“Tristan……..”
“Oh my God! I have been so caught up in everything going on that I had forgotten that the flames were gone. Does that mean that he is here? Does Nicholas have him?”
“That is one possibility,” Derek says after reading my frantic thoughts.
“One?” I ask, confused.
Sadness and excitement fills his eyes. “Either Tristan is near, or the transformation has begun.”
“Transformation?”
Transformation into what?
Then, it hits me.
“A vampire. You are trying to make me a vampire? I don’t understand. How would that stop the fire? I can’t be separated from Tristan unless I die.”
“Think about it Ridley. To become a vampire you technically have to die. When you truly embrace the dark part of your soul, the connection can also be severed. It would kill a normal bound pair, but since your soul is bound to more than one person it would not kill you. It would simply free you to love the other half of your soul.”
“And Tristan? What will it do to him? His soul is not bound to another.”
“Tristan….well, I suppose he would die. Only if you truly love the other though. Just breaking the bind would not kill him, but completing it with another would.”
Ahhhh! Can this get any worse? I will not be the reason that Tristan dies. I may not be able to stop the transformation, but I can stop his death. Pretty easily actually. Loving Derek will never be an issue.
I open my mouth to tell him that, when suddenly his whole demeanor flips. His caramel eyes flash red. His fangs pop into place. “Oh hell. Dark Derek is about to be back in all his glory.” I see him struggling to remain in control, but I know it is no use. Daddy is home.
“Hurry! Chain yourself back up, and here, keep the key. He is near, and he is not alone. He is excited. That is never good. Quick, do you feel the flames? Do you feel them at all?”
I shake my head no as I do what he ask.
Despair pours through my soul as I wait on the inevitable to happen. Nicholas is back, and I know from the absence of flames and his good mood exactly what is going on.
Tristan found me.
~Chapter 15~
The Reunion
For a brief moment I dare to hope, but that hope is crushed when Nicholas enters my cell wearing a cocky grin. He throws an annoyed glance at Derek, but then turns his attention back to me. Derek bows his head to his father, and steps into the shadows. The dark hiding him from view.
“Well. You look better today love. I see that my son was unable to resist the urge to help you in my absence. Just as well, you were starting to stink. Tell me child, has the pain lessened?”
Crap! The excitement in his eyes and the cockiness in his voice tells me that he already knows the answer to that question. My heart shatters, because I know without a doubt that Tristan is here. He came for me, just like he said that he would. Now, he is going to die for me; just like I prayed he wouldn’t. I have never been more terrified. Dying is one thing. Surviving in a world without someone you love is quite another. I’d take death over life without Tristan any day.
“Maybe I am just immune to the pain now Nicholas, as it seems to be my only companion in this hell.”
He throws his head back and laughs; a sound so chilling that it gives me goose bumps.
“I admire your sharp tongue child. I like you. You have spunk. One day, you will be a great daughter-in-law. I like you so much in fact, that I got you a present.”
I swallow. I already know what present he has for me. I just hope that I am wrong.
“Well, I don’t take gifts from creepy old men, but thanks anyway!”
He smiles. “Trust me, you will want this present. After all, you just said that you were lonely, so I got you a pet. Something that I think can keep you company for a while.”
Panic invades me as he walks to the door and pulls it open. The grating of the steel, piercing my ears. I already know who is coming through that door. I am ashamed to say, but there is a part of me that is happy he is here; a small part. The other part of me is terrified. If he is in here with me, then how are we ever going to escape?
Tristan’s unconscious body lands mere feet from me. I struggle to reach him, but find the chain several inches too short. I glance at Derek, begging him with my eyes to help, but the kind man that I had met moments before is gone. Before me now stands the monster that I have always thought that he was. I’m not angry at him for not helping me. I understand. He is just as much a victim of his father’s cruelty as we all are; maybe even more so. At least I still have my free will. “Dang super natural enforced chains.” I pull harder on my chain, but it won’t budge. Defeated, for the moment, I stop struggling.
“Now, now my love. You can look, but don’t touch. Can’t very well have you sharing blood now, can we? Oh, wait! He has no blood left to share.” Nicholas teases with a laugh as he walks over to Tristan, and chains him out of my reach.
“Behave, or he dies,” He warns, before leaving the room. Derek follows closely behind, not even giving me a second look as he passes. I don’t know why, but that hurt. I ignore the betrayal. It’s not betrayal; not really. Betrayal only comes from those you trust, and I do not trust him. Enough about Derek. Tristan is here, and he needs me.
I struggle in my chains harder, desperate to reach the man that I love. My hand is wrapped tightly around the key that Derek gave. Giving me the key was his way of helping, while he still had some control. I am thankful for that help, as I unlock the chain keeping me from the person I love the most. I pull my weak body across the dirty floor, and gently place Tristan’s head in my lap. He is pale and lifeless; truly broken. His clothes are ripped and stained with blood. It is the sight of him, usually so full of life and brave, now reduced to this shell of himself that is my breaking point. I can handle anything they want to do to me, but not this; never this.
“Tristan! Tristan baby. Please wake up! Come back to me.”
I repeat those words over and over again, praying that God will help me. My parents may have defied God by having me, but I still believe that he will protect me. God doesn’t care who we are or how we came to be. He only cares how we choose to live. I have chosen to fight for the light, to return life to those who retain faith, and I believe that he will do the same for me. So, I rock and I pray, begging for him to come back. I would give my soul to heal him, but I can’t. My powers don’t work here. Lucky for me there is one power that nothing can stop. Love. Love like ours can survive anything, even this. Magic or no magic, our love is the most powerful force in the world. As long as we have that, we can never truly be defeated.
I bury my face in his neck, and focus on the love that I have for him. Every smile, every laugh, and every kiss.
*****
~Tristan~
I searched for her for days, but it seemed that Nicholas had hidden his compound well. The others tried to convince me to give up and pursue a new lead, but I refused. I may no longer be able to feel her through our connection, but my heart knows when she is close. We decided to split up and check the area one more time. I was scanning the parameter when I saw him.
Nicholas.
All logic goes out the window. I don’t care about getting caught, don’t care about anything but getting to her. I only get in one good punch, before his men are on me; biting and hitting me. I am unconscious before I even call for help.
I am still floating in a haze when I hear her sweet voice. She is sad, and all I want to do is make her smile. Even in pain, all I can think about is her. I mistake her for a dream when I see her angelic face. After days of waiting, and wondering, I can finally breathe again. The thing that alerts me to this being reality is her appearance. Her lip is bleeding, a nasty cut marring the kissable flesh. Her beautiful blue eyes are hidden, the soft skin that surrounds them swollen and black. Still, she is the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen.
She is alive. Suddenly, all the pain that I have end
ured falls away. I would die a thousand deaths for this moment. She is safe, and that is all that matters to me.
“Ridley?” I whisper.
*****
~Ridley~
He slowly lifts his head, a weak smile appearing on his bruised face.
“Ridley?” he ask, his voice barely a whisper.
“Yes! Yes, it’s me! I’m here! Tristan… look at me!”
I can’t keep the desperation out of my voice, nor do I want to. I have longed to see him for so long, but not like this. His beautiful eyes finally open, struggling to find me in the darkness. Normally it is easy for our kind to see in the dark, but whatever blocks our powers also blocks our night vision as well. I feel the exact moment that his eyes find mine. I see him clearly, despite the darkness. He looks at me with such love, such longing, that it becomes hard to breathe. I have only been in his presence for minutes, but already I feel stronger. With him by my side, I am finally complete. His eyes adjust to our surroundings, and his loving gaze is replaced by anger. No doubt he is furious about my current state. I don’t have to read his mind to know that. My clothes may be clean, but my face looks like I went three rounds with a professional boxer, and lost.
“Did he- did he hurt you?” he ask.
His words are filled with such pain, that I would move heaven to take it from him. I know what he is asking. He isn’t asking if I have been physically harmed, because that much is obvious. No. He is asking if they violated me. I shake my head, tears filling my eyes.
“No. Nicholas kissed me, but that is all. Derek… Well, Derek hasn’t harmed me.” It feels so good to finally share my pain; to finally let some of it out. “Nicholas comes and drains me every night, and then forces his vile blood down my throat. He wants….he wants me to be like him Tristan. My mother…oh god, my mother. She…she…” My words cut off at the memory of my own mother biting me. Tears flow from my swollen eyes, a raging river of pain and hurt.
Tristan’s eyes soften, and he brings a shaky hand up to trace the cut on my cheek. “I will kill him. I swear to you Ridley, I will. He will never hurt you again. As for your mom, don’t worry baby. Your mother is safe. I got her to the hospital on time. After you left, Aiden went to her. He explained everything. She knows- knows that you are alive. She is shaken and confused, but not harmed.”
I struggle to get closer to him; to touch him more. If I could I would dive into him, and swim in his warmth. He pulls himself up, and struggles to do the same. The movement appears to cause him pain, but his face doesn’t show it. Nothing is going to keep him from me in this moment, especially a little pain. It has been weeks since I touched him. Days since I felt him, and now that he is here; I never want to let him go. There is so much I need to tell him, so much I want to say, but right now the silence between us speaks more than words ever will. Sometimes the most powerful messages are delivered in silence. His eyes say it all. His relief at seeing me. His love for me stronger than ever before. I need to tell him that I am talking about my real mom, and not my adoptive mom. I need to, but I don’t. Not yet. Right now, I don’t care to explain anything. I just want to keep touching him. I sigh, as the comfort of his touch starts to repair the cracks in my heart. He rubs my fingers back and forth between his.
“I love you! God baby, I love you so much. What were you thinking going there alone? I would have come! I would have helped you!” He is trying really hard not to sound angry and hurt, but the emotion is his voice cannot be contained. I wish I could apologize, but the truth is I don’t regret going alone. If he were with me, there is a good chance that we both would have ended up here; or worse. He’d be dead.
“I had to go! There was no time. He would have killed her! I am so sorry that this hurt you, but I would do it again. If it meant saving her, I would do it a thousand times. Please try to understand.”
His loud exhale says it all. I have won, at least for now. “I do understand, but that does not mean that I agree with what you did. I have been going crazy trying to find you! If something were to happen to you….I- I would die!” The rawness in his voice coupled with the tears that he does nothing to hide almost shatter me.
“I promise I will never leave without telling you again. If we get out of here, I will never leave you again!” Tristan squeezes my fingers, and gives me the kiss that I have been aching for since the moment I was taken. It is a kiss so full of love and passion, promise and protection, that it makes my toes curl. In his arms, everything is right, and nothing can ever hurt me. It doesn’t matter that we are both covered in blood. It’s not important that our bodies are broken, and weak. All that matters is that we are together again. Here, in this place of pain and darkness, he is my light.
“Not if Ridley….When. We will get out of here.” As crazy as it sounds I believe him.
“Please tell me you have a plan. That you ended up here on purpose.”
He smiles that sexy perfect smile of his. “Of course I have a plan. No matter what happens just trust in that ok. No matter what Nicholas tries to do, just trust that I will save you.” I do trust in that, in him. Something about his words bother me though. I did not miss the fact that he said save you, and not save us. I have been through hell, and one thing is clear to me. I am not leaving here without Tristan.
“I do. Can we leave now?”
He laughs. “I wish my love, but we must wait on the others.” Of course Tyler and Aiden are coming also. They would never let him face this alone. There is so much that I want to tell him, but I know that now is not the time.
“When we go is there any chance that we can get my mother out?”
Confusion flashes across his face before realization sets in. "The founder… she is here?”
I nod. “She is, but she is no longer who she once was. He turned her into a vampire. A freaking vampire, Tristan. It’s Nicholas. He has this weird voodoo mind trick! He controls them Tristan. All of them. I have met some that have pure souls, but when Nicholas is around they are totally clouded in darkness. My mother is no exception. She was kind at first, but then-then, she bit me!” I sob. My whole body begins to shake. I need him to hold me, to touch me, to kiss the pain away. He picks up on my need, suddenly pulling me into his lap. I am in his arms instantly. It is like coming home after a long vacation. My lips find his in pure desperation. I pour my soul into that kiss, thinking perhaps it may very well be our last. His hands explore my body, searching for and finding several injuries.
“What did he do to you?” he ask.
I bring my hand up, wiping away his tears. “It’s nothing that I can’t live through.” I answer honestly.
“I am going kill him, slowly,” he says as his fingers run over the torn tissue that use to be my throat. I find relief in knowing that when Tristan gets his hands on Nicholas, he might finally meet his end. I can see the pain in his eyes at not being able to give me any blood, but he has none to spare. They drained him almost completely dry.
“Why are you not healing? I don’t understand.”
I rest my head on his chest, finding comfort in the lub-dub of his heart. “It is because he replaced all of my blood with his own. It is the only thing that he would allow me to consume. He thinks in time I will be like him. The weird metal in here blocks our powers somehow, so I can’t fight him. Is he right? Am I turning into a vampire?” I hate the question, but need to know the answer. Tristan has never lied to me, and I know that he won’t lie to me now, no matter how painful the truth may be. Tristan tightens his grip on me.
“You will never be like him. You are too good. No amount of darkness could put out a light as brilliant as yours. I don’t know if it’s possible to turn you into a vampire, but even if they do, you will never be like them. Do you hear me?”
God! I love this man. I say nothing as he holds me there, content for the first time in days. Tristan doesn’t care that I am filthy, stinky, and bleeding. He only cares that I am alive. In that moment, my love for him reaches a new height. I want to tell him about De
rek and everything that he has told me, but I just can’t. How do you tell the man that you love that you are destined for another?
“Listen to me, we don’t have much time. I have a plan, but it is not going to be pleasant. Aiden and Tyler will be here soon. Until then, you must pretend to feel hopeless. You cannot fight back, and neither can I. You must do as he says. Do whatever he says, as long as it does not hurt you. He is right. Our powers for good don’t work here but you have more than just the power of good. If you must, tap into the darkness;but do not let it overcome you.”
Tap into the darkness? Let out the side of me that I have worked so hard to keep caged? As much as I don’t like it, I know that he is right. My divine blood will not work here, but my evil side will be right at home in this hell. Tristan wants me to use it to kill Nicholas. The problem is, I have no idea how to control it. I have no way of knowing if I can stop the darkness once I let it in. I will try though, because without trying death is inevitable. Tristan kisses me sweetly.
“If I could, I would do this for you Ridley. You know that right?”
“They’re coming. Remember, I will get you out of here.” He says as he gently pushes me back toward my vacated spot. Scooting back to my side of the room feels like putting the Grand Canyon between us. The distance from him making me feel cold. Just as I turn the lock on my chain, causing my ankle to scream in protest, I hear them approaching.
“I love you.” He whispers as the door slams open and Nicholas enters the room. Derek walks in right behind him, his face concealed by the darkness. He sticks to the shadows, blending in perfectly. In the dim room, it is impossible to see his face. The evil grin that Nicholas is wearing causes a volcano of anger to burn through me. I smile at him. For the first time since seeing his face, I welcome it. How sweet it will be when that shit eating grin vanishes. I am going to kill him. If he wants dark and deadly Ridley, than that’s exactly what I am about to give him. I close my eyes, and wait.
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