Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ A Matter Of Choice ❯ Sinking Deeper ( Chapter 27 )

Sinking Deeper

 

So now you know how Tegan became a part of our lives. I was no longer able to keep watch over her as I would have liked. She had made her choice and we would all have to live with the consequences. It was obvious to us all that she would be a far more formidable opponent than her uncle had been. I myself regretted my part in the pain we caused her at his death, though I did all I could for her. I wish that Stuart had not brought her with him that fateful night, though I doubt it would have changed things. She would still have flown and Demetriov would still have followed. The question would be would she have made the same choice, but we cannot second guess what never was.

 

Devon's death came as a shock to us all, but it proved that she was stronger than we had guessed. It seemed to amuse Demetriov perversely, something which bothered me immensely, but it had angered Devon's companions. They were bewildered, not knowing how to feel or how to act. They had never been hunted before and it came as an unpleasant development to them. But Tegan was no fool and she went to ground. It was a couple of months before Tegan surfaced again, seemingly testing the young one's strengths. It seemed that it would not be too long before we would lose another of our number.

 

Then she stayed away for another couple of months, much to our puzzlement, and my secret pleasure. Perhaps she had given up her quest, but she had been plotting and planning. We certainly underestimated her, a real mistake considering what had gone before. Tegan was no fool, she was not going to rush into things. Demetriov on the other hand seemed concerned. He was certain she would stay, yet neither seemed willing to make a move. Or so we believed, and it was when we dropped our guard that she struck once more.

 

* * * * *

 

Tegan was desperate; she was tired, the battle having gone on for longer than she had anticipated. More than that she was angry. Bruised and bleeding from many cuts and grazes, she found herself angry with herself for underestimating him. She lay on her back where Stephan had thrown her as he came at her again, seemingly tireless. She kicked out with both feet into his stomach his forward momentum carrying him onward, Tegan grabbing his shirt and hauling him over her head and onto his back. Tegan turned quickly, blade in hand and cut his throat.

 

She pushed herself back, away from the torrent of blood that spewed from the wound. She could not forget the feel of Devon's blood on her that first night and didn't want to feel it again. It made her nauseous watching him writhe but she was also relieved. He was now practically helpless, but she turned away as he gagged, feeling the bile rise in her throat. She sat thinking things through. She had really botched this, mistiming it. Dawn was a while off yet and she was too sore and tired to be able to get him somewhere with enough fuel to burn him. Devon's slow recovery also told her that it would take too long, and Stephan would be strong enough for an attack before she could destroy him. There was one other option, but it sickened her further. As far as she knew vampires could not survive without their head.

 

She sighed, a tear falling down her cheek, mixing with blood from a cut on her head. She knew that she had no other choice, and she only had herself to blame, that fact only making her predicament worse. She swallowed hard; Stephan's bleeding had almost stopped. Almost completely drained of blood his dark skin now looked ashen, corpselike. She knelt on his shoulders, trying to keep out of the worst of the blood Her hands shaking she began the grisly work, going into his torn throat with her razor sharp blade. His hands twitched as she worked, trying to cry out but the blade slipped through his airway silencing him. His spine gave her trouble, she gritted her teeth against the nausea as she struggled until she found the gap in the joint. When she finally separated his head from his body she fell back gasping for breath. Disgusted with herself and the gore she could hold back the nausea no longer, vomiting violently.

 

She was on her hands and knees as her stomach dry heaved long after it was empty. When it finally stopped and she had coughed out the remnants from her throat, she collapsed on her side trying to catch her breath. She lay there for a long time, trying to compose herself, utterly disgusted at what she had done. Eventually she hauled herself to her feet out of necessity. When dawn came his body would burn up, but she needed to get it out of sight. She dragged it over to a skip that lay in the alleyway, concealing as best she could. Come dawn all evidence would burn away. Despite her disgust she still felt the rage within her and she couldn't calm herself. Perhaps it was because she had left herself no choice but to do something so horrific.

 

It ate away at her, her temper out of control. A thought came into her mind, it was stupid and reckless, but it would not leave her. She looked around until she found some material, an old dress someone had thrown away. She wrapped the head in it, her stomach heaving for a moment, and headed for her destination. She told herself that this way she could be sure that he was dead, but there was also something else in her mind. She wanted to taunt Demetriov, show him what she could do, and what lengths she would go to. It would serve as a threat, one day when she had the chance, she may well do the very same to him.

 

She made her way quickly to the mansion, the sky now showing the first signs of the morning. Sunrise was a way off yet but it didn't matter. They would not come out after her so close to dawn and risk their destruction. As she approached the mansion she found herself wondering how she would do this, should she be direct? No, the risk would be that she would be trapped in the mansion with them and she was too weak to fight them now. Nope she was better off where she was which meant a little vandalism. She picked up a rock, feeling its weight in her hand.

 

* * * * *

 

Demetriov sat with Torin talking. Marina paced in the room with them, waiting for her lover. He was not normally out this close to dawn and his lateness was making her unusually nervous. Her pacing was just becoming irritating, Torin being close to snapping at her to stop it before it drove him mad. The three turned together as they heard the sound of breaking glass. Not waiting they rushed out into the main hall to see the shards of the ruined window scattered all around, as well as the rock that had caused the destruction. All of a sudden a bundle was tossed through the broken window, rolling across the floor, stopping at Demetriov's feet. They couldn't help but notice the trail of blood it left in its wake, and the blood staining the fabric. They all guessed the contents, but shock prevented it from sinking in.

 

Demetriov knelt slowly, unwrapping it carefully to avoid getting too much blood on him. Mortal blood was one thing, but this was distinctly unpleasant. He shrank back disgusted as he looked into Stephan's lifeless face. Marina screamed behind him, falling to her knees, grabbing the head and clutching it to her body. He turned to look through the broken window to see Tegan standing watching them as Marina wailed her grief. Her expression was cold, yet in her eyes he saw a flash of pain. Her anger gone now, disgust now filled her eyes. Marina looked up amidst her cries and saw her.

 

“You! I'll kill you, you bitch!” She was screaming now, tears running down her cheeks, overcome with grief.

 

She dropped the head, his blood staining her clothes. She rushed towards the doors, attack her intent but Torin pulled her back.

 

“Don't!” He cried as she struggled against him.

 

“Let go of me!” She screamed into his face.

 

“You can't, it is almost dawn, and you will be destroyed.” He hissed.

 

She looked out at the sky, it starting to get light. She shrugged him off, deflating a little, making no attempt to go anywhere. She turned to her lover's killer.

 

“Listen up bitch! You had better watch your back! I'll come for you when you don't expect it and I will kill you!” With that she stormed to the safety of her room, weeping as she went.

 

Demetriov looked to Tegan once more. She was in pretty bad shape, covered in cuts and livid bruises, her clothes torn, blood from her own wounds staining them. Even as she stood staring back at him, she swayed slightly. It was obvious that it had been a close call for her. He saw her hate for him burn in her eyes. She smiled coldly as his gaze met hers and then she turned away. He watched as she walked away. He found that he had a new found respect for her. She was proving to be tough and resourceful, a real fire brand. He smiled slightly; it did make things so much more interesting.

 

“You had better put that outside.” He said to Torin quietly, not bothering to hide his disgust at the bloody object. “The others will know soon enough, there is no need for evidence.”

 

Torin nodded, knowing that it would burn up in the dawn light, which was now perilously close. He undertook the grisly task quickly as he was short on time, but not without some sickness rising in his stomach.

 

Demetriov found to his surprise that he was pleased by this turn of events. When the time was right this would be no ordinary hunt, and he would enjoy it.

 

* * * * *

 

And so it was that Tegan found herself sinking deeper and deeper into the role that she had chosen, though it was difficult to deal with her emotions. However there was no turning back now, not after what she had done. I must admit the whole affair chilled me to the core. It seemed so unlike her, and she seemed to be becoming like her brother, cold and ruthless. It wasn't until we discussed it later that I realised how hard it had been for her. She was to cry many tears over these events, weep for the evil things she had done. In the meantime I worried all the more, her behaviour having become disturbing.

 

Things were set to change however. It was evident that while she was stronger than we had anticipated, she was only just managing to get through her hunts alive. It seemed that it would only be a matter of time until she made a wrong move and found herself in deep trouble. It seemed that she would find herself out of her depth. She returned to testing our strength, though she shied away from Demetriov and Adam. I remained too elusive for her to find. I had no desire to face her, and perhaps, I was a little afraid seeing what she had already done to others. It was a year later when she struck hard once more. Well, we all presumed she did as one morning Alan did not return and we never saw him again.

 

Again she seemed to lay low for a while. After a few months Demetriov started to get twitchy, worried that she had left, no longer able to cope with the task she had set herself. He wanted so badly to change her, to bring her to his side, and he meant to keep his promise. He had been so patient, almost delighting in her hunting of us. Marina and Rachel on the other hand seemed to get nervous. The companions they had long lived with now dead, they could not help but feel that they would be next. It seemed her intent to take out the youngest amongst us first.

 

It was nearly a year after Alan's sudden disappearance, and two after the grisly delivery of Stephan's head that she surfaced once more, somewhat spectacularly, an event which would be memorable indeed.

 

***************************************************************** ******************

 

Author's Notes:

Okay so the girl seems to be completely loosing herself. Oh well, hers is a tragic lot. That and I am a complete and utter meanie so go figure.