Aris watched as the battle commenced, and she found herself backing away from the others. She had no desire to be hit in the backswing of one of those fearsome weapons.<br/><br/>Suddenly, searing pain burst through her back and wing as she was pulled back by a demon. She let out a scream as a blackened arm snaked around her neck and began dragging her into the woods. Intense terror flooded through her, as memories of her run in with these beasts swarmed her mind.<br/><br/>Out of the corner of her eye, a wisp of smoke sped between the fighting humans and hurried behind Aris. The grip on her throat was released, and she fell to her knees, coughing. She turned back to see a young man, hair as black as the demons, holding one of them by the neck a foot off the ground. The man looked normal, if not for the hand that held the demon's throat was as dark and smoky as the demons.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Tell your master that, if he wishes to harm her, he will have to kill me first."</span>the man hissed at the demon, before throwing him to the ground. Just before the demon hit the forest floor, it disintegrated into smoke. The other live demons turned to smoke as well and sped out of the clearing.<br/><br/>Aris hardly noticed this; her sight was focused on the young man, who held out the hand he had just strangled the demon with. It had turned its normal, tanned tone. The angel backed away from him, "You..." she murmured. The young man neared her, and she backed away, intense fear and anger in her eyes. "Do not come closer!"<br/><br/>"Can you not trust me, even after I saved your life?" he asked, seeming offended. Aris continued to back away from him.<br/><br/>"How can I trust you? Your kind has done nothing but harm me!" she cried back.<br/><br/>"Because I helped you escape!" The man shouted. He grew quiet, then muttered "Fine, if you have no need of me..." He turned and began walking away.<br/><br/>Aris let out a sigh, and said quietly, "If you are sincere, you may come along. Know this, if you are lying, things will not end well for you."