They sat talking for what felt like hours going over and over the best ways to get to the other house without being detected. Eventually they settled on a plan, Colin thought it best if Seth moved them there rather than escaping and breaking in. The problem was making Seth think it was better if they moved. They had been unable to come up with any solid suggestions and had decided to work on it some more throughout the next day.

Colin had left when the sun came up and Cass had dozed on and off for a few hours. She now sat crossed legged against the wall waiting for Colin to come back. The door at the top of the stairs creaked and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well well well, you have been a naughty girl haven't you"

Seth strode into the room dragging someone behind him and stopped in front of her, she gasped as she made out Colin's limp form in Seth's grasp.

"Did you think that you could outsmart me?" he spat "plotting behind my back with your little friend" he threw Colin to the floor and Cass saw his face covered in blood, he seemed to be unconscious. She shook with fear as she looked up into Seth's face. He drew out a knife and bent next to Colin, his eyes were crazed as his gaze roamed over Colin's face. Cass realised then more than ever before just how crazy Seth was and the thought chilled her to the bone.

"Please Seth" she whispered "please don't hurt him" she began to cry but Seth didn't look at her. "Please" she repeated, louder this time.

He placed the tip of the blade against Colin's cheek and smiled as a drop of blood bloomed there.

"I'll do anything, just don't hurt him"

She watched horrified as the blade was dragged across the already damaged face. She had to act now if she had any hope of saving Colin. She grasped her tee shirt as tightly as her handcuffs would allow and pulled it until it tore down the front, revealing her bra.

"Take me" she whispered, leaning her head to the side to show her long bare neck.

"What?" Seth finally looked up at her "What did you say to me?"

"Take me Seth, now, you know you want to. Drink from me then take me" she shook violently as she spoke but she was determined to do everything she could to save Colin. Seth got to his feet slowly then knelt in front of her. He turned his head this way then that way, staring at her with a confused expression.

"Do it now" she commanded.

He smiled a genuine smile at her, nodded once then bit. Cass bit down hard on her lip to stop from screaming and soon tasted her own hot blood filling her mouth. Seth's hands were inside her bra now as he drank from her throat. He stopped after just a few minutes to look at her again

"Why?" Cass didn't know what he wanted to know, she just wished he'd get on with it but he persisted,

"Why have you fought me for so long? I always knew you loved me as much as I love you, but why did you deny it?"

She turned her head to look him full in the face, she expected a cruel, mocking look to greet her but she almost didn't recognise the boy before her. Seth's face was full of warmth and caring, he reached out to her and gently stroked her cheek. She was stunned, after everything he had done to her how could he think she could feel anything but hate and disgust for him. On the other hand, if she played along he might hold off on hurting her, or more importantly, Colin, at least for the time being anyway.

She tried to look coy "I was playing hard to get" she lied "I thought it would make you want me more"

He laughed and planted a delicate kiss on the end of her nose "You silly girl, I couldn't want you more than I already do. I love you"

He gazed at her for a moment then leaned in to hug her. She was stunned, she couldn't comprehend what he was saying, it was like he had a split personality. Here was proof, if she had ever needed it, that he was completely bonkers.

He leant back again and gestured towards her neck "may I?".

She nodded mutely and shut her eyes as he resumed his drinking and fondling. He ran his hand up and down her stomach in slow soothing motions until he'd finished drinking.

He beamed at her again, "Oh Cass you make me so happy" he gushed. He reached up and unlocked her handcuffs then he kissed her hungrily, pushing her up against the wall. She kept her eyes closed so missed the movement from Colin until it was too late. Seth arched back from her, a look of shock in his eyes, he slowly turned to see Colin stood behind him breathing hard. As Seth turned around Cass saw Seth's discarded knife protruding from his back and realised what had happened.

"You will never hurt her again" Colin hissed, then he swung his arm around and punched Seth in the face, sending him sprawling on the floor.

Colin grabbed Cass' hand and began pulling her towards the exit, she couldn't resist one last look back. Seth lay in a pool of his own blood, shock still in his eyes. He slowly reached out a hand towards Cass,

"Cass?" his voice was no more than a whisper and she realised he was dying. A tear escaped her eye as she glanced down at him,

"I'm sorry" she mouthed, shaking her head as she left the room.

They raced hand in hand out of the house into the darkness of the surrounding trees.

"Colin wait" Cass pulled at his hand.

"Cass we can't wait, when the others find Seth we're dead. If he receives enough blood from them he may survive, he is very old and strong"

"But..." she couldn't finish the sentence, what did she want anyway? She hated Seth for what he had done to her. The Seth lay in the basement right now, dying, wasn't that boy though. She realised that she felt sorry for him, lay in the dark alone.

Colin was watching her "Cass you have to remember what he was capable of, you saw a moment of kindness, I've seen years of hurt, abuse and torture. If you go back now what do you expect to happen?"

She pulled her hand free and began to walk backwards away from Colin "I'm sorry Colin, I just can't let him die alone, I don't expect you to understand. You go, get out of here while you can"

She turned and ran back to the house. When she got back to the basement, Seth lay motionless, his eyes turned to look at her though. She knelt next to him and gently slipped her hand into his.

"I thought you'd left me"

She began to cry again but managed a watery smile, "never" she reassured him.

No more words were exchanged or even needed. Minutes passed slowly as his life drained away. After a while she knew he'd gone. The room suddenly felt empty. She wiped her eyes and got up to leave, her path was blocked by a rather large and fierce looking guard, he took one look at the body then drew a large sword in a very threatening manner.

"Crap" she thought.