"Would you be so kind as to remove your wings?" implored Raphael, his voice almost inaudible.

"I can't," Celeste replied.

"Too flashy," Raphael growled, his voice sounding a little shaky. "Change your wing color to black, if you want to have any chance of survival."

"I regret to inform you, human, that I am unable to," Celeste responded in a sorrowful tone. Raphael let out a heavy sigh and shook his head.

"Agh! Alright, just hold on tight," Raphael replied.

Celeste and Raphael weaved desperately between the giant trunks of trees in the Forest of Death. Though small and lightweight, her presence did not slow him down as he strode forward with her held tightly in his arms. The chill breeze whipped their hair as they ran towards whatever safety was hidden ahead, neither daring to cast a glance behind them for fear of what may surely follow.

Ever onward they pressed, through mud and mire, the trees thinning in their wake until a clearing appeared on the horizon. Though their feet had been battered by rocks and rivulets of rainwater, their pace never relented. What lay ahead of them was of more consequence than any obstacle that dared block their path, so they trudged through the fog-ridden woodland.

"Damn!" cursed Raphael, looking back over his shoulder. The fog began to thicken, and their pursuers had drawn nearer. The angels seemed to be flying ever closer, their wings beating against the night air like thunder.

"Thank the old gods and the new that these trees are so mighty, for it gives us pause to escape their grasp."

"Forgive me, Raphael," Celeste whispered with an apologetic tone.

"No time for sorry now!" yelled Raphael, then queried, "Can I use my weapons to fell these divinities?"

Celeste thought carefully, her forehead creasing in concentration. "Perhaps you could... reach out and establish contact while I was lying down earlier," she suggested tentatively.

"Even now I'm carrying you."

The mist in front of them began to fade, the line of trees slowly shrinking away. "Damn it!!!" muttered Raphael, "we're barely halfway through this cursed forest, and the path out seems to be getting further away."

They had stumbled into a valley of rocks, deep within the looming shadows of the infamous 'Forbidden Forest'. Raphael slackened his pace to a walk, his breathing heavy and labored. A cold dread seemed to grip his heart as if warning him to be cautious. Every footstep seemed to echo in an eerie silence that filled the air like a thick fog. He could feel eyes upon them, watching from the darkness beyond.

"Are you tired?" Celeste queried, her voice barely above a whisper. Raphael shook his head in denial, then carefully lowered her down onto one of the large boulders behind them. He made sure she was settled and supported firmly against it before taking a step back.

Celeste's heart raced with fear as she asked in a quivering voice, "What are you going to do?" Raphael slowly drew his two daggers, their gleaming metal catching the faint light of the moon. The air was thick with danger as he braced himself, his back facing Celeste protectively.

"It's a man's business, lady," Raphael rumbled, his eyes turning to Celeste. "I suggest you take a break."

The ten angels chasing them came into view. They glided towards them with majestic grace, a golden light radiating from their presence to dispel the inky blackness of night. One angel stepped forward. His movements were elegant and almost delicate as he advanced upon them.

"Celeste," said the angel in a voice that resonated with power, "by order of the supreme angel you must come with us."

"No," Celeste declared coldly, her voice cutting through the heavy air. "You had better recall your troops, Mara."

Celeste felt her heart miss a beat. She stuttered, struggling to contain the fear rising in her chest.

Mara's lips twisted into a cruel smirk. "Refuse this order," the angel hissed, "and you will be branded a traitor!"

"I care not for such trifles anymore," she raged, her voice quivering in indignation. "Don't you truly wish to see me eliminated!?!"

"Look at the plight you're in, Celeste," Mara pleaded. "I can see how much pain you're in, so let me help you. Please come back."

Celeste exploded in a fit of fury, her voice booming as she spat out the word with a venomous intensity. "Bullshit!"

Mara's visage hardened, her eyes narrowing. "Very well, then. Di..."

"Must you continue with your unceasing clamor, my fellow angels?" Raphael said wearily, his patience exhausted by the spectacle before him.

Mara shot Raphael a withering glare, her contempt for him obvious.

"What recklessness is this," Mara roared, "that a mere mortal should presume to address us in such a manner? To even stand before us with the unbowed head?" Her words echoed off all over the corner valley, the angel's demeanor as haughty as ever.

Hearing that, Raphael let out a booming laugh. "Hahahaha... You are quite the amusing group," he said with a smirk. "If you wish to have Celeste for yourself, why not take her from me? She is already my prisoner after all." A menacing glint appeared in his eyes as he spoke, and his voice was deep and foreboding.

Mara's eyes flashed with rage, the angel wings filling the air with a furious beating as Mara surged towards Raphael.

"You humans dare to insult-," Mara's proclamation was cut short by a stone, hurled from the hand Raphael with unerring accuracy. He dashed across the expanse between them, and in an instant, Mara felt the angel wings pulled taut as he brought her crashing down to the ground. His booted feet descended upon Mara again and again, his fury unleashed with brutal force.

"Shit! Yo..." her exclamation was abruptly cut off as Raphael slammed his boot violently onto the angel's face. "Listen..." he spat, still standing atop Mara's visage. "You are.." Raphael continued menacingly, punctuating each word with a heel dig of the sole. "Very...noisy!" Luxuriating in his loathsome power, Raphael concluded with an especially resounding stomp.

*****