Retribution and Sins

Chapter 7

Sunlight streamed through the curtains of Azrael's apartment. The warm sun was a welcome change from the cold, misty rain that

Had dominated the weather. The one thing about London, Azrael did not like was all this rain. Cloudiness, yes, rain, no. Nothing like feeling

Like a wet dog...or smelling like one. Since most of her coats for daytime had fur on them.

 Azrael smiled letting the sun work its magic. Her eyes fluttered open, and she cat stretched, feeling more alive, in fact she felt as if

She was glowing from the inside out. "Why do I feel so good, so alive?" Azrael asked herself. She turned slightly over in the bed, and realized

That she was not alone.

 Adam lay right beside her, stone cold, and naked. He was in his Death Sleep.

 Azrael jumped from the bed in horror. Her legs shaking. She realized that she too, was wearing very little. There was also a wetness

In her womanly core, that she had not felt for a while. "Oh no. What did we do?" She realized that it was what had happened the night before,

That had caused her special feelings. She looked down at Adam's sleeping form, how chiselled he is, how he makes me feel....oh this is

Crazy.....this is ENOUGH! Azrael shed what was left of her clothes, and ran a shower, she wept hard, and she was a Crusader, not a woman in love,

And certainly not in love with Vampire. She was not buffy. He was no Angel, and he was definitely not Spike. She knew she had to get this

Notion out of her head, and get back to business, The Mission! She touched the Rosary on her mirror, tears in her eyes. She dressed in her

Sunday finest, took one last look at Adam with tear filled eyes, and walked out the door.

Inside the cathedral, the priest busied himself with practicing his sermon for Mass. He did not notice that he had an audience. It

Wasn't until he stopped and corrected something, that he heard an applause.

"Oh. Azrael. I did not see you come in." the priest said over his notes.

"Nice to see you, Father Dimitri." Azrael stood. "Leave your sermon as is. It is good as always."

"My child always a pleasure to see one of my flock, what can I do for you?" Father Dimitri asked, after a short blessing over her.

"I need... that is...can we. Can I do a Confession?" Azrael asked.

"My child, your heart is deeply troubled. Come with me." Father Dimitri led her out of the sanctuary, and down a dark corridor. They ended

Up down a few stairs, into the bowels of the cathedral. This is where Azrael knew well. Part was her training area, part was her classroom.

 "What is troubling you?"

"I've been doing my slayings and everything according to plan, according to the Mission, except..." Azrael started.

"Except?" Father Dimitri, was puzzled.

"Except, I let one live." Azrael, breathed the answer.

"You let one live." Father Dimitri repeated. "And, you feel guilty about that? No wonder. Johnathan probably gave you a right hand on that

One,"

"He did. It's not that, Father. It's not that simple really." Azrael stated. "Since that, I've been having dreams about him, seeing him around,

I've met him, talked with him, I just can't get him out of my mind, I even have.....sexual thoughts about him."

"Oh. Child stop! This is nonsense. You've gotten too involved. You need cleansing and NOW!" Father Dimitri demanded.

He went to his cabinets, grabbed a goblet, filled it with blood, added Holy Water to it, and gave it to her to drink. He said prayers over her

And with her. Hail Marys and Novenas, Our Father and the Rosary. When she had cried herself to exhaustion, he announced it was done. She

Stepped outside feeling a little less guilty than she did.

Adam woke in the apartment, not his apartment, but here's, his Angel's. He could smell her scent everywhere, it was an aphrodisiac

For his soul. He sat up in bed stretching. He wondered where she was. He also wondered why he did feel sheened that he was not in his own

Bed, and not with Eve. He realized too that he was naked. He knew he had better head on back to his apartment soon. Grabbing his clothes,

He heard the door open, and Azrael step in. Azrael looked into his eyes with a look of "What are you doing here?" and "Please don't go."

Which one should he do? Zipping his pants, he went to embrace her, but she pulled away.

"I think you better go." Azrael said quietly. Even though she did not want him to.

"Yes, Perhaps I should." Adam reluctantly agreed.

"I have a great deal of work to do tonight." Azrael told him.

"I understand." Adam said.

"Stay out of my way." Azrael warned him." I won't miss this time."

"Point taken." Adam agreed with a smirk. He knew she couldn't pull that trigger.

They both looked at each other fire in their eyes, then replaced it with Love. Even Azrael couldn't hide it. Adam said his goodbyes,

 Then left. Azrael started after him, but planted her feet, slamming the door shut, falling to the floor in a heap, crying like a baby.