**Quote: "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." ~~Kahil Gibran **

Chapter 16

As we continued to clear our plates casual conversation started. Well as casual as angel talk can get. Even though I don't like to admit it, I could see the old familiarity of friendship between the flame twins and Nate. It was little things; like how they shared the same mischievous smirk and laughed at jokes that I didn't understand.

Jem and I ended up sulking for the rest of breakfast. I sulked because of how easily Jazmine and Nate got along. They laughed and talked of old times spent battling together. She seemed to know so much about Nate that I had yet to find out or remember. Despite my promised trust in Nate I could feel that petty jealousy nipping at my heels as I think of how she had befriended Nate a long time before me. Jem sulked because every time she looked over at Jasper she found him doing an excellent job of ignoring her. Only I seemed to notice that as soon as Jem looked away Jasper would cast a glance at her.

So as Jem and I stabbed our pancakes with unnecessary force Nate turns to Jasper. "I'm just guessing here but I don't think you came here for my culinary skills."

Jasper smiles and leans back. "Who says this isn't a social call?"

"Because the only social calls you ever make are to bimbos who's heads are so filled with hot air that they're stupid enough to sleep with your drunken ass." The venom in Jem's voice is enough to have even me leaning away from her. Even when she was trying to be intimidating she never sounded this...bitchy.

A muscle in Jasper's jaw jumps but he holds onto his smile. "Aw, babe, I wouldn't call you a bimbo. I may have been a little drunk though." Jazmine snickers, Jem's face goes red, and I feel a wave of anger crash over me.

Throwing my curiosity into the backseat I let my anger take the wheel. I definitely wanted to know the whole story to this sudden development but I sure as hell wasn't going to let him mock my friend.

"Stop wasting our time and tell us why you're here." The strange ring of authority in my voice is enough to make the room grow quiet. When I feel a buzz of energy spark around me I take a deep breath and grab Jem's hand under the table to give both her and I a calming piece. She lifts her head and with eyes void of any emotion she looks over at Nate.

My own eyes seek Nate's and I find a surprising amount of exhaustion written across his features. It must be exhausting having some of his oldest friends as Fallen. Only he, their former human friend, would ever accept them as anything more than the vile creatures they have become. "Marie is right. Jaz and I have a lot to discuss already, Jem has asked for an extended lesson with Marie, and I need to contact Royce. We have limited time."

Jasper seems to struggle to keep that confident smile on his face as he answers Nate, never taking his eyes off Jem. "Richard is expecting me to keep him up to date on who is coming into town to watch over Marie. He wants to know how high the risk would be if he sent some of his men to come and collect her. He's having me trail her twenty four seven now."

Nate nods as if Jasper hadn't just admitted to stalking me. "He's getting restless in his trek for revenge. But this is hardly anything new."

Walking over to the window above the kitchen sink Jasper pushes the glass up. Pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and his silver lighter he lights the cancer stick right in the kitchen. Why couldn't he just be one of those metaphor guys? "Yes but he has recently confided in me about the little pets he now has running around."

Jem jumps from her stool so fast she almost breaks the wooden legs. "Demons?" She hisses.

Jasper nods with a smirk and turns to the open window to let a puff of smoke out. "The only kind I know."

"What did he sacrifice to bring them on Earth?" Nate stands as well and crosses his arms.

Jasper looks at his sister and inclines his head as if they are communicating silently. Maybe twins can do that. Jazmine sighs and lets her booted feet thunk to the ground and her wickedly sharp axe clang on the table. "He lured a group of women and made them all watch as he slaughtered one of them at a time. They were in their fifties and constant church goers. Their souls were innocent. Exactly what the Devil likes." A sudden chill follows her words into the room at the mention of the Devil. As long as there is God there will always be a Devil fighting his every move and word.

Jazmine's fading English accent and her lack of emotion at such a violent act only seems to make her statement that much creepier. "This was off in some little place called Brooklyn. Ever since the toad took up black magic he likes doing the rituals himself. Once he made a bloody mess of the innocent souls the Devil in return sent a few of his demons up." Jazmine walks over to Jasper and plucks the cigarette out of his hand to take a long pull herself.

With nothing to occupy Jasper he continues the report. "Apparently the demons are under the control of Richard and they have the order to keep an eye on Marie. But anyone with half a brain knows that he's only hoping the demons hunger will get the better of them and they will just gobble her up." He laughs humorously as he pulls another cigarette out of his pocket for himself.

I feel far from laughing as a fear crushes my lungs and I find it harder to breath. "Richard..." I gulp in air and try to continue with a level head. "Is he the one who was in my last memory?"

Nate nods his confirmation and doesn't say another word until I look him the eye. He senses my growing panic. "At that time he was just a rogue soldier in the Fallen's army. He tired of taking orders so once he healed from his fight with you he gathered a group of his followers and they formed a gang. He knows the importance of kidnapping you and keeping you alive, but his vengeful mindset makes him a little crazy. He wants you alive but if one of his demons suddenly loses their mind to their stomach and kills you then he will be just as ecstatic."

I back away from the stone faced soldiers standing in front of me now. The fact that this information brings no panic or worry from them only makes me feel worse. I try and take deeper breaths as fear slowly overtakes my rational thinking. I'd be a fool to not be fearful of these demons. I mean I had adjusted to the Fallen angels out for my blood because they made sense. They were angels who had sinned and where now forever paying for their mistakes.

But demons?! The Devil?! That is a whole other matter to deal with. They are a force you don't just look in the eye and come out of unscathed. They were evil and unholy and they lived for the bloodbath of innocent people.

Slowly the room starts to dim at the edge of my vision like someone is dimming the lights. Voices barely filter through and only one seems to reach my ears as it's the loudest and cruelest in the room. "Oh for...we don't have time for this!" Suddenly a sharp slap to my face has me reeling back into the counter behind me and productively bringing me out of the darkness I had been about to enter.

Blinking a few times and holding my stinging cheek I regain focus and look at the scene in front of me. Nate is gripping Jazmine's wrist in his hand and if she were a human he would have no doubt snapped her bones in his tight grip. Jem is holding onto the long battle axe that Jazmine had set down. Jasper is still standing by the window taking a drag from his cancer stick like this is a common event.

"Don't you touch her ever again." Jem seethes as she holds the battle axe slightly away from her body like she's ready to take a swing.

Jazmine doesn't look away from Nate as she moves her body closer to his. "She's supposed to be some savior with her all mighty powers and yet she freezes at the mention of demons." She shakes her head in disgust and continues to talk as if they are the only two in the room. "It's pathetic."

The amount of control Nate conveys is absolutely stunning as he lets go of Jazmine and walks over to me. He lightly touches my cheek which no doubt is flaming red with a hand print. "I'm fine Nate. I just..." I don't finish my sentence as humiliation and shame surround me. Jazmine is right. I'm supposed to be this great warrior who has been gifted with these unlimited healing powers and my dangerous gift of control over energy. Even though my training is slowly coming back I still won't be able to hold my own against the supernatural powers that the Fallen possess. My Healing is still a work in progress as I am trying to work on how to concentrate a certain amount of it into the injured person without draining myself. As for my gift I am too afraid to even try using it. I almost killed my friends and myself the last two times I had lost control of it.

Nate stares at me with those unrelenting dark eyes and I have no doubt that he knows exactly what's going on inside my head. I can tell by the way he's holding me that he's worried I'm going to go through some mental breakdown. I try to give him a smile but it falls flat. "Jem, take Marie to the hospital." Okay, that's the last thing I expected him to say.

I pull away from his strong hands and glare. "Nate, I am perfectly fine, and I certainly don't need to go to the hospital!" I've had a lot worse wounds than a little bitch slap. No need to overreact.

Surprisingly Jem laughs and she places the wicked looking axe in her hand down as she grabs my arm. "That's a perfect idea. Just trust me." Her chocolate eyes beg me to leave with her and I can tell a great deal of her excitement is towards the prospect of leaving.

Not able to deny my friend her escape I nod and she practically races out of the house. Jasper's eyes follow her out the door. Nate turns to me and lowers his voice even though I'm sure the flame twins can still hear us. "Go to Lily's house to pick up some of your clothes and your school bag. You're staying here until I know that all of the demons are out of the picture."

I nod and try at a smile again. "I'll stay here on one condition."

He doesn't smile but I can see a spark of humor light his eyes. "What's the condition?"

Making my voice into a slightly louder whisper so that I know Jazmine will be able to hear I say, "I get to stay in your room. It's the only room with a fireplace and it has those silk covers that makes it feel like I'm sleeping on clouds."

"Oh, and where will I sleep?" This time his mouth does curve into a smile and I feel the frantic beating of butterfly wings in my stomach as they flutter.

"Hmm," I act like I hadn't thought of that and as I put a finger on my chin and think. "Well I suppose if you feel it necessary to protect me you might as well stay with me through the night."

He chuckles lightly and shakes his head. Pulling me to him he gives me a rough kiss on the lips and then smirks again at my sudden intake of breath. "Seems like you have it all figured out." Letting out a deep breath he rests his forehead against mine. "Be safe." Closing my eyes I lean into his warmth and I wrap my arms around his sides, hoping to give him some of my strength. From the way his hands tighten their grip on my waist I can tell he is trying to do the same for me.

"Of course." We stay like that for another heartbeat before he lets me go and I walk out the kitchen doorway. The flame twins stay by the kitchen window, acting like they can't see or hear us. Before I leave the house I hear Nate call someone on his cell.

"Pepper, I need-" when he stops to listen to whatever she is saying I pause as well to listen in. "I don't care if you're in class or not. Leave with the excuse of being sick and go find Lily. I need you two to go on a hunting trip."

With that I walk out the door and let out a sigh of relief. They would find the demons and dispose of them before anyone else got hurt.

As I walk down the porch steps I almost get hit with my own truck keys. Looking at Jem I scowl and find her leaning against the side of my truck. "I didn't drive that here."

Jem hops into the passenger side as I slide into the driver seat. "Pepper drove it here while you were unconscious. So do you know where the hospital is from here?"

Starting my old truck up I start down Nate's long and winding lane. "Yes, but I still don't understand why we are going. It's an hour's drive from here."

Shrugging her shoulders Jem leans forward to mess with the radio until she finds a station playing a Sleeping with Sirens song.

We don't say another word to each other as I continue to drive an hour long to the small hospital Jem seems so set upon getting me to.

Walking into the hospital I shiver as the cold sterile environment seems to seep into my skin. The lobby is carpeted in an out of date blue and the walls are a blinding white. Chairs line up to the right where three old men, with gray beards, and round stomachs sit quietly. A thin tired looking man sits in one of the chairs with his face tilted downwards and little tears glide from the tip of his nose to the worn wedding band lying in his palm. A teenage girl, with a skateboard leaning next to her, is holding her red swollen wrist.

Old memories of my trips here bring bile rising into my throat. This is the place my father used to bring me. The excuse he used for my injuries were the extreme sports I played at school. The doctors would examine my broken wrist or busted eye and they would flash me a plastic smile and then give me something to help with the healing process. When I was at school and some adult would get overly curious over my bandaged wound my dad would smile, grip my shoulder tightly, and say he had been putting me through a tough self-defense class.

I'm not sure how many adults thought there was something more behind the story my father always gave them but they seemed content at being oblivious to my problems. When someone brings to light your problems then they are suddenly involved and no one ever wants to be involved. Its much easier to turn a blind eye, so they let the lies my father spun for them cover the truth of my abuse like a finely quilted blanket. Not to mention the very man that is so well known in this clinic is lying in a bed somewhere at death's door in this very hospital.

Suddenly feeling sick to my stomach I turn to Jem. "Can we please leave?"

Jem nods and puts an arm around my waist. "Soon. Just wait here okay?" She waits until I nod before heading off to the receptionist's desks. She talks to the portly woman behind the desk for a few minutes before coming back my way. "She will be here soon."

"Who? Who will be here soon?" I ask impatiently as my head throbs with a terrible headache.

"A woman that Nate and you met in an ice cream shop. Nate told me she had two red haired children. He noticed something about her then." Jem stares at the double doors as if waiting for the mystery woman to just appear. "He's spent so many years with you that he knows the signs of an illness by now." Finally a woman walks in from the double doors in scrubs. Her red hair is peppered with grey and her exhausted face is kind and inviting. It is Diane, the mother of Ryan and Ross. She walks over to the receptionist who points to us.

Jem quickly turns to me. "Here put this on to cover your Marks, just in case." I quickly slip into the jacket that she is handing me. "Listen closely. She is very sick and I want you to heal her. But don't let anyone see you and don't do it until you know what she is sick with. You used to be able to tell what was wrong with a person by just looking into their eyes. As soon as you are done come back out to the truck. I'll be waiting and watching. Good luck." She smiles at me and quickly walks out the door leaving me awkwardly standing alone close to the entrance of the hospital.

When Diane finally reaches me she smiles sweetly. "Marie, it's so good to see you!"

"You remember my name?" I ask stupidly.

"I will always remember the name of the girl who somehow magically convinced my boys to behave for a night. I haven't slept that good since they were born." I break out of my awkward shyness and laugh along with her as the memory of the two little red headed devils comes to mind.

"I'm not interrupting your shift am I?" I worry over whether or not I am getting her in trouble or not.

"I could do with a quick coffee break." She gives me that sweet smile again and she lays her soft hand on my arm as she leads me across the lobby floor to what looks like a small cafeteria. Before we enter she puts a hand on the crying man's shoulder. "Come on Mike; let me get you a coffee."

The man looks up with red puffy eyes and looks back down at his golden band. "No thanks Diane, I'm just..." He shakes his head as another sob rips through his body.

Nausea flips my stomach and I want to reach out and heal his grief. But looking at the people around us I know I won't be able to do it in secrecy. Diane gently pulls on my arm. "Come on dear, he needs to be alone."

Looking at Diane I have no idea how she does it. How she goes through everyday seeing people die, get sick, or cry over their loved ones and she is still able to go through the day with the strength to walk around and share her sweet smiles. I have this immediate new respect for nurses and doctors all around.

"How about I pay for the coffee this time?" Diane asks me lightly as she is already handing over a five dollar bill to the cashier as he puts steaming Styrofoam cups of coffee into our open hands. Leading me over to one of the few tables set up in the cafeteria we sit down in silence for a few moments.

"News travels fast in our small town and this very hospital, so I don't want you to think that I've been prying or anything, but I know about your father." I simply nod over the steam of my cup as I study the table separating us. "He's not going to last much longer. The burns he sustained are covering almost eighty percent of his lower abdomen." She doesn't say she's sorry and when I look into her eyes I see no pity. She has been working at a hospital long enough to know that saying those empty words does nothing to make anyone feel better.

"If you want I'm sure I can get you in to see him. Seeing as he may not live another day the doctors should allow you to see him." Surprised at the bluntness of her words I tilt my head.

Seeming to understand my confusion she is the one who looks at the table this time, her cheeks flaming in a blush. "I've been working here for eight years. I used to be the nurse that would check you over before the doctor came. I noticed the week old bruises the size of a fist on your side one time. I never said anything but I noticed. Your father doesn't deserve pity." Her blush seems to make her many freckles burn against her pale cheeks. "If you don't mind me saying."

I laugh slightly in relief at knowing that one person knows the truth of my father. I feel no anger at her keeping quiet. I understand the fear of speaking out. "Well it's kind of you to ask but no I don't want to see him. He's a past I just want to put behind me."

"Well if you're not here to see him then did you want to ask something of me?" Diane asks as she takes a sip of the too-strong coffee. Grimacing and then laughing she points at me. "I much prefer your coffee."

"Um..." How to explain my friend bringing me here to practice my healing on this woman. "My friend told me you worked here and I wanted to see you. I noticed how tired you looked the last time I saw you." My lame excuse doesn't seem to affect her and I feel slightly guilty at how she just trusts I'm telling the truth.

Remembering what Jem sent me in here to do I try and focus on only Diane. She does seem extremely exhausted but that isn't surprising as she is a nurse. But it's like the pallor of her skin is a sickly translucent shade and looking at her uniform I can tell she has recently lost some weight. Even her hair seemed to be thinner and its color dimmed to a dull red. Finally I look into her eyes and try to let my healer's expertise take over. It could have been seconds or minutes or hours as I stared into her eyes searching for an answer when I finally received one. It is like a whisper floating across my mind and my mouth moves to form the word before I can stop it. "Leukemia."

Diane sits back quickly from me and glances around to make sure no one overheard. "How do you know that?" Her voice is suddenly weak and frail.

"I just...I just know the signs of it. I'm thinking of becoming a doctor when I get older." I mumble my excuse as I feel the familiar power within me roar to be let go so it can envelop this woman and heal her of this sickness.

Diane shakes her head. "It's not that simple. I'm only in the early stages of it. Look you can't say that too loud. My husband and I have been doing overtime to try and pay the bills that it will cost to get me treatment. My bosses are too busy to really notice me but if they catch wind I'm sick they may not let me continue to work. And I'm not going to chip into my kids college funds." She covers her mouth with a shaking hand and realizes she might have just said to much.

I think about Ryan and Ross and I think about how lovingly Diane had looked at her sons even when they were gnawing on her purse. I know without a doubt that this woman would let her body wear away then take her sons's futures away. But those boys can't go without know their mother.

"Do you believe in God?" My questions sets her off balance for a moment before she nods slowly and grabs at a chain around her neck and she shows me a beautifully carved wooden cross.

"I pray to him every night with my boys. I don't think he's listening though." Her voice wavers like that of a woman who is ready to let her hopes in an unheard and unseen Creator go.

Reaching my hand out to her I wait patiently until she places her hand in mine. Bowing my head slightly I tune into the surroundings around us. We are the only ones in the cafeteria besides the cashier who is busy reading a magazine. Diane bows her head as I do and with her eyes close she starts to move her lips silently as her desperate prayers float through her lips.

Please, God I'm trying to have faith in you right now. But it's hard. I look at this woman in front of me who has waited too long to have her prayers answered. She deserves to be healed and helped. Please, guide me into healing this pure soul. My own prayers rush quickly through my mind as I close my eyes and let a slow trickle of my power flow into Diane. I concentrate on not letting the power become noticeable to those around us or to Diane. Little ribbons of my powers flow gently into Diane and I concentrate on the abnormal blood cells I know are in her system right now. My healing instinct tells me that it's the white blood cells that are carrying the sickness. I can almost see in my mind's eye the different looking blood cells and I let my ribbons of powers ripple over the cells and heal them. I let my powers reach every inch of her bloodstream until I'm sure that even her bone marrow no longer holds the leukemia.

Letting go of her hand I am overcome with something I've never felt when healing in this lifetime. Completeness. Instead of feeling drained of energy I feel filled with the gentle warmth of my power as I become aware of my success in healing Diane.

Smiling so wide I'm almost laughing I look at Diane's expression. She's staring at me in complete and utter confusion. She still looks completely exhausted and her skin doesn't look rosy but she seems healthier. The process of healing would take a while to change her appearance.

"What did you do?" She asks breathlessly.

"I prayed with you. God is always listening but he will wait until the time he knows is right to give you your miracle." I'm just as surprised as her by the words coming out of my mouth and I don't seem to be done as I continue to talk. "Sometimes he doesn't give people their miracles and I'm not sure about the reasoning behind it but I trust him."

"You're my miracle." Diane suddenly smiles and rushes around the table to hug me. "Thank you so much." When she moves back my objections at her statement dies away at the tears in her eyes. If she wanted to believe I was a miracle then so be it. "I was a coward those years ago for never saying anything and I am sorry."

I feel myself in danger of crying as well as Diane straightens and wipes at the tears in her eyes. "You've saved me and I don't know how but you're my own personal angel." I laugh at the irony as a tear runs down my cheek. "I'm afraid I must go. If you ever want to see me please, just stop by."

I watch her walk out of the cafeteria and I feel more tears stream down my face. Forgetting about my coffee I rush out of the hospital doors and let the cool breeze float over my face.

Looking up at the cloudless blue sky I think of what I said about God in there and I feel like someone completely foreign has stepped into my bones. When did I start trusting God? My whole life I've always believed in God but I've held the utmost feeling of dislike towards the big guy. The pain and hurt that He only seemed to ignore in the world made me wonder if all the miracles He did cast upon this Earth were worth it or not. And now I trust Him?

Glaring at the sky I cross my arms. "You really like to tick me off don't you?" The sudden glare of the sun has me thinking that the big guy is up there laughing at me.

"You know you look insane right?" Jem's voice makes me look straight ahead of me where she stands with her hands in the pockets of her ripped up jeans. "I assume things went well since you're practically glowing."

"It's just the glare from the sun." I move past her and start walking into the parking lot.

"Come on nerd, tell me how it went." She keeps pace beside me as I grip my trucks keys in my hand.

"It went really..." I pause thinking of the many ways I could end that sentence. "It went really well. I don't feel drained, instead I feel energized like I could heal a thousand more. I could tell that she was suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia and if you asked me an hour ago what that was I would have no idea. I prayed with her and healed the cancer...that was it."

We hop into the truck and before I can start it Jem puts her hand over mine. "Then what's eating at you?"

I look into my friend's eyes and attempt a smile. "I really don't want to talk about it." The topic of my struggle with God was something I didn't like to dive into with others.

Jem keeps her hand over mine for a few more heartbeats before finally letting go. We drive the whole way back in silence. By the time we've stopped to shower and grab my bags from Lily's and drive back to Nate's I'm in a slightly better mood. Maybe my friends have hunted down the demons and killed them. Never thought I'd say that.

My hopes are quickly dashed when I enter Nate's home and a scream rips through the silence. The scream radiates pain and terror and my heart takes a leap into my throat. My Healer's soul jumps into action and begs me to find the person in pain and help them.

Moving forward I try to pin point where the screaming is originating from. Jem's strong fingers form an iron cage around my arm. Staring defiantly back at her I speak impatiently. The screaming had stopped and I fear the worse.

"Let me go! Someone is hurt." I try to keep my voice firm but a pleading note slips into my tone.

Jem's face has gone into the unreadable soldier mode. "It's not a friendly down there. Nate and the others must have found the demons. We need information and they need to provide it." She pauses a moment and a shadow passes over her face. "Willingly or not."

Another scream rips through the house and my breathing grows heavier as I struggled against Jem's grip. I'm not proud of the desperate look I know is on my face right now. I don't know what's wrong with me as I struggle to get closer to the thing in pain. The fact that it's a demon doesn't seem to really process in my mind. All I know is that my number one priority is healing the pain I hear.

The shadow cast over Jem's face seems to soften into something similar to sympathy but I can tell she isn't going to relent as she leans back slightly to keep us rooted in our spots. "Stop. You aren't going to heal that thing so you might as well stop fighting me."

I whimper as I try to pull forward and my mind scrambles with the thoughts pounding inside my head. Common sense disappears in my desperation and I feel lightheaded in my suppressed urge to heal. I think of the pain I heard in that scream and it rips right through me to nestle into my soul. I can actually feel the creatures pain ring through me. I cry out as the feeling makes me crumble to the floor.

Surprised at my sudden movement Jem has to bend at the waist to stay with me and I know this would be the perfect opportunity to sweep her feet out from under her and to escape, but the pain is making me woozy. Just as my muscles start to weaken I feel muscled arms jerk me to my feet and out of Jem's grip. When I start to sway again the arms pull me harshly to a wide chest.

"Go down and help Jaz to chain the creature up. We'll be down in a moment." A deep commanding voice directs its orders to Jem. I wince at the traces of anger I hear in the voice. When the arms holding me up tighten the fog clouding my mind starts to drift away. As the pain and desperation clear away shame and anger return in their place. When the hell was I going to stop acting like a crazy person and start acting like a emotionally controlled soldier?

Apprehension follows the anger and I find it hard to face the man holding me.

"What were you doing?" The commanding tone hasn't left his voice and when I finally peek at his face I see that he is in 'General Nate' mode. "Well?" The tone that's carries to my ears is crisp and clipped and not at all like the man I have gotten to know.

Like hell am I going to let this version of Nate hold me.

Shoving away from his arms, which is like pushing against solid steel, I manage to break free as his arms spring apart. "That creature that was screaming made the Healer inside me go crazy. My soul was practically ripped from my body in an attempt to get to it!"

Nate steps closer to me and for a moment I feel a ebbing of fear bump into my anger. At his nearness I notice how dark his eyes had gotten, all the traces of gold and caramel gone, and they were completely void of emotion. At first I think that my anger is making me feel overheated but when another wave of blistering heat hits me I realize that it's coming from Nate. The power rolling off of him makes me want to back up a step as it's heat threatens to blister my skin.

"You think that thing deserves help?" His laugh that follows is empty of humor. "Do tell your reasoning behind that."

Crumpling that fear into the background of my mind I stare at the one person in the world I know would never lay a hand on me. I will not start fearing the person I am supposed to trust. Trying to breathe through the heat flowing around Nate I step closer.

"Why are you so angry? It's not natural for me to sit back and listen to someone scream in agony. And you should realize by now that I don't approve of your methods of getting someone to talk."

We stand there in the entryway of his house. Glaring at each other as anger courses through our veins. When I notice a snap of electricity crackle with a pop by Nate's head I realize he's not the only one who's power is starting to show at the moment. The now familiar flow of energy is starting to rush into me and the lights in Nate's house flicker.

Realization seems to brighten Nate's eyes and he whips around and I can see him visibly reigning in his control. As he breaths deeply I do the same until I can no longer feel the overpowering need to suck every last bit of energy from the very room I stand in now.

Afraid that he's going to turn around and try to touch me I walk into his living room and fist my hands so I won't drill one of them into his stubborn jaw. Turning back around I find him standing in the doorway looking far more composed then when I first saw him. His size seems to swallow the room. Reminding myself once again that he would never hurt me I boldly step forward.

Before I have a chance to talk he beats me to it. "Do you even know what that creature down there has done? What pain he has caused others simply to cease his hunger and to purge his pleasure? Do you even know what those kind of creatures have done to you?" I swallow at the cruel tone of his voice. "They killed you once. The demons did."

I blink at him once and wonder if I heard him right. "What?" Does every evil thing get to kill me at once or do they just take a number and wait in line?

Every muscle in Nate's body has tightened and I understand that I am treading in dangers waters here. "We were still young unexperienced angels and our relationship had started just as fresh as our lives were. You spent your first night at my house. I woke early to get us breakfast. When I came back they had left your body for me to find. I couldn't even recognize..." His sentence fades away and I'm thankful he doesn't finish that thought.

Before I can say anything he fists his hand and drives it through the wall. With his back turned I allow myself to think over what he just said. I understand why he was so angry at my sympathy towards the demon. The demon he has imprisoned might not be the specific one that murdered me in that lifetime but he is still the same creature. I can tell that Nate believes the demon deserves the pain that is being inflicted on him.

I also understand why Nate's anger is so potent. I have died many lifetimes, and most of them were when I was still young. But I always came back to the people I cared about. Nate has to watch the one person he is meant to protect and love die again and again. He can do nothing about it and he has to deal with his emotions.

Our broken connection may not allow me to be aware of his feelings but his grief and guilt are just as potent in the air around us as his anger is.

Wanting desperately to comfort him but not knowing how I try something that I haven't really thought about before. As I already know I can reach inside of myself to feel the Healer's soul burning brightly within me, I try and reach into my very mind and find that piece of me that is a soulmate.

Something in my mind urges me to move closer to him and try to calm his nerves through my touch. Before I can become too shy I walk quickly over to his tense figure, wrap my arms around his hard paned stomach and burrow my head into the soft fabric of his shirt. Breathing in his natural woodsy smell I concentrate on his heartbeat. It's erratic beating starts to calm and his harsh breathing quiets.

Loosening my hold on him I move so I am standing in front of him, my back to the wall. Offering a gentle smile I pick up the already healed hand and I notice that Nate seems to self heal quickly, even for an angel. Bringing his hand to my lips I gently kiss each knuckle like they are still sore. Looking up into his tortured eyes I put his arm around me where it immediately tightens on my waist.

"Well if that's the case then you will just have to stay and make me chocolate chip pancakes every morning so that you can keep an eye on me."

He doesn't smile but the tension seems to start to slowly leak away from him as he reels me to him so that we are pressed together.

This time the heat that slowly crawls across my skin has nothing to do with the power emitting from Nate and everything to do with the look he is giving me. My heart beat quickens it's pace and my eyes drop to his lips. The electricity between us intensifies as I come up on my tip toes and he leans down to meet me half way.

A throat clearing behind us has us quickly separating as the spell we had cast is destroyed. Feeling a deep blush rush up my face I glance at Nate and find he's back to 'General Nate'.

Looking to the interrupter I find Jazmine standing in the open entry to the training room. Her face is harsh and cruel as she glances from me to Nate. "Want to bring the princess down so she can see her own personal demon all chained up?"

She talks to Nate as if I'm not in the room and her tone is condescending. Without waiting for an answer she whips back around and I glare at he receding flaming hair. I know that if I don't go down there I will be perceived as I wimp who can't face her own demons, even if it is meant literally in this case.

But if I do go down there I am terrified what I see will cause me to be far more of a coward than I already am.

Nate sensing my internal battle heads towards the entrance in the fireplace himself and turns to me. Looking into his eyes I can tell that the part of him that cares for me doesn't want me anywhere near the creature down there. But the Guardian and General in him wants me to be ready for the evil that is coming for me.

Taking my fear and shoving it into a dark corner where it can cower I walk past Nate into the sloping tunnel and wait as he closes the entrance. Darkness envelopes him and I shiver as the slight humidity and dampness touch my skin.

When I feel Nate put a strong hand on the small of my back to push me forward I feel braver at his presence and I start to walk down the tunnel.

Apprehension and curiosity battles inside me as the flickering lights of the torches, I know line the walls ahead of us, cast shadows across the stone floor my feet move over. Taking one last breath I try and marshal my expression into the steely soldier glare I see on Jem's face all the time.

But even though I prepare myself as much as I can the sight that is set before me is nothing I could ever be prepared for.