Initially I said this would be a 4 part story but as I continued to write it looks like I lied. So this is merely the final chapter of Part 1. So stay tuned for the beginning of part 2 and I hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

(Oh and thankyou so much for all the reviews. You're all gems).

IV : TATE

I had disappeared for a while. He had shut me out and I was left in darkness, unable to see or hear anything. It was something I had never had the power to do. When we looked through my eyes he saw everything and knew all that happened to us. It scared me to know that he could go places and do anything to the people I loved whilst he had me locked away, powerless within my own body.

I raged inside, using everything I had to battle against his control. Never before had I been able to break his hold on me, without him choosing to let me, but this time it was different. Violet gave me strength which I had never had before. Knowing she needed me drove me to fight harder.

Finally, when I broke through, we were kneeling at the end of the garden. With horror I realised we were covered in mud and there was a large hole dug in the ground at our feet. I didn't need to share his mind to know what it was for.

I was exhausted from trying to break through his hold, but seeing the dark pit, sitting menacingly at our feet gave me one last spurt of power. I was driven by fear and rage and love. With a furious cry I threw myself against his mind, pushing with all my energy. I could feel his surprise at my attack. I had never been able to do it before. But I had something he didn't. I didn't just want to be back in control, I needed it. Because Violet's life depended on me, and my whole self depended on saving her.

The surprise was to my advantage and I felt our minds shift and slip. I cannot describe the sensation of switching minds. But suddenly I was back in control, looking through my own eyes and able to move my own limbs.

I didn't give him the chance to protest. I jumped to my feet and sprinted into the house my heart thudding in my ears. Once again I skidded through the corridors of the house. This time the door to the basement was already open and I almost fell I hurled myself down the stairs so fast.

When I got to the bottom I frantically searched the room, spinning in circles and calling her name. My voice became stricken with panic as I realised she wasn't in the room. Running my hands through my hair in frustration and I finally turned to see the two little boys, the twins standing in the doorway watching me.

"Where is she!" I shouted at them, lurching forward to grab one by the collar. He didn't flinch even though I was rough.

"Don't worry. We looked after her," said his brother calmly. He turned and walked away into the darkness towards the other room. I let go of the other boy, who simply followed his brother. Stumbling through the darkness I pursued them.

When we got to the other room I fumbled around on the wall for the light switch. My hands gratefully found it and the room flooded with cold fluorescent light.

I didn't expect what I saw. All the ghosts were crowded in a half circle against the wall. The twins had joined them, standing between Maria in her blood stained nurses uniform and Nora, in her stylish, old fashioned dress. I rushed forward and pushed between them, desperate to see Violet. She was sitting slumped against the wall. Blood still ran down her neck but she didn't look as pale as before.

"Vi," I gasped, rushing forward. I gripped her by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake, holding my breath. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open and she looked at me confused.

"Mmm" she murmured, shifting her head slightly and sitting up straighter. She squinted her eyes against the light, trying to look at me. "Are you real?" she murmured.

I sighed with relief to see her eyes open. "Of course," I reassured her with a small smile. "Do you want to get out of here now?"

She gave me a weak but genuine smile. It was the best thing I had ever seen.

"Sure," she sighed, closing her eyes again briefly.

Gently I reached down and picked her up, one arm behind her knees, the other behind her back. She winced slightly at my touch but rested her head gratefully on my shoulder and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I'm going to get blood on you," she murmured into my shoulder, her eyes still closed.

"I think I can cope with that," I reassured her.

The ghosts watched us in silence, and parted to let me through, standing surrounding us almost like a procession. They had protected Violet and, whatever their other crimes were, I would always be grateful to them for that.

Holding her close I walked slowly up the stairs. I could hear shouting from upstairs and the banging of people moving about.

'Well, it sounds like her parents finally woken up' I thought to myself wryly as we walked out of the dark basement.