Chapter nine
They stood staring at each other for a long time. Ian's face held a look of surprise and disbelief, and the law guardians features had hardened into an angry mask as she glared back at him, the knife held out in front of her, daring Ian to come any closer.
"I do not mean to interfere," Mencheres suddenly said, as if it wasn't obvious he had been listening the whole time. He came to stand behind Ian. "But this has to stop, now."
Ian shot him an annoyed glare, only to receive a calm calculating look in return. He frowned, wondering briefly why the Egyptian vampire actually hadinterfered. Mencheres wasn't the type to willingly join in on a personal quarrel, so his reasons must be good.
Did he think Veritas would actually kill him? She wouldn't do that, Ian couldn't picture her capable of such a thing. But he knew he was most likely wrong. If pushed too far, maybe Veritas would do it, either to prove a point, or because she believed he truly was just another 'sexoholic' that wanted to get into her pants.
Ian turned his gaze back to Veritas. Sure, she could stab him right then and there and get away with it. She had the whole vampire law system backing her up. Not even Mencheres would be able to act in his defense.
"Veritas, before you kill him, there is something you should know," Bones came to stand next to Ian. "Though I have to admit, he has quite an odd way of showing it, Ian's in love with you." he said it so casually that for a moment Ian was wondering if he had imagined hearing it. But as he saw the vague flicker of confusion on Veritas' face, he knew he had been hearing it right. He turned on Bones, fast and furious, but the other vampire had predicted his action and jumped aside just in time to avoid Ian's hand as it shot forward to grab his throat.
"You bloody idiot," Ian snarled.
Bones just chuckled. "Come on now mate, it was obvious you were never going to say it yourself. And by the looks of her," he threw a sideways glace at Veritas. "It seemed like she was ready to stake you at any second. You should be thankful."
"Like hell I should," Ian muttered.
"Talk to her, and try to be a little more tactful now will you?" Bones turned to Mencheres. "Grandsire?"
Mencheres nodded in silent agreement, then they both disappeared back into the room they'd come from.
Ian slowly turned to face Veritas. She had tucked away the knife and was staring up at him with a look that demanded answers. Ian almost cringed, but shoved the awkwardness aside and strode up to her.
"Veritas," he began, reaching out to take one of her hands in his. "Come with me." He didn't want an audience for what he was about to do. And he knew that by staying where they were, eight undead ears would hear every little word he'd say. Hell, they would probably hear him anyway, but at least another part of the house would give them the illusion of privacy.
XxxxX
Weeks passed and there was no news about the vampire they were tracking. But Veritas used the case she was on as an excuse to stay. It was clear everyone in the house already knew Ian was the real reason for her to stick around, but the council didn't, and she didn't want to explain. The problem was, she couldn't explain the other reason either. Not in detail anyway.
Just when she felt like giving up her phone rang and by the sound of it, it was Mencheres.
"Yes?"
"We need you here, come fast and be sure no one follows you." He spoke in a low voice, giving her an address before hanging up just as fast. For a few seconds, Veritas just stared at the phone, then she shot up from her chair so fast it tipped over. She didn't stop to put it back in its right place.
"Ian," she called out and didn't wait for him to enter the room before continuing. "Mencheres called, I'm going."
Ian grabbed her just in time to stop her from disappearing through the front door. "Wait, I'm going with you."
She wanted to protest, but didn't. For starters he wouldn't listen, and second, she liked the idea of him being there when she faced the vampire she had been searching for so long, even though she realized the stupidity of that feeling.
She gave him a short nod, then she took off into the sky, Ian following behind.
When they reached the address Mencheres had given her, they slowed down and flew lower to be able to see more clearly. They landed on the roof of an old abandoned garage, and jumped down to street level without making a sound.
Veritas was just about to start toward the door of the warehouse Mencheres had given her the address to, when she felt Ian's hand on her arm. She stopped, looking at him in silent question.
Ian gave her an equally silent smile, pulling her to him, Veritas let him hold her for a little while, then she pulled away, reaching up to place a quick kiss on his lips.
When she turned and opened the door to the warehouse, she was smiling. But as she stepped into the darkened room, the smile died on her lips. Three vampires were on the floor, two obviously already dead, one still alive but held motionless by Mencheres powers. Two ghouls were also on the floor, headless and very dead.
"Xander," Veritas voice was as cold as ice and her face hardened with controlled anger as she strode up to the vampire on the floor. She looked up at Mencheres. "Let him up," she ordered.
Mencheres made no obvious move, but suddenly Xander crawled away from him, standing but not running.
"Where is she?" Veritas demanded.
The tall vampire seemed to be considering playing oblivious, but realized it wouldn't work.
"Stella, come," he barked.
A small angelic looking girl came into view. Her blonde hair as white as snow, and eyes so blue they looked almost surreal.
Ian's eyes widened as he stared at the girl. She looked even younger than Veritas, but he had a feeling that their ages didn't differ so much. And she wasn't a vampire, either. All of that surprised him, but what was most stunning was how much alike Veritas and the girl looked.
"Stella," Veritas almost whispered. "I thought you were dead."
"Veritas," the blonde smiled, making her look even younger, almost childlike. "I thought I'd never see you again." Her voice cracked and tears spilled out of her eyes.
"You're safe now. You will come with me," Veritas said, shooting a glare at the tall vampire. "Let her go."
Mencheres and Bones exchanged confused glances. To them, the girl was nothing more than an ally to the Vampire in front of them. They already had proof she had been assisting Xander in his affairs. So why was Veritas acting so strange?
"As you wish, guardian. Take her, I've had enough of her shape shifting tricks anyway." Three sets of eyebrows shot up at hearing him confess so casually to what Stella really was, but Veritas didn't look surprised.
The next thing happened so fast not even Mencheres would have had time to slam his powers on the other vampire to stop him. As Xander had shifted so he faced Stella, he suddenly held a knife in his grip, ebony white all the way from its short handle to its blade.
Veritas realized what was about to happen in the same moment that Xander exploded in blur of movement. She screamed, throwing herself at the vampire, but she hadn't been fast enough. The knife buried into one of Stella's eyes before Veritas could knock Xander away. He slammed into the back wall so hard it broke.
But it was too late.
Veritas watched in horror as Stella slowly started to shrink and soon there was nothing left but her bones. She stared at them, a numb feeling spreading inside of her. No… she repeated the word over and over in her mind. No. This was not how it was supposed to happen. Stella couldn't be dead now. She had just found her. How could faith be so cruel? Why give her back to her just to rip her away just as fast?
XxxxX
TBC
