Chapter 8

Night had fallen. Tyrell could feel it.

Knowing the scientist Derrick would soon wake, he concentrated once again on the serum they had injected within him, trying to break down its formula. He knew it would be challenging to disband it from his system. The ingredients were extremely complex and he once more pondered how these scientist could have discovered such a formula. He had little time, as the scientists would soon be upon him again, making sure to inject him once again in an effort to keep his power under control.

"What are you doing?"

Tyrell grimaced as he realized he'd been focused on himself and most likely staring at nothing in front of him. The female was a distraction…in more ways than he cared to admit. "Be quiet. I need to focus."

Thankfully, she remained silent. But after a while, he grew frustrated. Despite all his experience, breaking down this formula while still in his system was impossible. Cursing, he realized his only hope was to reach out to the Dark One. While he detested the thought, Tyrell knew Gregori was the greatest healer. Reluctantly, he sent out the call on their private blood connection. As they were so far apart, he knew it would take time to reach him, so he turned his attention back on the female.

"He is coming."

Her eyes darted to the cell door. "Derrick?"

As her mind was still blocked, Tyrell couldn't believe so far anything she'd told him. Perhaps she really was a prisoner, just like him. But she also may be a willing participant in all these experiments. A smile formed on his lips. "Who else?"

He was surprised to see her physically tremble. Either she was truly afraid or a damn good actress. When the cell door swung open, she shrank back, as if trying to flatten herself against the wall.

"Ah, good. You survived. Although, I must admit, I'm surprised you didn't drain her dry."

Tyrell coolly looked at Derrick who stood tall and confident in his lab coat. He had short, blonde hair and a rather pointed chin. His eyes were particularly shrewd, a faded shade of blue that looked more like dark ice.

Arianna's eyes were a piercing blue, vibrant with her brown hair. They had a rich color, like ocean waters lit by the moon.

Tyrell froze.

What the hell was he thinking? Who gave a damn about her eyes?

A few other men were now in the room, but they certainly didn't appear as fearless. Their heartbeats were racing and Tyrell could sense their hesitation. A short man with a bald head spoke in response to Derrick's comment. "Actually, he did take too much blood. But then he fed her."

Derrick's eyes lit up. "Really? Now, that is fascinating! Tell me, vampire, why did you save her?"

Tyrell now realized this female had to be innocent in all of this. It was obvious this scientist could care less about using her. Still, they had to be injecting her with something which was calling out and attracting vampires. So he wasn't ready to completely trust her. For all he knew, this Arianna rightfully hated vampires but also didn't understand the differences with innocent Carpathians, such as the Falkland twins.

As he continued to ignore Derrick, he thought about how just moments ago, when the darkness was rising as he fed from the female, Tyrell had no care at all for the twins. The dark voice had even tempted him to take Carissa for himself.

Yet now he no longer wanted the twins harmed, nor did he want Carissa in that way. Instead, he wanted…Arianna.

What the hell was going on? Why was he feeling so strongly about this female? Once again, the thought of a lifemate was inconceivable to him. There had to be another explanation, like whatever they were injecting her with was used to bait vampires. Besides, when she communicated with him, Tyrell felt pain. No lifemate of his would cause him pain.

"Not going to answer me?"

Tyrell tilted his head down at the man. "I have nothing to say to you, other than a warning that your time will come."

"So you've said. At least you fed on her to regain your strength. If the thought of killing me makes you live on, so be it. Tonight, we have much more to explore with you. So, will you be good enough to let us draw your blood for tests? Or do I have to make you unconscious?"

Given the fact that he needed to wait for Gregori's response, Tyrell put aside his pride and held out a wrist.

"Excellent! I knew you were more intelligent than any of the others we'd captured. I'm sure you have some strategy inside your head. Like maybe if you cooperate with us, you'll find a way to kill us all. I, for one, can hardly wait to see what you try to do. We can learn more about how vampires think."

Tyrell gave him an evil smile. "I could not agree more."

Derrick laughed. "You will be so much more interesting than those other vampires. Why is that? Are you older, which makes you wiser?"

"I am an ancient," replied Tyrell, deciding to humor the man while he waited for Gregori's response. Given that he betrayed his own people, would the Dark One even respond?

"An ancient! What qualifies you as an ancient? One hundred years? A few hundred years?"

"Try one thousand."

"You can't be serious. Do you really expect me to believe that?"

Tyrell shrugged, pushing down his annoyance at the situation and trying to remain calm. "Believe what you want. I don't really care."

Derrick looked down at Arianna who still sat on the floor, near the corner of the cell. "And what do you think of him?" She lowered her eyes and wouldn't answer. "Not going to cooperate today? You know, in the last twenty-four hours, we've seen a lot of death. Makes a man start to appreciate life more. And that includes even having a few moments of pleasure. I know more than a few of my colleagues who need to feel alive again."

A growl broke free from Tyrell.

Surprised, Derrick looked back at him. "Are you reacting to what I just said to her?" When Tyrell didn't respond, the scientist smiled. "I think you were! You don't like the thought of one of my scientists having sex with her, do you?"

It took everything within Tyrell to place a chain on himself. The thought of what they had probably done to the female in the past was causing an anger to burn within him that he'd never known. He forced the demon down, knowing he'd be injected again if he tried to attack. Instead, he looked down at the wrist he'd offered for blood. "I took a great deal of blood from her. If she becomes weak, she is no use to me. I would suggest you give her some recovery time before…using her for your own needs." He forced himself to give no facial expression as he said this, even though his mind was ordering him to kill every scientist and carry Adrianna far away.

He cursed to himself. Whatever they had given her, could only last for so long. Then he'd be normal again, forgetting all about his desire for this female.

Derrick was watching him far too carefully. "Hmm, advice from a vampire. More lies, perhaps? Although your statement does seem logical, I suppose." He looked back at the bald man. "We have work to do right now anyway. Take his blood so we can begin our evaluation."

The bald scientist worked quickly, stabbing Tyrell's arm with a needle while working to fill a number of large test tubes.

Tyrell.

While the scientist still was drawing his blood, Tyrell felt the Dark One connect with him. Gregori's voice was low and distrusting. Tyrell focused on the link, recognizing the distance made the communication more challenging. Dark One, I have discovered a new serum Morrison is using to entrap us. I am sending it to you with the hope that you can unravel how it overtakes its victims. Quickly, Tyrell sent the information to him.

There was silence for a moment. Then Gregori spoke in a gruff tone within his mind. This is like nothing I have ever encountered. It may take some time for me to examine.

How much time? demanded Tyrell. To think he would have to stay under the control of these scientists was unbearable.

I am uncertain. I will request assistance from Gary, a former scientist who worked on similar formulas to see if he has seen anything like this.

Damn. He'd been hoping to wipe out the rest of these scientists now while they were in the room. That is, except for Derrick. There was too much information to learn from him, and sooner or later, Tyrell would find a way to get inside his head.

And just where are you? asked Gregori.

Why? Concerned that I might use the formula against your precious Prince?

That thought did come to mind, replied Gregori dryly, though I sense you are too far away to be any immediate threat.

At least you acknowledge I am a threat.

As Mikhail's protector, there are always threats I must identify…and destroy.

Tyrell watched as the bald scientist withdrew the needle from his arm. It would take nothing to reach out and snap the man's neck. But he had to hold out for Gregori, to be free of the injection. His mouth thinned, as he acknowledged the healer's words. You think I will not keep my oath, Dark One? I can assure you, my loyalty is to Carissa, not your Prince.

And how far does that loyalty go? Far enough to actually return here and face your death? I find that very hard to believe. Your time is coming to an end, Tyrell.

You probably could use the practice. I doubt you've had an opponent such as me.

Then shall I begin to track you now?

If Tyrell didn't find a way to escape this lab soon, that was exactly what was going to happen. At least the Dark One could find him from their blood connection. But if the formula was not broken down, even Mikhail's second in command would be powerless. If you provide a solution to the serum I provided, then there will be no need for you to seek me out. I will come to you.

This statement seemed to cause Gregori to pause. Morrison has you.

He clenched his jaw. Thinking about leaving me here for torture? When there was no response from Gregori, Tyrell played his ace. There is a young female here who is psychic. She is being used as bait to lure vampires and possibly Carpathians. Surely you want her to be protected by your Prince. If not, you may be condemning whoever is her lifemate to death.

I will send you the solution on how to expel it from your system. But I warn you Tyrell, I am only doing this because of your success in destroying other labs and this special female you found. Should you take her and decide to run from me, I will hunt you down.

"Excellent," said Derrick. The scientist looked pleased with amount of blood samples easily collected. "And I already have a few tissue samples as well. This will definitely aid us in understanding more about older vampires. Or, ancients, as you call yourself."

Tyrell reached out, attempting to probe his mind, but it remained blocked. "It is only a matter of time," he said softly, "before I can find a weakness which will lead to my escape and your death."

"Oh yes, I know," replied Derrick with a sarcastic voice, "I'm sure I'll be dead in the next day or so. You do realize that's what the other vampires thought. But it didn't work. Once we have a vampire, we can keep them completely under our control."

Tyrell raised an eyebrow. "Really. And not one has ever escaped?" he asked, knowing full well that it was himself who broke free of Morrison with Carissa nearly five years ago.

"Of course not."

"Hmm, your mind says otherwise."

The trick worked as Derrick reacted with shock. "You can't read my mind."

"It is becoming weaker in blocking me. There is something in your mind about a vampire who escaped years ago, under the control of some type of minerals."

Derrick whirled around and spat at one of his colleagues. "Has it been three hours? You're supposed to keep track of the time!"

The bald scientist looked nervously at him. "He says he's an ancient. Maybe he begins to break through when there is only a little time left." He took out a syringe and quickly injected something into Derrick's arm.

Tyrell pretended to frown, as if dissatisfied that he suddenly couldn't read Derrick's mind. He of course hadn't been able to read the scientist's mind to begin with, but now Tyrell knew how long a dose lasted. He would listen and watch carefully, ensuring to capture Derrick's mind as soon as the formula wore off. And Tyrell would make sure create plenty of distractions so the scientists lost track of the exact time.

Derrick was too focused on being caught in a lie. "You could say one vampire technically escaped his cell. However, the lab burned to the ground. He most likely perished in the fire."

"But you are not sure."

Derrick rolled his eyes. "We have no evidence either way if he lived or died."

"What was the vampire's name?"

"Perhaps you should tell me your name first."

"Stefan," he lied smoothly.

"The vampire's name was Tyrell. Ever heard of him?"

"There are more than a few vampires which go by the name of Tyrell, so he could very well still be alive."

"I doubt it," replied Derrick. "The real shame was the loss of the female. Her name was Carissa Brooks."

At the sound of her name, Arianna looked up and Tyrell stiffened.

The bald scientist heard it too. "Carissa? That's the name Arianna had read from the vampire's mind at one point during the day."

Derrick narrowed his eyes. "Oh, really."

Tyrell answered him coldly. "The Carissa I referred to was a human female that I toyed with years ago. She lived near Baltimore and satisfied me until I became bored with her."

"Yet a little ironic that you are a vampire who knew a woman named Carissa."

"You are desperate to try and connect me somehow," Tyrell replied with a low laugh. "Believe whatever you wish. But logically, how many human females are named Carissa? One hundred? One thousand?"

Derrick's tone sharpened. "Just like there are a few vampires named Tyrell? Seems a little too convenient for me." Without warning, Derrick reached down and yanked Arianna to her feet. "You saw into his mind! Was her last name Brooks?"

"I-I don't know," she replied "I only saw the first name."

"Did you see what she looked like?"

Arianna shook her head.

"Yet you saw images from this vampire's mind. How interesting." Derrick looked back at Tyrell. "Does your blood give her some type of intimate connection?"

Tyrell was losing his patience. But he could still feel the serum holding him down. He hoped like hell Gregori was working on a solution at a feverish pace. Tyrell let out a sigh. "She can now sense my blood wherever I go."

"And so you can sense her as well?"

"Yes," Tyrell answered warily.

"Did you hear that Arianna? You are forever attached to him."

Arianna should have been frightened by what the vampire, now she knew as Stefan, said about being connected. Yet oddly enough, she felt…relieved. It was such a strange sensation, she didn't know how to respond to Derrick.

He laughed at her. "Speechless? I can see why. I wouldn't want a thing like that tied to me forever either. Still, this has been a night of great revelations. Feeding or exchanging blood opens the door for tracking each other."

She could see his mind was working on the new information. She'd grown up in this lab, and she knew him too well. And was the Carissa she heard in the vampire's mind earlier the same one Derrick was talking about? Did he rescue her?

Derrick continued on about the blood connection. "This may lead to something. Maybe we can find more ways to track vampires."

Stefan merely scoffed at the thought. "You need the specific blood from each human or each vampire. It will not work as you have done with this female baiting us."

"And just how far away could you sense her?" asked Derrick.

"It is obvious whatever you are injecting her with is working to lure other vampires to you, so why does it matter?" answered Stefan with the sound of irritation in his voice. "Although, I do not understand why you would make it painful if she communicates with them."

"Painful?"

Arianna remembered Stefan experiencing pain whenever she tried to connect to his mind. But this had never happened with any other vampire. She had told him this, but obviously he didn't believe her.

Derrick's face looked puzzled. "I know she communicates with vampires telepathically. It's her psychic ability. But the formula we give her only enhances those powers so she can sense vampires even further away. No other vampires have experienced any kind of pain when she connects with them."

Stefan frowned. "Perhaps it is because I am an ancient then."

Derrick shook his head. "That particular formula lasts only a short time. It's been out of her system for hours now." He glanced at one of the scientists. "Which reminds me, when is her next dose of the mind blocking formula due?"

"About now," answered the scientist named Richard. Arianna hated him in particular. Not only was he unattractive, he was perverse when it came to his sexual gratification. The thought of his hands on her again made her shudder.

"Actually, don't bother," said Derrick. "I think it will be interesting to see what happens. He's already captured, so it matters little if he sees what we did with the other vampires."

"But, what if he could learn other things through her…something he could use against us?"

Derrick chuckled as he looked Stefan. "What could he possibly use? I've been with Arianna since she was a child. If anything, he'll simply see how serious we are in getting what we want." He turned back toward her. "It's worn off by now, hasn't it?" When she gave a hesitant nod, Derrick took a few steps backwards, leaving Stefan and Arianna near each other. "Go ahead. Look into her mind and tell me what you see."

Tyrell was confused. If the other formula had been out of her system for some time, why did he feel pain when she touched his mind? Curios, he immediately reached out to finally look into her mind.

The pain was like a bolt of lightening, striking him down. Tyrell actually fell to his knees. He was vaguely aware of the scientists shouting and talking all at the same time as he fell to the floor. He also heard Arianna's small cry of fright, their connection now growing stronger.

In one flash moment, Tyrell saw everything at once in Arianna's mind. From the scientists kidnapping her as a child, to the countless number of painful experiments they performed on her. And through it all, she had absolutely no hope, except to seek peace by death. And now Tyrell knew why he felt such agonizing pain. Not only had he betrayed Carpathians long ago when he turned vampire, he had also betrayed her.

His lifemate.