Ancient Darkness (On HOLD)

Chapter Thirty Six - A City Surrounded

His fingers running over the keys, Victor seemed to almost vibrate while Sang found herself glancing around to see if anyone else had noticed. Even in the form that he had chosen, nothing could hide the graceful movements or the way that the light seemed to flicker in his eyes.

Gorgeous, mysterious...just beautiful.

"Many years before these instruments existed, I would walk the woods surrounding my home and sing – I didn't understand it when I was young,  didn't know that my voice held the ability to mesmerise everything around, even others of my kind. Most were wary, angry that something had the power to sway their will but Owen stood for me and helped teach me control."

"You love music," She murmured quietly.

He nodded, a chunk of hair swinging forward over his forehead, "There was a need inside of me that was suddenly taken away because releasing it would mean making enemies even amongst the Immortals' allies, so in the end the only option left was for me to use another outlet. When Owen took me under his wing it was the first time that I had ventured away from the wilds of England."

"England?" She interrupted.

"Yes, although our people originate from Romania, we have been scattered throughout the world because of the war with the hybrids. Owen's father thought that it would ensure some would survive. My family relocated to a very remote region of England before I was born and they never sought to leave there. The only contact we had was when others of our kind brought news or required shelter," He peered up at Sang, his eyes almost shy. "As I said, they were all afraid to have me speak, even my parents and older brother felt more at ease when I travelled the trees away from them – the only ones to accept my gift were my brothers and it was because of them that I discovered that music didn't have to come from my voice. In all my fourteen hundred years, I have learnt to play almost every instrument known and even some that are not, but there is just something about the piano that..." His fingers slowly depressed the keys, "Calls to my blood."

"I've been through most of the house and there are no instruments," She watched as his posture straightened and he prepared to play.

"I left them behind with people who I knew would appreciate them. We've travelled quite a bit because of the way that the Immortals split throughout the continents."

"You should buy something while we're here," Sang encouraged, her voice soft.

He shook his head, "We are here to purchase items for you, Sang."

Her fingers smoothed over the polished finish, "I have always wanted to learn how to play but there was never anyone in Ancient to teach me." She peeked over at him, "You said that I could have anything I wanted, right?"

"Of course. Anything to make your stay with us feel less like prison."

She grinned and straightened, "Then I would like a piano. Would you please pick one out for me and...teach me?"

His hands froze before he carefully lowered the keys cover, "Very well. I will organise to have one delivered."

... ...

"No more. Please, Gabriel," Sang cried, looking at the pile of clothes sitting on the counter. If she was being honest, she had thoroughly, but selfishly, enjoyed the attention that had been showered upon her by the shop attendants but as the bill continued to grow her stomach started to turn.

Kidnapped or not, she felt as though she was taking advantage of their kindness.

"We have run out of time," Owen informed her, his expression not changing as he watched nearly every assistant in the store struggle to fold and bag everything. "I suggest that you select a number of pieces for the next few days to tide you over until the delivery vehicles arrive. I do not wish for all of us to be laden down with baggage."

"I have quite enjoyed tonight," Gabriel almost beamed - if any one of the Immortals was actually capable of wearing an expression other than anger or indifference.

"Thank you all," Sang murmured, the excitement of the night finally beginning to catch up. Although it shocked her, she wanted nothing more than to go back where she didn't feel so unsettled and so exposed.

All in all, she had no idea what was going on inside her own mind and it seemed that that more than anything was making her feel as though her entire world was a dream.

She was actually starting to relax in the presence of nine of the most deadly predators to ever exist.

"Where is Nathan?" Victor asked, his changed eyes making her miss their natural colour.

Looking around, she couldn't spot him anywhere. He had been standing around for a good hour before it seemed as though something captured his attention. He had muttered a word to Owen before silently slipping away from the waiting area.

"Owen," Gabriel murmured, his eyes slowly starting to reilluminate as something slithered against the edge of his consciousness. "Where is that..."

He didn't have the chance to finish as the store's door suddenly blew open, Nathan and another man striding in.

Sang's heart jumped painfully as she recognised something similar – the stranger was Immortal. Although he appeared as human as she, the age in his eyes and the power of his lean frame was enough to electrify her senses.

"Nathan?" Owen enquired, his tone calm even though it seemed as though the shield around him cracked, his thoughts slipping through into her own. Everything was jumbled as she tried to quieten every other person in the vicinity.

"I apologise for the interruption but I felt that you needed to be warned that there is a number of hybrids circling the edges of the city." The stranger stared back at her, no life in his faded green eyes. "Will you need assistance?"

Owen glanced at his brothers before nodding, "It would be appreciated, Philip. Victor will take Miss Sorenson while the rest of us eliminate the threat." He indicated the sales assistants who suddenly went from curious to completely blank. "Gabriel, ensure that the delivery is organised before cleaning their memories." He then turned to Sang, a finger wisping over her cheek.

"What's going on?" She whispered, her body cold.

"It seems that you are, in fact, their target. We must go."

"But..."

His glamour dropped away, the glasses gone as surely as his false cover of humanity, "Now, Sang."