It was time, in the darkness of the night the group moved towards the club, Ash still had Mare at his side but soon she would become Keller's responsibility.
"Ready guys?" He questioned
His kissed Mare lightly before handing her over to Keller and then the group entered the darkened club with crimson lights. The group fanned out; taking their positions while Ash searched out Fern's figure in the crowd. By a black painted door her found he, leaning against in casually.
"I've been waiting Ash," she said as he approached "you know I though you were smarter that this but hey easy come, easy go, you were all wrong anyway"
Looking straight at her Ash tried to figure out what she meant
"I thought you knew Ash" she murmured her eyes remaining on him
Out of the
corner of his eye he saw Mare watching him, her heart praying to god
that he'd be okay, she never thought anything would happen to her.
Strong arms grabbed her arms pulling her away from her seat and
towards an open door. Keller she saw was half transformed ready to
attack but she couldn't not with out hurting Mare. As Mare was
dragged through the door screaming for Ash with Keller in panther
form following Ash finally they'd been set up.
"What are you
doing Fern" he hissed
But she was already moving through the door, his only chance was to follow.
Up a twisting staircase he followed until they emerged in a small room about 3 storeys above the ground. Stand by the balcony stood Mare with a blond hair guy. She was screaming bloody murder and hot tears were streaming down her face.
"Mare?" Ash whispered her eyes turning to focus on him.
"I thought it was easy to figure out Ash" Fern said locking them in "I'd like to introduce you to my friend, this is Nick my stepbrother, he and your little Mare already met, I think they had fun"
A sadistic smile plastered her face
"I was hired to kill the soulmate couples and you just made it easy for me. I wanted revenge and you gave me the perfect opportunity when you found your own soulmate here. I'll let you watch her die before I kill you though. You see it was the perfect plan, I found Nick was in the same area as your girl, they'd been friends forever and even better you didn't know about him because he was with me in New York while you were there. When I found out about Mare, I'd already been hired for my mission but I did let my brother loose on her. I needed you to be together for it to hurt you the most. So he hurt her, badly, did a good job too I heard. How's the depression going Mare? I see you took a good chuck out of your wrists. Anyway Ash, I knew you'd go back for her and bring her here. I knew Thierry would send you on this mission, I mean you are the best and because you wanted to protect Mare you'd bring her too. Well I win Ash"
At that moment Ash watched as Nick threw Mare from the balcony. He moved with lightening quick reflexes to watch as she fell land heavily on the concrete below. Jumping off after her Ash landed crouched beside her fallen body. Her pulled her body into his arms and found her still alive but her life force was fading fast. She was only just hanging on he had to help her and fast. Running as carefully as he could with her in his arms he hurried to where his care was parked, blood seeping from a cut in the back of her head into his shoulder.
"I've got Mare, she's hurt bad. I'm taking my car back to the mansion and will meet you there." He yelled to almost no one, only the three people on the other end of the communicator heard and understood.
Reaching his car he found Keller standing in wait her hand held out to accept the keys.
"I'll drive," she said
They climbed in Ash still holding Mare in his arms as she fought a losing battle for her life.
------
"Thea!" Ash yelled upon entering the house fear beginning to brush the surface of his mind.
He could feel her fading she was holding only by a simple thread of life; her head was cut in the back and right arm broken not to mention the profound wounds to her body internally. Laying her semi propped up on the couch he took her hand in his.
"Just hold on Mare, just a little bit longer"
Carefully so as to avoid causing her more pain he lowered his mouth to her neck kissing it once before sinking his sharp canines into the delicate skin. He drank her blood deeply hoping her could save her because he knew this was the only way. He could feel her as he drank, still hanging on by a thread.
"Ash?" he heard her call
"I'm here sweetie" he thought back to her
"It hurts Ash, everything hurts"
"I know sweetie I'm working on that"
Pulling back Ash cut his own wrist and held it to her mouth.
"Please drink Mare, please I can stop the pain unless you do"
As though hearing his words he saw her painfully begin to drink, her eyes flickering open as did. The vampire blood filled her veins making her life force stronger, but not complete.
"Ash?" Thea called from the doorway "what's going on?"
"She fell" he replied his eyes remaining on Mare.
Thea just stood watching as he pulled his wrist away from Mare and took more of her blood, before again giving her his. Thea moved in closer touch the paled skin of Mare's hand, turning it over she felt a slow pulse, but as Ash work it grew ever so slightly stronger. For the last time Ash and Mare exchanged blood before her entire body drooped as though she was dead.
"Mare?" Ash whispered "Wake up Mare, please"
Her gentle brown eyes flickered open before she moaned in protest. Ash pulled her hand into his and kissed in lightly.
"It hurts" he heard her say inside his mine
"I know sweetie but your going to be okay now" he replied out loud knowing her life force was stronger now, still weak but she would live.
Carefully Thea worked bandaging Mare's head and setting her arm. She cared for all her external wounds before announcing that all that was left was for her to rest.
Sitting still by her side Ash watched as Mare fell into a pain free induced sleep.