Adult-FanFiction.org : Books

Dark Travesty	By : bardnightstar Category: A through F > Dark Series Views: 2304 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Dark series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Dark Travesty: Chapter Five

Disclaimer: I don’t own Christine Feehan or her works, nor do I claim to.

Chapter Five

Night fell. In the old days, the city would have quieted with the fall of darkness, but that was no longer the case. But Alaric was used to this by now. Though deep beneath the ground and sleeping the death-like true sleep of his people, Alaric felt the sun’s descent. His lungs, before shut down to conserve oxygen, took in air again. His heart began beating again, and with it came hunger. With a practiced exercise, Alaric pushed back the concealing soil and vaulted out easily, covering his resting place once again and thereby removing all traces of his presence to the human eye. His people shared a stronger connection to the Earth than humans, and could command it. It cost energy of course, for everything did, but Alaric had every intention of feeding well. Then, he would find that woman and hope she hadn’t gotten into any more trouble in his absence. Of course, he wouldn’t approach her. She’d made it clear at the last rising that she wanted nothing to do with him. She didn’t understand the bond of lifemates, not yet. So, he would stay out of her ken for the next few risings, knowing all the while her body and indeed her soul would cry out for his.

Maybe then she’d be willing to believe.

Alaric, naturally, knew he couldn’t stay away. Even if he didn’t want her with every fiber of his very imaginative body, it wasn’t safe. Now more than ever, unclaimed yet with her lifemate near, Ryan was in danger. More vampires would target her, and it was a distinct possibility that other Carpathians would sense her presence. The former he would fight and destroy, the latter…well, he could not bear that. The Beast, the demon within him, was weak with his youth but still very much there. He knew that he couldn’t possibly allow other males near her. He also knew, quite vividly, that she would probably kill him for such a presumption. And still, he had to be there, watching. His first instinct, like all Carpathian males, was to protect women and especially his lifemate. It seemed ironic to him that his own lifemate was so independent, a capable warrior in her own right.

He had made his rest in a park near Ryan’s shop. He also had a small house with a cellar and rich soil, but it felt too far for his tastes. With a slight thought and exhaustion of dwindling personal energy, Alaric willed himself clean in the esoteric way of his people, and went to where he sensed the presence of human men. Men were the ideal target over women, for it was less detrimental for them, not to mention in sufficing the instinct of the Carpathians to protect females.

A half hour later, Alaric had fed well and was back at full strength. He was also on the roof of the building across from the shop, waiting. At least he was able to sense Ryan’s presence, if not her thoughts, and that was a small comfort. She was well, alive, and safe. He could see her through the wide windows and noted her curly hair was slightly shorter, but trimmed evenly. Clearly, she had attended to that while he’d slept. It angered him that the vampire had done that, but there were worse ways for her to be injured. Besides, the dark curly hair brushing her shoulders looked rather…cute.

He really hoped Ryan was staying out of his thoughts tonight.

At least she seemed more relaxed than she had upon awakening this morning. He had been aware of her discomfort, but unable to sense the thoughts that had made it so. Why couldn’t he merge with her mind, as a proper lifemate should be able to do? Her own peculiar powers seemed to somehow bar his. He had never heard of such thing from a lifemate…but perhaps that would change after the ritual was completed.

He began to feel a now familiar tightening of his groin, and firmly dragged his mind away from such thoughts.

* * *

Ryan couldn’t seem to make herself focus today. Perhaps that had something to do with all the peculiar events of yesterday, not to mention that horrible dream she’d had this morning. How could she possibly be that attracted to a man she had only just met, and been very annoyed with anyway?

The shop had been very slow today, and she’d went out early to get her hair cut. She hadn’t had it this short in years, but at least it was far lighter. It would also save her time in washing it, not to mention in the cost of conditioner. But even thinking about that brought back memories of last night, and Alaric. She had never reacted this strongly, physically, to anyone before. Sure, she’d had boyfriends in high school and since graduating, and had sex with a few of them, but none of them affected her like this, particularly from the first meeting. Was that why she’d been so annoyed by him? Because she wanted him?

No, Ryan could not accept that. She would treat him like any other customer, ordering the herbs he’d wanted. Then, she’d never have to see him again. Unfortunately, the only reason she was considering placing the order at all was because she wanted to see him once more. Perhaps, with another meeting, all of the fantasies of the night before would vanish like mist in the sun. She’d see him as he truly was, without the exaggerations of her aroused imagination. That was why she’d made the call to her supplier this afternoon. Soon enough, she’d be rid of Alaric without a single regret.

She knew he was nearby. She could feel his presence, just barely. She wasn’t sure where he was, though. He could easily have been streets away. Why was there this sense inside her that wanted her to run to him? She hated this! Nothing was supposed to be like this!

“He’s deranged,” she muttered under her breath, cheeks flushing. She was wiping down the countertop for the day, defiantly keeping her dream this morning out of her head. She’d already turned the sign to “closed” with sunset, and had delayed cleaning up. After dark, everything had seemed too odd. She wanted to lie on her bed and read, not have to worry about anything—normal or otherwise.

Above all else, she wanted Alaric firmly out of her mind.

* * *

After a half hour of watching, Ryan left the front room of the store. Alaric cursed softly and fluently under his breath in Gaelic, a bit frustrated that her living quarters in the back—he knew that was what it was—had no windows. He sat down, leaning back against a central air conditioning unit on the roof of his perch, fighting irritation and the urge to simply burst in there, collect his lifemate, and take her far away where she would be safe. He knew it was an irrational urge, and yet he couldn’t seem to find a way to completely refute the idea. The best argument was that Ryan would never understand, and would never forgive him. He already knew her that well—it was easy to pick up on her independent nature after only five minutes in her company.

Garran? he sent finally, in a futile attempt to keep his mind distracted.

How is your lifemate? Garran replied. It seems odd that you are speaking to me rather than spending time in her company.

Alaric sighed aloud. She is still angry with me. I explained everything to her, and she didn’t believe me. I don’t know what to do. There was something odd about Garran tonight, as well. Is something wrong?

No, he said instantly. There is something peculiar here, but nothing wrong. I will tell you more later, perhaps, when I know what’s going on.

Alaric wasn’t sure he believed that, but Garran was far more stubborn than he was. Aye. So…how should I deal with Ryan?

She is your lifemate, was the reply. You must learn that on your own.

How…helpful. Alaric dropped the contact deliberately, a bit annoyed that his brother had no advice for him. Garran had always been supportive and protective in the past. What had changed? Was he now perceiving his little brother as an adult?

Alaric shut his eyes, his mind still partially guarding the shop. He allowed some few fantasies to flicker past his closed eyes, all of them the sort he doubted Ryan would agree to. The ideas seemed to be a bit against her nature. Still, it did him no harm to dream…save for the condition of his overly tight pants.

He chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip, a nervous habit he’d developed over the years and never tried to break himself of. There was a tension in the air, and it had nothing to do with his arousal. He had a feeling something was on the verge of breaking, and he only hoped it didn’t have Ryan in mind as a target. Alaric really wasn’t much of a fighter—still, he’d fight for her to the death. He hoped that wouldn’t happen, though, for lifemates seldom outlived their partners, thanks to the completeness of their binding.

All Alaric could do now, though, was wait.
- 4
- 5
- 6
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Dark Travesty