A Guardian's Passion

by Stein Willard

  At five she was very young, even for him. Not that her age deterred him in any way. He could maybe only take a few sips. Tristan came to his feet and scanned the apartment. Fran was still busy in the kitchen getting things ready for the party. The child didn't hear him approach and he was almost upon her when the doorbell sounded. He quickly retracted his fangs. The child turned around with a smile on her face, which faded when she looked into his eyes. Her blue eyes stared deep into his and Tristan was shocked to feel a fluttering in his mind. The child was reading his mind through his mental blocks! Before he could react to what he'd just discovered, the doorbell sounded again and this time Fran came walking out of the kitchen and to answer the door.

  “Were the elevators down again? You took a while…” She said as she opened the door, but stopped abruptly. “I remember you. You're Gaby's friend. Please come in.”

  Tristan looked towards the door with a frown. Gaby's friend. Where was Gabriella? Fran stepped back allowing the newcomer to enter and Tristan's breath caught in his throat. Trinity came herself, he thought, a little uneasy. He hated surprises.

  Trinity stepped into the lounge and walked straight toward him, her hands hidden under her ankle-length jacket. The green eyes already had a reddish glow to them and Tristan felt the beast in him stir at the obvious challenge.

  “You are stupid if you think you can defeat me, Trinity. We might have had similar conceptions, but I have been fighting more battles than you, my dear.” He looked down at the child standing next to him and rested his hand on the dark head. “I do not want to fight you, you know. All I have ever wanted was to claim you as my mate.” He looked up at her and smiled. “I have not been able to get you out of my system since I took you the first time.”

  Fran took a cautious step closer, her blue eyes darting from Trinity to Roger.

  “Roger, what's going on?” she asked, confusion in her voice.

  “My name is Tristan Vermont, the Fifth Marquise of Cleaver. I would appreciate it if you address me as Lord Vermont.” His dark eyes were resting on Trinity as he spoke. “This woman here was a servant in our household …” His eyes traveled down her tall frame. “A delectable one, for that matter.” He saw Trinity's eyes narrowing and laughed. “She is a wildcat in bed.”

  Trinity's eyes slid to the little girl. Her puzzlement must've shown on her face because Tristan too looked down at the girl. Tristan’s eyes narrowed at the bright smile on the girl’s face.

  “What is it that you find so funny, Angel dear? Please share with Uncle Roger, will you.”

  Angel's green eyes turned even warmer with laughter.

  “You will be beaten up by two girls.” Angel said and hid a giggle behind her hand. “It's funny, Mommy?”

  “Roger, please tell me…” Fran started, but Tristan interrupted her rudely.

  “Shut up, bitch.” Trinity heard Fran's shocked gasp, but she still kept her eyes on Tristan. “I want to see if Little Angel will find it funny when I tear out her mother's throat.” He grabbed her by her small arm and lifted her off the ground until she was level with his face. “Would you find that funny too, my dear?” He smiled gleefully when he saw tears of pain welling up in the girl's eyes.

  †

  Trinity took a step closer, thoroughly disgusted at Tristan's handling of the child.

  “Here I am, Tristan. Why pick on a five-year-old child? If you are as competent a fighter as you claim, why not put me to the test?” She quickly calculated the distance between her and Tristan. She could leap at him, but what if he decides to bite the child? It might not be worth the risk?

  “All in good time, Trinity. I would first like to find out who the other woman is who will help you beat me up.” Tristan stared deeply into the child's eyes. “On second thought, how did you manage to read my thoughts earlier?”

  Trinity looked at Tristan and then back at Fran.

  “What are you talking about? Is your evil brain finally going to be your own downfall? Let the child go.”

  Fran stepped closer to Trinity.

  “What's going on?”

  Trinity never took her eyes off Tristan, even when she felt Gabriella's presence at the door.

  “Go open the door for Gabriella. She will tell you everything” When Fran hesitated; she quickly put her at ease. “I will take care of Angel. Now go!”

  Fran slowly walked over to the door, her blue eyes still fixed on her daughter's dangling frame.

  ~~~~

  Chapter Eighteen

  When the door swung open, Gabriella rushed in followed closely by Clarissa. The latter's eyes quickly summed up the situation as she purposefully walked over to where Trinity stood. Tristan growled at the sight of his sister.

  “You are proving to be one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made, sister. I should have killed you instead of turning you.”

  “As long as I am alive, Tristan, the knowledge that Trinity chose me above you will always eat away at your black soul.” Clarissa smiled broadly. “And that knowledge gives me great pleasure.” She took a step closer to him, but Trinity held her back and she turned to look at Trinity. “I have had your love and devotion while he was tossing and turning in his cold bed at night, deviously plotting how to separate us. Let's see if he can finish what he started four hundred years ago.”

  Clarissa saw something flash in Trinity’s eyes. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to take revenge but it could also mean the end for both of them. Clarissa had nothing to lose, but Trinity had everything to lose. Trinity has found her soul mate. Just when Clarissa thought that Trinity wouldn’t take her up on her offer, the redhead smiled coldly.

  “You are right. I would love to see if he could pick on someone his own size.”

  Clarissa had her hands locked behind her back. A suspicious look came into Tristan's eyes. He hauled Angel closer to him and roughly pulled her head back, exposing her neck.

  “Stay put, Rissa, or I will rip through her.” His fangs were showing now and Clarissa heard a woman’s horrified gasp. It was the woman who opened the door for Gabriella and her.

  “He's a vampire! But…but vampires don't exist.”

  Clarissa leaned forward and hissed, her sharp fangs dripping with saliva and watched with mute satisfaction as Tristan stiffened.

  †

  Trinity's body tensed in anticipation for what she knew was about to come. Clarissa had challenged her brother, a taboo in vampire society. Female siblings respected their male relatives and by baring her fangs at him, Tristan had been unmanned in the face of all the women present. His anger was what they'd hope to raise and they weren't disappointed.

  Tristan dropped Angel as he would a stained cloth and lunged for his sister. Trinity quickly grabbed Angel and pushed her into her mother's arms.

  “Take your daughter and go wait for us outside.” When Gabriella defiantly stood there looking at her, Trinity snapped at her. “You too, Gabriella.” The green eyes were swallowed up by the red rage of the beast inside of her.

  “No, I'm staying right here with you.”

  Trinity heard a sharp scream of pain and turned to find Clarissa cradling her stomach while Tristan smiled at her with cruel satisfaction, his claw stained with blood.

  “Go now, please. I need to help Clarissa.” She didn't wait for Gabriella to answer, but pulled out her guns and opened fire. Of the twelve rounds she'd fired only two found their mark as Tristan expertly dodged the salvo of bullets. He crept up the wall and turning his head, glared at Gabriella, his intention clear.

  He pounced, but Trinity roughly pushed Gabriella behind her, the action causing her to lose valuable seconds before Tristan landed on top of her. His hands went for her throat as he slammed her head hard against the floor. Stunned by the impact of the blows, Trinity lost her grip on her gun and it clattered away, out of reach. Tristan was growling as spittle trickled down his chin.

  “Now I have you exactly where I want you.” He bent his head and his fangs sunk deep into her neck. Ala
rmed, she heard Gabriella's muffled screams as if they were coming from far away. Tristan yanked his lips from her neck, taking chunk of her flesh with it. Trinity felt her life force draining from the wound as Tristan stared down at her, his mouth stained with blood. He was going to finish her off, of that Trinity was sure, but she would try anything to give Gabriella a chance to escape Tristan. As a last ditch effort, she grabbed Tristan's long dark locks and pulled hard, drawing up her knees at the same time and pushing hard.

  She saw him fly through the air and surged to her feet, swaying slightly from blood loss. She was going to lose consciousness anytime soon, but not before she'd dealt with Tristan.

  “Go, Gabriella, go now…please!” she said urgently, not taking the risk of taking her eyes of Tristan. She prayed that Gabriella would obey her this time.

  Tristan landed on all fours a few feet away and slowly came to his full height, rubbing his hands over his bloodstained mouth, he licked them vulgarly afterwards.

  “You taste even better now. I want more.” He made a quick and unexpected lunge for her and Trinity tried to reach for her daggers, but as a result of her blood loss, her movements were sluggish. Looking up at Tristan, Trinity knew that it was the end for her. With her full attention focused on Tristan's imminent attack, she didn't feel the soft tug at her jacket.

  Tristan landed on top of her and slammed her back against the floor. Trinity heard a soft huff as she landed on something soft. Tristan's bloodstained fangs were going for her throat again and Trinity closed her eyes, knowing the end had come for her. She felt Tristan breathe on her neck and a tear escaped her eye and roll down her cheek. She had failed Gabriella and for the second time Tristan would take away a woman she loved. She would’ve liked to look into Gabriella’s eyes one last time. She began living again that first night when a scared seven year old girl with wet golden eyes stole her arms around Trinity’s neck and held on for dear life.

  Trinity felt Tristan stiffen just before his fangs touched her torn skin. Acting on pure instinct, she made use of the fleeting lapse to roll over and pin him beneath her. When she looked down into his eyes, Tristan's dark eyes registered shock. It was then that she saw the blade protruding from his chest, exactly where his heart was. Tristan’s eyes moved from hers, to look at something behind her. Trinity threw a quick glance over her shoulder. Gabriella stood there, her face ashen and her body shaking like a leaf. Trinity reached out and grabbing Tristan's head between her hands and twisted hard, snapping his neck as she ripped it off. The sound was amplified by the stunned silence in the room.

  Too tired to get to her feet, she scanned the room and located Clarissa where she lay motionless on her side facing away from them. Gabriella came to kneel at her side and Trinity could see she was even paler than before.

  “Tahlia and the rest are on their way. Please just hang in there, my love,” she whispered in a shaky voice.

  Trinity shook her head.

  “Clarissa…help her. She needs help immediately.” Without a moment of hesitation, she saw Gabriella get to her feet and walk over to where Clarissa lay. She felt her sight dim and darkness engulfed her. The eerily familiar scene was the last image etched on her mind.

  †

  Gabriella gently rolled Clarissa over and gasped at the large pool of blood which had formed under the renegade. Clarissa’s eyes were closed, but she could hear a soft rasp of breath. It didn’t take her much to realize that it would take a miracle if Clarissa were to survive her wounds. What kept Tahlia? The longer they took to get here, the more blood Clarissa lost, diminishing her chances for survival. Gabriella looked over to where Trinity lay. She too needed blood to replenish what she'd lost to Tristan. When she looked down into Clarissa's face, Gabriella was shocked to find two alert brown eyes looking up at her.

  “You should not have to choose. You love Trinity. Go help her.” Clarissa said softly. “I have reached the end of my journey and there is nothing more to live for.”

  Gabriella felt tears welling up in her eyes and quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

  “Trinity wants you to live and…and I want you to live too,” Gabriella said softly. “It will hurt, but I have to bind the wound to stop you from bleeding out.” She searched the area with her eyes and found a tablecloth amongst the remains of the crashed coffee table. Gabriella placed it on the floor next to Clarissa and as gently as she could she rolled the injured vampire over until the cloth was under her. She bit her lip when Clarissa grunted softly and the brown eyes darkened with pain.

  “The hard part is over,” she murmured tenderly to the injured woman. Lifting Clarissa’s shirt, Gabriella almost gagged when she found a deep slash running across Clarissa's stomach, exposing her intestines. This is bad…really bad.

  “I am too far gone. Go help Trinity instead. One of us has to make it…and be happy.”

  Determined, Gabriella shook her head.

  “Trinity will be fine for now. The Royals will be here soon.” Her training as a paramedic kicked in and she deftly bound the wound by pulling the edges of the tablecloth tightly together. She sighed deeply when she was done. Clarissa's eyes were closed.

  Now, for the hard part. Gabriella rolled up her sleeve and gently slapped Clarissa's cheek to rouse. The brown eyes were slightly unfocussed when they look up at her.

  “You need to try and stay awake.” She pressed her wrist against the cold, bloodless lips. “Now drink.”

  Clarissa stared at her as if she'd grown two heads.

  “Why? After what I have tried to do to you?” she croaked.

  “I'll tell you why once you've had a few sips. Now drink!”

  She felt Clarissa's hand clasp over her wrist and it surprised her to find that, although injured, the vampire was still very strong. The brown eyes looked up to her for final confirmation and Gabriella nodded. She felt Clarissa's fangs scrape over her skin before she bit down hard. With every second that passed, Gabriella felt her body beginning to relax more and more and drowsiness kicking in. Just when she thought that she would close her eyes and doze off, Clarissa pulled away. Shaking off the drowsiness, Gabriella was pleased to see a little color had crept back into Clarissa's face. She stumbled to her feet and had to hold on to the wall to steady herself.

  “Take some water. It might help.” Clarissa said softly and Gabriella smiled weakly at the guilt she heard in the vampire's voice. Clarissa had taken a little too much, but in the state the vampire was in, it was excusable.

  “I will do that. Now rest while I try to clean up the room a bit. The shots Trinity fired must’ve resonated through the whole building.”

  “We used a spell to insulate the apartment. No sounds escaped this room.”

  Gabriella made her way to the kitchen mulling over what Clarissa had said.

  “Vampire magic,” she murmured under her breath as she filled a glass with water and downed it quickly so she could return to the lounge and check up on Trinity.

  The glass fell out of her hand when she felt the soft touch on her back and spun around. Jemima stood there, her blue eyes worried as they studied Gabriella’s face. Jemima smiled and Gabriella basked in the warm, loving look the Royal Vampiress gave her.

  “You don't seem to be injured, daughter.” She carefully extended her arms and Gabriella walked into them. Gabriella sighed deeply when the woman's arms tenderly wrapped around her shaking body.

  “I'm so glad to see you.”

  “Same here, child,” Jemima whispered.

  When they re-entered the lounge, Gabriella was stunned to find that the room was in pristine condition. No one would guess a mortal battle had just taken place in here. Trinity and Clarissa had been moved and only Tahlia stood waiting for them in the lounge. The black eyes were cold, but softened the moment they came to rest on the two of them. Still careful so as not to spook her, Tahlia kept her distance, but Gabriella could feel the warmth the dark woman emanated.

  Jemima gave her a soft nudge in the back and Gabriella sl
owly approached Tahlia. Maybe one day she would be completely comfortable around this dangerous woman, but every time she saw her she had to mentally tell herself to relax. Tahlia didn't break eye contact. The black eyes softened further.

  “My daughter…” she said in that distinctively husky voice of hers and Gabriella took the two steps which brought her into Tahlia arms. “You are very brave and I am proud of you.” She held her away from her so their eyes could meet. “You had the strength and courage to defeat a master renegade and then have the compassion and love to save the life of a vampire who wanted to destroy your relationship with your mate. I am truly honored to be your mother.”

  Gabriella pressed her face against Tahlia's chest. “I didn't know what I was doing. I guess I probably only acted on impulse.”

  Tahlia smiled as she cocked her head slightly.

  “Brace yourself, Inger is about to burst through the door any moment now.”

  At that exact moment the door swung open and Inger rushed in.

  “What happened? Paloma doesn’t want to tell me anything.”

  Gabriella shook her head and turned to look at Jemima.

  “Has she always been like this?”

  Jemima nodded and smiled at the puzzled look on Inger's face.

  “It's all Tahlia's fault. She spoiled her rotten as a child.”

  Tahlia shrugged and Inger threw her hands in the air.

  “What’s wrong with you people? And what are you talking about?” she shrieked and chuckling softly, Gabriella took her by the hand.

  “Let's go find Trinity and I'll tell you everything.” She pushed Inger through the door and down the corridor.