Carpathian 05 - Dark Challenge

considered that. When Darius hunted, Syndil and she had always been secured in a safe place, contact with him restricted. They had never thought to defy Darius; in such matters, his word was law. Now all was changed. Somehow, some way, she was locked to Julian. The thought of him in danger was so terrible, she could barely breathe. How could she do as he asked and not touch him? Not reach through the gray-streaked dawn and see for herself he was untouched by the vampire's vile perversion?
    After all, Darius was the ultimate warrior, a stone-cold killing machine when the situation demanded it.
    Julian was a man with emotion, which could confer both weakness and strength.
    Desari left the cabin. It was rare for her family to use a building to rest in; most of the time they sought deep earth. They had learned in early childhood it was the only real haven in a dangerous land. All of them felt uncomfortable, far more vulnerable than usual, if they slept above ground. In the hours of high sun, their great strength was totally drained. And if their bodies somehow came to be exposed to that intense light, they would burn. Early morning and late evening they could tolerate, although not always Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    comfortably. Even dim sunlight affected their hypersensitive eyes, the burning pain driving through their heads like shards of glass.
    Desari found an unobtrusive knoll covered in waves of green grass. She liked it immediately, feeling a sense of peace. With a wave of her hand she opened the earth and floated deep within its bed.
    Immediately she sent the coordinates to both her brother and Julian.
    Close the earth and sleep . She recognized Julian's soft-spoken commands. He was like Darius in that he didn't need to raise his voice to convey either menace or authority.
    Not until you return.
    I do not want to have to force your obedience.
    As if that could happen. You seem to forget I am no fledgling but your equal. Do not waste your energy attempting the impossible. Destroy this vampire if you must, then return to me quickly. We will discuss your conceit on the next rising.
    There came the soft echo of his laughter. Desari relaxed, certain Julian understood she would take no nonsense from him. When he struck, she was completely unprepared, the compulsion strong and total, the need to obey him paramount. Before she could prevent herself from doing so, she relinquished control to him. Immediately Julian sent her to sleep, the deep sleep of their people, stopping her heart and lungs, covering her with the healing, soothing soil for protection and rejuvenation.
    After his command to Desari, Julian turned his attention toward his goal. He would have to face Desari's wrath on the next rising, but for now she was beyond the reach of any vampire. She was safe. No vampire could touch her using Julian as a route.
    Feeling the dark presence of the undead nearby, Julian settled to earth, his vaporous form shimmering into solid bone and muscle. Darius materialized a heartbeat after him.
    "You should have raised her to obey those who protect her," Julian drawled in censure.
    Darius's black eyes, as cold as any grave, flicked over him once. "I have never had need to force Dara's obedience."
    They moved together, a slow, cautions hunt along the cliffside, all senses alert. The vampire would guard his resting place aggressively. "That is why she came away with me then? Because you approved?" Julian was running his hand lightly along the rock's surface.
    Darius caught at him and jerked him back just as a boulder from above their heads dislodged itself and smashed into the very place Julian had been standing. "I knew she was in no danger. If you had wanted to harm her, you would have done so at the concert when the assassins struck," Darius replied complacently. He was examining a section of sheer rock wall as he spoke, his attention caught by the layers of compressed agate and granite.
    "Ah, yes, the famous concert where you were guarding her."
    "Do not try my patience too far, Savage. You are responsible for what happened at that concert. Had I not been distracted by the power you exuded, the assassins would not have made it inside. You opened the door for them." Darius stepped back and surveyed the cliffside. "This rock pattern looks strange, Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    does it not?"
    Julian studied the multilayered face of