Chapter 9

The clan members and I were on edge as we made our way back to the mansion. Kyle had joined us in our walk after he had mocked us for awhile, he seemed truly happy with the situation.

The basic gist of what he had said was "your going to be in so much trouble as soon as I tell the council of fire about Gar being part werewolf."

Gar in his werewolf form had been teleported back to the mansion by a very weak Raven. Luckily the beast was still asleep, under the sorceress's spell. To say that things were tense was an understatement. My hands that were still gripping Mari's and Wills human ones were shaking, whether it was from fear or relief I don't know. All I knew for certain was that I had some explaining to do concerning Richard, who eyed my injured wing with red eyes.

I followed everyone inside, keeping the young humans close to me. We all sat down in the living room, and though it was a selfish thought I was glad I wasn't the only one under stress anymore.

In fact, it seemed like everyone was dealing with their own personal pain. Jade had been unusually quiet, and I often noticed her looking at Roy, who had become sarcastic and cold from time to time. Victor, Karen, Terra and Jericho seemed alright, probably trying to smooth over the tense atmosphere, but Richard concerned me most of all.

Kyle had said that I was rejecting the bond between myself and Richard, and though there was no ill words spoken between us, there was distance. It felt like the calm before the storm.

Kyle leaned against the wall, observing us with a satisfied smirk upon his face. I released Mari and Wills hands, but only to touch my injured wing at my side.

Mari tilted her head to the side "are you alright Kori?"

I nodded and smiled "yes, I should be asking you that. It cant be easy for you both to accept what you saw, that monster. I'm sorry to have put you though that."

Mari beamed "not at all! It was great, right Will?"

Will didn't seem to share his sisters enthusiasm. His eyes were guarded, body tense, not that I could blame him.

"About that Kori...what do you intend to do with these children now that they know the truth?" Kyle asked casually.

I looked up at him, panic suddenly sweeping into my mind. "Nothing, I don't intend to hurt them and I wont allow you to either if that's what your thinking."

"Ah but, they know too much. You cant let them go back to the orphanage, and yet you cant bring them with you to the council. Its frowned upon to keep humans as pets, let alone children. There's only one thing you can do I suppose...wipe their memories."

Mari gasped and before I could say anything, Will stood up. "Hang on a second. I'm not about to let you or anyone else tamper with mine or Maris mind. We wont tell anyone what we saw, but we deserve to keep our memories and minds as they are."

Everyone was shocked by his outburst, including myself. But secretly I was impressed, Will knew he wouldn't stand a chance against someone like Kyle who was no match for him and yet he stood his ground.

Kyle smiled, obviously impressed as well "you have allot of nerve boy. Do you have any idea what I am, what we are? I could rip you and your sister to pieces in less than a second."

I stood up "I'd kill you before you even tried." I growled, my fangs threatening to slide out.

Will looked at Kyle, his eyes steady as he said "your vampires."

There was no fear in his voice, and I was surprised that he had come to the conclusion of what we were so easily. Mari's eyes widened "what are you talking about brother?"

Kyle chuckled to himself "you are very bright. But what was it about us that made you see the truth?"

Will looked down, his expression unreadable "Ive had someone screw with my mind before, I could tell you were the same type. Your monsters in human form, and we're leaving right now."

He grabbed Maris hand and pulled her up, walking away. Mari struggled "stop it Will! I don't want to go."

Wills blue eyes looked back at her "are you seriously saying you don't mind staying here with a bunch of murderers? They're vampires, not your fancy angels you vision Mari."

Mari frowned and held up her book "I've read this book a thousand times and there's one page dedicated to vampires. It doesn't lie to me ever, and it states that they are misunderstood creatures."

Will glared at her but Kyle cut off anything the young boy was about to say "you cant leave anyway. Even if you tried."

Will looked at him "so we're prisoners?"

I shook my head "calm down everyone. Its been a long night and even though its almost sunrise, I think you kids need some rest."

"I cant rest amongst these demons" muttered Will.

"well I wont let anything happen you to or your sister, I promise." I smiled and Mari beamed up at me.

Will looked at me with untrusted eyes, but never the less he nodded.

I took their hands again and walked to the door way. I looked back at the others "please excuse me, I'll be back soon."

As I walked up the stairs with the children, I tried to ignore what the other vampires were saying about me, but it proved too hard a task.

"Did she really mean that? If that's how it is, what are we supposed to do now?" Asked Jade

"I'm sure she didn't, she only just met them right?" Said Victor

"no. I get the feeling she's met them before." Richard spoke solemnly, and after that there was a long silence. I ignored them and tried to focus on dragging my injured wing up the stairs while walking with the kids.

I turned the corner with them and led them to the only spare room in the house, Bruce's old room. Terra and Jericho had taken Alain's and Toni's room when they had settled in together.

I opened the door, and was relived to see that there was furniture blocking the entrance to the basement was. Mari sat on the bed and Will sat on the sofa "I'll sleep here, Mari you can have the bed."

Mari smiled at her brother "thank you." She yawned and kicked off her small black shoes, stretching out on the bed

"I'm so tired after everything that's happened." Her green eyes looked at me

"Its hard to believe your not an angel but a vampire Kori."

I touched my wing and sighed "sometimes I wish I wasn't." I whispered to myself before looking up at them

"I don't know what they will decide, but I wont let anyone harm you. My room is down the hall, so if you need me later I should be there. For now though just get some rest."

Will nodded and turned, lying on the sofa so that his back was turned towards me. I couldn't help but notice that he was allot colder towards me now that he knew what I was.

Mari on the other hand..."sweet day dreams Kori! I cant wait to go flying again with you!" She smiled and waved before crawling under the covers.

I smiled to myself and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me.

OOO

Silkie purred happily as I stroked his fur. My fingers shook as I tried to hold back my sadness, instead I turned away and sat on my bed.

There was nothing I could do.

After I had left Maris and Wills room I had walked back to the living room to find that everyone had already decided without me what to do.

We were leaving for the council Ignis tomorrow, and Will and Mari would come as well. However, it was only to have their memories removed.

The thing was...I didn't want that. It made perfect sense to wipe their memories and get them out of our lives, but I found myself saddened by the thought of leaving them. Why was that?

My wing was refusing to heal, so I laid it out on my bed tenderly. "Heal damn you." I muttered

"It wont heal if the bones aren't set right."

I looked over at the window to see Richard. His arms were folded and his eyes dark, his appearance should have comforted me, but instead I felt threatened. Afraid of Richard? How strange I thought

He walked over and sat next to me, touching my folded wing. I winced at the contact and his eyes were on me instantly

"I'm sorry. It looks like I'm going to have to set the wing in its proper lace if its going to heal." The voice was soft, as if he was talking to a child.

I nodded and turned so that my back was facing him. "Richard?"

"Hm?" He spread out my wing and I tried to continue without my voice shaking in pain.

"Kyle told me...he told me I was rejecting the bond between you and I without realising. Is that true?"

His hands paused in movement, and I waited for his reply in silence for awhile. Finally he said "don't listen to anything he tells you."

"But Richard." I turned so that I could see him, his face looked so emotionless, like he was hiding what he truly felt from me.

"There's been this distance between us, ever since Slade died and Ive been trying to learn how to be a vampire. I appreciate that you've been trying to help me, but I don't want to hurt you. Tell me whats going on." I laid a hand on his shoulder

His dark eyes stared at me, and though he tried to seem cold and emotionless, his eyes could never lie. They were sad, so when he stood and turned away muttering "it doesn't matter" I knew he was lying.

My hand fell to my side and I hesitated before standing and approaching him cautiously. Before I could say anything, I noticed a stain on Richards right arm. It looked like an ink spill, but the substance was still wet, and beginning to run down his sleeve.

The aroma of blood filled the air and my eyes widened as I grabbed his arm. "Richard! Your arm is bleeding." I pulled up his sleeve to see a large gash on his pale skin.

The strange thing about it, was that his clothes weren't torn were the cut was. Richard pulled his arm away "I'm fine Kori, I just got injured fighting Gar earlier."

I furrowed my eyebrows and clenched my fists, anger boiling inside me. But I had to let go of that if I was to figure out why he was lying to me. Richard wanted to protect me most of the time, from danger, from anything. He had gone so far as to save me from death and gave me his blood to make me a vampire, he had endured being chained up and-

I put a hand to my mouth in horror. Oh X hal no...its me...

My eyes filled with tears and before long, they were falling like hail stones. Richard turned to look at me, suddenly concerned

"My star, please don't cry. Whats wrong?"

"Its...its my fault your hurting, the same thing is happening again. When you were chained up, you began to bleed because we were separated. That's what you said but you lied. Its my Gordainiun blood, its me who's hurting you like they used to do to their mates. I'm making you suffer without realising it. The curse is making you bleed and its my fault." I cried and put my hands to my head, squeezing my eyes shut.

I felt two arms wrap around me, and I was pulled into his body. He spoke softly

"yes. You are rejecting the bond and the only way to stop that is to do the three things soul mates have to do in order to become one. But I wont force you. I wanted you to trust me without me having to tell you this, I wanted you to decide by your own will if you truly wanted me. Its not your fault my body is suffering, its just the price to pay if I want you, and I'm willing to pay it."

I laughed as I cried, the sound coming out strangled "your a fool to want me after this is happening."

"Perhaps. But either way I'm not letting you go until you tell me you don't want me and mean it." He rested his head on top of mine and inhaled my scent.

I touched his arm where the black ink ran and sighed, closing my eyes.

Just then, it hit me. The three things soul mates have to do in order to become one? What was it that Kyle had said...I had completed the first thing that had to happen in order for myself and Richard to be proper soul mates. The other two, I closed my eyes and tried to remember

"Second." Kyle continued "their minds must be one. This hasn't happened because you don't fully trust him yet. That's why no mind link will work between you."

I shook my head rapidly, anger welling up inside me again. "That's not true! I trust him more than anyone."

The golden eyed vampire shrugged "you can say what you want, it doesn't change the way you feel inside. Thirdly your bodies must become one, and that's what your most afraid of isn't it? Your afraid of giving yourself to him because of the fear of being rejected. Your petty human worries annoy me to no end."

I opened my eyes and swallowed, moving so that I was out of Richards arms and could look up at him. If it was to save Richard from the curse of my blood line, I'd do anything.

"Richard, our bodies must become one as part of the three things that has to happen in order to become soul mates for eternity. I was shy towards you before, but I'm ready now Richard, we could end your suffering."

Richards eyes widened and his eyes changed colour into a deep blue colour, a hidden desire in their depths. "My star, please don't-"

"Shh" I put a finger to his lips and faked a smiled "its alright. We could end it now if you want..." I reached up and brought his face down to mine, kissing him with as much passion as I could. At first, he was reluctant, but he gave into his desires for me which I knew he had and kissed me back, his arms once more around me. Vampires and passion were forever entwined as the same thing.

This is what has to happen, to save him from myself. I pulled down the zip to my jumper and was prepared to do it, to put my insecurity's aside and do the act I was so afraid of. But a slight tremble in my hand was enough to show my true feelings, just one hesitation.

Immediately Richards hand stopped mine from taking off my jumper. He pulled away and looked down at me, his eyes full of hurt

"don't ever. Don't ever lie to me Kori."

I looked up at him with desperate eyes "but this is the only way! How can I live with myself if I know your suffering because of me? I'm prepared to do anything for you, I don't care."

He stepped away and I was surprised to see him smile calmly as he tilted my chin up to look at him. "You have the same feelings for me as I have for you. But Kori...the act itself isn't as simple as you think. To give your body to me isn't the same as it is for humans, for vampires, its so much more. You think if we lay together you could trust me and therefore make our minds one like our bodies. Such foolish thoughts..."

Richard kissed me again and when he pulled away I tried to say something, anything that would make everything alright. But there was nothing to say, I couldn't force my feelings, I couldn't force myself not to fear what I did and didn't.

Richard smiled in appeptance, which only made my pain more intense. I was so weak...

Some time later he had set my wing back in place, and we talked like old times, avoiding subjects to do with the council or our blood problems. Finally, we got to a topic I was most concerned about.

"Richard...I don't want to make Will and Mari forget."

The vampire who held my hand looked away towards the window. It was day time now, and the sunlight poured in, filling up the room with its glow.

"its against the law to turn children into vampires. However there are many humans that serve the vampires of the councils. Some are blood donors, some mere servants that do as they are told. The other humans live relatively normal lives, but I'm not sure what they will think of you keeping them around."

I frowned "I don't understand, live relatively normal lives? If they are here in this world, they are normal humans right?"

Richard blinked and looked at me "what gave you the impression that the vampire councils are on this world?"

My emerald eyes widened "they...aren't? Well then where are they, Mars?"

And then Richard did something which I hadn't heard in a long time. He laughed, filling my room with echos of the joyful sound. I slowly smiled and giggled to myself as he settled down and patted my head in a very patronising way.

"It wasn't that funny Richard." I smiled

"I know. You say the strangest things sometimes my star" he chuckled "no, I might as well explain."

Richard lay back, putting his hands behind his head. "Our coven is in the human world, and the four councils of vampires are in the vampire world. Only vampires themselves know how to cross the bridge between the two worlds, so they can choose which life suits them better. The vampire world has humans who are willing go to donate blood while they live their lives. Some vampires however, prefer to kill their prey, so they go to the human world."

I put a hand to my head "that's confusing. So is their world the same as ours?"

"Yes, its just the way that things are run is different. While your there Kori, you have to remember to threat every member of the council with respect and to be on your guard. They may want to use you as a piece of their chess game." His eyes narrowed.

"I don't know why the council of Air has suddenly declared war on the council of Fire after such a long time of peace. It was written by the ancients that a time of darkness is approaching the vampire world. That's why you will be treated so highly there, they think you will save them from it."

His hand held mine gently as he brought it to where his heart was supposed to be. "So long as you want me Kori, our destiny's our entwined either way."

I smiled and nodded in agreement, my eyes straying for a moment from his to the black ink on his arm. No matter what our destiny was, I wouldn't give up, no matter what obstacles were in the way.

OOO

The day had finally come. I looked at Richard who stood to the right of me, my hand grasped in his larger one. It was a contrast to the person who held my other hand, Mari who smiled up at me. Her brother lingered protectively near her and gazed up at me with narrowed eyes "so we're going to the council of...volcano was it?"

"Fire you human idiot." Muttered Jade

I rolled my eyes, some things never changed. I walked with my coven members towards Gars and Ravens room who waited for us there. I didn't know how we would get to the other world, and I found the concept of going to a different world unthinkable. What awaited me on the other side of that door, in that other world?

Victor opened the door for us and I saw Raven, clocked in dark robes, standing next to a large mirror. Gar looked like his normal fun loving self, the green marks on his face were back, which showed that he had been tree climbing again. I smiled and nodded in greeting at him, and he smiled softly in response.

"Now then. Let us begin." Said Raven.

ooo

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