Chapter 34: A Confusing Fight
Derek moves swiftly down the staircase, meeting Mark at the doorway. "I can't believe Nathalia could be that crazy," he comments, taking the daggers that Mark hands him. "To attack like that in the presence of Thatcher..."
"Could be blood lust...too much can warp your mind," Mark shrugs. His long leather trench coat swirls around him as he paces along the porch, keeping his senses on alert.
"I'm worried it's more personal than that," Derek admits, strapping the dagger to his ankle. "She can be rather vindictive."
"Damn, Derek...you think she's carrying a torch for you...?" A little amused grin tugs at Mark's mouth.
"No, hardly that. Just a bad feeling - she's using my past association with her to make this thing with Meredith too personal." He rakes a hand through his hair in annoyance. Dressed in his own leather gear, he paces back to the door, waiting for Meredith to join them. "Look, did you sense anything at all around here?"
"No, you were quite safe all night. There was no hint Nathalia even came close. Her only attack was at the other house." Mark had been there already, getting the weapons, and talking to Thatcher. They had done the deed of placing the two dead vampires to rest, scattering their ashes out over the ocean in the first coolness of twilight.
"Meredith says there is a red-haired doctor on staff at Seattle Grace, she thought maybe it was her at the chapel last night. Dr. Montgomery, I believe. I don't know if there is some connection between them, or if somehow Nathalia has managed to survive sunlight and fool everyone into thinking she is this doctor."
"Or perhaps conveniently used her mind power to use the mortal presence to mask her own, to get close to you and Meredith. Enough allure may do the trick."
"Nathalia was never that powerful - unless she has someone helping her."
"Whatever it is, she needs to be brought under control." Mark pauses. "Hell of a thing to interrupt your newly wedded bliss."
"Not for long, if I have my way," Derek vows.
"That goes for me, too," Meredith says, from the doorway, closing it firmly behind her. Her hair is pulled back now, making her eyes appear wide and watchful. Derek takes the small overnight bag from her hand, as she locks the door.
"Good, let's get going then."
She turns back to him, her hand out expectantly. "Weapon?" she reminds him patiently. "I want to get this woman out of our life just as quickly as you do."
Derek hands over another dagger with a small smile. "I should have known you wouldn't want to stay out of harm's way."
Meredith zips up the black leather jacket decisively. "We're equal partners, right? I don't have to remind you what happened with my dearly departed uncle…"
Mark laughs behind Derek. "She's got a point, old friend."
"Point taken." Derek agrees, as they move towards the car parked on the street.
"Besides, I don't want to postpone the honeymoon much longer either," Meredith whispers to him as Derek puts his arm around her shoulders.
"Wait…" Mark barks, throwing his arm out to stop them before they can move any further. "Over there…"
Derek nods, pulling Meredith down with him. They both sense it then – breathing, mortal breathing, and pulse pounding in anticipation. In an instant, Mark bounds off the porch, landing silently beside the hedge alongside it. Reaching out, he easily drags the slender form of a female away from her hiding spot. "What are you doing here?" he demands, as she tries to twist away.
"Let me go…"
Meredith hurries to join Mark, with Derek at her heels, his hand ready on the dagger. "Dr. Montgomery?" she asks, totally surprised to find who it is.
"You know this woman?"
Meredith nods. "From the hospital…what on earth are you hiding in the bushes for?" She scans the other woman's thoughts, getting confusion and surprise. Like Meredith, she is also dressed in dark clothes, her auburn hair tucked away in a black cap.
Derek looks at her carefully. "Very similar bone structure, even the eyes…"
"I'm not deaf…I can hear you," she sputters, trying to get away from Mark's grasp, something very futile in his strong hands.
"Good, then explain why you're lurking around Meredith's house? I'm not as patient as my wife," Derek says quietly, exerting a mental nudge to get her to talk. He curls his lip slightly, enough to make his fangs visible. "Talk, woman…"
She draws back slightly against Mark, her hiss of shock at the sight of his fangs. "I…"
"You better answer him. He's pretty protective when it comes to his mate." His own fangs ache at the fluttering pulse beneath her skin.
"I'm not really sure…" She slumps against Mark's arms. "Something compelled me…I wasn't even aware this was your house, Dr. Grey."
"It's Shepherd now," Meredith corrects her gently, before turning to Derek. "She's been mentally pushed, don't you think? Like Izzie, in some way?"
"If Nathalia drained some of her blood, keeping her under control, she could exert mental commands quite easily," Derek agrees. He checks her jacket and along her legs for weapons, coming up with a small gun and a silver tipped knife.
"Who are you talking about? I don't know anyone named Nathal…whatever.."
"You wouldn't…she would come to you in darkness, taking your blood, enough to make you weak. Open to suggestions, and then removing any memory of it after," Derek says softly. "You're just a pawn – sent to throw confusion on her own identity."
"But why not come after us herself? She was obviously crazy enough to enter Thatcher's house," Meredith points out.
"Who knows?"
"What are you people?" Addison looks from Derek to Meredith, suddenly realizing their preternatural beauty, the slight hint of fang also visible. "You're not human…you're…"
"Vampires, Dr. Montgomery," Derek says. "We won't hurt you – just work with us. Someone else is using you, someone who likely won't leave you alive when she's done with you."
"No…this is crazy…" Her eyes widen further, her pulse accelerating even faster.
Mark leans closer. "Relax…nothing will harm you." His voice is hypnotic, easing her panic slightly. "You're safe here." His mouth is at her ear, close enough to touch her. Close enough to desire the blood beneath the skin.
"Bring her with us," Derek says, tucking the weapons away. "We can keep her under our control at least."
Meredith holds out her hand to Addison. "Come, let's go."
"I still don't understand…"
"Long story, maybe I'll tell you one day."
They hurry to the car, before anything else happens. If Nathalia is out there, she's hiding her presence well. Derek looks around once more, before revving the car's engine. The BMW sedan moves smoothly into the street, and he guns it to take them away into the silent night.
We should hunt… Meredith reminds him as they head through the city. She touches his leg for emphasis, earning a small smile from him.
"As soon as we leave Dr. Montgomery with Thatcher. I don't want her to see that."
"We can wipe it away," Meredith smiles. "She's going to see more than she expects to at any rate. You've already told her the truth about us."
"I suppose you're right." Derek slows the car, looking for a suitable place to stop. "Over here…" he motions to the secluded park, where late evening joggers and dog walkers are passing by. He swings into the deserted lot, turning to Mark, who has kept Addison close. "Are you coming with us?"
He shakes his head. "No, I made sure to feed before coming for you. I'll wait here and guard her."
Addison looks at him, frowning, as she shrinks into the corner of the seat. "I'm not a child."
"No, you certainly aren't," Mark smirks, "but you aren't going anywhere either. So, sit back and relax. They won't be long. I won't bite."
Derek and Meredith move quickly into the dark, moving easily, scenting their prey in moments. A couple walking their dog, slowly meandering the trail, pausing now and then as the dog investigates smells of interest. Derek nods at her, before they move behind them. Within seconds, they have them under control, taking the blood they crave, enough to refresh them and prepare them for facing whatever happens. Derek relinquishes the woman, touching her forehead gently, just as Meredith does the same with the male. Leaving them to carry on without any idea of what just happened.
"Better?" he asks, claiming her mouth, in the cool shadows. Tasting the lingering blood there, along her tongue.
"Much," Meredith responds to his touch, sighing softly. "Why does Nathalia want to harm me? I don't even know her."
Derek brushes her cheek with his fingers. "She is just trying to cause trouble. Come between us and using your heritage as an excuse. No matter that Ellis was mortal – you are the only true heir of Thatcher."
Meredith pulls him closer. "Well, she better not get any ideas about you. You're mine." She kisses him harder, her tongue darting along his, igniting his passion for her as always. Derek groans softly, wishing they were still wrapped up in her bed, instead of being here.
"We need to get going," he warns her, gliding his hands along her back, cupping her closer, despite his words. "The sooner we get Nathalia taken care of, the sooner we can return to our honeymoon."
"And you do want that…"
"Absolutely, I want to take you away for many long nights of love," he whispers, his voice thick with desire, and his thoughts full of what he wants to share with her. Her response is immediate, making a sound of delight and encouragement, pressing her body against the hard planes of his. His mouth plays along hers, tongue engaging hers, before sliding lower. Scraping fangs over her throat in a way that makes her boneless.
"Derek…" she gasps, her eyes flaring golden in the dark.
"Yes, love…I know…we will finish this later…" he promises, backing away slowly. One hand on her hip, the other tangled in her hair, his mouth returning to hers for a long, slow kiss that sends her into a tailspin of delight.
In the dark interior of the car, Mark watches Addison carefully. "What are they doing?" she asks finally, pulling the cap away from her hair. Long auburn strands swing around her face, her emerald eyes darting from him to the windows and back.
"Trust me, you don't want to know," he grins.
"I think I'm up to my eyeballs in whatever's going on," Addison sighs. "He says you're vampires – is that true?"
"Would we lie to you about that?" Fangs bared, Mark leans closer, his hand on her thigh. "You've already been exposed to one of our kind, you just don't remember. You want more?"
"I, uh…" Addison finds herself caught again in his mesmerizing voice, his eyes meeting hers.
"Relax, my dear, you're in good hands." Using his allure, casing a seductive spell on her until she relaxes visibly. His hand grazes her neck, pushing her hair away over her shoulder. "That's it, you have nothing to fear." His voice is sinuous, his mouth close to her throat. Rain begins to patter on the roof, creating an insistent drumming to match her accelerated heartbeat. Despite feeding earlier, Mark feels a sudden urge to bite, to taste just a little, to tease her. Her eyes drift shut, as she is lulled into calming down further still. Oh, it would be so easy, he realizes, clenching his fist to keep from pulling her against him.
"What are you waiting for?" she breathes, her eyelids half open.
"Don't play with fire, Dr. Montgomery," he warns her. "Or you will get bitten…"
"Maybe I'd like it from you."
The car doors open then, bringing in a wash of cool air, just before Mark nearly lets himself do what his instinct desires. Derek looks back at them, raising one eyebrow. Mark moves away from Addison, shaking his head, a wolfish grin on his mouth. Just having some fun…
They find Thatcher staring out the patio doors, hands behind his back. All evidence of the attack has been removed, and the floors are pristine once again. Veronique is curled in wing chair, eyes thoughtfully watching the fire in the grate. All the others have left for their respective homes, warned to be on alert for further attacks. Victor and Nikolai have sent word to their comrades in Russia as well, hoping to find any kind of information on Nathalia's true motives.
He turns as they approach, having heard their arrival from the moment the car purred along the driveway He cocks his head, surveying the mortal woman between Derek and Meredith. "Who is this?"
"This is Dr. Addison Montgomery," Meredith says, "we found her lurking around my house. She's been used by Nathalia. We just don't know why."
Thatcher moves closer to them, inspecting Addison closely. "I see the resemblance. Clever of Nathalia, but I agree, it's odd."
"Nathalia is just a trouble-maker, she's probably somewhere laughing at this," Mark observes, dropping into the other wing chair and nodding in Veronique's direction. He crosses his ankles casually, lacing his hands over his abdomen, all the while keeping an eye on Addison.
"Then she's moved beyond trouble-maker, and into murderer," Thatcher points out. "You helped me move the bodies, Mark."
"Bodies?" Addison repeats, her eyes wider than ever. "Look, I didn't have anything to do with bodies...I don't even know how I got to be outside of Meredith's house. Just let me go - I won't say anything, I swear. I'll forget all of this."
"You will forget - I'll make sure of that," Thatcher tells her, before looking at Meredith. "I'm sorry this interrupted your time with Derek, I had hoped not to have to tell you about her. Damn, but I'm weary of these petty squabbles."
"Not so petty, Father. I'm ready to deal with these things, you know. That's why you wanted me with you, wasn't it?" she asks gently, squeezing his forearm. "Derek and I will have plenty of time together." She exchanges a look with Derek, who smiles knowingly at her. "What can we do?"
"We should keep this young woman here for the night at the very least and see if Nathalia tries to sneak in and make contact. Then we can maybe catch her and deal with it quickly. I want no more deaths," Thatcher finally decides.
"Are you crazy?" Addison sputters. "I'm not staying here...I have women at the hospital that might go into labor at any time. I can't just leave them!"
"There's always someone else available," Meredith points out. "And if there truly is an emergency, I'll go with you. You're safest here, trust me."
Thatcher gives Meredith a puzzled look at this exchange. "She's one of the attendings at Seattle Grace - neo-natal surgery."
"Ah, I understand. I agree then, if there is some emergency, both Meredith and Derek will go along with you, otherwise you will be my guest for the night. I fear Nathalia is still in the city and is just hoping to have another chance to try something. We have a better chance of defending ourselves if we stay together."
"Oui, I agree," Veronique speaks up. "Where is Alexei, speaking of staying together?"
Mark shrugs. "Last time I talked with him; he was thinking of heading back to London - he was in a rather surly mood."
"Alexei's usual mood," Derek adds.
At that moment, the glass shatters in the French doors at the patio, as two bodies come hurtling through them. Fragments clatter to the flooring, as they all gasp in shock at the sight of Alexei tackling Nathalia and wrestling her to the ground. Derek and Mark rush over to help, as Alexei holds his dagger along Nathalia's throat. "You are going to be sorry you showed up here…" he mutters. "She was hiding outside, trying to cover her presence, but I surprised her."
"Wait, Alexei…" Thatcher admonishes, putting his hand out to stay Alexei from finishing the deed.
"Why? She showed no mercy to our friends. She deserves no sympathy," Derek growls, ready to take the dagger himself.
Nathalia manages to hiss at him. "You deserve to die…thinking you're so high and mighty, marrying this little half-blood weakling. If you think this is over by killing me, you're wrong."
Meredith's mouth sets in a grim line, and she walks over to where they have Nathalia pinned down. She drops down to crouch on her heels, letting her cool gaze rake the other woman from head to toe. Without a word, she takes the dagger from Alexei, who surrenders it without protest. Holding the tip against the soft, vulnerable throat until a bead of blood rises against the silver tip. "Your life is in my hands now…what do you think I should do? I guess you didn't hear that I was the one who killed Michelangelo…" Everyone in the room seems to hold their breath, waiting to see what Meredith will do next. All their attention is focused on the little trail of blood seeping down the pale skin. "Do you still think I'm weak?"
"Meredith…" Thatcher says quietly.
"Father, my human side tells me to show restraint, to banish her to some remote location without any hope of transporting somewhere," Meredith murmurs. "But my vampire side tells me to let her bleed and leave her in the sun to suffer. Which side should I listen to?"
Derek eases closer to her, placing his hand over hers on the hilt of the dagger. "Sweetheart, as much as I agree with your reasoning, this isn't the way to do this," he says softly. "We can send her away, leave her in exile."
Meredith gathers his calming strength, his soothing voice cutting through the anger that had flared in her without warning. She nods slowly, relinquishing her grip on the dagger, and together they ease it away from Nathalia's throat. For an instant, gratitude flares in the emerald eyes that meet Meredith's, before it is replaced with antagonism again. "Send me away then, but always wonder if there will be someone else to take my place…keep looking over your shoulder."
Thatcher snaps. "Enough! We have shown you lenience, Nathalia." He reaches down and pulls the amulet from her neck, crushing it beneath his boot. "You are no longer one of the coven." As Meredith and Derek back away, Thatcher takes hold of Nathalia and pulls her to her feet. "It is true that I am a patient man, and I want my daughter to follow in my footsteps and rule in the same manner, but see to it that you obey the exile, or next time you won't be so fortunate."
She can feel the chill and the power emanating from Thatcher, and Nathalia nods slowly. At this point, there is nothing else she can do but accept the terms.