Morgan is entranced by the feel of her finally in his arms. Desire rips through his body and his nostrils flare as he drinks in her scent. “Katie,” he murmurs, “you smell so good and it seems like centuries since I’ve touched you.” He wraps her tightly against his body and leaps from the ledge into the air.
Katie drinks in his heat and comfort he offers. Chills erupt and her soul sighs. Morgan can smell the blood from her wounds, and he whispers a healing prayer. It’s too dark to see anything, but she can feel. A silver dust wraps around them and sinks into her skin. Every inch of her body comes alive in an instant. Sparkling warm dust floods her body and heals all of her wounds. Katie pushes back in disbelief and Morgan stares entranced at the image of her covered in his dust.
“Mine,” his heart demands. He wants with all of his soul to taste the flavor of his dust mixed with the taste that is all Katie. Her fingers thread in his hair and she tugs his mouth towards hers. Bated breath mingles and her lips part with anticipation.
When he lands in a rush of wings, she lifts her head in surprise to look around. They are on the coast near the ruins of an abandoned castle. The look of frustration crosses her face and he smiles as her feet touch the rocky ground.
“Come with me.” He reaches out and takes her cold hand in his, pulling her along beside him. The rush of damp air hits her and Katie begins to tremble as they hurry inside past the rubble and crumbled stones. Morgan is forced to close his large bronze wings tightly against his back to fit inside the opening. After a moment’s hesitation for her eyes to adjust, they walk up stone steps to a second floor.
As they reach the next level, Katie can see the sky is open above them. Half of the tower and ceiling has been destroyed or perhaps simply aged by time. “Morgan, what is this place?” She whispers to him. Her body is on alert, every nerve is on edge and she knows that is not good.
“This is a gate, Kathleen. There are four such gates in your world, and each is guarded by three archangels. We are called the Twelve.” Morgan searches the stone wall in front of them, running his hands over the bricks as though seeking something.
“Okay, where do the gates go?” She asks. Katie was almost afraid to hear the answer. Some things are better left alone and unknown. Morgan doesn’t answer straight away. He is still searching. He moves to a crumbling corner of mortar and stones. Placing his hand against the brick, Katie jumps in amazement when a copper light erupts beneath it. The stones activate, one by one, creating an illuminated archway. A great groaning echoes in the small room. The stones shift and pass into the wall before disappearing, to reveal an elaborate doorway. A rectangular plaque is carved in the center of the stone door with ancient scripts. Morgan sighs and walks forward, placing his hands upon it. In a flash, the script glows, and his hand is sucked inside up to his wrist. Katie gasps and watches fascinated as he begins to talk.
“Each gate allows the guardian to move between our realm and earth. We are more effective if we can move quickly and go where needed.” Morgan hisses and his muscles jump when the tile pricks the finger of his hand, taking what it needs to test the user of the gate.
“Does it hurt?” Katie moves forward, stopping just short of stroking his wing. As soon as she asks the question, his body jerks, and he roars in pain. Morgan attempts to pull his hand back, by pushing against the brick wall. Only to have the other hand drawn in as well!
“Morgan!” Katie screams his name and runs towards him to help, but he stops her by unfurls his massive wings to block her.
“No! Run, Katie!” He yells back. Katie turns to run, and her heart almost stops. Standing behind her are two creatures, one Vampire, and one Angel. The angel is armed with a large sword and the vampire smiles, revealing her preferred weapons.
Katie backs up, placing her body in front of Morgan. “You see how she backs towards Morgan, as though a human could protect him. That’s adorable.” The beautiful vampire smiles at Katie. She is stunning with her waist length blonde hair, black eyes, and red lips, but Katie sees past the image she presents.
“I managed to kill one of your kind today, so perhaps you shouldn’t underestimate, this human,” Katie snaps. The lessons from her grandmother begin to filter through her mind. The vampire laughs and twists round.
“That creature was more animal, than a vampire. Just one of Caius’s creations. You got lucky, little human,” she hisses at her.
Morgan struggles to free himself, “Let her go, Daria. Your business is with me.”
“That’s where you are wrong, brother. Kathleen is the reason we’re here.” The angel, Balthial laughs when Morgan looks over his shoulder at them in shock.
“No,” he whispers, “You would betray us for this creature?” he struggles violently to free himself. “Release me!!” he roars.
Balthial draws his sword and advances on Morgan in a rage. Before Katie can move, Daria leaps at her. Morgan’s sweeps his wing out striking the vampire across the chest, while the other wing knocks Katie to the ground.
Daria screams out in anger as Balthial attacks. He sweeps his sword down and slices one of Morgan’s arms off at the wrist. Katie screams in horror while trying to crawl, but Daria jerks her to her feet with a hiss of warning.
“Be still or I will
