Adult-FanFiction.org : Books

Dark Travesty	By : bardnightstar Category: A through F > Dark Series Views: 2305 -:- 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
- 8
- 9
- 10
Dark Travesty: Chapter Nine

Disclaimer: I do not own Christine Feehan, for I am not a male or Carpathian, and she is not my lifemate. This story is not affiliated with her in any way, and merely the twisted workings of my own mind. So, to reiterate, I do not own Christine Feehan or the Dark series.

Author’s Note: I hate psychology. I also hate finals. So psychology finals really suck. Oh, and by the way, Fala is seriously making this stuff up as I go along. She’s a real Mercutio.

Chapter Nine

Alaric left at Ryan’s order, unable to really do otherwise just then. But he couldn’t bring himself to go far, knowing she wouldn’t be able to bear the separation any more than he would, especially now that they were bound together.

“Hiya.”

Alaric turned sharply, angry with himself for not noticing another presence in the alley. He found a very real medieval reproduction crossbow pointed at him. Fala held it steadily, looking fully prepared to fire at one false move. He knew he was good enough to dodge the damn bolt, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to give her the chance. After all, Fala would still make an excellent ally.

Alaric held his hands up slowly, at about shoulder level. “Hello, Fala.”

She didn’t move from her crouching position on top of a dumpster. She wore dark colors, practical pants and a loose shirt with a tight vest or medieval bodice. Unless he was much mistaken, the shirt was silk, and the vest and pants of thicker stock. Her dark auburn hair was pulled back in a long braid, revealing the entirely of the deadly serious expression on her face.

“What did you do?” Fala demanded coolly. “What is wrong with Ran? And, for that matter, what are you? I vouched for you, arranged all of this, and look at what happened. Now you get to explain yourself or…” she shrugged, moving her hand to the trigger of the crossbow. “Well, remember that conversation about you having a very bad day?”

Time for some fast-talking. “What are your gifts?”

Her eyes narrowed. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I’m trying to convince you of my sincerity,” he responded. “I did not hurt Ryan, I never would. You have to believe me.”

“Then you get to explain,” she said. “And I feel I should warn you, I’m very good at groin shots.”

“Isn’t there a better place to discuss this?” Alaric asked, trying to soothe her. He couldn’t seem to touch her mind, either.

“No, I think here is just fine,” said Fala. “Start talking.”

“We were attacked in the park after the movie,” he managed. “We fought him off, but I was injured and she healed me. She wore herself out, and became unconscious. I brought her back here for safety.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “Okay. But that doesn’t explain why I never saw you arrive, or why there’s something different about Ran.”

“Something…different?”

“I have known her for many years now,” Fala said. “There is something different in her presence, her mind, and I think it’s your fault.”

Alaric, prepared now, sensed another person arrive in the alley.

“Fala, put the crossbow down,” said Evan Marker.

She didn’t look at him, keeping her eyes fixed on Alaric. Slowly, though, she let the weapon drop to a passive position, removing the string from its cocked position. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Evan approached her, and offered a hand to help her down from the dumpster. She jumped down easily, and didn’t release his hand.

“You were the one who was so insistent—”

“I know,” Evan cut in. “But I’ve been wrong before.”

With a sigh, Fala slipped the bolt into a quiver at her back, crossbow remaining in hand. “So what’s the deal then?” She directed the question at Alaric.

“This isn’t our business,” Evan pointed out.

Fala turned to stare at him. “Like hell! Ran is my concern here, and I’m not going to let him continue being around her until I know what’s going on!”

Evan was looking at Alaric, face inscrutable. And why did Alaric have the feeling that Evan knew exactly what was going on? How was that even possible? One thing about his posture, though, was perfectly clear and readable—either you tell her, or I will.

“Empath,” Evan told Alaric then, bringing his hand up to Fala’s shoulder.

Shit. She could sense his emotions, then, and the warning was perfectly clear. If he didn’t tell the truth, she would know. She would also probably realize it if he didn’t tell the entirety of the truth.

“Is this some macho male thing I’m not supposed to understand?” Fala demanded, resting the crossbow butt on her hip. “Because I have plenty of bolts for both of you.”

“Tell her what you are,” Evan prompted Alaric, neither of them replying to her complaint.

Alaric studied the other male, then glanced at Fala with a sigh. “I am what is known as a Carpathian male.”

“Oh,” she said. “That’s one of the not-vampires, right?”

They both looked at her with utter astonishment, neither able to speak.

She laughed. “Oh, come on, I’ve been around a bit, and I can find information ‘no one’ knows.” She touched Evan’s cheek absently. “After all, I found you, right?”

Evan shook his head. “I didn’t think you could still shock me cold after all this time, Fala.”

“I like to keep things interesting,” she replied with a smile. She turned to Alaric. “Yeah, I met up with another like you a long time ago, some guy named Tobias. He didn’t realize that mind control doesn’t work on me.”

“Only money?” Evan asked.

She glared at him. “That movie was terrible. I hated that movie.”

“Liar,” he said. “You liked Ewan McGregor.”

She smiled distantly. “Yeah…but anyway.” She turned back to Alaric. “So I know the gist of what you are. That’s what you meant by saying Ran was your lifemate, wasn’t it? And you did that obnoxious ritual thing, didn’t you?”

How did she know this much? Alaric’s surprise must have shown on his face, for Fala laughed again.

“I had to spend about three months convincing Toby that even though I’m psychic, I’m not anyone’s lifemate.” She glanced at her husband. “And I’m thinking it’s a good thing I did. Spending years trapped in the Carpathian Mountains would not be my idea of a fun time. I’m hungry. Let’s go, and I’ll try to talk some sense into Ran tomorrow.”

She pulled on Evan’s hand and started down the alley.

“Fala?” he said.

“Hmm?”

“You might want to put the crossbow back in the car first.”

“Right. I knew that.”

Alaric watched them, dumbfounded. Was that how it was supposed to work? Such utter unity between two people? He only hoped he could develop such a thing with Ryan.

* * *

Shortly after Alaric left, Ryan’s phone rang. Caller ID showed it was one of her parents, and logic told her it was probably her mother.

“Ryan? Are you all right, sweetie? You were supposed to be at dinner tonight!”

Crap. So she was. “Yeah, Mom, I forgot. I went to Fala’s rehearsal.”

“Oh, is Fala back in town then?” she said. “Good! You should bring her to dinner tomorrow.”

“I’ll see if she’s busy,” Ryan managed to reply. She only hoped Fala didn’t pull another stunt like tonight!

The conversation ended soon after that, and Ryan dragged herself into the bathroom to shower. She had never felt this drained before, and knew it tied into the massive healing she’d done earlier. But there was something else that had changed, and that frightened her more than anything else. She didn’t know what it was.

As she undressed to get in the shower, a shadow in the mirror caught her eye. On her neck was—a hickey? Great! Now she’d have to explain this to her mother. Her mother had been waiting for her to have a serious boyfriend for a long time, always wanting the possibility of more grandchildren. And if she ever saw Alaric again, she had every intention of kicking his ass. God, she needed to get some training in tomorrow—fencing was always a good way for her to get rid of stress.

Postscript: Yes, I know it’s short, but I have an unpleasant final tomorrow. But on Friday, I start winter break, and will hopefully be able to post with greater frequency as a result.
- 8
- 9
- 10
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