Destiny jolts awake in the forest, dirt and leaves stuck in her curls. The vial glows faintly in her palm.
Her side aches—
but she realizes the pain isn't from the fall.
The forest around her is suddenly foggy.
Thick.
Sweet-smelling.
Pink.
Destiny's wings twitch. Her instinct screamed.
Something is here.
A shape emerges through the fog—
a woman with candy-pink eyes, glossy pink lips, skin like polished rose quartz. Her hair is a long, neon sweeps of bubblegum curls.
She smiles wickedly.
"Awww. Little angel got lost." Said Candy
Destiny raises her fists. "Stay back."
Candy's smile widens.
SHLICK.
Destiny gasps as Candy appears behind her, claws dripping pinkish light, a deep cut carved along Destiny's side.
"Too slow." Purred Candy.
Destiny stumbles, one hand pressing the wound.
A massive blue flame fist punches through the fog—
WHAM!
Candy goes flying and slams into a tree hard enough to crack the bark.
Constant steps in front of Destiny, shoulders braced, eyes glowing.
"You picked the wrong angel, sweetheart." Said Candy.
He marches toward the demon woman, fist raised—
ready to obliterate her—
FWSSSH—
A burst of pink energy erupts from Candy's body, flooding Constant's senses.
His pupils dilate.
His jaw relaxes.
His entire expression melts from fury to…
…adoration.
"Wow… you're beautiful…," said Constant.
Destiny's jaw drops. "WHAT!? Constant—DON'T—"
He doesn't hear her.
He grabs Candy by the waist.
She giggles and leans in.
They start making out against the tree.
Like teenagers.
Destiny presses her hand harder against her bleeding side, teeth grinding.
"Are you kidding me right now?" said Destiny.
She looks from them to her wound, back to them, absolutely done.
"I'm a normal angel. What am I supposed to do—throw leaves at her?" said Destiny to herself.
Destiny staggers away from the tree line, hand clamped over the deep slash in her side.
Warm blood drips between her fingers, leaving a crimson trail through the moss.
Every breath stings.
Every step tastes like iron.
She forces herself forward anyway.
"Come on… move… MOVE…" whispers Destiny.
Behind her, she hears moans.
Not pain—
pleasure.
She almost throws up.
Candy wraps her arm over Constant's shoulders, pulling him deeper into the pink fog she controls.
"Come on, big guy. Let's disappear before the scary Reaper comes. I know a place where no one will bother us…" teased Candy.
Constant giggles—giggles—in a way that is terrifying for someone normally stone-faced.
"You smell… amazing…," said Constant.
Candy nuzzles him, licking his jawline, pink venom glowing on her tongue.
She moves him another step, then another, dragging him toward a glowing portal of pink mist she has opened in the trees.
Destiny collapses on her knees, breath ragged.
She looks at the glowing vial in her hand.
A tiny spark of hope.
"Blood Reaper… hurry…," said Destiny.
Her vision flickers.
The ground trembles.
Pressure builds in the air—
Like the weight of a falling star.
BOOM.
A crater explodes in the dirt behind Candy.
Pink fog evaporates instantly like it fears her.
Blood Reaper stands in the shattered earth—
hair whipping behind her, wings flaring, the staff glowing like a miniature sun in her hand.
Her eyes lock on Constant—
then snap to Candy.
Her aura spikes so fast Candy physically recoils.
"Reaper… sweetheart… I was just—" laughs nervously as she steps back.
"You touched what's mine." Said Blood Reaper.
Her voice is cold enough to freeze lava.
Candy's smile twitches.
"H-he came willingly—" said Candy.
Blood Reaper vanishes—
then appears with her hand around Candy's throat.
She slams the demoness so hard into a tree the trunk splits down the middle.
Candy chokes, feet dangling.
"Do you have any idea how fast I can peel the flesh off a demon?" said Blood Reaper calmly.
Candy kicks, clawing at Reaper's hand.
Her pink glamor flickers, revealing veins of sickly neon corruption beneath her skin.
Constant stumbles forward, dazed, reaching out.
"Reaper… don't hurt my girlfriend…," said Constant.
Blood Reaper doesn't even look back.
She squeezes Candy's throat tighter.
Candy's glam fades another notch.
"O-okay—I'm sorry—I'm SORRY—let go—LET GO—"said Candy as she is being strangled.
Blood Reaper lifts her higher—
And Destiny, half-delirious, whispers from the ground:
"Reaper… don't kill her… not yet…," said Destiny.
Blood Reaper's gaze flicks down to Destiny—bloody, pale, barely conscious.
Her rage sharpens.
Candy realizes she's seconds from annihilation.
Blood Reaper tightens her grip.
Candy's feet scrape against the bark, dangling helplessly.
Her pink fog sputters out.
Her real voice emerges—thin, terrified, cracking:
"WAIT—WAIT—DON'T KILL ME—
I KNOW WHERE Elyon's CAGE IS!" said Candy.
Blood Reaper freezes.
Destiny, barely conscious, lifts her head.
Constant blinks in confusion.
Blood Reaper's fingers twitch, tightening again.
"You lie." Said Blood Reaper.
Candy shakes her head frantically, tears welling.
"I—I swear on the Abyss—on the Pit—on my NAME—
I've been there. I've SEEN it!
Morvath's Shadow travels there—often!" said Candy.
Her heartbeat thunders in terror.
"Please… I don't want to die. Let me go—I'll take you!" begged Candy.
Blood Reaper's eyes narrow.
She doesn't like bargains.
She especially doesn't like being begged.
And then—
A blur of blue flame.
A fist slams into Blood Reaper's jaw.
She barely moves—but she does turn her head in surprise.
Constant's voice is hoarse, panicked, still under Candy's influence:
"DON'T HURT HER! She LOVES ME!" said Constant.
Blood Reaper looks at him like he just sprouted antennae.
Candy beams weakly from the tree like, "Yes, baby, defend me—please buy me five seconds to run."
Blood Reaper's expression goes dead calm.
"This spell… is insulting." Said Blood Reaper.
Constant swings again—wild, sloppy.
She catches his fist with two fingers.
"Enough." Said Blood Reaper.
She grabs him by the throat—
—and SLAMS him into the ground so hard the shockwave flattens the grass.
Constant goes limp, unconscious.
Candy squeaks.
Blood Reaper doesn't even look at her anymore.
"Run." Said Blood Reaper.
Candy doesn't question it.
She vanishes into pink fog so fast she leaves her shoe behind.