Aleksei Avalon's Story

Dean's expression took an odd look at receiving such a reaction from the girl. She was different. That was all he could get off her. He'd glanced at her after accessing the crow that'd remained still as a statue, stuck to the branch outside despite the sheeting rain, watching the students inside the classroom with a deep interest unfitting to a bird of its nature. It wasn't normal, and for some reason he found its staring weird so he averted his gaze from the windows.

The crow cocked its head, beady coal black eyes stared directly at a certain girl seated besides an auburn haired English girl. The bird ruffled its feathers a bit at feeling weighed down by the relentless rain, the windows fogged up from the warmth within the room, rendering it much difficult to make out her features inside.

The watcher enthralling the bird from a distance to become his eyes swooned slightly as the lost of sight from the girl made the one controlling the animal loose interest quickly in keeping the connection with the bird. Although the watcher could no longer hold her in his sights he would not need to worry. So he kept his distance, after all, the hunter was here finally. He would protect her at all costs, whether he was aware of it or not didn't matter.

Only that she was safe.

By lunch time the sun peeked out and made the outside lunch area sparkle as its prisims of light reflected off the dew and droplets from the leaves and foliage of the trees. Some areas where even dry by then, suitable seating spots for students wishing to find a quite place to sit and eat lunch.

Beneath the shading of a big tree, seated on a white vintage bench, Dean tried to quietly discuss the situation forced upon him on such short notice, failing to ultimately.

"Why didn't you at least give me a heads up before I got here? I didn't come prepared." Dean explained trying to soften his rough tone that was heightening with his growing anger.

"Check the trunk of your car. You're ready. The skin walker can be anyone. Keep your eyes peeled for any suspicion and take it out." John, his father explained calmly, then provided his son with further tips on how to capture said creature, by looking for its glowing eyes when in human form along with its supernatural speed and strength, and making sure to be prepared to shoot it with the white ash dipped bullets provided in a 12-gauge, Remington, shot gun already loaded in the trunk.

"And why am I doing this? Not that I'm complaining or anything but wasn't this your case?" He asked calming down a bit.

He heard his father sigh deeply on the other end of the line, imagined him rubbing his temple as he usually did when he was stressed. "Yeah, only problem was that the "case" is in your School. The chairlady knows me already and would recognize me on the spot. But she wouldn't suspect you, which is wby I want you to take on it. When you're done, call me."

Dean flipped his phone shut, then stared at it for a moment. So this was it. His first official case. Let the hunting games begin.

Dean shook his head before searching his cell for any messages. None. Getting out of the car he was beginning to think that there was something oddly strange about that clingy crow. It's been hangin' around here too long. He even looked arounf wondering if he'd spot it somewhere all he did see was a little bat hanging upside down on a branch. The crow must have finally gone away or something. As he shut the car door and went to the trunk he thought back to Selene and her cryptic warning. Opening the trunk he saw the normal stuff he kept there, spare tire, an emergency road kit, a tool box of well, mechanic tools (yes he was that overly careful of his baby, so much so that he knows how to fix it if it breaks down on him) and a bunch of junk he just throws back there. Frowning he reached at the edge and pulled the entire bottom part up to reveal an arsenel of deadly hunter weapons beneath: guns, a cross-bow with assorted arrows?, rock salt bullets, hex bags, a bunch of knives, and a cleverly sawed off shot gun he picked up and looked at almost fascinated. Checking thfor ammo he found the white ash dipped bullets and an expectant smile filled his countenance with something akin to joy. He slipped that into a deep hidden pocket in his jacket and swipped the cloth bag he check had extra bullets with the white ash treatment inside. Also he noticed was a leathery old book tucked in beneath some of the weapons. He recognized it as the book of spells and latin chants most of them he remembered by heart. Effective in removing demons from possessing people and other useful things that could help when confronted by assaults.

His hunting instincts kicked in, he felt it an awareness that urked at him, making his skin crawl. Someone was watching him.

Slamming the trunk closed and stuffing the little bag of bullets in his jacket pocket he looked around, scanning his immidiate surroundings for the perp, ready with a flick of a pocket knife in his left hand and a small silver flask that contained holy water, the essentials every hunter should be equiped with no matter the level or years of experience in the field. A rule of thumb for him, you can't trust anyone except for family and close (tiny circle) of friends.

Making a 360 he walked a little away from his car, incase the skin walker might decide to pop up and say hi were to attack. In no way did he want his car to be involved in receiving any damages. As for himself he didn't really worry. It was something you had to accept once stepping into the hunter business. It was virtually impossible to leave a fight without so much as a scratch on you. He would love to meet the hunter that could claim a perfect battle. That'd be a laugh.

Hrart about to jump out of his throat and land on the black top as his feet, Dean sucked in a deep breath as he hadn't even noticed he'd been holding until now before calling out rather forcefully, "Whevever the hell you are, you better come out or I'll just blow yow your brains out!"

The bushes ruffled and he caught sight of glowing golden orbs reflected gently by the sunlight. He steadied his footing and whipped out the shot gun, aimed, and was about to pull the trigger.

Then a flapping bat attacked him, along with a feathered crow, nipping at his head furiously and he tried to bat them away his sense of danger heightening when suddenly they stopped and flew off.

Glancing at the bushes he saw that along with the beautiful eyes, upon further inspection was a crown of ebony locks and a familiar face he saw much more clearer as he neared the bushes. Hiding the weapon he said roughly with asharp exhale, "Isabella?"

Was she the skin walker? He sure hoped not.

It was her and the shock look on his face was genuine. Instantly lowering the weapon down and away from her he slipped it just as quickly into his jacket, as he did so he hid the knife and flask back in their rightful places. Winded he took a split second to calm his frayed nerves and pretty soon he was back to being Dean the high-schooler rather than hunter. But now she kinda already knew his secret and was pissed as hell that she did, however that didn't mean he was going to be a dick to her she did not desrve it. Selene's voice echoed in his mind, leaving him that message in his mind. He felt his chest tighten, as if that woman had left an anvil crushing onto him.

With a sigh, his brows furrowing in frustration he looked at the girl and raised his hands to show her he wasn't her threat. "I'm sorry you had to see that. You aren't my target so relax." His tone wasn't the usual harshness as before, rather a bit relieved and well still edged with his tiny shock.

He noticed the fear in her gaze and her trembling, even stepping back as if she wanted to run she had even verbalized this desire and he got a bit scared bimaelf. After al no one was supposed to find out he was a hunter and before he could stop himself he reached out to her and latched his hand to her arm holding her closer to himself than he meant to. "Isabella it's alright. Just don't do that again, I'm sorry to freak you out but I can't let you just run off on me... Please don't tell anyone what just happened. I'll be in a shit load of trouble if you do and then I won't be able to get rid of the real threat..." His whisper was almost pleadingly poignant and he loosened his grip on her staring her directly in the eyes. No she wasn't the skin walker and that much alone was enough to grant him a level of certainty. Enough to loosen the tightness that consumed him, made his stomach coil and body tense.

His jaw set his eyes squinted a little as he let his words sink into her mind, she was beyond stoked he could imagine her trying to make sense of this crap. The thing is, noone but he could make sense of it and even he almost found himself still a bit in the dark on things. Maybe he could tell her the truth she was already half way there.

The crow watched them from its seating on a branch in the very tree Isabella had hidden near. The fact that those two below where okay now made the bird relax a bit and it settled down wbile keeping a wary eye on the hunter.

A powerful blast of energy escaped the barrel of the Silver Moon gun. So potent was the force that it shook Dean to his bones. The bullets pummeled through the floating head of the pureblood child’s skull disrupting its shadowy particles to mere ashes. The lingering bats were decimated as a result. Dean’s electric blue eyes were wild, the pupils pulsing over his irises, the color drained from his face and he grit his teeth, the gun still firmly aimed in place he kept waiting, as if something more were to pop up and say hi.

“What the hell was that?” Isabella asked behind him, he was aware now that the little pressure on his arm were her own arms twined through his, she was equally rattled, perhaps more so. He pictured her golden orbs scanning the area, just to be sure that there were no more attacking bats around. Good girl.

After about a minute -which felt like an eternity, Dean responded, “Shadow puppets.” Before he finally tore his gaze from the sky to glance back at Isabella, his eyes roved her up and down, she looked alright so that was all that mattered to him. He ignored his own aches and lowered the gun, however that didn’t mean the threat was over. Something else was near, he felt the aura of it and found it quite familiar.

“We should get going-” He began, his brows knitted a mixture of intensity and anxiety as he gripped her hand, and walked back toward his car.

Isabella’s fingers slipped from his grasp and the hunter spun on his heel just in time to see a dark shadowy figure holding her bridal-style in his arms.

“Let her go!”

“Or what, you’ll shoot me?”

Dean didn’t like how still the girl was in the monster’s arms, it made his entire being jumpy and if it weren’t for the very reason that she was in that ass’ way, he would have shot him down.

“Aleron, you have ten seconds to tell me why you want her.”

The shadows cleared to form the very man in question and to no surprise for Dean he looked exactly the same as he’d seen him last several years ago, when his father and the pureblood agreed to sign a treaty of some sort in establishing the school.

Worry not Salvatore, you've done well in protecting her life, but there is something else that needs to be done, I will take care of it…meanwhile, you continue what you came here to do.

The thought probed into the hunter’s mind, he shook his head hating the piercing stare of those lurid crimson eyes, he tsked and said through clenched teeth, “You still didn't tell me what you’re gonna do to her!”

A soft glint touched the pureblood’s eyes, and the barest hint of a smile tugged at his lips “I’m going to clear her memories of this event that were never meant for her eyes to perceive, your secret will remain as it stands, take more precautions next time. “

Clear her memories “You have no right to-”

A powerful gust of air whipped around them and he was gone. Despite his resentment, the hunter had the deepest conviction that the bastard wouldn't hurt her. However that wasn't enough to calm him down and he had no choice but to hunt after the skin-walker.

"She went... Home." He answered tensly.

Dean half wondered if she'd seen anything, wishing all this had been dealt with in a more discreet place, say far, far away. He took the books and bag from her and told her that he would deliver them to Isabella personally, then ushered her back toward the winding, large school.

Lyra found his rushing her annoying and she glanced back, her firey hair bouncing around her small face, "Did her guardians come to pick her up?"

"Uh, I guess..."

"Then you have to take her bike too."

"What am I her delivery boy?"

"Oh but Dean, how will she get to school tomorrow?" The plucky red-head spun around to face him, her features scrunching into a super cute little frown on her pixie face. She crossed her arms pouting, "You have to!" She demanded.

Dean sighed, "And you can't do it yourself?"

"Uh-- I can't... maam' wouldn't allow me to. You see, she's very strict and..." her expression took on a level of sadness when mentioning her mom, but then she brightened up, an idea springing into her head, "What if I pay you my allowance?"

The hunter rolled his eyes, "I won't accept payment. Not from you or anyone, I'll do it okay, now... just go to class!"

She sparkled at him, "Thank you Dean!" She twirled and ran off.

"Guess I'm giving Lombardi a visit when all this crap is over," Dean grumbled, glancing back to see if Selene was following him. He walked down the hall and made it to his locker where he put all of Isabella's stuff there while making a mental note to remember to come back here later and get it all before leaving.

----


Isabella lay in her bed, already changed from her morning attire to her nightgown, the pureblood had put her to sleep before taking the liberty to changing her vestments opting to leave her in comfort before he walked out of her life again. He left her clothing neatly folded on the window seat. Sighing sadly he stood beside her bed, watching her ever so longingly. If only...

He caressed her cheek with tender fingers, before picking up a strand of her shining, night locks, entwining the silken strands for a moment, before gently letting them slip away from his fingers. Gently he settled his hand atop her crown and dived into her memories, ripping the moment things went weird from today away from her forever -unlike compelling, this was much different, he wasn't making her simply forget, he wasn't surpressing the memories of that stupid child pureblood or seeing Dean go hunter-mode into the back-burner of her mind, he was actually absorbing them into his own. It would be much better for her life if she never knew. She would live easier, smile freely under the sun.

She will recall only having a normal one at school except for feeling sick and wanting to go home early to rest.

"When you awaken again, everything will be as it was before..." His voice was bearly a whispered.

But this was as far as he could go, as long as she was safe it mattered not if she even knew who he was, that too was a must, it was better if she didn't know him at all. It would prevent her from curiously trying to figure him out and ruining everything. He built this world around her, a safe haven so that she would be always perfectly intact. He knew the threats after her blood and he was working his own deadly plan to eliminate them.

The only evidence of his visits were the tall American beauty rose he left at her door step everyday, which was sure to be left at her doorstep today after he departed.

After looking at her sleeping face for as long as he could manage to refrain from getting any closer, he finally broke away into a flurry of tiny bats that flapped quietly out her open window that he closed. Then below at her front porch an evanescent hand appeared from a small cluster of bats that broke away from the pack to deliver the rose.

And he was gone.

Aleksei ancestor of the Avalon bloodline instantly destroyed the two fools that accompanied the attacker, saving this one for last. He ripped into the messenger's throat, drinking his blood before tearing his heart out, keeping the little one close he snarled viciously into his ear, "Message received." Then he pulled out a blade that crackled in his hand, burning away at his flesh in his grip and he swung.

The man's head popped into the sky before shattering like glass to pretty, reflective sandylike ashes.

"You're next Morrigan..." Aleksei hissed, eyes burning red as the pulsing moon.

The ancestor turned and headed back to Lombardi's place. Inside the house he heard the hunter hurry about, trying to treat Isabella's mortal wounds. Reaching the girl currently seated on the couch with a towel pressed onto her injured neck he touched her head, grabbing her attention, "Everything will be alright, I promise you." He whispered with a gentle smile.

----

"How long are you going to keep doing this to her?" Dean asked clearly annoyed. He leaned against the door frame of her room, watching the pureblood put her to sleep. It was very late and Billy kept calling, worried for him.

Aleksei quietly replied, "As long as needed." He straightened and turned toward the window. Do vampires not know how to use a door? Dean thought, detecting the blood of another vampire on him, he knew things were just going to get worse.

"I gave her my blood to heal her wounds and destroyed any evidense of this occurence from her mind. Take care of her for me, there is some business that requires my attention."

Dean scoffed, "No shit. You're going after Selene aren't you?"

"Yes."
"You're going to kill her?"
"That's the plan."
"She's my partner."
"Not anymore."

Dean said seriously, "You know, this lie you've built around Isabella is nothing but your dream. It can't last forever."

"I am aware of that." Aleksei never glanced back.

"Good, because you gotta wake up and stop doing that, you can't keep hiding her and running from the truth because then it'll find you. And punch you in the gut, and if you keep trying to pretend that the world is safe when it isn't she'll never see it coming," He scoffed and put his hands on his hips as he looked at her, "Trying to keep that dream alive will destroy you. It'll destroy everything."

"And that's why you're here. You're the truth hunter, so give her a Korth and teach her to aim and shoot. I will continue my plans."

"Which plan might that be?"

Aleksei flitted out the window.

Destroying all vampires

Dean actually smiled at that weird pureblood's idea. "Goodluck with that one. You'll need it."

Then the vampire was gone.

Leaving a black wolf with red eyes to keep watch in the woods below Aleksei sized up with the lurking Veratos Holmes.

"You're either my friend or my foe. Pick one." He addressed her cooly.

Her eyes sparkled at the deep red moon's light and she locked her gaze with him. "You tell me ancestor."

He nodded to her and went away leaving the huntress to do her own with Salvatore. The two after all were the same of a kind.

----


Dean crossed his arms and glanced inside the room, Isabella was in her bed, in another night gown and dreaming. When Aleksei had walked in, the hunter was going to shoot him but then he told him he was gonna help her "get better", then took her upstairs. Dean had left in that moment to get his car back at scool and drive back to Isabella's place. Once he'd returned he came prepared with everything to protect the house from anything benevolent. Nothing can get in, not with all the traps he'd set up. This felt like he was preparing for an apocolypse or something. Pacing deeper into her room he sat on the window seat and glanced down just to see a figure darting back into the woods.

Whatever or whoever it was had no chance to break in. That he was sure of, however like the paranoid hunter he'd grown to become he wouldn't leave Isabella's side for anything in the world.


-----

Flying with her long, deadly Lune scythe, Mina Avalon's crimson eyes stared ahead at the ebony night. She felt his heavy sense pressure closing in and she bit her lower lip in anticipation. He may be her fiancé, but he wasn't averse to retaliating at anyone who stood in his way including her. However she knew he wouldn't kill her, he'd never do that.

"Mina I thought I told you to stay home. It's not a good night for playing huntress." Aleksei's tone sounded pleasant but she knew him well enough to recognize the mask he wore so well to conceal his agony.

And she was the only one who went this far.

Tensing beneath the velvet black cloak, the pureblood seventeen year old girl pulled down her hood to reveal her lucious golden wavy locks, she gripped her weapon and realized the one he held in his hand now mere skeleton bones gripping the sword had been drawn. Where did he get a hunter's weapon from? Yet that was the least of her problem, it was what he planned to do with it was the main issue here. That's what she came for to stop him.

"I'm not letting you hurt Michael or Selene, they're my friends too!" She announced glaring at her beloved stubbornly.

"I don't want to hurt you Mina, but you're in my way --please move."

A loud clang of metal against metal echoed in the night.

Metal on metal clanged against each other as both purebloods battled it out. The scent of Michael's blood filled the air, both Aleksei and Mina detected it and she glanced toward the direction of her friend for a split second, leaving an opening which Aleksei gladly took, swiping his weapon at her, she flinched back from the blade but it still nicked her on the cheek, blood trickled from the wound and she shot him a look of shock and panic.

His eyes softened and he frowned, just as quickly, he lowered the blade, moved in closer and with a gentle hand, dabbed at her cheek, regret filled his expression.

"You won't kill her..." She hissed, pouting, allowing him to ouch her as he wished, giving him that much freedom with her. She loved him too much to attempt at getting him back, actually this battle in itself wasn't supposed to be so harsh. She hadn't expected him to actually attack her at all. She did hope that it would be enough to make him change his mind.

While holding her steady gaze, he considered, for a moment, then smiled mysteriously. Taking a few strands of her long golden hair and twining it in his fingers an almost pleased expression crossed his usually stoic countenance as a thought crossed his mind.

Since Mina couldn't read his mind she had no way of knowing what terrible idea he was thinking of, and it scared her. "Aleksei!" Her voice rang with a commanding tone, she wanted him to stop keeping secrets from her, but this may be a part of him that may never change, and that was annoying.

"Go home and rest Mina, I'll take care of everything." Aleksei reassured her calmly, letting her silken hair slip away from his fingers like water, his own body swallowed up by the thick night shadows.

"If you do this know that I will never forgive you!" Mina shouted as his being disappeared into the darkness.

Soon the pureblood found Michael and Selene, his smile spread deeper as he hesitated a few feet from the couple, he raised a brow, the anti-vampire blade pulsed in his grip, as though sensing the near by vampires.

He asked rather cooly, "Am I interrupting something here?"




Dean followed Isabella to her home, kept his distance when she was approached by the vampire and simply watched them interact, all the while he held Rebellus ready in his palm to slice the monster down in half, he also had Silver Moon aimed at the sucker, finger on the trigger, eyes narrowed dangerously at the target, watching him for even the slightest sign of threat to the girl.

The vampire flirted with her, and she was gaga for him, and the hunter wasn't surprised at that, Isabella was a vampire fan, with what he'd seen of her eyes glued to a vamp novel during class today, he was sure she'd even end up falling in love with the leech. It looked like she already was. The slick devil invited her to Roma, he did tell her to visit him there. And with that swoon on her face, he knew she would. How could she resist his silken, smooth voice, and angelic charms. Pssh, Isabella must really want a death wish.

"I'm surprised you didn't shoot," Vera commented casually, watching the hunter with a knowing grin.

"The bastard didn't give me a reason to." Dean responded with a sigh lowering the gun after the vampire left. Hiding it in his jacket he seemed to relax some when Isabella retreated within the safety confines of her home. Swinging the blade up to rest over a shoulder he stifled the urge to yawn before glancing back at Vera who was still there. He wondered what she'd wanted from him, surely she hadn't decided to drop by just to give him his supposed weapons without having a good enough reason to.

"You're still here why?"
"I'm working with you on this case, whether you like it or not," she replied matter of factly.
"Don't get any funny ideas, this doesn't change what I think of you."

She chuckled lightly, "Well we're just gonna have to hang out more often so that can change." She sounded so sure.

Dean shrugged, he'd give her a shot, so far she hadn't yet done anything worth keeping her on his high suspicious list. Like say, Aleksei. So, for the mean time he was gonna let her "join" him on this case but as soon as she made a heel face turn, he was gonna pump her full of holes until she became a human Swiss cheese. Definitely. Speaking of working with someone, he wondered how Selene was holding up, she may be turned but that didn't mean she wasn't a hunter, and she would fight like one. He wished she was here to help him with this puzzle. What was with Isabella, why was she a monster magnet?

"Do you really want to work with me on this?" Dean asked, returning his wary gaze to the quiet, still house.

"I said I would, didn't I?"
"Then I need you to do me a favor."
"Anything."
"Do you know a hunter named Selene Morrigan?"
"Yup, I have been keeping tabs on you all day, so anyone you've been associating with as of late, I'm aware of." Vera admitted shamelessly.
"Did someone send you out to track me?"

She shook her head smirking at the look on his face, "No call this a personal mission of mine. I came here to recruit you, that's why I returned your weapons to you. It's a shame you still haven't remembered me yet but it may come to you later Dean, now what's the plan?"

"Find Morrigan wherever she is and get her over here, if I'm not here then we meet at Billie's I'll text you the-"

She interrupted him by putting up a hand, "Already know where it is, and I don't know why you would need a turned vampire to help you when she's the same beast that had attacked and nearly killed your charge today but whatever," Vera rolled her eyes, "Alright, I'll get her for you. Won't take long."

"I need her to tell me if she's ever met fancy pants Lorenzo, and maybe even why the hell he know's more about her than he should. Even if he says who he says he is, I'm not buying it. The chick's never even met him in her life and he decided to drop in and say hi? Major flags right there." Dean explained in case the vampire huntress questioned her.

She nodded getting it, "By the looks of it, you don't like him." She observed, before she turned about to leave.

"No shit Sherlock," Dean muttered, sensing a thick concentration of dark energy heading toward them. Fast.

Something large and quick lunged at him so forcefully that he nearly got knocked back with whatever the heck it was.The hunter managed to pull his sword up in time to block the assault which turned out to be a hideous supernatural monster.

"Tormoied's keep your guard up!" Vera warned him, leaping gracefully into the air as one tried to swipe down at her with powerful, sharp claws, she pulled out her twin blades from behind her and shot down at it in lightening speed, slicing the creature through. It's body erupted to black, thick and pungent smoke at being destroyed. "You sure you got this?" She asked, as she went after another as it tried to reach Isabella's home.

"I got it, just go!" Dean yelled as he swung down at the demon minion finishing its existence. He was surrounded by five of them, all agreeing to gang up on him. They were not vampires, this much he knew, they were demons, but of a lower level, and even so, this was bad. So many of them out here suddenly, they could have only crossed over through a Hell Gate some ass opened up he was sure of it, as the sun rose in the sky every morning. He now had to find out where, close it, before this problem got bigger and not only would Isabella's life be in danger, but Sable entirely.

They came from the direction of the school, but he had yet to realize that.

Swinging powerful blasts of fiery flames towards the lot, Dean was able to destroy most of them, one had shrunk away from the battle and was sneaking up the roof of the house, attempting at slipping into the girl's open window. A crimson, clawed hand touched the window sill, lurid eyes peeked in, its jaws gaped open, showcasing rows of razor sharp incisors, craving the girl's flesh and blood. The demon was just about to pounce into the room when Dean appeared from up above, crashing down at it with his feet, kicking the monster off her window.

"There ain't shit to see here ugly, now you're pitiful life is over!" He bellowed.

The hunter pushed off the ledge with one foot, pulled out his Silver Moon, aimed and fired a few rounds while simultaneously striking through the demonic creature with Rebelus. The impact sent a large jagged line straight across the earth, cracking it in, forming a V-shape, that extended through the woods a couple of yards. When the monster busted, its energies breaking up into the night sky which was starting to brighten a bit with the dawning sun, he yanked the weapon up from the ground and flipped it over, it stuck to his back like a magnet, attracted to his own dark energies and he smirked, both impressed and amazed. Then that happy moment died out just as quickly as it came when he noticed the totaled forest path.

"Ah, great, you guys left me with a mess... I'm no good with landscaping, someone's gonna have to cover this..." He thought aloud as he took a second to asses his surroundings. Even a bunch of trees had been sliced through, some of them had toppled over in the fight, case in point this section about five feet from her house was a mess. What freaked him out was during the heat of the battle, when he'd noticed one of the Tormoied's missing, he nearly lost control of his cool as he'd searched around, saw it lurking up on Isabella's roof, peering through her bedroom window...

He could pick up the faint sounds of police sirens headed his way, looks like someone thought the forest was getting bombed or something, which meant that Dean had no choice but to split.

"Cops, doing my job, only they suck at it."

He however wanted to be sure Isabella was okay before he departed, so he raced to the porch and swung her door open, maybe she was the idiot that had called the cops, he'd never know. Though her safety was something he wanted to know over anything else, him getting "caught" by the law enforcement was not likely to happen since his ride was right up front, "Isabella are you alright? Let me know 'cause I got to go before the cops get here!" Not only that, but quickly find where the Hell Gate was sprung open and close it, before Sable became a hot bed of rampant demons and destroy the ones already running wild in the town.

In the distance, the sirens wailed louder, they were getting closer.



OOC: Dean's blade looks like this btw→[link][link 2]

A film reel of Michael's memories spun at lightning speed through Selene's mind the moment she took her first swallow of his blood. Confused, she continued to drink, attempting to block out the images that were becoming increasingly more violent and disturbing. All she could decipher of his recollection was carnage- his entire life revolved around bloodspill- and after a few gulps, she retreated in terror. Her wide aquamarine eyes search the span of the earth beneath them before settling upon Michael, who watched her sadly.

"What... What the...?" she stammered, wiping the crimson honey that dripped from her lips.

At the same moment, she heard a rustling in the brush behind her, accompanied by the telltale scent of a pureblood she already recognized as Aleksei. When she turned around to face him, immediately she sensed the odor of burning flesh, which belonged to his skeletal hand that gripped the blade furiously. She instantly knew that the weapon was designed specifically for a hunter, and that it would kill any vampire its merciless blade struck, and it could only be handled by a human being. Her heart sank, suddenly realizing that she could no longer wield her beloved bow and arrows.

"Avalon," she said, her voice as cold and unwavering as it had always been.

If he were going to kill her, he would have to fight her now. She knew that Isabella needed Selene as much as she needed Aleksei and Dean; whatever forces were coming after her would certainly not relent until she was in their grasp. Her dark hair swayed gently with the breeze as her iron eyes watched him expectantly, half hoping that Mina would come to their defense. She was undoubtably certain that Michael would intervene should Aleksei attempt to strike, and she was also aware that the only person who could sway his anger was currently sleeping inside her home.

Isabella jolted awake when Dean burst through her front door. Her golden eyes quickly scanned around her room, catching sight of a revolting little demon giggling impishly at the foot of her bed. She cried out softly before she sat upright and began to retreat into her headboard. It began crawling up onto her mattress, slithering like a serpent into her bedsheets. She screamed, tumbling out of her bed and scrambling in a panic toward her bedroom door, which slammed shut. She began to pound on the wood, calling for Dean whom she was certain was on the other side. When she turned back around, the demon plopped onto the floor, standing on its hind legs and approaching her with a malignant smirk on its features.

"DEAN!!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, closing her eyes as she was backed into a corner.

A sudden gust of wind entered her small room through the window, and in a flash, the demon was sent flying across the ground. Materialized before her was Lorenzo, who wielded a very long, Roman style saber. He looked behind his shoulder at her and offered her a grin before lunging at the creature and striking it down with a single blow. It dispersed into a cloud of smoke, leaving Isabella hyperventilating with fear. Lorenzo then knelt down beside her, his smile deepening and increasingly more sincere.

"Do not be afraid, bellizzima," he whispered tenderly. "You have many protectors that have sworn to guard your life. Do consider that trip to Italy, though, beloved."

And with a wink, he disappeared from her window just as Dean burst into the room. With tears in her eyes, Isabella rose to her feet and leapt into Dean's chest, burrowing her face into the crook of his neck as she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. A choked sob escaped her lips, but then she was silent, trembling against him as the sirens wailed in the near distance.

"Please don't go," she murmured tearfully. "I'm scared, Dean."

Dean sensed that demon upstairs, Isabella need not yell at all for him to rush up to the source. Racing down the hall at inhuman speed, the hunter withdrew his gun, kicked the door open aiming his gun directly in front of him, at the same time he'd felt another vampire's presence; Lorenzo, but before he could react, the vampire had iced the demon and was gone by the time the hunter fully entered the room.

"Heh, well that was taken care of..." He managed to let out before Isabella launched herself at him terrified and crying. That was to be expected. Now he understood why Aleksei shrouded her memories every time something like this happened, so that she wouldn't suffer. However, the trend he knew had to stop, he wasn't Aleksei and he certainly wasn't about to sugar-coat the truth for her. This was as real as it got, but seeing her this rattled shook him too, she was no longer safe here, he had to take her with him. Sighing, he slipped the gun away, before taking her into his arms, lowering his lips to her ear he whispered, "It's alright the scary monster is gone now, c'mon let's go, I won't leave you not in this hell." Then he let her go and went to her closet to pull out a chunky knit grey cardi, draped it gently over her shoulders and steered her out of the room. Outside he lead her to his Impala and helped her in, closed the door, and went around to the driver side. Stopping for a second to take the sword off his back, toss it in the back seat before getting in himself. He pushed the key into the ignition, the engine turned over and the disc player started up, "Eye of the Tiger" jammed out of the speakers as he speed the car down the road.

Dean drove in silence, preferring to let the music fill the space in between, it was a way to focus on something else beside the horror that was behind them. He did steal a few glances at her now and then, gradually relaxing by the time they hit the main road. Soon he was singing to himself along with the lyrics, maybe the shift in mood would transfer to her, he didn't like her being freaked out, and well, now that she was beside him he couldn't say he had any worries now. She was safe indeed.




Mina didn't know what to expect from Aleksei, he could be so dark and secretive sometimes and she hated it. What happened to the trust they so deeply used to share? He used to tell her everything, and the times when she'd drunk from him, he'd reveal everything to her, the man she knew was not a liar. That was it, he didn't lie, but he kept secrets. She went home as he'd asked, changed into a soft, ivory night gown but she didn't rest, too far from it, she remained awake, in his room, waiting. Her Lune scythe stood against the wall, it was a hunter weapon, transformed from a rod to a powerful scythe, how could she wield such without the rebound rejecting her touch? It was tricked out by her blood and it was created by her love for the sole purpose of her usage. Just like the Silver Moon.

"Please come home soon Aleksei..."

Raising the blade up, the pureblood swung, a powerful stream of air and electricity shot out of the weapon headed for Selene. Aleksei cared not that she was his friend's love, if he got in the way then he would have to take him down as well. Michael of course was already there, he'd reached Selene before the shock hit and was up in the air, with the huntress in his arms, the other man glared at him, as though he were a stranger and not a well known friend.

The battle has begun.

Veratos arrived soon after, she saw the huntress being set down by the pureblood, and the two exchanged a few words. Now she stepped into the scene, flitting out of sight before reappearing behind the vampire huntress.

"Hey Selene Morrigan is it? I'm Veratos, a friend of Salvatore who has requested your presence. You can come with me and avoid getting ganked by a crazy pureblood, or I make you. It's your choice." She said, ignoring the others, not caring for them at all.

Aleksei noticed the other woman but he didn't care to address her, she wasn't his target.

"So Michael, you plan on defending the huntress? How touching!" He swung the blade once more, sending another shock of air and lighting at his old pal, this battle would be very interesting. Michael was an excellent fighter after all, and wouldn't be falling down so soon.

At first, Isabella sat in the passenger seat of Dean's car quietly. Silent tears streaked her cheeks as she gazed through the window at her house and the damaged forestry around it. She could only worry further that her father might come home and be attacked, and Isabella wouldn't be there to help. She trembled and shook, her eyes glossed over ass she stared blankly into her surroundings, until she heard Dean's voice singing along to the cheesiest song in American history. Her tension quickly began to evaporate, her shoulders relaxing a bit as she settled against the headrest.

When Dean hit an awkward note, she couldn't help but giggle, and soon found herself watching him amusedly. For a moment she had forgotten that she was running away from her home, and that she had been attacked by God knows what in the comfort of her own bedroom; all that she knew of life and reality was fastly becoming a mystical blur of her favorite storybooks and supernatural folklore. She couldn't shake the thought that the demon looked at her with recognition; like it knew who she was, and that was the reason it attacked her. And then she remembered how Lorenzo came to her rescue in the blink of an eye.

"Dean...?" she began tentatively, her brows furrowed. "What is going on? There are gaps in my memory it feels like, and... And that thing in my room..."

Before Selene could think, Michael had whisked her into the air to dodge an attack. Aleksei watched them with the silent intensity of a wolf stalking its prey, and as Selene landed back onto her feet, she shared the same icy gaze. She was no longer afraid of the pureblood- she never had been, even as a human, anyway -and she would face him bravely. The heels of her boots sank into the earth which had become slightly damp from the morning dew. As the first rays of the sun poked from behind the horizon, Selene grew increasingly apprehensive. Suddenly, everything started to get a little hotter and uncomfortable.

Then Veratos appeared behind her, much too close for comfort. Selene stepped away, eyeing the girl cautiously, before she mentioned Salvatore and his request for her backup. She turned and looked at Aleksei, frowning.

"We both know Isabella needs all the protection she can get," she began fiercely. "Killing me or Michael won't help the problem we're currently facing. Since, you know, you can't even manage to keep her safe for long either. And we all know you can't resist getting inside her head, Avalon; so let me help you protect her. I promise I won't harm her."

And then she disappeared with Veratos.

Dean knew this would all be just another blow to her, would she be able to handle? Perhaps he didn't have to worry too much, he had to give her credit, she was dealing fine in his eyes, most people would have gone nuts, completely lost it in a situation like this, but as he'd thought before, Isabella was something different. He lowered the volume of the music at the sign of her cooling off, having achieved what he'd set out by this act he no longer felt the need to continue and then when she spoke, he listened and without hesitation he answered quite seriously,

"You can thank Aleksei for the holes in your memories, too bad you're never getting them back... damn thief. As for what's going on, my guess is that you're not as normal as you'd think. Spirits often target people with psychic tendencies, evil spirits especially like to loom near desperate people to try to lure them out of their minds and join their ranks so to speak. Your inborn psychic energies must be very powerful to attract so many spirits. That demon in your room was a minion, something else was pulling the strings, it wanted to kill you in order to absorb your spiritual energy. They all do, every single one of those supernatural creatures lust for power and every life they kill, they get stronger. Humans are nothing more but walking pools of energies to them, most aren't even aware of it, and some often have more psychic energies than others. Like you for instance, you're a damn magnet to them, like a beacon of light in the darkness,"

Dean glanced at her for a second, trying to read her expression before he returned his gaze to the road and continued, "I don't know how I could remember that, some things are coming to me. Just like you I've been mind screwed, my memories aren't intact. Hmm, I still don't understand how those demons could break into your room when I had put up a barrier on your house, maybe I missed a spot or something." He fished his pocket to take out his cell and handed it over to her, "Call your folks and tell them not to go home tonight, scratch that, tell them to rent a room in a hotel, your house has already been visited by evil forces, it might become a hot spot for sure. You don't want mom and dad walking into a demon party now do you?" He smirked at her and winked, then lead the car down another street before pulling up into a car repair shop called Jenkin's Auto Shop. It belonged to Billie, a very trusted friend, another father to the hunter.

"Well, this is the place, you'll have to stick around here for a while. I'm off to find the Hell Gate and close it, might take all day. Let's go I'll explain everything inside, I wanna eat something before I leave."

Dean killed the engine, pulled the keys out and opened the door to get out, then he walked around to get her out as well, offering her a reassuring half smile, he also reached in to grab the Rebelus sword, couldn't be too careless on such a powerful weapon now. Walking her to the door, he again told her she'd be okay here while he was away. Walking in, he was met with a grouchy middle aged man who was none too pleased at seeing his "son" stroll on in as if it were just an ordinary morning. For one, it was just about 5 a.m. and two, does he not know how to use a cell phone when he was called? The man was beyond angry, but at seeing the girl, namely Isabella, he let out a breath and tried to keep his cool, he'd get back at the teen later.

"I've found what you've been looking for Dean, and you're right, this Lombardi girl is much more than she seems. You've got something special on your hands." Billie explained, shooting Dean a grave look, this was not a good time for taking it "easy" at all. He seemed to have known more than he was letting on, maybe this intel was something he wanted to discuss in private, he feared how Isabella would react if she'd known the truth of her ancestry. It wasn't a pretty one, nor was it normal by any standards.

Dean introduced Billie to Isabella, then went straight for the fridge and raided it, "You want anything?" He offered her as he started pulling out cold cuts and bread and beer and other stuff to eat.

Finally the trio settled into the living room, the place was small, having been divided into both a work place and home for Jenkins it wasn't exactly maintained for a normal family, he tried, but with all the work he had piling up, keeping things tidy was impossible. He served as both a parental figure for Dean and a info keeper. Namely the man was entitled to do the research for the boy when things were out of hand for him, he was more knowledgeable when it came to the world of the supernatural than anyone of the planet --well according to Dean he was. So it was no wonder that Dean always crawled right back to this place at the end of the day, having no one else to turn to or trust really. They were both hunters and they were both intuitively keen on each other in that level, well, like father and son. If only he could do something more to help him though, he did try his best to assist him in any way he can, but there were times when he thought he wasn't doing enough for him.

"I can't offer you anything more than what I got here kid, sorry, I also did not expect any visits. So, Dean wants you to stay here while he takes care of some business out there." Billie was addressing Isabella, then he'd switched his gaze to glare sternly at Dean who was drinking his head off, he even stood from the lumpy red old couch to snatch the beer from him. "Hey you gotta stay sharp, this is serious boy, you're still on duty! There's already sightings of the demons attacking civilians outside, Dean you better hurry up and get to the matter of this."

Dean frowned at him, "It's only one come on, lighten up. At least tell me, do you know where the massive energy flux is coming from? I'd felt something like this earlier, but I couldn't make sense of one from the other..." Then he noticed Isabella and the confusion she just may be having at this talk. Taking out his gun he showed it to her, the pistol brimmed with suppressed energies, that emanated from the weapon in wisps of shadowy, crimson hues. "This is the Silver Moon, I use it to shoot my targets, and when it comes down to melee attacks, I use the Rebelus. I'm a hunter, and these are some of the many arms I posses to take out the monsters that go bump in the night." There was a hint of amusement in his serious tone, like it was starting to become more enjoyable to him, killing the sonuvabitches that only wanted to kill innocent lives, what a nuisance, and in a sense he could say it was exciting. Would he admit it? Probably not to Isabella.

Billie clarified for her, "Basically this is just an everyday norm for him, although his first time riding the front seat, I can't say I'm not surprised you've managed well for a novice. He's a few of the hunters scattered across this world, there aren't many of them as you can see, their jobs are a tough one, they're entitled to rid the world of spirits or other malignant entities that defile the natural order or balance of the world. Trust me, it's not a career path most sane people would follow. You gotta have guts for this and a whole lot of will power to keep trekking forward and do what you do best. As I've said before, just waking up in the morning to put yourself out there and do work that puts your soul at risk is a beautiful thing, call me crazy but I think that's what it means to be alive... At least I always believed this, but I can't say I'm alive anymore huh, I quit, I'm just sitting on the sidelines, watching this one take the guns and ride the hot seat. Makes me proud of him, what he's grown up to be." Billie sighed, almost longingly, but it only made sense for him to retire and lay down the gun, things weren't like they used to be, the fiends now were not the types they used to be, and he didn't have the strength needed to handle it. The pressures and agony that came with this business, not to mention the losses. Some meetings were destined for heartbreak and he expected that this was an aspect of the hunter's life Dean had yet to experience. "And no Dean, I don't know where that build up of supernatural aura is coming from, what am I a freakin supernatural GPS?" Then he explained what they were talking about to Isabella to keep her up to speed, "What he means is that, somewhere in the town, a Hell Gate's been brought up, someone must have found a way to create a portal from this world and the demon world, or underworld or hell, whatever you want to nick name it, and evil spirits are both pooling out of that door and gathering around the place, even more attracted to it if its already filled with bad vibes, which would in turn make it more powerful, attracting more evil spirits, a hot spot of terrible you don't want to find yourself in unarmed. That's why he brought you here, to keep you safe obviously."

Dean crossed his arms, "Alright I guess I'll have to find it by searching, but at this rate I doubt it wouldn't be too difficult, and don't speak so highly of me yet if I haven't even gotten to bigger game or done anything worth being proud of, when I'm done with this, you better have a pie waiting for me here. And keep and eye on her, she can get a little slippery. Make random visits to the cemetery. " Dean warned the old timer who wasn't at all as useless as he thought he was, and this was a topic that he'd bring up later, right now he needed the man to keep it together and use some hunting know-how to keep her safe. He was all Dean had left, and he wasn't about to accept defeat. Not from anyone, and as he stood he instructed Isabella to learn some defensive techniques, especially how to handle a gun. "You have guts and I know all this seems like utter crap to you but you have to trust me, you are NOT safe outside that door, if you don't want me going crazy worrying about you please listen to me, and wait for me here. Will you do that for me Isabella?" He gave her a serious look, laced with deep concern and a fiery passion in his eyes that could draw in even the coldest of hearts. He liked her, and he wanted a chance to know her a bit even if he'd never see her again when all this was over. She was a friend? Not too sure what to call it, he was at a loss, never had he been interested in forming something akin to friendship with anyone outside the family.

A surprising first it was. Maybe even something he may come to soon regret, because as his father once told him, "Once you become a hunter, your life is never the same, guys like us, we don't have a home, we don't get a family, and all our friends that stick around most end up dying. It's best to keep on walking forward, alone. That way you won't hesitate in action, get the job done without the casualties of friends trailing behind you."

That memory was all too fresh in his mind and he averted his gaze with a heavy heart, would she be in greater danger because she was with him instead of Lorenzo who was undoubtedly another vampire tethered to her? Maybe, yet he was the only one that stood between her and a horde of ravenous demons waiting in line to eat her up. So for now he'd take his chances and do his best to protect her as best as he could. Another death was undesirable to him and as long as he was alive and kicking, he wasn't gonna let anyone hurt her anymore. What Selene did to her was a wake-up call, a very cruel one at most and a lesson to take this more seriously.

♕ ♕ ♕

"So the little fox escaped, that's no problem I can deal with you then. Tell me, LeVian, why didn't you keep her under control, has she become a liability to you?" Aleksei asked striking Micheal in a heart beat, having no concern in trying to track the girl whom he knew all along was on his team from the get go. He had heard his love when he'd left and she was clear on her words, she would never forgive him if he killed her friends, and that was not a wrath he wanted to face. So he resorted to keeping his mind off the anger he felt toward the woman that dared to harm his other love so brutally. Take it out on Michael whom was already familiar with his quirks and habits and may even be already realizing what was transpiring before him. They were very close friends and his only confidante, so killing the man was an act he wouldn't be able to bring himself to do anyways.

◙ ◙ ◙

"So you're his new lackey huh? Salvatore's taken an interest in you, having me fetch for you even though you're a vampire now. He's sure changed, let's hope you're good at what you do, or I just may be giving you the vote off the island." Veratos expressed as she sprinted through the woods with the huntress following after. As they passed the streets, Veratos picked up the malignant auras increasingly thickening in the atmosphere, coming from the direction of the school. Most undeniably the source of all that evil energies, a massive psychic feedback loop of more evil spirits gathering toward the hot spot. She knew well that bad vibes always had an outside source. One that needed to be put down pronto.

"This is gonna be one hell of a mission for him, let's hope he doesn't screw up. Are you game Morrigan? This isn't an odd job for a simple hunter, now that you're a vampire I think you know what that means."

They continued to Jenkin's auto shop where they were to meet up with Dean, shortly after they were to jump on this case, the quicker they got to it, the sooner she could have some alone time with the amnesiac hunter. She was beginning to wonder if there were a possible way to jog his memories, and have them come to him faster. Having to wait was annoying and no fun.

"Yup, they're sketchy as hell. I have to stop them."

Veratos let out as she zoomed in on the school, a bomb of dark energy that if it went off would wipe town off the map. Couldn't risk it.

Nearing the school, she reached for both of her blades, pulling them out in a swift motion ready to strike it through a demon's head. At Selene's quip she chuckled, "I think that lunatic inbred is up to something, I'm pretty sure he's aware of the situation but has decided that we're enough to handle it, which would explain why he isn't jumping in to join us on this field trip! But hey why complain? More for us to slay!"

The huntress soared above the morning sky, landing upon the roof.

Just below, a girl— Lyra, hesitating before the school entrance, probably gripped by fear. That was normal, for a human, however what most people would feel as fear, she felt an adrenaline rush, similar to riding a roller coaster. This was something she looked forward to almost every day, all to keep the balance.

"Good Holmes, you cover the top, I'll clear out the bottom," Dean said as he zipped down, alighting to the ground, he swung Rebellus.It's supernatural energies erupted in crimson and ebony light. He raced passed the frozen medium with her ghost companion. "Hey don't just stand there, if you wanna get paid you gotta do something."

That was enough to snap her back to reality.

Glancing up to the still air-born Selene he called out to her, "You take the upper floors, make sure you get them all, and if you find the Hell Gate signal me—don't die!"

With that said, he sent a powerful kick at the double doors, bursting them off its hinges before blasting in with a swing at a bunch of demons that quickly sprang toward him upon his entrance.

And was hit by a wave of awful decay, it made him falter, "Shit, this reeks." He coughed and covered his nose with the sleeve of his jacket while wieding his blade single-handed. Taking out as much as he could. Then he continued down the corridor, aiming Silver Moon at his targets.

The shots burst every demon it struck into black, foggy smoke.

Others attacked weaker demons to absorb their energies. Awesome. Lesser demons tried to flee only to strike at an invisible force some kind of barrier. Who set that up?

And up ahead, a figure emerged amidst the chaos.

"Ah, the son of Adacio has graced us with his presence, it was about damn time." Ms Calanthe Calisen, the chair lady of Rosen Hale. She was decked out in a leather coat, looking like a Matrix chick herself. She held a giant machine gun, and a devilish smirk on her face. "So far the others have kept the groups of 'em at bay, but with the morning coming on I doubt they'll be able to keep up at it. The portal was set up in the Gymnasium by a student, who is surely not graduating. Not from my school. I got this here, Salvatore, go and get rid of that portal now!"

"I'm on it!" Dean said, not taking any more seconds to ask her how she knew that about him, he hadn't even know that about himself, in any case he knew that he would find out the truth soon enough. He knew his father's name was James Salvatore, who was this Adacio guy? Breaking the locked Gym doors down he was met with a wall of concentrated spiritual pressure that made it difficult to push in and walk through the doors, and yet, at the same time he felt every cell in his body attracted to the source. How freaky? The blade in his hand pulsed like crazy, its glow brightening at sensing the high spirit energies. Gritting his teeth, Dean stepped forward, forcing himself further, keep going, don't give up now, keep walking!

"I will destroy this world and everyone in it!" A deep and scratchy voice announced by the demon straining to force all this power into the human body it was possessing, behind the student, there was the giant Hell Gate he's been searching for, in it was the opening that connected the physical world to Hell basically. And in order for Dean to close it, he had to tango with the culprit that sprung it open, send it right back in for it to close entirely.

"Damn, you snuck in disguised as a human, that's just sick!"Dean yelled, pointing the edge of his blade at the freshman student that looked like he was a nerd, the glasses and bow tie was a big give away. The kid was floating up in the air, his body reeled and writhed in spasms and his eyes were lurid an ugly black tinge that engulfed his eyes, even the white parts. The boy glanced down at the presence of a powerful spiritual energy below, a familiar one. "So, the Adacio legacy lives on through you, I smell his blood in you, the way you hold that sword confirms it. I've been waiting for the time we were to cross again! Now I don't have to hold back!" The boy lurched forwards, his back tearing as the real demon's form broke away from its shell, roaring loudly.

Dean smirked at the monster, "Hah, so this is what you really look like!" He was aware that the monster knew about his past too, would he be open for a little chat before they began fighting?

"Precisely, now I will end your pitiful life and eat your heart!" The big boss yelled, shooting at the hunter burst of electric-ish balls of energy that burned away at whatever it came in contact with, Dean saw it hit the wood floor and melt it away, revealing the earth underneath. Deep shit. That was a warning, not to get hit by them, so he dodged each blow as he closed in the space in between them and swung Rebelus



"Why. Don't. You. All. Disappear. Already?!"

Veratos shouted with each kill by her twin katanas, she'd managed to take out an entire army of the cretins collecting on the roof top, but she quickly realized that even if she killed them, more and more would come. That barn door needed to be closed or this little free-for-all were going to be too much for the barrier to take, it might even shatter. She knew it was the only thing up keeping most of the weaker demons inside. While the other stronger ones tried to break out, she went after them in quick precision, she wondered if Selene was holding up her own. She was just a vampire hunter, this kind of vanquishing must be an even wilder chase for her. "Hell I shouldn't be worrying, she got herself into this crap,I'm positive she'll get herself out. Dean, you better get this bastard, even if you don't remember being the Ace killer, somethings gotta give!" She brought the blades down on one of the more powerful demons, slicing in an X fashion, they disintegrated to smoke.




"Aleksei, you mean the pureblood? Who knows... You're not thinking of going out there on a man hunt now are you? Dean told you to stay here, I can't have you strolling around out there alone, you know why." Billie explained, he was back at his desk that was facing the open kitchen concept, there weren't many rooms in the place to begin with so, "What does the letter say girl? Did it reveal something useful, anything that matches my research?" He watched her warily, what if she suddenly got up and ran out? How would he be able to catch up to her then? Was leaving her here a good idea after all?

Aleksei squinted against the sunlight hiking up the sky, both him and Michael were a little breathless, him more worn out than the other, he wasn't the one wielding a weapon that hurt to touch, much less ate away at the flesh of his hand.

"There's some disturbance out there, I can feel it, like a head ache, only more annoying." He said, taking a moment to break out of the battle and notice the danger outside this. He had yet to realize Michael taking this chance to strike at him...

Selene, however confused she may have been at the sight of the onslaught of demons, was handling them quite expertly for not having seen one before. As she held her weapon expertly in her hands, she came to realize that Veratos was right about it being difficult at first, and then- it seemed to become an extension of her body, one that she controlled with expertise and precision. She aimed and fired, impaling each target through the head, though they evaporates into smog and left her to retrieve her abandoned arrows.

As she bolted through the halls, her senses pointing her in the direction of the gymnasium, she noticed a particularly voracious looking demon heading toward helpless Lyra. Upon instinct, Selene dove toward the girl and shoved her out of the way of the demon just as its powerful jaws came crashing down to the tile. She then whirled back around, aimed and let another arrow fly.

"Get out of here, medium," hissed Selene. "Unless you know of a way to seal the gate."

Then she abandoned the girl altogether, racing after Dean once she was sure the east wing was secure. Upon seeing the sunrise beaming overhead, she grew increasingly more apprehensive, all before she spotted the creature spitting fireballs at Dean. The huntress screwed her face up in horror, before taking another arrow and retrieving a small sack of blue powder from her belt. She then dipped the silver arrowhead into the powder, spit upon it, and listened for the telltale crackle and the scent of sulfur and myrr intermixing. She anchored the arrow against her cheek, aimed for the head of the beast, and let it fly.

Isabella watched Billie expectantly. She was young, he was not; older humans could not do without rest like adolescents can. Soon enough he would fall asleep, and that is when Isabella would run like hell to find this Aleksei man who splats Ty has been doing alot more than just trying to protect her. She held the paper in her fingers for a few moments when Billie inquired about it, then slid it toward him to read for himself.

"It's pretty vague," she explained. "But she mentions something about me being a reincarnation of someone and that 'the empires'-" her little fingers gestured air quotation marks as she spoke. "-have learned of my existence. There's this key, and she wants me to travel to Italy."

She held up the little gold skeleton key eye level for the man to observe. It was immaculate, as if it had never been used before. Then she furrowed her brows and tucked it away into her satchel. A sigh left her lips, feeling utterly helpless as the entire situation unfurled all around her, though she knew nothing of it.

"You know, for me being special or whatever," she continued, huffing exasperatedly. "I really don't like being left in the dark about things. I think I deserve some answers."

Her golden eyes watched him, though their expression was unreadable. Isabella had always been the curious one, and the moment Billie dozed off on the couch, she snuck out quietly. She was greeted almost immediately by Lorenzo, who shook his head as he looked over his shoulder at the automotive shop. Then he clicked his tongue, eying the satchel that hung at her hip.

"Sneaking out is not the brightest idea, amore mio," he purred, moving to block her every time she tried to pass. "Although... I can take you directly to where you want to go, at this very moment, if you wish. You need only ask."

Isabella thought it over for a moment, silently praying that Aleksei would hear her thoughts and come running to her rescue, since she couldn't even recall what his face looked like. Her dark hair waved softly around her pretty features, which had grown tired and weary from the night's events and lack of sleep.

"Can you take me to Aleksei?" she asked, noticing the man's demeanor drop considerably. Apparently, not very many people liked this guy.

"If that is what you so desire," he responded, though bitterly.

Isabella caught a glimpse of the iridescent, purplish glow that tainted the golden horizon in the direction of the school. She only hoped that her friends were safe- especially Dean, whom she still had so many questions for. Without warning, Lorenzo took Isabella by the hand, yanking her at lightspeed over treetops and buildings. She screamed with surprise, before realizing that she was soaring over Sable while draped in this very attractive man's strong arms.

"Where are you taking me?" Isabella demanded.

"You said you wanted to see Avalon," said Lorenzo impassively, dropping quickly back to earth to the girl's terror. "Your wish is my command."

A little distance away, Aleksei and Michael were tucked into the foliage, probably still quarreling about nonsense. She listened to their voices, one she could distinctly recognize as Michael's, and turned to look back at Lorenzo, whom had disappeared. She swallowed nervously before following after the sounds, hoping that she would be greeted with welcome arms, or perhaps with an open mind ready to answer her many questions.

"Aleksei?" she called out into the trees, receiving nothing but a rustling in the brush ahead of her. She took a step toward the movement, again hoping for the best, though feeling absolutely naked with nothing to defend herself should she run into trouble.

"Dean is going to hate me for this..." she muttered. "Aleksei!"

Aleksei returned his gaze to his friend who had attacked him and he frowned, he made no attempt to go after it, and instead he reached for the collar of Michael's shirt and with the frozen arm he forced his blood to shatter the ice and shoot out like a knife, quickly shaping it into a weapon to slice at him.

"..." Aleksei did not like the ice crawling onto his flesh, it was annoying but he ignored it and pulled his arm back, ripping away at the other's body, his eyes flared bright red. The rising sun light was hurting his eyes and he had to do this quick before it became unbearable.

Aleksei smirked at him, this was exactly what he wanted, for the vampire to use up his abilities on him, tire himself out, it was only a matter of time before he'd run out of juice and grow weak. When the snowflakes fell, a trick he'd seen his pal do plenty of times, he couldn't help but laugh. It was just too funny. "Do you think this can really stop me friend? I know you can do better than this!" He focused his energies within and shattered the encasing ice, manipulating the airs around him, he made the snowflakes whirl elsewhere, then he disappeared, and reappeared behind the vampire. Another attack.

"Did I?" Aleksei asked, he held up his hand to show the other the little container of blood tablets he held. He smiled wickedly.

Blue butterflies fluttered about, watching the scene unfold as both vampires attacked each other with the intentions to kill one another, or until one was left standing. Behind the light blue creatures watched Mina, she was already up and changing out of her night gown to something more suitable to go outside with. She feared for the both of them, she knew it would end terribly unless she did something. The last thing she saw before she reached for her umbrella and velvet wine cloak, as ran out of the doors of the mansion that they shared, was blood, a large volume of it spilling from Michael.

"Nooo!" She hissed, tears streaking down her cheeks as she stepped off the ground and bounded into the street. She pulled the hood over her face so that she wouldn't have to snap the umbrella open, while she ran, the thing would break as soon as she started running. Becoming a streak of deep red against the awakening town she raced down the roads in speeds that could rival a jet's and in moments she was whizzing passed fallen trunks and green blurs of the forestry that was Silver Mist, sensing both Lorenzo near and Isabella, her fear escalated as she finally arrived at the scene to find Aleksei on his knees in the dirt. Michael was gone...

"What... Did...You do?" Her voice was shaking and her arms trembled as she stopped abruptly, the world around her seemingly coming to a slow spin. Then stopping with her as she focused on him, his back facing her, his refusal to turn to him and the scary way he remained as still as a sculpture.

He never answered her, he knew she was there even before she spoke, and in another flash of movement, he felt her, the brush of warmth at the back of his neck and then her hands touched his back, making the sensations run wild in him. She may not ever know it, but the mere proximity of her gave him a strange feeling, like the kind of heat sent out from a burning fire. That was every time they were together.

His eyes fell to the earth as her hands pushed against him, then wove around his waist in a tender embrace, and her face drew closer, closer until her pink lips grazed his ear and he did everything he could not to shudder. Her touch burned through his clothes, making him gasp, she left him breathless as her lips met his ear and she kissed it. Was the pull they felt toward each other more than just innocent love? Maybe even extending beyond that, she made him experience so much, too much all at once, it sometimes frightened him.

"Why are you here?" He could hear the snarl superseding his usual soft, silken tone and he regretted its sharpness, knowing that she would never fully understand. He fought against his instinctual urge to turn and grab her, pull her closer to him, bite into her neck.

"I-I saw you attempting to kill LeVian and I thought I could do something to stop the madness," She stammered, looking down at the ground he knelt on, it was moist with the blood of Michael, the scent of it hung fresh and heavy in the air teasing her appetite. She did her best to ignore the aroma of his rich blood and in it she detected Aleksei's blood intermingling. "You didn't kill him no, I don't see any of his -" she paused, feeling his shirt beneath the coat he wore was also soaked in blood. His? She frowned, not liking this one bit, "How bad are your injuries?" She released him and crossed to the other side so that she was standing before him, his gaze was as though glued to the ground. She reached down to take the sides of his face in her palms and tilted his gaze up to meet hers. His eyes were ablaze in deep red, it scared her that he would want to meet Isabella in this fashion. "You need my blood now don't you?"

Her startled tone reminded him of just how deep in the darkness she was on almost everything he did. It saddened him to keep her apart from this side of him, even this far in their relationship, some matters were never brought to light. At least, he never gave her the opportunity to bring them out, and it was a good thing, He liked how things were now, she was okay as long as she didn't know. His fangs had budded the instant he had perceived her aura upon entering the thick forest trees. She need not guess, she already knew, it was if she always did, time and time again.

"Please tell me if you do Aleksei you're scaring me!" She blurted out, right on cue, hating this silence. He felt her tighten her grip on his head, he was leaning against her now, using her just to stay up. And she sucked in a breath, wishing she could just pull him into her and have him tear into her neck, impulsive as ever she was, but for some odd reason was holding back and in doing such she was shaking. He could see the progression of her emotions settling in the crease between her eyes, she would feel bewilderment, then livid, then fraught. She always did, and too many times before, but now even more than ever and he automatically reacted by comforting her, it became his instinctual habit to do so when she was this way in his eyes.

And even so he felt immensely guilty for wishing to comfort her and have her confide in him and yet in order to protect her as he did with Isabella, he had to cover her eyes so that she wouldn't ever see the truth. Though it all felt as though the situation were slipping from his bare hands like smoke, he couldn't grasp it anymore try as he might to fix the mess. Was this happening now? Was that the reason Isabella was closing in on them at the very moment he answered Mina's anxious plea by reaching his good hand to her shoulder, her lowering herself lovingly to allow him access to her neck and sink into her sweet decadence? And as soon as his lips melted onto her neck, both of them were powerless. The taste of her sweet blood made him dizzy. Blood drinking was both an awful thing for the normal human concept to see, of what was right and moral much less experience through force, but something precious and vital shared between the two vampires that loved each other.

The familiar warmth of her skin made him moan as he pulled her against his frame, he drank her blood almost greedily, depraving himself of her by sticking to those dreadful blood tablets had made him forget what this action felt like. As though they were one, their heartbeats matched in rhythm as he swallowed in and he closed his eyes shivering, almost ashamed for having her find him in this state. He felt so needy of her everything, her touch, her whispers, her scent, even her eyes looking back into his, He knew it wouldn't last, just like Isabella's innocence. It just may vanish as it was happening now. The closer she pressed against him, the more his stomach churned with the thrill and agony of it all.

She was there.

So attuned to that human girl he was, that he could feel her when she looked at him, it was faint, not as strong as when it was Mina's curious gaze but still just as penetrating. He feared her reaction, but it was inevitable, she needed to know the truth and he had no right to keep hiding it away from her. Isabella, I'm so sorry. He almost wanted to pull away, but Mina held on to him, knowing he wasn't yet satisfied, his wrist was regrowing bone, tendons, muscles, forming his left hand again. They were positioned in the centre of the forest, white mists and blue butterflies floated around them, the shadows of the foliage above played at their features, highlighting blindingly pieces of them, her hair, the little splatters of blood staining his dark coat, still glistening wet, her hand now caressing his cheek as if to say keep going and stop when you're well, her smile, her head bent, kissing his hair, her features though obscured by the hood, and the few pieces of golden curls that spilled down her shoulder like waves of lace.

At the sensation of the sun's strengthening rays, the pureblood girl turned her hand to grab at the umbrella hanging from her fore arm, flick it open and gently hold it up above their heads at an angle creating a much needed shade that the tree failed to provide.

The sapphire wings of these beautiful butterflies Isabella had remembered seeing as a child, in her dreams, suddenly appeared through the green gloom that was the forest. The grey was dissipating with the sun as it rose in the sky, only the dew on the grass and damp earth left in its wake. So entranced was the girl that she followed almost mindlessly these little heavenly creatures, pushing through shrubbery and low branches until she came to a small clearing. A violet hood and crimson stained individuals fell into her line of sight, immediately evoking her disregard for the butterflies and instead instilling fear.

At first, it seemed the two were kissing passionately, but at second glance she could see that this deeply injured man was sucking on the girl's neck. She was not fighting him, and instead seemed to be nursing him like an infant, stroking his hair and kissing him tenderly as though he were so. He moaned, much like an animal, and sloppy noises were distinguishable among the girl's cooing. Isabella instinctively covered her mouth, stifling the horrified scream that was threatening to erupt from her little voicebox. Her golden eyes were wide with terror; at least, that was the most reasonable word she could use to describe what she felt.

Her heart seemed to skip a beat, almost as though it had frozen as well, then sped up its eager pace. Her breaths became shaky as she took a tentative step backward, unsure if she should hide and leave them to be privately, or to stay and render aid. She could see that his hand was mangled, almost unrecognizably so, but that it was curiously piecing itself back together like the severed tail of a lizard. Isabella was undeniably curious; who were these atrocious, her beautiful monstrosities? They were dressed like two regal ancients, as though they belonged to a different time; a time that Isabella had only read about in her storybooks.

"A-Alek...Aleksei?" Isabella stammered, noticing his feral scarlet eyes had locked themselves on her retreating form.

Her tiny hand flew to the golden skeleton key that was currently chained around her neck, as though she were inquiring of his knowledge of it through some kind of charadial telepathy. Her dark hair wavered about her pretty face like smoke, though the brilliance of her topaz irises sparkled with dawn's heavy light. When Mina opened the parasol above them, something clicked in the girl's mind- they were so frightfully pale, and there was blood everywhere; now they were shielding themselves from the sunlight. Could it be...?

A quivering gasp escaped through Isabella's trembling lips. It was all she could muster with the grasp of fear around her throat, which canceled any coherent words that might try to roll from her tongue. She was completely still, her feet planted unwaveringly in the spot where she stood, gazing at the purebloods with a mixture of sheer horror and fearful curiosity, as well as an inexplicable tinge of awe. Would the man approach her? Was this really the man that her beloved grandmother had entrusted her life to?

A blue butterfly settled quietly on her shoulder, its wings gently flicking. Her heart was a wild Indian battledrum pounding against her ribcage, as if ready to burst from her chest like an angry lion. She felt her muscles tensing like springs, ready to run if one of them showed even a sign of wanting to harm her.

Aleksei's breathing slowed and he felt like putty in her arms, so safe and warm and content, he finally unhinged his fangs from her tender flesh and licked at the puncture wounds so that they'd close up. Then he looked up to meet her heavenly gaze, his eyes fading to their natural deep wine, she was smiling at him as if to say you're welcome. He momentarily looked away to glance at his fully recovered hand, but that wasn't enough to calm his racing heart as he stood up, gripped his hand into a tight fist and then stole a glance from Mina who's gaze in turn fell solemn. He lowered his hand and slipped it into his pocket.

Both purebloods turned their eyes to meet Isabella who was standing there, staring at them, her fear and pulse racing, shaken, no longer curious.

"Well, this isn't awkward at all-" Mina began to say lightly as she stepped away, only for her arm to be grasped by his strong hand, keeping her rooted to the spot next to him.

"And you're going?" He hissed at her, keeping his dusky eyes on the golden eyed beauty that was Isabella.

"Somewhere else, while you clear the air with her-" Mina hissed back trying to subtly break free from his ironlike grip, she cast the girl quick smiles of reassurance while simultaneously struggling against the man that left her a dizzy, breathless and tingling all over. The butterflies fluttered about him, tugging playfully at his coat and hair for him to release her.

"..." A tired sigh escaped him and he looked sleepy as he tore his gaze from Isabella with much difficulty to peer at his beloved, "Unfortunately you're just as apart of this as I am. I didn't want to have to drag you into my affairs but, I'm in no condition to make friends with a girl who's so terrified as she is. At best you're much more friendlier than I am anyways and-"

She brought a finger to his lips to quiet him, though she had to go full on tippy-toes to do this, she shook her head trying hard not to laugh, he can get chatty when he was tired and this was an example of that. "I'll try my best, the reel has already been thrown in, it's really up to her to take a nip at the goods."

He loved the way she could take control of things sometimes, she was his queen and he nodded, kissing her finger and holding back on the urge to nibble.

She sparkled at him and lead him to a tree to rest for a bit, then just as fast she headed straight for Isabella, a blur of movement and then she froze a couple of feet from the human girl, looking as if she'd never moved.

"Uh... Hey. Sorry about that, bad timing, thanks to Lorenzo...Uh, I'm Mina, and that's Aleksei," she hooked her thumb over her shoulder at the pureblood that was passing out under the cool shade of the trees it was almost humorous. She spoke so softly as though she were approaching a frightened child, rather than a teen girl. Wishing to express geniality, a trait that was ingrained into her personality, and she kept smiling beautifully, she gracefully waved the butterflies away, and they shined like tiny orbs of blue light as they fluttered toward Aleksei accompanying him. She twirled her umbrella stick on her shoulders with her other hand, her cheeks coloring slightly at feeling a little shy herself. She knew who Isabella was, she resisted bowing respectfully before her, since the girl wasn't aware of her royal blood, the gesture would have been a bit too extreme on the freak scale, though she knew that nothing would top what Isabella just saw. "My apologies for that really, we have no intention of harming you or other people really, that's why we feed off each other... Uh, I know it's crazy talk, we look like a couple of freaks but please believe me when I say this, we will never hurt you Isabella." She said with permanence.

Aleksei tried to keep his gaze focused on the two girls but he kept nodding off, and the butterflies were making his efforts futile, they carried her scent and likeness in every way and the warmth emitted from them alone was making staying awake virtually impossible. So he fell into a much needed sleep and Mina's voice faded into the back ground as his consciousness slipped away.