The blacksmith and Crow, who is disguised as an old blind man with a walking stick, limped through the wide open doors of the crippling vine infested structure. The stench is what hit them first. Helsing coughed when the horrific stench hit the back of his throat. He couldn’t describe the smell but the closest he could was rotting flesh mixed with spoiled milk.

Crow smelled it too and nudged for Helsing to look down. Helsing saw two pale blue masks that looked exactly what old world doctors wore. He put one on and gave the other to Crow who put it on as well. The mask did help muffle the stench but not by much. The two wandered around toward the south side of the building until they heard murmurs from a room. The two entered the room and other people were there also wearing masks but ones more appropriate for their time.

The room was large and filled with circular rows of old world chairs while an aura of decay wafted through the stale air. A walkway was carved in the center of the room splitting the overall circle in half. All the chairs pointed toward a tall desk with aged wood being consumed by vines and lichens.

The desk had two levels with space since people, who looked like bodyguards, were standing behind the first level desk. The second level of the desk was cleaner than the first level, and behind the second level desk was an old fashioned throne that made it seem like it was mocking real thrones.

A man sat on that throne behind the second desk waiting. Helsing looked up seeing there was an upstairs level to the room that was filled with more chairs that had people in it. Most were alive but there were also skeletons wearing old world suits. Helsing gazed back at the two leveled desk, seeing there was a wall covered with vines and fungus. The section directly behind the man on the throne was decorated with a red, white, and blue flag with faded stripes and stars. In front of the flag were three skulls on a stand. Three dog skulls to be exact.

Crow nudged Helsing with his cane, nodding to two empty seats. Helsing and Crow sat down next to each other.

“ Crow, are those skulls Azrail’s?” Helsing asked in a hushed voice, taking off his mask. Crow’s eyes glowed navy blue for a few moments then faded back to normal. He nodded in response to Helsing as he took his off.

“ Why am I in a disguise? I could just use my divine rights to demand the skulls and meet up with Allen?”

“ Well we don’t know if this is a trap made by Vita to capture you and me.”

“ So we’re going to sit through a mind numbing auction of dog skulls worn by my father the High god of Death. For the small chance that Vita knew a fallen angel stole the skulls and they ended up here in this stenchful pool of criminals to set up a trap while she’s trying to conquer the world and run it. Even if she did set up a trap, do you really think her angels could stand up against me and you? We’re also expecting one of Vita’s pets to show up. So attracting attention is our main goal.”

“ I…well fair point. Let’s take it then.”

Crow stood up causing his disguise to fade away, revealing his true self. Some of the crowd gasped in awe while others kneeled to the ground or ran away, as Crow marched his way to the two level desk. The man sitting on the fake throne was quaking with fear. Helsing heard the murmurs of the crowd questioning if he was a god. The god then began to speak with his celestial voice echoing around the room.

“ Hand over the dog skulls that hang behind you, mortal.”

“ I-I’m sorry s-sir I can’t I-I’m not allowed t-to hand over a-auctiona-able m-material.” The man stuttered as the color from his skin flooded away.

“ Those skulls are property of the gods. You dare deny me, The god of knowledge and faith, and the Keeper of the Lost. Access to the skulls the High god of death and dark magic wore.”

The man whimpered, dashing out of the room with his tail between his legs. The blacksmith felt a rumble under him, and there next to his boot a small turquoise crystal sprouted from the ground below.

Helsing whirled his head around seeing Norah there raging auroran flames in each hand and a scowl on her face. Everyone stampeded out of the room like startled deer. The blacksmith pulled out his arrowhead shaped shield from his back ready to battle.

Crow stared at Norah with both a stoic and a disappointed gaze. Norah flared her wings out wide then charged straight for the god of knowledge.

“ You will not ruin our perfect world!”

But Helsing stood his ground, holding his shield up for Norah to crash into. Once she recovered, Norah’s fists were ablaze with her bizarre flames, she began punching Helsing. But her punches were weak and sloppy. Helsing could easily dodge the punches or block them with his shield.

While the two mortals fought. Crow put each dog skull on. One on his right shoulder, one on his left then the third one on his head. A flood of power coursed through his veins. Crow was overwhelmed by the power which crippled him to his knees, breathing heavily.

After a few moments, Crow stood to his feet gripping his lantern staff. He heard the soft voice of his father in his mind saying.

“ I missed you, my son.”

Norah gazed in horror at the sight of Crow wearing the skulls. She yelled in frustration as she tried to get to him, but Helsing held his ground. He took advantage of Norah who was lost in rage, and pinned her down to the ground with his shield pressing her against the floor.

Norah tried and tried but Helsing didn’t budge. He stared into the raging turquoise eyes of the glorified chosen one. This is who they chose? She’s so weak and emotional. People praised her bravery and power…she’s nothing like that..maybe poor training.

“ Helsing,” said Crow with his voice echoing in the dog skull. Helsing flicked his tail signaling he was listening.

“ Let me go, knight! You need to let me go! Please! I’ve worked too hard and killed so many for it to all go to waste! You don’t know what you’re doing! I can’t be a failure! I’m the chosen one! I’m the hero!” Norah continued to plead but Helsing kept an emotionless expression waiting for Crow to finish.

“ Helsing. Knock her out. We need to meet up with the others.”

The blacksmith smacked her head with his shield. She went out like a blown out candle flame. Helsing put his shield back on his back then picked her up carrying her like a groom would carry a bride. Crow appeared at Helsing’s side then they walked out of the building.

**************

Back in Azrail’s Palace

Their footsteps echoed through the empty palace. To their relief and shock it was only Crow and Helsing with Norah knocked out in the blacksmith's arms.

There curled up on the torn up throne was a shollie dog that had majestic antlers sprouting from his head. It bore a scar that was similar to Allen’s. The dog just snoozed there with a melancholy contentment. Crow stamped his staff into the ground causing an echo to bounce around.

The dog lazily woke up, taking it’s time to stretch. It looked at the three of them and trotted toward them.

“ About time you lot came back,” he sat down at attention. Crow took off the dog skull he wore over his face.

“ Constellations it’s stuffy in this, how does father do it? Hell, how did a whole globe go years willingly wearing masks? No matter, welcome back Taurus.”

“ Aye, becoming stone is horribly dull. I’m assuming Allen has been kidnapped as planned,” Taurus asked.

“ Well he ain’t here or with ya’ll so yes.” Gran responded, the dog snarled back. Helsing set Norah next to Azrail’s body. The blacksmith nodded at Gran, she gave him a confused look but eventually got it. She locked Norah’s wrists in the rugged stone of Tartarus

“ Perfect, now she can’t leave,” Taurus added, as a sick feeling fermented in Helsing. This feels wrong..she doesn’t deserve this treatment.

But she’s earned it, the beast inside sneered.

I don’t think it’s her fault…I can’t say why but I feel she’s not happy…no..more-

Trapped, Hex finished the sentence with a hiss. Norah was now starting to wake up; her shimmering eyes fluttered open then began scanning the room.

Her hand brushed up against Azrail’s body. She screamed in horror at the body. The chosen one squirmed as her breathing quickened. Her skin went white as panic clouded her eyes.

She tried to fly out but her wrists were locked into the ground. She kept trying to escape but each time was a failure. Helsing’s chest swelled in pity for Norah, seeing her helpless like a bird with broken wings trying to escape from a cage.

“ It’s useless Norah. You’re grounded,” Helsing stated as he held back the urge to free her.

“ Let me out! You don’t-you don’t understand what you’re doing! Do you..Do you know who I am?! I-I am the chosen one!” Norah begged as her feathers began shaking.

A pathetic chosen one.

“ Norah please. We just want to help you,” Crow pleaded.

“ No you don’t! No one does! No one should! I’m the perfect chosen one who is supposed to fix everything! I’m the one with the power! B-but I have… I have no power.. everyone else has the power! Over my life! If I help one then I fail the other! I-I..I can’t fail!” Tears flooded out of her eyes as she collapsed to the ground. The blacksmith felt his heart steadily rip apart seeing Norah crumble to a pile of sobs and screams.

“ Guys can Norah and I have the room?” Helsing requested. Gran, Crow, and Taurus. He sat down in front of Norah, waiting for her to catch her breath and calm down.

“ I’m listening,” He said as her wings wiped her nose with a sniffle.

“ Wh…What do you mean? You want to listen to me?”

“ Yeah, I’ll listen and you just talk to me. Us troubled 20 year olds need to look out for each other.” He smiled with a kind expression. Norah chuckled softly as she dried her eyes.

“ No…you probably just want to use me…make me vulnerable only to twist me to your side….all I’m good for is my powers,” her eyes stared at the ground.

“ Norah…you’re in pain…internally. I can sense the chaos in you. Aren’t you tired of it? Tired of the fighting, fixing everything, being a puppet? All for what?”

“ For perfection. For a better life.”

“ Was it really so bad? Before all of this?”

“ Yes! Anyone could die! I lost Mama Willow to those fallen angels! She left me filled with grief and confusion…she and my sister never really taught me anything about the real world. Death…destruction…disease…none of these things were apart of my world! They always said I was too young to know, but no one could protect me from it. I just wanted everything to go back to normal…I wanted the world I used to know, so I went with the option that could bring that world back. But then she came back…she came back telling me to go against everything I believed…So I tricked myself into thinking it wasn’t her…but no it was her…. Mama Willow’s soul was destroyed by me because..I was angry…that she made me believe something for so long then she turns around saying something different…I couldn’t accept it…I can hardly accept it now. Of course my sister and mentor tried to stop me…but I just betrayed them too…ratted them out…causing Paradise to be destroyed…and my mentor banished…and my sister missing…bu-but all of that could’ve been worth it. But it never sit right…I was never happy with what I did to get here…yet my new friends, family, and I all justified it for so long. Now I’m having nightmares most nights….I can’t keep justifying all of this…I can’t stand it…I can’t stand who I hurt…and killed for this life. I want a better life, built on better things…but how? I’ve done so much there’s no way I ca-.” Norah was cut off by Helsing hugging her and holding her close. She sat there stunned as her tears trailed onto his clothes.

“ It’s never too late…beileve me before all of this…I was just a weapon of vengance that my mother used…I hurt, killed, and betrayed so many. But I got out. I ran to a better home, and I built a better life on better things. We will all help you fix this. Join us and help us build a better life.”

He released her then scooted back a bit as a flustered blushed warmed his cheeks. Norah smiled a smile that seemed to have genuine feelings behind, but it turned into a small frown.

“ But my mother and Quiver want me to live normally… be like any other girl..pure and innocent..I can’t let them down,” Norah sighed.

“ Who cares what they want. What do you want out of life, Norah? Do you want to live normally or do you have a different idea? You’re your own person Norah. Stop living everyone else’s ideas and live for you. Will they feel hurt, yes. But if they love you they’ll respect your decisions. So tell me Norah what do you want?” Helsing rested his chin on his propped up hand.

“ I don’t know what I want…. For the future anyway. Right now I just want to fix the mistakes I made. Should I know what I want for the future?”

“ Of course not! It’s okay to not always know! You’ll find it one day.”

“ Thanks Helsing.”