Darkness. The only thing to greet Irene when she opened her eyes. Pure emptiness. She started to question if she ever really woke up. Irene motioned to stand when an invisible force around her wrist and waist keeping her in the seated position. She leaned her head back and stared at what she could only assumed was a ceiling since there were no stars.

'What did I get myself into?' She thought to herself. 'Just breath and stay calm. Remember your objective. You will get out of this and you will find Clarissa. There is no other option.'

"It seems sleeping beauty has finally awoken from her slumber." That soothing irish accent came flowing from behind her.

Instantly a bright light blinded her as a hand dropped away from the pull cord above her head. Irene lifted her head looking forward. It looked like she was in the cellar of a house. The grey stone walls reminded her of some kind of medieval dungeon. There were no windows on the walls which explained the lack of sunlight. Irene rolled her head to the left. There against the wall were the stairs to freedom.

Jim followed her eyes. "Tsk tsk tsk. Sorry darling, but there is no escape plan here. You can't be allow to interfere again." Jim placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned in close, just barely grazing her ear. "But I do have a gift for you." On the other side of her face he snapped his fingers. "Think of it as a proper good-bye."

The door at the top of the stairs creak open as the outline of Sebastian appears in the door way. A woman with just a towel covering her body is flailing around as he pulls her by the hair and shoved her down the stair. The woman toppled down the stairs and hit the floor on her stomach. The woman put both hands on the floor to push herself up. Her breath was heavy, on her hands and knees she tried to get her bearings. Her wet chestnut hair stuck to her face and shoulders. The towel hung off her waist showing the fresh lashes on her back against her light tanned skin.

Cl...Clarissa? Irene whispered soft enough that no one should have heard her. A grimace expression took over her face. Irene knew it would be bad. But she never expected to see this, one of the few people she loved being treated like THIS.

Clarissa's head jerked to the sound. She took a defensive crouch and turned to them.

"Issy?" Irene called out again.

"R...Reen?" A calm recognition came over Clarissa for a second. But the reality of the situation set in quickly. Clarissa clung to her towel and scurried over to Irene's feet. She climbed onto the chair and straddled Irene's lap. She ran her hands through her cousin's hair and placed chaste kisses on her cheeks, forehead, and nose. Leaning in her words were shaky as she whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"She came here to rescue you." Jim pulled Irene's hair forcing her head back. "What cute little nicknames you have for each other." He chuckled.

Both women glared at him. "Get you hands OFF OF HER." Clarissa screamed.

"Temper temper sweetheart. Do we need another lesson in manners tonight?" Clarissa only held her glare on him. Jim let go of Irene, placed both his hands up in an act of surrender, and took a step back.

Clarissa turned her attention back to her cousin. She smoothed the loose strands of hair back into place. "You shouldn't have come here." She placed their foreheads together. "I was handling things just fine."

"Oh Issy, I... I just wanted you safe." Irene hands were balled into fists. "I thought I could help." All she wanted in the world was to wrap her arms around her. To protect her cousin from the evil behind them.

"Well well well" Jim chimed in. "You know curiosity killed the kitty cat." Jim walked around to the side where both women could see him clearly. "You see Miss Adler came to make a trade. Her for you." Jim pointed bay and forth at the two of them. "One month like the original contract."

"No" Clarissa's eyes connected with Jim's.

He took a step towards them. "If you would let me finish." Jim ran a finger down Irene's cheek. "I graciously declined her offer." Clarissa smacked his hand away. He gave her a cocky smile. "But there were consequences to her actions. Say good bye sweetheart. You won't be seeing Miss Adler again."

Jim grabbed Clarissa's shoulder yanking her off the chair and back onto the floor. She instantly jumped up and placed herself between the two. One hand held up the towel as the other was placed on his chest. "Please. Jim. Wait. Please don't do this."

"Sorry love. Rules were broken." he shoved her out of the way. "You know what has to happen. If I let her go now she'll just come back and try to destroy our destiny together."

Clarissa sat on her cousins lap and wrapped her arms around Irene's head trying to shield her from the monster. "WAIT, wait what about a better deal?"

Jim stopped in his tracks. "I'm intrigued. Please continue."

"I...I" Clarissa was always fast on her feet when put in a corner. She knew she needed to offer him something he wanted more than the chance to quench his blood lust. She needed a juicier carrot to dangle in front of him. "I will take on her contract as well as my own." The room was silent waiting for her to continue. "That's a month and a half. 44 days. Here. With you." She forced out the words as a tear ran down her cheek.

Jim cocked his head to the side and a wide smile spread from ear to ear. "Oh babe If you wanted to spend more time with me all you had to do was say the word."

"What? No" Irene struggled underneath her. "Please you don't have to do this."

Clarissa cupped her cousins cheek in her hands. "It's okay." She placed a chaste kiss on Irene's lips. "I'll be okay. I can do this. I'll see you soon."

"But But this isn't fair."Irene shook her head out of Clarissa's hold.

"Ya know, I think she's right." Jim eyebrow perked as he pondered a moment. "Why should I spare her life for a little extra time that I won't need. You will see you love me by the end of our agreed time. There is no real benefit for me."

Clarissa rolled her eyes. She knew that was way too easy. "What do you want?" She growled.

"What I've always wanted. I want you. All of you. If I let her go I want you to stop trying to resist me. Your really starting to hurt my self esteem with your cold shoulder" Jim gave her a pouty face.

Clarissa sighed. There was no other way to guarantee her cousin's safety. "Fine whatever you want."

Jim offered his hand and Clarissa took it. He pulled her off the chair and into his embrace. "You'll see, we'll look back at this and laugh." Pushing back and looking into her face he gave her a smile and Clarissa forced the same smile on her face. Jim smile quickly faded. He raised his arm and slapped her across the face. She started to fall but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back, slapped her again, and let her fall to the ground. He climbed on top of her naked body and pinned her wrist to the sides of her head. Clarissa didn't fight or pull away. She only stared up into his eyes. Rage filled her eyes as she refused to blink away from him. Defiant to the end. "That's my girl" He kissed her forehead. "Now go get cleaned up. I will send Miss Adler on her way."

Clarissa sat up and nodded at his request. Wrapping the towel around her body she climbed the stairs. She looked back only once and only at Irene. She gave her cousin the most sincere smile she could muster and blew her a kiss good bye. This was the only way. This is for the best. Clarissa left the two alone as she shut the door.

Jim faced Irene, a blade in hand he cut the restraints. "I would like to thank you Miss Adler." He pulled off the ropes and offered her a hand up. "You have helped our relationship take the next step."

All the pieces had fallen in place. This was his plan the whole time. He knew she would come for her and he used her to his advantage. "Fuck you" She spat out. Irene stood up, straightened out her dress, and smoothed her hair.

"A car will be waiting for you outside. Try anything again and our little Issy will lose the only family she has left. Toodles."

Irene sat in the car in silence as they drove away from the mansion in the country side. She couldn't bare to look back at her failed attempt. All she had done was make things worse. Now all she could do is wait. Wait and see what becomes of her best friend.