Chapter 17

There was stunned silence after Tyrell admitted he would most likely kill his lifemate. He stood there with his hands clenched into fists, staring at the ground. At this point, he couldn't even look into her eyes. The silence was good, he thought to himself. Maybe they now realize how deadly he could be. And he looked like the true vampire he turned into long ago. There was no denying now that his soul was dark.

Armando broke the silence. "Why do you believe you turned?"

Ah yes, the question. Why did he, who once a male of worth, suddenly give into the darkness? "We all make ill fated decisions in our past, do we not?" Tyrell raised his head, avoiding Arianna's eyes but meeting Armando's piercing gaze. "Perhaps there are some actions we cannot control when created by others. You of all Carpathians would know that, SongMaker."

Darius hissed. "I hardly think you can even compare your dark choices to the SongMaker's past. You were not held captive by a wizard."

"And of course Morrison wouldn't count," replied Tyrell with heavy sarcasm. "After all, they are nothing but weak humans, incapable of capturing any Carpathian." His eyes blazed. "So it shouldn't matter that the minerals which held your dear SongMaker would now be in Morrison's hands."

"You will try to do anything to divert attention from the fact that you chose to turn vampire."

"Or perhaps you are still stinging from our last battle years ago. As I recall, young hunter, you had quite a challenge whenever trying to find me."

"Only because you ran like the coward you are!" snapped back Darius.

"Enough," interjected Mikhail in a harsh voice. He looked at Tyrell. "You did not answer Armando's question."

"Life is full of disappointments, little Prince."

Gregori growled. "Watch your tongue, vampire."

Mikhail sighed and before Tyrell could snap back, he briefly held up his hand. "Your taunting will not bring about the action you seek. Therefore, we are done for now."

Tyrell gave a mocking smile. "No cage will hold me."

"I have no such intention."

Tyrell's smile faded. "I will seek my own end. I do not need any of you."

"No, you do not. Which is why I continue to question your motives. You left your lifemate with the Falkland twins for protection. You kept your oath to Carissa, never harming any innocent lives over the last five years. And you return to the Carpathian Mountains to face the justice you deserve." The Prince slowly shook his head. "Whatever drove you to the path of darkness feels incomplete to me. Therefore, no hunter will touch you until the ritual with your lifemate is completed."

Tyrell gave a low laugh. "The sun will rise. My time will end."

Mikhail's demeanor remained calm. "There is another band of vampires hiding themselves, controlled by the Albino we still have been unable to find these last five years."

"Pity you have such inferior hunters."

While the ancients scowled, the Prince responded with a cool smile. "All the more reason I should hope you fare better."

"Are you actually suggesting I do your bidding and destroy these vampires? I do not serve you, Prince of Carpathians."

"No, but we will see if you will continue to protect your lifemate."

Tyrell grew cold and his eyes narrowed. "You cannot force me to take her. Nothing will change my mind."

Mikhail raised an eyebrow. "Her last wish is to follow you." He nodded at her. "So be it."

The hunters began to back away and Tyrell looked at Mikhail incredulously. "You are going to leave her? In the morning, I will face the dawn and she will be left unprotected."

"As you wish," replied the Prince.

Tyrell growled. "You would never do such a thing. To leave a female unprotected here in the Carpathian Mountains? It goes against your nature. You will not be able to help yourself."

"You are free to test me," murmured Mikhail, "but no aid will come to her."

When Tyrell looked at the Falkland twins they both shook their heads. "We will obey Mikhail."

"Yes, obey a Prince who demands not protect an innocent female," spat Tyrell. "What do you think of your leader now?"

Pierce and Samuel glanced uneasily at each other until Gregori shot them a hard look. Both straightened in response and Pierce drew a deep breath. "Our loyalty is to Mikhail."

"Really? What about your lifemate?" Tyrell looked at Carissa. "You don't want her to die, do you?"

She bit her lip for a moment. "Of course not…"

"There you have it, then," he said in a gruff voice to the twins.

Carissa stepped forward. "I didn't finish."

"Oh, I'm sorry, are you saying you want her to die?" Tyrell asked in a sarcastic voice.

"No!"

"Then tell your lifemates to stop believing in a false leader and be the honorable males they are. Tell them to protect her."

Carissa trembled. "I am Carpathian. Therefore, I believe in Mikhail as a leader."

Tyrell hissed so loudly, Carissa took a step back in fear. "Carpathian? Carpathian? You, my dear, are an innocent female manipulated by your blind lifemates who desperately want to believe they have a leader who knows what he is doing. The reality is far different."

Mikhail spoke in a confident tone. "I do not always know the answer, but I trust my instincts."

"Yes, poor instincts given to you by your father."

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" snapped Gregori.

Seeing he was successful in making the Dark One agitated, Tyrell's eyes grew more black with power. "The ancients here know Vlad only spoke about his visions in a selective manner."

"You are suggesting he purposefully withheld information."

"Of course. Look at your dear SongMaker when he was captured by a wizard."

Armando's eyes glittered. "And I would not have survived unless Vlad told me to go with Javier."

"Ah yes, justify your painful capture by believing in a man who was deceitful."

"It is no wonder you turned," growled Darius. "You twist everything."

Mikhail shook his head. "This conversation is only delaying the inevitable. Arianna, do you still wish to remain with him?"

She looked at Tyrell and gave a firm nod. "Yes."

Tyrell in turn glared at her, his eyes glowing red. "You will die a painful death. Do you understand? I will not protect you."

"I do not believe you will abandon me," she whispered.

"I left you before and I will do it again."

"Without protection?

"Do not test me female," Tyrell growled.

She wrapped her arms around herself. "I guess I'll find out."

"It is time then," said Mikhail. He nodded at the circle of ancients.

Tyrell's hands clenched into fists as one by one, the hunters dissolved into mist, disappearing into the darkness until only Mikhail, Gregori, and the twins with Carissa remained.

"She will die. Do you truly want that on your soul?" asked Tyrell

"This is about your own choice," answered Mikhail.

"You will say anything to try and change the fact that you are the one responsible for this decision!"

The Prince looked at him with sad eyes. "I have learned over the last few hundred years to never interfere between lifemates. Each pair must work things out on their own."

"Even with a vampire?" challenged Tyrell. "Your purpose is to protect the innocent from those who have turned."

"Her fate is tied to you. Should you decide to claim her and then seek our help, I will answer."

His voice was strangled in response. "Never."

"So be it. I bid you farewell, Tyrell Pankov." Mikhail transformed into an owl with Gregori following, both flying out into the night sky.

The twins stepped closer to Carissa, one on each side of her. "There was a time when you saved our lifemate," said Pierce, "and now I hope you do the same for your own."

"This is beyond your understanding," replied Tyrell in a hard voice.

Carissa swallowed. "Please, for the last five years we were connected. Don't do this."

"You do not own me!" Tyrell's anger spilled over to the point where lightening flashed in the sky and the ground shook. The twins quickly stepped in front of her for protection and she grabbed onto them as the earth rumbled beneath her feet.

Arianna lost her balance and fell to the ground. The rumbling immediately stopped, the night becoming silent once more. When she looked up at him, Tyrell was staring down at her. She couldn't tell if he wanted to help her or to kill her.

Probably both.

"It is time to leave," said Samuel in a firm voice. He stepped forward to offer Arianna a hand but Pierce stopped him. Samuel grimaced and reluctantly stepped back and glared at Tyrell. "How can you not help her? How can you just stand there?"

"It is for her own protection," Tyrell replied, his voice low and dark.

Arianna stood up on her own and brushed herself off. "I'm perfectly fine."

When the twins remained silent, Tyrell bared his fangs. "Well? Go on, then! Leave her unprotected as your precious Prince commands."

Pierce sadly shook his head. "Our hope is that we are leaving her in your safe keeping."

"She will be dead by morning."

Carissa was shocked at Tyrell's blunt words. "You can't mean that."

His eyes turned red once more. "I mean every word."

"We are leaving," said Pierce. The twins looked down at Carissa.

"Take care of him," she said while looking at Arianna.

"Thank you for bringing me here."

Tyrell gave a hard sigh. "Yes, thank you for condemning her to death, Carissa." It was clear his words hurt her by the look on her face. But she quickly transformed into a small, white owl and took to the air with the twins soon following after her.

Arianna watched helplessly as the owls flew out into the darkness. She wanted this, right? The truth was she was frightened by death. And yet, a life without Tyrell was just as terrifying.

"Are you happy now, my dear?" he asked her in graveled voice. He still looked ugly, his hair was disheveled and she eyed his hands with claws. "What? Oh yes, my true appearance. Not what you expected, is it?"

"It doesn't matter to me."

He laughed. "Most likely that is true. Tell me, how many vampires did you mate with?"

"What?"

"In the lab? Come now, you cannot tell me only scientists had that lovely body."

Tears stung her eyes. "Stop it."

"Why? Am I making you upset? Well not to worry, the sun will soon be here and there will be nothing left of me."

"What about me?"

"You will watch of course. My skin will burn before your very eyes."

She trembled. "That's not fair."

"If you do not have the stomach for it, I suggest you start walking toward the north. The local town people will most likely take you in."

Arianna straightened. "No, I meant its not fair that you get to die and I do not."

He shrugged. "There are many ways for humans to commit suicide. I am sure your mind can think of something."

Now she was angry at him. He acted like he didn't care if she lived or died. How could he be so cold?

But another thought came to her. How long had he just stood in front of all those ancients trying to find a way for them to protect her? She looked at him with a sudden realization that he was now trying to push her away…once again to safety.

Arianna turned and walked toward the forest. She heard his soft laugh and he spoke in an amused voice. "If you followed the stars, you would know that direction is not north."

She kept walking, the trees making things even darker than before. The moon was blocked and it was hard to see. Still, she kept walking. It was scary being all alone by herself. The night was now filled with sounds she didn't always recognize. And when a wolf howled in the distance, her heart began to beat faster.

"Stop."

Tyrell's voice made her jump. He was literally right behind her. He grabbed her arm and spun her around to look up at him.

"Do not go any further."

Arianna lifted her chin. "Why not?"

"If you want the wolves to make a meal out of you, by all means keep going then."

"Why do you care?"

His eyes narrowed. "I do not."

"Fine." Arianna turned back around and started walking again. She heard him curse but he didn't seem to follow her. She felt her chest ache with rejection and no longer cared what happened to her life.

Tyrell watched in anger as Arianna walked further away from him. He could easily catch her in an instant. Did she really want to die? Why didn't she want to remain safe? He'd hope to just simply drive her away so he could face the dawn without her. But his heart nearly stopped when she walked into the dark forest. The direction she was headed was dangerous. Aside from the wolves, there were hidden cliffs where the ground suddenly dropped down without warning. And the night air was growing colder. As she was still human, her body temperature would drop.

Then he remembered the vampires Mikhail mentioned.

No, he was not going after her. If she wanted death, so be it. This was her choice. He turned and headed back to the lake. He had to get out in the open so he could face a quicker death. The darkness within him was so strong, he didn't trust himself when it came to facing his death. Which is why it would have been safer to simply have the hunters strike him down.

When he reached the lake, he stared down into the water at his reflection. He was shocked to see his appearance was normal. When he looked down at his hands, the ugly skin and claws were still there. But his reflection in the water was that of flawless skin, broad shoulders, and soft brown eyes.

Impossible.

What was this? Was he seeing who he once was in the past?

He remembered a time in his youth when he looked like this. How many times had he imagined his lifemate back then? He dreamed of her often, hoping she would be everything he needed, especially in the physical sense. A picture of Arianna formed in his mind and he remembered her scent. She was extremely beautiful, he knew that. And for a moment, he wondered what it would be like to claim her, right here, next to the lake. He could see the moonlight cascading over that beautiful skin. And when he thought of her without clothes, his body hardened in an instant.

Which was ridiculous.

Every time he got near her, the darkness in him thirsted to drink her dry. She'd never live. It was better this way. He wouldn't be the one to take her life. He already failed her, but he at least gave her freedom.

He looked back at the forest and sensed she was even further away. Why was she doing this? Why was she wasting the life she had left? He shook his head. No. He could not try to protect her. It would lead to the final darkest mark on his soul. There was no way he could prevent himself from killing her when he tried to claim her. The darkness was too strong.

He'd chosen to be a vampire long ago.

Something inside of him shifted, as if a memory buried deep was trying to surface. But his head hurt when he tried to latch onto it. Warily, he looked back at the water, but there was no reflection. It was then he realized the wind had picked up and dark clouds blocked out the moon

And before he even hear the sound, Tyrell became stone cold. When Arianna screamed, he felt a fear he'd never known. All those year he failed her, he simply could not abandon her now that she was free. Before he even realized what was happening, Tyrell found himself racing through the forest to find her.

Author's note: Sorry everyone for taking so long. I was promoted and my new job right now has very long hours so its a challenge to find time to write. But I will keep trying. The holidays are around the corner so hopefully I'll have more time. Thanks for the reviews! -Anne