A Love Like No Other

Nine: The Welcome Dance

Sariel

He never liked travelling the human way, a.k.a in cars. He preferred flight or teleportation over such a risky, reckless way to travel any day. Still, he agreed to be Selene's date, and he was not about to renege on a promise.

He changed into a dark, sleek tuxedo, and looked himself over in the mirror. He waved a hand over his face, and it became more sinister and the whites of his eyes retreated so that there was nothing but a starry night blackness circulating there. He had been a beautiful being once, one who didn't have these strange fangs, or creepy black eyes. But no, he could never look that way again. Even if he could be redeemed by loving Selene, he would never be allowed to go back home to the Father. She deserved so much better than to be tied down to him forever.

Castor appeared, and smoothed back his spiky blonde hair. "You look great, Sire. She's bound to say yes to you if you ask her tonight."

Sariel grinned. "Would that I could. But no, I want to go slow with her this time around. She deserves that much from me."

"But you love her."

"Of course, I love her," Sariel shook his head, fixing his silvery tie, "But that's not the point. I don't want to force her to do anything she's not comfortable with or ready for."

"Then why are you keeping me in the dark?" Selene asked from behind. She wore a beautiful midnight blue gown that had spaghetti straps, and showed off a good deal of her cleavage. Wow, just wow. He was left speechless by the vision that greeted him.



He turned to face her, and he realized, belatedly, that he had removed the glamor from his true appearance. But Selene didn't flinch from him, or was afraid. On the contrary, she was calm.

"You look fierce," She finally said, caressing his cheek. "Why did you hide what you looked like from me?"

He felt relief course through him at that moment. But he sighed, and confessed, "I thought if you saw my true face that you would run away from me in terror. I don't want you to ever be scared of me, Selene. I mean that."

She touched his face, and said, "I'm not scared of you. If you wanted to hurt me, or kill me, you would have done it already. Besides, I don't mind it, but I think the other people around us tonight would be freaked out by your appearance."

Sariel kissed her hands. "You're quite right." He waved a hand down his face, and he not only appeared human again, but a younger human at that. "Is this better?"

Selene shouldered her purse. "Yeah, it will do. You look abysmally normal," She teased.

They shared a laugh over that. Selene opened up the garage, and he whistled seeing all of the beautiful cars and trucks on display; it looked like a car museum.

Selene got behind the wheel of a beautiful sleek black Corvette. "Get in, handsome," She teased. He got in the passenger seat. She drove off after putting the garage door down, and Selene didn't talk as she concentrated on driving to the compound that masqueraded as a private Catholic high school.

The guard stopped them at the gate, and of course, it was Uriel. Uriel said in angelic language, "I'm not going to have trouble with you tonight, am I demon?"

"Not from me, brother," Sariel quipped. "If there will be any trouble, it won't come from me, but from the Apostate."

Uriel frowned, narrowing his fiery eyes. "We shall see."

He let us pass very reluctantly, and Selene asked, "What did he say to you?"

He turned to face her, and said, "He just didn't want me to start trouble with all of the students around. Uriel is...a bit overzealous when it comes to his job."

Selene nodded, understanding, "Oh. I guess I kinda gathered that." She found her parking space, and killed the engine. "This is still pretty weird to me with having angels and demons everywhere around me."

He smiled. "Oh, we're always around. It's just that you have the power to see and talk with us. Now, come, we must go enjoy ourselves at this dance, no?"

Selene agreed, "Definitely. Let's go."

The full escort was still around them, but they kept well into the shadows as they were trained. The gymnasium was designed in tacky streamers, and other party favors, complete with a disco ball. Easy there, you promised yourself that you wouldn't deprive her of her high school experience, he chided himself as he escorted her into this cheezy party.

Selene and her friends prattled on and on, and he had no choice but to make small talk, something he always hated, but which was called for, given the present circumstances.

When the final slow song came on, he whispered in her ear, "Dance with me."

Selene looked at him, and made her apologies to her friends. He led her out on to the dance floor, and while the other teen couples were doing the shuffle huggy dance, he decided to waltz with her slowly.

"What are you doing?" She asked under her breath. He smiled down at her, and tucked a piece of her pearlescent hair behind her ear.

"Dancing, obviously."

"Most teen guys can't waltz," She pointed out, twirling back into his arms. "Must you show off your age."

He chuckled. "Oh, really? Well, I can do another dance that is just as slow. Follow my lead."

"Ookay."

He led her through a la volta, which involved him lifting her up by her waist every fourth step, and dancing fairly close to her. At the end of it, he caught a flicker of recognition of the steps as they hopped slightly to the steps, and knew that Angelique was in her subconscious somewhere. Finally. He had been waiting to bring it to the fore for some time.

Please, love, He pleaded. Please remember how we would dance in court, and discreetly showed our love to one another in public. He bowed, and she curtsied perfectly. He kissed her hand, and then realized that they had an audience. People were clapping them as they moved to sit down at one of the tables. But it was not to be, for at that exact moment, demons entered the gymnasium and the guards he put on them to guard them, strode forward.

Selene looked scared, but he said, "Do you trust me, Selene?"

Selene saw their guards fighting horned, winged creatures, and she nodded. He nodded back. He hated doing this, taking her to the ice realm before she was ready, but he had no choice, she was safer behind the walls of his fortress than on Earth.

He cast the necessary portal, and grabbed Selene, and put her to sleep. She slumped in his arms, just as a demon came after them, a fallen seraph. The portal took them to the ice realm, and when he stepped out of the portal with Selene in his arms, he gave the command to put the entire kingdom on high alert.

The ice kingdom loomed before him, sparkling against the night sky, glittering like diamonds. But its fragile beauty was deceptive, because it could repel the toughest supernatural attacks, and only once in eight eons had its walls ever been breached by Hell's forces. No, he would not make that mistake again, his bride would be kept safe at all costs, he would make certain of it. The impenetrable gates opened before them, and he carried Selene inside.

"Have the Queen's chambers been prepared?" He asked his Chanecellor.

"Yes, Sire," Lord Xander replied. "We just weren't expecting the Queen so soon."

Sariel grinned, "Yes, well, Lucifer decided to ruin her dance by sending in lesser demons and a fallen Seraph. I don't know where Uriel was, but I'm certain that he will blame me for the oversight."

Lord Xander raked a hand through his long silvery sky blue hair. "Yes, well, the heaven-side angels just can't help but hold a grudge. I won't keep you, Sire. I know that she needs to be settled in. Is she planning on staying long?"

"No, not long."

"Very good, Sire."

His Chancellor bowed to him, and he followed suit. Selene buried her head instinctively in his chest, seeking his warmth. He brought her to her chambers, and her ladies began preparing the room, and fussing over her as if they were already married.

Three hours later, he checked on her, and he undressed to his underwear, getting into bed with her. He normally slept in the nude, but since they weren't married yet, he wouldn't push his luck with Selene yet. This night was a break, and he wouldn't spoil it by taking his obvious advantage of her.

"Sariel..." Selene said sleepily. "Where are you? It's soo dark in here..."

"Shhh, love," He soothed, kissing her lips. "Sleep now, I'm here with you. I'm not leaving your side, my lady."

She curled up into his warmth, and her breathing slowed down, along with her heart rate. Finally, he draped his wings over them, protecting them both as the King of the ice realm slept in his beloved's arms, keeping her safe always. But tonight would not be the only time Hell would try to trap her, nor would it be the last, and they all had to be ready when they did, now more than ever..