In the wilderness of the garden, Josh watched with his mouth hanging open as the Hunter he now knew to be Elizabeth was bathed in a stunning aquamarine glow. With her body held tightly in Sam's arms she threw her head back and opened her mouth, but instead of the shriek Josh had expected, a fresh stream of the enchanting light poured out.

It was beautiful. Just in front of him Nate stopped, rooted to the spot as he too watched the spectacle. Side by side they stood in silence and witnessed the spectacle that was Elizabeth's second death. As the light grew stronger, Sam appeared to hold her tighter and Josh could see the tears as they streamed down his face. He realised they were intruding on a moment not meant for them so he gripped Nate hard by the shoulder and encouraged him away.

"Leave him."

"But--"

"Leave him, he needs time and space." Josh spoke with authority, daring the younger man to challenge him. Wisely, Nate decided to comply.

"What happened? Why didn't it attack him?"

Glancing over his shoulder, Josh checked that they were far enough away not to be heard before relaying the events that had just passed. As they entered the remains of the building he spoke quietly, halting Nate before he could push into the library.

"I'm only telling you this because I think you have a right to know. Sam's likely to be in one hell of a shitty mood for the foreseeable future and you need to know that it's not personal. But also, you're gonna want to help him-- " He licked his lips and sighed, "because of the connection you have you're going to have this desire to snap him out of this, try to suppress it. He won't thank you for it, quite the opposite and then he'll hate himself even more for taking it out on you."

Nate watched Josh carefully. "You seem to be talking from experience."

Josh tugged his hand through his hair and nodded. "Yeah, you could say that." He assessed the boy with a new respect. He'd never particularly liked him but it was more what he represented than the person he was. Nate had never done anything to directly warrant the animosity and contempt Josh had for him, he'd just been an easy outlet for the ugly emotions losing Nikki had stirred up. Perhaps he'd been too hard on him.

Inside the library, Joanne hovered near to where Ezekius was tending to Nikki. Josh's eyes sought out her delicate frame and fiery hair the second the door opened. It was ingrained, there was nothing he could do to stop it and he hated that he was no longer in full control of his actions. As soon as he had the assurance he needed - that Joanne was safe - he strode to Nikki.

"How you doing?"

Her colour was still a pallid gray and she struggled to keep her eyes open.

"She needs more blood."

Lowering his voice, Josh inched closer to Ezekius, amazing even himself at how comfortable he felt in such close proximity to him. "So go get more!"

The demon sighed with impatience. "There isn't time. I don't think you quite understand the severity of her injuries. These creatures do not just shred and tear, they absorb the life force of their victims. She hasn't just lost blood, she's lost a part of her soul. This is why their injuries are so hard to heal from, why the scars on her face and body are so prominent ... Josh, I don't think she will recover."

Josh froze. She'd been okay, she'd said so herself outside. She had promised. "No!"

Dropping his head, Ezekius allowed himself the smallest of sorrowful smiles.  "She's angry with me, she doesn't approve of my telling you this."

Josh could feel his absent heart thudding phantomlike in his chest as the prospect of losing her again sank in. How could he go on knowing that just when he'd found her she'd died all over again. What cruel beings watched over him, offering him a chance at happiness before mercilessly tearing it from him?  "There has to be something we can do, we can't just let her die..."

As his legs went numb, Josh crashed to the floor beside her. "I won't let you leave me again, damn it Nikki, you're not going anywhere without me!"

He turned his tear stained face to the eyeless demon next to him. "And you, snap out of it, fix her for fucks sake. Do something!" He was shouting, but Ezekius did nothing.

"There is nothing I can do." The demon answered flatly.

"Fine then I'll give her my blood." Josh shrugged out of his jacket.

"It is pointless, she won't take it."

"Then I'll damn well make her."

Ezekius grabbed Josh's arm and forced him to stop. "It's too late. Joshua ... Her mind is still."

"No! NO!" In a streak of colour Josh moved to her side and discarded his jacket. "Come on Nikki, not again, not again!" His eyes scanned the room.

"Quick, Zeke, get me a knife!"

But he didn't move.

"GET ME A FUCKING KNIFE!" Desperation and panic clouded Josh's ability to think rationally. Taking hold of Nikki's hand, he ignored the coolness of her skin. "Someone! Get me a knife!"

"Get out of the way!" Face flushed and chest heaving, Sam ran through the door. In one hand he grasped a rusty piece of metal, which he held to his wrist. A second later blood trickled down his arm.

"Sam--"

"Move!"

He barged Josh out of the way and roughly hoisted Nikki up in to his lap. Putting his dripping wrist to her mouth he pumped his fist, encouraging his blood to flow quicker.

Above him, Ezekius looked down with his shoulders slumped.

"Guardian ..." His tone was far softer than Sam was used to and he knew what was about to come out of his mouth.

"Ezekius, you're wrong. She's not dead. She's not gone until her body has disappeared into the rocky mountains you were born from."

The demon's mouth dropped open and a scowl adorned his brow. "How do you know--"

"Elizabeth. And I know that Nikki isn't dead, that she's got a job to do and until she's fulfilled her role she's going nowhere. See!" As if on cue, Nikki's eye's opened. After a brief moment of confusion, she clamped her hands around Sam's flesh, closed her eyes and drank deeply.

From his ungraceful pile on the floor where Sam had pushed him, Josh watched in a seething mass of jealous relief.

The room waited in silence until Nikki released Sam and fell back into his lap. Sam gasped as she freed him and collapsed back against the old leather sofa, his head lolling over the back and his mouth gaping. Both were panting heavily as the high they had shared slowly ebbed.

"What a rush." Sam breathed, lifting his hand to stroke Nikki's hair.

Josh burned with envy at the touch.

"Sam." Nikki's breathless and husky voice carried through the room. "What the hell?"

For a single heartbeat she closed her eyes before springing up. Her crimson mouth rose in to a smile and she scanned the room until she found Josh. Dancing forward with a speed she shouldn't posses, she pulled him up and licked her lips.

"Hey gorgeous."

He stared, wide eyed, before twisting out of her grasp. "Would someone like to explain what the hell just happened?" His accusing eyes found Sam and he glared harshly, once again livid that Sam had stepped in to save Nikki.

"It was Elizabeth." Sam smiled blissfully. "She saved her, she--"

An ear splitting cry interrupted Sam. All eyes turned to Nikki as she threw herself to the floor and began clawing at her flesh. She dragged her nails up her skin leaving bloody welts and shrieked in agony. 

"What did you do?" She screamed flopping to her stomach. She pushed up on to all fours but just as quickly she fell down again.

"Something's happening, stand back." Ezekus held out his arms, stopping Josh as he rushed to her side.

Suddenly Josh's mind exploded with noise and colour. He expelled the breath in his lungs in a long whoosh before gasping. It was too much. Prying his arm from the demons he quickly realised Ezekius' inability to help Nikki. She was crippling her demon brother through their psychic link.

"Sam! What did you do?" Her voice had become hoarse with her cries as she rolled on the floor in agony. Her head threatening to split open with the cacophony of sound.

As the all too familiar flame rose around her body, Nikki realized she was too late to stop it. Gritting her teeth she screamed out a warning and hoped she could contain it long enough to protect her friends. Like hanging from a burning rope, she fought the urge to let go, until finally she had no choice.

Around her the building shook, quaking in its foundations as her blue flame created a sphere, a light so dazzling and bright it forced her eyes shut. For a whole second, silence filled her ears. Her muscles relaxed, allowing her one last breath before the flames split her apart, ravaging every cell in her body and heating her cold flesh until it blistered.

And through it all, Nikki smiled.