sprouting on his skin. Nikolai looked down, a shadow cast over his eyes as he smirked and began to laugh madly.

"Aw, I wouldn't hurt me again if I were you." He snapped his fingers, causing an electric shock to the collar around my neck, which hurt like hell. I laid there, taking the pain, unable to move. My face must have been contorted in pain as the shock only grew more violent with each passing second. Squeezing my eyes shut, my limbs went limp before Nikolai began to scream louder than I had ever heard him before. The collar stopped and I was grateful for it. Opening my eyes, they widened at the sight of Nikolai, who was glowing a bright white color before it compressed and exploded, sending Nikolai to the ground. Standing above him with her arm raised out was Solaris, whose hand was fading from the same color that sent Nikolai to the ground. Blood seeped out from the side of her head as she panted. Joshua took this chance to walk up to Nikolai, seeing how he wasn't in any position to do anything too rash.

Joshua was nowhere near as hurt as Nikolai was. With the cut on his cheek and arm, the only other injury he sustained was a gash on the side of his torso that was bleeding, as well as a cut between his wings, as if Nikolai aimed to cut them off at some point (but failed thankfully). Blood seeped through his light gray, button up shirt. Otherwise, both him and Nikolai had minor scratches and cuts around their bodies.

"Are you done now?" Joshua asked, smirking to himself at what had become of Nikolai. He acted as if he wasn't hurt at all, which caused my heart to get a worried twinge. I stood up and wobbled over to Joshua and leaned on his shoulder.

"No. No no no no no no no no no! This can't be happening! I'm more powerful!" Nikolai raised his hand in a pathetic attempt to hit Joshua again. Said person continued to smirk and held his hand out. Almost like a burning passion as he desired to finally erase Nikolai, it glowed and multiple rays of light shot out of it towards Nikolai at racing speeds, finishing him off for what I hoped would be once and for all. Nikolai then laid on the ground. His arm twitched which caused me to jump and stare at it for a second before feeling the collar be erased from my neck. I felt it, and touched the bare skin of my neck which made me hiss in pain as I felt the burning skin where the collar once was. The cool metal of a necklace touched the skin and I knew instantly what it was. Grasping the necklace in my hand, I leaned into Joshua's chest as tears flowed from my eyes.

"Is it over?" I asked. Joshua nodded and wrapped his arms around me, avoiding my wings which were acting as heavy weights as my legs gave out from under me. Secured in his arms, Joshua knelt down with me as I leaned onto him, pushing away the uneasy feeling that was rising in my stomach.

"This wouldn't happen to be yours, would it?" Joshua asked, holding out a (f/c) phone. I took it, squeezing it in my hands as I wrapped my arms back around Joshua, taking in his familiar scent. I felt more at ease than ever.

Solaris stood awkwardly off to the side and leaned against the wall as she rested her head against it. I can't imagine what move Nikolai had done to send her down in one blow.

"Hey, Joshua, do the Archangels know that you're here?" I asked, pulling away from his embrace to look into his eyes. It was like I was hypnotized as I couldn't look away.

"And what if they don't?"

"Joshua!" My voice was rasp and slightly scratchy from the collar and this almost seemed too good to be true. "You know that you're technically not supposed to be here without their permission."

"And leave you here any longer?" Joshua made a scoffing noise. "Yeah right. They'll get over it."

"And speaking of them. Their guards are here. They were most likely alerted when Nikolai was set off," Solaris commented, motioning outside the window. I stood up and walked over to the window, Joshua following close behind. Sure enough, there were Angels lined up at the doorway to Nikolai's house, and I noticed I had never been in this room before. There were no windows in any of the rooms I had been in that were big enough to see out of like this one.

"Before they come in I want to ask you something," I said to Solaris. "Was that bird really yours?" Solaris nodded and hummed.

"Yes, I had a bad feeling after you told me your story and had her follow you all the way to Nikolai's house. Of course, it was a week or so until she came back with a note from you that was tied by the necklace I saw you wearing the day you came back. After that, I managed to contact the man who was with you before, who contacted Joshua I can only assume since he is here," she said. I wrapped an arm around Joshua's shoulders for balance as Angels with armor came into the room and saw us three.

"What is going on here? Miss (Y/n) (L/n), you should be out on an assignment for Mr. Nikolai, as he has told us. This does not explain his disappearance from this plane," one of them said. I recognized him as the Captain of the Angel Corps. I grimaced at the mention of Nikolai's name, and my eyes trailed towards Nikolai's fallen body. Gulping, I turned to face the Captain again.

"I will explain later. Right now, I would like to request an urgent meeting with all of the Archangels present."