I heard the hinges creak and then an official voice announce.

"Aubrey Karew, you are under arrest for rape, detaining a woman in her own home, and for nearly exposing your kind. Come quietly or we will have to take you by force."

"Yes and if I just transported myself to Egypt, what would you do?" He asked in reply.

"We have ways to stop you. Come."

Emma, stay here. I heard Aubrey's voice in my head.

No. I projected. Not today, I wont.

Please... don't fight me. Its dangerous now, just let them.

No!

I ran out to the front room to see an officer taking Aubrey away in handcuffs. I clenched my fists and ran after them.

"Hey! Stop!" I yelled even though they were four feet in front of me. The officer turned, dragging Aubrey with her.

"Listen, we know who and what he is. He's murdered who knows how many people, raped you, and really should not exist." She stated.

"No. He never raped me. For gods sake, I'm a virgin!" Aubrey looked at me with a "you are?" look. "Besides, you can't prove that he raped me or anyone else."

"Maybe so, but you cant defend his countless murders. He's a vampire, or didn't you know?"

"I knew. He's fed off of me before - using me as a willing donor. And just because they aren't human anymore doesn't mean that they shouldn't exist. They were human once!"

"But they've lost their humanity which allows them to kill shamelessly."

"Not Aubrey."

"Yes. Now he's coming with me and will probably be beheaded once he's officially convicted."

I flew off the handle and attacked the woman. She knocked me over onto my stomach and pulled deep cuts down the length of the backs of my legs, making it difficult to walk.

"Aubrey, make for it!" I yelled from the ground, screaming as much in pain as I was in urgency. He broke the handcuffs and ran to the police car. He stopped in front of it and then walked to the back seat.

Sorry... He projected in my mind. I'd be chased if I ran.

Then run, damn it! You're faster than any of them.

No. They have vampires in places that you can't see, I can.

The policewoman cuffed Aubrey again and drove off. I laid on the ground, crying in frustration. I pounded the cement once before attempting to stand. Failing, I dragged myself back to my bedroom and bandaged my bleeding legs. After tending to my wounds, I laid on my bed, thinking.

Why would the police want Aubrey? And since when do they use other vampires to help capture one of their own?

I sat up quickly, ignoring the fact that my legs screamed at me for doing so. That was it. The police didn't know about vampires. At least not human police. So it was either Aubrey trying to scare me or an all vampire police force was trying to get him for something.

I had to do something, I knew, but what? I couldn't call the police, they'd freak, but I couldn't go on my own, thanks to the stupid policewoman. Option two was the better bet, though.

Alright, Emma. You better start to walk soon... I said to myself, attempting to stand.

I crumpled to the floor. I started to pull myself back onto the bed when a pair of pale arms took me by the waist and helped me up. Aubrey? But my hopeful fantasy of Aubrey was shattered when I caught a glimpse of blonde hair.

"Kaleo!" I screeched, trying to push him away. He hardly moved.

"Emma." I wanted to slap him and take that cocky grin from his face. "Tell me, why are you so weak?"

"Perhaps by your standards I am, but remember: I'm human. I don't heal as fast as you. Now let go."

"If you'd just let be turn you, you could heal."

"I don't want your blood."

"All the better. You'll struggle more."

He began to lean toward my neck when he stopped as though he had remembered something.

"Oh, yes. I forgot about your punishment..."

At once I felt his hand hit my face, sending me flying into the wall behind me. I hit my head hard enough that I saw spots of white and black.

"No human will ever see the light of day after scarring me."

He pinned me down, took out a knife and carve the word slave into the tender flesh of my stomach. I cried out more in surprise than pain.

"However," he continued, casually putting the knife away. "You are a special case. I can't kill you for fear of my own life, but I can claim you."

"You bastard!!!" I spat in his face.

In shock, he rolled off of me, allowing me to sit up. He wiped his face and glared at me. I knew the worst he could do with that dull knife and it wouldn't be a noticeable scar. What he had already carved would disappear in a few days. Unfortunately, I had not been taught the proper control that other witches learn, so I would not be able to contain any outbursts that the pain might cause.

"That better not scar or get infected."

"Not to worry, little witch." He pushed me down and licked the wound.

"Get off!" I yelled in his sensitive ears.

"Little bitch!" He backhanded me again.

Before I realized what I was doing, I grabbed the hilt of his knife and pulled it out of its sheath. Aiming at his heart, I shoved it up. Unfortunately, I missed. He hissed in pain a moment prior to being thrown off.

"Aubrey!" Kaleo and I said at the same time.

"Are you alright?" Aubrey asked me. I nodded, covering my stomach.

"What is it with you and human women?" Kaleo said, half mockingly.

"Better human women than human men, I suppose." Was Aubrey's reply.

"I do have one question to ask: why did you defy the officers when you were so willing to leave at first?"

"I had to observe first. I believe you are familiar with the methods of the Tribe."

"You split yourself... how like you."

"And you, making an absolutely transparent plan and the preying upon the helpless affected by it. That's definitely not cliché." I could practically see the electricity crackle between them from their gaze. "Anyway, enough monologuing. Lets settle this."

Suddenly, they were both gone. I looked around, but didn't see a thing. Then, Kaleo was thrown into a wall. I couldn't find Aubrey, but got the message when he grabbed my waist and ran off with me. We got a few blocks down when he stopped and set me down on a bus bench.

"Are you okay?" He asked. I nodded absently, hoping that the blood hadn't soaked through my shirt, but was afraid to look for fear of Aubrey noticing. "We need to get you to a hospital. Or maybe she'd help..."

"Who?"

"Caryn Smoke. She's a witch who knows how to heal. She's one of the strongest of her line and I trust her. Come."