Vita’s footsteps echoed on the pearly white tiled floor as she headed towards a round table. About a dozen thrones sat around the table, and many more were stationed on balconies that loomed over the table. Each throne was different from the other, she looked across the table gazing at Azrail wearing a large dog skull that covered most of his face, and he wore his black royal attire with a red cape covering his right shoulder. He sat on a throne made of obsidian.

Vita sat on her throne of gold and feathers, she glared at Azrail as her face tensed in a snarl. Azrail was not fazed by her death glares, he simply sighed then rested his head on his fist in boredom which only made Vita fume with fury.

“ You called for this meeting, don’t get angry with me dear sister,” Azrail said finally, his emotionless voice echoing through the empty space that surrounded them.

“ Don’t call me that. I came here for one last attempt at peace, I’d rather not have to kill you. Agree to the terms of my treaty and this will all stop.”

“ The last time I agreed to one of your treaties my reign in Heaven, and my sacred weapon were all taken from me. And of course before all of that you took my husband from me. I’m not going to make that mistake again.”

“ Ferro was a menace, and was dealt with accordingly.”

“ Ferro was not a menace; you all just irrationally feared him for the power he could create. He did not deserve his soul being destroyed. Now he doesn’t get the chance to rest and his soul won’t get to live on, thanks to your parent. It’s no wonder where you get your sadistic behavior.”

Vita’s silvery golden eyes flared in frustration. She sighed releasing her anger and frustration to compose herself once again.

“ I have no idea of what you speak of, everything I do is for the good of my creations and everyone else.”

“ Ferro was a blessing for your creations. He and my eldest son are two of the many reasons why your creations even became. Oh. So. Mighty. And have you forgotten your other title Mrs. Perfect? Or are you ignoring it to keep your place on that high horse, excuse me deer, of yours,” he remained completely calm, as he raised his head from his fist.

“ Don’t you dare say that foul name. It’s a lie. Me, Nameless, my mother, my creations, and my father are all the superior ones and we made a perfect world. You, Medela, and your Shade Riders wrecked it all.”

“ You say that title is a lie then you are just fulfilling it. I will not sign your treaty. This war will not end with another simple crooked treaty. But I guarantee the child will be on my side in this fight.” He stood up and headed off disappearing into their galactic surroundings, Vita scoffed as she flew away following the tiles she walked on.

Norah rushed through the crowds of people along with the other children that lived in what everyone called “ The Fallen Cities of Man.” Her and the other children laughed as they ran through the streets that were lined with dull gray abandoned buildings that had shattered windows and overbearing vines. Norah and the other children came to a halt when they saw the sign that had a map of the area and the name of the place in bright white letters.

“ Central Park! We made it! I hope we’re not too late,” said one of the children.

“I bet the other kids from the other Sections have already beaten us here,” claimed another child. While they bickered and bantered, Norah groaned in annoyance then dropped the cloak that covered her wings then flapped her gradient turquoise and purple wings soaring above the other children below, and teased them for going slow. The children followed her, toward the center of the park. Norah soared through the blossoming trees and over the shimmering green sea of grass. Her senses were filled with the smell of a fresh breeze and wet grass, the noises of birds singing and children giggling, and the sight of the sun rising above the ancient vine invested buildings on the horizon.

Norah landed at the base of a rock formation in the center of the park on her. Other children were sitting around the rocks. Norah and the kids that followed her took their seats on the ground around the rocks. On top of the rocks sat an elderly woman that had ragged silvery hair and wrinkles carved into her face. The rest of her body was covered by a dark cloak with some sort of raven skull that buttoned the cloak together.

“ Ah, the Manhattan section has at last arrived,” said the woman with a smile on her face. “ Now gather, gather young ones. It is time I tell you a tale but what tale shall I tell?”

“ Oh! Oh! Madam Elitas! Tell the story of Vita and Azrail!” One of the kids said and the others murmured in agreement. Norah tilted her head in confusion, then whispered to a kid sitting next to her.

“ Who are they?”

“ How could you not know? This story has been passed down for centuries! It’s a bedtime story every parent tells!”

Madam Elitas silenced the crowd of children with a raise of her shriveled hand.

“ Centuries ago, before the age of man had even begun. Two Gods came into power. Azrail the High God of Death and Vita the High Goddess of Life. When the Gods were young Vita and her fiance the God of Man, Nameless created beings to live with the Gods. Nameless created man and the regular animals while Vita created all things mystical and all of their creations were immortal like the Gods. Vita then asked the other Gods to help her and Nameless create a perfect world for their creations. Then as the first few years went by Nameless and Vita noticed that their creations began dying from various things. Disease, fights, from their dreams, some just died peacefully in their sleep and other unexpected reasons. That’s when they realized that Azrail had cursed everything on Earth with mortality. He and his Shade Riders have filled the world with war, sickness, fear and death. Since then the two have been locked in a battle of one trying to overpower the other. But, don’t fear young ones, there is a prophecy. The prophecy states that there will be a child born with the powers of the phoenix of the northern lights. But when the child makes the journey. The child will ensure the endless battle will come to an end. By making a decision between immortality or peace. While we wait for that prophecy to be fulfilled the Gods did have some fights and amusing stories.”

As Madam Elitas was preparing to continue with the story, a young she-elf in her early 20s. Her long ginger hair was strung up in a ponytail entered the park and shouted for Norah. All the children stared at Norah with annoyance, in response Norah shielded her face with her wings as she stood up heading toward the ginger she-elf. The elf grabbed Norah’s hand walking away from the park.

“ Mother told you not to go to these stories or be involved with anything that has the Gods. Seriously Norah you know better,” said the she-elf.

“ But Quiver it’s my 13th birthday! I’m allowed to do what I want on my birthday and I want to listen to stories with my friends!” Quiver protested, ruffling her wings in irritation.

“ Oh so me and mom aren’t good enough for you anymore? We give you both of those things.”

“ Well your stories are getting old and mother has been taking naps more frequently and she’s getting old for fun games. Plus you keep leaving us to go out on long hunts, or quests for money,” Norah whipped her hand away from Quiver’s grip. “ Why can’t I learn about the stories about the Gods huh?”

“ That’s a question for mom, sis. I simply don’t know but the Gods and all the others among the divine ranks aren’t the nicest.”

“ I think you’re wrong. I believe Vita is a good role model.”

The two sisters walked in silence for a few hours until they reached a large tent by a large river. Outside of the tent stood a she-elf in her late 50’s. She had a big smile on her face with a large pot of stew softly bubbling on a small fire. But the woman’s smile faded when Norah just went straight into the tent. Quiver and the woman talked in whispered murmurs then the woman called for Norah. Norah groaned and walked out of the tent staring up at the woman.

“ Norah, I told you not to go off and listen to those stories. They’re nothing but a waste of time,” Mama Willow then grew stiff and pale as if she saw a demon. She quickly regained herself as Norah shouted.

“ But Mama Willow, I’m the only kid in this village who doesn’t know the basics about our world!”

“ Enough! Let’s just settle down and eat your lunch. I made your favorite birthday girl.”

Norah grudgingly obeyed and got a bowl of the food in the cauldron. Quiver and Mama Willow also got their share of the warm stew, then began eating with Norah.

The day went by with ease. The three played the same old games, heard the same old stories, and learned new skills just like any other normal day. The night however was not like any other.

The three laid on the grass and gazed up at the stars, satisfied with the day. The stars glittered in the dark sky above with not a single cloud blocking their glow. The moon was a mere crescent, but it had a weird strange coloring to it. The moon was shimmering with purples and teals, the way the moon shimmered it looked like ripples in the water.

“ Mama, Quiver. Look at the moon! It’s so weird.”

They both gazed at the moon, and Mama Willow grew that pale face once more then she began to whisper no over and over. Norah and Quiver looked at their mother with concern.

“ Both of you inside the tent now before-” their mother was cut off by a beam of light coming down from the strange colorful moon. They shield their eyes from the light. Fear paralzed Norah’s body, as the light beam faded revealing a fox. Norah gazed at the vixen’s starry night tail in awe as it constantly waved like tree branches waving in the spring breeze. The vixen’s aqua green galactic colored eyes pierced straight to Norah’s soul.

“ Norah, child, this fate has been given to you to bear,” her voice was gentle and it echoed around the area as if she were talking in an empty cave. “ All the same. Your time has come to fulfill the prophecy you heard today. I shall unseal the power that has been hidden from you, but you must come to find me in my home where the children of life dewell so I may tell you everything when there isn’t prying divine ears.” The vixen nodded behind them, and sure enough there was a black stray fluffy dog with dark crimson eyes along with a gorgeous white doe with a pearlescent coat with eyes of gold. The vixen tapped Norah’s forehead with her tail. Then suddenly Norah felt as if something in her soul or something even deeper than her soul had finally been released. The power that surged through her veins made her feel like a God; she felt like she could do anything. Then a wave of shock and fear swamped over her, then as her world began to turn upside down it went black.

Taurus padded over the rough rock, the immense heat stinging his paw

pads. Echoes of snarls, wails, and screams resonated throughout the caverns and tunnels of the Kingdom of Tartarus. But Taurus was immune to the sounds. Pain and suffering were part of his home here. Taurus trotted through the gates of his Lord’s castle, soon arriving in the throne room. In that room other dogs with different types of horns and antlers bickered, barked, and different colored flames flaring on their paws and scruffs. By the mighty throne made of obsidian and dark crimson fur was a large white wolf-like dog with four black eyes and white pupils. The wolf dog is wearing a collar with teeth and claws jutting out of it.

Then after a few minutes a black stray looking dog entered the room. The other hellhounds immediately seized their actions. The hellhounds parted the way for the dog to go to the throne sitting at attention. The dog walked down the path the hellhounds had created then sat on the throne, transforming back into a man wearing a long black cloak and a large dog skull so the only thing that could be seen were his red colored black eyes. All of the hellhounds laid down at attention with Taurus at the front while the white wolf laid next to the throne as its gaze watched every breath each hellhound took in.

“ At the climax of the unending war the flames of impossibility will bless a child born at the fallen God’s forge. When peace has failed the child will be ready to decide between an era of immortality or an era of peace. The prophecy is finally happening, my friends. Peace indeed has failed and the girl is now of age and is preparing to head toward Vita’s children. War is ahead my hounds be prepared for when we get a hold of that child. Finally we can set the world back to how it was. The plan is that Taurus and the Black Beast will get the child onto our side and we use her to help us disable Vita and then put Vita up for judgement then the afterlife will be ours once more,” the man’s voice was deep and commanding, and the hellhounds hung on every word.

“ Yes King Azrail!” Howled the hellhounds with their scruff fires igniting to life and blazing with excitement.

“ Everyone else leave, but Taurus stay,” Azrail commanded. Then all of the hounds aside from Taurus and the white wolf scattered out of the room.

“ Sire, I promise Allen and I won’t fail ye,” Taurus said, wagging his tail.

“ I know, you and Allen are the best. But don’t let your guard down, Vita is not to be underestimated. Same goes for her brainwashed angels. Now go and get Allen from his realm. But he still is under punishment for his crimes.”

Taurus barked with joy then sprinted on the hot ground swiftly toward a train stop with a lamp made of bones and petrified bodies. When the eerie screech of the demonic train’s wheels came to a stop at the station and the doors grudgingly opened. Taurus boarded it and jumped into one of the plush benches. The shollie gazed out the window as the train began to leave the station.

Vita paced around in her front palace gardens of white roses, as her long pearly white dress dragged behind her. Her white deer fur shoulder scarf resting elegantly on her shoulders. She hugged herself a little as she continued to pace, then began to fiddle with her cross necklace. The metal was cool in her fingers, bringing her slight relief and comfort.

“Where is that angel at? I told him it was urgent,” she murmured to herself, gazing at the horizon in desperation.

A figure suddenly appeared on the horizon, wings outstretched as it soared over the earth. Sean. She thought to herself as she grounded her impatience. The angel approached fast, landing in front of her, kneeling on one knee with his head bowed and his wings lowered to the ground, in submission.

“ I beg for your forgiveness, your majesty Queen Vita,” Sean said quickly as he stuck his sapphire lance into the ground.

“ You’re forgiven, Sean. Now rise, I have a mission for you. The child of the prophecy is now of age and has unlocked some of her power. I need you to bring her to our side. So we can at last free my creations from Death and purge the world of their impurities.”

Sean picked up his lance from the ground and nodded sternly.

“ It will be done, my Queen. I will return with the child.” Sean lifted off the ground with a mighty flap of his wings, vanishing into the clouds drifting idly in the sky.

“ To war,” Vita muttered.

As Sean sliced through clouds he finally landed on a ledge on the side of a mountain. As he looked around he caught a glimpse of Stone Tree village a mile away from the mountain. He scoffed in disgust when he saw the village and looked up at the grey sky above.

“ Humans. Great beings, for the most part. A shame the High God of Death couldn’t show mercy as Vita has.” Sean fluttered down from the ledge then he saw it. A hellhound with a fluffy mostly black pelt, and a white belly with a tannish brown acting as median between the two colors. Sean would’ve thought the dog was any normal stray aside from the fact the mutt had deer antlers sprouting from the top of it’s head. Its right ear was folded with a white spot on the tip. While the left ear was pointed skyward. The hellhound was muttering to itself in two different voices that both had the same accent but different tones as it climbed up the mountain, Sean hid behind a rock while he watched the hound. The Hellhound then gazed in the direction where the Stone Tree village was then it pointed it’s muzzle in the air as if sniffing everything around it. Then a smirk formed at the corner of the hound’s muzzle

“Not a very sneaky angel are ye?” The hellhound barked out with the accent but the tone sounded like a normal person, as he gazed and faced the rock Sean was hiding behind.

“I don’t need to be sneaky when I can kill you in one blow.” Sean said as he came out from behind the rock and got into a fighting pose.

“Ah, ah, ah, cocky angel. I’d like to see you try,” the hound giggled with a similar voice but the tone was unnatural and cunning. Sean twirled his spear, showing he was ready for battle.

“ For the glory of the Queen of Heaven, Vita.”

The hound’s lips pulled back in a sly smile as his antlers pulsed with a fiery green energy that was with the mutt’s fiery green eyes casting a sadistic glare at the angel.

“ For the glory of the true King of Heaven, Azrail.”

The two beings charged toward each other, and with a mighty swing of his sapphire spear the angel gashed the mutt’s left eye sending the dog into one of the rocks. Taurus snarled and swiftly pressed his paw against the wound, a sizzling sound came from his bloodstained white paw as the wound stopped bleeding. Then Taurus surrounded himself in a green aura and the angel responded by surrounding himself in a golden azure aura.