A/N: Hello Readers. I don't usually have my chapters on hold for more then one week but I've been so busy lately. Real sorry for that. I finally got chapter 16 and am now working on 17. I shall have 17 out earlier then what I did with this chapter. Thank you all for reading and voting. Enjoy!

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

          Darkness was all I was seeing. Nothing had come into focus. The last thing I remembered was hearing the plea of the Wizard but I couldn't bare to see what I was doing. What the sorceress was doing. Even when I knew it was torture I was doing to them, I didn't want to stop it, I wanted it  just as much as the sorceress that had taken over. And now I was consumed into darkness. I sat in the corner of my mind, trying to figure out what was going on? Was I dead or had something happened to where I lay in complete loniliness. The voice had gone silent but so did everything else around me. I tried to contact with the voice but no luck. How long was I going to be here?

         One moment flashed through my thoughts, Connor being tortured the way he was. I just remembered his screams and the way he was disfigured from the way the wizard was bending him. I felt a tear fall because I didn't know if he was alive or not. The sudden darkness made snuck up on me and then nothing. Did Connor or Brody make it out alive? Did Penelope live through what I put her through? I knew one thing, the two vampires and the wizard were dead. I killed them. Without touching them, I killed them and I didn't know how. She had taken control of me but deep inside, I wanted what she was doing to them. The feeling of their pain. Their screams. It gave me some kind of thrill and to watch it was entertainment.

          What was I saying? I didn't want to feel this way.

                   [Are you sure?] the voice spoke up. Oh great, it speaks on the wrong time but I was glad to hear it.

                   "What happened?" I asked it.

                    [Did you not see?] the way it asked was as if toying with me.

                    "I coudn't bare it. What you did was uncalled for."

                    [Don't you mean what we did. After all, you enjoyed it just as much as I did]

                    "I . . . " I couldn't finish my sentence because she was right. I did but I sighed, "Where am I?" She went silent for a moment and then spoke, [Where are you? Shouldn't you ask how to be free of where your at?] She doesn't laugh much but how she said it made me picture her laughing.

                    "Is that possible? Am I dead or just sleeping?" I asked her.

                    [What do you think?] She was pissing me off. I wish she would answer my question instead of toy with me. Then a thought processed through, we were one. If she could control me because I let her, wouldn't I be able to figure a way out without her help?

                    [Bingo] the voice said and I wish I could find her and choke her but unfortunatley, she was me and I was her. I'll just choke myself out and see if she could feel it.

                    [That's something I would want to see] Now she was mocking me. I ignored her and instead, figured a way to leave this darkened place. What I was afraid of was what I would be going back to. Thoughts of Connor and Brody's dead bodies made me cringe. Please don't let that be.

          So how would I do this? Should I just ask it to myself and I would be there. I said I wanted to be home and I waited, but still nothing but the dark. I sighed alright Eryn, what to do. I can't just click my heals together and say theres no place like home. What did Brody say about sorceress? If they think it, it would happen. Wouldn't hurt to give it a shot. Alright, what to think about. A small smile spread across my face when I thought of Brody. His overprotetive personality and his fatherly love for me. Then the thought of Gina crossed my mind. Her crazy attitude yet fun loving ways. Arty appeared, Big Red and then the thoughts of the Pack. Just them being around made me smile a bit. And then my smile widen at the thought of Connor. His goofy personality. His amazing eyes and those dimples when he smiled. His smile, the devils smile that he only gave me. His lips that were so soft against mine when we were on the cliff. His hands that gently stroked the softness of my skin. That's what I wanted to see was his smile and the way he showed his love for me. His love for me, was that what I was feeling . . . Love!

          My eyes started to slowly open as the bright light beamed through my eye lids. The light was bright and I knew it all too well, the ceiling wall of the hospital. Me and waking up in hospital rooms was starting to grow on me. I slowly opened my eyes fully and took in the room, it looked like the room I was in before. I turned to the left of me and stared out at the night sky and the moon that shown bright in it. The moon made me think of the cliff with Connor. I then looked over to where a small sofa sat, a blanket was set out on it. Turning my head to the right, I was surprised to see Connor with his head laid down next to my hand, was he sleeping? I smiled at the view of him, actually happy to see he was here, alive. Please don't let this be a dream. To make sure it wasn't., I lifted my hand and let my thin fingers comb through his brown hair. The softness of it made me smile bigger and he lifted his head as I quickly removed it and was taken back at his tears falling down his face, why was he crying?

          He looked at me as if he saw a ghost and his eyes widen as my name exited his lips, "Eryn . . ." it was more of a whisper. He sat up straighter, making sure he could really see me as he said my name again this time in a questionable voice, "Eryn?" I smiled at him, a little creeped out because he was acting strange. He surprised me as he quickly got up, throwing his arms around me,

                 "Don't you ever do that again!" he said and I could hear the small sniffles from him. I was confused now, what was he talking about? Then I seen flowers that had wilted and then the balloons, they were birthday balloons. One of them read Happy 21st Birthday. Connor still held me as I asked,

                   "Connor . . . What's with the balloons?" He gently pulled away, wiping his eyes and he turned around to look at the balloons then back at me, "There your balloons." his voice went soft. And I noticed the beard on his face, it looked really good on him but I scrunched my  brows together in confusion, "Mine? My birthday isn't until next week." I said, now noticing the small presents stacked in the corner. It was still the same night at the Mill, wasn't it. Connor looked at me with distraught. What was going on?

                    "I don't know if you remember anything from the Mill." he said and I raised any eyebrow,

                   "I rememeber bits of it. I remember everything after the wizard but . . . Wait, why? Where's Brody?" I said, now looking around. He would be here if I was in the hospital. Oh goodness . . . My thoughts wondered on to negative thoughts. Connor set his hands on my shoulders,

                   "Calm down . . . Brody should be in a few hours. He's okay. Everyone is okay." he assured me and I did calm down but he gave me a look of worry, "What?" I asked.

                   "You've been in a coma . . . For more a little over a month. Your birthday passed weeks ago." he said and I chuckled, "Funny . . . " But he didn't laugh. He was serious. My eyes widen, "A COMA! How is that?" was that why I was in the darkness. I didn't think it was that long. A month of my life was gone? What the hell had happened? He looked away as if to hide something and I pulled at his arm, "What happened?" I asked. He didn't look at me but he did answer,

                  "You didn't want to stop. You wanted to torture them all . . . But I know that wasn't you. You didn't want that, she did." he said, now looking at me as if to confirm I believed that. I masked the best look of consideration on face but behind it, I did want that. He continued,

                   "Since she wasn't going to stop, I had to stop her. Brody pleaded for her to stop but she didn't listen. The only thing I could do was hit you to where you went unconcious. I didn't think it would put you in a coma for so long." He looked away again but I had caught the tears falling. He must have been hurt by the whole situation. I wasn't mad, I was sad for him. I set my hand over his and he looked at me, "I'm sorry . . . If I could, I would have just not gone on the date and . . ."

                 "Well I don't regret it." I said, feeling my face go red. He gave me a small smile and reached his hand out towards me, "If you would have never woken, I don't know what I would have done." I let him stroke my cheek and he removed a piece of hair out of my face, and setting it behind my ear. This was his gentle side that I loved to see. He quickly straightened, looking at the closed door but in seconds, it opened and Brody stood in it, his eyes staring at me. He gave me the same look Connor gave me when I woke up. I smiled at him and he ran over, throwing his hand around me, not caring that Connor was next to me.

                "Baby Girl! Oh, thank God your awake." he said, tightening the hug. I let my hand round about him and he quickly pulled me away, "Are you okay . . . Your not hurt. are you?"I shook my head and he hugged me again. Connor walked a bit away from us, giving us room. Brody pulled me away and he smiled, "I'm so glad your okay." I just smiled back, "Thanks uncle. I am too. I didn't know I was so long." When I said that, Brody turned his head to Connor and glared at him, "I wish you wouldn't have." the words were more to Connor then to me. Connor turned away, ignoring his glare.

       Brody called in a doctor and when the doctor came in, he looked all too familiar. He had blond hair, a sun tan to him and he looked older then Brody. He gave me a smile as he said, "Your finally awake. I see wolfie never left." I was taken back, how the hell did he know about Connor. Brody looked at the doctor, "Thank's Vince, for everything. Is there anything I can do to repay you back?"

                "Nah . . . I think her being okay is good enough. I wouldn't want Xander to haunt me." he chuckled. Xander? That was my father's name and if that's who he was talking about then who was this guy and why was Brody treating him like family?

                "Uh, Brody, what's going on?" I asked, staring at Vince. Brody gave me a confused look and then looked at Vince, recognizing I didn't know who he was, "Oh this is Vince. He's a healing wizard. He's the one who healed me through the bruises, hence the reason my face looks reconstucted." I did notice that Brody looked like he hadn't been beat up but that was weeks ago. So the doctor was a wizard. Oh duh, he must be the wizard that delivers the blood to Brody but I swear I seen him before. Vince seemed to know what I was thinking or my expression was giving it away.

                 "You were just 5 when I first met you. The day of your . . ." He looked at Brody and Brody gave him a confirmed look as Vince continued, " . . . The day your parents were delcared dead." I scrunched my eyes together and like a light bulb going off, I remembered him. He was the doctor who delivered the bad news to Brody. So he knew about their deaths before we did.

                 "Your the doctor from when my parents were . . . Dead." that last part I had to force. I was too young but I still remembered their faces. He nodded and I try to think of something else. I looked over to Connor, who had his head down and his eyes closed, I knew he was communicating with his pack memberes. I now wondered what his pack was doing and since he was here with me the whole time of my coma, I wondered how the pack was taking things. Thats what brought my thoughts to Penelope, "What happened to Penelope?" I asked and both Brody and Connor looked at me. Brody then looked at Connor, who had an angry look on his face.

                "She's dead." Connor answered. Brody huffed and I looked at him as he had a weak smile towards Connor. Connor glared at Brody and I already knew  an argument was about to start. Connor was the one to say something,

               "What was that for?" he asked already I could feel the heat between them. They hated eachother from the start and it seemed it got worse between the two while I was asleep. Brody gave the glare back, "If it wasn't for your genius plan to go on that . . . Date. She would of been okay. And what made it worse is you hitting her, which I said I'd make you pay for doing that." Brody said, now walking towards him, fist clenched, Connor didn't move or looked intimidate. Vince stopped Brody mid-stride, "Not a good idea Brody. This isn't the time for that. She just woke up, I don't think she wants to see her Mate and you fight it out."

                 "He's right uncle. This isn't the time. Right now, I've gotta find a way to control this sorceress in me." that was my main priority. Brody looked at me and sighed, "Alright but this isn't finished." he said to Connor. Connor walked to the other side of where I lay and glared at Brody. "I'm sure it isn't" and he set his hand on my hand as Brody looked at our hands together. I quickly moved it away, "Why don't we just figure things out." Connor looked down at me, winking. He was doing that on purpose just to get to my uncle. I wasn't like being used like that. Brody still had his fists clenched and Vince walked over to me, checking my vital signs again, "You feeling good?" he asked me as he set his hand on my forhead.

                 "Yeah . . . Just a bit surprised at alot of things at the moment. I've been asleep for more then a month and I missed my birthday, my 21st." I mentioned and he laughed, "You never remembere your 21st anyways so I guess that's a good thing." he said and I laughed.

                "How about you try standing up and walking. You've been in this bed a while." he said as I nodded, throwing my legs off the bed as Brody helped me out. I already felt the wobbling at the knees. Vince walked back to the door and told me to walk to him. I took one step and almost fell but Brody caught me as I leaned on him for support. Now I knew how babies felt when they try to take their first step. Brody helped me stand and I could still feel my knees a bit wobbling but I did walk towards him as my leg was about to give in, I pushed myself. All I had to do was stretch it out. I made it to the doctor and he smiled, "Alright, you've got feeling in your leg. How about you work on getting the right walk and you should be 100% good." 

                   "Sounds good. But I've got a question, what do you know about my mother and her family?' He gave me a quizzical look, "Well, not much really. Your mother was adopted, I knew her adoptive family for a while but they moved out of New York years before your mother met your father. Your mother and them didn't see eye to eye so once your mother took off to college, she hadn't seen them after." I've never met anyone from my mothers side but I was young and I knew my fathers side. I've met my fathers parents before they passed but Brody was his only brother so my family was small. As for my mother, she was adopted so all I had to do was find them and they could probably point me in the right direction of my mothers real family. 

                  "Do you know their last names?" I asked Vince. He was in thought for a minute and then nodded, "I do actually. Dana and John Swope. But as for where they took off too, not too sure." Swope, alright, that's all I needed really. Shouldn't be too hard to find a Swope family in New York or who use to be in New York. Brody thanked Vince but asked if he could get the release paper for me. I was old enough to do it myself but because Brody thought other wise, I let him do it. Vince left the room and after a few mintues, Drayden walked in. He looked at me with a big smile, "Welcome back to earth beer girl." I laughed, thanking him. He walked over to Connor, "Maybe we should head back to Pennsalvania. Somethings been going on down there." he said. Connor looked at me, "I can't do that right now. I've gotta help Eryn in finding a sorceress." 

                    "I think Eryn and I can handle it on our own. You've caused enough trouble." Brody said. Connor glared at him.

                    "Come on guys, now is not the time." I said, hoping to stop it before it escalated. Unfortunatley, it didn't work.

                   "Leaving her in a the care of a vampire makes it safe? Vampires where the ones trying to kill her." Connor reminded Brody. 

                    "Your the reason Penelope was after her, if you would of just killed your ex off long ago, we wouldn't be in this situation." Brody bit back and Connor balled his fist, "I only let you talk like that to me because of Eryn but I won't have it any longer . . ." he said, walking up to Brody, ready to attack. Drayden quickly stepped in front of Connor, "Whoa man . . . Not the time."

                      "Step out of the way." Connor said to Drayden with a threatening tone. Drayden didn't want to but if he disobeyed the Alpha, I didn't want to know what would happen. Drayden stepped aside and Connor tried to take a step forward but I was walking towards my uncle, standing in front of him, "Not in here . . . Not right now." I said, my hands spread out to the side.

                      "Get out of the Eryn, if he thinks he can take me, let him try." Brody said and i turned around to him with a glare, "This isn't about you or him, Every situation we've been through you both make it about you and him. If you want to kill eachother, by all means, do it some other time. Right now, I just awoke from a coma and you two fighting isn't making the situation better. . . " I turned my attention back at Connor,

                      "And quit acting like you can take the whole world. We need a way to find out what's going with me. But if your pack needs you, go. My uncle and I can take it from here, you forgot, we know people too." Connor seemed to calm as I looked at Drayden, who gave me a look of thankfullness. I smiled at him and Connor grunted, "Fine, it's only going to be for a week until we can settle this. I'll be back by then." He said and I nodded. Brody was satisfied but when he heard Connor say only a week , the satisfaction dropped. My worry now was to go home. I hated the hospital and I had to find out about this Swope family. What they knew of my mother and her real family. 

         It took hours for Vince to give me more information on the family but more hours for Brody to get us out of the hospital. Brody didn't want Connor in the house but he had no choice. I rode with Drayden in his mustang while Connor drove his ducati. Brody ran home. The lights of the house was in the distance, maybe a good 45 minutes for us to drive and Drayden was silent. I've only really talked to Drayden once and his hi and bye beer girl remarks. He told Connor that his pack in Pennsalvania were having trouble and my curious wheel were spinning.

                     "So what's going on back at the pack?" I asked, breaking the silence. Drayden looked at me with his light brown eyes. He looked a bit tired, from what, I didn't know.

                       "Just pack issues really." that was his answer. With Caine, if I asked, he spilt the beans but this must be something different. 

                       "Like . . . " I asked persistantly. He didnt take his eyes off the road when he answered, "Stuff." he replied. Alright, he was playing hard to crack. 

                          "You seem exhausted." I tried another route. Talking to him about him. He still kept his eyes on the road, "I've been patrolling. We were all worried sick about you when you were in the coma." I felt bad now as I sighed, "Oh . . . I'm sorry about that." 

                           "It's not your fault. Who knew you'd be in  one. The one who really suffered was Connor. He constantly blamed his self for what happened. He didn't leave that room once he found out about the coma. He still blames his self." he finished, now staring at me. Was that the reason he didn't  like how Brody reacted to the whole situation? I sighed and dropped the subject but then Drayden spoke, "The problem in Pennsalvania is Rogues. They've been spotted near our college, where we reside but they haven't done anything. Usually Rogues attack but the ones showing up . . . There spying." he said and i scrunched my brows together, 

                           "Spying? Is that like patrolling?" I asked. He shook his head, "No, checking on the competition. I've never met rogues who work together but what the pack is saying is that there's always three at a time, spying." Alright, that didn't seem bad. If they were just spying, that was it. They were rogues but don't rogues attack.

                               "Why aren't they attacking. Arent they vicious?" I asked and he gave me a quizzical look, "Yeah, thats what I don't know. Now Connor, me and Kenny are heading out. We're going to keep Caine and Greg here with you all. Let them patrol around the house." 

                              "Why? Penelope's dead." I said.

                             "I know but that's the orders from Connor. He feels better if he has eyes on you." I rolled my eyes hoping he didn't see it, he didn't. Great, Mr. Alpha has trust issues. I couldn't really blame him though, he had his rights. But What was going on in his territory? Drayden drove the rest of the miles to the house, parking in front of it. The lights were on as I looked at my car, still beautiful the way I left it. I opened the door of the mustang, stepping out. Connor parked next to the mustang as Brody appeared minutes later. We all walked towards the house but as we took a step on the stairs leading to the house, Gina burst through the porch door, her eyes wide and now filled with tears,

                               "OH THANK GOD!" She said, pushin through Brody and throwing her arms around me, kissing my cheeks, "Girl, I was so worried." she said, letting her tears flow. I smiled, "Nice to see you too Gina." I gave her a hug back. She didn't let me go so Brody had to pull her off, "Alright Gina, she gets it." Gina glared at Brody and then smiled back at me, "Don't you dare do that again." she ordered. I said I'll try not to. We all walked into the house and Caine, Greg and Kenny were sprawled on the couch until they seen me. Caine was the first the hug me, "I'm glad your awake." he said and I hugged him back, "I'm glad to be back on earth." He laughed. I gave the other two a hug and they said the same thing. The love I was feeling was something I was liking. It use to be me and Brody but these guys made me feel as if I had brothers. Gina was like another mother to me. 

        It was only a few days over a month since I've been in a coma and everyone was treating me as if I was in coma for two years. I was happy for the love I was recieveing but too much was a bit irritating. Gina had gone home, the time was dimming to almost midnight. Connor, Caine and Drayden were in the living room with me while Kenny and Greg patrolled. Brody was in the kitchen grabbing a catheter to drink.  Connor was next to me and Caine was on the other side of me. Drayden sat across on the recliner chair as he looked at nothing in particular. 

                             "How was being in a coma?" Caine had asked, surprising me. Connor glared at him, "What kind of question is that?" He asked. 

                                "It's fine. It was just dark. Like a trap in my mind." I said, as Connor gave Caine a serious look. Caine just looked away in emberrasment. All of a sudden, Connor perked up, his eyes closing. Caine and Drayden watched, impatient. Minutes later, Connor opened his eyes, "Rouges again. We better get to Pennsalvania. Caine, I'll keep in contact with you while you stay. Let Greg know the same thing." he said and wen silent then spoke, "I've let Kenny know to hurry back, we'll be leaving." Drayden and Connor stood as Caine and I followed. Brody entered the living quarters,

                               "Safe travels to you Drayden." he said and Drayden thanked him. He left the living room, ignoring Connor. Connor didn't care as he turned to me, "I'll be back . . ." he said and I raised an eyebrow, "Right. Be safe." I said, trying to play it cool. He gave me a weary smile, "Right." He turned to Drayden, "Alright, lets get going. Kenny should be here." Drayden nodded and they started for the door. Connor turned back around to stare at me for a moment, I smiled a bit. I was really happy to see him and my feelings were growing but at this moment, I had other matters to think about. At this moment, I didn't know where he stood in my life. He could see the worry on my face and he understood, we had our own problems at the moment. If we were to put our feelings in front of our problems, that would bring nothing but pain to everyone else. We understood eachother. He turned away from me and left out the door. It was just a week, during that time, I was going to to crack down on finding the Swope family.