“How did you find it, Justin?” Adrian asked.
“It’s a nice briefcase. I was going to keep it so I was trying to open it when I heard the sound of metal scraping metal. I thought it was weird on this kind of lock,” Justin replied.
“They might know where we are. The rules have changed, ya’ll, we need to get a move on,” Devin said.
They all agreed. Natasha was amazed that the transmitter was with them the entire time, leading their enemy right to them. It bothered her that they might be the hunted now.
“Everyone can come to my home, now that your home has been compromised,” Elise offered Xander.
Xander turned to her and smiled. “Thank you.” He looked at Warren. “See that everyone makes it there safely.”
“I will,” Warren said.
“Tatiana, watch over the Pack while I’m away. I will return shortly,” Xander instructed, he turned to his son. “Adrian…”
“You know you can count on me, Dad,” Adrian said. He threw Nagesa a knowing look that meant they had the same understanding about the situation.
“I know.” Xander nodded at his son then turned towards the others. “Everyone, please leave with Elise and stay there until further notice.” No one argued. The members walked to their bedrooms to pack a few articles of clothing.
“I’m going with Elise, I want to make sure that she will be protected,” Sergio said.
Elise looked at him, a slight smile on her face. She looked to Devin. “I want you to go with Darian.”
Devin nodded.
“Good, then it’s decided. Natasha, Xavier, Devin, and Xander will go,” Darian said.
Xavier looked at him surprised. “Aren’t you coming?” he asked.
Darian shook his head. “I’m starting to put this puzzle together. They came to Desires Unleashed, because it’s known they would find supernaturals there. They were looking for a vampire. They may have been watching Gary for a while before choosing him for their hunt.”
“Nicole frequented Desires Unleashed,” Justin said.
“Rachel didn’t,” Elise pointed out.
“This tells me that they knew who to take. Everyone whom they’ve taken is relatively young and these mortals that we’re dealing with are extremely cunning and well-armed. I will not leave anything to chance. If they have somehow tracked us down, I want my coven to be prepared,” Darian said looking towards Elise “I don’t want them unprotected during the daylight hours”
She held her hand up. “You don’t need to ask me. I don’t mind. We will protect them while they rest.”
“My undying gratitude, my dear,” Darian said as he kissed the back of Elise’s hand.
Natasha looked at Elise’s school girl grin as Darian kissed her hand. She was glad she knew how much Darian and Xavier loved her, or else she might have been forced to become jealous... just a little.
“Very well, I’ll contact you once we get there,” Xavier said. He followed the others towards the front door.
Xander opened the door, before turning to kiss his wife goodbye. Xavier walked passed him out of the mansion, towards the car. Natasha turned to ask Darian a question when suddenly a thunderous explosion rocked the mansion. Darian grabbed Natasha, tossing her to the floor as the others ducked for cover. The windows in the front of the mansion shattered. Tiny deadly shards of glass rained down on everyone inside. At the same time, automatic guns were being fired rapidly. Silver-nitrate and ultraviolet bullets whizzed through the air towards them. Realizing that Xavier was not inside the mansion, Darian rose and ran to the door with lightening quick speed to see what had caused the explosion. Then he saw Xavier’s car had been turned into an inferno. Desperately, he looked around and didn’t see Xavier.
A sensation he had long since forgotten reawakened inside of him.
Panic.
He felt panic. Xander, Sergio, Adrian, Warren and Nagesa left the mansion, searching for their attackers who continued to shoot into the now shattered windows of the mansion. The shape-shifters still inside the mansion were forced to remain on the ground. They were ordered to stay in place by their Matrons, Elise and Tatiana. Everything was moving so quickly, in all of the chaos, Natasha hadn’t even noticed that Darian was no longer at her side. She looked up from her prone position on the floor to see Darian pulling Xavier’s flaming, charred, unconscious body from the burning wreckage. She screamed and tried to rise, but Elise held her down. Tears poured from Natasha’s eyes as she saw Darian extinguish the flames engulfing Xavier’s body. Darian lifted Xavier up, carrying his burnt, smoldering, limp body in his arms. The bullets continue to fly through the air, but he paid them no mind. His only concern was Xavier, who was still too young to survive an injury this critical on his own.
Xander and the others had tracked down their attackers, ceasing the assault. Their claws ripped open throats and their hands crushed the skulls and bones of four hit-men. Only one was spared, Adrian held this one in his arms. Xander approached him, blood dripping from his hands as pieces of torn flesh slid down his elongated fingers and claws. Sergio, Warren and Nagesa stood beside Xander. The man being held captive began to panic. He began to beg for his life. He said that he would tell them what they wanted to know as long as they didn’t kill or torture him.
“Is your life so valuable to me that I should spare you?” Xander asked, vehemently.
The man nodded.
“I can tell you who hired me and where to find him!” the man cried, his eyes wide with desperation and fear.
Xander looked at him, his claws returned to human hands. “Bring him with us.” He turned, heading back towards the mansion, with the others following behind him. Adrian grabbed the man and tossed him over his shoulder as they quickly made their way back. Once inside they saw Darian holding the smoldering and charred body of Xavier in his arms. Darian seemed to be completely oblivious to everyone around him as he had made a deep gash in his throat, urging Xavier to drink. Everyone stood in the room watching in silence. Elise held onto Natasha as she cried hysterically.
“He’ll save him, Natasha, try not to worry,” Elise said, hoping she was right. She had never seen Darian so upset, so distraught and she didn’t like it. She watched them as did the others. Everyone waited, waited to see if Xavier was going to survive.
“Drink Xavier!” Darian urged. He pressed Xavier’s face harder to the open wound in his throat. He held Xavier close to his chest slowly he rocked with him in his arms. He began to speak softly to his child and lover. “I know that you’re still with me, I can feel you. You must drink, my love. You’ll die if you don’t!”
Time seemed to stand still as they looked on, then the moment came when Darian felt the unmistakable touch of Xavier’s tongue brushing against the bleeding wound.
“Yes!” he said excitedly. “Yes, that’s it! Drink deeply, feed!”
Xavier licked Darian several times. A harsh dry sound came from deep within his chest that was mingled with hunger and pain. Slowly, Xavier’s mouth widened against Darian’s neck as he began to suck harder on the wound. The more blood Xavier swallowed, the stronger he became. His limbs gathered strength and he gripped Darian’s arms, pressing himself closer to his Master, his mouth locking onto the delicious blood flow. Darian was now silent as he continued to hold Xavier as his lover fed from him. When Natasha knew that Xavier would survive, she stopped crying. Elise released a sigh of relief.
Xavier’s injuries began to heal as he sucked greedily. Low, panting moans emanated from Darian and he tilted his head so that Xavier could gain a better position. Darian’s body shivered slightly as his lover drew harder and harder on his blood. He began to grow weaker, but he didn‘t push Xavier away. Everyone was witness to the power of the vampire’s blood. They looked on in wonder as they watched Xavier’s skin quickly began to heal the longer he fed. The charred portions of his flesh began to lighten. The open wounds and sores healed right before their eyes. His hair that had burned away, grew back as long and luxurious as be
fore. Darian’s hand came up now, to push Xavier away from his neck. The healing process was not yet complete and Xavier was still in pain. Darian held Xavier’s weaken form in his arms.
He looked up at Darian lovingly.
“Thank you” he whispered weakly.
“It it I who is grateful,” Darian said, then he leaned down, burying his face into Xavier’s neck. His fangs extended and punctured through the partially healed flesh.
Xavier gasped. His body tensed then slowly began to relax as the indescribable pleasure coursed through his veins. His body twitched in Darian’s arms, as the blood he’d just drank was sucked from him. Xavier’s burned and ragged clothing still clung to him and smelled of gasoline and ash. He trembled once more as a tidal wave of ecstasy rippled through his body. Darian pulled away, his tongue running along his lips to catch any blood that might have spilt in his haste. He looked down at his young lover, and smiled as he gazed into Xavier’s half lidded gray eyes. He held him with one hand and with his free hand he created another wound in his neck by slicing through his flesh with razor sharp nails. Blood bubbled up from the wound and flowed down his neck.
“Drink, Xavier,” Darian instructed.
This time he didn’t assist him, he wanted Xavier to go to the fount, he wanted to be certain of Xavier’s recovered strength. A low whining moan escaped Xavier as he raised his hand feebly to grip Darian’s shoulder. He began to pull himself toward the wound. The others in the room fought their own bloodlust. They could smell the intoxicating scent of Darian’s blood as it flowed freely down his neck. Only Natasha and Matthew were unaffected by the scent of the blood. Natasha hadn’t even realized that she was holding her breath as she watched Xavier struggle. Silently she cheered him on. She released a sigh of relief once he locked his mouth to the wound.
Darian’s hand held Xavier’s head close to him as he fed Xavier for a second time. Once again, everyone marveled at how fast Xavier began to heal. The burnt and crusted portions of his skin began to flake away, only to be replaced by new perfectly toned flesh. Xavier climbed onto his knees, crushing Darian to him all the harder as he increased his pull on the magnificent blood. Darian didn’t seem to resist Xavier in the least. He relaxed himself, allowing Xavier to fill himself with all the strength he could take. When the point came where Xavier’s body would not take any more, he forced himself away, falling backwards on carpeted floor. Darian collapsed beside him, and Natasha ran to their sides as did Tony.
“Master, are you all right?” Tony asked. He was relieved to see Xavier pull through, although, thoughts of Gary still worried him.
“I’m fine,” Darian said in a steady voice as to not alarm the others. He struggled to his knees, Natasha helped as best as she could. He had allowed Xavier to drink more than he ever had in the past, and now he was weak because of it. The thought of Xavier’s death terrified him. Not to mention, enraged him. He managed to sit up straight, resting his hands on his lap and sat still for a few moments. He monitored Xavier, satisfied when he saw him rising to a sitting position.
“How were they able to do that?” Xavier asked. Natasha wrapped her arms around him, holding tightly. He held her, his hands gently stroked her hair, calming her.
“I’m not sure. They had to have access to the car in order to plant the bomb, but they wouldn’t have been able to do it here. We would have smelled them or heard them before they could have set foot on these grounds,” Justin said.
Darian looked towards Adrian, who was holding the last assassin in his grip.
“Did Richard Parker send you?” he asked, his tone was measured as he fought to control his anger.
Everyone in the room could feel the powerful aura radiating from Darian, mixed with the heat of his rage. There was a fire in the Master vampire’s eyes that reflected his emotions even if he didn’t voice them. He was livid, and understandably so. Everyone remained silent as he spoke to the would-be assassin who responded by saying he would gladly answer all of their questions if they would spare his life.
“Hey, I was just doing what I was hired for. I’ve got nothing against any of you, it was just business. Let’s make a deal, I’ve got information you need. If I tell you, will you let me live?” the man asked.
“You dare bargain with me!” Darian hissed losing his resolve.
In a movement too fast for anyone to see, before anyone knew what had happened, he was already standing before the man. The man yelped and tried to struggle out of Adrian’s unyielding grip but to no avail. Darian’s hand gripped the man’s jaw and slowly began to crush the bones causing the man to scream in agony.
“I will find out what I want, I do not need your willing participation.” With vicious precision, he plunged his sharp fangs hard into the man’s jugular causing the assassin to cry out in pain. Adrian released him immediately, taking several steps backwards.
Darian feasted with lightning-quick speed, in an instant the man was dead. He pulled away, dropping the body to the floor. He placed his hand against the wall to keep steady as he reeled from the feeding. A tremor ran through his body once then he opened his eyes.
“Richard contacted this man’s boss and told him they wanted us dead. There are five of them at your mansion, Elise, awaiting word from their leader to launch the attack and five more at my home.” He was calm when he spoke, a dangerous type of calm. He had resolution and knew what he must do. “They are expecting to hear from the team here on the success of their mission. If they do not get word in five minutes, they will attack as planned.”
Elise gasped, her hand going to her mouth. She pulled out her cell phone and quickly called home to warn her Pride. She waited impatiently for someone to answer.
Darian looked at Xavier and the two seemed to be communicating even though no words were exchanged. Xavier nodded. Darian vanished. Everyone looked at Xavier.
“He’s going home,” he informed them.
“Won’t he need help?” Adrian asked concerned.
Xavier shook his head. “No. He’ll want to clear out the mansion.” He looked at Natasha. “I’m fine, don’t worry. We underestimated our opponent, and that will not happen again.” He tried to reassure her, but even he didn’t know the extent of their opponent’s deviousness.
“I can’t believe how close I came to losing you. I just want this all to end,” Natasha stated, as she wiped her eyes and took several deep breaths. She felt better knowing Xavier was now even stronger than before. She could feel his aura, his increased power. But not as acutely as other supernaturals could. She suspected his aura made them feel a completely different sensation. For her, it was more of a tingle down her spine she felt as she sat next to him.
Elise finally contacted someone; she had grown angry as she waited for someone to answer the telephone. Only after the twelfth ring, did someone finally do so.
“Hello?” asked Sebastian, finally utilizing the call-waiting feature by clicking over.
“Listen to me very carefully,” Elise said sternly. Sebastian remained silent as he waited for her to continue. “There are five assassins surrounding the mansion. Who is there with you?”
“Daniel, Miranda, my Mom, and Carmen,” Sebastian quickly replied.
“Tell them to search the grounds and kill whomever they find. Sebastian, tell them now!” The telephone was dropped to the floor. Elise could hear Sebastian call out to the others. She listened carefully as he relayed the information.
“What’s the matter?” Daniel asked.
“Elise said that there are some hit-men surrounding the mansion, they’re planning to kill us!” Sebastian panted excitedly.
“Go to the cellar, don’t come out until we tell you, do you understand?” Daniel ordered in a rushed tone.
“Yes.” Sebastian ran off towards the cellar.
Elise heard footsteps and someone picking up the receiver.
“It’s Daniel.”
“Kill anyone you see,” Elise instructed.
“Will do.” Daniel hung up
the telephone.
He called out to the others, who were already prepared. Miranda was naked in her half-leopard, half-human form. She stood six feet five, covered by a thick layer of spotted black and orange fur. Her snout was short and her mouth was filled with dagger-like teeth, nearly one inch in length. Her black claws extended from her hands, two inches long and sharp as knives. Daniel began to change form as well, making sure to time his change so that he, too, could be in half transformation. Carmen joined them, but she didn’t change forms.
Madeleine, still in her human form as she was unable to change due to her pregnancy, opened a window, stepping to the side to allow the others to jump through at blinding speeds. She followed, taking care not to injure herself or her unborn child. They searched the grounds stealthily, looking for their prey. In the darkness of the night, their vision was keen. They zeroed in on their would-be attackers. Daniel crept behind one man. The assassin was crouched low beside a tree. Daniel could hear the other’s voices coming through his earpiece. From the curses flowing through the communication device, he could tell the assassin’s crew was growing even more impatient. The call was late and they wanted to continue on as planned.
Before the man could respond, Daniel’s claws ripped open his throat, shredding the vocal cords. The attack was so sudden that the assassin didn’t have a chance to scream. A moment later, another was killed by Carmen. She had crept up behind him so silently, by the time he heard the snap of a nearby twig; she had her hands pressed against his head. Before he could react, she twisted his neck snapping the vertebrae. Leaving his body on the ground, head twisted in a 180 degree angle, she walked away to see if the others needed help.
Daniel knelt low to the ground, crawling towards another would-be assassin slightly hidden in a tree with a sniper rifle. Quietly, Daniel began to climb the tree with the grace and speed only a supernatural could manage. His nails dug deep into the bark so that he could move swiftly without being detected. Before the sniper knew he was in danger, Daniel bit deep into his throat, jerking his head backward ripping away the assassin’s jugular. Blood gushed from the jagged wound, splattering Daniel’s muzzle. His bloodlust rose instantly and he began to feast on the body, ripping away chucks of flesh, swallowing them whole in his hunger.
The Royal Flush (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles(Book Three)) Page 19
