Time passed slowly and all of our plans were rightly dashed by my father's pessimism. He claimed he knew what the Hunters would do, how they would react. He had a particularly annoying habit of shutting down our ideas before we could get them out. After a short argument, Porter made us agree to take a rest. My father and I went to separate ends of the house and I was sure that Porter was right.

When I enter my room, I am shocked to see a rather large figure standing beside my window. My pulse begins to race and my heart pounds against my chest as flashes of Kai stabbing me race through my mind. I absentmindedly knock a pile of CDs off my nightstand.

The figure, David, turns to me. His gaze moves from me to the CDs and back to me. What was certainly anger dissipates from his face and an emotion akin to concern replaces it. I stumble over and sit down on the bed, the strain of the last few days wearing on me. The stab wound is obviously wearing on me as well.

"Hey, you okay?" David asks as he moves towards me. I put my hand up, cautioning him not to come closer. I see his confusion, "Are you afraid of me?"

"No." I say softly, "Yes. I am but not for the reason you think."

"Not because I murdered Kai and his parents?" David asks. I shake my head. His expression becomes a sea of confusion, "Then..."

"I got stabbed. I'm not really up for hugs." I frown. I take a minute to compose myself, "How'd you get in? We were downstairs, I'd have heard you come in."

David gestures towards the window

"This is the second floor." I frown.

"I climbed. I damn near jumped." He smiles proudly.

I am not surprised. I could have guessed it. I'm not sure if I am impressed or terrified. He crosses the room over to my closet and his eyes begin to peruse the photos I've arranged. Most of them are from the time when we barely noticed each other, or so I thought. Group pictures, mostly from parties. His gaze moves over to the cork board behind my computer desk, which was filled with new pictures, many of the two of us.

"It's weird to think of myself then. I was filled with anger and self-loathing." David says thoughtfully, "I was repressed. My life only really began with you. I know that."

"You're giving me too much credit."

David turns to me, "But you feel I did something wrong." He stares at me.

"Yeah."

"You left...without a word. You didn't call me when you needed someone. You went to him." The venom in his voice was alarming. I didn't expect to be back so soon, to have to deal with this so soon. He sighs at me, "I would give anything for you to look at me like before. I noticed immediately."

"You killed people."

"For you! I would murder anyone to save you, to make sure you are okay."

"Listen to what you just said." I mutter gently, "You don't murder people, this isn't who you are."

"You think the wolf is taking over, don't you? That's why you offered to cure me. What if I tell you that I enjoy being a wolf? I enjoy being free."

"How much are you willing to give up to be a wolf? Your humanity? Your sanity? Me?" 

"What if I told asked you to do the same? To give up witchcraft?" David argues.

"It's different."

"Is it? What is your goal now?"

I think about it. He isn't right. I know he isn't. His agitation at my words brings a sense of fear to me. David would never enjoy murdering people. He's always been a dick but I seriously doubt he ever murdered for any reason.

"You want to argue, to get me to see your point and I never will. It's not okay." I frown at him, "If Kai had killed me...what then? What if you had nothing more to protect?"

"Where's your Mother?"

"What?"

"When I got here, I sensed your Brother and Father. There's a distinct smell of blood. Your Mother's blood. What happened?"

I stare at him, not sure how much I should tell him. He is already willing to murder for me. To tell him about my Mother, to give him an excuse would be on my head. If I were to lie to him, he wouldn't trust me. He'd always been able to trust me.

"The hunters took her. It's a long story that might literally involve the devil." I answer truthfully.

"Dammit, I knew they were trouble." He growls. Upon seeing my face, he continues, "They attacked us at Lucas' house and said they were just getting started."

"Is everyone okay?" I ask.

"Yeah, he's fine."

"You're such an ass."

"I should go." David growls as he moves towards the window. He stops and turns to me, "Is this where we are? I risked my life to be with you. You were the only thing that mattered to me but I don't think I was ever the same to you."

"You know what's interesting? You said I was the only thing that mattered..."

He snickers angrily as he climbs out of the window and drops to the ground below. I moved to the window and watch as he sprints off down the street. I would be an absolute fool to think that he would let this go. 

He wouldn't. 

He won't.

And he's not alone.

                                                                          ******************************* 

After my impromptu meeting with David, I wasn't in much of a waiting mood. I decid to do a locator spell, not for my Mother but for Kai. Apparently both of them were well-hidden. My Brother suggests scrying for my Aunt.

For some odd reason, the idea hadn't crossed my mind. When I did, the point appeared at a park across town. My Father suggested he go alone, that she is waiting on him. Porter and I argue that if she's waiting for him then he shouldn't go. Alan caves and agrees that he should take us with him. I tell him to wait until I've packed supplies.

I stand at my desk, stuffing candles and salts into a duffle bag. After a few more minutes of stuffing magical items in my duffle bag, I turn to leave and am shocked to see Lucas standing at my doorway.

"Luke, what are you doing here?" I ask.

"Did you just call me Luke?" His eyes travel the length of my body, over the duffle bag, and back to my eyes, "I like it...Have you ever called me that?"

"At the risk of sounding repetitive..."

"I had to make sure you were alright. Last time I saw you, you weren't doing so well." Lucas takes a step towards me and his eyes find the bag, "Going on a trip?"

I pull the bag up to show him the contents, "Not so much. The hunters have my Mom and we're going to get her back."

"Need help?" He asks.

I shake my head, "Family thing. I thought about asking you but...we're not whatever we were." I say sheepishly.

"You can ask me for anything."

"Why are you being so nice?" I ask.

"I'm a nice guy." He smirks, "I needed to make sure you're okay. With what happened the other night and the hunters showing up here...There's only so much one witch can take."

"Tell me about it." I smile, "I like nice you. Then again, I liked asshole you too."

"Are you flirting with me?"

"No! Not...intentionally."

"What about Marley?" He asks.

"David is going through some major stuff and he needs to sort that crap out." I say to his amusement, "And I'm not flirting, per se. I'm just noticing."

"Can I say something, as your vampire ex?"

"I don't think I'd have a choice."

"You smell different." His eyes never leave me, "You're different."

"I am. Look, I'd love to stand here and thank you and make sarcastic comments. It's actually a dream of mine. But I have to find Penny. Alan-"

"Is gone." Lucas frowns. My eyes widen and he chuckles, "He left as I came in. I'm guessing he wasn't supposed to go without you."

"Dammit!" I say throwing the dufefl bag over my shoulder. I pass him and head into the hallway. Porter greets me with a worried look on his face and I interrupt his train of thought to say, "Dad's gone."

"He went to the park." Porter says, "Let's go."

"I'm coming too." Lucas says as he joins us, "Look, family problem or not, you're going to need muscle."

"I'm always inclined to disagree with him, but he's right." Porter says as we turns, "Let's go."

As we leave the house, I feel as if we're going to win this. I can feel my own power. Having Lucas along is insurance. Though I feel we can win this, I wonder what the price will be. I doubt killing the hunters would end anything. They'd just send more. No way we do this ends happily.

                                                                          *******************************  

We make it to the park just minutes after my Alan and his cuckoo-cuckoo Sister leaves. Luckily, being who he is, he records their conversation on his phone and leaves it for me. My Aunt goes on to talk about how my Grandfather brought my Brother back to life in the hopes that he could 'save' him. She says that he sent her to dispose of us before anything gets worse.

She also details how she used some kind of talisman to control Porter and make him kidnap my Penny. She even let slip that they're doing something similar with Kai. I can't bring myself to try and understand them.

Lucas and Porter are oddly quiet. I can almost feel a humming in my body. As we pull up to the compound, I see that there are sentries all around the perimeter, especially along the entrance. I pull the book out and look for a spell that I can use.

"You haven't said anything since we left the park." Porter says.

"Keen observation," I say as I search for spells, "You should work for Scooby Doo."

"You need to be focused." Lucas says.

I glare up at him, "I am focused. Thanks for the concern." I snap.

"And we can't become them." Porter adds.

I stare between them, "These people sent someone to kill me and kidnap my Mother. Nothing I do can make me like them. Besides, they don't get off easy. And since when do you have a problem with killing people?" I ask Lucas.

"I have no problem with me killing people...but you are another matter entirely." Lucas frowns, "The best parts of you are the human parts. Do not let them take that part from you."

"Look, I know you're both trying to help but I really don't think this the time to grow a conscience. They won't hesitate to hurt us. They never have." I say slamming the book, "I said no one else I love dies and I meant it. If I have to go against this whole compound, I will."

"You're so goddamn stubborn!" Porter growls, "We are trying-"

"You can't save everyone." I say as I lift myself out of the brush and advance towards the compound. I raise my hand to the sky, silently calling forth all the elements. The sky darkens and swirls high above us. Lightening begins to strike the perimeter of the compound. In the mayhem, a dense fog descends upon the property. Without seeing them, I know Porter and Lucas are right behind me.

As we step foot on the grounds, I feel as if I'm being drained. I pull my hand up and all around the perimeter, the power talismans lift out of the ground and break the circle. I don't see this, I feel it. With the circle broke, I can feel my full strength return and lightening once again strikes around us.

Three sentries come through the fog in masks and their guns are fully aimed at me. Their eyes move from me to the two men behind me. A blur passes me and I hear the men scream as they're pulled back into the fog. Lucas appears seconds later with blood on his lips and smirks.

"The light show is good but-"

"Did you see the talismans? You unearthed magic dampening talismans. That's-that's not possible!" Porter says staring at me with confusion.

"Anything is possible." I say moving forward.

As we move forward, we pass the bodies of the sentries and a little later, their heads. We stand in front of the large oak doors and I hesitate. I know that something isn't right immediately. I reach for the door but Lucas grabs my hand.

"They're waiting." He says with a look of determination on his face.

"When I say go...go."

He nods. I pull my hand up, causing the doors to fly open to reveal a group of hunters, all aiming various projectile weapons, ranging from guns to crossbows, at us. They raise their weapons are aimed and they wait to see someone.

"What's going on?" Porter whispers.

"They can't see us." I say as I look to Lucas, "Go."

Lucas smirks and nods as he disappears in a blur. I try to imagine how surprise they were when the vampire literally shot out of nowhere. I try to imagine what they feel but what they feel doesn't matter anymore. I can feel apathy creeping into every pore of my body and the more I fight, the more of it I feel.

I walk through the threshold, "Auntie! Come out, come out, wherever you are." I say as the doors slam behind me.