Part One: Alek

My head felt like it had been dumped in a bucket of ice. Words kept repeating themselves over and over in my head but I tried to block them out. Left, right, left right. Just keep moving- don't think about it, I said as I walked up the stone stairs towards our apartment. Left, right, left, ri-

'I think I'm in love with Brian.'

My hands gripped into fists and I punched a lamppost. It wobbled a little and the light went out. Oops. I quickly walked away and to the elevator.

"Left, right." I said out loud, even though I was no longer walking. My eager hands punched several buttons, and I willed the stupid cart to move faster. I had to talk to Jasmine. Jasmine was like my rock when it came to stuff like this. I knew she was on a date with Zane, but maybe- just maybe- she was home early. I knew she would calm me down.

Finally, the elevator dinged and I walked to the apartment. I opened the door.

My eyes glinted in the darkness. Two blurred shapes lay on the floor. They looked like bodies. Unmoving bodies. Before I could go to them I saw the glint of a cats eye' and turned to face-

Zane?

No. It couldn't be. Thoughts whirred through my head at a million miles an hour. Why was Zane here? Who was lying on the floor. Then my brain made the inevitable connection.

Zane smiled, as if he knew the conclusion I had come to and was proud of himself for it.

I used my night vision. Valentina's body was in an awkward position. Was she paralyzed? I smelled the poison in the air. And the blood. My eyes wandered and I fought a gasp.

There was Jasmine, her hair in her face, a single tear welling on her tan cheek as she stared, blankly at her mom.

"I'll kill you." I said, growling. I readied my claws, waiting for the attack. Ready and willing to fight back with Zane for what he had done to Jasmine and Valentina.

"Is that any way to treat your brother?"

I growled again, anger ripping through me. "You are no brother of mine."

Zane smirked. "Okay then lil' bro. Don't forget about me. Oh and tell Jasmine I said good bye, if she ever wakes up. She was a really good kisser."

"How could you, Zane? She was our cousin. They were our family."

He laughed, a laugh so similar to mine I wanted to tear his throat out.

"Is that what they told you? Ah, well. That's why I never wanted anything to do with them. They can tell you about it when they wake up. Oh, wait." He laughed to himself again and I felt my claws on my hands.

"Then I guess I'll better tell you," he continued. "Jasmine isn't your cousin. She's not related to you at all. They just told you that because they knew you would be powerful and they wanted you. I can't believe you actually believed their silly little lies." He laughed again.

This time, I didn't wait. I lunged.

In seconds, I was on top of Zane, but I could feel his strength. I fought to keep him from flipping me onto my back and reached wildly. I felt claws connect with skin and focused on Zane's face. A bloody red line zagged across his face in an almost straight line from his right ear to his chin. He gaped at me, stunned.

"And I thought you didn't have it in you, little bro. Well done." Then he pounced. I was on my back, fighting to keep his claws off my face. I managed to kick him in the stomach and with a crash he went flying through the window. I wanted so badly to hear him fall, hear him hit the ground with a solid thud, but no such noise came. I heard him scamper down the wall and disappear into the night. The coward.

My claws retracted, and immediately I was on one knee, looking at Jasmine. Valentina was long gone. I could tell. But Jasmine had short breaths in her, coming once or twice a minute. I felt the blood and the knife by her side and felt where the knife had jabbed deep into her skin.

"Jasmine?" I said, willing for my rock, my best friend, my cou… well she wasn't exactly my cousin anymore. Zane had been telling the truth, I knew it. But I couldn't deal with those facts right now.

I had to do something.