Chapter 10

Nicolae drug Elena's body close into the protection of his and cloaked their presence from any body Carpathian or Vampire. Their two bodies moved steadily through the water to the bank where he clothed them in the way of their people. (She still couldn't believe this one man was capable of creating things with just his mind and the wave of his hand.) He stood on the bank dressed elegantly for this era, scenting the wind like a wolf searching for prey.

Elena's eyes grew with shock as the trees and plants, on the forest floor, withered and blackened as if burned in a fire. Her heart began to sink and her heart slammed against her rib cage when the wildlife called out to her in pain. Shh…love. Your feelings are too strong right now and it will act as a beacon to the dead one. Try to clear you mind and stay focused on the sound of my voice and my voice alone. He spoke matter of factly and she would not dare defy him in his command.

He will try to use his voice to draw you too him. Just stay calm and remember that I will not let any harm come to you.

Before you knew it a cloaked figure stepped out from the rotting and decaying vegetation. His smile was an ugly one showing jagged blood stained teeth. Distortion lied in his face as well as his heart where his soul once dwelled. Flesh peeled away from the figure and exposed bone and sinew. Maggots and insects crawled in and around his eyes making it very hard to see into the depths of those endless pits.

"Ahh Demetri, how nice of you to drop in unannounced. I see you have already fed so you will not be annoyed if I do not ask you to stay for dinner. No?" Nicolae spoke with magic laced into the words. He tried to confuse the vampire with hypnotic tones but it only seemed to anger him more.

"Nicolae, I thought you turned centuries ago, But I see I was wrong. You will now hand the woman to me.Iwill have much better use for her than you. youhaven't even turned her yet. She is mine." Spittle ran down the undead's face and tangled in coarse white and black hair that laid on his shoulders. "I am sorry to deny your request, but I will grant you the pleasure of ending your barren existence with the sentence our prince put on your head."

The vampire hissed through his teeth and came towards Nicolae with full force. Nicolae moved so quickly the vampire didn't have a chance to react. He grabbed the newly turned vampire by the throat and held him high in the air. Take yourself to the cave cara mia, and wait for me there. I will finish this mess here and come to you when I am finished.

But Nicolae………

Go! Now! I can't hold this one for long. I will be with you but run hurry!

With that she ran for the forest where she knew the cave would be. Nicolae was guiding her through the maze of ferns and trees till she found the entrance of the cave. She grabbed the side of the stoneentrance recovering from her run and feeling her head turn to mush. Her vision came so out of the blue without warning that she was unprepared for what she was about to see.

Nicolae was holding the vampire at bay when the evil one struck at his chest and dissolved into mist. He reappeared seconds latter, behind him, to grab her beloved by the back of his throat. Nicolae's face turned into that of the first woman who was murdered. She glanced around to see herself in the strip district in the same back ally where the murder occurred.

She watched the whole thing. The vampire she saw moments before now had a handsome face and long black hair. She sensed the same beast in him that she sensed in Nicolae before he bound her to him. He called out to the young woman and watched as she crawled to him on all fours. An evil smile cascaded upon the vampire's face and he ruthlessly picked the woman up by the hair and held her close to his face.

The woman's eyes snapped out of the trance and looked upon death itself. She feared for her life and knew she was going to die. Elena held her breath and waited for him to bite her and shred her neck while he fed. Draining her of her life force.

She heard a sound behind her and turned slowly to face the man that she once knew.

Steve only smiled at her and waved a hand over hermouth to stop her from screaming. His other hand crept up from her waist to span her throat while he leaned in close to her ear. "Did you really think that you would escape me that easily?" It was just a whisper upon her ear. A threat. A promise that he would come for her again. His evil grinning face began to disappear before he laid a kiss on her tense mouth.

The vision fell away and she landed back in the woods in front of the cavern where Nicolae's home stood. She had never experienced a vision like that before. She rubbed her head and shook the cobwebs from her brain. She stared into the woods and searched for Nicolae with her mind.

Instant blackness and an empty void greeted her. Nicolae! Please answer me! She would get no answer though. Twisting her fingers in her shirt she began to run back the way she came. He couldn't be gone he just couldn't be. Panic welled in her mind as she brushed up against plants and low swinging tree branches, and then began to slow when she heard Nicolae's voice taunting the vampire.

She hid herself well behind a blackened tree stump and watched as the vampire struggled for air. "You will never threaten my life mate again old friend." "Now take the punishment you deserve and let me end your tortured life" The evil being smiled deep and stared up at Nicolae's face. Elena knew what would happen next. She had to warn him.

Nicolae! Watch your chest. The vampire will kill you!

The sound of her voice was unexpected and he almost averted his attention when the vampire lengthened a claw and aimed for his heart. Nicolae grabbed the claw at the last second and thrusted it into the vampires own chest. The heart emerged from the other side and flopped to the ground. The black organ spewed blood and burned holes in the dirt like acid on paper.

Nicolae threw the body far away from the heart and called upon the wind and lightning in the sky. His hand guided the burning light to the heart and she watched as it was reduced to nothing but ash on the ground. The wails from the vampire were blood curling and he screamed when Nicolae guided the burning flame towards its body. When it too burned to nothing but ash, Nicolae called the wind to carry away the ash into all directions of the forest.

She stood slowly and walked into the battle field straight into his arms. Something foreign clawed at her heart. She almost lost him, and she wanted to go with him where ever he should go after death. You can never lose me love. Look at me. He tilted her chin to his gaze and looked into her eyes. Not a scratch.

"That was the thing that killed the girl in Pittsburgh. I just had a vision at the mouth of the cave and watched your death. The death of the girl…..and ...and my.." Nicolae didn't need to wait for her to finish, to see the memories of the vision in her mind.

"Say no more love. I will find a solution to our problem. The vampire wasn't alone. There are a group of them out here hunting and killing along the eastern coastal states. I've been tracking them for months now. They just recently came to Pittsburgh."

Her eyes shifted to his face and knew her mind was absorbing what he just said.

We need to seek shelter soon love. The sun is rising. Without a second thought he sped her through the woods and back into the cave's safety. The interior of his home was warm and welcoming to her soul. She was thankful for the large space and high ceilings. His sent was all through the furniture making her feel better.

While he was safeguarding their home from anymore visitors she walked over to the kitchen and pulled up a stool to sit on. Her hands on her face moved into her hair and shoved it out of her eyes. A brush fluttered in her mind and was soon followed by strong arms wrapping around her body. "I almost lost you today. If I wasn't there to warn you I would have lost you." She started to shake. "I can't lose you Nicolae." She turned in his embrace and clung to his body.

"I would never leave you love. Ever." He kissed the top of her head and left her to walk over to the fridge. He pulled out a carton of juice and poured a tall glass for her. Setting it on the island in front of her he told her to drink.

She picked up the glass and examined the contents trying not to vomit at the site. "Try to drink it you are weakening every day. You need something in your stomach." His voice filled with sorrow and she knew he had feared for her health. What a silly thought. She wasn't even hungry.

"I can't Nicolae my stomach is upset I don't think I can hold it."

"I can make it easier for you too drink love. May I have your permission to aid you?" She looked into his eyes and smiled. He was being mindful of her thoughts and respecting her as a team player. She shook her head yes and asked how he could make it easier for her to drink when she glanced down to see an empty glass in her hand.

Amazement swept through her as she set the glass on the counter and stared at where the juice had once been. Turning her attention to a much more pressing topic she glanced into his handsome face and spoke softly.

"We have a small problem. In my vision I saw someone else." Steve came back to find me. He told me that he would never let me get away and that he would find me anywhere.

"The Cop from the ally are you sure?"

"Without a doubt."

"Do not fear him any longer little one. He will do nothing more to harm you I will make sure of it." He sat on the edge of the island and pulled her into the shelter of his arms.

He wondered why he wasn't dead when he remembered that he had not killed him. He must have been on the edge of death when Nicolae found Elena on the ground unconscious. When he made his way back into the city he would make sure he finished the job this time. No mistakes. He will not get away with threatening his life mate and still live.

She glanced up at his face. "Is everything ok?"

"Nothing love. Let us sleep for now we have a long evening heading up" and with that the prepared for bed and he watched her

(Author's Note)

Well all what do you think of our new surprise villan? And i gets even better from here. In my profile i told you all that i use some of my real life experiences mixed with paranormal goodies. In the next 2 chapters i will relive some of my own personal experiences. only these ones have a better ending. ;-)

Hope you enjoy!

review please!