vigorli

Title: Blood of the Immortal: The Nephilim
Author: Bwitched83uk
Rating: NC-17 overall.
Cast: Viggo/Orli Sean, Karl, Elijah, Jared Leto, Colin Farrell, Keira Knightly.
Summary: AU. Sequel to Blood of the Immortal.
Beta: The gorgeous rawiyaparand *loves her*
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. I have taken names and characterisations from real people that I do not own, but the concept and the plot are all mine.
Archive: www.geocites.com/b_witched83uk
www.livejournal.com/users/bwitched83uk
Feedback: "The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism"

Chapter 7

The soft chimes from the music box filled the room, playing an old song that no one longer remembered. The delicate sound was coarse and yet child-like, like a child’s song sang out of tune and yet still perfect.

Anastasia gently fingered the wooden carvings of the caracole horses, which were chipped and had white paint flaking off them. She hummed softly to the music and ran her fingertips over the jewelry inside.

Beside her, Viggo smiled sadly, watching the little girl touch things that he had not allowed himself to touch in almost three hundred years. The box was his wife’s, as was the jewelry inside. It sat on the dresser, frozen in time, not having been touched once since his life’s passing.

"May I?" Anastasia asked as she carefully picked out a necklace and held it in the palm of her hand. It clearly didn’t belong in the box next to all the fine jewels and gold. This necklace was a mere cross, embossed with amber stones, hanging from a thin strap of leather. It was the necklace that Ian had always worn. Viggo wasn’t sure how it gotten into his wife’s jewelry box though.

Viggo nodded after a moment’s hesitation. He took it from the little girl’s soft hand and moved behind her to tie it around her delicate neck. She ran over to the mirror, not even flinching when it showed only her in the room. Her pretty, full-length dress swished as she spun around quickly holding the necklace flat against her chest.

With a big grin, she turned and looked up a Viggo, her chocolate curls falling in her face. For the first time since they had met, she truly looked like a little girl.

"It’s very pretty," she said taking Viggo’s hand. The vampire swallowed past the lump in his throat. How long had it been since he had touched a child? Not since his Henry had he allowed himself to breathe in the warm smell that only children have.

Anastasia looked like a porcelain doll, with her pale, flawless skin and her big, bright eyes. Her cherry lips dropped as her face frowned. "Why are you sad?"

Viggo looked her in the eye and gently squeezed her little hand: "I am not sad; I am just remembering."

"Then stop," she suggested, as though it were that simple. She turned away from him suddenly and walked over to the windowsill. Upon it sat a set of wooden animals that Viggo himself had once carved for his son.

Instinctively, Anastasia went over to them and picked up the carved wolf. "Oh," she said sadly as she looked down at the small figure. "He used to smell like the pine trees."

Viggo’s eyes shot to her face, and he felt a burning behind them. He swallowed hard and nodded. "He used to play in the forest pretending he was a wolf cub."

Anastasia smiled and walked back over to him, the wooden wolf clasped in her little hand. "And you chased him," she prompted happily. "You were the daddy wolf."

Viggo took the wolf from her hand and nodded. "I was."

The little girl stiffened and yawned, walking over to the bed. Laid out on the pillow was a white nightdress that Orlando had asked Keira to get them, along with some other essentials for Anastasia.

She pulled her long dress up over her head, letting it fall to the floor, and picked up the nightdress. She handed it to Viggo and lifted up her arms for him to help her in to it.

He smiled slightly, finding it amusing how wise she was and yet how child-like she still could be. Once he had helped her into her nightdress, he pulled back the luxurious, red covers and lifted her up onto the large, four poster bed.

They had plenty of rooms, but Orlando hadn’t wanted her to sleep alone, not until Keira had finished her protection spell.

She pulled the covers up over her and snuggled down. The large pillows felt like silk on her cheek and she sighed.

"Tell me the story: the one you used to tell Henry," she asked, letting her hand rise to gently hold the amber cross around her neck.

Viggo stood unsure for a moment: it all felt too familiar, too comfortable. "You already know it. I don’t know how, but you do."

"So," she said as she looked up at him through her big eyes, "Henry knew it too, but you still told him."

Nodding slowly, Viggo came to lie beside the little girl on the bed. He reached out his hand and pulled the covers up over her shoulders. "Okay," he said, holding the wolf tightly in his hand.

"Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired the prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. One winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away, but she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within."

Anastasia snuggled closer to Viggo and took the wolf from him. She stared down at it as she listened to the vampire’s words.

"When he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. The prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart, and as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast, and placed a powerful spell on the castle, and all who lived there."

Viggo wrapped his arm around the little girl and rested his chin on top of her head. A fleeting vision of himself as the beast, locked away in his castle, entered his head.

"Ashamed of his monstrous form, the beast concealed himself inside his castle with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose that would bloom until his twenty-first year. If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return, by the time the last petal fell then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair, and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love a beast?"

From the doorway, Orlando wiped away a stray tear as he watched his lover tell the story to the little girl in his arms.

~~~~~~~~

Sean walked with Keira around the perimeter of the manor. She held in her hand a bucket of pure seal salt that she used to make a circle around the place.

"Is this really going to work?" Sean asked as he watched her work.

"Honestly? I don’t know. We’ve never had to keep creepy monster types away from our home before; it was more about keeping negative people and energy out," she answered honestly.

"That’s not comforting," he told her as she shrugged and grinned at him. Once she had placed a circle of salt around the manor she went back and positioned crystals at all four compass corners. The crystals set, Keira went about placing a small bowl of dirt from the garden in the North point, one of Orlando’s feathers in the East, a big garden candle in the South, and a chalice of holy water in the West, each of them representing an element: earth, air, fire, and water.

"I’ve missed you around lately," Sean told her as she lit the big candle in the south.

Keira smiled hesitantly and kept her eyes on the candle. "You’ve been in Russia, Sean."

"Only for the last few days; still, I’ve barely seen you. If I were paranoid, I’d think you were avoiding me."

Again Keira just shrugged and pulled a book out of her bag. "I’ve been busy with school. Besides, we’re from two different worlds, you told me that. In fact, when we first met, you told me that I didn’t belong here."

Sean looked away sheepishly. "I didn’t want you to get hurt: I still don’t."

"You aren’t my father Sean," she all but shouted as she spun round to face him. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap."

"Right; that’s it," the vampire said as he snatched the book from her hands with lightening speed, demanding all of her attention. "What is going on with you?"

He could see the battle behind Keira’s eyes: she was trying to decide whether or not to be honest with him. "Do you realise that I am mortal? That some day I will die and then you will no longer have me? Who will you father then?"

Sean frowned and shook his head. "Why are you saying that? Don’t you think I know you’re going to die one day? It’s the price I pay for loving a mortal."

Keira smiled mirthlessly, her eyes seemingly lacking their usual lustre. "You say that, and yet you hold the very secret to eternal life."

"What?" Sean suddenly felt cold. She couldn’t be asking what he thought she was; could she?

"Think about it Sean. We could be a family always," she said, her tone rising in excitement with the very idea of it.

"You can’t be serious."

"I am serious. You could be my father always and never lose me, never mourn me."

"Until you get mixed up in this war and get killed. No, Keira. I’m sorry, but there is no way. I will not give you what you ask. I will not be the one to hurt you like that," Sean said angrily. "You think it is so romantic, don’t you? You don’t realise what you would be giving up, all the wondrous things you can never again do. All the lives you’d have to take. You would spend the rest of eternity hating yourself… and me."

Keira turned away from him with tears in her eyes. "I have cancer Sean. Breast cancer, which is fucking ironic as I hardly have any tits."

Sean’s eyes widened and he moved closer to her, placing his hand on her shoulder and turning her around. After a moment of looking in her eyes he spoke. "There are lots of things they can do for that nowadays. It doesn’t mean you’re going to die."

Keira nodded and rested her head on Sean’s chest. "I know, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to live either."

She wiped her eyes and pulled away from him with a false smile. "I’m just scared; I’m sorry for what I said. I’d better finish this spell; I have to call up the guardians of the four watchtowers to protect the circle and all inside."

Sean just stood there, feeling cold inside, and watched as she lit the candle.

~~~~~~~~~~

Elijah had finished unpacking and was now enjoying stretching his wings in the courtyard, already having taken off his shirt to air them. He was home again and felt as though he could finally stop watching his back. He could relax and feel safe.

"Evening Dorothy," Karl said from behind him, making him jump and spin round.

"Don’t do that," Elijah scolded.

Karl just grinned at him fondly. "I can’t help it; you’re very pretty when you’re scared."

Elijah blushed slightly and told Karl to shut up. He was used to Karl constant teasing by now. He turned back round, putting his back to Karl, and let his wings spread out again.

Karl admired how the delicate muscles in Elijah’s back moved. Karl was very much a creature of impulse: when he wanted something, he took it; when he wanted something to do; he did it.

He reached out his hands and ran his fingertips through Elijah’s wings, revelling in the shudder that wracked the angel’s body. Slowly, Karl’s arms came around Elijah’s smaller body, and he held the angel against his chest. Bringing his mouth to Elijah’s ear, he whispered in a rough voice, "Did you enjoy listening to Seanie and me fuck in that hotel room?"

Elijah instantly went cold. His mouth flew open and he began thinking of excuses he could make. "I…I didn’t…I’m sorry…I won’t…," he stuttered.

"Shush," Karl murmured, the vibrations against Elijah’s ear making him shiver. "There’s no need to apologise, Dorothy."

Karl moved round Elijah’s body, keeping his arms around the angel’s waist. "In fact, anytime you feel like being more that just a spectator, you know where our bedroom is."

He leaned in and kissed Elijah’s lips gently, in a way that was very uncharacteristic of him.

"Anytime," he whispered before he let go of Elijah and went back into the manor, leaving the angel standing there trembling.

~~~~~~~~

As Karl walked back into the entrance hall he spotted Colin sitting in the kitchen, nursing a bottle of beer.

"Hard to take it all in, I imagine," he said as he came in and pulled up a chair opposite the priest.

Colin raised his eyebrows and nodded slowly. "You could say that." Of all the…beings Colin had met, Karl was by far the one he was least certain of. "Just a few days ago, my life seemed quite…ordinary."

"Well, it’s good to have you on board mate." After a brief silence, Karl stood up and moved around the table. "I once ate a priest," he said conversationally. He mused on the memory for a moment before looked down at Colin with a brilliant grin. "But don’t worry, you’re safe," he said with a wink.

"Thank you," Colin said sarcastically. "Thank you for not eating me."

Again Karl grinned at him. "Anytime mate." With that he left Colin alone, and the priest got up and made his way up to his bedroom.

Once in his room, Colin stripped off his black T-shirt and jeans and folded them carelessly before placing them on the back of the chair. His room was large, as were all the rooms. It was decorated in what he would call a classical way. It felt somewhat like being on a film set: a place frozen in time.

Colin hadn’t long been in bed when he heard his door creaking slightly as it was opening slowly.

"Fucking old doors," Jared said under his breath as he entered the room, clearly trying to be quiet in case Colin was sleeping.

"I’m awake," Colin said a little too loudly, ruining the night-time mood in the room.

"Oh, good," Jared said as he pulled off his shirt, tossed it in the corner and made his way over to Colin’s bed. He got into the bed, startling Colin, and instantly pressed his lips to the priest’s.

"Mmmm," Colin mumbled as he tried to gently push Jared off him. "Jared, no."

Jared let Colin push him off then looked down at the man confused. "What? I know you can’t have sex, but you can do other things surely. I thought you wanted this?"

Colin sighed and sat up in bed. "Jared; this isn’t about wanting. I do want you, very much, believe me. But I can’t have you, not in any way. I’m sorry if I didn’t make that clear to you."

Jared frowned and felt a little hurt. "Well, that ruins my night." After a moment of silence, Jared went to get off the bed. "I’ll go then."

"No," Colin said as he put out his arm to stop the angel. "You can stay here. We can talk if you want."

"Talk?" Jared asked raising his eyebrows. "About what?"

Colin chuckled slightly. "I don’t know: anything. You don’t do a lot of talking with people do you?"

Jared didn’t answer; he just made himself comfortable on the bed next to Colin and waited for him to start this talking thing. Colin smiled at Jared: he had gone from being a wanton, cocky little nymph to a child in a matter of seconds.

"You don’t trust people do you?" Colin said confidently. Jared turned to look at him and let out a short laugh.

"What? You think you know me?" Jared asked, leaning back against the headboard.

"Do you know you?" Colin asked, making Jared laugh again.

"I didn’t realise this was a therapy session."

Colin rolled his eyes and leaned back too. "It isn’t, I’m just trying to get to know you better."

"Why bother?" Jared said with what sounded like disdain in his voice.

"Because maybe I think you’re worth getting to know," Colin said simply.

The priest lay back down on the bed and pulled the covers down slightly. "If you get in can I trust you to behave yourself?" he asked teasingly.

Jared just smiled and got in under the covers. He sighed and let his head rest on the pillow, turning on his side to face Colin.

"What was his name?" Colin asked after a few minutes of them just looking at each other.

"Whose name?" Jared asked, pretty sure he already knew who Colin was talking about.

"The man who broke your heart," Colin answered simply. He looked into Jared’s deep blue eyes and saw a hurt that could only be obtained by heartbreak.

"David," he whispered, his eyes never leaving Colin’s. Colin stayed silent, waiting for Jared to continue.

"We met at a Queen concert, if you can believe that. It was the early eighties." He stopped and smiled at the memory.

For the first time, it really hit Colin that in his bed was an immortal being, and he was in a house surrounded by immortal beings.

"I was starting to question things in my life, pulling further and further away from my family. I would go off on my own for weeks, sometimes months, never telling the others where I was going, not caring how they would feel. I knew things that they didn’t; I knew the truth about who I was and how I had become what I am today. When I met David, we would party all night every night, pretty much fuck whoever or whatever we could get our hands on. We lived our life together like it was one big party. I fell in love with him, and he with me. I knew the angels, my so called family, would never allow us to be together, and that was the final straw, the reason I left and never went back."

Colin nodded and reached out to stroke Jared’s back. The contact made them both unsure, but Jared allowed it. "So what happened? He left you?"

"Yeah: more or less. He died. He was HIV positive when we met; they didn’t have the drugs that they have now. We didn’t have long together, and I knew that from the start."

"But you entered into a relationship with him anyway?"

Jared frowned. "You say it like it was a sacrifice--it wasn’t. It was the first time in my long life that I had known love. Besides, look at me: I’m a freak. It was him who made the sacrifice, choosing to spend his last years with me."

Colin didn’t see Jared as a freak, and the hand he was stroking Jared’s back with moved higher to touch the withering wings. "It must have been hard: watching him die, knowing that you yourself will never die or know what it’s like to be sick."

"I didn’t know it would be like that. I didn’t know he would be in so much pain. That was when I turned my back on your precious God," he said spitefully.

Colin let it go: he didn’t want to argue with Jared or try to defend something that he himself questioned daily. "You’re not a freak, Jared. You’re beautiful."

Jared looked away from Colin’s gaze. When the priest pulled him into his arms and closed his eyes to go to sleep, Jared stiffened temporarily before he willed himself to relax and swallowed past the easy lump that had formed in his throat.

TBC