Slowly, my mind started to realize that something must have happened because I don't remember being rematerialized. I was vaguely aware of my head resting on my right arm but the rest of my body was kinda numb and tingly. A new sensation for me. I can hear at least seven different heartbeats near me but I can't lift my head to see who. Flexing my neck muscles my head feels like someones been banging it against a cement wall and an involuntary groan escapes my unfeeling lips.

The shuffling of feet is followed by a warm hand on my left shoulder, " Faith?" my senses were recovering quickly, recovered enough at least for me to recognize Halling's voice above me. I open my mouth to say 'what?' but all that comes out is a mumbled and unintelligible whisper.

" Faith? Don't move, okay? You and Teyla seem to be having... stronger side effects then the rest of us. It should pass soon." his voice sounded so familiar, but I detected a trace of uncertainty and fear, something that I am not accustomed to hearing from him.

I hear him stand and move a few feet away, resigned I just breathe deeply and wait for this strange effect to wear off.

How long can it possibly be? Another thought occurs to me, why is this happening to me in the first place? This wasn't the first time that I've been transported in a Dart and those times I was perfectly fine, if not a little disturbed. Unless. Maybe it has to do with that this is the first time it was because I was being culled. The other times it had been either with my Wraith or else with the Hive that I belonged to. Friendlies.

I thought about this for a moment and for a split second wished that I hadn't left the Hive knowing that I would never have experienced this feeling, but then I remembered the main reason for leaving in the first place and I regretted my momentary wish.

I slowly felt my body return to me and was grateful when I was able to finally sit up. I wasn't surprised to see the people around me or the Wraith structure that we were in. To my left I see Halling standing over Teyla's still form, she must still be suffering the after affects.

Being a vampire seriously had it's advantages. I turn my gaze to the others, I recognized a few of Teyla's people but also saw a few of the newcomers. Hard Face was among them and I noticed that he was watching me with a stern disapproval. Like I give a flip.

I didn't see Major Sheppard so maybe he was able to avoid being culled, unlike me. Then a thought of something, the Wraith as a whole must know by now that I left and disappeared into the human population. They would relish the opportunity to lay claim on me, the only everlasting feeding source in this galaxy. Sure, I could escape and disappear faster then anyone could say 'sound the alarm', but then I would be seriously restricted in my movements and search efforts. The Wraith in this Hive can't know that they have me. Unless they all ready do.

To human for my taste I shivered at the thought of them knowing. I would have to stay hidden and try to control my unpredictable emotions. If I can.

I grimaced slightly before reentering the real world. Hard Face seemed to have been watching me the whole time and I felt a little threatened by this discovery, Halling was still next to Teyla, and everyone else just milled around uncomfortably. I reached with my mind toward Teyla and Halling. Teyla would regain consciousness within the next minute or so, Halling was worried about his son and struggling with the knowledge that he would never see him again.

I pushed down the human instinct to comfort him knowing that it would do no good to lie. I would lay low as long as possible before I had to break out of here. Besides, I had only known them for two days, I have known my Wraith for thousands of years.

Teyla suddenly sits up, Halling places his hand on her shoulder and gives her a meaningful look. She glances around only to see the walls made of that still strange Wraith material. With a jolt I realize that after all this time I still refer to it as 'strange'. I close my eyes and inhale deeply, thinking that maybe that is just the way it is and I will always see things as strange as long as I exist. With a rush I exhale through my nose before opening my eyes to see Teyla focusing on me.

A flash of memory, arms wrapping around her just before the darkness, " Why? Why did you do that? There was no way that you could have saved me from being culled and I know that you knew this. So, why? Why sacrifice yourself like that?"

She was wrong, I could have saved her if the dart had been one second slower and me one second faster. I shake my head and turn my face away from them. I would not answer her question unless I absolutely had to, and well, I didn't.

She seemed to discern this because I heard a frustrated sigh behind me. Before I could do anything I was suddenly aware of approaching Wraith. I glance in the direction of the "spiderweb"(that's what I always called it) blocking the only exit in time to see a Wraith followed by two Masks come around a corner. In fifteen years I have not forgotten what a Wraith looks like or how it feels to have their minds on the edge of mine, but I still felt a mild shock when I saw his eyes. Fifteen years is to long.

The Wraith was like any other. Pale, long white hair, those eyes, black leather covering his body, and yet.

As they arrived in front of the holding cell the spiderweb retracted into the archway. He entered while scanning the humans inside, he paused when he saw me but paid me little mind. Everyone except for Hard Face had moved as far back as they could, though I noticed that Halling was blocking Teyla from view, but I stayed were I was. Hard Face, being the idiot that I knew he would be stepped forward to stand in front of the Wraith.

" I'm Colonel Marshall Sumner of th-" that was as far as he got before the Wraith threw him back against one of the walls. Other than that, he ignored everything else, focused on the choices before him. He bared his sharp teeth when his gaze fell on one of the Athosians, making his choice he whirled around and headed out of the holding cell leaving the two Masks to fetch the doomed Athosian. After they left the cell the spiderweb reappeared to block anything else from escaping.

I heard a collective sigh from the remaining people behind me as the Wraith disappeared around the same corner. One of the newcomers stepped toward Teyla, " Why did they take one of your guys? I mean, we're... well, we're kinda more valuable as far as information goes." he didn't mean it as an insult, I saw that in his mind, and lucky for him Teyla seemed to sense what he really meant as well. For his sake.

" The Wraith do not care who they take, and I fear that that was the last time that we ever see him." Teyla turned away and stood next to Halling, talking to him in hushed whispers.

As it turned out, unfortunately, Sumner wasn't permanently or painfully injured. I contemplated fixing that for him but decided against it because I knew that nothing good could come from it. Now that the newcomers had seen a Wraith up close and personal they started to get an inkling of just what they were dealing with.

Clenching my teeth to prevent myself from growling, I sit with my back against one of the walls and rest my chin on my chest. I fold my arms in front of me before slowly slipping into a sleep-like state, I'm really searching the Hive and jumping from one mind to the other. I watched as the Athosian was drained of life and felt a momentary sense of waste. Not just because he had been a human being but also because of all that blood that was ruined when it could have been put to good use. A little self centered and cold-hearted, I know, but it's still true.

I count as I drift through the minds on this Hive, a whopping thirty-six out of a possible two hundred or more. It would be only to easy to breakout and quietly evade the remaining Wraith. My stomach clenched as a plan started to form unwilling inside my head. I mentally push it to the back of my mind as far as it will go, I only hope that it doesn't form into anything viable because then I'll be tempted to follow through with it.

Slowly, I pull myself back away from the others. I lift my head and lean it against the wall behind me before opening my eyes. No one has really moved since I last saw them, not completely surprising considering that they all think that their about to die. Startled, I realize that none of them know what the Wraith are going to do to them. All they know for sure is that they are going to die by the hands of the Wraith.

Which wouldn't be so funny but... how ironic.

My guess is that by the end of the day everyone in this room will be dead, except me. In the 10,000 years that I've been "alive", I have never gotten use to the idea of outliving everything. I think that that is one of the reasons that I had joined the Wraith in the first place because they were the only thing close to immortals... and vampires really. In their own way.

Why the hell did all this have to happen to me? I thought with resentment.

I could hear someone approaching again, three hearts just as before. I lift my head in time to see the same Wraith come around the same corner. The spiderweb retracted and he entered while surveying the people crowded next to me. This time he apparently knew what he wanted because he only looked as far as Sumner before turning around and leaving allowing the two Masks with him to retrieve the doomed human.

I watched as Sumner walked out, seeing true fear cross his face for the first time. The spiderweb reappeared and the foursome disappeared around that corner. The glimpse of Sumner's fear stuck in the forefront of my mind and wouldn't stop. The newcomers that were left behind seemed kinda lost with him gone too. They were underlings, as my Wraith would have called them, they were use to being told what to do and having their commander around.

Lost. Just like me. My heart skipped a beat as the thought crossed my mind, I hadn't realized that after all this time I still thought of myself as lost. They won't have to suffer thousands of years like me though, only a few decades. But even that small amount of time is to long.

A part of me, most likely my vampire part, didn't like where my thoughts were taking me. The other part, I suspect the human part, was rebelling. With a heavy sigh I come to the conclusion that, yes I will have to show myself. To save these humans the agony of solitude, I had to return them to their people. Teyla and her people would be free to follow if they wanted.

Making my decision, I relax my tense body until I'm completely still, not even my heart beats. It has been fifteen years since I allowed my vampire nature to flow through me. After all I was suppose to be human and not the most deadly predator in the galaxy.

" Faith?" Halling's voice was full of concern, I skim through his thoughts. He has noticed that I'm not breathing and my unnatural stillness. He fears I'm dead. The corner of my mouth twitches at the absurdity of his fear, I cannot die.

I feel my entire body slip easily into the naturalness of being a vampire, power floods to my limbs and a low growl of pleasure reverberates through my chest.

" Faith?" his voice has a edge to it, he heard my growl and can see the change, sense the overwhelming... danger, rolling from me.

I turn my hungry eyes toward him, " What, Halling?" my voice is dripping with the silky smoothness of my kind, designed of course to lure humans closer. I watch with satisfaction at the surprise on the Athosians faces, they have only heard my "rough" voice, my human imitation.

I suddenly stand with inhuman speed and grace, to the human it would appear that I disappeared only to appear again. I smile my most alluring smile as fear emanates from all the humans in front of me, relishing the affect it has on my body.

" Faith. What's happened?"

My smile widens, " Nothing much, my dear Halling. I have just simply allowed myself embrace who I am."

Teyla steps forward, " And who might that be?" she looks me over, sensing more than anyone that I'm... threatening, " You are not human." a statement not a question.

My smile falters, " No, I am not human. But I use to be. I had a mother, a father, a sister, a home, and a life. Then something happened and I gave it all up to save those that I loved. I nearly died as a result, the only reason I didn't is because I was turned. Now I'm something else, something that is to be feared above all else. Even the Wraith. Who, I might add, fear me as well."

Teyla stood in front of me, thinking over what I had just said, " Why? Why do the Wraith fear you?"

I bare my teeth as my smile returns, " They fear me because I am the only thing that can outdo them. My mental abilities far surpass that of any Queen, I can vanish without a trace before their eyes, and I can kill them much faster and much more painfully then anything they ever knew."

One of the newcomers moved to stand next to Teyla, " What are you?"

" If my guess as to where you are truly from, you already know the answer. What I'm about to say will mean more to you than to the Athosians. I am the reason you fear the night, the unknown. Because I am fear, I am night, I am the unknown. I'm the most deadly hunter ever to exist, I feast on my kill until there is nothing left to feast upon. I am forever immortal, I am... a vampire."

I felt the disbelief clouding his mind, " Vampire? How do know about vampires? Not that it really matters seeing as they don't exist. Vampires are myth and myth alone."

My smile was gone, my eyes were narrowing, my body was tensing. I'll show you you over educated idiot. Slowly, I turn around and walk until I'm standing directly in front of the spiderweb before facing the humans. Considering where he is and what he's messing with, the idiot has a smug expression. A growl starts to build in my throat as I glare at my prey. With vampire speed I slid into a crouch and hold it long enough for them to see me before I uncurl and push myself into the air. Mid jump I extend my talons and fangs. Just as I did the first time with my Wraith, I landed on his chest and used my weight to throw him to the floor. Placing his hands in my left, wrapping my legs around his, digging my right talons into his chest, I sink my aching fangs into his warm neck and hold.

I felt his body suddenly flex as his mind took in what had happened, and what was happening. I heard gasps and the shuffle of many feet trying to get as far away as possible.

Directing my thoughts toward the human under me, " Believe me now?"

I growled against his throat and injected healing venom into his wound before releasing him. Standing, I watch him take in the fact that he's still alive before standing as well. His hand immediately went to the side of his neck that I had bitten, I knew he could feel the two holes healing under his touch.

" You didn't kill me?" he sounded way to surprised.

Before I could answer I heard two heartbeats approaching, these were different though, faster. I listened to the place the hearts were searching for the identity of the person, shock fills my mind as I realize that it is Sheppard and one other.

I feel my eyes widen and my jaw drop as they head in our direction, " Well, shit. If he shoots me I'm going to cause him much pain."

Retracting my talons but leaving my fangs out, I turn around in time to see Sheppard and the dark lieutenant appear from the shadows.

" Major?" the voice came from one of the newcomers behind me.

Sheppard approaches while examining the spiderweb, " Okay kids, parties over. Were is the Colonel?"

" He was taken a few minutes ago."

" Crap. Okay. Ford, blow this cell with some C-4," glancing at his wrist watch, " if I'm not back in twenty minutes blow it and get them out of here."

" But sir, you're the only one who can fly us out of here."

" I'm going to fly us all out of here."

With that he looks at a device in his left hand and goes in the same direction that the Wraith went with Sumner. I was a little annoyed that neither of them had looked at, observant much? Sighing, I step next to the spiderweb and watch Ford attach a small piece of C-4 in the middle of the spiderweb. He glances in my direction, " You have to move back, you'll get hurt if you stay there when I blow this."

" I appreciate your concern, Lieutenant, but I plan on being out of here before then." he turns his head to look at me, most likely planning on ordering me back, when he finally sees me. " What the-"

I roll my eyes before looking past him to the left at the controls for the spiderweb, concentrating long enough to fry the thing and watching with triumph as the spiderweb retracts before me. I step through and flash a winning grin at the young human, laughing when he jumps back at the sight of my fangs, and calmly walk after Sheppard. As I walk, I decide that the human attire that I am wearing is not vampire appropriate. Glancing down, I see the out-of-style clothes dissolve and form into a strapless skin tight shirt covered with a three quarter sleeved open jacket that only went down past my chest, long tight pants, and two inch heeled boots. All black and all made out of supple leather. My hair is now full, clean, and spilling over my shoulders and down my back, making a nice contrast with the black leather. Red headed vampire coming through.

It didn't take me long to find Sheppard, who is presently lowering himself to the ground to pear into a chamber room below. Quietly, I walk up behind him and lower myself next him.

" Hey, Major." I smirk when he jumps and whips his head around to look at me.

" What the-" he stops, shakes his head, and looks back down.

So do I. My stomach drops at what I see. Two Masks with stunners standing guard at one end of the chamber, at the other stands a Queen. Under her feeding hand kneels Sumner, his skin clinging to every bone in his body, his eyes were milky and screaming of the torture he is suffering. I peek at Sheppard, the surprised horror on his face said it all. I watched as that horror turned to disgust and finally hatred. He tightens his grip on his gun and places his finger on the trigger, I turn back to see that Sumner is starring right at us. He weakly nods his head once and I hear Sheppard exhale before the guns fires. Even with vampire senses the bullet moves to fast for me to see but I do see a bloody hole appear on the Queens hand just before Sumner's heart stops beating.

I watch as he collapses and the Queen whirls around searching for the source that killed her human prey before she could. A sudden light behind me followed by Sheppard grunting alerted me to an uninvited guest. I turn to see that same darn Wraith holding a hand held stunner, I hiss as he turns it from Sheppard's still form to me. I may have been distracted long enough for him to sneak up behind me once but I would not allow him to shoot me.

Jumping to my feet I release a vicious growl that any vampire would have been proud of. The Wraith pauses as he studies me.

" Go ahead and shoot me, Wraith! But be sure that you are prepared to die afterward." my voice was laced with my fury and every word was a part of a growl.

The Wraith didn't react, but he also didn't fire at me. Seems he doesn't want to see if I'll make good on my threat. I would have laughed but I figure that it wouldn't improve Sheppard's or my situation any so I just kept my mouth shut.

I hear a Wraith wanna be hiss down from the chamber, looking behind me I see the Queen looking right me. Not in a very pleased mood myself I hiss back. She bared her pointy teeth, " Bring them!"

.

Shit! Screamed inside my head over and over again as I was "escorted" down, Sheppard was being dragged and I didn't envy him the experience. He would be awake soon enough seeing as the stunner he was shot with was on it's lowest setting. In a matter of seconds he would regain consciousness only to wish that he wasn't. I would have gladly helped him escape but one: the Wraith still didn't know that they had me me and I still kinda wanted to keep it that way, and two: something told me that it be best if I didn't interfere, at least this time.

My hands were pulled behind so when the Mask stopped me my shoulders almost jerked out of their sockets. Sheppard was awake now and having a wonderful time with the Queen, who I now realized was seriously ugly. The only feature that I really liked was her long pinkish hair, the rest I could do without.

Sheppard wasn't thrilled when he saw that her hand was healed all though the Queen was thrilled herself when she saw that device that he had been using. She had just asked where he had gotten it when the Mask holding him down got shot in the head. The Queen released a awful screech and the Wraith holding me dropped my hands as he raised his stunner, only to be shot repeatedly for his trouble.

I turn my head toward the loud noise of gun fire to see Lieutenant Ford walking up to Sheppard, eying me as he reached down his right arm to help the Major to his feet. I look to my left to see that same damned Wraith entering with five Masks behind him, Ford saw this as well and turned his weapon toward them and opened fire. The only thing that really killed the Wraith was the seemingly endless amount of bullets.

A startled gasp caught my attention and I whirl around to see what has happened now, Sheppard is standing in front of the Queen with one of the long stunners protruding from her. Sheppard just stabbed a Queen! Shit!

" That has to kill you." he pulled the stunner from the Queen's body and she slumped to the floor. Her blood was dripping from her body and pooling beneath her. The smell made my throat burn with a vengeance for only feeding on wildlife for the last fifteen years. I fight against my newly released instincts as I watch Sheppard stand over the fallen Queen.

" You do not know what you have done. When I die, the others will awaken. All of them." I listen as her heart stutters before stopping completely.

" What's she talking about, how many more can there be?" Ford asks as Sheppard picks up the device the Queen dropped. A rather annoying beep was coming from it, picking up tempo faster and faster. Sheppard looks up as Ford does, automatically I do as well to see hibernation chambers shutting off. I also see the shadow of the awakening Wraith inside the thin membrane.

" I think it's time to get out here." whispers Sheppard.

Saying nothing else, Ford turns at the same time that Sheppard does and they start running in the direction of the main corridor. This cannot end well. Before they are able to turn the corner and disappear into the ship I hurry after them. Hundreds of Wraith are waking all over the ship, it will be only a matter of time before news of the Queens death spreads. Leaving Sheppard and Teyla's peoples completely screwed. I had to help them, all. I don't interfere with their progress as they make for the main exit of the Hive, instead I jog behind them a few feet surveying the surrounding corridors as they pass them.

Then the moment that I had feared would come, a bluish light flew past Sheppard head just barely missing him before a Wraith appeared from a corridor that they were passing. The Major spun around with his black weapon raising at the same time, but something told me that they shouldn't stop, that they should keep running as fast as they could.

" Sheppard! Don't!" my voice rang strong and clear, " Just run! I'll take care of them! GO!" I forced all the authority that I could into the last word. Thankfully, Sheppard didn't waste time. His eyes flashed to meet mine before he grabbed Ford's arm and made for the exit once more.

The Wraith didn't follow but turned to me instead, his stance emanating that typical Wraith demeanor. He dropped the small stunner to the floor and flexed his feeding hand.

" You wish." my voice was deadly calm, just how I wanted it.

" There is nothing that you can do to stop me." typical.

Baring his pointed teeth he rushed forward while raising his right hand to plant it on my chest. The talons on my left hand grew to their full length and I slashed out, catching his hand just as he prepares to feed. I didn't cause any real harm, I barely torn the skin, but it was a enough to stop him in his tracks. He watched the thin cuts heal before looking back at me, understanding suddenly in his mind. My secrets out.

" Mess with me again, Wraith, and you wont have to worry about feeding." I growled for emphasis before I walked past him and unhurriedly made my way off the Hive.

The trees around me were lifeless, dead, either from season or disease. I didn't know which. Buzzing above alerted me to many darts taking off and I ran into the dead forest. I shifted into a white leopard when I was under what little cover the trees provided. I heard a vaguely familiar whine before the sound of dart weapons fire drowned it out. Within seconds, every sound from the darts to the whine grew fainter and fainter until I couldn't hear anything except my own heart.

I accomplished goal, I freed them from the future that would have been theirs. They can go home. While I remain lost.

Slowly, I glance around at the dead, decaying trees around me, an appropriate setting considering. I sigh as I start walking away from the Hive behind me, wondering if there might be someway off this rock without hitching a ride with them. Doubtful.

With a sense of sudden failure, I slump to the cold, hard ground with a low growl. If I could help it I wouldn't go back to a Hive even if my life depended on it. Ya, sure, I seemed to "fit" better with the Wraith now but all that most of them could think about was feeding off my eternalness. Blood rose in my throat from my stomach, a disgusting replacement for bile(not that bile would be any better). I hate being treated like an object to be acquired, like a prize, it makes me sick to think of it.

Knowing that this train of thought will get me no where, I focus on how to get out of here. I need to find the portal. So I probe the planets surface in search of the portal's energy signal, hopeful that it will be somewhat close by. My heart drops when I come up empty handed, I focus up and sure enough there is the portal in orbit. Figures. I was stuck, at least until the Wraith left and I was able to get to the portal without being followed.

Great, you've got a plan, now all you have to do is sit here on this hard ground and wait who knows how long for the Hive to take off and hope that all of them go with it. Oh, but wait, they know your here and will undoubtedly leave some darts with patrols behind to track down my immortal self with sole intention of dragging back to the Hive as the greatest trophy and use me against other Hives.

My internal rant lasted about five seconds but the results lasted all night. I was stuck and would never get off this planet with the Wraith in search of me. Feeling an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, I close my eyes and wait for the darkness that is sleep to claim me.

Mercifully it does, quickly. Even unconscious with sleep I know what is going on around me, I hear and feel the ground shake under me as the Hive finally takes off, I hear the darts that I knew would be left behind flying overhead, and I hear the crack of branches and the like as the search parties look for me. But I know that they wont find me, my white fur blends with my surroundings to well, also take into account that when the Hive took off debris from the dead forest fell on me. I could have had neon orange fur and still the Wraith wouldn't have been able to see me under all the leaves and dirt and who knows what else on top of me. I would be safe, at least until I had to feed again, and I would have to feed again. Soon. My throat sears as my thought turn to blood. I've just recently embraced my true nature and I haven't even had a drop of that which I so desire, what kind of a vampire am I?

Can I do anything right? Ever? I sigh before forcing my mind to shut up and turn off. My breathing stops as my heart does, I'm slipping into my own hibernation. At least this way my body will conserve what little blood I have left and it will make it even more impossible for the Wraith to find me. With that last thought, everything around ceases to exist for me.