Elusive Redemption

[Aristarchus]

-Angel? Did she say angel? Ooh, dinner time.

I wait in the shadows. I wonder if I should eat him whole, or bite by bite.

-Bite by bite.

I listen to her talk. She is one of those relgious freaks. In my book, there's no god worth worshiping. One time I pretended to be a god and got a village to worship me. Then I ate them all.

[Aristarchus]

The man says he is not an angel.

I could eat them anyway.

But the girl doesnt have much meat on her bones.

[Chastity]

"Oh."

Perhaps it was silly of me to think of him as an angel. He does seem so contrary to what I believe they would stand for. He seems able to deal death quite well. I don't think that one of God's soldiers would be as interested in doing that.

"I don't have any powers with which to heal you anyway." I feel sorry as I say this, I wish that I had them. I would gladly heal him. I would take his wounds as my own, he was given them while protecting me, after all, they are rightfully mine.

"Thank you for protecting me. I am not as good or selfless as what you seem to imagine. I am only doing what I can, but there is always more to do. I can only do so much, and it is never enough."

[Aristarchus]

-I Step out of the shadows and walk toward the lady.

-"Pardon, but I have lost my little sister. Maybe you have seen her or could help me find her. Just step back into the shadows with me. I'm sure with your help, I can find her."

-I gentle grab her slender arm.

-I smile.

[Chastity]

I am surprised and shocked to see a man step out of the shadows of the hotel room. I had thought that we were alone. I look at Peter. Surely he must see this man too. I take a step away from him, but he still has a grip on my arm.

"I am sorry, sir, I have seen no one here. I do not know anyone in the area. And how... how did you get in here?"

I do not sense much goodness in him, despite the story and smile that he offers. My other hand clutches tightly to the beads, imprinting patterns on the palm of my hand. I begin to pray the rosary in my mind, my lips silently moving. I glance at Peter again. Perhaps this is a friend of his.

[Aristarchus]

-I was outside, saw you, followed, and entered. Step outside with me, it is dark, but I will never find her alone.

-I sense that she is afraid of me.

-"Do not be afraid. I won't bite you...at least not too hard."

-I laugh at my joke.

[Chastity]

"I do not think that I will. I am sorry, I do hope that you find her, but I don't think I would be much help in finding her."

This man perturbs me. He seems intent on me leaving with him. It seems strange that so many want to harm me, when I am so little a threat. Perhaps this man's motives are pure afterall, and he does not wish to harm me. But something in my spirit tugs at me, telling me otherwise.

[Aristarchus]

-I want to crush her delicate bones in my mouth, and feel her warm blood ooze down my throat.

-I smile

-"Thank you anyway....if she is lost, the L'ord will protect her. I am glad to meet a holy woman. There are so few sheep in our flock."

-I let go of her arm.

- "May the Lord Bless and Protect you."

-I walk toward the door.

[Chastity]

"Goodbye then. I hope that you find her." I am relieved that he has let go of my arm and has decided to leave. I walk over to where Peter is standing, and stand close behind his tall frame.

[Aristarchus]

I open the door.

-My name is Aries....it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope we meet again."(A good dragon never gives his full name.)

-As soon as I hit the street, I attack a group of humans. I drag their bodies behind a building, transform, and swallow them whole.

-I turn back to my human form, wipe the blood off of my lips and continue walking.

[Chastity]

I stand there for awhile longer after Aries left. My body shakes a little. I normally try to remain calm. There is nothing in this world that can harm my eternal life, but there was something about him that made me uneasy. He spoke of Biblical themes, yet I felt no good in him.

Finally, I sit on the bed, feeling very weak. Only now do I let go of my rosary. Withdrawing my hand and examining the palm. The beads have made deep impressions. My fingers are white from gripping so tightly, but once again I have been protected from harm. I breath a prayer of gratitude.

[Aristarchus]

-I am still hungry. Human meat does not satisfy. Though some is better than others.

-I think of Peter. I would have attacked them, but I sensed something different about him. So I did not. I left my meal.

-The night is young. I will spend it seducing, then eating women.
My favorite leisure activity.

[Peter "The Owl"]

Peter takes his glasses from the table and puts them on, tapping something on their frame. He stands quickly, his eyes growing wide as he read information from his lens.

"Chastity, never trust anyone again."

Peter touches the small gem around his neck, thinking for a moment. In a flash of light he changes to his immortal form, blue liquid fire replacing his skin, wings coming form his back.

He stands still for a moment and then, with another flash of light, he returns to his normal form. The bulllet wounds are gone though the black blood still remains.

"Chastity, this is important. That thing wasn't human, it was a creature that is supposed to be dead."

He turns back to the bed and begins packing his weapons back into place.

"It was a Dragon, a Silver Dragon. Their supposed ot have died out but the readings match the recorded samples. I don't understand it... but Silver Dragons are supposed to be good creatures, not kind but good.

Still, Dragons, good or evil, are not to be trusted."

He locks the last of his weapons in place and looks at Chastity, leaning close to her, close enough for her to smell his breath.

"Do not go off with an strangers, please. Even if they mean good Dragons can be dangerous to people."

He leans back again, blinking slowly. "I have to find him..." Peter's voice, so steady this while time, is starting to become lighter, quieter.

Peter starts to turn towards the door but he stops, swaying slightly on his feet. "Must... find the... Dragon."

He falls face first onto the bed, laying still. His breathing is slow and deep, his muscles relax. He's asleep.

[Aristarchus]

-Ages have passed since I have seen another Dragon. They all left long ago, when the elves and other races left Earth to the humans. I was sleeping when they left.

-I am wide awake now. I have slept far too long. It is time to feed. I will feed for a few hundred years then go back to sleep.

-I walk along the street. I am completely bored. Humans are annoying.

-Yawn......I could polymorph someone into something else. I like doing that.

-Some kids run by me and I turn them into sewer rats.

-I laugh as one of them gets chased by a dog.

[Chastity]

As Peter transforms, I take a step back in amazement. He says that he is not an angel, but with glowing skin and large wings sprouting from his back, it is rather hard to believe him. In an instant he is back in human form, and healed of his wounds.

He is going to leave, to fight the dragon. I want to ask him to stop, but I know that my plea will not be heard. It sounds dangerous. And then... he collapses upon the bed.

I run to his side and check his pulse. He is alive and breathing, he just appears to have fallen asleep. This is strange indeed. I pull back the covers from the bed, and then draw them over him. I turn out the lights and turn my chair towards the window. There I sit and think.

So much has transpired since my arrival in this city. I look out at the cold building fronts, masked in darkness, The small lights twinkling in windows. I start to sing for the city. I know that my small voice is unheard, but I cannot contain the emotions that I feel. This city, the home of government buildings, is also the home of many needy. The people balk against the tyranous rule, yet submit, not from choice. There is no other way. What should be a communist ideal, letting people be equals and none go without, is instead a land of waste and ruling classes. O Maria, what can such a small girl do against such great odds?