Visions of Eternity

Chapter One

Percy's POV

Walking on the soft, white sand of Earth's beaches barefoot always gave me a thrill. Feeling the sand between my toes and the sea's water lapping at my ankles as I paddled in the crystalline water gave me a sense of being closer to the people here, more human.

My snowy white tunic billowed out from behind me as I closed my eyes, the salty sea breeze nipping at my face. I breathed out a sigh of pure tranquility. No overbearing Angels, no evil Demons, all was good. Or, so I thought.

At first I thought it was a really, really big dog. With supernaturally glowing red eyes. It turned out to be none other than The Black Dog itself, or more commonly known as 'The Hound of Baskerville'.

I felt my heart quicken its pace as I began to back away slowly, low growls emitting from the dog as it bared and snapped its teeth in my direction. Its black fur was matted and wild, and stuck up in many different places. It looked just about ready to rip me to shreds.

"Good boy," I said slowly. "Good boy!"

I turned around and broke into a run as soon as the dog pounced forward into a hurtle towards me. It barked ferociously, nipping at my heels as I tried to get away. But apparently when a dog that literally descended from Hell is chasing you at a rapid speed itself you sorta can't focus enough to watch where you're going.

I let out a cry of pain as it sunk its teeth into my ankle. I may be immortal, but with an actual physical form like the one I have to walk on Earth means I can feel pain and emotions. Of course, I'd been here many times, so I was already used to walking and such.

The dog pulled me backwards so I tumbled and fell onto my back with a thud, and I braced myself for the worst. I wasn't even supposed to be here in the first place, and this hound is a reminder why.

Dangerous things walk the earth, things I don't wanna get tangled up in. Things an angel shouldn't, much less the head of the Dominion Angels. We regulate the duties of the lower Angels, meaning we should just let the Powers do their job to oppose the evils and keep the peace. But who cares about the rules?

The dog's claws sunk into my wrists, keeping me in place ultimately as I bit my lip to keep a sob of agony from escaping. I waited for the final blow of the dog to come - the part where it lunges forward and in the nicest way possible, rips my head off - but it never did.

Instead the light left the hound's eyes, and it collapsed onto my chest in a heap. It was dead. How on earth could it be dead?

My question was answered as I saw the black Stygian Iron sword poking out of its back.

My pulse sped up as the owner of the nightmarish sword came into view. It was somebody I thought I would never, ever have the unfortunate luck of meeting.

A male demon.

He was exactly how everybody had described them. Tall, dark, and just downright beautiful. It was like I was staring into the face of another angel, but he was a demon.

He pulled the sword out of the dog's back with a sickening pop and examined the blade closely, his midnight black eyes flickering to my sea green for a brief moment that made my stomach churn.

"Are you hurt?" He asked, his voice like melting chocolate. It was smooth and rich, and so deep it almost made me want to cry.

I shook my head stupidly. "I-I don't think so."

He stepped over the dog as I crawled out from underneath it. He leaned down so close to my face that I could see the light splash of freckles across the bridge of his nose. He reached out and stroked my cheek gently, his enchanting eyes roaming across every single detail of my face.