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CHAPTER 8
It was almost eight before Robyn felt like crawling out of bed. The antics of the night before had left her wore out. But as she thought back on them, she decided, it was a tired she could get used to. "Hey, sleeping beauty." She rolled over, smiling at William. "Time to wake up."
William groaned. "Hey, to you too. What time is it?" It had been some time since last he woke in Robyn's bed.
She twisted around to look at the clock. "Almost seven forty-five. We really slept the day away. So what time does Zak come alive?"
"Should be about to wake up now. Better let me get him up. He can be a bit out of it first thing. You're still new to him, and if he growled at you, he'd drive you nuts for days apologizing." He rolled over, sitting up. "Still feel like you did last night?"
"About what, Zak? Yeah, of course, I could fall hard for him if I'm not careful." She glanced over at him. "I won't lie to you Will. I don't understand it, but it's there."
William reached over and hugged her. "Zak will be thrilled to hear that. Love comes so easy for him, and he has such a hard time finding it."
"So you're cool with it?" She had to make sure. William was her best friend, and she had just told him that she was in love with his other half.
William laughed getting out of bed. "Go shower Robby, and quite asking stupid questions. This was my idea remember. I'm not worried about you and Zak, I know I'm loved, and where I belong. I'll go wake Fang's while you do."
She watched him leave the room, a weight on her shoulders with him they would be a threesome. It was okay. No body had a problem with it. She shook her head, moving to go start her day.
* * *
William stepped into the dark room, moving softly so not wake his lover if he was still asleep. Robyn was cool with this, he knew Zak was in seventh heaven, and he was as happy as any one man could be.
"Will?" the soft, deep voice from the bed, seemed to wrap around him.
"Hi, I didn't wake you did I?" Arms pulled him close a mouth on his. He could get used to waking up to this very fast.
"No, I've been awake for a while." There was an odd note in his voice. "I--I spoke to my Sire's Sire this morning."
William looked at him, a grin on his face. "Really?" And as Zak, grinned, back nodding, he hugged him again. "That's great. How did they handle it?"
"They are coming to see me tonight. Do you think Robyn will mind if I have company? They will not hurt either of you. This is my place, and the law makes you both safe."
"Law? What law?" William had learned over the years, that vampires lived by certain codes, and if they didn't they were out casts.
"You are blood-bonded to me, that makes you untouchable by any of the Vampyr. Robyn has my mark on her, I fed from her, remember? No vampire of the Lines would dare harm either of you. It matters not that they are older and stronger. To touch you, they would have to challenge, and, kill me. That will not happen with Azrael, he is my Grand-Sire. I am of his blood."
"So I get to meet the family hu? Cool, and don't worry about Robyn. I'll tell her what's going on, and we'll stay out of the way."
"Thank you," another kiss. "I will be up in a moment. Let me dress." He moved, but stopped. "Oh, before I forget." His teeth broke through the skin on his wrist. "Drink precious, I will not have you suffer."
And again like last night, the feelings overwhelmed him with the first taste of his lovers' blood. He felt Zak pull him close, holding him as he drank, hands touching, stroking, reaffirming their ownership. "Hold me." William rested in his arms, the need for his touch burning in him. His life was so connected to this man, his whole being tied into the power of his love and his essence.
"Robyn, will be ill with us." Zak pushed him down on the bed, body pressing against his as he went to feed the need for love within them both.
"She'll get ever it."
Robyn leaned back against the shower wall, as the feelings of their pleasure echoed in her body. She should have known that this would happen. Will and Zak were newly bonded, and like any two newlyweds, they were going to jump each other every chance they got. Well no big deal, she'd finish with her shower, and join them.
"Hey, guys, be nice and come up here," she, hollered down the stairs as she towel dried her hair. "If you're going to make like bunnies again, the least you can do is include me physically." She could hear their laughter at her words. "Jerks."
"Excuse me." A soft baritone voice behind her caused her to jump.
She spun around to be faced with two men. ""Oh, Ga'Damn!"
"I am sorry child, did I frighten you." The older of the two smiled at her.
"Who the hell are you, and how the fuck did you get into my house. "She dropped the towel, ready for a fight. "Zak!"
Azrael looked in shock at the child before him. She was badly beaten, and marked. Would one of his, blood, do this to a mortal? "Who hurt you girl?" His voice was like ice.
"Milady?" Zak was suddenly there, a protective arm around her. "Don't be afraid Robyn, they will not hurt you." He looked to the two Elder vampires before him. "I did not have time to alert all in the house to your coming." He nodded respectfully. "Forgive her sharp words."
Azrael looked him over. The feelings of protectiveness that radiated from him made no more sense than the marks on the girl's body. And as he took in the sight of her, he was struck with yet a third shock. The child was a Mage. "Understood Gabriel. Now explain yourself, I raised Thorne, I created his nature. And though you were young when he died, surely he trained you better than to do this." He waved a hand at her abused body. "Has your control fled you so, that you can not touch those in your keep without marring them?" There was contempt in his tone.
Zak looked at him stunned. He thought that he had hurt Robyn that the bruises on her body were of his doing. He drew himself up to defend himself, but the mortal in his arms beat him to the punch.
"Hey you." She stepped forward. "Zak didn't do this to me. If it weren't for him, I'd still be hurting so bad I couldn't move. Watch your mouth. This is my house. I'm the only one that can give people shit in it."
"Robyn." William reached from behind Zak to grab her, letting both the vampires see him for the first time. "Excuse me." He yanked her back. "Shut up Robby, you don't know what's going on."
Azrael took a step back, not, one Mage but two. It would seem that they were falling out of the woodwork. And this one was bonded. "Rest easy pet, the child has a right to defend her master." It pleased Azrael that the girl had been so quick to stand for him. If the boy could inspire such loyalties, then perhaps the damage was not as great as he had feared.
" Master ?" The tone of Robyn's voice was dark. "Zak, what's the deal? Since when did you become my 'Master' ?"
This was not going at all as he had expected it to. Poor Robyn, she was so new to them. "Hush pretty one, no man is your Master. My Elder did not mean to insult you. Please, go with William, allow me to speak with my Grand-Sire and uncle. I will explain it all to you soon precious."
"Come on Robby, let's go get dressed and eat. I'll fill you in." William pulled her back towards the bedroom. "Please."
Azrael waited until William had pulled Robyn, swearing all the way, down the hall. "We seem to have disrupted your lair Gabriel." There was a note of apology in his voice. "Could you tell me how, a youngling like yourself has stumbled onto not one but two Magi? And what happened to the girl? If you did not do that to her, then who did?"
Michael cleared his throat. "Master, wouldn't it be better to greet our lost blood first, before we interrogate him? He hasn't seen Kin for over two hundred years."
Azrael nodded grinning. "Of course, come Childe. How are you?" He held out his arms, welcoming the lost one back.
A sob broke in Zak's chest as he went into the open arms, to be pulled between them, held and welcomed. The emotions that wrapped around him were healing. He had longed for this for so long, prayed for it, burned for it. That now here, held between the two, he found a peace that he had thought lost forever.
"Ssshh," Azrael held him up, supporting him as he cried. "We have you now Childe. Never again will you be alone." He looked up at Michael. "I have Thorne back again in this one." There was joy in his words.
Michael stroked his hair. "Yes, and I can fulfill a promise made to my brother so long ago." There was no hate here. Some how, beyond all rhyme and reason. The Childe had grown up whole. The wounds he felt were reparable, the scars would fade with a little time and love. "How did you do it Gabriel? Who supported you all this time?"
The story fell from his lips, slowly. Painfully he opened himself up to his Kin. From Martin's discovery, to Cindy's life and death, to William and his love, and finally To Robyn, and his being with her, up to and including his love for her now, each adding a layer to both his joy and his loneliness.
To say that Azrael was amazed would have been a gross understatement. Had Zak been any younger or any older, he could not have lived. But fate had been kind to him, and his loss took him at a point when he knew only so much, but was still ignorant enough to be flexible. "It is over my Childe. You will never be alone again, and those, precious, two you have will be as welcomed into my lair as you are. Any that have helped you would be. But tell me, how is it that you have in your look for love stumbled onto two Mages. They are so rare now, I thought myself fortunate beyond words to find the one I have."
Zak looked up at him, confused. "Mages? Forgive me Grand-Sire, but what do you mean?"
'He does not know' . Michael was floored. 'He a Mage himself, and he does not know' . Would there be no end to the surprises for him this night. "Did Thorne not get to that part of your training yet? You are a Mage yourself."
"I have not used my Magecraft since my master died, we were too tightly connected there, it hurt too much. But are you telling me that I have fallen in love with not one but two of the ancient line?" Both vampires nodded. "Good 'God' !"
Azrael chuckled, "yes. I too felt something very similar to that when I realized what you had stumbled into. How close you were to attracting the attention of those you could better do without.
"But William, Robyn. How will I protect them? They, I have marked them both. Bonded with William. They will radiate for the world to see." The terror in his voice at the thought of the danger he had put his loves in. "Azrael, Grand-Sire. Megel, what do I do?"
Azrael's head lifted as he felt the presence of company in the room. Both children stood in the doorway. Fear and worry written across their features. He shook his head. Poor youngsters all three, "come children, your love is safe. His worries have nothing to do with his well being, but rather yours." He motioned for them to come close. "Come on, neither of you have any reason to fear me. I will never hurt you. My Grand-Childe is whole and not some monster in part because of you both." He smiled, hiding his fangs, as they moved slowly to Zak. He was impressed with them. How could he not be? From the feelings he picked up from them, they loved and supported him Grand-Childe freely, by their own will and design. The boy might not have consciously noticed that they were Magi, but somehow, had refrained from taking their freedom anyway. He would have them for his house, all three. Perhaps even win the girl for, him, for he was sure that if he didn't, the danger she was in would increase. Gabriel was neither old enough nor was he trained enough to handle two Mages.
Robyn looked from Zak to Azrael. William had made a quick explanation of the current situation, and the problems that could come with it. "Look," she spoke softly to Azrael. "Man, I'm sorry for getting jumpy with you. I just haven't quite got the hand of dealing with vampires yet. Zak's my first. I don't know all the rules or what ever they're called. Sorry for jumping at ya." She felt a little less overwhelmed sitting in Zak's lap. William had explained the law, and she knew that as long as they were visiting, and she was connected to Zak and William, that she really didn't have anything to fear from either of these two. They were family. "I got a question though. Where'd you hide my dogs?"
"I put them to sleep." Azrael began, but realized his mistake even as the pain and horror filled her eyes. " No ." He raised his hands. "They slumber child, nothing more. I would not harm your pets." He motioned to the corner where both dogs lay. "Go touch them child. They will awaken, but please, restrain them."
Robyn scooted past both Azrael and Michael, trying not to look scared out of her wits, but this wasn't easy. "Yin, Yang?" She patted both Rottweilers. Who proceeded to wake up growling. "No, down guys, heel." But there was no talking to either dog. "Oh, ga'damn . Zak could you talk to them?"
"Yin, Yang." Zak snapped his fingers, summoning the dogs. Pact dominance asserted as he called them into line. "Sit, behave." He smiled at his Elders. "They were not raised around Kin."
"Understood. Now please, reassure your darlings that neither they nor you are in any danger. The boy looks like he's ready to faint straight away."
"The boy ." William said, reaching to hold Zak's hand. "Has had four years of learning the care and feeding of a vampire. Robyn doesn't know what your kind can do. I do."
There was a world of implications behind his statement. "Yes, but you were not dealing with whole Kin child. Relax there is nothing you could possibly do, short of betraying your love, that would cause me to even consider harming you. There is no need for the fear you feel. The three of you are safer now than you have ever been." To Zak, "talk to your loves, Gabriel, convinces them of my sincerity."
Zak looked to his two. "Azrael is right, you have nothing to fear from them, and much to hope for in the way of care. I can't protect you from those who will come and seek you out because of my carelessness." He looked so guilty. "It is my fault. I should have never touched either of you. And now, you're marked. My power makes you noticeable by my kind. It is only a matter of time before one of the outlaw Renegades seeks you out."
"What are you talking about Zak?" William looked at him closely. "You've been feeding off of me for over four years now. No one has ever bothered me. I won't believe that you of all people would put either of us in danger." He turned to Azrael "What did you tell him?"
"Nothing that deep down he did not already know. Some how, though the very chance of it is so slim as to be almost impossible, he had found, linked and fallen in love with not one, but two of the Magi. The reason you have been unmolested has more to do with the fact that your power is almost completely blocked off. But now, with her." He pointed to Robyn. "Who glows as brightly as my boy Torin, none of the Renegades will be willing to pass up a chance for both. Not with you linked to each other as you are."
"Witch."
Azrael turned to Robyn. "Excuse me dear, did you say something?"
"Yeah, Witch. I'm a Witch, not a Mage."
He looked at her. The girl was going to argue terminology and definitions with him. "No dear, you are a Mage. You might not know it, for true Mages with training are hard to come by, and so you had to make do with what training you could find. But believe me, the term is Mage, and you are one."
"Okay, what ever. So what happens now? From where I'm sitting, Will and I are pretty much fucked, right?" She wouldn't lose it yet. Some how she couldn't feel the threat of danger to herself in this. And she was looking as hard as she could.
"Not at all. You have as much right to my protection as my Grand-Childe's pets as any pet in my house. You will come with him, and live with us. That way you are safe from any who would harm you, mortal and immortal alike."
Robyn looked at Azrael as if he had lost what was left of his brain. Leave, she couldn't leave. She had a life, responsibilities. And she opened her mouth to tell him so when the doorbell rang. "Who in the?" She pulled away from Zak. "Hold that thought, I'm not done with it yet." She went to the door. "Yeah, who is it?"
"Robyn, it's me, Detective Charles," a strong, yet somewhat muffled voice.
The bolts came free. "Hi Chuckles, what can I do you out of?" She smiled. But the grin didn't remain on her face past one look at his. "Daniel?"
"Robyn, hon." There was such pain in his voice. "There has been an accident. I told them to let me tell you." He held out a bag. "Robyn, it's, Adrian."
Robyn looked at him. He wasn't saying what she thought he was saying. "Addy?" Her voice was a whisper.
"I'm sorry Robyn, but there was nothing anyone could do. We tried, but by the time we got to him, it was too late." He reached for her as she began to tremble. "We got the ones that killed him, but we couldn't save him."
Adrian was dead; her big brother was dead. The only stable thing she had ever had in her life, dead. She pulled away as Detective Charles tried to comfort her. "No." She croaked. "You're lying. Addy wouldn't die, he wouldn't leave me, too."
"Robyn, please." DT Charles fought to hold her. "I know honey." It was the one part about his job that he hated the most, the visit to the family, this one most of all because he had practically helped raise the girl in his arms.
"No." She dropped to her knees. "Not Addy, not my brother." She just couldn't believe it. She had lost everyone else in her life. God couldn't take her brother too. "No." The sobs came. "No."
"Robyn?" Zak stood with William at his side. The pain she felt had struck them both as almost a physical blow. "What has happened?" Zak looked at the detective.
"Who are you?" William he knew, but this one was new.
"Zak Forrest. I am in her employee, I guard her." He bent to gather the sobbing girl into his arms. "What has happened?"
"Her brother has been killed." He looked to William. "I--I have to go. There is so much to do. Will you stay with her? I'll come by and check up on her later. Maybe it would be a good idea for her to come and stay with Sandy and me for a few days."
William shook his head. "Don't worry about it Daniel. I'll take care of her. Zak and I will get her out of town, away from here for a while. Does she need to sign anything?"
The detective shook his head. "No, I sighed for his belongings myself." He glanced down at the bag on the floor. "I'd have him cremated, and--" He stepped closer to William, pulling him aside. "I can't tell her, I wish I could, but there's not much left of him. It's, well, there isn't anything left that's recognizable. I knew it was, him anyone who worked and hung with him would, and the dental records prove it, but if it were, me, I wouldn't want my wife and kids to see me like they left him. Prepare her for that."
William nodded, not at all sure what to do now. "I, yeah. Thanks Daniel, I'll take care of it. They got the guys right?"
"Who did it, yeah. We're still working on, who, had it ordered. But we'll get them. Make sure she understands that. We will get them, I won't let up until we do."
William saw Detective Charles out, locking the door behind him. What was he going to do now? His whole world had gone to shit in one evening. And Robyn, this was going to kill her. Adrian had been the one thing in her life that was solid, stable and could be counted on no matter how crazy the rest of them got.
A hand rested on shoulder lightly. He turned to meet quiet brown eyes, full of sympathy and compassion. "Come," an arm around him, leading him back into the house.
"Robyn?" He had to go to her. She needed him right now.
"Gabriel and Megel have her, come." Azrael led the grief stricken youth back into the living room. "There she is."
William moved to kneel beside the chair. Reaching out to her. "Baby?"
"They killed him." A cry of pain, of a heart that had broken, shattered and splintered. "Will, they killed my brother." And his arms held her, crying with her as he rocked. "Adrian, William, my brother...."
"I know, ssshh... I know."
Zak sat there, watching as William went to do what he could to comfort their love. A burning rage building in him. The animals, beasts, they had hurt someone he loved. He swore as he watched on and felt her pain, he would find the ones responsible, and they would suffer for what they had done.
"Gabriel?" Michael pulled him up. "Will you tell us what had happened? Why was your girls brother killed?"
Zak let the older vampire hold him. His feelings were so close to out of control. "He was the District Attorney, he made enemies. It is why I am here. They had taken to abusing Robyn as a way to intimidate her brother. I guess she won't need me anymore now. At least to protect her from them." The rage built.
"Ssshh, Childe, wait. Later, we will do a casting. We will find out who has done this. I promise you Gabriel, my word. We will see justice. Our kind."
"Gabriel." Azrael spoke softly; he was hesitant to cause any more disruption for the moment, but knew that they needed to get the girl away from here. "Bring her, let us go to my domain. My Chosen is a Mage as well as a Healer. He will be able to help her. But for now, let us get her away from here, before you lose what is left of your control." A gentle pressure "yes, Childe. I know. The rage is common for us when faced with wrongs done to those in our care. Trust Megel, he will help you to see that those who wronged her pay, and pay dearly."
Zak looked at Azrael, the pain threatening to overcome him. He was not used to loss, besides his sire, he had only faced the death of two of those he loved. "Yes." He tried to focus on what the Elder vampire was saying. Yes there was a need to get her out of here. "Wait a moment, I will talk to her."
William looked up as Zak knelt beside them. He didn't know what to do. Robyn had been there for him when Cindy had died. Supported him for over a week as he walked around lost and confused. But he didn't know how, he couldn't comfort her like she had him. "What do I do?" Zak was older. Maybe he would know how to help her. "What do I do?"
"Robyn." Zak leaned forward, bringing himself close when he spoke. Forcing her to acknowledge him, pulling her from the hell inside herself. "It's not safe now. You can't stay here. My Grand-Sire will take us to his home. He has a Healer there, a Mage like you." He refused to look away from her, to hide from the raw agony in her eyes. "Let me help you. Let my kind give you comfort, bring you peace."
She looked into those purple-blue eyes. The ones that had just last night brought her so much joy. The pain she saw there mirrored the pain she felt. And though her rational mind never voiced it, the fact that he suffered with her, for her, gave her strength. "They killed my brother, Zak."
"Yes pretty one, I know. Leave that to me. I will see those who had a hand in this pay. I will avenge your pain precious. But not at this moment right now we must leave. You must heal, or you will never smile again. I have told you once; no man is your Master. Will you let me take you away from here?
She shook her head. "I--I can't leave Adrian, he needs me." There was so much that would have to be done. Funeral arrangements, the wake, making, all, the phone calls. "I have to take care of him now."
"Child." Azrael knelt beside Zak. "I have a phone in my lair, just like the rest of the world. I have pets that will help you with this. But Gabriel is right. You cannot stay here. I promise you child, my word, if my Grand-Childe is unable to make these animals pay, I will. But for now, sleep. Flee from your pain, later with those more able to help you, you may face it again." He lulled her to rest; doing the only thing that made any sense for the moment. Giving her a respite from reality. "Gather her some things Gabriel and do so quickly. It bothers me that I must take the will of one who is free."
"It's okay." The pain in the room ceases to throb through William as she went to sleep. "I was getting ready to call her doctor, get a script. She might be a little miffed when she wakes up. But believe me, you did us all a favor." He still rocked her. "Zak, take her, I'll get her some clothes. What do you want to do about her dogs and Beernuts?"
"Beernuts?" Zak looked at his lover as if the boy had lost his reason.
"Her cat." He nodded to the couch where a large calico cat, lay watching them.
"They will come with her." Azrael walked over to the couch and collected the oversized ball of fur. "Now, this is a cat." He murmured in honor of the size and obvious health of the feline. "Megel, gather the beasts. Gabriel, take the girl and," he looked at William. "William, is it not?"
"Yes sir."
"William, fetch your lady the things she will need. I would just as soon be gone from here as quickly as possible. I like not that these animals would first brutalize her so, and then kill her brother. I feel danger, and I do not like it."
Zak took Robyn from him, shushing the soft whimper that rose from her. Sleep lessened the pain, but could not take it from her completely. Only time could do that. And time was the one commodity a vampire had plenty of. He would see her smile again. Maybe not, today or tomorrow, but eventually she would be able to smile again. "Are you sure of this Azrael? My two will not be a burden on you? They know nothing about how they should act. I have treated them both as equals."
"I am sure that with time, they will grow accustomed to us. And if you choose to grant them the right to stand, I will respect it. I would not ask that they be broken now anyway, I would not do that to one as hurt as your girl is. Trust, Gabriel, trust."
William came back into the room duffel full of her clothes and things. "You'll bring her back to get more of her stuff later, right?" He touched her cheek.
"We will not live forever with my Grand-Sire, just until she is well, and the animals that threatened her are dealt with. I promise you, we will be back here, or where ever we decide to land, soon."
"Okay then, I'm ready." He trusted Zak, Zak didn't lie, wouldn't lie. So William placed his trust in the other two as well.
"Good, we go." Azrael held out a hand to William. "Give me your hand pet. We walk the Dark Paths, and it is safer if you hold on to one of us." He squeezed his fingers gently as they touched his. "I will protect you William, no harm will befall you in my care. Let us go. Later you and I shall talk. But for now, your love there needs more than you can give." And the dark engulfed them.
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