Chapter 17

The plane touched down with a lightness that I did not feel. My heart had started beating harder when I had started to feel the slight decline in elevation. Nick had asked a few more questions of my past and I of his. However neither of us were willing to answer them directly. Nick hadn't seemed all that concerned with the decline in elevation as the pilot made a barely noticeable turn towards my destination not his master's. I was trying to keep myself calm as Nick continued to read his book, unaware of what lay ahead. But when the landing gear went down and the descent started, he had looked at his watch. We should have been in the air for a bit longer from what I remember of my London travels by air the years previously. But he hadn't seemed bothered as he went back to his book.

My insides started to turn to steel, knowing soon I would have a very angry Pureblood royal on my hands. He could snuffed me out much like the ghoul in the garage. Turn me into dust, or worse torture me for a thousand years for insubordination. Though I wasn't even one of his clansman, making it that much more terrifying.

Finally we felt the plane come to a stop, Nick put down his books, looking at his watch and murmurs, 'Ten minutes till sundown.'

I didn't say anything as he walked over to the pilot who was coming out of the cockpit. The pilot hands over a smartphone and says, 'Welcome to Zurich, Mr. Borchenski.'

Nick went still as stone and I knew this would be my only chance. I jerk, running like a flash, and snatch the phone from his hand. Just as I squeeze the phone to crush it, I feel myself pulled from my feet and flung into the side of the plane. I hear the crack of the metal and plastic breaking, and the shattering of the window before I even register pain. One of his hands was around my hand holding the phone as I crush it, feeling the shards start to sink into my skin as his own hand grips mine painfully, feeling bones shifting to releave pressure only to let out crackling noises as they broke. His other was around my neck, making it impossible to cry out in agony, as he snarled at me. His eyes turning into slits, and his sclera turning red with his rage. The sheer force of his power almost knocked me unconscious as the pilot now was, slumped foaming at the mouth on the ground.

He roars out, 'What did you do?!'

His voice wasn't even human now, more like a demon in full fury. I croak, but can't get anything else out as I smell my blood and fear. This was the true fury of a Pureblood. Reducing me to a puddle of fear. His grip on my neck loosens enough for me to speak as I croak out, 'I had to.'

'Why?' he hisses out and continues in a snap, 'And don't waste my time!'

His voice shook the plane and I realize my feet had left mother Earth. I don't react anymore with fear knowing it was useless in my brain and feeling like I'm about to wet myself as I cry out like a wounded animal, 'This Phantasma! Think about it, if they found us at your most secure, what will they do if they find you at your weakest!'

'I am NOT weak!' He roars and I feel another snap in my hand.

I glance at it, feeling tears streaming down my face as I croak again, feeling his grip tighten, 'Trust me!'

'Trust you?! You... Who some how glamoured my pilot into taking us to Zurich?! What is here that is so important to kill yourself over?!'

His voice was full of hatred and gravel, like the fire breathing dragon he was and I gurgle out, 'Freedom.'

He let's out a clipped laugh and says, 'Freedom?! I. OWN. YOU.'

The fear that had turned me to rot seemed to disappear in that instant and my eyes land on his demonic ones as I whisper out with determination and calm I didn't know I had in such a situation, 'I am owned by no one.'

This seems to shock him, his bloody eyes returning to the white sclera of a human, but his eyes still slits as he growls out, his face inches from my own, 'What did you say?'

'You heard me.'

It was as if he had suddenly touched a burning coal as he releases me instantly and steps away with a hiss of remaining anger. I collapse to the floor gasping for breath. Coughing, I take stock of my hand. It was mangled as I slowly open it and wipe away the remains of the smartphone. Clearing my throat, I look over at him. He was glaring at me, his power blanketing me still. I knew I couldn't stand as his power and pheremones would make me fall unconscious if I tried. Instead I say in my strangle rough voice, 'I have been alone for hundreds of years. How do you think I did that?'

'Why do I care?' he snarls as he slowly sits down, his eyes never leaving me as he did.

I don't let his question scare me off from what I needed to say, 'I was good at hiding.'

His pupils finally return to normal as I continue on, 'Think about it, they knew where you lived and I can bet they have an idea where you were going. If they knew you would be at that night club we met the first time and almost killed you, then why not in your clan lands?'

Slowly he stands as he does a glance at his watch and he comes up to me. He slowly squats down, his face yet again inches from mine asking in his silky smoke voice, 'And yet the Phantasma found you.'

'I had been lazy in the last fifty years, complacent and I have to change that. I have and my plan starts here... In Zurich.'

'Why should I trust you?'

'You don't have to, but what alternative do you have. You have already told me that the five clans are under attach. What makes you think you can trust those around you that you do trust?'

His eyes remained fixed on me for quite a while. I could almost sense his thoughts. Finally, I could feel the slow lifting of his power from my body and let out a sigh of relief. But my eyes never leave his until he finally says, 'I don't trust easily. If you do something like you pulled in this plane, I will kill you.'

It was no idle threat and I nod my head as he stands and steps away. I check my hurt hand and see that it's already starting to heal. Nick murmurs as he looks at his watch again, 'The sun has set, what is your plan from here?'

'I have someone I have to meet here. From there we will disappear.'

'My clan doesn't know I'm alive, the 'Night Hunters' will think my plane was brought down before London.'

Nodding, I stand and check the pilot. Nick stopped talking at that. The pilot was dead, probably suffocated from the overwhelming power of the Pureblood and I sigh. It was probably a good thing. If he was found by the Silent Phantasma, they would have killed him and tortured him to find us. I look up at the Dracul Pureblood that had no remorse on his face and murmur, 'If they think we are dead, the better we can hide and a better head start we will have.'

'Is he dead?'

I nod as I stand and step over the poor man, going to the entrance, and pulling the lever. The door opens and the stairs go down. The sky was still pink but that would not last. I step down the walkway to the tarmac. There were trucks coming our way and Nick says, 'This was an unauthorized landing most likely. The plane will have to be destroyed should you want this plan of yours to succeed.'

He walks down the ramp, grabs my arm, and we walk towards the fence. He snaps his fingers and a bomb of flame explodes behind us. I glance back at the plane now engulfed by the flame. I look back at him and ask in confusion, 'How?'

'I am Dracul.'

As if that answered it. He fazes through the chain link, but I jump over and continue walking. He asks grudgingly, 'Where to now Nina?'