Ink and Bone

It was typical. The ink smudges that never seemed to leave her fingertips. Wearily Ivy sighed as she finished up the shop's paperwork, nudging her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. It wasn't the work hours that dragged her down, it was the lack of sleep. She only wished she could blame it on insomnia. Truth was she slept just fine, but the dreams interfered her every sleeping hour.

Crystal blue eyes flicked to the door of the used bookstore she had taken up ownership of. Granted Tomes and Curiousities was not where the librarian had expected herself to end up but after Lady Wilkerson had passed and left everything to Ivy, how could she refuse the old woman's dying wish? Lady Wilkerson... Ivy shook her head and slammed the ledger shut pushing away from the front counter. Ever since the old woman had died and asked her to take on the responsibility of being guardian of the books things had changed drastically for Ivy. The dreams... so many of them. Her eyes burned when she closed them, she blamed it on exhaustion. At least the burning singed away the smudged shadow figure that lingered in the darkest corners of her dreams. Funny thing was, that shadow figure should have spooked her. Instead? It made her feel safe. She welcomed and yearned for its presence.

"Freak."

Ivy mumbled the mockery of her own self awareness as she stared down at her ink smudged fingers before smoothing them against the sides of her jeans. All in vain to make the ink disappear.

"You rangggggggggggggggggggggg?"

Ivy's head shot up, eyes narrowing behind her glasses as she instantly went on edge. Hands already went searching for a weapon until she saw the ice blond curls and the adorable button nose of Pippa Livingston peek from around one of the shelves.

"Oh. Hey Pips."
"Inky!"

Ivy's head ducked down, flat gold hair shielding her expression as she grimaced. How she hated that nickname but ever since she took up ownership of the store, the other local shop owners had called her Ink. There was no changing that. Pippa herself was one of the shop owners, owning a unique gift store that specialized in anything and everything you possibly could imagine or ask for. Sometimes Ivy wondered if she was some sort of magician or genie, Pippa could find anything her customer's seemed to desire. Even if they didn't know it at the time. Speaking of which... Ivy's nose twitched and she couldn't help her mouth from watering. When was the last time she ate? A shake of head before she peered at Pippa with a lopsided smile.

"Are those muffins from Delacroixs?"
"You know it!"

Sing songy and impish Pippa practically raced over. The girl was a whirlwind of energy.

"Thanks Pippa."
"Don't worry about it. I knew you probably hadn't ate in ages but you enjoy I gotta go. Byyyyyeeeeeee!!!!!"

And just like that, Pips was gone.
"Huh."

A shake of head and a pop of the warm morsel of cinnamon chip muffin left Ivy practically moaning in approval. Grabbing her bag,muffin, and keys Ivy set out to close up shop. She couldn't help but mentally swear when she dropped her keys and the fresh muffin in the process. Fetching the keys and bemoaning the crumbled destruction of the muffin she locked up as the air took on a thick quality of dread and darkness.

In the district they called this the Demon Hour. Ivy whispered a trail of what she figured was half nonsense and half prayer, she was an idiot. Everyone knew you never left the wards after certain hours and here she was doing just that... but she had to get home...she could have slept in the shop but no. Not Ivy. Brave.

Foolish.

Ivy.

"Well Ms Kane, it appears once again you have failed to adhere to the rules. You know that unless we need something, this is our time, unless you were willing to come out and play..."

"No...n...n...no. No. I'm sorry.... I was just going. I swear."

Blue eyes flickered as she nervously tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear and looked around her. The demons were like wolves no lone wolf mentality here... a quick look around her and her heart rate sped up. Four of them. No wonder Pippa had hightailed it so quick out of there. She was the smart one.

"Oh...little one you aren't going anywhere. You belong to us now. Besides... a little bird told me that there's been some...unusual... things going on at your store. Aren't you supposed to be reporting to the Centre of any... oddities."

"Y...yes. But... it was just... some trouble with the light fixtures. That's all. Bad wiring. I didn't know."
"Bad Wiring...oh...you could say that, little Ink."

Ivy swallowed thickly, her trembling leaving her keys jingling in her palm. Why did they all of a sudden feel so warm in her hands.

"Just let me go..."

"Hey Boss."

The gravel and grindstone growl of the demon behind her left the hair on her arms standing on end. They were so close. All she could hear was the keys chiming in her hand as she couldn't control her hands from shaking. It was the start of winter and yet she felt she was burning up. Could she be coming down with something. Ivy opened her eyes, God but the pain of them. Her eyes hurt so much....another inaudible bark of an order before the demons were upon her. The world around her became light and darkness. So much light.

She cried out in the pain of it as her blue eyes were blinded by a pale gold sheen, leaving those icy blue irises to become sunlight on the water. The first blow of a fist connecting with her stomach left her crumbling as her keys hit the cobblestones and the light began to fade. Her hands burned as if on fire as they hit the ground to catch herself. Ivy figured it had to be a scrape, some bruising that was all... It had to be.

But as Valer's face appeared before her she knew it was so much more.

"You stupid little girl, pathetic human you have been keeping a secret... and you know how we hate having secrets kept from us...."

The words faded, a subtle gesture of Valer to his crew and the only sound that filled the night were Ivy's screams.

"Stay down. Last warning." Muggo spat a wad of blood on the mat from around his mouth guard. "Nevah seen anyone take a beatin' like that, ain't enjoyin' it."

The bell rang, indicating the last of the round. Bigstack moved to help Alex up from the same mat, while avoiding the blood. "How are you not broken? I mean that guy? He should be carrying his bike, not the other way around." He pulled the mouth guard from Alex's mouth and offered water while quickly scanning over the bruising eye and small cuts. "We all know you're a tough son of a bitch Angelo, but it's time to stop playing with this guy."

?Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.? Alex said with a grin after spitting the pink tinged blood onto the ground outside of the ring.

"Really? The Bible?" Bigstack sighed. "You stay in there much longer, that monster's going to get lucky and kill you."

"Not today. He's just a man." Alex said before Bigstack shoved the guard back in. "Besides, it's a message. The 'hounds aren't going to steal from us, ever." He said as the bell rang.

He was up on his feet moving quickly. A man that had already gone eight with a beast like Muggo shouldn't be moving that fast. "Fine, you want to die over a slight, Alex? Your call. I'll mourn you."

Muggo swung the big left, and was surprised when Alex moved right and landed two quick jabs to his ribs.
"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil."
Muggo swung again only for a counter of a left-right combo to his jaw, which rocked the big man backward on his heels, dazing him for the briefest of moments. The crowd of bikers roared in excitement.
"for you are with me;
Alex moved like a professional. Muggo was told the man was tough for his size, but after seeing him he thought the man wouldn't last a round. Alex moved in again, landing two hard body blows on the left side, Muggo's preferred, and was rewarded with the bigger man's howl of pain as at least two ribs broke.
"your rod and your staff,they comfort me."
He didn't let up the assault. Lefts and rights. Combos and jabs. When he saw the man's guard drop, he connected the right to his opponent's jaw, spinning him into the ropes and down to his knees.

The big man looked up at Alex from the mat. One hand on the rope to pull himself up to his feet. The chosen ref stood between the men.

"Last warning, stay down," Alex said around the mouth guard with a smile. Muggo scowled, but the ref counted him down and out.

The crowd cleared out, only the boys remained in the clubhouse. Some celebrating the win over the 'hounds main enforcer while others celebrated with women in the apartments upstairs. Prospects cleaned the floors and tables, keeping themselves busy knowing that's how they received the patch. Secretly having lined their pockets with some cash from the fight to upgrade their own bikes as well. It was a night of celebration all around.

Alex had a beer after the fight, then disappeared into the biggest apartment for a long, hot shower. The shiner would heal and clear up in a couple of days. The split in his lip already looked better. Long hair was combed back from his face, and for the briefest of moments his eyes reflected like an animal in the headlights of his bike. "Long day," He muttered to himself. "Go to the garage, get some rest." He felt as if permission was needed from someone. Since the death of Yuri, the patch fell to him and was sewn onto his cut, they looked to him for answers and decisions. A knock at his door brought him out of the thoughts of the club's former Prez.

"Alex?" Her voice was low and smokey. He knew she'd been drinking with the guys and had gone through at least a pack of Red before coming to his room. "They told me you were up here." He could smell her from the bathroom. Smoke, booze and sex. He stepped out, wearing black jeans and holding his shirt. A smile played across her red painted lips. "There you are." Sing song voice, as she moved up and traced fingers from his shoulder, across his chest, and down his sculpted abs, toward the hem of his jeans. "I want to celebrate." She was used to getting her way.

"We talked about this," Alex said. He pushed her hand away from his body before pulling on the plain, white tee. "We've had some fun, but that's it."

Her bottom lip poked out into a pretty little pout. "You were serious?" Her eyes wide, trying to be playful.

She did look good. Top barely concealing perky breasts, leather pants that left nothing to the imagination for her amazing curves. He nodded his head, more for his own need than hers. "Yes, I'm serious. Things are crazy enough without bringing you into the mix."

"Wait, are you calling me crazy?" Everything changed. Her posture, the playful demeanor, the smell of sex. The imp was gone. The bitch stood in her place. "I've always been here for you."

"You've been here for yourself, Chan. Nothing says any differently." He smoothed his shirt, then pulled on the leather cut over it. The patch on the back showing the forms of Life and Death in a struggle over the world. "I don't have time for this shit. I'm going home and going to bed."

She wailed like a banshee. Cussing him in Spanish, German, and English. She was a crazy mix, and he'd been told. Luckily there were no breakables in the barren apartment, and the music down stairs would drown out the screaming.

"Work it out, Chan. Lock the door on your way out." He pulled the door closed just as something hit the back of it. "Scoot told you she had crazy eyes." He muttered on the way down the stairs.

The night air was cool and refreshing. The black hoodie that covered his cut to keep the appointed law from harassing him was just enough to keep him warm. His mind wandered as it always did when it was just him and the Dyna. Wondering the future of the club, and keeping with Yuri's wish of no demons in the rank. Other clubs were giving in. Making deals and more money than his own. In a matter of time, he felt his would become a patch over. Yuri would roll over in his fresh grave.

A bright light. The brightest he had seen poured forth and broke him from his thoughts. He jammed on the brakes and dodged, trying not to ditch or hit what he assumed was a truck he'd crossed into the lane of. Why a truck was out at this hour... then he saw the source. Several figures and one smaller. A woman. The source of the light. The bike was parked in the middle of the street, running in case of a fast getaway. She was the light, though it was dying as quickly as it came. One of the figures saw him and stepped forward. A demon.

"Private affair. You need to go, now." It reached out a hand and poked Alex in the chest, hard.

Alex looked down at the hand, then back into the demon's eyes. One thing he had learned over the past few years, demons were tough but, they still felt pain. He grabbed the assaulting hand and twisted until he heard the bones pop.

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil."

The world had changed. That was obvious. So many had fussed and fretted over the end of the world but none of them ever expected for things to change as they had. How the world had changed? It wasn?t like God had not planned on a loop hole if it came to this. His loop hole was a mystery, a deeply buried secret so coveted that even the Vatican had uncertainties of exactly what this loophole was? and it was likely they never would.



So the world had ended? well maybe ended was a poor choice of words. The world? had changed. Yes changed. The Gates had opened and the Glory and the Darkness had all clashed to declare a final decree of dominance. The Morning Star had started his finest tantrum and what a tantrum it was. Some said the Father had given up and given in. Maybe that was why Lucifer won. Or maybe he was just tired. It didn?t matter in the end? In the end Lucifer was no more than a whispered fable and the Father was silent. The demons rose to claim their freedom. Never again would they be kept below.



And those glorious beautiful creatures, those creatures of Light and Truth, they were locked away? never to be seen from again. A Light snuffed out? the Glory diminished. At least that was what most said... Still?. Still the demons feared that one day all of this would change and that God?s Loophole would be revealed like a grand door slamming open, Pandora?s Box rediscovered as something pure, glorious, and bright? if only to be discovered.



The Demons had a story? a nightmare really they told their offspring? of a creature that would hold the Light in the palm of their hands, and God?s chosen Champion of Darkness who would bring the shattered bone?A story where the pair would awaken the world to something new and take back what belonged to them. Then again, all of it was really just a fairy tale right?



Shadows and Lights danced around her as Ink?s eyes flickered behind her closed lids. She didn?t dare open her eyes for fear of what ruin she might find. The sound of broken bones splitting and shattering around her made her curl further into herself. Ivy?s body ached as she tried to place if it was her own bones being shattered or if it was that of the demons. Were the demons fighting amongst themselves? That seemed something typical of the lesser demons. It wasn?t the nature of Valer?s gang. Words didn?t make sense to her as she tried to piece them together, to comprehend again. Ivy was a librarian, a creature of research, she should know these things. Words. Common words bound in curses and shattered bones.



It was a sound she wouldn?t ever be able to forget. Ivy?s eyes peeled open so she could look from the frame of her lashes, fingers twitching into awakening. It was reassuring to know that her body was still put together if not bruised and burned. Burned? she winced as her eyes snapped open with the realization. An audible gasp as she sat up suddenly despite the chaos around her. All of it was happening again. She whimpered softly as she rubbed her hands against the concrete, vainly trying to erase or smudge the scorch mark burned there. The design was obvious. Obvious and forbidden.



The distinct marking of wings. Tagged upon the concrete and forged in fire. Ivy shook her head as she felt the panic attack ensue, the whispered ?no no no? choking her breath and getting caught in her throat as she looked around wildly. It couldn?t be happening again. Ivy tried to scream but the sound was silenced as the light engulfed her, blazing out of her as a protective halo of light that slammed into one of the demons. The impact sent the demon flying. The image of it was briefly marked as beautiful to Ivy? it reminded her of shooting stars.



Stars. With a strangled sob her eyes shot upward to the sky, searching for those pivotal points of light as the tears streamed down her face. The light immediately was snuffed out as it usually happened when she calmed. Fingers curling around the agonizing burns on the flesh of her palms as it all went dark and calm around her. Even when she kept her eyes fixed to the stars it was still as if Ivy was aware of all around her. The struggling demons and the Warrior there amongst them. Tendrils of ember and shadows seemed to linger around him, drawing her gaze from stars and to the one that had come to her defense.



It was instinctive for her to try to rise even as she watched the demons prepare for their departure. Vaguely she thought she heard Valer remark that they would hear of this. A tilt of head sent the strands of gold to shield her expression as she awkwardly pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. Trembling she watched it all happen around her like a voyeur rather than one so involved in it all. The Warrior and the contradiction of light and shadow that clung to him? as much a part of him as the light and ink was of her? as much as she hated to admit it. As if he knew, he looked her way and she gasped, stumbling back. Ivy landed soundly on the broken body of one of the demons that had not been so lucky and stared up at the one as he approached her. There was something so primal and raw about him, he the Hunter and she the Hunted? a savage gleam almost wild flickered in his eyes as the light of the moon caught and lingered there within the depths.



She should have been frightened, and deep down maybe she was? but still?another emotion surfaced that blanketed her as much in relief as safety. Familiarity? but how could that be? a shake of head as a whispered verse of the Bible seemed to toy with her senses to the point she didn?t know if she was hearing things or if the Warrior had spoken.

"Thy rod and thy staff comfort me."

The second demon advanced, and while Alex's focus was there, he spared a glance toward the frightened woman. Wondering if she was one of them, but sensing she wasn't, he fought on. Bones breaking, blood leaking, he tore through them like a warrior of old in the gladiator's ring.

"You prepare a table before me, in the presence of mine enemies."

The light flared again. One hand lifted to shield his eyes he watched as two lesser demons simply vanished, leaving only shadows of wings against the brick wall. Alex expected to feel a burn, but the light washed over him, comforted him, and held him as dear as a mother to a lost child. He heard her scream out in pain, and his attention left the remaining two to look her direction. The light was snuffed as her eyes squeezed shut. Her hands trembling and smoking.

"Got ya!" The bigger one said as he connected a large fist to the side of Alex's head and rocked him. "You got the wrong party, Stranger. Time to die." The demon was fast for his size. It wasn't another fight with Muggo. This one was fast and smart. A flurry of blows against Alex's body followed by a huge right knocked him off of his feet and several feet backward into the same wall, now emblazoned with wings.

Alex pressed his hands to the ground and got back to his feet, brushing himself off.

"Oh, you're thinking you're tough?" The Demon's face split into a smile. He turned to the other and spoke in words that sounded like hellfire and gravel. The Demonic tongue. The smaller of the two rushed Alex. Nails lengthening into daggers intent on ripping flesh from bone.

Alex moved between slashing hands. He struck out, landing fists to the thing's body, and he seemed to just shrug him off. One of the claws slid down his leg, splitting his jeans but missing flesh.

"Thou anointest my head in oil; my cup runneth over."

Alex stuck out his thumb with the next swing for the thing's head and connected with his eye socket, which he had hoped would happen. He pressed with everything he could muster under the beast's eye ridge, squishing the eye out and onto his cheek. The lesser demon howled and pressed his hands over his eye as a dark shadow began to pour forth from the empty socket. It wasn't a reaction Alex had expected and he took a step back to avoid the form as it spread across the ground. He turned his attention back to the bigger one and smiled.

"You asked if I think I'm tough... I KNOW I'm tough," He said as he advanced.

"You haven't heard the last of me, neither has that tramp. You just bought a mere bit of time." The demon jumped into the air, spread dark wings and was gone from sight.

Alex waited a few moments and took the time to catch his breath. He still wanted sleep, and now needed it. Her sounds caught his attention and he walked her way slowly. Something was familiar, but he couldn't place it. With gentle hands he reached down and lifted her up. She had burns on her hands that needed treatment, and was obviously a target. Hair fell from her face and he studied her a few seconds.

"Damn. Always was a sucker for a blonde." Muttered to himself as he walked back toward the bike, her in his arms.

Ivy's eyes widened as she was lifted from the ground and near cradled in the Warrior's arms. He was likely just a man but for her she could only see him as something more. Something... someone...familiar. She chanced a look up at him before nervously dipping her head back down to avoid making direct eye contact. Her heart was in near panic beat mode and she wondered if it had to do with adrenaline or just something about the one holding her so carefully. He was the one that had broke bone so easily and yet here he was carrying her like he was terrified she might break.

It wasn't usual that Ivy reacted such a way towards other blonds. In fact she preferred her men of darker hair but something about this one... it was different. Safe. Then again who was she fooling everyone made her nervous. The thought almost had her chuckling if not for the state of the evening. A hand lifted to take her glasses from her eyes and she yelped at not only pain but the near loss of balance. She swore she heard him laugh at her and before she knew what she was doing she was glaring up at him. That was a bad choice.

Eyes widened and she just about lost her glasses as her eyes met his. Ivy felt that familiar spark ignite within her, the feeling she always got when she felt she was going to see something. A vision. A dream. A nightmare. This usually happened in the night when she was sleeping but this was no dream. A nervous shove of her glasses back in place, demon ash and dirt smudging her cheeks as she looked down swiftly. No, no, no Ivy, don't be an idiot. He was just doing his service as any other human being would if they had a heart. There was nothing there.

She had to distract herself, breathing in deeply she inhaled the scent of oil, grease, ash, sweat, dirt and blood from him and shook her head as it all but blanketed her. Ivy should have been revolted but she imagined she didn't smell that great herself. Biting her lip she closed her eyes for just a moment, she was so exhausted. How was this the right moment to be drowsy? In the arms of a stranger that was likely just going to haul her off to the authorities to earn a pretty profit. Still the steady beat of his heart was calming. Half-lidded eyes began to close as one of her palms smoothed along his side to come to rest at his chest. Even injured, her hand seemed determined to find a resting place just above his heart. The steady throb against her palm was a soothing balm to her wounded palm and near broken spirit. Ivy was an idiot.

A subtle shake of head and then the briefest wrinkle of nose as she felt a drop of moisture hit her nose. At first she swore she was crying but no she had done that earlier. As she contemplated it the drops became heavier and more frequent. Rain. Ivy couldn't help but feel a small sense of relief for the rain. Not just the relief that it would smudge the ember mark she had left behind when she became a human torch, but relief that thankfully she had elected not to wear white today. However, her relief was trumped by her bemoaning she was alone with a stranger and getting drenched. What a night...

The touch.
Just above his heart.
Gentle, almost as the touch of a lover.
A familiarity stirred deep within him and he swore he heard a cry.
Primal.
Raw.
Needing.

She looked at him, silent question filling her eyes but never falling from lips. Alex tried to smile and find the reassuring words.

"You're safe now. They are gone." His voice didn't sound like it normally did. It was heavy and lower, but smooth and soothing and barely heard above the driving rains that came from nowhere.

She felt light, even with his fatigue. A long day of deals, fights and bad blood. Her energizing light had replenished him, but that was fading along with her. Alex's green eyes fell to his bike. His beloved Dyna. He'd ridden in worse storms, but never with a passenger who was unaware. She could easily spill them both. He knew the area, and it wasn't far from his sanctuary. The locals would know by the mural painted on the tank to guard his prized possession. If the demons came back, that would be a different story.

"Taxi!" He called as there just happened to be one passing by. The door pulled open and he placed her inside.

"Hey, I know you." The driver said. "This ride's on the house, I'm goin' home anyway."

"It's a weird request, but I need you to drive her to my place. I'll lead on the bike."

The driver waved his hand at the windshield, as if Alex didn't know he was getting soaked to the bone. "You'll get to lookin' like a drowned rat."

"I'm not leaving my bike here," Alex shoved more cash than necessary toward the other man. His bet on Muggo's loss had made him a nice profit. "Stay close, it's not far." The door was pushed closed, but his hand lingered against the steel, watching her.

Something about her...

Alex pulled the bike in through the large overhead door. Then motioned for the cab to follow him inside. It was a mechanic's shop, and there was more than enough room. Usually the business was a front, but there were a couple of vehicles inside. Favors and cash jobs. The driver rolled down his window as Alex was picking her up as gently as if afraid she would shatter.

"I know it's a weird question, but why not take her to the hospital? Those burns look..." Alex cut him off.

"She's with me, and safe. I've got her."

The cabby bobbed his head nervously. Something about the look in Alex's eyes, there was something there even briefly. "Uh...how much for an oil change sometime soon?"

"Bring 'er by in a couple days. I owe you." Alex said as he hip bumped the door closed. "Go home to your family."

There wasn't another word between them, the driver backed out and the door slid down, sealing the garage from the outside and allowing nothing more but the sound of the storm and her breathing.

He carried her to his room. It wasn't typical biker decorated. There were no posters from men's magazines, no flags of anarchy, just a simple, clean, and nicely arranged room.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but my name is Alex. You're safe here. Your hands are burned, and I'm going to use some of The Witch's salve then wrap them. She does good work. I use this stuff if I burn my hand or arm on a hot exhaust pipe." His voice was not loud. Maybe he was talking more for his own assurances, but he felt it needed to be done. "If you happen to wake up and I'm not here, I am not far. There is a living room, just outside of the door and down the small flight." Alex began to massage the salve into her hands. She twitched, but he knew the cooling would come soon. "I'm going to leave this small bedside light on, there's a bathroom to your left, and..." he paused, looking at her, and studying her face. "That's about it."

He stood and watched her. He swiped his hand across his wet jeans and gently took her glasses off to put on the bedside. The hand returned to wipe the smudge of ash from her cheek. "Rest easy."

It was then that he walked away, pausing at the closet for a pair of sweats and a clean tee. He needed a shower, and sleep.

She woke in darkness in a strange bed. Needless to say the panic was going to set in. Eyes flickered wildly around her as the near panic attack consumed her. A deep breath and she looked to her treated hands, brow in a furrow as she reached out at the counter beside her. Glasses put on she felt more secure as she looked down at herself and breathed a sigh of relief. All put together. She slowly eased her way as quietly as possible out of the bed and tiptoed silently to the door.

Fingers tucked stray strands of blond behind her ear as she pressed her fingertips to the door frame. Quietly she listened as she held her breath and wished for all to be still and silent around her. The memories of hours earlier flooded into her system and she gingerly dropped her hand away from the door to press upon her skin. Bruised but not broken. That in itself was a small boon. The Warrior. She looked around, bridge of her nose pinched as she closed her eyes tightly. She wouldn't dare turn on a light.

The Warrior. No... Alex. Now she remembered his name was Alex.

You should remember me

Ivy spun around on her heel in search of the voice, only to realize once again it was all in her head. Closing her eyes didn't banish the voice as a visual proceeded the voice. Standing on a mountain top overlooking the sun rise. Wings so pale and delicate they seemed translucent were resting at her back as she looked down upon the world below. The man beside her was so familiar and yet a stranger to her still. She should remember but she didn't. The memories were as easy to brush aside as spider webs. Still they clung to her, begging for her to remember something she had forgotten.

Ivy opened her eyes as she felt moisture spill down her cheeks. She couldn't blame the rain on that one. It had dried so long ago and stopped now aside. She at least knew that. Something about the way the air smelled to her. Sniffing softly, she knew she was about ten seconds shy of becoming a blubbering mess and she didn't know why. When she closed her eyes she saw that vision again tucked at the edge of her mind's eye. Gazing at the one beside her, his wings seemed forged of shadow and apparitions of smoke. So different from her own.

Angels.

A snort. The burns must have scorched her sanity too.

"This is just madness. Stupid, stupid girl. They were right Ivy. You should just turn yourself in."

See. Certifiable. Crazy. Kook. No wonder she kept to herself. There was no way she was going to drag someone else with her. Drag someone down. Alex...

Shaking her head, lower lip caught in her teeth she stumbled over to the night stand and scratched out a swift apology on a piece of paper she found. A receipt of some sort. How she was able to see in the dark really was beyond her but it didn't matter. All she knew is she had to go before she made someone else's life complicated...

The skies were blotted with heavy, ink black clouds. The war raged overhead and underfoot. Lightning flashed to allow glimpses of the warriors. They fought for their beliefs. They fought for blood. On the ground a pair stood on a large, winding rise. The winds ripping at their flesh. He was the darkness, she the light. Together they were unstoppable. Together they were the love desired by many.

Their battles had been fought. Bodies of their enemies stacked around them, and following them up the rise. The last taking a dying, ragged breath and reaching for her, only to be pinned to the ground by a great, shadowed sword.

She looked at him, a smile played across her lips. She knew he'd live for her, and he'd die for her.






Her things sat on the chair by the bed. Before leaving however, her bag was lifted and wallet taken out. Alex stared at her name and address on her ID.

"Ivy Kane." He said her name quietly into the darkened room.

She seemed familiar, but her name didn't. She had the look of a librarian, but not like the slutty ones that had danced at the clubhouse. Maybe he was really drunk the night she had been there. Something pulled at him, something comforting but forgotten. A lover's embrace. The taste of her kiss? Her wallet was put aside, something to drop back into her bag and hand to her when she came around. He told himself again and again that it was just to know her name so that when she came around, she wouldn't be as scared.

That's when he heard her stirring. Or had he feltit?

Alex pushed to his feet and nearly ran into her as she was pulling open the door.

"Evening, Ivy. I'm not sure where you think you're going, especially without so much as a goodbye." He grinned at her. "The big one said he'd be back for you, so going home right now maybe not the best idea." He folded his arms across his expanse of chest. "So, please... have some tea with me, and help me understand what's going on?" It was an insistent tone. One that said he wasn't about to take no for an answer.

"You went through my stuff?"

The words were almost spit out even as she stumbled and landed on her butt to save from running smack into his chest. His chest. A flash of memories, fingers curled at his chest above a beating heart. A spray of blood, a fall of feathers.

"Feathers..."

The word caught in her throat and she shook her head, fingers curling into wounded palms as she looked at him with such anguish in her eyes before they were closed and she turned away from him.

Her shoulders slumped in defeat as she returned to the room and dropped on to the bed. Mortified she was mortified. He went through her stuff. He had to have seen the medications that had been prescribed to her by the Centre. Anti-psychotics. Anti-depressants. Anti-anxiety. A mess. Fingers pinched the bridge of her nose as she pulled her glasses off and sat them on the night stand.

Knees drawn to her chest, cheek pressed to knee cap. She wouldn't dare look at him.

"Tea would be nice... Alex..."

Bare feet in winter. She wasn't cold though. Holding out her hands she stretched her fingers out toward the moonlight, smiling with pleasure as the cool rays licked at her palms, painting her skin a soothing balm of energy. Even as a creature of light she took such reverie and delight in the darkness and the shadows. The moon and the stars when she was told to linger with the sun. She was meant to be an Angel of the Sun and Glory, ever since the Morning Star had fallen she was the next in line... but she did not want that... she ached for the Night... and the Warriors...no... Warrior... that lived there. A Night Hunter. Head tipped back and she shrieked in delight as she was lifted in the air and tossed into the night sky. Her wings were gold and fireflies dancing on display for him. Smiling as always. With him she was fearless... the consequences... irrelevant.

"I... don't have anywhere to go... They will destroy the shop... I can't let that be. I promised. I swore...I have a duty. I don't go back on my word."

Her blue eyes were fringed in a sliver of sunbeam gold as she frowned at him, tears threatening to spill over. Who was she fooling, it was false hope truly. She knew the shop was likely in ashes already.

"Someone else was here before. I shouldn't be here. You... are...."

She shut her mouth, cutting the words off sharp as she bit the inside of her cheek until she drew blood. Hugging herself she shot to her feet as she felt the anxiety crushing her once more. The heat, the fever struck a match within her and she was damn near ready to burn alive with it. It didn't matter anymore. Not to Ivy.

The smell of another female, the scent of desire and want mixed with sweat. It was enough. Fresh enough to her senses. Ivy cursed her sharp senses. Even still... it made her want to burn alive.

"Someone was here, a long time ago." Somehow he knew she meant another woman. Truth told, there'd been a few. "You're safe, and I belong to no one, Ivy."

He turned and moved to the kitchen, the ritual of tea making always calmed him. It was better than any drug.

Snow.

Bloody tracks leading away from a fallen greater demon.

The warrior threw his head back and released a primal scream. The pain unlike anything felt before. The pain in his body as it tried to heal from the demon's ravages. The pain in his chest from losing her. He leaned heavily on his great sword. The demon's black blood dried on the ancient blade, but he could still see his reflection in the few places it hadn't clung to. Shadow ink eyes stared back. His blood ran from his scalp. With another roar, the blade was lifted toward the battle above.

"I will find you!"

Lightning flashed and a bolt struck the blade, sending fire through his body. Another scream was heard above the raging battle.

He shook his head. The dreams were coming to him when he was awake now. "What kind of shop do you have, Ivy?" Anything to take his mind off the dreams. "If it will make you feel better, we can go check it out tomorrow. I'll call ahead to my guy for warding, that'll keep it safe while I keep you safe."

They were endless. Pouring over the cliff's edge to fight the warrior. He cut them down, sometimes two at a time. But, they kept coming. He could feel her. She was close, but not close enough to keep him at the pace he went. He needed her light. He needed her.

Teeth pierced the flesh on the back of his leg and he dropped to one knee. But, he fought on. Shadow consumed him. Darkness incarnate he became. Every one of the attackers dead at his feet. The sword clattered to the blood covered icy rock below his feet. His own mixing with demons. It was too much, the warrior fell among his enemies reaching for the light from above.
"I need you...." The darkness swirled.

Alex was gripping the cabinet's edge to steady himself. The kettle was whistling, indicating it's ready. He blinked a few times and shook his head. He was just tired. That's what he told himself. The tea was taken to her with a small jar of honey and a few packs of sugar.

The world was burning around her. After he had fallen and the demons came upon him one after the other she was frozen with terror. There was so much blood and darkness and fire. She was screaming for him as she dropped to her knees, crawling to the edge to peer down below in hopes of seeing him holding on. From time to time she would see a smoky flash cutting through the demons and knew he still fought on but then there were too many. The tears blinded her and she screamed until her voice went raw and silent. She felt the blood on the back of her throat and then a hand closed around her throat and she was thrown. Her wings snapped out and she hit the obsidian edge of a stone crevice. The breath was knocked out of her as she felt the darkness crowd her.



They had called her the North Star. For obvious reasons and some not so obvious. After Lucifer had fallen and she had been called as his replacement there were so many expectations. So much wanted and required of her. She was meant to be dedicated and sworn to Uriel ? the announcement was supposed to take place soon but all of that went to the wayside when the demons rose. Something of it was a small relief because she had no love towards Uriel. No? she loved another. Forbidden Darkness. A Shadow Warrior that was only meant to be the holy hand of the Lord. Judge, Jury, Executioner. He had a job to do? and yet she loved him. The memories of their stolen moments in twilight left her struggling against the hand of the demon as her eyes snapped open. Fire gold as the wings flared out behind her, burning bright. Once they had shone brighter but after his touch they had dimmed to moon pale. North Star. If they found out that her Glory was tarnished surely they would destroy her. Perhaps Death by demon was not a terrible way to go.



She heard him in her mind. Encouraging her to fight. He never would beg or plead. He always told. Demanded. Forced. To make her stronger. A smile touched her lips and she let out a silent scream. They wanted her to burn? She would light up the world? and that was exactly what she did.



The tea cup was lifted, the warmth a soothing balm against her injured palms as she looked at him with distant eyes. The memories that seemed her own and yet so not seemed to play there in the blue. She ached to be near him and she no comprehension as to why she felt this way. He was a stranger to her. He felt like something else though. So far from a stranger.



Ivy shook her head and sipped at her tea, closing her eyes as she chewed nervously on her bottom lip. His words drew her from her thoughts and the mention of the shop drew a small smile upon her lips



?It?s a library of sorts. A used book store really but you?re not going to find any Harry Potter or James Patterson there.?



The words were a mirror of what she had been told when she first came upon the shop. She set her half finished tea down and offered him a dimpled smile as she grinned. For a moment it felt like things were just normal and that the world wasn?t falling apart around her. His offer surprised her as that sudden nature of shyness overcame her once more.



?Thank you. I would like that. I?m sure she would appreciate it too.? She didn?t speak more of the past. Her smile dimmed in the smallest fraction as she looked at him. Tentative steps before she slipped her arms around him and buried her head against his chest. A deep sigh that seemed borderline contentment as she fell silent. This was so out of her nature but she found it seemed so much easier to embrace to speak the volumes of gratitude she felt towards him. Surely it was just that? gratitude.