Title: Dark Angel
Author:Tapestry
Email: Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating:R
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes mind speaking
2/1/03
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: Sorry for the delay in the story. I went away to visit relatives for
the Christmas and New Year, plus a painful dose of shingles to keep me
thinking of aspirin. It's not a nice experience mind you. I still have
the virus at the moment, but I am fast on the road to recovery. Thanks
again to all the reviewers, you're the best. ;) *wink*
Oh yeah, clearing up an inquiry, since Serena is now "vampire", she is
of course, meeting her friends at night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 10: Fury ~
*Darien!* screamed Serena mentally.
Dylan bent and grasped her by the neck, dragging her up using one arm to
hold her above his head.
Serena grimaced as her hands locked about his wrists, trying to break
free of his iron grip. Her feet dangled in the air, her throat hurt and she
had trouble breathing as his fingers slowly tightened over her airway.
She felt a strange stinging in the side of her neck.
"Darien, what are you doing?!" shouted Andrew who rushed towards the
dark-haired man slowly strangling Serena.
"Let her go!" screamed Mina hysterically, rushing at him and thumping his
back in an effort to help Serena. Lita and Mina could pick up Dylan's deep
longing to kill, the turbulent dark emotions raging and rolling off him
like waves upon the rocks, somehow feeding the dark dangerous quality of
the storm.
Alan and Lucas gaped at the scene while Ann had already fainted dead to
the ground. Dylan glanced at the mortals beating futilely at him. With a
snarl and an angry swipe, Andrew landed to the ground a hoarse cry of pain
erupting from his lips.
"Drew!" screamed Elizabeth, bending to help her brother.
Serena coughed, her lungs burning for air and her throat aching. She felt
dizzy, as blackness swirled before her eyes, feeling herself losing
consciousness.
The night exploded with thunder and lightning as well as the streaking
form of one angry Darien Alessandros. He blasted out of the wet night sky
like an avenging angel with the speed of a comet. His eyes burned red in
a killing fury.
Serena was dropped in his arms as Dylan blurred to dodge the assault,
releasing his hold of her neck.
"Darien."
Darien held Serena tightly to him, crouched low to the ground, he glared
up at his brother, answering him with a furious snarl. His mind at the
moment more beast than man, the primal need to kill his mate's attacker
beating at him.
His fingers brushed the bruises beginning to appear on her neck, his
anger increasing at Serena's husky groan of pain. His eyes finding the
fingerprints and the prick in her skin. The wound didn't bleed by he knew
Dylan had most probably done something. Serena whimpered, hiding her face
against his shoulder.
Andrew stared dazed at the two dark-haired men. One was standing calmly,
his face twisted with snide mocking jealousy and hatred, while the other
dark-haired man was crouched low to the ground holding Serena close, his
face a mask of rage and loathing.
Maybe someone had hit him too hard and he was now hallucinating? For the
two doubles could be nothing other than twin brothers. He hadn't known
Darien had a twin.
"Oh my God, there are two of them." exclaimed Mina, shocked.
"I never knew Darien Alessandros was a twin. The tabloids missed that
one." gulped Lucas.
"Yeah? The tabloids didn't catch the part about him being able to fly
either." muttered Alan.
They tried to sidle off, leaving the two combatants to face each other.
Unfortunately, before they managed to make a break for it, four other men
literally fell from the sky before them, cutting off their escape.
The men except for Andrew gave hoarse screams. Ann, who had been beginning
to wake, screamed, shrill and loud, her eyes nearly popping from their
sockets. Lita, Mina and Elizabeth gave a yelp of surprise.
Jayden rolled his eyes at the piercing scream. With a wave of his hand,
all except for Mina and Lita were in a trance.
Mina and Lita glanced at the faces around them before turning back to
stare at the strange men and Darien along with the twin.
"My God, what are you?" whispered Lita.
Suddenly, to their right materialized a petite woman with long dark raven
hair, her amethyst eyes flashing.
"Raye, what in the devil's name are you doing here!?" snarled Jayden
moving immediately to her side.
She stuck her chin out defiantly. "I came because of Serena of course."
she snapped. "And, those are my brothers over there."
For the first time since arriving, Malcolm and Neph tore their eyes away
from the two startled human women.
"Dylan is a monster now, Raye. He's no longer your brother. No longer one
of us." growled Malcolm.
Raye didn't back down, staring at the four males rebelliously.
"Zach.." came Darien's low growl.
The man was immediately at Darien's side. His eyes all the while watching
Dylan. The undead looked too smug at the moment for his own good. He was
undoubtedly up to something. A smug undead was a dangerous one.
"Take Serena and guard her, get Malcolm to examine her....he's done
something and I want to know what." hissed Darien as he slowly relinquished
the precious bundle, forcing himself to release her into Zach's arms when
every instinct cried out at him to crush her close and not let go.
Zach knew how tenuous Darien's control was. It was hanging by a thread.
Careful not to provoke Darien, he slowly tucked the woman closer. Darien
was dangerous at the moment, and could just as easily attack him instead of
Dylan.
Serena was afloat on a sea of pain. She felt as if the injuries on her
neck had swollen to twice their normal size. It hurt to speak. It even
hurt to breathe.
She was aware of Darien passing her into the arms of another. Zach...
She whimpered and clung to Zach's clothes. She felt the waves of aggression
rolling off Darien. He tensed at her sound before slowly easing once more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh god...are we going to die?" whispered Mina, clutching Lita's hand.
"No little one, you are not going to die." answered Malcolm steadily,
appearing suddenly before the two girls.
They gave a start, backing away cautiously.
"Malcolm, you're frightening them." snapped Raye irritably.
*This blonde is my mate for life, Raye. It was not my intention to
frighten her. Indeed, I would protect her with my life.* growled Malcolm
telepathically.
Neph nodded. *Her companion is mine.*
Raye blinked at the two men. Their faces hard and seemingly devoid of all
emotion. She had known these two men since she was a child. She had grown
around them. And yet, at this moment...the pair felt like strangers to her.
"Malcolm, Serena's hurt." called Zach carrying the pale woman in his arms.
He tore his eyes away from Mina to inspect Darien's mate. She was at the
moment, priority. If they lost her, they would lose Darien...as well as
a female precious to their dying race.
"God, Serena..." gasped Lita.
Mina and Lita watched as Malcolm knelt beside Serena. That was when all
hell broke loose...
Mina and Lita moved suddenly. Mina, shoving Malcolm away from Serena's
side and Lita grabbing Zach by the neck. They read the emotions radiating
off the pair easily. It wasn't because of any ill intent that they were
attempting to stop them, but they feared they were trying to harm them.
"You stay away from Serena! And release our friends. God, she needs a
doctor..." choked Mina.
"No human doctor can help her." stated Raye calmly.
Darien and Dylan who had been circling each other apparently realized the
commotion happening behind. Darien felt Serena getting weaker and the
cause of it was because the blonde wouldn't allow Malcolm near.
His eyes glowed red, his senses turning feral. Serena had to live.
Dylan, obviously knowing his opportunity, smiled a terrible gloating
smile as Darien turned his back on him, intending to attack the blonde
keeping his mate from recovery.
Raye glimpsed Dylan smiling evilly, noticing Darien turning towards them.
Her eyesight taking in Darien's insane expression. His eyes were glowing
red.
*Malcolm, Neph! Get the women away from Serena! Darien sees them as
threats to her right now! My love, you have to stop Dylan...* exclaimed
Raye mentally.
Jayden nodded.
Zach turned his head slightly in Darien's direction. It was clear, Darien
at the moment was more beast than man.
"Release me, woman. Do not make me harm you. Neph would not take kindly
to it." said Zach in his most seductive and compelling voice.
Lita's arms wavered a moment before she shook her head to clear the fog
from her brain.
"Step away from Serena, if you do not, I will be hard-pressed to protect
you." murmured Malcolm, staring at Mina.
Mina merely glared at him defiantly. "Go to hell."
"Woman, you do not understand." growled Malcolm frustrated. "HE," he
pointed towards Darien coming towards them. "-is going to kill you and your
friend if you do not step away from Serena and allow me to heal her."
"You can't threaten me. I don't believe you." hissed Mina, her eyes
flicking for a moment towards Darien's form. Her eyes widened as the man
suddenly picked up speed, diving straight at her, a hand outstretched,
reaching for her throat.
"No, Darien! Stop!" screamed Raye horrified.
Mina couldn't see anything except for the man's crazed glowing red eyes.
Felt the need to kill rolling off him.
She felt wind, and saw blood spray from a wound. She waited for pain but
realized she had moved, and someone was holding her.
Mina looked up and saw the tall white-haired man with ice eyes looking
down at her, his shoulder bleeding profusely. She gasped at the wound. It
was real...the dark-haired man had tried to kill her.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." she choked as Malcolm gripped his
injured shoulder. Her eyes turned to find Lita. She was already a good
distance from Serena, the man with long curling chocolate locks holding her
tightly.
Darien snarled loudly. His form wavering between that of a large black
wolf and that of a man.
A soft groan from Serena caught his attention. She watched as the man
stopped snarling his attention fixated on the prone woman on the ground.
"Oh Lord, stop him! He'll kill her!" screamed Mina trying to push past
Malcolm. But the man restrained her with one hand. Lord, he was strong. His
grip didn't budge even though it wasn't hurting her wrist.
"No, Serena is the safest person here. He would give his life to protect
her.." said Malcolm softly.
"Darien? Malcolm? Zach? Raye..." called Serena softly, her senses fogged.
Every part of her body hurt. She felt as if she were dying. Wanted so much
to let go and slip away from the pain.
Feral emotions assailed her from the link to Darien.
"Serena...."
Malcolm released Mina to step forward. "Darien..."
Darien turned, his eyes confused. "Malcolm...your shoulder? I did that?"
"You were not yourself, my friend. Allow me to help Serena."
"Malcolm? Darien? It hurts...it hurts so bad." coughed Serena finding it
difficult to speak.
"JAYDEN!" screamed Raye's voice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dylan grinned evilly. This was too easy. Darien had turned his full
attention to his mate. Killing him would be easy now, but it would have
been so much more fun to turn him into the very thing he hunted. Undead.
Too bad.
Lifting his hand to strike Darien down, another hand suddenly barreled
towards him, forcing him to retreat. His idiotic brother-in-law. Jayden.
He faced the blonde man, eyes narrowed.
"You can't defeat me, Jayden."
"It is you who is weak, Dylan. You allowed the demon to destroy you. You
couldn't even hold out for your other half."
Dylan sneered. "Not all of us are as fortunate as you to have found their
mates easily and so early. Of course YOU would think it easy as Raye was
born only half a century after you. You never had to face the demon.
The darkness within all of us males."
"Yes, I know I was lucky. But you could have held out. You SHOULD have!"
"I will enjoy killing you, slowly." snarled Dylan as he lunged for Jayden,
his body shifting to that of the wolf.
Jayden's form leapt to meet the black wolf, his body contorting to that
of a rare golden coloured wolf, meeting the challenge head on.
The two wolves snarled, blood erupting from torn flesh. Unfortunately,
even to the untrained eye, it was clear the black wolf had the advantage of
size and experience over the golden wolf.
Powerful jaws snapped, rending and tearing at flesh. Powerful legs dug
into the concrete ground, finding purchase on the tiles as the wolves
grappled for superiority.
Without warning, the black wolf suddenly leapt high into the air, its
form blurring. Feathers erupted, shimmering and all at once, it wasn't a
wolf anymore. But a large wicked looking black owl with a six-foot wingspan,
cruel beak and razor sharp talons, diving towards the golden wolf.
Surprised and unprepared, Jayden had no way to counter the attack from
above as the owl swooped downwards, talons extended.
The bird's claws struck, slashing through flesh. Blood spurted onto the
ground, the wolf giving a pained yelp. The animal was flung backwards,
hitting the ground with a hard thud that possibly broke bones.
Raye screamed. "JAYDEN!"
Darien turned and saw the golden wolf lying weakly on his side. Raye
rushed towards her mate, bending over the furry animal. She felt sick. The
talons had punctured wounds in his ribs and chest as well as leaving a long
wide gash on his throat as well as the side of the wolf's head, nearly
blinding the animal. Blood poured from the wounds onto the ground.
Raye gave a pained cry. Not having the strength anymore, the golden wolf
shimmered, leaving in its place, the blonde man. Raye choked, her hand
reaching out to touch the terrible wounds on his face and neck. Jayden
merely looked up at her, his face pale, eyes filled with pain. A faint
smile eased his face before he closed his eyes, shutting down his heart
and lungs, conserving what blood that was left in his veins.
Mina and Lita screamed.
Zach, grimly kept the powerful winds and storm up, keeping any other human
eyes from witnessing the battle that had begun. Thunder and lightning
cracked, nature howling its fury.
Darien snarled, his teeth bared. A blaze of fire and lightning shot out
of the night sky, a fiery ball of flame heading for the black owl in the
air.
However, before the fiery blaze could strike, the owl vanished. The ball
of flame exploded on the ground. Instead on an owl, a tall dark looking man
reappeared. The man smiled, exposing fangs in a sardonic grin.
Darien got up from the ground, his teeth bared and growling. Without
looking behind him, he spoke.
"Neph, Zach, help Malcolm, Serena, Jayden, Raye and the humans away from
here."
"But Darien-"
"Get AWAY from here!" roared Darien.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even in the whipping winds and spattering raindrops, a sudden buzzing was
heard. The soft beating of a thousand wings followed as insects and bats
boiled out of the night. The bats screeching something horrible. The bugs
bit and stung any in their path, rushing to their evil master's call.
Neph managed an air barrier around the humans and those injured, nodding
to Darien. Zach was already lifting Jayden into his arms. Raye choked as
she put her worries aside and volunteered to take control of the humans.
Malcolm stood woozy from fighting the poison in Serena's system. He had
only managed to stay its destruction for the moment. Neph helped Malcolm,
holding him to his feet.
Offering his blood to Malcolm, Neph extended his wrist. The white-haired
man muttered thanks as he bent his head to drink and replenish his body
of his lost fluids.
Taking enough to return a portion of his strength, Malcolm waved away
Neph's steadying hand.
"I will manage." he groaned. Neph nodded and lifted Serena into his arms.
"We will have to take them back to the house." called Zach.
Raye shook her head. "Not the humans."
"The women come with us," snarled Neph.
"Damn right you are, I'm not letting you do some weird things to Serena."
snapped Lita.
Zach's lips grew thin. "Fine. We will need Geoffrey's help. Hopefully, he
won't try to destroy himself afterwards."
"The two women will go, but I won't bring these others. I will take them
to a safe place and erase their memories of this night before I follow."
said Raye.
"Raye, you will not-" growled Zach, his protective instincts rising.
"I will! I am not a healer. Jayden and Serena are in grave danger. I am
the most logical to do this." argued Raye. Her eyes wandered to Jayden's
face. She lifted a hand to brush the wet blonde strands of hair away from
his face.
"Please...save him." whispered Raye.
Zach finally sighed and nodded. "Come straight home, little sister. Stay
safe."
Raye nodded.
Moments later, the group vanished, leaving Raye, rather reluctantly, to
take care of Serena's human friends.
The mansion doors burst open with force, nearly unhinging the heavy oak
doors. Dripping water onto the Aubusson rug in the foyer stood three men
carrying two precious beings as well as two shocked women.
"Oh my God!" exclaimed Lita breathless.
"Zach, I will head out and feed. We will need blood this night. You can
help Jayden and Serena down to the underground chambers." said Neph still
holding Serena.
Zach nodded. "I will waken Geoffrey, and see to Malcolm and Jayden's
injuries."
Malcolm lifted his arms toward Neph's burden, but Neph shook his head.
"You are weak and injured, Malcolm. Zach will take her down."
Malcolm growled in irritation. "I am older than five, Neph. Fine, Zach
will carry Jayden below first. Place Serena down, I need to check on her
internal organs. No doubt the poison has started its attack again."
Neph nodded. "I go then," placing Serena carefully onto the floor.
Zach had already disappeared with Jayden. Mina and Lita gaped as Neph
disappeared before their very eyes. Mina turned to look back at the white-
haired man. He kneeling by Serena, eyes closed and holding her hand.
Her gut clenched at his starkly handsome face. She felt drawn to him like
she had felt for no other. Compared to the man named Malcolm, Lucas paled
considerably. Her eyes flew over Serena's face. She seemed so pale....
an ethereal glow seemed to encompass her. Even so still akin to death,
Serena still radiated peace and serenity.
She heard footsteps, expecting the blonde man, Zach. What she saw caught
her breath and her heart in her throat in fear. Zach had been gone fifteen
minutes...and now a dark brooding stranger that oozed danger and power
was striding towards them.
He didn't look well, his features still tired.
Malcolm looked up, turning towards the dark-haired man.
"Geoffrey..."
"How is she, Malcolm?" asked Geoffrey.
"I have slowed the poison and manufactured the antibodies, but the poison
is fast acting and lethal. I am not sure if I can stop the poison from
mutating."
Geoffrey eyed Malcolm. "We will save her together. Have faith in your
abilities Malcolm. It is your weariness and hunger talking. After all, you
forced me to live, did you not?" murmured Geoffrey with a faint grin.
Malcolm returned the small grin. "We need to get her down."
"Zach has already started on Jayden. I told him I would bring Serena
down. Come, my friend."
"Hold it a darn second! Where are you taking Serena!?" snapped Lita
loudly.
Geoffrey looked up, seemingly noticing the two human women for the first
time. His eyes narrowed, lips turning down in a frown of puzzlement.
"Who are these women?"
"Serena's friends...mine and Neph's mates for life." said Malcolm slowly.
Geoffrey stared at the women a moment longer, lifting Serena into his
arms, he snorted and turned. "Very well."
"Hey!" shouted Mina, angry.
The dark-haired arrogant man merely kept walking. Mina pivoted on her
heel to glare at Malcolm.
"Who is that arrogant man!? Where's he taking Serena!?"
A faint smile of amusement curled Malcolm's lips. "Geoffrey is a skilled
and dangerous hunter of the undead. Serena is being taken to a place of
healing and safety." he answered beginning to follow in Geoffrey's wake.
"We are going to this place, too! Who knows what you monsters might do
to Serena!" protested Lita.
"It is deep underground,"
"You're not scaring us away."
Malcolm frowned and snarled in warning. "If I wanted to scare you, you
wouldn't be here already. You may do, as you wish." growled Malcolm
continuing to walk. He stopped a moment later and turned back to face them,
a frown on his face. "Just don't go poking your noses anywhere else in the
house."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The faced each other in the howling rain, thunder rocked the earth and
lightning danced in the sky, lighting the night with it's bright fearful
displays. A tree had already knocked out a nearby power generator, plunging
the roads and nearby houses into darkness.
This was a night where little children would hide under their beds, a
night where even grown-ups huddle in the darkness together, seeking comfort
from each other.
The two men, dark mirror images of each other stood silently in the wet
air, rain drenching them. Brother against brother.
"You know I cannot let you live, Dylan."
"I do not need your permission, brother. I am master of my own destiny.
It is you, who will die tonight. You and your mate."
Thunder boomed overhead as lightning flashed.
The buzzing of bugs filled the air even as it thickened with malicious
intent. A gust of wind swept the noxious atmosphere leaving an icy chill
that prickled skin.
A swish of air was the only warning and evidence to the movement of the
two men. Dylan dived at Darien, talons outstretched, a move to cleave flesh.
Darien dodged the oncoming claw, his own fist moving to impale itself into
Dylan's chest.
Darien cursed as his undead brother disappeared, shifting into mist.
"Why play these games, Dylan? Come to me, I will give you the rest you
have been so eager to find." called Dylan, embedding a strong compulsion
into the words, pitching his voice to a seductive and alluring sound, so
pure and beautiful that a lesser being could not have denied it.
A deep laugh echoed in his mind. *You seek to entrap me with your voice,
think you I am such a rank fledgling to fall for your entrapment, brother
mine?*
From the depths of the sewers, rats rushed out from drains not overflowing
with water, rushing towards Darien.
Darien hardly spent a glance at the rats and insects attacking. Trying
to shape-shift, he heard a spell spoken in his mind. Darien's mouth thinned
and countered it.
*Think that you can bind my body to the earth, Dylan? You have indeed
grown arrogant in the short time you have turned.*
*You will never be able to comprehend the power I have, Darien. You are
nothing...*
With a wave of his hand, the rats scurried away, even turned on each
other, biting and scratching. Darien frowned up at the bugs trying to get at
him. Concentrating on the clouds above, he built a ball of flaming
electricity, directing it towards the swarms of insects above his head to
incinerate them.
Gaseous fumes rose into the air as a hissing and sizzling sound sounded.
The sound of burning insects. The bugs turned to fine ash, falling around
him like fine powder in the air, quick to be washed away from the ground.
"These are trick an amateur would use, brother..."
A prickle at the back of his neck had him diving away from the spot where
he had once stood. In its place, a giant black wolf stood. Blue eyes
gleaming with a hint of madness dancing like flame within its eyes. Darien
frowned. The vibrations of evil would surely act like a beacon to any other
undead about their whereabouts.
Darien launched himself into the air, taking the form of a black raptor,
talons out-stretched, but veered away when Dylan shifted his form, spikes
protruding from his body.
Darien was willing to wager the spikes were poisonous.
Dylan streaked towards Darien, claws out-stretched. The hand connected
with Darien's arm, slicing through cloth and flesh. The pain was
immediately blocked from Darien's mind.
Ramming his fist towards Dylan's chest, unheeding the spikes spearing his
arm and shoulder. Pain lanced through his system, a burning on his hand and
internal organs.
Dylan hissed, clawing at his brother, talons raking his chest. Blood
soaked their clothes, a red stain spreading on their already wet shirts.
Darien suddenly faltered, offering Dylan the chance to break his hand.
Across the city in the large mansion, deep below the earth, a beautiful
chant with pure voices blended in the air.
Geoffrey, who was seeing to Serena's injuries, felt the jolt and the
sudden weakening in Serena's resolve to hold to the earth. He did not allow
her to shy away, to let go. Instead, he locked her firmly, whispering of
Darien's need of her...the beauty of their world. A world she needed to be
in for Darien to experience.
*For Darien, little one. Live for him...*
Darien cursed beneath his breath, he had to defeat his brother and get
back to Serena....quickly. Dylan was already injured, the major wound in his
chest pouring blood, weakening him.
Serena....
His beloved one. She was back at the mansion, ready to give up on life.
He would not allow it! He would not let her leave him alone in the world.
Not when he needed her so.
With that thought locked tight within his mind, Darien attacked. Dylan
screamed something obscene at him, but Darien poured all his strength into
speed, slicing and tearing at his brother.
As soon as he felt Dylan weaken, his body weary from its injuries and
blood loss, Darien sent a compulsion and powered through, his fist going
straight for the wound on his brother's chest.
His fist plunged through muscle and flesh, gripping the organ that was
his brother's heart.
He stared into Dylan's face twisted with hate, eyes blazing with anger
and contempt at him. Sadness poured through him. He remembered happier times
when he and his brother had laughed and joked with each other. Eyes that
had been filled with joy, laughter, love and caring.
A friendship and brotherhood that had afforded them a unique relationship
as brothers and twins. They had been part of each other.
Ignoring the scratches and gouges being done to him, he extracted the
black shriveled heart with a sucking sound. His brother hissed and spat at
him.
Blood like acid burned his skin and the ground. He dropped the organ
unfeeling and stared at the body of his brother, flopping helplessly, his
mouth pulled into a snarl, glaring up at him.
"I hate you." whispered Dylan.
Lightning struck the body, reducing it to ashes as the blazing bolt then
jumped to the black organ, leaving only dust that was quickly washed away
by the pouring rain.
Darien felt weary and sad. His mind sought Serena's. It gave him comfort.
She was going to survive. He stood in the pouring rain for a few moments
more, his injuries oozing blood. He made no attempt to stop the flow from
his body. He looked up into the sky and cried out in despair. His brother
was gone from this earth....
"Why did this happen? All this should never have been..." whispered
Darien bowing his head, his heart heavy with loss. He was alone and a
monster to have destroyed his own brother...
A faint presence stirred in his mind. Love filled his mind. Serena....
it was faint and weak, so very far away.
*I love you, Darien. You will never be alone, ever. And you are no
monster. You are merely a man who has set the one he loves free from the
pain of torment...* whispered her voice.
She was a miracle to him. His heaven sent angel.
Another voice spoke into his mind, a gruff disapproving voice.
*Darien, you are weak and your mate is in even worse condition. She is
being stubborn and will not conserve her energy as I tell her. Come home and
feed so that this woman of yours will heal and stop making a nuisance of
herself.* growled the voice.
Geoffrey.
His heart slammed. Geoffrey was right... Serena was still weak.
*Don't you be like him too.* groused his mate.
A smile lit the sadness in his heart as well as his face. Love filled him.
He had family and people who loved him. He would never be alone again.
*Hurry home.*
He laughed aloud, launching himself upward into the sky, his body
disappearing into mist even as some of his muscles and body parts protested.
He streaked as fast as possible towards home, his heart leading the way.
*Dylan...wherever you are, I hope you have found peace.*
He could almost have sworn he'd heard his brother reply a whisper on
the wind reaching his ears. *I have, brother...*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Well, this was the last chapter. Don't miss the epilogue which I will write
to tie up some loose ends. Yes, I decided not to kill Geoffrey off,
afterall. I really had fun writing this story. I hope you had fun reading
it too. My latest story, 'Twilight' should offer loads of fun too. Hehehehe.
Tell me what you think. I know I took awhile to get this out. :p
27/1/03
Edited: 27/1/03
Author:Tapestry
Email: Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating:R
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes mind speaking
2/1/03
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: Sorry for the delay in the story. I went away to visit relatives for
the Christmas and New Year, plus a painful dose of shingles to keep me
thinking of aspirin. It's not a nice experience mind you. I still have
the virus at the moment, but I am fast on the road to recovery. Thanks
again to all the reviewers, you're the best. ;) *wink*
Oh yeah, clearing up an inquiry, since Serena is now "vampire", she is
of course, meeting her friends at night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 10: Fury ~
*Darien!* screamed Serena mentally.
Dylan bent and grasped her by the neck, dragging her up using one arm to
hold her above his head.
Serena grimaced as her hands locked about his wrists, trying to break
free of his iron grip. Her feet dangled in the air, her throat hurt and she
had trouble breathing as his fingers slowly tightened over her airway.
She felt a strange stinging in the side of her neck.
"Darien, what are you doing?!" shouted Andrew who rushed towards the
dark-haired man slowly strangling Serena.
"Let her go!" screamed Mina hysterically, rushing at him and thumping his
back in an effort to help Serena. Lita and Mina could pick up Dylan's deep
longing to kill, the turbulent dark emotions raging and rolling off him
like waves upon the rocks, somehow feeding the dark dangerous quality of
the storm.
Alan and Lucas gaped at the scene while Ann had already fainted dead to
the ground. Dylan glanced at the mortals beating futilely at him. With a
snarl and an angry swipe, Andrew landed to the ground a hoarse cry of pain
erupting from his lips.
"Drew!" screamed Elizabeth, bending to help her brother.
Serena coughed, her lungs burning for air and her throat aching. She felt
dizzy, as blackness swirled before her eyes, feeling herself losing
consciousness.
The night exploded with thunder and lightning as well as the streaking
form of one angry Darien Alessandros. He blasted out of the wet night sky
like an avenging angel with the speed of a comet. His eyes burned red in
a killing fury.
Serena was dropped in his arms as Dylan blurred to dodge the assault,
releasing his hold of her neck.
"Darien."
Darien held Serena tightly to him, crouched low to the ground, he glared
up at his brother, answering him with a furious snarl. His mind at the
moment more beast than man, the primal need to kill his mate's attacker
beating at him.
His fingers brushed the bruises beginning to appear on her neck, his
anger increasing at Serena's husky groan of pain. His eyes finding the
fingerprints and the prick in her skin. The wound didn't bleed by he knew
Dylan had most probably done something. Serena whimpered, hiding her face
against his shoulder.
Andrew stared dazed at the two dark-haired men. One was standing calmly,
his face twisted with snide mocking jealousy and hatred, while the other
dark-haired man was crouched low to the ground holding Serena close, his
face a mask of rage and loathing.
Maybe someone had hit him too hard and he was now hallucinating? For the
two doubles could be nothing other than twin brothers. He hadn't known
Darien had a twin.
"Oh my God, there are two of them." exclaimed Mina, shocked.
"I never knew Darien Alessandros was a twin. The tabloids missed that
one." gulped Lucas.
"Yeah? The tabloids didn't catch the part about him being able to fly
either." muttered Alan.
They tried to sidle off, leaving the two combatants to face each other.
Unfortunately, before they managed to make a break for it, four other men
literally fell from the sky before them, cutting off their escape.
The men except for Andrew gave hoarse screams. Ann, who had been beginning
to wake, screamed, shrill and loud, her eyes nearly popping from their
sockets. Lita, Mina and Elizabeth gave a yelp of surprise.
Jayden rolled his eyes at the piercing scream. With a wave of his hand,
all except for Mina and Lita were in a trance.
Mina and Lita glanced at the faces around them before turning back to
stare at the strange men and Darien along with the twin.
"My God, what are you?" whispered Lita.
Suddenly, to their right materialized a petite woman with long dark raven
hair, her amethyst eyes flashing.
"Raye, what in the devil's name are you doing here!?" snarled Jayden
moving immediately to her side.
She stuck her chin out defiantly. "I came because of Serena of course."
she snapped. "And, those are my brothers over there."
For the first time since arriving, Malcolm and Neph tore their eyes away
from the two startled human women.
"Dylan is a monster now, Raye. He's no longer your brother. No longer one
of us." growled Malcolm.
Raye didn't back down, staring at the four males rebelliously.
"Zach.." came Darien's low growl.
The man was immediately at Darien's side. His eyes all the while watching
Dylan. The undead looked too smug at the moment for his own good. He was
undoubtedly up to something. A smug undead was a dangerous one.
"Take Serena and guard her, get Malcolm to examine her....he's done
something and I want to know what." hissed Darien as he slowly relinquished
the precious bundle, forcing himself to release her into Zach's arms when
every instinct cried out at him to crush her close and not let go.
Zach knew how tenuous Darien's control was. It was hanging by a thread.
Careful not to provoke Darien, he slowly tucked the woman closer. Darien
was dangerous at the moment, and could just as easily attack him instead of
Dylan.
Serena was afloat on a sea of pain. She felt as if the injuries on her
neck had swollen to twice their normal size. It hurt to speak. It even
hurt to breathe.
She was aware of Darien passing her into the arms of another. Zach...
She whimpered and clung to Zach's clothes. She felt the waves of aggression
rolling off Darien. He tensed at her sound before slowly easing once more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh god...are we going to die?" whispered Mina, clutching Lita's hand.
"No little one, you are not going to die." answered Malcolm steadily,
appearing suddenly before the two girls.
They gave a start, backing away cautiously.
"Malcolm, you're frightening them." snapped Raye irritably.
*This blonde is my mate for life, Raye. It was not my intention to
frighten her. Indeed, I would protect her with my life.* growled Malcolm
telepathically.
Neph nodded. *Her companion is mine.*
Raye blinked at the two men. Their faces hard and seemingly devoid of all
emotion. She had known these two men since she was a child. She had grown
around them. And yet, at this moment...the pair felt like strangers to her.
"Malcolm, Serena's hurt." called Zach carrying the pale woman in his arms.
He tore his eyes away from Mina to inspect Darien's mate. She was at the
moment, priority. If they lost her, they would lose Darien...as well as
a female precious to their dying race.
"God, Serena..." gasped Lita.
Mina and Lita watched as Malcolm knelt beside Serena. That was when all
hell broke loose...
Mina and Lita moved suddenly. Mina, shoving Malcolm away from Serena's
side and Lita grabbing Zach by the neck. They read the emotions radiating
off the pair easily. It wasn't because of any ill intent that they were
attempting to stop them, but they feared they were trying to harm them.
"You stay away from Serena! And release our friends. God, she needs a
doctor..." choked Mina.
"No human doctor can help her." stated Raye calmly.
Darien and Dylan who had been circling each other apparently realized the
commotion happening behind. Darien felt Serena getting weaker and the
cause of it was because the blonde wouldn't allow Malcolm near.
His eyes glowed red, his senses turning feral. Serena had to live.
Dylan, obviously knowing his opportunity, smiled a terrible gloating
smile as Darien turned his back on him, intending to attack the blonde
keeping his mate from recovery.
Raye glimpsed Dylan smiling evilly, noticing Darien turning towards them.
Her eyesight taking in Darien's insane expression. His eyes were glowing
red.
*Malcolm, Neph! Get the women away from Serena! Darien sees them as
threats to her right now! My love, you have to stop Dylan...* exclaimed
Raye mentally.
Jayden nodded.
Zach turned his head slightly in Darien's direction. It was clear, Darien
at the moment was more beast than man.
"Release me, woman. Do not make me harm you. Neph would not take kindly
to it." said Zach in his most seductive and compelling voice.
Lita's arms wavered a moment before she shook her head to clear the fog
from her brain.
"Step away from Serena, if you do not, I will be hard-pressed to protect
you." murmured Malcolm, staring at Mina.
Mina merely glared at him defiantly. "Go to hell."
"Woman, you do not understand." growled Malcolm frustrated. "HE," he
pointed towards Darien coming towards them. "-is going to kill you and your
friend if you do not step away from Serena and allow me to heal her."
"You can't threaten me. I don't believe you." hissed Mina, her eyes
flicking for a moment towards Darien's form. Her eyes widened as the man
suddenly picked up speed, diving straight at her, a hand outstretched,
reaching for her throat.
"No, Darien! Stop!" screamed Raye horrified.
Mina couldn't see anything except for the man's crazed glowing red eyes.
Felt the need to kill rolling off him.
She felt wind, and saw blood spray from a wound. She waited for pain but
realized she had moved, and someone was holding her.
Mina looked up and saw the tall white-haired man with ice eyes looking
down at her, his shoulder bleeding profusely. She gasped at the wound. It
was real...the dark-haired man had tried to kill her.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." she choked as Malcolm gripped his
injured shoulder. Her eyes turned to find Lita. She was already a good
distance from Serena, the man with long curling chocolate locks holding her
tightly.
Darien snarled loudly. His form wavering between that of a large black
wolf and that of a man.
A soft groan from Serena caught his attention. She watched as the man
stopped snarling his attention fixated on the prone woman on the ground.
"Oh Lord, stop him! He'll kill her!" screamed Mina trying to push past
Malcolm. But the man restrained her with one hand. Lord, he was strong. His
grip didn't budge even though it wasn't hurting her wrist.
"No, Serena is the safest person here. He would give his life to protect
her.." said Malcolm softly.
"Darien? Malcolm? Zach? Raye..." called Serena softly, her senses fogged.
Every part of her body hurt. She felt as if she were dying. Wanted so much
to let go and slip away from the pain.
Feral emotions assailed her from the link to Darien.
"Serena...."
Malcolm released Mina to step forward. "Darien..."
Darien turned, his eyes confused. "Malcolm...your shoulder? I did that?"
"You were not yourself, my friend. Allow me to help Serena."
"Malcolm? Darien? It hurts...it hurts so bad." coughed Serena finding it
difficult to speak.
"JAYDEN!" screamed Raye's voice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dylan grinned evilly. This was too easy. Darien had turned his full
attention to his mate. Killing him would be easy now, but it would have
been so much more fun to turn him into the very thing he hunted. Undead.
Too bad.
Lifting his hand to strike Darien down, another hand suddenly barreled
towards him, forcing him to retreat. His idiotic brother-in-law. Jayden.
He faced the blonde man, eyes narrowed.
"You can't defeat me, Jayden."
"It is you who is weak, Dylan. You allowed the demon to destroy you. You
couldn't even hold out for your other half."
Dylan sneered. "Not all of us are as fortunate as you to have found their
mates easily and so early. Of course YOU would think it easy as Raye was
born only half a century after you. You never had to face the demon.
The darkness within all of us males."
"Yes, I know I was lucky. But you could have held out. You SHOULD have!"
"I will enjoy killing you, slowly." snarled Dylan as he lunged for Jayden,
his body shifting to that of the wolf.
Jayden's form leapt to meet the black wolf, his body contorting to that
of a rare golden coloured wolf, meeting the challenge head on.
The two wolves snarled, blood erupting from torn flesh. Unfortunately,
even to the untrained eye, it was clear the black wolf had the advantage of
size and experience over the golden wolf.
Powerful jaws snapped, rending and tearing at flesh. Powerful legs dug
into the concrete ground, finding purchase on the tiles as the wolves
grappled for superiority.
Without warning, the black wolf suddenly leapt high into the air, its
form blurring. Feathers erupted, shimmering and all at once, it wasn't a
wolf anymore. But a large wicked looking black owl with a six-foot wingspan,
cruel beak and razor sharp talons, diving towards the golden wolf.
Surprised and unprepared, Jayden had no way to counter the attack from
above as the owl swooped downwards, talons extended.
The bird's claws struck, slashing through flesh. Blood spurted onto the
ground, the wolf giving a pained yelp. The animal was flung backwards,
hitting the ground with a hard thud that possibly broke bones.
Raye screamed. "JAYDEN!"
Darien turned and saw the golden wolf lying weakly on his side. Raye
rushed towards her mate, bending over the furry animal. She felt sick. The
talons had punctured wounds in his ribs and chest as well as leaving a long
wide gash on his throat as well as the side of the wolf's head, nearly
blinding the animal. Blood poured from the wounds onto the ground.
Raye gave a pained cry. Not having the strength anymore, the golden wolf
shimmered, leaving in its place, the blonde man. Raye choked, her hand
reaching out to touch the terrible wounds on his face and neck. Jayden
merely looked up at her, his face pale, eyes filled with pain. A faint
smile eased his face before he closed his eyes, shutting down his heart
and lungs, conserving what blood that was left in his veins.
Mina and Lita screamed.
Zach, grimly kept the powerful winds and storm up, keeping any other human
eyes from witnessing the battle that had begun. Thunder and lightning
cracked, nature howling its fury.
Darien snarled, his teeth bared. A blaze of fire and lightning shot out
of the night sky, a fiery ball of flame heading for the black owl in the
air.
However, before the fiery blaze could strike, the owl vanished. The ball
of flame exploded on the ground. Instead on an owl, a tall dark looking man
reappeared. The man smiled, exposing fangs in a sardonic grin.
Darien got up from the ground, his teeth bared and growling. Without
looking behind him, he spoke.
"Neph, Zach, help Malcolm, Serena, Jayden, Raye and the humans away from
here."
"But Darien-"
"Get AWAY from here!" roared Darien.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even in the whipping winds and spattering raindrops, a sudden buzzing was
heard. The soft beating of a thousand wings followed as insects and bats
boiled out of the night. The bats screeching something horrible. The bugs
bit and stung any in their path, rushing to their evil master's call.
Neph managed an air barrier around the humans and those injured, nodding
to Darien. Zach was already lifting Jayden into his arms. Raye choked as
she put her worries aside and volunteered to take control of the humans.
Malcolm stood woozy from fighting the poison in Serena's system. He had
only managed to stay its destruction for the moment. Neph helped Malcolm,
holding him to his feet.
Offering his blood to Malcolm, Neph extended his wrist. The white-haired
man muttered thanks as he bent his head to drink and replenish his body
of his lost fluids.
Taking enough to return a portion of his strength, Malcolm waved away
Neph's steadying hand.
"I will manage." he groaned. Neph nodded and lifted Serena into his arms.
"We will have to take them back to the house." called Zach.
Raye shook her head. "Not the humans."
"The women come with us," snarled Neph.
"Damn right you are, I'm not letting you do some weird things to Serena."
snapped Lita.
Zach's lips grew thin. "Fine. We will need Geoffrey's help. Hopefully, he
won't try to destroy himself afterwards."
"The two women will go, but I won't bring these others. I will take them
to a safe place and erase their memories of this night before I follow."
said Raye.
"Raye, you will not-" growled Zach, his protective instincts rising.
"I will! I am not a healer. Jayden and Serena are in grave danger. I am
the most logical to do this." argued Raye. Her eyes wandered to Jayden's
face. She lifted a hand to brush the wet blonde strands of hair away from
his face.
"Please...save him." whispered Raye.
Zach finally sighed and nodded. "Come straight home, little sister. Stay
safe."
Raye nodded.
Moments later, the group vanished, leaving Raye, rather reluctantly, to
take care of Serena's human friends.
The mansion doors burst open with force, nearly unhinging the heavy oak
doors. Dripping water onto the Aubusson rug in the foyer stood three men
carrying two precious beings as well as two shocked women.
"Oh my God!" exclaimed Lita breathless.
"Zach, I will head out and feed. We will need blood this night. You can
help Jayden and Serena down to the underground chambers." said Neph still
holding Serena.
Zach nodded. "I will waken Geoffrey, and see to Malcolm and Jayden's
injuries."
Malcolm lifted his arms toward Neph's burden, but Neph shook his head.
"You are weak and injured, Malcolm. Zach will take her down."
Malcolm growled in irritation. "I am older than five, Neph. Fine, Zach
will carry Jayden below first. Place Serena down, I need to check on her
internal organs. No doubt the poison has started its attack again."
Neph nodded. "I go then," placing Serena carefully onto the floor.
Zach had already disappeared with Jayden. Mina and Lita gaped as Neph
disappeared before their very eyes. Mina turned to look back at the white-
haired man. He kneeling by Serena, eyes closed and holding her hand.
Her gut clenched at his starkly handsome face. She felt drawn to him like
she had felt for no other. Compared to the man named Malcolm, Lucas paled
considerably. Her eyes flew over Serena's face. She seemed so pale....
an ethereal glow seemed to encompass her. Even so still akin to death,
Serena still radiated peace and serenity.
She heard footsteps, expecting the blonde man, Zach. What she saw caught
her breath and her heart in her throat in fear. Zach had been gone fifteen
minutes...and now a dark brooding stranger that oozed danger and power
was striding towards them.
He didn't look well, his features still tired.
Malcolm looked up, turning towards the dark-haired man.
"Geoffrey..."
"How is she, Malcolm?" asked Geoffrey.
"I have slowed the poison and manufactured the antibodies, but the poison
is fast acting and lethal. I am not sure if I can stop the poison from
mutating."
Geoffrey eyed Malcolm. "We will save her together. Have faith in your
abilities Malcolm. It is your weariness and hunger talking. After all, you
forced me to live, did you not?" murmured Geoffrey with a faint grin.
Malcolm returned the small grin. "We need to get her down."
"Zach has already started on Jayden. I told him I would bring Serena
down. Come, my friend."
"Hold it a darn second! Where are you taking Serena!?" snapped Lita
loudly.
Geoffrey looked up, seemingly noticing the two human women for the first
time. His eyes narrowed, lips turning down in a frown of puzzlement.
"Who are these women?"
"Serena's friends...mine and Neph's mates for life." said Malcolm slowly.
Geoffrey stared at the women a moment longer, lifting Serena into his
arms, he snorted and turned. "Very well."
"Hey!" shouted Mina, angry.
The dark-haired arrogant man merely kept walking. Mina pivoted on her
heel to glare at Malcolm.
"Who is that arrogant man!? Where's he taking Serena!?"
A faint smile of amusement curled Malcolm's lips. "Geoffrey is a skilled
and dangerous hunter of the undead. Serena is being taken to a place of
healing and safety." he answered beginning to follow in Geoffrey's wake.
"We are going to this place, too! Who knows what you monsters might do
to Serena!" protested Lita.
"It is deep underground,"
"You're not scaring us away."
Malcolm frowned and snarled in warning. "If I wanted to scare you, you
wouldn't be here already. You may do, as you wish." growled Malcolm
continuing to walk. He stopped a moment later and turned back to face them,
a frown on his face. "Just don't go poking your noses anywhere else in the
house."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The faced each other in the howling rain, thunder rocked the earth and
lightning danced in the sky, lighting the night with it's bright fearful
displays. A tree had already knocked out a nearby power generator, plunging
the roads and nearby houses into darkness.
This was a night where little children would hide under their beds, a
night where even grown-ups huddle in the darkness together, seeking comfort
from each other.
The two men, dark mirror images of each other stood silently in the wet
air, rain drenching them. Brother against brother.
"You know I cannot let you live, Dylan."
"I do not need your permission, brother. I am master of my own destiny.
It is you, who will die tonight. You and your mate."
Thunder boomed overhead as lightning flashed.
The buzzing of bugs filled the air even as it thickened with malicious
intent. A gust of wind swept the noxious atmosphere leaving an icy chill
that prickled skin.
A swish of air was the only warning and evidence to the movement of the
two men. Dylan dived at Darien, talons outstretched, a move to cleave flesh.
Darien dodged the oncoming claw, his own fist moving to impale itself into
Dylan's chest.
Darien cursed as his undead brother disappeared, shifting into mist.
"Why play these games, Dylan? Come to me, I will give you the rest you
have been so eager to find." called Dylan, embedding a strong compulsion
into the words, pitching his voice to a seductive and alluring sound, so
pure and beautiful that a lesser being could not have denied it.
A deep laugh echoed in his mind. *You seek to entrap me with your voice,
think you I am such a rank fledgling to fall for your entrapment, brother
mine?*
From the depths of the sewers, rats rushed out from drains not overflowing
with water, rushing towards Darien.
Darien hardly spent a glance at the rats and insects attacking. Trying
to shape-shift, he heard a spell spoken in his mind. Darien's mouth thinned
and countered it.
*Think that you can bind my body to the earth, Dylan? You have indeed
grown arrogant in the short time you have turned.*
*You will never be able to comprehend the power I have, Darien. You are
nothing...*
With a wave of his hand, the rats scurried away, even turned on each
other, biting and scratching. Darien frowned up at the bugs trying to get at
him. Concentrating on the clouds above, he built a ball of flaming
electricity, directing it towards the swarms of insects above his head to
incinerate them.
Gaseous fumes rose into the air as a hissing and sizzling sound sounded.
The sound of burning insects. The bugs turned to fine ash, falling around
him like fine powder in the air, quick to be washed away from the ground.
"These are trick an amateur would use, brother..."
A prickle at the back of his neck had him diving away from the spot where
he had once stood. In its place, a giant black wolf stood. Blue eyes
gleaming with a hint of madness dancing like flame within its eyes. Darien
frowned. The vibrations of evil would surely act like a beacon to any other
undead about their whereabouts.
Darien launched himself into the air, taking the form of a black raptor,
talons out-stretched, but veered away when Dylan shifted his form, spikes
protruding from his body.
Darien was willing to wager the spikes were poisonous.
Dylan streaked towards Darien, claws out-stretched. The hand connected
with Darien's arm, slicing through cloth and flesh. The pain was
immediately blocked from Darien's mind.
Ramming his fist towards Dylan's chest, unheeding the spikes spearing his
arm and shoulder. Pain lanced through his system, a burning on his hand and
internal organs.
Dylan hissed, clawing at his brother, talons raking his chest. Blood
soaked their clothes, a red stain spreading on their already wet shirts.
Darien suddenly faltered, offering Dylan the chance to break his hand.
Across the city in the large mansion, deep below the earth, a beautiful
chant with pure voices blended in the air.
Geoffrey, who was seeing to Serena's injuries, felt the jolt and the
sudden weakening in Serena's resolve to hold to the earth. He did not allow
her to shy away, to let go. Instead, he locked her firmly, whispering of
Darien's need of her...the beauty of their world. A world she needed to be
in for Darien to experience.
*For Darien, little one. Live for him...*
Darien cursed beneath his breath, he had to defeat his brother and get
back to Serena....quickly. Dylan was already injured, the major wound in his
chest pouring blood, weakening him.
Serena....
His beloved one. She was back at the mansion, ready to give up on life.
He would not allow it! He would not let her leave him alone in the world.
Not when he needed her so.
With that thought locked tight within his mind, Darien attacked. Dylan
screamed something obscene at him, but Darien poured all his strength into
speed, slicing and tearing at his brother.
As soon as he felt Dylan weaken, his body weary from its injuries and
blood loss, Darien sent a compulsion and powered through, his fist going
straight for the wound on his brother's chest.
His fist plunged through muscle and flesh, gripping the organ that was
his brother's heart.
He stared into Dylan's face twisted with hate, eyes blazing with anger
and contempt at him. Sadness poured through him. He remembered happier times
when he and his brother had laughed and joked with each other. Eyes that
had been filled with joy, laughter, love and caring.
A friendship and brotherhood that had afforded them a unique relationship
as brothers and twins. They had been part of each other.
Ignoring the scratches and gouges being done to him, he extracted the
black shriveled heart with a sucking sound. His brother hissed and spat at
him.
Blood like acid burned his skin and the ground. He dropped the organ
unfeeling and stared at the body of his brother, flopping helplessly, his
mouth pulled into a snarl, glaring up at him.
"I hate you." whispered Dylan.
Lightning struck the body, reducing it to ashes as the blazing bolt then
jumped to the black organ, leaving only dust that was quickly washed away
by the pouring rain.
Darien felt weary and sad. His mind sought Serena's. It gave him comfort.
She was going to survive. He stood in the pouring rain for a few moments
more, his injuries oozing blood. He made no attempt to stop the flow from
his body. He looked up into the sky and cried out in despair. His brother
was gone from this earth....
"Why did this happen? All this should never have been..." whispered
Darien bowing his head, his heart heavy with loss. He was alone and a
monster to have destroyed his own brother...
A faint presence stirred in his mind. Love filled his mind. Serena....
it was faint and weak, so very far away.
*I love you, Darien. You will never be alone, ever. And you are no
monster. You are merely a man who has set the one he loves free from the
pain of torment...* whispered her voice.
She was a miracle to him. His heaven sent angel.
Another voice spoke into his mind, a gruff disapproving voice.
*Darien, you are weak and your mate is in even worse condition. She is
being stubborn and will not conserve her energy as I tell her. Come home and
feed so that this woman of yours will heal and stop making a nuisance of
herself.* growled the voice.
Geoffrey.
His heart slammed. Geoffrey was right... Serena was still weak.
*Don't you be like him too.* groused his mate.
A smile lit the sadness in his heart as well as his face. Love filled him.
He had family and people who loved him. He would never be alone again.
*Hurry home.*
He laughed aloud, launching himself upward into the sky, his body
disappearing into mist even as some of his muscles and body parts protested.
He streaked as fast as possible towards home, his heart leading the way.
*Dylan...wherever you are, I hope you have found peace.*
He could almost have sworn he'd heard his brother reply a whisper on
the wind reaching his ears. *I have, brother...*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Well, this was the last chapter. Don't miss the epilogue which I will write
to tie up some loose ends. Yes, I decided not to kill Geoffrey off,
afterall. I really had fun writing this story. I hope you had fun reading
it too. My latest story, 'Twilight' should offer loads of fun too. Hehehehe.
Tell me what you think. I know I took awhile to get this out. :p
27/1/03
Edited: 27/1/03