"One may tolerate a world of demons for the sake of an angel."

-Reinette Poisson

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Death

"

What is it that is so important that you interrupted me on such a wonderful day?" I had her in my hands, inches away from becoming whatever I wanted her to be, she didn't want me to stop, she wanted me.

Michael the archangel steps forward his golden wings folded behind him while the other two stand proud behind him, always behind him.

"You know why we are here Death, do not play games with me." He whispered yet his voice still seemed to carry beyond the confines of these walls.

I dismiss his affectations, not seeing his authority as something to follow. Leaning just barely over the edge, I peer down seeing the angels truly for the first time in over hundreds of years, "You come here, forcing your way into my domain, where I rule!" I nearly lose sight of my sanity, forcing my laughter back, "Do not tempt me Michael, I would be genuinely much oblige to tear every single feather from those wings of yours."

The dark haired angel, Raphael charges forward, "You watch your tongue demon!" He was always quick to anger that one, he better take caution for here he is nothing but a nuisance.

The glare I sent his way would make anyone keel over, "Do not insult me Raphael, step back inline pigeon." I am far from a demon, he should know better than to insult me.

He growls, a deep rumble in his chest but I am not impressed, he sounds like a small terrier, with silver wings.

"Enough!" Michael sends him a glare, which causes him to take a step back, his silver wings fold behind him, obediently.

Good little pigeon. I smirk down at Raphael watching as he fumes inside.

Michael looks back to me, no amusement on his face which is unlike mine, "No more games, we came to retrieve the girl."

I had my suspicions, they a gathering just when she died and I found her. They became exceedingly persistent afterward, all because of a human. A human who is now mine, they should know better than to come here making such demands.

I shrug, "What girl? There have been plenty walking in and out of these doors of late." I love it when they get their feathers in a twist, I see their wings shudder with impatience and annoyance.

This time Gabriel speaks, "Come on man, just tell us." He was the more neutral one so to speak, the one closer to the human ways. He embraces his human like charms and his brothers disliked him for it.

I sigh, staring down at Gabriel, watching his white feathers twitch, "I do not know of any girl Gabe."

He looks to Michael who is absolutely unimpressed by my scheme, "I know what you did to her, I know you know who she is, we just want to speak with her."

I snort, bull, I know they want more than to speak with her, they don't speak to the humans not unless He has a say in it.

I narrow my eyes down at the angel, wanting answers, I will not simply give in because they say too. "Why do you want the girl Michael?"

He dismisses me immediately, his wings extending behind him, "It is of no concern to you Death, bring the girl or will tear this place apart!"

They must be desperate, Michael compromises before blood is spilled but he barely even tried.

I summon my scythe, this should be fun nonetheless, "Come on then."

Michael lifts off the ground, a sword in hand as he strikes, I easily block it flinging his strike back. He kicks my chest sending me flying backward but not by much, he lands on the landing his sword at hand.

I twirl my scythe, ready for a fight like always, he strikes again, his moves heavy but powerful, the curve of my blade blocks the blow capturing his sword I send it up giving me the opportunity to kick him in the gut. He grunts but doesn't give up, it's not that easy, he steps forward elbowing me in the face. I spit the blood pooling in my mouth to the floor, spinning from his assault, I end up behind him swiftly. I kick his back sending him forward but he jumps up running up the wall his wings carrying him high and spinning backward facing me again.

"Master!" Its Sovereign, his heavy footsteps seem to appear out of nowhere as he leaves a portal, he summons his two swords, ready to fight the angels.

As he is ready to cut into Michael's back Raphael blocks him shooting up from the floor below only to land perfectly in front of my Reaper.

With swift speed Sovereign blocks every blow Raphael sends his way. They travel down the steps, fighting on the stairs, their moves are a blur as they skillfully fight one another.

I turn back to Michael just in time, I spin out of the way just as his sword swishes past my face.

I chuckle, enjoying this way too much, he roars not impressed by my added humor.

I jump back and onto the railing, I fall flipping back landing perfectly on my feet. I turn to Gabe only he leans against the wall not happy about this so called fight.

The loud bang of Michael leaping off the railing onto the floor makes me turn bending back as his sword threatens to cut me in half. I push my scythe back hitting him in the face with the blunt end, he flies back stumbling slightly.

I laugh, "Come on Mike you're rusty."

I hear Gabriel behind me his spear ready to stab my side but my Reaper Valfalls kicks it from his hand. I nod my thanks as she sends a dagger flying behind me, Michael yells out in pain as her dagger connects with his hand holding his sword.

"What do they want Master?" She fights off Gabriel, dodging his punches and his kicks.

"Adeline."

Her eyes widen before she kicks Gabriel in the chest sending him through a wall.

She faces me but still aware of the angel now in the wall, "Why do they want the girl? That makes no sense." She breaths heavily but I know she is far from tired.

We face Michael as his hand stitches back together the dagger bloody and on the floor. "It makes perfect sense you pestering foul mouth soul eater."

She smiles wickedly, unimpressed by his use of words, "I only do the job you wish not to do pigeon!"

He glares irritated by his nickname, a loud crash is heard on the stairs causing us to stare as Raphael sends Sovereign crashing down the steps.

I nod to Valfalls, "Help him."

She hesitates with a last lingering gaze at the Angel,she would like nothing more than to cut into his wings, "Fine." She runs up the steps her long legs sending her far in seconds, she releases several daggers catching Raphael off guard, several of them puncture his arm and chest.

He shakes his head with a deep sigh, "This is useless Death, neither of us can die, we will stay here fighting each other til the end of time."

He is correct however I happen to knock him senseless until he gives up on the idea of taking the girl.

"She is mine now, she is under my protection and under my laws." The only way they could take her is if she broke a rule of theirs, which she has not therefore she can not be taken by them.

"I know the rules, I know the laws! I made them!" He's insulted, good.

"Then why come here and force me to bring you a girl that is of no use to you!" I can hear Gabriel stand, regaining consciousness as he wipes away the rumble from his wings.

"Just bring us the girl brother." The tired voice of Gabriel sends waves of memories I do not wish to possess. I banished them long ago.

I glance behind him, my words like venom, "I am not your brother Gabriel."

This causes Michael to laugh hauntingly, "Do you forget who you are Death?" He steps forward, threatening. "Shall I remind you."

I don't need to be reminded, I step back only Gabriel stops me, forcing my arms behind me.

"This is no game, Michael, let me free!"

I reach up punching him in the face but he only knocks me back in place.

I grunt against his accumulating strength, all the while glaring as Michael steps closer, he places his hand on my head, as I scream for him to stop, "That is precisely what I will do, I release you."

Gabriel throws me forward, he may have been a friend but he is still one of them and now I see him as nothing for he has betrayed me.

I land on my knees and hands as my shoulders shudder under new weight and pain. I scream pounding at the floor as they release themselves from their deep slumber. Sweat coats my forehead as I growl in agony, the feeling of being ripped in half consumes me.

Michael kneels beside me, "There is no reason for you to hide such things Death."

I whip my head to him, glaring two holes in his head, "Fuck you!" I shout. I shake my head letting my hair fall into my eyes, I slam my fist into my polished floor sending granite flying in every direction.

I struggle to stand against the weight, I groan as they shudder once more, I have forgotten how heavy they stood, they drag mercilessly against the floor weak with age of being hidden away.

I reach for Michael, wanting only to dismember his head from his body but he moves away from my grasp the pain is too much to bare as I begin to fall.

"Master!" Valfalls lands gracefully in front of me, holding me up with her arms, I am not ashamed of revealing them to her, she has seen them before so has my other Reapers.

It is me who is ashamed, I have allowed them to release not only pain but suffering, a deep ache I thought was long buried.

"I am alright," I grunt, trying to reassure her.

"You see, we are truly similar aren't we." The sound of his voice calls on a new rage, a new hate for the Angel.

Sovereign too lands next to me, holding me up with his broad shoulder, we stare down one another the three angels against the three Reapers.

"I am nothing like you Michael." My voice comes out like venom, thick with disdain.

"Oh I beg to differ, Angel of Death." He speaks only to mock.

My back shudders, the things behind me waking from a long nap, I glance behind me staring at my dusty gray wings.

I turn back to the three Angels, "Leave me, now." He released a long history of memories, I erased much of my past not wanting it to affect the way I lived and now he changed all that. He broke the barrier of my past and present.

"You never embraced the angel in you, that was why you were so weak!" He had no right to tell me how to live, who I had to be.

"Leave me!" My patience was wearing thin, so was my Reapers, they appeared just about done.

"Release me the girl."

I shake my head, still staying with my decision on helping the girl, "She is mine, I saved her that day, I claimed her as my own. You can not take that away from me Michael."

He has lost any reason for compromise, I will not listen to another word that leaks from his poisonous mouth.

"Everyone with the power of life knew who died that day, she did not only call you, you selfish imbecile." He's lying, he can't see death, I was cursed with this so called gift not him.

I try to hide the look of disbelief but he catches it, "Do you think she purposely called to you?" Raphael snorts, adding his own comment, "Selfish as always."

This doesn't make sense, Adeline is human she was nothing before I changed her I would know I was there that day, I saw nothing inside her expect I felt this pull, she was calling to me I know it. What really confused me was how she died, there was no car, only the dying girl on the sidewalk, "You killed her didn't you." For some reason I knew they played a small part in her death.

Michael does not speak, he doesn't speak because he knows I know. Who does speak is Raphael, the rat with wings, "Of course not, we do not play with fates of humans."

I shake my head, disbelieving, "Bullshit you let her die, you angels say you're the humans guardians but you didn't stop her from dying!" I was getting carried away I knew they wouldn't have saved her, but they could have caused it, just so they could get their way.

Michael steps forward, angry now, "Do not patronize me Death, do you forget that you take the lives of everyone that does indeed die, why not save them why not change their fate, because we know we can not. The girls fate was set she was to die and nothing was to happen to her but you. You had to go and see the girl you had to play a part in all this, instead of collecting her soul you changed her into an abomination! She was ours!"

And there it is, that's why they have come here, they knew who she was to begin with, they killed her but for what, "What did you do to her?" I have been curious as to why not only me but my Reapers were drawn to her, like a moth to a flame. They know why.

"She was meant to serve heaven, not you."

"Why her?" This doesn't make sense, they chose a human to serve heaven for what, what could Adeline provide to these angels.

"It is of no concern to you, where is the girl." That's all he was going to give, saying she has some higher purpose.

"No, you will not take her, she is mine! She has learned to take responsibility for what she is." I could feel my wings spread behind me, fully feeling the affect of the power they possessed.

Raphael laughs humorlessly, "You have grown to like this one have you, as before you still think they will stay with you, just like she did."

I growl, "You have no right to bring her up, you may leave, don't let your wings get clipped on the way out."

I back away into the hall letting them scream in the entrance, "We want the girl Death! She was heavens to begin with!"

I give him the finger as I turn away, they will not take her from me, not like before.

Adeline Winters is mine.

••••••••••••••

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-Ash

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