Valor

(*= notes at the end that may make that part of the story easier to understand)

"Niko*, what's wrong?" Angela** inquired, her green eyes looking into his own cold, silver eyes with concern.

"Angela, look," he started, turning from her, his dark hair blowing out of his face now that he was walking into the wind. "You wouldn't understand." he walked out of the courtyard and into the castle.

"Niko!" Angela followed him inside, and continued following him, all the way to Sky's***, chamber. He put his left arm across his chest and bowed to Sky before approaching her.

Do you wish me to explain the predicament to her? Sky's voice came to him. Because of her telepathic powers, she usually knew exactly what was happening and why anyone was coming to her long before they actually came.

I don't know, M'lady. Would she understand, or would it just frighten her? I don't want her to leave the castle unprotected... you know that...

Perhaps a mere demonstration?

If we must. he turned and looked at Angela, wincing slightly as he felt Sky trying to force him into a transformation of his possessor. Soon, her trial became successful, and his eyes grew black as night, his skin turning a dull grey color.

"What's happening?!" Angela asked, confused and frightened. Her eyes were fixed on Niko, who laughed maliciously.

"What's happening?" he repeated, "What's happening?" his eyes fixed on hers. She was scared to death, something that his demonic soul fed on. He approached her. "I'm not who you think I am." he said darkly, and touched her face, at first gently, and then digging his nails into her cheek and scratching her. At this point, Sky forced his mind back to it's original state, and he pulled his hand away from Angela quickly, turning away and walking out.

"Sky, what just happened?" Angela asked, shaking as she felt blood trickle down her cheek, along with her own tears.

"My dear, Niko fought with Derian several times, you know this, right?"

"Who is Derian?"

"Derian is leader of the Slayers****, and he himself was a demon... Well, the last time Niko fought him, when he was successful in defeating him... Derian's soul was released, and because Niko was there, it possessed him."

"Niko was possessed?"

"To put it simply, yes."

"Was he afraid that I would not love him because of it?"

"No, Angela. He was afraid that if he admitted that he loved you, something would happen to you. He's afraid that if anything happened to him, such as an excorsism, or if he were killed, and Derian's soul were to be released again...if he cared so much about you, you would be the next victim."