Moonlight Conviction (Still on Hiatus)

Hiya guys! How goes it? We are now on Chapter 9 of MC. One away from 10! Woot! Almost double digits! Exciting, right? Well, I’m glad to see that Cora’s family was so happily received and everyone liked them just as much as I did ^-^ That’s always a major plus. But like I said last chapter this chapter won’t be with Nicoli and the others, but back with Ethan and the rest of the clan. It’s time to see what they were up to while Nicoli and Amelia were visiting with Cora’s family. And you will get to see why Riverside is so important >:D I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and here are my replies to my wonderful reviews that I received!

http://darkness80.livejournal.com/9872.html

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Chapter Nine: Midnight Shore

Ethan sighed contentedly as the water from the showerhead washed over him. The heat absorbed into his sore muscles, loosening and relaxing them. It was also nice as the layer of dirt that clung to his skin was washed away. It amazed him how dirty he could get just from running for several miles.

The trip could be made easier by flying, but since they traveled during the day that would be a bad idea. Besides, Ethan still couldn’t fly as well as the others, much to his chagrin. Now that he was training with Gavin again his mental abilities were improving a lot, but it wasn’t enough just yet. He could hover for long periods of time now and could even float in a different direction if he concentrated, but it was still pitiful compared to the others. His mental abilities just weren’t his strong suit. That had always been Evan’s area of expertise.

Ethan stilled with his fingers halfway through combing his hair. How was it after all this time, after everything that bastard had done, that his brother could still come up so casually in his thoughts? It was ridiculous. He should have damned and cursed the DNA they shared, not have admirable thoughts to Evan’s mental abilities.

Ethan shook his head and gave his cheek a good smack. He wasn’t going to agonize over that kind of foolishness right now. He could all ready feel his mood begin to sour and desperately tried to think of something else.

It was possibly no surprise when his thoughts led to Nicoli. Just imagining that hot little body and that witty, sassy attitude could lift anyone’s spirits. Ethan wondered how Nicoli was fairing with Cora’s family. A first meeting with werewolves was always a nerve wracking experience. Nicoli was no doubt charming the family over, or Amelia would if he was failing miserably. The little witch could get anyone to like her if she cared to.

Ethan had the thought of contacting Nicoli through the Mind Link now that they were settled in Riverside, but put the idea aside. Nicoli needed to focus on the visit and Ethan could survive a couple nights with out talking or touching him.

It did occur to him how odd it was not to have Nicoli around, Amelia too for that matter. The two had really become a part of the family over the past few months. It was a sad thought that after everything was over the two would leave the clan and return to their own lives. They would all most likely remain good friends, but their existence in the clan would no longer be a constant.

Ethan was roused from his washing and train of thought when the bathroom door opened. He smiled. He didn’t even have to peek around the shower curtain to know who it was. He just went on washing as there was shuffling and the sound of cloth dropping to the floor. A smirk pulled up Ethan’s lips as the curtain was pushed aside and a very naked Andre joined him.

            “Took you longer to get in here than I expected,” he said, moving over to accommodate Andre. There had been no discussion of the two showering together. Ethan just knew Andre wouldn’t be able to resist such a chance.

“Well, I was going to go find dinner first, but I realized I was very, very filthy.” He pressed up against Ethan and teased his tongue across Ethan’s smiling lips. No kiss followed as Andre abruptly forced Ethan into the wall so he could step past and get under the shower spray. “Stop hogging the water,” he said as he drenched himself.

Ethan chuckled as he righted himself. He stood behind Andre and ran his hands up the others taut back. His fingers slipped to Andre’s front to caress the skin there as he kissed and nibbled the delectable shoulder in front of him. He was interrupted as a bottle poked him in the face.

“Shampoo me,” Andre commanded, poking Ethan in the face again.

Ethan sighed in aggravation as he stood straight and took the little complementary hotel bottle.

“There could be a please in there,” he said.

“Nah, how about just shampoo me now.”

“You’re lucky you’re cute,” Ethan grumbled as he opened the cap and poured some of the shampoo in his hand.

“I know. I love it and all of the benefits that comes with it,” Andre said as Ethan set the bottle aside and applied the shampoo to his hair.

Ethan really worked it into a lather and ran it through the ebony locks. Ethan loved Andre’s hair. The black strands were so silky and soft. It was a joy to run his fingers though it. Ethan was okay with the sexual snub since he was enjoying washing Andre. That was until he kept running into a problem.

“Do you have to wear this thing in the shower?” he asked, snapping the strap of Andre’s eye patch.

“Ow! Excuse you,” Andre grumbled, elbowing Ethan. “If you weren’t here I’d take it off in a second.”

“You are the vainest creature in the world,” Ethan said with a shake of his head.

“Guilty as charged.”

“Andre, I know what your face looks like under there. I don’t care that you’re missing an eyeball. Really.”

“Awe, that’s so sweet…are you almost done back there?”

Ethan sighed and shoved Andre’s head under the spray.

“Yes, rinse off you stubborn jackass.”

Andre just laughed and did so. He washed all the lather out of his hair then turned to Ethan.

“There, is that better?” he asked.

His locks were now sleek and clean, making his hair look extra luxurious and touchable. It also stuck to the skin of his cheeks and neck in the most delicious way.

“Looks great. Now come here.” Ethan grabbed Andre and pulled him into a kiss. He tried to make it into a deep, searing kiss, but Andre quickly pulled away.

“Now what makes you think I’m going to be putting out for you?” he asked, making Ethan’s jaw go slack.

“Um because you put out for everyone. I’m under the firm belief if you’re not fucking someone at least every other hour you’ll spontaneously combust.”

Andre laughed and pushed Ethan into the back wall, opposite of the showerhead.

“Very true, but I’ve been feeling neglected by you recently.” He ran his fingers down Ethan’s chest, that golden eye holding Ethan’s complete attention.

“Neglected? What are you talking about? We’re sleeping together the same amount we always do.”

“Yes, but it seems as though you’re giving much more attention to our little Nickel than you are me and seem to be enjoying him so thoroughly.”

Ethan chuckled as his hands settled on Andre’s hips.

“Jealous, are we? What can I say? He’s new and tantalizing.” He cupped Andre’s cheek and ran his thumb over those lovely lips. “I’m having fun seeing how much pleasure his body can give me and it’s willing to give a lot.” He flinched when Andre bit the pad of his thumb.

“I must admit I’m also a little miffed that you have refused to share him with me. You know how much I’d love to sink my fangs into such a treat as him.” Andre’s tongue snuck out to collect the blood on Ethan’s thumb.

“I can be greedy sometimes, can’t I?”

“But keeping a playmate from me? That’s unlike you.” He took a second to draw Ethan’s thumb into his mouth and suck on it. There was an audible pop when he withdrew it. “You’re starting to hurt my feelings.”

“Awe, poor, Andre. You always want what others have, don’t you?” Ethan’s fangs descended and he ran his tongue over the point. A gash was made down the middle and blood rose up. He leaned in for a kiss and this time Andre met him. Their lips worked furiously against each other and Ethan’s tongue was eagerly taken into Andre’s waiting mouth and sucked on greedily. When the cut was healed and the blood was gone Andre released it, losing interest.

“That’s because others always have such nice things,” he whispered on Ethan’s lips. “I just want a share of it.”

“Well, there’s a possibility you will be able to share my nice things soon.”

Andre pulled back with a look of surprise.

“What?”

“Yep, Nicoli and I have actually been talking about you having a crack at him. He seems more than interested. How’s that sound?”

A small noise escaped Ethan as he was pressed into the wall and his mouth ravished in a fiery kiss.

“That sounds fantastic,” Andre growled when he pulled back. “I’m going to make sure little Nickel can’t walk for a week.”

“Please don’t break him. I’d much rather keep having fun with his nice little body. Just promise me you won’t tell him I said anything. Either let him come to you or give him the opportunity to go for you. If he found out I goaded you, though, or told you we had even talked about this, he’ll shut us both down and neither of us will get Nicoli lovin’.”

“My lips are completely sealed, scouts honor,” Andre said, holding up his fingers for the Boy Scout solute. “When I come for him he’ll have no idea you had even an inkling of my intentions.”

Ethan gasped as Andre’s body was unexpectedly flush against his own. It was more than evident that Andre was ready for some fun by the awakened member that pressed against Ethan’s pelvis.

“Now I believe I’m more than in the mood to put out,” Andre hissed and his hand found its way around Ethan’s cock and his dexterous fingers quickly brought it to attention. “What about you?”

“I was in the mood the second you came in here. Give it to me rough.”

He cried out as nails dug into the skin of his chest and raked down. Angry red lines blazed into his flesh and blood soon flowed. Since they were opposite the spray of the shower the crimson drops weren’t washed away.

“Whatever you wish,” Andre purred and dipped his head down.

Ethan leaned the back of his head against the wall and moaned as Andre’s tongue caressed him, licking away the blood and soothing the delicious burn of the scratches that soon disappeared. The tongue found his right nipple and teased it a little. There was a brief flash of pain as a sharp fang nicked the little perked flesh, but a hot wet mouth incased it and the pain was forgotten.

“You always taste so marvelous,” Andre said, lifting his face back up to look at Ethan.

“I do what I can to please.” Ethan decided it was his turn and wrapped his arms around Andre and held the other against his body as he claimed his mouth. Ethan kissed him for only a moment before harshly biting into Andre’s bottom lip. He suckled it delicately to get every crimson drop that wept from the torn flesh before it could mend itself.

Then they kissed properly, sweet and lovingly, delving into mouths and exploring the depths they knew all too well. Their cocks were now standing together and moans came from both of them and melded into one collective sound as Andre wrapped his hand around both shafts. Those long fingers ran up and down their cocks, touching them and making the two members rub against each other, increasing the amount of pleasure they received from the contact.

Ethan was lost in the sensation, loving how Andre could make him feel. He was drawn out of his bliss when something cool and plastic feeling touched his cheek. With reluctance he opened his eyes that he had closed to relish the pleasure and stared at a little bottle that hovered near his face. It wasn’t the shampoo, but body lotion this time.

“What the?”

“Prepare yourself,” Andre ordered, his voice firm and filled with a rare tone of authority that assaulted Ethan’s spine with chills. “Spread yourself open for me and show me how much you want me to fuck you.”

Ethan nodded numbly as he snatched the little bottle. His fingers fumbled over the cap as Andre picked up the pace of his hand, trying to work Ethan into a frenzy. Finally the cap was ripped off and Ethan quickly poured the lotion onto his fingers, dropping the bottle when he was done with it. He put his other arm around Andre’s shoulders to keep his balance as his leg hooked around Andre’s waist.

“I love it when you’re so commanding,” Ethan said as he reached behind himself and worked a slick finger into his puckered entrance. He had prepared himself before and knew how to do it fast and efficiently in order to get to what he really wanted in him.

“After being with Conrad so much it rubs off on you,” Andre said with a chuckle, now moving his hips in time with his hand.

Ethan moaned in appreciation at this and had to bite down on his lower lip to try and control himself and not finish too soon.

“Will you stop that? I’d like to get to the fun part.”

“Then you better hurry up, shouldn’t you?” Andre asked, rubbing his thumb over the tips of their cocks, making them both groan.

“Almost there.” Ethan had all ready slipped a second finger into him and was stretching his inner walls. He wasn’t going to let Andre win with his teasing. Finally he couldn’t take it and deemed himself ready.

“All right,” he said, withdrawing his fingers and his arm joined the other one around Andre’s neck. “Give it to me.”

Andre snaked his arm under Ethan’s leg that was all ready lifted to spread him wider.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

There was no easing in or making sure Ethan adjusted to the intrusion. There was only a nudge against Ethan’s entrance before Andre thrust in forcefully and sheathed himself completely in one motion.

Ethan’s cry was a mixture of part pleasure, but mostly pain as his passage burned and that sensation spread up his spine.

“Fuck, Andre,” he growled. His nails bit into Andre’s shoulder and he scratched into the flesh deeply to draw blood. He lapped at the red substance greedily to distract himself as his body accommodated the invasion.

“Well, you did ask for it,” Andre murmured, running kisses up and down Ethan’s neck. He stayed completely still for Ethan’s sake.

“You just better not be this rough with Nicoli,” he said and there was a hint of a threat in his words. That hostility disappeared as Andre began to slowly move his hips, rocking shallowly in and out of Ethan.

“I would never dream of it. I know how delicate little humans are. I’ll make sure to be gentle with him unless he asks otherwise.” He caused Ethan to groan when he pushed in deeply and stayed there. “Now get ready, because I’m going to completely own you.”

There was a squeak from the tile as Ethan was hoisted up the wall until only his toes from his leg that was down were touching the tub floor. Then he was mercilessly pounded into, but now he felt nothing but pleasure from the ruthless movements. He clung to Andre as they both moaned explicitly from their coupling, their voices bouncing and echoing off the bathroom walls along with smacks of flesh on flesh.

Ethan and Andre’s skin were soon dyed red as they continuously bit and scratched each other, licking up each others blood with extreme delight. It was normally a bloody affair when vampires came together in such a sexually charged union. It heightened the enjoyment for them to levels unheard of by any other.

Ethan gasped when Andre grew bored of the little cuts and latched onto Ethan’s neck, driving his fangs in deep. For a moment Ethan reveled in the new, maddening penetration before he turned his head and sank his own fangs into the willing flesh of Andre’s throat.

The delicious crimson essence of Andre flowed into his mouth, dancing over his tongue, as he felt his own blood be drained from him. This sharing blood circle was almost more intimate and gratifying than the sexual act they were in the middle of. It nearly drove Ethan out of his head in bliss.

The moment Andre wrapped his fingers around Ethan’s cock he was slammed by such an intense climax that he saw stars in his vision. They released each others throats at the same time as they came together, shouting out their pleasure so loudly the walls trembled.

Ethan held onto Andre for dear life as all feeling left his body when he came down from his high. It was as if all of his bones had melted and it was wonderful.

Andre nuzzled Ethan’s neck and licked away the remaining blood that stained his skin there.

“Mmm you’re always one of my favorite playmates,” Andre whispered into Ethan’s ear, before tracing the inner contours of it with his tongue.

“Same about you. You always know how to make my body go completely numb in a good way,” Ethan said with a tired chuckle. Ethan loved topping his partners, being the one to delve into them and feel them wrapped around him as he drove them into euphoria was beyond amazing. However, he loved being taken equally as much. The way it felt to be penetrated and drawing his lover in to bring pleasure like no other was just as addicting. Andre, of course, was the one to learn how best to use Ethan’s body for his satisfaction.

They kissed as Andre pulled out and it took a few minutes for Ethan to be completely steady on his feet. They went back under the shower spray that was now icy cold, but neither noticed as they washed each other until there was no evidence of what they had done.

When the shower was over they dried themselves off and left the bathroom without bothering getting dressed. They simply covered themselves by wrapping towels around their waists. Out in the hotel room Felix and Faith were on the bed. Felix was flipping through stations on the TV and Faith was lying on her back, her head dangling over the end of the bed as she flipped through a magazine.

“Jeeze, could you two be any louder?” Faith asked, not bothering to look at them.

“Sorry, Faith, we’ll try and keep it down next time,” Ethan said as he put an arm around Andre’s waist, but a grin was plastered on his face.

“No, really, could you two be louder?” Faith said, resting the magazine on her stomach and looking at them upside down with a mischievous smile. “It always sounds so naughty.”

“Anything for you, Doll-Face,” Andre said, nipping along Ethan’s jaw.

“Careful, Faith, your closet pervert is getting out,” Felix said.

“Hey, I have to get my jollies somewhere.”

Felix turned off the TV and stretched.

“So, are we going to go out? I’m bored and don’t want to stay cooped up all night.”

“Yes, we are. I know I definitely worked up an appetite,” Andre said, pulling away from Ethan to go back into the bathroom and get his clothes.

“Maybe we should go find Pops and invite him out,” Ethan suggested, referring to Conrad. “Gavin too. We should all have a good time.”

“Father all ready went out,” Faith said, sitting up.

“What?”

“Yeah, he left shortly after we checked in. Guess he didn’t want to wait for us.”

“Gavin’s gone too,” Felix said. “He left a little after Conrad. You know how he never goes to feed with anyone.”

“What the hell? What happened to us all sticking together at this time?” Ethan asked, quoting Conrad’s warning.

“You know Father’s warnings usually never apply to him,” Faith said as she slipped off the bed. “And Gavin is hardly one to worry about. I’d be more concerned for the person stupid enough to start something with him.”

“Isn’t that true,” Andre said as he came out of the bathroom fully dressed.

“Oh well, their loss,” Ethan said with a shrug.

“Yep, now hurry up and get dressed. I want to go,” Felix said, tugging on Ethan’s towel.

“All right, all right. I’ll get dressed and then it’s off to make the night ours!”

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The night air was crisp and the sky clear so that every star shone brightly above Riverside. It was a strange name for a town that was only a few miles from the ocean and was not on the side of any river. Whoever had named the town had clearly been deranged or simply ignorant, but that was not Conrad’s concern at the moment.

            He stood at the edge of a large cliff that overlooked the ocean. The mist from the crashing waves coated his skin in salt and a cool breeze teased his hair. The moonlight reflected off the surface of the water and danced ever so elegantly to the motion of the waves. He forgot how beautiful the sea could be.

“Where should we start looking?” a voice said as a tall figure stepped up beside him.

“I suppose we just scour this Cliffside until we find what we’re looking for,” he replied. “I’m sorry I can’t give you more than that, Gavin.”

“Could you please refresh my memory on what Dimitri said?”

Conrad took a deep breath through his nose as he dredged up memories he’d rather leave buried. Only a few months ago he had slain Dimitri, his own brother. He had held the man of his flesh and blood that he had been determined to end ever since the night Dimitri had killed their eldest brother Isaak. Then Conrad’s world had been shattered as with Dimitri’s dying breath he said something most disturbing.

He told Conrad that he had not killed their brother. That Isaak had died by his own greed and his life was ended by the Heart, not Dimitri. Conrad demanded why Dimitri would lead him to believe the deed had been done by Dimitri if it hadn’t. What was said next could have very well crushed Conrad’s heart and spirit in that moment.

Dimitri said that he had wanted Conrad to blame him for Isaak’s death because if he didn’t Conrad would focus all of his hate and blame on himself. Conrad had to admit that that was a very plausible course of action for him, but it still made no sense to all of the pain and suffering Dimitri had laid on them afterwards. Could he really cause so much murder and hate just to play the villain for Conrad?

That was why he was at the ocean tonight. To find those answers. He had to know if he had spent the last one hundred and fifty years of his life hating his brother for a crime he didn’t even commit. Waging a war that had brought nothing but suffering for his family for a misplaced revenge. Could he live with himself? He didn’t know. That was why he had not told anyone of what Dimitri had confessed to him. No one but Gavin.

The news had been shocking to Gavin, but he had sworn to keep Conrad’s secret and help him find those answers. There was no one Conrad trusted more to be his confidante. Usually that right was reserved for his darling Faith, but not with this. She had still held love for Dimitri through everything and the knowledge that the blood that had been spilt had been over a lie would have crushed her.

No, he could only trust Gavin to remain strong and help him discover the truth. If Conrad was honest with himself he had also told Gavin so that he could have someone to lean on in case he couldn’t handle what he was about to learn. To him Gavin was his closest, dearest and most trusted friend and he was going to need him more than ever tonight.

“He said that just north of a town called Riverside there was a cave on the coast hidden by the sea. Supposedly that is where we are going to find Isaak’s body,” Conrad said and he felt instantly sick at just the thought.

“Sir,” Gavin said softly after a moment of silence. His voice was so soothing at such a low tone. “I hope you understand that even if we do find Isaak’s body it may not prove Dimitri’s innocence. It is more than possible that he killed Isaak in this cave and left his body there. Just because he told you the location Isaak lies does not mean he did not do the deed.”

“I know,” Conrad said, his eyes following the quivering shape of the moonlight one the waters surface. “I have no idea what we’ll find or even if we’ll understand what it means, but for the sake of my sanity we have to try and uncover the truth.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I just want to say thank you for doing this for me, Gavin. You have my deepest gratitude.”

“I would do anything for you, Conrad, and not just because you are my leader,” Gavin’s big hand rested on Conrad’s shoulder. “I value your friendship and always have.”

The two shared tender smiles and Conrad’s fortitude was renewed.

“Let us start our search then.”

Together they stepped off the cliff and plummeted downward. If they had been normal humans they would have plunged to their deaths into the icy water below, but luckily for them they weren’t human. They stopped in their fall just feet above where the waves reached and looked about the wall of the cliff.

“Let us go further north,” Conrad said when they saw nothing.

“Dimitri had to be cryptic with his directions. That man never made anything easy,” Gavin said.

“In his defense he was dying at the time.”

“Let us not defend the mad man until we prove he was not mad.”

“Deal.”

They flew north, staying along the Cliffside. They were ever watchful for caves burrowed into the rock and ground, but found nothing as to what Dimitri had described.

“Sir, wait,” Gavin called after a few minutes of frivolous searching.

“Yes?” Conrad came to a stop as Gavin hovered beside him.

“Do you think it is possible that this cave could reside under the water?”

“Under the water? I suppose it’s possible. Why do you think that?”

“If the cave were so easily visible then anyone could have come across it ages ago. If this cave is supposedly one of the Heart sanctuaries it should be harder to find. That is why I believe it would be under the water. That would make it much harder for people to locate.”

“Your reasoning is sound,” Conrad said, his eyes skirting the water, wishing he could see the cave opening from where he was. “Shall we take the plunge then?”

“No, let me be the one to go under. You should remain here to continue the search above the water just in case I am wrong.”

“Ah, double the search while cutting the time in half. Good thinking. Keep in touch.”

“Always.”

Conrad watched as Gavin completed the fall from before and disappeared with a splash into the water. There was a dark shape of Gavin’s form until he went too far down for even Conrad to see. Luckily vampires had no need to breathe so there was no fear of drowning. That left Gavin with as much time as he liked in his search. With that thought Conrad continued on his way, searching the rock wall for what he sought for.

There was still nothing. There were dips in the face of the cliff, but they did not continue into caves or anything of the sort. Conrad was really beginning to wonder if Dimitri had just sent him on a wild goose chase with his final breath when a voice penetrated Conrad’s mind.

“Sir, I think I have found it,” said Gavin’s mental voice.

Conrad reached back immediately.

“Excellent that is spectacular news!” Before he could even ask where Gavin was he saw something in the distance come up out of the water. With mounting adrenaline he raced towards the now surfaced Gavin, reaching him in only a few seconds.

“Where is it?” he asked with his mouth instead of his mind.

“Follow me.” Then Gavin was gone under the water again only he was followed closely by Conrad this time.

Conrad was incased by the sea’s icy grasp as he was submerged. The waves tried to pull and push him every which way, but he refused to let himself be moved. Further and further down he went, never letting Gavin get out of his sight. They were almost to the sea floor when Gavin jetted toward the rock face and it was there Conrad saw it. An opening marred the cliffs wall. It wasn’t large, if Conrad had been standing next to it he would have had to stoop down to enter it, but being propelled by his mental energy he would fit just fine.

Gavin disappeared into it first and Conrad did not hesitate to pursue. The opening led to a tunnel that went in for a few feet before veering upward. It was a shock when his head broke the surface of the water. He shook his now drenched hair out of his face and saw a hand outstretched, waiting for him. The moment he took it he was pulled up out of the water and onto solid ground.

“Well, if I wasn’t awake before I certainly am now,” Conrad said as squeezed the water out of his hair and shook his arms to try and dislodge the liquid from his clothes.

“You hardly ever sleep, so there is not much of a difference,” Gavin said with a little smile. It was rare when Gavin made a joke, especially to poke fun at Conrad’s troublesome insomnia, but Conrad chuckled anyways. Gavin made no move to dry himself instead taking in their surroundings. “This proves promising. No one would be able to find this place easily unless they knew what they were looking for.”

“Yes, quite an ingenious location.” Conrad looked around and saw the pool of water that they had come up from and the cavern they were in led off into a tunnel, further than even his eyes could see. “It doesn’t look like there are any traps.”

“I see no hints either, but we should be wary.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t pass up any trick with these Guardians. Let’s go my friend.”

Together they cautiously headed down the tunnel. They had only taken a few steps when old torches that were bolted on either side of the tunnel walls flared to life. Conrad jumped slightly, but noticed Gavin hadn’t even flinched.

“Do you ever get spooked?” he asked. He saw the slightest smirks appear on Gavin’s face in the torch light.

“After so many years on this earth? No, not really.”

“You are one of a kind, Gavin,” Conrad said before examining the torches. The fire that crackled from the ends was strange. It was a deep, unnatural red and was more stationary than normal fire. “You don’t suppose Mr. Vander has witch blood in his family, do you?” he asked.

“No, it did not seem apparent when we spoke to him. I am assuming the Vander family had help constructing this and withes were possibly involved.”

“Last Hope had a diverse group of people that’s for sure,” Conrad murmured.

Last Hope was where the Guardians originated from. Back when the Hearts were first created there were numerous wars and blood spilt trying to gain control of these powerful items. Finally a group of humans had enough of the destruction and smuggled the Hearts away, hiding them so no one could use them. The group was called Last Hope because they believed that if the wars over the Hearts had been left to its own devices then possibly the whole world would be led to destruction. As far as anyone knew Last Hope had disbanded years ago, but the Guardians who were in charge of looking over the Hearts remained.

Conrad and Gavin ventured further into the cave. It was a straightforward path with no turns and they didn’t run into any traps.

“How can this be so easy?” Conrad finally voiced after a length of silence.

“I believe the Guardians did not believe anyone would make it this far. Even if they did they would have to find a way to take the Heart without being killed by the charms placed on it,” Gavin answered.

Conrad chewed on the inside of his cheek as he mulled over a thought he had had for months.

“How do you suppose a normal human boy was able to do what no one else has?” Conrad asked. “I am more than thrilled that Nicoli retrieved the Hearts for us, but it is certainly perplexing, isn’t it? I have heard countless stories of vampires who were able to find a Heart and they were killed almost instantly the moment they touched it. What does he have that no one else does?”

“I have not a clue, sir. Perhaps it is simply the rumor Ethan heard that made him acquire Nicoli in the first place was true.” He had been referring to the rumor Ethan picked up that only a human could take the Crystal Hearts. That still seemed ridiculous to Conrad that humans would have that right, but he had been proven wrong.

“Hmm.” Conrad had asked Nicoli countless times what exactly happened the night he took the Heart. Nicoli had replied that he didn’t know. He had simply grabbed the Heart and the next thing he knew he was thrown hard and woke up on the ground, but was unharmed. “It just all seems so strange. I wish he knew how he had done it. It just…bothers me.”

“I am sure he would tell us if he were able,” Gavin said quietly.

For some reason the way Gavin phrased that caused Conrad’s brows to furrow. It almost sounded like Gavin knew something he didn’t, but nothing could be further from the truth. Gavin would never lie to Conrad or keep something so important from him. He just decided to brush off the feeling and focus on the task at hand.

They only had to travel a little further before the tunnel opened up into a cavernous room. It was quite large and there was no way to go further, but they had no need to. The room was lit by the same torches that hung on the walls of this room and in the center there was a pedestal that rose up from the floor made completely of stone and earth, but it held nothing. It was easy to see that the Heart once resided here, but had departed ages ago. Sadly the question of where it went was to be left unanswered.

For once, however, the Heart was not what was most pressing on Conrad’s mind. He had all ready expected to not find the Heart there, so he was not disappointed, though he was dreading what he did come to find.

He had been staring at the empty upraised piece of stone when Gavin’s hand was placed on his shoulder.

“Sir.”

Conrad looked to him, but Gavin’s arctic blue eyes were trained on a far off place in the room. Conrad followed Gavin’s line of sight and it felt like ice dug into his very marrow at what he saw.

Slumped over against the far wall was a skeleton. The bones were caked in grim and looked slick from the moisture in the air from the sea. Deteriorated clothing hung on it like morbid drapes and seemed like they would disintegrate if touched. It could have been mistaken for a human skeleton until one focused on the skeleton’s mouth. Its jaw was hanging open, its teeth surprisingly intact, and its canines were much longer than was normal. They were the fangs of a vampire.

“It can’t be,” Conrad said in a hushed whisper, a great pressure squeezing his chest.

“Sir,” Gavin said as Conrad walked toward the skeleton, but he went ignored.

Conrad’s feet felt so heavy, as if his shoes were filled with lead. Each step was harder than the next and it seemed like an eternity before he stood in front of the decomposed body. He knelt down so he was face to face with it. He stared at the skull, trying to picture what the face would look like with skin, hair and eyes.

“Isaak?” he said, as if the skeleton answered. Before he would be embarrassed by the way his voice cracked, but not now. At the moment he had completely forgotten Gavin was in the room.

His eyes stayed trained on the skeleton and he was shocked by the wave of emotion that hit him. Sorrow, guilt, and anger. So many questions rushed up into his throat that he wanted to scream at the skeleton. Why did he leave Conrad that night? Why hadn’t he explained what was going on? Why did he not trust Conrad enough to let him come? Why did he not come home? Why did he die? Why did he leave Conrad all alone?

Conrad swallowed down all of these questions along with the lump that had formed in his throat. He would not cry. He would not shed a single tear. He was a clan leader. That would be a sign of weakness, something he could not show.

“It may not be him,” Gavin’s voice said right behind him. Conrad hadn’t even heard him move. “We have no way to know it is Isaak.”

Conrad gave himself a second to make sure his voice would be strong and not waver.

“It’s him,” he said, his voice muffled from his fist that he clenched against his mouth. “It’s Isaak.”

“Sir-”

“I know it sounds crazy,” Conrad said, cutting Gavin off. “But I know. I know it’s him.”

“…Even so, that does not mean that Dimitri was telling the truth. He still could have murdered Isaak and left him here. He could have just been giving one final attempt to push you towards madness.”

Gavin was right. Conrad had no way of knowing if Dimitri was telling the truth or not. What was supposed to happen now? How was this supposed to prove anything? Maybe Dimitri had just wanted Isaak’s body to be found and buried properly to alleviate some of his guilt. Then why spill the story of the Heart killing Isaak? Conrad was just so confused.

Without understanding what drove him to do it, Conrad reached out and pressed his hand tenderly against the skeletons jaw.

“Isaak, what happened to you?”

The words slipped out of Conrad’s mouth before he could stop them. He wouldn’t have tried to stop them anyway. His eyebrows furrowed when something strange happened. He was sure, deep within the skulls eye sockets there was a faint glow. He was more than sure when it grew brighter and brighter and before he could even cry out a bright flash filled the entire room then all went black.

================================================Ch. 9 End

Bum bum buuuuum!!! Oh no! What has happened to Conrad!? Lol hmmm seems like what just happened to him is a bit of a déjà vu, don’t you think? Though the Heart wasn’t involved this time, so what exactly caused the flash? Curious. And now you all know why Riverside was important. It was the town Dimitri mentioned while he was dying of where Isaak died and, lo and behold, they found Isaak. Poor guy has been left in there to rot for over one hundred and fifty years. He aint pretty no more that’s for sure.

I liked this chapter not just for the discovery of Isaak’s body, but because for the first time you actually get to see the relationship that Conrad and Gavin have. Before when they were together Conrad has been the stern leader and Gavin his silent, intimidating right hand man. It’s only when they’re alone like this that you get to see that they are actually friends and care and respect each other a lot. It shows by Conrad confiding in Gavin what Dimitri told him and that he took Gavin with him and no one else. It’s also in these rare moments when it’s just the two of them that Gavin is at his most relaxed. You’ve never seen him so loose before and he’s really only like that with Conrad. I mean, the two have pretty much known each other for a thousand years! There’s no way the two wouldn’t be close after all that time together. It’s actually really touching.

And of course I have to touch on the beginning of the chapter. Who here liked seeing some hanky panky between Ethan and Andre? XD You guys haven’t been able to see Andre in action yet, so I thought it was as good a time as any and you got to see that he can be a rather rough and vicious lover when he wants to be. Good thing Ethan can take it >:D And we get to see Bottom!Ethan again. I’m pretty much going to tell you that Ethan bottoms for all the guys in the clan. Him and Andre switch every once in a while, but Ethan’s usually the one being bent over and he quite enjoys it, but he also likes topping our Little Nicoli a lot too ^-^

Okay I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and will be back to see what happened to Conrad! Until then everyone have a great time! *Huggies and lickies*