When Cass woke up she was in excruciating pain. She couldn't remember a damn thing, and she couldn't move…..wait couldn't move? Her eyes popped open and snuck a peek at her surroundings, she was in some type of cellar, or basement and she was chained to a wall...lovely.

Why was she chained to a wall? Who had the time to chain her to the wall? Who had chains laying around anyways? Why would someone have a basement that looked like a torture chamber? Didn't make any sense.

She heard chuckling and her eyesight followed the sound, the laugh was deep and had a sense of authority lingering in it, definitely male.

"Cassandra, so happy you're awake. I was afraid you were going to sleep through my plans" a man stepped out of the shadow of the right wall. He was taller than anyone she had ever seen, his eyes a striking green that made the crisp white shirt he was wearing look dim.

"Who the fuck are you?" was what she managed to say, and applauded herself for actually sound pissed off, and not just pissing herself. The man chuckled again and took slow steps towards her, his hands in his pockets.

"I see why Marko likes you so much, you are both feisty." the man smiled at her and she cringed, wanting to hide. Then she thought of Marko and his words, and her heart broke all over again.

"Foolish girl. Marko may look like an sweet angel, but he is the devil incarnate. He still has no measure to me of course, but he was only trying to protect you. You have made him soft." he scoffed and circled around her, she flinched and bit her lip. He stopped at her left side, and then jabbed his pointer finger into her wound, the action causing her to let out a dry scream and her vision to blur significantly. Her head dropped and everything around her swam, including his voice.

"Don't worry darling, I won't torture you too much. I just want Marko to see how badly you were hurting before you died, it will make for an excellent picture." he smiled as if fantasizing about the picture he was painting.

"Why?" she questioned, though her voice was raw, he heard her just fine.

"It's really nothing personal, I just hate that little shit and his friends. He killed my daughter, and now I will also kill someone he cares a lot about. I know he will find me soon, his rage could equal a titan. Though you will be dead long before he catches your scent. Yes, I have been waiting a long, long time for this." He smiled then, and whipped his hand towards her head, the force knocking her out cold, and a rush of blood to come trickling down. Thomas thought about drinking her blood, but found himself nauseous the next. He couldn't stand touching the girl that Marko had been with, not after what he had done. Besides that, he could smell Marko all over her, even her blood reeked of him.

Marko

Marko had finally fallen asleep though it took several hours longer than the other boys. He knew he needed to sleep so he could be at his best tomorrow, but he couldn't stop picturing her face when he ripped her heart out, and then he couldn't stop picturing the knife being drug out of her body and her slumping to the ground. It gave him nightmares, and vampires definitely were not supposed to get nightmares.

He heard his brothers awaken and he too felt the draw of the moon, though he was more sluggish than the others. He met them in the main lobby, all standing in a small circle. He was normally happy when he woke up, knowing they were going to have a good night, and that he was going to feed. But the thought of feeding caused him to get sick, he could still taste Cassandra's blood on his tongue.

"How are you feeling?" David questioned, taking a drag from his cigarette. He wanted to say well how the fuck do you think considering? But he didn't. He needed David's help, now more than ever.

"I don't know, ok I guess." he shrugged and looked anywhere but at his maker, or anyone else for that matter. Especially Dwayne, because when he looked at Dwayne he would see Erin wrapped around him, and seeing that caused his heart to constrict, because he wanted Cass to be wrapped around him. And seeing Erin made him think of Cass, and he thought about her enough. Looking at Paul wasn't much better because the other blonde made him think about the 2 kissing, and it pissed him off but also had him wishing he could watch them kiss again, instead of where she was now. So he settled to stare at the ground.

"Don't lie to me" David growled and Marko flinched and then met his eyes.

"What? You want me to admit I'm losing my fucking mind? That I didn't really sleep, or that I don't think I'm going to be able to feed tonight without getting sick?" he yelled in anger, really not needing David's attitude right now.

"Yes, I did want to know that. So when we come down on Thomas with hell's fury I know it's for the right cause" David explained and Marko was so shocked he didn't know what to say. So he just nodded his head in agreement.

"So what's the plan?" Paul asked

"We leave, we feed, we follow Thomas or Cassandra's scent. Dwayne that will mostly be up to you, you're our best tracker and you've committed her scent to memory." Dwayne nodded and the rest nodded along with him.

"And me?" Erin questioned in a small voice.

"You're going back to the house" Dwayne answered

"What? No! I'm helping you find Cass, she's my best friend Dwayne!" she protested

"No, you are not going" he spoke

"Yes I am!" she argued back

"Sorry girl, but I agree with stone man over here. We don't need you getting captured, or getting in the way. We'll get Cass and then we'll all come back here like one giant fucked up family!" Paul said trying to raise the spirits.

"But…"

"No buts! Dwayne makes that call and he has decided. I don't want to hear anymore about it. Now let's go!" David ended the conversation and flew out, Erin looked absolutely annoyed but that was to be expected. She looked at him then but he just shrugged and gave her a small smile before following David out of the cave, it was going to be a long and painful night, for that he was sure of.

Cass

When Cass woke up again, she had a stunningly terrible headache. Just opening her eyes hurt, it wasn't bright my any means in the basement, but her headache made her think so. She tried to sit up more to release some ache in her arms, but only furthering her back pain and her headache. She closed her eyes to try and keep from crying out, she couldn't tell if her kidnapper was down here or not, but she hoped he was upstairs so she could try and formulate a plan. She sat and thought for awhile and didn't come up with anything that could help her fight him off, after all she was chained to a wall which restricted her movement.

She had been about to try and go back to bed, hoping that if she was still sleeping he would leave her alone for awhile longer. That was when she felt a nudging at her brain, it caused her headache to throb but she concentrated on it, trying to figure out what the sensation was. After finally picking her way through and trying to slow her breathing she was left of an image of Marko. Well Marko's legs as he walked down the boardwalk, he then glanced up and looked at all of his brothers, Erin included. She didn't know why she was seeing this, but she was going to try and use it to her advantage.

She started by yelling his name repeatedly, the sensation of yelling inside of her head made her head feel fuzzy and was much harder to do when she was losing blood. She stopped when he didn't show any indication that he heard her, she felt like crying, and screaming, and hugging him, and punching him. She let out a cry of anguish. He stopped moving then, almost tripping. His eyes roamed throughout the boardwalk, but then his eyes snapped up to meet David's.

"What's wrong?" David asked, his eyebrows furrowed

"I swear I just heard Cass cry out" he explained and everyone else's eyes darted out to look around.

"I don't think so man, I can't smell her" Dwayne said and she screamed Marko again. His whole body jolted and he turned in all directions, she was yelling no over and over again but he didn't hear her. Ugh. This was harder than she thought, she calmed her breathing and tried to relax, if she got angry she would over exert herself and pass out. 'Marko please' she whispered, her vision of his eyesight blurring. 'Cass' came a reply and she almost cried. 'Yes yes yes it's me' she sobbed 'where' he questioned back 'I don't know how I can see or talk to you but I'm in a basement, he stabbed me and my head is bleeding, he said he was going to kill me' she sobbed again and just wanted to be in his arms.

'Shit, tell me more baby. As much as you can, what did he say? Did he give any clues as to where you are?' 'No not much. He just said he hated you because you killed his daughter. I have this feeling that he's older than he looks' 'I killed his daughter?' Marko asked back, she could hear the puzzlement in his voice. 'That's what he said. I don't know much, but I'm chained to a wall.' she grumbled 'I'm going to find you baby I promise Dwayne's a great tracker, I'll be holding you before you know it'

She was about to reply when the door to the basement flung open, banging against the wall. She screamed and shrunk in on herself as best as she could. She could hear Marko in her mind screaming her name and asking what was wrong. She watched the man come towards her, he grabbed her by the throat and and squeezed hard. She choked and he let her vision see dots before he let her go again. She coughed violently and shook

"You've been talking to him!" he screamed, and dealt her with a slap to the face she cried out and blood poured down her lip. She heard Marko tell the boys that he found out he had been speaking to Cass, that he could see him and the basement, but she could also hear the sheer terror in his voice, and it comforted her.

'Just hang on baby, I'm coming' and the man spoke again

"Actually thank you Cassandra, for now when I harm you, he will see it too, instead of just finding your dead body. This is most excellent news" and he laughed, rolling his sleeves up and pulling out a small knife. She backed away and chanted no out loud, begging him.

"Like I said sweetheart, nothing against you. But I'm going to enjoy hurting him" and then he drug the knife down her arm, deep enough that blood began to flow out of the wound quickly. She screamed when he suddenly dug the knife deep into the soft flesh of her thigh.

"Humans are so fragile. There is such beauty in the way you guys bleed" the man circled the knife around her face but only made small cuts, which she was thankful for.

"You're losing blood a lot faster than I thought you would, which means you're going to die quicker than I thought. Sad to have the game end, but we had fun didn't we?" He smiled at her then and plunged the knife into her other side. The blunt force caused her to stop breathing for a second, her whole world shifting. Her body bowed forwards and she couldn't concentrate enough to breathe, her breaths coming out in small pants that didn't equal enough oxygen.

'Cass! Cassandra! Stay with me baby, I'm coming. Dwayne caught the scent of your blood. Just hold on please' he sobbed and she could feel him flying through the air. 'I'm.. ' she panted out using all of her energy in 2 words. 'No, I'm sorry, I should have never of said what I did to you, I just didn't want you to get hurt' 'Not...good... enough' she managed to huff out losing her fight with consciousness.

"Yes Cassandra, tell him how much he hurt you. That way he'll feel even worse when he finds you dead" the man spoke menacingly. She didn't have the energy to look up at him and reply. Hell, she had a hard time breathing. She felt all of her blood rushing out of her wounds, and she realized she was sitting in quite a large pool of blood. Yeah, she wasn't going to make it.

'You're good enough! You're perfect! Please!' Marko was chanting in her mind over and over again, she could only manage to nod her head and whisper his name lightly. Though she didn't know if it was out loud of not, because right after, she blacked out.

Marko

He both saw and felt her pain, and it felt like he was dying. He didn't know how many times he yelled her name, how many times he said sorry, or how many times he said please. But it didn't seem like enough. He couldn't hear or see from her anymore and it almost made him fall out of the sky.

"We are close. Cassandra is strong Marko" Dwayne said softly from beside him, he could only manage a weak nod. They dropped down to an abandoned house, and they made their way inside quickly and quietly. He wanted to run in there screaming her name but he knew that wouldn't help her. He knew this was the place, Cassandra's smell was everywhere.

David and Dwayne checked the main level of the house while Marko and Paul rushed down the stairs. Marko stopped in his tracks at the sight before him, Paul let out a small cry. Cassandra was still chained to the wall by her hands and her feet were shackled to the floor. She was sitting in a puddle of blood, and her whole body was covered in stabs, scratches, bruises, or dirt.

She wasn't breathing. He heard David and Dwayne rush downstairs, throwing something on the ground. He saw Thomas and in a rage he had him pinned against the wall by his throat within seconds.

"Not now Marko! Cass needs you!" Paul bellowed and he immediately let the man drop, rushing to her and breaking the chains. He brought her close to him and rocked her, brushing the hair out of her face.

"I'm so sorry Cass. So sorry" he sobbed

"Marko. You know what to do" Marko looked up at David and he nodded, biting into his wrist and placing it over her mouth. Paul came over and tilted her head back more, rubbing her throat so he could help her swallow.

"Come on Cass" he mumbled, rubbing a bit harder on her throat. Marko stopped bleeding and he bit into his wrist again, he did this 3 more times but there were still no signs of life from her.

"NO!" Marko screamed crying full on now. "You can't leave me, I just found you." He knew he couldn't give her anymore blood, or he wouldn't have enough to get himself home.

"Marko, she's gone. I'm sorry" Dwayne came over and leaned down next to the trio, placing his hand on the younger boys shoulder.

"No" he whispered back

"Marko. We must go" David said, still pinning a barely conscious Thomas to the floor.

"She'll make it!" Paul yelled at all of them, biting into his wrist and shoving it into her mouth. They all watched him do it, and none of them could say anything. They had never seen Paul been so passionate about something besides weed and rock n roll. He pressed his fingers to her throat and brought her head up more. Nothing happened for a few seconds, and then she swallowed on her own.

"Cassandra!" Marko cried, hugging her tightly. She groaned, and latched onto Paul's wrist that was in her mouth, now drinking on her own. She pulled away and looked up at Marko.

"Marko?" she questioned, still not having her full eyesight with her.

"I'm here" he mumbled, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"I knew you'd find me" she gave him a small dazed smile and promptly fell back asleep. He watched her before passing her over to Paul who pulled her close. He wanted to whack him but he knew he just helped him save her life, and he had more pressing issues to worry about. Like ripping out Thomas' throat.

He walked over and leaned down, grabbing the man by the hair and jerking him up so he could look him in the eye. Thomas just laughed and spit blood out, some of it spurting onto Marko's face. He slowly cleaned it off and bashed his head again the floor, causing the man's frontal teeth to come tumbling out of his mouth.

"Not so funny now huh?" Marko seethed, grinning a devil's smile.

"No still funny. She died either way, and your pain and face was worth it" he spit, "you deserve all the pain in the world and then some, you drained my daughter dry in front of me."

"And now you're going to die, funny how the world works out huh?" Marko grabbed him by the neck, pulling him to stand, and then lifting him up slightly so his feet were no longer on the ground. "Can't say I remember your daughter though, if she looks or smells anything like you, I'm sure I didn't enjoy myself." he smiled and the man growled, thrashing. Marko snapped his hand to the side in one quick motion, Thomas' body slumping to the ground, while his head flew off to the side. He walked over to the head and kicked it towards the body, Dwayne coming over with a match to set the body on fire.

"Let's go. Daylight is coming soon." David spoke and they moved to follow him up the stairs. Marko turned and went to grab Cassandra from Paul's hands, only to have Paul growl at him and pull her tighter into his body.

"What the fuck Paul, give her to me" barely controlling his anger.

"No. You almost got her killed" Paul argued, shouldering past him. Marko followed him up.

"How is this my fault? Give me my mate!" he screamed, spinning Paul around abruptly when they got outside.

"You killed his daughter" Paul accused

"I'm sure you've killed a lot of people's daughters. This dad just decided to come back for revenge. Give her to me now" he seethed

"Paul. Marko. Enough! We're losing time, Paul give Cassandra to Marko now. He cried all the way here thinking she was dead." David yelled, Paul shot Marko a dirty look before gently handing her over to him. They all took flight, stopping at Erin's to grab her before entering the cave.

"Is she going to be ok?" Erin whispered from beside Cass, holding the other girls hand.

"Yes. She'll be different, but she will be ok." Dwayne spoke from beside Erin, placing his hand on her shoulder. Erin nodded, letting loose a few tears.

'David?' Marko questioned through his mind

'What?'

'Why is Paul being so protective of Cassandra?'

David didn't answer for a while, seemingly trying to find the best way to answer. 'My guess is that Paul's blood worked to revive her, so he feels that she is his in a sense' this caused Marko to let out a threatening growl. 'He's going to be protective of her because he looks at her like his child, the same way I look at all of you' David clarified. It still didn't sit well with Marko, but he was bone tired. He grabbed Cassandra in his arms and carried her to a back room. He laid down next to her and brushed her hair off her face.

"I'm sorry you didn't get a choice, but I couldn't lose you" he whispered against her cheek as he placed a kiss onto it. He cuddled up next to her and heard David travel further into the cave to go to sleep. Paul had already retired for the night, having been too angry to talk to any of them. Dwayne was staying with Erin in a few rooms down.

Marko fell asleep content that his family was safe, and that he had Cassandra back in his arms once again. Alive. Happy that the threat seemed to vanish along with Thomas' ashes.

But he should have known that when you live in Santa Carla, nowhere and no one was safe.