This is the second in the Dakotah series, told from Sierra's point of view. I think I like this lighter, shorter story better. However, I went back and tweaked things after re-writing the original Dakotah story, so if there's something that doesn't quite jive, shoot me a note and let me know so I can fix it. I thought I caught all those, but you know how sneaky those inconsistencies can be...
Now, onward and upward... or was it 'to infinity and beyond!'?
~Mika and Buzz
Mika's Note: Yeah, yeah, yeah... I can hear you cheering... stop it. LOL 'Scuse the horrid poetry. LOL
Journal Entry ~ August 3
All is well once again in my home. My love has been returned to me, body, mind and soul. And I believe I have learned my lesson. I must have since here I sit, hot mug of tea in my hand, despite the horrid heat of August in Nevada. It may take a century or two, but I do eventually learn.
My mother would have agreed, whole heartedly on that account.
She is still wary of me, even on my best days. She’s seen the caged animal get loose and now fears retribution for having stashed him back inside his fenced preserve. I think she fears I’m going to lose control of the demon inside me again and that I’m going to lay the blame on her for forcing me to keep him locked away. I doubt she’ll ever know, or truly understand, that she is the reason I lock him away, have banished him from my existence.
You can’t love when you are consumed by desire, greed, and need. You can only destroy. Melinda is a prime example of that very principle. May the gods above save me from that fate. I pray that Sierra and her dear sister, Cheyenne, drag me into the sunlight before I become the bitter, angry vampire that Melinda has warped into.
I have lived my life refusing to have regrets. While I wish I hadn’t ever harmed Sierra, I do not regret what has transpired between the two of us. I think it was necessary for her to understand the nature of the beast that resides within me. I only wish I hadn’t hurt nor scared her nearly as much as I had. That’s as close to a regret as I am allowing myself. She will be more careful from this day on. And maybe, just maybe, she knows me a tiny bit better than she had just a few days before.
Tyler is even more enamored of my russet-haired witch than ever before. He admires her beauty and is amazed by her strength, the emotional as well as the physical. Never before have either of us encountered a mortal being with such strength of heart and spirit. She is what keeps me sane, and what gives me reason to rise with the moon every evening. My dear Sierra, this poor creature would be beyond lost without you in my life.
And you wonder why I was so drawn to you from the very beginning. I only wish I could explain it to you. Maybe someday. But until then, I will have to satisfy myself with caring for you and seeing to your every need. Even if that entails humiliating myself by being your coffee boy. Your wish is my undying command.
In eternal night,
Guided by the brilliant
Light of my love,
No more searching; only finding
I sought you for centuries
You, my perfect mate
Only to find you now
Just when I thought I’d lost
All chance to ever have
My reward, my rescue
I hold on tightly
Afraid to let go and be lost
In the eternal darkness
That I know as my soul
Dakotah James, once upon a time known as Tawno Brishen Kobori, forever just to be me
Mika's Notes: Lots of lovey-dovey make-up sex forthcoming... And another inside joke between Zan & I. LOL
"And for you, sir?" The girl in the green apron and cheesy grin asked.
Dakotah sighed. This barista was much too cheerful for so late at night. "One large iced decaf double nonfat mocha. Lotsa whipped cream. Please."
“Absolutely!” the cheery girl replied, repeating his order. “And the name for the order?”
“Dakotah,” he exhaled loudly. “With an ‘h’.” If he was going to be embarrassed like this, the least they could do was spell his name right. Looking out the storefront window, he could see Sierra and Tyler discussing something in the Mustang. “Probably me,” he muttered, walking closer to the windows and freedom from the mortification of being at Sierra’s whims.
“I have one large iced decaf double nonfat mocha with extra whipped cream for Dakotah at the bar.”
He stepped up to the bar, took a straw and smiled at the girl, making every attempt not to show her his fangs. It wasn’t her fault he was here right now. “Thanks.”
Stepping outside, he glanced at the cup, curious if they’d gotten his name right; it was rare anyone did, even after being told. He grinned a toothy smile when he noticed that she’d not only spelled it right, but had added fangs to the smiley face adorning the cup. “Of all the things to put on my cup.” He shook his head, not wanting to really know.
***
"So, are you satisfied?" he asked later. They were curled up in bed, snuggled close.
"Almost. " She reached her face up to his and kissed him. Forgiving him.
As he slid his tongue into her mouth, he could taste the chocolate from her coffee. A hint of the creamy whipped topping that had capped it off. "Mmm, you taste good, even better than usual. I could get used to this, I think." He delved his tongue between her lips once more, tasting her a second time.
"Good thing I get decaf," she giggled. "Last thing we need is you getting a caffeine high off my blood." His mouth smothered her next set of giggles. She broke free long enough to get one more dig in on him. “I’d never forgive myself if I was responsible for setting a wired vampire loose in the city.”
He growled playfully at her, attacking her mouth in a desperate attempt to shut her up, just for a little while. She could tease him later. Much later.
Dakotah's hands moved along her curves, settling comfortably on her hips. "No, you don't want me getting a caffeine rush.” He nipped at her bottom lip, teasing, taunting. “Especially since I already plan to have you all night as it is. And if I get too much caffeine, well, then you’ll be the sorry one." Sierra smiled; she couldn’t think of a single reason to complain. She also highly doubted she’d be sorry for anything that came out of tonight.
He pulled at her bottom lip with his teeth, letting his blood teeth gently graze their length. She shivered beneath him. Tonight it would be good. His tongue moved in and out of her mouth, dancing and playing tag with hers. Engaged in a long, lingering kiss, his hands moved up her stomach and along her breasts. She inhaled deeply, filling her chest with air and pushing her breasts against his hands. "You tease," he breathed.
"That's me. Only I'm not teasing now." He could hear her heart skip a beat, fear and anticipation swirling inside her.
A throaty chuckle was his only answer.
One long kiss was all it took for him to get her shirt onto the foot of the bed. Trained, dark fingers toyed with her pink nipples, pulling and pinching as she squirmed. His hand gently caressed her flat stomach and moved downward to the patch of copper hair he loved to tease her about. Obediently, she opened her legs to his touch.
“A redhead to your roots,” he teased. She blushed and guided his fingers into place. A place he knew very well by now. Sierra’s back arched as the first of his fingers slid inside her. He buried his face in her neck, lightly nipping her salty skin. She moved against him, driving him into a frenzy of desire and bloodlust.
Dakotah licked the taut skin of her neck and panted, “You are so ready for me and I’ve barely even touched you.” He gave her another little nip with his fangs. “Do you have any idea what that does to me?”
She grinned evilly. Taking his erection into her hand, she muttered, “I can see what it does to you.” She stroked the length of him three or four times, feeling him harden even more, delighting in the feel of him in her fingers.
When the growl escaped him, her smile broadened even further. Sierra ran her free hand through his long, dark hair. Getting a firm grip on the back of his head, she forced him into a kiss. She spread her legs and, with the other hand, guided him into place. He fit easily inside her, her anticipation making it ever so easy for him.
Dakotah gave a muted cry of pleasure. His gums ached and his pulse raced. Slowly, he moved against her soft, white skin. She lifted her hips to meet him, accepting him deeper with every thrust. Sierra let her head rest against the pillow, biting her lip and closing her eyes. They had a perfect rhythm going, one they both wanted to last forever. Her little grunts and squeaks became louder and more frequent as she got closer to her climax. Her body began to move of its own accord, not allowing him to pull out of her for more than a second at a time.
It was time. He knew it. He could feel it in her body. He could smell her sweat and her blood. He wasn’t ever sure at a time like this which one was the sweeter smell. Dakotah inhaled the mingling scents of her body and his, savoring the way he felt inside her and loving the way her body heat was warming him.
He lowered his mouth to her neck. She inhaled sharply at the prick on her skin. In an effort to prolong the inevitable, he licked at the tiny droplets of her blood that were welling up to the surface. Teasing him the way he’d enjoyed teasing her. Sierra’s body began to tremble with her approaching climax. Giving in to lust, to the bloodlust, he drove his erection inside her, plunged his fangs into her vein.
Sierra gasped; the dual orgasm shook her physically, emotionally. She felt his release; he slowed and stopped moving against her. He lay to the side, lips still attached to her neck. Sighing, she held him to her, allowing him to finish in his own time. Closing her eyes, she floated near sleep thinking, I’m gonna have one hell of a hickey tomorrow…
Mika's Note: The 'wrap-up'. *G* Short, and could have been included with Chapter 6 now that I think of it. *sigh* Whatever.
"So what did she hit?" Tyler asked, curiosity rising to the surface now that the threat had vanished. Dakotah had just finished explaining the night’s events to an astounded, but much relieved, Sierra.
"I'd blessed and consecrated his pendulum specifically to meet his needs. I put protection from evil spells and such on it. Never thought that he,” she motioned to the man beside her, “would need it, not knowing what he was. But, I guess it worked!" she laughed giddily at the thought of something going so right. “For once being overly cautious paid off for me.”
"Yeah, you're one mighty powerful little witch! I ain't gonna mess with you!" Tyler teased Sierra, thankful she was going to be okay. He’d become quite attached to her over the time she and Dakotah had been a couple. Losing her tonight had never been an option. For either of them.
Dakotah noticed her absently rubbing her wrists. "Are you okay? I wish we could've gotten to you sooner. I couldn't get through all those protections you'd put on yourself.” He held her tightly and kissed the top of her head. Now is no time for scolding, demon.
"Sierra, if you'd put up shields to protect you from him, why didn't they protect you from her?" In all the years he’d been alive, Tyler had never tangled with a witch, not a real one anyway. Having been a scholar in a previous live, his quest for answers never ceased.
"I... I don't know. I think she may have broken them somehow. I felt this strange tingling when I was going to change my clothes. I wonder if that's when it happened?" She tried to shrug it off, but the creepy memory remained.
"It probably was. She was born during the height of magic users, back before Christianity was the norm. Melinda was at one time a very powerful witch, and at a time when the rules against harming others were much less strictly enforced.” He sighed, not wanting to think on it, unable to do anything but. “Now, she's just a mean, bitter old vampire." Dakotah pulled the fiery redhead even closer. "But don't let that lull you into security. I have no doubt she could pull out some tricks that'd make us all turn and run." And I think we may discover just how powerful she’s become.
"I won't ever let my guard down. Not now or ever. I'm just sorry I couldn't trust you. You hadn't hurt me, after all." She pressed her back against his chest, searching for the elusive feeling of safety.
"That's not the point. I could have hurt you very easily. I'm just glad it didn't come to that. You were wise to just give in, no matter how wrong." He blushed at the look Tyler was giving him. "Baby, I'm so sorry this happened. If there's anything I can do... let me know, okay?" His eyes met hers, touching his mind to hers. You know I will do anything you ask, from now on. I owe you that much.
"Well, if you're serious, you know what always makes me feel better..." she slyly suggested.
"No. Absolutely not." he said adamantly. "No." It was so un-vampire like and embarrassing. He couldn’t believe she would even ask. “Please no.”
“But, you said, you promised!” She pouted playfully, knowing she already had him. "Fine. If you don't love me enough..."
Mika's Notes: Figured I'd post what was left. Yippee, right? And forgive me if my chapters end abruptly. Never divided it up before for some dumb reason and am too short of time to REALLY read it over. So, hoping it makes sense. LOL Some violence and assuredly some bad words...
"They'll be here soon," Melinda announced confidently, pacing the bare concrete floor. "He's letting his thoughts slip in his excitement. I can hear him loud and clear." A triumphant smirk crossed her face.
"That's good. I can't wait to get my hands on him!" Brett chuckled, ideas flitting through his mind. "My payback for stealing what was going to be a very lovely slave for me." His gaze flicked to Sierra.
Melinda looked down at him. "You will do no such thing. He is MY chylde, MY responsibility. If anyone is to dispatch him, it will be ME. Do you understand?"
He nodded his assent, too terrified of her to speak. Too disappointed to think of a good enough response.
"Good. Besides, once I have him back under my control, I plan on taking him home with me." Brett did not like the smile on her face.
***
"Oh dear Goddess," Sierra breathed, "I'm so stupid. I was just scared. Please help him find me. If you help me out this time, I swear I won't buy any more herb plants. I will never murder another innocent plant!" Tears streaked her cheeks. "Please help him find me!"
I already have, my child, daughter of my soul. Be strong and blessed be…
Sierra started and looked around until the feeling of peace and security overcame her and she knew her goddess was with her. And that eventually, she would be safe again.
***
"Doesn't it figure? All these warehouses! She could be anywhere." Tyler groaned, looking from side to side at the numerous buildings surrounding them.
"She's not. She's here. This one." He pointed to a nearby grey colored building. "I can hear her breathing."
"In we go then!" he announced more eagerly than he felt.
The two vampires walked the perimeter of the building, scouting and observing their environment while trying to find an entrance. They came across a side door on the west side and broke the lock.
“Easy enough,” Tyler muttered, watching Dakotah snap it in his fist.
Inside, it was dark. The warehouse had been designed so that inside there was two smaller warehouses and one large office area. Their door had led them into one of the smaller warehouses.
"Which way?” Tyler looked around them, the darkness not an issue for the vampire. “She's obviously not in here."
Dakotah thought for a second before the question was answered for him. "She's at the north end, in the back of the office," announced a feminine voice. "But you're going home with me."
"Over my undead body," Dakotah fumed. "I will never follow you and your twisted self anywhere ever again.” Just let me get Sierra and get the hell out of here, he begged.
"And you, Tyler, Mr. Big Shot Vampire, you're mine,” Brett growled from behind his newest master.
"Brett!" Ty exclaimed in disbelief. "What the hell? Why are you here? And why am I really all that surprised?”
"You wouldn't understand, I'm sure. You'd never believe me if I told you how your friend deceived Sierra by telling her vicious lies about me. How he stole her from me." He shook his head sadly, consumed with his self-delusions. “She’s so sweet and delectable, I just wanted a taste or two but not now.”
"I warned her about you, you pig! You take girls out and a week later they're on a milk carton,” Dakotah defended himself and his past actions easily. No matter what her eventual answer to his courting was to be, he’d been determined to make sure she didn’t end up with him. And dead for her troubles.
"I wasn't talking to YOU!" he shouted, turning to glare at Dakotah, anger flaring in his green eyes.
Tyler took the opportunity. Flinging himself at Brett, he knocked him to the ground. Brett fought and struggled, landing one good punch in on Ty's jaw. Being the stronger of the two, Tyler wrestled him to the ground and slashed him across the throat with his nails.
Brett's hands flew up to his rapidly escaping blood; his scream gurgled in his ripped throat. Tyler quickly pulled his silver executioner's knife out of the holster at his hip and finished the job. Quickly. Bone snapped as he sawed through the punk's neck. I’m enjoying this too much, I think.
Panting, Tyler looked up at the sound of a single clap.
"How daring! My hero!" Melinda teased. "Now I don't have to get rid of him myself." Her glare turned back onto Dakotah. "You on the other hand..."
Like lightning, she flew at him, claws and fangs bared, prepared to cull her cub. Her flight stopped abruptly, her body hitting an unseen force surrounding her target. Stunned, she fell limply to the ground. Briefly dazed, she weakly muttered, "What the..."
Dakotah didn't give her a chance to finish the thought. He was on her immediately, pushing her face down on the cool cement. She thrashed and kicked, throwing him off to the side. Melinda rolled onto her back and oriented herself. In a breath, he was back on top of her, shoving her back to the ground. She saw the glint in his eyes and panicked. He meant business this time. There'd be no persuading him tonight. He’d changed, just like they’d warned her.
And typically, she refused to listen.
He saw nothing but her beautiful pale breast. The white skin he'd fallen in love with. The soft body he'd held so many nights... You can't think about that, he harshly reminded himself. Raising the blade he always carried with him, out of habit, and for moments like these, he brought it down, strong and sure; it met the concrete as she dissipated beneath him. Silver rang on concrete; the sound echoed loudly in his ears.
Another time, my love, she laughed. However, you’d better keep an eye on that little witch of yours, just in case.
"This isn't over, is it?" Tyler sighed.
"Not by a long shot, I'm afraid. Let's go find Sierra." Dakotah stood, brushing the dust from his denim clad jeans, his wife his only objective now.
Mika's Notes: The 'joke' between Sierra and Dakotah actually came from a card my man sent me when I was living in Phoenix, away from him. Still have it too. And yeah, I do think of the oddest things at the oddest times. Warnings in this chapter: nothing really bad except my idea of an 'action scene' here and in the next chapter or so. LOL
Sierra walked down the hallway to their bedroom, unbuttoning her blouse. Feeling an unusual sensation, she stopped, cautious, curious. Her body was tingling in a strange way, not unpleasant but far from comfortable. Reminded her of the after effects of spell casting, especially those days when she’d forget to reground the energy after finishing her ritual. A shiver crawled up her spine. "Boy, that was weird," she mumbled, continuing on. “Kotie must be thinking of me after all,” she muttered, remembering their old joke.
Ever get the chills when you’re all alone, Sie?
No, Kotie, why?
You should with all the time you spend naked in my thoughts.
“Why do I always think of the oddest things at the oddest times?” Sierra asked herself, not expecting an answer. She reached the bedroom door, shirt hanging loosely around her body. Just a moment too late, she heard the person creeping behind her. "Wha..." was all she managed before a damp hand muffled her scream. Fingers closed over her mouth, clamping down hard.
Shh, my sweet. I won't hurt you, at least not yet. The stranger’s grip tightened on her, squeezing her heart with fear. You remember me, don't you? We were hitting it off so well until… well, until you met him. And he found a way to change your mind about me, didn’t he? His mistake.
Eyes widening in fear, Sierra recognized the voice. It was Brett, another vampire, one she'd been interested in before she'd met Dakotah. He’d frequented the same places she and her friends had and she saw him often. Sierra had been thinking of accepting his offer of a date until later when Dakotah had warned her off him, told her of his temper and unpredictability... I guess he was right.
He jerked her around and dragged her back out into the living room. Another form entered from the kitchen. Another vampire, she knew immediately. She could feel the malevolent power and energy rolling off of her being. Not a good sign at all.
Brett tossed her onto the couch and ordered her to sit.
"So you're the pretty little witch I've heard so much about? Humph. Don't know why he made such a fuss." The barb hurt, but Sierra did her best to ignore it. "Doesn't matter. You're just going to bring him to me anyway. Then I'll give you to Brett for 'safe keeping'." She laughed. "Bind and gag her. We're leaving." Brett obeyed.
***
"Ah, finally!" came the relieved sigh. "She's home."
"Great. How'd you finally connect with her?"
Dakotah looked worried. "I don't know. Something must've knocked her shield down. We'd better hurry."
Tyler turned the key in the ignition of Dakotah's Mustang and raced out of the parking lot.
***
"She's not here, Tyler. I've looked everywhere. Something's really not right."
My, aren't we a bright boy!
Dakotah looked around quickly, trying to find the source of the mental voice. His senses on full alert, he attempted to hone in on its location.
I'm not around you, honey-boy. Your little woman and I are having a ... chat. Why don't you come join us? There’s always room for one more in my brood. But, well, you already know that, don’t you?
Where are you? He pleaded. You’d better not hurt her! I promise you’ll regret even thinking about it.
Or what? She cackled. Come and get her. If you can
The voice was gone.
"Shit! Where is she, D? Forget that, WHO is she?"
"As to the where, I have no idea, I couldn’t pinpoint her location. She’s learned a thing or two in these last few decades, I think. As to who... well, she's Melinda."
"Melinda? Who the hell is Melinda?”
"Just Melinda," he said, looking past his friend, procrastinating on telling him the truth for as long as possible. "Go out to the car and get my map. I'm going into Sierra's altar room. I need to find something." Let’s just hope she didn’t ward her sacred space as well as her body, he silently prayed.
Tyler nodded and headed out to the car. He returned a few minutes later and found Dakotah sitting cross-legged on the floor with an intricately carved wooden box in his lap. In one hand he held a small silver knife and in the other a whitish stone on a black leather cord surrounded by smaller, darker stones. "Whatcha got?"
"This," he said holding up the small weapon, "is her ritual knife. She says she uses it mostly for symbolism and to chop herbs, but she also says she keeps it around to keep me in line. It's silver." He held it securely between his thumb and first finger, displaying the triple goddess symbol carved into the wooden handle as he moved it side to side. The light glinted off the untarnished blade and finely honed edge.
"This," he said, allowing the stone to dangle off its chain, "is a pendulum. She's been trying to teach me how to use it, but I've never had much use for it. Old dogs, new tricks and all that.” Dakotah smiled slightly at the lame joke. “Tonight we're going to see if I actually paid attention to her or if I'd just thought I had." He paused as he held the stone in his hand. "Sierra found it in some store and swore that, once she'd held it, that it had been made especially for me. It's a moonstone," he pointed to the large whitish stone hanging in the center of the cord. "These," he motioned to the tiny round stone beads on either side of the moonstone, "are bloodstone. Fitting, isn't it?"
***
They spread the map out on the kitchen table, smoothing it flat. "So how does this thing work?" Tyler asked.
"Like this," he responded. Dakotah leaned over the center of the map and took a deep breath. Taking the pendulum out of his shirt pocket, he held it steadily over the map. Concentrating on the lessons Sierra had given him, he silently grounded himself, making an effort to connect with the Earth. It was a half-hearted attempt; he didn’t have the time to do it properly. He had questions and needed answers. Fast.
"What is the action for yes?" The stone moved back and forth.
"What is the action for no?" The stone slowly swung in a circle. “Okay, on to the important issues.” Tyler was confused, but held his tongue, having faith that one of them knew what was going on.
"Is she in the city?" The stone moved back and forth. Yes.
“Good news, that,” Ty interjected. Dakotah grimaced. It was a large city they lived in.
"Is she in the west?" The stone slowly circled. No.
"Is she in the north?" The stone swung back and forth. Yes.
"Bingo!" Tyler shouted, getting excited despite himself.
"Geez! Be quiet!" Dakotah moved the pendulum over the eastern portion of the map. "Where is she? Please!" Never in my life did I think I’d be begging a map and a stone for help.
The pendulum hung motionless for a long time, much, much too long for either vampire’s comfort.
"Come on Dakotah, this is stupid. We know the area, I have some ideas where she could be, let's just go and..." Tyler's voice trailed off as the pendulum started to move again, side to side, a direction they hadn't seen before. "What's it doing?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out." He watched for a moment, studying the pendulum, not breathing. It was swaying more to the right than the left so he gently eased it to the right. It still reached to the right. He moved it a bit more. “My god, I think it’s trying to tell where she is,” he murmured in disbelief. It began to swing to the left suddenly, but only slightly. Dakotah watched for a moment and moved it a tiny bit to the left. The pendulum began to swing in a circle. "Quick, I think it’s got something! In the kitchen by the phone, grab the pen!"
Tyler found it quickly and returned at a run. "What do you want me to do?"
"Follow the motion of the pendulum and make an outline." Tyler did as Kotie instructed, taking care not to touch the stone and knock it off course. "That's where she is," he said, pointing to the circle, smiling for real finally. He kissed the moonstone and put it around his neck. "I guess she was right, it was made for me."
"I guess this also means you've been listening to her too," his friend teased, ducking out of Dakotah’s reach, running for the front door.
Mika's Note: Aren't you glad I didn't go with the interludes? LOL Nothing bad in this chapter 'cept some language. :)
She brushed her blonde hair back from her face, peering intently at the young vampire before her.
"So, have you been preparing things as I have asked you to?"
He nodded eagerly. "Yes ma'am, I have. Your residence and finances are all taken care of, just as you ordered."
"And what about Dakotah? Will he be here tonight? As promised?"
The youngster paused, frightened of the elder vampire. "I... well, I doubt it."
"What do you mean?" she said, growing angry.
"You see, he's living with this witch..." The younger vampire paled, cautious of the angry woman’s temper.
"He's what? You didn't tell me anything about another one of our kind!" she interrupted.
"Oh, that she's not. She's a mortal witch. She's been trying to cure him. Or come close. Seems to be working. He hasn't been around here much. Except for last night." He looked quickly at her, knowing immediately he'd said the wrong thing.
"He was here last night? And you didn't inform me?" She moved closer, closing the space between them.
"But you're his creator, his sire. Don't you know these things?"
"I used to know these things! If I still did then I certainly wouldn't need you would I?" She grabbed him by the neck and brought his face to hers. "Now listen to me. Something has been blocking out his thoughts from me for quite some time now. That's why I'm here, to find out why and how he is doing this. Now tell me why he was here last night."
"He came to hunt. And because he felt that something was out of place. Not right, you know? He never did figure it out that I know of."
Hmm, so he's feeling my presence, she thought. That's good. That's VERY good.
"Come along, Brett. Show me where this little waif is shacking up with my chylde." She loosened her grip on his throat and let him fall weakly to his knees.
***
"Oh Cheyenne!" Sierra wailed. "I can't take this. I'm going back and try to work this out." She threw her hands up in surrender, heading for the front door.
"Are you sure?" her sister asked in concern. "He could easily kill you in a rage like that. It scares me." She crossed her arms across her chest, hugging herself.
"I know, Chey. It scares me too. But, in over a year, this is only the second time he's flipped out on me like that. There's something up and I don't like it."
Her sister sighed. "I guess your efforts have been for nothing then." She handed her sister her purse reluctantly, not wanting to let her leave the safety of her home.
"The tea! That's what was wrong!” She took her purse distractedly, thinking. “He said he needed to get out and hunt last night so he didn't have his tea. He hasn't even so much as playfully growled at me since he's been drinking it. Now I know I've really got to go." She pecked Cheyenne on the cheek quickly.
Cheyenne got up from her chair and hugged her younger sister. "If you are sure, then go. You're always welcome here."
"Thanks sis!" she said, hugging her back.
"Just be careful. Hot or not, he is a killer and a demon. Remember that."
"I will."
***
"I can still feel it, Ty. My skin is absolutely crawling now. It's driving me nuts." He absently rubbed his arms, trying to rid himself of the gooseflesh. "I haven't felt this way in years." Suddenly, his face blanched. "Oh no. Please let me be wrong. Please let me be wrong." Dakotah clenched his teeth, fear and anger bubbling up unexpectedly. Please no, he begged.
"Wrong? About what?"
"Let's just say that, if I'm not wrong, then it's going to take all of Sierra's gods to get me out of trouble." He blanched even further. "Oh god, Sierra!" He quickly got up, almost knocking the table over. "I've got to find her."
"Okay, let's go." Tyler followed his dark-haired companion out of the bar, trusting he knew what he was doing.
***
Shaking with fear and anticipation, Sierra got out of her Dodge and began the long walk up the driveway to the front door. She hadn't used the front door since the first day she'd come to live with him. Now, she was back to being a stranger in her own home, in a sense. She felt like she didn't know him as well as she thought she had.
“Focus,” she mentally scolded herself. “Remember why you came back!”
She pulled herself together and approached the walkway. A strange feeling of foreboding overcame her as she reached for the doorknob. She paused, pulling her hand back partway. "Stop being silly, girl," she told herself. "It's just Dakotah's anger and frustration you're feeling. Now go in there and fix this!"
Sierra twisted the knob angrily and pushed the door open, tensing for an attack. When none came, she relaxed slightly and stepped inside carefully. The house was dark but that didn't alarm her. Dakotah often sat in the dark, reading or listening to music, not realizing her human eyes weren't as sharp as his. She was constantly turning lights on around him, bringing him into the twenty-first century. And he was constantly teasing her about needing glasses or having night blindness. She flipped on the porch light and then the foyer light. Now able to see, she made her way across the living room to the main lights for the house. Turning them on, she looked around. Empty. He wasn't here.
"Guess I could at least go change and figure out where he might be," she said to the empty air and headed for her room. “Kill some time anyway.”
***
"Okay, let me concentrate..." Dakotah begged out in his car. He closed his eyes and focused his thoughts on his love and tried to locate her. This ancient mind trick worked so much better when her blood was fresh in his veins, but it hadn't been long since he'd tasted her. It helped that their bond was a strong one; they were normally always connected with a ‘thought and a prayer’ as Sierra called it. "Dammit!" It was those damn protective shields keeping him out; her stubborn streak keeping him from locating her.
"What is it? Is she okay?" Tyler asked, concerned and frightened for his friend’s mortal wife.
"I don't know... I'm having a hard time finding her. She put up a protective shield to keep me away from her, afraid I'd REALLY hurt her and she musta been sly enough to put up mental wards to keep me out of her head too.” He sighed loudly. “She's too smart for her own good sometimes." Screaming mentally, he demanded, Damnit child, let me in!
