Guardian Angel Trilogy

by John Davis

  The rural areas of our world lived without knowledge of the invasion, completely blind to what was happening as every major form of communication had been severed. It wasn't until they physically saw groups of Ancients marching into their towns that the citizens of these areas knew of the invasion. By then it was too late.

  Nearly an hour of cautious walking and maneuvering throughout abandoned streets led the four to a series of buildings, each of them seemingly demolished. Shitty cover from the rain above, which now poured freely across the entire landscape, but great cover from the naked eye.

  “What's it look like?” Alicia asked.

  “Looks to me like the North American faction is kicking some ass.” Jackson replied.

  “What kind of numbers?” Alicia asked further, crawling up to her lover as they both lay prone atop a building of rubble.

  “Just estimating, I'd say the Berlin faction is down below a thousand warriors. They look to be set up in strategic position, but I'd say our politicians picked the winning side.”

  “It's a good thing. I served in Washington City long enough to know that most of its force is here.” Alicia replied, pressing her own eyes to a smaller set of binoculars.

  “Looks like.” Jackson responded.

  “Let's take five and start heading back.” Alicia said.

  “Sounds like a plan.” her lover replied, both of them easing down the massive pile of still-standing concrete and rock rubble.

  “Got someone coming!” one of the German soldiers said, whispering his words of caution.

  Each of the four took a moment to secure themselves behind cover, which was comprised of a worn exterior wall.

  A six-warrior scouting party, marked with the badge of the North American Ancients. Sadly, two of the six were human, having traded in the look of their military in exchange for the uniform chosen by demons.

  Fucking traitors. Alicia thought, her mind wrapping around the fact that such cowards would trade in their loyalties while a true soldier like Calypso died for his.

  Jackson motioned to his lover as she slowly prepared to ambush the six, warning her off and pointing to an oncoming butcher. Its massive arms dragging the standard machete, which was a soul reaver of mankind.

  Gritting her teeth with disappointment, even Alicia knew they were now greatly outnumbered. Worse, however, was the fact that the patrol seemed to be digging in merely yards away from her own group's position. More than likely dispatched to deal with any fleeing warriors of the Berlin faction.

  When the Ancients first arrived to our planet, they were unified, sharing the same goal of harvesting our race. Soon, however, they began to disagree on the importance of our people. The faction which controlled Europe and surrounding countries, felt humans were best suited to be a source of food. Breeding us like cattle to be slaughtered for the very purpose. However, the faction which controlled North America saw the potential of slavery in mankind, allowing us to live in exchange for our servitude. We would do the work they thought below them, and, in this case, fight alongside them.

  The differences in beliefs came to war between the two factions, thinking us incapable of posing a threat to them, the star-born race had begun decimating itself. Mankind's strongest hope, the United States, had agreed to work with the North American faction. While the few humans who remained in Europe swore to fight the demons until only one race remained.

  And then there was Alicia Lucard and her team. She'd been one of toughest soldiers in America, and also the strongest opponent to joining a race which had exterminated so many people. And when the treaty became official, so did her resignation from the United States, taking with her a well-trained and extremely loyal group of soldiers.

  Escaping into the night and making the journey to the German countryside. And though the Germans had been all but slaughtered, those who remained also remained a proud people. Which is why, as the cold rain continued to hammer onto the entire countryside, Alicia and her small group looked onto the Ancient-sworn humans in disgust.

  “Fucking traitors deserve a traitor's death.” one of the German soldiers uttered, though he did so in a hushed tone, as the second German soldier agreed with a nod.

  Alicia couldn't believe the smiles that gleamed from the faces of two human soldiers, both of them exchanging jokes with an Ancient group of warriors. How could a human being stand next to a butcher who had slain so many with the trunk of his blade? Women...children...and in some cases, even infants.

  Several hours passed, the cold of early morning setting in, though it remained dark. The rainfall had subsided as Alicia and her team continued to wait, their backs to the small patch of concrete cover as two Ancient soldiers remained on guard.

  The brunette bombshell started to think of Nadia Jacobson, her thoughts drifting back to a different time. Though German, Nadia had seemingly planted herself into Alicia's affections the very moment they met.

  They had what Alicia considered to be a very violent relationship. Friends who were attracted to one another in the most sexual ways imaginable. But also, friends who regularly had disagreements which ultimately came to weapons being drawn.

  Then there was Jackson. Alicia was quickly reminded of the man she'd sworn her love to as she turned to look at him, former pilot turned soldier.

  He had an innocence about him, nearly to a fault. He was the type that would forever remain true, but knew very little about exciting her sexuality the way that Nadia did.

  Jackson was a good lover, to say the least. But their love was accepted, not forbidden, which took a bit of the luster away in Alicia's eyes. Still, he was a good man, and a damn good soldier. Alicia began to grin as she thought of him as part loyal dog and part child, having the tendencies of both.

  She continued to struggle with her personal feelings for both Nadia and Jackson, just as she had done for months. In her eyes, it was as though life itself has cast an ultimatum her way. And she was reluctant to make her decision, choosing instead to love one of them while keeping the other close. It seemed to work well enough to keep her bearings straight, though she knew eventually the time would come. She'd be forced to make a decision.

  Suddenly, Alicia's thoughts came to a crashing halt as gunfire began to ring out, several riveting shots striking the armored plating on the butcher's chest. As the Ancient group started to make sense of the ambush, Nadia approached slowly, her two pistols burning pleas of mercy from the demons.

  Upon realizing that Nadia's group had found them, Alicia stood to find all of the Ancients laying dead, only the two humans among them remaining.

  “One of you is going to start telling me about the battle ahead. How many of the Berlin faction remain? Where are the munitions stored?” Alicia asked, placing her battle rifle to the forehead of one of the men.

  But the Ancient-sworn human offered no reply.

  Then, without hesitation, Alicia blistered a single shot from her rifle which fragmented the traitor's skull.

  “Well, let's hope you're a bit more talkative.” she said, turning her barrel to the head of the second.

  “Alright, alright. Please. Just promise you won't kill me.” the man pleaded.

  “I promise I won't kill you, as long as you tell me what I want to know.”

  “The Ancient soldier laying there, he has the information. Not everything, but a list of safe houses and munitions depot throughout Berlin. Radio codes as well. The Ancients...they are fighting for control. To see who has the power. We,” the soldier said, seeming to retract his words. “The faction that controls North America, they are crushing the Berlin faction. At least that's the last I heard.” he replied, his voice shaking heavily.

  “And what of Washington?” Jackson asked.

  “It's not the same. The Ancients have pretty much taken full control of the city. I mean, we have a mayor but he has no real power to speak of.” the soldier answered.

  “And how many troops did they leave behind to guard the fort?” Jackson asked, his direction of q
uestioning a bit puzzling to the rest of his group.

  “Um, I don't know. Not many. They couldn't have left many behind. Not with the manpower that was sent to Berlin.” the soldier replied.

  “Not manpower. Ancients. The race that came here and slaughtered us, remember?” Alicia asked.

  “Yes...of course. I'm just doing what I thought I had to in order to keep my family safe. They are back in Washington. If I would have refused to come here, they would have killed my family. Please. I told you everything I know.”

  Nadia had her pistol aimed to the trembling man, feeling no remorse for the traitor. Luckily for him, however, Alicia did, nodding to the woman of her affections.

  Rather than end the coward with a pull of the trigger, Nadia turned her pistol to an angle, swinging it with authority as it planted to the thick skull of the man.

  “A bit barbaric.” Jackson said.

  “Any human who allies themselves with a race which killed so many of our people deserves no less.” Alicia replied without hesitation.

  “Interesting.” Jackson responded.

  Though the city of Berlin was a mass of broken glass, rubble and smolder of lives gone by, it still held a certain beauty. A very traditional style that varied depending on the set of eyes.

  Alicia had always carried a knack for appreciating things that others so easily neglected. What others saw as a war-torn city, Alicia viewed as a city that once thrived. Full of history and character, almost as if the ghosts of yesterday spoke to her of a life that once was.

  And then there was the sunset.

  No matter the location or circumstance, Alicia always found time to appreciate a beautiful sunset, and now was no exception. A palette of orange-colored clouds, each streaking across the canvas of light gray above them.

  And, though the rest of her group continued forward with thoughts on a possible fight with Ancient scouting parties, Alicia continued to soak in the beauty around her. Seeming to find beauty of the most poetic sense in the worst of surroundings.

  “Hey, you alright?” Jackson asked, slowly taking a place beside Alicia and softly draping his jacket over her back.

  The entire group had stopped to rest a bit. Refuel their stomachs before pushing forward.

  “Yea. Just trying to wrap my head around the fact that Calypso is gone,” she replied, continuing a stare into the distant skies of early morning. “When I joined up after the invasion, he pretty much took me in as his responsibility. He was like a big brother to me.” she admitted.

  “Want some beans, they taste like shit?” Jackson asked with a smile.

  “As scarce as our food supply has been, if they still taste bad then they must truly be.” Alicia replied, turning to acknowledge his attempt to cheer her up.

  “No. Not taste bad. Taste like shit, there's a difference,” he replied with a grin. “Not that I've ever tasted shit,” Jackson added, trying to backtrack in his words. “Calypso was a good man. Damn fine soldier.”

  Alicia stared to her lover for a few minutes, wondering if she would ever be able to truly figure him out.

  Her stare was intercepted soon after by a stare from the eyes of Nadia Jacobson. And it felt pleasantly-horrible, her body being warmed by the embrace of Jackson while her thoughts skipped across the group to a woman who wanted her so badly. They wanted each other, as if the world would truly end if their bodies were not together soon enough.

  “You're awfully quiet.” Jackson commented in his usual husky-soft voice.

  “I,” she began to say, readying herself for an admission of lust toward Nadia. Quickly realizing it to be a grave error. “It's just everything I guess. Calypso, the Ancients, this city in such a condition of ruin.”

  “Yea, but if you try and block all of that out for a moment and look up, I promise you it's the most beautiful sunset you've ever seen.” Jackson replied.

  “You're such a woman.” she joked.

  “Funny,” he replied, loosening his embrace of her just slightly. “But I'm serious. The beauty of small things keep me going. The sunsets, the friendships...the thoughts of you naked.”

  “Really?” she asked in disbelief, having found herself hanging on his every word up until that point.

  “Hey, I'm just being honest here. The beans tastes like shit and you're a beautiful sight to see. Thoughts of you help keep my head in the game.” he said, using a fist to gently knock on his head while doing so.

  “I love you.” she said, turning to find herself captivated in the dreamy swirls of his eyes, readying herself for a kiss.

  “Alright, everyone form up,” Preacher said, motioning the group forward as he draped the leather sling of his sniper rifle over his shoulder. “We've looked through the intelligence.”

  Of course you have. Cockblocker. Jackson thought

  “Looks like we're only a couple miles out from one of Berlin's largest supply caches.” Nadia added.

  “In broad daylight?” Alicia asked.

  “They'll never expect it.” Nadia answered.

  “That's because it's a stupid fucking plan. March a dozen of half-starved soldiers into a war between thousands of Ancient warriors?” Alicia replied.

  “Ever heard of hiding in plain sight?” Nadia asked, slowly approaching the brunette vixen for a confrontation. “It's a chance to grab the supplies we need. The supplies we have needed.”

  “Everyone is hungry, not just you,” Alicia fired back, standing to approach the blonde. “I just don't agree with marching in during the light of day.”

  “You don't have to agree with it, you just have to do it.” Nadia swiftly replied.

  And for a few tense moments, though the rest of their group thought it an act of confrontation, as if neither woman was willing to back down; it was so much more.

  Both Alicia and Nadia looked onto the other, wanting the world around them to stand still so they could explore building passions. Mounting lust.

  With a slight breeze sliding across the valley, Alicia felt her hair brushing back a bit, just enough to expose a neck that was both bare and welcoming. Making the whole encounter nearly unbearable for Nadia, who became lost in her words for a moment, thinking instead of the thickness of their sexual tension.

  “So, are you coming?” Nadia asked.

  Damn her and her hidden innuendos. She's just far too sexy to be this clever! Alicia thought, reaching down for a moment to take Jackson's can of beans.

  “Um, actually...I was still eating those.” he jested, knowing it was a sad excuse for a defense.

  Rather than eat any of the steak dinner for the impoverished soldier, Alicia simply ran the tip of her tongue across the curved end of the spoon.

  “After you.” the brunette replied, handing both spoon and beans back to her lover.

  As Nadia grinned a bit, finally turning to lead her group forward, Alicia began to admire the hourglass shape of the blonde's figure, her eyes giving such erotic thoughts away to the man she shared a bed with.

  “To hell with the beans...but I'm keeping the spoon.” Jackson said, sticking the metal utensil into his cargo pocket as though it were a bachelor party memento.

  And slowly the group began to push forward, hellbent on grabbing as many supplies as possible. Thinking of the near-starving women and children back at camp, though the two women of sexual desire thought of each other.

  “What was that about?” Preacher asked, quietly approaching the former pilot turned spoon enthusiast.

  “Not sure, but I'm picking up on something too,” Jackson said. “Hard to say, but I think maybe Alicia's still in shock over the death of a friend.”

  “Perhaps, but what of Nadia's strange behavior?” Preacher asked, the German sniper also having noticed her odd behavior.

  “The envy of a can of beans will do strange things to a man when hunger sets in,” Jackson replied, completely oblivious to the mounting sexual tension between both women in question. “Or in this case a woman.” he added, finding himself looking Nadia's perfect body
up and down with marvel.

  One hell of a woman at that. He thought.

  Jackson had glanced her way more than once, which was typical for someone in his position. He was born with testosterone, and that was reason enough to stare down the beauty of a woman, especially in her case.

  Simply put, there wasn't a lot of motivation when it came to the continued fight against a species that had so easily dominated humanity. But put a sexy woman in the midst of half-starved soldiers, and they found a renewed energy when it came to fighting. Be it against the Ancients or the urge to adopt idle hands at bedtime.

  “Perhaps,” Preacher replied. “But I think it best we remain focused on the task in front of us. Just in case our women in charge have gotten sidetracked, yes?”

  “Indeed. I'm one-hundred percent focused old friend.” Jackson replied, stuffing a combat pistol into the back of his slacks, only to pat his cargo pocket, assuring his spoon remained while smiling.

  Preacher had picked up on the tension between both women, as had the entire group, or perhaps even the birds which flew far above. It seemed as though Jackson were the only person naïve enough to see past what had grown obvious to the rest of their group.

  The two women wanted each other. They wanted the connection of smooth skin beneath sheets as tongues explored the feelings of two of humanity's best looking women.

  Poor sap. Preacher thought, glancing to the clean-shaven man for a moment, then turning his attention to both women of such physical attraction. Or perhaps lucky sap.

  As explosions continued to rock what remained of Berlin, bursts of flame accompanied by zinging concrete seemed to cloud the air around them.

  Three Ancient warriors stood tall, all of them very well dressed by the standards of their race, covered in maroon robes which were finely accented with gold painting.