"Child." Izual drawls. I look up at him through the fringe of my bangs, exhaustion giving the world gray edges. "Child, what are you doing?"
I sway on my feet, trying to think of a coherent response. This had been his latest test for me, and the first that I had completely failed, so I had stayed out here in the woods, trying to summon the light like he could.
"You said," I croak, and then clear my throat. "You said an angel should be able to do this."
He smirked then and called the light to him, so effortlessly. I watch him play with it, tossing it back and forth between his hands. "Oh, did I? I meant that an archangel should be able to do this."
I stare at him wordlessly and his smirk grows wider. I pour all of my rage into my power and throw it at him. It shouldn't have worked, but the pretty blue light knocks him on his ass just the same. He looks up at me, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth in a steady stream. Oh, shit. I take an involuntary step back.
"Come here." he orders, his voice thick with blood. I turn and run, knowing I can hide in these woods until the end of time without Izual finding me. Oh, he could if he truly wanted to, but usually he prefers to let me come back to face my punishment, rather than expending energy to hunt me down. I don't go more than a few feet before he catches me. I curse and twist around to face him, only to find that Izual is still where I left him. I stare into the face of another angel and grow still. The angel laughs and turns his attention to Izual.
"Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Have you taken to mating with humans now, brother?" Izual takes a step towards us and the angel shakes his head. He sends a pulse of his power through me, not enough to make me scream, but enough to hurt. Izual glances at me.
"Let the child go." Izual growls. The angel laughs.
