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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.

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Dark Travesty: Chapter Eight

Disclaimer: I do not own Christine Feehan, though I could really use her income about now, and I do not own any of her works. I also make no claim to the lifemate binding ritual, for those words are not my own.

Author’s Note: Yes, I most certainly should be studying for finals, thanks for asking. But it’s write this, or read, and the reading invariably leads to an urge to write…so here we are, once again. Feel free to read and review! No one reviews me…*sniff*…I know you’re out there! I can see the numbers! Also, thanks to WaterShadow for help on this particular chapter.

Chapter Eight

Ryan could not seem to keep her mind focused on the movie, and doubted she would ever remember exactly what they’d seen. Throughout the entire hour and a half, she was acutely aware of Alaric’s presence beside her, and every inch of her body seemed to be reacting to him. About fifteen minutes into it, he tentatively took her hand…and she allowed it. Why was she allowing this? She shouldn’t be doing that, she knew it! Although the worst part was that her mind kept wandering to a specific little chest kept on a shelf in her closet…

No! Bad thoughts! She wasn’t going to be attracted to this man, and she most certainly wasn’t going to take him to her bed. After all, he was utterly insane…though why Fala didn’t seem to realize that…

Ryan shook her head, trying once again to pay attention to the movie. She just wished she could remember what they were seeing.

* * *

After the movie, Alaric found himself suggesting they take a walk. He doubted he could have been more surprised when she accepted.

Garran, I am alone with my lifemate, he couldn’t help but send as panic overtook him, when they entered the darkened confines of a park. What should I do?

Alaric could almost sense surprise and alarm coming from his brother—which was impossible, of course, for Garran didn’t have any emotions. Alaric. If I have to tell you that, we have a very serious problem on our hands.

Not like that, he retorted. I am trying to make friends with her.

There was a brief silence, then, I am sorry, Alaric, but you will have to learn it on your own. I…have my own troubles just now.

That surprised Alaric. Normally, Garran was capable of dealing with everything and nothing bothered him in the least. Okay…

“So,” Alaric managed to vocalize. “The…stars are very nice tonight. It’s a very clear evening, don’t you think?”

Ryan didn’t even look at the stars, but mumbled something to the affirmative.

Something brushed the edge of his awareness then, and he looked around sharply, but was unable to locate the source. Perhaps he was just being paranoid—it had been known to happen, especially since meeting Ryan. He’d already imagined at least four or five vampires in her vicinity, just in their short acquaintance. It would help if he could think rationally, but he kept getting some damn erection! He doubted he’d manage to talk her into a sexual situation any time in the near future, and it was damnably frustrating on his body.

“There’s something out there,” Ryan said suddenly, stopping in her tracks.

“Are you sure?” he asked, believing her, but not sure why nothing had attacked yet.

“Of course I am,” she replied, deep brown eyes flashing around wildly, her body already in a rather martial stance.

“Get out of here,” he ordered.

She dropped the stance to stare at him blankly. “Excuse me?”

Alaric winced involuntarily at the tone in her voice. “I meant—”

“I seem to remember that I was the one who fought the most last time,” she retorted, voice rising. “I also seem to recall that you couldn’t handle him on your own even after I already wore him out a bit!”

“Ryan—” He was unable to finish his sentence, for he saw a shadow coming for her, and shoved her to the side, charging at the darkened spot. It was his first instinct, after all.

Unfortunately, Ryan caught herself before falling, and turned to attack as well. The creature dodged Alaric, and was most decidedly a vampire. It landed solidly on the ground, and growled, bloodstained teeth bared.

“You can’t take this thing on your own!” Ryan snapped irritably.

“Yes, I could if you’d just get back!” he cried, knowing he’d pay for this with her later. He’d prefer they were both alive for that eventuality, though.

She turned to glower at him, and he had to force himself to ignore her reaction as the creature started his attack. Why hadn’t he paid more attention when Garran had offered to train him?

* * *

After being unceremoniously shoved aside, Ryan turned to find that Alaric was launching a completely wild, uncoordinated attack on the new arrival—who looked similar to that “vampire” from the other night. Likely it was some group of teenagers dressing up. Although one attacking them for no reason at all seemed peculiar to her. And whoever this guy was, he had clearly had martial arts training of some sort. Ryan herself had taken only a few years of karate, and they had been some years ago. She doubted he could actually fight this successfully, and couldn’t seem to make herself react enough to figure out what she could do. The creature had no problem in evading Alaric’s wild lunging, and the two males were now circling each other, unspeaking and without making any move toward the offensive. Ryan could see that Alaric was less than confident in his abilities.

A thought occurred to her. He had telepathic ability…without thinking further, she seized his mind. Can you read my memories?

Though she sensed his surprise, he didn’t betray it outwardly. Ryan? Aye, but—

Then do it, she ordered. You look like a fish out of water, and I took three years of karate. This is going to take a double attack, understood?

It isn’t safe for you! Alaric retorted fiercely. You have to get out of here, in case I can’t stop this!

Shut up and do what I told you, or neither one of us can do this, she insisted. He would do this, she would make certain of it. There wasn’t another option available. She doubted she could project the memories to him herself, and knew from experience it was no use trying to channel them herself—the human mind wasn’t equipped to deal with memory in that way, it seemed.

The “vampire” lunged then, aiming at Alaric’s chest, mouth open and fangs extended.

Fangs? Real people didn’t have fangs!

Alaric dodged, a roundhouse kick connecting solidly with his opponent’s arm. Ryan distinctly heard a crunching sound, and the pale creature hissed in obvious pain. That led to an all-out violent clashing.

Ryan crouched on the ground, eyes still on them. She knew it was fruitless, in the long run, to add a third party to a catfight. She remembered that wood had worked effectively on the other vampire (could that be real?) and was searching for an effective natural weapon. There was bound to be something thick, sharp, and wooden beneath the trees—she hoped. Strangely, the two men seemed to be moving at a blur too fast for her to follow. That was probably just her mind playing tricks, though.

What are you doing still here? Alaric said in her mind. Get out of here!

Shut up, she snapped again. Focus on the fight, not me. She found a dead branch half attached to the tree still, and broke it off. She stepped on one end to break it to a point, then charged the vampire.

Move! she ordered Alaric. At least he listened.

She grazed the vampire, but he dodged the brunt of it. “You let your woman fight for you?” he drawled sardonically, jumping at Alaric in a way that looked like flying.

Ryan stabbed through his back as Alaric cried out in pain. They all fell into a heap, and Ryan shoved the vampire away, still stuck on the branch.

Alaric was bleeding rather profusely from the stomach, but struggling to his feet.

“What are you doing?” she cried.

“I have to…umph…get rid of the corpse.”

She lent him the support of her body automatically. “You’re injured—God, you look like you’re dying! He attacked us, we should just call the police.”

Alaric shook his head. “That doesn’t work, acushla, when are you going to learn that?”

She ignored the name for the moment. “Wait.” Bioenergy was her forte. She shut her eyes, took a deep breath to center herself, and put her hands over his bleeding stomach, ignoring the sticky red liquid as it covered them. Then, she willed the energy that made up all life to do what she wanted it to—heal. She’d been healing since she was five. She could do this.

Weakness accompanied the task, as always, but she forced her mind to obey her. She ignored the weariness, and kept her mind on that one small mission. She mentally urged the blood to clot, the skin to bind back together, the white blood cells to do their job, all at a far quicker pace than they normally would have.

“Ryan,” he said, sounding alarmed, grabbing her arms as her legs faltered.

“I’m fine,” she insisted, trying to push him away. Before she could, though, she felt a bit of disorientation, and then nothing.

* * *

Alaric caught her before she fell, utterly surprised at his lifemate’s abilities. He had never encountered healing like this, even in the healing processes of his own people. Alaric, of course, couldn’t do that himself, hence the herbs he’d ordered from Ryan. That had been a rather convenient twist of fate, he thought.

Without releasing Ryan, he glared at the body until the lightning (properly appearing from the cloudy sky, this time) shot down to eliminate the last traces. Then, he picked his lifemate up easily—her healing had brought back some of his strength—and turned to mist, causing her to do so as well. Then, at a Carpathian’s speed, he returned her to her shop, and the living quarters in the back. He laid her down on the bed, and knelt beside her, not liking the gray pallor of her skin in the least.

Garran, she is unconscious, Alaric sent desperately. What should I do?

He sensed Garran glancing at the memories of the encounter, and Ryan’s healing. Take her blood, then give her yours.

“What?” Alaric exclaimed aloud before he could help himself.

It will strengthen her, and the bond between you, Garran pointed out with dry practicality. She needs your strength now.

But taking her blood will weaken her further, he insisted.

Which is why you give her your blood in return. It is necessary to create the bond between you. You can get her permission for the full change later, if that is what concerns you.

Alaric realized, too, that it might give him access to her mind. Then, he would know if she was being endangered by another vampire. So, hesitantly, considering he’d never done this beyond feeding before, he lowered his mouth to her neck.

She tasted like nothing he’d encountered before. It must have been due to the lifemate bond between them, but there was more than the taste and nourishment of blood. He had never found something that tasted so much like pleasure and sex, never felt a strong physical attraction to someone he’d bitten. But now, his groin was fully awake and aware, and causing a lot of trouble when it came to functional thought.

Alaric had trouble calling his mind to task, and was only able to pull away from her when he felt her pulse weaken, using the healing agent in his saliva to close the puncture wounds.

“Imeacht gan teacht ort,” he cursed himself in an undertone for his forgetfulness, as he brought a sharp fingernail to his own neck, just above the collarbone. As the blood began dripping, he brought her mouth to his neck. Fortunately, they still had a bond—she hadn’t been able to block him out again before passing out—and he was able to convince her body to drink. This, too, was far more pleasurable than he could have expected, even after what he’d always been told. Unfortunately, it didn’t bring any relief whatsoever to the throbbing in the vicinity of his groin.

When he felt her body strengthening again, he stopped her, liking his fingertip to close the wound with his saliva. He let Ryan fall back onto the bed, pleased with her improved color. He doubted she’d expected quite that much weakness after her endeavor.

Alaric got rid of his bloodstained shirt with a thought, and cleaned in the way of his people as well, before calling clean clothing into existence. This weakened him, too, but not enough to notice. Then, he found himself staring at Ryan, still with that driving urge in his body. Before he could stop himself, he bent to kiss her, heedless of her unconscious frame. Telepathically, he said the ancient words meant to bind lifemate to lifemate.

I claim you as my lifemate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give you my protection, my allegiance, my heart, my soul, and my body. I take into my keeping the same that is yours. Your life, happiness, and welfare will be cherished and placed above my own for all time. You are my lifemate, bound to me for all eternity and always in my care.

With deep satisfaction, he felt the invisible ties pulling them together. She was his lifemate, and now it was only a matter of time.

* * *

Ryan woke with a strange taste in her mouth, and a peculiar feeling. She would swear someone was kissing her, but that was impossible. She moved slightly, trying to wake more completely, and felt a tongue probe past her lips, exploring her mouth.

Initially, she didn’t know how to react, beyond allowing pleasure and sensation to wash over her. But then, alarm welled up in her at the knowledge that something had changed inside her, internally. And she didn’t understand that in the least.

She pushed the person with her away with a fierce shove, sitting upright to glare at him. She knew who it was, of course—Alaric.

“Get out!” she shrieked at him with voice and mind, forcing his compliance.

For a moment, he simply stared at her in obvious shock, then bowed his head. Then, somehow, he disappeared. The door never opened, and he never moved—he simply vanished. Shaking, Ryan got up to check the locks on the doors and windows. She couldn’t see him again. She just couldn’t allow it.
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Dark Travesty