Frailty: The Darkshine

by Snow, Jenika

  Ryce walked toward his home, the sun having set an hour prior. He had told Helina he wouldn’t be back until well past dark, but the thought of her all alone didn’t sit well with him, especially with all the DarkShine knowing about her existence. He could see the kitchen light on and quickly walked up the porch steps. As soon as he walked through the front door he knew she wasn’t in the house. It was too silent, too void of life. He inhaled deeply as he walked through every room, thankful there was no scent of death that clung to the walls. He walked back into the kitchen, his eyes scanning the whole area and a small slip of white paper catching his eye on the table. He picked it up, unfolding it and reading the delicately feminine handwriting that greeted him.

  Dear Ryce,

  I’m sorry. I meant to say goodbye and thank you for all you have done. I couldn’t, though. As much as I enjoyed the short time I had with you, the hospitality and protection you gave me, I just know that my heart couldn’t take much more before it completely broke in two. I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing Gaijryc walking around with his new wife. His leaving may very well be my destruction, but I would rather face what lies out there than spend another day thinking about what I don’t have in my life anymore. I have lost my parents, my sister, and now the one person I gave my heart to. Thank you, Ryce, for helping me, but most of all, thank you for opening yourself up to me and sharing your heart. I hope you find what you deserve. Goodbye.

  Helina

  Gaijryc stood in his dressing room, his hand tailored tux confining his every move. In just a few short hours he would forever be mated to the bitch, his life never his again. He’d stood in front of his window all day, hoping to catch a glimpse of Helina, disappointed when he didn’t. He had been tempted many times to rush over there and drop to his knees—ask her for forgiveness, tell her how much she meant to him. As he stared at himself in the mirror, he knew he couldn’t go through with this, knew he couldn’t mate a female who he despised. All he had been able to picture was Helina’s sweet face pleading with him to admit his love for her. His harsh words had made her cry, her tears sliding down her cheeks and making his heart break. He knew if they were caught she would be killed. Even knowing the danger, him staying away didn’t guarantee her safety. Iena was a conniving female, and now that his mother knew of Helina’s existence, she wouldn’t stop until the human female was out of the way. He stood, his mind made up. He would need to gather supplies for their departure, would have to do it quickly since he only had a short window of time. His door opened, slamming against the wall with enough force it rattled the pictures. Gaijryc turned around, taking a fighting stance. He stared at Ryce, who himself looked distraught. He held a slip of white paper and walked toward him, shoving it into his chest. Gaijryc was too stunned by Ryce’s reaction to do anything but stare.

  “Read it.”

  Ryce’s voice was filled with anger, his hand shaking as he held the paper to Gaijryc’s chest. He had seen Ryce angry hundreds of times before, but the kind of anger that poured out of him now was like nothing he had ever seen before. Gaijryc gripped the paper and unfolded it. He stared at the writing, his brain slowly starting to register the words that were written. He threw the paper on the ground as he made his way toward the door. He felt Ryce grip his forearm and he looked down at it before bringing his eyes up. “Let go.”

  “This is your fault, Gaijryc. You pushed her away. She may very well be walking toward her death.”

  Gaijryc looked at the note for a long while, his anger mounting, his heart pounding in fear for Helina. Was she okay? Did a DarkShine find her already? “Let go, Ryce.”

  “If something happens to her, Gaijryc… high ranking prince or not, I’ll kill you myself.”

  “If something happens to her, Ryce—” He shook his head. “I don’t know what I’d do.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “What are you doing, Ryce?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Why are you showing such an interest in her? She’s mine.”

  “You claim her now? After the spectacle you made at the ball? I was with her as she broke down. No fucking way am I not going with you.”

  Gaijryc stared at Ryce, not knowing what to say, knowing he spoke the truth. Really, he just wanted to go by himself, knew he could find her on his own. “Fine.” They both walked out the house, stopping to smell the air and find out the direction Helina had gone.

  The confrontation

  She watched them leave the house, their strong bodies moving toward the thick forest with deadly intent. She knew where the human female was, had made sure to keep her within her sights at all times. She bent down and picked up the crumpled piece of paper, scanning the words quickly and precisely. She crushed the paper in her hand and tossed it aside. She knew she should have killed the human bitch when she had the chance. Everything was getting too complicated now. This was not how things were supposed to go. She looked at herself in the mirror, her white chiffon dress modest compared to most. It was she who should be standing in front of all the DarkShine, her mate Gaijryc by her side, not some weak pathetic human female ruling over their kind.

  She quickly left the house, her speed much faster than others because of her slight frame. She could already smell the human, miles away and blissfully unaware of what was about to come. She made sure to go in the opposite direction, far away from the two males that were now tracking the human’s scent. She knew a shortcut, knew a much quicker way to get to the female and get rid of her before Gaijryc and Ryce found her.

  It seemed as if she had been walking forever. Her feet were sore and she could barely see anything through the thick veil of darkness. Helina kept hearing branches snapping around her and the sound of small animals scurrying by her feet. Gripping her bag tighter, she tensed as something brushed against her calf. Her heart was beating so loudly she could hear it pound in her ears. Aren’t animals afraid of humans?

  Looking around, her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. She was lost, totally and utterly lost. She couldn’t stop now, though. Softly humming to herself, she hoped it would help distract her from her predicament. The more she walked, the scarier everything became. All at once she heard snapping twigs around her, from every direction, from every corner. She stopped dead in her tracks and closed her eyes, hoping that it was just her imagination. Everything grew eerily quiet. It was like being in the eye of a storm.

  “Stop it, Helina. Nothing is out here. It’s all in your head.” She repeated her mantra over and over again until she felt somewhat calmer and could move again. Tinkling laughter stopped her next movements.

  “I can smell your fear, dear Helina.”

  Helina turned in fast circles, not knowing where the voice was coming from. She dropped her bag to the ground, her arm no longer strong enough to hold its weight. Something brushed against her cheek—a finger, she surmised. The sensation raced down her body, her skin prickling up, her body screaming to run. She stumbled over her own feet, having to constantly right herself. The low hanging branches whipped across her face and arms, the sting reminding her of how real the situation was.

  The sound of running water penetrated her fear-laced brain. The trees parted before her to reveal a fast-moving stream. The moon shone above, its silvery glow skimming the water. It was as if the light welcomed her into its embrace. The smell of the fresh water washed all around her. She stopped at the edge of the creek and turned around quickly. Her breathing was erratic, her heart beating a loud rhythm in her chest. She strained to hear any sounds around her, but all she got was silence. The tinkling laughter bubbled up again, first behind her and then in front. Helina was so disoriented and frightened she felt herself become light headed.

  “What do you want?” Her voice was a mere whisper, her fright so monumental that she could barely breathe the words out.

  “You.”

  That one word was filled with such dark menace that Helina stumbled backward in terror. The voice was sweet, almost innoce
nt, but Helina could hear the evil intent laced in it. The wind whipped by her again and she felt the distinct sensation of a finger against her cheek, again. Stinging pain of the sharp edge of a nail dug into her flesh. It slid against her skin, like a knife through butter. Gasping, Helina backed away and lifted her hand to cup her cheek. Wet warmth coated her fingertips and she brought her hand down, staring wide-eyed at the black that coated her fingers. Her blood was the color of ink under the moonlight.

  “Why are you doing this?” She turned around in a full circle, her breathing erratic, her mind screaming for her to run.

  “You seek to take what is rightfully mine. You bewitched Gaijryc into caring for you. You think you have the right to rule over our kind? You are but a lowly human!”

  With that last word Helina felt herself get shoved to the ground with such force she heard her ribs crack. She sucked in air, the dirt on the ground wafting around her in a halo. Droplets of water splashed against the side of her face, the coolness of it a shock to her senses. A small body landed on top of hers, not even the slight frame hiding the strength behind it. Helina couldn’t see the woman’s face clearly, but she could see the bright, pristine white gown she wore. The woman gripped her neck tightly. Helina swung around maddeningly, clawing at the vice that was cutting off her airway. The hand loosened its hold and Helina sucked in a lungful of air. She closed her eyes and heard the distinct sound of someone inhaling beside her neck.

  “I don’t know what he sees in you. You smell like any other rancid human I have ever encountered.”

  The weight was suddenly lifted from her, but before she could relish in the freedom she was being yanked off the ground. She cried in pain when her arms were squeezed roughly. Helina struggled momentarily, but when a sharp slap landed across her cheek she stilled her movements.

  “You fucking little bitch. I’d kill you right now if I wasn’t having so much fun playing with you.”

  The woman moved behind her before Helina could even get her bearings. Her head was tilted forcefully to the side, exposing her neck. She felt a pair of fangs run up and down her exposed throat and squeezed her eyes tighter.

  “They’re looking for you right now, but I’m faster, smarter, and I found you first. By the time they realize what has happened, it’ll be too late.”

  “He won’t stop you. He doesn’t want me. He has already made that clear.” Helina managed to breathe out the statement, knowing it wouldn’t do any good, but hoping it would sway the vampire’s mind away from killing her. The vampire laughed and the sound was very beautiful, like a gentle chime in the wind. Helina looked into the tree tops, watching how the small part in the branches allowed the moonlight to cast its silvery glow down.

  The vampire’s other hand was on Helina’s arm and with the moonlight shining she was able to see her dark painted nails. Helina stared at those perfectly manicured nails, knowing she had seen them before. An image of the forest by her cabin flashed through her mind. The dark color reminded her so much of blood. It was painfully clear that the vampire had been watching her, had been biding her time to get rid of her so she had Gaijryc all to herself. As much as she would have loved to spend her life with Gaijryc, it was clear she didn’t belong in this new world. She was nothing more than food for a much stronger race of creatures. She was lucky to have lasted as long as she did.

  “You’re wrong about that. He only did those things, said those things because he thinks he cares for you. I hated watching every minute of it. He thought it would save you, that he was protecting you. In all actuality, though, it did the opposite. His actions made your death come that much quicker. Soon you’ll be out of the picture, and he can concentrate on me.” The vampire’s finger smoothed along the side of her neck before the sharp pierce of fangs cut through her skin.

  Gaijryc stopped in a clearing and inhaled deeply. Even with his keen hearing and smelling it was hard to keep Helina’s trail. Everything was still, the wind not even blowing through the thick trees. As if the wind had read his mind, a small gust blew passed him, bringing with it the sweet smell of Helina. Along with her beautiful scent was the aroma of freshly fallen blood. He inhaled again, his fist clenching and his jaw tensing as he realized it was Helina’s fallen blood. He inhaled deeply again as he moved quicker through the forest. He smelled someone else with Helina, a female DarkShine.

  “Do you smell that, Ryce?”

  Ryce kept pace with him as he raced across the ground. “Is that who I think it is?”

  They both smelled the same thing: a female of their kind, a female they both knew all too well. “Why is her scent out here? She should be at the mansion preparing for the ceremony.”

  He agreed with Ryce, and if her scent and the scent of Helina’s blood was anything to go by, than something horrible was happening. Something neither of them had ever imagined. They both ran faster, Helina’s blood smelling thicker and thicker with every mile their feet ate up.

  To say it was strange to be drained dry was an understatement. It wasn’t the wonderful feeling Helina got when Gaijryc did it. With this vampire, this murderer, it seemed so cold, so distant. With her lips pressed against Helina’s neck and her teeth far into her flesh, Helina felt repulsed. She could feel the blood rushing toward those two little marks on her neck. Her whole body felt cold and she was getting so very tired. So many things rushed through her mind, the main one being she wished she had one last chance to say goodbye to Gaijryc.

  Her gaze traveled to the crystal clear water that ran right next to her. It was beautiful with its calmness and serenity. Warm blood slid down her arm and dripped into the clarity of the water. Swirls of red mixed in the liquid, as if her sustenance were escaping without her.

  Their reflection was a wavy blur, but Helina could see her reflection staring back. She felt the vampire tear her mouth away from her neck. She felt her pulse, that steady beat that slowly started to become less fierce. Helina turned and looked at her killer. In the pale moonlight her teeth were stained black, little droplets dripping down her lips and chin. Her tongue snaked out, licking a path up her throat and around the twin puncture marks. Helina winced in pain as she pierced her neck again, a different place than the last. She turned her attention to the trees, her mind conjuring up images that soothed her.

  Lizzy stood mere feet from her and wore the most beautiful dress, all dark lace and silk. She walked out from behind the tree line, her dress brushing against the ground and swirling the deadened leaves around her. Helina didn’t know why she found the sight so captivating, but she couldn’t pry her eyes away from those circles in the dirt. She smiled at her sister, not able to feel the muscles moving, but her mind telling her she was doing the motion. Lizzy smiled back, a sad tilt of her lips that reminded Helina of when she used to tell her everything was okay. Helina tried to move her hand toward her sister, but the act proved too hard. If this was what death was like then Helina was thankful for the mercy. She was grateful for her last visions being of her beautiful sister.

  I miss you, Lizzy. The words didn’t leave her lips but Helina heard them loud in her mind. Lizzy smiled brightly and Helina knew her sister had heard regardless. A low hum started to fill Helina’s mind and slowly got louder. Soon that noise encompassed her whole being. Lizzy was in front of her before Helina could even blink. Helina closed her eyes and sighed when she felt the vampire’s arms leave her body. Helina fell to the ground, her legs no longer strong enough to support her weight. The rich, earthy smell of the dirt wafted all around her. Helina wanted to run her hand through it, but any movements just seemed too much work. Slowly opening her eyes, Helina smiled when Gaijryc appeared out of the trees. His attention wasn’t on her, but on whatever was behind her. Although death was undeniable, Helina was glad she had been able to see the two people she cared about the most. Tears fell from her eyes and she was relieved that the end was near.

  They stepped through the clearing, the commotion ahead of them catching their full attention. They watched in amaze
ment as two females fought fiercely. Gaijryc could easily tell that one of them was Lucie, her strawberry blond hair whipping wildly around her face. The other female he had never seen, but her fluid movements and graceful actions proved she was a DarkShine. He stepped forward, ready to stop the two of them when Ryce’s arm shot out, stopping any further advancement.

  “What are you doing?” Gaijryc’s voice was fierce, anger resonating through it and directed towards Ryce.

  “Just wait.”

  He stared at Ryce, about to object when he saw an expression on his face that spoke volumes. Pride shone brightly on Ryce’s face, a look Gaijryc was surprised to see. He turned back to the fight, watching Lucie swipe her hand across the other female’s face. Three deep puncture wounds appeared, and blood dripping from them. He was surprised when her movements didn’t falter—when they actually seemed to become stronger. The dark-haired female’s hand shot out, easily gripping Lucie by the neck and throwing her against a tree. She held her there, suspended off the ground as she applied pressure. Lucie’s hands went to her throat, trying desperately to get them free. Horrible sounds came from her withering form until finally she closed her eyes and passed out.

  Everything happened so quickly that Gaijryc didn’t have time to react. The dark-haired female pressed her hand against Lucie’s chest, her grip still tight on her neck. A light breeze blew over her hair. Gaijryc’s breath lodged in his throat, his body so still he could hear the frantic beat of his own heart. As the wind whisked by him, he picked up the very distinct smell of blood. It was the very smell that lit his blood on fire and had his heart racing. He turned toward the smell, his eyes immediately taking in the small form on the ground.

  He was by Helina in the next second, his hands running all over her body to check for injuries. How could he have missed her? How could he have been so careless as to not sense her from the moment he stepped through the clearing? Helina looked up at him, her movements slow, her energy draining right before his eyes.