Chapter 29

Tyrell tried to ignore the Dark One who continued to watch him with those silver eyes. He reminded himself that he was doing this for Arianna, who amazingly was standing confidently next to him. Why she believed in him was beyond his understanding. Regardless, he now found himself once more in front of the Prince who was in deep conversation with the SongMaker.

"Are you certain of this?" asked Mikhail.

Armando shook his head. "I only know his memories are different."

Gregori folded his arms over his broad chest. "What vampire has normal memories?"

Tyrell felt his anger surface. "You are not so innocent yourself, Dark One."

"I never said I was."

"Yet you justify your law breaking ways for the protection of your precious Prince," snapped Tyrell.

"And using your lifemate to gain protection of the SongMaker is no better."

Tyrell's voice grew low. "Perhaps if you had carried out my sentence in the first place, she would have not been placed in such a position."

"As always, you blame others for your own actions."

"Come closer and I will show you what my actions can do next."

Mikhail raised his hand. "Enough! Both of you." He glanced at Armando. "And I thought you two were bad enough."

The SongMaker's multi-colored eyes glittered as he smiled. "Perhaps I should team up with Tyrell. It may finally shake the Dark One's ego."

Gregori shrugged in response. "At least you admit it would take more than just you."

"Can we move this along?" asked Tyrell with impatience. There wasn't much time. He had to return soon to the Albino soon or the power of the minerals over him would be in question. Tyrell had come too far for his plan to completely fail. Of course, he also tried to ignore the part of him which pointed out he no longer had the urge to die as he once did.

Which of course was because of Arianna.

This was not good. His connection with her was growing deeper by the moment. She deserved so much more than a monster. At first, he did not want her to see what the SongMaker may reveal within his memories. But then he realized, this may just finally prove to her once and for all his soul was dark.

"Are you ready?"

Tyrell met the eyes of the SongMaker. They were so mesmerizing, he could felt an odd sensation of being lost within them. He stared back, knowing his own eyes were black as midnight. "Do what you will," he answered in a deep voice.

"Arianna," said Armando in a gentle voice, "I need you to step away."

She raised up her chin. "Why?"

"I cannot have you touching him while I do this. I must access only his memories."

Arianna frowned. "I'm part of him so it shouldn't matter. I told him I would stay by his side. So why should I?"

Tyrell could not but help feel a sense of pride for his lifemate. The SongMaker was the oldest Carpathian, and not many other than Gregori ever questioned him.

Armando gave her a gentle smile. "You will not leave his side. I only ask that you release his hand. Physical touch may hinder my ability to bring out the memories hidden."

In a rare gesture of affection in front of others, Tyrell raised her hand to his lips and gently kissed her skin. "I know you will stay with me." He looked down at her and titled his head. "My dear, I have tried repeatedly to get rid of you, but your persistence has now deepened our connection. For better or for worse, you are stuck with me now."

"I don't see it that way," she whispered.

"I know. But you may feel differently after this session with the SongMaker. Let him do what he must." When she hesitated, Tyrell shook his head at her. "Do I need to remind you this was in fact your idea?"

"You said you would try," Arianna reminded him.

"Does a vampire keep his word?" he asked slowly looking toward Gregori.

"Don't start," she said in a sharp tone.

"Unfortunately," said Armando, "your wounds have not fully healed. This would work better if-"

"If you think for one moment I am going to allow the Dark One attempt to heal me, then I may as well leave now," snapped Tyrell.

"I believe that is the best idea you have had yet," replied Gregori.

Mikhail gave a hard sigh. "You are not helping."

"I cannot help if he refuses to be healed."

"I do not need your help," growled Tyrell. "In fact, you nor Mikhail do not need to be here at all."

The Prince frowned. "Armando is my trusted advisor. He believes there is more than even you can see deep within your memories. If there is the possibility of something else within your past which may lead to your redemption, it is important for me to see such proof."

"I am not looking for redemption nor do I have any desire to serve the Prince." Before Tyrell could continue, Arianna stepped in front of him. Irritated, he looked down at her, only to find those beautiful eyes looking at him with hope. She was beginning to affect him in other ways he never thought possible. Just by looking into that beautiful face, Tyrell felt the urge to do anything he could for her happiness.

And he hadn't even been able to say the ritual words yet.

If he continued to react this way, what would he be like once they were fully bonded? And she had yet to convert to Carpathian. Another thought hit him hard. What if she did not survive the transition? At this point, he was so deeply connected to her, Tyrell did not think he could live without her.

"I…will allow the Dark One to assist in healing my wounds." Did he just say that?

Damn.

He expected some sarcastic response from Gregori, but surprisingly, the Dark One simply stepped forward with a calm expression. Tyrell braced himself and felt a warm sensation on the side of his neck where his deepest wounds still remained. He could feel the pain easing, more than he even expected. When Gregori was finished, Tyrell found himself feeling extremely strong.

Not that he would admit that to Gregori.

Armando nodded at the Dark One in appreciation, and then turned his eyes back to Tyrell. Arianna drew a deep breath and stepped aside, but remained close. The SongMaker began to sing softly, the melody easing the tension from Tyrell. His voice became stronger and he stepped back, his eyes beginning to shimmer with brightness.

Tyrell's mind began to fight Armando's power. The darkness within him seem to rise up, and he actually bared his fangs at the SongMaker. Gregori subtly moved closer, making him feel even more threatened. But just when he began to fear he was going to attack, the SongMaker opened up the full power of his voice.

It shattered Tyrell's mind.

Pain shot through his head and brought him to his knees. It was like a thousand knives penetrated his mind. All he could think of was dying just to end the agony he was feeling.

Arianna cried out and tried to touch him but found herself being pulled back by Janelle. "Stop!" Arianna yelled as she tried to struggle. She was surprised Janelle was so strong. "He's killing him!"

"No," Janelle said with a firm voice. "I trust my lifemate. He is telling me through our connection this must be done. It's the only way."

"He won't survive this!" She could feel tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Touch his mind," encouraged Janelle. "He needs you. It will ease him."

"No! Every time I do he feels pain. It will make it worse!"

You are the light to his darkness. It was the SongMakers voice. Arianna, your soul is meant to be with him. Help me to break through the evil that is holding him captive.

Arianna concentrated, pushing aside Tyrell's pain and focusing on connecting with him. Tyrell. His response was so faint at first she wasn't sure if he even was trying to answer back.

Armando continued to encourage her, even as his voice reached beautiful heights. Think of how you feel about him; remind him why he is worthy of you.

She closed her eyes and thought about how Tyrell saved her from the lab; how he tried to protect her. She thought of the tenderness he actually showed her in their lovemaking.

Tyrell felt something he had never experienced and became confused when the pain lessened. He suddenly realized it was Arianna. She was sending him waves of reassurance to his mind that she was still with him. Despite everything he was, Arianna unconditionally loved him. And although he did not deserve her, he had to try for her sake. Although the pain was still present, he finally gained some control. He pushed down the darkness, focusing on the SongMaker's voice. And then an image appeared before him. Still on his knees, he looked up to see a ghostly image of Prince Vlad standing before him. His former friend Ramirez bowing in acknowledgement to some type of command.

Memories of him protecting Marina surfaced. He was protective of her. There were memories of them even laughing, a reminder he had feeling in his youth. And then Tyrell saw himself alone with Ramirez who was angry. A feeling of complete betrayal was overwhelming Tyrell as he walked into a cave to find Marina giving the Prince information which condemned him. Beyond all comprehension, the council believed her. The Prince believed him to be a threat and ordered Ramirez to end Tyrell's life.

He had done nothing wrong and Ramirez defended him. A flood of images showed a bloody battle, ending with Prince Vlad's escape and Marina on her knees. The two of them closed in on her while she appeared to be begging for mercy.

The memories were suddenly cut off as Armando had grown too weak to sustain the session. The SongMaker's face was pale as he reached for a nearby chair to steady himself. "I…am sorry," said Armando in a broken voice, "this is far more difficult than I anticipated."

Slowly, Tyrell rose to his feet. "It does not matter. You confirmed what deep down I already knew."

Gregori was now right next to Mikhail, the Dark One obviously disturbed at the images which had been shown. "What evidence did she bring against you?"

He shook his head in response. "I do not remember." Anger filled him. "I only recall that I was innocent. It was as if the council and Prince wanted to find anything they could to use against me."

The Prince was frowning. "It makes no sense."

Tyrell gave a low laugh. "It makes perfect sense. Your father betrayed me. Marina betrayed me."

"Who was she?" asked Arianna in a small voice.

He looked down at her. "Concerned I was with her, my dear?" When she trembled in response, some sense of cruelness surged within him. "Perhaps she taught me all that I needed to know to physically please my future lifemate." The tears in her eyes had Tyrell thinking twice, as if he suddenly wanted to beg for her forgiveness. But he was angry, and he trusted no one. These memories were why he turned.

Armando was now sitting, clearly exhausted from using his power. He slowly raised his head. "I said it was more difficult than I anticipated because there are memories that are not your own."

"And do you have evidence of this?" asked Gregori.

"There are hidden layers within his mind. It is as if some memories have been replaced, not lost. I could sense them, but could not release them."

Tyrell cross his arms over his chest. "You hope for anything to justify me not being a vampire, ancient one. While I appreciate your effort on behalf of my lifemate, it still does not matter. The crimes I committed after that period of time are ones I remember. Darius pursued me a number of times in the United States for good reason." He looked down again at Arianna. "The sooner you stop trying to believe I can be saved, the sooner you can accept my inevitable death."

She grabbed his hand. "I don't care! I am nothing without you now. If you die, I die."

Armando slowly stood. "I will prove it to you." Tyrell sharply turned his head toward him. The SongMaker nodded and looked at him with confidence. "Capture and bring me Ramirez."

Author's note: Yes, I know, it's a miracle that I posted. Part of it was being extremely busy creating videos (fourth year in a row I've done this for a seasonal look back at my daughter's color guard for their banquet) and part of it was due to my muse not talking. For whatever reason, I go through some periods where it's like my creativity just shuts down. Then other periods I can't write fast enough. No promises, but hopefully I will keep going to finish up this story soon. -Anne