BOOK THREE in THE GUARDIAN'S SERIES
Book One: A Guardian's Touch, Book Two: A Guardian's Love
Disclaimer See Part 1
Feedback: Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, so feel free to drop a line or two at steinwillard80@gmail.com .
PART SEVEN
Chapter 12
Trinity sat on the bed, quietly. Her body taut and her eyes closed, but she could feel Gabriella's rising tension.
“Who's Clarissa, Trinity?” This time there was a sharp edge to Gabriella's voice and Trinity turned to look at Gabriella. The amber eyes were nervous. “How do you know each other?”
Trinity swallowed before she answered.
“She…she was my first love.”
She saw Gabriella's body jerk at the admission and then she slowly swung her feet off the bed.
“I don't understand.”
Scenes of that fateful night four centuries ago rushed through her mind. Tristan. His bloodied clothes. Clarissa lying on the floor, dying.
“Talk to me, Trinity.”
“Clarissa is Tristan's sister. We all grew up together and then we fell in love.” She looked at Gabriella and felt her heart break at the betrayal she saw in the amber eyes. “But Tristan killed her. I saw him bite her.”
Gabriella walked to the end of the bed, her eyes holding hers with a deep intensity.
“You never told me about her. Why?”
“Because it was so long ago. Four hundred years is a long time, Gabriella.” She came to her feet and felt them buckling before they steadied. “We were in love.” She carefully walked over to where Gabriella stood. “You needn't worry about her. Let's go out and see if it's really her. Maybe the person waiting out there is just an imposter.”
Gabriella stared at her long and hard and with infinite sadness Trinity became aware of the invisible gap between them…a canyon which was grew with every second they were looking at each other. She reached out to take Gabriella's hand and sighed with relief when Gabriella didn't pull away. Instead she allowed her to take it, but it was cold and almost dead to the touch.
“Come with me.”
Tahlia was standing at the foot of the staircase when they stepped out of the enclosure. She quickly stepped closer and effortlessly swung Trinity into her arms.
“Just in case this is a ruse, I don't want you to show any weakness.” Tahlia's voice sounded dark and deadly, but when her eyes found Gabriella, they softened slightly. “Are you OK?”
Trinity felt her heart burn at the pain she saw in the amber eyes.
“I'll be fine. I will wait here with Inger.” With one last look in Trinity's direction, Gabriella walked away.
***********************************
Standing on a hill outside which overlooked the mansion where Trinity was supposedly staying, Clarissa was well aware of the deadly vampires guarding her. She tried her best not to cower in their presence. She'd heard whispers about the Royal Clan vampires, but after having been around Tristan and Mary and seeing their deadly power, she'd began to doubt the hushed rumors of the immense power that the Deadly Four, as the Royals were referred to, wield.
Now she could see that it wasn't just rumors. The two vampires who stood silently on opposite sides from her, was tremendously dangerous. She could sense their power in the air surrounding each of them. The dark one's eyes were staring at her as if he couldn't wait to tear into her, whereas the blonde one stared at her with cold expressionless eyes.
She'd managed to escape from Mary's castle in Germany after she'd heard word that Trinity was alive and came straight here. Eager to be reunited with the love of her life. She felt her heart expand in anticipation. Strange how she now wished she'd first made a call or something before showing up here. She saw a movement out of the corner of her eyes and to her dismay more hunters stepped out of the dark and stood a few feet away. All of them stared at her with unblinking eyes. Clarissa swallowed hard. These guys made Tristan and Mary look like amateurs. The circle broke and a tall dark vampiress stepped forward. She stared at her with cold black eyes and this time Clarissa felt her stomach turn. The Vampire Queen was back. But where is Trinity? As she watched, the dark vampire leader took a step to the right and Clarissa gasped when Trinity stepped out from behind the Vampire Queen.
“Copperhead…” she whispered and instinctively took a step closer only to have a row of hunters step forward too. She saw the shock on Trinity's face and then the green eyes became hooded
“Clarissa.” She took a careful step closer, but Tahlia held her back.
“She's Tristan's sister. Don't forget it.”
“I won't.”
She met Clarissa halfway and they stood staring at each other.
“Had I known you were alive, I would've come earlier. But I was kept in the dark concerning your existence.”
“I thought you were dead too. What happened?”
Clarissa reached out to touch Trinity's hand, but Trinity took a careful step back. Clarissa almost doubled over from the pain that pierced her heart. Things have changed. Trinity was different. What did she expected? Four hundred years was a long time and Trinity obviously moved on. More, she didn't trust her. It was obvious in the guarded look in the green eyes.
“You don't trust me, do you?” As she asked the question, she could already see the answer in the green eyes. “Why would you think that I want to hurt you?”
Trinity lowered her gaze slightly before answering.
“Tristan is in town. He tried to kill me a few nights ago.” The green eyes hardened. “You are his sister and I haven't seen you for over four hundred years. You could be on a spying mission for him.” She looked away after having said that. It was difficult saying these things to Clarissa, but they need to be said. She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye and when she turned back to face Clarissa, she took a hasty step backwards. The usually beautiful serene face was contorted with hatred and the usually gentle brown eyes spat fire.
“Don't say that pig's name in my presence. I have vowed to track him down once I've found you and to take revenge for what he'd done to us and to our families.” Her voice was hoarse with emotion. “Are you going to help me?”
Trinity just stared at Clarissa for a while, her gaze pensive. Could she be pretending? Maybe, she told herself. Maybe she was in cahoots with her vicious brother. But when she thought of what he had done to Clarissa and her parents, she told herself that the icy tantrum Clarissa just threw could very well be real. Tristan was an animal. She needed to be sure.
“You never really told me what happened after Tristan bit you and I lost consciousness.”
Clarissa turned and looked at the vampires who were still staring at her coldly. Even they didn't trust her and all because she shared the same blood as the vermin she despised with all her being. Looking back at Trinity she remembered the last time she'd looked upon her beautiful face. It was with a grunting Tristan raping her savagely. She closed her eyes tightly to dispel the disturbing image.
“When he was finished with you, I too had lost consciousness by then, I suppose, because I remember him slapping my face to wake me. He forced me to drink from his wrist and the next time I opened my eyes, I was in the dungeon of the castle. Tristan came back the next night, telling me that he had slaughtered your father and brother and that he was taking you with him to Italy to be his plaything before he killed you.” The blue eyes opened and stared at her with infinite sadness. “I knew he was obsessed with you, but I never thought he could be so callous when it came to you. He left me there, hungry and thirsty for two nights before a sending a gang of vampires to take me to a castle in Germania . I later found out that the castle belonged to Mary and that she was to be my keeper.”
She quickly looked away.
“I did horrible things to survive. Things I am not proud of. Things I will have to answer to God to one day.” The blue eyes settled on Trinity again and this time they were cold. “Mary would starve me for days and just when I though I was going to go crazy with hunger, she'd sent in a servant for me to feed on. By that time it was too late to control the beast and …”
Clarissa couldn't get herself to finish the sentence. The screams of those she had killed to sate her hunger still rang in her eyes. So many innocents have lost their lives because of her.
“I wished I had a choice which could've led to another outcome.”
Tahlia stepped closer and swung Trinity in her arms. The other hunters were already forming a circle around them.
“There are renegades approaching. I will bring you to the mansion quickly.”
Trinity shook her head and Tahlia frowned.
“He's with them, I can smell him. Let me stay and face him.”
This time it was Tahlia who shook her head.
“You will do no such thing. Either you promise to stay out of the fighting or I will take you to the mansion.” Tahlia's voice brooked no arguments and Trinity accepted defeat gracefully. Tahlia stared at her a few seconds longer before pushing her behind her back. “Lift the hood of your cape.”
“What about Clarissa?” she asked quietly, sensing the renegades closing in fast.
“What about her? Her brother made her live for a reason, maybe we will find out why tonight.”
And then Tristan was there.
*******************************************
Tristan's anger knew no bounds when he recognized his sister standing amongst the Royals. When Mary informed him three days ago that Clarissa had escaped and that she'd overheard a conversation where Trinity's name was mentioned, he'd had an idea where to start looking for her.
When he was close enough he could see the hatred in his sibling's dark eyes.
“It's nice to see you, sister dear.” His tone was mocking, but he was seething inside. He hated it when things do no go according to plan. Mary was supposed to hold onto the little twit for just a few more weeks, allowing him enough time to conclude his master plan. Damn, how he would punish whoever was responsible in Mary's household for their negligence.
“I am nothing to you, Tristan,” Clarissa snapped back, her blue eyes glowing blood red. “You stopped being anything to me when you killed our parents.”
Tristan folded his arms behind his back and smiled. His eyes were resting on Clarissa, but he was acutely aware of the Royals moving about, constantly shifting positions. Their blurred movements were making his group nervous and he must admit that he too was becoming a little unsettled. Drake and Mercredi were amongst the strongest vampires he had ever met and these Royals cut them down as if they were mere fledglings. His eyes scanned the group until it came to rest on the hooded figure standing slightly behind the Vampire Queen. He couldn't make out the face of the person, but his sharp sense of smell easily identified the figure.
“Trinity, my love, how good to see you are still in one piece. After our little misunderstanding last night I thought I would never see you again.” His gave a dark laugh. “No matter what you and others may think, but I do not want to hurt you. I simply want to show my adoration to you.” He turned to look at Clarissa and found her staring at him with bared fangs. “You can ask Clarissa. We both considered you a sibling and we both loved you as such… and then a little more or what say you, Sister dear?”
“Get to the point, Tristan. Listening to you talking is giving me a terrible headache.” Trinity snapped and Tristan felt his anger rise. One day, he swore, he will make the arrogant bitch eat her words.
His dark eyes turned to his seek out the Vampire Queen's and he felt a shudder run through him. The woman was staring at him with death written all over her face.
“I never wanted to drag you into this fight, Tahlia, but it is still not too late for both our sides to step out of this without too much blood being shed.” The black eyes didn't even blink. They just stared back at him. “Give me Trinity and I promise to leave your city, the continent if you like. Just hand her over to me now.” He held out his hand.
Tahlia took a sudden step forward which brought her within a few feet from him and Tristan felt his heart stutter at the speed with which the woman had moved. When he looked around, he saw that the hunters too had shrunk the gap between him and his nervous-looking gang of renegades.
Tahlia stared at him with so much intensity that he felt cold sweat breaking out on his skin.
“Too late for that now, Renegade. When you tried to kill us last night you've issued a challenge and we've gladly accepted.” She reached under her black ankle-length jacket and pulled out her broadsword. “Trinity was right. All this talking is giving me a headache too.” She lifted her sword and when she pointed the sharp blade straight at Tristan's heart, the hunters sprang into action.
**********************************************
From where she was sitting on the bed in Gabriella's room, Inger knew the exact moment the battle started. She could feel the rush of adrenaline pulsing through Paloma body. She turned sharply to Gabriella.
“There is trouble. They are fighting renegades.”
Inger was dismayed to find Gabriella still looking back at her with the same deep, pained expression she'd carried for the past half hour. Gabriella reached for a pillow and wrapping it around her face, she fell back on the bed.
“If you need to go and help, then maybe you should. Trinity told me once that only it takes only one master vampire to defeat Tristan four times over.”
Inger reached for her leather jacket. She had learnt her lesson well over the years. The last time they were in situation like this, Mercredi had sent ghouls here to kill them while the hunters were distracted. She had also learnt that renegades are not very creative and that the past might very well repeat itself. She pulled the pillow away from Gabriella's ears and the look she gave her, made Gabriella sat up quickly.
“What's wrong?”
“Round up the staff and take them down to the bunker just in case we are being ambushed again,” she said sharply and left the room.
She found Genevieve in the bunker already busy arming herself with her much loved bow and arrow. That was the only weapon she ever used and Inger had seen the woman in action before. She was exceptionally good.
“I sense a group of people approaching from the back of the house. Will you take the front while I meet them?” Genevieve looked back at her. “Get the staff to safety and don't let anyone open the door, Inger.” She dissolved, leaving Gabriella to arm herself quickly.
Armed and ready, Inger went back upstairs and found Gabriella herding the staff to the stairs leading to the cellar. She gave the thumbs up sign and went to the windows. The front of the house looked safe. She took the stairs two at a time to her grandparents' suite to check up on them. She found them reading in bed and after sketching the problem to them, she locked them in the suite. The last time the house was breached, Tahlia had decided to convert James and Rafina's room to an ultra-modern safe room. The doors slide close at the press of a button and laser sensors crisscrossed the area between the steel bars and the suite door.
When she re-entered the lounge, Inger quickly reached for her guns. A strange woman was standing in the centre of the room, her dark brown eyes resting on Gabriella who was staring back at the woman as if she was the devil.
“Who are you and how the hell did you get in here?” she snapped pointing both guns at the woman. The blonde head turned her way and she was puzzled by the pain and anger she saw on the woman's beautiful face. A shadow emerged from out of nowhere and Inger sighed with relief. Paloma! Her Calvary was here. With Paloma in the house everything was under control.
The glittering silver eyes quickly scanned her body to make sure she wasn't hurt.
“This is Clarissa. She's Tristan's sister.”
“What?!” Inger gasped, but Paloma looked back at her coolly.
“It seems as if brother and sister can't stand each other, but to be on the sure side, we will keep her safe until we know what we have to do with her.”
A loud snort made them turn to look at the renegade vampiress. Her brown eyes were boring into Gabriella's.
“It's you, isn't it?” Clarissa's eyes were hard as they rested on her. “You are the woman that she's in love with? She reeked of you.” She took a step in Gabriella's direction and Paloma took a step forward too. Her silver eyes were as cold as death as they looked at the renegade.
“Yes, and she also happens to be the Queen's daughter. Touch her at your own peril, renegade.”
Clarissa stared at Gabriella for a long uneasy moment before she turned away and walked over to stand at the window.
“Trinity was … is my first love. The only person I've ever loved and will ever love.” She looked over her shoulder at Gabriella. “I only recently found out that she was alive and set out to find her. I doubt you could ever love her the way I do. So why, don't you just leave her be?”
Inger turned shocked eyes on Paloma, who stood there looking at the renegade. How could the woman show up after four hundred years and put claim to Trinity. Where had she been all these centuries?
Clarissa turned and stared at Gabriella, unblinkingly. This time her dark eyes held an acute expression of torment. “I can give up anything you ask of me, but not Trinity. I love her too much.”
Chilled by the renegade's stare, Gabriella slowly moved over to where Paloma stood and was relieved when the Assassin pulled her close and gently shoved her behind her tall frame.
“They are mated already. If you want to cause any problems for them, then you will have to answer to the Clan Royals,” Paloma snapped at the other woman. Her head lifted and she sniffed the air. “We have company.” She turned to look at Inger. “Will you be okay in the house? Genevieve is patrolling the back of the house. I will be out front. Call me if you need me.”
She bent her head and placed a soft kiss on Inger's lips. “Protect your sister.”
Then she was gone, leaving the two of them with a resentful renegade vampiress. Inger lifted her guns and pointed them at Clarissa, who was staring at her with a strange expression on her face.
“You humans are strange. Why would a young beautiful girl like you mate with a dangerous vampire such as the Assassin? Is it the power? Or the sex, perhaps?” The dark eyes narrowed slightly. “Or even perhaps the money. She must be unbelievably rich.”
Inger just stared back at the woman, knowing what she was trying to do, but she wasn't going to allow this woman to distract her with her taunts.
<What will happen if I shoot her? I'm itching to cause her just a little bit of discomfort.>
She heard a soft chuckle and smiled humorlessly.
<Just hang in there, Angel. She's just jealous and smarting because Trinity chose a human mate. I am not far away though and will be there in second if you need me.>
Obviously thinking that she was distracted, since her eyes held a faraway expression, Clarissa took a tiny step forward and without batting an eyelid, Inger pulled the trigger and a shot rang out.
__________________________________________________________________
Chapter 13
<What happened?> There was panic in Paloma's voice.
Inger calmly looked at a stunned Gabriella who was staring at the growing red stain on Clarissa's side.
<I told her not to move, but she disobeyed the order. Don't worry, I just winged her. She'll live.>
Paloma materialized next to her, her silver eyes boring into hers before she turned to look at Clarissa. Clarissa's lips were pressed tightly together and her chocolate brown eyes stared back at her with hatred.
“I will make you pay for this, human,” she bit out between clenched jaws. But the words had barely left her lips or her head violently jerked to the side.
The room resounded with the slap.
With a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of her lips, Clarissa looked up at Paloma. The Assassin stood there, quiet and cold like the Angel of Death. She reached under her long coat and drew out a dagger.
A collective gasp sounded from Inger and Gabriella. The silver eyes flashed and then Paloma tossed the knife at Clarissa, who caught it expertly.
“When you threaten my mate, you threaten me.” She turned her back on Clarissa. Both Inger and Trinity were puzzled by the subtle challenge between the two vampires.
Clarissa looked at the knife in her hand and at the Assassin's exposed back. This could be the end for her here. Confident in her prowess to kill her, Paloma was giving her an advantage – a slight one –one she wasn't going to take. No matter how angry and jealous she was, she wasn't stupid. Nor was she stupid enough to tangle with Paloma. Over the centuries she had killed, but not because of the thrill – never. As much as Mary was trying to make her into something she wasn't, she had refused to let go of her conscience. It was the only part of her which made her still feel human.
As for her jealousy, she settled her eyes on the beautiful dark-haired woman, there were other ways to deal with that. She just needed time to formulate a plan. She looked down at the dagger in her hand. She wanted to live. She wanted to see Trinity again, talk to her, touch her and feel loved again. She loosened the grip on the dagger and it clattered to the floor. She felt the tension in the room dip and took a step away from Paloma.
“I apologize for threatening your mate,” she said curtly to Paloma rigid back. The blonde head turned and acknowledged the apology with a curt nod.
“Apology accepted. Sit down so that I can look at the wound.”
Once she was seated, Paloma walked over to her and knelt down in front of her. She reached out and lifted Clarissa's t-shirt. It was a flesh wound, but the traces of silver poisoning were already evident. The edges around the torn flesh were darkening quickly. When she looked up she saw the dark eyes resting on her somberly. “The bullets are made of silver. We will have to clean up the wound, but I need to go back outside too.”
“I will dress the wound.”
Three heads turned to look at Gabriella.
“No.” Clarissa snapped. “I don't want her anywhere near my person.”
Paloma stared at Gabriella, admiration in her silver eyes.
“Are you sure?” Paloma asked with a frown. “I will not be gone long.”
Gabriella nodded.
“In the meantime she will have to suffer. No, I'll do it. I have worked as a paramedic while I was at college.” Gabriella left the room to collect the first aid case.
Paloma came to her feet and looked down at Clarissa.
“Remember that she's the Queen's daughter. Contrary to vampire folklore, I am a lamb compared to her.” She walked over to where Inger stood, the gun still trained on Clarissa. “If she tries anything, I give you the permission to shoot her again. Not to kill, though. Tahlia will want that honor.”
^^^^^^^^
When Gabriella returned she stopped a few feet away from Clarissa. Their eyes met and Gabriella felt a shiver run down her spine at the cold look in the vampire's eyes.
“I will try and be as quick as I can. Could you please move over to the long couch and lie down?”
The vampire stared at her for a full minute; her face set in a cold mask of anger and pain, before she slowly came to her feet and went to sit on the other couch. She lifted her t-shirt and stared at Gabriella, who was looking at the dark angry-looking wound.
“You offered to do it, now get on with it.”
Swallowing hard, she came to kneel next to Clarissa and briskly started to clean the wound. Inger wasn't far away, standing behind Gabriella, two guns trained on Clarissa.
“How did you meet?”
Gabriella looked up into the cold dark eyes. “How did I meet who?”
A hard smile formed on the vampire's lips.
“How did you meet Trinity?”
Inger stepped closer and cocked the gun, drawing both Gabriella and Clarissa's attention.
“That is on a need to know basis. Finish up, Gabriella. I don't trust this woman.”
Gabriella nodded.
Clarissa looked down on the bent dark head. Yes, she was very beautiful and she had a great body, could that be the reason Trinity fell in love with her? Did they meet at a party somewhere and couldn't fight the attraction? She felt her jealousy peaking again at the thought of this woman lying in Trinity's arms. Was she good in bed? Her hands shot out and she quickly pushed Gabriella away from her. She hadn't fed tonight and her current emotional state was feeding her thirst. She slowly came to her feet.
“I haven't fed tonight and having you so close is too tempting.” She walked over to the window and stood there. Why was she taking so long? She needed to see Trinity and talk to her. Maybe she didn't even love the girl. She saw a shadow in the garden and when it stepped into the moonlight she gasped. What was he doing here? She knew his way of thinking. He was keeping the Royals busy, sacrificing his band of renegades, while he sneaked up on the house and kill the humans. Should she warn them, she thought. With Gabriella out of the way, she could claim Trinity and win back her heart. She turned to look at the two women staring at her. The longer she stared at them the more she realized that what she was thinking of doing was cruel and not part of who she really was. Tristan was the monster Vermont , not her. This was a great opportunity to pay him back for what he'd done to the family and to her and Trinity. She turned back to peer out of the garden. He was gone, but whereto? She turned back to Inger.
“Give me a weapon. Tristan is in the garden.”
She saw an amused smile on Inger's lips.
“Do you think I'm stupid? You want me to hand you a gun so that you could use it on us. I don't think so.”
Clarissa walked over and came to a halt a few meters from Inger.
“I'm a vampire. I don't need a weapon to defend myself against humans. If I'd wanted you dead, you would be dead.”
**************************************
Tahlia wiped the blood from her face and turned, as was custom with her, to look around for Jemima. Body parts were littered all over the place. Tristan had brought almost a hundred renegades to the battle tonight. She scanned the area again, doing a quick body count. Everyone was accounted for except Jemima. She felt her stomach dip and roll, as she started to run through the dead bodies littering the area, looking for rich blond strands.
<Where are you, baby. Please talk to me. Where are you?>
She was greeted with silence and she felt the anxiety intensifying.
<I'm looking for you, Jemima. Where are you? Talk to me.>
This time she heard a soft sigh and came to a stop. Her black eyes scouring the area again and she felt Pierre and Jonas coming to flank her.
<I'm in the tree to your left. Do you always have to be so dramatic?>
Tahlia's head snapped around to the tree and she saw a movement in the trees.
<If something had happened to you I …>
There was a soft gasp and alarmed, Tahlia scaled the tree in record time.
<He's at the house, Tahlia. I can see him from here. We need to get there now.>
Pierre and Jonas immediately set off for the house with Tahlia and Jemima following on their heels.
***********************************
The house was booby trapped with powerful protection spells and Tristan knew he would never be able to enter, except of course if someone invited him in. Clarissa was inside. He could use her to gain access to the house. From where he stood in the shadow of a big tree, he could see her standing at the window and he knew she'd seen him. He could also feel her anger towards him. The fighting was nearly over and he had to hurry if he was to get inside the house. Clarissa turned away and using the shadows as cover, he crept up on the house. Just as he was about to call out to his sister, he felt an ice-cold breeze brushing his face and he swore under his breath.
There was a dangerous Royal in the area. He slowly turned and stiffened. The Assassin was standing behind him, her hands folded behind her back and her blood red eyes stabbing into his.
Knowing that he was outclassed, Tristan quickly stepped back and dissolved before Paloma burst into action. As he was streaking through the air, trying to put distance between him and Paloma, he swore at himself for having been so negligent. He was so close to achieving his goal, only for his plans to be thwarted by Paloma. She must've slipped away undetected to protect the house. He will have to devise another plan.
His failure tonight can simply be attributed to his impatience. The more he'd though of Trinity, the hotter his lust for her became. He'd hoped to catch the Royals unawares, but Clarissa's appearance spoilt his surprise. He will have to go back and revise his plans. Clarissa was supposed to be leverage to get Trinity to come to him out of her own free will, but since she spoilt that surprise too, he didn't need her anymore.
After four hundred years of existence, it was impossible for him to have any brotherly feelings towards Clarissa. She was just another pawn in his master plan. A plan which, when coming together, should see him cooped up with Trinity somewhere at one of his many castles in Europe . He felt his loins tighten at the thought. Yes, he will have her again. Soon. Very soon.
****************************************
The house was quiet as Trinity made her way up the stairs to Gabriella's room. Paloma had told her about Clarissa and Gabriella's interaction. Angry, she had confronted Clarissa where she was held in a secluded area downstairs. She had been standing at the entrance for a few seconds, looking at Clarissa who was unaware of her presence at first, and she couldn't help but feeling melancholic looking at the woman who was once the only person she'd ever loved. The blonde head was bent where she was sitting on the bed. Clarissa had suddenly looked up and Trinity was stunned by the hatred she saw in the dark brown eyes.
“What are you doing here?” Clarissa had snapped at her, her hands clenching.
“I came to see how you were doing? Is there anything else you needed?”
There was a silence for a few seconds while they stared at each other.
“Yes.” Clarissa had answered, her brown eyes narrowing slightly.
“What is it?” she'd asked quietly.
“I want you.” Clarissa said firmly. Her brown eyes were challenging her as she came closer until only a few steps separated them.
Trinity could only stare at the woman in front of her. Her green eyes studied the beautiful face, the lips, and the cute ears. All of them features that she'd adored so ages ago. For centuries she'd mourned the death of this woman and even went as far as to look for lovers who closely resembled her. But all that changed in the past few decades. She had met the woman of her dreams and looking at Clarissa, it was impossible to feel anything for her but guilt.
Guilt, because Clarissa had rushed to find her as soon as she's found out that she was alive, whereas she was basking in her newfound love interest. Now Clarissa was here and from what she'd heard from Paloma, she was insanely jealous of Gabriella. She needed to make it clear to Clarissa that she'd moved on.
“I can't, Clarissa. I'm in love with someone else now.” Her tone was gentle so as not to cause unnecessary pain, but firm enough to let what she was saying sink in. Clarissa's eyes hardened slightly.
“You promised me that you will love me forever, Trinity, and that nothing and no one will ever come between us. You lied to me.”
Trinity shook her head. She could see Clarissa was becoming more agitated, her hands clenching and unclenching now. Thank heavens for Tahlia and Paloma who put up the protection spells which kept Clarissa in her invisible prison.
“It was four hundred years ago, Clarissa, and I thought you were dead. I mourned you for centuries, before I met Gabriella. We were both alone and lonely when we first met.”
Clarissa had stared at her long and hard before she turned her back on her and went to sit on the bed, looking so forlorn that she'd felt her heart aching.
“Please leave now. I need to be alone.”
She came to a stop in front of Gabriella's bedroom. There was still a light on in the room and she softly knocked on the door. No answer. She tried again and still no answer. She tried the doorknob and the door swung open. A quick scan of the room showed that Gabriella was not in bed. She quickly closed the door behind her and made her way to the door leading to the bathroom.
The shower was on and Trinity felt her heartbeat accelerating at the thought of Gabriella standing naked under the hot jets. She rounded the corner and came to an abrupt halt. Gabriella was standing naked in front of the full length mirror; her hands hoisting her full breasts, while her eyes were critically examining them. Trinity felt a shiver run down her spine and her nipples started to push against the white cotton t-shirt. She lifted a hand to rub them softly and the movement caught Gabriella's attention, making her spin around her hands covering her breasts.
The amber eyes softened in recognition and she dropped her hands, boldly staring back at her, completely exposed.
“I didn't see you standing there?”
Trinity had to swallow first before she could find her voice, her green eyes still fixed on the soft luscious mounds of Gabriella's breasts.
“I thought I'd just come around and bid you goodnight. The debriefing took much longer that I thought.” Her eyes strayed again and this time she saw the nipples were hard.
She took a step forward, dazed by the intense desire she felt for this woman. Her hand reached out and she gently cupped the weight in her hands. She'd expected Gabriella to be angry with her because she'd omitted telling her about Clarissa, but only now she realized that she didn't give a damn if Gabriella was angry or not. Tonight she will try to get her to channel all that angry energy somewhere else. She looked up and saw the amber eyes were smoldering with passion.
“I want you, Gabriella. I need to make love to you – now,” she purred softly.
When Gabriella didn't answer immediately, she gently squeezed her breasts, drawing a husky moan from Gabriella's lips.
Gabriella was semi-paralyzed from the waist down. Never before had she wanted anyone like she wanted Trinity now. She was still angry at Trinity. Angry was too mild a word, she thought, to describe what she felt inside. But tonight she didn't want to fight, unless it was in bed and the both of them were naked. She placed her hand over Trinity's where it was squeezing her breasts, looking into Trinity's eyes, she felt giddy seeing the dark passion in the green eyes. Her eyes carefully studied the beautiful face. Slightly astounded by the light bruise which were already starting to fade. Vampire magic, she thought absently. An amused look came into the green eyes.
“What's so funny?” she asked softly and Trinity chuckled softly.
“Vampire magic. I like that.”
Aghast, she frowned.
“How…Can you read my thoughts?” Her tone was accusative and Trinity quickly held up a hand.
“I don't do it often, my love, but it helps to know what you are thinking sometimes. You are a very unpredictable woman.” Trinity explained quickly.
“How often is not often.”
“Only twice since I've taken your blood the first time we made love at your apartment.”
Gabriella mouth fell open.
“Why don't I remember you doing that?”
Trinity smiled tenderly, her green eyes soft.
“You were distracted at the time.” Trinity pulled her closer gently. The green eyes looking back at her were darkening with desire. “I want you, my love.”
Gabriella's gaze narrowed slightly.
“Why don't you just read my mind and pick your answer from there,” she snapped, turning away. As much as she wanted Trinity, she was thoroughly spooked by the idea that her thoughts were not private anymore. She gasped when she was roughly pulled around and her startled eyes connected with Trinity's. This forceful person standing in front of her didn't resemble the tender lover she knew.
The green eyes were changing color the longer she stared into them. They were so hot, they almost looked transparent. “Will you bite me again?” she asked carefully and Trinity blinked quickly and loosened her grip on her arms.
“Probably,” she answered gravely and took a slow step away from her.
Trinity had to rummage through all the hot erotic thoughts and emotions inside of her to find a shred of control. Her passion was scaring Gabriella. The beast in her was clawing at her insides, demanding sexual release. And it seemed as if it didn't want to take no for an answer. She pushed a shaking hand through her hair and closed her eyes for a few seconds. Gabriella's nakedness didn't make it easy for her to hold on to her control.
“I am scaring you. Maybe I should go and come back later when I have more control over my emotions.” She was surprised when she saw a gentle smile had replaced the stricken look on Gabriella's face.