"The cavalry?" Liam replied with distaste. "I always imagined them on horses." He moved closer to me, apparently prepared to still perform the ritual.

"Get away from her," Jordan growled again. The three had moved over to my right side so I could see them, at least peripherally.

"Alright," Liam said brightly, quickly jabbing me with something. My muscles seized and I lost all feeling in my body. He'd paralyzed me again. "That's fine. Everyone, attack our former family members." Desmond barreled toward Jason and the younger two took on Daydream. Daydream easily fought off the two though Jason appeared to be well matched. Erol threw David and lunged for Jordan.

"Erol, what the hell?" Jordan cried, ducking Erol's swift punches. He wasn't strong, but Erol was certainly fast. "Why are you doing this?"

Had I been able to do anything with my body I would have growled in frustration. I wished I could tell Jordan what was going on. Then it occurred to me. I intended to tell Jordan that Liam did in fact have some sort of psychic thrall over the other vampyres and that he was going to use them to drain me of my possible powers. Jordan paused to look at me, getting punched in the face but quickly recovering. "He's doing what? And what powers?" Elated that I had found a way to use Jordan's ability to contact him telepathically, I told Jordan all about my meeting with Nyx, Liam's attacks and his plan for the vampyres. "So how do we de-thrall them?" Jordan asked, breathless. "We may be handling ourselves but these guys are still seriously strong. Especially Erol here. Has he been working out or something? He's never fought like this before."

Suddenly, Liam appeared at my side and I wondered where he had been. "By my clock, Mari, it is now just a few seconds after midnight. You and I should get this show on the road without the others. Although, it will be less dramatic this way." I longed to glare at the vampyre in front of me. He began chanting in some strange language and drawing marks on me with soot. He had to stop however when Jason threw Desmond at him.

"Oops," Jason chuckled, "clumsy me."

I couldn't take this anymore. My friends were having to fight our other friends, a maniac was trying to perform some strange ritual on me and there was nothing I could do. You would think that someone as powerful as I supposedly was would be able to do something to help or affect the fight in any way. Suddenly, some of Nyx's words came to me. She said that I had so much power flowing through my veins. My blood, because let's face it it's always about blood, contained my powers. It didn't matter that I didn't know what these powers were or how to use them. The point was that it was there.

I sent as strong a signal as I could to Jordan. He stared at me. "You want me to what?" I narrowed my eyes, since I had regained feeling in them. "Alright, fine." He gave Erol a serious kick to the stomach and sent him flying, then drew a dagger from unconscious Desmond's belt and dragged it across my wrist. A gust of wind blew at me, as though it knew what I was doing, and carried the scent of my blood to the vampyres around me. Those under Liam's thrall stopped fighting and their eyes lost the glassy look they'd had. It wasn't until Rosto cried out and came running to help me that I was sure they were free.

"No matter," Liam groaned as he got up from the ground. "I can easily have them do my bidding again." His eyes became stormy, a strange sight I had never seen before, and he took a deep breath, preparing to unleash his power.

Just then, David came up from behind and bashed Liam's head with the hilt of the sword he had brought to save me. I smiled, having gained control over my face again, and prepared to thank him but I had no time. Before I knew what had hit me, Jordan grabbed me and planted his lips on mine. As wrapped up as I was in the kiss I did notice all eyes staring at us, since this was the first time most of them had even thought Jordan and I might be together. Then it hit me, he was kissing me in front of everyone. No hiding. No shame.

As if sensing my thoughts, Jordan pulled away and smiled at me. "I thought I was going to lose you when Daydream told us about Nyx's warning," he explained. "I don't want to lose someone I love ever again. And I'm not going to risk losing you emotionally just because I'm afraid I'll forget April. I refuse." He kissed me one more time then pulled away to face David. It was then that I saw Erol's face. His face hid his emotions very well but his eyes…they screamed of his anger and pain. I hadn't realized he cared that much about me. "Who are you?" Jordan suddenly demanded.

"Oh, this is David," I sighed, trying to ignore the pangs of guilt I felt in my stomach. "He's one of us."

"He's a Bagger," Jordan stated, staring daggers at the frightened looking guy.

"No," I scoffed. "You've got it wrong. David can't be—"

"He was trying to hide his thoughts about being a Bagger from me which, unfortunately for him, brought attention to the very fact." Now everyone was staring at poor David.

I shook my head. "That can't be. David, tell him."

David locked eyes with me and gave a sigh. "I can't. He's right. I was a Bagger."