The Angel, the Vampire, and the Demon

Chapter Twenty Five- Ties settled.

Abrariel

"WHAAAAAA!!"

Abrariel gently lifted his newborn son out of the whitewood crib, swaying him gently. "Shh, it is alright, Raphael," he whispered gently as he pushed the nib of a baby bottle to the infant's lips.

He didn't know how to nurse his son, though Raziel had said he would show him later. He smiled as the baby started to feed contently on the milk and blood mixture in the bottle. He had named his son after his best friend; it had seemed fitting as the newborn seemed to resemble him with the green eyes, which Michael and Raphael both shared.

Abrariel smiled as Raphael closed his eyes and fed contently. He was so relieved that the birth had gone smoothly. Raphael had been born just after the Guard had placed that burning poker into Telantes's hand. The chamber had been filled with Telantes's screams then Raphael's first cry as he was finally born.

The birth had been more traumatic than intended, but Abrariel was just glad to be able to hold his son. After he had given birth, he had spent the day in the Hospital Wing, attached to different cords feeding him blood while the Nurse Angels did health checks on Raphael, before letting Abrariel have his golden hour with his newborn.

Raziel had been by his side and Telantes had been sleeping peacefully on a pile of pillows and blankets, worn out from his bolt to save Abrariel from the Branding.

Abrariel had been worried about Telantes despite the Nurse Angels reassuring him that Telantes would be just fine.

Raziel had divided his time equally between his two sons before finally curling up with Telantes as the Nurse Angels put Raphael in a plastic crib and Abrariel fell asleep.

Abrariel was still worried about Telantes. The Demon hadn't left his room since they had come home early this evening, which was not normal. Raziel said he just needed some time to think and get over what had happened.

Abrariel hadn't dared to interrupt whatever the Demon was doing, something told him to leave him be. He bit his lip, knowing that was only because he no longer trusted Telantes.

He was brought back to the present as Raphael finished feeding and started to cry again. He was tired. As it turned out, Vampire kits needed to be soothed to sleep. Abrariel smiled softly and started rocking Raphael gently, murmuring to him.

The sun wasn't set to rise for another hour or so, but Raphael needed constant naps and he had yet to sleep through the day. Not that Abrariel cared, he loved his son, and he would do anything for him.

*

Telantes

Telantes watched as Abrariel started to sway gently. The sound of the baby's cries was subsiding as it fell asleep. Telantes didn't yet know what Abrariel had named the kit, he had been too scared to go near his adopted brother and nephew. What if Abrariel hated him now? What if he didn't want him near the newborn?

Telantes had managed to rack up the courage to talk to Abrariel and see his nephew for the first time. But now that he was standing here, at the door, he found he was still too afraid to go in. He just couldn't, but he couldn't walk away either.

He watched mournfully as Abrariel gently placed the kit down in the crib, pulling a small blanket with a pattern of stars over the little thing. He was about to turn away and stiffened as Abrariel spoke.

"You can come in, Telantes," Abrariel murmured, turning to him, one hand on the top railing of the crib.

Against his will, Telantes stole a glance at the Mark on his hand. It was a swirling mess of thick black lines in the shape of a shield and a sword dripping blood. It still stung a little and his hand still showed the faint red marks of being burnt, though the Mark itself stood out black and evil. A reminder of the evil he had committed, and the trust he had lost in town.

"It's alright," Abrariel's voice was gentle and soft.

Telantes stepped into the room. The dark space was lit gently in a light shade of white by a small star-shaped nightlight that sat on a table near the crib. Telantes guessed that Raziel or Jorden might have given it to Abrariel.

"Dusk and Camael gave that to me for Raphael," Abrariel explained, seeing Telantes looking.

Telantes gave a small nod before he went to the crib and looked down at the small baby inside it. The newborn's hair—at some surprise—was divided equally between black and blond. His skin was deathly pale, practically white. His little hands were gripping the blanket, and he was cooing softly. Telantes thought he was cute, he had a round, chubby face that he wanted to squeeze as he had done with his baby brother, Max.

"Raphael. That's what you named him?" Telantes asked, turning to Abrariel who was leaning gently on the crib, one hand still on the wooden railing.

Abrariel nodded. "Would you like a hold?" He asked with a small smile.

"I don't want to wake him..."

"It will be alright," Abrariel assured him, he gave him a friendly smile. One of the brotherly ones that Telantes had feared he would never see again. "Just sit on the bed."

Telantes did as he was told and sat on the feather-soft bed. Abrariel gently lifted Raphael out of the crib and came over to Telantes. The kit let out a small cry as Abrariel handed him over.

"Hold his neck up... That's it," Abrariel said quietly as he sat down next to Telantes.

Telantes looked down at the baby in his arms, Raphael looked back with eyes half open. One eye was Abrariel's ice blue, and the other was green, which Telantes guessed came from his other father.

"Odd," Abrariel murmured. "I thought he was born with green eyes. Then again, he had just been born."

Telantes smiled faintly and pushed his finger into Raphael's little hand. The baby gripped it tight as he fell asleep, yawning and stretching, the collar of his blue onesie was wet with drool and his mouth was slightly open. He was so cute!

"So small..." He whispered, looking over the tiny thing and noticing the itty bitty fangs poking out of his upper gum.

Abrariel chuckled slightly. "He's wiggly too, when he's awake."

Telantes felt a pang of sudden guilt, Raphael might never have been born if Telantes hadn't rushed in when he did. Heck! The baby's life wouldn't have been at risk in the first place if it hadn't been for Telantes.

"I'm sorry..." Telantes whispered turning his head to the side a little and looking at the door.

Abrariel sounded shocked. "What for?" He asked.

"For nearly getting you and Raphael killed."

Abrariel was quiet for a moment. "I don't blame you," he said at last. "We got off on the wrong foot, and you're only ten, a child. I would have done the same," he added softly as he gently took Raphael back and cradled him in his arms, making the child squirm a little and let out a small hmm sound. He looked at Telantes with a caring expression. "All that matters to me now is that you changed," he smiled, "as your brother, I will always forgive you. Can you forgive me?"

Telantes was shocked. He forgave him? "I don't deserve to be forgiven," he muttered, looking away, letting his hair fall to hide his face.

"Yes, you do. I will always forgive you," Abrariel said gently. He gently held Raphael in one arm and wrapped the other around Telantes's small shoulders.

Telantes leaned into the embrace. "I will always forgive you too," he whispered. "You're my brother."