Chapter 20

I crept down the narrow stair case once again, ducking down to avoid the cobwebs. I gripped the side of the wall when one of the floor boards shook underneath my weight but I continued on. Yes, I was going to see Terra, I felt that it was important that I saw her one last time.

I reached the faint orange glow that was the torches lighting the basement, or rather torture chamber. I peered around the corner and saw the same sad girl, hanging in chains.

"Hi Terra," I said softly.

She raised her head slowly and smiled. I picked up the butterfly clip on the floor and saw the same bright yellow flash which I did last time.

"Hello Kori, how are you?"

I smiled "I'm great! Everything you said has come true!"

She gave a small smile, and I tried not to flinch when she moved slightly in her chains. She looked the same as she did last time, but red rims were beginning to show around her eyes. "And we're going to run away today, after Richard shows me something."

"Really? I have an idea what that might be. I really hope that you manage to get away."

"Thank you, but...Terra. I, I just want to know, how can I brake the chains? I want to help you."

Her eyes widened, and the shock made her coff horrendously, her throat sounded scratchy and sore. This was the reason I wanted to help her, the poor girl may have betrayed her coven but I couldn't just leave her like that. I knew if I did, the memory of her would haunt me forever.

When she finally settled down she answered "Kori, you cant save me from this, I am to be here for eternity."

I shook my head "no Terra, I can and I will. If you'd just tell me how, I will. I owe you much for all that you have done for me."

Terra starred at me for a long time, unblinking. Perhaps it had been a long time since anyone had done anything for her, care about her, but I did, maybe she was just overwhelmed with emotion. For the first time since I'd seen her, Terra gave me a real smile.

"You can do as you wish Kori, but I'd like you to know that your words mean allot to me. In order to cut the chains you would need an immortal blade."

I frowned in confusion, where on earth would I find that? I also remembered what Richard had said about killing a coven leader, I would need an immortal blade if I was going to do that as well.

Not that I was going to, I merely wanted it for protection against Bruce or Slade, I most certainly wasn't going to allow them to auction me off to a husband.

"I don't know when I'll get it, but the moment I do, I'll come back for you. I promise."

She nodded weakly "I have no doubt that you will."

I smiled and was about to put down the butterfly clip when her voice stopped me.

"It's alright, you can keep it. If you ever want to contact me, wear it and we can speak through the mind link."

I nodded and slipped it into my pocket next to Ravens necklace. I turned to leave and made my way towards the stairs "Kori."

I turned to face her "yes?"

Her eyes were grave as she looked at me, I wondered if she knew something I didn't at that moment. A future event that she couldn't tell me? All she said was "be careful."

OOO

I paced back and forth whilst I was inside my room, most of my clothes were packed and Richard had said that Raven would look after Silkie while we were gone and then transport him to me. So why did I feel so uneasy about this whole thing? It was a strange twisting in my stomach, like the kind you would get if you were nervous, I wasn't nervous though, I was fine. So what was wrong with me?

I could hardly tell Richard, he would think that I was having doubts about running away, and I certainly wasn't! I awaited his return from feeding, the thought of him killing innocent humans made me uncomfortable but I was getting better at accepting it. For the most part I was putting it out of my mind.

First Richard was taking me to his 'suprize' and then he would take me back here and at night we would sneak out and run away. I had my doubts about it, but it was the only way for us to be together. The stress was making me angry and I had to work on getting a grip on my powerful emotions, I could feel the fire inside of me. It wouldn't take very much for me to get the green aura around my hands, I knew how to summon it, but right then I was just confused, as always.

There was an unexpected gust of wind and my window opened of its own accord. I rushed over and pushed against the force of the wind in order to close it. Once I had, I breathed a sigh of relief and turned around.

"Nice hair style."

I rolled my eyes and walked over to a mirror, realizing my hair was a mess from the wind. "You did that on purpose didn't you!" I pointed an accusing finger at Richard who was smiling. He laughed and I narrowed my eyes at him "your gonna pay for that."

He laughed again, this time it was louder and seemed more fierce he narrowed his eyes in challenge. "Please my Star, what could you possibly do to me?"

I smiled and decided to to a difference approach. "I could just call this whole thing off, after all I'm not so sure I want to run away now. I guess we will just have to call off our secret relationship too." My smile gave away my true feelings, Richard smiled, showing his fangs, making the smile more sinister and predatory. I jumped as I watched him not move an inch from his spot across the room, but I felt his hands wrap around my waist.

I spun around to his him smiling behind me, amusement in his dancing blue eyes. "How did you do that!"

He chuckled and pulled me closer against the solid wall of his chest "a simple illusion, don't play games with me my Star, I always win."

I tried pushing myself away from him, but he held me as close as possible, I couldn't break free from his iron grip as I said "Mr. Grayson, you are very arrogant."

He chuckled, his body so close to mine was sending my heart on overdrive, I relished in the feeling of being in his arms. "And you miss Anders are a tease, don't talk about calling off our relationship as a joke, it may not affect you but it does me."

I manged to lift my head up enough to see his face "sorry, you know I wasn't serious."

His gaze was so intense, I found it hard to look at him in the eyes for too long, he smiled "I know. I just don't like jokes that aren't funny, its why I never laugh when Gar tells one."

I burst out laughing when I thought of the said vampire and his earlier bragging of 'what a wonderful commedian I am'. Raven had knocked him down by simply saying "the reason we don't laugh is because its not funny."

The thougt of Raven made my laughter subside "are you sure your okay with leaving Raven? And what about your father?"

Richard was rubbing soothing circles on my back, relieving my stress "if my father cant comprehend how much you mean to me perhaps I don't want him in my life. Rachel will be fine, we can contact her though a mind link any time."

I sighed and rested in Richards arms for awhile, however the need seeping through my body started to become more dominant, and I knew I had to get out of contact with Richard before I did something stupid.

"Richard, could you let me go now?"

"May I ask why?"

I narrowed my eyes and tried to struggle out of his grasp "because if we remain like this for much longer I might go crazy."

He knew exactly what he was doing to me as his hand traveled innocently down my body to my waist and went underneath the material to touch my bare back, I shuddered underneath his touch.

"What happens if I don't want to let you go?" His voice was husky and raw with desire, my heart was slamming into my chest. It wasn't him that started the fiery display of passion, surprisingly it was me. Bravely I attached my lips to his and started kissing him, him replying as eagerly as me as I moved up against him, pressing my curves into his body, and wrapping my arms around his neck. It was amazing how well I fit into his arms.

I knew exactly what would happen if we continued like this, but I didn't stop my feverish kisses against his lips, I wanted him. All of him. White heat was burning in my body, spreading and sending flames danceing over my skin. Suddenly Richard broke away from me, I looked at him like I had been slapped in the face, thinking he had rejected me.

He held up his hand when I was about to ask a question, I listened carefully and I then heard a loud bang sound through the house. Bruce was back from feeding, and so were the others.

Richard quickly let the two black bones emerge out of his shoulder blades, and jumped out of the window, carrieing me in his arms and flapping widely to gain some momentum as we sored through the air.

"Where are we going?" I called over the rush of wind

"I'm showing you that surprise while I still can. I didn't think the coven would be back so early."

I thought back to when he was kissing me "Richard did you-?"

"Believe me my Star, I have been burning with need for you much longer than you have for me. I wouldn't have stopped on my own accord."

I blushed and hid my face in his neck as I clung to his shirt, he chuckled lightly and beat his strong wings, gaining some speed. I peered out from the safety of his arms to look at the tree tops below us, I asked "where will we go?" more to myself than him.

"We will have to leave America, but apart from that we can go anywhere you wish."

The cold air was making me shiver, "well perhaps somewhere more warm."

He laughed and stretched his wings out "hang on."

I screamed as he dove straight down and spun in mid air, the wind whipped up my hair and I was both terrified and exhilarated as he soared downwards. He suddenly beat he wings and halted showing me the view, I looked out and gasped.

The wisps of dense air made a strange hazy mist around the entire forest view, I could see everything from where we were. I gulped and started panicking when I realized something. We were at the top of the waterfall.

Richard set me down on my feet and walked up to the edge "I love coming here, its my favorite place to just escape from things. I used to come here allot when you left my dreams, it was the last place I saw you."

I swallowed thickly and was glad that Richard had his back turned to me so that he couldn't see my expression. This place, it was getting me even more stressed, the twisting in my stomach becoming more painful. It would be where Richard could potentially die, I hated it and I wanted to leave.

"So, when did you make the connection that I was the girl from your dreams?" I tried to block out where we were by asking questions.

"Well, in my last dream about you, you told me your name and the moment I saw you move into that house when you were 15, I knew it was you."

I starred at him and bravely walked forward so that I could see his face, I dared not look down into the water though. "You saw me when I was 15?"

He turned around and nodded sadly "you have no idea how hard it was to leave you alone for 3 years. When we finally found out what Slade was planning to do I was sent to watch you. I thought that perhaps you would recognise me, I realised that the day you first looked at me, that it wasn't the case."

Richard looked out over the scenery, his sapphire eyes sweeping the landscape. I looked out and saw the beautiful sky colors, each melting away into the sunset which was taking place below the trees.

"Its a beautiful view." I felt compelled to look down, and I glared at the dark water below us, so very far down the cliff face. It wont happen I kept telling myself, I'll make sure it wont.

"Yes, it is. Kori, I want you to know that if anything ever happens, if we're separated, you can find me here."

My eyes widened "no Richard!-"

He held up a hand "Its just in case, don't worry, we'll be fine. I wont let anything happen to you, I've planned everything out for tonight."

I bit my tongue and kept quiet. Should I have told him?

When the sun had set, Richard took me back to the mansion and told me he would wake me at 11.00. I agreed and kissed him one last time until I saw him again, the nervous twisting in my stomach becoming more apparent by the second.

So I sat down on my bed and waited. The way I saw it, was that this run away mission would either go two ways. We would either run away successfully, or get caught, if we got caught, there would be no hope for us. None.

Because although some of the vampires from Bruce's coven were on our side, they would hunt us down if Bruce told them to.

I lied down next to Silkie and stroked him absently, hoping to get some sort of comfort from him. The terrible twisting in my stomach would not stop and I wondered what would happen tonight as I briefly feel asleep.

OOO

"Kori we cannot make one sound, do you understand? Not one."

"Alright, alright don't worry so much, I'll behave."

"Good." Richard smiled as he opened my window quietly. As promised he had arrived at 11.00, I was ready and had my two rather large bags with me. I said a silent farewell to Silkie and climbed out of my window, Richard said that everyone was downstairs in the living room talking.

The night air was cool against my skin, I wrapped my arms around Richard as he picked me up bridle style and stretched out his wings.

"Nervous?" He whispered, I nodded.

"Its alright, we'll be fine, just hang on. I'm going to be flying pretty quick."

He jumped off the window ledge and I had to bite my lip to stop any sound escaping my throat. Richards wings flapped powerfully as we set off into the night.

However something happened, I knew something would, it was the warning, the twisting in my stomach had told me. The moment we crossed the wall surrounding Bruce's mansion, a terrible cry was heard.

I recognized the voice right away, Xaviour had been waiting for us. "Richard!" His voice was loud and fierce.

Richard cursed underneath his breath and began beating his wings faster. I clung to him as I saw Xaviour below us, a shadow in the forest following our every move.

"Cant they just leave us alone?" I whispered into his chest, he didn't answer.

I looked back down and the shadow was gone, I looked around in panic for Xaviour but it was too late. We were jerked backwards, Richard hissed and snapped as I looked behind him. X had taken hold of one of his wings and now we were falling to the ground.

I was lost in the tangle of the air and Richards arms, I was aware of Xaviour scratching his wings, Richard was trying to fight back and pull up at the same time. We crashed into a tree, I was saved from the downward blow in the protection of his arms as I fell down into the dirt floor.

I closed my eyes and just lied there, I wanted it all to stop. The chaos going on around me was too horrific to look at, both Richard and Xaviour were tackling each other to the floor, their terrible hissing and scraping of claws, of teeth ripping flesh filling the night air.

It was a night mare nothing more an nothing less, I grit my teeth and clenched my hands as I pushed off the ground and ran towards the attacking vampires.

"Stop!" I yelled at them, tears streaing down my face.

"Stop fighting right now!" They took no notice, Xaviour punched Richard and sent him flying through a tree. I closed my eyes and pressed my hands over my ears, hoping to block out the sounds of thunder which were their powerful strikes against each other.

I walked backwards and tripped over a sharp rock, the roughness of it scrapping my ankle and drawing blood.

They wont stop. How can I stop them? If I don't they'll end up destroying each other.

I looked at the rock in front of me and suddenly had an idea. A dangerous one, but one that would certainly work. I picked up the rock and rushed over to the fighting figures.

I stood not too far away from them, and raised the rock to my wrist. Richard saw me first and cried out "NO!!!"

It was too late, I slashed it and winced in pain as the crimson blood started to trickle out of my wrist. Xaviour turned around and his eyes turned red, he starred at me hungrily while Richard looked at me with sadness.

With blinding speed Xaviour lunged forward, fangs out and alarming looking claws coming out from his fingernails. I had time to stagger back in fear before Richard knocked Xaviour in his left side and send him to the ground not to far away, a fierce growl escaped Richards lips.

I gripped my wrist in order to stop the blood, but it was hopeless. Richard turned his red gaze to me, his face looking more animal like by the second. He calmly strode over to me and took my wrist into his hands, I looked at him in fear but he simply inspected it for a moment.

Taking the bottom of his shirt in his hands he ripped off some of the material and wrapped it around my wrist in order to stop the blood flow. His eyes remained red, and his hands were shaking slightly as he dropped my hand to my waist

"Richard are you...alright?"

He nodded and looked away from me, his voice, rough and uneven "come on, we'd better go."

I nodded eagerly and thought that the worst had past, perhaps we could still managed to get away? That was obviously not the case, as I found out only moments later.

It was like a car accident, or something horrific yet slow at the same time. One minute I was walking behind Richard, the next I was slammed into and pushed onto the ground, all I saw was a blur.

Xaviours face was was in front of me, the wild red rage in his eyes, bright and burning, I couldn't move as he ripped off the same bandaged wrist and bit into my flesh.

Life stopped. My heart ceased to beat, my eyes widened, mouth open in pain. I was aware of two things, one was that Xaviours teeth were razer sharp and very painful, the other was the intense pleasure I was feeling as he drained my blood.

The feeling was ripped away like Xaviour was from me, Richard punched him off me and I fell into the ground. My head was spinning, like I was in a daze, my body was paralyzed.

And then Richards face was in front of me, his voice was mesmerizing "Kori! Kori! Stay with me..."

But his wonderful features were going out of focus, a pain was surging though my body as he smiled sadly at me, taking my frail body into his arms. "I'm so sorry. But there's no other way, and I'm not going to loose you."

The words were in and out of focus, as was his face but I was aware when he brought he hand up to his neck and scratched in one swiping motion, drawing blood. He then held me closer and said the soft command of "drink."

My stomach rolled and rebelled as I lied limply in his arms, the strength draining out of me "Kori! Do it now! I wont loose you." Richards voice was low and compelling, I looked into his sad eyes and brought my head to his neck. At first I kissed it tenderly, but then the rush and sensation of tasting his blood set in and I couldn't pull away.

I gripped his shoulders as I suddenly became all too aware of my instincts. I opened my mouth and drew out my fangs.

ooo

OK I know your all probably confused at the moment, but yeah, shes now a vampire. I'll explain in the next chapter what happened to her and even more! I'm so glad shes finally turned! And guess what! I may make a sequel!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx please review and tell me what you thought of this chapter!