"That could have gone exponentially worse" Hiari declares from her seat atop Cassius' bed.

"I did not expect anything more. It will take time but I'm a patient man" he replies while absentmindedly changing into lounge wear. Cassius did not want to admit to the pit of anxiety that had made its home in his chest. Not even to Hiari, his Childe, who most likely knows but is gracious enough not to call him out on it. Sofia would be well within her rights to just walk away. In fact, it would be safer for her to cut ties and leave Nosti Valley.

His beloved could forget him and build a life of her own. She could fall in love and start a family while building her culinary career. Sofia would forever feel that something was missing but she could grow to be content. That path would destroy Cassius but he would never hold her back. He could never take the choice away from her. He would spend his eternity living with the constant pain as long as he could watch his Destined from afar and see her alive and safe and as happy as could be expected.

"Is there something you would like to share with me, my Childe? Perhaps something concerning a dear friend of Sofia's", Cassius questions in hopes of distracting himself from the spiral his thoughts were taking.

"I have no idea what you are referring to. I'm going to leave so you can rest, old man", Hiari huffs, but he can see the light in her eyes. Cassius chuckles softly and accepts the kiss on his cheek as Hiari walks out, leaving him in an empty room that suddenly feels cold in a way it never had before.

Usually lying down brings a sense of relief. Normally, he would read a book with some soft music to decompress before going to sleep. Since meeting Sofia once again, his night routine also came with a low level buzz beneath his skin as he anticipated the possibility of seeing her in their dreams.

Tonight was different. Cassius did not wish to intrude on her dreams when Sofia had asked for time and space to think and process. He tried to read but found himself staring at the same words without registering a single one. With a frustrated sigh, he finally gave up. Sleep would hopefully be a reprieve.

Red mist covers a lonely field in the dead of night. Cassius is distantly aware that he is dreaming, but something about it feels strange. There is a tangible quality that speaks of more than dress and illusions. The vampire is on edge, his senses sharpening to pick up on any changes. This is not one of their bond dreams, but it is still somehow connected to his Sofia.

Cassius walks cautiously across the field. He has some vague notion of there being a road hidden among the mist, but the red haze is too thick to see through, as if he is not yet meant to. It isn't until that moment that Cass realizes that he cannot hear or smell anything, as if all his senses except for his sight have been taken away somehow.

Quickening his footsteps doesn't appear to get him to the road any faster and Cassius feels his frustration building. He needs to get there! Even if he has yet to figure out why it is so important. No matter how much he tries, the Primordial cannot access his vampire speed either and that only heightens the dread beginning to pool in his gut.

The smell of smoke is like a shock to the system after having his senses blocked. The scent is thick and wraps around his lungs, permeating his system. Cassius imagines this is what suffocating would feel like, if that was something he could experience, but it only drives him to continue.

Beneath the burning aroma is a tinge of chrome and blood that lay cloyingly on his tongue. It tastes of fear, confusion and pain with lingering hatred that has left the area, only leaving the taint behind. Someone is scared and injured, purposefully so if the scent and taste are anything to go by, yet Cassius is powerless to reach them.

The mist thins just enough to reveal rough shapes and shadows, but it is enough to give the vampire hope that he is near and not too late. Sounds begin to filter back in, an assault on his heightened hearing.

The sound of crackling fire, dripping gasoline and gravel, now crunching beneath his shoes as he reaches the road, is drowned out by small pained whimpers. Cassius bursts forward through the mist and is met by the sight of a gruesome accident. He barely registers anything else once he recognizes the car and sees the bloody message on the shattered windshield left by the rogue hunter's.

'Our warning was not heeded. The blood of those who taint themselves with abominations will fill the streets. It has only begun.'

The dream shatters and Cassius is throwing himself out of bed before he is fully conscious. That was no mere dream. It was a vision or a warning. It doesn't matter which, the results are the same. Now that he is awake, Cassius can feel his fledgling bond with Sofia pulling at him and he responds without hesitation. He distantly knows someone is calling out to him and following him out of the mansion, but cannot be bothered to stop and explain. His Destined, his love, is in danger or hurt and all he can think about is reaching her.

The bond guides him and dread fills his entire being when familiar smells and sounds hit him and he knows exactly what horror awaits him. When he stops abruptly in front of the mangled car, a pained cry is pulled from the depths of his soul. There is the love of his life, unconscious and bleeding. With careful urgency, Cassius pulls her out of the flaming vehicle and gently sets her down in the nearby field.

Sofia's heart is beating too slowly, her breath barely noticeable even to his heightened senses. Some of his people that followed are on the phone or canvassing the area, but Cassius only has eyes for the girl dying in his arms.

For the Primordial being, the earth seems to stop moving, existence loses all light and color, and the person he cherishes above all else takes her last breath.

"Please Fia, please don't leave me" he begs without shame, his hands trembling like they never have as they pump rhythmically as he starts chest compressions. Tears blur his vision as they drip down onto Sofia's bloodied face, leaving tracks in their wake.

"Come on love, come back! Please, come back to me!" Cassius brokenly pleads. A crazed desperation takes over and frantically bites her neck, wrists, arms, anywhere he can reach. He savagely tears into his own wrist and pushes it against her parted lips.

He can bring her back, he knows he can, there is no other fucking choice. He will tear time and fate apart if he needs to, but he cannot live without Sofia. He could accept her living without him, but it is unacceptable for someone so precious to be taken from this world.

Someone tries to pull him away but Cassius snarls, lost to the animal within as he pushes them away. One hand gently caresses his loves dark hair while the other remains in place to feed her his blood. Cassius has venom, tears, and blood coating his face as he openly wails and sobs, rocking them as he continues to bite Sofia, unwilling to let go.

Then the earth resumes its rotation, the first morning rays color the world in vibrant reds and oranges, and the person he cherishes above all else takes a breath...