Chapter 12

Tyrell felt a surge of anger like nothing he ever experienced before. The very fact that a weak mortal held his lifemate captive, made him want to kill the man in a red, blinding rage. Yet Arianna's whimper held him in place. The scientist held the needle in her neck, his thumb on the plunger to the syringe.

"How I've been dying to try out this new formula," said Derrick in an almost gleeful voice. "In fact, it's creation was only known by a few."

Tyrell circled to the right, his face expressionless with no hint of anger. If he was going to save Arianna, it would take everything within him to remain calm. The demon within him shifted, as if wanting to simply kill both of them. He could not give into that temptation. The female was innocent and deserved to be free.

"Step away from the her," said Tyrell. His voice was low and seductive, reaching out to Derrick for control.

The scientist smiled. "Your mind tricks won't work on me. You think I'm a fool? I know you were probably trying to track the time between the doses of the serum I've been taking. I took a stronger dose the moment I found out you broke free of our control. I give you credit, vampire, I'm not sure how you did it. Maybe you really are over a thousand years old which makes you stronger." He pulled Arianna closer. "But why do you care what I do to this woman? You took your revenge out on the other scientists and the lab, so why stay?"

Tyrell's eyes held a glint of amusement. "Ah, but I have not taken my full revenge, not yet. If you let her go now, I might allow mercy."

Derrick snorted. "Mercy? We both know you'll just kill me anyway."

"Exactly," replied Tyrell softly, "killing you would be my mercy. Otherwise, you can anticipate a slow, painful death."

"Now see, here's the thing…that would mean you have to find a way to actually get to me."

Tyrell gave a low laugh. "I would not say hiding behind a small female is your best defense."

"Oh no? Do you know what this formula is that I hold just inches from her vein?"

"Enlighten me."

Derrick smirked. "You think you know everything. And yet, we managed to capture more than a few vampires. It is simply a matter of time before we can easily overpower all vampires or even have you do our bidding. The fact that you somehow overcame the serum we developed is impressive, but by no means the end to our extensive plans for control. This lab you destroyed is but one of many hidden not only in the United States, but throughout the world! Others have created even stronger formulas than the one which temporarily held you!"

"And each one we encounter will also be broken down and destroyed."

"My sources say otherwise. There is still one element, not even a formula, but of the earth."

Tyrell continued to hide his anger. The scientist had to be referring to the minerals, a substance which could indeed be a threat to every vampire and Carpathian. "Obviously you were one of the weaker links for Morrison and could not be trusted with it."

"How little you know. But then, best to keep it that way, isn't it? You can't touch my mind. And now I am the one in control." Derrick quickly pushed the injection down into Arianna's vein. She gasped and tried to struggle free.

With nothing else holding him back, Tyrell swiftly moved in, grabbing Derrick's arm and twisting it away from her so he cried out in pain. Arianna fell to the ground, her hand pressed to the side of her neck as she began to shake from the effects of whatever was injected. Tyrell simply stepped over her, grabbing Derrick's neck and shoving him against a large tree.

"I see you have chosen no mercy," hissed Tyrell.

"You…will…need to…beg me for…mercy," choked Derrick in response. "Arianna..."

Tyrell looked back to see her slowly get to her feet. She was crying. Then blinding pain struck Tyrell's head. His grip weakened, and he dropped Derrick.

The scientist fell against the tree, coughing heavily until he was able to catch his breath. Then he gave a small laugh, followed by another cough. "Apparently, she can do more than command you. It's a serum we've been experimenting with for some time. It heightens her psychic abilities. This one is more than ten times the strength we've given her in the past."

I'm sorry, she cried inside Tyrell's head. I don't understand why when I connect with you it causes so much pain.

"Tell him to back away," snapped Derrick.

He thinks I can command you. It has worked sometimes with the other vampires.

Tyrell held his splitting head. The pain was so intense, he couldn't think straight. But her connection wasn't controlling him. For whatever reason, the formula amplified the pain when she touched his mind. He dropped to the ground, so weak, there was nothing he could do except absorb wave after wave of agony.

"Very nice. I like him on the ground. Now, tell him to crawl to me and beg for mercy." But when Tyrell didn't move, Derrick's face twisted in anger. "Are you listening to me? And why the hell are you crying? Would you rather have him as your master? Think of all the other innocent humans these vampires kill, Arianna!"

Tears streaming down her face, she shook her head. "You are no better!"

Furious, Derrick pointed a finger at Tyrell. "Look at what your sacrifice has done! A few psychics sacrificed to protect so many others!"

"No," she choked. "You have no nobility, Derrick. You've done nothing but use me and other innocent women!"

He strode over to her and grabbed her arm. "Command him to obey me! Now!"

Arianna knew that wild look in Derrick's eyes. If she didn't do what he wanted, she was in for the beating of a lifetime. "I-I can't." Not only that, but she couldn't bear to hurt Stefan. She realized now she was crying because of the pain she was causing him. He had healed her arm and tried to give her a way to be free.

"What do you mean you can't?" screamed Derrick.

Her stomach suddenly lurched. "I'm not feeling well." If he gave her ten times the dose of earlier experiments, this could mean she'd be sick for days…or even dead.

"You will do as I say, do you hear me? The minerals will be here and then there's nothing to stop me from having complete control of him! Now, take control of his mind!"

When she shook her head, Derrick flew into a rage. He slapped her face so hard, Arianna was thrown to the ground. She screamed as he began to kick her, and she tried to fight back. But her body was severely compromised by the serum. Arianna grew sluggish and was unable to stop the blows to her ribs.

A loud growl broke through the night air and Derrick gasped as Stefan came out of nowhere. The scientist was torn off Arianna, and thrown several feet. There was a loud crack at the sound of his head hitting the side of a rock, killing him instantly.

Arianna was lying on the ground, breathing heavily as the vampire who she only knew as Stefan kneeled down beside her. Her stomach once more twisted in pain. "Please, make it stop."

His black eyes seemed to soften, even turn brown, for just a moment. "You need my blood but I…cannot give it to you." His voice became strangled. "I am already connected to you by one exchange. I cannot take the risk."

She gasped in pain. What was he talking about? It didn't matter anymore. At least he didn't seem to be in pain now. "So…are you…okay now?"

"When he attacked you, something within me couldn't let that happen. The pain stopped."

"I-I don't understand."

He reached out and brushed away a strand of hair from her face. "Neither do I." His eyes looked at her with anguish as she began to writhe in pain.

Tyrell's heart seemed to turn over as he watched Arianna growing colder, her vital signs weakening. This poor female had already been close to death how many times? And because of him? Already he'd attacked her, fed from her, and had one true exchange with her. If he wanted to push this new serum out of her system, he would need to give her quite a bit of his ancient blood and it would be a completed exchange due to the amount he took from her earlier.

If he did this, what would it mean to her? He had hoped she would be free of Morrison and of him. But another exchange would strengthen their bond. Tyrell was condemned to death. There was no saving of his soul. It had been blackened long ago when he was betrayed by those he thought loyal to protecting the Carpathian people. He gave into the darkness and was lost. Arianna deserved a life without him.

But he could not bear her suffering any further. Drawing a deep breath, he gathered her up in his arms and pulled her to his chest.

"What are…you…doing?" she asked, the words hard to speak.

Without answering her, Tyrell stared into her eyes, calming her while he slit his chest. He then cradled her to him, allowing her to drink deeply. At the same time, he traveled inside of her to make sure all of the formula was absorbed by his powerful blood. While this formula was powerful, it was only meant for humans and Tyrell easily overcame it. He then focused on her ribs which Derrick had bruised, ensuring she was fully healed.

As he came back into his body, Tyrell was conscious of her mouth on his chest. He closed his eyes, giving into temptation and connecting with her mind as she fed from him. Once more, he saw everything. Her childhood ripped away from her. The pain she experienced over so many years.

At the same time, Tyrell saw in his own mind where he was during those moments in her life. And what he saw shamed him. The darkness ruled him. He was so eager for any feeling, and that meant easily seducing and using women. And human men in his way were never spared. He detested Carpathian hunters and the Prince. He felt a burning anger and betrayal that he could not explain. In response, Tyrell eagerly accepted the hatred and bitterness which gave him the only feeling he could find: power.

Arianna, a small child, faced monsters just like him every day. And each day, she hoped to be freed. The light within her never faded. While she hated her captors, she still believed there was good inside of others. Her parents had shown her love. And even if it was for a short time in her life, it left a lasting memory she clung to all her life.

Once again, tears of blood were streaking down his face. Arianna had beaten the darkness down and he was now experiencing true feeling. But he now felt such grief at betraying this innocent female, Tyrell knew he would never be the same.

He deserved to die. It was the last thing he could do for her.

When Arianna opened her eyes, she was surprised to find herself sitting up against a tree. A few feet away from her, the vampire she knew as Stefan was crouched down and fully clothed. He was dressed completely in black, a long black trench coat appearing like a cloak which blew lightly in the wind. She sat up straight once she realized there was blood on his face. "You're bleeding!"

"It is nothing," he said in a graveled voice.

His sadness cascaded over her and to her shock she realized the blood was actually his tears. She actually wanted to cry with how strong the emotion was within him. Something had changed. She was hearing more…sensing more. And his mind was filled with pain. She tried to reach out and see into his past, but once again, he blocked her.

"Do not," he said sharply.

"I-I just wanted to help you."

"You cannot. My soul is black."

Arianna swallowed hard, his words for some reason hitting her hard in the chest. "But you saved me. That can't be completely true."

His eyes were filled with remorse. "I have failed you."

"What? No, you freed me. You haven't failed me."

He gave her a sad smile. "How little you know. But you will live your life and be free."

The thought of leaving him suddenly terrified her. He was the only one who had actually protected her. "I have no life! Where will I go?"

To her shock, he touched her mind, sending a flash of information. She suddenly knew where he'd hidden valuables which could make her wealthy . He drew a deep breath. "What little I have left from my existence is now yours." He suddenly glanced in the distance toward the road. "I will see to your safety one last time."

Arianna backed away when he transformed into an enormous, black dragon. She gasped as he took off, his wings spreading out toward the sky. And then she was captured by one of the dragon's feet, the long claws closing around her body, but never even scratching her. Arianna's breath was taken away as the wind hit her face and she found herself looking down at the forest. The bright moon cascaded light onto the river, and then she could see the lights of the nearby town. She clung to the dragon's leg, as he swiftly descended, landing in a darkened area not far from a hotel.

He gently dropped her to the ground and then transformed back into human form. She was frightened when a man with blonde hair walked toward Stefan. But the man seemed to be in some kind of a trance, not even bothering to look at Arianna. The vampire was watching her, even as he pulled the man closer and bit into his neck. It was very brief, as Stefan lifted his head only a few moments later.

"This man is under my influence," said the vampire softly. "He is the manager at the nearby hotel where you will stay as a guest under an unknown name. You are not to leave the hotel until the Falkland twins come for you. It will be…a few days. I will give them instruction when the time is right."

"Falkand twins? I don't understand. Wait!" she exclaimed as he slowly turned away. "Don't leave me!"

He paused. "I left you long ago…Arianna."

She felt connected to him and his anguish. He was actually shaking from the emotional pain and so was she. Arianna wrapped her arms around herself, as if trying to hold things together. Derrick was dead. She was free. So why was she so upset about what this vampire was feeling? Why did she care if he left her?

He spoke a strange language, heavy in an accent she'd never heard. And then he whispered into her mind. Farewell, light to my darkness.

As tears once more began streaming down her face, she watched helplessly as he transformed into mist and disappeared. She turned to the blonde man who smiled at her.

"Come, I'll get you a room and some new clothes. You'll be safe."

"Who are the Falkand twins?"

"They are known to be extremely powerful investors in the business world. Their success has brought them much wealth."

She was suddenly feeling desperate. She couldn't just sit back and wait for these twins. "And where do they live?"

"Chicago, so it's pretty far away."

"That's where I need to go."

The man frowned. "No. You must stay here."

"I can't. I have to follow him!"

"I'm sorry, but there is no choice. You will stay at my hotel. He said the twins would be coming for you."

Arianna wiped her eyes. "No, that will be too late!"

"Too late? What do you mean?"

She had no idea, but everything within her demanded for her to find Stefan. He'd spoken as if there was nothing she could do to save him. With a horrible gut feeling, Arianna had a feeling there was little time left for him. "I have to leave now."

But the man stood firm. "My instruction was for you to stay here. You cannot leave."

"Then I'll just have to get there without you!" And before he could stop her, Arianna ran out into the night.

Author's note: Me and my usual cliffhangers, I know... -Anne