November 13, 2006

Heir of Sethion - (Title pending for change)

Chapter One

Nicholas sat picking the dirk from his nails as he watched his mother prep herself. It was finally her marriage day. Her dress was white, compliment to her pure white wings. Lace adorned the entire dress, with pink pearl beads sown in. Her long blond hair was done to crown her head with beads and flowers. Kohl outlined her blue eyes, sparkles in her eyelashes, bright right red lipstick on her mouth, and a rosy blush on her cheeks. Nicholas thought she looked vulgar and gaudy, or perhaps that’s just what he thoughts of his mother.

Nicholas was a hybrid angel. Meaning, he was both a black winged and a white winged angel. His left wing was black and his right was white. He had short cropped black hair, lushly dark eyelashes with complimenting eyebrows, and dark violet colored eyes. He was six feet and seven inches tall, and his wing span could be measured out to its full length at about eight feet, longer than any average angel. He was trained to be the Heir of Heaven’s, Joshua, personal guard, and he exalted in the Arts higher than any angel, even the Divine himself.

He could also considered himself the only altruistic, unself-serving (except to his mother, who he hated), drunk in Heaven. At least that’s what he thought himself, and in his twenty-two years there has yet to be an over demeaning complaint about his being drunk, except by his mother, which didn’t count anyway. So what was he doing? Watching his evil-as-a-demon mother get ready for her wedding to the Divine of Heaven, and she looked horrendous. His mother, Rosen, had to be the most appalling angel he had ever known, although all of Heaven thought she was beyond beautiful.

“Nicholas dear, how do I look?” His mother brought him out of his thoughts.

“You look wonderful mother,” Nicholas replied automatically. Rosen looked away from the mirror and sighed at her son.

“Today is my wedding day son; you can at least look like you’re happy for me.”

“I am happy for you,” he lied. Rosen sighed again, shaking her head.

“At least be happy for yourself. After today you’re going to be a prince,” she said with a smile.

“A prince of nothing, I’m not Heir. I’m not the Divine’s son, and I don’t really want to be,” he said, and it was true he didn’t want to be Heir of Heaven. That was Joshua’s job. If he were to become Heir, then that would mean Joshua . . .

“But, Divine-forbid, if anything were to happen to Joshua, then-”

“Nothing will happen to Joshua!” Nicholas yelled and sprang to his feet.

“Yes, I know. Especially if he has you to protect him,” Rosen said calmly, with just a hint of sarcasm.

“Listen here mother, I do not want to be Heir of Heaven. Joshua is, and I want you to get any notion of me replacing him, out of your head now. I am his guard and I will protect him from anything and anyone,” Nicholas finished. Rosen just smirked and looked at her son.

“You know, sometimes you speak about your soon-to-be step-brother with more affection then a brother should.” The way that she accented ‘brother’, made Nicholas’ blood boil. Damn that woman, and her perceptive ways!

“What are you implying, mother?” Nicholas kept his facade, and narrowed his eyes at his mother. Rosen shrugged and turned back to her mirror.

“You’re not a dolt, my dear son, you know what I’m implying,” she said offhandedly and continued applying more blush to her face. “Now leave me,” she dismissed him with a wave of her hand.

“Yes, mother,” he gritted his teeth and turned to the door.

“Oh, and son, do look presentable, your only mother is getting married today.” She was answered with a slam of the door.

xXx

Nicholas stormed down the hallway. Damn that woman! Wasn’t it enough that she was going to become the Divine’s wife in a few hours? Now she wanted her son to be Heir of Heaven? It was preposterous, Joshua was Heir, and he’d be dammed to Hell before he let anything happen to the angel. Nicholas stopped at the Heir of Heaven’s door, and took a deep breath. He relieved the guard with a small salute before knocking.

“Heir of Heaven,” he called before entering.

“Come now, Nicholas, you know by now I hate when you use formal titles with me,” Joshua came into the main room with a smile. Nicholas smiled back, a genuine smile. With his long, waist length blond hair, eyes that changed between anything from ocean blue to forest green, and a face so perfect, even the greatest artists in Heaven could never get it right, Joshua was the most beautiful angel in Heaven, according to Nicholas’ strong opinion.

“I know, but I like to tease you every once in a while,” Nicholas smirked and took a seat opposite the one Joshua assumed. Joshua smiled back at him and poured wine for the both of them.

“Isn’t this exciting?” Joshua beamed after taking a sip.

“What is?” Nicholas asked, not seeing what the sixteen-year-old was so ardent about.

“The wedding, what else?”

“Right, that,” Nicholas drawled.

“You really don’t sound happy,” Joshua frowned.

“Funny, my mother just said the same thing,” Nicholas drank the rest of his wine and poured himself another glass.

“How come you don’t like your mother?” Joshua asked rhetorically.

“She’s evil,” he shrugged and leaned back in his chair.

“Well, I think she’s nice and I can’t wait for her to be my step mother,” Joshua said as his smile came back to him. Nicholas drank half his glass in one quick shot.

“Just you wait, she’ll slip up and soon everyone will see her true colors,” he watched as the wine swirled around in his glass. Joshua rolled his eyes and ignored the comment.

“Isn’t it great, we’re finally going to be real brothers,” Joshua said jubilantly. Nicholas’ mouth went dry at that moment and downed the rest of his drink. He poured himself yet another glass and downed the entire contents in one sitting, before answering.

“It’s just wonderful,” Nicholas said with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. That was the entire reason why he couldn’t stand the marriage. He would legally be Joshua’s older step-brother. Nicholas loved Joshua in a way that transcended any friendship. It was one thing that the angel was male and another that he was only sixteen, but to be actual brothers? It was unbearable, he couldn’t take it. He was going to go crazy.

“You know, you really don’t sound happy at all about this marriage,” Joshua narrowed his eyes at the angel in front of him.

“I’m happy about it,” a lie that anyone with eyes and ears could see. Nicholas looked at the kid and tried to amend the blatant lie. “As long as I can still be your guard.”

“But you’re going to be a prince, so you’re going to need your own personal guard.” Joshua said smiling. Nicholas just looked at him, and then laughed, drinking more of his wine.

“Right,” Nicholas continued laughing. “First off, I’m a highly trained guard for the Heir of Heaven; I don’t need someone fallowing me around like a puppy.”

“Like you,” Joshua teased. Nicholas ignored the comment.

“Second, I’m always going to be your personal guard, and no one, that includes you,” he pointed to the angel, “is going to say otherwise. Got that?” Nicholas leaned forward and waited for an answer.

“Yes sir,” Joshua mocked and saluted with a smile.

“I mean it,” Nicholas scolded.

“I know, I know,” Joshua sighed. “Sometimes I wonder, why are you so protective of me? I’m skilled, if not more skilled than you, at swordsmanship. Ever since I could walk, I had a sword in my hand, father made sure of it.”

“You know, conceit’s not such a great trait to have,” Nicholas said with a smirk, avoiding the question entirely, not trusting himself to lie. He pored himself another glass of wine, finishing off the bottle.

“You’re one to talk,” Joshua said with his own smirk, then took a swig of his own drink. “Even in the Arts I’m skilled. I may not be as powerful as you, but I can defend myself.”

The Arts are a form of holy magic used by the angels. All angels, both black and white winged, have the potential to uses the Arts. However, not all angels have the same power level. Power levels in angels are random, and are established at birth. The holy power of angels is not something that is taught or learned. However, an angel can refine their power into substance, which is called the Arts. To actually refine their power and use the Arts, one must be taught how to. Many who know how to use their holy power, the Arts, become part of the Guard; Heaven’s army. White winged angels and black winged angels have two different, but the same, holy power. White winged angels use a sort of white holy magic, where black winged angels use a type of black holy magic. White winged angels are stronger in the Arts with defense, whereas black winged angels are stronger in offence. Though, when there is a hybrid angel, like Nicholas, they can use both types of holy magic.

“You’re right,” Nicholas started, bringing Joshua out of his thoughts. “You’re not as powerful as me. No one’s stronger than me in the Arts, I’m even more powerful than, dare I say it, the Divine himself,” Nicholas said with a mischievous twinge in his eye.

“And what were you saying about conceit?” Joshua chided. “But really-” Joshua was interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Heir of Heaven, the Divine wishes to see you,” a messenger said in the doorway with a bow.

“Right then, thank you,” Joshua said standing as the messenger left. “I guess that’s my cue, can’t dismiss an order from father. Shall we go,” he looked at Nicholas, who was finishing his last glass.

“Sure,” Nicholas said standing, also while taking Joshua’s forgotten glass.

“You know, getting drunk on your mother’s wedding day is not such a great thing to do,” Joshua smirked, mimicking the angel’s earlier statement.

“You know, it’s not good to have an evil bitch for a mother either. Besides, I’m not drunk. Not yet at least, I still need a few more bottles.” Nicholas laughed as they walked out door and towards the Divine’s apartment.

“Just don’t make a fool of your self,” Joshua scolded.

“Awe, but that’s taking the fun out of it,” Nicholas said with a mock frown.

“Right,” Joshua agreed sarcastically.

“Well, here we are,” Nicholas announced when they reached the Divine’s door. He went to fallow Joshua, but the guard stopped him. Nicholas just shrugged and looked at Joshua. “I’ll see you at the ceremony.”

“Where are you going?” the younger angel asked with a frown. Nicholas just smirked in return.

“To one of the bars in town, or all of them, don’t know yet,” Nicholas shrugged. Joshua sighed, it was no secret that Nicholas liked his drink, and there was just no stopping him.

“Just don’t be late. Not only will your mother and my father be angry with you, but I’ll be livid, and I am the last person you want angry,” Joshua warned the hybrid angel.

“Yes, yes, I know, I won’t be late,” Nicholas sighed and walked down the hallway as Joshua entered the Divine’s room.

XxX

It was a miserable day, Nicholas decided. The wine gave him a little buzz, if he dare called it that, and if he was going to get through the rest of the day, he needed to be falling over drunk. But first, he needed food. Stopping in the kitchens long enough to grab a loaf of bread, he made his way into town, hoping to quickly find a bar somewhat lacking of festivities. However, as luck, or lack thereof, would have it, he ran into Adrena, one of the guards to the Imperial Palace.

“Ho, Nicholas,” she hailed as he was trying to get passed her undetected.

“Hello, Adrena,” he greeted her politely.

“Where you off to?” she asked.

“To the bar, where else” he said and continued walking, knowing that Adrena would fallow.

“Oh, would you really do that to your poor mother on her wedding day?” the blacked winged angel asked, condescendingly mocking.

“Why doesn’t anyone ever believe me, she evil!” Nicholas threw his hands in the air with frustration. Was he the only one who could see it? The bitch should have been born in Hell, for how wicked she was.

“Right,” Adrena said with a slow, but unbelieving, nod. “I can see that you’ve already started your drinking for the day.”

“Yes, and I plan to go to the ceremony on my ass,” Nicholas said bluntly as they passed the Imperial gates.

“Which bar did you have in mind for today?” she asked.

“The first one I see,” he said. “You’re planning on joining me, aren’t you?” he looked at her with narrowed eyes.

“Certainly, someone has to drag your drunken ‘ass’ to the ceremony,” she said with a smile. Nicholas sighed, knowing that was the case. “Besides, knowing you, you’ll get so far in the drink, that you won’t care any more if you miss the ceremony.”

“That’s the whole point,” he said narrow eyed as they passed through the over-crowded market.

“But why?” she asked softly. So much so, that Nicholas had a hard time hearing her over the noise. Nicholas sighed.

“I’ve already told you too many times to count, I hate her.” It wasn’t the true reason why he didn’t care if he missed the wedding, but it was a good enough answer.

“I still don’t understand why, she’s a sweetheart,” Adrena said.

“Whatever, you’ll see, everyone will see,” Nicholas finished the subject. There really wasn’t a way to convince anyone, Rosen was too smart for that. Knowing her as long, and as well, as he did, he knew she was evil. She could hide it as much as she wanted from him, but he knew. Oh, he knew, and Rosen herself, knew that he knew. He was just as perspicacious as she was when it came to people, except for Joshua, he still couldn’t figure that kid out. They’d just have to see for themselves, and Nicholas had no doubt they would, eventually.

“This way,” he said, shaking his thoughts away, while turning to his left.

“Ah, so we’re going to the Heaven’s Choice (name pending),” Adrena said with a knowing nod.

“It’s the only one that’s most likely not going to be overly crowded today,” he said as they made a few more turns, entering a less appealing part of the city.

“Here it is,” Adrena said, stating the obvious as they stopped in front of a small building with a sign that read, “Heaven’s Choice”. They walked in to find, even though it wasn’t overly crowed, that the place was a mob. “Look, there’s Dirk and Devon,” Adrena said, pointing to two white winged angels, both twins, sitting in the back of the bar nursing mugs of ale, not their firsts for the day, Nicholas was sure. She dragged him to their table while Nicholas waved to the barkeep.

“Well if it isn’t the abomination, Nicholas, and the lovely Adrena,” one of the angels said in greeting, without malice.

“Careful Devon, I’m not quite drunk yet, I might take that as a compliment, and Adrena here might think you’ve insulted her,” Nicholas smirked as a waitress came to their table.

“What can I get you,” the waitress asked politely, deliberately making sure that her backside was away from the twins’ wandering hands.

“I’ll start off with a glass of wine, Marria,” Adrena said, after scowling at Nicholas.

“And the usual ale barrel for you, Nicholas?” she asked as the hybrid angel nodded.

“Make that two ale barrels,” Devon ordered, with a wink.

“Right, I’ll be right back,” Marria said with a roll of her eyes as she walked away.

“Really, you two. You both know that Marria’s not the least bit interested in either of you,” Adrena chided as they eyed the waitress walking.

“But she’s gorgeous,” Dirk said, almost pouting.

“Yes, and she’s also a black winged,” she rolled her eyes as if it were common sense.

“That doesn’t make her any less beautiful or you for that matter, lovely Adrena,” Devon said with a leering smirk. Adrena was a good looking angel, with her short cropped blond hair and blue eyes, but she wouldn’t go as far as to call herself beautiful.

“Right,” Adrena rolled her eyes again at their antics, not wanting to get more into the conversation with Nicholas there.

“So, Nicholas,” Dirk started as their drinks were brought to them. Nicholas took a swig of his drink before answering.

“So, what?”

“So, how are you and that lovely, doing?” Devon asked for his brother. Nicholas sighed. He knew he would rue the day that he started talking about his unrequited love for Joshua. Though, he didn’t actually say that it was the Heir of Heaven he loved. It was about a year back, when he first realized that he had feelings for the young angel. Granted, he was drunk and thought himself scum for loving a fifteen year old boy, when he told almost every bar in the entire Imperial city of Shangri-la. He told, bitterly, everyone who would listen, that he was in love with a long blond, hazel blue eyed, white winged angel. Everyone, naturally, assumed that he was talking about a female angel, and not the Heir of Heaven. After that, it became normal bar conversation for anyone that knew him well, and with his drinking reputation, that was quite a lot of angels.

“We’re not ‘doing’ anything,” Nicholas answered and took another swig out of his mug.

“Damn, man, it’s been almost a year now, and you still haven’t done anything with her?” Dirk said throwing his hands up in disbelief.

“I’m not as sexually outgoing as the two of you,” Nicholas teased with a knowing smile. “Besides, I’ve already told you, and you already know, I’m a hybrid angel, not many want me,” Nicholas shrugged and finished his drink, poring himself another from the barrel. He’d gotten over the fact that he was a hybrid years ago, now it was just a part of him. He learned with one white wing and one black wing, he wasn’t going to get anywhere in the romance department. Let alone the Heir of Heaven, his soon-to-be stepbrother in a few hours. With that thought, Nicholas downed the rest of his drink and started on his third.

“Look at it this way,” Devon started and took a swig of his drink. “There’s some good at being a taboo child.”

“Which is?” Nicholas asked after the angel stopped talking for a while.

“Do’no,” Devon shrugged. Nicholas just shook his head and took another drink. At the rate he was going, it was going to take a lot more alcohol to calm his nerves. It had to be the worse day of his life, and he’s had some pretty dreadful days.

“Well, you wouldn’t have many restrictions on taboo ways,” Adrena supplied, taking a small sip from her wine glass.

“Oh no, not you too, Adrena. You’re starting to get as bad as they are,” Nicholas said with mock dread, gesturing towards the drunken twins.

“Really, think about it. If you wanted to, you could have any kind angel that you wanted, even male, if that’s what you’re into, nothing’s as taboo as a hybrid angel, not even loving another male angel,” Adrena said, not looking at him, but at her wine glass. Nicholas’ mug stopped half way to his mouth as he stared at her. Did she know? All the painstakingly effort he took to hide, and she could see? “Besides, you’re really not all that bad looking.”

“Well, well, well,” Devon leered at Adrena, then looked at Nicholas, who had gained his composure by hiding his face behind his mug. “And you say we’re ‘sexually outgoing’? The lovely Adrena is straight out corrupted,” he laughed while at the same time spilling his ale, apparently too drunk to know where his mouth was anymore.

“But, of course, I don’t think that you’re into males. You’ve already established that you like long blond haired, hazel eyed, white winged angels,” Adrena shrugged. Was the bitterness in her voice? However, before Nicholas could respond, there was a commotion at the door.

“You!” Someone yelled, entering the bar. He was a white winged angel with short black hair and green eyes, dressed in the standard imperial guard uniform. Navy blue trousers, a vest of the same color over a black, tight, long sleeved shirt. Nicholas could easily see that he was an ordinary guard, therefore not stationed at the palace, which is why he didn’t know the man. He knew everyone in the Imperial Place, both by name and face; it was his job after all.

“Abomination!” Another man pointed to him. He was similarly dressed, but with brown hair pulled into a tail and the same colored eyes.

“Me?” Nicholas said with a smirk as they came closer to their table. Perhaps the day wouldn’t be all that bad after all, or perhaps all the drink was finally settling in.

“Who else would I be talking about, hybrid?” the second one said spitefully, settling himself in front of the smirking angel. Not, caring to look up to anyone, Nicholas stood himself.

“Well in that case...” he trailed off, his smirk still glued to his face as he thoroughly enjoyed the extra four or so inches he had on the angel.

“How dare you show yourself in a public place, abomination,” the first angel smirked, perhaps thinking the insult would get him the third time around.

“I’ve been doing it for years; don’t tell me that you’ve only caught on now? I thought that I was famous in every bar in the city. How very conceited of me,” Nicholas mocked with a shake of the head. Adrena, Devon, a semi-conscious Dirk, and the entire bar couldn’t even try to stifle a laugh. “Well, in any case, let me introduce myself, I’m-”

“Don’t bother,” the angel spat. Nicholas just continued without batting an eyelash.

“-Nicholas, guard of the Imperial Palace. Well, to be more accurate, personal guard to the Heir of Heaven. I stand next to the Divine himself in the Arts, a master of hand-to-hand combat, an elite swordsman, and, finally, the biggest drunk in the entire Imperial City. Oh, and also third in line for the succession.” Nicholas finished, looking thoughtful.

“Is that supposed to impress anyone?” one of them said with a smirk. Through his own smirk, Nicholas was starting to get slightly agitated. If the two didn’t stop talking and walk away, which Nicholas secretly hoped they wouldn’t, then they was going to regret it, seriously.

“So, is that all you wanted, to come in here and insult me? Or did you have something else in mind?” Nicholas asked with an aspirated sigh, having enough of their antics. However, without warning, one of them swung at him. With his smirk in place, Nicholas easily side stepped and the man went stumbling. “Really, and I thought I was the drunk.” Nicholas shrugged as the other angel went at him. Nicholas quickly, and forcibly, connected his palm with the angel’s chin, knocking him flat, and unconscious, on his back. The first angel then attempted to hit him in the gut; he however, got a kick to his own gut as Nicholas sent him flying into another table a few feet, also unconscious. Sighing again, for the fight, it that’s what it could be called, wasn’t as entertaining as he would have liked. He turned to Adrena, while picking up and drinking the rest of his ale.

“This bar isn’t as hospitable as I first thought. Care to join me in finding another?” he asked her.

“Really, Nicholas, did you really have to hit them that hard?” she asked, shaking her head and standing, her glass of wine finished.

“Hey, it’s not my fault that they’re that weak,” Nicholas said. “They’ll make anyone a guard these days,” he shrugged. “See you guys later,” he waved at the twins, who were almost completely passed out.

“Bye guys,” Adrena waved.

“Bye, bye, lovey ‘Drena,” Devon mumbled from his place on the table, Dirk was as unconscious as the two angels on the floor. Adrena just smiled and shook her head.

“Sorry about that,” Nicholas apologized sheepishly to the barkeep, and handed him a few silver coins.

“Don’t worry about it, Nicholas, you’re still my best customer,” the barkeep said with a smile.

“I bet,” Nicholas said with a wave as he walked out of the bar, where Adrena was waiting for him. “So, where are we off to next?” he asked.

“How about the Palace, where you can get ready for your mother’s wedding?” she said dryly.

“Or,” Nicholas started offhandedly, “you can pick the next bar we go to.”

“That’s what I thought you’d say,” Adrena sighed. “We’re only going to one more, then its back to the Palace. So, you’d better not start anymore trouble.”

“Hey, I didn’t start that, and you know it,” Nicholas said with a mock frown.

“Right,” she rolled her eyes. “Come on,” she said as she led them to another bar.

xXx

Joshua sighed as he exited the door to his father’s room. He really wasn’t too thrilled about the wedding anymore then Nicholas was. However, or so he assumed, it was for an entirely different reason than the hybrid angle. Nicholas just hated his mother, for what ever reason, so it was obvious why he wasn’t happy about his mother’s marriage. The sole reason why Joshua didn’t care too much for the wedding was that he was actually going to be brothers with Nicholas. Nicholas, with his beautiful amethyst eyes, and his jet black hair. Nicholas, with his wonderful pale lavender lips and sculpted jaw. Nicholas, with his mixed-matched wings.

Joshua shook his head of his thoughts and started walking as his father’s guard started staring at him strangely. He shouldn’t be thinking of his soon-to-be stepbrother that way. It was entirely wrong to have such thoughts. Besides, Nicholas was a good six years older than him and male, it was just wrong. Joshua couldn’t have the beautiful hybrid angel, and that’s just how it was.

Sighing again, Joshua continued walking. He would visit Rosen before he got ready himself for the wedding. He smiled and nodded as he passed a few servants, who just smiled and quickened their pace. Everyone in the palace was like that; they all thought him too social, too social for an Heir of Heaven. As the Heir of Heaven, he was supposed to be cold and calculating. What, because he was Heir, he couldn’t be kind to others? Joshua stopped in front of Rosen’s door and, after a few hesitant seconds, he knocked.

“Come in,” he was welcomed as he opened the door. “Oh, hello Joshua,” Rosen said sweetly.

“Hello Rosen,” he said politely.

“Come now, we’re family. Call me mother, or even stepmother,” Rosen smiled.

“Alright. Hello, stepmother. You look lovely,” Joshua smiled.

“Why, thank you dear. I wish my own son could be as polite as you,” she said and offered the young angel a seat. “Would you like some wine?” she asked.

“Please, Nicholas drank the rest of mine,” he said.

“He can be quite a drunk sometimes,” she said, and finally stood to get him a drink. It didn’t go unnoticed by the angel, all but the Divine was supposed to stand in the Heir’s presence, no matter of rank, until he says other wise. Joshua just shrugged to himself, they were having a formal conversation after all. It was just Nicholas’ unaccounted warnings he was feeling. “I hope he’s not too far in the drink at the wedding,” Rosen said, bringing him out of his thoughts.

“Don’t worry, I already warned him,” Joshua said taking a drink of his wine.

“I bet,” Rosen mumbled to herself.

“What was that?” Joshua asked, not quite hearing what she had said.

“Nothing dear, just thinking out loud,” she reassured him. “So what brings you here?” she asked.

“Nothing, just stopped by to see how you looked, and you look wonderful,” he said. It was true; she was as beautiful as everyone says.

“Thank you, you’re such a dear,” she continued smiling at him. “Sometimes I wish my son could be as sweat as you.”

“Thank you,” she said, a bit bashful.

“So, tell me, you and Nicholas get along well together?” she asked.

“Yes, very well,” Joshua said and took a drink of his wine.

“And he’s protective of you?” she asked.

“Very protective of me,” he laughed, thinking of their previous conversation.

“So, he already considers you a brother?”

“I guess,” he said, telling himself that the reason he was frowning was because her questions were starting to unnerve him. He looked back a Rosen, who had a strange expression written across her face.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed over,” she said, and leaned across the table.

“What is?” Joshua asked confused.

“Loving him.”

“W-what?!” Joshua nearly, spilt his wine on her dress in surprise. Did she just say that? No, he had to be imagining it.

“There’s nothing wrong with having an older brother, even if he’s not blood related. I know you’re an only child and not used to siblings, but you’ll get used to it. And, it’s not like Nicholas is going to take your title as Heir or anything. He just wants to protect you, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” she finished. Joshua could have died right then and there with relief. He was imagining it. Rosen didn’t know anything about his true feelings for the hybrid angel.

“Thank you, stepmother, for the advice,” he said standing. “If you’ll excuse me, but I have to get ready as well,” he said with a slight bow of his head.

“Of course,” she smiled, not standing, Joshua noticed. “I’ll see you later.”

“See you later,” he finished and headed for the door. Walking out, he didn’t see Rosen’s smirk. Closing the door softly, Joshua sighed again for the umpteenth time that day while walking to his own rooms not too far away. That was a very strange conversation. He’d never had one like it before, and in his short life, he had some strange conversation, with very strange people. It was almost as if Rosen could see his thoughts and feelings just by looking at him. As he entered his own rooms, he thought of Nicholas’ warnings about his mother. Perhaps he should listen to them a bit more. He wouldn’t go as far as saying she was evil, like the hybrid angel suggested, but Rosen was a strange one, nice, but strange non-the-less. Shaking his head, and looking at his bed, he decided that he would rest before the wedding. It was turning out to be a very bad day, and in Joshua’s opinion, it could only get worse.

XxX

Author’s Note:

Well, this is my first attempt at writing an on going original story (I mainly write fanfiction and poetry). I was seriously debating if I should post this or not, then decided that I really had nothing to lose. I have the first three chapters written and have most of plot holed out. Though, when I’m finished with this story (or even half way) I’ll need to make revisions, but for now I’ll post this and see what the feedback is, perhaps it’ll help me better the story. Anyway, I hope that I can get reviews (not demand, but hope), and also constructive criticism. I’m not really too fond of flames that go along the lines of “you suck” or “why did you make them gay?” (though, not as nicely worded as that). Yes, this is a slash story with the main characters step-brothers, I figure I’d put the warning out now.

Well, now I’m starting to ramble, so I’ll leave with one last note; is there any one willing to beta this story for me?

- Theresa

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