I scaled along the walls of the building stealthily, or so I hoped. From what I could tell, my presence here was completely unexpected. The Exodus coven had obviously cast a protection spell to prevent outsiders from finding them. They hadn't thought I wouldn't help vampires to break through the said spell.

I knew they had Miles here. I could feel him. Or, more accurately, my magic could sense him. It was the same prickle of awareness that left goosebumps on my skin anytime one of the others so much as spoke within my perimeter. He was close and all I needed to do was keep following his mystical scent.

I could hear movement within the building. There were other witches, some who probably heard the racket when I had fought with their leader. If I wasn't quick or careful enough, I'd be caught. I wasn't sure of my skill versus multiple witches and I didn't want to harm anybody. I just wanted Miles back.

I followed my instincts quietly, my heart thudding fearfully in my chest. When I came across a nearly hidden door, I reached for it and just as quickly retreated back against the wall. Three witches ran across the hall adjacent to me where they would have easily seen me attempting to approach the door. I had only just moved in time to hide and the thought of how fortunate I had been only proved to steal my breath further.

I had to convince myself to move once they receded towards the front doors. My limbs were frozen with mild panic; my bravery having its own limits. If I was caught and unable to control my magic enough to protect myself, I would no longer exist and Miles would still be a prisoner. He was beyond that door. I had to move.

I pushed myself forward, reaching for the door once again. Once opened, I stepped inside quickly and nearly fell down a flight of steep stairs. The door shut quietly behind me despite my clumsiness and I allowed myself a moment to calm down. Then I began to take the steps quickly, my heartbeat rising as the sensation along my skin only amplified.

The stairs led to a hall of doorways, almost like an insane asylum. I approached them carefully, brushing my hand along them until my touch over one door sent a shock of power over my fingers. He was here.

I tried to open the door, but it was locked both physically and magically. I took a couple of breaths and then placed my hand on the surface of the door determinedly. I knew nothing about using my magic beyond what Miles had taught me, but I focused on calling it forth anyway. Without a spell coming to my mind, I instead focused on what it was I wanted. Open. Open.

My power surged over the door wildly. For a moment, I worried it would deteriorate it entirely. Then I realized it was attacking the magic that held the door firmly locked. It was quick work. Soon, the door was just a door and when I reached to open it, I was allowed entry without resistance.

The room was dark besides a dim red light that caused there to be a disturbing atmosphere. There was no idea of comfort; the area was without furniture or windows. It was a blank room with a cold concrete floor. Along the furthest wall were chains and attached to them was a figure.

I took a step into the room, jumping when the door shut firmly behind me. It was hard to see the figure in this light, but I knew it was Miles. He was a strange shape on the floor, contained by silver chains that burned his flesh painfully. Yet, he didn't cry out or attempt to escape. He was injured and weak; his body battered and bled far worse than Levi's had been.

My heart seized with pain at the sight and I took another step towards him. Miles suddenly shifted, his eyes rising from the ground dangerously before landing on my frame. For a moment, nothing registered within them as if he couldn't actually see me. And then they focused sharply.

Miles abruptly ripped himself from his position, but instead of coming towards me he leaped as far away from me as he could, ignoring the agony of the chains against his flesh. Once the restraints halted him from moving away further, he panted with surprise.

"Katia," He said simply.

"Miles," I answered, my voice choked from tears. I took a step towards him and saw him tense dangerously. I recalled Levi's reaction when I had approached him and paused in mid-step. "You're injured..."

Never run to an injured vampire...

"You're getting smarter, Kat," Miles rasped painfully, tugging on his chains as if he could move away further. "For a minute I thought you would throw yourself at me. Though, I can't blame you." He made a small indication towards his entire body, still able to find his humor in this situation. I couldn't find it in me to laugh in response.

"I came here for you. To bring you back home," I told him sincerely. Miles hesitated, looking past me as if there might be someone behind me. There wasn't.

"You'll have to wait for the others, then," He answered simply, shifting uncomfortably. I clasped my hands together nervously, looking down at them. For a moment, neither of us said anything. "You came here alone, didn't you?"

"Maybe," I noted sheepishly. Miles scoffed.

"Go get the others and send them here. I don't need you," He told me sharply. I winced and Miles hesitated. "Damn it, don't give me that look... I didn't mean I don't need you. I meant you can't help me."

I was thinking over my options. I could hope Miles could resist attack me long enough to set him free, but he might attack the other witches should we come across them. I wouldn't be able to help him through the building and also protect us from witches, nor the witches from him. I couldn't just go get the others because they would attack all the witches out of spite alone. And I couldn't leave Miles here. He was in pain; starved and chained.

The best option was simple.

"Miles, promise me something," I insisted, setting my eyes on his firmly.

"No. Leave, Katia," He replied just as firmly.

"Promise me you won't kill any of the witches," I ignored his order as if he hadn't said a single thing. I wasn't going to leave him. It was simply not an option. Miles looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Promise me you won't kill any of them when you're leaving. They only want to protect the ones they love and they thought I could do this for them. I don't want them to die for that," I explained, tightening my hands into fists as my heart pulsed with panicked anticipation within me.

"You're not making any sense. Just go," Miles answered with frustration. I took a step towards him and he tensed all over again. When I approached him further, a terrible growl rippled through him. "Stay back!"

I wasn't going to listen to him. I was instead listening to what it was my instinct called me to do. For once, I wouldn't fight that power within me. It wanted the horror. It craved the touch. And it called for his bite. The idea of him tearing into me only sent my body on high sensitivity, a thrill of excitement guiding my feet towards him.

Miles tore at the chains forcefully, trying to rip himself from his containment so that he could escape my proximity. He already had more control than Levi had previously revealed to have when injured. Levi hadn't hesitated to lunge at me. Miles did his best to avoid me entirely.

"Miles," I called to him, tilting my head to try to catch his eyes. Another growl vibrated through him wildly as he fought against his bloodthirst. "I trust you. Take what you need. Take my power and escape from this place."

"I won't stop," He snarled furiously. But it wasn't true anger. It was terror. For once, Miles was completely afraid. I had an image of myself pinned against his bedroom wall, with him drawing fear over me. It made me hesitate.

"I trust you," I repeated quietly. I lifted my hand to him carefully; unable to prevent the trembling that took over my limbs. Before I could reach him, he attacked. Miles' arms were around me, holding me to him almost desperately. He bit viciously into my neck before I could even think to move. I yelped at the force of the impact, unable to register the warmth of his touch before the ferocity of his feeding.

Miles collapsed us to the floor wildly, clinging to me almost to the point where I couldn't breathe. I cried out like a wounded animal, struggling against him initially as his jaws tightened even more forcefully over my flesh. And then something within me shifted.

The luminescence over my skin began to flourish under his grip, replacing the shocking pain of his feeding with alluring pleasure. I gasped through a couple of breaths, reaching to grasp at Miles as if he could anchor me. My body began to relax in his arms and I leaned my head back as if offering him even more of myself.

My heart pulsed thunderously throughout me until I was one throbbing flame, bright and powerful. The glow over my skin spread over me, engulfing my flesh dominantly before beginning to approach where Miles drained me. And as he took my blood for himself, he also began to take my magic.

The glow traveled over his skin just as it had over mine, shifting from one form to another. As this process began, my own strength waned. I lost the feeling in my limbs until I found I couldn't grasp at Miles any longer. My breath struggled to continue and my heart began to follow suite. A thought crossed my mind just as my vision darkened dangerously.

I was going to die.

Miles abruptly ripped his fangs from me, lifting his head before gasping in exhilaration. My power, the power of Genesis, pulsed over him nearly entirely. He almost took all of it, but using amazing strength he didn't know he had, he was able to resist the urge. He looked down at me quickly, inspecting my form for signs of life. A glow remained around his bite and the pulse of my heart thudded quietly in my chest. I was alive.

Miles lowered me carefully to the floor of his cage and then stood. He looked down at the chains which no longer affected him. And then he clasped his hands into fists sharply. A burst of power snaked over him, tearing the chains from him as if they were paper. He smiled with demented delight, but then looked at my unconscious form once again.

Without hesitation, he collected me from the floor, holding me to him with utmost care. He then began to step from the room with ease. Doors opened without him touching them. The power throbbed around him like electricity, prepared to strike anything and anyone down.

When he stepped up the stairs and into the hall, he was greeted with a dozen witches. They stood around him dangerously; their hands raised and prepared to fight. Their leader was missing, but their incentive was clear. They wanted the phoenix. They would not get me.

Promise me you won't kill any of the witches.

Miles frowned with displeasure. Killing witches was one of his favorite things to do. He looked down at me in his arms, considering ignoring my wishes. And then he faced the witches.

"If you're smart, you'll move out of the way," Miles told them coolly.

"Give us the Phoenix and you can go free," A male witch replied firmly.

"Not smart, then," Miles stated sarcastically. His power erupted around him like a wild flame, spiking dangerously before lunging forward. Miles had far more control over the magic than I could have dreamed of. He'd never been able to silently cast like this before, but it came to him easily.

The magic whipped at the witches sharply. It was like swatting away flies. Their own spells were reflected before they could be completed and then they were knocked back as if an explosion had gone off in front of them. For a moment, Miles considered that he might have gone too far, but a minor look-over revealed no casualties. Major injuries, perhaps. It would have to do.

The remaining witches were at a loss of how to approach him. They instead chose to aid their injured coven, which was probably the wiser decision. As Miles entered the final lobby area, where Camelia had apparently been taken away to be treated, he found himself blocked off by a single witch. She stood confident and quiet in front of the exit, waiting for Miles patiently.

"Move or die. I don't care which," Miles threatened her dangerously, tensing in preparation for an attack. The witch didn't hesitate or look phased by the options.

"I have a message for you," She said darkly, "From Desmond."

Miles didn't react to the name adversely, though it held a lot of history. He only narrowed his eyes without interest.

"Move or die, witch."

"He says he knows you are most like him, of all the Genesis vampires," The witch continued, obviously intent on delivering her message, "He wants to make you an offer. Bring him the Phoenix and he'll show you how you can gain its power. Permanently."

Miles paused, looking down at me momentarily. Then he rolled his eyes back to the witch, unimpressed.

"Let me ask you, does Desmond think I'm a complete moron?" The witch frowned, displeased by this reaction. But Miles continued, "It doesn't take a genius to figure this out. If I drain her completely, I get the power permanently."

"If you were certain, you would have taken all the power by now," The witch replied confidently, waving to me within his arms. "Desmond knows exactly how to take it permanently and he can share it with you."

"A moon," Miles replied sharply, confusing the witch. "The first full moon on a leap year. The red moon. During a lunar eclipse. When Jupiter aligns with Mars. It's all the same. You drain the Phoenix completely, you get the power. If I can have it all to myself, why would I be dumb enough to share with that waste of space?"

"Yet, you'll share her with five other vampires?"

The witch glared at Miles who only looked on without interest.

"I have a message for Desmond," He told her, his voice low suddenly. "Tell him I said 'Go fuck yourself'." And suddenly the power rippled around him dangerously. It tore at his surroundings, ripping at the foundation threateningly before lunging towards the witch. She abruptly lifted her hand, crying out a cast before disappearing from sight entirely.

The power faded without a target and after a brief scan, Miles knew the witch had escaped. He then glanced back down at me in his arms, his bite still visible on my neck vulnerably. A trail of blood traveled over my skin temptingly, calling to him dangerously. He could have all the power he desired, if he wanted it. I wouldn't have been able to resist him.

He lowered his lips, placing a light kiss just on the flesh of my throat above his bite softly. Even though his own skin glowed with my power, his touch brought the lightest shine over my skin in response, catching his eye with interest.

Have you ever seen a witch or human, knowing what we are, trust you like this?

Miles had never understood what it was Oliver had meant, but now that he had felt this devotion, he would never just let it go.

--------------------

Music: Crossfire by Stephen 
(fckin amazing, I don't care what you say!) 

Might be some mistakes because I edited this rather briefly.

So, in case you didn't see the update, I did find a new place. And I'll be pretty damn busy with setting up utilities, internet, and packing/moving plus my mother is coming over from Seattle to visit for two weeks! Then there's a ton of stuff between; visiting NYC and stuff. >.<

That being said, I'll try to update soon! Just don't be upset if it takes me longer than usual. At least I updated a ton of chapters within the last month, so there's that!

Thanks for keeping up with Katia. ^^