Clumsy hands clutch at my arms, yanking me off the floor. Two different sets of fingers digging into me through my sweatshirt, pressing into my already bruised skin. I scream, but the gag in my mouth swallows my desperate cries for help. My heart pounds in my chest, my mind blanking over with fear as I thrash against their violent grip.

  I twist, trying to catch a glimpse of my captors, but they still me in their harsh embrace. I don't know where these people came from, appearing out of nowhere at a snap of a finger. The lady stands at me feet, her lips twisting up with amusement as she watches my attempts.

  Leo stands by her side, watching everything with a completely emotionless face. I catch his eye, silently pleading that he will do something. To stop whatever is about to happen. He stares back, a slow smirk spreading across his lips.

  My heart drops, my eyes widening in disbelief as any hope I was clinging to is ripped away. Why is he doing this?

  "Bring her to the alter," the woman demands, turning away from me and walking down the aisle. "You know what to do with her," she calls back with a wave of her hand.

  "Absolutely," Leo answers, following my every movement with his steady eyes.

  I dig my heels in, ignoring the shooting pain in my legs as I struggle to fight against the forceful hands. We pass row after row of pews, leading to the head of the church. Dread fills me with each passing moment, my mind buzzing with panic. Wherever they are bringing me, I know this can't be good.

   I whip my body back and forth, shifting my weight around in attempts to dislodge myself. Savage, unrecognizable sounds escape my throat as I use whatever strength I can muster. I even manage to make contact with one of them, but it doesn't even earn me a grunt in response. They seem to take no notice to my antics, dragging me across the polished floor with ease.

  What is with these guys!

  A curse escapes me as a staggering pain shoots through my lower back, making my already tired legs weak. The blunt edge stabbing into my skin with such an unexpected force, it momentarily dazes me. I collapse into the rough hands, the fight knocked out of me. My handlers do not hesitate, not caring as another cry rips from me as the proceed to drag my body against the biting edge.

  I sigh with relief as I finally come to a halt on top of a hard surface. My head falling back on it with a loud thump, making me cringe and curse once more. My bruised flesh screams with discomfort, a constant reminder of the ordeal I am in.

  I flinch away as I finally get a brief glimpse of one of my captors. Wrinkles decorate his aged skin, showing evidence of his years of laughter. He looks lost now however, his former self forgotten. His large, pale head looms above me, looking down upon my face with an empty expression. His usual shining gray eyes now clouded and unfocused. The friendly smile banished from his thin, pink lips that now sit limply, slightly parted.

  Pastor Habel?

  I scream against the cloth in my mouth, begging him to help me. Pleading for him to understand my distorted words. He doesn't even blink at my distress. Without a sign of remorse, he steps away, leaving my sight.

  Tears well in my eyes, threatening to spill over with despair. What is he doing here? Why is he doing this to me?

  "Off with you!" Leo bellows as he steps into my view, waiving his arm dismissively at the priest and his unseen accomplice.

  My heart sinks at the thought of being left alone with this man, this person who betrayed me. I cry out, desperate for the priest to come back for me. I twist my head, arching my body as I try to contort myself into allowing me to see where they walked off to. They are gone, any chance of pleading with them for help disappearing with them.

  "Careful now," Leo advises, my stomach twisting at the mock kindness in his voice, "we wouldn't want you to fall off now, would we?"

  Without giving me a moment to comprehend his words he lunges forward, his fingers digging into my shoulder as he roughly grabs me. Before I have a chance to react, he jerks my body forward, pushing me onto my side.

  I yelp as I find myself teetering on the edge of a long wooden table, staying balanced only by the steady hold that Leo has on me. My eyes widen as I stare down at the floor a few feet below me, threatening to catch me with its hard embrace. I know that it wouldn't kill me if I fell, but my heart still pounds fiercely at the possibility.

  Chills run through me as I feel the cold caress of metal against the sensitive skin of my forearm. Every nerve on end as I wait for the bite of the blade I am sure is to come. The sound of something ripping echoes in my ears, my mind becoming muddled as I try to understand what is happening.

  I falter, gasping as the harsh pressure on my wrists are suddenly removed. A bubble rises in my chest, a flash of hope that I didn't know existed. This is it, I have to fight!

  I tense to make my move, but Leo must have felt it. He twists my right arm, pain shooting from my wrist through my shoulder. He jerks me towards him, pulling me onto my back and successfully trapping my other arm under my body. I pull against him, fighting through the burn of my aching muscles and the stinging of my wrist.

  He chuckles, a low rumbling in his throat as he easily overcomes my weak attempts. He yanks at my arm, forcing it against the table. I groan in misery as the all too familiar scratchy embrace of the rope returns around my wrist once more. He tugs at the bind, ensuring that I am stuck where he wants me.

  All strength ebbs away from me, the hopelessness of my situation clawing at me. Everything hurts, my body and soul both wishing to weep. What have I done to deserve this?

  No, I can't give up. I have to get out of here. I have to at least survive a little longer. They have to have realized I am gone by now. They won't abandon me. Damon won't leave me here!

  Taking a deep breath, as deep as I can consider the circumstances, I level Leo with a hard stare. He walks around me, easily moving me as he wishes even as I fight against him. All too soon I am bound to the table, both my hands and feet quickly growing numb against the too tight restraints. I narrow my eyes at one of the few people I had considered to be my friend. My confusion and pain all fusing together to power my glare. Leo glances down at me, his lip twitching up into a crooked grin before leaning in close to me.

  "Let's take this off," Leo whispers harshly next to my ear, his breath against my cheek making my skin crawl. With one violent tug, the gag is ripped from my mouth, falling forgotten on the floor. "Now, I can hear you beg."

  Beg? What is he planning?

  No, I refuse to give him that. I work my stiff jaw, cringing as I feel it pop into place when I am finally able to close it. I force my breathing to remain steady, not allowing the pain to show on my face as I fight back the panic that is building in my heart.

  I try to speak, but my dry mouth refuses to cooperate. A wheezing croak is all I am able to manage before I burst into a coughing fit, each violent cough scorching my soar throat. Leo chuckles, shaking his head at me as if I'm only making a fool out of myself.

  I silently curse at him, wishing I was able to lash out. Unable to do more, I narrow my eyes at him, my determination only growing stronger as I watch his smug expression. I close my mouth, moving my tongue around in hopes of wetting my aching throat.

  "Why are you doing this?" I demand in a harsh whisper, catching him by surprise.

  "Well," he raises an eyebrow at me, his crooked grin never faltering, "that wasn't what I was hoping for."

  "I thought we were friends!" I spit my words out at him, hating the way my voice cracks.

  "Friends?" he sneers, pulling the ropes tighter on my already bleeding wrist. "I couldn't stand you."

  I bite my lip, but am unable to hold in the cry of pain that escapes me. It echoes in the empty church, my voice no longer hindered by fabric. Leo peers down on me, his grin widening at my discomfort.

  "We trusted you," I groan, fighting back the tears that well in my eyes.

  "You were so easy," He snickers, turning his back to me, "so desperate for people to like you that I could have done anything."

  I turn my head to watch him, my heart racing as his body blocks my view of what he is doing. My stomach sinks as my eyes land upon a second table set up on the other side of him. Light glints off of metallic bowls and daggers, innocently left laying as if they were harmless. Different dried herbs are bundled together beside jars of unknown liquids, their intentions a mystery. My worried mind conjures up movie scenes of demonic worship, making my body break out in a cold sweat.

   "Spew some bullshit sob story, and you were putty in my hands," Leo finishes, not taking notice of my reaction.

  I clench my jaw, my stomach twisting with a rage I've never experienced before. I hate him, I hate him more than I have ever hated anyone in my entire life. More than that though, I hate how his words still manage to make my heart ache.

  "Yet," he continues, digging through something I can't see as he talks, "I couldn't get you to fall for me. I thought I had you, I played it all so well. But, I guess I was too late. That vamp already had you wrapped around his dead finger."

  I freeze, my heart skipping a beat as his words hit me. Wait, what did he say?

  "Oh yes," he taunts, glancing back at me with his cocky smile, "I know they are vampires. I know a lot more than you think. More than you do, certainly"

  My mind buzzes with dreadful possibilities. How does he know about them? Has he been watching me? What don't I know?

  "More trouble than they are worth," he mumbles more to himself now, not paying me much attention. "I was hoping we would be able to nab you right under their nose, wouldn't that have been fun? Watch them scramble to find you, only to come up empty handed. Hell, I might have even continued pretending to be Zeke's friend, just to watch it all."

  "What happened?" I ask, trying to keep him talking as I yank desperately at my ropes.

  My legs budge ever so slightly, the binds not being tied as tightly as my wrists. I kick my legs as quietly as possible, putting pressure on the ropes. Each movement giving me confidence as they slowly loosen against my struggles. Now, if only I can get a hand free, then maybe I can make a run for it while he is distracted.

  "The brain dead moron messed it all up," he curses, his shoulders tensing as he continues his work. "Moved to early, and went for the wrong girl all together! Stupid plan, she's not as strong as she used to be," He grumbles as he rips off bits of herbs.

  "Will you stop your jabbering!" the woman shrieks from across the room, making my entire body tense. "Why isn't she gagged?"

  He turns back to me with a roll of his eyes. I stop my fidgeting, but he doesn't seem to really be watching me. He concentrates on the dark stone mortar and pestle that he is using to grind something together.

  "If you don't like her, then why work with her?" I whisper, grasping at any hope of a way out. "I've seen the way she talks to you, even hitting you. That's not right! If you untie me, we can get away from her together."

  "Good try," He chuckles, pausing his work with the herbs just long enough to smirk down at me. "It's not about liking someone, it's about getting what you need."

  "And what do you need?" I ask, praying it's something I will be able to offer.

  "Power, baby," He grins, his eyes sparkling with greed. "I help her, she gives me what I want."

  "It can't be worth it," I breathe, imploring him to agree with me.

  "What?" He looks up with a raised eyebrow, his lips tugging up even more with amusement. "You think this is hard for me?"

  He dips two fingers into the mixture he was creating, scooping up greenish goo onto them. He steps forward, chuckling to himself as I cringe away.

  "This is easy," he cooes, rubbing the slimy mixture across my forehead. I tremble with disgust at the contact, everything in me wishing to scream and run away. "In fact," he continues, "the only way it would have been easier for me is if you would have ran away voluntarily. Hell, maybe that way your friends would have gotten out of this alive."

  My heart stop, my blood running cold as his words echo in my mind. What does that mean? Are they in danger? Are they already....

  "Please," I whimper, struggling to find my voice, "don't hurt them."

  "Ah," he straightens with victory, "I knew I could get you to beg."

  I ignore his taunts, caring more for those I love than my own pride.

  "You don't want to hurt anyone," I try, making a last ditch effort to find some humanity.

  "That's where you're very wrong," Leo hisses, his eyes narrowing with distaste. "I was hoping to end them last night, had it all planned out. Would have led them right here, watched them get torn to shreds."

  I struggle to breath, images of Damon lying dead haunting my mind. Terror squeezes at my heart, choking me with a violent sob. That can't happen, right?

  Wait, he said hopping. Damon can't be dead then!

  "I may not have had my fun then," Leo pauses, taking a moment to enjoy my reactions to his words, "but I sure got to have fun with him after they got back. Playing with him, making him sweat." He draws his words out, letting each one strike me like a vicious blow.

  "Do you ever shut up?" The woman screams at him from out of site.

  I hear her words, but they have no effect on me. My entire being too consumed with the thought of losing Damon, of losing all my friends. What does that mean? Was he really able to hurt them? Tears prick my eyes, falling down my cheeks unrestricted.

   "Now you, and little Zeke," he taunts, putting emphasis on the K, making me jump ever so slightly, "I've been driving myself insane playing the part of your friend. Especially after making me live through that pathetic game. It took everything in me to smile along with your annoying asses. Ugh," he sneers with disgust, "even forcing myself to flirt with you. The only thing that got me through was knowing this was coming. "

  My breath catches in my throat as he picks up the dagger from the table behind him, never taking his eyes off me. His lips twitch up at the sides as he devours my fear.

  "God, how I have wanted to just end all of you," he whispers, softly dragging the point of the blade across my cheek.

  I try to stop myself from trembling, to keep my whimpering silenced, but my nerves have betrayed me. My emotions too heightened by fear and devastation to try and put on a brave face.

  "I told you-" the woman roars as she stalks into view.

   Her sudden nearness, and the volume of her outburst making me yelp in surprise. I unintentionally jump, the sharp blade slicing through my soft skin. Neither of them take notice as a second cry escapes my lips, or my cringing away from the cool metal. Warm blood seeps from my fresh wound, overwhelming my nerves with tingling as it slowly drips down my face.

   "to shut-" she continues to shriek, emphasizing every word as she stomps to Leo's side.

  He pulls back from me, the dagger slipping from his fingers and clashing to the floor. He turns his gaze to her, his eyes widening in surprise as he takes a step back, obviously frightened as well.

  "up!" She finally finishes her sentence as she reaches for him.

  She grabs his head, swiftly twisting it to one side. His head snaps in my direction, his eyes round and terrified, his mouth open in a silent scream. A loud crack vibrates through the air, making my heart skip a beat. My body goes rigid as I watch the color fades away from his eyes, life quickly draining away from him.

  "There, now we might be able to get a little peace," the woman comments before stepping back, letting his body fall uselessly to the floor.

  A piercing scream rips from my throat, my gaze fixed on his crumpled body. Hysteria creeps into the edges of my mind, gripping my senses and wreaking havoc with my sanity.

  "Ugh, not this," the woman mumbles to herself, reaching up to rub at her temples.

  Unable to control myself, scream after scream erupts from me. All my pent up fear and pain releasing itself over the horror of another person's death.

  I know he was awful, and that he would probably have hurt me. Yet, I still am unable to accept what just happened. The way his eyes looked at me in those final moments, he seemed just as frightened as I am now. He shouldn't have died.

  My final scream catches in my throat as a low groan rumbles from below me. I fall silent, my lungs refusing to pull in air as I watch in amazement as Leo's body begins to convulse.

  "Wow, you keep managing to impress me," the woman comments softly to herself, tilting her head to consider Leo.

  She lifts her leg, carelessly nudging Leo with her foot. He tumbles, his body sprawling out as he falls to his back with a thud. I gasp, unable to comprehend what I'm seeing, but unable to look away. Leo's head twitches, the kink in his neck refusing to allow him to straighten. His mouth opens and closes, a high pitch whine emitting from him.

  I don't understand, I thought he was dead! How is he not dead?

  The same questions plays itself over and over in my mind as I continue to watch him in horror. He doesn't speak, only continues to cry as if in pain while he attempts to move. His limbs jerk around him violently, as if he has no control.

  "Well then," the woman sighs, "just another mess I need to clean up."

  I force myself to look away, squeezing my eyes shut to the world. I have seen way too much death and destruction lately. My heart thrashes against my chest, panic threatening to consume me. I struggle to catch my breath, but my lungs don't seem to be working.

   What the hell is going on with me life?

  "That's the problem with you young ones," the woman taunts, "You can never seem to put the soul back right."