All Music Lovers

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR: PERIOD OF WITHDRAW

**Hey peeps :] Another chapter which I hope you'll enjoy**

Azura came to me. I was barely out of the hotel and into the dense forest when I felt her approach like a cool breeze through leaves. She said nothing but took my hand in hers as we continued to walk deeper into the woods. When we'd walked for sometime and the forest growth was so thick that it created an artificial twilight, I stopped. I turn my head slightly to look at Azura and even though I remained silent, she smiled. I cup her face and lay a soft kiss on her lips. It was one thing I loved most about Azura - she didn't press me for answers or explanations, she waited until I was ready to tell her. I sigh loudly, the tension in my body increasing as I couldn't prevent certain thoughts from consuming my mind. I close my eyes. I was angry and frustrated... and a little bit hurt and my beast mirrored those emotions as I felt him stalk back and forth, roaring fiercely at the new and unfamiliar blood bond.

I saw it again. It was there, a thick bloody cord and despite my loathing, for some inexplicable reason I was drawn to it - and that's what angered me violently. I reached out and touched it once again with my mind. No words can accurately describe the kind of feeling that arises from touching something so...so... I am at loss for a word to describe it. It was like I was sucked down a tube, tight and suffocating but so quickly that it was over and done within milliseconds as suddenly I was able to see Nataani. He was still in the corridor to the basement and as he lifted his hand with the remote to the guard over the window, he cocked his head in a way that told me he knew I was there, watching him. He pressed a button and the steel window opened fully, letting the bright beam of light surge into the now brightened basement. Both of us remained silent as I watched Nataani move forward.

"What is he doing?" I thought absently. As he moved into the sunlight, I couldn't hide the surprise I felt. I watched him as he turned and faced the sunlight head on, letting the light encompass him fully. He had his eyes closed and no sign of pain flickered across his face as he raised his arms and embraced the sunlight. He turned and faced me. Opening his eyes his gaze pinned my mind, my own gaze, and I was trapped. I felt his rising power and I felt my eyes widening in apprehension. I barely had time to think when all of a sudden wave upon wave of his power coursed through me and my own, incited by his, rose to join the fray. I couldn't rip my eyes off Nataani as he said to me in the expressionless tone he'd had ages to perfect, "Bill... do you want this power?"

I pulled back immediately, returning to my own consciousness violently. My body was shaking and I fell to my knees shocked. The tension in my body made my muscles coil painfully and as I shifted, it was my most painful to date. My scream morphed into a painful roar as I launched into a powerful run, sprinting through the forest as I fought to forget what had just happened. But I couldn't. The power I had felt had been so strong... so very strong and a part of me was drawn to it; drawn to the enigma of the bond Nataani and I had created. I shook my head roughly, dispelling all thoughts. What I needed right now, was silence, pure and unadulterated silence. Sprinting until my lungs burned, I stop. I had reached the darkest part of the forest and as I look up, one could be mistaken that it was only mid-morning. Collapsing onto the ground, I close my eyes and let the darkness surround me. I could feel Azura far behind me, her own shifted form resting in a tree-top as she waited. As much as I loved my lifemate passionately, what I needed most was to cut myself off for a moment from everything. For the first time I raise high, impenetrable walls against every connection I had to this world. I felt my brother's alarm quickly before it was cut off by the barrier, Azura's surprise and Nataani's silence as everything became quiet and I withdrew into myself.

Where I floated I knew not but for the first time in my life I was alone... completely. I felt nothing and I walked wherever. I was naked and beside me walked my beast. I stopped and laid a hand on the head of the large leopard. There was only us within the blackness and at the moment, that was all I wanted. As we continued to walk, comforted by each other's presence I felt ready to face the decisions I would have to make.

Highlights and lowlights from my life as a Carpathian and then as a Vampathian materialised before me and I stood mesmerised. From the lightening storm at the very beginning, when Tom and I first became Carpathians, our first training sessions with Nataani, our first encounter with a vampire and our numerous forays with fans. I saw it all... our first encounter with Namika and Jessamine which resulted in Tom's joy at finding his lifemate; the masquerade ball for our 21^st... I smile as I remember the first time I'd seen Azura. Darker emotions quickly replace the earlier happiness as it begins - my kidnap and inevitable change into a Vampathian. I watch with heavy eyes as I relive quickly the night I was changed and the fight that was to follow against my friends... and especially against my brother. A lowlight somewhat eclipsed by the fact that Azura became my lifemate and I was reconciled with my brother. I continued to watch as the battle at the hospital came and went, and as the more recent memories flittered by I looked down slightly into the bright eyes of the leopard by my side, drawing strength from his company. The last memory that showed before everything dissipated was that of Nataani... and his question, a question that needed an answer.

As I continued walking, an emotion I hadn't felt in some time slowly wound its way through my body. Loneliness; and following closely behind that was fear. A fear of being left behind. I knew what loneliness was, it had consumed me when I thought I'd lost my brother, my friends. Until I understood that those bonds hadn't been broken and when Azura became my lifemate, I had never since felt alone.

I thought about the future... the fight that would take place in order to extinguish the evil that abounded. We would all fight... we were being trained to fight and to fight to the best of our ability. Would my friends die trying to kill my enemy? A heavy shadow burdened my heart as pictures of them bloodied and broken flashed in front of me. No! I wouldn't let that happen. I look down again at the leopard beside me, "I'm not going to let that happen" The leopard's bright eyes stared at me, strong with resolution and it was then that I knew I had made my decision.

End of Chapter Forty-Four.

**It's been a while hasn't it? My trip to China and Vietnam was amazing and I was able to bring back some pretty cool stories. I do hope the opportunity to go back arises again. Anyway, here is chapter 43, I hope you guys enjoy it. A bit of twist I think in this chapter. I'm still not too sure on it, but I'll see how it works out**

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: WELCOME BACK TO SLAVEDOM?

I would be lying if I said that such a small amount of sunlight didn't affect me because the plain truth was, it did.  As soon as it hit my outstretched palm, the pain was back and I clench my teeth, waiting for it to get worse... but it didn't. I couldn't hide my surprise as I felt a cool wind sweep through my body, eliminating the pain as it made its way down my arm into my fingertips. Turning my hand over and over again, the beam of light didn't disappear and I risk lowering the pain barrier I'd unconsciously erected. The pain intensifies for a moment but again the cool wind comes to eliminate it.

"Nataani, look at this! I don't feel a thing!" Turning my head around to glance at the vampathian behind me, I see his emotionless face and as I look into his eyes I see a deep concentration. Bringing my hand back to my side, I see the concentration in his eyes fade as he looked at me. It was very clear to me then, that his power at been the wind that had eliminated my pain.

"How did you do that?" I ask, looking down at my hand, wondering enigmatically at such a feat. I look up as Nataani sighs and rubs the back of his neck. As he walked towards me I saw in his eyes what he did not speak; and I felt anger rise in me at the revelation. The pathway that'd been created when I fed off him allowed his power to enter my core and from the inside, explore my body and power stores as he willed. I remain silent as I think about what that meant.... and the more I thought about it, the angrier I became.

It meant that with that ability Nataani would be able to manipulate and control the level of power I used at anytime. In light of this rude awakening and the added knowledge that he'd be able to call my beast if he so wished to I ran at him full speed, not bothering to hide my intent. I had the pleasure of seeing a flicker of surprise pass across his face before my fist connected nicely with it. He flew backwards and I leap towards him, my hands fisting in his shirt before he'd hit the ground. We land hard on the concrete and as I go in to punch his bloodied face again Nataani catches my fist and grabs the other hand fisted in his shirt. With a heave I felt myself being thrown off him. I hit the wall and fall to the ground. Coughing I look at Nataani who'd got up off the floor and, wiping away the blood I felt stain my chin, I charge at him once more.

Dodging the arms that reached out to stop me I crouch and spin, kicking out and hitting solidly Nataani's legs as he went over backwards. I didn't manage to get away in time as one of his hands caught my outstretched leg. As Nataani landed on the floor I was pulled backwards with him. I kicked at the hand that powerfully gripped my ankle but he wouldn't let go. He rolled over, throwing me once again as he hauled me over him by my foot. I twisted midair and landed in a crouch not a few meters away. He was just standing as, growling, I make my way towards him. Nataani made no attempt to move as he stood staring at me with emotionless eyes. Angry at his lack of response, I push him against the wall and grabbing his neck, lift his frame off the floor. His eyes bulged and I could feel his neck muscles working beneath my angry fingertips.

"Do you know what you have done to me?" I watched as blood dribbled from the corner of Nataani's mouth. Narrowing my eyes in rage I spit at him, "You have made me a slave to your command. You have made me your slave more so than that bloody vampire we're out to kill! A slave Nataani! This is the precise situation we were all working to get me out of." I tighten my hold on his neck and he coughs, spattering my hand with blood and saliva. With a disgusted sound I let go and he falls to the ground. Frustration overcomes me as I bend down and look Nataani in the eye, "Why do you not fight back Nataani!? Why do you not fight me? Why!?" I clench my fist and hit the wall behind his head, a mix of emotions being vented as I continue to punch the wall, bloodying my knuckles as I did so.

"I would apologize if I could but I can't." I look down at Nataani who was rubbing his bruising neck.

"What do you mean?" I say coldly.

"Bill have you realised how powerful we are now? You and I together..." He begins to stand up and I stand with him. "Bill, when we are fighting we'll be able to give power to one another, help each other - our power and stamina will be unrivalled. Pleiades will have no chance to stand against us."

I stare at Nataani. "No" I say quietly in response to a thought that had entered my mind; a thought of a time where I had been... I stop there. There was no point thinking such thoughts at a time like this. If what Nataani said was true, then I was indeed a slave and he also. We were slaves to each other. Looking at Nataani I ask, "So what stops us from taking from one another what we want?"

"Trust..."

I scoff bitterly.

"Trust? Trust! Geez Nataani, do you know how little I trust you after what you've done to me?!" A lot of things would need to happen before the regret I felt for feeding off Nataani would disappear - if it ever would. Why did I even suggest... I shake my head; it wouldn't help at all if I started thinking that way. Nataani lays a hand on my shoulder, his eyes burning into mine as he said, "I promise to teach you all I know and to not take advantage of the bond that's been created here today." Shaking off his hand I turn and walk away, "You're awfully forgiving about the fact that I tried to kill you a few moments ago." I could hear the bitterness in my own voice as I said it. Nataani remains silent as I make my way out of the basement; training, if you could call it that, concluding prematurely as I left Nataani alone with the thin beam of light.

End of Chapter Forty-Three.

**Hey guys! Another chapter for you! And guess what? I fly out to China in a week (woohoo) - I'm so excited! Anyway I hope you enjoy the latest installement of DDHE :]**

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: TRAINING WITH A NEW CONNECTION

There is no bond stronger than that between a Carpathian and its lifemate.

"You think I don't know my own weaknesses?" I scowl at Nataani, the question more rhetorical than anything.

"No, that's not what I was saying" Nataani replied as he stood up. "You are very practical Bill and not the kind of person who'd not know everything about your power." I nod curtly in agreement. He walks over to me and I just stare up and him from the stairs.

"How you feeling?" he asked.

"Fine" I grit out through clenched teeth, although it was a blatant lie and Nataani knew it. I still hadn't forgiven him for what he did and I'm sure he knew it. I hadn't hidden the fact I hated him right at this moment. He just smiled at me irritatingly. Rolling my eyes, I put my hand against the wall and push up with my legs, concentrating very hard on not stumbling. Leaning heavily against the arm I had against the wall, I managed to stand upright, despite the quiver that went through my muscles. Nataani's eyes racked over my body in a calculating way before he spoke, "We really need to work on this; your body is shaking from fatigue."

"You don't say-"

"Enough talking." He looked over me once more, "I was going to start training you today but by the looks of it, we may have to wait for you to recover. I didn't think it'd take this much outta ya-"

"Stop it. I'm fine. I just need to drink something." I eye Nataani and thought occurred to me. Nataani raised an eye-brow and from that I knew he'd read my thoughts, although I hadn't exactly hidden them from him.

"Oh no no no," he said shaking his head with a small smile. "I'm not seeking your forgiveness Bill-"

"Yes but you owe me-"

"I owe you nothing" he said flatly. We stare at each other. It was silent and as I watched Nataani, I thought I saw something flick across his face but it was gone as soon as it had come. I take no notice of it as Nataani sighs, "Fine, I'll let you feed this once but we're continuing your training immediately afterwards."

"I'll be ready" I say as I sit down once again - standing had taking more effort than I'd initially thought it would. The stairs were just wide enough for both of us to sit beside each other comfortably as Nataani joined me and held out his wrist. Taking his wrist in my hand I was surprised to see that my own were quite substantially smaller than his. That surprise however was quickly replaced by a feeling more powerful than it, as with Nataani's wrist before me and the sound of blood rushing through his veins dominated my hearing, I felt my beast rise in response to my hunger. My fangs extended as I brought his wrist to my mouth and bit down hard, piercing his skin with a pop and sucking fervently as the rich blood slid down my throat smoothly.

The effects of feeding were immediate as I felt the blood renew my strength. I felt my power grow with each swallow. I slide my eyes towards Nataani, who sat very quietly next to me. Staring at him through the curtain of hair that fell across the side of my face, I identified the misted look in his eyes as desire. So it was like that, even for males. Being fed from was a desirable feeling regardless of which sex fed from you. I watch the desire dissipate immediately from his eyes as I suspected he caught onto my watching him. Returning my attention to the thick blood that intoxicated me, I closed my eyes and revelled in it.

All too soon, the time came to stop and pulling out of Nataani I throw back my head and gasp. My eyes were still closed as for a moment I let desire consume me. I barely felt Nataani withdraw his wrist as I was overwhelmed by a power that ran through my body intimately. When sanity finally came back I turned slightly so that I was facing Nataani as well I could in the restricted room of the stair. Taking my time removing the blood from my chin we stared at each other as Nataani continued to suck his wrist, cauterizing the round wounds I'd left on his arm. Unlike my brother, I'd never fed from another male before, not in all my history of being a Carpathian or otherwise.

Tracing a line of blood that ran down from my lip upwards with my thumb, I bring the red liquid into my mouth and think further on the differences. There weren't many. The blood was still intoxicating, still pleasurable regardless. The biggest difference lay in what I'd felt after I had withdrawn. I had felt Nataani's power flow through me, connecting with me more solidly than anyone else. The connection had been on par to the one I had with my brother, it was even close enough to rival that I had with Azura. I bring another blood-soaked fingertip into my mouth absently. Even now, I felt the connection between us - it sat, in the deepest part of me, a long, thick line created by power and blood. I touched it and pulled back immediately as I felt Nataani's beast come running towards me from the other side.

"What have you done to me?"

Nataani's face was covered by the darkness that surrounded us as his now red eyes bored through me.

"Now we can begin training" Nataani said simply.

~*~*~*~*~

He stood up and I with him. Nataani remained silent and even though he didn't answer my question, I already knew the answer implicitly. It was then that I remembered the small flicker of something I'd seen on his face before. Had this been it? Had he known by letting me feed off him, another Vampathian, that this would happen? I decided to ask him.

"I had some idea of what it might do" was all he said. He turned and began walking up the stairs and I followed. Had some idea? So, he hadn't done this before. It had been a risk for him then, to let me feed off him as he did, not knowing what was going to happen. I explored the link that had been created, careful not to touch it as so to call Nataani's beast.

"It works both ways?" It wasn't really a question but a statement.

"Yes." That meant that we both had the power to call each other's beasts. Not even our lifemates had that power. With what little I knew about it, I realised the potential this bond could have. From what I surmised, even if we weren't together I'd be able to draw on Nataani's power. I widened my eyes in surprise. If that was the case, and we'd both have access to each other's power, then we would be a very formidable force indeed; and very, very powerful. I had no more time to think on it as we reached the top of the stairs. I watch as Nataani fiddled with a few switches next to the door. I heard a clanging outside the basement and had a sneaking suspicion about what it could be. As Nataani opened the door as we stepped out into darkness, my suspicions were confirmed.

"You had that window installed" I say matter-of-factly.

"Indeed I did" Nataani replied. I should have guessed it; with everything he did, it was always done with a specific purpose in mind. From this, I wondered at the purpose for creating our new connection. I had my own suppositions but as to his... well they were still unknown. Deciding he would explain it all in good time, I looked up and sure enough a heavy metal plate decorated with patchy lines covered the window. Looking back at Nataani, whose eyes had gone back to Carpathian yellow, I saw the remote he had in his hand.

"Let me guess, that remote controls the guard on the window?"

"Indeed it does, very perceptive Bill."

"Don't insult my skills; perception has nothing to do with something that's obvious."

Nataani smiles, "Bill this is what's going to happen." Nataani held up the remote for me to see the variety of buttons. "Each one of these buttons controls a shutter of different size on the cover of the window. I'll show you." He hits a button and a very small shutter opens, letting a coin-sized beam of light shine brightly in the darkened corridor. He presses another and the coin-sized beam grows to note-sized; another and the beam grows again to palm-sized.

"And so on and so on" Nataani said as he flicked the first button again and the beam of light returned to its smallest size. "Bill I want you to stick your hand in the light." Knowing something like this had been coming I nod and make my way towards the beam. When I was within reaching distance, I swallow the instinctive fear and replace it with a hard resolve to overcome my weakness. Swallowing once before resolutely moving the last step forward, I lift my hand into the light.

End of Chapter Forty-Two

More Than A Zodiac Sign is teaming up with Let Us Love, a Dallas-based anti-bullying organization, to give you an all-ages New Year's Eve concert that will knock your socks off (complete with a red carpet). Start coming up with costume ideas because there will be a costume contest and keep an eye on http://www.morethanazodiacsign.com for all of the details about the show, which will be at The Max on December 31! You can also join the MTAZS e-mail list by scrolling to the bottom of the page and entering all of your info. You can also e-mail me at kristen@morethanazodiacsign.com and put "I Want to Join the E-mail List" as the subject.

Tickets go on sale October 1st through Front Gate Tickets and some of the bands and a very special guest DJ (someone you will DEFINITELY recognize) will be announced next week. Tickets will be $15 in advance and $20 at the door. We will also have a special deal where if you bring a parent with you, they can buy a ticket at the door for only $5! 

Subaru is sponsoring the concert and providing us with a kick-ass display of their 2010 carlines! Make sure you check out their website to get a glimpse of their award-winning vehicles: http://www.subaru.com.

Also, make sure you're following MTAZS and Let Us Love on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/mtazs
http://www.twitter.com/letuslove
 
The concert benefits Let Us Love and (of course) the Dallas chapter of the American Cancer Society.



Kristen

MTAZS

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: SUNLIGHT

**Hey guys, another wait sorry. Anyway, some news: I'm going to China in three weeks! Woo-hoo I'm really excited! I'll be away for just on two weeks, so I won't be posting while I'm over there (but you've been waiting longer than that normally haven't you :'{) I'll try and get another chapter done for you. Here's hoping :]**

Sometimes our greatest strength comes from our greatest weakness

The moment the sunlight touched my skin, I felt as if I'd burst into flames. Pain consumed me as I fell to the ground and began writhing on the floor, my eyes shut tightly as I struggled to cope with the pain. I hadn't felt anything this bad since that time on the mountain, a time that seemed an age ago. Through the pain, somehow a slither of common sense urged me to open my eyes and seek a way back in blessed darkness. I barely open my eyes, but it was enough to see the basement door looming a few meters away. It was open and I could feel the cool air coming from it. Struggling feebly I manage to roll onto my stomach and begin a slow, torturous crawl towards the sanctuary of darkness. I felt every movement like a violent flame put against my skin and as I close the distance between me and the entrance to the basement, I didn't feel the tears that wet my cheeks. I couldn't make any noise, not even a grunt, not even a moan - I was in that much pain. This sensation of burning alive kept my mind from functioning properly and all I could think of was getting my self out... I needed to get out... my outstretched hand found the entrance and as it sunk into darkness I felt the coolness sweep over my hand, driving away the pain. A sound escaped my mouth as I find the strength to push myself forward the last meter.

The stairs into the basement were steep and as I heaved the last part of my body out of the sunlight I fell down, my sweat-ridden body falling to the bottom like a corpse. I came to a sudden, jolting stop as I hit the cold concrete floor of the basement. The burning pain was gone but was now replaced by a different kind of pain, one born from bruises and hard knocks, as groaning feebly, I close my eyes and lose consciousness.

Thoughts came back and I blink my eyes quickly. Moaning, I lift myself up to my feet, stumble and fall to my hands and knees, coughing from the hard fall. I had no strength left and I felt my body begin to shake from what looked like fatigue. I tsk at the lack of control I had of my body right now. Remaining as I was I look up and into the brightly shining eyes of Nataani, who sat quite comfortably on a lonely chair next to a small table, looking no more worse for wear than he had before he'd shunted me into torture.

"You...bastard" I choke out, continuing to curse him silently with words that I'd have spat at him if I'd at the strength.

"You're gonna need more work in this area than I initially thought. You really have been careful to avoid sunlight haven't you?"

"I'm not...a...masochist."

Nataani laughed. "Well, kitten, by the end of this, I dare say you will be" he said with that stupid grin of is which I knew meant he was being serious.

"How have you managed until now?" he asked.

"Pain barriers" I say simply. His expression remianed unchanged. It was common for all Carpathians to learn how to block pain - it was an essential skill in battle. Feeling strength coming back slowly, enough to talk without too much effort, I continue by saying, "I was always very careful when David scheduled those rare day interviews. Every window was covered and the light was always carefully monitored and I kept a very strong pain barrier in place in order to reduce any I felt. It was barely tolerable then..." I cough and feel the effects of my hard fall down the stairs. "How long was I out?" I ask Nataani.

"Not long, thirty seconds or so."

Pushing myself back to my knees, I push myself up enough to sit on the stairs.

"Where was your barrier in this exercise?" Nataani asked me. I look at him and sneer.

"You called that an exercise? It was torture and you darn well know it. And how did you get down here without a scratch?" The sunlight didn't destroy my skin and apart from some cuts and bruises from the fall one wouldn't know, that if I wasn't vampathian, I'd not be here right now. Nataani was silent, so I continue and answer his question, although I was sure he'd already now why, he wasn't an idiot, "Direct sunlight renders all barriers useless, it reduces both my power and strength drastically and I'm consumed by a pain that forces me to think of only escape."

"Oh, and you learnt this how? This is what? Your second time coming into contact with direct sunlight?" Nataani raised an eyebrow from his chair.

"Yes it is and these are the assumptions I gleaned from extensive reflection of that first time. It is with no thanks to you, that those assumptions are now confirmed. Now tell me how you got here no worse for wear. There was no way you'd have left me not knowing how I was going to react. You're cruel but always for a good reason, although concerning this..." I shake my head in disbelief before eyeing Nataani, "The next nearest entrance to the basement is a seven-minute walk away and I don't think I took that long to get down here. So that leaves me with the idea that you walked past me, through the sun and into the basement."

"Indeed I did." Nataani replied simply, his face masked to show no emotion.

"How?" I reply seriously.

Nataani leaned forward in the chair, "Bill, a vampathian's greatest weakness is their sensitivity to light; in a battle, if someone knows this, it will most surely be used against them. Even if the battle is fought at night, it's not unlikely that the enemy will try and drag the battle out until morning. Now, because of whom we're dealing with, it's imperative you conquer this weakness, or it will be your downfall." Nataani eyes burn into my own, "And I'm going to show you how."

End of Chapter Forty-One.