The Anjeli were there at the beginning when the Universe sprang into being.

They lifted their voices in exultation, praising the Creator who called forth matter from a senseless mass into something organized, something sensible, something inherently beautiful.

It took them a full ten cosmic seconds to realize that with great good must come great evil.

Anti-matter produced its own beings, foul blobs of black goo that slowly materialized into dark forces no less powerful, beings that could not see the beauty in raindrops or the effort made to shape each frond of a fern just so.

The Demonix could not create, as Anjeli could.

They could only destroy.

So began the ultimate battle, one destined to shape entire solar systems...or wipe them out of existence.

The ranks of Anjeli were supposed to be carefree beings of light and life energy that spent the long hours of eternity flitting from one cloud to another and dreaming up cutesy songs in praise of the Creator.

Much like his half-brother, Cirus had trouble with societal norms.

He was a worrier, always dwelling on the ever-present threat of evil. So what if the Anjeli had soundly defeated the Demonix in the Ionic Wars? Were they blind to how much evil was spreading across the expanse of the universe, threatening those millions of worlds the Creator had filled with life forms?

Take the aforementioned brother. Culum was a low-ranking Demonix, a titan with power over climates and weather patterns. His hunger for power could not be sated with the occasional world conquest. Culum wanted everything from the Heavenly Halls to the Far Reaches for his domain. In his obsession to achieve the impossible, he had done something reckless and extremely dangerous.

Culum had taken an Earth woman to his bed and fathered a child. He had given her a small part of himself. By human law, Culum would be considered the boy's true father.

By universal law, that also made him Cirus' son.

Demonix are the shadows of Anjeli. One cannot exist without the other.

Little Luno was only the seventh of his kind. He looked human enough but within him was the potential to embrace his titan half, to become a powerful immortal.

How could a child born of Earth reject the allure of an easy life full of ready rewards and no consequences?

Cirus sighed, settling on the white marble steps of the Observium so he could look into the Great Basin. Touching a finger to the water's surface, he settled his thoguhts on Earth.

He saw a toddler with dandelion fluff hair chortling as he discovered the fun of diving into a pile of leaves. His mother was a golden-haired beauty who swung him into the air and kissed his cheek. He squealed and littered her head with a handful of autumn colors.

"Little Luno."

Cirus said it with a smile. The boy stared solemnly at the sky for a moment, almost as if he'd heard. A yellow butterfly broke his concentration and sent him tumbling on to his next adventure.

"He is mine, Brother. Never forget it."

Culum's voice was a dark blot at the edge of his thoughts. Cirus shook his head, though his twin could not see the motion. "He must choose you, Culum."

Culum's mind-voice was a sneer. "As opposed to what? Rainbows and crystal basins sprinkled with rose petals? When I devour his strength, I will be invincible. Even the three Primo Demonix will respect me and accept me into their ranks. The universe will be ours."

A nightmare vision filled the viewing basin, one of entire planets consumed by flaming pits and great war machines belching poisonous black smoke. Demonix of all levels of power lounged on thrones shaped from the bones of the many they'd killed. Humanoids wore chains and never dared raise their eyes from the ash-covered ground.

Cirus brushed a hand over the surface of the water, creating ripples that rearranged themselves into an entirely different picture. In it, Luno was striding confidently down a dirt lane, his arms opening wide to embrace the little boy who dashed forward to hug him. Behind Luno was a woman with the body of a warrior and braided dark hair that fell nearly to her feet. A glimmer of light seemed to hover just over the surface of her skin - the blessing of one of the Seven High Anjeli.

Cirus' smile was radiant. "You see, Brother. The future still has many paths and I choose to believe in the most hopeful outcome."

Culum snarled and cut their connection. It was painful for him to look into the light of the heavens for long.

Cirus recalled the happy garden scene but Luno and his mother had moved inside as twilight fell.

He whispered a blessing under his breath, smiling as the flowers seemed to stand just a little straighter in the dusky light.