I awoke with a start to leaves rustling. Something or someone was heading my way. I drew my legs up to my chest to try and hide myself from whatever was heading in my direction. I must have not been asleep long because it was still pretty dark and it was a little bit of the noise growing louder before I saw what, or should I say who, was heading in my direction.

At first I was relieved to see that I was not the only person that was on the Earth, but the relief soon turned to uneasiness when I saw just what they were. A male was on the back of what looked like a black horse in the darkness, only the eyes shone from the dark mass as it passed trees along its path. The man on top was someone I had never seen before but the likes of I had fought many battles against during the Great War.

The man wore a cloak that was as dark as his horse. His head was uncovered, allowing me to see his face that was strikingly handsome. His features hard and stoic. What I had not expected to see, was his dark wings that were drawn close to his back. That was the only thing that told me what he was, demon, and a high ranking one at that with how handsome he was.

I tried to still myself so that he wouldn't see me. Who only knows what he would do to me if he found me here. Battles between Angels and Demons were expected. However any sort of kindness or friendship, never heard of, ever. It was an unspoken law. One no one would ever have a inkling to change or test.

I almost sent up a silent prayer, but then had to stop myself from laughing bitterly. How happy would that make everyone in the Heavens? Not being able to handle myself for even a day before asking for help that I knew would never come. That would really get them all going.

I kept my eyes on the demon as he came closer and closer to me. It seemed like he was heading straight for me, but then that would be the paranoia talking. He didn't seem to be looking for anything particular, he actually seemed relaxed like he was out for a stroll.

He rode his horse till he was about ten feet from me in my shelter of the tree before he pulled his steed to a stop. I kept myself as still as I could hoping with everything in me that he wouldn't see me, but sadly my hoping seemed for naught.

"Let's not play any games, Angel, I've come to collect you and lets just make it easier on the both of us by you coming over here and getting on my horse." His deep voice shocked my ears.

I tensed up, quickly looking around to see if there was anyway to escape quickly, the trees around me were too thick to fly out of, the only way to escape would be to run past him, and I wasn't sure I'd make it around him.

"Come on little Angel, we both know you don't have any weapons on you after a fall like you had, and I doubt you'd be able to out run me when I have a horse that could run three times as fast as you on a bad day." 

I almost expected him to look at his nails like a teenage girl with how bored he sounded.

"Why would I willingly go to my death with you than fight and have a slim chance of living?" i asked him back.

"Because I know you know nothing about what the Earth is like now, and I have a great advantage to you. Besides, who said anything about killing you. A fallen Angel is worth more alive then they are dead."

Great, he was going to sell me, or trade me to anything that offers him the most. I'm going to end up a slave like I was taught about when I was a human in.. what was that place called... School. My memories seemed to be coming back to me more than ever.

"Come on I won't hurt you, just hurry up, I'm sick of being in these woods. I saw you fall and have been looking for you since dusk, can we just get this over with." 

I went over my options. This wasn't like my past experience with demons. He hadn't even drawn a weapon on me yet, I hoped it was a good sign. Against everything I was taught I got up and slowly walked towards him. I guess choosing the peaceful way would get me farther than running and fighting. At least I hope it does.

He held out his hand for me to grab. I hesitantly placed my hand in his, and a second later he had me up on the horse behind him. I fumbled around out of shock of the quick movement, half expecting that he had stabbed me in the process, but to my amazement I didn't have a scratch on me.

"Um, thanks?" 

"You're welcome, now hold on unless you want to fall off. I'm ready to get back to my home now." 

Without waiting for a reply he commanded the horse back into motion and then beckoned it to go faster. I quickly wrapped my arms around him to keep myself from falling off the horse causing him to chuckle at me. I scowled at him. So much for him being a needle in a haystack kind of demon. Here he had me thinking he was somewhat human, and that he might just be dressed up as a demon.

We rode fast, the wind whipping around my now lose chestnut brown hair, that was once secured with a hair band like it was mandated that all female Angels wear their hair back and out of their faces. It had been so long since I had paid any mind to my hair. Vanity is a sin and I was sure to always follow the rules, which is why I was still surprised that I was punished.

The rush of the wind had me in my own world until I was shocked out of it when the horse leaped over a fallen log. I became aware that my hands were around his waist gripping onto his cape and I could feel the heat from his body. I became uncomfortable and loosened my grip on him. He seemed to notice as he chuckled when I did so.

The woods began to thin, and I was glad that we were on horseback as we had traveled a good distance that I was sure would of taken me a while to get to if I had been on foot. I would not of been too happy to have walked that long without knowing what would find me.

We exited the forest to find a grass land ahead that ran out into a huge city that looked like no war had touched. It was just as I had remembered citys to look like from my time as a human, large skyscrapers toughing the sky, many buildings all clustered together. There were many differences to be found to though.

What were once paved cement roads were now cobblestone paths that weaved around the buildings. There were no vehicles in sight, only people walking or on horse back like we were. Clothes lines were hung up wherever they could nail them in with dresses and slacks hanging on each line. Children, or at least children- like creatures, I wasn’t sure which, would run together in packs playing kickball and jump rope. It was an odd mixture of what people would call modern and medieval. I was shocked to see it all. My eyes not leaving any of the sights.

We entered the city and slowed to a trot. Everyone would look at me on the back of the demon’s horse and turn to whisper to each other. Some of them you could tell were demon’s some I wasn’t sure what they were. It was odd to see them all mingling about and not fighting to the death like I had always imagined them to be. Maybe these were just the tame ones, the ones who were tired of fighting each other. Maybe there were special laws they put into place so that they didn’t kill themselves off and there not be a single demon left? I didn’t know what to think, we , as Angels were taught that demons were self-serving, lawless entities.

The horse came to a quick stop bringing me away from my thoughts and sights. I looked up to see that we were outside of a huge building that reminded me of the White house that once stood in Washington D.C. It was a white historical building that had pillars out front and large steps leading up to huge doors. The building was several stories high and big windows showing what was going on outside if you were inside, but you could not see the inside from the outside.

The demon hopped off the horse and reached his arms around me and picked me up off the horse as if I weighed nothing at all. I tried to hide my surprise but it seems like I didn't when he smiled at me like he knew. I dusted myself off when he finally released me. The height difference between us was hard not to notice. My head barely reached his shoulder. It would have been one tough fight if he had showed me even a little hostility.

“Stay close to me, and don’t say anything if you don’t want someone to chop those pretty little wings off of you. We have to go inside the Hall to sign you into the city database and the last thing we need is a fight, okay?” He didn’t wait for me to reply and turned and started to walk up the steps.

I cast the now lonely horse a questioning look, as he didn’t tye it up or anything, just left it there, and then turned and quickly followed him up the steps to the big doors that marked the entrance of ‘The Hall’. I caught up to him just as he reached for the door and took the quick second to steady my breath and ready myself for whatever was on the other side. I just hoped it wasn’t going to end up a bloody mess, with what was most likely going to be my blood.