Soulmates Ch. 09

Andre Blanc was a short, lithe man. It looked like he had no muscle structure at all on his form but those that had seen him angered knew appearances were deceiving. What he lacked in strength, he made up for in agility, and his stubbornness of never wanting to loose a fight also played a big part. He never cared if his opponent was three or four times his size, he hated to loose so would only do so if he was knocked out or injured to the point of death, which was when his self preservation would kick in and take over whatever thoughts he was having. That was the only time he'd run from a fight.

One of his inner circle moved towards him and began to walk a step behind him. "Andre , if we might ask, where abouts are we going?"

Not looking towards his second, Andre continued to walk and go over things he had been told over the past few months. "Up ahead there's a hunting cabin. That's where we'll be staying until we get more information. Send scouts ahead to make sure no one is in the area."

His second nodded and shortly after, a dozen vampires ran past them to secure the area for Andre 's arrival. Once they were out of ear shot, his second said. "I didn't know you have been in this area before. You've never mentioned it, like the other places we go to."

Keeping his eyes ahead, Andre chuckled to himself while flashing a deadly smirk, "I haven't. An old pet has wanted a little help for years now so while we're in the area, we may as well help them out."

When his second heard him say the word 'pet' he couldn't help but stop in mid-step. The only time he had ever heard his leader call someone 'pet' was when he had forced a bond onto them. Once seeing the pet again, the bond would disappear and more trouble would begin as the ex-pet would want to be hunting his old friend to kill him, for forcing them into giving over information they would never normally tell anyone.

* * * * *

Eagle looked at the maps and pointed to where his people had located the rogue clan and the others looked at the map. Eric couldn't help but growl seeing they were finally in his territory, well, Thad's territory. Even though on paper, it showed that Eric, Richard and Dee owned the land. They had given it to two werewolf packs to live on, to make sure the land would remain as it was.

As Eric looked at the map, he softly mumbled to himself, then pointed to a spot near the area Eagle had pointed. "There's an old hunting cabin here. It's the only place in the area vampires could take shelter during the daylight."

A moment later, there was a knock at the door. It was not the door a guest would normally walk through though it was at the balcony door. The wolves started to growl more loudly as they saw a tall, dark stranger but as soon as Gabriella, Nikolas and Marcus saw the stranger they smiled. Gabriella walked over to the glass door and opened it up. "You took your time arriving."

The stranger just smiled and in a heavy Russian accent, "I missed you as well, my young lover." Then held his arms out to her.

Grinning, she jumped into his arms and they each gave the other a tight hug and a soft kiss at the base of the others neck. Nikolas growled at the man. "I suggest you let go of my mate if you want to keep those jewels between your legs in tack, Dante."

The vampire, Dante, slowly slid Gabriella down his body to place her back on the ground and smirked over to Nikolas. "One day my friend, she will know who is the better man and she will dump your arse to come to me."

Gabriella started to pull Dante into the apartment but he stood fast at the doorway. "You know my ways, my lover."

Rolling her eyes, she looked up at him before looking over to Eric, who looked a little confused. "Eric, this is Dante. He's one of the ancients that have come to help. So could you say he's welcome to enter?"

Eric blinked hard with what she said along with the presence that Dante gave out now. He had felt nothing until he knocked on the door. How could someone hide that strength. He inclined his head slightly and said, "Come in then."

Dante bowed his head and stepped over the threshold. He slipped his arm around Gabriella and escorted her back to her mate before finally releasing her and shaking Nikolas' hand. As he shook Nik's hand, he lent down to Gabriella. "When you finally tire of this pup, you know where you can find a real man."

During their little jest, Marcus had joined them then he shook Dante's hand. Dante grabbed his old friend and in the traditional way, he kissed Marcus three times on each cheek and grinned knowing all too well what Marcus thought of that sort of greeting. With the hiss from Marcus, Dante chuckled. "It is good to see you, my old comrade."

During their conversation, Eric, Richard, Maria and Dee just stared at the old vampire. Each taking in their own decisions about him. Eric and Richard both thought, he was a very strong foe and they were glad he would be on their side instead of the enemies. Maria and Dee just thought he was just the same old vampire that humans would come to fear once they found out his true nature. He looked exactly like the typical vampire from those funny movies they created about vampires. Tall, dark, handsome with an air of mystery about him. A man who had pure sex appeal.

Marcus broke their thoughts when he said. "So what is it that has made your arrival so early, old friend?"

Dante just smiled and motioned to the door. A moment later a knock was heard. "The lady at the door has the information that gave us the need to arrive here quickly."

Nikolas walked to the door and opened it. Behind the door was a small woman, holding in one arm two bottles of wyne and in the other a large file. Nik looked at her curiously, "Come in." He said stepping to the side so the woman could enter.

The woman glanced around the room but, once she spotted Dante, she walked straight towards him without hesistation. He held his arms out to her, and she slipped into them. He lent down and kissed the base of her neck softly before turning her around and slipping his arms over her shoulders and resting them in front of her breasts. "This is Teresa. She has been my hidden treasure for a very long time and now I share her with you in this time of need."

She looked up shyly and nodded a little to those in the room. She made quick assessments of each person before lowering her eyes back to the floor. Dante grabbed the bottles from her and passed them to Marcus with a smile before leading her to a chair and pulling her down into his lap. Only after Dante warpped his arms protectively around her did she seemed to relax more.

Marcus had taken the bottles and looked at the labels. He arched a brow at Dante, "How did you know their ways?"

Dante laughing smiling, "Just open them up and hand the drinks around, comrade. All shall be revealed in a moment when I get my shy little girl to speak. She needs something to drink first."

Marcus nodded, taking the bottles to the kitchen, looking around for glasses and then pouring drinks from the two bottles. Taking the first two glasses over to Richard and Dee before grabbing the other three and taking them over to Dante and Teresa before sitting down to taste his own drink.

Richard and Dee both stared at the blood in the glass before bringing it up to take a sip of it. They were expecting human blood, but it wasn't. It tasted like the purest animal blood they had had in years. It was as if, the beast that died had been raised in a private stable, just to be able to give the purest taste and have nothing affect the taste of the blood once it was bled.

Teresa had finished her drink off quickly and Dante lent down to whisper. "Read for me, my Teresa," and motioned to the file.

Teresa opened the file up and began as asked. "Name: Andre Blanc. Age: 531 years. Born: Ashdown Forest, England. Sired by Michel Blanc. Sire childe: None. Known history: Andre was caught stealing when he was 21 human years old. He was found doing that multiple times, so this time it was death. The community he lived in was small. The rules were forest law; none shall steal from others in the community. Michel found him, released him and sired him. They both had the same attitude towards humans. At 60 vampire years, Andre killed Michel because he was told, by one of Michel's enemies, that he would become stronger with less lineage of his bloodline. He didn't find out until later that abilities only become stronger with age, not bloodlines."

Not looking up from the file Teresa snuggled more against Dante and he kept the protective sheild of his arms around her. "Profile: I personally believe because of that lie of killing his sire, he has a full hatred to half breeds of any kind. He has been killing half breeds, of any race, since the death of his sire. He seems to be under the impression, that killing stronger people than himself will force his abilities to become active instead of waiting to age for them to appear. With the death of the first bear, he was at the age of becoming stronger, but it seems that he's taken killing the bear as the reason for his increase in strength. I personally believe that because the spirit packs are extremely strong, once the bears have become extinct, he will begin hunting the other packs."

TERESA LOOKED UP FROM THE FILE AND SHE STARED INTO DANTE'S EYES. SHE DID NOT NEED TO LOOK AT THE FILE TO FINISH SPEAKING. "FROM HIS HABITS, HE IS STUBBORN BUT SELF PRESERVATION RUNS STRONGLY WITHIN THE MAN. IF HE IS LOOSING, HE WILL FLEE. THERE IS NO WAY TO REFORM HIS NATURE. THE ONLY WAY TO END THIS IS WITH HIS DEATH." SHE BROKE HER GAZE FROM DANTE'S EYES TO LOOK AT THOSE STARING AT HER. SHE LOOKED DOWN SHYLY. "USING INFORMATION HE HAS BEEN GIVEN IN THE PAST, AND THE FACT HE IS BEING GIVEN INSIDE HELP, HE PROBABLY KNOWS THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE LAST BEAR ALREADY. HE WILL WAIT THREE DAYS AS A PLAN IS CREATED FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME IN HIS FAVOUR AND THEN HE WILL MAKE HIS MOVE."

THERE WAS SILENCE FOR A LONG TIME ONCE SHE HAD FINISHED SPEAKING. EVERYONE JUST STARED AT THE TIMID GIRL IN DANTE'S LAP. MARCUS BROKE THE SILENCE BY ASKING. "HOW DOES SHE KNOW ALL THAT?"

Dante looked across to him and smiled. "Before Teresa died, she was able to read people around her but now that she is one of us, she just needs a picture and she can get everything needed to judge what the person is like."

MARCUS GLANCED AT THE GIRL BEFORE SNAPPING HIS GAZE BACK TO HIS FRIEND. "SHE IS THE REASON WHY YOU ASKED FOR PHOTOS OF EVERYONE WHO WE EMPLOY AND ARE ABLE TO TELL US IF SOMEONE WASN'T TO STANDARDS."

Dante just smiled and didn't say a word.

* * * * *

ONCE THE ROGUE CLAN ARRIVED AT THE CABIN, IT WAS NEARING DAYLIGHT. THE YOUNGER ONES BEGAN TO MOVE INSIDE TO FIND A SPOT TO REST WHILE THE OLDER ONES STOOD GUARD. THEY ALL RANGED FROM AGES; SOME OF THEM HAD ONLY RECENTLY BEEN SIRED SO DAYLIGHT WAS A FRIGHTENING TIME FOR THEM.

ONE ROOM WAS LEFT ASIDE FOR ANDRE AND HIS INNER CIRCLE. ONCE EVERYONE HAD GONE TO SLEEP ANDRE LOOKED OUT OF THE WINDOW AND SMIRKED. A MOMENT LATER HIS PHONE RANG. "HELLO, MY PET."

There was an annoyed voice at the end of the line. "What do you want now, Andre?"

"LOCATION OF WHERE THE BEAR IS, OF COURSE." HE ANSWERED.

There was a sigh at the end of the line, "You're going to get me killed for betraying him, you know that right?"

ANDRE JUST CHUCKLED. "BETTER DEATH BY WHOEVER HAS THE BEAR THAN BY ME, PET."

Sighing again the voice spoke quickly, "Penthouse apartment of Campbell Towers. He won't be as easy to get to as the others were."

"Explain, pet"

THERE WAS A SATISFIED TONE IN THE VOICE THIS TIME, "COUNCIL, WHO IS MADE UP OF THE STRONGEST SPIRITS ALONG WITH THEIR PEOPLE, THE WOLVES IN THE AREA, AND THE LOCAL VAMPIRES, WILL ALL BE HUNTING FOR ANY OUTSIDERS. YOU MAY HAVE MET YOUR MATCH NOW WOLF IS INVOLVED."

Andre chuckled. "In that case then I may have some more use of you yet, pet. You will bring me the bear."

THERE WAS A LONG MOMENT OF SILENCE. "I CAN'T DO THAT. I'M NOT PART OF THEIR INNER CIRCLE. I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET NEAR THE CHILD."

"Then you had better figure out a way to seperate them from the bear. Call me when everything is in place, pet." He then hung up.

* * * * *

TERESA STARED DOWN AT THE PHOTO OF THE MAN THEY WERE HUNTING. HER EYES BEGAN TO TURN SILVER AND SHE SAT STRAIGHT UP IN THE CHAIR.

DANTE HAD LEFT HER TO RELAX AND TO SPEAK WITH OTHERS ABOUT THE INFORMATION SHE HAD GIVEN THEM BUT AS SOON AS HE FELT THE SHIFT, HE WAS BACK WITH HER, KNEELING IN FRONT OF HER AND HOLDING HER HANDS GENTLY. "WHAT DO YOU SEE, MY PRECIOUS?"

She did not say anything until her eyes went back to their natural sky blue. She looked into Dante's eyes to get her focus back and then softly said, "He knows where the child is."

AS SOON AS THE OTHERS HEARD THOSE SIX WORDS ALL BUT THE SPIRIT WERES WERE ON THEIR PHONES. ERIC WAS ON THE PHONE TO THE PACK SINCE THAD WAS STILL BUSY, AND MICHAEL WAS ON HIS PHONE CONTACTING THE LEADERS OF HIS PEOPLE. MARCUS WAS ON HIS TO CALL THE ANCIENTS IN WHILE GABRIELLA AND NIKOLAS WERE ON THEIRS TO CONTACT THE ENFORCEMENT TEAMS.

Cougar, Eagle and Coyote were each in mental links with their people to hold back until futher notice. They were just to watch and report back if there was any movement from the cabin. With the vampires with them, their presence and scents were hidden. They had found out during their journey, the vampires weren't just trackers. They had other skills to block others from sencing them.

TERESA WAS VISIBLY SHAKEN WITH HER LAST VISION. DANTE HAD MOVED HER BACK ONTO HIS LAP AND HELD HER GENTLY WHILE SOFTLY KISSING HER SHOULDER AND MURMURING QUIETLY TO HER.

Once Marcus was off the phone, he looked over to his old friend and couldn't help but chuckle a little. He had never seen Dante act like this with any of his women in all of the years he had known him. Dante was the type of man who would not accept weakness in anyone and yet with this woman Dante was doing just that.

Dante felt eyes on him and he looked over to Marcus. He softly spoke to Teresa and she nodded slightly as he placed her down on the chair. She curled up on the chair and closed her eyes to rest. He looked around then motioned to Marcus to follow him.

They had gone through the office into Richard and Dee's apartment when Dante sighed.

MARCUS DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. HE KNEW HOW HIS FRIEND WAS WHEN SORTING THINGS OUT IN HIS MIND AND HE PATIENTLY WAITED BY POURING THEM BOTH A GLASS OF WHISKEY BEFORE PRESENTING IT TO DANTE.

DANTE ACCEPTED THE DRINK WITH A NOD AND LOOKED AT MARCUS AS HE STARTED TO PACE. "SHE'S MY LIFEMATE. WE BOTH KNOW WE'RE EACH OTHERS BUT NEITHER OF US WANT TO SPEAK IT OUT LOUD." HE THEN SAT DOWN IN ONE OF THE CHAIRS AND LOOKED OVER TO MARCUS. "SHE WAS ONE OF THE RIPPER'S VICTIMS. I CAUGHT HER SCENT, THEN THE PULL. I SAW RIPPER TRACKING HER AND PULL HER INTO AN ALLEY. I WATCHED AS HE HAD HIS WAY WITH HER BEFORE LEAVING HER FOR DEAD. SHE WAS PASSED OUT AT THE TIME BUT I KNEW I COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT HER SO I SIRED HER AND SHE'S BEEN AT MY SIDE EVER SINCE."

Marcus just stared at him as he told the story and just smiled. "I did the same when Allison came into my life. I let someone else kill her so I didn't have to do it and bought her back. She was like Teresa for about a hundred years til her memories started to return from her human life but she understood why I did it. Each time I think it was wrong for me to be selfish in siring her, she comes back to tell me she wouldn't of had it any other way. At least I didn't have to go through the heartbreak of ending her human life."

Dante nodded and took a sip of the whiskey. "That's how she feels as well. I've been open with her from day one and told her what I knew of her life beforehand. Even cleared her home out from back then and moved it to my home in Russia so she has her things with her whenever she wants them."

Marcus watched his friend as he just stared down at his drink. He then smiled. "Is she always like this, shy?"

Dante chuckled. "Not when we're home or having visions of our prey. We have some of the best arguments, comrade. When I take her with me, she is shy around new people. Once this is all over and she's not getting visions, she'll be back to her fiery self."

MARCUS NODDED AS HE LISTENED TO HIS FRIEND SPEAK. HE COULD SEE THE LONGER DANTE SPOKE A WEIGHT WAS LIFTING FROM HIS SHOULDERS AND HE BECAME MORE RELAXED. A KNOCK AT THE GLASS DOOR MADE THEM GO QUIET AND WHEN THEY LOOKED THEY SAW RICHARD STOOD WAITING TO BE LET INTO HIS OWN APARTMENT.

DANTE MOTIONED HIM INSIDE. RICHARD ONLY OPENED THE DOOR THOUGH AND SAID, "DAYLIGHT SOON AND THE SPIRITS WANT TO ATTACK DURING THE WEAKEST MOMENTS TO SEPARATE THE ENEMY."

The ancients just nodded. It was the only way to get the weak away from the strongest. They both stood up and walked back through the office to see what the youngsters had come up with.