Hey guys! And so here we stand so much closer to the end of the story. I will warn you all now that this book will end with chapter 10 or an epilogue to come after that. So there's only 1 week left until we are done.

With that in mind this week there are 2 uploads Chapters 8 & 9.

NellD - I'm so glad you enjoyed Leo and Philippe's first kiss. It was romantic wasn't it. I always wanted them to be together and am glad they finally are also.

Charmaine29 – I think the issue regarding Selena and not untying Matt had a lot to do with whether or not she could trust him. Now that she can he is free. But you can understand her being skeptical. I hope all of them end up happy with their loved ones too. Time will tell.

Axlelife#- Yes Katya is a demon but she doesn't have any active powers aside from shape-shifting. So she needs reinforcements to help her on her way.

MartiVic – Thanks Martivic yeah I am a huge fan of Daniela Hantuchova. I'm glad you thought it was a nice touch. As Philippe and his Grams were both into tennis I thought it would be the perfect place to mention her.

DanielR – Yes Daniel for now Natalie is gone. She may come down again but I haven't decided as yet for sure. But just as Cole came back to ruffle up Phoebe's feathers I feel like that Natalie can definitely be like that with Philippe.

CHAPTER EIGHT – Turn me.

Karlia who had managed to avoid being put to sleep by Katya the demon was now walking around the mansion with sheer determination. Ever since they orbed back here she could think of nothing more than locating Alec.

She could hear Philippe's whiney voice in her head.

But he just tried to kill you! He'd cry. Do you really want to die? And the obvious; where would that leave the power of three?

Thinking of the last remark, she couldn't help but feel bad for Leo. Unlike Matt and Alec whose partners were trying to deal with the fact that they were supernatural, for Leo, his potential soul-mate had seemed to be rejecting him all because of the Power of Three. Karlia wasn't as enthused as Philippe when it came to their destiny; however she was also nowhere near Selena's determination which seemed to be to avoid it wherever she could.

In that moment she felt lucky to have the night she'd had before coming home. Being able to see Alec and enjoy herself on their date had allowed her to come home and so-to-speak get right back to work. She knew Selena had been right when she'd suggested that next time they let Philippe and Leo off the hook and had already made plans to ensure that was the case.

"Ooof!" Karlia couldn't help but gasp as she knocked into a wall.

Clearly she was so deep in thought she hadn't been watching where she was going.

But now that she looked around she realized she was in the dining room from earlier.It really did disgust her looking at all the pink and so quickening her pace she left the room and almost bolted down the stairs to the one room she knew she could stand the bedroom.

As she walked into the room however, she spotted Alec lying on the bed reading a book.

"What you got there?" she asked, having no idea what else to say.

"Hamlet," he smiled, snapping the book shut and standing. "Shakespeare sure knew how to get revenge."

He walked over to Karlia and his smile widened.

"I knew you'd come back," he said. "They certainly got it dead-wrong when they made up the whole 'once bitten twice shy' thing. If anything it's 'once bitten now addicted'".

He laughed in a very sick way creating shivers that now ran down Karlia's spine.

Ignoring them however, Karlia reached into her pocket and threw a vial at the man she loved. Unbeknown to Philippe or Leo, Karlia had stowed a freezing potion in her pocket for this very moment.

She cursed the fact that Philippe was the only one who had the power to freeze, but at least being a potions whiz she could now do this instead.

"Problem is," she said to herself. "How do I unfreeze his head?"

Duh! You're a witch came the unwanted voice of Philippe in her head once more.

Spying a pad and pencil on a nearby davenport she quickly started working out a spell that would work for her.

"Ok," she said moments later. "This should do it."

She read the words aloud.

Winds of time and winds of change,

Help me now with your selective breeze.

This man must talk, but move him not.

Yes only his head should now unfreeze.

And instantly it worked.

"Wow, I love being a witch," Karlia mumbled to herself.

Alec's entire body remained frozen but his head now moved as did his eyes and his mouth opened as he screamed.

"What have you done to me witch?!" he demanded.

"I'LL do the talking!" Karlia corrected standing up for herself for the first time in what felt like forever. "As you may have noticed you are otherwise incapacitated, so you listen while I talk!"

Alec's face showed that he completely disagreed, but his mouth remained closed not daring to allow a word to escape.

Karlia held her hand out towards the entrance door and with a slight movement in that direction it slammed shut.

"Your telekinetic?" Alec couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing this Karlia looked down at the hand that had made it happen. This was the second time her right hand had done something she never expected it to. The first time was last week where when facing a Darklighter fire sprung out of it.

Making a mental note that she would talk to Leo about it later, she looked back up at Alec.

"That's not your concern," she replied. "What's going on Alec?!"

The vampire looked at her almost wanting to bite her whole head off.

"Who is Alec?" he asked. "You keep calling me that, who is he?!"

This forced Karlia to take a physical and metaphorical step backwards.

"You are!" she replied. "Alec is you! Don't you remember your name?"

"My name is Constant!" Alec replied indignantly. "I remember it quite well thank you. Despite the fact that I was born over 100 years ago my name has never ch…"

He stopped and thought for a moment.

"But then, he started starring off into space as though recalling a memory. "I met this young lady. She was so gracious to me and we got on so well. I remember I told her my name was Alec in fear of her finding out my secret, I mean how many Constant's are there in our world?" he smiled still looking off into space.

"She could never know of my true identity. Many I had fallen for had discovered it and they'd all run for the hills. Some didn't get away quickly enough and my vampuric side took over. I will always regret that."

As Karlia listened to the vampire's tale, she was shocked and in awe of it all at the same time. There was so much about Alec or Constant that she never knew.

"She was so sweet to me, so kind and fare," Alec continued. "She worked at a local pub, modernized for the times naturally. But her hospitality was second to none. She always offered me a beverage and would sit there listening to me go on and on about my day. Her soul was so white, so pure. And her name was…"

"Karlia?" she couldn't help but reply.

Alec shook his head and looked at her, though this time with sadness in his eyes.

"Yes!" He replied. "Oh my god…it's you!...What have I done?"

"*"

"Qu-…of the…" Philippe replied caught completely off-guard.

"Your speechless I see," Allyria replied.

"Your M-m-majesty," Philippe replied, now shocking Leo. "It's an honor to meet you."

Philippe bowed graciously towards her while Leo's eyes widened.

"Thank you," Allyria replied. "Likewise."

"Ah, Philippe…" Leo started "Could we talk...over here?"

He pointed to the furthest wall which was only 2 steps away.

"No Leo," Philippe replied. "I don't need to talk about this."

He looked at Allyria smiling.

"Respectfully your majesty," Philippe continued this time compromising with a curtsy. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to help," she replied. "Katya has become…undesirable. We must stop her before this goes too far."

"I agree," Philippe smiled before giggling nervously. "I just ask not to be compelled; I mean there's no need. I have no issue with your kind."

"I can see that," Allyria smiled. "Nor do we with your kind. Witches and Vampires go way back you see."

"Ok Philippe," Leo started. "We don't know that we can trust her."

"It may interest you to know, that one of your witches is with my son right now," Allyria chimed in. "Constant always did have good taste."

Now Philippe did look at Leo. Who in the world is Constant? He wondered to himself. And how…

But Allyria stopped his train of thought.

"Oh I keep forgetting he forsakes his name around people from this time," she laughed. "It does offend me, but you may know him better as…Alec?"

"Alec?" Philippe replied. "As in Karlia's Alec?"

"I didn't know they were official," Allyria replied. "But yes he did advise he was seeing a witch named Karlia."

Leo looked at Philippe still skeptical of the vampire. After all he had always been advised never to trust different species such as Wolves, Vampires and Genies. There was nowhere near enough information and Genies had even proven themselves to be tricksters in the past.

"Come," Allyria beckoned. "I don't know about you, but this place screams claustrophobia. Let's away."

"After you your majesty," Philippe replied bowing again.

As Allyria made strides away from the room Leo and Philippe followed in-toe however Leo was quick to whisper to Philippe.

"Why do you keep calling her that?" he whispered.

"What?" Philippe asked.

"Your majesty," Leo replied. "And bowing all the time, why do you do that?"

"Because Leo," Philippe replied. "She's the queen! That and I trust her. Do you trust me?"

Philippe needed Leo to be on the same page as him. He fully believed in Allyria and her passion to destroy Katya.

"Of course," Leo replied. "They may not like it, but I'm with you now Philippe. I will always have your back."

Philippe smiled.

"I love you Leo," he said.

"I love you too," Leo replied.

Rounding another corner the threesome now entered what seemed to be a perfectly laid out board-room.

"This is…interesting," Philippe said looking around.

The room was unlike any other they'd seen in the mansion and almost didn't belong. The walls were painted black and matched the black carpet. A clear glass table with black legs sat in the centre of the room and it was so large that Philippe counted 20 black office-like chairs surrounding it. A bouquet of white anemone's sat on the centre of the table adding to their surrounding with their white petals and black centre's. The one thing Philippe noticed that connected this room to the others were the shelves and shelves of white roses strategically placed on the walls.

Philippe noticed Allyria take her seat at the head of the table and he rushed over to sit at the first chair to her right, Leo taking a seat next to him.

"Now then," Allyria began. "I trust that you are more comfortable than before, so regarding Katya the demon…"

Leo and Philippe leaned in to hear what Allyria had to say.

"*"

"Here's a pair of Philippe's sweat pants and some underwear," Selena smiled as she brought them in to Matt who was sitting in the living room now.

"Oh Selena, I could never-" Matt began.

"Seriously," Selena replied. "You can. Philippe has so many sweatpants he will never miss them."

"Thanks," Matt replied.

"Ok I'm going to make some coffee," Selena replied. "Do you want anything?"

"Coffee would be great," Matt smiled.

Selena turned on her heel and walked back to the kitchen. Never once did she question untying him. It had been so demeaning and cruel to leave him like that in the first place let alone continue to do so.

As she walked back in, she noticed Matt had not only changed but was looking at a recent Photo that sat on the mantelpiece.

"So this is Karlia right?" Matt asked intrigued.

The photo was taken one night at POT the three of them had decided to stick around after closing for drinks and Philippe had opted to take a photo of them all. Selena had been cautious about it at the time as she hated having her photo taken and more so having it displayed. But everyone including herself loved it so much that they agreed with Philippe's decision to place it there.

"You're at that place POT right?" Matt asked.

"Yeah," Selena replied. "Because Karlia works there we're there all the time."

Selena took the picture from Matt and placed it back onto the mantelpiece indicating that he should take a seat.

Matt looked at the tray Selena had set down. Not only was there coffee. There was also cream, sugar and milk as well as an assortment of cookies.

"Wow, you do go all out," Matt said, picking up his cup.

"Oh this is nothing, next time let's have our date here," Selena replied. "I'll cook."

Matt sipped his coffee and looked up at her smiling.

"That sounds nice," he replied.

"Then it's settled," Selena smiled back. "Now, I believe you were about to tell me about your transition to being a wolf?"

Matt looked at Selena surprised.

"Your direct you know that?" he asked.

"Yep," Selena replied. "You'll learn to love it."

"I already do," Matt smiled placing his cup back onto the tray.

"Now, I was oh let's see…13 when I was turned-" he started.

"13?!" Selena blurted out shocked. "You were a baby!"

"I had just started high school," Matt replied. "It was on my first day actually, I was bored and didn't have any friends, but I was used to that. So at lunch time I went over to the sports grounds and just walked around. There was a patch of trees that bordered the place and I had heard the sound of a girl screaming, so I raced over to see what was happening."

"How very noble of you," Selena replied appreciating his instincts.

"Well it turned out there was no one there," Matt replied. "But just as I was about to leave a wolf, that I thought was a dog at the time, scratched me."

He lifted up the jacket and made a scratching motion to the right of his abdomen.

Selena didn't know which reaction hit her first but she was flushed seeing his ripped chest, saddened to hear what had happened and intrigued to see no scratch marks still there.

Thinking that would be the more sensible remark, she enquired.

"But there's nothing there," she replied.

"Yeah. That's another thing," Matt answered. "Wolves heal quickly, almost too quickly."

"Oh," Selena replied. "Guess that's something they left out of our make-up."

"Don't knock it Selena," Matt replied. "Imagine how it would feel to be in excruciating pain, but see nothing there not even a mark. It took me quite a while to get used to it."

"I guess you're right," Selena replied. "So you still feel the pain, it's just not visible?"

"Exactly," Matt replied. "I felt the scratch all day. It made for an embarrassing moment when I told the school nurse and she threw me out telling me that lies will not get me anywhere."

"Yeah that would suck," Selena replied. "So when did you work it all out?"

"Well that night actually," Matt replied. "Turned out I got scratched on the full-moon so I turned hours later. Of course waking up the next morning in the middle of nowhere stark naked and not having any recollection of what happened was tough, but in time I learned to deal with it."

"How?" Selena asked, nearly on the verge of tears. "How do you deal with something like that?"

"I was lucky enough to meet Zandra," Matt replied.

"Zandra?" Selena asked, pouring herself another coffee.

"Yeah, this lady came to my history class the next day asking to see me," Matt chuckled recalling the memory. "Said she needed to see me about extracurricular work."

"That's a nice touch," Selena appreciated. "More coffee?"

"Yeah thanks," Matt replied, draining what was now left of the cold coffee and handing the cup to her.

"So she explained the whole thing and took me to meet Randolph," he finished.

"Randolph?!" Selena asked, passing the re-filled cup back to Matt.

"The guy who turned me," Matt replied taking a sip. "He's the Alpha, the leader of my pack."

Selena took a moment to let it all sink in. Yes Matt was a wolf, yes he hadn't told her, but at the same time he never wanted this. He was made a wolf, just like she was made a witch. Without any choice, it just happened.

"So you never chose this life?" she asked.

"No," Matt replied. "It was thrust upon me. Not that I would take it back now, I have more friends than I ever could dream of and their loyalty is better than any I've ever known."

"So do you have to do stuff you don't want to do?" Selena asked.

"Huh?" Matt questioned, not really understanding her.

"I mean like errands and fighting against people and all that," she responded.

"Oh no, nothing like that," Matt assured. "I mean ok when we're threatened we need to deal with the threat but otherwise it's a good life."

Selena smiled. It had been a while since she had even thought of the words 'good life' let alone uttered them out loud. The world of magic had been quite undesirable. In fact aside from Leo who she had grown to like over the course of the past week, there seemed to be no advantage to being a member of the power of three at all. If anything it felt like they were being used more than anything else.

"Do they-" Selena started and then paused for a moment.

"Go ahead," Matt replied. "I'm an open book."

Selena appreciated that and the more he spoke the more she found herself falling for this guy. Not only the superficial stuff like good looks and cologne that made her swoon, but also fierce loyalty, bravery, standing up for what's right and sheer passion.

"Do they let you fall in love?" she asked timidly.

"Oh yeah," Matt replied. "Love is something they don't mess with provided the loved ones keep our secret."

"But what if," Selena started. "Say you fell in love with a demon?"

"Again they wouldn't care, provided they-"

"Kept your secret," Selena repeated saddened that her side wasn't as open to the idea.

Just then a light bulb went off in her head.

"Hey," she remarked. "Turn me."

As Selena leant forward hoping for a scratch Matt jumped backwards revolted at the thought.

"Selena," he said seriously. "You don't want to be a werewolf."

"Why not?" she asked. "You make it sound so thrilling!"

"It is," Matt confessed. "But the…side-effects…aren't worth it. Turning is not only uncontrollable but also very, very painful."

"Oh," Selena replied, quickly shifting backwards into her seat.

"Besides," Matt replied. "While we roam around only fighting to protect the pack, you guys have been given actual powers and the chance to help the world. I would never give that up."

"Walk a day in my shoes before you say that," Selena replied.

"Likewise in mine before asking to be turned again," Matt laughed.

Selena couldn't help but smile. Normally she was the quick-witted one in the family and yet here he was one-upping her. It was a nice refreshing change.

"So, about us…" she started. "Do you think it can work?"

"*"

"It's ok Alec…or should I say Constant? I'm a little confused on that part," Karlia admitted to her date. "But I'm fine, see not even a mark."

She showed Alec her neck and indeed since Leo had healed it there was not even a trace of evidence showing he had bitten her.

"But I…bit you!" he replied.

"Yes you did," Karlia answered. "But I have a few secrets of my own…obviously."

She looked over at the door still wondering how it had happened.

"Karlia I want to tell you everything," he said. "You deserve to know it all, it's just we're not safe here."

"I know," Karlia replied. "So let's stick to the basics. First what is your name?"

"My vampire name," Alec replied while Karlia's eyes widened. "Is Constant, my human name is Alec."

"Ok well since you were born as Constant I'll call you that," Karlia replied. "Second, why did Katya recruit you guys?"

"She wanted protection," Constant replied.

"Why did you accept?" Karlia asked.

"She offered us the blood of all her victims in return."

"Which explains why you were so eager to bite me," Karlia mused.

Constant made to move but then realized he was still frozen.

"Karlia, unfreeze me please," he asked. "We can walk and talk, but we must keep moving."

Karlia nodded, she knew she could trust him. She didn't know how but she knew she could.

A spell was chanted to freeze this man

But his legs are needed please.

All of good witches stand behind me

Help me and allow him to unfreeze.

Like the melting of ice on a particularly balmy day whatever was keeping Constant frozen began to wear off. Little by little, starting with his arms and hands and working down to his feet he unfroze.

"Thanks," Constant replied and without thinking hugged Karlia.

"You're Welcome," she replied kissing him in turn.

Constant smiled at her and she smiled back.

"Ok, let's move," Karlia said remembering his warning.

As they walked out of the bedroom she continued the interrogation she had started.

"So why did your family accept?" she reminded.

"Well my parents wanted to accept the offer as we are actually running low on, ah, supplies." He replied.

"It's ok," Karlia said. "You can say blood."

The moment it came out of her mouth, she knew it was true. She may not have known everything about Constant, but she was falling for him and quite heavily and this in turn was allowing her to cope with everything about him and who he was.

Alec smiled sheepishly.

"Well yeah, blood," he admitted. "And no one good or evil wants to work with us, so it was too good an offer to refuse."

"Sounds like it was your only offer," Karlia replied as she pushed open the door into the next room.

"It was," Alec agreed.

The next room was some sort of music rehearsal room. Instruments scattered the walls from Piano's and Drum kits through to flutes and clarinets. The doorway out was even shaped like a cello with strings hanging down to create a curtain similar to the Indian beaded style but with cello strings.

"Wow I so judged this guy too quickly," Karlia admitted not helping to look around.

"How could you?" Constant asked. "His design taste was flawless for the time."

"Yeah, yeah," Karlia shoed away, she would deal with history another time.

"Karlia," he started, grabbing her hands and looking at her. "I want you to know, despite everything you know, have seen or even heard that my love for you was always true."

"I know Constant," she replied. "I feel like I've always known. Not to be all mushy but, you connect in a way that no one else has with me."

"Or me," Constant agreed, kissing her once more.

"I promise," Karlia started pulling back. "We will find a way to work everything out. I may be bound to good, but it's not fair that you are being forced to choose because you're out of food. We'll fix this, I promise."

She kissed him again this time lingering much longer.

"*"

"Ok so I have a plan on how we can destroy Katya once and for all," Allyria said.

"And we're all ears," Philippe replied smiling.

"But there are a few gritty details we need to deal with first," Allyria continued.

Philippe and Leo looked at each other before looking back at the Queen.

"First of all we need to ensure that my sister Chessie does not get wind of this happening. She is Katya's best friend and in truth, the reason Katya was brought back to life."

"Chessie's a vampire too right?" Philippe asked.

"Why did she need Katya to come back?" Leo asked.

"Both good questions," Allyria replied. "To answer yours Philippe, yes Chessie is a vampire. She is my younger sister and was turned not too long after I was."

She then turned to Leo.

"To answer your question Leo," she continued. "When our father the vampire king passed on there was a void that needed to be filled. As our mother had already passed and being that they only sired daughters it was to fall to one of us. My sister did everything she could to convince them she was the rightful queen, however seniority won-out in the end and I was crowned. Since then my sister sought revenge by aligning herself with evil."

"Jealousy is an ugly, ugly thing," Philippe remarked.

"Indeed it is Philippe," Allyria agreed. "Naturally she tried to align herself with many a demon or warlock but none of them were even remotely interested. That was until she met Katya. As Katya had her own intentions to become queen of the underworld…I believe you would call that person the source…am I right?"

Both nodded.

"She was more than happy to take my sister under her wing. The pair of them were trouble from the start and even planned to burn down our kingdom, however the former power of three foiled that plan as they vanquished her a week before they were due to carry out their plans."

"That explains a lot," Leo replied.

"It does?" Philippe asked.

"Well yeah," Leo confirmed. "Without Katya, Chessie wouldn't have all the power she needed to burn the kingdom. Naturally she'd want her back."

"Quite so Leo, quite so," Allyria replied. "She worked day and night until she found the cure and brought her back eventually. As gratitude for her revival Katya set Chessie up with a job at some restaurant and promised they'd seek revenge soon. However as time passed our kingdom started lacking in everything they needed. Blood supplies were at an all time low and finances were nowhere near what they once were. So Katya and Chessie devised a plan to take over the world."

"And let me guess," Philippe interrupted. "Step one, procure the emerald jewel."

"Exactly," Allyria confirmed. "Once either of them had acquired the jewel the other would have the power to destroy not only our kingdom but any that took their fancy. Naturally we knew we had to stop them at all costs."

"But then," Philippe pondered aloud. "Why join her?"

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer," Leo replied.

Philippe shot a wry smile at his lover before turning back to Allyria.

"He's right," she agreed. "We needed to infiltrate Katya's…residence…if you can call it hers… and discover her plan so that we could thwart it."

"But we stopped Chessie from getting the Jewel!" Philippe answered. "Karlia has it."

"Oh well indeed," Allyria replied. "That does changes things. I just assumed Chessie would have it by now."

"No," Leo replied. "Karlia summoned it from her moments after she took it from its resting place."

"Oh but that's wonderful!" Allyria replied clasping her hands together and rising from the table. "Ok, well we're just about set. I just need to tell you one more thing and it's a little hard to say."

"Take your time your majesty," Philippe coaxed politely.

"Thank you Philippe," she replied. "You are too kind. For you see gentlemen, my husband holds the key to her vanquish."

Leo looked at Allyria in surprise.

"What does Ettore have to do with this?" Leo asked.

Allyria smiled at the white lighter knowing his name.

"Who?" Philippe asked.

"Ettore is the man we saw earlier with Katya, he is also the vampire queen's husband," Leo rushed quickly.

"Yes my darling husband befell to a curse placed on him by…her," Allyria advised.

"What?" Philippe cried out. "How?"

"To make the transformation back into the living comes with a price Philippe," Allyria replied. "It's different with every species. For demons they need to have a living bond to someone."

"But wouldn't Chessie?-" Philippe started.

"Chessie?" Allyria laughed. "She'd just as soon stake herself before offering to be a living bond! No, instead she stole blood from my precious Ettore and used him as the bond."

"And the only way to vanquish Katya for good," Leo started. "Is to stake Ettore."

"Precisely," Allyria frowned. "It is not something I wish to think about but you must know this before we vanquish her."

"Well we'll just not vanquish her," Philippe replied. "Your majesty, I'm sure there's another way."

"Alas Philippe there is not," Allyria advised. "I have searched since I first discovered this information and suffice it to say this is the only way."

Philippe's emotions went from pleased, to saddened to morose. This was terrible news and definitely must have been heartbreaking for the queen.

"Now Constant does not know about this," she continued. "So if you'll allow me a moment with him first then we can do some quick stake training at a neutral location and then end this once and for all."

"Of course your majesty," Philippe replied. "We can use my place."

"You are too kind Philippe," Allyria acknowledged. "Thank you."

"I'm just so sorry about all this," Philippe said.

"Me too Philippe," Allyria replied sadly. "Me too."

"*"

Well there we go!

A chapter filled with explainations from Matt, Alec and Allyria!

So what did you think about Matt's discussion with Selena? What about Alec's with Karlia? And what did you think of Allyria and the curse on her husband? Did you know Chessie was partially behind all this?

Please review and let me know.

And now onto chapter 9….