1
Not really knowing why he was even bothering, Vaughn paced from one end the parking lot to the other, then back again. He’d called Jared, and choked through an apology of sorts before telling him that he’d like to see Helen. 2
Jared had set up a rendezvous, and so far all that happened was a lot of pacing, swearing and wondering just where the hell they were. Vaughn was getting ready to leave when another car pulled into the lot and parked beside him. Helen stared at him through the driver’s window while Nim played with the controls on the passenger seat. 3
Wondering if she was going to get out or just stare, Vaughn waited. After a minute of looking at each other, he sighed, turned and took the two steps that would bring him to his car. 4
His hand had just landed on the door handle when he heard her get out of the car behind him. Half tempted to just get in his car and drive away, he forced his hand back to his side, and turned to look at her. 5
“I’m sorry,” he found himself saying. “I jumped to a conclusion, and got kicked in the head with it. I let my imagination go wild, and pulled up every bad scenario I could think of and dumped them all on you.” Exhaling, he gave a small smile. “That’s all I really wanted to say, so… I’ll see you around.” 6
“Why would it bother you who I sleep with?”7
Surprised at the question, he gave her a blank stare as pain started to build in his chest at the reason why it had upset him. “Guess I thought maybe you liked me or something equally stupid.”8
“I do like you, twit,” she said. “Most times. You just make it so hard for anyone to like you longer than ten seconds.” 9
“Twit?” he repeated, angry. “Twit? Okay, yeah, guess I deserved that.” Exhaling, he leaned back against his car. “Letting people close can backfire on a Hunter,” he pointed out. “Pissing people off is less painful in the long run than having them deceive you.”10
“I’ve never lied to you,” Helen said, her voice heavy with the strain of holding back annoyance.11
“I know,” he whispered. “That’s why I’m so confused around you.”12
“Say what?”13
Deciding to admit it, even though he didn’t exactly know what it was, Vaughn reached out to take her hand in his, smiling when she didn’t resist. “I don’t like you,” he began, grimacing in embarrassment at how it sounded. “What I mean is… no, that’s right, I don’t like you. But I’ve got this odd attraction to you that I can’t shake, and I don’t know if I want to shake it, really. When you were in my bed, that was the most content I’ve been I a long, long time, and it makes me angry to think about.”14
Confused, Helen stared at him as she tried to work that odd confession out. “Why angry?”15
”Because I liked the feeling of being with you, and I want to experience it again and again, but I can’t.” Giving her a sad look, he closed his eyes briefly. “Dark-Hunters can’t have relationships, and I desperately want to have one with you. I never realized it until I saw you cuddled up with Jared.” 16
Blinking as it started to make sense, Helen had to bite her inner lip to keep back unexpected tears. “But you don’t like me,” was all she could think of to say. 17
Taking a step back, he cleared his throat. “Yeah. I should get back to patrolling,” he said. “Daimons aren’t going to slay themselves.” 18
“Why are you walking away from talking about this?” 19
“Because I’m not ready,” he replied honestly. Smiling slightly at the shock that crossed her face, he shrugged. “It goes against everything that I’ve live by for the past two thousand years, and-“ He cut off as a bright flash appeared not to far away.20
It was followed by another flash, bright enough to make him cringe, and then a third as Nim suddenly appeared in front of them. 21
“Gaa,” Vaughn said, rubbing his eyes. Blinking to clear them, he sighed at the two additional beings that were now there. “Get lost,” he snarled.22
Brin smiled slightly. “A Dark-Hunter?” he asked Helen. “Desperate much?”23
“Shut up,” Caras told him. “Helen Vandis… I am here with a message from your Goddess Asya. She vows no harm will come to you if you offer your soul to her. She will allow you to live and prosper in return for this gift.”24
“What’s the catch?” Vaughn asked. Rolling his eyes as they stared at him, he motioned to himself. “Speaking as someone whose soul is in the custody of a goddess, there’s always a catch.”25
Exhaling in annoyance, Caras motioned to Brin. “Just grab her, kill the other two, and let’s go.”26
“What’s your hurry?” Vaughn asked, not at all surprised that his question was never answered. He slipped a few weapons out of hidden pockets. “You double parked or something?” Raising the gun as Caras took a menacing step forward, Vaughn gave a small shake of his head. “Like I told you last time, I’ll nail you between the eyes. Get in the car, Helen.”27
“But-“28
“Don’t argue, woman,” Vaughn said, all business. “Just do as I say, and then bitch later about it.” His eyes never left Brin or Caras. 29
Sighing in annoyance, but knowing he was right, Helen reached past him to open the door to his car since it was closer than hers. She’d gotten it half open when another bright flash happened behind her, followed by a foul curse from Vaughn. 30
Suddenly there, Brin reached for her, only to be shoved violently back by Vaughn. That was all it took before all hell broke loose. Morphing into demon so fast that it brought a surprised gasp from Helen, Nim launched himself at Caras, knocking both to the ground as claws and fangs scraped in the dark.31
Not willing to be denied his future again, Brin bent low and plowed into Vaughn, driving him back against the car and sending the gun clattering across the pavement. Grunting in pain as the rearview mirror broke against his back, Vaughn linked his hands together and brought them down hard on Brin’s body, raising his knee at the same time to slam into the demon’s chest. Stumbling back, Brin let his face turn to the demon look, snarling when Vaughn raised an eyebrow.32
Holding a butterfly knife out to Helen, Vaughn waited while she took it. “Use if you have to, but keep the hell out of the way,” he told her, his gaze never leaving Brin. 33
Nodding without argument, Helen took a step further back, making sure she had plenty of room in case she needed to act… although, it looked like Nim and Vaughn had things well under control. The young demon was viciously ripping into Caras, and ignoring any injuries that he was receiving in return. Brin had advanced on Vaughn again, and was finding out just how much damage a thoroughly pissed off Dark-Hunter could dole out.34
A knife in both hands, Vaughn countered nearly every attack that Brin gave him. A few broke through, cutting into skin with claws and punches, but on the whole Vaughn was too far in his killing zone to even notice. He knew he’d delivered a few lethal strikes of his own, and had Brin been a Daimon, he’d have been floating on the breeze long ago.35
Both men moved as something banged into them, and broke apart long enough to see Nim stalking towards them, looking like hell incarnate as he approached Caras whom he had thrown across the parking lot.36
“Sorry to interrupts your fighting,” Nim said as he bent low to grab Caras by the throat. 37
“No problem,” Vaughn replied, motioning to Brin to continue the fight. Stepping to the side as the demon lunged, Vaughn tripped him while grabbing his arm at the same time and flung him to the ground. 38
Staring in shock at the battle in front of her, Helen had nearly forgotten that the pair were fighting for her soul. Nim looked to be completely in charge of the usually mighty Caras, while Vaughn was showing Brin that he wasn’t to be fucked with. Flipping the knife in his hand, Helen had to admit that Vaughn was poetry in motion. The movements flowed so smoothly that all she could do was stare as he went for the killing strike. 39
Before the knife could connect, Vaughn felt something slam into him, lifting him off the demon and sending him hurtling across the parking lot. Stopping only when he hit the car, he rebounded off the passenger side and landed on his back a few feet away. 40
It all happened so fast that he didn’t feel the pain until he was staring at the night sky. Twisting like his body was on fire, Vaughn tried to extinguish the pain that was unlike anything he’d ever felt, and was quickly pushing him past his upper threshold. His view started to darken at the sides, and trying to ignore the pain, he placed his hands on the ground to push himself up. Jerking as a hand grabbed him, he pushed back; stopping mid shove when he realized it was Helen. 41
Standing with her help, he also noticed that everything seemed abnormally quiet. Turning to see what it was, he jerked straight in recognition.42
“Shit,” Vaughn hissed, immediately aware that the pain he had just experienced had been courtesy of the newest arrival. Since Dark-Hunters lacked a soul, they couldn’t be in the presence of gods or goddesses…which didn’t bode well for Vaughn at the moment. 43
Sensing a difference in the general atmosphere, Nim moved from beating the hell out of Caras, to stand just to the left of Vaughn, shielding Helen, but making a shield for the Hunter too. All assembled looked at each other for a few moments while waiting for someone to talk. 44
“Helen,” Asya finally said, her voice an ethereal tone that beckoned her subjects. “Come to me, little one, and all your fears will disappear.” 45
Vaughn placed a hand on Helen’s arm as she went to step past him. “Don’t,” he said, then realized it was a mistake to speak as Asya’s attention fell on him again. 46
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~47
Asya looked at the man who had dared to interfere. “Vile creature,” she hissed as she raised her hand. Light shot out from her fingertips, slamming into Vaughn’s chest with alarming speed.48
Thrown back as pain once again enveloped him, Vaughn fought to remain on his feet. If he fell to this god bolt, then Nim would be next and Helen would end up soulless. That would suck… something he had first hand knowledge in. Staggering back to where he was, he glared at her. 49
Snapping out of the daze the voice had placed her in, Helen shook her head. “I will never give my soul to you, Asya,” she told her defiantly.50
Anger coursed through Asya’s eyes briefly, then was replaced by compassion. “I can’t say I’m happy with your decision,” she said smoothly. “In fact, I’m rather annoyed. You see, your soul rightfully belongs to me, since I am the lead of the bloodline.” She smiled lightly. “And since no one crosses me and gets away with it…”51
Moving fast as the goddess raised her hand, Vaughn grabbed Helen by the shoulders and pivoted where he stood. He’d just managed to turn Helen around when pain erupted in his back, sending him into her, and pushing her back to the car. Two god bolts were bad enough, but manageable… a third bolt on top of his previous injuries was enough to make him nearly beg for death so he could escape the pain.52
The smell of burnt flesh assaulted Helen’s nostrils as she tried to keep both herself and Vaughn from falling. He felt like deadweight, and although he was looking at her, she highly doubted he saw anything. 53
“Drop me,” he whispered. “Grab Nim and run.” 54
Looking over Vaughn’s shoulder as she tightened her grip to keep him from falling, Helen tried to yell out a warning to Nim as the two other demons launched themselves at him. 55
Vanishing from where he was standing, Nim appeared directly beside Helen. Latching onto her arm and grabbing Vaughn, Nim transported them all to Helen’s living room. 56
Letting go, he looked around wildly as both Helen and Vaughn landed in a heap on the floor. Cringing at the yell of pain that came from the Hunter, Helen crouched beside Vaughn.57
“Jared!” Nim shouted. He turned as a light flashed, and was never so glad to see his master in all his life. “Asya and her demons,” was all Nim said, pointing as Vaughn. "They'll be here soons!"58
Walking over, Jared studied the Hunter as he lay on the carpet, barely conscious and panting in agony. He turned as another light flashed, and went into a battle stance when the two demons appeared in the living room. 59
“Ohhh, totally wrong move,” Jared said, pinning one to the wall with nothing more than a flick of his hand. Stalking towards Brin, he studied the demon as he remained frozen in place. “You done pissed off the wrong guy,” he said, voice low.60
“I have powerful friends,” Brin said, trying to move.61
“Doubt it,” Jared replied. “You see, I’m on the top branch of the fucking power tree, and there’s not many there beside me. And I’m quite sure that none of the others would bother to shed a tear if I rip your heart out and feed it to you.” 62
“Don’t touch him,” an ethereal voice from behind said. The woman opened her eyes in amazement as Jared turned. “You’re supposed to be dead.”63
“Obviously I’m not,” Jared replied dryly. “Now just shut your trap while I take care of this trash.”64
“He pledged his soul to my servant,” Asya said. “I cannot let you harm him in good conscience.” 65
“That may mean something if I cared,” Jared replied. “But, I don’t, so, whatever.” Shooting a hand out as he heard her thoughts, he deflected a shot that she had aimed at Vaughn who was laying on the floor in a daze. Another god bolt would assuredly kill the Hunter, and for now, Jared needed him. 66
Stepping back, he motioned with his hand, sending Caras and Brin away. “Get your perky ass out of here, and don’t ever return,” he told Asya. 67
Giving a lethal glare, Asya vanished with a small glow of light. 68
“Definitely biotch,” Nim said as he sniffed around, refusing to relax even though all seemed safe for now. 69
“Vaughn?” Helen asked, brushing hair off his forehead. She looked at Jared. “Is he going to be all right?” 70
Jared nodded. “He’ll be sore, but heal.” Glancing at Nim, he motioned with his head. “You all right?”71
“Fine,” Nim said. “Caras is a wuss.”72
Glancing at Helen, Jared sighed. “How about you?” The look she gave was all the confirmation he needed on her well-being. Although she was physically safe, her emotions were careening all over the place…anger, confusion, fear, and determination were all there, although concern for the Hunter she was still holding onto topped the list73
Motioning with his head, Jared turned for the kitchen. Nim followed slowly, not wanting to leave Helen and Vaughn alone in case he was needed again. 74
Looking down at Vaughn as he rested against her legs, Helen brought her head down to him and kissed lightly on the lips. “Thank you,” she whispered. “That bolt was meant for me.” 75
“S’okay,” Vaughn muttered. Placing hands on the floor, he tried to push himself up. Moaning in pain, he stopped suddenly.76
“What are you doing?” Helen demanded. 77
“Since I met you,” he whispered, his voice slurring with exhaustion, “I’ve been beaten with a baseball bat, stabbed, had my nose broken, and slammed three times by a goddess and… I need to sleep. Help me up.” 78
Placing a hand under his arm, she helped him slowly to his feet and steadied him as he started to fall. “Careful,” she said. “Want me to get Nim?”79
“No,” he whispered. “I’ll be okay.” Turning slowly, he looked down at her. “Stay with me tonight,” he said, his tone so quiet that she had to strain to hear. “Hold me like I’m important enough to care for.” 80
“What?” she asked, surprised at his request.81
“Nothing,” Vaughn said, taking a step towards the bedrooms. He paused as the room swayed, and exhaled at the urge to just let gravity pull him to the floor so he could sleep.
Taking her proffered arm, they slowly made their way out of the room and down the hall. It seemed to take forever, but soon he was lying down, and he couldn’t stop the sigh of relief. Opening his eyes as the bed moved beside him, he stared as Helen slid under the blankets. 82
“You are important,” she said, kissing him gently. “Don’t you ever forget that.” 83
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~84
Glaring with all the malice she owned, Asya fought hard to keep it limited to just that. Exhaling, she looked from one demon to the other, centering on her servant. “Why did you not tell me who this Jared really is?” she demanded.85
Not sure what she meant, Caras lowered himself closer to the ground as his groveling kicked up a notch. “I know him only as Jared,” he replied. “A slave that belongs to the demon Zephyra.”86
“He is a Sephiroth, you idiot,” Asya hissed. 87
Fear coursed through Caras as the implications hit him. They weren’t just dealing with a plain ol’ immortal. No. Born of the Guardians and consorts of the first order of gods, the Sephirii were soldiers who enforced the original laws of the universe. All of their kind was supposed to be extinct, and finding one Sephiroth alive was intriguing. 88
“If he can be persuaded to join you,” Caras put forth, leaving the question hanging.89
“They are from the First Order, the basic primal creation of all there is,” Asya spat. “He’d no sooner join me than hand over Helen.” She stopped as something occurred to her. “Why is a Sephiroth the property of Zephyra?”90
Not knowing the answer, Caras stared at the ground instead of answering. “Shall we continue with Helen Vandis?” 91
“Of course,” she said. “Although perhaps another avenue may be open that will keep me below the ever watchful eye of this Jared.” 92
Watching as she turned away, Caras motioned to Brin to get his worthless ass up from the floor. They both waited until Asya left, then turned for the exit. 93
“Don’t blame this on me,” Brin said.94
Reaching out fast, Caras grabbed him by the neck, and continued on until he held him against the wall. “You would be wise to remember who you are talking to,” he snarled. “My mistress does not accept failure from anyone, and I refuse to go down alone in this if it doesn’t go her way.” 95
“Why doesn’t she just pop in, grab Helen and suck the soul out of her?” Brin grunted as he was pulled from the wall and shoved against it again.96
“How did you survive all these years being as stupid as you are?” Caras wanted to know. “If it were that easy, then it would have been done long ago. Why else do you think I let the one tracking you know exactly where you were?”97
Realization dawned on Brin’s face. “You set all this up?”98
”Give the idiot a prize,” sarcasm flowed from his words. “I knew you’d sell your soul, pardon the pun, to have your powers back and destroy the tracker. It was only a matter of planting the suggestion in your mind to contact me instead of Jaden.”99
“You bastard!” Brin yelled. “You made me betray the only friend I had!”100
“Oh, you did that on your own,” Caras replied. “You could have easily refused, and found another way to escape.”101
Glaring, Brin tried to swallow the hatred he had. Most of it was pointed at himself for being so gullible in thinking it would be easy to regain his former glory. Now it was all fucked up beyond any sort of recognition, and he’d effectively closed off any support from Helen, as well as pissing off one of the most powerful beings in the whole damned universe. 102
Letting go with a growl, Caras took a step back, smoothed down his shirt, and then fixed the other demon with a stare. “You’ve got less than a week to get Helen Vandis’ ass here. I would strongly suggest you take a day or two to work out a plan that would make that come to fruition.”103
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~104
She had indeed held him like he mattered, and made love to him like he was someone important in her life. While in Helen’s arms, Vaughn could actually imagine a life with her, but reality always stopped him before he fantasized too far. 105
His burns healed quickly while he slept through the day, and he stayed in bed as she laid on him, enjoying the warmth of her breath against his chest. It gave him comfort and he knew he’d have to take that with him when he walked away from something he could never have. Despite the fact that she was the only person that would probably be able to return his soul to him, Vaughn balked at the possibility of telling Helen. 106
As a human, he’d be a liability for her… someone that other demons would go after just to get at her. That didn’t bother him, but the idea of having Helen, then being forced to leave made him angry. Leaving now, although upsetting, would be better for her in the long run. 107
Kissing her gently, he eased her off his body, and slowly rolled out of bed. Dressing quickly, he paused as a stray thought ran though his mind, and grabbed his shirt as it started to grow.108
Walking out of the bedroom and into the living room, he came up short as Jared stood across the room, staring at him like he was the lowest form of scum. 109
“Just up and leaving,” Jared said, unimpressed. If anything, the stare deepened. 110
“Appears so,” Vaughn said, then sighed. “Look, I know you and Ash think that Helen and I belong together, but…she deserves better.”111
“What is it with you Dark-Hunters and thinking that you’re not good enough for someone to actually care for you?” Jared frowned. “She likes you, you like her… seems like a no-brainer to me.” 112
“She’ll be fine.” 113
Hearing a plan in his mind, Jared blinked at the mere idea. “You can’t,” he said.114
Grimacing, Vaughn tried to keep his calm. “It’s my decision,” he said. “It’s probably the only way to keep her safe.”115
“Helen won’t want it.”116
Shrugging, Vaughn grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair where it had been dropped the night before. “When she finds out about me, she’ll probably cheer at the choice.”117
Shaking his head in annoyance at the noble stupidity Vaughn was showing, Jared tried another avenue. “You’ve told her some of your past, but did you tell her the whole truth?”118
“No.”119
“Are you planning on?”120
“No.” Vaughn looked at the immortal. “I ordered my own sister harmed because I thought she was a whore, “ he said. “That’s not a great conversation starter.”121
“You were misled.”122
Taking a step back with an annoyed look, Vaughn held his hands up briefly. “Yeah, whatever. I’m outta here.” Turning, he stopped short as he came face to face with Helen. Eyes closed quickly, then he stepped around her and continued out the door. 123
“Vaughn?” she called out. 124
Shaking his head, he didn’t even turn around as the door closed behind him. Not even pausing to think, he continued to his vehicle, then drove off the property. Waiting at a light, he tapped his hand against the steering wheel in annoyance. He couldn’t remember a time when he had been more confused about anything or anyone. It was mentally draining and he couldn’t allow himself to operate this way any longer. 125
Glancing to the side as his cell rang, he looked at the number, then continued on driving as the light changed. The cell rang again, and he angrily pushed at the hands free option. 126
“What?” he said loudly.127
“What’s going on?” Helen’s voice asked. 128
“Isn’t going to work,” he said, feeling sick at what he was about to do. “I can’t concentrate, and I need to be able to or else I’m dead…again. I’m just going to say goodbye now, Helen, and…” he trailed off, not able to continue.129
“Vaughn,” she said gently, “come on back and we can talk.”130
Pulling over to the side of the street, he exhaled as he stared at the phone. “I can’t,” he finally said. “I’ll have to tell you the truth, and you’ll hate me. I can’t survive that.” Exhaling, he rubbed his hands over his face. “Goodbye, Helen.”131
“Wait, Vaughn-“ she was cut off as he reached out and disconnected the call. 132
The phone sounding again brought a frown from him until he realized it wasn’t Helen calling. Hitting the speaker function, he tried to act like his heart wasn’t breaking. “Yeah?” 133
“Vaughn?” a deep voice asked. 134
“It’s me, Nim,” Vaughn replied.135
“What happened?”136
“Reality.” He thought for a moment. “Is anyone else listening, Nim?”137
“No.”138
“Can you do me a favor?”139
Nim hesitated for a moment. “Maybe.”140
“Take care of Helen,” Vaughn asked, exhaling as the urge to cry hit him for the first time since he’d found out the truth about his sister. 141
“Helen needs Vaughn to do that,” he replied. “She won’t care about whatever makes you selfish.” 142
“Just,” Vaughn paused as he clenched his eyes tight. “Do that for me, please?” 143
“Okay,” Nim said quietly, then disconnected the call. 144
Swiping angrily at an errant tear, Vaughn pulled away from the curb and headed for the part of town where the highest Daimon reports had come from lately. 145
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~146
Looking out the window at nothing, Helen tried to work through the confusion in her mind. First he hated her, then kissed her, and hated her again, then… breaking off with an aggravated sigh, she turned from the window. Giving a foul look to Jared as he stood not too far off watching her, she opened her mouth to talk, but instead stormed past him.147
“Helen,” he said, grimacing at a few of the thoughts she had as she stopped walking. “Look, I’m not going to defend Vaughn, but there are things you should know before you’re willing to write him off.” 148
Turning to face him, she folded her arms over her chest and stared. “Yeah? Like what?”149
“It’s not up to me to say,” Jared said in a kind voice. “Just... trust me when I tell you that he’s hurting about as much as you are, even more so since he knows that when you next talk, you’ll end up hating him.”150
“I already hate him.”151
“No you don’t.” 152
Sniffing in anger, she transferred her glare to the floor. “Whatever.”153
Approaching easily, Jared placed his finger under her chin and raised her head so he could look into her eyes. “I’ve known you for a long time,” he said gently. “And you don’t get this angry or upset over someone you hate. You’re confused with all that’s going on, and you’re scared that something will blow that last chance you think you have at happiness.”154
“I’m so tired,” she whispered. 155
“I know.” Bending over slightly, he kissed her forehead. “I don’t want to leave you like this.”156
“You have to go,” she said, wanting to focus on something else besides the confusion she was experiencing. “Don’t offer to stay, because I can’t let Zephy-bitch hurt you because of me.” 157
“I don’t mind.”158
“I do.” Taking a step towards him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him close. 159
Closing his eyes at the feeling of being held by someone that had no ulterior motives and would never hurt him, Jared swallowed past the lump that was forming in his throat. There was so much he wanted to tell her, and warn her about, but speaking them aloud would do untold harm to both her and the Dark-Hunter. 160
“You stay out of trouble,” Helen said through the tears that were starting to form. 161
“I promise nothing of the sort,” he said, smiling as she laughed. “Remember that I’ll always be here, and here,” he said, touching her chest, and then her head. “Scream my name loud enough and I’ll hear you. I may not be able to come, but I’ll be with you always.” 162
“I know,” she whispered.163
Pulling back, he kissed her lightly on the lips, then stepped out of her embrace. “Go to bed,” he whispered. “Tomorrow morning, go talk to him. Trust me on this.”164
Watching as she walked away, he waited until he heard the bedroom door close, then he inhaled and turned to the other person in the room. Nim was turning an object in his hand over and over, studying the small glitter as it flittered from one end of the small snow globe to the other, then back. Realizing he was being watched, Nim placed the Golden Gate Bridge snow globe back on the bookshelf.165
“I have to go,” Jared said, preparing himself for the argument with Nim. Damn the Dark-Hunter for pulling his personal issues at a time when he was needed to be level headed and non-whiny. Jared had to make sure that Helen would be safe, and there was virtually nothing he wouldn't do to make sure of it. “Nim, I need you to remain.”166
“Okay.”167
”Don’t argue with me about it, Nim-rod,” Jared continued. “It’s important that-“ he stopped suddenly, and looked. “You’re staying?”168
“Yes,” Nim said. 169
“Why?” 170
“Because Vaughn asked Nim to watch Helen.”171
Not really sure why that slightly pissed him off, Jared crossed his arms over his chest. “And you’re doing his bidding now?” 172
“He said please.”173
"I say please, too, you know.”174
“Nim knows,” the demon replied. 175
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~176
Looking across the bar at all the people, Vaughn couldn’t help but feel angry at the way things were turning out. Once again he’d dared to bother to hope about something, and like usual, it came back full force to smash him. 177
Feeling the urge to call someone who would understand, he mentally went through the pathetically small list of people he could actually count as friends. Ash would just spew mystic bullshit that Vaughn had no intention of wanting to hear, while Dominic Olluein was probably busy with his new son. 178
He couldn’t even find something to kill to take his mind off of thinking. After driving around for an hour, then walking a few streets, Vaughn came to the conclusion that all the demons had decided to either avoid him completely, or just stay home. 179
Sighing, he stiffened in surprise when he realized a woman was standing in front of him. Rolling his eyes being dark RayBans as he tried to remember who she was, he waited for her to speak. 180
“You never came back,” she said.181
Connecting her with the woman from the alley a few nights previous, and still not actually remembering her name, he shrugged nonchalantly. “Sorry,” he said smoothly. 182
“Shall we continue then?” she asked, running a hand over his chest. 183
An ache started below her hand when he realized he desperately wanted to be somewhere else, being caressed by someone other than the woman who wanted to drag him back to the alley.184
“No,” he said, pushing himself off from the wall he was leaning against. Walking past her without stopping, he continued out of the club and headed off towards a small park area that was across the street. 185
With luck, he’d find some Daimons or Gallu, and be able to take some anger out. Without luck, he’d forget to make it back to his car in time, and be nothing more than a faint memory for anyone that would bother to remember who he was.186
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~187
Showing back up exactly on time, Jared held a small bag out to the woman who glared at him. 188
“What the hell is this?” Zephyra said, staring.189
“Souvenir,” Jared replied straight faced. “Just a little something to show what I think of you.”190
Zephyra’s hand stopped before she reached the bag. Pulling it back, she resumed glaring. “Did you have a productive week?” she asked sarcastically.191
Smiling at her distrust of him, he shrugged as he set the bag down and looked at the wall. “Where would you like me this time?” he asked.192
“What are you doing?” she growled, suspicious.193
Motioning to the confinement collar on his neck, he gave her a curious look. “If you’re confused, I can come back later.”194
Growling, she motioned, pinning him back against the wall, and creating shackles on his wrists and ankles. Moving in close, she snarled. “You’d do best to remember what I am, and how worthless you are, traitor. You may have had the run of the world while you were free, but now your ass is back to belonging to me.” 195
“Does this mean you don’t want your souvenir?” he asked, faking a hurt tone. Eyes narrowing as a muzzle suddenly appeared over his mouth, he opted to curse her for a few moments. Sighing as his clothes vanished, he settled back against the wall and waited for her to begin. 196
Zephyra was set to punish him for his insolence, until she noticed that he was ready, willing, and able to accept what she was willing to give him. Deciding to forgo for now so he’d have to wait, she bent over to pick up the bag he had set on the floor. 197
Pulling out a small snow globe of the Golden Gate Bridge, she arched an eyebrow at him. “California?” she asked.198
He nodded, mumbled through the muzzle, and shrugged. Licking his lips as the muzzle suddenly vanished, he started again. “Never been there,” he lied. “So decided to go.” Truth was that he had been no where near the state, and picked a place that was far enough from Helen’s to keep her out of it. 199
“Interesting,” Zephyra said, turning the globe over. Small silver glitter floated over the bridge. Turning and walking out without further comment, the door sealed shut behind her. 200
Knowing that a gift from him would be something she’d never expect, he’d created an exact duplicate of a snow globe that Helen had on one of her bookshelves. Figuring that he’d have at least a few hours reprieve before the torture started again, he tried to find a comfortable spot on the wall… a feat made impossible due to a sharp stone that was jabbing just below his right shoulder. Then again, that rock would come in handy when that impossible to reach itch ever appeared. 201
Trying not to think of Helen, he closed his eyes and attempted to get some sleep.202
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~203
The next morning, Helen stared at the door to the main gate, then exhaled and hit the call button.204
“Yes?” a firm voice inquired, then stopped when he saw who it was. “He’s asked that I not let you in.”205
”Peter,” Helen said. “Please, just…I need to talk with him for five minutes, then I’ll be gone.”206
“I can’t.” 207
“Please.”208
“Helen-“ he stopped and the voice was replaced with low tones before coming back. “You’ve got five minutes,” he said.209
Surprised at the change, Helen pushed at the door as the buzz sounded its release of the lock. Making her way across the immaculate lawn, she frowned as she realized that she had no idea what she would say to Vaughn. The door opened for her, and instead of leading her upstairs, Peter motioned for her to follow to the living room. 210
The drapes were closed, making the whole area dark and foreboding. Walking to the couch, she sat on the edge and waited.211
Standing in the shadows, Vaughn barely breathed as he watched her. Her head jerked slightly and she looked directly at him, then continued to watch and wait. Knowing he’d been spotted by her, he decided to get it over with so she could hate him and he could go back to sleep.212
“When I was told that my sister was a prostitute,” he started, his voice strong. “I was completely pissed off. Being part of that social level was not something a princess did, even if we were at the very fringes of the royal family. Then, to find out that she was the one that caused our father’s murder,” he paused as he tried to collect his thoughts. 213
“That deserved instant death,” he continued. “But I couldn’t do that to my own sister. So, being the complete fuck I was, I had her brought before me in chains, then had her raped by four guards, while I turned my back on her screaming for me to help.”214
Stunned, Helen could only stare as anger mixed with a warped type of pity welled inside her. How someone could be so cruel to his own sister was something she couldn’t comprehend. She blinked as he started talking again.215
“Afterwards, she was brought to me, and I told her that she was no longer welcome, and to go sell herself elsewhere. She threw the pendant I’d given her in my face, then walked away.” He stopped and looked at the floor. “Just before she left, she turned, spat at me, and told me that until I’d had her gang raped, that she had been a virgin.” 216
Helen watched as his eyes came back to her, and she had to fight to keep from launching herself at him to hurt. He cringed as if hearing the thought, and then straightened. No wonder he hadn’t wanted her to know, and although she completely despised him at the moment, she had to give him credit for telling her the truth.217
“I’ll get Peter to escort you back out,” Vaughn said.218
“I can find my own way,” she told him, then stood and whirled for the door. She’d barely made it three paces before changing direction. Walking up to him, she was ready to punch, but stopped when she realized that he was prepared to take anything she would dole out. 219
“Go ahead,” he told her. “Everyone gets the same reaction after they hear the truth. I’m used to it.”220
That brought her anger under slightly. Even though he knew she would be pissed off based on her own past, he’d told her, fully expecting a beating. Trying to remind herself that it had been a different time period, and that type of punishment had been more than the norm, it still pissed her off.221
Vaughn watched, wary as the emotions played over her face. He’d been ready to experience a world of pain at her hands, even more than usual since after the first hit his Hunter powers would be gone. He felt physically and mentally ill at having talked about the one thing in his life that he was the most ashamed of, and wished she would hurry up. 222
“I have to go,” he whispered, and went to walk around her. He stopped as a hand clamped to his arm, and he closed his eyes briefly. “I’d appreciate any beating to be as quick as possible. I have to work tonight and I’m tired.”223
Swallowing all the insults she wanted to hurl, Helen instead stood on her tiptoes and gently laid her lips on his. “It took courage to tell me the truth,” she said, letting go of his arm and stepping back. “Although I’m incredibly pissed at the thought of what you put your sister through, I understand that it was over two thousand years ago.”224
“Doesn’t matter,” he said, his attention on her lips. The kiss was the last thing he had expected from her. “What kind of useless bastard does that to someone?”225
“The same kind that keeps reminding himself of what he did, and uses it as an excuse to keep from becoming close to others.”226
“Hurts less in the long run,” he said, then took a step back. He hadn’t meant to make excuses on anything, but he found that at times he couldn’t help trying to give reasons for his behavior. 227
“I know Dark-Hunters are supposed to live in the shadows, and not really be a part of the world, but damn, Vaughn,” pausing she shook her head. “You’ve been carrying around guilt for so long that you’ve forgotten that the first step in forgiving yourself is-“228
“There is no forgiving myself,” he said. “When she told me, and I realized that maybe I’d made a mistake, I went after her. I didn’t know what I’d say or do, but I needed to try to set it right.”229
”Could you?” Helen whispered. 230
Shaking his head, he looked just past her. “She’d always been faster than me,” he said with a sadly fond laugh. It vanished as quickly as it came. “Like most communities of the time, we were based by the river, and it had been a fairly rainy season. She made it to the small wharf… I tried to explain to her that I was wrong, but she just…”231
Helen waited for him to continue; not wanting to interrupt what she realized might be a pivotal moment in his memories. His eyes had a slightly unfocused look…like he was vocalizing a nightmare for the first time since it had happened. 232
Vaughn sighed, not sure why he was telling her this. Beyond Acheron, and apparently Jared, no one else alive knew, and he only hoped that Helen would be as non-judging as Ash had when Vaughn had revealed his shame. “She just stepped off the wharf,” he finally said. “The current pulled her away and under before she’d even cleared the area. I jumped in to get her, but by then someone summoned the guards, who grabbed me out before I could get to her.” 233
He seemed lost in the memories as he looked at her, and that brought an unfamiliar sympathy to her. Before she was even aware of what she was doing, Helen had taken a few steps forward and placed her arms around him. He jerked slightly in her embrace, and looked down. 234
“What are you doing?”235
“It’s called a hug, Vaughn,” she said. “Just shut the hell up and accept it.” 236
In a list
Comments
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Surprisingly, I don't hate Vaughn for what he did. It was the norm back then and he was royalty. They did some messed up stuff. Ash must feel pretty freakin sad for Vaughn considering how much he blamed himself for his sister's and nephew's deaths. The part about Nim and Jared though was so hilarious!
Jared: "I say please too, you know."
Nim: "Nim knows."
Rofl!
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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awwwww. that poor woman. i feel a deep hatred for vaughn now, but it is quickly replaced by sadness for how he trtures himself every day wih the act that he did that.
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“I have to go,” Jared said, preparing himself for the argument with Nim. Damn the Dark-Hunter for pulling his personal issues at a time when he was needed to be level headed and non-whiny. Jared had to make sure that Helen would be safe, and there was virtually nothing he would do to make sure of it. “Nim, I need you to remain.”165
“Okay.”166
”Don’t argue with me about it, Nim-rod,” Jared continued. “It’s important that-“ he stopped suddenly, and looked. “You’re staying?”167
“Yes,” Nim said. 168
“Why?” 169
“Because Vaughn asked Nim to watch Helen.”170
Not really sure why that slightly pissed him off, Jared crossed his arms over his chest. “And you’re doing his bidding now?” 171
“He said please.”172
"I say please, too, you know.”173
“Nim knows,” the demon replied.------
lol. jared seems like he is getting ealous of the fact that nim listens to vaughn. i laughed so hard when i read that part. im like 'omg, haha jared, nimie-kins is listening to vaughn' i am still laughing now. ^^
-skampers along to nxt chapter-
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Yes, there was a touch of jealousy there from Jared about Nim listening to Vaughn.
I tried to make Vaughn a jerk, and hated when his truth was found out, but then pitied when thought about since he's been beating himself up over somethig he realized he did wrong and could never fix...ever.
Thanks for reading!! Your comments are great and I love receiving them!
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