The throbbing pain was what pulled her out of sleep. Her whole body ached. Keeping her eyes closed she groped for the covers, for she was cold. Squinting one eye, she tested the brightness of the room. Seeing that it was darker, she opened both eyes. She was no longer in Katrina's house; she wasn't even at the hospital. She didn't recognize the room until she turned her head. There was someone sleeping in a chair. Squinting she noticed it was the longhaired brunette who wore glasses. Her hair framed her face, she was dead asleep. She threw the covers back and noticed her arm was in a cast. Her same arm was bandaged up. She felt like the state puff marshmallow man. She was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a tank top. She noticed all around her body were little pieces of gauze.

She quickly pulled the blanket around her. Her scars were prominent and she felt shamed. She threw her legs over the side of the bed and put her feet on the ground. She slipped through the door without waking up the woman. She got down the stairs and into the lobby of the hotel. She stood there, expecting someone to come out and stop her from standing. No one did. Frowning she moved around the counter and sat down on one of the chairs. Sighing she put her head down. She had such a headache from meeting the vampire her family cursed. The pain that he caused her family was unbearable. She saw the old woman she loved murdered right before her eyes. One tear snuck out and hit the table. To escape the pain, she did the one thing she did best, she hid. Gently she fell back into the abyss of sleep.

(Half an hour later, when Connor and Angel return...)

She wasn't in her room. Connor found Fred asleep. There were no signs of struggle or anything. The only thing he noticed was that the blanket was missing. Swearing he hurried down the stairs. Passing Angel he told him what happened. "She's gone."

"Gone? Did Fred see anything?"

"No, she fell asleep." Connor hit the lobby and rounded the corner of the counter when he saw her. Her head was on her arms. The blanket was wrapped around her. She was breathing regularly. Connor moved around and gently shook her shoulder. Her hair fell farther over her head, but she didn't respond. Quickly he checked her for a pulse. Finding one he relaxed. "It's Ok. She must have came down her for something and then fell asleep."

"It has been some time since she ate last. Maybe you should wake her up and feed her." Suggested Angel.

Connor gave him a look that spoke for its self. He sighed before gently shook her shoulder. She was non-responsive to him. He glanced at Angel who shook his head. Looking at her he picked her up, out of the chair. The blanket, which she was wrapped in, began to slide. That was when he saw the scars. There were numerous ones, from only the skin he could see. It must have been from when she was taken hostage. He pulled the blanket over her shoulder and walked past Angel. When he got her back into her room, Fred has left. He was gently placing her down on the bed when she stirred. He put her down and then sat on the edge of the bed and waited until she opened her eyes.

She was groggy, from what he could tell. The light was bothering her eyes, so he turned it down. He sat on the edge of the bed and waited until her eyes adjusted. He could see the bruises growing on the right side of her face. It must have been from where she hit the ground. He knew she had lacerations and numerous cuts over her body. The doctor had taken over half a pound of glass out of her body. As she focused her eyes, they rested on him. He could see the pain in them, but there was something else. Was it relief? Gently he brushed the hair out of her face.

"Do you need water?"

She nodded and he quickly retrieved the cup, which was sitting on the nightstand. He carefully helped her sit up and held the cup to her lips. After she drank the whole cup, she closed her eyes.

"Thank you."

Connor placed the cup back on the stand before speaking. "I found you moments after the crystal ball came through the window. Wesley took you to the hospital. You were in pretty bad shape. You needed five pints of blood, your arm and wrist were broken in four places, and the only good thing was that the bullet missed anything important and went right through. The doctor also sent home some painkillers. Would you like one?"

"No." She replied shaking her head. Her hands relaxed. "What about Katrina? Is she dead?"

"Yes. It appeared that her neck was broken."

A tear slowly slid down her cheek. "Katrina was there after my parents died. I ran across her shop by accident. One thing lead to another, and we became good friends. Dmitrij killed her because she meant something to me."

"Dmitrij?"

"The vampire responsible for the massacre of my family." She took a deep breath. "I guess you'd like to hear the story."

"All of it if possible. We need to know it if we're expected to help protect you."

One of her hands came out of the warmth of the cacoon and gripped his. "My name is Nikkylia Belov. My clan, rather my family came from Russia three generations ago. They came to escape Dmitrij. He was one of the most notorious Russian vampires. One of the cruelest and most vicious. My great-great-great grandmother had a run in with him. She and her mother cast a spell over him. She damned him to spend an eternity of wandering without being able to kill another Belov or human. It caused an unexpected side affect."

"But he killed your family."

"No, he asked some of his minions to do that. The side affect was that when any vampire attempted to drink our blood, it would coagulate and slow the process down. Neither Nana nor Dmitrij expected it. Which was why I didn't die after the third week. I managed to escape, but it didn't help. It's another reason why he didn't flat out kill me. He wanted me to suffer like he did. Once he finds out I'm alive, he'll come for me. When he does, he'll make sure the job is done right."

"Why? What happens when you die?"

"The curse is lifted and he is able to kill once again. He'll take his time. Enjoying it. You know what he does to his victims? He..."

Before she could say anything else, he bellowed. "I know what he does, Ok? I know!" he got up and began to pace around the room.

"I didn't mean or want you...anyone else involved. It's too damn risky."

"It's risky for everyone else but you?"

"No, it's risky for me. Unlike you or your friends, I'm prepared to die."

"Why?" he spun around and looked at her. "Why are you so ready to die?"

"Because I lost everyone I loved to that monster. If seeing them again means trading for my life, so be it."

"You're too young. Too young to be thinking about dying."

"I am Connor."

"You are what?" He turned to face her.

"I'm dying."

(That seems like a great place to end. I haven't written because of school, but here is yet another chapter.)