Chapter 15

"He arrives tomorrow night."

Mikhail looked up from the ancient book of spells as Gregori glided into the room. The Prince and the SongMaker had been studying this latest discovery from Razavan.

The Prince sighed and looked at his oldest friend. "You're speaking of Tyrell?"

"Who else?"

"A few days ago you were at the point of hunting him down."

"It may still come to that."

Mikhail glanced at Armando who remained silent. "If he told you he was coming here, then we shall wait."

"It could be a trap."

"Which is why I have you as my second in command to prepare for such things. What of the woman he said he found? Is he bringing her?"

"No," growled Gregori. "He is sending word to the Falkland twins to watch over her. I reminded him that the deal was for the SongMaker to meet with her."

"As long as she's safe. Pierce and Samuel will bring her for a visit at a later time."

"It makes no sense. Why leave her in the United States?"

Mikhail closed the book in front of him. "You know he trusts very few. But something else is bothering you."

The Dark One's silver eyes shifted toward Armando for a moment, as if he was hesitant to reveal something in front of anyone but Mikhail.

The SongMaker's voice was very quiet. "You spoke of something wrong with Tyrell when he contacted you a few days ago. His blood is in you. What is it that you sense as he draws closer?"

Gregori turned away to look out one of the enormous windows. The view from Mikhail's home was spectacular, especially as there was a full moon. He was restless, as if Tyrell's connection was giving him a sense that something was very wrong. "Pain," he finally answered. He turned and looked at Armando. "The minerals should have eventually worn off with giving him emotion. The Falkland twins even confirmed this to me a month ago when they'd last seen him. But something has changed. He feels great pain and wants to end it."

"Is it possible he suddenly feels remorse?" asked the Prince.

Armando frowned. "As the minerals wore off on me, it was more challenging to sort out any emotion I had left. It was unreal and felt…wrong. I did not experience what you are describing."

"Perhaps it is different with males who already turned." Mikhail noted Gregori had returned to looking out into the night once more. "I can carry out his sentence," the Prince offered softly.

Gregori slowly shook his head. "I would never allow that risk and you know it, Mikhail."

"And yet I have a feeling that his connection, along with his actions of destroying so many labs, is making you think twice."

The Dark One slowly turned around, drawing back his powerful shoulders while his silver eyes met Mikhail's. "He made the choice long ago and cannot be forgiven for his past crimes. We must carry out justice on behalf of our people."

Mikhail looked at the Armando who once again had become quiet. "And what do you say, SongMaker?"

For a moment, the oldest Carpathian said nothing and the silence stretched out between them. And when he finally spoke, there was sadness in his voice. "I am uncertain as to what drove him to this fate and those answers may never be found. If there is any hope of saving his dark soul, it would be to come before you and face his death."

"What do you mean he's gone?" asked Arianna. She was desperate to understand the situation. Was Stefan really Tyrell?

Carissa sat next to Pierce and gripped his arm. "Tyrell was returning to the Carpathian Mountains."

Feeling stronger, Arianna stood. "Then we must go there."

Samuel frowned. "Explain to us why he left you. Why didn't he contact us immediately?"

Frustrated, Arianna began to pace. "I don't know. He said he would send for you in a few days. Why does it matter? Let's just leave now!"

"But why this urgency?" asked Pierce softly. "Do you know why he went to the Carpathian Mountains?"

Arianna froze. There was something off in his voice. "He…didn't say." She saw the twins glance at each other and Carissa looked at the floor. "What? What aren't you telling me?"

Without looking at her, Carissa spoke in a broken voice. "He went to face the Prince."

"Prince?"

"Mikhail Dubrinsky," answered Pierce. "He is our Prince."

The name she saw on the map. "The Prince…of Carpathians? Why would he go to see him?"

Carissa bit her lip.

"Tell me!"

Samuel crossed his arms over his broad chest. "Tyrell is a traitor. He chose to listen to the darkness."

Arianna frowned. "He's not a traitor. He saved me. He destroyed the lab and killed Derrick!"

"Derrick?"

"He was a scientist that held me since I was little. Stephan, I mean, Tyrell…said he failed me. But he didn't; he saved me!"

"Tyrell was exposed to something we think a wizard named Javier found long ago."

"A wizard. Are you serious? What are you going to tell me next? That little gnomes are going to pop out any minute and attack me too?"

"Nah," replied Samuel with a wink, "gnomes are harmless. It's the leprechauns you need to watch out for."

Arianna stared at him.

"He's teasing," said Carissa who stood up and walked over to him. Giving him a little jab, she shook her head as Samuel smiled and pulled her close. "You'll find he likes to use humor to ease the tension sometimes."

"Otherwise he can just be plain annoying," added Pierce as he stood up.

It worked as for a moment Arianna almost smiled. But she quickly grew serious. "Look, I don't care what you say. He's not a traitor. And how are you sure Stephan really is this Tyrell?"

"His blood is in you," said Carissa quietly.

She almost blushed in response. "How do you know?"

"I can feel it. My blood is in him. I have a connection to him."

Arianna saw the twins stiffen at the same time she did. For some unexplained reason it angered her when she pictured for a moment that Stefan fed from this woman.

"He saved me too," continued Carissa. "I was captured briefly by a Morrison lab. He was there when they were using the minerals on him. He was a vampire but for whatever reason those minerals gave him back emotion. He became loyal to me."

Arianna's hands clenched into fists. "Loyal to you. He barely knew you!" She couldn't explain why she felt so angry. Maybe it was because she thought Stefan actually cared about her. But maybe he just saved humans whenever he found them. How could she think he would treat her any different?

Carissa was looking at her with concern. "He came to see me before he left. He told me to tell you he was sorry."

"I didn't hear him say that," said Samuel looking down at her.

"You couldn't hear it. He said it on our private connection."

Arianna could feel her anger rising again. "Obviously he cared more about you."

"What?"

"You heard me. He came to see you before he left."

"Well yes, but-"

"He just left me." Her eyes began to sting with tears and her throat hurt. "He left me with a complete stranger and then came here! To see you!" Now she was crying and Arianna angrily wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. "What's so special about you? Why do you matter so much to him?"

Carissa's face was full of surprise. "Arianna, I don't think-"

"Why doesn't he want me?" she suddenly blurted. Ashamed and shocked as to what she just admitted, Arianna slumped back down on the couch and buried her face within her hands. For a moment, all she could do was weep as the emotion was so overwhelming. Then she felt her hands being tugged away from her face. Carissa was kneeling at her feet, her face full of concern.

"You love him."

Arianna opened her mouth in response, but nothing came out.

"Carissa," said Pierce, "what are you saying?"

She continued to look into Arianna's eyes. "This is Tyrell's lifemate."

"Excuse me?" asked Samuel, not sure he heard correctly.

Arianna shook her head. "No. That's not true. He felt pain when I connect with him." She sniffed and Carissa handed her a tissue. "And he rejected me. He only wanted you."

"It's not like that," Carissa replied. She was stroking Arianna's arm. "I was the only reminder he had to not listen to the darkness."

Pierce sat down next to Arianna. "I can assure you, given the fact that Carissa is already bound to us, there is no way we would allow Tyrell to have any other relationship."

"That's an understatement," muttered Samuel. "Carissa, she has a point. If she really is Tyrell's lifemate, there's no way he would just leave her."

"Unless he thought this was the only way to protect and save her," Pierce said in a quiet voice.

Arianna looked at him. "What?"

Pierce glanced at his twin. "Do you remember the conversation we had with Mikhail five years ago? When he and Gregori saw us after the battle? We talked of the SongMaker and how difficult it was for him to reconcile his unintentional crime with his Carpathian honor. He said Razavan experienced a similar challenge with the crimes he was forced to do."

Samuel sighed. "Yes, but they were forced by those who held them. Tyrell chose his path."

"Exactly. Can you imagine what it would feel like if he suddenly found himself realizing what he'd become?" Pierce looked at Arianna. "If he realized she was his lifemate, what would such a thing to do him?"

"What are you talking about?" Arianna asked.

"Honor is everything to us," Pierce explained. "It's what holds back males from turning. If they can no longer ignore the darkness, those seeking to save their soul will face the dawn before they turn."

She swallowed hard. "They commit suicide?"

He nodded. "It is the only way sometimes. There have been cases were Carpathians were held against their will or were forced to do unspeakable crimes. Because our honor is imprinted upon us at birth, such unthinkable actions can take a heavy toll on a male's mental stability."

Arianna's heart began to increase as she grew alarmed. "The males who turn vampire are hunted down."

Pierce answered her honestly. "Yes."

"But Tyrell left to go to the Carpathian Mountains. Why?" When he hesitated, Arianna choked. "Please tell me."

"He made a promise to seek revenge on Morrison. We knew his emotion would eventually fade without the minerals. He swore an oath to Carissa that he would not harm the innocent and then he would return to face the Prince."

Arianna took one look at Carissa's face and knew the answer. "They're going to kill him!"

"I'm so sorry," said Carissa. Arianna was surprised when blood red tears began to stream down her face. "I swear he didn't tell me when he made that oath. I didn't know Gregori would hunt him down if he didn't return."

The room felt like it was spinning. "Gregori?" Arianna heard herself ask.

"Basically Mikhail's second in command," answered Samuel.

Arianna's head was now pounding. "You mean executioner." She sharply looked at the twins. "I have to know if any of this is true. What if I am his lifemate?"

"You cannot save a dark soul," said Pierce.

"How do you know?" she demanded. "Has anything like this happened before? You said there were others who had committed crimes against their will, but they are alive today!"

"Arianna," said Pierce in a gentle voice, "like it or not, Tyrell chose his path. Before he turned vampire, he should have faced the dawn."

"How do you know he chose his path? What if something made him turn?"

"You are talking in human terms," Samuel said with regret in his voice. "You do not understand."

"No! I'm not sure you understand! These minerals…they brought back his emotion. He saved Carissa. He saved me. I don't care what you say. No lost soul would do that!" She suddenly stood and walked around Carissa, striding toward Samuel. Surprised, the twin looked down at her as she grabbed onto his arms. "Please. I'm begging you. Help me. Can't you stop it? Tell the Prince to wait. Tell him to not do anything until I get there!"

Samuel looked at his twin and some communication passed between them. Then he looked back down at Arianna. "We do not know if Mikhail will hold off on his sentence…but we will do what we can."