On to the story...
~*~
Gabriel entered the sitting room, startling Vitaliy and Fritz. He fell onto his brother. "What did you do to Jeshickah?"
Vitaliy squished himself against the back of his chair. "I didn't do anything."
"Then why does she have a vendetta against you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Jeshickah has plans to break Nicole and give her back to you as a mindless slave!" What the hell did you do to her?"
"I don't know!" Vitaliy was yelling. "Damnit Gabe! Help me get her back!"
"Don't call me Gabe!" He yelled back.
"No, I will call you whatever I damn well please. I'm sorry that you've got this little complex about Jeshickah's pet name for you, but get the fuck over it! It's been over two hundred years."
"And it's been that long since youwhat did you do to her that day?" Gabe asked softly, more of a request than an order.
Vitaliy hung his head. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Too bad."
"No."
"V, please. You need to tell us. It might help us get Nicole back before Jeshickah kills her," Alexia begged.
"I don't want to talk about it. You're not going to get me to talk about it. End of discussion. Got it?" Vitaliy turned to leave.
Alexia reached out and grabbed his arm. "Damn you V! Listen to me! She's got Nicole locked in a cage with a broken arm and only God only knows what else. What the fuck did you do?" She was yelling. Gabriel fervently hoped that no one was listening outside or they were going to wonder why a slave was yelling at her master.
Vitaliy yanked his arm from Alexia's grip and again tried to leave. Gabriel stood before him and blocked his way. "You know that I can hurt you V, and you also know that I don't want to. But damnit, you need to tell me before she kills your girlfriend." He stared his little brother down, looking into the infinitely black eyes that mirrored his own. He thought he saw something in Vitaliy give up.
"Okay, okay. Just let go of me Gabe."
Gabriel let go and, for once, didn't say anything about the nickname. Vitaliy sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. "Remember Mara?" His voice was muffled through his hands.
"I think so" Gabriel trailed off, trying to remember.
"She was a slave of Jeshickah's. She was only nine years old. Jeshickah had stolen her for her beauty and temperament. Jeshickah hadn't quite broken her yet, but she was close. She was planning on turning the girl into another mindless dog for breeding. After all, the younger they start having babies, the more slaves you get. The girl called out to me for help that evening. I knew that if I didn't help her, no one would. I killed one of Jeshickah's guards and took the girl. She asked to not go back to her family because they would reject her. I took her to a woman I knew that couldn't have children, but wanted them. She took Mara in and raised her in a loving home. Jeshickah never found her. Mara came to have a family of her own. I never regretted the decision, but Jeshickah has apparently held a grudge," Vitaliy explained.
A light bulb went off in Gabriel's head. "Wait, was she the one with the dark hair? She had the little rag doll?"
Vitaliy nodded. "Jeshickah loved the little girl in her own way. I think she believed that Mara would become the perfect slave, but she never did have a chance to test that theory."
Gabriel turned the chair to face the bed and sat in it. Alexia sat in his lap. "So that's where you disappeared to for a couple days. You never did tell me where you went."
"I took her to Laurelle. I helped the two of them move to London and start a new life there," Vitaliy added.
"That explains a lot V. Why didn't you tell me this before now?"
"I thought you'd kill me."
"No, but I might now," Gabriel smiled at his brother's reaction to that. At least now they knew why Jeshickah had taken Nicole. Gabriel prayed to any and all of the gods that were listening to help them get Nicole back safely. He hoped that someone granted his prayer.
~*~
Vitaliy dampened his aura as best he could as he crept about Midnight. He came across several people between his suite and Jeshickah's realm. Most of them were slaves who only acknowledged his presence long enough to mumble "milord" and continue on their way. He did stumble upon another vampire arguing with a slave. He knew immediately that the girl's burgundy hair and eyes had doomed her to slavery. The vampire was familiar, but Vitaliy couldn't place him until the girl spat "damn you Gabriel!" He then recognized the cause for his brother's hatred of being called "Gabe." Jeshickah had once decided that she needed a way to distinguish the two by name. Please don't see me, he wished. He knew that Jeshickah would have told Gabriel everything about Nicole.
Vitaliy let himself relax when he turned the corner without notice. Jeshickah had placed a guard on the door to Nicole's prison. The guard shifter from his raven form back to that of a man in an instant. "Milord, may I ask your business here?"
"No, you may not," Vitaliy replied calmly.
"My Mistress has forbidden that anyone enter this chamber without her leave," the guard informed him.
Vitaliy paused and acted as though he was going to turn and leave. Instead, he dropped the knife from it's hidden sheath on his right forearm. He put it to the guard's throat. The man reverted to his other form with a squawk. He pecked at Vitaliy and flew off to report to Jeshickah. Vitaliy ignored the feeling that it was all too easy. He let himself into the chamber beyond to help Nicole.
Alexia had told Vitaliy where to find Nicole. Now, she followed Gabriel and Fritz as they went to their meeting with Jeshickah to "purchase" a slave. Gabriel hoped that that his brother could get Nicole to safety. There were going to do everything within their power to help him keep Jeshickah away. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Fritz was nearly shaking. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Fritz replied. "I'm just a little nervous. Last time I stood up to Jeshickah, she turned me. I don't know what else she can do to me."
"She can't do anything. Maybe we can help someone else while we're here," Gabriel tried to change the focus of Fritz's mind.
"I hope so," the young vampire replied.
Gabriel nodded and didn't say anything further. He retreated to his own thoughts. He marveled at how Alexia had fallen into step behind them again. It unnerved him at how naturally she did that and played the role of a slave. She probably gets it from all those books that she reads, he mused. At least, he hoped that was the cause.
They met Jeshickah in Jaguar's office. The other vampire presided over the negotiations. Alexia took a kneeling position beside Gabriel's chair. He put a hand on her shoulder and hoped that it looked possessive and not too obviously romantic. She stared at the floor and didn't move. "Have you thought about which slave you'd like to purchase?" Jaguar asked before Jeshickah could begin the negotiations. Gabriel could feel waves of anger coming off of her aura.
"I would like to take another brief look at the slaves before I make my decision," Fritz replied matter-of-factly.
Jaguar nodded. "I had been expecting you to say that," he clapped his hands, and the door opened.
Eric was leading several slaves who filed into the room and fell into a position that mimicked Alexia's. Six were female and three were male. The males seemed to be much more subdued than their female counterparts. Fritz stood and walked around them. "Rise," he ordered.
Gabriel was surprised at how well Fritz fell into the roll of slave owner. Then again, he had fallen to the same act just as easily. He watched as Fritz examined each slave carefully. The ones that were obviously too far gone were basically ignored. Jeshickah noticed this. "Looking for a challenge?" She asked.
"It takes all the fun out of it if they're broken," Fritz observed. He stopped beside one that Gabriel recognized as the one from the west wing earlier. She held her head defiantly, as if willing Fritz to strike her. "What is your name?" He demanded.
"Amayya, milord," the girl replied. Her demeanor never became submissive, which meant that she probably hadn't been a slave for very long. At least Jaguar hadn't reestablished the breeding pens yet. Fritz paused as though he were going to ask another question, but he moved to the next person.
The boy next to Amayya stiffened when Fritz stopped before him. "Rise and tell me your name."
The boy stood carefully; Gabriel wasn't sure if it was from pain or fear. His eyes played briefly over Fritz's features and recognition shone there. He quickly covered it. "Devon, milord."
Fritz stood before the two, watching them intently. "What do you think Gabriel? A nice pair?"
Gabriel admired the two. Her auburn hair was the same shade as the boy's, and their golden skin tones were well matched. The only thing that kept them from being the perfect pair of slaves was their eyes; hers were a rich blue while his were jade green. They did look good together though. "A fine pair," he agreed. "However, do you truly need two slaves?"
"Not particularly. It does make things symmetrical though."
"Yes, but the girl is rebellious and presumes far too much," Gabriel hated to say it, but it was true and needed to be said. If Fritz didn't chose her and a crueler master came across her, she was likely to be killed.
"Oh?" Jaguar came into the conversation at that.
"Yes, she tried to insinuate that she would make a better pleasure slave than my current one," Gabriel explained. He had the slight satisfaction of seeing hatred smolder in Amayya's eyes. She hadn't been taught to hide that yet.
Their haggling was interrupted by a squawking raven who landed at Jeshickah's feet before taking his true form as one of her guards. He was disheveled as he knelt and spoke. "Mistress, there has been a Disturbance."
Jeshickah jumped to her feet. She did not appear happy. "Gabriel, you told me that your brother was not here."
"I lied."
Jeshickah hissed at that. "I should kill you, but I'll settle for him and his little pet," she turned to leave, but Jaguar stopped her.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Jeshickah. Gabriel, go help your brother and get the girl to a hospital. I'm afraid she's been badly injured."
Jeshickah struggled with Jaguar. Gabriel and Alexia wasted no time in running toward Nicole and Vitaliy. Gabriel didn't look back to see if Fritz followed.
~*~
Fritz was frozen. He didn't know who to help: Nicole or Devon. He had lost his brother once, he didn't know if he could bear to lose him again. With that thought, he grabbed Devon's arm and brought them back to his rooms. He prayed that the others didn't need his help, but it had to be done. His brother stared at him with questioning eyes. "I know, there is a lot I need to tell you," Fritz began.
~*~
Vitaliy broke into the cage and took Nicole into his arms. She looked so very pale and weak. He didn't know what to do. He held her close, but was also very mindful of her many injuries. He racked his mind for a place to take her. She needed medical attention immediately. "Please be okay," he whispered. "Please."
He jumped when the door behind him flew open. He didn't want to have to fight anyone else. "It's just us," Alexia said when she came in a half step behind Gabriel. Vitaliy breathed a sigh of relief. "What should I do? It's all my fault. I never should have taken her there, I never should have turned my back..." He trailed off, not knowing what else to say but knowing there was so much more that needed to be said.
"It's too late for never-should-haves V. Take her to SingleEarth, it's her only hope. Alexia and I will meet you there as soon as we can. I have a feeling that Jeshickah is not going to be happy with us," Gabriel sighed.
He did as Gabriel said. Moments later they appeared at the familiar grey building that was SingleEarth. He carried Nicole through the double doors and into the reception area beyond. A familiar witch approached him. "What happened to her?" Caryn Smoke asked.
"Jeshickah," Vitaliy couldn't say any more, but he really didn't need to. Caryn could infer enough from the name alone. He followed her to a small room that was much warmer and cheerier than he felt at the moment.
"Can you lie her down on the bed?" Caryn asked. "I need to asses her injuries."
Vitaliy did as she said and stood back, although he hovered like a worried mother. Caryn told him to go around to the other side of the bed and hold her hand. He presumed that was just to get him out of her way. "I'll be right back," the healer said before hurrying out of the room.
"I'm so sorry baby, please forgive me," Vitaliy pleaded and he held her hand tightly. He couldn't let go. He wouldn't.
Caryn returned a moment later with another person in tow. The new boy looked quite a bit like Caryn, with the same chestnut hair, but his eyes were a steely grey. His demeanor was open and friendly, and he smiled until he saw Nicole laying on the narrow hospital bed. Caryn introduced him as Chris. "Can you help her?" Vitaliy pleaded.
"What happened to her?" Chris asked.
"Jeshickah decided she needed a new play toy and thought Nicole would make a good one eventually," Vitaliy replied dryly.
Chris stepped closer and put his left hand over Nicole's heart. "I think I can help, but she's lost a lot of blood, hasn't she?"
Vitaliy nodded. "Let's see what we can do," Chris said.
Vitaliy didn't know how long they sat there as Chris chanted softly to himself, sometimes channeling energy from Caryn and always moving his right hand while keeping his left centered on her heart. Nicole's breathing eventually became more even and her color came back a bit. Chris looked at Vitaliy, "I've done all that I can. Her arm will still need to be splinted and she'll still be sore, but she'll be okay if we can get some blood into her. Stay with her and I'll be back in a minute with that blood."
Caryn trailed behind Chris as he left the room, leaving Vitaliy alone with Nicole again. Her light grey eyes fluttered open and focused on his face. "V?" She asked weakly.
"Shh, I'm here sweetie. You just need to rest. You're safe now, but you need some blood. They went to go get you some," he said as he smoothed her white hair off her forehead.
"No," her voice was hoarse.
"No what? No blood?"
She shook her head. "I don't ever want to be helpless again. You're not helpless."
"What are you saying?" Vitaliy hoped he didn't know.
"Change me," her eyes met his and he knew that she was serious. This was what she really wanted. Vitaliy nodded and gave her some of his blood. Caryn and Chris returned with several packets of blood. Chris turned and was going to leave with the precious liquid when Caryn took three pints from him and set it on the table beside the bed. "Don't let her kill," she told Vitaliy before leaving. He didn't.
~*~
Alexia followed Gabriel as he sprinted through the halls and nearly collided with him as Jaguar stepped out of his office. "Gabriel, Alexia," he nodded to each of them. "I assume that Nicole is safely somewhere else."
"Yes, I assume you won't be offended if I don't tell you where she is?"
Jaguar smiled. "Not at all my friend. I have convinced Jeshickah that Nicole is now freeblood along with Alexia here. You no longer have anything to worry about from us Gabriel."
Alexia couldn't stop herself from interrupting. "Freeblood?"
"That means no vampire can ever claim ownership over you again," Gabriel explained.
"I like the sound of that, and I'm sure Nicole will too," Alexia grinned.
"You two go ahead and catch up to Vitaliy and Nicole. Good luck Gabriel, and I know you'll understand when I say that we won't meet again soon," Jaguar escorted them back out to the black Celica. Alexia claimed the passeger seat and fell asleep without anyone's influence. It had been a while since she had slept peacefully.
~*~
When the four friends were reunited in the waiting room at SingleEarth, Alexia couldn't believe how much better Nicole looked. Not only was she uninjured, she seemed more graceful as well. "V, what did you do?" Gabriel asked as soon as he saw them.
"Hey, she asked for it. They were all prepared to give her a transfusion and she told me to do it," Vitaliy jumped to his own defense.
Nicole smiled, her black eyes meeting Gabriel's. "It's true," she said.
Alexia groaned. "So am I the only one who is still a plain old human?"
"Yep," Nicole laughed.
"This is going to take some getting used to," Alexia snuggled against Gabriel. "But right now, I want to take a shower, get this Godforsaken paint off my arms, and get some dinner. In that order."
They all laughed, and Gabriel took her home so that she could do just that while Vitaliy took Nicole to get used to her new abilities. "You still have a lot to tell me," Alexia reminded Gabriel as she pulled the filthy black shirt over her head.
"I know, and I will."
"You'd better."
Gabriel watched as she walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Nice bra, he told her before going to find his own dinner. When do I get to see what's under it?
She didn't give him an aswer yet. He would just have to wait. With that, Alexia surrendered to the scalding water.
~*~
End "Into the Dark"
I hope you liked it! Don't worry, I will eventually explain more about Fritz and Devon, but first Nicole has to get used to being a vampire. Her story is up next and I've already written part of it, so hopefully it won't be all that long before I post it.
Don't forget the little blue button in the left corner! It's lonely and wants another pretty review!
