Lovers In a Dangerous Time

Chapter Sixteen

Don't the Hours Grow Shorter...

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Harry wasn't given much chance to think about his next move. Out of the shadows of the trees came at least a dozen raging vampires. Each one seemed to have fire in their eyes and they charged towards the VLG. Harry was surprised at how quickly they reacted. Harry watched in amazement as Erin pulled a stake out of his back pocket and went charging after one of the largest vampires. But Harry didn't get a chance to see what happened next because of a cruel laugh that came from behind him.

Quickly Harry jumped up, wand in hand and turned to face a the over powering figure of a female vampire, fangs bared and ready to strike. Her thick black hair was waving about her face as she charged Harry. Harry had to drop and roll on the ground to avoid getting mauled to death by her overly long, razor sharp fingernails. While on his back he pointed his wand at her, forcing a flash of purple light to hit her squarely in the chest. She froze in mid air and fell to the ground with a dull thud.

Harry turned back around to see that the VLG were handling themselves quite well against the shrinking number of attacking vampires. Who knew that his odd group of misfits were natural born killers? Blood was splashed over the ground all around them, Harry had the urge to sniff the air and suck in the smell of sensual blood. It was intoxicating, but more pressing matters dragged him back to reality.

Making sure that the VLG were fine without him he took off running, robes billowing into the night. Harry looked over his shoulder to see that the sky to the east was getting lighter and lighter, his time was running out. Harry was reaching out to Ginny's mind, trying to let her know that he was coming. He would find her and save her but he could barely feel her presence. She was weak, to weak to keep her mind open to him. What has he done to her? Did he drug her again?

The thought sickened him and he had to fight back the bile in his mouth as he continued to run at full speed. He could feel a presence as he neared a large cluster of trees. It was vampire, he knew it. He was becoming more and more in tune with his new instincts. Harry slowed his pace as the feeling grew stronger, was it Malincov? For some reason he wasn't sure why but he knew that it wasn't him, it wasn't strong enough to feel like him. And he was right.

Out from behind a bush came the withering figure of Leisha Codwell, Ternia's sister. She looked worse for the wear. Her hair was full of twigs, her clothes were torn and blood stained but worst of all she had a large purple bruise on her neck in the shape of a hand print. She fell to the ground in a heap and started to sob hysterically. I don't have time for this! Harry said and he knelt beside her and examined her.

"He turned you didn't he?" Harry asked.

Her bright blue eyes looked up at Harry, looking for help. "Yes, he beat me for information then bit me. Next thing I know he's shoving his wrist over my mouth and he vanishes. Oh god Harry it hurts! I'm so sorry, I told him that you were waiting for him on the hill, I thought he was going to kill me!"

"Have you blacked out yet? Have you died?" Harry asked as he tried to find a pulse, vampires didn't have pulses. Yet she did, which meant that she hadn't fully turned yet. Harry put a hand on her forehead to try to calm her. "I know it hurts, I remember all to well. I'm sorry I can't stay with you but it will all be over soon." Harry pulled out his wand and shot red sparks into the air for the second time that night.

He pressed his hand on her cheek as her eyes fluttered and rolled back into her head. Her skin turned cold and Harry knew she was dieing. He couldn't wait for her to awake though, he had to get to Ginny. With one last look down at Leisha he took off running once more, with more speed than ever. All the while trying to contact Ginny.

Then as if some invisible barrier were suddenly smashed down between then a mental scream echoed in Harry's brain. Ginny? Can you hear me? What's wrong, what is he doing to you!

Harry! Oh thank god! I thought you were dead, I couldn't feel you anymore.

Harry could feel Ginny's grief and happiness sweep over him at the same time. Where are you, where did he take you? Is he still with you? Harry asked frantically as he continued to run, his breath coming in short quick bursts.

I don't know where I am but he disappeared. I think it's a trap Harry, he wants you to find me. I'm still on the hill, I can see the lake from where I am.

Harry slowed his pace to give his body a rest, even though he had more endurance since becoming a vampire he still wasn't a machine. He looked out over the lake as he thought about the dream he had only nights before. Unlike his first dream about Malincov this didn't feel like his doing. Malincov had planted an image in his head of him turning Ginny which turned out to be different then what actually happened but his latest dream was playing out more realistically he knew that it was his own intuition not Malincov's. Because he had done it before he knew he could do it again, he could get to Ginny.

Ginny I need you to focus on your surroundings, visualize where you are and I will be able to get to you. Think about the trees your standing by, and how far away from the lake you are. Send me your images with your mind. Harry waited for her to do as told then suddenly a rush of images flowed through his brain as if he were flipping through a mental photo album.

Harry could sense where she was, on the other side of the hill just over the valley that the lake made. Without further thought he wrapped his robes around himself and spun on the spot, appariting to the very location his heart was telling him to go. Within seconds he landed and could feel the presence of Ginny, but where was she? He could tell he was close, he could feel her pull, the power that connected the pair of them together.

Ginny, I'm close to you. Yell out my name so I can find you.

Faintly in the distance he could hear Ginny yelling, a dangerous game of Marco Polo through the dense trees around them. As Harry walked closer the sun started coming up over the tree line. Even with the thick clouds Harry's eyes started to hurt from the strain. Though his skin wasn't boiling yet which was a good sign that they still had time before the sun was fully in the sky.

Harry stopped and raised his wand as the bush beside him shook but he instantly relaxed as Ginny pushed her way through it and tossed her arms around him. "Oh, am I glad to see you!"

"How's your ankle, did you break it." Harry asked concerned.

"No, just sprained it I think. I can walk, come on let's get out of here." Ginny said as she released Harry and took his arm instead.

"I want to go check on the VLG first, let's walk over here and see if we can see them on the other side. Leisha was turned, I'm hoping they could see my signal." Harry said as they pushed through the trees and walked out onto a clearing where they could see the other side of the hill. Sure enough a large group of black cloaked figures were huddled around, apparently talking to Leisha. Just as Harry put an arm around Ginny's waist, intending to get her home the overwhelming feeling of Malincov's presence creped up behind him.

Harry and Ginny spun around to see Malincov leaning against a tree looking smug, "Going somewhere young Harry?"

"Well yes actually, I've had enough of this. I'm taking Ginny home." Harry said as he continued his grip on her. Then added silently to Ginny, Pull your wand out very slowly behind you. Ginny's left arm was hidden behind Harry's back but her wand was in her back right pocket, she couldn't reach it. So instead she pulled Dumbledore's wand from Harry's pocket and held it firmly.

Feeling what Ginny had done he moved away from her slightly and raised his own wand towards Malincov. His flaming red hair was draping over his face as he eyed Harry with intent. Harry's eyes were growing weaker by the second as the sun continued to rise, a sudden thought struck him. If the sun comes up, Ginny is going to burn. She didn't bring a robe.

Don't worry about me. Ginny said, hearing his concern. Just deal with him quickly and we won't have to worry about it.

Just as Harry was about to make another comment to Malincov his eyes glowed red and his face contorted to bare his fangs. Malincov lunged forward, aiming for Harry with all his force. He seemed to almost fly through the air as he grew closer. Harry shot a stunning spell towards him but missed. Malincov's body collided with Harry's pushing him backwards into a tree. Harry gasped as his cold hands wrapped around Harry's neck.

It wasn't clear if it was Harry or Ginny who struck first. Their minds were so intertwined into one person that it didn't matter. All they knew was that Malincov was now withering on the ground in pain as his arm snapped in two. Harry took several heaping breaths as he filled his deprived lungs with air then stood over Malincov with his wand pointing to his heart. He watched as Malincov continued to whimper on the ground, eying Harry closely.

"Ginny, send up the signal. Let the VLG know we have their man." Harry said with triumph.

Ginny obeyed, pointing Dumbledore's wand into the air and shot of a large amount of red sparks. But as she looked up into the sky she realized they may not be seen due to the fact that the sun had almost fully risen. The moment she looked up she could feel her skin heating to an alarming degree. She immediately lowered her wand and backed into a shadow of a tree. Feeling Ginny's distress Harry quickly removed his robes, never removing his wand from Malincov and tossed them to Ginny.

"Put that on and stay in the shadows." Harry commanded.

"What about you?" Ginny asked as she wrapped herself tightly in Harry's robes.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." But Harry made a mistake, when he spoke to Ginny trying to reassure her that he would okay he turned his head away from Malincov.

Ginny tried to scream at him but no sound came out and before Harry knew what hit him Malincov and leaned up on his knees and struck. Malincov pulled a stake from his pocket and struck Harry in the chest. Harry fell to his knees as all the breath left his body. A look of horror was screaming into the night as Harry felt pain unlike any other. But something wasn't right, why was he still alive? He missed, Harry told himself. He's hit my lungs, not my heart.

Harry couldn't move or talk. Blood was forming in the back of his mouth causing him to choke on his words and cries of pain. He fell to the ground in agony and could do nothing but watch as Malincov lunged towards Ginny, fangs bared. The look of fear on Ginny's face wasn't entirely her own, Harry knew that she was feeling his pain, his searing pain as she ran a hand over the hole in his chest.

What happened next seemed to move in slow motion as Harry lay helpless from the sidelines. Erin and Tracy appeared out of thin air right beside Harry. They watched as Malincov grew closer to Ginny and could do nothing to aid her. Erin made a feeble attempt to stun Malincov but it merely brushed off his back. Harry did everything he could to push his remaining energy into Ginny as she prepared for the blow. It must have worked. Ginny roared with rage like Harry had never seen before, the same fire glowing in her eyes that Malincov showed. Suddenly the image that is Ginny seemed to blur. An odd blue glow surrounded her and almost seem to make her float from the ground. Harry felt the unnatural energy flow between them as if their connection with each other was fueling there powers. With one quick fluid movement she bent down, picked up a large chunk of wood, spun around and lodged it in into Malincov's heart. The glowing energy around her seemed to explode the moment he she struck.

Malincov screamed with rage, a cold piercing scream that could make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Erin fell to the ground withering in pain as Harry clutched his hands to his head to cover his ears. A deep searing pain pushed through Harry leaving him motionless and unable to breath from his injured lungs. Harry watched through teared eyes as Malincov fell to his knees. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as the skin on his body began to melt and his heart burst into flame. Then in the blink of an eye a fireball erupted so fierce that it knocked Ginny and Tracy off their feet. By the time the fire died down, Malincov was gone, not a trace remained.

The moment he was gone Ginny came running to Harry. Tears filled her eyes as she pressed her hand over the hole in his chest, to stop the bleeding. Harry couldn't talk because blood continued to gurgle in the back of his throat and he was in to much pain to use their connection. Ears ringing, he couldn't hear Ginny as she turned to say something to Tracy, who was hovering over Erin. The moment that Ginny turned her face back to Harry the clouds in the sky shifted and a large ray of sunlight came rushing over the hill. Instantly Harry's skin started to boil as large welts grew on his skin, popped and emitted small puffs of smoke. Ginny threw herself on top of Harry, wrapping the large black robe around both of them.

Harry tried to push the pain aside long enough to talk to Ginny but just as he thought he found the strength the air around him went cold and his image hazy. Harry cold barely make out Ginny's face, screaming something at him but before he could figure out what Harry closed his eyes and the world around him went black and silent.