Chapter 2 Blood Calling Blood
Severus Snape curled up in a ball of pain as Lord Voldemort hit him with yet another Cruciatus Curse. Just before Severus submerges into unconsciousness, he mentally calls out "Help me!"
Vin and Ethan awoke 15 minutes later to find Varian and Dawn kneeling beside them. Dawn was quietly chanting over them, every now and then telling Varian to shut up. "What happened?" Vin hoarsely asked.
"That's what I'd like to know. There's been a draining of your power, but it is rapidly returning. You know this is the first time I've had grown men fall at my feet without me hexing them or kicking their ass first." Dawn looking up at Varian as she said this last part, then she glanced back at Vin. "Do you do this very often?"
Vin grinned at her "Unfortunately it's been happening more and more lately. I'm Vince Colin and that lump over there, is my brother Ethan" he said holding his hand out to Dawn.
"Dawn Draeheart and Varian Boade". Dawn gripped Vin's hand and helped him stand up. She saw that Varian was helping Ethan up. "So…," looking Vin straight in the eyes "why have you two been following me? And let me tell you right now the answer had better be good because I deal with stalkers very harshly."
Ethan laughed, looked at his brother with a raised eyebrow and said "Why, Vin, I do believe you're psychic. Didn't you say that you had a feeling this was going to be difficult?"
"Shut up bonehead." Then he sighed heavily and looked at Dawn, "Is there someplace we can talk privately?"
Dawn looked deep into the dark brown (almost black) eyes, studying him; measuring him. Then she looked at his lean frame with short black hair and said "Only if you defeat me in a sparing match of my choice." Vin raised an eyebrow and looked over the sinewy body.
"You're on, and I promise to take it easy on you."
Fire flew from the woman's eyes, then she spoke softly, "Don't." and proceeded to walk over to the matted floor and started stretching. When she decided she had released enough tension from her muscles, she took a defensive position and wagged a finger in a come here motion. Vin's mouth dropped; the last thing he expected her to choose was hand to hand combat. Then he closed his mouth and stepped into the ring. The last conscious thought he had was, "Damn but she's sexy," and then she attacked.
An hour and a half later two people were winded, three people were astounded that the match ended in a draw, and one person was laughing his ass off because Dawn had finally met her match in more ways than one. Varian walked over and handed the duelist's each a towel and a bottle of water and grinned at Dawn, "Looks like you've finally met a man whose ass you can't kick." He walked back to where Ethan was sitting and said over his shoulder "Do you want to shower before or after the talk?"
Dawn muttered "Kiss my ass Varian" as she stalked into the locker room for a shower. Varian looked at Vin and Ethan, "She loves me, can't you tell."