Darkness Comes This Way

by Pixie Lynn Whitfield

  Quickly, he pulled her back against him and turned his head.

  “Go ahead,” he whispered. “You need it.”

  “You told me if I ever fed from you, you’d kick my ass,” she tried to joke. Her voice came out weak and slow.

  “We’ll deal with that later,” he replied, his voice carrying a smirk that she couldn’t see. His fingers tenderly played through strands of her hair. She smiled at his touch.

  “Wow, if I’m getting this lucky, maybe I can get you to cross-stitch with me sometime, too.” He tensed and quickly shook his head.

  “No, that’s all yours.”

  She softly laughed, but it ended on a cough. He pushed her into the crook of his neck further to entice her.

  Zarah leaned into him. His scent grew heavier as she neared the hollow of his throat, and beneath her hand on his chest, his heart beat rapidly. It was a funny thing to feel it, knowing that they were a supposed risen-from-the-dead race of creatures. Yet they still had beating hearts and emotions. Perhaps even a soul. A human female and vampire male could bear children.

  She closed her eyes and listened to his pulse for a few beats before her teeth finally sank into the soft flesh.

  Draven emitted an automatic low growl and gripped her tighter against him as she fed. She savored the glorious flavors that danced over her taste buds, already beginning to return her strength. The rush of his cold blood tasted rich and electrifying. Her eyes sprang open, and her hand tenderly found a grip in his hair. Only seconds passed before she pulled away again, not wanting to overtake his offering, and the exhaustion continued to wear her thin. Still, it was enough to start healing the poison in her body.

  She pulled back and looked into his eyes again. That’s when she noted the change. The silver and violet flecks that sparkled within his irises shone back down at her and she groaned.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, turning her head in shame.

  “For what?” Draven sounded confused.

  “Everything, but mostly, the change that’s occurred within you. Because of me, you’re different. A new species so I’ve been told.”

  He turned her face gently back toward him.

  “I’m not sorry. We’ll get through this okay?”

  Slowly, she nodded and sighed. Her eyes were drooping. She heard sirens and the helicopter again.

  “Am I hearing things?” she asked quietly, confused, focusing on the sounds.

  “No. Those are humans. They’re close. We need to get out of here soon.”

  “It’s too late, Draven. I have a feeling they already know.”

  With that, she closed her eyes and breathed deep. He knew she was likely right and uneasiness creased his eyes. Standing, he cradled her in his arms and began to trek back across the bay to meet the others. Except when he turned, he saw them standing at the large rollaway doors already waiting on him. The massive forms of the Fallens took up a lot of the space. Seth was frowning, holding a large golden sword, as he looked around the bay at the destruction. And then his eyes landed on Zarah.

  She could sense them, causing her eyes to open again.

  “Are those—” she started in awe.

  “Yes. They’re Fallens. They came to help as a favor to fulfill from your mother’s last request.”

  Zarah almost dropped from his arms from the shock at the mention of her mother, but didn’t say anything else. Instead she just held her arms around his neck as he continued to carry her toward the group, resting her head against his shoulder, and stared at the Fallen in the front with curiosity.

  “Everything in order?” Draven directed toward the group at no one in particular as he approached closer.

  “Not quite,” Thomas replied.

  “Humans are at the fence line. Police, military, media. ‘Copter is circling around, and it’s a news reporter. So everything has been caught on camera. We can get out of here through the back, but our species is definitely public now. It’ll be world news within forty-eight hours.”

  Zarah heard and while she was concerned, she was also busy staring at the Fallen. She didn’t know much about their kind other than some never-ending war between them and Vampires. They did not seek each other out on the streets for battle though; most lived in secret as humans. Seeing them there to help on behalf of her mother filled her with curiosity, and her eyes wandered tiredly over each of them.

  Then the one in front gazed down at her after looking over the destruction behind them, his face stern and his gold eyes stormy.

  “She should be destroyed,” he rumbled.

  Twenty-Eight

  “What?” Draven and Thomas both shouted, facing the Fallen. Zarah hunkered down more into Draven’s arms as he pulled in more tightly, protective, and her brother stepped in front of them.

  The band of Fallens stepped forward, still holding their strange swords. They were large, their wings intimidating. Zarah saw the other Guardians, the surviving ones from the Compound, quickly step beside them, holding their weapons as well.

  “I don’t understand, Seth,” Thomas finally spoke through gritted teeth. Zarah realized he was addressing the leader.

  “I thought you were on our side.”

  The Fallen rolled his eyes and sheathed his sword. Zarah noted his eyes were brighter, a brilliant gold that shone against his ivory skin. His long strawberry-blonde hair brushed his bare shoulders in waves. All of them had gold eyes, but their own differences. Unique hair colors, skin tones, body builds. But they were all bare-chested and wore black, baggy military style pants with boots.

  “I’m not on your side. We are never on your side,” Seth said with a dark laugh, causing her thoughts to be interrupted as she turned her attention back. She eyed the scene nervously, wondering if this was how she was going to really die. Surely they wouldn’t be able to defeat a band of Fallen warriors.

  They were running out of time standing around. Either they had to leave before the humans started storming the abandoned base, or before the sun started rising, which would be soon for both situations. Tired of waiting around, Zarah shifted her position so she could get a better view of Seth.

  “Why are Fallens and Vamps at constant war anyway?” she blurted. She felt Draven’s arms tense around her, and his fear that they were about to be in another battle—one they were sure to lose.

  Seth gazed down at her with narrowed eyes, his look sending shivers down her spine.

  “You’ll find out one day.”

  “So, are you going to kill me or not?”

  Everyone held their breath when she asked the question, not wavering as she continued staring up at him.

  He stepped forward. Thomas and Draven started to stop him, but his warning glare faltered their steps.

  “No, I’m not.”

  Then he reached forward and placed a large warm hand on her cheek where the cut was still trying to heal. Her body was still fighting some of the silver poisoning, despite having fed from Draven, because she didn’t take enough and the use of her power had drained her. Warmth spread through her cheek and down her neck into her chest. She almost gasped. It wasn’t uncomfortable; it felt beautiful and tender. He took his hand away too fast for her liking and she almost tried to grab it back. Draven frowned slightly at the reaction, but dismissed it when he saw Seth’s hand pull away.

  “You healed her?” He looked incredulous.

  She looked at the Fallen, who was still staring down at her, and instinctively reached up to touch her face. The cut was gone, and she could feel the silver also healed completely from her system. So, why was she still so tired?

  As if reading her mind, Seth nodded.

  “Yes, the poison is erased. But exhaustion is still prevalent because of the extensive use of power she used.”

  “Why?” she asked through tired eyes.

  “Why help me if you think I should be destroyed?”

  He shrugged and looked around the base again.

  “I guess you can say our band of warriors are rebels. Y
our world’s version of Rogues perhaps? Your mother was one as well. Not the type that you obviously eradicate, of course. But we go against our Masters. You are granted to live from us, but you won’t be so lucky should you meet any Fallen Warriors that follow the Masters. They will destroy you and any that follow you.”

  “I want to know more about this. About my mother, too,” she whispered sleepily, yawning.

  “You will in time, I’m sure. For now, we should go,” he instructed, looking at the others. Everyone nodded in agreement and began making for the back exit as they heard human shouts coming from outside drawing closer toward the buildings.

  “Thomas,” Zarah said softly, reaching across and touching her brother’s arm on their way out.

  He looked over at her questioningly.

  “Maybe I won’t kill you after all.”

  She smirked at his stunned expression before falling asleep seconds later.

  *******

  Warmth and light flooded her. Zarah stepped into a clean, empty room with pristine white walls and matching ceramic tile. Her body moved slowly as she looked around.

  “Am I dreaming?” she asked out loud. Her voice came out echoed, and sounded soft and musical.

  “Somewhat,” a female voice responded behind her suddenly, causing her to turn and face her visitor.

  Zarah gasped.

  “Mom?”

  “Hi, sweetheart,” Kathleen said with a radiant smile, standing before Zarah and looking just as beautiful as she had before she’d died.

  Zarah sucked in a sharp breath, afraid to touch her. Instead, her mother took the remaining steps toward her and pulled her into a tight embrace. Zarah’s arms stayed limp at her sides, still in shock.

  “Listen to me carefully. I don’t have much time with you,” Kathleen started in a rush after pulling back, keeping her hands steady on her shoulders.

  “The world is about to change dramatically, and you are going to be a force to be reckoned with. You must learn to control and use your powers. You are so strong, baby girl. And start a change for as many as you can. The Fallen Masters already know and they’ll be coming for you, so you’re going to be up against more than just humans and rabids. I don’t want to see you destroyed by the hands of the Masters the way I was.”

  “But I thought the Rogues—” Zarah started, confused.

  Her mother smiled sadly and shook her head.

  “No. I was an Exiled One. Once the Masters found my whereabouts, they ordered my destruction. I made sure not to let on that I had children or they would have destroyed you both as well.”

  “This is all so confusing. I have a lot of questions.”

  “I know. You will learn more in due time.”

  Zarah nodded slowly, knowing that her visit was coming to an end as tears sprang to her eyes.

  “You’ve grown quite beautifully, sweetheart. Just as I always knew you would.” Kathleen took a loose strand of Zarah’s hair and tucked it back behind her ear. When her mother nodded and smiled, her short bobbed hair bounced with her, and her turquoise-gold eyes sparkled like glitter.

  “It’s time for you to wake up. Draven awaits, I’m sure. By the way, you should tell him to start looking more into his own past and family history. Just a thought.”

  When Zarah started to speak, Kathleen held up a hand to interrupt.

  “Don’t ask why, it’s a suggestion that I think you should follow for the sake of the future.”

  She nodded and wiped away a few tears.

  “Will I ever see you again, Mom? Like this?”

  “Not likely,” Kathleen started, smiling sadly again and then reaching forward to place a hand on Zarah’s chest.

  “But know that I’m always in your heart, darling.”

  Her mother started to turn and walk away from her.

  “Take care of your brother, too,” she added before her form faded from sight and Zarah was left with a heavy emptiness.

  *******

  There was a soft tickle on her cheek, slowly drawing her awake. Her eyes fluttered open to see Draven staring down at her with worry. He pulled his hand away. His fingers brushing across her cheek having been what awakened her, and smiled in relief when she stared up at him in silence.

  The emptiness from the dream of her mother still weighed her down and she continued to fight the tears back.

  Noticing she was in a bed, with Draven sitting beside her, she looked around briefly to see a large room that was well furnished. An office with all the current updated technology she could have imagined set off to the side in a separate space through an open doorway. She laid in a large wrought-iron bed with four posts that stood tall and proud, winding up toward the ceiling in an elegant leafed pattern. The floor was a dark cherry hardwood. Across the room, sat a black leather couch with a glass table beside it. A large, thin television hung on the wall in front of the bed.

  “Where are we?” Her voice cracked.

  “At the new Compound building we’re establishing. It’s, uh, above ground this time. So that will explain why you won’t see any windows during daylight hours.”

  She paused and looked around again, seeing what he meant. Just like he said, she couldn’t visibly see any windows. Instead she saw large sliding metal shutters locked in the place where the windows were meant to be. They looked motorized, and when she glanced on the wall near the draping burgundy curtains, she saw the control panel system that probably controlled them.

  She noticed a shopping bag on the table in the sitting area. When he caught her gaze on it, he grew flustered, picking it up and carrying it over to her.

  “I know you lost all of your belongings, so I went to a store before sunrise and bought some things.”

  She stared at him blankly, blinking a few times, before turning to the bag and peeking inside. A soft smile turned up the corners of her mouth when she saw the items: several cross-stitching patterns with their threads and needles, some art paper and pencils, and a beading kit for making jewelry. It wasn’t everything, but enough, and he’d thought of her.

  “Thank you.”

  He nodded and cast his eyes down.

  His nearness made her nervous, self-conscious. It was a new feeling that she hadn’t experienced before. She bit her lip trying to think of more to say. Her eyes drifted back to him and she sighed, beginning to sit up.

  “We’re sharing this building with the Fallens. You should know that,” he spoke slowly. He watched her cautiously.

  She froze and clenched her jaw.

  “Why? I thought they were going to leave?”

  Draven stood and crossed the room in long strides. Maybe the closeness had made him nervous, too. She didn’t know. Or perhaps, he was just falling back into his usual cold, Guardian routine and things were going to go back to where they had stood between them before. After all, she had changed him into a strange new being. Even she hated herself for that.

  Zarah watched him silently, waiting for his response, as he walked over to a dresser and poured a couple of drinks. His face was emotionless when he turned and brought one back to her, keeping one for himself.

  “Apparently not. Seth and his brothers want to stay. There’s a lot already happening,” he replied after a moment while she drank. She hadn’t realized how thirsty she’d been until he handed her the glass.

  Suddenly, Zarah thought of Thomas and frowned. Opening her senses, she immediately knew he was somewhere in the building there as well.

  Draven jumped in alarm when she’d stood abruptly, thrusting her empty cup at him.

  “I have something to take care of long overdue. Give me your gun and show me right now where Thomas is.”

  Twenty-Nine

  Draven was tripping over his feet, stumbling over the end of the area rug, before he caught Zarah’s arm. She’d already found his gun and was loading it.

  Her hair was a long, tangled mess. It was apparent that someone, or Draven, had changed her shirt at least. The other one had been stained with blood. S
he was now wearing an oversized plain black shirt. Her jeans had been torn at the knees during the fighting, but she didn’t care. She tossed out the question of whether Draven changed her shirt or not, ignoring her current appearance, and went about loading the ammunition.

  Ignoring Draven’s fumbling, she headed for the door.

  “What are you going to do?” He grabbed her arm, stopping her, as she started out in the hallway.

  “I’m going to find Thomas. I know he’s here.” She yanked her arm back.

  “You can take me to his room, it’d be quicker. Either way, I’ll find him.”

  Zarah kept walking. She saw the distress and confusion in his eyes. He kept protesting.

  “Zarah, I thought you said back at the base that you might not kill him? And really…can’t you get past this now? He helped through a lot, and he’ll continue helping us, I know. Besides, I met Ethan. I saw what happened to him. Maybe you can cure Thomas.”

  She swallowed and clenched her jaw. The truth was she was going to do exactly that. It was a big decision on her part. Since she had returned from being Rogue, her oath always had been to kill Thomas when given the chance. The last couple of months changed her.

  Zarah didn’t tell Draven he had nothing to worry about. Instead, she kept walking briskly through the hall with the gun in her hand at her side waiting for her senses to pick up on her brother, determination set in her features.