Raden slept through the rest of the day and half of the next. Azrael would check in every so often to make sure he was still alive and a small piece of her felt relief that he was. Azrael kept herself busy as there was much to be done around the house and she didn't feel comfortable leaving Raden here alone. So she decided that she would be serious about cleaning out her workshop this time.

She brought up piles of books that were scattered through the small living area and started separating them into ones she wanted to keep and those she wanted to give away. This took a better part of the day and by early afternoon Azrael felt like her legs were going to give out. She climbed back up to the main floor only to be startled by a tall figure standing in the bedroom door frame.

"Jesus Christ!" Azrael yelled out as she threw a book. It hit its target with a loud thud.

"Ow." A tired voice boredly groaned. Raden leaned down to pick the book up and narrow his eyes at Azrael. "Was that necessary?"

Azrael calmed herself enough to crawl out of the hole and onto the floor. "It was a fright response."

Raden shrugged and walked over to help Azrael up. She grabbed his hand and he pulled her up with ease. "So what are you doing here?" Raden looked around at all the books that had piled up in the room.

"Well since you were passed out for a good day and a half, I thought I would start cleaning out my workshop," Azrael explained tiredly as she sat down. "I didn't realize how many books I have."

Raden came and joined her. "You're getting rid of all these books?"

"Most." Azrael had a sadness lace her voice. "Truth be told I haven't touched most of them. It was just wishful thinking that I would be able to achieve doing any of those spells."

Raden watched her closely. He knew witches would hoard books of spells and potions, but rarely ever saw one part ways with them. "You don't think you can do any of those spells?" Azrael shook her head but didn't say much more. Raden seemed to pick up that this was a sensitive topic and didn't push much more. Instead, he looked around and picked up the closest book to thumb through. "Well whenever you're ready, I'll help you take these books to whoever."

Azrael looked over with a concerned and slightly confused expression. "If you join me in this then there's going to be questions. Firstly you need a shirt and secondly is the fact that your wigs aren't easily hidden."

"And here I thought you enjoyed the view." Raden gave a toothy smile and stretched back in the chair showing off his toned body. "Besides, no one would bat an eye at me. Many cities have celestials come through all the time."

Azrael titled her head. "Places around here aren't really friendly to outsiders. Magic and non-human folks aren't exactly welcomed."

"So we go to another town."

"I don't think you understand. I've been to most of the major cities around and magic is strictly forbidden. If you show up then you're a target for the hunters." Azrael explained.

"Hunters?"

Azrael nodded. "They mostly hunt witches, but they're not against killing nonhumans."

Raden sat contemplating for a second while Azrael continued sorting books. He sighed, "You know what? No."

"No?"

"I don't really give a shit about some hunters. We're going to get all this sorted out and I'm going with you." Raden stood up. "You got a shirt?"

"Somewhere." Raden passed by her as she whipped around. "But I don't think this is a great idea, Raden..." He had disappeared down into the workshop. Azrael stood there running her hand anxiously through her hair. This wasn't going to end well.

~~~*~~~

Three boxes of books sat waiting at the door. Azrael was staring at them trying to find any excuse not to go but nothing was coming to mind. Raden walked out of the bedroom securing his sword to his side and saw the shocked expression that was plastered on Azrael's face.

"I don't go anywhere without my weapons." Raden defended.

Azrael shook her head. "This isn't a good idea. We're not going."

"Azrael look at me." Raden waited for Azrael to comply. "Even if these hunters were to show up, they wouldn't lay a hand on me."

"You don't know what these guys are capable of."

Raden took several long strides toward Azrael. She tilted her head down as his presence was a bit intimidating. Raden gently took her chin and lifted her head to see her eyes. "I've dealt with far worse than any hunter. They aren't going to catch me." He could see the fear swimming in her eyes. "And as far as I'm concerned, no one is going to lay a hand on you if I can help it." He left her standing frozen in place as he went to grab two of the boxes.

She touched her chin still feeling the calloused fingers of Raden. Azrael quickly composed herself and grabbed the last box. "Alright here goes nothing." She pulled out the medallion from around her neck and clicked it. "Hold onto my arm." With a ding, the two disappeared.

The pair appeared in a small alleyway and Azrael tucked the medallion to hide it. "Let's make this quick, okay?"

"What was that you used?"

"No time to explain here. Just follow me and keep your head down." Azrael walked out into the crowd and Raden rolled his eyes.

As soon as Raden walked out, all eyes were on him. He didn't mind it. Azrael was walking quickly and Raden was finding it challenging to keep up with her in the crowd. He continued to push through and anger many of those around him.

He brushed Azrael's shoulder making her jump. "Easy, it's just me." Azrael saw him and realized a bit. "Breathe Azrael." He whispered.

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Azrael had her head on a constant swivel. Many were whispering and pointing to Raden but no sign of any hunters so far. They pushed their way through the crowd a little bit longer until Azrael grabbed Raden's arm and directed him toward a small shop that seemed to be shoved between two larger buildings. Azrael hurried them inside the empty store and let out a sigh when the door was shut behind them.

A small lady peered over the upstairs balcony. "Can I help you?" She saw Azrael and gave a warm smile. "There's my favorite customer!" She disappeared and footsteps could be heard soon after. "Now what do I owe the pleasure of you coming to my shop today."

"Well, I thought I'd donate some books," Azrael explained showing the box in her hands.

The lady looked over at Raden quickly then back at Azrael. "Alrighty. It's a shame you’re getting rid of so many." She snapped her fingers and the boxes disappeared and she walked to the counter.

Azrael had a look of disappointment sweep across her face. "I haven't been able to work out the simple spells yet. There isn't a reason to keep any of those books."

"It just takes time dear." The lady turned around to investigate Raden and then nodded to herself. "Who's your lovely friend here?"

"Oh." Azrael was caught by surprise. Usually, it was just her coming here. "This is Raden. Raden, I would like you to meet Terra."

Raden gave a stiff nod but stayed silent. Azrael thought it was odd given he was very outspoken with her.

"Well Raden it's nice to meet you, but I do have to ask why someone like yourself is in Líadain?" Terra smiled with a hint of mischief twinkling in her eyes.

"I thought I would help out a friend." He said shortly. He then turned to Azrael. "We should head out."

Azrael nodded and headed towards the door before Terra stopped them. "It's odd to see an angel in these parts. You can't just be here because you want to help out a friend."

Raden's temper started to flair but he took a deep breath to calm himself. "What's it to you."

"Just making an observation. I know that most of you are up fighting in the war." She paused and tilted her head. "I would assume an angel like yourself would be fighting alongside your brothers and not down here in this hell hole of a place."

Azrael jumped in to try and lower the tension. "Oh, I found him hurt a few nights ago. He's still recuperating before he heads. Isn't that, right?" Azrael turned to Raden and gave him a fake smile. So that's why he was in the field. She thought to herself.

Terra narrowed her eyes. "Really? I thought angels had incredible healing abilities. Strange you needed help."

Raden grabbed Azrael's hand and kept his eyes trained on Terra. His gut was telling him something wasn't right. "I think it's time that we go Azrael."

"Stay a bit. I have some friends that would love to meet you." Terra gave a wicked smile then her voice twisted into a much deeper crueler voice. "The king would be pleased to have both a witch and a Death angel's head on his walls."

Azrael's eyes went wide in realization this wasn't her friend and pushed Raden towards the door. Raden ran without hesitation carrying Azrael with him. The woman behind them morphed into her regular form. A mage started to yell for someone to catch them.

"Get whatever brought us ready," Raden yelled back to Azrael.

She reached down and started to place in the coordinates they needed. All of a sudden, a fireball rushed past them and hit a building to the left. "Shit!"

"Just keep running and tell me when that thing is ready!" Raden yelled ducking down as another fireball soared past. He pulled Azrael in shielding her from the debris with one of his wings.

"GRAB THEM!" It was the mage running after them but now with two nasty-looking friends.

Azrael peered behind her and saw the two new additions. "What the hell are those?"

Raden turned and let out a frustrated groan. "Demons. Is that thing ready!"

"Almost."

The two demons were closing in on the two. Raden pushed Azrael to the side of the street and turned to face them. He expanded his wings to full length and pushed a forceful wind to try and slow the demons down. With their footing being better on the ground, this did very little to slow them down. Raden pulled in sword out waiting for them. The two snarled and leaped towards Raden. He swung his sword towards one and swiftly turned to the side barely getting out of the way of the second.

"Azrael!" Raden growled. He shot a look of pure rage her way and she fidgeted with the medallion in a complete panic. He saw she still wasn't ready. "Goddammit!" He shoved the one demon he had in a tight grasp toward the other. "You want to take this to sky assholes?"

At this point, the mage had Azrael in her sights and was preparing to end it right there. Azrael was focused on the medallion when she felt herself being lifted from the ground by her hair. The mage bawled her hair tightly and took a dagger to Azrael's throat. "Don't move."

Raden hadn't seen the mage take Azrael captive and shot to the skies. Pain shot through his right wing but he couldn't let that stop him now. The two demons followed suit and Raden smiled deviously. Now they were in his territory. He turned mid-flight and grasped his sword tightly. One had caught up with him and took one of its hands to try and claw Raden. He moved back and slashed through the air with his sword. Raden caught the demon's chest and black blood oozed from the gash. It let out a screech and beard its teeth.

Raden narrowed his eyes and prepared himself for another attack. "That all you got?"

On the ground, Azrael was struggling against the mage. With each movement, she made she could feel the dagger's blade digging into her skin.

"The more you move the worse it's going to be. Now stay still." The mage sneered. She held Azrael in a tighter grasp as she peered to the skies trying to find the other three that flew off.

Azrael heard the click and knew the medallion was ready and that she now needed to get Raden. She knew there was only one chance to get free or this mage was going to kill her right there. Azrael closed her eyes and focus all her strength and felt a small spark in her hand. She smiled and connected her hand to the mage's thigh sending a very strong jolt of electricity through the mage. She hit the ground with a thud and Azrael ran off to hide.

Raden was holding strong but was getting bored of this ongoing fight. The one demon was quite wounded and would fall at any time, but the other was evading everything Raden threw. He left out a huff and held out his hand. A bright light exploded forward, but it missed. He turned to the wounded demon and threw one of his daggers to put it out of its misery. The dagger found its target and the demon fell back to earth.

Raden turned back to the other demon and narrowed his eyes. "You want me dead!" The demon snarled and started racing full force again. Raden dove for the ground and the demon followed. He was picking up speed fast and had no intentions of slowing down.

Azrael heard people start to yell and scream. She looked around and saw they were looking up at the two figures racing toward the ground. Her eyes went wide as she realized one of them was Raden. She ran out into the street joining everyone else watching helplessly at what was about to unfold.

Raden raced closer and closer. The demon was not far behind him. Raden had a devious grin plastered on his face as he was enjoying the adrenaline rush. Fifty feet turned into thirty then into twenty neither backing down. The screams of the crowd grew louder and Raden knew it was time. He spread his wings wide stopping his movement on a dime only a few feet from the ground. However, the demon was not so agile and went plummeting into the street with a sickening crunch. Silence fell over the crowd as Raden stood in the midst wings stretched out as he glared at the mangled body of the body.

Azrael raced over to grab Raden before any more unwanted guests showed up, but it was too late. Three more mages had appeared and were coming for Raden. He was unaware of them.

Azrael stepped in front of Raden. "Watch out!" Then everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

Before Raden could realize what was going on, Azrael had yelled something incoherent and everyone around ducked down or ran. Azrael felt an overwhelming emotion of anger course through her veins and an explosion of magic dispersed from her. The blunt of the force was pushed toward the mages but the magic bubbled in all directions. Azrael collapsed and Raden caught and clicked the medallion hoping it was right and they disappeared from the carnage in the city.