"Round and round we go." My head falls back, staring up at the ceiling fans. An inch and a half worth of dust caked on, at the very least.

"No one here knows anything Bo. We should be out on the street. Knocking some teeth in or out, whatever creams your twinkie." Ash laughs, taking a swig of her sixth beer in two hours.

"Bo, she has a point." Lauren adds through a yawn, the back of her chair pressed up against the wall, feet up on a second chair. "We've been at this for a few hours. At least take a break."

"No. No babe, I'm sorry. I love you and you know how much I value your opinion, but this time, no. I refuse to believe that no one in this room knows anything. We have well over five thousand years in this room. Two reformed Dark. A Dark freelancer. Dyson." Snorting a chuckle. "I forget, how many times you lied to me for Trick?"

"Enough dammit!" His hands slamming against the bar top. "I don't know."

"Maybe we should have gotten you anger management."

"You're so caught up on the thought that I live in the past Bo, but I'm beginning to think it's you who is."

"How about we leave the personal shit out of this for once!" Kenz abruptly stands up, walking toward the bathroom.

"Evony." Lauren says with an odd amount of conviction, everyone turning toward her.

"Yes?"

"You had Bo's mid-wife. You dug into Bo's past, deeper and in ways Dyson wouldn't have being Trick's lieutenant."

"Hey, I'm clean and frankly that hurts my feelings Lauren that you would insinuate that I would still be holding out on you. After everything."

"Lauren has a point," everyone's attention shifting to Evony now. "You would be the logical choice to have info about me."

"This is very offensive."

"I'll apologize later, but for now you best let your little botox lips start flapping before I chi suck your boney ass until a stick figure looks heavy next to you."

"You're a little bitchy when you don't get your way Bo." She laughs, looking around before doing that sigh she's perfected. "Look, I don't know anything."

"But you think you know something?"

"High society Fae gossip more than the real housewives of New York. Okay? Of course I heard whispers. Vex would have heard them too. But all they were, were whispers."

"Well start whispering."

"There was a rumor a long time ago that somehow, someway your mighty father impregnated a human who then had his child. No one ever had proof. No one ever saw anything. And the rumor died out quickly."

"You didn't think this was worth mentioning?" Lauren scoffs.

"It was a rumor. A horrible one at that. Besides, he would be human if he existed at all." She takes a drink, shooting Lauren an apologetic look. "I suppose since he does have all three flavors in the Lauren Lewis Fae kool-aid kit, I could have mentioned it."

"Ya' think?" Dagny snorts, leaning against Ayesha in the corner, bundled up in sleeping bag.

"So let me get this straight. Me and Dagny have a half-brother who was human but turned himself Fae with my girlfriend's research to come and make a mind controlled army of zombie like victims to do what?"

"Bring Jack back?" "Hostile takeover." "Wants Dagny." "Wants you." "No he mentioned Jack, like he was already in contact with him." "Does this mean I have to get back on the run?" "We can't outrun him." "All of us would need to be on the run to protect her and that would be a pretty big target." "Together or nothing." "We can't leave, Lauren needs the lab." "We can find another lab." "We're going in circles."

"Okay. Okay." Hands raising from the table. "Talking over each other isn't going to help. Running round and round in circles isn't going to help. We need to figure this out"

"Well if you have an idea, you've got nothing but ears." Ash points at her ears.

"Babe, what do we know for certain so far?"

"For certain?" She straightens in her seat. "I confirmed my theory, it is my research that has been used. Whoever did it is quite skilled. He used a masking agent to hide certain…ingredients so to speak. I would assume he was prepared for us to catch on sooner or later. This was done to implement a speedbump, nothing else."

"Is there a way to reverse it? Maybe save some of these people?"

"No, the damage is irreversible. The effects are near instantaneous. Even if I was able to devise some type of cure, we would have to be able to administer it within under thirty seconds. His victims as of now seem, random at best. There would be no way to figure out who he would target next."

"Not even for Fae?" Dyson asks.

"No, not even for Fae. Maybe, just maybe with a Fae under sixty seconds."

"Then we're screwed, Dimitri's help is contingent on the basis we cure his sister." He continues.

"Then I guess we're going to have to solve this before our time is up and he realizes that."

"You two said that these infected you ran into in the barn, they were obedient?"

"Yeah, like attack dogs." I nod.

"He must possess some thrall over them because I looked at several of their brains. While I am first to admit I am not a brain surgeon, the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and frontal lobe were completely dead."

"Not to doubt your skill here, last thing I want to do, but how do you know?" Ayesha asks, sort of raising her hand.

"Well, I know which part of the brain is which and when examining it they were," She makes her thinking face and I can't help smiling slightly. Probably the first time I've smiled all night. "To use a nontechnical term? They were icky."

"Icky?"

"For the sake of argument everyone's brain, well every human and ninety-nine percent of the Fae population have a gray brain. These portions were black."

"That's about as normal as Kristen Stewart having facial expressions."

"Aw, you finally got one everyone would know." Evony giggles, leaning against Theo who's grinning ear to ear.

"I saw Twilight." He shrugs, eyes running over the room of lingering eyes. "Don't ya'll look at me like that. I know everyone here saw that movie too."

"Team Jacob." Ayesha's had raises again, earning a thumbs up from Theo and a head shake from both Mark and Vex.

"I'm sorry, did we just go from discussing my homicidal brother and his evil plans to vote on Team Jacob or Team Edward? Is that really just what happened?"

"Bo, no offense but every once and a while we just need a minute." Mark says, looking down at the table. "We get this is serious, but beating us over the head with it isn't going to get us anywhere."

"I'm beating you over the head?" Snorting as I stand. "We are on a clock here. Every second we stop that's another second this asshole has to find more victims. Victims we can't save."

"I think he just meant taking a step back for a minute would help." Vex rushes to his boyfriend's defense.

"You know what, that's fine. All of you have a nice break, I'm gonna go figure this out."

.

2:28 a.m.

.

"Life is a hoot." Lauren's voice startles me, breaking me from my train of thought. "One minute I'm the one with the secret brother, the next you have one. They're popping up like daises." Her smile fades, taking my hand as she maneuvers herself on the ledge beside me. "Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood."

"No, it's me." Sighing, eyes falling down onto the street but I keep her hand in mine. "I'm just not in the right mindset."

"I don't think anyone is Bo."

"No one except you."

"I only am because I know you need me to be, if you didn't then well, Team Edward."

"Oh God," I can't help laugh, turning my head to just look at her. This beautiful smile over her face that only grows when she hears me laugh. "I love you, so much."

"You better."

"Oh I better, huh?"

"Mm-hm." She nods, leaning against my shoulder. "So, what does he look like?"

"Like, he looks like me."

"So incredibly sexy with an amazing ass?" She nods, eyebrows sort of raising. "Little more excited to meet him now."

"You know, you look so sweet and nice but deep down you're just-."

"I aligned Dark babe, it was for a reason." Giving my hand a squeeze, her heels idly tapping against the building.

"It was so weird, the second I laid eyes on him he was so familiar. Like I knew him. I was so shocked when he said or implied he was my brother, but there was this part of me that wasn't shocked at all."

"It's not that surprising Bo. When siblings meet later in life for the first time they often mention feeling an instant connect. It's something biological. You've looked at yourself in the mirror for over thirty years, subconsciously you've memorized every feature of yourself so when looking at him, if he looks as much like you as you say, something clicked."

"I love how smart you are. It just so sexy."

"Well you did fall for me for my brain." She tries not to smirk, tilting her head away from me. "Are you scared?"

"I'm terrified."

"I know that right now trust is a touchy subject to bring up, but every single one of those people down there would die for you Bo. And they know that you will die for them."

"I wish I could believe that. I really do."

"It's okay, you will."

"What are we gonna do babe?"

"I…don't know. But whatever it is we'll do it together."

"Together."

"You know what I just realized?"

"What's that?"

"We've never had sex on a roof before."

"My, my Doctor Voyeurism."

"Um." She laughs again, shaking her head.

"What? Was that not the right one?"

"Not technically, no."

"Damn. Doctor Exhibitionist?"

"There we go, much better."

"Well I was B student so can't judge me too much."

"You were only a B student because you were busy being chased by boys and being the Cherry Festival Queen."

"I…you…I can't stand you right now." Laugh escaping, pulling my hand from hers and playfully shoving her arm.

"Did you want me to leave?"

"Never." Arm wrapping around her waist. "I'm a masochist."

"I don't think a love for light spanking would qualify you as a masochist." Her head tilting just enough for me to see her smirk. "Oh, oh you meant about my teasing. Okay, that makes more sense. I was wondering what that had to do with anything."

"You like it too, I'm just saying."

"I plead the fifth."

"You can't plead the fifth, we don't have that."

"I do as I please."

"Is that so?"

"Mm-hm," She nods, nearly gloating. "Where else are you going to find a genius doctor as cute and amazing in bed as me?"

"Um, can I see if Vex still has contacts and then get back to you?"

"Ass!" Her laugh overlapping mine, foot nudging mine. "Vex would never!"

"I don't know, you've been taking his toys lately."

"It's baby-proofing practice."

"Shouldn't baby-proofing be to keep the sharp things from them?"

"It should, which is why I think we're currently getting an F."

"Well luckily it's just Vex we're having to worry about."

"Luckily?"

"Yeah, I mean can you imagine having a baby to worry about right now? On top of everything?"

"I don't know Bo, don't think it would really change much."

"Not change much? It would change everything. Not to mention now with brother popping up just reminds me how messed up my genepool is. If we ever do decide to have kids we may want to keep my DNA outta it."

"Is that so?" She asks softly, her body unusually tensing.

"Hey, that didn't mean that I never want to have kids Lauren. I just, I don't think this moment is the best to discuss it."

"No, you're right." She shakes her head, forced smile gradually becoming genuine. "Not the right moment at all."

"We will though, one day. Once I get you to admit to wanting to marry me."

"If I won't accept parking lots, I won't accept rooftops either."

"So difficult to please Doctor Lewis, so difficult."

"If I was easy you wouldn't like me."

"Eh, depends on the situation."

"Shameless."

"I don't mean to interrupt," Vex's voice earning our attention, both of us looking over our shoulder. "But Mr. Whiskers found some books of Trick's hidden away. Says they reference Hades."

"We'll be right now." Lauren give him a little nod before turning back to me. "This may be immature, but I really want to call Dyson Mr. Whiskers now."

"Of course you do."

Another laugh shared as I offer my hand once again, helping her from the ledge. That momentary anger or maybe hurt or maybe even disappointment gone as she walks back to Vex. I wonder what that was. I probably could have done so much better explaining myself, make sure she knows that it's not that I don't want kids with her. I'm just terrified of adding my DNA to the mixture. I mean hello, Jack? No-Name brother? Even Afie. Just, what would I have to offer?

.

4:18 p.m.

.

"I'm awake!" my own voice scaring me as I bolt upright, Dagny and Kenz staring at me as if I've grown a third head. And apparently I kinda have. "Oww." I pull the piece of paper stuck to my face off, I guess Lauren wasn't lying when she said I drool sometimes. How attractive.

"You okay?"

"How long was I out this time?"

"About," Theo checks his phone. "Thirty minutes."

"Did I miss anything?"

"Evony and Ayesha woke from their nap." He shrugs, leaning back in the chair. "Got to say, five thousand pages down and I'm still no closer to understanding this world than I was yesterday."

"Welcome to the world of the Fae." Lauren says, walking out from the office, book in one hand. "I told you to stop this." Her free hand pulling a set of forceps from Vex's hand that he was using to open a box of leftover Thai. "If you don't I am going to-." She's cut off as one of Dimitri's 'loyal' guards walks in. "Can we help you?"

"The Count would like an update on the cure."

"It's a working progress, Lauren is working as best as she can." Yawn escaping despite my best efforts.

"In this case he would like me to insist that your pet work harder, his words, not mine." He dips his head toward Lauren. He must be one of the enslaved. "It would also please him if I told you that we have found your father and brother."

"What?" I nearly jump up. "You didn't think to lead with that?"

"I have my orders." He dips his head to me this time. "He has had us working on locating any increase in the abominations' activity. An influx lead us back to the woods. In the south end there is an abandoned church. It appears to be their hiding place."

"You have confirmation of this?"

"We took pictures from afar, yes."

"He just let you take his picture?"

"We were far."

"Bo, this is what we were waiting for." Dyson cuts in, shutting his book.

"You don't find it a little odd that Jack and my psycho brother just let themselves be found again?"

"It's odd, but they wouldn't be expecting us."

"What does Dimitri want us to do for this information?" My eyes shifting back to the guard.

"Nothing, he merely would like to offer his assistance if you decide to make an assault. A unit of forty is already mobilized and ready to move if it pleases you. He would just like you to remember your end of the deal."

"Yeah, I haven't forgotten." Sighing to myself, the look of conflicted guilt riddling Lauren's features pulling at my attention. "Does this unit need an answer now?"

"No, whenever you decide we are at your command." He dips his head one last time before walking right back out. Enslaved or not, they're creepy as hell.

"Well, they're well trained." Dagny laughs uneasily.

"Look, I already know what Dimitri is hoping for. I already know what Dyson and probably you too Ash want. But I'm going to flat out say its wrong."

"Forty men, most Fae is a lot of help." Mark adds.

"They'll be there regardless."

"Until his sister dies then we're fucked."

"Come on guys, both Jack and brother of the year just show up? Out of nowhere? They've left no trace, but now just whoops?"

"Even if they were prepared for us, there's like fifty of us. They won't be able to take a full on assault." Ash pushes.

"We don't have the time to wait. You were just saying last night how we were wasting time." Dyson barely lets her finish before piling on.

"I'm telling you no."

"And we're telling you that the will of the people might be greater this time around." Mark shrugs, Vex shaking his head.

"You've got to be kidding me." My eyes falling to Dagny. "You agree?"

"Bo, I love you and you're in charge, but we have the opportunity to strike first. Well, really just strike at all. We've been getting our asses kicked. And now what, we're just supposed to sit here in fear and wait for him to show up. That's not what my mother would want. That's not what Kenz would want. And I never thought that would be what you would want."

"Kenz?"

"It's your call Bo, it always is." She shrugs.

"Babe?"

"Whatever you decide Bo."

"No, I'm calling bullshit." Ash wags her finger at Lauren. "This lovey dovey shit is all cute and fine, but this is real right now. There's being supportive and being somebody's bitch and you're teetering that line right now Lauren."

"Watch yourself." I snap.

"Bo," Lauren shakes her head, setting the book on the nearest table. "You have all seemed to forget that Bo has the last word here. I trust her as my girlfriend but as our leader as well. If she says we make an assault on the church and whoever is inside, then I support it. If she says that we can't risk it, then I support that. Do not mistake my faith in her as being her," she pauses, making a face. "Bitch. I've been a slave before, unlike all of you. Believe me when I tell you I know the difference."

"I'm with Lauren, but just know sheriff, I ain't worried about a fight."

"Excuse me." Ayesha does that half hand raising thing she does, stepping forward. "I know I'm new and my opinion doesn't mean much, except it should. See that woman there is the love of my life, and this Jack and whoever wants her. He doesn't want any of you, he wants her. So that make my opinion matter because I'm supposed to marry her. And that's going to happen. So while I'm sure you're an amazing leader Bo, being passive is going to make me not want to agree with you. We have the numbers. And as messed up as this may sound, all we need to really accomplish here is killing his army and your brother."

"I still think we should run." Evony adds, throwing her hands up.

"Mini-Lauren has a point. Taking out his army and your brother would be a big enough blow to send that bloody bastard in to retreat. It's obvious he needs them, if he didn't he would have come after us himself."

"Well," Snorting a chuckle in disbelief. "I guess the decision was make already then, wasn't it."

.

6:06 p.m.

.

"And you're sure this will work?" I ask, watching her pull the IV from Vex's arm.

"Sure?" She laughs nervously. "No. Not sure of anything with it comes to Jack, but I believe with the amount of blood you've given he should at least be able to achieve some type of control. Which means," Her attention shifting to Vex as he pulls his sleeve down. "You may only have one chance, so use it wisely."

"Aye aye." He gives her a lazy salute, jumping down from the desk. "I guess this means I'm going with the assault then? Ah just as well, been a while since I killed something."

"Did you feed, with the amount-."

"I fed Lauren." I nod, walking up to her as she pulls her gloves off. "I hope you remember how to shoot." Sighing my words as I wrap a tactical belt around her waist. "It's just like riding a bike."

"Hey," Gently her hand cups my cheek, guiding my face up. "It'll be okay."

"Maybe."

"None of that, we'll be okay."

"Is it tight enough?" Eyes falling back to the clasp, it seems too loose. "I'm going to get you another one."

"Bo, it's fine. It'll stay on."

"We shouldn't be doing this."

"Then tell them no."

"The will of the people." I shrug, swallowing back the disgusting taste of defeat already lingering in my mouth. "Everyone's been armed with a nine millimeter. And two extra clips." I tap the two dangling on her left side. "Stay in the middle so you aren't in any real combat okay?"

"Bo, we've fought together before." She laughs softly, taking my hand in hers. "We'll be okay."

"Yeah."

"Come on, rally the rebellious troops. They're all waiting on you."

"Let them wait." Squeezing her hand, pulling her back to me. Lips on hers before her laugh has a chance to escape. It's brief, but it's hope to me. A reminder for what I'm fighting for. One reason anyway.

She keeps hold of my hand as I lead us out into the bar, which is packed tighter than sardines. Everyone falling silent as they turn to me. This uncertain look in each and every one of their eyes. It doesn't matter if I think they're wrong or not anymore, it's my job to lead.

"Bo?" Theo asks, his hand tapping the handle of his gun. He's nervous. First real test and it's a massive one.

"Look we may not have agreed on the choice to go, but it doesn't matter now. Nothing matters now other than our goal. We have one goal tonight and that is to make it back alive and together. Everything else is secondary. We are fighters and we are hard headed, but if we need to retreat we will because that means we live to fight another day." They nod. "With that said, we are fighters and retreating is our last option. These infected are victims and it's horrible, but from this moment on they are our enemy. Do not hesitate to kill them because they will not hesitate to kill us. This is unusual given the Fae nature of our battle but given our disadvantage against the infected, guns are necessary."

"Only to the head, right?" One voice lost within the sea of guard asks.

"Yes, only the head. Do not waste ammo shooting anywhere else unless you need to. When it comes to the unnamed brother of mine, we don't know what he is, so shoot freely. Maybe we will be lucky and bullets will kill him."

"And Jack?" Mark asks.

"Stay away from Jack at all costs, don't engage him. If he comes for you, fire at will and retreat. Under no circumstances are we to separate. Now Evony, Ash, and Ayesha you're going to be staying here with Dagny."

"What?!"

"That's final. Let's not pretend we don't know Jack's end goal. It's Dagny, we can't have her there and the three of you are the best choice to protect her. Someone who loves her unconditionally. Someone smart and cunning. And one of the best fighters I've ever known. If we fail, they will come and the three of your skills will protect her. I'm also leaving twenty-five of the guards here. Sixteen outside and nine in here. Make no mistake, the second you hear the trouble outside, the four of you run."

"I just want to point out that Lauren is going and-."

"Lauren has to go." Kenz cuts her off, resting her hand on Dagny's shoulder.

"What? Why? I'm just as capable." She looks from Kenz to me. "I can help."

"Lauren has to go because if she stayed Bo would leave more people here to protect her. Her head wouldn't be where it needed to be."

"And why do you have to go? Kenzi if anyone should stay with me then, it would be you."

"I have to go because I've always fought at your sister's side. I've always fought to protect you since the moment you were born. I have to go because I need to do everything I can to make sure that he doesn't get to you."

"Ma'am, the cars are ready." Guard number thirty-six says. They must all be enslaved, there's no way they're willingly ready to be cannon fodder.

"Then let's go."

.

8:26 p.m.

.

Step after step further into the woods. Step after step of a military precision stance. Step after step and my uncertainty grows with each. I should have put my foot down. This isn't right. Something is wrong. We should have ran into the infected by now. The abandoned church in sight now. Hundred feet up. My sweaty palms gripping the M-14 tightly. Don't think I've ever used something so big but hey, when in Rome. The recent memory of Lauren's words bringing a momentary smile to my lips.

I stand at the front, leading them. Four guards at either of my sides spread out. The remaining seven forming a loose circle around us. Lauren back behind me with Kenz and Theo. Mark and Vex hang toward the back of our little circle. Dyson staying at the right side. At least our form is good. I should have brought more guards.

No, stop. Can't second guess yourself now.

Thirty feet and nothing. Why? There was a small army. Where did they go? Inside? Did they leave? No, there was a scout here. Something's wrong. I stop short. That sick feeling ripping through me just as it had that morning in the woods. Everything is too silent. Something isn't right.

Oh God.

My brother walks out from the church but he isn't walking so much as flickering, like in the those stupid horror movies where they sort of flicker and then they're a few steps forward. His hands folded over his stomach, smirk on his lips.

We've already lost this.

Infected crawl out from behind the trees like rabid dogs all around us. I watch his arms raise and I know we've lost. This isn't me doubting my abilities. This isn't be doubting myself. This isn't me doubting my team. This isn't me whining. This is me knowing as a leader I've failed.

"Tell them to run." Voice low, tilting my head toward the guard to my right.

"Ma'am?"

"Radio back and tell them to run."

"Yes ma'am."

I was going to tell Theo to take Lauren and Kenz and run. The rest of us would kill as many as we could. It's the only viable option left. That was what I was going to do. Then the thunderous shooting starts and the muzzle flashes light the otherwise darkness. Infected snarls swirling around us even with the gunfire. My brother on top of me before I even manage to fire a shot.

His hands grip my face, thumbs pressing into my cheekbones my eyes tear. I see the two bullets he takes into his sides, hands slamming into his elbows trying to weaken his grip. In a mere glimpse I see Lauren jump onto his back, arms locked around his neck as the two go tumbling off of me.

Rolling onto my side I manage to grab his arm before he's able to reach her. Palm up into his elbow, breaking it. Scream escaping as I feel something rip into my stomach, pulling me away. One infected tearing through my flesh as another pulls my left arm. Scream accompanying a snap of my shoulder.

Eyes falling to Lauren. He's grabbed her face, throwing threw the air toward the church. Relaxing my left arm, using my right to pull my side arm. A shot to the temple of the first infected before looking up and putting one through the second infected's eye. He's tore into my wrist but it doesn't matter now. Before I've even stood there's four into his chest. He looks bored. He's coming toward me again and I use what I have left in the clip. Thumb brushing against the button to eject the clip. Instead of letting it fall I catch it and let the gun go instead.

He's in front of me again, hands gripping my face as he brings his forehead down into my face twice before I can jab the emptied clip into his stomach. Reach up around his arm and bringing it into his neck before kicking out. Stumbling back he falls to his knees. Eyes shifting to Lauren, still on the ground shooting the infected as the rush her.

"Lauren!" Yelling as I see one come up from behind, but he grabs her, dragging her. Instinct taking over as I go to run for her. Finding myself slamming into a tree before falling to the ground. He's kicking into my stomach. I know my ribs are breaking. It doesn't matter. My eyes on Lauren. A guard trying to help now being ripped apart. Infected dragging her up the stairs. "Get Lauren!" His foot slamming into my face, pressing it down into the mud.

Weight gone. Looking up, blood mixing with mud in my eyes. Dyson managing to get two punches in before being thrown. "Get Lauren! Get Lauren!" Screaming repeatedly, jumping up on him. He catches me as expected. Slamming my forehead into his face before bringing my fist down until I feel the bones snap.

Spinning us around, slamming me into a tree. Hands gripping his face, thumbs pressing into his eyes. He snarls unlike anything I've heard before. Eyes leaving him moving toward the church, Theo and Kenz running inside.

I missed my chance, he's thrown me through the air. Sliding across the ground on my stomach. Stopping when I hit a pile of infected bodies. He's coming toward me. Pulling the gun from a dead guard's hand, using the last three bullets into his heart.

He keeps coming.

"Haven't you realized, they do nothing to me?" He laughs, picking me up by the neck. Kicking down, heel into his knee. Lips parting, desperately trying to pull chi from him, but there is none. "It's over."

He pulls chi from me, effortlessly despite how hard I'm fighting. I begin to feel every cut, every tear, every break so clearly. The world goes black. Eyes opening to find myself staring up at the sky. There's silence. Pure silence. Rolling onto my stomach, searching for him. He's gone. It's just me. Pushing myself, already trying to run as I stumble onto the stairs. Slipping again as I reach the door, gripping the handle.

You can make it Bo.

"You can have me!" My hand clutching my stomach, desperately trying to stop the gushing, if only for long enough to reach him. A loud crack as I stumble into the room, I can't be sure if the wall has snapped my shoulder back in or out of place. "It's always been me who you've wanted." The boards creak beneath my feet, and I'm sure they'll give away any second now. "The darkness in me-it's far stronger than it could ever be in her." My legs may shake as I step over body after body, but somehow, even to my own surprise my voice remains steady. "Take me." I plead, and while somehow my voice keeps the illusion of strength, I can feel myself slipping with every step.

"We've played this game before Bo."

I nod, doing the very thing I swore I wouldn't do. My foot scraping across someone's stomach and I foolishly find myself looking down. Heart skipping a beat as even through the layers of drying blood I can make out his face. Unable to stop myself, my eyes wander up the floor, it doesn't take but a second to spot his father. Swallowing the lump in my throat it doesn't take long to find Vex and Theo. Trembling steps forward putting a little more carnage out of sight, too bad there was still so much more ahead.

'Go fuck yourself', is what I want to say, but the sight of Kenzi's bloody body near his feet sends this wave of pain ripping through my chest and for a moment I forget to breathe. It's only the feeling of my knees giving in that reminds me to take a breath. The floorboard cracks as my knees slam into it, I'm sure I'm going to go right through it, but somehow it manages to hold.

'I won last time', is what I want to say, but the sight of his hand around Lauren's throat keeps me from saying a word. She looks so weak, so scared, yet so calm at the same time and I think that scares me more than anything else.

I could try and feed off the room, Lord knows there's enough options, but how many are actually alive is-questionable. Even if I did, it would kill them in this state and if I was to win, could I live with that? Could I force Lauren to live with that? That is even if I could get enough chi to heal-fast enough before he hurt her-too many ifs. I could give him what he wants, but can I break the promise to her mother? Can I do that to Kenzi, who raised her? Could I do that to her? Again, could I force Lauren to live with knowing the cost of her life was another's?

"Give me what I want Bo, there is still time to save yourself." He speaks, but all I hear it static. My free hand reaching out in front of me, trying to support my weight. "To save your band of do-gooders, what's left of them anyway." I watch the blood falling on the floor in front of me and I can't be sure if it's coming from my head, my mouth, or somewhere else I had yet to notice. "The love of your life."

"This can't be how it ends." I whisper to myself, I think it was supposed to be a thought, but at this point what does it matter anyway?

"Maybe even my grandchild." I manage to tilt my head up enough to stare at him, suddenly the static clearing and its dead silent. His free hand now resting on her stomach, this look of pride written over his blood sprinkled face. It's sickening. "I want my family Bo."

"You want power."

"Family is power." He smiles, slowly taping his fingers against her stomach as my jaw clenches. "Now you can give me your sister and this all stops. Or I can take Lauren and your child, wait for it to come of age. Turn sweet Lauren Fae again, can't promise she'll keep her sanity or life for that matter. Your mother didn't. We'll make a nice little family. Who knows," He turns his face so his lips are against her cheek. "Maybe we'll hit it off." His lips part enough as he bites her cheek. "Give me your sister Bo," His attention drifting back to me, a new sense of annoyance in his voice. "She's not even your full sister."

Can I trade my sister to this monster? Can I trade her for Lauren-for my child? Can I trust him that there is a child? Can I trust that he'll really even let us live? Can I really believe trading one life for a dozen is acceptable? Can I really pretend that even if we manage to live through tonight or tomorrow or even next week that he won't be back?

I find myself staring into her eyes, and I know the answer.

I'm not that person-I'm not even close to being that person.

The real question I should be asking myself is what kind of person I actually am, because in this second I couldn't tell you. Am I the person who trusts in myself enough to let him take her, play dead for now and regroup? Am I the person who trusts in myself enough to give him my sister, hope he doesn't kill us all, and regroup to find her? Am I the person who not only knows but understands that letting him take Lauren would save hundreds of lives and give us another fighting chance? Am I the person who knows this but can't make that call? Am I the person to go for that one last Hail-Mary play and probably die here with everyone else-including Lauren?

Tears slip from my eyes, every breath drawn feels like I've swallowed a jar of needles. The blood pouring from just about every orifice I have, in fact I'm pretty sure my hand is holding an organ or two in place. I've lost count of the number of dislocations I have, hell they might be breaks. Internal bleeding? Sure, I'm sure I have some of that too. The tears though, they aren't from the pain, in fact I think I'm actually starting to go numb.

The tears are at the sight of her. She looks so tired, so weak, and even now this level of calm. Her own tears beginning to fall, and I know the look she has. She's made up her mind about something-oh God.

"Lauren." I let go of my side, both hands pressing against the cracking floorboards. Every muscle in my body tightening as I push the balls of my feet against the breaks in the wood.

'I love you', she mouths the words to me, nodding against his hold with this faint smile as her eyes close.

She's made her decision. She knows who she is…she always has.

So the question remains, who am I?

It's been a long time since I had such trouble answering that question. Until this moment, I thought I knew. I thought I knew who I had become. I could look back, try to remember the last time I was sure of an answer. I could try to remember the past, remember my origins so to speak. After all, origins are the story of us. How we became who we are. What shapes us into the person we become. Origins are the footprints we've left on the world thus far or maybe they're the footprints the world leaves on us. Maybe there's an answer for me there.

Or maybe I never really knew.

They say no matter how far you run, home is where the heart remains. But what happens when you're not sure what home is anymore? I had tried to run as far from this as I could, we all did. We convinced ourselves that this wasn't home. We convinced ourselves that we weren't these people anymore. Some of us convinced ourselves that maybe we really never were these people. Even as we sulked back and pretended to remember, pretended our heart was in this, it wasn't. I realize that now. If it was, we wouldn't have fallen so easily. We wouldn't have been able to be dismantled in a matter of minutes. And if we did fall, it would have been together, as one.

I think my biggest mistake of everything was forgetting that the world didn't consist of only me and Lauren. I think we, or at least I forgot that we were a part of something bigger. We were a part of a family. Maybe I forgot that. Maybe we all did. Maybe Kenz was right to some degree. Maybe I took Lauren and ran. Maybe I didn't want to deal with it anymore. Maybe I didn't want the responsibility of everyone. Maybe I just wanted my fairytale ending with the woman of my dreams. Maybe I was selfish and forgot family is everything.

My eyes fall to Dyson in a momentary lapse of judgement. Maybe I should have tried harder. Lauren tried and if she could try, then I should have. Maybe if at least me and him were working together we could have slowed the hemorrhaging down. Maybe if they saw me trying with him they would have tried. Maybe if we all tried a little harder, this would have ended differently. The only problem is that forgiveness is as delicate as candy glass. A single wrong move and its shattered into a million little pieces. Or maybe I'm thinking about trust. They're one in the same though, I guess. And he made a lot of wrong moves.

I guess looking at it as a whole now, we all did.

His hand tightens around her jaw and all I can tell myself is that "Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create". Or so someone once said. They were a fucking liar. This, what I feel now, what's swallowing me whole is very real.

The past hundred and forty-four hours flashing before my heavy, blood filled eyes. Every moment. Every decision. Trying desperately to pinpoint the exact moment of my failure yet again. What choice was it? What decision? Was it coming at all? Was it protesting? Was it letting myself get so wrapped up in our personal shit that I missed what was really happening? Was it trying to hold onto the human life I so desperately wanted? Was it listening to that voice in the back of my mind that told me I was still the badass succubus who nearly changed the world? Was it in the fact that I conveniently ignored the word 'nearly' in that sentence?

So I ask again Bo, who are you?

"I don't know." Painful admission but a whisper that falls to deaf ears.

Lauren's voice echoes in the back of my mind, 'You're a fighter Bo, you always have been'. Weak smile pulling at my lips, even in the darkest moments, it's in her that I find solace.

Her eyes open, a slight nod of my head. Her hand slamming the forceps she had managed to pull from her pocket into his thigh. His yell overlapping with the creak of the wood breaking beneath my feet as I bolt toward him. "Vex now!" Jack's hand unable to wrap back around Lauren's throat in time. Shoulder slamming into his stomach, arms wrapping around him keeping a tight hold as we go slamming through the floor.

"Bo?! Bo?!"

Oh God, I'm dead. This has to be hell. Grasping for breath, eyes opening to darkness. Having my heart broken is by far the most painful experience of my life, but this, it's aiming for a tie. Shaking my head, making myself dizzy, eyes find Jack. He's not moving, but he's breathing. His chest rises and falls, slowly but still rhythmically. Dammit. Managing to sit up, eyes never once leaving him. His head firmly lodged against a rock, blood covering his face. If I had any sense I'd pick up the closest rock and finish smashing his head in.

"Bo, come on!" Theo's yell a pleasant surprise. Weak smile momentary as I look up to find him and Vex holding onto Lauren by the waist, her arms reaching out for me. "We have to go!"

Groaning with every pain plagued move I manage to stand. Glancing back at him, before jumping up attempting to grab her hands. A complete failure, knees buckling as I collapse to the ground.

"Bo, get up." Her tone harsh and unapologetic, jaw clenching in pain as I use the wall to pull myself up. "Now jump dammit!"

Every ounce left of strength coupled with every bit of remaining faith I have left goes in this attempt. Hands grabbing hold of her wrists, the yell of pain from her nearly enough to cause me to let go on instinct. But the strength of her grip tells me it's not an option. Legs kicking out, attempting to reach a wall, help them, but it's too far.

"Shit! Hold on!" Theo groans out, the four of us starting to slip. "I'm losing feeling in my arm."

"Don't let go!" Vex groans out.

"Let me go." Eyes meeting Lauren's. "Let me go babe."

"Never."

"You can come back!" Sob filled yell escaping, my body beginning to dead weight against my best efforts. "You can come back, let me go." Tears slipping from her cheeks onto my face, joining my own.

"I'm sorry about this."

"Don't you dare let go!" Lauren's voice overlapping Theo's, the four of us slipping a little further. But instead of falling, Lauren screams out in pain, her jaw clenching to hush it.

"If you go we all go!" Theo yells, I don't know what he's done, I can't see it from here. I can barely see him now, but whatever it is, she's in so much pain. "Vex pull me!" His words a scream of pain.

"Let me go." I snap, pain and fear making the cruelty in my voice effortless. "Dammit Lauren let me go!"

"Shut up!" Her own tone matching mine, trembling hands tightening their grip.

Eyes fall to my hands, contemplating if I should just let go. But with how much of a grip she has, whatever it is Theo's done. They won't let go, they'll end up in here with us. Vex probably too. I hear voices beginning to overlap, "Hold on to me. Do what Theo did. Just do it. He's waking up. Pull!" My head starts to turn, needing to know if someone meant Jack, but the sight of Kenz holds my attention. She leans over, half on top of Lauren. She's never going to reach me. But she doesn't want me. Instead she manages to get her arms wrapped around Lauren's shoulder, across her chest. Her voice distant as another wave of pain hits me, but all I can make out is "I've got you. I got you".

The last wave of pain must have caused me to blackout, because when my eyes open I'm being pulled away from the hole. Kenzi and Mark each taking an arm. My eyes falling on the mess that is Laruen, Vex, Theo and Dyson. Vex and Dyson stumbling apart. One of them can't stand. Eyes shifting back to Lauren and Theo who are laying still.

"Stop." Groaning, I roll onto my stomach away from their hold. "Lauren?"

"I'm okay." It's weak but she's moving now. Crawling toward them I can see what Theo did. Stupid, amazing, loyal, genius. He had managed to get his arm under Lauren's belt up to his elbow. He just had to rely on his body weight.

"You're the stupidest genius I've ever met." Eyes running over his face, to his arm. The belt having cut through his skin pretty deeply. Lauren's hand resting on my thigh as she turns onto her back. Shirt rising just enough to get a glimpse of her skin. He wasn't the only one the belt cut.

"Yeah, he's definitely waking up." Mark's voice pulls our attention, he's holding his stomach, peering down into the hole.

"Go."

"Bo?" Lauren's eyes meet mine, a nod all she needs to start to push herself up.

"Help each other, get to cars. I'll be right behind you."

"What about them?" Theo asks, arm around Lauren. "I think some are still alive."

"Come on." Lauren says softly, pulling him with her.

"We can't just leave them."

"Casualties of war." Vex looks back at me, momentarily before going back to leaning on Mark.

Casualties of war, a nice way to put it. Much better than what it really is. I wait for them to be out of sight. Palms pressed into the wood, pain and guilt making a nice combination. The various groans pulling at my attention. Maybe three or four are alive. Half alive.

"I'm really sorry about this." Another whisper falls to deaf ears, eyes closing as lips part.

A mere second and the groans come to a stop. Another four seconds and my eyes open. One of them at the very least must have been Fae because I somehow manage to find myself back to eighty-five percent. The pain still very much present, but nothing near before. Pushing myself up, Jack's pain filled groans reminding me I need to get moving. Hand going to my gun, well where it should be. That's right, I lost it. Dammit. Sighing to myself, I walk up to the nearest guard, pulling his sidearm from his holster before walking to the edge of the hole.

There's daddy dearest, starting to move. His hands twitching, eyes fluttering, trying to open. A deep anger, no rage welling up inside of me as I stare down at him.

"This, I'm not so sorry about." I fire down, two into his chest and one into each of his legs. It won't kill him, but he'll sure as hell feel it. I should use the whole clip, but I'm not that person. I can't be that person.

Turning back around I carefully step over the bodies, around the holes and out into the woods. So many bodies. Guards and infected alike. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm the true harbinger of destruction or if it's just an unfortunate coincidence of being tied to my father. Walking up the path, taking what chi is left from the guards. It's not much, but enough to reach ninety percent.

"Are you okay?" Lauren stands ups, pushing herself off of the truck. "Bo, are you okay?" She walks up to meet me, blocking my way before I'm even near. Her hands hesitant to touch me. "Bo?"

"I-I'm okay." A nod to seal my lie. Hands going to her face, lips finding hers. I feel the drain this time, but it's worth it. When I pull back she looks a hundred time better. "Are you?" Hesitant hand resting on her stomach, the look of shame in her eyes tells me all I need to know. It is true. "We have to go. We have to get back." Stepping around her, I slide into the car next to Theo. The bleeding having yet to slow.

"You look—how do you look…?"

"Casualties of war." Words a whisper, looking over to Lauren who manages to stuff herself in without asking me to scoot.

.

11:36 p.m.

.

"Stop the car." Kenz's voice knocking me from my thoughts. "Oh, oh God."

"No." Mark hit's the breaks, car stopped in the middle of the street. The four SUV's once packed with guards demolished, a blanket of bullets and blood washed over the ground. Infected hanging over the tops of the SUVs, underneath them, guards hanging out of open doors and broken windows.

"Dagny!" Kenzi's terrified yell forcing me to take a breath, hands clenched so tight I can feel the blood. Mark managing to grab her before she makes a run for the Dal.

Making a dash for the Dal, readying myself for anything. But I was wrong. Nothing could prepare me for what I find. Nine guards hanging from the ceiling, noose around their necks. Bodies dangling like chimes in a breeze, the fans purposely turned on. The bar, the floor, the walls chard to a crisp. Ayesha put up a hell of a fight. Walking further, to the area clear for sleeping bags my knees lock. Tears welling in my eyes. Ashley nailed to the wall, displayed for us. Wrists bound, a spike trough her hands into the wall keeping her up. Two more spikes in her thighs and one in her stomach.

"W-we tried." Evony's weak whisper earning my attention. There in the corner, bloodied and bruised she holds onto Ayesha's body. "We tried. But he was too strong. We never stood a chance."

I hear Dyson's growl. I hear Kenzi's cry. I hear Lauren ask me if I'm okay. I hear Evony's weak words. I hear Theo ask something as he goes to Evony, Lauren behind him. I hear Mark's voice. I hear it. I do. But I don't. It's all muffled. I'm under water. Everything is blurred. No it's not blurred, it's red. Everything is red. I can't breathe. I can't think. I can't breathe.

Focus Bo. Focus Bo. Focus Bo. Focus Bo.

Gasping for air, I find myself staring at Lauren's fearful face. Eyes slowly moving from her to Theo and Evony. Why are they scared? Well, that's a stupid question, but why are they looking at me like that? I look over to Vex and Kenz who just stare at me. Looking down I find stools suddenly covering the floor, some in pieces. Glancing behind myself, a stool lodged into the burnt wall. In my hands, another.

"I-I'm sorry." Dropping the stool, taking a step back until my back hits the bar. "I'm sorry. I didn't…I'm just sorry."

They have no idea how sorry I am.