Disclaimer: I do not own Hellboy or any of its characters. I love all of it, but I don't own it. I do own the lovely Miss Isabella and (since you've met him) Jared.
Author's Note: I am so sorry. This was supposed to be up Sunday, but when I tried, my family's computer apparently has these really weird parental guides that won't let me edit my stories here on fanfiction. Lame, I know. Sorry loves!
Nuada came out of the shadows and stared down at Isabella, a curious look on his face. Whatever it was, Jared didn't like it and he didn't want Nuada near his friend and charge. Especially not after what had happened last time. A snarl shaped his lips as he stood firm and glared at the Elf Prince before him. "Step away from her." Jared ordered in low even tones trying to keep himself calm.
A little smile tipped the corner of Nuada's lips. That made him even more furious. How dare that elf assume he could do what he was thinking. The elf had obviously forgotten about the special abilities of the Royal Guard. The real question was, which one of them was faster. They were probably an equal distance from Isabella, but one of them was going to get their first. Jared couldn't let it be the elf prince.
He didn't have a chance though. He never did. He knew that fact. Instead he found himself being backhanded as the elf stood tall and proud over Isabella's unconscious body. Jared found himself crashing back to the ground, his head slamming into the pavement. "How far you guards have fallen," Nuada scoffed. "You are not worthy of your charge. Nor of living as what you are. You are just as human as the rest of them. Enjoy your last days."
"NO!" The cry ripped from Jared's throat as the Elf Prince knealt down and picked up Isabella, cradling her in his arms. A seed fell from Isabella's hand and bounced down rolling until it came to a stop next to Jared. Jared's eyes followed the seed before jerking back up to find the spot where the elf prince had stood empty. Somehow, he had disappeared. Jared let his head fall back against the pavement and swore softly under his breath. He had failed.
"Is he alive?" a female voice asked cutting through his misery.
Something like a hand came out and touched him. "He's alive. Hurt and miserable and not human, but very alivealive."
"And who are you?" Jared growled cracking an eye open. There was a young woman leaning over him next to a female elf who bore a strong resemblance to Nuada. Next to the elf was an amphibian type of person. A species that Jared was certain wasn't documented in his family's files that happened to be kneeling next to him. To finish off the mix was a man in what Jared could only describe as an old fashioned diver's suit. "Especially for any of you to be questioning if I'm human or not."
"He and Red should get along just great," the young woman muttered irritably.
"A new friend?" Into his line of sight, sauntered Hellboy. Jared sighed and rolled his eyes even as he reached out and grabbed the seed that Isabella had somehow managed to create. "I don't know, he looks a little limp to me."
"Better than having to deal with a lack of confidence because my woman won't sleep with me anymore." Jared said. It wasn't conventional for a Royal Guard to read someone's thoughts, but he was irritable…well that was an understatement, but it was close.
"Hey bub," Hellboy growled angrily leaning down and grabbing Jared by the shirt.
"Red!" The dark haired girl shouted grabbing his shoulder. Her hand glowed blue with flame. Jared had never seen a fire starter, though he had heard that they used to exist. They had been some of the special members of the Royal Guard, but they had been killed off years ago. Or so he had though. Apparently, more of the lore was wrong than he thought.
"You're not worth my time." Hellboy growled letting go of Jared's shirt roughly.
"You're one of the Taldran Royal Guards," the elf princess said.
"And you're Princess Nuala. It looks like all kinds of legends are walking the earth today," Jared said bitterly sitting up. The amphibian took one of Jared's arm while the man in the diver's suit took his other arm and they both helped him up to his feet.
"Yes I am. Who was the woman that my brother took/ One of your fellow guards or your charge?"
"Princess Nuala, would you please explain?" The amphibian asked.
"The Taldrans were once a very noble race of people. Over the years they became more a part of the Earth than most any other race other than my own. They were healers for the most part, though some had other abilities. The Royal House had multiple abilities, but only where it applied to the human or elven races. The Taldran race was the most protected of all. If anyone ever harmed them, they would be instantly called to task by the Royal Guard. The Royal Guard were usually either fire starters or telepaths."
"Liz…" The amphibian said looking over at the dark haired girl.
"It's possible she's descended from one of our lines, but she wasn't raised to be a Guard, so she's not. Don't worry, we won't steal her." Jared said answering the thought that flitted through Hellboy's mind. "It doesn't change the fact that I have to find Nuada. Princess Isabella hasn't ever healed before, especially not on that big of a scale. It's amazing it didn't kill her. But she won't be able to live long without this seed pod she dropped," Jared said displaying the seed he had refused to drop. It was his connection to Isabella and his only way to find her. He just didn't know how he was going to do it.
"You can't go after her in your condition mein Herr," The man in diver's suit ordered gaining a glare from Jared. "We will help you find her once you are healed."
Jared knew that he had no real choice, but it didn't make it any easier. "Fine," he growled. "But you try to keep me there a moment longer than I have to be and I swear you'll never have a worse enemy.
