Silas sat on the chair beside Tess's bed silently. She had been having nightmares every night since the first one. They were always the same and always equally terrifying to Tess. Silas no longer slept on the floor, staying at Tess's side all through the night. She would wake up screaming and writhing until Silas managed to pull her into his tight embrace. She would cry for a little while and then try to fall back asleep. Silas heard the hooting of an owl and turned his head to look out the window. At the same time Tess's earsplitting scream rang through the room. Silas immediately jumped out of his chair and tried to keep Tess from harming herself in her crazed state.

  "Tess, stop!" He shouted, trying to get through to her. His heart pounded fearfully, seeing her like this.

  "Silas!" She shrieked as she seemed to come out of her sleep.

  "I'm right here." He whispered calmly. Tess turned her wide grey eyes toward him. He felt the familiar thud of her hitting his chest and wrapping her arms around him. He stroked her hair comfortingly.

  "It's okay. You're okay." He repeated. Tess's breathing slowed and she finally pulled away from him. Instead of smiling at her, Silas stared at her in horror. The marks of thumbs were imprinted on her skin and her throat was red where unseen hands had gripped her throat.

  "What?" Tess asked, seeing his horrified look. Silas snapped out of his daze.

  "Your throat." He whispered. Tess slowly got up and walked to her mirror. Her horrified gaze mirrored Silas's. Her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped.

  "How?"

  "I don't know, but somehow, something is getting to you through your dreams."

  "It has to be Akbar." Tess growled, whirling away from the mirror. Silas shook his head, not wanting himself to believe it.

  "No, Akbar is dead. I killed him." Silas said firmly. Tess gave him a doubtful look. Silas sank down onto Tess's bed and drew within himself, barely noticing Tess sit down beside him. He was only brought out of thoughts as he felt her rest her head against his shoulder.

  "What does Akbar want with me?" She asked quietly. Silas didn't know how to answer the question. She didn't need to know anything about the foretelling of a special Seer.

  "I don't know." He lied. Tess didn't notice the hesitation in his answer.

  "Why do you hate Akbar?" Silas was caught off guard by the question. He opened his mouth, but words failed him. Tess took her head off his shoulder so she could look him the eyes. Silas looked away.

  "Silas," Tess put a hand on his shoulder, "you can tell me anything." Silas met her gaze.

  "Years ago, there was a small fight between three angels and a demon. One angel was very young and foolish. The three angels tried to fend off the demon as best as possible, but two of them perished protecting the young one." Silas paused before continuing.

  "The two angels that perished were my parents, and the demon-"

  "Was Akbar." Tess finished, her voice barely a whisper.

  "I escaped, but not without a consequence." Silas said, scootign away from her slightly. He slowly removed his shirt, exposing the tan skin of his back. He knew that running from the top of his right shoulder blade all the way to his left hip, was a long, pale scar. His wings were invisible, making the scar easily seen. He heard Tess inhale quietly and he felt her fingertips brush his skin. Her warm touch on his cool back made him shiver on the inside.

  "Silas."

  "He took a dagger and ran it through my back; I only escaped thanks to my parents." He put his shirt back on quickly. Silas felt as if he were reliving the memories. He could feel his own pain as the blade pierced through his skin. His dark red blood had splashed everywhere. He remembered his mother and father shouting at him to run and not getting far enough away to miss his mother's agonizing scream as she died. After that, he laid in a ditch somewhere until Diana had found him.

  "Silas?" Tess's hand squeezing his shoulder brought him back to the present.

  "Hmmm?"

  "I'm sorry." She whispered. Silas felt her lips brush the side of his cheek. It was quick, but he felt it.

  "It's okay." Silas looked at her, noticing how tired she must be.

  "You need to go to sleep." Silas stated. Tess yawned, but shook her head.

  "I can't go to sleep, not after that."

  "Well you have to." Silas insisted as he lifted himself off Tess's bed.

  "Wait." Tess said quickly, grabbing his wrist. Silas looked at her questioningly.

  "Can you just stay...right here...with me. I need someone to comfort me right now." Tess sounded embarrassed at her own request. Silas hesitated, every bone in his body told him it would be wrong, but his mind clouded his inner feelings.

  "Ummm," Silas's darker side finally overrode his good side, "sure." Tess smiled and it almost convinced Silas he had made the right decision. She scooted over and laid her head down on her pillow. Silas laid down on his back beside her, glad the bed was pretty big.

  "Are you comfortable?" Tess asked, her head facing toward him.

  "Yes." Silas lied. He was completely uncomfortable. Tess's head rested against his shoulder, which didn't help Silas much. He waited until Tess was finally asleep before turning on his side so he could look at her. Tess had a small smile on her face, which disappeared when Silas moved. In her sleep she moved closer to him, trying to find his body heat. Her head ended up buried in his chest and one of her legs intertwined with his. Silas let a nervous breath.

  "For the love of Pete." Silas tried to move away, but Tess just kept cuddling up to him. The warmth of her forehead touched the exposed skin of his neck. Silas felt his heartbeat pick up. He had never had much contact at all with humans until he had revealed himself to Tess and her touch exhilarated every part of him. He knew he shouldn't be doing this; he was breaking law just letting this get to him.

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  I'm stronger than this! He told himself, but then Tess sighed. It was a loud, content, safe sigh. He wrapped his arms around her, protecting her with his embrace. Silas let his cheek rest on her head and he felt like this was where he belonged.

~~~~~~~~~~

  Silas didn't know he had fallen asleep, but when he woke, Tess was still asleep beside him. Silas tried to move as little as possible, Tess's shirt had slid up the small of her back just a little bit, exposing the venerable skin. Silas's finger tips rested against the cool skin. He felt Tess stir against his neck. He stopped moving.

  "Silas?" She seemed confused and a hand came up, almost poking him in the eye. She touched his face and lips carefully.

  "Tess, it's me." Silas smiled. Tess sprang away from him suddenly.

  "I'm so sorry!" She apologized, her face was beet red.

  "You should be." Silas propped his elbow up.

  "Even angels struggle with temptation." Silas let his golden gaze lock with hers. Tess dropped her eyes to a stain on her carpet. Silas gave her a sympathetic smile and walked over. He put his hands on her shoulders.

  "Tess, I could have resisted all that cuddling up you did to me last night, but I didn't. It wasn't all your fault." Tess didn't seem happy with his answer.

  "Silas, I'm part of the problem. I'm causing you to stumble." She gasped.

  "You could become a fallen angel!" Silas rolled his eyes.

  "Tess, I made a minor mistake, I'm nowhere close to be being a fallen angel." In that moment there was bright flash in Tess's room and Diana appeared out of nowhere. She was dressed in all black, her hair tossed over to the side. She always looked rebellious. Tess looked surprised, but Silas wasn't.

  "What do you want?" He asked.

  "Gabriel wants to talk to you." Diana smiled cheekily.

  "He's not very happy." She glanced at Tess and gave a slight nod before turning to Silas.

  "She's pretty cute." Diana commented.

  "Shut up. I'll be back." Silas said the first part to Diana and the second to Tess. Diana turned back to Tess.

  "You kiss him yet?" Tess's eyes grew wide in surprise.

  "No!"

  "Shame, he's a good kisser."

  "Diana!" Silas gasped in exasperation. Diana smiled sweetly at him.

  "Is this the girl you kissed?" Tess asked, raising an eyebrow. Silas groaned.

  "Do we have to talk about this?"

  "Yes," Diana laughed, "because you know you liked it." Diana winked, and she and Tess laughed.

  "Let's get going." Silas growled and turned invisible.

  "See you later." Diana said and followed Silas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Silas was called into the throne room within minutes of arriving. Gabriel stared at him as Silas kneeled.

  "Rise." Silas stood.

  "Silas, you're getting too close to your charge." Gabriel warned already getting to the point. Silas glanced around the throne room, glad that no one was around.

  "Last night was my mistake, Gabriel." Silas admitted. Gabriel walked down the stairs toward him.

  "A mistake I do not want to see again." He paced around Silas.

  "Must you always do that?" Silas asked, Gabriel halted.

  "Silas, I'm serious."

  "I understand." Silas sighed.

  "You're dismissed." Silas bowed and walked out of the throne room. Diana was leaning against one of the pillars of the building, wating for him to come out.

  "Did he chew you out?" She asked, walking beside him.

  "Don't act like you didn't hear what was said Diana. I know you were listening." Diana gave a small laugh.

  "You really like her don't you?" Diana smiled coyly.

  "Diana, don't you have anything better to do?" Diana pretended to contemplate the question.

  "Nothing that is as fun as this." They both launched off the clouds and spiraled toward Tess's house. Both landed in her room turning visible. Tess was sitting on her bed.

  "Back so soon?" She asked.

  "Ha-ha." Silas said sarcastically. Diana walked over to Tess.

  "Easy on Silas, Gabriel chewed him out."

  "Is that so?" Tess raised an eyebrow. Silas sighed, knowing Diana was rubbing off on her.

  "He did not."

  "Silas, always the proud type," Diana whispered to Tess, just loud enough for Silas to hear. Both girls giggled. Silas felt like melting into the floor.

  "Well, I need to get going." Diana said, sounding very put out. She walked over to Silas, glancing at Tess.

  "Better keep a good hold on him, I might just steal him." Diana ran her finger along Silas's collarbone before grabbing his t-shirt, yanking him into a kiss. She kissed him long and deep, before letting him go. Silas tried not to kiss her back as her lips taunted him.

  "See you two later." She opened her wings and jumped out the open window. Tess raised an eyebrow at Silas. Silas began walking away toward the bathroom.

  "Don't ask."