Chapter Eight

The Search Begins

Even though Dyson, and to the surprise of Bo's misfit group Vex, were against waiting to find Cassandra's trail they didn't start looking until the next morning. This did, however, allow them to give Cassandra's scent to Dyson as Vex had changed and given the shifter his blood spattered shirt. They had agreed that Trick would be kept out of the loop as he didn't appear to be on the best terms with the Hunter.

"I thought we were going to the waterfront," Kenzi complained as her and Bo searched through back alleys near the Dal.

"Dyson thought we should search here first to try and pick up a scent," Bo explained to her friend.

"Bloody waste of time is what it is," Vex said from where he was lazily trailing behind them. "I already told you Cassandra's a Hunter, and you can't find one unless they want you too."

"Well I'm not giving up hope just yet," Bo snapped but felt her muscles contract moments later. Her body forcibly turned around and Vex was no longer a four feet away but directly in front of her.

"You listen sweetheart," Vex said lowly as his dark eyes glittered. "I'm not going to waste my time when we could be making progress elsewhere."

"You care about her," Bo said in shock. Vex released his control and stepped away with a smirk on his lips. His eyebrows threatened to disappear into his hairline as he gave her an amused look.

"You do remember who you're talking to, right sweetheart?" Vex asked. "I'm a member of the Dark, I don't have mushy feelings."

"But you do for her," Bo pressed.

"I've gotten a lot of interesting things because she worked with me," Vex explained. "I don't want to lose my best resource, now do I." While the Mesmer seemed intent on denying any attachment he may have to the Hunter, however small it might be, Bo could sense it. When he'd gotten riled up and in close quarter's with the Succubus she could feel the energy he had, and it wasn't purely sexual.

"Hey," the voice of Hale called. The three searching the alley turned to see a grim looking Hale calling to them from another alley. "Dyson's found something." They found the shifter with Vex's bloody shirt standing over several dark splatters and pools. The Shifter looked up at them and Bo felt her stomach drop.

"She's injured," Dyson stated. "and from what's here I'd say she's lost a lot of blood."

"Can't you just follow that then?" Kenzi asked.

"No," Dyson said. "There is no other blood, which means that-"

"The bloody Wraith bastard took her," Vex finished for Dyson. They had explained to the women that Wraiths could meld with shadows to become invisible in all senses. They left no trail, had no scent, and could go anywhere. As soon as the light was gone they would be forced to reappear. It was the reason most humans believed Wraiths were ghosts, and the reason they believed they were seen before death was that most could feed off it.

"We have to try the water front," Bo suggested. "Its our only other lead."

"Look, she probably isn't even in the city-"

"Hasn't stopped you lot before, has it?" Vex snapped, cutting off Hale now. The group turned to see the Mesmer was not smiling, was not laughing, but was deadly serious as he glared at them in turn. "We are finding her, and I'm going to make anyone who disagrees rip out their own heart."

XXXXXXX

Cassandra groaned as the first sensation to come to her was pain. Her eyes opened and she blinked to clear her fuzzy vision. Her head was pounding as her senses slowly became alert. Her entire being was sore and small movements sent painful jolts through her sides. She was seated, leaning upright against a cold wall with her wrists chained together above her head. Gritting her teeth against the pain she tested the strength of her bindings. The chains clanked softly but she couldn't break free. Her body would have healed what injuries it could as a self defense tactic and drained what energy she had. She was, for all intents and purposes, a prisoner.

Being thrown around and battered had been a rare occurrence for the Hunter, but being bound and held captive was entirely new. As she examined her surroundings she began to feel that she had seen it before. More examination brought about the revelation that she was in the warehouse she had planned on staying in before Darian had attacked her the first time. She had almost forgotten about it. Her collection was stored within the walls along with other tools of her trade. As she thought more about it she wasn't surprised that Darian, being a fellow Hunter, would take the warehouse as his own in Cassandra's absence. She wasn't thrilled with the fact she was being held in her own home, but at least she had some idea of how to get out again if she escaped. The likely hood of a daring escape was steadily dropping as she continued to look around the room. The sick irony was not only was the room she was in where she had kept her now slaughtered pets, but that she had had her first encounter with Darian in the room as well. The blood and bodies of her pets had been cleaned, and all of her tools for torture were clean and sharp. The walls had been reinforced, and the door was heavy steel. Various cages were scattered throughout the large room along with a steel table or two. The tables were not hers, and there were several instruments that she didn't recognize as part of her collection.

The steel door screeched as it swung open. Darian strutted into the room in jeans and a tee-shirt with a dark grin plastered to his face. Cassandra regarded him with a tilt of the head and a slight downwards pull at the corners of her lips. He approached her and knelt next to her. Cassandra, whose legs were folded beneath her and unable to kick out without effort, watched him carefully.

"Your awake," he observed and Cassandra snorted softly at the obvious statement. "I have to thank you for your generosity, I'm sure you've recognized that we're in your home."

"Always a pleasure," Cassandra said in a calm voice. Darian's smile was cruel and chilling as he reached towards her. She pressed herself against the wall unsure what to do as his hand went to her face. Cold fingers brushed her cheek and gently cupped it.

"I know your role now," he said, but the far away look in his eyes told Cassandra he was not speaking to her but to himself. "He wants you as a tool, a vessel, but I am the true disciple. His chosen. Once your role is complete, I will have a new pet for my collection." Cassandra, rather than let him stay in his dream world as a normal person may have done, bit his hand and shook her head to tear at the skin. Darian screamed a curse and used his other hand to backhand her. She released her grip and glared at him. Blood coated her chin and lips as well as stain her teeth. Her hair, which was wild from her fight with him earlier and a night spent chained to a wall, and her bright eyes gave her the appearance of a rabid animal. Darian calmed and chuckled at her.

"I'll enjoy training you, little firebird." he purred before standing. He gave her a moment of peace before he sent the first kick into her side. Cassandra grunted but refused to give him the satisfaction of a scream of cry. After a succession of a half-dozen kicks and nothing more than grunts for his effort Darian figured out her intent. With another sick smile he sent one last kick into her ribs and freed her hands. They fell limp to her sides. None of her ribs were broken as he hadn't been aiming for her to die on him, but he had intended to hurt her. It didn't take much effort to hoist her over his shoulder as she wasn't able to put up much of a struggle. She was instead laid on one of the steel tables and her limbs were strapped down. Darian selected a small blade from a display and used it to slit Cassandra's corset and the blouse underneath straight down her front. Her bra was left intact, but it offered little protection from the blade as it ran over her skin teasingly.

"How long do you think it will take to break you?" Darian asked.

"You aren't going to break me," Cassandra said. "I'm not a dog, and I can't be whipped into obedience." A hiss escaped Cassandra as the blade sliced into her side. A thin line of blood welled from the shallow cut and she locked eyes with Darian. The Hunter's eyes were completely black, and Cassandra's heart skipped a beat. The Tempore Mortis state was a weapon in more ways than one. She knew that he wouldn't stop unless she gave him what he wanted, and even then he would keep going to prove a point. The blade cut into her skin again. It wasn't deep so she didn't bleed out but it only made it all the more painful. The second cut ran down her center in a straight line. When Cassandra refused to voice her pain the blade began to go deeper into the skin. It wasn't until he began tracing patterns on her stomach that her back arched and a cry rang out. Darian grinned and continued tracing his patterns for another half-hour.

Cassandra was left pale and shivering in the room restrained to the table. Her eyes were clouded in pain as blood that was smeared on her stomach slowly dried. She could not see her stomach nor did she want to. It didn't take long for her to fall into a dreamless sleep.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Darian Grey passed through the maze of antiques and artifacts that made up Cassandra Kane's collection. He paid little attention to the items as he was on a mission. He needed to contact him. Before coming across him by chance, Darian had been nothing. He had been unaware of his potential as Fae Hunter, and he had shown him a the world he had never known existed. It was him who had trained Darian, and who had shaped him into what he currently was. The Hunter worshipped him as he owed his newfound power he had to him. When he had been asked to find Cassandra he hadn't been pleased. He had believed that he didn't think him capable of the task that was to be given to Cassandra. The reality being that Cassandra was indeed nothing but a tool for him.

Darian stepped into a back room of the warehouse that he'd cleared and hid. Chalk symbols were drawn on the ground and walls. He knelt in the center of a circle in the middle of the room and waited. He didn't keep him waiting long.

I'm back! Vacation was amazing, I'm sorry you guys had to wait for this. So... what do you think? Darian is being developed more, and I think I hit insane pretty well if I do say so myself. Cassandra is alive (do you really I'd kill her this soon? Have faith!) and the others are on the hunt.

Review! Thank you to all those who do! ~Reaperess