Dark Angel
Chapter 8
That night in bed, Vegeta tossed and turned. Despite the warmth of the two concubines huddled on top of him, he felt cold. Staring dismally at the circular ceiling above, he sighed. How long ago had it been since he had commanded Brief to paint a mural on it? Two years? Three? He still remembered it blatantly as if it were just a few days ago. The man's fallen face as he had been commanded to leave his family and perform tedious hours for the sake of art. Vegeta could not have been blamed. After all, it wasn't his fault that Brief was by far the most talented artist in the land. And he only lost three of his family members in the process. A small price to pay for the ridiculous mistakes he had made on the mural.
And now the Demon King gazed up at it, as if seeing it for the first time. The black winged cupids bow, the fallen Angel slathered in blood and the thousands of Demon's surrounding it. It was a magnificent manifestation of the fall of the first angel. The first true triumph of the Demon race. And it had taken 3 years for Vegeta to even have admired it. How had he never even noticed the remarkable craftsmanship demonstrated through the articulate scenery. The swollen swirling clouds tainted in crimson red. It was as if the sky itself was bleeding. The black trees in the distance and dry cracked ground, so much like that of Hell now. It was unfathomably detailed and had taken the man nearly a year's work. Had Vegeta even thanked him? He had figured at the time that sparing his miserable sniveling life had been enough, but now as he stared at the fierce swipes and streaks that had become a life like painting, he wondered silently if maybe it hadn't been enough.
Vegeta was openly infatuated with beauty. He required it from most of his followers and only made exceptions for a few of the most worthy warriors. Was that why he had become so obsessive over the Angel? She may not have known it and he wasn't sure even he did, but he held her in high regard. He looked out for her, and not simply for the reason that she was his hostage. He admired her beauty and saw it as a waste to have such a rare characteristic shattered. But sometimes, especially now, he wondered if it was only for her appearance that he spared her the curse of his fury. How strange it was that he had not retaliated her abrasive attack during the day. Possibly, he told himself, it was shock that had held the monster inside at bay. No one had ever treated him with such fearless disrespect. Truth be told it disturbed him how comfortable she seemed to be with him. And had she really wanted him to kill her?
For reasons unbeknownst to him, the idea made him sick to his stomach. Oh sure.. he'd had his rise and falls, but had the thought of suicide ever crossed his mind? He figured it hadn't. The Demon King would die with honor. Not in such a cowardice, mindless waste of life. Besides.. there had always been a way out for him. He could have any one destroyed whom he so much as wished and it was done. But the Princess, she was helpless in her cause and ..between us.. the thought that her family had not sent a response stunned him as well as it had her.
But it was not these thoughts that had kept the brave dark warrior from rest in this night. Tossing and turning beneath the slippery red sheets and the weight of the women, he remained restlessly awake and in utter turmoil with himself. It was what she had said that kept him from the bond of healthy rest.
So he couldn't love. So what? What could he have said? That she was wrong? That was what had bothered him in the first place. And so he had replied nothing and simply let her flee from the messed room, her bleeding feet padding the marble as she left.
How was it that such qualities as mercilessness, strength and power that he had coated on him self with pride made him feel empty now. Inadequate. Why did he feel so unworthy in her presence, simply because he didn't possess the qualities she did? So he didn't agree with her values and beliefs. Did that make him less of a man? He had been brought up as a true demon and a Prince, neither requiring the useless qualities that she held in such regard. He had been raised with the goal of being the best, constantly out of reach, simply because the family birth right had been awarded to his insolent brother. And now that he had stolen it away.. was it even worth it?
And why oh why was he jealous? It was definitely not an emotion he had tasted in a long time. There had never been a woman he could not attain with a simple gesture of the hand, or a raised eyebrow. He was on the women's most wanted list and still it seemed not even to phase her. His conceited air and open confidence had done nothing to make her desire him. The genes running through his blood had provided him with an uncanny appearance and it wasn't as if he wasn't completely aware. He knew it. Every one did. So why not her? She never looked at him as anything more than any other demon. She never bowed her head in respect, though he'd never asked her to. And the look.. You know.. that kind of.. mmmm.mmm.mmmmmm! look that women get in their eyes when they see something they want. Well.. it wasn't there. Nothing. Only once had he ever even seen her acknowledge she wasn't asexual and that had been when she was speaking of her Prince.
Her Prince. Bah! The idea sickened him. The sniveling, pompous little prick. He didn't deserve her. No.. Vegeta never had seen the man.. but this much he knew. She deserved a King. Not some hormonally challenged little boy. She needed a man. Not.. uhh.. saying that he was that man.. NO! By all means No! he told himself. What a preposterous idea. She wasn't good enough to even play with. She was nothing more then a weak minded fool who was too stupid to even acknowledge the power he held over her. He could do whatever, and I mean whatever he wanted to her and no one but no one would ever say a thing about it. Somehow she seemed oblivious to this fact, results of a naïve way of life. But still.. he did respect her in a rare way. Her passion for balance in the Universe was the driving force behind her fiery will. He could admire her courage. He could associate with the passion.
A sob interrupted his thoughts. Had he really just heard such a sound? Had he simply imagined it? He sat so silently, he could hear the fierce winds outside smashing relentlessly against the stone castle. Finally forgetting the incident and deciding it was simply his imagination, he laid his head back down into the soft pillow underneath. But there it was again, and nothing could convince him otherwise. That sob was coming from the Princess's chambers.
Vegeta tore out of bed, throwing the sleeping women to the floor. Ignoring their cries at impact with the cold marble, he half flew to her room. Was she being hurt? Who could have gotten in? He was completely on edge. He flung her large wooden doors apart and rampaged the dark room. No one was there. He could only see her, wrapped and tangled beneath her black crushed velvet covers.
Cautiously, he made his way over to the large gaudy canopy bed. His large bare feet slapping humorlessly against the smooth marble, he made a mental note to have a fire place installed in her room. It was much too cold for a mere woman. And it wasn't as if she had company in her bed as he preferred. Perhaps he should look into getting her a few male concubines. The idea put a rare smile on his lips. He doubted such a prude woman, as she was, would even know how to draw pleasure from such useful creatures. Though, the idea had merit. He was sickly curious just how influential he could be.. even on a creature of light. He would have to present the idea to her at a later time.
At the moment, he was mainly entrapped with concern at her flailing form, grasping the sheets with white knuckles. Heart forsaken sobs retched from her mouth and she seemed to be crying.. though her eyes remained dry. A twisted look was planted upon her decorative face. She was visibly upset, though still fast asleep.
"Vegeta.." he could have sworn she gasped.. though she was making many ungraspable moans and mumbles.
"No.. no Vegeta don't!" Alright.. that much had come out clear. He half smiled. So she was battling him even in her dreams. She truly did despise him, though the thought did rattle him a bit. She must have sensed a chill in the air from his presence, for she began to shiver, still sobbing almost wildly.
Hesitantly, the demon pushed aside the sheer black material encircling her bed. He sat lightly by her side, watching as her small form battered this way and that against her enemy. Against him. Should he wake her? Truth be told.. he could have sat there all night. There was nothing sexual about it.. simply said.. he was an admirer of beauty and her appearance provided such pleasure. The dark shadows seeping through the material, cascaded across her pale skin. Very little light was seen from the window, as Hell's moon was as pale and dull as could be expected. Still, with his supreme eyesight he could see every detail of her poreless skin. Every little crevice that a normal man could never see. He grinned at her nightgown. He had especially chosen it for her, when the royal seamstress had provided him with a choice. He could still see the gleam in the man's eye when he had smirked and insisted on having only the skimpiest clothing offered. Even though the man was openly gay, even he could not deny the Princess's innocent appeal. And so there she feverously slept, clad in a dark red, thigh high nightgown. It wasn't particularly low cut, though for some reason just about everything she wore appeared that way. Neither were the straps embarrassingly thin. The fact that is was incredibly tight was what held the most appeal in his eyes.
But not long he had stared at her, when he decided to end her restless torture and awaken her to her even more tragic reality.
He couldn't have even brushed her face, when she bolted up right, and wrapped her arms around his neck. His body tensed in reflex to the threatening act and decided it was her sad attempt to hurt him. The gesture was an empty threat and obviously was a failed attempt to do her enemy harm. But then.. as quickly as the ignorant idea had come.. it went. This was no attack.. She needed him. She needed to feel the touch of another being. To be consoled and protected in a moment of utter weakness. Slowly, he placed his hands on the small of her back as she began to bawl on his bare shoulder. He could feel the wetness seeping from her eyes and cascading down his smooth chest but made no attempt to remove it. She needed him to remain calm right now and he decided to at least award her that amount of honor.
"Vegeta!" she sobbed hysterically. This angel would never cease to surprise him with her unpredictable outbreaks.
"I'm so sorry!" She burst out. "About everything. Everything I.. I did.. Everything I said.. I'm so sorry." He wasn't sure he'd made out much in the muffled babble but this much he knew. She had said she was sorry. He simply didn't know how to respond. Would the drama never cease!
"Sorry?" he whispered so gently it surprised himself.. Damn this woman for making him seem so weak. As much as he respected her.. he also loathed himself around her.
"About what Angel?" he asked sternly, pulling back slightly to remove the matted hair from her drenched eyes.
"You were right." He admitted. Had he really just said that? Bah! Cursed Angel.
"No.. " she sobbed, still on the verge of becoming mentally incapacitated.
"No I wasn't. I was wrong to say such things. So.. so…" oh boy.. here it comes..
"So.. so WRONG!" she sobbed uncontrollably. Must she make such a racket? Had she no honor? What if someone else heard such pitiful sobbing? It was bad enough that she was weak in body.. weak in mind was almost worse. She began to convulse wildly, her body wracked by vicious sobs. It really bothered him to see her this way.
"Woman.." he announced only mildly harsh. "You are going to wake the entire castle." Since he had nothing else to offer in consolation for her obvious disillusioned state, he attempted to calm her with tedious practicality. It failed miserably.
"OH! I don't care!" She hollered horsely. Apparently her voice had been resting far more than she.. for it sounded icy and unused. Vegeta was getting some kind of strange kick out of seeing her in such a hysterical state of emotion. It just wasn't like her to be so open about her wrongs.. though he remarked only in his mind that she had made her share of mistakes, none of which she had ever felt the need to apologize for.
"And I lied to you Vegeta." She wailed. Now this was unexpected. That little statement had certainly tipped his curiosity.
"I lied when I said my mom got sick. The truth is.." she openly attempted to calm herself, her face still buried deep into his neck as if she were trying to conceal her it. He warm breath tickled against his skin but he ignored it completely infatuated with her recent words.
"Your father killed my mom. She had agreed to secretly meet him with hope's of making a treaty. He came unexpectedly early and I.. I saw it all.. I saw everything.." Her eyes.. though he couldn't see them, held a haunted look about them.
"I was just too scared to tell you.. cuz.. cuz I thought you'd be mad at me." She made like she would begin crying again but at the last moment caught herself and embedded her face even farther into his embrace. It had been so long since she had experienced physical contact.
"Oh.. That." He relaxed. "I knew you had lied." Bulma pulled back slightly to see into his eyes. They remained their usual dead orbs.
"You.. (sniff) .. did?"
"Yes.. " he said again pushing the irritating hair from her face. Her expressions held a certain form of almost disbelief. He rolled his eyes.
"Oh come on Princess. Don't you think after all these weeks I would know when your lying? I can read you like a book." He bragged with a false front of confidence. It was actually an incredible lie. He had no idea what she was thinking at this point. She noticeably stiffened.
"Why are you here?" she asked as if finally coming to the realization that she was awake and in the arms of her bare chested enemy.
"You were crying in your sleep." He remarked haughtily. "Someone had to come and shut you up, you would have woken the entire palace idiot." He decided he'd had enough of the weakness and decided it was time to compensate it with his normal cutting remarks. He had been in a momentary trance and was insistent on coming out of it. He removed his hands from her back, as she removed her's from his muscular shoulders, both staring dumbly at the other, dwelling on the consequences ahead for such a moment of weakness.
"I was having a nightmare." She stated softly. He had expected her to reply with her normal fury at being so insulted. But yet again she had thrown him for a loop.
"You.. you died." She whispered in disbelief, staring almost in horror at his blank eyes. Her hand wavered to her mouth.
"Sounds more like a dream." He grunted dryly in a smirk all his own. Still, he did feel a bit hurt, but decided to keep his voice flat as not to alert her to the miserable feelings of insecurity he had had for himself all night. But she shook her head.
"No…………A nightmare………….You.. .. saved me. And then you died. I.. I tried to stop you. But you died.." her voice cracked in the end and fresh tears welled up into her red rimmed eyes. Covering her mouth with her hand to stifle the sobs, she looked simply pitiful..
Vegeta was besides himself with awe. His death truly hurt her. He'd almost cried out in pure shock, if he hadn't been sure such a demonstration would frighten her. After all that had befallen her in his name, his life still had meaning to her. Should he really feel so honored as he did? But it wasn't enough. He needed to calm her. To repay her for such an honor. To.. "console" her in one of the only ways he knew how. A way he knew would put a smile on her face and keep her in a better mood, oblivious to the black world surrounding her.
"Must everything in your life be so dramatic woman?" he rolled his eyes.
"Forget the incessant drama.. It's ruining you. Come with me." He offered his hand and she hesitantly took it before being whisked out of the room.
"This will be an experience you'll never forget."
Uh oh.. what is vegeta up to? Haha.. well You'll just have to wait until tomorrow to find out.. also. Gosh.. thanks for the awesome reviews. Had a few morons in there but.. there's always one or two no talent shits who try to piss on other people's work. But it's ok.. It's not like I'm being "Hypocritical" or anything.. hahaha.. sorry I can afford to be rude when people are just being dumb. Oh and another thing.. and please no one take this the wrong way.. most likely its not even being applied to you but just for the record. I don't take constructive criticism well. I just don't. Probably something about the way I was raised. I'm not sure. But what I really can't stand is being harped on.. If you have some none moronic suggestion.. say it.. ONCE. I don't need people telling me how to write my story. And don't.. don't! tell me what details I should put in. keep your ideas to yourself and save them for your next fic. Mine has already been written. I plan on keeping to that story whether or not people think i should. I have to have my own ideas in my story. If you have some idea about what I should put in it.. chances are.. it's probably best kept to yourself. Because I most likely won't put it in. the reason being, not that I mean to be rude.. but I want this story to be mine. I want all the credit to go to me. Im so sorry if that sounds as selfish as I think it does but if you all had been feverously writing something and put your heart into it only to have some schmoe insist its not "detailed" or "descriptive" enough.. or that they have a much better idea to where it should be going… You'd be insulted too. So give a chick a break.. and don't even harp on me.. I won't listen. But I want everyone to know I love ya anyways just for reading. And I know how good intentions can be overlooked when writing. Words are hard to express to people from so many different places and it just so happens that Im the type of bitch to say it like it is. Haha.. Until tomorrow.. This wicked witch is going to sleep.
