Disclaimer: I do not own the concept or characters from the show "Supernatural." Any other characters not related to the show, The Vampire Diaries or Nightwold series, however, are mine and are not to be used in any other fan fictions. Some concepts were also borrowed or loosely adapted from L.J. Smith's "Nightworld" and "The Vampire Diaries" series. This chapter has information on the episodes up until 05/14/09. I will not include any spoilers for future episodes of Season 4 until they are released on TV. This is the start of a new trilogy. The first trilogy is: "Possession," "Broken," and "Sacrifice," followed with a new trilogy, starting with "Mission." This story takes place following the events in "Mission," and has the same characters from the first trilogy. I do not own any quotes used in the actual episodes. Any lyrics mentioned in this story do not belong to me are are the property of their original writers.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I will be posting images of the Prom Outfits tonight!


"Ouch!"

"Sorry, April," Gwen chuckled, steadying the charcoal makeup wand in her pale hand. "Just hold still, little lady, and let me finish your mascara. I really don't mean to keep poking you in the eye."

"Sure you don't," she giggled, forcing herself not to move as her adoptive aunt finished up her makeup.
"How 'bout you , Mom? What's goin' on with that mop up there?"

"Hold. Still," Gwen ordered, stamping her foot like an impatient child.

"Almost done, baby," Abby managed to speak through her laughter. "Just stay still before your aunt has a conniption."

"Hey, if she wants to look like a raccoon at her prom, then by all means, keep squirming, kid," Gwen said as she brushed on what April could only assume was liquid eyeliner.

She had to admit, she did thoroughly enjoy the exclusive pampering she'd received that day, courtesy of her mother and aunt.

The boys had all been sent out on some sort of 'guy's day,' leaving Gwen, Ruby, Abby and April to have a day of rest, leisure and beauty before her big dance that evening.

The day started fine enough with manicures and pedicures, followed by a not-so-healthy combo of junk food and bad romance movies on the Lifetime network.

"God, these movies make me want to throw up," Ruby groaned just after the marathon of decidedly bad films had finally ended.

"What doesn't make you want to throw up nowadays," Abby smirked, giving the pregnant woman a playful wink.

"Touché, Ab," Ruby replied, slightly struggling to get herself off the couch, her baby bump just beginning to show.

"Oh, this is so much fun," Gwen squealed, wiggling her newly painted toes in the air. "I never got a prom." She sighed dreamily, tossing herself against a heap of pillows piled up on the floor behind her.

"Me neither," Abby commiserated, holding her hands at arms length out to look at her own shimmering fingertips. "Ruby?"

"Nope. Proms didn't exactly exist in the 1300s," she smirked as she made her way to the bathroom for perhaps the sixth time that afternoon. Guess it was true about pregnant women and their bladders. For as many times as they evacuated in a day, they might as well set up camp in the commode.

"So no dances for any of you…ever," April inquired, pulling her knees to her chest, gently rocking back and forth on the floor.

"Well, that's not entirely true," Abby jumped in. "Dances were quite popular during my time. It was a way of meeting people, of being together as a community. They were the social gatherings of the year. Everyone in the town attended. Plus, it was a way for the boys to court one us ladies. But, no, they weren't like today. They were gentile and elegant, always surrounded with good wine and bathed in candle light. They held a sense of…"

"Romance," Gwen added, wrapping her arms around herself and smiling. "Oh I always wanted to go to a nice dance. It was my dream to have someone sweep you right off your feet."

"Never been to one like Mom's," April asked, intrigued by the sad longing in her aunt's eyes.

"Oh, gosh no," she shyly grinned. "You see, I lived out in Tombstone, Arizona in the 1880s. There were not many fancy dances going on."

From the way her mother gave Gwen a small, reassuring smile, April knew there was some sort of story behind the emergence of her past; some sort of pain that was just barely contained under the stilled surface.
April truly knew very little of Gwen and Ruby's pasts, only that they both were hurt in the respective paths that lead to bad decisions. Ruby, she decided to make a deal with the devil, inadvertently selling her soul and becoming a demon. Gwen, she had stopped aging, and from what she had implied long before, it was not exclusively by choice.

"How I'd watch those girls in their nice, clean long dresses shuffle into the town hall," Gwen lamented, moving to flop down on the couch, laying belly down, her chin resting on her crossed forearms. "They looked so pretty and quaint. I'd look down at my red and lace and wonder…what the hell was I doin'?"

April's eyes shot to Gwen's, her face full with renewed curiosity. Red and lace? What was that all about?

"I was a saloon girl," Gwen admitted with an arched eyebrow for wicked emphasis. "Well…sort of. We didn't just serve drinks." She stopped and looked away. "They called us Soiled Doves. Nice, huh?"

"That's terrible," April said, sitting up with her legs stretched out, her body resting back on her arms.

"It was. But…I had no folks. My father abandoned my mom when she was pregnant with me. He was a prominent businessman with a family out East. I supposedly had half-siblings but I never wanted to look. Doubt they missed me; he didn't seem to…why would they? I'd bet my garter he didn't even tell them about me. As far as my Momma; my mom went out to go hunt one night…and never came back. She told me once that if that ever happened, to run away as fast as I could. We were living out in Nebraska at the time so I headed more West as fast as I could. On foot, by stage,--however I could manage. I made it to Tombstone, and boy was it booming at the time. However, there were only so many jobs for women…and I had no money. So, I just kinda fell into that job," she smirked. "I was seventeen when I started and by the time I was twenty, I wanted out. I was tired and feeling less of myself. Sure, the human blood was plentiful; I could always get a little from my clients and make them forget about it. That was an easy trick and perhaps the only good part of the occupation. It was a vampire's dream. But the other part, the feeling less than you are. I was done; period. And, then it happened. One day, I was trying to get a little from my client when he broke out of his trance. He knew what I was. He was a hunter, and figuring out what I was, was intent on killing me. I struggled but he had so much Dead Man's Blood pouring down my throat. Of course, he figured, he paid for me, so he got what he paid for. He raped me first before he officially tried to kill me. My madam rushed in right before he was going to strike the final blow. She shot him right in the chest with a Winchester Rifle. Ironic, huh? Those Winchesters have been saving my life since the 1800s."

"Ha, ha. Real cute," Ruby scoffed, taking her seat back in the recliner.

April asked her politely to continue on with the story, fascinated by her friend's past.

"Madam told me to go away, get out and not to come back. For some reason, I always suspected she knew what I was. Maybe it was more of the fact that she felt sorry for me, having no folks…but she never babied me. She never asked. Yeah, she must have known. But, to end my saga, I left. I went even further West to San Diego. I guess the rape is what triggered my anti-age gene. I'm still not sure. Either way, I made my 'round the United States until I fell into the nest. I can't say I've been happier than I am now," Gwen smiled.

"Any boys back then…I mean, that you liked," April questioned.

"Not really. Sure, I had my flings, but there hasn't been anyone like my Cas," she grinned, her whole face literally lighting up. She was beaming. All the girls awed at once.

"Whatever," she shrugged. "I'm not going to lie that he hasn't made me over the moon happy."

"Does he know about your past," Ruby inquired.

Gwen nodded adamantly. She would never keep anything from him, including that. Sure, it was a sordid tale from her past, but if he truly loved her, he'd take her along with the bad things she'd done.

"Ruby, you next," Gwen asked, sitting up to look at their pregnant friend.

"Me next what," she looked inquisitively.

"Your past," Gwen smiled. "Come on, we're all spilling our guts here. Well, all except, April. She's young, doesn't have torrid tales to give away."

"Maybe I'll surprised you," April winked.

"I hope not," her mom muttered.

"Ok. I was born and raised in the English countryside. I was poor. My mom was a practicing pagan, my dad wasn't. That good enough for you," Ruby spat.

"Geesh…sorry," Gwen rolled her eyes. "Spoiled sport if you ask me. I spilled all the beans….or most of them anyways."

"No one asked you to," Ruby chided.

"But, Aunt Ruby…how did you become a demon in the first place," April pondered aloud. "I mean, there was a reason, right? You didn't just die and go down to…you know. Did you?"

Ruby sighed, looking over to Abby, almost pleading with her to change the subject. Abby shrugged and told her it was her story to tell; she could put a stop to it if she didn't feel comfortable sharing.

"Fine. I was nineteen, considered an old maid for my time. I was an outcast because of my upbringing, mostly because of my mother's beliefs. I was raised how she was, so in turn, I was looked at as bad; evil. However, if someone ever became ill, guess who door they came knocking on for a miracle cure? Ours. One day, it so happened that a village boy was dropped at our door by his family. He was ill, shivering and sweating all over. We had no idea what he had. It was wet and damp outside, per the usual for that time of year. The rain never seemed to stop and the air hadn't been dry in over a year. The man was in his twenties, he had just lost his wife from whatever was ailing him. My mother took charge immediately, quarantining the young man in our sick room. She told the parents she would do all she could under complete discretion. The parents seemed appeased and left. I remember my mother going to work with her mortar and pestle, grinding up healing herbs. She was really ahead of her time."

"Sounds like it," Abby commented, leaning against her knees.

"She ordered me to tend to the boy and fetch good clean water for him to drink. We were surprisingly clean for our time. My mother was convinced keeping clean was the best way to live. Hell, we were even washing our hands in the bucket before and after meals, disposing of the dirty liquid after every bath."

She paused, chuckling a little to herself at her memories, playing with the hem of her t-shirt.

"His name, I came to find out, was Elias. He was silent for much of the first week, only gasping on occasion for water or for his wife in his heated hysteria. His hair was black and shaggy, strands matted with sweat over his closed eyes. I remember sitting there, wetting his brow to keep him cool, wondering what color his eyes were. Then, one day about a week and a half after he came to our house, his fever finally broke and he opened those eyes. They were a deep, glazed-honey brown, almost tawny, and…they were beautiful," she paused, closing her eyes, her lips slightly parted. "I had never known a real spell, though I had attempted many…but he had me under his spell. Lame, I know…but there was something about his look; it was as if his gaze penetrated me. Me, who had resigned herself to be an old maid by nineteen, a spinster…the typical image of a traditional witch up in the old, ramshackle cottage. That was what I was meant to become, who I was meant to be…but he changed all that with one look into those eyes."

She went on to tell of their courtship. He stayed on at Ruby family's home as their ward until he was at full health. The two learned about each other, gauging each other more so than most people in their day and age. They took their time, discovering more about one other everyday. Elias didn't care about her dabbling in the supernatural. After all, it had saved his behind. She was careful with his heart, knowing that he had just recently lost his wife, although his feelings for her were sub par. It had been more of an arranged marriage of convenience than one out of love. That is not to say that he didn't grieve for the loss, but it was more of the loss of a friend than that of a lover or companion.

Once Elias moved back to his house, their relationship took a turn.

"Even once he moved back home, he'd come to see me. It eventually led to more and it became clear that he was courting me. Me--I wouldn't have believed it unless I was there. To be honest, I didn't get why guys didn't like me. It wasn't like I wasn't pretty," she shrugged, as she described her actual appearance as a human; petite with long, deep brown hair with tints of red, shading her deep brown eyes. She said it wasn't that fair off from the person she had become in the present. "But, then it happened. Right as things were getting good, he got sick again…and this time, it was apparent that it was worse than before. His system had been compromised from the last illness and he had caught it--no one would survive the Great Pestilence; the Black Death."

"My mother told me of that time," Abby lamented, looking somberly over to her sister-in-law. "She lived in England at the time. It was a great time for vampires; not so great for humans. My mother said that streets were filled with bodies piled on one another. They buried bodies in mass graves or burned them--sometimes they burned people alive. She described a scene of utter panic and chaos."

Ruby sighed and nodded, reliving the moment that she realized the only man that ever truly loved her was doomed to die.

"He had at most eight days if we were lucky. Then, we had a week, maybe two at most before we'd most likely contract it and meet the same fate. It was all because of me, because I continued to see him; I brought the Black Death home to my family," she struggled to say.

Gwen rebuked her observation, explaining to Ruby that it wasn't her fault. What happened was a disease, it was airborne; the chances of her family coming down with it was higher just because they breathed air. It really had nothing to do with her.

"I'm sure your father met with people, that there were times that he could have brought it home," Gwen tried to help out. "I mean, he didn't just stay at home, did he?"

"No. He spent most of his time in church," she smirked.

Bingo. Even April knew from her history classes that a lot of people during that time swarmed their local churches, atoning for sins, seeking redemption before they succumbed to a knowing death. Bedlam.

"By the fifth day, his fever had spiked too high, the blisters on his skin boiling up. I didn't know what to do. I--I was desperate. I asked my mother if there were any miracle cures in her spell book, anything that could use. She didn't have an answer. For the first time in my life, my mom had nothing to say. Nothing to help. I dug into her ancient books to find anything. Hours turned into a day as I read and read…and then I found it. An old legend about the crossroads," she smirked. "I stole out into the night, not knowing anymore than what I had read. I brought a necklace of mine, and cut a small lock of my hair, burying it in the dirt directly in the center of the roads. To my great surprise, she appeared. I told her that I wanted Elias to be safe and my family. I didn't care about myself. When she told me the terms, I did not back away; 5 years and then my soul was hers."

April glanced around, noticing both her mother and aunt were paying very close attention to Ruby's story. There was something in their eyes, maybe it was intrigue but to April it appeared like they had a sense of understanding. They got it; all the pent up hurt, the pain, the ultimatum to your own existence. They all, including herself, knew it all too well.

"I figured 5 years with him was better than nothing. So, what was done was done. He was miraculously cured within a week and I would like to say we lived happily ever after, but we know that never happens for anyone."

"True," Abby nodded with a grin. "Nothing ever goes as planned."

"My mother married us in a ceremony and we moved onto our own land, our own farm. For the first couple years, we were happy…and then he got bored."

Everyone uncomfortably shifted in their respective seats.

"I've never told Sam this, for obvious reason when it all comes out. But, when he got bored, he searched elsewhere. It came in the form of a seventeen year old blonde girl from the village. I found them in my house one day, in my bed, and I--I snapped. I mean, I gave my soul for the prick and that is how he repaid me? I--I lost it." She paused her hands tightly gripping her long shirt, her knuckles white. "I set up a curse on them, both of them. The girl slowly started to decline in health, no one figuring out why. Of course, I knew there was a hex bag in her satchel. I watched her die slowly, painfully--and then watched my husband pine and grieve for her. So, he had to go. I cursed him as well. Let's just say dying of the Plague would have been a blessing for him. But, before he passed, he found the hex bag…and he crawled to the neighbor's to die, the hex bag in clenched fist. They dragged me away and burnt me alive at the stake as a witch. Next thing I knew, I was in the toasty furnace downstairs."

They all sat in silence, glancing around to random spots on the room or the floor, taking in what Ruby had just revealed. It seemed her transformation into a demon didn't begin when she was in Hell, it didn't begin with the torture of the flames; her change began as a jealous, spited woman. Human.

"Wow, this is cheery pre-prom chat," Gwen cleared her throat.

"Sorry," Ruby said. "You wanted me to spill my guts, so I did."

"No, it's ok," Abby sighed. "It's better to know. After all, now we know why we're all so fucked up."

"Well, not all of us," April smiled slyly. "There is my story."

"Oh yeah, because what…eighteen years is enough time to fuck up your life," Gwen joked. "Come on, what goods do you have on our sob stories?"

April closed her eyes, thinking about how she was going to put it all into words. After all, she didn't even understand how she felt about the situation. What the fuck was she going to say about it?

"It all began the night I met him," she started.

"Who, Jesse," Gwen said, sitting a little closer. "You know, if this is going anywhere towards sex, this might be a good time for Abby to leave--"

"It's not," both her and Abby said at the same time, giving each other sideways glances.

"Actually, it was the night I met Jesse, but it's not Jesse that I'm talking about."

"Ooooo, another boy," Gwen sat up on her knees excitedly. "Come on, spill it."

"His name is Wes," April said.

The shattering of glass, followed by the spreading of red nail polish pooling on the floor stopped her story. Her mother stared at her, her eyes wide.

"Excuse me," Abby muttered, her eyes glazed over.

"Mom, you ok," she asked. "Do you need something?"

"Yeah, Ab, what's up," Gwen asked.

"I--I just forgot I have to pick up my dress from the dry cleaners," she ran her non-polish covered hand through her hair. "I just caught myself off guard. Excuse me."

Her mother got up to go change, washing her hands at some point in between, before leaving in her car towards the direction of the town.

"Weird," Gwen said. "But, I'm sure she's alright. So…about this Wes?"


'Pick up. Pick up. Pick up, you little asshole.'

"Abigail, my dear, long time, no--"

"Cut the crap, Wes. Where are you?"

"Around. I told you I was coming to Chicago. I'm running some jobs here. Why?"

"In town, huh," she smirked as she drove erratically. "This isn't the first time you've been in town though, right?"

"Pardon?"

"I'm going to say this once and I am going to make myself very, VERY clear, Wes. You may have helped me when I was at my darkest point, and for that I am grateful…but--"

"But?"

"Stay. Away. From. My. Daughter," she snarled into her cellphone. "I saw into her mind, Wes.

I saw what you did to her, how you left. You will never, I mean NEVER, hurt her again. Just be lucky I found out before my husband did. He'd kill you instantly."

"Fair enough. But, if the court would allow," he chuckled. "If you haven't noticed, I have been staying away from your daughter, thus why she is upset. Would you rather me be there so she wasn't, or to keep my distance?"

"Just keep away from her," she hissed. "That is an order, Wes. Am I being clear?"

"Crystal," he growled over the phone before he hung up.

She snapped the phone shut, trying to concentrate on the road, glancing back at the dress hanging by the back passenger door.

So, she hadn't quite been lying; she did have to run by the cleaners to pick up her dress. She still couldn't believe she let her daughter talk her into buying that particular gown. Actually, it was less of a gown…too short to be considered gown caliber.

'What have I gotten myself into,' she mused, shaking her head at her daughter's persistence that she dress sexy.

"Mom, seriously, flaunt the curves while you got em," the teen had winked in the dress shop.

"I'm fine with sexy, but…I don't want to look…unacceptable for a chaperone," she had acknowledged, fixing the strapless top.

"Mom, the guys like MILFs…you'll be fine," April joked.

Abby really hate the term MILF. Made her feel dirty before she even put that black dress on.

Oh well, she promised April could primp her as they were about to finish when she arrived back home.

Besides, she had greater issues concerning her that evening than how she looked. After the revelation that Wes knew Abby, she had developed a sinking pit in her stomach. What had been Wes' motivation for knowing her after he had previously met April? There was obliviously something to be learned or gained from knowing both of them…but what? Was he working alone? Was he working with…them? Abby desperately wished she knew who was haunting her night and day, in letters and visions in her sleep. They tormented her everyday, because she knew that once they caught up, the fate that her own family had succumbed to was never far off. It would certainly help if she could cut them off at the pass, perhaps saving them all.

All in good time. All in good time.

She'd keep her eyes, ears and preternatural senses open that night, but as she pulled into the driveway, she focused all her energy on her daughter. It was her night after all. April was no longer a little girl playing dress-up in her mommy's old clothes. No, that night, she was going to be like Cinderella going to the ball or a Venetian princess. She was truly a woman.


"Mom, can I look now," she sighed. "It's been hours."

"Stop whining, it hasn't been hours," her mother teased. "An hour at the most."

Too long to be sitting in a chair having your mom and aunt poke and prod at your head.

"Please," she pleaded, pouting her lips playfully.

"Oh, alright," her mom smiled down at her. She was suddenly whipped around in the chair, forced to face herself in the mirror.

Was that...her? It sure looked like the girl she knew, the one who greeted her every morning in the mirror. But this girl was sleeker, more sophisticated...grown up.

April tilted her head from side to side, getting a good look of all the work her relatives had put into her appearance.

She was speechless. They did a damn good job.

"Oh," Gwen smiled at her reflection. "Baby girl, you look.."

"Beautiful," her mom finished, her hand over her mouth, her eyes slightly wet.

"Oh, Mom, don't cry," April smiled at her.

"Yeah, MOM, don't cry," Gwen scolded Abby, hitting her lightly on the shoulder. "If you mess up those eyes I will kill you. Don't you know how long it took to get those cat eyes just right?"

Abby mouthed an apologetic sorry to her friend and continued to smiled down reverently at her only daughter.

April had to admit it herself, her Auntie Gwen sure knew what she was doing in terms of hair and makeup. The less obvious transformation, but perhaps the most impressive to her was Abby. Her mom was always stunningly beautiful but at that moment she was truly radiant. Her hair flowed loosely down in dark, warm waves, beautifully framing her face and bringing out her dramatic features. Her eyes were dark yet somehow bright, seemingly opposite of her perfect, alabaster skin.

She had to admit, she herself did outstanding as a fashion, personal stylist. Although her mother had been more than hesitant about the dress to say the least, it was absolute perfection on her. Sure, it may have been shorter than what she was used to as her role in life, but it was time for the woman to have fun and flaunt it! Why not? She had most definitely had it. Her momma was one hot tamale. Adding that turquoise necklace on Abby just totally made the outfit. Gorgeous.

Gwen was equally as elegant. Her blonde hair was pulled up in some sort of French twist, her bangs parted off to the side and accentuated her face.. She was elegant in her black gown, her aura reminiscent of some Hollywood bygone era. She knew her aunt was a party girl, but she sure could pull of sophistication.

And, she had to admit, April did a damn good job with both of their makeup.

"Mom, you're not going to cry again are you," April teased.

"When you have a kid of our own someday far, far, far in the future, you'll understand," she smiled, wiping away a single glistening tear.

"Can I try on the mask," April asked, gesturing towards the pile of paper on the dresser.

Her mother smiled and turned around, taking the contents out of its package and placing the beautifully adorned black and white handmade mask onto her face. Her vision was obscured while her mom tied the white satin ribbon around her head, fixing the bow attached to the side.

"There," Abby sighed as she concluded the task.

"Oh," April said, raising her eyebrow to herself in the mirror. "Mysterious. Me likey."

"You are one weird girl," Gwen chuckled, squatting down next to her niece. "I've taught you well."

April turned to see her mother putting her own mask in her purse and heading for the door.

"Hey," Gwen called to her, "Aren't you staying for pictures."

Abby smiled and shook her head no, stating that chaperones were required to attend a mandatory meeting before the dance to go over official dance protocol.

"I didn't find out until I said I was coming," she admitted. "But baby, you do look so, so beautiful." She rushed forward to wrap her arms around April, who was still seated in the chair. "You're gorgeous. I'll have Gwen and your Dad take photos for me. I can tell you this much, your Daddy is gonna have a hard time tonight, hun. Be nice to him, ok?"

April rolled her eyes and nodded, truthfully knowing that her dad was indeed going to go through a slew of emotions that evening. Hell, she even found herself fighting off the waves. She couldn't even imagine how it would be before her own wedding one day. That was going to be a rough one.

Her mom waved goodbye and left the room, leaving only April and Gwen in the room.

"No worries, kid," Gwen shrugged, helping her out of the chair and straightening out her tea-length dress. "We'll both see her soon at the dance."

"I still can't believe you're going," April giggled, adjusting her top, making sure everything was staying where it was supposed to.

"Lenore wants me there to act as…security. Can't be too careful after what happened to…you know."

Yep, she knew; Becky.

"Hey, anyone home?"

"I'm upstairs, Daddy! I'll be right down."

Gwen silently jumped up and down, grabbing the camera from the black dresser on the left and starting snapping away.

"Dude, you suck at air hockey," she could hear Jamie taunting from downstairs.

"Yeah well…you're short," her dad retorted.

Ha! Nice one.

"Shut up, Dad," Jaime sniped back.

"Any day, April. I'm not getting any younger," her dad yelled back.

"Alright!"

She took in a deep, nervous breathe and walked out her bedroom, quietly descending the stairs into the foyer.


Abby pulled the car into the bar's parking lot, knowing full well of how she would look to the patrons in what she was dressed in. Option one was a hooker. Option two was a girl trying to get illegally loaded before her prom.

It should be good times.

She entered and immediately found her man sitting five seats down the bar, right where he said he'd be.

Her eyes met his and he walked to the back of the bar.

She followed, making sure no one else was aware of an actual meeting occurring.

"Thank you for seeing me at such short notice," she whispered as they sat at a pub table in the farthest corner.

"Anything for you, Ab," he smiled. "What's got you so spooked?"

"Declan, have you ever worked with a man named Wes at the nest?"

"Wes…Wes…"

"Or a Wesley? Anyone by that name," she pushed.

"Not that I can recall…at least not recently. Why?"

"Are you positive, Dec? This is a matter of extreme importance."

"Abigail, come on. You and I both know that there are only 4 people," he said with his brogue, holding up four fingers for emphasis, pointing to each one as he named the names of the people who had authority enough to put people on cases. "There's Lenore, you, Gwen and, since you've been out, me. Gwen or Lenore ever heard of 'em?"

"Gwen hasn't. I haven't been in touch with Lenore in a while. We've kinda been on the outs as of late."

"I heard about Dylan. I'm sorry about that," the vampire sympathized.

Abby didn't have time for that.

"So what is it about this Wes that is so concerning to you that you are about to ditch your daughter's prom to go after him," he inquired with enthusiasm.

"Oh no, I'm not ditching her prom. If anything, I need to get there…now," she said grabbing her purse and hurriedly leaving her chair.

"Wait," Declan stopped her, standing in her way. Sure, she was well-built, but Declan was stronger. He was older than herself by about fifty years. He was taller than her by about a foot and few inches, give or take. His light brown eyes persuaded with her to halt and talk about why she was rushing to get away. "Is this something the nest should be concerned with, this Wes?"

"Well, since he's been impersonating a nest officer, I'd say so," she said, her hands on her hips. "He had a band on his wrist, Dec. It was official. So, either he stole it or--"

"Someone gave it to him," he finished her sentence.

"We may have a rat in our midst, my friend. Call Lenore, we're gonna need a few more people at this dance. But, we need absolute discretion. These kids can't know anything is going on."

"Why are we calling in the cavalry for one vampire gone bad? Come on, Abby, this seems a little extreme, even for you," he chuckled.

She pulled him close enough so he could see the fear in her eyes. Declan pulled down his shield and allowed Abby to tell him mentally what had been going on, from the letters onward. By the time she was done, Declan was practically dragging her to the exit, ready to attend as well.

Good, at least she wouldn't be alone if something were to happen. No, that wasn't right. In her heart of hearts, she knew something was going to happen. If only she knew what it was.