Dark Journey [Ariel's Desire 2]

by Candace Smith

  The spot he’d prepared for the meeting when he discovered the valley a week ago was perfect. Dark shadows from the tall pines edged a perfect view of the glaring sun on the prairie. Discovering Lucien had a mate and capturing her was an added surprise. His eyes glowed with anticipation at the new ways he could torture the Vampire.

  He tied the deceitful little hell cat to a tree while she shrieked. Drawing back his hand, he slapped her so hard her head rocked and her lip split. “Shut up, already.”

  Ariel whimpered even as she felt her lip heal. The man turned to face her and the moon lit his face. His eyes narrowed at the blood from her cut mouth. That was the first time she realized he was another Vampire. She could also tell there was something very wrong and dangerous about him. “Who are you?” she stuttered.

  The tall man took a step back and bowed. “Edmond. And who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”

  He’s crazy. Lucien, please help me. Her thought called out to her mate.

  The emotion from his mate’s plea slammed into Lucien’s mind. He changed course on the grasslands away from his settlement. He could feel his mate’s fear and anguish. Oh, god, I’m coming Ariel. He kicked his exhausted horse harder.

  The scars on the Vampire’s face which she originally thought were pock marks, were actually holes in his skin. Her stomach retched as bone showed in several places. A pinkish fluid oozed from the sores. Grabbing for some way to stall the creature from whatever plans he had for her, she decided to try to keep him talking. “I’m Ariel. How did you know I was Lucien’s mate?”

  “I can smell the bastard on you,” he snarled. His personality changed in a split second as he stood before her and steepled his hands. “Actually, I can tell you quite a few things about Lucien.” The man’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.

  Ariel was becoming more frightened and confused. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember him mentioning you. Where do you know him from?” That was probably the worst thing she could have said.

  “He never mentioned me?” the man screamed. “He never mentioned me to you, and you’re his mate?” He began pacing and pulling at his wild hair.

  Ariel trembled and began crying. The man stormed over and viciously punched her in the stomach. She raised her legs to ease the pain and sobbed, “I’m sorry. Maybe he did. Maybe I wasn’t listening.”

  His insane red glare froze her speech. He went back to pacing around the tree line, impatiently waiting and ranting to himself. “That son of a bitch didn’t even mention me to her. He hasn’t thought of me at all.”

  Ariel listened to the confusing mutterings, willing herself to be quiet and hopefully remain unnoticed. Her head was aching and she felt the unfamiliar surge of two of her ribs knitting back together. The man lifted his head and turned toward the settlement. She saw his nostrils flare and he smiled.

  Quietly walking through the trees, Lucien edged toward the scent of the putrid being and his mate’s blood. He had to caution himself to slow down with the feelings of anger and fear battering his senses. He’d dismounted the horse he’d borrowed from the Indians at the edge of the grasslands. The horse trotted toward the village.

  A familiar underlying scent attacked his senses mixed in with the stench of the rogue. It can’t be. Lucien’s plans for sneaking up on the creature dissolved when he looked at the knife he was holding to Ariel’s throat. The terrified look on her face had him shaking.

  “Hello, Lucien.”

  Lucien could sense the man’s lunacy without the crazed eyes and drool slipping from a fang. He willed himself to calm down. “Edmond. Obviously, I’m surprised to see you.”

  “Your little mate and I were discussing that.” Edmond stroked her cheek with his rotting tongue and she shuddered. “As a matter of fact, Lucien, she said she’d never even heard of me.” The creature tried to assume a pouting expression. “Did you forget about me so completely?”

  “Lucien,” Ariel whimpered, “who is this man?”

  Lucien looked into her wide frightened eyes. “Edmond is my brother.”

  Confusion mixed with her fear. “You told me he died. It was in Europe centuries ago, during the inquisition. You said that was one of the reasons you came here.”

  Edmond clapped his hands, still holding the knife. “So he did mention me.” He sounded pleased. The red stare turned angry again. “You were a little quick on my obituary, brother.”

  Lucien walked slowly forward with his palms up. “Edmond, I don’t understand. We searched the ruins of the monastery for days and never found a thing,” Lucien explained.

  “I know. Patrick told me,” he acknowledged.

  Lucien thought of Patrick and Constance’s bodies and figured Edmond was planning a similar fate for him and Ariel. His mind worked to figure out what to do. In his crazed state, his brother had drained three bodies within the past few days. Lucien was confused why he wasn’t bloated and immobile with the lethargy that should be consuming him to process all the fluid. There was no question his skills and strength would be immense.

  “I take it you found my traitorous old friend?” Edmond grinned. “I scented your approach.” Edmond started stroking an absent thumb over Ariel’s breast. Lucien willed them both to be still and not react.

  “I found them,” Lucien replied, as calmly as he could manage. “That was a cruel thing you did, Edmond. Patrick, Damon, Nathan and I mourn your passing every year.”

  “Cut the crap, brother,” Edmond snapped. “You have all been too busy with your little Clans in the mountains and mates … mates,” he exploded, “to have given me a thought. I’m your brother, Lucien. How could you not sense I was alive?”

  “I don’t know, Edmond. Maybe they weakened you too much.” Lucien thought of the inquisitors’ manacles. He knew immediately that was what his brother had used on Patrick.

  “Oh, I was weakened, alright. The manacles worked on Patrick just as they did on me, and just as they will on you.” He pointed a finger at Lucien and wiggled it playfully.

  “Edmond, let Ariel go. She had nothing to do with this. You can take out whatever punishment on me you think is fair.”

  Edmond laughed. “It certainly shows that Patrick took my place by your side. He tried to bargain the same arrangement with that blonde whore he mated. Did you know what they did to that little Indian girl?” He thought a moment. “Of course you did. You probably joined in her torture when you visited.”

  Ariel had no idea what they were talking about. The man still had a knife to her throat and was stroking her. She tried to stay quiet and not distract Lucien from whatever plan he’d come up with.

  Edmond kicked something heavy toward Lucien. Ariel looked down at a weird assortment of chains and cuffs. “Put them on, Lucien,” Edmond growled.

  Lucien arched his brow. “That would be rather foolish of me after seeing Patrick, don’t you think?”

  “I have no intention of sealing your fate as quickly as Patrick. The Indian girl talked me into a lot of that. It seems she wasn’t enjoying her stay in their little settlement. As a matter of fact, she didn’t like them very much.” He looked down at where the chains lay tangled on the ground. “Now, put them on or I am going to slice your pretty little mate’s face.”

  Lucien watched the knife rise to Ariel’s cheek. “Alright, Edmond, I’ll do as you ask.”

  Lucien bent down and secured the cuffs around his ankles. His brother had forgotten about his boots. The spears would still go through them but not as deeply. He managed to secure the wrist cuffs. “Now what?”

  “You know where the springs are,” Edmond replied.

  Lucien looked at him incredulously. “You expect me to impale myself.”

  “Either that or I’ll impale Ariel.” Edmond licked her cheek again. “It’s your choice, brother.”

  Lucien knew it was his last chance to help Ariel, but he wouldn’t be able to get to her before Edmond killed her. The only thing he could think to do was stall him. He had to keep him talking until he coul
d either reason with him, or help arrived. He pushed the first spring and groaned.

  Ariel saw the metal drive into Lucien’s wrist and screamed. Edmond squeezed her jaw. “I told you to shut up. My brother and I have things to discuss.”

  Lucien gritted his teeth. “Where have you been all this time? Why couldn’t we find you?”

  “You checked the ashes, you checked the ashes,” the crazed man sing-songed and hopped from foot to foot. He ran toward Lucien and glared at him from two feet away. “It never occurred to you to check the dungeons below?” he screamed.

  “Dungeons?” Lucien thought back centuries to the monastery. “There weren’t any dungeons.”

  “Well, not that the inquisitors advertised,” Edmond chuckled. “They were there, brother. Those priests came up with some unusual ways to encourage the unwilling to speak. They wanted to know our secret to immortality. Could you imagine immortal inquisitors?” he laughed. “We’d have no one left to feed on.”

  “Edmond…”

  “Shut up, Lucien. It’s time for the right wrist, I think.” Edmond waved the knife in Lucien’s direction as he walked back to Ariel.

  Lucien sprang the latch and grimaced. Ariel bit her lip to hold back her scream.

  “Hurts like hell, doesn’t it?” Edmond noted. “They had me in those very manacles when the monastery was burned. The roof collapsed on the other cells. I was lucky. It slid sideways. I spent two centuries withering in the sunlight while my blood drained into the ground. I’m sure you’ve noticed we no longer share our families’ handsome looks. After the first century, the bugs and rats I caught to feed off of couldn’t regenerate the decomposition the daylight caused.”

  “At the end of the second century, I went a little crazy, I think.” Edmond dropped his head in mock embarrassment. “I tried to chew through my wrists. I just wanted the damn things off, you know what I mean?” Edmond could see the pain in Lucien’s eyes. “Well, yes. I can see that you do.” He waved the knife. “Now do the left ankle.”

  Lucien prayed his boots would keep the metal from shattering his ankle so he wouldn‘t have to waste time knitting the bone if he got a chance to attack. He hit the latch. They pierced his skin but barely skimmed the bone. He remembered to moan in agony.

  Edmond tilted his head and looked perplexed. “I don’t remember too much about the next three or four hundred years.” He shrugged as if four centuries held no importance to him. He became gleefully excited again. “This is the kicker. Pay attention, Lucien. You’re going to like this. Just before nineteen hundred, a damn beam that had fallen in front of me when the roof collapsed finally decomposes enough to disintegrate. And what the hell do you think had been on the other side of that beam? Five feet in front of me,” he shook his head at the irony. “The keys,” he laughed in amazement. “Lucien, the damn keys had been within my reach the whole time,” he exclaimed.

  The red eyes glared hate. “One more ankle brother and we’re set.”

  Lucien hit the spring and grimaced. His dark blue eyes glowed in a dull red haze that he worked to control. “What are your plans?”

  “You chose a nice spot for your little hidey-hole. I’ve been admiring it for the past week with its nicely shaded woods and mountains, and, of course, the miles of grasslands.” Edmond appeared to concentrate, but his eyes roamed in anticipation. “Now, I’m going to drag your ass out onto your beautiful sunlit prairie. Your mate and I are going to get to know each other while you tan. Who knows? She might prefer me after you rot out there for a few days.”

  Ariel shuddered. “Edmond, please don’t do this. We can help you.”

  Edmond walked in front of her and slapped another cruel blow. “I told you to shut up, bitch.” He glanced at Lucien. “Really, brother, I would have expected you to have trained your mouthy bitch mate better.”

  Lucien fought the urge to rip his captured limbs and kill the man. Edmond grabbed the chain connecting the cuffs and dragged Lucien out into the open grass. Unfortunately, Lucien was right. His strength was incredible. He glanced across the prairie as dawn lightened the horizon.

  Clear Skies was on guard by the stables when he saw the horse come running back home. He recognized Lucien’s saddle and realized the animal was the one Lucien had borrowed two days ago to ride back to the settlement.

  He saw the horse had been ridden hard and handed it off to one of the younger Indians to take care of. Clear Skies looked out in the direction the horse had come from with a queasy feeling. Something was wrong, he was sure of it.

  He looked at the horse being watered, back at the prairie then at the slowly rising sun. You’ve got to save them out there, you know. Lonnie’s voice whispered through his mind and he remembered the man pointing the direction the horse had returned from. “Shit.”

  The young Indian heard Clear Skies yell then the warrior galloped out onto the prairie. He stopped what he was doing and ran as fast as he could to Wind Seeker’s cabin, pounding on the door until the warrior answered. The kid was terrified to wake the acting chief, but the look on Clear Skies’ face scared him more. He told Wind Seeker about the horse returning and what the warrior had done.

  “Go wake Black Horse and Yellow Hawk and get three horses ready,” Wind Seeker ordered. The youth dashed off.

  For the first two hours, Clear Skies had no trouble following the horse’s trail. Its legs had knocked the morning dew off the grass. As the sun rose and the grass dried, it became a little trickier. He had to look for the occasional broken stems.

  He thought of the other signs Fierce Bear taught him. Birds cawed from the tree line. They spread their wings sunning as far as he could see. Except there, there are no birds on those trees. He walked his horse off the grasses and tied him to a limb. He had no idea what danger he was walking into. Other than that it’s probably a crazed Vamp. Great, we do not play well together.

  Clear Skies studied his weapons. He knew regular Vampires were very fast and very strong. He figured a crazy one would be even more so. He put the bow back. At best, he was marginally accurate and it took him a long time to reload. He’d brought his three favorite knives and stuck them into his waistband.

  What else did he know about them? Senses, they had heightened senses. I am a cougar. I am cunning. I use my senses. He let his mind drift back. He remembered changing courses toward the stream because of the spice and flowers. He opened his eyes and looked around. Pine trees stood around him, their heavy thick sap dripping down their trunks. He held his arms out and coated his chest and back with the sticky substance and rolled in the pine needles on the ground.

  I’m a cougar. I’m strong and cunning. He repeated the mantra to calm his nerves as he silently crept toward the clearing. The first thing he heard was a woman crying and he stopped behind a pine and peeked around the trunk.

  “Please don’t do this, Edmond. He’s your brother,” the woman sobbed.

  Clear Skies felt a brief stab. It was Ariel. He dropped back to the ground and crawled closer.

  Edmond lifted his head and his nostrils flared as he inhaled. He thought he’d caught a whiff of something. He scented again and detected nothing but the grasses, pines and his captives. Shrugging his shoulders, he yelled, “I’m going to smash that pretty little face in if you don’t shut up.”

  Clear Skies looked out onto the grass. Lucien was chained in some weird contraption. His head hung down on his chest and blood dripped from the cuffs on his wrists. What the fuck?

  He moved one of the knives to the waistband behind him. He hazarded another quick glance around a tree. Across a small clearing under the shadows, he saw a monster slowly slicing off Ariel’s dress while she whimpered. The creature was absorbed in the activity, drooling and caressing the exposed skin.

  Clear Skies edged into the prairie and crawled through the high green grass circling wide until he could approach directly behind Lucien. Lucien was so weary, and Clear Skies was so quiet, the Vampire never heard him until he whispered, “Lucien, is there any way t
o release those things.”

  Lucien kept his head down. Mike? No, he was Clear Skies now. “Not without the keys. They’re in his pack. Clear Skies, you’ve got to get Ariel away from here.”

  “He won’t leave her,” the Indian whispered. Clear Skies thought about the day Wind Seeker gave him the feather for his knife throwing. He said he’d never seen any warrior with such skill. He calmed himself. “It’s okay, Lucien. I have a feather.”

  Great. He sounds as loony as my brother now. “That’s real good, Clear Skies. I think we need to think of a way to distract Edmond, though,” Lucien replied.

  Clear Skies frowned. Then, he remembered how stupid he once thought the feathers were. “Lucien, the feather was given to me by Wind Seeker because I’m the best at throwing knives.”

  The Vampire thought about this. “My brother’s not getting far enough away from her.”

  I’m a strong, cunning cougar. “He doesn’t have to.” Mike stood and walked in front of Lucien.

  “Clear Skies,” Lucien panicked.

  “If you were an Indian, they’d name you Putrid Stench,” the warrior taunted loudly.

  Ariel’s eyes widened at the vision that rose from the grasses. Edmond turned and hissed.

  Clear Skies arrogantly cocked his hip and brought his hand to the hilt of the knife in his back waistband. “Dude, you are one ugly Vampire. Or are you even a Vamp? Everyone I’ve seen has been reasonably good looking and strong. Well, except Lucien. He’s pretty much just irritating. So, what’s your deal? I mean, what the fuck? Your cheek’s dripping off your jaw.” Clear Skies kept slowly advancing.

  Edmond was furious he’d been distracted from his plans. He’d waited centuries to make his brother pay for leaving him. “Go back to your tribe, Indian boy. Tell them I released Turning Leaves’ ghosts. I have no business with you.” Dismissing the intruder, he went back to Ariel.

  Clear Skies had no idea what the comment about Turning Leaves meant. “Yeah, but I have business with you, Reeking Shit. That lady you’re manhandling is my girlfriend. At least she was before your brother stole her from me.” Clear Skies continued to edge closer. “Hey, Lucien,” the warrior chuckled, “strong family resemblance, dude.”