SO I FOUND THE PERFECT SONG FOR KATE & ARLIS. FIRE AND THE FLOOD BY VANCE JOY. it's so good oml. I love it. Anyways, enjoy the chapter.

BECKER
Becker was tired. He wanted to shut his eyes and wake up when his life was better. He scoffed, the sound echoing through the dark room.

"My life? Be better?" He thought out loud.

But his friends were happy, and that's what mattered to him. Arlis finally had a mate, and Constance was... well she seemed happier than normal even if she wouldn't admit it.

Becker closed his eyes and leaned against the brick wall, sighing loudly. His body hummed with power, his chest thumping loudly.

He was in some sort of old dungeon cell type thing. Three mossy brick walls covered the sides and the small window let it little to no light. The concrete floors were slick with water that leaked from the roof. In the cell there was nothing, no bed, no toilet, just emptiness. And then there were the bars. The bars that made Becker feel like an animal at a show.

Down the hall he heard people talking, people who he hated so much, he wanted to destroy them until hell seemed like heaven to them.

A man with slick back red hair walked to the cell and unlocked the cage, his tall body filling the doorway. A man who he once called dad. A man who once held him on his shoulder and laughed as they ran through the yard.

Becker remember the simpler times. Times when people didn't fear him. The good times when he was small and innocent. Not this... monster...

Becker took a deep breath. "Why are you doing this?" He asked defeatedly. "You know Arlis, the Dawns, shoot even the Golds, are going to rip you to shreds."

Konrad smiled, his teeth shining and white. Konrad always was perfect. "With you by my side? They wouldn't make it two steps." Becker hated the cocky attitude, the feeling of complete control that Konrad had.

Becker was happy, however, that he was here first of all his friends. He couldn't imagine Arlis being alone in this hell hole. Arlis was his best friend, a werewolf who had saved his ass more than Becker liked to admit. And he couldn't imagine Constance sleeping on a wet and moldy floor without fighting a fight she would lose. He felt in a way, as if he was taking their spot here. And if they did somehow get taken like he did, at least he knew he'd be here for them.

Becker shot his head up in realization. "I won't fight by your side."

He knew the man in front of him was just an image. A vision, not even the real man.

Becker didn't understand how he even broke the chains that bound him to hell. He didn't understand how he could be here, how he started coming back. But... he did have some theories that sounded too insane to even introduce to sane people. "In fact... tell me... who's the other Salem Of The Old Witch that you have?" He went with his first theory, that another Salem Of The Old Witch was out there, somewhere in the world.

Konrad widened his eyes in fear. "How do you know about that!?" He spat.

Becker smirked, but he knew it didn't look threatening. He tried everything he could to look non-threatening. "I didn't until now." While many knew Becker had some seriously powerful magic, Becker knew that his greatest strength was in fact the point that he wasn't a complete idiot.

He had had a hunch that there was another Salem Of The Old Witch. He could feel his own powers being pulled to someone, tested. Plus nobody other than a Salem Of The Old Witch could possibly break the chains that Becker placed on Konrad so he'd stay in hell.

But the problem was... was that Becker thought he was the last one.

"Well... maybe now when I say you can either take me up on my offer or I can force you to work for me through pain and—"

"What's your offer?" Becker asked, his curiosity getting the best of him. Becker thought that maybe he could work this into his favor, get closer to Konrad and spill his blood from the inside out. He'd be his own Trojan Horse.

Konrad shrugged. "I'll let Arlis and Constance stay free if you come work for me willingly." He offered.

"You're not even back yet!" Becker spat on the ground. "Why would I make that deal? You can't even capture them until you have risen?"

Konrad raised an eyebrow. "I got you here, didn't I?" He chuckled darkly, the sound so low it sounded like an earthquake. "Raise me, Becker. I'll let them stay free and we'll share power!" He made it sounds like a business proposal.

Becker snarled at him, shaking his head. "I'm already powerful. More powerful than you'll ever be!" Becker yelled. He stood up and sucked in a deep breath. "You're scared of me, admit it Konrad."

Konrad tilted his head and cleared his throat, taking a step back. "I... I most certainly am not. I don't fear mutts like you."

Becker whistled between his teeth. "Rather be a mutt than a bitch like you." Becker laughed at his own joke, mentally high-fiving himself. That was a good one.

At least... it was for a moment.

Becker was thrown against the wall, his head hitting brick and his throat was being squeezed like it was nothing, a piece of paper.

"You want to act like a child? I'll treat you like a child." Konrad walked to Becker and backhanded him, sending Becker to the floor.

Becker tried to stand up, do something. But the fact of the matter was that Becker hadn't participated in hand to hand combat in a very long time and the knowledge he did have all those years ago was faint. Plus the living couldn't attack the dead. It wasn't possible.

Konrad kicked Becker's face, and Becker hit the ground, his jaw smacking against wet concrete.

He wanted to cry, he wanted to scream but he couldn't. He tried to move, tried to breath, tried to blink but nothing was working! He couldn't move his eyes, speak, or even wiggle his nose.

"I'll let your friends stay free if you just raise me from the dead!" Konrad screamed.

All the trillions of pressure evaporated at once. And Becker sucked in a big breath, gripping his throat.

He looked at Konrad, a man who once held doors open for children and women, who once braided his mom's hair.

"Both of them would agree. No torture you have would compare to the destruction of the world." Becker whimpered out. "Go get them. Bring them here. Slaughter us like pigs. You staying in hell would be worth it."

Becker got up on two knees and looked him dead in the eyes as tears rolled down his face.

"I am Becker Reinheart. I know that I could save my friends by working for you. But quite frankly, my friends don't amount for the whole world. So you're going to have to kill me." He whispered and stood straight, closing his eyes.

Konrad pushed Becker down with his foot. "Fucking pathetic." He scoffed loudly and walked around the cell. "Becker Reinheart everybody! The great and terrible Becker! Is crying on the floor. What a little coward. I have met—" Konrad started laughing, standing over Becker. "Children who are braver than you! I'll tell you what Becker, I should let you go just because you're an actual baby. You think Arlis would be crying? Or Constance? Oh this is funny."

Becker knew that his friends wouldn't be crying. Arlis would be fighting until his very last breath even though any attack on Konrad in this form wouldn't do a single thing to him. Constance would yell out more cuss words than a sailor in a storm. But Becker wasn't them. Becker was brave in his own way.

Like... a child. He looked up to Konrad. "I'll raise you." He said.

Konrad stopped laughing, finally glad that he was getting what he wanted. "And it isn't even my birthday. I'll see to it that your friends—"

"No. My deal isn't for them." Becker said, wiping his tears and clearing his throat.

Konrad narrowed his eyes. "Is it a woman?" He looked shocked at that idea that Becker had a girlfriend.

Becker shook his head. "Release all the kids." He offered.

Konrad's smirk dropped quicker than a sandbag. "Becker you strike a hard bargain. Maybe you're not as childish as I thought."

He needed to be strong. He needed to save those kids. He popped his neck and focused on the dying body of Konrad.

Very few people have touched the dead. Powerful necromancers could do it on a good day.

He ran at Konrad and wrapped his hand around his throat, pushing him against the wall. Konrad looked like he was about ten seconds away from a heart attack.

"No, I'm not. You're forgetting that while I may cry on bathroom floors (stress is hard to deal with) I also know how to make an entire mountain move. Let the kids go and I'll raise you."

Becker felt like sleeping, he was tired again. But he was used to it by now. Yet, doing powerful things like this was hard enough without being sleep deprived. He'd sleep for a long time when he was done.

Konrad put his hand on Becker's arm. "How do I know I can trust you?"

Becker shrugged. "You want to try a different way?" Becker pushed forward, crushing Konrad's throat.

Becker thought of all the evil things Konrad had done. Killing not only his mom, but also Constance's. He murdered children. He whipped his best friend with a silver belt.

Becker pushed harder, and something snapped.

Konrad was gone.

Becker pounded the wall. "Gosh dangit!" He yelled.

"I put a Kill-Code on them. I say the word and they die the moment you don't do what I ask." Konrad's voice came from behind him.

Becker turned. A Kill-Code. A spell only Witches older than 600 years old and Salem Of The Old Witches could do. When a word is said, the word triggers that person to die.

It's not used often, and you have to have the opposing person's permission to do it and/or have created them.

Like the Hunters. They all have the same Kill-Code. It wasn't much, just the word "Completed" followed by the Hunters name. Only Becker could use that one though, considering his mom helped create the Hunters.

Salem Of The Old Witches, the Witches and their bloodlines who came together to create the Hunters. Along with this, they were the original witches, the natural ones born from the Moon.

Becker gulped, he didn't want to think about how Konrad got the kids' permission. "I'll do it. Just... let the kids go."

Konrad was scared, trembling. "Fine. Christmas Day."

Becker closed his eyes and nodded. "Deal." He held his hand out, wanting a deal to be made by bondage.

Konrad held his hand out and clasped his to Becker. "Deal."

KATE
The drive was not silent. It was very very loud.

"Okay but how." Arlis asked angrily, Beyoncé playing loudly on the radio in the background.

"They have popcorn!" I yelled and he widened an eyebrows, as if that fact didn't change his opinion at all. It should have.

"Kate, I have popcorn too. Have you forgotten that fact?" He asked, pulling into the familiar town. A town I grew up in.

The entire drive we talked about movies and music and TV shows. I learned that he loved scary movies, ones without werewolves and vampires, because they were the closest to reality. I didn't understand his logic, but I rolled with it.

I learned that he loved the show Supernatural because, and I quote, "They're closer than a lot of other shit shows and movies."

I figured out that he loved Frank Sinatra, but missed being able to see Bach live, or Elvis. He was alive for all of it so it was pretty awesome, he was 28 apparently when Bach died.

I learned that his biggest fear was death. Because he was scared he'd go to hell and never be able to see his mom again, who he was so sure was an angel.

But now, now we were arguing over if the movies were worth the money.

"But their popcorn is so much better." I retorted, shaking my head. "And you get a bigger screen and I don't know. The imax sound and stuff."

He rolled his eyes. "I can buy a TV screen that's huge and I'll set up surround sound. Home movies is better, cheaper, plus I can pause and rewind and kiss and lead it to my bedroom."

I slapped his shoulder as he laughed, cringing up and lightly pushing me. "What!? Tell me you'd object." He teased.

I frowned playfully. "I'd object!" I shouted and he smiled wildly, wiggling his eyebrows.

"I'll test that theory tonight." He whispered and acted as if he said nothing, looking forward with a nervous expression.

I, however, was not about to let him slide that easily. "Oh, you can try. You'll only prove me right."

He winked at me. "Kay, you are so adorable when you're wrong. I think it's my favorite thing." He turned a corner, passing familiar high schoolers.

I swooned as well as narrowed my eyes. He called me Kay, which wasn't something I normally let people do. It was either Kate or Kadelyn, but coming from him, it was like honey. But he also said I was wrong, which I didn't enjoy.

"You need to take that back!" I screeched as he leaned over and poked my sides. "Arlis!" I yelled and laughed, pushing myself to the window. "Stop." I laughed out, cringing up and trying to smack his arms.

He chuckled and stopped the car, pulling the keys out of the ignition. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "How do you feel?" He asked, the situation turning from goofy to scary in a fast second.

I looked up and saw the familiar small house that I knew like the back of my hand. It had been too long since I last saw it.

"Scared but great." I closed my eyes and opened the door. I was terrified. How would my parents react? How would Chance? How would they feel about Arlis?

I stepped out and walked to the front door, Arlis holding my hand the entire way. Although, I think it was more for his sake than mine.

I could tell he was nervous, his hand was sweaty and he chewed on his lip. He faced me and took a deep breath, pulling me to his side.

Before I could even knock, Chance swung the door open.

"Kate!" He yelled and pulled me into a hug. No growls from Arlis, thank god. Didn't need that right now. I wrapped my arms around him as he kissed my head. "Oh we're worried sick. Where have you been! You said two weeks!" He looked over me as if he just noticed Arlis in the doorway. "You." He growled out, very humanishly.

He started to rush towards him but I put my hands his chest. "Wait wait wait! No!" I pushed him back. "I... well... we're ummm..." Great. The last thing I needed right now was my brother and Arlis in a fist fight.

Chance glared at me and then at Arlis. "Is this some kind of Stockholm's Syndrome!? I'll kick your ass if it is!"

Arlis held his hands up in universal surrender. "No. I wasn't holding her hostage. We just... I got to know her and she got to know me." He said and gave me a loving look.

Chance narrowed his eyes and looked back to me. "Are you okay? How's your bite? How's your back actually? Is he kidnapping you?"

I collected myself in a deep inhale. "I'm fine, my bite is fine, my back is fine, and no he's not kidnapping me. And even if he was it'd be role playing so." I shrugged innocently and watched both of the boys make a disgusted face.

Chance took a sickening step back. "Agh too much information, but thank god you're okay." He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. "Mom and dad should be back any minute. In the meantime I think it's time me and... what's your name?" He tilted his head.

Arlis widened his eyes, and it loooed like he forgot his name for a solid minute. "It's umm. Uh ah. Arlis." He stumbled out and stuck his hand out. "Arlis Barron."

My brother cleared his throat and shook his hand. "I'm Chance, Chance Summers. How old are you?"

"295." Arlis replied seriously and then caught himself. "Twenty five." He chuckled and gulped.

Chance was not impressed. "We can sit in the living room." Chance wrapped his arm around me and sat us down in the living room, him sitting between us.

"You don't look twenty five. Maybe twenty seven. My sister is nineteen, and if I find out that you have hurt her in any way. I will physically fight you and you will not win." He smiled at him. "I'm twenty five, you are not. And quite frankly, I don't take too kindly to perverts."

Arlis looked at war with himself. I knew he had some smart ass reply, and it was tense enough for him to say it. Instead he smiled and shook his head. "I get that a lot. Not something a guy wants to hear though right? "You look older." It was great when I was 17, great for trying to sneak into bars but... not so much now."

Chance seemed to agree, but he was holding it back. "Okay okay. So when's your birthday?" He asked, questioning him like I figured he would. Chance was always overprotective when it came to guys. Beer? He'd buy me it. Drugs? Not that I did them but I'm sure he'd help me. Cheating on a test? A little harder, but I could get him to do it. But guys? No no no, he hated all of them who even looked at me.

"February 1st 1992." He answered automatically.

"What kind of house do you live in?" Chance asked.

"Chance!" I scolded, but they were too busy in a stare off to care and/or notice me.

"A giant cabin with glass walls, you want a picture?" Arlis asked, his gaze not leaving my brother. He took out his phone and without looking at it, pulled up a picture of the cabin. He handed it to Chance, who shrugged.

"Looks like somewhere a cereal killer would live." Chance scoffed.

Arlis smirked. "'Obviously your sister is into that."

Before I could yell at both of them, the door sprung open and my mom appeared with a bag of groceries covering her face. As she took of her flip flops, she asked, "Chance, who's car is that out front?"

"My boyfriends." I replied and mom dropped the paper bag, fruits spilling out of it.

"Ka— Kate?" She looked at me like a was a ghost, a fake version of her daughter.

I waved and stood up from the couch. "Hi momma."

She ran to me and wrapped me in a warm hug, laughing.

"Oh you're okay, my baby is okay." She put her hands on my cheek and smiled. "Where have you been?"

Chance stood up and clapped his hands. "Staying with her asshole boyfriend, that's where."

"Boyfr— oh hi." She noticed Arlis and straightened her shirt. "It's you."

He smiled and stood up. "Yeah it's umm... me." He scratches the back of his neck. "I'm Arlis, Arlis Barron." He stuck out his hand but surprising both Arlis and Chance, she hugged him too.

"Thank you for taking care of my baby." She squeezed him and he gave her a big hug bag, winking at Chance, who was more confused than a camel in Antarctica. He seemed mad that my mom didn't automatically hate Arlis.

He blinked and shook his head. "Taking care of her? He kidnapped her!"

Mom spun and glared at Chance. "She could have died and obviously they took a liking to each other which doesn't surprise me. He's a handsome young man and she's a strapping young lady. She just needed some time away from here. She probably knew the press was looking for her!"

I nodded and held up a finger. "Exactly. See, mom knows what's up, Chance."

"Babe it looks brand new! I mean the— who are you." Dad walked in and eyed Arlis. "Am I being left for a younger model?" He looked between my mom and Arlis.

"Dad." I waved my hand up.

He saw me and widened his eyes, running to me and holding me to his chest. "You're alive! And back! And who is he?" He whispered in my ear.

"Dad meet Arlis, my boyfriend." I introduced them and they shook hands, a look of anticipation on my dad's face.

"Is that your Pontiac out front?" My dad asked.

Arlis nodded. "Yes sir. 1967."

My dad pounded his shoulder. "You can keep him, sweetheart. Are you back to stay, Kate?" My dad asked hopefully.

"Of course she is—" Chance started to say.

"Actually... I'm staying at Arlis's. Mom his house is beautiful and his family is amazing." I gushed and Chance rolled his eyes. "He has a huge kitchen, not that he makes me cook, and he's respectful."

Chance wasn't buying any of this, at all. I could tell in his eyes, he knew something was wrong. "Too damn perfect." He muttered.

"Really?" Mom asked, standing close to me. "Well I'd love to see it some time. Honey are you sure you want to stay there? We kind of miss having you around."

I straightened out my shirt. "I'm an adult." I said, nodding.

"Hardly." Chance said offhandedly.

"Is it okay with Arlis? Surely he wasn't ready for a new—"

"I have a guest room, but lately we've kind of moved to my bedroom." He smirked. "Not in that way! We haven't Umm... uh..." he closed his eyes.

Chance looked like he was going to punch Aris in the face.

My parents laughed. "You're both adults, I had sex with my husband the night I met him." My mom giggled into her hand.

All three of us widened our eyes and I plugged my ears. I did not want to hear that.

"Actually, I was wanting to know if you wanted to come over for Christmas, I don't know if it's too late to cancel whatever plans you had considering Christmas is 4 days away." Arlis asked. "You two and Chance could come. Spend the night if you like, the guest room has two bunk beds, a queen bottom."

Mom turned around and winked at me. "Nice." She mouthed. She turned back to Arlis. "Well thank you very much. I'll have to take you up on that offer. We actually... were going to just skip Christmas this year. I know the Hedgewood family still is. Was Vix with you at that hospital, honey?" Mom turned to me hopefully.

I shook my head. "They still haven't found her?" I asked, treading the subject lightly.

Mom shook her head. "No. Her nor the other boy. Police have... just sort of stopped looking." She pulled me into a hug again. "I'm so glad you're okay."

I squeezed her and remember how much I really did miss this. "I missed you too mom."

Dad wrapped his arms around me. "I'm glad you're okay, pumpkin."

"Me too." I cried.

My mom pulled away and wiped my tears. "Awe honey, what's wrong?" She asked, smoothing my hair down.

"I just didn't realize how much I missed you guys until now." I said and they both chuckled.

"We miss you too." Dad said, running a hand through my hair. "And I'm glad you found someone through all that trouble but... don't you think you're moving kind of fast?"

I shrugged and looked at Arlis. "Sometimes, you just know it's right."

Dad sighed and put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm so glad you're okay. Thank you, Arlis, for helping her."

Arlis grabbed my hand and held it lightly. "Anything for her."

Chance fake gagged, getting up to leave.

"Chance!" Mom scolded but he ignored her, storming up the stairs like a child.

Mom chased after him, obviously not putting up with his disrespect. Mom could be terrifying when she wanted to be.

"I apologize for my son, Arlis. His girlfriend just dumped him... after he helped her buy an apartment." Dad looked down at the floor as my heart broke for Chance.

They been together for a long time.

"Layla dumped him? That BITCH! I'll go break her arm right now I swear it! How dare she hurt my brother like that." I shook my head in anger and both Arlis and my father laughed.

"You might have played basketball, Kate, but you can't break her arm. You're not strong enough." Dad chuckled. "Besides, she's in Washington right now and unless you have money to fly there I'm afraid it'll be a long walk."

I huffed out. I get it, sibling love. Hating him one moment and threatening to beat someone up for him the next.

"Why did she dump him!?" I exclaimed.

Dad rolled his eyes. "Who knows. Apparently he's too clingy." He looked to Arlis as if a realization just struck him. "Would you like to stay for dinner?" He asked.

Something pushed in my head, like my brain was trying to commute something it didn't understand.

Arlis panicked for a second, a fleeting moment that worried me.

"I mean you don't have too, I understand you probably want to go home." My father noticed the worried look and Arlis suddenly looked like he was caught between two rocks.

"I'm sorry, can I have some fresh air real fast?" Arlis snatched my hand and moved us to the front door, walking out it.

I grabbed his shoulder, stopping him when we got to the end of the porch. "Hey, are you okay?"

He looked around. "We can't stay for dinner." He said suddenly, looking around the yard as if something was going to jump out and attack us.

I looked back to the house carefully. "Why not?"

He began breathing way too heavily. "Someone is attacking the pack."

I jumped in my skin. "Becker?"

He shook his head, thankfully dismissing the idea. "No. I would feel his power when he crossed the line." He bit his lip. "I don't know who it is. And that terrifies me because I know each pack's smell."

I froze. "How do you know they're there?"

He closed his eyes. "Well... that's a subject of pain I don't want to talk about." He places his hands on my shoulders. "You should stay here."

I could take the safe way out. The smart way out. I could very easily make this easier on every person including myself. "Arlis, I'm going with you. That's my pack too."

He gave me a knowing look and took a step too close to me. "You might see a part of me you don't want to see." He looked me deep in my eyes, memorizing every detail of my face. "Know that that is only because I'm protecting you and—"

"I won't flip out. I won't cry." I promised.

"You're here to stay, with me?" He searched my eyes for a second of hesitation, but there was none.

"Of course." I meant it. I wasn't leaving him. I probably never would. "But what does—"

"Forever?" He made sure.

I didn't understand where he was headed with this conversation. "For forever."

He put his hands on my cheeks and brought me in to a close kiss. Our lips moved in sync and I felt myself wind together with him. Galaxies and worlds couldn't separate us. Stars and planets would one day write our names.

He walked inside the house suddenly, breaking the kiss that I oh so very much wanted to drown in.

Chance was sitting on the couch very brutally, I didn't even know you could sit with that amount of madness.

"Chance, it means a lot to me that one day you come to like me, because I hope to stay with Kadelyn for forever." He started off, and it wasn't something I was used too, seeing him in a vulnerable state like this. I didn't know where he was going with this though, and that kind of scared me. "Do you want to come stay with us? Just for a day or two, and you can see just what kind of a person I am? I can't stay for dinner, quite frankly I got an emergency text from my sister."

Chance was wary, completely taken off guard by Arlis's request. In all actuality, I myself was taken by surprise.

"Umm... I don't know—"

"C'mon Chance, take a chance." I winked at him.

He gave me a dirty look that could only be described as sibling love. "Fine, but—"

"Great! Let's go!" Arlis started to leave and Chance cleared his throat.

"I have to go get clothes?" He said obviously, already starting to go upstairs.

Arlis looked like the vein in his neck was going to pop. Or... fur was going to grow from his back as canines ripped through his teeth. One or the other. Who knows.

Mom gave me one more, quick, hug. "I hate that you're leaving so soon. I will see you Christmas, right?"

I nodded.

"Yeah, definitely. We'll send you my address." Arlis pulled out his phone and exchanged numbers with my dad.

"Oh! Honey! I almost forgot." Mom rushed to the kitchen and unplugged a black Iphone 6s. "This is yours. Police found it at the attack scene."

I, for once in my life, did not want my phone. I had completely forgot about the significance it once held in my life.

I grabbed it and pocketed it, thanking her with a kiss on her cheek.

Chance came downstairs with a duffel bag. The one he used in football last year. It was good to see him have it again.

"I'll see you guys on Christmas." I gave them another hug and followed Arlis out the door.

Once we were in the safety of the car and Chance was putting his suitcase in the trunk, I looked over at Arlis and slapped his leg.

"What was that for!?" He asked incredulously.

"My brother? Seriously. What about the attack?" I asked, worried for his safety much more than I was worried about mine.

Arlis didn't seem to realize how dire the situation was. Everything in this world was crashing and the last thing I needed was my brother caught in the middle. I'd never forgive myself if he got hurt. Or worse.

He gave me a small smile. "Relax. Everything is okay."

I didn't relax. How could I?

Life was failing to be normal for me and I hated it. But at the same time, the world that offered so much pain, also offered so much happiness.