Dark Journey [Ariel's Desire 2]

by Candace Smith

  Edmond swung behind Ariel. He still smelled only pine and became nervous other Indians were near. Clear Skies wanted him back in front of her. “You still have great knockers, girl.”

  Ariel was pleading with her eyes. She tried to figure out what he was up to. He glanced in front of her. He wants Edmond on the other side, she realized. The only time she’d gotten a reaction from the crazy man was when she spoke, especially when she pleaded about Lucien. He automatically slapped her.

  “You lost your chance. I’m Lucien’s mate, now. It’s his touch I want on me at night. Only he is strong enough for me. A mere warrior or this miserable excuse for a being mean nothing to me.”

  Edmond shrieked and swung around her. “I told you to shut up.” He was in mid strike when the first knife went through the back of his neck. The insane creature turned and ran toward Clear Skies. A knife went through his heart and another through his skull, centered between his eyes and sunk to the hilt.

  Edmond sank to his knees. His claws had distended and he couldn’t grip the dripping blades to pull them out.

  “Cut his heart out,” Lucien gasped. “You need to cut out his heart. He’s had too much blood. If he gets a blade out he’ll heal quickly.”

  Clear Skies walked cautiously toward the writhing beast. It was snarling in whistling torment with the blade in its throat. Careful of the claws, he drew his leg back and timed a full kick at his jaw. The creature fell back. It clawed at his arms as he worked the knife in his chest, digging and ripping. The creature gave a loud wail as Clear Skies tore the organ free and threw it far into the grass. The beast shuddered and lay still. Clear Skies knelt over the body, exhausted as the full impact of what he’d done slowly registered.

  After several minutes, Lucien realized the warrior was feeling the delayed shock of his battle. “You have no business looking at my mate’s knockers, dude.”

  Clear Skies turned back and looked at him. “Cut his heart out? Harsh.” He rose and walked over to the tired man and rattled the connecting chain with his foot. “As much as I’m enjoying your predicament, all good times come to an end. Where did you say the keys were?”

  Lucien groaned again. “They’re in his pack.”

  Clear Skies returned with the keys.

  “Be careful. These spears shoot back when they’re unlocked,” Lucien advised.

  “Does it hurt?” Clear Skies grinned.

  Lucien narrowed his eyes. “Like a bitch, asshole.”

  “Good.” Clear Skies enjoyed every wince the Vampire made.

  Lucien stumbled over to Ariel. She sobbed with relief as he untied her and kissed every bruise. “I’m so sorry, Ariel.” He took off his shirt and wrapped it around her.

  Three Indians came thundering toward them. Yellow Hawk, Black Horse and Wind Seeker swung off their horses. They looked at the creature on the ground in confusion and shock. A fourth horse skidded to a halt and Fierce Bear lumbered off and strode up to Clear Skies. He ran his hands down the warrior’s arms and chest. “Son, you’re okay?”

  “Yes, Father. I used the skills you taught me, and they worked,” Clear Skies hugged him.

  “Lucien, who the heck is that?” Ariel whispered.

  “Fierce Bear, he’s Clear Skies’ father-in-law.”

  “Oh dear god, I was hoping his suffering had ended.”

  Lucien walked over to Wind Seeker. “Clear Skies’ skills with the knives saved us, Wind Seeker. We owe you a great debt.”

  “My son, Clear Skies’ remarkable skill with the knives saved you, Protector?” Fierce Bear bellowed.

  “Oh, shit. I can hear him from my porch now,” Black Horse moaned.

  Lucien took Yellow Hawk further into the prairie and told him about Turning Leaves. He didn’t mention the abuse she had suffered at Robby and the Vampires’ hands. It could cause the Indians to doubt the Clans, and worse, it would haunt Yellow Hawk and Whispering Wheat forever to know they sent their daughter to such torment.

  Riders approached from the trees. Damon and Nathan swung off their horses and ran up to them. “Lucien, we didn’t realize Ariel was missing until this morning.” Nathan was sick at what he thought might have happened. He‘d followed the trace of her scent to the garden, then the overwhelming stench of the beast overpowered it. “You were told to stay in the hall.”

  She burst out in tears. “I’m sorry, Nathan. I missed Lucien so badly. I just wanted to walk in the garden.”

  Lucien hugged his exhausted mate. “Nathan, it was Edmond. He’d survived, but was completely insane. There’s more I have to tell you. We’ll talk on the way back to the settlement.”

  The Vampires doubled up on the horses and rode back to their home after thanking the Indians. Everyone came out to meet them and there was a collective sigh of relief that Ariel was alright.

  “Lucien, it’s your call,” Nathan said.

  “They deserve to know the truth. Ariel and I need to clean up then we’ll meet everyone in the hall.” Lucien wasn’t happy to have to tell his people his brother was responsible for the four deaths. Instead of being angry or frightened, they consoled him on having to suffer the loss of his brother for a second time.

  He and Ariel walked back to the house. Ariel fell asleep almost immediately from the exhaustive work of healing her wounds and the stressful night and morning. When she awoke, it was dark and Lucien was gone. Heather was sitting in the main room.

  “You should rest some more, Ariel.”

  “Where’s Lucien?” Ariel had an empty, hollow feeling of despair.

  “Nathan and Damon are with him,” she replied.

  “Why? Heather what’s wrong?” Ariel was eyeing the door.

  Heather wrung her hands. “Lucien needed to be alone for a while.”

  This made no sense. She just told her the older Vampires were with him. She sat in the chair across from Heather, worrying. Her eyes reflected back from the silver vase on the table. The red haze reflected back. She jumped up. “I need to go to him.” She ran out the door before Heather could stop her.

  Ariel stood in the darkened street and lifted her head in the moonlight. Please work. Please help me find him. She inhaled deeply. The faint scent of spice, the comforting smell of Lucien, came from the woods by the corral. She entered a small shack and Nathan bolted to his feet.

  “Ariel, you have to leave here. He needs to be alone.” Nathan tried to usher her back out the door.

  “No, Nathan. That is exactly what he does not need.” She stormed by him.

  Lucien was huddled in the corner of a cage. He was shaking and had his head buried in his arms.

  Nathan stood back, figuring she would leave him to his misery. Before he realized what was happening, she squeezed her tiny body between the bars. “Ariel, you need to come out of there.” He tried to stop the quiver in his voice.

  Ariel ignored him and walked over to Lucien. Nathan bolted for the door to get Damon. He hoped she wasn’t ripped to shreds by the time he got back.

  Ariel knelt down. “Hey you,” she stoked her hand down his black hair. “You must have been worried about me. I’m fine.”

  The red eyes glanced at her quickly and hid again. Ariel sensed Lucien, buried deep behind the red gaze. The exhaustion and need to heal left him no strength to surface. She wrapped her arm around the Vampire and had to pull hard to get him to rest his trembling body against her. “I know what’s wrong. You’re afraid I’m going to think you’re like Edmond, and when I look at you, I’m going to think of the creature.”

  The Vampire shook harder and she stroked his back. “You’re nothing like that monster. His mind was gone and he had no balance. I know that. I remember how you took care of me during the turning. You were so gentle with me while I struggled. That animal could never be like you,” she continued to murmur softly.

  “I also know something I don’t think Lucien even realizes. I know you’re the one who felt my fear when Lucien was riding back to the settlement. You’re the one who turned the horse toward me. It
wasn’t my pleas Lucien heard to come rescue me. They were yours.”

  His head lifted and the blood red gaze looked on her with wonder. Ariel brushed her thumb across his chin and kept her eyes on his, feeling his despair. “He’s kept you locked inside for so long, I don’t think he understands you as well as I do. Lucien thinks you’re a part of him that’s like his brother. He caged you to keep me safe.”

  A clawed hand slowly reached up and a talon touched her cheek. “There’s no way you could ever hurt me. I could never be afraid of you. I told you, I love you.” The shudders finally slowed as the Vampire calmed with her soothing reassurances. “There’s a difference between your needs and desires. Yours are games of passion. Edmond’s needs were torture and hate.”

  Ariel felt the despair leaving her body as it drifted from the red haze watching her so closely. She smiled. “Okay, that’s weird.” A flash of alarm passed his eyes. “I don’t mean you. I feel what you’re feeling, or maybe it’s what Lucien feels, I can’t tell. The two of you are closely entwined.” A familiar mischievous glint was in the red stare. “It’s you, isn‘t it? It’s another part of the gift you gave me. That’s how you can feel me even when Lucien’s in control.”

  “He’ll probably be upset when he learns you’re always with me.” The Vampire looked pleased at out maneuvering the man. Ariel rested her head on his chest. “Don’t look so smug. When he realizes you’re the reason he found me, he’s going to think it was his idea.” His broad chest expanded with a sigh and he gently ran his taloned hand down her back.

  She raised her head and whispered, “Do you think we can get Lucien to surface long enough to get you out of this cage? He can rest while we play.” Desire and anticipation shone in his eyes. A hint of blue surfaced and buried again. “That’s okay. We’ll just stay like this for a while then. We have forever for our games.”

  Ariel looked through the bars. Damon and Nathan were staring at her with their mouths hanging open. “Why did you let Lucien cage him? His heart was breaking. Don’t you know this part of you can’t hurt us?”

  In fact, it was something they didn’t know. When the Vampire’s nature took over, the man had no control over it. They had never seen a Vampire surface until Lucien changed. It awed the men that their mates’ had seen them as this beast and didn’t run screaming in terror. They’d been watching Ariel calm the beast, amazed at her compassion.

  Heather’s anxious voice came through the door. “Nathan, is she okay?”

  “I’m fine, Heather. Thank you for watching over me. Go back to Carl and get some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow,” Ariel replied.

  The Vampire was gazing down at its mate, mesmerized. She felt his calmness and love and it filled her with happiness. When the beast felt the emotion wash through her, his embrace tightened around her. His red stare met Nathan’s eyes and received a red hazed response. Ariel chuckled. “I believe my companion is appealing to your other nature to open the door to his cell.”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Nathan admitted.

  “It humiliates him to be contained, that’s what isn’t a good idea.” Ariel felt the erection pressing against her thigh. His desire and arousal were beginning to consume his thoughts. “Just to let you know, he can break out of here whenever he wants. The only reason he didn’t was because he was afraid I’d be frightened of him. Now, he knows I’m not. I believe he wants to spend the evening with me, and not in a cage.”

  Damon and Nathan were still awed that she wasn’t recoiling from the beast. “You’re certain that’s what you want?” Damon asked.

  She was feeling the beast’s passion inside her. “Oh, yes. I’m quite certain.”

  The Vampire stood and pulled her close. She felt his longing and glanced at the two men standing outside the cage. A red haze ringed their eyes. “I think they can communicate with each other. You both feel him appealing to you. That might be something for you to study, Nathan. If they can do that from a distance, it could benefit us if another situation arises. Unlock the cage and stand back. My Vampire is quite jealous and protective. He’s also quite aroused and wants to take me home.”

  Nathan turned the key and joined Damon by the side wall of the shack. Ariel looked up at the beast. “You be nice. It was Lucien who asked them to do this.” The playfulness came back to his eyes. He threw her over his shoulder and stormed out. He stopped and glared at the two men and roared. As he strode to the door, Nathan heard Ariel reprimand, “Now that was just rude.”

  Ariel was aware of wind whipping by her as she hung over his shoulder. The next thing she knew, they were in front of their house. She pushed up and looked at him. “That was a rush. What else can you do?”

  He smiled at her and she felt aroused wetness seep from inside her with the blast of desire. “I know you can do that,” she laughed. He carried her through the house and dropped her on the bed. A taloned finger moved towards her. “No, let me take it off. Sarah’s going to kill me if you rip another one.”

  He watched her take off her clothes, rubbing himself excitedly. His claws dug into her breasts as she undressed him. “Sit on the bed so I can get your boots off.” When she bent over, he pushed her head onto his cock. She turned her head and sank her fangs into his thigh. “Be patient,” she muffled. She tried to pull her head up. “Shoot. I think I’m stuck again.”

  Ariel was still learning how to use her fangs. Dropping them was easy. Calming down enough to retract them was still a problem for her. The Vampire sighed and stroked her head until the teeth lifted. “Thanks.” She automatically licked the punctures.

  She finished with his boots and pulled his pants the rest of the way off. He threw her on the bed and she squealed as he pinned her underneath his strong body. His hands rested on the sides of her head and he gazed into her eyes while his thumbs stroked her cheeks.

  A feeling of complete adoration filled her thoughts as he let her know how he felt about her. The power of his love was astounding. His full lips pressed against her, and her tongue gently caressed his fangs, arousing the sensitive nerves. He shuddered and plunged his tongue deeper into her warm mouth while rubbing his hard shaft along her thigh.

  The Vampire’s mouth left hers and traveled to the pulse fluttering in her neck. He licked her and she stiffened, preparing for the quick piercing pain as he bit. The soft pulls made her nipples ache and her channel tighten. She turned her head and sank her fangs into him. They lay like that, drinking from each other and letting the sexual heat build.

  Without warning, the Vampire retracted his fangs and ripped his neck away from her, slamming her wrists over her head and capturing them in one hand. His other hand moved to her chest. One claw barely broke the skin as it passed from her throat, between her breasts and down to her navel, leaving a thin line of blood beading along the score in its wake.

  Ariel looked up at him, bottom lip quivering with anticipation. “You better let me close those. You’re bleeding all over the place.” He bent and she lapped quickly at his neck. Still holding her hands captive, his tongue followed the bloody trail to her stomach.

  His mouth found her nipple and his tongue flicked the ring piercing the tip. His teeth nipped in increasing bites until he registered her pain and sank his fangs into her mound. He needed the pain to fuel his arousal. Ariel had learned to accept this and it didn’t scare her anymore. It still hurt, though. He moaned pleasure at her whimpers.

  While he drank, his finger spread her cream along her folds. He inhaled her scent and quickly licked her breast and let go of her wrists as he dove between her thighs. Pulling her labial rings, he brushed her slit with his thumb and watched the cream drool from inside her spasming core. She was trembling now and grabbed his wrists.

  His hips were thrusting and Ariel was wild with the need to have him fill her. She arched her back into a climax, clenching emptily as her juices flowed. The Vampire cooed encouragement, as her hands gripped the sheets and her long hair swayed across the pillow. She was panting as her
nerves finally stopped sparking her passion.

  His arousal was so complete the sucking organ had already extended from his shaft. He watched it reaching out toward her expelled cream. He had no more control over its lust, than Lucien had over him. He shuffled closer to ease the tension on his cock and watched as the suckers opened and closed when it found her cleft.

  Keeping her spread with one hand, he moved his erection to the side with the other so he could continue to watch it drink her. It turned and coated itself in her slick wetness. He’d been aware of this unique attachment, but never studied it before. Glancing at her face, he saw her eyes closed as she chewed her lip with her fang. Her beauty was uncompromised and his heart swelled that she should be his mate.

  One claw gently moved the aroused tentacle so he could enter her. It whipped in a frenzy to get back to its need. The Vampire dug his claws into her hips and filled her in a single plunge. She was still screaming at the pain of his grasp when the extension wormed into her rectum, still sucking hungrily.

  It took several minutes for the agony of her pierced, clawed flesh to subside enough for her clenching muscles to grip his cock. He thrust wildly into her when he felt her first spasm. Ariel’s senses were overloaded with the assault and she felt her pinnacle crest, raising herself and throwing her arms around his neck as she shuddered and gasped against his chest in release. The roar of his orgasm echoed off the walls before she stopped trembling.

  He lay her gently back on the bed and nuzzled her wounds lovingly as he sealed them. Joining her, he pulled her close and she kissed his sweat slickened chest before she drifted off to sleep.

  The Vampire held her and a slight quiver ran through him as he thought how close he’d come to losing her to Edmond’s deranged monster. He knew that was the creature that was lying dead on the prairie. The Vampire was driven insane by centuries of starvation with no way to fulfill its craving for passion and pain. It hated Edmond, its own surrogate, for allowing him to be captured. The last vestige of sanity for the beast snapped when it saw the iron keys had been within reach.