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.

9

Mary-Lynnette stirred and tried to shake the black spots in front of her vision away. She cursed as she felt that she was tied to something with her hands behind her back. Briefly her memory flashed back to when Jeremy had tied her to the tree. She began trying to pull her hands out from the ropes.

"Don't even bother." Mary-Lynnette looked up to face a woman looking at her triumphantly.

"W-who are you? Where am I? Where's ASH?" She stuttered wildly, and then grimaced as she realized that she had lost her cool.

The woman laughed throatily. "Why should I tell you who I am? And as for Ash, why, Ash is right here."

"Let me see him." Mary-Lynnette said coldly.

"The poor darling is still out cold. Must be the fever." She turned and walked towards Ash, who was lying on the floor limply, moaning softly. "I guess I'll just have to wake him up." Alexa blew something powder like in his face. Ash sat up suddenly choking and coughing, then slumped in the middle of the floor.

Ash looked wildly around him, and then saw Mary-Lynnette. "Mare!" He wheeled round to face Alexa. "Leave her alone!"

Alexa chuckled heartily. "I don't think you're in any position to make demands, ASH." She walked lazily towards a table full of vials. She picked one up and started fingering the lid idly.

Ash looked at her suspiciously. "What are you doing?"

"Oh… I want you to drink this." She said holding the bottle out to him.

Ash snorted, his eyes turning coal black. "You have got to be kidding."

Alexa looked at him face to face. "Oh, I think you'll find I'm being perfectly serious." She snapped her fingers, causing one of her lackeys to stand behind Mary-Lynette. "Or I'll have him break her neck."

"And if I do, Mary-Lynnette remains unhurt?"

Alexa smiled. "Yesss. The girl will not be touched by me."

Ash took hold of the potion determinedly.

"Ash, no!" Mary Lynnette screamed.

He looked steadily at her. "If I don't then you'll die- and I couldn't live with that, knowing I can save you."

"She has got to be lying."

"I have no choice." And he downed the potion in one gulp.

Mary-Lynnette watched horrified as his face leveled out and became blank. He was like an empty shell.

"Now…" Alexa said smoothly. "I'd better cure you of that really nasty virus."

She held a green bottle. "Drink this." She commanded. Mary-Lynnette watched with dismay as Ash did as he was told without hesitation, then she realized with slight relief that at least he was cured from the virus.

Alexa turned to Mary-Lynnette and pointed at her. "Now turn her into a vampire. I still want to see her suffer slowly from the virus." She muttered to herself. "That potion I gave him was a lot stronger. A lot stronger."

Mary-Lynnette yelled at her with cold fury. "You promised I wouldn't be hurt…"

"By me. But I'm getting Ash to do it for me.

"That's cheating."

"Witch." Alexa said as if that concluded the argument.

Mary-Lynnette struggled uselessly against her bonds as Ash leaned in towards her and started drawing her blood out against her will.

"It shouldn't take too long. After all, he has already had a lot of blood tonight." Alexa taunted.

Mary-Lynnette grew steadily weaker as her blood was being drained. The ropes became slack as she began to slump. She searched desperately through the darkness, devoid of any sign of Ash for the silver cord.

Desperate, she began threatening him.

If you don't get your ass back in your head mister I'm going to kick your shins SO hard there won't be any shins left by the time I've finished with you!

To her surprise it worked.

Mare?

I'm here.

Wait. Am I?... Is that why your voice is getting weaker?... NO!

It took a lot of effort for Mary-Lynnette to reply.

Welcome… back.

Alexa made me do it didn't she? Ash said furiously.

D-u…h!

MARE!

I'm s-orry. I d-idn't g-get th-through to you s-ooner Mary-Lynnette said, not wanting her last words to be 'Duh?'

Don't give up! Ash said, his voice tinged with desperation. I can't live without you. Then his resolve hardened. I'm gonna have to turn you.

Mary-Lynnette had never wanted to be a vampire- believing she was unfit to live the life and stay sane. But she remembered James, Poppy, Thierry- all the Daybreak vampires. They had all found a way to be good bloodsucking vampires. Mary-Lynnette could live with that- even if it was for an eternity. It was a hundred times better than being without Ash- it would be rude to die on him especially since they had been apart for a year and hadn't had that much time together. Then she remembered something.

T-The v-v-virus.

My blood has the cure in it. Ash said with the mental equivalent of being smug.

Ha ha. Seemed like Alexa was very good at overlooking things.

O.K

Ash pulled away from Mary-Lynnette and cut his wrist, careful not to give away anything with his face.

Mary-Lynnette pretended to be choking and trying to stop drinking the blood. Finally she went totally limp, and her body lost all signs of life.

Ash found it very hard to look at her without feeling like there was a dagger in his heart.

Alexa laughed fit to burst. "Do you think I'm stupid? I know that you turned her because of love." She ran out of the door and looked it shut. Ash could hear things being drawn across the door. Alexa spoke through the key hole. "Poor mite. There isn't any source of blood around. Silly me." Her footsteps died down the passageway.

It was then that Ash realized he hadn't fed (properly, since he had given Mary-Lynnette most of his blood) for over a day. He bent over double as the bloodlust took hold, looking at Mary-Lynnette in despair.

I know, I'm sorry, another evil cliffhanger.

Strekoza- That's me! Speedy me!

Piscean Wisdom- that is my best friend's fav saying (or excuse for being mental!) I'm glad that you love it!

Tessadragon- I hope that this was as soon enough for you!

Undeveloped Story- Thanks! You could take Hunter to the blood bank- just in case Alexa gets him with one of her potions- you don't want him to be hungry!

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