Chapter One

The coldness of the stone walls chilled her body as she leaned against it, knife in hand. She was going to finish this once and for all. She had to, the fate of the world depended on it..She remembered a time when things seemed normal, a time when she wasnt out hunting for the things that go bump in the night but innocent without a care in the world but that was so very long ago and now was the time for reeping and thats exactlly what she planned to do..

The sound of a creak and a small gust of wind made her stiffen her back even harder against the stone wall and then seconds later she was lashing out with her hand, nearly catching a throat in the process..

"shit.. fuck, you almost got me" Cris said as he gasped and held onto her hand that was literally milimeters from his neck. So close that she had already knicked it..

"Jesus Cris, what the hell, I said keep watch" she snapped angrily as she yanked her arm back and he wiped the small smattering of blood from his neck..

"yeah well I came to tell you that this place is a dead end, they are gone" he said as he looked at the blood on his hand and then quickly wiped it onto his jeans and she shook her head..

"what do you mean gone, they cant be, they were" her voice trailed with annoyance..

"their gone nat, Cris is right, those fuckers must of sensed us coming" Rex said as he came over, he looked just as disappointed as Natalie felt and why wouldnt he. They were siblings, siblings whose life was cut short when their parents were savagely murdered years ago, right before their eyes and by the same thing they hunted now. It seemed so long ago now, ages really but still so fresh..

"Mom! Rex took my doll, tell him to give it back" a small girl at the age of nearly eight yelled out as she ran through the large house with tears in her eyes.."Mom!" she cried out again..

"Oh stop being such a baby nat, its just a stupid doll" Rex snapped as his five year old self came running over, the small doll still in his hands..But something was wrong, something was very wrong, the house had gone cold, so cold that Natalie felt her skin prickling as she stood there and it was so quiet.."take the stupid doll" he said as he threw it at her but she didnt pick it up, she just stood there, her eyes fixed in a horrified stare, it only took Rex seconds to see what was wrong as his eyes followed hers and then got just as wide..

The sound of her scared scream filled the room, echoing off the wall as they stared at the bloodied body of their father on the ground..

"Daddy!" rex shrilled as he ran over and dropped on his knees by the lifeless body as natalie stood there completely and utterly in shock now.."Daddy!" rex shook the body hard..

"Rex...Rex...REX!" Natalie began to yell and as he looked up he saw what was causing the frantic screaming of his sister, because right in front of them stood a tall dark haired man with glowing red eyes, their mother was gasping for air as he held her by her neck..

"Now doesnt this make for a quaint family reunion, huh Victoria" the man laughed bitterly as he held onto the mother..

"Mommy" Natalie said with a shakened voice as Rex stood now and stared in fear..

"Please dont hurt them, they are only children" Victoria pleaded with tears in her eyes, her voice coming in gasps of breath..

"Oh I have waited a long time for this slayer, trust me im going to enjoy every bit of tearing them to pieces" he smiled at her and then at the children.."I think I will start with the red head" he grinned..

"NO!" Victoria yelled with all the strength she could muster and she clawed at his face, catching him off guard as he dropped her to the ground.."Run children, run and hide" she gasped out from the floor..

"You bitch, thats gonna leave a mark" he yelled at her as Rex and Natalie took off running, the last sounds they heard as they ran through the darkened halls was the gurgling scream of their mother..

Natalie stared at her brother and at Cris.."the sons of bitches, we had them, we fucking had them!" she yelled angrily, this is what her life had become, a life of revenge and they had finally tracked down the sick monster who had destroyed their lives so very long ago and now it was gone, all gone!

"and we will find them again" Rex tried to reassure her but she was having none of it, they had planned this out for months and months, and it was all for nothing! She stormed past them.."Nat!" rex called out but she needed her moment, she needed her time..

"Just let her go man, you know how she gets" cris said supportively to rex.."we will find them again and we will finish this once and for all"

Natalie walked with anger and determence through the cold dark halls. How could they have slipped away again, how were they ever going to get what didnt want to be caught. This world was entirely unfair and unjust, she hated it, she hated everything!

Turning the corner a chill rose up her spine and by the time she spun around, there he was, the spitting image of the nightmare she remembered.. He only looked maybe early thirties but he was well over 500 years old. His hair was dark with silver streaks through it, his eyes as clear as she remembered and she was stunned for a moment by how very beautiful these monsterous creatures were..

"ah and so we meet again little red" he smiled showing off a very impressive pair of long fangs, and for a second she felt like that stunned little girl, scared and wanting to run.."You are quite the beautiful girl, very beautiful" he smiled as he stepped closer to her and she backed up, her hand inching for the knife on her hip.."so much life, so much vibrance" he smiled devishly.."it will be a shame to kill you"

"I wouldnt be so sure of yourself Victor" she finally spoke, her voice strong and loud.."it will be I who will be standing over your rotting corpse"

"Oh now this I will enjoy" he grinned as he lunged for her with an impressive speed but her years of training and agility helped her to move faster then he had expected and he slammed into the hard wall in front of him as she scrambled to her feet.."practicing , I see" he said with a tight unhappy smile..

"oh you have no idea, ive been waiting a very long time for this" she said through gritted teeth..

"Like mother, like daughter" he grinned as she saw red and she lunged for him, her knife in her hand as she slammed into his rock hard body, her hand inches from penetrating his black heart but he was still so much stronger then her and he grabbed her hand, holding it with a force that she was sure would break it but she bit back the pain.."you will know the feeling of pain!" he growled at her with huge fangs..

"Like hell she will!" Rex yelled out.."Natty now!" he yelled as she ducked her head down tight and the next thing she heard was the whipping of a sword and the undeniable sound of flesh and bone being cut, within seconds his grip on her was gone as she stumbled back to look at the now headless body that stood for another second before falling to the ground..

Hours later back at Lanfair Manor...

"she hasnt said anything, are you sure she is ok" Cris said with concern as a bunch of them sat in the large study, drinks in hand, celebrating the long awaited defeat..

"she just needs some time, I will check on her" Rex said softly as he left the room..

"this is a day to celebrate but also a day to remember why were all here" an older man by the name of Bo Buchanan said as he sat behind a large desk.."this is for my sweet sister Victoria and her husband Clint, slayers til the end, finally able to rest in peace" he said as he raised a glass and the others concured..

Natalie stood in her mothers old bedroom, it still looked the way she remembered as a child and if she inhaled just deep enough it was as if she could still smell her here. She stared at the picture of the long haired beauty, a life taken too soon..

"its weird you know, to finally be over" Rex said as he came in the room and she put the picture down and faced him..

"It will never be over, not as long as there are others out there" she said angrily..

"But we can rest now nat, its done, they can rest in peace" Rex said softly..

"Peace? What the hell kind of peace is this" she snapped as he swallowed hard.."this is only the beginning, they will send others and we will kill them too" she said as she stormed past him and he inhaled deep as he watched her..

It was amazing how the world outside went on without a care in the world. Sure murders and disappearances were at an all time high but the government blamed it on the low employment rate and others blamed it on the disolution of religion in peoples lives but the truth was that there were evil things out there, hunting, stalking, waiting for the perfect moment.

Natalie was a part of an elite team of slayers, she had come from a long family line of slayers and over the years they had built up their numbers to almost a hundred. Spread out among the world, dealing justice the only way they knew how, protecting the unsuspecting people of the world from the evil that hunted them..

This was the only life she knew now, when most girls her age were at college or partying at some club on weekends, she was out hunting, killing.. She was only twenty four years old but oh so much wiser and so much stronger then her peers. She didnt have time for fun, she didnt have time for a life, this was her life and she wouldnt stop until every single one of those monsters out there were dead and gone..Considering the magnitude of evil out there, she would be busy til the day she died and sometimes she wished for that more than anything..

She made her way through the manor, not even stopping for a drink as she grabbed another dagger from the weapons room..

"hey nat, were all having drinks" Cris said as he came into the room but she kept herself busy with looking at the guns, some with silver bullets, some with regular.."I know that this is a hard day" he continued softly..

"seriously Cris, dont" she said without looking at him as she grabbed a handful of bullets and shoved them in her pocket..

"nat your not alone in this" Cris said as he neared her and she finally spun and faced him before he could touch her..

"save the speech ok" she said bitterly as he sighed..

"nat we all" he began once more..

"dont try to tell me how I should feel Cris, you dont have that entitlement" she snapped angrily at him..

"Jesus nat how long are you going to do this" he finally got a bit loud with her..

"what? What do you want from me, damn it" she snapped as her hands went to her hips.."do you think I should be celebrating, drinking, do you really think that killing one of those fangers is all there is out there" she snapped..

"No I dont but I also think that there comes a time to relax, kick back, you cant kill them all and not tonight" he said softly..

"yeah well I can sure as hell try" she snapped at him as she pushed past him and stormed out of the room..

Cris spun around but only to see Bo standing there.."Just let her go, she needs to work this out on her own" he said softly..

"she is gonna get herself killed out there" Cris said with overwhelming concern..

"she is a smart girl and strong as hell, you know that, she needs to do this, she needs to mourn in her own way" Bo said again..

"so your just gonna let her go out there half cocked" cris said in shock.."its the middle of the god damn night"

"the last thing you need to do is play protector, if you havent noticed she can take care of herself, she knows what she is doing" Bo said firmly..

"You know when does this ever fucking end, does it end!Fuck!" Cris yelled as he stormed out of the room as Bo stood there just staring into the room..

Natalie flew through the streets in her blood red mustang, she knew didnt know where she was going and she didnt care. See Natalie didnt know how to show emotion anymore, this life had hardened her, made her like stone. She had never been in love, hell sex was used as a distraction and even that didnt sate her most of the time. She lived with the sole purpose of seeking revenge against everything and anything out there that meant to do harm, whether it be a blood sucking vampire or a mangy old werewolf. They were all fair game to her..The all deserved to die, every last one of them..

Once her car had stopped she stared aimlessly at the foggy cemetary, she didnt even know how she had gotten there, she hadnt been thinking of going there, she hadnt been there in over ten years and she had refused to even go there with rex..It was her parents burial place and a place she felt had stolen her youth and innocence..Even as her heart thudded heavily in her chest she got out of the car and then stood, staring off into the distance, her mouth so dry that her lips burnt..

"Mommy. Mommy!" she cried out as she ran to the body laying on the ground, her mother had been wearing a white nightgown that night and now it was stained with red drops as she gasped on the floor. Her uncle had showed up now but it was already too late as he looked down at his dying sister..

"Natty dont" Bo said but it was too late as Natalie scrambled to her mother on the floor and she cried..

"Please mommy, please dont die" she cried against her as her mother gasped with the last few breaths she had..

"dont be sad for me my sweet girl" her mothers voice was just above a whisper as natalie looked at her with tear soaked eyes.."i will watch out for you and you do the same for rex, he will need you" she whispered..

"Mommy, mommy please dont go" Natalie cried as she hugged onto her mother..

"Mommy loves you, mommy always loves you"

The sound of rustling leaves snapped natalie from her memories as she slowly reached for the dagger in her pocket, she could sense someone or something to the right of her and without a second thought she wiped the knife from the hoster and spun, hitting bare flesh as her eyes got wide..

"Ouch" his voice sent a shiver down her spine as she looked into those amused blue eyes.."that hurt" he glanced down at his bleeding arm and then at her.."hello natalie"

"what the hell are you doing here" she snapped bitterly as she held onto the knife in her hand, not letting it down..

"now is that really any way to say hello to a long lost friend" he smirked some..

"trust me we arent friends" she snapped as she stood there and then slowly put the knife back in the hoster and spun from him, she wasnt in the mood for him, she was never in the mood for him. The last time she had seen him she had gone to him for help, not that she had wanted to but he had been the only one at that time that could tract down a certain monster she was after, but she should of known better, he was just as bad as the monsters she hunted and arrogant as ever..

"ouch again, I see you still havent forgiven me since the last time we crossed paths" he began as she spun and faced him..

"oh you mean the fact that you nearly had my brother killed" she snapped angrily..

"woo I think your being a bit dramatic there, dont you darling, he could handle himself"he said with a smile..

"the only reason your alive is" she began and then she pulled out her knife quickly and spun within a blink of an eye, pinning him to the car as she held the knife to his neck.."actually I dont know why your still alive" she said through gritted teeth..

"you are still as fiesty as ever but seriously put down the knife before you hurt yourself" he smiled sarcastically at her..

"Oh the only one I plan on hurting is" she smiled back just as sarcastically but he moved and so fast that before she knew it she was now pinned against the car, his strong hands holding hers out by her sides as she grunted a bit in shock..

"now like I said, lets play nice" he smiled some..

"fuck you" she yelled as she kneed him hard in the groin and he stepped back quick as she adjusted herself..

"now thats a new move" he said as he leaned over, his long dark hair covering one eye as he looked up at her with blue ones..

"next time I will just cut them off" she snapped at him as she swung her car door open and before he could say another word she was screeching her tires and nearly running him over as he stood there..

"Nice to see you too natalie, until next time" he said as she drove off..

One year ago...

Pulling up to the large gated manor she felt sick to her stomach, she couldnt believe she was being reduced to this but she had no other choice. Rex had gone missing and was being held captive by a bunch of underground demons. They had been trying to get their hands on an old ancient book of power, one that up until a few weeks ago had been hidden safely by Bo but that too had gone missing and it only pointed to one person, if a person is what you could really call him..

John McBain, if one could really call him human, he was more of a mix between a fallen angel/immortal jackass that spent his time dealing with who ever had the highest price. He at one time had fought the good war, well that was a very long time ago, now he spent all of his time abusing alcohol, womanizing and dealing with all the creatures that they hunted. He was a trader but according to Bo it was all they had, and he had ensured natalie that even though his deeds were misguided that he was still considered a good guy, but Natalie didnt believe that for one second. He would sell his own soul for a good price, perhaps he already had!

But now here she was, at his doorstep about to ask him for help, if anyone could get into the underground with the demons it was John. They trusted him enough, as much as they should really plus When the book went missing, rumors immediately sparked that John had gotten his hands on it and that he was bidding it off like so many other ancient artifacts that he had given away and natalie was going to get that damned book back, one way or another..

The door opened wide by a man dressed in a black and white tux, a butler it would seem and by the sounds of music and laughter in the background, apparently she had gotten there just In time for a party, she smiled brightly at the thinning haired man..

"it seems im just in time" she said as she pushed past him and he called out for her to stop but she had no intention as she walked towards the party, stopping at a large door that opened up to a ball room and there he was..

John Mcbain he was incredibly handsome, sexy, always dressed for success and the bad boy attitude to go with it that made most women melt at first sight. Rumor had it that he had taken over 500 women to bed and that his skills were beyond what anyone had ever expected.. But then again he had been an angel at one time, immortal, strong with the looks of a god, too bad his time was spent with petty dealings with the ones she hunted.

He stood casually by a long legged blonde as he sipped his wine, it didnt take more than seconds for him to see her standing there at his doorway, she had gone all out for tonight. A red satin dress that cut all the way down to her navel, showing off an enormous amount of clevage and a slit that came up dangerously high up her hip, finished off with black stilleto heels that gave her an extra three inches of height and the illusion that her legs went on for miles. He smiled devishly as the girl on his arm continued to admire him and swoon at his side, he bent down and whispered something in her ear, all the while his eyes stayed on Natalie's and then he was walking over as the other guests now looked in her direction. Then men couldnt help but stare and the women cringed with jealousy..

"to what do I owe this pleasure" he said as he neared her, his voice oozing the sort of seduction that would make most women drop to their knees but natalie she wasnt like most women.. He didnt shy away from looking her up and down, slowly as if undressing her, his eyes caressing her skin, setting a small fire on her body that she ignored.

So he was incredibly hot, sexy and oh so fuckable, she was sure she could spend hours using that body of his, but then again she was a woman and sexual herself for carnal pleasures..

"You look ravishing Natalie" he smiled as he licked his lips..

"I see your still into the brainless wonders" she smiled brightly at him.."i do hope you have checked her id, it looks past her bedtime"

"oh I have many tastes Natalie" he grinned big.."But im sure you didnt come here to compliment my guests, shall we?" he said as he brushed past her and closed the large doors to the party, his hand moving to the small of her back as he began to lead her across the hall and to another set of doors.

She had to admit that the power that pulsed through him could suffocate a person and the feeling of his hand on her back was making her feel dizzy none the less..He opened the doors that lead into a study of sorts with a bar across the room.."drink?" he asked as he now walked past her and to the bar..

"i see your still enjoying your paintings" she said sarcastically sweet as she looked at the priceless not to mention real artifacts on his walls, apparently all stolen..

"ah you know I do love my art, so how long has it been, 6, 8 months?" he raised an eyebrow as he poured two glasses of scotch and then slowly began to walk over to her, but he didnt quite walk, it was more of a strut, a sexy strut, one that said that he knew he had it and he knew how to use it..

"I dont know I have a hard time remembering since I was being damn near killed at the moment, no thanks to your chivalous ways" she said with a tight yet bitter smile..

He handed her the glass and let his fingers slid against hers for a moment, the spark of electricty that followed shocked her for a moment and she then she quickly pulled her hand back..

"You were very much capable of taking care of yourself and if I do remember you single handedly killed three of those fangers" he smiled as he slowly sipped his drink but kept his eyes on her..

"Oh I wouldnt of expected you to get your hands dirty or anything" she said sarcastically as she walked past him and up to one of the paintings on the wall, it was the Mona Lisa and she shook her head..

"Beautiful isnt it" he smiled as he got next to her..

"let me guess, original?" she said with a sarcastic smile..

"Only the best but enough about paintings" he smiled as he looked her up and down again.."what can I do for you Natalie"

She turned to face him now, he was too close, his breath on her shoulder, damn his power of seduction was way stronger then she had remembered, she stepped back some and he smiled as if he knew he was affecting her..

"a little birdy told me that you have some how gotten your hands on a very rare book" she finally said, all business like and he frowned a bit, apparently he liked her playful side better..

"You know what they say about birdies" he grinned tightly..

"Cut the shit John, I know you have the book and I want it back" she snapped loudly now as he stood there unaffected even though his body tensed some..

"well isnt that a bit rude, demanding things" he said sarcastically as he walked past her.."i would of thought you would know better than that, especially when I allow you in my house" his voice was still calm but it had an undertone of anger to it..

"Listen I know you dont give a shit about anyone but yourself but those demons have my brother" she snapped, she wasnt in the mood for games anymore, the longer this went on, the longer those demons did god knows what to her brother, time was precious and she had wasted enough already..

"How is little Rex these days" he said as he poured himself another drink..

"You know what it took for me to come here, trust me I didnt want to have to" she began through gritted teeth as he turned and faced her again, leaning on the bar now as he slowly sipped his scotch, his eyes on her..

"again with the insults, you dont honestly think I would give you anything with that kind of attitude, do you?" he raised an eyebrow.."even when you come in here looking like a present that I would love to unwrap" he smiled devishly..

"Listen alright, we have our differences I get that ok but he is my brother and if something happens to him" she began to get angry but he just stood there unaffected so she sucked up everything she could muster and she said softly..."he is my brother John"

He smiled some now.."ive always been a bit sentimental myself and what can I say" he began as he strutted slowly over to her as she stood there stoic and swallowed hard.."How could I say no to such a ravishing woman" he stopped merely inches in front of her.."but" he said softly..

"but what" she fought to keep her voice strong but he was so close, I mean hell you could practically smell the sex emitting off of him..

"But im not truly convinced" he said softly as he licked his lips and then looked at her full ones and then slowly back to her eyes.."what do I get in return, that is if I decide to help you" he smiled..

"what do you want" she said quickly as she kept staring at him hard..

"well now, that raises a bunch of questions" he grinned as he glanced down between them at her breasts that were just inches from touching his chest.."what are you offering?" he finally looked up into her eyes but didnt step closer..

Natalie sucked in a deep breath, she knew this game he was playing and she wasnt going to let him win and as long as she called the shots and stayed in control..She smiled brightly now as she looked at him.."How about a sample"

He smiled big now.."a sample? You say that as if you dont think I couldnt have any woman I wanted"

"Oh like miss brain dead blonde in the other room" natalie smiled sweetly.."she is so fake I can smell the plastic from here"

"and your point is?" he raised an eyebrow as he challanged her in this dangerous game they played..

Now she smiled wide.."well these goods are 100% pure home grown american, no fillers and by the um bulge in your pants" she finished as she glanced down between them at the quite large erection he was sporting, the kind that made her stomach ache a bit at the possibilty of what that would feel like inside of her..."well lets just say that we could both get what we want" she smiled sweetly..

"You are good" he laughed as she stood there.."very good" he walked past her as his arm brushed her and she sighed heavily, she was just about to give him a piece of her mind or stab him in the heart, one or the other when he spoke, catching her off guard.."take it off" his words were a calm demand but a demand no less and she couldnt help but turn to face him, his eyes were burning with desire, she had to bite her tongue as she stood there.."I said take it off, now" he barked a bit louder as she stared at him, he was deadly serious and she needed to save Rex and she would do what she had to..

She moved her hand slowly as to not let him see her shaking as she slipped one small strap from her shoulder and then the next, which made the dress slide down her body onto a pool at her feet, leaving her standing there with just a black lace thong on. For a second she thought she heard a sharp intake of air on his end as he stood a few feet away from her, his eyes never leaving hers, she wasnt even sure if he had even glanced down her body and then he was turning from her and heading to the door as she stood there. She was shocked for a moment, confused and very much vulnerable as she stood there, what was he doing? But then he opened the door as the draft of air hit her skin, seizing it and making every inch of her chill as she stood there..

"I'll think about it" he said as he walked out of the room and left her standing there completely and utterly mortified..

Natalie slammed her foot on the gas pedal as she drove like a bat out of hell, memories flooding her mind. God he was such an arrogant bastard, yes he had eventually helped her and yes she had gotten to rex and killed those demonic bastards but with very little help from that womanizing asshole. He had left her standing there for almost thirty minutes that night before he came back into the room, a proud smile on his face as if he had her, but then again no one had her, not like that and he never would..