Her breath was coming in ragged gasps, fear and anger laced her mind, panic tightening her thoughts until her vision blurred and it became an vast struggle just to keep her finger from pulling the trigger. Holly was by her side, staring blankly at the scene in front of her, she kept whispering things in Phoenix's ear, they probably were something to calm her down, little things to try to sway her mind and distract her from the man with lilac eyes. It was a shame Phoenix wasn't listening, she wanted his head, he was killing her brother. She kept her eyes studiously fixed on the man's face, afraid that if she looked at Logan, who had, no doubt by now a fetching purple tinge, she would fall apart, she'd end up begging for his life, a stupid thing to do when that was how they got their undead jollies.

'Let. Him. Go.' She repeated in a heavily contrived calm, even tone. She was becoming seriously freaked out. If he would just stop staring and maybe move just slightly; but no, he stayed there, still as a statue with those friggin' eerie eyes fixed like stink on a pig to her face.

Reluctantly Etienne loosened his grip on the whelp, momentarily defeating the urge to break his neck just for the thought that his lifemate was so eager to defend another male. Instead he listened to the sound of his choking, wheezing breathing as the boy collapsed on the floor, biting back a smile of satisfaction he casually used his telekinesis to remove the clip from the gun.

'There is no need for such violence against me, palafertiil, I would not hurt someone you care for.' He drawled with exaggerated charm.

'Logan, are you alright?'

'Peachy.' He croaked, rubbing his raw throat. He was trying to orientate himself enough to stand up to protect his sister, knowing her, she'd probably put her foot in her mouth far enough to tickle her colon.

'There is no need to check on his health, I did not hurt him needlessly' Etienne replied softly, although even he heard the bit in his voice.

'There won't be a need to check yours if I put a bullet in your heart' Phoenix snapped

Behind them Logan bit back a groan, so much for her playing it cool, a comment like that would surely set off a vampires temper. Forcing himself up he lunged in one motion to Phoenix's side.

'Hey!' Holly shouted indignantly 'tell the oaf to get away from me'

'Holly says move, you just jumped straight through her' Phoenix narrated complacently, as ghosts went Holly was a whiny lass. Typically ghosts enjoyed brief encounters with the living, walking through them for a moment gave them a glimpse of emotions and thoughts of the host, it made them feel alive again. The problem was some chose to stay within the body for too long, the spirits of the two collide and it was usually the stronger, angrier spirit that won, most often the ghost was the angrier spirit. The living body is then a host for the alternate spirit, the personality becomes that of the ghosts and the former life of the original spirit is ruined. Phoenix equated those spirits to vampires. Sadistic. Selfish. Life-stealers.

'Who is Holly?' Etienne asked staring at the spot where Logan had just moved from, even with his senses he couldn't see or feel anything.

'Holly is her,' She indicated the corpse with a nod of her head

'And you see her? Speak to her?' he asked incredulously the vampires words trickling through his mind with unwanted insight.

We will use her to unleash our army, the hunters will be worthless, no one can kill what is already dead. She speaks to them, can connect their spirits to a living one. She is the one with hell-matched eyes.

Hell matched eyes.

Looking closely at her appearance, Etienne realised two important things, one: his lifemate was absolutely stunning, although he knew the women of his race were typically curvy and taller than the average human, she was incredibly slender almost boyish in her stature, she stood at no more than five foot six in height. She had the most angelic features he had ever seen, her delicate, pixie-like face was set with beautifully curved cheekbones, an adorable button nose that was dusted with freckles. His gaze rested on her lips, a perfect bow shape with a rosy tint they were begging to be kissed. His gaze found hers, he was shocked at the intensity of her eyes, shocked and shamelessly captivated, one was a vibrant shade of cerulean blue while the other glittered a dazzling green, but what also struck him was the vivacity and rebelliousness trapped beneath her eyes, he was certain she was going to give him a lot of trouble. He found himself anticipating the next eternity to see what mischief she could get into.
Two: She bore a striking resemblance to the whelp he strangled, they must be fraternal twins. A masculine and feminine version to each other. They both had the same eyes, though glancing at the boy Etienne observed a wariness and aloofness that even the coldest of Carpathian warriors would find commendable. The boy had a handsome face, with features that were mirrored to his sisters albeit harder edged and far less delicate.

'Yes I speak to her, what of it?' she lifted her chin defiantly, let the stupid vampire call her crazy. It had the same credibility as the pot calling the kettle black. Not hypocritical at all.

He shrugged, letting them see the ropes of muscles in his chest and shoulders, it was to impress her and threaten him 'it is an interesting gift, true talent is a rarity, most is for a profit.'

'Mine is to kill vampires' she warned with a sardonic grin.

At once Etienne became very still, a predator, a guardian for his people, he had heard of the so-called 'vampire hunters' that were depleting the ranks of his people. What if this duo were involved, Rurik may have been due to luck, but what if they had slaughtered and burned true Carpathians throughout their misguided quest, he would have little choice but to destroy them. His heart clenched in his chest and the beast roared a protest at harming this woman. The boy on the other hand...

'How do you know what you kill is vampire?' he asked softly

Phoenix gave him a droll stare, 'I ask the people he's killed'

'You only kill the ones who prey on the humans?'

'Yes' she hissed impatiently 'now if you don't mind, who the hell are you?'

He smiled, a charming flash of pearly white teeth as he bowed elegantly. 'My name is Etienne De'Verre, a hunter of the vampire, like yourself, and you?'

'Phoenix Carter and that's my brother Logan' she barely managed to stammer out the introductions, the stranger's - Etienne's presence, his charm and good-looks were so intense she could hardly function for the rush of heat that was spreading through her veins.

'Phoenix Carter, a beautiful name, is that the same Phoenix Carter who is heiress to the multimillion hotel and spa resort chains'

She looked away knowing a blush would be creeping under her skin, she detested talking about her money, her business or how she inherited said business. She could already feel tears gathering at the memories she desperately tried to ignore.

'Are you a vampire?' Logan interceded, sensing Phoenix's distress, he felt like interrogating him this time.

'No, I am a Carpathian, a race as old as time its self, it is my duty to eradicate the vampire'

'Uh-huh, and now what?' he asked sarcastically

'Excuse me?'

'My guess is you don't hand that information out willy-nilly, it sounds like a 'and now I have to kill you' type thing, so now what are you planning on doing?'

'Leaving and attending my wounds.' He abruptly turned and sauntered away leaving both twins holding their breath; Logan anticipated an attack, Phoenix held her breath to stop from calling him back. Her heart clenched tighter with every step he took away from her.

'Man, I don't even know how he was standing with that, I was kinda glad he finally noticed he was bleeding everywhere' Logan let out his breath in a long hiss.

'He's not human, Loge, you know how much shit these guys can withstand and not die' she reminded forlornly. Phoenix was aggravated, the man annoyed the hell out of her when he was near and now he was gone she desperately wanted him back with her. Her heart felt like it was void of some major element. As if that stranger held the key to what had been missing for so long and could complete her. That was what annoyed her. She didn't need completing she was perfectly happy with her life as it was. She could have anything she wanted. She had Logan by her side. She was complete. Wasn't she?

'C'mon Nix, we have about an hour to get to Senator Tradwicke's midnight party, wouldn't want to miss that now, would we?' he asked mischievously.

They headed for the BMW, but not before Logan had to complete the grim task of disposing of Holly's corpse, he planted the necessary evidence to make it look like a freak alcohol related accident before burning the unfortunate girls remains. Any witnesses would be completely clueless to how the fire started.

Returning home Phoenix thought she would feel better, that the nights events would dissolve away with the familiarity of her home, but she didn't and the hour before kept repeating over and over in her mind. As she showered she found herself thinking about the curve of his lips, the shining mass of silky black hair she wanted to bury her face in and inhale his scent, most of all she was captivated by the intense lilac colour of his eyes, so bright they seemed to glow under the moonlight. For as long as she lived, she would never forget the moment when he first turned those haunting eyes on to her, sizing her up like an inmate about to get his last meal.

Donning her favourite emerald green silk evening dress and matching five inch peep-toe stilettos, she quickly applied her makeup, she rushed to meet Logan who was putting the finishing touches on his hair, like he needed to bother, his naturally tousled 'yes, I really did just roll right out of bed' look stayed the same way morning, noon and night, applying more gel was pure semantics. She had to admit her brother really could scrub up well when he chose. Wearing his tailor-made Dolce and Gabbana suit he could easily pass as a movie star instead of the business tycoon he really was.

'What's this one for? Poverty or disease?' she asked dryly, the rich always wanted to give to the poor, yet the unprivileged remained unprivileged while the rich brought a new mansion in the Hamptons.

'Neither, I think he wants us to pay for his yacht or kid's college fund' he responded in an equally dry tone. 'It's just a party this time, Nix, not a fundraiser, although I'm sure he's gonna want to see us about a new campaign anyway.' Logan then went on to do a dead-on impression of the good senator himself.

'Oh, I see you ate one of our $1 hors d'oeurves, as a courtesy it would be most appreciated if you could chip in a few million here and there, old sport.'

Feeling somewhat more relaxed in Logan's presence she proceeded to the limousine which parked patiently at the front of the building. She hated going to these things, they were all so false, so power hungry they would crawl over the pits of hell to get what they wanted. Both Phoenix and Logan were hounded to no end at these events, they both had heaps of money, successful businesses and investments in the right industries, they were young at twenty-four, usually the youngest billionaires in the room and of course they looked superb draped over the arm of some up-and-coming burn-out.

The large contemporary mansion was located in the more well-to-do suburbs of New York, at once Phoenix could see it was little different from every other house they had passed, the hedges were finely trimmed, the ornate water fountain erupting and dancing, disappearing for a second only to erupt again in an endless slave cycle. No toys, or balls or bikes with stabilisers littering the lawn, despite the fact the senator had two young children. Nothing that marked this house as a home, it looked just like all the rest of these places did. Cold. Sterile. An Empty shell, just like the people inside were.

Both twins braced themselves before they entered the house, they greeted the security team courteously before entering the overly grandiose ballroom which was already decorated with several of New York's finest.

Senator Harvey Tradwicke stood imperiously in the centre of the large room, his wife at his side, as always playing the part of the doting spouse, though everyone who read the tabloids knew of their affairs with any twenty-something who gave them the time of day. They were entertaining a large group of guests. Tradwicke spouting as many threadbare anecdotes as the role of host would permit.

Phoenix surveyed the group with shrewd, unseeing eyes, she recognized most of them yet didn't care to speak or acknowledge any of them. Only one caught her attention. She stared into a pair of glowing lilac eyes.