The NightMan (10 page)

Chapter
5

Adriel’s
service
to
Dorian
was
one
that
he
had
openly
accepted.
It
was
the
right
thing
to
do
at
the
time.
Many
years
ago,
as
told
by
his
fore
fathers,
Dorian
saved
them
from
a
group
of
vampire
and
witch
hunters.
To
Adriel,
they
were
no
more
than
crazy
men
who
were
ignorant
of
the
true
nature
of
a
man.
In
Adriel’s
case
it
was
the
nature
of
a
beast.

Dorian
happened
to
ride
by
on
his
horse
as
a
group
of
these
crazy
people
had
captured
one
of
Adriel’s
forefathers.
With
no
interest
in
the
man,
Dorian
almost
passed
by
without
saying
anything.
He
stood
aside
and
was
willing
to
watch
them
burn
the
man
at
the
stake
like
a
common
thief.
It
wasn’t
until
the
man
saw
Dorian
in
the
woods
and
called
out
to
him
for
help
did
Dorian’s
interest
peak.

The
man
tied
to
a
stake
and
hands
bound
behind
his
back,
cried
out
to
Dorian.
He
pleaded
with
him
to
save
his
life
and
his
daughters.
He
made
the
unfathomable
mistake
of
offering
his
services
in
return.
For
the
man
on
the
stake
knew
Dorian
was
a
vampire.
Dorian’s
scent
clearly
gave
him
away.

In
Dorian’s
eyes,
the
man
marked
for
death
had
his
full
attention,
and
of
course,
Dorian
highly
favored
servitude.

“Save
my
life
and
I
swear
my
services
for
a
season
at
a
time,”
the
man
cried
out.

Dorian
stepped
through
the
woods,
followed
by
his
entire
coven,
out
numbering
the
seven
local
villagers
and
farmers.
As
calmly
as
he
could
manage,
Dorian
raised
his
hand,
bringing
the
youngest
one
to
a
halt.
The
crowd
stepped
back
as
Dorian
walked
up
to
the
man
firmly
bound
to
the
stake.

Dorian‘s
eyes
narrowed.
“So
you
know
what
I
am?
How
can
you
protect
me?”
he
sneered.

“Save
me
and
set
me
free
and
I
shall
show
you,”
the
man
begged.

Dorian
paused
for
a
moment
and
considered
the
man’s
request.
He
knew
if
the
man
was
lying
he
would
take
his
life
with
pleasure.
With
a
single
gesture
of
his
hand,
the
vampires
moved
on
the
crowd.
Blood
curdling
screams
filled
the
night
as
the
vampires
descended.
Dorian
stood
by
the
man
and
watched.
He
waited,
biding
his
own
thirst,
capturing
the
youngest
one
of
them
for
himself.
A
victim
he
would
use
to
satisfy
his
thirst
if
the
man
were
telling
the
truth.
If
not,
the
man
would
serve
the
same
fate
as
the
young
man.

The
screams
subsided,
which
meant
only
one
thing;
everyone
was
dead.
Dorian
motioned
for
one
of
his
coven
to
free
the
man.
Quickly
the
woman
moved
and
ripped
the
restraints
to
set
the
man
free.
He
stepped
down,
stumbling
over
the
piles
of
un-burned
wood
to
stand
before
Dorian.

Dorian
shifted
his
weight
with
the
boy
in
his
arms,
holding
the
young
man
tightly
to
his
cold
hard
chest.
His
eyes
roamed
over
the
man
that
he
stood
before
him,
clearly
taking
note
of
the
bloody
wounds
to
his
thigh
made
by
spears.
These
people
had
captured
him.

“Show
me
now,
for
I
grow
impatient,”
Dorian
seethed.

That
night
the
secret
was
revealed.
The
man
turned
into
a
large
wolf
before
Dorian’s
eyes.
A
Lycan,
the
elders
called
it.
To
Dorian’s
amazement
he
made
an
alliance
with
the
man
and
accepted
his
proposal.
To
this
day,
every
child
of
his
lineage
served
one
season
protecting
the
vampires
and
their
lair
from
outsiders.

Adriel
knew
this
was
his
last
year,
but
he
couldn’t
bring
himself
to
leave.
Not
after
he
met
Caitlin.
His
eyes
closed
tightly,
remembering
the
endless
nights
he
heard
her
cry
in
her
sleep.
The
whispered
prayers
to
a
god
he
only
hoped
would
hear
them.
The
heart
broken
moment
came
for
him
when
he
heard
her
pray
to
her
god
that
they
would
be
forgiven.

It
was
that
moment
Adriel
saw
the
beautiful
heart
of
this
lovely
woman.
From
that
moment,
he
was
utterly
in
love
with
her.
She
showed
such
compassion
for
her
enemies.
Would
she
show
him
the
same
compassion?
Surely
a
woman
like
Caitlin
could
accept
him,
understand
him.
In
his
own
heart
he
prayed,
maybe
even
love
him.