DISCLAIMER - I don't own any of the Nightworld characters and I don't make any money. Yes I know I should get out more. I do however own a sexy vampire called Tar, so hands off!

REVIEWS ARE MUCH LOVED AND BEGGED FOR!!

CHAPTER ELEVEN - EXPLANATION

Xanna strolled towards the ashen one, just as he managed to regain his feet.

"Care for another round?" She asked coyly.

She snapped her head around to see the ashen one's friends stirring, then gaining the top of the stairs as quickly as possible.

"Guess they didn't like the party?" She felt them leave the building.

Tar smiled at the pain they were obviously causing Ash, pleased that he was finally paying for his crimes.

Ash looked up at the empty stairwell, he hoped they'd get away. Whatever had happened to Mary Lynette, he didn't want them to die as well. They had to tell Thierry all Ash's contacts had been compromised. He thought what would happen if Mary Lynette and the other found their way into Thierry's mansion. They could definitely kill all the humans and also a good percentage of the vampires he would think. He thought of all the death they could cause and he knew what he had to do. He watched them together, feeling his soul being slowly torn apart inside his body. The other vampire seemed familiar, although he was obviously connected to Xanna, the girl he'd killed over a century ago somehow. She had called him Tar. That seemed familiar as well. He saw where Tar was touching her and his vision became hazy, his building fury putting red spots in the corners of his sight.

Xanna seeing the change in Ash's stance, put herself between the ashen one and Tar and took most of the force of the blow. She flew backwards and smashed against the far wall.

Tar's fury over spilled now and he growled at Ash. They began a dance of blows that was almost beautiful, each knowing the other's moves and blocking before the other even thought of it. Ash may have been stronger, older and more powerful, but Tar could draw on the amount of fury he'd held against Ash for over a hundred years and that made him strong. They were quite evenly matched now, trading blow for blow and ducking and jumping, twisting and turning to a dance only they could hear the music to.

Ash managed to throw a blow underneath Tar's guard and knock him against a wall. Ash pinned him there. "What did you do to Mary Lynette?" He yelled at Tar, shouting in desperation. Tar grinned. "What did you do last night Ash? I hunted with the strongest vampire I've ever seen and fed off the dying soul essences of seven men." Tar's eyes glowed silver, remembering the bloodbath Xanna had caused.

"Do you know what I did then, Ash Redfern?" We celebrated our passions in the back of a BMW about half an hour south of here. She loves me."

Ash grabbed handfuls of Tar's hair and slammed his head against the wall.

"What have you done to her!" Ash yelled at the top of his physical and mental voice.

"I ravaged her, turned her, brain washed her, and now she loves me. She loves me, and only me. Now you know what it feels like to have your soul mate turned against you, like you did to me over a century ago."

Poppy and James ran as best they could, battered and bruised towards the car. Once inside, James reached for the phone and dialled Thierry's number.

"Thierry Descouedres."

"Thierry, it's James. Mary Lynette. She's gone mad. She's taken out the witches and she's gonna kill Ash. She's gonna burn the entire town."

"I'll be there in half an hour."

Thierry put down the phone and motioned to the anxious faces of the surrounding Daybreakers.

"Ash needs help. We're going to Briar's Creek."

He just hoped his Concorde jet could reach it in time for there to be something left to save.