Don't worry, I'm alive! I can't believe I took a day off from writing, but last night I was in a pretty sour mood and didn't want it to affect this chapter. Enjoy! R/R so I know whatcha think. =)

Emmanuelle: Yeah, I just thought she deserved some affection. Everybody needs love . . . well, she did, anyway. Hehehe.

Adelaide E: I think you're psychic, I really do. Keep your review in mind as you read this chapter. I like it when people are bad-asses, too. I don't think Monroe will stay such a wuss. Just read.

plot-less: I think you're psychic, too. If you want a surprise, I think you'll enjoy this chapter.

Tamashii: I only update fast b/c I've been sitting home a lot lately. Not going out and partying like the normal twenty-year-old should. Eh, oh well. I'm making people happy! Are you working on a new summary for me yet? =) Hehehe.

Forest Elfin: Thank you so much for the LJS compliment! It means so much to get those. I really like to bring in her type of atmosphere in the stories. Keep reading, and please enjoy.

Amphitrite: Thanks for the constructive criticism. I feel it's missing something as well, as if I rushed it. I almost feel the same about this chapter. But, when you have a passion inside you, you try not to ignore it! =) Plus, I like to have the quick updates. If I take too much time, the people listed above you may throw stuff @ me. Hehehe. Thanks for the review. I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Hedge: I hope this ass-kicking is good for you, because it's only the beginning! Do the girly stuff, but in the privacy of your own room so no one laughs. Hehehe. Thank you so much for the character and story compliments!



*Chapter 14*



Tala looked at the plate in front of her and almost laughed. It was really odd to see a group of werewolves, witches, some various other shifters, and one vampire breaking bread over something that didn't really benefit them nutritionally. There were mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, ham, and other various holiday foods. The shapeshifters could eat and be filled, but no power came from eating this stuff. The witches usually went for more herbal-enhanced diets. Monroe on the other hand . . .

Tala giggled when she saw him eye the ham. He was eating, but very little. She spoke to him telepathically. *You don't have to eat it. We understand that this isn't your type of meal.*

He just shrugged in response, taking a bite of cranberry sauce.

Vesta was the belle of the table. Everyone cooed her, offering her more food, treating her like a princess. She really had her way with people.

Everyone stopped when they heard the shattering of glass.

Monroe, Lupe, and Tala stood from the table. Tala put a finger to her lips when growls began to rise from her family. They made their way to the living room quietly, where the noise had come from. Standing directly in the center of the room was a teenage boy, dressed completely in black. His eyes were the color of sapphires and his white blond hair stood in perfectly shaped spikes. The grin on his face was one of malice. Definitely a vampire.

His voice alone sounded like liquid evil. "Sorry to crash the party, but we need one of your guests to come for a little ride with us."

Lupe stepped forward. "Who, may I ask, is 'us?'"

Tala noticed a spark of nervousness in her mind. She turned to see Monroe taking a step back, sweat beading his forehead.

She turned back when the stranger began to speak again. "Oh, just a few of my friends." As soon as he finished, he clapped. Windows around the house began to shatter, the front door was being broken down. Teenagers of all sizes and species filled the house. Tala looked back to see most of her family and guests were shifting, looking wildly at the intruders around them.

She was about to head for Vesta when her attention was caught again by what the vampire was saying. "Pierson, so glad to see you. I imagine you remember the old gang."

She glanced over at her soulmate, seeing the expression of dread he held.

The stranger went on. "Thanks so much for letting us in on this little secret you had. We'll make sure to share the reward from the Council with you for your help."

Tala felt her temper flare. His eyes immediately flew to hers. *It's not what you think.*

She shook her head. *I should have known better than to trust you. All you've done is lied since the beginning. Too bad you won't get your reward.* She fled as fast as she could, running into the other room as the fight began.

Scanning the area, she saw Vesta in a corner, huddled against the wall. She stopped her cousin Ulric as he was about to impale his teeth into an unsuspecting vampire. "Go find as many fire extinguishers as you can. Trust me."

Her mother was even in wolf form, protecting the small child from a witch. So busy concentrating on the orange fire in his hands, the boy hadn't seen Tala grab a vase and aim it at his head.

Once he was on the floor, Tala moved to her mother's side. "Mom, I'm apologizing now for anything that has or will happen to your house." The wolf nodded in response. "I have to get Vesta out of here. Tell everyone to gather on the other side of the room, forcing the Night World agents over here."

Her mother ran off as she began to change. Looking Vesta straight in the eyes, she hoped the little girl was as good of a telepath as her uncle. *Can you hear me?* Vesta nodded in response. *Good. I'm going to get you out of here, but I need your help. Do you know how to call on the fire?*

The girl looked around nervously. *I can try, but I don't want to hurt your family!*

Tala nodded. *I have a plan. Wait until I tell you, then let it go.* She turned back to the mob of people. Not even noticing, she searched the crowd with her eyes for Monroe. She hurriedly shook herself, then nodded for Vesta to follow her.

The dinner party was almost all over to the other side of the room. With a fast escape route behind her and a human Ulric walking into the room, fire extinguishers in tow, she turned to Vesta. *Now!*

She had never watched the girl do this all the way through before. She had only been around for the aftermath. A red aura seemed to surround Vesta, as a light grew slowly in her eyes. The aura and the light seemed to grow in color together, becoming an orange that Tala knew only existed in Hell.

As it grew brighter, the room heated up. Suddenly, the group opposite them combusted into flames. Screams filled her ears as Tala grabbed Vesta's shirt with her teeth and jumped out the frame of a window.

Shifting back once in the cool night air, she grabbed the little girl's hand and ran for the car. As if he had known, the blue-eyed vampire from the living room was leaning against the Vitara. "Leaving so soon, mutt?"

She pushed Vesta behind her. "You can't have her."

"Oh, but I think I can. And who's going to stop me? Obviously not some flea infested dog." He began to step forward into a fighting stance.

She smiled. For once she had the right to kill someone. "Bring it on, bloodsucker."

He rushed her. She dodged to her right at the last second, leaving her leg extended. He stumbled over it, landing on his back. He stood quickly as she chuckled. Fury began to pour from his eyes.

His next shot was a swift quick toward her head, but she kneeled and grabbed his supporting ankle, knocking him to the ground again. He was lifting himself up as she sighed. "Why don't you just stay down? You're going to end up there anyway."

She saw that this really pissed him off. He hissed, his eyes taking a silver sheen, canine teeth extending to fine points. Putting out a fake yawn, she blocked his punches and kicks easily. "It's sad to see that I have better training than you do." She was beginning to get bored. With one final block, she used her left leg to sweep his feet from under him. Not giving him the chance to stand again, she kneeled on his chest. "It's too bad I have to kill you. I'd rather let you die of embarrassment when your friends found out that you got your ass kicked by a werewolf. Oh well."

She grabbed a stick from the grass beside his head. Quickly, so as not to torture him, she shoved the wood into his chest, feeling the easiness of the kill. It's too bad she couldn't have let him die slowly, but Daybreak didn't think so highly of painful deaths.

Standing above the mummifying body of the vampire, she took Vesta's hand. She glanced around the area quickly before continuing to the car. Night people were running from the house aflame, wolves and other creatures of the night chasing them into the darkness.

She started the car, an ache growing in her chest as she drove away. She knew her family could defend themselves. But Monroe, he had betrayed her . . . Again.

She wiped away the stray tear falling down her cheek as she grabbed her cell phone. Dialing Thierry's private number, she spoke quickly when he answered. "We've been attacked. Where can I take Vesta?"

His voice was edged with worry. "Go directly to Miami International Airport. Hannah and I will meet you there so we can take a Daybreak jet to the Vegas safe house. I'll call the pilot at the hangar and let them know that you three will be there soon."

"Unless you're talking about the mouse in my pocket, sir, there's only two of us."

"Where's Monroe?"

She sighed, biting her lip. She looked over to see Vesta watching the trees fly by. "He's the one who alerted the Council that we'd be there."

"Impossible!" She had never heard Thierry yell before. "How do you know this?"

"From what the leader was saying, I guess Monroe tipped off his old gang about the fire child." She was fighting the tears in her eyes. "I didn't see him when I was leaving."

"A crew from Homestead has already been dispatched to the house. If he's still there, we'll get to the bottom of this."

"I can't trust him, but have his mind searched anyway. See what you can find. I'll see you at the airport." She flipped her phone shut, throwing it in the backseat. She turned up the stereo as she drove faster, letting the strong vibrations of Trans-Siberian Orchestra fill her mind.