CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

"You know, if Mommy had kept her little Celestial legs closed, you wouldn't have been put in this situation," Shinjo mocked with disgust.

Damn it! He knows!

Alright. Maybe I wasn't absolutely truthful when I said my mother was human. I mean, she was...sort of. Anyone here confused? Let's see a show of hands.

Okay. I'll tell you. You see, my mother was actually a Warrior Angel sent to Earth in human form in order to help the Hunters fight against the growing epidemic of Vampires. So, not only was she a Head Huntress, but also a Celestial creature that fell in love with her enemy. And because she not only fell in love with a Vampire but also bore his child, the human body her Lord gave her began to decay. She withered away for eight years before she finally died. No one knows what was done with her soul after that.

And this bastard dare have the gull to mention my mother.

"I wouldn't have been so interested in your past if it wasn't for those pretty little scars on your back, my little Huntress," Shinjo said as he crept a hand around to my back and slowly traced my secret. I had just noticed that I was naked.

Oh. You're probably still wondering what my secret was. Well, I'll tell you. Two scars. Identically mirroring each other on my back, just over my shoulder blades. They are diagonal, about four inches long and an inch-and-a-half thick. Want to know how I got them? You guessed it. Scars from where my wings were ripped out of me. It was back when I was eight.

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

I was at my mother's deathbed, holding her hand as she laid there. She was telling me how much she loved me. Daddy was at her other side, trying to be strong. But I could see the pure sadness in his eyes. Hell, he was more than sad. He was about to lose the love of his life. The mother of his child. He was devastated.

Her breath was becoming labored. The sun was high and she wanted to feel the warm glow on her skin once more.

I helped her out to the garden, laying her in a patch of lilies. Her favorite. Her wavy blond hair was sprawled across the grassy ground. I stayed at her side. Daddy was in the shadows of the thick trees which surrounded the castle's back.

Her beautiful blue eyes--slowly changing to lavender with her emotions as Battle Angels' eyes do--held a gaze of unimaginable sincerity. "Never forget who you are,” she had told me. “You are not just the Princess of the Vampire race, but of the Celestial blood, too. Remember that. You are a one of a kind treasure, Serenity. You'll one day need your wings...and when that day comes...fly."

Those were her last words. She died in my arms. I hunched over her body, sobs convulsing mine. The sun glowed around the two of us as her body slowly became transparent, glittering as little orbs of light floated from her and up to Sanctity--known to most as Heaven.

She left my arms as my sobs soon became more harsh and dark clouds soon covered the sky. I was screaming and cursing. How could a so-called "God" do this to one of his most loyal of Angels? I had thought God was supposed to be forgiving. And yet he had made his own child suffer for eight long years before finally tearing her from her family.

The dark sky let loose an eerie wave of heavy rain. My screams of misery soon mixed with that of pain. All of a sudden, my body was ripped apart by two large black wings.

A final gift from my mother.

That night, my wings were ripped from my back.

One of the female servants who were infatuated with my father had snuck into my room as I wept the loss of my mother. I didn't notice her until it was too late. I was too preoccupied with my grief.

She had grabbed a hold of my wings. As she tore them from my back, she cursed me for being an impure half breed and the spawn of a wretched Angel slut.

My cries of pain brought my father to me.

Too little too late.

The wings were on the ground, my back bleeding profusely. Daddy grabbed the bitch by her throat. She was pleading for him to make her his wife. That she would be better suited for a Vampire King than the filthy insect of Sanctity.

Without hesitation, Daddy ripped the servant's throat out.

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

Ever since, my Celestial blood has been a guarded secret. Along with the scars of my wings, passed on to me by my mother. But now, this bastard knew the truth. And could easily use it against me. Against my father.

"For being of a Heavenly decent, you sure know how to play it evil. I loved watching you kill." Shinjo put a hand on my cheek. "So, my love. Are you going to be at my side for the new era?"

What is my response, you ask? To spit in his face, of course. Though that only resulted in a slap to my face.

"Bitch!" He grabbed my hair and harshly pulled my head back to look at him. "You will be mine. Like it or not, one way or another...you will." With that, he slammed my head against the wall behind me.

He turned to leave but stopped as I started to cackle lowly. He turned towards me and my evil laughter became more intense.

"What is so damn funny?!" he screamed at me in confusion.

"You mean other than the fact that your whole plan is going to Hell in a hand basket?" I asked as I glared at him with a smirk on my face.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

My only response was some more evil giggling.

"WHAT?!" he shouted, frustrated.

Just then, a loud crash and explosion was heard nearby.

So I was in the underground lab, I thought to myself. Must be a dungeon in it.

Shinjo turned sharply and raced out of the room. As he went up the stone steps, he entered the lab area to be greeted by a section of the ceiling missing and lots of Vampires dropping in, killing all who stood up to them.

But they weren't just any group of Vampires. They were the other students. And Nathaniel led the pack. Most of the levels from one to two and some of three were there. Along with sections B-1 and C-1.

On Shinjo's side were levels six, five, and the majority of four and three.

The school's A-1 building was divided and at war.

But those weren't the only ones. Our side had a few of the trustworthy Hunters who must have been picked out specifically by Nathaniel. Even Demon and my girls were suited up and armed for battle. In Demon's hand was a leash. At the end of the leash was none other than my babies. My Hell-hound.

It may not have seemed like it but Shinjo's side had some more muscle. Hired hit-men and guards. And a lot of them.

Everyone grabbed their weapons.

Jay and Victor Valdez took snipers up to the catwalk and shot at our men. Some were seriously wounded but otherwise lived.

Sano Sugisaki took up his giant sword. Swinging vigorously, he not only took out some of our men, but one or two of his own.

Ramiro Martinez had hand guns and was firing into the crowd.

Chris Landly was laid back, watching everything. Some would come up and attack him but he mostly stuck with hand to hand and knocked them out.

A sniper bullet went flying past Nathaniel's head. He looked up to the twins on the catwalk.

"William! Joshua! You're on!" Nathaniel shouted. They looked up at the twins and headed up there. As they approached, the twins dropped their snipers and pulled out their twin blade katana swords.

As did William and Joshua.

They fought with swiftness and agility on the narrow path. The twins were using double team attacks but the synchronized William and Joshua—like when they sparred in P.E.—easily kept up with it. Like they had trained for this specific match. Which, knowing Nathaniel, I wouldn't doubt. Ivan was a broad shouldered and quite strong Vampire so he easily matched Sugisaki.

Daemon Elder, being the son of Elders, fought with so much rage and intent for saving his parents.

Dylan Cole took on Martinez, knocking the guns from his hands and forcing him into a hand to hand fight.

I could see everything with another little gift from my mother. Sight from above. Otherwise known as Heaven's Eye. The view from above the battle showed into my mind's eye.

Shinjo was heading for Nathaniel. And when Nathaniel saw Shinjo, he headed towards him as well. Meeting dead center, they attacked without hesitation.

"WHERE IS SHE?" Nathaniel shouted in Shinjo's face as their hands clamped together and they tried to out strength the other.

"Aww. Does the 'dearest cousin' miss his darling Serenity?" Shinjo sneered at him.

Nathaniel's eyes glowed with rage. Very few people were allowed to call me by my first name. After all, very few people even know my first name.

"Oh, don't worry. Your darling Angel is locked away. Safe, for the time being."

Shock came to Nathaniel's face. Much like to mine when Shinjo revealed his knowledge of my bloodline.

Their struggle continued as a strange sensation caused my mind to pull back from the vision. I looked ahead of me to watch the glow from the dim lighting shut off. Another glow soon replaced it. Coming from above was like a cyclone of light. But not just any light.

Celestial Transmittance.

Serenity...Serenity..., a voice echoed from above.

"M-Mama?"

My poor, sweat girl... Look at what you've gotten yourself into... You should have never followed in my footsteps..., my mother's voice rang out with sorrow and regret.

I shook my head. "No, Mama. I don't regret following you. It made Papa so happy."

But look at what it has done to you, baby...

My fists clenched. "I don't care. As long as I can save my family..."

Honey, there was nothing you could have done for me... This was inevitable...

I began to cry.

You still have me with you...

"But I don't have my wings, Mama. I can't fly."

As long as I'm with you, so are they... You have the strengths of two sides... You have both rage and love... You are a Raith-Tepes... You have the ferocity of a Vampire, but the heart of an Angel...

My sobs subsided. She was right. Nothing can take away what blood I come from. My parents are two of the most powerful beings in the three worlds. I couldn't disappoint them. I wouldn't.

I slowly brought my head up, confidence building within. She always had a way to get me out of my slumps when I was a child. I guess nothing really changes even after you pass.

"Thank you, Mama," I whispered.

The light slowly condensed into a straight, intense stream and shown upon me. A warm glow rejuvenated my body and then dispersed. I was no longer the War you would imagine. I was now dressed in that of a Battle Angel; a breast plate, leather kilt with steel fastenings. Like my mother. My eyes changed to a deadly violet as my hair turned to a shimmering silver.

I pulled myself up and twisted my arms around the stakes to where my feet were on the wall above them, myself facing downward. I pulled as hard as I could to get the stakes out of it. The pain was so intense but there was no way I was going to give in to it.
After a while, the stakes finally began to give. With a little more effort, the stakes were pulled from the wall. I kicked off the wall before gravity could have its effect on me, and then landed gracefully on the ground.

I used the Heaven's Eye to see what was happening so far. We were losing. Shinjo's men were greater in numbers and skill. My Hell-hound was laying on the floor with a sword through their chest. Nathaniel was still in locks with Shinjo as everyone was doing their best to keep the bad guys from getting their hands on whatever anti-old-Vamp was around. If any of it was to escape into the air and spread, all was lost for our society.

I walked up the stone steps. Confidence was rushing through me as I slammed open the door and enter the brawl. Vampires were being thrown left and right. I walked through, some of Shinjo's men attacking me and dieing because of it. I had no weapon but the hands I was born with. I tore limb from limb, anyone who got in my way. The Heaven's Eye was still in play. I saw all that were trying to creep up on me and quickly countered.

I scoped the area, searching for my target. And I found him. Standing over a weakened Nathaniel with a sword ready to pierce through his chest.

Anger flared up within me as I practically drifted to him. Just as I reached them...it was too late.

"No!" I screamed.

Nathaniel clutched the blade within his chest. My heart just about broke through me. His blood poured from the wound. Adding torment to injury, Shinjo twisted the blade then ripped it from Nathaniel.

My rage overtook me and my movements became supernaturally unrealistic, even for Vampires as advanced as us. I appeared behind Shinjo. My hand wrapped around his neck from behind. I was about to break his neck when he pushed the blade of the sword behind him, stabbing me in my stomach. I dropped him and staggered back, clutching my new wound.

Shinjo turned to look at the one who caught him off guard, surprised to see me. It wasn't just me being there that shocked him. It was what I was wearing. Very revealing armor garments that were only worn by Battle Angels.

I removed my hand from the wound. It healed within seconds.

"What are you...?" His eyes narrow as he understood what was happening. "So, you're one of them now," he said. Practically spitting at the word them.

I didn't speak. Too much rage overtook the control of my voice. My violet eyes were glowing with it.

"No matter. You'll be dead soon enough."

So typical of the arch villain to say, don't you agree?

He charged at me with the sword coated with Nathaniel's blood.

Nathaniel...

David rushed to his side as soon as possible.

I couldn't think of that right now. I had Shinjo to worry about. He'll be fine, I told myself. David will take care of him...Right?

I sidestepped and dodged blow after blow, swing after swing from Shinjo's sword. My movements being unmarked. Unnoticeable.

He was pretty good, though. Much better than when we spared in the gym that night.

I kept drawing him near me and dodging swings, causing him to kill one of his own. It was really pissing him off. After an eternity, or maybe just a minute, I saw an opening and took initiative.

I kicked him in the stomach, and as he hunched over, I grabbed his shoulders and swung him around, throwing him up and through the opening in the ceiling. I jumped up to a catwalk nearby and out of the whole.

The Heaven's Eye was still on the fight in the lab. Before I could switch it to where I was, I heard him. "DIE!" he shouted from behind me. Just as he swung, I turned, only to find a body in front of me. One that blocked the blade. "What the fuck?!" Shinjo shouted to the person.

"Sorry, man," the Vampire-shield panted. "But I guess I just like her too much to let you kill her." It was Chris Landly.

"You loser," Shinjo said as he pulled the blade roughly from Chris and threw him to the side.

We were in the basement and there was another opening above us. I jumped through it as Shinjo followed.

"Huntress..." he said tauntingly as he slowly gained on me.

We were now on Level 1 of the A-1 building. I soon got out the front door. We ended on the field nearby. I stopped as he was right behind me.

"No more games, Huntress. We fight, now!" he sneered at me.

I faced him with a solid front. "With pleasure."

We both took a stance. Yes, even me. When I'm dead serious about winning a fight, I put my game face on.

He charged at me with his sword raised in his left hand. I blocked the slash with my arms, crossing them right over left to cradle his blade wielding wrist. I spun 180 clockwise and grabbed his wrist, flipping him over my back. When he landed on his back, I had his wrist in my right hand, extending it straight up as I hit his elbow outward with my left forearm. He screamed in pain.

I pulled on his arm to my left, jerking him to his stomach. I got on him from behind and pulled his arm above and behind his back. My other arm grabbed him in a headlock, facing west.

The sky was becoming a lighter blue as the sun approached. "Stop this! Don't you understand? You can rule at my side," he negotiated in feeble attempts to make me let him go.

"Don't you understand?” I asked, whispering softly into his ear. “I already rule. At my father's side."

He struggled beneath my grasp but I wouldn't let him go. Rays of sun began to show from the horizon. The light dew on the grass glistened like tiny diamonds glittered about.

Shinjo continued to struggle. He reached into the inside pocket of his light coat, pulling something from it. "This isn't over," he said. Just then, he crushed a vial of the deadly poison before bursting into flames beneath me as the sun engulfed his body.

I let go of his burning corpse. The last remains of him were his skeleton dirtied with ashes. He was dead.

But it was too late. The airborne virus was beginning to spread.

I lost?

My throat constricted at the thought of losing. I never really lost. Sure, I'd screw up, but I never lost. Not like this. Not this big. How could I lose something this important?

As long as you have me, Honey, you can't...

"But how...?" My eyes began to glisten with tears as the thought of losing my family, my father, raced through my head.

You won't lose me that easily, I heard my father whisper into my mind.

"Papa?"

Hold out your hand, he instructed me.

I did as told. Daddy materialized a beaker filled with a deep crimson liquid, capped with a cork.

Release it into the air and it will neutralize the virus.

"But how can I get it to do it fast enough? The virus is already airborne."

Remember, Honey... When the day comes that you need your wings—as long as I'm with you—fly...

That's right, Serenity. You are not just a Vampire Princess. You are of a Celestial bloodline. So spread your wings, my darling child.

I took a deep breath, looking to the glass doors of the A-1 building. All survivors were standing there, in the protection of the UV repellent windows. Nathaniel was clutching his slowly bleeding chest as his arm was around David's shoulders for support. His eyes were full of wonder and love. He nodded to me, knowing my feelings, ending my doubts.

I closed my eyes and clutched the vial to my breasts, remembering the pain I felt of losing my mother. That is what I remembered about how they emerged last time. Only now, I needed more.

I needed to restore them. I needed to remember everything that I was fighting for.

Nathaniel. We were best friends and young lovers. We know everything about each other and I nearly lost him forever this day.

Daddy. He's always been there for me and he always treated me like his whole life. And that life could end at any moment now.

Mama. She gave me everything I needed to be the woman I am today. I can never fail her. Never.

David. It was fun messing with him but no matter how much I tortured him, he'd still throw his life away as long as it protected me. Job or no job.

The guys at school. I had so many wolf whistles the first day and even after they saw all that I could do, they still treated me like anyone else. Like a real person and not royalty. And this whole mission set us against each other.

My girls. We've known each other for so many years. They are everything to me and are the only ones aside from my father, Nathaniel and Mike that I could really be myself around.

Mike. A total hard ass that was always right but always respectful. He was my only friend out of the Hunters. He's the only human to show respect to me and if Shinjo had his way, all humans would be in danger.

The Elders. My family. They set the Vampire laws in order to keep all of us safe. They spent eternity making things habitable for us and they were at risk.

All the pain from my thoughts, all the love of the ones around me, everything. It all merged together, pulling at my emotions and burning within my body.

I began to tremble. My back felt as though someone stabbed hooks into them and was pulling them out. I dropped to my knees, the pain so immense.

The sky began to darken. Gale force winds were streaming through the air like tidal waves.

I screamed at all the pain I was going through. It was far worse from the first time this happened. The bone structure of the wings began to protrude from my back, tearing through the skin like dull nails. They began to take form and grow skin, then feathers. Tears leaked through my eyes, so much pain for the sake of saving the undead.

After agonizing eons, I stretch my wings out, finally complete. Dark grayish black feathers catching the wind in them.

A quick push off the ground and the wings did the rest. I glided up as far as I could, the air thin and the winds strong.

Any human would have passed out from this altitude, I thought. Good thing I'm not one of them.

I could see everything from up there. Humans bustling around in a nearby little town. Completely unaware of what was happening in this world.

The winds were pushing harder, making it more difficult for me to stay up.

Do it now, Serenity, Daddy said.

Release it, Serenity...

You can do it, beautiful, Nathaniel encouraged.

Everyone's voice was in my head, urging me on.

I clasped my hand over the cork of the beaker. I took in a deep breath. I pulled the cork off.

The liquid began to evaporate into the airborne substance. The crimson liquid becoming that of a light pink as it rose out of the glass like steam.

The wind blew harder, making it travel faster as to neutralize the virus quicker. And it did.

Mission 1: Complete

Epilogue

"Daddy, how exactly do you know Ivan Volkov?" I asked him as we entered his study back at his castle.

"Oh yes. That. He's your fiance," he said while smiling proudly.

"Oh, cause I was ju...WHAT?!"

"Yes. That's why I wanted Mike to give you that mission. So you could go to that school and meet him. That way you could have your own impression and not one through a meeting of the families."

So that's why he had that smile on his face when leaving the headmaster's office. "So you knew I had to go there before I did?"

He nodded.

"And you knew I was going to be in the same class as him?"

He nodded.

"So he was the one giving me advice during class?"

He nodded.

"And you knew I was going to have a Yearner moment so that's why you sent him to my room?"

He nodded.

"So this whole thing was just for me to meet a husband that you and the Elders picked out for me?"

"Yep," he said proudly.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, dear?"

I materialized a bat in my hand. "You know what you should do, right?"

He took a beat for thought then raised an inquiring eyebrow. "Run?"

"Oh, yeah."

He took off, laughing the whole way as I chased after him, cursing and saying how much of a horrible father he was to put me in a place like that just to make a joke out of me meeting my assigned husband.

And you wonder why I whacked him that one time? There he is!

WHACK!

The End