Armand lay in the ground, suffering! Lena… Lena! He was calling to her mind. But there was no answer from her.

CCCCC

As soon as the sun began to set, all of the hunters were out of the ground early. They could not yet walk outside, but they could be indoors, awake. Armand had to be held back by Julian and Andriev from rushing out on his own to go after his lifemate. He seemed to have temporarily lost the ability to speak English and was slipping between Carpathian and about three different dialects of Spain as he spoke rapidly. They were attempting to formulate a plan of action as the sun went down, but none of them knew how they were going to make it past that barrier being exuded by the building or whomever had set it up. The consensus was that they had to at least try.

Gregori and Savannah arrived just as they were leaving the home. "I know that she has been stolen," were the first words out of the ancient hunter. He had taken her blood a long time before in order to keep track of her.

Savannah looked horribly worried as she passed all of the hunters and went into the house with the other women. Danica was trying her best not to be emotional for the sake of the child she was carrying, but she was forced to remain seated as her hands shook. Her mind cast out over and over trying to find any sign of her niece's presence.

Gregori, still outside with the other men, when he went to check their bond could feel the stark disconnect between Armand and Lena. They would all only be able to track her now through their blond bonds to her, but Armand's connection to her should have been stronger! He realized, "She is not yet bound to you."

"A situation I will remedy as soon as she is with me again!" Armand said practically through his teeth, in Carpathian.

Andriev was relieved that Danica was not there to hear that. He knew better than to protest Armand's declaration. They should never have interfered with the couple's wishes in the first place! He had known that all along, but so long as they were under the protection of his roof, it didn't seem like a big deal. Now it was.

Gregori placed one hand on Armand's shoulder, looked into his eyes and declared, "We will get her back."

Armand nodded, "By my life or my death, yes, we will!"

They were all beyond worried about the situation as they were about to travel, but then Natalia and Ragnar dropped out of the sky. "Can you use one more?" asked Ragnar, open worry on his face as he shape shifted back into his regular self. "I have come to help."

Natalia's face was indescribably fear-struck as she took human form. There were tears in her eyes. "I felt it when she was taken. Please get her back," she sobbed to the men.

Armand looked down at Natalia's tear-stained face. Her watery eyes softened him up very much. "I will do all in my power to get her back," he vowed. "I WILL get her back."

"I sent Derek ahead of me," said Ragnar to the group.

"Are you sure he's ready for something like this?" asked Julian.

"From your description of this technology coming from that building, whether it be Mage or Dragoneseeker, we might need the Wolf now more than ever. He knows her scent and he knows her. She knows him, too. Who knows what-" he couldn't even finish the sentence as he turned and looked at his sobbing lifemate. "Go into the home, Natalia. I will send word as soon as we know something."

She nodded as she continued sobbing silently. But she went into the house angry that she could not go along with them and do something to help.

CCCCC

Lena awakened slowly. She didn't know where she was. But it was dark. And nothing bothered her more than being in a dark strange place. She reckoned to herself that no one would care to wake up under these circumstances! "Therefore, I pronounce you sane," she said as she looked around herself. "You may now go home." She continued looking around and saw that nothing had changed after that strange declaration. "Okay, so I'm not dreaming." She could feel that there was a wall just behind her. She sat up slowly and put her back to it.

She wanted to break down and start bawling uncontrollably. But she knew it wouldn't do her any good. She promised herself she would keep her wits about her and try to wait and break down later. She had a queasy instinct in her stomach that the worst was yet to come. So instead she relaxed and tried to pay attention to every piece of sensory input that came at her.

Lena closed her eyes. Yes, the discomfort in her stomach was very real. She was definitely quite sick. She could tell what that particular awful feeling meant immediately. She was back in that accursed building! And whatever was happening in it was keeping her from getting any thoughts out. What was going on? She couldn't even tell what time of day it was! But she could tell there was no one else in this room with her.

She concentrated hard, trying to get a thought out to someone… anyone… Armand?

There was no answer. She tried for Danica, for Andriev, for Natalia, for Julian for ANYONE! She could tell, not one of them could hear her.

She was afraid to crawl about in the darkness. She was disappointed in herself for that fear and what she saw as terrible weakness, but she just couldn't do it. She didn't know what she might touch or stumble across so she stayed right where she was at.

Not too long afterward, a door opened to her right. In the doorway stood the one from before that had put her into that state of instant sleep. She didn't know who he was but there was something about him that was not quite the same as other vampires. He was different. He was very dangerous, too.

"Hello," he said as he stepped into the room partway. "Would you like to come with me?" he asked almost politely.

She bit back a nasty answer, knowing that since she was in his territory it wouldn't be smart to piss him off without a plan of action first. And she couldn't make a plan because she knew next to nothing!

Lena stood slowly, carefully and then walked to where he stood. There was at least some source of light out there, but it was still quite dim. Because of her extended time in the dark cell, it may as well have been daylight in the next room, but at least it didn't hurt her eyes when she encountered it.

He was dark haired and generally attractive. He appeared to be like any other man she would see walking down the streets of Midtown Manhattan. His eyes were the things that stood out to her, though. It was that thing about him that let her know that he was quite dangerous.

As soon as she stepped out of the cell, she could see five vampires standing out there, waiting. They were all decrepit and disgusting abominations looking ready, at the first sign of her, to rush and devour her! She involuntarily stepped directly behind whoever the dangerous lead man was and wondered what in the hell she had been dragged into now!

"You have scared her," he said with an almost taunting tone toward the others.

"Give us what you have promised!" hissed one of the most offensive of the vampires.

Lena felt a grating sensation on her nerves at the sound of whoever's voice that was! She realized what it was about this lead man she was hiding behind that was so different from all the others she had ever encountered.

Whoever he was, he seemed Carpathian, but she knew somehow he was not full Carpathian… the rest of him was not human, either, nor had he ever been. He was not holding and projecting an image of youthfulness. He looked just as he truly appeared to be. She was beyond confused as she sank down to the ground and put her back against the wall next to the door of the cell she had just exited and watched as he dealt with the vampires. It almost looked as if the other five were terribly riled up, only just holding back from swarming her any minute now…

"In a very short time, you will have what you need from her," said the mysterious vampire in charge. Whoever he was, the others were actually listening to him! "For now, I will tell our guest why she is here, first."

He turned and looked back at Lena. He offered his hand to her as if he actually expected her to take it. "My lady," he said encouragingly.

She stood on her own power, though, and kept away from touching him as she looked warily between him and the others. A cold sweat had broken out on her back and she was fighting the need to black out. There was a heavy mood here of inevitability and she didn't know how she was going to get out of this situation except to listen, watch and learn until some kind of sign presented itself that it was time to act…

"Follow me," he said to her almost politely.

She followed behind him and couldn't help but wonder what was keeping the decrepit creatures in line as she walked past them all. For one of them, it was too much having her so close, yet out of reach! His hand lashed out and it looked like a bare tree branch as the spindly fingers went to shackle themselves around her wrist! Teeth bared, he looked ready to attempt biting into her arm.

Before he could even touch her, before she could inhale to scream or protest, the half Carpathian in front of her turned sharply and his eyes blazed that peculiar color, suddenly flashing brighter. The other vampire never had a chance to touch her; he dropped to the ground, writhing in agony. "Does anyone else care to disobey my commands?" he asked with mock politeness as he looked around at each of the four vampires that were still standing.

The others stepped back as the one on the ground shouted at the lead vampire, "You cannot keep her!"

The one in charge looked at the others. "He is officially out of the running. Take care of him."

And the others turned on him that fast, tearing him to pieces with their claw-like fingers and teeth as he emitted a high-pitched scream.

Lena covered her mouth with her hands so she would not scream and attract any extra attention to herself during their horrifying frenzy. "Come this way, my dear. Do not look upon this," he said to her as he covered the view of her from the sight of the others.

She didn't have to be told twice. Oh, great! Now I'm gonna have MORE nightmares! She found herself thinking, falling back on humor to help her cope with a very horrible situation.

CCCCC

Lena found herself sitting in an office a few minutes later. The man was obviously very relaxed and that made her extra nervous because to her that meant he had nothing at all to worry about. Whoever he was, he was powerful. She could sense his power without even trying. It was what he used to control the others.

She found herself crossing her arms, almost hugging herself as if that would insulate her from her surroundings and whatever was coming her way. She was more than afraid as he inclined her to sit in front of a large wooden desk. She could hear the door lock behind him as he closed it.

He went and sat behind the desk and looked at her coridally as if they were on some bizarre job interview. "Let's begin," he said.

She wondered if he expected her to say something. She had no idea what she should or could say, so she just simply sat there, wide-eyed, and stared at him.

"Your name is 'Lena' and you have something that everyone wants, young lady."

She looked around the office, saw the window behind him. It was dark. Night had fallen. But having something everyone wanted? "Who do you mean?" she found herself stuttering out, still afraid. But maybe letting him talk would give everyone a chance to mobilize and get to her!

He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes fully. "Hans Otto, those vampires out there… me."

Her stomach turned anew. "I don't know who you think I am, but-"

"You possess the blood that is necessary to what we all need for our different purposes… well not Hans Otto. He's just a pervert that wants a young thing on his arm. His needs come last. First, you will give us all what we want and then he can have what he wants. You."

She remembered that detail from that other girl who was like her, how some vampires had trapped her, drained her of all her blood… "What do those things out there want?" she asked.

"Your blood," he said simply.

She nodded. "Yeah, silly question for me to ask," she said as she looked around and saw the office contained a copier and a file cabinet. She knew for a certainty that she would not be able to physically lift either, and there was nothing on the desk she could use as a weapon.

"Do not be harsh on yourself. Under the circumstances, I expected a much more hysterical female. You have proven to be a wonderful surprise," he said as if she should be flattered at his observation.

"Gee, thanks," she said almost flippantly, her temper temporarily getting the best of her as she cautiously sat back in the chair. There was no use trying to figure a way out of this for the time being. But once they left that office, she knew she was going to have to try and make a run for it!

There was a genuine smile on his face then. "Sarcasm," he said as if it were refreshing to hear. "Onto the subject at hand-"

"May I ask a small question, first?" she interrupted gently by raising one hand as if she were in school.

He sighed and inclined his head at her in a 'go ahead' gesture as if he were doing her some large favor by letting her speak.

"Why don't you just go ahead and take what you want from me? Why are you telling me all of this first?"

He sighed as his vibrant eyes looked into hers. "It has been my observation that if you simply tell someone what it is they are about to go through, it prepares them better and they are less likely to strike out at you. And striking out at me is not a good idea. Do you understand that?" he asked almost sharply.

She only nodded quickly.

"Fine, then," he said as he continued. "Your blood contains certain… properties of many species. These idiots believe that it will bring back that which they left behind. We were supposed to bring you here to determine, first, if you are a lifemate to one of them," he waved off the words he thought she was about to utter. "I know, you don't know what that is but it isn't necessary for you to know. The important thing is, you obviously are not."

She cast her eyes downward. So none of them knew of her connection to so many warriors after all! Whoever this powerful man was, even he could not penetrate the barrier of her mind!

"I come from the best blood of two powerful ancient races," he informed her. "You possess one of them inside you."

She simply frowned and said not one more word. She just sat there and looked at him, let him speak.

"The convergence of so many in one female is enough to make those idiots believe-" he waved it off quite egotistically. "It is of no importance what it is they believe. Only know that you will simply be the best meal they have ever had occasion to taste and then you come with me until I am finished with you for what I need."

She tried to pull the conversation backward, "But if they eat me now, how in the world-"

"No, no, no," he said, almost gently, "they will not feed from you directly. Understand that. They are not allowed to pollute your blood by touching you. We will supply them with what they want, first, but you cannot be allowed to be harmed. It would interfere with what I need."

She felt even sicker as she asked, "What you need…"

"I simply need to give you some of my blood, slowly, over a short amount of time. You will in turn make an egg I can use to create my lifemate."

Her mind flipped out and she just couldn't take it anymore! "WHAT?!" she stood quickly and tried to back up to the door.

He didn't seem upset that she was upset or apparently making a halfway escape attempt. "Yes, I know, it's distressing, but we were all put here for a reason," he said, false wisdom bubbling from his very nature. "And I calculate that if I do this correctly, you will make my lifemate. After it is over, I will return you to Hans Otto the way he originally wanted."

She was standing just at the door she knew was locked, but somehow standing near it made her feel that much better. "So my destiny, according to you," she enumerated, "I have to give four vampires my blood and then make you a-" she stopped herself from saying 'demon spawn' and blustered out, "—a baby and then I have to be with Hans Otto as his… his… his whatever and-" she found herself feeling defeated and really hoped she could get herself out of this or her family could get to her fast!

She was looking down at the ground, not wanting to even consider… what if they didn't get to her in time? What if she was moved from this building and then… and then what?

"I wish I could see behind that barrier," he whispered with honest wonder as he looked at the woman standing at the door as if she could leave whenever she wanted. But she was truly trapped, he was secure in that knowledge. "What else can that mind do?" he asked, actually more than curious. "With time, what potential will it reap?"

She looked at him then, latching onto that curiosity. "Would you like a demonstration?" she whispered at him, knowing Armand would chastise her severely if he knew what she was about to do.

For the first time, the man behind the desk looked truly intrigued. "There is some ability you can already control at such a young age?" he asked, amazed.

She calculated that if she used it with him, it might damage her. But it would give her a little time for them to make it to her since whoever this man was didn't want her harmed. But she knew the last time she had done it, she nearly died. Maybe if he allowed her in and she didn't have to break into his mind like she had done with the last vampire, she would be less likely to be damaged. Trying it on humans had never hurt her before. But she still didn't even know what the hell he really was…

She knew she had to take her chances. "Just relax," she told him as her mind gently entered his.

He opened his mind to let her in…