Seared by Desire (39 page)

Shaking off her memories of the past, Sara moved towards the
guards at the door, glad to see George standing beside them. “Is
everyone inside?” she asked, letting the fire build within her in
preparation for her task.

“
I think so my Lady but we can’t afford to hold off any
longer. With no men out there the demons will be inside in
seconds.”

“
I understand,” she said before walking out into the
sun.

The heat from the sun’s rays warmed her and she smiled before
she let her power loose. Fire poured from her skin in waves, racing
outwards and burning any unsuspecting demons in its path as the
flames raced to circle the perimeter of the estate. Sara closed her
eyes, letting the fire burn hotter and blaze bright enough that the
demons couldn’t simply destroy her work by sucking the heat out of
the fire. Any who now tried would be burnt to a crisp. Within
seconds the perimeter was secure, the wall of fire rising upwards
to create a protective dome around the entire estate. Her head
began to swim as fatigue set in. She’d been working on Lucian's
armour everyday for the last 4 days and had crafted swords every
night. Her strength was finally beginning to wane in the face of
this latest task.

She sighed, “This will have to do. Demons are stupid, they’ll
keep trying to break through and keep getting killed in the
process. By the time the vampires wake, most of them will probably
be dead.”

Their protection was almost complete when the frantic calling
of her name grabbed Sara’s attention. She turned to the door, her
eyes widening when she saw Laura desperately fighting against the
guards. Thick arms were wrapped around her but she fought wildly,
uncaring of the bruises that were likely forming on her
skin.

“
Lady Sara,” she screamed, tears running down her cheeks.
“Please Lady Sara, you have to stop! Matthew,” she choked. “Matthew
is still out there!”

Horrified, Sara turned her eyes back to the flames that
surrounded them. She could barely see anything through the
colourful flames. There was no time to try and change the
properties of the flames to allow the boy in and if he was truly
out there the demons would kill him with no remorse.

Her heart thundering, she unsheathed Lucian's sword and raced
to the wall of flame turning back to reassure Laura. “I’ll find
him. Don’t worry and for heavens sake, don’t try to follow
me.”

As soon as the words left her lips, Sara ran through the
flames and onto the battlefield. Demons began to surround her
instantly, drawn irresistibly to her heat and their doom. Her sword
swung out in gracefully circles, felling all that came between her
and her goal. Her vision was one of heat and she could see
Matthew’s much cooler body easily. The boy was trapped, demons
beginning to circle him, fighting amongst each other for the right
to kill him. If she continued defending herself against the demons
attacking her he would be killed. Sara sheathed the blade and ran,
dodging the sharp claws of the demons and finding a path through
the throng. When she reached Matthew, she pulled his body close to
her own, wrapping her arms around him as she pulled them to the
ground and prepared herself for her final attack.

“
Matthew,” she whispered reassuringly. “Don’t be scared. Close
your eyes and when you open them again, this will all be
over.”

“
Lady Sara,” he croaked, clearly terrified.

The demons were closing in, drawn to her heat and the
prospect of tearing Matthew’s fragile body to pieces. “Close your
eyes Matthew,” she repeated sternly. They were running out of
time.

“
Yes Lady Sara.” He closed his eyes tightly, clutching Sara
arms tightly for support.

She wrapped his small body within the shelter of Lucian's
thick coat to protect his young eyes from the damage that she was
about to create, the death she was preparing to unleash on those
that threatened them.
Seraphina,
she called, summoning the strength of the
spirit’s flames.
Don’t hurt Matthew, he’s
innocent but the demons are all yours. Feast.
The spirit rose easily at the mention of a feast, fire
spiralling outwards from Sara’s body to grab a hold of any demon
that was nearby. The swirling column of fire raced along the
ground, scorching the earth and drawing the demons away from them
before it engulfed the horde that had gathered before it in an
inferno so hot that their bodies were burnt to ash.

The demons defeated, Sara pulled herself to her feet, taking
Matthew by the hand and leading him towards the estate. His eyes
widened in shock at the wall of fire that greeted them,
instinctively shrinking away from the heat.

“
It’s okay Matthew,” Sara began trying to calm him. She felt
weak as it was, and with the demons destroyed there was no need to
maintain the fiery dome. Releasing his hand, she stepped away from
him slightly, holding her hands out to the fire. Heat suffused her,
strengthening her tired limbs with the power of her flame. As the
fire died down, she could hear the voices of those she’d protected
and her heart began to pound even harder as she listened to them
speak.

“
Who do you think they came for? Lady Sara or Lord
Lucian?”

“
Lord Lucian. They know that he’s vulnerable after that last
attack, William probably sent them to kill him while he’s
weakened.”

Lucian’s here!
Her heart soared with
joy before her eyes narrowed in anger as their words settled
in.
But he’s hurt and they’ve been keeping
him from me!

The fire now safely within her body again, Sara strode
towards the guards, her hair aflame. “Where is Lucian?” she
demanded.

“
Lady Sara,” the guard gasped in shock, stumbling over his
words. “I don’t know. No one knows where exactly Lord Lucian is,
he’s hunting William.”

The heat from her hair increased making the air crackle as it
heated so quickly small explosions were created around her. “Don’t
lie to me,” she hissed. “I heard you. I know that he’s here and I
demand you take me to him.”

“
Lady Sara, don’t ask me to do this. Lord Lucian said he
didn’t want to see you.”

“
It isn’t as though I’m going to hurt him, I just want to see
him. But I must remind you that he’s not here, I am and you’re
about a hair’s breath away from being charred to a crisp. Now take
me to him.”

“
Of course my Lady.” He bowed his head in submission. Though
he was clearly unwilling, he had no choice but to follow her
command and began leading her through the crowded halls and down
flights of stairs she hadn’t even known had existed.

A sliver of apprehension raced down Sara’s spine as they
continued their journey down what felt like a never-ending flight
of stairs. She and the reluctant guard had been walking for
minutes, the warmth and protection of the sun’s rays fast fading
into memory. Their path was lit sparingly by a few meagre candles,
the constant flickering of their small orange flames woefully
insufficient to beat back the darkness that surrounded them.
Despite the gloom that shrouded their eyes, Sara was barely aware
of their surroundings. She mechanically placed one foot in front of
the other, her mind racing with ideas of why Lucian had felt the
need to hide from her. There was no doubt in her mind that he
trusted her, which only made the secrecy surrounding his
disappearance all the more confusing. She stumbled, her feet
reaching for a stair that wasn’t there, which forced her to look
up.

They had finally reached the end of the staircase, the long
path ending in a short corridor. At the end of the hall there was a
single door, guarded by two pale skin vampires.
I guess that explains the need for darkness,
she decided.

Sara smiled at the guard though she doubted he could see the
gesture. Two single torches lit the small space illuminating the
area around the door and little else. “Thank you,” she breathed. “I
know that you didn’t want to bring me here but thank you for doing
so. When Lucian gets better I’ll make sure you don’t get in trouble
for your actions.”

He sighed in relief. “Thank you my Lady. Thank you. I thought
that Lord Lucian would kill me for certain for disobeying his
order.”

“
I promise he won’t. I have to go. I need to see
him.”

“
Of course my Lady.”

She rolled her eyes, resigning herself to an uphill battle
with the citizens of the estate and their insistence on using
honorific titles instead of her given name. The prospect of seeing
Lucian filled her with confidence and she strolled towards the
guards, determined to see him.

“
Open the door,” she ordered; trying to make sure her voice
was filled the same authority that Lucian's was when he commanded
his troops.

“
Lady Sara, you’re not meant to be here.”

“
I said, open the door.”

“
Lady Sara, we’re on strict orders to defend this door.
Please, go back upstairs.”

“
I’m not going anywhere until I see Lucian. I’ve said this
before; I’m not going to hurt him. You have to know
that.”

“
We never thought you’d hurt him. The Lord trusts you with his
life.”

“
Then what exactly are you defending? Look,” she groaned in
exasperation. “You’ve just said it yourself, Lucian trusts me with
his life. So I’m sure he’s not going to mind if you let me in to
see him.” They still looked reluctant and increasingly frustrated,
Sara resorted to the same tactic that had allowed her to see him in
the first place. Fire crawled over her skin, popping and cackling
as it spread further and further into the air surrounding her. “You
either open this door or I open it as I step over your charred
remains. Believe me, it gives me no pleasure to do this but I’ll do
whatever I have to in order to see him.”

A silent look passed between the two men before they stepped
aside exposing the door to her. The flames died quickly as she
rushed past them and threw open the door. “Lucian,” she cried
happily.

Her joy was short lived. Lucian lay as still as death against
dark sheets, white bandages covering most of his body. The short
distance that separated them disappeared in an instant as she flew
to his side, her hands running over his body assessing the degree
of his wounds. Her heart skipped a beat when she came into contact
with his icy skin. While Lucian was usually cool to the touch,
nullifying her heat with his own chill now he was like ice. Her
heart stopped all together when she placed her hand over his heart
and found no heartbeat. Frantic, she lifted his wrist, trying
desperately to find a pulse.

Tears in her eyes, she turned back to the guards at the door.
“Is he dead?” she sobbed. “He’s dead and no one told me! What were
you hoping to achieve?!” she shrieked angrily.

One of the guards stepped hesitantly into the room, holding
out his hands in a symbol of peace. “He’s alive Lady
Sara.”

“
He’s dead!” she screamed. “His heart isn’t beating and he has
no pulse. He’s dead.” The strength left her body abruptly and her
shoulders slumped in defeat as she clutched his cold skin
tightly.

“
He’s alive Lady Sara,” the guard repeated. “I promise you.
He’s just sleeping.”

“
I’ve slept with him before, his heart beats when he sleeps.
Don’t lie to me.”

“
He’s entered a deep sleep my Lady to conserve his strength.
He’s alive, I assure you. If he weren’t, would we be guarding
him?”

His words sunk in slowly but when they did her racing heart
began to calm, Lucian was alive, he had to be, she wouldn’t accept
an alternative. She turned to look at him, the blue from her
burning eyes so intense that he had difficulty maintaining eye
contact. “So how do I wake him up?”

“
I don’t know my Lady.”

“
What do you mean,” she hissed, “you don’t know?”

“
It’s rare for any vampire to put himself into a deep sleep,
there’s a risk that you may never awaken and only two things can
make you rise, thirst or someone else knowing the exact method to
force your eyes to open. Lord Lucian's sleep is too deep for thirst
to make him wake, we need the other and I don’t know what it is.
What will make a vampire wake from a deep sleep differs from person
to person and Lord Lucian didn’t tell me his secret.”

“
So who will know?”

“
He was brought here by Commanders Gareth and Russell, they
might know.”

Her eyes wandered back to Lucian's still body, her decision
made. “Fine,” she groused. She stood from her position on the floor
beside him and removed his thick overcoat from her shoulders before
slipping into bed beside him and covering them both as best she
could with the heavy material. “When they rise, let them know that
I’m here, waiting.” She pulled Lucian's body close, ignoring the
chill of his skin, simply glad to see him again.

“
Of course my Lady.” The guard bowed as he walked back to his
post, closing the door quietly behind him.

******

“
This is ridiculous,” Gareth cursed as he made his down the
stairs to the chamber where Lucian slept.