Black Winged Angel. Amy Blankenship

still in his presence.

      He was wearing dark sunglasses, with a long black trench coat that was open enough that she could see the sheer tight shirt underneath. He had the body of a Greek God and his face was flawless, even though his long dark hair was shadowing most of it. Something about him screamed danger and sex all at the same time. He looked like he belonged somewhere in the dark ages with the dragons and wizards.

      An abrupt vision of him kneeling nude and bloody, with chains around his wrists, ankles, and neck… in some long forgotten underground cavern, burst forward in her mind, making her want to cry out in anguish. Kyoko could feel herself crawling through rivers of blood toward him… wanting to save him. Literally felt it sliding against her skin and weighing down her clothing.

      Frowning as the feelings and image faded, Kyoko leaned closer to the glass and had the distinct impression that she was actually trying to get closer to him instead.

      Darious felt something invading his space and narrowed his gaze past his own reflection in the mirrored glass, seeing the girl watching him. Usually humans would look away as soon as they noticed him, unless they were innocent… children. He had never understood it, but children never feared him. His dark eyes caressed the girl curiously, knowing she was not a child.

      She had long, beautiful auburn hair that was neither straight nor curly, but had a life of its own. As he sharpened his vision, he could see glittering emerald eyes surrounded by sinfully dark lashes. The way she was watching him in morbid fascination made his blood heat up and that confused him.

      He growled when the sun suddenly disappeared behind dark clouds. Humans had never interested him… just demons, and then only long enough for him to track them down and kill them. The instant she turned from the window, Darious wrapped himself in power, making himself invisible.

      â€œKyoko, have you heard a word I have been saying?” Suki asked well aware she’d just spent the last few minutes talking to herself.

      Kyoko flinched and turned to look at her best friend behind the desk. “Oh… Umm… Huh?” She blinked, “What was the question?” Seeing a shadow to her right, she glanced at Kyou’s office door and relaxed seeing he had once again vanished.

      Suki shook her head, “I said we have the morning meeting upstairs in five minutes.” She picked up a stack of papers and came around the desk as Kyoko turned back to the window. “What were you looking at so hard anyway?” she asked.

      Kyoko’s shoulders slumped seeing the stranger was no longer there. She bit her bottom lip wondering at the disappointment. “I’m looking for a taxi so I can escape the meeting.” She winked at Suki.

      â€œYeah well, if I didn’t love you, I would have killed you when the mother of all fuck bombs rattled the windows last night. Besides, it really gave me some good pictures to post on the internet. You should have seen the look on Kotaro’s face when he realized he’d shot the TV… I’ll show you later.”

      Seeing Kyoko’s attention wander across the street again, she placed her hands on Kyoko’s shoulders and turned her toward the elevator. “Come on… it’s time to face up to your terrorism.”

      â€œTerrorism?” Kyoko defended guiltily. “What do you call what they constantly do to me… civilized?”

      Suki giggled and pushed Kyoko into the elevator. “Get up there, and if there’s any screaming… make sure it’s them doing it.”

      Darious glanced up at the name printed on the glass above where the girl had been standing… ‘Paranormal Investigations.’ He closed his eyes, feeling his way through the building and clenched his teeth as his power came across old souls. He inhaled as he found hers nearing the top floor of the building. She was headed directly into the grouping of souls that were tainted with things not human… nor where they demon.

      He opened his ebony eyes just as the rain started, the sidewalk becoming wet, except for were his invisible body was standing.

      Was that why she was watching him with such interest, because she was linked to all things paranormal? He let his power ride her soul one more time as he searched for demonic presence within her aura. For several heartbeats, his power surrounded her and he could feel her life force rise up and look directly at him.

      That’s when he heard it… an echo of soft crying he could barely remember hearing over the sound of his own tortured screams. The only time he had ever heard that sound was the moment the chains of eternity had broken. He had left the sound behind as he’d fought his way out of the pit and it had tugged on his memory many times. The closer he’d come to this city… the more the memory had begun haunting him.

      What was it about this cry that made his chest tighten now and not centuries before when it would have mattered? Why did it suddenly matter now? Darious shook his head becoming annoyed. He couldn’t change the past, so why dwell on it?

      Just as Kyoko opened the door to the room where everyone was waiting, she felt like someone put their arms around her and she drew in a sharp breath. Turning to her right, she looked up into darkness. Within that darkness was the same face she had seen across the street… this time without sunglasses. It was his eyes that held her in fascination… they were the strangest color of swirling silver with a hint of icy blue highlights.

      Kyou turned toward the door, feeling Kyoko’s approach but the strange look on her face forced him into action. He rushed forward and caught her before she fell. Sensing something uninvited touching her besides him, it was his warning growl that dispersed the supernatural power from around her.

      It left her in an angry wave just as thunder rattled the windows from the oncoming storm. Kyou narrowed his golden eyes as he swept her up possessively in his arms and laid her gently on the sofa with everyone looking on. As they all surged forward, he held his hand up, commanding them to stay back.

      Darious withdrew and opened his eyes, looking up at the top floor of the building. He could still feel the heat of her soul and it was the first time he had been warm as far back as he could remember. It had also been a long time since he had been shoved by another’s power.

      He gave a cold and wicked smile as he vanished. The dry spot on the pavement turned darker as the sky opened up in a downpour.

      Chapter 2 “Dangerous Myths”

      Kyoko’s hearing came back before she even opened her eyes. When she heard Shinbe’s voice announce that she must be pregnant, her eyes quickly shot open and she pinned him with a death stare.

      â€œI…” she was immediately cut off when Toya pulled her into his arms and half crushed her against him.

      â€œDon’t do that! You about gave me a freakin’ heart attack.” He held her tight till he remembered everyone was watching. A tick started in his jaw, knowing what was coming.

      â€œAww, how sweet,” Kamui smirked, “Toya’s all lovey on Kyoko. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

      Toya let go of Kyoko so fast that she fell back against the arm of the sofa. “You’re gonna have my fist in your face if you don’t shut up, brat.” He growled, but his expression softened again as he stepped back and looked down at Kyoko as she sat up. “What I meant to say is… what are you trying to do, finish the heart attack you started last night?”

      â€œKeep it up and I just might,” Kyoko said with a smirk directed at Toya. “Then I’ll go hide in Kyou’s room.”

      â€œWhy would you hide in there?” Toya asked, feeling instant jealousy.

      Kyoko sighed and blew a strand of hair out of her eyes. Toya was intelligent, but sometimes if it weren’t for his looks… she’d swear he was mentally five.

      â€œBecause