Benny's POV

"You intend to do Black Magic?" Ethan asks, hesitant. "You can barely do regular magic without screwing something up."

Benny had called an emergency meeting at Ethan's house, much to Ethan's parents dismay because of the time of morning.

Ethan was sitting on the couch, still wearing his pajamas and trying to keep his eyes opened. Sarah, however, was fully dressed, but also fighting the urge to doze off.

"Thanks for the confidence," Benny says sarcastically.

"I didn't say you couldn't do it," Ethan explains. "I'm just worried that something will go wrong like it usually does."

"That's basically saying the same thing," Benny points out.

"No, it's not," Sarah mutters, eyes closed.

The boys weren't sure whether she was sleeping or not.

Benny was getting annoyed.

"Guys!" Benny raises his voice. "Wake up! This is Abbey we're talking about!"

"Sorry," Ethan and Sarah apologize, both opening their eyes wider.

"I've tried to call Abbey," Benny explains. "But it goes straight to voicemail."

"Do you think Stern figured out what she was doing and took it?" Ethan asked.

"Maybe," Benny says. "All I know is that we need to get to her house."

"Should we tell Jesse?" Ethan asks.

"No!" Benny blurted out a little too quickly. "I mean, uh, why bother him this early in the morning? He'd probably kill us."

Benny lets out a little nervous laugh.

The truth was, Benny wanted to be the one who saved the day and be Abbey's hero. Maybe, just maybe it would change her mind about Jesse. After all, Benny was the one she called, not Jesse. Maybe she was finally beginning to realize that she also had feelings for him. Benny could only hope.

Abbey's POV

"If Stern spelled the house, then how will Benny, Ethan and Sarah be able to get through if they come?" I asked, confused.

"The spell he used on the house keeps us in," my mother explained. "But it can allow anyone access if they wanted to come in."

"So you're saying that robbers could come in and we couldn't do anything to stop it?" I ask.

"Yes," she answered. "But once you're in, you can't get out."

"Then how did Stern…?"

"He spelled the house so that only he can come and go as he pleases."

"That is seriously messed up," I say, annoyed.

My mother sighs.

There was knock at the door.

I looked over at my mom.

"Should I answer it?" I whisper.

"Come in!" she hollers to the door.

Jesse walks in and closes the door.

"Jesse!" I say in relief.

"Abbey?" he says confused. "What's wrong? I kept calling and texting you and when you didn't answer, I decided to come see if everything was okay. Everything is okay, right?"

"Not quite…" I trail off.

"What's wrong?" he inquires, looking at me worriedly.

"Stern is back," my mom says seriously.

"I don't see him," Jesse smirks.

"That's because he left," she says, trying not to get annoyed. "He said he had a few things to take care of."

Benny wasn't the only one who didn't trust Jesse.

"And I didn't answer your calls because Stern smashed my phone," I explain, getting pissed just thinking about it.

Jesse kneels down next to me, and cradles me in his arms.

"I'm so sorry," he whispers in my ear, kissing my head.

I was getting fed up with everybody saying sorry all the time.

"Just stop, okay?" I push Jesse away. "I'm sick and tired of everybody telling me that they're sorry! Sorry for what?! Nothing! Nobody's done anything that they need to be sorry for! So just stop!"

"Abbey-" my mom starts.

"No, mom," I interrupt her. "I don't wanna hear it."

"Am I sensing a little discord?" A mocking voice asks from the doorway.

I look up at Stern with disgust. He was the reason we were in this mess.

"And I remember leaving only one vampire in the house," Stern looks pointedly at Jesse, with an undertone of annoyance in his eyes. "I assume the bat brigade is back in Whitechapel?"

"Of course the Council's back," I answer unwillingly. "They thought you were gone for good."

"Think again, Abbey," Stern uses my nickname, knowing that I didn't like it when he did.

"I told you-" I get up off the floor and start to lunge at him again, but am stopped by Jesse wrapping his arms around my waist, locking me in an iron vise.

"Still having anger problems, are we?" Stern's tone was painfully mocking and it made me see red.

"Only when I'm hungry," I spit. "I'd take a bite out of you, but I'm not sure you'd taste good."

Truth was, I was starving. I hadn't fed in a while and it was making me crabby, but it fueled my anger towards Stern.

"Is that supposed to be an insult?" Stern asks, smirking. "I'm sorry, I don't understand insults given by vampires. Especially ones involving blood."

I hiss and bare my fangs, warning him that I was about to lose it.

"Did anyone ever tell you that showing your teeth is disrespectful?"

I started growling.

"So is growling," he notes.

"Like I care!" I hiss.

"Abbey," Jesse whispers in my ear. "You need to calm down."

I take a deep breath, and close my eyes, trying to find serenity.

"Isn't that cute," Stern says, sardonically. "He's the only one who can calm you down. I'd hate to see anything happen to him."

"Huh?" I ask confused.

Before I can answer, a bolt of lightning shoots out of Stern's hand, hitting Jesse and knocking him unconscious.

"Jesse!" I holler, looking worriedly over at my fallen fiancée.

"He's not dead, Abbey," my mother assures me.

"What a shame," Stern says, mock sympathy in his voice. "I was aiming for his heart."

Benny's POV

Benny was standing on Abbey's front porch with Ethan and Sarah listening in on what was going on inside.

"Abbey is either really pissed or just crabby because she needs blood," Ethan notes, his ear still on the front door.

"Probably both," Benny answers. "Because one, she hates Stern. And two, we all know how she can get when she hasn't fed."

Sarah and Ethan look at Benny dumbfounded. They were both wondering why Benny was being so smart all of a sudden.

Benny was acting like that because he knew he needed to save Abbey and he had to be quick on his feet.

"Let's go," Sarah looks pointedly at the door.

Ethan grabs the handle and slowly opens the door, revealing Abbey, Abbey's mom, Stern and an unconscious Jesse all in the living room, staring at the opening door.

"Benny!" Abbey says relieved. "I was worried that you wouldn't come."

"Of course I came," Benny says, smiling. "No one wants to see Stern gone more than we do."

Abbey's POV

I had finally gotten a good look at Benny and he was holding a Black Magic spell book.

Black Magic?!

What on earth did he think he was doing?! He could barely do normal spells right. What made him think that he could master a Black Magic spell?! And where did he get that book?!

"You honestly think you can defeat me?" Stern asks the group.

Instead of answering, Benny starts chanting in an unrecognizable, dark language. I could see that he had taken Stern off guard. Stern was backing away slowly, and was gulping nervously.

My mom joined in, chanting the words with Benny, their hands were starting to glow gold, building up power. The words were so hypnotic that I soon joined in with the chanting. Maybe since I still had some of the witch's sense I had started to develop before I turned, I still had my powers. I knew it was a long shot, but it was worth a try.

I was so taken off guard when my hands also started to glow. I still had my powers!

My mom grabs my hand, motioning for me to grab Benny's because magic was stronger if it was done in groups.

We continued to chant the hypnotizing words until there was a blast of gold and Stern was gone.

I now knew what my mother had been talking about. Black Magic felt so powerful that I struggled to stop. It was so tempting, so euphoric.

Unfortunately, it was all to much for me, so I passed out into an empty black nothingness.

Abbey's POV

When I come to, I'm laying in the recliner with everyone standing over me, looking worried.

I felt horrible.

"What happened?" My voice cracking.

"You passed out after you used magic," my mom explains.

"True story," Benny says, smiling.

I had such a pounding headache.

"Should I have a headache?" I question.

"Usually after the first couple of times using Black Magic," my mom assures me.

"What makes you think I wanna do that again?" I ask. "And where did Stern go?"

"I used a vanquishing spell," Benny explains. "It's strong enough that he won't bother you again."

I nod my head, taking in what they were saying.

"Does anybody have anything to drink?" I ask, hopeful. "I'm starving."

"Hold on a sec," Benny says, unzipping his messenger bag and pulling out two full blood bags.

He hands them to me and I barely control the urge to rip them both out of his hands.

I puncture one of the bags with my fangs and drink in all the tastiness of the blood.

Once I'm done, I move on to the next one, but it's yanked out of my hand by Sarah.

I hiss at her.

"You only need a pint every few days," she reminds me. "Otherwise, there are consequences…"

She trails off, implying what happened to her when she had an all you can drink buffet at the blood bank a few months back.

"Okay," I sigh.

I lay my head back on the recliner, closing my eyes, when something occurred to me.

"Where's Jesse?" I ask, opening my eyes.

"Laying on the couch, still knocked out," my mother answers.

"Yeah," Benny says. "What happened?"

"Rescue attempt one failed," I sigh.

"Obviously," Benny smirked. "He can't even save his girlfriend. Lame."

"Benny," I complain.

"Sorry," he apologizes, avoiding my gaze.

"Look," my mother says. "I know Abbey is probably very tired and I'm sure all of you are too. Why don't you guys go on home and get some rest. You can all come back later."

"Mom, why can't they all just crash here for a few hours?" I ask tiredly. "I'll go on up to my room and someone can have the recliner."

"Are you sure?" she asks me.

"Yeah, I'm sure," I answer.

"Okay," my mom says. "You're welcome to stay. I'm gonna head back to bed. You guys can decide on who sleeps where."

I watch my mom mount the steps, then look over at the clock on the wall. It was only 7:45am. I couldn't believe that that all transpired in an hour.

I get up off of the recliner and offer it to Ethan, who takes it and lays down immediately. Sarah soon lays beside him. The space was cramped, but it looked like they didn't care.

I look over at Benny.

"I'll just sleep on the floor," he says, returning my gaze.

"I wanna talk to you," I whisper, taking his hand and leading him up the stairs, looking back at Jesse, making sure he was still asleep.

What's she gonna talk to Benny about?!

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