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.

47: Too Many Barriers

I haven't finished this, but a good enough portion is done so that I feel like I won't mess it up on my way to the ending I want. So... it's back! I'll try to update every two weeks or so.

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Recap:
*Julian rapes Gabriella to get her pregnant and make a hybrid werewolf/witch that can one day work the stone as well as benefit from it.
*Tanner's mate, Katharine, uses a spell to drastically and painfully speed along Gabriella's pregnancy.
*Nate, furious with Marge and Derek, decides to race off on his own to find a way to rescue Gabriella from Tanner's pack.
*Robert is no longer able to resist Marge and falls under her siren's spell.

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Earlier this morning....

    I can hear them! Nate thought with vicious glee as he raced around in the woods surrounding Tanner's compound. It must be an effect of the stone that I can't hear Derek's pack. Tanner's pack has been missing theirs for quite some time now

    Tanner's sentries had, of course, discovered his presence soon after his arrival in the surrounding area. 

     That's right, pups. There's a vampire in your midst. He stifled a sadistic laugh at the young ones' frustrations with not being able to catch him. They don't know I can hear their communications! It must be the animal blood in them that makes them so very very easy to read.

      Sure boys, keep trying to trap me. I know your every thought! he thought as he outmaneuvered them once again.

      Still, the sun was on the rise, and he would need to seek out shelter soon.

      Didn't some sort of lore exist that said vampires couldn't cross running water? Hah! Wrong! he thought as he raced down the river and dove below the surface of it.

      He allowed the river to guide him to the large lake nearby, and he found a dark cave in which to hide for the day. Sure, he felt a mild discomfort and annoyance because he couldn't breathe, but breathing was unnecessary. He could hear the wolves' frustration that they'd lost his scent, and he allowed himself a grin.

      The grin fell off of his face as he pondered his situation. That house was a fortress! He quickly scanned his Gabriella's memories. Thus far when he could spare a quick second to examine the place, he found no weakness in the outer fortifications. He didn't lose hope, however, of ever finding one. Every fort had its weakness.

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       Marge and Robert finally tore themselves from his bed to go to her house and retrieve the stone.
     "It's strange." Marge commented as she and Robert approached the entrance to her her hidden underground room. "I saw Gabby doing this. Not me."

      "You saw it?" Rob asked.

       Shit! Rookie mistake, she thought harshly to herself.

       "And you 'just knew' that Derek wouldn't be angry enough to stop us from being together. Tell me," he said with distrust laced in his voice, "my dear Rose, just how that is."

      "I have visions." she admitted quietly.

      "And you screwed up just now by revealing that, didn't you? You weren't going to tell me?" he asked, his arms folded.

      "There was no need for you to know."

      The two of them descended the staircase in tense silence.

     Marge approached the shelf that housed the true stone, but Rob didn't care about it for the moment.

      He stopped her hand, and as she looked at him in question, he asked, "How could I not need to know?" He paused before continuing, "And you can find out what Tanner is planning!"

      "I'm unable to see. I've tried numerous times, but for some reason, I'm not given any answers sometimes." She looked at him apologetically, hating that she wasn't more powerful.

      Suddenly, he felt this overwhelming need to comfort her, and this tender emotion brought to mind another question. "Have you seen our future? What happens with us?"

      "Wouldn't it be better not to know?" she asked him.

      His face screwed up for a second as he thought yet again how insane it was to be falling for a vampire. Still, he said, "I have to know... if you're able, please." Please tell me where this insanity will lead, he thought as he turned her completely around to face him.

      Marge let out a sigh and did as he requested. She closed her eyes and wordlessly thought her question. Then, she let out a small, distressed noise as a feeling of hopelessness washed over her. She could see Robert standing apart from her with a large grouping of wolves behind him. She was leaving him, and both of them wore a resigned expression. It wouldn't last ... They as a couple couldn't be. There would be too many barriers in their way.

      "What is it?" Robert begged, not liking the expression Marge wore.

      She didn't want to tell him. She almost knew without trying that this relationship was impossible, but to have it shown to her filled her with despair.
       "No." she whispered.
      "We're going to have to one day part ways, aren't we?" Robert guessed. When Marge didn't deny his statement, he said, "It doesn't take a psychic to figure that one out."
    "Yes." she admitted. "You were standing with many wolves behind you, and as I was walking away, I turned once to look back at you. There was no hatred, only sadness."
      "You mean 'will be' because it hasn't happened yet." he growled, gritting his teeth.
      "It's hopeless, Robert. We need to stop this." she said as she turned to pick up the stone. "I'll do my best to stop -"
       "I don't want to!" he said, sounding almost like a spoiled child.
       Her face screwed up as she prepared herself to confess, "It's my fault you feel this way."
       After a few seconds of silence, he said, "So I wasn't imagining it ... the pull."
       "Is my 'dark gift' as it's called." she finished for him before putting the stone into the bag she brought. She turned and made her way up the stairs with him following close on her heels like ... a puppy.
       "I want to say it doesn't matter." he admitted as she closed the secret panel. "That I'd have wanted you anyway with or without that 'gift'."
      She smiled a little as she said, "A nice thought."
     She walked into her dining room and suddenly felt his too-warm arms wrapping around her to stop her progress.

      "I do want you anyway, Rose." he said desperately as he used his name for her, breathing in the scent of her hair.
      "This will only bring pain." she reminded him as she turned around in his arms. Then she was silenced from saying more things he didn't want to hear as his lips hungrily claimed hers.
      "For as long as I can." he finished his earlier statement.
      The sound of the mantle clock chiming reminded the pair of their duty. They needed to return to the pack's house. No more words were spoken as they mutually agreed to leave more of this conversation to a later time and place.

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.

43: Blast

Warning! Contains scenes of a sensitive nature.

       A loud uproar was heard throughout the woods as Derek ordered Rocky to temporarily give up his bedroom to the visiting vampire guests. Nate also wasn't happy since that further proved that they weren't going after Gabriella immediately.

       "I can't stand it! How can he just sit around while that monster has her? How can he expect me to just accept his decision! I need their help! Now!" Nate complained to Marge.
        "He knows this."
      "Then why can't we just leave already!" he yelled. Then he actually stopped and looked at Marge's anxious expression, and he put his head in his hand. He knew Marge was just as worried, and he hated feeling helpless.
       "Nate, he's right. If we go in there now, it's suicide ... at least from everything August told me about them." Marge said. She'd confirmed his suspicions earlier when he asked her about their maker's whereabouts. Gus was hanging out in the woods surrounding the house, not wishing to join the temporary alliance, yet curious all the same.
         "I'm going to go stir crazy!" Nate exclaimed as he sped around the room while he 'paced'.

       He stopped for a few moments to say to her, "What am I going to do? I can hear everything, and no matter how much it tortures me, I can't tune it out. I told her I wouldn't, plus I miss her so damn much!" He paced around again, and a worn spot began to show on the carpet. "How can I just sit here? This is killing me!"
       "You'll do nobody any good if you show up, guns blazing, to that compound." she said, trying to calm him down just a little.
        "Guns.... that thing you do with your hand ... Marge! If we go in there together we can fight them all off. How often can you do that thing? We could kill or injure enough of them to get them to hand over Gabriella!"
     

        No matter how unhappy she was with him, she hated the look of desperation on his face. "I can do it over and over again. It's nothing but a spell."
        "Then we could..."
        "No."
        "What?!" he nearly yelled.
       "What would we do if they should find a way to stop me? And besides ... we can't get into the house."
      Nate reached up to try and pull his hair out by the roots, an impossible thing, but he tried nonetheless. "I can't just sit here!" he yelled. "I'll go crazy if I do!"
        "I have an idea." Marge offered.

         "What." Nate snapped his question.
        "You mentioning the blasting spell made me think of it. I can knock you out. Then, at least, you won't have to listen and time will seem faster." she explained.
         Nate looked at her, horrified. "That's the chicken shit way out." he said quickly. "No, I have to figure out a way to convince that alpha to go after her tonight!"
          "I'm sorry, Nate." Marge said, and before Nate could ask her what she meant exactly, she hit him with the spell again. Nate slammed onto the floor. "Sucks to have your choices taken from you, doesn't it?" he heard her say just before he passed out.

       Like a mother putting a child to bed, she pulled back the covers and lifted Nate onto the mattress. At least he'll be comfortable when he wakes up, which hopefully won't be for a while. He's going to be furious with me, but I'm not worried about him. I'm more worried about the mess he could make of everything.
        I hate that Gabriella's kidnapped, but Nate doesn't understand the force we're up against. Right now, they have the upper hand, and a huge one at that. He thinks he can just go in there and play Rambo until they hand-deliver him my daughter.
        Gabriella, please keep your head on your shoulders and do not do something stupid.

       Marge could smell her, hear her fluttering heartbeat, but she was more interested in the tome in her hands. Sure, the fairy smelled delicious, but she was here to make friends, not the other way around.
      However, Arabella had no idea of this. She'd let her guard down when she'd exited Derek's room a few minutes ago. She'd thought the vampires had gone home. She'd been asleep when they'd arrived, and she'd wakened when Derek hadn't returned to bed. Seeing the vampire witch lady sitting in the living room scared her out of her wits!
     "Hello." Marge said calmly as she placed the book on the coffee table for now. She'd found Derek's collection of books simply marvelous, and she wanted to glean as much new information as she could.
       "What are you doing here?!" Bella accused.
       "I'll be here a few days before we make an attempt at rescuing my daughter." Marge explained.
       "No! No no no! You can't be here!"
       "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not going to get close to you, just in case, but I'm not going to hurt you."
       "Where is the other one?"
       "You mean Nathaniel?" Marge asked.
       "No! The other other one. The ancient one."
       "Not wishing to disturb our little party."
       "You mean he's afraid of Derek's pack! He should be."
       "I doubt that's the reason." Marge snapped.
       Sensing the vampiress's anger, Bella suddenly said, "I need to get out of here. Stay away from me!"
      "Fine." Marge said, her eyebrows raised as if to say that that's exactly what she'd planned on doing anyway.
         Arabella went outside to escape into her little house, listening out for Derek's return.

     Marge wandered the house some more. Jeanine snarled at her in the kitchen, so she went upstairs again to more closely study something she found earlier but didn't have a chance to peruse.
      This is fantastic! Who was this person that wrote this? She carefully turned to the back page to see if there was any inscription, signature, anything. She found a name: Claudius. No other description was available. Plus, the book appeared to stop in the middle of a recorded experiment. I guess it failed since he wasn't around to record his findings. Better not test that one.
      The book is so very old, I'm worried about turning the pages. Why has no one made a copy of it? She found a particularly interesting recipe and proceeded to try it out with the materials available to her.

      Robert returned home from his run, and on the way up to his room, his eye caught the sight of Marge's red hair in the candlelight near the window. He took a few steps in her direction and stopped to ponder the situation before him.
       He could kill her. Right now. Rip her head from her body. How is it that she was still around when his Caitlin wasn't? Just more proof of the old cliche "life's not fair". Well, neither is death.

       Marge spoke to his reflection in the glass, "What's it going to be, Robert?"
       He jumped a little at the sound of his name.
       "Are you going to attack me or not? I must warn you not to underestimate me." she continued.
      "I don't. I think I'm the only one around here that doesn't. You seem to have my brother fooled, but I'm not falling for it." he answered, irritated that she didn't even have the decency to turn around when he spoke to her.
      "I'm sure I have no idea what you mean." Marge quipped and rubbed the next ingredient on the list between her fingers to crush it as it fell into the cauldron.
       "Don't bullshit me." Rob snapped. "You're in league with the ancient one, sent to spy on us since he has a grudge against Derek."
        "His grudge isn't mine." she explained.
        "Doesn't matter since he controls you."
        She sighed, and her shoulders drooped a little. "And I hate that he does. He told me I could go and join in with Nate to rescue Gabby. I know that doesn't mean I'm eternally free. Of course, you could be right, and he could be sending me in as a spy, only to ask me questions afterwards. So, I'm learning as little as possible about all of you."
         "You already know too much."
         "I'm sure everything I know he already knows."

         "So, he just let you go. Does he know about your little plan to use and give the stone to us?" Robert asked.
          "Yes." she answered. "He's curious to watch it work. I don't know how he feels about my idea to give it to you afterwards. I came up with that part on the spot. The stone is of no use to me. It isn't even mine. My daughter died to protect it for you. Why would I go against her wishes?"
         "Because Gus will order you to." he answered her rhetorical question as he walked towards her.
        "You have no idea how I wish I could call him that." Marge said with a smile. Wary of him, she turned around. The cauldron had received all the ingredients it required. Now it needed to simmer for a few minutes.

        "Why are you here?" he asked point-blank.
      "To rescue my daughter. In the meantime, I'm thoroughly enjoying your brother's collection of books. There must have been someone to collect all this."
        "My step-mother. Most of it was handed down to her through her family." Robert told her, then he wished he hadn't. After all, she'd told him the less she knew, the better.
       "I was unaware of any other magical family in the vicinity other than my late husband's, and they've died out." she pointed out.
         "I'm not telling you any more." he said, clamming up.
         Marge nodded and took a step over to gather the vial of bliss she'd concocted.

        "Alright. Fair enough. I'd just wondered for a moment if I could've been related to her ... by marriage, of course." she said as she lightly smiled. She felt delighted at how uncomfortable she made him. I must say, Caitlin had good taste. I hate that she couldn't tell me she had a boyfriend.
          Robert's mind whirled around in circles. I should walk away. I'd told myself I'd avoid her. She's Caitlin's mom for Pete's sake. Ew. ... Even if I do have a good fifty or so years on her and she doesn't look the age she was when she was turned I'm guessing. Nope, in fact she looks damn good. ... I should walk away. ... Why can't I walk away? What the hell is wrong with me? This is so wrong on so many levels. My deceased girlfriend's mom.... well that's usually weird because of an age thing... but I'm actually the older one. So does that make that part not apply? ... Then there's the whole vampire verses werewolf thing. It ... is not ... in my nature ... to ...
         She interrupted his thoughts by saying, "You really should go to bed, Robert. Don't worry about me. I won't do something stupid to destroy our truce. I need you." Marge had chosen her words carefully, knowing instinctively just what to say to effect him just the way she intended to. I'm getting a little too good at this. It's almost unconsciously done. I suppose it couldn't hurt to have him support me should the need arise, and it might. I sense danger towards me from his brother. Not to mention he's cute. Like a little puppy.

           "Bed ... need you" Marge's words echoed in Robert's mind in a most cruel manner. He knew he had to break the momentary silence before he did something stupid. "I ... yes, need to go get some sleep. Even though someone should watch you. I don't trust you."

        Marge shrugged her delicate shoulders and said, "Fine. I'll go to bed too. I am a little tired after all. What harm can I cause while sleeping?" She watched him as he looked to be contemplating inviting her upstairs to his bed, and she wanted to see if he would. His eyes focused on her lips as a small smile formed on them.

         I should walk away, Robert thought quickly, but the notion lacked the strong conviction it had earlier.

         I don't need to overdo it, Marge thought before she said, "Goodnight, Robert."

       "Pleasant dreams." she continued as she walked towards the room she and Nate were allowed to borrow.

        She's a fucking vampire! Pull yourself together! Rob tried to snap himself out of it. "Marge." he said before he could stop himself. His head turned towards her as she spun around on one toe to see what he wanted. He quickly changed his mind on what to say. "Behave yourself."

       "Or what?" she asked coyly. Before he could choose whichever answer he stood there and debated giving her, she said, "Don't worry about me, Robert. I'm the one that needs you and your help. Remember that." She turned back towards the bedroom door and slowly walked towards it, wondering how far he'd allow himself to go.

       No, don't! Rob thought. What the hell is wrong with me? Damn it, woman! Walk faster! He turned his head away and walked over to the window to stare down at Arabella's little house, taking several deep breaths. This is not good. ... She closed the door, finally. He turned and made his way up to his room for a few hours of tortured sleep.

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        Arabella sensed Derek's return and dashed out of her house right towards him. Mildly surprised and a little confused at her exuberance, Derek opened his arms as she crashed into him. She was shaking.

        "Where did you go? Why didn't you tell me the vampires were staying? I have been so afraid." she accused him while laying her head on his shoulder.

        His arms curled around her shivering frame, and he held her to him, relishing the perfume of her hair. "If you missed me that much, why didn't you come and find me?" he asked. He'd not invited her to go with him on purpose. He wanted to go scout the area, and he didn't need a chatty fairy with glowing wings to follow him. He could smell Gus around the nearby hills and not near Gabriella's house. The vampire eluded him, however. He'd had no idea his absence would affect Bella like this, but then again he failed to think that he never told her of Nate and Marge.

       "I couldn't go with you! I can smell the ancient one that hates you. I'm terrified of him." she cried. "And what were you doing going out alone like that?!"

       "Robert had gone off to have a temper tantrum, and I had to leave Rocky and Jeanine here to keep an eye on Marge and Nate." he explained. He too had worried over his own safety, but he had to go searching for any trace he could find. It felt so nice to be back home with Arabella in his arms. He felt like it had been ages since he last held her.

         "How on earth would I be able to go on without you? Did you think of that?! Hm?" she snapped at him while clinging to him at the same time.

        He chuckled lightly and said, "Nothing's going to happen to me, my love."

        "Derek, you're not immortal. Almost. But you --"

       He shut her up the best way he knew how. She acted aggravated with him, but he refused to quit kissing her. I'm fine. You're fine. They won't hurt you, not if they want to stay on my good side. The sudden thought of Nathaniel using Bella as leverage to force him to leave for an attempt that would fail to rescue Gabriella ran through his mind, and he held onto her tighter.

        When she gently pulled away, she told him, "I won't go upstairs with you, but I'm so scared I can't stand it! They're all around me! I want to stay in my little house, but..."

         "Then do it to me." he said and watched her shocked yet happy expression. He knew she knew he hated it when she'd shrink him so that he could visit her in her little house. It made perfect sense to him why he hated it. His power came from physical strength, hers from her magic. Magic doesn't require a full-sized body. He hated feeling powerless.

         "You mean it?!" she asked happily. If he did, then he was definitely out of the doghouse for leaving her like he did.

        He gave her a true smile as he said, "Of course. You won't come up, and I don't want to be without you for what's left of the night."

     "You got new sheets." he said, pointing to her bed once they were inside.

     "Mhm. Silk. Do you like them?" she asked, a fist lightly resting on her cocked hip, one eyebrow raised suggestively.

     "They need breaking in." he said, grinning and picking her up before carrying her to the new sheets.

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     Warm. So warm, Gabriella dreamily thought as a very pleasant sensation made her moan in her almost-sleep. Warm... and rough... and... good. 

     She moaned again as she felt coarse hands sliding up and down her thighs, pulling them further apart as they did. As the rough warmth became more demanding of her attention, her whole body tensed in shock, causing her thighs to clamp together upon a large head between them. Those same hands reached up to pull her legs back apart with a little more strength as consciousness quickly returned to her.

     "No!" she gasped breathlessly as her eyes flew open and she found herself in Julian's bed. He said he wouldn't touch me tonight! she thought as she looked up and saw the first lights of the morning brighten the ceiling above her. Nighttime had ended.

     Realizing all of this only dimly went on in the back of her mind as she couldn't help but be more focused on what Julian did to her underneath the sheets. She tried to gather enough of herself to make an attempt to move away, but she was paralyzed with pleasure. Her body betrayed her, and it wanted the fantastic experience to continue. "No." she moaned, not sure if she told that to Julian or her own body. Julian ignored her.

     Gabriella realized her nakedness as she felt his very warm hands travel up her sides to her breasts, his merciless tongue never ceasing. How could it be that he got her this way without her waking up? "Oh!" she gasped as his thumbs and index fingers started to tweak and toy with her nipples. Her hands flew on top of the covers to where his were, hoping to stop this madness overtaking her.

     "Julian.... please." she whispered, and she herself couldn't tell if she asked him to stop or to give her more than what he gave her presently. His hands left her breasts for her hips, and, tilting them upwards, he switched his tongue's location further down. She gasped again as she felt him enter her occasionally as he stroked the front wall of her vagina with his coarse, dextrous tongue.

     Madness. It's all madness, she thought as she felt the never-ending tumult of sensations consume her. Her breathing sounded alarmingly shaky and ragged as she desperately tried to remember why it was that she wanted him to stop. A high-pitched whine escaped her as she could feel the pleasure mounting until she felt ready to scream.

     She wasn't given the chance to scream. Instead, her body convulsed as the world tilted on its axis. She felt Julian's fingers enter her and press upon her, making her experience her climax again and again until her body was spent. She lay limply on the bed, dimly aware of Julian's mouth slowly working its way up her stomach.

      When he'd traveled up to her neck, his body crouched over her and he said low into her ear, "I wanted to give you a feel," he chuckled lightly to himself, "of what it's like to have me for a lover." 

       He ran his tongue down her jaw and hovered over her mouth for a few seconds before lightly touching his lips to hers, causing Gabriella to become more aware of what happened around her again. Her hands shot up to push against his broad shoulders with all her strength. He rocked his body from side to side as first one of her hands was captured, then the other, before he laid his weight upon her. Both hands pinned now up at her ears, he pressed his jaw against hers and forced her mouth to open and accept his tongue.

     She could feel just how aroused he was as he lay on top of her.

     Nate. Nate Nate Nate.

     She angrily jerked her head to the side to separate their mouths. "No." she said sternly. "I don't want this."

       His deep voice echoed in her head as he responded, "You didn't seem to mind it a few minutes ago."

     She futilely struggled to get out from underneath him and get her hands free as he lazily kissed her neck. "I didn't have a choice!" she argued as she wiggled back and forth, hoping to find the right leverage. He seemed to instinctively know what she was up to because he was sure to intertwine his legs with hers.

     He sighed almost sadly and agreed, "No. You don't have a choice. Honestly, I wish I didn't have to do this this way, Gabriella, but I haven't time to do this the way it should be done."

      Gabriella didn't bother with asking him what he meant by 'should be'. He'd started working on parting her thighs with his legs, and she began to panic when she saw very little hope of her getting out of this.

     Her voice took on a desperate tone to it as she begged, "No. No no. Please don't. There has to be another way." She fought with all her strength to get free, but he held her down easily.

     "There isn't." he said plainly. "And try to relax. This will be easier for you if you do."

     "No!!!" she screamed as a familiar light shot out from her midsection and blasted Julian off of her. His dumbfounded expression as he slid down the wall into a crumpled heap was the last thing she saw before she passed out.