It was dark. To dark for her liking. She had no idea of time or how long had passed. It seemed like years, but her mind kept telling her it had just been a few weeks. A few weeks to long. She hated being in here, hated that Axel had thrown her in here because he wanted to cut off all ties she had to the NightStalkers. Especially since he knew she had been with one of them. How he knew she'd never know, but he did. Perhaps it was because when he mentioned King and how he was going to torture him until he died, she had thrown herself at him and nearly scratched his eyes out. No, she told herself. He knew before then. He did that to taunt her.

A creaking noise caught her ears, and then voices, and then on cue he entered. His silhouette being the only thing she could make out. And then his voice, echoing through the room, loud and clear, crisp and clean, "Are you ready to place nice, Mrs. Mavanari? Or am I going to have to kill that brute of a man you have been seeing?"

"Bite me, Axel."

"Oh but I did, or don't you remember that? Perhaps a bit of daylight will remind you."

A light came on, no doubt a UV light, and cascaded across her. But she didn't scream. It didn't effect her. She just smiled, "Perhaps you have forgotten. I don't share your weakness. The cure solved that for me. I only have the taste for blood."

"Then perhaps your hungry. Want a meal?"

Another shadow in the door, this one holding something close to him. Something small. A child. She could hear the child sniffling and feel the fear with in it. "You're a monster Axel."

"I'll take that as a compliment my darling wife. Enjoy your meal."

The child was thrown towards her. A child she knew all to well, "Zoë…"

The door was closed but the light remained on. "Mars is that you?"

"Yeah Zo it's me."

"Are you going to drink my blood?"

"No, Zoë. You have nothing to worry about."

Zoë moved over to her and threw herself into open arms, "I'm so scared Mars,"

"It's alright Zo. I'm here. How did they get you?"

"I was at school. The office said King was there to get me. But when I got there, it wasn't King. I tried to tell them but the guy just told them he had shaved and it made him look different."

"When?"

"This morning. Mars are you going to get us out of here?"

"You bet your ass Zo. Still got that thing on you?"

"Yeah, I did it when they took me."

"Good girl. How is everyone at HQ?"

"Caulder is worried about Dex. Dex is worried about Abby. Abby is worried about King. And King, well he hasn't been the same since you left. He mopes a lot and tries to act up beat sometimes. But he misses you. Why did you leave Mars?"

It killed her to hear she had caused a lot of worrying but it was what she had to do. She sighed, "Had to kiddo. I had to do it so I could move on. I can't be with King if I am married to Axel."

"King loves you. He would have gotten rid of the sucker."

Mariana smiled, "I know Zo, but I thought I should do this by myself."

"You were wrong."

"I know that too Zo. Rest here. I'll be right back."

She placed Zoë over on a dusty mattress pad and covered her with a dingy blanket. She then moved out of the light and towards where she had seen the door. She tapped it a few times and a slot slide open, 'What?"

"I want to speak to Axel again."

"He's gone."

"Then get him, or you'll be the first to go when he lets me out."

The slot slid closed and she was left in the dark again. She looked over to the light as Zoë slept and felt her thirst build. She had to get her out of here and fast. She moved off to a corner off to the side of the door and waited. Finally the door opened and Axel stepped in. This time she could make out his handsome features and a distant longing grew in her. She had once wanted to desperately marry him, and now she just wanted to get away from him.

"Enjoy your meal?"

"Shut up Axel. Get her out of here."

"Nope. You made this bed now you'll lie in it."

"If you get her out I'll...Join you again."

"My isn't that sweet. How do I know your not lying."

Slowly Mariana came from the shadows and moved in front of him. Slowly she started to unbutton the shirt she had on, "Because I am giving myself to you."

Axel's eyes widened slowly as he stared upon her naked flesh. He smiled slowly and moved to her. He bent to kiss her, holding her head in his hands firmly, "If your lying I'll kill her you know that."

"Yes I know."

"Very well then."

His lips captured hers and forced them into a deep and passionate kiss. The only way she could stomach it was to thank of King and how his lips felt on hers. And as Axel's hands roamed her body she thought of how Kings felt as they did the same. Only then could she bare the thought of Axel at all. Pretending he was King.

"ABBY!" King came barreling through the doors of the lab, nearly tripping over Abby's bow and some other weird looking weapon. "Abby, Zoë is gone."

"What she was at school."

"Yes I know that. But she isn't their now. I went to get her like always and the people in the office told me she had already left. But here's the kicker, they said she left with me. I nearly pounded a few of them when they said that."

"What? Oh god King. Where is she? She wouldn't have left without us."

"I know that Abby. I think Axel's gang got her. Perhaps things weren't going the way the planned and.." A beeping noise caught his attention. 'Abby how long has that been going?"

"A few minutes why?"

"That's Zoë's tracker. Damn it Abby I told you to pay attention to stuff like this."

"I didn't think Zoë would be kidnapped King! I was engrossed in those new bullets we are developing."

"Doesn't matter Abby." King was at the computer and hitting buttons quickly. A map popped up on the screen and Zoë's dot could be seen moving.

"Where is that?"

"Mavanari Enterprises. I was right then. Mariana isn't cooperating like they wanted her too. Damn two birds with one stone."

"What do you mean?"

"We know where Mariana and Zoë is now."

"We always knew where Mars was."

"Yeah but this is an excuse to go after her now."

"Your relentless."

"When it comes to two of the people I love I am. Suit up, we are going to hunt some shit eaters."

"Ten steps ahead of you."

Mariana held Zoë close to her as they walked the halls of their new home. She had talked Axel into leaving Zoë be and not harming her. And she was free to do what she wished. As long as she didn't contact anyone from the NightStalkers again. One call was all she was allowed. One call that was uninhibited. No one listening in and no one there to cut her off. So as she entered the living room and moved to the couch she and Zoe sat down. And slowly she picked up the phone and dialed. Not the direct line to the Stalkers. But King's cell.

"King here."

She said nothing, his voice was to good to be true. She smiled slightly as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Hello? Anyone there?"

She inhaled and tried to speak but nothing came.

"Mariana is that you?"

Nothing still.

"Mariana are you alright? How's Zoe? Don't worry babe we are coming for you."

The fright of them coming to infiltrate Axel's firm made her speak. "No. We are fine. Zoe is here with me now. She is safe. Don't come."

She could hear him telling Abby that Zoe was fine and so was she. Then his voice rang through the ear piece again, "We are coming. You did something stupid and now it's got Zoe involved. You should have waited we had a plan."

"Do not do this now Hannibal King. I can't take the anger or the guilt right now. Just promise me you'll give me a bit of time."

"Zoe is in Danger Mariana! How in the hell do you expect us, me to sit back while your both in that danger?"

"Because you love me and trust me. I wont let them harm her. She'll be attending school and I'll take her every morning then pick her up. And Axel and I have come to an agreement."

"You slept with him didn't you. That's why he thinks your on his side."

"Don't please. I did what I had to do. And Zoe is safe because of it. If I hadnt he would have left her in their with me until I got hungry enough to feed off of her."

"You didn't have to do that, Mars. You know there should have been another way."

"King I am his wife. It is what he expects of me. And since he knows we were involved it was the only way to prove to him. It sickened me and the only way I got through it was to pretend it was you."

"Don't tell me that fucking bullshit."

"Don't do this!"

"How can I not? You left me for some dickwad bastard who only lies to you. You're a fucking lunatic if you think for one moment we can get back what we had."

She dropped the phone into her lap and tried to stem her tears. She felt Zoe hug her and then pick up the phone.

"Uncle King, why are you making her cry. I thought you loved her…Then stop being like those shit-eaters…Sorry. Alright." She pulled the phone away from her ear and held it out to Mariana, "He wants to talk to you again."

Mariana took the phone and held it back up to her ear, her voice cracked and full of sadness when she spoke, "Yes?"

"Mariana, I'm worried is all. I don't want to think of you and that guy together."

"It has to be done. Like I told you in that note, I can't have a future with you until he is gone. Not because I can't move on. But it's for my own piece of mind. He made me what I am and he has to go."

"Fine. I give you two weeks to contact me again. If I don't hear from you again we are infiltrating. I'm coming for you both."

"Thank you. Don't worry you and Abby just need to sit down and get a plan ready. Find out what you can on the outside of what the Familiar's know of the inside. We find his weakness and destroy it. We destroy him."

"We'll do what we can. Mariana?"

"Yeah King?"

"I love you. Please be careful."

"You know me, I will always be a rookie."

"That's what I am afraid of."

"I love you too King. No matter what happens to me, remember that. Bye."

"I will babe. Two weeks."

She sighed heavily as she heard the click of his phone cutting off. She put the receiver down and looked at Zoe, "Looks like it's just us now, kiddo. WE are going to have to look after each other. And no trying to contact Abby and King alright."

Zoe climbed into Mariana's arms and nodded, "I know Mars. Don't worry. Abby and King will find out what they need to."

"I know they will Hun. Your Uncle and Aunt are the best."

Disclaimer: I do not own Any of the Blade characters. Just Mariana and Axel and the other little names in here.

A/N: This chapter is long but when you get inspiration run with it. And That's what I did. Read and Review Please!