Ebony Wings

Prologue

The angel landed on the sidewalk outside the townhouse. Her glow penetrated the darkness making it impossible to miss her. She wasn't worried, though. No mere human would be able to see her. Slowly, with a graceful stride, she walked up to the door of the house. She manifested inside the house. The angel looked at the pictures on fireplace mantel. They showed a happy couple, but the angel saw the strain in their features.

From what she was told, the angel was here to help the couple. A demon was responsible for making the woman sterile, so the angel came to bring back the woman's fertility. She glided up the stairs. Two doors from the left was the master bedroom. She could tell because a demon stood in front of the threshold.

The demon was in his human form. Though, the only thing human was his physical build. He had dark, tanned skin. Through his messed black hair, two long, grey horns stuck into the air. The demon's black, leathery wings were half folded, which distorted the red streaks running through them. His black eyes focused on her. He smiled, showing sharp, white teeth.

The angel braced herself and stepped forward, "Leave or be killed."

He let out a hissing laugh, "I was expecting more from a holy-one, or do they make the weak ones come deal with the humans now?"

"Do as I say or-"

"Or what? You'll try to talk me into leaving. Are you gonna use your little forgiveness tricks on me and show me the way of God?" the demon sneered as he cut her off.

"No. I will kill you, cut off your wings, and nail them on Satan's door myself." Her voice filled with contempt.

"Ooh, she bites," he countered with mock fear.

Slowly the angel walked toward the demon. A sword started to manifest in her grip from a golden mist. At the same time, one was being materializing from black fog by the demon. The angel swung her sword in an upper cut. The demon effortlessly blocked the blow. For a second the two swords stayed locked together, one smooth and glowing slightly; the other dark and jagged but just as deadly. They drew their swords away from each other. The demon countered with a side strike to the angel's back right side. She had to twist her arm around to block the attack. She struck his sword hard enough to jar it away.

They parred back and forth, neither gaining ground. Suddenly, the angel opened her wings and beat three times furiously. The gust sent the demon flailing through the wall at the end of the hallway and outside the house. He went tumbling through the yard. He stopped, unmoving, under a large sycamore tree.

The angel flew out the gaping hole now in the side of the house and landed at his feet. She put the tip of her sword on his neck with just enough pressure to indent the skin, the ready position for decapitating your opponent.

She looked at is face. He really was handsome. His full lips parted so it looked like he was sleeping, not unconscious. Slowly she bent down to touch his cheek. His skin was soft, not rough like she expected.

His eyes snapped open just as she realized what she was doing. It was too late. When she bent down to touch him, she moved her sword into the ground for balance. He saw this, grabbed her sword arm and pulled her down to the ground. Her hand was ripped from the sword. The demon went to grab the hilt, but the sword disappeared as he touched it.

The angel had recovered, and now she grabbed his wings and pulled them down. Other than being extremely painful, this threw him off balance. Instead of just falling backwards, though, he flipped backwards over the angel. She couldn't keep her grip on his wings and was forced to let go.

The demon kicked the back of her knees, which sent her to the ground. He zipped around to the front of her and grasped her at her upper arms. He lifted her up and slammed her into the tree. She felt the bark dig sharply into her wings and shoulders. She tried to kick out at him but he stepped on both her feet with his. She then tried to flap her wings, but they were trapped between her body and the tree. She tensed for his strike.

The demon looked her over. Her pale blonde hair was a mess. Under the defiant glair in her washed-out-blue eyes were traces of fear. His hands felt the smooth, ivory skin on her arms. Without thinking, he leaned in and kissed her lips. He ignored the stifled gasp that came from her and kissed her again.

Suddenly he jumped back, still looking in into her eyes. There was a crackling sound, and he was gone.