Of Hell and Heaven

Prologue: Of Rylan

Shadows gathered and twisted in the corner of the room, solidifying enough to form a portal for me to step through. The bright lights quickly banished the remnants of my portal, but it was of no concern, I was where I needed to be. Several incubators were between my target and I, holding small babies inside. I strode across to the one holding a rather unique baby boy, one with eyes of aqua and small tufts of white blond on his head. I couldn't help but peer in, and gaze down on soft chubby cheeks on a pink face, with tiny arms by either side of his head, looking for all the world as if he was at peace.

I sharpened my gaze and felt my transparent second lids rise, before settling my eyes on the small child once more. I could See a small red ribbon gently tied around his wrist,that flowed out, pooling some on the ground outside his small incubator, before the trail led out of the white room. A smile graced my lips, before I closed my eyes briefly, opening them to gaze down at him once more, and returning my eyesight back to normal. "Looks as though all is going according to plan, eh?" My voice rang in the small room, while the small child opened his eyes and stared up in me, in childish wonder.

The door opened rather suddenly, admitting a cheerful looking nurse, who smiled and clucked at each babe she passed. I smoothly stepped out of the way as she stopped in front of the same baby boy. "Well now little lad, it's time for you to meet your parents and get a name hmm? I dare say they are ecstatic about naming you." She cooed gently, reaching in and pulling him out, while cradling him to her. I grinned at the small bundle over her shoulder as I followed them out. We crossed a few hallways, before ending outside room 321, where another nurse had a smaller open incubator waiting, and he opened the door, allowing her and subsequently I, to enter before wheeling in the small incubator.

A smiling couple waited inside, with an older woman, distinguishable as the doctor by her coat and way of carrying herself. The young woman lay on the bed, sea green eyes shining, auburn hair pushed back from her heart shaped face, kind smile fixed to her face as she outstretched her arms for her new child. The man had silver blond hair, with proud blue eyes, broad shoulders and a tall figure. The female nurse carried the small human over to his parents and settled the important package in his mothers arms. "Any ideas on what the little angel's name should be?" She asked, and I let out a scoff. 'Angel' my hot ass, I wouldn't be here for any damn Angel. I suppose this was my time to interfere.

I walked up closer to the father, who's name I still didn't know, and placed my hand on his shoulder, allowing my mind to meld with his briefly. 'Rylan sounds nice.' His mind resisted at first, it seems Richard, as he was called, and his wife Jennifer had wanted to name their darling son after her father, a man named Darius. 'Yes, but just imagine, this way he will stand out. Rylan, strong as the land, and then Darius can be his middle name.' As I said this, I made sure to press just a little more on his mind. It's always best to go for the path with least interference, otherwise you invite complications. His brain quickly adapted to my suggestion, as he convinced his wife easily enough, and they easily signed the paperwork the doctor impatiently handed over, before she left to check on her other patients.

Jennifer yawned, and the two nurses shooed Richard from the room, following after him blabbering on about how she needed her rest, while Jennifer fell asleep quickly. I softly picked the newly 'christened' Rylan, careful not to let my claws pierce his delicate skin, and pulled him up to my eye level. "Damn Ry, not in the human world more than a few hours, and you already weigh a ton! Ah, but at least the hardest part's out of the way." Rylan let out a small gurgle, and I couldn't hold in my laughter anymore. "You've really done it this time eh? I hope she's worth all this trouble, be a shame if I was wrong." Ry started to cry weakly, and I quickly backtracked. "Not that I am, I'm never wrong about these things remember? And besides, I'll be here the whole time, right beside you. That's what family's for right?" I lowered my forehead to his, his tiny hands grasping my long, dark horns, a smile overtaking his little face.