Song - Funhouse, Pink

I spent several days studying Mon Crief, trying to figure out many things. Jasper and Roman were occupied, mostly talking to the underground movement. So long as they were kept oblivious to my new plan, I didn't care what they were doing.

In between, I would spend time in the gym. My little muscles were now defined, and this girl could give the treadmill absolute hell. This girl ran, and she raised the incline, ensuring that any situation could be coped with.

I also managed to slip out a couple of times. With my disguise on, I got on a bike and went for a ride. Roman or Jas never said anything. They knew I was up to something, and provided I obeyed the rules, they were happy to let me do whatever I wanted.

Now, I was waiting. The motorcycle was tucked into the back of the alley with my helmet, hidden by the industrial bin and the trash around it.

I watched as the burly figure stepped into the darkness with me. With the collar lifted and the flat cap pulled down, Dominic could hardly be identified.

"Glad to see you're still okay."

"I am. Has anyone come to see you?"

"No. I guess I'm too far back in your past to be considered."

"Good. Thanks for doing this for me."

"Any time. Did he do it?"

"Noah? Yeah, he tried to have me killed. It's a long, complicated story that is probably better if you don't know anything about it. Even this is too much, but I can't be seen."

Dominic shrugged.

"I only bought a jerry can of fuel, which I do all the time for my mower. I paid cash to buy the can, and I bought the same colour and brand as the one I have at home. Just leave it at the site and make sure you don't leave any fingerprints on it."

"What about you?"

"I cleaned it thoroughly."

"Good. Go home or wherever it is that ensures you have a solid alibi."

Dominic nodded, taking the cash from me.

"I hope you kill the bastard for what he did to you."

I smiled and watched as Dominic turned to leave. He paused, shifting back to look at me.

"I know someone, you know if you need anything else. He's not easy to get in contact with, but if you've got the money, he can get you anything you want. All of it without question."

"Showing your shady side. Didn't know you had it in you."

"I saw him on the news. I would have known he was lying even if you hadn't turned up at my door. Bet the cops know, too. They always look at the husband first. As for my shady side, it's not really shady. He just likes my pastries, so I give him a good discount and add a little extra in to ensure he's a happy man. That's how these things work, Dani. If you want to make friends of worth, you need to know how to butter them up. Like I said, if you want something, he can get it for you."

"I'll remember that. And thanks, Dom. You're a good friend."

He nodded and turned out of the alley, telling me to stay safe. At my feet was his delivery, a jerry can full of fuel. When Dominic was out of sight, I pulled the balaclava on, ensuring my hair was tucked into it. After rolling it over my head to make it look like a beanie, I picked up the can and crossed the road. The gloves were on, and I was ready for what this night would bring me, starting with the car I'd hotwired. It was waiting for me to take it on the journey.

Mon Crief was the estate name. It sat at the end of a long, quiet road that was about half an hour past Gravesend. With the jerry can in the footwell of the passenger seat, I drove with a smile on my face. It was Saturday night, and the party would be well and truly underway at the retreat. I kept to the speed limit, and I hoped it would be enough to avoid the authorities.

The journey was uneventful, which I was grateful for. Pulling to the side of the dirt track, I looked around and was grateful that the online maps were accurate. There were no other houses close. I kept the car away from the house, knowing that it was possible that it would be identified. I'd changed the plates, hooking a stolen pair onto the correct ones. At some point, I'd toss them out the window, probably when I was crossing the river again.

In the distance, I could see the house. It looked like an old single-level wooden farmhouse that was boring, but it was far from it. The lights were on, but the view was diminished because it looked like they had storm shutters over the windows. From here, I could hear the music.

It was a situation that was unbelievably ideal for my plans tonight. The locals would be used to this place being a party house every weekend. They might ignore it, but if they didn't, then it meant that the cops would ignore their calls when they rang to complain. Although saying the place was on fire would undoubtedly bring them but, that would take time.

Leaving the keys in the ignition, I picked up the jerry can and got out of the car. Pulling the balaclava down, I began the long walk to the house. Slipping between the trees and trying to hide my presence made it longer, but I didn't care.

At the last tree, I looked at the property. There was a small sign over the mailbox that confirmed this was Mon Crief. Beyond it was a gravel driveway that led to a large parking area. It was full of cars, all similar to what Noah drove. The land was grass and nothing else. No manicured gardens, no sitting areas, nothing that would indicate they used the external areas. It made sense because I knew the truth, but from the outside, it seemed a little strange. A farm with no animals and no crops, it served no purpose other than being far from the neighbours.

Roman said they used this place for the trials, yet I could not see anything that indicated it was true.

The storm shutters were functional and, thankfully, closed. I guess it stopped anyone from passing by from seeing shadows. Collecting long, sturdy branches, I took the bundle and my jerry can and began the approach.

I remained on the grass until there was no choice but to cross onto the gravel. Taking careful steps, I walked to the first window and slid the branch into the hooks. Hopefully, it would be enough to hold the shutters in place if someone tried to escape. The sticks would burn eventually, but my goal was that it would be enough to stop them from escaping through the windows.

When I'd finished with every window, I moved onto the doors. There were two that had to be dealt with. The easiest solution I had was jamming wood into the gap. Several were placed in the doors, and I began dousing everything in petrol. All the while, the party raged hard. In the moments between songs, I stopped moving to ensure I wasn't heard. Not that they stopped to listen. All I could hear was moaning and skin slapping.

Once the walls were coated, I stepped back and smiled. Pulling out the matches, I flicked the wood against the box and threw it into the puddle. The fire shot up with a ferocity that was a little startling. I began to walk away, keeping to the shadows, listening to the fire as it grew and started to consume the wooden structure.

Dominic said to leave the jerry can, but I didn't want it to be that obvious. The wood that held the doors and shutters in place would burn. They might remain, but I doubted it.

As the music died and screams began to fill the night air, I found a bush to hide the jerry can in. Covering it with leaves, I tried to make it seem like it was just a part of the landscape. Then I returned to the car and left.

Would there be survivors? Probably, but I hoped not. The underground movement was happy to let the guild stalk the city streets hunting vampires, which was fine before this nightmare began. Now that I was one of those vampires and one of those guild members was my ex-husband. I wasn't prepared to sit back and do nothing. I was the one who had the biggest target on her back. Out of every vampire in this city, I held the most reason to do what I could to survive. If the underground movement didn't like it, then they could kiss my arse.