Embers Hypnotizing. That's one word for it. Captivating, is another. Red, orange, and gold. Pure and stunning. Flickering on the wick of the candle, sits a small seemingly normal flame. Not to me. So many people passed it by without a second thought. Why? I wondered. Couldn't they see the it? It was there. There was no mistaking it. Those who did see it were afraid. They found it terrifying. To me, it was everything. I wasn't alone. I reached out my hand to hold it. My hand burned. Adults ran and pulled me away. They yelled at me for being such a fool. They took me to a doctor, but I never cried. I never lost my fascination with it. Beautiful, warm, and deadly.

Cursed - God's Tears The small dark carriage rattled across the cobblestone road, causing the raven haired, young man inside to stir from his rest. His left eye fluttered open as the coach rode over a particularly large curvature in the path. Slowly, he tilted his head upward to gaze out the little window, on which he had been leaning against. The fine glass glistened with rain. It wasn’t pouring on the dreary streets of London that night, but there was still a consistent spatter of falling droplets. ​ Josiah Tabbris Warren used to hate the rain, but over time he had come to love the gray clouds and the booming sound of distant thunder. Slowly, he raised a gloved hand and pressed his fingers against the cool glass. “God’s tears.” Had been what his mother had called the rain. As a child it had seemed like such a terrible thought, but as he grew older he clung to those words. For the tears that were shed down upon the world were the only sign to him that God might just care for those who lived on it. ​ The man sighed softly, pushing himself off the window into an upright position, causing a start of surprise from the occupant on the opposite seat of the carriage. “Oh, Master Warren!” The bespectacled man exclaimed. “I had not realized you had awoken. If you would like I could speak with the coachman about riding a little easier.” ​ Warren waved the man to be still. “It is just as well.” Then he stifled a small yawn. ​ The man’s eyes crinkled in concern and he shook his head, his small brown braid swing back and forth. “But Master Warren, you need your rest. Considering everything with the Council meetings, the MB Rights movement conferences, and…” He faded off as his young charge gave him a look. ​“Cedric,” Began Warren calmly. “I can manage myself quite well, and besides this is important. There is no time to be fatigued. I will find the rest I need when the time presents itself, but now is not that time. This night I am finally taking the first step to find all the missing answers.” ​ Cedric nodded eyes downcast. “Of course, Master.” Then he added quietly to himself. “I just wish it did not require us traveling to a filthy peasant bar.” ​Though Cedric’s words had been soft, Warren still heard him. “Speaking of the lowly pub, how close are we?” ​ Cedric glanced up, eyes wide. “I am terribly sorry for my rudeness, sir, but such a place… well it rather disgusts me. A small grueling place filled with drunk, violent men, completely and utterly uncivilized.” Cedric shivered. Warren gave the smallest of smiles. “No need to apologize, Cedric. I am not particularly overjoyed of visiting a filthy tavern filled with vile men either, but the one thing they do have is connections and information throughout the underworld.”

Angel Wings - Prologue Lucis Deep azure eyes glinted in the starlight. The cool breeze ruffled pale blond hair that shadowed carefully defined features. “It’s her.” The young man breathed. ​“Are you sure, Lucis?” Drawled a voice from behind the fair-haired man. Lucis turned to the one who had spoken. The one who stood there was his exact opposite. He was slightly shorter that him and his raven black curtain of hair were in definite opposition to Lucis’s practically white curls. The young man’s arms were folded in obvious impatience. The wind blew the black wave of hair out of his face revealing intense unmistakable violet eyes. The shadowed man glared at Lucis with those daunting irises, burning and flickering like low-lit embers. The bravest of men would have cowered at such an unnatural stare, but Lucis remained unmoved by this and gave the darker one a small reassuring smile. ​“I am positive. Just look at her, Del.” Lucis gestured toward the two young girls below who walked in the shadowed streets of New York City. ​The two young women were each a different height and size. The smaller one was talking animatedly to the other, her short blond hair swinging around her. The quieter one laughed occasionally at the blonde’s comments, her long chocolate brown hair landing in soft gentle curls. ​Lucis watched Del, patiently, as he waited for his response. Del glared at these two for several moments. Lucis was not completely clear on why. There was no mistaking it. They had found her, after tireless nights of searching, they had found her. Finally Del turned back to Lucis. “How much time do we have?” ​Lucis turned his attention back to the two girls. His heart skipped a beat as he gazed at the young brunette. He inhaled deeply before replying. “A little more than an hour.” ​Del shook his head. “Of course.” He grumbled. “How in the world are we supposed to get to her? How do we get her away from blondey?” ​As if the girl heard him, she slowed her speed, and looked around suspiciously. Lucis now looked at the petite blonde one as well. The girl was small and wiry; she had a short, choppy hairstyle with impish features. Lucis blinked. “We’ll just have to lead her away.” ​“Easier said than done,” muttered Del. “You’re way too optimistic if you think we can pull this off without getting caught.” ​ Lucis chuckled softly. “I thought you’d have figured that out by now. It’s my job to be the optimistic one.” ​ Del shook his head. “Well you had better have some sort of plan.” ​ “Don’t you know me at all?” Lucis turned around to where a duffle bag lay. He pulled out two large hooded sweat shirts, one black, the other white, matching the two of them. Del’s eyes narrowed, beginning to follow where Lucis was going. “You mean we’re going in?” Lucis nodded and tossed the black jacket to him. Del caught it without looking, just continued to stare at Lucis. “That’s a bit of a risk, don’t you think?” ​“Well it was a risk just coming here.” Lucis replied. Then he tilted his head to the side. “And since when did it matter to you if it was a risk?” ​Del shrugged. “Personally I just don’t want to cover these up.” Having said this he stretched out two colossal black-feathered wings. They reached out behind him like late afternoon shadows. “And I have a feeling you don’t really want to cover anything up either.” He gestured to Lucis’s own wings, which seemed to glow like an angel’s, as pure and white as fresh snow. ​ It was Lucis’s turn to shrug. “Well, do you have a better idea?” ​Del glanced back at the girls who were turning the corner. “We could wait till she comes out.” ​ Lucis shook his head. “No, that wouldn’t work. She would come out with her friend, and if we wait it may be too late.” Lucis paused then more to himself he said softly. “We found her just in the nick of time.” Lucis stared at the now empty street, with the brash sound of music emanating from the building the girls had entered. Lucis waited for Del to argue, but when there was no reply he turned back to him. ​“Are you ready for this?” Del’s usual cold indifferent attitude was gone and was replaced with something gentler. ​Lucis felt color rising to his cheeks. He turned away quickly and pulled the sweatshirt over his head. He retracted his wings into his back. Del was right, it was its own fair share of uncomfortable, but the gaze that Del now bore into him was even more so. Lucis finally said. “This is for the Anahalians, our people, nothing more.” ​Del said nothing, but when he turned away he heard a distinct noise that didn’t quite sound like words, but more like an annoyed scoff. ​ ​“What?” Lucis said a little reproachfully. “I am being serious.” ​ Del whirled back to him. “Then keep it that way. We are not making this personal.” ​ Lucis shook his head and he could almost feel his heart ache. “Of course not.” ​ Del watched him a moment longer before pulling on his jacket. “Good.” He said with finality.