A Night at Tears of Crimson (28 page)

“Enough,” Rafe had considered such an action if all other means were exhausted, however the thought of another controlling her destiny was enough to force his own battle against his blood brothers. “We have a battle to win!”

In another situation a small fight would have concluded this battle of wills, but there was no time for the enjoyment. Gabe was momentarily rendered immobile as Eduardo’s mind delved into his giving hints of his location. “We must leave,” the lines on his face hardened, and his fists tightened as the hints unfolded their destination. “We are returning home brothers.”

Jonathan and Rafe turned to face him at his words, knowing that this battle would be much greater than they had supposed. A battle on Singe Tsigan meant that whoever was contesting Eduardo, had support from the Dragon and that was trouble for everyone on the opposing side of the loser. There would be no need to gather weapons now as they would not be allowed to travel with them.

“Say your goodbyes to your loved ones brothers,” Gabe’s voice took on a defeated tone that each of them felt through the bond that connected them. There were only two ways this night would end. Rafe lowered his head for a brief moment at the thought of leaving Cara alone to defend herself, and made a decision. Moving off to find her, his mood was grim.

Cara smiled as he walked into the kitchen until she saw the seriousness of his expression. Running over to him, she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. “I wish you would stay,” hating herself for whispering the words knowing how weak they made her sound, she still couldn’t stop. The thought of losing him was unbearable. Kaitlin had informed her of the war they were about to embark on, and she was terrified this would be the last chance she would have to hold him.

His lips touched her briefly before pulling back to look into her beautiful eyes, possibly for the last time. “Cara, if I find final death promise me you will ask Gabe to turn you?” he hated saying the words even though he knew Gabe was her best chance for survival if he was absent. She knew too much and they would never allow her to live as a human now. His fingers went to her lips as she thought to protest. “Give me this one assurance so I may enter this battle in peace.” He knew it was blackmail of sorts but her safety was all that mattered now.

She wanted to deny his unbelievable request, but the last thing he needed to worry about was her until this was over. “I give you my word,” she spoke softly, hating the thought of ever allowing anyone but him to taste her. “Drink from me,” she begged quietly. Arching her head back she exposed the tender flesh of her neck to him. She wanted him strong for this fight, and if her blood in his veins would save him, he could have every last drop.

With a growl his head lowered and his fangs pierced the pulsing point on her neck. If the final death was to claim him, the last taste on his lips he wanted, was her crimson bouquet. The smooth richness of her life essence trickled down his throat as he molded her body against him. Feeling her heartbeat slow he released his fangs and sent images of their lovemaking through her thoughts before commanding her to sleep. He could not handle seeing her eyes as he walked away. He carried her small form into the den and laid her on the couch carefully. Allowing himself a brief moment, his gaze took in every detail of her beautiful face so it would remain deeply ingrained in his mind.

15
tears of battle

Gabe and Jonathan moved into the room their faces hard as the lust for blood consumed them. “Unto the death!” Gabe pounded his fist against his dead heart and the brother's gave the same salute. They moved as a team outside the castle walls, making their way on foot to the bridge. Where they were going couldn’t be reached by human transportation and in unison they lifted into the dark sky.

As they moved through the clouds the portal appeared, surrounded by powerful streaks of lighting and peals of thunder. Their forms were absorbed into the force of nature and time stood still as complete darkness enveloped them. As pain surged through every limb, their bodies were contorted from the speed of the movement they traveled. As they slowed, their forms regenerated and the agony was so overwhelming they craved the end. Only then, were they tossed onto the plains of hard earth to gather themselves.

Even for an immortal the reentry was excruciatingly painful, and it was the path that every human that was turned, was forced to travel during their transformation. Gabe recovered first and stood offering his hand to his brothers. “There is little time,” his words hoarse with the pain of the reconstruction still moving through him.

Rafe made it to his feet feeling as a newly born vampire again, and he gazed upon the place he once called home. The moons showered light upon the endless forest, for a brief moment he allowed the peace to envelope him at his homecoming.

Jonathan found his feet and steadied himself, glancing around in an attempt to orientate again. At Gabe’s curt nod their feet lifted scant inches from the ground and they floated toward the arena where the battle for leadership would commence.

Thousands graced the seat of the stadium which had inspired the Roman Coliseum. Many eyes found them as they fluidly found the center of the battlefield. Eduardo stood in the viewing tower with his brother Nathaniel, and Gabe could not mask his surprise at Nathaniel's resurrection.

“How is this possible?” Gabe’s eyes lifted to the tower in astonishment.

“For centuries I walked with the Dragon, gaining his knowledge and earning his confidence,” Nathaniel’s eyes burned red with the memories of pain he had endured to win this opportunity.

Gabe fell to his knees before the tower as Nathaniel filled his mind with the beatings, rapes and tortures he had suffered from the demons in the last 2000 years.

“I am entitled to lead my brothers,” Nathaniel turned to Eduardo, and his growl of fury shook the entire coliseum.

“You simpering, whiny fool,” Eduardo laughed cruelly, “you were never strong enough to finish any task. Your weak human heart could never accept or face what needed to be done,” the rage drifted from him like waves of uncontrolled fury. How this insignificant creature dared to defy him, he thought savagely, would be how much he would suffer at his hand.

Nathaniel moved faster than Rafe had ever seen even another immortal move. His hands found Eduardo’s neck, lifting him off the ground with ease. “You have no understanding of what I am, brother,” his own rage sending a blinding black mist moving through the crowd that gathered.

A roar filled the arena that seemed to echo for miles and a bright orange light encompassed everyone present. Nathaniel dropped Eduardo as he and every vampire covered their eyes to escape the blinding clarity of the glow. A million voices seemed to echo simultaneously as the Dragon began to speak. The 12 foot span of its wings as they flapped was so strong that the gust had those standing, fighting to keep their feet.

“The victor will rule the brothers of night,” the Dragon spoke, “the fallen will suffer with me for all eternity. I have spoken, let the battle commence!” taking to the midnight black sky his three headed body shot streams of flames into the air that hovered in place fifty feet above the arena.

Eduardo and Nathaniel floated down from the tower as the Dragon's light source dimmed. His gruesome form hovered high above them, waiting. Gabe, Rafe, and Jonathan took their places with the onlookers as this fight was removed from their hands.

Eduardo’s fangs descended and he smiled knowing how easily this battle would become his victory. “Enjoy your time with the Dragon,” Eduardo laughed sarcastically as he flew forward with all his speed.

Nathaniel felt the misery of 2000 years fuel his fury, as he moved away only seconds before Eduardo’s lunged for him. He watched with satisfaction as he crashed into the stone wall. He’d had centuries to perfect his skills and needed no words to defeat the betrayal of his brother.

As Eduardo recovered quickly, he attempted again to lunge through the air only to be averted. He had craved his revenge for centuries, but now that it was at hand, he only desired Eduardo's defeat. Tiring of this game, Nathaniel lifted into the air moving from side to side leaving his brother confused of his flight path. His head connected with Eduardo’s shoulder, enjoying the sound of crushing bone as the Elder fell to the ground.

With a growl Eduardo stood, his rage overwhelming at being bested by such a weakling and he took flight again. Nathaniel met him in the air and they collided with such a force the coliseum trembled. Reaching around Eduardo’s neck he held his head downward and flew to the ground with a speed that defied gravity. His skull bashing on the earth below left his face contorted and one of his eyes fell from the socket.

Giving no mercy, his hand sliced across Eduardo’s neck, his three inch nails sharpened as knives, he sliced the flesh. Triumph overcame him as the Elder's blood spilled forward in streams. Knowing that was not enough to end him, his fist moved with force to plunge into Eduardo's chest, ripping his heart from his body and holding it up in his hands for the crowd to see. As Eduardo fell to the ground, Nathaniel stood on his neck in triumph. The crowd was silent as they watched the leadership change hands.

“Return his heart,” the dragon roared, “victory belongs to you.”

Nathaniel placed the heart back into the gaping hole of the now former Elder's chest, and placed his hand over the wound. An orange energy moved from Nathaniel's hand to the wound and healed him instantly. “You live tonight brother only because it serves the Dragon's desire for retribution,” he spoke down into the face of the man that had handed him over to the beast so long ago, and felt redemption. “Perhaps in two thousand years he will give you the power as he did for me,” a smile found Nathaniel’s face as his victory was complete.

A dozen ear-piercing shrieks filled the night air as small demons flew in to take hold of Eduardo’s body. Eduardo screamed in rage as they lifted him into the sky and followed the departing dragon into the abyss. Gabe knew that there would be a price to pay for Nathaniel’s victory this night, and he lowered to the ground to kneel at his feet. “I am at your mercy, Elder,” Gabe spoke the words in reverence knowing his future now rested in his hands.

The elation of the victory still filling him, he stared upon the brother he had once adored above all others. “I will not destroy you brother, even if you deserve nothing less at my hands,” Nathaniel knew that Gabriel would be the force to help him reconstruct the council and he considered him too valuable to annihilate.

“I am humbled by your graciousness,” Gabe spoke quietly, unbelieving the gift he was being granted this night.

“You will be my liaison on the other side,” Nathaniel commanded, “but I require a price for your betrayal.” His eyes moved to the tower and found Rafe and motioned him forward with his mind.

Rafe knew that his time had ended and the last thought in his mind was for Cara as he lowered to kneel before the new Elder. “I ask only one favor,” Rafe lowered his eyes in respect, hoping he would be granted this one last appeal.

“I will hear it,” Nathaniel was pleased that the brother submitted to his rule so easily and decided to show him mercy.

“Allow my maker to care for my human,” as he spoke the words his mind recalled her beautiful face and the memories of passion they had shared. Her smile of fulfillment was the memory he would take into non-existence and he was thankful that he had the brief time they had shared.

Nathaniel felt and saw every picture in his mind and remembered his own beautiful wife. “Consider your request granted,” his hand laid on Rafe’s head and his eyes moved to Gabe. “The human will become yours and no harm shall befall her or any brother will answer to me personally, now leave me.” He turned to the crowd, “I will speak with you through Gabe, return to your homes as I make my decisions,” speaking into Rafe’s mind he beckoned him to stand and with his hand still resting on Rafe’s head they both vanished into a thick black mist.

“He is gone,” Jonathan stood first and glanced upward into the clear midnight sky where his brother had been taken into the other world. A great sorrow overcame him and he fought to control his grief as he glanced down at Gabe still kneeling. “No good comes from remaining here any longer brother.”

Gabe stood and for the first time in many centuries, he felt a semblance of human emotion. His child, his brother was no more. The agony ripped through him and his roar split the dead silence. Standing up to his full six foot six height, he felt more defeated than he could ever recall in his years walking the earth. With a curt nod, he took to the sky needing to put distance between him and this rage that threatened to devour him. He yearned for the pain of reentry and moved with a speed toward the storm cloud that couldn’t even begin to compare with the emotional storm drowning out all sense of reality.

As his body contorted and reformed he pulled every stab of pain deep into his memory determined to suffer as his child had this night. There were no doubts in his mind at how Nathaniel would destroy the one he had created. The suffering that he had endured because of him, Eduardo and the other brother's would demand retribution in full. There was only one reason for his existence that he could fathom, and that was to honor the last request of Rafe, his precious child.

16
Tears of rebirth

His feet touched down on the bridge before the castle, choosing not to use his powers, he entered the grounds on foot. The human had been important to his Rafe and for that reason alone he would protect her as if she were his own. As he found the front entry he slammed the door open and sought her out.

She had locked herself in the elegant room that Kaitlin had prepared for her, after the introduction to the wolves and gypsies. The way that they had looked upon her filled her with more terror than anything she had ever felt before in her life. The concealed rage from the gypsies, combined with the hunger in the eyes of the wolves was more than she could deal with without her lover by her side. Curling up in the bed in the fetal position, she allowed the tears to stream down her cheek and knew how selfish she was being, when Rafe could be fighting for his existence.