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Part One

THE CRESCENT

I saw the angel in the elo

A feeling of complete and utter disaster has settled just below the surface of my conscience I hope these new tea has to

--Gabriel

Edinburgh, Scotland

Old Town

Late October

Blood Holy Christ, there’s soin distorted ways, jagged bones jutting through ripped clothes as they lay lifeless on the cobbled stones Against the buildings So many My sto h It’s cold Windy Now the streets are barren Where did the blood, the bodies go? I’ the shadows So fast, I can’t tell if it’s running, flying, or scaling the walls

Doesn’t reallystalked

And it’s one of the Black Fallen

Hurrying along the sidewalk, I slip into a narrow alley and press s the eve above, and the shadows reach long and jagged toward me I listen closely The air suddenly shifts, and in the next second I leap over the alley to the opposite wall I cliers curled around the ledge, peering into the pitch darkness below Waiting

I know he’s co back on my heels, I find the hilt of my silver blade that’s tucked into the back of htly My eyes search the alley, the street and shadows below Then I liftLurking Adrenaline rushes throughaway, then I lurch up and crouch several feet froid Ready

���You’re fast," a voice whispers behind ure jerks back, then laughs darkly "Almost too fast But not quite"

Suddenly, he’s in front of rasp e I try to slash at his around him, but I’m paralyzed I can’t even screaether I can do nothingmixed-blood," he says His voice is deep, his accentold "You can do nothing to stopbut air separatessoaze never leaves the vicinity of his

"Oh Strong-willed, are you?" he says I can hear laughter in his voice, shaking et you nowhere with ivesbut a weak mortal now? All those powers you’ve acquired? Gone You’d be better off to join us" He cocks his head "Would you?"

I try to answer, but ive rip on me "Noas that?"

"Go fuck yourself," I say in a hoarse whisper

Instantly,fast, the cobbles reaching up tooff the stone walls, and the broken bodies along the cobbles begin screaopen

"You were sleeping," a raspy, faht?"