Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own Degrassi.

Untying Knots

She had seen the fangs when he opened his mouth to speak. So he was a vamp. Was he part of The Cross? Had he perhaps tried to assassinate Declan for his rogue beliefs? Or was he an up-and-coming member of the family that Declan had kidnapped in an attempt to resist their violent hierarchy? Saraiah's mind was racing now, and beneath all the thoughts she barely realized that the young man had just offered her the gift of information.

When she did, she approached it with caution, more than aware that he probably spoke not the truth. "Go ahead," she nodded, a prim look on her face.

"I'm not part of The Cross," was the first thing he said. "I just want to assure you of that. You may not believe anything I say, but please believe that. You have nothing to fear from me." He looked away. "At least in those terms," he added softly.

Saraiah's heart quieted its anxious thumping slightly. She felt he was telling the truth. And she couldn't help but feel an exhilaration at the possibility of meeting another vampire from outside The Cross.

"Tell me your name," she suggested.

"My name isn't truly important at the moment," he replied, a pained look on his face.

"Don't play with me," she commanded. "You said you had answers."

"You're right. You're right. I don't wish to play games with your mind. That's not why I'm here." A grin tugged at his lips. "Then again, I didn't seem to get much say in coming here at all."

"Yes, why is that exactly?" She left the issue of the name, appeased by the stranger's words and still feeling as though he actually was speaking the truth. She was more concerned now with getting his side of the story before Declan, who was still going through her desk, returned to the room.

"Well, as is quite obvious, your friend in there has kidnapped me. I believe he brought me here for...safe-keeping? He said something of the sort, anyhow."

"I see. And why would he kidnap you if you're not part of The Cross?"

"I put it down to the moment when I very rudely interrupted a – er, how shall I put this? – a meeting he was having with Ginger Cross," the stranger explained slyly.

"Ginger? Are you serious?" She kind of laughed, and kind of groaned in disgust. The explanation had caught Saraiah off guard, and she was pulled unexpectedly into a moment of friendly gossip with this person whose name she did not even know.

"Yeah, I know, sick, right?"

"Absolutely horrid!" Saraiah agreed. But she quickly returned to a more serious tone. She realized the implications of a relationship between Declan and any member of The Cross, let alone Ginger Cross herself – one of the nastiest and most powerful women in The Cross, she was known to hold sway over political decisions made by the men's Upper Council. A distant cousin of her mother's, Saraiah had met the woman only once, and at the time had suspected an affair between her and Var.

What could Declan be doing with Ginger? Besides the obvious doing, of course...Saraiah rolled her eyes at the thought, her mind so revolted that her heart barely felt the hurt she expected. Noticing her former teacher leaving the desk, she decided not to mention the new-comer's warnings in order to learn whether Declan would offer the information himself. The news suggested that Declan could no longer be trusted as a political ally.

"I see you're becoming acquainted with our new friend," Declan declared as he strode in. "Good, because he will be staying here for awhile."

"He?" Saraiah repeated. "You're leaving?"

Declan spoke briskly as he set about restraining the other man in the golden rope.

"I need you to keep an eye on him while I find out more about who exactly he is." He pulled a knot tight, making his captor wince slightly. "He's not from any family that I know of, but he sure likes to meddle." Thinking he might be referring to the "interruption" the other had mentioned, Saraiah noticed a brief glower pass from Declan's countenance toward the younger man.

"So what am I, a nanny?" Saraiah demanded, though she was secretly pleased she would have time alone with the man. She was sure she could learn lots from him about the ways of other vampire families. And of course there was the matter of his handsome dark looks, his laid-back yet mysterious air...

"And what exactly is the big deal that you don't know what family he's from?" Saraiah said suddenly, irritated on the handsome stranger's behalf, as well as for the fact that Declan was private about his own ancestry. "Why don't you just ask him?"

A small smile formed on the prisoner's lips, his eyes sparkling at Saraiah's frankness. He swivelled his eyes toward Declan to await a reply.

Declan's response was impatient and condescending. "I have engaged in any number of inquiry methods your mind would never dream of, Saraiah. So I don't believe I need to take any advice from you."

That was it. Saraiah snatched the remaining ropes from Declan's hands, inserting herself between him and the man on the floor. She spoke terrifyingly low through angry bared fangs. "Don't forget that my evidently dreamless mind has witnessed those 'inquiry methods' of which you speak." She shoved her parents' murderer backwards. "Now get out. I'll take care of this one."

"Fine," Declan sneered. "Always were the little smart-mouthed bitch, weren't you?" As he reached for the door, he physically kicked the stranger out of the way, landing his foot squarely on the man's chest with a great force.

"I learned from the best," Saraiah replied tersely, kneeling by the man's side and already undoing the knots as Declan exited. He left the door wide open.

As he mounted the horse – whom Saraiah felt sorry for for having such a cold master – she called out sarcastically, "Take your time!"

Then she turned her attentions to the still nameless vamp in her charge, who now lay limply, the wind knocked out of him, in her arms.