"Cassie." She briefly turned away from the small hole she had found in another window. Annabelle rang her hands as she hovered at her side. "Cassie maybe you should get some sleep, you must be exhausted."

Cassie shook her head as she turned away. She was exhausted, her entire body ached from being so stiff and anxious, but she wouldn't rest until Julian and Devon returned safely. Besides, she couldn't go to sleep when they were still so very vulnerable to attack. It was only a matter of time before the creatures regrouped and came back at them in full force, unless they had decided to spread out from the town in search of easier victims.

Cassie glanced over to where Patrick and Joey remained tied to the chairs. They would be the main reason the monsters came back, but they would have to get through all of them in order to kill those two. Cassie wasn't so sure she would put up much of a fight in order to protect them. "Cass." She disliked the pity and sympathy in Annabelle's sea green eyes. "They'll be fine."

"Yes," she breathed, not at all convinced.

Annabelle squeezed her hand before slipping noiselessly into the shadows. Cassie returned to staring out at the dark night. The moon danced across the snow in sparkling beams of colorful radiance. Stars twinkled in the sky as clouds drifted past them. The skeletal branches of the nearby trees danced and swayed in the breeze as it wafted through them.

A shiver raced down her spine; she rested her fingers against the board on the window. Julian and Devon had to be freezing out there. She hated feeling helpless and alone, but she had promised to stay and she would uphold that promise.

Then she saw it, a darker shadow amongst the night; a figure amidst the woods. Cassie's heart gave a mighty heave that left her breathless. The darkness caressed his firm body and the moon lit his black hair. Though she couldn't discern his features, he was the same size and shape as Devon.

Spinning on her heel, she fled toward the door. Chris jumped toward her, trying to block her before she could get her hand on the knob. But she was faster than he was. Throwing the lock, she tossed the door open. "Cassie!"

She plunged into the night, needing to see and hold Devon again. Her breath blew out in bursts of steam as she raced across the street. She was halfway across the street, when he emerged from the shadows. Relief filled her but was quickly replaced with confusion and surprise. She sprinted forward a few more steps before true realization sank in. Though the man did look oddly like him with his dark hair, and sleek build, it wasn't Devon. His cheekbones were high and well defined like Devon's, his mouth full, but his nose was a little bigger, and his face thinner. He was shorter and stockier, but the differences were so small she hadn't immediately picked up on them. His eyes though, it was his eyes that confused her most. They were not the same dazzling emerald color as Devon's. They were a darker almost forest green, and they were cruel, with an edge of malice that finally slid her to a halt.

She stared at him, her mouth agape; shock hammering her heart against her ribcage. He and Devon were so alike, and yet so different. Who was this guy?

She shook her head as she took a step back. She didn't know who he was, but it was more than apparent he wasn't on her side as she could feel the evil radiating from his body. He didn't appear to be one of the creatures though, as his eyes remained clear, and he didn't appear half crazed. Malevolent yes, but half crazed, no. She was tempted to turn and flee, but she instinctively knew she wouldn't get away.

"You must be her," he purred.

Cassie took a step back as she tried to keep her terror under control. She knew what he was, but who was he that he thought he knew her?

She took another small step back as she tried not to draw his immediate attack. She could sense his power thrumming from him like a tightly wound guitar string. Taking another step back, she tried to breathe through the lump in her throat and the constriction in her chest.

A small but cruel smile twisted his lips. Confusion continued to churn through her. The similarities were so striking, yet so different. There was no softness in his gaze, no love, no humanity.

She took another step back, but knew instinctively it didn't matter what she did, he was going to come after her anyway. "Pretty."

The word was barely a breath, but Cassie heard it as clearly as if he had been standing beside her. She was suddenly certain he could be beside her in an instant. Her skin crawled as if he had touched her. The corners of his eyes crinkled as his smile grew. "This is going to be fun."

Cassie's hands clenched as she prepared herself for the attack she knew was imminent. Then she felt the ground begin to rumble, felt the earth shake and tremble as it lifted and shook with mighty waves. A fissure sprouted in the street and zigzagged rapidly toward her as the pavement cracked and heaved. A startled cry escaped her as she jumped out of the way of the rapidly growing hole in the middle of the street.

Her foot came up against the edge of another hole as she took a step back. She spun around, terrified to realize a large hole had formed around her. A hole she was beginning to realize she couldn't see the bottom of. Dirt and pavement clattered into the widening gaps as it bounced off the sides.

Chris, Liam, Melissa, and Annabelle skidded to a halt at the edge of the hole. They gawked at her across the five foot gap. Behind them, she could see Dani and Luther gathered at the edge of the store, watching in horror as the earth gave another mighty heave. Cassie stumbled and fell as she lost her balance. A small cry escaped her as her hand fell into one of the ever growing pits, and her leg skidded off the side.

"Cassie!" Melissa screamed.

She knocked more rocks and pavement away as she scrambled to the middle of her small shelf. "Cassie!" Chris knelt before her and stretched his hand across the breach. "Grab my hand!"

She leaned forward as she grabbed for his questing hand across the gap. Her fingertips were just centimeters from his as she stretched herself as far as she could. Frustration filled her; helplessness consumed her as her small plateau began to shrink. "Jump!" he shouted at her.

Desperation seized her as she lunged for Chris's hand. Air and space rushed up to meet her as she tumbled toward the large chasm. A small scream worked its way up her throat, but it lodged there as Chris's hand grasped hold of her arm. His fingers dug into her skin, his grip was bruising, but greatly welcome. Cassie's breath froze in her lungs; her body braced itself as she waited for the impending impact of the wall of dirt and rocks. The collision with the wall threw her off balance and spun her in midair as Chris held on to her.

Arms wrapped around her and grasped her so tightly the air exploded from her lungs. A startled cry escaped her, Chris's hand was ripped away and the crater rushed away from her. She would have panicked against the sudden hold, but she recognized Devon's smell and solid embrace instantly.

She allowed herself a moment to melt against him, to savor him and take comfort in the strength and reassurance of his embrace. Then, they were on solid ground again. His legs bent at the knees as he absorbed the impact of their landing. He held her against his chest, his nose buried in her hair as he inhaled her scent deeply. A shiver raced down her spine. She allowed herself to forget everything as her fingers dug into his thickly muscled arm. His lips touched briefly against her ear, then her neck, before he lowered her to the ground.

His hand encircled hers as he lifted her to her feet. His eyes were remorseless as they met hers, his jaw locked, and his shoulders stiff. This Devon was different than the one who had fled the store. That one had been terrified he would hurt her, and take her against her will. This Devon looked prepared to go to war.

He kept her behind him, his arm braced in front of her as he turned to face the strange man with the frightening ability to make the earth split apart. The man was grinning at them; his eyes alight with mischief and amusement. "There you are!" he cried as he clasped his hands before him. "I was so hoping you would join us!"

"Here I am," Devon grated.

Cassie found herself unable to move as she watched the exchange with fascination. Standing across from each other, the similarities between the two were even more noticeable, as was the immense hatred they had for one another. Devon blocked her even more from view as the stranger's gaze slid toward her, and his smile broadened to reveal his fangs.

"She's a fine little piece."

A low snarl escaped Devon, his muscles rippled beneath his shirt. Cassie thought he was going to lunge forward, but instead he pushed her back a step. "I'll destroy your mind and rip your throat out before I ever let you near her."

The stranger's amusement didn't wane at the threat. Instead, he seemed even more intrigued by the notion as his head tilted to the side, and he tried to get a better look at her. Cassie stared in disbelief at the back of Devon, even against Patrick he had been reluctant to use his ability. But now, not only was he threatening to wield it, he was also threatening to destroy this stranger with it.

Cassie jumped when Julian appeared beside her; his arm was firm against hers as he boxed her in, the hatred in his gaze left her breathless. She knew that hatred wasn't for her, even when he'd tried to kill her he'd never looked at her like that. There had always been an air of amusement, curiosity, and admiration about him when it came to her. There had never been hatred. Even when he’d claimed to hate Devon, she had never seen this look in his eyes.

"And if it isn't the venerable sidekick," the man purred as his eyes lit upon Julian. "I thought you two had parted ways when Devon went vegan on us. Imagine my disbelief when Matthew informed us you two had reunited, and for this girl no less. Our enemy." Devon stiffened even more at the name Matthew, while Julian muttered a curse. Cassie sensed the name, and this man's presence, was far worse than she'd even begun to fathom.

"How are you not killing each other over her?" The man continued. "Or are you sharing her like you've shared so many others before?"

The words were a stabbing reminder of Devon's past that she didn't want to hear. A past she’d just recently come to terms with. "Enough!" Devon roared. His hands fisted as he took a step forward.

"Easy," Julian cautioned and grasped hold of Devon's arm. "Your reaction is what he's looking for Devon."

Devon didn't lunge forward, but his tension didn't ease either. "Still a good sidekick I see," the man commented as he pinned Julian with a disgusted look. "Always second best, especially now."

Julian quirked an eyebrow, the amusement flitting over his features didn’t reach his eyes. "Oh Robert, even after all of these years your jealousy hasn't eased up even a little bit has it? You were never best, second best, or even third, how pathetic and sad."

The smile slid from Robert’s face, his eyes narrowed. Julian's words had rattled him. But even more than that, the name Robert rang a bell in Cassie's memory. She’d heard it before, she couldn't recall where, but she believed Devon had been the one to mention it. Her mind spun as she ran through everything Devon had ever told her.

"What are you doing here?" Devon demanded.

Robert's mouth pursed, his eyes raked her from head to toe. Cassie felt as if her skin had just been flayed from her body and exposed to the very marrow of her bones. Devon growled as Julian stepped closer to her. Her hands trembled, her spinning mind finally placed the name. She knew who this strange man was now. Her eyes landed on Devon's broad back, betrayal spun through her, but she couldn't bring herself to be angry, just dismayed.

Why hadn't he told her about this? What had happened between them to cause such animosity and hatred?

She glanced back at the strange man, but even before he spat the word with such vehemence, she already knew who he was. "You know why I'm here, brother."

* * *

Devon could feel the turmoil rolling off of Cassie. He didn't feel disbelief from her though when Robert revealed what they were to each other. So, she had already figured it out, he realized. She knew his worst secret now, the worst part of him, the one thing he hadn't been able to bring himself to reveal to her. The one person he had never wanted her to meet.

Now he wanted her out of here before Robert came at her again. Robert would do everything he could to destroy her in order to destroy Devon. "Matthew sent you here?" He was barely able to get words out through the constriction in his chest.

Robert’s grin, and the wicked gleam in his eyes should have alerted him, but he was still unprepared for what he said next. "Oh no, Devon, Matthew escorted me here. We all had to see that there were Hunter s still alive, and one of our own fancies himself in love with one of them. Plus, from what I've been led to understand, we are standing in what is now a ghost town, with a bunch of miscreants that never should have existed running around. All of our lives are on the line if they escape here; all of our safety is in jeopardy. Do you think any of us would miss this fun?"

Julian swore loudly and grabbing hold of Cassie, he shoved her roughly in between him and Devon as he stepped firmly behind her. Devon bristled at her startled cry, but he didn't protest Julian's action, nor did he react to Julian's protective hold upon her. It was where she ought to be, and he was grateful Julian would protect her with his life also.

Devon took a step back to push her more firmly in between them. Her hands curled into his back, her breath was warm even through the layers of clothes he wore. "I love you," she whispered as her head briefly dropped to his back.

Devon shuddered as raw emotion swirled up to choke him. She had put her absolute faith and trust in him, and even though he had omitted a big part of his life, she still loved and forgave him. He would do everything he could, do whatever it took, to make sure she walked away from this. Even if it meant doing things he had sworn he would never do again.

His gaze fell back to his brother; it wasn't Robert he sought, not Robert he could use. But where were the others?

Sensing Devon's gaze, Chris turned toward him, but he simply shook his head in response to Devon's silent question. Chris didn't know where they were either. Devon's hands clenched, his fingers fisted in frustration. They would avoid Devon for as long as they possibly could. They thought if they revealed themselves together they would be able to protect themselves from him.

However, they didn't know he’d been feeding on Cassie, a powerful Hunter, who had Julian's Elder blood inside her also. They couldn't know the power she possessed, the strength flowing through her veins and into his. They may have a vague inkling about it, or at least Matthew might have foreseen it, but Devon didn't think they would be here if they knew it all. No matter what Robert said about the Hunters, or the creatures in this town, they still wouldn't be enough to entice The Elders out of hiding if they thought there was any chance they could lose this battle. No matter what, above even risk of exposure, Elder's valued their own lives far more than they valued anything else. The survival instinct in them was far deeper than in younger vampires.

Devon suspected the reasons for that were partly because they had seen and caused so much death themselves. They had a far better understanding of just how tenuous life truly was, even an immortal’s life. He suspected the other reason was The Elders had caused so much destruction they feared death, and the afterlife they may have to face. There would be no heaven for them, or even for himself, but a fiery pit of Hell none of them wanted to experience.

No, The Elders had come here fully expecting to win this battle. Which meant Matthew's visions hadn't revealed everything, and that gave them an element of surprise The Elders wouldn't expect. There was still a chance he could get Cassie out of here. He didn't kid himself into thinking he could get them all out of here.

Shifting his arm behind him, his fingers entangled with hers. He allowed himself to take pleasure in the feel of her skin against his and the peace she brought to him. The beast inside was too focused on the upcoming battle, and the necessity to keep her alive to allow himself to drift into her too much. The man was terrified he would lose her, and could barely bring himself to release her hand. His fingertips lingered against hers before he let her go.

Bile and hatred rose up in crushing waves as he focused on his brother. They had never gotten along in life; in death it had been even worse. Robert had come here specifically to take Cassie from him, he was certain of it. But it wasn't Robert who Devon was looking for right now, and Robert knew that, as did the others.

Then he saw them, shadows emerging from the woods, but not all of them came forward. It didn't matter though; they were close enough now he could feel the edges of their minds. Close enough to seize them. He drew on Cassie's blood, and his Elder strength and powers. He subtly shoved forward with his mind, careful not to make waves that Adon could pick up on and alert the others to.

Slipping around their barriers, he slithered as stealthily as a snake in the grass to seize hold of two of their minds. Taking control, he twisted them to his will so smoothly their facial expressions didn't even flicker, their eyes never even moved. With subtle coercion, he instructed them to remain the same, to continue to act as they normally would.

He didn't need them now, but he would soon, and when the time came they would have no choice but to join his side and help him protect Cassie. With just one of the minds he could bend the most powerful amongst The Elder's to his will. He seized the other mind only as a precaution, but it was a precaution he wasn't willing to let go of.

With firm control over that one mind, Devon turned toward Zane, the man who had been a mentor of sorts to him. A mentor filled with nothing but hatred, vengeance, and bloodlust, and at one time Devon had relished it all. Devon had spent a fair amount of time with Zane many years ago, but unlike Julian, they'd never grown to like each other. They had never been friends. The two of them had simply learned from each other and savored in the ability of the other to one up each other in savagery. Devon hadn't seen Zane in nearly four hundred years, but his capability for cruelty and torture was still fresh in Devon's mind.

Anger and hatred blazed through Devon at the thought of what Zane would do to Cassie if he got his hands on her. He would make her time with Patrick beneath the school look like a vacation. Zane would torture her until there was nothing left of her, bleed her almost to death before bringing her back to do it over and over again. He would make sure she stayed alive for years in order to continue doing so.

Devon gazed upon Zane, the oldest Elder, and the one who ran the show. The one who mistakenly believed he still possessed more power than Devon. A small, cruel smile curved Zane's mouth as he turned his gaze from Devon to Cassie.

"Delicious," Zane purred.

Devon squashed her more firmly between him and Julian. Between the two of them, Zane would never get at her. Hopefully.