The Demonic Angel

Chapter One

Years later, the kingdom of Solace was all abuzz with decorations and laughter. I was in a carriage on my way to the castle. I was wondering what Ace would say when I am back. I just got out of my 6 months of training for being a Dragon, someone who was born with magic and can use it without hurting themselves. 

Most people think of witches, when a magic user is around. But they died out a hundred years ago, they could be anything Angel, Demon, Wolf, Human, Fey, Elf, Halfer… That’s what I am. I think.

 Let me expand on the subject of a Halfer, they are just half anything, but I am half sylph and half demon. Sylphs are like angel fey, their wings are feathery and they are more prankster angels. Well most of them are, my mom is different because she is one of the nicest people you will ever know.

 The correct term for me is Succubus… and I am the only one. And only a few know. They are the people I know won’t kill me on sight. Succubi and Incubi are supposed to be extinct, but they didn’t know that Succubi and Incubi could be made if you have any trace of them in  your ancestry. I am technically  a mix of both because my wings match an Incubus wings, but  they change color like a Succubus wings. I am also a girl.     

 I pull the hood of my black tinged red coat up to hide my face. I’m to be revealed the next Guardian Reaper, at a stupid ball. But no one knows that I’m the Dragon, except the King and Queen. And my mom, who also can use magic. And I am the first female Guardian Reaper in history. 

The carriage stops and the guard walks up and opens my door. 

“Lady Guardian Reaper.”

“Just call me, Miss.”

“Yes, of course Miss.”

I get out of the carriage and walk into the castle with my hood on and step into the hugely crowded hallway. 

Every eye turned my way as I heard some whispers about me being a girl.  The maids looked nervous as if I was another cruel lady of the court. A maid dropped a vase she was cleaning and it shattered.

I walked over to her and picked up the shards of glass. 

The glass cut my hand with quick and painful cuts, the crowd gasped. A lady walked up and raised her hand to strike the poor maid. The lady’s hand came down- and a scream echoed through the hall.  I tasted blood in my mouth. The lady hit me as I was going to order her to stop. 

The maid, thank God was safe. The maid stared at me with disbelief..., at the fact I saved her from getting smacked across the face.

The lady looked at the maid, who was behind me and the red angry handprint on my cheek. The lady was shocked that I stepped in front of the girl. I glared at her, my face barely seen. The lady turned very pale and started shaking, the crowd looked at the scene,  the reaper with cuts on her hands and the red handprint on her face and the lady who looks like she might faint. 

I looked at the crowd and they shrank back. I walked up to the lady. The lady looked at me and bowed politely and said. 

“Had I known  you would step in her way, I wouldn’t have tried to slap the maid. Why get in the way of the maid only to get smacked?”

“I was abused for six months by my classmates, I took all of them down with no mercy. I will not tolerate any abuse of anyone.” 

I then left the corridor and went up the stairs to the third hallway to the right and walked down until I found the second door on the left. I noticed that the cuts on my hands healed into tiny scars and I looked at the  one long scar that ran down my right palm. Ace has one exactly like it on his right hand too. It’s the reminder of our Promise.

 If the crowd had seen the bluish- silver blood that ran down my hand they would have freaked. Mage blood is very rare. I realized I was just standing in the hallway. I decided to enter the room I haven’t seen in a year and six months.The room was just as I left it.  

Pale pink paint on the  walls, a soft mint green rug decorated the floor, and on the  pastel pink canopy bed with mint green curtains  was a box tied with a silver bow. I walked up to open the box when I heard a creek right behind me. 

I quickly turn to see a tall man with black hair and tan skin standing in my room. I tried my hardest now to run to him, because then it would ruin the surprise. 

Instead I bowed and asked.

“Would your Highness like something from me?”

“Yes, get out of this room.”

“But your Grace I was giving this room since this was the only room open.”

“Ali, I know it’s you. I can always tell it’s you.”

My heart feels like it’s trying to pound out of my chest.  I pull down my hood and look into a pair of honey gold eyes. 

“Let me guess the way I stood still and the sound of my voice gave it away… didn’t?”

“Yep, and also I already knew it was you from the moment you walked in because of the ring.”

I looked down at the ring on my left middle finger. It was stainless steel and I had never taken it off since Ace gave it to me. I rushed into his arms and hugged him. 

“I didn’t want to leave you, Ace. I never did.”

“I know you didn’t. I love you. “

“I love you more and most.”

“I know.”

I wasn’t expecting the kiss. But I missed him so much, I should have known that he missed me even more than I thought. I broke the kiss and I looked up at him. 

“So did you get me the gift?” I said gesturing to the box. 

“I thought that if you are going to be announced as my Guardian Reaper you might as well look like you belong in the Court. Not that you don’t belong,  it’s just easier if the Court thinks you do.”

I pick up the box and undo the silver bow and inside is a beautiful dress of  pink silk tied with silver ribbons. The dress itself has long sweeping sleeves and is a princess style dress. The high neckline is more my style and then I see something I didn’t notice before… A little silver pin with a resene dipped pink rose. 

“That’s for your dress. I had it made for you, after I asked your mother what it needed.” Ace tells me.

“I love it Ace! Thank you so much, but you didn’t have to do that.” I reply

“I know I didn’t have to, but I decided to do it anyway.” Ace sighs

I look out the window and see snow on the ground.The pond was covered in a thin layer of ice and I have a wonderful idea.

“Go get on your jacket and meet me by the maple tree. We are going to have some fun.” I insist. 

“Okay.” Ace said curiously

Ace then proceeded to walk out the room and shut the door behind him. It felt lonely in the room by myself, but I had to find something in this room. I can’t use a locate  charm because I don’t know what I’m looking for, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use magic. 

I grabbed a sliver key out of my pocket and did a compass charm. Simple, but not too draining. The key floated in my hand, but pointed to a wall. As I walked over to there there was a sound like a lock opening and… Okay I know what you’re thinking, there is a secret passage, door something that means you have to run away from the castle, and go on a journey, blah, blah, blah. And no that is not what happens, instead of a magical journey. I find a small plain old box. But the box has a letter on it like when I first found the key. 

Dear finder, 

You have a rare gift but many are after it, you truly are my descendant if you have made it this far. The box can only be opened by a sliver of moonlight on a pond. 

Take care and find the key…

Love, 

The Darkness. 

I am very confused about moonlight on a pond. The moonlight doesn’t show well on cloudy ice. But the pond has a friend living in it, so I can ask them. I grab my bag and shove the wooden box into it.

I pull up my hood and I run out into the castle garden. I stop running when I see a cloudy pond I knock on the ice in a small pattern. The same pattern is repeated at me. I used a simple heating spell, I made a hole in the ice.  A small frog appears out of the hole I made. 

I smile and give the frog a small tea cake I made before I left for the castle.  The frog changes into a small  girl with a warm winter coat.

“I take it you need something.” The water spirit sighs

“You have been here since before this castle was built, Do you know what this is, Pearl?” I ask as I take out the box. 

Pearl’s eyes widened and she started shaking.  

“That box was buried for Mari’s descendants, and only her descendants. The fact that you found it means that I will give you the key, I was given by Mari herself.” 

“Who is Mari?” The name sounded familiar, but I could remember why.

“Mari is the Moon herself, the Keeper of Dreams and hopes. Summoner of Storms. She left this gift for the girl forged of Moon and Stars.” 

“Then how did I find it?”

“I don’t know. But you have to be related. The key can only be used by her descendants.”

Pearl dove down into the pond and returned with a dry letter and a crescent moon pendant.  She handed the letter and pendent to me.

The letter read… 

Dear finder,

You have the last piece of the puzzle. The last gift. I hope you know I have waited a dozen milenia for you.  Now all you need is a drop of moonlight. 

I believe in you... 

Love, 

Mari

I looked at the letter again. Then it hit me. I grabbed a small sharp rock and cut my finger. The color looked like a blue silver color of the moonlight on a clear pond . I put a drop on the box and I put the moon over the indent on the box. 

The box clicked and as I was going to open it Pearl slammed the box closed. 

“Open it when you are alone.” Pearl said to me

I locked the box and put it back in my bag. I gave Pearl the rest of the tea cakes. She smiled, changed into a frog and then disappeared with the tea cakes. 

I walked to my maple tree and saw Ace waiting for me. He smiled and held up two cups full of a hot beverage. 

“Peppermint hot cocoa with extra crushed candy cane and whip cream.”

“You know me, I love mint.”

I kiss Ace’s cheek and take my hot cocoa from him. I must look nervous because he asked me what was wrong. I said that I was almost revealed. 

“Come on I want to show you something.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the gate. 

The guards look at me and step aside.

“Just be back before sundown, Miss.” The guard tells me

“I will, thank you for reminding me.” I reply

Ace and I walked out of the castle grounds and I am so happy that I am with my teddybear. The town was easy enough to get to. We talked about the last six months and how the days went by in a flash. We finally got to the fun surprise I told him about. 

The ice skating rink, I can’t ice skate at all, but Ace likes ice skating and he’s good at it too.  I wasn’t going to skate but Ace got me a pair of skates anyway. I was even more of a klust on ice than I was on the regular ground and that is saying something. 

Ace pulled me onto the ice and grabbed at my waist, that way I couldn’t fall. 

“So are you really going to tell me what you were nervous about?” Ace whispered in my ear.

“Later, when we are alone.” I replied in the same hushed tone.

We skated for about an hour, and then decided to head back to the castle. It was fun to be with him just the two of us. As we walked back to the castle I was noticing that it was an hour and a half till sunset and we would be late for the ball at the castle. I knew that we would have to change. I decided to use magic to get us back on time. 

I was back in my room all alone. I dug through my bag and finally found the box and I opened it.  Inside was a small metal rod and it’s holster made of soft black leather. I quickly put on the holster with the rod secured in it and the dress. I put my hair up and inserted the pin. I locked the box and put the pendent on. I made a matching mask, the one you hold on to the stick and shoes for my dress and I pushed up my glasses. 

I then heard a knock on my door. Ace entered in his suit. I was terrified to be in front of the court, but as I am Ace’s Guardian Reaper I am to be his dance partner the whole night.

“ You look stunning, Ali.”

“Thank you, you look amazing.”

“Are you nervous, Love?”

“Just a bit.”

“You are the most amazing person ever. As clear as a note and as sincere as a melody. You're the tune stuck in my head. The song I never want to forget.”

“That was beautiful, Teddybear.” 

“Thank you, Kitten.”

Ace calls me Kitten because of my sneeze. It’s high pitched and cute. 

“I have to show you something Ace, and you can’t tell anyone. Okay?”

“Okay.”

I pull out the small silver rod. I was honestly confused about what it’s purpose was.

“What’s that.?”

“I think it’s a rod or something.”

I was looking for a button or something. And then at the end of the rod I found a keyhole. I pulled out the key… there was a little bump on the top.  I had to take out all the pieces I used to find the rod. In all there were five pieces including the rod. The moon had an indent and matched the bump on the key. I put those together with a drop of my blood.The pieces must be enchanted by Mari and can only be used by her descendants. The key and pendant fused together. The rose I used to find the key had a cut in the bottom that the moon fit into. Then the last piece… a black ribbon with silver roses embroidered onto it. I tied the ribbon on the key. 

I then whispered a song my mother taught me. 

“Little blossoms black and white, I wonder which path is right.

 Little blossoms  night  and day, from which path should I stray. 

Oh moon above, send me the purest dove. Light or Dark, which will hit it’s mark?”

I then looked up at Ace, he smiled, but looked confused. I decided to keep the rod in my dress pocket. 

“I just think that it’s more than a rod.”

“Well we can find out what it is together.”

I heard the sound of the clock reaching sundown. I grabbed Ace’s arm and we walked out of my room, into the bright hallway. I kinda wish I wasn’t so dressed up and frilly, then I could actually look like a Guardian Reaper. 

But life isn’t fair as usual. I spot the line for everyone waiting to be announced for their entry to the ball. I was very content waiting for my turn to be announced, but the crowd saw me and Ace walking to the line… They moved out of the way for us to go first and I bet it was because they wanted to know who I am. Well that and I was with Ace.

“Your name, Miss?” The announcer asked 

“Guardian Reaper  Alitheia Ambrose and His Highness, Crowned Prince Ace Hathaway.” I whispered to him.

His Royal Highness, The Crowned Prince Ace Hathaway and His Lady Guardian Reaper Alitheia Ambrose.” 

I really did like the sound of His lady. I walked down the flight of stairs and decided to keep on my mask.  I knew that if I didn’t things would end badly. The crowd cleared the way to the thrones. I would stand next to Ace’s throne to indicate that I am his Reaper.  I like wearing frilly dresses, but when you’re supposed to wear a black uniform that is actually very comfy. It gets annoying. 

My heart was racing with anxiety, Ace sensed it and whispered in my ear. 

“It’s okay. Everything is okay, I’m not going to leave your side.”

“Thank you so much.” I whispered back. 

We finally got to the other side of the ballroom and the crowd bowed to my Ace. I curtsied and then King Magnus and Queen Demteria entered with a box and guards carrying a large chest.  They smiled and pasted the box to Ace and I needled. The box opened and silver chains of office were nestled in black stain. 

Ace placed the chains on my shoulders, his hand brushed a strand of hair and I felt a tingle up my back. Ace loves my hair. I rose from the floor and I turned to the crowd. They were waiting to see my face, to see how I matured. The court hasn’t seen me in about a year. I remove my mask. I wondered if they were shocked to see the deep brown eyes, the claw marks over my left eye, the pink lips, and the smooth olive tan.

 Ace walked over to me and I took his hand to dance. I looked at the smile on his face.  I smiled back at him.  He grabs my waist and my heart starts fluttering. He knows it too. Ace pulls me closer to him and I turn bright red. We glide across the room in a swirl of silk and satin. I feel really dizzy and we stop as the musicians take a break. I use this opportunity to push up my glasses and Ace laughs. He  knows I do this every few seconds. I get told I look lovely by many people. The lady who slapped me walks up to me and I finally recognize her… Onyx Marie Cross, Ace ex-girlfriend.  She doesn’t really have an issue with me, but I do. I am standing right next to Ace, his hand still on my waist. 

“I just love your dress Lady Alitheia! It’s perfect for your skin tone.”

“Thank you Lady Onyx, your dress is lovely as well.”

The dress was a shiny teal color, and a mermaid style dress. It only had one sleeve and her hair was in a short bob.  She completely ignored Ace. I was very upset about that and she must have seen it. Onyx curtsied to Ace and left.

Ace whispered that he wanted to leave the ballroom, and as his reaper I had to follow him out of the ballroom. He graded my hand and led me out of the ball room and once we were alone in the corridor he grabbed me and pulled me close. 

My heart rate spiked and he kissed me. I missed his kisses… I just missed him. He breaks the kiss when the music picks up. Ace looks at me with a longing look and I just hold him in my arms. His hands started to pull out my pin when someone walked toward us.  He pressed me against the wall to hide me. The person I realized was a shadow. 

I whisper to Ace that it’s all right and he moves. I walk up to the shadow and I point to my room. 

“There is an open window in my room, you can use it to go back to your loved ones.”

“Thank you, Your Mercifulness.” the shadow replied in  a cold empty voice

I give the shadow a nod and the shadow floats away. I wondered what they meant when they called me ‘ Your Mercifulness’. 

Ace looked confused. 

“What the hell was that? Why did you tell it to use the window?”

“That was a lost soul usually takes the form of a shadow, they just want to leave the place they were trapped in. They have to be told they could leave. “ 

“Are there more of them?”

“Not really, I got most of them out. I always keep a window open.”

Ace walks over to me and takes out the pin. My hair tumbles down to my hips. He runs his fingers through my hair. I smile, I love it when Ace plays with my hair. 

I kiss him and pull him closer to me. I just missed being close to him. I am almost sad when he breaks the kiss but we have to get back to the ball. 

We walk back to the ball when the Announcer calls out of the weapon ceremony. We get back just in time too. 

Ace and I walk up to the trones and the large chest is opened. I look inside. Daggers, knives, short swords and long swords and all organised in the chest.  I get this weird feeling and I pull out my rod. The rose looks a bit skewed and I turn the rose a quarter of the way to the right and push down on the rose. The rod starts to grow and I hold it out and it becomes the one weapon I love using… A general sword, long and beautiful.. 

The crowd stared in wonder, while I was focused on the weight and length of the sword .  The balance was perfect and the design of the sword was like it was made just for me. Ace smiled at me and I smiled back. The blade was wicked sharp and made out of tempered Ravenian steel. I pushed down on the rose and turned it a quarter to the left. The rod shortens and is back to how it used to be. 

I looked out at the crowd and told them my weapon is the sword. The crowd started cheering and the ball was over. I loved that I missed chatting with the court.  Ace and I head to our rooms. I enter my room alone after he is in his. I slip out of the dress and go to take a shower. The hot water helped clear my head. I loved that fact that I was with the love of my life. But Ace can’t marry me, because he is to marry someone else. Someone who doesn’t know him like I do, or loves him like I do. I was very angry about how I love him and some princess gets to take him away from me.  

I calm myself down by reminding myself that I had Ace’s heart. I was the one he chose to love, I was his only one. 

I got out of the shower and grabbed my soft fluffy black towel and wrapped it around my body. I got on my baggy t-shirt and walked to my bed.I turned off the lights. I crawled beneath the sheets and tried to fall asleep. 

I wake up in the middle of the night at the sound of someone knocking on my door. I get up out of my warm bed and answer the door. Ace is standing in front of me in his pj’s and I let him in. I looked at him and asked 

“Nightmares?”

“Yes.”

“Come on lets cuddle.”

We walk over to my bed and we both climb in. I snuggle right up next to him and kiss his forehead gently. Ace wrapped his arms around me and we both fell asleep together. 

I am in a castle that I don’t recognize, there were two lights in front of me. It was very odd, because I wanted to touch both of them. The lights always seemed to move away from me and then I realized that they are scared. I decided to just stand there, with my hands outstretched. The lights come close enough to touch and I see a glimpse of me on a cross about to be burnt alive. I hear the screams of those who think I’m innocent of whatever crime they have charged me with.  Ace is running towards me, but it’s too late. He is lonely now and I am gone. 

I wake up in a panic to see Ace coming to my room with crepes. He sensed something was wrong with me. He always did, he just knows me, and thanks to the Promise he can sense when any little thing happens to me. He walks over to the bed, and sets the crepes on the nightstand. He crawls over to me and just holds me in his arms as I start crying. I bury my face in his chest and Ace just starts whispering the song he wrote for me. Ace knows that I don’t like crying at all but, he also knows that I don’t hide my emotions around him. When I finally stopped crying he asked me what was wrong.

“N-nightmare... I-I lost y-you, A-Ace.”

“You can never lose me.”

“O-okay.”

We stay like that for a while, I have to calm down first. Ace kisses my forehead and tells me I’m tiny. That is kinda true, but I don’t like to admit it. 

“I am 5 foot 6 and three quarters I am above average for a girl.”

“Yes, but you’re still tiny and it’s cute.”

I smile and move off of the bed to go brush my hair. I walk to the bathroom and stare at my reflection, wild, long, medium brown-auburn hair. Dark brown eyes with light purple bags under them.  Scars that seemed to be everywhere, somehow made me look so cute and sweet, like a softie klust with insomnia issues. I brush my hair and Ace walks over and asks me a question.

“Can you show your wings please?” 

“Fine.”

“Yay!”

I unfold my wings and Ace traces the outline of them. They are large monarch wings that change color. Incubus wings resemble moth wings. Succubus wings resemble colored dragonfly wings that change color. 

Ace’s wings are angel wings, but they are a soft grey. Not completely light but, they are so soft. When Ace stops touching my wings they change from pink to midnight blue.