Thank you

"That is Ragnarok: The Destroyer. Even beings deemed immortal or invincible cannot withstand Ragnarok's power. No one knows its origin or the purpose of its creation. All that is known is, it has a will of its own. It chooses who can wield it, and those unworthy are torn asunder."

Drayce stepped back from the relic. If what Fiona said is true, then what is she doing with such a powerful weapon? If the sword found her worthy, it must be a creation of absolute evil.

She seemed to read his apprehension. "Don't worry; I don't have the strength to wield it anymore."

Drayce gazed at Fiona. "You mean, you used to be more powerful than you are now?"

"In my prime, there wasn't much I wasn't capable of. Certainly more than reading minds and controlling weak willed mortals. I possess but a fraction of my former power."

"Is that why you hide from the outside world? You don't have the strength to fight back against the 'entities' you mentioned before?"

Fiona sighed. "Partially, yes. I would be no match for an angel in my current state."

Drayce gave Fiona a look of surprise. "Angels? They exist?!"

Fiona rolled her eyes. "You know for a fact: demons exist. How could you not know angels were real too? Just don't go believing all that God and Satan nonsense you humans conjured up."

"I try not to make assumptions," Drayce said. "Otherwise, I would think you'd have severed heads and leech extract in your fridge."

"Touché," Fiona giggled. "Crusaders, on the other hand -- them, I could take care of, if they were alone."

"What are Crusaders?" Drayce asked.

"Crusaders are an order of men dedicated to the extermination of demons. Their order is as old as civilized man and is well-versed in the art of magic. They are much more secretive and reclusive than they used to be. However, you can always spot one by the small cross branded on their neck."

Small cross? Brand? Gabriel! Recognition exploded in his mind.

"I saw one yesterday!" Drayce explained. "He came to my apartment asking about the night club murder. I knew something was off about him. He gave me some bullshit story about..."

"I can read minds, remember?" she interrupted. "I figured one of them would be paying you a visit after that night club fiasco hit the news. This is good news for you, Drayce because we need him to find Phoebe's killer."

Drayce looked at Fiona inquisitively. "We need him? For what?"

"Hmm, how to put this delicately? We don't need him, per say. Rather, we need his heart."

"I'm not helping you kill people, Fiona!" Drayce scolded.

"You won't have to kill anyone. However, I never said you wouldn't have to do questionable things. You want my help, this is me helping you. One hand washes the other."

Drayce thought about it. He was okay with her killing criminals -- but a priest? That is going too far.

"Since you're busy questioning your own morality, allow me to make this easy for you. While you were spending the day trying to find an alternative to my offer, I took the liberty of doing a little memory spying on Gabriel. Turns out, Mr. Holy Man has an affinity for young girls. Too-young girls, if you catch my drift."

"A corrupt soul..."

"That's right! It's a win-win for us both. All I need you to do is lure him to my lair. I will handle the rest."

"Isn't that a little risky?"

"Don't worry, I have a plan. Go ahead and tell him it's a trap for all I care. He will suspect as much anyway. I just need to get him to part with the prayer beads that hang around his neck. They are the source of a Crusader's magical power. Remove the beads, and they are powerless."

Doesn't sound too hard. "All right, I'll do it. I'll call him tomorrow and tell him to come to my apartment. Then I'll show him where your lair is."

Fiona rose from the couch, "Now that our plan is in order, I need to take a much needed shower. I'm still sweaty and dirty from tonight's dinner."

She walked to her large shower stall. Drayce's eyes were affixed to her backside, staring at her perfect ass -- and the tail that swayed with every step.

Both shower heads sprung to life when Fiona turned on the water. One sprayed down her back while the other wetly massaged her front. It was apparent why her shower was so big: her wings would not fit in a normal shower. No shower curtains or door were apparent; Fiona soaked her body out in the open without a care.

Drayce watched on from the couch. He definitely enjoyed the unintentional show Fiona put on. Or was it so inadvertent?

She lathered-up a loofa and vigorously scrubbed her arms and neck. Water and suds cascaded through the valley of her pert breasts, past her flat stomach, and in torrents between her lithe legs. She massaged her soapy breasts; nipples protruded from the bubbles like flashing beads.

Bracing her foot on a ledge, Fiona scrubbed her legs one at a time, and then turned her ass in Drayce's direction. Suds flowed from her loofa as she rubbed the small of her back just above her tail. Then she grabbed her tail with one hand and stroked it with her soapy other hand.

Fiona returned to her efforts. She extended her wings and tried to reach behind herself but could not quite catch the top of the saurian limb stretching from her back. Fiona struggled several times before Drayce's voice caught her off guard.

"Do you need a hand?" he offered.

"No!" she grumbled, still struggling.

Drayce walked over to the shower, pulling the loofa from Fiona's hand.

"Here, allow me."

Fiona was irritated but did not decline Drayce's offer. He stretched to the top of her wings and lightly scrubbed them. The water spraying on her wings sounded like raindrops hitting an umbrella.

After lathering her wings, Drayce returned the loofa and used his hands. The wings were smooth like leather to the touch. Fiona mewled as he rubbed the soapy lather all across both wings and traced his fingers down her phalanges. She jerked when he tried to rub the base of her wings at her shoulders.

"That tickles!"

"Sorry."

Drayce rubbed up and down her back. He stopped to massage her shoulders. A mist of water bounced from Fiona's body and drenched Drayce's clothes. He did not mind.

"You know, you're pretty good at this," Fiona purred.

"I used to wash Phoebe's back like this every day when we showered together. I always loved the way the water ran down her back, how her fresh wet hair smelled, how her skin got goosebumps if I got too close to her ribs." He backed off, realizing his mind had wandered. "Sorry."

Drayce jumped slightly as Fiona's tail wrapped around his back, stopping his retreat. It squeezed him ever so slightly like a gentle hug.

"She was a beautiful woman," Fiona fira said.

"Yes, she was."

There was a dead silence for a while. Drayce focused his thoughts on washing Fiona rather than dwell on how much he missed Phoebe. She stood quietly, enjoying the sensation.

"Can I ask you something?" Fiona said.

"Sure."

"Do you think I'm repulsive?"

Drayce's hands stopped. "Why do you ask? You would just read my mind anyway."

"I'd much rather hear your answer, whatever it may be. Just be honest."

Drayce paused for a moment, and then went back to washing Fiona's back. "You're beautiful. Just... different."

When Drayce finished her back, Fiona turned around. She had a very genuine smile. "Thank you, Drayce."

"You're welcome." Drayce smiled back at her.

"We'll find out who killed Phoebe, I promise. I just need you to trust me, okay?"

Drayce nodded his head in agreement.

"Its late, and you need your rest for tomorrow. I can send you home."

"Send me home?" Drayce inquired.

Fiona stepped out of the shower, not bothering to dry off, and walked to the wall where they had entered. She placed her hand to the wall and the portal appeared again -- only this time, Drayce could see his living room on the other side.

Fiona gave Drayce a little kiss on the cheek. "Good night, Drayce."

"Good night, Fiona."

Drayce stepped through the portal and was standing in his own living room. The portal behind him vanished without a trace.

"Well, that's convenient."

Tired, Drayce quickly turned towards the bedroom. Tomorrow was going to be a long day, full of uncertainty.

☆