A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's….though I wished I owned the rest….*sighs*
265 reviews! Holy cow never in my wildest dreams did I think this story would do as well as this one! Keep the reviews coming guys!
Okay without further a due, chapter 29!
"Tie her over there!"
The masked man dragged the unconscious woman across the ground, indifferent to the rocks and sticks ripping at her muddied jeans. Bruises were forming on her arms and neck from the savage blows dealt over and over before the final one hurled the woman into unconsciousness. Her limp body was slammed against the tree before being restrained against the ancient oak. The long soft strands covered her face as her head hung down.
"WAKE UP!" A massive hand struck the woman across the face snapping her head back and forth threatening to snap her very neck. She groaned and slowly raised her head, finding it painful to open her eyes. The dull roar that pounded mercilessly in her head made it difficult to take a simple breath.
A gloved hand tightened around bundle of copper, jerking her head up and smacking it against the tree.
"Did you really think we wouldn't find out about it? About HIM?"
"What did you do to him?" She sniffled. Blood trickled from her nose and across her lips. She knew it was broken but it was the least of her worries. The last image her mind retained was the warmth of the fire encircling them both before the door was kicked open. He had asked her if she would stay in Virginia with him to which she had responded with a deep loving kiss. The blunt object stuck the middle of the back of her head ushering in the thick black curtain.
The blood chilling screams rushed her back to the present as several others dragged the vampire out from the trunk of the car. The fire illuminated the dull wooden stake protruding from the middle of the vampire's abs.
"NO!" She broke from the trance and struggled against the thick tight rope. Her captive delivered a solid blow to her stomach, knocking the breath from her lungs. She gasped for air only to cough and spit up blood in her effort.
"This is for what happened," the back of her attacker's hand struck across the face, cutting a tiny gash along her cheek.
She felt her breath coming in short heated puffs through her teeth as a second masked figure strolled upon them. In one hand held a crop. Without uttering a word, the smaller figure slashed the crop across their body, ripping the tops of the woman's jeans. Denim turned crimson as blood seeped through the wounds and greeted warm soft cotton. The woman screamed praying for someone or something to stop the pain. She heard the pitiful wails of the vampire as another dull longer stake was driven through his shoulder.
"Stop! Stop it please!" She begged them both. Cruel cold laughter was their response.
The smaller figure lashed out again, going lower on the woman's legs. Thin skin was torn open exposing the thin layer of muscle protecting bone. She cried out into the night, knowing the vampire could hear her suffering.
"Leave her alone!" He snarled with fangs exposed. The largest one of the group replied by ripping his thigh open with a sharper stake. It was left in the undead flesh, refusing to let the muscle and skin meld together. He knew he would not survive as they were hunters; hunters who wanted them both to suffer for wanting to be together.
The woman sobbed as her lover was impaled in the other leg and shoulder. The pain raged through his body like acid was flowing through his veins.
"You bastards," she spat. Her body was weak, drained of any will to fight. They had ripped her away from the one she loved, beaten her with fist and object alike before forcing her to watch the gut wrenching scene unfolding.
One of her tormentors looked up and over to the rest of the group and gave a short nod. Her head was held up as the smaller one fisted her tangled locks and hissed hatefully in her ear.
"You can't miss the grand finale….."
"No," she pleaded and shook her head as they took the final stake and deliberately drove it slowly through his chest. His wail of suffering shattered the calm cool night as the dull tipped stake pierced his heart, robbing the vampire of his 500 years upon the Earth; robbing him of the love he had sought for so long; robbing her of the one thing had left to live for.
"NOOOOO!" She thrashed within the ropes, not caring if her injuries bled profusely. He was dead and she wanted nothing more than to join him.
"Oh no," the smaller one growled. "You're not getting off that easy."
Fists pummeled her face and torso hurling her into the blackness of unconsciousness. The ropes were ripped away as calloused hands ripped apart the shirt and jeans.
The gentle singing of birds ushered in the dawn of the new day.
It was the beginning of her personal Hell.
Her hands were numb from the taught rope binding her wrists above her head. Her legs were spread with ankles confined, leaving her naked body exposed to predators and sick fuck that stumbled upon her. The putrid stench of rotted flesh greeted her nose and mouth. She didn't want to turn and see what hellish vision would greet her but found her head turning towards the smoldering heap. She felt the emotions ripping through her like the winds of a hurricane and quietly succumbed to the tears. Her head lulled back to the other side as her body arched off the ground. The ropes bit deeper into her skin, tearing at the raw red skin.
Off in the distance the gentle rumble of thunder rolled across the early sky. She hoped a predator, a wolf or bear, would bestow mercy upon her body and soul. But that wish was nothing more than that: A desire that would be cruelly shunned by any and all. Her body started to shiver at the first chilled drops splattered across her skin. Perhaps her death would be slow and excruciating but then again perhaps death would simply walk by, an invisible witness to her unimaginable suffering.
She took a ragged breath, wincing at the burning that licked at her body. The soft pattering morphed into stinging needles as the rain pelted her already depleted body. She closed her eyes and thought of him, her guardian, and best friend before slipping into the abyss.
Derek shot up taking a deep breath. He darted his eyes around the room as if he were ensuring the attackers were no longer around. Brooklyn had not been bothered by his abrupt awakening as her heart was slow and steady. He reclined back into the pillows, finding it drenched in a layer of sweat. He had seen it…
The werewolf had seen it through his hunter's eyes; felt her pain and anguish; the heartache as she was helpless to do nothing as the hunters ripped the one she loved to pieces only to leave her naked cold and alone, exposed to the mercy of the elements.
No wonder she panicked in the shower…
The last one she was close to was tortured then murdered as she was beaten…..
Please Brooklyn…..Just open up to me…
"Derek," she looked up with growing distress in her eyes. He ran a hand down his face and took a deep breath. The hunter sat up noticing the droplets streaming down his back and shoulders.
"What they did to you….."
She knew what he was talking about: That night.
"You saw," her words were a statement.
"Yes," he nodded his head. "I saw what they did to you….."
She hugged her knees through the blankets, trying to shut out those painful memories.
"Now you see why I freaked out in the shower," humiliation dominated her voice. "After what happened I kept myself closed up. I just couldn't get close to anyone after that. I'll understand if you run out that door."
"Brooklyn," Derek swung around and wrapped his arms around her. "I will never run out on you. If anything you should be the one running from me. I'm the town pariah remember? I'm the one who's the freak."
"I suppose we're both freaks," she laughed bitterly.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I'm drawn to supernatural beings," she admitted. "I was ready to leave my life as a hunter and stay with him, there in Virginia."
Derek winced internally as she spoke about the vampire. But he couldn't let that get to him. She was there, with him now and that was all that mattered.
"I spent a year in a 'hospital' as I had taken a downward spiral to put it lightly. I didn't care if I lived or died anymore. I had turned to Jack and Jim, spending my days locked in my room in a drunken stupor. There were times I would find myself being visited by his ghost, tormenting me with his beautiful cobalt depths that would twinkle in the sun like two blue diamonds. When the cops found me wandering through the desert one night, calling out his name while holding my crossbow and a bottle of Jack, it had been the straw that broke the camel's back. Markus and Brady were heartbroken when they took me to that place in the mountains. But they saved my life that day."
Derek made a mental note to thank the two if he ever got to meet them. If they had not reached out to her in her darkest hour, he would be alone in the world and not in this comfortable room holding the one he wanted to be with: His mate.
"But you survived because you're strong."
His words reached out and into her heart. Sure she had heard Brady and Markus tell her that when she came home but to hear it from Derek meant so much to her.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"I know it hurts, still, but you've been through so much and yet you still emerge every time a little bit stronger. Don't think I haven't seen it. The way you handled Argent and the others and how you were willing to take him on when he threatened us at the gas station. No one has ever done that….for me."
"It's because I care about you….A lot."
The hunter inhaled the comforting scent, feeling it expel the hurt as a cool sensation streamed through her body. She couldn't put her finger on what it was but it possessed her soul, making her forget the ache in her heart even if for a little while.
She tugged his arm bringing him back down against the sheets, not caring if beads of sweat raced down her arms and legs. Her feet kicked down the bedding leaving only the sheet for them to use. Derek gazed long and hard into her soft smoky hues, observing her vulnerability being laid out for him to see. He knew it wasn't easy for her open up like this but she was. Their foreheads lightly touched before their lips brushed across one another. They lightly pushed together before pulling back.
Neither one fell asleep right away but laid there letting their eyes stay locked together.
"Well if it isn't my sweet sister," Argent closed the door behind him. "I take you wrapped up business in Wichita?"
"Of course," Kate smiled. "I understand Brooklyn is here in town."
"She's here to track the Alpha," Argent's tone darkened.
"What's wrong Chris? Still bitter about Markus kicking your ass?"
Argent shot a warning look across the room as Kate eased her athletic frame on the couch. She knew how to push her brother's buttons and how far she could go before pushing too hard.
"Brooklyn's acquired a few new tricks in her arsenal," Argent poured a drink. "Namely a new ally: Derek Hale."
"Really?" Her ears perked up at the mention of the Hale name. "Well isn't that touching: A werewolf and hunter teaming up."
"Wouldn't be the first time she's done something like that."
"So what do you recommend we do?" Kate stared into the fire.
"Find the Alpha before them and if they get in our way," he retrieved the crossbow Brooklyn had dropped in the woods. He aimed the weapon at the fire pulling the trigger though no arrow was loaded.
"I like it," she grinned.
Next update soon...Remember kiddies the more reviews the more I update...
