Anywhere from here

Standing a few steps from a streetlight in the park, Emily waited while hidden in the shadows. Her typical Obsidian Angel outfit consisted of a short, simple black skirt and a short-sleeved shirt. She had told Xavion that she had gone hunting the previous evening since she hadn't gotten enough blood to quench her desire. She refused his help when he offered to accompany her. She was now standing in the dark, searching the area for Hayden with her eyes. Before long, it was almost eight, and she was nervous and afraid that he had changed his mind. He should leave her, and she wouldn't blame him if he did, but she was such a self-centered person that she hoped he wouldn't. But she caught a glimpse of him as he rounded a bend and came into view. He walked on until he reached the streetlight. He scanned his surroundings, though she wasn't sure he could see much in the darkness. "Pss. Hayden!" she muttered, not wanting to be seen in the streetlight's radiance.

Startled and cautious, he spun toward her.

She reassured Hayden by whispering, "It's me."

He let out a sigh of relief and began to walk, arms out in front of him, into the darkness.

"Hayden, I'm right here," she snorted. Keep up with my voice.

She eventually led him beside her after a few minutes. These days, people appeared to be as blind as bats!

"How about we have a conversation in the streetlight?" "Edgy?" he asked. She didn't hold it against him for feeling uneasy. He had an Obsidian Angel beside him, and it was pitch-dark.

With patience, she noted, "It's easier to blend in with the scenery if I'm not highlighted by a glowing bright light."

"Oh."

They were awkwardly silent for a few moments.

"What kept you out of school today?" He broke the silence by asking.

She said hazily, "Xavion enrolled me out of school."

"You must receive an education, don't you?" Hayden asked incredulously.

"No, the only reason I went to a Human Realm school was to study human behavior so that I would know what to expect when I become Queen."

"Why does knowing about Obsidian Angels cause me such trouble?" He questioned, coming right to the point.

"Well, you're human, and when people learn our secret, they typically go permanently silent. The bloodiest carnage in history would ensue if the Human Realm authorities were aware of our species' existence!

"Will there be a carnage?"

She let out a weary sigh. "Remember what people used to do when they discovered something they couldn't comprehend. For instance, the American usage of African Americans as slaves or the witch hunts.

He tried to resolve the situation by saying, "Oh... your kind believes that our government will destroy you."

She chuckled without humor. "I wouldn't trust you with this information if I had that thought! No, but rather than destroying our food supplies, we would like to preserve them. We also wish to kill in an unnoticed and undisturbed manner.

There was stillness for a minute, and then Hayden spoke once more. "That makes sense, I suppose."

She laughed.

His voice trembled a little as he questioned, "So does your Queen want to kill me?" She stopped laughing at that.

"Not yet... she's not sure. As long as I don't see you again, Xavion won't say anything, but Hayden... I don't want to part with you," she said, grasping his hands in her own. She was frantic and lovesick, and she hoped her tone did not show it. Abruptly, he leaned in to give her a little peck on the lips. She felt heated again, just as she had when they first kissed.

"Neither am I... He firmly grasped Emily's hands and declared, "I'm going to fight for you, Emily." When he said it, shivers went down her spine.

"Let's not rush things. "Xavion and the Queen don't even know we're together," she said uneasily. She was pretty sure Hayden would be brutally thrashed, probably killed, if he attempted to battle any Angel in the Obsidian Angel Dominion.

"Who agrees?" she said, letting her calm him.

From behind the trees came a growling voice that said, "That's where you're wrong."

“Who’s there?” she growled as she quickly moved into a protective stance in front of Hayden.

Harrison crossed his arms and emerged from his hiding place at that moment. Harrison was lanky, his dark eyes now blood-red, his hair tangled and spiky, and he was locked in his mid-twenties. He was dressed in black dress slacks, a black long-sleeved vest, and stiff, polished black dress shoes. He was the Dominion's most well-dressed, submissive, and faithful Obsidian Angel. He was also referred to as the best snitch in the world.

"Harrison, what do you want?" If he tried to assault, she would squat down and hiss at him.

"Oh, I just happened to notice this interaction while searching for a small snack. He smirked mockingly and flashed his fangs, saying, "Wait until the Queen hears about this."

But if you share your dinner with me, perhaps I'll keep it a secret.

"Never," she said menacingly.

"All right," he shrugged. "Adjust yourself. That's your problem if you wish to put your life at danger for blood. Then he opened a gateway and jumped into the whirlpools of the empty space. She wasted no time at all. She quickly took hold of Hayden's wrist and fled in the other direction.

Breathlessly, unable to keep up with her increased speed, he asked, "Where are we going?"

"Anywhere from here," was her harsh response.

She mumbled, "Shit!" as soon as she heard a high-pitched siren that only Angels could hear.

"Emily, what's going on?" he said as she pulled him to a dim alleyway.

"I have no time for your weak inquiries. We'll address all of this eventually! Now follow my instructions till we are safe," she said. Then she thrust her big, smooth wings out and caught him beneath his arms. Flying upward into the chilly night air, she flapped. Despite his gasp, Hayden remained silent. As she carried him through the air, she searched for a place to hide but couldn't discover anything that would make them blend in.

He shouted, "Emily!" as she spotted an entire group of Obsidian Angels flying after her.

She exclaimed, "Hold on!" and accelerated. She used her Obsidian Angel abilities to shoot herself across the sky. Regretfully, the others thought the same thing and chased after her. She tried in vain to get away by weaving in and out of tall structures. She was unable to move them. Only one option remained. But, if she wasn't careful, this could kill Hayden.

She screamed, "I apologize!" and kissed him quickly on the forehead. She then threw him in the direction of a brick wall, suddenly opening a gateway. She flew in after him, just avoiding the portal's closure as he plunged in. On the opposite side, she heard an Obsidian Angel thumping into the unyielding wall. She hoped it was Harrison, for the record.