Chapter 20

The field lay in ash, and dead plants covered its landscape. Blackness and the stench of rotting flesh warned Nicolae that the Vampire's puppets were not too far away. He sent the information to Gregori and started scanning the area for them. Even though a puppet was easily defeated, It would cause a problem to have too many of them around and distracting them from bringing justice to the evil one.

Gregori quickly formed a barrier, both above and below the ground, to protect them from puppets and prevent anything from escaping within its deadly walls. No sooner did he construct the deadly barrier they heard a hiss and cry from the Vampire himself. He must have discovered that there was no way out.

Nicolae watched closely as Gregori made clones of himself to surround the inside of the barrier. Any Carpathian worth his salt could manipulate his own body to make a clone, but none could do it as Gregori could. His were identical not only in appearance but in stealth and strength as well. They only listened to one source and obeyed his every command. This truly drained Gregori's powers and Nicolae knew his time for revenge would soon take place.

Since the Vampire was unable to go to ground, he had to hide among the burnt trees and acidic fog. The real Gregori spotted the Vampire and made his move towards him. Very slowly his clones began to do the same. Nicolae wished he could have stopped that moment in time when the Vampire noticed that there was thousands of hunters' right in front of him. That fear was going to be their ticket to victory. Nicolae decided to take this opportunity to start walking closer to the scene.

One by one the clones began to fight the steadily weakening Vampire, and Gregori watched each one inflict some type of wound to the creature. The stench of blood was thick in the enclosed field and brought water to their eyes. Nicolae, when I say, bring up the rear and do the deed as I hold him captive in his own body.

There was no time to waste. Gregori was weakening ever so slightly and wouldn't be able to hold both the barrier and the vampire at the same time. Nicolae stayed out of sight and watched as Gregori took hold of the being's body and let go of the outside barrier. Now Nicolae! Destroy him.

It was now or never. As he stepped closer to the being he tripped on an invisible wire and watched the slow motion of his body fall to the ground where hundreds of poisonous serpents came through to greet him.

Damnit! Gregori...hold him just a bit longer till I get rid of these things. The serpents crawled all over him biting and spiting their poison into his eyes and veins. The poison was slowly taking effect like acid burning through paper. He succeeded in defeating the creatures but more were coming and the sluggish sounds of footsteps were inching closer to him and Gregori. The sound of Elena's voice pierced his mind and he quickly shut himself off from her completely to spare her the agony of watching him suffer through his half paralyzed state. I think I am going to regret that later.

The vampire sensed that his trap for the hunter had been sprung and now that his plan was unfolding, he would soon be able to defeat both of them. "Your powers are slowly weakening old one…and soon I will claim both yours and Nicolae's woman. I am sure you can see your comrade writher in pain behind me even now." An evil smile appeared on the evil one's face and you could see his confidence start to gain. Gregori kept a calm expression as he watched Nicolae limp right up behind the being.

"You assume too much." Nicolae hissed between his teeth. That was the last thing the Vampire heard clearly before Nicolae plunged his fist deep into the being's chest cavity.

Gregori closed off his hold on the dead one and smiled plainly as he gathered the energy in the sky and brought down a large ball of fire to his hands. Nicolae grasped the heart of the being and ripped it clean out and threw it across the field. The pulsating black organ flopped hard to reach its owner, but Gregori made sure that the fire ball reached the heart before it had a chance to reunite with its body.

Nicolae held tightly to the squirming vampire before he leaned in real close and blazed a cold stare to the blank void where his soul once dwelled. "Hurts, doesn't it. Now you know what my lifemate went through." Nicolae threw the hissing body towards the burning pit of fire and glanced into its blue white light. "I told you that I would kill you…and I always keep my promises."

He washed his hands in the heat of the fire before he turned to Gregori. "How are you holding up, old friend?"

Gregori's eyebrow shot up in surprise. "I should be asking you the same thing. You're practically limping like a puppet."

"Ehh, don't worry about me. I got most of the poison out already. I just have to wait for the aftershocks to wear off." Nicolae watched Gregori's face light up with laughter.

"I wasn't talking about the poison…I was talking about your lifemate. She must have dogged you out something terrible when you shut yourself off from her."

Nicolae's face scrunched up into a sour expression when Gregori reminded him of what he had done earlier. "Uhh, yeah…listen Gregori…I don't suppose you know a way a man can grovel without actually appearing to do so…do you?" A new fit of laughter erupted from Gregori.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"I am so going to make him grovel when he walks threw that door." Elena was fuming. How was it that her lifemate didn't trust her with seeing or feeling what he feels? That was the last straw. It was one thing to go about not telling her about her pregnancy but this was just too much. She was going to have to have a serious talk with him when he returned to her. And she might just go ahead and kick him for good measure.

Savannah just looked at her and laughed. Elena had been pacing the living room floor for the last hour and didn't look too happy.

"I don't understand what you think is so funny, missy!" Elena yelled as she threw a couch cushion at her friend. It only started up more giggling from both women and when both were exhausted from their pillow extravaganzas they collapsed on the floor and stared up at the ceiling, waiting for their men to return to them.

"You know he was only trying to protect you. Remember how he got when he discovered the child you are carrying?"

Elena looked over through the corner of her eye and nodded.

"Oh! ...And must I remind you of that ridiculous get up he had you dressed in earlier?" Savannah almost snorted the words out as she teased her friend. Both woman laughed softly and heard footsteps on the front porch of their cabin.

Both women jumped to their feet and sat on the couch, trying not to look so childish lying on the floor like school girls at a slumber party. The door slung open and Gregori helped Nicolae into the mud room. Elena's face turned white and she scrambled to his side.

"What on earth happened to you! And how long is it going to take for your stubborn ass to get better…so I can put a boot in it?" Nicolae looked into her sweet face and smiled deeply. His wife was all emotion and fire. Her light was so bright that it almost blinded him. She had the lips of an angel…when she wasn't scolding him of course.

"I am fine, love; just a couple of scratches. All I need is some rest and then we can both start living a little more comfortably." She looked at him crossways and then searched Gregori's face for some answers. He told her the same thing and she finally believed them both.

"The next time you cut me off from you…I won't speak to you for a year!" She huffed out the words and then kissed him tenderly. You scared the hell out of me tonight…I had no idea what happened to you and had to go through Savannah to find out any details.

It won't happen again, love. I promise. I just didn't want to put you under any stress for a couple of reasons… I…

But Nicolae was soon interrupted by Gregori. "My dear friend, I must leave you in the care of your lifemate and continue my journey to take Savannah back to her father and mother."

"I will insure that your requests are fulfilled before you arrive."

What requests? What is he talking about Nicolae? Elena said with a puzzled look on her face.

I will tell you later. Nicolae thanked his friend and was thankful for the privacy Gregori was giving him… Lord knows he was going to need it. He watched as the two women hugged and said their good byes, and then they were gone and he had Elena all to himself.

He smiled at her and she started to examine his bitten and burned body. He stopped her and dragged her hands up to his mouth. After looking into her eyes for a moment he brought her into his embrace and whispered he was sorry against her neck. It was not my intention to hurt you, love.

"I know you would never try to hurt us…and don't apologize because we will love you no matter what happens." She chose her words carefully and watched his expression turn from confused to even more confused.

"Who is we?" He asked curiously.

"Why, your daughter and myself of course." She said it matter of factly with a 'where have you been' look on her face.

He shot up straight and looked at her with surprise. How on earth do you know about our child?

You silly man...when you thought I was asleep I was really awake and you told me through your giddiness. I almost rolled over and told you to shut up and sleep but I was still in shock that I was going to be a mother. She placed his hands on her stomach and slid hers over top of his.

He looked into her eyes and kissed her deeply. "I should have known that I couldn't keep it a secret from you. But now that you know, I hope you won't be sore at me because I plan on keeping you sore for a couple of days. And then I have a surprise for you."

She looked at him through warm green eyes and tilted her head. What kind of surprise?

I can't show you now…you'll just have to be patient.

(Author's Note)

My friends, I am so sad right now because I am working on Chapter 21...and then this story will come to a close. I can't wait to reveal my surprise to you all. So stay tuned and review please.

Thank you all again

Ashley