Race of the Light- Part 4
by Ami Quinton


Disclaimers- -.-;; You know the drill.....

I am SOOOOOOOO sorry minna for this part being this long in coming!! I not only got a serious case of writer's block, I was so busy these past few weeks that I had no time to write nare a single word! Not a word I tell you! o-o

Okay so anyway... Part 4 is going to have someone unexpected (well maybe not) shifting into Master form!! And well that's about all I'll say! :P Read on! ^_^


~~~~~~~


"Bin...di..." Merlock, with every ounce of strength he had, lifted up his arm to gently caress his love's face. She lifted her head from his chest and looked at him. Her lip trembled more at seeing his faded eyes, their once luxurious shine now gone.
Tightly she wrapped her arms around him and held his limp form closely. "Merlie..." She whispered, trying to stifle her sobs. He clung to her, his eyes desperate.
"Please...help...scared..."
Still trembling from sadness she only held him tighter. "You won't die Merlie, you won't. I'll be here by your side, no matter what happens!"
Merlock's eyes shifted to a more vampiric stare. At this moment, blood was the only thing on his mind, it was his instinct to survive.
"Bindi...." He was very close to her face, and lightly kissed her neck. Even now he would not do this unless she complied.
Lovingly she lied down next to him, her answer in the form of pushing her hair back.
Merlock's eyes got a bit wide with eagerness, and he tried to move to bite her, but suddenly his eyes got drowsy and he slipped back into unconsciousness.
"No....Merlie!!" Bindi started crying again. She shook him gently. "Wake up, wake up!!"

Trallien was still kneeling on the thick shards of glass, though his sobbing had ceased. He turned to face Kila, whose emerald eyes were still transfixed on him.
With a quick sweeping motion he had her in his arms and was kissing her deeply. Kila just fell into his sweet embrace, even though the affection was unexpected.
When he finally released her lips, her eyes were still closed tight.
"Kila...there might be a way to save Merlock..." He said as he ran a hand down her side.
Her eyes snapped open. "There is?? What??"
"Well it's pretty obvious. He's lost a lot of blood...that's what he needs. But well....even that may not be enough to save him....a stake through the heart is a pretty devastating blow." He shook his head.
Kila's eyes teared. "Isn't that how a vampire is killed?"
"For the Nights yes. It means instant death. But we are not killed by such physical wounds, it's only the blood loss that does. A stake through the heart ensues massive blood loss of course, and Jurone knew this...still...."
"I'll go to him now." Kila got to her feet, but Trallien gently held onto her arm, stopping her. "You can't child.....you know this. Too many feedings from you will make you weak."
It was only last night that Trallien himself had fed upon her. Kila stared at the ground. "But...but..."
"I will see if Kessa can help him. But there are no other humans here besides her. It may come to the point where I will have no choice but to use a charm spell on a few humans from town and bring them here..."


Jurone paced back and forth at the cave entrance, a few tears escaping him as he watched his daughter Mia burn at the funeral outside. He clenched his fists tightly.
"You'll pay Trallien...you'll pay...."
He spun around and faced one of his stronger clan members, one who could become a wolf. "Manson...get the others together....we're going to pay Trallien and his friends a little visit...."
Manson obeyed and shifting to wolf form ran out into the cold night, his howling echoing through the air.

When Merlock finally awoke again, he felt even worse than before. He could barely see, or even move. But he was aware of Bindi cradling him in her arms as she lie next to him. She was still crying, and her tears were falling upon his cheek. It was probably what had woke him.
She noticed his open eyes, and quickly ceased her sobs. "Merlie?"
He looked as if he might drift off into blackness again. But she shook him fiercely. "No no please stay awake!"
Groaning he forced those eyes open once more. "...pain..." He said as he put a very cold arm to his chest. His whole body felt like ice, which was even making Bindi shiver a bit.
The Time Shifter wasted no time and got to serious measures. Using a small razor blade she had found in the bathroom, she cut her arm close to her wrist, stifling a yell from the sharp pain. Despite Merlock's weakened state he was shocked by what he saw, and those eyes grew wide again. The sight of the blood drew some unknown strength from the deepest part within himself. Struggling he got to a sitting position, leaning against the headboard for much needed support. Bindi slowly offered her injured wrist to him, and he latched on like a babe to it's mother's breast, sucking with every last ounce of willpower he had left in him.
After about two minutes she felt those fangs of his poking the wound, and knew that he would be strong enough now. Without hesitation she leaned against him, bearing her neck again. Merlock bit down hard in his overpowering need, causing her a lot of pain. But she didn't care, she would do anything to save his life. Even when she began to feel strange and dizzy, and the room seemed to be spinning woozily around, she did not stop him...

~~

Trallien made his way through the crowded streets of the town, which was about five miles from where his castle lay nestled in the vast forests. He looked at each and every human being, sensing things about them, avoiding those who he felt were ill or too weak. He stopped in his tracks when he spotted a tall woman, looking to be middle-aged, sitting at a cafe, her blue eyes smiling at the man she was talking to. Trallien assumed the guy was probably a boyfriend in the back of his mind, but that could hardly matter now. He needed her help. He sensed good strength with her.....and a choice blood type. Those who had A positive were the best indeed. For a moment he shook his head, loathing having to use humans in such a way. It was wrong to take someone, against their will, into such a situation...were they would be sacrificing their very lifeforce. For one they didn't even know. This truly bothered the master vampire but what else could he do?? He felt bad enough about what had happened back at Jurone's caves, and blamed himself entirely. If....if Merlock were to die....because of HIM.....taking a deep breath he forced his guilty conscience to the side and strode towards the brunette.
Her male companion was first to notice the well-built man approaching them, and he rose to his feet slowly as if sensing something was amiss. The lady followed her boyfriend's eyes to the figure coming towards them, but she only arched a brow in curiosity. Trallien came right up to the man first. "I want no violence here..." he whispered, and with a wave of his hand had the man sitting back down and falling asleep on the table. The brunette gaped at him, shocked. She tried to say something but couldn't. Trallien smiled at her. "No need to be frightened. Nothing bad will happen to you, this I promise."
She only blinked, frozen in her chair.
Trallien saw the opportunity then, as she stared at him with wide eyes, and ensued his charm spell.
"Tell me your name."
"Victoria...." she responded, her face looking washed with sleepiness.
"Come with me, Victoria."
Without hesitation she rose from her chair and followed Trallien back to his castle, never letting him out of her sight for even an instant...even when the sounds of a wolf howl were clearly evident, resounding through the night air.....

~

Kila sleepily opened her eyes. She was sitting on one of the velvet red chairs, her whole form sunk lazily into it. Suddenly she bolted upright. How could she have let herself fall asleep, when Merlie was in this kind of situation?? Quickly she ran upstairs, hoping with all she ever believed in that he was still with them.

When Kila walked into the room, she found that Merlock was more than simply still alive. He was sitting up, looking out the window as if watching something, and yet he had an open book in his hands.
"Merlie!!!!!" Kila dashed to his side, grabbing him into a hug. "You're ok!!!"
"OWWW! Easy....." he said rather sternly, wincing at the unintended pain she caused him by leaning against his injury.
"Oh dear! I'm so sorry...." She added to her apology by carefully rearranging the bandages. "I am just so happy to see you looking better!! It's amazing!" Tears of happiness wet her eyes.
He sighed, looking down at the bedsheets at that moment, his face turning solemn.
"Not really so amazing...." He said quietly.
Kila's emerald eyes questioned him, as she sat more carefully to his side. "What's that supposed ta mean?" She smiled vaguely.
Merlock suddenly lost his composure, breaking into sobs. "Why does she do these things?? Why does she go to such extremes?? I don't deserve it...I don't....." He could not talk anymore, his crying muffling out his ability to talk. Kila's heart just sank. She looked confused, but had her suspicions. "Where is she, Merlie?" She whispered as she hugged him lightly.
He had his face buried in his hands, and answered her without looking up, by simply pointing behind him.
A small study was behind him, through an open archway. Kila looked in and could see someone on a couch, not moving. She got up and hastily went into the small room.
Besides a tall bookcase, where Merlock had most likely gotten the book he was holding, there was only a couch. It reminded Kila of a psychiatrist's office....she lost that thought quickly as she noticed Bindi. She looked asleep, but was probably as pale as Merlock had looked before. Her wrist looked like it had been cut, and there were deep puncture wounds on her neck , all of which were still bleeding, slowly. Kila gasped and shook the Time Shifter.
"Oh my gawd, Bindi, what the hell have you done??"
There was no response.
"Bindi???" Kila shook her harder. But still the fairy did not move.
Kila sank to her knees, pushing a few blonde locks from her angelic face. She knew very well why she had done this. Kila was probably the only one who would ever truly understand how Bindi felt about Merlock, even more than he could himself. It was obvious, from his outbreak before, that the vampire was not fully aware of her feelings. Sure he knew she loved him...but not to the extent that Kila knew.
With a sigh she got back to her feet, and slowly plodded back to the bed were the distraught bishounen was. He eyed her with much concern.
"Well....she's pretty out of it...but I'm sure she'll be fine. I saw her breathing, she's just in a deep sleep. Though boy is she going to have one major migraine when she wakes up...." Kila giggled but Merlock did not see anything amusing about it. He sank down into his feather pillows and looked utterly crestfallen.
"Merlock...." His best friend sat at the foot of the bed, massaging his foot in a sort of affectionate gesture. "You have to understand why Bindi would do such a thing for you. Not only was your very life at stake, but she knew the overwhelming sadness that would befall your entire race if you were gone. That's why she nearly risked her life....and let me tell you it was done out of nothing but pure love. And don't you dare blame yourself. You understand?? Don't!" Kila looked sternly at his face.
He smiled vaguely. "You're tickling me."
Kila made a face at him and hit him with a pillow. "Oooo! You!" She then started giggling as a pillow fight ensued.

~

When Trallien stepped back into his castle a while later, he was a bit startled by the sounds of inane laughter coming from upstairs. He looked behind him at the lady Victoria, who gave a wide smile to the man she would simply die for. The lord vampire looked at the stairwell and headed for it, leaving the woman there to gaze about in her confused state.
Upon reaching the top and entering the room, he was dumbfounded at what he saw. There was Merlock and Kila, standing on the bed, hitting each other with pillows, feathers flying everywhere. Merlock looked completely fine, his wound nearly gone, the illustrious shine strong in his eyes once more. Bindi was up and watching them, but she was still too weak to even move, so she simply smiled at their silly childish game.
"What in the name of...." He trailed off, as the two looked at him with big smiles.
"Hey Trallien, you took WAY too long." Kila smirked.
Merlock came down from the bed and gave his maker a swift hug. " I want to thank you....if you hadn't of gotten me out of there when you did----"
"I- I don't understand.....how could you recover...so quickly??" He of course had figured out what Bindi had done, but it still made no sense.
"I really don't know!" Merlock replied, smiling more, a strange hint of luminescence seeming to surround him. "But I feel pretty darn good!"
Kila beamed. "First he was just sitting in bed reading....but then within an hour he was up and.....pillowfighting!" She gave a devilish grin and whacked Merlock again, who retaliated by taking two pillows and getting her on both sides. This sort of playful behavior was quite typical of the two.
Trallien was still bewildered, but he smiled, much hope in his eyes. Seeing Merlock well made all the difference. He turned to Bindi, suddenly looking horrified at her pale, clammy complexion, and the wounds that she now bore.
She seemed to understand his expression and simply shook her head, as if to say "Don't worry."
Trallien made a mental note to talk to Bindi later when she was better. It would take a lot to repay her for what she had done. And being the type of person he was, he always insisted on paying back good deeds.
"Well..." Trallien turned and pointed down the stairwell. "I suppose I brought that poor woman here for nothing."
"Hmm....what should we do with her then?" Kila asked, looking where he directed at the dark-haired woman who was staring right at them.
"Oh let her go of course." He slowly walked back down, and with a wave of his hand had the lady heading for the door. She held out her hand, and was just about to open the door, when suddenly the wood shattered as a very large black wolf came right through it. It landed squarely on Victoria, looking quite stunned at the unexpected catch. For a moment, it stood over her, baring its teeth with a low growl.
Everyone was frozen in place, except for Merlock who instinctively went over to Bindi, ready to protect her from anything in her weakened state.
"Ahhh...you are not Trallien. But you'll do as a prelude to my fury." The wolf who was Manson snarled, and quite casually ripped her throat out with his wicked maw.
"NO!" Trallien broke out of his shocked trance, and went for the hairy beast. Manson saw him coming and darted away with incredible speed, heading out the door. He grinned wickedly, hoping the master vampire would follow him.

Which he did. Trallien ran with his own supernatural speed and was quickly catching up with the beast. He could hear Kila's calls of worry echoing behind him, but he ignored it. Manson darted through the forests, dodging trees like oncoming projectiles, and hopping over boulders as if they were mere stepping stones. And yet Trallien was for the most part effortlessly following him, a very enraged look on his face.
'Heh....the fool will fall right into the trap....' Manson sneered at his own thoughts, as he continued to allow himself to play mouse.

In the near distance, a large group of Nights were waiting. They saw Manson coming, and readied themselves in their battle stances. Trallien would be no easy defeat. If they wanted any hope of bringing him down, it would have to be with this surprise attack.

"Manson!!" Trallien roared out the name, and lept. Manson turned his head just mere moments before the leader came down on him. But it was at that moment that the 100+ Nights struck, coming at Trallien with wooden stakes and daggers. However, his tussle with Manson sent them rolling, and about 50 or so of those stakes plunged into the wolf rather than him. He let out an agonizing wolfish scream before going completely limp.
With him out of the way, Trallien quickly got to his feet and prepared himself for the onslaught. But even he knew he stood no chance against them all....

"Merlock!! Merlock get back here! You can't go fight in this condition!!" Kila's pleas were in vain as her best friend ran up ahead on the path, going in the direction he had heard the scream. Taal scrambled after him, looking like a black streak behind him. Eventually poor Kila gave up, her own human limitations setting in as she slumped to her knees, trying to catch her breath. Her worried eyes closed tightly.
"Please please...don't let him get hurt again..."

~

When Merlock came onto the scene, he found himself stopping dead in his tracks at the sight of a bloody Trallien knocking down Nights left and right. He had been cut in more places than one could count, but despite that was still going strong. Perhaps it was more adrenaline than anything else.
Merlock glared at that point, a more intense, savage type of glare that one would have thought he was incapable of. He realized at that very moment that if he didn't do something, Trallien would be brought down. From that point, the Nights would make short work of him. Then.....there would be no more leader...the Days' power would drastically weaken...and the Nights...they would take over, slaughtering innocent humans like cattle, and most likely also Kila, and Kessa, and Bindi....no...no...NO!!!

Then, there was a sudden burst of brilliant light, enveloping everything, blinding the Nights and making them cry out as the light felt very much like the sun. Only a few, who shielded their eyes in time, could see that the source of the light was Merlock, standing a few yards off. Then, he could be seen no more, as his form was slowly shifting.
Trallien, panting from all his exertion, turned and stared wide-eyed at the unbelievable sight before him. He could swear that, within the light, there was something looking very much like....a bird....

Taal himself began to glow at that point, a strange black fog enshrouding him. He stared at the luminescent creature as if in a trance. It was true, it was definitely a bird, and for a precious moment, Trallien was for the first time staring at the red eyes of the being known as Talgiss. It shone with the brilliance of a star, and if he hadn't of been a Day, he would not have been able to look at it. He couldn't help but think of the great Birds of Paradise that he had seen on his many travels to the rain forests. Talgiss looked very much like one of them.
And then....with a loud raucous cry the bird form was gone, and the light dimmed to just a glow, surrounding Merlock. But he was no longer the somewhat aloof Victorian-style vampire that Trallien knew. He was now standing there, with great angelic wings spreading out behind him, and a silver tiara with a sapphire stone embedded into it and adorned on his forehead. All of his clothes had been torn away, save for a few shreds that draped around his waist. His red eyes were now glowing like hot embers, and they were simply focused on the Nights who cowered before him. Then, with not a word, he rose into the air and fired the same golden beams of light that Trallien used at the Nights. But instead of just knocking them down, these seared through them like butter, instantly turning them to dust. One, only one, managed to escape, and he was soon gone over the hills as he headed for the caves.

With that, Merlock suddenly went limp, and fell from the sky in complete exhaustion.

~~~~~~~~End of part 4!~~~~~~~~


Whoa! Welp.....I have to say I wasn't too thrilled with how this turned out, but,*sigh*, rather than keep all my readers waiting any longer I figured I better get this part out! I really, really hope you liked it! ^_^ Part 5 should be....well there's no garuntees but eventually I will get it out there! ^_~

~Ami~