Hi! Sorry for sooooooooooo long. Thanks to your offers, they really intrigued me! Well, I'll have to mahe my brain move to take decision. Hope you'll share your minds then!

Chapter 22

Old friends

"The reason, why I'm holding from breaking you few ribs, is Seline as you understood."

Dracula and Van Helsing were in a locked room of Lucien's house. The distance between them was hot as fire in hell. They loved one woman; what an irony …

"I wanted to say the same, but maybe we should do something instead of stupid talks." Gabriel saw his 'friend's' eyes sparkled; still there was nothing inside, like looking into a bottomless well.

"I was going to, but, hmm, first you say what found out about Diana."

"I don't know if I can trust you. You're devil's slave."

"Don't remind. He broke his word and I'm on Diana's side or … somewhere in the middle. For all these centuries of my life I came to a conclusion that to be soulless, immortal creature means to be between light and darkness. Ah, I became so sentimental!"

"I've noticed. So I have the Seer's note about the Great Gift. It's about… that it's near and quite small. Well, that's all …"

Vlad laughed, his voice was annoying for Gabriel's ears.

"Great, detective! We'll definitely find that Gift!"

"You said 'we'?"

"Yes and I meant this. Seline should stay here before healing up completely, but honestly, I want to lock her for the wartime."

"You speak about Sel like if she's your privacy."

"She is. Only two of us, without you."

"We'll see … What about the Gift then?"

Vladislaus took away the hair in his usual manner, thinking fast.

"I know the one, who definitely knows everything, but … this person hates me and wishes me to die."

"Really? What did you do?"

"Just joked. Never mind. If we visit her …"

"So it's a woman."

"You're quizzing me like Seline. Yes, it's a woman, one demoness. She thinks that can fight against Lucifer." Dracula smirked bitterly, feeling uncomfortable from memories about Marinette and their last meeting.

"Devil's foe, friend to us." Van Helsing pronounced solemnly.

"Agree then? To visit her?"

"What are we waiting for?"

Gabriel entered Diana's room to speak with Angelica to carry about Seline, but the witch was helping to wounded downstairs. The hunter walked to Dia, unwillingly smiling at her peaceful sleep. She was so beautiful and so gentle. He couldn't take it any longer; he even hasn't noticed how his lips met with hers. He thought that felt a light tremble on them.

"Diana?"

No, she was still sleeping. Van Helsing sighed and hurried to join Vladislaus outside. He found out that it's not too bad to work with this vampire, no matter how bad he was. They kept the distance though.

Very soon they were mowing fast down the huge valley, made by the falling angels and demons. Dracula was flying above, very impressed with his new wings, showing Gabriel the way. The hunter in his wolf-form had to spend lots of time and energy on jumps over the giant corpses, irritating his guide.

"Should I carry you!" Vladislaus gave him a hit with his wing.

"Better for you to be higher or I'll make you to walk!" Van Helsing's teeth scratched the air dangerously close to the wing. "Where does she live?" he asked then, while making his way through the crowd of Holy Order soldiers.

"Well, when I've been there for the last time, it was a castle, surrounded with tents of her demons. Still I don't see anything. I'm landing." the vampire lowered near the werewolf, his wings turned into a black cloak behind his back.

"The devil gave you …"

"Yes. Speaking about Lucifer, I guess he finished the battle for some time."

Men looked around. Soldiers, who could walk without help, were carrying wounded, but only humans. Vampires were gloomy and all in blood and dirt, with such a look like 'come closer and you'll get what you deserve'. Werewolves were howling, licking their wounds; demons used whips to calm the army, but it often lead to problems. Gabriel noticed Emilio Malletty, broken, without a horse, his red vestment of the cardinal looked worse than any rabble. The Red general gave some orders in a low tone, his temples were grey and wrinkles cut his forehead; he became an old man for one night.

"I've never seen him in such state …" Van Helsing shook his head bitterly.

"Oh, yes. Remember past battles? So it's the worst. Funny, isn't it? Marvelous troops in brilliant armor, with flags and standards, on beautiful horses – turned into dust." Vlad could feel the scent of death, it was clear that he enjoys the chaos around.

"I hate the war. So much people die every minute."

"But you like the adrenaline of the battle?"

"Well …"

"Come on. I think your boss wouldn't be glad to see deserter."

"I'm not!" Gabriel growled, baring teeth. Dracula's eyes sparkled in the darkness. "You are, my friend. You've left your commander at the beginning of the battle. Relax, I think it wasn't the last. Look!"

They threw heads up and saw the column of new angels and demons settling on opposite sides. Then another strange thing drew their attention. It was a red-haired woman in black cloak, leaving Malletty's tent.

"Marinette!" Vladislaus said with a smirk across his face. Meantime Gabriel was sitting on the ground, breathing heavily, pale as his 'friend' from the awful transformation. Vlad threw him his cloak. "We'll speak with lady and we don't want to shock her."

The hunter put it on and they walked to her, surrounded with her bodyguards.

"Good day, Marinette!"