Hey guys, big AN in the epilogue, promise. Here it is, last two chapters, fresh from the press.

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Chapter 25

"Hey look! It's your dad! Who you haven't seen in six months!" I squeaked, or squeaked as much as one could with an ominous possessed voice. "How totally exciting is that."

"What's wrong with your voice?" Then he saw Kit and actually paused. "Hi dad."

Kit grinned and hugged Derek, which was a little awkward since Derek was half a foot taller than him but clearly they'd had practice. An expression of profound relief flickered across Derek's face as he hugged his father back. PDA + Derek = weird… but cute.

"I'm so glad you're safe." Kit said.

Derek nodded, saying I'm glad you're okay too and I missed having the stability you provided in my life. It's been really hard on our own. All with a half-smile. He may not talk much but he said a whole lot with his subtle expressions, but maybe that was just me. My own smile dropped like an anchor when Derek rounded on me.

"What. The. Fuck." If looks could kill I would have been pierced with a thousand daggers. At the same time he looked almost relieved when he glanced over me. "Who. The fuck. Gave you that." He scowled at my outfit.

"Zoe. And Elena helped." I glared back defiantly. "There was no way I was going to let you do this alone! Deal with it!"

Derek cursed under his breath and I saw Kit smiling behind him. He leaned over to Simon.

"He really does like her doesn't he?"

They grinned at each other now, identical mischievous smirks at Derek's little temper tantrum. The werewolf in question rounded on them and they both froze, smiles dropping guiltily. "Do. Not. Let her out of your sight." With that he went back around the corner and by the time I'd run after him he was gone again.

"God that guy just never shuts up." Simon said from behind me and I shot him a grin of my own, feeling much better now that I'd been close enough to Derek to touch.

"Go straight down until you hit the swinging doors, Victoria is in there with Zoe. We've almost got the building clear." Elena told us, patted me on the head on her way past and punched a guard that just started stirring, taking his gun.

"That's… quite a woman." Simon said, watching her.

"Werewolf numbskull. With husband and kids." I rolled my eyes and followed the direction she'd gone.

"Just saying." He shrugged and smiled. "Don't be jealous."

"With your head that far up your ass you won't be able to keep an eye on me." I replied sweetly, I think Jacinda supplied that one, really.

We came into the courtyard area to see the Edison Group employees either tied up or unconscious or both. There was a group of our people staying just inside the front doors so anyone who was coming in for the night shift was captured immediately without much fuss.

"Looks like we missed all the fun." Simon said mournfully.

"Mrs. Enright and Dr. Davidoff are unaccounted for." Jeremy said, walking over to us. He gave me a stern look. "You should not be here."

I shrugged. "Is there a safe room somewhere where I can release this spirit?"

Jeremy was surprised by my voice, and by surprised I mean that I think I saw his eyebrows go up half a centimeter. "Right there, it's a staff lounge." He pointed to a nondescript nearby door.

"Thanks." I wanted to ask about Derek but having Jacinda pounding through my veins was making me dizzy and giving me a headache. "Excuse me guys, oh! It was really nice to meet you Mr. Bae." I'm not going to lie, I definitely checked the name plate outside his cell to make sure I got his name right.

"Kit please. Yes, I hope we get to talk more under less stressful circumstances. I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities." He smiled at me and I definitely understood why all the ladies seemed to throw themselves at Simon's feet. Good genes. He also seemed to have grasped the situation with me and Derek immediately, I really wanted to be there when he talked to Simon about it.

Now son. When a boy werewolf likes a girl very much they have this bond. When other men try to get into the girl's pants, the boy werewolf has a tendency to break every bone in their body.

Yeah. Definitely wanted to hear that.

I shut the door behind me so I could focus on what I was doing. A pile of folded clean scrubs caught my eye and I gratefully switched the skirt for a pair of the pale green pants. I kept the boots, shirt and jacket on since those did not make me feel like a slut and shook out my hair. It was wavy and not obeying me so I ended up just sweeping it back into a loose ponytail, which to me was more comfortable than the braid.

"Okay Jacinda, ready to go?" I murmured when I felt ready.

I died ready to wreak havoc. She laughed, or I laughed, or she laughed. Eh, you get the picture.

I took a deep breath and pushed. The usual feeling of releasing a spirit didn't apply apparently. Instead of feeling like I'd opened up my chest I felt like freezing cold sludge was seeping out through my eyes, making the colored contacts roll down my cheeks. The cold poured from my nose and mouth, even my ears. I thought I would suffocate as I coughed up the spirit. My eyes burned like I'd put liquid nitrogen on them. I even felt like I was sweating cold all over my body, I could feel the make-up bleeding off and my hair felt heavy like the last of my red dye was being pulled away strand by strand. It was like the icy power was draining away everything about me that was artificial so I was left with nothing but me.

It seemed to go on forever, as I started getting tunnel-vision suddenly I could breathe again. I collapsed to my knees, cracking them on the hard linoleum floor and gasped for air. I felt Jacinda all around me, laughing almost maniacally.

A part of me rebelled against what I did next, the same part that was shocked when I'd almost told Derek to be fast when checking to see if Tori could be helped. I summoned my energy around me like a net and cast it out, capturing the spirit. She shrieked and I cringed as I did release her this time, pushing her through whatever thin fabric separated this reality and the afterlife.

I told myself it was for the best, that I knew for a fact that she would hurt people and cause damage but I still couldn't shake the cold chill I'd gotten from it. I finally wiped my eyes and plucked up enough courage to stand. When I got to one knee I pitched sideways. I was so tired I could barely stay straight when I was seated, releasing Jacinda had wiped me completely.

Figures kept flitting in and out of sight, out of the corner of my eye the room looked like it had at least three other people in it but when I looked nothing was there. Damn, I was so drained I couldn't even block the imprint of ghosts.

I put my hand against the mirrored locker door nearest me and leaned on it to stand. I had to catch my breath once I was standing and—being a girl—glanced at my reflection in the mirror. My jaw dropped.

The freezing whatever that had poured out of me had changed the color of my eyes. It was like all of me was in color except my eyes which looked like they were in black and white. The iris was completely gray, not flat but definitely lacking any pigment. A reminder I would always have of what happened when I over-exerted myself. Derek was going to be pissed.

I used the wall the whole way to the door and had to put way too much effort into getting it open. Simon caught me as I stumbled out, his eyes wide with alarm.

"Chloe! Are you okay?"

"Just… a little tired." I took a breath and managed a shaky smile. "Seems like… necromancy is hard work after all."

"Chloe!" Jaime came racing to me in her four inch heels, so I guess she walked briskly to me or else she would have broken an ankle. "My god! What did you do?!"

"Channeled a bunch of demi-demon's ghosts." Simon said, glaring at me. "Any chance you could learn how to use like just a little of your power instead of all you've got?"

"You what? You… you channeled several demi-demon level spirits without a summoning ritual or banishing charms?" She actually looked really worried.

I opened my mouth to reply but something dark raced at me from the corner of my eye and I ducked to find… nothing. Stupid ghosts.

"It's just a minor spirit. Come here." Jaime took my hands and closed her eyes. I felt warmth and just enough energy to stand on my own flow into me.

"That was cool." I gasped.

Jaime grinned. "I read about it but I've never tried it. My gran said that necromancers used to do it back in the day."

"Thank you very much."

Jaime hugged me and I felt a tightness in my throat as she held me, she felt like I remembered mom feeling, and Aunt Lauren. I missed having a mother and it killed me that I still didn't know what happened to Aunt Lauren.

When she pulled back she looked at me worriedly. "Are you all right?"

I realized I was crying and wiped my eyes quickly. "Yeah. Just… a lot has happened lately. I guess I'm a little worn."

She nodded sympathetically and gave me another quick hug. "It will be over soon."

I did my best impression of a smile and looked around. "Where's Derek?"

"Still doing sweeps of the building with Clay. He seems a little annoyed." She said delicately.

I grinned at that and turned to Simon. "Want to go find him?"

He shrugged. "Might as well, he'll just sulk all day if we don't."

I glanced at Jaime as everyone else was occupied and she shrugged. "They're saying that those two people got away and everywhere else is secured, but if you run into any trouble just call Liz and she'll get a message to me."

Liz materialized next to Jaime, grinning from ear to ear. "Not that you're not great Chloe, but it's awesome to be able to talk to someone else for a change."

I assumed Jaime meant Mrs. Enright and Dr. Davidoff and I gave Liz an understanding smile and a nod, already moving down the hall. I felt like I had enough energy to walk on my own, much to Simon's disappointment and we were off before anyone told us not to. I was using my find-Derek radar while Simon thought we were just walking aimlessly. We made it to a hall with two partially open doors.

"You check in that one, I'll check this." Simon said.

I shrugged, knowing Derek wasn't in either but grateful for a quick rest. I went into the darkened room and flipped the light switch. While my eyes adjusted to the glare a hand clamped down over my mouth and I was gripped tightly.

"Well miss Saunders, you've caused quite a ruckus." My blood froze at the familiar voice and the cold metal cylinder pressed to my temple.

Dr. Davidoff. Complete with handgun.

"You didn't really think I'd let any of the subjects from my genesis two project get away did you?" He said quietly, pulling me away from the door. "You're my little guinea pigs. I can't wait to dissect your brain in particular. So much power to be researched."

I shuddered and tried to remember what Simon had said about getting out of a hold.

"And Mr. Souza, I would love to know if he is that gifted because of what we did and if we can replicate it. It will be wonderful when I have him on my lab table." He chuckled pleasantly. "I think I'll terminate him first."

That got me moving. I elbowed him in the stomach as hard as I could and bit the hand over my mouth, dropping all of my weight straight down. For some reason it disgusted me even more than biting the Australian had. He let go with a yelp and I staggered forward, wrenching open the door and falling into the hallway.

"Help!" I screamed.

Simon came running back into the hallway. "What is it??"

"Dr. Davidoff." I panted, trying to get my breath back from being so utterly terrified. "In there."

He carefully peeked around the edge and swore. "Damnit! There's another exit! Stay here!"

"No! He has a gun!" I shouted at his retreating back. Simon may sometimes annoy the crap out of me, but I didn't want him hurt.

He ignored me and went anyway. I spent a few ageless minutes in the hall, feeling like the useless blond heroine once again. Simon finally came back, shaking his head and looking frustrated.

"I didn't see him."

"Let's get back to the other's so that they know he's still here." I decided to for once take the option that Derek would have approved of.

He hesitated, then nodded. We had almost made it to the end of the hall when I heard the shout. I turned in time to see Liz flickering as she shoved me as hard as she could with her power into Simon, sending us both crashing to the ground as I heard a gun fire. I was so surprised that it was a second before I felt it, a burning pain in my side as I instinctively tucked my knees up.

I heard a gasp of air and looked up to see Liz telekenetically wrenching a gun away from someone as they ran around the corner with the swish of a lab coat.

Davidoff had sounded tired, I would bet my piggy bank that he used up any magic he had and that was why he was resorting to guns.

"Ten bucks says that was Davidoff." Simon said grimly, getting ready to run after him before he saw me. "Jesus! You're bleeding!"

"It's just… not my day today." I pushed carefully to my knees and opened my jacket. The bullet had barely grazed me, just enough to break the skin and get a little blood on my beautiful white jacket and make me mad as hell.

"Good thing he's a scientist and not a sharpshooter." Simon smiled and offered his arm. "We need to get you back STAT."

"Agreed." I winced as we stood and put pressure on the cut. "Phooey. I really want to kick that guy's butt."

"Phooey?" Simon smiled weakly at me, eyes still dark with worry. "Seriously?"

"Shut up and get me to somewhere with aspirin."

We tried the walking—or rather now limping—away from danger thing again. We almost made it, less than ten yards from the turn off into the courtyard when I felt the butterfly-twinge as we passed a hallway.

"Derek's down there!" I exclaimed, changing directions without pausing.

"How do you know?"

"I… saw him." I lied.

Simon didn't push and we went down the hall. The place was like a maze of sterile corridors with every door looking just like every other one. Without any noise Derek came out of the room right in front of us, making Simon yelp and him spin around, teeth bared. He froze when he saw me.

"… What happened to your eyes… and hair?" He asked slowly, straightening. He stopped moving again, inhaling deeply through his nose. "Where are you bleeding?" He snapped, taking me from Simon as easily as if they were handing off a weak kitten.

"Just a little graze, nothing to get all dramatic over." I winced as he peeled back my coat, revealing a patch of blood about as wide as a dinner plate. "It's not as bad as it looks! I promise!"

As he bent over my side, examining me closely with Simon watching with an amused, thoughtful expression, I saw a dark shape behind him.

"Derek!" I shouted a warning as an arm appeared above his back. An arm holding a big empty syringe.

He turned too late, catching the needle in the chest, Dr. Davidoff shoving down the plunger faster than I could knock his hand away. Derek shoved him into the wall where he smashed but didn't lose consciousness.

"Do you… know what happens… when air is injected in your bloodstream?" Dr. Davidoff asked with a wet cough, sliding down.

Derek paled and looked quickly at Simon. "Get dad!" He dropped to one knee, turning a glare on Davidoff.

"What's wrong?? What did you do?!" I screamed, trying to hold Derek up.

"It won't… hurt for long." This time Davidoff coughed blood. "Just a little… rupture in the aorta." He laughed and it turned to a coughing fit. When his breath was back Derek was pale, one big hand clutching his chest. Davidoff spat a gob of blood and when he spoke his voice was almost back to normal. "Just like Lauren Fellows."

"No!"

Derek dropped to his other knee and no amount of support on my part could keep him up as he slipped to his side, one hand touching my cheek briefly before dropping.

I numbly reached out to Derek's stilling form, my heart throbbing like it was on fire. I could feel him ripping away from me, taking my soul with him. I clutched my bleeding side and shook him gently, grabbing his hand in mine. It felt cold, and he was beginning to have the tingly nervous feel of a corpse.

"Please, please get up Derek." I begged, shaking harder.

"I told you I would terminate him first." Dr. Davidoff said in his nice-scientist tone, pushing to his feet and wearing the comfortable non-threatening half smile even as he tossed aside the syringe. "None of you will-"

He stopped talking as I wrapped my hand around his ankle, pushing the cloth away to feel the skin. I looked into his face as he looked down at me curiously and I felt nothing, I was past hatred or pity or fear.

"You took him away from me."

I heard Simon and Kit run up to us but didn't process whatever they were yelling.

"Now you will bring him back."

I gripped him with a vise-like pressure and pulled as hard as I could, not physically, but with my power. I felt a terrible wrenching and watched coldly as Davidoff dropped back against the wall as I channeled white hot energy through my pendant. It shocked up the hand holding Davidoff's ankle, through the necklace and down my other hand holding Derek's. Without warning the jewel shattered, sending white hot pain into my chest and shoulder as shards of it pierced my skin. Without it I took the energy straight through my heart and into the still form I held desperately. I sucked everything that Davidoff had out of him, so much power that I felt my heart begin to stutter from the shock of passing it.

Something or someone wrenched me away from the cold ankle I clung to, yelling at me to stop. I saw three figures leaning over me, two of them screaming for an ambulance as the third called my name over and over.

I'm not lost. I thought sleepily. You don't have to look for me, I'm right here. But I couldn't get my mouth to work as I tried to reach up.

Then I was falling faster and faster backwards and the three figures got further and further away. Their voices growing faint as my vision faded to black.