Sitting by the large pool behind the house, Helen took a good look around. Everything seemed so neat and sort of sterile, like no one actually lived or used the area. Pool chairs were set in a neat line, with towels stacked on a small table just past the diving board. The moonlight shone on the surface, giving it an ethereal glow. Settling into one of the chairs, she stared out at the expansive back yard. 1
After revealing his past, Vaughn had asked Helen to remain at his place for her safety. Telling her that no one could get on the property without an invitation, he said it was more secure than her place. Not knowing why she agreed, she'd gone back home, informed Nim and then came back with the demon in tow. 2
Although he could leave at any time, Nim opted to remain until he was positive that Helen would be safe. It was the least he could do since Jared valued her, and Nim had also grown fond of her during the past week. 3
Looking up at a sound, Helen watched as Vaughn strode across the yard, his long black jacket trailing behind him. It was not quite dawn yet, and he was coming back from a night of patrolling the area for things to kill. 4
She still held an annoyance with him and what he had revealed to her about his past, but was trying hard to look beyond it. Telling her had taken a lot of courage, since nearly everyone had sought to hurt him in some way after finding out. Having been the recipient of many a punishment, Helen couldn't do that to someone who graciously opened his home to her... regardless how annoyingly arrogant he was at times.5
Stopping by the chair, Vaughn had to block the smile that wanted to appear at the very idea of Helen residing in his home... regardless how annoyingly arrogant she was at times. "Thought you'd be sleeping," he said. 6
"Disappointed?" she asked, not quite sure what his overall intentions were. 7
"Not at all." Turning, he grabbed the chair closest to him, and pulled it closer. Turning the chair, he straddled the seat so his arms were folded on the back, and regarded her through dark sunglasses. 8
Returning his gaze, her eyes were drawn to a smear of blood that he had just below his lip. Frowning, she leaned closer, wiping it off with the tip of her finger. "Bite anything lately?"9
"Hazards of the job," he said in a neutral tone as his body instantly heated from her touch. "How did you lose your powers?"10
Blinking at the change in subject, she leaned back to study him. He returned her gaze evenly, the blackness of his eyes burning into her. "You don't like talking about your kills, do you?" 11
"Never have," he admitted quietly. "And answer the question."12
Frowning at the slight demand his voice held, she was ready to tell him to shove his attitude. "Why?"13
"Because I'm interested."14
Standing, she looked down at him. "My weakness won't be easily discovered by you, or anyone else," she said. Turning, she walked past the rest of the chairs and headed for the back of the house. 15
"Smooth move," Vaughn whispered to himself. Getting up, he followed, more for the fact that dawn was coming than he actually wanted to talk to her. If he ran into her in the house, then he'd ask again. If he didn't run into her, then he'd have an uninterrupted sleep. 16
She'd told him a brief version of the betrayal that took her powers, but he was interested in finding out just how deep the removal went, and if there was a way to reverse it. Having powers back would go a long way in enabling Helen to protect herself against most things, and would free up his life so he could go back to not really caring.17
Shrugging his jacket off just inside the door, he opened the hall closet to hang it up, pausing when he realized Helen's jacket was also hanging there. Slowly grabbing the sleeve to her jacket, he ran the material between his fingers, then raised it to his face.18
"Oh, dear Lord," a voice came from behind. "Tell me you're not sniffing her coat."19
Looking over his shoulder at Peter, Vaughn let the sleeve fall back to where it was. "Just wondering where the cinnamon smell was coming from," he muttered, then tossed his jacket onto a hook before closing the door. 20
"If you say so."21
"Yeah, I do." Taking a step towards the stairs, he paused. "Everything all right?"22
Peter nodded. "Helen went upstairs just before you came in, and the other one..."23
"Nim."24
"Nim," Peter nodded. "He's lurking around here someplace. Already ate half the food in the house, and looked through your video game collection."25
"Sounds good." Continuing up the stairs, Vaughn went to the room that was next to his. Knocking lightly on the door, he waited a few moments, then gently pushed it open. His eyes immediately adjusted to the dimness, and it took no time to identify Nim as he slept half on the bed, half on the floor. 26
"Whats?" Nim whispered, his eyes still closed. 27
"Nothing," Vaughn whispered back. "Sorry to have woken you." 28
"Waits," Nim said, opening his eyes so he could look at the door. "Something's different."29
"Like what?"30
"Don't know," the young demon admitted. "But tonight feels strange."31
Vaughn watched as Nim closed his eyes, basically dismissing him. Confused, and only slightly worried about what he meant, Vaughn closed the door gently, then went to his own room. Placing his hand on the knob, he had to force himself to go in so he wouldn't be tempted to check on Helen's room that was the next one down. 32
He was confused when it came to her; no doubt about it. He was still positive that he didn't like her, although it was no longer bordering on the ‘extreme' dislike that he'd originally held. Now, it was more of a maybe sort of possibly liking her, coupled with a hope that she maybe sort of possibly liked him, too. 33
The familiar sound of the shutters over his window closing accompanied the opening of the door. Since he liked fresh air as opposed to circulated or conditioned, he'd had his previous squire rig up an electronic system where when his door opened at night, the shutter on the window opened, and when his door once again opened in the morning, the shutter automatically closed and latched. This gave Vaughn a room full of cool, fresh air, and also spared him the pain of getting sun if he was forced to close a shutter. 34
Standing just inside the door, he inhaled deeply and stared at the bed, noticing for the first time that it looked unpleasantly large in the room...especially when it would only be him sleeping in it. Pulling his shirt off, he headed across the carpet towards the bathroom, pausing long enough to give a habitual glance to make sure the shutter latches were secure before closing the thick drapes. Making it to the bathroom, he stripped the rest of the way, tossing the clothes down the laundry chute. Turning the shower on, he stepped into the warm spray and stared at the stall in front of him for a few minutes. 35
The idea he had had a couple days previous popped up again, demanding to be either noticed or cast out. The option of offering Asya something else had crossed his mind, and there was only one being he could think of that he'd be willing to trade so that Helen could be left alone. 36
He wondered briefly why he even cared what happened to a...god only knew how old... demon, who constantly fought with him and reminded him too much about his past shame. But, he knew exactly why. He found her fascinating in a way that no other woman had ever been in all his existence. 37
Yawning as the night caught up with him, he quickly got washed, and then turned the water off. Drying quickly, Vaughn dropped the towels down the laundry chute, yawning again as he opened the door to his bedroom. Stopping when he realized he wasn't alone, he stood in the doorway, waiting for the other person to talk.38
Raising an eyebrow as he continued to stare at her, Helen let her gaze drift over his bare body. He really was exceptional to look at, and as she waited for him to move, she wondered just what the heck she was doing laying on his bed.39
Finally deciding that he'd had enough ogling her body as she lay on his sheets, Vaughn casually walked towards her. "Can I help you?" he asked, his gaze nowhere near her face. 40
"You can join me in bed," she replied, holding the covers up for him. Smiling gently as he slipped in beside her, Helen rolled so that she was on top of his body.41
"Not that I'm complaining," he said as his hands clasped her backside, "but..." Stopping as her lips started tracing over his chest, he lost the thought he had. "Um, never mind." 42
"I'm about to give you the most intense orgasm of your life," Helen whispered against his skin." Try not to pass out from the sheer ecstasy."43
"I give no guarantees."44
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~45
Hanging on the wall, Jared's eyes closed when he realized he'd forgotten something. Sending his thoughts out, he contacted one person he could have gone forever without talking to.46
Artemis?47
Who's this? A voice came back.48
Deliver Vaughn's soul to Acheron, Jared said. Greek prince, stationed in-49
I know who you mean, she snapped in his mind. And the answer is no.50
Jared sighed, not wanting to overly threaten, but not minding it in the least. Deliver it to Ash, now, or I'll rip your spine out through your throat and beat you to death with it.51
Don't you ever-52
Now! he yelled in her mind, sending a very graphic image of what he'd do to her. Hopefully she wouldn't call his bluff, since he highly doubted Zephyra would release him to kill her husband's aunt. Then again, since it would also kill Apollo, she might be keen on the idea. 53
Fine! Artemis snapped. But if you ever threaten me again, I'll call a Dolophoni out on you.54
Snorting in amusement at the mere thought of an assassin of the gods trying to take a crack at him, Jared closed the connection. Moving his neck uncomfortably at the pain using his powers had caused, he leaned his head back against the wall.55
Damn it, how could he have forgotten something so important... especially when he had planned on partaking in a few Olympian Nymphs in addition to getting the Hunter's soul. 56
Stupid Asya...and her machinations interfering with his plan to get some action in before he went back on the wall. If there wasn't a complete order to certain aspect of the universe, he'd have toasted her perky ass the moment she appeared in Helen's living room. But nooooo, every time had a purpose and all that stuff, which left Jared annoyed, morose, and hoping that his general adherence to the cosmos hadn't doomed one of his only friends to a lifetime of sorrow. 57
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~58
After both had been completely spent, they lay there on his bed together, his lips covering hers as both sought to remain in the delight of the moment. Vaughn hadn't passed out from the sheer ecstasy, but it had been close. And Helen had been right... it was the most intense. Still panting from the effect, he pulled back slightly and looked down at her. One hand came up to brush gently across his cheek, and he kissed it as it traversed over his lips. He slowly slid off her body to the bed beside her.59
Contentment covered him... which actually made him feel rather uncomfortable. He wanted to protect Helen from the dangers that faced her, but realized that he wanted to protect her for the rest of eternity. The likelihood of something of that nature happening brought both relief and a sorrow. The fact that he would probably not see her again after this drama was over was a relief, but a sorrow because he could feel himself falling hard for the woman lying beside him. 60
"How'd you lose your powers?" Vaughn asked gently, his hand resting on her waist. "I just want to know," he said. "No hidden agenda." 61
Sighing, Helen looked into his dark eyes. "I was married," she found herself saying. "Sort of a merging of two demon clans, really. My mother led my clan, and his grandfather led his. Everything was amicable for a few hundred years, then he decided that my clan's power should be his, and made a deal with Jaden to grab control."62
"Jaden?" Vaughn asked in a quiet voice as the story sounded eerily familiar to his own tale. 63
"Demon broker," Helen told him. "Make a deal, and he'll give you your hearts desire. So, my husband made a deal, and apparently the best way to gain control was to kill anyone that stood in his way."64
"Which would be you." Kissing her briefly, he looked down at her. "I'm sorry." Moving so that his head was resting on her chest, Vaughn placed his hand on her stomach.65
Confused that he would apologize for something he had no part in, Helen studied him. Vaughn, although arrogant, obnoxious and a general pain in the ass, was actually a gentle man that still had his moments after two thousand years in the dark. 66
"We fought," she said, not wanting to think about anything that may complicate her already messed up life. "I was a little more than he could handle, and we basically chopped the heck out of each other with swords, magick and anything else that was handy. He died, and his little concubine, who was the actual mastermind behind his power play, bound my magick with..." Helen paused. "Well, no idea with what, but she probably made some deal with Jaden to strip me of my powers. Then, she sold me."67
"Can't you make a deal for your powers?" Vaughn asked.68
"Maybe," she said. "But talking to Jaden is something I never want to experience again." 69
They fell silent for a few moments, the stillness broken only by the gentle breathing from each. Soon, Helen noticed that Vaughn's fingers had stopped massaging her stomach, and that his head moved slightly down as it rested on her chest. Smiling at even breathing that indicated sleeping came from him, she placed a hand on his hair and tried to get to sleep. 70
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~71
The feeling that something wasn't quite right worked its way through to Vaughn's brain, and he was off the bed, and in a fighting crouch before he even realized what had woken him. 72
Growling in annoyance, he grabbed his housecoat and slipped it on while staring at the woman who stood a few feet away. "What do you want?" he demanded. 73
"I could hear you thinking about me," Asya said, her voice soft and gentle. 74
Vaughn returned her gaze warily, not liking that she could apparently breach his home's ‘no unauthorized visitors' protection. 75
"Why are you willing to protect someone like her?" Asya asked. "She's gutter trash that sold herself for pleasure."76
Angry with that, Vaughn fought to remind himself that the only thing to be gained by him losing his temper would be a few god bolts to the head. His sister had been described to him as ‘a worthless whore that sold her body', and he'd been wrong to believe without finding out first... that was a lesson he'd never forget. "And why did she?"77
Actually looking confused, Asya titled her head. "Why did she what?"78
"Sell herself," Vaughn clarified. "Seems that if you actually cared at all for someone in your own blood line, that you'd have stepped in to help." 79
"Do not infer that you have any knowledge of what actually happened," Asya said tersely. "You only know what she opted to tell you, and what you went through in your own past, and have come to a most annoying conclusion."80
Calm, calm, calm, calm, calm. Exhaling the anger partially away, Vaughn walked so he was standing by the nightstand. Not that it would help him against a goddess, but the weapons he had stored there would at least make him feel better about going down with a fight. "At the risk of seeming rude, I'm going to ask that you either get to the point, or get out."81
Nodding in accession, Asya looked at the figure sleeping in the bed "Do you love Helen Vandis?"82
"That would be none of your business," he replied. 83
"I'm willing to offer a deal," she said. "Her soul for yours."84
"Why would you need my soul?" he asked, annoyed that she'd been able to correctly guess his previous idea about getting his soul back, and then offering it up for Helen's safety.85
"I really don't need it," she said, giving him a charming smile. "But with your soul, Helen will be more compliant to my wishes. She will be persuaded to give me her soul if I have yours."86
"Uh, yeah," Vaughn said, scratching his neck in confusion. "I can't see that really being a bonus for either of us."87
"You'll remain alive while I have your souls," she assured him. 88
For how long? "Sorry," Vaughn said. "I may offer my soul to you in exchange for you forever leaving Helen alone, but I would never be party to you enslaving her." 89
"I could kill you and take her soul."90
"I think Ash would have some issue with that," Vaughn pointed out, hoping she would buy the bluff. He gave a grim smile. "I'll be guarding Helen until my last breath, so please don't come back." 91
Asya stared as she contemplated his words. "You currently are without a soul. Is it really so bad a life to lead?"92
"Yeah," he said. "It is." Taking a step back, he motioned to the door. "You'll be leaving now?"93
"Vaughn!"94
Jerking at Helen's voice, he blinked when he realized that he was now in a different part of the bedroom from where he had just been. Standing in front of the room's only window, his hand was on the top latch of the thick shutters that blocked out the sun. Snatching his hand away quickly, he looked around for Asya, and frowned when she was nowhere to be seen. 95
"What are you doing?" Helen asked, getting out of bed and rushing over to him. 96
"I..." Giving a blank stare, he looked at his hands, and then the shutters that he'd almost yanked open. His eyes shifted to the thick drapes that he'd already pulled apart. Although usually open at night to allow natural fresh air into the bedroom, the drapes remained closed during the day, with the shutter locked in two places to keep it from accidentally blowing open while he slept. Knowing it was midday, he would have been killed instantly had Helen not stopped him. Taking a step back as he continued to stare, he finally turned and walked away.97
Pulling the drapes back to their closed position, Helen stared at him. "What happened?" she asked as he slowly sat on the bed.98
"Asya was here," he said, confused, his gaze drawn back to the window area. "At least I think she was." Finally pulling his gaze away, he shrugged. 99
"Here?" Helen asked, afraid. Grabbing her clothes that were on a bedside chair, she started pulling them on.100
Vaughn shook his head. "She...she...couldn't have been," he said, then nodded to convince himself. "Probably a dream."101
"What about your Oneroi?"102
"Dream-Hunters only come when I'm hurt," he said, his voice occupied. Lying back on the bed, he covered his eyes with an arm. "I can't fight her in my dreams," he said. Sitting up again, he walked to the door and hit the small button on the intercom on the wall. 103
"Yeah, boss?" Peter's voice came back almost immediately. 104
"Got some security work for you to do in my room."105
"Be right there," Peter said, his voice showing that he was walking as he spoke. "The hallway is dark enough, but you might want to go stand in a corner or something." He paused. "Oh, and put some clothes on... don't feel like looking at your rank ass, thanks."106
Gritting his teeth at the annoying Squire, Vaughn walked away from the door, grabbing at his housecoat as he walked by. Staring at the coat, he recalled putting it on while Asya had been there, but it was nowhere near where it had been sitting. That also confirmed that it must have been a dream.107
A small knock sounded at the door, followed by it opening, and Peter sticking his head in. Making sure that Vaughn was far enough away to avoid any errant sunlight, he slipped into the room, nodding to Helen before looking at Vaughn. 108
"What's up?" He listened while Vaughn told him what had happened. Peter looked from the window to Vaughn and back. "Get in the bathroom," he ordered, his squire duty tone outranking the Dark-Hunter. 109
Without word or complaint, Vaughn turned for the small room that was connected to his bedroom. Peter put out a hand and stopped Helen before she could join Vaughn. 110
"Go wake Nim," he told her. "Bring him here." Turning away, he checked to make sure the bathroom door was closed before he pulled the drapes open. 111
Running a hand slowly along the side of the shutters, he made a few mental notes as he quickly undid the top latch. Sliding the shutter to the side, he blinked at the sunlight, then carefully checked the window. 112
Closing everything quickly, he'd just latched the shutters when the door opened and Helen walked in with Nim. Pulling the drapes shut, Peter went to the bathroom, knocked on the door, then stepped back. 113
"Here's the deal," he told Vaughn as the Hunter joined them. "There's nothing to stop this goddess from coming back in your dreams, really. The Oneroi can patrol, and probably stop her, but she might be able to get by."114
"Great," Vaughn said, sarcasm lacing his words. 115
"Isn't it though? I'm going to place some extra security on the windows in your room," he said. "Black out the main glass so that if this happens again, you'll have that extra level of security. Plus, I'll adjust the automatic timer on the shutter so that it can't be manually opened during the day. Add alarm on the shutters, and one on your door to wake you in case she comes back."116
"Why the door?" Helen asked.117
"So I can't get my ass fried in another room," Vaughn answered her. He looked at Peter. "Sounds good. How soon can you have it done?" 118
"By tonight," he replied, then looked at Helen and Nim. "You two can stand guard while he sleeps, and once night falls, I can work on the window. Until then, I'll work on all the other windows on this floor." He paused and looked at Nim. 119
"Whats?" the young demon asked, nervous. 120
"Can this goddess come in your dreams?"121
"Whys?" A hand went for the pink bunny that was perpetually chained to his hip. 122
"Because she can control your actions and make you kill them." 123
Shaking his head in denial, Nim looked worried. "Nim would never hurt Helen," he said.124
"What about Vaughn?" Peter asked.125
"Don't scare him." Helen said, stepping over to stand beside Nim. 126
"Peter's just doing his job," Vaughn said, watching his squire thoughtfully. "While part of me in impressed, another part suggests he might want to tone down the menacing nature."127
Smiling slightly at the not so veiled suggestion, Peter took a step back. "I'll be back in a couple hours with the things I need." He looked at Vaughn, who took a step farther back into the shadows. 128
Helen stared at Peter as he left, then turned to Vaughn. "You best sleep," she said.129
"Like I could."130
"Try," she told him, pointing at the bed. Turning to Nim, she gave a gentle smile. "Can you guard the window?" she asked. "In case Vaughn tries to open it again."131
"What if he tries?" Nim asked.132
"Then break his legs." 133
Stopping in his tracks at the order, Vaughn looked from Helen to Nim, then back. "She was joking, Nim," he said. "At least she better be." 134
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~135
Staring in annoyance as a figure appeared in front of him as he stepped into the washroom in the biker bar Sanctuary in New Orleans, Ash had to force himself to keep from rolling his eyes at the person's timing. "What do you want, Artie?" he asked in a terse voice.136
"Here," she said, shoving a small box at him like it was the worst sort of garbage. "And tell Jared if he ever threatens me again, it will pay him."137
"Cost him," Ash told her, correcting her erroneous phrase. "And I'll be sure to mention it. He'll be impressed that you had the nerve to threaten him." 138
"I hate you all," she snarled, then vanished. 139
Ash looked at the box in his hands and gently opened it. Exhaling lightly at the pendant that sat on at the bottom, he closed the lid and slipped it into his backpack. Fishing his cell phone out at the same time when it sounded, he glanced at the number before flipping it open.140
"Yeah, Vaughn?" he said, then stopped at the voice. "Helen? Where's Vaughn." Listening, Ash's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "I'll be there as soon as I can."141
Closing the phone, he slowly placed it back in his pack, and vanished from the bathroom. Appearing in the hallway outside of Vaughn's room, he raised his hand to knock, pausing when the door was ripped open and a figure bounded out at him. Moving quickly out of the way, he held his hands up as the figured turned.142
"Easy, Nim," he said in a gentle tone. 143
Nim immediately stopped his attack and looked embarrassed. "Sorrys," he muttered. "But Nim felt immortal powers and thought Asya was back." 144
"It's all right," Ash assured him. "And it's great that you're on guard." He motioned to the room before the young demon could reply. "After you."145
Giving him a studied look, Nim turned and walked back through the door. Ash entered and walked to the bed where a worried Helen was sitting while she watched a sleeping Vaughn.146
"Helen?" he whispered.147
Standing from the bed, she walked a little to the side with Ash, nodding to Nim as he took up residence on a chair that had been dragged beside the closed drapes.148
"What happened?" Ash asked.149
"I don't know," Helen said honestly. "I woke up to noise, and when I looked, Vaughn had already pulled the drapes open and had one of the bolts to the shutters unlocked."150
"He was going to open them?" Ash asked, his gaze slipping to the bed. 151
"He said that Asya was here talking with him." Running a hand over her face, she sighed. "I don't know. I didn't see her, and I didn't feel her. So, after he got back to sleep, I called you." 152
"Where's Peter?"153
"I think he said he was going to add additional locks to the windows."154
"Would you two shut the hell up?"155
Looking at the bed, Ash and Helen returned the stare that Vaughn was giving them. He looked none too impressed. 156
"I'm fine," he told them while they continued to stare. "Contacted my Oneroi, and my dreams will remain patrolled until this is settled." 157
"Good choice," Ash said, taking a step towards the bed. "I need you to tell me exactly what happened, and what was said."158
Nodding, Vaughn pushed himself up on the bed. "Helen? Take Nim down to the kitchen, please."159
Not liking being dismissed, Helen motioned to Nim, and then walked out of the room. Turning away so Vaughn could get dressed, Ash waited while his Hunter readied himself. 160
"She showed up," Vaughn finally said as he slipped a shirt over his head. "I thought she was here, but it was probably a dream. Told me that she could offer Helen's safety in return for both our souls."161
"Your response?"162
Vaughn sighed. "Basically that I would guard Helen until my last breath."163
"Which she tried to achieve." Taking a step back, Ash considered the implications. 164
"Damn, Ash," Vaughn said. "I was trusting you on this when you said that I should give it a go, but... there's so much riding on this that it's starting to get a little claustrophobic." He gave his boss an honest stare. "And it's getting hard to breathe at times."165
"I'll see what I can do with Asya," Ash said. "Just... try to relax."166
Giving a droll stare, Vaughn rolled his eyes. "Sure, no problem."167
"And trust me when I tell you that this will work out."168
"What will?"169
Figuring he wasn't asking about Asya, Ash hesitated slightly. Revealing too much always had a way of backfiring and seriously maiming those that mattered. "Don't second guess yourself," he finally said. "Inside you know the right thing to do. All you have to do is stop trying to convince yourself that you're not worth her caring for."170
"I'll keep that in mind," came the neutral reply. Vaughn took a step back. "So, do I continue killing Daimons, or am I permanently on Helen duty?" 171
"You're on Helen duty for a few days," Ash said. "Give me time to talk with Asya, and I'll get back to you. We might be able to stop this once and for all."172
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~173
One thing Jared knew for certain...hanging chained to a wall got real old, real fast. Not even back for a few days, and he was already trying to count the grains of sand on the dirt floor again. 174
Not that he actually cared how much dirt was in the room, and to be honest, he already knew the amount... just that counting took enough attention that he was only slightly bored instead of terribly bored. Added to the fact that he may have just missed Nim, although he'd never admit it to the young demon. Telling him such would probably guarantee that he'd never leave, not that it ever looked like he would any way. 175
No, Jared more missed the feel of Nim in tattoo form on him. Even though he really couldn't communicate with Nim while wearing the containment collar, the sensation of the tattoo was the only thing that let Jared know that he wasn't all alone for eternity. Even though he usually got into trouble and usually punished by Nim's antics, Jared knew that the demon was about the only thing he could count on. 176
Sighing in loneliness at that thought, Jared blinked a few times as his thoughts started to drift towards Helen. He knew Zephyra wouldn't be able to sense his thoughts, but he didn't want to be privy to anything and then be powerless to stop it because he was trapped in chains. 177
Concentrating, he felt out to make sure that things were basically fine. Since Nim had yet to return, Jared knew that things were probably fine, yet something hovered just beyond his consciousness, and try as he might, he couldn't quite grasp it. 178
Fighting the pain that the collar gave him whenever he even tried to use any of his powers, he tried to go further out in his search. Grimacing in pain as he temporarily gave up, he leaned his head back to relieve the pressure in his neck. 179
Something was definitely amiss, and he had to find out just what it was. The thought of calling Nim back was tempting, but knowing the demon, he'd pick the wrong time to show up, and Zephyra would once again use him to bend Jared to her wishes. 180
He couldn't allow that to happen, regardless how much Nim annoyed him at times. He needed Nim to watch Helen, since although Vaughn meant well, and would honestly fight to the death to protect Helen, Jared suddenly couldn't sense much in the way of a future for the Dark-Hunter.181
Hoping that just meant an absence from the life of being soulless, the thought weighed on him almost as much as the chains that held him down. 182
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~183
"All right, what's your game?"184
Looking at the voice, Asya frowned at the person that stood in front of her. "You can't be here," she said.185
"I can be wherever I wish," Ash she replied evenly. "And to honest, I can also kill whoever I wish, and lady, you're seriously edging your way onto that list."186
Standing regally, Asya slowly walked towards the tall figure that stood far and above most things in her throne room... both in height and looks. He was certainly magnificent in beauty, and primal energies, and she wondered just what it would be like to climb a mountain such as he. 187
Rolling his eyes at the mere idea, Ash took a step back so she wouldn't be tempted to cop a feel or two. He'd had more than enough of that in past dealing with goddesses and never wanted to experience it again. 188
"Her soul is mine," Asya finally said, frowning as he moved away. "I don't appreciate your pets guarding her."189
"Helen Vandis' soul belong to Helen Vandis," Ash corrected her. "She's already informed you that she won't be giving it up to you, so why not be the good little goddess and back off."190
"Don't assume I'm even remotely afraid of you, the Sephiroth, or a soulless human," Asya told him. "When it comes between my continued existence, and a powerless demon, then I'll always be the one winning." 191
"I'm not going to tell you what to do," Ash said. "Everything you do will be through your own free will, really, and you'll have to live with your consequences."192
"How totally Mr. Optimistic," Asya said, "along with a sprinkling of holier than thou."193
Nodding slightly, Ash smiled cruelly. "But be warned. If you ever interfere in the life of one of my Dark-Hunters again, there won't be enough left to identify you by."194
Anger coursed through the goddess. "Is that a threat?"195
"No Asya," Ash said. "It's a promise." 196
~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~197
Moonlight shone across the sky, illuminating things that made the night their home. Staring up at the stars, Vaughn gave a small smile. Usually by this time, he'd have more than a few kill under his belt, and be looking for someone to spend a little energy on. 198
His eyes went to the door at the back of the house that led to the kitchen, and he moaned slightly as he imagined Helen in his house, preparing her dinner, touching his things, and...199
Moving slightly at the thoughts, he decided to check to see if she needed some help with making herself something to eat. Feeling a little peckish himself, he wondered if he could convince her to offer herself up as a little buffet for him to snack on. 200
Reaching for the door to go back into the kitchen, Vaughn felt the knob turn below his hand. Taking a step back, he stopped when he realized it was Helen. He also realized that maybe he shouldn't have stopped when the door swung wider than he anticipated, and banged him on the side of he head. 201
"Ouch," he said, raising a hand up to stop the door from doing more harm. 202
"Oh," Helen said, surprised. "Sorry about that. I wanted to bring you something to eat, and ended up banging the door a little harder than I thought."203
"It's okay," he told her, smiling. Jerking slightly as a whooshing sound went through his ears, he turned quickly from her when he realized that his eyes would be returning to their pre-death color at any time. Damn it, he thought, sighing that even a wayward hit from her ended up with his powers gone. 204
"Where's Nim?" she asked, looking around.205
"Uh, last I saw, he was lurking around the side fence," Vaughn said, shaking his head to clear it. His vision was dulled as well as his hearing, and instead of being able to locate the young demon, he was having trouble with such simple everyday senses. 206
"Vaughn?" she asked, her voice muffled slightly. Setting the tray down on the ground beside her feet, she reached out and placed a hand on his arm. "Are you all right?"207
"Fine," he told her. 208
Stepping around him, she caught a color before he realized she was there, and he closed his eyes while turning away. 209
"Why are your eyes brown?" Helen asked, confused.210
"Doesn't matter," Vaughn replied as he continued to look the other direction. 211
"Vaughn," he said, her voice a warning. "It damn well means something, and you know it." She walked around him and stared into his eyes "Please."212
Sighing, he looked past her, trying to focus. "When a Dark-Hunter's eyes turn to their pre-death color it means they've stumbled upon the person that can rescue them from darkness." He looked at her, squinting slightly as his vision started to spin. "It's all right. Don't worry about it." 213
"You can regain your soul?"214
"According to legend, yes." He started to walk away.215
Helen stared at his retreating back. "Wait," she said. "You mean that I can return your soul to you?" 216
Stopping, he hung his head slightly before turning to look at her. "Helen," he said, then stopped for a few moments. "Yes, it means that. But, I wont expect it of you, and I won't assume that you'd do it. I meant when I said I would protect you until my last breath. I don't need nor require a soul for that."217
She stared at him. "Don't you want to be human again?"218
"Not if it meant losing you." Turning, he walked towards the house. 219
"Whoa!" Running to catch him, she grabbed his arm and spun him around. "What?" 220
Shrugging off her touch, he took a step back. "You're a demon, and I'm basically a dead guy. If my soul were returned, I'd be a living guy...someone who would die in a few decades." Giving a grim smile, he held a hand up slightly as his vision spun. "You deserve an eternity of someone loving you and treating you like the amazing woman you are. Only being able to offer few decades would be a huge disservice to you." 221
Helen watched as he turned and walked into the house. Loving you and treating you.... the words echoed through her mind as the door closed behind him. 222
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Comments
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Aww
Vaughn has a very sweet side to him. So, like, he loves her. And Ash PROMISED. Lol! Oh yeah is she going to get whats coming to her! Keep it coming! So good.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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aaww vaughn would raher be souless so he could be w/ helen. how sweet and a droable
i feel bad for jared. he tuck with a collar round his neck and in chains. i'd get bored, u kno start singing random songs like eye of the tiger, welcome home[coheed and cambria], or some really childish and emo ongs. like banye,elomo, and big bird. that way i kno i have gone crazy.XP
how would i past the time. annoy master, or picture random moves in my head. u kno i would make a lotof money form the things that pop up in my head.....llalalalalalala
I WOULD CRAZY. just like zarek when he was stuck in alsaska that whole time. that would suck seriously though.
and i rally dont like that, what did nim call her 'biotch'. she ish mean. and someone needs to take a pole and bat her wit it.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Jared won't be bored for long....
I started writing and creating this story before Dream Warrior came out, so I had to keep Jared a 'slave' for this story since it would ruin the whole outline.
... but, there's a twist near the end 
that will tie in with Dream Warrior.
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