Disclaimer: The Night World is the work of L.J Smith. Only the story is mine and a few extra characters. Alexa, the clichéd villain- she's mine. I apologise if this chapter makes no sense but I have never been to America before, so I don't know all the right words to use- please tell me if I am wrong

N.B I've decided that the wild powers come after Ash and Mary-Lynnette hook up again- otherwise it will get just too confusing.

8

The virus spread through the mansion like wild fire. Not one of the witches was able to find a cure- though not through want of trying.

The virus affected the made vampires the most. Thierry, being the oldest made vampire around, was severely ill. Hannah refused to leave his bed side, bursting into tears every time she looked at him. He could barely breathe. She so wanted him to be an old soul.

Poppy, who went down with the disease the same morning she helped Ash passed it onto James, who refused to leave her even though he knew he would go down with it.

Quinn was suffering almost as bad as Thierry; he was a few hundred years old after all. Rashel stormed out of the mansion looking for the cure and still hadn't found it.

The people who weren't destined to have vampires as soulmates ran around the mansion, trying to keep Circle Daybreak together. Thea in particular was exhausted. Without Thierry, Circle Daybreak was falling apart- and Alexa loved it.

What she didn't love however, was the fact that Mary-Lynnette wasn't leaving Ash's side. How was she supposed to get Ash to do things for him with that human in the way?

Alexa cursed, watching Mary-Lynnette squeeze Ash's hand gently to soothe him from his feverish dreams. She couldn't kill Mary-Lynnette- last time she had used the potion's control over someone to kill their loved one they had snapped out of it. She yelled. "Ugh. The power of love is disgusting!", and threw an athame across the room.

Then she hit on an idea. If Mary-Lynnette was a vampire, she would be indisposed by the fever. He wouldn't be killing her so to speak. "It's worth a try" she mumbled. "Otherwise, there's always plan B."

Mary-Lynnette held Ash's hand, trying to comfort him. She was so worried. And guilty. Poppy had gone down with whatever Ash had- and Mary-Lynnette had called her.

Ash opened his eyes, unfocused.

"Ash, ho…ney. Um… Are you alright?" She asked worriedly.

He didn't reply, merely sat up unsteadily in the bed.

"You shouldn't sit up! Not in your condition!" She noticed his eyes were dark and unsettled. His expression was vacant. He showed no recognition, she had no idea if he knew who she was, let alone that he heard her.

"Ash?" She asked shakily.

He grabbed her. She tried to pull away, but couldn't. Even though his hands were hot and shaking with the fever, he still could hold her in a vice like grip.

"Ash!" She yelled. "What are you doing?"

He pulled her head towards him, neck first. She struggled, squirming under his grip.

His lips pulled back and she saw his teeth unsheathe themselves. Razor sharp. Inhuman.

She screamed as he bit into her neck. He clamped his hand roughly over her mouth.

Oh how it hurt. She had no idea how painful having your blood drawn out against your will was.

Ash! Ash! She flew through his mind- but it wasn't his. It was someone else's. A woman, cackling evilly.

ASH! She screamed.

She couldn't find him anywhere. Someone was controlling him.

Then she saw it. The silver cord. Bright, strong and vibrant, thrumming. She tugged on it. ASH!

She saw him. Ash! She could feel his fear. He was unable to hide it from her.

Wh- what's happening?

Could you stop drinking my blood first?

What!

Ash pulled back from her suddenly, and then slumped to the bed groaning. "Oww."

"Someone was controlling you."

"You what?"

"You started drinking my blood, but it wasn't your mind I saw- it was someone else's."

"You're kidding?"

"Nope." Mary-Lynnette rubbed her neck tenderly.

"I'm sorry." He looked at her concerned.

"It wasn't you."

Alexa screamed with rage. She had underestimated the soulmate connection. But, she had plan B already in motion. She looked down into her crystal ball, grinning.

Ash climbed out of the bed unsteadily, bristling.

"What?" Mary-Lynnette asked, confused.

"Someone's here."

The door slammed open.

Ash ran in front of Mary-Lynnette, shielding her.

It was two shape shifters and a werewolf.

"Ash! Don't!" Mary-Lynnette screamed.

"I'll protect you." he said, swaying unsteadily on his feet.

Mary-Lynnette was grabbed roughly from behind.

"Ash!"

He turned, his eyes pitch black. "Get. Away. From. Her."

The shifter holding the struggling Mary-Lynnette laughed. "Now. Now. You'd better co-operate. Or I'll snap her neck."

"NO!" Ash cried. He tried to stop his legs from caving in under him.

"Dear, oh dear. Feeling a little… under the…weather?"

"What's it to you?" He snarled.

"Not me. My boss."

The werewolf came behind Ash and whacked him around the head.

"No!" Mary-Lynnette whimpered as Ash's limp form was carried out of the room.

"You're coming with us." The shifter said. Mary-Lynnette was hit around the head, and all went black.

Another evil cliffhanger from me! I'm sorry I was a lot slower with this chapter. I'll try to get the next one up quicker.

Please review!

Undeveloped Story- Yep. Alexa has issues alright. I'm sure Hunter appreciates being let out every once in a while. 

Mary Lou Out Of Order-Exams- Here I go, beating up Ash again. I was reading Daughters of Darkness. Ash does indeed cry when he is holding Mary-Lynnette after she kills Jeremy. I figured that Mary-Lynnette could say that he is fit- she did blush after saying so, realizing her lapse. Not only that, she wasn't the sort of person who goes around shin kicking either before Ash cam along- Ash can change a lot of things. It was probably me who was calling him fit though. I love poetic license.