Maxine Vida, third generation to the Vida Witches. At 20 years of age, all she had was her training. Her Mother was like the Colonel of the Coven, always pushing them to go harder, better, faster. Her magick was her mind. She could invade anyone's thoughts. Not control their mind, but more of making hers known. She was four times stronger than your average human, making her able to run about 45 mph without breathing hard. Maxine was in charge of the witches from ages 15 to 20 in her coven. Her older sister Stephanie, ages 14 and younger; and her mother, Dominque, the rest. Maxine had another daughter, Sarah. But she joined a different group. One where all creatures got along, surviving off of each other. It made her sick. She was "Dishonorably Discharged" from the Vidas. Maxine was allowed nothing to do with her, Stephanie would sneak off though. Maxine wasn't sure what Sarah had done to piss Mother off so bad, but whatever it was, it was enough. No other Coven had ever had the problem of their daughter turning towards the Night, and away from the Sun.

Maxine's crew consisted of 4 other people. Jacob, Maryanne, Liza, and Manny. Jacob was the most advanced of these, making him able to hunt with her at night. They did this in secret, for Domonique would have nothing to do with anyone under the age of 30 hunting the Vampires. "Their minds are too young, to vulnerable. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." was the answer Stephanie got, every time Maxine sent her to ask for her. So the solution was simple, she would sneak out with Jacob after everyone was sleeping.

Jacob was a good partner, being 23. Her mother picked him to be her bodyguard, more or less, in hopes for a romantic outcome. Jacob and her were to be the most prosperous witches to come from the Vida's. Their minds were young, but so very powerful. They took their hunting seriously, and understood the risks.

The vampire of which they were after now, was named Kristopher. He was solely responsible for the human disappearances from New Ashton, Massachusetts. He would host "Bashes". Which was where him and his Fanged Friends would invite humans, friends of friends, making it an underground society, and turn it into a Blood Bath upon the hour of Midnight.

Maxine parked the car about a block from the large green Victorian home. There were no lights, but she knew better. As if clockwork, the door opened and about 6 humans came walking out. All of them were male. She was positive these men had not come to this party alone, meaning their dates had eventually ditched them for the Vampires, which was the purpose. Kristopher had specific taste. Before cluing Jacob in, she spied on the Vampire for months. Following him from house to house. She had only been inside one of them maybe twice, during the day. The evil stench which was their aura, was hardly enough for her to handle. As she grew closer to where Kristopher slept, her stomach started knotting. If she would have woke him, it would've meant her death. What made the difference now? Her turquoise necklace that she found in Sarah's jewelry box, before Mother stored all of her stuff in the attic. Something about turquoise pushed off the aura of vampires, making a witch able to be around the hunted without side effects.

Maxine glanced at her watch, 11:55. The moon was bright, and wind still. The time to intrude was now. Jacob and her shared glances, nodded and withdrew from the vehicle. The plan was for her to sneak in a window, while he went in through the front. She said a silent prayer for his safety, and vanished to find an opened window.

It was about to be a wonderful night for Kristopher, he and what was left of his clan was about to feed. But as he thought about the small number of his clan he was soon angered again. It was those damned Vida that hunted his kind like animals and they had been after his clan especially. They didn't know how long it took to make a good vampire; sure you could turn one in the matter of hours, but to make a vampire with the skills of a hunter and warrior took years of experience and training. But the Vida didn't care they killed them without mercy in seconds and now left their numbers down to five which luckily for him were the best five in the clan.

Kris had a plan though he wouldn't let the death of his brethren be in vain. He had already managed to kill some of their skilled hunters and he had even turned a few against them in the past that was the absolute worst to them. But he needed to do something bigger that would make more of an impact; the only problem was that he didn't know what that thing was.

That was enough thought for now he had to get back to his meal. So he placed his hand around to of the most tantalizing girls there: a redhead and a blond both who were very well matured. He waved off his comrades and their "friends" and headed off up the steps to his room. The girls were stumbling around, as they were now a little drunk, so they clumsily fell on his bed, giggling and signaling for him to come join them. After moments of foreplay his fangs were now deep in the blonde’s jugular sucking her dry, he decided he would turn the redhead it had been a while since they had a vampire seductress. Kris had the other girl taken care of and redhead put up in her own room for he was always extremely tired after feeding and he needed his rest so it was off to bed for him.

Maxine found a window close to the ground. Locked, of course. She reached out with her mind, the room was empty. Hopefully all of the residents were... busy. She slipped her hand into her leather gloves, so as not to cut herself on the glass with what she was about to. If the noise didn't distract them, the smell of her blood surely would.

She closed her eyes, as she punched her fist through the glass, waiting for a reaction as the glass shattered on the wooden floor. When no one, rather nothing, responded, she climbed inside the house. She couldn't reach Jake, he must be blocking himself mentally from the prey. Something she would be good to do as well, if she wanted to make it out of here alive. Throwing her walls up, she stepped into the hallway.

Surprisingly enough, the house was amazing. Beautiful paintings, statues, and incense filled it's walls. A cry disturbed the silence of the house before she could make it to the steps, followed by Maxine's footsteps running towards the front of the house. She came upon the most frightening scene she had yet to witness. One of the residents had Jake bent over the couch, attached by the mouth to his neck. Shock overcame her, her walls flew down, and the vampire rose his head, catching her gaze. Before she could react, she felt something heavy hit her on the side of her head. Before her eyes closed, and her body collapsed, she saw Jake. His motionless body, with a stream of blood pouring out the side of his neck. Guilt overcame her, and she gave into the urge to black out. Emptiness was better than what she was facing now, alone.

Kristopher had got probably a hour of sleep before being carefully woken by his new seductress. She had accidentally killed one of the foolish Vidas snooping around their house and Francis one his most promising warriors had caught another one but managed to only knock his out and tie her up. Kris assured the girl that it was okay that she had killed one after all she was a fresh vampire and couldn't yet control her bloodlust. He told her to wait downstairs and he would soon follow. So he got up in no big of rush and threw on his pants and a robe and headed for the basement where they keeping her and their interrogation tools.

As he headed down into the surprisingly clean torture room he was a bit angered because he purposely told them not to clean it for it helped add fear and intimidation. All this was soon forgotten when his eyes rested on their captive; It was the on of Vida's head hunters, He had seen her many times on their raids she was quite skilled but not to skilled if she was captured without a fight. Still though his mind raced with all the ideas that were now possible with a live hostage of the Vida's. So he signaled to Francis to wake her.

Maxine woke with her hands tied above her head. Her head was throbbing, but she pushed the headache away. She took in her surroundings. The flamed torch on the wall flickered its light in the silver tools laid out on the counter. She pulled her hands, then heard the clanking. Chains. Her heart sank to her stomach as she saw Kristopher walk through the door. She was in trouble.

Silently she prayed to her Goddess, asking for strength and patience. No one knew she was here. Like an idiot, she could have fled, but she wasn't going to return home without Jake. The guilt of his death would have been too hard to deal with. Now, however, she'd be lucky to return home at all. 'Don't think like that!' She scolded herself. 'You're going to get out of this. These are just another couple Leeches. You've fought worse. You're a Vida, a powerful witch with the power of the Sun on your side.'

Upon convincing herself, she saw Kristopher's hateful gaze fall upon her. Instantly, she threw up her defensive walls around her mind. Her mind was all she had, and she wasn't about to use it until they left the room. She knew death was not what he had in mind, at least not at first. Torture was more this Vampire's style.

Sweat started peaking on her forehead, soaking her black hair which was currently hanging in her eyes. Maxine took her stance, and stood bravely, chin high. "Take advantage of the time you've got, because when I'm out of this, first I'm going to tear out the heart of your Lovely Whore there..." She said pointing to the woman whom was Jake's last vision, "Then yours. All the while, watching my Mother destroy your little family that you've started here. If that's what you can call it..."

As the girl spoke it suddenly hit him that the girl was the leader of the Vida witches daughter. Kris wore an immense smile as he began thinking of all the opportunities this will produce. "Aha so you are the that blasted witches daughter...So that means, this could all be a elaborate trap she would never risk her dear child's life." His happiness now left his face and was replaced with sorrow and worry. They could be surrounding the place as he spoke preparing to raid the place, outnumbering them in 2:1 ratio. He walked over to Francis and ordered him to leave and scout the surrounding area and to report back if he saw ANYTHING and not to engage anyone. Returning his gaze to the girl at a sudden thought "Unless you came here on your own...I mean why would she risk one her own blood when there are plenty of other high ranking hunters that would have the same effect...So my dear does mother dearest know of your departure?"

Maxine spat in his face, smiling at the sight of it sliding down his nose. "Why don't you go look? Some leader you've turned out to be. Too scared to confront your own battles, you'd rather risk your friends' life instead."

She rotated her body, trying to squeeze her wrists through the chains. Her arms were going numb. She let her mental walls down, just barely, enough to seek any help surrounding the house. Nothing.

Maxine let out a sigh, "The consequences will be worse if you follow through with this. Your best bet is to just let me go."

"You know what I am a bad leader, I should've have sent the whore out who has a uncontrollable hunger out to survey the area who would have just killed anything moving instead of the well experienced warrior who wouldn't hurt a fly without a order." he was in the middle of speaking when the girl did a terrible thing that was so appalling even to him. No matter who you are or what happens to you don't spit on people (lol). He wiped away the spit with his sleeve and before she could prepare herself he backhanded the girl fiercely (revenge) "Didn't your mother teach you manners?" he said as he was now smiling at the girls pain. "I was even thinking about letting you go until you decided to be a brat about things now I think you will have to visit with us a while...What do think about that deary?"

Maxine's head flew to the left, chains rattling. "Monsters such as yourself deserve no manners."

She waited for the throbbing to subside, she was going to bruise.

"You could unlock me, and send your whore in here. I'd love to spend some alone time with your newest member, get some practice in before I start in on you."

Maxine got fed up with the conversation, and lashed out with her mind, catching him by surprise. It was a mistake to reveal her powers, she knew, but the one blow was worth the one's he'd repay her with in the end. Immediately, she blocked her mind from his and sat, watching him sitting, leaning against the wall.

Kristopher was surprised at the girls mental strength, but there was nothing he could do against besides kill her, but that wasn't a real option it just something he would choose to endure. "Well unfortunate for you I am to strong for your parlor tricks they might work on the 'Whore' you are so willing to see, but I don't think I will be giving you the pleasure...Hmm I wonder what your Mother would be willing to do or give up for her baby...I am dying to find out your dear friend should make for a good message."

Just then Francis came back in throwing the dead boy to the floor with a message stuck to him telling of the events that had taken place and asking what will they be willing to do for her daughters release. Francis then walked over to Kristopher telling him that there was no sights or any trace of any other hunters.

Maxine stood, as if she could do anything else. Her arms were fully numb. Unfortunately, her only hope was the vampire who stood before her. She let go of her pride, "What do you want?" Her eyes remained focused on the floor.

Kristopher's smile grew as he listened to sweet sound of surrender, this would make everything a lot easier as they wait for the Vida's reply. He signaled for the boy to be picked up and delivered "Nice to see the fight has left you, maybe we can be friends now." he said as he patted her on the head as if she were a dog "But I need nothing from you. You are just a prisoner of war, nothing more."

She shook her head. "My fight's not left. Merely detained, as I remain chained in your hell hole."

She was in fact, a prisoner, however, of a war that she started without the knowledge of her followers. She wondered how long it would take before her sister noticed she was gone, with her Mother being away to Pennsylvania at some training camp. It was official, Maxine Vida was stuck.

___________________________________________________________________________

Liza paced the floor of her two bedroom apartment. It was 3:45 a.m., and neither Jake or Maxine were back. Jake let her in on their little escapade, to be safe. They were supposed to be back by now, though. A bad feeling crept up through her spine. Dominque was out of town, and Stephanie wouldn't know how to handle this for sure. If by sunrise they still weren't home, Liza would be forced to go to her mother, Dominque's sister, Michelle.

Liza forced her paranoia from her mind, and lied down on her couch, praying for sleep.

"TomaTOE...TomaTO...Its all the same and like it or not this hell hole may become home for you, depending on if your mother wants to deal with the likes of us or she just may come charging in, but I welcome the old hag. How I dream of turning her and then torturing her day after day." Kris wore a evil smile as he spoke, he was usually not into that sort of thing but she had tampered into what he called a perfect life and killed most of his family and whether or not they agreed to give in he would still kill her daughter.

meanwhile....

Francis was far from home on his way to deliver the message. They didn't really know where the Vida lived or trained, but they did know of a church they frequented and Francis thought this would be a fitting place to deliver the message, but he wasn't entirely sure if he could set foot on holy ground and wasn't about to try. So he put a nearby human into a trance and got him to do it. There was a large cross outside of the church and he thought that would be a fitting place for the body to hang, so after he was nailed up Francis disappeared into the night.

Maxine rattled the chains, "Well don't you suppose you could make this arrangement a bit more comfortable? I am a guest, after all."

Kristopher wasn't completely heartless and he could never deny the pleas of a women. "I guess we could show the presidential suite." He took the chains off from the hook in the ceiling but left them attached to her hands using it as a leash to guide her. Making her walk ahead he took her back upstairs to a guest room that had been conveniently converted to a holding cell.

It was furnished like a regular room only striped of everything except a bed with covers and pillows, it even had a bathroom with hygiene products inside, and since most of people who stayed were either pasts Vida captives or food there was even a small fridge with bottled water and the ingredients to make your run of meal sandwich. The room had no windows and wooden door had a make shift hole in the top which was clearly put there just by punching a hole in it.

As they entered the room he called for one his vampires named brute. He would be the one to watch her: he was big, strong, and dumb but it didn't matter much he only seemed to follow only direct orders from Kris even if Kris had told someone else to tell him what to do he still didn't listen. So now he ordered him to break her legs if she tried to run and if she looked like she was up to something to knock her out cold and call for him..."So you like your suite, it even comes with its own guardian!" said Kris laughing as he removed the rest of the chains.

Maxine yanked her arms out of the chains as soon as she had enough space. She sized her guardian up. He stood about 3 foot taller than her 5'6''. She could...

All of a sudden Maxine's legs gave out on her, she caught herself just as she hit the ground, landing on her knees and hands. Her breathing started to deepen. Instantly, she jerked her head up. No windows. There was one hole in the top of the room, breathing air. Maxine could feel her magic shrinking inside her. Her mouth went dry, eyes started to blur, sweat dripping, and hands shaking.

"Not here." She looked up pleadingly at her captor. "I have to have air. I have to be able to see the moon and sun. Please."

As a witch, Maxine's magick was grounded to her through the moon and sun. It kept it alive, so to speak. Maxine thrived on her power source, it's who she was. Her whole life was based around it, with her family and training. For the first time ever, she could relate to Sarah, and how she felt when Mother dismissed her and took her powers. It would be a horrible fate.

"You do not understand what it means to be a prisoner do you? This what you are suppose to feel like barely hanging on to life. You will get air, but just enough to keep you breathing otherwise you will breathe in the same thing we do...So i personally think you have had enough on your journey here the next time you will get air will be later."

Kristopher laughed at the girls plea she obviously didn't understand what being a prisoner meant. You were supposed to be down and out, feeling as if you don't want to live anymore, her cell was already more comfortable than anything he had been in the past; besides there was no other place to stay unless she bunked with one of the other vampires which was out of the question.

Maxine sat under the hole in the ceiling, wrapped her arms around her legs, and began rocking. It was going to be a long night.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Dominque's phone rang, she stepped out of the meeting room in which her and other Hunting Leaders had gathered to compare the Vampiric Activity up and down the East Coast. She looked down at the caller I.D. Michelle.
"Hello?"
"Dom? It's me."
"What is it? I'm kind of in the middle of something right now..."
"It's Jake."
Dominque sat, waiting for the rest.
"He's been found dead, hung on a cross in United People's front yard."
Her heart skipped a beat. Not again. Dominque's husband, Maxine's father, was killed in a Vampire Hunt. The leech was coming up behind Dominque, he shoved her out of the way, only to find himself face to face with the cold end of the vamp's handgun. It was weeks before Dominque quit having nightmares about the incident. Months before she rose from the depression. She wasn't sure she'd be able to handle another loss.
"Where's Max?"
"She's missing."
"I'm on my way."
She hung up, went in and explained her situation. Within an hour, her and four other hunters from the association were on a plane, heading towards New Ashton from New York.

Kristopher left the room-ordering Brute to give their prisoner her privacy, so outside of the door is where he stood. Kris began thinking about the impending fight, for surely they would try to kill him before bargaining with him and their numbers would be greater. There were six of them: Francis-the warrior, Brute-the tank, Ana-the seductress, Miguel-the charmed (meaning small knowledge of magic), and Belic-the hunter; Well now that he really thought about it would be five considering Brute would be with the girl till Kris ordered otherwise. He would have Ana trained and he would have to have more people recruited. But they couldn't just be anybody for he didn't have time to train people; they would already have to have skills of their own.

As Kristopher reached his room Francis was they’re waiting for him to deliver the good news. Unfortunately for him though he still couldn't rest, Kris ordered for him to gather everyone else and to go out in search of suitable vampires. This was the first time in a while that Kris was alone in his home since he had first started his clan, besides Brute anyway for he was one of Kris's old friends and was among the first he had turned which explained his loyalty...Now allowing his himself to fall once more in his bed, he was soon in his much needed slumber.