Retribution

Tanith's eyes were still blazing when she returned to the warehouse. "Of all the backstabbing lowlife candy-ass pricks in this city, I had to fall for the one who I can't fight on my own!" she raged, viciously kicking a chair.

"I'm guessing you and William had words?" asked Joe.

"Not now!" Tanith threw the syringe of blood at him and stormed into the workout room. The guys could hear her grunting and shouting as she beat the living daylights out of their punching bag and threw ten knives into the kill zones of their targets.

"OK, I'd say we let her blow off some steam before we talk strategy," Patrick said. The others agreed and left Tanith to her emotional discharge. It took a long while, but finally Tanith's rage died down and she slowly joined the others.

"I'm sorry about that," she said heavily, dropping into a chair.

"Hey, better the punching bag than us," answered Pete with a cheeky grin. Tanith grinned back tiredly.

"All right, we've got the blood, the garlic, and the holy water," she said. "Émile will be here in a matter of hours, so we'll have the venom. All we need now is to kill William. Anyone have any suggestions?"

"He's the baddest badass in the city," Pete said. "I've taken out scores of his Dandies with only my fists and a few stakes, but I can't even come close to matching him."

"Then mono-a-mono combat isn't an option," said Tanith. "Or maybe it's vampiro-a-vampiro in our case. Whatever. The point is that William is too strong for us to take on singly. If we can dispatch his lackeys and rush him at once, we may have a chance. But I'm telling you, Pete, you're not going to be nearly as strong as you could be without drinking human blood. I grabbed a few packs from the hospital on my way back here, so you can try those. Don't look at me like that; these people are presumably still alive. You don't have to kill to feed."

Pete sighed. "I know. I'm just trying to hold onto as much of my humanity as I can."

Tanith's eyes softened. "Pete, look at me." She waited for him to comply before saying, "You're not a monster. You feed on blood because you have been turned into something that has to feed on blood. It's not your fault. You don't hurt people, do you? You help them by destroying those that are monsters. You protect your humanity with every innocent life you save." She offered him a blood pack. "You need this. You need the strength and stamina it will give you. You're not hurting anyone by taking it, though you hurt yourself when you refuse it."

Pete hesitated a moment before taking the pack and sucking on the tube like a straw. He swallowed thoughtfully before nodding. "It's good. Way better than the synthetic stuff." Tanith smiled.

"Drinking it like this after you're used to having it fresh is sort of like drinking flat soda, but it's still better for you than anything else. You'll start to feel a difference very soon, I'm sure. We can spar later if you want. You may even beat me this time." Tanith leaned back in her seat with a satisfied smile, looking around at the other boys. "So what are we going to do? Have you guys ever even considered a full-on assault to the finish against William and his fairies? I mean, Dandies?" The guys laughed at the joke.

"We did, but we wrote it off as suicide," said Patrick. "I mean, the guy is a powerful, sadistic son-of-a-bitch."

"No, he's not sadistic," said Tanith quietly, a distant sort of look in her eyes. She sighed. "I need to think. I'm going outside for a while, to the roof. I just need some air right now." The others nodded and she left.

"Do you think she's all right?" asked Andy.

"Who knows?" answered Pete. "She's been through a lot. We all have."

About five minutes later Tanith sat on the roof of the warehouse, her knees pulled up to her chin, her arms folded on top of her knees, her chin on her arms broodingly. Her mind wandered, torn between thoughts of Brendon, William, and her newfound friends. She loved Brendon with all her heart, but some small part of her still wanted William, even after what he had done to her. She didn't believe for an instant that he had had nothing to do with her parents' deaths. But still, he had seemed so sincere…

"Whoever you are, go away before I kill you," she growled, aware that someone was behind her and it wasn't Patrick, Pete, Joe, or Andy.

"I never could surprise you, could I?" came a voice she knew well.

"Benny?" she asked softly, raising her head and turning slowly. Brendon smiled lovingly at her. "Benny!" Tanith leapt to her feet and threw her arms around Brendon's neck, hugging him tightly. "Oh Brendon, I am so glad to see you!" she gushed. "I'm so sorry about what I said before; I thought you were someone else."

"It's ok, I know," said Brendon, giving her an affectionate squeeze. "I couldn't believe it when I heard you were back in the city; I've been looking for you for nights."

"You found me," Tanith said softly. She pressed her lips to his in a deep kiss that was far too long in coming for the both of them. "Benny, you can't tell anyone that you found me here. No one can know where I am."

"Because then Peter and his friends will be in danger," Brendon guessed.

"Because I'm going to kill William," Tanith corrected. Brendon blinked in surprise, then his gaze softened.

"I guess I'm not too surprised," he said. "After what he did to you, I mean…"

Tanith nodded, but didn't say anything. Brendon sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. She smiled up at him and rested her head on his shoulder. No words were exchanged. No words were needed.

At length Brendon turned and pressed his lips to Tanith's temple. "Your hair still smells the same as it used to. I always loved the smell of your hair."

Tanith smiled. "I use an herbal shampoo." She sighed sadly. "Brendon, I love you. But you have to go. The longer you stay, the more attention you draw to us. I'm so sorry, and I hate to say this, but you should go. We'll have our time together soon, I promise." She leaned up and kissed him. "I love you," she said softly when they broke apart.

"I love you too," said Brendon. "And you're right; I have to go. I'll do what I can for you, though. Anything I can."

"The best you can do for me is to keep this location secret," said Tanith. She smiled. "I've missed you so much. I'll see you again soon." She turned to leave, but turned back quickly, saying, "Wait a sec." Walking up to Brendon, she slipped her hand into his breast pocket and took out his handkerchief. "I know it's silly, but I want something that smells like you." She smiled shyly up at him and he smiled back. Blowing one last kiss, Tanith disappeared back down the stairs into the warehouse and Brendon left, still smiling. He thought of Tanith the whole walk back to the mansion on the far side of town where the Dandies resided. He was still smiling blissfully when he walked in and through the main room where his comrades were relaxing.

William watched Brendon over the top of the book he was pretending to read. He knew that Brendon had seen Tanith; he still had her scent on him. Brendon knew where Tanith was hiding – presumably along with Peter and his friends. Getting that information from him was going to be decidedly unpleasant. It wasn't that William wanted to hurt Brendon – he was actually fond of the boy. But he always did whatever was necessary to get his own way.

"And where have you been?" he asked mildly as Brendon walked by.

"Oh, um, just out," Brendon said vaguely. "I heard the rumors that Tanith was alive and here in the city, and I wanted to find out if they were true for once."

"Really?" asked William, setting aside his book and rising slowly. "Did you find anything?"

"No, sir," Brendon answered. "They were just rumors, as always." He was fidgeting, unable to make eye contact for more than a second or two. He was lying. "Um, I was just going to the library for a while, if you don't need me, sir."

"By all means," William replied smoothly. Brendon left, made very nervous by William's off-putting smile. William shook his head slightly. "Brendon, how many times have I warned you not to lie to me?" he asked himself as he followed his associate.

Brendon closed the library doors and sighed in relief. It seemed that he was in the clear, for now. True, William seemed creepier than usual, but that could just as well have been his imagination. "Get a grip, Brendon," he told himself, walking towards the chess table. "You're acting completely paranoid."

"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean you're wrong."

Brendon jumped and spun around to face William. "Y-you surprised me, sir," he stammered.

William chuckled darkly. "That was the idea." He walked towards Brendon with slow, deliberate steps. "Tell me something, Brendon: where is Tanith hiding?"

"Tanith?" repeated Brendon shakily. "I-I told you, sir, I didn't find-"

"Ah, but I know you did," William interrupted. "You have her scent on you. Not only did you find her, but you touched her, kissed her, held her in your arms. You know where she is. And you're going to tell me."

"All right," Brendon sighed. "I met up with her on the street. But I don't know where she's hiding; she didn't tell me."

"You're lying to me, Brendon," William said in a dangerous tone. "You know how much I hate that."

"Sir, I swear-" Brendon began, but he was cut off when William viciously seized a handful of his hair, forced him to his knees, and held him face-down on the table. Brendon thrashed desperately, pleading, but William ignored him and jabbed a needle into the back of Brendon's neck, injecting him with a serum that would inhibit his healing ability.

"Save your breath, Brendon," he said icily. "You're going to need it."

A/N: Heads up, Brendon Urie fans, he's gonna get a major hurtin' put on him! It's not that I don't love Brendon, he just happens to be expendable right now.