Back with a new chapter; so my plan is that I spend the weekend writing and then over the next week I'll update [hopefully a chapter a day. That's all for now; enjoy!

The shock hit so hard Brookarius had to remind himself to breath. Dracula was alive? How could that be? Someone else had returned him to the living? Someone? But who? The only other person besides the Guardian that was able to communicate directly with the Lord was…

Dracula smirked, watching as Brookarius slowly came to the realization that was the truth.

"Gabriel?" he whispered softly.

Dracula smirked and strolled over to another door connecting to a different part of the tavern. He opened it and spoke softly to someone on the other side. There was shuffling beyond the door and then the sound of something heavy hitting the floor. Brookarius watched in horror as Dracula returned to the room, another vampire behind him dragging the semi-conscious body of the Left Hand of God.

Brookarius felt his heart break into a million pieces, Gabriel was like a son to him. How could he do this to him? To the Order? To mankind?

"Gabriel…why?" Brookarius asked, his voice filled with so much pain and betrayal Gabriel could hardly bare to meet his gaze. Finally he lifted his dark-brown eyes to meet Brookarius's silver ones.

"For love," he said simply and let his head drop back down to his chest.

Dracula watched in absolutely glee at the scene that lay before him. Humans were so amusing with their petty wants and qualms, he'd almost forgotten how much fun it was to just sit back and watch. He motioned to the guard that was holding Gabriel to leave. The guard nodded and let go of Gabriel, immediately causing him to fall to the floor with a loud thud.

Gabriel tried to rise, but gravity was just too much for him and his body was far from strong enough to fight it. So he lay there, feeling Brookarius's gaze burn a hole into his back before he was roughly hoisted to his feet by Lucus and forced one again to meet him mentor and friend's burning eyes.

Gabriel could see the glitter of tears in Brookarius's eyes and forced himself to speak, "I know you'll probably never forgive me, but please let me try to explain."

Brookarius could only nod.

Gabriel took and deep breath and began the recount of his tale.

He walked alone down the dark streets of Paris, oblivious to the whip of the harsh winter winds on his chapped lips and the numbness that had slowly seeped through his wet boots. He didn't know where he was going; in fact he had no idea where he even was. It had been like this for weeks after Anna had died, this constant state of denial, pain, guilt, and regret.

It ate at Gabriel from the inside out and he could feel the effects of it already taking its toll on his body. He felt light-headed and hot even though it was freezing out side and the middle of winter. His skin was clammy and he was sweating beneath his clothes, but he didn't care. He didn't care about anything. All he wanted was Anna. All he needed was Anna.

But Anna was gone; the light of life had been taken from him. And now he welcomed the darkness as he slid down again a deserted alley wall. The last thing he saw was the snow blanketing his clothes before the darkness overtook him.

The light was bright, God it was bright! It blinded his eyes and made him want to turn away but Gabriel found he couldn't. As much as it hurt, it captivated him and he welcomed the warmth he felt seeping through his bones. He hadn't felt warmth since-…Anna. Immediately the comforting feeling of warmth disappeared and the cold came back.

Suddenly Gabriel noticed a figure coming out of the light, no wait…the figure was the light. It came closer until it stood right in front of Gabriel and Gabriel couldn't help but feel smaller in the presence of this majestic light.

"Why Gabriel?" the light asked, its voice gentle and comforting, "Why have you turned from the light? You have done so much for humanity; you should be proud and celebrating in your triumph. Not wasting away alone on the dark streets of Paris."

Gabriel wanted to scream and cry in his frustration. How could he not understand? He loved Anna! And if he could not live with then at least he would be with her in death…

"Ahh," said the voice, "So you have a death wish. Gabriel, hear this, since you have lived your life in righteousness and only lost your love in the fight against evil, I will grant you your heart's desire. I will return Anna to you, but if you agree you must understand that if I am able to give one person in heaven life back from death, namely Anna, Satan will also be able to bring one being back from death."

"What!" Gabriel gasped, almost crying at the injustice of it all.

"There must always be a balance Gabriel, good and evil, right and wrong, day and night, love and hate. Without one the other cannot exist. So will you reap the benefits of this choice and face the consequences? Or shall I send you back to your empty alley way?" God asked softly, "It is your world. It is your choice."

Gabriel shut his eyes and let the enormity of this decision wash over him. Then he sighed, man may do as he wants but not want as he wants, and whispered softly, "Forgive me…yes."

Gabriel finished his tale to the stunned silence of the room. Even Dracula had not heard the entire story before; it was quite beautiful in a foolish selfish sort of way.

"He returned Anna to me, and for that I will never regret my decision," Gabriel ended.

"Then where is Anna now?" Brookerius asked when he'd finally recovered his voice.

Gabriel's eyes lost most their feeling and his voice became monotone and slightly hushed, "She died in childbirth a couple days ago," he said softly, "That was the final blow; I realized it was just not in the stars for us to be together. I don't remember much after that. Only that when I woke up, I was a prisoner," he sighed, "it matters not though, there is only one thing on the world that matters now and I have done all I can to make sure it is kept safe. What happens to me…well I really don't care."

Brookarius's heart wept for Gabriel, for Anna, for himself, and for his men. Without their bargaining chip, all was lost…

"Now what?" he asked softly, not really expecting a reply.

Dracula's eyes flashed and he smiled slowly to reveal his elongated canines.

"Now," he whispered, "we feast to victory."

The last thing Broookarius remembered was as stunning blow to his chest and the sharp crack of his skull as it connected with the opposite wall. He could hear the sound of swords being drawn and then all was dark…

AUTHOR'S NOTE: ok, only one more chapter and then the really good stuff can start. I plan on skipping a couple years into the future eventually…just setting the scene for the jump right now. But it'll be good. I promise.

Please review? I feel unloved…seriously.