The empty feeling that had accompanied her dream, and plagued her throughout her sleepless night, continued to haunt her while she dressed the next morning. Camille went to touch her but then seemed to think better of it as her hands limply fell to her sides. Genny understood Camille's hesitance, if she looked anywhere near as bad as she felt then there was a good possibility she might crumple into a pile of ash if anyone touched her.

Camille went with her to the human town but whereas she had been pick pocketing an average of five purses a day, she only grabbed three today. One for Felix, one for Matilda, and another for her and Camille. Camille happily chatted with Matilda while Genny stared at the ribbons fluttering in the mild breeze. Her fingers instinctively went to the blue one tied at the bottom of her hair; it was all she had left of him, besides his blood still flowing through her system.

Ugh, she was beginning to get on her own nerves with her morose thoughts. Forcing herself to let go of her hair, she turned away from the stand and plastered a smile on her face as they made their way back through the woods. "I haven't hidden anything under the rock in a week," Genny told Camille as they picked their way around a fallen tree.

Camille followed Genny to a large rock near the lake. Genny moved the fifty-pound rock out of the way with ease and put one of the purses beneath with the rest of their stash. Returning the rock to its place, she wiped her hands on her tunic and rose to her feet. Her gaze drifted to the pinks and oranges spreading across the sky from the sunset as they walked.

Sweat beaded across her brow and upper lip as they climbed the embankment back to the main road. The gray hue of dusk had descended but it had been a muggy day and the heat didn't break with the coming night. It would be difficult sleeping tonight even without the persistent memory of the dream to keep her awake. Camille called out greetings to the few vampires they passed, Genny gave them a brief wave but she barely paid anyone any attention. The huts they walked by as they neared Felix's were all dark, their closest neighbors were a good twenty-five yards away but most of their neighbors had already gone out for the night.

The first star was already out in the sky; candlelight flickered in the open windows when they finally arrived at the hut. Apprehension curled through her belly as she stared at the knob, they were later than normal and that was something that Felix never tolerated well. Felix had mostly left her alone since she'd hit him back that day but she knew what he was capable of doing to her if he decided to come at her again. He was a coward but he was far stronger than she was and he was most definitely stronger than Camille.

"He's going to be angry," Camille whispered.

"Just go to the room and let me deal with him if he is," Genny said forcefully.

"Genny…"

"I mean it Camille; you stay in there until I tell you otherwise."

Genny thrust her shoulders back, grabbed hold of the knob and pushed the door open. At first she didn't even see Felix as her eyes were drawn to the cluster of money purses piled in the center of the room. Her eyebrows drew together, confusion rolled through her.

Where had he gotten all of those purses? She thought.

Realization came as swiftly as a brutal slap in the face. Her mind screamed a protest even as she began to recognize some of the purses piled on the floor. "Did you think I didn't know?" the words were snarled at her from the shadows to her right.

Dread chilled the blood in her body and caused the hair on her nape to stand on end. She whirled around, placed her hands into Camille's back and shoved her out the door before her sister could react. "Run!" she hissed at her.

Genny had only taken one step out the door after her when Felix's hand seized her neck. He jerked her back into the hut with enough force that her feet left the ground. A startled scream escaped her but his other hand wrapped around her larynx and pressed down before she could make any other noise. Her fingers clawed at the edges of the doorway. She grabbed hold of the frame and struggled to pull herself away from his grasp. A fingernail was torn free of her finger, blood spilled down her hand and dripped onto the floor as her grasp was wrenched free.

Camille's face drained of all color; she started to run back at them. "Genny!"

There was no escape for her though, not anymore. She kicked wildly out and caught the door with her foot; it banged closed with enough force to shake the walls. "Genny!" Camille screamed as she began to beat frantically on the door. "Genny!"

She had no words for her though as Felix, still holding her by her throat, lifted her up and smashed her face first into the door. Blood spilled free of her crushed nose, she fought against the blackness trying to take her over. Genny's fingers scrabbled over the door, not for the knob, but for the bolt as Felix's other hand twisted cruelly into her hair. Camille continued to scream from the other side. Her sister beat and kicked at the door, but Genny knew no one would come to help them. No one interfered in another vampire's business, no one intruded upon their homes, no matter what happened, or what they heard, everyone kept to their own.

Felix pressed her face against the door so hard that grains of wood bit into her flesh. "Did you think I wouldn't realize you were playing me for the fool?" he spat in her ear. "That you were laughing at me behind my back? I can assure you that I'll be the one doing the laughing now. That bitch mother of yours was right about one thing, you are a sneaky girl, and sneaky girls get punished."

The realization that Marie had been the one to turn him on to their possible stash in the woods should have been heartbreaking. Instead, she found herself strangely accepting of the fact that her mother would most likely be the cause of her death. It somehow seemed oddly fitting after all of these years.

Her fingers finally succeeded in finding the metal bolt and sliding it into place. Satisfaction slid through her, she may not be making it out of here, but Camille wouldn't be able to get back in either. "Run Camille!" she shouted as he pulled her head away from the door by her hair.

She flung her arm back in an attempt to knock him away but she only succeeded in connecting with air. He grabbed hold of the arm trying to hit him and wrenched it behind her back. The loud pop of her shoulder being pulled out of its socket echoed through the room before he drove her face into the door again with enough force to fracture her cheekbone.

"You think I won't find her?" he barked. "She's going to be my replacement for your whore of a mother once I'm done with you."

White stars burst in front of her eyes. She dimly realized that Camille had stopped pounding against the door when Felix lifted her up and flung her across the room. Bouncing off of the back wall, she sprawled in a heap upon the floor. Her head pounded, the floor lurched beneath her but she knew she couldn't stay down.

She staggered awkwardly to her feet; her hand fell against the chair as she tried to steady herself. Wrapping her hand around the arm of the chair, she lifted it up and held it before her. This was going to be a fight to the death and she planned on fighting with every ounce of strength she had left.

***

Atticus rose from his chair and walked over to the open door. The onset of night hadn't brought forth a cool breeze to break the oppressive heat like he'd hoped. "I think we should go to the club again," Merle said from behind him. "It's probably unbearably hot in there but at least there is blood and women."

"You can find that from the servants here," Atticus muttered.

He studied the horizon as the first star pierced the black sky. The dream from last night continued to haunt him. The only thing he wanted less than to go back to sleep was to be in that club again with the constant reminder that nothing satisfied him, that he was as empty as the vast sky above him. He drank down the rest of the wine in his goblet and thrust it at a passing servant. He shook off a refill though; there was no need anymore. Alcohol only dulled what was inside of him and no matter how much he consumed he remained oddly sober.

"I've grown tired of the servants here," Merle replied dismissively.

"Hmm," Atticus said in way of a response.

"You fed?"

"I did," Atticus replied absently as he uncrossed and then re-crossed his legs. His arms were folded over his chest, his fingers clenched on his arms. He searched for something out there that he couldn't see; some threat he could feel rolling toward him but couldn't quite pinpoint.

"That's progress. I say we make some more for you tonight."

Atticus stopped listening to his cousin, his ears turned toward the night, his nostrils flared as he scented for something he couldn't quite define. Merle was still talking when Atticus stepped out of the doorway and strode purposely across the open field toward the woods. He was certain there was something menacing out there but he felt oddly compelled to seek out whatever it might be.

"Atticus?"

Merle's voice drifted to him from the manor but he kept going. Halfway across the field he broke into a loping run toward the forest. He had no idea where he was going, only that he had to be there, only that the danger had to be located and eradicated. The driving urge pushed him into the tree line and rapidly over the ground.

He was a mile into the woods when he spotted Camille running toward him amongst the trees. She moved far faster than he would have thought possible for someone so young. She flung herself at him when they met; her hands encircled his forearms in an iron tight grasp. Her pupils were dilated to nearly the size of her irises with panic.

Her legs buckled beneath her, she fell to the forest floor as her words tumbled out in a rush. "You have to help her!" Tears poured down her cheeks. He didn't have to ask who her was, he knew exactly who it was that was being threatened. Who it was that had been drawing him irresistibly forward. "There's no one else, please. He's going to kill her! Please help her."

Terror slithered down his spine. Jerking his arms from her, he didn't look back as he fled through the woods as fast as he could go. Searching within himself, he followed the irresistible pull of his blood within Genny. He leapt over rocks and downed trees with easy grace before dashing up the embankment that led to the road of the vampire village in one bound. His body thrummed with the urge to kill. He was about to find a release for all of the pent up frustration that had been building within him for weeks, of that much he was certain.

The thought that he would be too late to save Genny drove him forward at a more rapid pace.

***

Genny thrust the chair at Felix, trying to hold him back as she clutched it before her with her one good arm. Her other hand was wrapped around the base of the chair but she could barely feel the wood beneath her fingers and she was certain that one strong swipe from him would be enough to knock her nearly numb hand off of the leg.

A sadistic smile curved Felix's mouth. He approached her at a leisurely pace that frightened her far more than if he had just rushed at her. He was enjoying this little game of cat and mouse, savoring in the fact that he was going to kill her. "Stay back!" she yelled and thrust the chair at him again.

"Or you'll what? Poke me with the chair?" he taunted.

Beneath the fright clamoring through her body and the lasting astonishment over the events of this night, rage began to boil forth. She was tired of being stuck with him, tired of everything that was her life. There was so much that she had been denied and would forever be denied because of this man. The unfairness of it all infuriated her. She'd been dejected these past three weeks but she was far from ready to die.

Screaming with fury, she swung the chair back and slashed it at him with as much force as she could muster. Felix flung up his arm to block the blow. The chair splintered apart, pieces of wood scattered through the air. She was rewarded with the satisfying crack of bone as an astonished look descended over his face. Then, his upper lip curled into a sneer that revealed his fully elongated fangs before he lowered his shoulder and charged at her.

What remained of the chair had been jarred from her bad hand but she'd managed to keep hold of a piece of the back of it with her good hand. Her own fangs extended, a hiss escaped her and she braced her feet apart in preparation of his attack. There was no chance for her to get out of the way as he came at her with the speed and strength of a runaway horse. Lifting what remained of the chair above her head, she smashed it down on his back when his arms wrapped around her waist and he propelled her three feet back into the wall.

Her ribs gave way with a loud crack that wrenched a cry of agony from her. She could feel one of the jagged pieces of her rib bone digging into her flesh. Until she smelled her own blood upon the air, she didn't even realize that it was trickling out of her mouth and down her chin. There wasn't much strength left within her as she lifted what remained of the broken chair in her grasp and swung it at him.

Felix drew back and thrust her hand aside. His hand squeezed around her wrist crushing the fine bones within and forcing her to release her makeshift weapon. A rasping gurgle escaped her lips; she could now taste the blood in her throat as whatever internal damage had been done drove the blood up through her sternum.

Her one good hand clawed at his larger one wrapped around her throat. Her feet kicked in the air as he lifted her and threw her to the side as if she were nothing more than a piece of garbage. Genny winced as her brutalized ribs were jarred from the impact with the ground. She tried to get her hand underneath her but her strength was rapidly draining away and her wounded wrist wouldn't support her. Her arm shook briefly before giving out completely.

Felix bent and grabbed a rail of the broken chair from the ground; he began to hum a little tune as he flipped it casually within his hand and steadily approached her. Renewed strength flowed through her when she realized that this was the end. Rolling over, she fumbled to try and grab another piece of the chair but it was just beyond her grasp.

Frustration filled her; she lurched forward and wrapped her fingers around a piece of wood. She pressed her palm into the floor and forced herself over as Felix loomed above her. Driven by survival instinct alone, she somehow found the strength to sit up. Pain exploded through her body, dizziness swept through her but she swung out and drove the wood into Felix's thigh with enough force that she felt it scrape against the bone. Her jaw clenched, satisfaction filled her as she viciously twisted the wood deeper into his flesh.

He bellowed as he swung back with his hand. Throwing herself to the side, she managed to avoid the blow that would have shattered her jaw. She strained to scramble backwards but her ribs and beaten body protested the movement. Felix's eyes burned like the sun as he lifted his gaze from his leg to focus on her. She'd never seen anyone so incensed in her life; a ferocious snarl escaped him. Even with the piece of wood sticking out of his leg he came at her with far more speed than she had expected.

The wooden front door exploded into the room, the splintering crash reverberated through the hut as Felix lunged at her. Felix's blood red eyes and gleaming canines filled her vision before he was abruptly lifted away from her. She realized she'd been wrong, she'd never seen anyone look as enraged as Atticus did right now. He heaved Felix over his shoulder and across the room with enough force to rock the hut. Atticus took up a defensive position in front of her with his hands fisted, and his lips pulled back to reveal his lethal canines. His eyes blazed the color of glittering rubies as he focused on Felix.

***

Atticus felt the blood boiling within him as the vampire he'd tossed across the room hit the wall with a thud. Before the man could even begin to scramble back to his feet Atticus sped across the room, wrapped his hand around his throat and lifted him off of his feet. The man's fingers tore at the back of Atticus's hand but he barely paid him any attention as he squeezed down more forcefully. Blood spilled out between Atticus's fingers and slid down his arm when his fingers pierced through the man's flesh.

He was standing on the edge of a treacherous precipice; he knew that. He'd never killed anyone before but his mind was filled with the image of Genny lying on the floor with blood running down her cheek, bruises marring the left side of her face and her left arm twisted at an awkward angle. There were rules to follow amongst their kind but he didn't care, this man had laid his hands on her, this man had been going to kill her.

A bellow tore from him as his fingers dug into the man's throat before he wrenched his hand backward. The man's mouth dropped, hideous noises escaped him as he clawed at the place where his throat and windpipe had been. With ruthless intent, Atticus bent down and tore the piece of wood from the man's thigh. The man wobbled and would have fallen if Atticus hadn't thrust his elbow into his chest to keep him pinned against the wall. He remorselessly held the man's gaze; a smile curved his lips as he drove the wood through the man's heart.

Atticus released him abruptly and turned away even as the man's feet continued to kick against the floor. Genny's glazed eyes landed on him. Where alcohol, blood, and even murder had failed to ease any of the coiling pressure within him, the sight of her did it immediately. Even bruised and battered she was the most amazing thing he'd ever seen.

He rushed to her side and dropped onto his knees beside her. The scent of her blood on the air drove him. He bit into his wrist before pressing it against her mouth. Her mouth opened to the flow of his blood, he cradled her in his lap as he felt his blood seep in to strengthen her.

When his bite marks healed, he pulled his arm away to bite into his wrist again. "I've had enough," she whispered.

"Are you sure?" he asked and brushed the hair back from her swollen face.

She smiled up at him. "I dreamed of you," she muttered before passing out.

He pulled her closer against him, making sure to be careful with her badly damaged arm and battered body when he adjusted his hold on her. Merle and Camille appeared in the doorway when he was rising to his feet with her clasped tenderly against his chest. Merle's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared around the decimated room. Atticus barely paid any attention to the blood splattered room, the destroyed furniture, or the body lying by the door.

"Where can I put her?" he demanded of Camille.

She didn't seem to process his question immediately as she stood gaping at him. Finally she broke out of her shock and scurried over the debris. She thrust open a door to reveal the small room beyond. Though little illumination pierced the room, he could clearly see the straw pallet and two small trunks that took up all the space within. Something inside of his chest withered as he realized just what kind of conditions Genny had been living in. What kind of vampire she had been living with and yet she had still chosen to live here rather than wait in the shadows while he fulfilled his duties.

His gaze drifted down to her as she lay against his chest. She would have better from now on, he vowed. No matter what he had to do to make sure that happened.