Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rei came in through the window, which was no small feat in and of itself. Wings pressed to her back as tightly as they could and seemed to twist and contort as she passed through the opening. Once inside the small abode they lifted, expanding slightly to their former comfortable size. Powerful as she was, they were tired. The day had required exhaustive powers, most notably traversing planets and lands to get to Kane as quickly as possible. Much of her strength had been slowly sapped away; had her flight not been in sunlight, she would not have arrived in such haste. Drinking in their rays of purity had given some relief for all the expenditures.

Bare feet slipped across the thick, wooden floor worn with age. Smooth ivory skin was unhindered by the rough texture as she arrived at Dazriel. Slender fingers were extended, the manifestation of radiance leaning over the archangel with the softest smile and most compassionate of gazes. No word was spoken, for it might have ruined the tender moment, unraveling the singular action and tying it with complexities. Blossoming eyes of crimson, gold, and amber understood all they saw. Let me help you. Let me share your pain.

Rei's soothing aura ebbed off her still in subtle waves. It was not the same as before, when she tread on land. That moment was painted with the most vibrant of colors, bold and bright; this was painted with pastels, tender and demure.

"Ugh, don't." Kane reached out and grabbed Gabriel's hand. It was searing hot- feverish even- like she had been once before when she tried to conceal changing wings. The rise in temperature of her body had nothing to do with illness, but rather the demonic nature she now embodied. As different as she appeared now, it would be wholly inconceivable for this woman to manifest into a cold, detached creature of the nine hells. "You're just going to exhaust yourself. I don't need them. Pain is fine, hardly notice."

Of course, she was lying, but it was hard to hold it against someone who was minimally aware of their actions and words, spewing out and doing exactly what occurred at each moment. She pushed herself up to sitting, Slightly vacant eyes wavering and drifting a moment. The hole in her chest had closed, covered with a bubbling black blister as it mended her insides. Wings were half-formed, crackling slightly as they pieced together with his magics and her own regeneration. Kane certainly noticed the pain- but in this state, it was tolerable. As an angel, or even partially, agony would have been truly that. As a beast of the night, physical trauma was as enjoyable as it was disdained.

Rei's laughed gently as she leaned forward, grasping both his hands and firmly pulling him up, no matter how unwilling he might be. Despite her petite frame and utter lack of musculature, she was able to summon a certain amount of physical strength in herself. Gaze of a twin sunset stared at him still. Although the colors are first blush might seem to be unmoving, a closer inspection and study revealed that they shifted every so slightly with each breath, facial twitch, and word.

"Is it not wonderful? In the darkest of night, we can see what the true splendor of the sun. Do not worry, I won't let her accost you again," she teased in soft, bemused voice. No doubt the situation was infinitely confusing to the young before her, but there was something about a gentle application of laughter that made one at ease with themselves. Her hair lost some of its luster and her garments seemed to fade ever so slightly as tiny sparkles, no larger than a babe firefly, rolled out of fingertips and over the archangel's hands.

Had Kane been slightly more aware of anything besides what was happening to her, she would have certainly slung a witty, sarcastic, biting remark or defense at the seraphim that was poking fun at her no more than several feet away. As it was, though, there was a demon that was leaning over her, veritably forcing treatment of her wound. The one on her chest sucked energy away from his efforts, demanding that it be mended silently; as such, the tattered limbs assembled slightly more slowly as the more mortal wound fully closed and blended once more into flesh.

"You can't fix me!" she blurted out, the last word slurring slightly and trailing off as her mind appeared to wander off momentarily. Lavender eyes that had been motionless in their stare straight ahead slowly rolled off to the right, now scrutinizing a wall. In her mind, words churned and contorted, echoing and blaring in the empty spaces where more coherent and well-formed plans might have once been placed. It was true; in some ways she obstinately refused to let herself be pacified, be forgiven, be 'fixed.' Malik would not have climbed to his status and held it so strongly if he was not cunning: blatant lies would have been easy to disregard. It was the small nuggets of truth, or semblance of it, that embedded themselves in her and gave growth. Half-truths, gray areas were harder to pull apart. It kept her from being 'fixed' and letting the b*****d take the blow that had been meant for him.

"You're angry," she then stated, still not looking at him but rather at the cream-colored drywall. It wasn't the injury or her attempt to refuse his assistance either. Even in this strange, somehow enigmatic moment she understood that much.

"I did very little, I must sincerely confess. It is true I remain here for the moment to comfort and aid you, but it was not I who drained you of the taint that you found yourself run through with. The method was a bit vulgar, but efficient. I am not certain why Kane felt so compelled to try to save you, but I do hope her sacrifice is as effective as she hoped. You should rest and gather your strength and faith. I am afraid this was only a taste of what may lay ahead." She rose and walked towards Dazriel, leaning over his chair to kiss him softly, chastely on the forehead before turning and approaching Kane and Gabriel.

One hand was gently laid on the bed and pooling light washed over it briefly, mending the small tears and smoothing away the blood. Clean linens remained, colored white by the magic (Kane had never had white sheets- everything in her apartment were warm shades). Smelling lightly of soap and looking to be fresh pressed, she looked towards Gabriel but kept her distance. It did not escape her attention that before his demonic side had been nudged out by her proximity.

"You and your friend should sleep. I will wash her and help her stay awake when you are done mending her wounds." Rei's eyes flickered with love. In harmony with being angelic, she was also maternal and nurturing- as she reached out and smoothed Kane's hair, she appeared very much like a mother adoring her only child. "My husband will become paranoid, so I only have at most a day before he will come for me. I wish to do as much as I can and leave before he is drawn here- I fear the demon inside you and Kane would lash out at him instantly."

As they talked, Kane's mind continued to drift. Although she was getting better physically, her delirium continued- purposefully. She knew if she focused her mind and was fully conscious she could succumb to all the dark desires breeding deep inside of her- the least of which was to rip apart the two divine creatures in the room with her. Groaning to herself, she buried her head in the pillow and was all but oblivious to Rei's gentle touch. It would be unwise to sleep now when Malik would be gunning for her in her dreams, but it was tempting. If she was asleep she could block everything out, all the screams of the damned and all the urges. Just for a while. Just to have a break. After that surely everything would be better.

"Malik has no reason to return yet; he will wait for the seeds he planted to start to bloom. I would warn, though, he is a demon who is fond of traversing dreams. Divine beings are immune to such invasions, and those who are close to them are protected. I suggest you both take the bed and rest," she smiled warmly, but the concern in her eyes was readily visible. She worried that Dazriel would become twisted by Malik's poison, his words, his thoughts- and that Gabriel would likewise be pushed inadvertently. Neither of them were as troubling as the woman who seemed to be veritably jumping into her own damnation.

"Come, my child," she said, lifting Kane off the bed slowly. The slight woman of snow white hair, ivory flesh, and soft pearl satin glowed ever so slightly as she lifted the other. Kane's head tilted towards Rei's breast as she was lifted, pale gold toppling their arms as lavender eyes opened just slightly. They watered slightly at the light and in weariness. Despite the malicious, ominous aura that drifted off the demoness, Rei was unscathed. The seraphim had intimate relations with one the highest-ranked demons of their world and never once did she waver in the slightest- this was a weak trial in comparison.

Without commentary or deliberation with the two men in the room, she carried Kane into the bathroom and closed the door except for a sliver and started the water. Waiting until the sound of the water hissing and splashing out the showerhead was loud enough to cover her whispers, she looked down at the dark creature she held so tenderly.

"Trying to protect them like this and you'll hurt yourself, my love. You should trust in them more. You should tell them more, too. You know, I think that Gabriel might feel as much for you as you do him. He should know what you could become, what happens if you call your armor." She slowly peeled off Kane's clothes, being careful not to brush against the wings. The steam and liquid would cleanse the wound and help keep the delirious being awake a bit longer.

"I want to be alone," was Kane's only reply. The demoness gently pushed away the seraphim as she stumbled her way into the shower, stripped with Rei's help. Her wings stung as the warm, clean water ran over them and she sucked in her breath, swaying slightly before slumping down onto the floor. There was no harm in sitting on the tile as all her grime and wounds were washed- and she had no intention of letting anyone helping her bathe, injured or not.

The angel was about to protest but realized how fruitless it would be; if she poked and prodded the other woman enough,her delirious state could melt away to overbearing anger which is exactly what she meant to prevent from happening. As Kane slid down to sitting on the slick floor, letting the water spray over her, Rei slipped out of the room leaving it a few inches open. The men likely didn't want to be interrupted or bothered by her presence anymore than Kane, but there was little choice. She had no means to return home and she wanted to make sure that when the dark female truly 'awoke' there would be no further descent.

"I am going to go downstairs to fetch some liquor. Could I get either of you anything? Something to lighten your spirits?" she asked, smiling with hope dancing in her eyes that she could somehow console them through such a simple action. Full, feathered limbs disappeared and left behind a shimmering, glittering dust that settled on the floor where it twinkled benignly. While neither of those present objected to her wings, she hardly thought the mortals below would care for such a display. The goal, for now, was to be discreet.

She, of course, was not going to drink. Whatever she could procure would be given to Kane in the hopes that when she started to be more aware of her surroundings, Rei could get just slightly inebriated. It might cause her friend to fall asleep, but it was the only thing she could think of that might buy her some time to rest and be at her full strength before the demoness was fully conscious. The seraphim wasn't taking any chances.

Rei did not linger long downstairs. Her aura, although not visible to the mortals, exuded serenity and warmth that made those around her want to be nothing but kind or accommodating in her trip downstairs. It was no brainwashing, but a subtle draw on the more gentle personality traits already embedded in a personality. They were congenial, flashing smiles and laughing lightly at her idle chatter, pleasantries really, to pass the few minutes it took them to fill the two jugs and plate she had requested.

She carried the platter in one hand and the two jugs with her other, thanking the bartender and cook profusely as she went up the steps and reassuring that she did not, in fact, need further assistance. Once out of sight she lifted her hands, the platter and two jugs floating on glittering swirls of iridescence as she made her way to the room and opened the door, peering in first to make sure she was not interrupting anything private between the other two guests. Seeing that Gabriel and Dazriel were both reclining and quiet, she entered, ushering in the jug and the platter to the nightstand beside the bed.

Kane in the shower did not stir except for slow breathing, her hair plastered to her face and back as she watched water stream past her eyes. Wings lay behind her limply, pain searing through the limbs as they were washed over with the steaming liquid. Lifeless violet eyes stared straight ahead at an obscure tile.

"My husband is a demon," she started as she entered the room, her tone light and casual as if she were explaining how she made pastries that morning. "He is one of the highest ranked in his realm, which many find at odds for loving a seraphim so unconditionally. At first blush, it appears odd," her eyes moved to Gabriel, the bright hues of sunset settling on his softly. "I use our love to pull me to the light; I see grace in him that he does not; everything is bright and I am delirious and forgiving with the world twice as much as before. Rael takes the same emotions and spins and twists them into jealousy and hatred of all that is not me, all that does not suit him; he is angry for all that look on me with even one stray thought to his disliking." She turned towards the doorway then, one jug following her obediently like a stray puppy.

"This is a far more complex web, but the premise is the same; you have all come to care for each other, in varying ways. I am certain Kane will not return to his side, or if so, for any length of time so he will use your relationships to try to drag you to the depths of the abyss with him. I will keep Kane sedated as long as I am able, but I can not prevent her spiraling; her conviction wavers, I can sense as much. I just wish you to know that until you are all lost, none of you are."

With that she pressed open the door to the shower, the jug moving in front of her as she opened the door to the shower, heat pouring out as she leaned in and turned the knob for the water off. With her free hand she grabbed a towel, draping it loosely over the demoness's head as if she were a child. "Do you feel better now?" she asked, pulling her to her feet gently. "Let's warm you up and get you something to drink, hmmm?"

"Is this better?" Kane asked emptily, and Rei tilted her head to the side as the muscles in her arms flexed with the strain of lifting the dead weight. Kane was stumbling to her feet awkwardly like a newborn lamb.

"Is what better?" the angel asked.

Kane's ghostly violet eyes drifted towards the door and Rei let out a sigh. Even had Kane been willing to give a response, the chance was in this state the answer might be completely incoherent. She set the jug in the sink and reached forward, pulling the towel from laying like a veil on the demoness's head and wrapping it tightly around her torso. The pale color of the fabric only accentuated the rich, earthy tan that her skin had absorbed and the soft brilliance of white-gold hair.

"Very well, but I don't know how well she will be able to converse. Know that if you don't give her this liquor, and quite a lot of it, that she will most likely turn and slaughter us or very nearly. I have expended most of my energies, so my defenses are ill-suited to deal with her magical prowess when she has no conscience." Rei smiled at him as she opened the door the rest of the way to let him in and stepped past, her lithe form and soft clothes slipping by, brushing against his side delicately. "I will just sit with Gabriel a spell."

Kane was leaning against the glass pane of the shower, her cheek pressed against the smooth surface and ringlets of hair curled and clinging stubbornly to the surface. Her blank eyes regarded Dazriel coolly, without contempt or caring, as her lips parted slowly. Had she been pale as he was, instead of a warm bronze, she might appear like a porcelain doll. "I won't give it back. You can't handle it." Apparently she was aware enough to recognize him and realize his situation, even if her grasp did not seem particularly deep or emotional as might be normal.

Rei seated herself on the chair next to the bed, folding her hands in her lap. It was imperative she remained in close proximity to him in case one of them might fall asleep and not want to fall prey to the tricks of Malik. Despite her endless hope and radiant smile, she seemed tired. Her glow had lost but all of its luster and her eyes seemed a touch dimmer, the sunset seeming to fade into night. She had slept well enough at home the night before but all the activity she had already encountered wore on her despite her strong willpower.

"Do not worry. She is stubborn and demanding and has built many walls around her heart... but I am sure your feelings are slowly reaching her."