51: Wanting More

I'm sorry for the huge delay to release this chapter. The original chapter 51 was Jeanine getting raped by Harvey. It's the most brutal rape scene I've ever written, and I couldn't bring myself to release it. So, you're hearing about what happened to her in this way.
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      "There must be a way to kill him!" Robert snapped as he and Marge arrived back at the house, talking about Gus.

      The house was deserted and quiet, the only faint sound being that of Desi's light nickering in her makeshift stall.

       Marge realized that someone should probably go and check up on Nate's other horse since it had been a number of days since anyone had fed him most likely.

       "Where is everyone?" she quietly asked.

       "I don't know, but we'd better wait here. It's possible, likely even, that my brother is taking a very detoured route returning."

       As if on cue, Derek showed up on the lawn of the house. He was injured and limping.

       Suddenly, a fairy appeared next to him.

       Arabella no longer cared about revealing herself to the terrifying she-vampire. Her Derek was hurt!

       "Where?" she asked him.

       "My knee, but don't worry. It's getting better every second," he explained with pain evident in his voice.

       "It will be better now because now is better," Arabella chirped in a sing-song voice laced with concern. She rubbed her hands together as if to warm them and placed both of them on Derek's knee. A small light emanated from her palms before disappearing into his flesh.

       Marge watched, fascinated, as Bella worked her magic. Her mother had always told her to believe in fairies, but Marge had scoffed at her, thinking she was looney. Of course, she'd known differently for a while now. Mothers had a way of being right.

       She'd never witnessed a fairy's healing magic before, and she filed what she saw in the back of her mind for possible use later.

       "Where are the others?" Rob asked his brother.

       "We split up. They should be here shortly," he answered with a calmer voice. His pain had vanished.

       With that, Rocky appeared from out of the trees. "Where's Jeanine?" he asked almost immediately.

       "She hasn't come back yet," Robert answered.
       "We have to find her!" Rocky exclaimed, worried. He turned and headed for the trees.
       "Stop," Derek ordered. "You will stay here and wait for her."
       "What?!" Rocky yelled, now appearing even more worried than before and agitated with Derek as well.
       The five of them argued back and forth about what they should do. Derek wanted to wait, but Rocky demanded they search for her right away since she should've been back by now.
       Just as Rocky was about to attack Derek in a challenge, something no one saw coming, Jeanine came bursting into the yard, naked.

       Rocky immediately threw his jacket around her while Arabella redoubled her calming aura. The three of them went into the house, not speaking.
       Robert stared at his older brother, upset that he told Rocky to not go after Jeanine. Since they weren't alone, he kept his angry, aggravated thoughts to himself.
       "Marge," Marge heard inside her head. Gus called her to him.

       "I have to go," she announced.
       "What?" Robert, forgetting his anger at his brother for the moment, looked stricken with the news. He had a feeling what his Rose really meant.
       "I'm sorry," she said quickly before she sped off.
       "No!" Rob called out as he started to chase after her. He guessed she was headed for Augustus, and he couldn't bear the thought. He knew the likelihood of this happening, but he didn't think it would happen so soon. Surely, he thought, we should be given more time than that!
       Derek's voice rang with authority. "Let her go."
        "But if nothing else, she'll lead us to him!" he tried to use an excuse to chase after her to keep the woman he cared for from her master.
        Derek looked wearily at his younger brother as Rob turned to him with a furious expression.

        "What is wrong with you? You refuse to go look for Jeanine, you offer up a false gem to rescue Gabriella, and you do nothing about our vendetta against the Ancient One!" Robert panted. "Have you lost your edge?"
       "I could not risk the rest of my pack-"
       "To save a quarter of it," Rob interrupted. "We are stronger than them. Yet you ... you order us to stay put!"
       "Tanner had no intention of handing her over. Thinking he would was my true mistake," Derek said, remaining calm in spite of his brother's outburst.
       "With Rose, we could have destroyed them tonight, not run away with our tails between our legs."
       "I didn't know she could do that." After a quick pause, he asked, "What did you call her?"
       "I called her Rose, a name that better suits her."

       Marge quickly arrived at the location of her maker before the pair of them sped off only to double back and check to see if she'd been followed.

        "You were exemplary tonight, my Marge," Gus said as he approached her once they realized they would remain alone. "I'm impressed and quite pleased." He smiled toothily at her in the moonlight. "How many do you think you killed? Tanner will be furious to have had his numbers decimated the way I hope they were."
      "About ten, I think. Five, I'm sure, at the beginning," she answered, not really sure if she should be proud of herself.
      "Yes, that wall of fire was a nice touch. You're improving."

      "And my daughter remains captured. Tell me you killed the rapist."
      "As you put it, it wasn't his time." Gus grinned.
      "We must free her!" she exclaimed in a pleading tone.
      "In good time. I'm afraid she'll most likely be there another month due to Derek's poor judgement."
      "No thanks to you! You're an amazing strategist! Why don't you help?"
      "Derek, first of all, would never accept my help. And second, I prefer to let the dogs fight their own battles. I sent you in only because it's Gabriella they have, and I want her."
       "Then maybe she'd be better with the rapist," Marge hissed all of a sudden.
       He swooped down upon her in an instant. "Watch what you say, witch. Need I remind you on whose side you are?"
       "I hate you," she snarled defiantly up to him.
       "I'd pity you if you loved me," he said solemnly. Then, he could no longer resist her and cradled her head in his hands before bringing his lips down upon hers in a pleading way.

        Marge fought against him. When his mouth finally left hers, he trailed light kisses down her throat.
      "No, August," she said in response to the way he pressed his hips against hers.
      "You've never said no to me. This is the thanks I get for letting you have a puppy? You're mine!" he snarled against her throat.
       She cried out when she felt his fangs pierce her skin, and although she knew her efforts were futile, she continued to try to get him off her as he took in her blood.
        When he'd taken a sufficient amount, he broke his own skin and commanded her to drink from him. When she'd finished, he ripped her panties from her hips and tackled her to the ground.

       "How... dare you .. try to resist me," he said as he undid his belt and pants.
       Marge prepared herself for what she knew was coming, and it happened fast.
       However, as soon as Gus joined their bodies, that euphoric, opiate-like feeling coursed through him. He looked down upon the woman below him and said, "Oh, my precious Marge, why did you wish to keep yourself from me when I need you so?" He knew later he would hate himself for everything he'd tell her, but the pair of them had grown somewhat used to his split-personality.
      "I'm not keeping myself from you, August."
      "But you said no. You love the puppy. How can you?" His voice sounded filled with sorrow as he made love to her.
       "I didn't set out to have that happen."
       "I must keep you from him," he stated resolutely.
       "No! They need me to defeat Tanner and rescue Gabriella," she begged and thought up a quick excuse.
       "You said you prefer for her to remain with the dog. You don't want me to use her power?"
       "Am I still not powerful enough for you?" she asked, hoping to distract him.

       "I always, always want more," he answered her before ceasing all conversation.

My Book Release!!!

Woohoo! My book is finally finished and on a few virtual shelves! This morning, I published to Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I'm working with a distributor to also have it available through Sony, Blio, Apple, Diesel, and Kobo, so Guardian Angel should be available to those sites soon! To find out exactly when, follow/subscribe to my author's page/blog:

erinlacasterbooks.blogspot.com 

Also, there's the first chapter you can read right now up on the blog.

To purchase the book at Amazon Kindle, go here.

To purchase the book at Barnes & Noble (Nook version), go here.
To purchase the book at Smashwords, go here.

Incidentally, did you know you can get an app for your PC so that you can read books from Amazon on your computer? I've been surprised by how many people don't know this, so I'm posting a link for the free download of the app here.

Well, now that all that official-type stuff is done, I simply have to say how excited I am to have done this! Thank you to all of my readers and especially to you wonderful commentors out there that have encouraged and supported me while I've honed my storytelling skills. I never thought the day would come when I could finally hit the publish button! 

I'm currently working on a rewrite of my Queen of Denial book. I don't know when that will be finished because it's a very large project, but, since I've mentioned it in last January's interview, I wanted to say that it's still in the works and now off the back burner.

Also, I plan on getting shots for the next chapter of this story very soon! It's next. ☺

50: Old Friends

    "Derek, how very nice of you to join us." Tanner snarled, the enmity readily apparent in his voice.

    "Tanner." Derek gave as a simple greeting. "Where is she?"

    "Where is the stone?" Tanner countered.

    "Here." Marge spoke up, stepping out from behind Rob's back.

    Tanner smirked. "This must be the vampire-witch. Such an interesting hybrid."

   "Where's my daughter?" she asked before a blood-curdling howl rent the air. Someone in the hunting party wasn't happy.

     Tanner's eyes narrowed a fraction before he refocused on Marge.

     "My daughter?" Marge asked. "I refuse to hand this over until she is in our custody."

     "Show her the witch." Tanner barked over his shoulder. They brought Gabby within view through a window they could see through the short patch of woods behind the gate. She struggled against the hold of the wolf that held her.

     Marge glared at Tanner. "Bring her down here. You said-"

     "Don't, Tanner!" Katharine suddenly screeched. "It's a fake!"

     "Preposterous." Marge scoffed. "Why would we offer a fake?"

     "More like why wouldn't you?" Tanner growled while the wolves behind Marge tensed.

     I'm going to kill you, Derek, Marge thought maliciously.

     "Looks like we're going to have a little fun tonight, boys." Tanner grinned at the vampire. With a simple flick of his wrist, his pack charged forward towards Derek's crew.

      Unfortunately for one of Tanner's number, however, Marge shot a killing spell out from her hand, bringing the wolf crashing down in front of his brothers. She quickly felt a sudden inspiration, and she created a wall of flames between herself and the remaining members of Tanner's pack.

      Suddenly, she felt herself jerked backwards, being carried away in someone's arms.

      "Keep firing!" Robert directed as he carried her along, so she did so, downing a few more of Tanner's pack that felt brave enough to dash through the wall of fire.

      Their path got intercepted by Nate as he flew past them, knocking down a few more wolves.

      "Go!" he yelled behind him, looking irritated, while the two small opposing forces worked quickly to get organized, thinking that Nate, Marge, and Robert would do the same.

      Robert and Marge went towards Appaloosa Plains while Nate rushed back in the direction of the compound. Not expecting this, the larger wolf party had to split once again.

      Just before they disappeared from view, Marge's gaze fell upon a wolf with long black hair, and she knew without trying that this wolf was the one that raped her daughter.

      "Robert." Julian growled while the other wolves raced in another direction, chasing Derek and the others of their small band, giving Marge a wide berth.

      Cowards, she thought viciously while Rob set her down and faced the rapist.

     "Murderer." Julian snarled, and Marge wondered what he meant. She didn't bother trying to figure it out and instead kept her attention on the enemy wolf.

     "An accident." Robert growled back, and her stomach plummeted.

     The other wolf took a step towards the pair, but Marge quickly fired a warning shot at his feet.

     "Why not simply kill me and be done with it?" his ancient eyes asked her.

     "It's not my place to do so nor it is your time." Marge answered cryptically before the wolf roared with laughter.

     "Then be gone, witch! Leave the big dogs to their fight." he suggested.

     "I said I wouldn't kill you; I didn't say I wouldn't stop you." she snapped. "Rapist." she finished.

     "I wouldn't be interested in Gabriella if it weren't for your boyfriend here." the other wolf said as he took a step towards them. A look of mock concern showed up on his face as he asked, "Has he not told you he's a murderer?"
     Marge shrugged. "As am I."
     "He killed my wife."
     "You raped my daughter."
     Julian snarled at her, "My fight is not with you, witch!"

     "Well, mine is with you!" she argued back, throwing a stunning spell his way that he quickly dodged.
      Julian had wanted to only fight with Robert, he hadn't really counted on the fact that the woman would want to fight him. Still, he knew he could overpower her if given the chance, and he sought his opening. Finding it, he pounced.
      Simultaneously, Robert reached out to pull Marge out of the way, and Gus appeared from out of nowhere to attack Julian, pinning him to the ground.
      "Foolish move, boy." Gus spit at Julian below him.
      Julian threw August off of him, sending him in an arch through the air. Gus landed on his feet and hands in a crouched position, watching the were with excited eyes.

     In a laughing voice, Gus said, "I was all for you attacking the pup, but you made the decision to go after my woman." He ignored the low growl from Robert.
       Julian smiled evilly at August and quipped, "And yet, you let the pup mate with her. I can smell him all over her."
       "My Marge knows to whom she really belongs, and to whom I lend her is my business." Gus said coldly.
      "My fight is with Robert, Ancient One, not with you, or her, for that matter. If she continues to be in the way, then I must remove her." Julian said almost warily and watched Gus like a hawk.
      "Let's go." Robert said quietly to Marge. "I want you away from this."
      Men, Marge thought, irritated at how both Gus and Robert felt the need to protect her. She looked at Robert with a mildly-irritated expression.
       Rob took her hand and said, "Please." She rolled her eyes, and the pair of them sped off.

       Julian moved to follow them, but August blocked his path once again. He roared with irritation at the vampire and his jovial expression.
      August laughed loudly and asked, "So, hm, what do you call yourself now? Oh yes, Julian. Tell me, Julian, I'm curious. Just how was Gabriella?"
     "Still listening to gossip, old man?" Julian asked in place of an answer.
     "Only when I'm curious." Gus answered. "How much of a fight did she give you? I've found her to be quite resourceful in a state of panic."

     Julian smiled wickedly and decided to give an answer. "She was more than I expected."
     "I must admit I'm rather curious about the offspring." Gus smiled. "I wonder if the old man ever considered that when he made that bauble?"
     "You knew him, only you can answer that question." Julian remarked.

     August's mind went back to a different place and time for a few seconds as he remembered the man that made the stone and what he intended its original purpose to be.
      He smiled and said, "I love how your kind wish to cherish and protect it." Gus felt pleased that Julian looked confused as to the meaning behind his statement. They still don't realize.

      A howl sounded in the distance, one that meant a victory of sorts. Julian sniffed the air.
      "Your pack calls you." Gus pointed out dryly.
      "If the witch gets in the way again, I will remove her." Julian promised.
      "And I will be there to stop you."
      Julian let out a chuckle. "Until next time then, 'old friend'." With that, he sped off in the direction of the howl.

49: Extortion

Recap:
*Tanner instructed Julian to capture, not kill Nate even though Julian would prefer to kill him.

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The following scene takes place a little before Derek's pack shows up on the cliff overlooking Tanner's estate. I decided to jump a little ahead chronologically in the last chapter so it would flow better, thinking it would've been odd to jump to this scene in the middle of Derek's pack running.

For the record, I'm a little uncomfortable with the next chapters. Not by the way they're written, but with what takes place. They're a prime example of how I feel like the story has taken control even if what's happening is what was planned. I hope that makes sense.

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      Gabriella stood and watched dispassionately as Julian prepared to go out. The sun was nearly set outside the window.

       Julian saw her looking at him, and he took a few large steps to bring himself directly in front of her.

       "Don't worry, Kitten. I'll come back in one piece, and I have been instructed not to kill your vampire love." he said softly as he reached up to cup her face with his hand. 

       She unsuccessfully tried to bat his hand away before she said, "I don't care if you come back in one piece or not, and you wouldn't have to worry about whether or not to kill Nathaniel if you'd just simply hand me over to him." She said it, but she doubted seriously that he would do as she recommended.

       Julian chuckled deeply in his throat. "I said I was 'instructed' not to kill him, but if I get the opportunity to do it and get away with it, believe me, I will do it gladly. He is an obstacle that needs to be removed." He could smell the cold fear coming from her, and that gave him an idea.

       "What do you mean 'instructed'?" Gabriella asked, trying to mask her fear.

      "Tanner wants him taken prisoner. I don't really care why, and I'm not happy with his order. I may need to find another alpha once again. If that's the case, I'll take you with me when I leave." he said, his eyes drinking in her features as his thumb caressed her cheek.

      "You've had other alphas?" she asked, trying to delay and distract him.

      "Many."

      She studied him for a second before she asked, "How old are you?" She didn't care if he was offended by the question or not.

      He smiled a small smile down at her. "Old."

     "That's a relative term." she said, continuing to distract him. "Old like you should be a grandfather old? Several hundred years? Stone circles old?"

     His eyes took on a curious gleam as he said, "Interesting you should mention stone circles."

     "You avoided answering." she pointed out. Then, she couldn't stand not taking the bait he threw out, "What do you mean by that?"

     He shrugged noncommittally, "Only because of what you are."

     "I don't understand."

     He looked at her in mild disbelief. "Haven't you wondered why there are so few of you?"

     "Are there few of those like me? Seems to me I'm running into them everywhere."

     "Because you have steadily been killing each other over the years." he continued with his earlier statement like she hadn't spoken. "You swear you don't know this?" He waited, curious.

     "I only found out what I was a short time ago. I thought I was just weird."

     He chuckled and said, "No wonder you were so easy to capture." He caught her hand as she reached up to slap him, her fury rampaging across her face. He laughed outright now before he said, "Much as I'd love to stay and chat, I have a vampire I need to try to figure out a way to 'accidentally' kill." He held onto her wrist as again he felt curious about her reaction.

     "No." she whispered, her anger dissipating quickly. "He's not been really good to me either, but he doesn't deserve to die."

     Neither did Charlotte, Julian thought angrily. Pushing that anger aside, he quickly took this opening to execute his earlier idea. "What will you do for me if I don't kill him?"

      Gabriella's eyes widened in horror. "That's .... that's extortion!" She took a step back, pressing her back against the wall.

      He kissed the knuckles of the hand he still held captive. "Maybe." he stated, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "But I want you."

      "You said you wouldn't hurt me." None of my visions prepared me for this. I have to get out of it somehow.

      "And I won't. I want you to give yourself to me willingly." he said huskily, taking a step forward to close the gap between them.

      "You're despicable." she spat at him.

      He shrugged and said, "Maybe I am, but I'm also a man. And you are a beautiful woman that is under my 'protection'."

       Her eyes narrowed as she said, "Like you protected me from your alpha's mate?"

       "That, sadly, was out of my control, and it's another reason I want to leave this pack." He sighed in an over-dramatic way and continued, "I guess I'll have to kill him then."

       "Please, no." she begged.

       "Then agree to my proposal."

       She shook her head and said, "No. I can't."

     He dropped her hand and said, "No matter then. I can wait. I am a patient man all things considering. I'll kill him, and you'll eventually come around." He turned and made his way to the door at a normal pace.

       "Wait!" Gabby cried as he'd made his way halfway across the room.

       Julian turned, his eyebrows raised in question as he asked, "Yes?"

        I'm crazy for doing this, but Nate is definitely outnumbered.... and if Julian can keep him from being killed.... "Fine." she said and tried not to vomit.

        Julian tried not to gloat. He hated the disgusted look on her face, however, and his gloating mood turned sour. He got another idea. "Since I have no time to see that you'll carry through on your end, how can I know you're telling me the truth?" He started back towards her.

        Gabby shook her head hopelessly. "I don't know."

        "I do." he said as he stood directly in front of her. "And it's really quite simple, but it will tide me over for now." He looked into her crystal-blue eyes and said, "Kiss me."

       No. "What?"

       "You heard me. I need a little assurance that you're not going to go back on your word."

       Gabriella's heart raced as her eyes darted around. She'd honestly hoped she wouldn't have to follow through on her end of the deal, and she hadn't expected him to want anything immediately.

       "I'm waiting, Gabriella." he said in a commanding way, leaning towards her to make it easier. 

       She backed her head up as far against the wall as she could because he'd started getting too close.

        "It's very simple, you know." he pointed out laconically. "Just press your lips to mine. Easy."

        "Why are you making me do this?" she whimpered.

        "I explained that already." he said in an exasperated manner. "You're wasting my time. Either do it or I won't take you at your word."

      She closed her eyes and turned her head away from him as her breath came out in painful shudders.

        Julian snorted derisively and said, "I see." He straightened up, looked down at her, and prepared to go.

        "No!" Gabby said in a panicked voice, and without letting herself think too much about it, she did as he asked, hoping it would be brief.

        Julian had no intention of the kiss being brief. He greedily wrapped his arms around her with one of his hands holding the back of her head in place as he hungrily opened her mouth for more.

        Gabby let out a small cry, immediately regretting her hasty decision. Julian continued to demand more out of her, reminding her of the horrible night she had a few nights ago. She struggled to break away from him, but he wouldn't have any of that.

       His hands roved over her unchecked while he had her pressed back against the wall behind her. This had gone much farther than she even dreaded for it to go, and she felt violated by his lack of restraint. When his hand cupped her between her legs, she managed to jerk her head to the side in her shock.

       "No." she whimpered.

       "Oh, that's not what we agreed to, Kitten. You're mine. You said so yourself, and I intend to take full advantage of this short moment before I have to go out and show mercy to the undeserving for you." he mumbled into her neck while she fought against the pleasurable sensations between her thighs.

        He lifted his head and held her eyes with his as he said, "Besides, I want to give you something to carry you over until I can return and really pick up where we'll leave off."

      She reached her hands down to try and pull him off of her, but he, almost angrily, caught both of her hands in his other one and pinned them above her head, now even more determined to prove his dominance.

       "No, Kitten. You're going to feel this. Feel me and what I can do to you." he said as he picked up the speed of his hand.

       "Ah!" she cried out, still fighting against the will of his hand. "Please."

     "No need to beg. Take it." he commanded, deliberately mistaking the reason for her plea. Not too much time went by, and Julian watched her as her breathing became labored. He leaned down and claimed her mouth once again. As he shoved his tongue into her unwilling mouth, her body tensed against him, and he forced her to repeatedly feel each wave as it struck. He pulled back once again to watch her aggravated expression that was often overshadowed with a softening of her eyes that could only mean she couldn't fight off the consuming pleasure anymore.

      He smiled at her spunk at still trying to resist him no matter what her body told her to do. Then he kissed her forehead affectionately and said, "Until the morning at the latest, my kitten." He left her leaning against the wall as he exited the room.

     Tears coursed down Gabriella's face as she thought to herself, What have I done?

48: Even Playing Field

Recap:
*Nate figured out he can hear the wolves of Tanner's pack due to his ability to hear animals and because Tanner's pack had lacked their copy of the stone for a while now.

*Marge foresaw, when asked, that the relationship she and Robert had was doomed to failure.

    "You disgust me." Tanner spit out venomously after backhanding someone that was brave enough to deliver the message that they'd failed to kill a vampire. "All of you!" he growled to the gathering in his office. "A vampire on our lands, and you let him live! There were six of you!"

     "Tanner, he went into the river and didn't come out. We believe he's actually hiding in the lake somewhere." Harvey, the one who'd been slapped, tried to reason with him.
        Tanner shooed everyone out of his office except Harvey.

     "I don't want your excuses!" Tanner barked as he got right in his face. "Clearly, you feel determined to prove your own ineptness."

      Harvey bristled with the insult. He respected Tanner and felt that the man had the right idea about how they should live. He'd been with Tanner from the very start, Tanner himself having been the one to turn him. He was the only one left besides Tanner of the original five to settle in Hidden Springs. Julian joined them later, and Harvey still felt the sting from the day that Tanner named Julian his beta.

      He took a deep breath to quickly calm his anger and said, "He won't long survive his exit from the lake."

      "No, he won't, because I'm sending Julian out with you. I had thought that you could handle supervising the sentries, but clearly, I'm going to have to send out a real wolf to do a pup's job." Tanner said. 

       Harvey wished he'd slapped him across the face again instead. He was over three hundred years old, and he considered himself a senior member of the pack. He'd proven his loyalty to Tanner on a multitude of occasions, but it was always his failures that Tanner remembered.

       No one knew how old Julian was; he would never say.

      Tanner felt enraged when he considered how he would now have to divide his forces before the meeting tonight. This particular vampire had to be the one that lost Gabriella, and he knew the thing was a highly-skilled mind-reader. He hated vampires, especially those with extra abilities. He'd dealt with two superior mind-readers in the past, but those could only read humans. They were the reason he stopped having humans in his employ.

     This one must be able to read us. I don't know how. Perhaps I should instruct Julian to capture, not kill. I'd like to study him.

      "Fetch Julian for me." he said absently to Harvey, dismissing him with a distracted wave of his hand. Harvey lightly bowed his head and did his best not to storm out of the office.

      After a few minutes, Julian had still not entered his office, and Tanner felt fury rise in him again. How hard is it to tell Julian to get his ass in here? Just as he was about to stand up and find out what was taking him so long, Julian entered.

    "You wished to speak with me, Tanner?" he asked, his eyebrows raised.

     "Yes. Harvey needs babysitting. He has failed again. A vampire entered our lands, and even though we had six after him, he escaped. I believe it is the one from Appaloosa Plains: Nathaniel Hamilton. He has the most motive."
      "Indeed." Julian agreed, his eyes narrowing.
      "I need you with the sentries tonight." Tanner said, getting to the point.

      "Tonight?! But the meeting..."
      "I need you leading the group hunting the vampire." Tanner interrupted him.
      "If then, he is indeed Nathaniel Hamilton then I will gladly kill him, but-"
      "I want you to capture him, if at all possible. I'd like to study him."
       " ' If at all possible'?! How am I to capture him if he's eluded six? And if I see him, I want to kill him." Julian growled.

      "You will not kill him unless that is your only option, do I make myself clear?" Tanner spoke, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
    "Crystal." Julian snarled. Then he continued with his aggravated tone, "You want to study that thing?! Have him here ... in this house?!"
     "Afraid of a little competition for your woman, huh?" Tanner said and smiled sadistically.
    "Speaking of my woman," Julian said, ignoring Tanner's jibe, "I would rather be at the meeting even if the thought of fighting that particular vampire is sorely tempting." 
      "I want that vampire caught. You have to miss the meeting."
      "And you won't hand her over." Julian stated his question, a mild challenge hanging in the air.
      "I have no intention at all of handing her over. I'm every bit as intrigued by this idea as you are."


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      "Good, you've returned." Derek said to Marge and Robert as they entered the yard. The sun had started to set, and Derek was anxious to get started. "Where is it?" he asked, looking at Marge.
      "Here." Marge said, pulling it out of her bag. It had already started to gleam in the dying light.
      As the sun set, the moon rose, and Rocky and Jeanine joined them.
      "Four against somewhere over twenty. Nice odds." Rocky pointed out dryly.
      "I'm not afraid." Jeanine scoffed.
      "Who said anything about fear?" Rocky argued.
      Marge spoke up, "And the number is five, not four." She looked pointedly at Rocky.
     "In league with a vamp." Rocky clicked his tongue dispassionately. "Never thought I'd see the day."
      "Shut up, Rocky." Rob barked. " 'Never thought I'd see the day'. You're fifty. What do you know?"
      "Fifty-seven." Rocky corrected him.
      Rob rolled his eyes while Marge wondered how old Rob was.
    Derek calmly stopped the discussion. "Let's get this started. The moon is high enough." He pointedly looked at Marge, indicating that she should begin.

       Marge held aloft the stone in both of her hands and started chanting. As the moon rose higher, every wolf's eye was upon her. The moon came out from behind the trees, and the light from it fully hit the stone and the wolves. The stone appeared to explode with light, lighting up Marge in an incandescent glow.

      Robert watched, transfixed, as he'd never seen this happen before where the spellcaster would start glowing themselves. He became soon distracted from his thoughts as he noticed that he and his pack mates had transformed with nary a hint of pain.
       For a few seconds, they all looked around in mild amazement. They'd expected at least a mild tingle.
      Derek looked curiously at Marge and wondered if the difference had to do with the fact that she was a vampire. At any rate, none of them had time to figure it out.
      Marge stopped chanting and asked Derek, "Where shall I put it now?"
      He handed her a key and instructed her to put it in a desk drawer with a false bottom. She did so and returned him the key.
      Once the key had been given back to Derek, he fished out of his pocket a copy of the stone.
      "I thought your kind couldn't even touch its copy?" Marge asked. Rob wondered what his brother was up to.
      Derek smiled with malicious mirth as he explained, "I'm not about to give that monster back the copy. This is a fake."
       "Shit." Rocky spat. "He's going to be pissed when he finds out."
       "Which he won't until next month's full moon. By that time, we will have relocated."
       Marge questioned, "Leave Appaloosa Plains?"
       "I didn't say that." Derek answered cryptically.
      Robert's transformed eyes locked with Marge as they both wondered what his brother's plans were. They were playing a dangerous game.
       "I doubt he hands over Gabriella easily. We need to be prepared for anything." Derek instructed as they quietly ran through the woods.
       "I wish I could be able to hear their thoughts." Marge mused.
       "Vampires cannot read us."
       "Yes, I realized that." she said dryly. Idiot.
       Derek smiled at the annoyance in her tone and said, "It makes for a more even playing field, wouldn't you say?" He stifled a laugh.
       "I wouldn't really know, remember? I have nothing against you." she reminded him, irritated at the laughter in his voice.

       Their company arrived at the top of a hill overlooking Tanner's estate. Marge's eyes quickly caught movement off to the right.
        "Look there." she said quietly to Robert, slightly pointing to what she saw.
        "It's a hunting party." he said darkly. "They're going to try to attack us even before we can reach them!" Robert exclaimed quietly with a small growl.
       "Hold." Derek ordered. "Let's wait and see. At any rate, we hold the high ground here."
       "Unless they plan on circling around and attacking us from the rear." Jeanine pointed out.
     "Then we retreat to the very top of the mountain." Derek said, agreeing with Jeannie's supposition.
      After they'd backed to the top of the mountain, they had a more difficult time seeing the estate. However, they could see a small disturbance near it.
      "They're not hunting us." Robert finally figured out. "They're hunting Nate."
      "I'd given him up for dead." Derek pointed out.
      Marge snapped her head in his direction, but before she could ask her question, Derek spoke up again.
      "Then this is good. Tanner has been forced to divide his forces."
    Robert stared at the moving trees below them and said in wonder, "So many against one vampire..." He left the statement hanging.
       "Whatever the reason, we must take advantage of this and get down there before the party can rejoin their brothers." Derek said, and their small party started off again towards Tanner's.

47: Too Many Barriers

I haven't finished this, but a good enough portion is done so that I feel like I won't mess it up on my way to the ending I want. So... it's back! I'll try to update every two weeks or so.

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Recap:
*Julian rapes Gabriella to get her pregnant and make a hybrid werewolf/witch that can one day work the stone as well as benefit from it.
*Tanner's mate, Katharine, uses a spell to drastically and painfully speed along Gabriella's pregnancy.
*Nate, furious with Marge and Derek, decides to race off on his own to find a way to rescue Gabriella from Tanner's pack.
*Robert is no longer able to resist Marge and falls under her siren's spell.

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Earlier this morning....

    I can hear them! Nate thought with vicious glee as he raced around in the woods surrounding Tanner's compound. It must be an effect of the stone that I can't hear Derek's pack. Tanner's pack has been missing theirs for quite some time now

    Tanner's sentries had, of course, discovered his presence soon after his arrival in the surrounding area. 

     That's right, pups. There's a vampire in your midst. He stifled a sadistic laugh at the young ones' frustrations with not being able to catch him. They don't know I can hear their communications! It must be the animal blood in them that makes them so very very easy to read.

      Sure boys, keep trying to trap me. I know your every thought! he thought as he outmaneuvered them once again.

      Still, the sun was on the rise, and he would need to seek out shelter soon.

      Didn't some sort of lore exist that said vampires couldn't cross running water? Hah! Wrong! he thought as he raced down the river and dove below the surface of it.

      He allowed the river to guide him to the large lake nearby, and he found a dark cave in which to hide for the day. Sure, he felt a mild discomfort and annoyance because he couldn't breathe, but breathing was unnecessary. He could hear the wolves' frustration that they'd lost his scent, and he allowed himself a grin.

      The grin fell off of his face as he pondered his situation. That house was a fortress! He quickly scanned his Gabriella's memories. Thus far when he could spare a quick second to examine the place, he found no weakness in the outer fortifications. He didn't lose hope, however, of ever finding one. Every fort had its weakness.

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       Marge and Robert finally tore themselves from his bed to go to her house and retrieve the stone.
     "It's strange." Marge commented as she and Robert approached the entrance to her her hidden underground room. "I saw Gabby doing this. Not me."

      "You saw it?" Rob asked.

       Shit! Rookie mistake, she thought harshly to herself.

       "And you 'just knew' that Derek wouldn't be angry enough to stop us from being together. Tell me," he said with distrust laced in his voice, "my dear Rose, just how that is."

      "I have visions." she admitted quietly.

      "And you screwed up just now by revealing that, didn't you? You weren't going to tell me?" he asked, his arms folded.

      "There was no need for you to know."

      The two of them descended the staircase in tense silence.

     Marge approached the shelf that housed the true stone, but Rob didn't care about it for the moment.

      He stopped her hand, and as she looked at him in question, he asked, "How could I not need to know?" He paused before continuing, "And you can find out what Tanner is planning!"

      "I'm unable to see. I've tried numerous times, but for some reason, I'm not given any answers sometimes." She looked at him apologetically, hating that she wasn't more powerful.

      Suddenly, he felt this overwhelming need to comfort her, and this tender emotion brought to mind another question. "Have you seen our future? What happens with us?"

      "Wouldn't it be better not to know?" she asked him.

      His face screwed up for a second as he thought yet again how insane it was to be falling for a vampire. Still, he said, "I have to know... if you're able, please." Please tell me where this insanity will lead, he thought as he turned her completely around to face him.

      Marge let out a sigh and did as he requested. She closed her eyes and wordlessly thought her question. Then, she let out a small, distressed noise as a feeling of hopelessness washed over her. She could see Robert standing apart from her with a large grouping of wolves behind him. She was leaving him, and both of them wore a resigned expression. It wouldn't last ... They as a couple couldn't be. There would be too many barriers in their way.

      "What is it?" Robert begged, not liking the expression Marge wore.

      She didn't want to tell him. She almost knew without trying that this relationship was impossible, but to have it shown to her filled her with despair.
       "No." she whispered.
      "We're going to have to one day part ways, aren't we?" Robert guessed. When Marge didn't deny his statement, he said, "It doesn't take a psychic to figure that one out."
    "Yes." she admitted. "You were standing with many wolves behind you, and as I was walking away, I turned once to look back at you. There was no hatred, only sadness."
      "You mean 'will be' because it hasn't happened yet." he growled, gritting his teeth.
      "It's hopeless, Robert. We need to stop this." she said as she turned to pick up the stone. "I'll do my best to stop -"
       "I don't want to!" he said, sounding almost like a spoiled child.
       Her face screwed up as she prepared herself to confess, "It's my fault you feel this way."
       After a few seconds of silence, he said, "So I wasn't imagining it ... the pull."
       "Is my 'dark gift' as it's called." she finished for him before putting the stone into the bag she brought. She turned and made her way up the stairs with him following close on her heels like ... a puppy.
       "I want to say it doesn't matter." he admitted as she closed the secret panel. "That I'd have wanted you anyway with or without that 'gift'."
      She smiled a little as she said, "A nice thought."
     She walked into her dining room and suddenly felt his too-warm arms wrapping around her to stop her progress.

      "I do want you anyway, Rose." he said desperately as he used his name for her, breathing in the scent of her hair.
      "This will only bring pain." she reminded him as she turned around in his arms. Then she was silenced from saying more things he didn't want to hear as his lips hungrily claimed hers.
      "For as long as I can." he finished his earlier statement.
      The sound of the mantle clock chiming reminded the pair of their duty. They needed to return to the pack's house. No more words were spoken as they mutually agreed to leave more of this conversation to a later time and place.