Planning a wedding wasn't as hard as Adelina had believed. Growing up Adelina had always wanted a simple wedding, outside in the beautiful forest that had surrounded her childhood home. Her heart stung at the memories of Tessa and her discussing their weddings as children. Tessa had always wanted a big wedding with the biggest dress that could be made. The two of them had giggled as they had picked out boys for Tessa to marry in the village. 

What had changed between the two of them? Adelina thought. "When did Tessa start to hate me?" She whispered to herself. 

"Did you say something?" Madeline asked as entered the room. 

"Just talking to myself." 

"What do you think of the dress?"

Adelina starred at herself in disbelief at herself in the mirror.  Intricate lace hugged the bodice and flowed down past her waist to the floor. 

"It's beautiful." The lace flowed around her as she spun in a circle. "I've never seen a dress quite like it."

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" 

"I'm nervous and excited all at the same time. This is a new beginning for me."

Madeline approached Adelina, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Adelina sighs, "I don't know. I'm happy, but it's bittersweet. I used to imagine my wedding as a kid. Tess and I would talk about it for hours and she was also a big part of it. My entire family was always a big part of it. This is not how I pictured my wedding or my life. My family is dead and my own sister turned into something unrecognizable. Where did it all go wrong, Madeline? When did things change so much?"

"I don't know, Adelina. I wish I did, but all we can do is move forward. I'm not saying you should ever forget what happened because I know it'll be a part of you forever, but try to not let the bad tear down the good. You love Folke don't you?"

"More than I realized was possible."

"Allow yourself to be happy then. You can't let guilt eat you alive. You deserve this happiness and don't you think it's what your family would want? You have to let go of the past Adelina."

"I know Madeline." Adeline smiled. "You are right, but it's just hard."

"Talk to Folke about this too. You can't keep it all inside and let it eat you alive. He can help you heal.  You know I'm always here for you too. I'll be here when you need someone to talk to."

"I know." Tears brimmed in Adelina's eyes as she pulled Madeline into a tight hug. "Thank you, Madeline, for everything. You guys have done a lot for me. You took me in when I had nowhere else to go. You guys saved my life. You could have left me there but you all took me in. " 

"We would have never left you there. And besides, you were there with Aaron. You helped him get through that."

"I'm pretty sure you have that backward."

"Okay, so you helped each other. Doesn't change the fact that you're family now."

"I'm so grateful to have you all in my life." 

"Enough of this mushy talk!" Madeline exclaimed. "Let's get this dress finished. You have a big day tomorrow and we don't want your eyes to be all swollen and puffy. So dry those tears and let's focus on happy things."

Adelina hugged Madeline tight before turning to towards the mirror.

"It's really happening!" Adelina giggled. 

"Folke's outside waiting for you. Better get changed."

"It's still weird to me that you can contact each other that way."

"I'm sure you'll get used to it now that you'll be married to one of our kind." Madeline winked and strolled out of the room.

Adelina pulled the dress off with care and placed it on the hanger. "I'll be seeing you tomorrow." She whispered to the dress. 

Adelina had a smile plastered on her face as she opened the door and saw Folke standing on the porch, his back facing her. She lept at him and wrapped her arms around his chest. He chuckled as he twisted and pulled her tighter into his arms. She buried her head deep into his chest and inhaled. He smelled like a warm spring breeze. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on the top of her forehead.

"Tomorrow," she said.

"Tomorrow." He repeated. He grabbed her hand and began to lead her away from the house.

"Where we going? You're not going to make me train the day before we get married are you?"

His smile widened and his blue eyes shone down on her "No, I'm not that cruel am I? I just wanted to spend some time with you." 

"We're going to be spending every day together. Soon you're going to be tired of me." Adelina teased.

"I'll never get tired of you." 

They weaved in and out of the trees, hand in hand.

"There are things you don't know about me, Adelina. Things I have a hard time sharing because I've buried it down deep inside for so long."  He confessed as they made their way deeper into the woods. Finally, Folke stopped by the pond that the two often visited. "I want to be open and honest with you. I don't want any secrets between us.  It's hard for me, though, because I've never opened up to anyone. I've never loved anyone the way I love you." He cupped her face and ran his finger along her cheek. "But I need you to understand." Folke stepped away and leaned his frame against a large tree. "I lay awake most nights." He stared into the sky. "I think about what it would feel like to kill each and every one of them. I think about their blood running down my fangs. I want to rip them open and tear them inside out. I need you to understand that I yearn for their destruction."  

"Folke..."She grabbed his arm.

"Adelina, I need you to understand that when we do attack them I will not hesitate to kill them all. I know you have a soft heart when it comes to these things. I don't think you're capable of harming a fly. I know you think you can do whatever it takes to get your family back, but you always try to see the good in people. These evil creatures have no good in them." Folke moved closer to Adelina pulling her into his arms. "I've seen the things they've done to others. They tore my family apart. Left me an angry little orphan. Before you truly decide that you're going to fight alongside the pack, I need you to be prepared. You cannot try to stop me. As much as I love you, I will not stop until they are all dead. I would have killed them all the night we rescued you and Aaron had our focus not been on the both of you." His eyes burned with anger.

"I've seen the things they are capable of too. The things they did to my family, the way they turned my own sister against me. I watched her blood spill and the life fade when they took her from me. The thing is, though, she wanted me dead. She hated me with a passion. I have no idea what I did to make her despise me so much and to be honest I had come to hate her. She killed a boy I loved. Even though Daniel did the things he did, he didn't deserve to be slaughtered. But neither did Tessa. I guess my point is, when will this all end? Will we ever know peace, Folke? I want to build a life with you. But will we ever be able to? And what if things don't go according to the plan? What if the vampires keep coming at us? What if we don't rescue my mom and dad...what if they are already dead? So many what if's, I feel like I'm suffocating in the possibilities. "

"I will do everything in my power to rescue your family, I promise you that."

"I know you will, but at what cost? I know you want revenge. I want revenge too, but is that what we need?" 

"They won't stop hurting people, Adelina. They will never stop. This is the only way I can take care of you. This is the only way they will leave us alone. I will always do everything in my power to take care of you. The only way to keep you safe is to destroy their entire kind. The vampires and the demons must be taken care of." 

"There is no talking you out of any of this is there?" 

"No. I need this. In order to protect you and our life together, I need to do this." 

"What if something happens to you?"

"Something could happen regardless if I stay or go. We will never be safe as long as they are alive. They'll never stop looking for you. I think deep down you can feel the truth."

"Sometimes I hear Asmund's voice in my dreams. He whispers my name." Adelina stared distantly into the pond.

"Why haven't you told me about this?"

"I'm scared if I admit that it's real it'll become real. I'm scared I'll wake up and this will all be a distant dream and I'll still be in their clasp. I'm just scared. "

"We are in this together." 

"I know Folke. I know." 

Folke grabbed Adelina and squeezed as tears began to stream down her pale face. Her knees buckled as she fell deeper into his grasp. "It's okay." He whispered into her hair holding her tighter. "We'll get through this." 

The light faded as the cicadas began their nightly orchestra. The fog rolled in over the pond as a chill sank into the air.

"I never want to let you go." Folke's voice echoed over the pond.

"Soon we won't have to seperate again."

"I can't wait." 

Folke began to lead Adelina back into the woods and soon the old wooden cabin came into view. 

"I don't know if I'll ever be able to find my way through the forest as well as you."

"Maybe not, but I'll always be there to guide you."

"I guess this is where we say goodnight." Adelina reached for the handle of the door. 

"Till tomorrow." Folke grabbed her soft hand and placed a delicate kiss on the back. "I can't wait."

The door banged as it shut and Adelina leaned against, her heart pounded against her chest. "Till tomorrow."

Dinner passed quickly as Adelina nibbled at the food, her stomach doing somersaults. She took a brisk shower and crawled into bed. After a long fight, her body won the fight against her mind and drifted deep into sleep.

"Why are you doing this me, Adelina. You knew I loved you."

"I didn't belong to you, Asmund. You have to let me go."  The shadows began to dance around in the darkness that surrounded her.

"You will always belong to me..to us. You are ours and we will find you." 

"Why are you doing this to me? Why can't you just let me be free?" Adelina shook as a shadow began to dance around her body in the dark. 

"You will not get away from me." Asmunds voice boomed. Adelina screamed as his dark face appeared  out of the darkness. "I'm coming for you Adelina. I'll find you." He purred into her ear as he grabbed her shoulders yanking her close to him. "And when I do I'll  never let you go again."

Adelina shot up in bed, a spark shooting through her body. The sheets stuck to her body as sweat dripped down her brow. Her body shook uncrontollably as pain spread through her veins, little jolts of electricity. She threw the covers away from her body and made her way into the bathroom. Every step she took felt heavier than the last. Making her way to the sink, she turned the faucet and put her hands into the cold water. She splashed some water onto her face and looked in the mirror. Her complexion was paler than normal her eyes bloodshot red and she could see that her body was quivering.

"It was only just a dream." She reminded herself. 

Her body still shook as she made her way back to the room and sat at the window that overlooked the forest. The sun was breaking through the sky. Adelina laid her head against the cool glass and watched the sun rise up into the sky. 

She soon made her way down to the kitchen. A piece of  paper sat on the island with a muffin in front of it.

I had a few last minute decorations to handle. I made muffins last night before bed as I figured they'd be light on your stomach. I'll be back soon to help you get ready.

-Madeline.

A smile broke across her face. Madeline had been so good to her. Adelina  lifted the muffin to her mouth and nibbled at it slowly. Her stomach felt like it was doing  flips.. As she finished the muffin a loud knock sounded at the door causing Adelina to jump. She made her way through the kitchen and to the entryway as another knock came. She peered with care out into the front porch seeing that it was a few of the villagers. As she opened the door she noticed the look of panic on the man and woman's face.

"What's going on?"

"It's Folke." He stammered his brow was deep in a crease. "He's been injured bad."

Her heart fell in her chest. "Where is he?"

"He's in the woods. We've called one of the healers but he wanted us to come to let you know too."

"Can you take me to him?" She said as she grabbed a pair of boots and a jacket that laid behind the door.

"Are you sure you don't want to get dressed first?" The woman frowned as she looked up and down at Adelina. "It's a cold mornin'." She spoke up.

"Please just take me to him." She said as she slipped the heavy jacket over her nightgown. "Please.." She begged.

The man and woman exchanged a glance before they nodded and made their way into the tree line. 

"Keep up." The man said he picked up pace and began to sprint..

Adelina felt the wind flow throw her light nightgown. Her legs pricked and stung each time she picked them up. The over sized boots dug deep into her feet. As adrenaline coursed through her veins her body began to numb as she focused all her energy on getting to Folke. They weaved in and out of the trees dodging limbs  that laid across the forest floor.

"What happened to him?" She huffed.

"Aaron and him were testing out some explosives. One went off too soon."

Adelina's stomach churned and bile shot up into her throat. 

"He's hurt really bad." The man's voice was urgent and they all began to pick up the pace.

Adelina coughed and huffed as her lungs burned. Her vision swam as she tried to catch her breath and wheezed for air. Soon the man and woman slowed as a large valley came into her view. Adelina gasped as her lungs forced air into them.

"Where...is he?"

"Where is who, sweetheart?" A familiar voice sounded from behind. 

Blackness began to the sides of her vision. She knew that voice. That voice she never wanted to hear again. That voice that came to her only in dreams.

"Asmund." 

"You miss me, my love?" He said as he stepped out from behind a tree.

"What have you done?"Adelina turned to the man and woman who stood closely to the edge of the forest. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" She screamed at them.

"They've reunited us my love. And I'm never letting you go again."