Ancient Darkness (On HOLD)

Chapter Thirteen - Virgin Sacrifice?

Sang stared at the closed door with surprise as she hiccupped through the sobs that were suddenly forcing themselves up through her chest. She wasn't one to cry often but it seemed that this situation had pushed her completely over the edge.

The Immortal – Lucian Taylor – had appeared eager at the end to escape their short talk and she couldn't help but hate herself slightly as she pushed away the need to call him back - to want someone with her as she worked her way through this time. The earth had tilted again for the second time that night as he blithely confirmed what Owen had indicated earlier.

She was locked in a strange house in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of fanged men and, although they had made no attempt to injure her, she was still breaking apart.

"I'm the perfect victim," She giggled to herself. "No one will miss me."

She shook her head with incredulity that fate had bought her here - was she meant to die? Sang could see no other outcome – even if the Immortals deemed her as no threat to them, they weren't going to simply let her go back to Ancient with knowledge of their existence. She would either have to escape and disappear or use whatever was at her disposal to argue her case.

"Maybe I could seduce some of them?" She laughed outright at the thought. "Yeah, 'cause I'm sure that they're up for a virgin sacrifice!" No experience with men meant no confidence and a deep abiding disgust at the thought of using her body.

Perhaps it was a blind view considering she was essentially fighting for her life but she just couldn't contemplate throwing away something so precious on a whim. There were no guarantees that hopping into one of their beds would save her.

Her eyes drifted down to her intertwined fingers and the bundle sitting before her; her mother have warned of people bearing gifts but she had probably never considered being held captive without a change of underwear.

Sang closed her eyes as she took in the crackle of the flames and the wind beating against the window. She didn't want to spend the rest of the night shaking like a frightened child but she sensed that there was more to come that would test the limits of her nerve and her mind.

"Definitely need to shower before that," She mumbled to herself as she flicked her lashes open and gently laid her fingertips over the pile of clothing. She couldn't think of anything overly horrible happening because she chose to make use of the bathroom.

... ...

Owen looked down at the disturbed earth and sent out a warning to his patrolling brothers, "We have had a visitor at the edge of our territory this night. I sense no presence here now but keep a wary eye on the distance."

He received immediate replies that all except for Lucian would make their way to his position once they had reinforced their defences – traps that would be triggered should anyone cross the borders.

It was a curious thing that this intrusion should come on the same night that he bought Sang into his home and his presence was only detected by the wolves once she had managed to find herself wandering the desolate woods.

Had this enemy meant to abscond with her if had she reached the area just beyond their property?

He took in a deep breath and looked to the hidden moon, cursing that so much of the night had been wasted through unnecessary drama. He had never before felt envious of any of his brothers but in this moment, he wanted nothing more then to back at the house, learning more about his lovely guest.

He had had the irrational need to lash out at Lucian when he had quickly volunteered to stay behind even though he found the feeling highly illogical; no mere mortal should have such an effect on him.

"Owen," Silas' accented voice came from close behind him. He had been unconsciously tracking the movements of his brothers as they ventured closer and he censured his thoughts as he turned to face the taller man. "Are you well?"

Owen barely resisted the urge to grimace at the question; it seemed that his apparent depression had not gone unnoticed by his family. They had been keeping a close watch on him in the hours that he had admitted to seeking further contact with Sang before he had thought to inform them of the potential danger.

He hadn't wanted to seem weak, and that in itself, had revealed more to his brothers than he had ever meant to.

"Of course, I am well, Silas." His eyes watched as more shadows drifted down to them.

"Prince," Victor greeted, focussing his burning gaze on the mark left by their intruder.

"I am no prince, Victor." Owen answered the same way that he had since Victor's birth over a thousand years ago.

There had once been a ruling family amongst their people, the Domnitors, but they had been the first to fall when the hybrids had made their existence known. Owen had been the oldest left alive after the first war, and he had reluctantly taken on the mantle of leader for the sake of those he cared about.

"I sense nothing," Dakota interrupted as they all circled the disturbed ground. "There is no scent left, nothing to track."

"I don't like this," North growled, his eyes tracking even the smallest movements around them. Immortal senses were sharp and strong; nothing should have been able to creep so close without leaving something behind.

"You don't really like anything, North," Gabriel quipped, crouching down to hover his hand over the snow.

North snapped his teeth at the youngest of their family and fought down the urge to smack the top of his head in frustration. His biological brother was stuck alone with a woman of strange power and origin while they, all of them, were exposed to attack. They could not discount a threat from any sector.

"Enough, all of you. I do not want to be out here any longer than necessary as we will begin to see the first lights of dawn soon," Owen rumbled at them, the authority thick in his voice as he began to tighten the incorporeal strings that would immediately alert him to unwanted visitors.

"What are we to do with the girl while we rest during the day?" Sean asked, flicking a snowflake from his cheek.

Owen did not turn from his task as he answered, "We will go home to introduce ourselves more gently before I compel her into a sleep deep enough to last through the hours that we are below the ground."

Seven pairs of eyes met one another before they dropped their head in submission. They all had plans to ensure that their leader was protected from the alluring diversion locked up within their guestroom.

"What a night this has turned out to be," Gabriel sniped with amusement.