Nighttime Shade: Hey, y'all, back with another chappie!
Sess:No, go fucking figure. Never would have figured that out.
Nighttime Shade: Whatever, Sesshomaru! Don't make me pull out the Iron Maiden.
Sess:Eep!
Nighttime Shade: On with the chapter!
Bridget watched the flames leap higher in Angel and her father's embrace. Tears streaked down her cheeks and onto Angel's sleeve and she watched her mother's body slowly being consumed by fire. Anthony, Kronus, Mike, Ryan, David, and Angela stood behind her, watching their best friend suffer through the murder of her mother.
The night Bridget ran out of the band room, she felt the tug at her heart. Wrenching the door open to her mother's room, she screamed. Her mother was decapitated, her head was never found. Marcus couldn't detect any intruders, and neither could Angelus. They were all stumped. Who would kill an innocent human being? The only answer that anyone could come up with was they were after either Michael or Bridget.
The entire citadel mourned the loss of their best hunter. When the vampires and Lycans were at war, she tracked, found, and slayed the best of them. She and her team brought the citadel hope in those dark times. Now, she became the symbol of the strength and of superiority to those who were still prejudice against the werewolves.
After the cremation ceremony, Bridget and Michael went to Bridget's room and sat in silence. Angel stood outside the door, knowing it was his people, carrying out the prophecy made so many years ago. He felt terrible, somewhat blaming himself for his friend's pain.
Her father left shortly after, and Angel walked in. Bridget sat on her bed, staring at the wall opposite to her. Angel crept up to her and embraced her, knowing the pain she was holding back.
Bridget tried her hardest not to cry anymore. Slowly, her resolve faded and she broke down, crying for her mother, as her guardian angel held her close, apologizing and doing everything he could to ease the pain.
Slowly, she cried herself to sleep. Angel, instead of laying her down and finding a chair, stayed their all night, protecting and soothing Bridget.
Months had past, and slowly, life was beginning to fall back into order. The band had their first gig, and it went smoothly, and almost signed a recording deal until they remembered the citadel's pact. Bridget became a Junior in high school, and, for her mother, tried her best and got top marks. Angel never left her side, as he had promised her 8 months before.
However, the lull in demonic activity had only seemed to put Angelus on edge even more then usual. He was constantly deep in thought, trying to figure out their next move, and had snapped at the band members more times then he or they could count. It was always followed y an apology, but the slow feeling of foreboding had him on tight strings.
In fact, Bridget asked him about it later on that week.
"Why are you snapping at everyone?" she asked him quietly.
"Nothing," he replied hastily," just thinking."
He thought she seemed to take this for a good answer, until she replied in a soft, quiet voice that startled him by its docility.
"Who's coming after me?"
He looked at her, never realizing how bright, intelligent, and wise she was until this very moment. She had added up all of the attacks, his nervousness, and his sudden over protectiveness, and singled out the one reason that seemed logical enough to her. Angel suddenly felt like an older brother, being caught by his sister keeping a secret.
"Hell," he said, almost remorsefully, "You have something they want. I don't know what it is, but it's dire to them. They will use any means necessary to get to you."
"Ah,"she said, a twinkle of mischief sparkling in her eyes," So, hell is using me for target practice? I never knew I looked that good."
It took a moment for her statement to sink in, but when it did, he started to chuckle, but it soon turned into a deep, chesty laugh that made it feel like the walls were reverberating. Bridget and Angelus could feel the tension quickly fade from the walls of her bedroom. A knock at the door later, and Anthony, Kronus, and David walked in, joining in with chatter from the day. Moments later, Angela walked in, joining in.
"Ok, since we've held this off for far too long, so the girl's initiation ceremony is going to be held tonight at midnight, at the gazebo by the lake." Kronus said, "Marcus will be there, as well as many of the less liked members of the citadel."
"So," Anthony said, "I suggest you ladies get ready for the night."
The boys, including Angel, walked out, leaving the girls deciding what to do. They started by showering, and doing their hair into the elegant knots Angela's mother taught them. They then dressed themselves in the dresses they bought the day Bridget's mother died, and applied what make-up they felt necessary. When they walked out, Anthony and Angel waited for them, dressed in black tuxedo's. While Anthony had a navy undershirt on and a black bowtie, Angel looked sharp in a blood red undershirt and a silver vest.
The boys were stunned. While Angela looked fun and flirty in a blue dress, Bridget Jenna Corvin looked like royalty in a wine colored gown. Her chestnut hair shown in it's elegant knot, and her eyes blazed with a sheer silver liner, enhancing the green. Angel took a mental image of Bridget's flowing curves, sleek, yet muscular figure, and wondered what it would look like without the dress. He then mentally smacked himself, and held out his arm to Bridget, just as Anthony held his out to Angela. Bridget took it gently, and let Angel lead her toward the gazebo. The couple could faintly hear Anthony and Angela making bets on how long it would take for the two to be wed. Bridget sneered elegantly at them while they laughed.
When they reached the gazebo, it was Bridget's turn to gasp. The gazebo had vines of morning glories winding around it, the blooms open with the candlelight. Rosebushes circled the area, their buds starting to open. There were tables laid out with glasses of Champaign and sparking cider, as well as bottles of wine and blood. Elegant, beautiful people milled about, talking and mingling with each other in their best gowns and suits, mostly in black and white.
Bridget suddenly became nervous. How would she ever become one of these beautiful people? Angel felt this, and laid his hand on hers, leaning in towards her.
"You are twice as beautiful as any of them," he whispered, plucking a white rose from a bush and tucked it behind her ear.
Bridget smiled and blushed, thanking him softly, before continuing into the crowd. Soon, diplomats and beaurocrats came over and began talking and mingling with her, conversing about shallow, unimportant events.
Angel brought her a glass of Champaign and stood next to her, an arm casually draped around her midsection. Her eyes sparkled as she unconsciously leaned toward him. They didn't know about the people plotting behind them.
Angela, Anthony, David, Mike, and Kronus saw the two leaning toward each other, and began to play matchmaker. Angela would work with Bridget, or Bri as they now nicknamed her, planting him in her mind. The boys would work on Angel, planting her and other "tenaciousness" into his mind. By doing the age-old handshake, much to Angela's disgust, and separated ways, intent on starting tonight.(the handshake is the spit and shake one)
Before the band could get to their intended victims, Marcus began talking. All of a sudden, the candles blew out by themselves, and the only light was from the full moon shining overhead. Marcus called out Angela and Bridget from the shadows to stand on the shore of the lake with him.
Angela was the first to find her element. The water of the lake washed up to her and flowed around her ankles as she spoke her initiation in her native Italian. When she stopped t the end, the water receded, and a shimmering pearl floated out of the water. She reached out and grabbed it, and held it up as the vampires cheered.
Slowly, Bridget walked up. She took a deep breath and began to chant the initiation, only it was in a language so old, many had forgotten. The Druid tongue flowed to her like the air, and her words chilled everyone to the bone by its melodious core.
By the air I breath, I join with you,
By the fire I posses, I melt with you,
By the water I know, I join with you,
By the earth I love, I end with you,
With the light and dark balances, I become one with what I was born in,
As she spoke, her eyes glazed over. Angel looked on as the lone candle in Marcus' hand sprang to life, setting a fireball toward Bridget. The flames wrapped around her body, licking at her hair, skin, and clothes. When she stopped chanting, the flame receded, then became a small candle flame once more. All over her body, diamond glistens made her skin seem to sparkle. Her hair looked like it was covered in frost, sparkling with an ethereal glow. In her open hand, a sparkling gem glowed faintly in her hand. Her dress, mysteriously, had disappeared.
Angel walked out onto the shore and took off his jacket, ready to cover her. Marcus stopped him, and made him watch as she shook the glistens out of her hair and off her skin. Her hair shook free of its knot, and it cascaded down her back in soft waves. She then turned and held up to the diamond for the citadel to see. They erupted into applause, whistling and hooting.
Fire had chosen her, and her gem was a diamond. She would be the next Elder.
The citadel turned back and began to make their way to the House, leaving the band and Angel at the gazebo. Angela and Kronus ushered the rest back to the house, leaving Angel and Bridget on the shore.
Bridget made her way to the shore and sat down, letting the water wash over her feet, still dazed from the nights events. She started when a weight settled on her shoulders, then relaxed as Angel wrapped the jacket around her more firmly. He sat down next to her and stripped off his shoes and socks, and let the water tickle his toes.
Neither said a word. Neither made a move, except for Bridget leaning her head on Angel's shoulder. Neither left that spot as they watched the sun rise appear over the lake in a sparkling array of pinks, oranges, and purples, that mesmerized the two.
Anthony walked back into the band room after sunrise, with the band watching him as he sat down at the computer. Plugging in the digital camera, the band gasped at the beautiful picture that he had taken, with the pink, orange, and purple sunrise, and the new vampiress and her demon, leaning together, alone.
Nighttime Shade:Here's a fluffy but sad chapter. I hope y'all don't kill me when you all realize-ducks flying rotten fruit I'm sorry!