39 comments/ 69781 views/ 66 favorites Angelic Salvation By: sachiaiko This story was originally written to be a sequel to "A Ghost of a Chance", but as I wrote it, I created it in a way that it should stand alone just fine. As with most of my stories, we have a couple disclaimers. The first is that my this is not a piece of porn, its an erotic short story, emphasis on the word "story". You want quick porn, seek elsewhere. Second disclaimer is that this has elements of fantasy in it, its my style and my passion. Should these things be something you're interested in, have fun and enjoy! I certainly loved writing it, I hope you love reading it! Molly ran nervous fingers through her wispy blond hair, glancing over her shoulder as the feeling of being watched intensified. This had to stop. She'd asked her boss numerous times not to keep her until after the busses stopped running, but out of some vindictive cruelty he'd continued to schedule her until midnight every weeknight. Never mind that she had a two year old and an eight year old at home, waiting for her. If she didn't need the money, she'd have told Rick to shove his midnights up his ass and walked away. But as it was, she could barely afford childcare. A shadow passed overhead, causing Molly to glance up towards the roof of the building. Nope, nothing there, but she could have sworn something was following her from rooftop to rooftop. Please, Molly! Use your logic girl; if some one was following you I'm sure they'd be doing it from the ground and not atop the rooftops like some damned vampires. I need to lay off those books, bad Anne Rice, bad! She thought softly, adjusting her coat and picking up the pace. She was only four blocks from her home, she could make it quickly if she stopped dawdling with her thoughts. The misting had just turned into a steady drizzle when something caught Molly's attention. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a shadow, some figment of reality that had flashed then disappeared a blink of an eye. Her heart began to hammer against her chest. Some one was out here with her. She clutched her little purse in a white knuckled grip, fighting the urge to run. There was a lighted intersection just half a block up, if only she could make it. That, however, didn't seem to be in the cards for Miss Molly. As she neared the intersection, something hit her full force from behind, sending her sprawling out upon the wet pavement. She screamed, only to have the sound cut short by a bony hand clasping brutally over her mouth. Molly struggled, but to no avail, the man was much stronger then she was, there was just no way could she get free of his utterly unbreakable grip. Fear took over, and she began to squirm and breathe heavily as the steady weight of her captor pinned her to the ground. Baby blue eyes gazed into the gaunt face of the man who held Molly down, his dull muddy brown eyes locked on her tear streaked cheeks. "Hello, mamma." He hissed, his fetid breath bringing a fresh bought of tears and a whole new round of struggles. He only laughed. Not again, not again! I can't be raped again, I'd rather he kill me! Molly thought frantically as the man grinned, showing a set of jagged and broken teeth. He barely looked human, he was so grotesque, so utterly frightening. "Aren't you just a tasty little morsel?" he hissed, coming in closer to her face, using one knee to force her legs apart, one gnarled hand moving to push her skirt up her thigh. Molly bit down on the bony hand covering her mouth, tasting blood and drawing a curse from her tormentor. "Bitch!" "I'd get off the lady, if I were you." A soft clear voice sounded behind the struggling couple. The man atop her turned his head, his lank greasy hair falling into her eyes and making her want to gag all over again. "Mind your own damned business." He growled, his voice a series of rough gravely sounds meshed together into something resembling a human voice. "This ones mine!" Molly still couldn't see the man who tried to come to her rescue, but she couldn't wait to lay eyes on someone brave enough to do what he was doing. She tried to calm herself, if she was quiet, if she was still, he'd forget about her a moment and at the right second he'd distract the asshole for her savior. "Hardly." Came the droll reply, "She'd probably rather shoot herself then have your filthy hands on her. Now, I ask you once more. Get off the lady, or we'll have to see which one of us is really the better man, hrm?" Molly couldn't believe it! That low, sensual voice sounded... yes, it sounded amused! "I've killed so many of your kind; one more shouldn't pose much of a problem." Now, that confused Molly. What kind? Who? What? Huh? Well, she'd see soon enough, and she really didn't care what kind of anything her savior was, so long as he got her out of this predicament. "Heh, I'm going to look forward to proving you wrong." That voice, he sounded like some supremely masculine angel. Molly's heart quickened in spite herself, please, let him save her, she dared to hope. There was a moment of silence, and then it was as if the very wind about them clapped and there was a flurry of leather on flesh. She felt a pressure on her body, and then suddenly the man atop her was ripped from his perch, leaving long fingernail marks along her inner thigh. Molly scrambled back immediately, drawing in her frightened panted breaths. She turned, looking for the two men who fought over her, fought over her safety, and what she saw stunned her into stillness when she really should be standing and running towards her home. The man who'd tackled her stood, hunched over as if he couldn't quite get his back to behave properly. His hands were out in front of him, long bony fingers tapering off into a set of wicked looking claws, one simply couldn't call them fingernails. His long hair was grayish brown and matted to a skull which appeared sunken and dead. But it wasn't her captor that stole her breath away, it was her savior. Long blonde hair bleached platinum by the moonlight hung about his broad shoulders, his incredibly sensual mouth was pulled into a perpetual smile, even as the wicked man struck out at him with his claws and again and again. Her savior sidestepped so quickly her eyes could barely follow him, his ankle-length white leather trench coat swirling in a very al-la-Matrix manner. Green eyes flashed with fury as her savior raised one hand to pull something from his back, and with the sweet swishing sound that comes with drawing a blade he danced away from his opponent flashing steel. "You will no longer feed off the innocent." Came the soft words, and for a moment Molly thought his eyes appeared sad, distraught and yet full of certainty. She held her breath, what would come next... she had a feeling she'd never forget what she saw tonight, as if the very image of this white clad man would be burned into her brain for the rest of her life. He leapt so suddenly, his opponent gasped and tried to sidestep, almost as quickly as her savior had moved before, but not quick enough. Never quick enough. The blade arched downward in an avenging flash of silver. Molly wanted to cover her eyes, to turn away from the gruesome sight, and yet she couldn't force herself to. She watched as her savior sliced the man from shoulder to hip, and all without a sound. She saw the man begin to separate, each half of his body slipping away from the other with a sickeningly wet sound, and then at the last moment he burst into a puff of dark mist, fluttering almost peacefully to the cold wet pavement. With a sigh, her savior drew out a cloth from inside his coat, wiping his blade clean as he turned to her and re-sheathed his sword. She realized, belatedly, that she should be afraid of this man who just saved her life, or at least her virtue but she couldn't make herself afraid, she couldn't summon up the energy it took to run from him, so instead she sat there on the cold pavement as he knelt down, taking one of her small shaking hands. "Molly... Shhh..." he whispered, surprising her by the use of her name. "Look here, look at me." He said, and she obeyed him without question, gazing into his incredible green eyes. Eyes that looked like new leaves in spring, so bright and vibrant. "Who are you?" she whispered softly, her voice wavering with all that she'd seen, all that she'd just been through. "My name is Tristan..." he replied softly, "but you can think of me as your guardian Angel." He said, and then smiled. A real, knock your socks off make ya faint, heart fluttery smile. There was a flash. Molly blinked, glancing about her, then down at the hand holding hers. "Wha...?" she asked dumbly. "You fell, Miss, you really shouldn't be walking out this late all alone. Damn lucky I came by, now aren't you?" he asked. Molly felt struck by how familiar the blond man all dressed in white was. Where did she know him from? "Umm... Yea, my stupid boss keeps keeping me late. I think it's because I turned him down for a date." She sighed, and Tristan got to his feet, still holding her hand and helping her to stand as well. "Well, maybe its time for a new job." Tristan said, frowning. Molly was struck by how incongruent a frown looked on so handsome a face. She had the urge to touch his perfectly sculpted jaw, but she covered the urge by coughing into her traitorous hand. "Maybe, but I have two kids, I have to do what I have to do." She said softly, shrugging dainty shoulders. "Well, let me at least walk you the rest of the way home, Ma'am." Tristan said politely, offering her his arm. She smiled up at him, he was so tall compared to most people, a good bit over six feet, she thought to herself. "Sure. I think I might have just escaped something awful tonight. I don't think I should walk the rest of the way home alone, if you're offering." He nodded his head and started off in the direction she was headed before she 'slipped'. It took less then fifteen minutes for Tristan to walk his charge home, and when he left her at her doorway she waved to him and thanked him once more. He simply smiled, making a mental note to have a little 'chat' with her worthless ass of a boss. He stayed and watched her through the window a moment, then smiled quietly thinking of his love, it's time to go home. He thought softly, and with a leap he made his way to the top of Molly's building, taking his favorite route home, enjoying all the beautiful lights that one can only appreciate at night. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Sam flipped through the channels, frowning as he paused on a Law and Order: SVU. "Damn, I've already seen that one." He muttered under his breath. He sighed, tossing the remote onto the coffee table covered with various news paper clippings, most pertaining to Tristan, or something he'd done during what Sam liked to refer to as his 'super hero outings'. It'd been three months, well, just about three months since Halloween night. The night had changed almost everything about Sam's life and turned him upside down and inside out. The night when his dead friend had returned to him and seduced him into undying never-ending love, yea, well, that's what they say until the story ends and its time for regular life to begin again. Normal Life? Not really, heh. Sam thought quietly to himself, gnawing on his lower lip as his eyes skittered to the wall clock. Eleven, Damnit! Super Hero outings or not, Sam hated when Trist stayed out this late. He understood the job, well, as much as he could, but it just didn't excuse Tristan from coming home for dinner, or just to spend some time with him. There had been some drama surrounding his coming out to his parents. When he'd told his father he was gay, and he was seeing a man his father had nearly had a heart attack, and his mother had decided to cook dinner at one in the afternoon. It wasn't horrible, though, after they got over their shock they'd done everything to support Sam that they could. Obviously, his Tristan couldn't come to his family dinners looking like his dead friend Tristan, so with one of those powers that he suddenly seemed to possess, Trist had changed his appearance but they had stayed with the name. All anyone could think was that it was one hell of a coincidence. Or maybe that he was transferring the love he had for his best friend onto this new gay partner of his. It was a lot for his family to take in, but he had to give them credit for trying. There was one person in his life that seemed unable to accept this new change, some one Sam did think about often. Carolyn. She'd been his girlfriend, high school sweetheart. And after Trist had died he'd come home to find her shagging with his brother. It'd broken his heart, and until Tristan's return he'd thought he'd never get over the betrayal. Now... it all seemed so petty, she seemed so petty. And yet, there was a loneliness that Sam just couldn't shake. Tristan slept most of the early day, which left Sam to get up and work. By the time Sam got home he saw Tristan maybe two hours before he left for his nightly superhero work, and most nights Sam was in bed before Tristan came home because he had to get up and go to work early every morning. This isn't what he thought he was signing up for. Then again, in all honesty he had no idea what he'd been signing up for at the time, all he'd cared about was having the love of his life back in his arms, back in his heart, in his life. And, well he did get that, but as the months progressed he realized it just wasn't enough. He needed something more. He ached for Tristan. But he didn't think Tristan ached for him. Not any more. Not now that he had something important in his new unlife. What did he need Sam for anyhow? With a soft sigh, Sam wiped away a tear that threatened to fall and spoil his whole evening. "Fuck this," he said out loud, getting to his feet. "I'm going out." He growled, grabbing the cordless and dialing his friend Josh. "Yea, Josh... It's me Sam." He paused, waiting for a reaction. "Hey Sam, how you doing?" Josh replied over the phone, Sam had the sudden feeling he should hang up, but he didn't. "Hey... It's Friday, and I know how you always have something planned on Fridays. So... tell me you have room for one more, eh?" "Only one more?" came Josh's reply, friendly jesting touching his voice, "What about your boyfriend?" Sam could hear him smirking over the phone, and he had the urge to slap the smirk right off his friends face. Sometimes he wished he hadn't come out to all his friends, but he didn't feel it would have been fair to Tristan to hide their relationship. Unfortunately, it did cause problems. It didn't help that Josh was Carolyn's big brother. "Yea, just me tonight, Tristan's off doing work." Sam tried to sound chipper. He failed. "Heh, riiight." Josh said he wasn't buying that reply, despite the fact that it was indeed the truth. "Uh huh, sure, we can always have another over. We're just chillin' over at my house, have some beers and some movies. We were gonna watch Underworld on bootlegged DVD and laugh at all the stupid parts. So, basically laugh at the entire movie." "Cool, we'll I'll be over shortly. I need to get out of this house, all I do is work eat and sleep, I'm beginning to hate this apartment." Sam snorted. Josh was quiet a moment. "Hey Sam?" he said, a moment before Sam was about to hang up. "Yea?" "If you need some one to put the fear of god into that man... just let me know. I may not quite understand how you turned gay after my sister, but you're still my friend, ya know?" Sam had to smile; it was the closest to brotherly love he'd experienced since his real brother had fucked him, and Carolyn, over. "Thanks, Josh. I got it under control, though." "Just sayin' is all." He said, "Anyhow, get your fey ass over here!" And then all Sam heard was the click of the phone being hung up, and the silence that follows. Sam hit the off button on the phone and tossed it to the table, getting up to head to the bathroom, run a comb through his short dark hair and then put his shoes on. As an afterthought, Sam paused to write a note and tape it too the door, it read simply: I've gone out. Clipped and to the point. Sam didn't quite think Tristan deserved to know *where* he went, did he? Not that he'd care anyhow. He thought grumpily to himself. Sam locked the apartment, glanced around the dark night and then headed for his car. He slammed it into drive and sped down the street, making his way towards Josh's apartment. Sam would never have thought to go over there if he'd still lived at home with his parents and Carolyn, as it was, Josh had a live in girlfriend and spent far to much time partying. It didn't take him overly long to reach his destination, and by the time he'd parked his car Josh already had the door open, two beers in hand. "Sam! Buddy ol' pal ol' friend." He said jovially. Josh was a good looking guy, dirty blonde hair, broad shoulders and blue eyes. He'd been on the wrestling team and was still built for it, even though high school was long past. Accepting the offered beer bottle, Sam cast one of his slightly sarcastic smiles, "Josh ol' buddy ol' pal ol' friend." He replied, clapping him on the back and taking a good long pull of his beer. "Aah and that is damned good. I think this is just what I need today." He laughed softly as Josh steered him into the roomy three bedroom apartment. "Hey, I gotta warn you, Sam. Carolyn called and is on her way. I hope you don't leave cause she's showing up." Josh gave a grimace, looking at his friend. "I told her she had to behave with you; I won't have any of her funny business." Sam made a soft groaning sound, and then scowled at Josh. "Damnit, I thought I'd be free of her for the damned night." He sighed softly, and then drank down half his beer in one long gulp. "Alright then, I'll stay, but keep her on a bloody leash, Josh. I am sick of her continuously trying to get into my pants. She wasn't so stuck on it until she found out I was dating a man." He rolled his eyes and Josh laughed. "Hey, you know how I have felt about her fucking you over, Sam. I have always been on your side when it comes to Carolyn, maybe its not very brotherly of me, but shit I've known you since before you were dating her, and... I dunno, what she did was real wrong. The truth is I think she just wants what she can't have, as awful as that may sound." Josh pushed him into the living room where Kenneth, Linda, and James were seated in various places. "Hey Sam!" Linda, Josh's girlfriend, called out to him with a wave. "I saved a place for you on the couch!" she grinned at him as Kenneth scowled. "Yea, she kicked me off, your obviously much more special then me." Kenneth said with a good natured kick in Linda's direction. "Hey now, get your stinky feet off me!" Linda shrieked as Sam plopped down on the couch and Josh followed him down, taking the seat between Sam and Linda, putting an arm around his girl. "Okay, he's here, can we watch this stupid movie now?" James asked, giving Sam a hesitant smile. He wasn't certain how to treat Sam now that he knew he was gay. It was like he was afraid Sam might oogle his ass if he wasn't ultra careful. Sam would have found it amusing if it hadn't been so damned sad. Josh took the remote in hand and clicked on the play button, navigating the DVD player until the movie they were all going to make fun of started. Sam simply sat, smiling as he finished his first beer, tapping the empty bottle with his fingertips and listening to his friends laugh at the stupid lines and amusing facial expressions of the male vampire. It didn't take long for Carolyn to arrive, only fifteen minutes or so into the movie, Sam wouldn't meet her gaze. She wrung her hands, frowning slightly as everyone else waved to her but him. Angelic Salvation "Hey Sam," she said in that soft voice of hers, god it grated on his nerves, why couldn't she just speak up? When she wanted to yell she could shriek like any other harpy, but she had this idea that soft spoken is sexy. How very wrong she was. "Hey Carolyn," he said, and then turned his head back to watch the movie, laughing at the male vampire's attempt at anger. "Gods this acting is so very bad, it's almost as bad as the lines." He commented, laughing. Josh smirked, "Yea, I know, that's why we got it. It's just so dumb we have to point it all out. Heh, it's what we affectionately call a beer movie." Carolyn watched this for a moment, then sighed and gave a little frown. "Hey, any of you guys want another beer while I run to the kitchen to get one for myself?" Carolyn asked, trying to sound chipper. She almost succeeded, if she would have just dropped that breathy stupidity she continued to use. Sam realized that the more time he spent in the company of his ex, the more he wanted to wring her pretty little neck, and the fact that he'd spent years of his life connected to her made him wonder what kind of fool he'd been. "Yea, I guess you could get me another one." Sam said, putting his empty bottle down. Carolyn brightened, offering him one of her heart stopping smiles. Sam's heart just kept on beating. She just no longer affected him anymore, unfortunately for her, and very fortunately for him. "Yea, me too, Carol!" Kenneth called out, giving her a little wink which she ignored. "Hey, Ken, you into her?" Josh asked him, smirking. With a blush, Ken shrugged his shoulders. "Yea, but she's got eyes only for Sam, probably for the best really, wouldn't want to find her fucking my brother, considering that he's only fifteen." Kenneth grimaced, and Josh kicked him. "Shut the fuck up, that's still my sister, bitch." "Yea yea, sorry." Ken replied. Carolyn came walking in a moment later, holding three beers. She handed one to Ken, then came over and sat on the floor beside Sam, putting on hand on his knee as she offered him his beer. Sam shifted nervously, trying to get her to leave him alone. She wouldn't move her hand, she just watched him from beneath her eyelashes, not even making a pretense of how she felt. Considering the only thing he could do was ignore her, Sam began to down his second beer, and laugh at all the parts of the movie that tickled his funny bone. "Jeez this movie is so dumb; I am so damned glad I didn't pay 7+ bucks to see it." "Yea, I wasn't so intelligent, I took my girlfriend out too it and we almost actually left." James said, beginning to warm to Sam again. He always did, after a while of spending some time with him it was like he forgot that he was dating a man and suddenly it was okay to be himself again. "Heh, damn." Sam was about half done with his beer, and began to tap lightly on his thigh, feeling a little strange. I must be missing Tristan. He thought absently to himself, then finished the last of his beer and put the bottle down without a second glance. A few minutes later, Sam frowned, his hand rubbing against his thigh in what appeared a nervous habit. And Carolyn took this moment to strike. "Sam, do you think that maybe we could talk, please?" She said, biting her lower lip and doing her best to appear sad and uncertain. "Carol, I told you to leave him the fuck alone if you came over here." Josh snapped at her, glaring. "I just want to talk, Josh! Please, please Sam? I just have some apologies to make..." she heaved a soft sigh, and Sam rolled his eyes. "Fine." Was all he said, getting to his feet. "You have ten minutes." "Sam..." Josh said warningly, knowing his little sister had to have something up her sleeve, but Sam simply shook his head and lead Carolyn into the guestroom to have their little talk. She fidgeting slightly, cutting her eyes upwards at him, then blushed prettily. Sam groaned inwardly, this didn't look like an apology. "Sam..." she breathed, and then bit into the flesh of her lower lip for a moment, as if uncertain of what to say. Sam just leaned against the doorway, pleasure sparking in his flesh from where his body rested against the wall. He frowned, everything feels so good right now, he thought idly to himself, his hands sliding up and down his own arms. "Look, just spit out what you want to say and leave me alone, Carolyn." He said. "Okay... Sam, see..." she stepped closer, one hand resting against his muscled chest. Fire burned in his flesh from her touch and suddenly his chocolate eyes began to burn into hers, a heat she was afraid she might never see again. "I keep wondering what I can do... to make it up to you, what I did I mean." She murmurs, and Sam realized that he wanted her to slide that slim hand down his chest and along his belly. What the hell? He thought to himself, and then she did exactly when he had wanted, moving her hand tantalizingly slowly, raking her fingernails against him through the thin shirt. Sam groaned, his eyes half closing. "Let me make it up to you, Sam... Please..." she whispered, tilting her head up to look into his eyes. Her lips were slightly parted, and her soft pink tongue slipped out to wet them. Sam found his head falling downward, and just before his mouth closed on hers he jerked his head back, blinking. A look of frustration passed across her face briefly, and then she hooked her fingers in the waistband of his pants and tugged him towards the small bed. "Carolyn..." Sam said shivering as her hand brushed his lower belly. Gods, everything felt so good. "Stop... what are you doing?" he let her push him down on the bed though, despite his words, and she was suddenly straddling his hips, and his hands were around her waste, sliding against her bare skin beneath her tank-top. "I knew you weren't Gay..." Carolyn whispered, leaning down to brush lips against his cheeks, "I knew it, I just knew it. You don't have to play this game to get me back, Sam. I want you, I want you back." Sam moaned softly when the warm V of her thighs brushed against his achingly hard shaft. This wasn't right. Her words began to sink in, and he shook his head, releasing his hold on her. "No." he said, closing his eyes and shivering. "Tristan..." he moaned, "Stop, Carolyn, what the fuck is going on here?" she ground her hips against him, and his breath caught in his throat. "You want me, I can feel it, your so hard for me you're about to burst through your jeans." She whispered, her lips nipping at his sensitive neck. The touch sent bolts of shivery flames through his blood. "This isn't right, Stop." He growled. "What ...?" Sam wanted to fuck her, but not fuck her, fuck anything. Something was so very wrong. "Carolyn," he said, holding his hands up and away from her body, "Carolyn, Stop!" he said. She wouldn't, she tried to pull his shirt up over his head, and with his hands up and his mind muddled she managed to get it off and on the floor. "Sam, I know what you need, I know you need me. You probably haven't even fucked that boy you say you're dating." She was obviously incredibly delusional. "I know you need me, I need you too baby. Let me ease your pain..." her hand was at his belt, trying to pull it open. All of this was going far too quickly for Sam's taste, he just couldn't get his mind and body to agree on what was happening. He growled, feeling at a complete and utter loss, and then finally he remembered. "Tristan..." he whispered out loud. "No, No, Carolyn, STOP!" As he bellowed that single word, his hands came up and grabbed her, forcefully beginning to push him from his body and onto her back on the bed. He leaned over her, getting very close to her face. "WHAT did you do to me?!" he snarled, and her eyes widened with sudden fear. Sam realized she'd gotten her shirt off, and her bra clad breasts heaved against his chest as he held her pinned. "Bitch, what did you do to me!?" he said, voice deadly calm. "Nothing!" she lied, "You just want me, Sam, its natural, I want you too." She argued, panting and leaning up to kiss him... @@@@@@@@@@@@ Tristan made it home at about twelve thirty, and all he wanted to do was wrap Sam up in his arms and kiss him until he begged for breath. However, when he opened the door and called out his customary, "Honey! I'm Home!" Sam didn't respond. It took him a moment of peeking in every room of the apartment before he realized Sam wasn't there, and that's when he noticed the note on the door. I've gone out. Tristan frowned slightly, looking at the angry scrawl on the paper in front of him, obviously Sam's in a snit again. Damn, he thought quietly. Now I have to find him and calm him the fuck down again. I don't understand why he's so upset lately, I have to work, and if I don't work then I have to go back. I wish I could get him to understand what it is I do. I wish I could get him to understand I do it so I can stay with him. Because I love him. Tristan sighed, crumbling the paper in his fist as he took a seat on the couch. He probably called some one before he went out. My guess is that he's at Josh's. Tristan thought, then leaned over and picked up the phone. He clicked it on, and then hit 'redial'. "Yeap?" Came Josh's surly answer. "Hey Josh, I was just wondering if Sam was over there, he left me a note, but its late and I just wanted to make sure he had a ride home if he was drunk or something." Tristan said politely, not allowing his growing hurt to show in his voice. "Yea, he's over hear. He's only had two beers, but I promise to call you if I think he's too drunk to drive home." He paused for a moment, and then a little hesitantly he said, "Hey, you want to come over and finish watching the movie with us?" Josh was always attempting to befriend Tristan, and in all honesty Trist felt very happy that Sam had a friend other then him who strove to understand him. "Yea, that'd be great, thanks Josh. I'll be over in ten." Tristan didn't have to fake the happiness in his voice; he felt genuine warmth for Josh. Then again, he always had when he'd been alive. He and Josh and Trist had been like the three musketeers, and while he'd never been as close to them as Tristan and Sam had been together, they'd always been real close. "Cool, I'll let Sam know your on your way." He said, then, "See you when ya get here." And that was it. Tristan clicked the phone off, frowned slightly then tossed it onto the coffee table. Getting to his feet ran fingers through his golden blonde hair before he headed for the door. He walked, but even still it didn't take him very long to get there. He knocked on the door, and Kenneth answered with a grin. "Hey, sup" he said, "Come on in, wanna beer?" He asked, holding an open bottle up to Tristan. With a grin, Trist accepted and took a pull off the bottle, "Oooh, damn good, thanks Ken." Walking into the room and waving to everyone. "Hey Tristan! Take a seat, the movies nearly done but we have another one," he paused, holding up 'Bruce Almighty' with a grin. "Excellent, where's Sam?" Tristan asked, leaning against the couch with a smile. "Erm, I think he's in the guest room with Carolyn, she said she wanted to talk to him alone and 'apologize', honestly I was about to go in there and bail him out, but since you're here you might as well go do it." Josh said with a sheepish grin. "She wont ever give up, your gonna have to beat her senseless." He hissed and made a claw-like motion with one hand playfully, "Cat fight." He said with a sage nod. Tirstan laughed, that touchable sound that he was so capable of, James blinked, looked up at him and then did the strangest thing. He blushed. Tristan didn't pause long to notice this, he'd already guessed James had a thing for him, but it was a moot point. If he'd been out of the closet and Tristan had been single he might have looked, but his heart was completely taken. He walked back towards the bedroom, pushing the door open— "You just want me, Sam, its natural, I want you too." He heard Carolyn's words before the sight of the two of them on the bed hit him full force. Sam was bare from the waste up, and it looked like Carolyn was in a small skirt and a lacy pink bra. Sam's chest was pressed against hers, his body against hers. She was leaning up to kiss him when the sound of the door opening made them both look towards him. Tristan stood in the doorway, the smile that had been on his too beautiful face melting from his features. Sam cursed, releasing Carolyn from his grip and pushing himself out of bed. "Trist..." he said, taking a step towards his love. Tristan felt as if he'd been dealt a blow straight to the heart, and he actually stumbled backwards into Josh who'd come to see what had happened. When Sam stood up, he could see that he was hard as a rock, and it only cemented what he was seeing. "Fuck," Josh said, and Tristan turned away from Sam, who stood paralyzed with sudden fear. "Tristan, its not what it looks like, please!" Sam shouted frantically, trying to touch his retreating back. "I knew it wouldn't last, I knew you didn't love me." Tristan said, evading Sam's touch, and his eyes. "I just wish you'd have told me alone, not like this." He whispered. "Tristan... wait, this cant be right." Josh said, trying to be helpful while he glared at his sister. This was wrong, and he knew it even if Tristan didn't. Trist pushed away from Josh's attempt at kindness, the tears beginning to well up in his suddenly dull green eyes. "He loves me, Tristan, he's not gay, and there is just nothing you can do to change him, so stop trying. You'll thank me lat—"Carolyn's venomous words were cut short by the sound of a sudden slap resounding throughout the room. Tristan didn't stop to see who'd administered the slap, guessing it'd been Josh since he wouldn't have stood for anyone else hitting her. As he passed through the living room he didn't look up, he didn't meet Ken or James' eyes, feeling the humiliation of what just happened weighing heavily on him. He needed to get out; he needed to get out of here before his very heart exploded into a million shards of pain. "Tristan?" James asked softly, but he didn't respond, pushing through the front door and walking around the block. The moment he was out of sight, he took off at a dead run, a run so fast no human eye could see him. He ran until he couldn't breath, and then he ran some more. He wanted to scream, he wanted to weep, and he wanted to ask why. But he couldn't. All he could do was run, and that's exactly what he did... run. @@@@@@@@@@@@@ Carolyn stood with one hand covering her cheek, eyes wide as she stared at Sam. "You stupid whore!" he snarled, and for once, Josh didn't protect her, in fact he came in, arms crossed as he glared at her, backing up Sam. She took a step backwards, stumbling as she hit the edge of the bed, her chest heaving to the point he feared her breasts might just pop out of the frilly pink bra she wore. "What are you saying? You love me; I know you love me, Sam!" "What did you give me?!" He growled, stepping towards her menacingly, his fists clenched, the muscles in his back rippling beneath his skin in a show of power that honestly shocked Josh. He didn't dare interrupt this, however, his sister needed to learn. "I... nothing! It was your own desire..." she said, voice tapering off lamely. "I am in love with Tristan. He is, for all intensive purposes, my husband." Sam began slowly, clenching his jaw until he thought it would pop from the stress. "What. Did. You. Give. Me. Do not make me go to the hospital to find out." He growls, "It was X, wasn't it?" he said, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her roughly, "You fucking put X in my beer you stupid slut!?" Her eyes were wide, and suddenly tears began to roll down her cheeks. Sam knew he had to let go of her or he might kill her. "Josh, call the fucking police." He snarled, tossing her to the bed. "Wait... your going to turn her in?" Josh asked, sounding a little uncomfortable, "Sam..." he said, until his friend turned around and looked at him with such intense fury in his eyes Josh balked. "Alright..." he said, heading for the phone. A moment later, he returned, handing the phone to Sam. He dialed the police, and while he stared at Carolyn, he began to speak into the phone. "I would like to report a crime, and request a police car to this residence." He said slowly, reciting the address to the dispatcher in a wooden, cold voice. "Sam, don't do this, I didn't do anything! I just wanted to show you that you still had passion for me! I'm sorry I drugged you, I'm sorry!!" she began to babble. Sam ignored her. "Yes, I was drugged, and some one attempted to rape me." Sam said very clearly, glaring at Carolyn, whose eyes widened with stunned amazement. "I did not!!" She screamed. "She drugged me with XTC, and tried to force me into sex. I was able to stop it, but I want to press charges." He said, then nodded his head, "Alright, I'll be here." He says, hanging up the phone and tossing it to Josh. "Get her fucking shirt on and drag her into the living room. And don't fucking touch me." The drug was still active in his body, and he really wanted it to end so that he could find Tristan, but the truth was Trist needed time to let his anger wear off. He'd believe him then. He had too. He hoped. It didn't take long for the police to arrive, and of course at first they didn't take the attempted rape seriously, not until her own brother and Ken and James both agreed with them. The cops gawked at the story, shaking there heads and then took her into custody. "I don't know how long we can hold her on a charge like this, but she'll get twenty four hours at the very least." They'd told Sam privately, "You need to get into the hospital and get some blood work done so we can prove you were in fact drugged. I'd go to emergency right now." The cop frowned slightly, "I'd pat you on the back, but I don't want to play into the drug. Go to the ER right now." "I can't believe your doing this Sam!" Carolyn shrieked, so much for that soft voice now, when she wanted to scream she didn't sound all soft spoken and gentle. Not at all. "Fuck you, Carolyn. You tried to rape me you stupid bitch." And he turned his back to her as the cops began to pull her from the apartment. Josh came up to him, handing Sam his shirt, "Put it on, I'll drive you to the hospital; you shouldn't be driving like this." He said quietly. Sam could tell he was upset about turning his sister in, but Sam would have done it one way or another and the truth was Josh knew that if he'd turned his back on his friend it would have demolished him. Carolyn needed to deal with the consequences of her actions. They spent the requisite three hours at the hospital, and in the end they couldn't do anything for his drugged state. He just needed to go home and sleep it off. Josh drove him home, going up to the apartment with him in case he needed some help telling Tristan what had happened. But when Sam opened the door, he knew Tristan hadn't come home. "I'm sorry, Sam." Josh said quietly, and he looked sorry, like he wanted to wring some ones neck for hurting Sam yet again. This just wasn't fair. Not only did his best friend die, then his girlfriend cheats on him, then the moment he finds some semblance of happiness his stupid sister had to try and ruin it again. "Its alright, he'll come back." Sam said softly, closing his eyes and rubbing them softly, trying not to cry in front of Josh. "Hey, I'll call you tomorrow, alright? I just need to sleep." Sam's friend nodded his head, "Sure, I'll talk to you tomorrow." He said and then let himself out, closing the door behind him. Angelic Salvation He wandered the apartment for a little while, picking up one of Tristan's white shirts and then heading into his bedroom. "Tristan, forgive me." He whispered, tossing the shirt onto the bed before stripping down to nothing and slipping beneath the cool sheets. He reached down, pulling Trist's shirt to his chest, rubbing the soft cotton against his bare skin then bringing it up to rub his cheek as the tears began to fall. "Tristan, I'm so sorry, you're everything to me." He cried inhaling the scent of his love left on the shirt. He fell asleep like this, clinging to Tristan's shirt and curling into a soft ball. After a while, exhausted by his tears and the night he'd had, it didn't take long for the oblivion of sleep reached out to consume him. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ When Tristan finally stopped running, he was many miles out of town on a small grassy hilltop just before sunrise. His chest ached, and so did his legs and body. It was the fact that his body ached that pulled him up short. He didn't generally get pains anymore, considering his 'angel' status. Sitting down on the soft grass, he began to massage the aching muscles in his calf, closing his eyes and sighing softly. How could he do this to me? Tristan thought to himself, his very heart broken and bleeding in his chest. I should have suspected, he was always frustrated when I came home, I thought it was because he missed me, but now I figure it was because he was regretting our relationship, what we were. Tristan leaned back, laying down upon the soft grassy ground and gazed up into the stars as tears finally began to roll unheeded down his cheeks. I don't know what I'm going to do, I guess that... I mean, how do they handle angels who have lost their love? Maybe that's why my body feels more alive then superhuman... Thoughts swirled around in Tristan's head, and in reality it was just mental rambling as he really didn't want to think of the love of his life on top of Carolyn, fucking her until she begged for release the way he used to do with Tristan. The sun began to rise, and Tristan closed his eyes, gazing up at it until the early dawn's rays gently lulled Tristan to sleep. It was a fitful, unrestful sleep, but it was sleep none the less. I'm not going back to see his face when he tries to tell me he's sorry. I'm not. Was the last thought Tristan had before sleep finally rose up and dragged him into the warm abyss of its arms. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Sam stood in a field of little purple flowers that stretched out on all sides as far as he could see. A slight frown creased his forehead, "Heh, this has just got to be a dream." He muttered, idly scratching at his left arm. "Erm... Okay, well, I guess I should start walking." Sam began to trudge through the purple flowers, and strangely no matter where he stepped it seemed the tiny plants would actually move for his feet, so he never crushed one, not even once. This became such an odd occurrence that Sam became entranced by it, watching the little plants frantically move out of the way of his oncoming foot, until of course suddenly there was no flowers, only grass, and with a start he looked up. He stood in a grassy meadow, and at the far side of the meadow a softly rolling hill rested. "Heh, alright then." He said to himself, turning towards the hill and began trudging along. It didn't take him long to make it towards the hill, it had to be that time-warp dream thing that is unexplainable and completely understandable. But as he began to make his way up the hill, he stopped, hearing the broken sounds of sobbing. Not just anyone's sobbing, it was Tristan... He'd always know the sound of Tristan's voice. Sam picked up the pace, running the rest of the way up the hill to find Tristan laying out upon the grass, one arm thrown over his eyes as he cried. His entire body was taught with the intensity of his tears, and Sam dropped to his knees beside his love and mate. "Tristan, Tristan, please listen to me. I'm sorry, she drugged me. I'd never touch anyone but you. You're my heart, you're my mate, my love, Please listen to me." Sam reached out to touch Tristan's arm, and fell forward as his hand passed right through his mate. "Why'd you have to break my heart? Why? I love you so much, Sam. I'd do anything for you, anything." Tristan continued to sob, his words hoarse and barely understandable as he screamed at the sky, begging the powers that be to make it right, to take it all back. Hot tears rolled down Sam's face as he watched his love so heartbroken, but was unable to touch him, or touch to him to try and sooth his fears and his pain. His hands balled into fists, and suddenly Tristan began to go translucent, to disappear. His words became far away, until finally he disappeared, leaving Sam alone with his heartache. "Who ever told you relationships where easy, Sam?" The sudden question startled Sam, causing him to look up at the white clad man who stood arm in arm with a lovely woman. Both of them smiled at him, their faces lighting up in much the same way Tristan's did, as if they could steal away his pain with nothing more but that pure smile. The woman came to kneel down beside him, reaching out her hand to take his. "We know how hard everything has been on you Sam." She murmured, bringing her other hand up to brush his dark hair from his warm brown eyes gently, an almost motherly gesture. "So we've come to give you a little help." She said her hazel eyes wise, full of unspoken knowledge. The man came to kneel down before him, and Sam frowned slightly, "I know relationships aren't easy, but this is so very hard." He told him, the man chuckled softly. "Tristan isn't a normal partner, Sam. He's special, he has duties that must be completed, but that doesn't mean that he can not make time for you. You are his link to what is good, Sam, you are his link to what he's here to protect even while he deals with evil every single day. Without you his powers will fade, and then he will die once more to return to the powers which govern all. He needs you, Sam." The man's words sunk into Sam slowly, and for a moment he frowned with confusion, then his eyes sparked and he glanced up. "What are you saying? You're saying that all his superman powers will fade without me, and then he'll try and do his job and he'll die?" The woman's eyes were sad when he looked at her, and she nodded slowly. "But, what if I can't find him?" Sam said, feeling his heart hammering against his chest. "What if I can't find him before something horrible happens to him?" The two white clad individuals glanced at each other, as if sharing some secret knowledge that Sam wasn't privy too. "Sam, there are some things you don't know about, not even Tristan really knows about it yet. Tristan is... he's immortal, for the most part. He can die in the line of duty, but he will not age, he will not die as time passes." The woman's thumb brushed over Sam's hand soothingly as she spoke and Sam took her words in with a frown. "Alright... So what happens to him when I die?" He asked with such innocence, they both just looked at him, waiting for the light to dawn. "Whoa... wait. You're telling me that I'm... I won't die either?" They both nodded there heads as Sam's world turned upside down – again. "That's... not quite all, Sam." The beautiful woman said, and he turned to look at her while she spoke. "Tristan isn't the only one who holds angelic powers, he's just the one bound to using them." She said. This really shocked Sam, and he glanced down at his hands, one of them being held by the woman's far too soothing touch. He realized suddenly she was calming him on purpose. "Okay. That's wrong, have you two seen how strong Tristan is? He jumps across rooftops for god sakes!" He swallowed hard, and the man chuckled softly. "Katterina became an angel three hundred years ago, Sam." The man said slowly, trying to get him to understand what was happening. "And Zach had a very hard time with the change, not only in me, but also in himself. He didn't realize that he'd become different for months either, until one evening I nearly died doing my duties, and he felt me cry for help in his heart." Zach nodded his head as she spoke, "And suddenly he was beside me, fighting unlike anything I'd seen outside of the angels. We were both stunned." "Okay, but this is just a dream, your not really here, so why should I believe you?" Zach laughed softly, glancing at his wife with an arched brow. She reached into her pocket and withdrew a small talisman, holding some ancient Celtic glyph of some sort. She put it into the hand she'd been holding, and closed his fingers over it. "You have to look within yourself, Sam, and you will save your mate. Don't sell yourself short, he needs you as much as you need him, you have the power to make a difference." The two of them got to their feet, and Katterina took her husbands hand in hers, not really answering Sam's question. "Remember, Sam, you can't sell yourself short, you are more important then you give yourself credit for." Zach said, and with that they both turned their backs on him and suddenly disappeared. Not faded, not walked away, it was as if they blinked out of existence, leaving Sam alone to ponder their words. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Sam came awake with a jerk, blinking sleepy eyes as the sun streamed in from the window to warm his face and his chest. He went to slide his hand down his chest and scratch at his belly like he did every morning, but stopped mid-motion to sit up and stare at what was in his hand. He held a small talisman in his hand, and suddenly his 'dream' came back full force and he groaned softly. "Holy shit." Sam muttered, closing his eyes and sighing softly. "Okay, so I have powers, now all I have to do is look inside of me. Great." Sam tossed the covers away from his body and got to his feet, heading straight for the bathroom and a shower. He spent his time in the shower going over his dream again and again, trying to think of any clues that might help him find his mate. He was certain Tristan would get hurt if he didn't move right away. He understood now, there is more to his relationship then he thought. It wasn't just about Tristan spending time with Sam; it was about Sam telling him what he needed form him. Sam hadn't been doing that; he'd been quietly boiling until he boiled over. And it was going to stop right here. "Hold on Tristan, I'm coming." Sam muttered to himself as he threw his shoes and clothes on, grabbed his keys and began too walk to Josh's house, where he'd left his car the evening previous. It was about four in the afternoon by the time he'd said his hellos and goodbyes to everyone at Josh's and got into his car to start his search for Tristan. He was more and more worried with each passing moment. However, when he was finally on the road, he had no idea where to go, and the words from his dreams came back to haunt his empty skull. "Trust in myself, trust in myself. I should be able to find Trist; I should be able to find him." He was stopped at a red light and for a moment he closed his eyes, focusing on his love, on his Tristan, and suddenly he felt something, some glimmer, like a shadow of feelings that weren't his own. Tristan! Sam thought, and then the strange mental contact was broken by the sound of rude honking behind him. The light had turned green. Sam slammed his car into gear and tried to focus on his mate, on his heart once more, trying to home in on him. He was getting the feeling to head south, south, so he got on the freeway and started driving. "Don't cry, Tristan, I love you." He murmured, wishing frantically that his car would go faster, but when one is bound to human things, one moves at a human speed. Sam drove for hours, and by five thirty it was already beginning to get dark. He was certain Tristan was in this direction, but he was unable to lock on exactly where he was. He'd pulled over for gas in a small country gas station, and as he sat there filling his tank he closed his eyes, feeling Tristan close, but unable to find him, unable to determine exactly where. But maybe that's how it was supposed to be. It was when the gas nozzle clicked and he topped off his tank that he turned around, glancing behind him, and froze. A field of purple flowers lay spread out behind him. "Tristan." Sam breathed, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Tristan, I'm coming. He thought softly, sending his love towards his mate, focusing on him, focusing on his adoration, the purity of their love. Sam paid the gas station attendant, parked his car, and then started walking through the field, determined to find his mate, determined to find his love. Tristan had to be this direction. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Tristan woke up with gritty eyes, the sun already on its way to descending. He blinked sleepy eyes, then sighed softly and shook his head, curling onto his side and covering his head with his arms. Tears rolled unheeded into the grass, soft wracking sobs that continued even when he thought nothing could come out anymore. He couldn't think, and he couldn't force himself to get up. He was hungry, but he didn't care. He was weak and achy, but he didn't care. He felt as if all his energy, all his power had leaked out of him while he'd slept alone in the cold wet grass. He was drenched to the bone; it must have rained in the middle of the night. He shook and shivered, but he didn't care. All he cared about was lost to him, or so he believed. Tristan laid like this for minutes, or maybe hours, he couldn't be certain. All he knew was that when he opened his eyes again it was dark, and the temperature had dropped significantly. He ran a shaking hand through his blond hair, looking up at the sound of footsteps, only to see something utterly terrifying. Three 'demons' surrounded him, not far from his place upon the ground. They all bore a stunning resemblance to the thing he'd killed for Molly; he was used to the gaunt nearly dead expressions, the evil stench and the boney look of them. He fought them every day, right? Getting to his feet, Tristan reached back to draw his sword with a swish of metal on metal. He stood ready, although his arm felt tired, holding the blade awkwardly. "Mmm, I told you I smelled a bleeding heart." The first creature cackled, and then narrowed its muddy eyes as it moved to step closer to Tristan. Trist backed up a step; he knew he couldn't fight them now. Not now. He thought of Sam and wondered if he'd miss him when he was gone. He knew he would, deep down, that he was his best friend no matter what happened, but the wounds were so raw and new he couldn't make himself think of what Sam's reactions would be. "Bleeding? Hardly." Tristan said with his usual cocky amusement, taking a fighting stance. "This is gonna be so easy, look at him, he can barely hold up his sword. Did your little bitch finally get rid of your worthless hide?" the second creature sneered, "did you fail to get it up for her?" he asked, and the third laughed coldly. Tristan's eyes darkened with rage, "Heh, so ignorant you are, do you even bother to learn about the angels that hunt you?" he asked, and they looked at each other in confusion for a moment then shrugged their boney shoulders. The third creature snickered wickedly, taking a tentative step forward, "You know, we can sense when one of you are weekend, you smell like a wounded animal." He hissed, and then licked his chapped and cracked lips with a diseased tongue. "Mmm, gonna be good eatin' tonight, boys." And with that, he leapt at Tristan. The blow was clumsy, and Tristan was able to avoid it but in all reality it was far to close for comfort. Clawed hands lashed out, and a soft growl escaped one of them as they began to surround him, to circle him as if he was a wounded animal, as if he was pray. "Hah, eat me?" Tristan smirked, then batted his eyelashes playfully, "Not on your best day sexy." He said, lunging with sword in hand for a wickedly controlled strike, unfortunately it didn't have the speed nor the strength that he was used to possessing, and the strike which should have ended the bloody wretches life ended up just giving him something to bleed about. "Ooh, look! You're the one bleeding now." He said, grinning a grin he really didn't feel. All he could hope to do was distract them, tiring them out before he they all decided to rush him. Once they rushed him it would be completely over with. Tristan knew this without a doubt in his mind. Unfortunately, his tactics weren't working, and the three demons looked at each other before they rushed towards him. Tristan did his best to parry, lunge, strike, spin, turn, roll and fall. The dance of steel, as some might call it, but to Tristan it wasn't beautiful any longer, it was more deadly then it'd ever been, and it was his life that was on the line. Clawed hands struck out at him, tearing his still damp shirt, but the weather outside was so cold that it had numbed his flesh, which in and of itself was a blessing considering he was bleeding from multiple wounds. He growled calling on reserves of strength he didn't know he possessed. It was dark, but he could still see the almost glowing quality of the three sets of eyes that surrounded him, and all Tristan could think of was his love, his Sam, who would never see him again. No. He couldn't think that way; Tristan gave a hoarse battle cry, tossing his head back, his wet hair sticking to his cheeks and neck as he swung with renewed vigor, managing to decapitate one of the demons. It slid sickly down to the ground before vanishing into a puff of dark mist. The others paused long enough to watch their fallen comrade, then turned there eyes to the angel who stood, hair plastered to his face, bleeding from scratches along his thighs and ribs and arms, holding a sword he'd conjured out of energy itself, panting softly, his face a mask of determination. And they hesitated, how could they not? Despite his weakened state he'd managed to kill one of them, but they knew he couldn't hold out for much longer. A shrill shriek rent the air, and Tristan's head snapped to the side only to see a fourth demon rushing into the fray. "Fuck." He muttered, immediately moving to sidestep the oncoming attack. There was no way he could keep this up, and despite his best efforts Tristan began to take more blows then he gave. The freshest demon struck at him, his strength staggering to Tristan, and he fell to his knees, sword in hand. He was beaten, his muscled burned, ached like fire flowed in his veins instead of blood, and when he looked up at the face of the creature that stood over him, a split second before he leant his killing blow, it smiled showing its broken and jagged teeth. "Mmm, so very tasty you'll be." He growled, and Tristan closed his eyes, waiting for the end... @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Sam was frantic by the time he saw the gentle slope of the hill outlined in silver by the moonlight. But that's not all he saw, when he looked up he saw more then one figure dancing in the pale silvery glow, causing Sam's heart to skip a beat. He took off at a dead run. Despite the fact he'd been running, Sam realized he wasn't even winded, so he upped his speed and made it to the top of the hill just in time to see Tristan kneeling between three creatures. It was such a shock to Sam that he let out a tortured scream, causing all four heads to snap up at attention. "Sam, Get OUT of here!" Tristan screamed his expression tortured. Sam couldn't believe what he was seeing. Tristan was broken and bloody, scratches covering his entire body and dying his tattered white clothing red with his blood. Sam didn't waste time with words, unlike his love. He was a more to the point type of guy, and beside, he wasn't about to sit and chat while Tristan was in danger of having his head removed from his body.