FALLEN ANGEL: MARRIED TO THE DEMON KING

She had yet to finish her meal when the toll of the church bell sounded again. Three rapid consecutive tolls, five times. Arella could not remember what that one meant. However, everyone else in the inn seemed to know. The air in the room shifted and grew heavy, and the quiet murmurs of the villagers turned into sharp whispers.

Arella looked up from her food, her senses on edge.

Jim burst back into the inn just a few seconds after the toll of the bell. His expression was grim, and his hand was tightly holding onto the hilt of his blade.

"We've got trouble." He spoke loudly, addressing everyone in the eating area. However, his gaze was firmly placed on Arella.

"Care to be more specific. Trouble seems to be following me everywhere these days."

"Bandits." His tone was clipped, "A large group, too large for our guards to handle."

Arella's eyes narrowed in understanding. "And that is my problem because?"

Jim halted, probably realizing that Arella had no obligation to assist them. His gaze then turned on the Shadow Hound. "What about that thing? Is it trained to fight?"

Arella rolled her eyes and stood from her chair. "It is not a dog that you can just sicc on someone, if that is what you are asking. It does what it wants." She walked up to the Shadow Hound and patted it on its furry head; the only spot where its fur was full and lush. "Trust me, I have tried giving it orders."

"Just great." Jim ran a hand through his hair. He was obviously frustrated. "Unless you have a better idea, I would like to request that you join us; we will need every able-bodied person who can fight."

Arella sighed, "You assume I will help because..."

Once again, he looked at the halo that hovered above her head. She could feel the looks of the other villagers as well.

"Just great. Playing the angel card." Arella looked down at the Shadow Hound. It was watching her, with what she swore was an amused gleam in its green eyes.

"Fine." She groaned, "But just to be clear, I am not doing this because you asked nicely. I am doing this because I am already here, and I do not want to deal with the guilt of leaving you all to fend for yourselves." Amanda walked out of the kitchens holding a large butcher's knife. "Also, Amanda makes the best food I have ever tasted."

"Fair enough." Jim gave a curt nod.

The villagers all scrambled to look for anything that they could use as weapons. They came out with pitchforks, kitchen knives, and even broom handles. The sight would have been comical if they were not planning to fight for their lives. Once again, the children had been hidden somewhere.

Jim walked beside her, holding on to his sword. It was then that she realized that she had given the little human girl her sword to take up to her room. She would have to change tactics.

"How many are we dealing with?" Arella asked as they came to the edge of the village.

"The lookout counted fifteen. They may be more. They were all armed. It was too dark to see more than the glint of their swords."

That was a small number to Arella, mainly because humans were weaker than angels. However, against the village, it would be a massacre waiting to happen. From what Arella had seen, Jim was the only one with a sword. The sword itself was old and worn out.

"First time this has happened?"

"Yes." Jim said, coming to a stop at the edge of the village. Arella realized that this was where the children had been playing. The fire the men had been huddled around was already put out, leaving just a warm spot.

Arella squinted her eyes so tightly and could just barely make out the people coming up to the village. "Here we go," she muttered, snapping the fingers on both her arms twice. There was a low hum as her staff materialized itself in front of her hands.

The shaft was long, standing at a slightly taller height than Arella was. It had been forged from a rare metal only found in the angel realm. The natural gold and silver colors of the metal complemented each other, intertwining around each other. It was etched with faintly glowing runes. At the top of the staff hung a crystal orb that glowed with a light golden color. 

She spun it in her arms experimentally, and the staff made a sharp, high-pitched ringing sound. The air around it pulsed as the familiar hum of holy energy coursed from her fingers and through the staff.

"Nice trick," Jim commented.

"Thanks. Try not to get in my way." She shot back.

The bandits finally came closer to the village. They were on horseback, kicking up dust as they galloped to the village.

"Boy, sure wish I had me one of those when I was looking for civilization."

Arella was pulled out of her thoughts when one of the villagers whispered in a low trembling voice. "Pirates."

"Pirates?" she turned to Jim.

"Our village is not too far off from the ocean," Jim bit out. "We heard that there were pirates that plundered the village a few kilometers from here, but we did not think they would come this deep in the land."

"So they're still bandits."

"Advanced bandits. They will do anything to get money. They kill the men, rape the women, and kidnap the children to sell as slaves."

Arella looked at the bandits, who were now close enough that she could see their faces. The orb at the top of her staff illuminated their faces, clear enough that she could see their cruel grins.

She took in a deep breath, "Stay behind me." She told the villagers.

The lead pirate, a large man with a jagged scar running down his face, pulled his horse to a stop a few yards away. "Well, well, well," his voice drawled, "what do we have here. A little angel came to save the day." Arella could feel his mocking tone.

She gripped her staff tighter, raised it slightly, then planted its base firmly in the ground. "Turn around and leave. This is your only warning."

The pirate let out a booming laughter. "You hear that, boys? This little angel thinks she can scare us."

The other pirates joined in, their laughter echoing in the quiet night.

Arella sighed. If it were Castiel here, he would have found a way to resolve everything without resorting to violence. However, she was not Castiel. Although she was technically not allowed to kill humans, she could hurt them enough that they withdrew, right?

She cocked her head slightly. "You know, I tried being nice." Before the pirate could respond, she had raised her staff again and slammed it into the ground. A shockwave of light erupted from the point of impact, knocking the pirates off of their horses. The animals, perhaps shocked by what had just happened or the light that still crackled in the air, scattered, leaving the pirates groaning on their backs in obvious pain.

The villagers gasped, awed by her display of power.

Arella brushed a stray blonde lock from her face. "Anyone else feel like testing me?" Her voice was cold.

The pirates scrambled to their feet. However, instead of retreating, they regrouped, their weapons raised. "Guess they are not very bright, huh." She muttered, raising her staff and raising the orb to face them.

The creature stepped up from behind her, baring its fangs. It let out a bone-chilling howl, the sound reverberating through the air like a death knell.

The pirates clearly hesitated, their fear palpable now. It was obvious that they knew what a Shadow Hound was.

"Last chance. This village is protected by me, Arella of the Angels of Water, and Echo, the Shadow Hound. Leave, or face the consequences," her staff let out a reverberating hum once more.

This time, they faltered. A Shadow Hound was a feared creature. Add an angel on top of that, and it would be impossible for them to win. One by one, they turned and ran, leaving the leader standing alone.

He faltered for a few seconds before dropping his sword and running away as well.

The villagers erupted into cheers, their relief palpable. Jim sheathed his weapon, giving Arella a nod. "Not bad, Miss Angel."

"This is the point you say thank you, Jim."

The villagers were giving each other hugs, celebrating their survival.

"You know, they might come back..." Arella poked Jim with her staff.

He looked at the edge of the forest, where the pirates were still scrambling to get away. "They might."

"The village might need to be protected again."

"It might."

Arella huffed. Was this not the point where she was offered a permanent place to stay?

"Don't be a stick in the mud." Amanda appeared, still holding that heavy butcher's knife. She nudged Jim in the stomach. "There is an old cottage a few minutes away from the village if you need a permanent place to stay."

"Really?" Arella's halo all but gleamed upon hearing that. She grabbed Amanda's hand and said, "I would love it if I could stay."

"I don't think that is…" Jim started.

"Then it is decided." Arella announced, "I shall become the angel that protects your village."

"But you said you would be leaving…" Jim wanted to dissuade her.

"Please show me to the cottage in the morning, Amanda."

Small Theatre. (S/T):

Jim: I should have taken care of the pirates myself. They did not look all that menacing.

Arella: (dressed up as a pirate. Sneaks up behind Jim) Boo!

Jim: (Falls off of interview chair and scrambles to run away.)

Arella: (Takes his place.) Yeah, he obviously wouldn't have been able to do it without me.