Here is the fourth chapter. I thought I had already posted this chapter up but apparently I did not so the notes in the beginning of the next chapter may be a little confusing but they are are not all that important. I'm really tired and too lazy to change it so...blah. I hope you enjoy it and please leave comments telling what you think of it or ask any questions about anything that may be confusing. Um... that's about it I think. I'll get working on chapter 6 either later today or tomorrow. But right now I just really want to take a nap.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of the Dark Series or the plot of any of those books.
~Gryphon~
I end up staring at Ari the whole time we are on our stakeout. She's so focused and in tune with her surroundings. She never lets anything bother her when she is on a mission. It's amazing how she never lets anything bother her, or at least she makes it seem like nothing bothers her. My thoughts drift back to an incident earlier in the day with Camy. Ari looked as if she was going to cry but she didn't. She held in all her pain, all the emotions she works so hard to hide. I feel a frown tugging at the corners of my mouth.
"What are you thinking about?" She whispers softly even though she most likely already knows the answer to the question.
I reach out and gently touch her face. She doesn't flinch or move or even open her eyes to acknowledge that I did anything out of the ordinary. I caress her face softly with my thumb. She sighs softly. "You never let me feel what you're feeling anymore. It's almost like, you're trying to block me out."
She opens her emerald green eyes slowly, trapping me with her beautiful steady gaze. The gold flecks in her eyes add stunning beauty. In the darkness, I can almost see them glow.
Ari places her hand on mine and gives me a comforting smile. "I would never block you out Gryph, you know that. I've just been having a hard time dealing with everything that has been going on. I did not want to worry you. That is all. You do not have to protect the both of us all the time. I am fully capable of looking after myself."
I smile back, taking my hand from under hers. The smile on her face is one that is rarely seen and quite a sight to see. It comes from deep down past her heart, into the very depths of her soul. It shines brighter than any light I have ever seen. I turn my face away from hers and gently pat her head. Heat is rushing to my face and I can feel a slight blush appear. She giggles softly seeing my reaction. Hearing her laughter makes my heart melt. There is not a person in this world that means more to me than Ari.
I am about to say something more when she silences me. That's when I feel it.
They are close by, and they're hunting for prey.
"It's time."
Hearing her voice calms me enough to cloak my presence from the predators. My muscles relax as I slink back further into the shadows, waiting for them to make the first move.
~AriAnya~
I can feel Gryph move further back into the shadows. His reaction to my unspoken orders fill me with pride. I did not have to tell him verbally or mentally what he needed to do. He's learned so much in the short amount of time that we have been together.
While he stays back in the shadows waiting for them to make the first move so that he can attack, I move closer to their chosen prey. If he should miss and anything goes wrong, I will need to take them away to safety and replace their memories. Granted, replacing their memories is a given, but it's not always something that I think about. So as I inch my way closer to their intended target, I am wary of every move that they make. Even though they now move in covens and think that they are helping each other out, it only serves to make our job easier. I can't help but let a wicked grin spread across my face.
I take a second to check on Gryphon, making sure he's still in place. It's needless though because he is where he is needed to be. Waiting. Watching.
Looking back at our adversaries, I mentally analyze each one, sending the information to Gryph. I can feel him nod in thanks while he is silently shifting into his jaguar form. With silent, stealthy paws he moves only a few steps before he crouches low, ready to pounce.
Stay right where you are. I will send two of them your way, alright? It is a command.
What about the other three? I do not like the idea of you taking them on all by yourself.
I laugh at him. Do not worry brother. I can handle it. I have control over the earth and the air and I can also control the energy that they try to use against me. I will be fine.
Just be careful. I have a bad feeling about all this.
If anything goes wrong, I can take the humans away and replace their memories. You will have to finish the job here yourself or at least injure them enough so that they will have no choice but to go to ground.
Alright sister. Promise me that if anything goes wrong you will take the humans and leave this place.
I promise. Stop worrying so much.
I break the connection between us so that we can concentrate on what needs to be done. On an intimate mental path a send out a call to the two fledgling vampires. I speak to them in my native vampire tongue and chant an ancient spell. The two vampires come into view from their dark hiding places. Their sunken eyes are glossy and far away, telling me that the spell has worked. They are both in a deep trance walking to their doom and they do not even know it. I laugh evilly to myself. It's only times like these that I can let her have her fun.
The other three are clearly surprised by this and decide to outright attack their prey. The humans start screaming in terror but are quickly subdued when I take a firm grip of their minds and send them into a soothing trance. I quickly take the form of a jaguar and attack the closest one while plowing into a second one with my body. The third one seems a bit confused by these new developments and stays back a little assessing the situation. He's definitely not a fledgling.
Watch for the one that is staying back. He is more experienced than the other two.
Noted. Thank you.
By the way, would you mind helping a bit over here? I know you're already done with the two you have.
How did you know? He asks teasingly.
I send him a picture of me rolling my eyes. I can't feel their evil presence anymore. And besides, I don't feel quite as sick as before, though this toxic blood is doing a number on me.
I hear him growl form where he is positioned. He does not like the fact that I am injured. I can't help him with his overprotective streak so I concentrate on the foes at hand. The most experienced one speaks directly to me.
"You were waiting for us, but you can not defeat us."
I just raise my eyebrow at him. Fools like them always say that. They do not know the limits of their ego. Iris tells me. It makes sense; before the change, they are ego centric so why not after the change as well?
Seconds later, he bursts into flame. The one that I plowed into, who is going after the extremely docile couple, bursts into flame as well. Finally the one that I managed to injure erupts into flames. All three of them scream in agony. The sound does not bother me. The grating sound of their screams angers me a little, but nonetheless I am pleased to see them burn to ashes. Iris even chuckles a little. The only thing that even remotely bothers me is the acrid smell of their burning flesh. It makes my even more sensitized jaguar nose burn.
Thank for the help bro. I tell him, truly grateful. I can sense his puzzled thoughts. Is something the matter?
I didn't help you. It was someone else.
Immediately, I scent the air for any signs of other creatures out there. The scent is faint but it is there. I growl menacingly. How dare he take our prey away from us!
What's the matter?
Act like a cat! ACT LIKE A CAT!
Why?
Just do it! It is a command.
It is then that he chooses to show himself. Gregori. The Dark One.
He stares at us. We stare back. The cold silver of his eyes questions us, but we give him no answers for his questions. I can feel him probe my mind searching for answers. All his searching is futile, for I have buried myself so deep into my facade, that I can only think and behave like a jaguar. From his puzzled expression, I know that Gryphon has done the same. There is something else in the cold silver eyes that I almost do not catch. Curiosity.
That is when I choose to take my leave. Issuing a warning growl once more, I turn tail and leave with Gryphon flanking me. Gregori's strength pours into me, trying to command me to stay. I easily block this attempt and with a flick of my tail, Gryphon recognizes it for what is is; he too puts up his almost impenetrable mind block.
Before Gregori has a chance to make another move, Gryphon and I take our leave, slinking into the shadows like apparitions. No scent or trace of us remains, betraying any sight that we were there.
