Anya is stunned that he could read her fears so easily.
“I have walked this world for over nine hundred years, Anya. There is much that I could teach you and I can offer you what they cannot, family. True companionship.” He slips closer, trailing a hand over her shoulder and pulling her to him.
“You are exquisite, Anya.” He cups her cheek and trails his lips across her forehead and down her face. His scent is intoxicating, almost.
Anya seductively wraps her arms around his waist, melting into his embrace. She turns her face and just before his lips touch hers, she inhales.
Caius stiffens as the pain registers in his mind. A burning sears through his body and he struggles to break free of the hold she has on him. Her taloned hands dig deep into his back, drawing blood as she holds him.
Anya senses two of his men behind her as they grab her hair and arms jerking her backwards, forcing to her release the death hold she has on her prey. She pulls Caius’s soul with her, almost ripping it from his body. Caius roars in pain and stumbles backwards as Anya turns on her assailants.
One of the vampires releases Anya to help Caius. The other young vampire tightens his powerful grip on her arms and retains his hold on her.
Anya releases her wings and the creature hisses, jumping away from the energy released by their ethereal forms. She leaps away and turns to watch as Caius climbs to his feet. Weakened from his bout with Anya, Caius is forced to release the glamor spell on his burnt face.
“How stupid do you think I am?” She snarls at the burned monster in front of her.
“One can hope,” he replies in annoyance. “About as stupid as your Aunt was. Trust me when I say this, Herald, you will come to me because, in the end, you will realize I am your only hope.” With a snap of his finger, they advance on her. “Now, please excuse me while I destroy the last gate.” Caius strides away, just as the four vampires move in to encircle Anya.
This particular gate is located in a mausoleum with a detailed gothic archway. It is glowing in the distance and he knows he doesn’t have much time before the Herald escapes. She is much more powerful than he had anticipated. If he hadn’t brought help, she would have destroyed him. He brushes his hair back with a trembling hand. It is unfortunate to have to kill her. “I will have to harvest her as I did her mother,” he murmurs as he leaps into the night air to locate the gate.
Caius flies towards a glow below signaling the final active gate. He drops to the dry land and lands heavily. Sebastian is glaring at him and standing beside him is a Drow and a human. “Caius, you must face the council,” Sebastian snarls.
“I don’t think you should be worrying about me, record-keeper, your daughter needs you. Or is it your daughter?” He laughs looking at Keane. A vampire screams in the distance, giving him the distraction, he is hoping for.
He bounds into the air and Sebastian meets him head on. The impact of the two powerful enemies can be heard all around. They roll to the ground, grappling to get a hold of one another. Caius is weak from his battle with Anya, he knows he is outnumbered. He calls on his power, heating up his hands. Slamming one hand onto Sebastian’s face, it hisses as the skin burns along his jaw and neck. He laughs when the man cries out in pain and releases him.
“Help her, Drow!” Sebastian screams and Vorn turns leaping into the air, rushing to Anya’s aid, leaving Keane and him to help protect the gate.
Inside the mausoleum, Morgan jerks and stares at Katie.
“Anya!” She screams and goes toward the doorway. Pushing it open she rushes outside and unable to see in the dark, she runs straight into a man. “Keane?” She cries.
“Katie girl! What on earth are you doing here?” He demands.
“We are looking for the gate, can you help us find it?” She answers, just as Morgan spots Caius is running in the direction, he knows the gate is. Morgan watches and follows him. This will be the last chance to save one of the gates!
“Morgan!” Katie yells in fear as he runs away. Keane grabs her hand just as Sebastian stumbles to his feet.
“I will go help Anya, you go, follow Morgan,” Sebastian yells.
Anya is fighting the four vampires, who are clearly newborns. They gang rush her, headlong into the fight, never stopping to plan or think ahead. All they can smell is her blood. Anya is struggling with that many at once. When she attempts to fly, one vamp grabs the other and throws him at her landing on her back. Wrapping up his arms around her shoulders, he sinks his teeth into her neck.
Anya falls to the ground screaming and rolls midair to land on top of the vampire. So focused on its prey, it does not register the pain of crashing into the earth as it fights under her.
A second one leaps at her, scenting her blood and just before he sinks his teeth into Anya’s arm, his pinned brother begins to scream. Anya spins and kicks the second one in the teeth, knocking a fang
