• The fox yawned as she watched the girl in front of her finish the elaborate summoning circle. She had started to draw it the day before when the red sun was high in the sky and had continued working even when it set and the dark moon had risen. Now the sky was painted a color similar to blood as the sun got ready to appear in the sky once again. The fox yawned again, and jumped off the rock she had been sleeping on. But her fox feet never touched the ground. In mid air she had turned into a girl, save for the fact she had fox ears and a fox tail. “Hey! Emrys! You done?” The girl flashed an angry look at her and the fox-girl flinched. “Right, Right…Asmaria…but I still liked your other name better.” Asmaria flipped her long dark purple hair over her shoulder with in a swift, delicate movement. “Emrys was the name of the angel. And if there is anyone to blame for the fact that she no longer exists, then it’s you.” The fox girl frowned. “Angel or not, you still are Emrys. And you exist.” Asmaria frowned. “I’m no longer an angel and therefore I don’t have the right to be called the name I once held. If I ever do turn back into and angel, then I shall call myself Emrys once more.” Asmaria unfurled her wings and motioned back at them. “However, since you made me turn into a demon, it is only right that I answer to the name Asmaria. It’s the name the Elders gave me and I shall hold it proudly.” The fox girl sighed. “But they could have at least let you choose your name.” Asmaria smiled. “Tell me, Nyoka, did you name yourself? I find it just that someone else name me when I was accepted as a demon. A newborn doesn’t name itself.”
    “Humph. You sound like an old man.”
    Asmaria laughed and Nyoka relaxed. Even though Emrys had changed a lot in her transformation, her light purple hair had turned into a dark violet, her silver eyes red with the pupil slanted like a cat’s eye, her angel wings into those of a demon, and even spoke with a strange calmness and a tone of hate that could make fire freeze in it’s place, her true laugh had not changed. It was still soft like a lullaby, unless it was when she used it to laugh at someone’s sorrow, for then it could give nightmares. “Anyways, Nyoka. I like the name Asmaria.” Nyoka frowned. “Is it the name you like, or it’s back ground?” Asmaria smiled. “Both.”
    Nyoka shook her head. “And to think that I had to wonder why you made so many enemies and no friends on your first week of school. If you really wish to survive in our world you best learn our ways.”
    “Now who sounds like an old man?”
    “I hope not me.” Asmaria and Nyoka turned around surprised. “Daven!” A man with dark black hair tied up in a red ribbon smiled at them. “Asmaria, how long did it take you to make this?” Daven gestured at the summoning circle. “I started noon yesterday and worked throughout the night. I just finished it.” Daven nodded. “Well done, but what do you wish to summon?” Asmaria bit the bottom of her lip. “Rage.”
    If the man was surprised, he didn’t show it. He just nodded. “You’ll get in trouble if you summon something without supervision, and Nyoka doesn’t count. I’ll make sure you don’t faint or die in the process.” Asmaria nodded. Daven was one of the Elders, and even though he had the appearance of a man in his early 20’s, he was well over 500 years old. And he was one of the three Elders that knew she had been an angel, so she trusted him. Asmaria stood at the edge of the circle, opened up her arms, and began to sing the words needed to summon a spirit of one of the deceased. The circle began to glow and a soft wind picked up around it. Then it grew strong and stronger and stronger. Then it died down. A grey animal with the body of a large cat, long pointed ears, and a long fluffy tail stood in the middle of the circle. The apparition growled at Asmaria. “Traitor” A sad look came over Asmaria’s face for a second but it left as soon as it had come. Asmaria took a little bag out of her pocket and opened it up. She sprinkled the soft dust over the animal. “Rage, that was the powdered gem. You can use it in two ways. One, bring yourself back to life, or two, turn the wings of a fallen white again.” Rage’s eyes opened in surprise. “A fallen… I can save him with this, cant I ?! Thank you Emrys!” Asmaria’s eyes narrowed. “My name is Asmaria. Don’t forget it, slave.” Rage growled. “Who’s the slave?” Asmaria smiled. “I summoned you back so you could do my biddings. Don’t let anyone see you unless it’s if you give yourself your life back. Then you are free from my hold. Go.” Rage growled at Asmaria once more before disappearing into thin air. The summoning circle stopped glowing and Asmaria dropped, unconscious from the drain of energy.
    Daven caught her before she touched the ground and lifted her up, holding her like a princess. Daven looked down at her face and smiled. “She’s really cute and fragile looking when she’s unconscious. It’s almost as if you could kill her with a kiss.” Nyoka snarled at him. “Don’t even think of it old man.” Daven laughed. “To late. Here, you take her back to the mansion before my instincts take over and I really do something.” He handed Asmaria to Nyoka. Nyoka’s face lit up in surprise. “She’s so light! I feel like she’ll break if I drop her!” Nyoka looked around. Daven was already gone. “Damn. He always leaves me talking to myself.”