Kayla sat on the bed next to the still unconscious Christian playing absently with his hair. For the first time Kayla was truly beginning to understand the trouble that they were in. With very little effort Gangrel could have killed them both. Now, she understood why it had been so difficult for Edge and Christian to break away the first time.

Thinking of Edge made her think of her friends. They all must be worried sick. Images of Jericho bleeding on the ground brought tears to her eyes. Kayla would give anything to know that he was okay. Kayla looked at the dress she wore and suddenly she began to claw for the zipper pulling the dress off and over her head.

Going to her closet she ransacked it pulling out a white tank top and finding a pair of jeans buried in the very bottom. Gangrel could just stick his little dress code right up his ass. Kayla dressed and going to the bathroom applied fresh makeup to cover her split lip. There was no way in hell that Gangrel was going to tell her what to wear. Uh-uh. Nope. Sorry. No can do.

Kayla's rampage was cut short when Christian let out a low moan. The redhead reached his side in time to see his eyes flutter open. "Hey," she greet softly, brushing his hair back from his face.

"Hey," Christian whispered back looking around the room disoriented. "I feel like shit."

"That's not surprising," Kayla replied running her fingers gently over the wounds on his neck.

Christian raised his hand to his neck as he remembered his failed attack on Gangrel. "He bit me."

Kayla nodded, "What happened to behaving?" she asked with a smile.

Christian grinned, "I never said I'd behave."

"Riiight," Kayla shook her head, "I need to bandage that hickey Fangface left you." She walked over to the door and kicked it. "Hello?! Anybody out there?" No answer. Kayla shrugged and began beating the door up. Finally, it swung open.

"What?!" Stoneface stood in the doorway looking slightly peeved.

Kayla smiled sweetly, "Well, if it isn't too much trouble, can I get a first aide kit so I can taker care of Christian's wounds?"

"Will you quit assaulting the door?" Stoneface asked wearily.

"Sure, why not?" Kayla agreed pleasantly, "Thank you!" she called as the door slammed shut.

"Feel better?" Christian asked as she flipped off the closed door, his amusement evident in his voice.

Kayla turned to face him a broad smile on her face. "Much," she shrugged, "If nothing else I'm gonna make Stoney's life as miserable as possible."

Christian chuckled and sat up a bit, "God help him."

Several minutes later the door opened and Stoneface entered carrying a first aide kit. "I believe you will find whatever you require in here."

Kayla nodded and took the box from his hands. Going to the bathroom and wetting a washcloth the diva was surprised to find Stoney standing right where she'd left him.

She ignored him, instead focusing her attention on Christian. Christian remained silent watching the two combatants as one would a tennis match. Stoneface simple watched as Kayla tenderly wiped the blood from the Canadian's neck and bandaged the two small wounds.

Finally, growing impatient, Stone face cleared his throat and Kayla turned to him as if surprised he was still there. "Is there something you wanted?" Kayla asked in a bored tone.

"Master Gangrel wishes to speak to you in private," The butler informed her.

"No," Christian now spoke up, "No way."

Kayla laid a hand on his shoulder, "It'll be okay."

"I don't want you alone with him," Christian persisted grabbing her arm.

"Rest," Kayla told him standing up, "I'll be back soon."

"Kayla . . ." Christian tried again but she placed a finger over his lips to silence him. "You're as bad as Edge is," she said exasperated, "I'll be fine."

Flashing him a reassuring smile Kayla followed Stoneface from the room

The butler led her into a parlor where Gangrel sat reading a book. The vampire looked up and grinned, "Come in, Kayla, have a seat."

Kayla warily did as he asked. His friendliness made her uneasy. She knew how quickly he could become violent. Once she was seated across from him Gangrel turned towards her escort. "That is all," he dismissed.

As Stoneface turned to leave Kayla called after him, "Try not to miss me too much!"

The butler heaved a sigh and kept on walking. "I see that you and Samuel aren't getting along," Gangrel remarked wryly.

Samuel?" Kayla asked, "Oh you mean Stoneface," Kayla shrugged, "I think we're really bonding," she told him flippantly.

Gangrel chuckled at her nickname for his butler. Becoming serious Gangrel leaned forward, "I think we've gotten off on the wrong foot."

Kayla stared at him a moment dumfounded. "The wrong foot?" she repeated incredulously, "You kidnapped us, you idiot! Your goons left my friend lying in a pool of blood! You almost killed Christian and you're using me as leverage against the man I love! Do you think I'm going to kiss you for that?"

"I regret that such drastic measures were necessary but there was nothing else I could do," Gangrel replied calmly.

Kayla laughed bitterly, "You could have left us alone."

"Kayla," Gangrel reached out to touch her hair and the redhead forced herself not to flinch, "The Brood is a family. Families should be together."

"Some family," Kayla muttered standing up and walking away from Gangrel. "A father shouldn't hurt his children."

The vampire followed her, stopping just behind her he spoke softly in her ear. "No matter what you've been told, it wasn't all bad."

The vampire turned her to face him and Kayla shivered as she looked up into his eyes. Those eyes seemed to swallow her and she felt her hate and anger begin to fade. Deep inside her something rebelled. Kayla quickly averted her eyes and staggered backwards a few steps. "What did you do?" she demanded faintly, trembling hands going to her head.

"I merely exposed you to the truth," Gangrel told her with a smile, "I could force all three of you to obey me."

Kayla shuddered as the implications of this sank in. Gangrel nodded as he saw comprehension dawn in her eyes, "But I don't want to do that. I don't want my Brood to consist of zombies."

Kayla looked at him wide-eyed and for once speechless. She backed away from the vampire shaking her head. Gangrel could smell her fear with lightening speed he darted forward catching her by the arms. "All you have to do is obey me, Kayla." Gangrel ran a hand over her hair, "Do that and there is no need to fear me."

"Get away from me," Kayla snapped fighting to pull away from him. "I want to go back to Christian," she told him loathing in her voice.

Gangrel studied her a moment. In Kayla's eyes he saw the look of a cornered animal. Finally, he nodded releasing his grip on her arms, "Very well. Follow me."

Kayla followed the vampire out the door in silence and to her room. Kayla was never so happy to hear the door of her prison slam behind her. Christian sat waiting on the bed and seeing her pale face and frightened eyes stood and quickly crossed the room to her side. "Kayla?" he asked taking her hands in his only to realize that the small redhead was trembling, "Princess?" Christian repeated more urgently leaning down to study her face, "Kayla, answer me!"

Kayla raised her eyes to his; the fear in them shocked Christian to the core. "What did he do to you?!" Christian demanded chafing her small ice-cold hands in his larger ones to warm them.

Kayla opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. Christian pulled her into his strong arms cradling the girl that had become a sister to him protectively in his embrace. He felt her shudder and rubbed her back soothingly, "It's okay, Princess. I'm here."

Kayla wrapped her arms around him slowly and she allowed herself to take comfort in his presence. "He showed me what he can do," she whispered softly burying her face in his chest.

Christian frowned, "What do you mean?" he asked hugging her to him tightly.

Kayla looked up at him, "Did he ever try to control your mind before?" she asked him softly.

Christian swore vehemently. How dare Gangrel do that to her? "Yes," he confessed softly, "It's part of the reason we finally broke from him." Putting an arm around her shoulders Christian led her gently to the bed. "Sit here, I'll be right back," he told her walking to the bathroom and returning with a glass of water.

Kayla flashed him a weak smile taking the glass from him. "Thanks," she said taking a sip of the water.

Christian sat down beside her, "Tell me exactly what happened and don't leave anything out."

Kayla shrugged, "Gangrel started out being all buddy-buddy. Talking about how we'd gotten off on the wrong foot, how the Brood was a family. Then . . ." Kayla trailed off her trembling increasing.

"Sssshhh. It's okay, Princess," Christian whispered taking her in his arms again and rocking her back and forth. "Just tell me, I'm here, he's not going to hurt you anymore."

"I don't know but he looked me in the eyes a-and I felt so dizzy," Kayla hugged him tightly, "I could feel my hatred for him going away and I started thinking that he wasn't such a bad guy," Kayla cuddled against the European Champion. "Something inside me knew that that wasn't right and I managed to look away. I felt so sick."

Christian nodded, "Gangrel was giving you a warning," Christian told her, "He doesn't often resort to mind control but if he has to he will."

Kayla nodded and sighed, "That's what he told me. He didn't want to have to do that to us but he would."

Christian kissed the top of her head, "Don't worry, I won't let him do that to you ever again."