Chapter One Hundred Thirty-nine The guards came for him without saying a word. They shackled Anton's hands behind his back, none too gently, and jerked him out of the room. The walk to the elevator was silent as was the ride up. And the walk to the throne room seemed eternal, just as his life should have been. He took a deep breath as the two guards at the entrance to the Council's chamber opened the doors with a hollow boom. With his head held high, Anton stepped inside, determined to meet his fate with a brave face. Bryn thought he looked strangely calm as he stepped in to the room, but his reluctance to meet her gaze told her he was just as jittery as she was. Given that she hadn't eaten anything in a long while, she considered herself lucky. She was certain she would have thrown it up by now. Anton's resolve melted when he saw her sitting there. Although she was surrounded by people, she looked alone and frail. Automatically he started towards her, only to be jerked back by the guards. Not breaking eye contact with Bryn, he was guided over to the podium where Hadrian stood. "It is good you decided to join us, Mr. Rudenko. Any last thoughts before we proceed with our verdict?" Anton's head snapped forward. He hadn't noticed that Lilith was sitting on her throne, the High Council members flanking her in an apparent show of solidarity. And the expressions he saw did not encourage him. "Any protest of extenuating circumstances I may make would fall on deaf ears, Empress," he said in a calm voice. "Therefore I will not waste your valuable time." "Very well then. It is the decision of your sovereign leader and the Grand Council of the empire that you, Anton Mikhail Rudenko, are hereby found guilty on the charge of murder and evasion of capture. You are sentenced to death by exsanguination and beheading. This sentence will be carried out at midnight tonight, and will be followed by the burning of your corpse at sunrise." It was exactly what he expected her sentence to be. Anton didn't outwardly show the tremble that ran through his body. But the first thought he had wasn't for himself, but for Bryn and the children. Just because she'd been expecting it, it didn't make the news any easier to hear. The bottom dropped out on her stomach and she leaned forward suddenly, as if she might vomit. But nothing came to her throat except a sickening dread of the night to come and a hollow despair that grew deeper with every second. She stared at Anton in shock, her eyes filling with tears, and she realized a small part of her had still hung on to the hope he might be set free. He exchanged looks with Hadrian for a moment and then looked back at Lilith. He didn't think he could look at Bryn, or else he'd be on his knees, begging for his life for her sake. And he didn't want to give Lilith the satisfaction. "If our councilmen are satisfied, we've reached the end of our court proceedings. Guards, please return Mr. Rudenko to his cell for the rest of the day. Mr. Celanto, thank you for your hard work. You are dismissed." Hadrian shifted into a position that was reminiscent of a soldier's at ease pose. "If it is not an imposition, Empress, I wish to see this through to the bitter end." Lilith raised an eyebrow, but did not otherwise comment. She nodded her head as she stepped down from the dais and headed towards the concealed door to the side of the courtroom. Standing up immediately as the guards headed for Anton, Bryn pushed her way past the crowd and quickly grabbed on to him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, hugging him fiercely, until the guards physically forced her away. "I'll be there for you, Anton. Just look for me, and I'll be there." All he could do was lean against her as she hugged him. And the guards were hauling him towards the double doors. "I'll look for you, Bryn!" he yelled over his shoulder as he was pushed out of the room. "I love you always, my dear!" And then the doors boomed shut, echoing hollowly in his soul. Suddenly filled with a pain she couldn't bear, Bryn knew what she had to do. And as soon as Lilith glided so arrogantly out of the room, Bryn picked up her purse and headed off in search of Seth. He was the only who could help her now. She was about to pin all of her hopes on him. Seth was putting his butt on the line for her, and she knew it. Not only had he gone above and beyond for securing the extra bags of blood, but he was also sneaking her in to the holding cell. A major feat in itself. She wasn't sure she wanted to know just how he had bribed the guards. All she knew was that it was early afternoon and there wasn't time to waste. While most of the vampires were sleeping away the afternoon, she locked the door behind her and sneaked out to the hall, taking the back staircase to the ground floor. Max and Kat had a nanny who would keep them safe for the moment. Lilith wouldn't dare let the kids be hurt after all. But Bryn was still nervous about leaving them alone. She nearly jumped out of her skin when Seth tapped her shoulder. "God, you scared me!" "Sorry. Follow me very closely. We have to be careful not to be seen." He handed her three ampoules of warm blood. "Let's go." In his cell, Anton sat on the bunk, staring straight ahed. It was surprisingly low security for holding vampires, but then it didn't have to be. The shaft of reflected sunlight during the day held him as securely as the three guards did outside his door at night. He took a deep breath, resting his head in his hands. It was only a matter of time now. The death sentence had been announced, and unlike in human courts, there would be no appeals. In a matter of hours, they would bring him to that damned pit where Lilith would be waiting. His only hope was that he would be able to see Bryn or the children one last time. The last thing Bryn expected to encounter on Lilith's grand estate was the dingy, dank underground cellar that served as the holding cells for the empire's prisoners. The place was filthy and smelled of urine, bringing tears to her eyes. [Anton has to spend his last days here...in this sewer.] Following Seth down the stairs and past an empty cell, she finally caught sight of Anton and gasped. It had not been evident at the trial, but the lack of feeding had started to take its toll. He was rail thin and looked as if he'd aged twenty years. His skin had an ashen appearance from the lack of blood, and she suddenly wished Seth had brought more. "Anton," she said, almost breathlessly, as Seth unlocked the door. Tears washed the sight of him from her eyes. Blinking to clear her vision, she impatiently pushed past the opening door and rushed to be with him. "Bryn?" Anton stood up, not quite believing his eyes. She had to be a hallucination induced by the lack of fresh blood, because he knew that Lilith would not allow her anywhere near him. "What are you doing here?" he said as he stood up and crossed the cell to wrap her in his arms. "My God, it is so good to see you," he whispered as he tucked her under his chin, hugging her tightly, relieved to find that she was warm and real in his arms. Tossing the ampoules to the bed behind him, Bryn tightly squeezed Anton in her arms as if she never meant to let him go. And she wished she could keep him there always, but it wasn't the case. Instead, she would hold him as long and as tight as she could. "I'll be right outside," Seth said, quietly. "We may have to cut this short unexpectedly, but I'll try to give you as much time as I can." His footsteps retreated as Bryn lifted her head and kissed Anton repeatedly, showering his face with love. He had been so wrapped up with Bryn that he hadn't even noticed Seth's presence. Anton returned Bryn's kisses eagerly, still in shock that she was here. "How?" he whispered between kisses, one hand cupping the side of her face. "I didn't think I'd see you again until--" Anton cut that sentence short, not wanting to bring up what he knew they'd discuss eventually. "I asked Seth...for a special favor," she said, between kisses. "And I brought you blood. You'll need it." Pulling back a bit, she made sure she had his attention. "I know this isn't what we planned, but...I want you to Transform me. Tonight." "What?" He blinked in shock at her, certain that he had misheard what she said. But when he realized that he hadn't, Anton pulled her back to the bunk he had been sitting on, pushing the blood to one side. "Bryn... I can't. Not like this." He looked around the dank cell. "Not here." "You have to, Anton. I'm scared. Do you really think Lilith will stop with just your execution? She has no control over me once your gone, and she knows it. She won't allow our children to be raised by a human. They're safe with Lindy and Nate for the moment, but she'd rather take them away from us. In order for me to fight for them, I have to be on the same level as her. I have to be a vampire." Clasping both of his hands tightly, she knelt before him. "I wouldn't want anyone else to do it but you. If I can't have you with me in this lifetime, I'll find you in the next. I'm not letting you go. I refuse to do that. And I won't ever let Lilith get her hands on our children." Anton nodded, squeezing her hands. "I'll find you, my dear. No matter what I have to do, I will find you again." He leaned forward and kissed her, one hand moving up to cup her cheek as his tongue stroked over her lips. She let out a sob against his mouth, clutching his collar as she kissed him passionately. [Please don't leave me, Anton. I won't be able to breathe without you.] She poured her emotions in to every insistent brush of her lips, every suck and pull she gave his mouth. His eyes were bright with unshed tears as he continued to kiss her. But eventually he pulled away from her mouth, letting his fingers rub over her lips. "We may not have much time." He swallowed looking her in her eyes. "You're absolutely certain about this, my dear?" Her lower lip quivered as she nodded. "Yes. Please, sugar. I can't lose you and the kids, too. I won't survive it." Anton nodded and pressed his lips to her forehead. "I love you, my dear. And I always will, Sabryn." He then pressed his lips to hers and lightly kissed her as he he cradled the back of her head in his hands. Slowly he tilted her back, his kissing moving down her jaw and to her neck. Softly he nuzzled her neck. Anton could feel her pulse pounding beneath her skin, and the hunger in him flared. Slowly his kisses became more biting as his fangs extended. Bryn closed her eyes, her long hair spilling over her shoulders to hang down her back. She felt a sharp pinch at her neck, followed by a piercing pain, and she grasped at him tightly, already feeling like she was falling. Combing her fingers through his hair, she leaned her head against his and softly said, "I love you, too, sugar. And I always will." He was being guided by instinct only at this point. Softly he sucked on her neck, pulling her life inside of him. And unlike previous times when he forced himself to pull back, he forced himself to continue on, to drink his fill of her sweet blood. The nervous awareness she'd felt since that evening slowly drifted away, leaving her very tired and weak. After a while, she couldn't hold her head up anymore. And then it seemed, she just fell asleep. Her pulse, which had been thundering in his ears, now felt like weak tapping of rain on the roof. Now he forced himself away from the wounds and tore a wide gash in his wrist. "Don't die on me, Sabryn," he whispered, holding the wound to her mouth. "We all need you. I'm not ready to lose you." She didn't respond by drinking. For the longest time, she didn't respond at all. And then suddenly the blood dripping down her throat reached some critical point and her eyes snapped open. Her vision cleared and she breathed in deeply, savoring the sweet scent of his blood. Fangs descending, she bit deep in to his wrist and locked on tight. They weren't tears of pain leaking from his eyes, but tears of joy. "Sabryn," he murmured, holding her close, keeping his wrist pressed to her mouth. "I love you so much, my dear," he said, kissing her on the head as she still drank from him. Moaning softly, she struggled to move closer to him and felt him gather her to his chest. She was unbelievably weak, but seemed to get a little stronger with every swallow. Rubbing against his body, she clutched his shirt and melted in to his warmth. Slightly dizzy, Anton let her continue to drink, although he knew he didn't have that much blood to spare. But Anton didn't stop her. Instead he held her close, relishing the one last chance to have her in his arms. She was also enjoying his closeness, wishing the moment could last forever. She looked deep in to his eyes, smiling gently, and finally released his wrist. "You should...open those bags. Before you get too weak." He swayed dizzily as he reached behind him. But he didn't grab one bag. Instead he grabbed two and handed one to Bryn. "Care to do the honors, my dear?" not certain he'd be able to puncture the plastic. She wasn't any stronger than he was, but did manage to bite through the plastic with two small holes. Holding it to his lips, she opened her mouth in reflex as she watched him latch on to the bag. Anton swallowed the blood, sucking softly. Although famished, he forced himself to take his time and slowly swallow. His glowing eyes never left hers as he offered her the second bag. Bryn bit open the second bag, but handed it to him, instead of drinking from it. As long as she was here, she wanted to take her nourishment from him. It was possibly the only time she ever would. And she meant to savor every drop. "I love you so much, Anton. "I love you too, my dear." Anton lifted the second bag with a much less shaky hand. This bag was drained faster and tossed aside. He then turned to Bryn, grabbing the third bag. "You need to feed, my dear." "I will. From you. I need your strength, Anton. I need to feel you with every heartbeat. It's the only thing that will keep me sane." He nodded, swallowing as his eyes softened with understanding. Without saying another word, he drained the last unit. Then he tiled his head, offering. Lifting up on to her knees, she paused to kiss his lips softly. "Thank you." Without another word, she straddled his lap and sank her fangs in to his neck, drinking strongly. Anton groaned, arching against her. He had dreamed about this moment for so long, it was hard to believe that it was happening. His hands tightened around her back as if never intending to let her go. She whimpered as he squeezed her, and tightened her legs around him. Her heart was pounding in her chest, partly with fear, but also with exhilaration. She was his, totally and completely. Practically a part of his soul, and she'd never felt so wonderful. She wanted to scream it for the world to hear...but if anyone other than Seth knew, there was no telling what punishment they would face. The loss of their children, and possibly her own death as well. He started to lean against her, still holding on tight. A tear softly slid down his cheek. The only thing that could make this better was if his children were here with them. And there was no way in hell he wished them to be here in this hell hole. Wrapping her fingers in his hair, Bryn drank until she'd finally had enough to regain most of her strength. She didn't want to leave him too much weaker. He would still need a fighting chance against Lilith...even if the ordeal would be a losing battle. Pressing her face to his neck, she breathed in deeply and blinked away fresh tears. "Do you know when you made me the happiest?" He gently stroked his hands up and down her back, savoring her closeness. He felt weaker than a moment ago, but stronger than when Bryn had first entered the cell. "Tell me, my dear?" "You made me happiest just now. Because every minute I spend with you is better than the last. And now you've made me even happier." She smiled. "And there, you did it again." Anton kissed her forehead softly. "I love you so much, my dear. And no matter what happens, I don't want you to ever forget it. And I want you to tell Max and Kat every chance you get." Her eyes were leaking again. "I'll always tell them how much their daddy loved them. And how he protected them with every fiber in his being. And how he's never gone, and will come back to us someday." Anton let out a soft sob. "I wish we could stop time, my dear. I want to hold you in my arms forever. I love you so much. And Max and Kat. Hell, I almost love Seth for smuggling you in here." "I don't know what I'm going to do without you, Anton. I'm too afraid to think about it. I'll be more lonely without you than I ever was before we met." His tears were falling freely now. "I'll find my way back to you, Sabryn. And I will always be with you here." He placed his palm over her chest, feeling the strength of her heartbeat. "What if I don't know you when I find you?" "You may not know here," he kissed her forehead. "But you will know here." His thumb lightly brushed over her sternum. "I'll wait for you, Anton. However long it takes. There's no one else but you. There never could be. "I've always loved only you, my dear. And I always will." Seth softly cleared his throat from the doorway. "We should really be going. The other guards will be back soon." "Just one more moment, Seth," Anton asked. There was so much more that he wanted to say to Bryn, but words seemed so inadequate. So he let his actions speak for him. He pulled Bryn close and kissed her deeply. She clutched him like a drowning woman, wanting to wail in agony. [Take me with you, Anton! Take me and the kids, and let's leave this place behind. We'll go somewhere we'll always be safe, always be together.] He didn't want to ever stop kissing her. If this was going to be their last together, he was going to make it worth remembering forever. He clutched her tightly, shaking, never wanting to let her go. Bryn moaned against his mouth, holding his gaze, and memorized his face one last time. She didn't think she'd ever forget it. She knew every line and curve, every texture by heart. But it was never enough. Forever wasn't enough. Not even close. And she was shattering inside as the seconds without him drew closer and closer. He stared at her intently, fingers gently tracing the curve of her cheek. "I love you, Sabryn," he whispered. "I love you, too, Anton." Unable to bear the misery, she walked away from him while she still could. While they were still safe. She didn't look back as Seth closed the door behind her, locking Anton away once more. She had to keep going, for all of their sake. He watched her walk away, resisting the urge to grab her and keep her with him. The sound of the lock clicking back into place echoed over and over in his soul. And he ahd no proof that she had been here, other than the taste of her blood in his mouth. And only now, that he had held her that one last time, did he feel despair. It was hard to secretly search Lilith's office without either a guard or Lilith herself coming in to interrupt him. He'd had to come up with more lame excuses than he could count. But he had to find something to stop this execution before Lilith got her way. Mere minutes away from the start of the event, he was shuffling papers like a madman. They had been traveling without sleep for almost three days now. They were parked a bit back from the main gate to the estate, in what they hoped was a blind spot. "Well, here goes nothing," Jess said as she dialed Seth's phone number . Fidgeting as she looked at Alex and Walter, she waited for the Secretary to the Empire to pick up. He nearly jumped out of his skin when the phone rang. Ducking quickly behind the desk, heart pounding, Seth pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. "Seth Christos?" he said, almost as if he were uncertain himself. "Oh thank God you answered the phone," she breathed in relief. "This is Jess Leahs. Alex Krycek, Walter Skinner and I are just beyond the front gate. Is there a way you can sneak us in?" "Jess..." Seth sucked in a deep breath, thankful that it wasn't Lilith on the other end of the line. "You're where? Here? Yeah, I can..." Standing up, he cleared his throat. "There's an emergency entrance near the south gate to the property. You'd have to walk quite a ways from where you are, but no one uses it at night. It will bring you in to the main house. Once you get to the end of the tunnel, wait there. I'll meet you. Don't come in if I'm not there. You don't want to chance being seen." "Gotcha. We'll see you shortly." Without any further niceties, she disconnected the call and nodded to the two men. "South gate. There's a tunnel there." Alex nodded, pulling off his shirt. "Let's go." He opened the car door, shapeshfting as he did so. Walter and Jess followed suit, undressing and slipping out into the dark night. Clothes bundled in their mouths, they trotted quickly in a south direction along the fence line until they found the tunnel. Deciding it would be better to meet Seth in a form they could hold a conversation in, they shapeshifted and dressed before entering the tunnel. Moving silently, they headed towards the end of the tunnel where they were told to wait. Slipping quickly down the stairs, Seth was relieved to find the house nearly empty. Guessing where everyone was, he hurried his steps even more. The execution would be beginning, or already had, and time was wasting. Reaching the hallway where the hidden entrance stopped, he listened carefully to make sure no one else was coming, and then opened the door. "Hurry. We don't have much time." The pack followed without a word. They moved swiftly and silently as predators. "How much time do we have exactly, Seth?" Walter asked. "What's the situation?" "We don't have much time at all. The execution may have already began. Just because Lilith says midnight, that doesn't always mean she sticks to it. But while she's busy, I plan to take advantage of it. I'll lock the doors to her office and tear the place apart until I find something." Alex swore under his breath. "And we'll help. It's too risky to try to cause a diversion. Not until we have some proof." Even then it would be risky. A werewolf was tough, but three against a several hundred angry vampires weren't odds that Alex liked. "Seth," Jess asked. "Would she even be hiding it in her office, since you could stumble across it at any time? Maybe she has it hidden in her bedroom or somewhere else private?" Seth paused. "I don't know. I guess we have more places to search than I thought. Maybe we should split up?" "Um, yeah," Jess said, looking to the others of the pack. "Maybe Alex and Walter take the bedroom while we ransack the office?" Walter nodded. "Let's go. Lead the way, Seth." Leading them down the halls, Seth pointed out the way to Lilith's suite. "Double doors at the end are hers. She has a maid that comes around 2:00 AM, but we better be done by then anyway. Lock yourselves in and don't answer the door if someone knocks. If they're insistent, you better act like you have a very good reason to be there. Hopping in to her bed naked might not be a bad idea." Alex rolled his eyes. "Here's hoping it doesn't come to that." Jess watched as her mates disappeared into the room. She was antsy, wanting to get searching right away. "Well, Seth, where's her office?" Nodding to her nose, he said, "Shouldn't you be showing me where it is? You are a werewolf, right?" "That's right, and we also don't have any time--" "Right this way." Turning back the way they came, Seth led Jess straight to Lilith's office. "Let's hope that nose of yours is useful in here." Jess looked a bit doubtful. "This room is saturated with her scent. Yours too." But she inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. When she opened them next, she was a seven foot werewolf instead of a five foot four woman. Nostrils flaring, she started to sniff along the walls and floorboards, smelling for any hint of stale air. Seth stared at her in amazement, shocked by the sudden change. For a moment he almost forgot what he was supposed to be doing. Then, shaking his head clear, he walked to Lilith's desk and opened the locked cabinet with his key. Pulling file folders out, he back skimming documents for any mention of Justinius' name. After he finished with each folder, he dumped it on the floor, not particularly concerned that he was leaving a mess. Jess continued to sniff at the walls. Every so often she would run her claws along a seam. She had started sniffing at a portrait of the Empress in Renaissance dress when she lifted her head, ears twitching. There was a light tap at the door. "Alesssss and Walterrrr," she growled, gesturing for Seth to unlock the door. Once they were inside. Alex and Walter looked triumphant. "We found this in a locked box beneath her bed," Walter explained, handing the video tape to Seth. Although a bit skeptical as to what the tape might include, Seth grabbed and walked over to the blank wall opposite Lilith's desk. With a simple push on ornate scrollwork bordering the wall, two hidden panels slid apart to reveal an expensive video library that nearly took up the whole space. Sliding the tape in to the cassette player, he turned on the television and pressed play. Four sets of eyes watched the screen carefully, expecting to see the office where Bryn had been assaulted. Instead a bedroom was on-screen - one unfamiliar to Jess but familiar to the rest of them. As were both people naked on the bed. "I think we can safely say that this is *not* what we're looking for," Alex quipped. Eyes wide and whitened with shock, Seth stared at the screen for less than ten seconds before rushing to the machine to stop the tape. "That bitch! I can't believe she taped that!" Ejecting the tape, he began ripping open the plastic to tear out the thin black tape inside. "If I wasn't going to quit before, I definitely am now!" All three of the werewolves conveniently found another place to be watching. Jess returned to the picture, sniffing at it again. She made a warbling sound at Walter, who helped her grip the frame and lift the picture off the wall. They looked from the newly revealed wall safe to Seth. "You got a combo for this, Seth?" Alex asked. Still staring at the shredded tape in his hands, Seth gave them the combination to Lilith's safe. He was tempted to tell them to help themselves to the large stacks of cash she kept there. Instead, he turned to them and held up the destroyed tape. "I'm returning this to her room. I'll be back shortly." There was a low chuckle as Alex tried the combination. "Let's hope this isn't another porn movie," he said, as he pulled out another video tape. Jess nodded in agreement as she shifted back to human. "Poor kid. He looked like I felt when Amanda walked in on us that time." She took a deep breath as Alex put the tape in and pressed play, expecting to see another sex act caught on video. In a way she was right. Bryn was on-screen, and attempting to fight off Justinius. "We found it," Walter said. [What exactly does one wear to her husband's execution?] It was a question that haunted her for days. This would be the last time Anton ever saw her, and she wanted to look good. But the absurdity of it all finally got to her. He wouldn't care what she wore or if she was covered in mud. It was her presence he would care about. He just wanted her to be there, to see her face one more time. So she put on the first thing she grabbed out of the suitcase, pulled her hair away from her face, and tried to control her shaking when Seth came to find her. She looked somber in the black shirt and blue jeans, but they were nowhere near the darkness of her mood. After a brief hug from Max and a few last minutes spent watching Katerina, she got up the nerve to leave the room. "The ceremony won't be short," Seth explained, as if she didn't already know. "And it is quite hard to watch at times, but I am sure your husband will be relieved to see you there." Floating down the hallway, almost outside her own body, Bryn didn't pay attention to his words. [Don't leave me, Anton. Please. I can't make it without you.] She wasn't sure she could bear to see him there. It was doubtful that he'd been treated well since he was declared guilty. Seeing her strong, beautiful husband subjected to such abuse was unthinkable. It made her knees weak just to imagine. [I can't watch you die. I just can't.] Seth continued to babble on, unaware or unconcerned that her pace had slowed. Her stomach was twisted in knots, her chest so tight it felt her heart might crush. She could smell him, on her shirt. It had been his shirt once, before she stole it. And his scent was as plain as if he were standing next to her. [I can't ever wash your clothes...or your pillow. I'll lose you completely.] No matter how many times she wrapped herself up in his shirts, they wouldn't match his warm embrace. They hadn't taken enough pictures. Their fuzzy digital photos wouldn't do him justice. Neither would clear ones. No painted portrait would ever suffice. She wouldn't be able to feel anything but glossy paper or paint strokes. At least the recordings they'd made would still hold his voice. And she could watch him making love to her on that surveillance video. But how could that ever compare to the real thing? [Max and Katerina...] The only time they would ever see their Daddy's smile again was on a television screen. [How could you do this to me? How could you leave me?] Her anger at him made her feel so ashamed. He was the best of her, the light in her life. Everything good and special and loving. Hating him was as useless as hating herself. Still, she did both. Even as she loved him with everything she had. She knew she'd always see him in their children's faces. They would keep her going and she would devote every second of her time to them. But living without Anton would barely be living at all. Moving on would be hard, but still manageable. Watching him die... "I can't do this." Bryn wasn't sure if she'd said the words out loud. "I can't go...to that place. I can't stand there, with those bastards hating him. I can't watch her rip him apart. I can't!" She didn't know she was wailing until Seth grabbed her by the shoulders. "You can and you will." "No!" She shook her head so hard tears flew off her face. "I can't w-watch him die. I can't! He's...Anton." She caught her breath. "He's not supposed to die. He's not supposed to leave me. He saved me. Everything. He saved me." Seth looked almost fierce as he stared into her wet eyes. "You have to do this. It's an order. You're risking your own life. And your children's." The words made her pause, but only for a second. She shook her head again. "I won't let anyone hurt them. I can't lose them all. He needs me to protect them." "Then do it. Go to him. He needs you." She sobbed pitifully, her hands fisted in his shirt. "You don't understand! If I watch...that...I'll never forget it. I'll see it, every time I look at his picture. Every time I see our kids. And how would I ever explain to them, that I watched him die and did nothing to stop it?" Frustrated, he grabbed her by the arm and started walking. "Nothing can stop this now. I do get it, Mrs. Rudenko. I get that this is your last chance, to ever see him again. You can't change your mind. Once it's over, it's over." His voice grew quieter. "He needs your strength. He needs to see you standing there. Your face should be the last thing he ever sees. Not Lilith's." Eyes still leaking, she stiffened at the mention of the empress's name. "I can't watch her kill him. He's so proud, Seth. So strong. And she can't...she can't take control away from him. It's happened before and it almost broke him. And I," she gasped shakily, "I was there, and I couldn't help him. I couldn't help my Antosha." Seth stopped and stared at her. His own eyes looked a little red. "I'm sorry. I'd stop this if I could. I don't believe he deserves this and I never have. But Lilith made her decision and that's the end of it." Bryn knew pleading her case wouldn't help. She'd tried several times. But still she tried again. "Please. Talk to her. You're the closest one to her. She might listen to you." "I have talked to her. Until I was blue in the face." He shook his head. "I'm sorry." Lips quivering, she massaged feeling back in to the arm he'd grabbed. "Not as much as I am. I wanted so bad to make everything better. Because...this was my fault in the first place." She sniffed. "I know he'd never blame me, but he doesn't have to. Losing him is punishment enough." Her words were bitter, even though her expression was utter hopelessness. "I can't run away from this..." He shook his head, not looking at her. [He needs me. And I can't turn my back on him. I won't break his heart, too.] Swiping at her face until it was dry, she closed her eyes briefly to ask for strength. [I need to see you again, Anton. I need to tell you how much I love you. You have to know that I'll wait for you as long as I possibly can.] Opening her eyes, she straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath. Then another. "Take me to the guards. I'm ready." The building was humming when she stepped inside, flanked by two of Lilith's menacing guards. Trying to control her shaking and her emotions, she refused to look in to the "pit", where a thick wooden pole was buried deep in the ground and decorated with leather cinches. Instead, she let the guards lead her to her seat and tried to ignore the mocking jeers of the crowd. Not everyone held the same negative opinion, she knew, and she tried to draw strength from those who felt sympathy for their plight. But sympathetic they may be, there was nothing they could do to stop this tragedy already in motion. Wincing suddenly at the bright lights that flooded the room, she saw that the large double doors opposite her were opening, and several more guards were escorting the prisoner in to the ring. But as her heart beat triple-time, she could barely believe that bearded, bedraggled man was her husband. Anton was squinting, trying to see, stumbling as he was dragged out to the center of the pit. When there, one of the guards cut the bonds tying his wrists behind his arms. Rubbing his wrists as the guards then retreated, Anton watched, trying to figure out where Lilith was going to appear from. The whole thing had an unreal air to him. Anton had been kept in a bare room without food, water, or blood. He was still wearing the same clothes he had been wearing when Lilith's troops had broken into Nate's home and captured him and was still without shoes. He couldn't see any of the crowd because of the glare, but he scanned it desperately, searching for any hint of Bryn's presence, both wanting and dreading seeing her here. "I'm here," she called out, but her voice was lost in the crowd as if she'd never uttered a word. She stood up, starting to move forward, but was instantly grabbed by both guards and shoved in to her seat. "Let me go! He needs me!" "Sit down," she was ordered. Before she had time to respond, the crowd grew hushed, their attention drawn to the main entrance, their gaze riveted on the dark-haired woman who stood with her arms spread like a diva on the stage. Bryn's eyelids narrowed, and as the crowd began to rise, chanting Lilith's name, she was yanked out of her seat and forced to stand at attention with the rest of them. Dressed in all black, a demented female Grim Reaper who was nowhere near feminine, Lilith swung her long coat out of the way and began a slow walk towards Anton. Her stiletto-heeled, thigh-high boots were matched with a leather corset, but she wore little else to cover her nude body. Although her body was flawless, she disgusted Bryn and made her shake even harder with hatred. Anton turned when he heard the crowd's voice rise in a demented chant. He wouldn't let her see the cold tremor that wanted to pass through his frame. He would go down fighting bravely, although he had no hope of survival. But still he had to try to bargain, as futile as it was. "Don't do this, Lilith," he said, starting to pace to one side. He wasn't going to let himself get caught too close to the pole in the center, nor hemmed in too close to the rounded walls. "You know there were extenuating circumstances. If it had been a human doing the same thing to Bryn, there would be no question of me doing wrong." "You've already had your trial, Rudenko, and you knew the rules. Your words are useless now. Of course, I won't stop you. I love it when you beg." Slipping off her coat, she held it out beside her and a servant obediently trotted out to take it from her before retreating once again to a safe distance. Bare-breasted and obviously shaved everywhere, Lilith stepped closer to Anton. "Come now, make this easy on yourself. Submit now and save your little wife the agony. The sooner we're done, the sooner she can go home to mourn." Anton looked at her scornfully, still sidling around, trying to get behind her. "Don't patronize me, Lilith. You've made it clear that you won't let her go home. Or if you do, it will be without our children." He had no illusions that Lilith would take full advantage of this to advance whatever scheme she had in mind for Max and Kat. "Sounds like you have a problem with authority," she said, turning on her heel to follow his progress. She clearly enjoyed toying with him, and if the crowd's volume was any indication, they were having fun, too. He didn't have any doubt that she could speed this along if she chose to. "How about we make things interesting? The longer you hold out, the longer your children go without food." Anton's fangs extended and his eyes brightened. "You wouldn't dare..." he hissed. It was one of their primary laws not to harm children. From the way he was stalking her now, it was questionable who was predator and who was prey. Lilith tilted her head. "Test me and we'll see." Bryn thought she could almost smell the rising aggression in the air and shifted nervously in her seat. Her eyes remained glued on Anton, despite the nervousness that made her want to watch her back. [Anton...God, please don't leave me.] There was defiance, but no hope in his voice. "I'm not going to make it that easy on you, Lilith. You want me dead, you're going to have to make the first move. And don't expect me to just roll over and bare my throat to you." It was brave words, but if he thought that actually submitting to her would make things easier for Bryn and the kids, he would do it in a heartbeat. [Forgive me, Bryn. I wish you didn't have to see this.] Bryn watched Lilith move in on Anton with amazing speed, something completely unnatural that made her wonder if there wasn't some truth to those rumors about the woman being a spiritual being. She flew across the floor, too fast for him to move out of her way, and Bryn jumped to her feet in time to see him knocked flat on his back on the floor. The guards didn't hold her back, but instead moved forward to stand at her side, watching with her as Anton put up a good fight. She'd never seen such fury in him before. And for a moment she thought he might almost gain the lead on the vampire bitch. He knew he couldn't avoid her charge, so Anton let Lilith knock him over. But that didn't mean he wasn't fighting against her. He had his hands on her throat, keeping her fangs from sinking into his, and one foot against her stomach. It was hard for him to keep his grip on her naked flesh as he did manage bite into her wrist and draw blood. She lashed at him with her fingernails, her jaws snapping repeatedly at the air like a rabid dog. Tearing her wrist away from his mouth, she let out a roar of pain. But her eyes glowed like rubies at the sight of her own blood spilling over his chin. He might've been strong, but he was no match for her when her hunger overran the need to play with her prey. Seizing his wrists with both hands, she squeezed with all her might until the sound of breaking bones filled her ears. Anton let out a roar of pain, forced to relinquish his grip. He could only bat at her with his hands, which he was losing feeling in except for the shards of pain that splintered through his wrists He kicked her in the stomach hard, managing somehow to knock her off of him long enough to roll free and regain his feet. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bryn standing hear the edge of the fighting pit, and for one moment, he made a critical mistake of taking his eyes off Lilith to look at his beloved wife. "Anton..." Bryn leaned forward, reaching out her arm, as if she could pull him out of there and away from his place. Eyes shimmering with unshed tears, she tried to smile for him, to give him strength, but suddenly cried out as Lilith grabbed him from behind, seizing him by the groin with talon-tipped fingers and sinking her fangs in to his neck. "No!" He let out a sharp hiss as his features contorted in pain and rage as he felt her draining off some of his blood. And although he fed from Bryn earlier, he had also fed his blood back ot her. So he didn't have that much to spare. Anton pushed backwards, trying to crush Lilith beneath him. But she was ready for that and stepped to the side slightly, putting him further off balance. The hand on his groin started to stroke him, to Anton's horror, he was responding to it. Wrapping her free arm around his torso, she held on to him with a bruising grip as she shifted her other hand around to stroke him from the front. All the while watching for Bryn's reaction. Growing even bolder, she began unfastening his pants and letting them slide off his slender hips. Suddenly ill, Bryn looked away for a moment, before realizing that she couldn't ignore this. These were the last moments she would ever see him breathing again, and she meant to support him through it. "Fight her," she told him, as loud as she could. "Fight her, Anton!" A panicked memory bubbled to the surface, and he reacted as that frightened child had wanted to that night so long ago. Anton let out a roar of rage and ignoring the pain in his neck and arms and groin, threw Lilith off from behind. He was hobbled by the jeans that were now puddling around his ankles and he could smell his blood still pumping from the neck wound. "Yes, yes, yes!" Bryn said to herself, gripping the railing hard. She wanted to climb the fence and jump in there with him, to have him hold Lilith down while she beat the crap out of her. She wanted to step on the bitch's throat and stomp on her skull. Stepping up higher on one of the rungs, she shouted, "Look out!" Lilith returned for another round, grabbing Anton with ridiculous ease and punching him hard in the stomach. As he buckled with an audible grunt, Bryn did start to climb and shouted in rage as hands reached for her, dragging her back to the floor. "Anton!" Snarling, her body glistening with perspiration, Lilith picked him up by his shirt and ripped it open, baring his chest. She raked her nails down his stomach, leaving red welts behind, even as he struggled to shove her away. Her hand snagged the elastic waist of his boxers and she dragged them to the floor, kneeling before him not in submission but in blatant desire and intent. He kicked at his pants, trying to get free of them, trying to kick her in the face, But he was only able to feebly shove at her hands and head as she grabbed for his cock with a vicious grip. He had promised himself that beyond his initial plea, he wouldn't beg for mercy once the fight had begun. Lilith had never shown mercy, and always seemed to derive a sadistic pleasure from her victim's cries. Yet despite himself, Anton heard himself whimpering softly. "No..." Whether it was to spare him or Bryn this shame, he wasn't certain. Anton twisted in her clutch, face slightly reddening from exertion and shame. His broken wrists weren't healing with their normal speed, and his hands were still useless except to blindly swing at her. The scratches on his chest and stomach trailed fire across his belly, as did the wound in his neck. He was starting to feel light headed, not a good sign. But still he struggled, trying to get away from the hand on his cock that was stroking him in a parody of a caress. "No," Bryn said, behind her hands, horrorstricken. [No, not that. Please God, stop this!] Grabbing the shirt of the vampire to her left, despite his glowing eyes and fierce expression, she hissed, "Stop this now! Don't let her do this to him! She's going to rape him!" In the middle of the pit, her eyes cruel and vicious, Lilith pulled Anton closer to her with her grip on his cock. She opened her mouth around the head, letting him feel her inferno-hot breath, her fangs gleaming in the overhead lights. His face flushed brighter with shame. He tried to pull away from her, but her grip was unbreakable. And he wouldn't close his eyes and try to pretend it was Bryn. He wouldn't dishonor his wife that way. His eyes searched the crowd, finding her and trying to focus on her. If he could just see Bryn, he could get through this. She saw the fangs descending on her husband's sex and lost any sort of sanity she had left. With more determination than anything she'd ever experienced before, including giving birth, Bryn climbed the fence and started towards the center of the ring. She felt the hands trying to grasp her and drag her back, but instead of trying to fight them off, she kept charging forward. The crowd's loud roar was a dull white noise in her ears. Even when she hit the ground running and they tackled her like a football receiver, she didn't let the wind rushing out of her lungs discourage her. She didn't realize she was the one roaring as Lilith sank her teeth in to Anton's flesh. Anton let out a sharp cry of pain. He was weakening, the blood loss and pain overcoming the adrenaline fading in his system. He could see Bryn coming towards him, and reached one hand towards her, not certain if she was real or not. But the snarling black werewolf charging up behind her, that definitely had to be a hallucination. Sobbing as Anton's knees buckled and he dropped hard on to them, Bryn seemed to miraculously shake off her pursuers...until she saw Jess come charging past her, faster than her own two legs could carry her. Her legs felt bogged in mud as she followed as fast as she could, dropping to Anton's side as the werewolf knocked Lilith off his body. The huge room erupted in chaos as Lilith's guards hurried forward to remove the interruption. Gently cradling Anton's head and not letting anyone near him, Bryn brokenly whispered, "H-Hang on...sugar. Stay, stay with me." Trying to shield him the best she could, and not frighten him at the same time, she winced as she heard Jess cry out in pain, presumably when Lilith threw the wolf off of her. Before anyone else could come closer, Bryn heard a familiar voice over the loud speaker, barking, "Stop this insanity right now! We have proof he's not guilty!" Anton slumped against the familiar arms that were holding him gently. He thought he heard Walter's voice saying something about proof, but it was just so hard to listen. Especially with the snarling of the werewolf and Lilith, and the sound of running feet approaching. Jess, having been knocked off earlier, had leapt on Lilith's back. Her claws sank into the flesh of her shoulders and back trying to pin the woman to the ground and wanting an excuse to snap her jaws around her neck. It had taken all of her self-control to slip through the crowd and not give herself away until Walter signaled. "Get off her!" Edward was the first to reach Lilith and Jess. The werewolf bitch looked up at him, ears flat against her skull, lips pulled back in a snarl. "Your proof will be heard. I swear it. Let her up." Reluctantly, Jess stepped back and off of her, snapping at the fingernails that tried to rake across her muzzle. Outraged, Lilith started towards the wolf that dared to stop her mission, intent on killing the bitch. But shock swept over her as she found herself held back by members of her own vampire council. "Let me go, now! That's an order!" Although she probably had the power to knock them loose, more vampires took hold of the empress, stopping her from killing the wolf and her original intended victim. "Empress! If there is proof this man in innocent, this execution cannot continue." "No proof can clear his name!" she shrieked. "He killed a vampire! That means death." "Not according to your own laws," Seth said, looking somewhat breathless as he stood between Lilith and the werewolf that was protecting Anton Rudenko. "You must witness this evidence immediately." Not in any hurry to clear Anton's name, Lilith continued to fight against the men holding her. "She doesn't want the evidence heard." Walter and Alex joined Seth, strengthening the wall that was cutting Lilith off from Anton. "Because not only does it clear Anton Rudenko," he said, making sure his voice could be heard. "It leaves no doubt as to her guilt." The crowd greeted this new pronouncement with a confused roar. "We can't hear this here," Alex said. He knelt down next to Bryn to take Anton's pulse lightly at the neck. "He's in a bad way." She gave him a scathing glare, laser-blue eyes glowing, for even daring to mention that in Anton's presence. "We need to get him out of here. Now. He needs blood." Her voice instantly dissolving from hard as nails to soft as a feather, she coaxed, "Sugar. Can you hear me? We're going to get you out of here. I promise." Anton was leaning weakly against Bryn. His lips moved, but there was no sound coming from them. Jess, recovering first from the shock of seeing a Transformed Bryn, glared at a shellshocked Alex as well and gave a reproving chuff and then nuzzled him and Bryn lightly, nudging them to stand. She then looked at Seth and growled an inquiry that sounded like a canine version of 'what the hell do we do now?' Seth stared at Bryn blankly, stupidly standing there, until Jess caught his attention again. Still puzzled, he looked to Hadrian, one of Lilith's second in command as a member of the Grand Council. "I'll take them back to the suite. Walter has the tape. You can't let her get away with this." Edward nodded as the tape was handed over. "We'll see that this new evidence is reviewed." He turned to a younger vampire standing near him. "See that the Council is assembled in the main chamber in fifteen minutes." Meanwhile Alex and Walter had knelt on opposite sides of Anton. "On the count of three," Walter instructed. "One...two.. three." Both men slowly lifted Anton to his feet, Jess remaining behind him to brace him. Bryn said in a hushed voice, her eyes misty, "Someone give him your shirt. Please. He's naked. It embarrasses him." From somewhere in the crowd that was milling at the edge of the pit, a trench coat appeared, most likely from one of the minority supporters of Anton and was handed to them. Anton was vaguely aware of it being wrapped around his body. He always thought that there would be a light at the end of the tunnel as he died. Not a long hallway to stumble down supported by his friends. Bryn followed closely behind, barely aware of the world around her save Anton. If she had been more cognizant, she might've put her fist through Lilith's face. Instead she steadfastly ignored her. It was hard enough to see Anton in such pain. She couldn't handle her anger at the same moment. Following Seth, they led Anton down the long tunnel that connected the barn with its deathtrap to Lilith's mansion. Lesser servants acting under Seth's orders led them to an unused bedroom near the suite where the children were being kept. They promise to return with bagged blood as soon as possible, but from the nervous glances they kept giving Jess, it was clear that they wanted to be elsewhere. Other than an intimidating glare every so often, the werewolves' focus was on Anton. They guided the weak vampire to a soft bed and gently lowered into it after stripping off the coat. Quickly moving forward, Bryn was very careful as she laid a sheet over Anton's body to shield him from their eyes. She had avoided looking at his groin before, but now it was almost impossible not to notice the large amount of blood that was quickly staining the sheets. Shaking, she cautiously settled on the bed near his head and swept his hair away from his brow, stroking it over and over again, as they waited. "Someone get me a knife. I don't think he's strong enough to break my skin." Without a word, Alex reached into his jacket and pulled out a switchblade. "You want one of us to donate instead, Bryn?" he said. "You probably need some blood as well." She shook her head fiercely. "No. I'll do it." Even as she said, she had trouble actually going through with it. She still had so much of her human senses that the though of drawing a blade across her wrist terrified her. Focusing on Anton's face, his labored breathing, she let out a soft sob. "I can do this..." she said, mostly to herself. Breathing heavily herself, she made certain she didn't watch as she pushed down hard and cried out in pain as she sliced in to her flesh. Even in his almost comatose state, Anton jerked when he heard Bryn yell. His fangs extended as he smelled fresh blood and his head turned blindly towards her. Quickly pushed her dripping wrist towards his mouth, she helped him latch on before letting go of the knife and using her other hand to support his head. She let out a soft hiss as his fangs pushed in to her vein. Casting a pained look at the others, she said, "What did you find? You said you had proof?" "We found the missing security videotape. The one we knew had to exist, but never could locate," Jess explained. "It's the one that proves that Justinius was attacking you. Combine that with the phone records of that bastard calling here on a daily basis from before you interviewed to when he was killed, and I'd say you've got a good circumstantial case for a conspiracy." If Anton heard the words, he gave no sign. Instead he was drinking greedily from his wife's wrist. He was so thirsty, so hungry. The only time that the need could compare was when he drank from his father's wrist. Bryn squeezed her eyes closed, a strong rush of anger and disbelief flooding her. "It was her all along?" Feeling slightly dizzy from the blood loss, she leaned back against the headboard and waited for the Jess's reply. She wanted to ask if they'd seen the children, and if they were okay, but this came first. She leaned back against the headboard and waited for the Jess's reply. She wanted to ask if they'd seen the children, and if they were okay, but this came first. Walter nodded. "It looks that way." Then he turned to Seth. "Do you think we could have the children brought here?" If they were going to have to make a stand or a quick get away, that the kids be close at hand. Seth frowned. "Are they not in the suite?" Bryn shook her head. "I asked my sister and brother-in-law to take them. I didn't think they were safe here." Seth nodded slowly. "I see. In that case, I would advise you to wait and see what the council decides. There is always a chance that those who came to see the execution might...react badly." Jess nodded in agreement. She frowned at how much Anton was drinking from his newly Transformed wife. "Bryn, maybe you should let him feed from someone else for a bit. Seth, can you see what's keeping up that extra blood?" Before Seth could even get up, one of Lilith's servants arrived with warmed bags of blood and quickly set them on the bed before backing out of the room. Reaching for one, Bryn bit it open and shuddered at the taste. She didn't give a second thought to handing it Anton, but instead began to greedily drink it herself, her other wrist still firmly in her husband's jaws. Anton continued drinking greedily. There was nothing much more to him at the moment but instinct to feed. But after several long minutes, he let go of her wrist, and drifted off to sleep. Letting out a soft sigh, Bryn combed her fingers through his hair as she picked up another bag to drain. It was still shocking to her that he was here. That she could touch him and hold him without the fear of someone coming to drag him away. It felt so good it brought tears to her eyes. And with the werewolves there to keep them safe, her only worry was about the kids. The door opened to admit another vampiress. Having heard from several passing vampires that Anton miraculously survived his execution, Mina had hurried to the room that several people were hanging around. And her jaw dropped when she saw that it was true. Lifting her head and setting down her emptied bag, Bryn reached out her hand. "Mina!" She was quick to explain to the werewolves, who were immediately on guard, growling at the intruder. "It's okay. This is Mina. My friend." "Hello," Mina said automatically as the werewolves relaxed slightly. She eyed them cautiously as she spoke to her friend. "Bryn, I heard, but I didn't believe..." she trailed off. It was almost impossible to believe, but there was Anton in the bed. Bryn gave her a tremulous smile. "I know. I don't believe it, either." She patted the bed. "We're waiting on the council. Jess, Walter, and Alex found a tape. They said...that Lilith knew about what Justin was up to all along." Mina shook her head sadly. "I'm not surprised." She looked at Anton somewhat wistfully. And although she was happy for her her friend, a small part of her wished that it was a different vampire laying there. Her own thoughts following a similar path, Bryn released a soft sigh. "I was very lucky today. It was very nearly over for him." As Mina nodded, the door opened and a first aid kit was passed through. "Bryn," Jess asked, gesturing to the bloodstain appearing on the sheet. "Do you want to bandage him?" "Yes. Could you all give us a little privacy? Just for a moment?" "Of course." Holding the door open, Alex gestured for everyone to step outside, Seth and Mina included. "Let us know when you want us back in." "Okay. Thank you." Opening the kit as the door closed, Bryn very carefully pulled back the wet covers and winced as she saw the angry wounds on Anton's body. Swallowing heavily, she brushed her cheek against her shoulder to wipe away her tears as she began gingerly bandaging the bite wound on Anton's penis. The very idea that Lilith had bit him there made her ill, but knowing how much emotional pain it would cause him in the future was far worse. Anton made no outward movements, but a more peaceful expression settled on his face. Sniffling softly, Bryn finished tying the gauze in place and then bent to softly kiss Anton's belly. Recovering his lower body, she then scooted up next to his head to cover the wound at his neck. Unfortunately nothing could be done for his broken wrists, which were nearly dark purple with bruising. Bryn had never wanted to kill Lilith more in her life. He shifted slightly when she touched his neck. His eyes fluttered open to stare into her eyes. A soft smile crossed his face as he looked at her. But that effort was almost too much and his eyes blinked closed again. Gently stroking his face, Bryn kissed his forehead. "You're safe now, sugar. And I'm gonna take you home with me. Max and Katerina will be so happy to have their Daddy back. And I'm never letting you out of my sight again." End Chapter One Hundred Thirty-nine <- Previous Chapter | Home | Next Chapter ->