A/N~ I know that I said that I was going to try and keep this updated regularly. Unfortunately I've had a lot of trouble with this chapter and a lot of stuff going on in my life. But I'm back and I'm determined to get this done. (Finally) So I apologize to everyone who has waited so patiently (cough cough) for me to finish this up. Here goes. The moment we've all been waiting for. (Cues the drum roll):

Chapter 10

            The Daughters stood in a circle surrounding Stanton. They wouldn't be able to stop him if he decided to turn into a shadow and escape, but they would have an easier time trying this way.

            None of them believed his story. They had all seen him there. Why was he bothering to deny it? But it still seemed wrong to them. No matter how strange his story seemed there was still a small part of them that wanted to believe him.

            Now Serena was gone, Stanton was denying having anything to do with it, even though they had seen him. Everything was getting more and more confusing. Now was one of those times the girls wished that they had nothing to do with the Daughters. But how could they deny their heritage? How could they let the Atrox take over their world?

            "We have to find out where Serena is. I'm thinking that whoever took her—"  Stanton started

            "Which was you." Jimena said.

            "I didn't take her!" He yelled, "If I had taken her, why would I be standing here fighting about it with you, I'd be taking her somewhere. Like I already told you, I just got back from The Dungeon.

            "But that's not the point, I came here to tell you that the Atrox has a new plan that involves Serena."

            "What's his plan?" Vanessa asked worriedly.

            "If I knew that I wouldn't be standing here talking about it, I'd be trying to stop it. It's supposed to happen tonight." He said.

            "It must have something to do with my premonition! We've got to stop them!" Jimena said, her eyes wide.

            "But Jimena, we've never been able to keep your premonitions from coming true." Catty said.

            "Well, this time, we have to. If we don't, it means the end of the world as we know it…" Jimena said, turning her gaze to the nearly full moon. She knew in her heart that whatever the Atrox's plan was, it had to be pretty sure that it was going to be able to complete it to do it so close to the full moon, when the daughters were most powerful.

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            Serena stood once more before the cold fire. Ice crystals were forming enchanting patterns up her arms, yet she hesitated. A moment ago she had been so certain that everything was fine and that this was what they had been waiting for for so long. But now…

            Stanton had never tried to force her to join him. In fact, he had been so against it, with the exception of the time Lambert had tried to get Stanton to give him the key. She was the key. She would destroy the balance of peace that they had worked so hard to protect for her own personal happiness. It wasn't right.

            She sighed and turned her back on the fire. A shiver ran down her spine at how close she came to stepping in.

            Stanton stood behind her, the cloaked men standing in a circle around the fire. He looked confused at the fact that she hadn't stepped in.

            "What's wrong Serena? I thought that you were going to give up everything to be with me?"

            Serena shook her head and found it suddenly hard to swallow. "I can't do it."

            Stanton's features grew dark with anger. "Step into the fire, Serena."

            "I just told you, I can't do it." A tremor of fear crept into her voice.

            Stanton stepped forward and in reaction Serena took a small step back. She teetered at the edge of the fire, the cold seeping into her skin making her shiver.

            "Step into the fire, Serena." Stanton said again, this time his voice was dangerously low.

            Tears filled her eyes at his tone. Her love and her doubt filled her mind, confusing her thoughts. She shook her head. "I can't…"

            Without warning Stanton lunged forward and pushed her back into the fire. The flames caught her, caressing her, burning away her mortality. She screamed, loud and long, until her voice felt raw. She knew that this time there wouldn't be anyone to save her. All she could see as she felt the evil seep into her soul was the light in Stanton's triumphant eyes. A crystallized tear fell from her eye. I've failed them all…