• The sun set was a glorious blaze of colors. From red to gold the sky was alight with color. With such a bright sunset one would never have suspected the darkness that would follow. All through out the kingdoms laughter of children could be heard, mothers calling to them to come in to eat the evening meal, grandmothers prying for their safety. Such love and life was through out all of the lands, yet darkness and death rode on the wings of the sunset. With such darkness coming it would be much more fitting for the night to be cold and dark yet it was bright and happy. Just when the world seems to be at peace something comes and ends the happiness that has been found. In the farthest mountain range in the darkest cave, was an evil that should have been locked away for ever. Yet for the sake of progress it has been awakened. With the passing of the Elves all was thought to be set right. As it has been proven throughout history great evil is never completely defeated, No it is never completely gone it is just waiting, bidding it's time. It is the Age of Men now, but this darkness is far older than man and even older than the elves.
    In the deepest part of the night a black cloak of death swept across the land. None were spared, woman, men, children, and grandparents all dead in a single moment. Nearly three-fourths of the human population was wiped out. Some say that in the darkest of night even the smallest light shines bright. Pray that it is so for the only light left is in the form of a small baby. A child that will never know the joys of playing out in the sun, building snow men, and being free to laugh and play. The Age of Men has come to an end, and the Demons have come out to play. Have the Gods forgotten about us, do they not care for us anymore. In all of this, perhaps there is a way to correct all the wrong that has been done. Mayhap in the end all will be set right.....

    The cries of a baby could be heard for miles around. Curious street children made their way down a small back alley. There amongst all of the garbage was a tiny little baby. Crouching around it they stared in wonder that such a little one was still alive. It was known that you didn't wander along the streets alone, especially if you were a child. Many of the flesh eating demons enjoyed the taste of children. It would be a suicide for anyone to take in such a small innocent child. Some many babies were left in the garbage in an attempt to appease the demons.
    "what should we do?" a little girl with matted red hair asked
    "don know." her brother said from beside her. "could tell big sis."
    "I ain't to sure 'bout that. 'e said not ta bring 'er anyting mo." A little boy with big brown eyes said. At that moment they heard a person approaching them quickly. Without waiting the little girl snatched up the baby as the children ran. Running along the dirty streets the kids dashed to and fro to lose the one following them. Turning right down an alley they ran straight into a dead end. Looking frantically for a way to escape the footsteps entered the entrance of the alley. Looking up they looked into the face of a demon that they had hoped never to encounter. His face was hideous, different splotches of different types of skin. It was said that his type of demon toke species of their 'food' and attached it to them. His eyes were a sickly yellow that patched his teeth.
    "run, run as fast as you can, I love the taste of fear." as the words dripped from his mouth, the children crowded closer together. For a moment he sniffed the air. "oooo what is that... I smell baby. Give me the baby!" If it were possible his eyes toke on an even more demented look than before. The two boys looked down at the baby in the arms of their sister. For a moment they thought that they might make it out if they just handed the baby over. Clutching the baby closer to her body the little girl looked up defiantly at the demon.
    "No!" she yelled at him. " I won't give it to you!"
    A terrible growl filled the alley way as the demon snarled at the children. Standing there his nails grew to an unusual length. "Than I guess you all will be dinner." As the demon flew towards them they squeezed their eyes shut. Both little boys tried to sheild their sister and the baby from the coming demon. Waiting for the claws to cut through their small bodies they prayed that their big sis would get there. Just as the demon was about to sink into one of the kids there was a loud shot that rang out over all of them. Stumbling back the demon looked down at his chest and saw a hole that was growing by the moment. Looking to see from where the shot came from he saw a figure crouched on the roof of the building behind the children. "Why...." He asked the figure.
    "Because you would ruin everything with your hunger." a smooth voice said as the figure turned and walked away from the scene. "run children, run home."
    Without the need of further direction the children toke off down the street as fast as their small little legs could take them. Flying up the steps out side of the only church left in the city the kids dashed inside the building. Shutting the door quickly behind them they went to the room that they shared with their big sister. Rushing by the other children who had taken refuge there, they shut the door to their room to discus what could be done.
    "you didn' have ta take dat baby!! now we's gonna get in trouble." the brown eyed boy said shaking his head " 'es gonna kill us for 'dis!"
    "What am i going to kill you for?" a kind voice called from the doorway. The three children turned to face her quickly. hiding the baby behind them she smiled sweetly. "alright, now i know somethings wrong."
    "it's 'anna fault. I ain't done nuthin wrong."
    "Don't blame it on her tommy. you wanted to take that way home!"
    "you got us lost jay! i wouldn't 'ave said ta go dat way if you 'adn't gotten us lost."
    "Alright you guys calm down. Hannah darling what happened?" she asked calmly as she quieted the boys down.
    "Well... we's found a baby." Hannah said quickly as she steped a side so that her sister could see the baby. " And he's really cute!"
    "You guys... Tom shut the door and Jay you close all the curtins and than come sit with me." Sighing she sat down next to the baby and than gathered it into her arms. As the children gathered around her, she tried to think of a way to explain everything to them. "we are going to have to leave soon."
    "But why sissy?" Hannah asked her eyes big remembering a time when they all had lived on the street. "is 'da sisters makin' us leave?"
    "You know that it is dangerous for anyone to take in children. The sisters have to make...well there are things they have to do to make this a safe haven for anyone." Taking a deep breath she looked down into the baby's eyes. " All of us are a danger to the people that are seeking refuge here and well it isn't fair for us to put them at risk."
    "I don't wanna go out there again sissy." Tom said pouting. "Andy left with a nun and never came back!"
    "That is why we have to go Thomas they want me to give one of you to them. do you understand what that means?!" all of the children had confused looks on their face. "You remember when Auntie toke brother way? Remember how she toke him to the...master? They want to take one of us to the master of this city, so that they can keep those here safe."
    "But 'da promised to keep us safe."Jay cried. Looking at her sibblings she saw the tears in their eyes and it tore at her heart. In truth she wanted to cry to. there were times at night after the kids were a sleep that she cried her self to sleep. Life was unfair to those who didn't have something to offer the demons or weren't strong enough to fight. Being a child herself raising her siblings and now this baby was hard.
    "Sometimes... sometimes people can't keep their promises." she said gently. " get your clothes together we have to leave now!"
    " But it is night out 'da the...." Hannah stammered.
    " I know, I found a way that we can go that won't take us through the bad areas." Getting a long piece of cloth she secured the baby to her front so that she could have her hands free. "Hurry the nuns will be here any minute"
    As the kids rushed around finding their clothes they could hear the footsteps of the nuns coming down the hallway. Just as she opened the doors the nuns were standing there.
    "Juliet, where were you going?" the elder of the two nuns asked.
    "I was just getting ready to come and see you!" she said with a smile on her face.
    "Well who is it that you are going to give?"
    "Sister Adelin I can't... I just can't give you one of the children." Juliet stammered "It just wouldn't be right to give one of them up. I... I Promised mama that i would watch out and take care of them."
    "YOU can not stay here if you will not help assure the safety of everyone else here." Sister Adelin said raising her voice.
    "How can you a nun do this...?" Juliet questioned
    "Watch how you talk to me young lady! I gave you and your siblings shelter when no one else would!"
    "And now you ask me to sentence one of them to death!"
    "You can not place the life of one person above the lives of the others." Sister Mary said softly.
    "I will not have the sin of killing a child on my soul!" Juliet yelled. "MY family and I are leaving! so find some other family to rip apart."
    "I'm sorry miss Juliet but I can not allow you to do that." As the words left the nuns mouth a coldness filled the hall in which they were standing. The young children drew close to Juliet. Clutching the baby firmly to her chest she looked at the nuns with a terrified look.
    "What have you done?" she asked. It was in moments like this that the nuns nearly forgot that she was a child herself. "He asked for you specifically. Juliet you are to come with the children to the entrance." Something about the sisters voice sent a cold chill down the back of all of the people that were present. Without the slightest look at her sister Juliet placed the baby in Hannah's arms. Pushing the kids back into the room she stared at the nun.
    "How long?? how long have you been under their control." Juliet asked softly. The nuns warm brown eyes slowly turned to black and a dark aura flowed easily around her. "kids go find the chocolate in the room okay?" The code they had slipped simply from her lips as she looked what was sure to be their death in the eyes.
    "I have been here since before you came. waiting for the 'gift' " the voice that came out of the nuns mouth was not her own. No it was a voice that was pure evil. "come little Juliet... your feature has been laid before you all your life. do not shrink away in fear."
    Raising her head and looking at the nun in the eyes a soft smile came across her face. " You are right sister my feature has been before me all my life. And I know what will come perhaps better than you....Agares." With that perhaps the last bit of light that had been in the world with out with a glorious flash. It had been ten years since the death of her sister and it was the moment that Hannah realized you could only rely on yourself. With in five days after her sister died for their freedom her brothers were killed leaving her with the little baby. Much of her next five years were spent on the run trying to raise the baby the best that she could. He lived to see his fifth birthday but they were found by demons the day after and well... as it was he didn't live. Hannah turned 17 in the summer, it was the summer that changed everything.
    Deep in the forest laid a small temple that many did not even know was there. Walking through the dense woods Hannah's thoughts were on the past. Mostly on her brothers the three of them had been so close, when they had died she thought that part of her had died with them. Walking into a clearing a small temple sat in front of her. It seemed that time had stood still there. It was untouched by the darkness that surround the world around it. In front of it was a beautiful statue of a woman. Her face was upturned to the sky with a peaceful look it was almost as if she was real and just frozen in time. She wore robes with a bow in one had at her side and a quiver of arrows on her back. It looked as though a gentle breeze was blowing through her slightly curly hair. Flowing from the statue was a since of peace and protection. Moving closer to it Hannah lifted her hand and gently touched the statue. A sense of hope hit her like a wave against the beach. Touching the statue carefully she ran her hand along the smooth edge of the bow she smiled. As baby she could slightly remember her sister using one to kill demons. So elegant she had thought back than, there had been a peaceful look that rested on her sisters face as she pulled it back to fire it. Pulling her hand away it caught on a piece of the stone cutting her hand. As the drops of blood fell on to the statue a bright light emanated from the statue. The stone cracked and light flowed freely from the stone. A loud snapping sound filled the air.air. Jumping back from the statue she stood in place. For a moment she thought that her eyes were tricking her as the statue began to move.
    It had been hundreds of years since she had been able to move and finally she was free again. Blinking her eyes she gazed upon the one that woke her from her sleep. Not that it was a sleep that she had chosen.
    "what is your name child?" she asked her voice was soft yet it cut though the emotions swirling around Hannah.
    "What's your?" Hannah asked without much thought about who she may or may not be talking to. The woman did not take to kindly to the way she had spoke to her. Quickly she notched and arrow in her bow and pulled it back and aimed it at Hannah. Hannah just watched her. Death wasn't something new to her actually part of her wanted it, she had been alone so long watching the world slip farther and farther into darkness. "are you going to kill me?" she asked boldly.
    "do you not fear death?" The woman asked confused by Hannah's actions
    "no, what is there for me to fear? I will be once again with my family if I gone on to the next world." Even as she spoke the truth of her words truly hit her. Every word that she had said was true yet she continued to fight for her life each day that she woke. "no i don't fear it but neither do i welcome it."
    As the woman watched her she slowly lowered her bow. In all the years that she had been alive she had never meet a child with so much hurt and pain.
    "Why have you woken me?" The woman asked sharply.
    "I don't know what you are talking about. I didn't wake you" Hannah snapped.
    "I am Azreal. A Vengeance angel. You would do well to watch the way that you speak to me child." The angel's voice lowered to a harsh whisper. There was something about her voice that cut across everything. Hannah's heart went still as the woman spoke to her. "You have woken me for the spell that has held me captive for hundreds of years. Yet you say that you know nothing. Tell me where is Juliet?"
    At the mention of her sisters name Hannah's hand went to her own sword. In all the years since her sisters death no one, no matter how powerful the demon had mentioned her sister. Narrowing her eyes she watched her carefully.
    "How do you know my sister?" she asked.
    "Your sister? How could an Angel be a sister to a human?" Azreal laughed as she spoke. Her laugh was cold and without feeling. "She was to guide you to the others."
    "No, You are lying to me." As soon as the words left her mouth Azreal's hand was around her throat.
    "How dare you say that i would lie of such a thing." she growled.her hair began to float in an un-felt breeze, she seemed to become larger than life. "I Have no need to lie. You Will tell me where you sister is now" She used the word sister in a mocking tone as she spoke to Hannah.
    Dead." As the word left her mouth the change of the mood was tangible.
    "Dead...Why Is the guardian dead?" For the first time since they met Hannah actually was terrified at what Azreal may do to her. Slowly she stepped away from her hoping that the angel would be able to control her emotions and not strike her down dead. "Speak quickly Child lest i cut you down where you stand."
    "A demon....Agares, They died together..." Hannah stammered out. She could hear the screams of her brothers in her ears as her sister died in the great light.