Chapter one.
Samael
It was another beautiful sunset, the blues and pinks that danced across the sky made my decision to follow the four archangels to earth that much easier. Every time I stood in my penthouse and gazed over this view I wondered if The Father new of its beauty, and as always I thought of what had I done to fall from his favour. The moment I heard that he had created the Archesses for his favourites, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel and Azrael I wanted to hurt him and them. I had been his favourite once; it was my name that was first on his lips but that all changed when Michael came alone. When he sent the Archesses plummeting to earth out of my grasp, all I could think of was how could I make one mine, why should I be the only Archangel to walk this immortal life alone. And here I was two thousand years later still in search of one of the four Archesses, I had come so close with Eleanore, but she made her decision and joined her true mate, Uriel. The Angel had made a name for himself as the actor Christopher Daniels, and now Eleanore was his. I liked Eleanore she was beautiful and I would have treasured her always but there was something missing, maybe that was why she choice Uriel over myself. I hoped I would find that missing piece with one of the other three Archesses, allowing them to choose me and not their true mates. I looked at my watch and noticed it was getting close to seven and I was due at the movie premier of Uriel's aka Christopher Daniels new film. I knew it was going to piss off the Angel of Vengeance and the idea of messing with my brothers mind, pleased me, but to be truthful, I wanted to see Eleanore one more time.
"My Lord your limousine has arrived."
I turned to see Jason, my human assistant, he knew of what and who I was and served me well.
"I will be down in a few minutes, where is Lilith?"
"In your office my Lord." replied Jason before he left.
My sweet Lilith, yet another of The Father's banished creations, if he knew of how beautiful earth really was; maybe he'd stop using it as a dumping ground for his unwanted creations, Lilith was the first to fall and now there was hundreds of discarded supernaturals roaming this plan.
I didn't have long but Lilith was one of the few creatures I'd call a friend, even if she feared me half the time, I would not refuse her request to speak. I looked over the sky line one last time before I turn to head to my office.
"Samael" said Lilith as I entered.
"Lilith, you wished to speak?"
"Yes I have news." she replied.
"Is this to be good news or bad news, I don't much feel like receiving bad news, there is something magical about tonight that pleases me."
"Oh I believe you shall like what I have found." replied Lilith
We looked at each other, I was waiting for her to share her news but she was looking at me as if she was still deciding on either sharing her news or keeping it from me, why'd she ask to see me if she was undecided? She lowered her head and whisper the words 'he'll find out eventually' to herself before she lifted her head and spoke.
"I have found her." she said.
"You have discovered the location of one of the remaining three Archesses." I asked
"No, not one of the three, your Archess." she said.
That was impossible, I had no Archess, I was damned by The Father to walk alone for eternity, four, there was only ever four.
"I do not like this game you are playing Lilith."
"It's no game Samael, there is a fifth, or should I say, the first." she whispered not making eye contact with me.
"Are you going to explain this? Because I was there; I saw The Father point to the four brightest stars in the sky and announce to his favourites, 'behold your Archess, your gift from your father'."
"Samael, there was a first. Before you fell from The Father's grace and Michael took your place, he created the first, your Archess." said Lilith as she took a step back from my advance.
"And how long have you known of her creation." I snarled, why would she keep something like this from me.
"Always, but it was said that upon your fall from The Fathers grace, he destroyed her and created the four, more in the image of humans." replied Lilith.
"What do you mean in the image of humans" I roared.
"The first, your Archess is more powerful than the others as you're more powerful than your brothers. She has walked this earth as you and your brothers have, since her banishment." croaked Lilith.
Was all this possible, could I have the chance to find my soul mate, my other half.
"What do you mean as I and my brothers have?"
"The four are born as humans, they lives like normal humans, growing and aging. When they die they are reborn over and over until their Angels find them. Your Archess lives as you and the brothers do, never aging, watching all around her crumble and die. She has walked this earth for over two and a half thousand years alone." said Lilith.
"You said she was more powerful than the four, how?" I snarled.
"The four can heal, use telepathy, bend fire and summon the weather to their call, but like the humans they can be harmed by the weather's power and the fire's heat. Your Archess can bend the weather to her will; not only can she summon lightning, she can hold it within her palm, wield it as she sees fit. She is not weakened as the others are if she heals the injured, she can summon fire and let it dance on her finger unharmed, she can do much more Samael, but what is important is the brothers can claim her as their own, as you have tried to calm their Archesses and now it's known she lives."
"WHAT!" I roared making the floor under our feet tremble.
"She can be claimed, Samael. Michael, Azrael or Gabriel can merge with your Archess, if she chooses one of them." whispered Lilith flinching at my rage.
"Why now, why tell me all this now?" I said as I lowered my head, she was mine, I would kill anyone one who claimed what was mine.
My soul would shatter if they take her. I have no idea how but knowing she's out there makes it possible to dream of a peace within my being, I never thought imaginable. If only the humans knew of the pain immortals suffered walking through centuries of flood, death and famine, all you see crumbles before your eyes century after century.
"She'll be there tonight." replied Lilith.
"Be where tonight, Lilith?"
"The premiere, she is a personal body guard to Knight Slade." said Lilith almost chocking on her words.
I knew that name, I was currently known as Samuel Lambert owner and CEO of the largest Media Empire in the USA, I had created a fortune worthy of a King's ransom tenfold and the name Knight Slade was mentioned over and over again in boardroom meetings. He owned or managed the five most popular night clubs in the states; movie stars, models and royalty were seen within his clubs nightly. My board had hoped to bring him in and convince him to use his clubs to promote media launches, but the man refused all our offers, it was as if he was hiding from the media.
"Explain personal body guard carefully Lilith."
"As I said Samael, she is not like the others, she is unique. It has been told that unless she permits it, she will harm any creature human or otherwise if they touch her skin. She has spent her time leaning to wield the arts of death, and at this time she is Rae the personal body guard to Knight Slade but to us she is Ezrael, your Archess." replied Lilith.
My heart raced she was definitely meant for me. I was not called the Fallen One or Dark Prince for nothing. With my Archess at my side we will be unstoppable. My Ezrael.
"Samael, I have been told Knight Slade keeps her close at all times, hides her presence from inquiring eyes. She does not permit his touch but he knows she is special. His fortune and fame only became known when Ezrael joined him, they call her his Siren." said Lilith as I was turning to leave the room.
"I care little what this human wants, she is mine." I snapped in reply.
"I know this Samael but be cautious, she is his guard and it is she that must accept you, not you she." said Lilith.
I knew this to be the truth, it was the only reason I was able to get as close to Eleanore as i did. It was not the decision of the Archangel but the decision of the Archess to merge.
But I was Samael the Fallen One, seduction and destruction were top on my list of talents; by the end of tonight my Ezrael would be mine. I left Lilith and made my way down to the limousine, I didn't have a second to waste; my Archess was finally within my reach.
Lights flashed and humans screamed pushing forward against the metal barriers, keeping them from their hearts desires. In the old world, the world of my creation, it was magic that brought power, on Earth it was money and every limousine that pulled up to the curb and emptied it's passengers held millions within each and the dreams of thousands.
When my time came Jason opened my door and I rose to the flashes of cameras and the screams of the crowd. They all knew me as the billionaire Samuel Lambert. If they only knew the true power I held as Samael the Archangel, the Fallen One. I didn't stop for the reporters calling my name; I walked steady and strong into the building looking for only one thing.
They noticed me as soon as the doors closed behind me, Michael, Azrael, Uriel and Eleanore. I smiled when I heard a snarl whispering from across the crowded room. Uriel the Archangel of Vengeance was always the easiest to agitate. Gabriel was nowhere to be seen and my mind went on alert. Had he already found my Archess? Was I to late?
When my gaze didn't fall on Eleanore, Azrael stiffened and started to scan the crowed room. Of the four brothers, he was the darkest and the closest rival I had. In his life with The Father he was the Archangel of Death. When he took the fall to Earth in search of his Archess it changed him; he became the first vampire. If he didn't feed on blood nightly he would became as still as stone and end. Frozen for all time alive, but dead to the world around him, over the centuries he gave the gift of vampirism to others but none would hold a candle to the true power Azrael held as an Archangel. To the humans of this time he was The Masked One, the lead singer of a metal band, he had created a nice fortune for himself and kept to the darkness, happy in the shadows. Ever on stage he covered most of his face only leaving his gold eyes within view to entrance the audience. He and I both held voices that could melt or mold any creature to our will, he used his well.
Everything seemed to slow down when gun shots rang out into the air, Michael and Uriel whisked Eleanore to a rear exit and as Azrael turned to follow them, but he froze and I saw what held him. Her hair was as black as the night sky, long and thick, waving like flower petal on the breeze. She was tall and lean with curves in all the right places, my eyes hungrily ran from her feet to her face taking her all in, those lips. I became rock hard thinking of tasting those lips but it was her eyes that had me, they were like nothing I'd ever seen before. They were the softest lavender encircled by long thick black lashes, she moved like a feather floating, graceful but with deadly accuracy. Azrael and I watched as she grabbed the back of a man's jacket and dragged him through the crowd towards the entrance. Three male human guards struggle to keep up with her as she reached the doors. Azrael moved before I did to follow but I had the advantage being closer, I emerged a good five seconds before the Archangel of Death to see Ezrael shove the human into a waiting SUV and close the door, there she stood scanning the crowed as the black SUV sped away looking like the deadliest creature alive. I would have happily walked to my final end if it was she that was delivering the deadly blow. I heard the door slam the same second My Ezrael did and her eyes shot in my direction. Unfortunately, I was now not the only Archangel in her gaze. Myself and Azrael froze almost side by side as her eyes lit up, flashing like someone had turned a light on inside them, she took a sharp gasp of air. Was it me or him, I wouldn't wait to find out, I stepped forward breaking the moment and she lowered her eyes, shaking her head and turned, racing into an alley. Within seconds I heard an engine start and a black Ducati road bike appeared with my Archess aboard, she looked over to us one more time before she pulled the visor down on her helmet and raced off into the night.
Before I could give chase Azrael grabbed my arm.
"She is mine." he snarled.
"Think again, this Archess is unlike the four she is the first and mine." I roared.
"True or not, she will be mine, she calls to me." snapped Azrael as he turned to mist and disappeared into the night.
I was unable to move my emotions were running wild, rage, lust and longing. Why did she run? Will she accept Azrael over me? I'd kill him first. My first priority was to find her. Leaving my limousine behind I called up my energy and teleported back to my penthouse to scry for my Archess. Once in front of the fire place in my bedroom, I called for Jason, but it was not his voice that replied.
"What are you?" said the most tranquil female voice I had ever herd.
"I am Samael, your mate." I replied into the darkness.
"What are you?" said the voice again, harder this time.
"Why can I not see you?" I asked looking around the room.
"Why do you not answer my question?" asked my Ezrael as she stepped out of the darkness, her eyes wide.
She was everything I could have dreamt of and more. My soul started to hum and my fingers burnt with the need to touch her milky soft skin. I took a step forward as she retreated a step, those eyes called to me. I needed her like I have never needed anything in my long long life.
"This was a mistake, you, me, it's all a foolish mistake." she said as she moved to cover herself in the darkness once more.
"NO, please don't leave. I have been waiting for you for over two thousand years." I pleaded.
This got her attention, her head tilted to one side and she studied me more closely.
"Your like the other one, but darker, I'm darker than the others, but the other one and I require the same to live, we do not." she whispered.
"You are mine and you are far from dark, you are everything." I replied.
"I am a mistake, a monster. I know that much, many have come to end me, but I returned the favour sending them home in more then one piece, I should not have lived but here I am and then you and the others arrived." said my magnificent Ezrael.
"Please come into the light?" I asked.
She didn't say anything as her gaze took in my whole form; my heart rate increased praying she liked what she saw.
"Why do I want to touch you? I rarely let anyone touch me, but the moment I saw you and the other one, I hungered for both your touch." asked my Angel.
I couldn't keep my rage in check, I stepped closer locking her within my gaze.
"YOU ARE MINE." I roared.
She didn't move, she didn't flinch she just watched me, she didn't fear me at all.
"I am a mistake, this was a mistake." she whispered again as her form started to melt away into a pearl mist.
"Stay with me tonight and I'll answer any question you have." I begged.
Seconds froze in time as her form rippled, then I took my first breath that I didn't know I was holding when she became whole again. I stepped back and motioned to the large leather couch in front of the fire, she took a wide birth but followed my request but instead of taking a seat on the couch she moved to be end of my bed and leant up against it.
I cannot remember the amount of times I have dreamt of have an Archess in my bed but this moment was not just a dream and not an Archess of the four favourites, this was my Archess and my mate.
As I was re adjusting my pants to make myself more comfortable from my rock hard member, Jason opened the door.
"You called my Lord." he asked.
I watched as my human took in my Ezrael, his eyes glazed over and he became aroused. His breathing became heavy with lust, but to his good fortune he broke his gaze and locked into my hard grey eyes. He lowered his head in shame knowing I was close to violence and spluttered ' my lord'.
"You will no longer be need tonight." I snarled.
"Yes My Lord." he said before turning quickly and closing the door behind him.
I closed my eyes trying to control my temper as I removed my jacket, when I opened my eyes again to find a place to throw the now unwanted garment, Ezrael was standing a mere breath away. The words 'Don't Move' entered my mind as she reached for my top shirt button.
I was now panting and one fire as I watched her elegant long fingers slowly undo one button at a time. She never made eye contact with me; her gaze was locked on the flesh she was revealing as she removed my shirt. Once all the buttons were undone, she placed her warm hand gently over my heart, taking a deep breath and lowered her head.
We stayed in that moment until I noticed a droplet of blood fall onto the polished wooden floor, my Archess was bleeding. I moved to grip her chin to see where she was injured but my movement sent her racing from my grasp.
She raised her head and my world stop, she was crying, blood tears. My beautiful Archess crying, my gut turned and my soul screamed for her sadness. I wanted, no I needed to hold her, as I took a step forward she held up her hand and whispered.
"I am broken, a mistake. They will find me one day and end me once and for all, I should not have come, you will all be safer if you stay away from me."
And before I could reply she was no longer in my room, panic and an unworldly rage engulfed me.
Who are they and how can I find them and end them before they lay one finger on my Ezrael?
SHE WAS MINE!