Desires Unleashed (42 page)

“Look, I'd like to thank you for doing this, we really appreciate it,” Warren said as he turned the car onto Ontario street.

“I see there's no tempting the two of you when you're on the job.” Darian let out a long breath, “Very well, why don't you pull in over there.” He pointed to a space in front of a clothing store. The three men climbed our of the car. Darian closed his eyes to focus his powers. His eyebrows creased, then he slowly opened his eyes.

“She's near.” Darian looked toward the
Slayer's Lair
nightclub. “She's there.” He pointed at the club.

“How did she get in?” Warren asked, perplexed.

“Yeah, all the entrances are protected by an ultraviolet lighting system. Which isn't controlled by the door bouncers, so they can't be mesmerized into turning it off for a vampire to enter,” Matthew said, mystified.

“I believe she is waiting outside for her victim, gentlemen,” Darian said as he walked toward the club.

Warren turned to face Matthew. “Before you put up an argument, listen to me,” Warren said, placing his hands on Matthew's shoulders.

Matthew knew what Warren was going to say and he wanted to protest. “Warren, I...I don't want to leave your side, I'm your back up...your partner,” he said. He felt exhausted, wounded and confused. He was unsure of himself, he didn't feel confident enough in his abilities right now to be an asset to Warren. The painkillers he had taken were making him sluggish and his back was throbbing. His entire body felt stiff and sore, not to mention he was
mentally
exhausted. But he didn't want to let Warren down.

“You're not letting me down, so don't feel that way,” Warren stated, correctly guessing his partner's feelings. “But in the vision that Natasha told me about, you weren't in it. It was only Darian and me. I don't want you to be...” he paused, taking a deep breath. “You're already injured, tired, and hungry and the list goes on. No my friend, stay here,” Warren said firmly.

Matthew looked defeated. As much as he hated to have to admit it, Warren was right, he wasn't up to fighting the vampire. He didn't know how to explain to Warren that he felt like he'd failed him as a partner the night before. He knew Warren wouldn't want to hear it and would say something to ease his conscience. Matthew nodded sadly, returning to the back seat of the squad car without another word.

Darian watched the two men from a few paces away. He noted Matthew's sad and defeated compliance, concluding that Matthew would stay behind. Warren started walking toward him and Darian waited patiently for him to catch up.

“So tell me, will she know you're coming?” Warren asked.

“Not if I do not want her to, I can shield my aura.” He saw Warren's questioning expression and smiled. “A vampire's aura is a lot like your wolf's howl. It can be used skillfully to gather vampires together or to warn them off.”

“Ah, I understand now,” Warren said, nodding. They stood outside of the boisterous nightclub. The big sign with the club's name on it glowed bright green over the door. There was a long line of people waiting to get in, all dressed in brightly colored clothes. The bouncers watched over the door, holding six-inch long silver stamping wands in their hands. They stamped the back of hands of all of the people who entered the club.

Darian wanted to laugh, he found it humorous that these mortals thought wearing brightly colored clothes would repel a vampire. It also amused him how mortals would automatically assume that all vampires would adhere to the stereotype of wearing dark colors at all times. He himself owned plenty of brightly colored clothes. There was only one thing that would keep him out of the club and that was the ultraviolet lighting installed at all the entrances, as well as the interior itself. The closer the two men approached the club, the mental connection that Darian received from the female vampire grew stronger.

“Around the back, let's split up!” Darian whispered to Warren urgently. Warren nodded, and without hesitation, he went in the opposite direction along the side of the club. Darian took the other side to close in on her. As they rounded their corners, both of the men spotted the female vampire. She was wearing a black latex catsuit. The outfit was so tight it looked as though she had painted it on. The latex fabric hugged every curve, leaving nothing to the imagination. She hovered over a man in the back alley of the club, beside a dumpster. Catching the scent of Warren, she looked up, her lips bloody from feeding. She let the unconscious human slip from her slender fingers, smiling wickedly.

“I've been waiting for you, wolf,” she said seductively, then turned to face Darian, “and you...Master.”

Warren looked at Darian, he allowed a quick expression of shock to flash across his face before regaining his composure. Darian leaned against the brick wall of the club, his arms folded across his chest. A sinister smile crept across his face and he cocked his head.

“You've disappointed me, Eliana. When I gave you my blood on that fateful night in Italy, I didn't expect you to repay me in this fashion. You have come to my territory unannounced and have caused nothing but trouble.” His lips forming the words as if they were a kiss.

“I've paid you back in blood, my dear Master. How else should a fledgling repay their maker?” She backed up until she was against the wall, centering herself between the two men. She stood, legs parted, standing her ground. Her arms dangled at her sides, both index fingers tracing circular patterns on her thighs. Warren looked at Darian. This had turned into a matter between Master and fledgling. Warren looked at the female vampire again and felt his anger rise.

“You had no right to kill all of those people because you have a grudge against your maker!” Warren said venomously as he balled his hands into fists. The female vampire ignored him, keeping her eyes focused on Darian. It angered Warren that she thought him insignificant enough that he should be ignored. He decided right then that he would not attempt to take her in to stand trial. He removed his 9 mm with silencer from his holster and aimed it at her heart. Without hesitation, he fired the first shot. He watched in amazement as she remained standing, unharmed. The bullet was lodged in the brick wall behind her, still smoking with ultraviolet gel oozing from the shell. He fired off two more shots, only to realize that somehow, the vampire had dodged each one.

Her eyes slowly left Darian's to glare at Warren. “You impudent little fool! Your weapons cannot affect me and how stupid of you to think so. You, who have traded sides, tell me, does it make you feel superior to kill your own kind...for them?” she growled as she gestured to the unconscious human laying slumped beside her.

“You're not my kind! You're a murderer, the same as any other murderer. There is nothing about you that should warrant my respect!” Warren said coldly, the barrel of his gun still pointed at her. He removed his custom automatic from his other holster, the one that contained the explosive metal bullets.

“You are stupid and stubborn. I will kill you slowly, I shall savor your blood before I grind your bones in my hands.” She held her hands palm up, outstretched in front of her. To add emphasis, she slowly curled her hand into a fist, one finger after another. A sinister smile played across her lips. “Then maybe I'll feed on your partner,” she laughed wickedly.

“You touch him and I'll-”

“You'll do what, wolf? You'll do nothing, because that is all you can do, puppet!” she said arrogantly, then turned to face Darian, who had been watching the battle of insults with a certain amusement. He did have to admit the last two nights had held plenty of spontaneity. It was nights like this that Darian was reminded just how wonderful immortality was. He pushed himself off of the wall and walked toward Eliana. He stood in front of her, his long, black trench coat flapping in the cold breeze behind him. His leather clad hands resting at his side.

“Is this a challenge to me, my darling?” Darian asked pointedly.

“Yes,” Eliana responded, mimicking his calm.

“I spared you last night to teach you a lesson, I mentally warned you to cease this behavior.” He exhaled deeply. “It did not have to be this way. If you were cross, you should have come to me, on my terms. We could have worked this out.” He began to remove his leather gloves from his hands, one then the other “You still make the most undesirable decisions. It's a pity that this will be the last time we will speak to each other. Tonight, I will end your existence since that is the one choice that you leave me with,” he said, his eyes never leaving her intense glare.

“You underestimate me Darian, you always did. For if you had only given me what I asked, if you had increased my power, I would have been happy and it would not have come to this. You are so selfish. However, I found someone who would share power with me. And this city...” She raised her hands and looked around the area. “...will be mine, as will your life!” She smiled at him.

“The only thing I've underestimated was your lack of common sense. But there is an easy way to remedy that. Now enough hot wind, I have matters to tend to before the sun rises,” Darian said. He watched as Eliana's jaw tightened. It was the response he hoped for, anger, fury, all the emotions needed to make a fight worth his while. As he looked at Eliana, he smiled. She was the second woman in twenty-four hours to have attacked him, though entertaining, he hoped it wasn't going to be a pattern. He braced himself as Eliana charged him, moving faster than Warren could see, but Darian could see her every move. In a movement quicker than lightening, his hand shot out before him catching Eliana by her throat. His fingers tightened around her slender neck. A guttural growl spat forth from her as she clawed at his hand. Darian braced himself and tossed her body upward, sending her crashing against the brick wall with a bone-crushing impact.

Darian appeared underneath her, catching her in midair. His grip returning to her neck like a vise. Her clawed nails scratched his flesh, drawing blood. Darian's own nails began to extend, razor-sharp, strong and pointed. Then in one quick movement, he ripped her throat, tearing flesh apart. Blood gushed from the torn wounds, spraying Darian's face and shirt. Eliana gaped at Darian, hands instinctively going to her throat, closing over the bloody wounds. Her mouth open wide, gasping, unable to scream in horror. Darian's hand rested at his side, pieces of her flesh clinging to his fingernails as drops of blood pooled under his hand.

Warren stood speechless as he watched the fight between the two vampires. He had never seen a fight between two vampires, witnessing the stronger overtake the weaker in such a manner, it amazed him. He had seen fights within his Pack take place, in spite of Xander's strict rules of the household. They had been bloody, vicious and always left both participants wounded, sometimes unto death. But never had he seen a fight were one member was left virtually untouched. He found himself truly astonished by Darian. He watched Eliana choke on her own blood as her body fought to restore itself. She backed away from Darian cautiously, her eyes holding fear and resentment.

Darian began to move forward, like a stalking predator. Then in a movement too fast for Warren to see, even with his superhuman vision, Darian was upon the frightened vampire once again. His fangs buried deeply into the bloody wound, drinking. Warren could see his throat swallow every drop of blood he took. Warren was relieved that they were in the back of the building, away from the public's eye. He would hate to have to explain all that was taking place to the media or his official superiors. He watched Darian pull back from the wound, releasing his hold on her limp body. He looked at Warren, mouth bloody, eyes glazed.

“She is yours to deal with now,” Darian said simply.

“Is she dead?” Warren asked.

“No. I do not want to be wrapped up in this case of yours, not any more than I already am. It's easier for you to end her life,” He looked down at her limp body. “You could even say it would be more humane,” he said thoughtfully. His eyes gradually rose, looking up at Warren. “I'll leave you now.” And with that, he vanished as if he had never been there. Warren stared at the open air where Darian had stood only a second ago. It seemed he would have to learn a lot more about vampires himself if he was going to continue to hunt them down. He gathered himself out of his deep thought and walked over to Eliana's prone body. He looked down into her face. Her dark, wavy locks framed her head like a fan on the cement. Her eyes were half lidded, mouth parted slightly. The wound in her throat was healing still, but dramatically slower than before. Her hands fluttered weakly at her sides, her body turning pale. He placed the barrel of his gun to her head and pulled the trigger.

He watched as a single ultraviolet bullet entered her flesh, embedding itself in the thick skull. Blood oozed thinly from the wound, then the flow began to turn thick, black and sticky, like tar. The surface of her skin began to dry, turn brittle and flake away, like ash in the wind. Her eyes paled till they lost all color, beginning to dry and shrivel inside their sockets. The muscles, bones and sinew had melted away to a thick greasy tar-like substance in the shape of her form on the cement. Warren felt a chill ripple through his body, he didn't know quite how to feel at this point. He was relieved that it was all over. He looked at the man she had been feeding on when they had come upon her. The man lay in a crumpled heap beside the dumpster, but he was alive. Warren could hear his heart beat, smell his blood flow. He walked over to the man, checking him over, monitoring his pulse and breathing. He called Matthew to inform him of the situation.