Welcome to Gaia! ::

Before she could protest the invasion of her privacy, he spoke and the fact she was bare was forgotten. It wasn't that she was naked that truly upset her- he had seen enough of her over the last few days and she had so little modesty that it wasn't a large ordeal. Kane had retreated to the shower not just to clean but to escape the fallen and all the muddled feelings he brought about, so it was this that made the anger rise in her chest and throat before it dissipated. Rei was one of the few people that presented a larger, more overwhelming sense of frustration than Gabriel at this moment. In that respect, he was lucky.

"Goddamnit. I should have known after that dream she would come. I hope she had enough sense not to drag Ashley along," Kane stated irately, twisting the water's handle and pushing open the door. Slender, dark wings pressed against her back as she reached around him for a towel, unperturbed by the proximity and lack of clothing. She continued to rant as she wrapped the cloth around her waist, large droplets dripping and rolling off slick black locks and ebony feathers. "Standing out there waiting for me to approve? What the hell is she thinking? To hell with manners, I have angels on my a** and demons at my back and she is worried about... none of our righteous persecutors have come running to her, have they? I forgot she's a bloody seraphim- by the gods, why don't we wave some flags and set off some explosions to let everyone know where we are?"

Still holding the woven rich brown to her, she stalked out of the bathroom and towards the window. At first there seemed to be nothing amiss- her hostility and agitation was almost (if not totally) predictable. As she took one of her last steps towards the open portal to the outside, a single feather fell. It was impossible to tell from which wing it came, although the dark angel knew it was omen. She did not shed- and even if she did, it would be abnormal with such newly changed limbs. Nothing was visibly noticed or commented on before she leaned out and bellowed to the celestial below.

"REI! HURRY UP AND GET INSIDE!" Well, that was certainly formal and respectful. Nonetheless, the divine creature in question quickly obliged, appearing in a burst of radiant sunshine right beside her ornery hostess. It was a strange sight- a demure, soft spoken, patient, calming presence that glowed a comforting golden next to Kane. It was no surprise that the two were not the best of friends- while they fought for the same side and basic principles, they appeared to have nothing in common. Their temperments were even more at odds than their appearance; at least their skin tones seemed to be roughly the same.

Rei took a few steps towards Gabriel, silky curls bouncing slightly as she shuffled forward. The pristine fabric pooled around her feet as she paused in front of the fallen, one heel raised off the floor as she stood poised. Brilliant eyes swirled, the sunset of her irises shining as if they weren't just an imitation of the real star. Now that she was a mere foot away he could see the deep crimson tint meld into black and the brilliant white-gold ring at the outermost edge. Her skin was like liquid porcelain, smooth and flawless. Kane's would have been the same were she not always getting into fights and took care of herself at least part of the time.

"Anything vegetarian would be lovely." The swirling enigmatic irises seemed to penetrate his own in their caring stare, as if the patient smile that never left her lips was now directed at the soul she saw within. She didn't touch him purposefully, for she feared her touch might actually injure him. Some were susceptible to the cleansing aura she had about her and any tactile connection could painfully chase away the darkness, even if it was not desired.

Kane sighed, her shoulders sinking as she rubbed a temple and then walked past the pair to her dresser. It was, fortunately, behind the male's back and allowed her to dress without any notable audience. As she dropped the towel and started to pull on a pair of fitted slacks and a tank top, she spoke with some resignation in her voice. "I don't suppose I have to even ask why you came? I told you to not concern yourself with me and watch after my sister, didn't I? I didn't help keep her hands clean for you to chase after me trying to save my soul or some bullshit."

"Your dreaming is not safe. If he can..." Rei started, her voice unnerving pleasant. She was both used to the dark angel's general disposition and near impossible to anger or agitate.

Hurriedly the raven-haired woman cut in, not willing to let more details be divulged to Gabriel. "Malik is my goddamn business, no one else's! How do you think it helps things to have a blasted Seraphim coming to visit me? It's not helping me keep under the radar."

"There is more at stake than your salvation my dear." Rei's eyes finally moved from the fallen's to look over his shoulder at the female in question. Despite the hostile, curt words she received, she still didn't seem even slightly exasperated. "I would have cleansed you if you had asked..."

"I didn't ask, it was done by force!"

"It was for the best... but I know how alluring his anger is to you. You are in danger of being entranced by his ire- his presence is already causing an effect past this man's influence. Whoever cleansed you is in danger as well as the celestials of this world, not just the ones chasing you."

"I haven't asked the question yet," Rei said to Gabriel, although he was unaware of the unspoken question hovering in the air. Serenity still ebbed off her in quiet waves, undeterred by the agitated buoys that were her companions. Gentle, forgiving, infinitely compassionate eyes had not wavered at the sight of his affliction If anything, they seemed to soften with understanding and affection as if she were regarding a wayward son and not some poor lost soul she had just met.

"He's right, though. No. I'm not coming with you. I'll affect Ashley too much and Rael and I aren't exactly kindred spirits." She gave Gabriel a curious look as if asking what in the world was wrong with him as she continued to try to dismiss her angelic companion and all the assistance that had been offered.

"Rael is my lover first and demon second. He will provide help if only out of love for me. You know you are in danger here! I implore you! Consider who will be laid to waste here simply for convenience. Malik brings the darkness, to which you are both turning."

Kane then did something completely out of character. She stood squarely in front of the purely divine being that exuded light from every pore and looked... congenial. Diplomatic even. It was as if some bizarre body snatching fiend had suddenly infested the grouchy woman and was making her appear pleasant. Even her voice was smoother, although it could not entirely mask her gruff undertone. "Rei, leaving now will only delay the inevitable. If you want to help, help Gabriel."

Well, she was polite... except the volunteering the only man in the room for something he hadn't agreed to. The placid smile didn't look completely foreign and strange on Kane. Once she had been that way- content. It was not something she remembered or even desired to go back to. There was something more honest about getting angry, letting herself grin mischievously, make sarcastic remarks, even swear. It was more... genuine to her now. The face she made now that was so at ease and tranquil belonged to Ashley.

"I think at this point I am only a hindrance to, not a help," she said to Kane before turning towards Gabriel and accepting the salad. "Thank you." She nodded to the dark angel who sighed, rolled her eyes, and followed her towards the table. Kane sat next to Gabriel and Rei across. Even their eating style was diametrically opposed; one delicately scooped and the other stabbed efficiently and purposefully. While one might expect a child of the light to find the differences disturbing, only an amused and affectionate smile tugged at the benevolent creature's lips.

"Are you all right?" Kane was staring at him now that she was done eating; Rei was still gingerly coaxing lettuce on her fork. The warm air in the studio was starting to dry her hair. Some of the inky blackness was still plastered to her neck, but other strands gently curled down her shoulder and swayed with movement. Dark eyes focused in concern, the violet he knew to be their true color concealed under the mirage.

Is she safe here? The voice carried through the air like a sweet melody although the Seraphim's mouth did not move. She continued to eat, her eyes intentionally on Kane so as not to cause too much of a reaction. From the lack of response from the other woman, it was safe to assume that the fallen was the only one could hear it. My husband is a demon and from experience I can tell you they don't play well together. If you fear for her, I can take her away. It may buy you some time and safety from Malik for a while.

Kane's brows furrowed together in thought and concern, red swirling through the depths of the brown mirage. Soon the muddy hue had bled through until it was a brilliant burgundy, their gaze unwavering in staring at the vacant part of space. She was worried. So distracted was she that she jumped slightly as Rei reached forward and clasped her arm gently.

"You can not battle both his demons and your own," she urged gently. She too was concerned about the fallen, but she saw no good out of keeping two people struggling with a state of being together. They were both so unstable, so potentially volatile, that all the seraphim could imagine was them dragging one another further and further into madness.

"What did you do?" All traces of the chocolate hue had dissipated, brilliant crimson eyes turning towards the angel. Her voice was unnervingly calm and purposefully kept from being accusing. As agitated as she was, Kane knew that her friend would never knowingly cause another distress and it was about as worthwhile to be truly angry with the divine being as with the light itself; unproductive and stupid.

"I merely asked him a question. He is torn and my presence only tears him further asunder. You should part ways- not forever, but until at least he has a grasp of himself. It would be hypocritical and judgmental for me to say that no good could come of a relationship with a demon, but not even he knows how deeply he will be consumed. The man you know may disappear entirely, all traces of him twisted and into another creature entirely. It is not safe- he has little control and with Malik's arrival you may have little control. Nothing good will come of such an event."

"I'm not leaving. I can handle Malik and I am sure Gabriel will be fine once he has space. The entire reason I am letting him stay here is to help him control his darker aspects." She moved her opposite hand to remove Rei's from her arm when the light shot through her. In truth, the seraphim had kept the magic inside of her purposefully withdrawn, but now it shot through the dark angel purposefully. It was not painful but it was also not pleasant, causing Kane to recoil and repress the urge to hiss. Dark tendrils had flared before being repressed, however Rei had done what she had set out to accomplish.

Large black wings extended out of the other's back, their color slick and shiny, appearing as feathered pools of oil that glimmered in the dim light of the morning's rays. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" She thundered, even though she knew the the answer. Another singular plume fell towards to the floor, a silent omen of unspoken influences.

"Tell me that you don't have feelings for them. Tell me you no longer hold any love for Malik in your heart and that were Gabriel to turn on you or leave that you'd feel no emotional strain, no threat to your stability. Tell me that you are free of them, both of them." Sunset eyes looked to the other. They both knew the answer that was coming, but the angel felt compelled to ask what needed to be heard aloud. All her shimmering splendor meant nothing to the other, neither did her status: it was the ability to pierce through situations with wisdom that earned Rei respect in Kane's eyes. It was moments like these.

Kane could not feel it so far away. As inherently powerful as Rei believed her to be, she was largely untrained and unskilled in her magical abilities. Only whispering darkness guided her and that was both malicious and consuming. The seraphim was certain that at this distance the dark angel felt nothing but the discomfort of having ever-changing wings hanging limply to the floor and the sting if residual light.

The raven-haired beauty reacted, but it was a mere few moments too late. She had seen the glimmer in the angel's eyes as lips parted in a silent, sad song. As soon as the melody was on the air, sweet pitch drifting on an unseen breeze delicately, droplets and wisps of brilliance coalesced around Kane. The once-demon was quickly contained in the strange protective coating, a thick crystallized layer of glistening radiance as golden as the sun over her form. She was frozen in time and space. While at the moment the magic was called forth she had seemed alarmed, under the crystalline shield her eyes were closed peacefully as if she were merely wandering in her sleep.

"I am sorry, my dear," Rei whispered before a flash carried her out of the room and before the demon Gabriel had become. Nothing about her appearance had changed. No armor had been summoned in the instantaneous transit and no weapons manifested in her hands. To one that was none the wiser she was unarmed and defenseless, rolling waves of amber rippling across the ground where her robe and feet touched it. The four wings (not six that other worlds had) spread behind her, easing themselves open in the empty space.

"Come no farther." Blinding light consumed her before spreading into a wall behind the tips of her wings and curling around. It was purposefully protective of whatever might be approaching- protecting them from him and him from them. The barrier throbbed with the power of her unwavering faith, pure and simple. Rei was channeling herself now, almost tangible emotions of love and devotion emanating effortlessly. This woman was nothing like Kane; not even the smallest speck of darkness infected her. It was not just her appearance that was unblemished and flawless but the nature of her being.

Her words were vague, but purposefully so. Rei might be adverse to violence but she was not about to allow a demon to slaughter angels for no reason other than bloodshed nor for them to die meaninglessly. She was soft but she was not weak.

"Do not trivialize me," the seraphim whispered. Her voice carried on the wind, twisting with the gentle breeze as she looked at him. It was gentle, it was kind, it was inquisitive, and it was forgiving. Even as he struck against her, she refused to let even the shadows of a dark thought pass over her. Only compassion was found in those ever-setting sunsets, their colors blazing in reflection of all the golden splendor of her magics.

Rei's defense was deft, seemingly effortless and flawless in its execution. Were she to try to strike she'd be so untrained that she'd fumble on her first step forward, but she excelled in protection. Gentle ivory curls lifted off her shoulders, softly shimmering like fresh-fallen snow in the light. The danced and twisted with unforseen powers as she extended her hands, palms upward. Writhing darkness that was aimed at her chest was pulled towards the delicate limbs. As it twisted around her digits it shook and shivered before shaking off the inky blackness and bursting into brilliant, dazzling luminescence.

"Do not think that the nature of your birth is sufficient proof you are ready to battle a demon, my dearest angels. Only the most pure- those that have been tempted and turned it away in its entirety will I allow to approach. I will not allow this taint to spread to those ignorant of their vulnerability and the sway it may already hold on them." She addressed the approaching divine figures, but her voice remained controlled, soft, and melodic. Rei was firm but not stern; if they tested her, she would speak with them later.

The wall sprung to life suddenly, sweeping forward in a rush. It surged against the tide of shadow and engulfed it, small portions disappearing as it swallowed its polar opposite whole. The majority of it continued, smothering the flame as it washed like a tidal wave over the demon. If he were strong in his conviction, it would do nothing to hinder his next move, but should he waver the cleansing power could cause the slightest sway. The seraphim had to know- was there still hope of change in the near future or should she summon Kane's twin to whisk the dark angel away to relative safety?