On a Wing and a Prayer

Part Six

Aerian leaves for business and tells Natalie to make herself at home. She doubts that will be the case but walks around anyway. The place was lovely, and if the master of the house wasn't such a prick, it would be a nice place to live. Maybe a bit over the top, but a nice place.

She walks down the hallways but doesn't open any of the doors. She wasn't that brave. She finally walks back down the stairs where she's met by another woman, an angel named Sydni. The black haired, green eyed woman scowls at her. “I don't know what he sees in you, half-breed.”

“I wish he didn't see anything in me,” she retorts. Sydni hated her because she actually wanted Aerian. Personally, she thought that they were made for each other.

Sydni looks at her. “You don't want to be here?”

“No. I would rather be anywhere but here. I hate that man but since he's decided not to give me a choice in the matter I am going to be stuck marrying him.”

“He deserves better than a dirty-blooded...”

“Sydni, leave it alone. I KNOW what you think. I don't want to hear it. If you can get him to marry you then please for the sake of EVERYONE just DO it!” she snaps, “If you can't then please, please just shut UP and leave it ALONE!”

“Someone's prickly today.”

She clenches her fists and is tempted for a moment to swing and see if she could break the bitch's jaw. However, that desire passes almost as quickly as it comes. There was no reason to try and get herself killed. “Just leave, Sydni. If Aerian finds you here he's not going to be happy.”

“He doesn't know what he needs.”

Natalie wants to hit her head against the wall. Why couldn't the idiot just marry HER and leave her alone? 'Oh, wait,' she thinks bitterly, 'That would be because I am POWERFUL. Unfortunately, that power helps me very little.' She settles for curling up on the couch and staring out the window. Her thoughts go back to D and what her brother had said. Was she really in love with him? COULD someone fall in love with someone at first sight? Her mother thought so. She told Natalie that she'd fallen for her father when they'd met. There had been some connection between them. She smiled sadly. At least her mother wasn't alive to witness her daughter's misery. 'You'd be so disappointed,' she thinks, 'I am sorry, mom. I wanted better for myself. I know I deserve better but...I can't be selfish. I WON'T be selfish. I hope Jared does as a I ask. D needs someone to protect him. He deserves that much.' Just thinking about the Dunpeal makes her heart ache and she squeezes her eyes shut. That doesn't help as images of him appear. She opens her hazel-brown eyes, tears flooding them. Gods, she hated Aerian so much.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Virdi watches D and could tell the Dunpeal was displeased with the situation. “If my father cannot get the council to listen to him then there is little we can do.”

“There is little YOU can do,” he answers.

“D,” a voice says quietly, “Whatever you are thinking DON'T.”

Virdi watches him look down at his hand. “Was anyone asking you?”

“No, but...D...”

“Then keep your opinion to yourself.”

“The girl may love you but that is no reason to go and do stupid things.”

“She doesn't deserve this.”

“Do I need to repeat my last sentence?”

“What are you thinking?”

“I know someone who may be able to help,” he answers.

“Yeah, the only thing is the male in question prefers men and more often than not his payments include a sexual favor or another.”

“A vampire?”

“Yes.”

Virdi looks at him. “If it will help, I'll pay him.”

D looks at him. “You might not want to...”

“I don't care. Right now all that matters is getting Natalie home and safe. Whatever it takes to do that is acceptable.”

“You are both mad.”

“Shut up!” D snaps, “You are being bothersome!”

“No, I am being sensible. Something YOU haven't learned to be. How do you know Alesandro will even AGREE?”

D looks at Virdi and back down at his hand. “Ask that again.”

A sigh. “Okay, stupid question.”

Virdi raises an eyebrow. “Don't ask. It's complicated.”

“Okay, I'll take your word on that.”

A moment later, Jared arrives. “Father and Vega are trying...but it's going to take time we probably don't have,” the blond says.

Virdi looks at D. “How long will it take to find your...friend?”

“Not long. He is allowed in the sunlight so we won't have to wait until nightfall.”

“How did he manage that?”

“He saved a Seer from being eaten and in her gratitude she gave him a pendant that allows him to walk in the sun.”

“Some gift.”

“That's gratitude.”

“Let's go then.”

“Virdi, what are you doing?”

“Plan B,” Virdi answers, “Just try to get them to do something or keep Natalie from getting married.”

Jared sighs but nods. “Hurry, little brother...and try not to make this involve anything that will bite us on the ass later.”

“Sexual favors for a vampire aren't going to come back to haunt YOU,” he answers and shuttles D out the door before he hears his brother's response.

“That was tactful.”

“That was the truth. Besides, if I am going to get killed, I might as well actually have HAD some fun with a man.”

D snorts. “Whatever floats your boat.”

“Don't like men, huh?”

“Decidedly not.”

Virdi shrugs. “All the more fun for me.”

“D, how do you keep meeting these people?”

D rolls his eyes. “Didn't I tell you to be QUIET?”

“Yes, but...”

“Then why don't you LISTEN?”

It was funny to watch, all things considered. Virdi supposed that from D's point of view it was just aggitating but looker's on had to be amused watching him argue with the symbiote...especially if they didn't know that's what he was arguing with.

He teleports them both back to where they had entered from. “Where from here?” he asks.

“It's about a day or two's journey from here,” D answers.

“Well, it could be worse.”

“That is if he still lives in the same spot. If not, it could take awhile to find him.”

Okay...that was annoying. However...Virdi had a way around that. “What direction?” he asks. D points and he faces that direction before closing his eyes. He was full blooded angel which gave him the ability to search for people by the way they felt. Vampires in general felt cold. He feels the tug of one in the distance and there was definitely a magical aura around them. “How mad would he be if I dragged him here?”

“That depends on what he's doing.”

“Well, he's alone.”

“Then probably not too mad. Knowing Alesandro, he's probably been awake for a few hours. He tends to sleep at night.”

Virdi nods and does what amounts to a yank with his powers. A moment later, a red head appears stumbling. “What the HELL?” he demands.

“Alesandro,” D says calmly.

“D?” Now the vampire sounds confused.

“I need your help, Alesandro.”

“With what?”

“An Archangel.”

“An Archan...what the HELL have you gotten yourself into, Dunpeal?”

“A mess. Now are you going to help or not?”

“What's in it for me.”

“Me,” Virdi says getting his attention. He sees the vampire look at him.

“You?” he asks looking him up and down, forest green eyes scanning his frame. “Well, as payments go...I'm impressed.”

“Why thank you, I know I'm pretty,” Virdi answers. He sees Alesandro's lips curl into a smile.

“I have to hand it to you, D, you always meet the most interesting people.”

“I know,” D answers, “So?”

“Alright. I'm bored enough. No one else has been a challenge. So this Archangel...what do you want done?”

“I want him dead.”

“Well, at least you know what end result you want. How slowly?”

“As slowly as you can manage it. This bastard is trying to make my sister's life miserable.”

“I see. A family affair.”

“Do you think you can deal with him? How much do you know about angels?”

Alesandro smiles. “I've had a few winged idiots cross me before. I know to be careful. Lighting and fire are NOT good combinations with vampires. You worry to much, blond and lovely. Relax and let me worry abut the man. You just point me in a direction and I will do the rest.”

“Then we'll talk about price.”

“Then we'll talk about price.”

It was fine with Virdi. He didn't care. He'd sell is soul to the devil if he could guarantee his sister's safety. However, he could only wonder if anything that male decided to do to him wouldn't be enjoyable. He'd been in need of some physical activities for a while which is why he had agreed so readily. That and Alesandro was gorgeous and it was making his hormones not behave. That should embarrass him but it didn't. He'd been alone far too long.

He brings the three of them back to the house in time to meet Jared, and his father. “Well?” he asks.

“They can't do anything,” Jared answer , “There isn't sufficient enough evidence against him...which is utter bullshit since hey know what he's like. He's just paid them off.”

“Then he's going to die,” Virdi answers softly.

“Yeah, the part of my job that I like,” Alesandro comments.

“And you are?”

“Alesandro. Day walking vampire and assassin for hire,” he answers with a bow.

“A vampire?” his father asks.

“No one else is going to agree to it,” Virdi answers, “Besides, I am not going to wait around until they realize that he needs to be dealt with. Natalie doesn't have that time.”

“If she marries him...”

“He dies anyway.”

His father merely nods his head.