Ongoing Carpathian vs. Vampire story!

[Cynthiax3]

OK ladies! I have put your ongoing story on this thread. Don't be made but the Claim Your Lifemate thread is going back to being for lifemate stories and comments on them. I hope no is upset about this!

Shlindrea:

**depressed she has no lifemate, Drea decides to take a walk thru the woods...since it's full daylight, what kind of trouble can she get into...**

Ailenia:

*Though his body is deep in the sleep of his kind, his mind swims in a fog, something strange dancing just beyond his comprehension. It slips in and out of his consciousness, playing a game of cat and mouse, always just beyond his reach, never fully revealing itself to his awareness. Stefan's brow wrinkles slightly as he pulls himself out of the deep lethargic sleep, his body feeling as if it weighs a thousand pounds, his hands barely able to lift from his sides to brush the stray locks of hair away from his face. He doesn't need to open his eyes, it would do no good buried beneath the soil as he is anyway, the pitch blackness of the ground covering him would give him no vision of anything. He opens his mind instead, casting it far out into the daylight that shines above the damp earth that surrounds him. He senses the life that teems all around him, the forest animals that run and hunt in the woods, the birds that fly through the trees. He can sense the humans that walk upon the land, and one presence touches his senses in particular, a lone female, it strikes him as odd. He silently berates the humans for their lack of protection when it comes to their women, and he cannot understand how a society can fail to recognize the wealth of a woman. Pushing aside his angst, he focuses on this woman and her surroundings. He is helpless to protect her, should danger arise, and curses the daylight for his lack of strength. It is the one time he regrets what he is, but at the same time he is thankful that his adversaries can do no serious harm either, unless one happens to employ the use of ghouls. He silently prays this woman has not captured the attention of the vampires he knows to be in the area and struggles against the lethargy he feels trying to reclaim him to watch over her and hope she will remain safe until such time that he can rise and give her thr full protection she deserves. *

[Cynthiax3]

Shlindrea:

I'm just going for a swim....all this "sexual" tension is driving me insane!" *hmm...Drea realizes she has no swimsuit to wear** "oh who cares"

**worn out from swimming, 'Drea stretches out on a rock outcropping and dries in the sun...sticking her headphones in her ears, she falls asleep.**

**feeling the change in the atmosphere, Drea suddenly sets up and begins a slow visual scan of the area, as she hastily gets dressed...donning her shoes, she makes a dash back to the house of her friend Ailenia.**

Ailenia:

*Stefan curses the slowness of the sun as it hangs in the sky, feeling the lethargic weight of his limbs. He senses the skittishness of the woman as she rushes through the woods, her presence coming closer to where he rests. His knowledge of the forest as ingrained on his mind as his instincts to protect are. He reaches out to Ailenia, pushing against the fog of sleep that enshrouds her mind, and gently urges her to waken. "wake little sister, you have a guest on her way" .. his touch is gentle, not wishing to startle her. Ailenia fights her way to consciousness, feeling Stefan's light touch on her senses, and gives him a silent nod as she scans the area surrounding her house. She senses Drea close, and carefully lowers the safeguards so the woman can enter unhindered. She sends a message to Stefan to ease his worried mind that Drea will be safe, then she drifts back to sleep, keeping a part of her mind tuned to her surroundings, ready to call for aid if necessary.*

Darklover:

*Darklover and Kaedyn receive the message and are ready if they are needed*, cuddling in each others arms.

Dark sends a soft sigh to Kaedyn and he sends back a much nicer image of when the sun goes down......

Ailenia:

*Stefan sighs softly, his body laying as if made of stone, his mind counting the slow minutes until the sun sets. He drifts back to sleep, a part of his consciousness tuned to his surroundings, ever watchful for the smallest signs of danger*

[Cynthiax3]

Shlindrea:

*Drea moves restlessly around the house, wondering from room to room. The feeling of being "watched" an ever present feeling. Walking toward a chair she drops down and watches the sun make it's way slowly past the mountains.**

Vodka:

*B'astien as well sends a message on their main line of communication that if help is needed he is there. He holds the tiny woman beside him tighter glad that he had 'pushed' her deep sleep a little deeper. He knew he would be hearing about it once the sun set but he had his ways around that. He falls into a deep sleep as well stilling his heart once more until a much better time.*

Shlindrea:

*unable to bear the restlessness any longer, 'Drea changes into a more comfortable pair of clothes. A green tanktop and black workout pants and a pair of wrestling shoes. Going back downstairs, she rearranges the frontroom to give herself more room in which to "dance" in. Turning the music on as loud as she can stand it, she begins to run through her katas. Moving in time with the music when the beat permits, Drea moves effortlessly through the room. Stopping only long enough to reach for the sword she practices with. As if it's an extension of her arm, she slices her unseen enemy with the percision of a trained swordsman. Even after running through all the moves she knows, 'Dre contiinues to move, making up her own battles in her mind. Knowing that the time is coming when she'll need to put all she knows to the test. Hours pass, and still she moves, her long black hair plastered to her head and her clothes soaked with sweat. It feels good to fight again.The shear joy of her movements fills her and finally the restlessness is consumed with purpose.*

* Coming to stop with a motion that would have sliced the head from her opponent. 'Drea looks up. "Oh hello." she blushes slightly. "I didn't know anybody was up yet." Walking quicky over to the stereo, she turns down the music. "I didn't wake you did I?"*

[Cynthiax3]

Ailenia:

*Stefan ducks his head as the blade whisks softly over. The breeze from the balde ruffles his hair slightly, as he turns slowly to see Drea pull the blade back and blush softly. Her voice is light, melodic as she apologizes, and Stefan smiles, his lips lifting at the corners, revealing his nearly perfect white teeth. "It is not a problem, my lady, I have been awake for some time, merely unable to rise until now." he replies, his voice soft, and deep, the words rolling off his tongue like velvet. His gaze drifts over her petite form as he passes her, on his way to the kitchen, his body turning slightly to keep her in his vision for a moment, then he turns and saunters into the other room, a smirk hidden as he rounds the corner into the kitchen.*

Shlindrea:

*Drea lets out the breath she didn't know she was holding. "WOW." she whispers softly to herself. Get a girp girl, the last thing you need is a man in your life, especially one that dangerous. Keeping her sword within easy reach, Drea quickly pushes the furniture back into place. "Sorry about the mess, I didn't realize it was already nightfall. Has Aelinia risen yet?" Looking around uncomfortablly, 'Drea silently prayers she has.*

Darklover:

Kaedyn appears behind Darklover and wraps a protective arm around her waist and pulls her into his chest....she sighs...

"My lady you rose to soon, we have things that need to be taken care of before we meet with our friends" he whispers in her ear.....as they fade to mist

Ailenia:

*Stefan grins a bit as he comes back into the living room. "Ailenia should be up as soon as Cristian decides to quit being selfish with her." He then begins to help her move the furniture back into place, his eyes trained on the small woman as she seems to effortlessly slide the heavy pieces around. He then takes her hand into his, and brushes his lips over her knuckles in a very light, provocative kiss. I am Stefan, and it is my pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman."*

Shlindrea:

*Drea can't help but stare at the sensous lips as they gently brush her hand. WOW, if he can do that by just touching my hand... blushing intensely, she snatches her hand out of Stefan's. "Thanks for the help. I'm, ummmm....I'm just gonna' go shower and change." Drea turns and flees from the room. A low sensual chuckle follows her out of the room.*

Ailenia:

*Stefan grins, a soft laugh low in his throat. He feels a gentle touch in his mind, and laughs again. "Stefan! .. you are shamelss!" Ailenia chides him, as she makes her way up the stairs from the lower room she shares with Cristian. She gives him her most practiced disapproving look before she sits down on the couch, tucking her slender legs beneath her. Stefan simply grins at her and winks. "But my dear little sister, tis such fun .. and she is a very attractive woman."
Ailenia scowls at him. "It is not nice to toy with a woman's emotions .. just because you cannot feel them doesn't mean she can't."
Stefan gives her a playful pout, and kisses her forehead. "I am sorry, I will apologize if it will help .. forgive me for forgetting my place."
A moment later, Cristian appears in the room, his eyes scanning the room, then settling on Stefan. "Have you been stirring up trouble again, Stefan?"
Stefan glares at him, knowing full well Cristian knows everything that has happened, then he gives Ailenia a very formal bow, and tips his invisible hat to Cristian. "Please tell our very beautiful houseguest that I have gone out for a run, and I trust she will be well protected in my absence?" and with that, he slipped out the door, and shifted into a large snowy white wolf and ran off into the night.*

[Cynthiax3]

Vodka:

As the snowy white wolf disappears into the night, two very large snowy white leopards come sauntering out of the tree lines that surround the cabin. The one with large violet eyes turns her snowy head to the one with smaller dark hazel eyes despite being a bit larger than his female counterpart. Seeing the lights within the home on the two stalk slowly through the land, their long tails swaying with their walk, every so often twining together. She looks to him once more and springs off towards the cabin causing a deep growl from the male and causing him to sprint after his mate.

With a mere 5 feet between hitting the door head on, the female makes a most graceful shift from feline to Carpathian, her honey blond hair flowing in the wind as she stops just outside the door, turning her head to look back just as B'astien shifts at her side, the wind picking up the satin locks making them dance across her face. B'astine gives her a most stern look as he reaches up and pushes her hair behind her ear. "Cara, It's not wise to sprint away like that with such harsh times." She tilts her head to the side giving him a 'I'm not a fledgling' look in her eyes. He smiles and places a tender kiss on her lips before opening the door for his lifemate and standing aside to let her enter before him. He shut the door behind him and followed his spry female into the living room where her friends were.

"Ailenia, I love your home." Her Violet eyes turn to Drea and she smirks ever so softly, "It seems I will not be the only Trouble Maker around her. Going off like that alone. Going to give not just your lifemate but all of our lifemates a heart attact." She giggles a little as B'astien takes her into his arms and nips at her neck. B'astien then turns his dark eyes on Cristian, he bows his head in a warrior-esq manner. "Forgive our intrusion, My Lifemate wished to check on Drea and would not let no be an answer. She is too strong willed I will have a hard time breaking her of her dare-devil ways." He holds her a little closer and nods politely to the two women in the room. "Good evening to you two as well."

[Cynthiax3]

Shlindrea:

Hearing her friend enter the cabin, 'Drea hurries down the stairs and in to the kitchen. "It's about time you got back! I've been going crazy cooped up in this house. I can't stand being locked in. Besides, it's not like I can't take care of myself, HEalmost lost his head. I'm not one to sit back and let somebody fight my battles for me ya' know." Rolling her eyes and the men in the room, 'Drea walks back out to stand at the window and watches as the moon begins to rise. *

Ailenia:

*Cristian returns the bow and gives Andrea a kind smile. "No need to ask forgiveness, our home is open to all. She will give you a run for your money, she is much like the other women around here." He glances to Ailenia, his look meaning to be stern, but one can't help notice the admiration in his eyes. Ailenia simply giggles as she leads Vodka off and the two begin to chatter about things not very interesting to the men.*

[Cynthiax3]

Ailenia:

"Don't mind Cristian, or Stefan Drea .. that man is impossible at times! .. he tends to forget that while he cannot tell one emotion from the next, we can. He means no harm, honestly, *Ailenia pauses to think for a moment* .. "though, at times I swear he is unlike other men and has an honest grasp of exactly what he can do to a woman .. he's incorrigable!!"
*she grins as the women form their own small group on one side of the room, leaving the men to converse among themselves.
Meanwhile, the white wolf races through the forest, the cool night air and clean smell of the pine and moist earth pungent to his sensitive nose. He lifts his muzzle and gives a soft howl into the silent night, a low, almost mournful sound that echoes in the quiet night, then he bounds off toward a clearing a few yards away. Suddenly he skids to a stop and the hair on the back of his neck rise as he senses something sinister in the air. He stands still, almost as a statue, his golden eyes scanning the area as he reaches out with his mind, feeling for the tell-tale signs of a vampire. He senses several blank spots in the meadow, and he quickly ducks under the brush piled against a nearby tree, sending a hasty message to Cristian back at the cabin. "We have unwanted company my friend, warn the others, and get those women somewhere safe, tie them up if necessary!" He then turns his attention back to the meadow, and the vampires gathering there. He shudders as they begin to materialize, first two, then3, and finally, five vampires who huddle in a small circle. Stefan shakes his head and mutters softly to himself, "so much for a nice quiet night."*

Syndil:

Syndil immediately senses the danger upon awakening......wanting to help her friends she turns into mist and sprints across the sky to Ailenia's house. Once she reaches the house she materializes in the living room*

[Cynthiax3]

Ailenia:

*No sooner does Cristian receive the message from Stefan, than he sees Syndil appear in the living room. Ailenia turns to see her friend standing in the room and notes the distraught look on Cristian's face. "Love, what is wrong?" she asks softly, reaching out to touch his arm lightly. He gives her a reassuring smile, then he tucks her under his arm ans he addresses all those in his house. "It seems that Stefan has come upon some vampires in the clearing to the west of here, just past the woods a ways. At the moment all they seem to be doing is meeting there, but he is sure they have other plans for the evening." He tried to hide his worried look as he glanced down at his lifemate, her heavy dark lashes sweeping down for a moment as she closed her eyes briefly, composing herself. He knew that look on her face, and it terrified him. Ailenia was preparing herself for battle and he knew there was nothing he could do to stop her. She was an ancient, and she had survived for several hundred years because she knew how to hunt as well as the men of her race. It was the one thing that reassured him and kept him from going insane when he had to fight beside her, but it was harder than hell not to instinctively want to protect her when vampires came calling. He glanced around the room, assessing his forces, Kaedyn and B'astien he knew very little about, but he was confident in the men's abilities as a hunter. thei rlifemates he knew to be headstong women, much like the rest of the women he was surrounded by. He shook his head, and wondered about that. Why was it that the women of this day and age were determined o throw themselves into the thick of things instead of being smart and remaining where it was safe? Did they not understand that it made the battle so much easier if the men didn't have to worry about protecting their women as well as fight the vampires that wanted to slice them into little tiny bits? He shrugged his shoulders and gave up trying to figure out the mind of the women, he knew that was a lost cause.
He sends out a silent call to the others and lets them know of the danger, then he turns back to those that are gathered in his home and they begin to formulate a plan of action to deal with this new threat before them*

Vodka:

Deep-seeded worry filled Andrea as she looked around the room, seeing Syndil enter with the same look in her eyes she looked to the other women of the room. All much like her, stubborn and able to fight. She looked to Drea and winked to her reassuringly before being taken into B'astien's strong arms and being held tight to him. Cara, you will not do what you are thinking of doing. She looked up at him once more with that look of 'oh please' her voice dropped an octave as she looked into his eyes. "Please, My love, I am able to fight quite well." Her voice was a soft purr with a hint of the leopard that wished to be released within her. "No Cara, you will stay here." She growled and glared at him as her violet eyes shifted with ease from normal to feline and back again, she was angry and she would have to stay that way for now.

He placed a heart-melting, knee-buckling kiss on his lifemate's full ruby lips before turning back to Cristian "They are raised by other head-strong women. Whoever the first one was needs a good talking to." He looks over his shoulder and winks to his lifemate before turning back to Cristian. Andrea looks at the girls and growls again before speaking up, "Well, I suppose it will be good for us to stay here, we can plan your punishment for leaving me and drea behind." She growls again and turns her eyes to the window then the other girls. "Males..."

[Cynthiax3]

Ailenia:

*Ailenia gives Andrea a wink then turns her attention to Cristian. "Don't even think about it ... you know full well you are NOT leaving me behind. I will stay long enough to make sure Drea and V know how to secure the cabin then I will join you." Her tone was flat, matter of fact and Cristian knew full well what arguing with her would gain him. He sighed softly and turned back to B'astien.
"Stefan has informed me that we are dealing with at least five vampires. From what he has gained thus far they are all n the clearing and he has detected no ghouls as of yet. We should make our way there immediately and send word to the others to meet us there as soon as possible. Len will secure things here and against my wishes, she will join us in the clearing once the cabin is secure." He turned then and gave her the sternest look he could muster. "I trust that none of the newly converted will accompany you and that at least one of the more accomplished women will stay behind?" he arched a brow as he spoke, and in turn received Ailenia's best glare that meant "I'm not stupid." He then pulled her close and kissed her until her head spun, and in a flash he dissolved into mist and began his trek across the sky to where Stefan waited for him.

Shlindrea:

*Rolling her eyes at all the testorone flowing in the air, 'Drea quietly leaves the room. "Just because I'm human doesn't mean I don't know how to hunt. Who do they think killed the one hunting me last time. men." muttering to herself she starts strapping her sword to her back and her escrima sticks to her waist. Stepping back into the kitchen at the woman left behind, she ask "Who's coming with me?" *

Ailenia:

*Ailenia laughs softly as Cristian leaves the house, and turns to Drea as she emerges from the kitchen. She takes note of the weapons strapped to various parts of the woman's body and shakes her head. "Stefan and Cristian both are gonna kill me for this one." She glances around the room and arches her delicate brow. "So .. who else is up for disobeying the men in our lives?"*

[Cynthiax3]

Corrine:

Corri steps up to them. Running her fingers through her hair after Khalid disappeared along with the rest of the men. Count me in, girls! I'll be in trouble with Khalid for this, but that's half the fun. Corri rolls her eyes as she puts a dagger in her boot and a pistol at the small of her back. La Femme Nakita! Geez! I've been hanging around Vodka too long. Giggles and casts a wry look at Vodka.

Syndil:

*Syndil grins wickedly.... " You know I can't pass up an opportunity like this to use my fighting skills.....I had three brothers and before each of them met the dawn they all taught me how to defend myself" "The best thing of all is that I don't have a lifemate to get in trouble with."

Shlindrea:

*"Well I answer to no one, anybody stepping up to the plate better watch his head. And his heart." Flames begin to dance in the brown depths of 'Drea's eyes. "I may not be Carpthain, but neither am I completely human." I refuse to bow to any man.*

Ailenia:

*Ailenia laughs softly as she glances back to Drea. "I feel sorry for the man that finds you as his lifemate ... though, it's no different than any of the rest of us, I suppose those ancient men are going to have to accept modern times or spend most of their time fighting with the women in their lives, eh?" She then pulls the door open, and steps out into the night, her shape changing effortlessly to that of a large sleek black panther, blending with the shadows of the night, her glowing ice blue eyes scanning the are outside the cabin. Her voice is soft and gentle in the minds of her companions as she querries them .."are we all ready then?" .. and in a blur of black fur she leaps off into the night in the direction of the clearing*

[Cynthiax3]

Vodka:

As B'astien vanished into the night with the other men she looked around and smirked at the other women. She was careful to close her mind to him before she spoke. "Do you girls think that my preditory nature would really have me staying behind?" She reopened her mind to check on B'astien once before winking to the girls, her left eye shifting with ease into a feline slit before returning back to normal.

Looking to Drea she arched her brow and smiled, "Another who knows how to use a good pair of escrimas... Nice." As she says that she begins to place her two escrima sticks in a converted gun holster at her hips and then crosses two sais behind her back. She puts on a black leather trench coat that flows around her as she watches Ailenia vanish into the night, winking to the others she herself shimmers away into mist and follows Ailenia through the murky night.

Corrine:

Corri changes into a wolf and pads along behind the others.

Syndil:

*Syndil changes into the black leather vest , pants and knee high boots she brought with her. She then straps her scabbard which holds the sword her oldest brother gave her before he met the dawn on her back. She puts the dagger her middle brother gave her into her right boot and then puts the throwing stars her twin brother gave her on the strap of her scabbard. Once she is done with that she turns into mist and follows the others*

Shlindrea:

*Grabbing her hairsticks, 'Drea fastens her hair out of her face and follows the others out the door. Knowing that she'll never heard the end of from the men, 'Drea refused to be left behind. She'd lost to much already and had come to far to be left out of the action. The death of her family called for venegence and she planned on giving it with a capitl V Consequences be damned, fire would fall tonight.*

Ailenia:

*Cristian reaches the edge of the clearing to find Stefan crouched among a pile of brush, his golden eyes peering out into the night. He shifts effortlessly into the shape of a dark wolf, and silently pads up beside him, crouching low, his belly almost touching the ground, he lies down, and takes a look around the clearing, assessing the situation before him. Almost in the middle of the clearing stands five vampires, arranged in a loose circle. They all glance about them periodically, occasionally reaching up to rub the back of their necks, as if feeling the hairs there standing up in anticipation of the approaching Carpathians. He recognizes two of them as soon as he sees their gaunt faces, Emelio and Velan, two ancients who have eluded him several times before. He glances back over his shoulder at Stefan and sees the recognition in his friend's eyes as well. Cristian continues his assessment of the area and finds that the vampires have set several trpas about the woods, to alert them of the Carpathian's approach. He senses Ailenia's approach and sends a warning to her about the traps, his stomach tight with fear as they prepare for the fight that is about to happen.*

[Cynthiax3]

Shlindrea:

*'Drea stopped dead in her tracks. Something was wrong. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something was coming. And it was coming for her. It was an odd sensation. Did it mean she was about to die? It was 'Drea and her sisters that chose the slain, was one of her sister coming for her? Had her time finally come to end? Relief flooded her body, Fiinally. I am tired of being alone. Was this really to be her last battle? The sounds of the night finally came back her, realizing the others had not noticed she'd stop, she began to run with the fleet-footed form the Valkyrie she was. Well, at least partly, anyway.*

Ailenia:

*Stefan's ears perked forward, as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He felt the change in the air, and smelled the strange scent at the same time as Cristian. They both looked at each other, gold eyes met green, white wolf and black both mirroring each other. they turned at the same instant, and bounded out of the brush, a headlong race through the trees, neither taking the time to worry about the obstacles in their path as they raced through the woods. Each hoping they reached their destination in time. The darkness crept through the trees, seeping into the night air like a rich black ink, sucking any light from the night like a vast black creature bent on leaving them all in eternal darkness. As the two wolves raced along the path, Cristian sent a warning to Ailenia .. "turn back, find Drea and FAST! but whatever you do .. do NOT let the darkness touch you." he prayed that someone reached the woman in time.
Stefan turned sharply off the path as Cristian continued straight. He leapt effortlessly over the fallen branches and trees, his white fur sullied in spots where he had cut it too close to a tree or a fallen limb. There were a few places where he had misjudged the distance and a branch had cut into his flesh, but he ignored the pain and the blood that ran down his side. He had to reach her before it was too late. Stefan leapt over a large tree that lay over the path and skidded to a stop. There in front of him was what appeared to be a wall of blackness creeping slowly toward her, and standing still as stone, furious and steadfast, was Drea. She seemed to be resigned to her fate, should she lose her fight, and Stefan vowed that this was one fight that this evil would not win. He shifted to his human form and walked to her side, touching her arm gently he spoke softly "Do not fear cara .. help is on it's way". He gently inched his way back a foot or two, leading her with him, as he kept his gaze fixed on the inky black wall that continued to advance toward them. As hard as he tried he could not penetrate the wall and he had no idea what it's make up was or how to evade or defeat it. Slowly and carefully he led her backward as they waited for Cristian and Ailenia to arrive.*

[Cynthiax3]

Vodka:

B'astien had stayed as mist within the clouds, having a much more aerial view of everything going on. He had a distinctive feeling that his lifemate had went against his wishes and followed Ailenia towards them. In fact, he could sense her closing in on him. The evil in the air was so thick he had to climb higher to think straight. Aimez, vous reviendra à la carlingue MAINTENANT ! Hearing him she sighed, "Like hell I will!" Not only could he feel his lifemate but another, one of the Vampire had caught on to the others watching them, and was now heading towards him. However, it stopped, as did B'astien's heart. It caught onto Andrea's approach and was now moving towards her. Growling he sent a message to his brother "Kaedyn, I fear I may strangle my lifemate. She has decided to join the fight, I am going to get to her but we need another Hunter here. Foolish Women." B'astien once more reached out to his lifemate, she too had caught on to the vampire heading her way and was staying put, what in the name of all that was good was that woman up to?

Shlindrea:

*Drea heard Stefan as he approached. She still had her sword at his throat, even as he reached for her. "They've never done that before." she admitted has she lowered her sword and allowed Stefan to lead her quickly away from the growing black thing.*

Ailenia:

Very careful as not to frighten her into anything she would regret, he waited until she lowered the sword, then the two of them carefully made a slow, steady retreat backwards, but the wall of darkness steadily advanced on them. Stefan reached out with his mind, halting Ailenia and the rest of the women from coming any closer. he felt the evil permeating from the blackness before him and could feel it's wanton desire for Drea. It focused on her and nothing else, as if this were the one thing above all else it craved. The rest of the vampires focused on the rest of the hunters, as if their job was to keep everyone else busy as it advanced on her alone. Stefan signaled to Cristian and the information was easily exchanged between them, as it always was, and in an instant Cristian began to pass this on to the others. Under no circumstances were any of the others to approach Stefan or Drea. They were to keep the rest of the vampires off the two of them, and eliminate them as quickly as possible. Ailenia glanced around the clearing to the 5 vampires gathered there and noticed that each of them had begun to change and advance on the group of women, and decided to use this to their advantage. She quickly informed the rest of the women of her plan. They wold be bait for the men. As soon as the men caught wind of her thoughts, all of them began to shriek in the minds of the women, but they all blocked them out as Ailenia calmly reasoned that it made perfect sense. What else would divert the attention of the men better than to have to come to the rescue of their women. She decided without the least bit of regret at disobeying her lifemate, or any of the others, and the women each began to choose a vampire which to draw the attention of, and set out to put their plan into motion.
Meanwhile Stefan and Drea continued their slow retreat away from the black wall of darkness. Before they had gone more than 3 feet, the hairs on the back of Stefan's neck began to prickle and he felt something slimy wrapping arond his ankle. He froze in place, then before she could blink, he shoved Drea away from him as he was dragged to the ground. He whipped his knees up toward his stomach as he pulled a knife from the top of his boot and sliced the tendrils from his ankles, then he dove toward Drea, grabbed her by the wrist, and the two of them sprinted off through the trees.*

[Cynthiax3]

Shlindrea:

*"What the hell was that?" 'Drea asked, nearly in a panick. All her cool bravdo gone the instant the black tendrils started to form a hand around Stefan's ankle. "Breathe" 'Drea mumbled to herself. Just breathe "Enough!" Wrenching her wrist out of Stefan's tight grasp, 'Drea stopped and stood her ground. Closing her eyes and opening her arms as if to embrace the darkness, 'Drea begin a soft chant "Hear me ye gods of old, your chlid has need of you. Lend me your breath to defeat this darkness that would consume me." Opening her eyes, fire reigned down on the spot Stefan had just led her from. The dark void stopped, retreated just out of reach of the flames and a roar of anger filled her head. With no safeguards of her own and the strength of the fire at her command, 'Drea collasped at Stefan's feet. Her last thought of him becoming even more arrogant as she passed out at his feet.*

Ailenia:

*Staring in shock, Stefan took all of an instant to react. "Damnit woman!" .. he caught her before she hit the ground and shimmered into the form of a dragon, large glittering golden wings forming, his wedge shaped head turning back to look at the flames which began to sputter and die now that Drea was unconscious. He leapt into the air and turned, reaching his sinewy neck down to blast a gout of flame at the encroaching blackness, then he turned and made his way to the other side of the woods, where he hit the ground and shifted back to his human form. He gently laid Drea on the ground and brushed the hair back from his face, carefully tapping her cheek to rouse her. "Come on little one, I know you can wake up." He pulled his shirt off and rolled it up, placing it under her head, then gave her a little shake to rouse her.*

[Cynthiax3]

Vodka:

Andrea, having heard what her lifemate had said about the vampire, then Ailenia's plan, she stopped, and with ease shifted from mist to that of a golden eagle. Hovering as she felt the dark presence coming up on her she began to fly away from it, but she was taking her time, staying far enough away to keep her rear out of trouble but close enough to tease the vampire. "Cara, I will not tell you again." She took off faster, heading for the clearings near her favorite cave, moving faster. She could feel B'astien beside her now and feel his anger at her. "To late now my love, he is here." She thought out to him as they both landed and shifted into their true forms. She with her sais already at the ready, tossed them right in the direction of the Malice she felt.

Shlindrea:

*Opening her eyes, 'Drea's brown gaze locked onto Stefan's "Call me little one again, I'll stab this dagger through that black thing you call a heart and light it up." Trying to push him off her, 'Drea struggled to stand up.*

Ailenia:

*Stefan smirks, and moves aside, pulling back the hand he was about to extend to help her to her feet. "I assure you 'little one', that my heart is not near as black as what we are about to face, and the last thing you want to do is eliminate me at this moment." He stepped back as she stood up and he looked down at her, smiling. He stood well over her, his long hair falling over his shoulder, his obsidial eyes unblinking as he waited for her response. "IF we are going to defeat this menace, we should at least try to work together, don't you think?"*

Shlindrea:

*Blushing with shame, 'Drea bowed her head, "Forgive me. I'm used to my presence being desired on a battlefield." Damn but when he stood next to her like that she couldn't think straight. He was to handsome for her own good. Visibly swallowing the lump that had grown in her throat, she simply waved her hand, "Please, lead on." and fastened the hairstick back into her hair.*

Vodka:

She herself was shocked when she managed to nail the Vampire to a tree behind him by his arms. B'astien did not wait a moment longer, he moved with the swiftness of their kind and plunged his hand through the chest cavity of the vampire. Looking into the eyes of the one before him he pulled his hand back with the vile blackened heart in his hand. The Vampires shock and shrilled screams was enough to tell them both that this one was still young, no where near the others that had been in that field. Using all he could he called forth lightning from the sky as he tossed the heart into the bolt. He moved swiftly back towards Andrea and stood in front of her as he called forth another bolt, this one striking the vampire, the electricity arcing between to two sais as it turned both vampire and it's venomous blood into fire and ash, the heart once burning now nothing more than ash on the quickening wind.

B'astien walked up to the blazing fire allowing the venomous blood to be burned away, cleaning his hands. Then his eyes turned on Andrea "Cara, the next time you think to follow us into battle I will force you to sleep." Vodka looked up at him and glared, "Deal with it my love I will not allow you to go out and hunt without me." He shook his head then grabbed her to him, holder her struggling body tight to his body. "I will not lose you right as I found you little one." She looked up at him and sighed, no longer struggling against him, but holding him to her as she was to him. "I am sorry my love." Both of them looked in the direction of Stefan and Drea then into each others eyes. "They need our help my love."

Vodka reached out to Ailenia dear we can not go near your brother are the other vampires still just muddling around? She looked into B'astien's eyes. "Andrea..." She kissed him softly. "We are here my love they already know about all of us... we might as well go with it."