A/N: This chapter is for Shilo, because she wanted this to happen badly. and to you guys, for reading my crap =]

BECAUSE I could not stop for Death,

He kindly stopped for me;

The carriage held but just ourselves

And Immortality.

-Emily Dickinson

I could hear my name through the darkness and someone shaking me violently. Where was I? I could hear the panic in his voice as I felt my mind drift in and out, a faint light dangling in front of my eyes. I feel extreme pain and fear as I hear my name become louder.

"AZURA! Can you hear me? Wake up!"

I feel my eyes snap open from the force of the last shake to see nothing but a blurry figure kneeling by my side. I remembered then what had happened as I tried to regain my sight, Tate finally coming into full focus. The side of my head throbbing with immense pressure. My mouth was extremely dry as I sat up slowly, Tate watching me uncertainly.

"Are you alright?" He asked and I held my head, the aching clouding my functions.

"Yes," I whisper, my voice cracking,"Yes, I'm fine. Where are we?"

I asked this because I noticed I was no longer in the room where I had been assaulted and I wondered how Tate had been able to move me somewhere safe. He stood up and paced around slowly, his steps almost silent.

"I found a room here that was pretty hidden. I needed to get you out of there before that guy woke up. No doubt they are looking for us. Where's Violet?"

He sounded scared as he spoke and I felt myself begin to breakdown.

"I-I d-don't know! We got separated when that guy grabbed me! Tate, we need to find her!"

I had no idea why I was crying so much, it was so unlike me, but the fear of the current situation was getting the better of me. Tate stopped pacing and dropped down on the floor so that he was at level with me, his eyes piercing my tear striken ones.

"Listen to me, everything is going to be okay. I'm not going to let anything happen to Violet-Or you," he tried to sound like everything was indeed okay, but the shakiness of his voice was clear,"I promise."

I simply nodded and he looked at me intently for another second before continuing his pacing.

"Can you stand up?" He asked suddenly and amazingly I felt my body comply, although the throbbing still continued. He grabbed my hand then and dragged me over to the door, opening it slightly to see if anyone was outside it.

"Alright. Stay close to me okay?"

"Okay."

I tried to stop my breathing from being so heavy, but forcing it only made it worse. I followed Tate down the dark and dingy corridor, the lights flickering as if we were in some kind of slasher film. We might as well be at this point.

"What is it?" I ask as Tate stopped suddenly, pushing me against the wall quickly. He put his finger up to his lips, indicating for me to be silent and I nodded as angry voices came into earshot.

"I'm gonna kill that bitch when I find her. Where's the other one?"

I recognized the man Alec's voice and I felt my body tense waiting for the other one's reply.

"She got away, nearly killed me. She did something fucking freaky man!" His voice was quivering with fear and I heard a loud smack.

"You fucking moron! Find her! Go get Mason too, Your fucking useless!" His voice was harsh and I didn't hear a respond from the other guy, only the sound of separate footsteps running.

Tate squeezed my hand tighter and I felt a sort of electricity spark through me that I didn't understand. I just knew I didn't want him to let go. And he didn't as we made our way back down into the sea of people, my eyes trying to locate Violet.

"I don't think she is here," Tate yelled to me loudly. I could make his face out through the neon lights and it was plastered with uncertainty.

"Let's just get out of here. I don't see her," I yelled back and it was true. The crowd had lessened since I had been absent and I didn't see her distinctness among them.

"Where's your cell phone," Tate shouted and I felt so stupid for not thinking about it in the first place, but when I reached into my pocket it was gone. I looked up at Tate wide eyed.

"Fuck! It's not here!"

And then I remembered.

"Shit…I left it in my other jacket when I changed. I swear I thought I had it."

Tate didn't respond, only looked at me as if he didn't know what to say next.

"I'm sure she's fine then. We need to get out of here for now and then we'll figure it out."

He took my hand again and led me toward the entrance, moving rather fast. I used my free hand to thankfully find that my keys were still in my pocket. But before I could tell Tate, I felt myself fall to the ground and looked up to see Tate being thrown to the ground as well by Alec.

"I'm gonna fucking slit your throat," he spat at Tate who tried to get up quickly, only to be kicked in the stomach. I felt myself being hoisted up, my arms twisted behind my back and I cried out in pain.

"Don't touch her!" Tate said quite fiercely and I tried to get free, even though I knew it was a feeble attempt.

"Oh don't worry, I'm going to make sure she's well taken care of. In the meantime, you and me have some unfinished business," he said as he pointed to his eye and I just noticed how swollen it was, a long cut running across his face. I watched as he kicked Tate again, a sense of longing taking over me. Tate couldn't die and yet I still felt the need to save him even with my life being at stake.

"STOP IT! LET HIM GO!"

Alec laughed as he looked down at Tate and then walked over to me, grabbing my face and squeezing it.

"So let me guess, this is your girlfriend is it? How romantic. I always enjoyed killing couples."

"I"LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Tate shouted as he got to his feet, his eyes turning suddenly..different.

And Alec laughed again as he let go of my face. I could still feel his fingers. I could still feel everything.

"Your lucky your little friend got away, I can't say the same for you. So, who wants to go first? How about this one?," and the man holding me released me as Alec grabbed me, the silver knife against my throat.

"I think I want you to watch her bleed."

Tate didn't move as if he was contemplating his actions before acting on them. But he looked different than it usually did, his face contorted with malice. I closed my eyes, my mind once again began to race with memories, wondering how the fuck we were going to get out of this one. If I died here, I wouldn't be stuck in the house like the others. I didn't know if I would be able to move around freely. I didn't know what death was like for a medium. I had never wanted to spend eternity trapped in a house, but if it meant being around people I loved, then I considered it. I could feel the blade pressing into my flesh, teasing me as I felt myself become even more alarmed. My eyes found Tate's again and I could feel him staring into my very soul, as if telling me it was going to be okay and I understood then.

I wasn't afraid anymore.

"Do it then," I snarled softly and I felt the blade lower slightly as he pulled my head back, his mouth pressed against my skin as he spoke.

"What was that?"

I swallowed. It was going to be okay.

"I said do it, cunt. Be a big man."

He pulled my hair but I didn't cry out,"Shut your mouth, bitch. You have no idea what I could do to you or who your dealing with."

Then I was laughing quietly. Was I going mad? I felt his grip on me loosen.

"I think," I said playfully,"That its the other way around."

And then it happened in an instant. I felt myself being let go and ran as fast as I could into the darkness, the yells behind me growing fainter. I had no idea what had just happened, how I had communicated that way with Tate, how I had no longer felt afraid. I found my car, my hands shaking as I unlocked the doors and hurried inside, making sure the doors were locked once I got in and I waited. And waited. My body felt suddenly apathetic and I tried to comfort myself. Tate still had't found me until after I had woken up from a sleep I didn't even remember falling in to. His face was bloody and dirty, but any wound she had received had already healed themselves. He didn't speak, just looked at me as if examining me with ghost senses. It felt quite uncomfortable for some reason I couldn't explain.

"Tate?" I asked cautiously.

"I'm okay," he replied, his breathing shallow.

The blood on his face scared me,"Tate-did you-please tell me you didn't…"

His eyes became watery and he looked away. I did not want to think Tate was capable of it.

"Tate..please answer me."

He looked back at me with such hopeless longing,"I didn't kill them. I swear. The police will find them broken though."

The weight in my chest subsided and I looked at the clock on the dashboard. It was almost 5 a.m. and I freaked out a little. My mom didn't care how late I was out, but if Violet had gone off to get help, and I had a feeling help would have had arrived earlier on, then nothing good was going to be waiting for me when I got back.

"We should probably get back," Tate broke the silence.

"I'm sorry that your only night out turned to shit, but I'd be dead if it wasn't for you. Why did you save me?"

He looked at me seriously,"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to. You think I want your death on my conscience too?"

I felt sudden anger,"So you saved me out of guilt then? Not because you wanted to? Fuck, and here I thought you cared. I can't believe I actually-nevermind. Just forget it."

"You what?" he asked, a hint of eager in his voice.

"Do you still love Violet?" I blurted out. As soon as I said it I wanted to take it back because his face was expressionless. I felt stupid. Why should I even care about Tate's feelings for Violet? She was my best friend and he was off limits. Wasn't he?

"I'm unsure about things now," he began and I watched him,"I vowed to wait forever for her. She was the only girl I ever knew really and the only one I loved. But, then you came and I-I don't know. It felt like it did when I first met Violet and I hated you at first for it. I wanted you to leave. I felt like you were another girl here sent to destroy me. But I felt drawn to you and I didn't know if that was okay. I didn't think I would ever feel the same feelings for another person. I didn't know if it was possible. Nora told me that you don't know if a persons right for you, until you see what else is out there. And then I saw you, but I wasn't seeing because I love Violet and I always will, but there's something in you I can't let go of. I'll never let anything happen to you. I know this is stupid, but I said it."

I didn't know how to acknowledge him. I didn't know how to respond to anything at this point. I could see why people avoided the house. I could see why I was so infatuated with Tate. It wasn't an act. It wasn't his way of receiving sympathy. Tate had a soul and a heart and a paining need to break free and know that he mattered too. Just like me. I didn't care if it was wrong to feel something for him. I didn't care that it could affect my friendship with Violet. I knew I could prove Tate wasn't a monster.

"I know," was all I said and before I knew it, his lips were on mine.

The kissing was forceful and passionate and I felt myself kissing him back with such intensity, his hands roaming my body. I pulled him into me closer, feeling the softness of his hair through my fingers. Every voice telling me it was wrong no longer existed as I felt the heat of his mouth on mine, the weight of him on top of me.

"Azura," he breathed as he stopped kissing me and leaned up,"Not yet."

I recovered myself and turned away from him, staring at the clock once more on the dashboard.

"I don't know who I am anymore," I said stilly and felt Tate's hand take hold of mine. I looked from our hands to his face, feeling the tears stroll down my face. I felt weak in front of him, but he pulled me into a hug that felt as if we had always been like this.

"I never did. But I'm starting too."

The thing is, when you fall in love, it's kind of like you go crazy and before you know it, the whole world is different and then you'd do anything for the other person.