Bonded by blood

5. Darius - into the shadows

Darius looked at the sky which was painted with beautiful colours such as, oranges, pinks blues and purples. He had long lost hope of finding Kaelyn. He retreated to his homeland in Scotland to the manor he grew up in. As a vampire with noble blood he had all the wealth he could possibly want.

His manor was beautiful. Vines crawled up the building just beside the windows. There were neat rose bushes that were cut in a rectangular shape lining either side of the front garden. There was a pavement leading from the gate to the house which had a huge majestic fountain in the middle, with a beautiful angel sculpture praying on her knees with her head bowed... Her face peaceful.

He was perched on the roof of his manor. Not once did he even come close to finding her. 

He played along with Tatiana's game, acting as if nothing has changed... But everything has changed. His mind was filled with the latest images of Kaelyn as a woman. Her body permanently etched into his mind. He longed to be near her... To find her and continue what they started. Now... There is no hope left in him. He believed she is dead.

He was perched on the roof watching the sunset. He could smell the different scents that drifted through the air. The smell of the pine trees, the smell of the fresh water of the river that flowed through the mountains. The smell of the animals... He could hear their heart beating frantically, their hooves connecting with the ground.

He felt his grogginess decrease as the sun sets. His strength returning fast. Tonight he took to the near by town to the tavern on Craymen street. His sources told him he would find the demon that could help him find the answers he seeks... And by sources he means Hannah.

His phone came to life in his pocket. He whisked his phone out of his pocket and stared at the ID caller. Strider.

"Speak." He answered impatient.

"The demon is here. " Striders voice was low and callous.

Strider had a long history with demons, non of it good.

" Watch him like a hawk. I will be there in 5 minutes. " He hung up the phone and proceeded to his chambers.

On his bed lay a pair of faded jeans and a white v-neck t-shirt which clung to his body like a second skin, along with it a pair of white Nike trainers. He wore a golden chain around his neck with a pendent which had his family crest engraved on it.

On his right wrist he wore his golden Rolex watch. He went over to the walk in wardrobe and went to the back wall. He opened one of the drawers and felt underneath it till he reached the finger scanner and pressed down.

A computerized voice cut the silence.

" Access granted. Welcome master Michelson. "

The back wall sunk back and slid apart bringing forth a wall of weapons. He ran his eyes across the selection and picked out an item and slid it in his pocket.

He pressed his finger to the scanner again and it immediately slid back into its previous position. He walked back out of the wardrobe and stood infront of the full length mirror. He tied his freshly trimmed black hair into a ponytail. He ran his hands down his face over his thick stubbled beard.

He materialised at the back of the tavern unseen. He walked through the side ally round to the entrance at the front.

The shape shifter known as Knox was standing by the door. He was wearing a grey blazer over a white shirt, accompanied by black jeans and black leather Oxford shoes. He had mousy brown hair, which was short on the side with his longer hair on his head slicked back with gel, pale blue eyes. His lips were set in a thin line barely keeping his temper in check whilst a young human woman slobbered over him.

He looked at Darius and gave him a nod of his head in acknowledgement.

Darius walked past him into the tavern. The moment he was inside he was greeted by a miasma of smoke and the smell of alcohol wafted through it.

He spotted strider at the table in the far back corner. He strode over to him cautiously aware of the immortals of the night that surround him.

Fae on the left... Level of threat... Minimal.

Lycan three o'clock... Two males and one female... Level of threat... High when provoked.

Three witches from the Ralke clan, twelve o'clock at the bar. Elemental powers... Water... Level of threat... Medium... Could harm but not kill.

One Harpie... Level of threat... High... Could cut your balls off just because you looked at her arse.

He tuned in to the vibrations around him. He saw red ribbons surrounding strider... Blue ribbons around the witches... The Harpie had copper ribbons... Lycans... Silver...

Black ribbons.

Demon. Five o'clock.

He tuned back out and calmly made his way to the table strider was at.

Looking at the table there was a buffet of food and a wine glass filled with whisky. The colour darkened by the blood mixed in.

" Eating on the job? " Darius raised his left eyebrow.

" You know how it is Darius, gotta blend in. Plus," he raised his finger pointing upwards, " I have a big appetite that needs to be quenched." He smirked.

Darius rolled his eyes. He sat down opposite strider. It wasn't long after a slender red head walked up to him.

" What can I get y'all. " She spoke with Texas accent.

" My friend here seems to be... Content. Though I am sure he could use another drink. I on the other hand would like a Jack Daniels with a shot of AB positive. " He flashed a dashing smile.

The woman blushed brighter then her hair and mumbled, " right away sir. "

With that she left, giving her hips an exaggerated sway.

No' for me sweetheart.

Strider on the other hand had his eyes trained firmly on her backside. It's clear to see what was running through his mind.

She came back a few moments later with their drinks. She placed Darius's on the table in front of him. She reached to striders side and reached up and took hold of the drink allowing his fingers to linger on hers. Strider heard her heart speed up and he smirked.

"Thank you." He purred.

She looked bewildered for a moment, her mind completely blank. She blinked a couple of times and answered.

"You're welcome, sugar." With that she hesitantly turned back around and carried on with her work.

" Intel."

Strider leaned back and sighed.

" The demons name is Fatzien-" Darius cuts him off.

"Wait... Did you just say Fat-zien" he made a snort like sound trying hard not to burst out with laughter... " Fat .. zien... Haha!" He could barely contain himself. " My word, his parents must be very podgey- sorry I mean proud..." Darius smirked.

Strider didn't look very amused.

"Are you done?" He asked clearly unimpressed.

Darius cleared his throat and nodded for strider to continue.

"He is just stopping by on the way to Russia. The reasons for him going there are unknown." Strider finished his whisky and sat forward leaning in.

What are we going to do.

His voice infiltrated Darius's mind.

We shall get the information out of him. How is another matter that I will see to myself.

Strider nodded and with that he finished his dinner.

Darius tuned in once again watching the auras turn into ribbons. The Demons ribbons were absent.

Fuck!

Striders voice entered his mind.

He has left the premises. Quinn is on his trail. We must move... NOW!

Darius dashed out of the tavern uncaring for those who got in his way. He traced and materialised in the shadows of the ally, melting into it as he made his decent. He travelled further down it until Quinn came into view.

He traced to him.

Where is he.

Darius demanded.

He just walked around that corner.

Quinn turned to the direction he was talking about. He was wearing all black, a silhouette in the moon lit streets.

Come on, let's go Darius.

Quinn traced after him with Darius right on his tail. When they rounded the corner they saw another demon and a demoness.

Darius could only pick up bits and pieces of their conversation.

" We have gathered... For the arrival of the king... Prisoners in Domariel... Fortress in Russia... Tekhan..."

With that they went out of hearing range.

Who is Tekhan? What about the prisoners? Russia... Is that the key?

He watched them continue their conversation until the two disappeared leaving Fatzien.

Fatzien turned and headed back towards Darius.

Darius silently crouched down low, in position to attack.

His phone started buzzing, the caller's number lit up the screen revealing him.

The demon stilled and looked in Darius's direction, noticing him for the first time. He charged at Darius swinging a right hook which connected with Darius's jaw breaking his mandible bone.

Darius crashed through the wall of the warehouse he was standing in front of, sliding along the floor till he stopped. He got up in less than a second later hearing the demon's roar.

He re-adjusted his jaw so it healed in place. He traced to the demon grabbing him by the jugular and choke slamming him into the floor creating a small crator.

The demon kicked Darius in the stomach, winding him. His gripped loosened and the demon gripped his left arm twisting it. Using a hammer fist the demon brought it down on his arm with the elbow facing upwards, causing his arm to break in half shattering the ulna and the radius bone.

Darius yelled out in pain and yanked his arm away from the demon tracing a few feet away.

Fatzien lunged for Darius again but Darius traced behind him grabbing a fist full of his black hair. He landed a punch square on the demons back winding him and causing his spine to break.

He pulled out the item that he placed in his pocket. Black obsidian knuckle dusters. Black obsidian's effect on demons is the equivalent to the effect kryptonite had on superman except it burns the demons skin and can suck the soul of a demon into it, if the wielder wishes it.

Darius dragged the demon down watching out for his tail, which tried to snake round his ankle. He stamped on it, causing Fatzien to hiss in pain.

Note to self; a demon's tail is a weakness.

The demon landed on his back with Darius on top of him. His left arm snapped back into place just in time to counter the swipe of Fatzien's claws. He put the demons arm into a tight arm lock. With the knuckle dusters in his right hand he connected with the demons temple, knocking his head back so hard the concrete floor cracked.

He leaned slightly forward grabbing the demon by its throat. The obsidian glowed dark purple as he activated the soul calling. Fatzien stilled, his eyes filled with realisation and widened in fear.

Darius only pulled a fragment of his soul out of his body as a warning.

" You will  tell me everything I need to know." He growled at the demon.

The demon nodded his head.

" Where is the fortress in Russia? " He asked.

The demon replied, " I do not know. There is a rumour of an army uprising in Russia. Some of the prisoners that escaped are using it for the training they need to bring down the king. Too long has he been in rule of our dimension. " His eyes filled with hatred. 

Darius nodded taking in the information that was given to him.

" Who is Tekhan? "

The demon swallowed," he is the one who created the portal that lead them to the isolated place." The demon paused and smirked. "The demon king has lost his little treasure. Now he seeks to get it back."

Darius was taken aback by that.

" What little treasure." He growled.

" I don't know. Apparently it was the key to securing his position as king forever. " The demon glowered. " Whatever it is, I will stop at nothing to keep it from him. Even if it costs me my life. " He made a silent vow and waited for Darius.

Darius deactivated the soul calling and returned the fragment of his soul. He knew deep down he may need this demon's assistance.

" You now owe me your life. I will collect my payment one day, whenever and however I see fit."

With that Darius traced to Quinn who was perched on the roof of the warehouse.

" Quite a battle you had there." He grinned.

" Thanks for the help, no'."

" You had it under control and besides... How could I let a demon ruin this good looking face? Answer is I can't!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air exaggeratedly.

" Next time I will ruin your good looking face." He clipped Quinn round the ear.

"Ouch! Was that really necessary?" He whined.

" Aye, just as your help was. " Darius retorted.

Darius traced down onto the pathway and started walking the opposite way he came.

" Where are you going! " Quinn shouted.

" To find my black book. " He whispered walking away.

Quinn waved him off and disappeared.

He walked through the streets needing to stretch his legs a bit after that battle and regain his strength. He was five minutes down the road when he spotted her.

A human woman.

She wasn't the prettiest. She had short legs, her mousy brown hair was in a messy bun and she had half of her makeup running down her face. She looked very fragile and can be easily manipulated.

He materialised behind her.

" What is a fine woman like you doing out here on a night like this? " He asked smoothly.

She jumped and made a little squeek. She turned abruptly to find Darius staring down at her with a hint of curiosity crossing his features.

He heard her heart speed up and she swallowed slightly.

" I am going for a walk." She replied to him with a small voice.

"Alone?" He c****d his head slightly.

" I am not alone... My friend is just around the corner. " She frowned. " Why are you talking to me? " Her brown eyes turning suspicious.

" How could I not talk to a beautiful woman such as yourself?" He lied barely able to keep his stomach from rolling.

" Beautiful." She scoffed. "Yeah right. How so when I can repulse any man that comes near me, so don't try and call me beautiful." she rolled her eyes clearly inpatient.

Interesting. She has no self esteem. Could make this capture all the more sweeter.

" Do I seem repulsed by you?" He cooed.

" I am unsure and as to how a man like yourself would go for a woman like me is beyond me. Which means you are after something. "

Clever woman, I will give her that.

The breeze sifted through his hair. His curiosity burned brighter.

" What do you mean. " He asked as if dumbfounded.

She peered at him for a long moment deciding what to say.

" All you would want is a quick-" she was cut off.

As growl sounded from behind him.

He turned to the noise to see a Lycan standing behind him.

" Get away from my woman. " His eyes were so intense Darius could of sworn he burned a hole through his own. Then it clicked.

His mate. Feel sorry for the guy to be mated with a mere human.

Darius raised his arms, his hands up as if in surrender.

" I was only talking to the lassie. " he insisted.

" I know what you want, leach. You will have non from her. Now f**k off before I slice your head of and rip your fangs out. " The Lycan warned.

Darius took one last glance at the woman. Her mouth was agape her eyes wide in shock.

Clearly she doesn't know much about our world. Oh well, I guess I can go somewhere else for a meal.

He walked past the woman whispering, "my condolences. "

He didn't look back but he heard her breathe, " what...." She obviously couldn't understand why he said that, nor did he care.

He walked past her without a second glance and traced to the graveyard of his ancestors.

He entered the thick heavy double doors of the tomb located in the centre back of the graveyard. The white marble reflected the moonlight so it shone in the darkness as if to keep the darkness out.

He traveled down a little flight of stairs to the dark room. He snapped his fingers, the sound bounced off of the walls echoing. The torches in the room sparked to life catching fire, lighting the room.

The room revealed the coffins of his latest family passings and the very old ones. He walked to the middle of the tomb and stepped on a stone engraved with the family crest. It shifted and sunk into the ground opening up to reveal yet another set of stairs. He went and grabbed a lit torch from the wall and made his descent down the stairs case.

This was his mother's family tomb.

He hadn't of had to go to the shadow realm in a long time. He had no reason to. Until now.

He passed through the portal at the end of the stairs and was greeted by the gate keeper.

His cloak was ripped around the edges his skin was melted to his face, some parts revealing his black skull. His fingers were black boned which pointed like claws at the tips, his eyes white dots in the black orbs. His teeth were sharp and jagged.

He didn't move.

" Speak your purpose and enter. " The gatekeeper snarled.

" I have come to claim the black book of immortals." He stated.

The gatekeeper said nothing but studied Darius.

" Darius Michelson... You may enter."

The gatekeeper stepped aside revealing the gate.

Darius inhaled deeply and stepped through. With that he started his journey through the shadow realm to claim the black book of immortals.