+Courtney.+

I watched the flame move on the candle. It was almost fascinating watching the colors change a little, reflects, and moves that’s drawing my attention. Like a baby watching a crib mobile.

“Don’t stare too hard, my love.” Haidar said as he read from the book in his hand. “They say you can see your future, I’m sure that’s a scary thing.”

I stared at it for a few more moments before I reached my hand out towards the candle and hesitating, I pressed my thumb and index fingers against the wick, putting the flame out. I kept my finger against the wick, but my fingers didn’t feel the heat.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

“No.” I said. I stood up from the chair and turned to him. He looked up from his book and saw my cold look. He placed the book down against his chest and shrugged. “I want you to stop torturing me.”

“Torturing you?” he questioned, chuckling.

“You’re happy this happened to me, aren’t you?” I asked as I walked over to him, glaring at him hard. “I’m a freak now. I’m going to be like this for the rest of my life and you enjoy that because you know I hate it. You like to remind me every second you can.”

He grinned, “I do like reminding you, Courtney.”

My hands balled into a tight fist.

+Nevaeh.+

“I’m fine. I’m fine!” I said when I had climbed out of the water and Hadrian was trying to help me up. I forced myself up on my jell-o feeling legs and cleared my throat, “I’m fine, thank you.”

“That was a long swim, Unccellina.” he said. “You look exhaust—“

“I’m not.” I said. I looked down at my stomach since I was in a black sports bar and patted my stomach, “He seems to want me on alert, haven’t felt tired all day.”

He stared at my chest, “Your stomach isn’t the only thing growing. Benefit of being pregnant.”

“Stop that.” I roughly whispered to him. “My uncle is over there and there are two Angels here.”

He held his hands out, “I think I should just feel them just in case—ow!” he hissed when I smacked his hand away.

“This is no time to be fondling my breast, Hadrian.” I said and he rolled his eyes.

“We’re going in.” Gavin said as he walked over with Nick and Victurus. All three of them were dripping wet but that didn’t stop them from getting ready to fit. “Like we had said, wait five minutes before coming in.”

“Goodluck.” I said.

“Be careful, the Demons here are pretty strong.” Hadrian said. “Senka just doesn’t put anyone in his court, the ones here are here for a reason.”

“They don’t scare us.” Nick said.

They went down the lake, keeping hidden from behind the rocks. Dante walked passed me, running his hand threw his hair as he walked over to Aracelia. She held out a pistol for him, but he reached down and picked up a submachine gun and put the straps around him, placing the gun behind him. He took the pistol from Aracelia and put it the pocket holder hanging from the back of his pocket.

“I die, you be sure you kill me again.” Dante said to Aracelia. She gave him a confused look and he turned his head to look at Hadrian to glance at before turning back to Aracelia, “I’m damned.”

“Well then let’s make sure you don’t die.” Aracelia said. “I’ve watched you, you’re good.”

“Oh, you’ve been watching me?” Dante said in his usual cocky way.

“Don’t flatter yourself, young man.” she said as strapped on the gun holster around her abdomen and put two pistols inside each pocket. “I don’t have time to listen to that bullshit.” she said as grabbed the bag and walked passed him.

“Huh, good to know.” Dante said.

Aracelia walked over to me and handed me my knives. She forced me to take a pistol just in case even though she knows I suck with guns. I put it in the holster around my thigh though. I packed the knives in the holster, having to hold the Chakrams in my hand, and I watched Hadrian take the bag from Aracelia, grabbing the PDW pistol with two cases. Aracelia sighed heavily as she glared at him before turning to join Dante side.

“She’ll lighten up soon.” Uncle Carter said as he came over. “She was uptight even with your father to, but still loved him and only cares.”

“Carter, be ready.” Dante said. “We go in a minutes.”

Uncle Carter set the machine gun as he walked over towards Dante.

I looked at Hadrian who been a little quiet and I put my arms around him, “Don’t worry, I’m strong Hadrian.”

“I know . . . I’m scared again though.” he whispered to me. “Ever since I met you, I’ve been scared allot lately.” I frowned and lowered my head, feeling horrible. He put his arm around me tightly, “At least I’m feeling, rather be scared then not knowing you.”

“Don’t talk like that, nothing going to happen.” I said.

“Ready.” Dante said to Uncle Carter and Aracelia.

Uncle Carter and Aracelia both looked at me like concern parents before they hurried down the lake towards Senka mansion.

I was suddenly thrown to the ground by Hadrian but I saw something in the corner of my eyes. It was bright and orangey looking. I turned my head to see it was a flame only a few feet away. I heard Hadrian took in a sharp breath and he grabbed tightly onto my waist, making us roll to the left a few times to block the next one flew to us.

I heard a cry of a Demon and I turned my head towards the other direction to find Aracelia gone. Uncle Carter and Dante climbed over the rocks and went onto the field, running quickly to miss the bullets coming from the trees.

I picked myself up when Hadrian got up and we ran down off the sand onto the grassy part of the lake. We hid behind some rocks and all I heard was gun being fired.

“They are quiet.” Hadrian said to himself as he lifted himself up to look over the rocks. I watched the burn part of his arm slowly formed into a scab and heal on itself. “They made it to the mansion and inside safely.”

“That’s comforting.” I sarcastically said.

“I don’t see anyone out there.” he said. “Doesn’t mean there isn’t any. He’s testing us.”

“I wish he wasn’t.” I said. I felt my anxiety starting to build up and I started to feel jumpy as I failed to look patient as I kneeled down for safety behind the rocks while Hadrian looked calm. “God, that place is huge. How are we going to find her and Gaspar?”

“Break into each room until we do.” he said. “That simple.”

“Hopefully one of those rooms aren’t Senka’s.” I said. “Gonna kind suck killing him now that he has Gaspar so I can only imagine if he was strong—“

Hadrian put his hand over my mouth and I looked up at him confused. He had his finger against his mouth and I understood when I heard her voice. “Oh little brother, where are you?” I heard Leilah voice amused voice. “Oh lets not play these childish games, come out come out where ever you are. Don’t worry, I was told not to hurt you so don’t worry—for the both of you. You know Senka wants you both. It’ll be nice to have the family together, I’ll even call Rien. I know you’ve been wanting to see him.”

Hadrian took in a sharp breathe and I started to stand up until I felt someone grab my shoulder. I was pulled away from Hadrian side with a gasp and Hadrian turned to us. I struggled in Leilah arms and she spoke in another language in frustration as I pushed us back until the rocks. She gasped as her back slammed into the rough edges of the rocks and I turned, punching her across the face.

My fist hit her pretty face against until she grabbed my wrist and brought her foot up, kicking me away. She held her arm out and I was forced into the air. “Watch it sweetheart, I can’t hurt that thing growing inside you too much.” she coldly said.

“Leilah!” Hadrian yelled and her head turned to look at him. “This is between me and you, come on. Senka mostly wants her, he won’t like it if he knew you hurt her.”

“Alright.” she said as she dropped her arms.

I softened my land by holding my arms out and I groaned a little since I hit my head. I heard Hadrian cry in pain and I lifted my head up to see him being tossed into the rocky wall. I quickly stood up and reached for the gun in the holster.

“No!” Hadrian yelled as he looked at me. “Leave!”

“What?” I questioned. “No, I can’t—“

“Go!” he yelled coldly, making me jerk. “Go find your sister.”

“Oh, I’m sure she isn’t going to want her now.” Leilah said, confusing me but I didn’t wait to ask as I ran over to the rocky wall and jumped over, running towards the mansion. I could hear Hadrian arguing with his sister in Italian and them fighting.

I ran up to the giant porch of the mansion and across the pool, but when I saw inside the mansion, I saw two Demons. They turned their heads to me and one of them raised their hands, making a wooden dagger appear a foot and half long. He threw his arm back and quickly as a bullet. I was fast enough to get out the away and the other one ran towards me. I ran over and jumped onto the table since running around it would be too much time. I grabbed the dagger out of the holster around my waist and he jumped onto the table.

He grinned, “You’re the Nephilim? Hmm, I expect a little more,” he said as he walked towards me “sexier.”

“Sorry to disappoint.” I sarcastically said and I dodged his attack to grab me by kneeling down. I threw my arm out and forced it forward but he caught himself as he was falling and chuckled since we were eye level. His brown eyes turned to a penny copper color. I don’t know why I kneeled there for a moment expecting something but when he looked confused, I grinned, “Forgot I’m a Nephilim? I can resist some of you.”

I lunged for him and I guess it was smart for Aracelia to put my French braid in a bun since he went to grab for, but I pulled away. He threw his arm around and like elastic, his arm stretched out and wrapped around my throat. I gasped, my free hand coming up to my throat.

Keeping still as I glared as him, I pressed my feet firmly against the table and I lifted myself up a little. I brought my foot up and quickly slammed it down on his throat. He gasped, his arm loosen around my throat. When it started to come back, I drove my dagger threw it.

He yelled in pain and I brought my other hand down when I saw him starting to lift himself up. I wrapped my hand tightly around his throat and I took the dagger out, driving it in his chest. The Demons here were stronger, but I’m also strong. I’m a Nephilim, I’m fifty percent Angel.

I saw the second Demon walk out of the mansion onto the porch. He held the palm of his hand and a wooden dagger flew to me. It hit my shoulder and I cried out in pain as I fell on my back. Like a bee sting, the Apitoxin Demon weapon. My right shoulder stung from the venom, but I forced the barb dagger out of my shoulder. A small trail of blood went down my shoulder and where the barb stinger was, was an itchy stinging pain.

I breathed heavily as I got off the table, glaring at the Demon, “Can’t fight, huh?”

He chuckled and took a stepped towards me, running his hand threw his blonde hair, “Darling, I protected four kings in Russia before, this isn’t a challenge.”

As he came near me, I looked at the Chakram on the table. I turned quickly and grabbed one of them. I spun around wincing and I only glanced at his throat as I spun before letting it go. The second time I came back around I watched the circular weapon fly back towards me and I watched its handle before I grabbed onto it.

The Demon throat was slashed, but he wasn’t dead. I grabbed a knife from the holster around my other leg and threw it at his chest. He fell to the ground dead.

“Thank God that’s over.” I said as I brought my hand up to my right shoulder where the stinging irritated wound was as I grabbed my dragger out of the first Demon body, running side in the mansion. I stopped at the end of the hallway and peered my head across the next hall to see if it was clear. I waited a moment just in case I heard anyone coming but I didn’t. I quietly hurried down the hallway and did the same for the next few, scratching the wound. It wouldn’t stop itching! Fucking Apitoxin Demon. Their venom isn’t dangerous, but sure is an irritating one that can last a few hours.

I stopped when I saw a woman coming down the hallway. I quickly hide back behind the hallway and tightly grasp onto the dagger handle before stepped out. She took a step back, surprised clearly to see me but she gave me a cold look.

She looked behind me and I made the mistake to turn my head around to see if anyone was behind me, but there wasn’t. I grabbed by the shoulders and my back was slammed into the wall and I heard a crack. The dagger slipped from my grasp as my fingers loosened a little since pain raced across my back. I forced my arm up around her neck and into a headlock, bring my knee up to her face but she grabbed my legs and flipped me around.

I landed on my back, the air being taken out of me. Taking a deep breathe, I jumped up from the ground and remembering the quick boxing lessons I had, I fought her like I was one. She was a very skilled fighter though and I knew she gave me a bloody nose.

She punched me roughly in the stomach and I fell to the ground when this agonizing pain rushed through my stomach. I cried in pain as I held onto my stomach. I tried to take calming breathes, but it was hard to breath at all.

“Give up?” she asked. “I could go all day, but I know Senka’s orders.”

“Hey pixie head.” I heard Dante voice and I looked up just to see the girl turn to face Dante with a hard look on his face. He then shoot her with the submachine gun and she dropped to the ground dead. Dante rushed over to my side, kneeling down next to me, “Nevaeh?”

“So-something really hurts.” I said and squeezed my eyes when the pain rushed stabbed me. It was a familiar pain I had a week and half ago when I was patching Dante up after Hadrian almost killed him. I let it happened though until it just stopped. I took deep breathes to calm myself, “Wh-where is Uncle Carter?”

“Helping Nick.” he said. I forced myself up, wobbling a little since my legs were a little shaky, and he put his arms around me, “You alright?”

“Fine, she was a good fighter.” I said. “Come on, Hadrian outside fighting with his sister.”

+Courtney.+

I bared my teeth at Haidar, “What is that noise?”

“You’re sister here.” he said and I glared at him. “Don’t get too excited, though. She’ll threw you aside once she see you’ve changed.”

I turned around and walked over towards bookshelf, “Liar, Nevaeh will always love me. She wouldn’t stop because of this.”

“She kills people like us, my love.” he said. “You’re first full moon is in two weeks, how will they tame you if it is possible they somehow manage to get you out of here?” He scoffed, “As if possible. Let’s say, they broke into a prison. It’s hard to break out when they made themselves notice.”

“I’m not listening to you.” I said stubbornly.

I was then grabbed and he turned to me to face him, “Oh really?” he questioned. “Well listen to this, once that child she is growing inside of her Senka will drain every last spill of blood in her.”

“Stop it!” I yelled as I pressed my hands against his chest.

He pushed me back against a wall, “And you’ll still be stuck here with me! It’s not as easy as you think, Courtney. Senka told me someone is dying tonight, but we don’t know who. Let’s not make it you.” he said.

I bared my teeth, growling, “Let go of me.”

“You’ll be here until you die eating the human meat from the villagers across the lake.” he said and my eyes widen. I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing I could disappear. “You’ll turn into a bloodthirsty monster who’ll have no control of her body. You’ll be a killer, Courtney. Accept it.”

“No!”

He shook me, “Stop being weak!”

“Stop it!”

“It’s your fault you can’t save yourself!” he said and I growled at him, lunging towards his throat but he tightly grasped my shoulder, slamming me back against the wall. “Like a pup.” he scoffed.

I looked into his maroon color eyes deeply, “My sister won’t kill you, I will.” I coldly said to him.

“You aren’t the first girl to say that to me.” he said. “It’s kind of more like a sweet words to me now.” He brought his hand up to my cheek and caressed my cheek, “There’s those emerald green eyes. This lace long sleeve dress make them pop when your blood lusting.”

I brought my hand up and slapped him across the face, my fingernails cutting into his face. My hand had made a loud impact with his skin and his head was tossed to the side. I saw black blood roll down his cheek and the smell was horrible.

He chuckled as he looked back at me and touched his cheek that was healing, “That’s more like it.”

We didn’t speak when there was a pounding at the door and Haidar eyes winced as he looked annoyed.

+Nevaeh.+

“Again.” I said. Dante and I brought her foot up to the door, slamming our feet against the door. It was locked even though there wasn’t any lock. We did it again, again, and again.

Dante was getting frustrated and he slammed his shoulder into the wall, “God damnit! Open! What is this door made out of anyways?” He banged his hands against the dark wooden door everywhere as if he was trying to figure out anything. He growled in frustration and slammed his side into the wall.

And the door flew opened.

Dante stumbled in but he caught himself. He must have pressed something then. I ran in and saw in across the large office was my sister Courtney being pressed against the wall by a guy. He took one look at me and gave me a hard look, letting go of my sister, and faced me.

I tighten my hand on the gun and ran towards him, but he looked behind me, “Grab her.” he said.

I paused, my eyebrows furrowing together confused. I started too turned around when I was grabbed and I was kicked of the back of my knees, forcing me to the ground. I cried in pain and I lifted my head up to look behind me, seeing Dante was the one holding me.

“Dante—“

“Kill her.” the boy said.

“No!” I heard Courtney yell and Haidar grabbed her.

I watched as Dante grabbed his guy and I turned, bring my foot up, and knocked it out his hand. I got up from the ground and dodge his attack.

“Haidar, stop it!” Courtney yelled.

“Dante!” I yelled at him when he slammed me against the wall, pinning me there. His green eyes were blank from any emotion and I remember what Hadrian said. “Fight it, fight the hold!”

He grabbed my chin and forced my head back, forcing the dagger out of my iron grip. He brought the dagger up in the air, aiming it at my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut, expecting something. I’ve never actually been stabbed before.

“Pause!” Haidar said, chuckling. I opened my eyes, my heart racing like the speed of lightening. Dante was staring down at me with a blank look and like a movie, he actually froze. I heard Courtney cry out and I looked to my left to see Haidar had grabbed her by the hair.

I reached both of my arms up and turned us, throwing Dante against the wall and he fell down on his butt.

I turned to Haidar and he chuckled, “You took on eight Demons on your way up here, impressive.”

“I’m about to take out nine now.” I said coldly. ”You’re the one who brought my sister here?”

“Yes it was.” he said and he forced Courtney to look at him. “My love, why don’t you tell your sister the exciting news?”

News? What news? I thought as Courtney looked at me, tears sliding her innocent face.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen, Nevaeh.” she said and my eyebrows furrowed together, confused. She reached up and pulled the black lace away from her right shoulder. I saw a scar indent in her shoulder and a ball balled inside my throat. “I-I was bitten by a werewolf while trying to escape.”

Haidar shook her by her hair, “And?”

“And!” she said quickly. “I’m turning into one.”

“Which means, she’s staying here with me!” Haidar said coldly.

I stared at my mouth, my mouth hanging slightly open as I looked at her face. My poor sister looked afraid and I was too choked up to saying it was okay to her, but even I didn’t believe that. I looked at the scar on her shoulder and I saw the difference in my sister. My sister always had a minor blemish problem but now her skin was clear and glowing looking. Her hair was thick and shiny looking, her eyes lashes around her emerald green eyes.

But her staying here was the last thing I was doing. I wanted to freak out what was happening to my sister, but I came here for her. Leo and Aracelia came for Gaspar, but Courtney is my sister and I wasn’t leaving her here.

“Like hell she is.” I said, grabbing the gun in the holster around my thigh, aiming it at Haidar head.