A life in the balance

"With permission..." Natalie pointed out, "you'll live Archangel...that's all that counts really...right."
Natalie looked at her.
She wanted to test something.
"This may be a personal question...but, when Holly stands beside you, do you smell her perfume, or something...sweeter?" Natalie asked.

Archangel sniffed the air, and nodded. She felt thirsty.
"Mother, can I have some water please?"

"Does my blood smell nice?" Holly whispered to Natalie, unsure.

"Water?" Natalie asked, "you sure it's water you want?"
Natalie turned to Holly.
"Put it this way....if I hated you...you wouldn't be here right now...that's how sweet it is..." said Natalie softly.

"Oh...." Holly said, and edged her chair away from Natalie just a little bit.

"I got used to it a while ago...hense why I didn't each a certain child of yours after I gave birth to him," said Natalie in a whisper, "he smells alot like you..."

Ash's mouth was wide open.
"YOU gave birth to ME!?" he yelled.
"Nice job Nerdalie." Holly muttered.

Archangel looked confused, scared and worried. Shadow handed her a cup of water, and she gulped it down. Shadow watched her carefully.
"Any better?" The demoness asked.
"A bit." Archangel said quietly.

"No I didn't..." Natalie lied, but alas, the cat was amoung the pigeons.
She sighed, and turned her attention back to Archangel.

"What's going to happen to me?" Archangel asked.

"You're gonna be a vampire." Holly decided to answer after a moment.
"You were meant to break it gently!" Arnold whispered.

Natalie sighed.
"Just a...very slight...but quite strong...craving for human and creature blood..." said Natalie quietly, "I'm offering to...erm...train you to fight it."

Archangel bit her lip, but nodded.
"Can't be any worse than being a demon." She said weakly, trying to make a joke.

Holly edged away from Natalie once more, in case she mentioned her blood again. You know what she's like.

Natalie sighed.
"Not really..." she smiled weakly back at Archangel.

Archangel sighed, closing her eyes as she fell asleep again. Shadow pulled a blanket over her.

"Well I am glad things sorta worked out." Holly commented.

"Indeed..." said Natalie

Archangel slept on quietly, Shadow watching over her.

Natalie also watched over her, half expecting something bad to happen.

Archangel occasionally twitched, flashes of pain crossing her face.

Natalie winced every time this happened, as though she thought the child was going to explode at any moment.

*three days later*

Archangel's bed was empty, and Shadow was helping her with her cloak, smiling slightly.

Natalie smiled too.
"Well kid...glad your getting away from here at last?" she asked.

Archangel nodded.
"Very." She smiled slightly.