Her anger ripped at his soul, his head unclear of what right thing to do next, he felt so torn. Aching to taste her blood, feel the warmth of it on his tongue, she had shocked him with her reaction, yet turned him on so quickly, pushing his luck he spat his words at her.

"So what do ya suggest I do. Take ya back to bed and fuck ya through the damn mattress? Let you feel what it is really like to be taken by one of us. TAKEN BY AN ELDER!" He could hear her breath leave her, her heartbeat moving faster. Please don't do this to me, he silently begged her, don't you dare do that... Her tongue came out to lick her lips and that was it for him.

"Have me thrust so hard into you, feel my teeth sink in your neck as I taste your blood. The orgasm you will have will be amazing ya want that darlin?" He moved closer, his mouth almost touching her lips. Carol's mouth wouldn't function her thoughts of having this man do those things to her, was a pleasure she wanted to receive. He made it sound so wrong, yet her body knew it would feel so right. He stepped into her that last little bit of personal space now taken over by him.

"I can sense your reaction Carol, your body screams yes, yet your mind still fears what we can have. Stop pushing me Carol I don't have much control left" with that he fled, leaving her alone yet again.

"GET BACK HERE! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO RUN EACH TIME WE..." The speed in which he pushed her against the wall, should have put the fear in her, instead her heartbeat accelerated as his lips took hers. His tongue demanding, forcing access into her warm mouth, he was taking what she so freely offered, no more waiting she was his.

Where the hell had she disappeared that darkness that came from the hall, the coldness surrounded him, after she had left. The scent of her blood had him craving, he always enjoyed making her suffer, seeing her bleed from his hands. Yet this was a different kind of desire, licking his lips he felt the sharpness of his teeth, touching them they felt like fangs. His stomach cramped over with hunger, he was coming to realise that he Ed Peletier could possibly be no longer human, and the thought didn't scare him as much as he thought it would. Leaving the house, that brought back memories of pain and torture, he smiled, yes things were going to be ok. He just needed to know who the hell that darkness belonged too, what it was. He was damn sure his boss would have answers for him. Heading down the deserted street, his feet guided him down towards the old docks, smelling the air the stench of dried blood, sex and death. He would find a meal here, nothing to the ambrosia that was his wife, but it would carry him over for now. It was as if he had finally slotted into place, he had been fighting what Philip had changed him into, yet felt comfortable in his own skin. He would have Carol back where she belonged with him under his control, the only way to get to her would be through their daughter, he never wanted the little bitch, but now she would be a pawn in getting his wife back. Little did Ed know Philip had caught the last few thoughts he had running through his head, yes The Governor was all for Ed getting Carol back, after all that was his plan all along, to get Carol to be his, he knew Ed didn't care about Sophia but Philip did, his own family, he had always craved was within his reach. Yet he could feel Ed trying to process things, a darkness that had appeared. He would have to call him in to the club, find out what had happened earlier in the evening for now he would allow him to feed on the human flesh down on the docks. All fledglings had to start at the bottom and what better way then scraping the barrel with the whores down there.

Carol felt his teeth, or should she say fangs scrap down the tendons on her neck, his hands gripping, biting into her flesh, from where his hands had pushed up her top, her breath stopping in her throat as he pushed her harder into the counter behind her back, she was afraid he would break her with the force. Daryl felt her fear, doing his best to control his desire he let up on his hold, cursing when he saw the marks already starting to bruise on her pale skin. He was no better than the abusive bastard she was married too. Had he not promised he would not hurt her, and here she stood his finger marks clear on her. Carol's eyes followed his, seeing what he was staring at. Yes they looked bad, yet she never felt so desired, so wanted, so loved, he had marked her and she loved it.

"Shit I..." he backed away hanging his head almost in shame, her hands soft on his cheek, she turned his eyes to hers, saddened to see the hurt in his

"Don't apologise for your strength, for the desire you have for me. I want it Daryl, I need it, after all I have been through with Ed, what he has become is..." she shook her head trying to find the words. Daryl's hand came up over her hands holding them tight to his face, taking comfort in her touch

"He is a creature of the night, a soulless inhumane thing, that will do anything to take you and Sophia away from me. He has been turned for one reason and one reason only to capture you for his maker. I believe, or should I say my family believe to be a man who likes to call himself The Governor, better known to you my darlin as Philip Blake" Her reaction to the man's name gave him all the proof he required, her whole body shook tears in her eyes as she shook her head, rejecting what he was saying, refusing to even think that her husband's boss could be one of those things, and he was aiming to take her and Sophia as his own. What sick game was this, just when she thought it could not get any worse, Daryl found another way to confuse her.

"Carol, darlin, please" How many times would this human of his get him to damn well beg, it was all he seemed to be doing of late and he hated it. Yet he could not help himself, he had again provided too much information, too quick and her reaction was what any person would do when in shock and denial. All he was waiting for was the slap he was sure she wanted to lay on his face, forcing him to take back the words, or tell her he was lying.

"This is all your fault!" her words hissed through gritted teeth she removed herself from his arms. Daryl watched her pace back and forth her arms wrapping around her as if to warm herself, he should be the one doing that. Yet here he stood pushing his hands through his hair, wondering what the hell to do.

"Carol I..."

"why could you not have left me the hell alone WHY?"

"BECAUSE THE FUCKING POWERS THAT BE LANDED ME WITH YOU. DO YOU REALLY THINK I WANT THIS SHIT!" He regretted his outburst the moment it left his lips, seeing her retreat into herself, the barrier around her clear for all to see.

"God, do I know you don't want this Mr Dixon, you shout it at me enough times. Do you imagine at all in your little brain that I want this. To find out that my husband is now one of you soulless creatures that up until recently I never knew damn well existed. Then you bring his boss in, claiming he now wants me. What perverted crap are you into. GET ME MY DAUGHTER AND GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS HOUSE YOU ARE NOT INVITED AGAIN MR DIXON" Daryl tried to hold tight onto the wall, the door anything to stop his body rushing out of the now open doorway. The one thing with all vampires, The Elders included, that should a human utter those dreaded words you are not invited, then they were thrown out onto the threshold. Never to be allowed back in until they were re invited, it was a curse he had never had used on him Ever! in all his years. Few were aware the words could be used on The Elders, even if they didn't require an invite in to a human's home, they could easily be evicted.

"Invite me the hell in woman so we can finish this" his words low, threatening. Carol walked towards the door, feeling for once she had the upper hand with this man.

"Not a cat in hell's chance Mr Dixon NOW GET SOPHIA BACK!" With that she slammed the door in his face, leaving him reeling from it all. So confused and annoyed he didn't hear the laughter behind him, finally turning he saw his parents with Sophia in her pram fast asleep

"You have to stop getting so annoyed boy, she is finding this all so difficult" His father spoke through his laughter, remembering how his wife had hit out at him, just like Carol had tonight, but to banish an Elder from the cottage, now that was something else altogether

"And I'm not fucking hell I..." The slap he got across the back of his head, took him back to being a child, cringing as he looked at his ma

"That is enough Daryl I have brought you up better than that, you know full well how to treat a woman, and this is not the way. I am not impressed with how you are handling this, yes I know its all strange, but she is so scared son, so very scared and sharing what you have tonight has only frightened her more. Though I must admire her strength in casting you out of your own cottage, that you were to share together, that is not something we see often. All I will say to you is you deserved it. Now go back to ours, your dad and I will fix this mess, oh check on Merle will you, Andrea is so close to giving birth and your brother can't take much more"

"But..." he stopped when he saw the look his ma was giving him, no point in arguing she was right he had fucked up again. He hated this whole soul mate shit, he rather be on his own. As the thought finished a coldness swept through him, ok maybe he didn't

"Leave it with us" she kissed her son on the forehead before knocking on the door, it was not long before Carol answered

"He's not coming back in" were Carol's first words when she saw Daryl still lingering in the garden

"I know honey, would it be al right for Earl and I to enter. I would so understand if you don't want us here" Carol couldn't turn them away, they hadn't done anything wrong, yet it all felt as if this was a dream, could she pinch herself and awaken.

"Carol stop thinking too much it..." Daryl's words came through to her, her anger showing in her stance stopping him

"I SAID LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!" Nodding he headed off, glancing back to see his parents closing the door on him, he had to have faith that they would sort it out for him, if not he knew the consequences. And it was not something he wanted, he needed her more than she would ever know. She was the other half of him and he could not move forward without her or Sophia. Hanging his head he walked towards his parents, trying to establish a connection with either of them, both had shut him out and he really didn't blame them. Cutting through the cemetery he headed down by the docks, the stench of death clear in the air, his body shivering with the smell. Thank god he was almost home, taking the steps two at a time he walked into the brightly lit lobby of his parents house, moving towards the back to check on Merle and Andrea

"Here he is. The only Elder I know to get banished from a house. What the hell ya do lil bro?"

"Shut the fuck up Merle, ain't none of your god damn business. How's Andrea?" Merle knew to drop the subject after all he was only messing with him, anything to take his mind off his wife giving birth. He Merle Dixon would never admit it but he was one frightened little boy when it came to the baby. Scared that he would loose them both in childbirth as it was so rare this unique experience happened, both Daryl and himself were the only living siblings in their clan to be able to father children, apart from their father. Little was written about this, he knew Herschel was still looking into it all, didn't make it any easier.

"She's sleeping at the moment, don't think it will be too long" Daryl hugged him

"She will be ok, they both will Merle, mum gave birth to us, we have dad's genes all will be ok. Trust me" Merle nodded, for some reason when his brother said it will be ok, things tended to be just that. At times he wondered if Daryl could see things others could not, letting his younger brother head up to his room, he sat back down on the large sofa,watching the fire dance in the hearth, hoping his brother sorted his mate out soon.