When I start to wake up, my mind instantly becomes sharp. No fogginess from sleep for the Zemrlt. My body, on the other hand, is completely numb. It's hard to even feel how bad I'm shivering. But I'm not in the water. Something is pressed up against my back and is keeping me sitting upright. Another violent shiver runs through me. My sister has the Zemrlt gene for being cold resistant. I do not. The cold is one of the only things I can't stand. It doesn't usually snow on this continent, but the temperature drops drastically at night. The dunk in the freezing water definitely doesn't help.

     My armor is gone. I surly would of froze by now with it on, but I couldn't of washed up on the beach with it already off. I should move. I need to get up, find my spear, and get back home. My Sib will think I'm dead by now. The team captain and the two younger boys would have made it back by now. But I don't move. I'm freezing cold, but something warm is wrapped around me. Whatever it is, I should be dead. But it's keeping me from freezing. I'm alive. I'm wearing shorts and a crop top without my armor in the middle of the night, but alive. I haven't moved this entire time while I've been conscious. The frozen feeling in my limbs is fading, so I try to lift up my slumped head. There's something on my head, weirdly. My stomach drops when it moves off. There's something alive above me.

I will admit, I kinda freaked the hell out. The thing behind me gets a sharp elbow jab as I scramble away. My eyes pop open as I slam through some sort of barrier. I fall to the sand and jump away and onto my feet. The cold hits me like a punch to the gut. The wet clothing definitely doesn't help. I whirl around to face whatever was touching me. And I freeze dead in my tracks. Sitting in the sand, wings now limp on the ground, is the King's Dark Angel.

     A few things are immediately obvious to me. The shadow was sitting cross legged with me unconscious in its lap. It's wings were wrapped around me, radiating heat like a low flame. It was laying it's head on the top of mine. There's even some sort of tail on it. It's here with me and not back at the castle with the King. "Why the hell are you here?", I snap, scared and weary at the Dark Angle's presence. That thing's killed more people than I care to count. It's the reason that the King never dies. What kind of evil creature would mess with the laws of life like that?

     The Dark Angle doesn't answer me. It still sits in the same spot, limp like a rag doll. Is it waiting for me to get closer so it can pounce? No, it would of killed me while I was unconscious of it wanted to eat me. Something sparkles in the moonlight and grabs my attention. There's something small and shiny laying in the sand about a foot away from the shadow. Another freezing gust of wind makes me shiver. Am I really going to risk that? 'Oh, its something shiny! Let me get closer to the dangerous killer to get it!'. Yeah, no. That's stupid.

Scanning the beach, I see a few pieces of my armor before I find what I'm looking for; my spear is stuck in the sand with the tip buried. I stay facing the Dark Angle as I move to get it. No way in hell I'm taking my eyes off it. My spear comes out of the sand with only one good tug. It gives me a sense of security to have the weapon in hand. The Dark Angle doesn't react. They don't move at all from the slumped position as I use my spear to bat the shiny object towers me. Is it dead? It would make sense with the unusual behavior. It was probably trying to kill me, but was too weak. That sounds stupid. Can you blame me for trying to be reasonable? I've just noticed my bad habit of rambling in my own head......

I use the spear to scoot the object closer, reaching down and picking it up. There actually is no moon tonight. The sky is covered up by dark clouds. It's a glowing crystal that I picked up out of the sand. The rock is a deep red color, and its glow is pulsing. It reminds me of a heartbeat. What is this thing? Thinking back, it's probably what got caught in my armor. Did I really hang onto it the whole time I was unconscious? Turing the crystal in my hand, I can see that there's an engraving in it. '666'. What does the number mean? I'm still looking down when a wall of warmth moves in front of me.

     The Dark Angle moved. I didn't even hear the damn thing get up. "What the freaking hell!? What do you want with me?", I snap at it, jumping away. The shadow almost instantly walks forward to stand next to me again. It looks so....empty; without any emotion. "No, you stay right there! I'll gut you if you don't", I threaten him with my spear. It's not a lie, either. Although I don't think I'd get close if it chose to attack. The Dark Angle instantly stops. Like, it freezes up with one foot raised. "The hell?", I mumble. What's it doing? Switching my spear around, I hesitantly prod the thing with the wooden end. Nothing. It doesn't react. The wind blows again, making me shiver. It's getting colder out.

     Is this how the King controlled this thing? Remembering the last time I saw the toad, I look back down to see the crystal still in my hand. 666, huh? Is that what it's called? I look back at the shadow while biting my lip. "Step back", I slowly ask it. The Dark Angle, 666, steps back right at my command. Will it do anything I say as long as I'm holding the crystal? I could use this. If Six is here with me, and not following the King, that means he's vulnerable. I don't even acknowledge the nickname. The King could finally die if I can keep this stone away.

     I set my spear down for a moment, thinking of the crystal. My long braid has one length of string holding it in at the base, and in at the end. I untie the top one and start making knots around the crystal. Pretty soon, it's like a homemade necklace. I tie it on and tuck it underneath my shirt. Ha, I'd like to see he King try and find it now.

     "So your name is 666?", I ask the shadow, cocking my head to the side. Its head lowers to meet my gaze, but I don't get an answer. That look still sends shivers up my spine. The cold is also still a major problem. I can only ignore the numb feeling in my hands and feet for so long. My Sib would laugh if she saw me shaking like a leaf in the breeze. A cold Zemrlt. The idea is a little pathetic.

     "Ok, will you follow me?", I hesitantly mumble. The last thing I want is for that creep to be at my back, but I've got to get home. That won't happen if I freeze to death first. Six silently moves to my side and extends its wing without being asked. The dark, slick feathers feel uncomfortable on my skin. But he's warm. At least I'm pretty sure the Dark Angle is a guy. Not that it really feels anything. However the sorcerer King made it, I don't think he included a conscience. Six just seems so empty. It's a little uncomfortable to be so close.

     "Well, do you want to come home and meet the family?", I joke to him. No answer. I sigh. This is going to be a very long walk.