Hi. Big Thank you to NotSoSweet, Riah Riddle, Elenemire, and Chrissienuil for the wonderful reviews. I really appreciate them all. :) :) :)
Thanks so much. Hugs all round. :) Here is the next chapter...
Did Nicholas stay at the ranch? hmmm... Of course not! lol
...Nya? ...
...I begged him not to come… Her voice faltered as she felt herself slip away...
Chapter Eleven
Nicholas closed his eyes against the tears that threatened to spill at Nya's pleading words. He could feel the damage to her skin, her pain, and couldn't leave her there to die, or worse, die alone.
He filtered through her memories trying to find out if she knew anything that could help him find her.
When he saw her reaction to when she had thought him dead, his heart flipped and ached within his chest.
He focused on her more recent memories, skirting the pain as much as possible, as he couldn't focus when he thought of her in any danger. The beast would take hold and threaten to kill everything standing between them.
He looked at her thoughts closely and saw the storms origins. Nya had created a storm. He sent the news mentally to Zacarias and remained connected to his Nya.
His heart, mind and soul where now residing with her in the cell.
He tried to look through her eyes, but all he saw was red and darkness.
He calmed her heart, allowing it to beat to the slower rhythm of his own. One beat, then another, he concentrated on keeping her calm, and alive.
He scanned her body and clenched his fists at the internal damage.
The blood from Joseph was like poison, burning and destroying whatever it came into contact with.
Nicholas it can be diluted and removed. The same happened to Destiny.
Rafael's words didn't reassure him, they only ignited his fury. Like oil to a flame, the beast broke free. He didn't like the casual way his brother was dismissing Nya's injuries. Nicholas could feel her pain! He knew what she was suffering!
I do not care about Destiny! Was snarled into the lobby.
Nicholas was surprised it was him. He didn't recognise his voice, or those words. He did care what happened to Destiny, she was a Carpathian woman who had been through hell, he did care. He just… he could hardly focus on anything but Nya's pain.
His head ached, his body was wracked with malice, his muscles tense and begging to destroy, maim, kill.
His heart and soul were dying.
He didn't want to look on the bright side, he didn't need a prep talk, a "everything is going to be alright". Right now, he didn't care.
All he was concerned about was his Nya.
And she was far from alright at that moment.
And he was stuck in this damn house! Zacarias was still barring the door.
He couldn't get to her, couldn't help her and that clawed at him. He was so desperate to help, and he was unable to. He couldn't do anything but wait and hope.
He was well aware of the sun, all three of the brothers were, it was fast creeping higher into the sky. Soon they would be unable to move.
Colby was suffering the most, and Nicholas could see by Rafael's strong pacing and concerned expression he could feel the pin pricks in her eyes and the heat on her sensitive skin.
Nicholas lowered his head in shame as a voice he hardly recognised as his own, whispered through his mind that he was happy Colby was suffering. Maybe then, Rafael will understand.
He didn't think like that. He didn't want Colby hurt in anyway, but he was too deep in Nya's agony to think straight. Her screams where permanently branded on his soul, he didn't think he could ever forget the sound of her screams and the feel of her skin burning.
He need her.
Zacarias, let me go...
Nicholas lifted his dark head, allowing his brother to see the torment swirling within their dark depths. Let me go to her. His voice quiet, but determined.
Your asking me to kill you.
I'm asking you to allow me the chance to save my heart and soul.
You will die
I will die either way. I will follow where ever she leads.
Zacarias' eyes pierced his younger brothers and saw the utter resolve. His brother would die, either way. His hand skimmed the copper of the door handle behind him as he kept his eyes on Nicholas.
Find her, and both of you return to us.
Nicholas nodded.
What are you doing? Concern and anger whipped through Rafael's voice as he strode protectively to Colby who had ended up back in the lobby once the door was shut.
Zacarias clutched the handle tight, seconds before he pulled the large oak door open, sunlight pouring into the lobby.
Rafael threw his entire body over Colby's, blanketing her from the harmful rays, as Zacarias watched his younger brother walk through the door, and become engulfed in light…
Paul wiped rain from his eyes, as he followed his uncles. They where moving towards their third research centre, they had already searched two unsuccessfully.
The sun had been unbearably hot before, but now the rain pelted down on them from a sudden storm.
They where following Riordan's directions and where careful of their surroundings. There could be vampire traps hidden beneath their feet.
The wind wasn't helping them, nor was the storm, both where so strong they where battling against the elements to take another step.
They had parked their land rover and where now on foot, as they had been unable to drive through the dense tree trunks.
They could see the research center ahead.
Everyone was praying this one would be the one to contain Nya.
Paul had had many experiences with the undead, and knew the damage they could do. He was fearful they would be too late.
How could they bring Nya's ashes back to the ranch? Back to a grieving Nicholas?
Nicholas ignored the blistering sun as he immaterialised just outside the large oak door. His clothes and body shifted away as he turned into a light mist to stream through the rainforest.
He scanned meticulously his surroundings, as he passed over them. He looked over the high canopy and saw his destination. He headed for the storm brewing aggressively in the distance. That was where his Nya was.
He could see the storm, blocking out the light, thunder rumbled across the clouds, before lightning licked over the darkness. It was a beautiful display of power and nature. He could feel the magic of the storm as he neared it.
Materialising on the forest floor, he allowed the rain to pour over his body. The white shirt he wore, became drenched to his skin, as he strode towards the center in the distance. Each rain drop against his skin was like feeling Nya's touch. He craved it more than air. More than blood.
He could feel the Chevez brothers progress ahead of him and knew they where close.
Nicholas sent a prayer to the heavens that Nya would recover.
For the first time since she had been taken from him, Nicholas felt hopeful, he and Nya could be together, she would be safe….
Nya leaned back against the stone wall of the cell.
She hoped Nicholas had listened to her words of warning although she doubted he would. She smiled weakly, there was no way he would listen to her warning. He would be coming anyway. Probably on his way now.
She felt sick at the thought of him suffering a similar fate.
Would the sun burn his skin?
Would he feel this pain?
She lowered her head to her bent knees and hoped not. She would prefer to stay here alone, then have him feel this pain.
Nya had always been told that just before you die your life flashes before your eyes.
Nya had spent her life trying to get her priorities straight, trying to get away from her problems. She felt almost ashamed of herself, that it took to be locked into a cell, and being turned into a vampire to see she had been wrong all along.
The second her skin had begun to burn and she had realised she would die, her thoughts had centered on Nicholas. His voice, his touch, his teasing. Not her mother, or her dancing. Just Nicholas.
Keeping her head pressed to her knees Nya made new priorities. She wanted to be happy.
Whether that meant going to America to go to college or staying here, she needed to decide, but it had to be for the right reasons, she had to do it for herself, not just to run away again.
Pushing Paul and the Chevez brothers aside, Nicholas slammed his shoulder into the door, hard. The metal shrieked as its hinges broke and the door slammed to the tiled floor.
Dust flew up from the floor, as the door smashed down, the noise loud through the center. Birds flew away from the surrounding trees at the noise, flying away to safety, risking the ferocity of the storm.
Nicholas ignored them as he strode into the dark corridor, stepping over the door. He descended a staircase and followed it to a corridor of cells. Their was only a single lamp flicking in the corridor, highlighting the cells for a second before flicking them back to darkness.
Scanning the area, he discovered that vampires had been here, he could almost hear their evil taunting laugh, their shark like, stained teeth glistening in the darkness of the corridor.
Joseph had been here...
He scanned the cells and discovered a vampire. His heart clenched painfully at the realization it was probably his Nya.
A blood red tear meandered down his cheek, only seen when the lamp flickered an orange glow above his head.
Nicholas took a deep breath, filling his body with the scents of the center.
He smelt blood. Nya's blood.
His eyes flamed red as he caught the strong scent of her blood within one of the cells.
His heart thundering he ran for the cell, he could hear a heart beat on the other side. Please let her be ok…
He slammed his shoulder into the cell door, this time it wouldn't budge. He tried again. His muscles straining as he pushed hard against the door. Nothing.
Safeguard? More than likely.
He pulled away from the door to look for the magic coating it...
Nya heard pounding. Something hard was being pounded against metal. She lifted her head, her green eyes still unable to see, as she listened. Once more there was a loud clang, as the metal shrieked.
Her heart pounded, was this good or bad?
She pushed herself further against the wall, as she heard foot steps outside her cell. A vampire?
She hoped they wouldn't find her. Please let them leave…
She brought her body close, her knees to her chest, wrapped tightly by her arms, her head bent down by her knees as she listened to the foot steps. They stopped. Her lungs refused to allow her to breath, as she heard pounding again, this time even louder. Close by?
Nicholas?
I am trying to get to you, my love.
Are you outside?
In the corridor with the cells, I will get through the door
No, Nicholas. Pain and fear gripped her heart tightly. That's the wrong door…
Nicholas' soul seemed to brightened at his name drifting through his mind. Nya's voice made him crave to see her; he needed to see her.
He was desperate to be near her, it was bordering on insanity. He needed to breath the air she breathed, his heart needed to follow her own unique rhythm.
He discovered the safeguard coating the door, and began to unravel it fast, his heart pounding in anticipation of holding her. Keeping her safe.
He could feel himself draining, his strength slipping away, the sun was almost too high, soon he would be unable to function.
But not before he got to Nya.
No, Nicholas that's the wrong door, hardly registered before the door swung open and razor sharp teeth went for his throat.
He was caught off guard, his body being thrown back as a vampire slashed madly for his throat and heart.
Nya screamed as she heard the door slam open, followed by the sounds of battle. She could hear bodies being thrown to the ground, the roars and shouts of fighting. Tears where streaming down her face as she tried to pull herself up the wall, to stand. She needed to get to Nicholas.
What's happening Nya?
She ignored the masculine voice, her heart pounding so loudly in her ears she could hardly hear it anyway.
Her nails dug into the stone wall as she tried to pull herself up.
Trying to straighten her legs, unbend her knees, to stand, she felt the stiffness of her muscles.
Her bones seemed unable to support her weight anymore.
Nya collapsed back to the ground.
Her hand reached down to stop herself slamming to floor, but spilled upon the blood on the stone tiles, causing her face to hit the floor hard.
Her jaw and cheek slamming to the ground, caused her head to spin painfully.
Disorientated and weak, she couldn't move.
Her body leaden.
Pain radiated up her jaw as she lay on the floor. She could feel the pounding of bodies against the floor, as they fought, as it trembled against her cheek.
Nya? Zacarias' voice became more insistent for an answer.
I begged him not to come… Her voice faltered as she felt herself slip away...
Nicholas wrapped his fist around the vampires heart and yanked the organ from its chest.
Poisonous blood sprayed over the walls and his clothes as he incinerated the heart and the vampire.
His body was almost unable to move anymore, the sun too high to function properly. He stumbled down the corridor, falling to his knees by the last cell.
He could feel her weak heart, beating so slowly, behind it.
He fell to the floor, his face slamming to the cool stone tile. From here he could just see beneath the door.
He ignored his own injuries as he looked beneath the metal door. Tears filling his dark eyes, almost disturbing his vision.
Beneath the bottom of the door he could see her.
His Nya.
He took the sight of her into his heart and soul before he felt himself shut down...
Thanks so much for reading. :)
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x emmalisa x