"Dark Messenger"

The sound of rusty chains woke Caliope slowly; the strange sound together with the empty space next to her in bed that became unfamiliar. She opened her eyes and saw the room was unusually dark. The sound of chains made her look around searching for its origin. She gasped and covered her mouth with horror; there was a dark bubble surrounding her, clouded spots of transparency allowed her to see that she was still in their room. The bubble was as big as half the room; at the other side, a glowing and angry Amra kept hitting the invisible walls without results.

She heard a laugh and looked at her left, there, standing only feets away from her, there was a tall and pale man, ice blue eyes, long grey hair, and a wicked smile. She was unable to move as the situation was still uncertain for her, but finally she saw rusty chains that came out of his back and floated on his sides as if they were resembling wings. A dark Angel for sure.

"Finally awake, aren't you..." The slim figure said and looked at her with a small but secure grin on his face.

She held quiet, she didn't want to respond or move at all. She looked towards Amra and tried to communicate with him. 'Amra... please tell me you can hear me...' She send to him and there was only panic in his face, he was angry and there was no reply to her pleas.

"He won't hear you, he can't reach you here... yet." The man answered her unspoken questions, yet she held quiet again, there was hope now as the man's words revealed a possibility for Amra to reach her, at some point.

The man walked around her slowly and with a hand under his chin he examined her. "Interesting... that is the word I think fits you best... Do you have any idea how important your role is in this battle? I bet you don't... everything started with you, and probably will end as well with you." His voice determined, the content of his words almost prophetic. Caliope sucked in air and held it as he sat next to her. "I was watching you sleep... not many Asterias do that, you know? sleep... it becomes a strange concept with the years... But it is kind of... cute? You still remain humanly innocent... Sleep is a gift, it helps you detach and dream..."

She was beyond curious, and thought of her best way to buy time, perhaps she could make enough so Amra could reach her. "Who are you?" She whispered.

He acted surprised, and smiled gently. "You ARE... cute. I like the pleasant sound of your voice, the notes seem in harmony with your emotions..." He chuckled as if he was holding a typical conversation. She kept quiet and he shook his head. "I am Angelus, a dark messenger... I came on my own, curiosity led me... that and, well... they had been talking about an immense power left inside you... I am very curious about what kind of power that is... your father's legacy holds many secrets..." He said with enough security for his words to be heard.

She tilted her head towards Amra and saw him glowing, his wings wide spread, the vision itself made her shiver. He was angry, there would be severe consequences. Angelus sighed and stood up. "He is upset I think... but you are all so naive... things won't change much even with the public knowledge..."

Caliope felt a little insecurity on the dark Angel and she finally took courage to speak more. "Would you help us?"

Angelus stood still, turning around slowly to look at her again and she saw in his face confirmation; he was uncertain, he had doubts. She moved to the edge of the bed and stood up looking at him. "You could help us tilt the balance. You would not be the first one who has moved to our side and help either. Pronab was once one of you, and he is now with us, his knowledge and expertise has helped in so many ways... and has saved me."

He chuckled and shook his head. "Save you? no one tried to hurt you... only take you... you are untouchable...now more than ever" He said and then he looked towards Amra, which made Caliope look as well. "He will break my safety, soon..."

"Then help us, I promise you he won't even touch you..." She said slowly, not wanting to sound desperate, but being honest at the same time. He looked at her with a little hope, but a lot of burden. She took a deep breath and walked closer to him; she reached to his hand and squeezed it. "Angelus, the way you spoke to me, it might be in riddles and I might not understand its full meaning, but what I did understood is that you are not sure which side you really belong... you are not sure what side is the one you believe anymore... and I am offering you a chance to be with us, be someone important, help us."

His eyes widened and he stared at her, with her free hand she made a stop sign towards Amra, hoping that he would understand she was asking for time, but her eyes never moved from him.

"You have such power within you... Morrighan, your father would have been proud." Were his words, and she smiled at him, which caused him to give a step back.

"Many have said the same... I am still understanding myself what it means." Caliope said with her head finally lowering, she felt embarrassed about it. "Even our Father has said it." She shrugged.

There was silence and Caliope looked up at him again and found him shocked in his place. "Angelus, are you ok?" She looked towards Amra for the first time in a while and saw him standing still, his stare deadly cold, but the dark bubble around them was still there. She looked back at him and saw his chain wings glow and disappear at his back.

"You... you saw The Father?" he barely whispered. She relaxed and smiled at him, her cheeks a little blushed.

"Angelus, if you promise to help us... if you promise to stay... I will share with you my encounter with Him... even more, I will let you see my memories as if you were there..." She offered him and he smiled innocently.

"You are telling the truth, aren't you... it is not in you to lie..." He whispered again, almost afraid to say it out loud. Caliope nodded and giggled, he instantly relaxed and looked towards Amra. "I would like to remain complete if possible, if he does want to harm me I will understand."

Caliope looked towards Amra as well, Pronab and Elaine were next to him, Wiltshire just joining them as well. She took a deep breath. "How does your protection shield work? Can you lower it at least for me to talk mentally with him?"

"I never tried, but I will now..." He said and raised his hands.

The shield became thinner slowly, Caliope focused on Amra and kept sending him the same thoughts. 'Can you hear me?' over and over again.

The bubble shield was so thin it felt as if it was disappearing when finally Amra replied. 'Are you ok?' were his words. She smiled and nodded. 'I am very well, I was just a bit surprised at first, but everything is fine... he will help us Amra, please do not harm him... he knows so much.' She sent back at him and he nodded. 'If he drops this shield I will try not to be angry.'

Caliope looked at Angelus and smiled. "He won't harm you but you better rush with your shield, he is not very happy with it."

Angelus nodded and dropped his hands, the shield disintegrating completely with it's moves. Amra walked slowly towards her while the rest approached with caution. As soon as he reached Caliope, his arms wrapped around her and he pulled her to him, he released a long time held breath and she could feel his body relax. 'I was worried at first, but his intentions were never of any harm, believe me love...' She sent to him trying to calm him.

"Give me a reason why we should not vanish you right now..." Pronab spoke first, there was contained anger in him and Caliope shook her head drawing his attention.

"His name is Angelus, and he is a dark Angel, he is a messenger, but is here on his own..." Pronab looked at her and had his doubts still, but remained quiet until he had more information. "Please give him a chance... to explain himself and to tell you why he is here."

Angelus gave a step back and looked around confused, Caliope feared he was regretting his decision. "Angelus, before anything else happens, I want to give you my word, in front of them, that if anyone tried to do you harm, I will take matters into my own hands." He looked at her and smiled softly, hope again flashing in his eyes.

"You are truly remarkable, Princess Morrighan... You barely know me and you are already protecting me." He said and to that, all agreed nodding. Caliope blushed and smiled.

"Angelus, whatever you said or do for her to be on your side, I would like to hear as well. If she is protecting you then so am I." Amra added, and Angelus was again taken by surprise.

"Maybe this is the right choice, to help you..." was all that Angelus was able to say before Gabrielle rushed to the room, her eyes wide as she saw him and it was clear to all they both recognized each other. "You as well? You joined their side?" he asked directly at her.

"Angelus? you... what are you doing here? oh no... what did you do?!" Gabrielle asked with a hint of panic.

He chuckled and smirked, the first real hint of his dark nature. Caliope perked a brow and looked at them both. "Gabrielle, he came to me, but didn't harm me in any way, in fact... he is choosing to side with us and help... I take it you both met before?"

"Well, I must say, this is becoming entertaining... Gabrielle is your real name?" Angelus said towards her and she nodded.

"Angelus was one of my contacts inside the main circle, but he knew me as Dakota, my cover name." Gabrielle explained and Angelus perked a brow.

"Contact... cover... you were spying?" he enquired her.

"I am sorry you had to learn about it this way, but to be honest, I looked for you before I left, and no one knew where you were... I wanted to say goodbye..." She blushed slightly. "But what are you doing here?" She added quickly.

"I was... curious... I wanted to see who was the Princess Morrighan that has caused so much commotion..." He said almost as if he was reading a script; Gabrielle perked a brow and walked closer.

"What are really your motives Angelus? I know you better than that..." She questioned him and he smiled, not worried for her insistent questions.

"Their last meeting, it was two days ago... they mentioned something, they were considering a mass kidnap wave, they were aiming Asterias, and that included her... my limits were drawn there, I am not an extremist like they are... I was indeed curious to see who she was, why everything changed since... her... that was not a lie." He admitted and Caliope widened her eyes at his revelations, Amra's grip tightened around her and he frowned.

"That is unthinkable!" Elaine exclaimed, Caliope could see there was a rage surging from her, something she never saw before. "This can't happen... no... not again..." she continued. Wiltshire put a hand on her shoulder and she turned to look at his eyes. "This is not happening... it can't be..."

"It might, but we need to stop it before they start... Young one, what can you tell us of who they are, where they have Gaius, anything..." Wiltshire asked just as Maxwell joined them, nodding to all as he was put aware of what was happening already.

"Where to begin... I wasn't prepared to give a report here... I was only going to come and go..." Angelus said with a small frown and a pensive stance.

"Please excuse us for being so eager, take your time... would you like to rest some? a room perhaps?" Caliope began, she felt responsible for his well being and she felt different towards him, there was something about him that made her feel she should look after him, even though he didn't look like a harmless soul.

Angelus looked at her again and half smiled, then Maxwell cleared his throat and drew his attention. "What made you stay? why you didn't... come and go... like you said you were going to."

"I was drawn to her, she has... an aura, something..." He replied without hesitation.

"If you try anything on her... I don't need to tell you what kinds of horrors I will put you through..." Pronab said almost without thinking.

Angelus became serious and stared back at Pronab in an unspoken exchange, probably something only those of dark nature would understand. After some time, he pulled his eyes away from him and looked at Amra. "I won't try to harm her... and even if... is not like she can be touched either..."

"What do you mean?" Elaine interrupted.

Angelus looked at her with confusion. "You don't know?" And perked a brow.

Caliope looked at him with the same confusion. "No, I think neither of us understands what you mean... will you please tell us?"

Angelus nodded at her and then looked at Amra. "Will you keep her busy? distracted... so I can prepare."

Amra hesitated at first then nodded, whatever he was going to try now, he was with her and would make sure no harm was done to her. Caliope looked at Angelus then Amra, and he smiled at her, caressing her face softly. 'I don't mind as long as I am with you... I won't let him or anyone harm you... I love you.' He whispered to her and kissed her lips softly, making her blush. Before she could reply she heard Elaine gasp and turned her head towards her.

She never expected in her wildest dreams to see what she saw; Angelus' chain-like wings were brushing her shoulder, or at least trying to, but from her back that liquid black was preventing from him to reach her. "My wings tend to brush things sometimes, and that is how by chance I felt it, I take it is the first time you all notice this?" Angelus said while retracting his wings to his back, where they easily faded from sight. At the same time, the black liquid mass from Caliope also retracted and disappeared.

"It is the first time I see it... but you have seen it before, Amra?" Elaine asked, slowly recovering from the surprise of the discovery. Caliope herself was still shocked.

"Yes, in my case, when I saw her covered by the liquid latex-like texture, it moved away and allowed me to touch her." Amra said while nodding, his hand gently caressing Caliope's arm as he kept her close.

"And it didn't show up when she herself grabbed my hand." Angelus added with a nod.

"It is as if it has life on its own and recognizes who is someone to trust or who I trust... I don't feel it as if it is me... I don't feel it at all, I see it, I saw it come out of me... but I don't feel it, not like my hair or anything... how can that be?" Caliope finally was able to speak after the first shock.

"Darling, it looks like you have nothing to worry about, relax... this is, strange, new, rare and wonderful at the same time... it actually makes me feel better about your safety. Don't get me wrong, we will try to find out more about what exactly it is, but knowing it is protecting you makes me feel a lot better." Elaine said with a smile, Caliope took a deep breath and nodded, relaxing and leaning on Amra. Then Elaine looked at Angelus and continued. "I apologize for the first... hostile welcoming, but you must understand we are surprised you reached this far in a city full of us, undetected."

"I am a messenger... I have ways not many have... If it helps you all feel better, I don't think anyone else could reach this far." Angelus said as he nodded.

"Thank you... for now, we will assign you a room, and give you some space to adjust... but we would like to know more when you feel you are ready to share." Said Elaine and he smiled at her bowing his head.

After that, Pronab and Maxwell stayed in the room while Elaine, Gabrielle and Wiltshire lead Angelus to a new room for his own. Caliope sighed and looked at Pronab before anyone spoke. "I feel I can trust him, Pronab... I really do... it is strange... it is a weird connection I feel with him, similar to what I feel with you... I think that we need to take advantage and ask everything we can when he starts to talk." And Pronab nodded.

"We will do that, and we also need to know more from Gabrielle, I will ask her myself. For now, you two rest, relax, and let's wait for when Angelus is ready to talk." Maxwell said as he turned around and headed out, followed by Pronab.

Once they were alone, Amra closed his eyes and sighed. "I felt like I almost lost you... I couldn't reach you..."

Caliope squeezed him tight and shook her head. "He said you were about to break his shield, so you were going to reach me soon... And you saw, I am not able to be harmed apparently... I have my own dark guardian for when you are not with me."

He looked at her and sighed again, holding her with a hand, while the other one was behind her neck, caressing her. He rested his forehead on hers. "That doesn't take away how powerless I felt. It doesn't take how powerless I feel..."

She caressed his face and he tilted his head towards her hand. "I never felt like I was in any danger, I was surprised but not afraid... Please trust me... you are far from powerless... now let's focus on what we know, and all of what we will know when Angelus talks."

Amra nodded and Caliope pulled him gently to follow her, she laid on the bed and he did as well, both cuddling each other, smiling while she spoke. "I love you, too."