sonicalpha

In an effort to assert some sort of order to the posts here, I've decided to construct a contents page, thus placing everything in the order it's intended to be read.

Enjoy :)

~sonicalpha

-----

• The Beginning of the End - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14.
• Life and Death - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

-----

Can't see anything?  You need to join the community to view the posts.

Please keep in mind that the only person who can make posts to this community, is the author.

sonicalpha

***

Aph struggled to her feet, the world swaying from side to side and she was having trouble trying to make it stay still.

"What are you doing to me?" Aph fell down on one knee as the world began to sway again. It took all her concentration to stop the sudden wave of dizziness.

"Nothing, dear child… yet", Angelo's voice dark and cold, chilled her to the bone.

Aph shook off the dizziness, and slowly rose to her feet, hand brushing against the wound in her side. It suddenly all fell into place.

"The arrow… the old man gave you something, and it was on the arrow." Aph laughed, "Couldn't take me on your own, huh?"

Angelo wasn't listening, his mouth was moving and Aph could swear whatever he was saying was flowing around her like a gentle summer breeze, but she couldn't quite hear it.

Aph closed her eyes, began chanting in the language of the ancients. Her voice ringing out across the rooftops, and as a wave of energy surged from Angelo, it dissipated before it hit her.

"Don't you remember, daddy? You taught me everything you know", Aph mocked. Outstretching her arm, as her fallen sword rose quickly from the ground and landed hilt first in her hand. Aph opened her eyes, a smug look on her face.

Angelo didn't seem fazed, continuing to chant in nothing more than a whisper that carried on the wind, and raising his sword into the air.

A sudden bolt of lightning struck Angelo's sword, which he seemed to channel through himself and directly at Aph. It struck her hard, a deafening roar of thunder rumbled across the night sky as Aph was thrown onto the roof of a neighbouring building.

By the time Aph got to her feet, Angelo had jumped to the rooftop that she had landed on, sword ready. Cold blood red eyes fixed on her, still chanting in a hushed whisper.

Angelo outstretched his arm, in Aph's direction, hand flat, fingers apart like he was pushing against a surface. Aph barely had time to summersault out of the way before the ground she had been standing on, cracked and exploded. Aph returned the gesture in mid air, and as she landed on her feet, Angelo was forced to back flip out of the blast area seconds before it erupted in a similar fashion. Angelo landed gracefully on the edge of the building.

Aph spat blood on the ground in front of her feet, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Enough of the fancy dancing, daddy; fight me like a real man for fucks sake."

Aph launched herself into the air, Angelo jumping forwards into the air to meet her. Their swords clashing as they met, blades still striking as they landed on the rooftop, still locked in combat.

Angelo's aggression clearly showing, each swing of his sword on target, as Aph struggled to defend herself, and was forced backwards towards the edge of the building. Angelo roared with anger and every time their blades met, the sharp sound of metal colliding with metal filled the air between the deep rumblings of thunder high in the night sky above them.

A bright fork of lightening illuminated the night sky, and with an almighty effort Angelo knocked the sword from Aph's hand, and it sailed down into the alley below.

Moments later Angelo's sword ran through Aph's stomach, and he lifted her clear off the ground, showing little to no effort; eyes still blood red.

"You won't kill me" said Aph weakly, coughing up blood as she slid slowly down the blade towards Angelo's hand. "You CAN'T kill me, we can't live without each other, remember?" Aph was struggling to speak.
"I wasn't sent to kill you, kiddo. Besides death would be the easy way out for you, wouldn't it?"
"Taking me home?" Aph wheezed.
"No. The manor is no longer your home, Aph. You lost that right the day the council were forced to banish you." Angelo lifted Aph higher as her head fell. "What happened to you, kid? You had promise, you could have been so much better than you became."
"I'm sorry I'm such a disappointment to you, Angelo."
"I loved you, Aph. But you changed, and then you started taking the easy way out. The lies, the games, you lost your way Aphrodite."
"And you're here to lead me down the 'right' path, right?" Aph laughed, coughing up more blood in the process.
"I can only show you the way, child. You know the path, but it's like it's too difficult for you to walk it alone. Always running from one man to the next. It's as if you're scared to be alone. What happened to my strong little girl? Find her for me, redeem yourself in front of the council, and then we'll see if there is a place at my side for you."

Angelo raised his leg, placing a booted foot on Aph's chest and forced her back up the blade quickly. Aph screamed in pain.

"Come back to me, kiddo."

With a quick shove, Aph fell lifelessly to the alley below.

"It's over then?" Raven's voice sounded from behind Angelo.

Turning to face her, Angelo had to use his sword to steady himself.

"Methos?"
"He got away", Raven rubbed the back of her head. "There was someone else, I didn't see them…"
"It'll be ok Raven, their time will come." Angelo struggled to walk. "Let's go home"

sonicalpha

Aph was almost hysterical with laughter.

"What? That's it?" she remarked, still looking at the spot that Raven had occupied only moments before. "She swoops in, fires a few arrows, misses the mark each time and runs away? That was your rescue plan?"

It was then when Aph could hear the faintest of mumblings. So faint she wasn't even sure if it was mumbling, or her mind playing tricks on her. Turning to Angelo, tightening her grip on his throat, it was then that her confidence in her victory shattered, because that was when she saw his eyes. No longer were they the familiar swirl of green and brown, now they were dark crimson.

All emotion had drained from Angelo's face, as he chanted almost silently in the tongue of the ancients. Raising his hand, he extended his index and middle finger to touch Aph's chest, and at the moment she was thrown back, skidding noisily across the roof, and rolled to a stop.

"Blood magic", Aph spat, trying to rise to her feet, she felt weak, drained, something was wrong.

Angelo pulled his sword from his chest, it moved like a warm knife through butter; Angelo's trance like state, blocking out the pain.

As Angelo pulled the last part of the blade from his chest, the wound began to heal, and within seconds it was gone.

Aph looked up at Angelo with a grin, as blood trickled from her lips.

"Daddy's home"
"And he's pissed", Angelo growled.

***

Raven landed on the street below, bow in hand pointing straight at Methos who was still trying to pull the arrows from his chest. They were lodged in deep, and upon pulling one out, a huge chunk of Methos' flesh came with it, and Methos howled in pain.

Raven laughed, launching an arrow at Methos. It impacted in the same place that he'd removed the other arrow from.

"I could do this all night", Raven laughed.
"You won't get the chance, child."
Methos looked darkly into Raven's eyes, and she held his gaze as she prepared another arrow; Methos smiled.

Raven didn't register the impact to the back of her head, but moments later the world turned to black around her.

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

***

Angelo's cheekbone shattered as Methos' fist collided with the side of his face.

"Don't go to sleep on me, brother. I want to look into your eyes as your body turns to dust."

As much as his body hurt, Angelo laughed. He was still laughing when Methos twisted the sword that ran through Angelo's chest. Closing his eyes, to block out the pain, Angelo began to concentrate. Reaching out with his mind, until an image of Raven floated into view.

"Now…" Angelo said, both in his mind and out loud; his voice barely above a whisper.

"He's delirious", Methos laughed.
"Daddy's all ill", said Aph, her voice once again like that of an innocent child. "Should I kiss him better, hmm?" Aph leaned forward, licking the blood from Angelo's lips.

Angelo burst into laughter again, another twist of the blade failing to stop him. Methos and Aph had not yet heard the faint whistle as something moved at high speed through the air, towards them. By the time they had, it was already too late.

An arrow thudded into Aph's side, just below her rib cage. The impact throwing Aph sideways into Methos, who in turn fell on his ass.

Methos drew his gun, firing a couple of shots in the direction the arrow had come from, before jumping to his feet.

The sound of laughter once again filled the night air. This time, however, it wasn't Angelo. The laughter was distinctly feminine, and although it was clear that it was coming from one person, the sound was emanating from all directions. Then all at once, it stopped, only to be replaced by a faint whistling sound as two more arrows flew through the air, thudding into Methos' chest and sending him over the edge of the building.

Landing on the far side of the building, on the same edge that Methos had just fallen from, Raven looked down at the alleyway below, bow slung over her shoulder.

Aph pulled the arrow from her side, dropping it to the floor, and turning to face Raven.

"The whore…" Aph turned to face Angelo. "You summoned your whore to save you?"
"I'm not here to save him, sweetness, just here to even up the odds."

Aph turned her head back, to look at Raven, face filled with clear disgust.

"I'll take care of the dumbass with the gun", said Raven, speaking as if Aph wasn't even there. "Time for you to do your thing, old man." Raven winked at Angelo, as she rose to her feet and turned to face them.

Blowing Aph a kiss, she back flipped off the building.

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

The sound of metal striking metal filled the darkness high above the streets of New York City, as Aph tried desperately to break Angelo's defence.

Aph was filled with rage, almost foaming at the mouth, and she swung her sword furiously.

Angelo was the complete opposite. If his heart had been beating, people may have had difficulty finding a pulse. He looked uninterested in what he was doing, showing no effort to move any faster, or put up any kind of defence. Yet, he was blocking every thrust and swing that Aph made, which in turn only served to fuel Aph's anger.

"You're getting sloppy, and slow, in your old age. Perhaps I was wrong to send Raven away?"

Aph growled angrily. "Perhaps I'm just pacing myself so that I'm ready for your whore, after I turn you to dust."

Aph spun herself around, dropping to the floor to sweep Angelo off his feet, her sword spinning round coming to bear across his mid section. It missed, but only by a few millimetres.

Aph rose from the sweep as the sword missed Angelo's stomach, surging forward in an attempt to catch him off guard. Angelo, however, was ready, and spun side ways dodging Aph. His sword slicing upwards, tearing into the flesh of Aph's cheek.

Continuing unfazed, even as blood poured down her cheek, Aph continued to thrust and swing at Angelo. Each move forcing Angelo to change position and back away, to keep space between them.

Aph lunged forward suddenly, and as Angelo moved sideways to avoid her blade, it sliced into his side. Pain seared through his body, as his fist connected with Aph's cheek.

Aph flew a few feet through the air, her sword clattering noisily along the rooftop as she thudded to the ground and rolled to her feet.

Angelo slipped his sword back into its scabbard.

"We're not done yet." Aph spat blood onto the ground in front of her feet.

Angelo hadn't seen Aph remove one of the daggers from her coat, as she flew through the air. She'd hidden it well as she rolled to her feet. It thudded into Angelo's thigh, making him stagger back and drop to one knee. Aph moved faster than he'd thought possible, flipping over Angelo, and pulling the sword from the scabbard that hung on his back.

With a roar of anger, Angelo tore the dagger out of his thigh, and used it to block Aph's swing at his throat. The force of the impact causing Angelo to fall forwards, as the noise rang out across the rooftops, smashing his head into the floor.

Aph brought the sword down again, narrowly missing imbedding the blade in Angelo's skull, as he rolled quickly to his feet. She now had the advantage, sword against dagger, and with each thrust Angelo was forced back, until he could move no further.

Back against the wall of the entrance that led down into the building, Angelo was trying desperately to block Aph's ravenous attacks.

With a sudden kick, the dagger flew from Angelo's hand, landing blade first near the far edge of the building.

It took all of his strength and concentration to stop himself from screaming in pain as the sword was driven through his chest. Like a warm knife through butter, it passed through his heart and deep into the wall behind him.

As Angelo coughed up blood, Aph leaned in close to whisper in his ear; her voice like that of an innocent child.

"Oh Daddy, I've been such a bad girl. I need to be punished."

With that she licked the blood from his cheek, as it trickled from a wound in his head.

As the world faded to black around him, Aph's voice became fainter and fainter.

"Aren't you going to punish me, Daddy?"

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

Aph stepped down from the entrance as if it were a small step, dropping to the same level as Angelo.

"You took a little longer than I expected." Angelo began to walk towards Aph, drawing his sword from its scabbard which hung on his back.

"A girl's gotta look her best for daddy." Aph blew a kiss Angelo's way.
"I guess I should be flattered, little one."

Aph looked off in the direction Raven had taken, as she drew her sword.

"She doesn't know you killed her father." Aph observed.
"I think she would be more interested to know that you sent him to his death, filled with false hope."

Aph yawned, mockingly.

"All this talking is making me tired, daddy. Is that what the council asked you to do? Put me in a coma, brought on by boredom?"
"You broke the rules Aph. It was bad enough that you had to be banished, but you couldn't even redeem yourself. Instead you broke the biggest rule that our kind has to abide by."
"You're such a killjoy, Angelo."
"We have to remain hidden, make it appear that we're part of their world. That's why it's called the 'masquerade' law, Aph. I taught you better than that."
"So, you're going to spank me and tell me I'm a bad girl?"

Angelo had moved so that he was a few steps in front of Aph; their coats billowing in a sudden gust of wind.

"Well, enough of the lectures daddy. Let's skip to the spanking."

Aph surged towards Angelo, sword readied, fangs showing.

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

Aph stormed into the bedroom, kicking the door clear off its hinges in the process, startling Methos who sat bolt upright in bed.

"He knows where we are!!" Aph screamed. "That fucking bastard knows where we are!!!"

"Calm down, mon ange." If Methos was worried, he certainly hid it well, as he climbed out of bed. "We knew he'd catch up eventually. Wasn't that part of the plan?" Methos began to slip his clothes on.

"No, Methos you dumb shit. The plan was to draw him in, kill him, and to destroy the council he tries so desperately to protect. Not to get mind raped, there's no telling how much of our plans he got."

"You worry too much, mon ange." Methos ran a hand through his hair as Aph pulled her sword from the wall and fastened it behind her back; hilt in line with the back of her neck. "So what if he knows that we're ready for him? Won't matter once he's dust", Methos grinned wickedly at Aph.

Pulling a set of three pronged daggers from the wall, Aph turned to address Methos.

"Your over confidence in yourself will be your downfall, my love." Aph moved quickly, raising the blade of one of her daggers to Methos' throat. "And stop calling me ‘mon ange'."

***

"You're sending me away?!!" Raven roared at Angelo. "You need me!"

Angelo let out a sigh as he looked down on the streets below, his back to Raven. He could feel the electricity building in the air, along with heat; a storm was coming.

"I need you to do as I have asked." Angelo turned to face Raven. "Your time will come."

Raven took a couple of steps forward, and looked up into Angelo's eyes.

"Come back to me, okay?"

Brushing a stray strand of hair from Raven's eyes, Angelo ran the back of his hand down her cheek, and then kissed her forehead softly.

"I will… now go."

Raven took a few steps backwards, eyes fixed on Angelo, before turning one hundred and eighty degrees to take a running jump off the building.

"Such emotion, daddy. It brings a tear to my eye." Aph's voice echoed out across the rooftop. Angelo, looking up to his right, could see Aph rising to her feet on the roof of the entrance that led down into the building. "Hello lover."

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

***

Angelo stood on top of a tower block, overlooking the darkened city of New York. Lights from other builds twinkling on and off, cars buzzing around them like tiny ground based fireflies.

The old man had passed away earlier that evening, shortly after giving Angelo what he and his family had developed that could aid him with his current task.

Angelo, eyes closed, looked deep in thought. Hands behind his back, leather over coat billowing out with each gust of wind that travelled around the building.

Raven impatiently blew the hair out of her eyes. They knew where Aph was hiding out, and yet Angelo seemed to be wasting time meditating in plain sight. If she'd had her way, they'd have gone in as soon as the sun had set, and Aph would be dust by now. However, Angelo wouldn't allow that. Rushing in without planning or knowing all the facts was apparently a very stupid manoeuvre… but then so was standing on top of a building with your eyes closed. It was an open invitation to be staked.

***

Aph paced the room, face screwed up in concentration.

"Get out, get out, GET OUT!!!" she kicked a chair across the room in frustration, and it shattered against the far wall.

With the exception of the bits of broken chair, and herself, the room was empty. Hand against the wall, to hold herself up, Aph brought the other to her forehead.

"Leave me ALONE!!!", Aph screamed, words echoing off the walls.
"What are you hiding from me, little one?" Angelo's voice whispered softly in her mind, it sounded like he was talking to a child.

Aph took her hand away from her head, and drove it through the wall. The pain was nothing compared to Angelo's probing of her mind. It felt like he was driving hot pokers through her brain.

"When I find you, I'm going to kill you", Aph's voice was low, raspy, and very weak. She wasn't sure how much more she could take, as she dropped to her knees.

Images of buildings flashed in her mind, each one sending a fresh wave of pain through her body, until Aph lay on the floor, barely able to move.

Angelo's voice boomed in her mind, and Aph thought her head was going to explode.

"You know where I am…"

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

***

As Angelo made his way down the flights of stairs, the sounds of gunfire became less and less. Confused screaming breaking the silence, punctuated by the familiar sound of someone choking on their own blood, and the tell tale sound of necks being broken.

Angelo rounded a corner, into the dinning hall, he brought his sword up quickly severing the head of a straggler from his body. It continued to move for a few steps, even after the head hit the floor.

"Report", Angelo called.

Another member of the raiding party entered via the doorway at the end of the room, readied his gun and took aim at Angelo. Raven, hot on his heals, launched herself through the doorway, rebounded off the wall behind him and wrapped her legs around his neck. With a twist of her body, his neck snapped as his body flipped and was thrown across the room. The smile on her blood soaked face, impossible to miss. She was having fun.

"I believe he was the last", she said as she rose to her feet. "They're not exactly the brightest vampire hunters I've met", she nodded at a gun on the floor. "Seems only a couple had ever seen a movie, " she pulled a wooden stake from her side, and dropped it noisily to the floor. "And even then, the poor fuckers weren't paying attention."

Raven surveyed the room. When she had been dismissed earlier that night, she had taken the opportunity to get to know her surroundings better. This room had been the most impressive, long table, excellent furnishings. Now however, it looked like a war zone. Bullet holes and blood stains lined the walls, the table and chairs trashed, and of course a couple of dead bodies that added to the general ambience.

"Secure this floor, no one in or out. Tend to the wounded. I'll send for you when I have secured the other floors.", Angelo seemed somewhat distracted as he spoke.

"How did they know we were here?", Raven picked up on of the guns from the floor, cleaned it and slipped it into the back of her pants.

"Aph sent them, call it a welcoming gift." With that Angelo made his way back up the stairs to dispose of Raven's father's body.

***

Eight hours had passed since the incursion. The building now secure, all Angelo could do was wait. The old main had been secretive in what it was that he had that could possibly help Angelo with his current task.

It was 6am, daylight breaking, when the old man finally emerged from the room that Angelo had taken him to. Two of his great granddaughters helping him walk.

Another room had been prepared for him, while the other was being scrubbed down. It was there that the young women took him, Angelo waiting outside until the old man was ready for him.

Twenty minutes later, the two great granddaughters passed Angelo again, bowing their heads as they left.

"Come in, come in", the old man beckoned in broken English. As Angelo entered the room, the old man continued. "We've developed something that may be able to help you, however it hasn't been tested. It may or may not work, and quite possibly will make things worse."

"I'll take the chance, old friend, and I am honoured that you would even try." Angelo took the old man's hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"It will be ready later today. But now, I must rest. Please feel free to stay here, while you wait. My family will provide everything that you need."

"My thanks on your exceptional hospitality my old friend, get some rest."

Angelo rose to his feet and left the room, leaving the old man to get some sleep.

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

***

Angelo walked down the long corridor of the manor, the light at the end leading to the outside world. Walking out onto the balcony, Angelo had to shield his eyes from the bright morning sun. Joining a figure he looked out onto the grounds.

"I've only ever seen the sun in movies", he commented, "I would never have imagined that it could feel this good."

Aphrodite turned to face him, a warm smile playing across her lips.

"It's just as I remember it, one of the very few things I miss about their world. Not that I blame you for turning me."

Angelo sighed, his eyes fixed on a point far along the horizon.

"I did what I had to."
"I know you did, but revenge shouldn't be the only purpose for living."
"It worked just fine for you."
"And yet it has brought you back to me."
"Yes…" Angelo's voice trailed off as he watched a bird land on the railing next to him, "… and whatever happens, it ends tonight."
"You're very confident in yourself, aren't you daddy?"
"I'll do what I have to…" Angelo watched as the bird walked slowly along the railing, chirping as it moved.
"I wouldn't expect anything less. But daddy, tell me, how will you do it if you're already dead?"

Aphrodite smiled wickedly as the world around Angelo began to spin, dissolve and disappear around him

***

The sound of confused shouting and gunfire slowly filled Angelo's ears. Growing louder and louder, almost as if changing the volume on a television from quiet to full volume.

Angelo's eyes snapped open, bringing the dull candle lit room back into view. The long thin case sat in front of him, now open, revealing his sword which sat snugly in place. As Angelo leaned forward to pick up his sword, he heard the familiar sound of a gun being cocked and readied.

"I've been waiting a long time for this, vampire."
"I wondered when you would be showing up; I'd expected to hear from you years ago."

Angelo moved quickly, picking up the sword, rising from the floor and bringing the blade to his assailant's throat all in the blink of an eye.

The assailant resisted the urge to pull the trigger, even as the sword bit into his skin. Eyes filled with hatred, he glared at Angelo.

"You killed my daughter, you son of a bitch!" his voice filled with venom, as he spat the words out at Angelo. The fact that his head was mere moments from being separated from his body clearly the last thing on the assailants mind.

"I did what I had to do"
"From what I hear, that is the story of your life." The assailant brought the gun up and pointed it at Angelo's head.
"Does she know that you are here?"
"No, my friends entered through the ground floor entrance. I gained access via the roof. I'll be gone long before she finds your corpse…"
"That may be the case, if only bullets could kill me" Angelo cut him off, shock was clear on the assailants face.
"But, but… she… she said it would. Special bullets…." tears began to run down his cheeks.
"Aphrodite was lying to you, I'm sorry…" Angelo pushed the sword up slightly, breaking more of the skin around his assailant's throat. "I will take good care of your daughter, on that you have my word."

With that, Angelo moved his sword up with one sharp motion, removing his assailants head from his shoulders. His lifeless body falling to the floor as blood pumped out into the room. Raven's father's life had been extinguished in the time it took to blow out a candle.

***

Aph looked into the building as she stood on the rooftop of a neighbouring building.

"Daddy's not a happy bunny. I don't think he liked our gift."

Draping her arms around a figure behind her, she continued to watch as Angelo cleaned his blade and left the room.

Methos pulled her close, his evil laughter filling the night.

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

***

The private jet touched down at JFK airport, and within minutes Angelo and Raven had disembarked onto a rain swept runway.

As the black limousine pulled up slowly beside them, Angelo noticed the ambulance that had been called to treat two of the stewardesses. Raven, it seems, had misunderstood the offer of something to eat during their flight. Though she had been careful to not drain them dry, their condition was nonetheless critical. Angelo had hoped they wouldn't die, as good help was hard to find after all.

The chauffeur emerged from the vehicle, greeting them as he opened the door. Angelo and Raven climbed into the back of the limo, each carrying a long thin case, the only luggage that they appeared to have.

Rain pounding against the roof, the chauffeur climbed into the driving seat, closed the door quietly, and pulled away.

***

Blood flowed freely down her open throat as the little girl trembled softly in her arms. Moaning and movement becoming less and less as the life was drained from her body. Continuing to drink from her until the little girls movement had stopped, Aph them proceeded to drop the lifeless body to the floor.

"You're sure it's him?" she said to a figure standing in the doorway, his face obscured by shadows.
"Yes, my love, I saw him with my own two eyes. How do you wish to proceed?"

Licking her lips thoughtfully for a moment, Aph pondered the situation. A wicked smile played slowly across her lips, her fangs completely visible. She resembled a rather sinister looking Cheshire cat, who had most definitely just got the cream.

"We'll send him a welcoming gift, and invite him to join our party", she was almost jumping up and down with glee in her chair. "And I know just what to get him…"

***

The limousine rolled to a stop deep in china town. The sound of rain no longer filled the air, though the streets were still slick with water.

Angelo stepped out onto the street, quickly followed by Raven carrying both of their thin and long cases.

"The council are putting us up here?" she said, with an air of revulsion as she stepped into a muddy puddle.
"You would be well advised to never use that tone with me again, dear child. The council have provided the usual 5-star accommodation for us; however, we are here as I wish to visit an old friend."

Raven hid her fear well, and responded in a soft voice that would have been barely audible to the human ear.

"My apologies, master."

Giving instructions to the chauffeur to return early tomorrow evening, Angelo made his way to the doorway of a small building. The door opened as Angelo reached out to knock. A young man approximately 19 years old greeted them.

"Greetings, Sir. Can I help you?"
Angelo bowed gracefully, "Good evening, my name is Angelo and this…" Angelo outstretched an arm to indicate Raven, who in turn followed Angelo's lead and bowed. "This is my assistant, Raven"

Before Angelo could continue, the young man dropped to his knees, lowered his head and addressed Angelo.

"My great great grandfather speaks highly of you sir. All members of my family are forever indebted to you."

With that, the young man rose to his feet, welcomed them in, and took their coats. Leading them both up a number of flights of stairs, they entered a candlelit room. The scents of the candles covering the smell of death that hung in the room.

An old man in a bed in the corner of the room, raised himself slightly to see who had entered. His eyes lit up as he gave a warm smile upon recognizing Angelo. Speaking in Chinese to the young man they had met at the front door, he asked that they be left in peace. Angelo, turning to Raven, also asked her to leave, suggesting that she take the time to get some rest.

After they had both left the room, the old man struggled to lift himself up in his bed, so that could see Angelo clearly.  Speaking slowly in Chinese, his voice weak and clearly showing his pain, the old man addressed Angelo.

"It has been a long time since you graced me, or my family, with your presence. I see you have a new companion, one hopes that she is not as stubborn as the last", he let out a wheezy laugh, and Angelo couldn't help but smile at his comment. "Speaking of Aphrodite, how is she doing?"

When Angelo spoke, his voice was low and grave, speaking in perfect Chinese with a near perfect accent. It was almost as of he had been speaking nothing but Chinese his entire life.

"Unfortunately, old friend, she is the reason I am here. It would seem that she is… ill and the council have asked me to take care of matters."

The old man moved slowly in his bed, struggling to pull the covers off.

"Poor Aphrodite, always finding herself in troublesome situations. If this has anything to do with what happened last time, I believe my family and I may be able to help."

Angelo reached out to help the old man out of the bed, taking most of his weight to help the old man walk; together they both left the room.

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

***

The sound of metal striking metal filled the hallway, along with the occasional fowl word from Angelo. Raven could have found her way down to the basement on the noise alone. Now fully clothed, she opened the heavy iron door and walked into the training room.

The training room was larger than she remembered. An assortment of weapons lined one of the far walls. Angelo was fighting the dummy, although unlike normal dummies, this one was fighting back. The dummy was an armored training aid, driven by cogs and pulleys that moved it randomly. Although it wasn’t a master of combat, it could still swing its sword, punch and kick. Raven remembered her earlier training days. She’d hated that thing, and could never see the point in fighting it. That was until she let her mind wander and was almost sliced in two.

Angelo’s body glistened with sweat as he moved quickly and quietly to avoid arrows and stakes that flew across the room at random intervals. Dressed simply in a pair of pants, Angelo brought up his samurai sword in a swift motion to deflect a poisoned arrow, while dodging slightly to the right to avoid the dummy as it brought its own sword down.

Raven hit a small panel to her left, instantly causing the dummy to stop mid move.

“What’s CB3?” She asked, slipping out of her clothes and into a training outfit which had been hanging next to the panel.
“Child’s blood, mixed with Blade”, he responded coldly.
“And that means what?” she turned to look at him. He had crossed the room silently and was helping her put on the black silk jacket. Angelo waited till he had fastened it with a matching belt, before responding.

“To you, nothing. To Aph, it means a complete loss of control.”
“Why?” she looked up into his brown green eyes, their color slowly changing. It reminded her of how a perfectly clear day could suddenly change into a stormy one.

Angelo removed her sword from the rack on the wall, handing it to her while bringing his own up into a ready position and waited for her to do the same.

“Certain vampires have a reaction to CB3. They lose all inhibition…” he paused, looking down at the floor. “In a sense, the demon inside them is let loose from its cage.”

Raven swung her sword so quickly that a mere human wouldn’t have registered the movement. Angelo however moved faster, it was almost as if he had detected the air being displaced by Raven's blade. Raven’s sword met his, yet his eyes were still fixed on the floor.

“Your posture was wrong, and your footwork gave you away”, he looked up into her eyes.

Raven growled, and initiated another series of attacks. To the human eye, they were a blur of motion. For every move Raven made, Angelo had a counter move. Metal clanged against metal as the pair maneuvered around the room. Angelo brought his sword up, and then swung it down in one fluid circular motion. It missed her by a few millimeters.

“You’re slipping”, she said with a wicked smile.
“I’m not, you’re letting your guard down and you’re letting your anger control you.” he retorted.
“Yeah, but you missed!” Raven let out a small laugh.
“Did I?” Angelo turned his back to her, and took a few steps forward.

As Raven brought her sword back up, and moved herself into position the black silk belt that Angelo had fastened around her waist, fell to the floor. Her jacket, no longer fastened by the belt, fell open. Raven smiled, looking down at her now exposed chest and stomach.

Looking back into his eyes as he turned to face her, Raven was reminded of the seriousness of the situation that had driven Angelo down into the training room.

“How bad is it?” she asked.

Angelo swung his sword without warning, and the two once again moved around the room. Some may have said that they were poetry in motion, as move against counter move; they were a blur of motion. They continued even as Angelo responded to her question.

“Imagine an almost unstoppable army. Millions of people, trained to be masters of various forms of combat. Imagine that each one is slaughtered, all by the same person. She wouldn’t stop there though; she’d slaughter their families, their children and their grand children. And she’d do it with a song in her heart and a smile on her lips.”

Raven blocked his thrust, spun around the blade and knocked it from Angelo’s hand. It clattered noisily along the floor.

“If she’s so bad, why is the council sending you alone to sort the situation?”

Raven’s breathing was heavy, her chest rising and falling as she breathed. Those who had been born mortal, always had trouble forgetting that they no longer needed to breathe after they had been changed.

“She, like you, is my responsibility. Therefore, they naturally turn to me when something goes wrong” Angelo’s movement barely registered as he spoke. One moment Raven’s sword had been in her hand, the blade at Angelo’s throat, the next it thudded blade first into the training room wall. “We leave tonight.”

Angelo crossed the room, picking up his sword and returning it to the wall mounted rack. As he reached the door, he turned to speak to Raven.

“And in future, mon chere, please remember to wear underwear. It’s quite distracting when you don’t.”

The door closed softly behind him, leaving Raven to smile wickedly to herself.

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

***

Angelo continued to stare at the pictures as Raven sat down. The sheet pulled so tight around her that you could clearly see her womanly shape underneath. She looked again at the pictures that Christophe had carefully arranged for Angelo to see. They were all of Aph, each one with someone different. Raven could almost hear her victims screaming and pleading for her to stop and let them go. She was obviously enjoying herself, and seemed even more pleased at the amount of mess she was making.

It was Angelo, who broke the eerie silence.

"How long?"
"Excuse me sir?" Christophe replied.
"How long has the council known what she has been doing?" the anger was clear in his voice, no matter how hard he may have been trying to suppress it.
"A little over 3 months, sir"

Angelo roared, as if someone had driven a stake through his heart. Gripping the armrests of his chair so hard, the wood shattered in his hands.

"We had to be sure, before we presented the news to you", Christophe screeched in terror, lifting the folder up to cover his face. Raven did her best to suppress the urge to laugh at the little worm.

"Why was it so important that they had to wait this long?" Raven spoke up, wanting to get to the bottom of things before Angelo's rage got the better of him.

***

Christophe had managed one more word, before Angelo physically ejected him from the room. Rage no longer visible, he seemed somewhat colder, as if somehow he no longer had emotions. Telling her to pack her things, he left the room and headed towards the basement, leaving Raven still sat in the chair wrapped in the white silk sheet.

"What the hell is CB3?"

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

* * *

Angelo sipped his cup of earl grey, as Christophe stormed into the room.

"I wish there was some mystical and ancient magic that prevented humans from entering uninvited", he said, not even looking up from his desk.
"I don't need to invited Angelo; I'm here on official council business." Came the sniveling reply.

Christophe was an attaché assigned to some of the high ranking council members, usually too afraid to look any vampire in the eye. Angelo believed that he would often jump at the sight of his own shadow. However there were times, like now, where the thought that it was all a carefully crafted illusion, crossed Angelo's mind.

"Talk to me like that again, and I will drive the nearest and sharpest object I can find through your neck", said Angelo angrily, almost growling with rage.
"My apologies great one, I did not mean to invoke your anger. But the council has asked that I deliver this important information to you. Under pain of death, no less." Christophe visibly shuddered.

Angelo looked up at Christophe, who was clutching a small folder, almost as if his life did indeed depend on it.

"If it's so important, why are you standing there?! Show me what they gave you, before my limited patience runs out."

Christophe nodded, opening the folder and placing some photos on the desk. Spacing them evenly so that Angelo could view them all.

While Angelo looked thoughtfully at the pictures, a sleepy yawn sounded from the other side of the room. Peering through the large archway into the bed chamber, Christophe's eyes found the source of the noise.

A young female walked slowly across the room. Her long black hair flowed down past her bare shoulders, her skin pale white. With the exception of the white silk sheet she had just finished wrapping around herself; she appeared to be completely naked.

"Cover your eyes Christophe, you're not man enough to handle what I have to show you." she said softly and sleepily.
Christophe turned away, and stuttered his reply, "Y... y... y... Yes, M... m... m... Miss Raven."
"Good boy", she said, walking past him and towards Angelo's desk to pick up one of the pictures. "I see Aph is doing vampire porn now. Things have definitely gone downhill since you left her.", she remarked.

"Sit down!" Angelo's eyes glowed as he growled at her.

* * *

Angelo's mind filled with noise as the world began to slip back into focus. His mind was being probed, and judging by the sloppy nature, he knew that it wasn't Aph.

"It won't work, others greater than you have tried and failed" he said groggily, his eyes still closed.
"Never hurts to try" came a male voice in reply. It was a voice Angelo instantly recognized.
"What's he doing here, Aph?"
"Don't you remember what you told me, Daddy?" her voice once again like that of a child, soft and full of innocence.

If she hadn't just impaled him, he might have been tempted to believe the façade.

"You always said that I should keep it in the family."

Angelo's eyes shot open, full of rage as he looked past Aph and at the source of the voice he had recognized moments before.

"Methos", he hissed.
"Brother"

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

It took all of his strength and concentration to stop himself from screaming in pain as the sword was driven through his chest. Like a warm knife through butter, it passed through his heart and deep into the wall behind him.

As Angelo coughed up blood, Aph leaned in close to whisper in his ear. Her voice like that of an innocent child.

"Oh Daddy, I've been such a bad girl. I need to be punished."

With that she licked the blood from his cheek, as it trickled from a wound in his head.

As the world faded to black around him, Aph's voice became fainter and fainter.

"Aren't you going to punish me, Daddy?"

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

Angelo felt groggy and weak, his head still pounding. Each thump sending a wave of pain through his entire body.

“Sir? Are you ok?” Robert asked, panic showing in his voice.
“I’ll be fine”, he said, opening his eyes. The world was still spinning.

Catherine appeared in his field of view.

“Daniel told us what you did”, she laughed a little. “I think it’s the first time I’ve seem him outside of the basement”

She placed a cup on the table as Robert helped Angelo into the bedside chair.

“You need to feed to get your strength back” Robert said, looking at the cup.

Angelo sniffed it, looking at Catherine.

“This isn’t my usual blend” he said jokingly.

She smiled weakly, trying to hide the bandage on her arm.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures” she said, looking down at the floor.

* * *

Aph opened her eyes slowly, almost blinded by the sudden rush of intense light. Her eyes adjusted, and slowly she made out the shape of Angelo looking down over her.

“Morning sleepy head”, he said with a soft smile.
“Angelo?” she said dreamily, “What happened?”
“Nothing you should worry about sugar”, he shifted uncomfortably, “All that matters is that you’re here.” He kissed her forehead gently.
“I was dying…” she whispered “… I could feel myself slipping again. But you…”

Angelo silenced her with a soft kiss to her lips, and then whispered in her ear.

“I promised I would always be there for you when you needed me”

Fixing the blankets covering her naked form, Angelo stood up and walked to the door.

“I’ll send Catherine with some clean clothes”, he said softly.

Looking down, Aph suddenly realized she was naked, and blushed slightly.

“And Aph…”
“Yes?”
“No feeding on the hired help, ok?”
“Ok”, she said, smiling softly.

With that he was gone, the door closing behind him. A few minutes later there was a knock at the door, and a young woman entered the room.

She was about 19, with straight brown hair that went down her back. Carrying clothes, she made her way to the chair Angelo had been sitting in, and laid them out neatly.

“You gave us quite a scare miss” she said.
“Oh?” Aphie replied, sitting up in the bed.
“Yes miss” Catherine said smiling, “But at least you’re better now. What brings you to the manor?” she asked.
“It was time to come home” Aphie said softly, fixing the blankets around her.

Catherine stopped for a moment, looking Aphie over with her big brown eyes.

“You love him, don’t you?” she asked quietly.
“I always have, I always will”, Aph sighed in reply, “However I’m not sure if he feels the same way”

Catherine made her way to the door, turning the handle, she turned back to face Aphie.

“He risked his life to save yours, and refused to leave your side till you woke up” she said, slowly opening the door. “What does that tell you?”

sonicalpha

Startled by the sudden sound of the phone in the adjoining room, Angelo left Aph’s side to answer it.

“What is it Daniel?” he asked harshly.
“Umm, I finished the tests on this bolt you sent me.” He replied, he voice hesitant. He was nervous.
“And?”
“It’s defiantly the same stuff that was used on you, it’s just…”
“It can’t be the killer of the dead Daniel,” Angelo rubbed the bridge of his nose between two of his fingers. “It’s working too fast”
“That’s just it”, Angelo heard a clacking of keyboard keys. “The version that was used on you was designed to kill you over a period of time. According to my results, this variant is around 15 times as powerful. It would kill within a day, two at the most. I don’t think they wanted to take chances this time.”

Angelo cleared his throat, almost growling down the line.

“The cure is still the same right?” he asked.
“Um, yeah…” Daniel paused, clearing his throat nervously. “But a vial of vamp blood won’t do the trick this time.”
“How much do I need Daniel?” Angelo was getting impatient; time was of the up most importance.
“Angelo, to cure her, she’d need to almost drink you dry…”
Angelo growled.
“..But in her weakened state she may not have enough control to…”

Angelo slammed the phone down. Turning her walked into the other room, coat billowing out behind him. It fell to the floor as he made his way to the side of the bed. Unfastening a couple of buttons at the top of his shirt, Angelo whispered softly into Aph’s ear.

“Sugar, you have to listen to me. You need to eat, but remember, don’t drink it all ok?”
“Yes Daddy”, she whispered, barely audible, even to Angelo.

With that Angelo removed a small knife from the bedside table, and made a small incision in his neck. Then raising Aph up a little from the bed, Angelo brought her mouth to his neck, so that it barely touched the wound.

A small trickle of blood played across her lips, before making its way into her mouth.

Aph stirred hungrily, as blood lust took over her body.

At first she lapped at it gently, like a cat to milk. However that only increased her desire for more. Blood lust consuming her, she gripped tightly to Angelo’s neck with her teeth, breaking the skin almost immediately, blood seeping into her waiting mouth.

It was all Angelo could do to stop himself from pulling away, as his neck screamed in pain. A small gasp escaping from his lips as he steadied himself by placing a hand on the bed.

Aph gripped him tighter, pulling herself up from the bed, gripping him with her hands. Feeding on Angelo as if his blood were water.

With his head pounding, almost like a heartbeat, Angelo let out a soft moan, and whispered “I love you”, the world spinning around him.

Pulling away, blood covering her lips, and running down her chin, Aph let out a frightened scream. Her eyes filled with terror as Angelo slumped lifelessly to the floor.

A moment later the door burst open, and she slipped back into unconsciousness.

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

The door swung open, slamming against the wall as Angelo entered the manor carrying an unconscious Aph in his arms. Robert was having trouble keeping up with him as he stormed to the sleeping quarters.

“What’s wrong dad?” came a startled voice from the dining room.

Robert stopped, almost out of breath as Catherine came out.

“It’s nothing, go back to your meal” Robert replied.
“Are you sure?”
“Ye….”

He was cut off by Angelo who called back down the hallway.

“Catherine, find Daniel, drag him from the basement if need be. Tell him it’s an emergency.”
“Yes sir, right away”, she called back

Catherine disappeared back into the dining room, and left through the other exit as Robert made his way to Angelo’s quarters.

* * *

Aphie’s fever was getting worse. Sweat dripped from her brow as she mumbled softly to herself.

“Daddy, stay… please” she pleaded.
“I’m not going anywhere princess, I promise” he whispered as he lay her down on the bed.

Her fangs showed as she moaned and growled at whatever demons haunted her dreams. Angelo felt powerless.

There was a knock at the door, turning Angelo found Robert in the doorway.

“Anything I can do to help sir?” he asked politely.
“No Robert, I think I can take care of things from here. Please wait outside and make sure I’m… we’re”, he corrected himself “are not disturbed.” He said in a distracted manor, staring at the bolt still embedded in Aph’s side.
“And Daniel?”

Angelo snapped back to reality.

“Give him this”, he pulled the crossbow bolt gently from Aph’s tender flesh, causing her to scream in pain. “I need him to analyse the tip”
“Poison?” Robert asked
“Yes, I think I recognize the symptoms, but…” he looked back to Aph “They came on far too fast.”

Robert took the crossbow bolt, and left the room, closing the door behind him.

In the hours that followed, Angelo remained alone in the room.

Carefully he removed Aph’s clothing, tending to the wound on her side that refused to heal. Whispering in her ear to tell her she was safe when she cried out to be saved.

He covered her naked body with blankets, and sat next to the bed in a nearby chair, watching over her. She’d stopped moving some time earlier, and slowly her cries became faint whispers that even Angelo had trouble hearing.

She was dying.

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

Angelo stood outside the entrance to St Mary's church. The doors were twice the size of him, and carved with intricate detail he hadn’t seen in a very long time.

Aph was late, as always. "That girl would be late for her own funeral"

He smiled as an old memory played out in his mind; she had been late for her own funeral.

Fixing his long black overcoat in place Angelo walked forward, pushing both doors open as he entered the church.

"I know you're here, so stop playing games and show yourself" he called out, walking down the aisle slowly, footsteps echoing off the stone walls.

"I wondered when you'd show Angelo", came a voice from the altar.
"Where's Methos?" he hissed.

There was light laughter as a figure emerged from behind a pillar next to the altar. It was Christophe, an attaché assigned to one of the leading council members. A mortal, who was usually too scared to even look a vampire in the eyes.

"I made sure he was gone long before you showed up Angelo, he was bait, and you're the catch."
"Catch?"
"And where is Ms DeSantis tonight?" Christophe asked with a slight smirk.
"Enough of these games!" Angelo roared.

Within a second Angelo had moved from the aisle, to the mortal man, gripping his neck tightly he lifted him off the floor. Christophe just laughed.

"You won't kill me; I'm on holy ground, so you might as well drop me now"
"I may not kill on holy ground, but that doesn’t mean I won’t beat you to within an inch of your life now, does it?" Angelo whispered in his ear, tightening the grip around his throat. "Why have you betrayed the council, WHY?"
"The council are weak Angelo…" he was gasping for air, Angelo loosened his grip slightly. "It's time they stepped down and let a real clan take control…" Angelo tightened his grip again, baring his teeth in anger.
"Then why lure Aph and I here?" he hissed.

There was movement above then something fell from one of the support beams. Aph landed gracefully in front of the steps to the altar.

"Sorry I’m late, traffic's a bitch" Aph said with a smile.
"Nice of you to join us sugar" Angelo said looking back to her. "Christophe meet Aph, Aph meet Christophe, he was just about to tell us why we're here" Angelo looked back to Christophe, who had begun to struggle.

Walking to join them, Aph looked him over once, disgust showed on her face. "I’m surprised they couldn’t smell Methos on you, you little worm"
"Insult me all you want whore, it won’t change the fact that you'll be dead before this night is up"
Angelo gripped his throat tighter, "Why?", he hissed.
"You're the biggest threat that stands in our way, without you…", he coughed for air, "Without either of you, the council will fall."

Angelo registered movement and released Christophe who fell to the floor gasping for air.

"Aphie, get down!" he screamed.

The next few seconds seemed to play out in slow motion. A figure appeared at the church doors, still open after Angelo's grand entrance. Drawing a crossbow he fired a single arrow at Aph.

Angelo spun around, standing between Aph and the figure at the door. The arrow thudded into his chest, and he fell to the floor.

Aph roaring in rage, began to run at her would be assassin. A few moments later, registering the pain from another arrow, she turned to face Christophe, and then slumped to the floor.

Within moments Angelo was up. He looked at the figure at the door, it was clear he was a vampire. Opening his coat, Angelo moved like a blur, removing his mini crossbow from its holster he fired one single bolt. The vampire was dust before he could even register the impact.

Snapping the arrow embedded in the armour he wore under his shirt, "Thank you Robert" he said quietly to himself, walking over to Christophe, who starred with a look of terror and amazement plastered across his face. An instant later the look changed to one of pure pain as Angelo rammed the remaining part of the arrow into Christophe's neck. He slumped back down to the floor, blood pouring from the wound, dropping the mini crossbow he had previously concealed in his jacket.

Walking over to Aph, he found her slipping in and out of consciousness.

"Aphie, sugar, are you ok?"
"Is that you Daddy?" she asked dreamily.
"Its ok pumpkin, we just got to get you home, ok?"
"I'm sleepy", and with that she slipped back into unconsciousness.

Angelo readied his crossbow again as movement at the door sent alarm bells ringing. Robert appeared, running down the aisle. Angelo holstered the mini crossbow, and stood up.

"Get him out of here before he dies" Angelo indicated to Christophe, who somehow had managed to be clinging to life.
"What about her?" Robert replied, looking down at Aph, who stirred in her fevered slumber.
"I’ll take her to the car; we have to get back to the manor immediately"
"Understood sir", with that Robert moved over to Christophe and began dragging him to the entrance.

Angelo crouched down beside Aphie, taking her in his arms and lifting her from the cold stone floor. He walked slowly towards the door, looking down at her.

Christophe’s fate had been sealed by the arrow to the neck; Aphie's future however lay solely in the hands of her sire.

----To Be Continued----

sonicalpha

Angelo watched as Methos left the airport. He could feel Aph leaving, her presence like a dying fire in his mind.

He'd been right there with her all along, hidden in the shadows that covered the maintenance access and walkways to the roof. He was amazed by how many people never looked up.

"Thought I taught you better than that kiddo", he said to himself, before dropping down from a ledge landing softly in the car park below.

Methos was walking away, probably to find whichever car had been sent for him. Angelo watched him leave before turning to get into the limousine that had pulled up next to him.

"Where’s the nearest church Robert?" he asked the driver.
"That would be… let me see, St Mary's, why sir?"
"There’s been a change of plan. We need to get there right away."
"Understood sir."

With that Robert closed the partition, and headed out of the air port car park.

Closing his eyes Angelo concentrated hard on Aphie.

"Wakey, wakey kid", he thought as loudly as he could.
"Damn it Angelo!" came the response. "Are you trying to make my head explode?"
"Sorry sugar, needed to be sure I had your full attention."
"You always have my full attention Angelo, you know that. What's wrong?"

He gave out a low growl before continuing, "I think we have a problem, I need you to meet me at St Mary's, it's a church…"
She cut him off mid sentence, "Finally taking me down the aisle, huh?" he could hear her laughing, softly in his mind. Angelo could tell she had a smile on her face.
"Hurry Aphie, I'll explain when you get there"
"Understood, I'll be there as soon as I can" she replied.

Angelo opened his eyes, the world seeming to blur around him for an instant. He could still feel her presence lingering in his mind. He'd almost forgotten how good it felt.

A buzz from the intercom brought Angelo back to reality; he pressed a small button on the door.

"What is it Robert?" he asked.
"Sir, I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of bringing a few essentials."
"Oh?"
"Yes sir, they're in the small cupboard to your left."

Angelo released his hold on the intercom button, and reached over for the handle on the cupboard door. Upon pulling it open a devilish smile played across his lips.

----To Be Continued----