Chapter 4

Quirinus, for once in his life, cursed the weaknesses of his body. He could control the earth at will, shapeshift into any animal he wished, and had four times the strength of any male human, but he couldn't get up and go to the aid of his lifemate when she needed him! The frustration was overwhelming, and he could only count the minutes until he would be able to rise from his slumber and go to her side.

How his lifemate had resisted the sleep compulsion he had given her, he had no idea. But he suspected that it was the same reason that she could simply walk through the safeguards he had placed, or to the fact that the compulsions had not worked on Jasper and Horatia. Somehow, her body chemistry canceled out safeguards and compulsions, no matter who they were aimed at. If his disturbing hypothesis was true, then his love was in more danger than he thought. With the safeguards down and in a house all alone, she was a wide open target for more than just human enemies…

He had come awake from his sleep when a song he had never heard the like of before, began to fill his head. It had no words, but was only a chain of melodies strung together by the most angelic voice to ever be heard in his long lifetime or even before. The song was so sad, yet somehow pleading; a tantalizing female voice beseeching him for assistance. The melody had mesmerized him, totally taking over his mind until he could practically feel the woman's cries of pain and tears of sorrow.

To his own shame, it wasn't until the song reached a crescendo of exigency, that he finally realized that there was only one female who the song could belong to, and that that female was in trouble and calling out for him. When he had finally been able to gaze out of his lifemate's eyes, a rage like he had never felt before seemed to consume him. The beast within him called for blood, and it was only the bonds of the earth and sun that had kept him from obeying it. The sight of his one-time groundskeeper forcing his lifemate down and putting his hands all over her, making her touch him and attempting to defile her—and in his home! It made his blood boil to the very edge of his limit! The death the man had received was pleasant in comparison to what Quirinus would have done to him if he had been there in the flesh—which was somewhere along the lines of peeling the man's skin off one strip at a time and then filling the wounds with boiling oil until the man could live no longer. His holier-than-thou housekeeper had been just a guilty, simply watching in gratification as his woman was being raped. He had not made her death as gruesome, but that was only because of his limit in energy.

His jealousy and ire were unimaginable, and he didn't think he had ever felt this angry before. Even when he was a fledgling and he had still had his emotions, never had he been so sanguineous. He had been furious with the both of them, but even more so…he was furious with himself. He had failed at his first and foremost duty, which was to keep his lifemate secure, safe and protected at all times. He had been slow to answer his lifemate's call and the result had almost been catastrophic. He should have been more careful! He had known of his two servants black hearts when he and Calix had hired them, and that the two were not entirely trustworthy. But when it had been just him and his brother, they had felt no imminent threat from the two, and as long as they did their jobs correctly there had been no need to worry. The arrival of his lifemate changed all that. He had thought the safeguards and good common sense would have been enough, but now she was suffering the consequences of his thoughtlessness!

Quirinus cursed himself in anger as his lifemate refused to respond to his call. He could feel her fear and her anguish, as she shut him totally out of her mind. Frustratingly, he could not hear her inner thoughts which were still protected by that confounded barrier; he could only read those on the very surface that were her immediate thoughts, or those that she projected out strongly like when she had called out to him. Why hasn't she answered me? What if she's been badly injured? What if she's unconscious and needs my help? He almost screamed in aggravation as all the questions ran through his mind, the knowledge that he could no nothing in his current situation burning him to the bone!

In his own sleeping place, Calix had also awakened to his brother's lifemate's call, and had reinforced his brother's energy with his own as Quirinus moved to protect the distressed female. However, he wisely kept his thoughts to himself as he felt the disturbing emotions roll off his twin now like waves, knowing that he anxiously wished to go to her. However, Calix was worried for his brother's soul, and what these new emotions would do to his psyche. He had not yet preformed the binding ritual and could therefore still turn vampire. Until his twin did so, Calix would still have to keep a sharp, but silent eye on him. His brother was too close to having the wonderful, miraculous life that he deserved, and he would be damned if he let Quirinus mess it all up now…

A half an hour later, the golden sun set on the "Land Down Under", the day ending and ushering in the time of twilight. At that exact second, Quirinus burst from the ground and instantly turned into mist, shifting through the cracks of the hidden door of their chamber and through the halls and tunnels of his home. He had constantly been scanning for her, making sure she had not left the house. As far as he could sense, she had stayed in the room he had first left her in, but with all the other unexpected things that happened today he couldn't be sure of anything right now! No, until he held her physically in his arms, he would not release the air that seemed to be trapped in his lungs.

Stopping at the bedroom door, not wishing to frighten his beloved any further than she had already been today, by reforming himself in front of her quite literally out of thin air! She wasn't ready for that yet. The two of them hadn't even been formally introduced; he had never heard her voice (even in her thoughts!), and could only pick up on her raw emotional state through what little response her mind was giving to his calls. There had been little communication between them, and she seemed to be avoiding the touch of his mind ever since her horrifying experience earlier that day. He couldn't blame her for shunning him, and given his recent failure to protect her, he was going to have to work extra hard to gain her trust and to beg her forgiveness. Even if he had to fall on his knees before her and grovel at her feet! He would do whatever was necessary in order to just get her to talk to him…

However, now that he was so close to her, he suddenly felt his boldness leave him! Heaving a sigh and trying to gather his courage, Quirinus hesitated a second before knocking. Imagine, one of the five greatest and most ancient warriors the Carpathian race has ever known—and I'm scared to death of facing a petite, slip of a female, who would only be an infant by Carpathian standards. What is wrong with me?

His twin, who had been tuned in to his thoughts, responded. 'You've found the other half of your soul, that's what's wrong. Slightly disgusting if you ask me.'

Quirinus smiled at Calix's statement, 'I didn't ask you.'

'And it's a darn shame too. Don't worry; I'll clean up the "mess" you left in the entrance hall, just make sure that you get her name this time!'

His twin's presence disappeared before he could respond, leaving him alone once again. Shaking his head in amusement at his brother's indomitable sense of humor, Quirinus, now oddly encouraged, knocked on the door. Waiting for a response but receiving none, he pushed the door in slightly, holding his breath for what would happen next.

What he saw at that moment, made his heart leap with both joy and alarm. On the floor next to his bed, lying curled up in ball fast asleep…was his precious inamorata. Concern consuming him, he rushed to her side and very gently pried her from out of her fetal position, laying her body out flat on the ground. His eyes quickly but thoroughly examined her sleeping form, looking for any injuries or wounds that the bastard might have caused her. The clothes that he had created for her were now cruelly torn to shreds. She smelled horribly of alcohol and that man's scent, bruises on her arms and legs were clear evidence of the violence she had been subjected too. The sight slashed at his heart, reminding him most severely, that her pain was his fault, and that he had neglected his duty.

Sighing once again, Quirinus stroked the onyx-haired woman's tearstained cheek, felling her warm skin under her fingers. "I'm so sorry ma chèrie, please forgive your lifemate's incompetence. I swear before you now, that I shall never allow anyone to treat you that way again. I know you cannot hear me, and even if you did you have no reason to believe me, but know that my word is my bond, and that one day I shall prove myself worthy of one as pure and beautiful as you."

Picking her up from the floor, he placed her tenderly on the bed, before heading over to the bathroom to draw a soothing, healing bath for her in the Jacuzzi. While the warm bubbling water quickly filled the tub, he waved his hand over the candles that were scattered about, lighting them and illuminating the room as the natural sunlight rapidly waned. Dispersing healing herbs and minerals, as well as dried rose petals into the water, he checked the temperature to make sure it was not too hot or too cold, before turning the faucet off and just leaving it to bubble and pitch. Taking out some towels for her, he then set about making her a new set of clothes, her old ones quite useless. He was going to have to take her out shopping for a whole new wardrobe very soon, because even though he didn't mind having to make her clothes himself, he wanted to let her pick out her own. He knew little about females, but he knew that they often had a different taste in clothes than the men they married…

Once he was done with that, he wrote a small note to her in case she woke up while he wasn't there, leaving it within the folds of the new clothes.

Beloved,

I know that you must be very confused and scared after all that's happened to you. Know that nothing will harm you further, but if danger should strike you during my absence, just call for me and I will come to you. The house is yours to roam and you may go anywhere you like, all that I ask is that you stay in the house for your own safety. I will explain more about this and many other things when I return, which will be sooner than you think.

Already yours,

Quirinus Le Creuset

Going back into the bedroom, he was relieved to see that his beloved had still not awakened, before lifting her into his arms and taking her to the healing waters that awaited her. Propping her up to remove her tattered clothing, Quirinus noticed for the first time that there were quite a few more wounds and scars on her body than he had first thought! He furrowed his brow as he stared at the many bruises along her arms and legs, some fresh from today, and some looked as if they had been there for a couple of days or more. Scratches and scars laced her skin, and they only seemed to get worse as he pulled away more cloth. Still healing ligature marks on her wrists, ankles, and even her neck marred her flesh. He even noticed a deep burn mark that resembled two entwining snakes, branded onto her right shoulder. What had caused such a painful-looking scar? There only one distinct possibility, but it made Quirinus so livid, that he didn't even want to talk about it. When he looked to her bare back, he gasped sharply at the angry gouges and welts that weaved and intersected there, again some still fresh and healing, while others seemed to have been from some years ago.

There had been a chance that the other cuts and bruises were accidents; maybe his lifemate was a very clumsy person, or maybe she had a rough line of work. But seeing these scars and wounds froze his heart solid. These were not accidental or self-inflicted—these were deliberate. He had been alive for many centuries, and had seen many things: he knew what these particular marks were made by—the cruel and brutal curling lash of a merciless whip.

Who could have done such a thing to you, my little one? He felt his anger resurface once again, visions of his bare hands snapping the neck of whoever had been stupid enough to hurt her. Unconsciously, his claws began to lengthen, as well as his fangs. His eyes began to glaze over red, as all his emotions over the day began to collect into one big disturbing mess. He needed to destroy something…anything.

'Quirinus, let go of your anger and release your lifemate. You will get your chance to defend her honor, but for now you have not fed, nor have you completed the ritual with her. You are in a dangerous position if you let your want for vengeance get the best of you. You must feed, and then after that you can return to her. Do you understand me, brother?'

Calix's voice cut through his fuming thoughts, and his eyes instantly cleared. He suddenly realized that his grip on his lifemate's wrist had tightened, and he was close to breaking it! Releasing her immediately, he breathed in several breaths of air in an effort to calm himself. 'Thank you, Callistus. I don't know what came over me. I shall join you shortly. Place the most lethal safeguards you can around this place until our return; the ones we left here didn't seem to work well.'

His brother wasn't put off easily, 'I'll let you call me that name this once, but I'm counting to ten and you'd had better be out here before I get to six, Quirinus.'

Calix left him once again, and Quirinus had to thank God that his brother still had that knack for eavesdropping on his thoughts without permission. The beast within him had been raging once again against its restraints, and he would have never forgiven himself if he had harmed the fragile female. He had to leave her once more, and given his suspicions about her, he didn't know if the safeguards would do any good, but he had to try.

He removed the rest of her clothes quickly, without looking too closely at her (he knew that if he looked to close, his desire for her might overwrite his reason once again); he slipped her body slowly into the waiting bath water. She moaned desirously as the water touched her skin, and he had to stop for a minute as he listened to its almost musical depth and tone. Smiling, he sat her up and leaned her against a wall, making sure she wouldn't drown, before affectionately pushing a strand of dark black hair from out of her face. Her sleeping form was so exquisite, the skin of her face even as bruised and cut as it was, was as creamy and fine as porcelain china. Her long black eyelashes of those slightly slanted eyes seemed to hold back, the celestial gems that was held prisoner behind those soft eyelids. Her lips were full but tiny, like that of a rosebud, and so perfect. He wanted to crush that soft, lustrous river of hair under his investigating hands, and look into those sea-green eyes as if he were looking into the pool of life. He wanted to capture those lips and reveal the secrets they hid, to taste her and claim her as his own. And then, before moving on to the rest of her body, he would drink up that sweet nectar that was her blood, savoring the delicacy that was mint and spice all mixed into one…

'Quirinus…'

The red-headed Carpathian hunter shook the thoughts from his head, as his twin once again called him in impatience and slight warning. Sighing in regret, he resigned himself to just placing a short, loving kiss on his lady's forehead. I shall be back as soon as I can, my love. We have much to talk about. Stay safe for me.

He then turned and went back into the bedroom. Opening a nearby window he let the night air caress his skin. Through everything that had happened today, he grinned a little at the knowledge that for once in his life, everything felt really good. He was going out into his element once again, but this time he knew that there was going to be someone waiting for him when he returned home. Someone with soft hands and lips that begged to be touched, someone who laughed and smiled with a soul made of light—a woman who completed him. Yes, things were quite good indeed…

Shifting into the familiar form of a crimson wedge-tailed eagle, he flew through the open window and off into the evening sky. He was soon joined by another eagle identical to himself in every way, except that this one had black tips on its huge wings.

Calix looked over at him as they flew, his eyes like Quirinus': instead of being the normal golden brown of eagles, kept changing colors in an unending cycle. If any human, or any Carpathian for that matter, looked into those eyes—they would be immediately hypnotized and subject to that twin's every command. They kept those eyes in whatever form they took, and they could not control the power that they exuded. Through the years they did what they could to prevent anyone from looking into their eyes directly and catching their gaze. Originally they had used blindfolds, which had been totally annoying but perfected all their other senses that they used to "see" around them. Eventually they had used masks and hooded cloaks, and when sunglasses were invented, it made life for the two twins quite more bearable. They still had to be very careful as to what they said or thought; in the strange case that someone did come in contact directly with their eyes. Any thought or word that they spoke would be an instant command to those they had under their spell, and only till they were snapped out of it by the brother who had made contact, could they be released from their compelling hold. These mesmerizing eyes were both their blessing and their curse. These "limitless" eyes had made them legendary, unbeatable fighters in battle, but caused them to be inadvertently avoided by their own people. It was probably for this reason that they had been drawn to the Daratrazanoff twins.

Where their well-known power had lain in their eyes, Gabriel and Lucian's strength lied in their voices. Both of them could command armies with their voice, and no compulsion compared. The two sets of twins had primarily the same powers; the only difference was in how they exhibited it. Having all been born around the same time, with the same mantle of power put upon them that caused them to be shunned by others, the four of them as fledglings, had quickly become at first rivals, then allies, and then friends. The tight-knit they had with each other, along with their similar strength in power, caused them to be impervious to each other's abilities. And you don't know what a relief it was, to just have someone to whom you could just be yourself with. Within their little camaraderie, they didn't have to be legendary, they didn't have to be unbeatable—the four of them could just be themselves. They watched each other's backs in battle, all of them honor-bound to protect their people and their prince.

They had been about twenty-two years of age, when Fáelán was born. He was the youngest of their little group, and all four had (and still do) think of him as their little brother. Born with a formidable but equally devastating ability within the touch of his hands, but orphaned at a very young age, Fáelán lived on his own, raising himself in the forests of their homeland. They had discovered him one day, when they had been tussling together and had caught him watching their antics with interest. Fáelán, though having just met them, was strangely unaffected by the voices of the Daratrazanoff twins, as well as the eyes of the Le Creusets. And through an unforeseen accident, the four of them found out that for some unknown reason, they were unaffected by his touch. Because of this, they all took to Fáelán immediately and did all in their power to get him to trust them. Fáelán had no idea why they did what they did, but the four potent fledglings were the first to actually want to befriend him. The four of them taught the younger fledgling how to be a hunter, and soon he was able to go toe-to-toe with any of them. Fáelán's power caused him to be greatly avoided by their kind, even though this same ability gave him great fortitude as a warrior and hunter, eventually earning him the name: "Silent Slayer". The five of them grew up side by side, training together, fighting in battles together, and giving their all for their prince, people, and homeland. It wasn't until they were sent out into the world some centuries ago, that they had been separated to any great extent.

Vlad was wise, knowing that Fáelán would need companionship if he was to keep from drawing back into the solitary lifestyle that he still slightly frequented, and so he was sent into a territory that was close to that of two of his best friends. He and Calix still treated the ancient hunter as protective older brothers did with their younger sibling, and constantly watched over him from a distance to make sure the loner Carpathian didn't sink too far into the darkness.

As all these past thoughts went through his head, Calix spoke through to his thoughts. 'I too am worried for him. Somewhere out there is a woman for him, and if you, Lucian, and Gabriel can be joined to your lifemates, after so many years, then there is hope for Fáelán. We just have to keep him from going totally into the darkness until then.'

Quirinus screeched his agreement, 'Don't give up hope for yourself either, little brother. I will be here for you until that time, I promise you that.'

There was a period of silence that followed, as Calix seemed to have drawn back slightly, before answering once again. 'That is…not necessary Quirinus. You have a lifemate now, and she is your priority.'

'You are still my twin and my brother, Calix. I will not give up on you, so don't give up on yourself.'

After a pause, his sibling quickly changed the subject, 'Why do you think that your lifemate was not affected by your compulsion and awakened early?'

Quirinus did not miss this sudden shift in topic, but he let it slide this time, 'Well, you know those mind barriers I spoke to you about? Well, I think she is somehow, unknowingly able to somehow affect mental manipulation. Not only did she disobey the compulsion I gave her, which is unheard of, but also the compulsions that I buried within the letter and the safeguards outside, none of them worked!'

'I did notice that, and I must also add that when I tried to weave more safeguards, they for some nameless reason, unraveled almost immediately after I finished them. In the end I had to simply talk to the beasts that roam our lands, to the wolves and the jackals, and tell them to protect the house stalwartly, not to let a person pass the perimeter. I know it is rudimentary, but it was all I could do until I study this phenomenon more. Do you think she has mage blood? That she can somehow unravel safeguards without knowing it?'

'I did not sense any, but if she is mage, then she is much more powerful than any I have seen. But next time, until we can figure this out, I shall stay home with her and you shall have to provide for me until then. One thing I am thankful for is that her barriers block anyone or anything from picking up on her psychic mind. That should lower her chances for becoming the sought after prey of the undead. Speaking of which, can you handle patrol of the country on your own?'

Calix almost laughed, 'You underestimate me, brother. Even if the population of vampires here increased tenfold, I would be quite fine without you.'

'That's what I'm afraid of Calix. I want to keep you in one piece for your lifemate someday.'

Silence overcame and the conversation was suddenly dropped. The younger of the Le Creuset twins receded back into his own mind, unable to endure the sensations of hope and optimism that exuded from his brother. Calix was truly happy for his sibling, and he didn't wish to disillusion Quirinus. However, he knew very well that there was no hope for him of finding his lifemate, and that it would soon be his turn to face the dawn, for he would never leave the burden of his destruction to Quirinus by succumbing to the beast within him. Yes, once his twin had gotten settled and this strange business with Morrison Biotech was accomplished, he would journey back to the mountains of the homeland and end his existence.

His brother would be angry with him, but he would get over it with some help from his mate. He would soon realize that it had been Calix's only choice. His lifemate would never come. For he had long ago, felt his lifemate die…

Isis' eyes fluttered open, the smell of roses and lilac flooding her senses. Moving to stretch her arms, she suddenly realized that she wasn't in the same place she had been when she had fallen asleep! The events that had happened that midmorning, her attack by Jasper, and Le Creuset coming to her rescue with his strange powers, all came rushing back into her mind. Snapping her eyes open, she saw that she was sitting naked within a huge bubbling Jacuzzi that she remembered seeing earlier that day, rose petals dancing upon the sweet smelling water. She was alone once again, twisted, round, straight, and all other kind of shaped candles, were lit around the spacious bathroom. What was she doing in here, and where had her master gone, as he was obviously the one responsible?

Placing a hand on the railing, she pulled herself halfway out of the deliciously warm water to get a better look around. Other than the bath and the candles, nothing much else had changed. She correctly assumed that it was now night and that perhaps her master had gone down to have dinner. Sinking back down, she sighed happily at the first bath she had had in who knew how long. She had never known anything could feel this good. The shower this morning had felt wonderful, but this was wonderful!

Knowing that she might be left alone at least for a time, she took the opportunity to dunk beneath the surface of the water and submerge her entire body, feeling one with the life-giving liquid. Swimming beneath the surface, she swirled around in bliss, letting the warm jetted bubbles dance along her skin. She loved being in the water like this! It gave her strange unknown feeling that she had rarely experienced—joy. As the water eased her aching muscles and healing wounds, it also helped to ease the fears that had been taking over her mind earlier. Her master must not be too mad at her, if he had given her such a reward as this. She had never gotten anything this nice from any of her other masters, even when she wasn't a bed slave. Maybe the Le Creusets weren't as bad as they was rumored to be…or maybe this another trick or trap they had set for her…it wouldn't be the first time.

Expressing a sigh, her good mood dampened, she broke back through the surface and squeezed out her long hair. Reaching for a nearby new bar of lavender and lily scented soap, she washed herself, not knowing when she would get this chance again, and she wanted to get all the unfamiliar and unwanted smells from off her skin. Submerging herself once again, letting the water flow over her body in its little miniscule currents, she then stepped from out of the tub. Trying not to get too much water on the floor, she was glad for the white fluffy towels that had been put out for her use. Drying herself off, she wrapped one large towel around her, and then another smaller one around her wet hair. As she then worked to get the bathroom back in clean order, she almost past by the treasures that were hanging up on the door!

There, hanging on a simple hanger, was another set of underwear as well as a new dress. This new one however was even more splendid than the last, this time the satin material was the color of ruby red wine, with black velvet ribbon laced down the sides to end in two bold black bows. She beamed at the sight of it, and instantly removed her towels in order to try on the new set of clothes. To her surprise, as she went to reach for it a small envelope fell out. Picking it up and slipping out the sheet of paper, she could only guess that it was a note for her from her master. Moaning in sadness and slight frustration, she just looked at the symbols unable to make anything out on the paper. This didn't surprise her very much, since she didn't know how to read very well, especially whatever language this was written in. Before she had been sold off as a slave, she had been in her second year of schooling and so she could read and write rudimentary Japanese, but that was it. No one ever took time to teach her further and she didn't have the time or resources to teach herself, so with all the other languages she had encountered she was completely illiterate. However, reading was different than speaking for Isis. She had discovered that she was very good with spoken languages, able to fluently speak any language after hearing it only one or two times.

Hopefully, the note from her master wasn't terribly important (such as a command or something of that nature) she silently thought, as she folded up the paper and placed it on the nearby shelf. Fully drying off her hair, she finished cleaning up the bathroom and blew out all the candles. Putting on her new attire, she was again amazed at how well it fit and how good it felt. Combing through her hair with her fingers, Isis inspected herself in front of the floor-length mirror, and noticed that she not only felt more refreshed, but looked it as well. Walking out of the room, she moved into the darkened familiar bedroom.

Not wanting a repeat of earlier, she decided to definitely stay in the room this time. Turning on the lights, she began to close the drapes and noticed an open window. That wasn't open before…could Le Creuset have opened it? It was the only possible answer, and so she therefore left that window alone. Looking around the lonely room, Isis pondered to herself. What should she do now?

Looking over to the packages that had arrived with her yesterday, she could see that they had not even been touched. Deciding to take the dangerous and risky initiative, she went to the antiques and began to sort through the art. Slowly, she shifted the heavy sculptures to one side and the vases to another. Stacking the books on a desk, she looked around the tabletop for some paper and a pen. She had begun making an assessment of everything that was there, wondering where her master would put them all, when she felt the night breeze blow against her bare feet and ankles.

Looking back to the open window, she was surprised to see a large raptor perched on the window ledge. It was a huge bird of prey, its golden beak dangerously curved as was its dark talons. The plumage of the bird however, was not what she usually expected to see. While the underbelly was the usual creamy white, the majority of the fine feathers were a lovely scarlet color, ending in a magnificent tail and wingspan. The eagle (at least that's what she thought it was) watched her closely, its head tilted slightly as if studying her.

Isis was astonished to see it at first, but as she kept looking at the stillness of the majestic animal, she felt a calm and reassurance come over her, like she was sure this creature wasn't going to hurt her. Putting down her paper and pen, she walked over to the eagle, leaning down to look closer at it. Reaching over carefully, she smiled gently as she slowly stroked its feathers. The bird slightly arched up into her hand, obviously liking her touch. Glad to see the predator liked her, she decided to take it a bit further and began to speak to it.

"Hello there, magnificent one. What are you doing here? Have you come down just to see little me, o' king of the skies?"

The bird looked at her brightly as she talked, as if her words had elated it. She grinned wider, happy that the eagle was happy. She had always loved animals, but didn't get much of a chance of seeing any, much less becoming friends with one. She stroked the bird more boldly, "And will you be my friend, my glorious crimson eagle?"

The bird screeched at her calmly and nuzzled its head under palm. She laughed lightly, "Well, I guess that's a 'yes'."

She kept stroking its grandiose feathers, taking an instant liking to the fearsome hunter. However, as she looked at it, she felt a slight pang of regret touch her heart. She must seem so dirty and filthy in the presence of such an imperial creature. The thoughts reminded her once again of the looks of disdain from Jasper and Horatia this morning, and she inwardly shuddered in memory of the horrible incident. Yet, she reminded herself, that she had deserved the glares they had given her. She was soiled refuse…no better than rot-ridden garbage. She was a used piece of trash that had no other purpose other than to serve. Her last master had drilled that into her head, and she knew that what he said was true. She wondered how anyone stood to look upon her, seeing her and knowing automatically that she was damaged goods. Standing under the keen eye of one of God's most spectacular creatures, she suddenly felt contemptible and appallingly unworthy.

Deciding to take a chance and looking into its eyes, she was surprised to see that they weren't like the normal eyes of an eagle. These eyes were mystic eyes, outlandishly rotating all the colors of the rainbow, as if they were twin crystals refracting light—like a prism.

A prism…

A cold hand abruptly gripped her heart as she suddenly realized that she had only seen one other pair of eyes like these before. Dropping her hand off the bird, she retreated slowly away from it.

This was no ordinary eagle. No, like Xyra, this raptor was only another form that could be taken by a person with magical powers—her master, Le Creuset!

Quirinus and Calix had quickly flown into downtown Sydney, choosing some ruffians in an alley behind a club as prey. Feeding sufficiently for the night, the two brothers had parted ways, Calix heading toward their company's top building, while he headed back home. His twin said he would use his computer, as well as other skills to check on Morrison Biotech. He would also be sure to find a suitable bodyguard for his brother's lifemate. Quirinus only had three requirements: the human had to pass Calix's most critical tests, he had to meet the human himself, and the bodyguard was to be a woman. He would not take chances with another man, and he had to be sure that this woman could be trusted with his mate's life. He was not going to take any risks this time…

Calix told him he would report if he had anything, and it was at that that the two had separated. But before he left, his brother had left him with a things to think about.

'And what of your eyes, brother?'

He honestly didn't know how to answer that question. As a normal Carpathian, he could easily control his ability to give compulsions, but his limitless eyes were unpredictable and random. He might have been lucky that first time in the fact that she might not have looked directly into his eyes, however, he knew that could not possibly last. The last thing he wanted, was for his lifemate to become a hopeless mind slave every time she looked at him. There was no relationship in that, and it had always been one of his worst fears. Memories of the many times he had accidentally turned his parents and playmates into puppets when he was a child, rushed back to his memory, haunting him. Never again would that happen…not to his lifemate. He had promised himself that if he ever received the miracle of finding his lifemate, she would come of her own freewill and never would she feel the power of his eyes. Even if it meant that he would never be able to see her with his natural eyes, and that he would always have to wear sunglasses in her presence—then so be it.

His head in turmoil, Quirinus rushed home as fast as the wind would take him, thankful that his brother knew well enough to let the two have the house alone tonight. He was still nervous about how he was going to present himself to her, but that didn't seem to matter as much as the fact that he just had to get home to her, to be by her side. He wondered if she was still asleep, but even then, he would be content to just watch her until she awoke. Her mind was blank to him, and so he couldn't tell if she was sleep or awake. However, as he approached the house, he could easily see the light in one particular open window and was overjoyed that she was truly and finally up and about.

Increasing his speed he arched up into the sky, before swooping down towards the house, and with pinpoint accuracy, landing carefully on the sill of the risen pane. Keeping his movement silent, he shifted over slightly so that he was now inside, his talons clutching the internal ledge as his eyes adjusted automatically from the tunnel vision he used in aviary flight, to the normal vision of a man. Needless to say, the sight that greeted him simply…took his breath away!

She's so…she's beyond beautiful…

Seeing her, up and walking about, was so much more out of this world than he had anticipated. He had actually expected her to be taking it easy after the horrible nightmare she had been through earlier that day, but his brave little lifemate appeared to be taking everything in stride. He was grateful for that, even though his heart still throbbed at the memory of what had almost happened to her, and how he had not been able to protect her like the treasure she was. And what a treasure… Quirinus had been taken aback by just observing her when she was sleep, but this was…this was beyond anything he'd ever anticipated!

Her long silky tresses sparkled in the light, as they swirled around her shoulders as she walked, framing her perfect, stunning face that seemed to have a rosy glow he hadn't noticed before. Her arms and legs were slender, wiry, and adequately proportional like that of a runner or swimmer. Her waist was diminutive and petite, perfect for wrapping his arms around, and her body was amazingly curved in all the right places (if a little frail, but that was nothing that a little nourishment wouldn't fix), giving him the image of a willowy hourglass. Her feet were average sized for a woman, but for some reason they appeared slightly smaller because they were so delicate and seemed to make her as light as the morning mist as she walked. The dress he had made for her, the racy colors flowing against her creamy skin, looked simply ravishing! The claret of the dress accented the azure of her eyes, and the black velvet gave accessory to her hair. It fit her flawlessly as he knew it would, and complimented her most distinguished features.

Divinely endowed, he could see from the curve of the dress that her ample, succulent breasts were nonpareil in every way, and he savored the thought of nestling against them, the sensation of feeling the soft flesh of her body against his. As she moved, he could see that her graciously-rounded bottom was firm and steady, sans peur et sans reproche like the rest of her figure. He had seen many women in his lifetime, and even though he didn't claim to be an expert on human female beauty, what he did know was that this woman was unlike any women he had ever—or would ever—lay eyes on. After seeing her like this, he knew she was the woman for him. He was beyond any fleeting doubt that this delightful creature who he had not as of yet, found out the name of, was indeed the other half of his soul, and the soon-to-be love of his life. He had waited, staying true to only her for far more than a millennium, and she was now standing in front of his eyes—it was just too good to be true! His body simply went aflame with desire, a wanting instinct grew within him, to consume and engulf her until he didn't know where he ended and she began. His matchless eyes sparked with great passion at the temptation her body provided…a temptation he was more than willing to give into.

Forgetting that he was watching her through an unprotected gaze, he continued to watch silently as she struggled in moving things within the room. She showed quiet strength for one so petite, but he was concerned as to why she was straining herself so. Finishing up with sorting the artwork that the Morrison Company had left within his room, she moved over to the desk and had begun writing some things down when she suddenly turned and looked directly at him!

Paralyzed by her look, he simply stared back, his breaths becoming shorter and shorter as she abandoned her writing and slowly approached him. His lungs stopped working altogether, as she cautiously reached over to him and touched his head. Her caress was so incredible; his back arching involuntarily at the pleasure it brought him. One thought entered his head: There could be nothing more marvelous than this. But he found out almost immediately, that he was quite wrong…

"Hello there, magnificent one. What are you doing here? Have you come down just to see little me, o' king of the skies?"

He stiffened for a second, before his soul literally leaped in ecstasy and euphoria at the heavenly melodious and cantabile resonance that was this maiden's voice! He had never heard the like before, and was sure that even the angels in heaven would have had to struggle to match its purity. He had waited for an entire rising to hear her speak, and now he knew he would have waited an eternity if only to hear that voice once more.

But the heavens were gracious as they allowed him to listen to her again, her fingers brushing against him with more confidence than before. He listened as she asked if he would be her friend, and he didn't have to read her mind to hear the distant longing of her heart. She thought herself only playing around by asking a simple beast of the field for friendship, and little did she know that he was quite serious when he responded affirmatively to her question. He was her lifemate, and therefore it was his duty to ensure her happiness and contentment, and it went without saying that he was to be both her friend, lover, and husband.

Her laugh was heavenly and her smile divine…how could anyone be that wonderful? How could anyone be such an angel? He had never felt this way about anyone! Even before he lost his emotions, he had never experienced sensations such as these. His heart leaped at the smell of her scent, his blood called for hers, his heart pulsed in time with hers, and he knew that she was his…but he also knew that he didn't deserve her. She was the light, a woman of life, laughter, and beauty, while he was the embodiment of darkness, a hunter—a killer, who had more blood on his hands and had taken more lives than was possible to count. He would never be able to do anything that would make him worthy of one as pure as her. In fact, if she ever saw his true form and knew what he could truly do, she wouldn't be this close or this friendly with him. He didn't know how he was going to explain the truth to her, but he would have to do it very gradually. This woman was a delicate marine flower, who seemed strong on the outside, but if one more bitter wind hit her, it would be too much.

As if on cue, he heard a small gasp and the wonderful feel of her caresses was suddenly absent. Ignoring the bereft feeling that strangely came over him and refocusing his mind, he looked up at her and found that his fears had come true. Her feelings and emotions jumped out at him, and where they had once been peaceful and at ease, they were now replaced with terror and trepidation, as if someone had just thrown a switch. It cut his heart to see her back away from him, slowly collapsing to her knees on the floor and hiding that precious face from view, her entire body trembling.

She had somehow recognized him! His lifemate was more perceptive than she appeared; she must have recognized that there was something a little different about this Australian claret eagle. She must have seen it in his eyes—these accursed eyes! He should have been surprised that she wasn't under his hypnotic control by now, but he could no longer be shocked by anything she was capable of. If she was one of the very infinitesimal few in the world who was in someway protected from the "limitless eyes" of the renowned Blood Brothers, than he counted it as definitely a blessing in disguise. It's probably a fluke, maybe she never glanced directly into my eyes, but for right now, I have other things to worry about…

With perfect grace and absolute stillness, he launched from off the windowsill, hovering in the air a bit before morphing gradually back into his original form. Not wanting to scare her further, he silently approached her shuddering body. However, as he came closer, he could see that glistening tears were streaming down her delicate cheeks! Each moist drop seemed to be like acid burning and eating away at the depths of his spirit…

He would not have this! No one was going to hurt her again—especially not he himself.

Backing up until she came to the desk, Isis fell to the ground unable to quell the quivering of her body. Moving into the correct kneeling position without even mentally thinking about it, she squeezed her eyes shut, clenching her teeth in panic. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! What have I done? What in the name of heaven is he? …a wizard? …a sorcerer?

She couldn't believe what she had just done! She had been talking to him and touching him as if he were on the same level as she—nay, even of a slightly lower caste of one such as an animal! Was he testing her? What other forms could he take? How long had he been watching her from his hiding spots? She groaned at the thought of him seeing her while she enjoyed her bath. He would think her wasteful and never let her have such a privilege again. She should have just washed and gotten out of there.

Was this how things would be from now on? Would she have to always be on her guard not ever knowing if she was in the presence of her masters or not? She had had a small hope that this place may be better than the last, and that she would get a reprieve from the constant terror and violence. But it seems like she had started to hope too soon…

She subconsciously felt moisture upon her cheeks and was horrified to find that she was crying. Tears usually caused her masters to become more ruthless toward her, relishing in the sight of seeing her afraid. She tried to stop herself, but the teardrops would no more cease falling, than her body was to cease shaking. She did not know how, but she could fell him coming towards her. It was as if his entire presence exuded power and being within the same room with him sent tingles of electricity all over her body. He made no sound as he walked, as quiet as a ghost and just as mysterious…who was this man?

A sudden jolt shot through her at the touch of flesh touching against her own, instantly quieting her shudders. The touch of his hand was soft, light, and diffident, feeling the practically bare skin of her shoulder, and trailing up her neck to her cheek. Strange…usually when a male touched her like this, her body would have gone cold and her stomach would have begun to churn. However, with this man's light touch, her abdomen was quiet, and instead of growing cold, her blood warmed and her skin became hot. That gentle, mellifluous hand, slowly and very carefully, whipped away the tears that streamed down her face in rivulets.

Isis had never felt so kind and soothing caresses before! While the feeling was slightly sensual, she didn't get those ravenous lusting sensations that seemed to exude from all the other men that had touched her. Why was this one being so—nice? Not that she was complaining of course! It was just that that she wasn't used to men not just throwing her to the ground or the bed and saddling her at first sight…

Why did he care? Was he even really there? His touch was so weightless that he might as well have been a phantasm. But the fell of him, it was so different from the others. In fact, she rather liked it. Before she could stop herself, her hand reached up and pressed his hand closer, the heat from his skin overwhelming her to the point that for a moment…she wasn't thinking straight.

At first, his hand froze, but only for a split second. The mysterious man, turned his hand slightly, his delicate but firm grip tilted her chin up so that she was looking towards his face. That face…oh, how she remembered that face…

It wasn't until this moment, that she realized how much she had longed to cast her eyes upon that ethereal face once more. He was again dressed in black, and he hailed as much elegance and authority as he had when she had first met him. Power and dominion clung to him like a second skin, and despite the fact that he was being so gentle, she could tell there was darkness there, a predatory side to this strange man who was too commanding for simple words to encompass. She had no idea how she could possibly look at him even now! The one thing that she did regret, was that he was now hiding his eyes behind a pair of chic mirrored sunglasses, but that was soon of no consequence when she saw the way in which he smiled at her. She tried not to faint at the tender smile that was granted to her, from his dazzling lips.

"Why are you shaking so, inamorata? If it is because of me, I beg your forgiveness, for I did not mean to scare you."

She was so star-struck by his rich, sensual voice that she could no longer move, let alone answer. 'Who IS this man?'

As if he had heard her thought, his smile grew wider, and he turned his hand so that he took her own much smaller one into his grasp. His thumb faintly skimmed over the surface of the back of her hand, causing tiny, surprisingly pleasant, quivers to run down her spine.

When he spoke for a second time, the sound of his voice did about the same thing, except this time—the quivers were about ten times more potent.

"Fear not, little one. I know that you have been put through a lot, and you may not trust me as of yet, and with good reason. Nevertheless, please know that you are safe here. All of your questions shall be answered in time. However, I can answer one that is running rampant within your mind right now. As to the question of who I am, that is quite simply answered. I am called Quirinus—Quirinus Le Creuset."

A spark of recognition came within her mind at the revealing of his name. Even though she had known about the French-derived "Le Creuset", the sound of his much more Latin sounding first name was quite refreshing and unique. Sounding like it was ancient Roman in nature, she had no difficulty imagining Quirinus as one of those ancient gladiators or mythic heroes that she had seen on antique paintings and classical vases.

Quirinus saw that she was processing the information, and that the fear he had felt within her wasn't as strong as it was before. Hopefully, now she would be able to answer the one question he had been waiting to ask her since the minute he met her. "If I may be so bold, may I ask for your name, inamorata?"

Her body trembled at the sound of his question. What if he didn't like her name? What if he started calling her by all those annoying nicknames that her other masters had come up with? She found that for the first time, she really wanted this man to like her name. She would give anything to hear him say it, even if it was just in passing or in total anger. And before she had a chance to stop herself, she spoke her name on the breath of a whisper.

Quirinus thought he heard something, but even his keen hearing couldn't pick up the words that she had spoken. "Did you say something, little one?"

Taking his question as a rebuke, she mentally slapped herself for forgetting her status for the umpteenth time. She was a slave, and he was her master, she was supposed to refer to him as such whenever he ordered her to speak. His questions, she realized, through all the flowery language, must have actually been commands. She would have to get used to that in time. However, the more she was around him; the more she was confirmed in her belief, that he was beyond any master she had ever had. This man could not be human; he was too intoxicating and formidable for that. Even if she had not seen and experienced the magic that he held, she would still think him as a god among mortal men. To simply call him "master" would seem like a sacrilege.

Quirinus held his breath as after a minute she looked up at him, those turquoise eyes sparkling, still full of doubt and insecurity, and something else he couldn't put a name to. Something in her eyes made her look ancient and full of mystery: it was not the look of a mortal, or a Carpathian, this…this was older. The way the night air blew around her as she watched him with that look, she seemed almost as immaterial as an apparition.

On the other hand, this time her voice was strong as is it answered him.

"My name…" She said slowly, "My name—is Isis, my lord."