Maledictus snarled and bared his teeth, “We will not let you leave until—”
“I’m sorry, what was that?” Damiano took a step towards him and sneered, “You’ll let us leave? Is that what I’m to gather from this exchange?” He shook his head, “No. We do not answer to the demands of any, and certainly not to those of violence made by those who serve us!”
Maledictus roared, “WE SERVE NOONE!”
Damiano smirked, “Then there’s nothing to discuss,” he turned to walk away.
Raving from the response, Maledictus lunged at the Italian vampire.
“Maledictus! No!” Nikki’s eyes widened.
“Zane!” Zoey started forward but was thrown back by Damiano’s yellow aura.
In a flash of movement and light, Maledictus was thrown off his feet and brought to his back; an auric bind fastening about his throat and tightening until his gasps were choked and rasped. As the beast’s kicking feet were tethered in the same fashion, Damiano appeared over him. Catching Maledictus’ arm in mid-swipe and breaking it over his knee, Damiano drove the heel of his foot into the beast’s chest over its heart. As Maledictus cried out in agony, he wrapped him in his aura and immobilized his body as his right hand gripped him at the chin and began to drain his life-force.
Nikki shivered as the air went cold, staring in shock at the display.
“N-no!” Zoey whimpered.
Whimpering, Maledictus’ body began to shift and deflate as he transformed back into Zane.
“P-p-please…” Zane whimpered, looking up at the Italian vampire. “Please don’t let her die…”
Damiano frowned, glaring down at him. “If I extend to you this favor—if I grant you your request—do you swear to The Council to control the thing inside you?”
Zane grimaced as the final steps of the transformation sent an agonized wave through his body. Stifling the cries of pain, he growled, “If you want any guarantee of me being able to control this thing inside me…bring her back! She settles him!”
Damiano paused at that, finally offering a nod and stood, turning away from him and stepping over to Serena and bowing his head to Zoey, “If you’ll pardon me, miss.”
Zoey blushed and stepped aside.
Staring down at her, Damiano cocked his head, peering at the gaping wound in her stomach before letting his aura out and scanning her body for any other signs of damage. “Tale dramma...” he sighed, “Cursed-boy! Here!”
Zane groaned, still recovering from Damiano’s beating, and hurried beside him, “Wh-what is it? Will she—”
“You love the girl, yes?”
Zane stared, stunned, “I... I do, yes.”
Damiano nodded, “That would explain the idiocy.”
Zane bit his lip, “What do you—”
A sharp slap connected with the back of Zane’s head, “Blood! The girl needs blood! Idiot!” Damiano shook his head, “If you can’t use your brain for her, at least open a vein for her!”
“She…” Zane looked down at Serena, “She’s going to be okay?”
Damiano sighed, “Not if you keep whimpering over her like an idiot! Will you give the girl what she needs and stop waiting for the forest to break out into song? Idiot! This is not a cartoon!” He stood and turned, “And this doesn’t change our agreement, boy. Just because you’re an idiot doesn’t make me a fool!”
Zane blushed, quickly biting into his wrist and beginning to feed it to Serena. At first the flow merely welled in her mouth, the excess beginning to spill past her parted lips and rolling down her cheek. As the crimson trail reached a vertical drop from her jaw, it began a steady drip to the ground and Zane started to turn so that he could call to Damiano to return.
A choked gurgle sounded from Serena and the blood in her mouth was abruptly swallowed before she heaved and her eyes shot open, “N-need more!”
“Serena?” Zane turned to her.
Serena coughed and licked some of the blood from her lips, “The one and only, baby.” Her breathing began to steady as she lifted her purple eyes to Zane’s wide and disbelieving own. “So… did we win?”
Zane, despite the situation, couldn’t hold back the laugh. “Yea, hon. We won. Keith’s on his way to being a Mythos Pay-Per-View torture special.”
“Oh good,” Serena sat up, grimacing as her still-healing stomach was forced to work, “I hope they put a cherry-bomb up his ass. Come to think of it, that sounds too—”
“SERENA!” Zoey’s shrill voice chimed a split second before she collided with her, “GLOMP!”
“Ow! Bitch!” Serena groaned as she was knocked over under the playful assault, “New rule; abdominal wound CLOSED before GLOMPING ensues!”
Zoey giggled, “Deal!”
Nikki smiled as she stepped over, “Okay! I’ve gotten things all patched up with The Council.” She glanced at Zane before addressing the others, “They said that, while they have to keep a watch on all Vail activity for the next few months—‘protocol’ as Damiano put it—it looks like you’re all otherwise in the clear.”
Serena frowned, noticing the way she watched Zane with envy in her eyes and bit her lip. This girl had some sort of attachment to Zane that she couldn’t place. Though she could see it wasn’t love, it certainly wasn’t hate, either.
She knew that for some reason, her being a Taroe had made her on Zane’s bad side, though she didn’t know why. She wanted to be nice to her though; she had brought Zane back to her before the fight. She smiled over at Nikki and nodded warmly.
“We should get back. She’s right.” She said.
“Will you be ok walking?” Zane looked down at her and after a second thought; he lifted her against him and began to walk through the forest back to their home.
“You don’t need to carry me, Zane.” Serena pouted and blushed, enjoying the feeling of his chest against her.
“You like it. Don’t deny it,” he grinned, his fangs extending as he looked at her. She could sense the attraction growing between them as they walked forward. She felt another blush creep up her cheeks and frowned. She was never this bashful against anyone before.
“You going to tie me to those train tracks yet, Snidely?” She smiled, the memory of their first meeting playing through her head.
“Only if you like it that way,” he grinned.
17
Settling
“Do you remember when we first met?” Zane asked, staring at the ceiling of their underground base.
“Of course I do. How could I ever forget?” she answered, smirking, “I beat the shit out of you.”
Laughing, he slapped a palm over his face and shook his head, “You know what? On second thought, I’m not sure I want to finish this thought.”
Serena giggled and shook her head, putting her hand on his chest, “No! You can’t just leave me hanging like that!”
“Sure I can!” he laughed, “What are you going to do about it?”
She glared, “I can beat the shit out of you again!” she jabbed him in the shoulder.
“Ow!” he looked over, “Oh that’s it!” He laughed as he rolled on top of her and playfully pinned her down, smiling down at her as she giggled under his hold and he nodded, “Yea… you were just as stunning that night as you are now. Even in the beginning, even though I was such a hopeless dick, I saw something in you.”
“But, though I had felt something even then, I knew—I could just tell—you were desperately in love with someone else. That night, when Devon took my body so that he could have you, I watched you from the back of my own mind—sharing the view with the beast as we both watched you and fell for you—and the emotions and passion and energy in your face gave us hope that, maybe, neither of us had to live as what we were expected to; I didn’t have to be the cursed jerk waiting to fade away. But then, after all was said and done, I was afraid. Though I didn’t fight it—I mean, how could I?—I still knew I had no chance. But, now he’s gone and it’s just me and…” Zane sighed and frowned, “Serena, I want you
to know that… fuck! I don’t know how to say this!”
“Zane...what are you trying to say? You’re rambling.” She frowned, “What is it? You know you can tell me anything.”
Zane frowned and looked over at her as she ran her left hand over his face for a moment. As she smiled and withdrew her hand, he spotted the glistening ring that she wore on her left hand—Devon’s ring—and narrowed his eyes at it. He knew she was over her long-dead lover and had moved on, but seeing the wedding band still wrapped around the ring finger of her left hand made him think that maybe she wasn’t ready for what he had in mind. Sighing, he forced a smile and kissed her hand.
“I just… I never thought I’d be in this position. I never thought anything would change for me. And, though I know you can step out into the world and have anybody you set your eyes on, I just wanted to tell you that I won’t ever have eyes for anyone else. I love you, Serena.”
Serena blushed, staring at him for a long moment—her eyes shimmering as they read the sincerity in his face—before she leaned her head against his strong chest and sighed softly.
“Zane...” she whispered and lifted her head to his, “… I would never want to see somebody else the way I see you. No matter what you think you know, I do—and I always will—love you.”
Feeling a well of happiness, he smiled and gingerly pressed his lips to hers.
Holding the kiss for a long, tender moment, Serena slowly parted his lips with her tongue and capturing his mouth completely with her own. As his tongue met hers, he felt a flash of heat and in the passion of the moment, he heard a growl but couldn’t bring himself to care who it had come from.
His arms lifted as her hands moved quick, desperate to separate their bodies from their clothing. Their mouths parted momentarily to get their shirts off and pressed back, more passion growing between them. Without breaking the kiss, he peeled away her pants along with his and pushed himself over Serena on the bed and continued to kiss her as they once again became one.
Nothing else mattered at that moment.
It was simply Zane and Serena’s world.
Zoey smiled and adjusted herself against Isaac’s chest as they settled into bed, “You were so incredible today!”
Isaac smirked, “So were you,” he rubbed his palm along her sides, “I had no idea you were such a great fighter!”
“I wasn’t that great,” Zoey blushed, “I just felt like I had to work harder because of everybody else.”
“Well, either way, I’ve never seen anybody fight that way!” Isaac kissed the top of her head, “You were so graceful!”
“I owe a lot of that to Serena,” Zoey confessed, “Seeing her grow and learn over the past few days really gave me something to aspire to.” She smiled, “She’s gotten stronger since I first met her. A lot stronger!”
“I bet. You and Zane are certainly great teachers, but…” he bit his lip and looked down.
“But what?” Zoey looked up.
“I was just wondering if you think she’s ready for what she’s taking on. I mean, I agree that she’s strong and everything, but is that going to be enough to rebuild her father’s clan and become their leader?” Isaac sighed as he looked down at her nervously, “I don’t mean to be rude, but she hasn’t had to do anything like this. I’ve only had to lead the small pack of therions in the woods and that’s challenging enough.”
Zoey moved closer to her lover and sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. Her short, blue, pixie styled hair fell over her face, “I know what you mean, Isaac, and I understand your concern. But I have to be hopeful. She’s Gregori’s daughter, and I’ve seen too many incredible things from him to make a judgment just yet.” She confessed, smiling up at him, “I know it’s weird, but I have faith in her.”
“That’s enough for me,” Isaac admitted, “And besides, since she agreed to rebuild with my pack as members I’ll be happy to help in any way I can.” He smiled.
Zoey smiled, “It means a lot to me to know that we’ll be clan-mate’s and that we’ll have a chance to rebuild like this. It’s going to be great!” She turned to Isaac and leaned closer, catching his lips in hers and simply relishing in the moment of being in Isaac’s embrace.
Nikki sighed as she sat in the forest, watching the moon from the clearing that, only hours earlier, she and the others had battled so ferociously in. Her emotions had overwhelmed her and had wracked her mind and she needed a break.
It was just too tolling to be that close to him and not be able to do anything about it.
She had finally allowed herself to see him again and, though she had known it was the wrong approach, she hadn’t been able to help herself. Though she couldn’t even be sure if she was wasting her time or not, seeing Zane’s face back at the tribe’s land had been too much of an opportunity to let pass. She had to know the truth! Though she hadn’t been completely honest with him when she first saw Zane, she’d known it had been him that she was looking for and, she wouldn’t have been able to figure out where to even start. Staring at the sky and letting out a deep sigh, she allowed herself to close her eyes as the memories built within her.
It was all driving her insane!
She’d just been missing him so much and, ever since she’d lost him all those years back, she’d been traveling alone and taking on any odd job that presented itself to her in whatever no-name town she’d happened across. And, while each new “home” was effective in helping her to help clear her thoughts for a time, the pain of her memories never failed to find her time and time again. It was becoming all-too clear that she would never be able to move on without some sense of closure.
Like it or not, she had to know the truth.
After all, he had been the only one who could stop her suffering in the past, and if there was any hope—any chance that she could find some way to have him back or to at least find closure to his absence—then she was determined to find it.
She frowned, looking up into the sky.
She had to go back to the clan.
18
Deadly Reunion
“Hey Zane?”
Silence.
Serena frowned and rolled over, leaning her head on his shoulder as he continued to stare up into the canopy of starlight as it cut through the openings in the treetop’s canopy. “Zane? Is everything alright?”
Zane’s eyes shifted slowly from one constellation to the next as whatever was haunting his thoughts kept him distracted and staring off into the distance.
Whatever it was, it looked like he was upset by it.
Biting her lip, Serena sat up and nudged him in the ribs, “Hey! Earth-to-vacant-eyed Zane!”
He blinked and finally turned his attention to her, realizing that he’d been zoning out and frowned. He was making her worry and he didn’t mean for that. Their path towards rebuilding their lives was just beginning and, though this was a happy and prosperous chance for all of them, he couldn’t help but worry about what could possibly go wrong.
After all, The Council was keeping tabs on all of them now, and they were sure to put a stop to anything and everything they saw as a threat.
“I’m sorry, Serena. I was just thinking,” Zane answered finally.
“Really? I hadn’t noticed! I just thought you were ignoring me because you never wanted to see me naked again!” She stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes, “You want to tell me what’s the matter?”
Zane sighed and shrugged, “I’m just nervous about rebuilding. I don’t want to end like the Odin clan.”
“I know,” Serena bit her lip, remembering the stories, “But haven’t you heard? The Stryker boy’s been turning his own situation around since waking up to that nightmare.” Serena smiled “ From what I hear he’s ruffling a lot of feathers, so obviously he’s not letting the Odin situation stop him!” She smirked and leaned back, staring up at the sky. “He does sound like he’d be interesting to meet!” She giggled.
Zane sneered and shook his head, “He sounds like a l
oose cannon, to me! I heard he went on some solo run in Maine and left a clusterfuck of a mess. Some obscene number of human casualties left in the woods. Apparently The Council was cleaning up after his little camping trip for nearly two weeks!” Zane turned away, growling, “Must be nice to carry the Stryker name like that!”
“Oh? You mean like how I get to carry the Vailean name?”
Zane scoffed, “Hardly!”
“Aw! I think somebody’s jealous?” Serena chuckled, winking, “Afraid I’m gonna hop the Stryker boy if I got the chance?”
Zane sneered and turned back to her, “Like he could handle you!” He laughed and rested his head in Serena’s lap, finally feeling relaxed in her presence.
With the fear of Keith destroying all of Gregori’s hard work behind them, and the impending threat of execution from an angry Council fading like a bad memory, the only real threat wasn’t in what was, but only what could be.
Serena smiled as she thought of how, in only a short time, she’d gone from living day-by-day in uncertainty and loneliness to having an epic new chapter in not only her life, but in the lives of all those in her new clan; a clan that she would be overseeing with Zane by her side. Blushing at the thought, she gazed down into his gloriously mismatched eyes and ran her hand across his cheek.
“I love you so much, Zane.”
Zane blushed, “I’ll never get tired of hearing that.”
Serena nodded and smiled, “And I’ll never get tired of saying it.” She laughed and nodded, looking over at Zane for a moment. Her smile broadened as his gaze bore into her. “I was wondering…”
“Hmm?” Zane looked over at her, “What is it?”
“Well, I was thinking: if I’m going to be in charge and whatnot, I should probably have a—” her eyes widened and she turned suddenly as a wave of dark blue auric energy approached. “No…” her purple aura flared angrily as she shot to her feet as she shrieked in rage, “You?”
Scarlet Night: The Complete Trilogy Page 22