Devon's eyes turned the color of rubies; his fangs lengthened instantly. Hatred blazed out of him as he took a step forward. Cassie had no idea what was going on, or what had caused such a passionate reaction in him. Julian had the same stunned look on his face Devon had held. Then that look also faded into one of murderous rampage.

Julian picked up a shelf and heaved it out of his way as he stalked forward. Derek began to bounce up and down on the chair; strangled sounds escaped him as he tried to get away from Julian's onward charge. Cassie didn't know what had caused this strange reaction, but Julian was going to kill him. She lurched forward, but Devon reacted faster than she did. He jumped in front of her when she attempted to block Julian from killing her father.

Julian tried to push Devon aside, but Devon grabbed hold of his arm. "Get out of my way!" Julian spat.

Cassie's heart flipped over, her stomach felt as if it plummeted straight to the ground. She had no idea what was going on here, no idea what had set them off, but she was fairly certain they were going to end up fighting. "Wait! Stop!" she cried.

She took a step toward them, but Devon held up his hand. "Stay there!" he barked.

Cassie started in surprise; he never talked to her like that, he never even raised his voice to her. Her shock was short lived though as exasperation and frustration rose up inside her. She refused to be intimidated by either of them, even though they both looked about ready to rip her father to shreds. Luther grabbed hold of her arm and tried to pull her back.

"Luther!" she protested.

"Stay out of this one," Luther instructed.

Devon blocked Julian from his attempt to get at her father again. A startled cry escaped Cassie; she jerked free of Luther, but she had no idea what to do now. Julian rammed into Devon and knocked him back a few feet, but Devon managed to keep her father protected from Julian's rampage.

Julian shoved his shoulder into Devon's ribs. The loud cracking of bone echoed through the air. Julian shoved Devon into the wall with enough force to rattle things off the shelves near them. Cassie lunged forward, determined to get to them, to stop them before they really hurt each other.

Liam stepped in front of her. Cassie glared at him, but he continued to block her. A loud shout drew her attention back to the fight. Devon had somehow managed to rotate their positions, and now had Julian pinned against the wall; his hand around his throat as he lifted him off the ground.

Cassie squeaked, Liam continued to block her as she tried to step around him. "Liam!" she cried.

"Stay back," he warned.

Julian released an uppercut that caught Devon beneath his chin. Devon staggered back a step, but he didn't lose his grip on Julian. Devon lifted him as if Julian weighed no more than a feather and slammed him into the wall again. Julian's eyes rolled, but he quickly regained control of himself. Cassie dimly realized they weren't actually trying to kill each other. If that was the case this fight would be a lot more brutal. However, they were hurting each other.

"Calm down," Devon commanded as he placed his hand against Julian's chest.

"He's mine!" Julian spat.

Cassie's limbs went numb as Devon's gaze found her. She could see the hesitation in his face, the ferocious battle he waged with himself between making her happy, and satisfying the monster within. A lump formed in her throat. There was something in his gaze, something so lost and yet so loving and protective it left her breathless.

Devon focused on Julian once more. "Yes, he's yours, but you can't kill him until we know what he knows."

"Fine," Julian relented.

"Wait!" Cassie took a step toward them, but Liam moved to block her again. "Get out of my way!"

Liam hesitated before finally relenting and stepping aside. Devon released Julian and let him slide back to the floor. Though his reddened neck had to be killing him, Julian didn't raise a hand to it. He took a step toward her father, but Cassie instantly thrust herself in between them. "No!" she shouted as she threw her arms out to block him.

Derek was still making strange noises as his chair pounded up and down on the floor. Though it was strangely out of place in the pulsing tension of the room, the sudden thought of Chunk tied to his chair trying to get away from Sloth in The Goonies popped into her mind. She shook it away; her father's life was at stake here. She had to keep her mind focused on the present.

"Cassie…"

"No," she interrupted Devon brusquely. "This is not going to happen. I know you both hate him, but I will not let you kill him in cold blood. I know what a monster he is, but he is still my father!"

The chair stopped clattering across the floor as Derek came up against a shelf. Merchandise rattled, but nothing fell to the floor. A strange whimper escaped the man. Cassie disliked his fright, even if he did deserve it. Devon and Julian took a step toward her. They would never hurt her, but they were larger, and far more powerful than she was. No matter how much of a fight she put up, they could forcefully move her out of the way if they chose to do so. Though she didn't think Devon would do that to her, Julian seemed determined to get at Derek.

Narrowing her eyes, Cassie braced herself for the battle. She glanced back at the sounds of shuffling behind her. Dani and Luther had taken up residence in front of her father. Chris glanced rapidly between Cassie and Derek before reluctantly moving to stand behind her. Melissa eventually moved to stand beside Chris, but Liam and Annabelle hung back, looking more than a little confused.

Devon took another step closer. He was going to force her to move, and if he did, things would never be the same again between them. She could never forgive him for standing back and allowing her father to be viciously murdered. Her heart lumbered in her chest as sweat began to bead her brow.

"Cassie." Her arms trembled; she braced herself for him to grab hold of her and move her, but he didn't. "Cassie, that man is not your father."

The breath whooshed out of her in an explosive exhale. Her chest constricted as disbelief and confusion swirled through her. "What?" She shook her head in denial. "That can't be… What?"

Devon's emerald eyes were caring and so unbelievably loving. "He's not your father Cassie."

Her arms fell limply to her sides as astonishment stuttered through her. "How could you possibly know that?" she whispered.

"His blood."

Cassie frowned in confusion. "Like knows like, blood knows blood," Julian explained. "That blood is nothing like yours. It smells nothing like yours, and it certainly isn't Hunter blood. He is not your father."

Cassie couldn't breathe; she couldn't think. She tried to process this information, but it wouldn't slip into place when her world was tilting so precariously. "He lied," Devon said gently.

She thought she should be angry, but it completely escaped her. There was only a sad acceptance, and a joyful relief that left her shaken and weak. "He's not my father?" she breathed.

"No."

Cassie inhaled shakily as she turned around. "Ok, ok good."

The man, this stranger she didn't know, was watching her with the eyes of a trapped animal. The others had moved out of the way, apparently having decided he was now fair game for Julian and Devon. A strangled cry escaped him as he fought desperately against the bonds holding him to the chair. She knew he wasn't her father, but she still couldn't stop the rush of sympathy she felt for him. Because of this man she knew what it was like to feel trapped and at the absolute mercy of other people. But where he had shown her no compassion, she would show him some.

"Why did you lie?"

His eyes rapidly looked around the room, apparently searching for something he wouldn't find. Feral, stuttering noises escaped him, but he formed no coherent words. Devon grasped hold of her arm as she took a step toward the strange man. "Cassie."

She touched his hand; she needed him to understand this, even if she didn't. "It's ok."

Devon gave her arm a brief squeeze before releasing her. "Devon!" Julian hissed.

Devon held up his hand to hold Julian back when he came forward. "Wait," he ordered gruffly.

"Are you out of your freaking mind?" At Devon's head shake, Julian continued. "Is she?"

Cassie knelt before the stranger. He cowered away from her, but she made no move toward him. "Who are you?" The man simply stared at her.

Cassie rested her hand on his leg; he instantly jerked away. For the first time, something other than terror shone from him as his lip curled in revulsion. Cassie sighed as she leaned back. It didn't matter what she offered him now; he was still repulsed by her. She found it didn't bother her as much anymore.

"Fine, you hate me, I don't care. But we must know what you know." She glanced toward where Julian and Devon stood side by side. She was briefly amused that they probably didn't realize they had identical stances. They both had their arms folded over their chests and their legs braced as they watched her with nearly identical expressions of disbelief. They may not know exactly how they felt about each other right now, but they were still very in tune with one another. "If you don't talk to me, then Julian will be the one to find the information out."

Julian's full lips curled into a small smile as he gave her an approving nod. The man sputtered more disbelieving noises that drew Cassie's attention back to him. "He won't hurt you…"

"Like hell!" Julian snapped as his pleasure vanished instantly. Devon placed his hand firmly against Julian's chest to hold him back. Julian's eyes flashed red; his temper heated at the thought of being denied his revenge.

Cassie ignored him as she continued on. "But this is going to happen."

* * *

Devon watched as Cassie leaned forward again, instinctively going to comfort the monster before she thought twice about it. Her hands fell helplessly back to her thighs again. She'd always been a bit of a puzzle to him, but right now she was a downright enigma. The deep sadness in her eyes was almost more than he could bear. Devon remained where he was as he waited for her to come to him. Whatever was going on inside her, she had to sort it out for herself.

Finally, she turned and hurried toward him. Reaching out and pulling her close to him, he buried his face in her hair to savor the delicious scent of her. He would never understand her completely, and she would never cease to amaze him, but he loved her more than he had ever thought possible.

Pushing her thick hair aside, he kissed her silken skin. She shivered as she pressed closer to him. He pressed his forehead against hers and traced her face with his fingers. "You should go out back with everyone while I talk to Julian." She opened her mouth to protest, but he quickly cut her off. "It will just be for a minute, and there is something we must discuss. We have to get those windows boarded back up."

She frowned before nodding. "Ok." Devon didn't like the idea of her out of his sight for even a minute, especially with those things running around, but this had to be done. She stepped out of his arms and gave Julian a determined look. "Don't hurt him," she ordered briskly.

Disbelief and something akin to amazement flitted across Julian's features. "If he fights it, it will hurt."

Cassie focused on the man watching them attentively. "Try your best not to."

Julian's mouth dropped as he shot Devon a look that clearly asked if she was out of her mind. Devon shook his head at him, trying to quiet him before he could say anymore. Julian's mouth closed and his arms folded over his chest as he studied Cassie. It was obvious he was trying to figure her out, but Devon knew that was impossible.

Chris wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side as his head dropped against hers. Melissa and Luther enveloped her in an effort to comfort her. Annabelle and Liam held back for a moment before turning and disappearing into the back of the store with Dani.

"Is she serious?" There was a bewildered expression on Julian's face.

"Yes."

Julian blinked before turning toward the stranger in the chair. "After what they, what he did to us in there?"

Julian thrust an accusatory finger at the man in the chair. Devon couldn't bring himself to look at the man again. If he did, he was certain he might kill the bastard himself. He knew Cassie's wishes; he didn't understand them, but he also knew what should be done to the man. He was going to do whatever it took to make sure this man never hurt her again, even if she didn't like it. He wasn't going to lose her again, and this man was the biggest threat to that happening.

"You heard what she said."

Julian's jaw clenched and unclenched as he ground his teeth and murder radiated out of him. Devon's own murderous urges simmered just beneath the surface. "I don't understand."

Devon closed his eyes and took a minute to steady himself. "Neither do I," he admitted. "But Cassie is different than us; she's everything good and right in the world. It's why I love her; it's why we both love her."

It killed him to say those words, but they were true. Julian did love her; even if he didn't understand her. Julian would keep her safe, and he would do anything he could to make her happy. But they both knew this couldn't be one of those times. Julian's eyes were hooded and thoughtful as he studied him. Devon's hands clenched as he fought the urge to punch Julian. He didn't blame him for loving Cassie, it was impossible not to, but she was his.

"Is that why we love her?" Julian inquired. "Or is it because of the darkness inside of her? Is it because we both know something else resides in her, and we both respond to it?"

Devon's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean Devon. Yes, she is exceedingly giving and caring and loving, but there is darkness in her. That darkness was there, even before those bastards took us. I recognized it from the beginning, and if you really think about it, you did too. So was it her goodness, or her darkness that pulled us both in?"

Devon opened his mouth to protest Julian's statement, but he snapped it closed. He knew what Cassie was, he knew better than anyone what she was capable of, but he had never truly acknowledged what was inside of her. He thought back to when he'd first seen her and been drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Her inner aura had shone brilliantly against the dark night surrounding her. He hadn't known what she was, but he had been unable to resist her; unable to leave her side from the instant he'd seen her.

He’d believed it had been her light that had pulled him in, but had it also been the darkness inside of her? Had he also been drawn in by the power that had taken control of her and enabled her to kill Isla even before she had been experimented on, tortured endlessly, and injected with Julian's blood? Had the darkness and the monster inside of him recognized its likeness in her?

Devon despised the thought, but it was one he had to face. Cassie had enabled him to keep the beast locked away as best he could, but she also had one inside of her waiting to break free. Waiting to destroy whatever enemy it had to destroy. He believed she was everything good, but he also knew there was a shadow living inside of her; there always had been.

"It doesn't matter what pulled us in," Devon answered, though he chose to believe it was only the good for both of them. "We're both here now, and the good in her far outweighs the evil."

"Does it?"

Devon spun on him. "Yes, it does. I know what pulled me in! It may not be the same for you, and I don't care, but we will not kill him."

Julian leaned back on his heels. "I don't know what pulled me in either," he admitted. "Even before I began to have suspicions about her abilities, I found myself oddly obsessed with her. At first I told myself it was just for revenge against you, and a challenge, but if I truly think about it I believe it was more. I desired her from the beginning…"

"Julian!" Devon was unwilling to listen to him talk about his desire for Cassie.

Amusement finally flickered over Julian's features. "Ok," he said with a chuckle. "I get it, don't poke the bear."

"Screw you," Devon spat at him. "You're an ass."

"Yes," he agreed. "But, I'm an ass with a point. You and I both know that to change her is risky, to all of us."

"That's why I don't plan to change her, not unless we know she'll be safe."

Julian rolled his eyes. "Come on Devon sell that line to someone who will buy it. They may believe you, Cassie may even believe you, but I've known you for years, and you're teetering on the edge my friend. I'm amazed you've held out this long, but it is only a matter of time before you take what you want. And she is what you want."

"I can control it…"

"For now," Julian interrupted. "But you have to realize the state you are in, and the position you have put us all in."

Devon's jaw clenched, his gaze darted to the man in the chair. He was watching them carefully, listening to every word of their conversation. Devon itched to sate his overwhelming thirst on the bastard. The man leaned as far away from them as possible as he recognized the murderous intent in Devon's eyes.

"I have not tasted her, and though I do love her, it's not the same." Julian's voice was oddly thoughtful for Julian. The guy had never been thoughtful about anything. "I've touched you both, so I know your feelings run deeper and stronger than anything I've ever felt. It's why I've stayed away from her, and why I've let you have her. You are who she loves. But I also know she means more to me than anyone I’ve ever known, and I would like only the best for her. I cannot give her what you can; I'm not ready for that yet." Devon stared at him in disbelief. Julian was actually being selfless? "I'm just not sure if you're what is best for her right now."

"Excuse me?" Devon growled.

"I don't want her hurt, and changing her could hurt her. And you will do it eventually, no matter what you think."

"Do you have premonitions now too?" Devon demanded.

Julian flashed a frustratingly maddening grin that Devon wanted to punch right off his face. "Nope, I just know you. I also know when it comes to you, she has no thought of herself or her own safety."

Devon's hands fisted and un-fisted as he glared at the man in the chair. There was too much frustration inside of him, too much anguish and hunger. He had to take his irritation out somewhere; there just wasn't anywhere to do it now. Not without risking all of their safety.

"If I didn’t know it would destroy her, I would take her away," Julian continued.

Devon's head felt as if it was going to explode. "You even think about taking her from me, and I will hunt you down and rend you limb from limb!"

Julian held his hands up as he took a step back from Devon's angry advance. "I just said it would destroy her if she lost you, I wouldn't do that to her. But I worry about her safety around you, and I fear for your sanity."

His gums throbbed; he could feel the familiar tingle of his fangs. "Do what must be done here. Find out what they did to her, and why. Find out who he is, find out how many of those things they created, and where the children are. Do it quickly Julian. I would like to get her out of this town and away from this ass."

"But don't hurt him," Julian muttered, disappointment evident in his voice.

Devon would like to uphold Cassie's wishes, but he knew there were times when being kind wasn't an option. "Whatever it takes."

Julian's eyes gleamed as his eyebrow crooked. "That's the Devon I know."

Devon's lip curled into a scowl. He had to get out of this store, he needed to hunt and kill. Even if he normally tried not to kill the animals he fed from, tonight that was all he wanted to do. He was beginning to think he may be turning into an even bigger threat to all of them than the creatures outside the building.

Devon turned away from Julian, leaving him to his own devices. He wouldn't interfere with what Julian decided. Julian may hurt him, but he wouldn't kill him, not if Cassie had said no. His eyes instantly latched onto her as he strode into the backroom. She was standing by one of the back windows, helping to heap bags of feed before the shattered glass and wood. The other three windows had already been blocked off, and the bodies had been stashed against the back wall. They would have to be removed before they started to smell. But then, he had no intention of staying here for that long.

Cassie turned toward him, and her spectacular eyes widened. Though he hoped to keep the worst part of himself from her, he knew it was impossible. She saw everything when it came to him.

Her shoulders slumped as realization and acceptance settled over her. He yearned for her to come to him, but she didn't move. He didn't like the look in her eyes, but it was time to start doing things he didn't like to do. It was time to start taking control, even if it meant letting the monster rule part of him.