Her eyes widened in terror as he took another step toward her, his body thrummed in eager anticipation of the kill, and the fulfillment she would give to his long denied body. He could feel the weakening of her body overtaking her; feel the life force draining from her. There was no way that he could allow such a waste of power to occur.
“Devon,” she whispered, anguish and a sad acceptance filled her gaze. She closed her eyes, her hand pressed tighter to the gash as she desperately tried to stop the mortality pouring from her open vein.
“Scrumptious,” Julian whispered.
Devon turned as Julian came forward. He rushed past Devon, the frenzying scent of her blood taking control of him. Reality slammed back over Devon, crashing down with fierce brutality. This was Cassie, his Cassie. He had sworn to protect her from this evil, sworn to keep her safe no matter what the cost, and here he was about to rip her precious life away from her.
Bursting back into motion, he grasped hold of Julian’s shirt, ripping him backward. Julian bellowed with fury as he was flung across the clearing. The thick canopy of a tree shook as Julian bounced off of it. Julian rebounded quickly as he launched back to his feet, a fierce snarl escaped him.
Rage blasted from Julian in thick waves. He tore back across the clearing, heedless of the fact that he would have to get through Devon to get to her. Julian slammed into him, throwing them both back ten feet. The small pine they hit snapped in half, the jagged piece of it scraped down Devon’s back and ripped into his skin.
Julian beat and tore at him, frenzied to get at her. Devon seized hold of his throat, holding Julian away from him as he squeezed tight. Julian was lost to the throes of bloodlust, animalistic, wild and savage. His eyes were as red as laser beams, his face twisted into a murderous snarl. It was a state that a seasoned vampire rarely let take them over, as it meant giving up all control. And loss of control could be dangerous. When control was lost, a vampire could do anything, and often that was when the human population became aware of the demons lurking amongst them.
A vampire could be lost to the bloodlust for good, if they were not strong enough to pull out of it. At one point a vampire that was lost would have been destroyed by The Elder’s, but now except for Devon and Julian, The Elder’s had little to do with the rest of the world, and remained locked away. But the powerful scent of Cassie’s blood had been too much for Julian to handle. Hell, it had almost been too much for him to handle.
They scrambled upon the ground, pummeling each other as Julian tried to get back to Cassie, and Devon fought to keep him far away. Julian was crazed with his hunger, frantic, and deadly because of it. But Devon was determined to keep her safe, determined that she would survive this night. He would not lose her, if he did, he would not be able to endure it. With every cell in his body he knew that he would not survive her death, just as he knew that he would destroy everything, and everyone that ever tried to hurt her.
Julian drew his legs up under him, somehow getting them between their bodies. Using all of his vast strength, he shoved Devon forcefully off. Devon was thrown into the center of the clearing. Pain jarred through his body as he bounced across the hard ground. Cassie’s frightened cry echoed loudly in his over sensitized ears.
Ignoring every ache and pain, he launched himself back to his feet as Julian reached her. Cassie swung at him, but Devon could sense the weakness in her body, the life and strength draining swiftly from her. Terror and rage tore through him as Julian seized hold of her arm, ripping her toward him, a loud hiss of desire escaping him.
Devon sprang forward, seizing hold of Julian, and ripping him away from her seconds before his teeth sank into her delicate neck. Turning in midair, he twisted their bodies away from her, trying to keep her safe from the impact of their weight. They fell to the ground, bouncing across its surface mere inches from her. Julian seized hold of Devon’s neck, his hand wrapped tight around it. Using the palm of his hand, Devon slammed it into the bottom of Julian’s already broken nose. Fresh blood spilled forth causing Julian to howl in pain as he fell back.
Devon leapt to his feet, grabbing Julian by the shirt. Lifting him like a rag doll, he shook him fiercely. “Stay away from her!” he snarled viciously.
Julian’s fist connected with his cheek, staggering him back a few feet with the force of the blow. Bellowing with fury, determined to destroy the monster he had helped to create, Devon slammed his fist into Julian’s cheek. The sickening crunch of his cheekbone echoed loudly in the clearing. Julian’s half collapsed face twisted with fury and pain, his eyes burned with red fire.
He lashed out, panic and agony making him reckless and dangerous. His claws connected with Devon’s chin, the force of the blow staggered him slightly as blood spilled free. Grabbing hold of Julian, he picked him up and heaved him across the clearing once more. The large maple Julian collided with shook from the force of the blow, a large crack lanced up its thick trunk.
Julian landed head first on the ground, his legs above his head against the tree. He lay for a moment before falling away from the trunk. Staggering to his feet, he shook his head in disorientation. Shifting his stance, Devon kept his body protectively in front of Cassie as he waited for another charge. Julian took a step forward; his gaze darted briefly to Cassie, hunger and longing burned within the ruby red depths of his eyes. Then his gaze came back to Devon, anger, fear, and disgust flashed briefly across his distorted, beaten features. Though Julian still wanted her, the beating he had received seemed to have shaken him free of the bloodlust. He was back in control of his actions and thoughts.
Weighing the odds, Julian stood for a moment, his gaze darting between them. This fight would go to the death, and Julian would not win. They both knew that. Julian wanted Cassie fiercely, but he wanted to live even more. Julian had always been number one in his own book, always highest on himself. His own life and his love of himself were his two biggest motivators. Devon was relieved to realize that things had not changed. Though Devon was winning this fight, if it continued Cassie would probably bleed to death before Julian’s life was forfeit.
“Till next time.”
Julian turned and fled into the woods, becoming a blurring shimmer that disappeared swiftly within the trees. Not trusting Julian to stay away, Devon kept all of his senses honed for his presence as he turned back to Cassie. Julian was wounded and overpowered, but he was also reckless and hungry.
Taking a deep breath, Devon braced himself to get close to her again. He braced himself to withstand the enticing lure of her deliciously scented blood, and the power that it possessed. He tried hard to keep control of the fierce, hungry monster inside of him as he approached her slowly. She was scared enough, and confused enough, without seeing him turn back into the demon that he was.