Chapter 25

Darcy rolled onto his back, feeling the soft earth press into his shirt as he tried to dodge the creature on top of him. The creature snarled and snapped at his throat, forcing Darcy to roll once more to avoid the sharp fangs. A few feet away, he could hear sounds of a struggle as his companions battled with creatures of their own. Someone cried out in pain, making Darcy flinch as he dodged the fangs again.

As the creature moved in for a third attempt, Darcy's grip on his stake tightened. His blue eyes locked on the shadowy form of the monster as it lunged, his arm flashing upwards.

The creature screamed as silver entered its chest and collapsed limply onto the ground at Darcy's feet. Darcy pulled himself up gingerly, his gaze flickering back to where his three companions still battled.

James caught his gaze for a moment before another creature lunged at him. His jaw tightened and he nodded once before turning back to the battle before him. Darcy nodded back a second later. He turned his back on James and the others and ran into the forest.

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed at the sound of Wickham's laugh. Why was he laughing? What was this monster hiding?

Wickham's laughter cut off after a few moments, although his bright eyes still shone with amusement.

"I say, you are very gullible, aren't you Miss Elizabeth?" he chortled. "'Where is he, Wickham?'" he cried mockingly in a very poor imitation of her voice. "I'm sure Mr. Darcy would be flattered by your concern if he could see it."

"Why don't you bring him here, then, so that he can enjoy it," Elizabeth snapped impatiently. "We had a deal Wickham."

"Haven't you ever heard of a scam, Miss Elizabeth? My, Mr. Bennet does keep you sheltered, doesn't he?" Wickham sneered silkily. "I suppose it never occurred to you that I could have been lying about having Mr. Darcy as a hostage?"

Elizabeth's face reddened slightly with embarrassment, although her eyes remained sharp with anger.

"Now then," Wickham continued lazily. "Unless you have any other foolish questions, I would like to get started with the actual reason for our meeting. I'm on a tight schedule, you see. I'm not sure how long my guards can keep your rescuers busy."

Before Elizabeth could open her mouth to ask him what he was talking about, Wickham had flashed to her side, raw hunger lighting up his expression. Elizabeth tried to back away, only to realize with a dim horror that she couldn't move. Wickham smiled at her discomfort, his hazel eyes nearly glowing with the compulsion that he was sending.

Elizabeth gritted her teeth, remembering the flask that she still hid in her sleeve. She needed to do this.

With a silent prayer to whomever was watching, Elizabeth gave into the compulsion.

Darcy ran through the thick trees and shrubs that coated the trail like a veil, struggling to follow the path that Elizabeth had left behind. His eyes tightened as they picked up traces of a vampire presence mixed onto Elizabeth's path. Had one of his attackers gotten Elizabeth also or had Wickham intercepted her before she could reach her destination? Fury built up inside of him in reaction to both of those options. No matter what it took, he would kill Wickham.

Darcy froze as a small moan filtered through the trees to his right. He moved soundlessly to the edge of the tree line, his eyes widening as he caught sight of the clearing.

Elizabeth was leaning slightly against one of the trees that lined the clearing, her skin ghostly pale. Wickham was leaning over her, his arms around her shoulders to support her, his mouth at her neck. Elizabeth's eyes opened suddenly, their expression dulled slightly by Wickham's compulsion. Her gaze met Darcy's through the curtain of trees, making him tense. A small frown flickered across her face and her eyes cleared. Trying not to alert Wickham to his presence, she mouthed for him to go.

Darcy didn't move. His hand clenched into a fist around the stake as he took a step forward.

Elizabeth's eyes widened in terror and she motioned for him to leave.

Darcy took another step forward.

Her eyes filled with frustrated tears as she signaled for him to turn around.

He took another step, his foot colliding with a loose twig.

Wickham looked up as the snap of the twig echoed throughout the silent clearing. He smiled grimly when he saw Darcy.

"Ah, there you are, Darcy," he greeted jovially. "A little late, aren't you?"

Elizabeth was struggling weakly in Wickham's grip, her skin going paler with the effort. Both of the men ignored her.

"I'm afraid I was a little side tracked by your friends in the woods, Wickham," Darcy replied coldly.

Wickham chuckled as if Darcy had told an amusing joke.

"Ah, yes, the Brown sisters," he murmured. "They really were charming girls."

Almost as an afterthought, Wickham released his hold on Elizabeth's shoulders. She gasped slightly as she crumpled to the ground, still weak from the loss of blood. Darcy struggled to stay where he was.

Wickham flashed him a brilliant smile.

"So, Darcy," he said cheerfully. "Who is going to kill me today?"

"I am, Wickham," Darcy replied flatly.

Wickham's eyebrows rose and his smile widened.

"I was so hoping you would say that," he chuckled.

Darcy lunged for Wickham, his stake aimed at the vampire's heart. Wickham dodged easily, allowing the stake to pierce him through the shoulder. Darcy cried as a searing pain erupted in his shoulder. He gritted his teeth against the pain and lunged again, this time aiming for the throat.

Wickham grabbed the stake's point before it could reach him and thrust it through his stomach.

Darcy screamed as the pain spread to his stomach. He doubled over slightly, his hand still clenched around the stake.

Wickham grinned wickedly and moved the stake to his leg.

Darcy fell to the ground as his legs buckled beneath him. He noted with growing despair that Wickham's wounds were already healing.

Wickham laughed at Darcy and moved forward, his fangs extending.

"How about we finish what we started, Darcy?" he suggested casually. "I'm sure your family is dying to see you again."

Darcy winced and tried to stand up. Wickham swatted him down easily, his expression almost bored. Darcy groaned as stars erupted in front of his eyes.

"I'm disappointed, Darcy," Wickham told him seriously. "I had hoped for a better fight. Don't tell me you've-."

Wickham broke off suddenly, his expression twisting into something that was almost pain. He looked down at the wounds from the stake, his eyes widening as they reopened.

"You really should be careful what you eat," Elizabeth said with disgust.

Wickham turned to face her, his eyes blazing.

"You… BITCH!" he screamed as he lunged for her throat.

Elizabeth dodged him neatly, her feet slipping slightly as she struggled to keep upright.

Wickham snarled again, his skin going even paler as blood poured out of his newly reopened wounds. Elizabeth watched him calmly as she took a leather flask out of the sleeve of her shirt. She opened the flask and tossed some clear liquid onto him calmly, a small smile flickering across her face as Wickham screamed.

Darcy pulled himself to his feet, his face hardening against the pain. He stumbled to Elizabeth's side as Wickham prepared to lunge again.

Wickham snarled and ran at Darcy.

The two humans calmly held up their stakes, aiming for the vampire's chest.

Wickham's scream mingled with Darcy's in the air as burning agony erupted in their chests.

The two men collapsed suddenly from the pain, their skin graying. Elizabeth stumbled to Darcy's side, trying to see past the dizziness that was threatening to overwhelm her.

James, Mary, Jane, and Bingley froze at the edge of the clearing. Jane gave a quiet cry and leaned slightly against Bingley's shoulder. Mary's hand found James's and held it tightly. James and Bingley pulled away gently from the women and walked slowly to the middle of the clearing. Carefully, they examined the three limp forms that were strewn across the patch of land, trying to find signs of life.

Out of the three bodies found in the clearing, only two were still alive.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. All of the credit belongs to the amazing Jane Austen. Thanks again to all of the people who reviewed!