Chapter 20

Tyrell knew he was in trouble. The sun was beginning to rise, and Arianna was unprotected. He considered just letting her watch him face the dawn. But he had a terrible feeling that she would soon die after him. And her death could be drawn out and painful if a vampire took her.

He managed to make it to a cave and scanned it, ensuring there were no vampires or anything else that could harm her. Setting her down, he turned away from her and began to weave safeguards into place.

"What are you doing?" He noted there was a tremor in her voice. He completely ignored her, trying to avoid her eyes. But she persisted. "Why did you bring me here?"

Tyrell finished securing the cave and finally turned his attention toward her. "Hold still."

"What? Why?"

"If you want to mend that wrist yourself, my dear, then be my guest."

Arianna cradled her arm. "You know I can't."

Tyrell raised an eyebrow, an anger beginning to burn inside him which could not be explained. "Pity. Perhaps you should have asked that young hunter. Ah, but wait, he broke it in the first place." He glared at her. "And yet you still defended him."

"He's the nephew of the Prince."

"My, how loyal you are," he replied in a mocking tone. "You are not even Carpathian yet. But how quickly you take the side of the Prince."

She shook her head. "I don't understand. Why are you so angry?"

Tyrell actually had no idea why he was lashing out at her. "Why does it matter? Your handsome hunter obviously did not care enough to protect you, yet you still would not let me kill him."

Arianna's eyes widened. "You're…jealous."

He scoffed at her. "Of a mere fledgling? I am an ancient," he growled as he walked toward her. "My skills are far superior than any other Carpathian."

"And are you a Carpathian?"

"My dear, I chose my past long ago, just as the Prince reminded me. And his nephew is obviously no better when it comes to protecting the innocent. What great hunter hurts a weak woman?"

"I'm not weak! And he didn't break my wrist. I did!"

Tyrell folded his arms over his chest. "So you purposefully lured me to you."

"I didn't force you to find me."

"You knew if you suffered any amount of pain, your mind would call to mine."

"So? You didn't have to save me," she shot back.

His fingers moved with blurring speed, enclosing around her neck and pulling her close. "Why do you refuse the gift of life I've given you?" He purposefully bared his fangs, his eyes turning red. "Do you not see the monster before you? I betrayed you long ago."

Arianna was almost struggling to breathe as Tyrell's fingers pressed around her throat. Up close like this, he looked scary as hell. She could see the hatred in his eyes. But instead of trying to struggle, she tilted her chin to the side, exposing more of her throat. "Take me."

He pushed her back against a wall and she winced in pain as she couldn't hold her injured wrist. And then a warm sensation passed through her. He abruptly released her and she slid down the wall, sitting on the ground. Her wrist was pain free and completely healed. Arianna jumped as the earth in front of her opened up after Tyrell waved a hand.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

Tyrell's eyes were no longer glowing red. Instead they looked weary. "The dawn approaches, I saved you from the your handsome hunter, and healed you."

She swallowed. "So you're going into the ground?"

"I seem to recall you grew up in a lab which captured vampires. I would think you should know the basics of how we live by now."

"I always heard about them sleeping in the ground, but never saw it," she replied defensively.

He smirked at her. "Care to join me?"

"I'm not Carpathian. Are you going to transform me?"

"You must be the only human I have ever known who is so eager to change into a Carpathian."

"I belong with you," she said softly. When he only continued to look down at her, she wanted to reach out and touch him. But the open earth was like a huge trench between them. "Don't you want me?" She slowly stood up, looking straight into his eyes. "You didn't get a chance to take my blood earlier. But I know you want me, I can feel it."

She saw him stiffen in reaction and then he sighed. "My dear, I am too damn tired. I will figure out what to do with you when the night returns. Who knows? Perhaps you will get your wish and I will drink you dry when I rise."

"I know you won't hurt me."

"Keep trying to believe that, little one. In the meantime, I suggest you get some rest above ground."

"How vulnerable are you when the sun rises?"

He frowned. "You are safe here. No one can enter this cave with the safeguards I have put into place."

"I wasn't referring to me. I mean, what if someone could get inside? You're in the ground. I've heard vampires lose all the power when the sun rises. You could be easily killed." Arianna lifted her chin. "I won't leave you. I'll protect you."

Tyrell regarded her with complete astonishment. She was an insignificant human easily killed. And she wanted to protect him? His chest tightened with an overwhelming emotion he did not care to feel. She made him feel ashamed of everything he'd chosen in his past. His mind went to the past, a memory which was murky at best.

"Tyrell?"

Pain sliced through his head and he let out a groan.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?"

He hissed at her. "Stay out of my head!"

Tears stung her eyes. "I'm your lifemate. Why do you feel pain when I'm around? I don't understand."

"That makes two of us," replied Tyrell under his breath. Exhausted, he lowered himself into the ground.

Her faced looked down at him. "I won't leave you."

Tyrell closed his eyes. "Yes, I know. You wish to die and so you stay." Without another word, he closed the earth over him.

Arianna sat in the dark cave, resting her chin on top of her knees as she cradled her legs close to her chest. She still couldn't believe how strongly she wanted to be with Tyrell. He wanted nothing to do with her. The rejection was more than she could bear. But when she'd kissed him earlier in the evening, Arianna felt more than a physical connection to him. There was something buried deep within him that desperately wanted her, even if he didn't want to admit it.

She must have dozed off as when she woke, her neck and shoulders hurt from sitting in one position for so long. She stood up and stretched, wondering how long it would be until the sun set. Suddenly she felt a sadness cascade over her. She reached out to Tyrell, but there was nothing.

He's just asleep, she assured herself. She had to remember and be logical. He wasn't dead. She began to pace the cave and then walked toward the opening. But as soon as she saw the sun, some type of invisible force pushed her back inside. Confused, she put her hand out, only to have it pushed away once again.

She remembered Tyrell saying there were some type of safeguards. This was probably a way to not only keep things outside, but to also make sure she stayed put in the cave. In some ways, this was reassuring, as if the invisible force was a part of Tyrell which made her feel slightly better.

Arianna's stomach growled and she couldn't remember the last time she ate anything. The thought of food made her feel sick, even though she knew it was what she needed. Feeling drained, she sat down once more and leaned back against the wall of the cave.

A faint rustling sound made her stiffen. She noted her hearing improved after the blood exchanges with Tyrell. Whatever the sound was, it seemed to be coming from outside. Because of the safeguard, she couldn't even peer out of the cave to see what it might be. Perhaps it was an animal. For all she knew, this cave could have been a home to any number of wolves or maybe even bears?

The entrance of the cave suddenly crackled with electricity and she heard a man curse. Arianna quickly stood up, wondering who it could be. The sun was still out, though she judged it had to finally be getting closer to it setting.

A bolt of electricity hit the entrance and Arianna let out a gasp in surprise. Realizing what she'd done, she quickly covered her mouth.

A deep voice came from outside. "Who is in there?"

Arianna said nothing, and inched closer to Tyrell's resting place.

There was a light laugh. "How lovely of him deciding to keep you for a snack."

Now she was trembling. How did this person know or find her? The sun was still out. It couldn't be a Carpathian or vampire.

"Not going to answer me?"

The safeguards were still in place. Whoever it was, she was safe. Raising her chin, she spoke in a firm voice. "Who are you?"

"Patience," he answered as the opening to the cave crackled again. "It will take me a while to unravel these safeguards, but I will save you."

"I don't need saving!" she yelled. "Stay away."

"Interesting. A human female who wants to stay with a vampire? You might be worth keeping after all."

Keeping? Arianna looked around. There were at least several rocks she could use. Her psychic powers were still strong. If she focused on her anger, she could defend herself. "What do you want? Why are you here?"

"I came for the vampire," he answered as the cave crackled again.

"I'm warning you, stay away or you'll regret it." It was now a race against time. The sun would be setting soon. But the man was persistent, testing and probing the barrier to the cave. He was relentless, not appearing to have a care in the world about the night approaching.

And then it happened. The man broke through the safeguards and appeared before her. Arianna couldn't hide her shocked response. The man's skin was a pasty white. His eyes were almost pink in color and he had shoulder length hair as white as snow. She didn't know what to make of him. He was terrifying and striking at the same time.

The man laughed. "Do you like what you see?" He reached for her and she shrank back. "You are very pretty," he said, still smiling. "What a prize you will be."

"I'm not a prize for anyone." The sun was going down and she tried to reach out to Tyrell. But he did not respond.

"Ah, but you are. I have quite a few vampires who will appreciate you. Of course, the one who is hiding in the earth right now will be angry, but I'll soon take care of that."

"Don't you dare try to even touch him!" Arianna focused on her anger. She could use the rocks, but had the feeling she needed to buy as much time as possible. Her sixth sense warned her this man was capable of easily taking her as his captive.

"Defending a vampire? Now that's a first. Do not tell me you are one of the silly women who are constantly seeking danger." He paused, with a look of surprise on his face. "However, you seem different. There is something different about you." The man suddenly grabbed her arm. "He's fed you! His blood is inside of you."

Arianna gasped and tried to pull away. "I don't know what you are talking about!" Tyrell, are you awake? She felt a stirring in her mind. You will need to escape before he can try anything.

The man pulled her close, his eyes narrowing. "Vampires do not feed their prey. There's no need since they can control minds. But your mind…is very strong."

Arianna focused on the rocks in the cave. One by one, they lifted into the air and flew at the man. The first one took him off guard as it hit him hard in the head. He yelled in pain and let go of her. But he quickly recovered and to her astonishment, he held up a hand and the remaining rocks grew still in mid air. His eerie pink eyes lit up with knowledge.

"What a powerful psychic you are!" The rocks fell to the ground. "Now I see why he wants you. They always think such women are the answer. This is perfect!"

"Perfect for what?" she whispered.

"It is tiring for me to always find these vampires for my army. Now you will be able to simply lure them to me," he replied with an evil smile.

And then Tyrell's low growl was the only brief warning the man heard before being thrown into the air. He landed with a sickening thud outside the cave. The man groaned and worked to get his body up, but not before Tyrell slammed him back down to the ground.

The man spoke strange words in a strangled voice and Arianna screamed as a fireball appeared out of thin air, striking Tyrell in the shoulder. It knocked Tyrell off balance and the man broke free. He cupped his hands together and pushed them forward. An invisible force hit Tyrell and threw him back. Arianna's lifemate responded by transforming into mist before hitting a tree. He reappeared, a towering figure in his long black trench coat, making sure Arianna was behind him.

"Albino," said Tyrell in a low voice.

The man brushed himself off. "Well, at least you can still see in color. That may be of some use to me. And I admit, it was impressive that I did not even notice you leave the ground."

"You will find I am full of surprises," Tyrell replied in a low voice.

"Indeed. You will make a perfect addition to my army."

Tyrell took an aggressive step forward and bared his fangs. "I serve no one."

"Really? Well let us see, shall we?" The Albino held up a small bag which fit perfectly into the palm of his hand.

"Your little magic tricks will not save you."

The man raised his eyebrows. "No?" He began to chant and the bag began glow.

Tyrell grew still. It had to be the minerals he'd been seeking. Somehow, this Albino had them and found it as a way to control the vampires. At first, he feared what he experienced before, and braced himself for the strange power which would overtake and control his emotions.

But nothing happened.

The Albino frowned, then turned the bag upside down, emptying the small minerals into the palm of his other hand. The rocks glowed with enormous power and Tyrell could feel something which tried to penetrate his mind. And yet there was still no effect on him.

"Impossible," hissed the Albino. "No vampire can resist such power."

Tyrell suddenly realized it was Arianna. She was the reason the minerals no longer worked. She had already restored his true emotion. The minerals were now powerless against him. And then a thought came to his mind. Dropping to the ground, he growled low.

Tyrell! Arianna reached out to him, fearful there was something wrong.

I order you to remain silent.

You order me? Look, I might be insane enough to want you, but if you think I'm just going to obey you all the time-

"Excellent!" exclaimed the Albino. "Apparently you being an ancient, you must exposed to the minerals in raw form. Or perhaps I need even more to control you."

"You do not control me," said Tyrell through gritted teeth. When the Albino laughed and he felt the power withdrawn, Tyrell threw himself to the ground. Although it took everything inside of him to do it Tyrell pretended to beg. "Stop," he hissed. "I will…do…as you wish."

"Of course you will." The Albino chanted something and the minerals began to glow. Tyrell slowly stood.

Arianna tried to connect withhim again. I don't understand.

What is it about the word silent you do not understand? Now do as I say if you truly want to stay with me.

There was a pause. You'll let me stay with you?

I obviously cannot seem to get rid of you, he muttered in response. He re-focused on the Albino. "Where is this army? And how soon do we attack the Prince?"

"Ah, so eager to destroy Mikhail. I am afraid you will need to learn a little more patience, old one. I haven't spent the last five years carefully building this army for nothing." He reached for Arianna and Tyrell growled. The Albino sighed. "You will get your turn, but I need her."

Tyrell stepped in front of Arianna. "I deserve my reward now. Let me have her for this night only and I will bring her to you before dawn."

The Albino frowned and purposefully shook the minerals in his hand. "Should I remind you who is the master here?"

"I have been without emotion for over a thousand years," replied Tyrell smoothly. "You now control those emotions and while I despise admitting it, I find myself wanting to serve you for more. I am an ancient, most likely the oldest among your so-called army. Give me this one reward and I shall repay you far more than you can even imagine."

His tactic appeared to work as the Albino was intrigued. "You very well may be the oldest. I have a few master vampires under my control, but none as…captivating."

"Powerful," corrected Tyrell.

"So you say. But I must admit, none have been able to resist the minerals as you demonstrated. They fall easily to me with just a few. But you appear to have more resistance, possibly due to your power." His eyes narrowed. "And how do I know these minerals will have a lasting effect on you? Perhaps you wish to be with her this night only to make sure it wears off."

"Very well, I will come when called in a few hours, but I keep her here in my lair. That will convince you the minerals still hold power over me. But I warn you, Albino, aside from letting me have her as a prize, I expect much more. I have no fear of death at my age. So the reward of power must be great to keep me entertained."

The Albino rolled his eyes. "Your arrogance will be your undoing. And time will tell if you are as valuable as you say. I certainly don't have to give into this greedy request for the girl. But I am also curios to test you. Know this, vampire, if you do not come when I call in the next few hours, I will find you. And it will be I who is entertained when I unleash the full power of these minerals."

Tyrell's jaw tightened. "So be it."

"Very well." The Albino smiled eerily at Arianna. "You will soon regret the thrill you seek." He then shot a look of warning at Tyrell. "She's no good to me damaged, understood?"

"She will not be damaged," he paused, "permanently."

"Let us hope so for your sake. I have other matters to attend. Enjoy your prize while you can and then we have work to do." He turned and left the cave, walking out into the night.