Hi everyone. Sorry that I took so long to update this but I was in Egypt
then I was sick but I am back and fine now. I hope this chapter is good.
It's just something I cranked out this morning. Next chapter we will focus
on the angels trying to find Dylan and Cartusu.
*-*-*-*-*
In the quiet hallway he punched the code into the lock and the latch slid back with a slight hiss. Pushing open the door the Thin Man stepped inside his loft apartment and looked around. It had been almost a year since he had been there last. He smiled to himself as he remembered the occasion. He had just returned battered from the coal bowl. Slamming his bike into the concrete truss was the last thing he expected to do but as usual the angel managed to get to him. So focused on taking her hair he incorrectly estimated the lift he would need to sail over the support and instead focused on grabbing the shinning golden tresses. She had been wearing a wig but the longer part in the back that was her own hair. Most people probably couldn't have told the difference but he wasn't most people.
Walking around the living room he began to carefully remove the dust covered sheets that protected the furniture. As he started to lift the edge of one from a slim black designer chair he heard a noise coming from the bedroom. Gently lowering it again he withdrew the sword from its sheath and stopped in front of the bedroom door.
"Come in Anthony," said a very female voice from within. Still on alert he pushed the door open and saw a lovely young blonde woman laying draped across the bed in a jet black negligee. Anthony raised an eyebrow in amusement. "It's been too many years hasn't it?" She purred eyeing him. Anthony only nodded and then removed his pen.
"You don't need that you know. I can tell what you are thinking and your first question other than to ask me why I am here is to ask me what the hell I am thinking becoming a woman. That question is an easy one. I haven't been female since I was born three hundred years ago and thought it was high time to get back in touch with my roots." With that she stood the long silken negligee she wore rustling against the bed sheets and walked over to him. As she ran her finger down the buttons of Anthony's suit jacket she smiled. "It's hard for you to think of me as anything other than Clifford isn't it?" He nodded. Of course it was. He had met Clifford when he was brought into the brotherhood at seventeen and Clifford had looked to be about the same age. It wasn't until later that he learned that his friend was so many years older than he was. Writing he asked, "So what do I call you now?"
"Selene. Now so you don't waste your time writing let me update you on the problems you have returned to. Sit down. By the way when did you start having nightwear for women lying around?"
Had it been anyone else Anthony would have stood there defiantly but he knew Clif-Selene and could see she was still as trustworthy as always. Unlike many upper members of The Brotherhood she chose not to hide her aura but to display it like a banner. He didn't answer her question. It was an odd random purchase. He had seen it in a shop and couldn't get the idea of the angel, Dylan wearing it out of his mind. Buying it he brought it home, felt stupid and tossed it in a drawer never giving it a second thought, but Selene didn't need to know about that.
Once he sat she continued. "First since your supposed death playing hero to those 'Angels' has been uncovered as untrue the riff within The Brotherhood has grown. In fact it is an all out war. The teacher refuses to see it as such and ignores Clement but others are starting not to see Clement as right but the Teacher as weak and therefore are supporting his bid for successor. Of course there are a good many of us in the upper echelon who believe you are the only one who can legitimately take the power." Anthony shook his head and began to write but Selene placed her hand on top of his to stop him. "I realize you don't want the job. You don't have to tell me that but sometimes we don't have a choice in our fate or destiny. If so do you think we would choose to be immortal? To mortals it does have an appeal, never to die, to see progress progress beyond your wildest imagination, to become whoever you desire on a whim. I bet most mortals would die of surprise if they knew how many of their matinee idols are of our ranks. And they think Elvis had a drug overdose. The Teacher had a lot of fun in that incarnation but after awhile it bored him."
"They watch their vampire films and find them highly sensual and erotic yet if they knew our true nature, how we walk among them in the day light hours and consume them without leaving a mark they would wither to the ground. They think immortality is the bee's knees but we know better yet it is our fate until the final incarnation is reached or we are put out of our suffering. It is our destiny Anthony, like becoming the teacher is yours and dying is theirs." Selene watched as the young man before her took in her words. "Even if you don't want to become the Teacher it is the only way that the Brotherhood can be saved from the destruction that is Clement. Also we have a problem. A long time member of The Brotherhood is unaccounted for. The Teacher has been worried about him for sometime. Do you remember Florescu?"
Anthony thought a minute and nodded. He remembered Florescu he had broken more rules of the Brotherhood than anyone and he had broken the prime one; never take a baby. The Teacher had told him when he began his education about Florescu. He was an immortal older than the Teacher himself who took the place of an eight month old baby. It was said that inhabiting a body that young and undeveloped would make the mind of the Brother insane as it would be trapped together with that of the baby until the child's second birthday. Anthony had met the old man once or twice and had a feeling that Florescu wasn't all there.
"He disappeared. He was was living in London then one day the Teacher lost touch with him. We think he has taken over another body but hasn't checked in. We've sent out feelers for him and they have come back negative."
"Maybe he is dead," wrote Anthony.
"No, there we would have felt it." Then thoughtfully she stopped and rubbed her chin. "Maybe because he took over the child all those years ago we didn't feel it. After all we all felt you die and here you are. I just hope he did because if he is out there and rogue he poses as much danger for The Brotherhood as Clement does, if not more." As an after thought she added, "And may God help any mortal that crosses his path." With that she crossed herself.
Anthony smiled at that. Selene hadn't believed in God since she had discovered she was immortal a couple hundred years before but he supposed old habits died hard. Still he wanted to know how she had found him and he asked in writing.
"It was logical. After the orphanage fire I assumed you wouldn't want to chance endangering the children or the nuns further. Where else would you go?"
She was right. There was one other place he had considered going but he doubted that it would have been a good idea. He thought about going to the agency that the angel worked for but what would he tell them? Then he considered visiting her apartment. He knew where it was. He had watched her there before the whole Halo affair; he had been intrigued by her since the first moment he met her. Still how would he explain being alive and would she even try to listen? He doubted it and knew that she was better off believing him to be dead. The last thing he needed or the angels needed was for them to somehow get tangled up with The Brotherhood.
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan watched as the woman at the gate straightened her uniform jacket and waved to the woman working the desk at the gate signaling that she was ready to begin. Then she glanced over at her traveling companion Cartusu. He was reading a girly magazine and a strand of drool was actually hanging from his lip. Dylan swallowed her disgust back and said, "They are going to start boarding soon."
Closing the magazine Cartusu gave her a curt nod and folded the magazine cover inward and stuck it in the raggedy backpack he was using as a carry- on bag. He knew Dylan wasn't happy but that wasn't his concern. When he first attacked her in the park he hadn't realized how important she would become to him, what part she would play but it had become clearer to him as the day wore on. He could only wonder how long it would take the other Angels, Natalie, Alex and that strange Bosley person to find them. Oh and when they did it would be so much fun to play with them.
"Welcome to Trans-Atlantic Airways flight 2010 to Los Angles. We will commence boarding in a few moments with our Gold Wings members and anyone requiring special assistance. We kindly request that all other passengers remain seated until your row number is called," echoed the airline gate desk woman's voice semi distorted through the speakers in the gate area. Cartusu sat up straight and took Dylan's hand which she tried to snatch back but he reprimanded her in his mind. "Honeymoon, Dylan my dearest. Keep that in mind." Then he gave her a mental squeeze.
Dylan's free hand flew up to her forehead where the pressure was. The young woman who stood at the gate door noticed her discomfort and left her post. "Miss? Are you alright?"
"It's just a migraine," said Cartusu as he checked out the young woman's rear. "My blushing bride gets them from time to time." She looked scrumptious. He would have gladly consumed her but there wasn't time for that. It would have taken just a second and Dylan could have helped. On the other hand maybe there was time. Would she be worth the possibility losing his hold on Dylan? "Just a snack," he thought, "just a snack." "Do you think you could help her into the restroom? Maybe help her splash some water on her face?"
"Of course," said the young woman carefully taking Dylan's arm.
"That's okay I'll be fine," said Dylan angrily as she tried to remove her arm from the woman's grasp. She suddenly hated the pretty airline woman for no reason except she could see that Cartusu wanted her. "Who is he to want her?" she though "He is supposed to want me." Then she shook her head trying to get the foreign thoughts from her mind. She was supposed to hate Cartusu not be envious if he looked at another woman. She felt like she was going insane. "On second though maybe it is a good idea," she said standing and allowing herself to be lead to the washroom.
As they stepped inside the white tiled room the airline woman, whose name take proclaimed her to be C. Reed said, "Do you often get migraines?"
Turning on the faucet marked "cold" Dylan let the water run for a moment then answered, "Actually they are a new thing." And she realized the further she was away from Cartusu the clearer her head felt.
"You are looking better already. Not as pale as before. I hate to be nosy but what color is that you do your hair with?"
"Huh?" asked Dylan. She was a natural red-head although in her teen years she did the peroxide blonde look. Then she noticed what the woman was talking about the roots of her hair seemed to be a black color not the usual coppery red. Reaching a hand up she looked at several strands. It did look as though she colored it. "I guess I didn't realize it was time for a touch up," she joked hoping she sounded more jovial than she felt. Then there was a knock at the door.
Cartusu waited for a bit not wanting to be too obvious but still to look like he was concerned and checking on his sick "wife". After a few moments he went and knocked on the bathroom door. The airline agent opened the door. "Sir, she seems much better I'll let you tend to her for now." The broad Romanian didn't let her through the door instead he caught her eyes.
"Step back." He said slowly and she did what she was told as he shut the door behind them.
"Cartusu what are you doing?" asked Dylan.
C. Reed just looked up at he large man with wide eyes never noticing that his beefy hands wrapped around her thin throat. Slowly he began to squeeze. Dylan felt paralyzed. She had to do something and finally at the moment C. Reed's mind realized that her lungs we no longer getting any air and she gasped Dylan charged forward. Dylan wasn't sure if she was attacking to save the woman or to stop Cartusu from the intimate act of eating. As she came forward flying with her foot out he mentally yelled her name causing her to crash to the floor. Then he refocused on Ms. Reed. He could see she knew she was dying. "Show me your hope and fears," he whispered barely aware of Dylan moaning on the floor a small trickle of blood running from her left ear.
Ms. Reed had no resistance at all; it was almost too easy for Cartusu and the meal was empty. Despite the vibrancy and life the airline woman's aura emitted there was no substance to her. It was like eating a popsicle, taste but still hunger afterwards. Casually he carried her into a stall by her neck and propped her on the toilet bowl shutting the door. Then he turned to Dylan. "My dear, don't disturb me when I am eating. I bet they will be calling our row just about now." Helping her off the floor and handing her a dark brown paper towel to wipe the blood off her neck they exited the bathroom just as the woman making the announcements called, "We will now begin boarding rows 31-42."
"What did I tell you Dylan? We have perfect timing."
*-*-*-*-*
In the quiet hallway he punched the code into the lock and the latch slid back with a slight hiss. Pushing open the door the Thin Man stepped inside his loft apartment and looked around. It had been almost a year since he had been there last. He smiled to himself as he remembered the occasion. He had just returned battered from the coal bowl. Slamming his bike into the concrete truss was the last thing he expected to do but as usual the angel managed to get to him. So focused on taking her hair he incorrectly estimated the lift he would need to sail over the support and instead focused on grabbing the shinning golden tresses. She had been wearing a wig but the longer part in the back that was her own hair. Most people probably couldn't have told the difference but he wasn't most people.
Walking around the living room he began to carefully remove the dust covered sheets that protected the furniture. As he started to lift the edge of one from a slim black designer chair he heard a noise coming from the bedroom. Gently lowering it again he withdrew the sword from its sheath and stopped in front of the bedroom door.
"Come in Anthony," said a very female voice from within. Still on alert he pushed the door open and saw a lovely young blonde woman laying draped across the bed in a jet black negligee. Anthony raised an eyebrow in amusement. "It's been too many years hasn't it?" She purred eyeing him. Anthony only nodded and then removed his pen.
"You don't need that you know. I can tell what you are thinking and your first question other than to ask me why I am here is to ask me what the hell I am thinking becoming a woman. That question is an easy one. I haven't been female since I was born three hundred years ago and thought it was high time to get back in touch with my roots." With that she stood the long silken negligee she wore rustling against the bed sheets and walked over to him. As she ran her finger down the buttons of Anthony's suit jacket she smiled. "It's hard for you to think of me as anything other than Clifford isn't it?" He nodded. Of course it was. He had met Clifford when he was brought into the brotherhood at seventeen and Clifford had looked to be about the same age. It wasn't until later that he learned that his friend was so many years older than he was. Writing he asked, "So what do I call you now?"
"Selene. Now so you don't waste your time writing let me update you on the problems you have returned to. Sit down. By the way when did you start having nightwear for women lying around?"
Had it been anyone else Anthony would have stood there defiantly but he knew Clif-Selene and could see she was still as trustworthy as always. Unlike many upper members of The Brotherhood she chose not to hide her aura but to display it like a banner. He didn't answer her question. It was an odd random purchase. He had seen it in a shop and couldn't get the idea of the angel, Dylan wearing it out of his mind. Buying it he brought it home, felt stupid and tossed it in a drawer never giving it a second thought, but Selene didn't need to know about that.
Once he sat she continued. "First since your supposed death playing hero to those 'Angels' has been uncovered as untrue the riff within The Brotherhood has grown. In fact it is an all out war. The teacher refuses to see it as such and ignores Clement but others are starting not to see Clement as right but the Teacher as weak and therefore are supporting his bid for successor. Of course there are a good many of us in the upper echelon who believe you are the only one who can legitimately take the power." Anthony shook his head and began to write but Selene placed her hand on top of his to stop him. "I realize you don't want the job. You don't have to tell me that but sometimes we don't have a choice in our fate or destiny. If so do you think we would choose to be immortal? To mortals it does have an appeal, never to die, to see progress progress beyond your wildest imagination, to become whoever you desire on a whim. I bet most mortals would die of surprise if they knew how many of their matinee idols are of our ranks. And they think Elvis had a drug overdose. The Teacher had a lot of fun in that incarnation but after awhile it bored him."
"They watch their vampire films and find them highly sensual and erotic yet if they knew our true nature, how we walk among them in the day light hours and consume them without leaving a mark they would wither to the ground. They think immortality is the bee's knees but we know better yet it is our fate until the final incarnation is reached or we are put out of our suffering. It is our destiny Anthony, like becoming the teacher is yours and dying is theirs." Selene watched as the young man before her took in her words. "Even if you don't want to become the Teacher it is the only way that the Brotherhood can be saved from the destruction that is Clement. Also we have a problem. A long time member of The Brotherhood is unaccounted for. The Teacher has been worried about him for sometime. Do you remember Florescu?"
Anthony thought a minute and nodded. He remembered Florescu he had broken more rules of the Brotherhood than anyone and he had broken the prime one; never take a baby. The Teacher had told him when he began his education about Florescu. He was an immortal older than the Teacher himself who took the place of an eight month old baby. It was said that inhabiting a body that young and undeveloped would make the mind of the Brother insane as it would be trapped together with that of the baby until the child's second birthday. Anthony had met the old man once or twice and had a feeling that Florescu wasn't all there.
"He disappeared. He was was living in London then one day the Teacher lost touch with him. We think he has taken over another body but hasn't checked in. We've sent out feelers for him and they have come back negative."
"Maybe he is dead," wrote Anthony.
"No, there we would have felt it." Then thoughtfully she stopped and rubbed her chin. "Maybe because he took over the child all those years ago we didn't feel it. After all we all felt you die and here you are. I just hope he did because if he is out there and rogue he poses as much danger for The Brotherhood as Clement does, if not more." As an after thought she added, "And may God help any mortal that crosses his path." With that she crossed herself.
Anthony smiled at that. Selene hadn't believed in God since she had discovered she was immortal a couple hundred years before but he supposed old habits died hard. Still he wanted to know how she had found him and he asked in writing.
"It was logical. After the orphanage fire I assumed you wouldn't want to chance endangering the children or the nuns further. Where else would you go?"
She was right. There was one other place he had considered going but he doubted that it would have been a good idea. He thought about going to the agency that the angel worked for but what would he tell them? Then he considered visiting her apartment. He knew where it was. He had watched her there before the whole Halo affair; he had been intrigued by her since the first moment he met her. Still how would he explain being alive and would she even try to listen? He doubted it and knew that she was better off believing him to be dead. The last thing he needed or the angels needed was for them to somehow get tangled up with The Brotherhood.
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan watched as the woman at the gate straightened her uniform jacket and waved to the woman working the desk at the gate signaling that she was ready to begin. Then she glanced over at her traveling companion Cartusu. He was reading a girly magazine and a strand of drool was actually hanging from his lip. Dylan swallowed her disgust back and said, "They are going to start boarding soon."
Closing the magazine Cartusu gave her a curt nod and folded the magazine cover inward and stuck it in the raggedy backpack he was using as a carry- on bag. He knew Dylan wasn't happy but that wasn't his concern. When he first attacked her in the park he hadn't realized how important she would become to him, what part she would play but it had become clearer to him as the day wore on. He could only wonder how long it would take the other Angels, Natalie, Alex and that strange Bosley person to find them. Oh and when they did it would be so much fun to play with them.
"Welcome to Trans-Atlantic Airways flight 2010 to Los Angles. We will commence boarding in a few moments with our Gold Wings members and anyone requiring special assistance. We kindly request that all other passengers remain seated until your row number is called," echoed the airline gate desk woman's voice semi distorted through the speakers in the gate area. Cartusu sat up straight and took Dylan's hand which she tried to snatch back but he reprimanded her in his mind. "Honeymoon, Dylan my dearest. Keep that in mind." Then he gave her a mental squeeze.
Dylan's free hand flew up to her forehead where the pressure was. The young woman who stood at the gate door noticed her discomfort and left her post. "Miss? Are you alright?"
"It's just a migraine," said Cartusu as he checked out the young woman's rear. "My blushing bride gets them from time to time." She looked scrumptious. He would have gladly consumed her but there wasn't time for that. It would have taken just a second and Dylan could have helped. On the other hand maybe there was time. Would she be worth the possibility losing his hold on Dylan? "Just a snack," he thought, "just a snack." "Do you think you could help her into the restroom? Maybe help her splash some water on her face?"
"Of course," said the young woman carefully taking Dylan's arm.
"That's okay I'll be fine," said Dylan angrily as she tried to remove her arm from the woman's grasp. She suddenly hated the pretty airline woman for no reason except she could see that Cartusu wanted her. "Who is he to want her?" she though "He is supposed to want me." Then she shook her head trying to get the foreign thoughts from her mind. She was supposed to hate Cartusu not be envious if he looked at another woman. She felt like she was going insane. "On second though maybe it is a good idea," she said standing and allowing herself to be lead to the washroom.
As they stepped inside the white tiled room the airline woman, whose name take proclaimed her to be C. Reed said, "Do you often get migraines?"
Turning on the faucet marked "cold" Dylan let the water run for a moment then answered, "Actually they are a new thing." And she realized the further she was away from Cartusu the clearer her head felt.
"You are looking better already. Not as pale as before. I hate to be nosy but what color is that you do your hair with?"
"Huh?" asked Dylan. She was a natural red-head although in her teen years she did the peroxide blonde look. Then she noticed what the woman was talking about the roots of her hair seemed to be a black color not the usual coppery red. Reaching a hand up she looked at several strands. It did look as though she colored it. "I guess I didn't realize it was time for a touch up," she joked hoping she sounded more jovial than she felt. Then there was a knock at the door.
Cartusu waited for a bit not wanting to be too obvious but still to look like he was concerned and checking on his sick "wife". After a few moments he went and knocked on the bathroom door. The airline agent opened the door. "Sir, she seems much better I'll let you tend to her for now." The broad Romanian didn't let her through the door instead he caught her eyes.
"Step back." He said slowly and she did what she was told as he shut the door behind them.
"Cartusu what are you doing?" asked Dylan.
C. Reed just looked up at he large man with wide eyes never noticing that his beefy hands wrapped around her thin throat. Slowly he began to squeeze. Dylan felt paralyzed. She had to do something and finally at the moment C. Reed's mind realized that her lungs we no longer getting any air and she gasped Dylan charged forward. Dylan wasn't sure if she was attacking to save the woman or to stop Cartusu from the intimate act of eating. As she came forward flying with her foot out he mentally yelled her name causing her to crash to the floor. Then he refocused on Ms. Reed. He could see she knew she was dying. "Show me your hope and fears," he whispered barely aware of Dylan moaning on the floor a small trickle of blood running from her left ear.
Ms. Reed had no resistance at all; it was almost too easy for Cartusu and the meal was empty. Despite the vibrancy and life the airline woman's aura emitted there was no substance to her. It was like eating a popsicle, taste but still hunger afterwards. Casually he carried her into a stall by her neck and propped her on the toilet bowl shutting the door. Then he turned to Dylan. "My dear, don't disturb me when I am eating. I bet they will be calling our row just about now." Helping her off the floor and handing her a dark brown paper towel to wipe the blood off her neck they exited the bathroom just as the woman making the announcements called, "We will now begin boarding rows 31-42."
"What did I tell you Dylan? We have perfect timing."
