A Guardian's Salvation

by Stein Willard

  “I will kill you with my bare hands.” She stepped closer to him and Molan quickly held up his hands.

  “No wait, Leo.” He took a deep breath. “We both knew it was a perilous mission. Our only chance now is to finish what we have started.”

  The hulking Eternal turned away from him and walked over to the chair. This time she picked it up and threw it across the chamber.

  “Do what you must then. I just hope that it works, because if not, our deaths will have been for nothing.”

  †

  The room was as silent as a tomb as the five vampires stood in the center of it. Clarissa pushed a shaky hand through her hair as she tried over and over to make a mental link with Jessica. Jonas stood next to her, his posture a little stooped. She turned to him and noticed that he looked even paler than before. He was a stubborn man and even though the others had offered to attend to his wounds, he had refused outright. He was adamant that he was not going to rest until they found the others.

  Tahlia broke away from the group and slowly inspected the room. Clarissa had known that the woman possessed immense power, but now, as she carefully stalked through the room, she could feel the ominous aura which clung to the Vampire Queen. Pierre and Paloma broke away, too, and following Tahlia, began to meticulously scrutinize the room.

  “There is nothing here.”

  Clarissa almost jumped when Tahlia spoke behind her. She hadn’t even noticed when the woman had entered the lounge area again. She walked over to the door and out into the hallway. Trinity followed on her heels, but Tahlia suddenly held up her hand. Her nostrils flared as she inhaled deeply.

  “Paloma, Pierre, come tell me what you think of this.”

  Everyone stepped out into the hallway, Paloma and Pierre leading the way. The two Royals delicately sniffed the air before they stepped back, their faces unreadable. Jonas joined them, too, and after he’d inhaled a few times, he stood back with a low growl.

  “An Eternal. What would an Eternal be doing here? “

  “What is an Eternal?” Trinity enquired softly and Clarissa stood closer too. It was evident that the Master Vampires were incensed by what they had just found. Tahlia turned to them and sighed.

  “They are also a part of the Royal Clan, but have been kept apart from us. They are rumored to roam through Europe, but have never in their 700 years of existence tried to contact us.” She shrugged, making the air vibrate as powerful ripples bounced off her. “There is no time to explain everything to you now. We first need to track down our visitor.”

  She turned on her heel and slowly dissolved as she walked away, not waiting for the others to follow.

  †

  Jessica was stiff with fear, as she watched the old man in the white robes, pouring over a thick volume, mumbling to himself. The steely-eyed warrior stood in front of the fireplace, drinking wine directly from a decanter, having crushed the goblet in her hand earlier. Taking in the scene, Jessica couldn’t help but find the whole situation unreal.

  Two days ago, she wasn’t even aware of the existence of vampires. Now she found herself hopelessly in love with one, kidnapped by another, and staring at a thousand-year-old Druid priest. Howie would never believe this. Not that she would tell him. She sure as hell didn’t want to end up on Star News being ridiculed as an eccentric fool.

  She felt a soft hand on her shoulder and almost jumped out of her skin. Jemima stood next to her, her blue eyes gentle as they looked at her.

  “How’re you holding up?”

  “To be honest … I don’t know.” Her voice shook slightly and she felt the hand on her shoulder squeeze lightly.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll be okay.” She looked at their two kidnappers and grinned. “I seriously doubt they mean us any harm. They’re probably just trying out an experiment … which will probably turn deadly for them, once Tahlia and the others track them down.”

  Jessica smiled too. Jemima was right. These two didn’t look like they meant them any harm. Although the big vampire was scary looking with her large muscled frame, it was obvious that she was more a danger to the Druid than to them. Another source of hope was that Jemima firmly believed Tahlia would come and get them. She remembered the dark vampire’s words of welcome earlier that evening and she too felt a sense of immense relief. She had a very dangerous ally.

  “Molan, you better hurry up. The Royals are not stupid. They will be here soon.” The dark vampire spoke without turning to face the Druid. “What is taking so long anyway?”

  “I need to cross-reference my notes with those of Gellar. Somewhere along the line I think I have missed something. It would seem as if the crystal contained more than one …”

  “That is definitely not what I want to hear now, Molan.”

  “I know, Leo, but if I want to get this right, I need to make double sure before we …”

  “Well, hurry up then, before they get here.” Leo snapped impatiently.

  “Too late.” An eerily calm voice sounded.

  Jessica saw both Leo and the Druid turn sharply to locate the owner of the voice. Standing a few feet away, with her hands clasped behind her back, was Tahlia. She looked composed, as her black eyes flitted over the captives, quickly inspecting them for any injuries. What happened next, made Jessica gasp and reach for Jemima’s hand.

  There was a sudden blur, almost too quick for the human eye to follow. The next moment, Tahlia was standing right in the middle of the room, the big vampire, hoisted high in the air. With her eyes blazing blood red, Tahlia hurled the Eternal against the opposite wall.

  “Oh my …” Jessica muttered in shock. Leo was as tall as Tahlia and clearly outweighed her by a few pounds, but Tahlia hurled her around as if she weighed nothing more than a feather. Leo was still sliding down the wall when Tahlia grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and once again flung her across the room.

  “I do not know what you were thinking coming near my family, Leonara.” Tahlia hissed. “They are under my protection and …” She reached for Leo again. “… yet you dared to lay your hands on them.” Her hand curled around the Eternal’s neck as she lifted Leo. “Free my family, Molan, or I will snap you in two with my bare hands.”

  Jessica saw Leo’s eyes beginning to pop out and she quickly looked at Jemima. The blonde vampire was coldly observing the one-sided encounter.

  “She will kill her. You need to stop her.”

  Paloma suddenly appeared out of nowhere and placed a hand on Tahlia’s arm, her face was somber as she studied her friend.

  “Let her go, Tahlia. She is not even trying to fight back.”

  “No one threatens my family … no one. who does not have a death wish.” The words were uttered quietly, making the hair on Jessica’s neck stand up straight.

  “Please, put her down, Tahlia. They didn’t harm us in any way, nor were they threatening toward us.” Jemima tested the invisible cage and when she found the spell still in place, she turned cold eyes in Molan’s direction. “Unless you want to be next, Druid, I suggest you free us … NOW!”

  Jolted out of the stupor he’d been in since Tahlia appeared out of nowhere, Molan quickly reached for his staff and pointed it at Jemima. Freed, Jemima strode over to her wife and put her hand on her arm.

  “Let her go, baby, please.” Tahlia growled deep in her throat. Jemima leaned closer and placed a soft kiss on the bulging bicep of her wife. “She really didn’t mean us any harm. Let her go.”

  Hissing and fangs dripping with saliva, Tahlia tossed Leo away from her with a flick of her wrist. Jemima cupped Tahlia’s face lovingly with one hand while she wiped the spittle off Tahlia’s chin with her other.

  “Hi there, I’ve missed my wife. Bring her back,” Jemima implored gently as she gazed deeply into her wife’s eyes.

  Almost immediately, red eyes changed back to black and the edgy atmosphere in the chamber gradually abated. Tahlia just stared at Jemima in silence. Jessica turned to Gabriella to enquire what was happening.

  “They
are talking to each other using their mental link.”

  The room filled with Royals. Certain that Tahlia was not going to have any further outbursts; Paloma rushed over to Inger’s side and engulfed her in a fierce embrace. Pierre rushed to Genevieve, kissing her boldly, while both Trinity and Clarissa sought out their respective partners.

  The couples slowly made their way out of the chamber, until only Tahlia and Jemima remained.

  †

  Tahlia turned to look at the Druid, her black gaze unblinking.

  “I know what you were trying to do,” This time her voice held a tone of resignation as she glared at the priest. “Lucky for you both, I seem to have come just in time.” She turned and led Jemima to the door; there she turned around again, her eyes resting on a groggy Leo who was slowly coming to her feet. “If you two ever come near my family again, I doubt that even my wife will be able to restrain me.”

  With that parting threat, the Queen took her mate’s hand and left the chamber, taking the lingering aura of malice with her.

  Molan cast a guarded glance in Leo’s direction and stiffened when he found the vampire staring at him, the ice-blue eyes flat. He softly cleared his throat, but still the vampire didn’t look away.

  “Pack up your things, Molan. From this moment on you are not welcome in this village.”

  Without a backward glance, the warrior limped out of the chamber.

  †

  Jonas’s head snapped up where he leaned against the wall of the hallway, his dark eyes sharp as they took in his surroundings. Someone was watching. He could feel their eyes on him. Slightly dizzy from blood loss and pain, he steadied himself as he straightened his big frame. Tahlia and the others were nearby and he knew they would come to his rescue instantly if he needed them.

  “Show yourself,” he said coldly and scanned the many pillars in the hallway. There was a slight movement and a petite blonde stepped from behind a pillar a few feet away. She bowed deeply.

  “It is just me, milord,” came a soft, timid voice. The woman straightened and looked directly at him.

  Jonas was stunned as he looked at the woman. She was astonishingly beautiful.

  “Why were you hiding over there?” His voice was gruff from pain and he sensed the woman’s unease as she quickly lowered her head.

  “You are injured, milord, and I was contemplating whether I should come to your aid.”

  Jonas’s eyes lingered on the blonde for a few moments before he pushed away from the wall.

  “Come closer, Eternal.” The woman slowly walked over to where he stood, her gaze still lowered respectfully. “Have you come to a decision then?”

  She looked up and Jonas felt his heart spasm when he looked into striking ice-blue eyes. They were gentle as they looked back at him.

  “I would be honored to offer my assistance, milord, if … if you would allow me.”

  Jonas stared at her for a long while and the woman quickly averted her eyes again.

  “What reason do I have to trust you?” His voice was soft, as his eyes caressed the golden locks which framed the beautiful woman’s face. She reminded him of a small, porcelain doll.

  “I am the Healer of my people, milord, and it distresses me to see anyone in pain.” The blue eyes looked up again, fleetingly, before they were averted.

  “What is your name, Healer?”

  “Izaura Pompeii, milord.”

  Jonas nodded and held out his hand, palm up, to her. “I am …”

  “Lord Jonas Beydrenoff, Prince of the Royal Clan.”

  Jonas felt a strange feeling spread through him at the knowledge that the woman knew his name. She quickly stepped forward and took his hand. Jonas watched as she gently turned his hand and brushed a soft kiss over his bruised knuckles. At the touch of her soft lips on his skin, he felt a strong current run through his body. His reactions to the woman were puzzling to him, especially after he had vowed that there would never, ever, be another to make him feel this way after his beloved Joan. He could almost see Joan’s smirking face in his mind’s eye. With her dying breath, Joan had implored him to never shut himself off from other opportunities. Shattered, by her pending death, Jonas had scoffed at Joan’s pleas. He noticed that his silent scrutiny was making the blonde vampiress nervous.

  “I actually extended my hand so you could lead me to wherever it is you take your patients, Izaura.” She lifted surprised eyes to him and Jonas smiled warmly. “But, I greatly appreciated the kiss. You surely are a great healer, for the sting in my hand has lessened considerably.”

  A shy smile formed on the Healer’s lips and the grip on his hand tightened as she stepped closer.

  “If milord will follow me, please.” They slowly walked down the hallway.

  Soundlessly, two figures appeared in the hallway, their eyes following the departing figures.

  “What do you make of this, my love?”

  Tahlia’s gaze was pensive as it followed Jonas and the healer, before she spoke. “There is an age-old prophecy about the blending of the two Races. I am unsure if we are witnessing the realization of that prophecy.”

  Jemima stepped closer to her wife and wrapped an arm around her waist.

  “I’m happy for Jonas. He’s been alone for too long.”

  Tahlia turned and looked down into Jemima’s eyes, her own black eyes blazing with love. She placed a soft kiss on Jemima’s lips. “Let’s go home now, my love. Pierre and Genevieve will keep an eye on Jonas for the time being.”

  Epilogue

  A few hours later …

  Clarissa grunted softly, as she thrust into the warm depths of a writhing Jessica. They were both very close to climax. Clarissa quickened her pace, as she rode Jessica’s thigh, the exquisite friction setting off a warm glow in the pit of her stomach. She lifted her head and looked down into the smoky gaze of her lover. Jessica was whimpering softly, her hand clutching the strong forearm of Clarissa as it thrust between spread legs.

  “I claim you as mine, Jessica Milroy. I offer you my heart and soul as sign of my eternal love for you on this earth and beyond.” She placed a passionate kiss on Jessica’s gasping lips. “I love you with everything I am, Jessica. Do you accept me?”

  Jessica nodded slowly, unshed tears making her eyes glitter in the candlelight.

  “I … accept you, Clarissa Vermont, as my one and … and only love. I love you with my whole heart and I will always place your needs before mine. I will support your choices and help you fulfill your goals. I will stand by you in difficult times and I will celebrate with you in times of joy.” Jessica pulled Clarissa’s head down for a deep kiss. “Do you accept me, my heart?”

  A brilliant smile came over Clarissa’s face. “I do, my love.” She captured Jessica’s lips in a tender kiss and slowly pulled her fingers out of Jessica’s sex only to find Jessica closing her thighs, capturing Clarissa’s hand in a strong grip. The grey eyes were pleading as they looked up into smoldering brown eyes.

  “Please … I don’t want you to stop.”

  Clarissa nodded and slowly began to thrust into Jessica again. Overcome by ecstasy, Jessica threw her head back as she softly panted Clarissa’s name.

  “Come with me, baby. I’m only waiting for you,” she whispered softly to her lover and felt Clarissa increase her thrusts as she rode her thigh. Clenching her jaw, Jessica closed her eyes to block out the erotic sight of Clarissa bucking wildly above her; instead she listened to the soft grunts escaping Clarissa’s lips. Just when she thought she couldn’t hold back any longer, she felt a deep shudder run through Clarissa’s body.

  Together they tumbled over the edge, as they strained against each other, loud cries filling the chamber as they breathlessly rode out their climax. Just when they both thought the wave had passed, another powerful orgasm tore through them both. It was so intense that they bucked wildly against each other, their eyes closed tightly as if blinded by the excruciating ecstasy ravaging their bodies. They were left in a boneless heap in the wake of
the orgasm, their bodies shivering uncontrollably.

  After a long while, Clarissa lifted herself off Jessica and rolled over onto her back.

  “That was unbelievable,” she gasped, her voice still a little shaky. When there was no reply coming from Jessica, she turned her head to look at her lover. Alarmed, she quickly sat up.

  Jessica had the strangest look on her face as she lay there staring at the ceiling. Her arms were cradling her stomach in an almost protective way.

  “What is wrong, my love?” Her voice was desperate as she leaned forward to cradle Jessica’s face in her palms. Her eyes moved frantically over Jessica’s face. “Come on, my angel, talk to me, please.”

  The grey eyes were glittering with unshed tears as they met her frantic ones.

  “I feel … different, Rissa,” she murmured softly, her tone almost wondrous.

  Clarissa was shaking now, her hands moving frantically over Jessica’s naked frame.

  “Are you in pain? Did I hurt you? Did I?”

  Jessica shook her head as if in a daze.

  “No, you didn’t hurt me.”

  “Then what is wrong, Jessica?” Her voice sounded hollow from fear.

  Jessica’s eyes suddenly cleared as she lifted a shaky hand to Clarissa’s cheek.

  “Rissa, I … I … think …”

  †

  Paloma’s silver eyes were dark with concern as they looked down into Inger’s flustered face. They had just finished making love when Inger had suddenly started acting strange. She gently gathered her naked lover in her arms and walked over to the opposite side of the chamber which Inger had set up as a small lounge.

  She sat down on the couch with Inger on her lap. With gentle fingers she turned Inger to face her and shuddered when she saw the same dazed look of the past few minutes in her eyes.

  “What is wrong, Inger. Tell me,” she pleaded softly. Her heart was hammering loudly in her own ears. Her fear for Inger had her shaking like a leaf.