3 comments/ 4357 views/ 8 favorites Vatican City Ch. 01 By: RedDrake1983 My fingers pulled the kerchief from my back pocket wiping sweat from my forehead, face, and throat. My hand touched the silver band at my throat. No one at the hospital could tell me where it came from. Though they said it was there when I came in from the accident. That is something I barely remember and was only told about what happened. The accident, on my wedding night, that took the lives of every person in my life. It feels like it happened yesterday and not 10 months ago. I was the only one to survive with several scars upon my flesh. I had been thrown away from the wreck when the tanker and my limo with my Jonathan in it exploded. I had been impaled to a sign post on the side of the highway. That is one of the scars on my chest and back. The doctor's repaired most of the damage but my right arm still has limited function. The company whose driver had fallen asleep behind the wheel paid me for just about everything. Most of the money went to burying my family and the lawyers. I sold the houses and properties off and bought a ticket to leave the country. I flew to Europe. I could never go home. There wasn't anything left back in that country. I was alone in the world. My left hand pulled my bag up my shoulder as my sneakers kicked up stones on this foreign road. My head turned slightly. He was still wondering behind me a ways. It seems that I wasn't the only one wondering this road. I had noticed him three cities back walking. He held a bag of brown leather on his shoulder and wondering through the countryside like I was. When I stop and rest on the side of the road he seems to stop and rest but keeps his distance away from me. When I get on the road again he gets on the road as well. It was a bit annoying for I just wish that he would pass me already and continue on instead of following me at most times. Even when I take myself off the road and into the woods and through to another part of the country when I think I am alone and come back out on a road I would find that he was there as well. Though when I was in the woods I made sure to stop more often and rest up before I hit another road and turn back some to find him there again. My eyes lifted to the sky. The sun was high and the heat of the summer was making me sweat something terrible. I stopped and pulled out my canteen and opened the lid. I tipped it up as the last of my water slipped into my mouth and down my throat. A groan came from my throat. I should have stocked up my canteen three miles back at the creek. I twisted the cap on and continued to walk. My lips pressed some. They were a bit dry and I was thirsty. My eyes went behind me some. The guy was still walking up the road behind me. He was a bit closer than before as my thoughts went to how much water was he carrying. I stopped on the road as I saw him stop. I turned and looked to him straight forward now. His body stopped as he watched me a moment. He looked like he was debating on wither to walk on or wait till I continued to move. I began to walk back towards him. This seemed to confuse him for he stepped back once and then stopped watching me. I came to about 15 feet from him as my eyes stared at this gorgeous man that was before me. He had long white colored hair and the deepest blue eyes I had ever seen. His shirt was sweaty as his tan skin glistened with sweat. "I have seen you following me three cities back. Since we seem to be going in the same direction would you mind me walking with you?" I asked as his lips pressed some before he smiled. My chest grew tight at the smile. "I am just traveling around. I didn't mean to make you think I was following you. I'm headed towards the Vatican in Rome. Are you heading in that direction?" He asked as I smirked some. "I don't really know which way Rome is. I am just traveling to travel." I said as he chuckled some. "You are heading in the right direction. I don't mind walking with you." He said as I nodded. "My name is Gabe. It's short for Gabriel." He said holding out his large hand to me. "Tee short for Tessa." I said shaking his hand. His hand went to bring my hand to his lips but I pulled my fingers from his grasp. His eyes came to mine. "Please don't do that." I said gently. His lips pressed some as he nodded. We began to walk as a bit of silence went between us. "Gabe, huh? I like Gabriel better." I said looking to him as he smiled and chuckled some. "I like Tessa better." He said as I smirked some. "Gabriel sounds like one of God's angels." I said as his eyes looked to me. "Are you one such angel?" I asked as his eyes went wide some. I laughed and shook my head. "I'm only playing. An angel wouldn't give a damn about me. They turned their backs on me a long time ago." I said softly looking to the road ahead. "Why do you say that?" Gabriel asked as my eyes went to him. "I don't want to talk about that." I said gently. "It's too painful." I said as he nodded. His lips pressed some. "Why are you going to the Vatican? Is the Pope supposed to be out in his little bubble car or something?" I asked. "I'm going to talk with him. Ask him for some help to keep someone alive." He said as my eyes went to him. "Someone you care for?" I asked as he slowly nodded. I looked away. "Sounds like a wishful thinking, Gabriel. We are all meant to die. When our time comes there will be no turning back and trying to stop it. When I die there will only be darkness." I said as he gasped softly. My eyes looked to his wide eyes. "You don't believe you will go to heaven?" He asked. "If they wanted me there I would already be there." I said as he stopped walking. I turned away and continued to walk. My lips pressed some. "I don't believe in any of them or any religion anymore. Things happened and knocked faith out of my heart. This isn't earth to me anymore. This is just plain hell." I said. I felt his hand wrap around my elbow stopping me as my head turned and my eyes went to him. "I wish there was a way to help you and change your mind about those words you just said." He said as I stared at him. "You are a believer. I am just someone lost." I said as his lips pressed some. He slowly released my elbow as I turned and continued to walk. He walked up beside me and was quiet. My stomach growled and my lips were dry. I stopped and stared up ahead a little ways since we were on a hill some. I could see a town off in the distance. He turned to me as his body stopped. "Are you coming? We should make that town by nightfall." He said pointing out to it. "I don't have any money to stay in a town. It's part of why I have been traveling through them and continuing out of them. I am hungry and will cook of what I have left. If you want to continue on that's up to you. But I'm setting up camp here for the night. If I play my cards right I will find a stream to fill up my water container." I said as his lips pressed hard as his head turned and looked at the town. "I will stay with you. But I have money. I could get us a room for the night." He said as I shook my head. "We know nothing about the other and I don't know if I should trust you just yet. You were after all following me for the past 4 days." I said as his fingers ran through his hair as he looked down to the dirt before looking back to me. "I will not touch you. I will not hurt you. I am not that way towards any woman. I swear that I would never do something you don't want me to." He said as my eyes watched him. I moved off the road a ways as I saw him follow me. I pulled my pack off my right shoulder and set it down. I began to pull out my tent. I tried to use my right arm but the functions of it were limited. I turned to see him making a fire circle. His bag was leaning against a tree for we were sitting quite close to the woods. He walked into the woods as I saw him bend to pick up some fire wood. I turned back to my tent and managed to get it up and holding. I pulled out my very large and warm sleeping bag and unrolled it in my tent. I put my pillow at the head of the sleeping bag and pulled out a can of baked beans and both my bowls and spoons that were clean. I pulled out my small pot and set the baked beans in it. My head lifted to him coming out with both his arms full of wood. He set the wood down and began to build the fire. When the flames were glowing I put the baked beans in the pot and began to cook them. He sat down across from me poking at the wood with a stick. I stirred the baked beans as he pulled something from his bag. My eyes lifted to see that he had a loaf of bread and some jerky. "You are sharing with me and I will share with you. If you want me to I can go fill up your water container. I found a creek not far from here." He said as I nodded and held out my container to him. He took it from my fingers and got up from the fire side. I watched him walk into the woods. My eyes went back to the beans. I stirred them and made sure they weren't sticking to the pot. I lifted the pot out of the fire. I yelped out in pain as my wrist was burned by the fire. I set the pot down and pulled away putting my free hand to my wrist as the pain stung through it. "Son of a bitch." I hissed as the tears were there. It was the arm that wasn't that functional. I did not move quick enough. My lips pressed hard as I turned and went to my tent. "What happened? Are you okay?" I heard Gabriel ask. "I'll be fine." I said going into my tent. I sat down on the sleeping bag opening my bag. I cringed some as I pulled out a salve. I opened the lid and began applying the cooling cream. My head lifted to Gabriel coming into the tent. His lips press some as he was down on his hands and knees before me. "You got burned." He breathed as he came before me and sat down next to me. His fingers gingerly took my wrist and brought it to him. He took the salve and slowly spread it across the burn. I looked away as he pulled out some bandages and began to wrap the burn. "There it should heal better." He said as my eyes looked to his. His head was so close and his lips were right there. He turned back to my burned wrist and kissed it gently. My chest grew tight. "Let me put the food in the bowls. We can eat and get some rest. The sun has sunk below the horizon now and sleep will be best." He said going out of my tent towards the fire. I watched his shadow. My left hand moved gently over the burn. My lips pressed some before I moved out of the tent. I sat down near the fire as he sat down near me and held out a bowl. Pieces of jerky and bread were with the bowl. He held out a cup of water to me as well. I took the water and sipped it as we ate in silence. When we were finished he took the bowls and spoons. He walked back into the woods as I sipped the water watching the flames. Moments later he came back and the dishes were clean. I took them and put them to the side. I watched him lean up against a tree and cross his arms. He lowered his head some. "Don't you have a tent?" I asked as his head lifted and his eyes came to me. "No. I didn't pack things like that. It is summer time here." He said as my lips pressed some. "You can lie down in my tent if you want to." I said as he smiled some. "Thank you, but I think I'm ok." He said as my lips pressed some. The wind kicked up some as the flames whirled up a bit. I shivered and shook my head. "In the tent, Gabriel. It's going to be a windy night. You can sleep in my sleeping bag with me. It's big enough for two people." I said as I felt the burn of blush in my cheeks. I shivered again. "You should get in the tent." He said as I got up from near the fire. "You too. I'm not an animal. I don't want you to catch a cold." I said as he slowly got up. He put some water on the fire as the darkness surrounded us. I went into the tent crawling across my sleeping bag taking my shoes off and setting them to the side. I pulled open the sleeping bag and turned to see him coming in. He put his sneakers next to mine and crawled up the bag to the head of it. I slipped under as he slipped down behind me. He drew the sleeping bag around us as I laid my head on the pillow. I gasped out softly as his arm slipped around me. "I won't touch. I just wish to hold you. We will stay warmer that way." He said gently in my ear. I felt his other arm slip under my neck as I adjusted to his moving. His chest was quite warm against my back as my head lifted some to his arm tightening a bit around me. My eyes closed as sleep slowly came to me. (Their screams came as I tried to pull from the post in my chest. It was hard to breath and my right arm was useless. I reached out for them. 'Don't leave me!' I screamed. My body struggled as I watched the fires burn and the explosions take the lives of those that would have survived. I screamed out as the tears slipped down my cheeks. 'Don't leave me here alone!' I screamed. My hand reached out before unconsciousness took me.) My body shifted hard as a cry of pain from my throat awoke me. My head turned coming to the eyes of Gabriel. His arms were tight around my flesh. I felt the tears slip as my body turned and huddled up against him. He was silent as I sobbed gently. I felt his fingers run up and down my back holding me against his flesh. I must have cried myself to sleep. When morning came my eyes opened to find myself lying against Gabriel's chest as he was lying on his back. I could hear him gently snoring. I drew the blanket up around us for the mornings did get a bit cold till the sun heated things up. I felt his fingers shift on my side as my hand grabbed his and moved it some. I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes for a little while longer. I knew nothing of this man and he knew nothing of me. To have him this close to me and against my skin it felt strange. He was so warm to the touch. My mind thought back to my Jonathan. I frowned a bit and rolled away from him. "Are you okay?" He asked gently as my eyes lifted to his looking to me. "I will be fine." I whispered. I sat up and pushed my shirt down a bit for it had ridden up some. I pulled my bag to me and brushed out my hair. I slipped out from the sleeping bag and went out into the cool morning air. I shivered some pulling on my sneakers and going to the fire pit. I began the fire this time. I sat by the fire as the flames leapt high. I could hear him moving and getting up. He came out of the tent and sat down next to me. "You had a nightmare last night. I held onto you." He said as I looked away towards the flames. "You screamed." He said as my lips pressed hard. I got up and picked up my bag. I walked into the woods to find this creek and wash up. I came to the creek side and set my bag down. I began to remove my clothes and wash up in the shallow end of the water. I kept my back towards the camp and incase he came through. I heard a gasp come from his throat as my hair hung down over my breasts and midsection as my head turned to see him turned away from the water and the creek side. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were washing up." He said as I turned away and continued to clean up. "The scars, where did they come from?" He asked quietly. "An accident." I said flatly. "Can you take down my tent? I will be moving on in a little bit. When I am finished and cleaned up." I said. "Ok. I'm sorry." He said. I heard the crunch of his feet as he went back towards the camp. I finished up and dressed in a different pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I pulled on my socks and sneakers before heading back to camp. It was down and he was just rolling up my sleeping bag. I walked over and picked up my tent shoving it into my bag and pushed my pillow down with it. He held out my folded sleeping bag as I attached it to my bag. His hand took mine as my eyes went to his. "I didn't mean to see you like that. I was going to clean the cups." He said as my lips pressed some. "I lost everything in this world that meant everything to me. I lost my husband and family in a matter of minutes after my wedding. I don't want anyone's pity or heart. I don't want anything anymore. When we make it to the Vatican we will go our separate ways, Gabriel. My faith is gone. I don't believe in god or his will. They tore the faith from my flesh when they took my Jonathan." I said as his eyes went wide. "I will wonder till I die. Though, even now, I feel dead inside." I whispered pulling away. I put the fire out and lifted my bag over my right shoulder and moved out towards the road once more. I soon found him with his bag walking next to me down the road. "How long ago did it happen?" He asked as I sighed softly. "Ten going on eleven months now." I said as I saw him look away some. "How many people?" He asked. "57 people I knew and there were also another 40 who I didn't know who died in the accident as well. A total of 97 people and yet I still lived. I was thrown away from the crash and impaled by a broken sign post on the side of the highway. I saw them all die. I heard their screams of help. My Jonathan had been pinned to the limo. He was reaching out to me. I was going to go for him till the explosion thrust me backwards into the sign and that was the explosion that killed him. We had only been married minutes before that. We were on the way to the reception. I will never wear a white gown again. There was so much blood. My right lung was punctured and this arm barely moves and can't hold any weight. I don't use it very much." I said as his eyes came to my right arm. My left hand was holding the bag up on my shoulder. "Why don't you put the bag on the other shoulder?" He asked. "I used to have it on that shoulder till the strap broke." I said looking to him. His lips pressed some. His eyes went back to the road as my eyes went ahead of us. "Who is it you are trying to save and ask the Pope to keep alive?" I asked as I saw his lips press to a line. "She's someone special to me. Someone worth saving." He said as I nodded. "Is she dying?" I asked gently. "It's a little more complicated." He said as I nodded and asked no more. He was taken and I could never touch him even if I wanted to. I didn't want that though. I didn't want to be touched by anyone. We walked down through the valley into the small town as my eyes could see that it was market day. People were everywhere. There were vendors and people buying supplies and foods. I walked through the crowd as I noticed he was stopping by a table. I looked on and brushed some red hair from my eyes. A man in old style clothes held out a rug towards me and spoke out words that I didn't understand. I shook my head and continued to walk. A child was running through the market. He looked a fright. He came around my body and huddled against my back. My eyes went to him as he looked up to me. "Please hide me." He begged softly. My head turned as three men came running up. They went to move me out of the way but my hand grabbed hold of one arm and twisted turning him head over heels and he landed on the ground. People gasped and moved back as I kicked the guy in the stomach as he rolled away and groaned getting to his feet as the other men growled and stood in front of me. "Why do you want this boy?" I asked as the one I flipped got up next to his buddies. "He's a thief. We don't handle thieves well in this town." The man in the center said as I looked to the boy. He had a loaf of bread in his hands. "He took some food." I said looking to the three men. "You would steal food if you were his age and hungry. Let the boy keep the food. Don't be such assholes." I said as they frowned hard. "Give us the bread back and we will leave him." The center guy hissed. My lips pressed hard. I felt Gabriel come up next to me. He held out a few coins and tossed it to the men. "The boy keeps the bread. Get out of here." He said as the men took up the coins and grumbled walking away. The center one glared at me as I frowned and glared at him. Gabriel looked to me and then the boy. "You go home." Gabriel said as the boy nodded. The boy wrapped his arms around me and hugged me before taking off through the crowd as I watched him run away. Vatican City Ch. 01 "It used to be much easier a long time ago." I said gently. "This world has gone to the dogs." He said as I nodded. "When this world ends it may be for the best." I said as his eyes went wide some. "You didn't have to use your money." I said as he smirked some. "Money isn't a matter to me." He said as I shook my head some. "You should keep your money. Those dogs would have earned a beaten for picking on a boy or a woman." I said as he touched my arm. "I don't want to see you get hurt from a fight." He said as I smirked some. "I'm stronger then I look, Gabriel." I said as I pulled away from him and began to walk once more. He was walking next to me. "That doesn't matter. I won't let anyone try to hurt you." He said as my lips pressed some. "You aren't my keeper, Gabriel. You are traveling like I am. You don't belong to me. You belong to the one you wish to save. I am alone in this world." I said as I saw his lips press hard. We made it through the town and walked on down the road together. "What caught your eye when I had a run in with the boy and those jerks?" I asked. "I picked up some food for us. It will be another two days before we get to Vatican City." He said as I nodded. He broke off a piece of bread and held it out to me. I was a bit hungry. I chewed on a piece and looked around. "This place is beautiful." I said gently as he chuckled and nodded eating a piece of bread. "Yeah. Italy is one of the most beautiful places on earth." He said as I nodded. We walked by a vineyard as my eyes stared at the grape vines on the left and the right of the road. Several workers who were picking waved to us as we passed by. A man walked out to us and held out two plump vines of grapes to us. Gabriel spoke something in Italian as the man nodded and smiled. "Thank you signor." I said as the man's smile widened and nodded his head before going back to the fields. My eyes went to Gabriel as he smiled and slipped his bundle into a bag hanging on his pack. His eyes came to me. "Can you put mine in there too? My bag would crush them." I said as he smiled and nodded taking mine and putting them in the bag as well. "It's nice to see there are still kind hearted people around." I said as I saw him nod. "Why did you help that boy?" He asked as I looked to him as we walked. "He was just a child. No child or anyone should be picked on for being hungry. I didn't want those jerks to hurt a little boy. I may not give a damn about what happens to me but I refuse to see a child get hurt or beat." I said as his head turned away some. I looked forward. "I have wanted a child for fifteen years. I'm 30 years old and never conceived a child. I don't want to adopt a child. I want to have one from my womb. I want to go through the pains of birthing the child. I want to watch my baby grow up and call me mommy. Jonathan and I wanted a child together. We had been together for 2 years. We got married on my birthday. I had just turned 30. Then in a blink of an eye every dream we made together was torn apart." I said softly. My fingers came up and brushed away a tear that slid down. "What is wrong? Why didn't you have a child?" He asked as my lips pressed some. "I don't know. Guess I am sterile or something. Another reason I don't believe in anything anymore. I don't believe what the wiccans say about I will have a child. I don't believe them when they said that the right man will come along and my womb would bear fruit to this world. I have lost faith in everything." I said as I saw him stare at me. We walked in silence for a while. The sun hit the highest point in the sky as I wiped my forehead with my kerchief. I opened my water container and took a sip. He was sweating as his chest and shirt was covered in sweat. I walked to the side of the road and sat down as he sat down next to me. He opened his canteen and drank some water. He finished his container as I held out mine to him. He smiled some and took it. He drank some of mine and handed it back to me. I capped it and put it away. I put my bag off to the side and pulled out my sun screen. I put some on my face and arms. I didn't want to burn too much. I turned to him and his tanned skin. "Let's put some of this on you." I said as he smirked and slowly nodded. I dabbed some on his nose as he chuckled. I smirked and began to rub it into his skin. My fingers rubbed some across his throat and over his neck. His eyes lifted towards me. I blushed some and looked away as my fingers rubbed it down his muscled arms. His fingers turned my face towards him. My fingers covered his lips as he stared into my eyes. "I don't want your special someone to be upset. I can't." I said gently. I pulled away and put my sun screen away. I lifted my bag up onto my shoulder and got to my feet. I began to walk again. He walked up by my side as my eyes looked ahead. I could feel the burn in my cheeks. "We aren't meant to touch or be together in that way, Gabriel. I would never jeopardize what you and she have together." I said softly. He was quiet but I didn't look to him and continued to walk. Around the evening hours we set up camp near a set of woods once more. He had taken my canteen and walked into the woods once more. I had the fire burning and my tent up once more. I was sitting in my tent and pulling off my shirt as my fingers ran down over the scars. I felt the tears slip down as my mind thought about Jonathan and my family. I let a soft sob come from my throat as my head lowered and my tears slipped down. I gasped softly as his hand touched my side. My head turned to see him come into my tent. My head turned away and went to move his hand. He drew me against him as my hands covered my breasts. His chest touched my back as I gasped softly. His chest was bare. "Please don't." I whispered gently. His fingers slid under my hands and pressed against my skin. "I'm scarred. I'm hideous." I whispered trying to pull away. He held tighter as his breath was in my ear. "You are beautiful." He whispered as the blush burned my cheeks. "Don't be afraid of me." He whispered. He drew me to lay down with him against my back. My fingers pressed against his arms as I felt my jeans come loose. I gasped softly as he drew my jeans and underwear off my flesh. His fingers slid down my side and over my hip as I trembled in his grasp. My head turned away some feeling his loin was hard against my butt. It throbbed in his pants as his fingers slid down over my flesh. I gasped softly as his pants were now loose and his loin throbbed against my butt. I felt his hand pull my left leg up against his thigh. I felt his muscles shift and ripple as his loin slid up my inner thighs and against the lips of my womb. My hands pressed hard his arms as my head lifted. I gasped as the head of his loin split the lips of my womb and stretch my flesh around his thick and throbbing flesh. He groaned out as his loin pushed deeper into my flesh. His fingers slid over my breasts and pressed them firmly. "You are so tight." He breathed through a grunt. I shivered hard as his hand slid down to my stomach and pressed him as deep as he could go. He drew my leg up further as my head pressed back against his chest. His body began to flex and thrust gently on my flesh. My cheeks burned hot as my jaw dropped and a soft moan came from my throat. His lips pressed kisses upon my throat and over my neck as I shivered hard. He moaned out as my muscles squeezed his loin. "Your muscles squeeze hard." He huffed and thrust a little harder on my flesh. His fingers pressed and massaged at my breast as my fingers slid back and up through his hair. I pressed gently as he thrust and buried his loin deeper as a soft yelp came from my throat. I felt his loin slip deeper into a space never touched before. "So tight. So beautiful." He breathed as we moaned together. My body trembled as a moan came from my throat as my juices slipped down my leg to the sleeping bag. I could feel the head of his loin hit a wall or two as my body shudders hard. His breathing was huffs against my throat as his fingers ran hard up and down my flesh. I gasped out as his hand slid down over my stomach and he groaned hard burying his loin deep. My body trembles hard as I moan and shiver coming with him. His loin pulsed and filled my womb with his hot seed. "No child will come from this." I whispered through huffs. My heart was pounding in my chest as I pressed at his hair some. His mouth pressed and moved along my throat. He groans softly as his loin flicks inside my flesh as I shivered and moaned closing my eyes some as I shivered. I moaned out softly as he pulled his loin from my flesh. He pulled me to lie on my back as he came over my flesh. His mouth crushed mine as my head lifted into his kiss. His fingers pulled my legs up to his hard flanks as his loin slipped up into my slit once more. My fingers pressed at his shoulders as he put his body weight on my flesh. His tongue played and danced with mine as his hips thrust slowly on my flesh once more. My breathing was gentle huffs in his face as his muscles rippled and moved over my flesh. I felt sweat slip down my body as he moved over my flesh. His left hand drew my right leg higher up to my chest as he thrust a little harder on my body. I yelped out into his lips as I felt his loin slip back into the space he was in before. It was becoming sore but I didn't want him to stop. His hips thrust forward as my legs lifted higher and he buried deeper. I moaned in his lips as his mouth went down swallowing my breasts whole. My head lifted as I moaned and pressed his shoulders hard. His lips moved up as I shivered as his lips touched the silver band at my throat. I gasped out as his fingers slipped under it and lifted it some to press his lips over the skin that hasn't been touched in ten months. His fingers slid up the side of my neck and face as his thumb slid over my lips as he lifted his head. His eyes and mine stared at one another. His mouth crushed mine once more as his body thrust harder on my flesh. My fingers slid into his hair as his loin slammed into the walls of my womb. He grunts softly in my lips as my body trembles under him. A gasp comes from his throat as I roll onto his flesh. My body up lifts as his head lifts and a moan comes from his throat. His hands went to my hips as my body began to thrust hard on his flesh. My head lifts as my red locks slapped at my flesh and a moan comes from my throat. He moans out and grunts some as my legs flex and my hips shift and grind against him. His hands tightened on my hips as he groans out and makes me stop thrusting and sit on his loin as his loin pulses in my flesh. I shiver and moan as my juices slip down his shaft to the sleeping bag under his flesh. His loin fills my womb as I could feel more juices slip down from my slit. My hands went to his chest as my hair fell over him. His arms pull me down onto him as his mouth crushes mine. His arms wrap around me holding me against him. I felt sweat slip down my nose and drip onto him as he kissed and playing with my tongue with his. Our movements slowed down through the night. His murmurs caused my flesh to tremble with each touch. Soft gasps came from my throat as his teeth pulled and perked out my inverted nipples as my head lifts. His body sat up against mine as I was straddled in his lap. My arms slipped around his wide shoulders as my fingers slid into his hair. My fingers pulled gently as his head lifted and his mouth crushed mine. His fingers slid up and down my back as his arm shifted my hips to press against him. His loin was still erect in my womb and buried so deep. I could feel our juices drip from my slit around his loin towards the sleeping bag. His breath huffed against me as his tongue played with mine. His left hand slid up into my hair and pulled gently as a soft purr came from my throat. I felt his chest grow tight. He broke the kiss as my eyes opened and looked into his eyes. "I like that sound." He breathed as my cheeks burned with blush. I purred to him once more before his mouth crushed mine and he rolled onto my flesh. His hips thrust deep into my flesh as my legs slid up higher as he buried himself. He groaned hard as his loin pulsed and I purred to him. I moaned out softly as his mouth went down swallowing my sore breasts whole. My womb was sore but I didn't care. I think I needed his touch. It was gentle and tender to me. I felt a tear slip down my cheek as my head lifted and a moan came from my throat. In the morning hours we slid to sleep in a tangle of the sleeping bag. His body laid on mine holding my flesh and I dreamed of something other than nightmares. When the heat in the tent was making me uncomfortable my eyes opened to find that I was alone in the sleeping bag and tent. I sat up and held the sleeping bag to my chest. I reached out and opened the flap of the tent to see him cooking some food by the fire. My nose inhaled and the hunger for food came to my stomach as it growled loudly. I closed the flap and began to get dressed. I slipped out of the tent brushing my hair as his head turned and a smile came to his lips. I felt the blush burn my cheeks as I passed by him. "I will be back. I'm going to wash up." I said as he nodded. I took my bag with me and walked into the woods. I found a river and slipped the clothes from my flesh. I stepped down into the water and began to wash up. A soft gasp came from my throat as his arm slipped around my waist. I turned to find that he was nude and in the water with me. His arms drew me close as his mouth crushed mine. His large left hand slid down my hips and drew my leg up to his thigh as his hard loin slid up my inner thighs and through my slit into my womb. I moaned in his lips as his muscles flexed with each thrust on my body. The water made waves around our flesh as he thrust on my body standing up like this. His arm slipped under my other leg and lifted me up as my arms wrapped around his body as he moved us to the sandy shore bank. He laid me back as I gasped softly as he thrust harder on my body. His mouth went down and swallowed my breasts whole as the water pushed at our flesh. My head lifted as my red locks became wet. His hands held firm to my legs as I felt his loin slam up and into the tighter space as a soft yelp came from my throat. My breasts bounced and rolled against him. "So beautiful." He breathed as his head lifted and stared down at me. My eyes were slits as my flesh trembles and his breath huffs against my face. He groans hard burying his loin as his mouth crushes off my gasp. His loin pulsed hard in my flesh as my body trembles and cums with him. His tongue slips and tangles around mine as his flesh presses up against mine. He was buried so deep into my flesh. My fingers pressed and pulled at his hair as he held me close. "Don't leave me in the Vatican. I want you to come with me." He breathed gently in my throat as my head lifted as he pressed kisses down my trembling flesh. "What about the woman you care for?" I asked softly. "Just come with me. Please. I wish your company when I go to see him." He whispered gently as my fingers pressed at his hair and his shoulders. "I will come with you." I whispered. His mouth crushed mine as we slowly separated from the lusty touch. He let me finish washing up as I saw him getting dressed. He walked back to the camp as my fingers ran over my cheeks trying to make the blush go away. "I will go to the Vatican but I don't think he will want to see me." I whispered gently. I got out of the water and dried off. I dressed and went back to camp to see that he had taken it down but held out a bowl of beans, bread, and ham this time. I watched him put my tent away as I sat and ate the food. When I finished he took the bowl and went to wash it. I pulled my bag up to my shoulder and waited for him. He came back and put my bowl and spoon in my bag before lifting up his bag onto his shoulders. We walked back out towards the road. He remained close to me as we talked about this and that. "Why do you believe the Pope will help this lady?" I asked. "He's very close to god. I'm sure he could put in a close prayer for her to him." He said as I chuckled some. "Maybe god doesn't listen to prayers anymore." I said as his eyes came to me. "He didn't hear mine when I asked to be taken with my family. He didn't listen when I asked for my family back. Maybe he just doesn't care about this world anymore like he used to." I said as his lips pressed some. "Maybe you didn't get close enough to god to ask him to do these things you ask of." He said as I looked to him. My lips pressed some. "I was a wiccan. My tattoo had burned off when the fire came into the limo. I crawled out burned and in pain." I said as his eyes looked away some. "I believed in a goddess and a god at one time. I prayed to them. I thanked them for different things in my life. But when the accident came and happened, that prayer, faith, and worship just stopped." I said gently. We were quiet for a while. My eyes lifted and could see a city ahead of us. We had been on the road for several hours now. Coming up to the city would bring us in the middle of people again. "What city is that?" I asked as his eyes lifted to it. "That is Viterbro. That means Rome and Vatican City is less than a day away." He said as I nodded. "We can stay here for the day. It is a decent city. I have some money to get us a room for the night and a decent meal." He said as I looked to him as we continued to walk. My eyes lifted to the sky. It would be dark in a few hours. "I want us to stay in a room. I want you to stay with me. I will not take no for an answer." He said taking my hand in his. My eyes fell to our hands together. My cheeks blushed some as he applied gentle pressure. I pressed his hand back as he smiled and we walked together. It took us nearly an hour to get to the city of Viterbro. The people were just packing in for the night as a few vendors from a market were gathering their things together and packing up. A few vendors offered us things but I turned them down. A man short in stature offered out a beautiful white gown to me but I held up my hands and shook my head to him. "I'm sorry but I have no money." I said as he spoke Italian over and over to me. I looked to Gabriel as he took up the gown and looked from me to the man. Gabriel spoke Italian to the man as the man's eyes grew quite wide and bowed and spoke words to me. He took my hand kissing it as I gasped and stepped back away from him. The man looked to Gabriel as Gabriel spoke words and the man looked to me once more. He put his hands together and it sounded like he was apologizing. I looked to Gabriel. "He didn't know you don't like to be touched. He offers the dress in forgiveness." Gabriel said as I looked to the man. "The dress is pretty but I don't have money to give to the man. Please tell him to keep his dress for a prettier woman to buy it." I said as Gabriel spoke to the man but the man shook his head and stepped away holding up his hands to me and Gabriel, who held out the dress to him. The man turned away and walked back to his things. My lips pressed some as I looked at the dress in Gabriel's hands. "He wants you to keep it for you are a beautiful woman." Gabriel said as my lips pressed some. I walked to the man and touched his arm. He turned with a soft gasp as his wide eyes went to me. I took his hand and kissed it. His eyes seemed to go wider as I brought a smile onto my lips. "Thank you, dear sir." I said as he slowly smiled finally understanding and bowed to me. I turned away and went with Gabriel down the street. Gabriel folded up the gown and slipped it into my bag as we walked. "This place will be good for the night. Let us go in and get a meal and a room." He said as I looked up to the villa that stood before us. Vatican City Ch. 01 "Don't you think this place will be expensive?" I asked looking to him as he chuckled some. "I said before that money was no issue to me, Tessa." He said as I stared at him. "Are you homeless?" I asked as his eyes stared at me. "I never claimed to be. I just chose to live life when I need to. Tonight I wish to treat you." He said as I stared at him. My lips pressed to a line. "Who are you, Gabriel?" I asked as he stepped down to me. His fingers slid over my cheek and into my hair as my head lifted some and my eyes closed to slits. "A guardian." He whispered. His mouth crushed mine as my fingers clenched some at his shirt. He drew me against his chest as my eyes closed. His tongue tangling and drawling mine to play with his. My heart pounded again as I felt the blood rushing through my veins. I felt the hunger in his hands and in his body. My own wanted him. I wanted to taste his passion. I wanted to feel him inside me. He broke the kiss as we huffed against one another. "Come with me. We aren't safe on the road anymore." He whispered as my throat swallowed the lump and I nodded to him. He walked me up the steps of the villa as I felt his head turn back towards the city. I thought I heard the movement of feet and something that sounded like snarls behind us but the door of the villa closed behind us as my eyes had to blink a few times to get used to so much light. The place was beautiful on the inside. Giant paintings on the walls of silvers, gold leaf, and bronze decorated everything everywhere. He drew back from me as my body walked to the paintings and stared up at them. I heard his voice speaking in Italian to the registry but I was staring at a painting of an angel before me. His beauty was god like and his hair was long, white, and glittering from the halo above his head. But his eyes were what drew me. His eyes were like Gabriel's. My head turned as Gabriel's eyes came up to me. They gleamed in beauty as he stood smiling and watching me. He held a key in his hand. I walked towards him as he stared down at me. "Who is that angel?" I asked gently. His eyes lifted to it. "That is God's beautiful angel and son. That is Gabriel." He said as my throat swallowed another lump that had formed there. My chest was tight as my head turned and looked back to the angel. I felt Gabriel lead me towards a pair of steps. We walked up the steps as my head turned and I followed him up. We walked down a long hallway and came to a door. He used the key and opened the door as my breath was caught in my throat at what sat before me. Elegance was an understatement of a lifetime. Silks, satin, lace, and everything beautiful sat in this room. The bed was wrapped in elegant silks of white with satin sheets. The couch was bigger than any couch I had ever seen. The fireplace roared with flames that danced and made shadows in the room dance about. My hand dropped my bag to the floor as I slowly walked around the room. I came to a large Jacuzzi that had warm water and bubbled. My hand ran through the water as I moved towards the huge book shelves with all kinds of books upon the shelves. My fingers of my dry hand ran across the spines of these books as my eyes read the titles and the authors. I moved towards the bed. My steps were slow and hesitant. It was too beautiful to touch. I felt his hands slide over my waist and lift my hand as he put it on the bed. The bed was quite soft and the sheets were just as soft. I shivered some and looked away from the bed. "This is for you. I wish you to be in comfort and sleep in a bed that would hold your beautiful flesh in its hold. Don't be afraid of this, Tessa. Never be afraid." He whispered in my ear as my eyes closed some. I felt his fingers slowly lift my shirt up and off my flesh. I felt his heated fingers slip down my flesh and felt my pants come undone. I felt his lips touch and kiss as my head lifted and I remained still under his touch. I felt him lift my left leg. My hand came out onto his shoulder rippling in muscle as he removed my sneakers and pulled off my pants and underwear. I gasped softly as he lifted me into his arms and walked to the Jacuzzi. His body was nude as he walked down into the waters and lowered my body into the warm flowing waters. His eyes and mine never left as his fingers ran the water over my flesh. My hair floated around in the water as I stared up at him. "By the graces of the gods I purify thee. To open your eyes and let you see the light. To bring your heart to open and be open to the sights of the gods. With these words I purify thee." He breathed as he set his fingers over my mouth and nose. My eyes closed as I felt my body be submerged under the water. I could feel the currents of the jets run down over my flesh. I felt his hand and arm hold me freely in the water. My hands remained by my sides and float gently in the currents around my flesh. He lifted me up to break the surface as he drew me up against him. His mouth crushed mine as he drew me up and out of the water. His arms held my flesh as his tongue played with mine. His body moved and I felt the bed touch my back as he came down over me. My fingers slid up into his hair as his fingers drew my legs up to his hard flanks. His loin throbbed and slid up my inner thighs. I gasped out and pressed his hair as he buried into my flesh driving deep as my body jumped some under him as he slid into that tight space again. We moaned into one another's lips as his muscles rippled and his flesh thrust on mine. He broke the kiss and looked into my eyes as his fingers slid up my breasts and cheek into my hair as my head lifted and watched him. His muscles rippled and flexed as a soft purr and a moan came from my throat. He groans and murmurs as my head lifts and his lips go down over my cheek, throat, and over the band at my throat. His lips touching it and the flesh around it made me moan out to him. I felt my muscles in my flesh tighten as he moans and grunts softly thrusting his flesh further and deeper into my body. My fingers and nails press down his back some as he groans out and shudders as his mouth seized mine once more. Our breaths huffed as he began to move slower over my flesh. My head lifts as soft yelps and gasps come from my throat. He watched me as my eyes closed and my fingers pressed his shoulders harder. I could feel the head of his loin flick and hit the walls of my womb as my body shudders and a moan comes from my throat. I could feel his muscles flex and drive his loin deeper into my flesh. I could feel his throb and his hunger in his touch. My own body wanted him. My heart needed him. His mouth crushed mine as his tongue slid into my lips and pulled mine to meet his. The tone of a bell came through the walls and the windows of the room. His head lifted as my eyes opened to slits looking up to him. "Close your eyes." He whispered as his hips thrust on my flesh. "Close them." He breathed. My eyes closed as my head lifted. His mouth went down as his fingers drew my hands to the bed some. My head lifted as a soft purr came from my throat. His hips began to thrust harder on my flesh. My legs bounced as my breasts rolled up against his face as his mouth swallowed my nipples and then my breasts whole. My ears could hear the bell again and again. It felt like the bell was toning with the pounding of my heart. I moaned out softly as my body shudders under him. I could feel the coming of my orgasm as my body trembles hard under him. He grunts and moans out as my head lifts and my head shakes back and forth throwing my hair into my face and over my breasts. My toes curl as my muscles clench tighter around him. I scream out as he groans hard and buries his loin deep into my flesh. The last tone of the bell came as my back arched up towards him and my jaw drops. He holds me tight as we orgasm together. I could feel juices slip down my butt and to the bed as I moan out softly. My eyes open but everything seems to spin. I thought I felt his lips against mine but my body sinks down to the bed as I felt consciousness slip away. It was sometime later I awoke as my eyes opened to find that I was covered up in the sheets and my head was lying upon a pillow. I looked over to find him sleeping next to me. I was in his arms and his chest rose and fell as he slept. I rolled over against him and laid my head upon his chest. His arms had shifted and held me closer. My eyes closed some as my eyes went to the fire place. The fire was still burning bright and cast the shadows to dance and move around the room. The candles that were lit and around the room also made things dance some. I closed my eyes as sleep took me once more. In the morning his fingers touched my face as my eyes opened and looked up to him. He held a tray in hand as the smell of food came to my nose. My lips watered some as I slowly sat up. He smiled and sat the tray before me. He reached over and drew another pillow behind me. He was dressed in clean jeans and a t-shirt. His hair was brushed and pulled back into a ponytail. He smiled and kissed me gently before drawling back. "Eat breakfast and we will leave in an hour. We will head out to Vatican City." He said as I picked up my fork. He stood up and went to my bag. His fingers drew out the dress that the man had given me last night. My fork stopped as I stared at the dress. His eyes came to mine. "I wish for you to wear this today. If that is okay with you?" He asked as my lips pressed some. "Traveling in that may not be a good idea. It would get dirty." I said gently. "Everything will be fine. It's bright and sunny outside. The trip to Vatican City will not take us very long." He said as my lips press some before I nodded. He hung the dress up and walked from the room as I ate my breakfast. When I was finished I put the tray to the side and slipped out of the bed. I walked towards the dress and touched it. This should have been sold to someone of a higher standards then me. My body stood nude before the dress. I noticed that the dress would probably hang right to my feet. A frown pressed my lips a little more. I turned away from the dress and walked to the Jacuzzi. I slipped my fingers in the water before walking down into it. I sat down and began to clean my skin. I washed my hair and ran my fingers over the scars. The thought of how they were put there came back to my mind. I closed my eyes as I rinsed out my hair and sat up in the water. I leaned against the side of the Jacuzzi and closed my eyes for a bit. My eyes opened as I heard the door. Gabriel smiled to me as I blushed some. "We will have a cart with us. I will pull our bags along." He said as I watched him. "You don't have to go to..." I was suddenly pulled under the water. It felt like hands had hold of me as I struggled and my legs kicked out as my arms tried to grab the surface. I was losing my breath. I felt Gabriel's hands grab hold of my flesh. I could feel him pulling at me. My head broke surface as I screamed. I was pulled under again and the lost my breath to the water. It felt like the water was getting hotter. I felt Gabriel grab my arms and pull me out of the water completely. I held onto him and coughed as he pulled me away from the Jacuzzi. I crawled away with him as his arms wrapped around me. I coughed out water as my hair fell in my face. "What...what was that?" I coughed looking into his eyes. His lips wore a frown as his eyes stared at the Jacuzzi. "I don't know. I think we should get going. Get dried and dressed. We will head out." He said as I nodded. He helped me to my feet. He wrapped a towel around my flesh and helped me dry off. My whole body was trembling as he helped me brush my hair and slip into the gown. I felt his fingers tighten the strings of the corset on the back of the dress as my eyes watched him. "It felt like hands in the water. It felt like they were holding me down never going to let me go." I said gently as his eyes went to the Jacuzzi again. "The water felt like it was getting hotter." I said softly. His fingers slid over my cheek and into my hair. His lips pressed against mine as my head lifted and my eyes closed some. His arms drew me against his chest and held me. He brought out a pair of low shoes and slipped them on my feet. His eyes looked to mine. "I will get us to the Vatican. We will be safe there." He said as his fingers slid over my cheek. I nodded as he leaned up and kissed me again. We broke apart and got up. I went to take up my bag but his hand lifted it and his to his shoulder. His eyes met mine. "We have a cart and won't have to carry them." He said as I nodded. We walked out of the room. We walked down the steps as my eyes went to the angel of Gabriel. He pressed my hand gently. I looked to him and smiled. We walked out of the villa and to the cart. It was a simple cart and not heavy at all. He set our bags on the cart and strapped them down. He lifted it up and took my hand. We began walking through the rest of this city. Today was a market day again. People were everywhere. Vendors offered things to us but we shook our heads and continued to walk. I looked at a few things as Gabriel looked at another table. "Hello dear lady." A male voice came as my head lifted to look at three men that stood by the table. "Hello." I said gently. I turned and went to walk back to Gabriel. My arm was grabbed as my head turned. "Let me go." I said as they grinned. My eyes went wide as their eyes were nearly black in color. I pulled away and turned hurrying away from them. I turned my head back to see that they were gone. I came to the arms of Gabriel. He looked down at me as my lips pressed hard. "What's the matter?" He asked as his eyes went around towards where I was looking. "There were three men. Can we just go?" I asked as he nods. We began to move. We didn't stop at any vendors or stores out the city. I held onto his hand and arm keeping close to him. "Their eyes were so dark. It was creepy." I said as I saw his eyes come to me. "Don't worry. Stay close to me and we will be fine." He said as I nodded. We walked down the road as his hand pulled the cart with us. The sun was getting higher in the sky. I turned as he touched my face. He had the sunscreen in hand. I smirked as he put a stripe of the lotion on my nose. I giggled and took the lotion and began to put some on him. He rubbed the lotion in as I rubbed his in. We continued to walk on. We came up over a hill as my body stopped. My eyes stared at the city before us. "It's beautiful." I whispered as he stood by my side. "It's the land of god." He whispered as my eyes went to him. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it gently. I felt my cheeks blush hotly. We continued to walk towards the city. We noticed that people were driving or walking in. There were many people walking out. "It's market day here as well." He said as I nodded. We walked into the city as my eyes looked around. The buildings were huge and beautiful. Angels were everywhere. Paintings and statues were down just about everywhere you turn. We came down a road that had the street roped up and people watching on left and right. The police came walking towards us speaking Italian. Gabriel spoke to them in Italian as their eyes went wide some. They spoke out towards me and bowed some. My eyes went to Gabriel. He pressed my hand as we began to follow the police down the road. The sky seemed to grow over with clouds as my head lifted and looked to the sky. It looked like a storm was coming. The air around felt thicker and heavier. My pace slowed a bit as my eyes still watched the sky. Thick black clouds made everything seem like it turned into night. I was grabbed from behind as a scream came from my throat. I could see the bubble car of the Pope. I struggled and tried to pull away. Gabriel and the cops turned at my scream. Anger filled Gabriel's eyes. Gabriel spat something in a strange language that wasn't Italian. "She's coming with us. We will kill her and the baby." It was one of the men from the last city. I struggled and tried to get loose. I gasped as a blade came to my throat. Gabriel growled. My eyes went wide as he reached behind him and pulled a long bladed sword from his back. "Let her go. You have no right to hurt her. You have no right to hurt her or the baby in her womb." Gabriel hissed. "I'm not pregnant. I can't have children. Let me go." I said struggling against the men. I gasped as a man came in front of me with a black sword in hand. My eyes went wide. "It's not possible." I breathed as the second man came in front. I went wide eyes as both men joined together as one. The blade of the sword was against my throat. His eyes went to Gabriel. "She is not meant to live. The child in her womb will die along with her. God cannot save his daughter again. She will die and remain dead this time, Gabriel." The man's voice was two as I struggled against the one holding me. "What is going on here?" The voice was familiar for I had heard it on the TV a few times. I saw the pope and several of his ministers and guards run up towards us. "The daughter of god is being held against her will. She and the child will die by my blade." The man hissed as Gabriel growled. "I won't let you hurt her!" Gabriel roared. My eyes went wide as white wings burst out of his back. Many people around gasped. "You are gods' angel." I whispered. The demon in front of me snarled and turned pulling back the sword. I struggled hard and stomped on the instep of the other guy. He cried out behind me as my body shifted as the demon brought his blade towards me. I cried out as the blade sliced through my side and through the guy behind me. I kicked out thrusting the demon away and the blade came out of my side as I stumbled to get away. The demon came after me but Gabriel got in front of me. Their swords collided together. I watched as the other guy ran towards the demon as their bodies took him in and his black bat like wings burst from his back as I gasped. Arms went around me as I fell to the ground. My eyes went to the eyes of the pope. He and his ministers were around me. Guards and the police were around them. My eyes went to the fight. Sparks flew in all directions as the whole city seemed to go quiet watching this. "Take her away from here! Take her to the Vatican!" Gabriel yelled as I felt the hands of those around try to lift me up. I wanted to go towards Gabriel and the demon but hands were holding me back. "Please dear lady. Please come with us." The pope begged as my head turned and my eyes went to his. "I am not gods' blood. I am no one special. Please. He didn't care when he took my family away from me. He didn't care when I was pierced by the sign post that left my flesh scarred. He doesn't care about me." I said as their eyes went wide. "Gabriel! Gabriel!" I screamed reaching out for him. I could smell my blood. I could feel the pain as the men around me tried to draw me back towards the Vatican. "Gabriel! I love you!" I cried out to him. A blast of sun light cut through the black clouds over Gabriel as his wings glittered and shined bright. As I watched a halo of gold appeared above his head. My legs grew weak as I groaned softly. My world was spinning as I slid towards the ground. The pope and his ministers gasped as their arms caught me. "Don't take me away from him. Please to the gods don't let me leave him." I begged softly. The pope's face was right before mine. His fingers brushed my red hair from my eyes as my eyes were closing. "Stay with us dear lady. Please stay with us." He begged as my hand slid over the wound as I winced and yelped out and drew back my hand looking to my blood. My eyes went to Gabriel fighting with the demon. "His name is Elric Graver." I breathed. "He's Catarina's brother. He thought Catarina betrayed the clan by marrying a Scotsmen. She never betrayed the clan. She used her magic to save lives and help those in need. She loved Richard of Ireland. She never married the Scottish king. You were in the wrong country. She never betrayed the clan. She loved her people. She was the first Wiccan blood to step foot upon this planet. She was the angel that came back to save this planet. Each time you kill the one she lives within you destroy part of your own sanity, Elric." I breathed out. The people in front of me were wide-eyed and staring. I pulled myself up as hands helped me. "Magic wasn't real before my family died. But magic courses through these veins. The magic is awake and won't let you take what isn't yours, Elric. Lord Richard Christian was a descendant of god. He loved Catarina. He gave her child that was taken away and their memories wiped of ever having a child together. You killed them both. You killed the magic of your clan with your greed." I hissed as I saw Elric turn with a snarl. His eyes glowed black as his blade blocked Gabriel's. "This is a place of god and forgiveness. I, Tessa Marie Draken, forgive you, Elric Graver of your sins. I forgive you. I am the daughter forgotten by man and woman. I am the blood of the gods. I am the angel returned." I breathed. The band at my throat began to glow bright as my body was surrounded by light. I felt arms take hold of me as my body rose up off the ground. My head lifted as my arms were open and palms lifted towards the sky. The light surrounded my body. "I give you my strength to send him where he belongs, Gabriel." I breathed as my eyes glowed. I felt the magic leave my flesh but my body was still held in the air. Vatican City Ch. 01 I could see through Gabriel's eyes. I could feel his muscles move and the blade of his sword swing. I began to work with him. We moved and danced back and forth as Elric tried to take us down. Elric snarled as his wings thrust him hard against our bodies. Our blade forced against him as our feet slid backwards but still held the ground. A second set of wings burst from Gabriel's back and forced us forward as I saw Elric's eyes go wide. The sword glowed hotter as our bodies moved faster. "You belong in hell." We said as one as the sword thrust upwards throwing his sword into the air as our body spun and the silver blade went up through his flesh and out his back. A howled scream came from his throat as black blood sprayed across the ground behind him. I released Gabriel's body as my soul returned to my own flesh. I felt the wings wrap around my flesh as my body was slowly lowered to the ground and arms of Pope Benjamin and his ministers. I slipped away in their arms as their eyes were wide. A soft groan came from my throat as my hand slid over my eyes. I felt fingers touch me as I rolled onto my side. I could feel the throb of pain in my side as my eyes opened and came to the beautiful face of Gabriel. He smiled and touched my face pushing a bit of red hair from my eyes. His head looked up and across from me. "She's awake, Benjamin." He said as I saw the movement of robes come around the bed and the pope was next to him. "Is he gone? Is he dead?" I asked gently. "Yes, dear lady, he was sent back from whence he came." Benjamin said as I slowly nodded. I tried to sit up but Gabriel's hands held me back. "Please rest Tessa. Your side has been wrapped and will heal soon enough. But you must rest to let it do that." Gabriel said as I stared at him. "Who was your lady that you wished Pope Benjamin to save?" I asked as he smiled some and touched my face. "You already know the answer to that, Tessa." Gabriel said as I looked away some. "I thought angels weren't supposed to come to earth." I said as he chuckled some. "I told you I was a guardian. Father sent me to guard you and our child that grows in your womb." He said as his fingers lay over my stomach. My hand slid over his hand. "I couldn't have children." I said gently. "When the right man comes along is when your womb will bear fruit to your labors in life and love. You were baptized in the warm waters that were purified and touched by an angel who has fallen in love with you and you have fallen in love with me, Tessa. Your heart opened. You let your heart melt away from the sorrow. You gave my purpose here every meaning it needed to protect you." Gabriel said as my eyes stared at him. I felt the burn of blush in my cheeks. "It still hurts, Gabriel." I whispered as his fingers slid over my cheek gently. "It will always hurt but everyone in this world and the heavens above know that you must move on." He said as I nodded. My hand reached up and touched his face gently as he smiled. "Will you wed us, Benjamin? So our child will be blessed upon his delivery to this world?" Gabriel asked as I saw the pope smile and nod. "It would be my greatest honor to wed the both of you and to bless the safe passage and delivery of the bloods of the gods onto this planet." Benjamin said as I blushed some. "We will not go anywhere, will we?" I asked as they both looked to me. "I still fear..." I trailed off as my fingers ran down my flesh. I drew the blanket up and looked down to my flesh. My fingers slid down clear and scar-less flesh. I felt tears come to my eyes as I looked up to Gabriel. His fingers wiped away tears as he leaned forward and kissed my lips gently. "They were taken away when you were the blood of the gods, Tessa. You received your forgiveness when you opened your heart to who you really are." Gabriel said as my fingers slid over his cheek gently. "Thank the gods. I love you Gabriel." I whispered as he kissed me once more. "Gabriel I wish to speak to you. Maybe we should let her rest some." Benjamin said as Gabriel turned and looked to him. My hand touched Gabriel's as his eyes came to me. "I am quite hungry." I said gently as he chuckled and nodded. "Rest up and I will bring something to you." Gabriel said as I nodded and laid back in the blankets and pillows. To be continued...