The Dark Rising (23 page)

I could feel his senses reach out, testing the air around them. 

“Don’t do it Vance,” I said in a mental message to him.  “She isn’t me.  Don’t hurt them.”

To my surprise he answered me immediately, seemingly unaffected by the wards which I was protected by.  Our mental link had gotten stronger somehow and I wondered if it was because he’d drunk my blood.

“If you want to protect them, Portia, then you’re going to have to come here and stop me.”

“They probably aren’t even witches,” I replied, trying to dissuade him.  “What good could they possibly be to you?”

“Oh, they’re witches. They’re even wearing all the appropriate jewelry.”

It was then I noticed what he was seeing.  Both girls were wearing beautiful amulets similar in design to mine, and the brown haired girl sported a charmed ring on her finger as well, like those which the coven had previously enchanted for Vance.

The girls paused at the entrance to one of the buildings and the one who resembled me stepped inside.

“See you later, Val,” I heard her call out to the girl she’d left on the step.

“Bye, JoAnna,” Val replied before continuing on down the street.

Vance paused for a moment, glancing between the door JoAnna had just disappeared through and Val.  I saw Val turn to go down a darkened alleyway and I wanted to scream at her to stay on the brightly lit street.  Vance actually started chuckling under his breath at her movements.  He was going after her.

I jumped out of bed—quickly donning some baggy sweat pants Hex had given me under the t-shirt of Vance’s I was wearing.  I tried to be as quiet as possible so I wouldn’t wake Hex.

The connection was still strong in my mind and I noticed at this point Val finally realized she’d been followed, turning around with a look of sudden trepidation on her face.

Vance was suddenly all charm as he strode up next to her.  “Excuse me.  I seemed to have gotten turned around here.  Can you help me with some directions?”  He smiled widely, effectively hiding the predator lurking behind the exterior.

She faltered for a second while she looked him over and I could see the flush that crept over her face, which instantly flamed the hunger inside of him.  This wasn’t good.

“I don’t feel comfortable talking to strangers in an alley,” she replied, taking a step away from him.

Vance looked around casually, before giving her a grin.  “Yeah, I can see how that might be kind of intimidating.” He made no move to leave.  “How about I introduce myself?  I’m Vance.” He offered out a hand.

“Valerie,” she replied, shaking it.

Vance didn’t speak and he didn’t let go of her either.

“I’m kind of in a hurry.  Sorry,” she said apologetically, pushing her rectangle rimmed glasses up higher on her nose as she glanced to where he still clasped her.  She dropped her hand and began to fumble with her blue shirt as if she were unsure what to do.  “I’ve got to go.”  She tried to turn away from him. 

Vance pulled on her arm, twirling her back around.  “But I’m not finished with you yet,” he said menacingly and his demon features flashed over his face.

Valerie opened her mouth to scream, but he was on her in an instant, yanking her head to the side and sinking his teeth into the tender flesh of her neck. 

Disappointment washed through him at the taste of her.   Her blood wasn’t what he was craving, but he needed to feed so he continued anyway.

I slipped my feet into some shoes and closed my eyes, wishing to be there.  I rematerialized right behind him.

“Let her go, Vance,” I said calmly.

He released her instantly, letting her fall roughly to the pavement and he turned to face me, wiping the blood dripping from his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Hello, baby,” he said in his sexy baritone voice.  “I was afraid you weren’t going to show.”  His features slowly morphed back into his normal ones, except for his red eyes.

I glanced behind him to where Val was lying on the ground.  She held a hand up to her neck, looking up at both of us with a frightened expression.

“Get out of here,” I said calmly to her and she didn’t waste any time getting up, running off down the alley.

Vance didn’t even blink when she ran away, instead taking a step towards me.  I took a step backward.

“I’m here, Vance.  Just like you wanted me to be, so what now?  Are we just going to dance around in the alley taunting each other?”

He advanced toward me again and I stepped away once more.  I couldn’t help myself.  I was terrified of him.  He lunged for me this time and I closed my eyes and popped to a different spot a few feet away.

He laughed loudly and he turned to face me.  “You’re going to make me work for it again tonight, aren’t you?”  He gave that seductive grin of his and his eyes traced over my form appreciatively.  “I see you’re still wearing some of my clothes.  Do you miss me?”

I lifted my chin defiantly towards him, but I was honest.  “With every breath I take,” I replied, wishing I could get through to him somehow.

The smile slid from his face.  “Then the feeling is mutual.”  He slowly took another step toward me.  He surprised me with his next comment.  “Stay with me, Portia.”

I felt my back touch the wall behind me when I stepped backward.  “Why should I?” I wished with all my heart I could do exactly what he was asking.

“Because I need you.  And I can see plainly— you need me too.”

He was very close to me.  He reached a hand out to pick up a tendril of my long hair, running it between his fingers.   One more step forward.  He was close enough now I could feel his warm breath against my face.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, leaning in closer.  I closed my eyes when his bottom lip touched my cheek.  He trailed it, along with the tip of his tongue, lightly up the side of my face sending sparks flying through my body with the intimate action. 

He sighed deeply as he nuzzled his head against mine.  My breaths started coming in rapid succession.  “I’ve missed you, baby,” he said, and he shoved me roughly against the wall, his mouth descending against mine.

He slid his hands down my arms until he held both of mine tightly in his and he lifted them high over my head, pinning them against the wall while his lips ravaged mine.

My body was shaking, both from fear and delight.  While I was thrilled to be in his arms again, I also knew I shouldn’t be giving him such an opportunity.  He could easily freeze me and I would be helpless, but I couldn’t pop away from him, choosing instead to court the danger he represented.

“You’re trembling,” he whispered against my lips when he pulled back ever-so-slightly.

“I know.”

“Are you afraid of me?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll let your hands go if you promise not to stake me with an ice shard.  Will that help you feel better?”  His heated gaze raked over my face.

I nodded and he lowered my hands from the wall, releasing them so he could trace his fingers up my arms, over my shoulders, across my neck.  He cupped my face.

“Kiss me, Portia.  Just like you used to.”

He didn’t have to ask twice.  I lifted my hands to slide them around his neck, tangling them into his hair, meeting his mouth halfway.  He crushed me to him, before moving to tangle a fist in my hair, still holding me firm with the arm around my waist.

He kissed me hotly over and over, until I felt like I was drowning in the depths of him.  I grabbed harder, trying to pull him even closer to me, but I felt his teeth begin to shift against my tongue.  I moved my hands against his chest, shoving him back from me.

“Stop it.” I yelled.

He grabbed my wrists, struggling with me.

I was just about to pop away when I heard Mayla’s voice breach the night to my right.  “Finish her Vance!” she said loudly.

I gasped out loud, realizing this had all been another trap and I, like a fool, had walked right into it.

Suddenly another voice screamed loudly from my left.  “There he is!”

We all turned to see Val standing at the far end of the alley and it appeared she’d come with some backup. 

A handsome warlock with dirty blond hair and a very athletic physique stood at her side.  He was fuming as he glared in our direction.  He wasn’t alone though.  Several more warlocks gathered around behind him.  They advanced menacingly toward us and I heard Vance laugh as he let go of me, turning to face them.

Mayla reached out and grabbed me by the arm.  I popped away from her to land in between Vance and the impending confrontation.

“This has all been a misunderstanding!” I called out to the group of men approaching, trying to diffuse the situation.

“Get out of the way, Portia,” Vance growled from behind me.

“No,” I said firmly, determined to protect the people who were unknowingly threatening something they couldn’t possibly comprehend.

“Kill him!” one of the warlocks yelled out and suddenly there was an onslaught of magic coming straight for me.

Vance shoved me to the side and he easily deflected the magic, sending it in a rolling shockwave back toward them.

The men only had a moment to register a look of surprise before diving for cover and I heard them shout a few words of distress.

“Val! Get them out of here!” I shouted to the witch who was now huddled up against the wall.

Vance didn’t let up, instead unleashing a streaming arc of flame, igniting pretty much everything in the alleyway on fire, including the objects which the others were hiding behind.

“What are you doing?” I screamed, and I felt another surge of energy roll through him as he prepared to attack again.

I popped behind him, shoving with all of my might.  He stumbled forward before he turned to face me.  Out of the corner my eye I saw Val and the others scrambling to get out of the inferno ridden alley.

“You pushed me!” he said incredulously, a surprised look on his face.

“You’re attacking innocents!”

“Don’t mess with me, Portia.” He lifted a hand sending an arc of energy at me so unexpectedly that it caught me off guard, throwing me up against the wall.

I crumpled to the ground, hearing Mayla’s laughter sounding in my ears and I quickly fought to regain my footing.

Vance turned back to look for the others and I evaporated behind him, placing my hand against his back, my arm trembling violently.

“If you try to go after them I will have no choice but to ice you.”  My voice shook.  “You aren’t immortal anymore, Vance.  I would think about it—carefully.”

A force of power hit me from behind sending me sprawling into Vance and he went flying too.  The pavement bit into the skin on my arm as I hit the ground hard, ripping the flesh from it.  I cried out as the blood sprayed.  This instantly roused Vance who had fallen next to me and he was on me faster than I could blink, wrenching my arm toward him as he went for the bite.

His razor-like teeth sank hard into the wound.  I yelled out, wishing to be back at the bunker with Hex and I dissolved, returning back to my place of refuge.

Hex answered the door immediately.  All the lights were glaring and I knew he’d been awake, waiting for me.

“Well?” he asked as I strode into the space, holding my damaged arm cradled next to my body.

“It didn’t go well.” I walked over to the sink to turn the water on.   I cleaned the road rash on my arm while I filled him in on the details.

“He’s taunting you.  You’re aware of that, right?” Hex asked when I was finished.

“Yes.” I sighed.  “I just don’t understand why.  Mayla’s encouraging him to kill me, and he seems both willing and reluctant at the same time.  It makes it hard for me to read him.”

“I think his attraction for you is making the decision difficult.” 

“Well I certainly hope so!” I said grouchily.  “It’s the best weapon I seem to have right now in my arsenal.”

“Why did you go to him unprepared?” he asked as he took in my appearance.

“There wasn’t time to change.  It was either wear this or let the girl die in my place.”

Hex nodded and frowned at me.  “You need to keep the mental barriers up.  When you let them down you give him the opportunity to manipulate you.”

“I’m quickly beginning to understand that.” I answered, going to sit dejectedly on the sofa. 

Hex came over with a first aid kit and began to bandage my arm.  He didn’t speak while he worked, thankfully.  I knew he was angry with me.

“Let’s get some sleep and we will discuss this in the morning,” I said when he was finished, suddenly too tired to continue.

“Okay, but no more popping out of the bunker tonight!”

“Not a problem,” I replied.

I got up early and the spent the morning in the gym with Hex.  We worked hard for several hours on the art of physical fighting.  His style was a blend of many cultures, incorporating the things he liked best from all over the world.

My favorite was the kickboxing, and a couple of  body slamming moves which I’d teased him about, saying he must’ve picked them up from watching world class wrestling. 

He didn’t think that was very funny.  He berated me for not taking things seriously enough, but I knew he was worried about my plans to place myself into the lion’s den again.  I’d informed him I still intended to go to Vance even after everything that had happened last night.

I actually wasn’t too worried about it.  I felt much more mentally prepared this time around.  Who knew how Vance would react to everything, but I knew as long as he couldn’t touch me, he couldn’t hurt me.  Of course, it was the not touching him part that always seemed to get me into trouble.

Hex left after lunch to go pick up my family.  After he was gone I proceeded to shower and carefully groom myself, taking extra care with my hair and makeup.  I promised Hex I would wear the fighting clothes he bought me, and he’d armed me to the teeth on my utility belt.

Not one ounce of nerves bothered me while I was getting ready, but now that it was time to go I began to feel jittery.  I took a deep breath and concentrated on bringing my emotions under control. 

“You are the empowered one today.  Take control of the situation,” I said to myself, repeating the words Hex was constantly saying to me during our training together.