Hi everyone,
Here is the next chapter. Big Thank you to ...Chrissienuil, Carly Jo and NotSoSweet for the reviews. :) :) Hope everyone had a good Halloween. :)
Promise to relieve most of the suspense in this chapter. Thank you so much everyone who is reading this story, please review, I don't bite, and love to hear from you. xx
Hope you enjoy...
xemmalisax
...We have an itty bitty problem
What kind of itty bitty problem?
My father is in the basement
What!?...
Chapter Twenty Two
Nya tightened her fists and clenched her teeth. It was the only way to prevent the scream of denial and fear from leaving her trembling lips. Her eyes were wide, but she never took them away from the metal door before her. She couldn't.
Her father…?
Even through her fear, her feelings and thoughts began to flood her mind. She remembered pretending she had a father. When she had been small, Nya had lied often, whenever asked she would say her daddy was very important and was always away on business. Or some other lie she came up with.
A blood red tear rolled down her right cheek. Why couldn't that have been true? Why couldn't she have had a normal family?
She wanted one. Desperately.
2.4 children, a small dog, a picket fence, kisses over breakfast and before you go to bed. Nya bit on her bottom lip. She felt so childish feeling this way, but she couldn't change it.
It was a dream, a fantasy she had built as a small child to help her through her problems, and right now, that safety blanket was getting ripped away.
She didn't have the perfect family. Standing in the dark, with a killer behind her and an alcoholic back at home, she was far from the idyllic family she had dreamed of.
Nya shook her head, and sniffed delicately, crying over it wasn't going to solve her issues, and it sure as hell wouldn't keep them alive. Angrily wiping the tear from her cheek, she steeled herself and turned to face her father.
She couldn't help but tremble at the sight. He was evil. She could feel it.
The foolish, childlike part of herself was desperate to reach out to him, try to aid him, bring him back to the light, but looking at his face closely Nya knew that those thoughts were useless. This was a man with power, and a man who would do anything to keep it. Even kill his own daughter.
Nya lifted her chin a little higher, and looked him dead in the eye. Why had she ever thought she would have a perfect father somewhere? A sad smile curved her lips. She should have known this was where she had come from.
The man wasn't old or young, like Nicholas and his brothers, it was impossible to determine his age. He was handsome, even though Nya wasn't sure how much of it was natural and how much of it was magic.
Tall, with dark hair he was the opposite to her. Except his eyes, they were a vivid green like her own. And like Colby's.
She wished that wasn't so.
It seemed an intimate thing to share with him, hair colour she could have gotten over, but eyes… They were different.
She had always been told the eyes where the doorway to the soul, that you could always tell what someone was thinking and feeling by looking into their bottomless depths.
Nya's eyes matched a monster. A killer.
Nya stood perfectly still as her 'father' raked her with a penetrating stare. He seemed to be looking into her soul.
"You are my daughter" He said the words as if he had previously doubted them. Before he smirked and shrugged "What a shame I didn't know about you before"
Nya bristled at his words, for some reason. His accent was European and cultured.
"Whys that? Would you have taken me out for ice cream and trips to the zoo on weekends?" Against her will, her voice held hurt and bitterness. She didn't want him to think she had missed not having a father. She wanted him to believe she had never cared, that she still didn't care. Unfortunately her voice gave her away.
"No, my dear" He grinned at her, and Nya was secretly thankful she could see no sign of blood. She couldn't have handled that. Blood of an innocent on her fathers teeth. It was a sight she could life happily without. "I could have done with the extra blood supply"
Nya's eyes went wide and instinctively she took a step back and moved in front of a trembling Violet. That's what he did with his children? She felt physically sick. How could anybody do that to their own child? She swallowed nervously. He was a monster. What was she going to do?
"What do you want?"
"What do I want? Oh my, Nya. All beauty, no brains. Just like your mother. I am disappointed in you"
Nya barely controlled her fury. How dare he?
Her mother had been a successful lawyer before Nya had been born! Incredibly intelligent and beautiful. It was only after Nya's birth she had turned to drinking.
Looking at this man and his lack of humanity made Nya realize that maybe her mother had a good reason to drink. She couldn't have imagined what it would have been like to have been with this man.
No, she could, it would have been hell.
"Now that's not very nice, Nya. Hell is a little over the top don't you think?"
Nya blinked in surprise. He could read her mind? Of course he could, Joseph said so before. Shit.
That's just what they needed. No wonder they had been waiting for them, and knew their plans.
"You didn't answer my question" Nya needed to know what they were up against, and finding out their intentions would help that.
Her father sighed as if bored. "I came to kill you both"
"You would kill your own child?"
A cold veil fell over her fathers face. His eyes filled with cold menace, so she knew the answer to her question immediately. "I've done worse"
She didn't doubt it. And she knew then, her father was going to kill them, and worse, he was going to enjoy it.
Nicholas kept moving towards the ranch. His brothers had submitted to defeat and had gone to the ground, but he refused to give up yet. He could still make it. He would make it!
Moving at a supernatural speed had weakened him immensely, he was running now instead, moving fast over the rainforest floor.
His wounds ached, and he was positive there wasn't a part of his body that wasn't bleeding or in indescribable pain. He didn't care. Even though, every step agitated his wounds, he took it gladly. As every step took him closer to his Nya.
He could feel her emotions but wasn't able to connect fully with her. She was alive, and as long as she was, he would always run headlong for her.
He could hear Zacarias in his head, he was beneath the soil but trying to unravel the trap on Riordan's mind. If only they could get Riordan moving…
Nicholas jumped over a fallen long, and clenched his teeth as the jolt from the landing caused pain to shoot through him.
Nicholas stopped abruptly, leaves flying up from the floor with his sudden halt. His heart slammed painfully in his chest. Nya was accepting her death.
He could feel it. Everything in him, could feel it.
She knew she was in danger, and she was accepting her death would be the outcome. Never!
Nicholas yelled for Nya with his mind. Using every ounce of his mental strength he screamed her name, and prayed she would answer.
Nya!!
Nicholas? Nicholas' relief was instantaneous. She had answered his call. His body was tense with anticipation, as he waited patiently for more of her sweet words. He had missed her voice.
Do not allow yourself to die He sent the words as a command, burying her need to stay alive deep within her. He heard her laugh float through his mind like a caress.
Thanks for the order. I'll get right on it. Her voice was amused and every part of him wanted to laugh with her, but he couldn't forget she was in danger.
I am not joking, Nya. Do not allow yourself to be harmed in anyway. I'm not sure how much control I have left.
Nicholas knew he was more beast than man most days. Ever since finding her, when he had been on the brink of turning, he had allowed the beast to govern occasionally.
Nicholas, I don't know what you think I am going to do? I'm not the type to walk straight into danger
Nicholas groaned. Woman, you left the safety of the cave how many times after I had deemed it unsafe?
What was going to happen to me, Nicholas? I trip over a leaf and skin my knee?
Dangerous animals hunt in this rainforest, Nya
The only dangerous animal I was getting hunted by was you, Nicholas
Against his will he found himself smiling. That was true.
What's happening at the ranch? Get to the basement, Its safe there. The key is in the –
Little metal box on the book shelf in the study? Yeah, we know. Nya interrupted.
Good, Your already in the basement. Nicholas couldn't help but sigh in relief as he continued to run back to the ranch.
Yes, we are here. But we have an itty bitty problem
Nicholas raised an eyebrow as he ran. What kind of itty bitty problem?
He felt Nya swallow nervously, and slowed his running pace to listen to her words. Nya? He questioned suspiciously.
My father is in the basement
What!?
Nicholas's mind swirled at the knowledge, before his heart started to beat a mad rhythm. The beast awoke and the need to protect his mate clawed at him.
Return to her. Punish those who would dare harm her. Rip. Kill. Stop them.
Nicholas listened to the beasts words. His eyes flickering red in the sunlight. He ran back to the ranch at an incredible speed, ignoring his wounds.
He had to get to Nya.
Nya felt instantly better. There was nothing that soothed her more than teasing Nicholas. As usual he managed to be irritating and heroic all at the same time.
He would come for her soon, she hoped. But until then, she need to stay alive. If only to show him she wasn't always getting herself into danger.
Nya looked over to Violet, who had her knees pulled up to her chest, she had been trembling before, but now she seemed to be – asleep?? Nya frowned down at her. How could she sleep?
"Her life mate sent her to sleep. Perhaps to end her suffering and fear, or perhaps so she wouldn't feel what I have planned for her"
Her father grinned at her in the dark. His teeth too white. Must be magic.
She hated him at that moment.
She had her faults, many in fact, but never would she hurt anyone. Ok, she had delivered a knee to several groins over the years, but she wouldn't hurt anyone the way her father was. He was praying on the frightened and weak.
Before he had seemed so powerful, but now, when she saw his true nature he seemed pathetic and small. A bully who chose victims weaker than himself. He was a coward.
She watched as his eyes flared with hatred towards her. And she felt nothing. She certainly wasn't afraid anymore.
He may have power, magic that could harm her, but to her all he would ever be was a coward, something to be pitied and feel disgusted by. He wasn't a true man, he was a spineless wimp of a boy.
Without warning her fathers clawed hand slapped her across the face, hard, slamming her to the floor. Her head connected with the stone.
She grinned to herself, carefully shielding her thoughts. Get a man angry enough they lose their minds and make mistakes. The quickest way to wound a man was to go for his ego and masculinity. She had blown both of those to pieces, and he was losing his control and focus.
She yelled in her mind for Zacarias. And was secretly proud of herself when he spoke to her.
Why did you leave Violet so vulnerable? She still couldn't believe it, asleep Violet would have no way of protecting herself.
I couldn't stand her fear and pain any longer. And she is not vulnerable. I believe in your powers enough to know you can, and will, protect her.
Nya rolled her eyes as she dragged herself up from the floor. This was only getting better and better for her.
Her thoughts stopped suddenly as she thought over Zacarias's words.
My powers?
You know you have them. You have used them before. I believe you can harness them now to save you both.
Nya frowned and looked at her father. Maybe eyes wasn't all she had received from him. She knew she had done things with her mind before, but could she do it again?
You must, Nya. Learn to believe in yourself. We all do.
Those words touched Nya deeply. And she smiled to herself on the inside.
Her eyes locked with her father. "Well, Daddy. It looks like its just you and me"
Nicholas's entire body came to a halt as he dropped to the floor.
The sun was beating down over head. But he couldn't lift himself from the floor.
Instead he began to drag his large frame over the debris on the floor.
He had to get to Nya.
He couldn't leave her to face this threat alone.
His wounds where making it impossible to go on. And yet his heart and soul wouldn't listen.
His fists tightened around a tree root as he clenched his muscles and drag himself along the floor. He was panting with his exhaustion.
He needed to sleep, he needed to feed.
Nicholas go to ground immediately. That is an order!
Zacarias's hard whip of authority whipped through his mind. No one ignored an order from Zacarias. And yet he kept his eyes locked forward. He could envision the ranch. He couldn't be more than a mile away now. But his body couldn't go on. He cursed his weakness!
Nicholas? He heard Nya's soft words of enquiry and closed his eyes to savor them.
Yes, my love?
Go to ground now
He smiled at her order. Even as he shook his head at it. He wasn't going to let her die.
I don't hear you snoring, handsome?
He laughed lightly.
I can try to make it to you. I am only a mile away now.
You will die before you get here. Zacarias has told me all about your wounds, and how you are neglecting your needs. Nicholas could tell she was quoting Zacarias's words, and right now, he was desperate to throttle his older brother.
I will be fine, Nya. Are you safe?
I will be.
Nicholas frowned. Meaning?
I'm going to kick me some vampire heinie.
Nya, your not going to kick anything! Go to safety. I will fight when I get there.
And until then?
You will run to safety! Nicholas growled the words, and began to once more drag himself along the floor.
Oh shut up! Nicholas, you drive me crazy! I have powers remember?
Yes, but you haven't practiced with them, and I don't want you fighting! He was snarling the words, fear and anger at her plan making him crazed.
Nicholas shook his head at her words and slang.She was going to kick vampire heinie. God, that woman would be the death of him!
He heard her laugh gently in his mind, and he tried to ignore the way his heart melted at the sound.
Go to ground, Nicholas! I mean it.
Little love, you are in no position to give me orders
Am I not? He listened intently, his entire body tense and needy, as she dropped her voice to a sexual enticement. Nicholas, if you ever want to touch me again, go to ground, or your going to be having cold showers for the rest of eternity.
Her voice was so sweet, so sexual and teasing, he couldn't help but grin.
Keep yourself safe, my love.
If you go to ground.
Safety, Nya!
Ground, Nicholas!
He groaned. She was going to fight him every step of the way.
He groaned in defeat, with a flick of his wrist, he buried himself deep in the nourishing soil. His wounds beginning to heal instantly. His body so tired.
Nya felt Nicholas begin to heal and relief flooded her. He was one distraction she didn't need right now. Knowing he was safe would help her concentrate better on her fight.
Her hands clenched and un clenched as she stood facing her enemy. What was the etiquette of a magic fight? One goes, then the other? Shoot at will?
When she was suddenly slammed into the metal door, with the force of a truck, she reached the conclusion it was fire at will.
Her back ached, as she slid to the floor. One nil to her father.
She groaned as she got back up to her feet. She was going to have to keep her humor to get her through this. There was just no way, this could be happening.
"I guess it was too much wishful thinking, to believe you would have manners and let a lady go first" She complained as she straightened Nicholas's shirt.
She heard her father laugh at her, and seized her chance.
She thought of what she wanted and focused. Building the image, wanting it with everything she was.
Focus. Focus. Just image. She chanted to herself.
She built the image of her father being slammed into the wall, a hand tightening around his throat.
Closing her eyes she imagined it, perfectly.
And when she heard a loud crash and a gurgling noise, she knew she had done it.
But when she opened her eyes in triumph, she felt sick at what she saw. Her father was pinned hard to the wall, the air knocked from his lungs, a dent in the wall behind him from the impact. He was struggling with an invisible hand at his throat and choking.
Tears filled Nya's eyes. What had she done?
No! She steeled her spine. This man was going to kill innocent people.
Then why was it killing her to watch him die?
Nya screamed in anger at herself as she allowed the hand to leave his throat. The mage vampire fell to the floor and coughed blood. Nya clenched her fist and shook her head. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Your in a fight! She tried to remind herself. But even as she did she couldn't just kill him like that. She heard him laugh bitterly up at her and looked down at him. Coughing and laughing on the floor as he watched her. "Your so like me"
Nya felt those words like a knife to her soul. She wasn't like him at all!
"I'm nothing like you! Your evil!"
He grinned up at her. "And your not? Your certainly no angel" Nya hated the way he looked her up and down as he said that. "Joseph told me you're an exotic dancer. Interesting career choice for a Carpathian life mate. Little education. How many lovers have you had? Do you even remember? You left your mother to rot in gin to go fuck a vampire. Well done, my dear. I couldn't be prouder of you"
Nya felt sick. Every comment he made about her, hit home. Hurting her in ways he couldn't imagine. Or perhaps he could.
"Hurts to see what you truly are does it?" He taunted. Nya guessed he had seen the hurt in her eyes and was saying these things to cause more harm. He succeed.
He had found her weakness. Her compassion. Her lack of belief in herself.
She felt on the verge of tears, when she suddenly felt love fill her. Strong arms wrapped around her, as gentle, tender kisses rained down over her face.
Nicholas? She whispered his name like a talisman in the dark.
My love?
She smiled sadly. How she wished he was here now, with her. But she knew he was resting, as he should be.
I can't defeat him She admitted. Her eyes closed with her sudden shame and failure.
Contain him till I get there, and I will destroy him
I'm not sure I could live with you killing him either. She hated her weakness for a man she should despise. Childish fantasies where making her appear weak, and pathetic.
You could never be weak or pathetic to me. You are pure light and compassion, of course you wish to try to safe him, my love. But believe me, there is nothing left of the man he used to be.
Nya nodded, and building her strength and power, she threw her father back against the way. He groaned in pain as he slammed to the floor, before he threw his head back and snarled at her, before retaliating by throwing her against the door again.
She cried out at the pain. She could see him chanting, building up his own power. He was going to kill her. She knew it.
I love you
Nya froze at the words of devotion she heard being whispered in her mind. It made her smile, even in her present situation, to know Nicholas had just comforted her, instead of giving her an order.
I believe in you, Nya. Make the decision for us. I will follow where you lead. Closing her eyes, Nya sent all her love into Nicholas's healing body.
I love you, Nicholas. And I choose life.
Opening her eyes, Nya rose to her feet. Ignoring the pain from her back. Raising her hands, she tilted her head back and focused. Truly focused.
She threw herself into the magic that had always been there, but had been relatively untouched. She felt it within her, building, strengthening, making her stronger.
Opening her eyes, she shot out a beam of magic at the same time her father did.
Sparks flew into the dark as the beams of light and colours collided. Flares of magic flew out, hitting the walls and door, filling the corridor with light, flames and colour. Her father was shouting with the intensity of his chanting.
Nya closed her eyes, ignoring everything, focusing only on the magic. She felt it grow, feed it, nurtured it and let it fly. Such power. Such peace.
It was like finding herself. Discovering a part of herself she had lost long ago.
The magic completed her, filling a void, she had never known was there.
A scream filled the corridor, but she could no longer hear it.
She focused on the heart beating on the other side of the door. She felt for Joseph with her magic and began to build a beam of light and magic to destroy him.
It didn't feel evil, it felt good. Cleansing almost. She was ridding the ranch of evil. It felt cleaner. Safer.
She kept her eyes closed and focused on the heart beating.
One beat. Another. Now stop! She commanded. And the heart stopped. No more beat. No more blood pumping. He was dead.
Nya's magic moved through the ranch, and began to remove the trap from the Carpathian couple.
Her blond hair flew around her head, untamed. Like a burning flame, it circled her body, her outstretched hands. Light moved through the ranch in all directions, cleaning and removing all traces of fear, and death.
She felt Riordan become free, closely followed by Juliette.
But still her magic was building...
Thanks so much for reading.
Been a bit worried about the last two chapters, as the amount of 'hits' havent been as high as the others by far. I hope people are still interested in this story, as I am. Don't worry I'm not thinking of stopping, I will never leave a story not finished. I just wondered if the last chapters have been enjoyable, other wise I could always rewrite. Please send me a message with any suggestions.
Please review :) I would really appreciate it.
Take care, and have a great weekend :)
emmalisa x