Title:Dark Angel
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating:R
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes mind speaking
15/9/02
AN: SailorMoon characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
The vampire's abilites are based on Christine Feehan's Dark Series.
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
AN: Well, as my last day of holidays, I decided to get on with the story.
:) There are plenty of reviewers who say Geoffrey shouldn't die and
one or two who say either way. Anyway, I myself am still unsure as to
kill him off or let him stay. (I never was very good at making
decisions) Anyway, thank you for the support so far. :) So,
Why doesn't anybody review 'Heretic'? (that's alright) I'll quit
blabbing now and get on with it.
REMINDER: This IS AN 'R' rated fic. So don't go around complaining that
I didn't warn you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was of a dark and ancient race on the verge of extinction,
She was a mortal thriving on the light and beauty of the world,
They met on a night of unspeakable horror...
With her strange abilities, she ensnared him in a web of desire even as
their souls called out to each other,
Promising eternity and a passion more fulfilling than anything on earth.
~ Chapter 7: Dylan ~
He stumbled into the deep dark cave that was his lair. Blood stained his
clothes, dripped from his wounds. He snarled in anger. In hatred. With
loathing.
Darien and his little unit would pay.
They would pay.
Darien and Malcolm stepped away, drained and weak from the healing they
had done to Geoffrey. For Malcolm, healing Darien and Geoffrey had taken
huge amounts of strength and time. It was going to be dawn soon.
They had repaired Geoffrey's wounds and eliminated the undead's poison
from his blood stream. They had then tried to feed him, but as weak as
Geoffrey was, he had resisted mightily at being replenished when Neph had
tried. It was clear Geoffrey did not want to be healed. They had had no
choice but to put him into a deep sleep when he began to resist.
Perhaps the sleep would help him overcome his demons. It also served to
keep Geoffrey from damaging himself, which he would do if he used up
whatever little strength he had left resisting them.
Serena was at Darien's side immediately, shouldering his great weight.
"Careful. You're just newly healed yourself. You need to feed and rest,
Darien." she whispered. "I would offer myself." she continued quietly.
His dark blue eyes jumped to her face in surprise.
Their eyes locked for a moment. She felt mesmerized. She also felt loss
when he broke their gaze. He looked away, shaking his head.
"No."
"Why??"
"I hunger too much, baby. It is not that I would kill you, but I might
take too much and need to replenish you." he whispered.
Serena frowned. "So?? What's so terrible about that??" she asked. Inside,
she shuddered. Drinking blood.
Darien merely smiled and brushed her face tenderly with a hand.
"You would become one of us..."
"One-??" she frowned. "-of you??"
"You would need blood to survive and you would not be able to see the sun.
You would be like my race in every way. With all our gifts and weaknesses.
Can you survive that way, Serena??" he asked seriously.
Serena blinked at him, absorbing all he was telling her. He rarely called
her Serena and his face was one dead seriousness.
They stared at one another for a long while before Serena turned her head
away in shame. He was right. How could she live that way?? Drinking the
blood of others to survive. Never ever being able to stay out in the sun
ever again. Sleeping in the earth that would feel like a live burial. How
could she live that way??
A tear slipped out from under her closed eyes.
"Don't cry, love. It is enough that you offered. I will cherish those
words." he smiled tenderly, brushing away the tears with the pad of his
thumb. He placed a gentle kiss on her temple and smiled down at her.
"I love you anyway. This is the way you live, so I will live it with you.
Until you are no more and then I will follow you to wherever you lead."
Serena could not help it. More tears spilled from her eyes until her face
was awash with moisture.
"Darien..."
He claimed her mouth for a tender kiss.
It was a cough that broke their display apart. The pair turned to see
a grinning Jayden and Raye along with the rest of the group.
"And you call us, indecent?" smirked Raye.
Darien held Serena closer to him and merely smiled smugly at his sister
while Serena wiped her tears, laughing.
"I offer my blood, Darien." said Neph quietly, still grinning. "So you
may be at strength to heal."
Darien nodded. "Thank you, Neph. Jayden, think you're strong enough to
move Geoffrey to safe ground?? Of course, with my pig of a sister as your
mate, it is doubtless you can carry a light weight like Geoffrey."
"I am NOT fat!!" protested Raye heatedly, crossing her arms over her
chest indignantly. "I'm just still growing."
"Growing my foot, you're getting fat. You can't even fit into your jeans
anymore." snickered Jayden.
"Actually, you're breeding." said Zach quietly, holding his wrist out to
Malcolm so he could feed and replenish his strength.
Raye faced Zach in surprise before covering her belly protectively.
Serena watched the group grow silent. Their manner no longer teasing.
Darien was staring at his sister while feeding. His eyes spoke volumes.
She watched as he stopped, respectfully closing the small wound on Neph's
wrist with a swipe of his tongue.
"It's true, isn't it?"
Jayden moved closer to Raye in a protective stance, noting the look in
Darien's burning eyes.
"Yes."
Serena glanced at the hard faces of the males in the room. The light in
their eyes told her they were fiecely protective. Now, with the addition of
a new life, they were ready to die to defend Raye and the unborn child.
"Why did you not say anything?" asked Malcolm as he himself finished
feeding, closing the pinpricks on Zach's wrist.
Raye shook her head. "I don't know. I guess, I just couldn't bear it if
I told you all and I lost the baby. You know how hard it is for our women
to conceive. And to actually be able to carry to term," whispered Raye
sadly, tears slipping from her eyes. "That is even harder."
Jayden hugged her comfortingly.
Darien nodded. "I know."
"God, I don't want anything to happen to this baby, Darien! I don't want
to lose my baby." she sniffled.
Darien rubbed his head. "We will discuss this on the next rising. It will
be dawn soon. Jayden, please move Geoffrey to an underground chamber then
take care of Raye."
Jayden nodded. "Of course."
Darien nearly stumbled when he turned to Serena. She was quickly there to
catch him.
"Careful!"
"Thank you. Serena, I suggest you do not go out today. Stay inside and
get some rest. It's been a long night."
Serena snorted. "Listen to you. Still giving orders even when YOU should
be the one resting. I will help you to where you rest, THEN I will go back
to the chambers and sleep."
Darien chuckled. "Yes, baby."
They moved down a dark corridor silently. They said nothing, merely
moving swiftly towards Darien's underground resting place.
Serena looked up at Darien's solemn face, shadowed in the darkness. It
was unmistakeble he thought the world of the new life in his sister's
belly. All the males did.
But why??
With all his protectiveness and tender care to one close to him, she was
sure Darien would make a wonderful father. Did he want to be a father??
"Yes."
Startled, her gaze jumped to his face. Had she said it aloud?
"No, but we are bonded and I find myself, loath to release my link to you
entirely." he admitted grudgingly. He offered her a tender smile.
"Yes, I do want to be a father..."
"But?"
He sighed.
"Unfortunately, my race isn't having much luck conceiving many children.
Many of them are lost to miscarriage or if they do survive to be born,
their struggle to live is difficult and even harder on the parents. The
females grow despondent each time they lose a child." he murmured.
Serena listened quietly, feeling sad at the words and all the loss that
his people were clearly going through.
"We do not even give birth to many females. Which is why it is so
difficult for us males to find a mate for life. There can be none if there
are no females born. I don't understand why our race is facing this crisis!
We were once prosperous. Thriving. Is this a punishment for something our
kind has done??!!" he shouted in anguish. His voice bouncing off the walls,
echoing in the dark tunnel.
She could sense his pain. It pierced at her, bringing tears to her eyes.
His helplessness beat at her, making her want to enfold him in a comforting
hug and never let go. The emotions that swamped her revealed the true
extent of his fears, his doubts, his frustrations and his despair at the
situation of his dying race.
Not knowing what to do, she did the only thing she knew of. She hugged
him, cradling his head to her breast, offering comfort.
"Hush..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How long do you think you'll have to sleep before you're completely
healed??"
"One day."
Serena blinked at Darien's answer. He chuckled at the look of disbelief
on her face. Lifting a hand to brush her cheek, he grinned.
"Thank you, beloved."
She watched as he sank deep into the earth. He offered a tender smile
before closing his eyes and covering the deep hole in the soil. She could
only watch with bated breath. How could he do this?? Night after night??
This was too much like a burial. Being buried alive....
*I am not human, baby...for me, this is normal. Now, get your pretty butt
out of here and into bed to rest.*
Serena sniffed in disgust. *Possessive chauvinistic male.*
A deep chuckle echoed in her mind. *Only with you, baby. Only with you.
Now do as I bid before I shut my body down.*
She felt invisible arms pushing her towards the only entrance to the
chamber.
*Alright, alright! Pushy much??*
Exiting the chamber, she shook her head and headed for the surface,
towards the sleeping chamber.
Getting into the large bed, Serena snuggled deep under the covers, her
mind still on Darien. She felt slightly uncomfortable, as if an empty void
yawned within her. It was just like a man to make a woman pine after them
even though there was nothing to miss.
Serena gathered the blankets about her in a huff. Darien was beginning
to become an integral part of her life, the bond between them growing and
tonight's revelation had only made it stronger.
There was no way she could escape now. She didn't want to. All because
she was in love with Darien Alessandros. Turning to look at the golden
orb beginning to rise in the sky outside her window, she sighed.
Love was definitely the bane of every logical minded being.
With that thought in her mind, Serena James fell fast asleep, snuggled
in the thick warm down covers of the large poster bed.
It was sunset when next she awoke. She really was changing from a lark
into an owl. Rubbing her eyes sleepily, she sat up in bed. A tender hand
brushed a curl from her cheek.
Her eyes shot open in surprise. Darien...
He sat beside her, smiling.
"Good evening."
"Darien...are you better this evening?"
"Yes. How did you sleep?"
"Very well. No nightmares." her eyes shadowed. "How's Geoffrey?"
The hand dropped and Darien sighed, turning to look out the window,
he stayed silent for a moment before turning back to look her in the eye.
"He still refuses blood. Malcolm thinks we should force him and I know
I can do it. But,...it would only make Geoffrey resent us. I know."
"Did it happen to you once? Did...somebody force you to live?"
Blue eyes darkened, becoming as turbulent as the ocean on a rough and
stormy night. A sudden bolt of lightning out of a cloudless sky struck,
illuminating his features to the point of intimidating.
"Yes."
Serena sat on the bed silent. Waiting for him to elaborate. A shiver
running down her spine at the thought of him, almost dying once. Wanting
death. Embracing it and the peace it would bring...
"I was injured badly once. The demons within me had been strong then,
always on the verge of breaking loose. It was Dylan who pulled me back from
the brink. Forced me to drink his blood so I would heal." he murmured, his
eyes glazing over at the memory that appeared in his mind.
"He wasn't always as evil as he is now. It's his demons that have twisted
him. Made him a complete opposite of his true self."
"He's your twin."
Darien nodded.
"Tell me. Please." She needed to know. To see through Darien's eyes and
know the man he had once known as his twin.
"Dylan was...charming. He was younger than me by five minutes. As a
fledgling, he always had an easy smile. Ready to laugh. Easy going where
I was dark and serious. He especially liked jokes and pranks. He played
many on our father, which irritated father to no ends. Father also had a
difficult time telling us apart, so father left the disciplining to our
mother." murmured Darien with a soft chuckle, his face softening as he
recalled happier times, beautiful memories.
"He usually had a kind word for everyone and it was difficult not to like
him. We were twins, Serena. We used to go everywhere together. Dylan loved
to dabble in herbs. Learn the strongest poisons and how to neutralize
them."
He stopped, taking a deep breath. She felt the love he held for his
brother. Felt the pain that burned within at the tragedy of losing such a
good man.
"But one day...Dylan began to change. He no longer smiled much. His
laughs became less and less frequent. I knew he struggled to mantain his
sanity. He felt emotions but the abyss within us males will grow until
being able to feel emotions is like a curse. We will feel anger. We will
feel hatred and all the other negative emotions that come with our ability
to feel."
"What happened?"
Tears slipped down his face.
"One night, I still recall. It was stormy and rain and wind fell upon the
land like the wrath of heaven. Dylan disappeared."
"What do you mean-" breathed Serena. "-disappeared?"
"He left. I could feel him but he wouldn't answer my calls. He said he
had to walk alone now. He left and I could never follow as he moved over
Europe frequently. I left Europe with my unit and came to America a decade
later. Few months ago, I felt Dylan warring with himself. He had returned
to our homeland. I thought, maybe he would be strong enough to fight
himself. Maybe our family could help him through this dark time. Dylan was
never evil as he is now."
Pain radiated from him. Sorrow and regret. Tears ran freely down his
handsome face that was timeless in its beauty. He turned away, presenting
his large frame with muscles that rippled underneath the silk shirt he wore.
Once again, Serena was reminded of how much she loved this man who was so
strong to bear all the pain time and life had thrown at him. She knew he
blamed himself.
Not able to bear it anymore, she wrapped her arm around his waist,
laying her head on his back.
He stiffened.
"You shouldn't blame yourself. You should not think of 'what ifs' but of
now and how. Not of what if you'd stayed with him instead of allowing him
him to walk alone. This Dylan now is no longer the twin you knew. You need
to know how you can vanquish him."
"Serena..."
"Kiss me, Darien."
He turned, looking down at her. Their gazes lasted only a fraction of a
second before Darien claimed her mouth in a hungry kiss. A half-growl,
half-groan emitted from his throat at the taste of her.
Arms like iron bands locked about her, tasting her mouth like a ravenous
wild animal.
Slender arms reached up to twine about his neck, clutching at him
frantically.
Desire swirled around them as the flame of passion was fanned into a
fiery blaze, burning out of control. They moved backwards, falling onto the
bed as Serena's knees came into contact with it.
Darien pressed her deeper into the soft yielding bed, his mouth beginning
to travel down her neck, stopping to suckle gently at her wildly beating
pulse. Blood rushed to her head, making her heady as his mouth once again
claimed hers, suckling fiecely on her lower lip.
She moaned as desire like liquid fire slid through her veins, her senses
were bathed in the riot of sensual feelings it was being bombarded with.
His hand reached down to brush her breast gently through the fabric of
her nighty, his mouth doing wicked things to the tops of her breasts. His
hand brushing over a firm pouty nipple.
She couldn't breathe as she felt him place erotic sucking kisses down her
neck. Her breath left her lungs with a whoosh as his hot mouth suddenly
clamped down upon her nipple through the cloth.
God, his mouth was HOT!!
She could only gasp and clutch at his back, her fingers clenching and
unclenching in the silky fabric of his shirt. She was dazed, her belly
afire with lust.
A hand slid down to her hip and to the end of her nighty, brushing the
wispy cloth up to knead her thigh. A knee sneaked between her parted limbs,
moving sinuously against her heated core.
That action had nearly sent her arching off the bed.
"Darien...Darien.."
She felt as if her mind was stuck. She could only repeat his name over
and over like a litany.
She felt him look down at her face, his eyes dark with lust and passion.
She felt the demon in him snarling, demanding its mate. Felt as his fingers
pulled the ties at the front of her gown, swiftly parting the fabric to
bare her upper torso to the cold night's air and the heat of his stare.
She shivered not from the cold.
She felt heat rush to her face as a blush bloomed pink all over her
body at his hungry gaze.
"God...Serena, baby...I want you so much. Please..."
He bent, tracing her face with his lips. "Please, stop me before it's too
late." he gritted out. Breathing in her scent. *Mine.*
Serena did nothing, merely sliding her hands down his clothed back in
avid curiousity, grasping his buttocks and giving them a teasing squeeze.
"SERENA!!" he roared.
She looked up at him in surprise.
"If...you DON'T want to do this..I suggest you NOT do THAT and STOP me,
NOW!!" he panted through gritted teeth, holding himself in check. His leg
stopping its movements against her heated core.
He waited.
And nearly jumped when a small warm hand brushed his cheek in tenderness.
Shining blue eyes gazed at him with such emotion he very nearly lost
himself.
"No."
"Se-ree-na??" he gasped, one hand clenching a ball of sheets the other
gripping her thigh.
"No...I want you."
Air rushed from his lungs as he leaned down closer to her, pressing her
into the bed once more, lips moving over her face.
"Serena...if you're- if you're joking about this,-"
"I'm not. Please. I love you, Darien. Make me one with you." she
whispered, her breath brushing his face tantalizingly.
"Serena, you have to understand... If you join with me, there will be no
going back. You will be bound to me for all time. Mine..."
Serena smiled up at him.
"I understand. I've already been yours, Darien. Since the first. Please,"
murmured Serena, brushing back his dark hair tenderly, offering comfort.
The demon within him howled in triumph.
And Darien needed no other words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She was afloat on the sensations that he aroused in her. A touch here...
A gentle kiss there. Fire stormed throughout them. Teeth scraped at her
throat, over her pulse. It was lust...it was passion. It was desire...it
was love.
She wanted to heal him. Take from him, the lifetime of pain she had felt
deep within. To make him whole once more and convince him his soul was
not black beyond redemption. She wanted him to forgive himself and accept
the destiny that had been laid before him. But most of all, she wanted him
to know she loved him...
A muffled shriek left her throat as she felt his hand at her most
intimate core, pressing into her. She could only look dazely around, his
face dark and beautiful above her, watching her.
Her eyes slid helplessly down, watched as his hand moved beneath her
night gown between her legs. Her hips jerked, her back arching as he
brushed his fingers over her intimately through the cloth of her underwear.
With shaking hands, she tugged him down to kiss him hard. She wanted,
needed. The pressure within her building. She felt hot, wet and empty.
This moment was for them. Only them...
A growl left his throat, his hands grasping the material of her gown.
She heard a rent and felt as his hands ripped the gown to shreds. Her
body, flush against the dark silken sheets of the bed. Her hand tugged at
his shirt.
"Please, I want to see you.."
He lifted his face from hers and merely smiled his devil's smile.
Suddenly she felt the heat of his body on hers. Felt naked skin against
her own. The breath left her lungs and could only moan as his lips once
again fastened on a tight peak of her breast. Her hands buried themselves
in the dark silky hair on his head.
"Serena..."
Vulnerable blue eyes met his own, dark with desire.
"I want you. Baby, I cannot wait for you...." he groaned out. "-need you
too much."
He felt her gently touch his cheek again and could only groan, burying
his head against her throat. His hands made short work of her underwear.
His fingers probing her wetness, burying themselves inside her.
She whimpered and gasped, her hips jerking in reply. Her back arched as
she felt his fingers move.
Eyes, so trusting helped him leash the demons within. This was his mate,
the one who had brought a light brighter than the sun into his existence.
The one he loved more than his soul. He could offer no words to express
the emotions that were deep within his being.
"You're so beautiful, I do not know what I did in my existence to
deserve you." he choked, looking down upon her beautiful trusting face.
She represented his life. His future, no matter how long or short it would
be. Watched as she smiled at him. His hands left her and travelled upwards.
"Serena..."
He felt a profound feeling of tenderness sweep through him as her fingers
entwined themselves with his own. His eyes were drawn to their hands, so
tightly clasped together, it was as if they would never be apart. And from
this moment on, they never would....
She cried out at the wonderous feeling his body evoked in hers as she
felt him suddenly slide slowly within. Her hand could only clench tighter
within his. Could only feel the desire in him. And she gave... body, heart
and soul. She heard words whispered within her mind, felt it bind them
closer.
*You are my mate for life. We are one. I give you my protection. I give
you my soul, my body, my life, my love and accept your own in return. No
one will part us. Bound together forever more. We are one for all eternity.*
"I love you."
Tenderness scored his eyes and suddenly, he was driving home, deep within
her and she cried out. She explored the reaches of desire and love, unable
to describe the feelings she felt. Dimly she heard herself crying out at
the ecstacy and passion. Heard his own hoarse shout of desire and triumph
as he flooded her and took away the loneliness that had once dwelled in
the deepest part of her.
She felt him place butterfly kisses and heard his hoarse words full of
emotion, whispered into her ear.
"We are one."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He rose from the earth, bursting through the ground, his skin was grey
with hunger. His injuries were not yet fully healed. He still needed at
least one more night of rejuvenating sleep.
But hunger had driven him to awaken. He needed blood to heal, to grow
stronger. Hate filled him, his entire being infested with the anger, the
hatred and the loathing he felt at the entire world.
Midnight hair fell into his beautiful unearthly ocean eyes. He snarled,
launching himself into the air, black feathers shimmered as his body
contorted, the bones reforming into a large black owl that sailed into the
night, searching for prey. For a victim.
He landed stealthily in a dark area of the city park. His unholy eyes
landing on two lovers in the darkness of the park. Jealousy and hatred
surged to the surface.
The pair had yet to notice his arrival. Swiftly, he made his way towards
them, invisible to the human eye. Fangs exploded into his mouth, hot saliva
dripping from his lips. His eyes changing from their stormy blue to a
flaming red.
He jerked the man off the woman, crushing the man's windpipe slowly in the
process. The man gasped and choked, struggling with the invisible fingers
around his neck, trying to breathe. The woman screamed before he silenced
her, his hand planted cruelly in her hair, stopping her from escaping.
Blood. The hot flowing liquid of life that ran in their veins. He
materialized before their eyes, his eyes blood red and fangs bared. The
woman opened her mouth but no sound came from her lips.
The man's eyes were round and wide with fear. Even so, he struggled,
trying to break free, kicking out with his legs, his limbs flailing. The
man made horrible gasping and gurgling sounds as his face turned a ruddy
red from the lack of air.
His eyes narrowed, dropping the man and lashing out with a terrifying
blow at the man, his neck snapping backwards with an audible crack. The
man slumped to the ground, his neck in an unnatural angle. Blood pooled
under his head.
The woman gasped and screamed, her hands clawing at the hand that held
her hair in an iron grip, fearful for her life.
"Humans are so fragile. One blows breaks them to bits." he murmured
irritably. His gaze turned to the woman, she whimpered with fear.
"Dead prey is of no use to me."
His hand dragged the woman up from her position on the ground, yanking
her head back to expose her neck. The woman stared wide eyed and fearful,
her face pale. Her breathing became eratic as she looked up at the demon's
face.
Contorted with hatred and a twisted pleasure, the face that loomed before
the woman like a spectre of death would have been handsome. Hauntingly
beautiful. But the evil that was displayed clearly had ruined the face.
Flaws were creeping in to distort its beauty.
She could only scream when the being lowered his lips to her throat,
the fangs sinking painfully into her flesh.
He drank deeply, feeling the hot blood flow down his throat, feeling his
cells swell with power. To heal and grow stronger. He drank greedily, felt
the fear of the woman and reveled in it. Felt as she sank into
unconsciousness and slowly, to death....
Drinking his fill, he dropped the lifeless body of the woman onto the
ground to join the male. He stared emotionlessly and merely licked his lips
of the blood, an evil smile curving them.
His thoughts turned to his twin. Darien.
A growl left his lips as he felt the darkness slowly receding from his
twin. The light growing and anchoring his brother forever more. Anger
slammed into his being. Darien had completed the mating ritual....
Ocean eyes snapped open.
Darien sat up on the bed, the covers sliding to his waist. He frowned,
slowly spreading out his senses, probing for the taint of the undead.
Searching for Dylan. His twin.
His frown grew when he felt nothing. Something had awoken him, sending
his senses on alert. A rustle of cloth caught his attention.
Looking beside him, he saw Serena open her eyes, a question in their
blue depths. She was his mate. Bonded now and for always. Tenderness surged
into his heart at the bravery his innocent mate had shown. To bond herself
to a monster like him showed him the extent of her courage.
A soft tiny hand brushed his cheek and he looked down in surprise. She
merely smiled her enigmatic smile.
Hunger burst through him. He hungered for her and was certain it was
always going to be this way. Hot and demanding. He cursed softly. He was
acting like an insatiable beast, wanting. If he was this uncontrollable
now, what would he be like in the future when the mating heat intensified??
He needed to gain control. She was mortal, not of his race. Not made for
long, wild and demanding mating. What's more, she had been a virgin...
It would be inconsiderate of him to take her a second time.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a bright flush stain her cheeks.
Turning, he stared at her, arching an eyebrow. Surprised and charmed, he
watched as she turned an interesting shade of beetroot. Lifting a hand to
her chin, he tilted her face so her eyes met his. What he saw only made his
gut clench tighter in desire. This was worse than when he had not had her.
Now after knowing how heaven felt, his appetite for it had merely grown
more acute. Weren't sensual appetites supposed to be satiated after a
joining?? Why were they growing more intense?
"Do you have to think so loud??" she whispered softly.
Ah, she was shy!! A smile graced his face. He chuckled and felt her move
closer to him, pressing her burning face into his chest. Her tiny hands
clenching into fists and landing a blow on his shoulder. He chuckled again
and wrapped his arms about her naked body.
"You're mean."
"What's wrong?"
"You shouldn't THINK so loud. It might wake the dead!"
"Baby, I find your shyness despite what just happened very cute and
endearing." he teased.
Her fist thumped him again. Catching it, he brought it to his mouth to
press aa kiss against the soft inner skin of her wrist. He brushed his
thumb over it in a caress. His eyes fascinated by the fine blue veins that
ran within her translucent skin.
"Tell me again.." he whispered in her ear.
"Tell you?"
"I love you.."
Serena blushed. She hugged him tighter, hiding her face in the crook of
his chest. Her heart beating with love and happiness, beating in a
sychronized rhythm with his own. She was with Darien now, and no one would
seperate them.
"I love you."
*So touching, Darien.*
Darien's snapped up in alert, his preternatural senses scanning the area
surrounding the mansion. He breathed easier when he sensed no disturbance.
Dylan wasn't nearby. Serena looked up in alarm as his face hardened.
*What do you want, Dylan?*
*How's Geoffrey doing?*
*WHAT do you want, Dylan?*
*Just making conversation, Darien. Your tenderness with the mortal is so
touching, so endearing. I'd cry if I knew how.* laughed Dylan cynically.
*You've killed again...*
*Mmmhmm...I do need blood to heal, you know. Don't worry, I'm just
dropping a comment, brother dearest. I still need another night to heal.
Oh yes, you'll need to get rid of the bodies, after all...don't want
mortals to know of our existence, right?? So, better hurry to the east of
city park.*
*Damn you Dylan..*
*I knew I could count on your clean up crew.* taunted his twin.
*Oh right, Darien...I'm already damned.* snickered Dylan as his voice faded
from his mind.
A tear ran down his cheek as he hugged Serena tighter to him, needing the
comfort she provided. Needing to believe she was real and he wasn't going
to end up like his brother. His twin.
"Darien..."
Steeling himself, he sighed and kissed Serena's forehead in assurance
that he was fine. He needed to find those bodies. He released her and
got out of bed, unconscious of his nakedness. With a single thought, he
was clothed and finally aware of his hunger for blood. He needed to feed.
Serena pulled the sheet about her and headed for the dresser, slowly
dressing herself.
*I need to go, baby...*
*I know. Go.*
She felt invisible hands brush her throat, the fingers curving around
her neck in a caress before he was gone. She sighed and hugged herself,
looking at the gathering storm clouds in the horizon.
How many more pieces of Darien's soul was Dylan going to take?? How much
more pain was the monster willing to cause his twin?? Her heart pained at
the thought of how much Darien was suffering because of his brother.
Five owls circled the air over the eastern side of city park, scanning
the ground below with their sharp vision. They spotted two bodies lying
still on the ground and landed immediately.
"The bodies have yet to be discovered." reported Malcolm. "Dylan's trail
has vanished from this area."
Hunger pierced him sharply at the smell of blood. Darien felt his
incisors explode in his mouth.
"Unfortunately, these bodies can never ever be discovered by humans."
murmured Zach sadly as he monitored the surrounding area constantly.
Darien nodded, tamping down his hunger, clamping his will of iron over
himself. The bodies needed to be incinerated. He began gathering energy but
a hand on his arm stopped him, making him look towards the owner of the
hand.
"You're weak Darien. You've just recovered. Let us do this duty." offered
Jayden. "You can go feed first, you needn't worry about us."
"Thank you, but Dylan is my burden."
They stepped back as he gathered more energy, destroying the bodies with
a single bolt of lightning, incinerating the corpses and the surrounding
area. When all was done, he nearly collapsed under his own weight if Neph
had not caught him.
"You have to stop pushing yourself so hard, Darien.." muttered Jayden as
he bit into his wrist and pressed it to Darien's mouth. Darien drank
gratefully. The little blood Jayden had offered had restored a meager
amount of his great strength.
"My thanks. Let us go feed now. Then we still need to patrol."
The men nodded their agreement as they inspected the site carefully one
last time before disappearing into the night to find their own feeding
grounds.
Darien frowned and felt sadness envelope him once more. *Dylan...why'd it
have to be you??*
He was alone without his twin. Alone.
Immediately, he felt invisible slender arms enfold him, shocking him.
Heard the soft whisper of Serena's voice within his ear. He almost swore he
could feel her lips on his jaw.
*You are not alone anymore, Darien...We are one.*
Love flooded him at her thoughtful gesture. *Yes..I'm not alone. Thank
you, baby...and incidently, how did you do that??*
Laughter filled his ears, filling his heart to the brim with happiness.
*Hurry home to me...*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...
Another chapter down!! Unsure how many more to go. Not many though, promise
you that. :) This could yet be the first story I have completed within
less than a year!! Wow! REVIEWS pleeeeeease?? I haven't decided if Geoffrey
should live or die, so I decided to leave him in limbo for the time being.
Also, don't hurt me!! This is my FIRST R rated fic. Oh yeah, I didn't fail
History!!! *yay!* :))
18/9/02
Edited: 18/9/02
Second Edit: 28.9.02
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating:R
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes mind speaking
15/9/02
AN: SailorMoon characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
The vampire's abilites are based on Christine Feehan's Dark Series.
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
AN: Well, as my last day of holidays, I decided to get on with the story.
:) There are plenty of reviewers who say Geoffrey shouldn't die and
one or two who say either way. Anyway, I myself am still unsure as to
kill him off or let him stay. (I never was very good at making
decisions) Anyway, thank you for the support so far. :) So,
Why doesn't anybody review 'Heretic'? (that's alright) I'll quit
blabbing now and get on with it.
REMINDER: This IS AN 'R' rated fic. So don't go around complaining that
I didn't warn you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He was of a dark and ancient race on the verge of extinction,
She was a mortal thriving on the light and beauty of the world,
They met on a night of unspeakable horror...
With her strange abilities, she ensnared him in a web of desire even as
their souls called out to each other,
Promising eternity and a passion more fulfilling than anything on earth.
~ Chapter 7: Dylan ~
He stumbled into the deep dark cave that was his lair. Blood stained his
clothes, dripped from his wounds. He snarled in anger. In hatred. With
loathing.
Darien and his little unit would pay.
They would pay.
Darien and Malcolm stepped away, drained and weak from the healing they
had done to Geoffrey. For Malcolm, healing Darien and Geoffrey had taken
huge amounts of strength and time. It was going to be dawn soon.
They had repaired Geoffrey's wounds and eliminated the undead's poison
from his blood stream. They had then tried to feed him, but as weak as
Geoffrey was, he had resisted mightily at being replenished when Neph had
tried. It was clear Geoffrey did not want to be healed. They had had no
choice but to put him into a deep sleep when he began to resist.
Perhaps the sleep would help him overcome his demons. It also served to
keep Geoffrey from damaging himself, which he would do if he used up
whatever little strength he had left resisting them.
Serena was at Darien's side immediately, shouldering his great weight.
"Careful. You're just newly healed yourself. You need to feed and rest,
Darien." she whispered. "I would offer myself." she continued quietly.
His dark blue eyes jumped to her face in surprise.
Their eyes locked for a moment. She felt mesmerized. She also felt loss
when he broke their gaze. He looked away, shaking his head.
"No."
"Why??"
"I hunger too much, baby. It is not that I would kill you, but I might
take too much and need to replenish you." he whispered.
Serena frowned. "So?? What's so terrible about that??" she asked. Inside,
she shuddered. Drinking blood.
Darien merely smiled and brushed her face tenderly with a hand.
"You would become one of us..."
"One-??" she frowned. "-of you??"
"You would need blood to survive and you would not be able to see the sun.
You would be like my race in every way. With all our gifts and weaknesses.
Can you survive that way, Serena??" he asked seriously.
Serena blinked at him, absorbing all he was telling her. He rarely called
her Serena and his face was one dead seriousness.
They stared at one another for a long while before Serena turned her head
away in shame. He was right. How could she live that way?? Drinking the
blood of others to survive. Never ever being able to stay out in the sun
ever again. Sleeping in the earth that would feel like a live burial. How
could she live that way??
A tear slipped out from under her closed eyes.
"Don't cry, love. It is enough that you offered. I will cherish those
words." he smiled tenderly, brushing away the tears with the pad of his
thumb. He placed a gentle kiss on her temple and smiled down at her.
"I love you anyway. This is the way you live, so I will live it with you.
Until you are no more and then I will follow you to wherever you lead."
Serena could not help it. More tears spilled from her eyes until her face
was awash with moisture.
"Darien..."
He claimed her mouth for a tender kiss.
It was a cough that broke their display apart. The pair turned to see
a grinning Jayden and Raye along with the rest of the group.
"And you call us, indecent?" smirked Raye.
Darien held Serena closer to him and merely smiled smugly at his sister
while Serena wiped her tears, laughing.
"I offer my blood, Darien." said Neph quietly, still grinning. "So you
may be at strength to heal."
Darien nodded. "Thank you, Neph. Jayden, think you're strong enough to
move Geoffrey to safe ground?? Of course, with my pig of a sister as your
mate, it is doubtless you can carry a light weight like Geoffrey."
"I am NOT fat!!" protested Raye heatedly, crossing her arms over her
chest indignantly. "I'm just still growing."
"Growing my foot, you're getting fat. You can't even fit into your jeans
anymore." snickered Jayden.
"Actually, you're breeding." said Zach quietly, holding his wrist out to
Malcolm so he could feed and replenish his strength.
Raye faced Zach in surprise before covering her belly protectively.
Serena watched the group grow silent. Their manner no longer teasing.
Darien was staring at his sister while feeding. His eyes spoke volumes.
She watched as he stopped, respectfully closing the small wound on Neph's
wrist with a swipe of his tongue.
"It's true, isn't it?"
Jayden moved closer to Raye in a protective stance, noting the look in
Darien's burning eyes.
"Yes."
Serena glanced at the hard faces of the males in the room. The light in
their eyes told her they were fiecely protective. Now, with the addition of
a new life, they were ready to die to defend Raye and the unborn child.
"Why did you not say anything?" asked Malcolm as he himself finished
feeding, closing the pinpricks on Zach's wrist.
Raye shook her head. "I don't know. I guess, I just couldn't bear it if
I told you all and I lost the baby. You know how hard it is for our women
to conceive. And to actually be able to carry to term," whispered Raye
sadly, tears slipping from her eyes. "That is even harder."
Jayden hugged her comfortingly.
Darien nodded. "I know."
"God, I don't want anything to happen to this baby, Darien! I don't want
to lose my baby." she sniffled.
Darien rubbed his head. "We will discuss this on the next rising. It will
be dawn soon. Jayden, please move Geoffrey to an underground chamber then
take care of Raye."
Jayden nodded. "Of course."
Darien nearly stumbled when he turned to Serena. She was quickly there to
catch him.
"Careful!"
"Thank you. Serena, I suggest you do not go out today. Stay inside and
get some rest. It's been a long night."
Serena snorted. "Listen to you. Still giving orders even when YOU should
be the one resting. I will help you to where you rest, THEN I will go back
to the chambers and sleep."
Darien chuckled. "Yes, baby."
They moved down a dark corridor silently. They said nothing, merely
moving swiftly towards Darien's underground resting place.
Serena looked up at Darien's solemn face, shadowed in the darkness. It
was unmistakeble he thought the world of the new life in his sister's
belly. All the males did.
But why??
With all his protectiveness and tender care to one close to him, she was
sure Darien would make a wonderful father. Did he want to be a father??
"Yes."
Startled, her gaze jumped to his face. Had she said it aloud?
"No, but we are bonded and I find myself, loath to release my link to you
entirely." he admitted grudgingly. He offered her a tender smile.
"Yes, I do want to be a father..."
"But?"
He sighed.
"Unfortunately, my race isn't having much luck conceiving many children.
Many of them are lost to miscarriage or if they do survive to be born,
their struggle to live is difficult and even harder on the parents. The
females grow despondent each time they lose a child." he murmured.
Serena listened quietly, feeling sad at the words and all the loss that
his people were clearly going through.
"We do not even give birth to many females. Which is why it is so
difficult for us males to find a mate for life. There can be none if there
are no females born. I don't understand why our race is facing this crisis!
We were once prosperous. Thriving. Is this a punishment for something our
kind has done??!!" he shouted in anguish. His voice bouncing off the walls,
echoing in the dark tunnel.
She could sense his pain. It pierced at her, bringing tears to her eyes.
His helplessness beat at her, making her want to enfold him in a comforting
hug and never let go. The emotions that swamped her revealed the true
extent of his fears, his doubts, his frustrations and his despair at the
situation of his dying race.
Not knowing what to do, she did the only thing she knew of. She hugged
him, cradling his head to her breast, offering comfort.
"Hush..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How long do you think you'll have to sleep before you're completely
healed??"
"One day."
Serena blinked at Darien's answer. He chuckled at the look of disbelief
on her face. Lifting a hand to brush her cheek, he grinned.
"Thank you, beloved."
She watched as he sank deep into the earth. He offered a tender smile
before closing his eyes and covering the deep hole in the soil. She could
only watch with bated breath. How could he do this?? Night after night??
This was too much like a burial. Being buried alive....
*I am not human, baby...for me, this is normal. Now, get your pretty butt
out of here and into bed to rest.*
Serena sniffed in disgust. *Possessive chauvinistic male.*
A deep chuckle echoed in her mind. *Only with you, baby. Only with you.
Now do as I bid before I shut my body down.*
She felt invisible arms pushing her towards the only entrance to the
chamber.
*Alright, alright! Pushy much??*
Exiting the chamber, she shook her head and headed for the surface,
towards the sleeping chamber.
Getting into the large bed, Serena snuggled deep under the covers, her
mind still on Darien. She felt slightly uncomfortable, as if an empty void
yawned within her. It was just like a man to make a woman pine after them
even though there was nothing to miss.
Serena gathered the blankets about her in a huff. Darien was beginning
to become an integral part of her life, the bond between them growing and
tonight's revelation had only made it stronger.
There was no way she could escape now. She didn't want to. All because
she was in love with Darien Alessandros. Turning to look at the golden
orb beginning to rise in the sky outside her window, she sighed.
Love was definitely the bane of every logical minded being.
With that thought in her mind, Serena James fell fast asleep, snuggled
in the thick warm down covers of the large poster bed.
It was sunset when next she awoke. She really was changing from a lark
into an owl. Rubbing her eyes sleepily, she sat up in bed. A tender hand
brushed a curl from her cheek.
Her eyes shot open in surprise. Darien...
He sat beside her, smiling.
"Good evening."
"Darien...are you better this evening?"
"Yes. How did you sleep?"
"Very well. No nightmares." her eyes shadowed. "How's Geoffrey?"
The hand dropped and Darien sighed, turning to look out the window,
he stayed silent for a moment before turning back to look her in the eye.
"He still refuses blood. Malcolm thinks we should force him and I know
I can do it. But,...it would only make Geoffrey resent us. I know."
"Did it happen to you once? Did...somebody force you to live?"
Blue eyes darkened, becoming as turbulent as the ocean on a rough and
stormy night. A sudden bolt of lightning out of a cloudless sky struck,
illuminating his features to the point of intimidating.
"Yes."
Serena sat on the bed silent. Waiting for him to elaborate. A shiver
running down her spine at the thought of him, almost dying once. Wanting
death. Embracing it and the peace it would bring...
"I was injured badly once. The demons within me had been strong then,
always on the verge of breaking loose. It was Dylan who pulled me back from
the brink. Forced me to drink his blood so I would heal." he murmured, his
eyes glazing over at the memory that appeared in his mind.
"He wasn't always as evil as he is now. It's his demons that have twisted
him. Made him a complete opposite of his true self."
"He's your twin."
Darien nodded.
"Tell me. Please." She needed to know. To see through Darien's eyes and
know the man he had once known as his twin.
"Dylan was...charming. He was younger than me by five minutes. As a
fledgling, he always had an easy smile. Ready to laugh. Easy going where
I was dark and serious. He especially liked jokes and pranks. He played
many on our father, which irritated father to no ends. Father also had a
difficult time telling us apart, so father left the disciplining to our
mother." murmured Darien with a soft chuckle, his face softening as he
recalled happier times, beautiful memories.
"He usually had a kind word for everyone and it was difficult not to like
him. We were twins, Serena. We used to go everywhere together. Dylan loved
to dabble in herbs. Learn the strongest poisons and how to neutralize
them."
He stopped, taking a deep breath. She felt the love he held for his
brother. Felt the pain that burned within at the tragedy of losing such a
good man.
"But one day...Dylan began to change. He no longer smiled much. His
laughs became less and less frequent. I knew he struggled to mantain his
sanity. He felt emotions but the abyss within us males will grow until
being able to feel emotions is like a curse. We will feel anger. We will
feel hatred and all the other negative emotions that come with our ability
to feel."
"What happened?"
Tears slipped down his face.
"One night, I still recall. It was stormy and rain and wind fell upon the
land like the wrath of heaven. Dylan disappeared."
"What do you mean-" breathed Serena. "-disappeared?"
"He left. I could feel him but he wouldn't answer my calls. He said he
had to walk alone now. He left and I could never follow as he moved over
Europe frequently. I left Europe with my unit and came to America a decade
later. Few months ago, I felt Dylan warring with himself. He had returned
to our homeland. I thought, maybe he would be strong enough to fight
himself. Maybe our family could help him through this dark time. Dylan was
never evil as he is now."
Pain radiated from him. Sorrow and regret. Tears ran freely down his
handsome face that was timeless in its beauty. He turned away, presenting
his large frame with muscles that rippled underneath the silk shirt he wore.
Once again, Serena was reminded of how much she loved this man who was so
strong to bear all the pain time and life had thrown at him. She knew he
blamed himself.
Not able to bear it anymore, she wrapped her arm around his waist,
laying her head on his back.
He stiffened.
"You shouldn't blame yourself. You should not think of 'what ifs' but of
now and how. Not of what if you'd stayed with him instead of allowing him
him to walk alone. This Dylan now is no longer the twin you knew. You need
to know how you can vanquish him."
"Serena..."
"Kiss me, Darien."
He turned, looking down at her. Their gazes lasted only a fraction of a
second before Darien claimed her mouth in a hungry kiss. A half-growl,
half-groan emitted from his throat at the taste of her.
Arms like iron bands locked about her, tasting her mouth like a ravenous
wild animal.
Slender arms reached up to twine about his neck, clutching at him
frantically.
Desire swirled around them as the flame of passion was fanned into a
fiery blaze, burning out of control. They moved backwards, falling onto the
bed as Serena's knees came into contact with it.
Darien pressed her deeper into the soft yielding bed, his mouth beginning
to travel down her neck, stopping to suckle gently at her wildly beating
pulse. Blood rushed to her head, making her heady as his mouth once again
claimed hers, suckling fiecely on her lower lip.
She moaned as desire like liquid fire slid through her veins, her senses
were bathed in the riot of sensual feelings it was being bombarded with.
His hand reached down to brush her breast gently through the fabric of
her nighty, his mouth doing wicked things to the tops of her breasts. His
hand brushing over a firm pouty nipple.
She couldn't breathe as she felt him place erotic sucking kisses down her
neck. Her breath left her lungs with a whoosh as his hot mouth suddenly
clamped down upon her nipple through the cloth.
God, his mouth was HOT!!
She could only gasp and clutch at his back, her fingers clenching and
unclenching in the silky fabric of his shirt. She was dazed, her belly
afire with lust.
A hand slid down to her hip and to the end of her nighty, brushing the
wispy cloth up to knead her thigh. A knee sneaked between her parted limbs,
moving sinuously against her heated core.
That action had nearly sent her arching off the bed.
"Darien...Darien.."
She felt as if her mind was stuck. She could only repeat his name over
and over like a litany.
She felt him look down at her face, his eyes dark with lust and passion.
She felt the demon in him snarling, demanding its mate. Felt as his fingers
pulled the ties at the front of her gown, swiftly parting the fabric to
bare her upper torso to the cold night's air and the heat of his stare.
She shivered not from the cold.
She felt heat rush to her face as a blush bloomed pink all over her
body at his hungry gaze.
"God...Serena, baby...I want you so much. Please..."
He bent, tracing her face with his lips. "Please, stop me before it's too
late." he gritted out. Breathing in her scent. *Mine.*
Serena did nothing, merely sliding her hands down his clothed back in
avid curiousity, grasping his buttocks and giving them a teasing squeeze.
"SERENA!!" he roared.
She looked up at him in surprise.
"If...you DON'T want to do this..I suggest you NOT do THAT and STOP me,
NOW!!" he panted through gritted teeth, holding himself in check. His leg
stopping its movements against her heated core.
He waited.
And nearly jumped when a small warm hand brushed his cheek in tenderness.
Shining blue eyes gazed at him with such emotion he very nearly lost
himself.
"No."
"Se-ree-na??" he gasped, one hand clenching a ball of sheets the other
gripping her thigh.
"No...I want you."
Air rushed from his lungs as he leaned down closer to her, pressing her
into the bed once more, lips moving over her face.
"Serena...if you're- if you're joking about this,-"
"I'm not. Please. I love you, Darien. Make me one with you." she
whispered, her breath brushing his face tantalizingly.
"Serena, you have to understand... If you join with me, there will be no
going back. You will be bound to me for all time. Mine..."
Serena smiled up at him.
"I understand. I've already been yours, Darien. Since the first. Please,"
murmured Serena, brushing back his dark hair tenderly, offering comfort.
The demon within him howled in triumph.
And Darien needed no other words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She was afloat on the sensations that he aroused in her. A touch here...
A gentle kiss there. Fire stormed throughout them. Teeth scraped at her
throat, over her pulse. It was lust...it was passion. It was desire...it
was love.
She wanted to heal him. Take from him, the lifetime of pain she had felt
deep within. To make him whole once more and convince him his soul was
not black beyond redemption. She wanted him to forgive himself and accept
the destiny that had been laid before him. But most of all, she wanted him
to know she loved him...
A muffled shriek left her throat as she felt his hand at her most
intimate core, pressing into her. She could only look dazely around, his
face dark and beautiful above her, watching her.
Her eyes slid helplessly down, watched as his hand moved beneath her
night gown between her legs. Her hips jerked, her back arching as he
brushed his fingers over her intimately through the cloth of her underwear.
With shaking hands, she tugged him down to kiss him hard. She wanted,
needed. The pressure within her building. She felt hot, wet and empty.
This moment was for them. Only them...
A growl left his throat, his hands grasping the material of her gown.
She heard a rent and felt as his hands ripped the gown to shreds. Her
body, flush against the dark silken sheets of the bed. Her hand tugged at
his shirt.
"Please, I want to see you.."
He lifted his face from hers and merely smiled his devil's smile.
Suddenly she felt the heat of his body on hers. Felt naked skin against
her own. The breath left her lungs and could only moan as his lips once
again fastened on a tight peak of her breast. Her hands buried themselves
in the dark silky hair on his head.
"Serena..."
Vulnerable blue eyes met his own, dark with desire.
"I want you. Baby, I cannot wait for you...." he groaned out. "-need you
too much."
He felt her gently touch his cheek again and could only groan, burying
his head against her throat. His hands made short work of her underwear.
His fingers probing her wetness, burying themselves inside her.
She whimpered and gasped, her hips jerking in reply. Her back arched as
she felt his fingers move.
Eyes, so trusting helped him leash the demons within. This was his mate,
the one who had brought a light brighter than the sun into his existence.
The one he loved more than his soul. He could offer no words to express
the emotions that were deep within his being.
"You're so beautiful, I do not know what I did in my existence to
deserve you." he choked, looking down upon her beautiful trusting face.
She represented his life. His future, no matter how long or short it would
be. Watched as she smiled at him. His hands left her and travelled upwards.
"Serena..."
He felt a profound feeling of tenderness sweep through him as her fingers
entwined themselves with his own. His eyes were drawn to their hands, so
tightly clasped together, it was as if they would never be apart. And from
this moment on, they never would....
She cried out at the wonderous feeling his body evoked in hers as she
felt him suddenly slide slowly within. Her hand could only clench tighter
within his. Could only feel the desire in him. And she gave... body, heart
and soul. She heard words whispered within her mind, felt it bind them
closer.
*You are my mate for life. We are one. I give you my protection. I give
you my soul, my body, my life, my love and accept your own in return. No
one will part us. Bound together forever more. We are one for all eternity.*
"I love you."
Tenderness scored his eyes and suddenly, he was driving home, deep within
her and she cried out. She explored the reaches of desire and love, unable
to describe the feelings she felt. Dimly she heard herself crying out at
the ecstacy and passion. Heard his own hoarse shout of desire and triumph
as he flooded her and took away the loneliness that had once dwelled in
the deepest part of her.
She felt him place butterfly kisses and heard his hoarse words full of
emotion, whispered into her ear.
"We are one."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He rose from the earth, bursting through the ground, his skin was grey
with hunger. His injuries were not yet fully healed. He still needed at
least one more night of rejuvenating sleep.
But hunger had driven him to awaken. He needed blood to heal, to grow
stronger. Hate filled him, his entire being infested with the anger, the
hatred and the loathing he felt at the entire world.
Midnight hair fell into his beautiful unearthly ocean eyes. He snarled,
launching himself into the air, black feathers shimmered as his body
contorted, the bones reforming into a large black owl that sailed into the
night, searching for prey. For a victim.
He landed stealthily in a dark area of the city park. His unholy eyes
landing on two lovers in the darkness of the park. Jealousy and hatred
surged to the surface.
The pair had yet to notice his arrival. Swiftly, he made his way towards
them, invisible to the human eye. Fangs exploded into his mouth, hot saliva
dripping from his lips. His eyes changing from their stormy blue to a
flaming red.
He jerked the man off the woman, crushing the man's windpipe slowly in the
process. The man gasped and choked, struggling with the invisible fingers
around his neck, trying to breathe. The woman screamed before he silenced
her, his hand planted cruelly in her hair, stopping her from escaping.
Blood. The hot flowing liquid of life that ran in their veins. He
materialized before their eyes, his eyes blood red and fangs bared. The
woman opened her mouth but no sound came from her lips.
The man's eyes were round and wide with fear. Even so, he struggled,
trying to break free, kicking out with his legs, his limbs flailing. The
man made horrible gasping and gurgling sounds as his face turned a ruddy
red from the lack of air.
His eyes narrowed, dropping the man and lashing out with a terrifying
blow at the man, his neck snapping backwards with an audible crack. The
man slumped to the ground, his neck in an unnatural angle. Blood pooled
under his head.
The woman gasped and screamed, her hands clawing at the hand that held
her hair in an iron grip, fearful for her life.
"Humans are so fragile. One blows breaks them to bits." he murmured
irritably. His gaze turned to the woman, she whimpered with fear.
"Dead prey is of no use to me."
His hand dragged the woman up from her position on the ground, yanking
her head back to expose her neck. The woman stared wide eyed and fearful,
her face pale. Her breathing became eratic as she looked up at the demon's
face.
Contorted with hatred and a twisted pleasure, the face that loomed before
the woman like a spectre of death would have been handsome. Hauntingly
beautiful. But the evil that was displayed clearly had ruined the face.
Flaws were creeping in to distort its beauty.
She could only scream when the being lowered his lips to her throat,
the fangs sinking painfully into her flesh.
He drank deeply, feeling the hot blood flow down his throat, feeling his
cells swell with power. To heal and grow stronger. He drank greedily, felt
the fear of the woman and reveled in it. Felt as she sank into
unconsciousness and slowly, to death....
Drinking his fill, he dropped the lifeless body of the woman onto the
ground to join the male. He stared emotionlessly and merely licked his lips
of the blood, an evil smile curving them.
His thoughts turned to his twin. Darien.
A growl left his lips as he felt the darkness slowly receding from his
twin. The light growing and anchoring his brother forever more. Anger
slammed into his being. Darien had completed the mating ritual....
Ocean eyes snapped open.
Darien sat up on the bed, the covers sliding to his waist. He frowned,
slowly spreading out his senses, probing for the taint of the undead.
Searching for Dylan. His twin.
His frown grew when he felt nothing. Something had awoken him, sending
his senses on alert. A rustle of cloth caught his attention.
Looking beside him, he saw Serena open her eyes, a question in their
blue depths. She was his mate. Bonded now and for always. Tenderness surged
into his heart at the bravery his innocent mate had shown. To bond herself
to a monster like him showed him the extent of her courage.
A soft tiny hand brushed his cheek and he looked down in surprise. She
merely smiled her enigmatic smile.
Hunger burst through him. He hungered for her and was certain it was
always going to be this way. Hot and demanding. He cursed softly. He was
acting like an insatiable beast, wanting. If he was this uncontrollable
now, what would he be like in the future when the mating heat intensified??
He needed to gain control. She was mortal, not of his race. Not made for
long, wild and demanding mating. What's more, she had been a virgin...
It would be inconsiderate of him to take her a second time.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a bright flush stain her cheeks.
Turning, he stared at her, arching an eyebrow. Surprised and charmed, he
watched as she turned an interesting shade of beetroot. Lifting a hand to
her chin, he tilted her face so her eyes met his. What he saw only made his
gut clench tighter in desire. This was worse than when he had not had her.
Now after knowing how heaven felt, his appetite for it had merely grown
more acute. Weren't sensual appetites supposed to be satiated after a
joining?? Why were they growing more intense?
"Do you have to think so loud??" she whispered softly.
Ah, she was shy!! A smile graced his face. He chuckled and felt her move
closer to him, pressing her burning face into his chest. Her tiny hands
clenching into fists and landing a blow on his shoulder. He chuckled again
and wrapped his arms about her naked body.
"You're mean."
"What's wrong?"
"You shouldn't THINK so loud. It might wake the dead!"
"Baby, I find your shyness despite what just happened very cute and
endearing." he teased.
Her fist thumped him again. Catching it, he brought it to his mouth to
press aa kiss against the soft inner skin of her wrist. He brushed his
thumb over it in a caress. His eyes fascinated by the fine blue veins that
ran within her translucent skin.
"Tell me again.." he whispered in her ear.
"Tell you?"
"I love you.."
Serena blushed. She hugged him tighter, hiding her face in the crook of
his chest. Her heart beating with love and happiness, beating in a
sychronized rhythm with his own. She was with Darien now, and no one would
seperate them.
"I love you."
*So touching, Darien.*
Darien's snapped up in alert, his preternatural senses scanning the area
surrounding the mansion. He breathed easier when he sensed no disturbance.
Dylan wasn't nearby. Serena looked up in alarm as his face hardened.
*What do you want, Dylan?*
*How's Geoffrey doing?*
*WHAT do you want, Dylan?*
*Just making conversation, Darien. Your tenderness with the mortal is so
touching, so endearing. I'd cry if I knew how.* laughed Dylan cynically.
*You've killed again...*
*Mmmhmm...I do need blood to heal, you know. Don't worry, I'm just
dropping a comment, brother dearest. I still need another night to heal.
Oh yes, you'll need to get rid of the bodies, after all...don't want
mortals to know of our existence, right?? So, better hurry to the east of
city park.*
*Damn you Dylan..*
*I knew I could count on your clean up crew.* taunted his twin.
*Oh right, Darien...I'm already damned.* snickered Dylan as his voice faded
from his mind.
A tear ran down his cheek as he hugged Serena tighter to him, needing the
comfort she provided. Needing to believe she was real and he wasn't going
to end up like his brother. His twin.
"Darien..."
Steeling himself, he sighed and kissed Serena's forehead in assurance
that he was fine. He needed to find those bodies. He released her and
got out of bed, unconscious of his nakedness. With a single thought, he
was clothed and finally aware of his hunger for blood. He needed to feed.
Serena pulled the sheet about her and headed for the dresser, slowly
dressing herself.
*I need to go, baby...*
*I know. Go.*
She felt invisible hands brush her throat, the fingers curving around
her neck in a caress before he was gone. She sighed and hugged herself,
looking at the gathering storm clouds in the horizon.
How many more pieces of Darien's soul was Dylan going to take?? How much
more pain was the monster willing to cause his twin?? Her heart pained at
the thought of how much Darien was suffering because of his brother.
Five owls circled the air over the eastern side of city park, scanning
the ground below with their sharp vision. They spotted two bodies lying
still on the ground and landed immediately.
"The bodies have yet to be discovered." reported Malcolm. "Dylan's trail
has vanished from this area."
Hunger pierced him sharply at the smell of blood. Darien felt his
incisors explode in his mouth.
"Unfortunately, these bodies can never ever be discovered by humans."
murmured Zach sadly as he monitored the surrounding area constantly.
Darien nodded, tamping down his hunger, clamping his will of iron over
himself. The bodies needed to be incinerated. He began gathering energy but
a hand on his arm stopped him, making him look towards the owner of the
hand.
"You're weak Darien. You've just recovered. Let us do this duty." offered
Jayden. "You can go feed first, you needn't worry about us."
"Thank you, but Dylan is my burden."
They stepped back as he gathered more energy, destroying the bodies with
a single bolt of lightning, incinerating the corpses and the surrounding
area. When all was done, he nearly collapsed under his own weight if Neph
had not caught him.
"You have to stop pushing yourself so hard, Darien.." muttered Jayden as
he bit into his wrist and pressed it to Darien's mouth. Darien drank
gratefully. The little blood Jayden had offered had restored a meager
amount of his great strength.
"My thanks. Let us go feed now. Then we still need to patrol."
The men nodded their agreement as they inspected the site carefully one
last time before disappearing into the night to find their own feeding
grounds.
Darien frowned and felt sadness envelope him once more. *Dylan...why'd it
have to be you??*
He was alone without his twin. Alone.
Immediately, he felt invisible slender arms enfold him, shocking him.
Heard the soft whisper of Serena's voice within his ear. He almost swore he
could feel her lips on his jaw.
*You are not alone anymore, Darien...We are one.*
Love flooded him at her thoughtful gesture. *Yes..I'm not alone. Thank
you, baby...and incidently, how did you do that??*
Laughter filled his ears, filling his heart to the brim with happiness.
*Hurry home to me...*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...
Another chapter down!! Unsure how many more to go. Not many though, promise
you that. :) This could yet be the first story I have completed within
less than a year!! Wow! REVIEWS pleeeeeease?? I haven't decided if Geoffrey
should live or die, so I decided to leave him in limbo for the time being.
Also, don't hurt me!! This is my FIRST R rated fic. Oh yeah, I didn't fail
History!!! *yay!* :))
18/9/02
Edited: 18/9/02
Second Edit: 28.9.02