"What?" Helen gasped, failing not to gape in shock, "how can he be dying?"

"The toxin the Cabal gave him, the 'truth serum' doubles as a posion," James explained sadly.

"There has to be something we can do," Helen offered feeling her heart rate increase in rapid panic.

"No," James answered wistfully, "we can slow it but not stop it."

Helen was stunned more than anything and searched reluctantly for the truth in his eyes as he looked away with a more devestated look on his face than she had seen before, she swallowed nervously wondering whether she dared ask how long he had left.

"He has a few weeks, maybe a month left," James told her before she could speak, "at best estimate."

"There's really nothing we can do?" Helen repeated numbly.

"Yes there is," Nikola snapped striding over to them, "the Cabal did this to him, surely they can reverse it. I say we just keep killing them until somone gives us a cure."

"For once I agree with you," Big Guy grunted.

"Yeah and with my power it'll be easy yot go into their bases and take them out," Ashley added and Helen blinked having forgotten she was there.

"Well killing sprees are all well and good but it won't help him," James told them rolling his eyes frustratedly, "why would the Cabal poision him if they had a cure? Most likely they just want him out of the way so he doesn't interfer with the... super soldier army they're creating although I still don't know how they'd have access to the source blood necessary for study."

"What do you propose we do than?" Nikola yelled, "nothing? You're not the one losing another child!"

"That's not fair!" James spat, "you haven't even seen him in 12 years!"

"It's your fault anyway," Nikola informed them icily, "if you and Helen hadn't dragged him into your world than they wouldn't want him dead."

"Not helping Nikola," Big Guy muttered glaring at the vampire.

"He's waking up," Ashley pointed out.

They moved back over to Nick's bed and sure enough he was blinking open his brilliant blue eyes, which darted between the four of them with a blank expression on his face but Helen couldn't think of what to say, silence had gripped the room but she had yet again forgotten his powers.

"I'm dying aren't I?" he asked cautiously and Helen bit back a reply.

I'm psychic, remember?

"Yes, you're dying," Helen confirmed for him.

"Killing random people in the Cabal is not a good idea," Nick announced, the only indication that he was effected by the news of his death being how he shifted uncomfortably.

"Nick-"

"We need to find Montague," Nick continued ignoring them, "he's the only one who can help us destroy the Cabal for once and for all."

"Who is Montague?" Helen wondered.

"Forget destroying the Cabal, your life is more important," Nikola snapped firmly, "and I don't care if you think its a good idea or not."

"Montague's the one who... who..." Nick stumbled over the words looking vulnerable again, "who injected me with the truth serum."

"Firstly he died," James pointed out scowling, "and secondly why would he be of any use to us?"

"Because the Cabal are controlling him," Nick said as if it were obvious, "and he didn't die in the explosion."

"How can you be so sure he survived?" Big Guy grunted looking doubtful.

"He can teleport," Nick informed them and Helen could barely stop herself from gasping in shock, "he's Ashley's father."