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"If I promise never to leave again... would you believe me?" I asked the boy. He looked up at me with those large eyes again.

"No." he said, and I felt an ice block drop in my stomach. I had lost him, forever..."But I'll hope."

"Niko..." I hugged him tight, wishing I could cry. Forgiveness... it was better than the sweetest blood I had ever tasted. I didn't deserve it... but still he gave it. I was humbled.

"Rae?"

"Yes Niko?"

"I'm hungry." His voice was so small... and it made me look at him twice. He was thinner than I remembered, and the bruises on his body that I could see were not old. My blood froze in anger... but I couldn't do much.

"Well then, we'll get you something to eat." I stood back and offered my hand. He looked at it, then at me.

"I can't go, they'll beat me." The fear in his eyes... I wanted to storm down there that instant and...no Raeshe. You can't. They'll just put him somewhere worse.

"No one will know you're gone. I promise. Just a quick trip." He smiled, and took my hand. My wings spread out behind me, and he held on for dear life when we left the roof. "Niko, don't you remember flying with me?"

"I forgot...how high..." The boy's face was buried in my chest.

"Look down... I won't drop you, I promise." He did so... and his eyes widened. The streets glittered like rows of gold dust on velvet underneath our feet. The air was chill, but crisp and clear.

"Wow..." he whispered, and I laughed.

"So where do you want to eat? We can go anywhere."

"Anywhere?"

"Anywhere."

"Then...I want a pizza!" he cried, then remembered where he was and held on tighter.

"Pizza it is." We dropped down to a pizza parlor, or rather the alleyway behind it. I dropped my wings to my sides, then into my back when Niko wasn't looking. He ran to the sidewalk, then turned back to me. The shock was apparent.

"What happened to your wings?"

"I can't keep them out in public, Niko. What would people say?" I asked. He looked thoughtful.

"You're right. You can't fit in a subway very well huh?"

"Nope. They take too much space." We went inside and I told him he could order whatever he wanted. Which turned out interesting. Not knowing what anchovies were, he wanted a slice of pizza with them on it. I will never forget the disgust on his face after that first bite. After that he decided sausage was the way to go.

So we sat and talked, like friends do. I tried to forget that I was a vampire, and a... fallen angel. Here, now... I could just be Rae. Until, at least, he asked me a question.

"Rae, why do you have so many knives?"