"Aaron, I didn't have a choice...He was going to kill me if I stayed there...You know how touch Karl and Lee can be anyway."

Aaron shut his eyes and rubbed his temples, moaning slightly.

"So, they stuck you in a crate and shipped you to us? What do we do if he comes here?"

"Stand prepared and ready to fight if need be. We can't let him see us as anything less than what we wish to be. Give him any room at all, and the noose will be around your neck."

Jay came back in, letting himself fall into a chair. Ben shook his head slowly, glancing at Jay.

"You seem rather indifferent tonight. What are your thoughts?"

"He lives his way, and I let him be. He goes his way, I go mine, and there is no hate between us. It will be you he's after if he comes, no doubt there."

Ben sighed and walked to the window.

"He's taken everything, yet no one can touch him without Daniel suffering. How do you beat a man you can't fight?"

**

Daniel draped Darren over his shoulders, pulling him to his feet and helping him walk to the taxi waiting outside. Within three minutes, they were back on their way towards another three days of freedom.

"Just think Dazza...There's bound to be someone who can help us, and you're already doing better."

"No Dan, not better. You can't hear what they're doing to each other right now. She's using me to piss him off, and you can almost guarantee that he's not just going to be after you..."

"What do you mean? They can't possibly be...can they?"

Darren turned his gaze out the window, glaring at his own reflection. He looked broken, eyes sunken and red, his hair tussled, and his skin whiter than usual.

"How dead can a dead person possibly look?"

He felt as Daniel sighed softly, resting his chin on Darren's shoulder.

"Why do you worry so much? The only thing that matters is that you aren't dead dead, ya know?"

"Dead dead? What the hell is that Dan?"

Darren turned back to face Daniel.

"Well, you already are kinda dead, so I was just trying to phrase it the right way...Still didn't work right..."

He smiled up at Darren as they neared the airport. Helping him up again, they went inside and quickly boarded their plane for Berlin.

**

Karl attacked the man silently, letting the blood flow down his throat. Lee groaned and walked on, leaving him to his late night feast. Surely Ben would be in LA by now, and with hope, the others would be traveling again as well. He felt almost defeated not being able to do anymore than what he had already done, the little bit that it had been. He pointed himself towards home, letting his mind wander over the problem.

"Someone hurts Dag, Dan feels it...Someone hurts Dan, Dag feels it...When they self inflict, the other can feel...But Dan shoots him and feels nothing...What the hell?"

Karl lightly landed beside him as he stopped.

"What's wrong Lee?"

"It just doesn't add up...none of it..."

**

Green eyes searched the narrow streets, flashing emeralds in a moonless night. Footsteps echoed as a figure gave chase, both dashing at blaring speeds, only the wind whispering to them. From a distant town centre, the church bells rang out in joyous strain, singing a cheerful hymn to the hunters. The first smiled as he reached the Gate, thoughtlessly leaping up and climbing the great stone structure. He ran a steady tongue over his fangs as he watched the other approach from the darkness. He never slowed, easily jumping to the top, landing with teeth and claws bared.

"Curse your kind Frost! The Council shall see you finished. Only the pure shall live!"

His eyes flashed red as he launched at Frost, making his first attack. He fell in pain, blood running down his chest, Frost holding a dagger in his hand.

"I am LaMagre...No one duels me and survives."

"I am Draske Feaylon, hunter of the Council of Affirmations, and this is the end of the half-blood reign!"

Draske pulled a jagged blade from his belt, charging as sparks flew from the contact, Frost catching steel with his own. The deadly dance consumed them both as they fought, spinning and blocking each other feverishly. In what seemed one fluid motion, Frost spun around, grabbing the wrist that held Feaylon's weapon, pulling him around and crossing both blades at his throat. Time suddenly stood still for both, Frost breathing into Draske's ear.

"So it ends for you, foolish one. Bid Memnoch a fond welcome for me, won't you?"

Draske let out a sigh as he pulled forward, letting the blades edge deep into his flesh before falling to the ridged stone below. Frost closed his eyes, lifting his face to the sky as he had done so many times before.

"Forgive my actions Father, for I am proud of what I am, even if your family name is not my own. You made me who I am, and no number of de'Lioncourt's men shall break my hopes that you will except me as I am, La Magre, the keeper of Nations. Hear my cry to heaven, for though I was born Jason Deacon Frost, I will always be Jason D. Jones."

A smile spread on his features as he finally felt peace within himself.

**

Dag pulled against the cuffs, growling slightly.

"You are a criminal, and I will treat you as such. You must be punished. You're struggling kindles my wrath..."

He moved slightly beneath her, feeling the pressure build.

"Do what you will, you will never break me!"

Mell swung off of him, letting him glare as she walked across the room, returning with her hands behind her back. Regaining her stance, she almost violently shoved her hands into his pants, running an ice cube over his quickly shrinking member. His eyes go dark as she leaves the cube sitting on his balls, again dismounting to retrieve something from elsewhere in the room. She grinned as she quickly tied a blindfold over his eyes, and latched a collar around his neck.

"You are a bad dog."

"I can be worse..."

He moved his hand to touch her, only succeeding in having it securely cuffed to the bed with the other. She sat over his hips, removing her shirt and bra before beginning to trace his nipples with her nails.

"Why don't you tell me what you want?"

"I want you to bite them...Savage me..."

She ran her nails over the cloth covering his awakening cock.

"Savaged...You want to be savaged?"

"Let me feel your pain...I am at your will."

"I will make you wish that you had jumped off that roof yourself..."

She dug her nails into his thigh, watching him grit his teeth as she reached for his boot, pulling out the dagger he kept there.

"Oh Dag, I hurt so much..."

She pulled the dagger down his chest, circling his nipples, leaving them red and tender. He growled under his breath, showing his fangs.

"Don't kill me..."

"I'm dying inside though..."

She ran it down the side of his face, letting him feel the chilled blade before hooking it through one of his earrings. He yelped as she pulled down, the ring cutting it's way through as he struggled forcefully against the cuffs.

"That didn't hurt did it? Oh, what have we got here?"

She slid his pants down, resting the blade on the head of his cock.

"Do you want me to let it go?"

"I'd rather you...put the knife down..."

"You would, but that's not an option..."

"Then what is?"

"Only something I want to do..."

She removed her pants, leaving her thong on, grinding into him.

"You want to come inside, don't you? Well, I don't let bad boys inside. There are what replace you..."

She ran her nails across his stomach before reaching her fingers inside her, letting her juices fall on his cock. Removing them, she waved them under his nose.

"Do you smell that? Do you want to taste that?"

She slid her finger over his lips, letting him taste her sweetness.

"Do you like that Daggy? Hope so, because you won't be getting any more, it's all for DARREN!"

Dag clinched his teeth as he tried to lash out at her.

"You shit! I'm going to kill him while you watch!"

He slashed his fangs at her.

"You'll regret ever saying that!"

"Oh, the way he sucks on my breasts, the way I suck on him..."

"You'll never see him again!"

She moaned Darren's name as Dag began to break the chains on the cuffs.

"Oh, only if you were half as good as he is..."

She smiled for a moment until she saw him grin back.

"And now you'll pay!"

The cuffs snapped as he lurched forward, grabbing her and pinning her hard to the bed.

"Darren is nothing, do you hear me?!"

He straddled her hips, positioning himself before plunging into her fully, feeling her tense in pain.

"Feel that? That's the pain you deserve!"

She struggled under his grasp, screaming as he thrust harder into her. She begged as she felt herself being ripped apart.

"Stop Dagmantis...please stop..."

"Give me one good reason..."

He doesn't miss a beat.

"Tell me what you feel..."

"God Dagmantis! It hurts! Stop! Oh God please stop, you're killing me!"

"And what about me with the knife? Repent Damn you!"

"I'm sorry...What else do you want?!"

He slowed his pace, drawing out of her and leaving the bed, letting her push back her pain. He tied her hands to the bed, watching her.

"Are we going to be good?"

He smiled as she nodded 'yes,' running a cool washcloth over her face before moving over her again, blowing to cool her off.

"Calm, now lets promise not to do this again..."

She sighs her apology as he slowly slips into her again, tenderly stroking her sides, letting her relax around him. He moans as he begins a slow rhythm, careful with every move, kissing her repeatedly. His movements slowed as he began to tense, pushing himself deeper, their breathing coming together. She stared into his eyes as they glazed over.

"Dag...I...cant..."

"Neither...can...I..."

He moans deeply as it takes him over, laying his head on her chest as he let go inside of her. She pulls against the restraints, a feeling of weightlessness coming over her as she shudders. He takes a deep breath as she relaxed, their hearts slowing. He glanced into her eyes, watching as they go dark, until she passed out in his arms. He sighed softly, pulling away and laying beside her, choosing his course of action.

"Stay asleep, feel no pain..."