Tamed Summary 2018

Good heavens, it's been almost 3 years. Sorry it took so long for me to finish this story. I would have preferred to do it in the usual chapter style, but after the hood got corrupted for the umpteenth time, I got discouraged. I was not looking forward to building everything again and I just let the characters sit there, abandoned and almost forgotten.

This is a summary of the last chapters of this story. You can skip to your favorite characters to know their fate, BUT you may/may not miss something, since most of the characters are linked. What happened to one may have caused what happened to another and so on. With this summary, I hope to put the characters to a proper rest. Characters not mentioned are either dead, or their story has no direct link to the main characters.

I thank everyone that stayed with me throughout this journey. I have gained a lot of new friends, lost some in the literal sense. Know you are all in my heart even if we don't talk that much anymore. I will see you guys on the net and in my next story.

Love,

Jean-Marie

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

Allen – Bison - DiGorgio

Rosalie unexpectedly woke up out of her comatose state in the middle of the night. Feeling she was running out of time quicker than she had initially thought, she bewitched a pen to write down as much of her thoughts as she could. Everything she wanted to say to the twins before she went. Along with instructions on how to control the powers that would flow into them after she dies. The time-magic that the twins have was considered too great for them, so Rosalie had absorbed a large amount of it when they were younger. That amount was about to return to them when she died. To them and… Marina. Marina was the 3^rd time witch in their family. **Julie represented the past, Jane the future and Marina the present --See High Witches' Council--** During the recording of her thoughts, Rosalie weakened more and her condition worsened. The twins knew she wasn't going to make it since the reaper had told them as much, but they panicked when Rosalie struggled to breath and called an ambulance. Rosalie was hospitalized and stabilized. Jane's new home became that hospital room; never leaving her side.

The hour of the great confrontation (LOL) between the vampires and the hunters came and the twins learned its location through Marina. Damian went to revenge the murder of his mother and sister. Julie went with him, pumped up with both her and her sister's powers through the mind link they had finally perfected. Reaching the battlefield they were frustrated by some sort of barrier that they could pass. Numerous witches and magic users stood around what appeared to be a magical dome that was drawn up by the witches' council. Their solution was to let the hunters and vampires fight it out without the use/help of magic. Damian flew into a fit of rage and started attacking the dome to no avail. He shifted his attention to the scene in it and using his elements manipulated the earth underneath the vampires and hunters' feet. Ripping it up into large fissures; digging holes and burying them.

Victoria of the witches' council appeared to Julie and told her that Jane needed them. She was in labor and there were complications. Julie could feel Jane's distress and believed her. Victoria told her to take Damian with her, 'cause they needed him to conceal the magic in the babies or the human world would know magic exists. Julie mentioned Jane's distress to Damian and that they needed to go. Already having lost his sister and mother, he couldn't lose Jane too. His revenge would have to wait.

After teleporting back home, they reached the hospital and were informed that Rosalie had passed on and that that was probably the reason Jane went into early labor. The babies were constricted and would need to be born via c-section. If they could convince Jane, because they couldn't get through to her. Julie told Damian and Jane what Victoria said and after convincing Jane to have the c-section, Damian called in the help of Francesca (Club-owner/Canceller). A quick teleportation from Belladonna Cove to the hospital's men's room and Francesca cancelled out the babies' magic, so they wouldn't have accidental magical outbursts at the birth and would seem human to the doctors.

Jane gave birth to twins Harper (boy) and Hailey Rose. Hailey had respiratory failure and died a few minutes after… Little did they know that Rosalie had not passed on with the reaper. Choosing instead to stay, despite repeated warnings of haunting her family later on. She had left her body and was with them all the way through the whole ordeal. When Hailey died, she wanted to spare Jane the hurt of losing a child and entered her body. The doctors were baffled by Hailey's return and called her a miracle baby.

Hailey Rose grew up a healthy kid with powers of her own that were a mix of her parents and Rosalie's.

She  was an exceptionally gifted witch and despite it being Rosalie's spirit inside of her, she grew up her own person… with the occasionally misplaced memories of a previously lived life.

The fight between the vampires and hunters ended with both races almost extinct. Damian considered his family's deaths avenged and devoted his life to Jane and their children. Julie is still in a relationship with Dante Pierce. She told him she was a witch once, but he freaked out and they had to erase his memory. She's fine with keeping her secret for now, but hopes she can break it to him in a less freaking-out way at some point in the future.

Having come into their full powers after Rosalie's death the twins, Jane and Julie, and Marina were contacted by the High Witches' Council, because they were the next generation of High Witches, to resume their duties. They all – refused – the position.

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

Astor

Raven told Marina to stay at the rosetta mansion. Julie and Damian were there, Raven was going… she had a really bad feeling something was going to happen. She took Binny and Chase and left for the battlefield. She arrived just in time to watch Angelica run her spear through Raven's heart. 'Nooooo' she screamed, running towards him. Binny on her tail. Raven killed Angelica, but he was done for. Marina was sobbing over him begging him not to leave her. He told her she had to go on living. She had to go on living, not for her, but for… His words cut off and he was gone. Binny tried to pry her away from him, but she held on. After all that they had been through… Now she was alone again. Marina was distraught. She finally figured out the dream she had with the tombstone. It wasn't her father's or brother's. It was Raven's.

 For 3 months all she wanted to do was sit in that flower field next to his grave. She wasn't living, she was just alive. The only reason she ate was because Binny forced her to. It wasn't until Chase mentioned hearing an echo of a heartbeat whenever he was near her that she pepped up.  A trip to the doctor's office confirmed her pregnancy. She was the first ever vampire mate and now the first ever to bear a vampire's child. The pregnancy wasn't the easiest one, but she had to do everything she could to keep that part of Raven alive. They suspected the child to be a vampire as well, because she was rapidly losing weight. In her case it was lucky that a witch's pregnancy only lasted 3 months, or she would've dried out.

Marina went into labor in the same field she took Raven to on their horseback ride. The same field that now housed his tombstone.  She gave birth to a healthy baby boy she named Craven. Craven grew up normally and they wondered if he was fully human. They were proven wrong on his 7^th birthday when he accidentally bit into his bottomlip while brushing his teeth; his fangs had come out. Vampiric urges started to kick in and even though he was able to eat human food, from that day on he had to hunt small animals in the woods to satisfy his blood thirst.

Craven is the first and only one of his kind. A half vampire, half human child that was born, not bitten.

Marina was contacted by the High Witches Council to take up her post as council member, but she refused. She wanted nothing to do with witchcraft, despite being born a witch. She was perfectly happy just being a mother to Craven.

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

Gibson – Tyson

The night Charlotte went to the vampire leader to deliver the declaration of war with Kat and Angelica, her mind played tricks on her. She was seeing things. It was when they had returned to Hunter's HQ that it was all cleared up. Chadd had followed them here. He waited until the bitchy hunter had left to make his presence known. Charlotte couldn't believe her eyes. Chadd, her brother wasn't dead. Instead he was one of the very things she hunted. The things she hunted to avenge HIS death! All this time he had led her to believe he was killed by vampires. Chadd tried to explain, but Charlotte wasn't having it. When he called her by her pet name 'Lotte' she shot him. Even Kat couldn't believe she did that.

Chadd explained anyway, just to keep her from fighting in the upcoming battle. He knew things; things about the vampire Calum that could lead to his baby sister's death and that was the last thing he wanted. He left all those years because he wanted to protect her. He couldn't let her die now… Charlotte still wasn't having it and told him she'd kill him if he showed his face again. Chadd showed his face every night since then. He was that determined. This made Charlotte rethink her purpose in all of it. She got into this profession to avenge his death. Now that he wasn't dead, she was kind of lost. This was the one thing she was best at, but to be honest, her resolve had changed. She wasn't going to fight something between Lillian and her lover. Especially now when all Lillian seemed to think about was her revenge. Charlotte's role in this was done. She told Kat she wasn't dying for some lover's spat and was leaving. She wanted Kat to come with her. Kat refused. Charlotte's resolve might have changed, but Kat's hadn't.

Charlotte left 2 days before the great confrontation (LOL). She met her brother Chadd at the bus depot for the last time. She told him she would move on with her life, as far away from here as possible. But that she was still a hunter. For her the brother she had, had been dead for too long to try again now. She'd turn her head the other way this last time. If he ever came in front of her again, she'd kill him. With those last words she boarded a greyhound to elsweyr (Skyrim plug –elsewhere-)

Katherine 'Kat' Tyson learned from Chadd that Calum was a very proud elite and would always take credit for his achievements. He didn't take credit for clearing out the Taihinde Clan of hunters. That it must've been the work of a rival hunter clan. Kat put 2 and 2 together and came to the conclusion that it must've been Lillian. She kept Kat alive just to be able to get her hands on the anti-vampire venom that the clan was famous for. Kat felt betrayed and saw Lillian for what she was. She'd do anything to get her way.

On the battlefield Kat searched endlessly for Lillian, but couldn't find her. Was she even there?

At some point Kat got distracted and was surrounded by 15 vampires. She met her end at a rabid low level vampire that ripped into her neck.

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

High Witches' Council

After Jane and Julie's visit the trio visited every possible outcome to ensure that the balance between good and evil and the non-magical world would remain. The only solution was to keep magic out of the battle and let the hunters and vampires cancel each other out. They drew up a magical barrier, a dome, to prevent any magic user to enter the battlefield. Their plan worked to a certain point. They hadn't taken into account Damian's power of the elements. When they realized that he could manipulate the earth from underneath the dome, the outcome of their plan was fast changing. He was disturbing the balance they had foreseen. He had to be removed. They sped up the time of Jane's pregnancy and sent her into labor. Her complications made Damian and Julie leave the battlefield, putting the outcome the council had predicted back on track.

When all was over, it was time for the council to retire and recruit the next council members. Born into the same family, they were to be the most powerful council members yet. Victoria, Mica and Karima appeared to Jane, Julie and Marina to inform them of their duties towards the magical community and that it was time to take their place in the council. To the astonishment of the Council, the three witches refused. This had never happened before and they were at a loss for words. With no new council members to relieve them of their duties, they had no choice but to stay in their post for another something-something years before the next members were ready. Were they even born yet?

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

Hudson

Angelica was out for revenge of her own. The realization that she was just a pastime for Raven and the care he had shown for his new mate enraged her. She wouldn't rest until she killed him.

With that fire in her heart and eyes she entered the battlefield. The fight ensued and she disposed of numerous vampires before she spotted him. She saw red and charged at him. Her spear had been coated with an anti-vampire concoction. They fought for what seemed like a long time. She ultimately got the drop on Raven. Angelica drove her spear through his heart, the anti-vampire venom dripping into it. No vampire could heal from that, not even an elite. Raven spun around and drove the same spear through her as well, impaling them both on it. She smiled at him and whispered, 'At least she won't have you either' as her eyes clouded over.

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

Kaiser - Wick

Chase reunited with his sister and the two of them are closer than ever. Or at least as close as Lubinnia allows. She still hasn't been able to lift the binding spell she put on Chase, much to the later's annoyance. Lubinnia was ultimately forgiven by Marina and allowed to stay by her side. Meaning that Chase was there too. Chase never forgave himself for getting trapped in this spell by Binny, meaning that he couldn't protect Raven when he needed to. He vowed that for as long as he is able he'd take care of Raven's son Craven. The next generation of vampires. One not bitten, but born!

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

Lewis

The hunters were beginning to suspect Lillian of being crazy when she talked to her dead sister over and over again. Was she crazy? And if so, what did it matter. She was finally getting revenge for her sister's murder. All the vampires were going to die. Even that Raven. Lost in her thoughts she didn't hear the commotion outside her door. Didn't hear the vampire alarm that was blaring. Not until her door opened and 15 hunters spilled in; thrown by the 2 vampire elites. Raven and Iden were standing in front of her, but what did she have to fear? She was immortal; they couldn't kill her. That was the last thought that went through her mind before she was knocked unconscious by Iden.

The foul smell woke her up and she held onto the bars to steady her up. Was she in a cell?

'You have nowhere to go, love' She turned around to find Iden sitting on a bench in the corner. He was reading a magazine. 'You really think locking me up will keep me from exacting my revenge on your brother?'

'Raven didn't kill your sister and the one that did is already dead. Calum. So you and I will just pass our time in here. Away from all of it'

'Where are we?'

'Abandoned town a few miles into the hills'

'These are sewers'

'Yes'

'You can't keep me here! I need food and water and…'

'And nothing, you're immortal. You won't die of hunger or thirst'

'You're right, so I'll just wait until you die and escape. There's no one around for miles, so you won't have anything…' Then it dawned on her.

'That's why you're here, love', Iden snarled.

Lillian was sentenced to a life worse than death. Being an immortal food source for a scorned vampire lover. No one knew where they were except for Raven and he was dead as well.

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

O'Connor

Iden and Raven ambushed Calum in his residence. The smuck asshole was sitting in his chair like a king. Having send all his pawns into battle for him, he was just waiting on the sidelines to claim whatever was left. His eyes almost popped out of his face when he saw both of his brothers in front of him instead of out there fighting. He wanted to use Val as protection against them (she has the power to remove sight temporarily ), but Iden had caught her first. He mentioned to Raven that she smelled different from the last time he met her. Turned out that Val was now officially mated to Calum. Raven reasoned with Calum and promised to let her go and forget everything if Calum take responsibility for his actions. Iden told him not to be so sure about that and told Calum to tell Raven the whole story. Calum refused.

Iden gave Val to Raven. Calum knew Iden was ruthless, but Raven was known as the Beast of New Orleans. She was more in danger in Raven's hands, so he spilled. He was the one that set those vampires on Raven's path. He ordered the hit that landed him on Marina's doorstep. They used one of his anti-vampire blades. Raven was about to let go of Val when Iden said, 'that's not all…'

Turns out Calum was the one that killed Camilla. Camilla voluntarily became mortal to be able to have children. The unhealed marks on her neck were Calum's. Raven had fed from her earlier and those marks had healed, but the venom of his saliva was still in her blood. That combined with another elite's saliva was a lethal dose. Lillian accused Raven, but it was Calum. Calum bit her because he wanted what was Raven's. He didn't know she'd die… but he also chose to keep silent when she did. Raven lost it. Before Calum had even finished his story he snapped Val's neck. 'NOOOooooooo,' Calum charged. But against 2 elite vampires? He didn't stand a chance. Iden suggested to bury him like their father, but Raven found the likelihood of someone digging him up far too high. They ripped him apart and burned the pieces. They had made the decision that if Lillian wanted a war, they'd clean up everything once and for all. Starting with Calum.

Next on the list was Lillian. She, like Calum, was also holed up in her headquarters. Ready to reap the benefits after all the pawns were done fighting for her. She didn't expect them to come looking for her here, but there was no fear in her eyes when she saw them. They might be hard to kill, but she was immortal. What did she have to fear? The plan they had for here was even worse. Iden and Raven knocked her out and dragged her down to an abandoned underground sewer system, where Iden had a cell build 3 months ago. Not being able to kill her, meant he wasn't gonna let her out of his sight. Raven locked his brother up inside with her and destroyed the lock. Iden was never planning to escape, but when she woke up, she'd want to at some point.

Raven left his brother's cell/tomb and headed for the battlefield to protect Julie and Damian, but they weren't there anymore. One who was still there was Angelica. They fought a long hard battle when Raven was struck through the heart with her anti-vampire spear. Raven turned around and impaled Angelica on the same spear. He looked into her eyes until they clouded over and removed the spear from his end.

Raven could feel the anti-venom spreading through his heart. He wasn't going to survive this. He could hear the faint calling of his name. Marina was there, together with Binny and Chase. Chase fought off surrounding hunters as Marina kneeled next to Raven begging Binny to heal him. He was beyond help.

Raven told Marina to go on with her life. Bad thing happen to good people, but that doesn't mean she should stop living. He specifically told her that she –had- to live on, if not for her sake… His words cut off and the last thing he heard was that little heartbeat he had come to love and then he was gone.

Chapter 36 - Cornered

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

Be Warned:

Butt-picture

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

Lillian briefed Charlotte and Kat on Alex and that they needed to recover her body. There was visible regret and anger on Charlotte's face. If only she had insisted on taking her back with them when they left that night. She only wanted Alex to take responsibility for her actions, not this… never this. Kat wasn't unfazed by this either. She doesn't flinch when she's sent to get vampire remains, but now, knowing the face on the body had her stomach in knots. No matter which way she viewed this, this wasn't going to be like any other job; this was Alex, lifeless on a cold slab.

The feeling of unease hung heavily in Lillian's office during their meeting and even followed them out when they left to figure out a strategy for the unsettling, but necessary job later. Lillian waited for them to exit her office before pressing the intercom button to her secretary again. "I'm sorry, Miss Lewis. I called her several times. The last was 2 minutes ago, but she's not picking up. Should I try again now?"

"No, thank you Vanessa. I'll take it from here…", Lillian answered. She picked up the phone and punched in a different number than the one she let Vanessa dial. The phone was picked up immediately after the first ring.

"I got all of the other calls too, so you know! It's not a vacation if you're gonna calling me"

"Cut it short, Angelica! I need you here"

"Charlotte and Kat can handle it just fine, Lillian"

"One of ours was killed yesterday!"

"Kat or Charlotte?"

"No, but what does it matter? The treaty is void… What is going to happen is big and I need all three of you here. You can take a vacation afterwards for all I care, but right now, you're needed here"

There was a silence on the other line before Angelica sighed. "Fine, I'll be there tomorrow night"

Tomorrow night? That had to mean she was closer than Lillian had originally thought. "Wait, where are you now?"

"Belladonna Cove. I was going to be here for a week or so"

Belladonna Cove- That's where one of the witches lived. "Angelica, I need you to do something before you leave. There's a witch, her name is Rinka DiGorgio; we need her as well. Your job is to persuade her to join our cause. Use any means necessary… the vampires will try to get to her too, we need to be faster."

"Persuade? I don't persuade"

"There's a first time for everything"

"And what if she isn't persuaded by any of the means necessary?"

Lillian sighed, but didn't answer. They needed that witch and whatever power she has. If she couldn't get her, Calum wouldn't either. Angelica had been around Lillian long enough to be able to read her silence if it was work related.

"Got it", she answered, "I'll call you when I have an update"

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

Desiderata Ville

"When will this rain stop? It's depressing!"

"Oh, come on Jase. It's not so bad", the girl next to him answered, "See… now I can wrap my arms around you all the time"

Jase smiled and opened his arms a bit more so she fit perfectly. "I guess it does have some advantages. But I still don't get why you wanted to go to the park. Now. In this weather"

"Oh, It didn't have to be the park. I just wanted to go out with you. I actually got tired of sitting at home waiting for the rain to pass"

"You see, you find it just as depressing", Jase stated.

"Not depressing, just 'in the way'! It was keeping me from you and I thought I'd show it who's boss", she smiled sweetly.

"Right, come on. I'm taking you home"

"Jase!", she pouted.

"MY home, Kayla", he answered looking away from her cute pout, "You said it was so you could be with me, that way you still are, only drier"

Her pout turned into a huge grin and she followed him as they turned back around.

The two of them walked back towards the entrance to the park when Kayla suddenly halted. Jase followed her gaze and noticed someone walking towards them. Kayla's grip on his arm grew tighter the closer it got and then she buried her face in his shoulder.

"Who's there?", Jase yelled.

The man didn't answer, but kept coming closer and closer. He was walking in the pouring rain with no umbrella and… no clothes.

"Who are you?", Jase yelled again, pushing Kayla behind him. He looked towards the park's entrance once more, but something about the man in front of them made him wonder if he could at least get Kayla to make a run for it.

The man stopped in exactly three paces in front of them, blocking their path, and looked up.

"What do you want? Money?", Jase asked, but the man just looked at him, still not answering, and then shifted his gaze towards the few strands of hair just visible over Jase's shoulder. Kayla… he wanted Kayla. Jase tightened his grip on Kayla and took half a step back, pressing her into his back some more. Kayla shivered behind him, but was somewhat curious as to why her boyfriend held her tighter and braved a quick look over his shoulder at the man in front.

Their eyes met; brown and fiery-red… and time stopped. Kayla was mesmerized. The rain was forgotten and so was her boyfriend-shield. All she could think about was that she wanted to see those eyes up close. The man elegantly lifting his arm and beckoned her to him; his eyes never leaving hers. Kayla's feet moved on their own as she side-stepped from behind her boyfriend and slowly started walking.

"Kayla?"

Jase watched with open mouth as his girlfriend moved towards the stranger. It wasn't until he saw her glossed-over eyes that he realized the man was hypnotizing her. Jase pulled her by her arm, but for some reason she was stronger than him and didn't even budge. He let go and watched her settle into the stranger's arms. There was a smile on both their faces as the man caressed Kayla's face; pulling her hair to the back exposing her beautiful neck. He ran his fingers up and down from her ear to her shoulder and Kayla sighed at the sensation.

Jase's fear gave way to anger knowing the man was controlling her and he remembered the pocket knife he had stashed in the rolls of his pants. He took it out and lunged at the stranger who's attention was still entirely on Kayla. Jase buried the knife in the man's stomach, pulled back and then stabbed again. Blood oozed out, but the man seemed unfazed. Horror grew on Jase's face as he watched his inflicted stab wounds close in front of his eyes. This man was a monster. He looked back up and dropped the knife. The fiery-red eyes had left Kayla and were now fixed on him. This was actually the first time he had noticed that they were really RED. An arm closed around his neck and lifted him off the ground as if he weight nothing.

"…you will be next…", the man finally spoke with a voice so raw and rough as if he hadn't spoken for quite some time. There was a partial growl in his voice and Jase noticed his canines were longer than normal. Fangs! On the edge of falling unconscious Jase watched as the stranger leaned over Kayla and buried his fangs into her neck. The sounds of greedily feeding sounded in his ear and Jase lost consciousness. The last sound he heard was a small moan coming from Kayla…

---------

The two adolescents were enough to keep his hunger in check and he continued on his path that ended in an unknown alley. It was the smell of his own that led him there, so he walked towards the door.

"Hold it right there freak"

The clothes the guy wore practically blended into the wall. Clever disguise, but he had noticed him the minute he entered the alley. Vampire; approximately 1 year old; nothing special about him, so he continued walking towards the door when the young vampire blocked his path.

"I said hold it! You think you can just waltz right in here? This isn't a strip club buster, go back the way you came!"

"You are a brave one are you not", the rough voice sounded once more. It was getting better each time he spoke. The young one looked at the man and frowned. It was then that he took a closer look. This was no ordinary man; he was a vampire just like him, but there was a different aura to him. It felt older and kind of similar to the other vampire; that elite that once came here… is he one of his crew?

"Look man, I don't know who you are, but you've-"

"…and that is your mistake…"

The young vampire didn't even have the time to ponder on those words when he found himself jerking violently through the air. His eyes flew back to the naked man… he was doing nothing, just staring at him. Those fiery red eyes were piercing and ripping at his skin and he knew he made a mistake. This was definitely not a normal vampire; this was one of the Elite! He had just offended one of the 3 remaining Elite vampires.

His hovering body crashed into the neighboring wall, where it stayed. He groaned at the intense pain and blood streamed out of his mouth. Then… his body withdrew from the wall and slammed into it again… and again… and again. It grated against the brick wall as it made its way down, landing amidst the trash. He opened his bloodshot eyes and tried to move his head to where the Elite stood, but he couldn’t move his body.

"…yes… you are still alive. Mistake me again and that will change…"

He was in excruciating pain, but still managed to mutter a weak apology that no human ears would be able to hear. The Elite vampire had already forgotten all about the 'trash'  and had his attention on the door in front of him. He twisted the handle and found it locked. Instantly following that action, a small window in the door opened up and another vampire came into view.

"Who are you?"

The Elite vampire smiled at the déjà vu he was about to create…

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

Riverblossom Hills

Astor Residence

"Okay, so hold up! Let me see if I got all of it. You want me to pack my bags and come with you, because you have a bad feeling about Raven for reasons you can't explain or won't explain. Julie! You met him just 3 days ago", Marina said leaning against the doorpost.

"I know I just met him, but I don't know I have a bad feeling okay", Julie answered, quickly looking at Jane.

"Well, a bad feeling doesn't work for me. What brought this on? You were practically fawning over him at gram's party"

"I checked up on him and the things I found weren't exactly-"

"You found something about him?", Marina cut her off.

"Uh, yes… why do you say it like that?"

"Because Binny has been searching for weeks and she found nothing"

'It didn't really come out of nowhere either', Jane said, having been updated on the way over, 'Julie had a-a… dream about a house-number and checked it out. Turned out it was linked to him'

'A 'dream' huh?' Or a 'vision' ?'

Julie dropped Marina's shirt on the floor at those words and Jane sat equally perplexed. 'What are you-'

'Don't insult me. I've known for a while now. Remember when Shadow* threw me a few months ago? Lubinnia healed me. She thought I was unconscious, but I wasn't. I pushed her into a corner until she told me- everything. About her healing powers, about you guys, visions - everything. Now what did you see about Raven?', Marina took a deep breath after she got it all out.

Julie looked at Jane and then shrugged. 'Alright, since you feel you know everything. Raven is a vampire and I don't think he has amnesia. I believe he will lose control at some point and attack you; which is why we're here now, to get you away from him so that doesn't happen'

Marina looked skeptically at Julie, then at Jane. 'Really? You can accept that we're witches who have visions of the past and future, but you don't believe he's a vampire?'

'Well of course not! Vampires don't exist', Marina sat down on the bed next to Jane.

'But they do exist hon! Grams was attacked by one not so long ago. She is fine, don't worry!', Jane ran a comforting hand down Marina's shoulder at her shocked expression.

'Okay, so you say vampires are real…', she scoffed, making Jane frown. She had never seen her cousin like this. Marina seemed a bit toothy in her reaction. '…so, how does Raven fit in there? Last time I checked they don't help people with vegetable gardens or take horses for a trot in the DAYTIME!'.

'I know. We haven't been able to figure out how he does that either, but he is a vampire, Marina. I had a vision of him back in the Victorian age and it was bloody; a massacre. I couldn't see his face, so I searched for other things in the vision. That's when I noticed the house number. I checked up on that and it took me to the bloodshed that happened in that time. There was also something about the O' Connor family that had me wondering. They were mentioned a few times in newspaper articles of back then. There was a picture-', Julie searched around in her bag, 'Shit, I think I left it in my room. There was a picture of the family; an obituary and he was on it… Raven was part of that family in the Victorian era'

'What? And you think that Raven kil-…', Marina choked on the word. This was a lot to take in if any of this was even true. Surely Julie wouldn't lie about something like this AND come up with such a supportive back-story; but still… Raven, her Raven? She didn't recognize him in any of what Julie said.

 'I don't know if he is the one they were talking about. They said the massacre was the work of a mad man. The Beast of New Orleans they called him.'

And there it was- all that Julie found out about the vision. Even Jane appeared overwhelmed by hearing it out loud again. Julie had not told her about the Beast of New Orleans or the picture, so that was news to her ears too. The three of them sat there in silence letting it all sink in before Julie jumped up at the sound of a chuckle behind her and Raven who entered the room after.

'-The Beast of New Orleans- It's been a while since I last heard that one...'

To be Continued…

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

*Shadow: One of the horses Marina has.

Chapter 33 - Suspicious

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

Julie was a bit restless from the image she had seen when she hugged Raven. Usually her flashes came at a single touch, which they shared when he was introduced to her. She made sure of it, to see if he was trustworthy… and there was nothing, not even a shimmer of his past! Then why now, when he was leaving, were her powers triggered?

'I'm off! See you at lunch'

'Okay, say hi to Iridessa for me' Julie answered as Jane left for work. Her vision has been on her mind since yesterday and she barely slept because of it. The image wasn't much, but from what she remembers it was cruel and gruesome. And there was a man… It all went as fast as it came, but she was almost sure it was Raven. He was smiling… no, snarling… with FANGS! Julie gasped at the thought. Raven was a vampire?! She had only just learned of their existence and had never actually seen one, but everyone knew what vampires look like. Really handsome features, enthralling personalities, elegance, red eyes, but most importantly, they don't walk in sunlight.

'Raven doesn't have red eyes, his are brown. Or maybe that's only when they feed…'

Julie felt a nauseating feeling originate in her stomach each time she thought about Raven being a vampire. The same being as the one that attacked they some time ago or the same? Was he send to Marina under cover to get to them? The idea was unsettling. To have been so close to danger on such a happy day for Rosalie… day…

'That's right! It was day when he and Marina arrived at the house!' No red eyes, sunlight… she must've been over thinking it; her vision clouded by him and the fact they've been studying up on vampires. Julie blocked out everything happening in the foreground of her vision and instead recalled the surroundings. It looked old… almost Victorian old. The street was paved with small stones and the street lights… definitely Victorian. There was a familiar house-number sign right behind the vampire all smeared with blood. It covered half of the sign, but she was able to extract a few numbers off it. Julie tried to think back to where she had seen that sign before, but like always, when you need something, you can never recall where it last was.

She decided to check up on the sign to see where it's from and the only place to look for history is the library…

Julie walked into the reading area and halted in front of the glass case. She knew she had seen a sign like that somewhere before. A history buff college buddy of hers had told her the library housed some antiques, but she's not an art or antiques fan, so why would she go looking for them. Lucky for her she did see it in passing…

'Excuse me' Julie said to the librarian pushing the cart with tattered books in front of her. No doubt on their way to the repair-wing for a new paperback or binding. 'I'm sorry for bothering you, but do you know where I can find this number-sign? I would love to have it in my garden…' she smiled at the librarian, knowing she was acting dumb. Everyone knew these were antiques… but then again, most people made jokes about blondes being dumb, so why not use it to her advantage even if the statement wasn't true.

'These are antiques! Most over a hundred years old if not more! That particular piece is one of the number-signs they used in New Orleans. They don't make those any more obviously, no, it was passed down in my family and I in turn loaned it to the library. You see, this was my great-grandmother's house number, God rest her soul'

'Full of history and memories, huh?' Julie said, keeping her eyes on the wooden sign.

'Yes. To think this piece of wood made it through all those years AND everything that has happened in New Orleans and is still in good shape'

And I need that history right now, Julie thought. She tried to think up a way to get her hands on that piece of wood. Just a finger would be enough to trigger all the memories it stored, but she knew for a fact that very proud librarian wouldn't appreciate it, to say the least, if she even considered asking her to remove the glass case. She'd probably go into cardiac arrest if even a hair touched it, so that was a dead end… and the place it stood in was in full view of everyone. Even if she waited for miss Antique to walk to the back, someone would see her and she'd probably end up in jail or with a hefty sum for destruction of property… or at least the attempt of it.

'If you'd like you can check the archives for reference. Maybe you can find a good picture to have a replica made for your garden'

'Can't I just take a picture of this one with my phone?' Julie ran the blonde thing into the ground and was enjoying the horrified look on the librarian's face.

'No pictures allowed!' she shrieked, 'The flash will ruin them. Honestly, you people!'

'Relax, I was joking! The archives, please?'

The woman was hardly breathing and pointed Julie in the west direction of the library.

After going down a flight of stairs, she halted at a crossroad. 'Perfect!' Julie exclaimed. There were no signs saying which corridor let to where and she was not planning on getting lost or ending up in restricted areas. She smartly enough halted in the center of the crossroad and looked down each corridor. There was a mirror-like piece of wall down one of them that looked like a sliding window. Maybe she could ask for the way there.

'Excuse me, I'm looking for the archives', she softly ticked on the glass. An young woman slipped through the door. 'The archives? Oh, you're one of those that like to do things by hand aren't you?'

'I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean?'

'You're looking for the library's archives… There's a billion documents on every kind of history in there. You won't be able to read through everything in this lifetime though!'

'Well, maybe you could help me? I'm looking for old number signs of –'

'I highly doubt it! Even I don't know everything that's in there; I'm just an intern… why haven't you tried the computers? Most of what's in the archives has been scanned or written into the system'

That librarian bitch, Julie thought, she had a feeling this was a wild goose chase; Then again she had asked for it. 'So I just enter it in a search engine and it'll find it? How come I didn't think of it? I'm on the computers here all the time' . 'Not just any computers, the ones in the east wing! I bet you've never been in there… good luck!', and with that she closed the door behind her.

Unlike the maze of the west-wing, the east-wing was easily to navigate and before long Julie found herself staring at a computer screen; Scanning through the pictures of old newspapers and documents of New Orleans. Once found, the computer listed everything to do with the street the ???? number-sign was from - 678 hits. She needed to be more specific in the key words and added gruesome and cruel. 25 hits! Rolling through the first pages she realized they were all newspaper articles about the gruesome massacre that happened in that street; all different statements of various police officers with one common saying 'The Beast of New Orleans' . In more than a few of them there was also a mentioning of the O'Connor family and Julie searched for a link between them if one existed.

She found hear-say that the O'Connor family was supposedly killed by the same massacre murderer; the so called 'Beast of New Orleans'

On page 14 was a picture of said O'Connor family, but when Julie twisted the knob to go to that page, it half came into view before snapping back to page 13 like the page was stuck or something. She tried it again and saw half of the picture before it snapped back to page 13. Julie tried numerous times to access that page, but the result was the same. If it didn't go to page 13, it skipped over entirely and went to 15. But she wasn't one to give up. There was something about that family if they were mentioned in those articles. So many people were killed in that massacre, so why were they the ones to get a front page story…

She tried again, stretching the picture. Measuring to the exact point where it would snap back. In that EXACT moment, even if it was for one second, the other half was partially visible. Julie held one hand on the knob, slowly turning it and one hand on the printscreen key. She pressed it exactly in time with the flipping of the page and waited by the printer. As the picture slowly made it out, her eyes grew wider. Even though it was still a bit distorted, amidst the trio of men on the other half of the picture, one face stood out as clear as day. It was a black and white photo, but she could see the browns of his irises stare back at her…

…Raven!

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

Westport
21:15 pm

Jordan slowly turned her head when the black haired man looked in her direction. She was sitting on a bench across the street with her phone against her ear heavily in conversation to not make it obvious she was spying on them. Alex turned her head after him to follow his gaze, but Jordan knew she wouldn't be recognized. She frowned when the black haired man looked in her direction again before taking Alex by the arm and pulling her further into the alley.

Remembering what Kat told her about there, possibly, being a guy and with Alex' lack of resistance, she concluded that that had to be the boyfriend. They seemed pretty normal from where she was sitting with the exception of him looking her way now and again and Jordan told this to Kat and Charlotte later that night in the living room.

'You're sure? Nothing out of the ordinary?', Kat informed.

'No, nothing. They looked like an ordinary couple to me. Her boyfriend is quite the looker too'

'Really? What did he look like?', Charlotte smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. To Jordan Charlotte just seemed interested in his looks, but Kat saw the look in her eyes. Charlotte was on the prowl for signs.

'Oh, you know. The type your mother warns you about; tall, dark and mysterious. He'll bed you and leave you kind of guy. Makes me wonder what Alex does to keep him, huh!', Jordan winked, 'Yeah, I don't know… there's something about him. He's got this bad-boy thing going on complete with that bad-boy hair. I dig the way his mane is covering his eye…'

Charlotte's face lost a bit of color. 'His right eye?'

'Yeah. You know him?', Jordan asked seeing her reaction. Suddenly she felt as if she missed something important with assessing him.

The right-hand man… Charlotte got up immediately and fast-paced to Alex' room, ignoring Kat's questions as she followed close behind her. Charlotte cursed inwardly at why she hadn't thought about it before. The way he had looked at Alex that night; daring her, luring her in… She should've known. Kat and Jordan weren't there, so when Kat followed Jordan, following Alex, this evening she didn't recognize the guy either. 'Damn it!', Charlotte let out. She didn't think Alex would be that stupid.

Without the decency of knocking first, there was no time for that, Charlotte opened the door to Alex' empty room. Of course she wasn't back yet!

'Damn it!'

'Do you know how many times you've said that on the way to her room alone? Are you going to tell me what's up?', Kat said folding her arms.

'Where did you last see them?'

'No! Tell me!'

'Kat, I don't have time to…'. Kat added to her folding hands by tapping foot annoyed. 'The guy's a vampire, okay! Now where?', Charlotte sighed.

'Westport… Does she know?', Kat ran down the stairs after her.

'Of course she does! She's a hunter! He's also the right hand man of the Elite vampire from a few weeks ago! That's when it must've started! Get in!'

'Right there!', Kat pointed at the alley Jordan was watching earlier. Charlotte parked the car on the sidewalk and jumped out to look for Alex, but the alley was long abandoned. They checked for hidden nooks, but other than the occasional drug user, no Alex. 'Nothing!', Kat sighed, 'I think he really did notice Brianna spying on them.'

Charlotte checked her watch. It was little over 10; almost half an hour since Brianna watched them. Enough time to get as far away from here… She leaned against the wall that was tucked inside the alley to shield against the cold wind.

'I'm positive he did now that I know who he is! The position he has, I know he's not a lower-level vamp', Charlotte answered, 'Lillian was right! She's the one we've been looking for…'

'Alex doesn't look like someone that can snitch! Sorry, but she's lacks the IQ for it!', Kat looked down the street for movement, 'Maybe he's using her!'

'I don't care who's using whom! She should know better! He's a vampire! We can't kill them without cause, but we don't get close to them either. I learned that the hard way!'

Kat realized she was reminded of her brother again and didn't know what to say, so she decided not to say anything and let the silence take over.

They stood in the alley for a little while, looking around to maybe still catch a glimpse of Alex, but even the street in front of them was cleared. The night's air was becoming relentless and they decided to go back before it snowed again. Alex probably already did…

'Oh no….', someone whispered.

Kat and Charlotte turned around simultaneously at the sound of the voice; gun in hand. The minute Alex' frame came into view they fired at the movement next to her. If it'd been a human next to her, he'd be dead. But Chase just laughed it off after hearing the bullets he just dodged ricochet off the port-o-potty. However, he was no fool. These were hunters and damn good ones. Alex didn't even come close to their league. He quickly ascended the thin stairs of the fire-escape as they reloaded the next round. Leaping over the adjacent wall, he could feel the bullets trail behind him. They're fast… , he thought, 'Alex really had nothing on them… shit!' . One of the bullets went through his jacket the minute he went over the wall.

'What are you doing?'

'What are WE doing?! What the fuck are YOU doing?', Kat bellowed. Charlotte pressed her against the wall. 'Damn it Alex, what were you thinking? WERE you even thinking? Lillian was right when she pointed you out. You're the snitch we've spend days looking for'

'I would never!! Believe it or not he never asked me anything work related. Not once!', Alex defended.

'You stupid girl! HE DOESN'T HAVE TO! Most upper-level vamps have the gift of mind-tricks! Whatever you see he can see too!', Kat threw her hands up in exasperation. She could punch Alex right now.

'He… he didn't…', Alex knew that was a lie. He had pushed so many images into her head only now did she realize he probably knew how to extract too. So all this time he'd been using her…

Charlotte was disappointed and didn't fail to show it. Somewhere inside she had hope for Alex with her being so intrigued, asking those questions. Now she knew there was no victim that got bit - it was her; she was questioning for herself.

Kat was too furious to even look at Alex'. She looked at Charlotte instead who was sporting an unreadable look with eyes penetrating Alex'. 'We can't shove this one under the rug Charlie!', Kat said.

'I never planned on it! I just wanted to see for myself if it was true!', Charlotte never removed her eyes from Alex', 'Come on, we have to go back!'

'My car's on the other side…', Alex whispered. Now that she was found out, she actually feared going back to HQ. Mainly because she had no idea what to expect from Lillian.

Charlotte just turned around, followed by Kat, and got in the car. No words were needed… Alex would get booted out if she came with them. The same if she came later, so it didn't really matter if she decided to run. Alex walked to her car and watched the others spin around the corner. She picked up her phone and dialed his number. 'Where are you?'

'Far from you, that's for sure!'

'I need some answers Chase! Where are you?', Alex said through closed teeth.

'Need all you want babe! I come to you! Not the other way around!'

She could hear the smug smile through his words and it angered her. Alex hung up the phone and threw it onto the passenger's seat. It was no use tracking his cell number cause she knew he'd have a new number by… now! He only ever used one number once, so instead she punched in the code of the tracker she put in his jacket. She had only attached it tonight, so hopefully he hadn't found it yet.

Bingo!... Alex thought when the little red dot appeared on her GPS screen and she set off in that direction. At first it moved further and further each time she got to the places the GPS showed, but then it stopped. She got out of the car and moved the coordinates from her car GPS to her phone. It let her into an alley; much like the one the girls found her in, only a lot darker. The GPS turned itself off when she stood over the jacket; thrown onto the floor. Guess he had figured it out…

Alex bend down to pick it up when a hand closed itself around her slender neck and lifted her with ease. She had a painful reunion with the brick wall as Chase pushed her against it and lifted her off the ground; leaving her hanging by her head.

'I can hear a dog whimper 5 streets from here, Alex! Did you really think I wouldn't notice the 'almost' silent beeping of a tracker in my jacket?! Honestly?', he lifted her a bit higher. Alex could feel the rough material of the wall through her jacket as her back slid against it. 'You're right, I'll lead you to the nest. You and your little hunter friends. You must really be stupid to think that!'

'They have n-nothing to do with it. I-I… just w-wanted to be able to… f-find you', Alex choked, but Chase didn't remove his hand around her neck.

'Well, I'd say you found me! You're very brave, hunter! To travel into this dark alley all on your own. Do you really think I'm the only one that wanders them?', Chase hissed baring his teeth at her.

As if on cue, a glass bottle rolled on the ground a little further away, making Chase's head snap to the direction it came from.

'Chase…', Alex let out weakly on the verge of passing out. 'DO NOT say my name in this place', Chase closed his hand a bit more until she was unconscious. Taking a few steps back he looked left, then right down the alley. The sound of another bottle filled his ear; this time from the other side of the alley and Chase took a defensive stance. He sensed a group of 5 hungry vampires. Not so new-born, but not that experienced either. He smiled at how easy this would be and even enjoyed picturing their blood gushing from their bodies after ripping their heads off, until Alex crossed his mind again. He watched her as she lay slump against the wall. One of them might get to her first and the last thing he'd want is for her to die at the hands of a vampire… he'd be the first one the other's would hunt.

He cursed inwardly, threw her over his shoulder and took her back to the room in the abandoned warehouse.

-To be continued-

A/N:

If you happen to notice a lack of snow in some pictures.... what can I say... Sims!

Snow vanishes a lot quicker than in real life!

Hope you enjoy! (Yes, I'm also aware we're cliffing....)