Warden #3 : Gravemakers and Gunslingers

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"What is the core design of a hero? What is it that makes these mortals rise above their peers? It is a hard thing to take, but to make you a hero it is your willingness to let go of everything else. You must become your purpose or end up being taken down with the weight that becomes your lack of conviction. All heroes in their life though have done one thing that has made them, or sadly broken them. This is Sacrifice. Now ask yourself in your heart could you let your best friend or child die in order to stop wars that would take others children. It is a very dark shade of gray, but there is only light in it if there is faith and conviction in the answer."
~Eli Archangel of Creation


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Warren floored the peddle to his car with the siren blazing. It was a giant steel bullet with four other squad cars behind him. Kiara was beside him in the passenger seat distraught. An anger boiled as if brimstone would fall out of the air and strike down. His focus was deep especially when he shifted gears making jack knife turn around a corner. The Creamery was in the position straight ahead.

His knuckles shifted as they gripped the wheel from pale white to pluming red. His car would stop straight in front of the huge complex with a violent jerk. Warren took no patience in his action stepping out and slamming the door behind him. A burn rose in his throat as the spectral visage of the demon Allister hovered in front of him cross armed.

"Warren do not be hasty. Collectors are known for killing Wardens. You are not invincible to these things. If they manage to take your soul there is no escaping. At least not for a rookie like you. Only a few are immune to those types of effect, and most of them are angelic."

The pale demon warned sternly, but Warren only gave him the simple unphased eye lock. Warren did not care whatsoever if this Collector was the top dog. He would simply not let the little girl he watched grow from a child be used in some demonic game. He was barely even waiting for Kiara or the rest of the 8 officers following behind him.

"Ready up and watch your shots men. There is a little girl here. One stray bullet and I will put one in you."

The gravel of his voice speaking those words almost stopped the other officers in their tracks. It was almost as if he was threatening them straight out.

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Inside the Creamery

Draped in a deep shroud of darkness the only light is given off by a faint blue of Cale's spiritually luminescent sockets. his face could faintly be seen with this powerful dead light with the under brim of his hat. A crooked smile was written upon his face as he gave a low chuckle.

"Things are coming together... Aren't they?"

Another presence seemed to be in the space but could not be seen as a window could be seen in the room now. Outside below Warren and the police officers marched towards the building.

Kiara held onto the door handle, ready to jump out but also half in fear of Warren's driving. Sure she was a police officer and used to fast driving but when she looked over at the speedometer it made even her nervous. That was, however, a secondary thought next to getting her daughter her back. As they rolled up to the Creamary she shivered.

Watching Warren jump out of the car she hesitated not sure of what he was going to do before following after him. Kiara's handgun was already in her hand. She bit her lip listening to Warren warn them that a little girl was in the area and not to hit her. The image of Lucy getting hit with a stray bullet flashed across her mind and her eye twicthed. "If she gets hit I'll kill you with my bare hands before Warren even gets to you," she growled.

Warren gave a quick turn on his heel as he faced came to face with Kiara. His expression was impartial in frustration. Like a revolver his tongue would click back like the guns hammer as he shot his words at her,

"Kiara you cannot be this emotional. Because you are an Officer, you are protector of the peace, and damn it you are trying to save your daughter."

His eyes focused on hers with a sudden heat gripping her by the jacket,

"And one of us can afford to be frustrated because you wilt like a flower, and my threat to the men was a simple alert."

He now began to lift her up into the air,

"If you don't grow a stiff lip, listen to what your father taught you, or follow what I am saying the only one who is going to be the cause for Lucy's death is you and your childish hysteria."

Warren let go having her fall flat on the ground.

"If you don't understand this, and don't say you do I am going to force you to stay out here. No I am not the nice guy, but that's not my job."

His words were cold and every officer felt the intimidation of Warren's presence. Nothing would be able to stop him, and those who would hamper his operation would be pushed back. This was a mission to him and he operated to have it be such. All in his unit would have to be just as him in reaction or he felt there would be no success.

Allister hovered unseen next to Warren not daring to say a thing to him. It was one of those moments that you stay quiet.

Kiara glared up at Warren picking herself up off the ground, he didn't scare her anymore as he used to when they had first met. Her jaw was set as she looked up at him steadying her breathing trying not to put a bullet between his eyes right now. "Don't you tell me how to act Warren. You aren't the one who's worried over her since before she was born," she hissed as she picked up her fallen handgun.

She stepped back and with a look of anger and irritation she made a motion to the door. "Lead the way, but don't expect me to calm down until I see my daughter alive and unharmed, and don't expect me to follow orders if I see it goes agianst my daughter's safety," she said calmly as she possibly could, though inside she was scared out of her mind.

"Kiara you may be her mother but I have dealt with these situations before. You are just a risk, so if you get involved step out of line Lucy may end up in a foster home. Not at my hands though. You have no idea what we are going up against, and yes this sounds like I have a major ego, but I am the only one who can solve this."

Warren replied as he began pushing on having the other men and Allister on his back. Kiara frustrated him more than usual. Her defiance would cut her life short if she did not stop acting the way she is.

Inside the Creamery, Bottom Floor...

Warren's boots sounded off as he walked against the cold empty floor. The whole creamery was dark and oddly silent except the footsteps being made by Warren and his lot. Allister examined the room flying across in and out of the whole bottom floor. Allister would then report to Warren.

Warren scratched his chin standing still examining the whole complex. His thoughts like bullets whizzed by and left holes into the plan. He came to a final conclusion.

"We are going up, this man plays games. If we go up like he wants us to he is thinking of using the plants layout to make us split up. We don't, we stay together. Do all of you hear me?"

The officers sounded their agreement to him as Kiara was silent to his words which was to be expected.

A sudden shout of a little girls voice faintly echoed out from above.

Kiara was about to bite a comment to herself when the scream came from above them. Her face paled as she looked to Warren in search of an answer because she knew if she opened her mouth to talk she would be giving the floor her soul, or at least the contents of her stomach. She put and hand over her mouth as thoughts of what might be happening to Lucy echoed through her mind.

"Fine," she said finally, "Do whatever you have to, just save her Warren....save my baby." She shivered as she looked up at him ready to follow him and any order he should give that scream whether a game or real setting the severity of this situation in even deeper past her arrogance and anger at herself and Warren for letting this happen.

Warren lead Kiara and the rest up the creameries top floor on the rickety steel platforms. Aleister watched Warren noticing the increase in his Aura. It was becoming a violent and almost toxic for him as a demon to be around. Warren was no way like this before, but it seemed Warren's anger lead to focus which was giving him a bit of a boost. That was only a theory though since Aleister was a lowly demon he was not really and expert on Warden's just what he should avoid.

Warren looked off to the side glaring at Aleister who was just staring at him. Some of Warren's men looked on feeling a bit og unease by their leading officers seeming spacing out.

Aleister sighed looking away trying to observe ahead. There was a strong demonic stench in the air and not something that would be figurative. Aleister could smell it getting stronger. He followed it noticing it's direction.

It was following them! How come he did not notice this when they walked in. The darkness was following them.

Suddenly Aleister would notice one of the police in the back acting rather strangely giving a shamble before with limping wrist bringing his gun up at Warrens direction. Aleister could feel it now when eye contact was made. Black consumed orbs in the sockets.

Aleister shot forward like a pale geist past the whole group gripping at the possessed officer with wide mouthed demonic cackle. Everyone except Warren saw a shambling and moaning officer come blasted back up into the into an opposing wall. Warren tilted his head but sensed a dread stench on the officer as Aleister almost unrecognizably vicious plunged an ethereal hand hand into the officers chest pulling out a wretched being draped in shadows howling mono toned into the air.

The men heard the how as the officer was dropped to what would seem to his death, but it was untrue his death was walking into the creamery. Suddenly more shadowing demons lurched out from the darkness.

Struggling with a demon in his grips Aleister clawed and bit challengingly before yelling out to Warren,

"THE LIGHT... THESE ARE SHADLINGS... UGHHH RAH! THE LIGHT WEAKENS AND REVEALS THEM TO HUMAN EYES... KILLS THEM..."

With that belt of his voice Aleister wrenched the Shadling by its neck whipping it into a wall with the dusk of noon hitting it. Officers noticed the sound and saw the figure begin to shamble back up.

Warren hearing every word pushed his people and Kiara up the stairs behind him.

"Everyone flashlights now... wave them around or something... these whatever the hell they are are weak against light..."

Warren bringing up the flashlight on his belt shining it down the stares brought to light a mass of shambling Shadlings screaming and retching up the stairs. The officers did the same drawing their guns fully.

Warren closed his eyes pulling his hat away and placing it on Kiara's head.

"Hold this for me..."

Aleister could see it Warren's aura increase becoming almost like a blinding light to the spiritually aware. What was it that was driving that power.

Warren with bear hands blazing in illuminated silver mist drove into the crowd of Shadlings repelling them back with each touch and reach the mist inched towards them.

"What now Aleister?"

Warren grown batting the Shadlings back as they approached with his open hands or fists.

"Well... I mean... Wardens bless whatever they touch... that is how they are able to smite and kill demons..."

Aleister retorted diving in picking up one of the many Shadlings and tossing them off the stairs up to the higher platform. Then began to speak again,

"Also not just touching they have to knowingly initiate the blessing..."

Warren raised his eyebrow pulling out a single revolver at his side and firing off a round that was like a burst of light blazing against the Shadling tearing through few of them. Warren back up touching Kiara's shoulder and her guns pushing her back firing at the Shadlings as they massed up from the lower floor that was black and filled with them if one shined a light down there. Warren kept touching all his men and their weapons before issuing out the order,

"Fire and fall back... Just do it and don't ask questions... Just F%@#ING FIRE!"

Aleister inched back scouting the area where the men were retreating up on the higher platform. This Collector was playing for keeps and trapped them in. Shadlings were lesser demons without a mind of course, but in this mass this Collector was working some mojo. Something in hell is important over Warren to go through all this effort.

Kiara shivered her eyes widening as she looked at the officer, watching him change and then fall. Fear sank in as this all too real situation just got worse. She wished, longed for it all to be a dream, but as Warren started firing at God knows what, she knew it wasn't. It couldn't be it was real, they had all seen these.....creatures, demons, as the light hit them.

Looking over her shoulder for a split second to find her footing again she turned back to see Warren lift his hat off his head an onto hers. She lifted her guns aiming where the light was showing more of these things to be present firing off the bullets tearing holes into them. A noise beside her caused her to wheel around.

Her light reveal one of the demons no more than two feet away and closing she lifted her gun in her right hand firing at it killing it but not before it could get one claw on her pulling down, leaving deep long gashes in her right arm. She bit back a scream as much as she could her handgun dropping to the floor along with her light as she clutched her arm.

Warren holding them back noticed that the Shadlings were spawning through all of the darkness. Both revolvers drawn he heard sound of pain in Kiara's direction. There was no thinking just bullets slinging from his gun in his right hand and smacking into the heads of these demons in Kiara's backing direction.

"All of us fall back in Kiaras direction... keep eachother back God Damn you!

Reloading while retreating with only one hand for each revolver he was focused and centered. His aura getting larger with the more and more thick the atmosphere got with a demonic presence. Aleister hovered over the now rushing and evading group. He noticed a lit area with an open door and shouted towards Warren,

"There is a lit room back here they can not generate there... if we keep going that way."

Warren without even looking followed up his previous words to the group,

"Go to the room in that direction, trust me and go!"

Bullets rushed from there chambers pushing out like silver jets ripping through the airs splitting through the shambling shades.Warren pressed back conserving his shots to when the Shades grouped and narrowed in. he did not give his own people the chance to fight in the walk way becoming a dominating one man army. Something both impressive and intimidating of how casually he treated all of this. Kiara would see this since she knew him best... she would see the disturbing duality of Warren and his current state.

Kiara looked at Warren for a moment not sure what to think, the more she hesistated the more she felt something in him change. She followed his command though of getting to the door as she picked up her gun with her left hand holstering it so she could start ripping a part of her uniform off to wrapp around the gashes in her arm. She just hoped that it wasn't anything serious. She made it to the door and looked at it unsure of whether to open it, but it down, or leave it. Taking the third option she let the others catch up to her, thier guns ready as she started wrapping her arm in the scraps of her unifrom to help staunch the bleeding. She was already beginning to see white dots dance and that wasn't something she needed now. Especially not now.

"Warren come on," she called hoping to draw him back to them quicker. She looked at him wondering what had brought this change over him. It worried her a bit but she wasn't going to say anything. He was a good friend, she had to admit that, she couldn't ask for a better one, but now wasn't the time to be thinking that, she pulled the scraps tight getting one of the other officers to te it off as she looked towards Warren.

Warren only heard Kiara slightly as he kept backing up and the Shadlings flooded up and around the whole walk way. When bullets could no longer suffice almost like with unbelievable strength he tore away a bar from the railing. The steel in his hands rigid at the ends let off bright wisping light. Left and right he swung the bar cutting through these dark beings.

More and more piled up becoming more and more hopeless as Warren tried fighting back. Kiara would now be able to see and feel Warrens Aura exuding stressing out like pure silver light. His eyes were white embers amidst the blackness hailing down upon him. He dragged into the depths of a wave darkness with the whole half of the walk way.

Aleister swiping down tried picking the Shadlings off but there was too many. Warren was surely done for no matter how strong his aura was there was too many. Wails and screeches poured into the air.

Warren could see vaguely through the darkness swallowing and cocooning around him trying to drag him into its void. He saw Kiara and how the Shadow mass was flowing towards her. Trying to move from within the mass etching his way through, but it was not fast enough. Warren could see Aleister panicking and diving into Kiara's direction. Not fast enough no no not fast enough at all... it sunk in him in his essence the despair he could see it all happening before his eyes. Kiara would be swallowed by the Shadling Mass without hope of survival and here he was supposed to be a protector who could not protect.

Low words mumbled forth with grave weakness subsiding and drifting into the darkness, "Give me a way... God or whatever you are... if you exist give me a way..." His words held much affliction and burden to them. Anger tainted with regret it all flowed out of him and his light started to dim with his strength.

Aleister noticed the inflection of power and expected the worst... Warren... was... no, no he could not think that. With all doubts and fears in mind Aleister dove forward gripping his pale arms around her attempting to fly her out of the way, but the shadling mass caught his leg and began swallowing him before he could ascend. Fear struck him with the darkness spreading up his whole body.

"No! Please no... I am... not..."

Aleister's voice died out the mass finally over his head now. The Mass would lunge like a giant dark ambiguous shadow with wretched appendages. Darkness was the only thing to be seen. It seemed all hope was lost.

Kiara's eyes widened as she watched the mass swallow Warren. She could see it all as it slowed down, him being swallowed and Aleister rushing towards her and wrapping his arms around her only to have him jerked back as he was swallowed as well. She couldn't scream not matter what she couldn't scream, it wasn't that she didn't want to, but she just couldn't find the voice to scream. She did however scream when she felt it latch onto her leg. Jerking back with all her strength she couldn't even seem to make much of a difference, it didn't matter she wasn't going to give up.

Looking up as she jerked tears starting to make thier way down her cheeks. "God give me strength. Give me strength to protect the wonderful daughter you've given me, to protect those who mean the most to me, because I will not back down. Please God, I'm in your hands," she prayed with all her faith and soul as she struggled. "Please God I need help, I cannot do this alone."

In Hell...

Warren felt almost as if he was drifting in a space of light after everything blacked out. He awoke in the pool of light bare and naked. Every scar and mark around his body glimmered and exposed in the light. He could not get past how serene it was and he became consumed by it.

"Where am I?"

Were the first of his words to come out vocally, but it was without moving his lips. It was his thoughts and it spurred rambling confusion. So he stared around and found a point. A single brilliant pillar of light, brighter than anything in the illuminant white space.

"So bright... who are..."

And before a single word could follow a man covered in light swallowed the pillar of light into his singular bright form. A walking statue of piety in the air. It simply stunned him and a familiar voice replied,

"Follow me..."

He said, and then the white space around him peeled away like clouds showing a harmonious honey sky. Warren could not fathom why he would be asked such but he walked enough to see that he was upon a solid pillar surrounded by clouds and below the honey sky where the pillars would plummet was a literal streaming river of flames etching through a black ground haunted by wailing and lurching souls.

Warren stared to his left seeing the bright figure more clearly covered in humble robes of old faded blue and red. His hair was dark and long inches over his shoulder and had a strong face with a smooth short full beard and mustache. His eyes were of a light blue and held such patience and kindness. Warren was different short messy hair and rough face with a slight scruff. His eyes were a deep brown and held questions and hesitance.

"Who the hell are you supposed to be? Jesus?"

Warren asked the man with a dry sense of judgment and sarcasm. The man could only stifle a chuckle at Warren's words before turning with a smile walking to the edge of the platform looking down at the Black valley cut by rivers of flames.

"It does not cease to amaze me how many times I see it. Ways and people have certainly changed from how it all used to be."

He gave a pause that allowed Warren to sink it in, and him to change his tone.

"The way it used to be... we trusted eachother, and we gave our visitors respect. It seems when the days grow darker so do the people."

The strong blue eyes gazed straight at Warren and into his. So much knowledge was awake in them along with a world of experiences. Warren could feel the age in him that he could not see on surface, and in ways made him humble like a child when he spoke. So much Warren himself wanted to interject, but he could not compelled by the stare. This man was not finished.

"For someone who does not believe in heaven and hell you sure do blame God alot. Warren your father, mother, friend, and the innocents that died around you are not the fault of God. The fault lies in humanity and their own choices, and sadly others are affected by it. You could just as easily blame the Devil for your pain, but know that he does not play with what isn't there in the first place. You must learn to let go of that pain..."

The words pierced through Warren wrecking up his heart inside hitting a sensitive part. His form tensed up almost as if he was going to punch a hole in this "All Knowing Bastard", but he was beaten to the act as the man walked to the edge of the giant white pillar they were on and walked directly off suspended by nothing. Warrens eyes went wide in confusion and wonderment at the man who with his hands in eachother floated back turned to him. He looked back at Warren slowly saying,

"I will show you to let go my child..."

Warren was slowly broken of his anger by curiosity,

"I heard of walking on water, but on air? How is that..."

His words were broken quickly at the end with softness,

"Faith... one of the fundamental powers in this realm. Faith makes what you see around here. Faith built these pillars that form this gate to hell. Faith gives me the foundation I stand upon. Faith is power that gives you a way when a mountain blocks it."

Warren could not help but not be more confused by the whole prospect of what this man was talking. Like a pious wise man blathering on about a subject he could not care about. Eli was supposedly an Angel and had told him once about "Faith", but he still could not believe. Eli after all could just be another alien from space. Warren was not buying it he could not believe a single word he said.

"Gate to hell?"

Warren asked with a scoffing laughter,

"A Gate... one of many. It is a gate which souls pass through. A simple gate formed by two pillars and once you pass them you cannot get out, and if you are alive you cannot pass."

The man answered staring down almost as if he had shared an eternity with this world. The fires sparked in his eyes like memories rushing by. Warren easily blinked moving back feeling a bit uneasy staring into the epitome of what was supposed to be Hell.

"Am... am I alive?"

Warren contemplated through an open question, and he was answered quickly and sharply,

"No"

It was simple and blunt and it almost crushed him with worry, but he kept a fake guise of strength. So he would follow with another question which seemed to be his popular choice of late,

"Then what am I doing here?"

Again it was a quick reply from the man, but this time with brevity,

"You know exactly why Warren, and normally when if you died this is where you would come, but instead of up here you would be in the line down there. However as luck may have it Heaven has its eyes on us, and we are not finished. You are a Warden, and you do not get to die as those above suffer."

Warren understood basically why he would be here upon death. His life was not exactly exemplary or to be proud of. However how the man spoke of "us" and "we" there was an insinuation to much more in this picture that tied both of them together.

"Us and we? I don't even know you Mr. Holy for Crosses."

The way the man simply turned around and looked Warren in the face without humor or hint of amusement sent shivers down his spine. And the man spoke with a powerful and broad voice,

"I was the first, I am the key, and I will be the light that guides. It is up to Warren to use me to Unlock those doors that kept you inside all this time."

Those eyes wracked through his entire being again and Warren could not speak. Then this man on the scape of hell and golden skies commanded,

"Come to the edge..."

Warren stood still shocked and inside frightened out of his skin,

"Come to the edge..."

He said and Warren stepped back.

"Come to the edge..."

He said again and Warren came foot by foot to the very edge that towered over the sea of damnation. The man lift a hand up and stretched it out to him. His voice was compelling and heavenly as light began to surround him and wisp like an aura,

"We are, each of us angels with only one wing; and we can only fly by embracing one another... Take my hand Warren your seven seconds are up. Time for us to answer a prayer."

Warrens hand reached out to the man's hand feeling the light pour into him and his whole body begin lift through roaring light.



In the Factory...

The Shadow Mass continued to swallow up past Kiara's leg and now to her waist and continued to writhe and consume. Fear flowed through her as she prayed for a way. Lone behold however much she believed that it would actually be the day the wheel in the sky was listening.

A hand in the darkness now surrounding her gripped her hand and held it in a protective manner. A voice belted out as the mass began the shriek and shrug allowing Kiara to gain some view of the world around her and the demon blob itself.

"I told you to get to the room kid..."

Suddenly a piece of the Shadow Mass disintegrated in a pillar of white light and what looked like a man and sounded like Warren was the center of the light that exuded off his silver aura and there were sprouting from his back silver ethereal wings. His hand was holding Kiara's and lifted her up. In the other arm was the passed out the pale Demon Aleister. It was Warren no matter how she took as he smiled down at her condescendingly. Stranger thing then how he was drenched in silver light with translucent silver wings, it had to be the change in his eye colors being blue and for once a softer smile. It was unseen from him and unusual. Warren seemed far more then himself even if it was him.

Warren let go of Kiara's hand and dropped Aleister down to the ground marching forward to the cowering and lurching mass. He did not bother to look back as he spoke to Kiara,

"Look after the pale guy, I'll be back."

Suddenly Warren charged ahead at the mass give a large shoulder bash against causing it to fly up into the air and smack against the Factory wall. Quickly the Mass turned into a shadow on the wall and tried running away into the dark, but Warren was too quick fly and dropping to the ground grabbing at the shadow with both hand pulling it out like a giant black string.

"Now now buddy, coming here trying to kill us... then leaving!? I think not."

With a heave he pulled the whole mass out and slammed it against the ground then heaved the other direction slamming it again on the ground. He continued back and forth causing the ground to crack then began to spin it in the air over his head while walking back a bit. He loosened his grip and let the mass slip out writhing wildly in the air. While it was in mid air he lifted his right hand in the air causing a bundle of silver light to culminate in his hand. And like an Olympic spear thrower he tossed the light that turned into a long piercing rod that shot through the Mass causing it to shudder and unravel in black gas and light.

"Sayonara..."

He spoke cockily as he rose up into the air. He hovered back onto the platform marching towards Kiara as his whole aura dissipated to a faint glow. The wings dissipated from him as well along with the kind almost joyful look on his face. She would be able to see the iris of his eyes peel back to the normal dark brown and he gave almost a classic sneer. He locked eyes with her for a few minutes then growled saying,

"Give me back my damn hat."

He quickly swiped the hat from her head and plopped it ontop of his owns acting as if nothing strange hadn't happened and that the unconscious pale Demon next to her did not exist. It was a very very strange moment that had alot that needed explaining.

Kiara couldn't remember when she started holding her breath, she couldn't remember when the tears stopped, or when she had stopped praying if indeed she had really ever stopped. All she knew is that the shadow mass was reaching ever higher on her body. Though it was nearely to her waist she kept her faith trusting that her prayer would be answered somehow, someway.

Then it happened, her answer, bursting through the shadowy mass with an explosive silver aura, and to her shock wings. She blinked as it...he....Warren? spoke to her. She gasped in a breath when he picked up her up and looked to Aleister in the angelic Warren's arms. "Dear God, when I said I couldn't do this alone I didn't mean an angel...but whatever floats your boat because I'm not in charge," she muttered in thanks.

As soon as the words where out of her mouth she noticed the softer look and blue eyes on this angel that had come to help them. Though her mind saw it as Warren she couldn't be sure though when he dropped both on the ground telling her to take care of the "pale guy" she nodded and moved to Aleister's side. Not really sure of what to do with him she sat there, her gaze transfixed on the fight in front of her.

It didn't last long before he darted back up towards her in flight the light fading and his eyes changing back to the brown that she knew. When she heard Warren's voice telling her to give his hat back as he snatched it off of her head, stalking off she almost laughed. Knowing it was stupid to do what she was going to do she did it anyway not caring at the moment, just happy he was alive. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. "Oh Warren, Thank God! I thought I'd lost you."

Warren gave scowl as she gave him a tackling hug and pressed his palm against her face to push her away. His eyes were narrowed down towards the door where the light was. His thoughts were wondering why the men did not come out when things went silent just to check. A sense of dread etched through him so he slowly pushed past Kiara to Aleister who he would throw over his shoulder. He had a light silver glow about him but nothing intense and almost of the point of noticing. That however was not made him stick out. He still was not himself as long as Lucy was in danger. He was in absolute control.

"Kiara don't get excited. We still need to find Lucy. Also don't ask me what the hell just happened I am not sure I quite know, but I am sure I will explain later. Lets keep moving."

He commanded stepping forward towards the door that the men passed through. No noise, no nothing just light that was all. So Warren slowly opened the door and noticed a typical work hallway filled with light, but vacant of the usual bussel and his men. Where did they go? He thought to himself but he didn't know and he didn't like it.

"Come on Kiara... Don't lag behind. I don't like this."

He told his partner as he followed forward slowly watching his surroundings.

Kiara stepped back when Warren put a hand in her face trying not to laugh at the typical behavior. It wasn't that she calm now...no she was far from that, but even the little answered prayers and having Warren back, alive was enough to give her a bit more confidence.

She could still tell the tension in Warren's movements and the edge that was his control. She knew he would be like this until Lucy was safe and sound, for that she was thankful, thankful that she had someone level headed enough to cool her off when it came to Lucy. Sighing as she took a steady breath she nodded following after Warren flexing her right hand making sure she could still use it even though painful. She reached Warren's side as she bit her lip.

"Am I stupid to be scared out of my mind at the moment Warren?" She asked in a soft voice as she looked up at him not sure of what to expect. The fact that Warren didn't like it made it even worse for Kiara as she shook her fears aside or at least tried to.

"Stupid? No it is not stupid, just unwise. We are dealing with matters far greater than either of us expected. A few minutes ago I sitting pretty ontop of hells gate wondering why I was there, and then the next moment saving you and this half wit from death. Something wants us both and your daughter, so is it stupid to be scared?" Warren spoke long windily as he guided them down the long bright corridor. For so much light it was almost like being trapped in the dark. Just as scary in terms too. He did not Give Kiara another chance to reply as he answered his own question adding emphasis, "You have all rights to be scared just as I. We both saw things that should not be real with our own eyes, but scared won't save Lucy or get us out for that matter."

He was firm and strong for being as scared as he said he was. If there was fear there did not seem like much. It seemed the only things he had flowing through his blood was anger and caution. Then what did he know of fear? It would hardly ever affect him. He saw men shot and took bullets without the blink of an eye. He was not scared, no he was lying to himself. He was simply pissed off and taken out of his comfort zone.

"As for this thing slouched over my shoulder. He is a Demon... Imp... Named Aleister. From what I take he is German with a huge corny accent. He is a prankster, but also apparently convinced he can help me if I don't throw him straight through hell with my boot." Warren spoke to keep Kiara's mind off the obvious danger. Last thing he needed was a frantic mother and a sobbing friend. So he talked about the details.

"And all this trouble is the fault of a supposed angel who decided I of all people need to be some Holy Keeper of the friggen Peace amongst the spiritual world. If God screws up I am the one to clean it up and kiss his all powerful ass. Something I don't buy..." Warren kept speaking with a bit of disdain and anger charging his words. He felt a bit of weakness and dizziness hit him almost as if God had heard everyword and decided to strike him down. Fumbling into a wall knocking the Demons head against it he managed to look up and say with aggravation, "Ok... I get it I went a little overboard... I am sorry FORGIVE me... jeez."

Aleister began to wake with a small groan grabbing his head and rolling out of Warren's grip to the floor looking up seeing only blinding light. "Oh no... no, no, no, no!!! I am in ze pitz... No plllllleeeeeaze my Dark Magistratez!!! Don'tz hurt me!!!" He squealed fumbling around in the ground trying to hide. His vision still blurred he managed to run face first into a wall again and knock himself unconscious again.

Warren picked himself back up looking down at the now again unconscious demon. He gave a sneer lifting the demon up by his neck and staring at it's pale ghostly face. "What is wrong with him? He retarded or something? Gahhhh I aint carrying your ass." With that said he arched his arm forward flailing the demons face forward into the wall yelling, "WAKE THE HELL UP!" The demons face left an imprint in the stone and slowly Aleister groaned in pain crying out, "Oooouch! Ze horrid pain! You ZTUPID Warden..."

Kiara looked up at Warren as she spoke, moving her gaze to Aleister as she listened to Warren explain what exactly the pale being was. She understood that was for sure, and she knew it to be true with everything that had been going on recently she believed it all. He could have told her the sky was falling down around them and she might have said yes. It helped her to calm down a bit as he talked about the small details of what was going on about them. Nodding she understood and would wait until he was ready to talk about what had happened earlier with the wings, and shadow mass.

She bit her lip but that didn't stop a giggle from making its way out as she watched Aleister scramble around and run into a wall. It was even harder to contain it when she saw Warren smash him into the wall to wake him up. "Remind me never to ask you to wake me up in the mornings Warren...," she said with a small smile. She took his hand in hers for a moment and squeezed it even though she knew he wouldn't like it she needed the extra feeling of something. She only held it for a second before moving her hand back to her pocket. "Thanks."

Warren was almost shocked and chilled by Kiara's touch on his hand. He did not quite understand it, well he understand the thanks but he did not understand the effect. It was gentle and it was quite uncharacteristic for anyone to be like that with him aside from his younger sister. Warren would slowly look back up from his hand and towards Kiara with a stunned face. He then slowly began to reply to her with a tamed and less powerful voice, "I have no idea why I would be waking you up... in the morning. So I don't think there would be that problem."

Aleister narrowed his eyes up noticing the two of them and watched the whole interaction with a raised brow. He gently held his face which previously was smacked forcefully into the wall. "Ze awkwardness willz have to wait, my fair Romeo..." He spoke with tone of curious humor. There was a sharp turn to the light event though however as he saw two brown eyes pierce right at him, and felt a thundering boot smack against the hands covering his face.

"I think maybe I should carry you again. Doesn't look like you can keep on your feet." Warren spoke with hatred fuming in his words at Aleister. Aleister in turn was squirming on the ground in pain. Then Warren slowly slung the demon over his shoulder where it would yell out kicking, "LETZ ME DOWN!!! R-rrr-r-riiight! NOW!" Warren gave a swift turn around that smack the Demons head against the wall knocking it unconscious and then looked to Kiara with a small smile, "He is right we should get going..." The smile was gentle followed by Warren lifting out a hand as if to lead her.

Kiara tilted her head a bit to hide the blush at Aleister calling Warren Romeo, but as Warren kicked the imp in the face she couldn't help but let out a small giggle. On the one hand she felt sorry for the guy, knowing how Warren could be and knowing what a kick felt like from him. On the other hand, however, she thought it rather funny. She quieted the giggle after a few seconds and then watched as he slung the demon over his shoulder, turning so that Aleister's head hit the wall and knocked him out.

She blinked stunned for a moment when Warren smiled at her and held out his hand to her. Her blush raced over her cheeks again as she smiled back nodding taking his hand. She let his hand close over hers intertwining her fingers with his. She nodded agian up at him as she moved to his side. "Then what are we waiting for?" she asked while they kept the steady pace.

Warren kept his fingers gripped around Kiara's making sure there was no way she could slip out. He just lost the rest of the team, and he was not about to let some soul stealing psycho get her. Not on his watch. This brought his thoughts onto Lucy the small little girl he had been taken to since her birth. Did not care much for her father though. In fact Warren had kicked that man out of Kiara and Lucy's life after arriving home drunk and nearly harming Lucy accidentally. Warren never told Kiara the exact details of what he did to that man other than he had taken care of him.

"I promise we will get Lucy back... Once I find that bastard... I will make him pay." He spoke with such murderous intent and pain. His eyes focused ahead he walked leading them down an almost endless hallway with doors after doors of workstations. They were pitch black and lifeless as they passed. The shadows slowly lurched inside them at their presence, but did not attack. They were watching and waiting as if they had them where they wanted them.

Warren slowly pulled Kiara closer as the further they got down the hallway the dimmer the lights became. There was a only a flicker of the bulbs and a dead silence except for their breathing. He hated it it was all obviously wrong and impossible as the treaded into the darkest hallway moving and the shadows themselves seemed to reach out and cry in faint echoing whispers. It all sounded so distant and painful. The emotion and the dread bottled out into muffled pleads for help. They had to continue though this was the only way.

"Hold close to me Kiara... whatever you do don't let go" Warren spoke out pulling her close into his arm as in the dark of the long seemingly endless hallway the darkness began to call out. His boots hitting the floor felt like they were trampling over bodies. It was the vary shadows and darkness. It was all alive and mocking them with the experience of damnation. Everything became cold and bitter. Warren kept holding Kiara closer and closer not allowing anyone take her. His eyes focused this whole time at the end where there was only a faint light. This was to be there walk and every inch of the way it would feel worse.

Kiara felt his hand tighten on hers making her tighten her grip even more. As they walked she shivered once but felt Warren draw her closer. She didn't dare look at the shadows around them not wanting to see them, not wanting to believe what they could actually do to her, to Warren, to Aleister. "You know, I may just be wasting air saying this, and it might not mean anything to you...but I have this feeling something will happen that I won't get to say this for a while and I've been meaning to. Somtimes I wish...that you were Lucy's father..." she said going silent after that not sure if she should have said it or not.

Feeling the shadows seem to press in more and the darkess surround, she pressed up closer to Warren. Hearing him say not to let go, she was going through the reasons in her head why she would even think of letting go, it wasn't a long one so she started on the reasons why not. It kept her mind off what was happening around her or she surely would have screamed and broke down by now.

Warren kept Kiara close with one arm and Aleister on his shoulder with the other arm. He hear Kiara's words echo through the darkness and the faint whispering moans of pain. Father she said? She wished that he was her father. It hit Warren inside deep of how much she really did care and pay attention to his involvement in both of their lives. He never gave much thought to the concept of Father. He always felt it was just right to be there to keep both Kiara and Lucy safe. He knew both of them since they were born and grew with them over time.

When Kiara's father died it was his job to keep her safe. It was what the man wanted and he had always respected Kiara's father like his father did. Both knew the loss of parents and the fact that they had that in common made being close and the urge to protect the other even more powerful.

When Warren forced Lucy's father or lack of a father out their lives he took it upon himself to not let her go without. He was always there whether it be the first day or school or her first word. Warren was always there keeping his eye over her and his presence near.

Never once did it occur to him there was anything more to it. He enjoyed his time with them both. Even Kiara who tended to get under Warren's skin, but that was how things were and he enjoyed it. However, he never realized how much the two of them felt about him. Lucy would call him her daddy time to time, but Warren took that as simply a child saying she liked him... not that she actually felt that way. With Kiara's words he saw it all in a whole different light, and the weight pressed upon his back and he realized it was more than a duty of honor. This was a battle of emotions and what was rightfully his... apart of his family.

"I am..." Is all he could say in reply as a statement taking what she said to heart and showing her. All this time and all caring he showed them both. If that was not a Father then what was? He had spent his life keeping those around him safe, but these two had been his central hub. There was no debate about that.

His eyes gave a faint shimmer of silver as they pressed on and he held Kiara close to him. Dark hands reached out stroking against them in pleading agony as they got closer and closer to the end where the light was. It was sad how this hallway was consumed with dread, and he took from Kiara's words. If there was going to be something to be said and be said now he would speak, "If things don't go well know Lucy will always be safe. Kiara you two mean more to me than you will ever know... I won't let you suffer." His words were tempered in pain with his thoughts rambling on. A tear should of shed from his eye, but his face explained enough of the dread and emotion he felt. His words were his code and his only mantle of truth.

Kiara smiled up at Warren when he said that he was Lucy's father. Wrapping her arms around him as they walked she seemed more calm than she had that entire night. It wasn't like her to be so calm and jovial...then agian maybe it was the words that Warren said or the protection she felt with him. As she felt the shadows reach out to them she wrapped her arms even tighter around him.

She reached out with one hand taking one of his in hers as she held it tight while they walked. "I trust you and I believe you," she said softly as they continued walking. She looked up to see the faint silver lighting in his eyes and she worried just how bad everything ahead would be, she didn't ask but she worried.

Reaching the end of the dark haunted hallway of shadows light over head hanging to a forked path peeled it back. Warren held on to Kiara's hand walking both of them into the light. sitting against the wall which split the paths in two was a small cassette tape and a portable radio with a player.

Warren hardly liked this but he slowly took the tape and inserted it into the player. With a click he hit play. The speakers gave a slow buzz of white noise and atmosphere.

"Well it seems obvious now you have survived this far, and are still on the hunt. However I am not interested in playing anymore games."

A quick shout of Lucy's voice cried over the speakers yelling for Kiara and Warren, but it seemed the man this Collector gently hushed her,

"Now dear soon enough... shhhh... heh sorry about that. Lucy is quite the screamer isn't she?"

Warren's fist clenched as it dropped Aleister gently to the ground. He swore he was going to do things to this bastard he never threatened to do to anyone. His eyes grew intense, yet with his other hand caught in Kiara's he was tamed for the moment.

"Now to the krux of the situation at hand... I don't care about you Kiara... or Lucy. Go left and that will take you to Lucy, but go alone because if followed I will kill her."

This concerned Warren as he looked down to Kiara at his side to catch her expression.

"Now you Warden... You are who I want heh. The Truce between us is coming to an end, and hell is going to be pouring out. So I want to be the first to get your pretty neck before the others do. You take the right path and you come to me... I have something I want to show you."

The Collector gave a soft chuckle following his toying words and it resonated off the empty walls at them. Warren was a raging and baffled by this mans trickery and devilish nature he knew he could not trust him, but there was no other choice. "I am sorry Kiara, but you will have to get Lucy... and... well I have be prepared..." Warren spoke almost putting up and indefinite wall of coldness as if so as to be not ready to charge in foolishly. This was for much more than Lucy... The Collector wanted him.

Kiara looked the tape on the table and stood stock still as Warren put it in and played it. Upon hearing Lucy's scream she tightened her grips on his hand, her eyes widening but she didn't say a word. She was scared out of her mind and the only thing keeping her from screaming and dashing off was the fact that Warren's hand was still in hers. She didn't want to let go and leave on her own but looking up to Warren as she heard him say they had to she nodded.

"Alright," she said in a soft weak voice. Letting go of his hand finally she turned to the left and started heading there. Putting her hand on the door that would lead her to Lucy she paused for a moment. "Don't go dyin' on me you hear?" she said as she turned back to look at Warren before opening it and disappearing inside.