Snowhawk simply lay where she had been left. Her only movement had been blinking tears away, and breathing. She simply hoped the latter would be done with soon. It had been several hours since the vampire left her, presumably to prepare to bring Emerald back for good.
It will be good to touch him again, permanently, Emerald’s voice began in Snowhawk’s mind. Sorry you won’t get to again.
Now I can’t even be alone in my own head. Snowhawk thought.
Nope, stuck with me until you’re gone and I’m all that’s left.
Then take over, I have nothing left.
Oh no, not until you fix what broke when I died the first time.
Snowhawk’s tears welled up further. I can’t fix anything. I’ve killed two men I loved.
No, you can’t when you think like that, Emerald chided. Now snap out of it before I force you to do this.
“Whatever,” Snowhawk openly said, finally moving her aching body to curl up on the bed.
———
Having moved into the darkened doorway, watching the lavender Delphin on his bed, the silken halter still tied tightly on her face, Kione grinned. It had been a thousand years since he last saw Emerald, but she kept appearing to him tonight. And Snowhawk, though a larger creature, was very similar. Perhaps, he thought with a grin, there is a way to combine the two, then stepped into the room. He quickly reached the bed, and grabbed the free end of the sash, using it to pull Snowhawk’s head up to look at him. “Aren’t you glad to soon be free of this?”
She halfheartedly tried to pull her head free, and being unsuccessful, she simply looked away from him. “Why are you drawing it out? Just get it over with.”
“It’s not that simple. Emerald isn’t strong enough yet.”
“Then make her strong enough and get rid of me.”
“I have a better idea. Why don’t I keep you around and bring her back?”
Snowhawk tried to pull her head away again, once more unable to. “Just kill me, please. I can’t stand this.”
“That would ruin all my plans. She can’t come back until she has the strength, and you can’t die until then. But if I find a way for you both to live…”
I’m willing if you are, Emerald’s voice began in Snowhawk’s head, unless you’re going to throw you’re life away over a man.
They were my life. My lives. What am I supposed to do now?
The grey Delphin would have shrugged if she had shoulders of her own. Outside of taking care of what you are responsible for taking care of, I don’t care. Do what I did, find their killer and murder her.
It won’t bring them back.
So? You might feel better. Put that dark silver sword your Guardian left behind before he died to use.
I can’t face Adian again.
Stop it. You can face him. You can do whatever with him. Bring him back here, then we both get our men.
“Well?” Kione said, somewhat impatient with waiting out her answer.
Snowhawk closed her eyes. “Goddamn you both. Fine. Whatever.”
“Just remember you will be mine. You will have your freedom, but I will know what you do at any moment I so choose.”
“With her in there, my head is no longer mine anyway.”
“So be it. Delphin, you are mine now,” the vampire said, leaning down to bite her.
“You could at least use my name…”
Just before biting down, he whispered to her. “I will when you earn it.”
********
Half-vampirism is rare even by vampiric standards. The condition is hit or miss. One can get all the benefits of being a vampire, or some of them, or simply get all the bad. Half-vampires can be born or created, usually the latter. If the condition is not reversed, or kept in check, by a vampire other than the sire, eventually a half-vampire will become a full vampire. The only way for Emerald to regain the ability to speak on her own without great concentration would be for her host to become at least half of what she was in life. Together the two could be a nearly unstoppable force, but eventually, unless a second vampire offered to keep the process in check, Emerald would take over, and Snowhawk would vanish.
It would be several days later when a car pulled in front of the Sininensusi estate. A darkly cloaked, hooded figure stepped from the car. Barely purple legs with shined, shod hooves could be seen peeking out from under the cloak. A smooth, slightly curved horn, and a short-furred muzzle of the same color could be seen from under the hood. The figure walked directly into the estate, no questions from any workers, and into the gardens.
The cloak wearer found a particular bench under a trellis that once held morning glories, and sat, and waited. Through slits in the cloak, pale arms stuck through, and the delicate feminine hands were folded in the female Delphin’s lap. She sat with her legs crossed at the hocks, and her head slightly down.
She wouldn’t have to wait long. The now-ever present Adian soon found her in the garden, and angrily confronted this intruder. “Who the fuck are y–”
“Adian,” Snowhawk’s voice began, “I need help.”
“Sn– Snowhawk! Where have you been?! What’s happened?!”
“I’m only allowed to say so much,” she said, looking up and revealing deep pink eyes instead of her usual green. “Once this is done, I can tell you everything.”
“Shit. He has you, doesn’t he?”
She paused for a moment, dropping her head again, then looked back up at him. “Yes.”
“I’ll do whatever I can.”
“I need to find Anya. And I need Legacy’s sword.”
“He’s sending you to kill her?”
“No, I’m doing this on my own– with his consent. She’s a liability to him, and I want my revenge.”
“You have to tell me everything when you get back. This isn’t like you.”
“I will, Adian.”
“I no longer have Legacy’s sword, I had it fashioned into a pair of daggers for you. I knew you would come back.”
“Adi– How did you know?”
“Because I know you. Come inside, tell me what you can, and I’ll give you the information while you do.”
“Thank you, Adian.”
She stood and walked to him, and followed him back into the estate. He heard both the steel of her shoes and a small metallic jingle he didn’t recognize as she walked. “What is that?” he asked soon after getting inside. Rather than tell him, she reached up and unbuttoned, then removed her cloak. She showed not only a newly regrown mane, but also a wide band of steel, with a ring in front and riveted together, now graced her neck. “Oh Snow,” Adian sighed.
She dropped her head. “I didn’t have much of a choice.”
“I know, dear,” he said as he gathered her into his arms and hugged her.
“So are you–”
“Half,” she quickly replied, “for whatever good that term is. But I’m being warned to say no more about this. Not right now.”
“I see,” Adian said, releasing her so they could continue on their way, taking note of the dampness left on his shirt by her tears. He could only hope that whatever communication line was connecting her to the vampire would be broken when he gave her the necklace he’d also had fashioned from the sword, as well as preventing any reversions to Emerald. “Can you speak of your phase shift?”
She was quiet for a moment, then nodded her head. “Some, yes.”
“Is this a Phase 3 or something else?”
“I’m not even sure. Emerald has told me it’s not, but is more of a result from,” she trailed off, and paused for a moment. “From what happened. From losing Legacy and Janus, then being made what I am now. And, there’s this,” she said, stopping in the middle of the hallway and holding her left arm away from her.
Adian felt the air around him grow colder and it crackled with static as he watched a long blade of apparently ice form from her hand. The blade was surrounded by electricity, and seemed to be cored with something resembling blood.
“And yet, as strong as this magic is, it’s not enough to kill an Avizon,” Emerald’s voice said through Snowhawk. “We don’t have enough time to hone it. Anya is a liability.”
The Lupino was unnerved by hearing a different voice than Snowhawk’s speaking through her. “Is this your magic?”
“Partially, in the electricity and the blood. The ice is all hers. Were Anya not what she is, or time not an issue, we wouldn’t have had to come back.”
“You’re both immortal, now. What time could you possibly need?”
“You know as well as I do, wolf, what happens after so long with a half vampire.”
“One can hope. So this– arrangement allows you to control her body more than just laying around?”
“Oh much more than that, wolf. But you’ll find out soon enough,” she grinned, then the grin faded to Snowhawk’s former, sad expression, as the icy sword in her hand vanished.
“Does she do that often?” Adian asked.
“Yes, and more.”
Adian sighed again, thinking this may be more complex than he originally intended, or perhaps the necklace would work better than expected. Either way, he needed to get it on her soon.
After a short time, they reached Adian’s room. Inside, he presented Snowhawk with a small box. Inside were two dark silver replicas of the daggers of her past life.
“Adian, these are–” she began, reaching in to pick one of them up.
“Everything but the blades are yours. I made sure the craftsman balanced them as closely as possible, accounting for the blades now being slightly heavier. You should have no trouble using them.”
Her hand shook as she held the dagger, not having touched the grip since she nearly lost her life on her final mission for Janus’ uncle. “Thank you, Adian.”
“Now, let’s find the bitch that killed my brother.”
*********
Several hours later, the darkly cloaked figure of Snowhawk left the Sininensusi estate, having found where Anya may be hiding. Adian watched her trot away, the sound of her steel shoes echoing back to his ears through the otherwise silent night. He honestly wasn’t sure if he’d see her again. Emerald had warned him against following them, and Avizon were no push overs.
He now had to think of ways to get her away from both Emerald and Kione’s influence. The necklace might be a start, but the elder vampire really needed to be taken out of the picture. Emerald might leave Snowhawk as well then.
“But how do I kill an elder vampire?” the wolf said aloud and to no one.
Or so he thought. “Might I be of assistance?” a black-furred, silver-maned, silver-muzzled Delphin offered.
Adian jumped at seeing the other Delphin behind him. “Who are you?!”
“My apologies. My name is Onyx. I’m a Royal Guard, and a remnant from Emerald’s time.”
Adian paused. “That was more than two thousand years ago.”
The black-furred Guard shrugged. “I was one of the lucky ones.”
“Why are you here now?”
“Do you know the duty of a Royal Guard? We don’t protect just one Delphin, but the whole family line. I unfortunately have been so busy with her son and cousin’s protection that I couldn’t watch over her as well. The Royal Guards are gone, except for me, for a reason.”
“I’m sure it was somewhat easier before the slavers came.”
“Incredibly. I may be an old Del, but I haven’t forgotten my duties. You are a better protector than my old self could ever be, so I wanted to help you with your vampire problem.”
“What will you do?”
“Help you kill him, of course. It’s been a mission of mine for years, since he took Emerald. The manipulative son of a bitch has had it coming for a while. And then maybe I can rest.”
The old Delphin needed it, it was obvious even if one didn’t know his age. “Very well, sir. Let’s go get a vampire.”
*********
Snowhawk trotted through the city’s outskirts hours later, searching for the elusive Avizon. Anya was one of the best shape shifters alive, and like most of her species, was an expert at hiding. But they’re not good enough to avoid me, Emerald had said, when Adian asked her about tracking Anya.
Emerald’s words were not empty threats. She’s here, the grey Delphin’s voice calmly stated as she nearly passed an unassuming, run down apartment building, like so many others around the edges of town. Snowhawk quickly turned and ran into the building. Slow down, dammit! She’ll hear those shoes of yours.
She doesn’t know it’s me. And I’ll stomp the life out of her with these shoes if I don’t slit her throat first, Snowhawk growled at the other female.
Don’t you dare lose her, was the only reply Emerald could manage.
Anya did indeed hear the loud, quick clip clop of shod hooves running though the apartment’s building. Were the building otherwise occupied, she wouldn’t have been suspicious as many Delphin still wore steel shoes. But the building was supposed to be empty, and had been for the past week or so she’d been here. As the noise grew ever closer she cautiously stuck her head out of the room she was holed up in. She nearly then lost her head as she barely saw and dodged an icy sword swung at her, and felt the tingle of the electricity as it missed her. “What the fuck?!”
The ice sword was dropped and vanished where it fell as Snowhawk simply pulled her cloak off and unsheathed the two dark silver daggers from her thigh sheaths. Her eyes almost glowed red as she then lunged at the Avizon, swiftly catching her and pinning her down. “Where is he?!” Snowhawk yelled.
“Where is wh–” Anya began, but was soon cut off by a dagger to her throat.
“You know who, you bitch! Where is Janus?!”
“He’s gone!”
“You fucking killed him, I know he’s gone. Where is his body?!”
“No, he’s not dead! But he escaped from me!”
“You’re lying,” she growled, pressing the dagger closer to the Avizon’s throat.
“Gah! No! He’s really alive. But he’s not the sa–”
“I will slit your fucking throat right here unless you tell me where he is.”
Snowhawk! She is telling the truth! Emerald’s voice rang out in Snow’s head.
No, she’s not. I saw him die. I’m not going to live with false hope he’s alive!
But–!
Emerald’s words were interrupted as Anya took a moment to regroup and push Snowhawk off her. “No, you aren’t getting away!” Snowhawk yelled as she quickly formed and threw a spike of ice at the still trying to stand Anya. The ice spike couldn’t completely pierce the Avizon’s leg thanks to her thick skin, but it did enough damage to seriously wound her. Snowhawk lunged at her again from the floor, sinking one dark silver dagger into her other leg and pulling her back to the ground.
“But he’s alive! He’s in the forest! That’s all I know!”
“So is that where you left the corpse? The forest? How could you?!”
“Goddammit, listen to me, there is no corpse unless he’s gotten himself killed!”
Snowhawk grabbed a handful of the Anya’s short hair, and pulled her head back. “Lying or not,” Emerald’s voice now said through Snowhawk’s body, “Kione wills you dead, and I will not disappoint him.”
“What did I do?!”
“You lost the wolf. That’s what.”
“He escaped!”
“You still lost him. And you’re lucky that I’m the one killing you instead of Snowhawk. She’d planned to drag it out and make you suffer.” And with that, Emerald, controlling Snowhawk’s body, slit the Avizon’s throat.
She remained in control of Snowhawk long enough to be sure Anya actually was dead, a far too uncommon occurrence it seemed.
How could you kill her so fast? Snowhawk questioned once she was finally able to take control of her body again.
Because making her suffer was not part of the plan. We don’t have time for that.
What’s next? Making me go kill Adian now?
Emerald sighed. You know Kione would never allow that.
Then what time are we lacking?
Yours.
Do I at least have time to finish my conversation with him?
I see no harm in it.
*********
The following day, Snowhawk slowly trotted through the gate of the Sininensusi estate. Adian greeted her at the door. “Is she gone?”
“Anya? Yes, she’s dead.”
Adian could still faintly smell the blood on her. “Come on, we can’t have you smelling like a killer.”
“Adi, I don’t have much time. We should talk first.”
He hadn’t realized how far over “half” she was. “I’ll meet you in the garden then. I need to take care of something first.”
Snowhawk gave a small nod and the two parted ways. She was a little confused at the chocolate wolf’s behavior. He normally would not be so secretive. Still, she went to the garden, sitting on the same bench as yesterday to wait on him. When he returned, he was holding a small, flat rectangular box.
“I had another gift for you, but I decided wait until you returned to give it to you. Close your eyes for a moment.”
She canted her head to the side, but soon complied, closing her eyes and holding her head up to wait.
She felt a bracelet soon close around her right wrist, then soon after felt a pendant press against her chest, and a necklace clasp was heard clicking closing behind her. Then she heard only silence in her head. “They’re gone!” she gasped, opening her eyes.
A black Delphin stepped from behind a hedge. “Excellent.”
Snowhawk looked at him, startled, then to Adian. “Don’t worry, dear, he’s here to help,” the Lupino reassured her.
“Indeed. My name is Onyx, I am your family’s Royal Guard, and I am here to finish what I should have finished when Kione took Emerald.”
“But, wait, how did they get out of my head?”
“Your wolf here had a necklace and locket fashioned of the dark silver from your Guardian’s sword. But that wouldn’t be quite enough, so I provided him with a bracelet made from it.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Originally, we planned to use it to prevent you reverting back to Emerald. Then Onyx informed me that I could use it to prevent Kione from controlling you. I know it doesn’t make a lick of sense. But the important thing is that it works.”
“For how long?”
“Until you take those off,” the Guard chimed in. “Or until we take care of the Vampire.”
Snowhawk looked down for a moment, thinking, “If you need a way in, he asked if you would come back, Adian.”
The wolf thought for a moment. “That could be an excellent idea, Snowhawk.”
“Indeed. If we could get in easier, with him not expecting us, that would certainly make our job easier,” the black Delphin replied.
“How are you going to get in, Onyx?” Adian asked.
“Make a distraction. I’ll find my way.”
Snowhawk paused for a moment. “If they can’t keep track of me, that will be a pretty big distraction on it’s own.”
“Leave the jewelery on then. And don’t worry about the vampire. He wouldn’t dare try anything to the host of his beloved Emerald.”
“Nothing he hasn’t already,” Snowhawk replied, seeming to shrink in size as she restrained herself from curling into a little ball.
Adian gently touched her shoulder, “I won’t let him.”
“Just keep those daggers handy, we don’t know if you’ll need them,” Onyx said, nodding to the sheathed weapons strapped to her thighs.