Carpathian 18 - Dark Possesion

his gaze locked with Maxim's as he conjured up a picture in his mind of Ivory. For him, she was as fresh and as pure as the last time he'd seen her, her memory such a part of him it would never fade. He sent it along the path of their blood bond. Ivory with her laughter and her bright soul shining. Ivory flinging her arms around Maxim and kissing his cheek. Ivory standing outside the Malinov home, sword in hand, blindfolded in the middle of the circle of her five brothers and the De La Cruz brothers as they taught her to fight.
    Stop it ! Maxim screamed, pressing his fingers to his eye sockets.
    Manolito projected the loving memories as relentlessly as Maxim had tormented him with MaryAnn's torture. Ivory as a young child riding on Maxim's shoulders. Her first time in the air with her brothers surrounding her, keeping her safe, Ruslan always beneath her, Maxim and Kirja on either side, while Vadim and Sergey prowled the air in front and behind. Her laughter. The moon illuminating her brightness as she raced down the stairs to greet them when they returned from battle.
    Stop it. I beg you. Stop it.

    Because in the meadow of shadows and mists, the ghosts could feel every emotion. Hatred. Bitterness.
    Sorrow. Regret. They were meant to feel it like the lash of the whip, driving home their destructive path. It was why Manolito so acutely felt the emotions pouring into him, even when he knew the scene of MaryAnn's torture was illusion. He was meant to feel what he had not all those long centuries.
    Maxim had no choice but to feel the love for his sister. Emotions poured into his mind with every memory.
    He covered his face with his hands and fell to his knees.
    "You stand with the man who would have done those very things to her that you wanted done to my lifemate.
    Should I show you what was in Draven's mind? The perversions he would have inflicted upon Ivory?"
    Manolito would never have been able to do such a thing, but he knew Maxim would conjure them up in his own mind. He would know that he stood shoulder to shoulder with the one who had ultimately taken Ivory from them. He planned evil with the one who would have committed the ultimate betrayal of her.
    "No. I cannot think of her."
    There were so many memories. Manolito felt the tears in his own heart. Ivory. He had loved her as a sister.
    She had brightened all their lives with her generous spirit and compassionate nature.
    "You have done what you intended, Manolito."
    They all whirled around to face the couple who had come up so quietly behind them. Vlad and Sarantha stood hand in hand.
    "You should not be here," Manolito said. He glanced at Draven, at the snicker on his face, and wanted to smash something. Vlad and his lifemate deserved so much more from a son. "This is my mess, and I will find a way to clean it up." He wanted to spare them the pain of facing the monster Draven had been. Somehow, he knew Ivory would have wanted that rather than revenge.
    "You have destroyed their plans and managed to bring Maxim to the realization of what he has done. He will not aid his brothers," Vlad said. "Your time here is over. I have yet to do my duty and then ours will be, too."
    Manolito looked down at his hands. They were no longer transparent. He closed his fingers into a tight fist and then opened his hand once again.
    "We stand with you always," Manolito said, knowing Vlad would understand he meant every De La Cruz.
    "You and your brothers have been loyal to our people," Vlad said." I trust that you will aid the jaguars as best you can, and give that same loyalty I have always counted on to my sons."
    Sarantha stepped close to him and touched the scars. "You saved Mikhail's life. And you saved our son, Jacques, by stepping in front of Shea and taking the poisoned knife. You also saved our unborn grandson. I thank you. It is not enough, but it is all I have to give."
    Vlad gripped his forearms. "Go now. Leave this place. You do not belong here anymore. Let me take care of the business I should have centuries ago. Live large and well, old friend."
    Manolito stepped away. He felt himself reaching for MaryAnn. For his brothers. For life. He stopped for a moment to observe Vlad and Sarantha face their son.
    "You have had many years here, Draven, and we have stood by you, but no longer. Even here, when you are

    given the chance to redeem yourself, you refuse. We accept your decision. Go now, from this place to the next."
    "No! You cannot. I am your son." For the first