Hi all! This is my first fanfic for the Carpathian Series. I modeled the set up at the beginning against Dark Guardian and am using both Lucian (who is listed) and his lifemate Jaxon in this fic. Hope you enjoy! Would love some feedback, let me know how I'm doing!

*Gen*


Chapter 1

Declan

Carpathian Mountains, 1428

Declan Riverdyn watched his brother, Redmund, sparing with their cousin Ciprian. The two older Carpathians had long begun their training to become protectors of their people and hunters of the vampires that threatened Carpathians and humans alike. Decades before Declan was even born, Redmund had pledged himself to the cause after their sister, Redmund's twin, Caitria, was slain during the Turk war by an insurgence of vampires in their village.

Declan had never known his sister. He knew only what was told to him by his family, which was little. Even decades later the pain of her loss burned brightly in their hearts. He resembled Catria, his hair the same shade of deep brown fell in curling waves as hers had and they shared their mother's deep green eyes. He often caught the sadness in his mother's eyes as she watched him play.

Declan was only fifteen, it would be nearly a decade before he could begin his true training as a hunter, but he vowed to follow his brother's lead and fight to rid the world of these demons, though he never told this to his mother. She would never allow it. In her mind she'd already lost two of her children to the vampires she would not lose him too.

Declan

Carpathian Mountains, 1440

It had been six months since Declan had begun his training and yet he felt ready to go out and fight. So much time spent watching Redmund and Ciprian sparing and honing their craft had given him an advantage over the others of his group and he had quickly caught the eyes of their elders and instructors. There was even talk of moving him to a more advanced group of older students. He hurried home, anxious to share the news with his father and brother, yet dreading the pain he knew it would cause his mother.

She'd tried to set him on a different path, that of a healer. He'd begun his studies to please his mother, knowing all the while it would never be his true calling. He had tried his best, reasoning within himself that being a great healer could also make him a greater warrior. Yet after only a few months it became clear to the elders that this was not his true calling. The news had not been easy for his mother to take.

"You cannot allow this, Cathaoir!" His mother's voice carried through the open window as Declan jogged up the path. He could hear the panic in her voice and feel her desperate need to convince her husband. "It is one thing for our son to serve as protector of our lands, but quite another for him to be sent away to fight."

"This is a great honor for family and our son, Analise," his father replied his voice soft in an effort to soothe his wife. "Redmund can do no other than to accept – as we can do no other than what pleases our prince."

"So it is our honor to send our son into certain peril?" she demanded, her voice so thick with emotion. Declan knew she was crying. "And what of your vow to me, Cathoair? What of your duty as my lifemate?"

"It is his duty as a Carpathian to ensure the safety of his people and humans alike." In his twenty-seven years, Declan had never heard his parents argue, yet even as his mother's fear and pain cut deep into his heart, his father's voice rose with his growing impatience. "His honor and that of our family demand he accept the Prince's appointment with a great sense of pride."

"So I should be proud that I shall lose all my children to this vampire threat?" His mother's voice was barely a whisper as he watched them through the front window of the great room. The fight had left her, she knew even if she could convince her husband to stand against the Prince's decision, Redmund would still do what was expected of him. He had made it his life's endeavor to avenge his sister's death and to him that meant spending his life in the pursuit and eradication of the vampire threat. His father stepped closer, pulling his mother into his embrace. "I cannot lose another of my children, Cathaoir," she sobbed into her husband's chest. "My heart could not bear it."

Unable to endure his mother's pain and not wanting her or the other members of his family to glean his intentions, Declan closed his mind to them. His decision was made, he could do no other than to ensure that his brother returned unharmed and to do that he would have to use all that he'd learnt to follow his brother to the front and keep him safe. He knew the pain it would cause his mother when she found him gone, but in the end when they both returned to her she would surely forgive him.

Declan

Turkish border 1445

Declan followed his brother and the other hunters commissioned by the Prince to defend the mountain borders of Turkey against insurgents both human and vampire alike. He kept to the shadows a watchful eye on the hunters, stepping in to offer his aid without their knowledge in many battles. It had been almost five years since they'd left their village in the safety of the Carpathian Mountains. Five years since Declan had had any interaction other than the cutting down their enemies. Loneliness ate at his heart and he found he wished his feelings would fade more quickly. He longed to talk to his brother, to share with him all the times he'd been there in the shadows fighting alongside him.

At first he'd stayed away because he'd know his bother would somehow force him to return home. He could not allow his older sibling the advantage of his extra century of experience using his powers of compulsion. He knew he was no match and would find himself sitting in their village within the day if his brother caught him. But now he was stronger and a more seasoned warrior, surely his brother would see him as an asset to his team rather than his younger brother who needed his protection.

One night upon rising, Declan decided to reveal himself to his brother and his compatriots. He would show them he was an asset to them and no longer suffer the isolation as he had for these many years. He scanned the area for signs of them or the enemy and found that they had not yet risen but the enemy was growing near. Brother! he called out to his brother, opening the long-closed connection between their minds in hopes that Redmund would sense the threat approaching them through him. Redmund did not respond, his mind closed to Declan's warning. He raced through the forest to where he knew his brother and cousin slumbered as danger approached them.

Desperate, Declan called out to his cousin, hoping their shared link would be strong enough to get through to him. Cousin, hear me! The enemy approaches, you must wake the others, I do not know if I can make it to you in time.

Declan? What are you doing here? Ciprian demanded. You must stay away! We are aware of our enemies and are lying in wait. Remain where you are until the battle is over, young one. With that Ciprian sent him a hard mental push to remain at his safe distance; lingering as a shadow in Declan's mind to be sure he complied.

Declan felt his body slowing, but fought the compulsion. He pushed forward. I can help! Declan insisted. Ciprian let out a slew of curses as he reinforced his command to Declan even as his brother burst forth from the earth. Transforming into an eagle he swiftly made his way to where his way to Declan.

"Redmund, tell Ciprian to release me!" he demanded as his brother transformed before him only to feel Redmund's mind join Ciprian's, doubling the command to remain out of harm's way.

"You should not be here, brother," Redmund spoke calmly, sending another push so strong that Declan stopped fighting to keep moving. "Do you know the pain you have caused our mother?" His face and voice betrayed none of the anger Declan could feel simmering within his mind. "You have closed yourself off from her, from all of us so you have been spared."

Without warning Redmund shared it all with him, four years of his mother's anguish at the loss of both her sons. Though she took some solace in the fact that Redmund touched her mind often, letting her know he was alright she was sure something had happened to Declan. Her sweet Declan would not be so cruel as to cut himself off from her so completely; he would not allow her to believe him dead. She believes me dead. Declan's heart constricted at the thought of causing his mother so much pain.

"Go home to her, brother." The words were not a command, but a plea. "Go home, find your lifemate and live the life I have sacrificed for you."

"No brother, we will both return home and find our happiness," Declan insisted. "I have been with you all these many years in the shadows that I might keep you safe and bring our mother back both her sons from this war."

Redmund looked over his shoulder, his attention wavering so that Declan felt the strength of his command falling away. Without a word, his brother transformed again into an eagle and flew back in the direction he had come. Declan could feel his brother's urgency to get back to the others of his hunting party. Shifting into an owl, Declan followed Redmund. Only steps behind his brother, he touched down in the middle of the fray launching himself on the nearest vampire. Catching it unaware he plunged his fist through its back and tore out its heart before it even realized he was there. Calling on the elements he quickly created a fireball within his hands and incinerated the heart and body.

He placed himself back to back with his brother, assuming the position he'd seen his cousin take so many times when they'd sparred together against other hunters. Together with the other members of Redmund's team they made quick work of the remaining vampires.

Adrenaline pumping through his veins, Declan turned to his brother and smiled. "You see, brother, I told you I could be of help!" Redmund pushed past him without a word and Declan frowned. "I will contact our mother and let her know I am well," he added, turning to follow his brother. "I will make her understand why I have done this and when we make it home unharmed she will forgive me."

"What about our aunt?" Redmund demanded, standing toe-to-toe with Declan in the blink of an eye. "What will you tell her of our cousin?" He grabbed Declan by the back of the neck pushing him forward so that he stumbled to the ground next to his cousin's broken and bloodied body.

"Ciprian," the name spilt from Declan's lips on a breathless whisper. There was blood everywhere. Slash marks littered Ciprian's torso, raking from his neck to navel. His shallow breaths and faltering heartbeat were the only signs that he wasn't already dead. "We must heal him!" Declan called out to the others, looking to his brother. "He needs blood, too much for only one of us to provide." He clawed at the earth packing his cousin's wounds with the rich soil and his saliva, frantically trying to remember what little he had learnt of healing. Biting at his wrist he tore open a gash and put it to his cousin's mouth. "Take what I offer freely so that you may heal and fight another day, cousin." When Ciprian was drinking, Declan looked to the others expectantly. "He will need from all of us, before we send him to ground." One by one the other hunters bent and offered their wrist to their fallen comrade.

It will not be enough, Redmund murmured angrily in Declan's mind. You have done this, brother. It is you as surely as the vampire who attacked that has killed our cousin. Now, instead of returning home the hero as you'd hoped you will bring shame and pain to our family. Before Declan could respond his brother closed his mind to him and knelt at Ciprian's side to offer his blood to him as the others had done.

"We must find him a safe place to go to ground," Declan declared moving to his cousin's side. Without a word, Redmund picked up Ciprian's broken form and turned his back on his brother.

"It is nearly dawn," Redmund called over his shoulder to no one in particular. "We will seek shelter deep inside the caves." The other hunters fell in behind Redmund, leaving Declan with no choice but to follow. When they reached the entrance to the caves, Redmund turned to the other two hunters. "Place safe guards within each of the tunnels that we may mislead any who seek us out." Without another word he carried Ciprian down the tunnel to the right and Declan hurried to follow.

They arrived at a small room that looked as though it had been dug out of the mountain. It was low so that they had to hunch over to enter. Far in the corner was a small hot spring of water bubbling up and out into a small stream. Redmund made his way to the stream putting Ciprian down next to it. He waved a hand over the cave floor creating a hole large enough to place Ciprian inside. "Sleep the sleep of our people, cousin that the rich soil may help to heal your wounds and we may fight again together."

He closed the hole and with his back to his brother he allowed the small stream to wash clean his hands before he turned his attention to Declan again. The accusation was clear in his eyes, reinforcing what he'd already said. If Ciprian died it was Declan's fault and he would never forgive him. "Go to ground, little brother, and tomorrow you will return home with our cousin."

"I never meant for—"

"If he dies, you will bring his body back to his family and accept responsibility for what you have done."

Upon the next rising Declan found the cave empty. His brother and the other hunters had left and taken Ciprian with them. Declan prayed this meant his cousin was alive. He reached out, touching his brother's mind in hopes of finding out. Go home, little brother, Redmund responded to Declan's prodding. Our mother is awaiting your return.

What news of Ciprian?

He is our responsibility, Declan. We shall care for him. Go home, brother. With that Redmund shut him out leaving Declan alone again.

Declan

Carpathian Mountains, six weeks later

Atop the mountain peak overlooking the village that had once been his home, Declan felt like a lifetime had passed since he'd last seen his family and friends. He stood rooted on the spot. Guilt over the pain he'd caused his mother and fear that she would not forgive him for it seizing his heart. He stared down at the village, watching the people, his people, moving about safe from the perils he'd faced for the last five years. He noticed people gathered at his aunt's home and frowned. He concentrated on the group easily picking up their conversation even over the great distance.

"He is dead, Analise," his aunt sobbed. "It has been near two long months since his mind has touched mine and even then the connection was so very weak."

"You mustn't give up hope, sister," his mother soothed, though he could feel her growing despair. "We must believe our sons will return to us."

Declan's heart clenched. Could this be true, had Ciprian died? He reached out to Redmund for the first time since he'd left him behind. Brother is it true? Are our aunt's fears founded? Has Ciprian died? No answer came, but that was all the answer Declan needed. Their cousin was dead and it was his fault. Had he not distracted his brother from where he should have been, Ciprian would be alive and able to reassure his heartbroken mother that all was well.

Guilt ate at Declan's heart and he found himself wishing for the time when his emotions would diminish and he would not feel all this guilt for the pain he'd caused his family. He would kill as many vampires as he could, he would do so until his dying breath to make up for the pain he'd caused. Or maybe when he could no longer feel he would be able to face them all, but until then he could do no other than to seek redemption for his pride and recklessness.

Declan

Montreal, present day

The voices were deafening, they were always what woke him. Yet no matter how loud the voices grew or how far he travelled from his homeland Declan could not quiet the voices of the past. Even with an ocean and several centuries between them, his family's pain still dug at his heart though he could no longer feel the guilt its memory remained, reminding him that he could never go home. The one thing he'd learnt over the long centuries was that his fight was never ending. There would always be more vampires to fight and from which to protect his people and humanity. There was no magic number of vampire kills that would remove the blame from his shoulders.

He emerged from the small cavern he'd fashion in the side of Mount Royal. It was hidden from view below the lighted cross that stood atop the mountain. It was inaccessible to humans and the entrance was an easily concealed crack in the wall that required Declan to transform into a fine mist or fog to get through.

Transforming into an owl, Declan took flight over the city. It had been a week since his arrival, following the trail of animal attacks up from northern New York State. This vampire was busy – three kills since his arrival. Declan had the distinct feeling the vampire was goading him on. It was as though these kills were personal. Each of the victims had looked like his dead sister, as though the vampire held a personal grudge against Declan and his family. Was this vampire a Carpathian Declan had once known?

The authorities were trying to keep the press from calling this the work of a serial killer, but Declan could hear whispers even now among every day citizens who had come to the conclusion themselves. Three women, tall with long wavy dark hair and green eyes, it was definitely a type.

Declan extended his senses across the city, searching for the telltale darkness that gave away a vampire's location. So far this vampire had been able to cloak himself from Declan, making its kills and possibly its lair among the seedy underbelly of the city. Hiding itself within the evil and darkness that lived among humans.

The darkness he sensed was concentrated for the most part tonight over the lower eastern side of the island city, but there was another smaller concentration in the west end.

He was drawn to this smaller patch of darkness there was something almost familiar within it. He followed the pull of this familiarity. Touching down on the roof of a tall residential building overlooking the Lachine Canal, he returned to human form. He listened to the movements within the numerous small dwellings, marvelling at how some humans chose to live so close together with very little privacy. Though he could have called any of the building's occupants to him in order to feed he turned his attention to the winding path along the canal. Without much effort he picked up a conversation between two men huddled in the shadows of a small foot bridge. They were discussing how best rob the unsuspecting young woman joggin their way.

He disolved into a fine mist, quickly making his way to the ground and re-emerging in the shadows in his human form. Using his mind he reached out and called the two theives to him. He drank deeply from both of them leaving both young men weakened but no where close to death. He quickly erased their memories of him and what he'd done, replacing them with memories of the drinking they'd planned to do with the money they'd meant to steal. He left them slumped against the wall of the alleyway next to the apartment building and allowed the darkness he'd sense earlier to pull him on.

He moved swiftly across the canal to the industrial district. It was darker here, the streetlamps more dispersed creating small islands of light within a sea of darkness. The stench of death and decay carried over the warm summer breeze, leaving a trail for Declan to follow. He could hear sounds of a struggle up ahead around the side of a large deserted building. He sensed at least three vampires around the corner, but among their darkness he sensed someone familiar.

"Redmund," the name dropped from his lips as scene came into view. Redmund fighting three vampires alone. His movements were fluid and purposeful expending the least energy to achieve his goal.

At the sound of Declan's voice Redmund turned to look at him. Little brother. Redmund's words sounded both saddened and relieved in Declan's mind. Declan joined the fray and within minutes the three vampires were reduced to dust.

"You have become a skilled hunter." Pride filled Redmund's eyes as they stood looking each other over and Declan could feel the centuries of isolation melt away. Redmund stepped closer to his brother, clapping his hand on Declan's shoulder as though he needed the physical contact to believe he was truly there. "I had begun to fear this day would never come." Their eyes met for a brief moment before Redmund looked away. "We have much to discuss this night."

They returned to the Canal, sitting atop the footbridge staring out at the lights of the city. They sat in silence, Declan waiting patiently as his brother collected his thoughts. "You never returned to our homeland." It was a statement of fact, there was no accusation in his tone. He was simply starting where they had left off.

"I did, but when I heard of Ciprian's death –"

"Ciprian lives, brother," Redmund interrupted, raking his hands through his straight black hair. "Though his soul was long ago lost, he still walks this earth."

It took a moment for the significance of Redmund's statement to sink in. "He is the vampire killing those women." Declan met his brother's eyes as he nodded "Why do they all look as our sister did?"

"He is goading us – goading me."

"I do not understand, brother. How did this come to be? How is it that our cousin who fought the vampire scourge so valiantly would embrace his darkness and join their ranks?"

Redmund touched his mind then, merging his memories into his Declan's mind so that he might know what he knew. He watched these memories as his brother spoke, giving them context. "Weeks after we left you behind, Ciprian was healing and on his way back to battle form. I was relieved and doing everything in my power to ensure his return to our homeland. The guilt I placed on your shoulders was unfair and I needed to lift that burden from you."

Declan opened his mouth to speak, but his brother shook his head and continued. "We were ambushed by a group of undead. There were so many of them, I had never seen so many of their kind united and fighting side by side. We fought through the night until only Ciprian and I remained alive." Declan watched his brothers memories of the fighting, watching as they fought tirelessly against a seeming insurmountable enemy threat. "I still do not know how we remained alive while our comrades fell at our sides." He gently shook his head, lost in the memory of the bloodshed and pain of that night.

"We were both gravely injured – Ciprian worse off than I as he was still not completely healed from before. We searched out a safe place to go to ground, but as I prepared the earth for our slumber Ciprian transformed into a fine mist and quickly left the safety of the cavern. Having used much of my dwindling strength to help Ciprian to our hiding place and then to dig out the earth, I was not quick enough to follow. And when he sent me the mental push to go to ground, I hadn't the strength to fight his command." Declan watched as his brother struggled within his resting place in the earth, fighting against Ciprian's command.

"I do not know what lead our cousin to turn to the darkness within himself. His intentions that morning were clear. He wished to greet the dawn rather than to risk endangering me. He believed that he was to blame for the deaths of our comrades. He was convinced that he had slowed us down and allowed the enemy to find us. All this he revealed to me that morning as I lay in the ground, trying to convince him that this was not the case. His connection to me soon broke and I believed he had indeed greeted the dawn."

"How did you come to know of his turning?"

"It was not until nearly three centuries later," Redmund replied and Declan could sense his hesitation to continue. The next part of the story would be harder still for his brother to tell. "I had returned to our homeland and found that you had not returned and so I set out again to find you and return you home to our mother. I searched for nearly a century and then one night in Rome I met her." A sad smile tugged at his brother's lips and in his memories Declan saw an olive skinned beauty with long dark hair and deep dark eyes framed with long curling lashes. "Arabella." Her name breezed from his brother's lips like a prayer.

"Your lifemate – you found her." Redmund nodded, gazing out at the city.

He killed her – extinguished her light from my heart.

The picture of her smiling face faded from Declan's mind and was replaced with the painful scene as Redmund returned to their home and found her dying. He watched, unable to look away as Arabella pleaded with Redmund to find his brother and warn him of Ciprian's dark objective to kill Declan's lifemate as well.

"I vowed to her that I would not greet the dawn and join her in the afterlife until I had done this." The memories faded as Redmund closed them off from his brother. "I have searched you out over the centuries to offer you this warning, while my soul cries out for release from this hell without her light."

"Brother, I have not found my lifemate, how can I hope to protect her if I do not even know her or where she is?"

"My Arabella could see and feel things to come. She shared with me a dream she had of you and your lifemate in the hopes that perhaps it would help you find her." A glimpse of an almond shaped eye lined with khol looking shyly up at him while her long wavy hair fell obscuring the other and smiling full lips flashed in Declan's mind and the sweet of jasmine and something else he could not name assailed his senses. It tugged at his insides, a hunger and need like none he'd ever felt pulling at his heart. "It is not much, I realize -"

Declan shook his head, this was more than he could ever have hoped. To know that this woman was out there waiting to be found, to know that her scent could evoke such a response in him. You have given me a great gift, brother. Redmund turned to meet his gaze. You have offered me hope, and though I cannot truly feel it, I know it is there. It will propel me forward and ward off the darkness. Redmund nodded a sad smile tugging at his lips.

"There is something else - something Arabella said that may offer a clue."

Arabella's face flashed in Declan's mind again. She looked up at him from the memory, her eyes veiled, a smile tugging lazily at her lips as she spoke, her voice a breathy whisper. "She is fire and ice. In Marie's city, she will be waiting, her heart open to the whispers she cannot hear."

"But what does this mean?" Her image faded and Declan frowned. "Why must all seers speak in riddles?"

Redmund chuckled softly, though his sadness only seemed to have deepened at the memories of his lifemate. "You will figure it out, Declan," he assured. "You are meant to find her, Arabella saw it. She saw your lives filled with happiness and color."

"We need only find the location of this 'Marie's city', that I may look upon and smell every woman there until I find her." Declan sighed, raking a hand through the curls that fell to his shoulders and framed his face. "Would it not be safer to hunt our cousin first to assure her safety?"

Redmund shook his head and swallowed hard, pushing Declan from his mind. "With her dying breath, Arabella made me pledge to find you that you might find her first." He closed his eyes and Declan could see him fighting back his emotions as he forced himself to continue. "I do not know what tortures he put her through but she feared that he would find your lifemate first." Redmund paused his eyes still closed, taking a shakey breath.

Declan knew his brother was reliving his lifemates final moments, but as he opened his mouth to tell him to stop, Redmund continued, "She said that one who was unworthy would try to take her as his own, but she would be saved." He opened his eyes and held Declan's gaze. "It is you, brother, you will save her. I am certain of it."

Declan wasn't sure he could be this hero his brother proclaimed him to be. A new urgency accompanied Arabella's dying words. He needed to find his lifemate before this unworthy one defiled her. He knew many vampires believed they could still be saved if they found their lifemate. Could it be that Ciprian believed this to be true? Or did he simply want to cause his cousin pain and suffering by defiling his lifemate?

"Dawn approaches, brother," Redmund spoke softly pulling Declan from his thoughts.

Declan nodded, knowing there was nothing more he could do that night to safeguard his lifemate. His search would begin upon his next rising. "I have a place far removed where we can safely slumber." Transforming into an owl he led his brother to his mountain lair.

stay tuned for chapter 2 on Sunday!