A Divine Rose 5\6 [<Thanks to Ashice -.-']

[Ashlynn Black]

Dear God. This chapter will be definately confusing, and kinda sappy. This is when Ash meets Dante for the first time, and when my other friends here at school [and my editor] read it, they said that it seemed there was a romantic connection between Dante and Ash. Actually, what I want to clear up, is that they are more of a Brother/Sister relationship.

Ash's match... most definately comes out in this chapter.

Enjoy!

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Chapter Five:
From Past, To Future


?Dante, eh?? I said to Fenris with a curious smile, ?Doesn?t that mean devil in some different language?? I crossed my arms, and looked over to Dante again, not able to catch his appearance.
?Latin.? Fenris corrected, nodding slowly, ?Dante is a quiet one. No one really knows a lot about him, he doesn?t really talk to anyone.? His tone was calm as he spoke to me, knowing that Dante could most likely take notice of our conversation.
I watched Niklas as he turned and laughed, some type of joke between the two of them. My eyes narrowed slowly, as I then looked back to Fenris, ?He seems pretty buddy-buddy with Niklas.?
?That?s only because he?s a suck up.? The demi-god replied to me coldly, ?Does perfect on every assignment. No mess, no evidence, no nothing.? He shrugged and leaned back in his chair, ?I don?t understand how he could do something so easily.?
?Assignments?? I said oddly, ?What do you mean??
Fenris?s eyebrows shot up, as he sent me an interested smile, ?Niklas didn?t tell you about the assignments, did he?? He moved his eyes to somewhere foreign in the room, to the girl he was talking to earlier. He smiled a little wider to her, and then moved his glance back to mine.
I shook my head; ?Care to fill me in, love?? I said to him quietly, my slight accent kicking in for once.
He raised a curious brow to the last word in my sentence, and then eventually decided to inform me of the unknown things I had agreed to. He scratched the side of his cheek uncomfortably, and then let out a slow sigh. Ultimately, he opened his mouth, and began to explain. ?Before being trained for seven hundred years in Shadow,? he said, ?You have to get rid the things from the past.?
I wasn?t aware of his words at all. They made to sense to me, but I tried my hardest to comprehend them. ?Get? rid of things?? I asked him slowly, trying to break down his sentence, ?You mean forget??
He shook his head, ?Far from it.? He sighed again, and I could tell he was clearly upset. He just sat there for a moment, and then hesitated a bit longer before finishing his sentence. ?You have to? kill them. It?s a test of your strength, and mental stability.?
I blinked a few times in surprise, ?Kill what?? I asked, completely dumfounded by his inquiry. My mind was completely lost to his words, as if he were speaking a different language; clearly, I had a lot to learn.
?Your memories.? He laid back and crossed his arms, looking me in the eyes, ?You have to kill the people you remember from your past.? His voice was quiet, and clear that he didn?t want to alarm me.
I merely sat there blankly, trying to find a reply. ?W-why must I do this?? I asked him in a shuddery breath, ?It solves nothing!?
He shook his head, ?Wrong. Its Niklas?s philosophy of ?Forget the past, and create a future?.? He cracked his knuckles, ?It?s supposed to make you stronger mentally, and make your strength be somewhat more ?
I blinked again, looking to my fiddling hands in my lap as if searching for answers.
?If you were to get rid of the things that make you weak emotionally and mentally, it will be much easier to push yourself and set new limits.? He moved his arms out and stretched, and then fell back into the sofa; trying to seem somewhat content. ?Although, I think it?s really messed up.?
?Me too.? I replied without giving him any time to think, for there was too much running though my mind. It was like I couldn?t handle, nor even comprehend, what Fenris was telling me.

That meant that I had to get rid of the things I actually remembered? How would that help me? Sure, from what I understand, I lost a bit of my memory already by becoming a half vampire; why would I want to kill off the memories I held close to me? Sure Jenna and Christine treated me badly, but that didn?t mean I didn?t love them. They were family, and like it or not, we?re connected. Not the highest authority in the world could ever change that. I love my family.

?We?ll see about that,? I whispered, taking a stand off of the sofa. I turned around and looked at Fenris before walking around the couch and into the kitchen, facing the back of Niklas Shadow. I narrowed my eyes slowly in pain as I held my breath before tapping him on the shoulder.

Apparently, he was still talking to Dante. I still wasn?t able to see much of the figure, but all I saw from the few was a male body structure. Soon, Niklas turned around, and laughed at the expression on his face. As if it amused him?

?My dear Ash!? He said to me kindly, wrapping his arm around my waist. He turned to the side and caused me to face Dante; leaving me awestruck of his appearance. ?We were just talking about you?? He said quietly to me, his lips near my ear once again.

Although Niklas was persistent of not letting me move, I couldn?t help but stand still. Merely looking at Dante made me seem like I was in a dream. Even if I was pinned by the hip to Niklas, the very second was inspiring. I was face to face? with an angel.

Literally.

His body structure was tone, there were clear muscles in his chest and arms, but his clothing didn?t make it appear so. He was a few inches taller than me, and the way he carried himself made it seem like he was a very laid back person. He was dressed from head to toe in black; one of the darkest appearances I had ever seen. He had the most imprisoning golden eyes; almond shaped and an expression as if masking a thousand emotions. His hair was rather long and spiked up; the tint almost a platinum blonde. And out of his back were two beautiful angelic wings; folded behind him and were covered with soft white feathers. His expression at the moment was a mere smile.

That was more than enough for me.

My jaw was dropped, and I would have sworn that there was drool seeping out of the side of my mouth.
Niklas scowled and waved his hand in front of my face, snapping. Eventually, he closed my jaw shut. ?Woah, snap out of it.? Niklas said with a laugh, and then turned to Dante for some type of reply.
?Is there something wrong?? Dante asked me quietly; his tone actually a little more high than I expected. It wasn?t exactly as a girls, but it was smack dab in the middle; enough to make any girl swoon.
?N-no?? I said to him in return, ?Excuse my staring; I?m not used to seeing people of this world. I?m the new girl, so to speak.?
?A vampire.? He said quickly, smiling, ?I understand.? He sighed and then moved his wings, accenting them. ?Lucky for me, I was stuck with being an angel.? He laughed with a sad of sarcasm in his tone, ?To think that suites me.?
?I think that it does.? I said with pure honesty, my tone as if fading away with each word. I was in intrigued to be facing an angel; especially one of his beauty. He was so hard to explain; mysteriously luring and yet somewhat threatening. It was amazing to me.
?Keh.? He said simply, and then nodded, ?Thanks.? He spoke as if he was uncomfortable, and he moved his wings down to its normal position. He looked at me with a question in his eyes, supposedly at my staring at him. I was hoping I wasn?t being rude, even though deep down I knew that I was.
Niklas rolled his eyes and wafted a hand in front of my face, ?Yoohoo?? Niklas said to me with an annoyed tone, ?You came over here for a reason, you know.?
I found it interesting that Niklas was taken back that I was staring at Dante, but eventually I moved my eyes to Niklas?s and smiled. ?I did.? I said to him firmly, jerking him off of me. ? First of all, I?ve told you to keep your slimy hands off of me, pervert.? I said to him, and then as I crossed my arms, I could have sworn I heard Dante snicker. ?And secondly, I have to speak to you about a detail you left out in our deal.?
?Deal?? Niklas echoed back like a broken record, rubbing the place in his shoulder where I had tossed him back. ?Since when have we made a deal??
My eyebrows shot up, and then I sighed. I grabbed him by the forearm and tore him rudely out of the room, kicking the door open on my way out. I closed the door behind me and then found myself in the same room I had awakened up in; the single red rose had caught my eye. I narrowed my eyes and plastered him against a wall, inches from his face. ?About you taking my life, and giving me something to live for.? I said to him, my tone as cold as ice.
He smiled, somewhat excited that I had used such a force as this. His expression slowly faded into a serious one, and his tone was as if deadpan. ?I never gave that as a deal, love.? He said almost lustfully, his warm breath rubbing against my neck, ?I merely asked to take your life. You agreed.?
I grit my teeth together and held him harder against the wall, my nails beginning to dig into his shoulders; causing his flesh to peel up and under my long nails. ?What about me staying here in Shadow?? I asked him, ?You agreed to make me stronger. Make me an magic user, and a true half vampire.? I said to him coldly, ?How am I to do that if I get rid of all of my memories?? My tone slowly rose as I spoke with him, the anger in my blood rising.
?For the same reason you are pinning me to the wall.? He said to me softly, my actions not bothering him at all. He leant in closer and whispered in my ear gently, ?Death.?
I froze as I felt the warm breath crawl over the one spot on my neck that made my legs draw weak, ?What do you mean by that?? I hissed in anger.
?When you think about loosing someone you know, you use your pain to fight and it gives you higher strength.? He said simply, although his tone was still very much hushed, ?And if there is no pain in life, there is no weakness? and therefore, no strength.? He smiled, ?If you were to get rid of the things that caused you pain, then once you battle someone, you use that same pain to release your true power.? He moved his hands up my back serpent-like, and then slowly plied my hands off of his shoulder. ?And you can?t tell me that Jenna and Christine are a strength.?

I paused for a moment, and then nodded somewhat. Things were actually? clearer. Anger is what causes fury, and with fury comes strength. Even though it was a very harsh way of getting his point across, the thought of killing them set a strong mindset inside of me. It would, in fact, mold my limits as far as stability.

?Now,? Niklas said, glaring daggers at me, ?Normally I like my women feisty, but this is ridicule.? He drew his fist forward and struck me harshly in the stomach, throwing me back into the stairs leading to the next level of the tower.
Immediately, I gasped for air once my fingertips fell to my ribs. My spine was throbbing with the pain of being thrown back; one of my vertebrates had struck the point of the stairs. I arched my back up high; my head resting on one of the steps of the wooden floor. Pain was burning deeply in my lungs; it was clear that Niklas had broken one of my ribs. I had winced briefly, and then looked over to the vampire with coldness in my eyes. ?B-bastard?? I mumbled while watching him walk away from me, and into the lounge.

I tried to sit up but it hurt too much to move; all I could do was lay on the steps and breathe slowly. As a swallowed, I felt a type of fire in my breath; a type of warmth that I wasn?t used to. I moved my head slowly from side to side while my fingertips traced over the broken rib; lost in the sudden burst of pain.

My eyes snapped open once I heard the slow footsteps of a heavy follower, someone who had just walked into the room. I turned my head to the side to see Dante closing the door shut behind him. Without hesitation, I blushed ten shades of a deep red. I narrowed my eyes and looked away, feeling fairly ashamed that Niklas had already taken me down. To be honest, I never thought that Niklas would have struck me like that. Then again, if I were him, I would have done the same.

?Don?t move.? Dante?s voice rang through my mind, awakening thoughts like never before. I turned my head to the side slowly to see him bent down on the steps next to me, looking down at me with his enrapturing golden eyes.

I opened my mouth to speak, although had nothing in mind to say. Soon, I closed my trembling jaw shut, and did as I was instructed to do. I felt something churn inside of me, a warm wave falling over my body. I was at loss for words, and merely rested there; basking in his splendor. With his sudden appearance, it was as if I had forgotten all about the pain that Niklas had caused me.

I observed the angel lying next to me vigilantly, his wings fluttering into a comfortable position as he moved himself to sit in the vicinity of me, leaning over. He rested his unexpectedly frosty hands on my chest, where he found the broken rib. He focused his gaze on his hands, to some extent concentrated on my injury.

Though, evidently, I was determined elsewhere.

I couldn?t help but watch him carefully; something about him made it seem as if I were drawn to him. Something that I cant exactly explain, not ever had the words to explain it if I tried to. If I were to make clear it in any term, I would have to be a poignant desirability; and even so, I was also in dread of it. I hadn?t had this emotion come over me before, and I was in shock of what the outcome would eventually be.

?How did this happen?? Dante asked me kindly, his eyes locking onto mine for a moment. Apparently, he was now focused on taking my mind off of things.
?Niklas.? I stammered out, blinking in surprise as his gaze fell onto me. I felt my face flush and the region around my upper body get warmer with embarrassment.
Dante gave me a pungent smile, somewhat amused by my answer.

It was then when I realized that the heat of my upper body wasn?t caused by the awkwardness, but by the fact that Dante was warming my body with his hands. Some sort of white light was flowing down his arms, and it was beginning to coat my body in a glowing aura. My body tensioned up with fear; I hadn?t seen this done before.

?Just relax,? He said to me softly, ?And you?ll be feeling better in no time.? His voice was very gentle, along with his touch. Everything about him was actually quite ironic; his appearance seemed like it would be someone who was off to one side, and only cared about himself. But by what he was showing me, he wasn?t that type of person at all. Maybe the thought of being an actual angel had warped his personality, but not his style?
?Alright?? I said to him in reply, looking up at him with a light twinkle of fear in my eyes. Trusting Dante came easy; that very same attraction caused me to fall for each word he said. Even the slightest smile coming my way made a chill run up and down my spine, or caused my fingertips to quiver.
There was another long moment of silence before he spoke to me again, his smile fading to a normal deadpan expression. ?There.? He said to me quietly, ?All better.? He stood up and stepped down the stairs, and then began to walk around to start walking towards the door.
?W-wait!? The words had flown from my mouth louder than I wanted them to; it was a little too dramatic for my taste. I sat up and moved my hands over my ribs for a second, seeing that the broken rib was completely healed. I was in awe of it, and then remembered that Dante was about to leave. I stood to my feet and walked over to him, facing his back.
He turned around, with his arms crossed, and looked down at me. ?Yes?? He said simply, raising a curious brow to my actions.
I stepped an inch closer, then stepped back. ?I wanted to thank you.? I said simply. ?That means a lot to me tha-?
?It?s nothing.? He said without emotion, turning his back to me swiftly, ?Healing is what I do.?
I reached out and rested my hand on his shoulder, stopping him from walking away. ?That?s not what I was thanking you for.? I said quietly, and then slid my hand down his back once he turned around to face me.
He was looking at me with a strange look in his eyes, almost confusion. ?Then what is it?? He asked me kindly, his tone softening up.
?I was thanking you for not walking away.? I said with somewhat of a hurt tone, ?I?ve been hurt a lot, and to know that someone will take their time to change it, even for a second, means a lot.? I said sadly, looking down to the ground.

He was silent.

?And from where I was raised, someone who truly raised me, always told me that I had to return the favor for such kindness.? I said purely, and then remembered the one thing that was linked to my past. I smiled immediately and brought my hand to the thin gold chain around my neck. I pulled it forward and revealed a small golden cross; neatly designed with a slit in the center. I smiled and unclasped it, and then looked at the thin chain in my hand.

He was still silent.

I moved my eyes from the necklace to the angel, and then smiled to him softly. I stepped forward and slipped my arms around his neck, my hands lightly quivering from my actions. I was getting closer to his face by each movement, and the closer I got, the more I shook. I then clasped the necklace shut for it to dangle down. My eyes lit up as I narrowed them, the color brightening as I saw the cross fall perfectly into the nape of his neck.

He looked down to the cross and fiddled it with his fingertips, and then looked over to me. He was obviously in loss for words, I could tell just by studying his expression. His eyes, which once masked a thousand emotions, only shone deeply to reveal to me one clear feeling.

Sadness.

And from that point, he didn?t say anything. He just smiled at me, and stepped back; my arms slowly falling from around his neck. Without faltering, I crossed them and bared a gentle stare back to him, knowing that he was speechless. He simply turned around and fluttered his wings hesitantly before walking off to the main room.

Almost silently, I whispered under my breath. ?Thank you?? I smiled gently and waited a few minutes before walking towards the door, only to be greeted by it opening again. Taken back, I was shocked to see that it was Dante.

He didn?t say anything to me, just closed the door behind him. He looked down at me with the same look in his eyes when I gave him the necklace, and then stepped closer. His arms slipped gently around my neck as he pulled me onto him, into a deep and loving embrace. His feathered wings moved around from his back and sheltered the two of us, wrapping it around us both.

I was half tempted to squeal in bliss, or just drop dead in shock.

His hair grazed against my cheek as I blinked in surprise, not noticing his actions as first. I was stiff, almost scared as he first held me, but I was eventually soft into his arms. I hands rested against his chest as I closed my eyes, and I was eventually being let go of. I looked up at him with a question in my eyes, and his only reaction was to speak.

?I cant.? He said purely, and then stepped back.

At first, I didn?t know what the hell he was talking about. It didn?t take long for me to realize what it was; I felt something pulling at the hair on the back of my neck. My fingertips laced to the back of my neck and found a golden clasp, and when I looked down onto my chest, there was the golden cross. I narrowed my eyes and looked at it sadly; I felt as if I was going to cry.

When I turned to look at him, he was gone.

My long, pale fingers laced slowly around the golden cross dangling at the nape of my neck. Images from the angel healing me with the strong white light was replaying in my mind; constantly flashing as if it were a billion dollar cinema. Why had he even bothered to help me? The most I had known about the guy was merely a name, and from what I understood, not too many in Shadow were very? friendly.
He was so mysterious; so dark and so alluring. Everything about him seemed to overthrow me; as if he were a living, breathing question that not the most educated of minds could answer. I told myself, that day, that he would be the one I would more than likely grow closest with; and maybe, even, I could find out that answer that he so desperately tries to hide.
My eyes traveled onto the ground for a moment. A short sigh escaping my breath as I slowly turned around; standing face to face with the least of people I wanted to see. The infamous letch, Niklas Shadow. He stood before the Den?s door as if he were guarding it with ease; such a luring soul about him that released poison into my blood. I slowly brought my eyes to his, and narrowed them in anger.
He looked over me with somewhat of a twinkle in his eye, as if he were impressed. ?Woe is me.? The vampire whispered, taking a step away from the door only to face me once again. ?The great Dante Syranoux was silenced with the newest member.? He clapped triumphantly, and nodded to me with a laugh. ?I?m simply impressed.?
?Shut up.? I snapped, and then stepped around him, roughly brushing shoulders. ?He was nothing but a gentlemen, I meant no such action as to silence him.?
?Ah, but you did no less.? Niklas said with his sickening, perverted smile. His arm slowly caught around my waist, and brought me back against his body once again. ?And for that, I assure you, is true power.? His tone was one of complement to his style; that?s for sure.
?If true power is fear, then possibly your words would faze me.? I said cruelly under my breath, not flinching as he spoke to me. ?Otherwise, my actions to him were no other than kindness. He healed me from the wound you caused, and I merely thanked him.? I said, refusing to move from his arms. That would more than likely throw him off.
?You?re pathetic.? He whispered, pulling back a few silken strands of violet hair over my shoulder, and away from my neck as he released hot breath near my jaw. ?You?re sickening attempt to catch me off guard; to see a different part of you?? He whispered, kissing down my neck forcefully, only to lift my jaw back, resting my head back onto his shoulder.
?W-What?!? I snapped, trying to jerk from his arms; but merely cracked my neck in the effort to get away. I winced, and stood still. It was, once again, useless to try against him.
?I can read minds, my love?? He said with a smile, a distanced accent that was masked before clearly coming into my view. ?If you just wanted me to kiss you, than you might have been better off just to tell me.? His mind pulsed towards mine, almost causing me to swoon. He was able to control my thoughts? Then surely, I could hide my own from him.
?Who said that I was masking it?? I asked, pulling his arms down gently from my waist, only to turn around and face him fully. ?I have no use in denying it anymore, do I?? I mused with a smile, stepping forward closer to him; trying my hardest to keep the act in position.
He smiled his normally toothy grin, and slipped his arms around my waist again, pulling me against his body. He didn?t say anything, but merely looked back at me with a question hidden in the depths of his jade green pools. He seemed to be buying the act I was trying so frantically to keep intact. His firry red hair seemed to catch my eye as he grew slowly closer to his face.
I kept leaning in closer towards him, my eyes getting deathly close to shutting completely. Just as our lips were about to touch, he sent out a smile that kept flashing into my mind. It was the same one I remembered seeing the night he had taken my life from me; the night he had made me that I am today. My hand was rested gently onto his chest; his arms wrapped around my waist. It felt as if he were holding me like I was to be protected, as if I were something that was made so frailly, or maybe like I could possibly break. Why was he, all of a sudden, so gentle in handling me? And why? wasn?t I pulling away?

I was started to feel like? I didn?t want to act anymore. Maybe I? wanted this?

?I suppose not?? He whispered to me softly, his tone rather in shock to my reaction to his words from once before. As he spoke, his lips brushed slightly against mine as if tempting me to pull closer; but I was enjoying this too much.
It was clear to me that I wanted this, but the question is, does he? Of course, now that I think about it, he kinda has been giving me a lot of hints. By looking at me, constantly touching me, the way he speaks. Yeah. It was clear; he wanted it, too.

But I think I?ll just stand here until he leans in completely.

?So, are you just going to stand there?? I teased, smiling just the same as he. It was actually beginning to get weird; his personality was rubbing off on me. ?Or are you going to lean in the rest of the way??
?Hmm? I?d have to think about that for a moment.? He said to me with a smile, holding me carefully as he turned to the side, dipping me under as if we were in the middle of a tango. My legs slide carefully into place, where they were supposed to, and I looked up at him with my shocked, aquamarine eyes locked onto his.

Well, that didn?t take long.

When his lips gently pressed against mine, I didn?t fight it. I was merely relaxed into his arms and blushed deeply, seeing as to how this was my first kiss. His lips seemed so soft and so gentle; far from what I could have imagined them as. He kept holding me up, his arms not even seemingly shaking from my weight. The reaction, emotionally, that was set upon me could merely be explained in one word.

Love.

The world around me seemed to stop; everything frozen as if we were only meant to move along. My heart raced with intense speed, almost feeling as if it were to burst inside of my chest. It was beating as if a warm, sticky substance was melting over it, and yet my blood ran so cold. It was like I was being poisoned; succumbing to a silent, honorable death. And yet it felt like I was on cloud nine, my mind spinning and my body nearly going limp. One thought kept running through my mind. Pulsing like insane and kept repeating like a broken record.

Why him?!

[The Elelmental Paladin]

hehehe, that funny. I feel sorry for her but .... her first... with him! This story just got a whole lot more interesting.

[Ashlynn Black]

-laughs- You have no idea. I figured that the match with Niklas and Ash was smart.

Oh boy, wait until you see Haru's reaction to this. -snicker-

[The Elelmental Paladin]

yeah, I was just imagining her walking in on that while I was reading that!

[Ashlynn Black]

I was so tempted to have her, but it would be too predictable. The next chapter, actually, starts to lead her into training. And you know how she doesn't remember Aubrey, right? Well, he comes into veiw as well. Everything slowly peices together, I suppose you could say. Its REALLY long, too. Like, almost 20 pages.

[The Elelmental Paladin]

good I like long reads!

[Ashlynn Black]

So you really like this, hmm? Who would you say is your favorite character?

[The Elelmental Paladin]

I don't usually pick favorites but if I had to it would have to be Fenris. In fact now that I think about It I relate more to him than Niklas, but I still relate to Niklas a tiny bit.

[Ashlynn Black]

Wow. I actually expected you to choose Niklas, if any. Fenris is that appealing, hmm? Well, trust me, theres definately a scene in the next chapter that brings out his demi-god form. It's wicked sweet. I have to wait a while, though. Sadly. ><" Maybe a week or so before it'll be up. I have to add a few more details...

[The Elelmental Paladin]

Well Niklas was a close second. Then third was Ash cause she's HAWT.