Azrael watched the events play out from the balcony above. In the following minutes the drama had unfolded, so many unsettling sensations, stirrings of something hidden that he hadn't felt in a long time.

Eva's fear had hit him hard and fast, square in the chest like a shot of adrenalin to his heart. He'd planted his feet firmly to the ground, curling his toes and gripped the railing of the bannister. Restraining himself from jumping over the balcony to pull her from the pledging circle.

He didn't understand why and the hairs on the back of his next were still rigid.

The essence of magic danced around the room, he could taste its influence but couldn't pinpoint where or how it was being used.

And most concerning to him was... Angelina, her presence was so strong, as if stood next to him, although he knew that to be impossible and totally irrational.

"What troubles you Azrael?" asked one of two of his companions, looking at his whitened knuckles gripping the banister.

Azrael relaxed his hand. "Nothing to concern you, old friend." He turned his back as he chose not to indulge those of no interest to him. He returned his attention to the event below as his eyes tracked a familiar face, his brother Ender.

His brother in the circle with Eva piqued his interest. He knew his brother inside and out, although they had barely spent any amount of time in each other's company for centuries.

His could sense his brother's concerns, it bounced through Ender's aura releasing tiny stressors into the air, as his veins beat a visible pulse beneath his skin. All signals only detectable to him because of the bond they had once shared.

And, as if he knew he was looking at him, Ender's eyes locked in on his, he tipped his chin upwards nodded, signalling for Azrael to follow him.

Azrael stiffened, shoulders tightening. This didn't bode well, if Ender was requesting to talk to him. "Excuse me gentleman," he said to his two companions who were busy discussing what had happened in the pledging circle.

Making his way to the far end of the balcony, he opened to the door to allow him to head towards the small rounding balcony stairway. When he reached the bottom on the stairs. He turned to head toward the room his brother had entered but stopped, sensing somebody watching. He turned to see Martha, the witch, observing him with obvious interest. How Strange. He tipped his head in greeting before entering the room.

Stepping inside, his eyes roved the dimly lit room. It was a room of death, heads of many physical realm creatures graced its walls, their dead eyes staring back. He had never understood the need for humans to display their kills. It disgusted him, if he were to be honest. And they said the hell realm was cruel?

His brother stood in front of the huge stained-glass window. "You look well brother."

Ender turned and bowed his head, he would never dare admit, but his chest tightened at the sight of his brother. He missed Azrael and the closeness of their brotherly bond, losing what they once shared would never lessen the hurt. "Azrael."

They both stood in silence for a few moments, each gaging the other before Azrael took the lead. "Tell me brother, what is it you seek you from me? You have not desired the privacy of my company for so long. You would think we were never family." His words burned with bitterness, coating his tongue.

"You elected your path Azrael, none of this was my choosing."

Azrael eyed his brother, the subtle tick, the only indicator of his unease. He sighed, having no desire to start a quarrel. The pain he had felt losing his family from his own choices would never heal. "What occurred in the pledging circle with the vampire's daughter?"

Ender held his gaze, gathering his thoughts before answering. "I cannot answer that."

"Can't or won't? Brother," asked Azrael.

Ender turned refocusing his eyes on the scenery outside the window. "It's not that simple. That reaction hasn't happened for many, many years. Not since-" He stopped.

Azrael knew what he referred to, although he had not witnessed pledging circle incident with Angelina.

Ender rubbed his hand over his chin as the weight of Azrael's hardened glare burned into the back of his head. "She is special, but claims her mother was a human."

Azrael walked towards the window, admiring the ornate structure of the window. "I know, Daevan imparted the same knowledge to me... a servant no less."

"There was also something else," said Ender.

Titling his head Azrael watched his brother fold his arms, lost deep in thought. "What Brother?"

"Magic was afoot inside, I felt something touch my mind."

"I sensed it too," reaffirmed Azrael.

"I should share this with the council, but I feel unable, I'm torn."

"Your loyalties lie not with the council Ender, only with the Sky and Heavenly Realms. You are merely assigned here to oversee the pledges to ensure they carry custom out, as per the old way and traditions. If left to those blackened souls out there-." He stopped.

"You included?" asked Ender.

"Yes, me included Brother, me more than most. We would do away with this pompous archaic tradition and not honour the contract of marked vessels. We would take whoever and whenever our needs demanded."

"I do not believe that of you Brother... you may have become this thing," He gestured with his hand sweeping in Azrael's direction. "I still sense honour and dare I say it, some goodness in you."

"Please don't waste your time searching for any goodness left in me. I am what I am, and I deserve to be this." He would not inform his brother how he was tasked with finding the prophecy child... now a grown adult. He had seen enough disappointment in his eyes to last hundreds of lifetimes.

"I need to ask something of you Azrael."

"What?" asked Azrael, his interest getting the better of him. "What could you or the heavens possibly want with me?"

"The pledge. The council, especially the Incubus and the Honnair demon, Mara, have an interest in her. But I fear it goes beyond what we have seen here today."

Azrael shoved his hand in his trouser pockets, keeping his stance wide. "Mara and Daevan have a history, she will want to piss him off and take the pledge for herself... or kill her." His lips flattened, as his jaw clenched. "Again, what is it you ask of me Brother."

"They, the council will make a request. They wish to bring a case forward against the vampire. And, the demon Mara has made a demand that we place the pledge within her care until they conclude their findings. I do not wish that for the girl, I fear for her safety."

"You evade my question Ender. But if I read you correctly, you want me to watch out for her?" He raised a questioning eyebrow as his brother turned from the window to look at him. "But heed this warning Ender, I'm no babysitter. You may be better served by asking one of your angel lackeys to help."

"It is more than just a watchful eye. She will need protecting."

Both heads turned towards the door as raised voices interrupted their conversation

"Well, I think the party might start without us."

"We must return to the principal room," said Ender wishing he had more time to speak his concerns with Azrael.

>>

A look of great bitterness swept across Daevan's face. His anger curled hot and unstoppable in his gut, like a blazing inferno that wanted to burn him from the inside out.

"I dispute that promise," said Mara, her heels clicking on the tiled floor as she walked towards Daevan and Eva, her eyes narrowing.

"You cannot dispute that promise," said Daevan spitting out his words.

Mara sneered as she snuffled. "I wish to announce this to this council. I challenge Lord Daevan's freedoms. It is my belief he took the life of one of our kind, destroying their very soul.

Daevan's hands curled into a fist as his nostrils flared. "What evidence do you have of this Mara?"

She glared at him before she turned gesturing grandly with splayed hands to the room and its interested occupants. "I will present my findings to the council in fourteen moons time. Until that time. I ask that we place this pledge in my care and if we deem Lord Daevan guilty of this crime. Then I claim the right to the pledge, his daughter."

The vein bulged in his head as the boiling fury swelled inside. "No. I refuse." He stated flatly. "Unless you can prove your claim here today, then I reject this claim and refuse to hand over my daughter to you or anybody here today."

The council members muttered between themselves before nodding towards Mara. "The Conclave and its council members, holds rights to all pledges offered and you have pledged your daughter Lord Daevan." His eyes latched onto Daevan's heated stare. "And, we cannot honour any promises until such a time, the claims are confirmed or rejected. I give the pledge to..."

The eyes of the entire room turned as a door banged. Azrael's heavy strides echoed around the room, now in deathly silence. All eyes watched the Prince of Erubus enter the proceedings. "Please don't stop on my behalf, continue."

The demon who Eva assumed to be the head of the council, stuttered before continuing.

"P- Prince Azrael, how kind of you to grace us here today with your presence. It's been a long time." He bowed his head.

Azrael flicked his hand dismissively. "Yes, Yes. I believe you were just going to hand over this pledge to Mara?"

"Yes, that is our intention Prince Azrael, as per custom."

Azrael walked to where Eva was still standing in the centre of the circle. Letting his eyes fall across the smoothness of her bare skin, he tilted his head and leant down whispering so only she could hear. "Don't fear my Angel, I shall not let these monsters take you, not today."

Eva's breath caught in her throat. What did he mean?

Azrael turned to face the council and almost laughed at the look the demon Mara threw his way. If only looks could kill? "Head of the council. I see no evidence presented. Therefore, the pledge known as Evangeline will be better placed in the care of a party who has no interest in this dispute. It is widely known of the past Mara and Lord Daevan share, and her apparent hatred. I will take ownership until this matter is resolved."

Eva looked at her father and then back towards Azrael. By the Angels. Holy shit, he's serious.

Martha who had kept her presence inconspicuous walked towards Daevan and whispered. "I advise you not to dispute this Daevan, let her go with Azrael."

Daevan's eyes widened in surprise as he looked down. Resisting the urge to scoff, he swallowed down his distaste of his daughter leaving with Azrael. But could it be any worse than allowing her to leave with Mara? Although conflicted he doubted it. He also knew that Martha would do nothing to hurt Evangeline, and he trusted her, resolutely without doubt. He nodded his head once.

The council members glared at Azrael.

"What interest do you have in this pledge Prince Azrael?" asked the head of the council.

"That is none of your concern, but... as you are all aware – the Conclave and the Council serve at my pleasure. Does anybody wish to dispute this?"

Silence.

Azrael smirked, quirking a brow. "I thought not." He gazed down and allowed a full smile to grace his lips as Eva's wide eyes stared back. "I conclude this matter. I shall return in fourteen moons with the pledge and your findings will be presented to me." He looked from Eva to the council. "Do you wish to vote on it – or do I take your silence as affirmation?"

The head council member's face burned red, but bowed his head, keeping his narrowed glare on Azrael. "I speak on behalf of the Council and we will agree to Prince Azrael terms. The pledge shall be held in his care until the rise of the fourteenth moon."

Mara's blood boiled in her veins as she waved her hand dismissively, flashing a glacial smile towards Daevan. "You have not heard the last of this my Lord Daevan, I shall take what is yours. Heed my warning. You will not go unpunished." Her jaw clamped tight as she turned and hastily walked towards the room double doors, heels clacking on the floor, skirt billowing behind her.

Azrael turned his attention back to Eva "I think it might be an excellent time for us to take our leave Angel."

Eva's mouth dropped open. Go with him, Azrael... A Prince no less . To only the angels know where! She blinked, shaking off her stupor. "I need to speak with my father, before I leave."

"As you wish." Azrael gestured for Daevan to approach. "I will give you both a moment, but don't keep me waiting Angel, I have already wasted too much of my time."

As Daevan came towards Eva, his powerful arms wrapped around her, her head pressing into his chest. She squeezed him back.

Muscles jumped under his skin as he inhaled. "I'm so sorry Evangeline, please forgive me my precious daughter. This is all my doing, my past wrongs."

She held him tighter as frustration burned through his clothes, she had never felt his cold body burn so. Pulling back, she needed to confide in him before she left with Azrael. "Father, I need to speak with you. Privately," she whispered.

As she pulled away, he could sense the urgency in her words. Taking her hand as she pulled him backwards away from the middle of the room, away from curious ears. She glanced around her father to see Azrael watching them, a look of boredom clear in his lazy gaze. "Father there is something I should have told you last week. But I honestly thought I'd imagined it."

"What?" he asked watching the skin bunch around her eyes as she chewed the inside of her mouth.

Keeping her voice low she leant in closer. "Something, and I don't know what. So please don't ask me, talked to me... in my head. And again, just now, in the pledging circle. They helped me control the flames."

Daevan's eyes widened. It was no time to be angry regarding Evangeline's lack of disclosure. "And this has happened twice you say?"

She nodded, hoping they weren't drawing any attention to themselves. "Yes Father, I don't think they mean me any harm and I'm not sure how I know that, but I don't feel afraid when they speak to me. And I know this sounds crazy father, but I think I know them, but I can't remember from where."

Daevan's muscles tensed, to the point of cramping. This was not the time to be angry, but he needed to drive his point home. "You must not mention this to anybody Evangeline. Do you hear me? It's important that nobody must learn of this and we shall discuss it further, when you are returned to me... returned home." He clasped the top of her arms in a tight grip. "Tell me you understand Evangeline."

Eva's head flinched backwards, although not surprised by his curt response. She knew better than to question. "Yes Father, I understand, I will tell no one."

"Now it's time you leave with Azrael but believe me I will do everything in my power to get you back... tell me you believe that?"

"Yes Father, I do. I believe you." Eva didn't relish the thought of being with Azrael, but it was far better than being in the clutches of the demon, Mara.

Daevan pulled her towards him, kissing the top of her head. "Go now." He hugged her one last time before they walked back to where Azrael was standing, waiting, and clearly bored.

Azrael lifted an eyebrow as she saw them approach, a warmth spreading through his chest at the thought of being alone with Eva.

Adrenaline flooded Daevan's body. His heart pumped, beating from his chest as if to escape, unsure of leaving his daughter in the hands of one of the most powerful demons to walk any of the realms. "I hope you will guarantee my daughters safety, Prince Azrael." Saliva thickened his throat, barely able to breathe, never mind speak.

Azrael refrained from rolling his eyes. " Be rest assured Lord Daevan, she will come to no harm under my care. He tilted his head as he smiled toward Eva.

Daevan found no comfort in his words, or the look of desire etched in his eyes. "And, please it would be wise for you to remember, she is my daughter and I wish she is returned to me exactly the way she is today. No different, nothing missing, purity intact." He held his eye to ensure he understood his meaning.

Azrael was neither insulted nor concerned with Daevan's tone or the lack of respect he presented toward him. He only wanted to take his leave. "You need not be concerned with my intentions Daevan." His eyes stayed glued to Eva's. "Come Angel, it's time we left."

Eva looked at her father one last time before taking a tentative step towards Azrael who turned and placed his hand at the base of her spine.

She felt a shiver pass through her, but not from any coldness. She also had no control over her pounding heart, which she doubted would slow soon.

"I will see you soon Evangeline." Daevan called out as he watched his daughter be led away.

Eva turned, but the view of her father was blocked as Kara now stood before him. Sighing, she felt the pressure of Azrael's hand. And although wary of what lay ahead, she couldn't ignore the slither of excitement that peaked its way into her thoughts.