Sheikgoddess: This was inspired after a re-read of Soulmate. A bit tragic – enjoy! Flames will be used to cook my chicken. As far as I know this is a one shot. Might do a sequel if someone asks.

Disclaimer: Don't own, wish I were that clever…

Another Breath of Fresh Air

They'd found the last Wild Power – they'd found them all. And they were all safe…for now. Circle Daybreak had achieved its purpose. All they could do now was wait until the millennium. The time of darkness that was coming.

There were still a couple of months before the millennium. The situation had turned for the better in Daybreak's favour. They were winning but it wasn't over yet. The atmosphere within the confines of the Night World was still tense. It was good Thierry Descouedres had his soulmate Hannah Snow to distract him. Or he might have gone crazy under the impending pressure.

Though the memories still hurt, he was creating new ones with his one and only.

Hannah had noticed lately, the change in Thierry's eyes. There was something almost unrecognisable in them – happiness. Though she saw the change in his mood, she still worried about him. How was he coping being the leader of Circle Daybreak – the world's last hope? He used to share the burden with Grandma Harman but she had heard from the others that she had been murdered some months before.

Lately Hannah had been confined to the mansion, where nothing interesting happened. Thierry assured her it was for her own safety. But what she wouldn't do for a breath of fresh air…no that was ridiculous. She had learned that fresh air was bad for her health. But she longed to get out. She needed to get out – the mansion was big but it was all the same for her now. Hannah decided to ask Thierry to take her somewhere, anywhere – somewhere different to where she had spent the last few months, worrying herself frantic and doing all she could for Circle Daybreak.

Surely she deserved a short stretch outside? Making a decision, Hannah turned around and went in the opposite direction to the room she and Thierry shared.

She found him there, dozing. Thierry's white blond was astray and in angles. She loved looking at him this way. He looked so angelic. Hannah crept over to the bed and sat on it softly beside him. She whispered his name.

'Thierry'

Like any vampire, Thierry's eyes immediately snapped open. At first they were harsh at being awoken but they quickly softened when he saw whom he was looking up at. He simply smiled.

'What is it Hannah?'

She had that 'Old Soul' look again. Hannah wanted something but it must have been something difficult for she was biting her lip slightly and there was hesitation in her voice.

'I…want to go outside…with you'

Oh, that was what she wanted. He wanted the one thing he couldn't give her for the next six months or so…freedom. He knew he had been unfair confining her to the mansion. It was no longer safe to be out and about. She couldn't even go to College. Thierry knew how much she hated. But she put up with it…for him. For everyone.

Thierry straightened up and looked regretfully into Hannah's eyes.

'You know we can't do that Hannah' Thierry said, voice full of sorrow. 'We're playing into their hands – you are far too important to lose…again.'

Hannah simply looked at him.

'Now you're playing into their hands. We're hiding. And I'm not that important. You said to Maya that I would live on forever in your heart.'

'And it's true' he said taking his hand in hers. 'I am always thinking about you but I love you – you can't expect me to willingly put you in danger'

Hannah's eyes filled at Thierry's words. She nodded and blinked several times.

There was a knock on the door. Thierry and Hannah both looked up.

'Come in' Thierry commanded.

Lupe, a werewolf with amber eyes walked into the room.

'Sorry to interrupt you sir, but we've received contact from the Night World Council. Or at least some of them - the werewolves want to make a deal. I think they can see they're on the losing side now that we've got the Wild Powers.'

Thierry was startled. The 'wolves had only just joined the Council. The Night World vampires had no choice. They had lost the majority of the shape shifters after they made an alliance with the Witch Child. They had to turn to the 'wolves and start treating them with respect. Why would they want to change now after having just been granted the power and equality they had been denied for centuries?

Reading his mind, Hannah wondered the same thing.

'Maybe they've realised…'

Thierry smirked slightly and faced Hannah.

'They're not that smart'

'Hey I'm right here sir!' Lupe hissed.

'Sorry Lupe, nothing against your kind but you know what your friends can be like'

'They're not my friends sir, she said, 'and you know it'

Thierry's smile changed to one of mocking. 'I was only teasing you Lupe – I'll contact them straight away'

That was what Thierry Descouedres did. The 'wolves wanted out. It turned out there was a vampire plot to take out their useless baggage. The werewolves. The 'wolves wanted protection. They wanted it badly enough to want to join Circle Daybreak and to co-operate.

A month or so later, the 'wolves were on the side of Circle Daybreak.

Thierry felt better than he had in months. Things were really working out. It was going to be harder for the vampires to win with almost no werewolves on their side. His mood was infectious – it spread through out those in the mansion. Even Hannah was happier.

He went to sleep with Hannah beside him. She smelled beautiful. He softly touched her hair.

Oh Hannah he thought softly Tomorrow morning I'm going to take you outside. I promise.

Hannah seemed to have heard him. A soft smile could be seen on her lips.

Tomorrow morning they awoke before the rest of the mansion. They dressed, knowing the silent promise between them. Knowing that Thierry always kept his promises.

They were quite going down the stairs and made it to the mansion entrance. Thierry opened the doors. The sun was already shining dully through them. The look on Hannah's face was well worth the risk. Her wise smile was worth more to him than life itself. They walked outside, through the perfectly manicured grounds and through the black-rosed gates. He was feeling easy and relaxed. It was good to be outside. They walked through the street hand in hand.

They both walked through the park. It was a beautiful thing. Despite living in the area for months, Hannah had never been to it. It was full of old oaks and pines. It smelled so fresh. She looked into Thierry's aged eyes.

And that was when it happened. It was too quick to react to. Even for someone not quite human. For it had been too unexpected. A dark figure landed on top of Thierry, breaking their embrace. There was a stake. It had been stabbed through Thierry's heart. He made a choking noise of disbelief.

She turned in time to see the werewolf sprinting away – his work done. They'd been duped. And they'd been watched. The 'wolves had been waiting for their chance. They probably didn't think it would have been this soon though. Their false sense of security they had begun to instil on Daybreak.

Hannah went numb. And then, without realising it – tears spurted like blood from her eyes. All she could feel was raw anguish. She felt like she was being torn in half. There was blood everywhere. On her hands and leaking out of Thierry's chest.

'THIERRY!'

She caught him as he fell toward her and she fell to the ground with him. She did the only thing she could think of. She pulled the stake from his chest and sobbed incoherently.

'…Talk to me…' she whimpered.

Hannah a mental voice sounded in her head.

It was Thierry, she couldn't mistaken it

Thierry…

Don't cry for me Hannah. I've lived for thousands of years…it's time to sleep. Don't you dare come after me – you hear me?

'But we'll never…be together again…' Hannah was choking on her own voice and tears as she said it, not believing her own words.

I'll always be in your heart. You'll always be in mine. We'll be together…forever…I love you Hannah – I'll always love you…

Thierry's mental voice was growing weaker and weaker…

'I love you Thierry – don't leave me!'

I'll be with you always

The age in Thierry's eyes faded and they were left with emptiness.

And then he was gone. Hannah's soulmate, the leader of Circle Daybreak, was gone. The darkness was coming and Daybreak had no one to lead it to victory.

But that didn't matter right now. What mattered most was that Hannah Snow was alone in the world. Her soulmate – the one that mattered most was not going to come back in a hundred or so years like she would. He was gone forever…Hannah let out a scream of pain and rage and cradled Thierry in her arms and wept bitterly, her eyes exploding with wetness.

And she had only wanted to go outside…a whim so simple and stupid had cost her the only person who knew her. And loved her…

Sheikgoddess: Never written really sad stuff before. Hope you liked it. Now this story can be continued – but only if you want it to! Let me know in your review and this story might get a happy ending.

So review – every time you don't review, Hannah sheds another tear!