Love of an Angel

I just couldn't help myself. I wanted to go ahead and do chapter two. Though, I wouldn't get used to it. It usually takes me longer than this to get new chapters out. I'll get to the Darien and Serena romance shortly! Next chapter actually...so review! Please enjoy!

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ChapterTwo:WhoWill Die?

Serena walked just a few feet behind Andrew who was walking a considerable distance behind their parents. The conversation had become heated the night before as Serena and Andrew both complained about having to ditch their plans, not to mention their friends. But did their parents care? Not really. All they seemed concerned with was their children's appearance at Grandfather's, which was where they were now.

It had been nearly a two hour drive and the sun was beginning to set just behind their Grandfather's manor house. Serena looked at it, taking it's immaculateness in. She always seemed to forget just how huge it was. Her branch of the family wasn't quite as well off. They were wanting for anything mind, just that they were strictly middle-class while most of the rest of her family were loaded. They ran some kind of conglomerate cooperation. As she passed the pine tree in the front of the manor she asked, "Hey Andy! Remember when we climbed that tree when we were like, four and got in a ton of trouble for it?"

He looked at her, his eyebrows nearly touching each other and a frown obvious on his face. "Enough memory lane. I'm just ready to get my presents, give my ever-so-sincere-thanks and bolt! I'm not staying any longer than I have to. I have some plans with friends for later tonight." Instantly Serena wished she'd thought to do the same. They would be home in a couple of hours, leaving the whole night open. 'Karaoke bars usually stayed opened late, didn't they?' were her thought as her Grandfather met her and Andrew.

"Grandpa!" Serena squealed. She didn't dislike visiting him. She loved her Grandpa, she'd just rather keep June 30 open for her friends. "Howya doing?"

Andrew mumbled something like "Spaz..." under his breath, just loud enough for Serena to catch wind of it but not Grandpa.

Grandpa answered, "Fine, Serena. Just fine. Now come this way. Everyone is waiting."

Serena cocked her head to one side in thought. "Everyone? Who...?" she stopped as double doors were opened to reveal a room with a very long table. It looked like the sort that belonged in a business meeting. Each of her aunts and female cousins were seated on one side while her uncles and male cousins on the other. Grandpa took his place at the far end and Serena and Andrew were instructed to sit at the other. It was just then that Serena noticed something quite unusual. Everyone was dressed in black and wore similar somber expressions. She looked at Andrew and whispered, "What's going on?"

He whispered his reply. "I don't know, sis. We've never been a big deal in the family before." Serena realized this couldn't be right. After all, where were the presents? Where was the cake? No fun activities planned either? 'This seems more like a wake than a birthday party.' she thought.

The only person present not wearing the gloomy expression was Grandpa. As the door opened Grandpa said, "Serena, Andrew. I have a present for both of you." The man who walked through the door carrying the box was- no! It couldn't be him!

But it was. It was the man who had saved Serena the day before. His eyes were still just as blue and though his clothes were different, they were still just as black as his hair. She could feel and hear the steady beat of her heart increase. Grandpa snapped Serena back into reality. "Serena! Pay attention."

She looked down to see that the box had been placed directly in front of her and Andrew. Grandpa smiled. "Go ahead. You can open it." Serena pulled the ribbon and paper from the gift revealing a very old looking wooden box. Something...something wasn't right here. Her heart was pounding nervously and the mysterious man couldn't be blamed this time, for he'd exited the room several minutes before.

Andrew looked at me, sensing something was wrong and said, "Wait. It's okay Serena. I'll open it." As he pulled the lid from the box Serena's heart gave a huge lurch. Her eyes grew wide in terror as she saw what lie there. A hand. A human hand that had decayed long ago. She didn't have long to look. Something wasn't right.

Her head began to throb and she started shaking. Her breath was rapid...it was as though she couldn't get enough air. Then the pictures came again. Image after image came to her, though this time she'd never seen them before. But that wasn't what disturbed her the most. In every image someone was covered in blood or blood spilled on the floor and other various places. "BLOOD!" she shrieked. "OH MY GOD! THERE'S BLOOD EVERYWHERE! THERE IS BLOOD ALL OVER EVERYTHING!"

A small explosion seemed to come from her. The room went silent as relatives noticed that her blonde hair had changed to a black color and her cerulean blue eyes now shone a vicious enraged violet. The hand in the box exploded into several tiny pieces and they flew in all directions across the room. Then as suddenly as it had begun Serena's hair and eyes changed back to normal and she realized that her body had withstood the explosion from within her but her clothes barely covered her as they were slashed into ribbons, leaving no part of Serena to imagination.

She looked at her twin in worry. He was doubled over, shaking as well. "Andy...did you see what I...?" she asked meekly. Then for no reason his body was being slashed by something that wasn't there! Blood exploded from the many wounds that now covered his body. He fell backward into a faint, as Serena caught him from behind.

Serena found it very strange that her relatives could just sit there and shake their heads. This was time of crisis, damn it! And all they could do was hang their heads. "Andy! Andy!" Serena screamed. "You- you're bleeding all over!" she looked up for help from her family only to see them still seated. "Mom! Dad!...Somebody please! Help him!"

Her tone changed to one of utter disbelief. "How can you just sit there?" she asked in a near whisper. She changed yet again, this time she was enraged. "My brother's been slashed to ribbons and nobody cares! Nobody! Well I do! I won't let him die!"

Grandpa began walking towards where Serena supported Andrew's weight. He was now being followed by all of her male relatives aside from her brother and father. Grandpa spoke. "Serena...Andrew will not die."

She became hopeful. Finally someone was going to help. "Grandpa! You'll-"

He began again, still moving toward them. "Your brother will carry on the family name. We will do our utmost o assure he lives a long healthy life." he paused briefly. "Take your hands off him Serena...

...you are the one who is going to die."