[A/N: Hello. We haven't talked in a while, have we? Well, I'd just like to take the time to thank you for all the reviews, and of course to ask you to keep them coming! Well, I hope you enjoy the new chapter!]
With Angel's Love
Part IX: The Evil Unleashed
Everyone's eyes darted over to the forest, when a large, lumbering form emerged from the woods. As it came into the light, the form was more defined into a large, stone-colored man, as if it were a statue that had just come to life. "Do…not…remove…that…seal," it said, sounding like it was just getting used to its own voice, "For…if you do…a great evil…will be unleashed." Azrael and Sesshomaru both drew their blades, giving the same kind of evil smirk toward him.
"That smirk tells ya that they're related," Vaul said, nudging his younger sister with his elbow. Gina sighed, nodding her head. "I can take care of this," Azrael said pompously. Sesshomaru gave him a slight growl. "Allow me, son. I'm sure I have a bit more battle experience than you," he said. Azrael raised an eyebrow. "At least allow me to show you my own power," he said icily. Sesshomaru no reply, but the father and son continued to give each other harsh glares.
Vaul nudged his younger sister again. "It's their attitudes, too. I can't believe you actually let him take you," he said. Gina gave him a harsh look. "Silence, Vaul. I would prefer it if you don't talk about Sesshomaru like that," she said. As Azrael and Sesshomaru continued to bicker over who exactly would take care of this person called the Guardian, Selene walked up and stopped between them. "I'll take care of this," she said gently.
Selene's eyes narrowed, and began to shine with an ethereal light. "Whatever you are, Guardian, I will be your demise. And then I will find out whatever it is that you're protecting," she said. The Guardian reached to his back, pulling two stone scimitars. "I must keep the evil in this place sealed. It must not awaken," it said. Selene turned her head, looking at her brother and father. "I advise you to take a step back. I wouldn't want my lightning to strike any…unintended targets," she said.
Azrael did as she asked, knowing his sister's powers quite well. Seeing this, Sesshomaru sheathed his own blade, and did as his son had. Selene slid her hands into the pockets of her large robes, smirking sinisterly and chuckling slightly. Her eyes glowed with the light of the full moon, when lighting began to flash overhead. As the giant Guardian lumbered toward her, one of his stone swords raised, a bolt of lighting shot down toward him.
Though made of stone, he quickly dodged the bolt of lightning. "Ooh, you're fast. Too bad you're going to die," she laughed. Selene lunged forward at him, and the Guardian leapt back. Selene summoned two more bolts of lightning, the stone man quickly dodging both. "Hmm…" she started, summoning another bolt, "You're really bent on protecting this rock. I wonder what you're hiding. Maybe I should see what you're hiding when I'm done finishing you."
The stone man's look turned sour, and he swung both of his stone swords at her. "You…will…not!!" it yelled angrily. Selene easily dodged, setting down on the ground, her hands still in her pockets. The stone Guardian set down, standing in front of the boulder. "Though you all have the blood of a tennyo, unleash the evil kept here and you will all fall from your grace!" it said. Selene scoffed at him. "I doubt that I, the thunder goddess will not be able sunder whatever evil you're trying to keep hidden," she said. Smirking evilly, Selene brushed some of her thick black hair out of her face, her eyes narrowing. In an instant, another bolt of her purifying lightning shot from the sky.
Once again, the Guardian leapt out of the way just in time, but the lightning struck the boulder. "Perfect hit," Selene said to herself. She snorted with amusement as the stone Guardian's face contorted with fear as the sealing scroll was burned away. As it reached the ground, the Guardian slowly slid its stone scimitars back into their sheathes. "You know not what you do…" it spoke. As it completed what it said, the Guardian once again became petrified, and with a slight breeze, blew off as dust into the wind.
"Well that's odd…" Selene said, "I destroyed the seal, and all it did destroy the Guardian." She took a few steps forward, but then leapt back suddenly, shielding herself with her arm. "Such power…" she said. Azrael gave a slight sigh. "I knew you shouldn't have done that," he said. However, no one was listening. Gina was already in Sesshomaru's firm grasp. "I can feel it too," she said. As she said this, beams of black light began to show from the boulder, and bits of the stone began to chip away into black light.
Born into darkness, living in darkness, till death in darkness. The six brothers born in shadow, I command you, by your unholy oaths, open the gates to this world, break the binds of the pure of heart!
Everyone looked around for the owner of this phantom voice. "What in hell was that?" Vaul shuddered, holding his hammers, ready to fight. Sesshomaru and Azrael both drew their swords, Selene prepared to summon more lightning, and Gina prepared a battle aura. Another pulse of energy was felt, and the entire boulder gave way to a ball of black light.
Finally, after two centuries, I am free!!
Yet another shockwave of power emanated from the sphere of black light, it then seemed to take a form. The form of a crouching man, made completely out of the black light. All of them prepared to attack, when the light faded, taking the shape of what seemed to be a human, who was dressed in clothing none of them had ever seen. Raven black hair, tied into a braid that came to his ankles. Red, glowing eyes, and a smug, triumphant expression. He slowly stood, panting a bit. He looked around, his expression dazed. "Here…where I was sealed those two hundred years ago…" he said.
"The spell, sundered by a single bolt of lightning," he said, looking up, "And yet there is not a cloud in the sky. How is it, then, that I was freed?" Sesshomaru gave a low growl. "What are you, that you reek of death?" he demanded. The mysterious creature gave a slight chuckle. "So many necks to provide nourishment. But before I take sustenance from your blood, tell me. How was it that the spell of sealing was sundered and I was set free?"
The strange creature looked around, glaring particularly at Sesshomaru. "Who are you? Did you free me?" he asked. A sinister smirk crossed Sesshomaru's face. "No…but I will be the one to send you to hell!" he yelled. With that, he sent a small cyclone of fire soaring toward the odd man. He quickly leapt out of the way, a blank look on his face. "Hmm…a fire-user. You may not be the one who freed me, but I think I will drink your blood," he said. He raised his hand, and it began to glow black.
"Black baptism!!" the man yelled. A black and purple beam shot from his hand, nearly hitting Sesshomaru and the other, though the demon blocked it with another blast of fire. "What are you?!" Sesshomaru demanded angrily. The man simply glared. "Answer my question first. Which one of you sundered my spell?!" he yelled. Selene glared at him. "I did," she said sternly, "And I'll also be the one to destroy you!!" She charged forward, summoning three bolts of lightning, which blocked his escape. Selene drew her claws, smirking. "And now…you're mine!!!"
The man smirked. "I think not…" he muttered to himself. In a flash, he jumped forward, gripping tightly onto Selene's wrists. There was a certain bloodlust in his eyes, and he seemed quite weak. And then it hit her. This…this creature…is a vampire! Azrael gaped, drawing his sword. "I'll suck out your evil soul before I ever let you touch my sister, you vile beast!" he yelled. He charged forward, precisely swinging his blade. However, the man shot another beam of black light, this one scathing his shoulder. Azrael landed, growling loudly. "You…bastard!" he hissed, looking at the bloody tear on his arm, "I'll slice you to bits!!" It was also at this time when Selene broke away from the vampire's death grip, and when she landed on the ground, she looked at him, her eyes glowing with the same ghostly light.
"Do you know what happens to a vampire when its struck with lightning?" she asked sarcastically, an evil smirk on her face, "The same as everything else." She summoned yet another bolt of lightning, this more powerful than the rest had been. It nearly struck, but at the last instant, he shot toward her. When he stopped, he was at the point that if they were the same height, they'd be standing nose-to-nose. "Milady…Selene, is it?" he asked. Selene simply gave a growl. He smirked, and then took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips. He placed a gentle kiss just above her knuckles, and then smiled widely at her.
"My name is Arthas Fenrir. For freeing me with your spell of lightning, I feel that I am obligated to you," he said. Selene simply glared, tearing her hand away. "I don't need a servant. I am a warrior, and so I will act as one, and not as a pampered princess. Especially if the one who's in my service is a dark creature such as a vampire," she growled. Arthas stood, giving her puppy eyes. "Come, now. I'll do anything you wish," he said. Of course, before he could continue, Sesshomaru walked over, sheathed his blade, and then picked Arthas up by the frilled collar if his shirt. "Just who in hell do you think you are? If my daughter tells you she doesn't need you around, then get lost! Especially if you need the blood of others to survive!"
"You're…daughter?" Arthas asked, seeming quite surprised, "She looks nothing like you. Are you sure she's really your child?" Selene growled, and then smacked him across the head, sending him to the ground. "If you're my servant, then you'll have to listen to my family, too!" she hissed. Arthas quickly got up, nodding. "Yes, Lady Selene. And you're family would be…?"
Selene sighed, indicating everyone as she spoke their names. "Everyone here. Azrael is my twin brother, Sesshomaru, as you know, is my father, Gina is my mother, and Vaul is her brother, my uncle," she replied icily. Sesshomaru gaped at this. She had just introduced them all to a vampire. Of course, none of them liked this. "What are you thinking?!" Gina demanded, walking up to her. Vaul smirked a little. "Well, it looks like she's befriending a vampire," he said. Gina simply smacked him in the side, quite hard, actually. "I know that, you stupid buffoon," she said, scowling. "Selene-chan, what're you doing?" Azrael asked. Of course, the young woman was paying much attention.
"So…if you're my servant now, you'll do anything I say?" Selene asked. Arthas gave a slightly regretting sigh, and then nodded. "For freeing me from the imprisonment, I will make up for it the best I can," he said. Selene smiled at this. "Anything?" she asked again. Once again, Arthas nodded. Selene smiled again. "Then pick me up," she commanded. Arthas looked at her strangely, and then did so. As he did this, Selene struggled and fought him off. "Awp!" she said, falling to the ground, "I was kidding, dammit!" Azrael gaped. "I've never heard you curse before! Congratulations!" he cheered.
Selene growled at him, standing and brushing the dirt off of her robes. "One," she started, glaring at her brother, "I'll never let another foul word escape my lips. And two," she said, turning to Arthas, "And you need to learn how to be a better servant."