Silas struggled to get Tess to her house. He couldn’t fly due to the glass shards embedded in his wings from breaking through Levi’s window and he couldn’t walk very well, thanks to the stab wound in his right leg. Tess’s limp body made it excruciating for him to walk. His heart felt heavy at how the day had ended. Levi’s body was sitting in his room with a bullet through his forehead and a gun in his hand. Silas had been hoping Tess would get far enough away not to hear the gunshot, but clearly she hadn’t. He glanced around, thankful the streets seemed dead; if anyone saw him and Tess, he would be in a lot of trouble. Tess’s parents were both at work and Silas entered the house silently. Caspian followed him down the hallway, twirling around his legs, causing Silas to stumble.

“Stupid cat." Silas growled, kicking the feline away. Caspian arched his back and hissed before running into the living room. Silas walked into Tess’s room, glad that the door was open. He laid Tess down on her bed and looked at her. The girl was out cold, probably from exhaustion. Silas searched her for any injuries. She had bruising on her wrists and arms from fighting. Bruises splotched her throat and Silas’s anger flared, knowing just what that demon had in mind. Tess must have been fighting hard to have these bruises already. The injuries that worried him the most were the ten punctures in her face from the demons nails. All of them were along Tess’s hairline except for two on her cheekbones, along with a bruise on the side of one cheek. Silas got up and grabbed a washrag from her bathroom, along with a small cup. He filled the cup with warm water and dipped the washrag in it. Silas put the rag to the puncture mark on her left cheekbone and tried to wash away the dried blood. Tess gripped the bed sheets and cringed. Silas retreated, taking the washrag away from the wound, wondering if she had woken up. Her pale eyelids still covered her grey eyes however. He was secretly glad she was still asleep since he hadn’t figured out how to explain this whole situation to her. Silas continued to clean the wounds on her face until he sensed a presence behind him.

“I know I screwed up, so save it.” Silas growled, not bothering to look at Gabriel. Gabriel walked to the other side of the bed silently, waiting for Silas to acknowledge him. Silas slowly drew his eyes from Tess’s face to Gabriel’s.

“Yes?” He asked, keeping his tone level.

“You have broken law, Silas.” Gabriel said calmly. His calmness always got on Silas’s nerves.

“Punish me how you will, but there was no way around it.” Silas dropped the rag into the cup.

“You didn’t even try to wipe her memory.”

“You know as well as I do that her memory cannot simply be wiped." Silas said flatly, losing his nice tone. Gabriel gave him a warning look.

“Sorry.” He apologized. Gabriel fell silent as he bent down, examining Tess.

“Do you know who the demon was?” He asked.

“I think I have a clue to who it was, based on his intentions and how he went about deceiving Tess.” Silas said.

“Who do you suspect then?” Gabriel inquired.

“Akbar.” Silas spat the name out, not enjoying the taste of it on his tongue. Gabriel’s stiffened.

“Akbar is very dangerous.” He said, touching the bruises on Tess’s throat carefully.

“You have good reason to presume it was him, but do not fixate on it.” Gabriel straightened and looked at Silas.

“But I killed him so what does it matter?” Silas questioned. Gabriel’s gaze immediately narrowed into slits. Apparently it did matter to the angel.

“If this was Akbar’s work, it's the beginning of something larger.” Gabriel frowned and paced a couple of steps.

“What of my punishment?” Silas asked, afraid to know the answer. Gabriel let out a gusty sigh.

“She can know, about everything. We cannot hide the truth from her forever. If we don’t tell her she could find out from other means and the result could be disastrous. You can continue to watch over her, but I want you to keep a closer eye than ever before. She just might be the redemption we’re looking for.” Silas’s eyes widened. Could it possibly be true?

“Do not get your hopes up.” Gabriel said sharply, reading Silas’s thoughts. Silas frowned, that waslike Gabriel, always kept things in perspective.

“I need to go, the most high must know of these events.”

“Doesn’t he already?” Silas joked. Gabriel said nothing.

“Guard your heart Silas, for it can be deceitful.” Silas watched as Gabriel disappeared from his site. He frowned.

What did Gabriel mean by that? He asked himself. He was trying to figure out the coded message when Tess stirred again. Her eyelids fluttered open and closed.

“Tessie?” Silas whispered, hoping to bring her out of her coma-like state. Her eyes slowly came open and color returned to her pale cheeks. She turned her neck, but cringed, almost crying out in pain.

“What is it?” Silas asked quickly, wondering if he had missed an injury.

“Neck.” She rasped. Silas moved closer to her and reached toward the back of her head. Tess reacted with a retreat from his touch.

“Please, don’t touch me.” She pleaded fearfully. Silas could see the fear glimmering in her wide eyes.

“Tess, I need to see if you’re hurt.” Silas said as softly as possible. Tess relaxed only a little bit.

“I’m fine.” She swallowed. Silas slowly reached out again, moving carefully. Tess stayed tense, but didn’t attempt to move away from him. He moved his fingers down to the base of her neck, gently applying pressure. Halfway down from her scalp he felt Tess inhale sharply and he immediately withdrew.

“Does that hurt?” He asked, applying pressure again. Tess bit down on her lip for an answer. Silas grabbed a pillow and eased it under her neck for support.

“H-he yanked my head backward.” Tess said and Silas noticed she had started shaking. The shock must be setting in.

“You don’t have to tell me right now, just relax, okay?” Silas told her.

“You’re going to be sore for a couple of days.” Tess stared at the ceiling silently. Silas got up and went into the kitchen, grabbing her a glass of water. He brought it back to Tess.

“Try to drink something.” Silas said to her, knowing it would help bring her out of shock. Tess accepted the glass shakily and took a few sips before handing it back to Silas. Silas set the glass on her dresser.

“You think you can eat something?” He asked.

“I can’t stomach anything right now.” Tess answered, she lulled her head to the side to look at him. Silas wished she hadn’t done that.

“Understandable.” He answered. Tess’s eyes watered.

“Nothings understandable anymore.” She said in a low whisper. Silas felt an ache in his chest. How could he have let this happen to her? He tried to shake off the feeling.

She wouldn’t be alive right now if you had arrived any later. He reminded himself. Tess was silent for almost thirty minutes and it worried Silas.

“I want to talk about it." She said finally. Silas was shocked and looked at her.

“Are you sure?” He asked.

“I want answers.” Tess said sternly and stared at Silas. Silas knew she wanted answers about him, not just answers about Levi.

“Tell me what happened before I showed up." Silas said, wanting to avoid the subject of himself as long as possible. Tess took a shaky breath.

“We were just talking about the fight and then he got aggressive suddenly and said I should’ve listened to you. Then he attacked me.” Tess told Silas.

“You’re lying.” Silas said flatly.

“I am not.” Tess tried to say convincingly.

“Something else happened Tess, don’t hide it from me.” Silas said firmly. Tess opened her mouth to argue, but closed it.

“Fine, we were talking about the fight and he mentioned something about you saying he was bad for me.” Tess stopped, looking at Silas.

“I won’t deny it, if that’s what you’re looking for.” Silas shrugged.

“Why didn’t you tell me about that.” Tess asked.

“I didn’t think it was important.” Silas said quickly. Tess didn’t argue with him.

“Then what?” Silas asked. Tess seemed uncomfortable with moving on, but she did.

“I told him that you would have to deal with it and then things got a little heated.” Tess's gaze drifted away from his, avoiding the question in his eyes.

“Heated?” Silas asked, not exactly sure what she meant.

“Physically.” Tess said, sounding embarrassed and uncomfortable.

"Oh,” Silas said, realizing why she didn’t want to say anything, "how um heated, exactly?” Silas coughed, clearing his throat.

"We-he,” Tess corrected, but Silas caught the slip-up, "got a little touchy-feely and I told him to stop, but he wouldn’t listen.” Tess swallowed and tears welled in her eyes.

“That’s when he said I should’ve listened to you. I tried to get away from him, but he had locked the door. I screamed, but he covered my mouth and slammed me against the door.” Silas tried to keep his anger from showing for Tess’s sake, but he struggled. He noticed Tess had stopped talking.

“Are you okay?” He asked. She nodded.

“It’s just painful to remember.” Silas was surprised she had made it this far without breaking down. Tess paused before continuing.

“He told me that no one could save me and that it was his job to get rid of me. H-he-he began to-” Tess stumbled as tears started falling onto her cheeks and she inhaled quickly. Silas felt as if his heart had been ripped out. How could someone be so vile, so repulsive? He wished he could calm Tess, but when he moved toward her, she flinched.

“Tess, did he-" Silas couldn’t get the words out. Tess tilted her head in defiance.

“No, he didn’t.” She looked at Silas. Silas noticed she was thinking.

“I said something and he cowered away from me.” Silas straightened.

“What exactly did you say?” He asked.

“I won’t tell you until you tell me who you are.” Tess’s grey eyes were determined.

“Who are you?” She asked. Even with permission the next words felt like he was sinning.

“I am Silas, your guardian angel.”