As he approached the gate, he slowed down. His heart beat erratically in his chest. He had no doubt that Chayton deserved the favor he was being done, but it didn't stop him from being afraid. He was just a human after all; he had no business fighting paranormal battles.

Taking a deep breath, Martin steeled himself as he smiled at the hollow eyed guard who ushered him in after he stated his business.

The guard had made sure to inspect the vehicle and make sure he was alone. Impromptu visits to the mistress were prohibited, he had informed the human, but for matters of the gravity he described, an exception could be made.

As he searched for parking, he looked beside him and caught sight of the document neatly placed on the seat of the passenger seat of his minivan. He sighed. This was going to be hard. The document stated that Edrea was then official owner of all the land the settlers held claim to and that the humans swore their fealty to her.

He sighed once more and came out, grabbing the document as he did. He hoped Keira was sure her plan would work.

He strolled towards the house, stopping to admire the architectural detail. He was beyond impressed.

Once inside, he was met by Edrea herself. In spite of himself, he was instantly taken by her beauty. He couldn't believe such a beautiful creature was responsible for all that she was infamous for.

She led him down a corridor and into a room directing him towards a seat.

They were alone, and Martin could not recall a time when he had been as nervous as he was then, in his life.

"So, Mr. Martin, I'm told you have a document and good news for me," she said, and the human nodded, looking every bit as nervous as he felt.

Here goes nothing.

* * *

Chayton stared at the walls angrily. How could she have left him here to rot? According to Edrea, he had been there for close to a month now. Could she really be leaving him to his fate or had something happened to her? In any case, he had decided to stop fighting. What was the use? He had been strong for almost a month. Nobody had made it past the first day before. Or so Edrea had claimed.

As he made up his mind, the door swung open and closed back on its own. He blinked. These days, reality and nonreality mixed freely, so he wasn't very surprised.

What happened next surprised him though.

Then air in front of him shimmered, and Keira materialized out of thin air, flanked by two men he recognized from the clan.

This time he knew he had to be seeing things.

When she spoke though, he couldn't help the way her voice made him feel. That part was real, why not the rest of it, and her?

"Chayton, we're here to take you home."

* * *

"Will you sign this thing already?"

Edrea was getting impatient. For the past fifteen minutes, they had been sitting there, poring over what he described as the subtle nuances of contracts.

"I will" his voice shook "I will. I just have to be sure. I have a people to consider."

He bent down and read lines that he had read more than thirty times now.

Where was Keira? He couldn't stall for much longer.

When Keira had told him what she needed him to do, he had refused. But then she had explained the plan, and he'd seen that they actually stood a chance. Plus, he was fairly certain that if he had refused, she would have cast a compulsion spell or something.

The plan was simple. He would act as though he wanted to sign the document that would give Edrea a right to e everything she wanted. She cast an invisibility spell on herself and everyone else who could fit in his minivan, and the rest were stationed in strategic locations near the house, awaiting instructions.

His only job was to stall while she took some men to get Chayton and some other men got in position to incapacitate the guards.

Now if only Keira would hurry up.

He looked up at her and smiled, but he froze. She was staring at him peculiarly. What was his deal? He was so unsettled.

"What's going on?"

"On? Me? Nothing. Everything's fine."

Edrea was on her feet instantly. And then she felt it. It was like a severed connection to two of the people she had put under her control.

"What are you doing? Why you little.."

She raised her hand, and his hands flew to his throat. He gasped for air, and she felt another severed connection. What was going on? And how was everything still so quiet? How had they gotten in?

She levitated the document to him

"Sign. Now"

Martin nodded and struggled to sign the paper.

"Incendia."

No sooner had the familiar voice spoken that the paper erupted into flames and dropped to his feet. Edrea blinked twice and turned. The motion was only half complete when she was flung into a wall.

Martin dropped to the ground, gasping for air. He scrambled to his feet and ran to Keira and the others. Chayton looked terribly unkempt.

"What now?" Chayton asked.

"Take them and go. I have unfinished business."

"I'll be right back. Kick her ass" Chayton said as they raced away.

Downstairs, more alarm was being raised as they realized they were under attack.

Chayton and the others burst out into the compound grounds, and the four remaining men of the ranking seven accosted them.

"Go," Chayton said to the others as he prepared for confrontation. He wasn't in top shape, but Keira had healed him to a certain level, and he felt better than he had in days. He has been particularly surprised to hear that he had spent only three whole days. It sure seemed longer.

The first man, a vampire, lunged for him, but he took a quick step back and caught his sword arm, twisting it around and lifting it up. The joint gave way with an audible crack, and the man staggered away as the bones began to reset.

Another vampire lunged at him, but a quick sidestep sent the man racing past him. Chayton caught the man by the arm and grabbing hold of his head, ripped it right off.

The man with the broken bones came at him again. He bent low and tossed the man over his head. The vampire collapsed in a heap on the floor. Chayton bent over him and smashed his fist into the man's chest, killing him instantly.

The other two, shifters stared at him.

"Well? We doing this or what?" he asked.

Around them, chaos had broken loose. Keira has enlisted the help of some brave humans and another clan leader. They were slowly tearing through Edrea's braindead horde.

The shifters took a look at each other and growled before shifting form. Chayton lifted an eyebrow.

"So that's how you wanna play...lovely"

Keira's head felt as though it would burst. Edrea was fighting dirty. She should have known.

She looked around the room and flicked her wrist, sending a large vase crashing into Edrea. The latter fell, and Keira was upon her in an instant, tearing at her hair and punching her silly.

Edrea screamed and pushed her aside, rushing to her feet. She produced two short blades from behind her and Keira unsheathed her saber.

Edrea was faster than she expected and as she moved to duck, Edrea's leg came up, her boot sported a knife at the tip, and it tore at her shoulder. Keira staggered back, and Edrea smiled.

"You are in over your head. There's a reason our clans are the way they are." Edrea teased

"What happened to you Andrea?" Keira asked as she muttered the healing spell and felt her wound close. She had to be careful.

"I grew up Keira. And it's Edrea." she tossed a blade at Keira, and the latter moved away in time. The blade buried itself inside the wall behind.

"You used to be so innocent. So much fun. So positive" Keira pushed.

"Shut up. Try remaining positive after your parents are slaughtered then come back and talk to me."

Keira shook her head, dodging an attack meant for her chest. Edrea was fast. Too fast.

The two wolves flanked the dire wolf, and it watched them, anticipating their attack. United or individual, it was ready.

The attack was just as it had expected. As the Wolf lunged for its seemingly blind side, the dire wolf suddenly turned and lunged as well, catching the Wolf midair, and they crashed to the ground. With one swipe of its razor sharp claws, the dire wolf ripped a hole in the wolf's throat.

Just then, it uttered a growl of pain as the other Wolf took a big bite at its leg. It turned to face the wolf, baring its teeth.

Chayton faked a lunge left, and when the Wolf moved to evade, the dire wolf was ready. It's large, sharp teeth closed around the other shifter's neck and ripped it open. The Wolf collapsed in a heap.

Breathing heavily, Chayton changed back to his human form and limped back into the house in search of Keira.

Keira parried the attack and karate chopped Edrea's neck, followed by a roundhouse kick to the neck.

Edrea massaged her neck as she got up. Then she laughed.

"I found them you know," she said, and Keira faltered

"Found who?"

"The vampires who killed my parents. Three of them. Wanna know how I killed them?"

Keira shook her head, determined not to be distracted.

"Well, I flayed one. The other one, I dropped in boiling oil so many times, he couldn't heal all that good anymore. And then, I ripped out his heart. The third, I tore him limb from limb, while he was still alive."

Keira was repulsed. Who was this person...this monster, who stood in front of her? So consumed by the search for revenge she could not care how much of her soul was damaged in the process.

Edrea took the initiative. In one swift movement, she had Keira on her back and slowly strangled her while she struggled, her hand searching for something she heard drop.

"Keira Keira. Innocent, perfect Keira. You're better than me huh? That's what you think?"

Keira searched frantically, but Edrea took no notice. As far as she was concerned, she was winning.

"Well, I hope there is another side, I want you to watch me as I capture Chayton and break him. Turn him into my sex slave, eager to please his mistress. His goddess."

Keira saw red.

Just then, her fingers brushed the hilt of a blade, and she grabbed at it, and before Edrea realized what was happening, Keira plunged the blade into her stomach.

"Now, you read my lips." she said, staring into Edrea's surprised eyes.

"In Igne"

The effect was instantaneous. The fire erupted from the blade and moved straight into her, burning her from the inside out. She hardly even screamed.

Keira pushed the burned out husk off of her and struggled to her feet.

Chayton raced in then, still limping badly. His wound was healing slowly.

"Wow. Well, I guess you're all finished up here" he said, and she nodded.

He limped towards her. She had just killed her friend. Granted, they hadn't been friends for a long time, but if he knew Keira - and he did - it would weigh her down. He was determined not to let her go through it alone.

"Come here," he said and pulled her into a tight embrace. "You'll be fine. I'm here for you" he whispered, and she believed him.

When they broke the hug, she wrinkled her nose.

"You stink though you know that right? Let's get you to a bath asap."

"That's the smell of victory, princess."

"Haha. Don't call me that" she said as she led him out of the room.

They got out to find that quick work had been made of the others. The other clan leader and Martin were taking inventory. Keira and Chayton waved to them as they passed.

"Hey, did I tell you how glad I was you came?" Chayton asked.

"Only about a million times in the first second, after you had believed it was really me and not Edrea's mind spell."

"Yeah, nasty thing, those spells. We need to talk about your taste in friends."

"Well, there's a reason I don't have that many. Now you know."

They both laughed as they limped towards the Martin's minivan. No matter what, as long as they had each other, they knew they would be alright.