Cassie woke up to her room pitch black. She started to panic and then quickly reached out and snapped on the light. She sighed in relief and looked at the clock and realized it's been a few hours since her and Kade walked out into the woods. Cassie flung her legs over the bed and noticed she hadn't even changed clothing. Even her mud caked shoes were still on. She kicked them off and felt bad that the white carpet and bedding was now dirty. She walked out of her room. She saw Cameron and Eva in the dining room. They stood up as soon as they saw her.

"Are you feeling well?" Eva came up and felt her head.

"Let me get you something to eat." Cameron started walking towards the kitchen.

"No, guys I'm fine, thank you. I was just really tired. Do you know where the Lord went?" Once Cassie asked if they knew were Kade was and they just stared at her blankly. They only know him as their Lord.

"He went upstairs to the study, Madam." Cassie bowed and started up the stairs and stopped.

"By the way, I'm so sorry! I don't know what exactly happened, but I forgot to take off my shoes and now there is mud. I'm so sorry." Cameron waved her apologies away and the girls walked off towards Cassie's room. Cassie walked upstairs and opened the door to Kade's study. Both of the men watched her walk in. She looked over at the other man in shock.

"Cassandra, this is my arrogant, tyranny of a brother, Michael." Cassie laughed.

"And how is that different from you, Kade." Michael laughed and Cassie stared at him and thought very hard. Michael grabbed his head and grunted in pain. He attempted to stand up and then doubled over.

"Cassandra, enough." Cassie broke her stare and looked over at Kade. Michael stood up glared at her. He ran at her and Kade slammed him against the wall. "I said 'off-limits'."

"She needs a lesson taught." Michael pushed him off.

"That is my call, not yours, brother." Michael walked back and sat back on the couch against one wall. Kade went back to the chair behind his desk and sat.

"I just came upstairs to check in. I will leave you to your business." Cassie turned around and walked towards the door.

"Sit, Cassandra. You may listen into this conversation." Cassie knew enough by his tone that it was more than just an offer. She sighed and sat on the other edge of the couch by Michael. He gave her a wolfish grin and she ignored him and instead checked out her hands.

"Michael was just saying that the vampire community is lashing out more and more. Dead humans are practically littering the streets." Cassie looked at Kade.

"What will you do?" Michael scoffed.

"Aren't you supposed to be able to put them all in their place, dear Cassie?" Cassie looked at Michael and glared at him.

"Dear Mike," Michael scowled, "my powers are enough to pop your brain like a zit, not a world full of you."

"No, but in a year you should be able to start instilling fear into them. Michael, do me a favor, brother. Start telling all those that you know that there shall be a meeting in one year's time there will be a meeting at the Coliseum. All are to attend or shall lose their lives along with their spawn." Cassie was saddened to hear such a threat but kept her mouth shut. Michael smiled.

"Of course. But I must get going now, I have a meeting at a club." Michael stood up. He grabbed Cassie's hand and kissed the back of it. "Pleasure meeting you, Cassandra. Perhaps we can be more civil towards each other next time we meet."

"Perhaps." Michael laughed and then excused himself. Cassie watched the study door close behind him and then looked at Kade.

"We will need to work harder, Cassandra." Cassie was shocked.

"Harder? How so? I can only gain so much ability at a time." Cassie watched as Kade thought for a moment. Cassie sat silently and stared at her hands as she let Kade think about how he wanted to accomplish things.

"We will push you past your limit from now on." Cassie blinked and stood up and walked towards the door. "Do you have something you would like to say out in the open, instead of just thinking?"

"I told you not to be in my head." Cassie turned and glared at him. "As long as you are confident that I won't lose control once I hit my limit, then no I do not have anything I would like to say."

Cassie grabbed the door handle and opened the door. The handle was ripped out of her hand and slammed shut and she was pinned against the wall. Cassie closed her eyes to keep her calm. When she opened them he was staring at her. She was shocked to see it wasn't anger, but sincerity.

"You will not lose control. I will help you." Cassie stared up at him and felt herself blush. She pushed him back and walked out the door, closing it softly behind her. She felt a little dizzy so she made her way carefully down the stairs and then changed, crawling into bed. For the first time in awhile, she thought of how much she missed Kris holding her at night. She fell asleep and dreamed of Aiden and Kris.

Cassie woke up the next morning early. She got out of bed and dressed again in thick clothing. She walked out and ate a quick breakfast and went outside. She still wasn't technically allowed to go outside without Kade still, but if he was going to require her to push her limits, then she might as well try more often. Cassie breathed deeply as she took a few steps into the woods. She didn't want to be attacked like yesterday. She made her field and then started to extend it more past her body. She continued to extend it when she ran out of room. She started to sweat as it pressed against the trees, making them bend out of the way. Cassie continued to push. She shrunk her field to fit right along to a few centimeters from her skin.

Cassie took in a deep breath and felt herself slowly draining. She looked down at the ground and saw a small rock. She stared at it until it was covered by the same force field. She laughed at her achievement. After that, she easily made it levitate and move. She dropped the rock and concentrated on the ground. She made a plate out of the force field. She stepped on it and suddenly was able to make herself rise to the treetops. She got to the top of the trees and felt her energy drain since she was exerting a lot more than she was used to. Her eyes started to flutter close and she felt herself falling.