Disclaimer: I don't own any thing but Rezuiel
STRANGE THINGS DO HAPPEN....
This story happens not long before Raziel grew his wings. After getting ambushed by a group of vampire hunters Raziel survived but the fledglings he was with were all killed. He managed to fend them off and they retreated back to the human citadel. We join him now...
~How am I... ~ is something being thought
"How am I..." is some thing being said

The pain was unbelievable, not from the multiple stab wounds, but from the burns from the flame-throwers and the constant rain. Raziel was wishing himself dead, in the end the pain got so bad that he just cried out, screaming like so many of his human victims had. Trying to move just made the pain worse, but he knew he had to get out of the rain. Slowly and painfully he made his way to an area of trees. Crying out again he passed out from pain and exertion. A girl was riding passed on a large black horse when she heard the scream. Going to see where it came from, she finds Raziel on the ground unconscious but coming too. Dismounting she goes over to where Raziel is laying on the ground
"My God are you alright?"
Raziel moaned looking up at the girl standing over him.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Rezuiel Star and you are?"
"Raziel from the vampire part of Nosgoth"
"You're a vampire, what happened?"
"Vampire hunters ran in to me and a group of fledglings. The others are all dead"
"Oh, I'm sorry"
Raziel tried to stand but collapses back on to one knee. Rezuiel steeps forward.
"Here let me help you," she says holding out her hand.
"Thank-you" replies Raziel taking the offered hand.
"You can lean on me if you like, but you can't go out in this"
"Not while it's raining so heavily, or at all for that matter"
"I live not far from here if only..." she stops mid-sentence thinking "I've got it!"
"Got what?"
Rezuiel reaches to her neck and undoes a knot tied there, releasing her cloak.
"You can wear this and ride on Darkness"
Handing the cloak to Raziel who puts it on.
"Why are you helping me? You're not like most humans."
"Just because you're a vampire doesn't mean you don't deserve help of another living being, besides I'm not human"
"You're not human, then what are you?"
"I'm a shape shifter. Well at least my mother was shape shifter but in the case of my father I have something I common with you"
"What do you mean?"
"My father was a vampire. I don't know who, but my mother gave me this ring saying that my father gave it to her, just after my birth, to give to their daughter"
"I don't know what to say"
"I do the rain has let off a bit let's go while we have the chance, come on!"
Rezuiel grabs Raziel's hand and leads him out of the trees to her horse and stands on his left side (the proper side to mount from).
"Have you ridden before?"
"No. I don't even have the first clue how to."
"That's ok I'll sit in front of you and control him. Stand next to him and hold his mane, then place your other hand on his back."
Raziel dose this and then looks at Rezuiel.
"What do I do now?"
"Hold up your left leg and when I say jump up and swing your right leg over his back. Ready ok 1, 2, 3, jump"
Raziel jumps and with Rezuiel pushing his left leg he just clears Darkness's back.
"What now?"
"Move back a bit so I can get on in front of you"
Rezuiel walks to the horse's shoulder taking hold of a hand full of mane and placing her other hand carefully on his back. She jumps, holds her self above Darkness's back sliding her leg carefully over to the other side, with out hitting Raziel and taking up the rains. Rezuiel gives Darkness a small squeeze with her legs and turns him round.
"Hold on tight"
Raziel places his arms round her waist.
"Ok ready" he replies
Rezuiel then gives Darkness a strong Squeeze and he takes of at a fast canter. She feels Raziel tighten his grip around her waist.
"Don't worry you'll be alright as long as you hold on. Do you feel ok?"
"Sore and weak. But I'll be alright with some rest"
"And some of my oils on those burns."
At this time Raziel first noticed a deep ridge running down Rezuiel's back he couldn't tell anything else as she was wearing a jacket. But there seemed to be almost an upside-down heart shape under the layers of clothes that she was wearing. He realised that she was speaking to him.
"Pardon?" he asked
"I said that it's not far now, do you still feel ok."
"My skin's getting sore from the rain."
"Don't worry its not going to be too long now."
They settled back into silence once again. In the distance Raziel could see a house getting closer at an alarming rate. He stared to ponder his situation, part of him felt weak for accepting help of a non vampire (he would of said human but she wasn't), the other part felt grateful for the help and friend ship that this stranger had offered to him even though he was a vampire. Raziel's thoughts then went to the group of fledglings that had been with him when they were attacked, all of them had been killed but they had fought valiantly and he was proud. Just then Darkness slowed down, at Rezuiel's command, and he almost fell off. He had been so deep in thought that he hadn't realised that they had arrived at Rezuiel home.
"We're here." Rezuiel stated while sliding off Darkness's back.
Raziel just sat there looking to her for help.
"How do I get off this thing?"
Rezuiel smiled slightly and replied.
"Lean forward and then swing your right leg over Darkness's back. Try to land with both feet next to each other, facing his side."
Raziel starts to dismount but loses his balance ending up in a heap on top of Rezuiel.
"Oh, I'm sorry..."
Raziel looks in to the eyes of the person he's on top of and sees a pair of Amethyst violet, unblinking eyes staring back at him, Rezuiel's eyes seem to radiate warmth and kindness. She starts to laugh and says.
"I've done that more times than I can count. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, well nothing new to complain about. And you?"
"Your heavier than you look..."
Rezuiel notices the strange look on Raziel's face.
"You hurt my arm a little that's all"
Raziel's now on his feet he offers his hand to Rezuiel.
"This time it's my turn to help you."
"Thank-you. Lets get inside otherwise it kind of defeats the purpose of coming here."
Rezuiel led Raziel and Darkness over to a small building next to the house.
"This is where you live?" asked a puzzled Raziel
"No," Replies Rezuiel laughing, "this is darkness's stable."
Rezuiel reaches up and undoes a buckle on the side of Darkness's bridle. Then she gently pulls it over his ears and removes the bit from his mouth, being careful not to bang his teeth. After hanging it on a peg outside of his stable she comes back in with a bucket of food, which Raziel didn't recognise.
"Come on let's get inside,"
She heads out of the stable, Raziel follows her as far the door and stops not wanting to go back out in to the rain. He watches her carry on round to the front of the house. She realises he's not there she comes back round.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Raziel snaps back to quickly
"So why are you still standing in the stables then?"
"I... er... I..." This time he's not as quick to respond
"You can tell me," Rezuiel says with an understanding beyond his knowledge.
"I... Didn't... Want to go back out in the rain" Raziel responds his voice laced with pain.a
"Come on it's only a few meters to the side door, you can make it" Rezuiel tries to encourage him.
"Ok, if you say so."
"Wait here till I call you then come round. The door is opposite the stables ok"
"Yeah"
As soon as Rezuiel went out the world started to spin for Raziel, He grabs out to try and keep his balance, trying desperately to hold on to conciseness, trying to call out to Rezuiel for help. But the last thing he remembers is hitting the floor his, hands trying to hold him up but losing the battle. A few seconds later Rezuiel calls out to him telling him to come round, but he didn't reply, as he was now completely unconscious. She comes running back round finding Raziel laying on the floor unconscious.
"Raziel!"
Rezuiel runs to where Raziel is collapsed. Kneeling down beside him she tries to rouse him, but he only moans.
~At least he's not dead...~ she laughs at the absurdness of the thought ~well he is dead but he's still here. How am I going to move him? ~
She stands up and looks around trying to think of to move Raziel.
"I could try to carry him" Rezuiel thinks aloud, "no, even I'm not that strong. I could just tend him here, no that's no good either."
Again she looks around the stable. Seeing darkness's rug, an idea pops into her head.
"I wonder if I could drag him round to the house on that rug... he's still got my cloak on so he wouldn't get very wet... or I could just wait until the rain stops... but that looks like it could be quite a while..." Again wondering out loud she looks from the rug, to Raziel and back to the rug "yeah that's my best bet."
~How am I gonna get him on the rug~
Rezuiel goes over to the rug and carries it back to where Raziel is lying.
~I'll try to slip it under him~
She slips the rug under Raziel's legs, folding it 0ver so it will be easier to slip it under his torso. After ten minutes of pulling and tugging the rug is finally in place. Also Raziel is starting to come to but only gets semi-conscious.
~He's done too much; he's just to weak to do any more. Well that's why I brought him here.~
She is startled by Raziel moving and goes back to her thoughts.
~A few more moments of rest and I'll start to move him. God my arm is so sore, I'll see to it later after I've taken care of Raziel~
Rezuiel goes round to the top of the rug and checks that her cloak is still in place, so that Raziel wont get too wet. She grabs the top of the rug and starts to pull it out of the door in to the open. Thanks to the ground being wet the rug slides easily over the grass and she is soon at the door. Rezuiel kicks it open and drags Raziel inside.
~Thank god I live in a bungalow... no stairs~
Rezuiel proceeds to drag him to the spare room and manages to lift him on to the bed. After taking her cloak off Raziel and throwing it on the floor next to the bed.
"God you're heavy. Now my arm feels even worse."
Rezuiel goes and gets some towels to dry off Raziel. As she is drying his right arm Raziel starts to become more conscious.
"Ummm... what's going on?"
"Good you're awake. How do you feel?" Asks Rezuiel folding up the cloak and placing it on the chair.
"About the same as before, except my skin isn't as sore, why?"
"I dried it off so that you would feel better. And you've been inside for about half an hour."
Rezuiel stands and goes out of the room.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll be back in a moment with my healing oils." She says, putting her head round the doorframe, then disappearing again.
Raziel lay back on the bed relaxing for the first time since this had all started. He thought that he felt hot and when he put his hand to his forehead it only confirmed his suspicions. When he thought about it he hadn't eaten for almost 5 days now, he would need to feed soon or else... he didn't even want to think about it.
~I'll tell Rezuiel when she gets back, though I don't know what she'll be able to do.~
At this time Rezuiel comes back in to the room with a bag in one hand and her jacket in the other. Raziel can now see what was making the shape under all the clothing that she was wearing.
~Wings... she has wings~
Rezuiel steps further Into the room Raziel can now see her wings in greater detail: they are bat like, deep black in colour, covered in a velvet like fur and have a shining ebony coloured claw at the joint. Rezuiel sees Raziel staring and waves her hand to get his attention.
"What's wrong?"
"Your wings... I've never seen anything like them."
Rezuiel extends her wings; each one is about 5 feet long.
~How did she fit them in that jacket!?~
"It just occurred to me, when did you last feed?"
~Is she telepathic or just knowledgeable about my kind~
"I was just about to say some thing, its been about 5 days. I really need to get back to my own kind."
"I can come up with a short term solution. Just until you are well enough for me to take you back to your clan."
Rezuiel kneels down beside the bed and digs in the bag pulling out 3 small bottles.
"What are you doing?" asks Raziel trying to push himself on to his elbows, and failing miserably.
"This is my healing equipment, now just lie still and relax. This might sting a little but it's only helping."
"Ok, what is it actually?" asked a nervous Raziel, he was completely at this persons mercy. But he still strangely trusted her, though he couldn't explain why.
"It's a blend of plant based oils. There's lavender, sandalwood and moonflower, they all have strong healing properties and when combined with my energy work wonders."
"Your energy?"
"Yes, being a shape shifter I don't need to eat and drink, though I do still need to sleep. I get all the sustenance I need from energy that is provided from 2 different sources, one is my necklace. The other is my bracelet, which also contains all of my spells, I have a strong command over my energy and can use it for many purposes, which includes healing. The important thing is that I can use my energy to sustain you as well, but not for long, as it will leave me drained and weak."
"Are you sure that you want to do that?"
"Yes I'll recover quite quickly, within a week my energy level will be back to normal."
Rezuiel takes a small empty jug and pores in a small amount of each of the oils. She holds the jug between her hand which begin to glow. The mixture of oils also begins to glow.
"What are you doing?" asked a baffled Raziel
"I'm giving the oils a charge of energy to help with healing."
Rezuiel puts the jug of oils down beside the bed and takes of her bracelet and hands it to an estranged looking Raziel.
"What's this for?"
"I've altered it to transfer energy from me to you. So you need to keep it with you at all times. It will stop your need for blood and revive you but will only work for a limited time. It will also help with your healing process."
"Thank-you, but what effect will it have on you and your energy."
"As I said before it will leave me almost completely drained of energy and very weak. But it might shear your pain with me like shearing the energy"
"Shear pain what do you mean?" inquests Raziel
"It might lessen the pain you are feeling by passing some of it on to me." Replies Rezuiel
She pulls a cloth out of the bag and pores a small amount of the oil mixture on to it.
"Lie back and get some rest, it's the best thing for you and it will lessen the amount of energy that you are taking from me."
Raziel dose as Rezuiel suggested and lies back and closes his eyes. All of a sudden he feels a warm, damp thing touch his arm. His eyes jump open and he sees Rezuiel placing the cloth soaked in the oils on his arm and then bandage it in place. He lies back and closes his eyes again.
~I still can't understand why she is doing all this. But those oils certainly do make the burns feel better. Kain and my brothers must be wondering where I am and if I'm all right, If only there was a way to send them a message.~
Rezuiel had finished bandaging Raziel's arm and had moved on to bandaging his chest, but she had to remove his shoulder drape first. Because of this his left arm and shoulder weren't badly burned.
"Raziel can you please sit up so I can bandage your chest and back?"
Rezuiel's words interrupted his thoughts and he, with Rezuiel's help, pulled himself up into a sitting position. He felt Rezuiel run a cloth over the right side of his back and jumped when she hit a particularly painful spot.
"Sorry, but if it's any consolation I felt that as well which means that my energy is starting to work."
~That's right I don't feel as hot any more maybe the blood fever is fading.~
He puts his un-bandaged hand to his forehead and feels the distinct lack of high temperature there.
"I agree."
~I wonder if her arm is feeling any better.~
"How is your arm feeling?" asked Raziel suddenly.
"My arm? What do you mean? You're the one that's hurt." said Rezuiel playing dumb.
"You hurt your arm earlier when I fell off Darkness and landed on top of you."
"It's fine..." she sees the way that Raziel is looking at her and tells him the truth "well I think that you might of broken one of the bones in my arm."
"Shouldn't you get that seen to?"
"No I'll sort it out later after I've finished taking care of your wounds."

TO BE CONTINUED...
Pleas review or email me at susan@sdunnicliff.freeserve.co.uk