'Now who the fuck are you?' Xavier demanded, as a harassed-looking vampire entered the room. He was young, maybe only twenty, but that didn't reflect his true age.

He hurried to unhook the IV bag from Xavier's arm.

'You're with the girl? The First-Born?'

'What's it to you?' snarled Xavier.

The man paused with his hands resting on the buckle of the restraints.

'Because June said you were.'

'You're with June.' Xavier began struggling against the restraints until the man's cold hands held him still.

'You need to trust me.'

'Like Hell I will.'

The vampire frowned and stepped away from him with his hands held high.

'I'm here to help you.'

'June is the reason we're here in the first place.'

'She had no choice. None of us do. Brogue controls everything. He sired June against her will. He used her so that her mate could buy blood for his newly sired vampires. That's what Brogue does, he reals people in with lies, uses them, and then keeps them in line with threats when they realise they've been fooled.'

'Why would he need Krish for bagged blood?'

The vampire ran a hand down his face. 'Because if he took all he needed from one source, then someone would get suspicious.'

'I don't understand.'

'Then I need to show you.'

With steady hands, the vampire unbuckled the restraints and Xavier stepped down carefully, eyeing the man for any sudden movement.

'How do I know I can trust you?'

'You don't, but you have no choice.'

They stared at each other. What exactly were his options? Even if he didn't trust the vampire, he had no chance of overpowering him, and without him, he'd still be battling with the restraints.

'What do you need to show me?' Xavier said finally.

The man relaxed a fraction and held the door open for Xavier to follow.

'You're a Bureau agent, right?'

'I was.'

'So you were trained to kill vampires?'

'Where are you going with this?'

Xavier watched as the vampire scanned his badge and ushered him through a door onto an open metal staircase.

They descended in silence. The overhead lights were so dim he could barely see a few steps in front of himself. When they reached the bottom, he saw rows and rows of army style cots laid out with plastic bubbles covering them. Multiple blood bags fed into each one.

'What are they?' Xavier asked.

'Creatures of Hell,' the vampire answered.

Xavier glared at him. 'Explain.'

'You know why he wants the First-Born's blood?'

'He said something about the next evolutionary step.'

'The blood he collected the night of the Awakening was enough to begin his work, and of course, he had more than enough test subjects after that night.'

'Test subjects?'

'Agents that were turned. Perfect subjects. They were already trained killers. Disciplined. Used to taking orders. The perfect army just waiting to be released.'

Xavier looked over the number of beds, his face paling. 'They're all agents?'

'You didn't know?' the vampire asked sharply.

'No,' Xavier whispered.

'It was the Bureau's job to recruit those people who had the genetic possibility of being turned. When Brogue's testing was ready, the agent was sent on a case and they were captured and bitten.'

'The Bureau sacrificed them?'

'This goes further than just the Bureau. Who do you think wanted the country wide blood typing of young children? It was a way for Brogue to see which family lines could become vampires.'

'Fuck,' Xavier swore.

'He would Sire them. And then he wanted them to be altered.'

'Altered?'

'They only obey him. They recognise him as the one that created them. In a similar way to the original Bitten and the First-Borns. But they're not like the Bitten. They're stronger, faster, and their bodies require more blood.'

'But they're still resistant to daylight?'

'That's why he needs the First-Born alive. In her blood is the secret to allowing his army to walk in the daylight and to breed naturally. He can't have them making more vampires simply by biting. He needs control over their reproductive cycle or he risks those turned by his monsters not being loyal to him. And he can't abide not being in control.'

'And what is he going to do with this army?' Xavier swallowed hard.

There were close to 500 beds. 500 genetically altered vampires that could wreak havoc on the rest of the country. It could be so much worse than the Awakening.

'He's going to use them to install his power in every country. He'll use them to control the food, and once he's controlled that every vampire will fall under his rule.'

'Control the food? You mean he plans to enslave all of humanity?'

'Yes,' the vampire said simply. 'And that's why we have to destroy this place. And the First-Born.'

'Destroy Ray?' he repeated slowly.

'As long as she lives, there will always be someone who will use her. There are other vampires who know what we're doing here. Even with all of this and Brogue gone, they could always use her to carry out his plan.'

'She deserves to live.'

'She does. But if she lives, the rest of the world dies.'

'That's not my decision. I can't decide that for her.'

The vampire nodded. 'Then I'll take you to her, and she can decide.'

Xavier gripped his arm. 'What makes you think she'll decide to go through with your plan?'

'Because deep down, the First-Borns are our true Masters. They have always kept the balance between the supernatural world and the human one. It's her duty.'

***

'Xavier,' Ray whispered as Xavier rushed to her side. 'Are you okay?'

'I'm fine. What about you?'

'I feel like a pincushion,' she chuckled, then winced as the multiple wires in her arms and legs moved.

'Please, we don't have time.' The vampire began systematically withdrawing the needles.

'Hey, you're the scientist. The one Dylan was talking to. Aldrick.'

'I'm the reason there are no guards at your door,' Aldrick said sharply.

'Scientist?'

Aldrick avoided Xavier's gaze. 'I was part of the team that helped build those monsters.'

'You fucking what?'

'I didn't have a choice, okay?' Aldrick yelled. 'My mate was an agent.'

'Then what happened to her? Why are you helping us now?'

Aldrick turned back to his task. 'She's one of the bodies lying in that room.'

'You experimented on her?' demanded Xavier.

'No. I was told she'd been taken somewhere safe. Another scientist had changed her. Nobody knows that I know the truth.'

'You loved her,' Ray said.

Aldrick let out a shaky breath. 'I do. It's why I can't let her hurt anyone. Even if it means I have to say goodbye.'

'You're talking about the things under the plastic domes?' Both of them looked at her sharply. 'Brogue took me. He wanted me to see what my family's blood had created,' she explained.

'They need to be destroyed before Brogue can release them,' said Xavier.

'Okay, so what do we need to do?' Ray agreed.

'I have UV explosives ready. A handful of other scientists are already getting them into position, and then we're going to destroy this place,' Aldrick said, stepping back as Xavier helped her off the bed. 'But someone needs to be here to detonate them.'

Ray looked down at her feet. 'They would have used my blood to make them all impervious to the sun. He would have used me to bring all his plans to life.' She closed her eyes, trapping the tears that wanted to fall. 'I don't want to be used that way.'

'Ray, think about what you're saying,' Xavier warned.

Her eyes flew open. 'I know what I'm saying. I'm saying that I want to be the one holding the trigger. This all started with my blood. My family's blood. And it will end with me.'

'Ray-'

'No, Xavier. I've made my choice.' She stared into his eyes until he nodded silently.

'Where do we need to go to detonate the bombs?

'You're not coming with me,' Ray yelled.

'I promised I'd take care of you. If I can't do that, then you can bet I'm not letting you move onto the next world alone,' Xavier said gruffly.

Ray sniffed and buried her head into Xavier's shoulder as he awkwardly patted her back.

'Come on, kid. We only got to survive a little longer.'

She sniffled and pulled herself together. 'Let's go.'

Aldrick handed her a small plastic box. 'Go to the storeroom on floor five, the one with the red door. The room is the closest to the first explosives. It's important that they detonate in sequence. Once there, press the button on the side for five seconds.'

'That's it?' Xavier questioned. 'We aren't to wait?'

Aldrick smiled at them both sadly. 'My team and I won't be leaving the building. If we do, it will raise suspicion.'

'Then this is as much of a death sentence for you as it is for us,' Ray said.

But Aldrick was already shaking his head. 'This isn't death. This is the end of a very long nightmare. And I shall be very grateful to wake up.' He walked to the wall and pulled a small stick from its holdall. 'In case you meet any resistance, it's equipped with an intense UV light that is generated from both ends. Good luck.'

After a brief goodbye to their new comrade, Xavier helped Ray towards the store room Aldrick had told them about. They were most of the way there when a siren went off.

'Someone must have caught one of Aldrick's team,' Xavier cursed.

'We need to go before they find the explosives,' agreed Ray.

They shuffled further, both of them distracted as the door came within sight, but they stumbled as footsteps pounded behind them.

'You really thought that you could destroy me? My life's work?' Brogue raged.

'Go,' Xavier shouted, as he propelled her forward, before turning to face an injured Brogue.

'No. Stay, Ray. Watch as I kill your protector right in front of you, just as I killed your mother.' Brogue lunged forward as Ray screamed.

Xavier clicked a button on the stick and two shafts of glowing purple light shot out both ends. He could feel the heat radiating off them, but swung it nevertheless.

The light baton clipped Brogue's shoulder, but he was already too close and pinned Xavier against the wall.

'I had hoped you would be a wonderful addition to the team. But since you seem so intent on destroying my creations, then you can join them.' Brogue's fangs descended and Xavier screamed as they pierced the flesh of his arm.

Brogue's cold hands released him and Xavier dropped to his knees. His entire arm burned as though magma flowed through his veins. When he looked at his arm, he could see the black tendrils of venom already standing out on his skin, making its way to his heart.

'Poetic don't you think, Xavier? You become the very thing that you hunted.' Brogue was enjoying himself too much to realise that Ray had picked up the discarded baton.

He never knew the danger that lurked behind him. He was too involved in Xavier's agony. The pain was addictive to him. He craved to see more and raised his foot to inflict damage to Xavier's face.

And this is what Ray needed. She raised her hands and swiped the UV light along Brogue's neck. His neck petered dangerously, only held on by a slim bit of muscle.

With her eyes glowing purple, Ray couldn't stop herself from raising the baton again and again, beating Brogue's falling body, hearing his skin hiss and blister as the UV did its work. Even when parts of him began to disintegrate

'Ray, you can stop now,' Xavier said weakly. 'He's dead.'

The baton stopped midair, and she panted as she looked down to see that Xavier was right. It slipped from her hands as she scurried back to his side.

'We need to go,' she said.

'I don't think I can move,' he whispered.

Ray gripped his body and pulled him to his feet, carrying all his weight. 'I'm not leaving you,' she argued.

She carried him to the red door and bashed it open with her foot.

'Y-you've got the detonator?' Xavier stuttered.

Ray pulled it from her pocket and showed him.

'Then it's time,' he said, closing his eyes. 'For what it's worth, kid, I'm glad I was at the Grange Estate when I was. You could never be a monster, Ray. There's too much heart in you. Your parents and Mari would be proud.'

Ray snuggled into his side.

'If you'd never met me, you wouldn't have to die.'

But Xavier chuckled. 'This was always how it was going to end for me. I'm the guy that kills the devils and sends them back to where they're supposed to be.'

'Then Hell must be empty because all the devils are here.'

He placed his hand over hers where it held the detonator. 'Then let's send them home.'

'Thanks, Xavier.'

'Anytime, Ray.'

Together they pressed the button and watched as the world around them exploded in a technicolour of purple.