~~~ Flashback ~~~

"What does matter is figuring out how we get you out of here," Harry says.

"Get me out of here?" Adelaide replies, "but...but you..."

"You are what is most important Addie," Harry says, reaching out to caress her face.

"I'm not leaving without you," Adelaide reaches up and grabs Harry's hand, a frown forming on her face, "we can do this together, we can just leave-"

"We can't," he shakes his head, "it's just not that easy love," Harry sighs heavily, "Jonathon wants you for himself and Sabinè," he pauses, "Sabinè I imagine will want you dead."

Adelaide's eyes open in horror.

"And you?" she whispers.

"I'm not sure," he replies, "all I can fathom is that she either wants me back, wants me to suffer or wants me dead as well...I truly do not know. But whatever it is, it is not good."

Adelaide breathes out loudly, looking around the darkened room for inspiration.

"So, what do we do?" she asks.

"I say we rip their bloody heads off and torch the place!" a voice suddenly sounds from above them.

They both look up as a figure drops down silently and stands in front of them.

"Alexander!" Harry exclaims in surprise as his friend moves to sit with them, "how...what are you-"

"Harold," he rolls his eyes, "you honestly did not think I was going to let you do this by yourself did you? Leave him to play the hero by himself," he grins at Adelaide and winks at her, "are you alright my dear?" he asks with concern.

"I think so, yes," she replies, happy to see their friend.

"Gave us quite a fright you did lass," he says, "especially poor Harry here," he gestures to his friend, "I've never seen him like this over anyone before," he pauses before leaning in close to Adelaide, "you know you could get absolutely anything out of this one here and he'd never say no, he's positively mad about you..."

Adelaide blushes as Alexander pats her hand with care, ignoring the burning stare his best friend is currently giving him.

"Now," he finally turns to Harry, "what's the plan good sir?"

"Jonathon wants Adelaide to," he pauses for a moment, like saying the words are a struggle, "to prove her love for him by killing me, specifically bringing him my head."

"Pompous bastard isn't asking for much is he?" Alexander muses, "he must really despise you."

Harry reaches for Adelaide's hand and brings the back of it to his lips, placing a kiss on it.

"I have something that he believes is his," he murmurs, looking at Adelaide, "she doesn't belong to anyone though."

"We belong together Harry," Adelaide smiles at him, "I'm not me unless I'm with you."

"Ah yes, well..." Alexander clears his throat, "as touching as this is my cherubs, we need a plan to get us all out of here in one piece," he nods at Harry, "we need you to keep your head lad...so how many are we dealing with out there?"

"Jonathon, Sabinè and about a dozen newborns," Harry replies.

"Pish posh," Alexander waves his hand, "the newborns are nothing, stupid little things hyped up to the eyeballs, they'll be easy to take out if they decide to stay around, it's the other two we need to worry about..."

"Agreed," Harry says, "Jonathon...what do we-"

"I want him dead," Adelaide cuts him off, "Harry I want him gone," she looks at him, "I do not want to constantly be looking over my shoulder, wondering when he might suddenly appear looking for me, I..." she trails off, "I want him dead for what he did to me," she straightens up her shoulder, "and I want to be the one to kill him."

"Addie, no!" Harry cries.

"Harry, I want my face to be the last thing he sees before he dies, I want him to know I'm the one that's ending his life for good," she says in a steely voice.

Harry and Alexander look at each other warily, neither of them comfortable with Adelaide's demand.

"Harry he's still relatively new himself, unlike Adelaide...so she has quite the sporting chance," Alexander suddenly says, "perhaps...if she was to find herself in a spot of bother...?"

Harry lets out a groan as he runs his hand over his face.

"I don't like it but," he finally says, "if we see that you look to be in any sort of trouble, that you're in over your head-"

"I won't," Adelaide interrupts.

"But if you are," Harry says sternly, "we will step in and assist you Adelaide...that's my final word on the matter, I...I simply will not be able to live with myself if something were to happen to you."

"Alright," Adelaide relents, "so what do we do now?"

"He wants your head you say?" Alexander muses.

"Correct," Harry says, disgust on his face.

"Then we must provide him with it, or rather someone else's..." Alexander continues, "purely as a decoy."

Both Harry and Adelaide look at each other before back to Alexander.

"So, you think I should return to Jonathon with what he believes to be Harry's head?" Adelaide asks, horrified at the thought.

"For us to end them and to escape out of here alive, then yes, I do," Alexander says, "you must return to him as though you are still under his mind control with Harry's head, you must convince him you've killed Harry."

Adelaide looks horrified at the thought, her hand reaching for Harry's, seeking reassurance.

"As much as I despise this, the very thought of him..." Harry trails off, "I think Alexander is right. You need to play up to Jonathon that you've done his bidding. Alexander and I will be right there with you, you will not be alone in this my love."

Adelaide nods her head, a quiet determination coming over her.

"So, once I'm back in the room with...your head," Adelaide grimaces, "what then?"

Harry and Alexander look at each other.

"You'll need to play along with Jonathon, see what he does next..." Harry says.

"Maybe she should try and get him alone?" Alexander suggests, "that way we can take care of the newborns as well as Sabinè?"

"Yes, what of Sabinè?" Adelaide asks, "what do you intend to do about her?"

Again, Harry and Alexander share a knowing glance.

"What is it?" Adelaide asks, wanting to know but at the same time, not.

"Now is not the time," Harry says, "but I promise I will tell you my love," he pauses, "but if she ends up dead I won't shed a tear for her."

"I shall happily do the deed for you," Alexander spits out, "after what she did..."

"So, the plan," Harry interrupts, "after Addie returns, she lures Jonathon away to another area of the castle, you and I kill the newborns and Sabinè if it comes down to it."

"Correct," Alexander agrees.

"Then we go and find Addie and Jonathon-" Harry continues.

"I'll be fine," Adelaide insists.

"Just in case," Harry replies, "we said we will not let you be far away from us, that was the condition. Now, are we all in agreeance, we know what we're doing?"

Everyone nods that they are.

"What about the head?" Addie asks.

"Leave it to me," Alexander winks before dashing out of their sight.

Harry and Adelaide watch him slip through the door before looking at each other.

"Harry?" she says his name quietly, "once we leave here tonight, can you take me somewhere where the sun shines bright and the weather is warm?"

"Anything for you my love," he smiles at her warmly, hoping that they would all make it out alive so that he could live up to his promise.

Moments later, Alexander returns, his eyes bright as he holds out a trophy like a reward from his hunting.

"One less newborn to worry about," he smirks, "now I suggest you do cover yourself with a little bit of blood because Harry would not be easy to kill you know, the bastard would put up a fight."

"I wouldn't have you know," Harry suddenly says.

"What?" Adelaide looks at him.

"I wouldn't have put up a fight if it came down to it," he says, "I would have let you kill me if it meant you would live."

"Harry, no..." Adelaide looks at him, her eyes filling with tears, horrified at the thought he would have done such a thing.

"But he didn't and he's here and you're here and I'm here...with a head..." Alexander breaks up Adelaide's train of thought before she becomes too upset to concentrate on the task ahead.

Alexander can see the love they have for each other, the bond between them so unbreakable, that he understands why Harry would sacrifice himself for her and why Adelaide would be mortified at the idea of him doing so.

But they need to focus if they were to all walk away tonight.

Together.

"Here," Harry bites into his wrist before holding it in front of Adelaide, squeezing it so that the front of her shirt was stained with his blood, "Sabinè will most likely recognise the scent as well, cementing that you've succeeded in your task to kill me."

Harry lowers his arm before pulling Adelaide to him and kissing her.

"Please be careful my love," he whispers, "and remember if at any time you feel frightened, scream my name and I shall be there, please promise me."

"I will," Adelaide replies before stepping back and taking the head out from Alexander's outstretched arm.

"Be safe my dear," he says kindly, "we'll be right beside you."

Adelaide nods, squaring her shoulders back, determination on her face before she walks out the door.