Seduction A Rali and Calivia Story

by Livvie712

An old enemy returns to seek revenge. Lives are torn apart as secrets unravel and a plot to destroy the families of PC could succeed. Watch as Alison and Livvie and Caleb and Rafe work together along with all the other characters of PC to destroy this evi

1. Default Chapter

A/N: I usually post my stories on PC Megasite or on some yahoo groups occasionally. This I think is my fourth or fifth arc. It takes place in November-December of 2006.

I am not sure I will keep posting here. I just want to see if anyone is interested. If you like it, I will post more. I have been writing arcs for over a year now. So the history here is kinda of complicated. Just to let you know before hand – it turned out Caleb had an older half-brother. He hated Caleb and raped Livvie as revenge. Andrei, the brother, wants to make Alison his bride because she looks so much like . . . surprise . . . his ex-love. There are tons of new characters. I'll explain them later but right now just know that Rafe and Alison have three children – Emma, Bryce, and Eddie. Caleb and Livvie have Lauren, Michael, and Tara. Michael and Tara are twins. Emma is about three, she is the oldest child in total. Michael and Tara are the youngest at four-five months old. Bryce and Lauren are almost same age. It's kinda of confusing so I can explain this later in another post if I post again. I just wanted to give you guys a taste of Seduction. Another questions just let me know. Enjoy!

P.S. Also this story is about all the characters in general. Not specifically Rali or Calivia or Lucy and Ian or Lucy and Kevin. Some parts may have more of one or other but there will be a reason for that. Though I do expect an all Rali chapter one day soon.

Seduction Chapter 13

Madison held the spell book tightly in her hands. "FIRE, LIGHTNING, ASHES, BLOOD, MAGIC AND MAYHEM, TERROR AND PAIN, DEATH, DESTRUCTION, SADNESS AND HATE. FURY OF FIRE, DESPAIR AND FATE. DARK SPIRITS, ROAM THE EARTH AND GRANT MY WISH TONIGHT."

Madison glanced over at Gwen who glared at her reproachfully as Madison spoke her final words . . . her voice growing stronger with each passing word. "I wish Jack and I will make love tonight and create a healthy baby boy. Our blood will not be poison to each other and the three of us will be a family. And I wish Jack will gradually begin to feel the same emotions he felt when he first knew Caleb which would then ultimately cause him to quit his job and make me and our baby his only family."

Gwen shook her head. She couldn't believe it. Madison actually did it. She ruined them all. "God help us all."

Madison rolled her eyes and tucked her spell book into a sweatshirt before snapping the drawer shut. "And I use to think Livvie was the most overdramatic out of the three of us."

Gwen glared at her. "How can you be so callous about this? Don't you understand-"

Madison cut Gwen off abruptly. "Don't you understand that I love Jack and I would do anything to keep him!" She screamed, defensively.

Gwen couldn't believe Madison's gall. She was being incredibly selfish. Jack deserved better than this . . . so much more than this! Madison had no right to manipulate him like some mindless puppet. "You are playing God with his life! Use your brain for once, Madison! Your wish will not only affect Jack but everyone else he comes into contact with!" She berated.

Madison crossed her arms stubbornly in front of her chest. No one will ever take Jack away from her . . . especially Livvie. Livvie didn't deserve Jack. Madison knew Jack's heart and she knew she was the right woman for him . . . she was the only one who really understood him. She was his heart. Not Livvie. Jack belonged to her. To her. No one else. No one will ever love Jack the way she does. And she will do whatever it took to protect that. "It doesn't matter . . . as long as I get Jack."

Gwen threw her hands up in the air in her frustration. "You are becoming more and more like Ryan every day." She accused.

Madison tilted her head. "What does Ryan have to do with anything?" She asked, curiously.

Gwen tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Let's see . . . he is plotting against Livvie just so he can get Natalia back and he doesn't care who he hurts as long as he gets what he wants!

Madison countered her friend's accusation. "You don't understand! You have never been in love before!"

Gwen narrowed her eyes and studied Madison's expression. Madison was clearly very agitated. You could tell by the way she kept pacing around the room running a hand through her hair as she clung to the blanket wrapped around her body. "But Jack has! And that is the problem, isn't it? You don't like the fact you have to share the man of your dreams with anyone . . . in particular Livvie. You wanted to be his first and only love! But you were too late and that kills you!"

Madison stamped her foot like a child who was on a verge of a temper tantrum. Her eyes flashed with anger. "It's not fair. Why does Livvie get to have everything? She found her father, she has a rich handsome rock star husband . . . the king of vampires no less . . . and she has three children, a best friend, a step-mother, a brother, sisters and Jack! Everything we have ever dreamed of! Why? Why does she get to have everything and we don't? Huh?" She asked.

Gwen swallowed her pride and replied meekly. "Serves us right . . . we just left her there to die. You can't blame her for escaping and building a new life for herself!"

Madison thought of all the experiments they had to endure over the years . . . experiments Livvie never had to endure . . . just because she was Andrei's pet project to destroy his brother. "Why was she so special, huh? Why was she spared from this curse? Huh? Why her? Why not us? Just because she was a dead ringer for some dead girl! It's not fair!"

Gwen decided to give it one last chance and hoped she could make Madison see the truth. "Life is not fair, Madison. And Livvie has own her curse to deal it." She replied sympathetically, laying her hand on her fellow ex-cell mate's shoulder.

Madison stared at Gwen. How could she say that? Livvie has spent the last couple of years in luxury. "What curse? From what I see her life is pretty good! No matter what Ryan says . . . Caleb does care about Livvie. He loves her. He needs her. She's very precious to him."

Gwen narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What's with the sudden change- where are you going with this?" She asked.

An evil smile came upon Madison's face. "I am just thinking that maybe it's time Livvie learns how it feels to lose everything and everyone she loves . . . to have the one man she loves taken away from her!"

Gwen gasped. "Madison, no."

Madison nodded. She squealed and clapped her hands happily. "Yes. Yes, Gwen. It's time she felt the pain and loneliness we had to endure the past seven years while she was up here living it up with her bat-
boy."

Gwen shook her head. "You can't!" She couldn't believe what she was hearing! Madison has gone mad!

Madison laughed as she rubbed her hands together. "And I won't have to. Livvie is her worst own enemy. All her secrets and lies are going to catch up with her and when they do . . . I'll be ready to drive in the last nail to her coffin. And this time, I'll have everything and she will have nothing!"

The nursery

Laying in his crib, Michael happily cooed as he twisted a rattle in his tiny hands. Caleb glanced over at his son from where he was changing Tara's diaper. Michael soon grew tired of the rattle and released it from his grasp. His eyes began to roam around the crib. A rather colorful and plump looking stuffed bird caught his eye. He reached out his arm, his fingers curling around the soft velvet toy. Lifting it up onto his stomach, he squeezed the toy until it squeaked. Michael squealed in glee at his new "discovery." Caleb smiled . . . it was going to take a miracle to put the twins to sleep tonight . . . they were too energetic.

As Caleb finished fastening Tara's diaper, he couldn't help but regret all the time he had spent away from all his children just a few weeks ago when he was in Romania handling the five families and the Court.

Tara oblivious to the "spell" she had cast over her father mouthed on a ring as she patiently waited to be dressed. Occasionally she would look up at her father with large, trusting brown eyes as if to see what the hold-up was. Caleb lifted Tara from the changing table and moved to the dresser where he pulled out a pink one-piece pajama with footsies.

As Caleb gazed into the sweet, angelic face of his youngest child, he knew there was no other place he would rather be then there at that very moment with his children. There was only one thing missing or . . . rather someone. His wife. He hated not knowing where she was . . . if she was safe . . . if she was in danger. He wanted to do nothing more than hold her in his arms and protect her from everything that threatened to tear them apart . . . tear their family apart. Livvie's life and the lives of their children hung in the balance as long as Andrei took breath.

His thoughts drifted to the last time they had spoken. Caleb hated the way their last conversation had ended. Her secret must have been bigger than he had originally thought. The secret was bad enough to convince his wife that he was better off without her . . . which couldn't be farther from the truth. When he's not with her his heart ached for her. He missed her more with each passing breath he took.

If it wasn't for Ryan, Livvie would be where she belonged . . . at home with him and their children right now instead of wandering around God knows where by herself in the middle of the night.

Livvie sounded so distraught on the phone. She had tearfully professed her love for him and begged him to believe in the sincerity of her words. Why?

Something bad must had happened. Something was off. He could feel it in his heart. Livvie wasn't acting like herself . . . well not completely. Livvie's insecurities always had a mind of their own but they have never gotten this far out of control. Caleb always managed to soothe Livvie's fears before any real damage was done. A few well-placed kisses and a couple of heart-felt vows and declarations of love and all her questions and insecurities slipped from her mind . . . for the moment.

He could still feel her. She was still in Port Charles. So close but still so far away.

Trust. Trust was the real issue behind all of their problems. Livvie has already lost so much that she was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Always expecting the worst. She didn't trust in their love . . . his love. It was as if she was waiting for Caleb to find any excuse to leave her . . . abandon her like her family did once long ago.

Caleb knew Livvie was afraid of winding up all alone . . . and unloved. Maybe she was afraid that she didn't deserve to be loved . . . she wasn't worthy of being loved.

Caleb shook his head. If Livvie only knew the true power she held over him. He could never leave her. She was his heart . . . his soul. She gave him life. She gave him the greatest gift of all . . . her love and her complete acceptance of what he truly is. It was because of this that he has the one thing he never thought he would ever have . . . a family. She gave him three beautiful children to love and protect.

No. There was no way he would ever let her go. He would die first. Livvie and his children were everything to him, Caleb would protect him with his life. And he might have to . . . considering the lengths Andrei went to in his last attempt to tear them apart.

Caleb sighed and tried to push that thought out of his mind. He needed to concentrate . . . to focus on what was right in front of him, his child. Caleb returned Tara to the changing table where after a few failed attempts, he managed to slip Tara into her pajama as she flailed her tiny arms and kicked her legs, squealing in laughter. Not unlike her mother, she enjoyed giving Caleb a hard time. Smiling brightly, baby gibberish flowed easily from Tara's mouth.

Picking her up from the changing table, Caleb kissed her head and carried her over to the crib where Michael laid patiently waiting for his turn as he played with his toys. Laying Tara down next to his brother, Caleb lifted Michael up from the crib. Michael whimpered dropping his toy into the empty space next to his sister.

Caleb, speaking in a low, soothing voice, sought to reassure his son. "Come here, it's ok. Come here. How's it going? It's all right. But it's ok. It's ok. Daddy's got you. Daddy's got you." Michael relaxed. "There's my little boy. I know, it's fine. It's ok. It's ok."

Suddenly a loud cry echoed throughout the loft from the living room. Lauren kept calling out for her mommy and daddy through her tears. Caleb could hear Lucy's pathetic attempts to soothe his oldest child. As Lauren's cries persisted, Michael began to flail in Caleb's arms as if sensing his sister's distress. "It's ok. It's ok. Let's get you changed so we can go and see your sister. Ok?"

As if in response, Michael uttered one last whimper before growing still.

Rafe rifled through the folder as he moved into the living room. Gazing at its initial contents, he pulled out a remaining wadded up ball of yellowed-wrinkled pages of lined paper. A few minutes later, Lucy followed him in a desperate attempt to comfort a fussing Lauren. Emma was sitting quietly on the couch, the remote control in her hand. Scrunching up her face in a pout, she flipped through the channels looking for something to watch.

Emma looked over to her father who sat next to her frowning as he tried to untangle the wad of aged papers. "Daddy?" She asked.

Rafe absentmindedly snatched the remote from her hand and punched in the channel number corresponding to PBS. Barney's purple face filled up the screen. "Hello, boys and girls." The purple dinosaur chirped as he hugged the group of boys and girls that always surrounded him. "Today, we will learn about the alphabet."

Emma yelped and covered her face.

Lucy laughed as Rafe turned to look at his daughter in bewilderment. Rafe wrinkled his brow. "Angel, it's just Barney."

Emma protested. "Monster!"

Lauren echoed Emma's sentiments through her tears for her parents. "Monster!" She mimicked.

Lucy grinned and gently removed the remote from Rafe's hand as she tried to juggle a crying Lauren. "Cousin, you need to keep up with the times. Barney is old school." She chastised as she punched in the number to Nickelodeon. Blue's Clues appeared on the screen.

The man in the green-striped shirt was singing a song about his handy dandy notebook. " . . . sit down in my chair and think. And think. Thinnnnkkkk." Emma peeked at the television through her fingertips. Slowly, she lowered her fingers from her face. A smile of contentment swept over her face as she relaxed into the sofa's soft cushions to watch one of her favorite programs. Even Lauren was temporarily distracted by the blue dog and her singing friend. She stopped crying and turned her head to look at the TV.

Rafe shot Lucy a look of gratitude. "Thanks, Lucy. Ali-Alison . . . she always knew exactly what to do." His voice dropped as he whispered his wife's name.

Lucy nodded. She smiled encouragingly at her young cousin. "Everything will be all right. You'll see." She said in a lame attempt to reassure him.

Rafe sighed and looked over to his daughter. Emma's eyes were glued to the television. Every now and then, she would call out the answers to the mystery. Rafe lifted up his hand and ran it over his daughter's fine blonde hair. "I hope so . . . I truly hope so." He whispered. Emma looked up at her father and smiled up adoringly at him.

PC PARK

People were milling around the town staring at their reconstructed homes and offices. Livvie and Alison walked past an elderly couple holding onto each other crying with happiness over their "good fortune". It was like the earthquake was all a bad dream. A very bad dream. But the two girls knew better. This new world came with a price . . . a price that would soon have to be paid in blood.

Alison finished her story. "And that's everything."

Livvie shook her head. "I can't believe I let things get so out of control." She replied meekly, pulling her coat tighter around her body as the wind blew her hair in her face.

Alison shivered from the frigid chill in the air, her eyes darkened as she thought about the men responsible for all their troubles. "This is not your fault. Andrei did this. And we will destroy him . . . one way or another." She promised.

Livvie nodded, brushing a strand of her hair off her cheek. "And we'll get our lives back."

Alison took Livvie's hand and squeezed it, comforting. "We'll be free . . . rid of Andrei and Matthew forever."

Livvie echoed. "Forever."

Alison frowned. "The only way it'll end is . . ."

Livvie finished the rest of Alison's sentence. "If we end it ourselves."

Alison suddenly smiled and looked down at her feet. Livvie glanced at her curiously "What?" She asked.

Alison shook her head, smiling. "Nothing. I was just trying to remember what it was like, you know, before when we didn't think that vampires were real." She laughed.

Livvie smiled. "Or angels?"

Alison agreed. "Point taken."

Livvie looked up at the sky and shivered. The sky darkened as the sun disappeared behind a set of clouds. In a matter of seconds the sky was completely pitch black. "God, it looks like a storm." She observed, burying her hands into her coat's pockets in a vain attempt to keep her hands warm from the biting wind.

Alison looked up at the sky with her as they continued their walk through the park. "Yeah, worst storm of the season, they say."

They stopped in front of the Pizza shack and ordered two hot chocolates. The girls paid for their drinks and waited patiently for hem. The teller finally placed the two cups in front of them.

Livvie accepted the hot cup from Alison as they searched for a place to sit, drink, and talk. "Thank you. I-I just wish this was all over . . . so I could enjoy just being at home celebrating the holidays with Caleb, Lauren, the twins, my Dad, and Lucy with my brother and sisters." Livvie bit her lip to keep from crying. She missed them so much.

Alison nodded. Closing her eyes, she too fought back tears. "Me too. I miss Rafe and Emma and the boys so much. God, I would give anything to have everything go back to the way it was just three months ago."

Livvie sighed, thinking back to their lives just a few months ago. We were all so happy, weren't we? She asked, giving Alison a small smile.

Alison agreed. "Yeah." But as she thought back to a particular incident not so long ago, she amended her previous assertion as a smile broke out on her face. "Except for Rafe and Caleb . . . when they were in the same room together. They were never happy when that happened."

Livvie smiled at the thought herself as she warmed her hands with her hot chocolate. She giggled. "I swear I saw Caleb shudder once when he saw Emma and Bryce playing with Lauren."

Alison laughed. "Yeah." She took a tentative sip of her hot drink. "Distracting Rafe with kisses was all I could do to restrain him from tearing the children apart. I thought he was going to have a heart attack right there and then! I mean what did they really expect us to do? Lucy is a part of both of our families and you and I are best friends . . . they are just going to have to get use to it and get along. I mean what else can they do? Put Bryce and Michael in a playpen to duke it out or something with rattles and stuffed animals as weapons?"

The girls laughed at that image.

Alison shook her head. "I can't believe that use to be our biggest problem."

Livvie nodded in agreement. "Me either." She hesitated before whispering her last few words. "But that was before-"

Alison glanced at Livvie, curiously, as she finished Livvie's sentence for her. "Ryan and his friends came to town." She frowned.

Livvie's voice dropped to a whisper as she tried to avoid Alison's gaze. "Yeah."

Alison watched Livvie's expression . . . did she detect a trace of guilt? Maybe Livvie was in love with this guy. "So?" She began, hoping to get some answers from her best friend.

Alison's accusation not passing her by, Livvie's gaze returned to her feet as they reached a park bench. "So?" Livvie questioned.

Alison sighed as they sat down. She couldn't believe Livvie was actually going to make her ask it. "Did you and Ryan have a thing-"

Livvie interrupted her. "No." She shook her head and mad a face. "Ew. Ew. No. He-he's . . ." She stopped. She couldn't find the words to describe it without telling her the full truth.

Alison placed it bluntly. "Obsessed with you."

Livvie took a sip of her drink. "He's in love with Natalia." She sighed, looking back up at Alison.

Alison's eyes widened. Who? Another one of Ryan's victims? "Natalia?" She asked. "Who's Natalia?"

Livvie shrugged causally. "Some ex-girlfriend of his. Ryan claims a vampire kidnapped her to make her his bride." She rolled her eyes.

Alison raised an eyebrow. "Claims? You don't believe him?"

Livvie glanced around them. "Personally, I think she left voluntarily." She confided, lowering her voice so the passerby wouldn't overhear.

Alison lifted up her hot chocolate to her lips and smiled. "Yeah . . . who wouldn't?" She said, eliciting a giggle from Livvie. "Ryan's not exactly right in the head."

Livvie agreed. "Yeah."

Alison's demeanor suddenly changed taking in account the seriousness of their situation. She hesitated. "I am sorry, Livvie, but it sounds like to me that you do really care for the guy."

Livvie sighed. "I do . . . I can't help it." She confessed.

Alison tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "But you just said you didn't have a romantic relationship. What? Is he like the man that got away or something? Because I know Jack was your first." She questioned, curiously. What kind of hold, did this guy have on her?

Livvie hesitated before speaking. "Ryan is- She stopped. She wasn't exactly sure whether or not she should confide in Alison. After all not even Caleb knew the truth.

Alison drained the last of her hot chocolate from the cup and tossed it into the trash bin standing near them. "Is what, Livvie? Exactly what is he to you? Because I guarantee you that that is going to be the first question that pops out of your husband's mouth the next time you two are face to face. I mean you almost ran away with Ryan. Caleb is bound to want an explanation of why his wife turned to another man when she should have been at his side supporting him through a crisis of his own."

Livvie decided it was the right time to confess . . . . after all if they wanted to beat Andrei, she will need Alison on her side. "He's my brother."

Alison stared at her in disbelief. She shook her head as if to clear it. "I am sorry. I think I hallucinated. Did you say your brother?" She asked.

Livvie finished her drink and tossed it into the trash too. "My twin brother . . . and Matthew . . . he's my half-brother and half-cousin." She confessed, her gaze returning to her hands.

Alison gasped. "Oh my God. And Madison and Gwen?"

Livvie shook her head. "They're just friends. We all grew up in a lab together."

Alison's eyes widened. "Wait, are you telling me you grew up in a lab too?"

Livvie stood up and took a few steps forward. "Yes." She answered, nervously.

Alison stared at Livvie. "The same lab that turned them into valocks."

Livvie nodded. "Yes." She swallowed nervously.

Alison stood up and turned Livvie around to face her. "You were spared? Why?"

Livvie shivered involuntarily as she uttered the dreaded name. "Andrei."

Kevin approached the loft. He had searched Rachel's old apartment, the Lighthouse, the catacombs, and the villa but still no sign of Livvie. Wherever she was, she certainly did not want to be found. But why?

As he rounded the corner, he bumped into Ian. Great. Just when he had thought this day couldn't possibly get any worse. A frown crossed over Kevin's face as he coolly acknowledged the presence of his rival. "Ian."

Ian grimaced. He had been avoiding coming here for some time now. He would have preferred to talk to Lucy about this first . . . but as that saying said there is no time like the present.

After all, they all needed to move on with their lives. It was time for Kevin to know his place. Lucy and Ian loved each other and it was time Kevin respected that. "Collins." He cleared his throat nervously. "Before we go in, there is something you should know . . . it's about Lucy . . . about me and Lucy . . . our relationship."

Kevin brushed past Ian to the door. Now what? Wasn't it enough that he allowed Ian to live under his roof so that Lucy could be with Ian and the children? He had bowed out gracefully. It's not like he didn't know what went on between his ex-wife and her lover almost every night. Leave it to the Irish to blow things way out of proportion. He sighed. He really didn't need this right now. "Does it have anything to do with my daughter?

Ian shook his head. "No." He admitted as Kevin turned around to face him.

Kevin shrugged. "Then I don't want to hear about it. Whatever you need to say will have to wait. Bringing Livvie home safe and sound is my first priority." He turned towards the door and raised his hand to knock on the door.

Ian grabbed Kevin's arm stopping him. "I asked Lucy to marry me." He blurted out as he released Kevin.

Kevin turned around to face Ian and stared at him in disbelief. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He couldn't find his voice. "What?" He finally managed to croak out.

Ian's eyes darted around the hallway never settling on one particular spot too longer, refusing to look at Kevin. He shuffled his feet, burying his hands deep into his pockets. "I thought you should to know, she hasn't said yes yet but-"

As the shock wore off, Kevin managed to pull his thoughts together and the longer he thought the angrier he became. "But you expect her to once Livvie is found." He accused.

Ian nodded. "Yes." He admitted, finally looking up at him.

Kevin shoved Ian. Ian stumbled backwards but he quickly regained his balance. Kevin's hands curled up into fists. "You sure know how to take advantage of tragedy . . . first with Eve and now with my wife."

Rafe slammed his fist into the crystal end table, frustrated. A few loose pages slipped off the table onto the floor. "The answer is here somewhere. It's in here. What is it? What is it? What is it?"

Lucy shifted a squirming Lauren from one arm to the other. "Did you figure anything out yet?"

Rafe shook his head, his eyes glued to the papers he held before him.

Lauren struggled against Lucy's arms. "Down." She pleaded. She looked up at Lucy pitifully. Her eyes full of unshed tears. Lucy sighed and placed Lauren gently down on the floor on her own feet. Lauren, using the couch as support, toddled to the end. Her eyes focused on her stuffed bear, Pookie, sitting on a toy chest a few feet away. Releasing her grip on the sofa's cushion, she used her arms for balance as she toddled the last few remaining feet across the room to the toy box by herself. Snatching the cherished plushed toy from its resting place, she hugged the bear to her chest. Her tears abated, she sat down on the floor her back pressing against the toy chest as she attempted to comfort herself.

Her eyes on the child, Lucy spoke to Rafe. "You've been at that for a while now. Why don't you give it a break?"

Rafe glanced up at his cousin. His resolve reflected in his eyes. "Alison is counting on me." Nothing was going to keep him from finding his wife. They have been through too much . . . he wasn't about to disappoint her now.

He should have known something was wrong. Alison lied to him. She looked him right in the eye and lied . . . for more than three months now. Alison. His sweet Alison. Initially Rafe had blamed Elizabeth. Elizabeth's erratic behavior and recent return to vampirism had placed everyone on edge . . . including Caleb. Elizabeth was a loose canon if there ever was one . . . just waiting to explode on any innocent victim in her path. As Caleb so accurately put before . . . Elizabeth had a unique way of annoying people . . . and oh boy did she know how to get under Rafe's skin. Rafe had wrongly assumed the stress of her mother's trial was responsible for Alison's uncharacteristic behavior. All those outings with Livvie . . . lies. Alison has been seeing Matthew all this time. All lies.

How did Andrei find Matthew and Ryan? How?

Suddenly a loud voice pierced the silence. Rafe glanced at the door.

Lucy's head shot up as Kevin's voice vibrated throughout the loft.

"Go right ahead! You' still a phony, and I can see right through you. You were a vampire long before you ever had fangs."

Caleb sat in the rocking chair feeding Michael his bottle. He glanced over to the crib where Tara slept peacefully. Once fed, she had fallen right to sleep. Initially, they gave him quite a bit of trouble. Unaccustomed to night bottle-feedings, they had refused to accept the bottles Caleb offered them. Once they had realized Livvie wasn't around to nurse them, they quickly gave in and drank their milk.

Lucky for him, Lauren readily accepted any bottle or sippie cup offered to her. Once the twins were born, she was quickly weaned off breast milk to make things easier on Livvie. It sort of became a ritual for them. Caleb would take care of Lauren's night feedings while Livvie took care of the twins. Then once the children were all fed, they would switch and Livvie would tuck Lauren in while Caleb did the same for the twins. The only time they deviated from their routine was when Caleb had to work late. Otherwise, tonight was the first time they had broke tradition . . . which didn't suit very well with the twins.

Michael's eyes were half-closed as he drained the last of the milk from the bottle. Caleb lowered the bottle from the baby's mouth and wiped the boy's chin. After putting Michael over his shoulder and burping him, Caleb stood up and moved in between both cribs. He laid the child down into his bed and tucked him in. Caleb checked on them one last time and gave each child a kiss on the forehead before leaving the room. "Good night, little ones."

Caleb turned off the small lamps on the dresser table and turned on the baby monitors. He moved down the hallway back into the bedroom. He couldn't get Livvie off his mind. Her words kept reverberating in his head.

"It's better this way. It time for us to make a clean break. I-I can't hurt you anymore. All I do is bring you pain and hardship. Please don't try to find me. I love you."

She can't hurt him any more? Didn't she know that being apart from her is what hurts the most? He was going crazy not knowing where she is, who she is with, if she's ok, if she's hurt or why she left, or what she felt she was protecting him from. She consumed his every thought. The thought of losing her was unbearable. To have felt a love that reached down into your soul and strips it of all the fear and doubt . . . a love that consumed your every moment that you would do anything for . . . just to have it all ripped away in an instance- that is what hurt the most.

What did she think she was protecting him from? Maybe Andrei . . . it's possibility . . . she has done that before . . . offering herself in exchange for his life and the lives of their children. But this time, he couldn't help but feel that it was different. He didn't know how or why. All he knew was that this time, it was indeed different.

But then again . . . how did her secret figure into everything? And how did Andrei find Matthew and Ryan? And why now?

Tired of all the endless questions swirling in his head, Caleb moved to the nightstand. Picking up the phone, he dialed a number.

A woman answered. "Si?"

Caleb began to speak in Italian. "Buongiorno, Maria. Hai visto Olivia?

Maria answered as best she could.

Caleb sighed in disappointment. If Andrei had Livvie, he would have taken to the Manor. No question about that. Caleb tried one last time. "Sei sicuro?" He asked.

Maria repeated her earlier claim. No one has seen Livvie since the night Mother Morley had returned. She apologized for inability to help and asked if he needed to speak with his mother, father, or grandmother.

Caleb rejected the offer and thanked her. "No. No, grazie."

He hung up the phone and dialed another number.

This time a young man answered the phone. "Hello?"

Caleb spoke briskly. "Jimmy, it's me. I got an assignment for you."

Jimmy smirked and twirled the phone cord around his finger. Finally, some work. Now maybe some of his many talents will be put to good use. "What do you need?" He asked.

Suddenly, loud voices erupted from the other room. Caleb frowned and looked towards the living room. Ignoring the commotion, he relayed his instructions. "Olivia's missing . . . I don't care what it costs. You hire whoever or whatever you need. You find Olivia and bring her to me. Do you understand me?" He instructed.

Jimmy nodded even though he knew Caleb couldn't see him. "Yeah, Boss. Whatever you say. I'll find her. Is there anything else?" He asked, hopefully, wanting to be of more help. The more help Jimmy provided, the more he got as payment . . . and right now he needed all the money he could get.

Caleb walked around the room with the cordless phone in his hand. "I need you to connect me to Phillip." With his free hand, he pulled out Livvie's wedding band from his pocket.

Jimmy smiled with glee. "Sure thing." He turned around to gaze at a man with four fingers and one eye and handed him the phone.

Casey appeared in the room to Caleb's annoyance. "Hey, Caleb?" She asked nervously, gazing around the room.

Caleb gestured that he was on the phone. "Not now, Casey." He snapped, glaring at her.

Casey bit her lip. She decided to bite the bullet. "I - It's about Livvie."

Caleb hesitated for a minute before speaking. "Hold on a second. What?" He turned his attention to the angel.

Casey shifted from one foot to the other. "May-maybe you should just give her some time . . . let her come back home on her own." She suggested.

A loud crash resonated throughout the apartment.

Caleb slammed his fist into the dresser in his frustration. "I don't have time for this, Casey. Make yourself useful and go see what is going on out there and stop bugging me . . . and make sure they don't wake up the twins." He commanded. He turned back to his prior conversation. "Sorry, Phillip."

Phillip grunted. "What do ya want? I am a busy man. I have seven werewolves to skin alive, a warlock to be maimed, and a sprite that needs her tubes tied. "

Caleb turned over Livvie's ring in his hand. Closing his hand into a fist, he spoke. "I need you to get rid of a valock for me. Ryan Hart."

Ian straightened up and stared right into Kevin's eyes. "Yeah. First off, Lucy is not your wife. She's your ex-wife. And there's a reason for that. And I'm not fooling myself. She would have waited for you for always. But you hurt her and you kept hurting her until she had no choice." He responded, defensively.

Kevin looked away. "And there you were with open arms." He stated bitterly.

Ian crossed his arms across his chest. "Why don't you get a life for yourself. I love her."

Kevin laughed. He stepped forward towards Ian. "You say you're in love with Lucy? Is that what you call it? You know, funny thing, Ian. I had a life until you came along and decided yet again that I had a wife you couldn't stay away from." He scoffed cynically.

Ian's own hands curled up into fists. "Yeah, and this isn't the place. We should be concentrating on finding Alison and Livvie. "

Kevin threw his hands up in the air. He gestured towards the door angrily. "This isn't the place? Now you are concerned about my daughter's welfare? Maybe you should have thought of that before you walked in and threw that little piece of information into my face." He yelled.

Ian lowered his voice. "I just wanted to let you know that there is nothing you can do to change our love. The manipulation stops here."

Kevin's mouth dropped open. What has he done to manipulate them? He practically cleared the way for them. "Manipulation . . . what are you suggesting?" He demanded.

Ian glanced at the door warily. He desperately wanted to keep this as quiet as possible. He didn't want Lucy to overhear them. He lowered his voice. "I only meant-"

Kevin interrupted heatedly. He grabbed Ian by the shirt. "You think I am using my own daughter's disappearance as a means to get back into Lucy's bed."

Ian's last bit of patience ran out. He shot Kevin an icy glare. "How do I even know you didn't set this up? It's just convenient that the two girls Lucy has mothered for the past six years has just disappeared without a trace, isn't it? And here you are spearheading a search for them with . . . surprise . . . Lucy. I think you wanted this from the very beginning. You wanted to try to find a way to maneuver yourself back into Lucy's life." He accused.

Kevin's voice rose, his grip tightening on Ian's shirt. "How dare you? How dare you suggest I would risk my daughter's life like that? How dare you insinuate that I don't love my daughter? You hypocritical bastard! You try to pass yourself off as some kind of a hero, the rescuer to every woman who ever needed a shoulder to cry on. But the truth is you just want to sleep with every woman you meet."

Ian's eyes turned red. His voice rose. "You think you're the only one that's angry? I'm starting a life with Lucy, trying to build a home together, and never in a million years did I think you'd be part of that. But here we are, living with you. And I understand it's what's best for Christina and your other children . . . and it's what's best for Lucy."

Kevin's blood began to boil. "Well, there is something you have to consider . . . every time I look at Lucy I see the woman I've been in love with practically since the first day I stepped into this town." Kevin explained. "And when I look at you, I just see the man who's sleeping with her."

Ian shoved Kevin away. He glanced back at the door again. "I'm warning you –"

Kevin shoved Ian back again. "Go right ahead! You're still a phony, and I can see right through you. You were a vampire long before you ever had fangs."

Ian grabbed Kevin by the neck and lifted him right off the ground, his fangs bared.

Alison gasped. "What?" Her hand flew to her mouth.

Livvie repeated her claim. "Andrei is the reason I was never turned into a valock." Her voice shook as tears welled up in her eyes.

Alison didn't know what to say. "What are you saying?" She asked.

Livvie took a deep breath and tried to answer Alison's question as best she could. "I am saying that the only reason I was spared from the experimentation was because of Andrei. This-this doctor, Robert, worked for him. Robert was a close colleague of my mom . . . I mean my Aunt Rachel. My real mother . . . her condition was deteriorating. My grandmother and aunt were desperate to find some way to save her so when Robert asked her to help in this mysterious top-secret project, she agreed. Robert promised to help her find a cure for my mom if she in turn helped him create a superhuman army. My mother . . . she was raped by my uncle and as a result she got pregnant with my brother Brian . . . which you know now as Matthew." She explained, wrapping her arms around herself.

Alison laid her hand on Livvie's shoulder comfortingly. "Oh my God."

Livvie glanced up at the sky so she wouldn't have to see the look of pity on Alison's face. "Only she didn't tell my father what had happened and she kept it a secret. But my mother . . . she didn't want Brian. So my Aunt Rachel took him as a test subject in her experiment. A few years later, my mother got pregnant again . . . with twins. She told my father she had an abortion and that was it. For three years, I spent the day with my aunt at the lab but at night I stayed with my mother and grandmother. When-when she died, Aunt Rachel never took me home ever again . . . I stayed at the lab permanently with the others. I-I didn't know I had brothers . . . all I knew that was there were other children living under the same conditions I was. One day, they used Brian in their final stage experiment . . . he went crazy . . . we thought he had died. From then on, the doctors began the treatments gradually . . . but they decided to save me for last . . . so they could see the effects of the treatment on a child who was raised under the proper conditions all her life. When I was fourteen . . . we-we tried to escape . . . I was caught but the others . . . they left me. That's when I saw him, Ali. I saw Andrei . . . even when Caleb introduced him to me a few years ago, I couldn't recognize him . . . I only saw him that once."

Alison shook her head in disbelief. "What? I-I don't understand. He had a thing for you even then?"

Her voice shook as she said her husband's name. "No. He had a thing for Caleb."

Alison shuddered. "Bad choice of words. Ew."

A tear ran down Livvie's cheek. She hastily brushed it away with the back of her hand. She sniffled. "He-he saw me . . . and he instructed the doctors not to turn me into a valock when I turned 15. He wanted me human . . . he said he had another use for me. Andrei wanted me human so Caleb could and would fall in love with me because-because I-I looked so much like her! Vampires couldn't fall in love with a full-blown valock . . . which were what they were planning on making me. Brian was the only one they tried that on but they thought that had failed . . . so I was going to be their second chance. But Andrei changed their plans. The doctors moved me away from the others when they were recaptured and placed me in another room. Eventually, they did escape and again they left me behind."

She didn't know what to say, she was speechless. "Oh, Livvie-" She started, hugging her friend.

Livvie brushed away the warm tears cascading down her cheeks. "Don't you understand? Andrei was hoping the past would repeat itself and Caleb would kill me or I would kill him." She cried, her body shaking with sobs.

That got Phillip's attention. Last he heard, valocks were extinct. But Phillip was never one to ask any questions about the mystical world. What really intrigued him was the fact that Caleb just asked him to off someone for him. A Morley asking for a hit? They usually preferred to do the killing themselves. The more personal . . . the greater the satisfaction they had watching the life being drained away from an enemy. He raised an eyebrow in his amusement. "And how exactly do you expect me to get rid of Mr. Hart?"

Another shout interrupted the stillness of the night. Caleb sighed in his frustration. What was going on in there? They were trying his last nerve. Attempting to ignore the commotion, he finished his order. "Whatever it takes to get rid of him." He slipped the ring back into his pocket.

Phillip couldn't help but inquiry into Caleb's motives. A Morley not wanting to get his hands dirty . . . unlikely . . . unless he wanted his involvement in the person's death kept a secret . . . which in itself was a rarity. The Morleys enjoyed being feared. "You're going to an awful lot of trouble. I take it you two have some bad history."

Caleb admitted the truth. "Well, this really isn't about me. I'm doing it for someone else. And believe me, she's definitely worth the trouble." He said hoping that would satisfy Phillip's annoying curiosity.

Phillip laughed. He was amused. Since when did Caleb ever have to resort to murder to get a girl into his bed? He never had any trouble before . . . even with stiff competition. "You're doing this for some chick? Is that what you're telling me?" He asked.

Caleb moved to the window. "What I do for Olivia is really none of your concern, Phillip." He said, gazing out of the window.

Phillip frowned. Wait, that name sounded awfully familiar . . . it couldn't be. "Olivia? That's that girl you had me track down her mother and grandmother in Arizona a few months back."

Growing tired of this game, Caleb snapped. "I just said this is none of your concern."

Phillip narrowed his eyes and turned around to look at Jimmy who shrugged. "So what? You in love with her?" He asked.

Jimmy mimicked kissing noises. Phillip smacked him in the head and shushed him.

Caleb turned away from the window and moved to the bed. "What is it with all the questions? Just tell Jimmy to find Olivia and get rid of Ryan. Am I asking too much?" He asked sarcastically.

Phillip glanced at Jimmy again who shrugged. He couldn't believe his ears. Has Caleb lost his mind? It's just a girl for crying out loud. He could have any woman he wanted, why bother with this one? "Because he gets in the way of your plans for the lady." He observed.

Caleb nodded. "Once I get Ryan out of the way, Olivia will be mine, just the way it should be."

"Go right ahead! You're still a phony, and I can see right through you. You were a vampire long before you ever had fangs."

Lucy gasped. "That's Doc!" She exclaimed. She moved towards the door.

Rafe frowned and glanced at Emma and Lauren. "And Ian." He grabbed Lucy's arm, preventing her from opening the door. "Wait." He gestured towards the children whose eyes were glued to the television.

Lucy glanced at the door anxiously. Oh, she hoped she wasn't too late. "Right, the children. The children." She bit her lip, her thoughts racing. She leaned towards the television and turned it off.

Emma scrunched up her face into a pout. "Blue!"

"Get your hands off of me!" Kevin's voice echoed throughout the loft.

Rafe picked Emma up from the couch and placed on her on the floor onto her feet. "Here, angel. Take Lauren to the kitchen. I am sure your Auntie Livvie left a few cookies out for you and Lauren to snack on." He scooped Lauren up from the floor and placed her also on her own feet.

Lucy shifted from one foot to the other, impatiently. "She did?" She questioned.

Rafe waved his hand towards the kitchen. "Now she did. Go on, sweetie. Help Lauren." He shared a look with Lucy. Lauren wasn't very steady on her own feet yet. He just hoped with Emma's help, Lauren could get to the kitchen on her own two feet without any major incidences.

Emma looked up at her father with a confused look but she did as he said. She took Lauren's free hand and helped the toddling baby and bear to the doorway. "Yes, Daddy. Let's go, Lauren." She talked to Lauren as if the one-year-old could answer her back and carry an intelligent conversation. "I hope its chocolate chip cookies. They're my favorite."

As the children disappeared passed the doorway, Lucy moved across the room to the door with Rafe close at her heels. Flinging the door opened, she stepped outside to see Kevin pulling himself to his feet. He threw all his weight against Ian, knocking him into the wall opposite from her. Ian regained his balance and grabbed Kevin by the neck. Lifting Kevin up from the floor, he flung him across the hall.

Lucy screamed, her hands flying to her mouth. "Kevin! Ian! Stop this! Stop this right now!"

Rafe slipped past Lucy and moved in front of Ian, restraining him. Ian's eyes were red and his fangs bared. Kevin picked himself off the floor. He wiped blood from his lip. "And you thought I was the crazy one in this marriage?" Kevin yelled, breathing heavily. He pointed to Ian. "That is what you brought into our home . . . that monster is what you willingly brought into our children's lives. And now they will have to suffer the consequences for the rest of their lives."

Ian lunged at Kevin, Rafe held him back. "Monster! Monster? I think you are talking to the wrong person here. It's all Livvie's fault. Your daughter brought the real monster into our lives and now we are all paying for it! She brought him here! She chose to love Caleb and now look at us! We are all suffering . . . people are dying, and what for? So your daughter and Caleb can be together? Rafe ought to kill them both right now and end this nightmare." Ian roared, straining against Rafe's grip.

Kevin took a few steps forward. Lucy moved between Kevin and Ian and Rafe. "You or Rafe won't lay a hand on her." Kevin threatened.

Ian laughed as Lucy looked on nervously. "What, are you going to stop me or Rafe? You're forgetting Rafe is a vampire slayer . . . it's his job."

Kevin shook his head. "You are the one who doesn't understand . . . as long as Caleb roams this earth so will Rafe. Rafe's life rests on the balance of good and evil. When Caleb goes, so will Rafe and I have a feeling Rafe wants to watch his children grow up and grow old with his wife." His eyes locked with Lucy.

Lucy tore her eyes from Kevin and looked down onto the floor. Ian glanced at Lucy. "What is he talking about?" He asked uneasily.

Rafe stared at Kevin in surprise. "How did you know?"

Kevin smirked. "Livvie told me." He answered.

Rafe glanced over at Lucy. "Ok, ok. That's enough. Let's go. I want the both of you inside." He pushed Ian towards the door. "Go."

Ian turned around and shot Kevin an icy glare before stepping inside. Avoiding Kevin's eyes, Lucy followed, her head down.

Rafe turned to Kevin. "You might want to keep in mind that your three grandchildren are in there before you start anything up again." Kevin looked at Rafe in surprise. He opened his mouth to speak but Rafe beat him to the punch. "Don't ask it's a long story. Just keep in mind, your daughter's children are in there with their father . . . who's extremely cranky by the way. And I don't have time to play referee. I need to find Alison." He turned back inside.

Kevin followed Rafe inside.

"Don't try to make me the bad guy, Rafe, not after Ian has been mooning over Lucy for years now . . . even when the four of us were trying to work things out after this whole ring and changed reality mess. He's the one who didn't have enough respect to follow through the agreement the three of us made. He couldn't keep it in his pants. Well, at least this has the ring of the familiar to it, doesn't it? You stealing a wife of mine."

Ian stopped in the middle of the room. He whirled around to face Kevin. "You drove her away, Kevin."

Rafe sank into the couch and picked up a few sheets of the papers Alison sent to look over. "Ian, Ian, easy." He glanced over at Kevin. "And, you, you're not helping. That's enough."

Lucy wrung her hands nervously. "Ian. Kevin. Please? Just give it a rest . . . at least for now?" She pleaded, locking eyes with Ian.

Ian ignored her plead and turned to Kevin. "I'm not going to let her go without a fight."

Kevin stood in front of Ian, holding his arms out. "You want to take me out? Go ahead and take your best shot." He said, challenging Ian.

Ian throws Kevin on the ground and they continue fighting. "No problem."

Lucy threw her hands up in the air. "Come on, stop it!" She screamed.

Rafe leaped off the couch. "Hey!" That's enough!"

Casey emerged from the bedroom. "Ok, I just thought you should know Caleb- She stopped when she saw Ian and Kevin struggling on the floor.

Rafe moved to the two men fighting on the floor. "Can I get some help here?"

Casey moved to his side. Rafe grabbed Ian's arm as Ian prepared to punch Kevin. Ian threw his arm back, hitting Rafe square in the jaw. Casey's arm shot out to grab Kevin and pull him away to safety when Ian leapt up knocking her into the bar. It overturned sending glass flying around the room. Kevin saw a candlestick lying in the floor. Crawling towards it, he extended his arm towards it when Ian grabbed him the shirt and threw him into the wall. Kevin fell onto the floor in a heap. Rafe rose to his feet to defend Casey as she lay unconscious on the floor. Ian lashed out at him.

With a quick punch, Rafe reeled backwards falling into the television set. As glass scattered, a scream rang in the air. "Daddy!"

Lucy whipped her head around to see Emma standing in the doorway hand-in hand with Lauren. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Daddy! Daddy!" She moved forward, releasing Lauren's hand, her lip quivering.

Lauren lost her balance and gently sunk into the floor still clutching her bear. Her own wail was soon joined by the twins from the nursery.

Rafe lifted up his head from the floor. "Emma, stay where you are!" he commanded. He used his arms to push himself off the ground. His head was spinning.

Ian held his head. It was as if he couldn't control himself. The urge to kill was so strong. He could hardly breathe and his heart was pounding. Blood rushed to his head. He began to convulse.

Lucy moved forward to touch him but Kevin grabbed her ankle from he laid on the floor. Yanking on her ankle, he pulled her down. "Lucy, no! He's out of control."

Lucy tried to pry Kevin's hand off her ankle. "I have to! He needs me!"

With a wild roar, Ian turns over the sofa.

Kevin tried to plead with Lucy as he glanced at Emma and Lauren. Emma was trying to find a way over some overturned furniture to her father. "What he needs you can't give him!"

Rafe got to his feet. He turned to them. "He's right, Lucy. It's too dangerous." He looked over to his daughter who was trying to unsuccessfully climb over a piece of furniture. "Emma, I told you to stay where you are!"

Ian moved behind Rafe, his fangs bared.

Emma screamed and pointed behind him. "Daddy, look out!" She cried.

Ian grabbed Rafe by the throat and pushed him to the floor on his knees and he is standing over him with his fangs bared and eyes red.

Suddenly Ian flies across the room, hits the wall and lands on the floor by the fireplace.

Kevin, Rafe, and Lucy lifted their heads to see Caleb standing in the doorway of the bedroom. His own eyes red. His arm outstretched. "What the hell is going on here?" He demanded.

Lauren who couldn't see over the furniture cried out. "Daddy!"

Caleb moved across the room and pushed the furniture out of the way. Emma scurried past him in a desperate attempt to reach her father. Rafe was still on his knees, gasping for breath. She threw her arms around Rafe. Rafe wrapped his arms around Emma, soothingly. "It's ok, baby. It's ok. Daddy's fine."

Lauren lifted up her arms reaching for Caleb to pick her up. The twins' cries rang in the air. Caleb scooped her up and held her tight. "Come on, sweetie. Let's go check on your baby brother and sister." He turned to the others. His mouth in a firm line. "He'll be out for a few hours . . . but the urge is too strong . . . he'll need to feed eventually. Like I told you before, it's strong. You can't fight it." He stepped towards the hall to where the nursery was located.

Alison looked up at the sky, stunned with her friend's revelation. "Wow. So I guess in a way . . . Caleb's love really did save you, huh?" She took Livvie's hand in her own and squeezed it comfortingly. "Oh, Livvie. I think I understand what you are so afraid of. You don't want Caleb to think that your sole purpose in life was to-"

Grief, horror and guilt washed over Livvie like a waterfall. She broke down again into sobs. "Kill the man I love . . . and I am. I am killing him slowly."

Alison wrapped her arms around Livvie as she tried to comfort her friend. " Livvie-" She started.

Though grateful for her friend's comfort, Livvie pulled away from Alison as she tried to brush away her tears with her hand. "No, Alison! It's true. It's true." Her fear evident in her eyes.

Alison sighed. "Livvie-"

Livvie shook her head, determined to put everything out in the open. "I have to say this. Because of Andrei, my loving Caleb can destroy him, I mean, I am literally poisoned. I am poison to the man I love. He's going to hate me." She said, revealing her worst fear.

Alison swallowed nervously. "You love each other." She insisted. In her heart, she truly believed love could overcome any obstacle.

Livvie bit her lip. "No matter how hard I try to deny it . . . I fulfilled my purpose . . . I did destroy him, Ali! I drove a stake right through his heart! And it's because of me that he lost his legacy! Everything bad that has ever happened to him was because of me! It's all my fault. All my fault. It's all because of me . . . because I fulfilled Andrei's plan. I helped Andrei. And when Caleb finds out, he's going to hate me." She sank onto the bench, suddenly feeling exhausted.

Alison sat down next to her. "No, no. Don't say that, Livvie. He won't hate you. He could never hate you, he loves you too much." She commanded as she grabbed Livvie by the shoulders shaking her.

Livvie pulled away from Alison's grasp and buried her face in her hands, once again her shoulders shaking with her sobs. It seemed like all she did these days was cry. "He's going to think I tricked him . . . that all this time . . . it was all lies. That I never loved him . . . that I was only pretending this whole time." She sobbed.

Alison hugged her friend again and whispered. "Livvie, no."

Lucy ran to Ian's side. She pulled his head onto her lap. "Oh my God, Ian. I am so sorry. So sorry. But it's ok because I am going to make everything all right again. Ok?" She promised, smoothing Ian's hair. She kissed his forehead lovingly.

Kevin closed his eyes at the image. Opening them, he took a deep breath rose from the ground and brushed off his clothing. This was not the time to start feeling sorry for himself. He had to concentrate on his daughter. On Livvie . . . and on bringing her home. He glanced around at the room. "This is great. Just Great. Livvie's going to love this."

Rafe stood up with Emma in his arms. "If she ever comes back."

Lucy glanced up at Rafe from the floor. "What do you mean if she ever comes back? Of course, she'll come back. Livvie would never leave her children without their mother." She stroked Ian's face.

Rafe shook his head, holding Emma tight as she cried. "She would if she thought that was what was best for them. Livvie claimed she had to leave in order to keep Caleb safe . . . she thought she was protecting him."

Kevin stared at him incredously. "Protect him? Protect him from what?" He asked, taking a few steps away from Lucy and Ian towards Rafe.

Rafe shrugged. "I don't know. Caleb asked but she never answered him."

Emma whimpered, tugging on Rafe's shirt collar. "Daddy, where's Mommy?" She asked, sniffling.

Rafe sighed heavily. He kissed the top of her head. "She-she's . . . Mommy is visiting grandma." He lied.

Emma tilted her head. "Grandma? Nana Lizabeth? Why?" She asked, narrowing eyes suspiciously. Even as young as she was, she knew her grandmother wasn't a very well-liked member of this community.

Rafe smiled gently. She was perceptive, he'll give her that. But she has been through enough the past few days. She didn't need to worry about her mother too. He didn't want to burden her with adult problems at such a young age. "She's your mommy's mommy." Rafe chided.

Emma wasn't one to give up that easily. She wrinkled her nose and persisted in her questioning. "No one likes her . . . not even Mommy. She's a sorry excuse for a human being."

Rafe held back a laugh. "Where did you hear that?" He asked.

Emma looked straight into Rafe's eyes. "Uncle Caleb." She answered, defiantly.

Lucy snickered. Kevin let out a chuckle. "He would know." Kevin said, walking over to where Casey laid on the floor. He bent down and took her pulse.

Rafe winced. "Angel, don't call him that. Caleb's not your uncle. He will never be your uncle. Never say that."

Emma shook her head boldly. "That is what Mommy said to call him."

Rafe sighed. "Well, your Mommy made a mistake. She should have never told you to say that."

Emma smiled, giving Rafe a look of pure innocence, she tilted her head. "But Daddy . . . Mommy never makes mistakes. She's perfect. You said so yourself." She replied, nodding, her curls bouncing.

Kevin shook his head smiling as he helped Casey up. Casey groaned and rubbed the back of her head.

Lucy laughed. Rafe shot her a dark look. "Not funny, Lucy. HE'S NOT a member of this family."

Emma glanced over at Lucy. "But Auntie Lulu is Auntie Livvie's Mommy . . . isn't she family?" She argued.

Rafe sighed heavily.

Kevin glanced at his watch. "Rafe, it's almost eight. Why don't I take Emma back to her brothers at the villa. Eve and Serena are still there with Christina and the other children. They can watch her as you finish your work here." He offered. He couldn't stand to stay there much longer watching Lucy fawn over Ian.

Rafe nodded. "That'll be great. Thanks." He turned to Emma. "How about that, angel?"

Emma shook her head. "But I am not sleepy." She whispered, trying to cover a yawn with her hand.

Rafe smiled. "Time for bed." Kevin took Emma from Rafe's arms.

Emma yawned again and rested her sleepy head on Kevin's shoulder. "Good night, Daddy."

Rafe watched Kevin leave with his daughter. "Sweet dreams, angel."

Livvie pulled back and stood up shakily on her feet. She ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "You know what Andrei will say . . . he'll lie and say I have been working him all this time!"

Alison jumped to her feet. "Caleb won't believe that. He would never believe that." She grabbed Livvie by the shoulders and turned her around to face her. "Livvie, listen to me. The most important thing you need to do is tell Caleb the truth."

Livvie shook her head, fear gripping her heart. "I can't. I'll lose him!" Overcome with emotion, Livvie had to step back a bit.

Alison sighed heavily. "But if Andrei tells him first-"

Livvie buried her face into her hands. "Oh, God. What am I going to do?" She asked her voice full of tears. "I love him so much, Ali. I can't lose him . . . I just can't. I never felt a love like this-"

Alison smiled sympathetically. "How could you? You grew up in a lab . . . God, I can't imagine what that is like." A disturbing question hit her as they began walking again. "What-what did they do to you?" She asked, curiously.

Livvie brushed away her tears. "They-they mostly played mind games with me. When I was younger they use to put me in a container of water and all I remember is that as the water rose higher and higher I heard in the back . . . this voice echoed . . . and he wouldn't stop."

Alison tilted her head as they walked passed a frozen fountain. "Stop what?"

Livvie glanced up at the sky as small snowflakes began to fall. "Saying that nobody loved me . . . no body would ever love me . . . that I didn't deserve to be loved. He said I'll be alone for the rest of my life . . . that that was my destiny. " She confided, swallowing nervously.

Alison's hand flew to her mouth. She gasped. "Oh my God. Livvie, do you hear yourself? It's no wonder you chose Caleb over Jack . . . Caleb promised you an eternity of love and happiness- oh, I see . . . that was their point. They wanted to make you vulnerable . . . they wanted you to cave into Caleb's promises."

Livvie sighed. "And I did. But it was so much more than that, Ali." She admitted. A smile played on her lips as she thought of her husband. Livvie pictured Caleb, tall and strong. A leader. Smart and quick. She thought about the way he held her in his arms so tightly, as if she were his prisoner. And she thought about his kisses . . . exciting and frightening at the same time . . . so warm and tender at times . . . and then so passionate that he leaves her breathless. "Oh, it was amazing, Ali. The way he would talk to me, the way he would look at me. It's like I've known him forever. It was—"

Alison finished her sentence, recalling the way Livvie described it a few years when she first met Caleb. "Nothing you've ever experienced before."

Livvie nodded. "And never will again. I-I can't imagine a life without him . . . without his love." She brushed away her tears.

Alison shook her head. "I know. Livvie, I don't think they expected you to fall in love with him. Remember? Your love brought him back to life . . . twice. I bet they didn't expect that. Andrei wanted him dead but you kept bringing him back to life." She pointed out.

What Alison said made sense. But Livvie still couldn't shake off her fear. "No, I guess not. And I do love him. I love him so much . . . Ali, I am so scared. What if I lose him?" She asked, biting her lip to keep from crying . . . again. All she has done the last few days was cry and she was tired of it.

Alison took Livvie's hand and squeezed it comfortingly. "Don't worry Livvie. I'll help you . . . if our plan works . . . Caleb will never have to know. Your secret will be safe forever." She sighed. "If you have any doubts, now's the time to speak.

Shivering, Livvie pulled her coat closer to her body. "I don't. It's just a little scary, that's all."

Alison smiled sympathetically. She buried her hands into her coat pockets. "I wish there was another way, but we both know Caleb can't do it . . . it's against their rules. And Rafe . . . this is my battle . . . not his. Are you sure you are up to this?" She asked.

Livvie hesitated. "It's worth the risk if it ends this."

Alison nodded. She completely understood. "Good. Now all we have to do is discuss how."

Livvie gestured to Alison's purse. "What about what's in your purse?" She suggested.

Alison thought about it for a minute before finally deciding against it. "No. No. It's too risky. I could hit you . . . besides what if someone hears it . . . I don't want to attract any unwanted attention."

Livvie went through the list in her head. "Something a little more subtle?" She asked.

Alison nodded.

Livvie slipped her hand into her coat pocket and pulled out a small vial of a dark red substance. "Like a liquid?"

Alison gasped and snatched the vial from Livvie's hand. She stopped walking. Livvie slowed to a halt next to her. Alison turned to face Livvie. "Oh my God. I don't believe it. Where-where did you get this?" She stammered, staring at Livvie in awe.

Livvie shrugged. "I found it."

Alison tilted her head. She raised her eyebrows at Livvie, frowning slightly. "You found it? Yeah right. Please, who do you think you are talking to?" She frowned.

Livvie crossed her arms across her chest. "I did." She insisted, hugging herself.

Alison laughed. "I don't believe you. You're telling me this just fell into your lap?" She asked.

Livvie closed her eyes and took a deep breath to soothe her frayed nerves. "Yes . . . I was cleaning and-"

Alison stopped her mid-sentence. "Cleaning! You found this while cleaning? Are you telling me Caleb just left this somewhere laying on the floor in the loft where Lauren could have easily picked it up? No. I don't believe it. I don't believe you."

Livvie sighed and looked down at her feet guiltily. "I took it as a precaution." She whispered.

Alison grabbed Livvie by the shoulders and shook her. "Oh my God, Livvie! Have you lost your mind! Haven't you learned your lesson by now! You stole this from Caleb! Didn't you? Didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?" Alison demanded. Livvie remained silent. Alison shoved Livvie back. She slapped her own forehead. "I can't believe you!"

Livvie looked up at Alison with angry tears in her eyes. Her voice rose. "I had no choice!" She cried. She turned around and took a few steps forward. "I had no choice!" Livvie repeated. She turned to face Alison. She pointed towards the docks. "I love that man! I love my children! I would protect them with my life. MY LIFE, Alison! If there ever came a time when their lives are at risk . . . I wouldn't hesitate to use this, Alison. Not for a second."

Alison sighed, defeated. "Ok, ok. I see your point. But, Livvie, if Caleb finds out-"

Livvie shook her head. "He won't. He won't." Her words failing to project the confidence she was trying to maintain.

Alison shot Livvie a baffled look. "How can you be so sure?"

Livvie tore her gaze away from Alison. "I-I replaced it." She bit her lip nervously.

Alison repeated Livvie's words. "You replaced it."

Livvie nodded. "The vial."

Alison stared at her incredously. "You replaced it with an empty vial." She tried to keep a straight face. "A-an em-empty vial?" A giggle escaped from her mouth. Livvie shot her an icy glare. "An empty vial?" She laughed. She reached over and tugged on a lock of Livvie's hair.

Livvie slapped Alison's hand away. "What are you doing?" She asked, curiously.

Alison suppressed her laughter. "Just making sure you are still a brunette."

Livvie stared at her. "Why?"

Alison shook her head amusedly. "Because that is one of the stupidest things you have ever done! Did you have a blonde moment maximus or what? Seriously, Livvie, what the hell were you thinking?"

Livvie glared. "I didn't! I found it while I was doing the laundry . . . Caleb walked in looking for the shirt he had left it in so I did the first thing that came into my mind . . . I slipped the vial into my pocket . . . and . . . and-"

Alison narrowed her eyes. "And you slipped another into his pocket."

Livvie swallowed nervously. "Not exactly."

Alison sighed. "Livvie, what did you do?"

Livvie looked down at her feet. "I-I seduced him."

Alison nearly snorted. "You did what?"

Livvie shrugged. "I didn't know what else to do! What? Do you think I carry empty vials in my pocket every day? No. So I had to buy myself some time . . . not that that was the worse thing to do in the world." She admitted.

Alison took a deep breath. "And-and Caleb didn't notice?"

Livvie shook her head. "No, because the next day I told him I found a vial in his pocket and I placed in the safe for safe-keeping."

Alison frowned. "How-how long have you had it?" She asked.

Livvie thought back. "About a month. It was right before Caleb left for Romania and right after I found out Matthew was Brian." She changed the subject quickly. "So how are we going to do this?"

Alison hesitated before answering. She knew that this will be awfully hard on her friend. She can't possible imagine what she was going through. She hated to ask her to do this. "Livvie, I-I just need to know how far you are willing to go- I mean . . . God, I am sorry. I shouldn't ask you this . . . it's just too disgusting . . . I-I can't ask you to-"

Livvie finished her sentence. "Play a game with him?" She whispered. Livvie took a breath shaking away the horrible memories. "Alison . . . as I said before . . . I'll do whatever it takes to put an end to this nightmare. And I will." Her voice shook with emotion.

Alison hugged Livvie. "Thank you."

Livvie spotted a familiar face in the crowd coming towards them. "Alison, thank me later. We got company." She saw that Jamal was looking around at the people milling around them, maybe he hasn't seen them yet. "Jamal's coming straight at us. Back up slowly and don't make any sudden movements, maybe he hasn't seen us yet."

Suddenly Jamal looked straight at them. Alison gasped. "He saw us!"

Livvie grabbed Alison's arm and pulled her in the opposite direction. "This way!"

Jamal chased after them, he began to push through the crowd to get to them. "Livvie! Alison! Wait! Come back here!"

As Lucy finished cleaning up the last of the broken glass, Caleb walked in with Lauren. Casey, Rafe, and Kevin were no where to be seen.

Caleb glanced at where Ian sat on the floor still unconscious, his back against the wall. His hands and feet restrained. "You're lucky I don't sue you for destruction of property." He commented causally.

Lucy rolled her eyes. She straightened up. "Now why would you want to do that when you could just as easily snap your fingers and the place will be just how you left it."

Caleb smiled. "Now why would I want to save you the hassle of cleaning up after yourself . . . or the mess you call your life."

Lucy smiled just as sweetly. "Because you don't have the time to torture me . . . not with your wife is missing."

Caleb shot her an icy look and waved his hand. The room returned to its original state. "The band should be here soon. Can you watch Lauren for a few minutes while I go make a few more phone calls?" He asked.

Lucy shrugged. "Sure." She moved to stand right in front of Caleb. "Come here, Lauren."

Lauren as if sensing what was to occur, turned her head away, threw her arms around Caleb's neck, and buried her face into his shoulder. Caleb kissed Lauren's hair and whispered soothingly. "Daddy got to go for a few minutes. Grandma will take care of you until I come back. I'll be right back. I promise. "

Lucy winced slightly at being called "Grandma." She didn't think she'll ever be use to anyone calling her that. She's not old. Lucy smiled at the child as she pried Lauren's fingers from Caleb's shirt collar and pulled the child away. "That's right, sweetie. Come on. Come to Grandma."

Caleb ran a hand through his hair. "Thank you."

Lucy bounced Lauren up eliciting a giggle from the child. "No problem. Say bye Daddy. Bye Daddy. Say bye Daddy."

Lauren giggled as Lucy picked up her hand and waved it. "Bye Daddy." She chirped.

Caleb forced a smile. "Bye, princess. I'll be right back." Caleb turned and disappeared into the bedroom once again.

Lucy sat Lauren down on the couch and turned on the television. "Now, let's see what's on TV? How about the teletubbies?" She asked.

Lauren shook her head. "No."

Lucy changed the channel. "Dora the explorer?"

Lauren repeated her earlier answer. "No."

Lucy frowned. "Bear in the big Blue House?"

Lauren shook her head again, her curls bouncing. "No."

The front door opened and Rafe walked in followed by Kevin. Rafe held a small bag in his hand.

Lucy stood up. "Did you get it?" She asked, hopefully, hanging Lauren the remote to play with.

Lauren began to press random numbers on remote. Foxes in the wild. A documentary on the exhumation of King Tut's body from the pyramid. The Weather channel.

Rafe nodded. "It's all here." He placed the bag on the table. Opening the zipper, he pulled out a syringe filled with a red liquid.

A wave of relief swept over Lucy. "Is Chris sure this will work?" She asked, praying this could help the man she loved.

Rafe moved to where Ian laid unconscious. "There is only one way to tell." Rafe rolled up Ian's sleeve and injected the syringe into his arm. Straightening up, he turned back to Lucy. "I hate to say this, Lucy, but Caleb's right . . . the water won't be able to sustain Ian for much longer . . . his urges are getting stronger by the day . . . he's eventually going to have to feed . . . on someone."

Lucy sighed. "No. He-he won't." She shook her head. No. She wouldn't . . . she couldn't believe it. Ian had already suffered long enough. He didn't need this. THEY didn't need this. "No. He's strong . . . he'll fight it."

Rafe sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Convincing Ian to perpetuate this horror would be hard enough, he needed Lucy to support him on this. Rafe searched for some middle ground they could both consent to. "Look, he-he doesn't have to feed on another human being . . . there's always a vampire he could feed on and then he could go in the spring and be cured. No one gets hurts and Ian returns to the way he was . . . before Elizabeth." Rafe explained, hoping Lucy would listen to reason. Then again when was anything about Lucy logical or rational?

Lucy sank into the soft cushions of the sofa next to Lauren who continued to play with the remote. Arthur. X-Files. ABC News. Britney Spears singing Toxic. "I-I can't ask him to do that . . . it goes against everything he believes in. Don't ask me to ask him to do that." She pleaded. Frustrated with the television, Lauren looked up at the adults in childhood curiosity.

Kevin frowned and shared a look with Rafe. "Lucy-"

Lucy interrupted. "I said no. I won't ask him to do that for me. I-I can't ask him to give up his soul for us to be able to have a normal life." She vowed firmly.

Suddenly a loud evil heckle vibrated throughout the room. Lauren dropped the remote control in her surprise. Looking up at the television, she saw a chain-saw murderer attacking two blonde cheerleaders. Lightning struck and the bloody murderer's shadow hung over the girls like a black veil. The girls screamed in their fear. Lauren promptly burst into tears.

Rafe snatched the remote from the floor and turned off the television. Lucy pulled Lauren on to her lap. "Ssh. Ssh. It's alright. It's ok. It' ok. See? All gone. He can't hurt you. He can't hurt you."

Ian groaned. Kevin, Lucy, and Rafe turned their heads to look at him. Ian shook his head drowsily. "What happened?"

Lucy shared a look with Rafe. They both glanced at Kevin. Kevin eyed them warily. Lucy smiled at her ex-husband. "You know I bet Lauren could use another cookie. Huh?" She looked down at Lauren whose tears were beginning to dry on her cheeks. "How does that sound? Do you want to have a cookie with Grandpa?" Lucy asked.

Kevin looked from Ian to Rafe and Lucy. So this is the way they were going to play it, he thought. They could just brush him off as nothing . . . just a mere inconvenience. And they were using his granddaughter to do it. How low could they possibly go?

Fine. If that's how they wanted to play . . . no problem. He was game. He'll be ready for them . . . one way or another. Kevin forced a smile and kneeled down in front of Lauren and Lucy. "How about it, sweetie?" He asked. "Would you like a cookie?"

Lauren rubbed her eyes, not really sure what to do. She has been passed off to so people in the past 48 hours. She didn't know who she should go to. Despite her confusion, she nodded. "Kay." Shooting Ian a contemptuous look, Kevin picked his granddaughter up and carried her away to the kitchen.

Lucy and Rafe stood up and moved to Ian's side. "How do you feel?" Lucy asked worriedly, taking his hand squeezing it.

Rafe began to untie his restraints. "What is the last thing you remember?" He pulled away the ropes from Ian's hands and moved to do the same to his feet.

Ian rubbed his wrists. He shook his head. The memory was foggy. "Kevin- we were fighting. Did I attack him?"

Rafe straightened up and moved back towards the couch where he picked up the sheets of paper Lucy had re-arranged after the fight. He sank into the sofa and began to look through them once again hoping to find some clue to Alison's whereabouts.

Lucy helped Ian to his feet. She smiled encouragingly at him. "It doesn't matter . . . Kevin's just a little stressed out now. He-he's worried about Livvie . . . and he just lost control . . . just like you did." She kissed him gently on the lips.

Ian sighed and ran a hand over his face. "I can't live my life like this." A sharp pain sliced through his body. He shuddered, groaning.

Rafe looked up. "Lucy, I am sure Caleb has some of his special water in the refrigerator. Why don't you go and pick some up?" He suggested.

Lucy rubbed Ian's shoulder comfortingly before turning to leave the room. One minute later, she returned with the blue bottle in hand. "Take it easy. You look like you are about to explode." She offered him the bottle.

Ian hesitated.

Rafe glanced over at them. "Yeah, or have an afternoon snack." He commented causally.

Rafe's comment hit its mark and Ian snatched the bottle from Lucy's hand and drank all of its contents in one huge gulp. Rafe looked surprised. "You know that stuff is not like candy . . . you can't just gulp it down . . . you need to sip it."

Lucy slipped her around Ian and led him to the couch. "Sit. Relax." She cooed.

Ian shook his head. "I can't live like this anymore. I just can't."

Lucy sighed heavily. She hated this. She just wanted to be free to live a life with the man she loved. But as he was right then . . . that was impossible. "You have no choice you know right now."

Ian took Lucy's hand and looked into her eyes. "I don't even know who I am anymore. I would have killed Kevin if you wouldn't have stopped me."

Lucy squeezed his hand. "You wouldn't have done it. That was the -

Ian interrupted her. "I could almost taste it . . . the blood . . . the power. I-I couldn't constrain myself."

Lucy bit her lip. "Well . . . maybe . . . maybe you need to take the water in smaller doses . . . so that it would have a longer effect. I-I mean in the rare times when I have seen Caleb and Livvie drink this . . . they'll carry the water around all day but they'll take a few sips every now and then. Maybe . . . maybe you shouldn't chug it-"

Ian snapped at her. "And when was the last time you seen Caleb pick up one of these bottles . . . huh? He doesn't have to, does he? Why? Because his wife is his constant blood supply . . . and he'll never run low because he controls her. The girl doesn't have a mind of her own. She's like a puppet on a string." He rose from the couch and started to pace around the room. He gestured to the bedroom. "No wonder he's in a bad mood. He's been just losing his mind because he just lost the quick fix to all his problems! A pretty little bandage who satisfies all his cravings and desires. And that is not how I want us to be, Lucy! I WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU AS A MAN . . . NOT A BLOODY BEAST . . . I AM TIRED OF USING WHAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE A BEAUTIFUL THING AND TURNING IT INTO SOME DRUG! I don't want to make love to you to stop urges. I - I'm - I don't want to turn something beautiful into a prescription !" He roared.

Lucy winced and glanced towards the bedroom, hoping Caleb hadn't overheard their conversation. She already had one cranky vampire on her hands . . . she didn't need two in addition to a testy vampire slayer.

Rafe sighed. "Ian, you need to get a hold of yourself. Livvie and Caleb . . . I won't pretend that I understand them or what they have but what I do know and understand is that your situation is different from theirs. They have learned to control their urges . . . control these desires. You obviously haven't . . . and you won't be able to . . . at least until you have fully accepted what you have become."

Lucy gasped. "That is what Caleb said."

Ian turned to Lucy. "What? You talked to Caleb . . . about us? His voice reflecting his disgust and disbelief.

Lucy blushed. "Well, yeah. You see . . . I was curious about vampire's feeding habits . . . and you know it's not like vampires line up to talk to me when we meet face to face . . . so you know . . . I needed to speak to one . . . any one . . . and I-I just thought who better than my very own son-in-law. It kinda makes things easier for me you know since I am not on the vampire downlow or whatever the kids are calling it these days." Her words rolled off her tongue and came out in one huge breath.

Ian placed his hand over his eyes. His body began to shake.

Rafe looked at Lucy. "Lucy, I think that maybe you should go get some more of that water." He suggested watching Ian's composure drain away."

Lucy nodded. "Ok. " She left the room again.

Maria removed a black velvet tablecloth from the bureau. Opening up its fold, she inspected the cloth. As she fingered the fabric, she came upon a few wrinkles. She furrowed her brow in disgust. The new maids were so lazy . . . especially with the ironing. Well that can be quickly remedied. Perhaps she'll let them off with a warning this time. After all, they have only worked in the Manor for a little over 200 years. They were young . . . they were still learning. However, that doesn't mean they'll escape from her famous lecture of responsibility. She called out to the kitchen. "Girls, come here."

A group of ten girls emerged from the kitchen where they had been helping the cook. "Now-" She began.

Suddenly she was interrupted by a loud booming voice. Roderick chased after Andrei, following him down the stairs. "DON'T YOU DARE WALK AWAY FROM ME WHEN I AM TALKING TO YOU!" He bellowed sending the young maids scurrying from the main hall to their hiding places. Only Maria remained rooted to her spot.

Andrei stopped and turned to face his enraged father. "Of course not, Father, I wouldn't dream of it." He answered, smiling glibly. Annoying his father was one of his favorite past times . . . besides torturing his brother of course. A sly smile played on his lips as he gazed at his father in idle amusement.

Noticing Maria's presence in the room, he winked broadly at her. Maria bristled indignantly and crossed her arms in front of her chest. The little heathen. May God smite him.

Roderick grabbed Andrei by the front of his shirt. "Don't get smart with me, boy." He warned, his eyes red with rage.

Maria smiled inwardly. Maybe the little monster will finally get what coming to him after all these years.

A loud squeaky voice echoed throughout the hall. "Roderick! What do you think you are doing?"

Roderick and Andrei raised their eyes to the stairwell. Clara flounced down the stairs, scantily clad in a deep purple silk dress, her ample bosom heaving (perhaps to the point of even popping out) against the low-cut neckline.

Maria sighed heavily. Scratch that. As long as the Wicked Witch of the West reigned, Andrei will remain safe from his father's wrath. She frowned, repulsed by the scene unfolding before her. Clara sidled up to her fiancée. Laying her hand affectionately on his shoulder, she smiled disarmingly at her lover.

Roderick forced a smile and released their son. Andrei smirked and straightened his shirt. "Thank you."

Clara rubbed her body against Roderick. "My dear, you look upset. Is something wrong, my pet?" she cooed.

Maria stifled a snort. Clara turned her head and shot the housekeeper a scathing look.

Maria's opinion of her new mistress and son were no secret to anyone. To Clara's annoyance, Roderick allowed it. Maria had worked for the family for over eight centuries. She was devoted to the family. Roderick trusted her . . . not her opinion . . . wholeheartedly.

Roderick's demeanor softened slightly. His eyes returned to his original color. "Nothing, my darling. I was just having a small discussion with our son." He answered.

The front door swung open and Alexandra strode into the room. "Then you might want to concentrate on using smaller words." She advised.

Andrei glared at her. Clara tensed up. Roderick wore an expression similar to that of a child's when he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Alexandra smiled warmly at Maria as she removed her coat. "Maria, would be a dear and scrounge up a few rags to cover up the cold-blooded reptile parasite permanently attached to my husband horizontally as well as vertically?" She asked the trusted housekeeper with a smile earning a contemptuous look from Clara.

Maria nodded, thrilled. Things were going to get interesting. She moved to the bureau where she removed a cloak from its folds. Clara snatched it from the housekeeper's hands and Roderick helped her slip it on.

Clara glared at her rival. "What are you doing here?" She asked, sniffing haughtily.

Maria returned to her place by Alexandra's side. In Maria's opinion, Alexandra's allusion of Clara as a leech was right on the nail.

Alexandra rolled her eyes. "I live here, Clara, in case you have forgotten."

Clara squeezed Roderick's arm. "Not anymore. According to snookums, I am the new mistress of the Manor." She smiled, returning Alexandra's false sweetness.

Alexandra shook her head. "Uh-huh. Roderick has been disowned. Remember? Mother Morley has named Caleb as her successor. And accordingly, Olivia is the new mistress of the Manor. And it is her wish that I remain in the place I have called home for over 400 years. In fact, the two of you shouldn't even be here."

Ignoring his wife's question, Roderick turned to his son. "I am still waiting for an answer." He wanted the truth and he wasn't going to let Andrei leave without telling him it.

Andrei smiled innocently. "Answer what?"

Roderick's anger returned. "Did she know? Did Olivia know she was a part of your plan to destroy your brother?"

Andrei opened his mouth to answer when Roderick cut him if. And if you ask me what so help me God, I'll-"

Alexandra held up a hand stopping him. She looked Andrei straight in the eye. "Tell him the truth."

Andrei laughed. "Or what . . . what?"

Alexandra placed her hands on her hips. "You lie and you'll find out." She threatened.

Andrei exaggerated a sigh. "You people bore me. Lucky for you, I am tired of this game. I have more important matters on my mind. Fine. You want to know the truth? No. Livia did not know . . . she was completely unaware of my ministrations of her life. And she was the perfect pawn too. Her family tree is a fruit tree. The doctors had no trouble manipulating her . . . always eager to please . . . I mean, she's a treat, isn't she? Hmm? Caleb had good taste. And it doesn't even matter if he finds out. Sure, he'll be angry at first. But knowing Livia . . . I'll bet the charming little vixen will convince Caleb to forgive her. . . Livia can be quite persuasive when she wants to be. My little treasure will never take her hooks out of her husband. You know, you must never underestimate the power of a dark soul, especially when wrapped in a beautiful package."

Roderick frowned. "You're pretty sure about that, aren't you?"

Andrei smirked. "I'm even more sure of her. Livia will never let Caleb go." He laughed. Suddenly his smile faded. His expression turned serious . . . almost petulant. He frowned and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "You know, my plan was perfect . . . it was really. I prepared for every possible scenario. I didn't want anything to go wrong. But the one thing I didn't prepare for . . . the one thing I thought that wasn't even a possibility . . . happened."

Alexandra smiled broadly. "She fell in love with him."

Andrei made a face. "Ugh. She had so much potential too and she just threw it all away. She ruined it. She ruined everything . . . but my fight isn't with her . . . it's with Caleb."

Alexandra frowned. "Then why are you willing to tell the truth all of sudden?" She asked, suspiciously.

A smile returned to Andrei's face. "Because I already got my revenge . . . Livia will never forget the night we shared . . . and neither will Caleb. He will always know it was because of him. He will always know he's the one responsible for bringing me into her life. He's the reason she had to suffer. He's the cause of all her pain . . . and Caleb will always blame himself. The guilt will always be there . . . and sooner or later it will eat him up inside . . . because he will always wonder if she blames him . . . if she resents him for putting her in that situation. And I will always be there in some way or form. "

Clara grinned broadly. She gazed at her son affectionately. "I am so proud of my little boy."

Andrei smirked in response. "And when I am done . . . Alison will be mine . . . just as it should be. She'll be my wife in every sense of the word."