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"Fucking angel." Shrazz paced around his apartment. "How is it that demons are punctual, but archangels think they can just stroll in anytime they want?"

Shrazz heard a flutter above him and an unusually large dove landed on his table. Shrazz stared at the dove and smiled.

"Leoran I presume."

The dove grew. When it was half of Shrazz's height its feathers fell away. Its beak sank into its face and became thin, stern lips. The dove's wings grew enormous and folded over its body. When they unfolded, in the bird's place knelt a muscular angel.

Though his face looked ageless, Shrazz could see his blue eyes were burdened with the troubles of someone who had lived dissatisfied for centuries. His silver, wispy hair seemed alive itself, held aloft without any trace of wind.

A large golden Chi-Ro was set in the center of his celestinite breastplate. A silver facemask covered the bottom half of his face. One large hand rested on the curved hilt of his short sword; to Shrazz's eyes its sizeable hilt was better suited for a two-handed blade.

"You are not at all what I expected, Shrazz," Leoran said.

"Come again?"

Leoran paced around his apartment.

"Short, scrawny. Underwhelming."

"Satan witnessed my credentials himself."

"Your brute strength and intuition impressed him then, but no more."

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"Last I heard everything was going smoothly. He was pleased."

"Things change. Have changed. You will bring the angel here. You will wait for me to return. I will collect him."

Shrazz's eyes glowed in the dark. He tried to remain professional, but he was losing his patience.

"I have followed Satan's design to the letter. Riell should be making contact soon."

"You will step in, bring the angel here and wait for me. Perhaps then Satan will spare you. If I decide to."

Shrazz grabbed Leoran's throat, pulled a fist back to renegotiate the terms of their relationship and demonstrate his worth when the palm that held Leoran tingled, burned, and sizzled. Despite himself he yelled, and tried to pull back, but Leoran held his wrist fast. Steam rose from their connected skin, blue flame billowed, and Shrazz fought back another yell.

"He may be the mastermind, but I am the one with access to Earth," Leoran said. "He has no real power here. I could easily slay you, and if you do not uphold your duty, I shall."

He released Shrazz.

"I will apprehend the angel as I intended," Shrazz growled, and immolated his injured hand to dull the wound.

"I'll return here at the same time in seven days," Leoran said.

"Until then," Shrazz answered.

Leoran reverted back into his dove form and flew outside.

Shrazz's hand pained him more than anything else ever had, but that was not why tears fell from his eyes. Five minutes ago he had optimism. Leoran stole it away, and branded fear and doubt deep inside him.

Satan had betrayed him. He never should have trusted him. Now he had to fulfill his bounty to survive, only for survival's sake. Somehow he had fallen in love with the idea of change, with the idea of himself being the spearhead of that change and Riell the shaft.

Riell. He had betrayed Riell.

His tears fell freely, and as much as he wanted to set his apartment aflame and bury himself in its ashes, he knew his only chance at redemption lay in his mission: the angel. He had to find him.

He knew Riell would want notice before he visited her at home, but he had to ensure her safety.

He closed his eyes and tuned out the noise around him: the dripping water from the ceiling, the scuttle of rats in the far corner of the room and the cars outside. It all had to go so he could access the interdimensional tunnel to Riell's.

Shrazz's eyes snapped open and his pupils dilated.

A serial killer! Riell can wait for a few minutes... I need to eat my feelings.

Shrazz zoned in on the man with his extrasensory abilities. His sinful energy's aroma titillated him. Saliva flowed into his mouth. Yes, he could spare the time for such a delicacy. It would only take 5 minutes.

Some kind of dark magic... Exquisite. He smiled. Tonight won't be so bad after all.