You can shoot me, I am so so sorry this was so late. My dad was in hospital so I have been all over the place recently. But thankfully, he is out of danger, and coming home :)
Thanks so much for the wonderful reviews, I love recieving them, they always make my day. BIG Thank You to Chrissienuil, NotSoSweet, Creative-Kiwi, Elenemire, and Riah Riddle. :) Here is the next chapter, hope you enjoy...
He would perish in the same sunlight that destroyed his love, thankfully,
before he spent another day with out her.
Chapter Ten
Nya screamed as she felt her skin begin to burn and peel away.
She summoned any strength left in her body. Begging for the energy to drag herself into the remaining shadows in the cell.
She heard voices. Male voices shouting and talking to her. She tried desperately to hear them, to understand their words, but it only left her head pounding more.
She couldn't focus on any of them.
The pain was unbearable.
She felt her blood tingle and finally felt some strength returning to her. Digging her nails into the gaps in the stone tiles on the floor, she began to drag her broken body into the corner of the cell.
Her eyes stung. Pin pricks of agony piercing her eyes, shooting pain through her mind.
She wasn't certain but she suspected her eyes where bleeding. Her vision was blurry. Her head pounding.
She cried as she pulled her body inch by inch away from the sun.
Why?
She curled into a ball, trying desperately to shield herself, but failing. One of her legs where still fully exposed.
She heard thunder clap outside. Rumbling and loud, shaking the building. She felt the building tremble at the sound, quivering along her back as she tried to push herself out of the sunlight even more.
Nya tried to open her eyes, to look at the gathering storm, through the bars of her cell, but was unable to open them any more.
Her eye lids felt double the size, and throbbed. She sobbed uncontrollably even though the sunlight was finally off of her skin.
The damage had been done anyway, she was severely burnt.
She could perceive the heat emanating from the sunlight within the cell. Feel the heat of the light so close to her ultra sensitive skin. She could tell it wasn't far from her now, probably a few scarce inches.
She knew it was only a matter of time before the sunlight filled the cell and killed her.
Nya screaming woke Nicholas beneath the soil.
Eyes blood red snapped open.
Incisors lengthening as he connected with his life mate. His world.
Nya was dying….
A roar of agony resounded up through the layers of soil, travelling through the ranch house. Anyone in hearing distance stopped and couldn't help but shiver at the agony and rage contained in it.
Rational thought was long gone, as Nicholas erupted from the soil, spraying soil in all directions within the soil chamber. Mud thudded against the metal chamber loudly, particles of dirt fell to the ground as a figure walked out from the dark chamber. His body shrouded with shadows, his eyes piercing the darkness with deadly promise….
Zacarias kept his mind connected with Nya as he waited for Rafael to join him in the study.
He had only just managed to get Violet below ground, her tears had tore at his soul. The compassion and agony she was feeling because of this young girl, made Zacarias even more determined to save her life.
She was his sister, his brothers salvation, and she must live.
They had no other option.
Violet had refused to go to ground, so he had had no choice but to over ride her mind, he didn't want to, and knew she would be angry, but too many people where already in danger. He needed her safe, so he could focus. Plus, she was still too young to stand the heat of the sun, even this early in the morning, her eyes had already begun to sting.
He felt a wave of sickness, as he thought of Nya's current fate.
The Chevez brothers where out now, searching each research centre in an attempt to find her. Zacarias wasn't holding his breath at the outcome being successful, they where three men, as Paul had gone too, they couldn't search every research centre before the sunlight engulfed the cell.
He guessed Nya had about an hour, two at best, before the sun reached the right angle to pour light completely into the cell.
He had two hours to save his brothers life.
Rafael burst into the room followed by a distraught Colby. Zacarias frowned at the sight.
She should be below the ground, Rafael. Zacarias reprimanded his younger brother. He didn't need another life mate in jeopardy.
I tried. She refused to go to ground. She wanted to be here.
Force her, this is a dangerous time.
She would never have forgiven me, plus while Paul is in danger she wants to be awake.
"I know your both talking about me. I'm not going to ground. Not when I can hear her screams through Rafael's mind." Colby choked on the last sentence and Zacarias felt a lump come into his own throat.
The girl was going to die unless they found a way to save her.
"From what I can see through her mind, she is being contained in a stone cell, tiles are on the floor, broken. Bars over the windows. A few branches visible." Zacarias paused, as he sighed and tried to recall anything that might help them find her faster. But in the end, that was all they had. "Possibly a research centre, or maybe even an old derelict building" He concluded.
"Paul has told me they have search two centres so far, but no sign. Has Riordan checked in yet?"
"He is seeking sanctuary within the rainforest until the next rising. He told me he is going to scan the local area before he goes to ground."
Immediately, Zacarias reached for his youngest brother. Riordan, any news?
I'm not certain yet. I have found an unusual taint on some of the animals, I will try to pin point the source if possible.
Zacarias didn't need the exact source, just an area to look.
Where is this taint?
Seven miles down river to the east.
Any other sign of vampires?
No, only the darkness within the animals. Plus a thunder storm. I can't find the source, only the general area that has been effected.
Thunder storm?
Appears natural but it came from nowhere.
Zacarias sighed, it was possible that Joseph had been there previously and wasn't there now. It was also possible he had set the taint up as a trap.
I hear your thoughts brother, but the taint is wrong for a trap. It isn't making the animals act out of character, it's the opposite, they act completely natural. It was only by coincidence I discovered it. Perhaps it is a way to hide their location?
Perhaps. Seven miles down river to the east?
Yes
I will send the Chevez brothers to check the research facilities in that area. It is our only lead. Go to ground now, and rest.
You should do the same, Zacarias. We can't let Joseph disappear again, he has threatened our women too many times.
I agree with you Riordan, he needs to be destroyed.
Zacarias sent the news to the Chevez brothers and hoped they discovered Nya in time, if she was in that location. It was a long shot, in an impossible situation. But it was the only suggestion they had to go on. It was either this… or she dies.
Zacarias slumped into the black leather chair behind him, in front of the sun blocked window.
He wouldn't sleep. He would watch over Nya.
He looked around the study, his brother looked deep in thought, possibilities swirling through his mind, whilst his life mate sat beside him. Colby looked incredibly pale, which was unusual for her. Her red hair stark against her bloodless cheeks. Her eyes troubled and tired.
"You should rest, Colby. We will do everything to help Nya"
Zacarias kept his tone gentle and calm, he knew his sister in law had a temper to match her firey hair colour, and provoking her wouldn't help anyone.
"I can't do that Zacarias. I want to stay here for as long as possible. I just feel so…." Colby shook her head before sitting down in the chair beside Rafael "...so utterly useless"
"We all do, Colby. But neglecting your needs wouldn't help Nya"
Zacarias watched his sister in laws eyes flame and sparkle with annoyance "And sleeping through her agony will?"
"Querida, that's not what Zacarias means." Rafael's long, tanned fingers, caressed through Colby's hair as he soothed her mind with his voice.
"What's happening with Nicholas?"
Zacarias shook his head as he leaned back into his chair. He wasn't sure what was happening with his brother, or what they could do with him. He was certain he would be able to hear Nya's screams and feel her wounds, there was no way he was sleeping through it.
He sat up abruptly in his chair. Where was Nicholas right now?
He scanned the house, and expected to find him in the soil chamber, no heart beat, no breathing. Was he sleeping beneath the soil… no. Zacarias pulled back his senses and focused back onto the study.
"He's gone"
Nya winced as she felt her knee begin to burn, and pulled it more tightly to her chest. She was fast running out of time. She needed to think. She had shut the pain out, pushing it to the back of her mind.
She needed to get out of here, and fast.
A tear trickling down her cheek, hurting her.
The small drop travelling down her skin was painful. Touching the burns on her face.
Now wasn't the time for self pity.
She laughed at her words, actually now was the perfect time for self pity. She was locked in a cold, stone cell, she was burnt, starving and her insides felt like they where being burned and corroded from the inside out.
Not to mention, Nya was pretty sure, she was now whatever Nicholas was. She was a vampire.
God, if I wasn't half dead, I would laugh at the insanity of that….
Nya thought back over Nicholas brothers words. She could have powers of her own?
She remembered so clearly the vines moving as she wished them to, even though that seemed like an eternity ago.
It seemed so long ago since she slept beside Nicholas.
Wrapped tightly in his embrace.
Her face screwed up as another tear escaped, she winced painfully, as it rolled innocently of the pain it caused, down her cheek to drop to the stone tiles.
If she did have powers, now was the time to use them.
She was past the point of caring that this was all insane. The pain was so unbearable she was willing to try anything.
Anything to get it to stop.
She listened to the sounds of the storm outside. Where the clouds thick enough to block out the sun?
Zacarias and Rafael marched from the study, strides strong as they walked towards the lobby. Colby wandered behind Rafael, her fingers threaded through the loop at the back of his jeans.
What is Nicholas thinking, the sun is too high to leave the ranch. Isn't it?
Yes. He is going for his life mate. Querida, I would do the same thing if you where in danger
They turned the corner, entering the lobby, their foot steps quiet, except for Colbys. They spotted Nicholas a second before the front door was swung open, and sunlight spilled into the lobby…
Rafael grabbed his life mate and threw her against the wall, his body acting as a guard against the burning sunlight filling the lobby. His eyes blood red as he looked down to see Colby wincing and her eyes streaming.
"Shut the door!" He shouted as he pressed his larger frame against Colbys, desperate to keep the sun from burning her delicate skin.
I think Zacarias is dragging him back in. I can hear them arguing.
Good! His stupidity has nearly killed you.
I'm fine, its just a little bright. What happened to, 'I would do the same thing if it was you'?
I wouldn't endanger a women to do it.
He didn't know I was here.
No excuse.
Colby smiled at the raw fear in Rafael's mental voice, snuggling closer to his strength as she listened to the argument between Nicholas and Zacarias.
You should help Zacarias bring Nicholas inside, he won't be able to do it himself.
Querida, I'm not leaving you to burn She smiled at the way he growled his words.
I'll run into the next room, back to the study. Nicholas needs help.
She felt Rafael sigh against her, and knew he had come around to what she was saying.
I'll take you into the next room first.
Deal...
Rafael pulled Colby's form closer to his, as he stuck close to the wall, before opening the door and placing her inside the darkened room. His fingers trailed over her face to check for marks and when he got his hand batted away he grinned. His Colby was fine.
He turned to help his brothers.
Nicholas roared his anger as his brothers gave up convincing him and used brute force to drag him back into the ranch house. He ignored the sun tingling on his skin as he fought against them. He hit the marble floor of the lobby and growled low as the door was slammed close behind his brothers. He hardly recognised his voice anymore. It was low, rumbling and guttural.
"Let me out!"
He lifted himself from the floor and grabbed hold of his head, bending over in agony. He could feel her pain. Feel everything she had to endure. The headaches, the organs burning with the acidic blood, the burns.
He groaned and crouched down as he gripped his temples. He needed to get to her. Everything in him was screaming for her. Screaming to save her. "Let me go to her!"
"Nicholas, what good will you do for Nya out in the sun?"
"I will search for her"
"How? you will die!"
"I don't care, if I lose her I will die anyway!" He lifted his dark head, silken tendrils of hair loose from the leather tong framing his blood red eyes. He snarled at his brothers blocking the door. The beast awake and roaring for its mate.
They don't care about her…
Get her back…
Go now….
A bestial, low roar erupted from his throat as his incisors shot even longer.
He wanted to search as much of the rainforest as he could, regardless of his burning skin.
He would search for as long as it took to find her. Bring her back to him.
He didn't care too much if he died, as long as she lived.
If anything happened to her… He would be as good as dead anyway.
He would perish in the same sunlight that destroyed his love thankfully, before he spent another day with out her. Without her smile, her teasing, her laughter. He looked at his brothers, barring the door.
They are standing between me and my mate…
Foolish.
Nya built the image of dark clouds, so dark they blocked all light in her mind.
She focused and worked on every aspect of her imagined storm. She wanted a storm this fierce, this ferocious. She built the vision working hard to manipulate the very heavens. She needed darkness.
She heard the crack of lightning and listened to the rumbling thunder and prayed this was working.
She could feel the heat of the room decrease, the tell tale sign the light wasn't heating the inside of the cell anymore.
Good.
She tried again to open her eyes. They crept open a few millimetres before she was forced to close them once more.
Red was all she could see, she didn't want to think it was her blood.
She pushed herself up from her ground, ignoring the tight feeling of her skin. She could feel the burns on her body.
Feel the tightness and pain.
She sat upon the floor, slowly outstretching her legs. She held her breath as she pushed her legs out further and further and exhaled when they didn't burn. She had done it!
Now how to get out of the cell?
That was impossible. There was no way she could do it. Her skin was damaged beyond repair, and her insides…
She was stifling a scream at the feel of her blood flowing through her veins. It was like having barb wire rip through them with each heart beat.
She was having difficulty breathing as well. It was almost as if she could feel her body shutting down for death.
She hungered.
She thought of food, but felt sickened. The unwanted thought of the blood on the floor, caused teeth to pierce through her gums.
Nya screamed, backing herself further against the cell cave, as she panted with fear. Fear of herself.
Tears streaming down her eyes. She could feel the teeth elongated in her mouth. Long and unnatural.
She stifled a cry. What am I?
Mine…. Nya's head shot up as she heard the voice. Was that…?Nya you are mine. And I will come for you.
All the emotion she had tried to keep wrapped up, spilled out suddenly, she sobbed uncontrollably at Nicholas in her mind.
It was definitely him. No one else could pull off being romantic and irritating as well as he could. She grinned through her tears. Waiting patiently for more. She seemed starved for him.
Your coming for me?
Always my love.
She nodded at the honesty of those words. She should know that by now, how many times had she tried to walk away from the cave, before he dragged her back. He would come for her.
Panic and fear overrode her feelings.
You cannot come, it isn't safe!
Even as she said the words, she regretted the truth of them. God, how much she wished she could be safe back in his arms. But there was no way in hell, she was dragging him into this hell. She shook her head. She couldn't let him suffer this.
Do not come here. Please. A tear slid painful down her cheek. I beg you, do not come...
Thanks so much for reading.
I hope you liked it. Please review. The next chapter is half done already so will be uploaded soon... :)