Chapter Seven

"Those things that nature denied to human sight, she revealed to the eyes of the soul."

- Ovid

___

Silence fell over the area for a long time. Nobody moved or said anything. Everyone just stood still and stared at Serenity. And Serenity stared back at them.

Cassander finally moved, his mouth forming a sinister grin. "Another one? And she's pretty…her blood must be spicy!"

Parn added nothing to his brother's comments. He stood there in silence and continued to stare at Serenity. He still looked horrified, and his chest gave short but steep puffs of air.

Izzy jumped to her feet and ran over to Serenity. "Where the hell have you been?!" she snapped. "You scared me to death!"

Serenity shook her head, as though she were in a daze. "I-I was taking a walk, but…"

"Taking a walk?! Why would you take a walk now?!"

"I-I'm sorry. I just needed some air—"

"Then open your window, not go out without telling anyone!"

Marach resisted the urge to sigh. Serenity's suicidal tendencies may have been suppressed, but she was still very unpredictable. And when she was unpredictable, Izzy jumped the gun in order to help her, no matter how foolish it was.

"Why don't we give her a try?" Cassander asked Parn. "I'm sure she could give us a fun time!"

"Doing so will hasten your death!" Marach snapped, placing himself between the two vampires and the two sisters.

Parn still said nothing to Cassander. It was so strange to Marach. Just moments ago he was so angry, and now he was in some sort of trance. It felt like his gaze was burning right through Marach…right at Serenity. Unease shot through him quickly. "Isabel, take Serenity and get back to the inn. Sara will protect you until we get back, but you must leave!"

Izzy thankfully didn't argue with him. She tugged on Serenity's arm. "C'mon, Serenity. Let's get going back now."

"You think you can run from us?!" Cassander roared with laughter. He nodded his head to Parn. "I'll do you a favor. You can try them out first while I deal with these pathetic hunters!"

Parn still stood there in silence. And his breathing became more and more uneven as the minutes ticked by.

"Hey!" Cassander yelled, punching him hard in the shoulder. "What's wrong with you?! I just gave you ample opportunity to go after two human women! Do something, you idiot!"

Falcon gave Marach a sideways glance. Marach said nothing, but he knew he didn't have to say anything.

"Serenity, let's go back," Izzy repeated, tugging on her arm harder.

Serenity barely moved from Izzy's persistence. She looked at the men present. Her gaze landed on Parn last and held it there. "What going on?"

Parn let out a horrible lurching noise. He jerked forward, grabbing his sides and falling hard to his knees. Suddenly, dark red liquid erupted violently from his mouth. He began retching violently all over the grass, the red liquid shooting out of him like a geyser. It was coming out of his nose as well, and slid down his cheeks from his eyes like teardrops. The grass began to sizzle ominously and he collapsed onto his side. He was completely out of control; he could barely catch his breath before more of this vile brew spilled out.

Cassander stared at Parn, stunned and disgusted. He jumped back a little from the spray and glared murderously in the sisters' direction. "What did you do?! Catea!" he swore violently. Izzy knew enough Romanian swear words to know he called one of them—or both—a bitch. "Did you cast a spell on him?! Are you mage?!" he almost made it sound like a curse word, but there was a tinge of fear behind his word.

Cassander began advancing quickly on them; as though he didn't care Marach was standing guard over them. Parn lay helpless on the ground, his body now a ghastly white. He couldn't do anything lying there, although he feebly tried to grab for Cassander's ankle, who just stepped out of his reach.

Falcon launched himself forward, dealing Cassander a blow directly on the side of his head. He called to the heavens, asking for lightning bolts to permanently stop both vampires. But Cassander could sense what he was doing and instead of dodging the bolt he threw himself at Falcon. Both lightning bolts missed their marks.

"Frate…" Parn groaned from the ground. He was covered in the substance he had vomited up, and Izzy's horror began to rise to new levels. It wasn't just some refuse; it was blood. He'd vomited up blood, and it looked like it was nearly his whole body's supply. With or without the bolt of lightning, without replenishment he would be dead soon.

Cassander seemed to sense this too and abruptly ceased his attacks on Falcon. "Worthless little brother!" he fumed, jumping away from the ancient and rushing to Parn's side. None too gently he hoisted his younger brother up. Izzy felt bile rise in her throat and she covered her mouth at the sight of the dark blood that had soaked through all of his already filthy clothing. The smell of decay suddenly became very strong in the air, but it had an earthly scent. It was no doubt the ground that was quickly dying from the exposure to so much toxic blood.

"You haven't seen the last of us!" Cassander roared, and he carried Parn with visible reluctance. Before either Falcon or Marach could react they both took on the form of mist and sped off into the forest.

Falcon was already moving before they left. "I'll get after them!" he shouted over his shoulder. "Try to heal the earth and get your lifemate and Serenity back to the inn! I can't let them replenish his blood!" and just like that he became mist as well, flying after the two vampires as fast as he could.

Marach surveyed the ground, his heart heavy. He'd never seen anything like that before. A vampire vomiting up his own blood uncontrollably? What triggered it? He had a vague suspicion and it only disheartened him more.

Serenity finally pulled free from Izzy and stepped forward, her face full of confusion and horror. "W-What was that?" she asked Marach. "Who were those men? And he…" she paused before she continued. "Was that blood?"

"Yes," Marach said, turning away from her to concentrate on the blood polluting the area. There was no way he could heal the ground completely, but he could remove most of the taint. The earth healers would most definitely have to be called.

He concentrated his energy, creating purifying fire to rid the soil of the blood. But even then, he could hear the sister's talking.

"People can vomit blood, but not like that! Nobody can do that!"

"They were vampires, Serenity. I imagine they can do many things."

"…Vampires?"

Marach lost his concentration. There was genuine fear in Serenity's voice. And…denial. It was stupid to think she didn't believe in vampires, especially since one had threatened her just a day ago. So why the uncertainty?

Izzy was also puzzled by Serenity's question. "Yes, Serenity. They both attacked me and were going to feed on me."

Serenity stared at her blankly for a moment. Then she slowly shook her head. "A-Are you sure?"

"Yes," Izzy said, trying not to get irritated. "I just told you they attacked me. They wanted to use me as food and as bait to lure Marach."

"But…"

"But what?!" Izzy finally shouted in frustration. "This isn't a joke! They were going to hurt me!"

"But…he was so sad."

"What?" the anger disappeared as abruptly as it arrived. Izzy stared at her sister in confusion. "Sad? Who was sad?"

"He was." Serenity motioned with her hand in the direction of the blood spill. "It…didn't you feel it? It was horrible, Izzy. Such sadness and loneliness and destitution…" her eyes filled with tears. "You're making a mistake. He wasn't a vampire."

"Dammit Serenity, he is a vampire!" Izzy snapped again. "How many times do I have to tell you?! He attacked me! And look!" she waved a furious hand at the blood Marach was trying to destroy. "Look what his blood is doing to the grass! If he wasn't a vampire, it wouldn't be hurting the ground like this!"

Serenity shook her head again, the motion a little more furious. "You're wrong, Izzy. You don't know what you're talking about!" there were tears in her voice and they filled her eyes. "You…you're wrong!"

"I'm not wrong! Vampire blood burns! Fride's blood burned me! Look! Go and see for yourself!"

"Isabel, that is not a good idea," Marach told her. "Vampire blood is very toxic. We will have to purify her as well once I'm done."

"But I was perfectly fine after I touched it!" she reminded him. "It'll be no different for her."

"You would allow her to feel pain just to prove a point?"

Izzy saw what he meant and felt guilty. "Sere—"

Too late. Serenity had already run forward, towards the last remaining puddle Marach had started to set on fire. She distracted him enough for him to lose his concentration again and the fire went out. "No, Serenity—"

Serenity knelt down purposefully and slapped her palm over the puddle. Shock and pain erupted from her face. "AAAH!" she jerked away and back to her feet, gripping her wrist with her uninjured hand. "Oh…aah! It hurts!"

Izzy didn't feel like gloating. She felt absolutely horrible. She ran forward and grabbed her hand, uncaring if the blood that covered her palm hurt her. "Serenity, I—we need water."

Serenity began hyperventilating all of a sudden and Izzy had a gnawing fear it had little to do with the pain. "He…he isn't…he can't…it…NO!"

Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she collapsed into Izzy's arms. Flashbacks of her first meltdown overpowered Izzy and she was so afraid it would happen again. But Serenity lay still in her arms. She had fainted.

Izzy took her hand and wiped it on the grass. She didn't miss Marach's wince. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"Don't apologize. This situation is very confusing for all of us." Marach healed that patch of earth affected by the wiping and sighed. "This is the best I can do. We must return now and get Serenity in bed."

Izzy watched him pick her up into his arms. "…Do you know?" she asked quietly. "Do you know why she acted she way she did just now?"

"…No," Marach admitted reluctantly. "But I won't sleep until I find out."

___

The two vampires had barely had a head start, and one of them had lost too much blood. But, they were still flying out of Falcon's reach. The pair was obviously fleeing for their lives and so that probably gave them an extra boost. Falcon only picked up the pace faster. He could hear them conversing, even as they floated in the form of mist.

"If they're mage, then Neve is going to want to know about it!"

"They're not mage—"

"Just shut up! You better hope to hell that bitch cast some sort of spell on you! If Neve finds out you just vomited all the body in your body for no reason, you'll be destroyed!"

Neve? Falcon thought to himself. So these ones were with Fride and were following the lead of this illusive Neve.

"…doesn't need—"

"Of course Neve needs to know! I stopped covering your worthless ass long ago, little brother! Own up and take some responsibility!"

"…She—"

"She, what?! It doesn't matter; Neve will take care of this."

Falcon was very close now. He'd cloaked his presence with meticulous care and so the two vampires were oblivious to his presence. He picked up the pace slightly, inching closer and closer…

He was startled when he slammed violently into an invisible wall. He drew back as quickly as he could and took cover, just in case either the vampires realized his presence, or an ambush struck him.

Thankfully, neither happened. But the vampires were getting too far away. Taking a risk, Falcon took on his natural state and stepped forward, holding a hand out. At the exact spot he was knocked back his hand felt that same invisible wall.

A barrier. He looked all around himself at the surrounding trees. The barrier was massive, scaling high into the air past the tree tops, and extended outwards on ground level. Whomever casted the barrier couldn't have done it no more than mere seconds ago, completely disregarding the forest itself and the life that lived there.

"Mage," he murmured to himself. He took several steps back and frowned. It was a large barrier, but a standard one at best. He could easily bypass it in order to get to the vampires. But it was a risk. He thought it was a mage who did this, but it could be anyone who could've come to the brothers' aids.

Falcon shook his head and turned around. It was too risky; if he were an unclaimed Carpathian he would burst past this thing and fly after the vampires. But he had his lifemate to think about, and their children. He had so little information to go on. He didn't know how many vampires were part of this group, or if this really was the work of a mage. Perhaps Neve knew some of the dark arts? No…it still wasn't enough to fly foolhardy into a potential trap. At least, he knew they could be rest assured that the vampires would come after them anymore tonight.

But…if this was a mage…

He took back off into the air, this time taking the shape of a hawk. "Marach, there might be a mage working with these vampires."

"…You're certain?" Marach asked.

"I cannot say, but it's likely. We'll either need to safeguard the sisters very closely or move them to a new location."

"Serenity has fainted. I intend to put her into a very deep sleep, but I'm trying to pour over what just happened."

"I have a strong feeling about it, but we'll find out in time. Cast your safeguards over the inn, and I'll cast my own on top of yours once I get there. We'll need to give them high protection, even if it means casting out the inn keeper."

"I'll do that now." There was a pause. "Marach, how should we go about this? What do we do about this supposed mage and even Parn's behavior?"

Falcon thought about it for a moment. "Call Gregori."

___

"But neither of you have confirmed this yet, have you?"

In his seven hundred years of living, Marach had never spoken to Gregori Daratrazanoff directly before. It was almost hard to believe he was doing so at that moment…even if it was through a cell phone. When Falcon told him to 'call' Gregori, Marach hadn't expected to be given a phone number and call him like humans do. He didn't even know that the Dark One himself owned a telephone.

Very strange indeed, but perhaps it was human enough for their enemies to never suspect what they were doing.

"No, we haven't," he admitted softly. He looked in on Serenity's room, seeing Izzy and Sara at her bedside. "I didn't chase after the vampires, so I only have what Falcon has told me."

"Did you find any of the parasites in the vampire's blood when you cleansed the ground?" Gregori asked.

"I don't think so. Both Isabel and Serenity have touched vampire blood and neither seemed to—"

"They touched the blood?!" Gregori snapped suddenly. Chills suddenly enveloped Marach's body at the force of his voice. "You allowed your lifemate and her sister to touch vampire's blood?!"

"I shouldn't have let either incident happen," Marach said defensively, though he was fully aware he was in the wrong. "Isabel touched Fride's blood during daylight hours, and I already killed him. Serenity was uncertain one of the vampires was truly a vampire and touched it to see."

"And what happened when she did?"

"The blood hurt her, as most vampire blood does, but then she fainted."

"You must go into their bodies right now and search for the parasites. I refuse to allow either one of those women near my home unless they are clean!"

"Gregori," Marach said, unable to hide the irritation from his voice. "They are clean. Sara is sitting with them right now. Besides, poisons and general injuries don't affect them as they do regular people."

"What do you mean?"

"Their blood is regenerative. During the landslide both of them sustained injuries, but none are visible on them."

"What kind of injuries?" Now Gregori sounded quite curious.

"Some bruises and scratches for the most part. Isabel apparently hyper-extended her shoulder before the landslide. I checked it numerous times and every time I did the injury became progressively superficial."

"And what happened when they touched vampire blood?"

"Isabel only burned the tips of her fingers, but the injury healed, although some blood leaked out through the pores. The same happened with Serenity's hand." It'd taken Marach off-guard to see such a feat of healing. He'd been prepared to heal Serenity in the traditional Carpathian way, though he knew it would distress Izzy. When the burns began to shrivel on her palm right into the center and then expel blood, he didn't know what to do. He touched the blood and it felt normal. It unnerved him that the vampire blood and burns caused this reaction in the women, and he was greatly concerned about the blood itself that came out. It smelled…odd. It didn't smell like any blood he'd ever encountered.

"How secure is the line you're calling from?" Gregori asked suddenly.

"I'm using Isabel's cell phone."

"…That's a little more secure than a landline, but let's disconnect the call now. I'll take you at your word when you say neither one has been infected, but I'm sending Savannah and my children away just in case."

'Away'. Gregori wasn't giving Marach anymore information than that, but he knew that if Izzy was infected with the accursed mage Xavier's parasites she might access his mind immediately to find out where two female Carpathian babies are. "I understand. So we will proceed to you as per scheduled?"

"I will meet you part way. I want to examine both women myself, and I know Shea will be quite pleased to see regenerative blood."

"I won't allow my lifemate to be experimented on, Gregori."

"Of course not, and I'm not expecting such a thing to happen anyways. But I would like to look at them. And this Serenity…Falcon has told me his suspicions. Have you found any leads that her lifemate has turned?"

Marach hesitated, looking into the room again. Izzy was holding Serenity's hand, stroking her fingers over her knuckles. "…Yes."

They ended the conversation shortly afterwards and Marach sighed. He would never wish the fate of a half-life on anyone, and if such a thing were happening to Serenity, then her life would be a living hell. He knew Gregori could help her get some semblance of her life back, but nothing could cure the tearing of a soul. Would Serenity feel that emptiness for the rest of her life? No…he didn't want to think about it anymore.

Marach looked down at the cell phone in his hand. It was a baby blue flip phone that looked out of place for him to be holding, but it was Izzy's phone so he didn't care. The background on the main screen brought a smile to his face. It was an old family photograph from some place called 'Disney World', and Izzy and Serenity were posing with someone wearing a giant mouse costume. Izzy had been seven when they took this trip and Serenity had been twelve. Both little girls looked incredibly happy, arms around each other and sandwiched between two smiling parents.

He flipped the phone shut and saw stickers decorating the back, each one of them displaying a grouping of numbers. '3-13'. '1-29'. '11-22'. These were birthdays, Serenity and their parents respectively. Marach knew Izzy's own birthday was May 17th, and he was disappointed he had missed it. He planned on celebrating it belatedly with Izzy once they became a little closer.

Marach's smile grew as he looked back at his lifemate. He loved that she was so devoted to her family. That she wasn't ashamed to admit her sister was her best friend, or to even go grocery shopping with her mother even though she was an adult. Both sisters still lived at home with their parents even as adults, not for necessity reasons but because they were a genuinely happy family and loved being together. Memories flashed into Marach's head, Izzy's memories of high school and college friends teasing her about her close relationship with her parents. As though society had made it taboo to continue to be a family unit of togetherness. The Cranes were a family unit and they worked well together.

It also pleased him that she had a relatively normal life. Most of the Carpathian men had lifemates with lives plagued by personal tragedy. Lost families, victimization, isolation…it just went on and on. He'd seen so much of Izzy's memories, and outside of one single memory she seemed very average. This particular memory had a natural mental shield to it that Izzy probably wasn't aware of, but Marach didn't sense anything too vile from it. He wanted to know what it held, but he felt uncomfortable with the idea that he would invade her privacy like that. She already had a hard enough time accepting his presence in her mind as it was.

In time, we can explore it together, he told himself. And if something triggers the memory, then I will be there to help her…

He was on alert suddenly. He could sense by Izzy's demeanor she that she was about to leave the room. She kissed Serenity's hand and spoke to Sara briefly before heading towards the door. She started slightly when she saw Marach already standing there, but she didn't halt in her steps as she stepped into the hallway. "Were you able to contact him?"

"Yes," Marach said, handing her cell phone back to her. "He's awaiting our arrival, and he's quite interested in your blood."

Izzy raised an eyebrow. "He's a Carpathian, isn't he? Wouldn't that make him naturally interested in my blood?"

"It's purely for aesthetic reasons," Marach assured her. "But he's also very interested in looking at Serenity."

Izzy nodded to this and glanced back into the room. She reached for the door and slowly closed it. "What do you think now? Does she still have a half-life?"

There was so much fear in her voice that Marach instinctively pulled her into his arms. He pressed his nose into her scalp and inhaled her scent. Her presence was a constant comfort to him and at the same time it filled him with an incredible need. By holding her, feeling their bodies press together tightly, the need swelled and heat began to form deep within his being. He tightened his embrace and sighed very slightly.

"Marach?" Izzy sounded slightly irritated, but her hands came up to tentatively touch his back. "Is it that bad?"

Marach regained control and reluctantly let her go. "I'm sorry, Isabel. After what just happened, it now seems very likely that Serenity has been cursed with a half-life."

Izzy's lilac eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

Marach nodded. "The way Parn reacted to her when she approached—more so, how she reacted to the news that he was a vampire—leads to the conclusion that he might be her lifemate."

"But…" Izzy began to wring her hands. "But you said vampires are evil and their souls are lost. With Serenity here, can we still save him?"

Marach swallowed a lump in his throat and shook his head. "He's the undead, iubita mea. It isn't something that can be simply cured."

"B-But Serenity is here!" Izzy kept her tone quiet, but she was clearly upset. "If what you say about Carpathians is true, and if Serenity is the light to his darkness, then it should be enough! She can save him!"

"A lifemate saves a Carpathian from the darkness growing inside of him. A vampire is different. A vampire is wholly evil and the darkness, the very thing we Carpathian males fight every moment of our lives, is a part of their natural being. He's gone, Isabel. Too far gone for the power of a lifemate to save him."

Tears flooded Izzy's eyes and Marach wanted to comfort her immediately. But he knew she didn't want his comfort right away, especially since he was telling her some awful truth in a very frank manner.

Izzy looked at the closed door to Serenity's room. She turned back around to face Marach, running a hand through her hair with a trembling hand. "M-Maybe it's not him? I won't try and fool myself by thinking Serenity doesn't have a lifemate, but who's to say it's Parn? Maybe something weird is wrong with him, and that's all."

"…Perhaps," Marach offered her, mostly because he wasn't absolutely sure as well if Parn was Serenity's lifemate. He wouldn't try to make Izzy accept the truth until he had valid proof. "But keep one thing in mind for me, dragă. It's not impossible for a vampire to face his lifemate. They are all too aware of their darkness, and they know all too well the beings they once were. Because of this, a vampire cannot look at his own reflection, because he cannot lie to it. It's the exact same thing when they look into the eyes of their promised woman. Not only do they see themselves, they see what could have been, and they see everything they lost and gave up. For most vampires, it's far too heavy a burden for them to carry and so they'll kill their lifemate if it means they don't have to face the truth."

"But Parn didn't attack Serenity," Izzy pointed out, relief flooding her face. "He just had some sort of…reaction."

"A visceral one," Marach said, trying to keep his tone gentle. "I said most vampires attack their lifemates, but not all of them. But let's say Parn is Serenity's lifemate—"

"He isn't," Izzy snapped, but there were tears in her voice.

Marach touched a hand to her cheek. "I do not mean to distress you, iubita mea, and that's why I speak in the theoretical sense."

Some of the tension eased from Izzy's body, but she was still on edge. "…All right."

"As I was saying, let's say Parn is Serenity's lifemate. The reason he began vomiting blood uncontrollably would be because there was a breakdown of his system. His body, or rather his entire being, couldn't handle what he'd lost with his foolish choice. The blood of a vampire is a toxic poison, and so perhaps the body began rejecting his blood in one fell swoop in an attempt to try and be the opposite of what he saw of himself in Serenity." He shrugged fluidly. "It's not a common reaction in vampires, but it's entirely possible."

Izzy shook her head. "I don't believe it, Marach. I can't believe it! This is my sister! She's a wonderful person and for her…" the tears spilled out now and her body began shaking. "This can't be! I don't want her to have a half-life! She doesn't deserve this! She's never hurt anybody…"

Marach noted the violent trembling in her knees and rushed forward. He caught Izzy right before her knees gave out. They both slowly sank down to the floor, and Marach clung to her tightly as low sobs began erupting from her throat. Her fingers dug into his shirt, hanging on for dear life.

Her sorrow tore at him. He knew this unpleasant news was only a fraction of the cause behind her tears. She bottled up her grief, her worries, and her sorrows and packed it all down to be strong for Serenity. And the apparent confirmation of her sister's fate made her feel worthless, like a bad sister. Like she was somehow at fault for everything that went wrong with Serenity.

"Fél ku kuuluaak sívam belsö." He spoke in his native tongue, even though she couldn't understand the meaning of the endearment. Rocking her gently back and forth, he washed her mind over with love, comfort, and support. He didn't see her as a failure or worthless, and he wanted her to share in this feeling.

Izzy couldn't control her tears. She'd been able to somewhat control herself up to this point, because she loved Serenity and wanted to be strong for her. But now this? Marach had warned her of the possibility, but now it was too hard for her to take. Serenity didn't deserve a half-life. And be the lifemate to Parn?! The same vampire who just moments before Serenity's arrival was all but ready to hurt her?! She didn't want it to be true. She refused to accept this as truth.

As much as her grief overwhelmed her, she became consumed in his feelings, too. He was trying to soften the blow of her pain as best as he could, and he did so with feelings of love and comfort. It set her body and spirit at ease, even as her mind rebelled. They'd only met such a short while ago. He couldn't be in love with her.

"I am growing more and more into this feeling every day, dragă. And I can assure you that I can feel love for you. I've waited centuries for your arrival, and thus far you haven't disappointed me. You're filled with love and loyalty, even if you have a mouth on you."

Izzy ignored his teasing. "I'm a failure, Marach. My sister has suffered for so long and I can't help her."

"But you tried. And she knows how hard you've tried and are still trying. Your sheer determination gives her the strength to try and fight the urge to commit suicide."

"But I thought you said you got rid of that urge."

"I suppressed it, Isabel, but my expertise in mental healing is incredibly slim. Gregori is the one who can give her back her life. What we must do is to keep her comfortable and keep suppressing it."

Marach didn't add that if Serenity was Parn's lifemate, then there was very little to stop her from trying to kill herself over and over again. He didn't trust himself to have the ability to heal her in such a way, but he trusted Gregori to be able to do it.

"Marach." he started slightly when he heard Falcon's voice. "Sara has sensed Izzy's distress and departed the room quietly. I'm putting up some of the strongest and most intricate safeguards all over the inn. If they have a mage in their ranks, with any luck he will not be able to detect us."

"Thank you, friend." He looked down at Izzy in his arms. "I'll sleep beside my lifemate tonight. It will add to their protection."

"That sounds like the best plan." Falcon bade him goodbye before the link was gone.

Izzy had stopped crying, though her face felt like a mess. Marach knew just a simple wave of his hand could get rid of it, but he didn't do so. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Do you feel better now?"

Izzy thought it was a stupid question. Her head felt like it was full of rocks, her face was soaking wet and puffy and she couldn't' breathe out of her nose. But…that knot of tension that had existed inside her ever since she found Serenity after her first suicide attempt had uncoiled. She felt somewhat light, if not slightly rejuvenated. "…Thank you, Marach."

"Anything for my lifemate." He helped her to her feet. "Sara left the room already, so would you like to sit with Serenity?"

Izzy nodded. "I didn't see her leave."

"She didn't leave through the door, as she would've run into us while…" he trailed off, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Izzy nodded again her understanding. "I haven't apologized to her yet for the position I put her in this evening."

"I believe she understands, but you can always apologize to her later." Marach gripped the doorknob with his free hand. "I will need to put the compulsion on her to sleep so that she doesn't wander off so foolishly again. Ready?"

"Yes."

He opened the door to Serenity's room. Both of them expected her to be lying in bed, still feeling the effects of her fainting. But Serenity was sitting straight up, her hands in her lap and her legs cross-legged.

Marach paused on the threshold. Izzy slid out from underneath his hold and walked over to her sister. "Serenity, I didn't realize youwere awake. How are you feeling?"

Serenity didn't answer her. Her head moved very slightly, but her expression was blank. Her eyes were blank.

"…Serenity?" Izzy touched her shoulder and shook. "Serenity, are you all right?"

Serenity didn't react to the shaking. A cold chill enveloped Marach, but Izzy was still pressing. "Serenity! Hey, Serenity!" she snapped her fingers in front of Serenity's unflinching face and waved a hand in front of it, coming sort of striking her in the face. "Serenity, answer me!"

Serenity still didn't move. Izzy cast a glance at Marach, her expression full of fright. "W-What's wrong?! She looks catatonic! Almost like…" she shuddered violently, not saying aloud that Serenity's meltdown began with a facial expression like this.

Marach stepped towards Izzy in a protective stance, his mind shoving into Serenity's. He could sense nothing wrong. Everything seemed normal, but that only worried him more.

Then…wait…he heard it. It was cackling. A male's cackling.

Marach shoved Izzy away from her sister. "He's here!" he jumped onto the bed and grabbed Serenity, nearly knocking her over. "Unclean one! This woman is under my protection! Leave her at once!"

"What's going on?!" Izzy cried out. She tried to move towards Serenity but Marach sent her a stern look, stopping her in her tracks.

"He's in her head," he explained. "He's communicating with her somehow!"

"Do you mean Parn?!" Izzy pressed a hand over her heart, feeling very helpless. "S-She touched his blood! Did that establish a blood connection?"

"If that were the case, iubita mea, then he would've had to have taken her blood and I don't think they met before tonight. I am surprised he's replenished his blood enough to do this." He kept his vocal speech short, concentrating on the mental one. "Leave her in peace!"

He tried with all his might to find the root, the source of the voice in her head. But he couldn't find the link. He knew Parn was talking to Serenity while Marach was trying to fish him out, and the vampire couldn't resist taunting him with this information.

"Get out NOW!" Marach shouted.

Laughter greeted him. "Make me."

"You have no right to torment her!"

"She is my lifemate, is she not? I have more rights to her than you."

"You gave up those rights when you turned vampire and damned her to a half-life!"

"It is my right, no one else's. Or are you so drunk on your own power and self-importance that you intend on taking both sisters for yourself, Marach? Incest is a cardinal sin."

"You're disgusting and depraved and I will let hell freeze over before you possess this woman!"

A soft whimper escaped Serenity's throat. Izzy didn't know what to do to help her. She linked with Marach, not knowing how she did it, but she could see what he saw. Serenity's mind looked like a massive smokescreen that Marach couldn't maneuver through. She knew Parn was in there somewhere, but outside of brief taunts at Marach he didn't reveal his presence. But Serenity kept reacting to whatever he was saying to her.

"Where is he?" Izzy asked Marach, though she didn't want to distract him. "I could hear Falcon somewhat when he communicated with you, but neither of us can hear Parn!"

Marach took a deep breath and let it out. Nothing but the truth…he would give her nothing but the truth. "There can be only one explanation. He is using a private link with Serenity to speak to her alone."

"…Private?" Izzy's body tensed and she felt cold all of a sudden.

"The link between lifemates. Lifemates have a naturally private link they can communicate to each other on, because they can't bear to be apart. Parn must be using this sort of link." Marach glanced at her briefly. "I am sorry, Isabel, but there is no doubts now. Parn is Serenity's lifemate." It hurt for him to say it, because he knew it hurt Izzy and he knew what sort of repercussions this would mean for Serenity.

Izzy felt her heart clench, but she squashed the feeling as much as possible. They needed to get Parn out of Serenity's head and fast. She didn't know how she could help, but she stayed merged with Marach as he hunted for Parn's voice.

Stay with us, Serenity, Izzy tried to comfort her sister. Don't listen to his lies. Don't let him hurt you…

Serenity didn't say anything, but tears were starting to leak down her cheeks. Fury swept through Marach, and once he felt Parn again he slammed into that voice. "Sleep now, Serenity! Sleep my sisar and don't awaken unless I tell you too!"

Just like that, Serenity's eyes closed and she slumped against the bed. With her unconscious, there was nothing Parn could do to influence her and Marach slammed at that voice again. "O jelä peje terád, Parn!" he swore violently in his Carpathian tongue. "I will kill you for the crime you committed against this woman!"

Hideous laughter ripped through both of their heads, but the voice retreated. Izzy could feel it leaving Serenity's mind. She relaxed with a measure of relief, and began retreating from Marach's mind.

As she pulled out, she heard words be spoken. It was a simple sentence, but she had no idea who said it. It was nothing more than a whisper.

"Don't come near me."