She should have known better then to trust Eric of course he would lead Russell to her. Angry at herself she ripped open the envelope and took out a folded white piece of paper. She opened it up and read it "One last mission for old time sakes." She rolled her eyes even through a pen she could sense his smugness. Now that she was in the middle of an unsettled score, she wasn't craving her old life back.

"What's that?" Eric suddenly appeared behind her pulling her towards him and kissing her neck

"Like you don't know" she pushed him away not holding back her strength "You know every time I think I could trust you just a little, you go and pull something like this"

"I have absolutely no idea what you are referring to" he kept his distance seeing how aggravated she was

"This" she held up the note "Russell, you, suddenly appearing at the same exact time. Coincidence?"

"You think I led Russell to you?" he laughed

"You know it's my own damn fault" she threw the note on the floor "I should have kept moving, but somewhere deep inside of me I was hoping you would find me. I don't know why, because every time you show up Russell is right behind you and I'm really failing to see how more stories or excuses could cover up the fact that you are working for him. I'm not buying this whole common enemy story you sold me at Godric's. I don't know what you are gaining from working for him nor do I want to. All I want is for all of you to realize that I'm not interested in playing your little games anymore. Last time was a warning, push me again and you won't get to play any more games."

"He destroyed my family" Eric wasn't laughing anymore "I had to watch as werewolves that he sent ripped my family to shreds just so he can add an artifact to his collection. I am not nor will I ever work for him, there is not enough money or power that he can offer me. For the last six months I have been trying figure out a plan to avenge my family. Now granted you fit in nicely into my previous plan, but I respected your decision to leave since it was not your fight. I'm not here to give you over to Russell. I'm here to ask for your help to take him down."

She saw the pain in his eyes not doubting for a second that he was telling her the truth. It was of course plausible that if Eric could find her so could Russell and seeing how Eric made his presence known Russell had to step in. Plausible, but not necessary believable. There was something she was missing.

"Why should I help you? Even if I believe you, like you said it's not my fight" she kept her distance from him.

"And you're so willing to forgive him for everything he put you through?"

"I wouldn't have left if I wasn't ready to put it all behind me"

"Perhaps you won't be in such a forgiving mood when you learn the whole truth"

"What that my father sold me to Russell or that Russell planned out the whole sickness ordeal so I will work for him?"

He walked closer to her

"How do you think Russell knew about the fact that you were a slayer?"

"I suppose my father told him"

"Belle, the man you call your father has been working for Russell for much longer then you've been alive. Russell traced your lineage before you were even born and in order to secure you he took care of your biological parents and gave you to Joseph to raise, under his full control of course. When you were a child all the training you received all the special missions you went on to kill the bad vampires. They all were for Russell. You've been working for him your whole life"

"You're making this up so I will help you" she backed away from him fuming.

He took out a small photograph and handed it to her.

She took a few more steps away from him "You just reached a new low even for a vampire. You're so blinded by your anger that you don't care who you hurt. Do you even understand what you are saying to me? That my whole life has been a lie, that Russell has been controlling me from day one. NO, that's not possible. Joseph might not have been the best father in the world, but he was my father. Russell had nothing to do with that."

He placed the photo on a small table standing nearby "Just look at it" and he was gone.

Fighting back tears she instinctively wanted to chase after him and hurt him the same way his words just hurt her. She didn't believe him for a minute knowing that he would make up any excuse to get her on his side. At that moment she saw no difference between Eric and Russell both have found a way to use her vulnerability.

About to storm off to her bedroom she glanced quickly at the photo on the table. There was no reason for her to trust Eric, but he placed some doubt into her. Taking a few steps towards the table she picked up the photo. Her hands were shaking as she looked at it.

The photo was taken at a hospital and showed a woman sitting up on the hospital bed holding a baby and a man with his arm around her as well as a five year old girl who stood next to the bed. Everybody was smiling. At first she didn't understand why he would give her this picture, but after a more careful examination of it she noticed that a bracelet on the babies hand was visible. She ran into her kitchen and found a magnifying glass holding it up to the photo. The bracelet read Annabelle Rose Pierce the date coincided with her birthday. Taking the magnifying glass off the photo she took another look at the woman and that's when she noticed the similarities. The woman looked a lot like her, than she moved on to the man. Looking closer at him she noticed some similarities as well, they had the same nose and his lips resembled hers. There was something very familiar about him. She kept staring at the picture until everything became crystal clear. The man was the vampire who left the bear for her. That's what Eric meant when he mentioned her father.

She didn't have time to process everything when she heard movement outside the front door. Knowing that Eric was out there waiting for her to put everything together she rushed outside to him. Upon reaching outside she saw someone dart away from her house towards some trees that grew a few feet away from her house. Assuming that Eric still thought she was mad at him she ran after him towards the trees. She could feel him around when she reached the point where she saw him, but she couldn't see him.

"I'm so sorry" her voice was shaking as everything began to sink in "I should have believed you"

She heard him walk out behind her, turning around she was taken aback by seeing Godric in front of her.

"Godric" she was puzzled

He smiled at her "You look well"

She ran towards him happy to see him there "Oh I'm so glad to see you" she wrapped her hands around his neck.

He returned the hug.

"Is Eric really mad at me?" she pulled back

"I wouldn't worry about it" his face was reassuring

"It was just too much to take in" she needed to release all the emotions she was feeling "To even think that Russell could be so evil. It was a lot for even for me to comprehend."

"I can imagine"

She took a few steps back thinking out loud "How did the two of you even find all this out. It's … it's…." she struggled to find the right words "Liberating" she began to laugh "You were so right, I've been molded into this monster from day one and now that I finally know the truth. I can be free of it all"

It was actually easier for her breath as what seems like a ton of bricks was lifted off her shoulders. Even when she abandoned her past she knew that the day would come when it will catch up with her. Now knowing the truth she could finally end Russell and put everything behind her. Eric gave her the greatest gift of all, a real chance at freedom.

"Thank you" she was overjoyed "I don't know how the two of you found this out, but you saved me"

It was due to the euphoria that she failed to sense another presence nearby, nor did she hear the two shots fired at her. It was when she felt something explode inside of her that she realized that they weren't there alone. She fell to her knees and everything became blurry. Godric stood in front of her as the image of him became fuzzy. She wanted to stand back up but everything started to spin and went dark. Unconsious she fell to the ground.

"Are you sure this won't kill her?" Godric was concerned for her well being

"The tranquilizer should keep her out for a few hours, but it won't kill her. Not with her abilities" Russell threw the tranquilizer gun on the ground "We should move her before Eric comes back"