Dark Angel

Chapter 4

"Are you mad!" Dodoria cried watching Draco kneel over the Angel's body after knocking her unconscious. Staring in horror, Dodoria witnesses Draco strategically ripping parts of her gown off. He then began to tear delicate feathers from her shining white wings. He had signed their death warrant.

"I'm not crazy Dodoria. I have a plan of my own." The seemingly insane Demon informed him.

"Unfortunately for you, you play a crucial part in it's design." With that he sent an energy blast that disintegrated Dodoria's body. There was not a shard of flesh left.

Never did he imagine the horror that was felt by the Princess's Fiancée when much later in the night, he would walk into the blood spattered room, only to see shards of his future queen's dress.

Smiling, Draco gently picked up the Princess's limp body, glancing only briefly, in contentment, back at the room, walls covered in a slather of blood with white feathers still floating gracefully in the air.

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Bulma shifted lightly while regaining consciousness. Her head spun as she looked around her, hardly seeing anything. She was in the Black Woods in a decent towards Hell. It didn't take her long to notice the two strong arms wrapped around her body, carrying her through the Barrier. Small flashes of light danced across his facial expressions. His handsome face was smiling. Bulma knew she had to get away from him. Now!

"P..Please… put me down. I feel sick." She said in her softest weak voice. The Demon hesitated and then reluctantly set her roughly on her feet. She feigned sickness, placing her hands on her knees and hunching over. He seemed utterly sickened by her revolting dry heaves and made no attempt to help her. It was then that she threw her infamous bone crunchingly hard kick into every warrior's weakness. He cried out viciously in pain before grabbing his groin and falling hard on his side to the forest floor.

Without a moment's hesitation, she took off running full speed into the blackened forest. She was determined not to go down. At least not without one hell of a fight. She tore her way through the woods. Trees and branches scratched at her, tearing through her body and her gown but still she pressed on never ceasing even though the rush of air burned in her chest.

Suddenly she found herself face first in the dirt after tripping wretchedly on a low vine. She listened in horror at the wicked sounds vastly approaching. Pure terror washed through her. He was already in pursuit.

'How did he recover so quickly' she screamed in her mind. She had once hit Yamcha with the same force rendering him unable to walk properly for a week.

She furiously pushed herself up and took off once again through the pitch black woods. Her eyes were not used to such darkness and she knew she was basically running blindly. She and the Demon in pursuit both knew it was he who had the advantage. He could see much easier in the dark.

She shrieked as his merciless hands gripped her savagely around the waist and then launching her back effortlessly into a tree. Angry at her former deceitful attack he panted in rage, gazing hard into her eyes. He was taken back by the pure venomous hatred that burned in her chrome eyes. He roared out in pain as her sharp nails dug into the side of his face. Overcome by anger, he sent his arm back and with relentless force brought his barbaric nails into her cheek, sending her again to the ground unconscious.

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Bulma regained consciousness slowly. Pain engulfed her entire body after remembering her fight with the demon in the woods. Raising her hand to her face she let out a small shriek at the burning sensation that resulted. Her hand was drenched in blood from touching the three deep tears in her cheek, reminders of the danger she was in. She heard the screams and sobs in the distance coming from all sides of her. The horrific sounds haunted her soul, sending chills up and down her spine. She clutched the man that was carrying her. She knew this was the demon that had kidnapped her, but she also knew that it was too late for an escape and as of now he was her only protection from the monstrosities that lay on either side of her. The dreadful smell of burning flesh awoke her from her dazed state.

Hesitantly, she managed to pry her eyes open. What she saw cannot be described in mere words, though I will try. The world was black and red. It was as though she was being carried through a cracked and barren waste land. A desert smeared by rivers of blood. She blinked as she saw bloodied bodies reaching towards her, the creature's faces painted with signs of pain and anguish. She feared and pitied them at the same time. Some seemed angry at her, as though if they could touch her they would tear her fragile body into monstrous pieces. Others stretched towards her in hope, as though she alone could free them of their eternal bondage. She had heard tales of the unimaginable creatures in Hell that burned in eternal torment only being freed when the former Demon King passes. What scared her the most was the fact that there were so many of them. Each suffering torment because of their untimely deaths at the hand of the Dark Lord. She longed to help them with all of her heart but with a mere glance from Draco, they recoiled like snakes burned. Fires burned in the distance. Bulma could make out similar shapes of bodies. There were so many. All looking at her. She cringed at the sounds of moans and screams from the tortured souls.

"Not exactly what you were planning on waking up to Princess?" Smirked Draco in a deep voice. Bulma glanced at him. Now she saw his face much more clearly then in the forest and again remarked to herself that he was handsome although obviously deadly. In spite of herself, she gripped onto him quivering almost uncontrollably. She held herself tightly against his firm chest.

"Please take me back.. I… I'm so scared." She pleaded in to his throat as he carried her.

"This scares you?" He grunted.

"Wait until you meet my brother, the Demon King. Then you will know the true meaning of fear my Princess."

She looked up at him confused. The King would send his own brother on a mission to kidnap a defenseless girl? Glancing at the deep gashes on either side of his face made from her finger nails, she got a sick feeling of delight.

'Well.. not entirely helpless.' She snickered to herself. Still, she had no idea why she had been kidnapped exactly, much less why it would be so important that the Dark King would send his own flesh and blood to retain her. She figured that it would have something to do with holding her ransom but surely the Dark Lord would not be mislead to believe that her father would make any kind of deal with the Devil in order to rescue her. Looking again at her captor, she noted the firm resolve etched into his stern face and knew that she would no longer have any reason to dishonor herself further. No matter how she pleaded, he would never take her back. She lay back into his arms, trying desperately to avoid thinking about her dire future or her gruesome surroundings to no avail. She could merely stare in awe at the red, fire scorched sky above her. After what seemed an eternity, Draco smiled wickedly.

"We are here. The Black Castle."

Bulma was speechless as she turned her gaze towards the burning black tower before them. A normal fool might have mistaken the monstrous creation as a volcanic mountain because of its awe inspiring size. It seemed to stretch for miles and she could swear the top touched the crimson sky. It even seemed to smoke at the foundation and was the color of the deepest coal. Surrounding it was a moat of lava.. Or so she had thought. Gazing harder at the mysterious liquid, she had to breathe hard to avoid retching all over her own face.

'Bodies… my God.. there are body pieces floating in the moat.' Her own voice screamed in her head.

The circular river of "lava" was none other then a tomb of watery blood. She forced her innocent eyes to look away so infatuated with the morbid sight, she had become. For who of us could deny that at the sight of the dead.. our eyes seemed to be attached.

Now she noticed something stranger. The formerly hot and muggy air had dropped to a near freezing cold the closer they got. She couldn't careless. She buried her face into the leathery material covering Draco's muscular chest. She'd be damned if she looked any longer. Still, she could tell they were getting closer. And as the sound of foot steps on stone touched her ears, she finally chanced a glance at her new surroundings.

The palace was unbelievably dark. The kind of dark that never reached heaven. It was disorientating. Like the feeling of isolation when the lights are off inside of a cave. The sticky cold air felt strangely moist and her teeth chattered at the queer, biting cold. She wondered silently, if she would ever regain her eyesight in this haunted place.

She could now sense that they were descending up a flight of stairs. Silently and very privately, she thanked her eyes for their apparent failure. In truth, she was petrified at what may lie in the dark corridors around them. Never in her life had she been exposed to such gruesome surroundings and her eyes begged for no more.

"What is that?" demanded an evil voice. The suddenness of the voice caused Bulma to nearly jump from Draco's arms and run blindly for sanctuary. But the powerful Demon held her firmly and yet strangely gently.

"The King's cargo." Replied Draco sarcastically. Bulma noted to herself that she firmly disliked being imagined as "cargo" but then again… would she really voice such an opinion? She thought not.

"Open the door Radditz!" shouted Draco.

Bulma cowered in his strong arms. She knew for whatever reason that she hadn't heard the last of that name.

"Whatever you say Draco." Radditz sneered. He resented being ordered by a soldier of the same caliber as himself but then, seeing what shape the "cargo" was in, he allowed it to slide. Draco had far worse things then him to worry about.

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The room was freezing cold and Bulma clutched Draco even tighter still. She knew this was utter foolishness since he was a heartless killer himself, but she sensed that there was something in that room much more evil than him.. Not to mention more powerful.

Suddenly, Draco did something that Bulma had never anticipated him to do. Placing her impressively gently on her feet, he bowed low. A cold shiver ran through her noticeably quivering body as she realized what this gesture must mean.

Slowly but surely, her eyes began to behold a figure standing tall in the corner where the darkness shadowed him and the ever increasing cold seemed to flow. Her knees nearly bucked beneath her as she figured out who he was. She was beholding the living legend that not one Angel had ever placed eyes upon and lived to tell the tale. She could not even convince herself of it. She just knew.

"Bow!" Ordered Draco, obviously disturbed that she had not already thought to do so. Whether it was from being so panic stricken with fear or simply arrogance and pride that kept her from bowing, I'll never know. Probably a sad combination of both I imagine. But for whatever reason, she remained in up right position, a look of firm defiance planted on her abused face.

"I said bow!" Fumed Draco. It was all he could do to harness his short temper from tearing her stubborn body to bleeding shreds right in front of his brother.

"Now now brother." Whispered a sinister voice. It stopped Bulma's heart. No.. I mean it. Her heart literally skipped a beat at the low tone. It was harsh and raspy. A thick accent lacing every simple word. But above all, it was flowing with sheer masculinity.

"There's no need to shout." He continued tauntingly.

"Besides.. last time I checked, it was I who was giving the orders around here."

Bulma gasped as the figure emerged from the shadows, revealing himself in the dim light. He was beautiful.. My God. Absolutely beautiful. Like a painting. Flawless like a Greek God. Dark and wicked obviously, but attractive to the extremities Bulma had never before encountered.

She fought hard with herself not to blush as his fierce eyes examined her. She refused her eye's proposition to stare at his muscular body, carved like a statue and covered by black leather. She had, for whatever reason, expected him to be old. Well, maybe not old, old. But certainly older than the man that stood before her. He looked as if he was possibly pushing late twenties.

His thick black wings enveloped them as he stepped dangerously near to her. They loomed around her tauntingly, almost (dare I say) in a sexually flirtatious manner. She dared her eyes to gaze up at his. A mistake. She shook horrendously at the cold, unimaginably endless black abysses tearing through her soul. He moved closer to her, plainly having no use for personal boundaries. His face was barely an inch from her's, exposing more of his unearthly handsome qualities. His dark eyes seemed to burn through her. Searching her. For what?

Suddenly the room became hot. Still facing his eyes unmovable, the Princess silenced a cry that tried to rip it's way out of her. To her horror, the blood vessels in his eyes began to cluster around his pupil, creating a monstrous effect. The iris's turned a deep red. He looked very much like the demon he was. As he bared his sharp teeth, Bulma shuttered subconsciously. It was him. The creature who had murdered her mother.

'No.' she told her self.

'It's his son… It's only his son.'

She was feverously awakened from her acknowledgements as Vegeta turned viciously toward Draco. The Princess screamed as blood spattered onto her face and dress. Lying on the ground was Draco, his left cheek in bloody shards of molden flesh. Still he looked defiant.

"I believe I told you she was not to be harmed!" Vegeta spat out furiously, his tone much different then his previous. Bulma was deeply confused as to why her condition would matter to a wicked creature like Vegeta. Her thoughts were pushed aside as he violently grabbed her face, forcefully cocking it from side to side, roughly examining her. His sharp nails grazed across her three deep tears, almost sending tears out of her eyes. She ground her teeth together, both from the pain and the utter humiliation she was suffering.

"Where is Dodoria?" He thundered. Calmly, Draco cleared his throat, still clutching what remained of his shattered face.

"It was Dodoria who attacked her. He desired her my Lord. He knocked her unconscious and tried to force himself upon her. I had no choice but to dispose of him myself."

Bulma scoffed at his sad attempt to persuade the King to believe he had nothing to do with it. Her stinging cheek bore witness to his savage treatment and at any other moment she would have called him on it. Still, the angel felt sorry for the demon crouching on the floor beneath his own monstrous brother. Vegeta's possessed eyes turned to her, nearly sending her into hysterics.

"Please don't hurt me." She whispered chancing a look towards Draco. Vegeta smiled, if you could call it that.

"You have no reason to believe I would harm you Angel. And neither does Draco if what he says is true." He waited patiently for her answer, his sharp gaze never leaving her. She glanced down at Draco, knowing that her answer would mean the difference between his life or death.

"He.. He's telling the truth." She sighed. "He never touched me."

She looked dejectedly down at her blood spattered dress as he released her face.

Draco was beyond belief. He had been careless with his treatment of her and had expected to be killed. But now his arch enemy, an angel was defending him. Lying to save his life to the Dark King, of who she was so obviously deathly afraid of. It was a strange feeling. He thought to himself. Perhaps when the rebellion was finished and Vegeta lay dead, he would claim her. She was fiery and brave beyond logic. And beauty was so obviously not an object as she was by far the most exotic creature he'd ever beheld. Even if she didn't accept him, he was destined to have her. God knew rejection had never been a problem before. He could tame a stubborn creature. He could break her if need be. She was so beautiful.

Even his cold hearted brother had noticed this and Draco had sensed that he was a bit taken back by it. For obvious reasons, Draco's hatred for his brother had swelled enormously by his brother's reaction to her. Perhaps it was a simply twinge of the eye brow.. a sparkle in his dead eyes. But for whatever reason it was there. Even in the tone of voice Vegeta had used. It was soft instead of his usual intimidating growl.

Seething with anger, Draco managed to get to his feet, still clutching his face. Vegeta saw it as an act of defiance and standing inches from Draco's face, ordered him to leave.

Alright folks.. There you have it. The fourth chapter to my epic tale. I hope by now you believe my suggestion that you would be hooked by the first few chapters. I plan on having at least two chapters out each day. The reason is simply this. The longer I wait for a story to be updated, the less interested I become. Not to mention the fact that you forget most of the details and occasionally get the story confused with another you had been reading in it's absence. So enough babbling..(since I despise when other authors do it) oh and at the beginning of each chapter.. don't expect me to do the usual "sorry it took so long to update but I was busy with- blah blah blah" Like I said, I plan on keeping this baby going each day. So if something happens to deter the progress, it's most likely incredibly important or has something to do with not working. Also..(sorry this is getting long but I believe most of this is a need-to-know basis)

As regards to reviews.. I plan on emailing back everyone who is cool enough to review. Plus, I'll thank you in the end and tell others just how awesome you are. Sound like bribery? Good.. cause that's exactly what it is. And if there are any universal questions to be answered.. I hope no one minds if I answer them at the end of each chapter as I'm doing now. That's all for now. Until next time, I love each of you for reading even this far. It's people like you that keep this world running. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.