Angel's Science
A Guild Hunter / Angel's Blood Fan fiction
Prologue
While flying over a midnight blue ocean; Rina Boldare gazed outward at the New York skyline that had finally come into view. She had visited on many occasions in the past but now Manhattan was to be her new home. As the private jet neared its airport destination she took in the bright lights of the city that never slept. She had been born in a small town in Connecticut before moving abroad with her family. As an American, settling here would not be a problem and it would be the perfect place to set up shop free from old baggage.
Rina eventually ripped her gaze from the fascinating view and glanced over at the seat across from her where Veronika sat. It was unknown how old the beautiful vampire was for her memory had been wiped almost five hundred years ago. Since then she'd had no master and had vanished across the globe before growing bored with life. There was a blood lust innate to all vampires that could see humankind in great jeopardy. However, Veronika had a steely control on her own. She had opted to sleep for years at a time before waking to quench the thirst then returning to sleep. For a vampire who didn't know who she was or what life to make for herself, it was her best option. But that all changed when she met Rina's father who in essence rescued her from a listless life and gave her the focus and desire to function once more.
"I know you don't think our coming here is a very good idea." Rina's gaze took in her companions' black suit with pale blue pin-stripes that fit her hour glass figure perfectly.
"Have I indicated as such?" Veronika glanced at Rina with exotically-tilted, golden-brown eyes.
"You didn't need to. I'm one of the few people that can read you, V. America is a free country, my work has a greater chance of continuing here undetected than it would back in Italy." Rina crossed her legs as her thoughts turned towards the new technological advancements she had made with her late father, Andre Boldare.
"I share your enthusiasm for your work, mistress." Veronika's steady gaze remained locked upon her employer.
Rina knew there was a 'but' coming especially since Veronika referred to her as 'mistress' which was something she didn't use unless she was agitated in some fashion. She considered the both of them equal despite the fact that Veronika worked for her and had insisted that they be on a first name basis. Aside from their working relationship, Rina also considered the vampire her most trusted friend and confidant.
"But, free country or not; this land is ruled by a powerful archangel whose city we now come to live in," Veronika felt the need to point out.
"I've read about Raphael and I see no reason why what we are here to do will ever come to his attention. As an archangel I doubt he will dabble in small matters."
"While that may be true; he has many vassals. Therefore I doubt that anything that goes on in his city will escape his notice for long."
Rina sighed as she understood where Veronika was coming from. "I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it, V. I've been planning this for too long to let even an archangel get in my way."
"Please make sure you seatbelts are buckled - we'll be landing in a few minutes." The voice of the captain filtered through the paging system.
"Well, I guess it's too late to get out of this now." Rina tossed Veronika a smile and although the vampire did not return it, she knew her friend would be determined to make their new situation work regardless of her own personal feelings. In light of the adventure they were about to embark on, Rina couldn't help her feeling of optimism. The devices she'd worked on with her father for the better part of fifteen years prior to his death were almost complete. Once they were fully functional they would revolutionize war fare all across the globe. But such accomplishments would not be without political intrigue which was the main reason Rina had to leave Italy. Her father's work had garnered the interest of the Angel that ruled there and it wouldn't have been long before he'd got involved. With Andre's death and Rina's proclamation to discontinue his work, the immortal had lost interest and she had continued their work in secret. But it had become too dangerous to do so in Italy and a change of local had been in order. Rina could not risk having her father's life work stolen from them. Although she planned to use the devices for the greater good, when immortals were involved things tended to get dicey.
While Rina understood Veronika's concerns about coming to a place where even more angels resided she knew it was best to hide in plain sight. The American angels would have no interest in her and she could complete her work in secret. What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them. And when she was ready, she would have governments all over the world clamoring for an exclusive contract with her father's company. She wasn't looking forward to the politics of that situation but would handle it when the time came. This project had been Andre's entire life work and she could hardly stand by as it went up in flames. Unlike immortal archangels and their almost-immortal vampires; Rina had a limited amount of time on this earth to complete the tasks before her. Therefore, it was a good thing at the age of twenty-five she was almost ready for the unveiling of this new project. It was now or never and Rina would be damned if she ever lived her life by 'never.'
Chapter 1
Crouching on a railing-less balcony on the fifty-eighth floor of Archangel Tower; a lone angel overlooked the bustling city streets below. This tower dwarfed every other building in Manhattan and was the base of operations for the archangel Raphael. Night had fallen as the streets transitioned from dusk to brilliant night lights. Although the city was anything but silent, there was a stillness that lived within him that left him unaffected by the hustle and bustle of this popular locale. Bryce was in service to Jason as one of his Wings which was an elite guard of angels that worked for Raphael. Jason himself was a member of Raphael's Seven which consisted of a group of four angels and three vampires that worked closely with the archangel. Jason was also Raphael's spymaster and although Bryce did not go on deep cover missions, he was in charge of local affairs. A recent appointment of which he kept Jason apprised on issues that pertained to angel and vampires alike within the city.
Bryce knew he could do this job and did not foresee any problems at least on the physical level. Although he was unlike other angels like Illium who enjoyed the human spotlight; Bryce was determined to do what was necessary to be effective at this job. Rising to his feet, he felt as the wind shifted his honey blond hair and rustled his tawny-gold wings. Within seconds he was airborne, having leapt from the balcony and allowing the air currents to guide his path. His gaze was focused on the streets below, ignoring the other angels who flew to and fro. Eventually, he glided across to the location of a popular club and noted his vampire contact, Jasper as he was entering the facility. It was far simpler for vampires to blend in among the public than an angel. Should a situation arise that Jasper could not handle himself, he had Bryce on speed dial and the angel always answered on the first ring.
Bryce flew over the club twice before coming to a landing on the roof of a tall building opposite of it. There had been reports of underground vampire brawls that took place at illegal venues. Usually the invitations were handed out to a certain few at clubs like Penelopes. There was nothing wrong with the occasional physical combat as sport but the vampires who were blinded in a bloodlust-ridden rage were being exploited and someone had sought to use those matches to make a buck. The very idea was an insult to Raphael and Dmitri; the leader of Raphael's Seven had enlisted Bryce to assist with the investigation.
Bryce had chosen Jasper to aid him on this case knowing that the vampire was more than capable of blending in with the necessary crowd. Venom, another member of the Seven would also aid them once he was through with his current mission. If the person manipulating these fights turned out to be a vampire or an angel; Raphael's justice would be swift and decisive. If by some chance a human was responsible then he would be turned over to the local authorities. Despite the fact that most humans feared Raphael, he was not a monster. And taking the law into his hands was something he did strictly with his own kind. There was a time when Raphael would stand for no deviation from his rule by vampire, angel or human alike. But ever since a certain Guild Hunter entered his life; his position had altered so much so that the outright murder of a mortal who had wronged him would be considered overkill. There were other ways to make the mortal's life unpleasant that had nothing to do with death. In some nations, humans who spoke out against archangels would mysteriously wind up dead days later. Whether or not the archangel was responsible or perhaps someone in their court, the accepted belief would be that the mortal was punished for his affront to an archangel.
Settling in for a long night, Bryce got comfortable on the roof that gave him the perfect vantage point to see anyone entering or exiting the club. He half hoped the person behind the fights was an immortal so that he could be punished accordingly. While vampires were far from innocents, taking advantage of them by way of their innate bloodlust was cowardly and Bryce was determined to bring the perpetrator to justice.
OOO
Jasper was grateful the music was not very loud as was usually the case in establishments such as this. The spin ball lights on the dance floor reminded him of an 80's disco and the very music may have been homage to that time period. The smell of smoke in the area was oppressive as humans and their vampire brethren puffed a white cloud within the dimly lighted club. There were few people on the well-polished dance floor but the ones that had attempted to dance must have been tune deaf as they weren't moving even remotely close to the beat.
Jasper had been eying a group of vampires within the smoke cloud that he would eventually work his way up to, when he spotted a stately woman emerging from the restroom area and head towards the bar. He knew she was a vampire and that vampires generally were stunningly beautiful by their first decade or two. However, beautiful was insufficient to describe her. Her ebony black hair fell in bone-straight waves to her upper back and her sexy, shapely body curved in the right places was outlined by the well-tailored black suit she wore. Jasper had only glimpsed her face briefly before she had her back turned to him as she stood by the bar. His feet moved forward as if of their own accord as he sought to remedy that.
Within moments, he was standing by the bar next to her as he waited to draw her full attention. In the meantime, his forest-green eyes ate up her side profile. She had a slightly dimpled chin, a straight nose and exotically tilted eyes the color of old coins. He could see only a fraction of her slightly full lips that glistened in the dim lighting but already he was itching to learn what she tasted like. Eventually he realized she seemed intent on ignoring him as she continued to look straight ahead at the bartender who had murmured something about another couple of minutes for her order.
"What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" That did the trick Jasper realized, as she finally turned to face him. He realized that this woman had most certainly been a looker even before she became a vampire, but the scope of immortality had amplified with much success what was already there. Stunningly gorgeous did little to describe this feast for his eyes. "What? No...'how long did it take you to come up with that line,' remark?"
Veronika had sensed the other vampires' scrutiny the moment she re-entered the club proper. He was not the first one to approach her, but he would be the last - at least for this night. She had to admit he was the most eye-pleasing of those she had met thus far. His shoulder-length copper colored hair created quite a contrast against his black attire that consisted of a leather jacket, well-tailored black pants and boots. His long-lashed forest green eyes were expressive - that is if sex were an expression. His high cheekbones covered by wonderfully smooth honey toned skin and the perfect outline of just full enough lips made him appear almost androgynous. He was perhaps saved from it by the firm line of his angular jaw. She had no intention of being drawn in by this one and full well intended to ignore him like she had the others. Therefore for the life of her she couldn't understand why she went with her next response. "How long did it take you?"
Jasper placed his elbow on the bar counter and glanced upward as if pondering her question. "Let's see; thirty-three and a half seconds."
"Really, I thought at least forty seconds and a third," Veronika replied unsmiling. "But perhaps you'd think less of me if I couldn't comprehend your speed."
Jasper laughed at her comment despite the fact that her face remained ominous. She was playing with him and it seemed she was a master of dead-pan humor. "Bah, who am I to judge? I wore hose back in the eighteenth century." He paused as if to ponder that question. "Or ...was that last week?" He shook his head as if to brush off the idea before continuing.
"I'm Jasper." He was about to hold out his hand to her in greeting but held back. He was grateful he did when she turned her attention away from him. Perhaps her serious demeanor was not altogether false. He waited almost a minute before speaking again. "This is where you tell me your name."
"I have no reason to give you my name," She finally replied.
"Well if you don't give me yours I'll simply have to make one up. Let's see," Jasper stroked his chin as he pondered his decision. "How about Citrine? So like the color of your eyes. We'd make a lovely pair of gems, Jasper and Citrine."
"Here you go miss." The bartender handed Veronika a small bag and accepted her payment and tip with a gracious smile.
"Don't tell me - you came to this bar for the french fries?" Although his tone held a hint of humor, Jasper could clearly smell the freshly fried food through the bag. He never knew of vampires having cravings for anything other than blood. Therefore it was quite possibly Citrine was only a delivery girl. Perhaps that was the reason she brushed him off if she was in a hurry to make a delivery to an angel.
"Don't tell me - you came to this bar simply to be annoying?" Veronika raised an eyebrow at him before standing.
"I can with a great deal of confidence answer 'no' to that question."
"Well then Jasper, I bid you good luck with what you truly came here to do." Without another glance at him Veronika made for the exit.
"We will meet again, Citrine." He smiled at her retreating form as thoughts of her naked with that perfectly straight hair all mussed from bed sport dominated his mind. A slight buzzing in his jacket pocket finally drew his attention away. Grabbing his phone he read the brief text from Bryce.
Any leads?
Jasper quickly texted his reply before getting back to business. Citrine had been a pleasant distraction but he had a job to do. And once it was over he could concentrate on learning more about the lovely vampire for he certainly had access to the resources of finding her again. Rising to his feet he made his way towards the group of vampires in the smoke filled lounge. It was time to find out who was making sport of his fellow vampires.
OOO
Moments later at their Fifth Avenue rented apartment, Rina ushered Veronika into the well furbished parlor. "Ugh, you smell like an ashtray." After the vampire thrust the paper bag at her and headed towards the living room, she took a fry from the bag and downed it quickly before following her companion. "What I meant to say was thanks for getting me these french fries!"
Veronika stopped about half way into the room and quickly spun on her heels to face Rina. "You are referring to the same french fries you could have simply ordered in?"
"Yes but you also wanted a breath of fresh air and I didn't feel like going out tonight. You know, two birds...one stone."
"If I wanted a breath of fresh air it was not a wise decision to venture to that club."
"But I had the fries there once and I really liked them..." Rina's little girl tone never worked on Veronika, the woman had known her since she was a little girl and knew all of her ploys. "Truly, V; I'm sorry if I inconvenienced you."
"I still say we should move out of Manhattan. Your Essex estate awaits us."
"I've always loved New York city ever since I was a little girl. I like being here. We will go to Essex eventually for me to complete my work." Rina set her fries aside on a coffee table as her appetite vanished in the face of her companions distress. She really thought she'd been doing Veronika a favor by having her go out, but it seems that was far from the case.
"It's dangerous here, especially for me. Do you have any idea how many vampires approached me tonight? If I continue this so-called mingling, questions will be asked."
"Questions we already have the answers to. You are here as my assistant and I am on vacation." When Rina realized that her words did little to assuage Veronika, she crossed her arms beneath her breasts as the soft material of her lavender pajamas pressed against her skin. Her brow furrowed as she contemplated what she was doing wrong. They had been here for a very uneventful week yet Veronika had yet to relax. "It's fine, whatever you prefer we'll do."
"Rina, this isn't about me looking out for my own neck. I gave your father my loyalty and I have also given that loyalty to you. It is my duty to see that you come to no harm, and I can not do that if my hands are tied." Veronika gazed at the human pleadingly. "I understand your excitement to be in this city once again, but I do not share that excitement for the very reason of what discovery could mean for our future. I am a vampire with no knowledge of the one that Made me. I have no way of knowing if I ever completed my hundred year contract, my memories before the past five hundred years are intermittent at best. These are questions the angels and vampires that rule this country would want the answers to if I ever came to their attention. Do you understand now why opting to be inconspicuous is of the utmost importance?"
"I always understood that, V. It just bothers me sometimes that you're so lonely."
Veronika chuckled at her last response before gazing at the young woman tenderly. "Rina, I will live forever; barring some unforeseen circumstance. You on the other hand, merely has a few more decades left on this Earth. I await for you to settle down to have a family so that I may look after that family and their ancestors for the rest of my days."
"And I understand that you do that out of loyalty, but I want more than that for you, V. I want you to be happy."
"Happiness is not relative, looking after you and your children's children will keep me whole."
"What about learning the answers to your past?" Rina couldn't help the frown that was plastered on her face at this type of conversation. Veronika had been all about Andre's and now Rina's projects for as long as she could remember. Rina had always felt the pang of selfishness that they did nothing to help Veronika with her own plight.
"We have discussed this before, my life now has no bearing on what it was in the past," Veronika replied.
"Your lack of knowledge of that life caused you to sleep for several years at a time, waking only when it became necessary to feed. Now I may not know all there is to know about vampires, but it doesn't take much to realize that is no way they would want to live unless they were punishing themselves."
Veronika wished she could suddenly grow wings and fly away. This was not a conversation she wanted to be having with her mistress. She had often wondered what horrors she had done or had had done to her to prompt an archangel to take her memories. Had she been blood lust ridden wouldn't the man simply have killed her rather than leaving her an empty shell never to know who she was or who she would one day become? Memories no matter how painful were the grey matter of your soul. Veronika had none of worth except for the past twenty years when the Boldare's allowed her into their lives. "I'm not punishing myself anymore but I have to be realistic."
Rina sighed and shook her head. She understood Veronika's choice of realism. However, it was possible that the very people whose radar they were attempting to avoid could be the ones to help her learn more about her past. "I'm sorry V, I won't bring this up again. Not unless you want me too." She retrieved the french fries from the table. "Thanks for the fries." She left the room and headed to her bed chambers well aware that she would get little sleep this night.
OOO
It was three am when Jasper got a text from Venom who'd apparently had better luck at another club. He returned to Archangel Tower to merge their reports. Jasper was exiting his silver, sleek Infinity sedan vehicle when he saw Venom waiting for him in the tower's underground parking lot. His superior, wearing an expensive dark navy suit and wrap around sunglasses was leaning against the elevator wall awaiting him.
"I didn't realize you'd be finished with your last mission this quickly," Jasper stated as he closed the distance between them.
"Disappointed?" There was a slight smirk on Venom's handsome face.
"Hardly, you know how much I love working with you." Truth be told, whenever one worked with a member of the Seven it was expected to be a grueling experience. These men were the best of the best for a reason and Raphael did not cultivate people around him who were weak.
"Why do I get the impression you were dallying for most of the night," Venom stated.
"You tell me, one dallier should recognize another."
Venom's smirk deepened before he held up his phone which revealed a still of Jasper and an unknown woman in mid conversation. Her face was hidden but Jasper's was clearly visible. He saw when Jasper nodded at the screen but soon realized no explanation was forthcoming. "What - no ...'I can explain?'"
"Perhaps you are confusing me with another vampire that reacts as such. I was speaking with the lovely lady, I see no point in denying that." Jasper shrugged as if the entire topic was beneath him.
"And how exactly does conversing with this lady relate to our Intel that the stated parties involved in the fighting ring were all male?"
"I will be filling a report to Dmitri, will I be forced to repeat myself twice both to you and him?"
"Do you have any idea how many other vampires would kill for your position? Raphael expects us to put forth only the best, and if you can't live up to that..."
Jasper scoffed, Venom of all people didn't have much of a leg to stand on when it came to this topic. The man could hypnotize with his eyes which meant it took little convincing to get women in his bed. "Why don't you just turn me into Dmitri right now and tell him I fucked up? Oh wait, you can't because I didn't. I scoped Penelopes like I was supposed to, none of the vamps there knew about the fight ring or they weren't talking. That was my job, Venom. So what if I talked to a girl on the side?"
Venom's laughter was slow to formulate but it soon rumbled forth from his chest. "Good, we may keep you after all." He glanced at the picture on his phone was last time. "Who is she anyways?"
Jasper sighed and shrugged. "I wish I knew." He wasn't pleased that Venom had been testing him either but was grateful to know they weren't ready to toss him out on his ear. As they entered the elevator he hoped for a fast conclusion to the fighting ring fiasco. Clearly he wouldn't be able to pursue Citrine until that was wrapped up. But pursue her he would, of that he was fairly certain.
OOO
Disclaimer: The Angel's Blood world belongs to Nalini Singh and her publisher Berkley Books.