(Past)

"Is this really necessary?" Abel gasped, as two men roughly chained his hands in the back of him. "I've already got a few bullet's in me. I can't do any harm as it is," he tried joking despite the immense pain. The heavy chains clanked together, as he tried turning to his captors. Even if he tried he knew he wouldn't be able to break free. He hadn't eaten since arriving at mars and with the wounds, escape was nearly impossible.

"Don't take it personally," Darin appeared from the shadows, Alaric was right behind him. "We only shot you as punishment, for attacking our men. As for why we captured you it's because we will use you in getting to the Nightlords. But you already know this."

"I'm not even related to them, in fact I only just found out Seth was a Nightlord the other day. She's my- play buddy," Abel purposely made his voice sound whiney. He was forced to twist his head in a strange position to look at Darin.

"Stop complaining, kid!" Alaric barked and kicked Abel in the gut. He skidded across the damp floor of the room. The chains that were chained tightly to him, made it even more painful. Every movement was a strain on his body and his muscles where forced to stretch. At least he could be thankful he wasn't chained to a wall that electrocuted him each time he tried moving.

"But I didn't do anything!" Abel wailed, again he only did so to make himself seem more like a child. He grunted when Alaric kicked him across the face. This time he said nothing.

"That's more like it," Alaric grinned. He towered over Abel as if glad he had just subdued him.

Abel felt like snorting but didn't. Instead he settled for glaring at Alaric.

"Leave the kid alone," Darin spoke up he put a hand on Alaric's shoulder. "Don't waste your energy on him. Save it for when the Nightlords come to save him."

"Fine, fine, but you should be careful. You saw first hand what kind of damage he could do, and no ordinary human could possibly survive all those wounds," Alaric turned, and left the room. When he left someone else entered.

The man who entered, bowed his head to Darin. "Should I escort," the man, Abel recognized as Shane glanced at him, "him here?" he continued. "He's already outside, the building."

"You may, just make certain that Alaric doesn't see him," Darin ordered. He didn't even look at Shane. His beady eyes where locked on Abel.

He looked almost like a little bird, Abel smirked. Or maybe a beetle, 'I wonder what his blood tastes like?' Abel wondered, he shook his head. 'You won't take over again!' he mentally shouted at the crusnik. The voice hissed in his head, but it quieted down when Shane entered the room again. This time someone was with him.

"That was fast," Darin commented. Be nodded his head to the cloaked figure in the door way. Abel couldn't make out his face thanks to the shadows that the cloak casted over his features. "We have our part of the deal, where's yours?" Darin's voice drew Abel's attention back to him.

"Right here," the figure said as he threw down a paper bag. His voice wasn't one that Abel recognized, but somehow he knew the person was using a voice distorter.

Darin picked up the bag and opened it. He made sure everything was there, before yanking his head toward Abel. "I don't know what you could possibly want with the kid, but there he is. It was nice doing business with you again," he held out his hand that didn't carry the bag. The cloaked figure shook it.

"He interests me," the cloaked man said. "Be sure to contact me if you need anything else." Darin handed him a key to the lock that chained Abel. The man didn't take it. "I want you to watch him for now," Darin looked at him shocked, he looked ready to protest. "If you watch him, the next time you need anything I'll double the usual amount with no extra fee's," the cloaked man proposed.

This man must be the one who gave them the tranquilizers, Abel realized. He must be the 'connection' Alaric had mentioned. He glared at the cloaked figure and Shane. He wasn't some bargaining chip to be used, he was no ones property.

"I thought kidnapping was against the law," Abel snorted. "Let alone selling people. What is this? The 1800's all over again?" he asked through clenched teeth and tried squirming out of the chains. He could feel several of the wounds opening.

"Interesting indeed," Darin remarked, he looked back at the man. "Very well we will keep him here, for the time being. However what happens if he manages to escape? And food expenses to keep him alive? Getting food for ourselves is hard enough as it is."

"If he escapes and you didn't release him on purpose," the man started. "then I will pay you to recapture him. If I find that you did release him on purpose then I will- do something that none of you will like. As for the food just let him starve." Darin and Shane gave him confused looks. "Don't worry, he won't die."

"Very well. When will we see you next?" Darin asked.

The cloaked figure shrugged. "I'll just pop by," he chuckled, and walked out the door.

"Even though we've been working with that guy for the past few months I can't figure him out," Shane commented and shook his head. "Doesn't it bother you that we don't even know what he looks like? Let alone his face?" he asked Darin.

"It doesn't matter, as long as he never turns on us. Call Alaric, tell him to watch the kid," Darin ordered. "Work in shifts with him, the two of you are in charge of watching him."

"What about me boss?" Abel asked sarcastically. Darin looked at Abel with his beady eyes, and scowled, he didn't say anything and walked out of the small room. "

XXX

Before Seth even realized where she was going her feet automatically took her to Abel's office. Every time she had a problem with something he was the first person she would go to. Tears weld up in her eyes. How could she be so stupid! Abel - her Abel was missing, and the other Abel thought he went to his time a hundred years into the future. Then the other Abel was kidnapped! The tears spilled over her eyes, and she blinked them away.

Abel wasn't here. He was in danger, and Seth had no one to ask for help. Cain was psycho maniac and Lilith was to busy with her patients. Seth balled her hands into fists. Her mind spiraled over all the people she could go to for help. She kept on thinking about Abel, even when she knew he wasn't here to help.

"It should have been me!" the words came running out of her mouth despite the fact no one was there to listen to them. "If it weren't for me he would be fine, and they would have taken me, not him!" Seth's mind remembered how bloody his clothes had been when he fell. He must have been shot at least four times to produce that much blood in such a short time. He was probably dead by now. She just killed her own brother!

"Lieutenant Seth?" at the sound of her name Seth quickly wiped the tears away and spun around. "Where you just crying?" Tabitha asked. She held a stack of papers in her hands, it was so high that in reached to just under her chin. Kayson was right behind her also holding folders and a few loose papers. Tabitha turned on her side to get a better look at Seth. "Where's Abe-"

Tears spilled over Seth's face. "We on the roof and -and people- sounds could be heard from the stair case- and they had guns and- and- knives. Alaric- his men aimed their guns at me- and- jumped in- and he got shot- so much blood- his shirt was all bloody. He told me to run, and- and-" she stuttered over her words and cried. Shame pricked at her heart but she didn't care. All that mattered was Abel was dead because of her. "He's dead!" Seth shouted.

"Who's dead?" Tabitha and Kayson asked skeptically.

"Abel! He got shot, and they had tranquilizers-"

"What!" the papers Tabitha had been holding dropped to the ground, a few loose papers littered the ground. "Where?" She yanked a radio out of her pocket.

"The civilian side of town, on the south," Seth sniffed.

"Top priority," Tabitha shouted into the radio. "A silver haired child has just been ki- killed. Suspect is Alaric, and his men. Last seen on the south side of the civilians homes. I want him arrested and brought to the capital at once! Any one with him is to also be questioned. Suspect is armed and dangerous!"

"Yes, sir!" several voiced came through the radio and reached Seth.

Tabitha picked up the papers she had dropped and kicked open the door to Abel's office. Kayson followed behind her without a word. She dropped the stack on Abel's desk and Kayson followed suit.

"Go tell Lilith," Tabitha ordered Seth. Her voice was kind and stern at the same time. "Tell her to prep an emergency room."

"But he's dead! It won't help."

"I'm sure he's fine," Tabitha soothed. "He'll make it out of this." Even though she said this, Seth could tell that she was uncertain herself. Her voice was shaking as was her hand that held the radio. "We'll find Alaric and give him a just punishment."


A/N: Please comment for me everyone. I always read it even if I don't write back.

Eltara: Yay, we're all vampires! I bet my fangs are sharper then yours are! lol. Yes, the past part of this story does take place during the civil war.

Notice: I don't own, Tabitha, Kayson, Darin, Alaric or Shane. Flame800900 does.