This chapter was mostly written by Sharli. I didn't want to take credit for this awesome scene.

Xander knocked on the Mercury Room door. A vampire peered out slightly and grumbled, "State the password."

Xander laughed, and then kicked the door in. The vampire hit the wall with a violent smack. Some of the people dancing near the door stopped to look at the scene. Xander smiled, "Hello." But they just continued to stare, the men sternly and the women with looks of admiration. "As you were," he commanded waving a hand like a king directing his subjects.

They danced again. Xander walked to the double doors that lead to Paul's home. Surprisingly, they were left unlocked. He stepped inside and looked around. Nothing much had changed. It was still dark and dreary. Xander shivered, but not from fear. Paul kept the house at 59 or so. Xander peaked down the hallway that led to Paul's room. His footsteps echoed in the empty hall. He walked down cautiously, staying alert. A door on the right side of the hall stood open. It was a room Xander had never been inside before. He looked in. Pink walls, and a canopy bed with a white fuzzy bedspread. A Barbie Doll collection sat atop a self, along with at least 60 stuffed animals in a corner. Xander went over to a jewelry box that sat on a dresser. He opened it. Gold, diamonds, sapphires. Jewelry, that in his opinion was too expensive and extravagant for a girl of 17. This was Nicole's room. He picked up her pillow and held it to his nose. It smelt like her a mixture of violets and vanilla. He set it back down and turned his focus back to the problem at hand.

He continued to the end of the hall. Paul's door was shut. Xander took a chance and tried the handle. The door opened. He would think this was a trap if he wasn't positive that Paul was still pretty weak.

Paul's room was the darkest room in the house. Xander had never been inside this room, either. Swords from all the different eras hung on the walls as a display. Medieval weapons were in cases. Paul lay on his bed, covered by a black bedspread.

Xander walked to the foot of his bed, "Rise and shine, Sleeping beauty." Paul's eyes opened slowly. "You look like crap." Xander said, "But you're alive."

Paul pushed himself up on his elbows, "Why are you here?"

Xander smiled, "Correct me if I'm wrong, I just seem to remember saying back off of Nicole in our last meeting." During the time if Paul's attacks Xander had met him inside Nicole's mind and fought for control. Xander won.

The edges of Paul's lips curved slightly, "No, you did say it. Whether I cared or not is the question."

"Well, I'm glad that's how you see it, "Xander grinned, "Because now I will feel absolutely no remorse when I kill you, not that I would have anyway."

Paul turned and got to his feet. Xander saw that it took him an effort.

"That's the way it's gonna be?" Paul asked.

Xander nodded, "Looks that way."

"Very well." Paul said, "Xander, I challenge you to a battle of power."

Xander laughed, "No, not this time, Paul. We're settling this the old fashioned way." He walked over to the wall and pulled a heavy sword off the rack, "I challenge you to a battle of weapons."

Paul raised an eyebrow and threw the black sheets off. He then walked to the wall and drew a sword, "I accept."

Karma stepped into the room, along with someone new Xander did not recognize. His hair and eyes flared red like fire.

"Karma," Paul said, throwing her the sword, "Deliver me from the hands of fate." Karma smiled and stepped up to Xander, casting a hard blow to his head. Xander blocked it without an effort.

"Karma, why are you even trying?" He cocked an eyebrow.

Karma threw two more blows towards him. Xander yawned with boredom. He swiped the sword at Karma, not aiming for her body, but he hit his target. A long lock of brown hair fell to the ground. Karma screamed and then went at him full force. Xander yawned again and tripped her.

She landed on the floor hitting her head. Xander drove the sword downward. It entered her stomach and exited her back, pinning her to the floor. She struggled, a pained expression on her face. Xander knew it would not kill her, but one thing he was positive of was that she was in a world of pain.

Xander waited for Paul to come and step up, but now the red-eyed kid walked towards him.

"Paul, you are the biggest wimp I've ever met. Fight your own battles. Where are your balls?" Xander's green eyes were cold.

Paul's expression quickly moved to anger, "Pyro, he's mine."

Pyro backed off, like a dog obeying it's master. Paul chose a new weapon. A medieval axe.

"Nice choice." Xander smiled, "I prefer swords myself, but whatever floats your boat."

Paul slowly walked towards him, "Enough small talk, Collins. Let's get this over with."

"As you wish." Xander laughed.

Paul sent the axe at Xander's legs. Xander jumped over the strike, but when he landed Paul swung at his head. This time, Xander just barely slipped past the blade. Paul sent a blow towards his stomach. Xander jumped backwards avoiding it. He had this figured out. He was simply giving Paul the illusion that he was backing him into a corner. If he knew that Xander had been in fencing classes his entire life, he may not be so quick to rush into this battle with him. Xander laughed when Paul got him into a corner.

"What is so funny?" Paul asked, "I could kill you this very moment if I wanted."

But Xander smiled, "Or so you'd like to think. This is where you lose." He kicked Paul bellow the belt and Paul doubled over backwards. Then, Xander sent a kick to his chest knocking Paul against the wall. The axe hit the floor with a clang.

"In the words of Brandon Lee: Victims aren't we all." Xander thrust the sword forward. It entered Paul's chest, just missing his heart. Paul winced in pain. Xander pushed a blonde strand of hair off his forehead, "Who wins?" he asked Paul.

Paul spat at him.

"That's right." Xander smiled, "I do."

Hot blood flowed down Paul's chest soaking his shirt. He looked over at Karma. She had quit struggling. He locked eyes with Xander and then something strange happened. The sword in Karma's stomach started gliding from her body, but not in a magical sort of way. Rather, in a gross sort of way, her skin pushed it out. The sword clamored to the ground and Karma stood. There was a hole in her shirt where the sword had entered, but Xander watched the skin beneath smooth over and heal without a scar.

"Nicole's life just went down that much more." Paul smiled.

Xander drew his fist back, "You son of a..."

Paul stopped him, "Another word out of you and she gets it," he said. "Darron and David can only do so much."

Xander picked up the axe from the ground and brought it to Paul's throat making a few practice strikes.

"You wouldn't." Paul said.

Xander cocked an eyebrow, "Don't tell me what I will or will not do. If you take her from me, I will have nothing else, and nothing will stop me from taking you out."

"Name your price." Paul replied.

"Is this Paul begging?" Xander asked, amused. He could hear Paul's hearts pounding and sweat dripped down his thick neck.

"Yes." Paul growled through his teeth, "Now, will you please name your demand."

Xander pulled out a cigarette. "Certainly."

Paul waited.

"I know that there is something else involved in how you're controlling Nicole. What is it and how do we get rid of it?" Xander lit up. The fire glowed in the dark room.

Paul narrowed his eyes, "I will not..."

Xander cut him off, "Paul, you may be powerful, but I don't think you'll come back if I chop your head off."

Paul shook his head, "I will not tell you."

Xander wound up for a hard swing this time.

"Wait!" Karma yelled.

Xander stopped in mid air, "Do you wish to save this waste of air?"

Karma walked closer.

"Karma, don't tell him." Paul ordered.

Karma's ice-like eyes had a strange quality to them. Xander knew without Paul she'd be hopeless. Karma was a follower and followers need leaders.

"Paul, he'll kill you otherwise." Then she turned to Xander, "The star pendant she wears around her neck. That's what allows us to drain her."

Xander walked over to Karma, "If we take it off her, then it will no longer affect her?"

Karma nodded.

"Good girl." Xander said nudging her chin. Then he turned to face Paul, "At least one of you has half a brain." He dropped the axe and then smiled, "Sorry, but I can't risk one of you following and causing problems." His eyes lit up and then a volt of green electricity shot out, one volt hitting Karma, the other hitting Paul. The paralyzing jolt. "I like your powers, Paul." Xander smiled.

"Xander, you weren't going to kill me. If you were you would have." Paul growled.

"You're probably right." Xander smiled, "I may not be on your side, but I sure as heck don't want Dakota to win. Plus, your Nicole's father. And even though she knows what a jerk off you are, there is still a tiny bit of love for you in her heart. Why kill you and blow the my chances with the one thing worthwhile in my life?"

And then Xander left them there. Paralyzed and angry.