Coveted [New/Revised Version]

OLD FRIENDS, OLD WOUNDS

       Zairian stared out at the harbor. His eyes were as gray as the thick fog enveloping the Westmyth shoreline as the choppy water lapped the pebble beneath his feet. There was no light to his eyes at all now. He could feel it.

He braced himself against the biting gust off the water. However, even as he tugged his black coat closer, he knew it was no use. The cold he felt wasn't physical. It was internal and only one thing could warm him today.

Nefarious and she was far out of reach.

He imagined himself walking up behind the tiny woman. She turned and the wind sent her fiery curls flagging out behind her. He leaned down to cup her cheek, his fingertips relishing in the soft warmth of her skin as they trailed down and then they were at her throat. His hand was suddenly around that neck, squeezing.

The look of pure horror was one he'd never actually seen on the beauty he'd once been married to. However, he could imagine this would be her exact reaction to him after so many years of running. He was long done with their cat and mouse game. She had something that belonged to him and he wanted it back. For her sake, she'd better prove herself a cleverer mouse to his relentless cat.

Behind him, the shrill calls of seagulls sounded how he felt: jaggedly lonely, with no one to hear.

No one except Blake.

He was crouched in front of Zairian, tying an anchor to the back of the struggling vampire at their feet. Even engaged in something so sinister, Blake looked at ease. Tightening the last of his intricate knots, Blake said to her, "Well, that should do it. Any last words?"

"A location perhaps?" Zairian suggested.

"How about Hell?" she spat and wriggled to get free. "Burn it."

"I'm sure Nefarious appreciates your undying loyalty." The hybrid looked down at the woman, at the copper hair matted to her forehead, at her shining eyes, at the fear clearly lurking just behind her gaze. "That'll be the only undying thing about you, sweetheart."

"Go to Hell!" she ground out.

"This is always the fun part." Blake looped the rope around the woman's neck and tightened it under her arms. "Seeing them off to sea."

Zairian squatted down, his elbows resting on his knees as he studied the woman.

"I want you to understand the purpose of this exercise." He told her. "You won't die. No, instead you'll drown over and over again for the next week. You'll lose track of time. It'll be an eternity before I drag you back up. By then, your tongue will have loosened." He looked over to his right hand. "Blake, throw her in."

"Wait!" screamed the woman.

"Yes?"

"I... I might k-know—" she stammered. "Audrina is very secretive. She thinks ten steps ahead of every move she makes. She has a backup to her backup plans." Zairian signaled Blake, tired of the pointless drivel his prisoner was spouting. The other vampire gripped her arm and began dragging her back. "All I can say is that she's here!"

Blake froze and shared a look with his master. "In Westmyth?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I don't know where she's staying. She only trusts one person with that information."

"Let me guess," Zairian frowned. "Serenity?"

"Yes,"

"Well, you've been very helpful." Zairian smiled. He dropped it and instructed Blake, "Throw her in anyway."