Author's Note: Only a few more chapters left! Thanks so much for all the reviews, please keep them coming (:

Fabian switched his phone to speaker, and laid it on the bathroom floor so Nina could listen in, "Hello?"

"Fabian Rutter?"

He glanced at Nina before responding, "Yes?"

"This is Rene Zeldman," the caller declared, "Your friend Patricia tells me you have something I'm looking for."

"I don't-"

"Let me guess, you don't know what I'm talking about, right?" Rufus sighed irritatedly, "Look, I don't have the time or patience to put up with your childish games; and I'd hate for poor Patricia to pay the price."

Nina tensed beside Fabian, "Don't hurt her."

"I won't," Rufus asserted, "Not yet, anyway. Just bring me the elixir, and you'll both be able to go free."

"Alright," Fabian agreed, "When do you want to do this?"

"I see no reason to deal," Rufus replied, "Tonight, at midnight. I'll text you directions later...Oh, and Fabian? I meant what I said-no funny business."

Fabian looked at Nina worriedly as he ended the call, "I think we should tell Victor."

She gaped at her, "What?"

"We could set Rufus up," he elaborated, "If I tell Victor the location Rufus gives me, he'll go after Rufus himself."

"That won't help us find Patricia though," Nina remarked, "Victor wasn't concerned about her at all, remember?"

He sighed, "You're right; it was a stupid idea."

She smiled encouragingly at him, "Hey, if Victor wasn't a crazy, kid-hating immortal, I'm sure it'd be a great idea."

He laughed and helped her up, "Thanks."

Nina shuffled through her bag as they left the bathroom, noticing the bottle of elixir laying untouched at the bottom, "I might have a plan, but we'll need Amber's help."

..

Fabian glanced down at his phone, re-reading the message Rufus had sent him, "The warehouse should be close by."

"Was that a wolf?" Amber stiffened fearfully, "I think that was a wolf."

"Amber, we're a mile from the road," Nina reminded her, "Wolves wouldn't come this close."

"Alright guys," Fabian pointed at a small building a few miles away, "That's the warehouse up there."

"Ugh," Amber shuddered, "It's even creepier than I imagined."

"Okay, let's go over the plan," Nina instructed, "Fabian, you'll go and distract Rufus while Amber and I sneak around back to find Patricia."

Fabian nodded, "And then what?"

"I haven't gotten that far yet," she admitted truthfully.

"I brought pepper-spray," Amber announced helpfully. She noticed their shocked expressions, "What? Did you really think I was just going to rely on Fabian's muscle-power? No offense Fabes."

"How could I be offended by that?" He muttered sarcastically, "We should get going; Rufus is expecting me in five minutes."

..

"Fabian," Nina pulled him aside when they arrived at the warehouse. "Here, take this."

He looked down at the glass bottle she'd handed him, "What is it?"

"It's the sample of the elixir we got," she whispered hurriedly.

"What?" He exclaimed, "I can't bring this in there, it's too risky."

"If Rufus finds out you're tricking him, he might hurt you," she said, "And I won't let that happen."

"Alright." He hid the elixir in his coat, "Be careful, yeah?"

She nodded and headed around the building with Amber.

Fabian waited until Nina was completely out of sight before knocking on the rusty, metal door. It slid open a second later, and Rufus stood in the doorway.

"You're right on time," he noted, impressed, "Now, did you bring me the elixir?"

"Where's Patricia?" Fabian asked, trying to get a glimpse over Rufus's shoulder.

"You know Fabian, I've heard quite a bit about you," Rufus stepped outside, locking the door behind him, "Specifically, that you fancy a girl named Nina."

Fabian tried to keep his face neutral, "What are you getting at?"

"Do you know what that elixir does?" Rufus questioned, "The power it could give to a young man like yourself? Eternal life...eternal looks."

"Ahh!"

Rufus turned around wildly, "Who is that?" He grabbed Fabian's backpack roughly, "I don't have time for this-give me my elixir!"

"Hey, let go of him!" Nina ran out from the shadows, her necklace flying out from underneath her coat.

Rufus narrowed his eyes at the locket, "Where did you get that?"

She grabbed the necklace defensively, "It was a gift. Why?"

"Oh, this is too good," Rufus laughed menacingly, "Those idiots think they've got the Chosen One, when in fact, she's right in front of me."

Nina took a shaky step away from him, "What are you talking about?"

"Tell me; when is your birthday?" Rufus inquired, "July seventh, perhaps? Born at seven a.m.?"

She hesitated slightly, "How do you know that?"

He smirked leeringly, "Sorry, but you're going to have to come with me."

Fabian stepped between Nina and Rufus, "You're not taking her anywhere."

Rufus glared at him, "You don't know who you're dealing with right now; I've lived longer than your great-grandparents have been alive." He moved to grab Nina again, but fell slack onto the ground suddenly.

Amber stood over Rufus, a wooden oar clutched in her hand, "That's for calling me ignorant."

"What happened back there?" Fabian asked them, "Did you find Patricia?"

"Were you that worried about me?" Patricia wondered teasingly, coming to stand next to Amber. She looked down at Rufus unsympathetically, "What are we going to do with him?"

"He'll wake up soon," Nina remarked, "We should tie him up and let the police deal with the rest."

"I'll do it," Fabian volunteered, "You call the police, Nina."

"So that's Nina," Rufus commented woozily as Fabian tied his hands together, "You better kiss her while you can; they'll find her soon enough."