*~Strike~*
In the middle of the night, Todd, Caleb and Kharis chose to strike. In the process, Marty had been taken from Victor. Wrenched from his arms, Marty didn't know what to think. She was brought back to the underground lair and led into Todd's chamber.
"Todd will be here soon," Kharis promised after she got Marty to safety.
"Where's Victor?" Marty asked as tears stung at her eyes. As much as she wanted a reunion with Todd, she didn't want anything bad to happen to Victor.
Todd walked in and saw Marty seated on the edge of the bed. "Leave us," he demanded of Kharis.
Kharis said nothing as she departed. She hoped that Todd wouldn't unleash his fury onto Marty. It couldn't have been easy on him to have found the woman he loved lying in his enemy's embrace.
"Todd, please -!" Marty cried out, but Todd interrupted.
"Worried about my brother, Marty?" he asked. "Well, you won't have to worry long, because my intentions are to kill him."
"You can't kill Victor. He's your brother! And I love him!"
Todd was horrified. He clenched his fists in fury, but when he saw Marty's tears, he softened. "Victor will suffer for taking you away," he uttered before he left the room.
He stepped into the hallway and gave Caleb specific orders not to kill Victor, but to lock his brother a cage. Standing in the doorway, Marty overheard their conversation. As Caleb walked away to do as Todd demanded, Marty choked on a sob. She begged Todd to relent and set Victor free, but he refused.
"Be glad I didn't kill him. I still might... for taking you away from me... and making you LUST for him!"
"I don't lust for him... I love him... just as I love you."
"What are you saying, Marty?"
"I love you both," Marty informed him.
