The haze was back, my vision blackened and the door faded from my sight.

"Dante..."

"That son of a... Very well." Xavier glided his hand up to my cheek, to my lips.

"Silence, Malachi. We'll put an end to this, soon."*108.

Chapter Fourteen.

Untangled The truck stopped. It took a moment for me to realise where we were. Raphael's tiny home, unfit for a king, stood broken in the shadows.

"Hey." Xavier snapped his fingers. "Come on." He pulled my arm, forcing me to slide out of the driver's side door and balance on wobbly legs. "Raphael is waiting."

I struggled, yanking my hand away from his, but he caught me by the waist. Too weak to fight against his strength and head games, I dragged my feet as he walked me inside.

The house was just as dark and lonely as before. Creeping along, we made our way through the empty hallway into the kitchen, and around the strange circle to the single bedroom in the corner of the house.

A crackling from the fireplace and the flicker of red and orange light on the wall awoke me from Xavier's seduction. As I came to my senses, I pulled hard and writhed free from his grip, then darted for the door.

"Stop," Raphael commanded. His voice was soft, yet powerful.

I stilled, staring out into the dark hallway and at the reflection of the moon shining through the kitchen window.

My escape.

"There's no need to fear me, Malachi," he said, softer still. "Your energy needs my control. Don't you understand? Help me help you. Then we can be strong. We can live our own eternities the way we see fit. Without rules."

"What Dante said was true. You are working to destroy the Order," I breathed, my legs trembling.

"Those regulations put forth by the Elders and Carmella might have been acceptable one hundred years ago. In today's society, I don't want to eradicate them, I want to change them. Think about it, Malachi." I heard footsteps along the floor and turned around to face him as he stepped closer. "Imagine every vampir and vampire alike as rogues. Living eternity the way they see fit, without covens or-"

"There are already drifters who care nothing of the rules," I huffed.*109.

"Yes, but imagine us all living to the fullest. No covens, unless one sees fit to join. No need to drink from donors and no need to fear punishment for being a rogue..."

"Why? Why do all this when you've always sought to punish them?"

Raphael lowered his head, a spark of solitude pa.s.sing through his crimson eyes.

"Because I'm sick of being controlled. The n.o.bles, the Elders even older than I, their authority tires me. I was there when they put forth Carmella's ideals, but I-though an Elder vampir myself-never had a say in it."

As he looked at me, I caught the desperation in his eyes and the grief on his face. But there was a wavering grin hidden underneath the sorrow.

Xavier stepped forward, his hand brushing Raphael's shoulder. "This is why I admire him. His plan is not for absolute control. It's for absolute freedom among us." He rushed to stand in front of me, then wrapped his hands around my biceps and pulled me deeper into the room.

"No. I won't believe your lies." I dug my heels into the floor, making Xavier strain.

"The Elders will find out about this plan of yours."

Raphael caught my face and cupped my chin between his fingers. "How can they? You won't be able to snitch. You'll be dead by dawn."

"Dante will-"

Raphael laughed. "I've already taken care of him. His screams as he died...absolutely delightful."

"No." I stilled, allowing them to force me down into a chair at the middle of the room.

"Impossible. He was just at the-"

"And you let him go free, correct?" Raphael asked. "Bad choice."

What else was I to do in that moment when I was high in a rundown building with a gun I'd never shot before? Face to face with the man I'd truly fallen in love with. Forced through lies and tall tales about him and everyone I'd known in the few days I'd been part of this coven. I couldn't shoot, I couldn't capture him and I couldn't see him go through any more pain. I did what I could.

Xavier's nails dug into my shoulders as he held me in the chair. I was already weak from the fight and saddened by the thought that Dante was gone. Instead of struggling, I quietly watched Raphael stalk towards the fireplace.*110.

"You will give me your energy, Malachi," he said, handling another blood coloured vial from the mantle. "But I cannot guarantee your survival this time."

Distraught and hopeless, I lowered my head, coming to terms with the fact that I could die in his hands just as Dante had. I'd grown tired of finding reasons to fight. If this was truly my destiny, I should give up and let him take my life.

Raphael hovered over me, the scent of old blood clouding my senses as he waved the bottle under my nose. "Drink."

I opened my mouth and let him tilt the bottle until the liquid dripped onto my tongue.

It was poisonous and repulsing, making me hack. There was no getting used to that taste.

The remaining contents slid down my throat and I swallowed until the blood was gone.

The effects. .h.i.t almost instantly, just as last time. Raphael straddled me, cupped my face in his hands, and I saw his blue eyes turn black. Alien. I blinked, the haze clouding my vision, until I couldn't move my body at all. There seemed to be no one but us in that room.

Fingers tickled my forehead, slid across my brow and down my nose. "I would have loved to have you," Xavier's voice whispered through my mind.

"Yes. It's quite a shame," Raphael agreed, never taking his eyes away from mine. "To lose such a beautiful keep before his time."

"Wh-why do this, then?" I felt my lips move without a voice.

Raphael's hands trailed to my hair, digging in, making my scalp tingle. A l.u.s.tful, intense wave burst through me as my energies were delivered to him. He held firm, digging nails into skin, but I hadn't the power to wince under his stare.

As my energy faded, my body trembled with the outgoing life. My vision went black, but I heard and felt Raphael gasping near my ear. He shifted his legs, pressing his rigid c.o.c.k into my thigh, and groaned.

"Y-your spirit...it's almost too much for me to handle," he whispered.

My c.o.c.k twitched, ached. He pressed his lips to mine, the energies and the burn escalating.

I felt Xavier brace his hand around the back of my neck. Ma.s.saging fingers soothed my trembling. I rested into his palm, feeling at ease. Nervousness fading, I couldn't remember why I didn't want to be there.

Raphael pulled his lips away, but stayed close enough for his warmth to tire me even more. He twitched, the hand on the back of my neck slid across my shoulder.*111.

"That's it..." Raphael breathed. "Almost there."

A crashing of gla.s.s made Raphael snap back. He moved from my lap. The cloud around me dissolved.

"Malachi," I heard Dante say urgently, but I sat still in the chair, unable to move.

"d.a.m.n it," Raphael said. "How did you-"

There was chaos in the background, a hustle of footsteps, and the hazy view of bodies swinging for each other. I blinked once, twice, trying to clear the fog away. Feeling weak and depleted of life, it was hard to keep up with the ruckus.

As the view cleared, Dante struggled to meet Raphael in a battle of strength. He swung at Raphael, but the ages old vampir stood strong, hardly in shock, and punched back. The force sent Dante crashing into the wall near the fireplace, knocking over a metal stand.

Xavier wrapped his arms around Dante, trying to force him to his feet, but Dante kicked and squirmed, finding his way out of the strong grasp.

"Malachi, run!" Dante yelled.

What?

"Too late. He's already been drained." Raphael turned towards me with a dubious smile. "Better off dead, now."

"No."

Dante picked himself up and dashed to lean over me. Narrowed eyes focused in. I blinked, narrowing my view and nodded. A knowing grin spread across his lips. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I struggled to stand. Dante clasped my hand, pulling me up out of the chair and onto my feet.

"I'm still weak." I thought, hoping he could hear me.

"Play along," he whispered.

Raphael's disappointment raged in his burning stare. "What the h.e.l.l? Y-you were close to dead."

"You forgot that Malachi's been a rogue for eight years. Rogues are the strongest and you know that." Dante let go of my hand and strode towards Raphael. "When you found me, I was a drifter. You seduced me into believing that coven life would heal my wounds. But you were wrong."

Raphael's lips played into a fine line. "Was I now? All I want to do is eliminate these ridiculous necessities."*112.

"And be the absolute rule? Am I right?"

Raphael's fists went white. He swung at Dante, who dodged his blow. "You'll never stop me."

As Dante evaded Raphael's next blow, Xavier caught him by the waist, struggling to take him to his knees. I snapped into action, grabbing Xavier's arm and, using as much strength as I could find, I bent his arm back away from Dante.

Xavier hissed, the momentum allowing Dante to overpower his grasp. He grabbed my wrist and forced me out of the room. "Keep up with me," he ordered.

Given that it still felt like I'd died inside, it was tough to run. My limbs tingled as I pushed my body to follow Dante to the exit. Stopping to watch him open the door, I breathed and tried to gather myself, only to fail.

"d.a.m.n you," Raphael snarled from behind. I turned to see the black shadow of his body charge at Dante. They tumbled out of the open door and to the ground, two fuzzy shadows in a fight for dominance.

I shook my head, trying to focus, and attempted to pull Raphael away from Dante, but was caught in a strong hold around my arms.

"Uh uh. Leave them to their war," Xavier whispered behind me. "I've been waiting to see this for decades."

Raphael slammed his fist into Dante's jaw, then delivered two hits to the nose. They both stilled. Blood ran down Dante's lips from the second blow. He brushed his tongue across his lip and smiled wickedly.

"Y-you're nothing but lies." Dante sucked on his lip. "Why can't you just let us go?"

There was something within Raphael, something that I might have caught with a good look at his expression, but he remained silent, head lowered. "And lose this opportunity? I'm not crazy, nor dumb. Malachi is my ticket. I'll use and abuse him-anyone-to get what I want. You, of all people, should know that well."

"I do...you've abused me for years." Dante sighed.

Raphael bent over Dante, hands splayed on the ground beside his head. "Maybe you're the one who is full of s.h.i.t. I've never hurt you. Not once have I betrayed you like you've done to me!"*113.

Dante's smile wavered. "No. You forced me into this life. I would have never agreed to be your companion if I'd known it would end up like this." He lowered his hands to the ground, playing with the dirt around him.

"I gave you everything I had," Raphael sighed. "Loved you like no one else." Leaning closer, he attempted to kiss Dante.

I struggled in Xavier's arms, kicking my legs out. "No. Dante."

"Quiet," Xavier ordered, tightening his hold.

My vision became clear as I watched Dante caught in Raphael's kiss. The energy swelled. I felt alive again. But Xavier's strength was still too much for me to writhe out of, leaving me frustrated and overpowered.

As I tried to move free again, a loud, heart stopping sound made me freeze. I turned to Raphael-he was upright, his hand covering his head, then he fell sideways to the ground with a thunk. Blood covered his face.

Xavier dropped his arms, freeing me from his hold, and darted to kneel beside Raphael.

Dante stood, a rock dropped from his hand, and he brushed the dirt from his jeans.

"No. My lord. What has he done?" Xavier examined the wound on Raphael's forehead.

Then he turned towards us. "You son of a b.i.t.c.h."

"Go," Dante ordered.

I hesitated. Dante didn't seem in any hurry to come with me.

"Now," he persisted. "I'll catch up."

"You didn't kill him."

He shook his head. "No need to. Now get out of here."

I studied his face, the subtle grin, and the sincerity in his eyes. He nodded slightly, and I took that cue to disappear, running free as far as I could go. Out of the city, never looking back until I reached the corn fields in the distance.*114.