Hi. Big Thank you to Riah Riddle and NotSoSweet for the reviews. :-) Violet is Zacarias' lifemate from my other Zacarias story. I hope you like it...

All reviews welcomed...

xemmalisax

…She cried out, fear and pain evident in her voice,

as she tried to drag herself up from the floor.

She screamed for Nicholas,

screamed for anyone to help her…

Chapter Nine

Nicholas roared his fury as two of his brothers pushed him back against the wall of the soil chamber beneath their ranch home. He had been here all night and didn't care that the sun was rising, he needed to get Nya!

He could feel the black emptiness bleached his soul, the void in his heart making it ache unbearably at the thought of losing her. He couldn't think clearly. All his mind was focusing on was Nya and Joseph...

He took what's mine…

He growled low at Rafael and Zacarias and charged them once more, locking chests and trying to claw his way past them.

Stop this Nicholas!

Rafael had never seen his brother like this. Nicholas was always thinking, always practical and logical thinking, the beast they where containing unsuccessfully was a stranger to him. He could see the pain and fury boiling in his brothers blood red eyes as he stalked across the floor, pacing with quick angry strides, and feared for his soul

Tell us about Nya. How was she taken? Tell us so we can get here back.

I will get her back! Nicholas snarled as he paced. His body language aggressive, his tone full of barely leashed malice.

"Relax, Nicholas! You will need our help. What where you thinking keeping her away from the safety of the ranch?"

Nicholas snarled at his brother. He knew Zacarias was right, he should have returned them sooner to the ranch, but he was selfish and had wanted her to be with him alone. He knew he had made a mistake but right now he didn't need to hear it when she was in danger. He knew this was all his fault.

He heard Zacarias sigh and guessed Violet had been speaking to him, to calm him.

"Nicholas, Nya is part of this family, she will be found, and Joseph will be destroyed. Let us help you. Tell us more about Nya."

Nicholas slumped down onto the soil, in the corner of the chamber, his chin against his knees as he tried to calm himself. His muscles where aching to destroy, the beast within him roaring for his mate to be returned.

He needed to focus, his brothers were right, he was no good to her this way.

He took a deep breath and could still smell her delicate scent on his skin. Not so long ago she had slept beside him. He inhaled deeply taking her into his body, it was soothing, calming him, as he told his brothers everything he had discovered. Minus the way her skin felt like against his, and how sweet and addicting her kiss was. Those he savoured and focused on to calm him, as he told them everything.

"You said she had great voids in her memory, as if they stopped suddenly. Like Colbys?" Rafael asked after listening to Nicholas.

Nicholas thought about it, back in America he had gone into Colbys mind, and had seen her voids. They where similar, he remembered that now.

"Possibly, they are similar."

"Could Nya be related to Razvan? You said she had no father figure, and with her hidden powers?" Rafael looked from Nicholas' crouching form in the shadows to his older brother who stood by the door with his life mate Violet.

"Its possible, Colby was conceived three years before Nya, it's a possibility he could have gone south and met Nyas mother"

"Who is Colbys father?" Violet asked from beside him. She had met Colby and had become good friends but they had never delved into her parentage, she thought her father was a ranch owner? "A vampire I'm guessing?"

"Yes, a turned mage." Rafael supplied as he sent the news to Colby of the conversation. He sensed her gasp. I have a sister?

Possibly...

He could feel his life mates emotions, she was afraid for the girl, and apprehensive about having a sister and excited too. He knew how much it would mean to her to have someone like her. He had delved into her memories, and knew even though she had Paul and Ginny she had always felt different.

We don't know anything for sure, Colby. She will be safe. I promise you.

Mage? Fill me in Violet asked Zacarias. God, there was so much she didn't know. Yesterday she had been told that not only did werewolves exist but her sister in law was one. That took a little getting used to…

They control magic, my love. Like a wizard. Dark magic.

A wizard turned vamp?

Yes

Violets nose twitched as she tried to digest that. Wizards. Werewolves. Vampires. Jaguar people. Right…

"Its possible, but Nya can materialise things as well as move them." Nicholas spoke his thoughts out loud, as far as he knew Colby couldn't do that before she was turned, and Nya had materialised her own clothing. He swallowed on the lump in his throat at the memory of that night.

"Colby couldn't do that even though her power was well advanced" Rafaels voice supplied, his face showing he was deep in thought.

"Also she doesn't believe she has any powers." Zacarias pointed out. He didn't like the sound of any of this. Without knowledge and understanding of her powers, Nya may be stronger but unable to use that power against her enemies. It meant at the moment she was in as much danger as a human.

"Where is Monolito?" Nicholas asked. He wanted as many people he trusted searching for his lifemate as he could, although he had yet to see his brother.

"With Marianne, visiting Destiny and Nicholae, they are expecting a baby" Zacarias supplied.

"Riordan?"

"Travelling back, not here till the next rising"

"Did you convert Nya?" Violet asked. Nicholas could see the memory of pain cross his sister in laws eyes and knew she was reliving the memory of her own conversion.

"No"

"She is still human?" Rafael asked, surprise and concern loud in his voice.

"Is that not what I just said?!" Nicholas roared, before he stood, and started to pace. This was getting them nowhere! He had had enough of talking, he just wanted her back...

"If she is still human she has the advantage over the vampires, she could find a way to leave during the day." Rafaels voice seemed to be more aimed at Zacarias than Nicholas.

"You mean run through the rainforest alone?" Violet asked. Shock clear on her face. As a city girl, Nicholas knew she didn't like the rainforest too much, although she respected it, and loved it for its beauty, she knew its dangers.

He also agreed with her, he didn't like the idea of Nya alone in the jungle without aid. But he preferred it to staying with the vampires. God only knows what they could have planned for her.

He clenched his fists as scenario after scenario of torture ran through his mind. He couldnt take the images any more, the thoughts running through his mind. The mere suggestion, and reminder that Nya was in danger made his heart clench as well as his soul. He punched at the chamber wall, ignoring the blood pour down his fist, his eyes burning blood red as he rested his forehead against the cool stone. Violets gasp was loud in the chamber.

"If we help her realise her gift maybe that can help her escape and remain safe until we reach her" Zacarias gentled his voice at his younger brothers obvious distress. He remembered all too well the agony of being separated from his life mate, so understood his brothers anguish. He also feared for the young girl. Joseph was a danger, even more so, now that he had no other family to lose, the hatred for the De La Cruz family ran deep within him. Nya was now a De La Cruz.

"And if not, she is unprotected in the rainforest until we rise to find her" Nicholas growled from against the wall.

"Yes" Zacarias wasn't going to lie. It was a gamble. Either she would learn to accept her gifts, or the rainforest would prove to be her death as apposed to the vampires.

"Ill talk to her when she wakes, try to kill them through her eyes first" Nicholas suggested.

"Nicholas, Joseph knows what we will try to do, he will probably keep her blindfolded and unconscious for as long as possible. Our only hope is he knows nothing about her gift."

"I will try to-" Nicholas began but Zacarias cut him off. He wasn't going to let his brother endanger himself as well.

"No, Nicholas. You have abandoned your health for too long, sleeping like a human and not taking sanctuary below ground. You must rest for the next rising. Violet and I will try to contact Nya and help her during the day."

Nicholas turned to face Zacarias as he said "No! I need –"

"No Nicholas! She needs you strong!"

Nicholas clenched his fist, but knew better than to argue with his brother. And Zacarias was right, he had neglected his health. It had been a welcomed exchange, sacrificing his health to lie beside her.

Nya opened her eyes slowly.

Her head pounding aggressively.

The only thing she could hear was her heart pounding erratically in her ears.

She tried to turn her head, and stopped, the pain shooting through her temples too much to bear. She clutched at her head as she screwed up her eyes at the pain.

She exhaled harshly as she tried to see where she was.

Her face was pressed against a cold, stone floor. She could see dirt and dust on the floor. She wasn't in the cave anymore...

There was no Nicholas clutching her to a formidable chest. No heart beat against her spine.

A tear tracked down her cheek, she felt so disorientated, the pounding in her head making her feel sick. Her mouth felt dry, her throat aching for moisture.

She pulled herself up from the floor, stopping every few seconds to allow the pain in her head to die down before she tried to sit up again. She breathed out, clutching her forehead as she leaned back against the wall.

She cried out. Her head felt like it might explode, she squeezed her palms to her head as she rocked through the pain.

Where was she?

Her eyes crept open as she looked around her surroundings. It looked like some sort of cell.

Dark, shadow filled, a small window covered by bars, it was only about four meters square.

A tear trailed down her cheek at her situation.

Where was Nicholas?

She remembered the jaguar battle, they made love, she woke to him pleasuring her and then….

And then…

She clenched her hands into fists either side of her head, as she cried out, why couldn't she remember?

Where was Nicholas?

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, my dear. But Nicholas is dead…"

Zacarias and Violet walked up from the soil chamber, hand in hand. Their thoughts centred on Nicholas and Nya.

"Your going to tell this poor girl her dad is a wizard turned vampire, her boyfriend is a vampire, her half sister is also a vampire, who is married to her boyfriends brother and she has special powers?" Violets brow arched at the insanity of all of that. "Honey. I would break slowly into that." And he would be leaving out, she also had a werewolf, and a jaguar woman for sister in laws.

Zacarias grinned down on Violet and her thoughts. She did have a point. It was going to be a lot to take in at once, but if it was the only way to explain to her about her powers, and get her away from the vampires alive he was going to have to take the risk.

"Thanks for the advice, Violet. Your going to help me"

"How?"

"Nicholas said she didn't trust men much, maybe hearing things from a woman who used to be a human would help to persuade her to listen to me"

"I don't even listen to you-" Zacarias grasped Violets hips as he lifted her, and pinned her to the door out of the basement, his body crushing hers against the wood. She giggled, at his mock punishment. It was never particularly punishing to have this man pressed up against her. She craved his touch.

His teeth scrapped her throat slowly before he whispered into her ear…"Violet, help me"

Violet could hear and sense how much Zacarias feared for his brother, Nicholas had come to mean a lot to her too. It had made her so sad to realise he could feel no emotions, no joy or happiness. And now to find it and have it taken away. It had almost brought tears to her eyes when he had slammed his fist into the wall with his pain. She could see how much he was missing his Nya, and it pulled at her heart.

"Ill do it for Nicholas" She whispered. She wanted to help. She grinned when she heard Zacarias growl, and couldn't help but tease him about his jealousy. The man had obviously seen way too many Jerry Springers.

"Relax Zacarias, I would never leave you for Nicholas… Rafael maybe"

She grinned as his eyes turned red and he lowered her to the floor, looking angry.

"Im joking, its worth it to see that look on your face."

"Ill punish you for that later" That was one of her favourite things to hear come out of his mouth.

"That's what you said last time" she teased as they walked through the basement door.

"I mean it this time" Zacarias rumbled from behind her.

"That's exactly what you said last time" She teased as she sent him a saucy grin over her shoulder as she headed for the living room.

"Ouch" She yelled out, as she felt Zacarias swatted her arse, as he laughed from behind her.

Nya had cried herself out.

She was so exhausted she couldn't try anymore, couldn't pound on the door anymore. Scream for Nicholas anymore.

She lay, knees to her chest on the floor. Her cheeks stained with her tears. Nicholas was dead.

Something inside her seemed to shrivel and die at the thought. Break and shatter at the thought of him gone. Forever.

She had turned to find something evil before her, she was certain. He appear beautiful, tall and dark but when she looked into his eyes she saw his true nature. Evil, darkness and death lurked there.

She had stared wide eyed at him as he entered her small cell and smirk at the state of her.

His words shot through her, making her unable to speak, even breathing became hard as the pounding in her head became louder.

Crippling her until she had almost cried out.

She refused to cry out, not in front of this man, not when he would so obviously enjoy it.

She keep her spine straight as she heard how Nicholas had died. Choking on her sob at hearing it had been when he had tried to protect her. Her lip quivered as she desperately tried to keep her tears in check.

He had smirked down at her when she had called him a liar, his teeth sharp and stained, before he left with nothing but a taunting laugh, that seemed to linger long after he had departed.

She had broken down, shuddering on the floor.

So much pain, and Nicholas was dead...

Now she lay helpless. She had lost all her will, she could no longer move, not even to sit. She clenched her knees tighter to her chest as she watched the sky begin to lighten.

Nya? Can you hear me? This is Zacarias, Nicholas' brother

She lay not thinking for a while, she heard the man repeat his enquiry, his voice deep and similar in accent to Nicholas' voice, speak into her mind. Nya?

How do I know your telling me the truth. She thought. She didn't know if he would be able to read her thoughts as Nicholas could, she didn't truly care. She didn't have the energy to care anymore. Her body, heart and soul where leaden. Dead.

He has told me much about you. The male voice came again, a tear tracked down her cheek at those words.

That cant be good...

She heard a gentle feminine laugh float through her mind at her words.

Who was that? She enquired. She didn't recognise the voice. Was this actually happening, or was she making all this up?

Violet my life mate

Where is Nicholas?

She held her breath for his answer, she was so desperate to believe he was alive. She cared so much for him.

Healing

Her breath left her in a rush. She lay breathing heavily on the ground, a small smile showing through her tears. That was what she needed to hear. She was so desperate to believe the deep voice in her mind. Please let him be telling the truth.

Was he hurt? She asked. She hoped not, she remembered her reaction to the claw marks over his chest and hoped he was ok. She needed him to be ok.

He was injured, poison was used.

She gasped at the thought of poison.

He will be fine, I promise you, he worries more for your health. How are you Nya?

Peachy! She muttered aloud as she looked at her surroundings. Her head pounded painfully, her body was so so weak. She heard the masculine groan of annoyance in her mind. She sobered her thoughts. If this man was who he said he was, Nihcolas would be wanting to hear how she was, she should tell him.

I don't know where I am, but I'm unharmed.

It wasn't a lie, it just wasn't the whole truth. Anyway that was what she wanted to get back to Nicholas.

Have they spoken to you?

Only to tell me Nicholas was dead

He lives, they lied.

How do I know your not lying?

I don't lie

I've been told that before

Nya? This is Violet. I promise you Zacarias is not lying to you. And any way, if he can get you out of there unharmed isn't it worth trusting him?

How do I know Nicholas is not dead? She whispered her question into the darkness of the stone cell. She needed to know that first. Needed to believe it before she could trust them.

You would know She listened to the feminine voice, and knew what she said was right. She would know if he was dead. She had denied it ever since she had been told. She sighed in relief; Nicholas was alive.

Ok, what do you want me to do?

Just listen…

Excuse me?! Nya half yelled into the cell.

I know it's a lot to take in Nya, but we believe it may be the truth

Im a half vampire wizard is possibly the truth…? She couldn't believe a word of what this man had just said, she had fazed out when he had started on about some woman in America, and then a wizard from Europe. The summary of what this man was suggesting was she was a half vampire/wizard with magical powers.

I told you to break her in slowly She heard Violet say as she scolded Zacarias' through Nyas mind.

I did !

No you didn't Came Violets voice again. Nya frowned and rubbed her brow, the throbbing was still making her head feel like it was being split in two and listening to a domestic wasn't high on her list of priorites right now. She needed to get out of here.

Violet she needed to know

That fast? Couldn't you have putted it a little less…. I don't know blunt

We don't have time to be subtle Violet

Perhaps-

"Hey!" Nya yelled at the voices in her mind." Look I may not understand what your talking about but I know what I did the other night, I was able to move things, the vines"

What did you do with the vines?

She blushed at what the male voice was asking. There was no way she was going to give details of tying Nicholas up for pleasure to virtually strangers. She heard a female gasp, and squeezed her eyes together tight as she realised by thinking about it, she had just told them.

That's a great idea, better than stockings The female voices shocked voice gasped through her mind.

Violet!

Nya listened to the rumbling, growl so like Nicholas', and realised again how much she truly missed him, but mostly how much this man was like him. They weren't lying to her. He was his brother.

Stockings? Nya innocently inquired.

Ill tell you about it laterViolet whispered into her mind, Nya gave a small smile. She liked Violet.

No you wont! Zacarias yelled at his life mate, through Nyas mind.

How do I get out of here?

Moments passed as Nya explained what she could see, and what she could hear from her cell. She answered Zacarias questions as fully as she could.

It might be one of the research centres, deep in the rainforest. Nya I need you to get out of that cell, use your powers like you did with the vines. Image opening the door. Find stairs or a door and get outside of the centre. Wait till sunrise to do it. The vampires will be weak then. I don't have much more time Nya the sun is rising fast…

Nya nodded as she listened to Zacarias, she wasn't sure she could do what he told her to do, her body was still leaden and aching all over.

Travel as far as you can, but stay safe Nya, Nicholas life depends on you being safe.

"Any tips from a jungle boy to a town girl about how to survive in the jungle?"

Listen to your surroundings, focus on where you are treading, be vigilant. Oh and Nya? Believe in yourself and your abilities.

Nya heard the door scratch open, the metal scrapping over the stone floor as Joseph strode in. She could sense Zacarias wanting to stay in contact with her, but he seemed to be being dragged away. His presence in her mind fading away, until all she felt was fear as she stared up at the monster in her cell. He grinned down on her.

"Now my dear, there is no need to start name calling" His voice scratched through her like nails on a chalk board. She squeezed her palms once more to her ears to drown out his voice, the agony of his voice was clawing at her mind, the pain returning strongly.

He made tutting sounds as he lifted her from the floor by her arms, holding her before him. She creaked open her eyes and saw him lick his lips. Her eyes widened at the hunger there.

She watched as his eyes became burning pools of red fire, his teeth lengthening in his mouth, his thin pale lips pulling back in a snarl.

She screamed out a second before teeth ripped into her throat, his head rocked back and forth as he drank, ripping more and more of her throat as he growled against her like an animal.

She could feel her blood pouring away, fast, rivers of blood running down her chest and into his mouth.

Tears trailed down her face, as her mouth opened for a silent scream...

Zacarias fought to get through the strong mental barrier preventing him reaching Nya.

It was strong, a mixture of Carpathian safeguard and mage magic. Joseph must have seeked help to create such a powerful barrier.

He fought, breaking down the magic, desperate to get to Nya.

Violet was holding her breath beside him, he could see the tears glistening in her eyes out of fear for the young girl.

Zacarias prayed She would be ok. She would live.

He sent all his will to her body, hoping some would get through. Rafael joined him, pouring his strength and will into Nya, Zacarias even sensed Colbys strength too, and Riordan from a great distance.

He prayed it would be enough.

All three brothers worked on the barrier and when it dropped they all stopped.

Hearts in their mouths they saw the joint fate of Nicholas and Nya.

She had been bitten, given blood.

Her body was converting.

The vampire blood torturing her insides.

She lay in a cold, stone cell.

But the worst thing was, the cell had a single window and the sun was rising…

Nya lay on the cold floor shuddering with the pain of the bite.

She tentatively touched the wound and winced. It was big, it felt beneath her finger tips like her entire throat had been ripped out.

She heaved once more, at the memory of taking that vile creatures blood. She had almost choked on the poison like liquid being poured into her mouth. Her body was weak. So weak.

The blood was burning her insides.

She could feel more and more agony with every heart beat. The more the blood was being pumped around her body, infecting, burning more of her body.

She looked up to the window, covered by bars. The sun was rising. She could see the first few rays of sunlight, when her body began to convulse.

Molten fire ripping through her muscles.

Slamming her hard to the floor.

She cried out, fear and pain evident in her voice, as she tried to drag herself up from the floor.

She screamed for Nicholas, screamed for anyone to help her...

She couldn't get up, her body involuntarily throwing her back down.

Her bones cracked, breaking and shifting, as her organs burned.

There wasn't a part of her body not sensitive and in agony. She twisted to her front as she heaved and rid herself of toxins.

She cried as she was sick, her body twisting and reshaping.

She was sweating, barely able to keep herself from drowning in her own blood.

She felt disgusted with herself and so afraid, she fell to the floor in a heap, dirt and blood beneath her cheek as she tried to pull herself into a ball to bury her face in her knees, she wasn't even strong enough to do that.

She screamed from the pain.

Her convulsions never weakening.

She knew she had broken more than one rib from her body being thrown to the floor, breathing hurt. Everything hurt. She focused on her breathing. Her heart beat unnatural to her. Too slow, uneven.

She couldn't move. Her body weak, and unused.

She felt like there was nothing left of her, she was just a shell of the person she once was.

She hoped no one was reading her mind, she didn't want Nicholas to hear of her suffering...

Tears meandered down her cheeks as she looked up and watched the sunlight streak across the sky.

The sunlight chasing the shadows away from the roof of her cell.

She watched as the light moved down the wall slowly, inch by inch, the cell beginning to fill with sunlight.

Her eyes stung, pins pricking her eyes, as her skin began to burn and catch on fire…

Thanks so much for reading. :-)

Please review. sorry it was so long.

Take care

xemmalisax