When we arrive at the hospital I am bombarded with questions from Katy's mother, the doctors, and the police. Other than telling them that I saw a man dressed all in black attacking her and that I scared him off, there isn't more that I can say. Not long after we arrived at the hospital, Katy regained consciousness, thank god because now they can ask her all of the questions and I can hover in the shadows, like a sentry watching over her and taking care of her.

By the look on Katy's face after the fifth time she tells her story and answers the same questions that she's already answered in one way or another, she's ready to throttle someone. It's kind of sick that I'm turned on to and attracted to her feisty attitude. I think that's what I like most about her. She doesn't try to be too accommodating and she isn't fake, like her or not, she's just Katy. And I like her. The more I'm around her the more I realize that I shouldn't be around her, but I also realize that I can't stay away from her.

When the police were finally finished asking her questions, they came over to me and asked me a few more. I didn't have much more to add to what I already told them, but I tried to be accommodating. I didn't want to raise any red flags or anything. The story was, I heard a scream and found the man choking her. I ran up to help her and the man ran off. I didn't see where he went, nor did I try to follow him. The fact that I fought him, that he tried to take my essence, and that I hit him with a ball of light were things that they wouldn't understand and therefore would never know.

The familiar cop clapped me on the back and gave me a smile. He was very nice and tried to be helpful when Dawson disappeared. He asked about my sister and asked if we needed anything. It still amazes me when a human is this nice, they all seem to be so self-centered that they don't see what is happening around them. So when I encounter humans like this cop or Katy, I'm shocked.

The cop turns from me and I see Katy's mom hovering by her bed asking all the same questions again. Katy looks as though she wants to just leave her alone and go away.

"Miss Swartz," the nice cop says.

She turns, surprised and looks at him confused. "Yes?"

"I think we are pretty much done for tonight. If you remember anything else, please call us immediately."

I doubt there is anything else she's going to remember, there isn't any more they can do. I'll hunt the bastard down that hurt her and kill him, as soon as I can. There won't be anything the local authorities can do about this one.

Katy nods her head at the cop and she winces from the pain.

"Honey, are you okay?" her mother asks her.

"My head, it hurts," Katy complains.

Her mother stands and looks her over, "I'll go find the doctor so we can get those meds in you. Then you won't feel a thing."

Katy smiles slightly at her mother as she rushes out of the room. As the cop starts to leave behind her he turns to her and smiles, "I don't think you have anything to worry about. I…"

Suddenly he stops, his radio crackling to life on his shoulder. The sound of the dispatcher coming over the radio calling all units to a female victim in the area that is probably dead. The cop responds to the dispatcher and rushes out of the room without another word. The sound of the dispatcher's words hovering in the air, 'EMTs on the scene, possible DOA.'

Well damn, I guess the Arum found someone to take his anger out on. I'm going to have to find him quickly and take care of him before anyone else gets hurt, or worse. Feeling horrible about the fact that some random girl lost her life for no reason other than the Arum's fury at losing Katy and me, I look over toward her and thank whatever gods are out there that I made it to her in time.

After a few moments of silence, her mother comes rushing back in. "Honey, Dr. Michaels has good news."

An older man with dark hair, graying on the sides walks into the room behind her mother and looks Katy over. He brings his gaze up to me for just a moment, but then returns it to Katy. "As you already know," he says, "you have no broken bones and it also looks like you don't have a concussion. Once we can release you, you can go home and rest." He looks from Kat to me again and continues. "Now, if you start experiencing dizziness or nausea, vision issues or loss of memory, we need you back here immediately."

"Okay," Katy says quietly.

The doctor leaves the room as Katy looks at her mother expectantly. The pills and water in hand, her mother gives them to her.

Out in the hall, Dee's voice sounds. I probably shouldn't have texted her, but I really had no choice. She was so worried about Katy leaving the house tonight while she was out with Adam. And the fact that I missed her leave and didn't stop her, Dee was a mess.

"Oh no, Katy, are you okay?" Dee asks.

"Yes. Just a little banged up." Katy lifts her bandaged arm. Dee's face pales.

"I can't believe this has happened," Dee says. Then turning to me and glaring at me. "How could this have happened? I thought you…"

"Dee," I warn. I don't know where she was going with that comment, but it is best left for when we are alone.

Dee turns back to Katy and pales once more, "I'm so sorry about this."

"It's not your fault," Katy says. No it's not Dee's fault, it's mine. If I'd have just stayed away from the girl, this wouldn't have happened. Now staying away from her might be impossible.

Her mother's name was called over the intercom and she quickly left, promising to return quickly. Dee turned to Katy, "Can you leave soon?"

"I guess so," Katy says, sounding drowsy and unfocused. "As long as my mom comes back."

Dee nods, "Did… you see the guy who attacked you?"

"Yeah, he said some crazy stuff. Something about finding 'them'. I don't know." She paused for a moment and I hoped that she wouldn't go much further with her explanation. Dee's going to be freaking out as it is, add an Arum on the loose to that and she's going to be terrified for both us and Katy. "Weird."

"I hope you can leave soon. I hate hospitals."

I just want to get out of here and go find that dammed Arums so I can put Dee's mind at ease.

"I do, too."

"They have… such a strange smell to them," Dee says.

"That's what I've always told Mom, but she thinks I make it up."

I stand there, listening to their conversation about the hospital. Closing my eyes I try to forget what she looked like broken and battered on the ground, the should of her cries as the Arum tried to torture her enough to get her to tell him where 'they' are. Not that Katy know who 'they' are, but it probably wouldn't be hard for her to figure out.

Dee continued to talk about leaving the hospital and taking Katy home. I don't know what it is about hospitals and why Dee is so adamant about getting her out of here, but she's relentless in her chatter.

I open my eyes for a moment and see Katy struggling in the bed to move. Her face blocked by Dee's body, I can't see why she's struggling or what she's looking for. I close my eyes again and try to just take in everything I hear and try to remember everything that happened tonight with the Arum. He had me for a minute. He was going for my powers, but he was too quick to try to go for the prize. I wasn't anywhere near ready to lie down and let him kill me. Stupid ass Arum, sometimes I wonder how they survive without being found or without being hunted into extinction.

The sound of Dee's chatter and Katy's periodic responses is kind of lulling in a way. I know there is nothing here that is a threat at this moment. But I need to go find that guy and take care of him before one of us gets hurt or before he decides to kill another random human for no reason, it's not like he gets anything out of killing humans.

Suddenly her mother's voice breaks through my thoughts. She's apologizing for leaving Katy and for the fact that she may be here a while longer. Well, if this is where Katy is, this is where I'll be. I'm not leaving her side until we are back home and then I'll watch over her from there.

"Ms. Swartz, we can take her home," Dee says, snapping me out of my thoughts once more. "I'm sure she wants to go home. I know I would and it would be no problem for us to do it."

I open my eyes and find Katy practically begging her mother to take her home and her mother with a look of fear and worry in her eyes. "I would feel better if she was here or with me, in case she does have a concussion and, well, I don't want anything else to happen."

It would probably be best for her to stay here, not that this is the most comfortable place in the world.

"We would never let anything happen. We'll take her right home and stay with her. I promise."

I looked between Katy and her mother and could see the fear and worry in both of them. Her mother wrestling with her responsibilities as a mother and a nurse and Katy just wanting her mother to take care of her. This is a bond that we have never had the opportunity to have.

I can feel my face soften at the family dynamic displayed in front of me. For all of the freedom that we have, the feel of a parent who cares for us without waver is something I wish we could have had. When Katy's eyes find mine, the expression on her face changes, like she feels comfortable with knowing that I'll be there.

"It's okay, Mom. I'm feeling a lot better, and I'm sure nothing else is wrong. I don't want to stay here."

And with that her mother agrees, with a little swearing and instructions in case something happens, she agrees to allow Dee and me to take Katy home. I'm not sure when I agreed to stay with her, but the look in Katy's eyes tells me the only reason she's agreeing to this is because I'm going to be there. I don't know if that is wishful thinking or not.

After her mother leaves, Kat turns to Dee, "Thank you. But you don't have to stay with me."

Dee frowns, "Yes, I will. No arguments. I'll go see what I can do to spring you from this place."

After Dee leaves, I move to the foot of her bed and look her over. Her eyes closed, I think the medication may have finally taken effect, until she reopens them and focuses on me then closes them once more.

"Are you going to insult me again? I'm not up to… pear for that."

I smirk, "I think you meant par."

"Pear. Par. Whatever."

She opens her eyes and meets my gaze.

"Are you okay?" I ask her.

"I'm great." She yawns and I can't help but think of all of the reasons that I call her Kitten. That yawn reminded me of a big yawn that a kitten would have. It makes me want to smile. "Your sister acts as if this is her fault."

I sigh, "She doesn't like it when people get hurt. And people tend to get hurt around us." As much as I hate to admit it, people do get hurt around us. Not just us, but all Luxen. There's always someone out there to hurt us and the people we get close to.

"What does that mean?" she asks but I don't respond. There is nothing I can say short of telling her everything in order for her to understand, so it's best to say nothing. But there is a part of me that wants to tell her everything. To let her in on this big secret that is our lives. I've never wanted to share this with anyone before, but something makes me want to tell her.

Dee rushes back in, and I'm saved from the awkward silence. "We're good to go, with doctor's orders and all."

I move over to the side of her bed. "Come on, let's get you home." I gently place my hands behind her and help her to sit up then stand. As soon as she stands, she stumbles a few steps. Supporting her weight, I hold on to her so she doesn't fall or pass out.

"Whoa, I feel buzzed."

I continue to hold on to her as Dee talks to her.

"I think the pills are starting to work."

"Am I… slurring yet?" she asks.

Dee giggles a little, "Not at all."

Her body starts to slump into me more, I don't think she even realizes that I am holding most of her weight right now. To stop her from falling and hurting herself more, I whisk her up into my arms and pull her against my chest. The pressure of her weight and the heat emanating from her body is relaxing and alluring to me. Gently I place her in the wheelchair that Dee brought into the room. I would gladly carry her out to the car if I could. "Hospital rules," I explain when she gives me a confused look.

I wheel her out to the receptionist's desk where they have several papers for her to sign for her release. I guess her mother is busy with the multi-car accident. Steering her through the parking lot, I keep my eyes trained on our surroundings to make sure there are no Arum or other threats looming in the darkness.

At Dee's car I gently lift her out of the wheelchair and carry her to the back seat. Placing her inside she gives me a wry look. "I can walk, you know." Being that she's starting to slur her words and is clearly feeling the effects of the pain medication, I'm pretty sure if I left her to walk she'd fall down and probably go to sleep.

I snicker a little. "I know."

Walking around the car, I slide into the back seat next to her. Dee climbs into the front seat and starts the car. After a moment, Katy's head droops and she slides toward me, depositing her head on my chest. The internal struggle of whether to hold on to her or move her away begins again and just like when we were on her porch, the desires pummel the knowledge of what is right. I wrap my arm around her shoulders.

With Dee's eyes on the road, pulling out of the parking lot and Katy basically passed out, I let the healing warmth pass from me to her, mending her cuts and diminishing her bruises. She snuggles in closer, pressing tighter to me and I respond by tightening my grip on her and pulling her to me. I want to keep her here, keep her safe with me, even though I know it's not right and I know it's dangerous.

After a few moments of silence, I'm pretty positive that she's asleep at this point but it's hard to tell. Dee speaks up, worry and sadness in her voice. "I told her not to go. I could still see it."

I take in a deep breath. "I know." I look down at Katy's face, she really seems to be sleeping. "Don't worry. I'm not going to let anything happen this time. I swear." I don't want anything to happen to her, I don't want her to be hurt again. When I saw what the Arum was doing to her and how badly she was beaten, I wanted to kill him, I still want to kill him. Not just because he's an Arum and it's my job, but because by attacking her, he made it personal.

"You did something, didn't you?" Dee asks at a whisper. "It's stronger now."

I take in a deep breath, it's not like I had much of a choice the ass hat was going for my powers and he hurt her. "I didn't… mean to." I look down at her and gently move her hair from her face. The swollen black eye is pretty much gone now, only the slightest trace of a bruise is still there. The bruises on her neck are faded as well. "It just happened. Shit."

After a few more moments Dee says, "I thought you were going to keep an eye on her."

"Dee, I tried. She left without me seeing. It's not like I could hover over her every moment. I got there as fast as I could."

"What happened?"

"I fought the Arum. I had to."

She simply nods her head as she turns up our secluded little road and onto our driveway. Once parked, I gently sit Katy up so that I can go around the car and lift her out. Dee runs ahead to her house to open the door.

When I get her inside, Dee turns to me. "You don't have to stay, if you don't want to."

"It's fine. I'll stay."

Giving me a look that I can't read, she smiles and turns to close the door. "I'm going to run home to get a change of clothes and something to much on. Do you want anything?"

"No." I carry Katy into the living room and place her gently on the couch and sit down next to her. Alone again, I go through everything that's happened in the past couple days and everything I've felt. None of its right, and none of it's a good idea, but I can't stop what I feel. I would destroy the world to protect my sister, I would do the same for Katy.

I lie her down on the couch and look her over. Her bruises and cuts are much better now that I was able to really heal her. A moment later Dee comes in the house with some ice cream and in her pajamas.

"I have ice cream," she says with a smile.

"Dee, I have to go find the Arum. He tried to kill Kat tonight and he killed a human. I have to go find him, do you understand."

She looks nervous but sighs, "Yes, I understand. Please be careful." I pull her into a hug and zip out of the house and back into town.

Finding the Arum isn't as hard as I'd feared. Skulking around the hospital, he moves in and out of the shadows. Probably hoping for an opportunity to find Katy or me. Well, big boy. Here I am.

"Boy, don't you have anything better to do than hang around a hospital? Guess you didn't get your fill for the night, did you?"

He looks at me and growls. "Luxen, I knew where the girl was you wouldn't be far behind. You Luxen are so predictable."

"Whatever, the girl isn't even here anymore. While you were snacking on the human, she was released and taken home."

"Ahhh… So you've come to seek revenge for the human girl then? Interesting."

Without another word, the Arum turns to shadow and launches himself at me. This one really is rather stupid. He must be the runt of the litter or something. Crashing into me, he turns into his human form and tries to pin me down. But my strength over powers him and I send him flying with a well-placed bolt of light. I take the obsidian blade from the strap on my calf and ready myself for a fight.

He comes at me once more, nothing but shadow and darkness surrounding him. As soon as he's in range I lash out with the blade, but he anticipates the move and sweeps past me, causing the darkness to engulf me for just a moment.

With the obsidian in one hand and the source building in the other I launch the light through the darkness and slice up with the blade, cutting through his shadow form. He bursts apart in a billion pieces, scattering through the night.

Replacing the obsidian, I race back to Katy's house.

When I arrive, Dee is already asleep on the recliner, empty the container of ice cream sitting on her lap. I smile and take the container to the kitchen. I return to the living room and sit on the couch next to Katy's head. She seems to be in a fitful sleep, groaning and moving around. Gently I take her head and place it on my lap and smooth her hair from her face. I place my hand on the curve of her hip and gently move my hand, trying to lull her back to sleep.

When I wake in the morning, Dee is sound asleep on the recliner and Kat is still sleeping on my lap. Her rhythmic breaths lulling and pulling me back under. A few moments later I feel Katy shifting. She must feel the pain and be remembering what happened last night because she starts to take in deep breaths. I don't move when I realize that my hand is on her hip. She moves her head and seems to be debating on something, maybe she's having trouble sitting up.

"You okay, Kitten?" I ask her.

"Daemon?" she whispers. "I… sorry. I didn't mean to sleep on you."

Even though I basically led her here and had probably the best night sleep of my life next to her I don't say that. "It's okay."

She tries to sit up, so I help her, gently guiding her until she was completely upright. As soon as I take my hand from her, she wobbles. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. You stayed here all night?"

"Yeah," where did she think I was going to go? Doesn't she feel the pull that I feel when I'm with her? "Do you remember anything?" I ask.

She nods and winces a bit, "I was attacked last night."

"Someone tried to mug you," I tell her, hoping to convince her that it was nothing more than a mugging gone wrong.

She shakes her head and looks at me like she knows that's wrong. Why is it so hard to convince this girl of anything? "He wasn't trying to mug me," she says firmly.

"Kat…"

"No," she says, trying to stand. I put my arm around her waist, holding her there next to me. "He didn't want my money, Daemon. He wanted them."

Stiffening, I don't look at her. How can I convince her that this was just some everyday psycho and not something that was out of the ordinary? "That doesn't make any sense."

"No shit," she insists. "But he kept asking about where they were and about a trace."

Dammit, what can I do? "The guy was insane. You realize that right? That he wasn't right in the head. That nothing he said means anything."

"I don't know. He didn't seem crazy."

God, why does she have to make this so flipping difficult? "Trying to beat the crap out of a girl isn't crazy enough for you? I'm curious what you think is crazy."

She scowls, "That's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?" I shift so I can look at her but I'm careful not to move her or jar her as I do it. "He was a random lunatic, but you're going to make it bigger than it is, aren't you?" I hate what I'm going to have to do here. If she won't listen to reason and just succumb to the idea that he was just a nut job looking for someone to screw with, then I am going to have to bully her into the idea. I hate it, but it's necessary for her safety. She can't go around questioning what happened last night, it'll only lead to more problems.

"I'm not making this anything," she insists. "Daemon, that wasn't a normal lunatic."

I snicker, normal lunatic… "Oh, you're an expert on crazy people now?"

"A month with you and I feel like I have a master's degree in the subject."

I love when she gets all feisty with me. Pissed off she pulls away and glares at me. But the motion makes her wobble in her seat. I reach out and put my hand on her arm, keeping contact with her. "You okay?" I ask and when she doesn't immediately respond. "Kat?"

She shakes my hand off of her, scowling again. "Yeah, I'm okay."

Without looking at her, because I know if I look into her eyes I'm liable to tell her everything, I turn on my cold and cruel attitude. I need for her to understand that talking about this, worrying about this is not going to be good. It will draw attention to her and it will be dangerous for all of us.

"I know you're probably messed up after what happened last night, but don't make this something it's not."

"Daemon…," she whimpers. I have to cut her off, I have to make her listen, understand. I can't look at her, I can't.

"I don't want Dee worried that there is an idiot out there attacking girls. Do you understand me?" My voice is cruel and vicious, my eyes hard and unwavering. She has to listen, she has to understand.

I glance toward her for just a moment and almost fold and tell her everything when I see her lip tremble, like she's going to cry. My viciousness is a necessary evil, but I don't have to like what I'm doing. This poor girl has been through so much, what I'm doing right now, it's not fair. She now thinks that I only care about my sister and I care nothing for her and what she's been through. I know that's got to be what she's feeling. I hate that I have to do this to her. But it is for her good and ours.

She looks up and our eyes lock. I try to soften my gaze but at the same time will her to understand that my words are not what I mean. I need her to understand that forgetting and moving on are what is best right now, not dwelling on everything.

On the recliner Dee yawns loudly and stretches. I don't waver from my gaze though, I need Kat to understand.

Katy looks toward Dee, just as she sits up and smiles. "Good morning! Have you guys been awake long?"

I sigh, "No, Dee, we just woke up and were talking. You were snoring so loudly we couldn't stay asleep any longer."

Dee snorts, "I doubt that. Katy, are you feeling… okay this morning?"

"Yeah, I'm a little sore and stiff, but overall okay."

Dee smiles, but the guilt is still evident in her eyes. She needs to stop, this isn't her fault, its mine. Dee stretches once more before trying to tame her wild mess of hair. "I think I'm going to make you breakfast."

Oh good lord help us all, she can't be left alone in a kitchen. I don't even know if she really knows how to use a stove. But before I can object or offer in her place she is out of the living room and dashing to the kitchen. Pots and pans clanging around I just shake my head. I'm going to have to go save her before she burns down Katy's house.

"Okay," Katy grumbles.

Standing I stretch my hands over my head, popping muscles and bones back into place from sitting up, sleeping all night. Without making eye contact with Katy, I try to explain my motives without telling her anything of importance but trying to get her to understand that what I say is important. "I care more about my sister than I do anything in this universe. I'd do anything for her, to make sure she's safe. Please don't worry her with crazy stories."

She sighs and I know I've gotten to her. It's wrong and I hate doing it but I had to.

"You're a dick, but I won't say anything to her." Looking down at her I feel so regretful for having to bully her into this. It isn't fair and it isn't right. She looks up and meets my gaze. "Okay? Happy?"

I sigh, no I'm not happy. I'm not happy about any of this, especially the way I'm treating her right now. "Not really. Not at all."

We continue to stare at each other, I wish I could read minds to understand what she was thinking. I wish I could share with her all of the things that I want to share and confide in her.

"Daemon!" Dee calls from the kitchen. "I need your help!" Oh good grief. Call out the fire department, things are going to get bad quick.

"We should go see what she's doing before she destroys your kitchen." I groan once more, "It's possible."

We walk out of the living room and I turn toward the kitchen. Turning away, Katy stops. "I think I need to… go."

Confused, I look at her. Her disheveled hair and the pink blush covering her cheeks are sweet and… I need to stop now. "Go… where?"

The pink rises even more, "Upstairs. I need a shower."

I just nod and turn back toward the kitchen. It's probably better if she doesn't see what Dee has going on in there anyway. The last think I need to try to do is convince her that Dee really wasn't cooking bacon with her hands.

When I get into the kitchen, Dee is standing there trying to figure out how to work the stove but nothing's happening. She's got food everywhere, egg shells and wrappers cluttering the counter and pots and pans all over the floor. When she sees me she smiles slightly.

"Is she really going to be okay?"

"Yeah, she'll be fine," I sigh. "You have nothing to worry about. Nothing is happening. Everything was taken care of when I came back here."

Dee looks at me skeptically. "Don't look like that. Nothing will happen to you. Or her, okay? We should've expected this."

"Did you?" Dee asks. "Because I was trying not to. I was trying to hope that we could have a friend – a real one – without them getting…," I pull her to me and wrap her in a hug, her voice muffled in my shirt, "to her. Will I still be able to be friends with her now? Will I be able to…?"

"Who knows, Dee? We will see how it plays out." I release her and she goes back to beating the eggs that she had been cracking when I entered. "I think you are beating those eggs to death. Here, let me have them."

She laughs a little and hands them over. "You know I can do it. I'm a great cook."

"Sure you are. But you have no idea how to use a stove."

"Yes I do, but there are faster things than the stove."

"And that is why you burn the food all of the time."

She giggles, but then turns solemn. "Did you really get rid of the Arum last night?"

"Yes, Dee. I told you, you have nothing to worry about. I took care of it. There's nothing more to worry about, I promise."