Chapter Four

Preparations were made, the Valentine house was barricaded immediately, Nate Valentine zoomed around the house, his body blurring as he snapped the windows the shut and bolted the doors. He murmured under his breath, his eyes half closed as he held his arm up. Robbie watched as the marking on the palm of his hand glowing a dazzling green, threads of light shimmered in the air, swirling to create the outlines of a padlock, the electricity flickered under the power of the incantation, light bulbs cracked, sending sparks cascading from the ceiling, Robbie could sense the thin veil of protection that now surrounded the house, and he had to admit, it was rather impressive magic for someone who turned their back on his own kind. Rolling his eyes at the immense power of the eldest Valentine child he carried the small girl that was wrapped in his arms up the staircase, he did not want to be in the company of Nathaniel Valentine, especially when he had done the unspeakable; he had contacted Caterina Valentine without his permission. As he reached the top step he paused, his eye flicking to each door, determining which room would most likely belong to her. Instinct told him the door at the end of the hall, the one with bright red door with the painted paw-mark embellished on the centre was hers; because how could it not be? He was not disappointed, he was instantly blinded by the eruption of colour that greeted his eyes when he snapped the lights on. He had stepped into the mind of the child, soft toys covered the light pink covers of her princess bed. No better yet; the room depicted what Robbie imagined the inside of her heart may look like; all bright pinks and red, completely with childish posters and toys. Flicking the covers back with the swish of his forefinger he lay the child down on her bed, she sighed as her body hit the pillow. Robbie chuckled lightly as he watched her toss on the bed, immediately her body was twisted into an odd angle, but she did not seem to mind or care. Restless he thought; at least she had not lost that natural instinct. Fighting the urge to sweep the hair from her face, he pulled the covers back over her.

"Are you done creeping on my sister?" Nate Valentine was leaning against the door frame, his nostrils flaring at the sight of this creature so close to his baby sister.

The tops of his ear turned red as he glanced around the room, his eyes landing on a photo of the redhead, she looked ecstatic and her dainty arms wrapped around a pretty brunette. The pair each had a mic, they appeared to be singing on a stage. His perceptive eyes zoned in at the corner of the photo, at the small glint of purple in the corner; a stuffed giraffe, the one the redhead always seemed to carry. Closing his eyes, he used the last of his energy to retrieve the plush toy that the girl had left behind in the wreckage, he smiled when he saw the giraffe materialise by her side.

A large hand gripped the back of his jacket and pulled him out of the room; it would seem Nate Valentine had endured enough of his "kindness" towards to his sister. Nate could feel the weakness of the curly-haired boy as he pushed him into his bedroom, the bags under his eyes more prominent than before. Slamming the door shut, he dimmed the lights with a flick of his hand, the doorknob glowed a furious red when he let it go.

Robbie glanced at it and frowned, "Now Nathaniel, I was not planning on running away on you." He replied, his voice weak from exhaustion.

Nate did not bother replying, instead he crouched down and began to pull the floorboards up, underneath them was a mountain of vials, so many that Robbie's mouth began to water just thinking about tasting one of them, he licked his lips in anticipation, it never occurred to him that Nate would be a master in potions. Nate downed one of the vials, his eyes luminous as the effect of the vial took over. The protection enchantment he had placed around the complex had drained him, it had been so long since he had attempted to use magic, he knew the cost of using it. Just one flask was enough to give him strength that he would most certainly need if his sister was to be protected over the night. The feebleness of the boy did not go unnoticed by the older Valentine, he noted how his body was slumped against the wall, his knees shaking as he stared at the vials. Rifling through them he found the one that he would need, and dangled it teasingly under his nose.

Tucking the small vial into his shirt pocket, he sneered at the boy who was panting, his energy fading quickly. His voice was cold as he scolded the younger boy, "Why couldn't you just stay away, I was handling this without you, she has been under my sole protection for the past six years! I told you when I saw you a month ago under no circumstances where you to contact her, and now I discover you went to her school? The humans already think she is clinically insane! I do not need you adding to this, they are just one step from taking her away from me. Do you understand what I mean, our protectors have discussed sending her to the institution! How dare you intercept-"

"I saved her life!" He argued as he slumped to the ground, he needed to rest, so badly that he could feel his head drooping, but he would not let Nate bully him, no matter how low his ranking was compared to him, "Her therapist was killed three weeks ago."

His eyes closed shut; he heard Nate curse as his mouth was pried open, the sweet nectar dripping down his throat. Instantly he was rejuvenated, his eyes snapped open, his hand crackled as he stood back up. Wiping the nectar that had escaped from his mouth and was dribbling down his throat he reluctantly thanked Nate, who was sitting on the small sofa in his room.

"Do not thank me." He retorted, his voice so acidic that his saliva could burn through metal, "I only brought you back because I need you to tell me what you know."

Robbie held out his hand, Nate arched his eyebrow in uncertainty, "There is no way they bestowed that power on you. The elders would not waste such a rare power-"

"Just take my hand!" Robbie snapped, "I do not have time for this, the sooner you take my memories, the sooner I can leave."

Nate rose from the seat and grabbed his hand, gasping in surprising at the effect that dominated his body. It was as if the building had been made from a large sheet, one that Robbie had whipped away to reveal a park at twilight, one that Nate had never been to before, the sun was setting, creating a peaceful ambiance as the sky was diluted with soft pinks and purples. It would have been a nice night just to lie on the grass with someone, to enjoy the serenity that this scene created. Then he saw Dr. Morgan, the real doctor Morgan, who successfully suffocated whatever connotations Nate had about peace, for she was terrified, screaming for help as she approached them. Together they watched as ran through the park, her head whipping back every so often to see what was following her. Even from this distance, Nate's sonic hearing could pick up the frantic beating of her heart and her rapid breath. Then she cried out; it was as if someone had shoved an ice cold blade into his ear, it was heart breaking to hear the woman plead for life as the monster leaned over her, Robbie urged Nate to walk forward.

"This is only a memory." He reminded him, "We cannot be hurt."

"You were here?" his voice was barely a whisper, "You let her die?"

Robbie sounded regretful as he watched her struggle, knowing that the end for this woman was soon, "There was nothing I could do, I was under strict orders to protect the entrance, I could not leave my post."

Nate watched, his stomach twisting and turning as one of the fallen leaned over her and pulled her heart from her chest. He had never seen a fallen in person, only in the textbooks they received when they went through the change, she was so horrid, yet so beautiful that it was completely unfathomable. The power that they had over the mind was astonishing, really the woman did not stand a chance, their powers of seducing the senses were too great. Licking her lips with anticipating, her sharp fangs bit into the heart of the woman, moaning at the euphoria she felt from her first feed in centuries, she devoured the heart in three bites. Tilting her head back, Nate found he could not tear his eyes away as the change happened, the black angel began to shrink, her pale skin flushed with colour and she laughed harshly, it was a sound that could pierce skin. Standing before them was Dr. Morgan; only it was not her. It was a monster using this poor woman as a disguise. With a snap of her fingers the real Dr. Morgan seemed to sink into the ground and Nate knew exactly where the woman was headed.

"This is horrible." Nate mumbled, "Three weeks Cat was in the presence of that woman?"

With a snap of his finger, Robbie grabbed on to Nate's arm and they were both pulled away from this memory, to the events of tonight. He yelled out as he saw his beloved sister in the corner of the destroyed room, her body crumpled into the wall as closely as she could manage. He surged forward to help her but Robbie's strong-arm pulled him back.

"This is a memory!" he grunted, as he held on to her brother, "She is not going to get hurt."

This reassurance did not make him relax, he was still tense, guilt coursing through his body as he watched Cat squawk in confusion at her hand, when it sparked and glowed, a delayed reaction from the years of repression he had placed on her. He should not have left her, he should have stayed, how could he not have known that she was in danger? He watched as Robbie ran to her aid, attempting to kill the monster with a hand crafted blade, his breathing hitched when he saw Robbie grab his sister as the exploded in a blue supernova, then all he could see was the blinding light and he was back in his room, Robbie holding his hand. Immediately he pulled his hand away, scowling at the male.

"You need to leave." He warned the Shapiro boy as he took the enchantment away from the door, "and you need to stay the hell away from my sister."

Robbie cocked an eyebrow as he rubbed his hand together, if it was not for that drink he was certain he would have passed out for a week, conjuring so much in one night was difficult, "You know I can't do that, the bond states—"

"I severed that bond!" Nate Valentine cried out as he sent the boy flying out of the window, he breathed heavily as he smiled, he must have fallen to the ground.

Robbie smiled cockily as he appeared at the window once more, the boy was standing on the air, he hovered ten feet from the ground, appearing casual, as if he was just standing on the sidewalk.

"Are you forgetting what we are Nathaniel?" he said, as he gestured to the levitation, "Stop running from this. Your sister needs to train. Let her come with me-"

His temper flared as he rushed to the window, "You mean nothing to me and that world means nothing to us, she is safer not knowing!" He was shaking with rage, his words said with such contempt, Robbie saw his eyes flash red for a moment, "You have been stalking her long enough to realise how fragile she is, she will never be ready to face this world. She still asks me to check for monsters under the bed, for Christ's sake! The darkness of reality would kill her soul."

Robbie glared back at him, repulsed by his attitude, "You do not give her enough credit. You realise you made her weak by keeping her ignorant, you will be the reason she dies when she turns seventeen. You will bring about the destruction of our world and this one you pretend to be a part of. "

Nathaniel cried out, exerting all the force he could muster, he propelled the boy back and sent him crumpling to the ground. Robbie groaned when he hit the solid concrete below. His mouth began to fill with blood, he felt like a turtle on his back, he rolled back and forth, until eventually he was on his knees, spitting out the metallic blood on to the ground.

"Return back to your world. My sister and I will never join you." Nate spat at the boy as he slammed the window shut, the enchantment ensuring the boy would not be able to return.

With one last scathing look, Robbie got to his feet and stalked down to the end of the street. Nathaniel waited at the window, accepting that the boy had only truly left when he witnessed him dissolve into the shadows.

"""""""""""""""""""

Cat felt groggy when she woke up the next morning, which was strange considering she rose each morning with enthusiasm and energy and she always felt rejuvinated... so why was today so different?

She was at the bottom of the bed, the area where abandoned socks live. Pulling the covers up she glanced at the clock and squealed. Seven am, she was half an hour behind her schedule. Toppling out of the bed, she sprang into action, every activity had to be shortened. She did not understand it, she was always on time. It was unexplainable, she felt as if someone had opened up her head, cracked into her skull and stolen a section of her memory, because she could not recollect anything since she left Tori's house with her brother last night.

By half seven she was at the bottom of the staircase and rushed into the kitchen, her hair still tatted from attacking it with the hairdryer at full blast. She had thrown on the first thing she had seen and by her brother's expression, it was not a great look.

"Why are you wearing an orange jumpsuit?" he asked as he handed her a bowl of cereal.

"Can you give me a ride!" she exclaimed as she grabbed her little floral printed bag, "Please, please, please." she begged her small hands clamped on her brother's arms.

He chortled as he gently removed her hands, "Alright! I'll give you a lift."

Grabbing his keys, the two Valentine's quickly exited the house and jumped into her brother's car and for the first time ever, Cat found her self willing urging her brother to to drive like a maniac, she liked to arrive to school with plenty of time to spare. She groaned when her plans were thwarted by the heavy traffic jams that rush hour had caused. While they were trapped in the throng of traffic, Nate took this opportunity to study his sister. It would appear that, apart from the sudden change in dress sense it seemed that she did not remember the events of last night. Either that or she was just too scared to talk about it.

"So" he said, trying to keep his voice as neutral as possible, "What did you do last night?"

Cat glanced at her reflection in the mirror, her hair was like coils this morning, all wiry and untamed. She considered her brother's question, tried to think of what happened after Tori's house. But it was blurred, all she could think of was dark colours and the boy with the puppet.

"I don't know." she answered, her eyes furrowed as she tried to think, "I went to Tori's... But you knew that."

"Must have just passed out I guess, Tori did mention that you weren't that well." her brother responded before honking the horn impatiently, "Come on! Some of us have places to be!" he shouted at the line of traffic.

Cat pulled the ends of her hair, smiling slightly as it sprang back up, "Maybe I did. Hey, do you think I will see Robbie again today?"

Her brother frowned, "No." he answered quickly, "No remember Cat, you told me yesterday at lunch no one else could see him?"

"Oh." was all she said, her smile fading as she reached for her phone, "Yeah I imagined him."

Finally her brother pulled into the car park outside the asphalt café as the first bell rang, Cat hastily hugged her brother before racing to the back door of Hollywood Arts, she could faintly hear her brother shout something at her. But his words were lost in the wind as she skidded over to her locker, Jade was leaning against her own locker, her piercing eyes narrowed as she watched the little redhead, who was flushed from the stress of being late for the first time in her life.

"Hey Jadey." Cat said as she grabbed her books for History and Drama, "Ready to go?"

"Why are you wearing your prison uniform?" Jade questioned as she walked with Cat to Sikowitz's classroom, "In fact, why do you even still have it?"

Cat grinned as she looked down at the uniform, "It's a memory, it reminds me of my prison gang group. Remember the dance routine I taught them?"

Jade rolled her eyes as she walked into the classroom, "Sadly yes, I do remember those butch women with their awful co-ordination."

Cat pouted as Jade took her usual seat beside Beck, who already had a cup of coffee waiting for her, she beamed when she saw it, and kissed him on the cheek.

"I thought they were nice." Cat said, her reaction delayed as she sat beside Tori, who stared but did not comment on her choice of clothing.

As soon as Sikowitz flounced into the room, Cat giggled at his usual choice of clothing, the ill-fitting trousers with a shirt and a cardigan; in a way, he was almost as badly dressed as her. Before the man could even utter a word, Tori had already raised her hand, "Sikowitz can I make an announcement?"

Jade scoffed loudly, "No one cares about what you have to say Tori!"

Shooting her an annoyed glance Tori rose anyway and stepped up on to the small ledge, "As you all know tonight is HA's Homecoming Dance, so I need you to all go to the slap to vote for King and Queen!"

Her eyes were alight with excitement as she, as Jade scowled, "I take it you were nominated then Vega."

"You know I wasn't!" she said through gritted teeth, "You just said that to rub it in!"

Jade smiled cruelly, "I know, how does it feel to not be loved by the student population Tori?"

"That's enough Jade." Sikowitz cut in as he guided Tori back to her seat, "We all knew that Tori would not be nominated given the disastrous organizing of our last dance. But that is no reason to insinuated that this average-looking girl is disliked by most of the student-"

"Thanks Sikowitz, I get it!" she said, her voice strained from trying not to scream at her class.

Cat raised her hand, not waiting for anyone to address her, she began to speak, "Did you know there are no clocks in Las Vegas casinos? I know this because my Uncle Jesse brought me there and we lost all of our money. We had to hitch-hike home on the back of a truck filled with animals. I made friends with a monkey called Seymour... he didn't stay in touch."

Sikowitz sighed as the other students all placed their head in their hands, not surprised in the slightest by this random story. Cat didn't seem to notice, she pulled out her book and flicked it open, oblivious to the stares she was receiving from most of the class.

"Oh Cat." Sikowitz commented, "There is just so many things wrong with that pretty head of yours."

"""""""""""""""""

The constant snap of the camera made Cat's eyes hurt. She stood beside André as they posed for a photo under the backdrop, jumping on to his back André smiled as Cat stuck out her tongue for their couple photo. Not that they were a couple, Cat was just so forgetful, so much so that she had forgotten about the dance until Tori had mentioned it in class. In a desperate attempt to find a date she had begged André to escort her. The only reason he had agreed to take her was because neither of them wanted to enter alone. But he was pleasantly surprised that Cat was in a great mood tonight and besides, it takes away all the pressures of having to impress when you take a friend.

The music was blaring as Jade stood on the roof of Hollywood Arts, singing an original song to set off the dance. Cat screamed at Jade, applauding her as she danced beside André. She laughed when he grabbed her and spun her around in his arms. Lifting her arms out she threw her head back and screamed in delight. To her, not having her feet planted to the ground felt almost natural, sometimes she wondered whether she was not meant to be a human, maybe she was destined to be something else, to have a greater purpose.

Scanning the crowd she spotted something unexpected, Tori had just entered the dance, looking astoundingly beautiful in a skin-tight black dress, her hair voluminous and curled. But that was not what surprised Cat, what shocked her was the person beside Tori. arm was linked possessively around a handsome boy in a suit; her brother Nate.

He allowed himself to be pulled along by Tori, over to André and Cat, who was still gazing at him in wonderment.

"Why are you here?" she questioned him, her voice raised so it could be heard over the music, "You don't go here!"

Nate rolled his eyes, "I know that Cat, I graduated a year ago remember. Tori asked me to the prom and I agreed, what can I say, I love dances!"

Cat frowned in bewilderment, "But you hate dances, you always said they were a waste of time and tax payers' money on the education system."

He laughed awkwardly, before placing his hand on Tori's back, "Want to go get a drink?"

Taking his hand, she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at the pair before dragging him away. Nate glanced back at his sister, his stomach churning with worry as he lost her in the crowd. Ever since the dramatic events of last night, including the appearance of the boy he loathed, he had been reluctant to let Cat leave his sight. The memory Robbie had shown him had left him shaken, now more than ever, it was imperative that Cat did not realise who she really was, or else the consequences who be dire. That was why he had driven over to Tori's Vega's house after school had ended, pretending to be there to look for his sister. It had ended up as he had intended, using his natural charm, she asked him to the dance. The perfect cover-up for spying on his sister. Although he had to admit, he did feel slightly guilty about using the girl, especially since she was actually quite decent.

But he was here for one reason only... and it wasn't to date one of his sister's friends.

He barely paid any attention as the slim brunette lead him down to the deserted side of the school. He smiled as he stared back at Tori, she had her back against the wall. Biting her lip slightly, she stared at him zealously. Nate was not ignorant, he had been in this scenario on more than one occasion, so it came as no shock to him when the girl tried to close the gap between him and kissed him passionately.

Pulling himself away from the embrace, he said "Look Tori, don't get me wrong you are an amazing girl." He sighed heavily before continuing, "I just do not like you in that way."

"That is such a pity."

He had no time to react before she tackled him to the ground. He struggled under her surprisingly tight grip, she grinned at him, her teeth becoming more pointed and gnarled as the seconds bleed by.

"I wanted to have a bit of fun before I disposed you to my master."

A shudder ran down his spine when he heard the girl spoke, for it was not her voice anymore, it was the voice of woman from Robbie's memory. His breathing hitched as the demon tore at Tori's beautiful face, shreds of flesh flying off until it revealed the face of the fallen. She smiled at him as she leaned over to whisper in his ear.

"I gutted your friend like a fish." she murmured, her talons trailed down his arm, causing him to hiss in pain, "She tasted fine... for a human, but they all taste the same, after a few it just becomes bland. But you, you have a kind heart and you are a folk-child, now you will taste divine."

He screamed out as her talons bit down on his throat, his vision dotted black as he began to lose consciousness. With his remaining energy he stared into the eyes of his attacker, her pupils were dilated as licked her lips, he could see his own blood coursing through her visible veins.

"If only I wasn't under orders to keep you alive." she said, her voice condescending, "If your heart tastes as good as your blood, well.. I am claiming you for when your death arrives. Which it will, eventually. But for the time being you are just to precious to not be used as bait."

He lost his vision first, he was still conscious, but all that he could see was darkness. He could still hear the heavy breathing of the Fallen as she chanted an incantation Then he was sinking, like Dr. Morgan, he was being claimed by the earth. It was as if the concrete had turned into quicksand, he had no control, he was falling, very soon he would be a prisoner in hell: a ploy in their horrid plan.

He heard her scream out to him, he would recongise the call of his only sister anywhere, he wanted to call out to her, to tell her to run. But it was too late, the earth had already engulfed him. The last thing he thought before he lost consciousness was how foolish he had been to not heed Robbie's warning. He was wrong, as much as he tried to stop it, he could not run from their past, he should have told her the truth. Now she was alone, he had left his sister to die by the hand of the Fallen.

""""""""""""""""""

It all came back to Caterina like a severe case of bad whiplash; the monster from last night who had attacked her in her therapist's office was standing in front of her once more, only this time, she had taken her brother away from her. She screamed as the woman smiled at her again.

"Ah daughter of the Valentines, we meet again." she snarled, "I did not think you would be so foolish as to leave the side of your male companion."

Caterina rolled as Robbie had done yesterday, narrowly avoiding the grip of the Angel as she charged like a bull at her. She whipped her head around and grinned wickedly, Caterina could see the fresh blood on her hands and whimpered, that was the blood of her brother.

"You haven't discovered your powers yet." the woman said, as she took a tentative step towards her, "We could teach you, with our help you could be so powerful."

Caterina stepped back, her whole body shaking as she screamed one name, praying in those seconds that he did not appear that he was in fact real, despite the lies that everyone had tried to tell her.

"Robbie!" she screeched at the top of lungs as the woman dived once more, she closed her eyes and waited for the impact.

She knew it was a terrible idea, there was no way of knowng if he was even close enough for him to hear. But instinct told her that he was here to protect her, it was not by chance after all, that he burst into that office last night and saved her.

Then she was airborne, she opened her eyes and screamed as she shot up into the night sky, her ears began to pop under the intense pressure of the gravity that was trying to pull her back down. Her limbs flayed around insanely as she continued to shriek in fear.

"Oh my god!" she screeched as her school grew smaller and smaller, "I'm dead! I have died!"

"You aren't dead!"

Looking down she realised that two arms were wrapped securely around her, the only thing that was stopping her from falling and dying as she hit the ground. They were high enough now that they were concealed by the clouds that covered the sky, clouds that went against everything Cat had been taught in geography. They were not vaporous they were more like fluffs of cotten, ones that were soft to touch.

"Robbie!" she cried out, "Is that you?"

"The one and only." he grunted as he tried to keep them hovering in the same position, "Cat I need you hold on to my hand, promise me you won't let go."

Nodding her head, she grasped on tightly to the slightly clammy hand and yelled as he let go of her body. While she had expected to fall, she was extremely revealed to see she was floating. Carefully Robbie set her on top of the soft cloud, while he remained suspended in the air. He did not let go of her hand, which Cat apprechiate, it reminded her that she was not imagining this. Also she was not entirely convinced that this cloud could hold her weight.

"Robbie I don't understand!" Cat wailed, her eyes now prickling with tears, "What was that thing, what happened to my brother... why are we flying?!"

Robbie shook his head sadly, "He should have told you, I begged him to tell you but he is just so stubborn."

"Please tell me!" Cat pleaded, her eyes now overflowing with tears, "What are you?!"

Robbie sighed heavily, "It's not what am I that you should be asking, you should be asking what you and Nate both are. Cat, you are just like me, you are special."

"I know." Cat groaned, "I know because I have strange habits and problems! Is he dead Robbie! Did that scary woman kill my brother?"

He shook his head,"No. He is not dead but he has been taken captive." he sounded exasperated, "But you aren't listening. Those aren't problems, they are survival techniques... Cat you're not human."

"But if I am not a human then what I am?"

"What the Fallen said to you when you first met; a child of the fair-folk." he explained, "Cat, you are a fairy."

BOOM! Explanation!

I hope you are all enjoying reading this as much as I am enjoying writing this!

I mean seriously look at how long these past two chapters where! And yes I am going down the Angel/Fairy route because honestly no one ever does! They are seriously overlooked so I fell like we should give them a chance! :P

Anyway you know what I want in return for giving you such delicious chapters: LONG REVIEWS! :D

Love you all!

xoxoxo