A/N: Honestly, I just couldn't leave you on such a cliffhanger. So... someone we haven't see in a while returns and poor Ronnie's in danger. Not that it's surprising. Poor little Ronnie's always in danger. And when it's not him it's Alan. So, thank you for all your reviews, please keep them coming.


"Ready to go?" Eric said quietly.

William nodded and strode out from the academy grounds. Eric, Alan and Grell were waiting for him, as they had been every day for the past week. William was going out of his mind with worry. There hadn't been a word from Ronald the entire time. The four had worked and William had gone to the academy to teach as normal, but they spent every hour they could until they were too exhausted to move any further looking for any sign of Ronald. They'd checked most of London, all the usual places demons would hide, and the area surrounding the hollow where they found the bodies. Today they were going out to the woods where the hybrids had first appeared. The Undertaker had helped them all he could, as long as they kept him amused, but he seemed as in the dark about it as the rest of them.

Out in the woods there were still signs of the battle. He hated to think what could have happened to Ronald in a week. Finding Ronald was the most important thing. He didn't want the last thing he'd said to him to be such harsh words. After losing Michelle... he wasn't going to lose Ronald too. He couldn't lose Ronald too.

"Lost something?" Ian purred. They glanced up to see him sitting in a tree above William's head. He smiled and dropped back, landing in a neat crouch before standing slowly and tilting his head. "You're searching for something. What have you lost, Mr Spears?"

"You again," Grell snarled, lunging for him only for William to catch his hand. "Will?"

"You said you wanted Ronald," William said. "Where have you taken him?"

"You-"

"Sutcliff," he snapped. "Well, Ian?"

"What makes you think I have him, Mr Spears?" Ian murmured. "Wouldn't that be a little obvious?"

"Why do you want him?" Eric snapped.

"Because he's the one they were created from," Grell said.

"Yes," Ian said, folding his arms. "And if I had him you'd know. It takes three does at roughly three and a half day intervals to turn a human into a hybrid. It would assume it's similar for a reaper. If I kidnapped him after roughly four days since his first dose I would administer the next dose straight away and he would be a on the tail end of the last one by now. I would have brought him over here to gloat. He wouldn't be able to deny what he was. I don't have him. I haven't felt him since the last dose wore off. Which is a shame. I only had one spare dose, I had hoped to get him soon after his first dose so I'd still have a spare. I guess when I do find him again I'll have to take better measures to keep him in my possession."

"Why let him go then?" Alan said quietly. Ian glanced over and Eric growled, wrapping his arms around him protectively. "If you only had one spare dose, why hurt him and let us go?"

Ian laughed softly. "I wanted him to return home, to keep an eye on you lot. Perhaps to turn you to our cause too. Although, it didn't work. Do you know, we hunger like demons? Yet we have some sort of soul. A half soul I suppose. Much like reapers and humans, we have a soul, but like demons, our bodies regenerate within hours, apparently, so can our souls. We can feed off each other, it's rather fascinating, but not as sustaining as a human soul... or a reaper's... See, now I've already fed from those closest to me, it's the best way from them to go, I feel, so how I do wonder if he'd feed off you?"

William released Grell's wrist. Grell tore forwards, scythe roaring. Moments later Eric bolted passed. William wasn't going to stop them. If he didn't have Ronald and wasn't going to be useful then he didn't see any reason to stop them. They all needed to be exterminated anyway. Ian smirked and ducked around them gracefully.

"Michelle's demon," Alan said quietly. William glanced down at him and he smiled weakly. "She said he was how she found us. He knew about them."

William nodded and turned away. "We're going. You two can finish him off or not, I don't really care."

They paused for a moment before slowly turning and following them back towards London. If there was even a chance Julian was involved he was going to slaughter him. Well, no, he was going to let Eric and Grell slaughter him. William didn't usually get involved with their games. He let them do it generally. He'd only got involved once, with was a single strike on Marcus Lance, after he tortured and attempted murder Ronald and was very nearly successful at it. He'd managed to do it in such a way that even the doctors believed he had attempted suicide and wanted to lock him away for safety. Out of everything that had happened over the years that, along with Marcus' graphic descriptions of how he'd abused Ronald in the hospital without anyone noticing and acting like William should have been proud of him, was the only thing that had ever made him angry enough to lash out. This was tempting though. If they'd turned Ronald into a hybrid he was going to hurt whoever was responsible.

Julian pulled open the door with a small, satisfied smirk as he stepped aside to let them in. He looked far too amused for someone who had just lost a mistress. "Welcome, Mr Spears. It's been a while since your last visit."

"Michelle is dead, demon," William said.

"I'm well aware of that," Julian said, sitting on one of the chairs. "It was her fault. She should have known better."

"She followed you!" Grell snapped.

"You have no proof of that," he laughed. "I've not done anything but what she told me to. If you had proof I'd done anything but what she'd told me to, let alone killed her, you'd have killed me by now with the full endorsement of your superiors. So, if you're sure you're right, go ahead and kill me."

"We know it was you," Eric said.

But he was right. If they had any proof they'd have killed him right now rather than confronting him. He had to say something incriminating or they could be punished for illegal execution, even if he was a demon. Killing a demon without a cause was, unfortunately, illegal. They had nothing and the longer they waited the longer Ronald was in danger.


"Are you going to tell me how you're alive yet?" Ronald whispered. "I keep asking."

"And I keep ignoring you," Daniel said, helping him sit up. He offered him a bowl soup and Ronald sighed, slowly taking it. "Eat up. The changes to your body are still taking their toll on you, it's best you keep your strength up."

"I killed you," he said, eating quietly.

"You attempted to," he laughed. "Tell me, little reaper, how do three reapers from supposedly the best division in the country, and one of the best in the world, manage to forget to cut a record?"

Ronald's eyes widened as he realised he was right. They had completely forgotten to cut the record. He returned to eating, quietly glaring up at Daniel. He was one of the more powerful demons Ronald had come across. He'd worked with Michelle for longer than Ronald had been alive. Of course, he was preferable to the hybrids. William often commented that he and Michelle deserved each other. Two egotistical, manipulative and ruthless creatures waiting for any excuse to take advantage of anyone who looked even a little useful, of course William didn't appreciate them being anywhere near each other.

"Michelle is dead." Daniel glanced down at him. "You know that, don't you? She's dead. Those hybrids murdered her."

"Yes," Daniel said, taking his empty bowl. "But they want you alive."

"You're really just going to hand me over to them?" Ronald said. He sighed and closed his eyes, a dizzy fever coming over him. "I don't feel too good."

"It's took be expected. As I told you, your body has changed, you need time to adjust. Lie back and rest, you should recover by tomorrow."

"Just to be given another two doses that will make me sick again. If I was strong enough, I'd have kicked your ass by now."

"I'm sure. And to answer your question, yes, I am just going to hand you over to them," Daniel said, helping him lie back. "You're going to have to put up with it, you're too weak to do anything to fight."

Ronald panted heavily, closing his eyes and trying to think clearly enough to make sense as his fever clouded his mind again. "Why would you work with them? They killed Michelle. I thought you loved her."

"I do."

Ronald closed his eyes, listening quietly to the sounds of the small country house. After a week there was nothing of interest. The lady of the house didn't seem to even know he was there. There were hoof beats outside in the courtyard and quiet voices. That made it half six. The lady went out riding everyday at seven and then again at half six. Some days Ronald watched her go, sometimes Daniel went with her. Ronald considered slipping away early on, he'd been lured in and now he needed to get away but then he'd remember what William said to him and ended up staying. It stung. Even knowing he was just grieving and didn't mean it, it still hurt that he'd even consider saying it, stressed and hurting or not. And then he'd fallen into a fever again and been reliant on Daniel bringing him up food and looking after him. He was barely able to move from the bed some days. He drifted off into a quiet, light sleep, waiting for news.

"Wake up, little one," whispered a soft voice against his ear. "Darling, wake up. It's just a nightmare."

"William."

His eyes snapped open and he turned slowly. William wasn't there, instead it was the lady of the house, a brunette woman around twenty with sharp blue eyes, hidden behind her glasses. He smiled weakly. She was in a dark skirt, a crisp white blouse and a black stock tie, her dark jacket unbuttoned casually. She smiled gently.

"Good evening, sleepy," she said. Ronald groaned and tried to sit up only for her told him down gently. "Easy now, don't work yourself up. You're not well."

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to just turn up here. Daniel brought me."

"I know. I've known you've been here all week. Here, little one." She unfastened a skull shaped, deep green broach from her tie and slipped it into his trouser pocket. "Keep it safe. It'll help you through your suffering. My first love gave it to me for my birthday."

Ronald nodded slowly. "Thank you."

He frowned and took a deep breath. She had a lovely, relaxing sent. In his fever pitch he was noticing strange things like that. He sighed and closed his eyes, slowly breathing in the rich, warm citrusy scent. She stepped away as the door opened and he suddenly realised why it was so familiar.

"Michelle..."

"My lady," Daniel said. Ronald opened his eyes again and turned slowly. "There's some chocolate cake and tea waiting in the sitting room."

"Oh. Ok, bye."

She hurried off and Daniel stepped in again, slowly striding over to the bed, his eyes flashing red for a moment. Ronald turned away until the door opened and closed once more and he turned his gaze back again. Just a few steps behind Daniel was Ian. He smiled and sat on the bed, facing him. Ronald tried to roll away but Ian caught his shoulder and pulled him back around, leaning over him with a small smirk.

"Your friends are searching for you, Ronald," he said quietly. "They've very worried. But then, by the time they find you, it'll be too late. Will you hold him for me, Daniel?" Ronald turned away as best he could but Daniel kept him still as Ian caught his chin. "You've given him his first dose?"

"Yes."

"Good. Come on, Ronald," he said, almost gently. "Open up." Struggling as much as his condition would allow, Ronald managed to kick Ian in the side. Although in his weakened state it was barely enough to move him even a little off the bed, it did serve to annoy him. Ian leant forwards and tightened his grip on his chin. "Open your mouth, Ronald. I don't want to hurt you."

Daniel chuckled. "I don't mind."

There was a loud, sharp crack and Ronald's head whipped aside. It took him a moment to realise Daniel had slapped him and only seconds later, before he could fully recover, Ian pulled him back around, pouring a disgusting, warm liquid down his throat. He coughed and twisted and spluttered but it was too late. Next thing he knew he was being washed, dressed and wrapped in a warm, hooded cloak. He groaned, letting Ian and Daniel do as the pleased, his fever already worsening to the point where his vision blurred and his head pounded. He was ready to collapse back into bed.

Instead of letting him fall back into bed though, they guided him out into the evening light. Thank heavens it was summer or it would have been absolutely freezing and pitch dark. Ian climbed up into the carriage waiting and offered Ronald his hand. As he climbed up, stumbling slightly and just about managing even with Daniel and Ian's help, he glanced back to see the lady of the house standing with the horses at the front of the carriage. Two big, black horses, lean and elegant but still strong, not the like the Undertaker's trio of heavy, strong draft horses. The door to the carriage closed and she stepped back, leaning against Daniel.

"Why must we be surrounded by such idiots, Daniel?" she muttered as they pulled off.

"Karma, I would think, my lady," Daniel replied.

Ronald groaned and fell back against the seat only for Ian to pull him over gently and let him rest his head on his lap, gently stroking his hair. Was it possible? She dressed as Michelle did when she'd been hiding out as a human, and she'd adjusted her glasses in the same way Michelle did, a way very similar to William and Grell, unsurprising since they'd grown up with her as their senior, but she was dead. Everyone had seen it. She was dead. But then, everyone had thought Eric was dead too, hadn't they? They'd all seen Ronald's scythe make contact, how he'd hit his head. Everyone had thought he was dead but he hadn't been. And then... when he'd asked Daniel about loving her. He said he did. Not that he had but he did, like she was still alive.

"Michelle..."

"Are you still muttering about her?" Ian said. "She's dead, Ronald, I killed her myself." He growled but was too exhausted to do anything else. "Don't be sad. You know, she was grinning when she died. She said I had no idea what I was doing because she always wins in the end. Cocky bitch."

"Don't talk about her like that," he breathed. "She's right."

"Oh? You think so?"

"I know," Ronald said, his eyes closing slowly. "She's right, because she's always got a backup plan. You'll be sorry you messed with her."

"She's dead," Ian said.

"Doesn't matter," he replied. "She's set you up to take a fall, even if she's dead, she's left everything we need to beat you. It's just a matter of time because William figures it out."

"It's just a matter of time before he gives up on you," he snapped. "Sooner or later he'll give up, decide there's no use looking anymore because you're either dead or gone forever. Or maybe he'll figure out it's not as much hassle with you gone. Isn't that what he said, what pushed you away from him? He thinks you're just a waste of time, you only get in the way and cause trouble. You need protecting. Seems to me like this is just another case of him being proved right. You've been kidnapped and he's out looking for you. Maybe he'll just give up." He sighed and patted Ronald's head. "You should sleep, you're not well. I'll wake you when we arrive."

Ronald wished he could deny it, but he was exhausted and wanted desperately to sleep. He was struggling to stay awake as he was. He shifted slightly and began to drift off. He didn't want to sleep. The nightmares would be worse than ever after the amount of serum building up in his system, slowly changing his body. He didn't want more nightmares but his mind and body were screaming at him to rest. He couldn't deny it any longer. He gave fighting and fell into a deep sleep.

Ian smiled softly, watching Ronald sleeping. He was a rather attractive little reaper, for a child. Despite his initial doubts, he'd decided it was better that it had been a child the experiments had been successful on. He couldn't see his plans working nearly as well on an older reaper, particularly if they were more like that bunch of misfits working with Ronald. Hopefully, Ronald's age would make him more susceptible to his plan and easier to control. Perhaps he could even figure out a way to use him to get others on side. Those were things to think about later though. For now he had less than a week to break Ronald down and rebuild him as what he wanted.

It had been a stroke of luck, Daniel picking up Ronald and being willing to hand him over with pretty much no argument at all. It was almost too easy and he began to wonder just what Daniel was up to by making contact and offering him Ronald. It all seemed a little suspicious. Still, soon he'd have Ronald under his control and all the knowledge that he had. It wasn't long until he'd have an army of unstoppable hybrids that could remove everyone who stood in their way. All it needed was the secrets reapers were taught in the academy that made them so dangerous. It was all falling so perfectly into place.