SHE

Chapter 1

They say a name paves the road of your life. Like a prophecy given to you at birth. It carries your identity the greatest connection one has to who they are. A name holds character but the right name holds power.

Sin, something my family knows well, something no one is exempt from.
No one is a saint, yes we may all be born pure but no one dies that way, their life untainted by hatred and sin. Except I wasn't born pure, I never had the choice. Angels fall from heaven down here they're known as the Fallen. Then there are those that are simply no more than just a creation and they too fear the burning pits of hell which they were created from, they're called Demons. Me? They call me a lot of things but only one really stuck. They call me, The Damned.

My father has this thing he likes to do whenever an angel falls. He hosts a ball, bigger than any that you've ever seen. He's always had a flare for the dramatic. It's also where The Fallen receive their black wings.

He fell down and his white wings dragged across the fiery ground covered in ash. My father sat on his high throne in the middle and my mother and I on either side of him. The Angel walked through the grand golden doors and stood before us.
"Ah, Ares North, even your name foretold you'd be here 'ruin'. Ares, Greek God of War, the meaning of your name. I see you were a warrior in Heaven."
"It's my pleasure Morningstar" The Fallen Angel who now I knew was Ares said. His first mistake.
"Don't talk to me." My Father said and then there was a long and intense pause.
"I'm kidding, but seriously, don't talk to me. I'm pretty sure you know who I am, Lucifer and my wife Lilith, the only face you might not be familiar with is that of our daughter, Nuria Morningstar." My father finished and I gave Ares a nod.
"Usually one of the demons would show you around but due to our latest incident Nuria will be showing you around." My mother said as I stood up. The tail of my silk blood red dress followed closely behind me.
"You're dismissed." My father said and Ares and I walked out.
"Hello Ares." I said as we walked out the golden gate.
"Hello Nuria, you have a beautiful name. What does it mean?"
"Fire of the Lord, I know ironic. So Ares why are you here?"
"Because I was cast out of heaven."
"No hey, I would've never guessed. I mean what sin did you commit?"
"I-I" he stopped himself.
All the demons and Fallen bowed as we walked past. I showed Ares around the most important places.
"This is where you'll be living for the rest of your - death, I suppose." I said directing him to a grand house.
"My father is generous so don't mess up the privilege he's already given you. Most's tongues would've been cut off if they even dared to try speaking to Lucifer." I continued as I walked him into the house handing him his key.
"Use the key, they're thieves in hell." I said as I was about to walk out but I turned around to say one last thing.
"Oh and there's a ball at the Castle tonight at nine. Be ready. And that's an order, not a request." I replied, called for my dragon Kenna and rode her back home.

When we arrived I slid my hands over her charcoal black scales before she flew back up into the fiery sky and I walked inside.
"He's quite dashing isn't he?" My mother said walking down towards me.
"He's alright I guess."
"Not even you can deny that that man is good looking dear."
"Please don't put ideas into her head Lilith, she's in there enough already." My father chimed in fixing his watch as my mother fixed her hand on his arm.
"I just don't like him." I said.
"Fair enough. We'll see you soon." They said as the portal door opened and they walked through. I wanted to go through it so badly even if it was just once.
I walked back outside to find Kenna already waiting there for me. I hopped on top of her and began flying. That's where I felt most at peace, in the sky. It was my time to think or just talk to someone that was only listening to me without any opinions or judgments. I found Kenna when she was just a small baby and now she's grown into a magnificent creature. When I landed back down I decided to take a long bath covered in rose petals and bath salts. As I lay there I could hear everything around me from the slight crackles on the ground to the footsteps below and indistinct chatter outside.
The ball quickly approached and everyone had already arrived. My parents walked first down the grand staircase side by side to their other upper class friends holding a glass of champagne each. I stepped down in a cream white gown with a corset of gold on top of it. My hair was styled in a plaited bun and I wore my gold dangly earrings. I looked down to see Fallen and Demons as well as my father's 'important' friends. I noticed Ares fairly soon. His eyes were a piercing emerald green with blue dispersing slightly in the center. His medium length brown hair fell down on the side of his face and it was slightly curly. His jawline along with the rest of him was sharp and defined. Dressed in an ash grey suit, that complimented his golden chocolate skin, he stood out from the rest. I walked down the stairs the train trailing behind me as the satin material flowed with my body.
"Princess." He said as I reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Don't call me that."
"You look stunning."
"Thank you, you don't look too bad yourself."
"May I have this dance?" He asked giving me his hand.
"I suppose." I replied taking hold of it and moving towards the dance floor.
His hand rested just in front of mine while I stood in facing him by his side. We continued to dance and rotate through the floor or hands in the air inches away from each other. Then he grabbed my hand twirled me around then pulled me tightly towards his chest. It all happened quite fast  I laid one of my hands on his chest to steady myself. I stayed there a little while longer than I should've staring into the swirls of the green in his eyes and in the background I heard all the whispers and gossip.
"With the new Fallen already, pathetic." Or things like "He'll move on from her she's nothing too special." That's another thing about Hell everyone there is cursed with envy. I stepped back and gathered myself.
My father and mother waved me over to their "delightful" company who were no more than just a bunch of power hungry dogs in my eyes.
"I'm sure you know my daughter." My father said placing one of his hands on my mid-back.
"A pleasure as always." They said each giving a bow of respect.
"I wish I could say the same." I snarled and my mother gave me an ice cold look to at least play nice.
"When will the ceremony begin?" The one who looked a lot like Humpty Dumpty, even the style sense, asked.
"Right now." My mother said tapping a spoon in her glass to grab everyone's attention. My father let go of me and gave his arm to my mother who rested hers on his.
"As I'm sure you all have noticed we have just received our latest Fallen, Ares North." My mother began and everyone gave Ares a round of applause.
"Now as you know our family has a long standing tradition of hosting a ball for such occasions where the Fallen receive their new wings." My mother continued and gave me a nod to position Ares for the ceremony and everyone once again clapped their hands.
I took hold of Ares arms and guided him.
"Just relax, you'll survive." I whispered to him.
"Is it painful?" He asked
"Excruciatingly." I said placing him on the platform with a smile and walking away.
"That's just great." He mouthed to me and I blew him a kiss back. He rolled his eyes.
"Ares North do you accept your new title as a Fallen Angel?" My father asked and Ares didn't know whether he should answer or not so I gave him a nod.
"Yes I do, Morningstar" Ares replied. My father let go of my mother's waist and she walked towards him. Here comes the painful part.
"Then Ares North I present you-" she stopped mid sentence as she dug her claws into the back of his neck. All the veins on his body began to flood with a black substance. His eyes began to have a blinding white glow as he looked towards the sky screaming in pain. My mother pulled her nails back out. Ares head dropped and his white wings ejected from his back, slowly they began to change into a devilish black.
"-Your wings." My mother finished and everyone once again burst out in a round of applause and cheers. My father walked up to my mother his hand around her waist and he raised his glass of champagne and everyone mimicked after him.
After the ceremony my mother gave me a nod to help up Ares as I do with all of the Fallen Angels after the ceremony.
The music resumed and I lead Ares upstairs into a designated room for after these types of ceremonies.
I sat him down on the black leather couch and pulled out the first aid kit.
"Well that was hell." Ares said.
"Funny." I replied. He was huffing and puffing as well as sweating heavily.
I soaked a cotton pad with a special ointment and lifted it up to the back of his neck but he grabbed my hand to stop me.
"Is this gonna hurt?" He asked.
"Yes." I responded.
"Great."
"What? Would you rather I lie to you?"
"A little bit of sugarcoating or sympathy would be nice."
"I've never been good at that."
"Just get it over and done with." He said and maybe I felt a little remorse but definitely accompanied with annoyance.
"Ugh, fine. Grab my hand and squeeze tight." I said and placed the cotton pad on the back his neck he grunted through his teeth and squeezed my hand tighter. I looked into his eyes mine turning black as I drew from him some of his pain. He let go of me and I of him. My eyes returned to normal and Ares ran his hands against the back of his neck. There was nothing there. I got up to dampen a cloth and while I was in the bathroom I heard him shout my name. I turned back and saw a snake black as night spiraling up around his arm.
"Seriously? Are scared of snakes?" I asked.
"No! Just get it off of me!" His arms were covered in veins that became more and more prominent the tighter the snake squeezed.
"Relax." I said extending my hand to the head of the snake. She slithered onto my hand twirling it's scaly body between my fingers.
"See, she's not that bad, then again she is my snake." I said.
"You have a dragon and a snake?"
"Her name is Midnight. She's still a baby. One day she'll grow to be bigger than even an Anaconda."
"She doesn't look like a baby." He said as I placed her in an open container temporarily. I washed my hands then returned with the damp cloth and wiped his face and neck.
As I was walking away with midnight leaving him in the room alone he grabbed my hand.
"Thank you for everything today." He said.
"Don't mention it." I said attempting to yank my hand back but his grip tightened.
"What?" I asked.
"You didn't have to help me out so much so I really do mean it. Thank you."
"Don't dwell too much on it. I have to do it for every single Fallen Angel and different kind of ceremony for the demons. You're not that special." I jolted my arm forward and walked out the door and then I stopped in my tracks and turned around.
"Dinner is in a few hours that should be enough time to get yourself all cleaned up." I said walking out and into my room.
I placed midnight on her branch and lay down on my bed when a dove flew into my room with a note attached to its leg.
"When will I see you next?" The message read. I wrote my response and sent the dove back before hopping into the shower.
I changed into a boob tube top covered in white fluffy feathers that also covered my arms to my wrist and a long tight skirt covered in gold diamonds with a high slit.
Everyone was already getting seated at the dinner table when I walked down the grand staircase. They sat me down next to Ares with my mother opposite me and my father at the head of the table. It was just the four of us on a table that could fit twenty two people.
The dinner went smoothly, well better than I expected. Time came for Ares to leave and my mother had me take him home. The ride on the back of Kenna was one of silence. We landed and I heavily walked him to the front door.
"Listen Ares about what I said earlier-" I began but he cut me off.
"Don't worry about it. Do you want something to drink?" He offered as he opened the door for me and I walked inside.
"Sure."
We sat down on his couch sipping glasses of white wine.
"You look absolutely gorgeous tonight." He said. Placing a piece of my black straight silky hair behind my ear then running his tanned hand on my chocolate skin slowly all the way down to my wine glass and gently lifted it out of my hand before standing up and placing them in the sink. I took a sharp breath and stood up.
"I should probably get going it's getting pretty late." I said.
"When we meet again Ms Morningstar." He said and I gave him a nod before walking out and closing the door behind me.
I should've just flown straight home from there but the night was so peaceful. Kenna and I rode in the sky while I talked to her. Kenna was a birth gift. I grew up with her. Centuries I felt as though she was my only confidant.
Once I finally decided to go home I changed into my red and black lace nightgown. Sat on my bed reminiscing about all the events that had unfolded today before I fell fast asleep.
The next day was no different from any other. After getting ready I flew on Kenna to Ares place. I walked into his bedroom and he still lay there asleep in no more than a pair of pajama pants revealing his defined arms and abs.
"Ares, wake up." I said and that startled him awake.
"So knocking isn't a thing down here?" He said and I gave a glaring look.
"Sorry, I'll go get ready." He said jumping up from his bed. I waited for him downstairs and he walked down in black jeans and a grey shirt towel drying his wet black hair. He tossed his towel to the side and curls of his hair fell down to his face.
"Have you had anything to eat?" He asked walking into the kitchen.
"I'm not much of a breakfast person." I said.
"Seriously? No sit, I'll fix you something to eat."
"Honestly you don't have to."
"I insist." He said and I sat down on a chair by the kitchen counter. I watched Ares chop, dice and spice a bunch of different things. The whole house filled with a delicious smell. When he was finally done he placed the appetizing plate in front of me with a fork and knife. He sat across from me as we ate.
"This is amazing." I said before placing another bite in my mouth.
We were both done Ares was standing by the sink and walked over to place my plate when he slid his hand over mine and grabbed the plate but his glaze lingered over me longer before I turned to walk away.
"So what brings you by?" He asked.
"You'll find out soon enough." I said leading him outside and onto Kenna.
"Why all the secrecy?" He asked.
"Why all the questions?" I replied.
"Where are we?" Ares asked once we landed.
"The Faerie Realm."
"Why?"
"You'll see. Just a couple of things you need to know. Faeries are extremely vindictive and manipulative. They've worked their way around the curse they have of not being able to lie over the years so just watch yourself and never, ever, make a deal with a Faerie."
"Got it."
We walked through the mystical garden known as the Faerie realm and landed at just the house I was headed for.
I knocked on the door.
Hyun opened the door with a smile on his face. He wore grey sweatpants, revealing his defined physique covered in golden fair skin, and his blue ombré hair fell loose just below his ears.
"Nuria." He smiled running his hand through his messy hair.
"It's not that type of encounter." I said pulling Ares closer so that he could be seen through the door frame.
"Hold on while I change." He said closing the door and walking back inside the house. Hyun's house was a mansion with vines of flowers draped on the edges and corners.
"And that is?" Ares asked.
"A friend." I replied.
"You looked more than just friendly to me." He said and I decided that instead of attacking his statement it was one of those times that was best to stay silent.
Hyun walked out in his jeans, white t-shirt and black leather jacket. His hair had a middle part and whenever he ran his hands through it his hair would always just bounce right back in place. Hyun prized his hair and leather jacket above everything else.
"You're looking ravishing as always." He said looking at my short limestone coloured dress that had a tight torso and and a short bottom that had a lose bottom which resembled a v and the fabric itself patterns of butterflies and flowers that were just bright enough to see but weren't that prominent and my hair was sleeked back in a ponytail. My whole outfit was topped white heels the wrapped around my legs up to my knees.
"Thank you. There is a purpose to this meeting though. He needs your help." I said.
"What?" Ares asked me confused.
"How can I assist?" Hyun asked.
"We need you to train him how to fly properly with his new wings." I said.
"Who's we?" Hyun asked.
"Fine, me, I need you to teach him."
"Are you asking my for help?"
"Hyun I could always ask someone else."
"Don't worry about, I'll help you, at a price of course."
"I wouldn't expect any less."
"When the time comes, I need a favor and you have to grant me it with no hesitations, no matter what it is."
"I'll grant your favor if I feel it is a fair trade."
"Fair enough."
"I don't need help flying." Ares said.
"You just got new wings, you can't use them yet. Plus the climate down here for flying is different from Heaven." I said.
"So the Faerie realm is in Hell?"
"No, Hell is the lowest realm. The Faerie realm is higher."
"Do you guys want some space to discuss this first?" Hyun asked.
"No. Ares take off your shirt." I said.
"What?" Ares asked.
"Just take off your shirt." I said and while Ares pulled the shirt off tossing into my hands. Hyun pulled me back by the waist so that my back was pressed up against his chest.
"Look at him one more time and pretty boy don't be so pretty anymore." He whispered into my ear and I rolled my eyes at his absurd assumptions.
"Okay now this is going to painful. You're going to have to take your wings out." Hyun started. Once everything was done Ares was laying exhausted on the floor but at least he could fly now.
"Get up, we're leaving." I said as I threw the shirt to him.
"Will I see you later?" Hyun asked pulling me closer to him by my waist once more.
"Who knows, maybe." I whispered into his ear before climbing onto Kenna with Ares and flying back to hell.
"I don't ever want to do that again." Ares said drained off all energy from his body.
"A time will come where you will need your wings, you need to be ready for that time." I replied just before we landed and walked inside Ares' house.
He dropped down on the couch and I stood over him.
I leaned down closer and I was inches away from his face. My hands were on the arm rest on each side of his head. Then I place my elbows down causing the distance between our faces to be even shorter.
"I'll see you around Ares." I said before walking out the house and heading home.
"Where have you been?" My father asked.
"Oh let her be Lucifer. She's just living her life. You must be starving." My mother said leading me into the kitchen where there was already a chef preparing me something to eat.
"Don't mind your father he's just a bit over protective is all. So tell me what were you doing up so early?" My mother asked as we took a seat and our food was served.
"I just helped Ares with his flying is all." I replied beginning to cut into my food.
"You've never done that before you must really like this Angel."
"Not really, I was just feeling...charitable." I got up with my plate to the living room.
"You're never charitable." My mother shouted after me with a smile on her face.