Fallen from Grace • Chapter Seven

Angelico walked along the dark, quiet streets. Faintly, from the stadium behind him, he could hear the announcer speaking into the shoddy sound system, and the crowds cheering. It seemed everyone on the moon was participating in or watching the fight except Angelico. He thought he would find the hospital empty.

Outside of the hospital, Arianna, who was a local gladiator and acting doctor, was in the midst of an interview by a newswoman that Angelico did not recognize. If she was traveling interplanetary she must be important, but he knew of many newscasters, and try as he might, he could not remember her. However, she did not seem memorable. Her hair was neither dark nor light but had been one and she made it the other. Probably brunet with blond highlights, but she could've just as easily been a natural blond but pretended she wasn't. Angelico could not tell but did not think long about it. Her clothes were neutral in color, grays, and beiges. Her nails and lips were a dark red or a bright brown. Her voice was monotone with phony inflections; feigned interest laid over boredom.

The cameraman, if it could be called a man, was strikingly memorable compared to her. A type of alien Angelico had never seen, or a mutant, or perhaps a combination of the two. It had five appendages. The two lowest were clearly legs and functioned as such. The other three extended off the neck. They looked like an octopus' tentacles. It was as if its thick, rubbery neck was split into three sections, each hanging over its torso, two in front and one in the back. There were no hands at the ends, but there were digits, at least a dozen on each tentacle. They were long and thin, always moving as if they were in a current. They moved independently of one another. Its face was pear-shaped, like a gorilla. Wiry hair, like that found on a pig, popped up in patches all over its face, gathering more densely at the very top of its head. It had a broad, flat nose, yellow eyes on the verge of bulging, and two tusk-like teeth.

Angelico, wanting to be noticed, stood next to the thing that worked the camera, shoulder to shoulder (if indeed the bend in its arm could be called a shoulder). He stood quietly, watching the interview. He had been a fan of Arianna since he first saw her fighting in the arena. The more he saw of her, the fonder he was. Now was no exception. The striking woman was more of a goddess. She wore the traditional Dogmorian formalwear, which was like a toga turned into a prom dress. Her long, brown hair, which he always saw worn down, was up, tight to her head. It looked shorter in this style than it was. The curly ends of her hair hung down in the back. The spotlight on the camera brought out the violet of her eyes. Angelico wandered off in thought until he heard the interview concluding.

"I'm Kaelynne Winsors reporting live from the moon of Dogma." Angelico did not recognize her name. She paused, then asked a man previously unseen by Angelico, "Do you think we should try a fourth time?"

"No," he said, "That last one's good enough."

Angelico cleared his throat. He wanted Arianna's attention, hoping she would introduce him to the media. Being a doctor's assistant, he thought she would at least ask him if he was ok. She did not glance his way. At last, he had to introduce himself to the mutant camera worker. "Hello, my name is Angelico, guardian of the people of Dogma. Welcome to our moon." Angelico was normally the kind to shake hands when greeting people, but the thing had no hands, and he was not anxious to touch what was there. Instead, he bowed gracefully.

"Ni' wing," said the cameraman like his nose was congested.

Angelico displayed his wings proudly. "Thank you. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."

"It' Kanat."

"How long will you be staying?" Angelico asked nonchalantly.

"We're fini'd here. Tonight."

"Nonsense," said Angelico putting his arm around the creature, trying not to cringe in disgust. "There's so much to see and do here. Where are you staying? You must see the hotel."

"We're not 'taying..." The creature continued on, but Angelico was distracted. With the interview over, Arianna was letting down her hair. It was like it had sprung forth for the first time. She moved her head slowly for the hair to fall into place but did not shake her head.

With his train of thought ended, he had to start anew. This time he decided to head straight for the newswoman, Kaelynne Winsors. "Miss Winsors?" She had been putting away her audio recording device and looked up curiously at Angelico. He noticed she had heavy bags under her eyes that were barely hidden with her makeup. Her eyes themselves were heavy, a murky gray, and looked as if they would spill out boggy tears. "I thought that was you. Huge fan of your work. Remember that story you did last week...?" Angelico smiled and shook his head softly as if he were lost in great memory.

"On the retirement home?"

Sure, why not. "Yes, that's it, very interesting. Very in-depth. I see big things for you."

"Thank you," she did not look at him as she said this and finished putting her recording device away.

"My name is Angelico," he said. "Guardian angel over the people of Dogma. I'm also a gladiator." He stopped to wait for her to respond, but she did not. "You must come by the stadium, watch a fight. It's quite a show. There'll be one later tonight, you can see me win." She was either uninterested or deaf or both.

"Really?" asked the man that Angelico hadn't noticed before. He almost purposely ignored him, as he looked like a lackey who carried the equipment. He was big, muscular, not fat. He was dark of skin, his hair was short, but not shaved, and was a consistent length all over. He had no facial hair and no visible body hair. He wore very worn jeans, a white t-shirt, and tennis shoes, clothes familiar to Angelico's homeworld, Earth. From his accent, Angelico could tell he was from Earth and hadn't been gone long. "I'm surprised this moon has gladiators. Is it Ophidian sanctioned?"

"No, we're an off-off circuit arena. A starting place for the greats. A lot of amazing talent here."

"I used to fight," said the man.

"Have I heard of you?"

"Not unless you're from Earth."

"Actually..." he almost forgot, he was an angel sent to Dogma to watch over them, he was not a human with artificial wings, "I've been to Earth. You don't look familiar."

"I did compete in the league, but I really made a name for myself boxing."

"What's your name?"

"Roberts." Angelico wondered if it was his first or last name. That he didn't know meant he did not know the man.

Angelico shook his head apologetically, "I'm sorry. Can't say I followed boxing closely."

"Not to worry." He laughed, patted Angelico on the shoulder with a big, rough hand, and then offered it to shake in the Earth fashion, not the violent Dogma fashion. "Pleased to meet you, Angelico."

"The pleasure's mine, Roberts," said Angelico, though he knew the pleasure was Roberts', not his.

"I'm the manager of the channel 86 news on Dkarthad. A match with unknown gladiators may make for interesting, or at least novel, news. I think we'll take you up on that offer to stick around for a match, maybe even film it, televising the highlights."

"I assure you, to televise the highlights you'll have to televise the whole match." Angelico laughed, Roberts joined in with his booming voice.

"What time's the match?"

"It's at..." Angelico paused. Despite his many days on the moon, he still had not figured out Dogmorian time. "You'll know, trust me. You'll see every person on the moon heading towards the arena. You have some time; it'll be about halfway through the night." He leaned in close like he had a secret, "In about sixteen hours Earth-time."

"Sixteen hours from now is still middle of the night?"

Angelico shook his head. "It takes some time to adjust, let me tell you."

"That's not so bad," Roberts glanced at his watch, "We have some business to attend to, and I guess some sleep to catch up on. But we'll be there."

"Perfect." Angelico smiled broadly and extended his hand to shake. "Then I'll see you there." He smiled to say farewell to the newswoman and the camera thing. He stood and watched them go. When he was alone with his Dogmorian goddess, Angelico turned to Arianna and said, "We have quite a few hours before tonight's fight, if you wanted to do something."

"I have patients to attend to." It was cold. She blew him off; there was no apology or flirting from her side. However, Angelico was not one to give up easily. Still carrying his untouched pain medication and concealing makeup, he returned to his hotel room, hoping for some much-needed rest.

The trip back to the hotel was longer than expected. The previous fight had just finished, and the people were leaving. He was headed in the opposite direction of most, and they stopped to talk and ask for autographs. Angelico obliged, slowly moving closer and closer to the hotel. At last, he was there, in the empty lobby, and rushed to his room.

He put down his medicine and makeup but did not go directly to sleep. There was one last thing he needed to do. He wrote down a message, addressed an envelope, and grabbed every last credit he had. He should be paid for tonight's fight soon and had not yet been paid for his previous fight. He ran down to the lobby, having to greet a few fans on the way. "Could you mail this for me?" he asked the hotel receptionist.

"Of course," the receptionist said, obediently.

"What's that you're mailing?" asked a portly, reddish-peach-colored man.

Angelico had been seen putting a mass of money into an envelope. That could look like something suspicious or illegal. He needed a credible story. "Mailing everything I have to a charity back home." What kind of charity? "An orphanage, actually. A very respectable place. Why, with my help, they've saved over one hundred...thousand children so far...this year." The fan nodded, impressed. Angelico returned to his room before more questioning could start and had the sleep he sorely needed.

He did not know what woke him, but Angelico woke so abruptly that he knew it had not been natural. He looked around his darkroom and saw nothing. He knew that meant his ally, Shadowed, was there. He spoke into the darkness, "Hello, Shadowed."

"You can see me?"

"Sense you. What's up?"

"I just thought you would like to know there's a camera by the arena. This is your chance."

"Yeah, I know, I invited them here."

"You convinced the media to come to Dogma?"

Sure, why not. "I'm very persuasive."

"The agents asked that we injure, but not kill, The Vampyress and Rapt. I've heard through rumor that you're planning on killing her."

"Oh, that was just a thing I said. But if they want us to injure, I'm happy to oblige."

"Rapt asked that we don't actually hurt him; he's willing to fake it. I know she will, too."

"Ok, fine. Can I get back to sleep now?"

"I hope not, it's nearly time for the fight?"

"Already? I just went to sleep..." He looked at the alarm clock. The hand was in the middle spiral. What did that mean? "I don't feel like I've slept at all."

"We have to be down there soon."

"Fine." Everything hurt, and it was a real struggle to push through the pain and stand up. By the time he was on his feet, Angelico knew that Shadowed was gone, though nothing looked different. He was still wearing the hospital-issued toga. He took it off to put on his loincloth that he fought in. He decided he liked the look of the toga, though, and came up with a plan for the cameras. He opened up the makeup Circe had given him and started to apply it where it wasn't already applied. Specifically, the unsightly burn across his chest. His blond, curly hair needed little maintenance, apparently, he had slept on his face. Lastly, he covered himself in body glitter. He threw his toga and sandals back on and headed out.

Instead of going down to the street to the stadium, he went to the roof of the hotel. He looked across the street at Kaelynne, Roberts, and Kanat. Roberts was adjusting the transmission equipment, Kanat was holding the camera with its tentacles, and Kaelynne was speaking with locals that were on their way to watch the fight. Angelico felt a twinge of jealousy at the people hogging the spotlight, but he still had a stunt up his sleeve (well, up to his sleeveless toga).

Angelico stood at the edge of the roof, hands-on hips, wings out majestically, waiting for someone to see him. It was dark, and there were no lights pointed at him, but he was light of skin and hair and clothes, and what little light bounced around would surely find its way to him. It was actually the glitter he wore that twinkled just enough to catch the attention of a fan across the street. That person, genderless in the distance, pointed towards Angelico, directing the eyes of the people and camera. That was the cue.

Angelico prayed his wings were as strong as he thought them. He fell forward until he was speeding head-first towards the ground. The wind rushing against his face hurt his eyes. He chose to close them; he'd rather be splattered on the street than look like he was crying in the interview. Usually, he liked to glide along the ground, a foot or three off of it, but his sense of self-preservation would not allow it. Without looking, he could not tell how far he had fallen, but it felt far enough. He spread his wings, gripping the air like a terrified cat, and started towards the arena, parallel to the ground.

He opened his eyes momentarily to see where he was. He was about one and half stories above the ground, and if he continued straight ahead he'd meet the far end of the stadium, away from the media and crowds. He dipped and turned until he was back on track and closed his eyes again until he thought he was close enough for his eyes to be seen. He opened them, dove at the crowd, flapped once to stop his forward movement, and landed on his feet. He really needed to send a thank you letter to the creator of his wings.

Everyone cheered and clapped as if he had just won the fight. Even Kaelynne raised her eyebrows enough to show, for a few seconds, that she was impressed. It faded immediately, and she returned to an emotionless state. "I just flew into town, and boy, are my wings tired." Angelico expected a bigger reaction. Only Roberts laughed for real. Few forced a laugh out of respect (or sympathy), and some just stared blankly. However, the excitement of his fantastic entrance was still blazing in their minds and his failed attempt at humor was burnt to a cinder and forgotten.

Angelico stepped up close to Kaelynne, hands-on-hips, wings tucked behind him yet easily visible, and awaited his interview. "Again, I would just like to say what a pleasure it is to have you here on our moon, Miss Winsors."

She did not respond. "Having spoken with many locals, I've learned that you are their favorite gladiator, even though you've been here a very short time. Why do you think you are more popular than even the local gladiators?"

"Because I am one of them. I have been a spectator who wanted to be a gladiator, I have been a trainee who wanted to compete, and now, here I am, amongst the people I love, fulfilling my childhood dream, as any one of them, could."

He wanted to pause for applause but Kaelynne asked, "For example Rapt, who you will be facing tonight. He is a citizen of Dogma, born and raised. In addition to competing in the gladiator arena, he is a farmer who provides food for the people. What do you provide for the people?"

Angelico stood up straighter than he was already standing, trying to give himself more height, and therefore, more power, the power she was trying take from him. This hurt from his shoulders to his waist, but he did not so much as flinch. "I watch over them. I protect them. A beast by the name of Brunt terrorized this moon. They put me in the arena with him, and now he is no more. He will never harm another Dogmorian thanks to me." There were murmurs of agreement among the people standing around. "All they have to do is ask for help and I will do everything in my power to help them." The murmuring increased until it turned into applause. Angelico smiled, content.

Kaelynne was beaten in her line of questioning, and she tried to find another way to tear him down. "Your wings are they real?"

"If you're doubting your vision or your sanity you're welcome to touch them." He extended a wing for her to touch, but she declined. His comment prompted some laughter.

"Your flight down here, how was that really pulled off? Strings? Mirrors?"

"Look around." Angelico gestured all around with open, upturned palms. "There are no mirrors around here. There are no strings hanging from the sky. There is no hook on my back."

"If you can really fly with them you'd have no trouble showing us right now?"

"Not at all." Angelico spread his wings, jumped and flapped twice, did a double summersault more than fifteen feet from the ground, and landed on both feet with bent knees. It drove the crowd nuts. "Would you like to see more?"

"No, thank you. It has been said that you come across as phony, burying your looks below makeup, fearing to show your true form. Would you like to comment on that?"

"Nothing could be further from the truth. What you see is me in my true glory. If there is one thing I can't be accused of, it's hiding. I bear all for the world to see. Nothing is concealed, this is who I am." He wanted to see if she would ask something else; he felt he was the mouse with the cat's tail beneath his claw. However, she looked too flustered to speak. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Miss Winsors, I have a fight to win." He walked off, signing a few autographs as he went.

On his way into the arena, he heard her say, "This is Kaeley... um, Kaelynne Winsors live from the planet of...I mean the moon of Dogma. Can we do that again? This is Kaelynne Winsors..."

Angelico passed through the inspectors, proving he had no hidden bio-tek weaponry. He moved to his starting door, the one near the announcer's table. He leaned against the wall, in the shadows cast by the arena lights. When he thought no one could see him, he reached into the hidden pocket on his right-wing and pulled out the two pain pills he had hidden there earlier. He slipped them stealthily into his mouth. An invisible voice said, "Popping pills? I think that's grounds for expulsion." Without having to look, he knew the sizzling voice came from Shadowed. He was disappointed he could not sense his approach this time.

"I won't tell if you won't tell."

"Keep those cameras pointed inside the arena and I'll keep any secret you want."

"I never pegged you as a glory hog."

"You think I want to be on this hick-moon winning fixed fights for the rest of my life?"

"I naturally assumed this was your playground."

"No. I want out of here, even if I have to climb through the cameras and be transmitted elsewhere." Shadowed seemed to slip around bodiless, and Angelico wondered if he really could do that. "What's with the sheet wrapped around you?"

"It's the traditional uniform of the Dogmorian soldier."

"No, that's a hospital gown. The toga is also traditional formal wear. There is no military, much less a military uniform."

"Either way, it's a long-standing tradition I hope to uphold. Besides, it's now part of the show." The announcer introduced the winners of the previous match. Rapt entered first. Angelico had met him earlier that day when he was invited to his farm. Rapt insisted, at weapon point, that Angelico train to be a portal gladiator with him. Angelico had said he'd think about it, only to leave without angering Rapt. He was holding a grudge against him since.

Then the Vampyress was announced. Angelico knew her as well. She was a waitress at a nearby cafe. She seemed to be a cute little redheaded girl, as the top and bottom of her hair exposed its true color. But she buried her looks in a Goth-like costume, with black makeup and hair dye, and white powder to make her pale. She wore a Morticia-like dress and a choker around her neck with something orange swirling inside the crystal that hung from it.

"Which one of us is going to beat up the little girl?" asked Angelico.

"I'll take her; you go after Rapt." After a pause, Shadowed added, "Remember, he is going to fake an injury, so don't hurt him much." Angelico shrugged.

The announcer informed the audience that Amphib and Eel, who had wanted to take on that night's earlier winners, were threatened by Shadowed to drop out of that night's fight. The crowd booed. In their place, Shadowed and Angelico would fight them. The crowd cheered and booed simultaneously; everyone had a strong opinion one way or another. The announcer went on and introduced Angelico.

There was now only cheering. Some were stronger than others, but everyone loved him or at least liked him. Angelico did not so much as glance at his opponents. He entered the arena and noticed that the glass barrier that previously separated the audience and the gladiators were gone. Vaguely, in the depths of his memories, he remembered it breaking. In its place was simply caution tape. The arena looked less professional, and he was embarrassed when he glanced at Kanat with the camera.

Angelico did his warm-up dance, turning, spreading his wings, gliding. Then, while the crowd was at the peak of excitement, he kicked off his sandals and took off his toga, so he was down to just his loincloth. He was disappointed that more women weren't cheering, or fewer men. He hung his toga on a wall near where he entered, so as not to dirty their traditional uniform.

He heard (but did not see) Shadowed say, "Take this chain and attach it to the hook in the ground."

The announcer then stated that Shadowed would be partnering with Angelico, and hopefully, Angelico could keep him under control. There was much booing now, and when it came down to it, Shadowed really received a stronger reaction than Angelico's stripping stunt, though it was not a positive reaction. The end of the chain was shoved into Angelico's hand. As he stepped away from the doorway with it, Shadowed came spilling out of the darkness, as if he had been jerked hard. The crowd jeered and laughed at him. Angelico found the hook in the floor and attached the chain to it, noticing how easily it could be unattached.

Angelico was just standing up when Rapt broadsided him. Angelico stumbled backward and had to use his wings to stay on his feet. Apparently, the fight was on. The admiration of the camera, the noise of the crowd, even the ridiculousness of the caution tape, disappeared from his mind. He was focused solely on the fight

The Vampyress was foolishly within chain's reach of the floor hook. With arms cuffed behind his back, Shadowed took a run at her and leaped in an attempt to kick her. He missed tragically, but it did not seem to be because of the chain. He swung his head her way to strike her with it, but at the last moment, he stopped his attack.

Angelico swung at Rapt, hitting him, but pulling back last moment, trying not to injure him. "Given any thought to learning portals?" Rapt asked.

"I really haven't," said Angelico, glancing around for a weapon.

"I came up with a list of reasons why you should. Number one, think about entering the arena by opening a portal high above and gliding in. Number two..."

Angelico had found, grabbed, and was swinging a blunt mace. "Are we really having this conversation now?" He missed on purpose, but he did not want to do this for long.

"What better time? You know you're going to win, we're just filling time."

"Maybe you're happy with this farce, but I came here to fight." Angelico swung the mace, landing it in the side of Rapt's leg. Angelico was disappointed in himself, as he held back some, but it was enough to drop him to the ground.

"If it's a fight you want it's a fight you'll get," said the wincing Rapt. One hand, clad in a leather glove, gripped his wounded knee. The other gripped the air like a windowsill and peeled it like a banana. A hole was torn into the three-dimensional world like it was paper. Out wriggled a creature. Angelico had seen it earlier that day at Rapt's farm. It was called a santine. It was like a caterpillar with a face of a dog. However, the one Angelico saw was ankle-high, this one was nearly twice Angelico's height and it was three times as long as it was tall. It had seemed cutely ferocious before, like a Weiner-dog. However, it was quite menacing in this size. Angelico threw down his mace and looked for a better weapon.

The Vampyress, wearing her fake fangs, hissed at Shadowed in an attempt of intimidation. Then she went for the attack, swinging her black, press-on nails. It resulted in a slap, which was not felt through the dark armor Shadowed wore. She went for another attack. Shadowed rolled backward to avoid it, spun around on the ground, and came up with his hands-free. He was about to unhook the collar around his neck, but as she was still close, he went for another attack instead. She closed her eyes moved her hands like she was gesturing for the ground to come near her. The ground moved, forming a spectre that was human-like. It took the full brunt of Shadowed's attack and was destroyed. The Vampyress felt nothing.

A pointed metal pole, that looked like just a piece of the arena supporting a wall, turned out to be Angelico's glaive, which he requested to be placed in the arena before his fight. He ran to it, grabbed it, and prepared to take on the santine. Something didn't seem right. It was like a movie where the actors were filmed in front of a blue screen, and the background is added later. It looks real enough, but something is just unnatural. It almost looked like Rapt's hand had passed through part of the santine when he gave the order to attack. Angelico passed this off as a misjudgment in-depth perception, or maybe his hand passed through its fur. However, as it moved closer to him, he just had the blue-screen feeling.

To prove to himself, he threw the glaive between its eyes. It passed on through like nothing was there, and the santine was not a bit affected. Angelico stared harder, focusing on the ground. He saw a point where there was another, much smaller, santine, like he could see through to its stomach, where it was pregnant with another. He surmised that the small one was the real one, and the rest was an illusion. He rushed at it, never taking his eyes off the smaller one, not even to blink. He punted it like a football. It did not survive the fall. He put his hands up to say "field goal" but everyone thought he was just raising his arms in celebration.

It appeared Shadowed had snapped the collar around his neck from sheer strength. Only he and The Vampyress saw that he had used a claw to unlock it. She swung at him and slapped his lower back. With an "Ow!" he dropped to one knee, holding the injured area. He whispered in his sizzling voice, "Ready?" The Vampyress barely nodded. He returned to a standing position, grabbed her by the side, and threw her. Dust filled the immediate area around her. There was a moment before she regained her breath.

As the dust started to interfere with Angelico's vision, he flapped one wing to shoo it away. He did not even look in the direction of it. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, there was The Vampyress. Before he looked directly at her, her cold hands grabbed him by his chest and back. He planted his feet firmly, in case she was stronger than she looked and could throw him. The skin she touched went cold. He felt it happen in an instant, and in contrast, her hands felt warm. Angelico felt weaker from it. She had a new vibrant color to her that the white powder could not hide. She let go of Angelico and turned her attention back to Shadowed.

By the time Angelico turned his attention from The Vampyress and his chilled chest, Rapt had produced another portal minion. Angelico had not only seen one before, he had eaten gravy made from its bones. Once you've eaten an animal, it's a lot less intimidating. It was called a phroge. It was a small, furry creature, with two small arms like a Tyrannosaurus. It had a hoard of teeth external to its mouth. Much like the santine, the phroge was bigger now than when he had last seen it.

Angelico jumped, gliding over it, and landed next to his previously thrown glaive. He grabbed it and stabbed at the phroge. He missed and felt he had stabbed through the air. It turned and attacked, spitting something at him. Angelico rolled out of the way and saw something, perhaps a harmless glob of phlegm, tumble by him, collecting dust. Angelico stabbed again, this time piercing the little critter. "You'll have to do better than tiny animals and parlor tricks," taunted Angelico.

He took his time standing, doing it with dignity. A female voice he did not immediately identify shouted, "Angelico, lookout." As Rapt was his closest danger, he eyed him. Rapt had a hand in a small portal he had opened behind him. His stealth shattered, he quickly grabbed the weapon inside. It was the crossbow he had threatened Angelico with earlier. In place of an arrow, there was a sparkling orb. There were no threats or words or hesitation. He shot Angelico.

Angelico felt a tingling all over. It was the feeling of an arm that had fallen asleep waking up again. That wasn't so bad. However, Angelico surmised that the orb transported him through a portal against his will, as he was no longer in the arena. Chilling darkness extended in every direction. Angelico expected to see white, cartoon-ish eyes peering out, and hear owls hooting. He was not wrong. A voice, perhaps his own conscience, whispered, "Your feet are stuck in the bog." Angelico looked down, and sure enough, in place of the ground, there was a swamp, which slowed his feet, making them heavy. He flapped his wings every so often to keep from sinking.

"You're afraid of wolves," whispered his conscience. Indeed, Angelico was terrified, a sufferer of cynophobia. Out of the bog, itself jumped a man-wolf, twice the height of Angelico. He wanted to tremble, to cry, to run and hide, but Angelico was one to tackle his fear head on. He pushed through his newly realized phobia and attacked.

The twelve-foot-tall wolf was too large to grab around the neck, so Angelico went for the waist. He grabbed it in a bear hug. He was surprised at how easy it was to hold it. It was like his arms sunk through the fur, and its stomach and spine, and it was no thicker than his own forearm. He gripped the wolf as tight as he could. Angelico was impressed with his own strength and how quickly the wolf succumbed to his hold. At first, he was going to wrestle the wolf down to the swamp water and either drown him or crush his neck. However, he was strong enough to crush its back, and anything more would be unnecessary.

Against the ebony backdrop, what appeared to be an even darker hole in Angelico's vision moved around. The hole ebbed and flowed, never committing to a shape. From deep within the hole, two orange stones burned. They reminded Angelico of the crystal on The Vampyress' neck.

Echoing out of the hole was a voice that sizzled and crackled. Angelico could barely hear it; the voice was a thousand miles away. Without releasing his grip on the wolf, he strained to listen to the hole, which appeared to be moving towards him. At last, just barely audible over the hooting of the owls and whipping of the wind, Angelico heard, "Let go of him." Without knowing why Angelico let go of the wolf.

The wolf fell to the ground, and immediately the amorphous hole pounced on it. Angelico thought the hole would devour it, but instead, the hole seemed to tear out its stomach. Next, the hole came at him, blood dripping from within the void. It started to pull Angelico in. He flapped his wings and beat the gravity. The echo within said, "He's dead."

There was another voice. It did not seem to come from the hole, it came from all around as if Angelico's skin was speaking without the use of his mouth or brain. Strain as he might, Angelico could not hear it. "What?!"

The echo spoke to him again, "We won."