Oh my...we are getting much closer to the end now. I think I will be sad once its finished. :(

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Chapter 53 –Her Myrnin's POV– My Sweet Little Canary

I didn't think it was possible. To love her more than I already did. She had walked innocently into my life with her big doe eyes and even bigger feisty attitude. Never taking shit from me. She made me so damn hot when she stood up to me, her expression fierce, but a slight quivering in her tiny little body exposing her fear.

And her fear had made me come undone – I had to have her. I just knew the succulent taste of her on my tongue would send every nerve in my body into a frenzied ecstasy. But, in some unfathomable and unnatural way, she had always pulled me back from the edge. From the monster I loved – and hated – inside.

I hadn't planned to sleep with her tonight. In fact, I had determined not to. I knew it wasn't the right time with so many things undecided. I had just wanted to show her that I never forgot her – let her actually feel what she did to me, and experience the power she held over me.

It was excruciating and exquisite to watch her hands glide down her body, like mine ached to do. She had no inhibitions; she just let me be with her; shared her arousal without a hint of self-consciousness, or even a second thought. She kept me locked in her gaze and somehow I felt more connected to her in that moment, than if I had been inside of her.

As I watched Claire pleasure herself, a slight sheen of sweat coated her skin, her brown hair disheveled charmingly around her face, I thought my heart might break at the beauty of her. It wasn't her actions that got to me…it was her eyes. Those eyes that challenged me, laughed with me and frequently sparked furiously at me. But now, her eyes shone with such an overwhelming amount of trust and love, it made me want to weep.

I felt her body get close to the edge and couldn't take it anymore. I entered her mind and shocked her system as I compelled heat from her core, and brought her the rest of the way. Her eyes swam with desire and pleasure and utter happiness as she cried out my name. As her heart relaxed its frantic beat back to normal, I slid behind her to hold her in my arms. She was just about asleep when I saw it begin. My body seemed to automatically sit up, without thinking. What in the hell was he doing? There was no way this could end well.

1409 Myrnin had compelled seven guards at once. Impressive, I noted reluctantly. If the situation had not been so dire, I would have thought the looks on their faces funny, as they appeared shocked as they casually opened the locking mechanisms so he could walk freely out the front door. Amelie must not be in the building. He had probably been waiting for her to leave. Smart. It's what I would have done.

"What?!" Claire choked out, "What's happening?!"

"He just broke out of jail," I hissed, my tone shorter than what I intended.

"What?! How?! Is he coming here?"

With the promise of freedom ahead, I anticipated my answer to be yes, but was surprised when he had suddenly shifted low and darted back toward the building, moving at incredible speed. Shit, there was only one reason he would react like that. He had to have smelled something. Or someone. In less than a fraction of a second, I felt the earth shattering impact in my bones as his body curled around the form of a very large vampire, with a bald head. Oh no. I knew this vampire. I had seen him through my alter-ego's eyes. He was one of the two who attacked Eve and that could only mean one thing – his allegiance was to Anwyn.

I couldn't stop the short gasp that released from my throat, "No. He's... hunting Anwyn."

"He can't!" Claire cried.

"Wait," I murmured, "I need to focus…"

Claire held her breath next to me. I had learned to somewhat 'tune out' my other timeline over the years, in an effort to keep my sanity and reality straight. But now, I pushed every ounce of mental strength I had, to watch the drama unfold.

"Wait!" the burly vampire hissed. Of course, that didn't happen. Instead 1409 Myrnin continued his forward momentum, compressing the other vampire in half within his full-body vise he had constructed around him, and spiraled their bodies into a tight spin. There was a sharp crack followed by several spine-tingling domino succession breaks, as the other vampire's back snapped in several places like a twig. He screamed in pain and wrenched to pull himself away, which only caused more screaming as further pressure was applied to the torn ligaments and muscles.

"Your death will not be easy," 1409 Myrnin promised viciously. I couldn't see his expression, only what he saw through his eyes, but I didn't need to see his face to know he was smiling in delighted anticipation.

"Please! Just listen to me," the other vampire's words came out gurgled as he spit blood from his mouth.

"We have no need for words; I much prefer to hear your screams. Scream for me…" he purred seductively while compressing the vampire even tighter, followed by another crack.

A high-pitched wail came out of the vampire's mouth, but cut off suddenly as 1409 Myrnin reached his hand around to break the bones in his throat. He released his grip and whispered, "That was rather fun; don't you think? Your throat will heal in about 24 seconds and then we will see what else I can break so you can sing so sweetly for me again."

The other vampire shuddered violently in his grip.

1409 Myrnin made good on his promise, flexing his body slightly to the left and down, causing the vampire's leg to twist slowly. "Hmmm…almost there…"

Two more cracks confirmed his leg was effectively shattered. He squealed out again and began to shake as 1409 Myrnin's thumb and forefinger caressed his throat again.

It was pretty clear this game was going to last at least a few more rounds, so I focused again on Claire, who looked like she was turning a little blue. Panicked, I yelled, "Breathe!"

She automatically inhaled so deeply that the air whistled as it rushed into her windpipe. She panted, "Anwyn…will…kill…him."

"Maybe. Maybe not. But I definitely don't like these odds. I'll call Amelie; she can get some guards and meet us…"

"No!" Claire cried.

I looked at her in confusion.

"Amelie does not take kindly to people who defy her. You don't know how she will react when she finds out!"

"Claire, Amelie would never kill him. Think about it."

"I know that," she hissed, "but you didn't see her face. She already doesn't trust him and when she captures him again, I am sure his confinement will include some sort of punishment. That cannot happen! He didn't deserve to be in there in the first place."

"Then what exactly do you want me to do?"

I had never seen Claire so devastated as when she spoke next, barely able to force her mouth to whisper, "You go…" her voice hitched, "Could she defeat both of you?"

I glared at her and spoke angrily, "Of course not! But what good does that do, when we kill Anwyn and then he attacks me?"

"He won't! I promise!" she seemed so sure of herself.

I was silent. Claire continued on in a rush, "You were there! You heard our conversation and you heard his answer. I am not asking you to trust him. I am asking you to trust me!"

Trust her. It was only minutes ago that I marveled at the trust she put in me. Before I could speak, she added, "Take Rhysian! He has already shown his loyalty to you when he called Amelie for you. And having him will guarantee that crafty bitch is defeated."

I didn't want to correct her. There were zero guarantees that Anwyn would be defeated. Claire didn't know her like I did. Crafty bitch didn't even come close to the red-headed terror we would be facing. I kept my thoughts to myself and just nodded in resignation.

Instantly she grabbed her phone and called Rhysian.

I went back to 'watching' 1409 Myrnin. I knew he was still playing his new instrument, vampire-pretzel, because I had continued to hear cracks, tears and screams while I argued with Claire.

"Listen," the vampire pleaded.

"I've been listening," 1409 Myrnin sighed happily, "and you sound exquisite."

"No…please," he begged, "She sent me here to help you escape. She just wants to talk with you."

"Surely she knows I will just kill her."

"She…doesn't think you will," he panted.

"Then clearly she doesn't know me," 1409 Myrnin retorted.

"No…what I mean is…you won't just try to kill her…not after what she has to tell you. She…wants to…help you. Your goals are not so dissimilar now…"

1409 Myrnin snarled viciously, "Carving Claire is not my idea of a similar goal." He snapped the vampire's arm to accentuate the last word.

More squealing ensued before the vampire could catch his breath.

"I tell you what, how about you just show me where she is," 1409 Myrnin's eyes gleamed maniacally before he giggled, "I'd say this won't hurt…but I'd be lying…"

I felt his compulsion begin….he was inflicting a searing heat…while he browsed through the vampire's brain, looking for Anwyn's location. The other vampire screamed as he was burned from the inside. 1409 Myrnin effortlessly pressed against his throat again until the vampire's screaming broke off into groans of agony. He whistled to himself as he continued his trek through the vampire's brain. I focused on the images that were being relayed – a building, no, a house on the outskirts of town. I knew that house. Anwyn was seated on an old ratty chair while the skinny vampire who bit Eve, paced impatiently.

"Thank you, love…would you like to die now?" 1409 Myrnin looked expectantly at the other vampire, who stared back at him with sheer terror in his eyes. I was shocked to realize he expected to survive this encounter. My alter-ego apparently had the same reaction as he chattered, "Oh no…you are not going to live through the night. So, it's your choice. You can continue to sing for me if you like…I think your throat is just about healed…and then we can practice how your tone changes as I turn up the heat…"

The other vampire coughed and sputtered, "She'll kill you!" He spat blood. "You're arrogance will be what destroys you!"

"Hmmm…I think I'm bored now, my sweet little canary. Let's see where your heart is… Oh wait, before we get there, I'm afraid I am going to need a little snack. You know. To keep up my strength. I know how Anwyn likes her men strong..." He winked and then thrust his fangs into the vampire's neck and clenched down so hard, the vampire's body shook sporadically.

I knew this was going to take a minute, so chose the opportunity to focus again on Claire. Rhysian was standing next to her. When did he come in? While he would give me a tactical advantage, I was not at all convinced I could fully trust him. I needed to speak with him privately before agreeing, so asked Claire, "What weapons do we have?"

"Wait! Let me see." She hurried off to the bedroom.

I leveled my gaze at Rhysian, "So, this is your opportunity to actually prove, all of that crap you said to Claire about loving her and loyalty, is true. Can you fight by my side? Because, most assuredly; this is going to be a fight."

Rhysian replied grimly, "She is my daughter now. Of course, I am ready to fight – or die – for her." He glanced up at Claire as she exited the bedroom, tucking various weapons into a sack.

I refocused my attention back to my alter-ego, while Rhysian said goodbye to Claire. As expected, he was done with his snack and took up where he left off.

1409 Myrnin licked his lips as he said gleefully, "Now where were we? Your heart…Oh right, there it is!" he inhaled sharply in excitement as he thrust his hand through the vampire's chest and came out with his prize in his hand.

My attention immediately returned to Claire when I felt her rush into my arms. She was crying now. "I can't…tell you goodbye," she sobbed against my chest.

I stroked her cheek gently and reassured her, "This isn't goodbye, Cariad. We will return before you know it." I tilted her head to look at me and spoke firmly, "Please tell me that I don't have to remind you not to leave here. You have twelve guards posted around the lab. Do not leave." I waited for her to acknowledge my instructions. She nodded silently, tears still streaming down her cheeks.

It killed me to do it, but I released her and turned to Rhysian, "I know where he is headed. We need to move quickly."

He gave a quick nod and followed me out of the door. As we hit the thresh hold, I heard Claire murmur quietly, "I love you…"

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It was nice to be back in Her Myrnin's head, when I wrote this. We will stay in his perspective for the next chapter as well, before switching back out. I am guessing at 5-7ish more chapters before we are finished. Sigh. Makes me sad. I wonder if I should consider a sequel...

Oh well, back to Darling Bob...itsy, bitsy, spider box below...review, review, review...

much love!