The Royal Flush (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles(Book Three)) (26 page)

“Wait a minute, hold on! Do you think this
Richard
person may already know who we are?” Justin asked.

Michael shrugged. “We destroyed the video and audio equipment, but there may have been some sort of surveillance feed. This Richard guy doesn’t seem like the type of person who would overlook small details.”

“It would be wise to assume that much,” Tatiana added.

“So that means we should be finding out where he lives so he can lead us to the others. Why are we still standing around?” Tony asked, obviously upset and worried.

Xavier looked at Tony then towards the others.

“I know where he lives. There was a ball held at his estate in Evanston four years ago. Darian was invited, but I went in his stead,” he said.

“Do you think he’ll be home?” Adrian asked looking at the vampires.

Darian shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know, but I’m going to follow my instincts. He was able to give Brian… I mean, Adam the money this morning, so this tells me that he’s in the area.”

“Right then,” Adrian agreed.

“I’m going with you all,” Natasha stated.

“No, you’re not. I don’t want you to take on too much,” Darian said

“No, I’m going. What if he isn’t there? I can make my connection with him and we’ll know everything.”

Darian thought about what Natasha was saying, he knew it was a wise idea. But he didn’t want her to have to suffer any more visions if she didn’t have to. “Are you sure that you want to do this?”

Natasha huffed. “I want everyone to stop asking me that. If I wasn’t sure about any of this, I wouldn’t be here. I’m sure.”

“Very well, stay close to me at all times,” Darian said.

“Hey guys, check this out!” Justin called from across the room.

Everyone gathered around him. Justin was working at the lock on the briefcase. He looked up at the others.

“Can you hear that?” he turned the little dial on the combination lock back and forth. There was a clicking sound as if the dial was scraping against something.

Adrian reached around his mother and snatched the briefcase from Justin. Looking at the lock he removed his knife from his side pocket. With one swift movement he jabbed the knife into the leather briefcase and wrenched the little golden lock off. A tiny silver object popped off, Devin caught it in his hand before it could hit the floor. He examined it closely.

“Fuck! It’s a transmitter!” Devin declared.

“Cunning humans indeed,” Darian mused. He took the transmitter from Devin and inspected it; he then crushed the object, tossing the remains into a nearby waste paper basket.

“How in the hell did we not notice that before?” Sergio asked, angry with himself for not having detected the device earlier.

“We were all a little preoccupied. And that was some pretty high-tech equipment,” Adrian offered an excuse.

“It was a S.U.I.T. standard issue tracking device. It’s the best. It’s not supposed to be heard. It was designed so that it didn’t radiate sound, only transmission waves low enough to not be detected. It’s not your faults,” Matthew said as he stared at the remains in the trash.

“How did you find it, Justin?” Adrian asked.

“It’s a nice briefcase. I was going to keep it so I was trying to open it when I heard the sound of metal scraping metal. I thought it was weird on this kind of lock,” Justin replied.

“They might know where we are. The rules have changed, ya’ll, we need to get a move on,” Devin said.

They all agreed. Natasha was amazed that the transmitter was with them the entire time, leading their enemy right to them. It bothered her that they might be the hunted now.

“Everyone can come to my home, now that your home has been compromised,” Elise offered Xander.

Xander turned to her and smiled. “Thank you.” He looked at Warren. “See that everyone makes it there safely.”

“I will,” Warren said.

“Tatiana, watch over the Pack while I’m away. I will return shortly,” Xander instructed, he turned to his son. “Adrian…”

“You know you can count on me, Dad,” Adrian said. He threw Nagesa a knowing look that meant they had the same understanding about the situation.

“I know.” Xander nodded at his son then turned towards the others. “Everyone, please leave with Elise and stay there until further notice.” No one argued. The members walked to their bedrooms to pack a few articles of clothing.

“I’m going with Elise, I want to make sure that she will be protected,” Sergio said.

Elise looked at him, a slight smile on her face. She looked to Devin. “I want you to go with Darian.”

Devin nodded.

“Good, then it’s decided. Natasha, Xavier, Devin, and Xander will go,” Darian said.

Xavier looked at him surprised. “Aren’t you coming?” he asked.

Darian shook his head. “I’m starting to put this puzzle together. They came to
Desires Unleashed
, because it’s known they would find supernaturals there. They were looking for a vampire. They may have been watching Gary for a while before choosing him for their hunt.”

“Nicole frequented
Desires Unleashed
,” Justin said.

“Rachel didn’t,” Elise pointed out.

“This tells me that they knew who to take. Everyone whom they’ve taken is relatively young and these mortals that we’re dealing with are extremely cunning and well-armed. I will not leave anything to chance. If they have somehow tracked us down, I want my coven to be prepared,” Darian said looking towards Elise “I don’t want them unprotected during the daylight hours

”

She held her hand up. “You don’t need to ask me. I don’t mind. We will protect them while they rest.”

“My undying gratitude, my dear,” Darian said as he kissed the back of Elise’s hand.

Natasha looked at Elise’s school girl grin as Darian kissed her
hand. She was glad she knew how much Darian and Xavier loved her, or else she might have been forced to become jealous... just a little.

“Very well, I’ll contact you once we get there,” Xavier said. He followed the others towards the front door.

Xander opened the door, before turning to kiss his wife goodbye. Xavier walked passed him out of the mansion, towards the car. Natasha turned to ask Darian a question when suddenly a thunderous explosion rocked the mansion. Darian grabbed Natasha, tossing her to the floor as the others ducked for cover. The windows in the front of the mansion shattered. Tiny deadly shards of glass rained down on everyone inside. At the same time, automatic guns were being fired rapidly. Silver-nitrate and ultraviolet bullets whizzed through the air towards them. Realizing that Xavier was not inside the mansion, Darian rose and ran to the door with lightening quick speed to see what had caused the explosion. Then he saw Xavier’s car had been turned into an inferno. Desperately, he looked around and didn’t see Xavier.

A sensation he had long since forgotten reawakened inside of him.

Panic.

He felt panic. Xander, Sergio, Adrian, Warren and Nagesa left the mansion, searching for their attackers who continued to shoot into the now shattered windows of the mansion. The shape-shifters still inside the mansion were forced to remain on the ground. They were ordered to stay in place by their Matrons, Elise and Tatiana. Everything was moving so quickly, in all of the chaos, Natasha hadn’t even noticed that Darian was no longer at her side. She looked up from her prone position on the floor to see Darian pulling Xavier’s flaming, charred, unconscious body from the burning wreckage. She screamed and tried to rise, but Elise held her down. Tears poured from Natasha’s eyes as she saw Darian extinguish the flames engulfing Xavier’s body. Darian lifted Xavier up, carrying his burnt, smoldering, limp body in his arms. The bullets continue to fly through the air, but he paid them no mind. His only concern was Xavier, who was still too young to survive an injury this critical on his own.

Xander and the others had tracked down their attackers, ceasing the assault. Their claws ripped open throats and their hands crushed the skulls and bones of four hit-men. Only one was spared, Adrian held this one in his arms. Xander approached him, blood dripping from his hands as pieces of torn flesh slid down his elongated fingers and claws. Sergio, Warren and Nagesa stood beside Xander. The man being held captive began to panic. He began to beg for his life. He said that he would tell them what they wanted to know as long as they didn’t kill or torture him.

“Is your life so valuable to me that I should spare you?” Xander asked, vehemently.

The man nodded.

“I can tell you who hired me and where to find him!” the man cried, his eyes wide with desperation and fear.

Xander looked at him, his claws returned to human hands. “Bring him with us.” He turned, heading back towards the mansion, with the others following behind him. Adrian grabbed the man and tossed him over his shoulder as they quickly made their way back. Once inside they saw Darian holding the smoldering and charred body of Xavier in his arms. Darian seemed to be completely oblivious to everyone around him as he had made a deep gash in his throat, urging Xavier to drink. Everyone stood in the room watching in silence. Elise held onto Natasha as she cried hysterically.

“He’ll save him, Natasha, try not to worry,” Elise said, hoping she was right. She had never seen Darian so upset, so distraught and she didn’t like it. She watched them as did the others. Everyone waited, waited to see if Xavier was going to survive.

“Drink Xavier!” Darian urged. He pressed Xavier’s face harder to the open wound in his throat. He held Xavier close to his chest slowly he rocked with him in his arms. He began to speak softly to his child and lover. “I know that you’re still with me, I can feel you. You must drink, my love. You’ll die if you don’t!”

Time seemed to stand still as they looked on, then the moment came when Darian felt the unmistakable touch of Xavier’s tongue brushing against the bleeding wound.

“Yes!” he said excitedly. “Yes, that’s it! Drink deeply, feed!”

Xavier licked Darian several times. A harsh dry sound came from deep within his chest that was mingled with hunger and pain. Slowly, Xavier’s mouth widened against Darian’s neck as he began to suck harder on the wound. The more blood Xavier swallowed, the stronger he became. His limbs gathered strength and he gripped Darian’s arms, pressing himself closer to his Master, his mouth locking onto the delicious blood flow. Darian was now silent as he continued to hold Xavier as his lover fed from him. When Natasha knew that Xavier would survive, she stopped crying. Elise released a sigh of relief.

Xavier’s injuries began to heal as he sucked greedily. Low, panting moans emanated from Darian and he tilted his head so that Xavier could gain a better position. Darian’s body shivered slightly as his lover drew harder and harder on his blood. He began to grow weaker, but he didn‘t push Xavier away. Everyone was witness to the power of the vampire’s blood. They looked on in wonder as they watched Xavier’s skin quickly began to heal the longer he fed. The charred portions of his flesh began to lighten. The open wounds and sores healed right before their eyes. His hair that had burned away, grew back as long and luxurious as before. Darian’s hand came up now, to push Xavier away from his neck. The healing process was not yet complete and Xavier was still in pain. Darian held Xavier’s weaken form in his arms.

He looked up at Darian lovingly.

“Thank you” he whispered weakly.

“It it I who is grateful,” Darian said, then he leaned down, burying his face into Xavier’s neck. His fangs extended and punctured through the partially healed flesh.

Xavier gasped. His body tensed then slowly began to relax as the indescribable pleasure coursed through his veins. His body twitched in Darian’s arms, as the blood he’d just drank was sucked from him. Xavier’s burned and ragged clothing still clung to him and smelled of gasoline and ash. He trembled once more as a tidal wave of ecstasy rippled through his body. Darian pulled away, his tongue running along his lips to catch any blood that might have spilt in his haste. He looked down at his young lover, and smiled as he gazed into Xavier’s half lidded gray eyes. He held him with one hand and with his free hand he created another wound in his neck by slicing through his flesh with razor sharp nails. Blood bubbled up from the wound and flowed down his neck.

“Drink, Xavier,” Darian instructed.

This time he didn’t assist him, he wanted Xavier to go to the fount, he wanted to be certain of Xavier’s recovered strength. A low whining moan escaped Xavier as he raised his hand feebly to grip Darian’s shoulder. He began to pull himself toward the wound. The others in the room fought their own bloodlust. They could smell the intoxicating scent of Darian’s blood as it flowed freely down his neck. Only Natasha and Matthew were unaffected by the scent of the blood. Natasha hadn’t even realized that she was holding her breath as she watched Xavier struggle. Silently she cheered him on. She released a sigh of relief once he locked his mouth to the wound.

Darian’s hand held Xavier’s head close to him as he fed Xavier for a second time. Once again, everyone marveled at how fast Xavier began to heal. The burnt and crusted portions of his skin began to flake away, only to be replaced by new perfectly toned flesh. Xavier climbed onto his knees, crushing Darian to him all the harder as he increased his pull on the magnificent blood. Darian didn’t seem to resist Xavier in the least. He relaxed himself, allowing Xavier to fill himself with all the strength he could take. When the point came where Xavier’s body would not take any more, he forced himself away, falling backwards on carpeted floor. Darian collapsed beside him, and Natasha ran to their sides as did Tony.