"I haven't manhandled you yet." The guttural snarl from behind me had traces of venom woven through it and I turned in surprise "I would take on Lucifer himself and most likely win...if he tried to lay a hand on me. And I would not let your soulmate/boyfriend whatever the hell he is...smite me."I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his ridiculous display of emotions. I had thought him better at controlling himself than this. "But thank you so very much for reminding me just how much I am ALONE in this world. I really needed that fucking reminder. So yeah. Thank you very much." He turned his back to me and I watched almost apprehensively as shadows of power gathered around his hands. "So...I have no idea where YOU'RE going. I do know that I am going elsewhere." He started walking the opposite way and his voice was slightly muffled "Good bye Dez. I really do appreciate the nice wake up call and reminder of my solo existence in this world."<br/><br/>When he had turned the corner I slid down the wall slowly. Shit. I had just lost my grip on the Nexus Child and if Lucifer had been listening to what that moron had said about him... Or if Braeden had heard... My thoughts choked off to the sounds of the ground splitting open and I stood quickly, not wanting to be caught on my ass if it was one of the fighters. The sulfuric smell permeated my senses as a hand appeared over the edge but it was not followed by a body. Instead it simply threw a note at me then  it slid back into the earth as the chasm closed with a groan. The fiery red paper and black wax seals informed me of the author of the note and a knot clenched my stomach. Lucifer. What did he want? I carefully stepped towards the note, fearing its contents. When I reached it I gripped it tightly in my clammy hands then turned and scrambled onto the nearest roof. When I felt somewhat safe I gently cracked the seal and pulled the scroll open, my eyes skimming over the elegant script.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">Dezdymona<br/>You have failed<br/>The Nexus has escaped you<br/>You have used your last chance<br/>The Nexus Child does not cooperate<br/>Another Demon shall be sent in your place<br/>Braeden Keeper Of Hells Gate <br/>Has been chosen to kill the Nexus Child<br/>You Dezdymona will direct him to the Child<br/>You will stay out of the way<br/>And if you attempt to halt these operations<br/>You Will Be Killed</div><br/><br/>My mind froze. Braeden? They were sending in Braeden? I knew why, I couldn't hurt my soulmate and I wouldn't try to stop him. I re-read the last line over and over until I felt they had been seared into my mind. You Will Be Killed You Will Be Killed You Will Be Killed YouWillBeKilledYouWillBeKilledyouwillbekilled. My mind jolted as the scroll in my hand ignited and I dropped it quickly, fearing the burn of Lucifer's fire. Where I dropped it on the roof slowly split open and the stench of sulfur returned. Before my eyes Braeden hauled his way out of the gash and then slowly slid away from it as it closed, devouring the scroll. I fell to the ground and wrapped my arms around Braedens waist.<br/><br/>"Braed, I'm so glad they chose you!" he brushed my coal hair away from my face then kissed me firmly, when we broke apart for air his low voice gently scolded me.<br/><br/>"I told you not to push your luck you stupid fur-ball!" I was almost giddy with happiness so I didn't take a friendly swing at the dragon demon, instead I pulled him to his feet and kissed him again.<br/><br/>"Well then it's a good thing you're here to keep me out of trouble." His cool fingers wrapped around my small, clawed hands and he looked briefly around the city before he returned golden eyes to my face.<br/><br/>"Where is this Nexus Child?" I almost sighed in disappointment. Of course he would want to get straight to work but the note resounded in my head. You Dezdymona will direct him to the Child. You will stay out of the way. And anyway, I really wanted to see how this ended, so I raised our entwined hands and gestured towards the direction that Nexo had stomped off to.<br/><br/>"He's thataway, but he might not be anywhere over there" I watched Braedens confused face take on a look of comprehension as I explained his 'traveling' abilities. "So if you want to catch up to him we should probably get going." Braeden nodded once the unfurled his burgundy wings and dropped my hand. I extended my claws and as he took to the air I bounded over the rooftops easily keeping pace to the magnificent Demon flying overhead.<br/><br/>(P.S. this is what Braeden looks like)<br/><a class="postlink" href="http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/archives/1164919692_DemonAnime.jpg">[ img ]</a>