Talavera rushed back to the station, and ignored the glances she received from her co-workers, "Vanessa."

"Yes?" the secretary looked up, "Oh, Officer Talevera, what happened? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"Nothing, just lost sleep." She sighed, "Look, I'm working on the case about Dr. Beta."

"Dr. Beta? Oh, yes." Vanessa pulled out a few files, "You were looking for her file?"

"Anything you have on her."

"Okay, here you are. But before you go…"

Talavera felt annoyance rising, "What?"

"My father, he said he would tell you what he knows, the address is 1755 on the main street."

She wrote it down quickly, "Thanks."

On her lunch she got in her car, and headed out to the address that Vanessa had given her, eventually finding herself in front of a small bar. As she entered, she saw an older man at the bar, "Oye! Get yer ass back here and pay for your drink lad! Yer too young to drink!"

"No way you Old Fart!" clearly the boy was no older than 17, "You fell for that fake ID!"

"Lad, I'd hate to get me wife involved in this, I know she has given you a job at her wee shop!"

The boy froze at the Scotsman's words, then mumbled as he handed over a ten-dollar bill, "you can come back once yer old enough to drink!" He suddenly turned, "Oh, sorry there, you must be Miss Talevera. Vanessa told me ya might be paying me a visit."

"Yes, Vanessa told me you had information."

His face twisted, "Bloody Yanks… Yer tendency to be rude gets on my nerves. But I suppose so, I can't break me promise to me girl. Sit down at that table over there, I'll be there in a jiffy."

She went over, and in a few minutes he sat down across from her, "Sorry, had to get someone to cover the bar for a while, me customers wouldn't appreciated closing before three in the morning."

Talavera was feeling quite annoyed, why did he have such a strong accent? "What did you have to tell me?"

All began in the time when the British had first taken Scotland, in the late 16th Century….

1639 Scotland…

Kelly McDonnel wandered through the halls of her home, wondering how her father had managed to keep them hidden for so long. He had once been a great commander, but upon his refusal to fight for either side, they'd had no choice but to move to their vacation house deep in the woods. Peeking into her father's study, she saw him with his books, "Papa?"

He turned, "Kelly, I did not see you there. What is it my darling girl?"

"Why did Mama leave us?"

"She didn't have a choice, she left to protect you."

"I miss her…" she looked at a photo of her mother, "When will we get to go home?"

"Once the war has ended, and once we are safe."

"What do you mean Papa?"

"Kelly," he put down his letter, "we were sent away as traitors, it may be your children who will return to the city. I would be killed by an angry mob of young lads your age should I return there. I am passing all my skills onto you, and I am sure things will change by the time you reach up in years."

"But Papa, can't we just make ourselves look different?"

"It's not that easy…"

Suddenly, there was a loud crash, and men came charging in to take her father away, "The King demands you stand trial!" one of the guards said, "Your daughter will be spared."

"PAPA!"

"Run!" he shouted, "Run into the woods lass! Use all I have taught you!"

Easily evading the guards, Kelly rushed away from the sounds of glass crashing, knowing that her father was likely going to die. Tears streamed down her face as she ran, the dead branches cutting her cheeks and tearing her clothes. Suddenly, she was tumbling down a hill, and screamed as she hit her head and was engulfed by darkness.

She woke up, unsure of how long she'd been out, but realized she was laying before a large stone fireplace. Looking around her, the room was fairly empty, aside from a tall armchair where a figure was sitting. "Careful, you took quite a fall there." The figure rose and helped her up, "Please, take my seat."

Kelly nodded, but stumbled as the world spun, then fell into the tall chair. The woman did not show her face, but left for a moment before returning with a blanket and hot coco. "Where am I?"

"You are in my home, fear not, no one will find you here."

"T-thank you…"

"Of course, do you need another blanket?"

"No, thank you, but how did you find me? Papa said no one lived in these woods."

"You are not in the world you know, but rather a world where I reside." The woman suddenly pulled out a bottle of glowing liquid, and began to put it on some of her cuts, "Here, this will help you heal."

The liquid stung as the strange woman applied it, "How injured was I?"

"Several would have been fatal."

"Then how am I alive?" Suddenly she realized something, "PAPA!"

"Your father did not make it," the woman took out a dark bandage and wrapped it around Kelly's arm, "But if you wish, you may have revenge."

"Huh?"

"The men who took the life of your father, they work for the new King, he wishes to change the ways of your people into his own."

"It was not Papa's fault! He loved his church, but refused to fight as he believed there was a peaceful solution."

"There are times child, when war is an inevitable conflict, one that will cost many lives but is unable to be avoided. Conflicts are all a part of us, and come from the very instincts in which were engrained into our ancestors and those before your kind."

Kelly was confused by the statement, "What did you mean by I may have revenge?"

The woman removed her hood, and Kelly drew back in shock, "I will offer you assistance, but you must give me something in return…"

Victoria Campbell stood before the painting in her large castle, wishing she had never told her brother of her lover's location, had she possessed more strength she may have been able to protect them. Leaving her child and secret husband alone had been one of her greatest regrets, although she still loved the children she had borne to her second husband, but she could never forget the family she left. Her people were resisting Charles the first through this war, trying to stop the Catholic reform that he so demanded that her people follow. Suddenly, she heard the sound of battle, and a war cry so loud that it shook the very foundation her home sat upon.

Looking out to the battle field, she saw a young woman there, holding a bow and a quiver of arrows on her back. Her hair was red as the flames that burned in the fire, and she had red markings around her eyes, and held a dark bow, arrow set at the ready. The girl was vicious in her attacks, the wrath of God clearly upon the troops that had been sent from England by the King. Her eyes glowed red as she cut a man in half with a sharp tail that spun around while arrows flew from her weapon every few seconds. It was only then that Victoria realized that the girl could only be capable of this, was to be a demon. It was impossible that anyone could have known where the castle was, aside from Victoria's family and the royal court of England. Suddenly, a crack formed in the ground, and fiery forms emerged, attacking the soldiers that were fleeing from battle toward the gardens of her home.

Fearful that the forms were vengeful spirits, Victoria rushed to her children's room and took them to the cellar, locking the door. "Mama?" Her youngest pulled on her skirts, "Why are we down here?"

"Tis not safe up in the gardens, lass." She hugged her children as thunder boomed, "Our Lord has sent upon our people a demon to save our home."

"But are demons not a bad omen Mama?" her son lit a candle in the corner, "You always said you had a dark past, and had committed an unforgivable sin."

"Yes, I left a child that I bore before marrying your Papa." She sat down and pulled her daughter onto her lap, "I met him when I was young, and had a girl when I was just 18. Your Pappy was not pleased that I had given birth to a child out of wedlock, and out of sin. The lass would be about twenty now…"

"Ma," her son got up, "you never told us we had an illegitimate sibling, does Papa know?"

"Yes, and I fear he may have hunted them down. He was enraged when he found out that I had given birth out of sin and that the father was one who did not support the reform England demands. He sent his troops to find the an and destroy him, but the child escaped."

Suddenly, the cellar door was torn open, and her husband came inside, relocking it quickly. "What a monster have you brought upon us!" he gripped Victoria's collar, "Had you never had a child with that traitor, this demon would not have descended upon my men! Do you not realize what you have done you wretched woman?"

"What makes you think that a monster such as yourself did not bring my wrath upon you." A voice suddenly echoed off the walls as the cellar doors were broken open, "Do you feel no guilt for your deed?"

Victoria saw that where the woman stepped, ashen footprints remained. She unsheathed a blade that lit on fire, "Demon!"

"Perhaps, if that is what you believe." The girl put the dagger up to his throat, "Do you truly feel that you can abuse your wife for a choice that never affected you, did Commander McDonnel ever do wrong to you? What possessed such an esteemed individual such as yourself to commit such a crime?"

He spat in the demon's face, "The mighty god will destroy you demon, no sin will go unpunished! His divine power will destroy you!"

She cocked her head, "Who said I was born from your God?" then she threw him against the wall, "I am only sparing you and your pathetic men so that you may care for your wife and children. But you will remember to treat them respectfully, and hear their words. Should you fail to remember my warning, I shall return and tear your heart from your chest, your soul wandering searching for unreachable peace."

Victoria covered her daughter's eyes as the woman disappeared in a flash of flames, then looked at her husband. There was a large mark on his chest, one she had never seen, but clearly of a curse.

Henry looked at his parents, then back to the footprints that had been burned into the ground by the fiery spirits his mother had described. It had been only a few days since they'd had the encounter with what his father had deemed an incarnation of Wrath, a deadly sin. For some reason, unlike his father, Henry suspected that there was more to the demon than met the eye. The woman's hair had been just like his mothers, down to the very curls that framed her face; but the sheer ferocity in which she had protected his mother, that was what made him wonder, could the demon be his half-sister? Had she died and become a vengeful spirit. Suddenly, he realized that her footprints were different, nothing grew where she had walked. Silently, he snuck away from his parents and followed them to the darker edge of the woods, "What are you doing here?" He turned to see her there, but her eyes were a vibrant amber color, "You shouldn't be here."

Staring at her, he was sure of it, this had to be his mother's lost daughter, "You're her, aren't you?"

"I am who?"

"Look, please, I just want to know…"

The woman sighed, and sat down on a rock, "You are not much younger than I, are you Lad?"

"Mama said that her daughter would have been about twenty now, and you protected her, spared my father for her sake. I can't think of any other reason that a demon would do that unless there was some kind of connection between."

"Yes…." She looked up at the trees, and suddenly a large bear burst out of the brush, snarling at him. But before he could run, she stood and put a hand on the beast's snout, "Shh, he means no harm."

Henry was fearful, but watched as she soothed the animal, amazed that it did not harm her. As she sat back down, the bear lay its head upon her lap and she began to stroke its coarse fur. "Is that your-"

"The bear is a powerful creature, one that can create great destruction, but a mother bear will fiercely protect her cubs. Indeed, it is true, I was born to your mother in sin, but my Papa took care of me once she had left. I feel pity for her, but no love."

"Why?"

"I never knew her; all I knew was my Papa from the time I was two years old. Papa taught me everything he knew, but your father wished him dead, and sent his men. I ran for my life and sustained fatal wounds, but was saved by an otherworldly being."

"What? You're not associated with the Devil? Papa said that you were an incarnation of Wrath, one of the seven sins."

"That is true." She looked into his eyes, "But you fail to comprehend the truth behind the seven deadly sins, they have existed long before the times of religion, their roots deep within instinct that is seen in all creatures that exist on this world."

"But they say that is wrong, you'll go to Hell should you commit any of them!"

Her smile was sad, and he noticed that both cheeks were gashed, "Fear is not to be disregarded, but must be overcome to survive." Then she was gone.

Getting up, Henry stopped when he saw that there was something remaining in the ash. He picked it up and realized it was a golden necklace with a delicate cross hanging from the chain, and he knew who he had to take it to. Rushing home, he found his mother crying in the garden, "Ma?"

She looked up, "Your father, he has run away! We are all alone!"

He walked up to her, "I don't think we are; you need to have this." Victoria took the small chain from him, and her heart skipped a beat as she realized it was the Clan McDonnell crest. "The girl that you saw fighting Ma, she was your daughter."

"But how?" Victoria wept, "How could she become such a dangerous creature?"

"I don't know, but she said that she was fatally injured, but was not saved by the devil."

"Then who?"

"You don't need to know who." She suddenly appeared again, "I have a purpose now, Mother. Although I feel nothing toward you, I will protect you, and your children. Father loved you, and in his memory, I promise that you will be safe."

Victoria stared at her, "Kelly…" Getting up she felt her daughter's hair, "You look so much like your father, you have his fighting spirit."

"Papa loved you." Kelly looked out to the field, "He always told me that you left to protect us, and taught me everything he knew. Although all you saw was not only his teachings, but as a warrior, I will always hold those closest to my heart. But I spoke the truth in my threat to your husband, should he and his people try and hurt you, I will destroy them."

"But why is this violence called for?"

"It depends on what you mean. Wrath has many ways of revealing itself, such as his treatment of you after finding out about me, his anger led him to harm you. It can also be in the form of words, words that can tear a hole into a child's mind and lead them to the depths of despair. Change is constant, but often comes from the desire to make things better, or from a vendetta against others. But I must bid you farewell. Goodbye…"


Please Read and Review, any suggestions of how to flesh out the story are welcome!