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Hounds of Winter	By : galynthia Category: +M to R > Nightwalker: Midnight Detective Views: 5786 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Nightwalker: Midnight Detective, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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The Hounds of Winter

Chapter 11

By: Delilah deSora
***
Shido snarled at the two vampires beside him and resumed tugging at the thin chain that trapped him to the snow god�s bed. Blue eyes glared at him in anger but the pair he�d hoped to catch refused to be moved from their study of the ancient vampire. A second snarled died on his lips as he tore his eyes from his fledge-mate. There was a rustle of cloth on cloth and he closed his eyes tightly, knowing in his mind what he did not wish to see.
Instead he returned to tugging at the chain. The chain should have snapped easily but with Yukami�s presence in his mind, whispering to him and stealing all of his strength all he could do was created the soft sound of metal on metal as the ring about the chain clanged against the silver rung.
A hand touched his back and he tore away with a growl. �Leave me out of this!� He demanded.
Green hair slid over his shoulder as lips touched his shoulder. With a snarl of rage he whirlslasslashing at his fledge-mate. Soryo shrank back against Yukami�s pale form, clutching his torn arm to him.
�Don�t you ever touch me again.� Shido growled, glaring in hatred at the younger vampire.
Violet eyes peered up at him through the spill of green hair as Yukami�s long fingers stroked his hair. The ancient whispered something to the wounded vampire and Soryo�s attention returned fully to the other. Shido hissed in disgust, turning away. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion. He had always known that his fledge-mate was used to changing masters at a whim but it had never occurred to him that he saw Gaven as nothing more than just another master to fawn over.
It angered him to know that Soryo had just been using their fellow fledge-mate until something better came along.
He tugged on the chain sharply, making it jingle against the silver bed but as before it held strong. He sighed and lay still, trying desperately to ignore the sounds and motions coming from behind him. Rainbows from a thousand carefully crafted pieces of glass flashed at him. Closing his eyes tightly he tried to sort out his thoughts but all his effort accomplished was making him dizzy and ill to his stomach. With a soft growl he opened his eyes.
It was becoming increasingly harder to sort thoughts that were his own from those that the oneroi was weaving in his mind. He was confused and he knew that each time he woke from sleep with Yukami�s hands on his face a little bit more of himself was suppressed. He shuddered and mentally cursed the weakness the ancient was breeding within him. This was not who he was! He had spent years fighting the breed and those of his own kind that killed pointlessly. His powers manifested themselves as weapons of physical prowess. To be trapped here, unable to raise the strength to fight galled him.
This was not who he was!
There were hands upon him again and he arched, wincing at the coldness that seeped into him from the ancient�s touch.
�Leave me be!� He protested. "Get out of my head!"
Yukami laughed. "Ah but I have always been there, fiora. Every moment from the time you were first brought to me. Every thought that has been given to you has come through me. The hatred you feel for your mate? Me. The desire to run to Japan to start a new life alone? My desire! Everything. Everything you are has been crafted by me. The only pleasure you feel comes from my touch."
Lips touched the side of his neck and he cried out as desire flushed through him. He gritted his teeth, trying to fight the false emotion given to him from the ancient. �I do not . . . will not like this!� He hissed.
Yukami laughed softly. �You will, little one. Soon there will be nothing but your love of this.�
Shido shook his head. �Stop,� he whispered, barely able to push the word through the web he felt the oneroi building in his mind, �find someone else to torment.�
�No,� the ancient whispered, making the word into a lover�s caress, �I have hunted you for far too long. You are my desire. Do you know what it is like to yearn again? Besides, your fledge-mate will have only you at his side and I am moved to grant that request.�
Shido�s eyes slid sideways where he could make out Soryo lying among the white sheets, caught in one of Yukami�s seductive dreams, a bright red pair of marks on his neck. A sudden look of pain crossed his face and for a brief moment Shido felt sorrow for his fledge-mate but the moment passed and Shido found himself caught up in his own problems as the unmistakable feeling of fangs brushed over his neck and he felt Yukami�s arctic breath on his skin.
He tried to struggle but with each movement he felt the ancient�s presence in his mind grow stronger, sapping his will to fight and drowning him in false pleasure. He cried out as fangs pierced his skin and Yukami�s ice flowed through his veins, making him numb to everything but the dream that he was suddenly thrust into.
When he woke he was alone in the bed and his wrist had been released. He frowned, wondering why he had been restrained. Pushing himself up onto his hands he peered about the garden, trying to sort his thoughts. He was forgetting something . . . he knew he was. The frown deepened as he tried to figure out what it was.
I wanted to leave. The thought came to him and he peered down at the silver bracelet about his wrist. That was why Yukami had chained him. But . . . why would he want to leave? The garden was such a lovely place. It was peaceful and quiet in a way the world outside wasn�t. Why would he want to go back there?
He chewed lightly at his lower lip, peering about.
�Fiora.�
Green eyes widened and he turned, looking for the source of the voice. Yukami seemed to materialize out of the very walls themselves so sudden was his appearance. He moved slowly about the bed and Shido followed his approach silently. His mind seemed to calm and he smiled, tilting his face up towards the hands that reached for him. The feeling of emptiness faded away.
Yes, something whispered in his mind as Yukami�s fingers stroked his face, this is paradise. I want for nothing but his touch, I live for nothing but his will.
He was drawn to his feet and he followed the ancient, his eyes never leaving the blue ones before him. He trusted the ancient to lead him true. Down into the garden they went. The incessant sound of glass tinkling in wind swirled around him as he moved with the ancient. Yukami suddenly stopped, spreading his arms wide as he drew them together. Shido tilted back is head and groaned as cold lips touched his neck. It was barely more than the a brush of lips and suddenly Yukami had stepped behind him. Shido found himself brought to his knees and level with a human. Yukami draped himself across his back and Shido found himself pushed towards the dull eyed woman.
�Feed.� Yukami whispered.
Shido frowned as a spike of distaste flared through him. Yukami�s breath was a steady sound in his ear and he cried out softly as a the ancient�s presence solidified in his mind, pushing down the strange flare of disgust. Words were spoken but he couldn�t make them out for the confusion in his mind. Suddenly he was drowning in the scent of the mortal as the woman moved forward, pressing up against him. Her neck was before him and he tilted his head instinctively, brushing his fangs against her neck.
Everything suddenly became crystal clear at that simple intimate touch and he flung himself backwards violently. He whirled and snapped at the ancient behind him, earning a sharp strike to the face that drove him back. He lay on the pathway, panting heavily as he stared up at the ice god.
�Keep your hands off me!� He shouted angrily.
Yukami snarled in outrage at the sound of his raised his voice and Shido stiffened, waiting for the blow. Whatever Yukwas was about to deliver, however, was forestalled as Soryo suddenly appeared at his side, long fingers clasping the ancient�s wrist and pleading with quiet voice.
Yukami stilled but anger was evident on his face. Soryo glanced back at him once before turning back to the ancient and falling to his knees, soft words falling from his lips. Yukami lowered his hand and drew the green haired vampire back to his feet. Soryo smiled and rose up onto his toes, drawing the ancient into a deep kiss.
Shido made a sound of disgust at the display and stood, storming past them. A hand caught his arm and he found himself staring into Yukami�s piercing blue eyes.
�You would do well to learn my lessons, childling. My patience with you grows thin. Remember, you may have someone here who seems intent on saving you but there is no one to stop my anger should I direct it elsewhere.�
Shido stiffened. �You stay away from her!� He hissedthe the reminder of Riho.
Yukami sneered. �Distract me and I may forget all about her, fiora nevae.�
Shido shuddered at the name and tore his arm from the ancient�s grasp. Yukami let him go and as he stalked up the stairs to the pavilion he heard the familiar cries of pleasure from his fledge-mate�s lips, bringing a second shudder to him as he fortified himself behind the chair where he would not have to see.
Leaning his head back against the chair he closed his eyes and willed for eternity to swallow him. However it was not eternity that came to him but rather another ruined his moment of seething. He wrinkled his nose and growled when a gentle hand touched his arm.
�What do you want?� He demanded, glaring up at his fledge-mate.
Soryo glanced around the side of the chair before carefully settling on the floor next to him. �You have to stop provoking him, Shido!� Soryo hissed, his voice barely more than a whisper

Shido shook his head. �And do what? Becoming his fawning sycophant like you? Never! I may not like Cain sometimes but at least I wouldn�t betray him like this!�
A strange look crossed Soryo�s face before he turned to peer off to the side, long green hair falling to cover the look. �Things change. I . . . I�m only doing what�s best.�
�Do you know what sickens me most, Soryo?� Shido asked, drawing the violet eyes back to him, �It�s not that you�ve thrown Gaven aside. At least that I can sort of understand because it is what you�ve been doing your whole life. No, its the fact that I know eventually Gaven is going to come here. He�s going to risk his life to save you only to have you crush him. He loves you! And you�re going to kill him.�
Soryo�s face twisted in anger and his fledge-mate stood sharply. �You don�t understand anything! Not about me! Not about yourself! Don�t you seek to lecture me about abandoning mates.�
Shido blinked in shocked silence at the outburst as Soryo whirled on his heel and stormed away down into the garden.
***
The sound of metal on metal jarred Shido from sleep to full wakefulness. He curled up instinctively, staring out across the garden. Beside him Yukami snarled animalistically, flinging the covers from the bed and rising, his normally serene face twisted horribly. Shido glanced at his fledge-mate who was staring straight ahead, a look of fear on his face as a pair of figures stalked down into the garden.
Shido shook his head, torn between elation at the sight of his golden haired mate and sorrow for the dark skinned vampire that stalked forward a few steps behind him.
Cain stood before the silver haired vampire, his face a blank mask. Silence reigned for a few moments between the two vampires and Shido frowned, wondering what was going on. No words were passed for in the end Shido realized none were needed. It was an age old dance of dominance and territory. One vampire had overstepped his bounds with the other. Nothing more, nothing less. Yukami simply raised his hand and Cain leapt.
With the first bit of power released between the two Shido felt something slip from his mind. He blinked and then cried out in pain as a pressure he hadn�t realized before was released and all of his own memories and thoughts returned in a deluge. Hands held him as he fell, clutching his head for fear it would split apart.
There was so much . . . too much. Reality and dreams suddenly sorted themselves and he didn�t understand the world anymore as Yukami�s influence was torn from his mind and refocused on his enemies. Fingers stroked his hair and gentle words were whispered in his ear. Something soft and soothing slipped into his mind and calmed the pain, leaving him numb.
He stared down into the garden, watching the vampires tear at each other.
Strange, he thought to himself. He had expected Yukami to be strong. As it was he seemed barely able to keep up with the two younger vampires.
Yukami seemed to think something was amiss as well for after only a few minutes he pulled back beyond Cain and Gaven's reach, staring down at his hands, brow furrowed in confusion.
Soryo�s presence next to him was suddenly gone and he watched impassively as his fledge-mate ran down the pavilion steps and into Gaven�s arms. He leaned up and Shido frowned as he pressed his lips to his mate�s.
And then he saw the power.
He blinked in surprise as power flowed from Soryo and into his mate. Power that he shouldn�t have had. Power that looked like it belonged to Yukami.
Yukami seemed to think the same for he stiffened. �Incubus!� Yukami snarled, pure malice coloring his voice.
He took a step forward, power gathering at his feet. Gaven broke the kiss and turned to stare at the ancient. At his side Soryo hissed at the ancient.
All was still and then Yukami flung himself at the pair. Gaven met the ancient�s power with the stolen power and suddenly Shido understood. Gaven wasn�t unusually powerful for his age. Soryo made him unusually powerful. An incubus could steal power from those they slept with just as they could pass that power onto someone else.
As he had done with Yukami. As he had undoubtedly done during his claiming from his former master.
Shido closed his eyes, feeling a sense of embarrassment at how he had reacted to his fledge-mate�s actions towards Yukami but how was he to know? He had not even heard the barest whisper that Soryo had the powers of an incubus. It had been a secret the two mates had kept well. Shido wondered if Soryo's own sire had even known before Gaven had dealt the killing blow.
There was a sharp scream and all thoughts were pushed from his mind as he sat up, his mate�s scream ringing in his ears. Glass flowers shattered as Cain went down with the ancient on top of him. All of Yukami�s beauty was gone, leaving behind a twisted animal that clawed at the vampire beneath him.
Gaven was suddenly there and Yukami made the mistake of turning to face the new threat. With a snarl that sent Shido�s nerves tingling Cain flung his power into the ancient, pushing him back against the other vampire. There was a sharp scream that threatened to make Shido�s ears bleed and then a sudden overwhelming silence fell over the garden.
Soryo appeared at his side and Shido peered up at him in confusion. A soft smile crossed his fledge-mate�s lips and he touched his fa�Com�Come, lalae,� he whispered, drawing him off the bed, �I want to go home.�
Shido allowed himself to be pulled forward and down into the ruined garden. He paused a frown crossing his face as he reached up to touch his forehead. �My head hurts.� He whispered.
Soryo nodded. �I know. It is alright. Yukami has been twisting your mind for a long time, lalae. Your thoughts will not sort themselves in a minute or even a day. It is a thing only time will heal.�
�Numb.� He whispered.
Soryo�s fingers brushed the hair from his face. �Better numb than in pain, yes?�
Shido remembered the searing pain and had to nod slowly. His eyes moved past his fledge-mate�s form to the garden beyond. Gaven stood over his fallen mate and Shido tensed, suddenly sensing something was amiss. Hazel eyes met his for a brief moment as the master vampire raised his hand, a long blade forming in his hand.
Shido�s world slowed. He wouldn�t, would he?
Turning he met Soryo�s searching gaze and suddenly he realized what was happening. Gaven was going to give him the one thing he had wished for for so long. The blade held so high over his wounded mate was his freedom.
His world split and he froze at the crossway.
It was rare but it was possible for a master to take two mates but only if the original mate agreed to the second. Staring into Soryo�s eyes he knew Soryo wanted him to be part of their family. In the violet depths he saw the promise of a new life free of Cain�s overbearing presence. It could be just the three of them.
Forever.
The moment passed, time resumed, and Gaven�s sword came down.

***

-End Chapter 11-
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Hounds of Winter