Chapter 20

Losing you

"Come with me," Gabriel took her by hand and pulled, but Seline refused:

"Hey, get off! I'm having fun here!" she laughed. He then placed her over his shoulder and walked out. Vampires wanted to stop him; still Sel was quite interested in why he came and calmed her soldiers. When they were near the gates, Van Helsing put her down and said, "I won't let you to die."

"Really? How? Maybe you know the way to change Council's decision?"

"No, but I got the Great Gift," he showed her a box. Selin wanted to touch it, but Gabriel didn't let her to. "Wait! I think such … creatures as you are too sensitive to …"

"I understood you right! So … Open it!"

"I can't! Angelica said, you know."

"I don't … Hmm, give it to me …"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she said and the hunter gave her the box, but first put his gloves carefully on her hands, it was exciting yet so gentle. Seline thanked him with a smile and started discovering every side. The box seemed just a piece of silver, empty inside. "Ah, nothing … still, step back!" she then dropped the box on the ground and put her foot on it.

"Sel, don't!"

"I control the situation!" the woman broke the box, which was really hard if to look on Van Helsing's face. He waited for a big blow or a lightning as the Heaven's righteous anger, but nothing happened. There wasn't anything inside as well, just a piece of paper.

"It addressed to you, hunter, listen: 'You, the Left Hand of God, look around. Shadows are inside you, black as night.' Damn, what a handwriting! 'The Great Gift was given to weak and seeking for a shelter. If you're not you'll find your own very close. So small, yet so powerful that he cannot touch it. In this times of war, seek for 'tiny', which carries the love, carries its burden, carries protection …'

Great, I guess we lost our last chance!" Sel tore the paper into pieces, trying to stay calm; but tears were escaping her eyes so fast.

"No, you fault!" Gabriel embraced her tightly, letting her to cry in his shoulder.

"They're so young! Oh, you've seen them. And I should guide them on death! Gabriel, it's a suicide!" she sobbed bitterly.

"Calm down. I won't let you to die as I said. We'll continue our searches and, I'm sure, we'll find the Great Gift."

"But the time! Few hours left!"

"Not few, ten! Come on! We're going to awake our Sleeping Beauty!"

Armies were slowly preparing for the Battle. Lucifer hoped to finish the war and treated with his warlords worse than ever. Meantime The Holy Order was seeking for every man able to hold a sword. It seemed that ancient times of knights came back. Malletty ordered to train the recruits until they fall unconscious.

The Council acted the same and didn't feed their army, for them to fight with fury and lust. Only Seline has chosen Victor's tactic: if soldiers love their leader, they fight better.

Well, not only these two military camps were preparing for the battle. Marinette built her army almost of nothing; it wasn't so disciplined, but was ready to die for her. The demoness had a plan to take the devil's place and join the Holy Order. Her cloaked figure flashed into Red general's tent with an interesting offer. He agreed to listen to her …

Dracula was far of the war in his minds. Seline was droving him mad and he couldn't do anything to forget her. Lucifer's whores were also helpless. The count felt so broken, knowing that she's somewhere with his enemy. He shook himself from pictures, which his evil imagination drew. But the voice, cold and loud, awoke him like a bucket of cold water.

"Missing your wench?" the devil smirked, appearing in flames as he used to. Vlad glared back and then stared into the red sky, so creepy and unnatural.

"I want you to play your role in my victory." Lucifer said firmly.

"Victory? The battle is only today night and you're already celebrating?"

"Listen to me when I speak!" Satan groaned, still didn't hurt his son. "I'll give you the power, which no one of my demons had. Try your wings, my son."

Vladislaus raised a brow, but did what his father asked. It wasn't his usual hell-beast form, no … something more. He stayed normal, except two big black wings like angel's, but of a dark angel actually; wings were tearing his shirt in two places on the back.

"What's the hell is it?" Dracula touched his new wings nervously.

"Don't you like them? I thought you'll enjoy getting the power of a fallen angel."

"Fallen angel?"

"Yes, my son, we're a real family now!" the devil laughed, his laugh bouncing off the walls. Vlad turned back into normal and found out that tears on his shirt had disappeared.

"So how can it help?"

"Werewolves are not your problem anymore. Still desire for a revenge?"

Vladislaus grinned evilly – the best answer.

After long searches in all Angelica's books Seline left Van Helsing, who promised to save her when it all happen. She flew to the camp, where was gloomy and terrifying atmosphere; simple vampires-soldiers were irritated with bloodlust, werewolves were howling, officers demons often used a whip to calm them down and it led to clashes. Selin could taste the whip, too, but she caught it easily and broke under soldiers' cheers. "Aren't brave enough to speak with us face to face?" she hissed. The demon stepped back, letting her to walk her way. Sel entered her tent and started putting on her armor: thin metallic close-fitting protective covering, other were leather pants, high boots and a belt with a dagger on it. 'My poor little girl … Damn!' she kneeled, covering her face with hands, crying.

"Seline," Lora called, coming in. Seeing her strong friend in such state, the girl hurried to embrace her, to calm somehow.

"I'm alright, Lo, I'm just worrying about my Sophia."

"Sophia?"

"I thought it would be a lovely name for my daughter … but …" Seline sobbed in Lora's grasp.

"Good name, I'm sure your baby would like it! Promise that I'll be her unofficial godmother."

"Lo, we'll die soon!"

"Hey, I'm not going to! As you should do, as Alex and all those guys under your command."

"I'm giving in to my destiny."

So they gathered. It was a marvelous sight: two enormous armies. The Holy Order in all white with a shield of angels, covered with light on the one side. Dark army of demons, werewolves and vampires on the other. They were standing face to face, weapons bared, anger in the eyes. Seline gave a quick look on her guys, ready to die for the Council. 'Why do our lives have so low price? What's the difference between us and those nature bastards?' she thought, admiring the soldiers.

Emilio Malletty thought almost the same, observing his army from the white horse. They came to fight for faith, for their lives and future of their children. He then looked at the enemies. The reasons were common actually, no matter if you're a human or an immortal creature.

Devolio on his black horse rode to Seline and gave an order. "Move your troop now!"

"What if I won't?" she hissed back, baring her fangs.

"I'll kill you on their eyes. Go!"

Thinking about her child, Selin gave a command to her soldiers, who followed her. Humans reacted back. It was a bloody and dirty fighting. But Selin didn't see a lot. There was a long silver cross with on sharp side, thrown like a spear by the Red general. The vampiress haven't noticed it flying, but felt the cold metal just right in her chest.

Screams, figures and shadows mixed in one vortex … Then they dissapeared.