Bright street lights invading her vision, turning her blind for a second. The night sky reminding her that it was too late for her to be out. Reminding her that this is how most of the tragedies happens. Pushing her thoughts in the back of her mind and trying to make it back home. However the stars that were shining brightly above her head reminded her of that summer night.

Winter remembered everything so clearly as if it was yesterday. Bright street lights and the dark blue sky. Cars passing her by on her way home. People watching her on the other side of the road. They made her uncomfortable, she remembered the way she walked faster and faster. However they never made her feel unsafe. Uneasy but never unsafe.

Judging people had never been her thing. There were moments she would rather not put a label on people. Just like she tried to do with Arculus. Yet back than, the man that surrounded her and blocked her way looked evil. She knew she should have ran, she should have screamed. However she couldn't bring her body to work. Her legs stayed glued on the floor, her eyes widened at the sight of the man around her. Even in that moment she didn't want to judge them.

Winter had wanted to forget that moment. Forget the fact that they slapped her across the face. The fact that they grew more excited at the sight of her blood. She wanted to forget the way they all stared at her, as if she wasn't worth anything. As if her dying didn't mean anything. Crying only made them laugh at her. They had all treated her wrong, however there was one man that didn't. Even if he didn't hurt her, she feared him the most.

He was the man that haunted her. The living man turned into her biggest nightmares. He had told her never to talk back to him. She remembered the way he spoke. Always had his hand on his beard, and his voice had always been deep. Pale skin reminding her of Arculus. Piercing green eyes never leaving her. If there was one place she would never want to return to, it would have been with him. The man didn't now mercy, he didn't know what sympathy was.

The tears rolled down her cheek at the thought alone. Her speed increased and her vision was blurry. She didn't want to remember. Winter would rather torture herself by keeping it all to herself, than to ever talk about what had happened ever again.

"Well look at the human, why are you crying?" Winter's eyes landed on the man that tried to stab her the other night in the forest. She wasn't sure if she had to run or stay put.

"No need to look at me like that. What happened the other night was an accident." Amdusias tried to play it off and smiled at her.

"Throwing a knife at me was an accident?" Winter wipes her tears away with the back of her hand.

"Yes, now tell me why are you crying? Arculus wouldn't be so happy to see you cry." Amdusias jumped out of the tree and landed on his feet. Watching the human girl looking around her as if someone was lurking in the darkness. It was clear to him that she was scared, but she already had met the scariest being of them all, she even hugged him. So what else was there to fear?

"Don't tell him please. I-I'm just a little tired." The lie slipped past her lips and Amdusias raised his eyebrows.

"I didn't know humans cried when they were tired. I thought you just went to sleep." Amdusias took a step closer towards her just to read her from up-close.

"I'm just scared when I'm alone." Laughter escaped her mouth and she shook her head. "Silly right? I know."

Amdusias wanted to see if for himself. The reason why she had Arculus wrapped around her finger. He wanted to see for himself what kind of power this human girl possessed. However in his eyes she was just an other weak human girl. Nothing more and nothing less. Yet he understood by just one glimpse, that the girl had bigger shadows, than he could imagine.

"You want me to walk you home?" The question slipped past his lips and he got confused. Why was he even helping her?

"As long as you don't throw knifes my way." The human girl laughed and smiled up to him.

"You trust people too fast, but i won't be throwing any knifes unless it's to protect you." He told her and grabbed her hand. The only reason why he did this was to keep Arculus from killing people. The threat he had made the other day made Amdusias think. Maybe it was a good idea she was around.

Winter couldn't bring herself but to ask questions. "Are you a demon?"

Amdusias glanced back at her. She had her arms wrapped around herself. Bringing to his attention that she was cold. "Yes." He told her simply.

Winter wasn't really religious. However she did now the fact that demons were supposed to be evil. "Is It Okay? The other day you were upset about some rules right?"

Her voice was soft, it reminded him of flowers and blankets. She radiated warmth. Amdusias knew demons and humans were not the same in every aspect. Humans were bright, while most demons had darkness within them. Watching the human girl made him scared. He wasn't used to this type of warmth. He wasn't used to this type of kindness.

"I'll be alright. Just walk faster." His eyes were in front of him. Making sure there was no type of danger.

"Whats your name?" Winter found herself asking and a grunt escaped Amdusias lips.

"I'm not here for bonding time human." Amdusias was annoyed.

Laughter escaped her lips and her eyes shined brightly. It was hard to believe she had been crying 5 minutes ago. "Sorry I'm going to shut up now."

When they finally arrived at her dorm room she glanced at Amdusias for the last time. His shaven head on full display. Dark eyes constantly watching her, never breaking eye contact. Her eyes looked at his lip and nose piercings. She knew he wanted her to shut up, but she couldn't help the question from escaping her lips.

"Did it hurt?" A deep sigh left Amdusias lips.

"My piercings? No human it did not. Can you go inside already?" Amdusias had annoyance written all over his face. Winter still smiled and waved at the muscular man.

Amdusias smiled when he looked around. Everything was surrounded by darkness. He knew there were bed time stories about what lurked in the dark. He was aware that most parents warn their children. However humans had no idea of how many eyes were watching them,without them knowing. They had no idea of what kind of evil was disguised. Even the kindest of people had a little evil in them. Everyone had a small amount of darkness in them. Amdusias has never understood why everyone was so afraid of it?

Making his way to the forest with tired eyes and annoyance written all over his face. Orobas had a smile on his face while he watched Amdusias sit down on the couch.

"Look who we have here, my favourite horse." Orobas spoke with an amused tone.

"I'm not in the mood Orobas leave me alone." He told him trying to close his eyes, and fall asleep. Why did the human body have to be this weak?

"The Sinners are getting stronger, when are we planning on attacking?" Amdusias asked out loud. "We all know vampires got nothing on demons." Orobas laughed at the comment that Amdusias made.

"Don't you think you're being a little too confident? You shouldn't underestimate them." Orobas turned around to see what was taking Arculus so long.

Arculus still had his stomach aches. Which was expected since he didn't eat. He was in the bathroom looking at his reflection while being in pain. He took a deep breath trying to calm his heartbeat down. Orobas voice invaded his ears, yet he coudn't bring himself to pay attention to Orobas words. Arculus wasn't able to keep his balance anymore and fall on the floor while knocking somethings down.

"Arculus are you alright?" Orobas grew worried while Amdusias was falling asleep on the couch.

His hands tried to reach out to the door and open it for Orobas but he didn't have the energy to do so. Arculus legs have given up too since they weren't functioning like they should.

"Fuck." A curse word flew out of Arculus mouth. He tried to breath in and out and calm down, yet the sharp pain in his chest made it unbearable.

"Bloody hell Arculus, you want me to break down the door?" Orobas question was left unanswered. Arculus used the last of his energy to teleport himself out of the bathroom. Orobas saw the way Arculus layed on the couch with trouble breathing.

"What is wrong?" Orobas asked panicking while Amdusias slowly opens his eyes.

Amdusias stares at Arculus and raised his eyebrows. "His bleeding Orobas."

Arculus stoped moving for a good second. His breathing came to a halt and all you could see was the way his eyes were constantly switching. It looked as if his demon side was fighting for dominance. Blood dripped down his body while Arculus tried his best to hold back. Orobas tried to keep him from falling off the couch, but it didn't work. Arculus body made contact with the floor while spinning around in circles.

"Euh is this supposed to happen?" Amdusias glanced at Orobas with wondering eyes.

"Does bleeding out of the fucking blue sounds normal to you?" Orobas asked him with irritation on the tip of his tongue.

Amdusias laughed at Orobas outburst. "I guess not."

Arculus kept on cursing under his breath. "Fuck. This cant be happening now." His body wasn't working against him anymore. Yet he had other thing to worry about. His finger turned into red sharp claws. The pale skin he possessed turned into a greyish colour. Arculus could feel how he was slipping away.

"Holy shit." Amdusias cursed after realising which form Arculus was taking. "Orobas we have to go." Was the first thing to leave his mouth afterwards.

Orobas suddenly understood what had happened. He had observed Arculus all the time. "His starving Amdusias. We have to bring him something to eat before it's too late." Orobas informed Amdusias.

"You want me to kill an human or an animal?" Amdusias asked out loud with raised eyebrows.

"You do know you can take blood without killing anything right?" Orobas asked annoyed.

"You know what stay here I'm getting the blood." Orobas vanished, leaving Amdusias alone with Arculus.

Arculus was still himself, but with every second that had passed he could feel himself being more angry. His vision was still blurry, he tried to reach for Amdusias throat. He had wanted to break everything around him. The feeling to destroy was slowly taking over, and Arculus knew this was bad. Bringing harm to anyone had never been his favourite thing to do.

Shortly after Orobas showed up with a red liquid in his hand. Arculus was slowly losing consciousness but he knew what he saw was blood. Arculus took steps back from Orobas. His eyebrows raised and he had a disgusting expression on his face.

"If you're planning on putting that in my body, I swear I'll break you Orobas." Arculus warned him.

Orobas scuffed. "You're already weakened, not sure what kind of breaking you would be doing."

Orobas glanced at Amdusias and pointed back to Arculus. "Hold him." He told Amdusias simply while cutting the bag with blood.

Amdusias made his way towards Arculus and took his arms and placed it on his back, making sure to grip tightly. Orobas took the bag and held it in his one hand. While griping Arculus face to prevent him from moving too much. Orobas took the blood and emptied it inside of Arculus mouth. He immediately let go of his face and watched the way Arculus was trying to spit it back out.

"Fucking hell." He cursed out loud while coughing. "Did you just feed me blood?" Arculus turned around to have a better look on Orobas face.

"Yes,yes i did."

Arculus wanted to stand up and punch something around him, but as soon as he did he fall back down. "When I told you, you need blood you thought I was joking weren't you? Since you have been starving for awhile it will take time for you to be back to your old self." Orobas informed him.

Arculus thought about everything that had happened the last weeks, and all the things that were about to come. The mission of saving the vampires in trouble. Finding out who is playing with his and Winters destiny. He had to find out more about where he come from, even if this forest felt more like home. Orobas already told him he didn't belong here, and perhaps he was right.

"You told me once the underworld was ruled by a queen?" Arculus waited for Orobas answer.

"Yes, why?"

"She isn't married?" Arculus asked out of curiosity.

"My Queen is capable of taking care of all of us on her own, she doesn't need anyone by her side. But there was a time where she was married, only people outside of the kingdom had no idea." Orobas informed Arculus while recalling the memories back.

"Why was it held secret?" Arculus asked him, and Amdusias had an angry expression on his face.

Orobas couldn't help but grow angry at all of those memories. "The man she married wasn't her own."

"What do you mean? He wasn't demon?" Arculus asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yes, have you ever seen a demon befriend an angel?" Orobas asked Arculus, and he shook his head.

"Well have you ever seen a demon being married to an angel?" Orobas glanced at Arculus and again he shook his head.

"Looks like you both are mad about it." Arculus pointed out the obvious.

"We aren't mad about it, we are mad about the harm it brought to our kingdom." Amdusias finally spoke up. "However we are loyal to our Queen and we respect the decision she has made, and we stand behind it even if we disagree." Amdusias spoke up with sadness written all over his face.

"If we demons ever chose to die for someone, than it would be her." Arculus raised his eyebrows after hearing what Orobas had said.

"Demons are capable of feeling love towards someone?" Arculus asked out loud, wondering how demons worked. How he was supposed to work.

"No unless it's your Queen than it comes naturally." Amdusias informed Arculus.

This made Arculus think. His thought slowly drifted back to Winter. What he was feeling for her wasn't love. He just felt like he had to protect her. But don't humans also feel the need to protect who they love?

The first time he had ever seen her cry, made him kill an other being. So it wasn't a secret to him, at this point he wasn't denying it. Arculus would harm whoever laid a finger on her. He wasn't the type to condone violence. He wasn't the type to have blood on his hands, but when it came to Winter. He wouldn't mind having blood on his hand. For her he would kill without hesitation.

Maybe that is why the spirit brought her his way. Maybe she needed someone to protect her. Or maybe he needed someone to protect him.