Hey everyone! Well you know the routine; I don't own anything but the plot! Enjoy and thanks to all those who review. I hope you enjoy.
Tyrla's POV
The day started out pretty fun. Grandpa had got me that horse he promised only hours after mommy and daddy left. In fact I was pretty sure he had it in a trailer waiting somewhere. The moment the black horse was pulled out of the trailer I was in love. He was huge but something about him drew me in, beaconing me towards the large animal. I reached out my hand and he put his nozzle against the palm of my hand. I watched as my grandpa put the saddle on and wondered where he had learned to do that. He smiled at me and then saddled the other horse he had tied to a post.
"Are you ready to go riding Tyrla?" he asked me as he lifted me into the saddle. I fit perfectly. He handed me the reigns then got on his own horse.
"This is so cool grandpa. How do you know how to ride?" I asked him curiously.
"I learned a long time ago. My grandma had given me my first horse when I was younger than you. She made me learn to ride so that I could escape threats. You see a horse can go almost anywhere, unlike a car or truck a horse can easily run through trees, mountains and is easier to hide." He told me.
"So you can teach me?" I asked. I didn't know how long it had been since he last ridden and hoped he still knew what he was doing.
"Yes Tyrla I can. Now grab the reigns like this and use your heals lightly to put pressure on his sides to get him to move forward." I did as he told me and we both started walking through the forest that surrounded the mansion.
"Grandpa what's his name?" I asked as I ran my hand down his mane.
"Well honey that's up to you. This one here is named Rex. He's been with me for awhile. Lately I've only been able to ride him once a week or so but now that you're learning we can ride as often as you would like."
"Um, well he's black and he's really pretty. I think I'll call him Shadow." I said thinking it over.
"That's a good name. Now would you like to try a run?" he said smiling at me. I nodded my head hoping it was just as fun as walking a horse. "Ok now put more pressure on his sides and snap the reigns."
Shadow took off running and to my surprise without my leading him he dodged trees and jumped over fallen trees. I could hear my grandpa behind me doing the same. This feeling of riding Shadow was so unreal. I was very comfortable on the large animal and felt like I was flying.
We ran through the forest until we found the road. I hadn't realized we were that far from the house. I stopped Shadow and waited for my grandpa to come to a stop next to me as we both looked out on the road.
"What are we doing here?" I asked.
"We are waiting for Mikhail and Sonya. They with the help of your guardians have gone out and gathered a bunch of Strigoi so that you can do your work on them. I don't trust them and would rather have it done here than back at our home." Grandpa said as he dismounted his horse. He reached up and pulled me down.
I wondered if my parents knew about this and if they would approve. They had been gone for a week now, called everyday to tell us the things they did and that they would be home soon. I also wondered if Nicky knew what we were doing. It took grandpa telling Victor that he wanted some time with me alone to get Victor to stop from protesting that he should come along. I was pretty sure he would have disapproved of this all. Victor was so overprotective of Nicky and I. I don't believe he trusts anyone that wants to take me places without him. Only last week without his knowledge did I heal him again. I thought the first time would cure him but I was wrong, now with me healing him he would be even more bound to me.
I love Victor a lot but I also want him to have a life outside of me. Sadly I don't think that's going to happen. He still cries over his brother and one day I had asked who Robert was and regretted it a moment later. Nobody had told me his brother's name and it sent him into tears. With every piece I gave out I got some back and it was times like that, that I could feel the connection he had with his brother. I said sorry, kissed his cheek and ran to my room crying.
I didn't tell anyone about the things I could see about the ones I healed. They worried about me too much as it was and telling them would only make them all more protective. They would all learn soon that no matter what this was my destiny. I could see that Yeva could feel that same building that I could. I didn't know what was coming but I knew it was.
"Look there." Grandpa said pointing on the other side of the road in the trees. I looked squinting my eyes trying to get a better look. Mikhail was pulling about ten Strigoi in chains towards the road. Grandpa grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. It was my time to do my wonders. I smiled at myself thinking of the wonders nobody knew about.
We made it across the street and to Mikhail. An odd feeling pulled on me. It was like someone I knew was looking at me. And that someone was in danger at the moment. I ignored the gang in front of me and whirled around to find Nicky and Victor hiding behind a tree. What they didn't see was the group of Strigoi creeping up behind them. Those horrible things had followed us and now the two people that protected me the most stood on the losing side of the road. One of the Strigoi grabbed Nicky and sank his teeth into his neck. I tried running to him but my grandpa hadn't seen what was happening behind him and had a firm grip on my hand. I lost all control and screamed. Everyone around me even my family hit the ground covering their ears and crying out in pain. For a brief moment the Strigoi holding my brother dropped to his knees.
Nicky fell to the ground with blood running from his neck at a steady pace. I couldn't feel him like I normally could and knew if I didn't do something he would either die or become one of those creatures. Even though I knew I could heal him I really didn't want him to experience that darkness. I could heal but I couldn't take those feelings away. I jerked my hand from my grandpa who was still on the ground in pain. In a flash of movement I was on my knees next to Nicky. I put my hands on his neck and started letting the healing flow through me.
The stupid Strigoi that had bit him grabbed hold of my neck, ready to bite. Without even thinking of what my family would learn of my new abilities I punched him with my other hand sending his head flying and smashing into a tree.
"Tyrla!" Victor yelled my name. I could hear the worry in his voice. I wondered if everyone was going to start thinking I was some kind of freak. His arms wrapped around me as he pulled me to his chest. "Tyrla, Nicks ok." Victor said.
I don't know why but I burst into tears. My brother was the world to me and we were connected in a way that nobody would ever believe. Whatever happened to him would happen to me. If he was injured I would feel the pain, if he was sad I would feel the tears, if he was scared I was the one that would feel it. He was going to be a great guardian because no matter what he didn't have to worry about anything affecting him, I did. I don't think he has realized the connection yet but he would someday. He would wonder why a put or kick didn't hurt him.
"Tears, it's ok. I'm alright." Nicky said as he looked at me. Grandpa scooped Nick up and set him on his horse.
"Tyrla, honey can you still help those Strigoi?" Grandpa asked me. I wiped the tears from my eyes and nodded. The group that had snuck up behind us were all pinned down on the ground by a dozen or more of my guardians. These guardians had followed me too. It looked like no matter where I went I was going to be followed. I shook my head.
"Tyrla, some of these Strigoi swear they were sent to kill you. They also say they don't want to be healed." Mikhail told me. I patted his hand and walked to the first one. When I reached out to touch him he tried biting my hand. Mikhail hit him hard on the head and held him in a head lock so that he couldn't try that again.
This Strigoi was really dark, twisted and I couldn't find anything in him of the person he used to be. It was like he was born that way. That's when a light bulb went off. Had the Strigoi found a way to reproduce? That couldn't be right. Could it? His smile spread as he watched my concern cross my face.
"Smart girl can't figure out why I'm here can she?" He said mocking me. At this point I wasn't sure I could help him and what was even worse that without a soul existing I wasn't even sure if I could kill him. I mean the Strigoi that were turned I could see within their soul whether or not they wanted this life or if they were turned against their will. Their souls would beg me to help them or tell me to go to hell. But there was always a soul. This one had none!
"Tyrla what's wrong?" Victor asked. I knew he could feel me, feel the worry that was coursing through my veins.
"I have no soul is what is bothering the little freak." The Strigoi said smiling.
"What does he mean Tyrla?" Mikhail asked.
"He was born this way." I said gravely. How this was done I would find out but that meant they had found a way to exist without worry of dying. Anyone could kill them but they wouldn't stay dead for very long. Apart from tearing them apart, burning them and dumping their ashes in the water they would repair themselves. He grew up this way. He aged, probably not very fast but he still aged.
"That's right you freak I was." He said. I didn't know what to do. How many of them were out there? How did they do this? Questions I needed answers to.
"What's your name?" I asked him.
"Jay. No last name." he said.
"Jay how were you made?" I asked. He laughed bad idea. I caught his eyes and put him under my control and repeated the question.
"Little freak you can't control a soulless being." He said laughing again.
I stepped back for a moment trying to remember what I had been hearing in my head about souls. I knew I had felt this or heard this soulless thing somewhere. Knew there was a way to fix him or destroy him but I couldn't remember. I hated not knowing something. Again without worrying what my family would see I grabbed his head with both hands and dove into his head.
I could hear my family yelling at me but I didn't respond. I was in his head, just like I had done with mommy. All the answers were right there in front of me. They had kidnapped Dhampirs or Moroi and raped them. They were starting their own race. How they found out how to do this was unclear but someone old and not a Strigoi had told them. A name kept screaming at me from within his head but I couldn't make it out. It was someone I knew or someone one of the many people I had healed knew.
I returned to my body and fell backwards into Victors arms. "No." I said, tears running down my face. They were looking for the strongest of the Dhampirs and Moroi because it was a hard pregnancy and many died during the process. They were in this area because of my family. Some of the strongest of both races lived under one house. More tears dropped as I thought of my parents out there with no knowledge of these things. They would kill one and then turn their backs to it not realizing it wasn't really dead. I needed them home now.
"Nicky, I need you." I said.
"Tyrla he's still shaken up." My grandpa said from across the street still on his horse.
"I need him." I said again. Grandpa reluctantly crossed the street and with Nicky in his arms got off his horse.
"Ok Tyrla why do you need him?" grandpa asked.
"Because Hawaii is a long way away and mommy and daddy are in danger and need to come home now." I said. Concern and worry covered my grandpa's face. His little girl was in danger. He nodded his head and put Nicky on the ground next to me. I lay down and reached out for his hand so I could take his strength to make the leap to our parents.
Dimitri's POV
I woke to the sun shining through the room. Roza was sleeping next to me naked. Still as beautiful as the first day I had met her and then some. She had me wanting her at every turn. I was so in love with her I reached out and trailed my hand down between her breasts to her stomach feeling the soft skin. She smiled and opened her eyes. I leaned over and started kissing her neck and chin. She tackled me pinning me on the bed on my back.
"Good morning." She said as she straddled me and started kissing my chest. I grabbed her hips and lifted until she was directly over me so that I could enter her. She moved down and I still couldn't believe how good she felt. She started rocking back and forth on me moaning loudly. I helped her move with my hands planted on her hips. She moved faster and when I felt her close around me I knew she was at her peak. She moaned out at her release sending warm around me causing me to go into a frenzy. It took only a few more plunges for me to go over the top.
She clasped into my chest breathing hard. My arms wrapped around her as we both stayed still trying to catch our breaths.
"So what are we doing today?" I asked her as she rolled off me and lay next to me. When she didn't answer I looked over. She was as still as a corpse. Her chest moved in and out slowly and her eyes were open but rolled into the back of her head.
"Roza!" I yelled grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her. "Roza!" her eyes closed and when she reopened them she looked worried.
"Damn it!" she said jumping out of bed. "It's time to go home." She said getting dressed as quickly as possible.
"What's wrong? Are the kids ok?" I asked pulling on my shorts.
"Our special little girl is scared for us." She said. I knew it would take a lot for her to worry and say she was. Something wasn't right. Something was off.
"Scared about what?" I asked throwing clothes into one of the three suitcases.
"Soulless Strigoi." She said throwing her own clothes into a case.
"Hold on Rose. All Strigoi are soulless. I don't understand." I didn't. What would be so scary about soulless Strigoi? We dealt with the almost every day.
"Tyrla said no souls at all. That they were born that way. Born Strigoi." She said worried.
"How is that possible?" I asked.
"I don't know Dimitri. Tyrla couldn't keep the connection. All I saw was the growing up of a Strigoi, Nick in trouble and Tyrla worried." She said.
"What's wrong with Nick?" I asked worried.
"He is weak. I don't know why." She said. "Dimitri we have to go. Something's not right." She crossed the small space and kissed me.
"Ok get our stuff ready and I'll make sure the jets ready for us." I said as I pulled my phone out to call the pilot.
Several minutes after arguing with the pilot about the urgency he finally agreed to take us when I threatened to call Abe and have him tell him it was important we left now. Roza was dressed in pants and a tight tee-shirt. She had her fighting gear on, a stake in a holster at her side, her hair pulled back and her gloves on. She started wearing gloves when she had punched a Strigoi in the face when we arrived in Hawaii and blood got on her ring. That didn't sit well with her and she insisted we go find gloves. Gloves were hard to find in Hawaii for the obvious reasons.
We were on the jet in less than an hour and in the air on our way home. Our honeymoon had been cut short but it wasn't too depressing. Roza and I did everything we could on the island. We learned how to surf, snorkel and I watched as she learned how to hula. After we returned from the lessons that I refused to take part in Roza would practice or at least try to practice. She didn't get very far moving her hips around sending me over the edge and attacking her. She would laugh and run trying to make me catch her.
At first when we walked through the doors she examined everything. Seeing the place where she had once been but couldn't take in its beauty was hard on her. Especially when she found the closet she hid in before she was taken. We spent a lot of time in the house just enjoying each other and the time alone. One morning I had woken up to find her in the large pool, naked. Water sex is on a whole different level of fun. I took her out for dinner most nights just so I could see the sexy dresses she would wear. Every time after dinner we would get out of the taxi and start ripping clothes off.
There was one night when we found our place had been broken into. Waiting in the living room were about ten Strigoi. Well Roza and I hadn't fought for awhile and found it fun and fulfilling to end their lives. Just last week after we had seen everything the island offered we decided to go out and hunt Strigoi. Funny thing is no matter where you go they are always around. They loved the tourists that came to the island and attacked them constantly. After Roza and I had our fun we couldn't find anymore. That didn't mean that they weren't out there but they were staying out of our way that was for sure.
We landed and then boarded the helicopter Abe had waiting for us. We both took in deep breathes once we were out of the jet. It smelled like home. I always hated that we had to fly over my home town and see the still destroyed home I grew up in. We had made the mansion our home and everyone seemed to be very happy there but I still missed that little home.
Adrian had built a large wing off the west side for him, Viktoria and Renee. He didn't have the heart to leave like he had planned so long ago. Lissa, Christian and baby Tristen would come stay long periods of time and then leave for court again. Lissa wanted to stay but she knew she had duties. Bailey her sister had a good act for leading but nobody really knew her, she wasn't born into that and people had a hard time following her. So Lissa would go home where Bailey would tell her what was going on and then Lissa would do what Bailey suggested.
Yeva was always decorating, trying to make the mansion look less big and homier. My mother was always taking care of everyone. She would help with everything and never once complained about her lost home. My mother and grandmother lived next to each other on the first floor. It was hard for Yeva to climb the steps and she refused to take the elevator. My sisters other than Viktoria had moved out and found places of their own in small towns nearby.
Mikhail and Sonya restored the broken down mansion on the other side of the property and enjoyed their time here. Dinner was a family event and nobody was allowed to miss it for any reason.
As we landed on the roof I saw Tyrla and Nick running our way arms wide open. The rest of the family followed behind. I hadn't realized how much I missed them until my children were pressed against me. Nick seemed to be alright and at the moment Tyrla didn't look like she was upset about anything. But I was sure as soon as we were sitting inside the living room we would get an ear full of news.
Hope you enjoyed. Update coming soon.