NightFall: Book One: Bloodlust Is the Cure for the Immortal Soul (35 page)

CHAPTER XV

Raven sat on the chaise in Van’s living room, explaining to the four people who came to her aid even though they barely knew one another. At first, Raven was leery of telling any one about Zane’s treatment of her, especially to the three strangers. Sal
divar was the only one who knew and telling him was hard enough.

But she studied their faces and there was no hint of judgment or humor in their eyes. They befriended her without question. It would take some getting used to because she was always questioning others, always thinking they had
an agenda; an ulterior motive. It was Zane who placed those poisoning thoughts in her mind and it seemed it would take a life time to rid her head of him.

Raven finished her story. “So you see why I did what I did? I didn’t want to, but Zane is very powerful. You see what he is capable of. He almost killed me tonight.” She licked her lips and her shoulders sagged in relief, finally glad to get it all out in the open. She looked at each one. “I am sorry. I won’t be
doin
g Zane’s dirty work any more,”
she said with conviction.
She looked at Simone who recently told them about Mr. Brant’s warning.
“I’m sorry about Mr. Hobbs. I was just desperate to find a way-any way-to be rid of Zane.” She hung her head in shame. “It didn’t even do any good. Zane
‘s still here and now the OVI are trying
to capture any vampires they can find. I was crazy to think it would go smoothly.
”

Simone walked over to Raven and placed her arm around her shoulders. “You have nothing to be sorry for,
Raven
. I don’t know what
I
would have done if I was in your situation. I never knew my father. He left before I was born. You know your father but I can see that neither one of us would mind if we never see them.”

Raven smiled at her new friend. “You’re absolutely right. We’re two sides of the same coin. In a way, you are lucky you never knew who your father was. I wish I never knew of Zane. But, I guess, if we had parents like Saldivar’s or Indea’s, we would never want to forget them.”

Saldivar put his arm around Indea. “Yes. I was fortunate to know my parents if only for a short time before their deaths.”

Van spoke up. “We will have to meet Indea’s parents soon. From what I hear, they are very understanding and are a loving coupl
e. They still cannot know who we are.”

Indea nodded. “I can’t imagine being in your shoes, Raven. But, you know, you can always count on us. We can be your family for as long as you need us.”

Raven’s eyes burned with unshed tears. “
Well, from what I hear, you and Simone are the Eternal Entities. We can be a family for eternity. I wouldn’t mind having sisters.” She faced Saldivar. “Will it happen soon?”

Saldivar shook his head. “I don’t know. That’s entirely up to Indea and Simone. They know what they would be getting into and what they would have to give up. It’s their decision.”

“Until then, what do we do about Zane?” Van asked.

“We?”
Saldivar shook his head. “No, I won’t let you or any of the others fight my battles for me, Van. It’s me Zane really wants. But he will not hesitate to kill
any of you should you get in his
way.” He pointed to Raven. “You see what he tried to do
to his very own flesh and blood. What makes you think he would care to do away with complete strangers?”

Van clenched his jaw. “No, Saldivar. We are family as Indea pointed out. We will not let you fight alone.
I
will not let you fight alone.”

Saldivar saw Van’s jaw set in determination. There was no way he coul
d convince Van that he should
go it alone. He was a little angry but he was also glad to have friends such as these. Saldivar looked to each person, all of which nodded in agreement. He knew when he was outnumbered.
He smiled.

“Okay.” He sat down and motioned for Van to sit as well. “If all of you are that determined to help, then you should know what you’re up against.” He looked at Indea and Simone. “But answer me this, you two.” When they nodded, he went on. “How do you expect to help Van, Raven and I to beat Zane if you
are still humans?
You know how strong he is against immortals.
What do y
ou think you can do? Zane hat
es mortals more than anything on
this planet. He despises them and sees them as nothing but a meal.”

Simone and Indea looked at each and smiled. Simone spoke up first. “Van, Saldivar, you both knew, at first, Indea and I was very skeptical about what you were telling us but I’m sure you understand why.” Both men nodded. “Any way, you know how much we love you and want to be with you no matter the circumstances.”

Van went over to Simone and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” His smile was hopeful and his
eyes glittered with joy.

Simone nodded her assent. “I love you, Van. I want to be with you even
if it’s
in darkness and shadow.”

Van kissed her cheek. “You don’t mind neve
r being able to see the sunrise again?
Will you miss it?”

Simone squeezed the love of her life. “Not as much as I would miss being with
out
you forever.”

Saldivar’s eyes looked questioning at Indea. “Simone is right, Saldivar. There will never be anyone else I
‘d rather spend my life with, o
r in your case, an eternity with.”

Raven jumped up from the chaise with elation and went over to hug them all. “I’m so glad we can finally be a family. I never knew how it felt to have people to trust and count on.”

*

“Are you scared?”
Van aske
d Simone as they lay on the bed,
naked and
holding each other.

“I was but as long as I’m with you, I feel safe.” She squeezed him. “I’m not scared, Van.”

Van stroked Simone’s arm, letting his hand follow the path to her breast, her belly and to the sweet curls between her thighs. Simone moaned softl
y at his touch as she let her hands roam his body. She squeezed his manhood, stroked him until he growled like a primitive beast. He lay flat o
n his back, slapping his thighs indicating what he wanted.

Simone’s lips curled mischievously. She straddled his thighs and positioned herself over his thick, hard manhood. She sank down on him slowly, letting her head fall back.
“Mmmmm.”

Van grabbed her hips. “Take all of me you want, my sweet Simone.” He held her place for a moment and ground into her fiercely.
Simone pushed her hips back and forth, letting Van’s pubis massage the very core of her. She felt the flames lick every inch of her body.

Simone grabbed his hands and laced them with hers. They rocked harder together,
taking each other higher,
feeling close to the pinnacle of pleasure. Van lifted up and wrapped his arms around her and let his mouth gr
azed her neck. Simone rotated
her hips and she felt Van’s mouth open on her fevered skin, his teeth nibbling.

As Van’s hips pounded into Simone’s, his teeth closed on her neck. Simone gasped, not in pain but in ecstasy as she felt Van’s teeth puncture her skin. He sucked at her as he rode her hard. Simone could feel Van’s labored breath on her neck and he drank from her.
He kept drinking until both cried out.

Simone felt a bit dizzy as Van removed his face from her neck. She saw a hint of blood on his mouth. She brought her head down to kiss it away. Van was still i
nside her as he nicked the skin of his chest, right near to his rapidly beating heart
and watched as Simone lowered her mouth to the blood.

She did, though hesitantly at first. As she fed upon Van, she felt him grow hard
inside her.
Just as she finished, he put her on her back and they made love yet again that night.

A few hours later, Simone slept deeply. Van knew she was in transition and would sleep all night and all of tomorrow as well.

He studied her. Love swelled in his chest for her. She was his and he was hers for all of eternity.
And he would make sure it stayed that way. He knew Zane wouldn’t take it well when he finds out-and he will-that they
all had a hand in saving Raven. Van knew that Zane hated Raven and when he figured out she was still alive, not only would he try and kill the ones who helped her
but he would try again to end Raven’s life.

Van leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Simone’s forehead. She did not stir as was expected.

Soon.
Soon she will wake up and things will change but for the better for them both. He finally had what he wanted and
was looking for all this
time. Simone.
His mate and lover.

*

Zane sat back in his chair, thinking.

At last, he was rid of Raven for he did not sense her at all.
She was really of no use to him any way. It felt as if a terrible burden was lifted off his shoulders. He didn’t need her.
Not really.
He was perfectly capable of watching the immortals and mortals as well. He
was always capable. He just lov
ed having that feeling of total control over a person, vampire and human alike. They were all cattle to him, made to line up and be slaughtered.
That’s all they were good for; their only purpose in his eyes.
He was second to Arathoseous. That made him just about the most powerful
being on Earth. And if Arathoseous’ life had ended in some way, then Zane was to be feared by all and acknowledged as the
most
powerful entity in the world.

Now, the time had come to rid himself of Saldivar. If the others got in the way, he would have no qualms about killing them either. But it was Saldivar he wanted most of all. Saldivar nearly destroyed him all those centuries ago, though he didn’t know it.
Little that it mattered.

Zane closed his eyes, letting his mind wander back to
the year of
1227 when he had first come in contact with Saldivar in the prison.

He had felt that instant connection with Saldivar and easily slipped into the prison and broken the necks of the guards.

He had taken Saldivar to a
n
abandoned shack in Versailles in the dead of night where he saw fit to tran
sform him there
.

As Zane had sunk his teeth into Saldivar’s neck, something strange happened.

Zane knew that mutations would occur
eventually as the years passed. He did not think it would have happened so fast and with Saldivar. Usually, the mutation happened after the transformation h
ad been completed for some time. Arathoseous told him of mutations but not of them ever happening during the transforming stage.

Unfortunately for Zane, the mutation started as he fed upon Saldivar. Zane felt his eyes cloud over, the whites turning red. His brain was on fire.
He had felt his throat all but close up, making it harder to drink. His heart seemed to beat so fast, it made a humming sound. His muscles felt like jelly. His bones, like water. He could barely think.
Helpless.
That is what he felt. It was something he hadn’t felt since he was a kid
and was beaten by the older children.
His whole body seemed ready to explode. That is why he had left so soon after letting Saldivar feed upon him. He needed to let his body mend.