Scarlet took pride in pushing open the front door, she took pride in standing into the mansion, she took pride in standing in the entrance of the doorway.

She looked down at James before bursting out laughing "Woman will always look better than you."

James tried not to take offence at the dig of his Hard N Ready look.

Scarlet turned her attention to V "Wonder how much of my sister affected you." She stared deeply at V.

V felt herself drop to her knees, she felt herself cover her ears as she tried to make herself as small as possible, she felt herself squeeze her eyes tightly.

Scarlet glanced up at the two paintings behind James "Never trust a lover." She began to make her steps forward.

Hard N Ready stepped in front of Scarlet, he was prepared to fight even if it meant hurting someone he truly cared about.

Scarlet smirked "Would you truly damage someone you love?" her eyes flicked to the colour of Dominic's.

Hard N Ready swallowed hard, he felt confliction run through his body

Scarlet threw her fist towards Hard N Ready, Hard N Ready grabbed her wrist before allowing himself to twist Scarlet's arm behind her back.

Hard N Ready pressed Scarlet against the back of the lounge.

Scarlet huffed with frustration as the whites of her eyes appeared, she brought her wrist up to her lips before digging her teeth into Hard N Ready's hand.

Hard N Ready quickly pulled his hand away, he used his uninjured hand to reach for Scarlet's hair.

Scarlet grabbed Hard N Ready's arm; she forced him up against the wall. She lifted up one leg slightly, she balanced the back of her pumps just above Hard N Ready's groin.

Her eyes stared into his dark eyes.

Hard N Ready braced himself as he sensed what Scarlet was going to do.

He kept his gaze on Scarlet as he used his free hand to dig his nails into Scarlet's ankle, he allowed himself to keep hold of Scarlet's leg as he pushed her off him.

Scarlet struggled with the weight on one leg, she tried to pull her leg out of Hard N Ready's grasp as she stumbled backwards.

She used the back of the lounge to help keep her balance, her hands either side of her.

Scarlet pushed her weight up onto lounge as she used her free leg to kick up at Hard N Ready.

Hard N Ready grabbed both of her legs, he felt like he had the upper hand as he pushed her legs up to her chest.

Scarlet fall backwards on the lounge, she uncomfortably landed headfirst on the floor. Her chest heaved as she failed to give in.

She jumped up to her feet, Hard N Ready watched.

Scarlet began to run towards the paintings, Hard N Ready chased after her.

He forced himself to a stop as Scarlet beat him to the paintings, she stood proudly in front of the two of them as she looked at Hard N Ready.

Scarlet turned her back on Hard N Ready, he looked on as he felt defeated.

Scarlet raised her hands over the paintings, she closed her eyes as she inhaled slowly.

Hard N Ready watched.

Scarlet felt the paintings shake beneath her touch; she felt her emotions rise through her body.

Her eyes jolted open; she twisted her attention to Hard N Ready "WHERE ARE MY SISTERS!"

Hard N Ready didn't understand.

Scarlet rushed up to him, pinning Hard N Ready up against the wall.

"Sometimes lovers aren't faithful." Hard N Ready allowed himself to speak. He finally understood why V was in his house when he had arrived home.

Scarlet gritted her teeth as she took pride in swinging her fist towards Hard N Ready, he took pride in lifting his leg and kicking her in the stomach.

Scarlet ached over in pain before lunging for Hard N Ready, he side stepped. She went headfirst into the wall.

Hard N Ready grabbed her arm before pulling her away from his wall, he prepared himself to make his next move, but he stopped. His heart raced in his chest as he stared at the woman in front of him.

Hard N Ready swallowed hard, she wasn't she. She was the illusion of a painting, the illusion of the true person underneath.

The illusion protecting the man that James loved, the illusion fighting for what was right in their heart.

Scarlet felt herself fall to her feet as she looked up at Hard N Ready.

Hard N Ready felt like he could see beneath the illusion, he felt like he could see who he was really hurting. He kneeled down in front of Scarlet "Is he okay?"

Scarlet watched him, she watched as he worried "I'm not going back into the darkness. I refuse."

"Scarlet, is Dominic okay?"

Scarlet lowered her head as she held back her answer, she felt her eyes close before slowly reopening.

"I'm okay, James." His voice broke through Scarlet's as they raised their head.

Hard N Ready felt some relief as he stared into Dominic's eyes.

Dominic rose up to his feet, James rose up to his feet.

"Where are the other two?" Dominic asked with care.

James shrugged a little.

"Scarlet just wants to be with her family. She just wants her sisters back."

James lowered his gaze slightly.

"James, you're the only one who can save Scarlet."

James shook his head as he looked up at Dominic, he watched as the colour of Dominic's eyes disappeared under the white of Scarlet's.

"ENOUGH!" Scarlet gritted her teeth.

"Scarlet."

"NO. I WANT MY SISTERS!"

"I can help you, but I need Dominic back."

"NO."

James inhaled slowly as he tried to think of a plan. He opened his mouth to speak, quickly shut it. Words struggled to form throughout his mind. "I..I.." Was all he could manage to say.

Scarlet watched him, she watched with anticipation.

James couldn't think of anything that could save Dominic, he couldn't think of anything that would save his ex, he couldn't think of anything that would save both his heart and Scarlet.

Scarlet rolled her eyes "This is why a man should never do a woman's job."

With a blink of his eyes, Scarlet disappeared from in front of him.

James screamed out in frustration before realising V was still on the floor near the doorway.

He rushed to her aid "V? Vera." He knelt down next to her as panic set in "Vera." He gently touched her; he couldn't see any reaction from her as he scooped her up in his arms.

James carried her up the stairs.