My god. I actually updated this. Unbelievable. I'm kind of in shock that I managed to--almost--finish this.
Enjoy.

Chapter 13


Grimacing, Trent opened the door. Selyah Redfern was seated on a queenly throne, with a panting, frightened Amethyst seated at her feet and-Trent had been wrong. There were not thirty, but fifty vampire guards in the room. She cast about with her senses, and felt Orion's life force (very faint) several rooms away. She heard a click behind her, and knew that the door had locked automatically. This was going to be hell.
Selyah smelled her fear and smiled. What do you know, she said. I finally found a way to hurt Trent the Heartless-and through my own best henchman, even! The sick irony. She laughed as she sensed Trent's fear evaporate and be replaced by sheer, unbridled fury. Her laugh was cut short, however, when Trent leapt straight for her, knocking her backwards out of her throne'. Selyah threw her off and ran for the door to the next room, and five henchman immediately fell on Trent. She bit back panic and unsheathed two stakes, killing two of her opponents and throwing two others against the wall. More immediately swarmed around her, and through the mass of bodies Trent saw Amethyst slip out. Oh no you don't, Trent thought grimly. Closing her eyes, she reached deep inside her for energy reserves she rarely needed to tap. Opening her eyes, she sent out a blast that sent every henchman in the room hurtling away from her, knocking each one unconscious and killing the ones closest to her. Staggering and gasping with the effort that had nearly killed her, Trent raced after Amethyst.
The witch screamed and squirmed in Trent's iron grip. Trent snarled and went for her neck. Vampire teeth rarely came in handy, as she didn't need blood, but when it came to killing scum like this witch, they were quite useful.
Trent finished and dropped the dead witch. The blood had invigorated her, and she raced on.
She came to the door that she could feel Orion behind, and cautiously opened it. The room looked to be almost like a vampiric lab: skulls and vials of dark liquid and other witchy things were scattered across the floor and on the shelves on the wall. There was no one in the room that Trent could see; Selyah must be hiding somewhere. Wait-there: Orion was lying on the floor in the corner, still unconscious.
She leapt to his side, landing clumsily and sliding on the slick floor, knocking aside various darkly magical objects. Not caring, she grasped Orion's face with both hands, terror filling her as she felt how cold his skin was. Orion...Orion, wake up! Oh goddess...wake up, wake up!!! She was shaking him, hitting him, anything to wake him up--she could feel his life force but that didn't stop the fear and oh god he felt so cold she would KILL Selyah he felt almost alien to her dear goddess why didn't he wake up??!!
Orion!!! She screamed telepathically, and suddenly he opened his eyes and smiled. Trent was about to yelp in delight and kiss him, but she stopped. There was something wrong. His eyes were so... his mind felt so...
Trent found she was shaking. she managed to squeak out.
He laughed and his hand shot out for her throat. He was standing, lifting her off the ground, his hand crushing her windpipe, laughing all the while. For some reason, the soulmate connection was having no effect on either of them: there wasn't even a spark or hint of pink haze. Orion! What are you--
She never got a chance to finish her telepathic call. With a flick of his wrist, Orion sent her flying across the room to crash into one of the walls. Her head connected with a wooden shelf with a sickening crack, and Trent fell to the floor, gasping for air, her head reeling from the impact.
Before she could get her bearings, Orion was on her again, giving her a punch that sent her back up to slam, once again into the wall. Trent scrambled to get to her feet, but her soulmate's fist connected with her temple, sending her crashing to the floor again.
Her mind shrieking in rage and fear and confusion, Trent leapt to her feet and backed away from him, wondering what the hell was going on. Why had he attacked her? Why was he advancing towards her with that look in his obsidian eyes, as if he wanted not just to kill her but to obliterate her completely? What had Selyah done to him?
Gulping, she croaked, Orion, what are you doing? What...what happened to you??
He smiled, a ferocious smile that made everything decent in Trent screech in fury. I found the right side, he said, his voice calm, languid even.
Lightning fast, he lunged toward her, Trent barely managing to sidestep him. He stood fast and whirled around, attacking her again. Trent halfheartedly blocked what blows she could, horrified and wondering what the hell was going on.
Suddenly he threw himself into her, knocking her to the floor and pinning her there. There was an insane grin on his face, and his eyes...his eyes held a murderous glee, a dark, evil laughter that made Trent's stomach churn.
This wasn't her Orion. It couldn't be.
Gritting her teeth, Trent brought all her concentration and psychic powers to bear, and attacked Orion's mind shields. She brushed past his own that he had crafted after years of being a vampire, but there was something else in his mind: something dark and ugly, something that definitely didn't belong there.
What the hell are you doing? Orion's mental voice snarled inside her mind. Closing her eyes and concentrating, Trent attacked the ugly mass of something inside Orion's mind, a small part of her reaching out to Orion, begging him to come back to her.
Orion I love you. We're soulmates! she thought to him, only to be rewarded with what could only be described as a telepathic snarl.
Bearing down further on the blackt thing in Orion's mind. Orion, listen to me! This is Selyah's doing, this isn't you, this is just one of her spells, you don't have to--
Her thought was cut short when he backhanded her, snapping her neck back to the floor. No! Orion, please, I love you, I can feel you underneath Selyah's spell--this isn't you!
How do you know? Maybe I realized that killing you would be better than dying myself. Maybe I finally realized what side I belong on.
Orion I know you! Trent practically screamed inside his mind. You love me--I cn feel it even now. We're fucking SOULMATES! I know you wouldn't do this to me!
Wake up and smell the roses, Trent, Orion snarled. I AM doing this. I'm going to kill you, and there's not a damn thing your poor, romantic, tortured soul can do about it.
Frustrated and furious, Trent opened her eyes. Blue chips of ice met black obsidian. Then kill me, Orion, she said, her voice quiet and shaking with fury. Use those lovely teeth of yours and drain me dry. C'mon--do what you never got a chance to do when we first met. Kill me, dammit! I dare you!
She held his gaze, her mind still battling with the dark cloud inside Orion's head. He snarled, his expression insane and ferocious. I will, he hissed. Leaning in, he opened his mouth wide, exposing formidable canines. Trent felt a tendril of fear inside her, but she brushed it aside, forcing herself not to flinch or give way to her fear.
But Orion didn't move any closer to her. He was leaning in, his fangs bare, his expression contorting and twisting as if something awful was going on behind those black eyes. Trent felt an unbelievable pressure pound his mind; she felt the black spell that held him give a final, agonizing scream before it exploded.
The energy that erupted from Selyah's spell nearly knocked Trent unconscious. The dying spell attacked her mind, screaming and howling, ripping over her like a tidal wave. Trent could feel herself drowning in the power and evil intentions--even as it died it wanted to destroy her. She closed her eyes and screamd in pain, the spell still clawing at her psyche even in its last gasps of life.
At last the magic faded and died completely; Trent's mind was alone and free again. She could feel blood pounding in her temples and smell the sweat that slicked down her forehead and made her shirt cling to her damp skin. Any psychic powers she had after her bouts with Amethyst and the guards were now completely drained.
Groaning, she opened her eyes to see Orion's concerned face looking down on her. He was even paler than normal, and fear and confusion were stark in his normally calm black eyes. He swallowed. Are--are you all right? What happened?!
Pushing herself up to her elbows, Trent said, Selyah--bewitched you or somethin'. I managed to kill the spell.
Orion's eyes widened. I remember... I attacked you, didn't I? Oh Trent, I'm so sorry--I tried to fight it, I-- his face was a mask of terror and guilt as he fell forward to embrace her, a choked sob escaping from his lips. He buried his head in her hair, as if desperate for something, anything to hold on to. Trent closed her eyes and ran her fingers through his black hair, so thick it was almost fur. Sssh, baby, ssh. Orion, honey, it wasn't your fault--it wasn't you who attacked me. Realizing what she sounded like, Trent smirked to herself. Who'dve guessed her maternal instincts would show up now of all places?
Amazing--simply amazing. I knew of your powers, Trent, but I didn't think even you could defeat magic as old and powerful as the spell I laid on your traitor of a soulmate. Trent and Orion sprang apart, fangs bared at the sound of the icy cold voice. Selyah leaned against the doorframe, a bemused expression on her pale features. She chuckled softly. If I wasn't determined to have your head hanging on my trophy wall, I'd ask you to join my little team. As it is--well, it's disappointing that neither Amethyst nor Orion were able to finish you off, but maybe it's better this way: now I'll finally be able to fight you face to face and kill you myself instead of leaving the job to inferior idiots. Grinning savagely, she advanced toward Trent and her lover. I have been in such need of a good challenge, Trent.
With a roar, Orion leapt to his feet and threw himself at her. The young vampire was no match for Selyah's telepathic powers, and she batted him away with her mind as easily as swatting away a fly, her mind sending him crashing into the opposite wall. In her mind, Trent could feel him go unconscious; she would have to fight this one alone.
Trent stood up slowly, resisting the urge to run to Orion's side, it being exactly what Selyah wanted. I'll do more than challenge you, Selyah, she growled. I'll rip you to shreds and feed your corpse to my dogs.
Selyah laughed. This is going to be the most fun I've had in years!
With a snarling roar, Trent leapt at Selyah, surprising the witch-turned-vampire with her speed and strength and knocking her to the wall. But Selyah was up in a flash, and Immediately lashed out with her mind, making Trent scream with pain. They both fought with the ferocity of wild animals, neither one even aware anymore of why they were fighting only that it was a duel to the death.
Trent was horribly disadvantaged: her magic powers were almost entirely gone, and of no use in fighting against Selyah's formidable power. She was stronger than her assailant, but this hardly made a difference when Selyah could psychically do far more damage than Trent could physically ever do.
And yet, for a while the fight seemed to be going to Trent's advantage. Selyah wasn't using her psychic powers much, and Trent was hitting her with vicious volleys of kicks, punches, anything she could get through. Selyah was backing away from Trent's fury, but when she hit the wall she stopped.
And smiled.
Trent's mind exploded in pain, and all of a sudden she wasn't in the room anymore. Instead, she was fifteen again, in that dirty room above the bar with Ash lying on top of her. She saw his cruel smile as he leaned towards her neck, his body crushing her... she felt the fear all over again as she struggled helplessly against his grip, the horror, pain and humiliation as he forced himself into her and then the sickening lurch as his fangs drew her blood. His disgusting body, his mind was inside her, and it was pain, humiliation, hurt like she'd never known, and his hot breath on her neck made her stomach lurch as she felt the blood, the life, everything that made her who she was being sucked out of her by this monster...
As quickly as it came, the memory was gone, replaced by a new one. Trent was sixteen this time, running through a dark alleyway in the very worst part of New York. Her psychic powers had exploded a couple of hours ago in the middle of Times Square, killing five people, and injuring six more. She had been running ever since.
What's the matter, freak? Scared o' what ya did? Scared o' what I'm gonna do to you? A brown-haired vampire girl crept out of the shadows, anger flashing in her eyes.
Trent looked up and gasped in surprise, then grinned at the sight of her old friend--one of her only friends back in her hometown. Crystal! I'm so glad you--
Shut up, freak! the girl spat, murderous anger dancing in her eyes. I heard what you did to Ash--you almost killed him, you bitch. She smiled. And now I'm gonna kill you.
With a snarl, Crystal leapt for Trent, a stake appearing in her hand. Snarling, she plunged the wood into Trent's chest, and the pain...the pain was unbearable. Not just the exploding feel of wood splinters embedded in her lungs, but the agonizing, deep hurt of betrayal...
The memory was gone, and now Trent was seven, playing in the playground of her old home, the safetown in Maine. She was crying, curled up in a fetal position, as children, vampires and witches her own age, taunted her, calling her horrible names that, even after eleven years still stung. They taunted her for her shameful parents, they taunted her for her crazy aunt and her lack of money, they taunted her for being poor, they taunted her for being a freak and Trent fell hot tears gather and spill down her cheeks in the memory. The sorrow and pain was crunched inside, bottled up and so desperate to get out, and all of a sudden Trent was aware of the other children screaming: under the strain and pressure of holding all that hurt inside, her psychic powers had lashed out, knocking a young vampire child unconscious. The seven-year-old Trent started sobbing, stumbling to get away from the children's angry words, horrified by what they were doing but disgusted even more by herself...
Then that fateful night, six months ago. Trent woke from sleep to see a giant wooden stake poised above her heart, and time seemed to stand still as she felt the connection of the one beside her, as she realised what was happening. The horrible realisation that she loved him came as she slammed him against the wall, and she could feel her heart tearing in two as she realised who he was, what he was. Of all the memories, this was the worst. The pain was unbearable, as she watched him go, as she watched him take half of her soul with him, as she told him to go even as her entire being screamed for him to stay....
Then everything was black, and Trent realised her eyes were closed. She was kneeling on the ground in the present, her lungs heaving, her blood pounding in her ears. Selyah was laughing, a cold, high laugh that split the air in two, that turned the very blood in Trent's veins to ice.
Shaking in pain and misery, Trent opened her eyes and looked up to meet Selyah's eyes. The fight was over, and there was no doubt as to who won. The fabled vampire outlaw, the infamous Trent Raven, was done for, defeated, dead.
Selyah smiled, triumph glittering in her merciless eyes. You're a failure Trent, she sneered. You are helpless, just as you were three years ago when Ash raped you, just as you were when Amethyst kidnapped your little boyfriend. She leaned in close, her breath tickling Trent's nostrils. How did it feel, Trent? How did it feel to have him force himself on you, to hurt you in the deepest way it is possible to hurt a woman, to be just as helpless as any human girl? How did it feel to have him disgrace you before the world and then have your entire world hunt you? Do you remember the feel of his hated teeth against your throat? Do you remember the sickening weight of his body as it pinned down yours, crushing your spirit and your pride? She leaned in even closer, now whispering in Trent's ear. Think of all the pain he caused you, Trent. Think of how many times you failed yourself and your friends. Think of how you are failing your soulmate right now--because I'm going to kill him in the most painful and horrible way once you're dead. And his death will all be your fault. But I can see that you don't even care--I've broken your soul completely. It would be a mercy to kill you now. Smiling, Selyah brought the stake in her hand high. Goodbye, Trent, she whispered.
Suddenly Trent felt a fire inside her as her body filled with energy. She could almost feel a cord stretching from her to Orion, and she could definitely feel the energy that he was giving her. You go, girl, she heard him say faintly in her mind. Not pausing to thank him, Trent reached up and grabbed the stake as Selyah was about to bring it smashing down upon her, and with a flick of the wrist broke it in two.
Rage flowed through her veins instead of blood; the only thought in her mind was to kill Selyah. She attacked anew, with both body and mind, landing blow after blow that would easily kill any human. She could see the shock and fear on Selyah's face as she fought to defend herself against the killing machine Trent had become; she could hear Orion's voice in the back of her mind, cheering her on. But all that mattered was the fight.
Trent could feel the fight coming to an end: Selyah's blows, both physically and psychically, were getting wilder and weaker by the second as she became desperate. Trent roared and rushed toward her, closing in for the kill, and she could feel Selyah's mind snapping towards her last available defense, the one thing that might save her; she could almost feel the wood in Selyah's hand as she retrieved a snake hidden beneath her sleeve and threw it, with deadly accuracy, straight into Orion's heart.
The strangled cry of some wild beast ripped out of Trent's mind, and she practically flew away from Selyah, not caring what the vampire did, only caring for the stake in Orion's heart.
But Trent's powers had always manifested themselves in strange ways. As Selyah breathed a sigh of relief that she had managed to distract her assailant, Trent's pain emerged in other ways than just a verbal scream. Splinters and giant chunks of wood ripped themselves from the floor, and before Trent's enemy even knew what was going on over a hundred stakes buried themselves in her chest.
Trent didn't know. Trent didn't give a damn what Selyah was doing anymore. She was leaning over her soulmate cursing her gods and anything else for giving her the power only to destroy, not to heal.
Orion was dying. He smiled up at her, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. I'm sorry, he gasped.
Don't say that! Trent practically screamed. There's nothing to be sorry for! She grasped his hand, cradling it to her like it was the only thing keeping her alive, her other hand burying itself in his hair.
He laughed, short and painfully. I love you, Trent.
Tears stung her eyes. Stop it, damn you! Stop acting so serious and--and--like you're saying your last goodbyes! You're not going to die!
He only smiled and gave a little sigh. These last two weeks--they've been worth everything.
Stop being so god damn cryptic! You're not going to die, dammit!
He laughed again. Ever so angry, my Raven.
Of course I'm angry if my stupid soulmates keep acting so deranged! You're not going to die!
He stared up at her, his ebony eyes infinitely sad. You are the only thing that's made my life worthwhile, he whispered. I don't regret a single thing I've done, because if I hadn't done any of it--hadn't become a vampire, hadn't worked for Selyah.... I never would have gotten to look into your eyes. For that I'm the luckiest man in the world.
Trent bowed her head, the anger melting away, replacing itself with a wound so deep that it would never heal, not for a thousand lifetimes. Two weeks. Two weeks she'd had with him, and now...
I love you, Trent.
She kissed him fiercely, taking advantage of every last soulmate spark and trace of pink haze. I love you, Orion. Always.
She helped him sit up, and placed his head in her lap, tracing her fingers through his hair and over his face. They didn't speak; nothing more needed to be said. Trent held him until she felt the connection die completely, and his body began to wither, his skin pulling taut and mummy-like.
He was gone.