Tristan's Peace - Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters that you may recognize from King Arthur. Nor do I own any that you may recognize from the Dark Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I am merely playing with them for a time. So please don't sue me, I have no money. Nada, zippo, zilch.

Warning: Gore and Violence ahead! If any of this squicks you out, don't read.

A/N: The POV is different in this chapter. I just wanted you to get a bit in the head of someone so sick in the head. And I wanted you all to know why Tristan came back as he did.

2005

For all of these year I have sat in the shadows. Sat and watched as the world has gone on around me.

I have watched the fall of my own country, the ruination of the Roman Empire. Watched as my fellow countrymen ran our fair city of Rome into the ground. I have watched the corruption of the greatest minds of my generation.

I watch now as the ruins of what I once held so dear, crumble into nothing but stone.

It has been nearly a millennia since I have seen the light of day. I sit in the dark, unable to leave this land of Britain for my mistress's fear that I will overrun the place. That I will wreck havoc on the mortal humans, ever trying to feed my need.

My need you see, is for blood and violence. I must have it, I need it to live like most need air.

My blood is thin right now as I sit.

Waiting.

Waiting for my opportunity to rid myself of that damned scout.

Waiting for the chance to kill that bitch, Teagan.

Again.

And this time I will drain her and that bastard of a knight dry. I will take their souls as well as their blood.

It was such a joy watching her suffer. Watching as her blood dripped down her chest from the cut I had made into her throat.

I enjoyed tracing that appalling tattoo of the dragon that had once adorned her body, enjoyed cutting it off her body.

The pool made a beautiful crimson puddle underneath her feet as it dripped from her body as she hung. Like so much raw meat that attracted the wolves nearby.

Her beautiful body spread like some canvas, just waiting for me to draw upon it.

Watching as the steam lifted into the cold air as her body heat left her body. It was such a lovely sight watching as her insides met her outsides.

The taste of her blood as I ran my tongue up her legs was delicious. The tang of metal made my head swim. Smacking my bloodied lips against hers held a pleasure that I hadn't known in so long.

And that knight thought he would save her. No one could save her. I had known that from the very beginning.

From the moment she brandished that sword at me in the pathetic little village of hers.

In the end he only brought out his own death as well as his brother's.

Oh, he had fought like the madman that he was. All the anger that he possessed was there in his eyes for all to see.

He loved Teagan. That much was obvious.

And so did I.

I loved her in a way that most Romans love their gold. The way any Saxon loved the feel of death at their own hands.

She was so small, she looked so fragile. But what she lacked in size, she made up for it in spirit. She was as fiery as that hair of hers. She stood up for and protected all those she could.

She watched as her fellow knights trained, learning from them. This only added to already extraordinary skills. She was fast, she was attentive to what was around her.

When she wanted to be, she was deadly.

I watched her become a woman before my eyes. My lust for her growing with each passing day, each passing moment.

She hated me. She told me that on a daily basis. But this was another thing I loved about this woman. She spoke what was on her mind.

I wanted to possess her. To break that will and spirit. I wanted to make her mine in every way possible. Both physically and mentally.

Just like I had Justus.

He had been much like her, full of spirit, full of compassion for those around him. He had tried to fight me off, but in the end I had gotten into his head, into his body.

And his body had been a thing of wonder. So perfect. Oh, I had enjoyed marring that perfect skin.

And she had taken my plaything from me. Had gutted him like a fish.

So taking my knife into Teagan's flesh was so wonderful, so blissful. I released myself just watching the blade slide through her belly like a knife through butter.

That knight of hers screaming in his rage as he watched. He nearly broke his wrists in his effort to come to her aid.

And now, I had to wait.

Wait for Artemis to decide when the right time to strike was. She had known all along that the scout would break. That he would give into his baser instinct. The need for blood.

It just had taken longer than she had hoped.

Why hadn't I taken her soul, I don't know. I guess it was because I hadn't fully realized what I was until Artemis showed me the way.

She said that I was her demon angel. That I was made for her revenge.

Now, the lovers were somehow brought back together and now was my time.

She promised me Teagan and now was the time for me to collect my due. I now only wait for her word to go. And when I do, they will never see me coming.

A/N: I know this isn't very long. But, I wanted to see how many of you can figure out who did this to our lovers. And I wanted you to see what has happened to bring Tristan into what he is. And it's a choppy chapter, to say the least. I've done that intentionally.

And I know that I'm posting quick. But, I've got a good bit done, and my daughter is coming home from her vacation soon. I'll be spending a good week or more trying to get her ready for school. And we're going to take a trip to DC next weekend! I just love the national history museum! It rocks!

And I know Artemis isn't that evil in the books. I didn't like her very much. So, I am merely playing with her.