Hounds of Winter

Sorry about that everyone *sweatdrops* This chr gor got away from me!


Author's Note:

fiora nevae - (fee-your-ah-nev(as in never)-A (like the letter) - Snow flower

sona nevae - (sewn-ah-nev-A) - snow dream

Oneiroi - a term used for vampires that have the power to control and feed off of other's dreams. Oneiroi were the collective term for the three greek gods of sleep

The Hounds of Winter
Chapter 8
By: Delilah deSora

**

Shido whirled around to stare at the foot of the bed where Soryo stood, his back straight and stiff. In his hands were the remains of the ornate mirror that had once hung on the wall. Glass lay scattered at his feet and strewn about the desk where he had apparently smashed the mirror. Soryo’s violet eyes had gone golden as he stared at the gilded frame, a deep frown pulling at his lips. Power flowed about him like a living scarf; weaving in and out of itself and making Shido shiver at the reminder that this vampire wasn’t as weak as he liked the world to believe.

Gaven called his name but it was Shido to whom Soryo turned to face. His golden eyes were searching and Shido found himself stiffening as the frame fell from Soryo’s hands. The other vampire strode towards him and he pulled back, hissing in warning as the wisp-like power reached out to him. His retreat was halted by Gaven’s solid frame behind him.

Soryo froze, his hand outstretched, fingers barely touching Shido’s face.

“What are you doing?” Shido demanded warily.

The green haired vampire said nothing as he closed the distance, his cold fingers pressing against Shido’s forehead and temples. Shido cried out as the power flowed over his skin, settling on him like a blanket and stealing away his consciousness.

Strange images came to him as he floated in the disconnected nothingness of sleep. He saw a hall made of ice and a land of eternal snow. He saw his reflection in a pair of blue eyes that froze his soul.

Who? Came Soryo’s voice in his mind, who is this? Who watches you through the mirror? Who is this that twists your dreams and troubles your sleep?

He shuddered, unable to break free of the eyes that watched him. I don’t know. he whispered.

Something tried to force him to pull back from those eyes, to see the entire picture but he could not look away. There was a gentle sigh and he felt the heavy weight of sleep lift from him. He blinked his eyes open as he felt Soryo’s power relinquish its hold on him. With a snarl he sat up, shoving the other vampire away from him.

“How dare you?” He demanded, lunging and driving the other vampire back farther, “Keep your powers to yourself, oneiroi!”

Soryo blinked and his golden eyes returned to their original violet color. His face fell and he reached out a gentle hand. “No, lalae, you misunderstand! You know I would never . . .”

Shido growled. “You just did! I did not give you permission to play in my head!”

Anger slithered over Soryo’s normally soft gaze and his lips pulled back into a half snarl, revealing white fangs. “I did not need your permission!” He snapped, “you brought danger into my mate’s den! It is my right to correct it!”

Gaven’s hands closed about his forearm but Shido didn’t notice, his gaze fixed on the vampire before him. “What?” He asked in disbelief.

“It’s alright, avraire,” Soryo voiced, the anger seeping away as quickly as it had c “He “He did not know and the danger has passed, for now.”

The master vampire released him and Shido turned to stare at the shattered remains of the mirror. “What are you talking about?” He demanded, turning back to Soryo who watched him with serious eyes.

“I don’t know for sure myself but someone has been watching you, Shido. Surely you have noticed troubling dreams or interrupted sleep.”

Shido hesitated. “I’ve been waking in the middle of the day.” He admitted.

He h Gav Gaven shift behind him. “And you said nothing?”

He shook his head. “I woke Cain the first time but he could find nothing amiss. I thought it was just because I was not used to sleeping with so many vampires and breed about.”

The green haired vampire before him snorted and shook his head. “It was not from without that you sensed danger. It was from within.”

“I have not had any troubling dreams, though.” Shido protested.

“What have you been dreaming about?” Soryo pressed.

Shido hesitated but was force to bow his head in defeat. “I don’t remember.”

His fledge-mate nodded. “It is because he does not wish it.”

“He who?” Shido demanded.

Soryo shrugged. “Whoever is watching you.”

Gaven shifted, sitting up straight. “What is going on, Soryo? Why did you shatter the mirror?”

His voice brooked no argument and Soryo bowed his head slightly. “I woke because I felt something wrong with our fledge-mate’s dreams. I couldn’t tell what exactly was happening because we no longer have a strong bond between us. Fortunately the other day rebuilt some of our old bond so I could find the means the other oneiroi was using to track you. I went straight to the mirror and shattered it before he could realize that I shared his powers as well and sensed his presence.”

“He was using the mirror to track me?” Shido asked in confusion, trying to sort through the pieces of information.

Soryo laughed softly and sat on the edge of the bed, careful to keep his hands folded on his lap. “Just as I can’t enter your dreams without some sort of bond or physical contact neither could this other. You must not have had contact with him recently because he had to use the mirror to see you. Still,” a frown tugged at his lips and he looked over Shido’s head to his mate, “he must be very powerful to be able to enter dreams just by seeing his victim. I couldn’t do such a thing.”

“Do you know who he was?” Gaven asked.

Soryo shook his head. “No. I tried to see the dreams he was giving Shido but I could not break through the confusion he created to hide his presence.”

“Will he come back?” Shido inquired, feeling a sliver of fear run up his spine.

The green haired vampire shrugged. “I don’t know. He will certainly try but . . . I don’t know how strong he truly is. He may not need the mirror anymore now that he knows where you are. There is another danger, however. He has undoubtedly seen us as well, Gaven. It will be exceedingly difficult for him to twist my dreams but I fear you are not so well protected, avraire.”

They sat in silence for a long minute, staring at each other.

Gaven exhaled heavily. “Is there any way for you to protect us from him?”

“I can’t keep him from entering your dreams but I can sense when he has done so and I can wake you up. However that will do nothing for trying to discover who he is. To do that I must be able to enter your dreams as well.” Soryo’s words stopped and he turned to stare at Shido.

Shido met his gaze and shivered, wrapping his arms about himself.

The power to influence others dreams was a common enough gift among vampires but it was nothing compared to what a true oneiroi could accomplish. Whereas vampires with just a touch of the power could influence someone’s mind to urge their dreams in the direction they wanted an oneiroi could actually enter another’s dreams and twist the dreams completely. They could also create new dreams rather than being regulated to playing on existing fears or desires, as other vampires were required.

If properly bound to someone an oneiroi could control their dreams completely. It was a talent Soryo usually used to entertain whomever he’d been sent to please, for he could tailor the dream to the vampire’s wishes, giving the person whatever they wanted. Shido had always been leery of the talent, however, for he knew what else it could be used to do. Cain was also an oneiroi. Through his mate’s actions he knew first hand that it could be used to twist the victim’s mind, making them believe things that they normally wouldn’t have believed.

“Why didn’t Cain sense what was happening?” He demanded.

The green haired vampire shrugged. “I do not know. Perhaps the other knew of him and hid himself from Cain’s notice, though such a thing would be very difficult, especially with the bond between the two of you being strengthened every night.”

Shido flushed. “We haven’t laid together for months.” He admitted, “And even then we only did so twice.”

He was aware of Soryo and Gaven’s startled stares. “And before that?” Gaven inquired.

“Not since before I left.”

Gaven frowned, reaching out to capture his face. “So long? How?”

“Why?” Came Soryo’s demand, “Why would you pull away from your mate?”

Shido gently freed himself and shook his head. “We fought and I left. I couldn’t bear his touch and I would not lie with the very man I fled from, no matter what bond was between us.”

“But why not noou hou have been back for three nights, Shido. You have spent those days in his bed. Why not enjoy the pleasure? Especially if you’ve been denied it so long?” Soryo pressed.

Shido sighed. “Things are not healed between us, Soryo. Cain and I . . . there is too much anger. It is best for us to stay apart.”

Soryo glanced over his head and a meaningful look passed between his fledge-mates that Shido could not decipher. “If you will allow me I would built that bond between us, lalae, and when this other comes into your dreams again I will be able to face him.”

Shido opened his mouth but was cut off by Gaven’s sharp reply.

“No!” The master vampire snapped, “You have already said this other is stronger than you. I won’t let you face him alone! I know how dangerous it can be for an oneiroi to face another, especially in dreams.”

Soryo spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “There is naught else for me to do!”

Gaven was silent for a moment, his hands clenched in the covers. “You can bind us all together,” he replied, “so that when you face this other we will be with you.”

Shido stiffened and turned on him. “Cain would kill you.” He protested.

The master vampire shook his head gravely. “Your mate is not here to protect you, Shido, so I must do it myself.”

Again Shido opened his mouth to protest but hazel eyes glared at him sharply and he fell silent. Gaven’s eyes turned towards his mate.

“Do it, melmae.” He ordered.

Soryo hesitated a moment more before lowering his eyes. Shido stiffened as power welled up around him. It brushed against him, soft and alluring. He grit his teeth together, trying not to fight it but hating it all the same. It slid over his back and he arched, a hiss escaping him as his fingers dug into the mattress in an effort to hold himself still. Every instinct within him screamed at him to fight against this foreign power that was trying to twhis his mind, trying to weaken him.

Hands slipped under the shirt he wore and up his back and he tipped his head forward with a shudder.

“Relax,” Soryo whispered into his ear, “let it wash over you, comfort you, please you.”

A second set of hands touched his face and he jerked away from Gaven’s touch, a part of him threatened by the other master’s nearness. “Stop! I . . . can’t . . .” He hissed, trying to pull away from his fledge-mates.

Soryo, however, refused to relent and Shido cried out as the alluring power flowed down his chest to hover in the pit of his stomach, drawing his attention to the desire that was growing within him at Soryo’s talented touch. A hand passed over his face, long fingers brushing over his eyes until they closed.

“Relax.” The oneiroi breathed against his ear, “Fall into my touch, lalae. Do nothing but feel.”

The fire within that had allowed him to spend over a century on his own in the mortal world without the protection of another while still fighting the breed gave one more protest against being controlled and he lashed out against the creature trying to control him. His wrists were caught in strong hands and his mouth was captured in a determined kissed.

His fangs cut into the other’s mouth and Gaven’s particular flavor ran over his tongue, granting him images of a foreign land of red sand and emerald oases. He groaned as the visions overtook him, allowing Soryo’s power entry into his mind and dissolve his strength. He sobbed in frustration as once again he was subjected to another’s power.

”Forgive me,” Soryo whispered into his mind, ”forgive me this deception.”

Shido shuddered as his mind was suddenly fractured and rebuilt. He felt his worries and fear fade away until there was only himself, his fledge-mates, ahe ihe insistent desire demanding satisfaction. In that moment he forgot about his own childe and his mate. He forgot that he belonged to another and an immense void opened up within him, one he was desperate to fill.

He lunged at the master vampire before him, deepening the kiss and turning it primal with need. Gaven’s scent overwhelmed him and he longed to rub it all over himself. He longed to have this stronger creature mark him as his own.

Hands tore the shirt he wore, flinging it away from him and he forgot all about it as it left his body and ceased to exist in this strange dream world that had become his reality. Fingers ran over his chest and his head fell back, groaning as fangs pricked the ski his his neck. He turned his face towards that of his fledge-mate, opening his eyes. He gasped as Soryo’s golden eyes captured his, seeming to draw his very soul from his body.


He felt himself being lifted and entered but all he could respond to were those golden eyes. Something hot and warm closed about the pinnacle of his need and he sobbed softly. Hands touched his face and lips closed about his. A second mouth closed about his neck and for a brief instant he remembered himself.

“No!” He shrieked, the memory of his own mate overriding the knowledge that he was in no harm and making him fight against the vampire about to mark him.

Soryo snarled as Shido’s fingers dug into his pale chest, drawing bloody furrows as he clawed at the vampire riding him. The green haired vampire caught his arms and pinned them down. A great suffocating mass of power rolled over him, dragging Shido back into the false dream where there was nothing but the pleasure and the need.

He relaxed once more and this time when Gaven’s fangs touched his neck he felt no fear. He obediently tilted his head to the side, baring more vulnerable skin, sobbing in intense pleasure as long fangs buried themselves in his neck, marking him and sending waves of ecstasy through him. A strange backlash of pleasure rolled through him as the oneiroi above him tumbled over his own peak of pleasure. It triggered a second orgasm from him and it was enough to send the master vampire behind him into his own throes of passion.

For a split second he felt as though he were all three and that there was no separate Gaven, Soryo, or Shido, just three eternally connected creatures. The moment passed and Shido felt Soryo go. go. He cried out in fear as he felt himself falling. With a jerk he came back to the waking world.

Soryo lay panting heavily beside him, his limbs shaking visibly and his violet eyes half closed. Shido reached up, touching the bleeding mark on his neck and shuddered. Cain was going to kill all of them when he returned and found his mate marked by a rival master. A stern wave of reassurance flowed through his mind and he glanced back at the dark haired vampire watching him.

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” He voiced, reluctant to use the new bond Soryo had opened between them.

Gaven shrugged. “It is the only idea we have, Shido. You are in danger. Surely you realize that having your childe taken from you and now having your dreams twisted by an unknown oneiroi must be connected. If your mate was here I would let him take care of it but he is not and the duty of protecting you is mine.”

Shido shook his head wearily. “Cain won’t care,” he whispered, “he’s going to see it as a threat.”

The dark haired vampire reached out and gathered his panting mate to him, large hands stroking the light green hair as Soryo buried his face in the crook of his mate’s arm. “What will be will be, lalae. If he is angry beyond comprehension I will fight to protect myself. If he is willing to listen I will return you.”

“What do we do now?” Shido asked, wishing to avoid thinking about the inevitable outcome between the two vampires.

Soryo forced himself up onto shaking arms and met his green gaze with a determined violet one. “We go to sleep.”

**


Shido shuddered and rubbed his arms, though his immortal body was not affected by the cold coming from the frozen walls around him. Everywhere he looked was ice and snow. The walls, the floor on which he walked, and all the small glittering flowers were shades of blue and white. It was all pristine and dead.

“Who are you?” He demanded, his voice sounding harsh among the silence of the dark hall. “What do you want?”

The tinkling of bells sounded around him as a bitter wind blew through the halls, teasing the frozen flowers the lined the walls.

”Come.” A voice on the wind breathed.

The wind raged against his back, driving him forward. His feet made no sound on the frozen floor and all around him he thought he heard the sounds of unseen people whispering ”Quietly! Quietly! Come on silent feet to us!”

The hall opened to reveal a ive ive garden and Shido stopped, staring at the place in surprise. Long pieces of ice sprouted from the ground in a parody of grass. Tiny flowers made of crystal and ice arched delicately in the air. A bright moon hung over head making the carefully crafted garden sparkle.

“What is this place?” He whispered, fearful that if he spoke too loud it would destroy this strange bit of perfection.

”Do you find it pleasing? It is my garden. There is none other like it in the world.” Came the voice. It seemed to brush against him sensually and he shivered at the coldness associated with it.

“Who are you?” He asked again.

There was a soft laugh and he sensed movement before him. His head shot upwards to stare at a small rise in the center of the garden. An ornate pavilion of ice spread over a large platform of marble. Shido could make out a delicate looking chair and a pool on a long thin base beside it. Just beyond he could see a large bed made of crystal and draped in silver and white sheets.

The movement came again but when he tried to stare at where it had been he found he could see nothing.

Again the laugh caressed his cheeks and ears. ”I know what you have brought with you, fiora nevae. I know what haunts your dreams. Do you think me foolish enough to be trapped so soon by an oneiroi who has struck out against me?”

Shido felt a faint undercurrent ripple through his mind. “What do you want from me?” He demanded. “Why do you keep playing with my dreams?”

”Come to me my fiora nevae. Come to me. I tire of waiting for you.”

“Where are you?” Shido asked, his raised voice causing a cacophony of bells as the flowers and grass of the garden blew against one another as though a great wind had just torn through them.

There was a hiss from the oneiroi he could not see. ”Silence! How dare you break the quiet of this place? You will come to me, fiora nevae. You will serve as you were meant to.”

Shido opened his mouth to reply but intense blue eyes that seemed to burn him with their coldness suddenly caught him. He cried out softly, trying to be free of them, and suddenly Soryo was there holding him. He felt Gaven’s arms about him as the green haired vampire turned to stare at the platform.

There was a joyous laugh. ”I will have you as well my sona nevae. Such power you have to break through my dream! Yes, you too will be called to serve."

Soryo hissed. “I serve only who I chose!”

The other laughed again and the dream around them shattered. Shido clearly heard the other’s voice as icy shards fell around them.

”You will choose to serve me. You both will.”

With a sharp cry, Shido woke.