Darkness and Love

Chapter 3

Fight for Love

Sarah's POV

I knew this would happen! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! Oh, after we save Tom, I am so going to rub this in Stephanie's face!

"Hey Mom! Did we get some more Ishtar crystals?" I asked loudly, almost running down and almost killing myself by tripping down the stairs.

I live in a store. A witch store. Yeah, yeah, I know it sounds stupid but it's true. And I love it. Every part of the store was fulled with some kind of magic. My mom, Maria Heywood, was behind the counter and counting and checking off Ishtar crystals; golden beryl star cut with thirty-three facets with the name of the Babylonian mother goddess.

"Yes honey. We just got a new shipment today." Mom said. Her hair was blonde and short like mine, but she had sharp gray eyes.

"Thanks Mom," I said and ran back to my room. Not surprising to me (but it might be surprising to you guys) Peyton was there. In animal form. I got to say, you will be shocked when I say what his animal form is.

It's a cat. But not just any cat. I'll give you a hint. The guy can evaporate and his smile stays behind.

Peyton could transform into the Cheshire cat. (The cat guy from Alice in Wonderland? Yeah, that's Peyton)

The thing is, the guy was the only shapeshifter ever to evaporate when he is in animal form. So, Peyton is said to be destined to the leader of the shapeshifters. So, all in all, Peyton was a big deal.

"You ready to kick ass?" he asked, grinning. I nodded, grabbing my bag. This bag had practically everything that I might need for saving Tom. Peyton changed back to normal and got his Scanner.

"I'm always ready," I said and we ported out to Chaotic.

When we got there, Alex was already there. Her jade-green eyes were a bit silvery, which meant that she was pissed.

"Hey Alex! You know where to go right?" I asked.

Alex nodded like it hurt her. "Yup. Go to Saber Tooth Carven. You got to go to the deepest part of it. That's where Klay and Tom went." Alex's voice sounded weird. It was darker and more dangerous than usual.

Me and Peyton nodded. The three of us ported out again.

Stephanie's POV

"Kill, kill, kill," went a little voice in my head as me and Kaz followed Klay's scent.

"Steph?"

I turned around. Kaz's eyes were dark gold. Great. I could feel Kaz probing lightly into my mind. Like an insect gently caressing with an antenna.

"Yes?"

What Kaz asked me next made me seriously think about what I was going to do.

"Did you fall in love with Tom?"

I could feel Kaz's probing tighten suddenly, looking for any chick in my mind. Looking for the truth. It would be easy for him. After all, he is my twin brother.

"No, but we known Tom since, well, ever. Ever since we moved from Miami when we were three." I thought of one of my old boyfriends, Damien Rasmussen, and I tried to reflect the same negligent fondness I had for him and relaxed my muscles. The guy was fun; until I broke him. Poor guy.

I relaxed fully when Kaz's probing ceased. He nodded. "I understand," he said softly. I knew at once that he was thinking about Emma.

We walked in silence for a while; only the sound of our swords scarping the ground and our breathing were audible until I could hear something other than that. It made me stop dead in my tracks. It made me break out in a cold sweat and my breathing quicken.

It was the signature howl of a werewolf.

"No." I meant it to be a shout, but it came out as a whisper. I closed my eyes.

"Steph! Come on!" Kaz's yell made me open my eyes. He was running in inhuman speed; vampire speed.

I ran passed him and came up to this arena like room. There was lava there and on a small isle was a straight path to it. I could see there was people there.

I could make out Krystella with her dark brown hair in front of a caldron. In front of her was a wolf. It was large sandy male. It's liquid black eyes were full of pride.

I didn't think anymore. I couldn't think. Me, using my vampire instinct, ran as fast as I could, (which was pretty fast) to the isle.

"KLAY! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" I screamed with power I never knew I had.

Krystella turned around from watching her caldron. The witch looked pissed and shocked. "What the hell are you doing here?" she asked, eyeing my ama-no-murakumo.

"What do you think? I'm here to get Tom," waving my sword around. "And, by the by, to kill Klay for stealing him."

"You can't kill me," the wolf said. It's voice was so dark and menacing, it was shocking how a mouth like his to talk any kind of word.

"And what do you think this is for?" Kazzy caught up to me. "This swords aren't for showing off. This are pure 100% silver,"

"And the last time I checked, werewolves and silver weren't the best of friends." I finished for Kaz.

Klay growled darkly. "If you even think to use that sword on me, I'll kill Tom." Klay walked over, (well stalked over is better to say) to a body. The guy was unconscious. He had short black hair and was wearing a black leather jacket and dark gray jeans.

The same things that Tom was wearing.

"If you dare touch one hair on Tom's head, I'll kill you," I hissed in a voice I didn't know.

"Oh really?" Klay's voice was full of sarcasm.

"Really you—"

Kaz cut me off before I could bust out the millions of insults I made for the danm wolf.

"What are you planning Klay?" he asked.

I turned to him. Does that really matter Kaz? Now? Of all times you ask that.

"Why, it is pretty obvious." Krystella's voice made me turn to her. Her body looked like it was pulsing. Was that possible? Then again, she was a witch. The caldron behind her was glowing silver.

"The werewolves are getting too lax. We keep letting vamps like you to tell us what to do. And I can't let that continue." Klay said.

"Get to the danm point," I snapped. Just get it done already!

"Long story short, I'm making a pack. A full pack, made up of werewolves. With my father's connections, we can take over the Council." Klay sneered.

"NO!" Kaz and I yelled.

"Yes we are. And on this night, the Summer Solstice, the day Rudi became the first of the werewolves, we will make history. The werewolves will lead again, like we did in the Second Age," I got to admit, that speech was good. Even for Klay.

"It's not like you can stop us," Krystella sneered.

"Try me witch!" I yelled. I took out something from my pocket. A knife, a khukuri it's called, but it was made of iron. Iron was deadly to witches like silver is to werewolves and shapeshifters and wood is to vampires. This was a witch killer.

The moment Krystella saw the blade she moved back.

"Now, do you see how we can stop both of you? Besides, now you two are basically planning to start civil war. Now you guys now made it our duty to kill you both," I said, walking closer to them, grinning like a maniac.

Klay growled at me and started to put his long gleaming white teeth around Tom's—

"Stop!" Kaz yelled.

"Only if you two leave," Krystella said.

I knew my eyes would be glowing red. I would try mind control, like all vampires would (yeah, all vamps can use mind control. Forgot to tell you that didn't I?) but werewolves are known for their resistance to vamp mind control.

I snarled out of anger and frustration. But what could I do? "Klay! Don't you want to rule? To show that it's time for the werewolves again? What better way to make a statement when to kill Lance Kalinkas's daughter?" I taunted him. "Please take the bait," I pleaded.

Lucky for me, werewolves don't know how to control themselves. Klay grinned wildly and chucked darkly.

"Why not? Killing you will be fun," Klay said.

And then he transformed. Not back to a human, but a half-human, half-wolf. Klay's body was covered with his sandy fur and his teeth stayed the same, but he was standing on two feet and he had hands. He went quickly through a bad and what I saw made me shiver and tremble.

It was a wooden sword. A saber. A talwar, to be precise. The wood of the sword was from the lignum vitae; the Wood of Life in Latin. The hardest and heaviest wood in the world.

"Where d-did y-y-you get that?" I asked, scared. The wicked curve of the saber sent chills into my soul.

"It was my dad's, but he gave it to me. Said if any vampire scum wanted to pick a fight with me I should have this on me." Klay answered. His voice wasn't his own, but I could recognize it as Klay's.

I tighten the grip of my ama-no-murakumo. But that shocked me is that Klay was shaking and staring at my sword with huge amber eyes. "Where did you get that?" he asked me.

"My mom's. It was in my family ever since Adelle herself." Okay, that made Klay finch and actually step back.

For you guys who don't know, Adelle was the first vampire. She the ancestress for vamps, the royal ones and the common ones. She made her twin brother, Lynd, into a vampire and he is known as the ancestor of the made vampires. So, basically, her son, Kalinkas, gave us our last name and the royal vampires are descended from him. (I'll get into royal and common vampires later).

"Well, this will be interesting," Klay said.

I nodded. "Kaz! Don't get involved okay?" I turned to him.

Kaz's face was harden. All his muscles were tense. I knew he wanted to go kill Klay himself. But, I already called it and he had to respect that. I saw him nodded like it was hurting him. His eyes was full of concern, but respect.

"Thanks," I whispered before turning my attention back to Klay. He was breathing hard and I could smell him. God, didn't werewolves know there is something call shampoo? Worse. Smell. Ever.

"You ready?" I asked, lifting up my blade to cover my heart.

Klay nodded, coping what I just done.

"Krystella! Call it!" Klay yelled. Krystella nodded and walked over to us.

She stepped in between us and said the ceremonial words spoken since the beginning.

"Merry meet. On this night, the Summer Solstice, may the ancient spirits watch us. On this night, may the spirits of the vampires and the werewolves protect us. On this night, may the duel of a twin heir of Royal House of the Vampires, Galleria Stephanie Kalinkas and of the son of Ash Vaisey, Duke of the Werewolves, Klayborne Vaisey, may begin. May the ancient spirits be with you and bless you and aid you both. Blessed be!"

Krystella's words sparked a memory. Great. I don't need a danm flash-back right now! It was so strong, I couldn't fight it off.

Flash-back

Adelle's POV

I was scared. We were never meant to fight. The five of us promised to rule equally. Now that's all out the window.

The forest's clearing was full of mist. It clung to my body like a veil. The white linen dress I was wearing felt smooth and cool against my hot body. This was the place I always came for peace.

"Adelle!" Lynd's voice made me open my eyes.

Lynd, with his red hair that made me think of flames and his warm brown eyes, was a small comfort.

"Yes Lynd?" I asked. I felt so old. So sad. So … wise. I don't want fighting. Not with us.

"Sister, we have to fight. The others are too boneheaded to see," Lynd's voice was soft and kind, but his eyes were hard as steel and dark gold.

I lowered my head and sighed. There was no reasoning with Lynd when his eyes were like that.

"I know my brother. But, we were friends! We were all best friends! Where did we go wrong?" I asked frantically looking up again.

Lynd's dark gold eyes went darker, almost looking black. "I don't know," he admitted.

I thought of Manalik … of Cheshire … and of Rudi. We were friends. The best of friends. We were outcasts of our tribes until we found each other. We made our own tribe. We found others like us. We then went our separate ways to make our tribes. What went wrong?

"Adelle! Lynd! They are here." Kiya, one of my best friends, came up to us. Kiya was long and tall with blonde hair the color of gold and eyes the color of jades.

"All of them?" Lynd asked. His voice was loving. I knew he liked her. And she liked him.

Kiya nodded. "Yes," she said, almost a whisper.

"Mom? Adelle?" My son, Kalinkas, came up to me. He was tall and getting soon to manhood. He was 31 solons old. (15 and a half years old).

He had black hair and clear neon blue eyes. He was my only son and I loved him with all of my heart.

"Yes dear?" I asked softly, standing up.

"When will this fight end?" he asked me. His eyes was full of tears. Even though he was on the cusp of being a man, he was still a child.

"Hopefully soon my son. But, I must tell you this. If I do not come out of this fight alive, you will take over for me," I said.

Kalinkas's eyes widen. "But …" he started but I cut him off.

"But nothing. You knew this would happen one day. At moonhigh you will be a man. I will go into battle today. If I don't come back, you will be the leader of this tribe. The Tribe of Bloodlust," I declared.

"Adelle, we must go," Lynd said behind me.

I nodded. I went to hug my son. "Trust me Kalinkas. I will come back," I whispered in his ear just before I left.

We walked into another forest clearing, only larger. The mist hanged in the air like a white blanket over the land. I could sense the presence of my tribe behind me, the feeling of their eyes watching all of my moves. My twin brother Lynd was right beside me.

It felt like hours, or like seconds, but the result was the same.

Manalik was first to come. Her golden hair was shorter than I remembered, but her dark green eyes were the same. She was the same height as me. I remember that she was outcast because of her powers.

Behind her was Cheshire. His brown hair was a bit nappy, but his lime green eyes shined and sparkled. He was a bit shorter than Lynd, but he was hefty. He had his normal grin, but it was twisted, like he was forcing it. He was outcast because he could transform into a cat and evaporate.

Last was Rudi. His short black hair was shining in the mist and his eyes were the color of blue ice. He was outcast because he was accused of killing the tribe's children by becoming a wolf. I fell in love with him at first sight.

There was a small pool of water in the clearing. I could see my reflection on the mirror like water.

I was beautiful. I never noticed it before. Long black hair that cascaded like a waterfall down to my back. My skin was a slight tan. I wasn't that tall, but I had long lanky legs. My eyes looked like they held blue fire.

I stared in the eyes of my once best friends and we fought to the death.

End Flash-back

Stephanie's POV

Ohmygod. What the hell was that?

"Stephanie! Come on and fight!" Klay's yells woke me up.

I wasn't in a misty forest clearing. I was in the Underworld, fighting Klay. "Girl! Focus!" a voice yelled at me.

I mentally shook my head and narrowed my eyes. Klay was right in front of me with his saber at hand. The shiny green-black wood said death all over it.

I tighten the grip of my sword. "Come get some you dog!" I yelled at ran with inhuman speed to him.

I slashed, aiming at his heart, but Klay blocked it with his saber. The sound of wood clashing with silver is something I won't forget.

Klay raised his saber but I dodged that and did a backflip to get me some distance.

I needed a plan. But what? I could just keep hacking until Klay got tired, but werewolves had amazing stamina. And by the looks of Klay, he could go on for a while.

Klay ran to me. He had the saber low to the ground and leaped trying to slash my head off. I ran out of the way just in time and thankfully, Klay slashed the ground and his saber was stuck on the ground.

Klay tried to pull it out, but it was lodged in between two rocks. I laughed, but it wasn't my laugh. It was cold and ruthless. God, no wonder we vampires hate werewolves. They were so dumb.

I walked calmly over to Klay who was still trying to get his sword free. Klay was so intuned trying to get his sword out that he didn't notice me until I put the silver blade of my sword at his neck.

Klay looked up at me. His amber eyes was widen with fear. He looked so weak it was sickening.

"Is this really of you and the werewolves will take over?" I asked. Klay didn't answer.

"If you can't kill one vampire, how do you think that you can take over the Council?" I asked.

Klay still didn't answer. Me, guessing that he forgot to talk, l lifted my sword, my ama-no-murakumo, and just before I slashed off Klay's head, a voice stopped me.

"Steph!"

I made the mistake to turn around and see Tom, standing up without help. He looked perfectly fine.

"Tom! You're okay!" God, did that feel good. I was so happy to see him alive.

"Steph!" Kaz's, Sarah's, Peyton's, and Alexis's yells made me turn around.

Klay got his saber out.

With a speed that shocked me, Klay knocked me down. God, he was strong. I tried to push him off but Klay was too strong. He held his wooden sword, his talwar at hand.

I will never forget what happened next. "Time to die," Klay whispered in my ear and with a lighting fast move, he drove the saber into my chest.

"STEPH!" Kaz's screams will haunt me forever.

Everything went blurry. Gray dots danced around in my vision. Nothing seemed real.

I could hear Kaz yanking Klay off me and hitting him over the head with his sword, knocking him out. I could hear Sarah looking through her bag to find things to would help me. I could hear Peyton and Alex tying up Krystella and Krystella's shouts. I could hear Tom yelling my name.

I couldn't take it anymore.

I blacked out.

Me - SWEET! I loved this chapter. I really liked the flash-back with Adelle's POV. By the by, those words spoken by Krystella were first spoken at that battle with Adelle and Lynd and all the others. Manalik first spoke them and because of that, whenever there is a duel, a witch speaks them. And here is a bit of vamp and werewolf trivia. The reason why vampires and werewolves hate each other is because in colonial America a werewolf, Hunter Jackson, by accident killed a vampire, Rachel Kalinkas, a royal vampire. The vamp leader at the time, Simon Kalinkas, already hated werewolves. Now he had a reason to hate werewolves. And Hunter Jackson was in love with Rachel so Simon killed him. The werewolves didn't like that. So now, vampires and werewolves hate each other.