without understanding the evil? How can you know happiness without experiencing the misery, pleasure without the pain? These things are essential parts of life that need to be faced and endured.”
“I guess so,” I said knowing he was right, how could someone believe in the good and not the evil? Again I was being naïve.
“So, before I go on, do you Keira, believe in God and the Devil?”
“Deep down yes I think I do. I think maybe I always have.” I said feeling a weight lifting as I admitted it, as if it just confirmed my every belief in one short conversation.
“Ok, well now comes the big one...do you believe in Angels and Demons that walk amongst you?” He asked and I had a feeling he was about to confirm my fears.
“I find it hard to believe.” I said the words but did I really?
“This surprises me considering all that you have seen. I don't think you are being true to yourself Keira.” And he was right I wasn't. After all, I believed, all those years ago, in what I saw and knew as each year went by with each one that I controlled I grew less and less trusting in them. As though maybe it was me that had created them subconsciously.
“You have your gift for a reason. Don't turn your back on it now, not when it can help you the most.” I knew the meaning behind his words. He needed me to believe, because without it I would never accept what he was.
“Are you an Angel?” I asked finally getting out the question I had wanted to ask from the very beginning. Something deep down told me what he was but I foolishly chose to ignore it.
“No.” Ok, now this shocked me! And then it crashed into me like being hit by a freight train. If he wasn't one ...was he the other?!
“I am something different but what you saw of me that night...the night you were stabbed, well that was my true form...that is who I am Keira!” He said moving closer to me with a fear in his eyes that I had never seen before. It looked exactly like the same fear I had held so many times...the fear of loss.
“Heaven and Hell are not at war as the stories would have you believe. The war is here, on Earth, as it has been since the beginning of time. Fallen Angels, Risen Demons are mainly the result of deviance. Angels go against God and they are banished to earth to do good, to be granted favour at the hands of their work but sometimes they have other ideas. You see sometimes they want to stay.” He moved around the balcony letting his story unfold and I could do nothing but look on, listening to every word that flowed so freely from him.
“It is the same principle with the ‘Risen’. Demons that defy the Devil will be cast out, only being allowed back when they please him. Rogue Angels and Demons have always been a problem as they often wreak havoc on your world and they disturb the balance not only for you but for the world that you cannot see. There are many that do not, however, as there are many different forms of us and not all strive to cause destruction. Some of us are here to control it.”
“You said “us” but if you’re not an Angel then...no… it can’t be!” I couldn't finish it. I couldn’t bear the thought of Draven being from that place.
“What, you don't think I could possibly be a… Demon?” He said bitterly, hurt at my reaction but I couldn't help it, he just couldn't be. All these years of hating what I saw, he couldn't be part of that!
“I don't know anything anymore.” I said weakly and I could feel the tears waiting to arrive. How could someone show me all that compassion when they were born from a place of pure hate? I wanted to turn away from him but I couldn't. I was locked by my fate and only Draven held the key.
“I was sent here to control the balance as I am the only one of my kind. You see, my mother was an Arch Angel, which is a high-ranking Angel. She fell in love with my father who was of the Second Hierarchy in Hell. This was utterly forbidden and completely unheard of. They kept their love secret for a long time until it