Chapter 12

The mouth of the cave reminded her of a stairway to heaven. The light she so desperately desired to live in. However; these days proved to be quite a challenge for her to even be near sunlight. She wasn't even outside yet and she could feel the burning of her skin and the blurring behind the sharp needle pricks in her eyes. Holding her breath she ran into the midday sun.

Nothing had ever hurt her so bad before in her life. It took all of her strength to hold back her screams of pain and weakness. Ok Ell……it's just mind over matter right? Isn't that what Burns always said? I don't mind and it don't matter?

God help her if she didn't get to him in enough time to save him. She owed him her life. The race began now. She wouldn't admit defeat and sit by while the ones she loved died……Not again.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A stir blushed ever so slightly in Nicolae's mind. His life mate was in pain again. With his body leaded, in the afternoon's embrace, he wasn't able to start his heart or move his limbs to see if Elena was asleep like he demanded. He sought her mind but it was too far away.

Damn it all that his woman can withstand and break through his commands. Can't she see that she is putting herself in danger! He is going to have to have a long hard talk with her when the sun moved behind the earth and he was able to move again.

Learning where she was located, he called the darkest and heaviest clouds to cover the harsh rays from her sensitive body.

Noticing the sudden change in weather and the stir in her mind she greeted her sleeping beauty.Uhh…good afternoon Nicolae. She waited for his scolding voice that reminded her of a parent punishing a child who had done something wrong.

Cara come back to me this instant! I can not protect you when you keep going out on these little afternoon hikes! His strength was failing him fast and he wasn't going to be able to communicate like this for very long. If it were at all possible for him to have a heart attack, he would have died from 3 of them by now!

Elena huffed and replied softly. Why don't you ever trust me? Burns needs me... he will die! Do you not understand this! Do you not care?

Of course I care… but you are being hunted. What you saw in your vision is a trap to lure you into the city and out of my protection. Cara listen to me please…I haven't much time. My mind will shut down soon and you will not be able to find or touch it at will. It will appear as if I am gone from this world, but I am not. Always remember that I am with you. Promise me you'll remember. It was the ache in his voice that made her want to weep. That made her want to turn around and curl back up in the safety ofhis arms.

I promise. Then he was gone. She searched and he was right. She couldn't touch his mind like she could before. There was nothing. She had felt the weakness in him and had known that she had caused it. Had she caused him to die? Stay focused you ninny!

Alright; it was too late to turn back and the dirt road to the highway was just up ahead. She was a quarter of the way there. If she just kept running she would be able to make it in enough time. But her steps felt like lead, and her heart sank the further she moved away from him. Death worried her. (What's new?) By the time she reached the highway she had completely convinced herself that Nicolae was dead and that she had killed him. What a horrible bitch she was. If only she had converted then none of this wouldn't have happened.

She had thought too long on this topic. She glanced up at the sky and noticed that it was getting easier to see. This was bad. The sun was on it's decent out of the sky and she was running out of time. Her pity party was going to cost a man his life. The legs that were once lead turned and ran into a sprint. She would make it if she died trying. She would not lose another person in her life because she was foolish or afraid.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The sun was getting close to setting when his mind woke from the fog. Gregori…I need you now. My life mate is in danger and she is heading into a trap set by a master vampire I have been hunting for months now. He was panicking. Nicolae, the great warrior hunter, was panicking. Yes he was going to build her a tower and lock her away for good. He'll go grey in 3 years worrying about her defiance.

We are on our way now Nicolae. I know you can't rise yet in you weakened state but stay connected with Elena…her mind thinks you dead.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Yes finally! The city was in site and she had about three more hours till sun down. She was going to make it! Now to hitch a ride. She stuck her thumb out and began a slow jog backwards. Suddenly her thumb felt like it had been nipped by teeth. She stuck her sore thumb in her mouth like an infant wondering what had happened.

You will do no such thing! She stopped dead in her tracks. Chocking back a sob. Her heart jumping back against her ribs.

Nicolae?...is that you? Her lungs burned in her chest. The heat spread to her welcoming heart as her legs threatened to give way under her weight from exhaustion and fatigue.

Yes love I am here. I have to wait till the sun fully sets for me to come and aid you. But I can still communicate with you until then. A second wind worked her legs into almost a super natural speed. She seemed to fly along the pavement in the early evening. The sunset cast wondrous colors over her features that made her hair look blood red and her skin appear tanned. She loved the sunset.

Take that next bridge to your right. That is the quickest way to the station. He was so sure was he! Huh! You forget love that you are in my territory now. These are my people to protect and I know every short cut. Watch and learn "Almighty".

She was teasing him. Now of all time she decided to start teasing him. Yup that tower is definitely getting built now. Mark his words.

A tower huh? Shall I grow my hair long so you can reach me when you need too? Her smile widened. Thank God she hadn't lost him.

Ducking and swerving through crack houses and old sewers was the easiest way to the down town precinct. She just had to turn one more corner and she would be there. Just a few more strides. The sun was gone and the corner street lights flickered one. Power rippled through her when she felt Nicolae rise from his lethargic state.

Don't move Mia. I will be there shortly.

She didn't have time to wait. He could already be there. Today was Sunday. The office would be empty after 5:00pm. Now or never. She stepped up on the stoop of the building and rested her hand on the door.

Danger swarmed through her head. She shouldn't be there. Fear clogged her throat and screamed at her to run. No no more running. I have to do this.

The handle turned and she took a cautious step to the right side of the door. Peaking her head inside, she was greeted with the familiar smell of stale pastries and copy paper. Nothing seemed to move in the darkness so she took a step inside. She must be early for the attack.

Confident that she was there before the vampire of the attacker she had seen, she hastily stepped inside and started for her desk.

Her face met the cool marble floor and the taste of blood filled her mouth. Had she tripped? No she hadn't

A bandaged hand of bone grabbed her hair in a bunch and hot rancid breath fell on the nape of her neck. She knew her attacker. Steve.

"I told you that you would never be rid of me Elena. I will finish what I started and the you will pay for whatever black voodoo you did to my arm." The whisper was a threat One that she had not prepared herself for.

She could feel his mind saw what he had planned to do. He planned to rape and bind her in Burn's office and then demand money for her release. Then he was going to kill them both. Cara stay calm I need you to look at him for me.

Her eyes stayed shut as he tied her legs together with a telephone wire. The wire cut through her jeans and sliced her skin with every move she made. Grabbing her hands with one hand he slid his other in the front portion of her jeans. Touching her in such a humiliating way made her want to cry. Cara look at him! I can't help you if you don't look at him! It was a sharp demand and she opened her eyes to obey. It was too late though her shirt was up over her face she couldn't move.

His hand were moving over her body and she could feel him press and rub himself against her. Oh god why was this happening to her now? She shielded her mind from Nicolae and shut herself down. She couldn't stand for him to witness this. All because of her stupidity in not listening.

The length of him rested against her leg and she could only scream and thrash around to stop him from forcing his way. His voice spoke of everything he planned to do to her. He only tightened his grip on her arms and she could hear him bring out a knife. It sounded large and he began cutting away at her pants.

"Stop moving bitch or I won't be gentle with you."

"No… I will not be gentle with you." The voice was pure magic. Her Nicolae had come. Bones cracked in her assailants neck and he was no more.

Blood poured from her cuts and she tried to sit up. All she could do was let out a releifed sob. "I am sorry Nicolae…I.."

"Don't even say it! Don't you dare apologize to me ever. If I had stopped him properly in the first place, this wouldn't have happened." He drew her into his embrace and closed his eyes tight against the feel of her body. He was so caught up in relief and anger and fear for her life that he didn't realize her suddenly stiff body. He opened his eyes slowly to see the master vampire's hand go through her left lung. Everything moved slowly.

Her eyes began to glaze over. I love you.