Carpathian 04 - Dark Magic

perfect! All those years of research had finally paid off. And he was the one to get the glory!
    He poked at Gregori's chest with a knife and, drew a spot of blood. "You don't look so tough now, vampire," he gloated. "Not so impressive at all. Are you feeling a little sick?" He laughed softly. "I've heard the older the vampire, the greater the sensitivity to pain." He poked again, slicing downward so that he opened a flowing cut. "I hope so. I hope you take a long time to die when the techs get you.
    Meanwhile, you just remember who will be playing with Savannah. I have plans for that little whore." He bent close to peer into Gregori's hooded eyes. "Not that this is personal, you understand. It's all in the name of science."
    Savannah's burst of strength, fed by her rage at the reporter taunting Gregori and causing him pain, landed her against the invisible wall. The foundation didn't budge. Whatever Gregori had constructed to contain her was stronger than she thought. She pounded until her fists bled, tears streaming down her face. She could feel every cut, every slice the reporter inflicted. She could hear his taunts and threats. She implored her lifemate to allow her to come to him, but silence was her only answer.
    None of it seemed to affect Gregori. He felt the pain but simply put it aside during his self-examination.
    The poison was thick, moving slowly and painfully throughout his system. He began to break down the chemicals to analyze them so that his people could come up with their own antidote to such a thing. Most of his kind could never do what he was doing. But he was a healer, knowledgeable in herbs and chemicals, poisons both man-made and natural. This was an interesting mixture, fast-acting and dangerous. They had used blood they had taken from their victims for a base. The pain had gone from a dull ache to agony in a few short minutes, enough to incapacitate all but the ancients and their most learned healers. As soon as he had the compounds broken down, he broadcast them to Aidan Savage.
    The hunter had studied the healing arts under him and would be able to utilize the information.
    Within his own body he began the. healing process, breaking down each chemical to its natural and separate form and disposing of or absorbing it. Only when the process was complete did he return to his outside surroundings. He had been aware of the reporter poking at and cutting him with a knife, presumably to make him weak from loss of blood. He was bleeding from several different cuts. He could feel the sting of them as the wind tugged at his tattered clothing.
    His pale eyes rested on the reporter's face. "Are you finished, Carter, or is there something else you would like to try before I return you to your laboratory?" he asked very gently.
    The man gasped, realizing the drug was no longer affecting the vampire. He stabbed wildly for Gregori's heart. In midair the knife stopped abruptly, as if caught by someone with enormous strength. Slowly, inexorably, the tip turned to point straight at Carter's throat.
    "No, God, no! Don't do it. I can tell you so much. Don't do it! Make me like you. I can serve you,"
    Wade Carter pleaded as the knife inched closer to his jugular.
    Suddenly the knife clattered harmlessly to the ground below them. Instantly Wade fumbled to retrieve the dart gun. But in his hand it lengthened into a hideous scaly shape that began to coil around his arm.
    Wade screamed, the sound filling the night air and setting the wolves howling in answer.
    Gregori regarded him with impassive silver eyes. The eyes of death. "This is my world, Carter, my domain. You walked into it and deliberately challenged me. You tried to hurt what is mine. I cannot allow Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    such a thing." He bent his dark head so his unblinking eyes could hold the other man in their thrall, hold him prisoner. "And understand this, Carter—this is very personal."
    He tossed the other man to the ground easily, uncaring that the drop was dangerously high. The snake coiled itself around the reporter's body, effectively tying him so that it was impossible to move. Gregori floated to the ground, snagged the man's shirt, and dragged him through the dirt to his car. "I think we need to pay this laboratory a small visit, do you not, Mr. Carter? You seemed quite anxious for my presence there, and I can do no other than to oblige you and your friends."
    No, Gregori , Savannah