The bed was empty as Azrael woke up. It was unusual for Raden to leave before saying goodbye. She listened for a minute thinking that he was in the bathroom but only silence echoed back. Azrael hopped out of bed and dressed quickly thinking maybe she had slept in later than normal. She would see if Rosemary had any answers for her.

Rosemary was flipping through a book in the lobby when Azrael appeared. She looked up from the book smiling. "Well, you're up early."

"Oh, I thought I had slept in. Have you seen Raden by any chance?" Azrael asked.

"He ran out before sunrise. Said something about there being news from Lorcán? I don't know but he seemed in a hurry." Rosemary watched Azrael's face contort from confused to worried. She walked over to Azrael grabbing her by the arm. "What's wrong?"

Azrael shook her head and plastered a smile. "Nothing. Just worried about Raden disappearing this morning." There was indeed much to worry about. What was going on? Had the way finally pushed far enough into human territory or had Merikh come for her? Her mind raced but she couldn't show any fear. No one here could know.

Even though Rosemary had a gut feeling that something was going on, she didn't push. Instead, she squeezed Azrael's arm. "Well, how about I get you some breakfast ready and you tell me about the rest of last night." She winked before walking to the kitchen. Azrael felt her face heat up and she ducked her head following after Rosemary.

~~~*~~~

Raden had been pacing around the training grounds all morning. Lorcán trying to contact him wasn't a good thing.

"Nervous too?" It was Eli. He held a full sword in one hand and a shield in the other.

"I wouldn't say nervous. Just tense."

Eli nodded. "Most of the guys here are growing nervous by the hour. Rumors are going around that we're going to march to the Northern kingdom."

Raden froze. "What?"

"A war broke out somewhere near the borders of the north and south kingdoms," Eli explained. "I think they may start orders today."

Shit shit shit.

"Raden?"

A young girl walked into the circle. She couldn't have been any older than twelve. Her dirty blonde hair was neatly pulled into an intricate bun. The hem of her dress was coated in dust along with her shoes.

"That would be me." Raden raised a hand half-heartedly.

She walked over handing him a letter. "This is for you." She curtsied and left as quickly as she appeared.

Raden looked at the name and went cold. It was from Lorcán. He carefully opened the letter praying it was good news.

Dear Raden,

I hope you have settled in and that all is well. Tell Azrael my garden is ready and she is welcome to see what has been planted. My main reason for writing you is that it seems that Merikh has brought war to my borders with the north. No need to fear my armies have been prepared and are marching as this letter is being sent. I wanted to make you aware however because all will are going to start preparing for what may come. However, I am optimistic in that this little threat will be managed quickly and quickly.

Be kind and keep that sweet girl safe.

Lorcán.

Raden folded the letter again and took in a deep breath. Either Merikh was indeed creating a huge problem within the mortal realm or this war had spilt into this world causing an even bigger problem.

He turned to Eli. "Be prepared."

"For what?"

"War." Raden spread his wings and in one motion of his wings, he was in the air. He headed straight for the inn. Though the King's City was safe right now, it very well could be the hunting grounds in a short period. People would talk and they could talk to the wrong people. He landed with a thud on the cobblestone street and ran inside causing a bit of commotion.

Rosemary gave him a look of surprise and annoyance. "Really? Scaring my customers like that."

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"Where's Azrael," He asked winded. His chest rose and fell quickly as he tried to catch his breath.

"She's in her room..." Raden ran past before Rosemary could finish. "You want to tell me what's going on!"

Raden didn't answer but continued to Azrael. He raced past rooms and people who had to press themselves against the walls as Raden's wings almost smacked them. He entered Azrael's room without so much as a knock. She jumped at the sudden intrusion. Raden didn't say anything but handed her the letter motioning her to read it while he stood hands on his head trying to catch his breath.

She read it over once then twice. Her hands began to shake and she looked up at Raden. "They're coming?"

"I don't know. It could be Merikh messing with Lorcán," Raden answered.

Azrael shook her head. "Why would he? I mean he doesn't seem like the type to waste resources and he would know that we left right?"

Azrael was probably right. Merikh was a lot of things, but wasteful wasn't one of them. "Shit!"

Raden squatted to the floor. He tucked his head down and placed his hands on the back of his head. He felt two hands pick him up and he lifted his head meeting beautiful hazel eyes. "We'll get through this. We just need to figure out what to do now."

He nodded.

"If there are issues on the borders of the north and south, then we'll still be okay." Azrael thought out loud. "I mean who would know we're here?" She always did try to think optimistically.

"No one except for Lorcán and Libena," Raden answered. He leaned back on his heels and fell against the wall. "But that doesn't mean anything right now. Serkan has his ways of finding answers and Merikh... well we know what he's capable of."

Azrael had gone back to sitting at the desk. She propped her chin on her hand as she thought. "So what do we do?"

He let out a sigh and shook his head. "We stay put. I'll try and find out as much as I can but we need to be careful." Raden looked to Azrael. She had her eyes closed just resting for a brief second. Raden realized at that moment how terrified he was. Not that another war had fallen into the mortal realm. He would fight until every feather was ripped from his wings and his halo broken. No, his blood ran cold as images flashed through his mind of Azrael laying limp on the ground. How nothing he did would save her. Raden shook his head trying to rid his thoughts of the unthinkable and stood.

"Where're you going?"

"I'm going to see if I can't get anything to Lorcán and then go back to training." Raden couldn't think of anything better to do. When in doubt train. That's what he had taught himself.

Azrael nodded and smiled. "Hey Raden," He shifted his gaze from the floor to her. "It'll be okay."

Raden nodded and left. Hopefully, she was right.

~~~*~~~

In the early hours of the morning, the sound of metal tearing through flesh and screams filled the air. The stench of blood was ingrained into the soldiers' minds and they weren't soon to forget. The earth beneath lay burnt and soaked with the blood of celestial and infernal. Above in the sky, the fight waged on.

Forces of angels continuously fought against the never-ending flood of infernals. With everyone killed, five more reigned down against the already exhausted celestial armies.

Deimos had raced down to the human borders when word reached them about the invasion. He worked in pushing back the legions but they were stronger. Days later Zadkiel joined him as their lines had fallen on the other lines and it had been a massacre.

"We're not going to win this," Deimos said to Zadkiel and they were resting. A few more bodies had shown up to help fight. "They've got demons to spare."

Zadkiel was sitting on the ground trying to eat, but truthfully his appetite had left him a while ago. "The humans wouldn't last but mere seconds though. We've got to keep fighting." His voice was quiet. Each time he closed his eyes the images of his brothers falling or the camp being burned to the ground were there. He hadn't slept in days.

Deimos looked over with heavy eyes and a heavy soul. "We'll fight to the end." Zadkiel met him with his own tired eyes.

A loud thunderous explosion shook both to their core. Both raced out of the tent to see what was going on. A fire was illuminating the sky not too far ahead and screams could be heard above.

"Deimos."

"Go get your sword and shield and meet me down there," He ordered and was off. Many others that were trying to rest had fallen into the trails seeing what was going on. Some were yelling orders and others were racing down toward the incident. The closer Deimos got the more injured he saw. He pulled up one who had fallen. The angel had a giant gash across his chest. "Hey! Hey, what's going on?"

The angel shook his head. His eyes told the story of a thousand soldiers just like him. "We... we're doomed."

Deimos looked forward through the smoke and fire that had spread. Here rushed partially burned demons screeching and clawing anyone near. Black blood dripped from wounds leaving trails in their wake.

Yells from the angels could be heard all around as they engaged with the hoards. However, a figure in the smoke caught Deimos' attention. This was not a demon he knew. The figure calmly walked untouched by the hoard and looked rather bored with the chaos around him. Deimos stumbled back as he locked eyes with the figure in front of him.

Serkan stalked through the fire with a wicked smile edging across his face. "I remember you. You help that death angel capture me." He walked with his shoulders back and head up. This was someone who didn't fear the battlefield or chaos for that matter. Deimos continued walking slowly backward without taking his eyes off Serkan. "Scared, are we? I guess your friend took all the courage with him," he laughed.

Deimos saw from the corner of his eye a spear propped up on the side of a tent. He let out a breath and lunged for it. However, Serkan was faster. He pulled the spear away as Deimos grazed it with his fingertips and landed hard. He flipped over quickly and found the tip of the spear pointed at his face.

"You can't win. Not here or in another realm. Oulixeus doesn't care for losing and I make sure he ever does." Serkan pressed the spear's head into Deimos's throat. "You angels are fragile beings and mock my abilities. I would kill you if I didn't need you."

"Go to hell," Deimos spat.

Serkan laughed, "Oh, I will and I'll drag every single one of your souls with me for eternity." He took the spear and ran it across Deimos' face leaving a deep gash down his right cheek and lip. Serkan knelt with a knee in Deimos' chest. "You find that Death angel and tell him I'm coming." His laugh vanished. Serkan stood and Deimos ran off into the night. "I WILL HAVE MY GOD KILLER!" Serkan let out a puff of air and whispered to himself. "Even if I have to drag her from that bastard's dead grasp."