Birds began their chorus as dusk began to draw near, their chatter the only sound in the still of the woods. As the sun bowed its head towards the horizon the broad reach of the trees created pools of darkness over the soil below where sunlight failed to penetrate. As night began to show signs of closing over the world the earth below the trees began to tremble and then boil.
Fiske emerged first casting the soil off like water as he rose. His eyes blazed and there were new bright marks on his skin as he strode over to the disturbed patch of earth Angel had fought her way through earlier that day. Behind him Bow and then the others surfaced from their day's rest, they moved restlessly to where Fiske stood. Vespera rested her hand on his shoulder.
'You couldn't have followed her any further.' Her voice was clear in his mind. 'You almost didn't make it back to us as it was.'
'What was she thinking?' Sophia snapped her fear clear in the others thoughts. 'Why on earth did she rise during daylight?'
'I am not concerned with the why.' The old Carpathian's voice hung with controlled anger. 'Only the who and the where.'
'I'm not following.' Said Jordan his eyes moving over the trees and the shadows beyond. The tension in the group was tangible.
'Who took her?' Elaborated Fiske as he bent down and stirred the dirt where Angel had been with his fingers. 'And where he took her.'
'You're sure she did not go willing?' Serenity's voice was far stronger in her mind than it was when she spoke out loud. As a Carpathians the sisters Sophia and Serenity were far more evenly matched than the years they had spent as humans. Sophia had cared tirelessly for a timid and dreamlike Serenity for most of her life shielding her from an outside world that she found terrifying. Now the change and the discovery of her life mate Bow had brought Serenity out of herself. In her abilities and mental capacities she was as strong if not stronger than Sophia who tended to hesitate still about using her powers. It was as if all the years of trying to fit in and hide what she was had instilled a need for Sophia to think twice before behaving in any way that the trappings of her human past would have labelled abnormal.
'I have no direct knowledge.' Began Fiske. 'She blocked our link before I realised what was happening and was gone before I could rise but I sensed the presence of another male. The escape was covered far more expertly than Angel was capable of. Our link with her blocked more completely than she alone could manage. In the past when she has tried to block me out so completely I have always been able to maintain some contact however slight but now.' The old Carpathian stopped unwilling to finish the train of thought.
'A vampire?' Said Vespera, her voice hollowed slightly by horror.
'I don't think a vampire could have withstood the sunlight.' Fiske said slowly 'But a Carpathian male close to turning could be just as dangerous.'
'Then we should track them.' Said Bow his dark eyes flashed menacingly.
'It will take time to pick apart the trail. Days, maybe even weeks if it has been well hidden. We have to get back to my homeland soon. Time is short.'
'We cannot abandon Angel here.' Said Vespera. She locked eyes with her life mate as his private thoughts filled her mind.
A baby Carpathian female would be a high prize. Even the older and more powerful vampires who clung desperately to their dark lives would risk a lot for such a trinket. Their small novice group would not be enough to save them if they attracted such attention and the longer they stayed here the more likely something would find them. Carpathian births were also notoriously difficult. Without skilled healers and a sanctified site Ves knew there was a good chance both she and their baby would die. Fiske was growing increasingly afraid what would happen if they tarried here too long.
'I will try to call others to this area.' Fiske said to them all still unwilling to break eye contact with Vespera. 'Even if it takes them a few days to travel to us they may be able to assist.'
'We are not leaving Angel.' Vespera said more firmly.
'We should begin at once then. I for one will feel happier once we have her with us again.' Fiske said standing up. Ves felt the baby turn heavily inside her and placed a steading hand on her belly as they began to move through the trees. She hoped against hope that they would be able to find Angel fast. As her baby moved again she already felt as if time were running out for them all.
