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Heartsong Part Eleven

Bliss looked down at Cougar, then smiled coldly up at Kobe. Saved by a snake. Who would've thought it? She had no sympathy for Cougar - she knew without a doubt that he had been quite prepared to kill her. Survival of the fittest and she sincerely hoped with all her heart he died slowly. A pity she didn't have time to stick around and find out.

 Cold blue eyes glared back at her. "Why isn't Jepar dead yet?" he snapped frostily. Obviously that was why he was here. Didn't trust her. Smart guy.

 "Remember the girl they call Dragon?" He nodded, and she saw enlightenment begin to dawn on him. "Yeah. She's here. And my sister proved…troublesome. And there was him, of course." She gestured to Cougar. The vampire was pale and looked like he was gasping for air. Good, he wouldn't be any trouble.

 "Very well." Kobe's voice lost a little of the ice. She wouldn't want to deal with him when he was really mad. She heard things about shifters. Some of them were barely more than savages. At any one time, stories floated around the Nightworld of werewolf atrocities, of dragon times, of shapeshifter shame. They were second-class citizens. But dangerous all the same.

 "We will go to find him. And then he will die." It was a statement. His eyes were uncanny, like a cat's, with a slit pupil. Lifeless. "The desert, we go there." She could hear a faint hiss on each 's'. This man was way too much like his shape. She half expected him to lunge for her at any second.

 "The…desert?" Bliss had heard snakes liked the heat and sand but this was taking it a little too far-

 "My family has a cemetery in a magically hidden realm." Did he have to talk in such a gothic way? "Some say there are other things hidden there. Power. If there is, when I am head of the clan, I will find it." So that was why Kobe wanted to get rid of the cheetah-guy so much. For power. Like herself, the snake wanted power, craved it in any way he could. Some human had put it very aptly; we be of one blood, ye and I. "You know a summoning spell?"

 "Of course." What did he think she was, a vermin idiot? "But I need something from the subject…"

 The man smiled. He was handsome, Bliss had to admit, in a dark, reptilian sort of way. This 'shifter belonged in Jurassic Park though, with all the other prehistoric creatures.

 "Will this do?" He handed her soft golden strands, with dark spotted on it. Cheetah fur.

  "Perfect," she said in satisfaction. But as ever, her curiosity tugged at her mind. "How did you come by this?" For if the snake had gotten this recently, why did he need her to kill the shapeshifter?

 Kobe's eyebrows drew together and Bliss realised that perhaps questioning this man was not a good idea. But he answered all the same. "My cousin and I were involved in…a dispute when we were younger. That is a trophy of it."

 She was surprised at the answer. Kobe struck her now as a bully; this man was clearly some ten or twenty years older than Jepar Jubatus and yet he had fought him?

 Who cares what he is? He pays you - that's what matters. All that matters.

 Her employer glared at her, eyes like a winter sky. Bliss was half-expecting forked tongue and cloven hooves, he was that demonic. "Are you going to sstand there all day?" The 'shifter was hissing more the more agitated he became. "I would like to go. Thingss to do, people to kill…"
 
  Bliss smiled to herself. It would be much easier now. After all, if he had got rid of that vampire so easily…"Fine by me." They left, heading towards the town, to where Jepar was.

~*~

 Ria gasped as sudden pain lanced into her shoulder. It was like a knife, sharp, cold. It almost made her scream, but somehow she stayed silent. She was too close to where this supposed meeting place was to give herself away, but the agony made her sink onto the ground, next to the phonebox, clutching at her shoulder.

 It was lucky she did, really. Ria's eyes widened as she saw two figures walking on the horizon. One of them she recognised instantly from the flaming red hair and easy stride. Bliss. But the other one…it took a moment before she recognised the snake guy who had hired them. She had always thought this little dirt track was a stupid place to put a phone. Now she wasn't so sure. And where was Cougar Redfern? Ria had a very bad feeling about this.

 She stayed there, unmoving, trying even to breathe silently until they were gone. The pain had faded to a dull ache and as she began to walk, half-running, up to the ruins, it disappeared. Weird. Like everything and everyone here.

When she arrived, the first thing she saw was the figure on the ground. Ria rushed over, to see the white skin and black hair. And she knew that without a doubt, that when he came round, hazel eyes would be looking at her. Most likely with loathing embedded in them.

 Ria felt nauseated as she saw the wood through his shoulder. Who had done that? Bliss probably, it was her idea of fun. Some people went to a nightclub. Bliss went to the nearest ammo shop.

 But what could she do? She had never been told how to help someone with eight inches of wood stuck in them. It just wasn't the kind of thing they mentioned in first aid. Cuts, bruises, broken bones…and stakes? It just didn't work.

 I'm half-witch,she thought desperately. My father was a witch.

 It was a fact she kept quiet; Ria had never had any sort of witch ability in her life. But now, looking at the face which even in slumber was twisted with pain, she felt compelled. Maybe it was mere generosity. That was what Ria convinced herself. Not at all the memory of that vampire giving in to the…what had he called it?…the soulmate principle for a second. Not the feeling of being one.

 Look at the stuff Bliss can do, I have to be able to help him somehow.

 She jumped as he moved suddenly.

~*~

 He woke up, tried to get up and nearly screamed with the pain. There was a, a, something in his shoulder. Cougar couldn't think for the agony. It was poisoning him, somehow he knew that. Every part of his body hurt, cramped.

 "Don't try to move," a voice said quickly. Concerned, and very quiet.

 With a feeling of dread, Cougar opened his eyes, onto a world of blurred gold and leaf-green. As his vision focused he knew he was right. It was Ria.

 "Go away," he groaned. He'd rather be in agony than have to talk to her. She had set this all up, probably had worked the whole thing out with Bliss and that dark haired man who had staked him, the bastard. She had to have.

 Ria glared at him. "I don't believe you," she snarled. "How can someone be so stubborn? I'm trying to help you, god knows why."

 "I don't want any help from you!" It was getting harder to think. Cougar could smell blood, but for once it was his.

 "You're dying." Those words brought his attention back to her. She had to be kidding. Cougar looked up at her, trying to focus his eyes. Every muscle ached, and he felt like someone was slowly knifing him.

 "No, I'm not." The words came out more hesitant than he wanted them to.

 Ria ignored him. "I don't know if I can help you. I don't really know if I want to. But apparently you're my soulmate and I've been told you live in eternal misery if they die. My life's bad enough as it is."

 Her voice sounded like it was floating from in a fog. He was burning, fire all round him, and he realised she had been right. He was going to die. Quickly. His eyes closed, without him knowing. Strange thoughts, memories spun through his head.

Red-hot light, twisting and turning in darkness. Claws like knives. Trying to escape, teeth ripping flesh, fire everywhere. Mad laughs echoing. Grotesque faces twisted and warped. Torture, featureless faces, insane grins.

 I am dying, he thought with sudden clarity. And the strangest, most unbearable thing was that Ria wasn't going to be there. He half-smiled at his own untypical thought. He hadn't known one human could affect him like that. He hissed as another memory opened. Not his memories, these. A horrible truth was slowly starting to dawn on him.

 Then cold blackness, filled with icy fog, lost forever. Everywhere dead, the worst thing knowing you were alone…always alone-

 He was an Old Soul.

 Through the fire, the hurt, a clear turquoise light exploded. Witch light, cool, refreshing. Ria's thoughts twined round his mind, stopped the pain. And Cougar Redfern suddenly figured it out. He loved her. He had no choice.

 Screams fill the air, clash of metal on metal. Everywhere men cry, beg for mercy while a whirlwind of war destroys around them. Gunshots, bullets ripping at men, blood spilling onto cracked earth. Explosions all around, men lurching and twisting in a macabre dance as bullets hit them. Only one reality, to know this.

 For a moment, he opened his eyes and saw her face with the huge eyes and sweet smile. Remembered how Bliss had smiled so sweetly at him in the same way, how he had found the note after returning from Ria's, she was just like Bliss, cunning, evil.  

 It's okay, her voice said in his head. Timid. You need to sleep and heal. You'll be fine.

 I don't think anything will be fine again… He hadn't meant for her to hear that thought.

 She flinched, but her tone held onyl the faintest of tremors. If you have time to be offensive, you'll be okay. Relief colouring her mind, as magic filled his head. Healing fire, that of a witch.

 He wished the other thought would get out of his head, stop spinning round like a whirlwind. The one that he didn't want to think but was there all the same. Cougar Redfern had never loved anybody. Didn't intend to start.

 He hated the Soulmate Principle. It wasn't fair, there was no way anyone could get away from their soulmate. It screwed you up - look at Bliss… He thought at Ria with the last of his power, I don't want this. I hope you know that.

 Witch fire hit him again and he felt a pool of emptiness expand, deep in his head, spreading out like ripples on water.

Walking through the desert, eternal heat hanging in the air. Nothing but the faint smell of sweat, the sense of Power. Pyramids dotted on the horizon, against a shifting sky. The agreement with the shape changers, children of the dragons. Preparing the spell, knowing that it will bring the longsleep, the death. Death of a Harman, for the life of his family. To keep the Jubatus clan appeased and safe. He would lose the witchblood forever, but he would ensure the safety of these people who had allied themselves to him and had already died for a witch's safety…he too would die now, until he awoke again, when the world had turned…

 He sank into unconsciousness.

~*~

 Ria drew in a shuddering breath as she looked down at the vampire. He looked so sad in repose. She had seen those dream images, yet Ria had the feeling they weren't dreams, they had actually happened. That last image, the desert, she recognised that as Jepar's family's cemetery. What did Cougar have to do with that? Jepar had said only he knew about it.

 Quickly she pulled the stake out of the unconscious lamia's shoulder and dropped it on the ground. She watched in a revolted sort of fascination as blood spilled out of his shoulder. He bleeds red, just like everyone else, she thought to herself. She was about to get up and walk away, started to before she realised she couldn't just leave him there, she had to help him.

 And that wound didn't look to good. She had managed somehow - Ria couldn't explain it - to drag his mind back from that death-plunge. But there was still the gaping lesion in his shoulder. Ria *concentrated* and felt healing flow from her hands, watching in fascination as the wound healed until there was nothing but a faint scar.

 She stood up, ignoring how shaky she felt.

 Cougar hated her. But she had heard that thought in his mind, the one he had pushed away so hard. Loved her, but hated her for it.

 That wasn't how the old fairytales used to go. Happily ever after, she sighed inwardly. Not likely. The only happily ever after she was likely to experience was the happily ever after-life, when she caught up with Bliss. Eternal Bliss. What could be worse?

 She would bet she knew where Bliss was going. From the memory of what Bliss and Kobe had said to one another; Cougar may not have been listening but he had certainly heard and it had passed through the link. She knew a lot more than she did before. But it didn't make what she was going to do any less daunting.

 As she walked away, Ria didn't see the silhouette slip out from behind a pile of debris. A creature Bliss had forgotten. Who everyone had forgotten.

 Ria hiked down the slope to the phonebox and dialled Zara's number, shoving all the loose money she had into the coin slot. A voice answered, bubbly as ever. "Hello?"

 "Zara, it's Ria. Listen, don't say anything, okay?" She didn't let Zara jump in. "I'm going…out. So don't worry if I'm not back for a couple of days." Or at all, she added silently.

 "You're going after Bliss, aren't you? You're mad Ria, she's a witch."

 Ria sighed. Zara was more intelligent than she had thought. "I'm not the one called 'mad witch'. And don't try talking me out of this." Because I'm feeling like I want to be persuaded and that would be wrong.

 "Where are you?" Nice try, but Ria wasn't stupid enough to tell her that. "Okay, then," Zara said, "I can't stop you. I'm no vampire, I can't influence you telepathically, so I guess…"

 Hesitation. She glanced at the display. Her money was almost gone. Then she heard Zara, sounding resigned. "Good luck - you'll need it."

                                 * * * *

 **Fire and ice, screams and sobs. Life after life of death and destruction. Always searching, never finding. Wandering in the endless night, under a starless sky where the sun has never shone. Then someone else appears on the horizon and the sun rises for the first time…**

 Cougar opened his eyes with a start. He had had some *weird* dreams. All he remembered was going to meet Bliss and then, the stake, no he didn't want to think about that.

 "You're dying," she had said. So this was what it was like? Cougar was lying on a bed. Paradise had a B&B? White ceiling, well that fitted the colour scheme. Now all he needed was the angel and the 'do not be afraid' speech.

 "Am I dead?" he said out loud.

 "Sure." He sat up to see Zara. "Welcome to heaven."

 "If you're here, I must be in Hades," Cougar said, wondering why Zara was here, wherever here was. Well, it was a relief to know he was still in the land of the living…the living dead, anyway.

He stretched lazily and got up. Then stopped, as he realised there no pain, not even an ache. "Zara, who-?"

 The human smiled sweetly at him, but her blue eyes were dazzlingly elusive. "Look, they're all downstairs." Downstairs? Not in his little one storey house then.

 Confused, he followed Zara downstairs. For a moment the house seemed unfamiliar. And he felt…different, somehow. Like something was missing. And then he remembered. Ria. What was he going to do about this whole mess? His soulmate was an assassin. What did he do if she tried to kill off one of his friends, or even worse, him?

 As they walked through rooms, Cougar could hear voices, well-known voices. Some raised, some laughing. Zara opened a door and walked in.

 "Sleeping beast here's woken up," she announced to the room at large.

 He followed her into a large living room, where his friends were sprawled. Dragon and Lisa were arguing, someone always was. Thom was sitting with Matt, Jepar and the witches who were playing cards, poker Cougar guessed from the cards they were holding. He wondered if Chatoya knew there was a mirror behind her, showing her cards to the world. No wonder she was losing. Cougar wished he had the power to break it, just for the entertainment factor. He imagined 'hitting' it with his mind.

 There was a crack as the mirror splintered in two.

 "Goddess, Cougar, I know you aren't Matt Damon, but I didn't think you looked that bad," Chatoya said, looking up for the first time. Now they were all staring at him. Cougar wondered what the hell he had done. He had never been able to break things like that, without even touching them. It was creepy. More than that.

  "So," said Dragon, "want to explain why we found you unconscious in the woods last night?"

 Cougar stared at her. "Want to explain how you found me?"

 The silver haired dragon-witch stared at him thoughtfully. "You're lucky. I had a vision. Some guy staked you. I recognised what was left of Bliss Follehex's attempt at ten pin bowling with fireballs and a house."

 "So," Matt put in. He looked fiercer than usual. Less relaxed, more business like. Dragon too, the professional assassins they both were. They had been after Bliss for a while, hadn't they?

 The fox-shifter carried on, in that quiet way of his, "Are you going to explain?"  

  "No."

 "Cougar!" Zara hissed.

 "Sorry guys, but what happened is my business, my problem." And you can all stay out of my life, he added silently.

 Cougar noticed how worried they all looked. And they were armed to the teeth. He felt like he had walked onto the set of a Grade-B action film. Jepar glared at him, eyes darker green than usual. "Not when Ria's gone after Bliss, it's not."

 "What?" Cougar yelled before he could stop himself. Was she insane? There was no way little Ria Lutinne, even if she was part-witch, could beat someone like Bliss - not even in a fair fight and he knew Bliss wouldn't give her that chance.

 He squashed the embarrassment he felt as they all stared at him, most in astonishment, but Zara - her of all people - was looking at him in a way he didn't like, as though she knew something.

 "Yeah," Jepar said, tone dry. "Ria's gone to beat hell out of Bliss. We don't know where she was, or where she's going." Cougar winced inwardly. So he had been wrong. She wasn't working with Bliss. And she hadn't killed him.

 Cougar remembered the conversation he had heard, through all the pain that was just a fading memory.

 "The desert," he said quietly, a half-forgotten scrap of knowledge. "The enclave where your family's grave is," Cougar told Jepar, not sure how he knew that.

 Dragon looked at him, silver eyes sharp. "Why there?"

 Cougar concentrated, trying to think what the witch had said. "Some sort of summoning spell." He turned back to Jepar. "That desert place is hidden, right? You need the keywords to get in, so Ria can't get in there…right?" he finished desperately as he saw Jepar shaking his head. "You told her how to get in that place? Are you crazy?"

 "It seemed like a good idea at the time." Well, thank you Jepar, Cougar thought. You just sent my soulmate - there was no denying it now - to get killed. Then a thought struck him.

What about Ruby? That mad ghoul thing, Bliss had threatened to let her loose on this place. What if…

 "Well, you can sit here until you all turn to dust, if you want," Cougar drawled. "But I'm leaving." He didn't wait for their replies, just turned and left, heading for the desert.

Heartsong Part Twelve

Ria breathed in and out slowly as she walked out into the scrubland. This was where the desert began. This was where Bliss had gone, she had seen that from the conversation Cougar had heard. Summoning spell, huh? She didn't think Bliss knew what was going to happen when they got an angry 'shifter, even worse an angry shifter called Jepar. Bliss could be amazingly blind sometimes.

 So was this far enough? She hoped so. Ria looked round, at the dull brown ground and the straggly plants scattered around. Not exactly a dreamland. What was it Jepar had done? The two clan names. "Harman, Jubatus," she called out, into the empty air, feeling more than a little stupid. She felt even more of an idiot when nothing happened.

 She sighed and tried the names again. "Harman, Jubatus." Why were witch spells always so precise? Anyway it didn't look like any was going to hap-

 Darkness. The light was gone, like someone had just snuffed out the sun. She fell as the ground pitched under her feet. It was like sailing in a storm, being thrown around, wind whipping round her. This didn't happen last time! Ria couldn't hold onto anything and she was jolted and smashed on something like rock too many times. Ria could see shapes in the darkness now, strange shifting lines, barely visible but they seemed…powerful. She gasped as fire exploded around her, burning like boiling water. Pain, that was all there was. Something had gone wrong, this hadn't happened when Jepar had done this.

 She felt someone grab her hand and heard a voice, saying something she couldn't catch. Ria squinted as light began to glow again, making her eyes water, sighing with relief, as the ground felt solid under her feet again. Her legs gave under her and Ria fell down, landing on hot sand.

 A blurred figure was in front of her. She blinked until her eyes cleared and then looked up. Tall, dark, handsome and clichéd. "Can't I get rid of you?" she asked, wondering if he had finally figured out she wasn't trying to kill him. That pull was there again, the soulmate thing, but Ria just wasn't in the mood for sparks and romance.

 "You and me both." He was snarling at her, looking dangerous as ever. Ria's eyes fell to the knife he was holding. Surely even he wouldn't…

 "I don't go in for killing defenceless people." His voice was cold, enough ice in it for a tank of ice-cream.

 "Would you quit reading my mind? It makes abuse very difficult."

 Can't. Soulmate Principle. The lamia pulled her to her feet, both of them wincing at the sparks that seemed to leap like fireworks, but she noticed with confusion, he didn't let go of her.

 "You shouldn't try to get in that place if you can't get the words right," he said, hazel eyes sparking gold. Watch out, Ria thought. Satan's a-coming to town.

 Yeah, well, I left my horns and the tail at home. The way he read her mind was unnerving. And yet…strangely warming. She could sense his mind as he did it, his thoughts snaking around her own, protective and intrusive at the same time.

 "Would you stop doing that? And can't you answer a question like a normal human being?" Ria demanded. Then realised what a bad choice of words that was. He had it figured out too, wide feline smile curving his lips up, so she could see the delicate and sharp fangs. It was aggravating. "And what do you mean, if I can't get the words right. I'm sure that's what Jepar said-"

 "Right words, wrong order." Oh. "And…the witch who set this up put in a counter spell." There was hesitation there, she realised and caught a flash in his head of a strange memory. Then Ria smiled. This put an end to the Nightpeople/Old Soul argument.

 "You're an Old Soul!" she said, unable to hide her surprise. He didn't seem the 'learn-more-each-life' type. Quite the opposite. If Cougar Redfern had a motto, it would have been 'Damn them all, I'll do what I want'.

 Now he was annoyed. "Would you stop reading my mind? And I might not be an Old Soul, it could just be some sort of weird dreams."

She didn't believe that.

 Oh, shut up, he muttered. The vampire hesitated, then gave her something. A knife, one side wood, the other iron and silver. "You might need this," Cougar said dryly.

 Ria smiled to herself, wondering if she should tell him she had never used a knife. At least not for anything apart from eating. Then realised he knew, as resignedly he said, "Like this." And showed her, mentally.

 It was like the knowledge was in her bones now. Ria had the unnerving sense she could throw it straight between his eyes. Cougar raised his eyebrows resignedly as he caught that. "Hate to tell you this, witch, but you couldn't hit me if you tried."

 "And why would that be?"

 He smiled, radiating charm, though the dangerous flash in his eyes warned her he had heard the insult. Charm wasted on her. Or at least that was what Ria told herself. "Ria, you wouldn't even throw that knife."

 So confident, so annoying. Ria drew her arm back. She just saw a black blur before Cougar kissed her and she just melted against him, forgetting any thoughts of knifing this member of the Redfern family. She could feel his satisfaction, and under that, something he was hiding that she couldn't quite see. She hated how right he was, but at the same time…

He stepped back, smiling knowingly and in a way she did not like. "Kiss 'em and kill 'em, is that your technique?" Ria just gritted her teeth, and clenched her fists, wishing her nails were longer and she could move faster. "'Cause you know, the kissing's there, but you need to work on the killing part. And if you want any practice, just ask." She raised her hand to hit him, but Cougar caught her hand and kissed it.

 She stared at him in surprise, but he just smiled back mockingly. "I'm starting to think this soulmate business isn't so bad," he said wryly. The first touch of genuine humour she had seen from him. "And maybe you're not either."

 "Thanks." Her own voice matched his; droll.

 He caught her free hand and she started as the link kicked in. Two things, that deliciously dark mind-voice said. Thanks for healing me. I may not have been too grateful at the time but…I guess it was worth it. And I was wrong about you. He didn't explain either sentiment.

 Before she could ask anything,  he said into the air, "Jubatus, Harman," in a lazy drawl. Ria shut her eyes as the landscape blurred.

~*~

 Bliss smiled at Kobe seductively. This guy could be a real goldmine if she was clever. "Lovely place you've got here." Bliss glanced around at the acres of endless sand and air that rippled from the heat.

 "Shut up, witch, and get the spell fixed up. I don't have all day." He was snappy all of a sudden. Maybe it was the burning sun. Weren't snakes supposed to be more active in the warm? Pity. She preferred Kobe when he was slower and less dangerous.

 "It's fixed." Not like there was much to do, just a magic circle to stop any irritated 'shifters trying to take any chunks out of her. Wonder if I should put cobra-guy over there in one? Kobe hadn't been what she'd expected.

 Bliss had met snakeshifters before. None had been like this; all had been lazy, sprawling creatures with less energy than a dead rat, with dead eyes and the most revolting habit of flicking their tongues at her. Not like this guy: lean and bursting with life, quick-minded and all too ready to use those dark ideas.

 The tall man smiled unexpectedly. It was a cold, vicious smile, but what an improvement. Bliss shook her head in disbelief. Obviously this guy had never heard that charm could get you everything. A lesson she learnt a long time ago. She would never have got out of that place those Nightpeople had shut her up in otherwise. Bliss had been amazed at how simple people were, how easy to fool.

Just a few tears and turning an innocent look on the Elders who had come to talk to her after a month or two and made them believe maybe they were wrong… She could almost see what they were thinking; poor witch, just misguided…and of course seeing as they believed soulmates were fiction, that made it twice as easy.

 Kobe's voice made her start, those cold slitted eyes trained on her. His voice was a cool hiss that sent shivers down her back. "Work your magic then, witch."

 ~ Oh, I will, ~ Bliss thought as she called her power.

~*~

 Dragon stared at the empty space where Cougar had been. She had never seen the ultra-calm - if dangerous - vampire so furious. "What was that all about?" She looked at Matt instinctively. He shrugged, smiling wryly. ~ I think that maybe- ~ Whatever he was about to say was cut off by Lisa.

 "Yeah." Lisa looked as curious as Dragon felt, puzzlement in her café-noir eyes. "What is it with Cougar and Ria? One minute he hates her and thinks she's trying to kill Jep," the made vampire glanced over at Jepar's expressionless face and carried on. "Next thing, he's going to save her from the Eastern Peril."

 Zara cleared her throat pointedly. Dragon could see that the human looked a little embarrassed, slightly flushed and definitely quieter than usual. "Reckon I might be able to help you out there."

 Everyone's attention was fixed on her and Dragon knew from personal experience, that could be pretty unnerving, having eight-odd - some very odd - pairs of eyes staring at you.

 Zara flicked shining black hair back out of her eyes and said softly. "I think they're soulmates."

 There was a stunned silence. Dragon wanted to laugh. Cougar Redfern and Ria Lutinne? It was ridiculous, Cougar didn't even like her and what kind of person would want a moody, dangerous vampire for a soulmate?

 ~ What kind of person would want a temperamental - and the word mental is important there - wild dragon for a soulmate? ~ She looked over at Matt, his eyes glittering wickedly. ~ You don't get to pick your soulmate. But even I, as a former Daybreaker, have to admit those two are an unlikely pair… ~

 "So Cougar's gone chasing after our mysterious witch, to rescue her from lovely-but-evil Bliss?" Jepar had a faintly sceptical tone in his voice. He was shaken up over this; Jepar was rarely sarcastic and he had been quieter than usual. Whenever Dragon thought of him, the first thing that came into her mind was laughing green eyes and his trademark smile. Different from the pensive guy she was seeing now.

 Lisa rolled her eyes. "Jepar, you sound like a sitcom intro."

 "But yeah, I'd say that's about right." Zara looked worried now. "And you know what that means…"

 Dragon smiled grimly. "Cougar's going to get his head kicked in. Bliss ain't no beginner spell-wise. Even if she is a Maiden." Surely not even Cougar could be arrogant enough to think he could beat that witch. Sure, he was a vampire, and a Redfern at that, but what use was supernatural strength when you were going to be incinerated?

 ~ You mean like Cougar kebabs? ~ Matt was smiling wickedly but behind that, Dragon sensed he was planning.

 ~ Thanks Matt, cheer me up, why don't you? ~

 "Not just Bliss, don't forget," Jepar said thoughtfully. "Kobe, too. You know," he added, seeing the confusion written on people's faces, "the mad cousin of the family. Snake 'shifter."

 Snakes were the worst kind, Dragon thought, conveniently forgetting she was half-dragon herself. They were so cold, and she hated the way they would stare at you without blinking, like there was no one home, just an empty shell. Even Bliss was better than that. With insane people, you knew someone was in there, even if they thought World War III was the party of the century or that they were a saucepan or some other such idea.

~*~

 "What'ss taking sso long?" Kobe was snapping at her. Bliss couldn't concentrate for him yelling at her so loud.

Closing her eyes again, she focused on the power, forming an image of Jepar Jubatus in her head.

 Tall, lanky body, nicely muscled. Tanned skin, straight blond hair with dark brown circles speckled on it. Nightworld-perfect face, intelligent cat eyes. Bliss held the image, and *pulled* mentally, hands clasping the cheetah fur, caressing it, until she could sense his essence glowing brightly through the ley lines.

  She felt the air in the circle heat, power radiating from it. It was working.

~*~

 "Jepar?" Dragon leapt to her feet as he began to fade, rippling in and out of vision. An orange light was haloed around him, like hellfire. She didn't know what the hell was happening and neither did he from the look on his face.

 Zara, closest to him, reached out, to grab hold of his arm. The human gasped as lightning slammed into her, hurling the slight girl backwards, into a wall. Cern Akafren was beside her instant, his hands checking for broken bones while Chatoya began to chant a spell.

 Some sort of spell, there was no time, Dragon could see that. She summoned the dragon power, the black fire and tried to hurl it at whatever was holding the spell.

 ~ No, no, dragon bitch. ~ The voice was like claws in her head, dark and mocking. ~ That's for attacking me, two nights ago. I don't like being pushed down hills… ~ Bliss. Dragon hadn't known she was this powerful, just thought Bliss was one of the 'new witches'.

 That's a mistake I won't make again, she thought as a wave of hot orange fire hit her. Last thing she heard was someone shouting at her. "Dragon! Where's-" She didn't hear the rest.

~*~

 "What the…" Ria heard Cougar say softly. Absently the black haired vampire pulled her to her feet, holding her knife hand so she couldn't stab him, Ria realised. He was staring ahead of him. The soulmate thing didn't seem to work here, she realised. No sparks, no telepathy, no trouble.

 She followed his gaze, to where a figure with hair glowing fiery in the sun stood up, laughing at the blond boy trapped in the circle. It was frightening; not because Bliss was howling or cackling or any of the other things Ria would have associated with someone so blatantly mad, but because Bliss seemed perfectly rational.

 Oh god, how had she done it?

 The man beside her half-sister, Kobe, she remembered his name as, was that creepy guy who lived on the enclave. Elegant and aristocratic before, but now his reptilian movements sent chills down her. Ria felt nauseous as she watched his head turned towards them, like he was in slow motion.

 Blue eyes met hers, and the 'shifter kicked Bliss, beside him. The witch got up, walked towards them. She was only about twenty metres away, close enough for Ria to see her manic smile and the glint in night-sky eyes. This was really her *sister*? Comparatively Elizabeth Borden would have been a riot.

 "Back again, Ria?" Bliss's tone dripped ice. That would have scared Ria a couple of days ago, but it didn't now. Bliss wasn't invincible for all that she acted like she was.

 Cougar was beside her and he leaned over and whispered softly, "Reckon you can cope with psycho-witch there?" His breath was warm on her face, hazel eyes searching.

 Ria grinned, hiding her apprehension. "Easy. You might have a little more trouble though." Kobe was fast, striking-snake fast, she knew that from experience. "But I suppose you could try kissing him."

 "No thanks." Icy voice again. It didn't take much to annoy this vampire. "I'll deal with the cobra, you deal with the viper."

 "My, isn't this cosy." Bliss was drawling sarcastically. Ria wondered when the witch was going to start foaming at the mouth. Bliss fixed a cold stare on them. "I can see why you were so interested in leaving, Ria." She smiled enigmatically.

Cougar looked at her, faintly confused. Ria didn't want to explain that reference to him. Everyone was still under the impression she had been dragged along by Bliss. Including him, now. The vampire watched her, then shrugged and walked away, heading for the 'shifter man.

 Ria froze as she saw Bliss's eyes follow him thoughtfully. She could see what was going to happen. He wouldn't even get as far as Kobe before Bliss fried him.

 Orange fire flew from Bliss's hands. Ria reached for her own power, and hurled it desperately towards Cougar…sighed with relief as Bliss's spell bounced off a glimmering turquoise bubble that had formed around Cougar.

 She smiled as Bliss screeched and ducked as her own spell came flying back at her, a huge lightning-ball, and stopped the spell, watching as the glassy turquoise faded. Cougar gave her an astonished look then ducked, swearing as Kobe flung a knife at him.

 But Ria didn't have time to watch the vampire and the shapeshifter as more orange fire blazed towards her. Bliss was pissed off now. Gotta get rid of her power somehow, that's the only way this fight in gonna be fair, but how do you stop a warped witch? The answer was simple. Let her use up all her power on something else.

~*~

 The watcher smiled as they fought. It was hopeless, anyone could see that. Cougar was a vampire, and yes, he had changed, grown up, but he was no match for a thirty-something snakeshifter. Cougar Redfern, still in trouble. Still careless and stupid, giving anyone the key to get into this place. Although it was a good thing that he had, or the watcher would have been locked outside and this was one fight they had to see.

 But the watcher was confused. Their feelings were not what they had expected. Instead of the old need for revenge against Cougar, they felt almost…sorry for him. Seeing him again had made them realise that it was not his fault. In fact, they were to blame for all that had happened. But with Cougar, it was always difficult to be sure about him, whether he fell into the category of 'good' or 'evil'; the age old question revived now the Nightworld was splitting in two. Daybreak or darkness, that was the choice.

 The watcher shifted her glance to the other two. One was the girl who had arrived with Cougar. Not what you would call beautiful, but Cougar had to see *something* in her, even though they fought like vampire and werewolf. But from what little conversation the watcher had heard between the two, they liked this Ria. Perhaps, once, they could have been friends. It was unusual, the watcher knew that, for them to take to someone like that. But the watcher felt, in some strange way, that they owed it to Cougar, for what he had done, tried to do, at the watcher's request, to keep that girl alive.

 And the fire-witch, the watcher knew all about that one. She deserved to die, if anyone did. The watcher did not like torture; they had suffered their own personal kind and knew what how terrible it was.

 It would be interesting, this fight.

~*~

 Ria glanced over at the circle where Jepar was. He was sitting in the circle. Not much else he could really. "Jepar!" she yelled, loud as she could, fast as she could before Bliss tried the witch version of a Molotov cocktail. Try to break the circle!" Anything else she wanted to say was cut off as something that felt like a hurricane pulled Ria off her feet and *threw* her back twenty feet.

 She hit the ground hard, her foot twisting under her. She sat up, curling her legs under her, ready to leap. Bliss saw that and another blaze of witch fire surrounded her, but this time she was pinned, like she was a statue. Ria couldn't do anything but watch as Bliss slithered closer, smile on pouting lips, triumph written all over her. She cupped her hands, and that orange fire that made Ria think of sunset glowed up. Bliss didn't say anything. She didn't need to. Ria knew if that fire hit her it was going to hurt.

 Out of the corner of her eye, Ria saw Jepar 'shift, body elongated, head shrinking, just the clear eyes the same. Bliss's body shivered as the cheetah hurled itself at the barrier around the circle, orange fire flaring where Jepar had hit it. Ria could move again, just her left arm, but that was enough.

 Without thinking, Ria threw the knife at her, ignoring how her shoulders screamed. Iron, let the iron work. Bliss turned white as the knife skimmed her shoulder…and then thumped the ground behind her. Gods, what did she do now?

 Bliss shuddered again as Jepar hit the barrier. It was costing her, Ria realised. ~ She can't keep up the barrier and use spells on me. ~ Then Bliss spun, to face the cheetah standing in the circle. Ria shut her eyes as that lethal spell Bliss loved so much streaked towards Jepar.

 "No," she whispered. She heard the howl, that turned into a scream as fire burned Jepar. It sent shivers down her spine, that inhuman cry. It cut off suddenly, and she opened up her eyes to see Jepar unconscious in the circle. But not burned. How…?

 But she didn't have time to wonder at that as Bliss stepped forward, stooping to pick up the knife Ria had thrown at her, all smiles again even if she was paler than usual. The weight pinning Ria seemed to grow heavier, and it was all she could do not to sink into the sand.

 "Nice try, Ria. I can't believe I ever thought you weren't my sister." Bliss's words were in that sweet tone she used when something evil was going to happen. To someone else. "But you lose. Don't worry, it won't hurt much." That nasty little knife Cougar had given her was inching closer. Where was that vampire when you *needed* him? Ria could just see him over Bliss's shoulder, a vague blur as he fought with Kobe.

 "Any last words? How about, 'you won't get away with this' - that's always good for a laugh." Just shut up, Bliss. Ria could not see any way to get herself out of this little predicament. She had used what little witch power she had with Cougar.

 "Cut out the drama," Ria said wearily. "The villain act is a little overused by now Bliss. Or should that be Belissima?" She grinned as Bliss drew in a sharp breath, hands tightening on the knife. Her arms raised, and the knife blazed down towards her.

 It's going to hurt, Ria thought.

Heartsong Part Thirteen