Title:Dark Angel
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating:R 
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes mind speaking
27/6/02

AN: SailorMoon characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
    The vampire's abilites are based on Christine Feehan's Dark Series.

"Woman was created from the ribs of man
 Not from his head to top him
 Nor from his feet to be walked upon
 She was made from his side to be his equal
 From beneath his arms to be protected
 From very near his heart to be loved."
         --Anonymous--

AN: Thanks to all who reviewed and emailed. :) So glad you like this story
    so far. Violet Goddess, I hope you get out chapters to your stories
    soon. It's not fair to leave me hanging on your stories so long. :p
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 He was of a dark and ancient race on the verge of extinction,
 She was a mortal thriving on the light and beauty of the world,
 They met on a night of unspeakable horror...
 With her strange abilities, she ensnared him in a web of desire even as 
 their souls called out to each other,
 Promising eternity and a passion more fulfilling than anything on earth.


 ~ Chapter 4: Blood Bond ~

  Serena bit her lip as she stared at the dark furious look on Darien's
face. He had made her sit a good distance away from him and the 'man' he
called Geoffrey. They were discussing something and by the look on Darien's
face, it was clear he was not happy or thrilled by the news brought by
Geoffrey.
  She wanted to crawl into bed and merely escape the frightening reality of
vampires. She was tired....or perhaps it was the dark menacing aura Darien
was emitting unconsciously. He was surely angry with her.

  "What is wrong with Darien and why is Geoffrey here?" came a deep silky
voice that had her jumping from her chair to face the owner of the voice.

  Her eyes locked with Malcolm's ice coloured ones. Before her very eyes,
Jayden, Raye, Zachary and Neph appeared out of no where, startling her and
sending her backing away a few steps, a silent cry in her mind.

  The response was instantaneous.

  His body was suddenly in front of hers, keeping her away from the males.
Red flames were leaping in his eyes as he snarled at the others, his hand 
tight on her wrist.
  "Darien..."

  Darien glared at the four males in front of him, ready to do battle if
necessary. They had frightened his mate. A female under his protection, and
usually in his race, that was enough to start a battle frenzy.
  The four men understood his uneasiness of them so close to Serena. Bowing
slightly to Darien in a show of deference, they then acknowledged Geoffrey's 
presence with a curteous nod. Geoffrey nodded back and finally, Raye and 
the four males disappeared into thin air.

  He was still tense with Geoffrey in the room. Her cry of fear always 
brought out the demon. He was dangerous in this state. More so than when he
had no mate at all. 

  *You should have bonded her to you. That way, you wouldn't need to feel
this way.* came Geoffrey's admonishing tone.
  *Ah, but as you said, she is human.* 
  *You need only one blood exchange to bond her to you. A second one will
convert her. The joining and the ritual mating words will tie her to you 
for all eternity.* came Geoffrey's cool reply.
  *How do you know this? Coversion of mortal women?* questioned Darien.
  *The undead have tried so...with the women becoming mad. Deranged*
  *And you expect me to change her?!? No, if this is so, I will choose to 
die when she does...*
  *You are heir-*

  "Can you talk aloud instead of glaring at each other and sending mental
messages to each other?" came Serena's annoyed voice.

  Geoffrey turned curious eyes towards her.

  "You can hear us?"
  "No, but I can sense it." snapped Serena crossing her arms. "And it's
rude. I may have been dragged into this strange world of yours, but that
doesn't mean I have to stand for your lack of manners."

  "You have... an unusual woman for a mate, Darien." commented Geoffrey
wryly.
  "I am not his mate." hissed Serena.
  "I have determined she is a psychic. Not very adept at her unique 
abilities, but psychic, nonetheless.

  "She should have been guarded better, Darien."
  "I know, but she is not one to follow commands for her own safety."
  "Excuse me! I'm still here!" she cried indignantly.
  "We should discuss this later, Darien. Your mate is tired. I feel her
fatigue beating at me. You should put her to sleep."
  "I agree."

  Darien scooped a sputtering Serena into his arms and made his way upstairs
while Geoffrey disappeared from sight.
  She glared at him and thumped his shoulder with a tiny fist.

  "Beast! Put me down! I can walk, and it was rude to talk about me as if
I was not there."
  "You are merely hurting yourself."
  "Oh, you think you know everything, don't you??"
  *Because I do, baby...*
  "Oooh!!"

  Serena found herself dumped into the large bed in his room as she glared
up at him.
  "Your damn dominating attitude has to go!"

  He merely bent down to pull the covers over her, tucking them around her
body as she fought and struggled in the sheets, merely succeeding in 
tangling the sheets around her arms.
  "Be still, baby. You are tired and should rest." came his stupid perfect
voice that made her all gooey inside.
  "I am not tired! And if I were going to sleep, I can tuck myself in alone,
thank you very much." she snapped irrittably as she yanked at the covers.

  He merely offered her a condescending smile. Irritating man.

  She sniffed and lay down, pulling the covers to her neck as she snuggled
down into the comforting bed, turning on her side, facing away from him.

  She heard his deep laugh echoing in her head as he left the room.
Trying to block it out, she buried her head into the soft pillows, gritting
her teeth.


  As Darien made his way down the hall, his amusement faded, giving way to
seriousness. He thought back to when he had been returning to the mansion. 
When he had heard her scream in his mind. This was the weakness of not 
having a blood bond. He could not sense her thoughts from afar.
  A strange dread had gripped his belly at her scream.

  *It is called fear, Darien.*
  *Geoffrey. Where are you?*
  *With the others in your study. I have relayed my news to your sister. I
think it best we all discuss this problem.*
  *I believe so, too.*

  With his speed, he entered the study a moment later. Geoffrey was seated
by the fire while Raye was sitting on one of the chairs in the room, her
face pale against the raven black of her hair. Her amethyst eyes wide as
Jayden sat on the arm of the chair, comforting her.

  Her eyes came up to meet his.

  "It's true then? He's in America?" she asked.
  "Geoffrey says so. I have sensed his presence but I have not been able to 
trace him. This is what puzzles and alarms me." he frowned.
  His sister nodded. "I know. I have not been able to reach him, either.
We have blood between us, Darien. Why is it we cannot trace him?" 
  "I have no idea."

  He then frowned at his sister, his eyes narrowing on her face.

  "It is difficult to believe Jayden even allowed you to attempt to contact
him. He has turned, Raye. He is dangerous." he said steely.
  "Jayden cannot prevent should I wish it, Darien. I am an ancient, not a
mere fledgling. I am daughter of our Prince! I am not without my own powers,
brother." snapped Raye angrily.
  Jayden frowned down at her. "Is that so?"
  "You can punish her for her impudence later, Jayden." said Geoffrey.
  "Like any of you would even lift a finger against a woman not vampiress."
snorted Raye in a doubtful tone.
  "What can you tell us, Geoffrey?" 
  "Alright, the Prince has sent many hunters searching for him when he
turned. Your mother was devastated of course, but the hunters found no trace
of him. Your father even joined the hunt himself."
  "What makes you think he has arrived to America if you have not been able
to track him?" questioned Malcolm.

  Geoffrey's eyes locked with Malcolm's.

  "It is only a guess. He has always been jealous of Darien for being the
heir. We believe Darien finding his mate for life pushed him over the edge."

  Darien shook his head. "I cannot believe this. How can it be??"

  Raye turned sad eyes to her brother. "And yet, how can it not? We both
felt the change."
  "I know. But if he has turned, Serena will be in danger. If your theory
is correct, Geoffrey...and he is here. He will try to destroy all I hold
dear." murmured Darien thoughtfully.
  "Which is why, you must now be on guard at all times. I believe he has
done something to his blood that inhibits us from tracking him easily. He
always was so fascinated in herbs and poisons." sighed Geoffrey.
  "I know."
  "Also, if you have sensed his presence... It can only mean he is near
here. Possibly in the city." said Geoffrey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  It was 6pm in the evening with the sun beginning to set. Serena sat up in
bed, aware another day had passed and was fast falling to night. Something
had awoken her from sleep.
  Her psychic senses flared out, searching for the source of unease in the
pit of her belly. Something was out there, evil...
  Her mind felt the deep hatred and jealousy focused on Darien. Her entire
being rebelled at the thought of someone...something, trying to kill him.
This being wanted Darien's death more than anything.
  She tried to pinpoint the hostility, surprised Darien and his friends had
not been awakened by the evil permeating everything.

  She sensed he was close but locked underground, waiting for the sun to
sink. He was so like Darien and yet...not. This confused her. She was sure
this creature was a vampire, an undead. 

  *You are correct, baby. It is an undead.*
  *Darien...this one wants you dead so badly.*
  *I can feel it. This one has sent one of his minions to test my shields.*
came his deep sexy voice.
  *Minions?*

  There was an answering chuckle before he replied.

  *Humans who have drunk the blood of a vampire. I believe mortals use the
term,...zombies? Or perhaps ghouls.* came his reply.
  *ZOMBIES??? Darien, why have you dragged me in a battle between vampires,
zombies and ghouls?* she groaned.

  Invisible hands brushed lovingly at her hair and throat. A shiver ran
down her spine as she felt the mental arms envelope her in an embrace.

  *I need you, baby. Do not try to leave me...* was his whispered sensuous
reply. He sounded languid and arrogant.
  *What do we do with the ghoul?*
  *WE?? What is this 'we', baby?? YOU are not going anywhere near the ghoul.
I am rising now and will take care of the nuisance.* he snarled.
  She merely offered a snort before cutting all communication with him.

  Making her way to a window, she saw a large man, his flesh gray with 
dark eyes banging on the outer wall near the gates. The man was making such
a horrible noise each time he touched the wall, red sparks emitting like
flames.

  *Come to me...* came a voice much like Darien's.
  *Who are you??*
  *You know me, Serena. Come out.* came the imperious command.

  Serena cried out in protest but she got jerkily to her feet like a puppet
and made her way downstairs. She did not like being manipulated. With every
ounce of will power, she tried to stop herself from opening the door and
stepping out.
  It was the undead. She knew it...and somehow, he had invaded her mind.

  *Serena!*
  *Darien...*
  *Do not go out!* he cried. She already knew he was waking up, bursting
from the soil in an effort to stop her.
  *Come, Serena.* came the voice once more. It was crazy, but how was it he
sounded almost exactly like Darien? Her head pounded angrily.

  The compulsion was stronger than she, and her hand opened the door, 
stepping out into the open, the setting sun. There was only 20 more minutes
to sunset.

  Her feet moved by their own accord, heading towards the massive iron gates
where the zombie was still outside, pounding on the walls. Primal fear
gripped her. *Darien!!*

  *Serena, it is compulsion. Resist, I am nearly to the surface. Do not go
out the gates, Serena.* came his command. She felt his compulsion.

  Her brain hurt. She felt as if she was being torn in two. One calling her,
beckoning her outside while another commanded her, demanded she stay in the
compound. She lifted her hands to her temples to soothe her headache.


  Darien felt the agony beating at her. The two compulsions pulling her.
He heard the whispers in her mind, beckonning her insidiously. He countered
them with his own.
  With his senses, he flared out, searching for the undead. He knew who it
was...He was here.

  *Dylan.*

  Silence.

  He felt him, but was unable to locate him. He knew he was close. Very 
close to be able to touch Serena's mind. To connect with her psychic senses.
  Darien feared this. He was close enough to touch his mate with his evil
demented mind. Trying to lure Serena from safety. Both him and the undead
were on equal footing. The same strength, the same power and no intimate
blood connection with Serena. Because of that particular fact,there was a 
chance the undead would win, would draw Serena out. He had NO advantage 
over the undead.


  He felt Serena's mind cry out in anguish. His heart squeezed. Over the
past few days, she had endured more than anyone ever had. She was human and
yet, she had not feared him. He had taken her from her home and killed to
protect her, and yet, she did not condemn him or his race.
  She believed in him and believed in the right for his kind to exist. It
was this thought that melted him.

  *I know it is you, Dylan. Answer me and torment my mate no longer.* was
his imperious command, making sure the demand swept through the mind path to
Dylan, sending along a terrible pounding pain.

  It was a moment longer before he deemed to answer.

  *Hello, Darien.* came the mocking voice much like his own. *I commend 
you. I never thought you would have the bravado to do that. Even if you are 
heir to the Prince of our race.*

  *You are not part of our race any longer, Dylan. You have chosen to 
become undead and damn your heritage. You will leave my mate in peace.* he 
snarled.

  *You wound me. Listen to you. Yours. It's always about you, isn't it??
The heir, the great Darien. Perfect in everything. Your mate. Your throne.
Yours, yours, yours, yours. It's so sick! I will prove that I'm better than
you, Darien...and the woman will suffer for your sins.* growled Dylan 
before releasing Serena from the compulsion he had planted.


  Serena felt the pounding ease on her brain and collapsed on her legs in
relief. She did not hit the ground though, as Darien moved quickly, catching
her in his strong arms.
  Opening her eyes, she saw the worried look on his face. His whole form
was radiating anger and control. She blinked and looked up when she saw
the iron gates swing open, allowing the ghoul into the compound.
  She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out.

  The ghoul came slobbering towards them, it's hands outstretched as it
moved swiftly.
  The ghoul however, was struck by a crack of lightning before reaching 
them. She cried out, hiding her face in Darien's chest. Her fingers clenched
tightly in his shirt. He did not even blink as the lightning struck the
zombie right at the heart, incinerating the black organ instantly.
  Putrid smell rose as the lifeless body dropped to the ground like a lead
weight.

  Standing up, he gathered her into his arms before sending a breath of 
fresh air to disperse the horrid smell.
  "Are you alright, Darien?" came Geoffrey's voice.
  "Yes. See to the body, Geoffrey. Make it known to the others I will not
be patrolling with them tonight." he said softly.

  Serena tensed. Dangerous violence was being leashed tightly in his being.
Her fists clenched and unclenched on his shirt.

  "Of course. I will patrol in your stead, Darien." nodded Geoffrey.
  *Becareful old friend, this one was one of Dylan's. He tried to call to 
Serena to lure her out of my safeguards.* came his mental warning.

  Geoffrey raised his eyebrows in surprise before finally nodding, his eyes
filled with understanding.

  Darien strode towards the mansion, cradling his precious burden close to
his body in an effort to shield her from all the monsters in the world. 
This woman was everything to him, and if she died, so too would he.

  As he strode towards the living room, Serena's tiny fist tightened over 
one of his arms.

  *You are angry with me.* came her mental voice.
  *You deem to speak to me as a mate now, Serena?*

  She winced. He rarely called her Serena. It was always the teasing 'baby'.
He really was angry this time...

  He sighed. "I am not angry, Serena. I was scared. Terrified."
  "I'm sorry." she whispered.
  "No, it's not your fault, little one. The undead are cunning and 
relentless. Evil to the core. This one was determined to show me up." he
sighed wearily as he hugged her tighter to him, burying his face in her 
silky hair.
  "Darien-"
  "You were in grave danger tonight, baby. More so than from the one 
Geoffrey saved you from. I fear I will lose you and in losing you, lose
myself. No more..."
  "Darien, what-?"
  "I cannot live with that fear. You must be protected fully by me, and to
do that...we must form a blood bond."
  "Blood bond? No! Darien, no!!"
  "I am sorry, baby. This must be done. For you own good and for my sanity."
he muttered, crushing her tiny frame to him.
  "Darien, please...you cannot...take- my blood..and I cannot..drink yours."
  "I am so sorry, Serena. I do not like causing you distress, but I have to
do this. You will obey my will in this." he groaned.

  Serena turned frightened eyes on him, trying to push away from his massive
chest. To stop him from taking her blood.

  Gentle lips brushed against hers, sending fire racing through her blood.
Lighting her senses, making her dizzy from his entoxicating taste.
  He added pressure to the kiss, her hands trying feebly to push away. To
stop the whirlwind rush of emotions he bombarded her with from their kiss.
It was sensual. It was erotic...
  Dear God, his kiss should have been outlawed.

  She felt his tongue brush her lower lip, paying tribute, asking for
entrance to her mouth. She couldn't help but melt into him, falling even 
deeper into the magic this dark angel had woven. Her dark angel.
  Her slender arms crept around his neck, her fingers tangling in his dark
hair as she pulled him closer. His mouth slanted across hers, his tongue
brushing at her own. A tiny moan escaped her throat.
  One of his hands brushed her cheek gently. Breaking the kiss, he watched
her laboured breathing, watched as colour rised to her cheeks. He placed 
soft butterfly kisses all over her face. On her nose, her eyelids, her 
cheek, her forehead.
  He took her lower lip and suckled erotically. Desire rushed hotly through
him as she groaned. He could hear the frantic beats of her heart. Working
his way down, as he placed hot sucking kisses on her neck. Her pulse
fluttered, beating quicker than ever.

  She felt as if she were burning up, the gentle suction on her neck, over
her pulse. She felt as if molten lava had replaced the blood flowing thickly
in her veins, making her dizzy. She wanted him so much.
  A cry left her lips as pain and white heat sliced through her body, his
teeth sinking into her deeply. His mouth drinking her in, suckling her 
throat. This should be worng, but why then did it feel so right? So good 
and sensual? Her arms inadvertantly came up to hold his head to her throat.

  A strong arm around her waist held her in place as he bent her backwards
slightly to drink her lifeblood. The taste seducing his senses and 
consciousness in reality. The demon rose in him. Roared it's joy at the
ritual blood bonding. Demanding he complete the ritual and take his mate.
  His free hand slid up her clothed stomach to her breast. Cupping one in
his hand and teasing it. His desire and need multiplied at the sound of her
moan and the feel of a hardening nipple.

  She felt so dizzy. Weak. His hands and mouth were still doing incredible
things to her inexperienced senses. Her body moving pliantly against his.
He stopped suddenly, running his tongue over the pinpricks. She felt lost
and lonely all of a sudden. Bereft. He kissed her lips lightly, his hand
moving away from her breast to rest carressingly at her neck.
  His hand pulled her to his chest as the shirt disappeared into thin air.
His other hand left her waist to slash a line over his heart. His hand 
pulled her close to the wound.

  *Drink, baby...please.*
  *Darien...I cannot...drink...blood.*
  *Please, my love. For me, I need you.* came his sad pitiful pleading.

  How could she ignore his plea?? It cried out to her, touched her soul, 
the very core of her. How could she forsake this man?? He needed her...and
she needed him...
  With a groan of defeat, she gave in to him. Letting him place her under
compulsion and let herself be pulled towards the flowing wound on his chest.

  His body clenched hotly in desire. The feel of her mouth on him, drinking
in the life giving fluid that flowed from his body. The ritual blood 
bonding between mates. The bonding that would bind them together, forever. 
The beast roaring in him to take her down onto the floor and claim her, 
body and soul. But he could not...he wanted her to come to him of her own 
free will. He wanted her to want him by her own decision. He would not take 
that from her. So, he denied the need and lust that pounded angrily at his 
mind and self control. He groaned in frustration.

  His hand tightened on her nape and he cried out, throwing his head back
in passion. In frustration. The sensual movement of her body as she fed
from him. The desire flaming hotly between them. He bent his head to nuzzle 
her golden curls.

  *You are mine, baby. Mine! We are bonded by blood now. Bound together
by blood and in mind. Irrevocably for all time. You are my mate for life 
and there can be no other for either of us.*

  With his hand, he stopped her from drinking.

  She blinked up at him, tasting the coppery flavour in her mouth. The
line over his chest was gone. She looked up at him and felt as if tiny 
invisible threads had been woven and were binding them together. Pulling 
them closer than ever before.
  His mouth came down on hers, catching her lips in a deep drugging kiss.
She responded, kissing him back.


  Slowly and reluctantly, he moved back to survey her colour. Her face was
flushed and warm. Her eyes sparkling and her pulse and breathing heightened.
  A slow lazy smile graced his lips as he smiled wolfishly at her.

  "We are bound now."
  "I wish you hadn't done that.." she sighed, leaning her head on his chest.
"We're of different species, Darien. You are of the night and I...I am
mortal. You are immortal. I am merely human, Darien. You shouldn't have 
bonded us together." she whispered sadly, circling his waist with her hands
and hugging him tightly. Her mind was still fuzzy and she still had not
quite recovered from his ground-shaking kisses.

  "You are my mate for life. I will go wherever it is you are. Even if it
means to the next life. And you don't have to worry, baby...I still want 
you, too." he teased wickedly.
  She blushed, knowing the truth in his words and the hard evidence of his
need, pushing against her.

  "You need not worry, baby. I am not asking anything of you. I need to go
out and feed anyway." he smiled languidly at her.
  Picking her up, he placed her reverently on the lazy chair in the room.
He placed a light kiss on her head and walked towards the balcony.

  "I'll be back soon. Keep out of trouble, baby. You seem to have a 
penchant for finding it."
  "I do not!" was her indignant reply.

  His laughter echoed in her brain as he shape-shifted into an owl, taking
to the night air easily.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serena sat on the chair quietly, thoughtful. She could not believe she
had succumbed to his wiles that way. She had practically offered up her
neck and said "bite me!" to him. And drinking his blood...

  She hated to think it, but God forgive her, it had been so sexy. She
groaned to herself. She had fallen even deeper than was possible, with no
way at all to get out.
  Her mind unwittingly returned to the moment the undead had sent her the
command. The compulsion to leave the safety of the house. How had the
vampire done it?? She had been in Darien's room. He had said it was the 
safest in the mansion. But the vampire had managed to lure her...

  Rubbing her arms to keep the strange chill away, she did not want to 
dwell on the vampire's voice. He had sounded, so eerily like Darien. Yet,
at the same time, it was not Darien's voice.
  This voice had been cold and calculating. Devious and evil. A hint of
cruelty to it...

  Love and comfort flooded her mind. A sense of protectiveness and warmth
invaded her soul.
  *Thank you...*

  *You're welcome.* returned Darien's voice.

  With a smile, she returned the gesture and tried sending warmth and
belief in him, back to Darien. She got a faint ripple of a reply. A sort
of thank you. Smiling, she got up and made her way to the nice warmth of
the kitchens.


  Darien had been flying across the city the moment her unease had struck
him. He had almost fallen out of the air with its intensity and yet, he had
been pleased their link had grown with the blood bond. He had easily sent
her waves of love and comfort. He had been once again, surprised when she
returned the favour.
  With their blood bond, he would always be able to find her. There would
be no place he could not follow...

  His eyes and mood had darkened at the thought of the undead. Dylan...
The undead had tried to lure his mate out in an attempt to strike out 
against him. This was a threat he had to vanquish.

  Landing on a roof of a building, Darien sent out a powerful call into
the night. Searching for a response. His call was met with nothing. A
void that yawned into emptiness.
  It appeared, Dylan was not going to answer anymore of his calls tonight.

  Turning into mist, he drifted down towards the streets, reshaping into
his normal form. He exited the dark alley and walked invisible among the
humans, searching for prey.
  They came in the form of muggers.

  They were large men with bulky muscles. Three of them. They were trying 
to steal the purse of an old lady. He could never comprehend the nature 
of some humans. They did not treasure their children. They did not cherish
their women. They did not even respect their elders. Sending a mental 
command, the men and the old lady waited for him.

  Erasing the memory of the muggers from the lady's mind and planting new 
ones, he sent her on her way, a few blocks away from himself and his 
chosen prey.
  Scanning the area for any other being, he led them into a dark corner
street. They followed passively as he grabbed one man, his hunger gnawing
at him. Fangs exploded in his mouth as they sank deep into the man's
unresisting neck.

  The flames of need and desire still licked at his belly, driving him
mad with the demands. Demands to protect his mate. To claim her, drag her
into his life and world. Without her...he merely existed.

  He released the man, dropping him to the ground and reached for the next
man. He drank the dark liquid of life to appease one hunger as he could
not do anything about the other. 

  Dylan...

  He had to find him soon. He sensed his presence, but was unable to trail
him. The dark aura that was now apart of him since Dylan had turned, 
taunted him. Whispered seductively to him. 

  *I know you feel the darkness, Darien..* came the taunt.

  Closing the pinpricks on the man's neck, he lifted his head and scanned.
No, the undead was not near. Satisfied Dylan was not near, he sent himself
seeking, trying to see through the eyes of the undead...

  A chuckle echoed in his mind. How could the undead, still have a voice
so much like his own???
  *You seek to cheat, Darien. That is against the rules. You will play this
game of mine and you WILL play by MY rules. If it was to be so easy, I 
would have shown myself to you when I tried to lure your mate. No...this 
will not be an easy challenge as those you faced all your life. Why do you 
think I changed my blood chemistry?? I am still linked to you, but you and 
any other hunter cannot hope to locate me using the blood bonds I once 
forged.*

  *You will leave my lifemate out of this...*
  *You can no longer boss me around, Darien. I am more than you now.*

  The link was cut as abruptly as it had appeared in his mind. Darien 
sighed, his hunger appeased. He placed a believable memory in the men, 
explaining their weakness. The undead had spoken to him...

  He felt unclean by the undead's touch in his mind. Until he destroyed
the undead, Serena was always at risk...
  He felt a smile on his face. The mere thought of her brought with it,
a soothing breeze that wiped away the stench of evil as well as the 
lingering taint in his mind...

  *I am coming home, Serena...*
  *I'm waiting.*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serena could only smile to herself at Darien's words. The brush of his
mind when he spoke to her. Standing in the mansion's gigantic kitchen, she
smiled to herself as she nibbled on a chocolate chip cookie.
  Staring out the intricate windows, she wondered how Claire's family was
doing. How were her parents? Elizabeth? Andrew?

  *Thinking of another male is unacceptable, baby.* came his teasing voice.
  *Yeah yeah..the territorial male, grunts from his cave.*
  *It is unfortunate the males of my race cannot bring ourselves to punish
our impudent and disrespectful females.* he sighed exaggeratedly.
  *But I'm not as you put it, one of your 'females'. I am the puny mortal
you are claiming to be your mate. Of course, I deny this fully.* she 
replied, a quirky smile playing on her lips.
  "Puny??! When have you EVER been puny?!" came his deep voice that made her
jump in shock.

  "Darien! You scared me."

  His burning eyes locked with hers as his hand took hold of one of her
own, bringing her palm to his mouth as he placed a tender kiss on it's 
center.
  She felt heat radiate up from her palm to her arm. She curled her fingers,
trying to stop the sensation.

  "I am in your mind, baby. If you want me, you must be the one to make the
first step as I must know you came to me of your own free will, not because
I seduced you." came his whispered voice.
  "I-"
  "But the mating of my race is more intense and will not be denied 
forever, baby."
  "You feel pain. It is very intense for you. All your emotions are 
stronger than what you have felt these past centuries." she stated softly.

  Dark brow rose as he realized she had willingly merged with his mind,
reading his every expression and emotion. A smile crept onto his face.
  He placed a kiss on her clenched knuckles this time.

  His eyes caught hold of hers, mesmerizing them with ease. His tongue came
out to lick at her soft skin.
  "It is nothing that time will not cure. Once I get used to them."
  "But your mating instinct will get worse everytime." she whispered,
feeling sad at causing him such discomfort. But she felt heat rise to her
face at the mention of his 'mating instinct'. 
  "I will wait and control it. You are my mate for life, and I will protect 
you. Even from myself. You mean that much to me."

  *You are my everything, baby. I live and believe only because of you.*
whispered his mind, brushing at hers with butterfly wings.

  Serena felt her heart melt a little more at his need of her. No one had
ever made her feel this way. To be needed so much. Not want, but need.
  She was falling ever deeper each time.

  Dark angel..

  Her mysterious dark angel...
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...

Okay, so I did not exactly start this chapter right after the third one.
Anyway, like it so far?? Piqued your interest in Dylan?? Reviews please!!
Authors love them! :)
7/7/02
Edited:20/7/02