Monsters and Angels

Kieran knew that he would come. Alucard. He could sense him in the wind, scent him in the flow of air around him. He merely waited, standing in that desolate churchyard, staring down at the bleak marker which bore his name.



The weathered stone barely readable now. Kieran O'Mara. He snorted softly, that was such a very long time ago. And now, he had come. ALucard stood just behind him, the last rays of the sun sinking behind the distant hills.



Alucard watched him closely, the man he'd known. Cared so deeply for. "You always were infatuated with yourself" he mused softly, "No sweet roses to lay upon your grave?". The irishman turned slowly then, lifting one brow, "You always were an arrogant bastard with more love for yourself than any other." he replied. The old barb sliding easily from his tongue.



Alucard stepped close to look at the grave, "This place is dark and desolate. Fitting place for you, your people always did have a flair for the dramatic and tragic. Damn Irish." Old words, old jibes once exchanged in good natured fashion.



Kieran snorted again, his raspy voice rising over the silence, "My people?" he asked, "Don't you mean our people? It was you who made me as I am today." Alucard tilted his head, his wine colored robs locking on the irishman carefully, "Well" he said at last, "I'll admit I did make you into something, but not the same thing as myself. You are different. You are like them."



Kieran nodded, chuckling dryly, "Like the angelics? Aye, that I am. Odd how the Lord works isn't it? I was the servant of the very devil and from the jaws of that devil have I been granted a level of earthbound divinity. I suppose I should thank you for that. But I won't."



Alucard's lips spread in a grin, "I never thought to see the might Black warrior reduced to a Vatican whipping boy." The handsome features of his companion looked pinched and wounded, "More like the great wolf that guards it's holy steps." he corrected, "And you? Serving the Hellsings... that's quite a puzzle to muddle over."



Alucard looked back towards the way he'd come. Kieran followed his gaze, "Lucky you are to have such a pretty pet to return to. How long to twist her round your fingers? As I recall your magic worke din mere moments."



Alucard shook his head, "Not on her" he admitted, "She enslaved me as a child. To her and only her have I laid down my pride. She is no pet Kieran, but my mate." The irishman looked stunned, the great devil had fallen in love. But Alucard continued speaking, "I should applaud you and your own little pet."



Kieran shook his head, "She is more than that, so much more. But we have better tihngs to do than stand here and speak of women. The seal is nearly finished, heaven's wrath will come pouring down and purge the unholies."



Alucard shrugged, "Angelics are of no concern to me. I have fought them before and I will not fall to them." His voice was hard, threaded with lethal steel and a lesser man might have shook in his boots at it. Kieran merely grunted, "The unholies don't include you." he said in a bland voice.



Alucard blinked, "Who could possibly be more unholy than I?" he asked in mock indignation. The priest shook his head, "They come to purge the vatican of it's corrupted ones. The man you hate so much Enrico. He is likely to meet a ghastly end at the tip of a heavenly blade. So I have come to ask you.... do you stand with me... or against me?"



Alucard blinked slowly, "You wish me to assist heaven? Have you gone mad?"



Kieran shook his head again, "I've need of a ground commander who holds your unique qualifications" His deep eyes locked with Alucard, "I won't beg you, but I'll ask. We both have precious things that are far too easily lost in this. Standing with me is the least you can do to atone for taking my life. Will you?"



Alucard sighed, then nodded. It was a wise plan of action after all. This way, the corrupt officials and the vatican's hidden undead were all he need worry about. Angelics were a bitch to fight and he didn't care to see Integra try one on. "So if I do this.... I have your forgiveness?"



Kieran smiled then, a fanged, but warm smile and clapped Alucard's shoulder, "You've had it for a very long time. Tis a sin to hold the grudge, but since I am nearly divine atnyway I can still be pissed with you."







TEASER FOR UPCOMING BOOK~ Origins of Innocence



This a small excerpt of chapter One.. please enjoy.



So it was that the lady of the east and her men met Elenciel. She stood proudly, battle colors flying smartly in the rising wind. The silver male took in the armed lines, and lifted a brow in response; "This is not the welcome I had envisioned" he admitted. Zaria frowned at him, "Do not pretend innocence" she snapped, "We both know why you've come".



She was radiant in the light of the coming storm, her sapphire robes snapping around her in the wind. Her crimson eyes glittered at him, like fire snapping on sunlight. She seemed to glow as she stood there, so defiant, in the face of someone much stronger than she. She was the perfect one for him, if only he could make her see that. And he had no doubts he could.



He chuckled, his tone warm, "Indeed. Why then, the armed guard Zaria? Give over to me willingly". She shook her head, delicate nostrils flaring, "I will not. It is my duty to see it safe, and I shall not turn it over to you to be misused". Elenciel grinned, "I promise you my lady, that in my hands, your charms will never be misused". She blinked, her charms?



"You have come to fight and so I will stand" she told him. He blinked, this was not expected but if the daft woman wished to fight over her own hand then so be it. She drew her glittering blade and readied herself. Looking over her shoulder she prepared to order her men to combat. Elenciel shook his head, "I did not come to fight with you Zaria, but if you wish it, it shall be so. This war is between rulers. The victor takes all. You and I. Leave them out of it".



Reluctantly she agreed and the battle was on. Blade clashed against blade as they fought. Savagely, viciously they sparred. She was intent on gutting him and he was simply biding his time, waiting for the skilled fighter to make a mistake. He had no doubts she would; her body spoke to him. She was tired and angry. Yes, she'd make a mistake soon.



Zaria pushed herself to keep moving. Her previous injuries at the hands of the Visserians ached, but she could not lose. Dared not. While she believed that Elenciel was good, she was only too aware that the Book changed people. Never for the better. It had changed her brother hadn’t it? Elenciel slapped her blade hard, having caught the scent of blood on her. He had not wounded her, not enough to draw blood. Of that he was certain.



Yet the scent of her blood sizzled on the wind around him. "You are injured" he said, his voice dark with anger that she would fight him like this. She growled, baring her sharp little fangs at him. Elenciel wished to uncover the truth of the matter, but the hardheaded wench kept pounding away at him. Losing patience, he struck again. Another hard slap and her blade clattered to the ground, her fingers numb.



Zaria lifted wide shining eyes to him and snarled. She had one chance left. Faster than he'd imagined, she'd transformed. Her body growing, elongating, contorting. Brilliant light flared and he narrowed his eyes at her. A huge, ruby-eyed panther crouched over him, rumbling.



Her wounds were visible now. Slashes along her sides and legs, it was clear that she'd fought more than one opponent. The blood was congealed near the edges, which told him they were not new injuries. That they were not healed indicated the use of a holy weapon against her.



Purists or Visserians? He didn't know but he would find out later. For now, he had to subdue her before she harmed herself further. Already she was preparing to pounce and her eyes had a highly feral gleam. Something was driving her to this. Was it her desire to remain unbound? Foolish. He could not believe she detested the thought of being bound to him so much. Storm clouds swirled overhead, the result of angry energies snapping off her.



Elenciel growled harshly and took his own bestial form. A large white wolf with hypnotic golden eyes, scaled legs and spine stood where he once had. He towered over her, dwarfing her. She leapt at him, going for the throat. With a swipe of one massive paw, he knocked her to the ground, pinning her there with a heavy paw upon her neck and vicious snarling above. She struggled against him, but he was far too strong to be thrown off. He felt her power flare and then falter. She was beaten.



Elenciel felt her body contort beneath his paw and shifted back to humanoid form, lest he crush her. Looking down at her heart shaped face, he shook his head. "Stubborn woman" he growled to her, "Why would you fight me in this condition? Is the thought of being bound to me so repulsive to you?" She was panting for breath, scorching him with her gaze.



She lay in his arms defeated and tired and scowling her displeasure. "You can't have it" she whispered hotly, the ferocity of her words undermined by the slight wheezing of her breath. He blinked, "Your virtue?" he asked, "I most certainly shall". She huffed, "So crude" she admonished, "I meant the page". Elenciel stared down at her, "Page?" he asked, blinking in confusion. Her eyes went wide, he hadn't known? She had certainly blundered now.



He lifted her against his chest, "What page?" he demanded. Reaching out with his senses he tested the air. It was charged with suppressed power. Virtually undetectable, even to him. Had she found a portion of the lost Book? The myth? It couldn't be. She lacked the power to protect it as he could. Not only would she be his wife and add to his coffers...she'd just added a rather large burden to his shoulders as well. She was silent; her lips set in a mutinous line.



"You have found the Book?" he asked quietly. The stubborn woman refused to say, which angered him all the more. "So be it Zaria, until you learn who is lord and master, you are my captive and your lands fall to me". With sharp commands, he ordered her lands to be his protectorate. The lady would return with him. No questions, no arguments.



But argue she did and Elenciel considered more than once how best to silence her for a moment's peace. His men flooded her stronghold, searching every corner where it might be hidden. Several hours later his scout reported a warded area in the dungeons. He had been unable to bypass it.



Elenciel made his way there, the angry Zaria hot on his heels. "You leave this castle at once!" she demanded. Elenciel let his eyes slide to the side to take in her countenance. "I think not Zaria. This game is ended" he told her in a hard voice. She growled at him, moving to intercept him in the cramped corridor. Barring his way.



Elenciel snarled, pressing her to the damp stone. The softness of her body against his making him growl with want. "Try me no further this day woman" he ground out, "I am more than prepared to best you again and again. You are wounded, you are female and now you are mine. Reconcile yourself to that fact".



She opened her mouth to protest but he effectively silenced her with a burning kiss. One that left her sagging against the lichen covered wall, panting for breath. Such a kiss was beyond dreams. He brushed past her, even as she lifted her fingertips to her lips. Her first kiss.



~ Feel free to e-mail regarding this sneak peek!