Dante reached his fingers forth and plucked the incomplete halo from the air and pressed it against his forehead. The silver light that was emitted from it previously vanished. In its place, was a fluorescent dark crimson light which burned it way into Dante’s forehead.

Return to me.

It was a painful merger. Dante howled in anguish, the concealment spell containing his cries within the clearing.

The night outside remained silent.

I am an angel! Not a demon! I serve the Lord!

The incomplete halo vanished and Dante collapsed onto the ground. He panted heavily and lifted his hand to brush the crow black fringe over his forehead to the side.

Fused into the flesh the forehead was an incomplete circlet centered in front.

Dante’s fingers ran down the full length of this circlet.

Only a third done. I will have to find the other halo shards. It should be easier now. A third of my former power has been recovered.

Dante closed his eyes and sat himself into the lotus position to meditate. The ritual had taken a lot out of him and he would need to recuperate if he wanted to live.

There was an abrupt disturbance in the air and Dante frowned, alarmed at the intruder’s presence. If it was an enemy, even the weakest demon, his life would be threatened. His current strength was even lower than that of a mortal. Dante held his breath and stared out into the night.

For the next five minutes, there was nothing but mere deafening silence.

Damn it, I’ve only accomplished the first stage of my path back to heaven … I can’t just die here … to be able to notice my presence through the concealment spell I had enchanted, this demon has to be strong …

The silhouette in the night’s shadows finally moved and revealed itself. Dante’s eyes widened as he identified the presence.

“Chris.” He whispered, both in joy and in surprise.

Chapter 3 — My “Mother” Is A Demon

“Mo-mother!” A six-year old Xin shrieked. He backed away slowly, his tiny head shaking as he retreated. Xin stumbled, fell and tasted earth. Earth mingled with his tears.

“Mother!”

He reached out his left hand and stretched it backwards to the fallen silhouette. The fallen silhouette that was his mother.

She was being consumed.

Xin was confused. His mother was torn into shreds, from one limb to the other … his mother was being eaten by his mother.