With Angel's Love
Part XIV: Unmistakable Scents
Arthas quickly pulled away, his and Selene's gaze both falling on a furious Azrael, his blade drawn. "You heard me beast…get away from her!" he hissed. Selene struggled to stand, facing her brother. "This isn't what it looks like," she said weakly, her legs shaking, Although…I'm not completely sure what that was myself…she thought. Azrael let out another low growl. "I know exactly what it was. That beast was about to take your blood and you still defend him! What spell is this, vampire?" he demanded angrily. Of course, Selene was taken aback by this. "No! We were…we were just talking!" Selene argued.
At this point, Sesshomaru, Vaul, and Gina had been awakened by the yelling outside and now looked on. "Azrael…are you sure of this?" Gina asked, her voice full of concern. He let out yet another low growl. "Of course I'm sure!" he growled, looking back at her, "Selene would never act like this! Especially not with a creature of the dark like this!" As Azrael took a few steps forward, his glowing blade in hand, Gina called out to stop him. This was answered simply by Sesshomaru's slight chuckles.
"Don't waste your breath, Gina-chan," he said, looking down at her, "You can shove the truth right under his nose, but it wouldn't matter. They're twins, and nothing can break that. If he thinks that he's protecting her, then he'll do that to the death." With that, he looked back over at his future son, his look a thoughtful one. I just hope he can realize that Arthas had no ill intentions before he does something he'll regret…
Of course, Vaul was being of no help. He, of course, being his sarcastic and obnoxious self, had had a thoughtful look on his face as well, but he had been trying to come up with something to say. Finally, an evil smirk on his face, he took one of his sacred hammers from his belt, and spoke. "Hey, Azrael, if you want, you can use this to put a stake through his heart!" he said. Gina let out a low growl herself, and then elbowed him hard in the side. "Hey…what was that for?" he demanded. Vaul was answered by the angry scowls of his sister, Sesshomaru, and surprisingly, Azrael.
"I can take care of this beast myself," he hissed angrily. Azrael took a step forward, preparing to slice him in half with his blade, when Selene stepped up in front of him. "No…Azrael, don't do this! Arthas is innocent of any crimes!" she pleaded. Azrael continued to scowl. "What spell have you put my sister under?" Azrael demanded sharply. Arthas shook his head. "Can't you get it through your thick skull? She's under no spell!" he hissed back. Azrael growled, taking a step forward, but he was stopped by Selene grabbing onto the hilt of his blade.
"Azrael…my brother, Arthas is an honorable man. You must believe me," she said softly. Azrael let out another low growl, but was stopped when he heard footsteps behind him. His head shot around, and he saw Rin, in her full suit of exorcist's garb. Of course, his companions were surprised as well. "There is one way to tell if she has been put under some sort of spell," she said, pulling a very old book from her white bag. She then held it out to Selene. "Place your hand on this. A vampire's spell would temporarily leave traces of evil behind in its victim. If you, with evil still in you, lay hands on this sacred tome, you will be burnt," she replied.
Selene bit her lip, not sure if she should trust something that Rin carried with her. But feeling the heated gaze of her brother, she set her hand on the talisman illuminated on the cover. A moment passed, her palm pressed against it, and nothing happened. "It seems that the vampire is innocent," she said. Selene pulled her hand back, and Rin put the book away. "Rin…what was that?" Selene asked. "it's called a bible. It contains the teachings and accounts of people significant in the Christian faith," she replied simply. Rin looked up, and received a sharp scowl from Arthas. And this was something that Azrael noticed as well.
"What are you looking at, blood-sucker?" he hissed. Arthas scowled at him as well. "Nothing at all, angel-boy," he growled back. In the midst of their silent glares and sneers, Sesshomaru sniffed the air, and then let out a low growl. In a flash, he pushed past Azrael and Selene, stopping in front of Arthas. "Hmm…perhaps instead of entrancing my daughter you've been snacking on some humans?" he asked. Arthas eyed him strangely. "Of course not," the vampire growled back. Sesshomaru sniffed the air around him a few times, then scowled. "So…you're innocent of both accusations then," he said. Arthas sneered at him. "Of course I am. I only feed when I need to," he hissed.
As a small breeze blew through, Sesshomaru sniffed the air. He could smell fresh human and animal blood from the direction opposite the village they had been attacked in. There had been yet another slaughter of innocent life. "Damn it to hell…" he growled lowly. The demons that threatened his land had struck again, and it was most likely the demoness they had fought earlier; probably seeking to steal the souls of even more people. But there was an even more recognizable and unmistakable scent on the wind.
Chidori…so I see you're still alive…but instead of being a whore you slaughter humans? Hmm…there is something more to this then meets the eye…he thought. Sesshomaru drew his sword Songhai, which glistened with a burning flame in the fresh sunlight. "All of you…stay here. I have business to tend to," he growled. Of course, before he could go anywhere, Gina ran over to him, grabbing onto his sleeve. "What is it? Has some other village been slain?" she asked.
He let out another low growl, then leaned down, giving her a passionate kiss. A moment later, feeling the embarrassed gazes of his future children and brother-in-law, he pulled away. "It's none of your concern. Just promise me that you'll stay far away and not come after me," he said, his hand still on her chin. She looked around at their slightly shocked companions, and then up into her love's amber gaze. It was as if he had just given her a farewell kiss. What is he planning on doing? she thought desperately. Finally, after a moment of serious thought, she nodded. "Fine…as long as you promise you won't get hurt," she said. He smiled softly at her, and then turned.
Sesshomaru darted off into the forest, heading in the direction of the second slain village within hours, and towards the scent of his first love. Chidori…you harlot, he thought angrily, his grip on his angelic blade tightening with each word he thought, I will make sure you die by my hands on this day…you will not escape my grasp this time!!