I was really getting irritated about passing out and waking up in the same freaking room over and over again. It was getting old and fast. I sat up and my hand automatically went to my neck but I didn't feel anything. The marks were gone. The door swung open and Raidyn strode into the room, followed by Gregory. Raidyn stopped just inside the door but Gregory kept coming. He didn't miss a step as he grabbed my arm and literally pulled me off the bed.

"Let go of me!" I yelled, struggling against Gregory's grip.

Neither of them said anything as they continued down the corridor. I finally stopped struggling, realizing that it was a useless gesture. I let them lead me down the three flights of stairs; we didn't stop until we'd come to a solid black door at the end of the hall. Raidyn pushed open the door. Once inside, Gregory threw me to the ground.

"So nice of you to join us."

I looked up to see Blane standing against the far wall, arms crossed, a smile plastered on his face.

"Fuck you," I spat.

He chuckled. "Bring them in," he said to someone over my shoulder. I heard the door open again and two figures were thrown on the ground next to me.

"The Thorne Family, together again," Blane laughed.

"Let them go. It's me you want," I said.

"No, no, no," Blane said. "I don't want you. I want your family's magic. And the only way to do that is to take out your family, one by one, by seniority. You see, I killed Mommy and Daddy first, next is Kaige, then Shayne, and then you."

"There's no way you'll get our magic."

"Oh, but I've already got it," he said, that sinister smile mocking my every word. He looked toward my brothers and motioned for them to rise. They did. They looked down at me and that's when I saw it. The evil that had settled inside of their souls. They weren't human anymore. I don't know how I could have missed it; they must have used their newfound vampiric powers to make me believe they were still human.

"You've sold your souls to the devil," I whispered.

"You see, I killed them and took their powers, then brought them back. They've been working for me the entire time. Ever since Mommy and Daddy," Blane said, squatting down so that he was eye level with me. "They were easy and their magic adds to my power as it is, but you...you are a rarity all by yourself. A conjurer. The only one in the history of your family."

"Get away from me," I said murderously.

"I don't have to kill you, you know. In fact, you could be very useful to me," he mused. "Join me. Become immortal and keep your magic, or be the last of your line and your family's magic will be lost forever. The choice is yours."

I have to admit that the offer was very tempting. I'd already been through so much, but this was an easy out. I didn't want an easy out. I wanted Blane to pay for what he had done.

I laughed. "You killed my parents. You turned my best friends. You took away my brothers," I said. "There is no way in Hell, I would ever join you."

"Very well," Blane said.

I closed my eyes and waited for Blane to strike.

"Wait!"

My eyes shot open at the sound of Raidyn's voice.

"What is the meaning of this?" Blane growled at the interruption.

"You can't kill her," Raidyn said.

"And why not?"

"She's my mate," Raidyn said after a short moment.

There was a brief moment of silence and then…

All hell broke loose.

Blane lunged at Raidyn. Kaige and Shayne followed suit. Soon every vampire was fighting another one of their kind. Vampires, by nature, were solitary hunters. It was very rarely when three or more lived together as group.

I stood up and moved to the corner. It was every vampire for himself and I was smack dab in the middle of it all. Raidyn and Blane were going at it and it looked like Blane was losing. Kaige and Shayne were fighting each other. In a split second, Shayne plunged his hand into Kaige's chest and pulled out his heart and crushed in his hands. Kaige fell to the ground. Dead as a doornail.

In the midst of all the chaos, I was able to draw on my magic and conjure a silver stake. It wasn't much, but vamps didn't really like silver. I gripped the stake in my hand and ran for Blane. He had Raidyn pinned to the ground. I was there, the stake ready to plunge into his back when Blane turned his gaze on me. His eyes had gone a deep, blood red. He grinned evilly at me and I stopped dead in my tracks. He backed up off of Raidyn and simply stared at me. Now, you have to realize that Blane is at least over one hundred years old, which would make him the most powerful vampire I've ever come up against.

I tried to lunge at him, but I couldn't move. It was like I was pushing against an invisible barrier that I couldn't break through. He never took his eyes off me. It was unnerving and I wanted to look away from his intense stare but he held my gaze. And when my hand started moving of its own accord, I couldn't stop that either. But I fought. I fought as hard as I could. But the silver stake still ended up pointed at my own chest.

"Say hello to Mommy and Daddy for me," he said before the stake pierced my skin and sank deep into my heart.