I was drifting in and out of this bizarre place. The Dream-Walker had caught me riffling around his mind. Casting me into this inky blackness. Where I was now trapped inside my own mind.

'Sage... time to wake up, break free.'

The voice was familiar, but so far away. 'Hello?'

'Break free Sage, you're stronger than you think.'

Frustration welled up deep inside my mind. It felt like weeks since I'd physically moved. No concept of time. I wouldn't stay here a moment longer. I would not be held against my will.

It was time for me to wake the hell up.

Pushing all my mental effort into one thought. I was going to force my body to wake.

Seconds passed into minutes, hours I wasn't sure. But then the breakthrough I waited for came like a bullet from a gun. I moved my fingers. Oui, oui, oui!

Focusing harder. I wiggled them again. Oui!

Was the Dream-Walker's control lessening?

I pushed with everything I had inside me... and then it happened, my hand jerked.

"Sage?"

Sylar?

The sofa dipped down as he took my hand. "Sage, can you hear me? Move your hand again if you can."

I could do this. Mentally taking a breath, I wiggled my fingers. Sylar squeezed my hand.

My ears pricked as I heard someone enter the room. "Gavin, she just moved her hand."

His excitement was my encouragement. I pushed every ounce of determination into gripping his hand.

"See, she's doing it again, she's squeezing my hand!"

"Daddy, down."

Hannah was here! I could hear her sleepy voice.

"Down Daddy," she instructed. "Sage needs me."

"Okay, pumpkin." Gavin lowered his daughter.

"I think she's waking up." I heard Sylar.

Sylar released his hold on my hand and I felt a much smaller one take mine. It was warm and our connection was instant. My mind shunted as I felt the release like air being let out of a balloon.

I pried open my sticky eyelashes and hazily stared into a familiar pair of eyes. "Sylar." I breathed out. Finally!

"Jesus Sage, you had me so worried... I'm so sor—"

I swallowed to relieve the dryness of my parched throat. "Don't Sylar, this wasn't your fault." I croaked, knowing who was to blame.

Another pair of eyes greeted mine.

Hannah.

This was the first time I could put a picture to the voice that had been keeping me sane. "Hannah." I smiled at the voice that had given me hope when I thought I would never escape his clutches.

"Help me up." Sylar helped me up, and I swung my legs from the sofa. It was heaven to feel my own body, to be in control of my own mind. Although I didn't have a clue why his power had suddenly withdrawn.

Worryingly, I didn't think I broke free through sheer will.

"He's busy." Hannah interrupted my thoughts, reading my mind. "He can only control so many. And I can feel all the wolves."

That made sense. My eyes fell on Pearl. "Pearl?" My heart was in my mouth, she looked so pale, close to death.

"She's okay, Sage," Gavin reassured me. I knew she had been possessed by something. Agony ravaged my heart.

"Where's Hunter?" I tried to stand, dizziness clouded my head and my legs wobbled. Sylar caught me, sitting me back down.

"I have to remove your block," announced Hannah.

I didn't understand "What do you mean, block?"

She puzzled for a moment as if thinking of a way to explain it. "It makes you do things you don't want to."

"You mean control me?"

She nodded her head. "I can get rid of those silly words." She scrunched her face. "I don't like them."

I trusted Hannah with no hesitation. "Okay, what do I need to do?"

"Nothing." She stood in front of me and placed her small warm hands on either side of my temples. "Close your eyes." Taking a deep breath, I closed them.

Her hands became warmer—hotter, almost to the point they were becoming uncomfortable. And then I felt it. Like an immense weight had been lifted, air rushed into my lungs and my mind opened. Free was what I felt. Hannah dropped her hands, and I opened my eyes.

"Silly words. Violets bloom and roses curse. They won't work now."

"Thank you, Hannah. You're an amazing little girl." She wrapped her small arms around my neck and hugged me. I was still worried he might control me. I had seen inside his mind, how he'd 'borrowed' gifts and I had given him complete access to mine. The phrase may be gone, but his influence I feared would never leave me.

Finished, she skipped to Gavin, who looked so proud of his little girl and rightly so.

I tried to stand again but was still a little unsteady on my feet. "Steady Sage." Sylar reached for me, gripping my arm firmly. "Where's Hunter?" I repeated.

"Out in the woods. Fighting."

My stomach dropped. "I have to help him!" They didn't have a clue what the weapons they had with them were capable of.

"He's coming...coming for us," cautioned Hannah and the temperature in the room dropped.

Gavin breathed heavily. "I'm gonna get Misha here," he heaved. "Stand with Sage, Hannah."

I tried to get through to Hunter, but his mind was a whirl of images, noises, and feelings. I couldn't distract him, severing our link.

I jumped as the door burst open and there stood my grandfather.

"Ah, Sage. My dear." He walked like he owned the place. The Dream-Walker was right behind him.

Hannah's hand slipped into mine.

"Don't come any closer." Sylar positioned himself in front of us, and Gavin headed our way, flanking his left side. Being smaller than both my brother and Gavin I couldn't see. A lump formed in my throat.

"No!" My hand lifted without my control. Fighting my hand, my entire body shook as his control seeped into my mind, forcing my body to act without my consent. Sylar turned to me with confusion furrowed into his brows. "Nooo." I touched his shoulder, and he slumped to the floor.

"What the—" hissed Gavin as his eyes met mine. "Sage?" Touching his shoulder, his eyes fluttered, then sank to the floor next to Sylar. I stepped away from Hannah—afraid of what I might do to her. "Stay away from me, Hannah. He still has control over me. I don't want—"

My grandfather and the Dream-Walker walked further into the room. "Stop," yelled Hannah, holding out her small hand towards my grandfather.

His deep chuckle infused shivers. The hairs on my arms stood on end. "Little one, you don't have any influence on me." He turned his gaze on me.

"Relax Sage, my dear." He looked around the room, viewing it as his leisure. "You do realise, this is all your fault? If you hadn't run away, then none of this would have been necessary... such pointless deaths."

I froze, swallowing hard.

Their blood was on my hands?

No, I wouldn't believe that.

"Now my dear. If you do as I instruct, they will come to no harm." He pointed to Sylar and Gavin on the floor. My chest tightened.

"How dare you blame me." My anger was lit, spitting out my words. "I know what you did Grandfather, how could you... my parents...your daughter?"

The blood drained from my face. "You used me—made me kill for you." The lump in my throat expanded.

He tutted, raising a bored eyebrow. "Calm down, Sage. Once we are back home, all this will be forgotten."

I couldn't believe him.

He honestly thought he could just wipe my memories. I wasn't a child any longer. "Your days of controlling me Grandfather are done. I may leave with you today to stop you from hurting my friends...my brother." I took a deep breath. "Be warned, Grandfather. I will not be your puppet any longer."

He held my gaze for a moment before shifting his attention to Hannah. "Now, I believe you owe me a name little lady." He smiled at Hannah, but it never reached his eyes. Hannah stepped closer to me again, and I pulled her behind me. I heard Hannah's voice in my head.

'Sage, someone is stopping me from using my superpowers.'

I would have laughed at her term superpowers if the situation hadn't been so dire.

"Hannah's just a child. Leave her here. She is of no use to you." I straightened my shoulders and stood taller.

"Ah, but that's where you are wrong, my dear. And I'm afraid you don't get a choice in any of this, Sage. Now come along, you have a wedding to plan. And outside a car is waiting. I will follow shortly when I have both Stone boys oh and your mother." He smiled at Hannah.

Looking at Gavin and Sylar. I couldn't risk them being hurt and if I retaliated, he may just take Hannah and I couldn't have him take her... do to her what they did to me.

Scooping Hannah from the floor, I held her tightly and reluctantly followed.

As we came to the front entrance of the house. Peering around my grandfather, I could see a car waiting. Strangely standing outside of the car was a small boy.

Or at least I thought he was a boy as he was small. Perhaps ten years old?

The coolness of the morning air expanded in my lungs, prompting a cough. "Sage," Hannah whispered. "He's different."

"I know," I whispered.

"He's the one stopping me from using my superpowers."

Strangely, I could feel a strong vibration coming from the boy. He was gifted too. But different to me. I tried to push out my senses to see if I could find out more but was instantly blocked. With each step, my opinion of him changed.

This was no boy. I tensed and stopped.

My grandfather's deep baritone voice sent a shiver down my spine. "I advise against trying anything, Sage. I don't want to hurt you or Hannah." He issued a warning.

He knew I wouldn't risk Hannah being hurt. "Fine." Replying through gritted teeth.

I couldn't believe I had loved this man. Trusted him.

He stood to one side and gestured with his hand for us to walk ahead. My heart stalled when I heard wolves in the distance and gunshots.

But I knew getting into that car would mean everything would change.

Courage reared its head and a moment of madness gripped my senses. I wouldn't go with him without a fight. Me and Hannah were both too precious for him to hurt us. It was worth a try.

I whispered. "Be ready, Hannah, we're going to make a run for it." She squeezed me tightly. "On three."

I knew we would only have one shot and if I could get a few steps away. I could shift into my wolf...

I heard a commotion behind me. Turning, I saw Hunter bolting along the front of the house, heading directly for the Dream-Walker.

My heart swelled at the sight of him. He was safe.

This was my opportunity. "The boy," I shout out.

Misha slid from Hunter's wolf gracefully, almost in slow motion. She looked at me, puzzled. "It's not a boy. Do something—knock him out." Misha nodded and charged at him

"No!" I heard my grandfather demand.

I prayed to all that was holy that the Dream-Walker had no influence over Hunter—like I didn't.

Hunter lunged; he was massive and brutal, swift and vicious. I gripped Hannah against me, making sure her head was buried into my hair as the scream of the Dream-Walker was like music to my ears.

I couldn't take my eyes off Hunter. His fangs tore into the dream-walkers throat. Without mercy. Hunter released a macabre baying howl from his lungs as the Dream-Walkers black blood dripped from his teeth.

I'd never been so happy to witness death.

My grandfather staggered backwards. For the first time, I saw fear reflect in his dead, darkened eyes. My eyes flicked to Misha, who now held the limp body of the boy—or whatever it was.

Hannah moved her small head and turned. "Stop." She held out her small hand and my grandfather stopped in his tracks.

I heard the slamming of a car door behind me. Turning, I saw my grandfather's driver starting the car—he was making a run for it.

I let him go.

Turning back to my grandfather, I could see him trying to fight against Hannah's hold over him.

Misha placed the boy down flat on the floor. She rose and walked towards my grandfather. He was frozen, unable to move.

Hunter bounded towards me. His tongue licking across his huge canines. 'Sage baby.'

Oui! I could hear him.

He rubbed himself up against me 'Hunter.' I had never been happier to see him, running my fingers through the fur on his head.

"What do you want to do with him?" asked Misha.

'I'll be back, baby.' Hunter left my side, heading inside the house. Returning a few moments later, dressed in a pair of jeans, his chest bare.

"The wolves have stopped attacking. It seems the control ceased the moment I ended his life." As he reached me. Hannah wriggled in my arms. I set her down as she ran towards Misha, who scooped her daughter up in her arms.

Hunter pulled me into a hug, almost squeezing the life from me. The air whistled from my lungs. 'I missed you, baby, so fucking much.'

'I've missed you too.' My heart was about to detonate.

He pulled back and I placed my hand on his chest, knowing that look. Like he wanted to devour me whole. "Ah, not until you've cleaned your teeth... I don't want to taste any of that." I flicked my head at the dead body of the Dream-Walker.

He laughed. "I'm going to do so much more than kiss you, baby."

I shivered. "I'll hold you to that."

Misha dragged me from my thoughts. "Death is too good for him." She stood in front of my grandfather, still clutching Hannah tightly in her arms. "You deserve to be put to death. But you won't die by my hand."

Hunter took my hand, and we both walked towards my grandfather. So many emotions hit home. This man had murdered my parents. Stole my childhood. Made me kill for him. And was about to marry me off to someone... all for his gain.

But even with all that stacked against him. I couldn't bring myself to say the words 'kill him.'

I wasn't a killer, a murderer—I wasn't him.

'It's okay, Sage,' I heard Hunter. 'He's gonna get what's coming. His crimes will be heard against us...wolves. And we will all decide the outcome of his fate.'

I squeezed his hand, his warmth flooding my veins.