7/23/09: Edited for original upload errors caused by text editor.

Touched By An Angel was about angels helping people.

Forever Knight was about a vampire family--one of whom sought redemption.

I wrote the crossover, but don't own either property.

Chapter 3: Introductions

"A what?!"

Monica instinctively recoiled away from Andrew and towards her supervisor, an action that was not lost on her friend. The hurt on his face made her want to give him a comforting hug... but... she just couldn't quite bring herself to do so. With golden irises flecked with red and the tips of two upper fangs peeking out from his lips, he looked so... so feral."

Before anyone of the group could say anything more, a beautiful ebony-haired woman appeared at Andrew's side. Monica and Tess realized that this was the same woman that had spoken to their waitress, and the knowledge came to them that the lady was the club's owner.

"Drink this," the woman practically shoved another filled glass before Andrew before turning towards the female angels, ignoring the way her gift was greedily being consumed behind her back. Monica could sense that the proprietress was seething with anger, but doing her best not to show it.

"You've both had a pleasant evening, but now its time to go home," the owner informed them with a curiously intense stare. "Everything is normal here, but the atmosphere is not quite what you're accustomed to, so you doubt that you'll be back."

The cordial, yet firmly spoken words shocked Monica, who was ready to argue despite her own desire to vacate the premises and never return; however, a warning kick from under the table bade her to be silent. To her surprise, Tess calmly repeated the woman's command with a blank face, tugging Monica out of her seat and up the stairs before the younger angel could protest. In less than a minute they were both on the street and heading towards Tess's parked car. In a blink of an eye, both were back in their angelic form.

"Tess! What's wrong with you?" Monica demanded. "We can't just leave poor Andrew in there! He needs a doctor---or...well, something!"

"Yes, we can, and just did, and to paraphrase a quote from one of them: Betty Ford doesn't take vampires," Tess countered. She checked to make sure nothing had happened to her precious Caddy while in this questionable neighborhood. Seeing the Irish angel's consternation, she gave her charge a sympathetic look. "When a vampire tries to whammy you, it's best to play along unless the Father says otherwise."

"Whammy?" her student blinked. What upon God's green Earth was a 'whammy'?

"Hypnotize," Tess explained. "As angels we're what they call 'resisters' to their power, but right now we mustn't let them know that."

"Them? You mean...Tess! You mean that place is full of--" Monica's eyes went wide as she realized the Raven was not just a Goth club, but a bar for bloodsuckers. Feeling somewhat sick, she followed her supervisor's gesture to get into the passenger seat. Tess turned the ignition and pulled out on the street, driving towards a suburb on the outskirts of Toronto proper.

"Yes, Miss Wings, but not everyone there is of that particular...lifestyle. That's why it was important for us to leave without making a scene. Doing so might have endangered the human customers. Not to mention putting Andrew in a tough spot."

"But how can there be vampires, Tess? I thought they were just a myth. Why haven't I seen them before?"

"What makes you think you haven't?" Tess challenged. "These beings have turned camouflage into an art form---had to in order to survive." She smiled reassuringly at her protégé.

"Angel baby, there's a lot you haven't encountered yet. Just because we're usually sent to help humans doesn't mean there isn't more to God's creation. And, yes, that includes vampires---the poor things." She caught Monica's surprised look. "You heard me right, Miss Wings---don't be so quick to judge," Tess admonished, ignoring the fact that she wasn't too fond of being amongst them either. Father knew she'd rather baby-sit a bunch of snakes if given the choice. Angel of God though she was, there was just no getting around the fact that parasites in any form held a 'gross!' factor. "Vampires are by no means candidates for religious sainthood," she continued in a softer tone, "but they aren't the demons they are made out to be either. Oh, they suffer from the Deceiver's curse all right---and in a more noticeable way than most; however, no more so than any sinful human. Some are prone to pure wickedness, while others are quite--"

"But Andrew, Tess...?" Monica felt compelled to interrupt the lecture. Though she found this new information fascinating--if in a horrifying sort of way--she was really worried about her friend.

"Andrew will be fine, Baby, once he gets over the shock of actually being one of them," Tess comforted. "This isn't the first time our Angel Boy has met the Night People, you see." She turned onto another street. "Now listen carefully and I'll explain your assignment while I drive. Another young and foolish person who thinks pretending to be a vampire is the coolest thing on earth. Goths!" Tess sighed. "Poor things don't have a clue to the reality of what they are playing at."