Disclaimer: The Night World is the property of L

Disclaimer: The Night World is the property of L.J. Smith as are any of the characters you recognise like Thierry, Hannah, Keller, Lupe etc.

Spoilers: All of the Night World books especially Witchlight as this story occurs at the same time as Witchlight.

Part 5.

Winema sat at the table facing the vampire, "So who are you guys?"

"Daybreak," he replied.

Winema groaned, "I told you guys I didn't want you coming here. How come all of a sudden nobody's listening to what I want?"

"Look we're just following orders, we were told to protect you, that's all, all the information we were given," the 'shifter told her.

The human girl was sitting on a counter behind the two boys, she was examing Winema as if trying to work out what she thought of her.

"Maybe you can tell us what's going on," she said to Winema eventually.

"Why should I? I don't know you guys, I don't want anything to do with you."

"I know but you don't really have a choice, we're don't really have a choice. We're going to be here protecting you whether we like or whether you like it. If we know what exactly is going on we'll be better equipped to do that."

The vampire threw the girl a venomous look, one that should have turned her to stone but the girl just glared back.

^There's no love lost between those two,^ Winema realised, ^maybe I can use that.^

"I don't think so, you guys are so smart, work it out for yourselves."

She got up from the table and left. Gwern nodded at Icarus, "Follow her, take the phone, call if there's any trouble."

Icarus hesitated for a moment, he wasn't sure it was a good idea to leave Gwern and Des alone together, they'd probably kill each other, but he didn't have much of a choice. He grabbed the cell phone and followed Winema.

Des stayed sitting on the counter waiting for the explosion she felt sure would come. Gwern got out of the chair looking calm but Des knew better than to feel relieved, this was the calm before the storm and Gwern was really angry.

"What the hell were you thinking? You put her on the defensive, it's your fault she left. How stupid can you get? As for following her on your own, why did you do that? Why didn't you come get us? You could have died."

He said the last part with a quiver in his voice, Des looked at him surprised, it sounded like he almost cared, no that was stupid, he hated her like she hated him.

"Why do you care?" she spat at him. "You hate me remember, if I died at least I'd be out of your hair. You wouldn't have to deal with the stupid, subordinate who won't follow orders. Goddess I hate you, I've never meet anyone so arrogant and so annoying. You're a misogynistic, cruel dictator and I hate you."

"The feeling's mutual," Gwern told her as he stood over her a look of rage on his face.

Then he kissed her, a hard kiss and sparks flew between them, sparks that burned. He broke away from her and stared at her in shock. He reached out his hand and ran his fingers over her face, over her cheekbones, her lips, her eyebrows as if trying to burn her features onto his memory. Every place he touched her tingled and Des wanted to beg him to stop and never stop.

"But I hate you," she said softly.

"I hate you too," he replied before kissing her again slipping his hands inside her jacket. Des found herself responding, kissing back, running her hands through his silky soft hair. It felt like nothing she'd ever experienced before, fire ran through her veins and the sparks, the sparks were pleasant, pleasurable if you let them be, if you gave yourself up to them. There was something else though, something that was trying to pull them together and let him know her, all of her. She was scared, she didn't want him to see all those things and she realised or the connection told her that he felt the same way.

They stood staring at each other silently for what seemed like an eternity, Des had never felt so awkward in her life. She found herself gazing into his eyes, beautiful deep blue eyes, sapphire eyes. ^Oh Goddess,^ she thought, ^I'm not turning into one of those silly, soppy girls, no way.^

"What's going on?" she asked him.

"Don't you know?" Gwern asked, "Isn't it obvious?"

Des thought about it, sparks, a connection. "Oh no," she said burying her head in her hands.

"It's not that bad is it?" Gwern asked softly, moving towards her. She felt his hand running through her hair. "I'm not that bad a soulmate am I?"

"But we hate each other. You can't stand me."

"I don't know maybe if we let the connection do what it wants, let it show us each other."

"No," Des snapped.

"Okay," he replied still stroking her hair, "so what do you want to do?"

"Nothing, what do you want to do?"

"I don't know, kiss you again maybe?"

"No," she snapped again, "don't you get it, I don't want anything to do with you. I want you to keep away from me." She shoved him away from her and slid off the counter. He looked stricken, hurt but she didn't care, she didn't. She ran from him, ran from the room and locked herself into her bedroom.

Gwern felt the rage build up in him, why did it have to be her? Anyone would be better, if it had to be vermin couldn't it at least be someone smart or strong or anything other than her. She was so morose and miserable, so weak and stupid, she was right about one thing though he couldn't stand her. He growled loudly and kicked the counter just as the phone rang. It was Icarus.

"Gwern we've got trouble, big trouble. I'm in town near the hardware store, get here as soon as possible."

"I'll be right there," Gwern replied.

"Des too, we may need her."

"Rus no, she can stay here in case Daybreak call."

"Fine but we may be in trouble without her."