Author's Note: Hey Everyone, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. Here's a new chapter for you. I did want to let you all know I won't be naming my chapters from here on out. I hope you continue to enjoy the story.

Beth opened her eyes slowly to a dark, cold, damp room. She was attached to a monitor as well as an IV. She tried to move her body but found she was securely strapped down to a bed. She opened her mouth to call out when she heard a voice to her right. She glanced in that direction and immediately regretted her decision. The woman strapped down to the bed beside her was covered in bruises and cuts.

"Don't let them know you're awake yet. The IV just has blood in it for you and the baby. It won't hurt you. The vampires on the other hand will."

"I can't lay here and fake being unconscious forever,"

"No, but the longer you can the better off you'll be."

"Where are we?"

"We're somewhere in LA."

Beth nodded her head but didn't say anything for a moment. There was something about this situation that didn't sit well with her. The woman beside her did appear to have been beaten, and she did look like she was seven months pregnant. But she knew from experience that appearances can be very deceiving.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I'm just thinking."

"About?"

"This situation to be honest. It's not one I ever imagined to find myself in."

"Do any of us really imagine ourselves in this type of situation?"

"Probably not, but I never expected to be laying next to another fellow LA native who was in my exact situation."

"I'm not from LA."

"Really? I just assumed if we're still in LA that you were from around here like me."

"No, I'm from France. The vampires brought me with them so they could continue their torture."

"Why torture you and your baby? What do they hope to learn before they kill us?" Beth watched the woman's weak appearance fade away as a smile spread across her lips.

"You're smarter than you look for a human. How long did you know?"

"That you were playing me? From the moment you said we were still in LA. If you were really a prisoner they wouldn't risk flying you across the Atlantic Ocean just to continue their torture."

"Very good Beth, but you might soon regret showing your hand so soon as you Americans love to say."

"I'm sure you're right, but I'm not in the mood for your games. Neither I nor my child have done anything to you. We're no threat, so let us go." The dungeon door opened drawing Beth's attention.

A tall woman with curly auburn hair and sky blue eyes entered the room. "I'm afraid we can't do that, Beth. You see you did something no other human has ever done before. You staked a vampire moving at vampire speed."

"So what?"

"So, our masters are very interested in you and your baby."

"Well, I'm not interested in meeting them."

"Sadly, that choice isn't up to you, Beth. Get up Adelaide, and wipe off that make-up. The Council wishes to see you as well," the woman said unstrapping the straps attached to Beth's feet.

"As you wish, Vivian," Adelaide replied ripping herself free from the bed.

Beth kept her eyes on Vivian ready to rip out of the IV at any given moment. Her gut screamed at her to fight, but a voice deep inside her told her to wait. If she tried to fight all she'd succeed in doing is getting herself sedated. And she wanted to be clear headed when she met the Council.

Vivian raised her eyebrows after unbuckling the last strap holding Beth to the bed. "I am surprised you didn't try to fight me once you had limbs free."

"It would have done me no good. I'm still at a disadvantage with this IV in my arm."

"That's true, but I'm still impressed by your calm exterior."

"Believe me, I'm anything but calm right now."

Vivian smiled and nodded her head then stepped backwards away from the bed. "I can understand why." She laughed a minute later. "Why are you so surprised, Beth? I was human myself once."

Beth slowly climbed out of the bed making sure not to jiggle the needle still in her arm. "Yeah, how long ago?"

"I'm a hundred and three years old," Vivian said stepping up beside her with gauze and an ace bandage in her hand. "Now, no more stalling, Beth. You have people to meet," she said removing the IV then wrapping Beth's arm.

Beth sighed as Vivian took a hold of her right arm and led her out of the dungeon. They walked along a long corridor lit by torches. Ancient tombs were scattered around giving Beth the feeling they were in the catacombs of a cathedral. The faint sound of an organ playing above her head confirmed her suspicion.

"I thought vampires didn't like churches?"

"I've heard your human stories about vampires fearing the church or crucifixes, but the truth is it doesn't bother us. We are undead monsters, but we weren't created by the devil like you believe. We do like the darkness the catacombs provide us."

"I'm sure it helps having a priest in the fold for trips such as this."

Vivian laughed and nodded her head. "Yes, it is. I like you, Beth. It's a pity your life is coming to an end."

"Yeah, too bad," Beth agreed as the corridor opened up into the main chamber of the catacombs."

The chamber like the corridor leading to it was lit by torches. She watched several sets of vampire eyes turn in her direction as she walked into the room. She stood her ground with her head held high. She refused to show them her fear. Hearing her terrified heartbeat was bad enough.

"I commend your attempt at showing no fear, my dear," a tall man with short white hair said as he rose from the center of the group of vampires.

The vampires spread out revealing a pile of ash. Apparently, Adelaide must have met her end since Beth didn't see her among the large group of vampires. She lifted her eyes from the ash and bit her lip. Now was not the time to lose her composure.

"Yes, most humans quiver in fear when they are brought before us," a short man with short red hair and a slight limp replied,

The white haired man smiled and nodded his head. "You are correct Cornelius, most humans do. But Beth is different. She's special. I am Nathaniel, and this is Cornelius, and you haven't met Edgar," Nathaniel said pointing over her shoulder.

Beth bit her lip again and jumped as a medium height man with jet black hair came walking up from behind her. She swallowed hard and took a deep calming breath. "Under normal circumstances I'd be pleased to meet all of you."

"Yes, we've gathered that you know and are accepting of our kind," Edgar said smiling slightly over his shoulder.

"I haven't met all of your kind, but I'm not opposed to meeting them as long as they don't try to kill me or turn me," Beth said watching the three vampires.

"We can clearly hear why you don't wish to be killed, but alas we can't allow this baby to be born," a man with curly brown hair and striking hazel eyes said as he walked across the room.

If Beth didn't know any better she'd swear the vampire coming toward her was related to Mick. "Why? This baby is no threat to you,"

"She does make a good argument doesn't she, Dominic?"

"Don't give her false hope, Nathaniel. This baby must die," Dominic said stepping up beside the other three vampires.

"As usual you are correct, Dominic," Cornelius said turning his gaze toward Beth. "How should we dispatch with her?"

"Careful planning is required, Brothers," Dominic answered.

"I agree, but we can't wait too long. There is a timeline," Edgar stated.

"Of course," Dominic agreed. "I will return her to the dungeon until we are ready to begin our tests."

"As you wish," Nathaniel stated smiling slightly.

Beth watched Dominic cross the room and silently wondered what was going on. She hadn't expected to leave this room alive when Vivian brought her up from the dungeons. She glanced at Dominic's hand as he extended it out toward her. She knew she really didn't have any choice in the matter other than to accept his kind gesture. She waited until they were out of the main chamber to open her mouth, but promptly closed it again at Dominic's firm head shake.

It wasn't until they reached the dungeons that Dominic abruptly came to a stop. "I am truly sorry, Beth."

Beth frowned glancing up at the vampire before her. "What?"

"I'm sorry that this situation has befallen you."

"I don't understand."

Dominic smiled slightly releasing his hold on her arm. "I imagine you don't understand. I assume my son Lance told you about our terrible family past when he visited you."

Beth raised his eyebrows in surprise. "How…"

"How did I know about his visit? My dear, I told him to see both you and Mick."

"What? But he was warning us about you and your Council."

"He was warning you about the Council yes, but not about me."

"I'm sorry, but that makes no sense to me. Not after the story Lance told me about what you did to him centuries ago."

"Yes, I admit I was cruel to Lance all those years ago, but I have changed."

Beth shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't believe you. If you had changed, you wouldn't have allowed Coraline to be tortured before being killed."

"I find your concern for my former daughter touching. Especially since she was the one who kidnapped you with the intention of turning you as a child,"

"I had no love for Coraline that's true, but a father wouldn't stand by and do nothing but watch his child get tortured."

"You speak of mortal fathers, Beth. Vampire sire relationships are different. If I wanted to remain alive, then I had no choice but to watch Coraline die. But I don't want you or your child to die."

"And you don't want the other Council members to get their hands on the original compound either. That's why Lance gave it to me."

Dominic smiled and nodded his head. "Yes, I told Lance to give you the last of the original compound. It's too dangerous in their hands."

"So, the Council thinks you destroyed the compound after Lance brought it and Coraline to you."

"Yes, and I almost did. It was Lance that changed my mind."

"Why?"

"Because of what I did to him and his unborn child."

Beth nodded her head as a thought crossed her mind. "But the baby wasn't going to survive was it? Because it was already killing it's mother. She didn't know she needed to drink blood."

Dominic nodded his head. "I was angry at Lance for falling in love with a mortal, and I lashed out. But when I saw her I knew she was about to die. And her death would bring about the baby's death."

"So, why didn't you try to save her instead of killing her?"

"Giving her blood at that point wouldn't have saved her."

"How far along was she?"

"Three months just like you are now."

"Wow, so I'm very lucky you sent Lance to me."

"Yes, you are. I need to head back before I'm missed. I will do everything I can to save you and your child."

"Thank you, Dominic." Beth took a seat on the bed watching Dominic lock the dungeon door.

She sighed and looked around the dungeon once she was alone. She noticed that she was surrounded by nothing but stones and no visible escape route. How was she going to get out of this situation alive? Mick had no idea where she was. And she was surrounded by too many vampires to fight her way out. She rubbed her hand over her stomach before laying down on the bed suddenly feeling very sleepy.

Beth fought to stay awake, but she realized it was a losing battle. Her eyes drifted shut, yet her mind was still wide awake. With each passing second, her body became more relaxed sinking farther into the soft mattress surrounding her. Beth quickly realized she must have been injected with something but when? She let her mind drift back to her encounter with the Vampire Council. She knew Dominic hadn't done it, and the only other vampire close to her was Edgar. Oh God, the tests have begun she thought as she drifted off to sleep.

The sweet smell of fresh cut grass and flowers pulled. Beth from her slumber. She blinked her eyes and slowly sat up to find she wasn't alone. A young woman and young man sat quietly in the grass across from her. She glanced at them and they returned her gaze with their striking hazel eyes.

"Where am I?"

"You're still locked up in the dungeon under the cathedral," the young woman replied.

"What is this?"

The young man smiled causing Beth's heart to flutter. "This is a dream of course,"

Beth smiled and nodded her head in agreement. "I can see that, but how are the two of you here with me in this dream? You're still growing inside of me."

"We knew you'd recognize us, Mother," the young woman replied softly.

Beth leaned forward and gently touched both of their faces. "I wasn't sure until your brother smiled. He has his father's smile. And you also have his eyes," she continued caressing her daughter's face.

"We don't have much time, Mother. The Vampire Council will wake you up soon. We'll do what we can to help you…"

"No, I don't want either of you to do anything. There's too many of them. Do I make myself clear?"

"But Mother…"

"No, Michaela, it's too dangerous." Beth glanced at her son as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. "My Mick, you will be a heartbreaker like your father."

Mick and Michaela smiled and nodded their heads. "We love you, Mother," they both replied pulling Beth into a tight embrace.

"I love you both so much," Beth returned hugging them both tightly.

Beth's blue eyes drifted open and she found herself back in the main chamber of the catacombs. She glanced at her right hearing a soft chuckle and noticed both her arms and feet were strapped securely to a table. She pulled on the restraints but they held fast. She frowned not seeing Dominic with the rest of the Vampire Council. Where was he?

"Are you looking for someone, Beth? Dominic has been removed from this Vampire Council permanently," Edgar said smiling and pointing across the room.

Beth turned her head to the left and gasped. Dominic's lifeless body laid unmoving on the stone floor. His head rested on a wooded pike for all to see. She bit her lip to keep from throwing up. This situation had suddenly turned from bad to worse. As the room erupted in laughter, she silently wondered who would help her and the twins now.