Sasha stirred just after noon and found her room was golden in the sunlight. The fine wood cases and interior décor were stunning and tried to give a sense of peace. It didn't work. Sasha lay in the warm bed and realized she was under the covers, she hadn't done that. Panic surged through her for a moment until she detected a familiar perfume. Sitting up she threw back the covers and left the room.

There were soft sounds coming from the sitting room and that was where she found Lilly. The Toreador was arranging a massive boquet of flowers and humming very softly.

"Thanks for the blanket." Sasha muttered and leaned against the door way. "What time did you get here?"

"An hour ago." Lilly paused and looked at the flowers. "Julian said you came in late last night," Lilly fussed again and sighed. "They just aren't sitting the right way."

Sasha gazed disinterestedly at the flowers and frowned. "Only a Toreador would care how flowers sat."

Lilly gave a small shrug. "What kept you out last night? I saw you leave the club in a rush and was concerned. Do you know who you were talking to?"

Sasha wasn't dull enough to miss that opening. "Who was it?"

"Matthew Queenside." Lilly picked up the vase of flowers and carried them over to an ornate table. "He's been a thorn in our sides for a very long time."

"Our meaning Kindred?" Sasha asked.

Lilly turned the vase this way and that. "I take it he's after some one you know?"

Sasha nodded. "A friend from high school."

"A friend?" Lilly looked at Sasha for the first time. "Let me give you some advice little one, Matthew Queenside does not let go of his quarry. I would recommend that you leave this 'friend' of yours to her fate."

"I can't!" Sasha gasped and shook her head. "No, I can't do that. Not after…." Sasha stopped herself and shook her head. "I am not leaving her to die."

Lilly went back to turning the vase from side to side. "Julian wants to speak with you, when you have time."

Sasha left the room and returned to the hospital. It was busy now and full of people; lights and sounds were chaotic and wild, seeming to close in on her like a tornado and sweep her away. Sasha opened her eyes and found herself seated next to Andie. She was sleeping lightly and had a troubled look on her face.

"Hi," Sasha whispered. "How are you?"

"Peachy," The voice was stronger now, but still tired. "How as your day?"

"I got a lecture from someone warning me off of you." Sasha muttered.

Andie's face was dark and she didn't look away from Sasha, "Leave it alone."

"No. Not until you explain why? Or better yet who is this Queenside asshole?"

"He's a bounty hunter Sasha. Hired to bring me back home."

Sasha frowned. "Why is there a bounty hunter after you?"

"Remember that little saving grace I did for you?" Andie's voice was softer now, as if she was afraid someone would hear.

Sasha blinked once and felt her hands chill. "Yeah."

"Well, the boy's family has put out a contract on my life. Offering a huge reward for my capture and subsequent trial and Queenside is the only BH I haven't been able to shake."

Sasha sat back and drew in a shallow breath. She sat quietly for a long time with Andie watching her. "I can make you disappear. I know someone who can hide you." It was only after she'd said that Lilly's words came to her. Queenside hunted Kindred as well as human.

Andie shook her head. "No can do."

"You didn't do anything wrong Andie. That guy was going to kill me and you had to kill him to stop it." Sasha snapped and Andie shrugged. "Tell that to his family or the police after me."

As if on cue a policemen did walk in, "Sorry to interrupt you but I need to ask Ms. Lauren a few questions."

Sasha turned to the vaguely recognizable face. "I know you from somewhere."

"Detective Frank Kohanek, homicide division." He held up a badge. "I need a few moments of her time." He nodded to Andie.

Sasha glanced back at her friend. "Are you sure?"

Andie didn't say anything, simply let out a heavy sigh and closed her eyes. "Talk to you later Sasha."

Sasha paced the hall of the mansion, her feet stamping out the anger in her body, as her mind swirled with thoughts. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

"Sasha?"

She jumped and swung around to see Cash. He stood back a few feet and looked like he was going somewhere.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

He looked down at his attire. "Coming back actually. What's the matter?"

"Nothing." She snapped and moved to leave the room. She stopped and sighed, "Cash, can you keep something between us?"

He nodded and followed her to the courtyard. The fountain whispered softly and dampened the air around them. Sasha sat down on the steps and hugged herself around her knees. Cash sat next to her but didn't touch her.

"Just before I left high school I met a guy named Tom West. He was really sweet and smart and he was everything I wasn't used to. He was educated and he came from a real family. We started dating and things were going on really well between us. He asked if he could take me to the graduation bash. I said sure and we went. It was that night that I learned just how not nice he was. Tom attacked me as he walked me home. I wasn't prepared for it and my dress tangled around my feet. Tom was so strong and it was as if he where possessed by something."

Sasha stopped as the memory came back and she forced herself to push on.

"He dragged me to a nearby garage and locked me inside. I was crying and everything and he stared to laugh at me. He said that wild girls like me needed to be taught a lesson." Sasha stopped again as tears swelled in her eyes. "Before he could really do anything to me, aside from some bruises and scaring me, my best friend killed him. She broke into the garage and cut his throat. I never asked why she did and just before I left for my grandfather's funeral, she told me the whole story."

Cash put his arm around her and pulled her close. For the first time in nearly a year Sasha wrapped her arms around him and let him hold her. "It's over now Sasha."

"That's just it." She wept against him. "It's not over. Andie, my friend, is here now, in the city. She's in the hospital and there's a bounty hunter after her. I can tell she doesn't want to go back, but I can't figure out how to help her."

"Does this bounty hunter have a name?" Cash asked.

"Matthew Queenside." Sasha notice how Cash tensed. "You've heard of him?"

"Stevie-Ray mentioned him a few times." Cash was quiet for a moment. "Let me talk to Julian, there might be something we can do."

Sasha pulled away and watched him in the sunlight. She felt the familiar ache in her chest at the broken heart and the surge of anger from the feud between their clans. "Thanks."

Cash stood up and went inside without a word.

Sasha was left on the stairs, in the warm light to cry all over again.