Chapter 9: Train Robbery

That next day was a busy one as everyone put the finishing touches on their plans. There was a certain excitement as the mansion buzzed with an undeniable energy. Saint knocked on my door as I was trying to decide on what I should wear for the day.

"Sierra?" Saint's voice wavered as I struggled into a white top.

"Hold on a minute!" I meet him at the door.

"Good morning!" Saint took a minute to look at Sierra's ruffled hair and mismatched socks. "You seem to be having a busy morning?"

I looked down at my feet and laughed. "Ahhh ha ha...ya…"

Saint held up the bundle Van had been carrying around yesterday. "I thought I told Van Helsing to take you with him when he picked up the order." Saint pressed the box into my hand. "After all it is for you."

"Saint…" My mouth lost its will to tell him off as he waited expectantly for me to open the box.

"I also brought you these." From behind his back Saint pulled a rather large bouquet of pink orchids.

I took the flowered with glee. "Thank you! They are lovely."

I looked around the room and spotted one of the many vases in the house. "I have a vase over there." I directed him to the end table next to my bed. An assortment of clothes lay on the bed, tokens of my indecisiveness.

"I see we are having trouble selecting an outfit befitting for today." He observed as he set the flowers into the vase and filled it up with water.

While Saint tended the flowers, I set the box on the table and began opening it. Inside was a long, black, trench coat like apparel. It had no sleeves, but buttons down both sides that clipped on the inside. The inside was lined with a white and black pinstripe silk. The sides of the vest/coat were slit open to the hip allowing for complete freedom of movement. Turning the jacket over onto its back embossed into the leather were two furled wings that ran down the length of each back pleat.

If I had possessed the courage tell him off before, I certainly couldn't now. My mouth wide in amazement, Saint walked up and took it out of my hands. Shaking the coat out he nodded in approval and held it out to help me into it. Visibly shaking, I let him help me into the coat. My hands were trembling enough that I couldn't even button the first row.

Saint reached down to help me. "I think this looks quite appealing on you." He reached up for the next button. "I am quite please at how it turned out, and..." Saint leaned in to whisper into my ear. "That I was the first one to see it on you." Saint pulled away, his smile having taken on a much more invested look.

Saint finished up with the last button and stepped away. "Yes, I think that will work for now."

I stepped up to him and put my hands on his chest. "Saint, you really shouldn't be doing this."

Saint's mischievous smile sent shivers up my spine. "I was entrusted with your care." He started out simply. "Is it wrong to spoil those you care about?"

I rested my head on his chest right above my hands. Saint put his arms around me and whispered. "All that I ask is that you let me protect you a little while longer."

I buried my face, embarrassed, into Saint's chest couldn't think of anything to say. For a few moments I just listened to the ticks of all the clocks Saint had attached to him along with the steady beat of his heart.

"For some reason I feel compelled to protect you." Saint slid his hand under my chin forcing my face towards his.

His face was so close! My mind panicked and went into overdrive. Saint stared into my eyes. "You really are quite cute when you are flustered."

I felt my cheeks turning a crimson red. "Then...then you shouldn't tease me like this…" I muttered pushing away from him.

Saint's expression turned to that of polite surprise. "Who says I am teasing?"

I turned away from him to buckle the rapier over my new jacket not trusting myself to saying anything.

Lupin poked his face into the doorway. "Hey it's almost time to leave!" Lupin took a second to admire the jacket before he commented."That looks really good on you! I approve!" Lupin put his hand under his chin and nodded a couple of times while saying this and smirking.

Cardia put her hand on Lupin's arm. "Lupin?" Cardia's teal eyes scanned the room.

"Cardia!" I found a place to express my emotions as I ran towards her. "What do you think?"

Cardia grinned at my sadly. "I think it looks good on you."

I clapped my hands in hers. "I can't wait until I can go shopping with you! We will have so much fun together!" I put my head on her forehead, both of us smiling.

Lupin freaked out at the skin to skin contact. "What?! How? How can you do that?"

I put my cheek against Cardia's and grinned evilly. "Girl's secrets."

Saint came up behind me. "I believe you said we were due to depart?"

Lupin scratched his head confused. "Indeed, I did?"

I tugged Cardia along with me down the hall. Saint walked next to Lupin."The difference between them is quite unusual isn't it?"

"You can say that again." Lupin was still stuck on events of a few moments prior, to really keep up the conversation.

---

Once at the train station Cardia stuck close to Lupin. I positioned myself by Saint until the train arrived at the station, then I was due to join up with Fran and Van on the train.

"Have you ever seen a train before?" Saint inquired as we paced the station.

"No." I tapped my cheek in thought. "I do not think I have seen one in person. What does a train look like?"

Saint stifled a laugh. "I think you will just have to wait and find out."

From the sidelines I could just make out where everyone was positioned. A stranger with light purple hair and a jacket embossed with the royal crest seemed to be circling the area as closely as we where. My eyes narrowed. "I don't like this…"

Saint stopped walking and looked around. "The train?"

I shook my head. "No. him." I turned to point out the strange man, but realized he was already gone. I frowned as I was unable to locate my target, but I switched the topic of the conversation regardless. "Saint, were you serious about before?"

We started walking again and Saint lead me around a corner, away from the others. "I would never do anything to harm you." His expression told me he was dead serious. "All I desire is your happiness, be it with me or with another man." His voice was soft, and gentle, and I barely made out the words in the loud, bustling, train station.

I was going to reply, but a loud, ear piercing, whistle accompanied by the shriek of machinery under pressure cut my response off and made my hair stand on end.

Saint grabbed my hand and pulled me around another corner. "That would be your cue, my dear." He hurried me along to drop me off next to Fran.

Before we parted Saint leaned over and told me with open stunningly teal eyes. "Be careful." Saint straightened back up and addressed at Fran. "Take good care of her." His polite smile seemed to be hiding a cold demeanor, and I thought again on what he said.

As Saint drifted away a huge black, steam ridden machine, blaring whistles and screaming breaks approached the station. My eyes the size of dinner plates I looked at Fran. "We are not getting in that thing are we?"

Van appeared on the other side of me as Fran answered my question. "Indeed we are. What do you think of your first time seeing a train?"

I examined the machine from the front as it came to a halt and we got in line to board. "Quite frankly?" I looked at my punched ticket. "It looks like a metal coffin."

Fran exchanged a worried look with Van. Van shrugged and offered me a hand at getting on. I took his hand, and the sullen soldier helped me aboard.

The floorboards made an ominous clanking sounds when my boots struck them. I led the way to the desired cart in the far back of the civilian train and sat down next to the window. Van took the seat across from me while Fran sat down next to me. It was longer than expected, before the train's whistle blew once more. I felt the shuttering of the engine as we started to pull out of the station.

In fright I grabbed onto Fran.

"It's alright Sierra." Fran tried to encourage me. "Your going to stay here when the fighting starts, only come out if you have to."

Van's hard eyes watched the landscape pass and he didn't offer a word of comfort.

As I became more accustomed to the sounds and shakes of the train, I released my grip on Fran and started to enjoy myself a little bit. There were quite a few stops where people got on and off the train. The gas lamps were lit to welcome the incoming darkness before we were the only ones on the train.

Fran directed me to hide down in between one of the seats.

"Just be careful." Van's words reached my ears as a explosion rocked the carriage behind us. I watched Fran lurch forward, as Van braced himself from the impact. "That was fast!" Van roared as the glass gave out on the front of the carriage and two strange soldiers burst into view. They were dressed in grey and black, wielding long rapiers.

However, it was their masks that terrified me the most. Long bird like beaks of plague doctors hid their entire face from view.

"Oh no…" I half screamed in terror, half trying to contain my horror. I was no longer on the train anymore. My mind brought me back to another flashback of my past. It overlapped with the train, the evil, hooded, figures prowling the burning house, searching for bodies. I watch in horror as both my living and deceased family members are hauled from the wreckage only to be dismembered before my eyes. Their blood was slowly drained into huge vats of silvery blood.

"Sierra!" Van glanced back at me as he fired at the two attacking Twilight guards. Each shot found its mark and the targets dropped to the ground.

Fran knelt down next to me. "Sierra?" Fran's voice was full of panic.

Two more guards broke in from the back and four more entered from the front. Glass was shattering all round me. Van's gun was firing off faster than I thought possible, and Fran was chucking flash and stun bombs as the masses keep coming.

"Damn!" Van swore as he reloaded yet again.

"Don't you think there are a few too many of them?" Fran panted the question as Van nodded in agreement as the body count just piled up.

More glass shards flew as another Twilight soldier broke into my booth. I didn't pause to think. I instinctively stood up as the glass grazed my cheek and tackled the figure coming in from the window. With no way to enter, and a strong force shoving him back out the window, the Twilight guard fell. I didn't stop there, I scooping up a fallen rapier from the floor and launched it at the pair gaining on Fran.

The weapon skewered the pair in the shoulder, pinning them together in an effective shish kabob. The next figure nearest to me turned towards me to attack. I jumped over the bench and roundhouse kicked him out of the train, fluidly I vaulted backwards to punch another two in the gut.

Fran's mouth dropped. "Sierra?!"

I looked behind me, but Van's shotgun dropped the figure behind me. Van smirked behind Fran as Fran gasp at me in admiration. Based on their reactions I assumed that I was forgiven for my earlier panic. I joined Fran and Van in the center of the train.

"You should have tried that on me during training." Van offered as he shook his head and fired again at the approaching enemies."...Time to go."

We raced towards the front of the cart.

"Keep going!" Van yelled behind us.

"Going up!" I yelled as I jumped up onto the next cart's ladder and hauled myself up. The roof was invested with the horrid masked Twilight members. I drew out my own rapier in rage. "Just because I am a women don't underestimate me!" I rushed in, ignoring any pain I felt and ripped into the closest guard. I used a variety of acrobatics and amazing dexterity to clear the roof.

"All clear!" I yelled down to Fran after a final scan of the rooftop.

Up in front I noticed a figure in white trying to fight against the wind. I focused a little harder and a cap blew by me. I reached out and snatched it from the air and pulled it on. "Oh jeez, that is Cardia...gentleman I am going on ahead!"

Van's deep voice sounded from below along with a variety of gunshots. "No, Wait!"

I didn't heed Van's warning as I dashed forward toward Cardia. She was engaged in battle with several figures on the next cart over.

"Where is Impey?" I took a second to survey the conditions. It was then I noticed that it felt like a storm was rolling in, the winds were gusting in the wrong direction as well. "This isn't good..." I muttered as I felt myself slowing down. I rubbed my cheek to feel a wetness soak my leave. I looked down at the silvery blood and swore.

Finally, I was at the jump to Cardia's cart. It had only been a few seconds, but it had felt like forever. Carida had managed to dump another one of her opponents off the train. That left two more on her roof. I vaulted over the jump easily, and landed next to one of her opponents. I braced my shoulder and shoved him off the platform. Cardia moved past me on her way to the coupler, as I moved towards the remaining opponent.

Van's shotgun rang out and my opponent sunk down onto the roof without me touching him. I nod to Van and raced after Cardia. She was already down working on the coupliers to the cart holding our quarry. I lept over to the roof, and waited to see if anyone else came out. Van was following me closely, his face showing a grim determination. He jumped down to where Cardia was standing, guns blazing.

I turned my attention to the rooftop. I could just make out the othrocopter Impey was supposed to be flying battling against the wind. A huge guest whipped my coat around my body, and even more Twilight members oozed out onto the rooftop.

I clicked my tongue at the approaching figures. "You guys are so annoying..."

I was on them in a flash, and several more unconscious bodies hit the ground. Once clear I looked back down. There were no additional carts, so Cardia and Van must have been successful in detaching the cart from the others. I stuck my head down and viewed four people in the room below me. Two being Van and Cardia, the other two people I did not recognize off the top of my head.

Van was all business, his face held a barely contained rage as he pointed a gun at the smaller blond male. The small blond was being covered by a capable looking older man with a cane sword and long grey hair. Silently, I creep towards the front of the cart, hoping to lock them in a pincer movement between me and Van Helsing.

Trembling, I took a deep breath and steeled myself for my next course of action. I flung myself from the top of the roof with force and swung myself inwards using brute strength. My heel burst through the glass with relative ease, and I came to a halt in the middle of the floor.

"Sierra!" Cardia's voice rang out and the small blond turned to me. His eyes were unstable, as if he was having trouble seeing me. His mismatched eyes lit onto the slight cut on my cheek. A manic laughter burst from him as the older one pushed him backward toward the window away from the danger.

My eyes narrowed and my blood instantly rose, something about that laugh was unsettlingly familiar. "Why sister! What interesting company you keep!"

Van ground his teeth in anger. "Finis!"

Cardia came out from under Van's cover. "What do you mean?" Her voice quivered at the statement.

"You even have the last angel!" The boy doubled over laughing. "What a great day!" Come with me sister!" Finis offered Cardia his outreached hand. Cardia looked at it uncertainly with eyes full of panic. Van moved back in front of Cardia as his body trembled slightly with tension and hatred.

Cardia looked out the window and shouted out a warning. "Watch out!"

I rolled forward, meeting the older man's sword with my own as a powerful blast rocketed the train. A giant hole ripped its way into existence next to Cardia and Van. Van was forced to move to shield Cardia from the debris.

I was not so fortunate. I felt flying shrapnel cut into my arms and legs as I parried the sword in front of me.

"Your pretty good at this." The old man lashed out and I blocked his attack just in time. His blow sent twinges radiating up and down my arm rendering that sword arm useless. Scowling, I flipped hands.

"Ho ho, duel handed?" The old man laughed at me.

"Be careful Aliester. I would not underestimate her." Finis's voice was strangely grounded in the moment.

Lupin's voice cut through the cabin."Cardia! Jump!"

I disengaged, backing off from close quarters combat, to let Van take point once more as I dropped back to help Cardia.

"Can you make it?" I asked her in hushed tones as Cardia looked at Lupin holding out his hand. I encouraged her as Cardia readied to jump. "You can do it!"

Van fired off two shots as Cardia jumped.

I turned around as Finis reached for his sister, yelling.

Van was in a standoff with Aliester. "Van, we need to go!" I yelled as the wind ate my voice.

Van growled and looked out the hole.

Lupin yelled. "You guys need to jump now!"

I looked at Finis reaching for me now. "If I can't have my sister, I will at least take you back with me!"

I backed up trying to get away, and suddenly I was in Van Helsing's arm as he was jumping through the hole.

Van scooped up Sierra as he exited the train. Jumping out, he caught the rope ladder with his free hand and pulled both himself and Sierra up to a more stable position.

Saint and Fran were on the ground in the car just a few seconds behind the Ornithopter. Sierra hung one arm around his neck the other latched onto the ladder. Van watched in frustration as the train sweep into the valley and exploded.

Shots rang out and the Ornithopter veered dangerously to one side.

"Shots?" I peered over Van's shoulder to see a huge airship gaining on us.

"I think we are too heavy!" Impey's voice rang out as another set of shots barely avoided us.

I exchanged a look with Van and we both looked at the ground. "Well then..."

I frowned as Van yelled up to the pilot. "Take us lower!"

The Ornithopter wavered dangerously as Impey struggled to keep on course.

"We are going to have to jump." Van's voice sounded right next to my ear. "Can you do it?"

I looked him in the eyes and nodded that I could.

From the ground Fran and Saint watched as the Ornithopter came under attack.

"This could be an unforeseen problem." Saint observed as he drove.

Fran was busy mixing chemicals. "Drive steady, I am going to give them some cover."

Several vials filled with smoke as Fran threw them up high into the air. They exploded on the way up. Huge dense smoke clouds in a plethora of colors filled the night sky right in front of the airship almost instantly.

Van and I looked back at the smoke rising around the ship.

"Now!' Van commanded and I released my hold on him and the rope. The air raced all around me, and another shorter, flashback hit me. Regardless of where I was, I was falling. The ground was coming up, but I wasn't afraid. Instinctively, I tucked my body into a ball and hit with my shoulder. Around me I heard another, larger body, hit the ground near me. Neatly, I let the momentum roll me until I stopped. Slowly, I unfolded myself, double checking everything was still attached and working.

Everything was.

I looked behind me. Van was standing beside me dusting off his coat as Saint drove over the hill.

"Need a ride?" Fran yelled as we waited for the car to come closer to us.

I laughed and waved, as Van just crossed his arms and waited for them to pull up next to us.

---

Chapter 10: Angel Blood

The next morning, I slept in.

The changes from yesterday were astounding, I swore I hurt in every place. I got up and stretched feeling my muscles unclench. I reached up to scratch my face only to be unable to sate my urge to scratch it due the medical tape and bandages Fran had in place. I sighed and fell back into the bed.

"Is there even a point in getting up today?" I asked myself as I rolled over and gathered a pillow under me. The mission had been unsuccessful, Finis had escaped. The mood in the house was depressing and sour. The air of failure had hung over several of the members making the place gloomy. I had just been thankful everyone arrived back in one piece. Well almost in one piece, if Fran had anything to say about my 'bad habit', as he put it.

I sighed and rolled back over, throwing the pillow into the air and catching it. "I should probably go check out that house…" I sighed and stood up again to get ready to go down to breakfast. I was pulling on my jacket as a polite knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. I pulled my hair out from my collar was I answered it.

"Can I help you?" I opened the door to reveal Cardia.

Cardia's large teal eyes were full of concern, and maybe a bit of confusion. I opened the door further to let her in.

"Well?" I asked as she hesitated just past the threshold. I closed the door behind her, getting the sense that she wanted to discuss something in private.

Cardia wandered into the middle of the room, not quite sure what she should do or how to start the conversation. I went over and sat on my bed and motioned for her to do the same.

"Is this about yesterday?" I inquired as she seemed to be having trouble opening up. I grabbed my pillow again and cuddled it again.

"I didn't expect Finis…" I left off as Cardia blinked and found her voice.

"I am still so unsure about everything." She started to talk after my little encouragement. "How can I have a brother? What does Finis know about our father? What am I supposed to do?!" Cardia had been struggling to express her feelings, and they started to all tumble out at once.

"Good questions." I answered her. "But, unfortunately I don't have any answers." I fell silent thinking about Finis's statements about me as well. Instinctively I knew Finis had not been lying. I tried not to let his words bother me, but it was difficult.

"Sierra, is it true what Finis said yesterday? About you?"

I sighed and rested my head on my pillow. "I don't know" I said with my eyes closed. "It's definitely a possibility." I touched the bandages on my cheek. "I don't bleed red blood like the rest of you….so we know I am not human." I smiled at her. "But it doesn't bother me that much, not when I have all of you."

Cardia pulled one of my blankets up around her knees. "I am just so worried. Finis escaped, everyone is so unhappy, and I am not any closer to finding my father or getting rid of my poison."

I reached over and patted the top of her head. "I wouldn't worry about it. Lupin and the rest of us won't stop until we have discovered a way to get rid of your problem." I gave her my best smile and she smiled a small one back at me. "See," I poked her face,"You look so cute when you smile!"

There was a small sound at my door and I stared at the shadows moving round under the doorway. Cardia picked up on my hand signal and we both moved towards the door.

"I think if we all work together…" I grinned mischievously and slowly twisted the door handle into the open position. "...we can beat anything!"

I ripped open the door to unveil Lupin, Impey, and Fran piled up outside the door. All three of them looked surprised that we had caught them in the act as they tumbled to the floor in en masse.

"Come on guys" I gave them an semi-annoyed look and scolded them "listening to a girls conversation through closed doors? What kind of gentlemen are you?"

Lupin extracted himself from the others laughing. "Sierra, you were just so passionate! I couldn't help but over hearing."

I shook my head not expected any better of him or Impey. I addressed Fran, having no hope for the other two.

"Fran, even you?" I singled him out as the weakest link.

"A…" Fran was chuckling softly and seemed to be having a hard time coming up with a defense.

I offered my hands out to Fran and Impey at the same time. With a grin they both took my hands and I pulled them upright.

"This isn't your style." I scolded Fran. "I expected it of the other two, but you?"

Impey was quick to interject. "Hey! Come on now!"

Lupin was helped up by Cardia, he gave me a injured look. "It hurts me that you view me that way." The sarcasm dripped off Lupin's statement.

I noticed a subtle shift in the drapes near my door. I marched over to them and hauled on them, revealing a silently laughing Saint hiding behind the drapes.

"You too, huh?" Saint stiffed a laugh at my exasperated comment.

"Is the only one who wasn't privy to that conversation Van Helsing?" I ask in desperation.

Saint smirked and pointed out the open window into the garden.

"You have got to be joking." There, right under my window, was Van Helsing.

Saint took me by the arm. "We were worried when you didn't appear for breakfast."

I rolled my eyes at him.

Impey gave me the biggest puppy eyes. "Do you not enjoy my cooking? Does my food selection bore you?" He was so quick to jump to conclusions.

"Let me guess Fran..." I turned to Fran pointedly. "You're here to check up on me."

Fran blushed and looked away from my accusation.

Lupin stepped forward. "We all were worried about the well-being of our ladies when they give us no warning and do not show up on time. Especially since they had such an eventful day yesterday. Is that such a crime?"

Fran's eyes shot to my bandaged cheek as Lupin continued to drive his point home. "Especially one as seemingly accident prone as you, mademoiselle."

My eyes dropped to the ground in embarrassment. There it was again, I was only thinking about myself, or maybe I wasn't thinking at all. "I am sorry everyone." I said in a small voice.

Impey sweep me off my feet. "I bet your hungry!" His face was so close and he was smiling from ear to ear. "Apology accepted!" Impey beamed at me. I suddenly felt really small as Impey held me in his arms. The redhead proceeded to carry me off like a sack of potatoes and I couldn't find the willpower to protest. Out the window I noticed Van had disappeared once more.

---

A few hours later Fran had me in his lab and he was in the middle of disinfecting my cuts and investigating my bruises once again.

Mutely I withstood him redressing and applying medicine to the wounds. Fran was pretty quiet as well. Not sure what I was missing, I started to panic. "Fran, I hope you're not mad at me about this morning?"

Fran looked up from his work in surprise at my question. "No, I am not mad." His distant reply had me concerned.

I hesitantly reach out towards him.

"Stop!" His sudden voice made me stop dead in my tracks. "...You should hate me." Fran's eyes were obscured by his hair as he pointedly looked away from me.

I felt myself grow cold at his words. "Fran, what do you mean?"

Fran slid away from me looking deeply troubled.

"Fran, you need to tell me what is going on!" I grabbed his lab coat and leaned myself towards him.

"...You and Cardia both should hate me."

I managed to get a peek at his light green eyes hiding under his hair before he pulled away from me again. His eyes were so very heartbreakingly sad.

"I have killed so many people…" He ripped his lab coat away from my grasp and left off his sentence.

I started shaking in fear and remorse.

"Fran!" I felt my eyes brimming with tears as his emotions flooded into me, and his distance made my heart throb wildly in my chest. I got up and followed him. "Fran, wait!" I stopped the doctor by putting both my hands around him. "What do you mean?" I felt Fran shutter as hot tears hit the exposed flesh on my arms.

"I am the reason your family was killed! I am the reason Cardia has the Horologium!" His outburst made my blood freeze at his emotionally charged words.

"How do you know that? How do you know my family was killed?" I whisper as Fran flexed and pulled free from my embrace.

"I am a monster." He turned to me and exclaimed crying.

I felt my hand raise involuntarily up as if to slap him, but looking into his eyes knew I couldn't. My emotions were spiraling out of control as he just stood there refusing to acknowledge me.

"You knew...you KNEW!" I screamed at him. " All this time you knew my past and you never once told me!" I covered my face with my hands as I started sobbing. "I watched them being butchered alive Fran!" My breathing was ragged as the horrors from my past were ripping me apart from the inside. "They bled every last one of them alive right in front of me!" The tears flowed freely down my face."And all your having is a damn pity party!" My voice wavered and fell.

"I…." My voice seized in my throat and I sniffed. "Why…"

Fran's face was full of hurt and despair, but he realized he couldn't turn back his back on Sierra now and leave her like this. "I worked several years ago on a poison called Zicterium in a lab. They used it as a bioterrorist weapon to rid England of vampires. The primary ingredient in it is...your blood...angel's blood." His voice was so full of hurt and regret. "I left the lab after the government decided to use it on a entire village. After that Isaac continued my research..."

My tried to stop my tears as my head felt unnaturally clear. I looked him right in the eyes, tears overflowing, but my voice was dead calm. "And that is why I was stuck in that lab for years, as they bleed me daily for their projects."

Fran's voice was barely audible. "...Yes."

I had no clue that my heart could ever be this heavy. I should hate him, and everything Fran stood for. I thought of my family, and the horrors I had seen. Yet, the only feeling I could find in my heart was forgiveness. This man had been there for me, steadfastly standing beside me, diligently checking up with me for some weeks now. He had been helping me heal, and I knew somewhere in my heart, he wasn't responsible for my misfortune.

"Fran." My voice was barely there, but I managed to choke out the words I thought he needed to hear the most. "...I forgive you."

The man in front of me was broken, his heart was crying out.

Something my mother said to me when I was little drifted into my head. "We all have a capacity to love, forgive, and heal. Do not waste it being angry, or filled with hate. Learn to love and enjoy life." I rubbed my eyes, trying to dry my tears and smiled as Fran. "Let's do our best to help everyone!" The smile trembled as I continued. "If you need any of my blood...you can take as much as you need."

Fran couldn't believe what he was hearing. He thoroughly thought Sierra would despised him and all his involvement in her families death. Yet, here she was saying she forgave him, and legitimately offering herself to him so that she could help others. Fran's expression broke and he stepped in to comfort her.

Fran wrapped his arms around her gently. "I am so sorry." He whispered as his chin rested on the top of her head. From the confines of his arms, he felt Sierra's body relax a little as he held her.

From the confines of his arms Fran heard her voice."I am sorry too."

---

Chapter 11: Rash Decisions

That night I couldn't sleep.

Fran's confession, along with my returning memories made sleep downright elusive. Nightmares ran rampant through my head, and after several attempts at resting, I finally gave up and decided to go for a walk. I pulled on my typically clothes, belted the rapier to my waist, and unlatched my window. I checked to make sure the yard was clear and jumped down. I landed lightly on my feet with nary a noise.

A deep, perturbed, male voice called out from behind me. "Normal people use doors."

I whipped around, rapier drawn, to discover Van Helsing sitting under my balcony. I scowled at him and put the blade away.

"What are you doing out here?" My voice had an edge on it that was unfamiliar to me.

Van's eyes narrowed at the open hostility and his voice cut through the night. "Your behavior has been inconsistent since we returned from the mission yesterday."

I wasn't in the mood to talk to him and the conversation was quickly getting on my nerves.

Van registered open aggression in Sierra's tone and body language.

"That's observant of you."

Her voice was dangerously hostile. Van mulled over what he should do or say as he watched her walked away from him. Eventually, Van decided he should just follow her. Van tailed her silently out of the gates and into the empty streets of London.

Where is she going? He wondered, as she stopped at several intersections seemingly at random. Van's last straw of patience left when she started tailing some Twilight soldiers down into an dark alley. Irately he resolved to not assist her, since she went looking for trouble on her own accord.

I silently pursued my prey, with continuing discomfort that I was being followed as well. Since it had not attacked me yet, I assumed that it was not hostile. I tried to shove the thought away from my mind. If they wanted to tail me and wait for an opportunity, they would be waiting a while. The pair I had been following meet up with another two at the edge of the alley. I scowled and banished my rapier trying to think about what my next move would be. Technically, I only needed one. Four, seemed like a better fight. I sighed internally, I should have just shoved my pride and asked Van to spar. Fran would be really upset with me if I got hurt anymore...before I could figure out my options, my quarry started to move towards me, making up my mind before I even had a direction.

Van's instincts were screaming something wasn't right as he watched Sierra from his vantage point on the roof. The group had got larger, and he expected Sierra to retreat, only she never did.

"Is she going to engage them?" He muttered under his breath as he watched her leap towards the incoming Twilight figures.

"Stupid…" The hunter muttered annoyed. Van pulled one of his shotguns out to provide backup should she need it.

Sierra, however, didn't require Van's assistance. It was a disappointingly easy fight for her.

I looked down at the prone cloaked figures, trying to discern which one was the most conscious. I gave up fairly quickly and just selected the loudest one.

I picked up the goon by their shirt collar with a single hand and slammed him into the nearest wall, growling. "I have a message for Finis, and your going to take it to him." The Twilight thug in front of me thrashed trying to free himself from my grasp. "If you don't shut up and be careful, I will decide I only need one person to carry back the message."

I slammed him into the wall once more, this time with more force. The guy fell silent seeing the deep blue eyes take on a red hue."That's better."

I pulled off his mask with a subtle twist of my rapier to reveal a soldier not much older than me. "You are going to tell him, his father shouldn't have let the angel live." I felt something snap in my mind and I roared. "I won't let him take any more from me!"

The wind echoed eerily down the corridor, chilling everyone who was touched by it to the bone. I dropped him to the ground.

"Get going." I brandish my sword, swiping it across his face. Fresh, red, blood leaked down his cheeks as his eyes grew large as I brandishing the point merge inches away from his eye. He stumbled away from me and manged to get to his feet seconds after. The Twilight guard took off running without a backwards glance.

I turned around to address the other three, which appeared to be unconscious. "Now what can I do…"

A shot rang down from the nearby building, and I narrowly avoided the spray of rock salt that crashed into the wall in front of me. I looked up at Van Helsing and sneered at him. "I thought I was being followed. Been up there long, Van Helsing?"

Van's face told me he was really angrily.

"What do you think your doing?" His voice hissed into the wind.

"Letting off steam?" My nonchalant answer did not seem to quell his anger. I watched as his fingers tightened their grip around the triggers of both guns.

"Think you can do a better job then these?" I gestured to the other Twilight figures on the ground. I didn't think I would need much to provoke him, but my estimate was wrong. Van sheathed his guns and jumped down.

There was a very distinctive thud as Van dropped down onto the cobblestones.

"We are going back to the mansion." His voice was dangerously calm as he prowled towards me. Van tone told me he wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer. My blood was pounding, stuck between my fight or flight response. Van's anger was no joke. At the same time, I was seriously frustrated and angry, myself and I didn't understand why I should back down.

My emotions got the better of me and I attacked him.

Van was not in the mood to waste time, not with Twilight prowling the area. He assessed Sierra's movements with an ultimately calm demeanor. He resolved to get this over quickly.

The fight was extremely one sided as Van assessed Sierra's speed and took advantage of her open fighting style to target her pressure points. His first swing had Sierra dropping her rapier into her second hand. What Van did not realize was that her second hand was Sierra's dominate hand.

Van was forced to recalculate his method as Sierra's fighting style changed drastically and the blows took on more force and were faster. Van felt the blade bite into his cheek as he got behind her and hit the pressure point on the base of her neck. Van wiped the wetness from his cheek as Sierra dropped to the ground unconscious.

"Tkk." Van's voice sounded on the path irately. "You are such a pain."

Van heard the whistles of the watch going off on the next road over, and was forced to gather Sierra into his arms. Thus burdened, the hunter proceeded to make his way back to Saint's mansion.

---

An hour later I bolted up in bed and looked around.

My arm and neck were killing me and instantly my eyes snapped open to look around in horror. I brought my good hand up to my face and moaned softly. "Ugghh..."

My horror subsided a bit as I realized were I was.

There was a faint light coming from the other side of my room. I peeked out between the curtains on my four poster bed to see Van sitting at my table. He had a seriously angry look on his face as he cleaned his equipment..and mine. There was dried blood on his cheek and on a handkerchief that rested on the table. Apparently, the equipment had a higher priority then his wound.

I sat there watching him for a minute, while I tried to figure out my emotions. In the end, I knew I needed to apologize, even if he was angry or hated me. I pushed the curtains back. Van's eyes deadpanned to me. He is probably pretty tired, I observed. I knew I was. I approached the table cautiously.

"Van Helsing?"

The anger he expressed did not lift as I approached him.

"Are you going to attack me again?" He inquired coolly and I shook my head.

"No…"

Van sighed and forced out the words. "Then what do you want?"

I furrowed my brows together and tried to check my temperament. "Well, this is my room?" Van did not respond as I got closer, my eyes narrowed in on the cut.

"Does it hurt?" I asked him gesturing to his cheek.

It had started to bled again as he shrugged and put the bloody handkerchief back on the wound. His response was a cold. "No."

I felt pretty bad about losing my temperament before and I thought of something that might make it up to him, but it was really risky. I stopped in front of him.

We were only separated by an arm's length. "I am sorry." I said from the depths of my heart.

"Don't let it happen again." His voice was quite low at this point. Whether it was exhaustion or something else, I couldn't tell.

"I would like to look at it." The statement had Van narrowing his eyes in suspicion, but he slowly pulled the handkerchief away from the wound.

"Why?"

I stepped forward, my hands trembling, and brushed Van's hair away from the wound. It didn't look deep, rather just a scratch. A testament of his combat prowess. My mouth went dry at the thought that ran through my head. With a gulp, I leaned over and planted my lips on the wound. I was able to drag my tongue over it before Van reacted to what I was doing.

Van sensed she was going to do something, but he had not expected her to reach over and kiss him. Van's eyes grew wide as the feeling of her hot tongue on his cheek. The sensation sent shivers down his spine. He reacted violently, pushing her way.

I let Van push me away, licking Van's blood from my lips as I took a couple of steps back.

"What the hell do you think your doing?" He was on full guard now, but I couldn't regret what I had done.

I stood there apologetically, wincing at his harsh words. "I couldn't help myself..." My eyes were down cast in the face of his anger.

Van stumbled for words to express his anger, grinding his teeth. "You….could...not…" Van reached up and touched his cheek. The tiny stinging sensation that been there a few minutes prior was gone.

"What did you do?" He asked taking his hand away from his cheek.

I felt my face growing hot. "Umm ...well…" I pointed to a mirror and Van's distrust had him looking in the mirror with one eye on me.

Sierra watched as Van examined his wound in the mirror. They both could see the wound closing rapidly, before disappearing completely. Van turned around to Sierra completely unsure of what to say at this point.

"I...couldn't...leave it...like that…" I gulped, visibly ill-at-ease. Van's eyes watched me with some kind of annoyed, angry, surprised look all at once. We stood there in an awkward silence for sometime.

I desperately wanted to go hide, be anywhere in the world but in that room with the man I had attacked, twice, in one night.

Van, at that same instance, was completely dumbfounded by this woman before him. He wasn't sure how to react. His second shotgun still needed to be cleaned. It was looking like it was going to be a really long night. The weapon in question was still sitting on the table, in several pieces. Van was also pretty sure he had hit Sierra hard enough for her to be out for the next several hours. The hunter confirmed this when Sierra reached up to rub her neck. In general, he was unsure of what his next course of action should be.

I reached up to rub my neck, and tried to make sure my arm still worked properly. Both limbs responded, by protesting their movements loudly.

"Are..you going to be here a while?" I asked, eyeing the disassembled weapon on my table. Several of my books had been moved to make room for the operation.

Van nodded to confirm that he was. "...I wasn't planning on you waking up for a while."

A weird thought bubbled into my head. "Van...Were you guarding me?"

Van slid back into the chair perturbed. "I struck you fairly hard. You should have been out for several more hours. It is probably due to your abnormal healing capacities that you recovered so quickly."

I nodded, unable to think of anything to say about his observation. I looked around and went to pick up my nightgown from my dresser. "...I am going to get ready for bed then."

I watched Van's expression change to one of unknown surprise as I walked into the bathroom and shut the door.

I examined my neck and arm in the mirror as I shed my clothes. Above my heart, a distinctive cross was beginning to show permanently on the skin. I traced the pattern with a light finger before I turned to look at my back. Small, but deep bruises asserted themselves against my pale white skin.

"Seen that one coming." I muttered as I tugged the nightgown over my head and adjusted the ties. Finished, I washed my face and opened the door. Van was still sitting at the table, diligently working away. I pulled my head back inside and smacked my cheeks a few times.

"What am I going to do…" I whispered to myself. "It is not proper for a man to be in a women's room at this hour." I repeated words Saint had told me after the fiasco with them walking in on me mostly naked when I had first arrived at the mansion.

Van's voice sounded closer to my ear then I expected, causing me to jump away.

He looked at me with a strange expression as he stood by the doorway. "I am done. I left your sword hanging on your bedpost."

With that statement he walked out towards my door. I stepped out into my room. My books had been put back in perfect order, and the candlelight sat by my bed. Van opened my door to the hallway.

"Good night Van Helsing..." I said softly as Van exited my room without a comment. He shut the door silently behind him.

I crawled into my bed really confused. I had a hunch that I wasn't the only one confused by my actions tonight. I rolled onto my back and hugged a pillow to my face in complete embarrassment.

"What did I just do?!" I sat right up in bed. "OH MY GOD!"

My mind started to catch up with my emotions and my actions. "How is he going to react to me in the morning? What if he tells everyone else?" These were the types of mortifying scenarios that ran through my head.

"What the hell have I done..."

The rest of my night was spent in restless sleep, as I woke up every few hours expecting some kind of holy retribution for my poor decisions.

---

Chapter 12: Financial Crisis

That next morning I was up and moving before dawn.

Having successfully eluded a peaceful slumber, I took a long, hot, morning shower in a vain attempt to overcome my weariness. Toweling off, I glanced haggardly into the mirror. The sight of my tired eyes came as no surprise, but I turned around in amazement after checking my arms and neck.

The bruises and cuts of the last few days had seemingly disappeared. I hesitantly poked a location, I knew 5 hours ago had been a deep bruise. "Nope, nothing."

I checked my side. That looked to be completely healed as well. I pulled my hair back in a quick ponytail and went to get dressed. Getting dressed took a lot less effort than normal. I didn't think to much about it, I just grabbed a dress and a corset. The dress ended up being a dusty pale pink, and I paired it with my white corset and thigh high white boots. The dress was a little lower cut then normal, but it was one Saint had seemed to enjoy at the shop. I typically gravitated towards pants, but decided that it might be a better idea to look a little more feminine today.

I was awake long before anyone else. I glanced down the hall to Van's room. Nothing appeared to be amiss. I decided that, with all my spare time, I was going to go prepare breakfast. Once in the kitchen, I started to make an array of foods. I knew my cooking wasn't quite on Impey's level, but I couldn't think of anything else to do before the day started. I noticed the larder was getting a tad bit low though, and decided to bring it up at the morning breakfast table.

Impey stretched and sniffed the air on his way to the kitchen. A savory aroma filled the air. He couldn't quite place all the smells, but they were making his mouth water.

Impey poked his head into the kitchen and caught Sierra in a pink dress supporting an apron and a ruffled head piece. Impey's heart absolutely melted and he couldn't contain himself. Smoothly, he readied his pick up line and waltzed into the kitchen.

"Sierra, good morning!" He reached out and grabbed a spoon from the tray and dipped it into the nearby batter and licked it. "Hmm, know what ingredient you are missing?"

I turned around to grab a clean tasting spoon of my own. I dipped it into the batter and tested it. "I am not sure…maybe salt?"

Impey quickly responded with a huge grin. "Me!"

I took a second to think about that in a more literal sense. "Well, if you could make it better…" Impey's pick up line caught up with me and I waved my spoon at him threateningly. "Impey!" I gave him a dirty look to add to my spoon threatening.

Impey laughed at my reaction to his joke. "I actually think, it's pretty good." He said this in all seriousness. Impey washed and dried the spoon he had been using before putting it away. "Did you need help with anything?"

I pulled a batch of orange scones out of the oven. "No, I think I got everything."

Impey examined Sierra a bit more closely. "Did you not sleep well?" He grabbed my face and looked at the bags under my eyes.

"Uhh no, I did not." I replied honestly as Impey cradled my face in his large hands, my brain seemed to freeze at his nearness.

Impey brushed some flour the edge of Sierra's face. "Well just remember if you ever feel like you need company in bed I am here for you!" Impey flashed a giant, mischievous, grin.

"No!" I blushed hotly, rejecting Impey's boisterous advances.

Impey laughed and let go of me. "At least you joined us for breakfast today!" He swiped a scone off the cooling plate, juggling it as the scone was hot.

"Did you not watch me pull them out of the oven?" I gave him an exasperated look as he blew on his fingers.

Impey just waved his hand at me and took a giant bite out of the scone. "Tpphhhesse aaaaree spphhhoo oodd." Impey's full mouth expressed his determination to try my cooking without letting it cool to a reasonable temperature had me getting him a glass of milk from the fridge.

Impey took the glass and gulped it. "Ahh, that hit the spot!"

I looked at him uncertainty with the canister of milk still in hand.

"A little dry, but the taste was really good."

I looked at my cooling scones and sighed.

"What else did you make?" Impey lifted the lid on another container.

"I have some fruit salad, porridge, and some sausage links."

Impey stuck his clean spoon into the porridge. "Good stuff, I haven't ever tasted anything like this before. What's in it?"

I tried to figure out if I should tease him back or not. "Honey, cinnamon, a hint of orange zest, and a super secret spice."

Impey looked down at me in surprise. "Super secret huh?" He leaned down to whisper into my ear. "Super secret? You can tell me!"

I felt shivers run down my spine at Impey's closeness, remembering his light hearted promises from only a few moments ago. I motioned for him to lean down so I could whisper into his ear.

Impey humored me and leaned down. "It's love."

"Uh huh. Uh huh." Impey nodded twice to confirm it, blushing slightly. "Right. Right. Love is a great cooking spice! I use it all the time!" He struck a pose. "That is why I am such a great chef!"

I giggled at Impey's reaction to my teasing. The coffee pot finished and I set it on the tray along with the tea pot. Almost everyone had gathered into the dining room by the time I was finished. Impey and me were the last two into the room, carrying breakfast.

Impey was quick to praise my cooking before everyone. "Everyone I have a special announcement! Today we are eating Sierra's cooking!"

Cardia looked at me in awe. "You made all of this?"

I set down my tray. "Yes?" I remembered that with Cardia's condition, she probably had never cooked before. I went over to whisper to her. "Would you like me to teach you how sometime?"

Cardia whispered back. "If you would?"

I nodded over to Lupin. "I beat he would love to try your cooking."

Cardia looked at me kind of puzzled. "Why just Lupin? I wanted to do something to help everyone."

I put my hand on Cardia's shoulder. "If you say so."

I headed back to my place at the table before Saint sat down. We started to say grace.

After breakfast was served the table became quite lively. I steadfastly refused to look at Van. Feeling my face heat up every time I thought about last night, made me compelled to stay involved in every conversation I could, just to keep my mind off it.

Saint admired the lady sitting next to him. "I quite enjoy that dress on you." Saint complimented the lady to get her attention.

"Does it have anything to do with you picking it out?"

Saint smiled passionately at my comeback. "Quite possibly. Where ever did you locate the exquisite outfit?"

I looked down and realized I was still wearing the maid's apron and headpiece I had found in a kitchen cupboard kitchen. "Uhh..." I was totaly embarrassed, I felt my cheeks heating up at just the mere thought of everyone seeing me in such a outlandish outfit.

"It looks really cute on you, you should wear it more often." Saint chuckled has a heavy blush crept over my face from his teasing.

I reached up and pulled the hair piece off my head to hide it in my lap. If this is how my day started off, I really was in for a rough day.

"We should have a feast tonight!" Impey declared.

Fran on the other side of the table sighed.

Lupin picked up on Fran's distress, while Saint looked over with more amusement. "What's the matter, Fran?"

Saint cut in with a mischievous, knowing, smirk. "I think I have a pretty good idea on what this is about."

Fran scratched his face in a nervous habit. "Well, I needed to talk to everyone on that."

I interjected over top of Fran. "Impey we can't have a feast, we don't have that much food left."

Impey looked dejected as Fran found his voice. "We don't have any money left either."

Saint's light chuckled sounded in my left ear. "I have often seen you opening your wallet with a similar sigh, I assumed it was as such."

"What!" Impey's jaw dropped at Fran's confession.

Lupin looked at Fran in puzzlement. "But, Fran weren't you in charge of our finances."

Fran's nervous laughter increased. "From the day I started to manage our money, our financial situation became pretty clear to me." We all waited on pins and needles as Fran continued. "There was never any money to begin with!"

Everyone started arguing how they never used any funds and it was others faults.

Fran was quick to stop the fighting. "Van, you borrowed a huge sum for ammunition."

Van shrugged at the accusation. "Even a child realizes that ammunition costs money."

Impey laughed as Fran lectured Van about his expenditures, and Fran haplessly turned to him next. "You, Impey, used even more than Van Helsing! Didn't you request upgraded fuel and machine parts that cost a lot of money?" Impey's jaw dropped in horror as Lupin stiffed a laugh.

Fran was on Lupin's case in a flash. "Lupin, you used even more than Impey and Van put together! You wanted upgrades for your weapons and explosives, along with special funding for your projects!"

Lupin struggled to stay on track as he came under fire. "...The most efficient way to get information is with money!"

Cardia asked the question that was on my mind. "What about you, Fran?"

Fran's face froze and he twitched nervously. "...I...uh...I used the most out of everyone."

Lupin grinned at Fran in a malicious manner. "Excuse me, can you say that again? I didn't quite hear you."

Fran hung there, looking like a ghost, and replied. "I used the most out of everyone."

I asked the question while looking for a way to defend Fran. "Why is that Fran?"

Fran's auto response seemed to kick in. "Everyone came to me asking for upgrades..and I needed them for my experiments..."

I swore I watched a little ghost of Fran exit his body as he admitted this.

Saint's face froze in a concerned position, as I struggled to figure out what the implications for our group were.

"You seem to have a bit of a problem." Saint commented as the rest of the group huddled together.

Impey looked around the room thoughtfully. "I suppose we could always sell some of the art around here."

I didn't see Saint tense as much as sensed it, but the overly polite smile took a dark turn as the count froze.

Impey continued his train of thought, oblivious of the danger he was in. "We could just pick a few and it would solve our money problems, right Saint-G?"

Lupin hurried to remedy the situation as Impey looked over in horror as Saint's eyes flashed in a malicious light at him. "Stop Impey! Just stop. You're in danger of getting us all thrown out!"

Lupin covered Impey's mouth in a panic and turned to Saint Germin to reassure him. "We definitely will not be selling any art."

Lupin turned on Impey and growled. "Just shut up!"

I thought about it, while others thought of a way to get cash. I leaned over to Saint, thinking I should make my suggestion to him before everyone else. "Could I borrow your violin? I could put on street performances for some cash."

Saint set his hand on my arm. "That is very kind of you, but you shouldn't worry. If you need anything just come to me." Saint's soft voice barely reached me as the others expressed their ideas.

"...But I want to help everyone."

Saint held a finger to my lips as I protested.

Van was looking over the paper, sipping his coffee, like he did every morning. The ruckus around him was bothersome. He flicked the next page open to the classifieds and seen a likely job offering. He tossed the open paper into the middle of the table. "What about that one?"

Impey picked up the paper and looked at it. "Teachers wanted for an all girls boarding school! Sign me up!"

Lupin looked the paper over shaking his head. "You would be fired before you even started."

Fran's comment was just as harsh. "His motives are too impure, he would never make the interview."

Van's irritated voice rose above them. "I meant the one below."

Fran looked at the paper, below the large posting that had caught Impey's attention. "The London Firm, they are looking for someone to stop a thief?" Fran looked up from his reading. "The one that has been terrorizing downtown London and going after the vampire treasures?"

Van nodded at Fran's statement. "I will be taking the job. The rest of you can do what you want."

I recoiled from Van's hostile words as the other three guys discussed the implications of the job.

"Well, it takes place in a few days." Lupin's voice cut above the others. "I think we can do it."

Impey's fist pumped the air. "I am in!"

Fran's dejected voice rang out. "We don't have a choice, we need the money."

Saint smiled at the solution. "I think it sounds like fun."

I stood up nodding. "I want to help."

Cardia stood up last. "I agree with Fran, we don't have a choice."

Lupin handed Van back his paper. "Good, we will plan on attending the auction in three days time."

After everyone left I approached Saint. "What is the auction?"

Saint set down the book he had been considering reading. "It's a underground auction where people with money congregate to bid on objects. In this case many of them are stolen, cursed, or dark objects of questionable origins."

I understood what he was saying, but didn't quite comprehend why vampire objects were of such a concern. "So, why is the thief targeting vampiric origins?"

Saint tapped the book under his finger. "That is a good question. Might I ask you one?" I wasn't sure where Saint was heading with this conversation. "Would you target items if they were of angelic origins?"

My blood froze and I looked at him with wide eyes. "Is that even a possibility?"

Saint nodded. "Angel's are not nearly are widely feared as vampires, but to an auction focusing on these type of objects it is entirely possible that something might turn up."

My hands started to tremble. "That's so...so..HUMAN!" My voice trailed off after my outburst, and my eyes started to tear up on their own.

Saint got up and approached me. "Does it bother you so?" Saint's face appeared a bit troubled.

If it was from my unintended outburst or at my emotions, I did not know. I pushed the chair out from beneath me. "Excuse me, I would like to be left alone right now."

I bowed as Saint paused in his motions.

"As you wish, my lady." Saint gave me a small bow and I left the room.

---

Author's Bonus Corner:

So before we begin just know that I am totally a sucker for symbolism, and meanings behind names and flower language.
You'll notice in this chapter Saint gives Sierra pink orchids.
In the language of flowers: "The pink Orchid has the honor of representing innocence, femininity, grace, joy and happiness."
You might also enjoy knowing a secret of my name conventions.
Sierra Arianell was the result of careful planning and a hell of a lot of search... Personal, I keep pronouncing her name as "Syria"

Anyway...my dyslectic brain aside, the translations are:
Name: Sierra
Origin: Irish. Means: Dark.
Name: Arianell
Origin: Welsh. Means: Silver.
See if you can keep these Easter eggs in mind as you read, or perhaps re-read. I hope you enjoy!
(P.S. I also still hope you are still guessing at the pairing!) *evil laugh*