On a Wing and a Prayer

Part Two

The better portion of the rest of the day is spent in silence but Natalie figures that D just didn't have a lot to say and she wasn't going to push. She knew it wasn't normal for him to agree to let someone accompany him...at least not longer than it took for him to complete whatever task they were paying him for. To be honest as well, she wasn't sure what she'd say IF he was in a talkative mood so it was probably better that he wasn't.

Evening falls and with it comes the arrival to another town. "Ooh, let's see who knows that you are a hunter here," the symbiote comments sarcastically, "Which will then lead to either D getting hired or attacked."

"Wow, you are optimistic," Natalie comments as she looks around.

"No, it's the truth. D doesn't exactly hide what he is. Well, I mean..."

"I know what you mean," Natalie cuts him off before he can continue, "Now stop talking...it looks odd." If there was one thing that wasn't going to help anything it was trying to explain the symbiote in his left hand. Strangely enough, he does as bade and silences himself. 'One problem down, a billion more to go,' she thinks as she watches people peering out at them from doorways and windows. If they were lucky, that was all they did. If not...well, they were going to be in for a fight.

"What can we do for you, strangers?" a voice calls as they contine walking up. Natalie was on foot since she was NOT going to ask to ride on the horse with D and the dhampire didn't seem in such a hurry that she had to pull her wings out.

"We're merely passing through," she responds when D makes no move to answer.

"Passing through or do you have some business here?" the same man asks giving a decidedly unfriendly look to D.

"I already gave you the answer, good sir. I will NOT repeat myself," she answers her tone going from friendly to clipped and cold.

"You are in the company of a hunter. They are NEVER passing through."

"This one is. Now, I take it from your less than gracious welcome that we should continue on our way and find lodgings elsewhere...or are you going to remember common courtesy?"

The male's eyes narrow but before he can respond, another masculine voice this one older by many years calls out, "We are not so uncourteous, miss. Forgive my son for his rudeness." A moment later, an older gentleman appears. He looks at D and chuckles. "A vampire hunter, indeed. Well, sir, it's been a long time since I've seen one of you...but the sight is not altogether bad. Come, both you and your traveling companion are welcome. Food and board on the house since my son forgot himself."

"He is in his rights to judge as he will," D finally says, "but as was said, we are merely traveling."

"I wouldn't care if you were out to kill a vampire. My son is not as wise as I am. He has not lived in a time where your skills were highly prized. He's quite spoiled and knows nothing of fear. I am both pleased and embarrassed about that."

Natalie decides that the older gentleman was just fine but the son reminded her too much of Aerian. He was arrogant, assuming, and rude. No, Natalie likes him very little but she just lets it go. She has enough on her mind to worry about some random male.

They settle themselves in the tavern. "So, tell me a bit about yourself," D comments as he watches her from under his hat.

"My father was an archangel who fell in love with a human woman," she answers after a moment, "He had been married before and had three sons so she was hesitant to dive into a relationship. However, they eventually came around. I was born late into their relationship and the only thing he has to remember her by."

"I am sure he loves you very much."

"Oh, he does. He's not the reason I'm here. I am here because there is someone who is doing everything in his power to own me."

"Pure blooded?"

"Yes...and an archangel. His name is Aerian. He prizes his pureblood line but...my power makes up for my human side. Unlike the angels who wield fire and lightning, I weild water, ice, and wind."

"An interesting combination," comes the symbiote's voice, "and I can see where he would be interested in your power."

"So...I finally had enough. I was hoping to stay away long enough that he would turn his attentions elsewhere."

"And if that doesn't work?" D asks.

Natalie sighs. "Then I was hoping that along the way I would find someone and he wouldn't be a problem."

"How is that coming?"

She glares at D's hand. "You know what? You are a pest. You do NOT ask such a personal question of another."

"I take that as as it is not coming along at all."

"You are way out of line," D says coldly, "Let it go."

"Okay, okay, you don't need to try and kill me with that tone."

"Maybe you should learn to keep your opinions to yourself," Natalie mutters.

"You both have such an inherent hatred of me...and you only just met...is it fate?"

Natalie reaches over and presses D's hand into the tabletop, hearing a choked sound gives a satisfied smile and holds it there for a moment before lifting. "Are you going to be quiet now?" she asks pleasantly. It was rather obvious that she shouldn't have done that but he was grating on her last nerve. Luckily, though, D seems not to mind...at least not outwardly.

After eating, they head to the nearby inn and are given two rooms for the night. Natalie is glad of the short reprieve away from D. Walking into the room, she finds a bathroom and enters it. Locking the door, she walks over and fills the bath with water. Stripping out of her clothes, she then slides into the water. A soft sigh of pleasure escapes her. It felt so very, very nice to be in nice warm water. 'I think I should have just minded my own business,' she thinks running her fingers through her hair, 'What I was thinking I have no idea. Common sense would have told me to just mind my own business. What problem is it of mine that he got himself into more trouble than he could handle? The fate of one hunter is NOT my problem and yet...and yet I care too much to let such needless violence go.' She sighs. 'I never learn. Such compassion is reckless.'

The warm water relaxes her and before she knows it, she's drifted off. Unfortunately, it was what was wanted. She finds herself pulled into a dreamscape. "Aerian," she growls softly, "What do you want?"

"You are running from me," a familiar masculine tone responds, "and I cannot find your exact location."

"So you wait until I am asleep and drag me into a dreamscape to talk to you? How utterly charming. Why don't you go and invade someone else's dreams. You are not what I would call a good fantasy."

The blond, blue eyed male who approaches her smirks. "Well, I have heard to the contrary."

"Yes, I know. Your ego is just overwhelming, Aerian. Now go away. I have told you over and over again that I will NEVER be yours. My powers are not for you to control. Go find someone who wants to be on your arm and leave me alone."

"I can't do that. You are far too wondrous a prize to give up."

Natalie glowers. She hated his ability to pull one into his own dreams. She couldn't get out unless someone woke her up or he let her go. She knew it wouldn't be the latter. If Aerian had it his way, she wouldn't leave until she told him where she was. There was just no way she was going to willingly tell the arrogant clod anything. “You should know better than to vex me, Aerian. You know nothing good comes out of pissing me off. The last time you did, I left you curled up on the floor in agony.”

“I remember,” the blond says before he moves closer, “and I intend to return the favor...without it coming back on me.”

“What do you mean?”

Aerian smirks before pushing her back against a tree. “You cannot call rape on something that happens in a dream now can you? It's just considered a nightmare.”

“Y-you wouldn't,” she manages to get out, fear creeping into her voice at the direction this conversation seemed to be going in.

“I was merely stating a fact. You are the one who is going to force my hand. You are not obedient.”

“You are a monster, you know that? I will NEVER marry you. I don't care WHAT you threaten me with; it still stands that I will never, NEVER be with someone like you. I have better standards than that, Aerian.”

Aerian shakes his head in mock-disappointment. “I was hoping that it wouldn't come down to this, Natalie. I didn't want to have to hurt you.”

“Lying doesn't become you, archangel,” she responds heatedly as she tries to get out of his grip, “Now let me go and let me wake up or I will find a way to hurt you as you are.”

Aerian laughs. “I don't think so. You are going nowhere until I say so.”

His arrogance grates on her last nerve and she brings her knee up sharply. It may be a dream scape but here he would feel it. It may not last in his waking hours but it would do for now. The sight of him sinking to his knees makes her smile. “Do NOT mess with me. I am not in the mood for you. Leave me alone and go find some pure-blood angel to mate with and have pure-blood children with!!!!”

“So fiery tonight. What has gotten under your skin?”

“Nothing. I am just tired of being hunted down like some trophy. Go away, Aerian. I am through speaking to you about this.”

“Didn't I tell you that you aren't leaving until I have the information I seek?”

“Apparently, you aren't listening to me, Aerian. I will NEVER tell you where I am.”

“Fine, we'll do this the hard way.” She doesn't register the threat until he's gotten her pinned again. This time, however, he is smart enough not to give her an opening to hit him.

“Let go of me!” she snarls.

“No,” he answers.

“You would do well not to make me hurt you again, Archangel.”

“And you would do well to listen better, half-breed.”

“Don't call me that!”

“That is what you are...that is what you will always be.”

Natalie would make a comment but she's dragged rather abruptly from the dreamscape thanks to sliding UNDER the water. She comes up coughing and sputtering. “That was great,” she manages after her fit subsides, “Though I guess I can't complain.” She pulls herself out of the tub and tries to convince herself that the reason she was trembling was because of the cold air against her skin and not because she was afraid of what Aerian was going to do. 'I have to find a way to get rid of him,' she thinks to herself, 'BEFORE he finishes what he started.'