AN: Alright sorry for taking so long to update! Time got away from us as Cassie got me wrapped up in Harry Potter! So in this chapter Ash will have a "talk" with Nick, which in Cassie and my terms it means Ash will turn blue and Nick will be gasping for air. So… sit back relax and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own Fie and Blonde Roman Tonks owns Dara and Grace!

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Ash rolled his shoulders as he looked at Tory.

"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you? I can hold off the bitch-goddess in case she tries anything funny." Tory asked, hoping Ash would change his mind.

He shook his head. "Not with Nick there. I don't want you hurt and if he's angry or out of control of his emotions he can kill me let alone you. I'm not going to risk it."

Tory kissed him softly on the lips after she nodded.

"Call someone if you need back up, preferably me, but I know you won't so call Zarek," Tory smirked. "I'm sure he'd love to see her again and rub it in that he's still breathing."

Ash laughed as he kissed her once more. "You are evil and I love it. I've got to go, but I'll be back soon. I just need a little chat with Nick about Dara."

Tory stepped back and nodded. Ash grinned at her before he flashed himself to Artie's temple on Olympus. He clenched his eyes closed assuming the worst. When he heard Nick curse and scramble for his clothes, Ash was thankful for taking the chance on not being on his guard.

"What do you want?" Nick snarled.

Ash opened his eyes and glared at the younger man, his body changing to its true form. Ash moved with grace as he lunged at Nick, pinning him against the wall with his forearm across his throat.

"How dare you, you filthy little Cajun? You dare come to New Orleans, my turf, and threaten my niece? Do you have a death wish, boy? I didn't curse you to this fate as much as you want to blame me and attacking Dara will only bring down my wrath, Apollymi's, Savitar's, the Weres, my Hunters, the Dreams. You are going to turn many people against you, including your own friends if you don't grow a damned brain."

Nick had the audacity to smirk even though his breathing was shallow.

"You can't kill me." he taunted.

Ash shook his head. "Not alone I can't, but you keep whatever you're playing with Dara up and together we all will kill you. Don't forget, you're messing with two of the most powerful beings with thousands of followers. Don't fuck with Dara."

Ash pulled back and watched Nick slump to the floor. Ash kicked his body once before flashing back to New Orleans.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Dara sighed as she leaned against Otto during her class. She'd stuck with not stopping school and because of that, Otto now attended her classes with her. He wasn't a student again but the teachers didn't mind. As long as he behaved.

Otto felt Dara's sigh on his arm. "You okay?"

Dara nodded. "Just having trouble focusing."

"Wanna head home after this class?" Otto asked softly.

Dara bit her lip. It was only her second class. She still had two more but she really didn't want to be there.

"Not home." she said. "How about Sanctuary?"

Otto nodded. "You got it."

Thankfully the last hour of class went by fast and soon the two were on their way to the Sanctuary. Dara not only used the bar as a place away from her parents but she worked part time waiting tables.

The closer they got to the bar, the more Dara was filled with a sense that something was wrong. Very wrong. Otto noticed the look on Dara's face.

"Tesoro?" he said softly, taking her hand. "Cosa c'è di sbagliato?" What's wrong? When they were alone, Otto found he tended to fall back to Italian when talking.

Dara shook her head. "Non posso dirlo." I can't tell. "Something's off at Sanctuary."

Otto pushed his foot down on the gas, blowing the speed limit out of the water. If there was one thing he'd learned in all the years he'd known Dara, it was the always trust her feelings. If she felt something wrong some serious shit had gone down.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Within minutes they were stopping in front of the Sanctuary and Dara was out of the car before Otto had it off. They charged through the door and froze. The place was trashed.

"What-"

"Nick," Dev said, coming over to the two. "he left a message."

Dara took the paper Dev handed her and opened it with shaking hands as Otto's phone rang.

'This is just the beginning.' it read. 'Tell Daddy the longer he keeps you protected, the more his Weres lose.'

Dara clenched her free hand and one of the only tables still standing shattered. Dev brought up an arm to shield his face.

"Hey!" he cried.

Dara pulled in her powers. "Sorry."

Dev waved it off. "Par for the course, kid."

"That son of a bitch!"

Dev and Dara turned at Otto's outburst.

"What?" the two asked.

Otto faced them. "The little bastard hit two other major Were Sanctuarys."

Dara's control slipped again and another table shattered. Dev cursed and covered himself.

"Girl, if you're going to shatter things," Dev said. "can it please be Nick's skull and not the few tables that made it through this?"

Suddenly the room was back to normal, every table and chair where it should be. The three turned and saw Ash and Savitar standing in the doorway. Neither 'other' looked happy.

"Pull it in, little girl." Savitar said.

Dara glared at her father. "Do not call me little girl."

"Then act like an adult and get a grip on your powers." Savitar said.

Those in the room knew Savitar wasn't being harsh on purpose. Pushing Dara's buttons was how she learned to control her powers. The same way Grace had learned to control most of hers. With high emotions and a lot of prodding.

Otto settled his hands on Dara's shoulders as she shut her eyes and pulled her control back together. She was scared, she was pissed and she needed control in order to kick Nick's ass for the problems he was causing.

"What do we do?" Dara asked once her control was back.

"Well he's not getting you, that's for sure." Ash said.

"I won't let the Weres take any hits to keep me safe." Dara said. "It's not fair to them."

"Kid, we'll do anything to keep you safe." Dev said.

Dara held back an eye roll. "You guys, yes. But not all the Weres share that mindset Dev. No matter how much Dad threatens."

"They'll fall in line, whether they like it or not." Savitar said.

Dara shook her head. "No. Not for me. I'm not worth it. Find another way to leash Nick or I'll go to him. Damn the consequences."

Before anyone could respond, Dara was gone. She'd flashed out.

"Since when can she do that?" Dev asked.

Savitar sighed. "Since Ash granted her the ability to get away from Nick."

Dev nodded and crossed his arms. "You didn't think she'd use it to pull a bit of latent teenage rebellion, did ya?"

Savitar rubbed a hand over his face. "Not really, no."

Ash crossed his arms. "Give her time. She's like her mother." he glanced at Otto. "You're still here, because?"

Otto smirked. "You also gave her the ability to mask her trail. I'm as clueless as you are to where she is."

Dev snorted. "That was a mistake."

Ash pulled at his phone as it beeped. "She's with Tory and Simi."

"Good." Savitar said. "As long as she's safe."

"Now how about we come up with a plan that won't piss Dara off?" Otto suggested.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

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Yeah, bit of a weird ending but it actually worked how I wanted. I'm sure there will be an angry Sav rant about Dara's 'I'm not worth it' comment in the next chapter. For now, let us know what you think, flame policy stands and thanks for reading.

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