Sorry it took so long... I've had a big writer's block... :( I think I'm over it now, though.

And I'm so sorry for not replying to your awesome reviews recently! You all rock so much, I love you all. Thanks for reading, I totally don't deserve you. :)

To the resounding silence, Levi dropped his arms to his sides. "What? Come now, we mustn't look so glum."

"Yeah," the burned man said, grinning. "We're just here to save your useless asses. No need to even stand up."

Jane glanced at me, but I tightened my hold on her arm.

"Hello, Severin," Nathan said from the chair. "Good to see none of your brain cells have grown back. I was worried."

"Nathan!" Severin said brightly. "You must've grown about… well, you haven't, really."

"The only battle Severin ever wins," Levi said, his voice cool and serious. Nathan's face, which had begun to contort into a snarl, relaxed. "A word war with Nathan."

"Not anymore," Nathan said. He smiled easily. "I'm growing now."

"Good for you. It's been a shame looking over you, Nate, a damn shame," Severin replied, lighting a cigarette. Kristina appeared around the corner, her dark eyes glittering in the light. She walked quickly forward and draped one arm over his shoulder, resting it lightly over his throat. She rested her chin on his other shoulder, the tip of her nose touching his ruined skin.

"Will you really smoke that in the same room as a pregnant woman?" she murmured. Severin pursed his lips slightly. His deep brown eyes locked on Jane.

Then he bared his teeth in a pointed smile. I saw fangs glittering, canines a few millimeters longer and insanely sharper than the others.

What the hell was wrong with these people? Vampires weren't supposed to have fangs!

He sauntered smoothly over to Jane. Jordan's whole body was quivering with tension. Her eyes were narrowed in concentration.

"Good to see you again, Benedikt," Severin said. My head cocked to one side in confusion. I'd never met him before in my life, that I was sure.

"He was just a toddler when you last saw him, Severin," Jordan said. "He won't remember you."

"Seriously?" Half of Severin's face filled with false hurt. "Then he won't remember that ring I got him?"

My left hand clenched into a fist. His eyes caught the movement, and he reached down to gently take those fingers.

He held the glittering band of metal and jewels up to inspect it with a smirk.

Brushing my hand up her arm, examining the thin blue passage of blood under her skin. The ring is on my finger, and I see her blue eyes lock on it. I ignore her blank expression, yet in a corner of my mind I'm thinking about it. Marveling over the ravaged perfection of her arm, wondering how anyone, let alone a human, had survived so many bites. Taking a little razor, gazing up at her bewilderingly pretty face, feeling confused when her heart sped up but her expression didn't change. Her hand presses up towards my face, the ring flashes, and the blade falls down, down, down--

I yanked my hand disrespectfully back. Severin raised his eyebrows, but didn't comment.

"It was real… interesting to meet you for the first time, Ben. 'Fraid I never got to hold you or nothin'. Your parents would never let anyone touch you or Gus."

I could remember something of that, I realized. Gazing up into my mother's lovely, angry face, reaching up to pat her cheek as she snapped at someone I didn't care about. Severin, apparently.

"Probably won't be allowed to spend time with your kid, either," the scarred vampire went on. He waggled his fingers by his burnt skin. "I tend to scare 'em, y'know."

"How--"

Jane's question cut off when Severin looked sharply at her.

"How did my face get all like this?" he finished. His grin was huge. "Tally-buns, care to enlighten them?"

"It was your fault," Natalia said serenely. "You shouldn't have goaded me."

"As quaint as a detailed retelling sounds right now," Levi said cheerily. He flew forward, sitting on the coffee table before Jane and I. His gentle grey eyes sparkled. "Why are we here, little Mizz Chase?"

I glanced up at Nathan. He raised a bemused eyebrow. His first words to me where, "Why are you here, Chase?"

"Darius Thorne," Jane said. I looked to see Levi's reaction.

His smile widened. His eyebrows raised. "The Thornes, Chase? Don't you think that's a bit big for someone your size?"

Jane smiled. Severin's eyes flickered to Nathan, and the pixie-haired Creed took half a step back. I leaned into Jane's shoulder, keeping an eye on Levi as his smile faded.

"I suppose so," she said. She stood, her hands on her lightly bulging stomach. "However, in about five months, I'll be ready to change."

"Ready-er," Jordan said. "You'll need a while to be able to really--"

"After I change," Jane said, raising her voice to cover Jordan's. "I'm perfectly willing to end Darius myself."

My heart stopped. My hand shot up to clutch Jane's gown. She looked down at me impatiently.

"No," I said. "No, Jane, at least wait a while… After you change… don't be impulsive, please."

Her face relaxed into her beautiful, simple smile. "Of course, Benedikt. Trust me."

How frustrating. Was she really treating me this way, like a complaining child? My lips pursed and my eyes narrowed. She reached down and touched my cheek with her fingertips. Her smile became sweet and sad.

"As I was saying," she said, turning her gaze back to Levi. "Jordan and I went to the Underground a little less than six months ago. A man named Trigg was selling Carmen as stock, and I wouldn't let anyone else take her. Darius resents the fact that I got her, and he's been making my life miserable, to the extent of de-vampirizing Nathan. I don't want others to suffer for my stubbornness. I want to end it myself."

"But you don't know how to remove the Thornes in your side," the white-haired woman said. Jane smiled and nodded.

"Exactly. What I'm asking for is some… backup."

The blonde girl paced slowly to and fro. "Indeed," she said.

"Violet," the white-haired woman said. "What do you think?"

"Don't press, Tabitha," Natalia said. She, however, was watching Violet pace with the utmost concentration.

Violet stroked her lower lip. Her movements were swaying, leisurely.

"Ready… to change…" she breathed. Jane's head tipped to one side, her lips pursing.

"Severin," Violet said. "I think we should go out tonight."

"What?" Severin asked. "Where? Why?"

"She's planning on killing you," Natalia said excitedly. "Is that it, Vi?"

"No."

Natalia sighed.

"Jane," Violet said. Natalia straightened up, her eyes wide.

"No," she said. "No, Vi, don't do this."

"Hush, Tally," Tabitha said sharply. Natalia fell silent, her gaze unhappy. Then she turned to me, hopeful.

"Benedikt won't like it," she said eagerly. "Benedikt won't let you, he'll--"

Levi shot up, his teeth bared. "Hold your peace!"

Natalia walked quickly to Augustine, pressing her face against his chest.

"Jane," Violet repeated, as if nothing had happened. "Would you like to go out with Severin and I tonight?"

I pulled Jane down beside me. She sat willingly, reaching up to touch my throat.

"Where?" she asked, not wanting to back down… not wanting to be prey.

Violet smiled a vague, frightening smile. "A little dive outside of town. How do you feel about it?"

I tilted my head towards Jane. She slid her fingers up my throat, latching them in my hair.

"Benedikt…" she said. "If Benedikt comes, too."

"But of course," Violet said. Severin smiled.

"I'll get the car," he said. "You won't be disappointed, Chase."