Title: Song of the Siren

Author: Twilightstaruby

Disclaimers: All Night World concepts belongs to L.J.Smith. Kiele and the other characters in the story belong to me.

Author's notes: Sorry this took so long! I was trying to juggle my school work and Song of the Siren at the same time...hopefully, this chapter doesn't drag.

Special thanks to the people who have given all those awesome reviews! Three cheers for all of you!

Dogs die in hot cars: Glad you like Christian as much asI do, but I can't sayI am adverse to the current Shadrach. After all, he does have a certain appeal as well, as least, to me he does. You will have to read on to find out about whether they will be soulmates in the end though, unfortuantelyI can't tell you much at this point of time since evenI don't know where the story is heading.I seem to have lost control of the plot(sheepish look)

scary miss mary: Thanks for reviewing! I hope you will enjoy this chapter as well!

incarnated-soul: On the matter of Gwen, she is after all a second daughter of an earl, meaning she wont be a heiress and might be in lack of money if her father chooses notto provide her with a dowry. Coldblooded and calculating as it may sound, men at that time would usually go for woman with high status in the society or are heiresses. this way, they will be able to increase their holdings and money. Men with noble titles,like Christian, who is a duke, usually marry women(heiresses) who have holdings and titles of their own. At least, all this is from my understanding of that era.

Annad: Sorry about the previous chapters being too short!But personally, i dislike long chapters as it is very tiring to read. Besides, having short chapters means i can update more frequently. But i'll try my best. : ) Does it really remind you of Pride and Prejudice? i have never really read the book in detail, but it seemed a really interesting book by appearances i must say, as compared to other stories written at that time.

Dark Angel's Blue Fire: haha...hope i didn't make you wait very long...glad you are enjoying yourself(grins). I am enjoying myself too...

Author's note: There is something i have to clear up. I just realise i have been spelling Shadrach's surname wrongly for all the previous chapters! It is spelled as 'Silverthorne' with a 'e', and not 'Silverthorn'. A thousand apologies!

That which we look on with unselfish love

And true humility is surely ours,

Even as a lake looks at the stars above

And makes within itself a heaven of stars

-Mary Gardiner Brainard(1837-1905)

Chapter Seven

"Imbeciles!" Shadrach snarled as he hurled the priceless Ming vase, which only had the misfortune of being conveniently on a stand beside him, into the wall with a deafening crash. His secretary, unfortunate enough to be in Shadrach's presence winced as the vase shattered, while he mentally counted the impact it will have on the Silverthorn's immense fortune. Deciding it wouldn't have much impact, he made a note to replace it.

All that changed in the next moment when he saw the Monet Shadrach held in his hands. Darting forward with the intention to save the irreplaceable painting, he cried out in panic," No! Not the!"

The painting went sailing over his head and into the wall where it splintered and smashed onto the ground below, joining the remains of the vase.

"-Monet." The witch finished miserably, dismal evident in his eyes. He walked over to the painting and dourly plucked the torn painting gingerly out of the splintered frame.

Simmering with anger, Shadrach clenched his jaw and glared out of the full-length glass window that occupied fully one of the walls of the immense library. The sight of the palatial garden that spread out for acres across the land appeased him slightly and calmed him down, though not enough to diminished his anger.

Damnit! He had not expected them to escape so easily, taking down one-fifth of his people in the process. But then, he had been distracted by the appearance of the reincarnation of the only woman he had ever loved. Thinking rapidly, he calculated the distance the slayers would be able to cover. Not much, seeing that they only had a few hours lead. Making up his mind, he turned around, giving the witch instructions to gather his most powerful assassins.

"Still in a snit, Silverthorn?" Angelo drawled as he appraised the damage, having entered the room after the secretary left the room. "Poor guy looked as though he was going to cry over a torn drawing he held in his arms like a baby which I believe is, no-was a Monet." He jerked a thumb towards the open doorway, where his secretary could still be seen.

"I am never in a snit, Angelo." His tone was acidic as he picked up a glass of whiskey that stood solitary on his desk. "I believe you were the one who had them."

"Moi?" Angelo adopted a sad, puppy-eyed look, "How can you say something like that about me? I don't have snits. They come naturally to me."

Shadrach let out a snort of derisive laughter.

"You never did carry off that act of innocence well, Angelo."

"You wound me, my friend." Angelo clutched his chest in mock agony, swaying slightly in his position for good measure.

"I didn't realize hearts are located on the right side of a human's chest, Angelo. The least you could do is to get that right" Shadrach said drily.

"Oops." Angelo gave a sheepish grin, "But then, technically, I am not a human. So, you can't really blame me for that faux pas."

"Technically, you are a walking, talking, irritating corpse that live on human blood."

Angelo snorted as he flung himself carelessly into one of the cushioned settees that were placed in front of the fireplace, "Speak for yourself, Silverthorn. You ain't exactly any different from me, you know."

"Unfortuantely, being irritating is not one of my more pronounced traits." Shadrach said loftily, downing the glass of whiskey in one go.

"Yeah, I would agree. Bossy and high-handed are more accurate." Lazily, Angelo slanted him an azure-tinted gaze, the light-hearted tone turning serious all of a sudden, "They would not have enough time to go far. It is only a matter of time before we caught up with them."

Caught off guard by the sudden change of topic, Shadrach did not say anything. After a moment's silence, he said in an almost thoughtful manner, "I underestimated their ability and connections. But it is a mistake I will make only once. The next time they wouldn't get away so easily," he added deliberately," and they will pay for what they have done."

The light rap had both vampires turning around to find Shadrach's secretary standing there, "They have arrived, sir."

"Good. Send them in." Shadrach put down the empty glass on the surface of the glass table and sat down on the settee opposite Angelo, who eyed him with a curious look.

"Who are the 'they'?"

"The D'Ary twins."

Angelo's eyes flashed with something that looked like surprise. But he didn't voice out anything, simply shrugged and said in an off-handed tone, "Your choice, boss. But I am coming along."

Kiele let herself into the leased apartment she had been living in for the past few days. Not bothering to switch on the lights, she made her way to the kitchen to put down the bags of groceries she carried in her arms. After removing the load, she moved back to the living room and stood admiring the amazing view Las Vegas, city of the night, had to offer. Through the floor-length window that graced the tiny living room, the neon lights that were so in abundance in Las Vegas shone through with usual their vibrancy and brightness, providing the dark room with ample enough light.

It had been five long days. Five long days since they had made their escape from Shadrach Silverthorne's dungeons. Five days since that awful confrontation she had with Shadrach. Five days since he had rejected her. But then, who is counting?

You are, a little voice informed her drolly.

God. She could start to learn to hate the letter 'five'.

Five days since the slayers had scattered, all hiding, separated from their families and estranged from their lives. She hated this, this fugitive excuse of a life they were leading. She had not wanted to do this, slayers never run from anything ever. But Eli had begged her, to consider Kalika, who was now under someone else's care, and for his sake. So she had given in, albeit reluctantly.

She hated this. And she hated the fiend that caused it all and represented it: Shadrach Silverthorne. He who was her nemesis, he who stood for everything she hate and he who was, no is her soulmate. She was certain of it, that he was her soulmate. She didn't know how she knew, but deep down, it was as if her soul recognized him; she knew he was her soulmate, the missing part of her that had bothered her so. It sounded crappy and foolish, even to her; but it was true. She knew he was the one, and his rejection still hurt, horribly.

"Damn you, Shadrach Silverthorne."

"Don't I know it. After all, I have been damned for the past century or so. Hello Gwenivere. Or shouldI say Kiele." An amused voice stated from the general direction of her bedroom.

She froze. That voice. Shadrach Silverthorne. He had found her. How he had done that she wasn't sure, but she hadn't doubt that he would find her. No matter how carefully they had covered their tracks, Shadrach, she knew, had wider connections and underdogs than all the slayers in the world added together. And he was perceptive as hell; but then living for a century or so usually does that to a person. Sorry, make that a walking, talking corpse who happened to be her bloody soulmate.

She turned around, already reaching behind her to draw out her dagger, which was strapped to her thigh, ninja style. What she had not anticipated was the speed at which he was able to move. Before she could even reach the dagger, she felt a presence. Then he was suddenly in front of her, his hand closing over her dagger and with a deceptively easy flick of his wrist, the dagger flew in a perfect arc over his shoulder and embedded into the wall, the hilt quivering from the impact.

Trying to maneuver away from him, she twisted. His hands clamped down on her shoulders, forcing her remain in that very disturbingly close position to him. She could hear the dull thudding of her traitorous heart, could feel the heat stealing up in her.

"What is the matter, Kiele? Afraid?" His silky voice brush over her, making her shiver. Then the words hit her and righteous anger filled her. She would never, never be afraid of him. She tilted her head back, intending to tell him that, but all she got was a glimpse of his smothering silver-tinted gaze before his mouth crushed down bruisingly on hers.

Author's note: Opps...hehe...didn't mean to leave it there, and sorry it is so short. I promise it would be longer next time...promise...

Review, review...thanks!