Hi,
Big Thank you to ...NotSoSweet, Akashia, Chrissienuil, and Carly Jo for the reviews. Pre-warning, this chapter does only add to the suspense I'm afraid :) Hope you all enjoy. Thank you for reading...
xemmalisax
...Brave words, Nya. But you forget your alone with nothing and no one to protect you.
Plus, I have someone on my side who can easily
get into that pretty little head of yours...
Chapter Twenty One
At the Ranch:
Nya sighed in relief as she watched Rafael and Zacarias stride through the oak door. It had been them causing the scratching. She smiled at her stupidity and laughed lightly, as she shook her head.
"My God! You scared me to death!" She spoke the words fast, as she placed her hand over her pounding heart.
She couldn't believe she had thought them to be in danger.
But even as she thought of her stupidity, her heart and body seemed to be ignoring her.
Her heart was pounding even more aggressively against her palm, and the hair on the back of her neck was up. Why was her body still afraid?
She turned from the brothers, who looked a mixture of confused and amused by her outburst, and looked at Violet.
Violets small frame was still huddled in the corner of the lobby, her back to the wall. Nya gasped quietly at the state of her.
Her eyes were huge, and had the image of the brothers shining within them. The brothers seemed to be floating on a film of red tears, but it was the utter terror, Nya could see clearly on the woman's face, that caused her such alarm.
She was afraid. No, not just afraid. Violet was utterly terrified.
She was frozen by it.
Her entire body was shuddering with her fear.
Nya knew then, that the men behind her weren't Nicholas's brothers and Violet's life mate. They were impostors.
Impostors, likely vampires, who were now within their home. Their only sanctuary. And Violet's and Nya's only protection, was currently a living statue.
Nya swallowed down her fear, and knew for once, she would have to come up with a plan.
Against the gravity of the situation, Nya had the insane urge to laugh. It was a sign of how bad things were, that she was the one who had to make a plan and save everyone.
Instead of laughing insanely, she came up with a plan. A plan she hoped would work.
Plastering on a smile she had perfected in seedy exotic bars across the country, she turned to the men, who still stood watching her from the doorway.
She put her hands on her hips and frowned at them.
"Zacarias, you should be ashamed of yourself! Everything you have put Violet through!" She shook her head in fake annoyance, and crossed to where Violet was stood, shaking. Grasping hold of her arm and pulling her from the door, she spoke to the brothers over her shoulder "I am going to take Violet and we are going to moan about useless men for the rest of the night. If you need us, don't call!"
And with that, she had to physically drag Violet from the lobby, before shutting the door behind them.
She had to stop herself instinctively slamming the door behind them. She was so desperate to get something solid between them and the vampires.
If, vampires was what they were.
"Oh my God!" Violet whispered in a small voice as she placed her body against the door. Nya wondered how much the woman weighed, but whatever it was, it would be in no way sufficient to stop the men getting through.
They had only stolen time. They had surprise on their side, or so Nya hoped. It gave them time to make a plan and escape. The little dog in Nya's arms was silent as if it knew the danger they were in.
Personally, Nya wanted to bang her head against the door. This was awful! She couldn't make plans or decisions! She looked down at herself and realised the insanity of all of this. She was wearing Nicholas's clothes, she was starving, she had to save a distraught woman and Colby, wherever Colby was, from two vampires. Brilliant, just brilliant!
Nya leaned her head against the door, and felt the oddest tingle along her neck. Turning to the windows she watched as the shutters began to fall down. What the…? Oh no! The sun was rising. That meant they were trapped in this house. Nya groaned.
Doesn't matter, we need to put distance between us and them. She grabbed hold of Violet and began to drag her away from the door.
"Please tell me, there is somewhere in this house we could hide?" She looked at Violet with imploring eyes, but all she got back was confusion. Violet looked like she was in shock.
"Do you know where Colby is?" Nya said, trying another question.
"The basement" Violet's voice was quiet and distracted as she replied, her large eyes were watchfully as they walked down another corridor.
"Colby is in the basement?" Nya was surprised. She was sure she had heard Colby leaving the ranch earlier.
"No. Colby is at her own house, slightly off the ranch. The basement is where we can hide"
Nya nodded, the basement sounded good. Well, it was the best idea they had at the moment.
"Where is the basement?"
She got an arched stare from Violet and groaned. "I know its below the house, but how do you get into it?"
"The stairs, beside the study"
Nya walked quickly down the corridor, decorated with art and painted a pleasant lavender colour, it was at odds with their situation of running for their lives.
"Where is the study?"
Again, Violet ignored her and was frantically watching behind them. Nya turned and pinned Violet to the wall by her upper arms.
"Look, I know your upset and afraid, so am I. But I need help. I don't know this house at all, so I need you to snap out of this and get with the program. Where is the study?"
Violet nodded, and swallowed on the fear she felt. "I'm sorry, its been one hell of a day"
Nya gave a sad smile and nodded in agreement. That was true. She let go of Violets arms.
"The study is down this corridor to the right, the basement is the second door on the left"
"Thank you, Violet. I am sorry I -"
Violet and Nya stilled as they heard a door slam open. The little dog yelped and both of the women knew the sun had risen and the vampires were hunting...
The Rainforest, with Zacarias and Rafael:
Zacarias wiped the blood from his forehead as he tried to focus on the last few spells binding his brothers legs.
It was near impossible to concentrate, he had tried to reach Violet, but all he had been able to sense was fear and sadness. But she was alive. He clung to that fact.
Rafael was shouting at him to go faster, apprehension about Colby eating at him also.
Zacarias weaved the last few patterns fast, his hand moving at an indescribable speed as he frantically worked at the last part of the safeguard. The message from Joseph was eating at him. He knew it must mean Joseph was on his way, or was currently at the ranch.
Alone with their life mates.
Nicholas, are you near the ranch. The women are in grave danger
He felt his brothers heart slam at the news, even as he worked on the safeguards. He knew the answer to his question long before he heard the words. The grief and worry filling his brother was answer enough.
No, But I will try
Be smart brother, stay safe
Breaking off his connection with Nicholas, Zacarias continued on with the trap.
He should have known. Why else would a trap be set up to keep one of them immobile? Joseph would know, Zacarias would be able to unravel the safeguard eventually, he had only needed the time.
And time was all Joseph had needed to slip past them and go after what would do them permanent damage. Attacking their life mates.
Zacarias heart clenched at the thought of Violet in danger. But worse, was the realisation, she could die and think he had not trusted her, or believed in her. He swallowed the tears that threatened to spill, as he finally undid the final pattern.
Rafael sprang free, and both brothers ignored the suns rays as they both streamed for home, moving with supernatural speed.
They got closer and closer but with every mile they crossed, they feared they were too far from home to make it in time.
Their skin was burning progressively and they needed blood and rest desperately, but as long as there was a chance they could make it to the ranch before noon they were going to try.
Heading away from the cave, Nicholas:
Nicholas heart had yet to recover from the information his brother had supplied. Nya in grave danger. What if she died? Was injured?
Nicholas moved with supernatural speed back to her. Desperate to get there.
Ignoring his wounds and burns. The bite wound on his shoulder still bleed profusely, leaving a trail behind him. But he didn't care. He needed to get back.
His body meandered through the trees for home. His body not noticeable to human eyes. The only sign he had past through the area was the blood spots on some of the leaves.
Nicholas for the first time in his life, prayed the sun would rise quicker.
Even moving under its deadly rays as he was, he willed it higher in the sky, to become more intense faster. The vampires would be unable to tolerate the sun, and would need to rest. Saving the women.
Please, please be OK! He prayed over and over as he went towards the ranch.
They had been hunting all rising and had covered many miles. How could he have known that with every mile he went in search of evil, he allowed evil to get closer to his heart and soul.
He had left Nya with Riordan thinking her safe, how wrong he was now.
He was unable to reach his brother. According to Zacarias when Riordan had reached for Rafael's mind, he had been caught in the same trap Rafael was in, except it was a mental trap. Juliette being constantly connected to Riordan, had been dragged in as well. Leaving both trapped and vulnerable.
He cursed into the sunlight, he just hoped Riordan hadn't been the one to safeguard the house, because if he had been, Joseph would be able to see them and get in. Nicholas shuddered at the thought of Nya alone with a vampire again.
He wanted to scream at his own foolishness.
He had gone out searching for Joseph, not only to eliminate the threat to his family, but to absolve himself of allowing a vampire to hurt his woman.
And all he had ended up doing, was creating another opportunity for her to be harmed again.
Nicholas swore to himself as he streamed across the rainforest floor that he would never leave Nya's side again.
He would tie her to him if need be.
Never again would he leave her side.
The Ranch:
Violet's gasp brought Nya back to the situation. They needed to get to that basement!
Griping hold of Violet she dragged her along the corridor, Violet was looking frantically behind them, and even as they walked, they could hear the pounding of boots on the marble floor, or perhaps it was their own pounding hearts they could hear?
The fear was beginning to flood Nya, visions of being back in a cell, plagued her thoughts.
She felt like she was drowning in terror, it was taking over her body until all she wanted to do was sit down and shake uncontrollably. But she couldn't do that. She had to get them to safety and then she could break down. But not now.
Nya heard another door slam behind them and knew the vampires where following them.
Perhaps by scent? Nya prayed they weren't in their minds.
Nya began to run down the corridor, and finally saw a door ajar which appeared to be a study. Her heart seemed to sigh in relief. Thank god!
The door beside it looked pretty strong, and Nya couldn't wait to be safely behind it.
Nya reached for the brass handle, and jingled it, she cursed when she found it locked.
"Please, Violet tell me you have a key" She stared over her shoulder and knew the answer to her question when Violet bit on her lip before cursing their luck.
Just great! They had the perfect hideaway but they couldn't get into it.
Nya pulled frantically on the door handle, twisting and jingling the metal till she wanted to scream with annoyance. Slapping her hand on the door she cursed.
Bloody brilliant!
Her stomach rumbled and Nya groaned. God, she was starving! She should have eaten before when Nicholas had offered to help her.
Taking a deep breath she turned around and leaned against the metal door as she tried to think of another escape plan.
Rubbing her hand over her forehead impatiently, Nya wondered how they where going to get out of this alive.
The ranch wasn't big enough for them to get away with hiding and never being found. It was only a matter of time before the vampires caught them. They were already on there way.
Shaking her head, she couldn't believe this.
OK, firstly they either needed to find the key or find somewhere else to hide.
"Violet, do you know where the key could be or if there is somewhere else for us to hide?" Nya prayed she would answer yes to one of those questions.
"The key could be in the study, and I don't know any other place to hide."
OK, key in the study. Fine, she could search for it whilst Violet kept a look out for trouble.
Grabbing Violets arm she went into the study. "You keep a look out for them while I look. Have any idea whereabouts in here it could be?"
When she got a blank expression and shake of her head from Violet, Nya rushed to the desk and began to search the draws. Draw after draw of documents, files, but no damn key.
Nya's hands skimmed over the documents on the desk, moving them aside to check nothing was hidden beneath.
Frustration filled her as she turned over the last sheet and found nothing beneath it. Where was the key?!
Twirling on the spot, Nya went to the book shelves and ran her finger along each shelf as she looked.
Nothing.
Moving to the other book shelf, she ran her finger impatiently along the wood as she looked over every book, every inch of shelf as she moved down the book case.
Nya stopped when she found a small metal box. Her heart pounding, as she prayed this was the box to contain the key. Opening the small tin, she found some papers, rummaging through it further she felt something hit the bottom of the tin. Yes!
Nya reached beneath the papers and pulled out a key.
Grinning she put the metal tin back and ran back to Violet who was peering through the study door. Her hand was gripping the wood, but even so, Nya could see it was shaking.
"I think I have it. Is it all clear?" Nya whispered just in case there was danger near by. When Violet nodded it was clear, both women squeezed through the study door, and ran silently to the basement door.
Violets hands where shaking so badly with her fear and adrenaline she was having difficulties placing the key into the lock. After a few near misses, she finally un locked the door, and pulled the heavy door open. Nya smiled as she pulled the door fully open. Maybe, their luck was finally changing.
They slipped into the darkness, and Violet helped Nya to pull the heavy door back into place. Even within the darkness, Nya could see clearly, and locked the door securely behind them.
Relief began to flood her. They had made it!
She was seconds from turning to Nya and speaking, when their names where called from the other side of the door.
"Nya? Violet?"
Nya frowned as she heard Nicholas's voice. He had come back?
She grinned, he had come back when he had thought her in danger. She reached for the handle but stopped from a sudden thought.
How had he gotten here so fast?
The cave was many miles away and the sun had risen. Her hand fell back from the door handle, there was no way that was Nicholas, it must be a trap.
"Nya, baby please, open the door. I'm here now. Nothing will harm you"
Nya wanted to scream at the vampire for using Nicholas's voice. It was unpleasant and heartbreaking to hear the voice she adored being spoken from a monster.
She had to hand it to the vampire he was a smart one. But she and Violet hadn't been fooled that easily. Both of them had been able to see and hear the differences in their life mates.
"Your going to have to try harder than that, Joseph. We wont be fooled by your games" Nya snarled the words through the door.
Instantly she heard Josephs bitter, twisted laugh. God, how that laugh had haunted her. How many times had she heard that laugh in her head and woke crying?
Her heart pounded as she stepped back from the door.
She didn't want to be close to that monster again.
"Brave words, Nya. But you forget your alone with nothing and no one to protect you. Plus I have someone on my side who can easily get into that pretty little head of yours"
Nya swallowed nervously at his words. She was more than experienced in the ways Joseph could hurt a person.
But she also knew she wasn't going to go without a fight.
"Oh yeah" She forced her voice to remain unconcerned and frankly bored "And who's that?"
An eerie silence followed her words.
"My dear Nya, I would like for you to meet your father"
Before Nya could react to Josephs words, a evil laugh came from behind them. Nya's heart slammed and she was certain she heard Violets do the same.
They weren't alone in the basement...
I know, I know, please forgive me for more suspense, but I promise it will get better in the next chapter. :)
Thank you for reading. I hope you liked it. Please review, I will love you forever lol
Take care, and have an amazing Halloween!
Lots of love from me x x x