Nick watched the vampire with narrowed eyes and adjusted the grip on her sword. One wrong move and she would gut the bloodsucker. He walked over to the ledge at her side, but didn't come closer. Smart man.

The vampire peered into the valley beneath them, his nostrils flared as he sniffed. He turned to her, smiled lightly and shrugged.  Only now did Nick see the pair of chicken-like birds dangle from his belt. Looked like he really had been on the hunt for food. 

A long-fingered hand was extended. "I'm Clay."

Nick eyed his hand, then his face. "I don't care." She slowly let go of her sword and straightened, confident that she could take the guy in a fistfight just as well. If it came to that. He didn't seem aggressive though. Still, appearances could fool.

She scowled at Clay. "Now piss off, this is my plateau."

The vampire cocked his head. "Tetchy, aren't you? I know dread demons are notoriously moody, but you're just plain rude."

"What? Cause I don't want to hang out with the creepy vampire that snuck up on me?" She snorted. "I don't know you, nor do I want to. Now, if that's everything, leave."

The guy started chuckling. Chuckling. "What crawled under your scales demoness? I'm just making conversation. You're the first person I've met in the last couple of days. The least you could do is tell me your name."

"Nick," she grumbled.

He raised a brow. "Isn't that a guys name?"

"Isn't clay the stuff you make vases with? Want me to rearrange you into one?"

The vampire laughed. "This is the best conversation I've had in a while."

"Which means that you either keep piss-poor company or none at all. Why don't you go ahead and practice the 'no company at all' thing?" She turned away from him and walked a few steps. She listened closely, hoping he would finally get lost. 

"Tell me, demoness, what are you doing here all by yourself?"

Nick groaned. "You're still here. Why are you still here?"

"Because maybe we can help each other out."

"Doubtful."

Clay rounded her and stepped into her line of sight. He leaned down until she looked at his face. "I, for example, know the hiding place of an old race which lives in these mountains. Curious folk, reclusive and strange. Even more unfriendly than you, and yes, that is possible. You're alone and you seem to be looking for something, or someone. I know this stretch of mountain inside out, have been combing it for two weeks now."

Nick's eyes widened. "You know where the shadow colony is?"

Clay smiled. "You're looking for them, aren't you?"

"Not really." She glared at him to hide the excitement that was flickering to life in her belly. "Not that it's any of your business." 

"I could still tell you where they are." His grin was frustratingly knowing.

Nick huffed out a breath. "And what do you want in exchange?"

Clay lifted one corner of his mouth, the ghost of a sad smile flashing across his features. "To tell you a story. And to ask for your help."

"Did you hit you fucking head?" 

"It wouldn't be so bad to listen to one story, would it?" The vampire smiled, stuck his hands into his pockets and hunched his shoulders. It looked casual and non-threatening. "Come on, you're the first, somewhat, friendly face I have seen for a while."

"Clearly there is something wrong with you." She pursed her lips. If this deranged fang-face knew where the colony was she could spare time. But then again, she didn't know the guy and even though he didn't seem threatening, there was something not quite right with him. The way his eyes flicked over her, not able to hold hers for more than a couple of seconds. His hands, which he balled into fists and released in his pockets repeatedly, told her he was nervous. No, he was not who he pretended to be. Which was interesting. Why would he be out here, offering his help to her?

Nick had never had patience for puzzles, but she was always intrigued by a challenge. She sized up his broad shoulders, his lean, muscular body, the quick and calculating eyes he tried to hide and smiled. Whatever his game was, he would be an excellent challenge. Sadly, she didn't have time for this.

"How about you tell me what you know, and I won't kick you off this ledge?" she suggested.

Clay blinked at her, his smiled fading fast. In the blink of an eye his whole demeanor changed. His back straightened as he stood to his full, imposing height, his eyes lit up with silver and a mean scowl appeared on his face. Now he looked threatening. Nick smiled at him sweetly, the bloodsucker was in for a surprise if he thought he could intimidate her.

"You know," he said, his voice dark, "I tried to do this the nice way."

"Emphasis on 'tried'."

He growled. "You'll tell me what you're doing here and why you're searching for the dark ones. And you'll do it now, without leaving anything out."

Nick snickered. She was well aware of the danger the vampire posed, she just didn't care. He might well be naturally faster and stronger than her, but Nick had something most of her opponents had always lacked: Recklessness, a penchant to fight dirty and an iron will to win.

"I will?" she asked. "Strange thing though, I don't feel like it." Tipping one finger to her chin she frowned. "You know it's strange, I didn't think I was close to the colony. Until I met you, now I know they have to be near. They wouldn't send out a guard dog if I was too far away to find them. The only thing that I don't get is why they sent out a vampire? Don't they keep to themselves?" She shrugged and grinned. "Maybe they have lowered their standards considerably, who knows?"

Clay was now growling at her steadily, his fangs growing until they descended well over his lower lip and his silver gaze piercing. "Careful, I'm actually tasked to bring you alive, but you're making that optional right now."

"So you are a guard dog? Fascinating." She had been speculating, now she was sure. A plan began forming in her head. A plan that both irked and elated her. The part she didn't like would come first; she would have to lose to this stuck up leech.

Nick shrugged off her backpack and undid her sword. Carefully she placed it on the ground next to her. 

With a grin she lunged at him, but he had been expecting it and met her halfway. They clashed in a flurry of dodged kicks and warded off punches. Nick crouched down, slammed his blocking arm to the side and nailed him in the solar plexus. He grunted but reacted exactly as she had predicted, as she had left her face unprotected for the move his right fist came flying at her. She had plenty of time to move out of the way, but she held still. This was going to hurt. 

Her head was knocked back, she felt as though a mule had kicked her in the mug. She stumbled back and shook her head to clear it and make the swaying world solid again. But the vamp didn't give her that chance. Even in her dazed state she would have been able to dodge him. She had seen the world go wonky enough times before to work it out. But again, she didn't.

He slammed into her, his arms going round her while his shoulder punched the air out of her as it hit her chest. They toppled to the ground and Nick felt the stone rip and scrape at the scales on her back. She grunted as one of the hooks up her spine snapped and splintered away. Pressing her eyes shut for a split second she made the rest do some reverse growing, only keeping the ones on her arms. 

She clawed at Clay in faked desperation, swiped her hooks at his face and even snapped her fangs at him for good measure. He needed to think she was frantic, the losing part had to look real. He snagged her wrists and slammed them on the ground in an awkward angle. Nick screamed as he did it again and again, until all the hooks of her arms were reduced to splinters. She glared at him as the pain burned up her arms and nearly made her control snap. This fucker was so going to pay for that. 

Rough hands turned her over and pulled her wrists across her back painfully. She heard the metallic clicking of handcuffs and a split second later she could feel the cold metal digging into her skin. 

Cuffs, really? She had to force those words down in order to keep up appearance. 

"Come now, little demoness," Clay said next to her ear. "You fought bravely, but it's over now." With that he pulled her up and placed her on her feet. 

Nick glared at him. Angry for having to lose to him, she put all her fury into that glare, hiding the fact that she was so kicking his ass later. "You'll pay for this, fang-face," she growled. 

Clay smiled indulgently. "It's okay to lose demon. Your kind wasn't built to fight and win against someone such as me."

Nick wasn't able to stifle her answering growl. "Great. Fucking terrific. Not only are you a misogynist, but also a racist." She rolled her eyes. "I just got all kinds of lucky tonight." 

Ignoring her, he grabbed her stuff and Nick nearly growled again when he picked up her sword. "Where did you get this?" he asked as he mustered it with admiration. He pulled it from its sheath a bit and jerked as he saw the sign of the keepers etched into the bottom of the blade.

"Stole it," Nick grated out.

Clay huffed out a relieved breath, slid the sword back and smiled at her. "Aren't you a naugthy girl?"

She rolled her eyes. 

"Come on, time to find out what you're doing here," he said and grabbed her arm to steer her forward. 

She pulled away from him and hissed. "I can walk damned fine on my own, fuck you very much."

He held up his hands at her glare. "As long as you behave and walk the way I want you to." His hands fell down and he smiled coldly. "But make no mistake, if you try anything or even start runing just remember; my kind loves the hunt and we usually kill our prey."

Nick shuddered. Why did vampires always have to be so creepy? How Jess had ever been infatuated with one she would never understand. 

------

They climbed down snowy slopes on the other side of the plateau. The snow and ice crunched underneath Nicks boots and she glowered at her feet. Being cuffed and shoved forward on occasion did not sit well with her. The only thing that made it bearable was the fact that she could get out of this predicament in seconds, if she wanted to.

She slipped a few times and nearly fell, each time Clay steadied her. It was annoying, but without being able to use her hands her balance was a little off. The vampire was quiet for a while. They passed into a narrow valley between the mountain with the plateau and one that loomed over everything. Larger than the rest. If that was the one where the colony hid Nick would lose it. That would just be too obvious.

She stared up at it, wondering if David was up there. Was he watching his people? Had they found and captured him? She nearly snorted, no one would catch David. He was as impalpable as smoke, as stealthy as a breath of air and as lethal as she was herself. Only a tad less conspicuous about it. 

Nick hung her head as she thought about the time he had actually offered her more. He had never offered her a steady relationship, but he had told her he wanted more. More than the occasional lay. David had once told her he wished to once wake up next to her. Even now, fear gripped her at the memory. Back then she had almost panicked at his words. For anyone else, those words wouldn't have been a big deal, hell, they would have coaxed sighs from most females. But not from her. Even the notion of  something similar to a steady relationship made the hair on Nick's back stand to attention. 

It scared her. Freaked her out. Nick hated fear, she loathed the impotence it inspired. The stiffness in her bones and heart that didn't leave until that fear was conquered. David scared her. The way he made her feel, it was both addicting and frightening. Nick had not been able to stay away from him though, not once she had seen him again in the foyer of Reaver Manor. And each time had scared her more, until they'd had their fight and he'd told her not to come to him anymore. Unless she knew what she wanted.

Nick had no idea what it was she truly wanted. And that right there made her angry. She was not used to being indecisive. Ever. 

She wanted him to be safe, she didn't want him to face danger alone and she wanted him to be happy. Maybe she was kidding herself, he had been very clear that last time. And after their fight he hadn't really talked to her at all. She had ranted at him when he'd come back from Ashenwall, but he had just raised a brow and asked:

'And this is your business because...?' 

Nick had stormed off. But he'd been right. It wasn't, he wasn't her business. And it was possible that she was too late to ever make him her business. And it still scared her. But it was a fear she was determined to conquer.

"Watch your step her, demon," Clay said behind her. "I don't feel like scooping your ass off the ground every five minutes."

Nick looked up and noticed that they were walking parallel to the huge mountain, alongside a creek. The water was half frozen, a small stream gargling down, nipping at the icicles hanging from branches and stones. The crystal clearness of the water was beautiful, she could make out bright, blue stones in the riverbed. She frowned. If those were lapis lazuli, which was what they looked like, then that was really strange. Finding these stones just lying around was rare. She had to smile, the 'stone of immortality' was one of her favorites. 

The stream narrowed, as did the way between the two mountains. Soon it was nearly impossible to walk without occasionally soaking one foot in the freezing water. They rounded a slope of ice, underneath which the stream vanished and came to face a large wall of ice and rock. In the middle a small crack, just broad enough for someone to slip through, gaped from it. 

Nick could smell warmth beyond it. Flowers blooming that shouldn't up here, masses of water, sulfur from warm springs and people. This was it. She looked up and swallowed. They lived inside the mountain. 

A sound had her head whipping down. Men stepped from the crack. Men in dark clothing with glaring eyes and hard faces.

"Found this one not far from here," Clay told them.

Nick shifted her hands subtly until her thumb rested on top of her other hand. Right above the ganglion she had there.

"Now will you tell me?" Clay's voice was strained and Nick tilted her head looking at him.

"I did what you asked, I kept this part of the mountains safe. I need to see her. I need to see Maren."

One of the men nodded. "Once we have the demon inside we'll take you to her. You have made up for your mistake."

Clay grunted. "I didn't know he was escaping he was, after all, one of you."

Nick sucked in a breath. Could it be David he was talking about? If so, he was out here. She tilted her hand up, so it rested against the cuff and pressed down on her hand, hard. A hidden hook slipped beneath the cuff and grew out. 

"Well gents," Nick said. "It's been nice, but I'll be on my way now." The men, including Clay, frowned at her. She twisted her hands and pulled. Her hook slipped out further and with a 'pop' the cuffs came undone.

Nick flung out her arm, nailing Clay in the jaw with her elbow. Snatching her sword from him as he staggered back she ran the other way.

She pumped her arms for speed and sped along the stream. She would have to haul ass, shadows were fast and vampires even more so. An angry growl erupted behind her and Nick giggled. They would not be fast enough to catch her.

A/N  Hi there!! Okay, so a few things. Number one, thanks to all of you who have voted on TSR Night of Souls. It won the Brigades Watty Award (Wattpaders Choice Paranormal) Whooohooo! And it's all thanks to you guys!!

Number two, how do you like this story so far??? I know not many of you have found it yet, but I have no idea how to let you know about it. Posting messages on my board doesn't seem to work... Anyone got an idea?

Happy to be writing again. Have a lovely weekend Kittens!!!