The day seemed to have passed rather quickly after Elizabeth’s meeting with Shane. It hadn’t gone as badly as she thought. For the most part she was even more confused than before. He had seemed so sweet and had been so honest with her, which only added to the confusion. She was proud of herself that she didn’t fall apart under his gaze. She had mentally prepped herself before the meeting and it seemed as if she had prepped well. Perhaps giving him one day to prove himself wouldn’t be such a bad thing. No harm could come of it.

Walking out of the art department of the university, Elizabeth turned on her iPod and walked down the busy streets filled with people. Humming along to her favorite song at the moment Dark Side by Kelly Clarkson, she briskly turned the corner that would take her onto the street where her apartment was. The night’s air nipped playfully at her neck as she continued to walk. Then out of nowhere, an unsettling feeling coursed through her veins. She felt a pair of eyes on her back and quickly spun around to only be greeted by an empty space. Of all the nights to walk home, this was the first time she felt threatened. Even though she lived in one of the safer areas of Manhattan, there wasn’t really anywhere one could truly be safe in New York.

As Elizabeth spun around she found that there was someone standing in front of her. She looked up at him and saw that he had the most curious black eyes that she had ever seen.

“Sorry, excuse me” she mumbled, beginning to side step him.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw his lips form a smirk, and then saw what look like his twisted hand grab for her arm. She tried to avoid the contact but his movements were incredibly swift. The black eyed stranger now had a quickly tightening grip on her upper arm.

“Your face is familiar” he said sounding playful, but the feeling in Elizabeth’s stomach told her that he was anything but. He had a darkness and ominous feeling about him that made the hairs on her neck raise.

She tried to twist out of his grip but it only tightened. “Let me go. I don’t know you!” she spat at him.

The man laughed softly and thrust Elizabeth against the wall closest to them. The street light above them instantly sputtered, throwing them both into the shadows. Elizabeth’s back connected painfully with the cold brick wall. The man’s boots were flush against her purple pumps and his face too close to hers. He smelt of cigarettes and gasoline. It made Elizabeth’s stomach turn.

“I do know you” he said to her, gripping her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look at him.

She struggled against him, desperately trying to break free of his grasp.

“Your name is Elizabeth.” He breathed into her ear.

Elizabeth’s entire body tensed at the sound of her name. Terror coursed through her veins as she looked at the stranger that held her captive.

“H-h-how do you know my n-n-name” she said shakily.

The stranger smirked and gripped her waist with his claw like hands. She cried out in pain as she felt her shirt rip and his nails dig deeply into her flesh. No way could someone be that strong she thought, grimacing in pain.

“I know so much about you Elizabeth. I’ve seen you before. You’re a lot prettier up close though” he said smelling her hair, making Elizabeth’s stomach knot unpleasantly.

Elizabeth couldn’t take it much longer, her body was seizing up with panic. If she didn’t do something now, she would be at this creep’s mercy. Thinking quickly she shoved him with all the strength she had and brought her heel down on his foot. As he stumbled slightly, a look of rage flashed through his eyes, which seemed to have gone even blacker than they were before. An unearthly sound escaped his mouth as his hand connected with her right cheek. Elizabeth’s head snapped back from the force of the blow. She tasted something metallic in her mouth, which could only be her blood. She whimpered in pain and her hand instantly went to her face. The stranger’s hand reeled back again but stopped mid-swing as a booming voice echoed through the night air.

“Caym! Stop this madness!”

The man looked around and smirked.

“Good night my sweet” he said to Elizabeth, flashing her a sinister smile that crawled her blood before disappearing right before her eyes.

Elizabeth let out a choked sounding sob and realized that she was crying. Her knees shook badly and she had to cling to the wall to keep steady. Her mind reeled from what had just happened. Her vision began tunneling as her stomach started to churn even more. Her brain couldn’t process anything properly at all. The only thing she could focus on was getting home and locking herself within the confines of her apartment.

Her body hurt all over but she had to get home. She forced her legs to move and slowly made her way to her apartment building. In front of her building, she vaguely recognized Matt’s black BMW.

'Great. That’s the last thing I need right now' she thought warily aware that her apartment probably had Zacky’s band mates in it who were all probably drunk and being obnoxiously loud. She made her way up the two flights of stairs and took her keys out of her shoulder bag and slid the front door key into the lock. She tried to be as quiet as she could while entering the apartment. She didn’t want to have to answer any questions tonight. All she wanted was a hot shower and then to curl up in her bed and sleep.

The aching in her body slammed into overdrive as she closed the door. She groaned softly and put her keys soundlessly on the table by the door.

As she neared her bedroom door she could hear hushed voices coming from the kitchen. Unwilling to draw attention to herself she reached for the handle of her door.

“Lizzy?” came a soft melodic voice from her right. Sighing inwardly and feeling glad that she had let her hair down earlier because it hid the damage to her face, she exhaled.

“Hey Brian.” She mumbled, glad that it was him next to her even though she felt terrible. “I’m kinda tired so I’m going to bed”

She felt Brain’s warm hand on her back and she winced in pain.

“Lizzy we need to talk to…..what the fuck happened????” he cried, instantly turning her body to face his, his eyes seeing the bloody rip in her shirt.

His slender fingers brushed the hair out of her face and his eyes scanned her face, stopping at her busted lip and purpling cheek bone.

“Lizzy!” he breathed softly “What happened to you” his fingers still in her hair and his body close to hers.

She inhaled his familiar scent of mint and the cologne she had bought him for his birthday. It comforted her and she began to feel safer than before.

Elizabeth felt overwhelmed by the events that had just transpired and allowed her body to collapse against his. Whimpering in discomfort she clung to his navy blue tee shirt and wrapped her free hand around his waist.

“Brain…I…he…” she sputtered, tears falling freely from her eyes, slowly soaking his shirt.

He held her in his arms and whispered words of comfort to her. Her small body shook against his larger frame. His thin lips frowned with worry. He had never seen Elizabeth like this. She was terrified.

“You need to breathe.” He whispered to her, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “C’mon, let’s get you to the kitchen.”

“No!!” she gasped, pushing away from him “No. I can’t go in there Brian. Please”

Brian’s eyes glanced towards the kitchen as he heard movements from within. Though their commotion was soft and barely audible, he had no doubts that they would have heard it. Seconds later, Zacky appeared in the hallway and looked at Brian. Following closely behind were Matt, Jimmy and Johnny. The smile on Zacky’s lips faltered as his eyes landed on Elizabeth’s shaking form.

“What’s going on Brian?” demanded Zacky, meeting Brian’s chocolate brown eyes with his green ones while advancing towards his friend and his cousin.

“Lizzy?” Zacky said softly, turning her face gently so he could see her and gasped at the sight of her bloody lip. He took her into his arms and she cried softly. She was so glad to be home, where she knew she was safe that the weight of that single thought crashed into her body and overwhelmed her. Zacky steadied her shaking body and helped her to the couch in the living room. When he sat her down he looked to Johnny and said “Get something warm for her”

Johnny nodded solemnly and disappeared into the kitchen with Jimmy at his heels.

Brian sat next to Elizabeth and she rested her head warily on his shoulder. She laced her fingers through his and exhaled slowly. Her throat felt dry, as if she hadn’t had any water in days. Her head began to throb slightly from the impact it had made with the cold brick wall.

Zacky watched her with worry, while Matt seemed extremely tense. Brian was the first to speak.

“Lizzy you need to tell us what happened” he said softly, stroking her hair in the familiar way that always brought her comfort.

Elizabeth met her cousin’s eyes with hers and blinked slowly. Her face hurt so much that she knew talking would just make it worse. But she had to tell them.

“Some guy jumped me” she said timidly, her voice croaking as she spoke “he said that he knew me. He called me by my name.” Her eyes welled up with tears that threatened to fall. She tried her best not to let them as she continued. “ He grabbed me and held me against a wall. His nails dug into my waist. He was so strong!” she gasped remembering the man’s unnatural strength. “I pushed him away and he slapped me. Then when he lifted his hand to do it again a voice told him to stop and he did and he disappeared” she finished quickly.

The three men looked at Elizabeth with concern. Brian tightened his grip on her hand ever so slightly. Matt moved from next to Brian to next to Zacky so that he was in front of her. His expression was serious but his eyes were full of concern for Elizabeth.

“What do you mean he disappeared?” said Zacky.

“And who was the person that told him to stop” questioned Matt.

Elizabeth sighed and shifted on the couch into a more comfortable position. She tucked her legs under her and brushed the stray strands of her hair out of eyes.

“I mean he disappeared into the shadows. Like that” she said snapping her fingers looking at her cousin. “I’m not crazy. He friggin disappeared into thin friggin air!” Her eyes shifted to Matt to answer his question. “And I didn’t see anyone. I just heard a voice that sounded really pissed off” she said, knowing that she sounded somewhat hysterical, but something deep inside her told her she needed to continue talking, that she had to tell Matt everything. “The voice called the man Caym”.

Matt, Brian and Zacky’s bodies tensed all at the same time. Anger flared in Matt’s hazel eyes. Zacky went as white as a sheet and Brian let out a soft “what the fuck”.

Jimmy and Johnny came into the living room with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and some ice in a Ziploc bag for her face. Jimmy had a first aid kit dangling precariously from his index finger. Trust the med student of the bunch to have the first aid kit in hand thought Elizabeth sarcastically. Taking the hot chocolate from Johnny, Elizabeth took a small sip. It hurt her lip but the warmth of the liquid sliding down her throat was worth it.

“Let me get you fixed up Lizard” said Jimmy with an outstretched hand and a playful smirk on his lips.

Matt looked at Jimmy with a hardened gaze and instantly understood that Jimmy and Johnny had both heard the conversation and that Jimmy was getting Elizabeth out of the room for them to talk about what she had told them. Matt nodded and Jimmy grasped Elizabeth’s hand gently and took her to Zacky’s bedroom.

“Go with them Brian. Lizzy would want you by her side.” Said Zacky, knowing that his cousin and his friend had something more than friendship going on that neither of them would willingly admit to.

Brian looked to Matt who nodded in agreement and went to join Jimmy and Elizabeth. As he entered Zacky’s bedroom he found Elizabeth sitting on the bed while Jimmy rummaged through Zacky’s drawers for a tee shirt for her to put on. Finding one, he flung it onto the bed. Elizabeth grabbed it and raised her hand and made a turnaround motion at the two of them as she got up and headed to Zacky’s vintage oak full length mirror. When their backs were to her, she unbuttoned her top and peeled it off of her. She glanced down at her side and the sight that greeted her made her shriek. Jimmy and Brian both spun around at the sound that had escaped her lips. The wound that Caym had given her was worse than what she thought it was. It looked as if the four slashes were beginning to decay. In that moment, Elizabeth felt light headed and she felt consciousness slip away from her. Before she hit the ground, Brian had caught her in his strong arms and took her to the bed where he gently lay her down.

Jimmy hurried over to her and flung open the first aid kit. He uttered a string of curses under his breath.

“Her skin has been broken by a demon’s talon” he said anxiously to Brian. “The wound is beginning to fester.” Using the antiseptic wipes, he tried to clean the gashes as best as he could. “No normal medicine is going to help her.”

Brian’s temper spiked at his friend’s comment. “There has to be something you can do Jimmy” he said harshly, possibly harsher than he intended because Jimmy held his hands up surrendering under Brian’s tone.

“I know you are concerned Bri…we all are.” Jimmy said soothingly. Brian instantly began to feel a lot calmer than he did a second ago. He knew Jimmy was using his gift of controlling people’s emotions to ease his temper.

“Sorry man” Brian shrugged gazing at Elizabeth.

“There is something we can do, but I’m not sure if it can work. I’ve only read about it and there isn’t much available” said Jimmy

“Well….what is it?” said Brian hopefully.

“I read that when there is a coven of Nephilim, they have the ability to heal others when they unite to do so. It’s supposed to be really draining for those performing the healing and it takes days for them to recover. But the person being healed is fixed.” Said Jimmy, talking excitedly. “But I don’t know if that applies to demonic wounds.”

Brian looked from Jimmy to Elizabeth and then back to Jimmy. “We have to at least try.”

“I know Brian. I know. But we can’t attempt to do this healing and have her wake up in the middle of it” Jimmy replied softly, glancing quickly at Elizabeth to make sure she was still out cold.

“Maybe we should go and talk to the others. See what they think.” Brian said, getting up from the bed and folding his tattooed arms across his chest.

Jimmy got up from the bed as well and motioned at the door. The two of them quickly exited the room, leaving Elizabeth on Zacky’s bed, practically dead to the world.

When they reached the living room, Matt was having a heated argument with Zacky. Johnny was in between them trying to push them apart. Jimmy and Brian launched themselves towards Matt and Zacky and pulled them away from each other. It looked as if they were extremely close to throwing blows at each other. Jimmy held Matt back, struggling slightly as Matt was a lot stronger than him. Brian locked Zacky’s arms behind his back and held him tightly. Jimmy diffused the situation with ease, then he looked at Brian and nodded. Brian released Zacky and Jimmy did the same to Matt.

“What the fuck happened?” said Jimmy angrily looking at Matt and then Zacky.

“They were arguing over the possibility of Samael and Caym working together and then it just escalated from them. Fucking hotheads” said Johnny sounding pissed.

“What?” said Brian. “Why would you think that?”

Matt gave Zacky a disgusted look and then began to speak. “Samael is Caym’s general, so more than likely he sent Caym to do his dirty work for him. Fucking coward. He prob…..”

Zacky interrupted Matt “No. Cyam has never done anything unless it pleases him. He never does anything for Samael and you know it.”

Matt looked at Zacky with a cocked eyebrow “and how the fuck do you know that?”

“I fucking read” sneered Zacky, which clearly infuriated Matt more. “Try it sometime you barbaric shit!”

“guys?! I think im gonna have to agree with Zacky” said Johnny with a raised hand “remember that book we read about the legions in hell. It said that Caym was always underhanded and would always try to do something to piss of Samael. It’s in his nature to rebel against authority”

Matt shot Johnny a murderous look. “Thanks a lot for the backup Johnny” he scowled darkly and threw himself into the nearest armchair.

“Look guys, I know we’re all on edge here but we need to focus on Lizzy” said Brian soberly, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. “Jimmy says that the wound she has is festering because its demonic, which means normal medical attention won’t do anything to help her.”

Zacky looked stunned and felt his knees give out. He grabbed Brian for support. His stomach twisted painfully at the thought of the severity of Elizabeth’s wounds. How could this happen to her? She hadn’t asked for anything but a normal life where she could just be herself and do what she wanted, when she wanted.

“I’m going to fucking kill that bastard!” roared Zacky, regaining his strength at the sudden thought of Samael, and subsequently causing all of his friends to jump in shock. “This is all because of him! I fucking know it!”

“Calm the fuck down Z!” growled Brian, forcing Zacky to sit on the couch. “we all need to pull ourselves together and discuss what we’re going to do to help Elizabeth who, might I add is fucking unconscious in your room because she took one look at that fucking slash and fucking fainted!”

“What can we do?” said Johnny softly, massaging his temples.

“Well, I did read about a coven using their strength to heal the bodies of the wounded.” Began Jimmy, who had everyone’s rapt attention. “But it’s a process that will drain us and have us weak for a few days, which makes us useless if we are to safeguard Liz.” Inhaling deeply he continued, looking directly at Zacky as he spoke “I’m not even sure if this will work. All the texts I have read didn’t mention anything about healing a demonic wound.”

When he finished speaking, the five of them sat in silence, contemplating their next move. A few minutes passed by and still no one had said anything.

“Guys?” said a soft voice from behind them. They all jumped at the sound of Elizabeth’s voice.

Zacky turned and walked over to his cousin, putting his arm around her and tucking her gently against him.

“I don’t feel so great.” She murmured. When she looked at them they all gasped. Her face, which had purpled from the blow she had received, was bone white and her amber eyes were shadowed and looked bloodshot. She gingerly lifted the hem of Zacky’s oversized Metallica tee shirt to reveal the wound that she sustained.

“What the fuck!” exclaimed Jimmy, rushing to her side.

The gashes on her waist had spread and the veins surrounding them were a sickly greenish blue that looked unnatural. Pus oozed from the wounds. In the space of 20 minutes it had gotten worse.
Jimmy looked at the rest of the guys. “I think it’s worth a try” he said resolutely. The four others nodded in agreement.

“Take her to her bedroom and let her lie down.” commanded Matt, quickly getting to his feet.
Jimmy took Elizabeth from Zacky and helped her to her bedroom.

“If we are to do this, she cannot be conscious, you know that right?” said Brian looking guiltily at Zacky, expecting him to blow a fuse at what he was suggesting.

Anger, sadness, frustration and then determination flashed on Zacky’s face. “I have some sleeping tablets in my room.” He said gravely “they are strong enough to knock her out until morning without having to worry about her waking up.” With that he left the living room and headed to his bedroom.

Matt, Brian and Johnny headed to Elizabeth’s room, only to be greeted by a closed door and Jimmy sitting on the ground outside of it.

“What the hell Jimmy?” questioned Matt looked confused.

“Lizard wants a bath before bed.” sighed Jimmy, looking tired.

“Women” said Matt under his breath, rolling his eyes.

“At least we have food” said Johnny brightly gesturing towards the kitchen with a small smirk on his face.

“Might as well” said Brian heading to the kitchen and flipping the lid off the pizza box. Cold pizza in hand the four of them ate in silence. Zacky came in and shook his head, grabbing a slice. When they had finished eating, Jimmy and Zacky went out onto the small balcony to take a smoke.

Half an hour had passed and Elizabeth still hadn’t emerged from her bath. Sensing something was wrong, Matt knocked on the door of Elizabeth’s room. He heard a faint “come in” and he entered. He found Elizabeth on her bed curled up in a ball and hugging a pillow. When he got closer he realized she was crying.

“Hey! Hey!” he said soothingly “it’s alright Lizzy” he sat on the bed next to her. Her eyes were even more bloodshot than before and that worried him deeply. She was getting worse. They had to act now.

“Matt, I’m so scared” she managed to say between sobs. “Do you think I’m crazy?”

Matt made a ‘tsk’ sound and smiled at her, his cheeks dimpling.

“Of course not. What you went through would have any normal person shaken up.” He said softly stroking her hair.

“I’m afraid to fall asleep” she whispered, looking into his hazel eyes. “I keep seeing his eyes. They were so strange”

Anger rippled through Matt’s body but he shook it off when he saw the look of hurt, pain and confusion in Elizabeth’s eyes. He needed to calm her and get her to bed.

“I have something that will help you sleep” he said gently. “I’ll be right back”

He exited her room and got the guys together. “Ready guys?” he said looking at his friends.

They all nodded and followed him to Elizabeth’s room. When they entered, they found Elizabeth sitting up in bed. Brian went to her side and took her small hand in his. He dropped a kiss by her temple and saw her smile. Zacky took two of the tablets out of the container and handed them to Elizabeth, along with a glass of water.

“I promise these will help you sleep Liz” said Zacky tenderly, stroking her cheek. Without any questions, Elizabeth popped both pills and gulped some water. Zacky took the glass from her and smiled reassuringly at her.

“The guys are gonna spend the night Liz” said Zacky gently. He could feel the sting of tears in his eyes but he blinked furiously to keep them away. She looked so frail and scared that it broke his heart.

Elizabeth smiled at the group of guys that stood around her, all the while holding onto Brian’s hand.

“Thanks for everything guys” she said weakly. Her eyelids began to feel heavy and she smiled. “I like these things Zacky, I feel warm and fuzzy and l love unicorn flowers.” She said thickly.
Matt raised his eyebrows and Jimmy stifled a laugh.

“Well shit…. Lizard’s gone all loopy” snickered Johnny, patting Elizabeth’s leg softly.

Zacky rubbed his neck as his cousin continued to babble sleepily. He thought he heard her mutter something about a “hitototomus bufflioptosis” and laughed softly. At least she would be off in a dream world while they tried to heal her.

15 minutes later at 12:34am Elizabeth was sleeping soundly and snoring lightly. She looked so much at peace and away from all the pain.

The five of them stood around her bed and they each touched a part of her body.

“Concentrate on healing her, on taking away the poison from her body and mending her wounds” whispered Jimmy.

AS the five of them concentrated the air in the room changed. It became lighter and filled with purity. The only sounds that could be heard were their deep breaths and Elizabeth’s gentle snoring. The wound on Elizabeth’s waist soon began to heal and her skin started to regain its sun kissed complexion. The deeply purpled bruise on her cheek began to fade and her lip was mended.

Weakness washed over all of them as they continued focusing on Elizabeth. Their knees felt like jelly but they continued. Johnny was the first to break the chain, then Jimmy. They took ragged breaths and clung to the nearest piece of furniture for support. Brian and Matt were the next to break the chain, gasping for air. Zacky continued to concentrate. The effects of the healing were taking an immense toll on him but he seemed to bat it away.

Then, without warning Zacky’s beautiful charcoal grey wings burst free from his back and opened, causing Matt and Jimmy to jump back and out of the way. Zacky’s feet left the ground and he hovered there, still resolutely concentrating on Elizabeth. It was his wings that supported his body when his legs couldn’t any longer. He hovered for a few minutes longer, until blood began to leak from his nose.

“Break his concentration” hissed Jimmy “He’ll hurt himself”

Matt grabbed Zacky’s waist and pulled hard. Zacky’s eyes flew open, his wings dissipating and his concentration broken. “What the fuck?!” he nearly shouted at Matt.

“Bro, take it easy. You’re bleeding!” said Matt calmly, pointing to Zacky’s nose.

Zacky wiped at his nose and looked down at his fingers at his blood. He continued to wipe the blood away.

“Dude, what the hell was that? Your wings burst out and everything” said Johnny warily while Brian nodded in agreement.

Zacky looked confused for a moment and then shrugged. “I have no idea. I’m so friggin tired.” He said exhaustion obvious in his voice.

“Let’s get some rest” said Matt gesturing to the door. “Jimmy you weren’t kidding when you said this would be draining. I feel like shit.”

Zacky watched his friends chat sleepily and smiled to himself. He was grateful for what he had. Matt turned around and looked at Zacky with a questioning look.

“I’m gonna sleep here tonight” Zacky said, answering Matt’s question knowingly. “You guys can have my room and the couches”

Matt nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Thoroughly exhausted, Zacky climbed into his cousin’s bed. He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes, settling down to sleep, all the while saying a silent prayer thanking God for the friends he had and for the guidance he gave them. With his ‘amen’ Zacky was out like a light.