An angel's descent is a spiral downwards into an abyss that will never release.

Dazedly, she staggered forward her stomach lurching sharply in avid protest, her chest tightening with every short release of breath.

She watched the rain hit the pool of water that traversed below the bridge they landed on. The falling rain anything but soft and mild accompanied with the growling sky, resembling some sort of lightning beast.

It was a warning that caused more pain than worry.

Susannah's eyes move over the terrain wildly. The freedom of home being taken in a fraction of a heartbeat, exchanged for a cage, where the occupiers are much too free to understand the concept of being trapped. There is nothing she can do but accept her fate, tightening her grip on the child in her arms she feels a numbness spread through the tips of her fingers.

This was wrong.

They do not belong here.

Whimpering as her muscles strained with every step forward, the slashes that covered the layer of skin on her abdomen oozing red blood onto the pavement below her feet. Marking her steps.

The child's hair is a messy halo of dark unruly curls, for the most part he keeps his head buried into her, revealing into the warmth her skin provided. The only visual oddity the child offered was the black wings that sprouted from his naked back. Sleek like those of a birds, the wings were large in comparison to the frailness of his body.

Curling his chubby fingers around the fabric of Susannah's clothes in an attempt to latch himself onto her, latch himself onto something that felt like home.

Susannah could feel the thickness of death all around her. A deep long lasting tendril, that was unperturbed by the ripples of time. She could feel its slick touch trace down her spine with unadulterated calculation, enjoying her divinity.

It was immortality itself.

A tall unknown figure graced from the shadows carrying death on his back, stepping into the light the moon offered, a gracefulness prowling naturally in his steps. Instinctively she stumbled backwards, jerking a shrill cry from the lips of the small child.

"Have you been injured?"He inquired with a voice like satin. As if he actually cared.

The man's dark hair clung to his chiseled features due to the heavy rainfall, his body clad in respectful attire. His eyes dark and impenetrable, skewed by the heaviness of the rain, slid languidly down her body.

He remained impassive at the sight of wings hanging off the back of the young child, a talent not many men were capable of.

Elijah Mikaelson had no idea of what to make of this. He had seen his fair share of abnormalities, some caused by his own hands, but this was a different matter altogether.

The scent of the blood that ran down her body in small droplets, mixing in with the rain, was an animalistic magnet that drew out the bloodthirsty monster inside of him. Dragging his tongue across his lips he let his eyes slide up the vein that throbbed proudly in Susannah's neck.

Slowly removing his suit jacket, the woman's eyes watching his hands diligently. "May I provide you with some shelter?"

His tone was the epitome of polite and cordial. The rain falling doing nothing to distort his picturesque appearance.

Confliction divided her expression, looking down at the child, Arael, with hardly concealed worry. Curtly she tugged the jacket from Elijah's grip, wrapping it immediately around Arael's small body.

"Thank you," Susannah said softly, her eyes downcast. And Elijah is stuck frozen, as if someone had tugged all the cords of their puppet. Her voice saturated the air with humidity, a depth inside that made his loins tighten with need. An easy and smooth voice with a calming vibration, washing over others in waves of honey and milk; light as a butterfly's kiss.

Questions began to hoard his mind as his bottom lip twitched, words forming on his mouth with no consent from his head. Snapping his jaw closed, he shifted. Since when has he, of all men, lacking control? Instead of pondering more on the subject he offered her an arm.

"I will take you somewhere safe and warm."

Susannah moved reluctantly. She didn't have many other options. In fact she had no other option, but Susannah could not shake the feeling that he was anything but safe. Looking down at Arael, seeing his small body shiver, she hesitantly accepted his offer.

Moving his arm around her thin abdomen, he tensed when he felt a wetness different from that of the rain touch him. Pulling away to see dark red stains of blood seeping through his shirt. The blood was nothing short of intoxicating to look at. A deep, almost passionate red with a sweet scent to accompany it. His jaw ached and he could feel her eyes on him, testing him.

Meeting her prying eyes he almost withdrew due to the intense ferocity playing freely in them. It did not speak of disdain or dislike, but it spoke a silent promise. One that said she would do anything to survive.

Something in her eyes told him she knew of his true nature. And that very fact should have made Elijah walk away.

Composing himself, Elijah led her to his vehicle. The wounds that littered her body seemingly holding no value to her. Holding the door open for her, he watched her sit and adjust the child more comfortably on her lap, examining the interior of the car with confusion and intrigue. Reaching out to soothe her small hands over the window.

The drive to the home away from his siblings was quiet. It was his escape, a place he wasn't necessarily excited about sharing. Elijah had never liked sharing. If he did so it was because it was expected, rarely did he do so purposefully. It was his silent enclosure and solitude. Located at the edge of town, surrounded by nature more than anything else. Small but elegant and somehow comfortable.

Arriving to his secret place, he immediately led her inside. She moved about with heavy hesitancy, watching Elijah's every move as if she was just waiting for him to attack. Gathering some towels, he sat them down on the table besides where she stood.

"Who are you?" Elijah inquired cordially. Removing the dripping tie from around his neck.

Her eyes met his unflinchingly, Elijah refused to look away.

He hated backing down from any challenge, especially one of this nature. Unfortunately he wasn't prepared for how easily he got lost in the iridescence of her eyes. He doubted the color had been seen before by man. Her eye color had the striking nature of gold and the coolness of silver and blue. The fierceness of a strong red with the sweetness of a light green. It was a color made to be lost in and not found again.

"I am Susannah and this Arael," She introduced herself and the child with curved lips and narrowed eyes.

And the he saw it.

Elijah doubted anyone else would have noticed. It was fairly anticlimactic, and it wasn't unusual in terms of human nature, but on this woman it was odd to say in the least. The distrust burned thickly inside of her, many distrusted the Original, and that no longer meant anything to him. But, this woman- or thing- was calculating his death. He watched her eyes flicker to any piece of wood that could be made into a makeshift stake in a matter of seconds, she examined him from the perspective of an opponent and nothing more.

"What are you?" His words were brutally blunt. He watched her muscles tense beneath her skin. Elijah couldn't help but wish there was a better way to ask of someone's true nature.

"Why do you need to know?" She carelessly flicked a piece of flint off her shoulder. Her slouchy yet poised demeanor displaying an inherent nonchalance.

"It is always wise to know exactly what one invites into their home."

Susannah raises an eyebrow, looking up at him with a face of pure amusement. As if he were merely a pawn on her chessboard. "We are angels."

Her voice lacks any depth he can study and entertain. Yet as the words leave her mouth she flinches.

Angels.

The words circle his head and he cannot help but stare at her further. This woman was the embodiment of beauty, it was of sheer willpower that he hadn't got caught in the web of her appeal. However there was something unnatural in her perfection. She carried an unearthly intensity. One he knew not many could stand beneath.

"You're upset." Susannah states as if this fact is more so than intriguing.

A flash or righteous anger courses through him. "Angels?" The word comes out venomous."If you are truly what you say, and you have the divinity of heaven at your beck and call, you simply chose to not intervene in the monstrosities of earth."

She tilts her head in an adorable manner. Her gaze direct and intense. "And who causes those monstrosities?"

Words quickly get caught in his throat. He stares at her, and she merely raises an eyebrow at him. Elegantly shifting her weight from foot to foot.

"What are you called?" She asked in her light thrilling voice. It was the kind of voice that the ear follows up and down, as if the speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again. A singing compulsion that whispered "listen".

"Elijah Mikaelson," His voice was cool with shinning polite eyes that held a certain arrogant tint to them, as if his name was enough to establish his dominance. Not even the restric-fulness of his clothes could hide his enormous power in his body. Susannah could see a great pack of muscle shifting when his shoulder moved under his thin coat. It was a body capable of extreme leverage. A cruel body.

Gently placing her hand in his, she felt his fingers tighten around her. Leaning down he placed an effective kiss on her knuckles, allowing his lips to drag a small space before pulling back with a glint in his eyes. "It is a sincere pleasure to meet you."

"You should speak the truth, rather than hide behind a thin veil of forced politeness," She immediately denied his claim, with nothing more than a sideways glance. Feeling the repressive and burdensome flames of loneliness drive over her.

He chuckled darkly. "The truth is not always useful."

She doesn't bat an eye."What usefulness did you find in aiding me?"

Elijah's eyes fell to the curve of Susannah's neck. Before they quickly darted away.

"I suppose, one could say, I'm intrigued." His voice nothing more than a low drawl, as his hands slid over the table rhythmically.

"Humans tend to be fascinated by what they don't understand."

"I am not human."

"You wish you were." She said simply as if that explained everything, shrugging her shoulders languidly.

Elijah takes in all he receives from the angel, which unfortunately isn't enough to ease his burning curiosity. Allowing his eyes to drift over the child- the purity that drifted off his skin made Elijah take a step back. He would hate to be the one to dash something so innocent.

"The reason you are here has to do with the child."

Susannah looks down for a moment, her long dark eyelashes cuddling her curved cheeks in a way that could be considered attractive. "Wise." She murmurs gently." Arael is apart of my family, such as it is , the question is, Elijah, are you going to try and take him from me?"

Her words taint the crisp air. It's a challenge she's issuing, even though he is uncertain what the contest entails.

"I wouldn't dare." Elijah of all people, knows the importance of family.

Her posture doesn't relax at his proclamation, but something shifts in her eyes.

Suddenly Susannah grasps a hold of his wrist, and he feels flames lick at his skin. Flames that create an untameable pleasure through him.

Normal angels simply cannot feel loneliness, not only is the emotion a foreign prospect but the opportunity to feel it never presents itself. And how could it? When all the angels are connected to their assigned garrisons, there isn't room to be lonely with all your brothers and sisters so palpably connected to you. No room when you can hear their consciousness in your soul, their voices whispering rhythmic murmurs to your mind of their love.

But now everything is silent. All she can feel is the brother she chose to save.

And now, with her hand on Elijah's skin. The Mikaelson as well.

He doesn't move to remove her hand even with the question burning deeply in his eyes.

"Why?"

"The story is fairly uneventful; not something you would want to hear."

"How can I trust you-"

"I'm not asking you to trust me. In fact I'm not asking for anything." She carelessly flops down into a chair, setting Arael down on the floor gently, before sliding her dress up to just below her breasts. Her legs are long, and curved wonderfully and colored a unique honey color with undertones of gold and red. The more Elijah stares at her the more of an angel he sees.

Turning away to offer some form of weak modesty.

An electrified thought, powered by pure animalistic want drives through his head. He cannot help but imagine running his calloused hands down her soft thighs. The buzz of power, different from then when he is on the battlefield, the simple action would provoke. A soft thoughtful sigh falls from his mouth. When was the last time he bedded a woman? Especially of one of her magnified attraction.

Elijah can feel her eyes on him, piercing through him. "They are just clothing, they may as well be nothing."

Her words hang in the air.

"Can you read my mind?" Elijah's fingers clench as he tries to pretend her attention does nothing to him.

"Yes," He swallows a deep breath. "But I am not currently doing so, I do not violate anyones privacy without valid reason. However, you were calling for me."

"Calling?"

"Whenever someone thinks my name I receive a vague impression. Usually fleetingly."

"What else are you capable of?" Elijah inquires, honing in on her face.

Susannah laughs, it is not even remotely real. Just an acidic amusement. "Not many know my true name. You should be grateful I decided to extend that right to you, Elijah. It is not one I give to many. I am not obligated to give out any more information, especially concerning the capabilities of an angel."

"Do all angels act as if they are superior to all others." His eyes catches light of the wounds spreading over the expanse of her skin. He has tortured enough to know where they came from.

"Depends," She swiftly called back. "Do all vampires live by the rule of what blood they desire most?"

"You know my true nature?"

"I knew the second I saw you."

A sharp cry breaks the conversation as the young angel tugs at his wings with a ripping like motion. His eyes wide and filled to the brim with a certain self hate.

"Arael," Her voice immediately drops its sharp nature for a more soothing one as she allows the dress to fall from her hands as she drops to her knees in front of the child. Susannah's line of sight no longer included Elijah, only Arael.

Soothing the wing from his jerking grip she gently caresses the limb.

And all Elijah can see is three dark wings falling to the floor, blood matting the beginning of them.

"Brother," She whispers and tears slant her vision. The most intense case of sibling adoration corrupting her features. "This is not your fault. You are not him. You are simply Arael."

They stared at each other. Thousands of words exchanged.

Longing swelled inside of Elijah. He had never seen such devotion reciprocated in two distinct people.

"There are some questions I need answered." He states calmly. Susannah faces him as if he is a mere annoyance, one she couldn't wait to be rid of.

She nods sharply.

"How did this happen? If you truly are what you say- I would assume hurting someone of your caliber would be virtually impossible."

"We all have our...weaknesses." The words roll of her tongue awkwardly as if they have no place being there. "I suppose mine would be my family."

"They did this to you?" Elijah asks with wide eyes.

Susannah doesn't offer any emotion. Just a vague detachment. "I disobeyed so I was expelled."

It seemed like a weak excuse to Elijah. Nothing truly tangible, just a name for something impossible to truly understand. "You see, the brilliance of my home is the illusion of choice. They give you an option, the choice is always simple because there isn't one. You may choose, but you must obey; you must always obey. If you do not serve his will he may strike you down as he pleases. I was expected to kneel or fear for his wrath. The one who taught me choice able to take it away so easily."

Elijah's mind reeled from her hard words. Licking at his chapped lips he spoke slowly. "And how do you know disobedience is the answer?"

Susannah stops at that, at those words, eyes trained carefully on Elijah as he stands before her, imploring her. For a moment Susannah balks at that, at the heavy sensation of being judged by this person, by this puny man who does not- cannot comprehend- the things she had done, lost, and suffered from. What can a vampire know of her, an angel who has seen eternity? Who has the knowledge of earth at her fingertips.

She is just about to say so, is going to instinctively snap, but when she looks into his eyes she draws back- because she sees something speaking faintly to her.

It is faith. It is a full hopeful belief dedicated to her, from a vampire she knows almost nothing of.

"Because the answer I was given wasn't the right one. The ends never justify the means." Her hands immediately soothe over her brother's feeling the angelic presence she had grown accustomed to long before.

Rolling his sleeves up to his forearms with onyx eyes flaring with warning. "I can heal you."

Her smile reminds him of a cat, claws hidden away for now. "How do you intend to do that?"

"As a vampire, my blood can heal- but you already knew that. So tell me, Angel, why do you stay?"

"Not all morality centers on humanity," she says so in the same sing-song voice she'd said everything else in, the accent crisp and melodic.

"I have killed." His words meant to dissuade, from what, he isn't sure.

"Humans aren't the only things that deserve to live." Her voice is flat, said with a soft iron. She leans towards Elijah, examining him. "Your blood will not be of any help. I was wounded by celestial beings with celestial weapons."

Elijah had almost forgotten she was one of those celestial beings herself.

"I can heal myself." As soon as the words left her mouth the world seemed to jolt alive with a new kind of energy. It didn't match up in any way with the feel of natural magic, or any witches magic. It had more weight and less boundaries. It was a magic that sustained itself. Details jumped out at him. Euphoria seeping into his veins, so much so that he vainly wondered if any of this was anywhere close to being real.

A radiance swelled beneath her skin, causing her to glow.

Her body quickly becoming clean of any wounds, but the scars still remained.

She was made up of power. A power others would have wished to simply be close to.

"I must know more." The soft demand trickled from his mouth as his fangs descended from their place.

"Do not speak to me as if I am below you, Elijah." Her voice so low it growls in his stomach.

"Should I bow down then and beg like a lowly animal? Send prayers that I know will not be answered." Elijah spoke with surety, looking down at the small angel in front of him.

"Do you think I want to be here with you? That your company makes up for the pain of being disowned. That I asked to spend my time with a creature of darkness, an abomination. One of which death hangs off of so willingly?"

They hold eye contact a certain frustration dancing in the air.

"If you do not want me here- I will leave and not return." Susannah says softly. Her eyes glazed over as they stared in the direction of the door. And all Elijah could see is someone who needed help, someone much to prideful to even consider asking for it. Only able to accept it for someone other than herself.

"I stopped for a reason, Susannah. You need me."

"I don't need anyone." Was her immediate response. One full of natural defensiveness and anger.

"No?" Elijah mocked, glancing down at Arael.

Digging her nails into the center of her palm she bit down on her lip. "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing."

"I've seen the way you look at my neck."

"I can control myself."

"Can you?" She challenges offhandedly.

Elijah holds her eyes for a moment longer. "Tell me more."

She looks pained as she allows her eyes to fall downwards and her shoulders to sag. "I can't." Stepping forward until her body was pressed against his, her eyes raised suddenly and her lips pursed. "Elijah, do not infer in a war you know nothing about."