25 years ago

No matter how hard or fast Malayna Braydens ran it simply wasn't fast enough. The sound of heavy footsteps growing louder with every passing second boasted that fact. Breathless, she pushed her weary body to move faster, harder. Still, he was there, lurking in the shadows, toying with her, enjoying the hunt.

Malayna knew that she was going to die tonight. The ironic part was that out of all the others in the world, he was going to kill her. If she were at her full strength, he would be running from her, as he would be nothing more than a flea in comparison.

Unfortunately though, tonight she was drained, tired. Not her normal self, which was his fault as well. Because of him she had to bind her daughter's powers only hours earlier, leaving her in this weakened state. At this current level she was no match for him. The bastard knew that too. And he was taking full advantage of it.

It was unavoidable. Malayna would do anything--including sacrifice her life--to protect her precious baby girl. That's all that was important to her.

At least that's what she kept telling herself when the pain of not being able to raise Nakita herself cut her heart in two.

Don't think about that right now. Not if you're going to do what has to be done.

Steeling her resolve, Malayna continued on her way. Not following a certain path, instinct alone guided her movements, luring him somewhere they could end this. Privately. Away from humans and definitely away from her precious baby girl. By now Nakita would be on the other side of the continent.

With her body about to give out, Malayna found an empty parking garage in the downtown district of Marcella. At this time of night it was completely desolate. This would be the place she would face him. Right after she caught her breath.

Quickly looking around, she found a cement pillar big enough to hide behind. With her heart pounding in her ears, she chanced a look around. For the moment she was still alone, but she was sure he would catch up. It was inevitable.

All too quickly, he did.

"Come on out witch. I know you're here. I could've given you the world, but you refused. Now you have to pay for your mistakes. We certainly can't have you fucking up my plans, now can we?" His scratchy voice called to her, echoing off the cold, hard cement. He was drawing ever nearer, just as she knew he would.

Sweat broke out on Malayna's brow and upper lip. Even though it seemed impossible at this point, her heart increased its erratic beat. Butterflies took root in her belly. If the smell of her fear wasn't a beacon for him, her heart beat would no doubt be. Nevertheless she leaned her head against the pillar, resting one last time.

Taking a deep breath, Malayna gathered what little strength she had left and stepped out into the open to face her murderer head on.

As soon as he spied her, he stopped walking, leaving only a scant few feet separating them. A space he could cover in less than a second. Only she knew he wouldn't kill her outright. He needed information. The same information she would take to her grave.

Right on cue he asked, "Where's the girl?"

Of course Malayna knew where Nakita was. She'd sent her away after all. Not that she was going to tell him anything. "Maybe she died in the fire you set to kill her father," she said, trying to keep her voice level.

And almost succeeding.

Chocolate brown eyes narrowed. "Now don't be stupid. We both know she wasn't with her pathetic father. I would already have her if she was." He cocked his head to the side, studying her. "What did you see in a human anyway?" He sneered the word human as if he were casually discussing road kill on the highway. "They're worthless, nothing more than cattle--good for the only thing they soon will be. Slaves."

When she didn't respond his sneer grew wider, hatred blazing clearly in his eyes. "It's truly a shame Malayna," he said, sounding almost sorry. She wasn't fooled however. There wasn't a sorry bone in his body. "We could have been unstoppable together," he continued, oblivious to her thoughts. He shook his head slightly, apparently disappointed that she didn't want to be a cold hearted bastard like him.

"I was in love with my husband, the father of my child," she replied as she secretly gathered her power.

And you're a lunatic

"Yes, I know." He waved his hand in an inconsequential motion, clearly completely recuperated from his sentimentality. "And now you will join him. So just tell me where the girl is and I'll make it easier for you. I promise." He smiled and it reminded her of a shark. It was a smile she once found charming. Before she knew the real him. It made her wonder why she hadn't seen it sooner. Things might have turned out differently if she had.

"Don't worry, I have plans for her," he continued when she again offered no response. "She will take her mother's place." Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a six inch dagger. Sliding his finger slowly up and down the blade, he eyed her casually as he did so.

"I'm not afraid to die," she said, looking him in the eye so he would know she was telling the truth. But if he thought she was going down without a fight he was crazier than she thought.

"Enough, you will tell me now or you will die slowly and painfully and I will find her on my own," he said closing the gap between them one slow step at a time. He wanted her to see her death coming.

Telekinesis, Malayna's true power, took a lot of mental strength. Strength she currently did not have. It didn't mean she was completely helpless however. Something she proved when she conjured her strongest spell.

"Basi con eche!" A flash of light emitting from her hands flew directly at him. On anyone else it would have been a direct hit. With his supernatural speed he was able to spin at the last second, avoiding the brunt of her magic, but not all of it, leaving the left side of his face afire.

"Bitch!" he screamed as he covered his mangled skin with his free hand. Unfortunately he didn't drop the dagger.

Knowing she would only have seconds before he recovered, Malaya ignored his curse, gearing up for the next strike instead. Just as she raised her hands to deliver the next spell a sudden pain ripped through her chest.

An acute, piercing fire tore through her nerve endings, rendering her helpless, splitting her in two. The spell died on her lips as her gaze traveled to the source of the pain, where the beautiful white-marbled handle of the dagger he was holding protruded from the middle of her chest, his hand still attached.

Malaya hadn't even seen him move. She did see her blood pouring out onto his hands though.

Raising her head--that now seemed to weigh a thousand pounds--she once again met his eyes, and saw the pure hatred gleaming in them. The mask he wore had fallen away completely.

All the breath left her body on a sigh as her arms fell helplessly to her sides. Even weaker now than before due to rapid blood loss, her knees gave out and Malayna fell hard to the cold concrete ground with a thud, her arms spread to her sides, her legs haphazardly beneath her, shaking and coughing up her own coppery tasting blood.

Cold to her marrow, calmness overtook her. It was over. Without a telekinetic witch at his side he would never succeed. The Night Shadows would see to that. So in the end she had won.

Still gloating, he bent down, leaning over her body. "It's fitting for you to die the same way you lived, by your pathetic bleeding heart," he said. His hot breath fanned her face.

Even struggling to breathe, Malayna's pain eased with every second that passed. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she was going into shock

"You are pathetic," she whispered through blood stained lips. "You will never find what you're looking for." She coughed one last time. Smiling, she said, "You lose."

Malayna's sight dimmed, making everything foggy, out of focus. Her head fell to the side as her husband came to take her to the other side.

With her fight now over, she closed her eyes one last time and passed into eternity.