1 The Angel's Demon ~ Chapter One

[Aeryn's POV]

The sky above was blackened, tinted a fiery red, as if a night storm was imminent and the world was silent other that the soft whispering of the tall black trees either side of the path. They grew so thickly together that squeezing between them would be impossible. Other than a half-rotten signpost that rested at a jaunty angle there was only the road stretching to infinity in either direction, perfectly flat.

'Hell.'

Three letters. Three simple letters scrawled carelessly that would change your fate from the moment you were born. It depends how you look at it. I was sent to hell. From the moment I was born because of my deep, caramel skin and perfectly matching black hair and wings.

Maybe the Archangels don't think we notice. Don't notice that anyone with coloured skin is destined to be a Demon, whilst anyone born with 'pure' white skin is to be an Angel.

But the Angels don't know how it is to stare at raging fire so long, that you find it smouldering in your own eyes.

We have a tough life, us Demons, to say the least. But it makes us strong. We don't have parents. We aren't pampered. We fight, we train and when we strike, we burn hotter than the fires of Hell we are accustomed to.

We all know that Angels are cowards, hiding away in Heaven, being the face of 'good' when us Demons do the hard graft for them.

Who do you think fights off the creatures that have escaped onto Earth? Why do you think the Head Demon, our leader, has to listen to the Archangels?

All they think we're good for is doing their work while they look pretty. Well, I'd like to prove them wrong. If they don't trust us, let's give them a reason not to.

I fly over the place I call home that's burning with fire seven-thousand times hotter than that of Earth, that's filled with the pained screams of killers, rapists and all the evil humans of Earth.

There is a quiet place in Hell. Not many know about it.

I land easily with years of practice, on a small cliff top, made of dark rock, cracked with veins of red lava. I trace the little veins with my finger as I hear a shuffle of wings and somebody land next to me.

I tilt my my head to look at the one they call The Dark Devil, the name earned from the many wars he fought and lead with his deadly tactics and training. To most, he is the dangerous General of the Dark Army, but to me he is just my best friend - Killian.

"Rough day, Kili?"

He groans.

"Aeryn, you have no idea, the Archangels insist on me training 150 new soldiers in a week. A week." He complains, rubbing his temples.

"I could drop by and help, after all, you did train me."

Heping look after the newborns was too boring anyways.

His smooth, midnight skin glistened with sweat and his tired honey eyes lit up a little.

"I thought you were busy with newborns.

Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"Anything for you Killi." I grinned.

He leaned forwards to hug me, but I pushed him away. I almost gag.

"No. No hugging until you have a shower. You absolutely reek."

"Oops. Sorry Aeryn. I have to go. I still have more traing to do." He scratches the back of his head. "See you later."

I nod my head as he flies away.

I look off the cliff, at a world of fire and pain. A world of fire and pain that I called home. And I watch it burn.