My lungs felt burnt. My lips chapped. I was beginning to feel deliriously paranoid. Large trees were erected around me, they looked like arms waiting to drag me back to him. The chill set in hours ago. I'm beginning to understand why he set me free. This was another test, to see if I can survive the elements. If I can't?

Good riddance.

The hunger set in mere hours after I left. It's the only thing that kept me going. Kept me searching. In moments of weakness, I'd remember the succulent meals prepared for me. Begging me to just go back. Begging to just accept my fate. No! Despite those desires of just to lay down and die... I kept fighting.

What's that? The sounds of leaves crunching and sticks being snapped made me almost jump out of my skin. The chip was still in... I pushed back into a tree. I placed my hands over my mouth to quiet my breathing. I looked around for something to use, a large branch my only choice. I grabbed it. A prayer on my lips, I'm not one to call on the lord, but you do things you'd never do in the face of death.

The sounds got closer. I panicked and showed myself. A white wolf came into view. It was larger than anything I'd ever seen. Its eyes glowed in the night. Our gaze connected and it dashed away. Just ran off in a different direction...

My hunger kicking in to overdrive I immediately dropped the branch and ran after it. My mouth watering at the thought of sinking my teeth into it. No, keep moving! We can't... there it is again. It seemed to be waiting for me. I couldn't believe it, but I was thankful. It stopped every mile or so to allow me to catch up.

The final destination was a cave. I stood outside of it now. Apprehension clung to me as I touched the cold rocky terrain. Had a wolf really just... come and saved me? Right when I needed it too? It was odd. The longer I stood out there, the more I began to question my sanity.

Snow was beginning to fall. The winds were already chilling my bones. I had no choice but to risk it with this wild animal. So I went inside. To my surprise a meal awaited me. A fresh one too. It was a fox. Its organs already exposed and glistening. I attacked it greedily. I shared as much as I could with my new friend.

Once all the meat was gone we snuggled up to one another to beat the chill. I fell asleep lying on the chest of a wolf but I woke up the next morning? Lying on top of a very naked man! The screech that poured from my mouth set both of us in a fright. I immediately got up, scrambling away from the incredibly fit body.

He was frantically trying to calm me as he covered himself. Despite not being able to use my gifts, I held out my hands instinctively. He seemed to know about me, backed away with his arms above his head, then spoke calmly and clearly.

"It's alright! It's okay! Im not here to hurt you."

"What the fuck are you?"

"A shifter. I was sent after you by a friend of yours. Eric Northman."

I didn't know whether to jump for joy or cry. Thank you, god. Thank you! Oh fuck. That damn Eric. I've never been fond of his obsession with me but it just might have saved my life.

"Are they close by?"

"No. In fact, they aren't even in the city. He couldn't get through without setting off alarms. So here I am. I didn't mean to frighten you... I'm Alcide."

"Well Alcide, can you put some clothes on?"

"They're behind you..."

I moved out of the way and left the cave while he made himself decent. The moon still hung high in the air. A thick blanket of white now lay on the ground. My feet were freezing as I stood in the snow.

"Sorry, here you go."

A bag was tossed to me. In it were clothes. I ran into the cave and got dressed. The boots were a thick leather. The clothes were fleece lined. Gloves and a hat were offered. I took them gratefully.

"Alright. Are you ready?"

"Ready for what?"

"I'm to smuggle you out."

"Nope. I'm not leaving until I have Bill."

"Princess. I can just simply toss you over my shoulder. I have strict orders to get you out immediately."

"You can try."

He stared at me warily and contemplated his options. Then just walked off. I followed him. The only sound was our footsteps crunching in the snow as we trudged through it. I wasn't sure how long we walked but my feet were killing me.

"What did you do?"

"Huh?"

"You said Eric sent you. I know how he works, what did you do?"

He chose not to respond. The silence was beginning to make me paranoid. The sounds of the forest. The animals rooting about. What if I was being followed. I spun on my heel and checked the surroundings. Nothing but bare trees.

"You alright?"

"No. I just escaped a house of horrors. I was pretty sure I wasn't getting out. Russel Edgington? Know him?"

"Oh yes... intimately. If you must know he's the reason I'm even in this mess. He's been poisoning shifters with his blood. Turning them into."

"Werewolves?"

"You're smarter than you look. Yeah, the V changed them. Mutated them into what they are. It's been happening in mass all over since they popped out."

"Russel told me Bill was."

"I know where he is. I was hoping to not run across it either. Seems I don't have much choice. They are holed up near some abandoned warehouse. It's crawling with them things..."

Once out of the forest, just outside the tree line on an abandoned street, was a truck. I have never been so thankful to see that big ugly monstrosity. It was Jason's baby. I ran to it and kissed the hood repeatedly. With each one, I called out.

"I wasn't expecting that reaction. I'm glad it was given to me. I was a bit concerned about how to get you to trust me. Eric warned about your gifts. Thank you for not roasting me back there. "

Once my rejoicement was over. I felt it was safe to admit the truth.

I'm more thankful to you, I'm sort of handicapped. Russel, he put something in my head. It's been short-circuiting my abilities. I would have died out there if it wasn't for you."

As soon as I turned around to face him. I regretted opening my big mouth. Alcide held a blade out, an expression of mistrust burned across his face. I backed away from him. As I did, I took notice of his appearance for the first time this night. He wasn't particularly beautiful but he held a rugged look that would attract ladies looking for a good time, not a long one.

"How did you get free?"

The sound of his voice made my hair stand on end. His face was screwed up in a scowl. I'm beginning to see why Eric sent him. He looked mighty mean.

"He let me go."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm hungry, let's just go."

"No. I'm not taking you anywhere till we get that thing out of your head. It could have a tracking device on it."

"You come near me with that, I'm taking a piece of you with me."

"Well princess, I do believe we've hit a crossroads."

I looked at the truck, the knife, and finally at his face. There were scars all over his body. Four claw marks ran down his cheek. They were well healed over. I started calculating my options. The truck means Jason and Eric are together. He wouldn't just give his baby over unless he genuinely believed... I'm safe with him.

"Alright. Can we get inside? I'll explain."

I began moving back towards the passenger side door. It unlocked immediately. I struggled to get in but once I was tears began to fall. On the dash was Grans Bible. I held it to my face and sniffed. The pages of the book smelled like her. A mixture of hand cream and old lady perfume. I gave it to Jason when he went in for rehab. I thought it might steer him right. Give him the strength to get clean.

The sound of a door slamming made it drop to my lap. Alcide still had the knife out, but at least it wasn't open anymore. I turned toward him and thoroughly explained the past week. He was blushing bright red by the end of the conversation.

"Well. Um. That's interesting."

"Uh-huh."

"Russel Edgington in love?... isn't he um, I thought he was gay."

"Me too. Apparently, I reek of masculinity and power."

"We still have to get that thing out."

"We can't go to a hospital or something?"

"He owns the entire town. Every cop is in his pocket. If a doctor sees this, who do you think they will call? You've got no I.d. No money. No nothing. The best I can offer is a buddy of mine. "

"This buddy of yours, is he qualified to go searching around in my head?"

"For the most part, yeah."

We were off. The entire ride he seemed paranoid. He kept checking over his shoulder and jumped at the slightest movement. He seemed more scared of me than of Russel finding us.

"What did he tell you?"

"Huh?"

"You look freaked out by me. What did Eric tell you?"

"That I should keep you well-fed and to watch your hands at all times."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. Surprisingly I think Eric noticed my eating habits quicker than Bill. After my trip to Texas, along with my check, I'd get the finest cuts of meat sent to my house.

"He's not wrong... I'm ok on that bit, but I sure could use a drink. I'm telling you, I was starting to throw the towel in. I didn't think I was getting out of there."

"He really just let you go?"

"Yes. It was kind of alarming. He handcuffed himself and everything, I think I get what Eric meant about vampires going a bit crazy. He was something else that's for sure..."

"The mad king. That's what we call him. For centuries he's been our greatest enemy. There's something about him. He can control us. Force us to shift."

"I've seen something like that happen before, I can only imagine what that's like with wolves hopped up on V."

"It makes them rabid."

The conversation died down once a phone began to ring. He immediately picked it up and handed it to me. As soon as it was near me the sound of Eric's voice drifted.

"Hello princess."

"I still don't work for you but thank you."

"I missed you too."

"We're going to get Bill and then we'll leave."

"My orders were for you to be brought to me immediately."

"I threatened to eat him."

"No comment. Alright, I'll see you soon."

Before the phone clicked over. The sound of Eric blowing me a kiss burst through the receiver. I rolled my eyes and thrust it back towards Alcide.

"What's up with you and these Vampires?"

"I don't know. Honestly, I believe it has to do with what I am. I was warned by someone to never tell anyone."

"You smell human enough."

"That's because I am. Well, half-human anyway. My father was mortal."

"Was?"

"Drowned."

"Oh. I'm sorry. If it makes you feel better my father is dead too. Murdered."

"Did they ever find who did it?"

"My pack leader. My father was the one before. He was challenged and lost. I'm not sure it was an honorable fight."

"That's morbid. So the guy who killed your dad, is your boss?"

"Pretty much. He's the one that owes Eric. I just got the lucky draw of being sent after you."

"He was hoping you got killed."

"Oh, I'm aware. There's been talk since all this has been going on. The pack is turning against him. A mutiny may happen. He suspects that it's me."

"Is it?"

"No. I was raised to follow our creed. Pack rules. He's the Alpha. It is, what it is. I do know who it is though. If it happens, eh. I won't cry if he loses."

We pulled up to this hospital. There were many things on the tip of my tongue. I let the words die, he could have left me. The hospital? An emergency veterinarian one. I was rushed inside, a rather scary old man greeted Alcide and led us back.

To my surprise. It was a front. The man only worked inside a Vet hospital, he did work on animals but... they were shifters. I had never known there were so many types of creatures running around.

Some in attendance all bandaged up, were a hyena, a chihuahua, and an anaconda.

Each one's thoughts blared towards me. The snake was the most satisfying thoughts I've ever had the chance to hear. Its sound slurred smoothly in and out of my mind. While the hyena, loudly chuckled and taunted me. Whoever they were, had some perverse thoughts. The chihuahua didn't make much sound at all. Which is odd. Since the normal dog just yaps and yaps. I kinda liked him.

"I'm Rocket, before you ask, no that's not my real name. Alcide here has explained some things to me, I need to know in-depth what was done to you."

"Well I'm not really sure, all I know is, it's in my brain and it's probably hooked to my brain stem. He was able to shock me somehow, he never did it more than once. But it was enough to put me out."

"I won't be able to get it out with you under do you understand?"

"I'll have to be awake, I'm aware. If it makes you feel better, I'm not sure you can kill me."

The look I got was priceless. Alcide decided to stay by my side. From the way he was acting his life may be on the line. I'm sure Eric paid a hefty price for me being brought back to him safely. Possibly, no definitely, threatened death or worse if I'm not. I'm beginning to think he's psychotically in love or something.

Raven mentioned that Eric was having me watched constantly. Now I understand wanting to keep his asset protected. However, from our last interaction? It's starting to feel more stalkerish. If being around Raven has taught me anything. It's how possessive vampires can become over something they deem theirs.

The entire time the doctor was rooting around in my skull. Alcide was holding up different cards and asking me questions. It's supposed to help the doc know if he's fucked up. If I get one wrong...

"So what's the plan?"

"Card?"

"Yellow triangle, now what's the plan?"

"I don't know yet. I'm telling you he's probably dead already, what's so special about this vamp?"

"I love him."

"So he's worth dying for?"

"I told you, I can't die. Or at least It's going to be incredibly difficult."

"How are you so sure?"

"Cut me."

"What?"

"Cut me, I'm serious."

"No!"

"Chicken, what are you scared of?"

"Eric for one!"

I kept my eyesight on Alcide, stuck my pinky in my mouth, and bit down. The sheer fear was written on his face as he watched my finger grow back before his eyes. The cards ended up on the floor covered in vomit. While the doc?

He was intrigued. I spit the old dying finger in his hand. I've since come to know that once limbs are removed from me, they begin to mold and rot. I'm not sure I'm completely alive anymore... The old man was able to get the thing out of my head. This insane motherfucker embedded the chip with diamonds.

Once Alcide saw it, he blanched again.

This time I'm pretty sure it's because we were being tracked. Not only that because he knew where the chip came from. The compound we are going to raid is owned by the company name lasered on the back.

I never got away from Raven. He let me go, but only as a way for me to gain hope. So he could swoop in and crush it. I knew that bastard being kind was too good to be true. I should have killed him right there!

"Alright, now before I suture you up, is there anything else?"

"Hold on."

I held both my hands out and thought about that smug psychotic bastard. The more I pictured Raven, the darker my hands glowed. This was something entirely new, every time before, my light was just as blinding as the sun. Uh oh.

"So that's why he said to watch the hands. What are you?"

"Suture me up."

The doc had some extra blood lying around. I slurped on it from a straw as we drove off into the night. As we neared the compound the sun was just rising.

Alcide pulled over and parked. We were still a ways away, his blade came out and he cut me, took off his shirt, and sopped all the blood up. I was intrigued to find out what he was up to.

"Now, you're more than capable of handling your self it seems. But there are about ten of those things down there. I'm the bait, you sneak in, I'm leaving if you're not back in ten minutes."

"If you go, you'll be dealing with Eric."

"I'd rather take him on, than even come across that motherfucker Russel. Ten minutes, make it work."

He got out first. Stripped off every inch of clothing and then bent forward. It was entrancing watching him transform. His body contorted and shifted into a more canine formation. It certainly made my mouth water as blood burst from every orifice as his face deformed and grew a muzzle. Just before tufts of white fur began to grow Alcide turned towards me. The shirt was stuffed into his mouth and then he was off. His last thoughts?

A Prayer.

I turned back towards the compound. I was left upon some ridge, it's certainly a hike down. I better get going. Suddenly alarms started blaring in every direction. I ran. I just trusted my instincts and the craziest shit happened. There's no question in my mind. I'm a fucking faerie.

Right as I leaped from the cliff? These gigantic wings burst forth. They were segmented and resembled maybe a butterfly or moth? As I floated mid-air they fluttered and buzzed. I took note of the vibrant patterns of colors on the velvety flesh. Deep blues and purples.

Along with veins of the deepest red I had ever seen. They were mottled through out the wings. Something glittered inside them. The substance sparkled in the sunlight. I spun around and the most beautiful light show occurred. It looked like the Aurora borealis.

The sound of screaming brought me out of my fascination. I remembered why I was here and immediately moved towards the sound. A flaming ball was racing away from several gigantic deformed creatures.

I knew that could only be one person. Bill! I don't know how I did it. But I just instinctively knew what to do. I raised my hands high into the air a made a partition of darkness. It was just a narrow valley.

It ran down the entirety of the land. But. It was only just big enough for Bill to fit his body into. If one of those things gets too close and he moves? He'll simply burst. In order to make it? I was taking on the radiation from the sun and redistributing it. Fires were bursting all around them.

As Bill ran, his head glanced up, the sight enraged me. He looked completely unrecognizable. Half of his face was entirely gone. It was nothing but bone.

Lorena had filleted him to pieces. His body looked wasted away with his skin sagging as if he had been starved. Even from here, I could see every rib on his body. Sores and gashes have festered and ooze with pus and infected blood.

What had she done to my love? The memories of my own captor came to mind. Despite how deranged Raven was he never rose his hand toward me. I was pampered, treated like a queen, while he suffered! She will pay for this! They both will pay! I'll have his head for this.

Just as Bill managed to escape to a spot of shade I turned my attention toward the wolves. A line of fire burst across barring them from reaching Bill. He was thrust against a wall of a stone building.

I moved closer, hovering maybe ten feet above his head and lightning burst from my hands. The tendrils danced and zapped at the wolves' heels until they ran away. Once I was sure he was safe, The flames burnt away, scorching the earth in its wake, I descended to his eye level.

For the first time. Bill was afraid. I could see it in his eyes. He shook and shivered like a leaf just about to fall. He fell to his knees then bowed before me and sobbed. His thoughts were as loud as can be.

He was thanking the Lord for sending an angel. He was so delirious that he genuinely believed me an angel sent here to save him. He had lost hope that I would and began to repent. To repent for everything he had ever done.

Most of all? To repent for loving a devil. For a moment? I thought he meant Lorena. I wasn't an idiot. I knew there was one point in time he loved her, he was terrified of her then too. It wasn't her Bill was speaking about. But me.

Bill had begun to believe me a fallen angel, one he must save and bring back to the lord. To save me from the darkness. To save me from damnation. Bill had begun to see the cracks. He had seen them long before my gifts began to grow. It started the day I killed Renè. His mind was so open to me, that I was able to glean how I looked from his perspective.

As I plunged that old rusted pair of scissors in and out of Renè's chest cavity? A look in my eye sparkled. I had seen it before. That thing that drew me towards the Raven. Towards Korun. Glee. For a split second as I stabbed away at him. A smile curled across my face. I enjoyed it?!

Bill had seen the madness in its birth. I'd be lying if I said I haven't felt it. Something building. Something awakened. Almost like the thin shell keeping all the rage inside had been cracked. If I were honest it sprouted at age six. I just wanted them to shut up. For once in their lives to just be quiet. I'm the reason my parents are dead.

Up until that point, I just thought I was just strange. I didn't mean to. I swear. I just. I just wanted her to shut up! Momma was driving and couldn't see. They had already been fighting over directions. About which way was faster getting out of the city. They really got into it once momma asked about the damn windows!

Pa, he was lying through his teeth. Saying he couldn't remember, trying to make it seem like he did and forgot. All she kept hollering about was money and how they were going to pay if there was damage. He commented about asking Big daddy. Momma came from an alright family. They certainly were better off than most. Wanna know how she got stuck raising me? She got knocked up before marriage. Jason was an oops baby.
Her father made her get married and welp.

As soon as the words came out of his mouth she hit him. It wasn't the first time. Pa never raised his hand to her. Honestly? He felt he deserved it. It started around the time my interesting gifts came about. I just wanted her to stop. That's it.

I kept staring ahead. I had my music as loud as it would go. But even then? I still heard them. I just got so angry. The windshield cracked and splintered. The action scared momma so bad she swerved wrong, the bridge couldn't handle the sudden weight shift and we crashed in.

Just before we impacted? Momma turned towards me. She knew. She always knew. It was her greatest fear. That one day I'd kill them all. While Pa? He thanked god. He was terrified of me. He loved me. He loved me to death. But he was thankful for it to be over. My dad thought me a punishment for sleeping around, a curse.

As I stared down at the poor mad wretch Bill had become. All I could think about was the look on Pa's face as he drowned. He looked peaceful. The emotions burst and something happened. It was just darkness. Nothing but endless darkness. Maybe he was right. All I've brought is death and carnage to the doorsteps of the ones I love. Maybe I am a curse...

The wings began to fold in on themselves and I crashed to the ground right before Bill. It startled him away from me, until... blood had begun to seep out. The creature before me was not my Bill. It attacked! The deranged man my love had become ravaged at my neck, ripping and tearing.

The inhuman sounds echoing from the starved beast were the last things heard just before a gunshot rang out. A silver bullet went straight into Bill's temple. He slumped against me. As I laid there bleeding out into the earth. Sparkling heels came into view. They were attached to the long legs of Sophie-Anne Leclerq.

"My. My. What a beautiful creature you are. I do believe I've figured it out little tinker bell. Grab her."

Hands lifted Bill from my body and tossed him aside. I was too weak from blood loss to fight back. As those things drug me away I witnessed Bill's eyes open. The bullet hole healed. He stood up in broad daylight and attacked the creatures around us. His madness was completely gone. My blood. It must have healed him. Is that possible?

He received a silver bullet to the temple... he shouldn't even be alive. Let alone able to fight off werewolves in sunlight. Sophie grabbed me as protection, an umbrella her only shield from burning.

She held my weak swaying body and threatened to kill me unless he let her go. Let her escape. He agreed. Just as she tossed me and ran, I fell into the arms of Bill. I gazed up at him, he looked at me in horror and disgust, was it for me or him?

As he picked me up his body began to smoke and smolder. Whatever immunity he held seemed to be wearing off. Off in the distance, a sound could be heard. It was laughter. I knew whose too. Raven must have watched the entire thing.

Just above the ridge, standing way on high. He gazed down at Bill and me. He blew me a kiss, then he and the queen disappeared. Bill carried me as he climbed the cliff. We made it just in time before he began to burn and catch alight.

Alcide had pulled up and helped Bill into the truck. Once we both were safely inside? A blanket was tossed over Bill and we were off. The only problem? We both knew this wasn't the end. Now that the queen and Raven knew what I was? They would never stop! The phone rang immediately. He picked it up. The sounds of screams could be heard. It was Jason. He was begging for help. Then nothing.

That darkness took hold once more. I had felt it a few times since the first. In the bathroom when I encountered Maryann. It seemed to occur when I was in danger. When I needed to go somewhere else. The strangest thing happened. The truck disappeared too. Where we landed?

Dead smack in the middle of an all-out battle. Wolves were chasing after Eric, Jason, and Tara. By chasing? I mean a full-out car chase in the middle of the fucking highway! Helicopters were flying overhead. Sirens were blaring. Gunshots were firing. Cars were swerving out the way. All I could think just as the blood loss hit completely? If this is how daddy felt just as he died. If he felt this ready? I fell willingly in its soft welcoming arms.