The Angelic Demon ~ Stradivarius

To say that I am confused is an understatement. For the first part, Cortana came out of nowhere, but I don't think she's realized who I really am. Then, there's the subject of who that other person is, because he's got a demon aura and Cortana doesn't seem to notice that. Which is weird. She of all people should know that she's travelling with a demon. He's very powerful at that, but-

My thought was cut short as someone caught my arm and whispered to me, "Hold your breath."

I looked to my side to be met with Cortana's icy gaze as she pulled me into her wave of water, transporting us to somewhere out of Euthoria. I let go of the breath I was holding in and wiped the excess water from my eyes. I was standing beside a lake, which I recognized as Lake Speculum. This is a sacred place, sacred to the angels above. One would think that someone as prideful as Cortana wouldn't come here for no reason-

"You, tell me about yourself. You seem familiar, but I can't seem to put my finger on why."

Goddamnit, what is it with you and interrupting my thinking Cortana? You've always done this, ever since the City of Angels. It's like you are aware of the fact that I am in mid-thought, and that is the exact moment you choose to speak. I thought carefully about what to say, then answered her question as well as I could without blatantly giving myself away.

"Me? Stradivarius Corden, Euthorian citizen and one of the two leaders of Euthoria's knight order, as you probably know already." Nervousness swelled up inside me as she eyed me carefully, her eyes steely and if looks could kill, I'd have been decapitated.

"One of two you say? Then who's the other?" It was the other angel who spoke. Or at least, the other being, the one who took the appearance of our friend Azriel Armagan.

"She hasn't been around for years. Disappeared on a mission. Or at least, that's the conclusion we came to after she hadn't been home in half a year, nobody had heard from her for four months or so. So the council wrote her off as gone." I explained, knowing full well what I had just said was a lie. A necessary lie, but still, it didn't feel right to be lying to two of my closest friends from my past.

"Hm. And would their name happen to be Tergeo?" he asked me.

I flinched. They knew? How?

Cortana laughed. "Judging by your reaction, we were right. It was her, wasn't it? The one they call Spectre nowadays?"

I swallowed and nodded. Did they know? Who I was? No, they couldn't. It wasn't possible.

I released a breath I had been holding for some time, then decided since they were probably going to kill me anyways, I might as well ask.

"Cortana," I started, "You do know that you've been travelling with a demon, right?"

Cortana looked to me as if she was about to strike me down where I stood. Her hand sneaked closer to her spear, and I, honest to the gods, thought my second life was over.

"You know, you aren't wrong, brother dear." a familiar voice said. Too familiar. "I was just about to ask when you'd realize that, 'Tana. But you never did of your own accord."

"Trophonia." Cortana said, her words dripping poison.

"Cortana." Spectre replied mockingly. "You're as nice as always. Now, I'd like it if you wouldn't murder Athuriel, he's already died once as it is."

Cortana lowered her spear and I backed away.

"What on earth do you mean, Athuriel? You're spouting nonsense like always. Why should I even take time to listen to you?" Cortana replied.

Spectre smirked. "And I see your insight is as terrible as always. You've been travelling with a demon for the last six hundred years and you didn't notice at all, neither did you see that Athuriel wasn't actually gone. Well, he was gone, but he reincarnated with his memories intact." She laughed. "But I can't believe you never saw the fault in his name."

Cortana looked slightly panicked, as opposed to the ever-so-calm Spectre.

"What fault?" she replied, then her face lit up as if she'd seen something. "Of course. Stradivarius. The only book Athuriel ever read and actually enjoyed. "

Spectre tapped her staff against the ground. "Of course, now you realize it. Takes the fun out of the reveal." She turned back to the other angel. "As for who he is, I'm sure it's better if we simply show you. " she nodded to him, and his gaze hardened in response.

His eyes were the first to change. They went from Azriel's cool blue to a deep, dark purple, almost black. Then, he grew a tad bit shorter, before completely morphing into himself again. The demon now standing in front of us sighed in content.

"Do any of you have any idea how uncomfortable that is? To be someone else for decades~ It's not the best past-time for certain." he laughed. "You've had no idea! And it's been how many years Spectre?"

Spectre grinned at his question. "six hundred forty three and counting, Draven." she turned to Cortana. "And here you shot me down from the sky for associating with demons."

Cortana looked dumbfounded. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I guess she finally realized the difference between his aura and Azriel's. I reached out to her in an attempt to comfort her out of habit, but a wave of water pushed me back.

"B-but how? How could I not notice?" Cortana stuttered out. "I should've been able to-"

"Notice we replaced your friend with a demon?" Spectre finished her sentence. "You of all people should be aware of the fact that people taken by demons do not return."

I should've seen it happen. But somehow, she moved quicker than my now human eyes could see. She did what any person consumed by hatred would have done, and attacked Spectre.

Spectre blocked the swing of Cortana's blade, sparks flying off her staff's metal.

"So you have finally learned how to wield that blade, have you?" She taunted her. "Paellucidus is one of the elementals, right?"

Cortana scowled and went in for another hit, which Spectre simply sidestepped.

"You're losing your touch, Cortana. Haven't had to fight in a while, have you?"

"Shut up, you demon! I know who you are, Tempest Tergeo, the first moon controller, the one who went insane with power. I know exactly what you have done with Trophonia, and I will have you know that you will not last long in this world." Cortana spat at her, her words as sharp as her poison-laced blade.

I backed away from them a bit further, as the aura in the air was getting heavier by the minute, like something swallowing us whole. Cortana's eyes glowed and I knew what she was going to do. She was going to let herself be consumed by her element, and of course I couldn't let that happen. So naturally, I stepped in between them, facing Spectre. Facing Trophonia. I looked her dead in the eye and told her,

"If you're going to attack her, you're going to have to kill me first."

Spectre's eyes softened for a second, making me think. 'Please, Tropha, if you're in there, stand down.' She retracted her staff, backing away from me.

"Fine. Have it your way, Athuriel Lesauvage." she turned to open a portal, but she didn't get off the lake in time, as a crack almost like lightning sounded through the air.

She let out a low growl, almost animalistic, as the black smoke dispersed.

"Lucifer Dianthus. I should have known it was you who helped them escape." She smirked. "After all, black smoke was always your dramatic touch."