*
Weeks went by and Simone and Indea learned more and more about living in darkness. They had mastered communicating mentally. They grew stronger with each passing day.
But still, Saldivar worried for he knew that this was just the calm before the storm. Weeks without any worry of Zane only meant that Zane was lying low, trying to put them at ease. Then when they were comfortable in their lives, Zane would strike.
Things were comfortable for the time being until Simone got a call from one of her co-workers, informing Simone that Mr. Brant’s body had been found in an old abandoned warehouse, his throat slashed and his wallet stolen.
Simone somehow knew that this was no ordinary mugging. Whoever killed Mr. Brant wanted to make it look like a robbery, but Simone knew it was because he came to her and warned her. Simone had a funny feeling Mr. Brant’s death was done by Mr. Hobbs’ goons, knowing full well he didn’t have the balls to do it himself.
She hated that Mr. Brant had used her but she still cried at hearing of his murder. He was like a father to her and she couldn’t just forget the times he was good to her.
Simone vowed to find Mr. Hobbs and have it out with him. She just hoped she didn’t kill him in all her anger for she knew she was a lot stronger than he was and could break him into without breaking a sweat.
Simone needn’t worry of Mr. Hobbs. Not long after Mr. Brant’s death, Simone found out that Mr. Hobbs was found hanging from a tree; an apparent suicide. This was about the same time Raven had left to ‘take care of business’, as she put it. When asked about Mr. Hobbs’ suicide, Raven just smiled mysteriously and shrugged, stating with a faux innocence that she had no idea. Simone decided it was best to leave it as it was and move on. She didn’t think there was anything left for her back in the states. She had no family, except for Indea, Saldivar, Raven and Van. All she had to do was go back long enough to get her affairs in order and tell her landlord she was moving. Indea had her parents here so she would only go back with Simone to take care of her business as well.
*
It seemed to rain with a vengeance that night. Almost as if the rain had a personal vendetta against the world. It pounded mercilessly on the roof tops of Paris. Like fists buffeting, trying to break through. Saldivar listened closely, straining to hear the footsteps in the night. The storm was loud enough even for the best vampire ears to hear. He waited with the anticipation of what was about to come through the door. He felt the presence of an Eternal. He waited. His chest, heaving. It was so powerful that Saldivar felt it could knock him right off of his feet if he gave it a chance. He knew that if It found in him a momentary lapse of weakness, that would be all It would need to strike. Then Saldivar knew it would all be over.
He couldn’t let that happen. He had finally found Indea. His eternal mate. He wouldn’t let her go. He would meet death head on to be with her, to protect her. His love for her was mighty. An impregnate force. He would fight those who would try to break through. Kill those who even dared.
So Saldivar waited for the inevitable. He could hear the footsteps coming closer. They echoed ominously in his chest. He was ready for whatever was about to take place. Ready for the fight of his entire eternity.
The rest were sitting by the fireplace, talking, but Saldivar paced the floor. He suddenly felt Indea’s hand on his shoulder. “Saldivar, what’s wrong?”
Saldivar smiled and reached out to hold Indea close to him. “It’s been too peaceful for weeks now.”
“Maybe Zane has decided to just leave us be,” she said, more hopeful than she felt.
Saldivar shook his head. “No. Zane just doesn’t leave people be. It’s not in his nature to back down from vengeance. He’s like a snake lying in tall blades of grass, waiting for us to cross his path so that he might strike out.”
Indea’s brows knitted deeply. “So, he’s out there now, plotting the perfect time to strike out at you?”
Saldivar pulled Indea closer to him, afraid of letting her go. “No, my sweet Indea. Not just me. He wants me, yes, but he will kill anyone who gets in his way. I will not let him get you. Even if it means sacrificing my own life to keep you safe.”
Indea jerked away from him, a look of consternation etching her face. “No, Saldivar. I don’t want to lose you to him. What is worth living in darkness if I’m without you?”
Saldivar rubbed his hand across Indea’s cheek. “My dear, Indea. I don’t want you to walk in darkness without me. I promise I will try everything in my power to defeat Zane without losing my life as well.” He brought his head down for a tender kiss of Indea’s sweet lips.
“I know you will, Saldivar,” Indea said quietly as she huddled close to him, watching the flames in the fireplace dance chaotically.
*
Zane could smell the fear that the neophytes gave off, if they knew they were doing it or not. He was right at their doorstep yet they could not figure out what was going on. Oh, how he loved to play with their minds. It was almost as fun as the mere thought of killing them all. Mind games were his specialty. He wished he had more time to do so but the death of Saldivar was even more pressing. It would be----
Wait! He caught the scent of another immortal. Not Saldivar, Van or their mates, but---No! It couldn’t be. He had killed Raven. Hadn’t he?
Zane knew that Raven lived.
Those infernal immortals! They had saved his retched daughter. Blast it all! He was so busy focusing on how to torture Saldivar that he failed to pick up on Raven’s life force. All of them must die. Tonight! Now, now they will all die a very slow and painful death. No, he wouldn’t have a little fun with Indea or Simone now. He just wanted them dead. Dead for saving his worthless offspring. Then, he would take care of Raven. He would break her into a million pieces, pulverize her into dust and scatter her ashes to the winds.
He just needed to figure how to get them alone. As strong as he was, he was still no match for all five of them at once. Even if Indea and Simone were merely infants in their immortality.
Just how in the heck was he going to do so? He knew that if one was in trouble, the others would call. But he also knew that he if had Van and Saldivar first, they wouldn’t call their mates for help for fear of what Zane would do to them once he had them in his grasp.
Dare Zane brave a mental communication with Saldivar? He knew he had the power to call just him since he transformed him. Van probably wouldn’t hear it. If so, it would be too weak to pick up on. He needed to get to Saldivar first.
So, Zane focused all his energy on Saldivar’s mind. I am here, Saldivar. Right at your doorstep. Do you dare brave coming out here alone? You wouldn’t put your friends in danger, now would you?
Saldivar’s mind gave a jerk. Zane? Yes. It was Zane. He stilled, not wanting to alarm Indea as he answered his transformer.
Zane, you have finally come. You know I would never put my friends in harm’s way. Why are you doing this, Zane? What have I ever done to you to make you hate me so?
Come out here and I will tell you, you foolish immortal.
Fine. I will come.
Saldivar stepped away from Indea. “My sweet. I must leave for a minute. Please, please tell me you’ll stay right where you are? I need to know you’re safe.”
Indea’s eyes widened in alarm. “Saldivar. You’re going to meet Zane by yourself, aren’t you?”
“You already know me too well, my love. Just promise you’ll stay right here?”
Tears pooled in Indea’s dark eyes. It was on the tip of her tongue to refuse but, instead, she nodded.
Van looked up from his conversation with Simone and Raven. He saw in Saldivar’s mind what he was going to do. He got up and quickly strode over.
“Saldivar. You can’t do this alone,” Van insisted. “At least let me come with you.”
Saldivar shook his head. “You cannot. This is my fight, Van.”
“Oh?” Van raised his brows. “And just what do you think is going to happen if Zane defeats you? You think he
’s going to walk away without trying to kill the rest of us?”
Saldivar set his jaw. “Please. All of you stay.” With that, he walked out into the night and into uncertainty.
Zane stepped from the shadows. “Well, well. We finally meet. After all these centuries,” he said menacingly.
Saldivar stopped right in front of Zane. He would not cower from Zane. He could not. He needed to know why Zane had this hatred for him.
“Zane. I am here. Now, tell me why you have hounded me all these years. Why do you have it in for me?”
“Poor, pathetic immortal,” Zane said with a nasty look in his cold, dark eyes. “After all these centuries, I finally get to be rid of you for almost killing me.”
Saldivar’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Killing you? When have I ever tried to kill you, Zane? What in the world are you talking about?”
“Let me take you back. Back to when I saved your sorry hide from certain death.” Zane focused again on Saldivar’s mind.
Saldivar closed his eyes and when he opened them again, he wasn’t in Paris today but at the shack that Zane took him to when he saved him from the guards. He saw Zane talking to him for a moment and then felt his teeth sink into his neck. He saw Zane force a severed vein into his mouth. He was drinking the salty elixir. He felt himself changing. But, now, he saw what he wasn’t able to see before.
Something was happening to Zane. He went rigid. His eyes darkened, the whites turning red and then clouding over. He saw Zane gasping for breath as he continued to feed. He could now hear Zane’s heart flutter like a hummingbird’s wings. Not only could he hear it but he could feel it as well. He could feel his own muscles and bones turn to water. He felt just as weak as a newborn.
Is this what Zane felt as he was transforming Saldivar?
Saldivar blinked and suddenly he was back in the present day. “Zane, I had no idea,” he said with sympathy.
Zane sneered. “Save your pity for someone who cares. If you hadn’t gone on your deranged vigilante crusade, I could have waited to transform you and then the mutation wouldn’t have occurred. But no, you had to go off in a blinding rage, get yourself caught, abused and beaten and I had to come and save you. And what did I get for it? Huh? I got nothing but trouble since the day I transformed you. I curse the day I ever thought of turning you. I should have let the guards behead you that morning. I should have let them keep on having their sick, twisted fun with you. You should have starved to death. That way, I wouldn’t have to bother with doing away with you myself. I could have saved myself the time and torture of my own body, no thanks to you, you simpering excuse for a vampire.”
Saldivar had never witnessed so much animosity from anyone before. “How can you blame me for that? I had no idea whatsoever that a mutation would occur. Heck, Zane, I didn’t even know about the existence of vampires until you whisked me away and transformed me.”
“That is still no excuse, Saldivar. I will taste revenge. You are going to feel what I felt many centuries ago, only you will not live through yours. Consider yourself lucky. I have to live with my mutation.” Zane’s dark eyes went even darker.
In that split second, Zane charged him, but Saldivar managed to leap up into the air just before Zane rammed him like a raging bull. Saldivar landed easily on his feet, turned around and managed to connect his fist with Zane’s rock hard jaw. It barely fazed Zane. Zane recovered quickly and with an almost casual move, shoved Saldivar, causing him to land twenty feet away. He felt the small pebbles dig into his back. The pain hit him, but thankfully, it was brief. He got up to see Zane plow toward him. Saldivar stretched out his arm, meaning to punch Zane square in the gut, but before Saldivar could blink, Zane grabbed his arm in a bone-crunching grip and flipped Saldivar on his back so forcefully it knocked the wind out of him. Saldivar managed to move his head before Zane’s foot landed on his face for it would have surely crushed every bone in his head.
Saldivar grabbed Zane’s foot and twisted with all his might, making Zane fall head first into the gravel road. When Zane lifted his head, Saldivar could see little rocks embedded in Zane skin. Zane merely wiped them away, growled and came at Saldivar again.
*
Indea paced the floor. No amount of soothing words could calm her. Zane was out there and she knew that Saldivar was with him, fighting him.
“Van, we’ve got to do something,” she pleaded desperately, tears streaming down her face.
Van looked from Indea to Raven to Simone. They all nodded. Van pursed his lips. Since when did he always listen? He nodded to them. “But, we have to be careful. You already know what would happen if Zane gets a hold of you. And Saldivar will be furious if he sees you, especially you, Indea. It will only distract him. That’s all Zane needs to move in for the kill. You three stay behind for a few minutes. Let me go out there first. Saldivar knows I can handle myself, but he’s not too sure about you three. You understand?” he asked them with a stern yet caring look.
The three women nodded, and satisfied that they would stay put, Van walked out of the door to help Saldivar in any way he could.
*
Van saw Zane and Saldivar in a lock, one not besting the other. It looked to be a stalemate. Neither was gaining or losing ground. He wondered how long this could go on. Zane was much older and stronger. How long would it be before he weakened Saldivar, giving him the perfect chance to finish him?
Van had to find a way to distract Zane. So, he did the only thing he could think of. “Zane!”
For a moment, Zane tore his gaze from Saldivar, thus loosening his grip, giving Saldivar the chance to free himself.
“You!” Zane pushed Saldivar harshly and in angry steps, made his way to Van. He laughed with no humor. “Van, I take it? And just what do you think you can do against me? You’re nothing but a weak immortal baby. A mere three centuries? What could you possibly do against me?”
Van took advantage of Zane’s overconfidence and kneed him in the stomach. Zane double over, fighting for breath. Van moved in once more but Zane lifted up and his fist landed on Van’s left temple, causing Van to stagger and fall. Van touched his head and felt the sticky warmth of his own blood.
Van managed to stand and go at Zane again.
Simone, Raven and Indea stepped out into the night. Simone’s eyes filled with fear as she saw Van go for Zane.
Zane concentrated on Van and using only his mind, he lifted Van off the ground. Higher and higher Van went. Zane shook his body like a rag doll. It seemed Van was about two hundred feet in the air when Saldivar came at him from behind and tackled Zane to the ground, making Zane release his hold on Van.
Simone screamed as Van’s body landed with a loud thud. She heard bones crunching and she cringed then shook uncontrollably. “No! Van!” She ran to him and fell to her knees, mindless of the pain shooting through them. She shook Van motionless body. Tears were spilling onto his cheeks and closed eyes.
“No. Please. Oh, God,” she prayed. “Please let him live. Please, Van. Don’t leave me. I can’t live eternity without you.”
Saldivar saw what had transpired and was now filled with a white hot rage. This time, it wasn’t blinding, but crystal clear. He went for Zane. He didn’t see Indea and Raven go for him, as well. They pounded his body mercilessly, refusing to let up, knowing that if they gave Zane an opening, he would kill any one of them. Zane growled and lashed out like a wounded lion but he could not do much against the three of them in his weakened state. It seemed like forever but only a couple of minutes had passed and Zane’s body lay, broken and bloodied, on the ground. He was not able to move. He knew that he would need rest to recover but he would have to do so in his home, away from the sun. He knew none of these immortals would lift a finger to help him. They would leave him to the sun.
Saldivar stood over Zane. “It is over, Zane.” Saldivar’s voice boomed with a power so fierce, all Zane could do was cower. “You are not my father. I disowned you centuries ago. You may have transformed me but that�
��s where any similarity ends with us being connected.” Saldivar shook with both sadness and anger. “Why? Why do you want to destroy the very thing you are? The very thing you made? How is it that I came from you? We are nothing alike. You would kill the very being that you are. What made you turn on your own kind, Zane? It couldn’t have been the money. It was too easy. I know how hard you worked to be the man you once were over two thousand years ago. You certainly didn’t need the money. You will never spend the money you have earned even in eternity. Tell me---“
Zane spat near Saldivar’s now battered shoes, his eyes narrowed. “Don’t pity me, neophyte. I cannot stand this sick sympathy you have for all vampire and human life. Why do you cherish vampires? Why do you even want to cherish humans? You are weak, Saldivar. You are nothing without me. You would have been nothing without me and my intervention. You would have been dead. I should have let you died. It would have saved you from turning into this piteous, sorry excuse for an immortal.” Zane’s eyes seethed with a red hot rage.
“To love is not weak. You must have loved once, Zane. You have had many centuries of chances to fall in love. You had never really discussed your life. You transformed me, told me of what was to be expected of me and when to change others. You never once told me about yourself.” Saldivar squatted down to meet Zane, eye to eye. “Could it be that you have jealousy for me? I am capable of something you yourself cannot muster? To love someone so deeply it hurts? But the pain of losing that one would be a curse worse than death itself?”
“I do not care for your sad attempt at poetic prose. I, perhaps, should pity you, neophyte. Where is your backbone? Could it be that time has softened you?” Zane smirked nastily.
“I have had a heart the minute I was born to my true father. He had taught me more in my mortal life than you ever had in my many centuries that I have known you.”
“You can’t and could never handle my way of life. You would never have had agreed to my teachings. You still would have ended up an irresolute being.”
NightFall (NightFall: Book One) Page 22