Author's Note: This book is set as the third installment of the series, mostly because I have only read the first two. It turned out to be a little longer than I had intended. Enjoy!

Dark Deception

The earth rumbled as life coursed through Dominov Fane. His heart pumped precious blood through his veins, cleansing and purifying his ancient body. Burrowed deep in the ground, with his first breath he inhaled the healing earth. The ground above him shuddered and groaned, then opened to reveal the familiarity of his home. Sweet renewal, a second chance.

Dominov rose from the earth a phantom of the night, a predator more than three thousand years old. His mind jumped to life, instantly roaming over his surroundings, searching for any signs of change. Superhuman senses leapt to attention, taking in the night for the first time in two hundred years. The need to feed, the solitary emotion that he felt, arose in him. Instantly the darkness pressed in around him, clawing dangerously at his mind. Dominov at once was forced to confront the cavernous darkness in his soul. As the oldest of his race he was the closest to changing, to accepting the demon within. With strength that few other Carpathians possessed, he forced his mind to think of his lifemate, the unknown woman that was waiting for him on some obscure corner of the earth. He had delayed his own death so he could find her.

But first there was the primal need to feed. It was necessity, an action with no emotion behind it, yet one that was a threat to his very being. The very moment he tasted blood, Dominov knew that the dark pit in him would demand he take it all, command him to end the human's life. He was determined to find his lifemate before allowing such a thing to happen. Time was of the essence and he had lost two hundred years.

Allowing his body to dissolve into thin mist, Dominov left his sleeping chamber and floated through the ancient castle that was his home. The grandeur of his home had not completely faded over his absence, though a thick layer of dust and cobwebs covered most of his material possessions. Gold and silver lay unbothered through the years and exquisite paintings and frescoes still adorned the walls. But all material possessions had been so far from mind, his only thoughts of his lifemate.

Dominov left his home and materialized on the soft ground. The biting chill of winter held no effect on him. His mind searched his surroundings with deadly ease. The wolf pack had deserted him as new generations lived and elders perished, the youth did not know him and thus deserted him in favor of another, perhaps Mikhail. Yet Dominov did not mind. He did not prolong his life for wolves.

A growl sounded from low in his throat as he fought the ever present urge to feed. The hollow pit threatened to expand and consume him with every wasted moment. If his search took much longer, he would be forced to walk into the sun and rid the earth of the threat he posed. If he turned the chance of Carpathian hunters being able to destroy him was so low it was nearly impossible. But he would not succumb yet. He materialized into light air once more and sped off in the direction of the village.

Dominov flew through the dense forest completely devoid of emotion. The world that passed him was bland, colorless. He was convinced that there was no joy to be found in the Carpathian Mountains anymore. If a sweep of the village proved in vain, he would be forced on a campaign around the world, then eternal sleep. Dominov was no longer strong enough to continue the cycle of leaping through time, something that only he had ever dared, waking every hundred years to search for a lifemate, then giving himself back up to the healing earth. There were none left who knew of his existence. All thought he had long given himself up to the sun; Dominov had deceived even the most powerful of his race.

The village appeared before him, blanketed thickly by forest and fog. He wound between the streets and homes, scoping out the humans inhabitants for someone to feed from and, as always, his lifemate. He slowed when he saw a group of fit young men and materialized next to them, planting memories and illusions of his friendship in their minds. He also offered up the illusion of his clothing, finding covering himself to be a civil uniformity he had not the time for. He drank deeply from each one of them, forcing himself to take only what he needed from each one, then left without bothering to see to their health. Dominov sped off once more, spiraling his way through the town, but in vain. There was nothing to yield his search.

He wound back into the forest, careful not to venture too close to another Carpathian's home, and materialized in a small clearing. The dark stain on his soul was spreading quickly and he needed a moment away from humans to quell his evil. There was such evil blanketing the Carpathian Mountains and he was certain that it all emanated from him. Dominov allowed the sounds of the night to penetrate his mind and align his thoughts. Crickets chirped quickly in the nearby underbrush, leaves crunched under the feet of animals, the wind swirled calmly through the branches, wolves' howled calls through the mountains. All the sounds melded together to form a sorrowful melody, all crying out for Dominov's pain.

There seemed to be so much darkness in the world, all of it pressing down on him, luring him into its tangled web of evil. He shut his eyes tightly almost as if he could block out the evil by doing so. His need to feed, his drive kill, was quickly pushing him over the edge. He needed something to anchor him to reality. The melodic sounds whispered softly in his ears, a faint buzzing at first. Dominov shook his head to try and rid himself of such frivolity. Yet the sounds grew and meshed in his mind to form a sound, beauty. They blended and swelled until the somber tune alone pulled at his mind. His thoughts of darkness were thrust aside and he opened his eyes in wonder. He was hearing a melody, soft notes on a piano.

Without thought to the contrary, Dominov dissolved into mist and launched himself in the air towards the sweet sound. His mind latched onto it, the notes beckoned him nearer in a calming tease, leading him down a spiraling path to the woods. The sound seemed to take him on a wild chase through the woods, pulling at his mind with notes that never grew above a whisper, softly pulling at his mind in an alluring way, and yet threatening to break his very will. Suddenly the music lost its haze and he heard the soft, tender notes in his ears rather than filling his mind.

A large chalet stood before him, surrounded by the dense forest. Light glowed through a window on the top floor and he floated lazily up to it. Dominov had never before seen a building of the sort, or the eerie light that flowed from the top window. Through the glass pane stood a large black grand piano in the middle of an empty ballroom. Alena Saunders, a young girl even by human standards, sat before it. Long brown hair cascaded down her back and her fingers danced along the ivory notes with expert ease. Her eyes were closed as the melody formed in her brain. Her mind was overtaken with the sorrowful song.

Yet Dominov saw neither the room nor the girl seated within it. His mind was so overtaken by the simple sweets sounds of her music that he could think of nothing else. He once more closed his eyes and listened to the sound of her song. It played within him, reminding him of the oppressive black stain on his soul. Yet it was not haunting. The notes strung together formed sorrow, her unconscious sympathy for his pain. The soft rhythm built to a heart wrenching climax, and Dominov felt true emotional sting in his heart. Alena's song evoked such power, wrapped him tightly in a blanket of inescapable emotion. He was unsure if what he was feeling was his or planted there by her song but it ceased to matter in his mind. By the time her fingers tenderly touched the last notes there were tears stinging Dominov's eyes. A thousand years ago he would have been ashamed at such a display of weakness, but now he did not care that he felt such pain and sorrow that it could produce tears. The fact remained: he felt.

The wave of emotion was so strong and so fierce that Dominov was forced to take several minutes to gain control of himself once Alena had finished playing. His heart pounded in his ears. Pain, true emotional pain, stabbed at his heart. He felt the burden of three thousand years of darkness spent trying to survive alone. Dark memories of the deaths of his brother and parents, things that he could not feel emotion for at the time, came swooping down on him with unbelievable force. He feared such a strong surge of emotion, yet at the same time Dominov reveled in the ability to feel at all.

When had finally corralled this sudden rush of emotion, he opened his eyes to find the source of the music that had just held his mind captive to its sweet sounds. He gazed through the window to see young Alena sitting before the black grand piano. Her fingers no longer danced across the keys. Instead she sat with her chin in the palm of her hand, a pensive look far too serious for her adolescence drawn across her face. Thick wavy brown hair cascaded around her shoulders, veiling half her face from his view. It was then he stopped. He saw the rich chocolate color of her hair, the sun kissed caramel highlights that shown in the light. He saw color.

Dominov reached out with his mind to brush her thoughts. Alena certainly had a psychic gift, her thoughts were not spilling out into the air around them as normal humans did, but her gift was weak and her mind easy to break into. He touched her mind carefully, testing to see her reaction. The brush was so light that she did not notice his touch. Her mind was a complicated swirl of emotion and, most noticeably, oppressive loneliness. Sorrow and darkness ebbed at part of her mind, though Dominov was certain that these were not her thoughts. They were his. Regardless of how weak Alena's gift may be, she was still able to reach through the night and feel his mind's sorrow, then transfer it into song.

Suddenly Alena rose from the bench and moved away from the instrument. Panic gripped Dominov. He could not have Alena leave the piano, fearing that she would take away his feelings and color when she did. Somewhere deep in his mind he knew that this was not the case. The color and emotion were the result of him finding his lifemate, this girl, but such was the strength of his new feelings.

Do not stop. He growled the imperious demand through her mind. Alena was made aware of his presence for the first time. Her body tensed and her large brown eyes narrowed to search her surroundings with suspicion and fear. She heard the Dominov's voice, deep and thickly accented, cut across her mind with intimidating masculine force. Her heart instantly beat faster with fear and anxiety.

Alena had known since her childhood that she was different, special even. She could never read a person's mind, but she could always detect their emotions. She knew what a person was felling, or if their emotions were strong enough, she could often times tell why they felt it. And she knew that it was the reason she was never accepted among her family. But never in her young life had Alena experienced speaking with someone through a psychic bond. The idea that someone could be that powerful terrified her. In her fear she moved closer to the fireplace, intent on using the metal poker for defense.

The moment she stood Dominov was both swept away by her beauty and appalled by their cultural differences. The denim jeans that curved around her hips and tight shirt that clung to her small figure, though both worked to reveal the glorious beauty of her body to him, repulsed him. Not only had he never seen a woman dress in a man's clothing like that, but he had never seen those types of clothes at all. It was improper for a woman to garb herself in such clothing.

Still in her mind, Dominov heard her thought and laughed despite himself. Do you believe that metal stick will drive me away, la bella? The question drawled across her mind with terrifying ease and relaxation.

Alena paused, her hand poised over the handle of the metal pike, and swallowed hard. In petrified terror she glanced frantically around the room. There was nothing for her to see, simple shadows made by her furniture, the single window frosting over with winter mist. In that instant she wished for a more powerful gift, a way to protect herself from this unseen stranger.

Do you fear me, la bella? His voice, so powerful and masculine, seemed to run over her mind with mocking ease. He surged further into her mind, this time allowing Alena to feel his presence. Dominov flowed softly through her memories and emotions, coiled his mind tightly around her fear. For one terrible, heart stopping moment, he reveled in her terror, exalted in his power over her. In that instant he seemed to far gone to be saved, too many dark and lonely years had pushed so far towards evil that not even his lifemate could save him.

Dominov's darkness washed over Alena, coated her mind thickly. She had never felt such power, never known it existed anywhere in the world. She gasped, unable to handle the oppressive weight in her mind. At the sound of the girl's pain, he withdrew immediately. Comfort washed over him. The long years may have damaged him, but at least Dominov knew that he could cause her no harm.

"Who are you?" Alena called out with a strong voice, though she felt anything but that.

Do not fear me, la bella. I am Dominov Fane. Tell me your name. With his mind he sent out waves of reassurance and warmth. He dared not reveal himself to her completely knowing that her already shaken human mind would reject him completely if he did. Yet there was another matter that deterred him. In his savage mind probe he discovered she was truly young, a girl of only seventeen. By the laws of his people he was unable to take action until her eighteenth birthday. The only question was whether he could hold out that long. Strong emotions were already bubbling with dangerous power.

Alena reacted from his soft mind touch. Tension eased from her body slightly, though she could not say why. Dominov tried again. Tell me your name. Her fear of him did not disperse under his imperious commands. He tried a different approach, unwilling to leave her presence without at least knowing her name. What is your name, little bella? Is it such a terrible thing to tell me your name, even when I promise that I will not harm you?

Unexplainable warmth flowed through her. She tried to fight the voice in her mind, this Dominov Fane, but he easily overpowered her. "Alena," she spoke aloud.

Greetings, little Alena. Hearing her name brought comfort to him, even let him overlook her refusal of his orders. As he touched her mind once more, he caught an uncensored thought. Just because I'm still a minor doesn't make me little. His laughter echoed through her mind, surprising Alena at his sudden change. Dominov marveled that he could still laugh. When the two of us are compared you are no older than a newborn, Alena. He stressed the use of her name.

Alena's first response was indignation at his mocking laughter. "Then if that's true why are you hiding?" Dominov's laughter died away immediately. Instantly fear rippled through her. She hadn't meant to encourage a serial killer.

No, la bella, I truly meant I will not harm you. I am simply not in an ideal situation to arrive at your home. The strength of his psychic ability scared her. Not only could this Dominov communicate telepathically, but he could also catch her thoughts without her knowledge. His power dwarfed hers. Yet there was something intriguing about him that made her want to learn more. His way of speaking was so archaic and proper, so different. It led her to believe that everything else about him was probably that way, old-timey and gentlemanly.

Dominov had to smile. In a way, a distant way, Alena had invited him into her home. She wanted to see him. But he could not take that chance. His emotions ran so strong that he was afraid of what he might do. Not hurt her, he was convinced that even at three thousand years of age he was not so far gone that she was in any physical danger from him. But with every darting glance of her eyes, every flick of her hair, every time the light shone on her delicate features, emotions coursed through his body with painful force. Desire. Longing. The predatory need to have her. It was becoming too strong.

No, not tonight, he repeated. A part of her innermost being sighed in disappointment, so deep in her unconscious mind that Alena herself was not aware of it. Though perhaps tomorrow night it will be possible for us to converse properly.

"You mean an actual person, not just a disembodied voice?"

Yes. Dominov thought about leaving then, about placing safeguards around her home to ensure her safety and returning to his ancient home. Then he felt a nagging sensation. La bella, why was it that you looked so pensive earlier?

Alena paused thoughtfully. "The truth," though it seemed to intimate to tell this stranger, "was that I was just sitting here alone when I felt this horrible, all consuming sorrow. It was like a life was on its way to ending but dragging out its suffering as long as possible. It was so terrible. And then I played it."

She had felt his pain and the melody formed from that. Dominov hardly saw the connection though it seemed so simple to her. He delved deeper into her mind and saw her enormous talent. Music lived in her, her mind and soul overrun with various melodic tunes. Songs that would form from her fingertips without having to be written down, looking at a sheet of music and bringing to life in an instant, hearing a song and knowing how to play it. Therein lay her power, though only Dominov saw it. Her ability to manipulate and create emotions through song.

An extraordinary gift, little one. He instantly felt her heart surge with joy. His own spirits lifted knowing that he had made her happy. Now rest, la bella.

He withdrew from her mind though he followed her every movements. Inside the house Alena crossed the hall to her bedroom, thoroughly shaken yet intrigued with this new stranger. She pulled open the door and flipped on the lights, already pulling her shirt over her head. It was late and Helen, the woman placed in charge of Alena by her father and the only human contact she ever truly had, had been asleep for a few hours. By the time she had removed her pants and pulled on a flannel shirt and pair of pants to fend off the biting chill of the early Carpathian winter, exhaustion was gnawing at her. She barely had the energy to turn off the lights and climb into bed.

Dominov misted slowly into the room. He had witnessed her undressing, though he knew he should not have. He could not tear his eyes away from her beautiful figure, so soft and delicate and feminine. It was for her protection that he had sent her to sleep. Dominov at least hoped that while she was unconscious he would have a better chance of fighting his own instincts. He was wrong.

His mind reached out to hers, flowed easily through the haze of unconsciousness. With dangerous ease he wove a dream, an erotic fantasy, into her mind: A dark shadow materializing next to her bed. He pulled at the blankets and revealed her body, climbing easily onto the bed beside her. His fingers ran gently over her skin beginning at the base of her neck and over the flannel covering her breasts. In her mind Alena's eyes fluttered open and she saw Dominov's face above her. He radiated of desire and need. He bent his head towards hers, holding his over hers for an agonizing moment. Then he closed the gap between them, a gentle, tender kiss meant to fill her with longing even in her dream. Dominov's fingers released each button, one at a time beginning at the top. He ran his hands over her youthful body, feeling it come to life beneath his touch. His lips caressed her neck, moved down her chest, and relished the feel her breasts and the taste of her skin.

It was when he imagined sliding off her pants that he stopped. The laws of his people came back to him. He sighed and released her mind from his hold. She would remember this as an erotic dream of her own.

He materialized by her bed and gazed down at Alena's sleeping figure. Primal instincts rose in him. A need to claim what was rightfully his. A soft moan escaped her as she still reacted to the dream. His body's reaction was immediate. His need and desire. Slowly, painfully, Dominov forced himself to set up safeguards and he leave her in peace.

Tomorrow, he promised both of them, I will court you as I should. And you will love me.