Title:Dark Angel
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating:R 
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes mind speaking
28/7/02

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--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 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 5: Dangers of Isolation ~

  It was night when Serena woke up. Looking out the window, she realized it
was once again nightfall.

  "Darien..."

  Getting out of bed, Serena headed for the bathroom. She was turning into
some sort of night owl, thanks to the man. Brushing her teeth, she stepped
into the shower stall and turned the shower on.

  Water ran down her skin, beating at her back as she tried to sort out 
just what she felt for Darien. It was rare she had her mind to herself.

  Nice peaceful solitude.

  Quiet.

  Alone.

  Isolated.

  *Stop it!! I know you're the one amplifying this feeling, Darien. I 
demand you stop it right now!* she cried out petulantly.
  A soft chuckle brushed her mind.

  *I should have known you'd never leave me alone. Damn idiot.*
  *You want me in here, baby. I know*
  *In your dreams, demon.*
  *I can show you how demonic I can be, little one...* purred his voice.
  *You really sound like a gigolo, you know?*
  *You walk dangerously, baby.*

  Serena laughed out at his answering growl. Stepping out of the shower,
she wrapped a towel around herself and  wiped at the fogged up mirror.
She frowned at her reflection.

  Was it her, or did she look different?? More curvy?

  *Mmmm...very curvy. Such nice ones too.* came his purring voice.

  Serena gasped in outrage. *Pervert!!*

  *Your pervert, my beautiful one.* came his smiling voice.

  *Flattery will get you no where. Don't talk to me.* she snapped brushing
her hair and tying it into a braid.
  *I'm sorry?* came his voice.
  *I told you not to talk to me. It's bad enough you always put me to sleep
early in the morning and make me sleep the whole day through like some
lazy pig.*
  *A pig?? Hardly. More like an elegant cat. Always hissing and spitting.
I but gave you a compliment. Don't modern females like compliments? Early
maidens did. Loved to see their knight's head get bashed in when they 
fought for them.* teased Darien.

  Serena frowned at the mental picture he sent her. Shaking her head, she
glared.

  *I don't care if you DID get your head bashed in, but if you've ever
competed in tournaments for some medieval maid's heart, I-*

  *Is this jealousy I sense, my little cat?*

  *Don't flatter yourself. I think I'll give Andrew Roland a call.* she
said superiorly. She reached for the phone by the bed when some unseen
force seemed to jerk the telephone out of her reach and hurl it across the
room, ripping the phone out of its socket at the same time.

  Serena blinked in surprise.

  Outside the window, a storm was brewing and a dark maelevolent aura
filled the room until it fairly vibrated of anger and jealousy. Serena
cried out, pressing her hands to her ears.

  Her head was pounding. Too much pain. Emotions too intense.

  The pressure disappeared. Warm arms stealing about her. Calm tendrils of
power enveloping her, taking away her burden and fear until she was calm
once more.

  Puzzled, she probed at his mind and found he had shut his mind to hers,
totally withdrawn from hers. There was a barrier that impeded her from 
reading him. A shiver ran down her spine. Lonely...

  It was lonely.

  *Darien? I'm sorry...I was merely teasing.*

  Silence. He was not answering her. He was angry at her. Surely he hated
her for playing with him like that.

  There was a sigh of defeat in her mind.

  *No, darling. I'm not angry. I certainly do not hate you. How can I when
you are everything to me?? I am merely angry with myself. My jealousy
caused you pain. You are psychic and the intensity of my feelings hurt you.
I am sorry, little one.*

  She felt lips brush at her temple. Tender and sweet. Gentle. She 
remembered his words from the night before....

  'You are my everything. I live and believe only because of you.'

  Sweetness pierced her heart. He was so gentle. So protective. So loving.
He was angry at himself. Loathing his loss of control.

  *You had every right to be angry. I should not have teased you like that.
It was cruel and wrong of me to do. I know how difficult it is for you to
cope with the intensity of your emotions. How hard it is for you to have
me near...* she whispered to him.

  Invisible hands brushed at her face.

  *You try to shoulder the guilt I carry. I thank you...but it is unecessary
for you to do so. I am a male of my race. It is my duty and obligation.*
came his calm quiet voice. No teasing. No flirtations. Just plain fact.

  *You try to shoulder too many burdens for your own good.*

  A deep amused laugh echoed in her mind.

  *In all the centuries I have lived, no one has ever tried to take
responsibility from me. No one has tried to take part of my burdens.*

  *Well, maybe someone should! You can't shoulder the whole world, Darien!
It's not your place or responsibility to do so!!* she exclaimed, angry
that no one had cared for this man. This wonderful, protective and loving
man.
  He chuckled. *Do not judge and place me on a high horsed pedestal just
because of how I treat you, baby. You are different. You are not the rest
of the world.* came his reply.

  Serena humphed. *I still think you shouldn't try to take on the world.*

  *You should eat. I can feel your hunger beating at you.* came his 
arrogant reprimand.
  *Oh, now you think to tell me when to eat.* she sniffed irritatedly.

  "And I'll tell you many more things you can do." he whispered into her
ear. She jumped, startled at his sudden appearance.

  "Stop it!"

  Serena glared at him, trying to manage her most intimidating glare.
Darien merely chuckled at her effort, brushing her face.

  "Baby, I've seen hamsters more frightening than you." he murmured, 
laughing sexily as he drew her closer.
  "Darien...-"

  His lips sought hers, plundering her mouth. He took and she gave. She
was lost. Her senses had melted away and all she could feel was him. All
she knew was him. Only him...

  His hand had grasped a handful of her hair, rubbing the silken strands
between his fingers in a lover's caress. His free hand brushed at the
fluttering pulse, beating erratically in her throat.

  Time melted away.

  Memories faded.

  All thought of danger and fear were swallowed up by the steady rise of
the fire of desire. Seductive. This was seductive. 

  His lips trailed down her throat...nipping at her skin.

  Passionate. Achingly passionate.

  His hand left her hair and slid up her belly, resting his warm palm over
her clothed stomach. His other hand never left her neck. His mouth a warm
suction over her throat.

  Melting desire. It flared and consumed all rational thought and reason,
leaving only desire.

  A feral growl left his throat.

  "Darien..." she moaned softly. Her hands were locked around his neck,
unable to do anything else as she spiraled down into erotic oblivion...


  He tried to hold the beast. The demon howling in lust and hunger for 
it's mate. Her moans and gasps beat at his resolve. He had heard that 
mating instinct was strong and powerful in a destined couple. He'd heard 
the tales regarding all that was shared between mates for life.

  Mind. Body. Soul.

  The deep inhuman emotions that males of his race felt for their mates for 
life. An emotion more powerful than lust or desire. More powerful than
caring or protectiveness. More powerful than the human feeling of love.
It bordered on obssession.

  Her selfless giving made him dangerous. She made him dangerous...because
he could not lose her.

  He had wondered countless times how this human woman could ensnare him
so...How this tiny human could possibly be his mate when his race had such
powerful insatiable sex appetites.

  How could she possibly survive the mating of his species?

  "Darien..."

  Heavens...he wanted. He wanted to taste her. One taste. To have her 
lifeblood flow in his veins. But he could not. In this state, he was liable
to take more than she could afford.

  And he could not take a chance with her life...

  His feral half howled in frustration.


  Slowly, he dragged himself from her, taking tremendous amounts of his
willpower. His fingers clenched and unclenched at her puzzled look. It
nearly undid him.

  "Dar-ien??" she breathed.

  She knew her lips were swollen and her eyes were probably glazed over.
She felt dizzy and light headed. She felt bereft and wanted him back close
to her.

  "It must be of your own free choice, Serena. I, will not...take that from
you. Not like this. Not because I seduced you.." he gritted out.

  Blood red beads dotted his forehead. His face was a mask of pain and
wanting. His body throbbed and vibrated with wanting.

  His words cut through the fog in her brain.

  Your own choice....not because I seduced you...

  Blood rushed to her cheeks. She had been wanton. She had wanted him to
kiss and touch her. That was not her. It could not be. It was not! As she
looked at him, she wanted to go to him and ease his suffering...

  But another part of her...the rational part, told her to run from the
feelings she was experiencing. Told her it was impossible to want to hop
into bed with a man merely because she felt an affinity to him. She wasn't
like that.
  She had to be in love to want him. And she could not be in love with this
being. She couldn't! They did not know each other.

  "Go...while you still can."

  Her head shot up to look at his face. Blood was running down his cheek.
Dripped from his hands. He was looking away from her.

  At that moment, he had never seemed so alone as he did now.

  "Darien-"
  "GO Serena! Or do you want to know what it is like, the mating urge of
my race? What would happen with a male of my race, who has been kept in a
state of unrelieved sexual arousal for an extended period of time over 
their mate?" he snapped. He had not meant to be crude. Merely blunt.

  She flushed. "I-...I'm sorry."

  With that, she rushed out of the room, leaving Darien alone by himself,
facing the window with a bowed head as lightning leapt over the night sky,
rain falling hard over the city.

  His desire was eating at him...and he would die before he forced his need
on her...and damn his eternal soul.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serena ran out into the garden. Rain pouring over her. It did nothing to
cool her overheated senses.
  She stared up at the lightning streaked sky. Blue bolts of fire blazing
through the air. Thunder cracked over her head.

  It reminded her of Darien.

  Wild. Untamed. Fierce and unpredictable.

  The look on his face had nearly made her go to him. She could not bear
to see him in pain. But he had pushed her away. Shut her out.

  Perhaps, just as she had been doing to him. Well...trying to do to him.

  What would have happened had they met on different circumstances? If they
had met on the street one wild night? Or if their paths had never crossed
at all? Would they have already been lovers? Or would she have detested his 
arrogance and blatant sexual appeal? Perhaps married to some other man 
other than Darien. There was no way to know...

  "God, what am I to do?" she spoke aloud as rain ran down her face like
tears.

  *Seeereeeenaaa..* came Darien's voice in a taunting tone. *Seeereeenaa.*

  No, not Darien. The undead with a voice similar to Darien's. She shivered
not because of the cold, but because of fear.

  He was instantly there. Wrapping her in a warm cloak. Enfolding her into
his embrace. His head was lifted. Like a stag scenting danger.

  *Are you alright?* he asked mentally.

  Serena nodded numbly. Even after everything, he had still come to her
protection. No thought of anger. Only the need to protect.


  *I know you are here, Dylan.*
  *Hello, Dariiiien...* taunted the voice.
  *I told you to leave my mate alone.*
  *Awww...now what fun would that be?? But you've made a blood bond. Very
quick of you. Especially after that last encounter.*
  *You are treading dangerously, Dylan.*
  *Mm-hmm. I had the best intentions in mind, Darrie...your mate was sad.
Now what male would I be, if I did not comfort her??* taunted Dylan.
  *You will rue the day you played this game, Dylan.*
  *Oh no, Darien...we shall see who will be the victor, this time.*

  Darien felt the link fade. He tried examining the mental path but found
nothing...

  "He was talking to you...what did he say??" asked Serena frightened.
  "It is alright, baby. I will not let him harm you. I will hunt him and
rid us of this undead."
  "I don't know if you can, Darien. I know you feel something for this
undead. Something you don't feel for any other. It is almost as if....it
is akin to...love." breathed Serena in shock.

  Her eyes sought his. "You feel for this undead. Why??"

  Darien turned his head away, averting his eyes.

  The silence stretched.

  "You fear for something..."

  "..."

  "Darien...please, tell me. What is it you fear??" pleaded Serena.

  When he turned back to face her, his eyes were dark and alive with pain.
Wet and shining with tears.
  "I have bonded you to me, Serena. If something were to happen to me, you
could very well die as well."
  "Tell me..."
  "I fear...when I have hunted and destroyed this undead,...he will take
me with him as well." he whispered sadly. Lightning cracking overhead,
lighting up the grim sorrowful expression on his face.

  Serena stood in his embrace, staring up at him in shock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serena lay numbly in bed, trying to come to terms with what Darien had
said. He had said the oddest words and still, he had told her nothing.

  'He will take me with him as well...'

  A shiver ran down her spine. The thought of something...anything, harming
him. It frightened her. Was this vampire so deadly? So dangerous he would
be able to defeat Darien the same moment he was defeated.

  Darien loved this vampire.

  She knew that. The emotion had been so strong in his mind. So 
overwhelming her psychic senses could do nothing but sense them. He had
radiated the pain he felt over this 'man' becoming undead. Evil and twisted.
Changed for all time with the loss of the soul.

  Darien loved this vampire, and he feared for her because he loved her
as well...

  He had said the undead had a chance of tracking her through him. Harming
her through him.
  Why could he not tell her who this undead was?? Why???

  She had asked Raye, his sister.

  The woman had not budged. Her answer had been to ask Darien. That it was
a secret he would tell her in due time. That it was not her place to tell
her if Darien did not, for it obviously meant Darien did not want her to
know.

  But she wanted to know, dammit!

  If she was his mate for life, she deserved to know all that threathened
her, all that threathened him!! He had said they were bonded for life until
death. So if that was the case, she wanted to have at least some say in
this bizarre relationship.

  She wanted a partnership.

  To be able to help him. Care for him. Discuss problems with him.

  Love him...

  It hit her. Right smack in the heart, to her very soul.

  She was in love with a man of another species, more beast than man. A
being with supernatural abilities and a possessive streak a mile wide.
In love...

  It was such a simple word.

  And it brought such chaos to a person's mentality. Dear God, she should
not have feared losing herself to the dark abyss...
  She was already lost and falling deeper down everyday.

  Damn the man.


  It was almost sunset when she left the house. She had eluded her guards.
Right now, she wanted to be alone. She needed time to think.

  She walked aimlessly, her mind trying to comprehend the revelation of
the night before. There were grey clouds in the sky. It looked as if it was
going to rain.
  In the back of her mind, she touched Darien's mind. He was still asleep,
the path to his mind empty, void...

  Withdrawing quickly before she woke him, she proceeded with her stroll.
A few minutes more of walking and her feet stopped.
  Looking up, Serena realized she at the cemetary. 

  Claire.

  Slowly, she made her way to Claire's headstone. Stopping in front of it,
she bowed sadly.
  Had it almost been a month?? Or was it two??

  She had lost all sense of time.

  Her world was becoming more and more bizarre everyday.

  "Hey, Claire...sorry I didn't visit you sooner. I miss you, girl."

  "Serena?"

  Turning, she saw Andrew.

  "Andrew."

  The blonde man blinked in surprise before catching her up in a hug. 

  "Lord, Serena...it's been so long!! Where have you been?? I called your
workplace and they said you had gone on extended vacation! Lizzy's missed
you." said Andrew warmly.
  She managed a weak smile.

  "I've been busy, Andrew."
  "Think you're up for a cup of coffee?" asked Andrew.

  Looking at her watch, Serena saw she had at least an hour more before 
sunset. Enough time...
  She needed to relax for awhile. To be in company. Human company.

  "Sure."

  "Great! Let's go to Yvette's. It's new and it has a wonderful view of a
dancing fountain."
  "Sounds nice." smiled Serena as he took hold of her hand.

  She flinched and looked down at their clasped hands. Tactfully, she 
inched her hand out of his and gave him a friendly smile.
  Andrew looked puzzled, but merely shrugged it off, leading her to the
new cafe.

  Walking beside him, Serena barely heard Andrew as he chattered animatedly.
Instead, she studied him.

  She had always known of Andrew's feelings for her.

  Claire had always urged her to try out a rlationship with her brother.
But something deep and detrimental inside her had held herself away from
intimate relationships. Now she knew why...

  Because of Darien.

  The chemistry between them. She wondered again for the thousandth time,
why could she not have fallen in love with a normal mortal like Andrew
who was sweet and loving?? Warm and caring??

  And as always, there was no answer. Only that she was in love with Darien.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  As the sun sank, a single beat of the heart deep underneath the earth,
echoed in the underground chamber.

  Darien burst through the soil and scanned for the presence of Serena.
She was not within the safety of his home. She had gone out...

  Without any bodyguards.

  He cursed. That woman could really try his patience at times.

  Tracing her, he found her enjoying a cup of coffee with a blonde man.
Jealousy surged through his veins, his fangs exploding into his mouth.

  A feminine touch in his mind startled him.

  *He's my friend, Darien...*
  *You are outside my shields, Serena AND with another male no less.*
  *This man is my friend! Claire's brother, Darien!! I'm merely having
coffee with him! You're sounding like a child.*

  "Serena, Serena!! Are you alright?" called Andrew, his hand covering hers
in worry.
  "What? Oh yes...I'm sorry Andrew. I was just thinking about something."
she replied quickly.

  She heard the growl in her mind and Andrew muttered a curse, shaking his
hand that had once covered hers.
  "Andrew?"

  "It's fine, Serena. Just a sudden pain. It's okay now." smiled Andrew.

  *You did that on purpose, Darien. Please, don't hurt him.*
  *He's an idiot and he smiles too much.*
  *How can anyone SMILE too much??!*
  *The proof is in the idiot in front of you.*
  *You're exasperating.*

  Serena got up and stormed towards the fountain. Maybe the nice view would
cool her off and maybe then she could restrain the urge to hit the damn
vampire.

  Andrew followed her in worry.

  "Serena? What's wrong?? You've been acting strangely, avoiding questions
on what you're doing now and where you've been." commented Andrew.
  "I'm fine." she whispered, looking down into the fountain as couples left
the area to go on more intimate walks.

  Less and less people were in the park, most leaving after dinner, laughter
and love on their faces.

  Andrew stared sadly at this lovely young woman. Why could she never open
up to him?? Why did she always push him away?  He had read the papers about
her relationship with the elusive and highly respected businessman, Darien
Alessandros. Were her problems because of the man? He frowned. If the man
had even hurt her the slightest bit, he was going to pay Mr Alessandros a
house call with hell to pay.

  Suddenly, she sat up rigidly.


  She had been looking into the fountain when a cold chill had stolen 
across her insides, gripping them until she felt nauseous.
  Icy wind blew across her face as tree branches shook, shaking dead leaves 
from their arms. She felt her heart beat rapidly.

  Fear...

  *Darien!*
  *I know, I'm coming. It is the undead.*

  Serena's eyes searched frantically for the undead. Dear God...Andrew!
Andrew could not be allowed to witness this horror that had killed his
sister. She could not be responsible for another death on her hands, for
she knew instinctively, the undead would kill Andrew, merely because he was
her friend.

  "Andrew, we have to leave."
  "Sere-?"
  "NOW, Andrew. NOW!" she cried out as she grabbed his hand and yanked him
along as she started running. Forcing him to run to keep up with her.

  The ominous feeling was growing. Getting darker, blacker...spreadind like
a choking disease out to kill.

  *God, Darien...please. Hurry.*


  *Hurry....*

  The word echoed in his mind like a plea. He was streaking through the 
night sky as fast as possible, his men behind him trying to keep up with
his pace.
  Serena...Serena was in danger from Dylan. He had to get there in time.
He HAD to.

  *She begs for the mortal's life, Darien?? Begs for you to save him? How
odd. Is it perhaps your mate for life loves another?? Shall I kill the
mortal for you, Darien?? Seeing as you would not be able to bear your 
mate's tears to be able to do it yourself.* came the taunting voice.

  *Dylan.* he hissed.

  *She's running with him. Holding his hand. It's so touching I could 
almost weep from the bottom of my soul..*
  *If you still HAD a soul, Dylan. Leave them alone. Your grudge has always
been with me. Do not involve innocents.*
  *Ah...but to involve innocents would be the greatest strike to you, short
of killing your mate.*

  He felt his rage burst free, his eyes turning red.
  *Hurt her, and you will die, painfully...no matter who you are. She said 
I felt love for you, Dylan...and perhaps she's right. But I know, any
care I feel for you, will die if you even touch one strand of hair on her
head. This is my vow as the Prince's heir.*

  *My, my...such temper.* laughed the voice, then it was gone, leaving 
Darien, with a foreboding sense of doom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serena and Andrew had to come to a stop when a thick fog rolled in. A
young woman with pretty green eyes and brown hair appearing in front of
them, shivering with fear.

  "I don't understand this. How can there be a fog at this time of year??
The weatherman didn't even announce this!" exclaimed Andrew.

  Serena was still. The undead was here...

  "God, Serena! This fog is dense! I can't even see my hand in this pea
soup!" said Andrew frustratedly.

  "That's because you're not meant to see in it." came a familiar voice.

  Serena's head turned. Her blue eyes wide.

  She made out the shadow of a man standing in the fog. As the fog shifted
and swirled, she could see the man had dark hair and the familiar curve of
his jaw.

  "Darien?" she whispered.

  A deep mocking laugh sounded, chilling her to the bone. No...not Darien.
Fear gripped her insides.

  "No...you're not Darien." she breathed.
  "Serena? What are you talking about? Is the guy, Alessandros?" asked 
Andrew, trying to see through the fog.

  Serena started shaking her head when she noticed the other woman and 
Andrew had gone into a trance. Their eyes locked ahead were unseeing.

  She stared in horror as the vampire crooked a finger at the girl. She 
went, unresisting, a smile of adoration on her face.

  She watched in revulsion as the woman kissed him, looping her arms around
the undead's neck. The woman's legs swinging up and clutching at the 
undead's hips.

  She heard Darien's smooth silky voice come from the undead as he spoke to
his mesmerized victim.

  "This girl is lovely, don't you think so, Serena??"
  "You're not Darien..."

  The fog was masking his face except for his lips. They quirked into a
mocking smile.
  "Am I not?"

  She watched as the vampire lowered his mouth, smothering the woman's in
a kiss. She heard the woman make a whimper, her hips moving insistently
against the vampire's.

  "You're NOT Darien! Leave the woman alone! You only want to hurt me!! Let
her go!!" she cried out.

  "Mmmm...you're right. This one is useless, Serena. After all, he cares
nothing for this woman." said the undead.

  Serena watched in horror as the undead took the woman's head in both 
hands, and before she could cry out, twisted the woman's head, breaking her
neck with an audible snap.

  She shivered in horror and fear, her eyes never looking away as the woman
fell limply to the ground with a lifeless thud.
  It began to rain, lightning crackling in the sky. Fat drops of water
drenched her. A chill filling her body as her eyes never left the body of
the dead woman...

  She had been pretty. Young and with so much life in her. She probably 
had a boyfriend. Or perhaps a husband. People who would mourn her passing.

  "Perhaps the man then.."

  She blinked and saw Andrew begin to walk jerkily like a puppet towards
the vampire.

  "NO!!"

  A bolt of lightning struck the ground where the vampire was once standing.
A charred area on the sidewalk tiles.
  Andrew was unconscious on the ground and Serena immediately bent to check
his pulse. He was alive...

  Looking up, she saw a grim looking Darien surrounded by his men.

  A few feet away, the shadowy figure of the vampire stood there casually,
hands in his pockets.

  "Hey there." said the undead in his eerie Darien voice.

  "Dylan." growled Darien.

  "Wondered when you were coming. How's Raye??"

  "Just fine, Dylan.." snarled Jayden.

  "Jayden, Malcolm, Neph and Zach. Geoffrey...I thought it was you who
tailed me to this country." came the undead's voice as he acknowledged the
other males.

  "You killed the female." stated Geoffrey.
  "I did."

  "You were sentenced to death, Dylan. You will stand and take your sentence
now." said Geoffrey.

  "Six against one? I think not, Geoffrey. Besides, I never was very good 
at obeying what I was told to do." taunted Dylan. "I'll be seeing you soon, 
Serena." he purred mockingly.

  "Damn you!!" hissed Darien as he blurred, streaking swiftly towards Dylan.

  "DARIEN!!" screamed Serena.


  The vampire smirked at the hunter. "Impulsiveness just isn't you, Darien.
Stick to the old tact. Our game is still on."

  The undead disappeared before the others could do anything to stop him...


  Serena rushed towards Darien.

  He leaned into her, his arm crushing her to him. His face buried in her
wet hair.
  "You're injured, Darien..." said Geoffrey.

  Serena gasped, pushing at Darien to try and inspect his wound.

  "Just as he marked me, I marked him." said Darien showing the blood on
his hand that was being washed away by the rain.
  "An undead's mark is usually septic, Darien. Allow me to heal you."
murmured Geoffrey formally.
  "I thank you, my friend. Malcolm, see to the blood and the man and woman.
If there is evidence of our race on the woman, no one must find her body." 
ordered Darien briskly as Serena gently helped him to a park bench, 
fretting anxiously over his injury.


  "This injury is poisoned as I suspected. I will destroy the toxins in
your bloodstream." said Geoffrey calmly.

  Serena watched in fascination as Geoffrey laid his palm over the wound.
Closing his eyes, she watched as the wound then slowly closed, leaving not
even a pink scar to tell the tale of the injury.

  "You're pale, Geoffrey." whispered Serena as she looked at the man's face.

  "I have yet to feed."
  "Go then, I will take my mate back to the mansion." 
  "You need to feed, Darien. I offer myself so that you may one again be
at full strength to protect your lifemate." said Malcolm, thrusting his
wrist out towards his friend.

  "Malcolm-"
  "I will feed. Your mate comes first."
  "Then I thank you."

  Serena watched as Darien took the offered wrist and gently bit into it.
It was strange watching them. It should have been disgusting. Revolting
and perverse even, and yet...watching them, she saw how this bonded them
closer to each other. Forging stronger ties and strengthening their 
relationship to each other as comrades, friends and brothers.

  Yes, that was it. Brothers. They were like brothers. All would give their
life for each other. They stood as one or they stood not at all. This 
intimate giving of blood, seemed so much more beautiful than any words
human beings could say between each other as friends.

  When Darien was done, Malcolm was pale and Darien was at full strength.
He gently helped Malcolm to rest on the bench.

  "I am in your debt, Malcolm."
  "It is what each of us would do for each other."

  Darien smiled slightly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  She hung on tightly to him as they flew through the air.

  *Are you alright, baby?*
  *I'm fine...*
  *Little liar. What is wrong, love?*
  *He killed that woman because of me. Because she was there. I didn't 
even know who she was..*
  *The undead do not differentiate, baby. If it would cause you pain, they
would do it.*
  *But why?*
  *Because of me.* came his simple answer. *I have indirectly caused you to
be unhappy..*

  She pressed her face into his neck and shook her head.

  *No. It's his fault. Why does he hate you, Darien? Who is he?*
  *He wasn't always like this, love...*
  *Who is he?*
  *Do not ask me this, Serena...please.*
  *Why?? Why Darien..why?*
  *Because as a child, he was the closest person to me. The closest a
male can ever hope to get to another male of my race. We are part of each 
other...* 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...

Okay, I REALLY tried to get this out by 3rd August. But I just couldn't
figure how to write it. :p Anyways, REVIEWS!!!!!!! MORE REVIEWS!!! Or 
emails, whichever is the preference. :) I'll try to get the next chapter
out as soon as possible. Ciao! (Remember: REVIEWS!!!) Hehehehehe... :)
Have you figured out who Dylan is yet and what he is to Darien? I had a
guess on who Dylan was. But I didn't tell that person the answer. Their
relationship, will of course be revealed...in Chapter 7. Hehehehehe. :p
5/8/02
Edited:6/8/02