I wasn't sure how long we laid there before I finally became so exhausted that I drifted asleep, probably in midsentence. And I wasn't sure how long I had been asleep when I felt a weight move on top of me. In my drowsiness, I didn't respond at first, not used to feelings of panic or a need to be vigilant in my sheltered life.

Fingers twisted around my wrist slowly, stretching my arms carefully above my head. I turned my head from one side to the other sleepily, shifting when the weight began to pin against my hips heavily. My eyes fluttered open with confusion and when I could focus in the night I saw Niko above me, holding me down with a look of intense hunger in his features just barely held back by something more like excitement.

I tried not to panic immediately, knowing how he had told me he wouldn't harm me.

"There she is," Niko growled with pleasure, "Pretty little naïve Rin."

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice breathy with the beginnings of fear. Niko smiled, flashing those sharp fangs before lowering his face quickly towards my shoulder, bared and vulnerable while I had been sleeping. I gasped, tensing against him as he breathed in my scent luxuriously.

"You want it, don't you," Niko mused lowly before lifting his face away. "'Be my friend'. How sweet." He released a grip on one of my wrists and reached for the bottom of my gown. I used my free hand to grasp at his other, meaning to pull him off of me, but hesitating as well.

There was something different in his eyes, something I hadn't noticed before. It wasn't something different like a shape, nor an off-coloring. It was something like... like a different soul was looking through the crimson windows of his eyes.

"Who are you?" I inquired abruptly, my fear halted by my own confusion.

The man who looked like Niko, but who I was convinced was not Niko, paused just as he began to push the fabric of my gown up and over my skin. He turned his gaze from my flesh to my eyes with interest, but didn't release me.

"I'm Niko, remember?"

"You're not Niko," I said with certainty. The man released his grip on my gown and instead crawled further over me intimidatingly.

"What makes you say that?" He asked dangerously. "Clearly, I'm Niko. We've been talking all night about stars, friendship, Daemons, and Humans... all that stupid shit. You're so curious. So innocent and cute. So delicious." He ran his fingertips over my arm slowly, the feel of his sharp claws stinging but not cutting the surface of my skin... yet.

I shook my head determinedly. "You're not Niko. Who are you?"

The man made a noise in his throat, something like a growl of a wolf but it wasn't angry. If anything, he was pleased, as though he had always lived being mistaken as Niko and being identified properly as something else was just what he wanted. I stared into his eyes curiously, his features still so handsome above me even though he was someone other than Niko, but still someone so different and intriguing.

"Well, then, I guess there's no point hiding. I'm Nikolas Veil, first Prince of Seola, but you can call me Kol," he finally said, "And yes, I'm going to hurt you..." I had an entire list of questions for Kol, who looked exactly like Niko, shared his full name and title, but obviously was a different person altogether. These questions were halted by his last statement, an echo of an answer to the question I had asked Niko early in the night.

"Why?" This was the only question I could manage to squeeze from my lips at the moment.

"Because Niko likes you and I like fucking with him," Kol responded dangerously before peering at me thoughtfully as though planning how exactly he was going to hurt me, "He had some good ideas himself, though he's not man enough to act on it. Idiot. You were practically begging him to fuck you in the hall before you even knew his name."

His words were vulgar and rude, words I'd never heard aloud much less being directed towards me. I had been raised a proper lady, and due to this my skin heated bright red with surprise and embarrassment at his words.

Kol smiled then, his smile devious with dark intention that no amount of stunning handsomeness could hide.

"Don't worry, I'll give you more than what you want. I like it extremely rough and bloody, though," Kol teased, his voice lowering as he began to shift above me.

"Wait! Wait," I began to panic, fully believing Kol to do exactly as he said he would do. He reached under my gown and roughly pulled at my undergarments, making me yelp in surprise as he bared me. "Don't! I'm a... I'm ..."

"A virgin, definitely," Kol growled with hunger. He grasped at my gown from my shoulder, ripping the fabric until my flesh was bared below my collar bone and then over my breasts. I used my free hand to attempt to cover my flushed skin in vulnerable fear, my heart racing terribly in my chest and a scream building in my lungs.

"Mmm, so sweet," Kol teased, grasping my free wrist roughly before pushing it firmly on the ground. I panted fearfully, my subconscious concentration beginning to slip under the panic as he shifted dangerously between my legs. I felt my eyes sharpening and a new panic took over. I quickly closed my eyes, a small sound of terror escaping my throat as I turned my face into my arm firmly.

Kol paused above me, obviously noticing the change in my own pace.

"You're hiding something." Kol stated lowly, "Niko thought so. Look at me."

I tried to pull back my concentration, trying to suppress my nature and to hide those dangerous eyes, but I couldn't with Kol holding me down, threatening me, and baring me so openly to him against my will. He was going to kill me, I was certain, and it was all I could think about.

"Look at me," He growled, releasing his grip to grasp my face in his claws dangerously. He forcefully turned me to face him, but I just as firmly held my eyes closed tight. My concentration was completely lost now, my lungs burning as I panted in fear under him. I clasped my hands around his wrists desperately, trying to cling to something to not lose hope.

"Let me go," I demanded breathlessly.

"And who are you to give me orders? Look at me or I'll rip your eyes out right now," Kol demanded in turn. His grip tightened and his other hand lifted, reaching with those sharp claws no doubt to pluck my eyes from my skull. My eyes flew open and I gasped in panic, looking at those hovering fingertips instead of Kol.

He froze above me, stunned. I grasped at my gown, covering my chest protectively, but unable to protect myself otherwise. Tears stung at my eyes as I realized they were fully bright, molten gold before a Daemon; meaning I was doomed regardless. Daemons had wiped out all Seraph already. They wouldn't allow me to live and they would punish my father for hiding me.

"Don't hurt my family," I pleaded abruptly, a sob escaping my throat as I began to tremble under him, "They didn't know. I.. my father knew, but please don't hurt him. God, why did I admit that? Please don't hurt my father."

"You can hide your eyes?" Kol asked with great interest. I choked on a response, but nodded quickly in fear.

"Don't rip my eyes out," I requested tearfully.

"I would never," He answered, his tone gleefully devious. "Get up." Kol was suddenly no longer holding me down. Instead, he stood over me, towering and intimidating. I felt like I had been thrown around carelessly, but I was certain my ordeal was nowhere close to being finished.

"Up. Now." Kol demanded. My body still trembled, my eyes still glowed that forbidden gold, and despite all of this, I found myself lifting my hand shakily and reaching for Kol's aid. He peered at my hand emotionlessly for a moment, but then abruptly grasped it. I felt the power in his grip, the sharp claws sting my skin, just before he pulled me from the ground to my feet before him.

I gasped and clung to the top of my gown protectively, heat flushing my skin as Kol's eyes raked over my form openly.

"Where are we going?" I asked, frightened and confused.

"Nowhere, yet. Fix your eyes," Kol ordered as though such a thing would be so simple in this situation. I looked at his grip on my hand, my heart jumping in my chest as I imagined all the terrible tortures he might be planning for me.

"I... I can't right now," I answered honestly, tears continuing to burn my eyes as I tried to reign in my fear so I could even begin to get that subconscious concentration back. "I'm afraid." Kol suddenly pulled my wrist forward, tugging me forcefully towards him. I whimpered as I stumbled closer to him and closed my eyes when he lowered his face over my shoulder dangerously.

"Fear is healthy," He said into my ear, his voice low and... soothing. I felt the air heavy in my lungs and I remained frozen in his grasp, but he didn't hurt me. Instead, I felt soft lips run over the skin of my shoulder carefully, causing small noises of whimpers to escape my throat.

"Are you going to bite me?" I braved to ask, swallowing hard as I remained still.

"I'll leave that for Niko. He'll love and hate it, but he'll have to if he wants you to live," Kol responded, something in the comment pleasing him but also holding a hint of reluctance. I didn't understand the statement myself. How would biting me keep me alive? "The longer it takes for you to fix your eyes, the longer you'll have to suffer my presence here with you. I might be tempted to pass time in other ways..."

I tightened my grip on my gown in response, making Kol chuckle easily.

"What happens after I 'fix my eyes'?" I whispered fearfully.

"We go tell your father the good news," He answered simply, hooking a finger over the fabric of my gown and tugging it just enough to bare more of my shoulder and part of my upper arm. I held my breath for a moment before releasing it once I didn't feel any attack on my bared skin.

"Good news?" I breathed quietly.

"Of our engagement, of course," Kol responded absently, as though the statement wasn't something absolutely absurd. In just a few words, my fear faltered into bewilderment and confusion. I opened my eyes widely, finding myself caught in his dark stare as he watched my reaction with amusement.

"Of our what?" I asked, my voice higher than normal.

"We'll tell your father you've accepted my proposal to have your hand in marriage."

I opened my mouth in surprise and then quickly frowned.

"What proposal? I did no such thing."

With my fear ebbing away by such wild statements, I felt my concentration returning to my grasp and my eyes began to dull away into a familiar blue. Kol abruptly grasped my jaw in his hand causing me to yelp as he peered into my eyes intensely.

"Beautiful," Kol stated darkly, causing a responding blush to paint my cheeks despite my wishes. "I will love watching them bleed gold in terror in the future. They sparkle so prettily when you're crying and begging." My blush abruptly paled as all color left my face. I felt my concentration immediately begin to slip again.

"Ah, ah, not yet," Kol smiled pleasantly, "Let's stick to blue for now. You'll need to tell your father you've decided to marry me. We'll be leaving within an hour."

"To where? And why? I didn't decide anything," I panicked, shaking my head in his grasp.

"You'll come with me as my fiancé or I'll execute your father, mother, and those three little babies for housing a Seraph in secret," Kol threatened easily as if he murdered people daily and it never bothered him. I froze at the threat, knowing it to be a very possible alternative, but feeling dread regardless. Marriage? To someone I'd only just met hours before? A Daemon at that, knowing what I was? Plus, he said we'd be leaving within an hour...

But the thought of something happening to Liza, Lupa, Rory, their mother, or my father was too much to bear. Especially knowing it would be because of me.

"Still don't believe me? Okay," Kol made to move towards the mansion and I quickly tightened my grip on his hand to stop him.

"I'll accept! Just... don't hurt them," I pleaded quickly.

Kol smirked and then said, "Good. Let's go."

I stumbled behind him as he pulled me from my favorite hiding nook. I looked back as we ascended towards the mansion, knowing I wouldn't be allowed back to my garden again after tonight. As we entered the mansion, it appeared our disappearance hadn't been secret after all. The interior was lively with guards and shouts of my name in the distance. Upon spotting us, a crimson eyed Daemon stood at attention before Kol stiffly.

"Prince Nikolas," He greeted Kol respectfully before glancing at my form, "The girl's father has demanded a search-"

"Perfect. This will make things quicker," Kol interrupted swiftly. His grip on my hand was still firm, as though he intended to never let me out of his sight for the rest of my life. Or until I was stuck across the Division with him in Seola. "Gather our entourage. We're leaving within an hour. We'll send someone else later to collect the supplies. This is more important."

"Yes, sir," The Daemon answered sharply before pausing, "And the girl?"

"Tell Derek Adara we're in her room and that he should meet us there as soon as possible," He answered before looking at me dangerously. I held tight to my gown with widened eyes, feeling dazed and bewildered. But the look held a lot of demands. I looked from Kol to the Daemon and then began to lead the way to my bedroom quickly, my greatest of fears being how my father would react once I told him of this "proposal".

Kol didn't release his grip on me until we reached my bedroom. Once inside, he finally let me go and looked around quickly. Then he swung open my walk in closet absently and walked towards my vanity table to shuffle through my things, tossing some of it to the floor without concern.

"What are you-" I began.

"Put something more agreeable on," Kol interrupted before finding a small handbag and tossing it at my feet. "You can bring whatever you can fit in that, otherwise leave it."

I hesitated, but bent down to grasp the bag carefully. It was small, meant for makeup or maybe some spare change when going to little parties that I never went to. It would be the first time I'd even be able to use it, and it wouldn't allow me to pack any clothes or anything large. I bit my lip, but then stood and made my way to the closet to pick out a less revealing dress than my torn sleeping gown.

Once I got dressed, I began to try to decide what items I wanted to pack with me. I immediately reached for the picture frame of my family portrait, but it was too big. Instead, I twisted it around and peeled the backing of the frame off before pulling the photo out and folding it twice. After stuffing it in the bag, I began to grasp smaller items; jewelry gifted to me by my father, a little rock Rory had found shaped like a heart, a flower pendant Lupa and Liza got me for my birthday, and a small vial of scented perfume my father said smelled similar to my birth mother. This was all I could fit in the end, so I stood lost among my belongings after this.

The door to my bedroom opened abruptly and my father was suddenly there.

"Father!" I cried out despite myself, but before I could step towards him, Kol had my arm in his grasp and held me back. I turned from my father's sapphire eyes to look at Kol pleadingly, but he only kept his stony gaze ahead on my father.

"What's going on?" Father demanded answers immediately.

"Yes, Rin, what's going on?" Kol asked me, turning those crimson eyes on me dangerously.

I swallowed with great difficulty, looking from Kol to my father and then to the ground in fear of the look in my father's eyes. "I... He... I ...," I struggled greatly on how exactly to explain my situation entirely without bursting into tears, "I'm leaving. W-with Prince Ko... Nikolas. I agreed to... to..."

"Stop. I won't allow it," Father interrupted me furiously before turning his attention on Kol. "My daughter is too sickly to leave this place. Release her immediately. I won't allow you to take her."

"Your daughter is now my fiancé. We are promised to one another and we will be leaving shortly," Kol told father with a tone of dangerous possession, as though he considered me entirely his already. I looked at him with fear, afraid he would become angry and try to harm my father despite me agreeing to leave with him.

"I won't allow you to-," Father began to roar.

"Father! Stop!" I shouted abruptly, frustration adding volume to my voice. I looked to him and let my nature say what it wanted to say, "He knows what I am."

Kol tightened his grip on my arm, making me wince, but the words were already said. Father stood shocked, his fury replaced with fear. For the moment, he was at a loss. Kol sighed loudly, turning to glance at me briefly before smirking.

"You really can't lie. That's going to be a problem," Kol mused before looking to my father, "I know what she is. I know she's not sickly. And I'm taking her with me. I could have taken her as a prisoner and told the world what she is, but instead I will be taking her as my intended and keep her to myself. If you have an issue with it, I'll just..." Kol waved his hand absently, "I don't know, kill each of your children until you're more agreeable. Execute you for treason or something along those lines."

My father paled considerably, finally realizing the extent to how doomed I truly was.

"Please," Father suddenly began to beg, "I'll give you anything. I'll double... triple the supplies. Just leave Corrine alone. She's done nothing wrong. She's innocent... she won't survive in Seola."

"Oh," Kol teased Father with a false sympathetic frown before looking at me. He turned back to my father and smiled. "I'll send you a wedding invite. Come on, Rin. Time to go." Much to my father's dismay, Kol began to pull me past him towards the exit. I gasped, looking to my father if only to gather the courage needed to not scream my way through the halls and wake the babies.

"Dad," I choked out, my fear rising. In a sudden burst of panic, I ripped my arm from Kol's grasp, ignoring the sting of pained cuts in response to his claws, and threw myself at my father. In the moment, my concentration slipped and my eyes sharpened into that golden glow. My Father immediately reached for me, pulling me into a fierce hug and burying my face into his shoulder to hide my eyes as he'd done many times when I was younger.