Were almost at the end here guys! Only two more chapters! :/ but since I think you guys may hate me with the way the story ends, I think I'll either keep writing or do a sequel! Havent decided yet.
Anyways, enjoy!
-E

We take another turn, not expecting it I hesitate briefly before continuing to follow Ross. He notices this and eyes me as if to make sure I am still behind him.

"You change your mind?"

"No," I say more firmly than I believe. "Didn't realize I had a choice." Where was he taking me?

"Mhmm," he had stopped walking now. "Well, if you don't want me to continue, we can turn around now."

I blink at him. We were going to Tyler. "We keep going."

"That's what I thought," he picked up his pace, motioning for me to follow. "Just consider yourself warned.

Frowning, I stop short as he continues slightly further then stops in front of a door inlet in the wall to our right. It was a double paneled two story door that seemed intimidating for more than just its looks. He rose his eyebrows at me in question, to which I hesitantly nodded.

With a grunt, Ross swings the left of the door open as I attempt to push the right side in front of me. It creaks as he moves to open both sides. My eyes blink rapidly to adjust to the lighting. Stepping around Ross, I move further into the room, only to see it was more of a long hallway. My eyes barely make out a second door identical to the one we had just opened. It wasn't until I smelt the blood that my heart picked up even faster, as I frantically scanned the room, unaware and unready of what I was even looking for.

The scene was eerily similar to that of Derek's, only he was something I had grown used to, and he wasn't someone I'd known before. She was hanging from her wrists, blood trailing down her arms as my eyes too, scanned downwards. Her head was slumped to the side, scratches marring her beautiful face of the side I could see. Clothes covering her bloody torso were barely recognizable from the darkness engulfing us as subconsciously I fell to my knees in a silent scream. My shaking hands covered my mouth as I attempted to grasp the situation. I didn't even realize I had been crying until I felt hot tears fall down my chin. I was eye level with her now, or would have been if she had been conscious. She was barely upright, hanging in an awkward position as her knees kept her body upright.

"Oh, Alexis," a voice floated to my ears, snapping me to the here and now of this undeniable reality I wanted so badly to be a dream. "I am a little embarrassed for you to be seeing this. I wanted to make it seem as if she'd escaped... But it seems this was necessary."

"Necessary?" I harshly repeat his malicious words. "How is any of this necessary?"

"Well, you should know better than anyone, the consequences of our actions. Haven't you learned? What you do doesn't affect just you, it affects everyone."

I shook my head furiously, as I put a knee forward to get up. Ross's hand on my shoulder stopped me. "Stay down. You'll want to when you hear what he has to say," he spoke softly.

I scoff, "What does he have to say to me?" I ignore Ross as I jump up in anger. "Get on with it, Cecil. Enough with your stupid, pointless mind games and tricks."

I hadn't made out where Cecil had been standing before but he now stepped fully out of the shadows of the second door I had spotted upon first walking in here.

"Well, you haven't changed much have you? If anything you're just...less held back." his hand was near his chin as if contemplating something. I raise my eyebrows at him, putting my hands up on the sides, as if to say, well?

"You are so naïve aren't you? What, you think you're untouchable? Invincible or something? I told you, your actions affect more than just you," he seemed angry as he pointed to Evelyn.

"And I told you," I use the same tone. "Enough with the games. Let me worry about my own actions," I say definitively, even as my heart skipped a beat at the idea that maybe I had some part in Evelyn's current condition.

"Then you simply don't understand. You won't win this. You-"

"No one wins in War," I say the words I had begun to learn as truth.

He raises his eyebrows at me, "who said anything about War, my dear? This is life."

"And it's a life I certainly didn't choose to live. So who's to say any of this is my fault?"

"Fault? This has nothing to do with fault. This is more of consequences. Not just your own, but your... grandmother. How she betrayed me. And how that betrayal has now affected you, and ultimately your family..."

I was beginning to see the bigger picture here. Cecil still resented Evelyn for breaking his heart, and his hurt now seemed to turn into anger. But Evelyn had once warned me about the dangers of being her family. I just never thought she could be warning me about Cecil himself. Unless she never realized this herself.

"Can't you see, now? No one wins in War. And no one wins in Love. The two are undeniably similar."

"Love? You mean family; as in my own. You want me to watch my grandmother in pain like this. To hurt me... because I love her, as family would?"

"No," he says firmly as he steps towards me with purpose. "I want you to see how love breaks people. Even the strongest of us, like vampires; like myself and Evelyn here. Love is weak."

He snaps his fingers and Ross jumps next to me. I had forgotten he was even here still, as I watch him release the chain holding my grandmother upright. Her body fell to the ground with a thud that rocked me to my core.

But she was still alive. The detachment of the chains on the ceiling only woke her from her involuntary sleep. She shook now as she barely had the strength to sit upright, her eyes holding Cecil's in a chilling anger, and almost pity.

I start towards her but Cecil's arm shoots out to stop me, almost forcing me to fall backwards. Her gaze jumps to mine anxiously, "Cecil, no! Please no, not..." her voice was so weak it was barely audible in the large room.

"She's only a very distant granddaughter. One you would have never met if you hadn't cheated me." His anger was almost palpable, shaking the last of my brave resolve as I stepped back from him. "No, Alexis. Please, stay with us. Because you, my dear," he closes his eyes and takes a breath as if to calm himself before continuing. "You have broken the rules too. As did my son." He scoffs, "You'd think a son would learn a lesson from his old man... And he even fell for another Wallaker." He rounded on me now, his eyes showing the same demonic anger that his voice held.

I blink at him, continuing to step back. I knew he was talking about Tyler and I; that he had somehow found out about us. But Tyler wasn't even here now, so was he punishing him? Torturing his own son because he was with me? I stop backtracking, "You know... you really are more of a coward than I realized."

"And you are even more stupid than I realized," he spoke quietly. He was behind me before I could blink as wind whipped my hair into my eyes. "Stupid, stupid girl," his voice was like death whispering in my ear. My right arm was pushed backwards but my back held steady as a crack echoed in the hall. I scream in pain as my now dislocated shoulder falls limply with me to the floor, my left arm forced to hold my right.

My eyes are closed, as tears spring anew to my eyes at the throbbing in my shoulder. I grunt, through my teeth at him, "See what I mean. Coward." I knew the taunting may have been stupid, especially after the pain in my arm and how quickly he had broken it, but I hated him so much, I couldn't help the words from forming.

He grabs my hair and pulls me upward to eye level with him, "You are a Wallaker, aren't you? The pure idiocy you women have... it's unfathomable." He throws me back down and walks towards Evelyn. "And you just won't die..." he says with disgust.

"Look who's talking," I bark a laugh.

Someone, assumedly Cecil, snaps their fingers and a kick is sent to my gut that pushes me fully on the ground. Groaning, I roll to face him, "Where is your son, anyways? Facing the same fate as you have for my grandmother?"

His lips quirk up at the corners, almost in smile, "No." He seems genuinely surprised with my question, "you don't think I'd do that to my own flesh and blood, do you?"

I roll my eyes and shake my head, lowering my gaze back to the ground. "He had to be sent out on a mission. He was becoming too... distracted here."

"Oh, we all know what you mean by that Cecil. You mean me. Just say it, will you? He was 'distracted' by me," I say it tiredly, beginning to feel the effects the day, namely this evening, was having on me.

"Yes, he was falling for you and I had to intervene. It's only best for him."

"Leave them out of this, Cecil. I know you hate me, but this hate doesn't have to involve anyone but us," Evelyn sounded stronger than I knew she must feel.

Silence. I hear nothing before she speaks again, softer this time. "Please, Cecil. Forgive me," she was crying, pleading with him. "You were supposed to get married to someone else, what was I to do? My mother had to marry me off for money!"

"And you did it! I didn't! I fought against my own father's wishes! And you knew what he was capable of... I didn't marry her!"

"Because she attacked you, Cecil. Not because you went against your father," she sounded tired too, pleading a hopeless case.

"But you gave yourself up... you and I. We were supposed to be-be together for forever..." I was surprised how quiet he had gotten, and how softly he spoke those words. Almost as if he did have a heart.

I had somehow managed to shift myself onto my back as I rolled my head to the side to face them. She was looking up at him with remorse in her eyes, sadness; and he faced her with a hint of love, but mostly anger.

"What was I supposed to do... I had to move on! I hadn't seen nor heard from you. I- I thought you were dead! I didn't know what else to do."

"You were supposed to wait! Or at least not lead me on and make me think there was ever still a chance for us!"

"And how was I to do that, when you hadn't even let me explain? When you still won't?"

He stayed silent. "I never meant to hurt you Cecil. I was wed to someone else, you knew that. The baby was-my baby was never yours. But I never meant for it to keep us apart. We could have had another!"

"And you just hid it from me though! After everything, you-you still were loyal to someone else..."

"Of course I wasn't. I ran away with you!"

They continued their words silently, as they stared at each other. Almost losing their current place of time, transporting elsewhere; within themselves.

He broke the silence first, speaking quietly. "You've turned... from an attack then?"

"You don't know?" I turned to stare at the ceiling, as I listened to only silence from him in response before she continued. "Your father attacked me, Cecil. He nearly killed me. If it wasn't for your mother I wouldn't be here now..."

Then, nothing. A thick cloud of silence floated over the room, hovering ominously over all of us, as no one dared to break it. I closed my eyes, waiting all too patiently for the ax to fall. For the moment of peace to shatter, like a broken mirrors unlucky spell that would doom us all.

A sharp intake of breath came from my lungs as I was pulled up to standing in front of Cecil. "Can't have an audience for all of this, can we?" his eyes roamed over me, "no matter how cognizant they may or may not be." He let go of me, only to make sure I would be able to stand on my own.

"Well you're almost done, may as well continue..." I say quietly.

"What was that?" When I didn't respond, he pointed to the door, "Were almost done here. Just one last thing for you..." he stopped and gestured to Ross, who walked outside.

I frown, "So this just involves us huh?" How exciting.

"Yes," his eyes glimmered mischievously. "You see, I have a proposition for you. One I really hope you'll consider... Really a question. Do you have feelings for the captive held here, Derek? Or for your captor, my son, Tyler?"

What was he talking about? Why did that even matter? I allow a mix of emotions to cross my face before I realize I couldn't let him get to me. At least not let him show me that he was. "And why would you care to know the answer to that?"

"Because your answer will dictate the rest of your days here," he snaps at me. "Say Tyler, and I'll make sure you never see him again. Say Derek, and I may have a way of getting you and your grandmother here out, alive."

I kept silent, I had no idea what to say to that. How to justify that with a response. I never dreamed I would be getting out of, at all, let alone sooner. But why am I feeling guilty over my feelings for Tyler... and maybe even Derek? I shake my head, finally coming up with a response. "I don't owe you an answer. At least not at this very second."

"Fine. That's fair, I suppose I will give you a day, a few at most to think... just know you're not the one suffering for the wait," he says, pointing lazily to Evelyn.

"If you really loved her, she wouldn't even be involved," I can't help but saying aloud, however quiet it came out.

"Take your time..." he looks at me knowingly, having clearly heard my statement.

The door opens behind me as Ross grabs me by my weak arm and pulls me out with him. "Ow!" I take my arm back from him, holding it against my stomach with my left arm. "You heard everything in there, didn't you? That was all just for show for you to leave, wasn't it?"

"Of course, or have you forgotten what I am already?"

"I couldn't forget if I wanted to."

"And I really could care less... No matter what you end up telling him."

I stop and stare at him incredulously. "You think I'm gonna give that guy the satisfaction of an answer?" I demand.

"You don't have a choice!"

"That's where you're wrong. That's why you're only one of his little Pitbull's that he has on a leash. You're nothing more than what he wants you to be here, no matter what you think."

"You think you're better than me, huh?"

"I never said it was a competition. Just you have nowhere else to go now. You took the easy route and now there's no more getting better. You-"

"Yeah," he shoves me back. "Because I reached my full potential. I'm the best I'll ever be! Can't get better than your best."

"Wrong again. If you think you're so perfect, you have a lot to learn. Everyone has room for improvements, and the second you realize that, you'll see just how far you've fallen."

"I have never fallen," he says defiantly stepping around me to intimidate me. But he had grabbed my shoulder and jerked it into place as I gasp at the pain. "And I never will," he whispers into my ear.

I am pushed forward on to my knees once more as he talks to me absently. "Think you'll be able to find your way back from here? Good." He didn't wait for an answer I wasn't soon going to give as he sped away using his new abilities.