The feeling of soft grass and fresh air filled my lungs. I groaned, shifting against the cold metal of my bow.

“He-hello?”

I pushed myself up. My wings drooping to my sides. I looked up groggily into the wide eyes of a young girl.

“Hello!” I smiled sheepishly. Glanced around in alarm I shoot to my feet, blades in hand. Strange metallic creatures growled loudly as they flashed passed on blackened earth.

“Wow! Relax.” The girl raised her hands. “You need to put those away.” She glanced around frantically. “Crap! What am I going to do?” She sighed in frustration.

“Where am I?” I frowned, my blades dissolving into light.

The girl stared at me for a long moment.

“What do you remember?” She flicked her long hair behind her.

“I… uh-“ I frowned as I thought. “I remember defeating Hades then… nothing.”

A smile flashed across her face though quickly covered it with a hand. I blushed.

What was going on with my heart? Beating like it wanted to burst out of my chest. And my hands were sweaty! They never got sweaty. Except for that time i was retrieving the wish seed from the phoenix’s volcano.

“We… uh-should find some place to go before someone sees you.” She scanned the… training field? behind me. Her eyes widened seeing children running around nearby.

“Why can’t they see me?” I raised a brow.

“Because this world is different from yours.” She sighed.

“How do you know?”

“Because… it’s hard to explain…” She swiftly stuffed odd objects into her bag, glaancing around at every noise.

“What is this?” I picked up a mirror like contraption with buttons and knobs.

“That is a Nintendo.” She plucked it away and set it in her bag along with a deck of cards before slinging it over her shoulder. “Let’s go.” She darted onto the solid white path leading to a bright red metal creature.

“What do you call those thimgs? Their kinda intimidating.” My wings fluttered nervously. “They won’t attack will they?”

“No.” She giggled. “Their cars. They take us places… kinda like a chariot just without the horses.”

“Oh! Their definitly louder though.” I shook my head as another rumbled passed.

“Yeah. For some reason people like loud cars.” She rubbed her ear. “I’d just prefer the fast ones.”

“Hey!” We paused as a group of children ran over to us. The girl moved to open the… car and waved me over. “Are those real?” A small boy examined my wings. I stepped back as he reached out.

I opened my mouth, stopping when She raised a finger to her lips. I nodded, walking over to her. She gestured for me to sit. I stared in awe at the weirdness within. Knobs and levers just waiting for me to push! Ooo and more mirrors too! If only Lady Palutena was here! She’d probably tell me not to press them. But they look so tempting.

The girl snickered beside me. I wondered what else could be here just waiting for me to try?

“Are you an Angel?” A second boy asked.

“He kinda looks like the guy from Smash Bros.” A third said.

They nodded in agreement.

“Oh! Yes…” I nodded.

“He’s cosplaying. Good huh?” The girl smiled awkwardly.

“That’s a heck of resemblance.” The oldest of them noted holding out a flat rectangle to the others. They nodded, their eyes wide with shock.

“Wow!” They beamed. “He’s good.”

“Uh-angel face? I thimk we should go.” The girl tapped the machine urgently. “Remember… that uh- party we need to get to?”

“Can we take a picture with you?” The first beamed.

“Uh-“ I glanced to the girl then the boy. “I-um… sure.” His puppy dog face was to cute to say no. “How do we do it?”

“Stand over here.” The oldest pointed to the middle of the group. I did. The girl took the rectangle, holding it in front of her.

“Smile.” A light flashed. I jolted back, rubbing my face before meeting her worried eyes. “Sorry! Are you okay?”

“I-uh.”

“Sorry, I forgot to turn off the flash.” The boy took back the blinding machine.

“I-uh think we should go.” The girl gestured frantically to ths car.

I nodded, slipping in as she closed the… wing. She sat on the second bench, placing a key in a hoe. Seconds later a humming sound softly filled tue air. She turned the wheel causimg the car to move. My eyes widened watching houses roll in for miles. Everytjomg felt so futuristic and… a little verwhelming.

I was forced to close my eyes. My mind racing with ecerutjomg i was seeing, hearing, smelling…

“What is that?” I glanced around.

“What?” She widened her eyes.

“That food.”

“Oh!” She giggled. “You mean KFC.”she pointed to a sign with a man in all white across the cross roads. “We can grab some food.” She smiled.

“Ok” as scary as this place may be as long as she was beside me i was excited to experience my next adventure.

“Really?”

Creature - Damos.

Translation. Demon dog. Given to the creature do to the frightening appearence.

The damos holds its own genus, damosis.

A doberman like appearence with a human like intelagence. Stands at 3ft at the shoulder, 5ft long. Red eyes, short, slick, black hair. Famgs larger then any earth dog. A pair of 6 ft wings. And 3 ft tail, cat like in movement. A venomous stinger hides at the tip.

This species first appeared after a freak accident. The mix of devine blood and ocean water fromed two of these creatures. A male and female. The female being the dominate.

The claws, fangs and stinger can release a lethal amount of venom capable of killing in only a few min. Whether they can control the venom is unknown and curremtly there is no cure.

This species is recorded to have 5 animals living in the wild and is considered endangered.

They mainly eat meat but do enjoy fruits and sweets. They can live in almost any climate but prefer the sky. Remarkable speed, strength and site. And especially loves scratches under their wings.

I wake to a rush of anxiety pishing against my chest like an ocean wave. Thoughts of fear slam into my mind. I sigh silently in frustration, placing my hand over my heart where a very special gift rests close to me. A smooth faced rock dangling from a string slowly shredding at the ends. A cross carved in the center of one side.

When ever i touch the cross i am reminded tyat no mattsr how tough things get. No matter how lonely and lost i feel i am never truly alone.

This necklace though plain and simple, has got me through so much since i got it. I am greatful for it and for message it holds within.

I listened as birds sang high above. Touched the ruff skin of magnifacent, elder trees. Soaked in the warmth of the golden sun. This forest was the most wondrous place on earth. How could anyone consider leaving?

But in its beauty holds deadly secrets. Especially to the blind.

I continue walking cautiously, sweeping my cane inches above the ground so as not to get stabbed in the gut as often when it got stuck. That also meant i wouldn’t notice the dip until half my foot was stamding on air.

21 years of blindness yet i still tend to fall or bump into things.

I stumbled forward. My cane slipping behind me. For a moment the world seemed to pause… before moving faster then ever. Loosing my balance and free falling wasn’t the scariest part. No, not knowing what was below was.

Somehow i’d managed to get a decent grip on a rock. I dug my nails in and found a second hold with my free hand. I hung there for a few seconds feeling shock more than anything. There was a slim chance my scrawny arms could lift me anyway.

“Hey!” A guy called from above. “Give me your hamd.”

I grumted, raising my left hand now nurning do to sharp edges of the rocks.

A warm, firm grip slightly eased the terror pulsing through my veins. One pull and i found myself on my belly.

Solid ground!

I grinned in relief. Breathing deeply as i lay down.

“Thank you.” I say to the stranger after a minute.

“Today was not your day to die.” He replied.

Okay. I thought, frowning. A little weird to say.

“Uh… sure.” I stood on unsteady feet.

“Careful.” He gently placed a hand on my forearm. “You can cheat so many times.”

“Quite odd to say.” I giggled breathlessly.

“Oh! Not at all, dear one. For i should know. Death is one of my specialties.” He replied simply.

“Oh.” I stepped away nervously. “That’s a little unsettling.”

“My apologies.” He laughed softly. “Allow me to introduce myself.” He came closer. “I am Anubis. Many know me as…”

“The Egyptian god of death.” My eyes widened.

Holy crap! My mimd was racing with a whole mix of thojghts and feelings.

“Before we continue let us go somewhere safe.” He handed my cane to me then guided us back into the forest.

Nothing like a nice nature walk with my new friend death. I chuckled inwardly.

The people watch in horror as their beloved King, bloody and stripped, is dragged down the shite marble steps by a band of black armered soldiers.

Night had fallen. A ghostly fog drifting into the kingdom of Palin. Soldiers in grey, drapped in purple cloaks, road magestic steads as they patrolsd the streets.

As dawn showed her face the people rose to begin their commute. Only to be greeted by the bodies of the rohal guard. Not soon after was the kingdom invaded and the royal estates seized.

The self proclaimed King Minitos now stood in the center of the city square. The soldiers mirrored his cold gaze and grim set jaw.

“I have concered this kingdom in a single night.” He scans the shaken crowd. “I will continue until every kingdom is mine and every king has fallen under my blade. Starting with yours.”

One of the two soldiers dragging the old King shoves him to the gravel at Minitos’s feet. For a flicker of second a cold smile crosses the invader’s lips.

The peoole watch on in panic and fear as they whisper harshly to each other.

A moment passes before the crowned prince and Queen appear. A chilling glare nurning in the primce’s golden brown eyes.

Minitos nods, pulling out a sword of the blackest metal amyone there jad scene. The crowd gasps. The primce even seeming impressed for a moment.

Monitos turns, raising the blade over the old king’s neck. A scuttle catches his attention from behimd. The prince briefly escapes the soldiers grips nut was swiftly apprehended once more.

Minitos was amused but had to continue forward.

Raising the blade he adjusted to keep an eye on the heoress who did the most unusual thing. He broke free to reach into his cloak. Pulling out an amulete of some sort.

“Ico.” The prince spoke. Light pulsed around the item once then nothing.

Laughter spilled from the invaders.

WOOSH!

A golden arrow struck Minitos in the heart silencing the soldiers. Immedietely it dissolved, leaving no mark but many comtused on lookers.

A prideful grin spread across the primce’s face.

“What game ate you playing?” Minitos asked.

“Yoj tell me.” The prince sneared.

At that moment something snapped. Minitos felt his cnest tighten, breaths shallow, palms grow sweaty. He stumbled back in alarm dropping his sword.

“What have you done?” Minitos raosed a hand to his chest. His eyes wide, never leaving the prince. Noticing the beauty in those hateful, fiery eyes.

“Unlike you we are no murdkers.” The heiress huffed. More arrows rained down upon the enemy. “But a kingdom unkted under love.”

The army stumbled with there weapons as they searched for their attacker.

“You’d be waisting your time.” The primce scoffed. “The god of love is not to be scene.”

Minitos could do nothing ad his heart swelled with love for this remarkable man. He fell to his knees causimg the others to do ths same.

“And that is how to win a war.” The primce chuckled.

As i’m blasting “Take It Out On Me” by Thousand Foot Krutch i slow the car at a four way stop.

Instanly, i freeze at an angry shout to my left. Looking over i see a man and woman in the mitst of an arguement. Now, i wouldn’t have been to concerned. People argue all the time. But something about the man bothered me.

His facial features reminded me a bit like a bug. One beady, black eye. Blood red eye patch on the other. He was incredibly thin, wearing a black suitt and red tie. Straight, black hair cut just below a pointed jaw. This guy couldn’t look anymore villain like if he tried.

The longer they talked the more fear creeped into the woman’s expression. She played nervously with her curly, brown hair. Green eyes now darting between me and the ground like she was tryimg to tell me something.

“Duality” by Set It Off came up next on my rock playlist. I turned down the radio enough to see what i could hear without seeming nosy. Obviously conspicuous doesn’t actually work when your the only car around.

I scanhed the road as one normally does while straining to hear the comversation.

Total bust.

They were to far. But i did succeed in gettimg an annoyed look from Captain Bugeye.

I felt uneasy having to leave the girl but in the end there was no real reason for me to stick aroumd.

I push the gas and started on my way.

But looking through the rear view shattered any sense of sanity i had left.

The woman screamed, running down the street they were in. A sinister grin replaced any allusion of humanity in the man as he watched.

She fell, her heels breaking simultaneously. By then i’d stopped the car and turned off the radio.

The woman pleaded for help. Apologising to bug man while cryimg hysterically into her hands.

Bugeye casually strolled over to her, knelt and whispered something as he stroked her hair with a pale, bone like hand.

All i could do was watch. Like something had paralyzed me.

A blink later and a slender, shiny tail slipped out from the man’s pants. My body trembled, heart pounding through my white knuckled grip on the wheel.

The red tip opened revealing a large stinger drawing closer to the woman. In a heart beat of a moment everythimg around slowed to a stop. Then a sharp gasp as the stinger pierced deep into her back.

A chilling laugh echoed around me. A swirling mass of fire and darkness opened up beside them. He pulled her lifeless body in and disappeared. The portal closed up in a ring of smoke…

“That was the last thing i remembered before waking in the hospital.”

The officer stared at me for a long, uncomfortable moment.

“So… you don’t remember the car crashing into the telephone pole at all?” She tapped a pen on her note pad.

“No.” I shook my head.

“Alright.” She scribbled stuff down for a long moment. “Well… i’ll look into it so you have nothing to worry about. Except for getting better.”

I frowned. She didn’t believe a word i’d said.

What more to do then go detective myself. The police wouldn’t know what to do anyway. Not that i would know either. But i’ll figure that out when the time comes.

What’s the worst that could happen?

“Sure.” I nodded. Resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

She walked out. No doubt looking for my doc. Leaving me to assess the damage and plan my next move.

I look out over the terrace but my mind is somewhere far away.

“Hey kiddo.” Blane raps an arm around me, drawing me close. I glance up and smile before returning to my thoughts.

“What are you thinking about?” He rests his chin on my head. The warmth of the sun bathing us and the gardens below in a breath taking, evening glow.

I sigh, returning to reality.

I open my mouth but can’t quite figure out how to explain it. My eyes focus on the multi-colored sky above.

“Do… you ever get the feeling that…” i pause. Would he think i was weird for this?

I smile knowing that he knew i was pretty weird in general.

“… you… were meant to be somewhere else?” I bite my cheek anxiously. “Like something… far away is calling to you…?”

I frown in frustration. How could i explain this feeling better?

Blane pressed closer.

“Actually, i think i do.” He laughed softly. “A long time ago i was lost. Trying to find myself. I went around the world to find that missing piece nut it took a bit of time. Eventually though, i was brought here. Finally my search was over. Because…”

He knelt to kiss my temple.

“… i found you.”

I smiled up at him.

“And Will, Berry, Selen, Leo… You all are who i meant to be with.”

We watched as shadows grew and stars nlinked to life.

“I love you, big bro.” I giggled.

He chuckled.

“I love you, kid. And don’t worry. We’ll help you fond what your heart is searching for. Alright?”

I nod, close my eyes and wonder what God has instore for me.

Strolling down a dimly lit street i took in the sweet, sweet silence.

My acute hearing caught footsteps ahead. My hands began to itch in anticipation though i knew there was no way in hell anyone could find me here. A silhouett appeared in the distance. As they came closer i made out a woman with long, dark hair, a work suit and a purse.

I lowered my head. Slipping my hands into the jacket pocnets.

The woman squinted over examining me cautiously as we passed. Luckily she was on the opposite side of the road. She couldn’t see the growing burn marks on my jacket. The hunger for blood causing a nearly uncontrollable surge of power to flare through my hands.

I closed my eyes, taking in a breath of crisp night air. I caught the sent of jasmine sending a memory to appear in my minds eye.

I spun around. Blue light spilling across the area around me as two swords appeared. The Federal agent’s eyes widened in recognition and fear before turning and running off.

She wasn’t messing this up for me.

I followed as she darted to the left. Swiftly gaining and shoved her into an alley.

I watched in awe as a blur of black and white danced across the battle arena. Only in books did i believe i’d see an ancient battle style like this! Swords of silver and gold sparked like embers rising off a blaze in the chaos.

My heart pounded in nervous excitement.

They paused momentarily. Giving me a glimpse of the breath taking display of wings. One set midnight black. The other, a shimmering pair of white. And did my eyes decieve me?

Twins?

I sighed in amusement.

Before the angels could continue a bells sounded in the distance. Their weapons dissolved into light as they started toward us.

Seeing them now, i could have sworn both men looked just like video game characters. But no game compared to the beauty of these gorgeous beings.

The white angel’s deep blue eyes met mine. Instantly everything went silent. He paused. Perhaps feeling the same electrifying energy surge i did. I was forced to grip the golden rail. Nearly falling over and down several feet.

His smile softened but something in his gaze changed. A bright blue aura rapped around him, his wings stretching out before launching into the air.

The white angel landed behind me. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him. As he rose from his crouch he looked back at me.

Drawing closer, the air thickened with intensity.

My cheeks flushed when a whistle came from my right. Reality smacked me in the face. Glancing around I’d realized Blane, Will and the dark angel had been observing the entire thing.

“Like slicing through butter.” Blane chuckled.

“Oh, Heaven above.” I murmured, rolling my eyes.

Blue eyes grinned, his face as red as i felt.

The dark angel crossed his arms. An irritated expression on his pale face.

“Uh hi.” The white angel smiled shyly.

“Hello!” I blushed, looking away.

“I’m Angel.”

Of course you are. I smiled, shaking my head.

“Nice to… meet you!” I glanced between them before locking eyes with him once more.

All i wanted right then was to fall into Angel’s arms, rap his beautiful white wings around me, and never leave.

Was it possible…? My first love? An angel no less?

The white, leather bound book glowed as if an internal sun burned within its pages. Golden scribbles of a language I’d never seen before shimmered in gold on the face. As soon as I saw it I felt a sudden wave calm wash over me. I smiled faintly as I drew closer, comfort folksinger behind.

Oddly enough I was able to read the strange writing. The title being…

AWAKENING: BOOK OF AGES

Author…

My eyes widened. I spoke under my breath.

“William Starr.”

To think I knew everything about my best friend but no. That jerk.

I skimmed through the contents noticing chapters like the rise of creation, law and order of the universe, solar systems, ccivilizations on unknown planets, magic, and more.

If just holding this book made me feel like i was on top of the universe i could only imagine what the information inside could do for someone with dark intensions.

I set the book down, thinking of what to do next before the oak doors burst open behind me. I spun around in alarm, meeting the fiery gaze of the war goddess.

“Marona?” I laughed half in amusement and fear.

Her silver eyes narrowed. A bone chilling breeze swept across the room.

“Wolf, 6ou are here by arrest for the offense of stealing the Book Of Ages and opening it without authorization.”

All i could was stare disbelief.

I could be artested for reading?

I smiled inwardly.

I guess i didn’t really have a choice. 8 nodded, my head down and walked out of the library with angelic soldiers flanking me. The goddess leading the way.

She narrowed her silver eyes as a bone chilling breeze swept across the room.

“Wolf. You are here by placed under arrest for the umiversal offense of stealimg the Book Of Ages and opening it wothout authorization.”

All i could do was stare in disbelief.

Arrested for wanting to read? Thats new.

I smiled inwardly.