Cassie ignored the briar that caught hold of her hair and ripped it out. Tearing past a large elm, relief filled her as Dani's dark head came into view. "Dani! Dani!"

The girl turned and took a step back as she caught sight of Cassie racing toward her like a crazed banshee. In the radiance of the full moon the red in her hair was the color of blood. Leaping over a rotten log, she panted as she halted before her.

"Cassie? What are you doing?" Dani demanded.

The beam of Dani's flashlight splashed across Cassie's face, momentarily blinding her. Blinking rapidly, Cassie knew she must look ridiculous, but didn't care. She inhaled deeply as she tried to get air back into her tortured lungs. "I saw you walking and thought I'd walk with you," she lied poorly.

Dani lifted a dark eyebrow questioningly. "You ran all the way here to walk with me?"

Cassie took another breath. "After the animal attacks last week, I didn't think you should be alone."

Dani tilted her head to the side, a small smile quirked her full lips. "That's nice of you, but I walk this way every night, and I can take care of myself."

Cassie didn't doubt she could, at least with normal things, but Dani had no idea what lurked in these woods now. Glancing nervously around, Cassie searched for any sign of something hiding within the shadows. She used every ounce of her power to explore the dark night as she tried to pick up waves of Julian's evil. Though she came up empty, she wasn't fooled into thinking he wasn't around. He was powerful enough to keep her blocked out if he chose.

"Still thought it would be better if you had some company."

Dani shrugged a dainty shoulder and turned away. "Well, come on, the path is better up here. I'm surprised to see you without Devon."

Cassie hoped he wasn't far behind. He would be infuriated with her, but she was willing to face his wrath. "I'm sure he'll be here," she mumbled.

Dani shot her a questioning look as they stepped onto a well worn, much easier to traverse path. Cassie studied each direction of the trail, but as far as she could see it was clear. "Cassie, are you ok?"

"Fine."

Dani kept the beam focused a few feet before her, but Cassie relied more on the light of the moon as she watched the pathway. Turning to look behind her, she was dismayed to see that Devon, Chris, and Melissa were still nowhere to be seen. She had no doubt they’d come after her, but had they somehow lost her in the woods?

A chill swept down her spine as shadows danced and swayed over the path as the skeletal branches swayed and creaked in the night. Cassie's heart hammered as a crushing sense of impending doom settled over her. It was too quiet; no animals scurried through the woods, nothing moved within the underbrush.

Swallowing heavily, Cassie tried to push down her rising dread. She had to keep her wits about her if they were going to survive this. She took a step closer to Dani. Dani shot her a questioning, confused look as she shook her head. "You seem awfully jumpy tonight, are you sure you're ok?"

"Yes."

The loud echo of a cracking branch resounded through the forest. Cassie jumped as it tore more branches free on its plummet to the ground. Instinctively she grabbed hold of Dani's arm and pulled her closer. "There's someone out there," Dani said in a wavering voice.

Cassie fought the impulse to turn and flee while dragging Dani through the woods with her. She would have too, if she thought there was any chance of them being able to get away. "Just stay by me," she whispered.

A flurry of motion on her right caused Cassie to spin. A blur raced at them, it was so fast it nearly blended in with the trees. Dani cried out in surprise as Cassie shoved her to the side. Dani fell to the ground and rolled away on the path. Cassie had only a moment to react as she swung out and slammed the palm of her hand upward.

Julian's head shot back, blood burst over her as his elongated teeth pierced his lower lip and his nose shattered. The crazed vampire grunted from the impact, but his attack didn't slow. His arms encircled her waist, and he jerked her to the side as they fell to the ground in a tumbled heap of arms and legs.

A startled cry escaped her as they rolled over the path. Reacting on pure instinct, Cassie pulled her legs up against her chest and wedged them against Julian's well muscled frame. Adrenaline washed through her as she pushed up with all her might.

Julian snarled in rage as she managed to flip him off of her. Rolling away, Cassie bounded gracefully to her feet and scurried back toward where Dani stood at the edge of the path. "Run!" Cassie screamed at her.

Dani's terrified gaze swung toward her as another blur raced out of the woods. Cassie caught a brief glance of blood red eyes and lengthy fangs as Devon rushed past her. Rumbling growls echoed through the woods as he collided with Julian who had been coming back after her. Devon seized hold of him and slammed him into the ground. As they rolled, they clawed and tore at each other; murderous snarls echoed throughout the forest.

Cassie shuddered as the smell of blood filled the air. She knew she should take Dani and run, but she couldn't leave. Devon rolled and bounded back to his feet as Julian knocked him aside. "Devon!" she cried as she spotted the blood oozing from the jagged slices in his magnificent face.

His gaze swung toward her, the blood color of his eyes caused her to inhale harshly. His face was twisted as his teeth extended over his bottom lip. He looked like a monster, but he was still the person she loved, and she couldn't leave him here. "Go!" he barked at her. She took an involuntary step back. "Go!"

Cassie jumped in surprise, tears pooled in her eyes as hopelessness filled her. His gaze swung away from her as Julian went at him again. They fell together, snarling and growling as they tore at each other with the ferocity of savage animals. Cassie's ears rang with the noise as it hammered into her head. A large locust tree shuddered and shook as Devon slammed Julian against it with enough force to cause a jagged tear to race up the trunk.

Melissa and Chris burst onto the path and skidded to a halt as they took in the battle before them. "Move!" Cassie screamed at them.

They broke out of the daze holding them riveted and bolted across the path. Devon slammed Julian into the tree again. The crack gave way with a loud snap that echoed throughout the forest. Devon and Julian were forced from each other as the tree fell with a resounding boom that shook the earth.

Devon bounced across the ground, landing close to Cassie. She moved toward him, but he was back on his feet before she could reach him. Numb with terror and dread, Cassie watched helplessly as they relentlessly fought one another.

The earth beneath her feet began to rumble as a peculiar pulsing energy suddenly flooded it. Cassie's mouth dropped as the earth heaved with an odd new rhythm. A beat began to rise up from the dirt; it throbbed up her legs and made its way down her arms.

Cassie looked up as the earth released a current of electricity that rocked her back a step. Devon and Julian shot backward and bounced across the ground like ping pong balls. They both remained limp, knocked unconscious by the bolt that had smashed into them.

Cassie gasped, her heart hammered as she raced to Devon's side. Falling beside him, she tore at him as she grasped at his lifeless body. Instinctively, she rested her hand on his chest, searching for a heartbeat but finding none. It took her a panicked minute to recall he wouldn't have a heartbeat anyway. She had to remind herself that even if he wasn't breathing, there was still a life energy pulsating from him. Cassie looked around the eerily still pathway, unable to understand what had just happened, or where the strange energy had come from.

"What was that?" Chris's voice came out choked and raw. If it hadn't been so frightening and shocking, Cassie would have laughed at the sight of his shaggy blond hair standing on end. It looked as if someone had just rubbed a balloon over all of him as his raised arms revealed the same thing. "What the hell was that?"

Melissa stood beside him, her hair wasn't quite as bad because of the braid, but a few strands of it were standing up. Dani bashfully met their gazes from under lowered lashes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," she apologized.

Cassie gaped at her, unable to believe the tiny girl had done this. "You did this?" Cassie inquired as her hands clutched at Devon's motionless body.

Tears shimmered in Dani's eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered again.

"Is he going to be ok?"

Dani's gaze fell briefly on Devon. Confusion flitted over her face, but she didn't look at all surprised over what had just happened. Knowledge settled over Cassie as she leaned closer to Devon, her hand stroked over his battered face as she prepared to defend him to the death, against one of her own kind.

"He should be fine," Dani finally said.

"Should be?" Cassie demanded. "Should be!"

"Cassie," Chris said as he gave up on calming his hair down.

Cassie took a deep breath as her attention returned to Devon. Though he remained immobile, the jagged cuts in his cheek had already begun to heal. She could practically see the muscle reattaching itself as the blood dried on his skin. The scent of his blood hinted of spices and power. Even in his bloodied and unconscious state he was still magnificent, and he was hers. A protective urge surged through her as she bent closer to him. He had to wake up, she needed him to come back to her, and it had to happen soon.

"What did you do?" she asked.

"It's… it's an electric pulse," Dani answered shakily. Then her gaze sharpened on Cassie. "Why are you defending him? They're our enemies."

Melissa and Chris looked nervously at Cassie before turning their attention back to Dani. "You don't know it all," Cassie retorted. "And neither do we."

"I think we should get out of here, and then we can discuss this," Melissa interjected as her eyes darted to Julian's prone figure fifty feet down the path.

He'd been further away from the blast then Devon, did that mean he would wake faster? Cassie's hand twitched to the stake at her side, her mind and heart hammered with the possibility of destroying him now, of ending the misery of so many people. Could she get down there in time? "How long does it last?" she inquired.

"Cassie!" Melissa hissed.

Dani licked her lips as she glanced nervously at Julian. "I… I don't know. On normal people," she glanced warily at them again. "It can last an hour or two, depending on the strength of the blast. On them," her gaze ran over Devon and Julian. "I have no idea, it varies."

Cassie's gaze settled on Julian again. This could be their opportunity to make it all end. They could stop the murders and the suffering, end the fear they'd lived with since Julian arrived. She just didn't know if she would have time to get to him and kill him before he awoke.

"Can you jolt him again?" she inquired.

Dani's red highlights flashed in the moonlight as she shook her head. "No. I have little control over my ability; it usually comes out when I'm frightened. I've never been able to use it twice in the same day."

"Like a battery," Chris whispered. When Dani seemed a little insulted, he quickly explained himself. "You need time to recharge."

Dani still didn't look appeased as she shrugged. "I guess," she mumbled.

Cassie glanced back at Julian; she was desperate to end it once and for all. Devon showed no sign of awakening any time soon. Would it be the same with Julian? "We can do it," she whispered.

"No Cassie!" Melissa said brusquely. "We have to get to safety. We must get Devon to safety."

Reluctantly tearing her gaze away from Julian's body, Cassie shifted as she slid her arm under Devon's shoulders. Melissa was right, she couldn't take the chance of Julian awakening first and coming after him in this vulnerable state. "Give me a hand Chris!" she ordered briskly as her heart hammered with her desperate need to get Devon out of here.

He hurried forward, his wary gaze still on Julian as he bent to help Cassie. It took a few moments but they finally got Devon on his feet. Draping his arms over their shoulders, they drug him toward Dani and Melissa.

"We have to hurry," Melissa implored. Though her dark eyes didn't reveal a recent vision, Cassie knew Melissa's instincts were highly honed because of her premonitions.

They shuffled as quickly down the path as they could while dragging Devon between them. Dani's flashlight bounced across the trail, and flashed off the eyes of a fox as it rushed into the woods. Cassie noted the return of the wildlife, surely that meant Julian was still safely unconscious. Didn't it?

Cassie relentlessly scanned the forest as she searched for any hint of his return in the shadowed interior. "Just a little further," Dani whispered.

Devon twitched suddenly and his hand grasped her shoulder. Cassie stiffened as adrenaline shot through her. "Faster," Chris urged. "Go faster."

A deer bolted through the forest, the loud crash of its passing reverberated around them. "Oh," Cassie breathed, forcing herself to ignore the growing ache in her shoulders, back, and legs as she tried to move faster. The eerie stillness returned once more as a pall hung over the shadows. "Melissa!" Melissa turned and rushed to her side. "Take him."

Melissa's dark eyes scanned her, but she didn't refuse as she slid easily into Cassie's place. Cassie was reluctant to release Devon, but she had to be ready to fight. She was the strongest of them; though she wasn't fooled into thinking she was strong enough to defeat Julian.

"Keep going."

"We're not leaving you here!" Chris said forcefully.

"Go!" Cassie yelled. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and goose bumps broke out on her arms. She bounced on the tips of her toes as she braced herself for the attack. "Get him to safety. Please Chris, he's the only hope we have of destroying Julian."

Chris swore vehemently. "I'll take him," Dani offered.

Cassie didn't look back as more rustling ensued. Chris's sapphire eyes were dark as he appeared at her side. "Go," she commanded.

"No," he said simply.

Cassie didn't argue further, there was no need. It wouldn't do any good. They began to back down the path together as they kept an eye out for any sign of movement. She glanced over her shoulder, relieved to see that Dani and Melissa had disappeared around a bend with Devon. "Run," she whispered.

Their feet moved rapidly over the ground as they turned and raced down the path. The hairs on her neck stood up, she could almost feel Julian breathing down her neck. His fury pushed her faster than she'd ever run before. She grabbed hold of Chris's arm as he started to lag behind. A burst of strength, she'd never known she could possess, swept through her as she dragged him along with her. She refused to lose him to the monster chasing them.

She pushed Chris in front of her and pushed him faster with her hands. They rounded another corner, and Dani and Melissa came back into view. Devon was still being dragged between them. "Go!" Cassie screamed.

Something brushed against the back of her neck; an involuntary cry tore from her as ice filled her veins. Turning another corner, the woods suddenly gave way to a large, dark field. The glow of the moon bounced off the tall grass covering the field.

Julian was playing with her as his touch brushed over her once more. She could almost hear his laughter; almost feel the enjoyment he took in playing with her like a cat with a mouse. She wouldn't run from him anymore, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of tormenting her.

Cassie spun and planted her feet as she braced herself for the attack. There was nothing behind her but open air and dark night. She knew he was there; she could feel his eyes upon her, and his merriment. The faint breeze tickled her hair as it blew it across her face. It was the only thing that moved in the still night.

"Cassie!" Chris bellowed.

The woods exploded with movement. Leaves and branches shredded from the trees, and billowed outward as a blur raced toward her. She became hollow and empty inside, her veins filled with ice as blue eyes of death rushed at her with a merry twinkle in their cold depths. A startled cry escaped her as arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind and pulled her into a strong embrace. "Down," a voice commanded in her ear.

She ducked down as Devon bent over her, using his body to shield her from the blow that followed. A grunt of pain escaped him as he was knocked forward. He pushed her to her knees but his body remained folded over hers. Cassie shuddered as she waited for the attack to come again.

Devon rose, pulling her up to stand beside him. She clung to his firm body, savoring the feel of him awake and alive as she struggled to catch her breath. "Where is he?" she demanded.

Devon's jaw was clenched as he stood protectively against her. "Gone."

Cassie searched the area, but Julian did appear to be gone. Shuddering again, she buried her face in Devon's chest as she tried to forget all the awful events of the night. His arms wrapped around her as he buried his hand in her hair.

"It's ok now," he whispered reassuringly.

Cassie nodded, but she couldn't stop the shudders racking her. So close, they had all come so close to dying tonight, and if there was one thing she wasn't ready to do, it was die. Now that Devon was in her life, she had every intention of staying around for as long as possible. He turned his face into her hair as his hold on her went from one of protection, to one of desire. Despite her terror and confusion, Cassie's body reacted instantly to his.

His hand tensed on her hair as his body trembled. She knew she should pull away, she was only rattling his control, but she couldn't move. She’d nearly lost him tonight, nearly lost her own life, and she couldn't let him go.

His mouth turned into her neck, his shaking increased as his lips brushed over her skin. Clinging to him, her body became limp as he pressed butterfly kisses against her flesh. Cassie couldn't stop the breath that escaped her as her hands dug into his arms and her knees went limp. His strong arm around her waist kept her on her feet as he supported her weight.

The chest high grass rustled as footsteps rapidly approached. Devon pulled away from her, his hands clenched on her. His eyes flashed between their beautiful emerald color and a volatile red as he met her gaze. Cassie rested her hand upon his cheek as she wiped away his dried blood. The gashes in his cheek were completely healed; the small scratches were disappearing before her eyes.

He dropped his forehead to hers. "Cassie," he breathed. "My Cassie."

"Yes," she agreed. She was his, she would always be his.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Cassie shook her head. "I can't lose you it would destroy me."

Her hand tightened on his cheek as tears burned the backs of her eyes and throat. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

Cassie lost herself to the beauty of his emerald eyes. They burned with a fiery intensity that left her speechless and frozen. In those eyes she could feel, and see, the endless depth of his love for her. She suddenly understood his overbearing compulsion to keep her protected, because he would not survive her death. Swallowing back her tears, her heart hammered with an answering need that left her shaken. She gladly would have given him anything he asked from her, and more.

"Are you ok?" Chris demanded as he burst free of the grass and broke through the web ensnaring them.

"Fine." Cassie caressed Devon's face once more before turning to face the three of them. She could feel Devon's annoyance over being interrupted. He kept his arm firmly around her waist, refusing to release her. "Are you guys ok?"

"Yes," Melissa answered. "Where is he?"

"Gone," Devon answered flatly.

"But why would he just leave like that? He gave up too easily."

They all turned to Devon with questioning gazes. He lifted an eyebrow in amusement. "If he stayed he would have had to take on a vampire more powerful than him, and four Hunters. There wasn't much thought required in abandoning his quest, especially with a Grounder present."

"A what?" Melissa, Cassie, and Chris asked in confusion.

He nodded toward Dani. Heat crept up Dani's face as she studied her sneakers. "A Grounder. I'm right, am I not?" Devon inquired.

Dani nodded as she lifted her head to look at them. "Yes, you're right."

"What is a Grounder?" Chris demanded.

"Would you like to tell them, or shall I?" Dani shook her head as she turned her attention back to her sneakers. "A Grounder is a vampire, or Hunter, who can pull energy from the earth and turn it into an electrical current they release in a burst of power. It's meant to stun the prey, though sometimes it kills."

Cassie inhaled sharply; Chris and Melissa took a hasty step away from Dani as their eyes turned wary and distrustful. "I've never killed anyone," Dani said defensively.

"No, that is rare, and it usually involves someone with a lot of power. But you are new to yours. What are you fifteen, sixteen?"

"Fifteen," Dani whispered.

Devon shifted his hold on Cassie. "You're still young and inexperienced. With time your emotions won't control your ability, you will."

"But she could kill us?" Melissa asked as she studied Dani.

"No, since you're Hunters you're not affected by her ability. You can withstand it. You can't withstand a vampire with the same ability, just as Julian and I can't completely withstand Dani. Next time, Julian will be more prepared for her though. She won't knock either of us out again. If Dani and a vampire Grounder come up against each other, they can mostly withstand the attack of the other. Though they will get banged up a little, possibly slightly singed by the shock."

"Singed?" Cassie asked.

Devon held up his arms to reveal the healing burns marring his skin. Cassie seized hold of him and twisted his arms in her grasp. The burns ran all the way up to his shoulder, where they disappeared beneath his shirt. The hair on his arms was seared and for the first time she noticed the smell of burned flesh on him.

She turned back to Dani and pinned the girl with a heated glare. "I didn't know," Dani whispered. "I didn't mean to, I was frightened."

"It's ok," Devon assured her as he ran his hands up Cassie's arms. Though his touch calmed her, her protective instincts were still running high. "Do you guys know nothing of your heritage? Of your people?"

Cassie shot him a look, as Chris scowled at him. Melissa's forehead was furrowed as she studied the forest. She knew far more than Cassie and Chris about their heritage, but apparently this little bit of info had somehow been left out. Luther's biggest pet peeve with Chris and Cassie was they didn't want to know their history. Cassie had always been resentful of it and Chris was bored by it.

Melissa had grown up with Luther though; he'd been teaching her their history since she was a child. Melissa also believed the study of their history, any history, helped to pull her free of a world comprised mostly of tomorrows for her.

"Chris and I don't know much," Cassie admitted reluctantly.

Devon frowned at her. "Dani?" he inquired.

She shrugged, but she shifted uneasily. "Yes, I know some of it," Dani said. "My brother has taught me."

"Your brother?" Cassie inquired as she took a small step toward her. "Where is he?"

"At home."

She glanced at Devon and then back at Dani. "I think we should go meet him, and we have to speak with Luther."

"Good idea," Devon agreed.

"Who is Luther?" Dani inquired.

"Our Guardian," Melissa answered.

"You have a Guardian?" she asked eagerly.

"Yes." Cassie's ire over Devon's fading injuries diminished in the face of Dani's hope. "He's a good man."

"Maybe this time we'll listen to him." Chris looked slightly chagrined as he kicked his shoe in the dirt.

"Would be helpful," Devon muttered.

His hand remained in hers as he stepped around her to survey the dark night. A startled cry escaped her and her hand flew to her mouth. His back was marred by jagged gashes crisscrossing it. Blood stained his shirt and caused it to cling to the torn edges of his skin. Nausea boiled up her throat as her stomach somersaulted violently.

Hatred boiled through her as she realized Julian had done this to him. Devon had taken the blow meant for her; a blow that would have flayed her open, and possibly killed her. She hadn't thought it was possible to love him more, she knew now she’d been wrong. It filled her completely and nearly burst from her as it flowed up in powerful waves that pulsed through her veins and warmed her to the tips of her toes.

"Your back," she whispered.

He glanced at her. "It's fine." She reached toward him in order to comfort him and ease the pain she knew he had to be in. Seizing hold of her hand, he subtly shook his head. "It's ok, it will heal soon."

Tears slid down her cheeks. She hated the pain and the hunger blazing from his eyes. He’d been wounded badly, lost a lot of blood, and although his face was completely healed and his back was well on its way, it was obvious the battle had drained him. The burns still marring his skin hadn't helped his energy level either.

Sensing her distress, he pulled her a step closer and encircled her waist as he kissed her forehead. "I'll be fine," he assured her again. "I barely felt a thing."

She knew he lied, but she didn't push him further. Resting her head on his chest, she simply relished the comfort of his body and the love enveloping her like a warm cocoon.

Dani watched them in amazement as her eyes flickered back and forth. "I know, it's confusing," Chris said as he dropped an arm casually around her shoulders. "But he really is one of the good guys, strange as that sounds. So, we've found another Hunter, there are four of us now."

"Five," Melissa corrected. "Dani's brother. We'll definitely give Julian a run for his money. It's amazing you live here also, and we never knew what you were."

Dani looked shyly away. "We just moved here at the beginning of the year."

"Works great for us!" Chris said jovially. "Especially with that little zapping gift you have. He may be one of the good guys, but that was pretty impressive." He shot a grin over his shoulder at Devon who glowered back at him. Cassie shook her head and rolled her eyes at Chris.

"It's not all it's cracked up to be," Dani mumbled. "Especially when you can't control it."

Cassie sensed more behind the words, and her heart went out to the younger girl.