This is a crossover story involving the worlds of the Carpathians and Dark-Hunters. The authors, Christine Feehan and Sherrilyn Kenyon deserve the credit for the worlds and their characters. They are my inspiration for writing and I hope to thank them in person for helping me find my writing voice. All I ask is that my characters in this story are not stolen or used in any other story without my permission. This is a complete story and none of the content will be changed. I highly recommend reading both the Carpathian and Dark-Hunter series before reading this story. There are a number of spoilers within these chapters and I am not responsible for my content. This story is not meant for those that cannot read violence, swearing, detailed battle sequences, rape, and other adult themes. E-mail me comments or leave one here. I welcome all, so long as they are not mean spirited.

Chapter One

“Alright Aura that ought to do it.” the male tattoo artist said wiping the last small bit of blood from around the tattoo. “Just make sure you put the cream on it everyday and make sure it doesn’t get infected. Would hate to see this fine piece of work and a pretty little thing like you wind up at the hospital due to poor care.”

She smiled, jumping on up to take a look at her new tattoo in the mirror. It was based off of a necklace she had worn for well over a century now. A turquoise crescent moon holding a star, the outline of the moon and the whole star being a silver. Aura had to go to go a bit darker with the ink, to make sure that years from now everyone could tell what color it was. She ran a finger over it, to test how sensitive the skin was. It had turned out better than she had hoped. Kevin had done a wonderful job at copying her necklace.

“Thank you so much. This is so good.” Aura said still admiring the tattoo in the mirror. “What do I owe you for this fine piece of custom work?”

This woman was always full of energy and had spent months looking for something, only to say she would be back later. Then when she came to him about copying the pendant into a tattoo, he agreed without question. There was just one thing that bothered him about her in the small time he had met her and gotten to know her a little and what she liked tattoo wise, those black eyes. Her hair was dyed a blue-black, but he knew it was in fact a different color. Maybe a light brown or blond. It just seemed odd that a girl with that light of hair could just have black eyes like that. She was secretive about her past and he respected that. After all he was just an artist with a very sometimes bubbly customer.

“Kevin, did you hear me? What do I owe you for this?” Aura asked again, glancing back at him thru the mirror.

“A hundred ten even. It is a rather small one and only required two inks. Plus it was a pleasure do that for ya.” he said with a wink. “I’m just happy you finally found something you liked after nearly six months of looking around here.”

Aura pulled her shirt down and went to her bag. She always had cash on her. Credit cards and other things were always a bother. The price seemed a bit cheap for something custom, but knew better than to argue this out with Kevin. He was a nice man and well she knew he had a small crush on her. She pulled out one hundred twenty from her wallet and handed it to Kevin, “The other ten bucks is a tip for you since you’ve been real patient and nice to me for the past few months.”

He took the money from her hand and wanted to give her change, but that is how he knew her. Very generous when it came to thinks like that. “Thank you Aura. You’re talking like I’ll never see you again.”

She shrugged at that, “You might. I moved around a lot and this is the first time I’ve stayed in a place for so long. Plus I need to take a trip and I don’t when I’ll be back.”

Kevin was upset at that answer. He wanted to actually ask her out on a date. “Aura, Chicago isn’t all that bad. I mean it’s a nice place and you have money and you could get yourself a nice place to live.”

Aura smiled, “You just don’t want me to leave. You’ve done two tattoos for me in the past six months and both look great. I know I seem a bit obsessive with that one rp thing, but you did the tattoo without question and you didn’t even ask questions. You followed the drawing exact.”

That other tattoo was in fact an exact copy of Artemis’ mark on her upper left shoulder on the back. She knew she would get hell from all the others if they knew she had gotten that done. Aura just didn’t care. She wanted to screw with the things she hunted. Let them think that Dark Hunters could no longer be taken down by their mark. She had thought it out a little before she had it done. Besides she had explained it was a game she played online with a bunch of her friends and it was just a joke with the mark they had. Sorta like how some friends did it by how they dressed, or even those kids who went and got fake vampire fangs put on at the dentist. So she had just been viewed as one of those crazy kids who was way too into something she played online.

She knew that Kevin knew the color her hair was in fact not her natural color. It was a golden-medium blond and it just looked out of place with her eyes now. She tried getting contacts to make her eyes appear another color, but Aura never could get the hang of putting those things in. So that is when she dyed her hair black. All of the other Dark Hunters had dark hair, well with the exception of a few of them. She hated sticking out in a crowd.

“Aura stay here for awhile longer.”

She had to look away from him. Damn it he had fallen in love with her and that wasn’t allowed. This is why she had to leave. For the sake of herself and Kevin who didn’t know any better. She could never return the love she felt for anyone. Duty. Duty to protect the human race, a race she was once a part of. It broke her heart, to know she had to leave the area for a small while just because a man had gotten to know her, even love her.

“I can’t.” she said pulling her coat on and headed on out. It always hurt when something like this happened. It was a smack in the face every time. A reminder of what she had become just because she wanted revenge once. She got into her BMW M3 convertible and drove on out of the city. For once she was grateful she had kept a squire around longer than a week. She would need him this time.

She pulled into the driveway, her house just outside of the city limits. Aura was actually crying over this. Leaning her head against the steering wheel, she had to think on how she had allowed this to happen. She had been nice to him like she had been with most people in her life. Well her human life. Aura got on out and went into the house and wanted to just go to her room and sleep.

“Aura?” Darius asked seeing her visibly upset, something he had never seen from her before. He had only been around a month and was still trying to adjust being with his new Dark Hunter.

“Not in the mood to say anything right now Darius. Just get me some ice water and bring on into the den.” she answered, wiping at her cheeks. A bit mad that she had let him see her in this state.

Darius and his family were not new to the whole Dark Hunter scene. The entire family had been squires for centuries. There were a few families like that and they were always kind and understanding of the Dark Hunters they went to serve. He had been sent to serve Aura, in the councils hopes, that she would not send him back and tell the council once again she had no use for a squire. He had been patient with her. Even learned why she kept sending the squires back every time they were sent out. He went into the kitchen and got her a glass of cold water with some ice and then went into the den.

He didn’t like this. She was visibly upset over something, and it was out of character for her. She was a respected Dark Huntress who didn’t let anything bother her. In fact she prided herself in taunting the Daimons before killing them. Now she was sitting in her chair, with signs that showed that she had been crying at one point tonight, very quiet. Normally she would tease him about something, but had said next to nothing.

“Here you go, Aura.” he said handing her the water. “You need anything else?”

She took the glass and drank a sip or two. She looked up at Darius and knew he was concerned, “I just got a smack in the face about what I am again. It happens every century or so. It’s nothing, Darius.”

He nodded, wanting to ask her what had gone on, but knew with her it was better not to say a word until she wanted to talk. “Aura I know I ought to keep quiet, but what do you mean by that? I haven’t been with you long enough to know nearly everything about you. I know what I’m supposed to do as a squire, but I was hoping we could become friends.”

She set the glass off to the side. He was the only squire that she had liked in the centuries since she became a Dark Hunter. Aura liked the idea of his children serving her for as long as she remained a Dark Hunter. Thanks to Artemis that was eternity. There was something about the boy though. Something that reminded her of another squire she had some couple of centuries ago.

“Darius, do you have an ancestor by the name of Nicholas? Lived a couple of centuries back who was also a Echo squire like you?” Aura asked, looking Darius over.

“Yeah. He was third generation back then. Why do you ask?” he asked a bit confused.

Aura laughed and took another drink of the water. Darius could pass for his ancestor. The only difference was the hair style and the fact Darius was taller.

“Nico was an ass, if you do not mind me speaking of your blood that way. He managed to stay all of two days before I sent him back. He hated the idea of serving of a female Dark Hunter. You’re nothing like him and for that I am grateful.” she said with a smile.

“That was you he spoke of?” Darius asked surprised. He was only twenty-two and not much older than Aura had been when she died. His family went back a long time and well the boy still had a lot to learn about being a squire.

“Oh he had the nerve to tell his children about me? It was him and not me.” Aura corrected. “Make sure when you tell your children that story you get it right. Maybe that was part of the problem with all the squires I’ve had since then.”

“Almost every generation was sent to a female Dark Hunter only to be sent back to the council with a letter explaining why she could not stand to have them around her.” Darius added with a laugh. “My gosh Aura that was you every single time?” She nodded with a little smirk. “Why am I even around? You hate my family.”

“I don’t hate them. Rather I can’t stand them. Where is your grandfather anyway? Maybe I ought to pay him a visit.” Aura thought, putting her finger on her chin. “You’re not like all of your ancestors. You actually care how I feel day to day. None of them did that. And before you say I never gave them a chance, after Nicholas they all had an attitude towards me. You never did.”

“Thanks. My mom raised to me right I guess. She said I should get to know the Dark Hunter I went to since most squires and their families stay with the same Dark Hunter for generations. She said to respect the hunter I was assigned to.”

Aura had to get up and hug him for that. She rarely showed affection for the squires. Just Darius was special in her heart now. She knew nothing could ever happen between them, it was Hunter-Squire only. It was something she had to accept no matter how big of a sweetheart he was.

“You’re momma taught you well Darius. I would want to meet her one day.” Aura gave him a kiss on a cheek. “Just make sure you get married and give me another squire who is just like you.”

He gave her a surprised look. He was still going to school and finishing his degree off when he was sent to her. Marriage wasn’t exactly on his mind. Although he understood why she would say such a thing. She had never had a squire she could stand beyond a week and now he had been around for nearly a month. “You feelin’ better now Aura?”

“I am. Want to see what I went and got this time?” she asked with a smile.

“You mean a tattoo?” he asked a bit surprised. He had known she had been thinking about one for a little while, but he didn’t think she would ever go out and get it done.

Aura lifted her shirt and turned her back to him, “What do you think? I know it might not look all that good, but I just got this done not even an hour ago.”

“It’s the same as your necklace.” Darius observed, knowing that one necklace Aura never went anywhere without it on. “That is good. One of the better tattoos I’ve seen.”

She put her shirt back down and decided he might as well see her other tattoo. She saw his face go white at the look of the tattoo on her shoulder. He knew that a Dark Hunter’s mark was never to be shown to anyone. It was against the code they lived by.

“It’s not my actual one. This is just to screw with the Daimons a little.” she said pulling the shirt back over her shoulder.

Darius took a seat and didn’t quite know what to think. “A..Aura, does he know about it?”

“Ash?” she asked to clarify. He nodded yes. “No. You know how Dark Hunters are. We can’t be around each other without draining each other. Even if he did find out, it’s not like I care. It’s fake.”

“But…but no one is supposed to know about the mark at all. You could get in a lot of trouble and might even get the blood-rites after you. You can’t do that Aura.”

She stood in front of him, knowing she was probably going to give the poor boy a heart attack if she didn’t say something. But Darius was right. By all means she would deserve to be hunted down for even showing a drawing of the mark. Just she knew Kevin would never speak a word of the tattoo to another human for the rest of his life. She made him swear not to speak of it and she burned the drawing right after he was done. Aura had taken enough steps, in her mind, to protect all of the Dark Hunters.

“He’ll order the blood-rites to come after you for that tattoo. You better hope he never finds out, the council will send them after you. You have to get it removed and hope that no one ever asks about it.”

“Darius, listen. The artist who did that one is the same one who did the other tonight. He was sworn not to tell another being alive about what I got. He thinks I play around too much online and that this is just something me and my friends do. He won’t say anything.” Aura then sighed, knowing why Kevin would never speak a word. Something she hated to admit.

“Kevin loves me. I know he does. And yes I know it’s forbidden so don’t even bother to point that out. That’s why I was upset. The man loves me and I’m not allowed to return it.” She felt those same tears again. She had never truly known the love a man could have for a woman when she was alive. She had been too young and now as a Dark Hunter it was forbidden. “You know what it’s like to feel love for someone, but know you can’t ever return those feelings because the first Dark Hunter decided to put that in the damn code!? I hate Ash because of that!”

Darius gave her a blank stare at every word that had managed to say. Never had he heard a Dark Hunter talk like that. Never had he heard of a Dark Hunter would even think to go against what Ash said. Ash was leader and they all had to answer to him no matter what they thought. Darius wanted to comfort Aura knowing she was hurting bad and probably needed to talk to another Dark Huntress, but that would drain both women.

“Darius get out. I need time to think and don’t you dare say a word about what I have said about Ash to anyone. He finds out, you will be to blame and I do not take betrayal lightly.” Aura nearly hissed out at Darius. She rarely got mad, but too many emotions were swarming her. She just needed time.

Darius quickly left room and returned to his own. He had a few things to study for and such so he could keep himself busy for the rest of the night.

------------------

Liam walked about the city searching for some prey. How many times had he this? It was far too many count that was for sure. The night was once the most beautiful in the world and now he hated it. Well told himself he hated it, he couldn’t feel anything. The night was nothing but black, white, and gray. Nice way for him to re-paid for what he did to help protect the human race from his former brothers. Then how did the humans repay his race? They hunt him and his people down.

“Damn humans.” he said under his breath. He could sense something in the area, but it wasn’t quite the same as the normal vampire. It was evil yes, but it was different. Just his luck. Lucky Liam is the one who gets to find out about a new trick the vampires have all by himself. He looked to sky almost wanting to challenge God for everything that had happened to him. He was sick of being alone. He wanted his lifemate at his side. Someone who could love him and care for him and most of all someone to just talk to.

Liam went walking past a few houses in the upper-middle-class neighborhood. Some of the houses could past for upper-class, but then all he had to do was look where the neighborhood was and there was the answer on why it wasn’t more upscale. He had a few human friends. The only ones he respected at all.

He paused in front of one house that had an iron gate blocking the driveway off. It was one of the larger homes. He knew a woman lived in there. Everything on the outside just seemed to have a feminine touch. But he had never seen the woman, whom he believed lived there, just a boy in his early twenties coming and going. Liam shrugged at his thoughts and just kept going. Maybe it was an older woman who lived there with her son. Or perhaps the boy was just helping an older woman out. Things had an “older” touch. Old-world. Things he had only seen in Europe and rarely saw outside of it. He stopped again and looked at the house. He always had a place for that house no matter how many times he walked past it. It almost as if he was being drawn in by it.

“You’re mind is going Liam.” he said aloud to himself.

Liam had walked past this house quite a few times over the past century and it never changed. The same style remained. Even if the house remained in the same family, there was always a difference between each generation. He always had to come here when he was in this neighborhood. He sensed something within the house but it was nothing like he had ever felt before.

Liam scanned the area and everything was well like it always was. He felt like searching out one of the Carpathian families in the area and just wanted to talk. He wanted just to know something familiar again.