On a Wing and a Prayer

Part Seven

Aerian returns home and Natalie is still staring out the window wondering how her life had gone so wrong. Oh, she knew what decisions could have helped her avoid this...but those decisions she wouldn't have changed for the world. “Sydni stopped by,” she comments airily, “You really should marry HER. She actually wants you.”

“That pitiful woman? Hardly. She's not worth noticing.”

Natalie shrugs. “Sometimes it's not about power, Aerian. Some people actually marry because they have feelings for each other.”

“People like your father?”

“Yes.”

“Your father had bad taste. He almost had a war on his hands when he married your mother.”

“He loved her enough to risk it.”

“Humans need to be left alone. They are fragile creatures with a short life-span.”

“Love does not measure in time,” she says, a quote her mother was fond of using when people said that exact thing.

“You sound just like her.”

“Mm, I AM my mother's daughter.”

“Partially.”

Natalie sighs before slowly turning towards him. She could see why most found the man before him stunning. He truly was handsome. She just couldn't get passed his cold demeanor and personality. “You are a menace, Aerian.”

“Yes, well, I am the menace YOU are soon going to be married to.”

That thought was enough to revolt her but she manages to not show it. So much was riding on this. “I am sure you are thrilled,” she finally mutters.

“I'll finally have the power I want at my disposal...oh yes, I am quite pleased.”

She tries to tune that out. Her heart sinks low in her chest and she wonders how others did this. How did anyone survive marrying someone who didn't love them? How was SHE supposed to survive it? She isn't so sure she will. 'This is the price you pay,' she thinks, 'This is the price you pay for having power.'

“You seem distressed.”

“You always distress me, Aerian. You tried to rape me a few days ago.”

“You push me to such dramatics when you fight with me.”

“I seem to do nothing BUT fight with you.”

“You're the only one who gets hurt when you do that, you know.”

Oh, she had no doubt of that. She was still too young, too inexperienced to use her powers properly. If she was trained, this wouldn't be a problem. She was more powerful than he was...it was why he wanted control of her. It was the only reason. “Maybe you should try be gentle and kind once in a while. Have you ever thought about that?”

He snorts. “Spoken like a true romantic. What DOES your father fill your head with, girl?”

Anger fills her. “Don't insult my father, Aerian.”

“He leads with his emotions which is dangerous and makes him weak. He's never going to be much if he doesn't stop being such an emotional FOOL.”

She moves before she can think it through and Aerian is sprawled with a bloody lip. “Don't you ever, EVER insult my father. My father is and will always be twice the archangel you are!” she seethes.

When he stands, she KNOWS she is in trouble. He slams her back against the wall. “That was NOT a smart idea, girlie.”

She closes her eyes, pain radiating from where her wings are trapped between her back and the stones. It hurt. However, that is nothing compared to the agony he floods her with using his own powers. A choked cry escapes which soon turns into a scream of agony.

He doesn't stop until she's on her knees and sobbing. “Let that be a lesson NOT to cross me, Natalie,” he tells her, “because I will NOT hesitate to put you in your place.”

He walks off and leaves her kneeling, trembling and wishing him dead fifty different ways. She stays like that until her body stills and then she wipes the tears away. Carefully, she pulls herself onto her feet, swaying slightly, she steadies herself with the wall. That bastard had used lightning...against HER. She was going to get him for this. Someday, she was going to get him for this. “That was smart,” a voice comments, “Why don't you do something stupid like that again.”

Framed in the doorway is another one of Aerian's friends, an angel named Ambrose. The male was beautiful in rather feminine way and Natalie is sure that he's hiding the same secret her own brother is. “He deserved it,” she tells the brunette, “besides, it's the truth. He'll never be half the archangel my father is.”

Ambrose snorts. “That is a matter of opinion.”

She would argue but...she wasn't willing to risk another attack that she wouldn't be able to defend against. “What are you doing here?” She finally settles for asking.

“I am here because I am allowed to be. You did a number on Demenir and his companions. They are still frozen.”

“They hurt my brother.”

“Obviously.”

“They deserved it.”

“Well, needless to say, he's NOT happy about that.”

“He's NEVER happy.”

“Also a matter of opinion.”

“More like an unspoken truth.”

“You are going to be difficult about this, aren't you?”

“Let's see: I hate this man who is trying his damnedest to destroy my family...Oh yes, I am going to be difficult.”

Ambrose rolls his eyes. “And to think he could have almost any woman he wants and he is set on having the ONE who won't give him the time of day.”

“Stupidity on his part, I know.”

Footsteps silence them both as Aerian makes another appearance. “Ah, Ambrose. I trust Natalie's been polite?”

“As polite as she ever is to anyone she despises,” he answers.

“And the others?”

“Frozen solid still. Her powers are something else.”

She hadn't actually thought that they would stay frozen like that long. Her control wasn't that good. Aerian looks at her. “They attacked my brother!” she says defensively, “That's what they GET!”

“If they aren't unthawed...”

“Don't threaten me because you went after someone I care about, Aerian. I hope they DON'T thaw! It will make for less idiots running around!” She knew she should have kept her mouth shut. She just isn't ready for the power he hits her with. She tumbles into unconsciousness.

Waking up, she groans softly. That had HURT. “Well, that was intelligent,” a familiar voice comments.

“Ambrose, shut up,” she mutters.

“I am just stating. You should learn to curb that temper...and fast.”

She slowly turns to face him. That sounded like a warning...but why? She cocks her head. “You've been unconscious for three days now.”

Her eyes widen. “He didn't...”

“He did.”

She swallows. “Dammit.”

“You should have guessed he would have wasted no time.”

“Yes but...”

“But?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing,” she says softly, “Nothing at all.”

“They managed to get them unfrozen.”

“Wonderful.”

“You have no idea.” It was all Ambrose gets out before the door opens.

“Well, good afternoon,” Aerian says sounding far too pleased with himself.

“Aerian,” she says quietly. What was she supposed to do now?

“Well, it's good to see that you've learned SOMETHING. Now, what I want to know is who were you traveling with when you went after Virdi.”

“It doesn't matter.”

“Oh yes, yes it does.”

She closes her eyes and summons the last vestiges of her courage. “I am NOT telling you because there is NO reason that I should.”

“Natalie...”

He was threatening her. “No, Aerian. I am NOT going to be bullied into everything you want. Leave it alone. There is no reason for you to worry about it.”

“Ambrose, leave us.”

Watching the angel all but flee the room tells her that this was probably going to be very, very bad. When Aerian pins her to the bed with the weight of his own body...well, she KNOWS it's going to be bad. “Do NOT make me finish what I started in that dreamscape because I'll enjoy it and you definitely won't. Now start TALKING.”

“Go. To. Hell.”

“You'll be wishing you were there soon enough, wife of mine.”

“I will not repeat myself.” No, she would not give D up. As long as Aerian didn't know his identity, D was safe. And that is where she wanted him to stay...even at the cost of the last thing that was hers.

“Then you give me no choice.”

“See it as you will, Aerian.” She knew he felt no remorse, in fact, he was probably enjoying this. He was that much of a monster. She squeezes her eyes shut and tries to think about anything else...anything that would make this less painful. Nothing works and it's not too long until an agony fills her more potent then anything he'd done so far and she is reduced to screaming and eventually it turns to agonized whimpers and STILL he doesn't stop.

When he finally DOES leave, she just curls up staring at the wall. It makes her feel little better that he STILL doesn't know the identity of her male companion. Tears spill and she shivers. A cold envelopes her and she wonders if it was something that warmth would ever be able to cure. “Well, now THIS was stupid.”

“A-Ambrose, go away,” she whispers.

“Girlie, you are going to have to learn what battles NOT to fight with him.”

“That wasn't a battle I was willing to lose.”

“You did, obviously.”

“No, he still doesn't know...and I am not going to tell him.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

Ambrose is silent a moment and Natalie thinks he's going to leave until he says, “You love that man don't you?”

“I think...I think I am beginning to.”

“That's not a good idea being in the position you are.”

“I can't help it.”

He sighs again. “Look, just...try not to keep doing this. He gets a kick out of it. He finds causing others pain funny. You just keep giving him reasons and he's going to exploit them.”

“Why do you even care?”

Silence. She slowly looks over her shoulder. Ambrose is still standing there though there is an expression on his face she doesn't really like. It was a mix of sadness and regret. “I just do. Now, you should probably get up and get yourself cleaned off.”

“Not with you in the room.”

He rolls his eyes, a guarded look returning. “Go to the bathroom, idiot. I'll change your sheets.”

Deciding that it wasn't worth it to give him a scathing retort, she does as bade and limps herself into the bathroom where she slides out of her clothes and tries not to look at what had been done...not yet.

It's only when she finally gets in the water and she starts cleaning that she curls up and starts to cry.

Outside the door, Ambrose closes his eyes. Those sounds were familiar. He quickly shakes it off and goes about his task. If he could get Natalie to stop her foolishness then maybe she'd survive Aerian. However, he doubted the strong-willed woman was going to agree to much. He knew she wasn't going to give up her male companion. He already had an idea of who it was but...he wasn't telling Aerian that. It wasn't any of his concern. Even if Aerian asked, he wouldn't tell him. He didn't owe the archangel that much. 'Bastard,' he thinks as he tucks the sheets in, 'You SHOULD burn in hell.'

He takes the sheets and exits the room. “Is she anymore agreeable?” Aerian demands.

“She's not going to tell you, Aerian, so just let it go,” he tells him as he dumps the sheets in the laundry room, “Some fights just aren't worth losing.” It was the wrong thing to say and he gasps as the air is knocked out of him when Aerian shoves him against the washer.

“I suggest you be careful.”

“You asked me for my opinion,” Ambrose grits out. Gods, he hated this male. The feel of him pressing closer widens his violet eyes. No, oh merciful deities, no.

“Then let me give you a reason to convince her,” Aerian purrs in his ear, “slut.” Ambrose closes his eyes and prays to whoever was listening that this wasn't happening again. Obviously they weren't listening...or they never had.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Jared takes Virdi aside. “What, exactly, is his price?” the eldest demands.

“I am taking care of it.”

“Virdi...”

“Jared, just let me do this, okay?”

“You have to be careful!”

“I am well aware of my own situation. When Aerian is dead, I am almost positive that it will be easier for dad to get the votes he needs to change that law.”

“And if not?”

“I am leaving.”

“Baby brother...”

“No, I can NOT deal with one more century of being alone.”

“Virdi,” Jared says softly.

“No, big brother. I won't do it. I can't do it.”

Jared sighs. “So that's it then?”

“You have to understand...”

Jared cuts him off. “I do.”