51: Wanting More

I'm sorry for the huge delay to release this chapter. The original chapter 51 was Jeanine getting raped by Harvey. It's the most brutal rape scene I've ever written, and I couldn't bring myself to release it. So, you're hearing about what happened to her in this way.
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      "There must be a way to kill him!" Robert snapped as he and Marge arrived back at the house, talking about Gus.

      The house was deserted and quiet, the only faint sound being that of Desi's light nickering in her makeshift stall.

       Marge realized that someone should probably go and check up on Nate's other horse since it had been a number of days since anyone had fed him most likely.

       "Where is everyone?" she quietly asked.

       "I don't know, but we'd better wait here. It's possible, likely even, that my brother is taking a very detoured route returning."

       As if on cue, Derek showed up on the lawn of the house. He was injured and limping.

       Suddenly, a fairy appeared next to him.

       Arabella no longer cared about revealing herself to the terrifying she-vampire. Her Derek was hurt!

       "Where?" she asked him.

       "My knee, but don't worry. It's getting better every second," he explained with pain evident in his voice.

       "It will be better now because now is better," Arabella chirped in a sing-song voice laced with concern. She rubbed her hands together as if to warm them and placed both of them on Derek's knee. A small light emanated from her palms before disappearing into his flesh.

       Marge watched, fascinated, as Bella worked her magic. Her mother had always told her to believe in fairies, but Marge had scoffed at her, thinking she was looney. Of course, she'd known differently for a while now. Mothers had a way of being right.

       She'd never witnessed a fairy's healing magic before, and she filed what she saw in the back of her mind for possible use later.

       "Where are the others?" Rob asked his brother.

       "We split up. They should be here shortly," he answered with a calmer voice. His pain had vanished.

       With that, Rocky appeared from out of the trees. "Where's Jeanine?" he asked almost immediately.

       "She hasn't come back yet," Robert answered.
       "We have to find her!" Rocky exclaimed, worried. He turned and headed for the trees.
       "Stop," Derek ordered. "You will stay here and wait for her."
       "What?!" Rocky yelled, now appearing even more worried than before and agitated with Derek as well.
       The five of them argued back and forth about what they should do. Derek wanted to wait, but Rocky demanded they search for her right away since she should've been back by now.
       Just as Rocky was about to attack Derek in a challenge, something no one saw coming, Jeanine came bursting into the yard, naked.

       Rocky immediately threw his jacket around her while Arabella redoubled her calming aura. The three of them went into the house, not speaking.
       Robert stared at his older brother, upset that he told Rocky to not go after Jeanine. Since they weren't alone, he kept his angry, aggravated thoughts to himself.
       "Marge," Marge heard inside her head. Gus called her to him.

       "I have to go," she announced.
       "What?" Robert, forgetting his anger at his brother for the moment, looked stricken with the news. He had a feeling what his Rose really meant.
       "I'm sorry," she said quickly before she sped off.
       "No!" Rob called out as he started to chase after her. He guessed she was headed for Augustus, and he couldn't bear the thought. He knew the likelihood of this happening, but he didn't think it would happen so soon. Surely, he thought, we should be given more time than that!
       Derek's voice rang with authority. "Let her go."
        "But if nothing else, she'll lead us to him!" he tried to use an excuse to chase after her to keep the woman he cared for from her master.
        Derek looked wearily at his younger brother as Rob turned to him with a furious expression.

        "What is wrong with you? You refuse to go look for Jeanine, you offer up a false gem to rescue Gabriella, and you do nothing about our vendetta against the Ancient One!" Robert panted. "Have you lost your edge?"
       "I could not risk the rest of my pack-"
       "To save a quarter of it," Rob interrupted. "We are stronger than them. Yet you ... you order us to stay put!"
       "Tanner had no intention of handing her over. Thinking he would was my true mistake," Derek said, remaining calm in spite of his brother's outburst.
       "With Rose, we could have destroyed them tonight, not run away with our tails between our legs."
       "I didn't know she could do that." After a quick pause, he asked, "What did you call her?"
       "I called her Rose, a name that better suits her."

       Marge quickly arrived at the location of her maker before the pair of them sped off only to double back and check to see if she'd been followed.

        "You were exemplary tonight, my Marge," Gus said as he approached her once they realized they would remain alone. "I'm impressed and quite pleased." He smiled toothily at her in the moonlight. "How many do you think you killed? Tanner will be furious to have had his numbers decimated the way I hope they were."
      "About ten, I think. Five, I'm sure, at the beginning," she answered, not really sure if she should be proud of herself.
      "Yes, that wall of fire was a nice touch. You're improving."

      "And my daughter remains captured. Tell me you killed the rapist."
      "As you put it, it wasn't his time." Gus grinned.
      "We must free her!" she exclaimed in a pleading tone.
      "In good time. I'm afraid she'll most likely be there another month due to Derek's poor judgement."
      "No thanks to you! You're an amazing strategist! Why don't you help?"
      "Derek, first of all, would never accept my help. And second, I prefer to let the dogs fight their own battles. I sent you in only because it's Gabriella they have, and I want her."
       "Then maybe she'd be better with the rapist," Marge hissed all of a sudden.
       He swooped down upon her in an instant. "Watch what you say, witch. Need I remind you on whose side you are?"
       "I hate you," she snarled defiantly up to him.
       "I'd pity you if you loved me," he said solemnly. Then, he could no longer resist her and cradled her head in his hands before bringing his lips down upon hers in a pleading way.

        Marge fought against him. When his mouth finally left hers, he trailed light kisses down her throat.
      "No, August," she said in response to the way he pressed his hips against hers.
      "You've never said no to me. This is the thanks I get for letting you have a puppy? You're mine!" he snarled against her throat.
       She cried out when she felt his fangs pierce her skin, and although she knew her efforts were futile, she continued to try to get him off her as he took in her blood.
        When he'd taken a sufficient amount, he broke his own skin and commanded her to drink from him. When she'd finished, he ripped her panties from her hips and tackled her to the ground.

       "How... dare you .. try to resist me," he said as he undid his belt and pants.
       Marge prepared herself for what she knew was coming, and it happened fast.
       However, as soon as Gus joined their bodies, that euphoric, opiate-like feeling coursed through him. He looked down upon the woman below him and said, "Oh, my precious Marge, why did you wish to keep yourself from me when I need you so?" He knew later he would hate himself for everything he'd tell her, but the pair of them had grown somewhat used to his split-personality.
      "I'm not keeping myself from you, August."
      "But you said no. You love the puppy. How can you?" His voice sounded filled with sorrow as he made love to her.
       "I didn't set out to have that happen."
       "I must keep you from him," he stated resolutely.
       "No! They need me to defeat Tanner and rescue Gabriella," she begged and thought up a quick excuse.
       "You said you prefer for her to remain with the dog. You don't want me to use her power?"
       "Am I still not powerful enough for you?" she asked, hoping to distract him.

       "I always, always want more," he answered her before ceasing all conversation.

50: Old Friends

    "Derek, how very nice of you to join us." Tanner snarled, the enmity readily apparent in his voice.

    "Tanner." Derek gave as a simple greeting. "Where is she?"

    "Where is the stone?" Tanner countered.

    "Here." Marge spoke up, stepping out from behind Rob's back.

    Tanner smirked. "This must be the vampire-witch. Such an interesting hybrid."

   "Where's my daughter?" she asked before a blood-curdling howl rent the air. Someone in the hunting party wasn't happy.

     Tanner's eyes narrowed a fraction before he refocused on Marge.

     "My daughter?" Marge asked. "I refuse to hand this over until she is in our custody."

     "Show her the witch." Tanner barked over his shoulder. They brought Gabby within view through a window they could see through the short patch of woods behind the gate. She struggled against the hold of the wolf that held her.

     Marge glared at Tanner. "Bring her down here. You said-"

     "Don't, Tanner!" Katharine suddenly screeched. "It's a fake!"

     "Preposterous." Marge scoffed. "Why would we offer a fake?"

     "More like why wouldn't you?" Tanner growled while the wolves behind Marge tensed.

     I'm going to kill you, Derek, Marge thought maliciously.

     "Looks like we're going to have a little fun tonight, boys." Tanner grinned at the vampire. With a simple flick of his wrist, his pack charged forward towards Derek's crew.

      Unfortunately for one of Tanner's number, however, Marge shot a killing spell out from her hand, bringing the wolf crashing down in front of his brothers. She quickly felt a sudden inspiration, and she created a wall of flames between herself and the remaining members of Tanner's pack.

      Suddenly, she felt herself jerked backwards, being carried away in someone's arms.

      "Keep firing!" Robert directed as he carried her along, so she did so, downing a few more of Tanner's pack that felt brave enough to dash through the wall of fire.

      Their path got intercepted by Nate as he flew past them, knocking down a few more wolves.

      "Go!" he yelled behind him, looking irritated, while the two small opposing forces worked quickly to get organized, thinking that Nate, Marge, and Robert would do the same.

      Robert and Marge went towards Appaloosa Plains while Nate rushed back in the direction of the compound. Not expecting this, the larger wolf party had to split once again.

      Just before they disappeared from view, Marge's gaze fell upon a wolf with long black hair, and she knew without trying that this wolf was the one that raped her daughter.

      "Robert." Julian growled while the other wolves raced in another direction, chasing Derek and the others of their small band, giving Marge a wide berth.

      Cowards, she thought viciously while Rob set her down and faced the rapist.

     "Murderer." Julian snarled, and Marge wondered what he meant. She didn't bother trying to figure it out and instead kept her attention on the enemy wolf.

     "An accident." Robert growled back, and her stomach plummeted.

     The other wolf took a step towards the pair, but Marge quickly fired a warning shot at his feet.

     "Why not simply kill me and be done with it?" his ancient eyes asked her.

     "It's not my place to do so nor it is your time." Marge answered cryptically before the wolf roared with laughter.

     "Then be gone, witch! Leave the big dogs to their fight." he suggested.

     "I said I wouldn't kill you; I didn't say I wouldn't stop you." she snapped. "Rapist." she finished.

     "I wouldn't be interested in Gabriella if it weren't for your boyfriend here." the other wolf said as he took a step towards them. A look of mock concern showed up on his face as he asked, "Has he not told you he's a murderer?"
     Marge shrugged. "As am I."
     "He killed my wife."
     "You raped my daughter."
     Julian snarled at her, "My fight is not with you, witch!"

     "Well, mine is with you!" she argued back, throwing a stunning spell his way that he quickly dodged.
      Julian had wanted to only fight with Robert, he hadn't really counted on the fact that the woman would want to fight him. Still, he knew he could overpower her if given the chance, and he sought his opening. Finding it, he pounced.
      Simultaneously, Robert reached out to pull Marge out of the way, and Gus appeared from out of nowhere to attack Julian, pinning him to the ground.
      "Foolish move, boy." Gus spit at Julian below him.
      Julian threw August off of him, sending him in an arch through the air. Gus landed on his feet and hands in a crouched position, watching the were with excited eyes.

     In a laughing voice, Gus said, "I was all for you attacking the pup, but you made the decision to go after my woman." He ignored the low growl from Robert.
       Julian smiled evilly at August and quipped, "And yet, you let the pup mate with her. I can smell him all over her."
       "My Marge knows to whom she really belongs, and to whom I lend her is my business." Gus said coldly.
      "My fight is with Robert, Ancient One, not with you, or her, for that matter. If she continues to be in the way, then I must remove her." Julian said almost warily and watched Gus like a hawk.
      "Let's go." Robert said quietly to Marge. "I want you away from this."
      Men, Marge thought, irritated at how both Gus and Robert felt the need to protect her. She looked at Robert with a mildly-irritated expression.
       Rob took her hand and said, "Please." She rolled her eyes, and the pair of them sped off.

       Julian moved to follow them, but August blocked his path once again. He roared with irritation at the vampire and his jovial expression.
      August laughed loudly and asked, "So, hm, what do you call yourself now? Oh yes, Julian. Tell me, Julian, I'm curious. Just how was Gabriella?"
     "Still listening to gossip, old man?" Julian asked in place of an answer.
     "Only when I'm curious." Gus answered. "How much of a fight did she give you? I've found her to be quite resourceful in a state of panic."

     Julian smiled wickedly and decided to give an answer. "She was more than I expected."
     "I must admit I'm rather curious about the offspring." Gus smiled. "I wonder if the old man ever considered that when he made that bauble?"
     "You knew him, only you can answer that question." Julian remarked.

     August's mind went back to a different place and time for a few seconds as he remembered the man that made the stone and what he intended its original purpose to be.
      He smiled and said, "I love how your kind wish to cherish and protect it." Gus felt pleased that Julian looked confused as to the meaning behind his statement. They still don't realize.

      A howl sounded in the distance, one that meant a victory of sorts. Julian sniffed the air.
      "Your pack calls you." Gus pointed out dryly.
      "If the witch gets in the way again, I will remove her." Julian promised.
      "And I will be there to stop you."
      Julian let out a chuckle. "Until next time then, 'old friend'." With that, he sped off in the direction of the howl.

45: Timing is Everything

     Nate awoke with a start and sat straight up in bed. What the hell? ... Bitch! he thought, thinking of Marge. She knocked me out again! He looked out at the window. Nightfall had occurred. Gabriella! he thought suddenly, then he screamed a torturous cry.

      "No!!! Oh God no!!!" he yelled, and he balled up his hands into fists as rage consumed him.

      Marge came dashing into the room when she heard Nate's cry. Nate looked up at her with a furious expression.

       "You bitch!" he cried as he flung himself at her. "You let this happen! You stopped me from saving her!"

        "I stopped you from suicide." Marge spoke as calmly as she could manage.

        "Fuck you! I couldn't sit here and do nothing! Then you knock me unconscious and allow her to be raped!" His voice broke as he said, "She's pregnant! And they've tortured her!" He flung her to the side, causing her body to slam into the adjoining wall before he ran out of the room. He dodged her attack as he almost flew out of the house.

       I'll kill them all. Each and every one will die a painfully slow death, he thought as the realization hit that Gabriella carried multiples and that her gestation period had been drastically and very painfully reduced. I will not share with Derek the knowledge that the 'meeting' will be a waste of time. Why should I tell him? He's done nothing but prevent me from leaving to save her. He continued to race through the woods in the direction he knew Hidden Springs to be.

       "Your plan will not work." he heard his maker say to him from where they both now stood on a mountaintop.

       "Why should you even care, August?" Nate asked.

       "Obviously this was supposed to happen, and your part to play in this hasn't arrived. You will see your love again, rest assured."

       "Yes, while she lays dying in my arms."

       Gus's voice sounded a little peeved as he said, "I do not believe she will die. You shouldn't either. Have a little faith in yourself and your abilities!"

      "My abilities." he said in a scoffing manner. "My abilities are worthless when up against my 'sister'! Your little pet made it so that her daughter could be raped, impregnated, and tortured!"

        Gus gasped. "So, Tanner has finally achieved it. I suppose Katharine allowed it with her as her surrogate."

        Nate looked at him in confusion. "Tanner? This was Julian's doing. The torture is Tanner's fault, but the pregnancy is Julian's idea."

        Gus laughed, making Nate incensed. "Oh my!" Gus said with a huge grin on his face. "Tanner has his beta going behind his back with his own scheme! Oh, I love it!"

        "Fuck off, August." Nate said with disgust that his maker could be so happy about Gabriella's condition.

         "My, my. Language, Nathaniel." he lightly scolded him like a parent would a disobedient child.

       "I cannot let her just remain with them. I must do something." Nate spoke his thoughts aloud while he stared at the granite beneath his feet, ignoring Gus and getting back to the more important matter at hand.

        "Ever impetuous." Gus said with a tsk noise following. "You cannot just go charging into battle this time. Yes, I understand your want to rescue her, but you have to be smart about this. Pick the time and place to your advantage."

          "So, you're going to stop me as well?"

          "Me? No." he chuckled to himself. "I am choosing merely to observe. I am most curious of this turn of events and how I may benefit from it. Two of my enemies going head-to-head in the not too distant future. This shall be quite a show."

        "If Derek is your enemy, why send your best weapon to aid him?" Nate asked, deciding he may as well get a little information from his irritating maker while he was around.

        "I'm not worried over my Marge, and I will not reveal all of my secrets, Nathaniel."

        "Stay away from Gabby." Nate growled, knowing she was part of the 'secrets' that Gus kept from him. That, and she couldn't stay out of his thoughts for more than two seconds.

         Gus smiled. "Now, you know that's not going to happen, so why threaten me?"

       Nate ignored him again. He had other things to worry about ... like how he would get into that compound. She thinks I've tuned her out! After everything, she actually believes that I'd close my mind to her! he thought incredulously. There must be a way to her.

       "I wouldn't recommend going any further, Nathaniel." Gus said because he could sense Nate's desire for flight. "This pack is more powerful, and they won't give a fig about your respect for human life. They've always got sentries on duty scouring these hills."

        "Then let them find my scent. I want them to know I'm stalking and looking for a way in." Nate responded with venom in his voice.

         "So that Tanner will increase his forces? Complete and total surprise is your best option. Derek knows this, and he's had him as an opponent for a long time."

        "I cannot allow that bastard to sit there and try to comfort her. I want to rip his head off ... right after I castrate him."

         August laughed probably a little louder than the situation warranted. "So, after all these years, I finally see the solider I wanted, and all it took was a woman." He walked up to Nate and clapped him on the back like an old friend. "Wait, my son, and you just might get your chance."

         "Derek wants to attack at the full moon." Nate said almost at random, his thoughts flying from one topic to the next as he desperately sought a way to rescue the woman he loved.

        "Yes, of course he does. That's why I sent Marge. She wanted to help, and I'd rather the .. forgive the pun ... underdog weaken his opponent." His teeth shown in the moonlight as he smiled a wicked smile at Nate.

       Nate turned to his maker to ask, "What do you have against Tanner? And for that matter, Derek?"

      "That is none of your concern." Gus answered quickly and stiffly, his smile fading immediately as his arm fell off of Nate's shoulder.

      "There has to be a way inside."

      "And if you get in, what then?"

      "I kill Julian, get her, and get out."

      "It cannot be done alone. You must wait for Derek's decision."

      "That, I can't do. You don't have to help me, August. I'm going to free her."

      "Suit yourself then. Don't say I didn't warn you. Just remember you're no good to anyone dead."

      "I'm already dead, remember?"

     Gus growled and rolled his eyes. "Don't start that again." Then he left Nate standing alone on the mountaintop.

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       Gabriella found herself curled up in Julian's arms as they both sat on the bed. She'd not been aware of the goings on around her after Katharine and Tanner left the room because she had mentally escaped somewhere deep inside herself to maintain her sanity.

       She wiggled in his arms and lifted her head. "No, let me go! Leave me alone! Stop it!" she ordered as she pushed against him.

        "Shh," Julian said as he held her firmly, "Kitten, calm down. It's okay now. They're gone."

       "Okay? You have a twisted sense of 'okay'. I said let me -- Ah!" she cried as she tried harder to move away from him when pain suddenly struck every joint she moved.

       Julian easily pulled her close again as she started crying. He held her to him and rocked her a little as he stroked her hair and face. Her tears wrenched at his heart. "Shh, I know it's not really okay, but they're not going to mess with you anymore."

        "No, just you are." she sniffed.

        "I promise I will never again harm you in any way." he said as he cradled her in his arms. "I can't go against Tanner's commands, but he's assured me he won't bother you."

        "And you believe him?"

        "No, not really, but I have to try to."

        Deciding to drop the topic of Tanner, she cried, "I hurt everywhere! Why? Why me? Make the pain stop."

         "Rest." he offered as a solution. "Stay right here and just rest." He lightly encouraged her to curl into him and rest her head on his shoulder like she'd had it earlier.

         Exhausted, Gabby didn't feel like fighting him. She already knew he wouldn't hurt her again from her visions, so she obeyed his wishes and let him hold her. He slowly and gently rocked her as he sang a quiet song in a language she didn't understand. The sound of his deep voice mixed in with his heartbeat relaxed her, and she soon fell asleep.

40: Shock

     Nathaniel slowly opened his eyes to find himself on the floor. Gabriella had blasted him off of her! His eyes traveled over to where she lay, still passed out.

     I'd forgotten she could do that, and she did it to me. Me!

     Well, I was attacking her. I'm determined to fight fate. She can't attack me again right now. Should I try again?

     He sat there and watched the love of his life as she slept in an almost comatose state, still sunned from what she'd done to him. He'd scared her every bit as much, maybe more, than August had done that day at her mother's house. August had only threatened to bite her then. Nate himself tried to change her outright.

 

     It doesn't take a psychic to know that she's gonna be extremely pissed when she wakes up. And I don't want to apologize either.

     Should I try again right now? he thought again as he rolled over onto his stomach to crawl over to her sleeping form.

    

    Gabriella awoke to see Nate leaning over her. Exhausted, she still found the strength to move quickly away from him.

     "Leave me alone!" she said as loudly as she could manage.

     "Or you'll do what? You can't stun me again so quickly." he pointed out sardonically.

     Terror coursed through Gabby along with adrenaline as she backed herself into the far corner of the room. Nathaniel blocked the room's exits. Her heart raced in her chest. The power it took to stun Nate the way she did plus the fact that Nate had partially drained her as well made her legs shake underneath her, threatening a collapse. She decided it would be prudent to just sit on the floor for now. Still, she had to find it in her to put up a fight if that would be what was needed.

 

     Only moments before, Nate had wanted to continue with his plan to turn Gabby against her will, but now, feeling the fear in her directed at him, her whole demeanor tore at his heart. She was really terrified of him!

     Gabriella watched as Nathaniel's shoulders slumped on his way to sit on the bedroom's small loveseat.

      

     What have I done? he thought as he sat with his head in his hands. He felt Gabriella watch him warily, still afraid and untrusting. After all, why should she trust me? Ever?

     "I'm sorry." he said lamely, knowing that wasn't enough.

     Gabby remained quiet and suspicious.

     "I crossed the line." he continued. "I won't try to stop you from leaving if that's what you want. I won't blame you if you never trust me again." Then his voice crept down to a whisper as he said, "I'm so sorry!"

     But where could I go? Gabriella thought as she got up on her knees, too exhausted to even speak. Is there anyone I can trust anymore? I used to trust my mother, but she's controlled by Gus now.

     She's leaving me, Nate thought sadly. She's going to leave me and I deserve it. He got up and walked out of the room.

    Gabby slowly walked over to the dresser to put on some warm, outdoor clothing, a stunned look on her face.

 

     As she continued to get dressed and pack a backpack to take some items, her heart ached. Tears coursed down her face as she thought, How could he do that to me? How can I ever trust him again? Knowing there was no point in trying to hide her intended destination, she thought, I'm going to the wolves to ask for help and shelter. That's one place where I can be safe ... from everyone.

 

     Nate stood at the bar and wished the spirits would get him drunk as fast as they did when he was human. But that's the whole point isn't it? I'm not human, but a monster. For a century I tried to convince myself I was good even though a vampire, but that simply isn't true. I tried to turn the woman I desperately love against her will for my own selfish agenda. If dying is what she'd prefer then why can't I accept that?

     Her time is limited, and I've made her want to spend the rest of it away from me, forcing her into the presence of my kind's worst enemy. He heard her plans to ask for sanctuary with the wolves and because she knew that was the one place he would be unable to get to her. She mentally asked him for Desi.

     "Take her." he mumbled into his glass, knowing she couldn't hear him. "Take it all." He refilled his emptied glass and said to the room at large, "Nothing matters anymore anyway."

     He heard the door open and saw Gabriella warily leave the room, a backpack in her hand.

    "You may have her. She'll be happier with you." he told her, also thinking how Reggie's heart would break as well. Well, they could just be lonely bachelors together. That is, until Gabriella dies and I end my own miserable existence. I'll bequeath Reggie to the pack so at least someone can be reunited with the one they love.

     Gabby stood and stared at him wordlessly, so he said, "I do not expect your forgiveness so I will not ask for it again. But please, if you ever need anything... anything... remember I'm only a thought away." He watched her face and the cold expression it wore.

     "Goodbye, Nathaniel." she said quietly before walking out the door, her heart breaking.

     When the door closed, Nate crumpled into a pathetic heap, the glass in his hand shattering as it too fell to the floor.

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     Gabby did not try to stem the flow of her tears as they ran down her face. She opened the stable door, and the horses' ears perked up at her approach.

     She spoke to Reggie first, "I'm sorry I'm doing this to you, Reggie." Then she turned to Desi and said, "Desi, we're leaving." She got her favorite saddle and prepared the two of them for the relatively short journey.

     She knew traveling at night was dangerous, especially for her, but she had the attitude that if the vision was to somehow occur tonight, then there was nothing she could do about it.

     Desi nickered as Gabby led her outside into the cool night air. Gabriella turned around to look at the house once more. After about a second, Nate appeared at the kitchen window, looking back at her. She quickly averted her eyes before mounting her horse. Refusing to look back a second time, she kicked Desi into an easy canter.

     As she left the grounds, she could feel the protection that kept Gus away being lifted.

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     Wary now from what he felt Gabriella feel, Nate turned around and looked about him in a mildly paranoid way. The drink was finally working its magic, and that plus still feeling a little weary from being stunned, he felt ill-prepared for a fight.

     As he walked over to look out the front door, he heard the back one open behind him.    

     "You were right, my Marge!" he heard his maker say to the redhead behind him.

     "August." Nate said in shock as he watched the two of them walk in. Marge ever so slightly placed herself in front of Gus. The intent was clear -- he'd have to go through Marge to get to the older vampire.

     "Oh, don't act so surprised, Nathaniel." Gus drawled as Marge darted up the stairs and back in a blink, now holding a large red book in her hand.

     "She forgot it." Marge said in a shocked voice.

     "Excellent." Gus said with a smile. "However, you should have taught her better."

     Marge acted like she was about to say something, but about that time Nate yelled, "Get out!"

     Augustus laughed, his arms still folded casually. Furious now, Nate charged him.

     It all happened in a fraction of a second. As Nate came close, Marge shot out her hand and said a strange word just before sending him flying backwards and into the wall. Upside down now, he landed with a thud on his neck and shoulders.

     "Cool." she said as she stared at her hand in amazement.

     "I told you you'd get better." Gus said with encouragement. "Even after this short time. You'll be unstoppable when you get older." He leaned over and kissed her cheek affectionately. Marge just continued to look at her own hand in wonder.

     "What... the fuck... was that?" Nate asked as he worked on righting himself.

     August decided to answer for his Marge since she appeared distracted. "A handy little spell she discovered in something you left behind. I'm simply amazed at all you didn't take -- such interesting items..."

     "Like what?" Nate asked as calmly as he could manage while returning to a standing position.

     "Like something you want... or more like Derek wants, and Gabriella is going to try to take. The idiot is going to send her in alone, can you believe it? Well, not counting the easily-taken-care-of bitch."

     Nathaniel roared in fury and dove for him again. Once more, Marge sent him flying back. This time, however, his head smashed up the dining room table. 

     "You idiot." he heard Gus say just before he lost consciousness for the second time that night.

-------

     Gabriella was lost. She thought she could remember the way, but she must've taken a wrong turn somewhere on the many trails through the woods in the hills above town. She couldn't figure out what to do, and she felt exhausted from the evening's events.

     "Desi, do you remember the way?" she asked the horse before giving her free rein. Desi made what Gabriella could swear was a scoffing noise before heading back the way they came.

     Before they'd gone far, however, a chilling howl rent the air, giving her goosebumps and causing Desi to act skittish.

     "Somehow, I doubt that's Derek's crew." she said quietly as Desi side-stepped a little off of the path. She wished she could call on her ability to know for sure, but she was wiped.

     Suddenly, Desi panicked and reared before taking off like mad into the woods next to them. It was all Gabriella could do to hang on! What has gotten into her?

     Then she heard it. They were being chased by an angry snarling sound. Not Derek's crew, she affirmed to herself as she hugged herself closer to the horse.

     In a clearing, Desi came to a sudden halt and reared once more. Right in front of them stood two weres, transformed. Desi reared once again as she tried to turn around only to discover three more had joined them, and they were surrounded.

     "What do you want?!" Gabriella screamed with more strength than she thought she had. Nate, help! Help! Please help!

     "Good evening, Miss Hudson." the were with the long hair said calmly as he stepped around his brethren.

Part 3 Opener: A New Idea

"Congratulations are in order, I think." Gus said as he walked into the house.

"I know." Marge said with a smile. "She said yes. I only saw it moments before it happened."

"Your gift isn't as good as it should be. You should've known long beforehand." Gus accused with his arms folded.

"It's not from not trying. At least I proved to you the spell would work. He didn't hear you, did he? Even with you as close as you were." Marge quickly defended herself, hating that she had to do something in Gus's favor.

"Yes." Gus said as he stood there and stared at her in a contemplative manner. "You did well. Good to know you're good for more than just one thing."

In a fit of sudden anger, she flew at him. She hated herself for letting him get to her, but she was aggravated that she couldn't get her psychic ability stronger by forcing it. He easily batted her away like one would an annoying fly. She landed with a hard thud on the floor.

"Aw, come on, Marge! Surely you can do better than that. Your daughter, as a human could knock me flat on my ass! C'mon, impress me! Show me why I should stop going after that power by letting me know you have it too!" Gus irritatingly taunted her, smiling with sadistic mirth as he watched her slowly stand.

"She has it in both bloodlines. I have it in one." Marge offered as an explanation.

"So you've said. Besides, it's meant to be that I go after that power. That's why we're here, isn't it?" he said with his arms thrown wide. Then his voice got nastier as he continued, "Oh, that's right... you don't know. You can't give me an exact when."

She angrily turned around. Her attempts at getting him to believe that the fateful moment was a long time from now had failed miserably. He seemed to think that because he wanted it sooner rather than later must mean that it was destined to happen sooner rather than later.

He smiled wickedly as an idea occurred to him. He snapped over to where she stood and pulled her against him as he said, "You know, Marge, I'd hate to keep you from your own daughter's wedding. Perhaps we should crash the party and make our own 'when'." He laughed. "And he won't know we're coming! And she refuses to use her gift so she won't know either!" He chuckled softly to himself now as he said, "You know, your daughter is more gifted as a human than you are as a vampire. It makes me wonder what dark gift will be bestowed upon her as well, if any. Maybe she's already too gifted. That or she could get something worthless like yours is."

Marge looked up at him with sheer loathing in her eyes. She'd lost control, and he knew it. He'd turned the tables on her. Lately, he had a 'I'll have my cake and eat it too' attitude. She knew casting that spell would only hold him at bay for a short time, but she failed to consider that it would actually aid in helping along future events. That knowledge tore at her.

Guessing her thoughts lay along the lines of her involvement in upcoming events, he said, "Come, come now, my Marge, you and I both know we're merely players in this whole scheme of life. It's one of the things I like best about you. What will happen will happen."

"August, you have existed for over two millennium, and you were just fine before you came across someone like my daughter. Why can't you just continue to be satisfied with what you had before?" she asked pleadingly.

"Because I was not satisfied! I was bored! And in this existence I have made many enemies!" he growled down at her.

"No big surprise there." Marge muttered spitefully. Then she cried out as he spun her around and acted like he wanted to break her arm behind her back.

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted," he spat into her ear, "I have many enemies that I could use a little aid in exacting a little revenge."

"Then why not just use me?" she asked.

"Oh, I intend to, but why only use a rifle when I have an atom bomb? I can only imagine how fascinatingly powerful she'll be once she's turned." A look of surprise came over him suddenly. "Why ... Who's to say I'm not the one that does the turning? What if what Nathaniel ends up doing is only a last ditch effort to wind up being the one to turn her when I've already done it! Why was this idea not revealed to me sooner?"

"August, please!" Marge begged him to release her arm.

"Of course!"

He spun her back around to face him once more so he wasn't hurting her, but he didn't actually let go of her either. He reached up and ran the back of his fingers against her cheek adoringly. He hated that every time he hurt Marge it only made him want to be lovingly affectionate towards her in reaction to that gift of hers. However, not even that defensive mechanism of hers could stop his elation with this idea of his.

"Let's celebrate my revelation!" he exclaimed with a grin before crashing his lips upon hers.