Title: Dark Moments

Author: Ageless Light

Beta-ed by: Nobody right now! But I'd like one!

Characters/Pairing: Zacarias De La Cruz and OC

Genre: Romance/Fantasy

Summary: Zacarias De La Cruz meets his lifemate a most inopportune time. When he re-awakens he discovers she is gone, and vows to find and claim her at all costs. Their possible union gains the attention of a powerful race but are they friends or foes to the Carpathians?

Rating: T (Contains content suitable for teens and older)

Disclaimer: I do not own the Dark Series Universe or any of Christine Feehan's characters. I do own the OC's though. I went to babynames . com for my character names though. A nice reviewer PMed me and told me that the book the original concept of the Ways came from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series. I however, have altered their purpose, make-up, and description to fit my fic. They are very different since I haven't even read the story, but if you like epic fantasy books, I encourage you to check them out.

Status: Continuous (Incomplete)

Created on: October 2, 2009

Word Count: 2,060

Spoilers: Up to and including Dark Slayer (The most recent novel in Feehan's Dark Series).

"Talk" – regular talking

Talk- Inner thoughts

"Talk"- Spoken telepathically

A/N:This (mini) chapter is dedicated to kms5665.. enjoy :)

Chapter 10

The Wait

Part Two

As the minutes from when he last saw her grew into hours rage filled Zacarias De La Cruz. Being an ancient hunter he was able to handle the sun despite how it drained his body until late morning. All of the Carpathians that were somehow associated with his lifemate and her companions were summoned by the prince, almost directly after he was updated on the situation. The Prince was very interested in the newcomers. As the conversations continued so did the mysteries surrounding the group increase. Many ancient hunters were contacted yet none had even heard of the abilities the group displayed. There was also the possibility that the other women seen were psychic and possible lifemates to their hunters.

Unused to feeling emotions, still, Zacarias despised sitting around talking, while his lifemate was dragged away from him. It was embarrassing for one such as him, to let his lifemate escape. Again. But the eldest De La Cruz brother did not care what the others thought. Embarrassment was nothing compared to the amount of panic, pain, and rage that he felt. The emotions boiled under his skin, and he knew that the only way to calm the monster within him that was roaring to be let out, was to have her bonded to him and have her by his side, permanently.

With years of discipline, Zacarias repressed his feelings and the beast, to focus on exactly how to be re-united with her. As the talks continued it was finally decided that his brothers would join him. The Dark One would go in their prince's stead. Mikhail's final words were of caution. The prince wanted to meet with the party not only to meet his lifemate, but with the possibility of the other women being psychic it was important that this talk went well. Since this was their first talk, they were to refrain from talking about sensitive topics as much as possible. It was Mikhail's responsibility to talk about their race, but only after the group was to be trusted. At this point Zacarias didn't care if the group was to be trusted or not, he was only concerned with one individual within the group of strangers.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Zacarias and the other ancients finally went to ground. Before he stopped his heart and lungs, he reviewed the facts about his lifemate. Questions and curiosity about her filled him as he let the cool soil soothe his chaotic emotions and ease the ache in his body.

Only the thought of being gifted with a lifemate, his honor, and love for his family kept Zacarias from turning into the very thing he hunted for almost two millennia. He knew that she would be perfect for him, but he often wondered what she would be like. Countless hours were filled with just wondering what she would look like. Entire nights throughout the centuries were spent imagining how they would meet, what her name was, and how he would claim her. Mentally he ran through the list of questions he wanted answers too. Spending minutes he prioritized the questions until he was satisfied.

Next he slowly made a mental list of all the things he wanted to share with her. His brothers had been sent to South America to hunt the vampires, and had spent a millennium becoming a part of the jungle. There were so many places he wanted to show her of his home. He remembered each one of them as they were discovered; promising himself as he discovered the jungle's secrets that he would show his lifemate.

Even with all of the time spent thinking of her; he should have realized that he could never think of her correctly. When he was just hunter, simply existing, not living, he was unable to imagine such a creature as her. Everything his brothers had said and shared with him were right. She was his sole purpose for existing; she was his reward, his savior. As much as he wanted to run and drag her back to the Amazon, he knew he couldn't. A part of him, which was gradually growing, wanted her to want to be by his side forever. Before he would never have even considered the thought and just taken her. After all, she would have an eternity by his side to accept him. But, after she first left him, he vowed that he would spend the rest of eternity making her want to be by his side and tonight was when he would start doing just that. His fingers caressed the object that belonged to her, in his hands one more time, before he slept.

(Scene Change)

When he woke he knew innately it was dusk. The rage had slipped away as he rested only for him to now be filled with trepidation and longing. Zacarias knew he was never one to fidget, yet he was uncharacteristically restless. The minutes dragged by as he readied himself and then waited for his brothers and the Daratrazanoff that would accompany him to the clearing. To her.

Knowing that the other three would be watching him carefully, he made sure to have as best a handle on his emotions as possible. Which was becoming even more difficult as the seconds ticked by. An eternity later they turned to mist and speeded towards the clearing where it all began.

Despite the girl's offer, Gregori wanted to make sure there were no traps, and so they merely circled around the campsite that was obviously arranged to welcome them, a few times. As he neared the two beings on the ground, his heart filled with concern, while his body felt rage again.

He did not see his lifemate anywhere. Why? Once the Dark One was satisfied they shifted and dropped out of the sky. Landing without a sound across from the blonde that had arrived later from the morning confrontation, she apologized and welcomed them. Gregori spoke first, but he didn't care, his mind was focused on more important things. If his prince's second wasn't with him he would have considered ripping the answers from the females mind. His lifemate was missing after they agreed to meet and he wanted answers.

The female who introduced herself, a name he conveniently forgot, was dressed horridly in clothing that was originally designed for men. Zacarias refrained from commenting, as well as openly reacting once he was aware that his lifemate was coming soon. The female was honest about her companions, but it did not appease him much. His lifemate was in need of him to care for her while she was incapacitated. The news he was given reaffirmed his beliefs that what she was doing was dangerous and he would not allow any of it. From now on, she was not to endanger herself in anyway, he was going to make sure of that.

Finally, he felt power being released nearby. The female explained that she was arriving. With patience he did not know he possessed he waited for her to approach. In the back of his mind he realized his brothers were watching him, and probably speaking with him along their common path, but he was so focused on her arrival, he ignored everything else.

When she stepped into the clearing he felt his heart start beating frantically. With a critical eye, he took in her appearance. The first thing he noticed was her beautiful liquid amethyst eyes.

Apparently, she did not have another pair of those revolting sunglasses for which he was grateful. Secondly, he noticed the dark circles under her eyes. Carefully he swept his gaze over her figure, hoping to find more signs. Immediately, he noticed that his usually tanned woman, was pale and her face was slightly drawn. The lush, wide mouth he remembered from earlier was now colored a pale pink. All signs pointed towards her being exhausted. Extending his senses, he could feel her fatigue beat at him. Mentally he frowned, displeased at her lack of care for herself. Or could it have been from their seperation? He had not bound them, but the bond between lifemates was strong, and she could have felt when he slept below ground. He reasoned that it couldn't have been just that, but anger at himself for putting her through that experience ate at him. He wanted to glare at her companions for not helping her but he did not dare to move his gaze from her. She had already disappeared twice on him; he feared it would happen again. Prominent high cheekbones that he remembered touching that very morning seemed to stand out even more. Drawing his eyes away from her face he continued his search.

Belatedly, he realized with a shock, that she was dressed not how he expected. She wasn't wearing a dress, but pants. Tight, pants that showed off her slender frame. What was it with these women? She walked confidently with a small sway of her hips that made him clenche his jaw as need slammed into him. Her pants came past her ankles. As she walked he noticed that his lifemate wasn't wearing shoes and her toes peeked out from underneath her grey pants. She was barefoot.Walking on the frozen ground. A flash of bright orange caught his eye and he noticed that her toe nails were painted a ridiculous shade of orange. Whatever would persuade her to do such a thing? And to not wear shoes in this cold? It was obvious that his lifemate needed much guidance.

Slowly, his eyes continued upwards, taking in new details and confirming ones that he gathered this morning. A tight black sweater covered her upper body. Disapprovingly, he realized that she was always wearing tight clothing. The sweater showed off her flat stomach and ample breasts. With a wide collar, he was able to see her slender neck and delicate collarbones. A memory from her barely dressed form from the inn that morning flashed across his mind and he could only imagine what she tasted like. He had to resist the urge to physically touch her skin. With his abilities he could easily trace her curves from a distance. She would feel his hands ghosting over her flesh. However, now was not an appropriate time and he had to clench his fists tightly to regain control.

Drawing in a deep breath he forced himself to remain calm and tried to suppress the raging need from the beast within. It was difficult because the beast within had waited almost two millennia for its mate and refused to waste more time. The beast was driven by instincts and his were screaming at him to claim her. The wind whispered around her and it drew his attention back to her face. Blonde hair, that was so pale it could only be considered white hung loosely, with long side bangs framing her face. Her unique hair color mixed with her hypnotic eyes, gave her an exotic look. She was strikingly beautiful and she was his. His. All Carpathian women were good-looking, but out of all the female counterparts to his fellow hunters, he thought she was exquisite. Her beauty far outshone the females of his species, especially since her features were so different.

As she neared he recognized her distinctive scent. It was a mixture of lavender and something else, something unique. If he had to put a name to it, he would call it sunshine. She smelled like a humid summer afternoon and it reminded him of the days on the ranch when he wished he could have stepped into the glow of the sun to be graced by such light. With a deep breath he drew her scent down into his lungs, his very body. Imprinting the scent on his very being, he would now be able to track her by her scent alone, if need be. When she stopped, he reminded himself to not reach out and touch her. A small, but genuine smile grew on her face and he etched the scene into his memory. He heard the other female breathe deeply and knew she was going to speak and introduce her companions. Anxiously he waited to hear not only her name, but for her to speak again.

This wasn't suppose to be the real chapter 10, but after a nice review from kms5665 I decided to show "The Wait" from the Carpathians POV. Chapter 11 is almost done, but this chapter will have to hold you over til then!!

Please hit the little button on the bottom and leave your thoughts/comments/questions and advice in a review! I look forward to reading your thoughts and advice on how to improve my writting. Your reviews fuel my passion for writting!

~Ageless Light