“Paradise” in WILD THING is the third story in the Guardian series, and the second novella. It is set in modern day Oregon.

All of the following information about the history of the Guardians is given in “Paradise”, but this is a more straightforward way of presenting it.

In the First Battle, Lucifer led his rebels against Heaven. In punishment, they were transformed into demons and tossed into Hell. There were also angels who refused to take sides during the First Battle; these angels were transformed into nosferatu, cursed with bloodlust and vulnerability to daylight, and sent to Earth.

The seraphim who lived in Caelum watched over humans, and protected them from demons and nosferatu. The seraphim could never completely pass for human, however, and so the people on Earth began worshipping them as gods. When Lucifer realized this, his jealousy led him to wage another war against the angels, the Second Battle.

This battle took place on Earth, and Lucifer had with him a dragon from Chaos, and hellhounds. The angels began to falter before the dragon — but mankind, witnessing the battle taking place, joined the angels. One man, Michael, managed to destroy the dragon by cutting through its heart with his sword.

After the Second Battle, the seraphim retreated from Caelum, and gave Michael the power to guard humans on Earth, and to transform other men into Guardians. Because they were once men, Guardians can pass as human, and walk among those they protect.

As you begin “Paradise”, it helps to know that: Lucifer lost a wager with Michael, and the Gates to Hell have been closed. A few demons remain on Earth, but the rest are trapped inside Hell.

Most vampires on Earth aren’t aware of the existence of Guardians and demons, although they are vaguely aware of nosferatu.