Disclaimer: I do not own the Carpathian Series, and definitely do not own the amazing characters in Christine Feehan's wonderful books. This is just a fanfic.
It had been centuries since he last visited the Carpathian Mountains. Andreas del Olmo breathed in the night air, only barely remembering the feelings of satisfaction and homecoming. He peered up at the gray stars, set against the black backdrop of the sky. How long had it been since he had seen color? Since he had felt even the smallest of emotions? Everything now was a faded memory, slowly consumed by the darkness blanketing his soul. He had returned to his people to reaffirm his vows to the Prince before facing the dawn.
He had that much left.
Andreas continued through the forest, taking in the subtle sounds of modernity that had begun to touch even this ancient place. He was coming upon the village and, though he knew it a dangerous thing, he looked for something to slake the ever-present thirst. Though he could no longer feel joy, or sadness, or even hope, he could still feel the desire for hot, life-giving blood. If anything, the need had swelled even as his emotions inexorably drained away.
As he neared the inn, Andreas spotted a young tourist, walking home from a day of exploration. Andreas observed him for a moment, making sure the male was free of drugs or alcohol. Satisfied, he let the ever-present hunger rise swiftly, ferociously to the surface. It had been so long since he had dared to let himself feed properly. His incisors lengthened in anticipation and Andreas sent out a silent command for the young man to wander into the shadows of the forest.
Without preamble, he sank his teeth into the man's throat, feeding voraciously. He had not cared to calm his victim's mind and the rush of adrenaline hit him like a thunderbolt. It raced through his system, urging him on, growling a seductive more into his mind.
The beast in him screamed in triumph, reveling as Andreas neared a point of no return. And then into the night came a sound, a whisper of notes that carried softly from the inn. That little voice changed him, changed everything. It wrapped around him and burrowed into his heart, causing the world around him to burst in a wild kaleidoscope of color and emotion. Realizing his prey was beginning to sway, Andreas swiftly released him, erasing the man's memory and implanting the memory of one too many drinks. Impatiently, Andreas sent the young tourist on his way before turning black eyes to the inn.
He glided forward, careful to keep his presence hidden, as he sensed others of his kind nearby. The quiet, melodious voice led him to a wide veranda and doors that stood open and inviting. Andreas paused, watching the scene play out before him, eyes drawn to a tiny woman curled up in a large chair by the fire.
She was lovely, his lifemate. Brown hair streaked with pink cascaded carelessly about her shoulders, only partially hiding a face with large brown eyes and pert, pink lips. She was clothed all in black, her large coat only partially hiding her small yet curvy body. Her feet were tucked up beneath her body, her boots abandoned on the floor. As he watched, the girl tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth and Andreas felt his body stir into sudden, uncomfortable life.
His gaze took in the three Carpathians in the room, his attention resting for a long moment on the older male. The blue-eyed male wore power easily, his posture screaming danger. Yet he positioned himself possessively next to the fragile-looking Carpathian woman. Andreas looked at the other male, a youth, and the demon in him lifted its head in protest that an unmated male—even a fledgling—would presume to be so close to his lifemate.
Something the youth said made his lifemate smile wistfully and Andreas turned his attention back to his woman, hands itching to take her into his arms.
"I'm glad you convinced me to come, Josef," she admitted softly. The gratitude and affection in her voice was undeniable and Andreas nearly failed in suppressing the feral growl that welled up in his throat. His lifemate stilled, hand going to her throat and the older male turned wary blue eyes out into the night. Andreas did not worry he would be detected, however. He was an ancient, after all, schooled in the lost arts of his people and tutored by the old mages.
After a moment, the young woman stood and crossed the room, hand dropping slowly to her breast. She looked troubled, fearful, and Andreas felt a light fluttering, a questing brushing at the barriers of his mind. He was surprised at the girl's ability, but a flood of pride burst through him that his lifemate—a human—could show such aptitude.
The girl stood in the doorway, seemingly unaware of the tension pervading her companions. For a moment it appeared as if she might step out into the night, but then she reached out and swiftly, firmly, shut the doors. Andreas felt a twinge of hurt at his lifemate's unintentional rejection, but he reveled in the simple ability to feel. It had been nearly two thousand years since he felt anything at all. Besides, willing or no, he would have her. He would do everything in his power to bind the girl to him for all time. He would accept nothing else.
Alana moved away from the veranda and back towards the chair she had abandoned. She absently rubbed at her arms, trying to forget the hunted feeling that had stolen over her moments before. The sensation had been similar to the incident, but this time her heart had urged her to cross the threshold and meet whatever fate awaited her in the dark of the forest. It had taken everything in her to reject that compulsion, to close the doors and turn away. Yet even now, her mind reached out, searching for . . . something.
Skyler appeared before her, concern plain on her pretty features. "Alana? Are you all right?"
Alana glanced between her companions before settling on Josef's troubled face. Not wanting to worry her friend, she forced herself to smile weakly and nodded. "Yes. I'm just a little tired . . ." She trailed off and couldn't help but looking briefly back over her shoulder. "Maybe I should turn in."
And it was the truth. She felt so tired, her body swaying with weariness. It had been a long flight. And then the trip to the village had been so long. Alana found she just wanted to sleep. Without warning, she stumbled, letting out a little cry. Immediately, Josef was at her side, placing a stabilizing hand underneath her elbow.
A sudden chill filled the room; the fire flickered to nothing, plunging them into shadows. Dimitri's head went up, eyes nearly glowing in the dark, nostrils flaring as if he were a wolf scenting an intruding predator. "Josef," he voiced.
As if sensing the same thing that had disturbed Dimitri, the young man nodded and handed Alana over to the older male. Skyler moved closer. "Dimitri?"
The blue-eyed man shook his head silently, indicating without words that the danger was still there. Within seconds, however, the fire flared back to its normal height, once again throwing off comforting heat. The sense of menace faded and the sitting room was just another cheery part of the welcoming mountain inn.
Alana laughed nervously to cover the sound of her wildly beating heart. "How weird," she murmured, moving away from Dimitri's solicitous grip. She straightened her coat self-consciously and smiled apologetically. "I wish I could stay a little longer, but I really should get some shut-eye."
With that, she all but fled the room, eager to get away from the others and lock herself away in the safety of her room. The feeling of being hunted had come back with a fierce intensity and Alana worried she might have accidently invited something dark and unstable with her earlier questing. It was better if she got herself far away from her new friends; she didn't want them to get hurt. She didn't want history to repeat itself.