Chapter Four - The Darkness

The next morning, Lexa awoke refreshed and rejuvenated. She climbed quickly from her bed and stood before the window - left ajar the night before - with sunlight streaming over her and the long, dancing drapes brushing her skin.

She washed and dressed before heading downstairs, through the busy mansion, now awake with life. In the kitchen, she found Beryl making new friends over pancakes and toast. Sliding down into a seat, Lexa smiled to herself as she reached for a plate and began to enjoy her breakfast and a peaceful conversation with the other Daybreakers around the table.

Lupe pulled up a chair next to her. "Morning," she said, cheerfully. "Sleep well?"

Lexa replied with a nod, while quickly swallowing down a bite of blueberry pancakes. Then, she looked up as a young man with white, blond hair and a cat-like appearance came sauntering into the room. He didn't look at any one of them but made his way straight to the sink and ran himself a glass of water before leaning back and drinking it slowly. It was here that Lexa noticed not only was she staring at him, but everyone was. He was beautiful. He had an amazing presence that drew the eye towards him; like a Siamese, thin, sleek and well bred.

"Ash?" Lupe was the first to speak, breaking through the silence that had overcome them. "You're here…" She sounded surprised.

Ash, as it would seem, paused and met Lupe's eyes. "Yeah," he replied, simply before bringing the glass back up to his lips.

Lupe rolled her eyes and the room relaxed with her. "O-K, I meant why. You were supposed to be tracking down a lead…"

"He's dead."

"You killed him?"

"No, I found him dead. Someone else musta got to him first." He didn't seem at all phased by any of this. However, Lupe reacted differently. She cursed under her breath and muttered angrily to herself for a moment before taking a deep, calming breath.

"Ok, never mind," she said, with a look on her face that suggested she'd just received an unwelcome migraine. "We'll deal…just go see Thierry 'bout it later." Ash nodded and sat down, helping himself to a plate of pancakes while the rest of the table went back to what they had been doing.

Lexa watched Ash for a moment until he looked up, catching her staring and nodded a welcome, she assumed. He looked curious for a moment, but then went back to eating.

"So, who is this guy?" Lexa whispered to Lupe, watching him from the corner of her eye.

"His name is Ash Redfern," Lupe replied. Lexa recognised the name, as most would. Redfern, the renowned vampire family. She wondered what a Redfern would be doing with Circle Daybreak.

Beryl leaned in. "He's beautitful…" She said, with a look of awe on her face.

"Yeah," Lupe agreed, "but taken." Lexa watched Beryl's expression drop like that of a disappointed child. "He has a soulmate hidden away somewhere. Her name's Mary-Lynette; a real nice girl too. However, what is really surprising is how much time they can spend apart. I mean, she lives up in the middle of nowhere and Ash is always all over the place. I just…I really don't get how they manage it. Thierry can't bear to be parted from Hannah…"

Lexa bit her lip, focusing her eyes on Ash. He looked so indifferent; Lexa found herself hating him. "I feel sorry for his soulmate…he looks like he doesn't care."

Lupe glanced at him quickly. "That's just Ash. There's nothing he cares about more than Mary-Lynette." But Lexa found it hard to believe.

When the sun reached its highest point in the sky, Lupe offered to take Lexa and Beryl out shopping for the remainder of the day and both happily agreed. They headed down to the local mall in Lupe's open-top jeep and began browsing the shops as soon as they arrived.

The mall was situated on the edge of town, right by the beach. Outside there were stalls and attractions and inside, the glass roof made it feel just as warm and bright a place to be. Two hours and a number of shopping bags later, they stopped at a cute, little outside café for something to eat and to relax.

Trying on a new pair of sunglasses she had bought, Beryl announced her enjoyment energetically. "It was really nice for you to take us here!" She exclaimed. "I just love it…you don't get anything like this where we live."

Lupe brushed her off happily. "It's no problem," she replied, beaming.

"Still," Lexa added, "thanks." She, like Beryl, loved the change in scenery. It was such a wonderful escape; she never wanted it to end. In fact, she was seriously considering begging Thierry for some little job so that she and Beryl never had to leave.

Meanwhile, Beryl stood up and announced, "I'm gonna grab an ice cream. Who wants one?" Both shapeshifters grinned at the thought and nodded. "Cool, I'll be right back." And with that, Beryl headed off towards a small stand in the distance.

As Beryl left, Lexa turned her attention to the shimmering waters on her left and became lost in her own thoughts. She scanned her past, present and wondered where she would be in the future. Days upon days in the dark city, haunted by shadows and memories, or a new start in a beautiful new place where she would never have to hide who she really was. It seemed simple, but it wasn't that easy. There were things she would miss: Solaris, family, friends and the familiarity of a place she had lived all her life. But here she had a new family, new friends and the wonder and adventure of Circle Daybreak.

In addition, there was the war. The prophesied battle between the two opposing sides of the Nightworld: Circle Daybreak and Circle Midnight. Before she had never considered herself of any value, but here she could make a difference. Here, she could fight to protect the friendship she had with Beryl and Beryl herself would be safe.

"Hey, get off me!"

The sound of Beryl's voice awoke a fear so great inside Lexa, it was almost paralysing. She jumped up, knocking back the chair on which she had been seated and focusing her eyes on her friend as two figures dressed entirely in black, dragged her into a black van. One clasped a hand over her mouth as the other tried to stop the violent thrashing which was making her difficult to manoeuvre.

Lexa began to run - with Lupe behind her - straight for the van. However, as she did, she watched them pull Beryl into the van, close the doors and begin their getaway before she could even reach them.

The vans wheals screeched as they sped from the scene, leaving tyre marks as they went. The ice cream man meanwhile stood by, looking too shocked to move. She knew she couldn't make it, but she couldn't stop. She had to do something; she couldn't let them take Beryl. But they were too fast and by the time she reached the ice cream stand, they were disappearing out of sight and Lexa was left kneeling beside three fallen cones and pair of dark, broken sunglasses.

Her eyes glued to the last place she saw the van before it vanished around the corner, she burned with emotion: anger, regret, fear, sorrow, confusion. The world melted away and she found herself in darkness, completely alone. She could feel Lupe's hands on her shoulders, trying to pull her up onto her feet and she could hear her voice, calling out to her, but she couldn't escape the darkness she had been sucked into.

Time froze and as she was dragged by Lupe back to the jeep and driven to the Daybreak mansion, she remained in that single moment, watching the black van getting further and further away. Back at the mansion, voices echoed in the distance but she ignored them; all she could think of was how she hated herself for allowing such a terrible thing to happen.

"I think she's in shock!"

"Winnie, do something!"

"Alright…I'll try, but I-"

"Just do it!"

It was then that Lexa felt a warmth inside her; a bright light, slowly breaking through the darkness. However, as it grew, it got hotter and hotter until it was burning. Her mind was on fire. Searing, blinding pain tore through every inch of her body, as though she was being ripped apart. A scream rose out of nowhere, getting louder and louder until Lexa opened her eyes and realised the scream came from her. As she did, the pain flooded back out of her and she fell backwards, hitting her head off the soft back of a chair.

She was back. Her breathing was strained; her heart beat erratic; her skin damp with sweat and her mind spinning as the last of the pain slowly faded from it, leaving her heavy and tired. Before her eyes, she saw a blurred image which slowly formed a picture of Lupe, Ash and Winnie standing over her. All three let out huge breaths of air as she met them back in the real world.

"Thank the Goddess," Lupe breathed. She looked so relieved, while Winnie showed concern on her face and Ash, a look of aggravation.

"What do you think you were doing?" Ash snapped, "how were you gonna get her back in that state? Huh?"

Winnie grabbed his arm, biting her lip. "Don't yell at her, it's not her fault." She told him quietly, trying to calm him. Turning back to Lexa, she kneeled down and asked, "How do you feel? I'm so sorry I did that to you but I had to. We had to get you out of there…"

Without the strength yet to reply, Lexa nodded and tired to sit up: a failed effort. "Beryl…" She muttered, remembering what had happened.

Lupe quickly leaned down and looked Lexa in the eyes firmly. "Yes," she said, confirming what Lexa already knew. "But we'll get her back. They left this…" she held up a piece of paper. "It's a ransom note or something. We're gonna have it analysed. Please try not to worry…we will fix this!"