Ren paced the living room in Julia's house. After the attack, they made her house their base of operations. Rosalie's wound was still life threatening and healing slowly. She needed dark faerie blood three times a day and Ren and Edrys had to take turns casting healing spells to stop the wolfsbane from poisoning her any further.

Despite its name, wolfsbane was deadly to witches. It blocked a witch's powers and then rotted them from the inside out. It was a slow and painful process and the only cure was dark faerie blood, special herbs, healing spells ̶ from a powerful witch or faerie, and time.

Alex walked down the stairs rolling down his sleeve. The amount of blood Rosalie needed was talking its toll on Véronique, she had to feed extensively. While Véronique went out feeding Alex would give Rosalie his blood.

His eyes met Ren's and Alex could tell he was in for a barrage of questions. "Hey, Tink, you really need to get some rest. If you keep this up, you will run yourself into the ground and won't be of any use to anyone." He knew exactly what Ren was going through and that no amount of persuading would get him to rest.

Ren glared at Alex. "You of all people should know that will never happen." He turned to Abby, Ella and Kuro. "I can't believe we trusted Damien. I told you guys there was something off about him."

"I already told you, Ren, Damien is a good guy. He hates Thorsen as much as I do. He wouldn't betray us," Alex defended his friend.

Ren scoffed. "Then you're a fool, because I'm telling you he had a hand in all of this. If you just open your eyes and look at the facts they all stack up against him."

Abby joined them, she had a concerned look on her face, worry radiating in waves off her body. Placing a hand on Ren's shoulder she said, "Arguing over this will not get us anywhere. Come on you two, we need to sit down and really go over everything. There has to be a clue somewhere."

Ren's hard expression softened as if her touch had been a healing balm on his frayed nerves. Interlocking his fingers in hers he said, "You're right as usual." Turning to Alex he said, "Let's sit down and discuss this."

Alex could see there was something going on between those two and he hoped Abby could keep Ren calm. Over the past three days every time they sat down and comb through events, Ren always ended up flying off the handle half way though. It put a real hamper on making any progress.

When Alex sat down on the sofa he said, "Okay, I think we should start where we left off. We've been over and over the events up to Halloween."

Kuro scooted forward; he hesitated a moment. "Ren, I don't want you to lose it, so I need you to chill." Ren gave him a nod. "Good. Now, I've been wondering what that drink was that Damien was always giving Jules. She said it was some sort of juice but I seriously have my doubts because she changed so much."

Alex had noticed Julia's strange behaviour, but he would not blame it on Damien. "He told me it had brosiaberries and other faerie fruit in it. We all know how faerie food can drive non-faeries to do insane things."

Ren raised both his eyebrows at Alex. "Seriously, Alex, brosiaberries do not give a person a personality transplant. It was like Julia was Jekyll and Hyde."

"You know, what you guys are describing sounds almost like someone on dark faerie blood," Felicia said walking into the room carrying a basket. She'd been making meals for everyone and popping in and out checking on them in between the town clean up and council meetings.

"Alex, I know you don't want to admit it but you know she's right. I was even wondering if Damien was giving her his blood," Véronique said as she walked in behind Felicia.

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Ren shouted.

Véronique gave him a look that told him he was pushing his luck. "Because, I don't like the girl. And frankly what the hell do I care if Damien was giving her his blood. That's not a crime, Tinkerbelle. For all we know Julia could be into all that kinky stuff."

Alex shot up off the couch fuming, ready to slap some sense in her. Luckily Ren jumped up and held him back.

Ren whispered to him, "Calm down man; she isn't worth it. Believe me, if I thought slapping the fangs right out he her mouth would help I'd be the first one to do it."

Alex chuckled. He had to admit for a light faerie Ren was all right. "Not if I got there first. Thanks, I'm cool."

"So let's just assume that Damien was giving Jules his blood. What would be the benefit or gain in doing that?" Kuro asked.

"It all depends," Felicia said. "There are many uses for blood: different rituals, giving strength, healing, forming bonds and as Véronique so eloquently put it some kinky things. Unless we know more, it's hard to say. For the time being let's just set all that aside, I want to know what happened at that party."

Everyone sat down and each of them recalled the events of the party over again.

When it was Abby's turn she started to go over everything that happened. When she was done she looked at Ella prompting her to tell her version of events.

Ren looked concerned and raised a hand to stop Ella from talking. "Abby, you completely skipped the part where you over heard Mormo in the room with Jules."

Abby opened her mouth to tell what she heard, and a vacant expression washed over her face. "I don't know. I can't seem to remember that part. I remember walking down the hallway then everything goes fuzzy and blurry and then I remember getting you guys."

"Interesting," Felicia said. She stood up and walked over to Abby placing a hand on her forehead, quietly chanting. "Huh. It would appear you've had a weak block put on you."

The whole room went dead quiet.

Ren shot up and repeated the process Felicia did without the chanting. Then he crouched down and gave Abby a smile. "I can get rid of the block but it will hurt a little. It's a crude spell; sloppy really and I'd say done in a hurry."

Abby took Ren's hand and looked into his eyes. "I trust you. If this will help find Julia then I can put up with the pain."

Ren sighed then gave a concerned look to Felicia. "I need for everyone to move over to the other sofa." He placed his hands on either side of Abby's temples and whispered, "I'm sorry, Abby."

She gave him a warm and loving smile. "It's okay, Ren, just do it."

An orange energy emitted from his hands and pulsated into Abby's head. She went stiff as a board and started to breathe heavily like she was fighting something. The energy from Ren's hands grew and changed from orange to red and then purple to bright blue. Abby started screaming. Ren broke the connection, and she went limp. He scooped her up in his arms and brushed the sweat away from her face. Felicia handed him a glass of water and when Abby opened her eyes, he helped her drink it.

"Can you tell us if you remember anything?" Ren softly asked.

Abby closed her eyes then said in a horse voice, "Oh gods, I'm sorry. I'm so stupid I should've told you that night. But it was so crazy. What have I done?"

It was Alex's turn to calm her down. Her words and expression struck fear into his very core. He sat down next to her and Ren and gave her leg a pat. "It's okay, Abby, just calm down and tell us what you remember."

Tears lapped her eyes. "Damien was shouting at Mormo that if he or Thorsen did something it would kill her. I remember Mormo saying that he would take Julia to Klamath Falls. Oh, gods what if Thorsen's killed her?" She let out a little sob.

"No, she's not dead, I would've felt it," Alex shot back.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Véronique shouted at him.

Alex didn't have time to deal with her temper tantrums. All he wanted to do was go to Klamath Falls and find Julia.

Ren's eyes glowed with venom. "Rein it in, Cruella. No one is in the mood to put up with your baggage." He focused on everyone else. "Alex is right, Jules is not dead. I would've felt it. Felicia, can you do a locater spell?"

She shook her head. "No. I tried that days ago."

"But we now know where she is, doesn't that change things?" Ella asked.

"I wish it did, but Klamath Falls is one of those towns that has a ward on it. So it makes long distance tracking impossible. We would have to do the spell in the town. I'm sorry but we just can't spare anyone to do that," Felicia replied.

"It doesn't matter, I'll go. I've been tracking Thorsen for decades and I've known him even longer. I know his patterns and it won't be hard to find him." Alex looked at Felicia. "I would ask a favour though. Could you do a spell and pinpoint all the spots in the forested areas near the falls that have barriers and mark them on the map? That will help me narrow the search down."

Felicia got up. "Sure. Ren, can you find me a map?"

When Ren left to find a map Véronique pulled Alex into the kitchen. "I'm coming with you," she demanded.

He shook his head cursing under his breath. He could see the jealousy in her eyes and didn't have time for it. "You have to stay here. One, you're in no condition to help. Two, Rosalie still needs your blood."

She softened a little and tried to stroke his cheek. "You can't go, Alex, it is too dangerous. Let Ren and the others go; I can't lose you." Alex brushed her hand away.

Alex had been putting this moment off far too long, but it was time to put an end to the charade. "You never had me in the first place. I'm sorry that I let you believe I felt something for you. But that has never been and will never be the case. I don't love you and I never will. And it's time to let this obsession you have for me, go."

"That's not true," Véronique pleaded the desperation clear in her voice, "I know you could love me the way I love you. If you would just forgive yourself for Beatrix and move on."

Hearing this pissed him off. He clenched his jaw. "You never knew her so I'm willing to let that comment slide. You act like you were there when she was alive. As if you saw what Damien, and I went through. This fantasy world you've built up has to end. You were a child, not even allowed to attend court when she died. You've never even seen what she looked like let alone know the depths of my feelings for her."

Alex grabbed her shoulders and stared into her eyes. "Get this through your thick head because I will only say this once. It took a long time, but I got over what happened to Beatrix and I've moved on. I've found someone else, and it's time you did the same, Véronique."

"You led me on; you made me believe you might care for me, eventually. Are you just going to act like what you and I did never happened, that it meant nothing?"

He couldn't even look at her. "It was a stupid mistake. A foolish moment of weakness and it meant nothing. You should forget that it ever happened just like I have. I think it would be for the best if you returned to Alandria when I get back."

Ren and Felicia walked in with the map just as Véronique ran out of the kitchen in tears.

"Way to let her down easy champ. Do you really think crushing the She Devil's heart was a good idea?" Ren asked.

Alex shot him a poisonous look and snapped, "Shut up, Tink. I'm not in the mood. If there was more time, then I probably would've done things differently."

"We don't have time for this, boys," Felicia interceded. "Alex, I've marked the spots on the map you asked about. But this spot I've marked here," she pointed at the red dot amongst the black ones. "Last week this spot had a heavy barrier on it. Now it's gone. It's strange to put up a barrier that strong and then just take it down. Even if you were leaving the property, you would still leave a ward of some type, to stop anything getting in. I would start with that one."

"How on Earth did you spot that?" Ren asked.

Felicia gave him a sly smile. "It's an old habit from my days in Salem."

Kuro, Ella and Abby joined them in the kitchen.

"What's the plan where are we going?" Kuro asked rubbing his hands together.

Alex looked at him as if he was crazy. "Um, we are not going anywhere. This is a solo mission, its way too dangerous."

"Exactly. It's dangerous which is why you need backup," Kuro said with confidence. "So like I said: where are we going?"

Ren stepped in. "Alex, he's right you need help. I would go with you but I have to stay here and help Rosalie. Edrys and I can only hold the healing spell for two hours before we have to trade off. Kuro is a superb fighter. All brawn, very little brain." Kuro hit Ren on the arm. "Ouch. Mate, I was joking."

"Fine," Alex said. He knew he would need all the help he could get and wished Damien was there to help.

"How are we going to attack it?" Abby added.

Ren shook his head. "Abby, you're not going anywhere. I can't speak for Ella but you are in no condition to go. Besides, chances are Mormo's put something in you that allows him to track you, or at least lets him know if you've left the town."

"Ren is right, Abby. But I'm going with you guys. I can shift into anything and I'm also one hell of a fighter," Ella said in a tone that told everyone there was no use arguing with her.

Alex was finished arguing about who would go, they had already wasted way too much time. "Well, if we sneak in, then I'm hoping that we can locate Julia quickly and get out with minimal fighting. Assuming she's there it will be tough finding her."

Edrys walked down the stairs and joined the group. "Don't worry, Rosa is fine. She wanted you to take this with you, Alex." She placed a small oval shaped pendent on a silver chain in his hands. Opening it she said, "This will flash red when Julia is close. The quicker it flashes the closer she is. Rosa used to use this when Julia was little to keep tabs on her."

Ren gave a little laugh. "I remember that. I also remember the row Jules and Rosalie got into when Jules found out about what it really was. I never thought I would be thankful for Rosa's overbearing nature."

"Look, you guys need to be extra careful," Edrys said with a sombre voice. "Mormo is a powerful warlock. If you have the option of fighting or running away; run away as fast as you can."

Then she set down a black velvet cloth that had something wrapped in it. Untying it, she opened it up to reveal six daggers with a ruby-encrusted hilts. "These have been magically fused with wolfsbane. If you have to fight him, use these. I only wish I could give you something to use against Thorsen. But I figure if you take out his warlock that will help. These knives are one hundred times more potent than the one Thorsen used on Rosa. So you only need to inflect a good wound and it should kill him." Edrys turned to Alex and handed him a long dagger with a sliver hilt sheathed in a soft brown leather shoulder holster. "This may come in handy. Good Luck."

They finished going over a rudimentary plan and then headed out. Everyone was too busy concentrating on what they would do that no one noticed Véronique had left a decanter of her blood on Rosalie's bedside table and had vanished.

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