Dark Challenge (6 page)

Syndil nodded solemnly. “He came when I believed there was no hope for me.” She bowed her head, her voice soft, filled with tears. “I feel so ashamed that I cannot control my sorrow and ease his pain. He feels guilty. He feels he failed me.”

Desari lay her head protectively over her brother’s chest. She knew Syndil was only half-correct. Darius believed he had failed Syndil, but he did not feel guilty. He did not feel at all. He hid his lack of emotion from all of them, but Desari was so close to him, she was well aware of it and had been for some time. It was only his intense loyalty and sense of duty that kept Darius fighting for them. It was not feeling.

She knew Darius feared for their safety should he ever turn as Savon had. She was certain, as was he, that neither Barack nor Dayan could defeat him in battle. She doubted even their combined strengths could do so. She believed Darius was invincible. He could not turn. To her, it was that simple. Whatever darkness in him that was growing, spreading, whatever the lack of feeling in him, he would never allow it to turn him. His will was far too strong. Darius had shown that from the very first. Nothing could sway him from his chosen path.

Unless, perhaps, he simply allowed himself to be honorably killed. That was Desari’s prime concern, her deepest fear. She was frightened for all of them. Carpathian men had natures completely different from the women. They were dangerous, powerful predators, even when protective of women and mortals, they were dominating, arrogant, and thus truly perilous if they turned. It wasn’t in Syndil’s feminine nature to chafe under the males’ constraints or to rebel against them. Desari alone
did what she wanted and damned the consequences, which only served to make the men more dominating and protective. Yes, they would all be in grave danger if Darius were to die or turn vampire.

“You will have to drive the bus, Syndil,” Desari instructed. “I will guard the rear to ensure we are not followed.”

Syndil wished she could navigate the big vehicle and also cast an illusion over it to hide from the mortals, but it was impossible for her. She would have to leave it to Desari, even in her weakened state, to fashion as many blockades as possible to any that might follow them. They were evidently in danger from some murderous group of mortals.

“Go, Syndil,” Desari said, making her way to the back of the bus.

Who was it that had saved her life, she wondered. Why had he done so? Darius said he could detect no evil, no tainted blood in her, and he should know. He had hunted and killed the undead often enough down through the centuries. He knew better than any of them the stench of tainted blood. He said it burned skin, raised blisters, and ate through flesh if left in contact too long. Darius had learned that bit of important information as he had everything else: the hard way.

Desari knelt on the bed at the back of the bus and stared out at the scene of dwindling chaos. Ambulances and police cars were pulling away, the crowd was beginning to disperse. She hadn’t thought to ask Darius if any of their attackers had escaped. Knowing Darius, she doubted it, but he might have been so concerned with her, Barack, and Dayan that he had allowed some of those guilty to escape his particular brand of justice.

Syndil drove the bus with surprising expertise, and Desari kept her eyes glued behind them, watching for any lights trailing the vehicle. Suddenly her heart was
in her throat, pounding in alarm. For some reason she didn’t want to leave the bar. She felt she was leaving behind her destiny. She needed to be where he could find her.
He?

Desari gasped and sank back onto the bed.

“What is it?” Syndil demanded, looking into the rear-view mirror. She could hear Desari’s increased heartbeat, her sudden gasp of alarm. The blood was pumping through her veins far too fast. Syndil couldn’t see anyone behind them. “What is it, Desari?” she repeated.

“I cannot leave this place,” Desari said softly, sadly, sorrow in her heart. She pressed her hands to her pounding temples. “Let me out, Syndil. I must stay here.”

“Breathe, Desari. Just breathe your way through it. Whatever happened to you, we can fix it,” Syndil assured her, stomping harder on the gas pedal. She was not about to leave Desari anywhere in her condition.

Desari?
The faint stirring in her mind was Darius. She recognized his touch, the natural arrogance in his voice.
Do you have need of me?

I cannot go away from him. The creature who gave me blood has tied us together in some way. Darius, I am so frightened.

Syndil has given you good advice. Remain calm and think. Breathe. You are powerful, maybe every bit as much as this creature who is attempting to ensnare you. Use that power now. If you fear leaving him do not. He will come for you again. And this time I will be waiting.

There is a terrible emptiness in me. I cannot bear to go away from him. He is calling to me.

You hear him?
Darius’s voice in her mind was stronger, his interest caught despite his need to rest and heal.
You hear his voice?

Desari shook her head, forgetting for a moment that her brother couldn’t see her. Her arms were across her
stomach, and she was rocking herself back and forth for comfort. Her battered body was not nearly as painful as her aching soul.
No, it is not like that. Only a terrible wrenching, a feeling of being ripped apart. He is so strong, Darius. He will never let me go. Never.

I will rid you of this creature, Desari
.

Again she shook her head.
I do not think you can, Darius.

I will not fail you.

Desari pressed the back of her hand to her trembling mouth. “You cannot,” she whispered softly aloud. “If you kill him, he will take me with him when he goes.”

Syndil gasped, her acute hearing picking up the thread of sound and sorrow from Desari. She had known Darius was communicating privately with his sister even in his deep sleep; Darius was strong even in the worst times. “Tell him, Desari. Tell Darius if you really believe that. You know no one can defeat Darius. It is impossible. He must know if what you say is true.”

“He cannot help me this time. No one can,” Desari said.

Syndil called to Darius inside her own mind, something she had not done since the violent attack on her.
Desari believes that if you kill this creature, he will take her with him from this world. And I believe that if she thinks he can do such a thing, she is in danger.

There was a short silence, then Darius sighed softly.
Do not worry, little sister. I will think on what you have said and not move too quickly. Perhaps we need to learn more of this creature.

Huddling on the bed, Desari cut herself off from the others. With each mile that took her farther from the bar, the oppressive dread seemed to increase. She could feel perspiration beading on her forehead. Her breath came in short, uncomfortable gasps. She had to find him.
She had to be close to him. He had somehow stolen the other half of her soul.

Desari bit down hard on her lower lip, welcoming the stinging pain that helped her to center herself. She closed her eyes and sought inside her own body. She could not find the stench of evil. She found her heart whole and strong. She found her soul complete. But she was no longer simply Desari. A stranger dwelled within her. A stranger who was somehow very familiar, more familiar than even her family.

After the first shock, she studied the evidence of his work. He was strong and powerful. Self-confident. Even arrogant. Very, very knowledgeable. And he meant to have her. She could feel his deep resolve. No one would stand in his way. Nothing would stop him. He would never give her up. And deep within him dwelled…a dark shadow.

Desari swallowed the fear choking her. Why was she so afraid of this unknown man? She was not without her own power. No one could force her to do what she did not want to do. Nor would Darius ever allow it. And she had Barack and Dayan to support her as well. Even Syndil would fight for her if the need arose. Why was she so afraid?

Because there was an excitement in her that she didn’t want to admit even to herself. She was intrigued by the stranger, drawn to him. Her body wanted his, and she had never even laid eyes on him. How could he have wrought such a thing? Was he so powerful?

She didn’t want Darius to harm him. The thought came unbidden and was, she felt, on the verge of disloyalty. She should not even think such things. Desari rubbed her forehead with the heels of her hands. Whoever he was, he would come for her, and she had to decide what to do. She could never leave her family.
Especially not now, when Darius was having such a hard time with his own darkness.

“Oh, God,” she murmured aloud. “What am I thinking?”

You are in pain?

Desari’s head snapped up, and she looked around the bus cautiously. The voice was clear, arrogant, a velvet purr. Not Darius. Her throat closed convulsively, making it nearly impossible to breathe. She felt a strength, a male’s touch, his heart beating steadily, his lungs working easily, in and out, regulating her breathing as if they were one being. His voice was beautiful, and reached something deep in her soul. Yet he was using a mental path unfamiliar to her. The experience unnerved her.

Go away
. She tried the path he was using.

She heard soft laughter, taunting male amusement.
I do not think so
, piccola.
Answer me. Are you in pain?

Desari glanced around guiltily. Syndil was busy maneuvering the large motor home down a winding ribbon of highway leading deep into a wooded area. Desari felt as if she were talking to the devil himself, allowing him access to her family and their whereabouts through her. But she couldn’t stop herself from feeling the sweeping excitement.

Of course I am in pain. I was shot. Who are you?

You know who I am.

She shook her head, her long mass of blue-black hair flying in all directions, catching Syndil’s attention.

“Are you all right, Desari?” Syndil asked, a worried catch in her voice.

“Yes, do not worry,” Desari managed to respond.

She felt his touch, his palm brushing her cheek.
You fear me.

I fear no one.

There was that laughter again. Male amusement that made her want to strangle him.

What is the Dark One to you?
he asked. There was no amusement in the question. It was an imperious command to answer him. He even pushed at her with a compulsion.

Furious, Desari cut off the contact. He thought her a mere mortal he could so easily command? How dare he? She was of ancient and powerful Carpathian blood. She deserved respect. No one, not even her brother, the leader of their family, would treat her with such disdain. Taking a deep breath, Desari calmed herself. Two could play at his game. She could track him as well. His blood was in her veins. If he could find her and try to “push” her, she could do the same. Desari went very quiet, allowing her mind to become a tranquil pool. She took her time searching each path until she found the one that would lead her to the stranger.

Who are you?
She pushed him, gave a good, hard compulsion.

There was a silence. Then his infuriating laughter.
So, you are like your guard. Carpathian, not mortal after all. We have much to find out about one another. You are Carpathian, yet different.

You did not take my blood. How is it you can track me?
In spite of herself, Desari was impressed. She knew Darius could do such a thing, but Barack and Dayan could not. Nor could she. Yet. But she was always learning things from her brother.

Know this,
cara,
you belong to me.

Only if I wish it,
she corrected him, angry all over again. His arrogance was astounding to her.

The bus shuddered to a stop, and Syndil turned in her seat. “This is a good place for us to hide, Desari. Can you help me get Darius to earth?”

Color swept up Desari’s neck and into her face, and she avoided Syndil’s gaze. She did not want anyone to know what she was doing. “Yes. I am feeling much stronger now, thanks to you, Syndil,” she answered.

What a little liar you are
, the taunting male voice informed her.

Stay away from me.

You want me
. His voice was a drawling caress.

You wish
. Desari forced herself to her feet and staggered down the aisle to her brother’s side.

Desari and Syndil focused their attention on Darius and lifted him between them, using only the power of their minds. The cats pushed close, trying to see for themselves that Darius was fine. Without warning, De-sari’s strength increased. Startled, she looked at Syndil. But she knew it was the stranger lending her his power.

Go away. Just go away
. Desari stumbled on the bottom step but recovered. Darius’s body didn’t so much as waver.

“You are practically carrying him by yourself,” Syndil said admiringly.

I injured him.
The words were said with a deep satisfaction, but the stranger continued to provide Desari with the necessary strength to keep from dropping Darius to the ground.

She refused to acknowledge his statement. Angry with herself for her disloyalty, for even wanting to converse with the stranger, Desari waved a hand to open the ground for her brother’s body. She knew the stranger was dwelling in her, but she was fully aware of her own power. He could not read what she did not want him to know as long as she remained on the alert for his invasion.

Darius floated into the earth. Healing soil poured over his body. Sasha, the female leopard, lay on top of the
spot. Desari opened the earth beside her brother and entered, grateful for the soothing tranquillity nature offered as it healed her body and mind.

“Sleep well, little sister,” Syndil whispered. “Do not fear. I will take care of all the details and loose ends before I seek rest this night. Heal, Desari, and be safe.”

“Watch yourself, Syndil. There may be other assassins,” Desari cautioned. She closed her eyes and let the earth surround her.