Disclaimer: I do not own any of the series I'm going to throw into this story.
Author's note: So I mentioned how the canon for Charmed and Angel will be largely ignored when I began Hand of Fate II. However, after thinking it over, especially after having started Hand of Fate III, I realized that for the most part, much of the canon in Charmed will be ignored, and I've mentioned a certain higher being has taken care of certain situations in San Fran by Hand of Fate III. However, The canon for Angel had actually demanded that I put in someone else to rectify those situations, except for Gunn and Alonna. I realized that the character needed to be someone who had to change the destinies of some others. And who better than the son of the dragon, Dracul? Anyway, this will be a companion story to the Hand of Fate series. I've got so many story plots coming out of my butt it's ridiculous. And I still have the future piece that is Hand of Fate – Transcendence. So please, to all my readers, be patient with me.
Dracul's Castle
Wallachia, Romania
1117
The field outside the castle was still and quiet, as the bodies of the soldiers and their titanic machinations lay scattered. However, one lone figure stood out as he was still alive. He was down on his hands and knees, contemplating everything he had lost in all the years of his existence, as well as what these brave, yet unknowing, soldiers had lost in what they believed to be a righteous battle against evil. The figure was clad in black armor, over a green duster. What stood out about this warrior was his inhumanly pale skin, and his long white hair, as well as his amber eyes. His sword, which appeared to have a cross as a hilt and handle with the blade's base taking a diamond shape, and the rest curving upward into what appeared to be a single edged, samurai blade. The warrior thought about everything he set out to do and realized that Fate really seemed to be against him for reasons he could not understand. He was brought out of his musings as he sensed a presence that he had never known come next to him. The warrior looked up and saw what appeared to be a man with short, silver hair combed back, and wore blue robes with silver trimmings. What stood out with the newcomer were his eyes as the irises glowed blue.
"Who the devil are you?!" the warrior demanded.
"First of all, I'm nothing like my brother. If I were, you would be dead now. Well, permanently dead. Although, in your case, you never truly died. But that's not my point. I'm here to help you, Alucard," the newcomer said as Alucard grabbed his sword and stood to face the stranger.
"And why would you be foolish enough to help something like me? I am a vampire. A creature of the darkness that only seeks to corrupt the world," Alucard replied.
"You mean like your father? I thought you really would've understood him by now, and learned that perhaps your battle isn't to kill him," the stranger replied.
"What do you mean? Who are you?!" Alucard demanded again.
"Very well," the stranger replied, before he was surrounded by an intense light. Alucard shielded his eyes. When he opened them, he saw that the stranger had huge silver wings sprouting form his back. Alucard transformed into a silver, bi-pedal wolf, with dark-feathered wings sprouting from his back.
"That won't help you. Besides, I'm not bound to the earth like my brother is. Your father was rather fortunate that he had the prowess and will to take on my brother's shadow," the winged being said.
Alucard snarled and leapt at the stranger, who only flew straight up into the skies at a speed that was inhuman. Alucard took notice and used his wings to take flight, with his sword in hand. Alucard flew swiftly to the stranger and swung the blade, only for it to be blocked by an ornately crafted sword with what appeared to be a silver, double-edged blade. Alucard backed off in mid-air as he began sizing up his opponent. Using his senses, he felt that something was off. He had come across many devils when he went to fight his father, and could feel waves off darkness coming off of every enemy he faced. However, this stranger had an aura of pure goodness. Alucard flew to the stranger, who approached him as well. The two exchanged sword swings in mid-air, each time colliding with their clashes echoing loudly throughout the battleground. Alucard quickly regained himself and swung at the stranger, who only vanished. Alucard looked around to find him, only to be kicked hard and plummet to the ground. Alucard discarded his wolf form and looked up as the stranger gently glided down and landed on his feet. He offered a hand to the vampire, who reluctantly accepted as he realized he was out of his league.
"What did you mean before about my destiny may not be to kill my father?" Alucard asked.
"Let me ask you this. When you learned about who Fate was, what was your first thought?" the stranger asked. Alucard looked strangely at the winged being as if he had grown another head, which if he knew was not impossible for what he was.
"I realized that I would never be able to achieve my goal as long as he was seeking to influence me. That's why I told Simon to give him back the shard of the mirror," Alucard responded.
"Did you ever wonder how your mother, Marie, ever came across that pendant in the first place?" the stranger added.
"No. I only know that she had received it as a gift. And that she had given it to me. I had passed it to my son before I went to do battle with Dracula," Alucard responded. The stranger nodded, as he knew that the vampire wouldn't like the direction his information would lead.
"Since you've seen everything involving your father, you should understand that there have been forces that conspired to work against you and your family. To ensure that a...'status quo' would remain for centuries," the stranger said.
"Before you go on, perhaps you could tell me what you meant earlier about your brother," Alucard requested. The stranger simply smirked.
"That's simple. My name is Sachiel. I'm an archangel just like Lucifer. While I am not as powerful as he is, I could still give him a hard time if her were fully released. Did you know your father fought him when he sought to ascend back to Heaven, using the Lords of Shadow?" Sachiel asked.
"I was only told that he defeated the dark lords but became a vampire. Then I also was told was that the prospect of power had corrupted him. But after Fate showed me everything, I now know that the Brotherhood had lied to him. To me. Now I understand why you say there are forces at work," Alucard said.
"Yes. Mankind has always had free will. But other forces have conspired to manipulate humans. They have claimed it to be for the greater good. But then how can it be true when real battles are fought by forces higher than the ones responsible for turning mankind against each other?" Sachiel explained.
"But what does Fate have to do with this? Why conspire to turn my father over to the forces of darkness and leave the fate of myself and my family to suffer?!" Alucard shouted as a red aura flared up and enveloped him and threatened to explode.
"I'm afraid that falls under the jurisdiction of my brothers and sisters. What many have called the Powers That Be. They are a sect of angels who worked to find champions chosen to combat evil. However, since the fall of my brother and those he once led, two of the three ruling archangels of the Powers have made plans to ensure that they remain in power. They give power to those they choose but do not offer much in the way of guidance. And for that, their champions die. They've even resorted to suing half-breed demons to work with them. Half-breeds who are just as corrupt as Goliath was. But there isn't much my other brothers and sisters can do about them," Sachiel explained.
"Why on earth not?! Does the Father not care about whether creation will cease to exist?!" Alucard shouted at the archangel.
"Of course he cares! That's why he sent me down here to you. To offer you a chance to save the world in the far future. Everything that has happened and will have in the next few centuries to come will have to come to pass, because Father has found a way to not only twist the plans of the Powers, but to also make sure that everything that will happen in what you call the book of Revelations happens properly. The Powers were the ones who conspired with Fate in order to keep one such as yourself from interfering with their chosen. As much as I'd rather change things now, some things must be preserved in order to ensure that change can come about. In this time, those chosen do not have the will to truly change as those who proclaim their faithfulness only do so in following others. Your father was one of the most faithful until he looked and dove into the abyss. It changed him. But now he needs to be reminded that his hatred does not have to mean the world must fall by his hands. And Father is asking for your help," Sachiel said to the vampire. Alucard looked to the ground and shook his head.
"Why me?" Alucard asked.
"Who better to show a man the error of his ways than the son? He may not know you now. But if you can show him that the path to the future can be better carved, then he can see that Father did not intend for him to drown in the darkness. As for you, it's time you let go of your hatred before it consumes you as well," the higher being explained.
"Which only leaves one question: why can't you move against the powers now?" Alucard asked.
"What the Powers do, they do through manipulation. If ever they were to take direct action without clear orders from Father, his wrath would come down on them. You heard about what happened to my brother Lucifer. Just imagine if Father did get involved and fought Lucifer. He wouldn't have stood a chance," Sachiel said, thinking fondly of the Almighty.
"So when do I start?" Alucard asked further.
"It's already begun. But you must be put to sleep until the time comes for you to reawakened. You will be placed somewhere that when you awake, it will feel as if hours passed, but it will have been centuries. Your knowledge and expertise will be needed as the world will once again experience an era of ignorance. Now, sleep," Sachiel said, as he placed two fingers on Alucard's forehead and the vampire fell asleep on his feet. Sachiel teleported away in a flash of light, and would not be seen for centuries.
Carpathian Mountains
Romania
Early Fall, 1997
Sachiel teleported into a cabin with a flash of light as the rays of the morning sun filtered into the cabin. Another flash of light signaled another angel's presence. This archangel wore red robes lined with white runes along the edges of his robes. He had white skin and had dark hair that was combed back, except for two bangs that hung over his eyes, which glowed blue. Sachiel looked to his fellow archangel with a bit of a bored glance.
"It's about time you showed up Raziel," Sachiel said. Raziel looked to his brother with what appeared to be a sarcastic expression.
"I'm here. I have the blood. What more do you want from me Sachiel?" Raziel responded. Sachiel merely shook his head and took the bag of blood from his brother.
"So what did the others say about this?" Sachiel asked. He knew that most of his brothers and sisters would likely know. But he couldn't risk letting Michael know.
"Didn't really have much to say. If only because not all of them know. Ariel knows the plan is going to start. But she doesn't know how far this whole thing is going to go," Raziel responded.
"No reason she nor any of us would. Father sees the pathways when humans are presented with choices. Even the future. But he doesn't share with us because he knows if we interfere, we could likely influence the outcome of their choices," Sachiel began.
"And that's why he told us to go through with this plan to began with? Makes sense. Which reminds me, why is it that not all of the Father were present when we met with him? I saw the Father, and the Son. But the Spirit was absent," Raziel inquired.
"Because he's here. But he's in hiding. No matter how hard we would try, we wouldn't be able to find him unless he calls out to us. As far as why the Spirit would be here, all he told me was that when the plan started, we would be called 'Team Free Will'. I know for sure what he's asking us to achieve. But who and how is a matter he hasn't discussed. He could've just as easily told Michael. But it seems big brother has been...well, not in the same mind since the rebellion ended," Sachiel answered to his brother.
"You don't think there's something about Michael we need to avoid, do you?" Raizel inquired as he realized something.
"It seems that may indeed be the case. We'll worry about it later. He's waking up. Let's go," Sachiel said. The two archangels telekinetically opened a secret lever on the floor, which revealed stairs that led to a lower level. The two higher beings descended the stairs and came upon an ornately crafted coffin. They stood and waited until the lid slid off the coffin and Alucard sat up, look the same as he did centuries before. The vampire looked at the two archangels as if he was weak. Raziel approached him and offered the bag of blood, which Alucard took and fed from greedily. The vampire looked back at the angels with a passive expression.
"So...the time is here?" Alucard asked.
"Indeed it is. As I explained, the world is now a different place than when you remember it. Mankind has grown to enjoy the convenience of modern amenities, while at the same time neglecting the knowledge of their past. Man has brought themselves to an era of doom as they continue to wage wars with each other over trivial reasons, which serves to aid the Powers and the forces in the realms below," Sachiel explained.
"So where do I begin?" Alucard explained.
"Before you can help those that Fate has seen to...screw over, as humans say in this age, you'll need to regain your strength and skill," Raziel explained. Alucard looked to Raziel with an odd expression as he didn't understand the angel's use of vernacular.
"You'll figure out my words later on. Also, your father is still asleep. So you won't have to deal with him just yet," Raziel said.
"My father was asleep?" Alucard said.
"Yes. It seems someone form your family line had managed to subdue Gabriel and put him to sleep. You will wake him when the time comes," Sachiel said. Alucard nodded and looked serious for a moment as he felt an inkling of his strength and power but was seriously lacking.
"Very well. Let us begin," Alucard said.
Sachiel and Raziel approached Alucard and grabbed a shoulder each. With barely a thought, the archangels teleported themselves and Alucard to begin his new destiny.