Chapter Twenty Five

Natalie and Victor made it into the woods that were lined at the end of the field, they still had absolutely no idea where they were.. Victor finally spoke.."we have to stop" he said as he leaned against a tree..

"we cant just stop, we dont even know where we are" natalie began as he looked at her..

"You dont understand, I have to stop" he said as he began to sit on the ground.."that shit messed me up"

Natalie sighed.."well how long are we gonna stay" she was getting impatient, she just wanted to get to a road or a ctiy, something..

"you know what by all means you can go but I need to rest" he said as he leaned his back against the tree and she sighed once more but then she too took a seat by an adjacent tree, at this rate it would take them days to get anywhere..

John got to his bedroom as he leaned against the wall. His mind was swirling with images, ones of her, they wouldnt stop, it actually seemed like it was getting worse.. Was she somehow doing this to him to distract him? He just didnt understand, the visions seemed real..

He thought of her again, she said her name was Natalie but he still couldnt read her mind, why? She seemed so familiar to him but that too didnt make sense, how would he know her, he wouldnt..She looked at him in such a way, a way like she did know him and she looked pained about it..

The sound of Evangeline coming down the hall immediately made him put a wall up to his mind, he didnt know why but for now he didnt want Evangeline knowing anything that had taken place. She stormed into the room pissed..

"did you hear what happened at the club while we were gone" she snapped as she threw some bags onto the bed..

"No what happened" he kept his mind clear..

"that fucking vamp happened, the same one from the club" she snapped angrily..

"what?" he said quickly..

"that vamp, Vic was his name, he took out like three of our men and he almost took out bryan" she huffed and then she looked at him.."whats wrong with you?" she asked suspiciously..

"jet lag" he said dryly as she stared at him more intently, his mind went to Milan and she quickly looked away..

"yeah well that vamp is gonna pay" she huffed..

"maybe we should just deal with other pressing issues first" he began as she looked at him..

"this is pressing, did you not hear me, that damn blood sucker killed our men!" she yelled furiously.."bryan is working on a location for the den" she said as she rummaged through the bags she had on the bed..."damn it where is it" she said with annoyance..

"maybe you should just relax" he began as she looked at him, her eyes turning bright red..

"I will once that vamp is dead" she snapped and then pulled out a book, it was the book in question, the book of the dead..

"we should work on getting the rest of the supplies" he began..

"you can do that, im taking care of other business" she snapped as she stormed out of the room and he ran a hand through his hair..Images of red hair flashed through his head..He quickly shook them out, he had no idea what was happening to him but he was gonna find out..

Victor crossed his legs at the ankles as he closed his eyes.."so who is that girl to you" Natalie tried to make small talk plus she was curious about Alexandria..

"Huh?" he glanced at her..

"alexandria, who is she to you" she asked again..

"Just a girl" he said as he closed his eyes..

"she likes you doesnt she" she continued as he looked at her now..

"what would make you think that" he said seriously..

"I dunno maybe cause I am a girl too, human but a girl no less and I can tell when another girl is feeling territorial around a guy" she said honestly..

"You think that Alexandria has feelings for me?" he said with a half laugh.."trust me she can barely stand me"

"i wouldnt jump to that conclusion just yet" natalie said as he stared at her.."do you like her?"

"what? No" he said quickly but there was something else behind his eyes..

"You know it wouldnt be a bad thing for you to like her" she said quickly, she could see him fidget nervously...

"I dont like her, not like that" he said quickly..

"i think you do" Natalie smirked..

"well then your wrong, I dont want to talk about this" he snapped defensively..

"fine,...geez im just trying to kill some time" natalie huffed as he sighed heavily..

"i just wont get involved with anyone ok, so drop it" he closed his eyes..

"Is it because of your wife" she couldnt help herself as he looked at her hard now.."I dont mean to pry it just kind of seems like you have put a wall up and maybe its time to bring it down"

"People put walls up for a reason and I dont need anyone but myself, got it" he snapped sternly..

"everyone wants someone" she began as he looked at her..

"hey just cause your pinning away for some fairy tale doesnt mean the rest of us are, when you get close to people, people get hurt, you learn to not care" he said seriously..

Natalie swallowed hard.."I use to think like that once"

"i really dont need your psycho babble, im fine, end of story" he snapped..

"You dont seem like your fine" she continued.."Im just saying that if" she began..

"There is no if natalie, I had my happily ever after a long time ago and thats over" he snapped as he stood now.."lets go" he began to walk now as she scrambled to her feet and caught up with him, she went to say something and he stopped.."Just dont ok" he said and she sighed, apparently he wasnt the talking type..

Evangeline got into another room as she quickly pulled out a picture, it was one of the redhead. She had gotten it earlier in the morning...

Hours prior...

Evangeline paced back and forth in the small alley, she really hated this town and the people in it, she was frustrated and annoyed and most importantly she wanted to know who the hell the red head was. See Evangeline had just came to life like John so to speak about a year ago. She had been trapped in pergatory for what seemed like ages and it probably was but he had let her out. He had come for her, not John, oh no not him but someone much more important..

"you know I enjoy sleeping in" the sound of a male voice said as she looked up and narrowed her eyes..

"there will be plenty of time for that, tell me what you found out Miles" she snapped angrily at him..

"You know I would think you would be nicer to me considering everything I did for you" he said dryly..

She walked up to him.."actually I think its the other way around considering that your brother is the one who locked me away" she said bitterly..

"Hey whatever it is you had going on with mitch is your own deal" he said sarcastically and she immediately grabbed him by his shirt as she yanked him close as his eyes got wide..

"the only reason I kept you alive is because you got me out, plain and simple but keep this in mind, I could easily change my tune" she seethed..

"You wouldnt dare, you need me" he challenged her and she was absolutely pissed as she let go of him quick.."but anyways I got what you wanted" he held something in his hand but as she went to grab it he pulled it back.."i dont think so, I think you owe me something" he said as he held onto the papers in his hand..

She inhaled deep and then pulled something out of her pocket, it was a small box and his eyes lit up.."this better be worth it or so help me" she warned.."what do you want with that stupid ring anyways, its useless!"

"one mans trash is another mans treasure, now hand it over" he said as he looked at her and she roughly shoved the box in his hand as she yanked the papers from his hand, inside was a picture, one of her, the red head.. Miles studied the box and then opened it, a wide smile on his face as he saw the ring.."i know you didnt just bring me a god damn picture" she snapped..

Miles looked at her and then rolled his eyes as he shoved the box into his pocket and smiled.."you dont think I would be that stupid, do you?" he raised an eyebrow, "everything you need to know is in here" he pointed to his head..She narrowed her eyes at him.."Oh and dont even try to read my mind, we both know you cant" he said dryly as she clenched her fists.."anywho her name is natalie, natalie buchanan to start with and she isnt just some random girl, she is a slayer" he said as her eyes got wide.."I know crazy right, I mean I didnt know they made slayers that hot" he grinned..

"enough with the games" she snapped.."tell me about this slayer"

Miles rolled his eyes.."well apparently rumor has it that her and john were working very closely at one point, they were trying to bring down my brother"

"and apparently they succeeded" she said as images of Natalie and John together filled her head, she didnt need time for distractions, she was on a damn mission and she needed John clear headed.."what else"

"well I guess she went looking for him, that vamp led her right to the club" he began..

"i fucking knew it" she snapped..

"yeah well I wouldnt be too worried, John wont remember her, hell he can barely remember anything since a year ago, no thanks to me of course" he grinned..

"I wouldnt be so smug Miles, he was thinking of her, I saw it" she said angrily as he cocked his head to the side..

"no..he wouldnt, I made sure.. I found him, remember, I still remember that day, he was like a shaking broken pup, really pathetic actually and if I hadnt been so grateful for the death of my brother" he began..

"stop your damn reminising" she snapped.."i need her gone"

"yeah well there lies the issue, see, well she cant be killed" he began as Evangeline's eyes got wide..

"what? Of course she can, she is human!" she snapped..

"and that is true but one of those angel guys put a protection spell on her, but" he began as Evangeline began to get very impatient..

"But what, spit it out you insignificant little twit" she snapped as he cocked his head to the side..

"you really are an ungrateful bitch" he said dryly as she neared him.."but I digress" he said quickly.."I heard the spell can be broken and its not even that hard" he began as she stared hard at him.."there is a weapon that can break the spell and end her precious life as well" Evangelines eyes got wide as he spoke..

"so where the hell is it, I need it" she snapped..

"well technically this spear is a myth" he began..

"I am not in the mood for games Miles" she said with gritted teeth..

"Ok ok dont get your panties in a bunch" he said sarcastically.."word is that my brother had it"

"and where exactlly did he have it Miles?" she was losing her patience big time..

"well thats for another time sweetheart" he smiled and then snapped his fingers as he disappeared as she yelled out..

"You son of a bitch, get back here" she yelled but he was gone..

Evangeline dialed her phone as she paced, it immediately went to voicemail as she squeezed the phone hard.."we are not done yet, call me or else" she snapped as she hung up. She was so close to getting rid of that slayer bitch and she would if it was the last thing she did..

Natalie and Victor walked through the woods for hours and it seemed like it would never end, natalie finally exhausted first as she leaned against a tree.."this is ridiculous, i dont even see a god damn road"

"complaining isnt going to make this easier, im sure were getting close to something" he said as he continued to walk..

"I cant do this, I cant..im tired, im hungry" she began..

"Join the crowd"he said dryly..

"you dont even sleep" she said sarcastically..

"yeah well there are other things pressing on my mind" he began as she swallowed hard..

"you need to feed, dont you" she said quickly..

"lets just keep on walking" he said quickly..

"that would get your strength up wouldnt it, I mean there has to be an animal somewhere" she began quickly as he looked at her..

"have you seen any?" he said sarcastically.."lets just walk ok"

"but if you fed we could get out of here, right?" she said as she stopped walking and he stopped too as he looked at her..He could see the wheels spinning in her head and honestly she was surprised that she was even thinking this, could she let him feed on her? Could it get them out of these damn woods and back to civilization?

"No...absolutely not" he said even though he couldnt technically read her mind, he could see by her eyes what she was thinking..

"why not, if you fed then we could get out of here" she said honestly..

"i am not feeding on you ok, end of story" he said sternly..

"Listen im not siked about the idea either but" she began..

"No natalie, no buts, its not happening, just keep walking" he said as he turned from her..

"it gives us an out and I dont know about you but im not up for walking for miles, I mean we dont even know where the hell we are, we could be in some ridicoulsy big wilderness" she said seriously as he turned and faced her..

"and the highway could be right up the road, keep walking" he said quickly..

"No, we could get out of here, we could get out of here now" she said adamently..

"do you even hear yourself, ok just a few days ago we were at each others throats, literally" he said honestly.."i wont do it" he shook his head..

Natalie knew what she had to do, it was the only thing they could do and she had to get the hell out of there and by John, she had to and she didnt have days to waste wandering in the woods, she quickly pulled out her knife as his eyes got wide and she sucked in a deep breath as she cut her arm..

"No , what are you fucking crazy" he yelled at her but it was too late, a pool of blood was already forming on her arm and she swallowed hard. He could smell it already, the scent literally driving him insane and if he wasnt so god damn hungry he could of fought it but he was weak, the dark magic had stripped him, leaving him barren..

"Just do it ok, do it before I change my mind" she said as she held her arm out and he watched drop after drop landed on the green grass.."you have to do this Victor, so do it" she shut her eyes tight as her arm trembled some. He was paralyzed as he stared at her arm, he was actually salivating..

"i cant" he said even as he began walking towards her, his eyes on her arm. He could hear her heart racing.."Natalie I" he swallowed hard now..

"Just do it ok, do it and get us the hell out of here" she said with her eyes shut tight..

"I havent fed on a human in over two centuries" he said honestly as he got in front of her.."what if I cant stop" he suddenly sounded completely afraid..

Natalie tried to calm herself.."you can,...i... I trust you" she couldnt even believe her own words, she did trust him, how odd to trust a man who killed her parents and tried to kill her..

"How? After everything I have done" he said as he looked at her arm and then at her face as she opened her eyes now..

"yeah well I guess, things are different now" she swallowed hard as he looked back at her arm.."will it hurt?" she suddenly felt scared..

"No" he said quietly.."you would do this for me?"

"its the only good option we have, just make it quick" she said as she shut her eyes again and then she felt him grab her arm lightly and she tensed..

"i will repay you" he said.."one day" and then she felt the sting of his fangs as she gasped and bit back a cry. It didnt hurt persay but it definitely wasnt the most pleasant feeling. She began to feel light headed as he fed on her and then suddenly she felt very much at peace, it was odd, she wondered if this is what death felt like. That was the last thought she had before the world turned black..

Natalie awoke to shivering as her teeth chattered, she was so damn cold and her head hurt, she went to move but she groaned instead.."Hey try not to move too much" she heard Victors voice as her eyes began to blink open some.."i took too much, im sorry, I shoudnt of" he said with regret and her eyes popped open now..

"too much? Am I..am I a?" she couldnt even get the words out as she looked at him with fear..

"No, god no..." he said quickly.."it just left you weak, Natalie you have been sleeping for almost a week and for a minute there I thought I killed you" he said with a shake of his head..

"a week?" she sat up now as her head throbbed and she grabbed it..

"You need to stay calm" he said with worry..

"No, we have to get to him, we have to" she began as she held her head, she couldnt believe she was out for a week, my god how did she even survive that. Her throat was incredibly dry as she talked and he handed her a bottle of water..

"You were in and out of it for awhile, only waking to drink something and then you were back out" he said as he watched her and she held onto the bottle of water, she quickly took a sip, then another one..

"i feel like shit" she said honestly..

"i hate to say it but you look like it too" he said honestly as she finally got to look at where she was, it was a hotel room again..

"where are we?" she said as she sipped more of the water..

"right outside of town" he began..

"But why here, I thought we would go back to that house" she said with confusion and then he looked down, something written on his face, guilt possibly, maybe regret.."whats wrong?"

"they were slaughtered" he said as he stood up now and her eyes got wide as she gasped..

"what?" she said in shock.."how, who?" she couldnt believe how incredibly sad she felt at the moment..

"she did it, she was looking for us, she killed them and im gonna kill her" he said with anger..

"oh my god, then she knows, he told her didnt he?" she said with shock, for some reason she thought he wouldnt say anything but he had, she had been wrong about him, he was evil, John was really just a souless bastard...That thought made her feel sick to her stomach, had she been the reason all of his friends were killed?She immediately thought of her own family.."rex, bo? Oh my god I have to call them, warn them" she said quickly..

"Your family is ok" he said as he looked at her..

"how do you know, If something happens to them because of me" she went to move but her head hurt so much..

"just take it easy ok, your family is ok, I spoke to them" he said quietly but there was something else behind his voice, it made her stomach turn..

"You spoke to my family?" she said in shock..

"I was worried about you, I thought you were dying and...and well I went to them" he said with a shake of his head..

"im sure that went over well" she said as she swallowed hard, she could only imagine the look on their faces when Victor showed up..

"It wasnt pleasent" he said seriously.."but I did get to speak to your uncle, he wasnt so bad"

"so you talked to my family but im still here, why wouldnt you take me back there, why didnt they come here" she asked with confusion..

"I wouldnt risk taking another leap with you" he said as he began to pace now...

"so then they know about John and Evangeline" she said quickly as he nodded his head..

"Natalie something else happened" his voice was grave as he spoke..

"what? Oh god what happened" she said as her heart began to race dangerously fast.."did evangeline show up, or john" she immediately thought of a worst case scenerio..She thought of Victoria and her eyes began to water..He didnt speak for a minute and she forced herself to stand up as he looked at her.."tell me Victor, tell me what happened"..

"You need to sit for this" his tone alone made her want to cry out, something bad had happened, she could see it in his eyes..

"No, I dont want to sit...tell me" her voice trembled..

"he took your daughter" he said as she forgot to breathe for a moment, she had thought she heard him wrong but the look of dread on his face it was inconceivable..

"Oh my god" she nearly fell as he quickly got to her and grabbed her arm.."they got her?" she could barely get the words out, they were choked with tears..

"not they" he began as he looked at her.."Michael, he took her" she couldnt even speak for a moment as she soaked his words in.

"what? Michael? What?" she said in shock and anquish..

"Michael took her and now they cant find him" he spoke quietly..

"what! What the hell is going on, why would Michael take her" she could barely get the words out she was shaking so hard..

"Natalie please, try and relax" he began as she hyperventilated..

"relax? He has my daughter!" she yelled loud.."why, where..." she couldnt breathe as she stood there..She felt like the walls were closing in on her, she was gasping for air and the last thing she heard was Victor calling out to her as she passed out..