Hope you guys like this chapter, but again it does have a good amount of violence. So if you aren't okay with that, stop reading! If you aren't okay with death or with a guy hitting a girl, stop reading! You've been warned. If you keep reading, I hope you enjoy the chapter.
A big, huge thank you again to everyone reading/reviewing/adding this story to their favorites! You all make writing this so much more fun!
I still don't own the Night World, that's all LJ Smith. I just love the characters and like to play with them.
Mary-Lynnette closed her eyes again, praying for unconsciousness, but that was not to be granted. Just as her mind was drifting off into the darkness again, she vaguely heard Ash's voice coming through their mental link.
"Mary-Lynnette! Mare, can you hear me?" his frantic voice called to her faintly.
Mary-Lynnette growled in her mind, that boy was always irritating her. Here she was, just about to find sweet relief again and he was yelling at her. "Go away, Ash," she thought back distractedly, not quite sure it was strong enough for him to hear her but she didn't really care. All she wanted was the black oblivion beckoning to her.
"M'Lin, answer me damn it!" he furiously shouted.
M'Lin? She hated when he called her that, Ash knew this. Big, dumb, blonde cat. Like his name was any better? What kind of stupid name was Ash anyway? It was - wait...Ash? "ASH!" she screamed with all the energy she could muster.
"Mare! Baby, do you know where you are? Are you okay? Keep talking to me so I can find you," Ash's voice came through and Mary-Lynnette shook away the last clouds of sleepiness.
"I don't know where I am. I'm locked in some room, chained to a wall. What are you doing here? You can't do this; you can't give your father Iliana! You'll damn the rest of the world and your father will kill me anyway. He told me was going to, he was never going to give me back to you," she replied, fear taking over now.
"I know, sweetheart. He's not going to get Iliana, but there is no way in hell I will not save you. I would never let him kill you, I hate myself that he even got to you in the first place."
Mary-Lynnette could feel her energy draining and the darkness closing in on her again, "Ash...I don't know how long I can hold on. I'm struggling to stay conscious. I'm hurt pretty badly."
"Mary-Lynnette, baby, please hold on. Hold on for me, we're so close. I can feel you; can you feel me? I'm coming as fast as I can. Please, hold on!" Ash's voice turned frantic again, but he was right, she could feel him close by. His presence was getting stronger and stronger; it gave her hope again.
"I'll try. Hurry, Ash," she told him, fighting to stay awake. Suddenly, the door burst open and there he was, rushing toward her. Tears filled her eyes, he looked so blindingly beautiful to her.
"Oh, Goddess," Ash breathed as he reached her side, his eyes sweeping over her. Mary-Lynnette realized what she must look like. She was beaten and bruised and bloody and still in the ridiculous outfit the girls had dressed her in, which was completely ruined by now. "Baby, who did this to you? Where does it hurt...the most?" he asked in a trembling voice. Ash reached out with shaking hands to gently push her tangled hair back from her face. His hands fluttered over her body, afraid to cause her more pain. Tears silently fell from his eyes, his deep violet eyes, as he looked at her.
Mary-Lynnette tried to tell him, but the fire in her lungs flared to an inferno when she tried to gather the breath to speak. She switched to their mental link, "My lungs, I think a few of my ribs are broken and one of my lungs is punctured. Ash-" He didn't let her finish.
Ash grabbed the lace-up corset she was wearing and ripped it down the middle, not caring that she was now naked from the waist up. His eyes grew round as he took in the dark purple and black bruises on the right side of her ribs. He ever so gently brushed his fingers along her side, wincing when she grimaced in pain. "I'm so sorry, Mary-Lynnette. This is really going to hurt when I pick you up and carry you out of here," Ash whispered and pulled his shirt from over his head to cover her with it.
Quinn and Rashel burst through the doorway, both of them slightly out of breath and glowing with the thrill of combat. "Thank God you found her!" Rashel cried, "We have to go, the others have been able to hold off Hunter's thugs, but we need to get out of here."
Ash nodded, "You two go and let Thierry know we have to get Mare to a healer as fast as possible. She's hurt; really hurt. She isn't able to speak because of some broken ribs and probably a punctured lung." They both nodded at him before taking off, their faces turning grim and fear settled in the pit of Mary-Lynnette's stomach. She must be further gone than she thought. Ash turned back to her, smiling softly. "Everything is going to fine, sweetheart. Don't worry, I'll get you out of here and you're going to fine." He leaned over and lightly kissed her forehead, "Just stay with me, sweetheart. Please, don't leave me, Mary-Lynnette." Ash was about to slip his arms underneath her body when a voice came from the door.
"Ash! Goddess, is everything okay? Is Mary-Lynnette all right?" Laurel asked, rushing through the door. "I came back to apologize, I really am sorry about everything, but when I got the Thierry's I heard what happened and came rushing over to help."
Ash turned to look at her, surprise written all over his face. "Ash, no! She's the one that kidnapped me. She's working with your father, she has been at since I got here, maybe longer," Mary-Lynnette frantically sent to Ash.
Ash smiled at Laurel, "That's so sweet of you. Could you come help me pick her up? She's hurt pretty badly and I don't want to cause more pain than I have to." Laurel smiled and walked calmly over to Ash. When she was only a few steps away Ash threw himself at her, knocking her to the ground and pinning her beneath him. "You stupid bitch! Did you think that because you heard me say she couldn't speak that you would be able to lie to me? She's my soulmate, we have a mental link together." Laurel struggled to throw Ash off of her, but he had the advantage of being twice her size and weight. He grabbed her by the throat, "You will pay for ever touching her. Don't think you will actually walk out of here."
Ash reached with one had to pull out his stake and Laurel seized the opportunity and managed to push herself out from under him. She scrambled, trying to run from the room. Ash reached out and grabbed her ankle, yanking her back to the ground. She yelped and twisted, kicking Ash in the jaw. He grunted and pulled her back to him. She swung her fist at him and Ash ducked his head before connecting his own fist holding his stake with her cheek. Her head snapped to the side and Ash pinned her again. "Don't forget who taught you to fight. It's a shame, you were good and could have done really great things. Too bad you're a crazy psychotic bitch," he said, shaking his head and slammed the stake into her heart. Laurel's body tensed for a moment then went limp. Ash let out a deep sigh and rose from her body.
He turned to Mary-Lynnette and looked at her. She had tears streaming down her face. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry you had to see that. That I had to do that. I-"
"Ash, no! I'm not upset that you killed her. Well, not that much. I'm just so happy you're okay," she interrupted and Ash smiled in relief.
He knelt by her and brushed his fingers down her cheek, "Let's get you out of here, you need to get to a healer." He bent to lift her into his arms when Mary-Lynnette screamed. Ash whipped his head up, but Mary-Lynnette was looking behind him. He turned and saw his father, stake in hand, right behind him. What she couldn't see was Rashel right behind Hunter, her own stake steady and sure as she plunged it into his back, right where his heart was. Hunter stumbled and the stake fell from his hand before he fell over, his body shriveling and falling in on itself.
Mary-Lynnette stared, stunned, at Rashel for a moment before she shifted her eyes to Ash. Then she began to shake and tried to gasp for air, feeling fire burning through her chest. "Shh, baby, it's okay. Everything is okay, try to calm down sweetheart," Ash murmured, stroking his hand soothingly down her hair.
"Ash," she sobbed with her mind. Speaking would have been impossible, Mary-Lynnette was amazed that her fear had allowed her to scream a warning and her body was paying for that dearly now. Ash drew her into his arms and lifted her as gently as possible, cradling her against him. Swiftly, Quinn, Rashel and Ash left the decaying and abandoned apartment building Mary-Lynnette had been held in. They climbed into a limo waiting outside and were raced to the mansion, where a healer was waiting. Ash tried to lay Mary-Lynnette down on one of the bench seats, but she clung to him, needing to be close to him, to know he was really there with her. Ash moved her hair back away from her face and gasped when her neck was revealed. The marks Hunter had left were deep and ragged.
"Fuck, he bit you," Ash furiously whispered. Softly shaking his head, he raised his eyes back to hers. His gaze turned clinical and he swallowed hard. "Fuck. I need to give you blood, it's not safe to leave you like this, but you're so hurt, I don't know how that will effect it." He seemed to be struggling internally, then let out a frustrated breath. He raised his wrist to his mouth and scored his wrist, holding his wrist to her mouth. Mary-Lynnette resisted for a moment, her eyes questioning him. "You have to, sweetheart. It's not safe otherwise, trust me. Drink, Mary-Lynnette," he softly said, encouraging her. She relented, opening her lips and swallowing his blood in deep gulps. Once she started, her body demanded it, demanded more. She kept sucking until Ash pulled his wrist back from her and she whimpered in protest. Ash chuckled softly and kissed her forehead, "You're going to feel really sleepy, don't fight it sweetheart. Just let go, I promise I'll be right by your side the whole time."
Mary-Lynnette lifted her hand to Ash's cheek, "I love you, Ash."
"I love you too, Mary-Lynnette," Ash whispered and softly kissed her. Mary-Lynnette gave him a weak smile, then closed her eyes and died in Ash's arms.
So, how'd I do? I really wanted to give Rashel the chance to kill Hunter. I was always a little bitter that LJ didn't give her that in the books. I think there's only one or maybe two chapters left in this story. I think I should be able to wrap up things the way I envisioned by then. I think. I never actually expected this to be as long as it is, but my stories tend to take on a life of their own. Just wanted to give fair warning. I'll hopefully be able to write this weekend and update soon.