Anya was the only Strigoi in the room now, Claus had been one of the ones to join in the fight and had died with the others. Anya frowned at Gunner, "Don't mourn Gunner... She'll Awake in a moment and I'll let her Awaken you. We'll be together..."

Anna, who had been limp in Gunner's arms just a moment before snapped red eyes open and before he'd even have a chance to respond since he had her held so closely to him... She buried her fangs in his throat.

Sebastian looked Serena over, and nodded... she'd be alright. Belikov though was leaning against the wall, a hand pressed to his bleeding side. Sometime in the midst of the fight a Strigoi had managed to drive a blade into him... Sebastian was about to go over and heal their best shot at getting out of here alive when he heard a voice that made his heart want to implode in his chest. His face drained of color and then, in the doorway he saw Anna open her eyes... and bite Gunner.

"NO!"

Without even thinking he grabbed Belikov's stake off the floor, his magic already winding through the weapon as he headed for the door...for Gunner and Anna before she could kill the man she... It was a split second decision, he knew he'd only be able to help one... Not enough strength after his stunt yesterday to even pull this off maybe... Before Anya even saw him coming, he'd set her clothes on fire and while she was distracted he'd buried the stake in Anna's back... praying... praying he'd done it right. She screamed , shoving Gunner away from her hard, and the stake stopped halfway in and he had to push again to force it into her heart.

By then Anya had put out her cloths and snarled but the light blasted all around them blinding everyone... When it faded Anna was on her hands and knees vomiting. She'd not been Strigoi for long but she could still taste Gunner's blood in her mouth. She wasn't as damaged in her soul as a Strigoi who would have been that way for days, weeks, years... she remembered herself... and she remembered what she'd just done. She looked at Sebastian, passed out next to her and Gunner who she'd knocked flying and prayed they were both okay. She stumbled to her feet, planning to attack but she didn't have the strength and Anya grabbed her by the shirt and threw her across the room to land next to Gunner, dislocating her shoulder.

Anya started for Sebastian and Anna, who'd been checking Gunner's pulse to make sure he was alive... and he was... just weak from blood loss, cried out. "Serena! Stop her!" She was struggling to stand again but all her muscles were screaming.

Gunner looked at Anya, frozen as she spoke. There she was... He would have preferred her dead. Her words just registered in his head as Anna bite into his neck. He grunted in pain before the endorphins kicked in and he just sat there. He barely even clocked Sebastian who was staking Anna in the back. His heart tightened, no, no... He couldn't kill her...

Then he was being tossed backward against the wall. His head hit it and everything went black as he slumped to the floor.
~
Serena watched as Sebastian ran forward, she didn't try to stop him. She didn't think she could, even in being stronger than him. She watched him race into the room and felt a little sense of pride well up in her when he staked Anna in the back. Which was probably the weirdest sense of pride she'd ever felt. She started to move toward the room, she was the only Dhampir still in fighting condition and setting her clothes on fire was not going to kill Anya. She shielded her eyes at the bright eye and was moving toward Anya when Anna yelled at her to stop her.

Serena ran into the girl's side and tackled her to the ground. She tried to pin her to the ground as the girl laughed, "Oh, if it isn't the little replacement."

Serena faltered in her attack and Anya took the opening, getting her foot on Serena's stomach and launching her into the wall. Both girls stood and brushed themselves off and looked at each other. Anya giggled, "I see I hit a nerve. Got a little crush do you?"

Serena did her best to ignore the taunting and instead focused on the attacks. She ducked under Anya's arm and moved away. She didn't know what this girl had learnt in her time as a Strigoi and she wasn't going to rush into it. The good thing was that it seemed that she seemed to want to kill Serena more than she wanted to change the others at the moment. Anya snorted, "Like he'd ever like you. You're pathetic in comparison to me. He loved me. When I was Awakened he couldn't even look at another girl."

"Until me," Serena said quietly, wanting to get the Strigoi angry, hoping she'd make a mistake.

Anya growled and pounced, Serena moved out of her way but she grabbed hold of her scarf ripping it off. Serena cringed as Anya laughed, madly, "Oh I see... Sebastian has a things for wounded ducks..." She walked over to her, Serena's eyes notably glazed over, "I can give you what you want... But it is going to hurt."

She grabbed Serena's neck and pulled her close, biting into her. Instead of her face going slack though as the endorphins coursed through her body, Serena screamed as though her body were on fire. Slowly, the screams weakened until Serena made no sound at all and Anya tossed her aside, "Now," She said turning toward her friends.

"No! Anya STOP," Anna screamed, the blonde ignored her and Anna struggled to her feet, getting into a fighting stance even though she had almost no strength left and her vision was blurring from the concussion she was trying to succumb to... Anya didn't get three steps when a dark form entered the room. The fight was short lived, one dark form... a Guardian, grabbed the Strigoi Anya and restrained her as another one that she recognized as a slowly healing Guardian Belikov, put a stake through her heart.

Sebastian's eyes fluttered at Anna's initial scream and he saw Serena's body hit the floor and everything in the room seemed to fade to nothing in light of seeing her lying there... eyes still open. "No...nonononono...." He's mind darkened, his power rushed through him and if he'd been able to get off the ground it was possible that despite his love for her when she'd been alive he would have killed Anya now. There was nothing he could do... nothing he could... He reached out and grabbed her hand, maybe it wasn't too late... maybe he could... maybe he could fix it... maybe she wasn't dead. If she was still alive he would give everything in him to save her, put out what little light he had left inside if it meant her getting up and looking at him without that glazed... His body shuddered, and the power in him changed from dark and angry to desperate.. desperate to heal. What little light still left in his soul struggled momentarily then flared to life and flowed... flowed from him to her... then his world went black one last time.

Anna had knelt next to Gunner, or collapsed next to him was closer to the truth. She dragged him halfway onto her lap to cradle his head and then Ms. Karp entered the room. She took an assessment of the damage and promptly went to Serena, "She is alive... barely. She is also... Shadow-kissed." She turned to Sebastian and put her hands on the sides of his face, she forced some of her light into him. "He will also survive but I suggest, however cruel it may seem, that he be restrained while the nurse is tending him and remain so for several days... He's used up all the light inside him, I've replaced some but the darkness... the darkness will need time to recede and in that time he may be violent... unstable."

Belikov nodded, "Can you help the trainees... You are beginning to pale."

Ms. Karp nodded, "I can... heal the minor injuries but then... I need to rest. Healing you and giving light to Sebastian has drained me."

Ms. Karp first rested hands on Serena, her power flowing... The minor scrapes and bruises cleared and she pushed the matter by trying to give her more of a fighting chance... Her pulse stabilized and some color returned to her cheeks. Sonya then stood and moved to Anna who shook her head, "I'm healed... Sebastian... I was... Please just fix Gunner."

Sonya nodded and placed her hands on Gunner next, closing her eyes. The boy's complexion lost it's paleness and his heart-rate stabilized... She healed the damage to his scalp from hitting the wall then looked at Anna. "You're concussed... your pupils..." She reached out and Anna leaned away, "I know you can't... I'll be fine. I just have to stay awake right? No problem..." Until her friends showed signs of being alright she wouldn't sleep... and with the taste of Gunner's blood still in her mouth she... she doubted she'd sleep for a while.

Guardian's lifted Sebastian and Serena, Anna struggled to her feet as another Guardian grabbed Gunner and carried him like a sack of potatoes. Anna stumbled and another Guardian helped her down the hall as Belikov helped Karp... Apparently, the reinforcements had been just a tad late.

~*~

The infirmary was packed full. Serena, Gunner, Anna, Sebastian, Belikov, and Ms. Karp all lying in separate beds. Anna had been given some kind of tea to help stimulate her and keep her awake, it helped ease the grogginess and the pounding in her head... it also got rid of the taste in her mouth... but not the memory. Serena seemed better, Gunner was next to her and was breathing steadily, Belikov was already setting up and talking to the nurse, and Ms. Karp was sleeping. As for Seb, they'd thought it best to sedate him and keep him under for a while. No spirit user could endure that much without horrible side effects and they hoped to spare him... A female Spirit wielding student kept coming in to help, she was giving Seb a little Light at a time... It seemed to be helping. His mumbling in his sleep had eased off and he was no longer thrashing about against the restraints... now he was sleeping peacefully.

Anna... just wanted Gunner to wake up.

Gunner woke up slowly feeling groggy. He rose his hand and rubbed his head. His hand slowly drifted down to his neck. He felt the bandage before he sat up quickly. He looked around himself again. A nurse walked over to him seeing the wild look in his eye, "Welcome back," she said softly, "You should lie back down."

Gunner shook his head, "Anna," He croaked.

The nurse smiled, "She is fine. Let me get her for you. But you stay on the bed."

Gunner nodded and let her leave the room. However, the moment Anna walked in, no red in her eye, he jumped up from his bed. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, burying his face in her hair. Then, he started to cry, "I thought I lost you."

Anna glanced up as the nurse walked into her 'room' really it was just a sectioned off area like the other beds via a curtain. Gunner wanted to see her... Her heart half stuck in her throat, afraid he'd tell her he couldn't deal with what she'd done to him or forget her as a Strigoi, she made her way to his bed. However, when she entered the room and he threw his arms around her, her own tears started falling. "For a minute... for a minute you did...Gunner... I'm so sorry. I... I swear I never would have if I'd been... the horrible thing is I can't even say it wasn't me. It was... I WANTED to do it and when Sebastian brought me back and I... I tasted your blood in my mouth..." She shook all over, "I thought I'd killed you..."

She slid her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder, Ms. Karp had healed the bite but she was still afraid to look... afraid she'd see a scar from what she'd done. "Anya... Anya is dead. I guess it's better this way... she'd have never survived being changed back. I see that now..." She shivered, "Sebastian almost killed himself bringing me back and then... then he pulled Serena back too. She's Shadow-Kissed..."

There was so much devastation and yet everyone was still alive... everyone except Anya. "I'm so sorry Gunner... I wish I could forget."

~*~

Ms. Karp had finally awakened, a nurse had come to get her because Serena was stirring and the girl would need to know what was going on with her. She sighed, slipped to her feet and wandered into Serena's room and took a seat next to her. It was likely that with Sebastian sedated she wouldn't feel anything from him yet, still the girl should be warned so that she could be prepared for what she'd be up against when he DID wake up.

She took a seat by Serena's bed as the girl's eyes slowly came open. "Welcome back... you're safe at Academy as is Sebastian, Anna, and Gunner... Everyone is alright." She took a breath and offered the girl the same tea that Anna had been drinking, it was good for clearing the mind and easing pain though she doubted the girl was in any. Between her healing and what the infirmary had done thus far she should be fine... shaken but fine. "You should drink this... I have some things that will be hard to hear..."

She hesitated then went on, "You died Serena, Anya killed you... Sebastian brought you back with what little strength he had left in him, it nearly killed him. You are Shadow-Kissed now... When Sebastian wakes you will feel what he feels and I won't lie to you, when he wakes he will be... unstable. He used too much, it is possible he might never be the same but maybe with your help you can pull him back from the edge a little at a time... If you decide this isn't what you want we can safely stop your heart and start it again but there is always the risk you won't come back... if you do though, you will be free of your bond. It is your choice."

Serena woke slowly to see a woman sitting next to her. She looked around herself, struggling to translate what the woman was saying in her groggy state. She took the tea offered to her with shaking hands and sipped it. Her mind started to clear as she drank. The woman was speaking again and Serena's eyes widened, "Sono morto?"

She started to shake her head as the woman continued to speak. She had to be understanding wrong... she couldn't have died. None of this could be true. However, the woman didn't seem to be the kind that joked either, not about this.

Serena shook her head when the woman offered to kill her again and prevent her from feeling Sebastian's emotions... but she said that she could help, "I want to help," she whispered, pulling the blanket up to her chin. She realized then that her neck was not covered and her scars would be seen by anyone who entered her makeshift room. Her secret was out, she thought as tears welled into her eyes. She pulled her hair forward, "Can I see him?"
~
Gunner pulled Anna back toward his bed, feeling dizzy. He sat on the edge and kissed her. His hands rested on her hips, pulling her close to him, "You are your soul," he whispered, "The Strigoi," he didn't even want to think about Anya in that way, "took that way from you. That wasn't you. This is you," he kissed her again, "I love you...."

Anna kissed him back then leaned her head back against his shoulder, "I love you too..." She smiled somewhat then swung her legs up on the bed and laid down next to him, patting the bed next to where he sat. "Come on Pretty Boy... you need rest. You're still recovering from everything and I doubt the others are awake yet... Are you hungry? I can go grab you some breakfast..."

~*~

Ms. Karp smiled kindly, "Of course... you need this first in case he wakes..." She handed Serena a small silver ring, "It'll help when things get bad for him and it starts to slip into you..." She sighed, "There's also something else you should know, as a Guardian you will end up facing Strigoi... The more you kill the closer you become with shadows. You may begin to be able to feel them nearby and... sometimes you may see things. You must close them out and never let them in, they will push you to madness. If you do these things it is possible you will live a long and happy life, if you do not... the darkness may eat away at your sanity. That is the price you pay for such a bond..."

~*~

Sebastian woke in a cold sweat, his mind spinning. Where was he? Why was he restrained? The Strigoi had him? Was he being kept as food? He struggled against his restraints, Anya's face haunting him. He closed his eyes against the image, no.... No, she was dead. He'd seen them put a stake through her heart after she'd... after she'd killed. He struggled harder and a nurse came running, hearing his yells.

"Sebastian you are safe! Calm down!"

"No no! Where is Serena?! What did you do with her?! I brought her back! I know I brought her back! Let me go!"

The nurse withdrew a syringe from her lab coat and frowned, "Sebastian, you have to calm down or I'll have to sedate you again."

"Why is SHE here?! She's dead I saw her die... blood and screaming and...." He shuddered all over... Anya's red eyes glaring down at him as she hovered in the air above him. Somewhere in his mind he knew she wasn't there, that he was hallucinating but he couldn't make himself believe it. He was lost...

~*~

Anna heard the yelling and flinched, "Seb must have woken... they've been trying to keep him sedated to moderate his recovery. They're hoping if they keep him under until they restore his... light... they can keep the damage to his mentality from getting worse..."

Gunner looked back at Anna as she climbed into the bed and patted the spot next to her. He smiled, happy that she had returned his words of affection. Although, he had been quite certain that she would. He yawned and moved back and lay down next to her. He grinned, "I think you just want to sleep with me," He teased.

He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her cheek. Not to long after yelling filled the infirmary. Gunner pulled Anna closer to him as she started to explain all that was happening. He kissed her head, "He's going to be okay... We'll make sure of it."
~
Serena looked at Ms. Karp and then to the ring. She took it into a shaky hand at stared at it. She didn't know what the woman was talking about when she mentioned things like sensing Strigoi or seeing things that was going to push into madness. It did make her worry though. She had already killed two Strigoi... But she didn't see anything... What would she see... A moment later, Sebastian stared yelling. Serena gasped as her head was suddenly filled with fear stronger than her own and a darkness that she didn't understand. She clutched her head and then suddenly, she was looking at a nurse trying to calm her as she yelled about Serena... No, that was Sebastian... Anya popped up on Sebastian's mind and she flinched and then was suddenly in her own head. What was happening!

Serena decided that it didn't matter, not right now. She put the ring on her finger, it made the darkness easier but the fear was still there. Without even thinking, Serena hopped off the bed and ran out of her little room. Despite the fact of Sebastian's screaming, she felt like she knew exactly where he was... That she could find him without it. This bond thing was beyond weird.

She reached his room and stopped at the curtain that acted as a door. She stood there, looking at him restrained with threats of being sedated. The tears that had welled up in her eyes earlier started to fall. Her secret was out of her mind for now, she was scared about what she did to Sebastian when he brought her back. She looked at him, "Sebastian..." She said quietly, walking over to him. When she reached his bedside, she took one of his restrained hands and looked at him, "I'm here... You... brought me back.... I'm okay."

As Serena entered the room Anya's looming 'shadow' faded and was gone but his heart was still pounding in his chest and he was still desperately confused. "Serena..." She took his shaking hand and some of the fight slipped out of him, a wary calm falling on him. "I'm.. am I at Academy? I keep seeing the tunnels... I..." He swallowed hard and turned his eyes towards her. "You're alive... I managed to... thank Vlad."

He was trying desperately to peace things together from what he remembered, having Serena there helped him to accept truth rather than delusion. Everywhere he looked though, he could see auras and they half blinded him to anything else. He could see the shadows lingering around Serena's aura and shuddered, "I'm sorry... I couldn't lose you too..."

If it weren't for him those shadows wouldn't be lingering around her... He had no defenses right now, no way of controlling himself so he could feel what she was feeling and realized that his fear was leaking into her. For her sake he tried to bring it under control. Still, he was seeing things... Sometimes the walls seemed to go to stone, like the tunnels... other times they crawled with darkness. He shivered, "This... this should be worse..."

The nurse, seeing that he'd calmed answered that one. "We've had other Spirit users here to help you a little at a time..."

So, they'd kept him from going completely insane then... but would he ever come back fully? He didn't know if his sanity would last against seeing things like this... hearing everyone's thoughts and... He shook his head, trying to focus on Serena. "Anna... Gunner... do we know if they're alright?"

Again the nurse answered, "Anna is fine though she had a concussion and a dislocated shoulder, Gunner is awake and still recovering he... lost a lot of blood. I would imagine that they're... catching up."

Obviously the way Anna had been clinging to Gunner when the other Guardians came in had given them away

~*~

Anna blushed, "Hahaha... but actually true. I was scared that I'd lost YOU. You were so pale and you wouldn't wake up..."

She slid her arms around him, resting her head on his chest and listening to the comforting beat of his heart. He was okay, they were okay... Seb would be alright. She took a breath and bit at her lip. "I meant it Gun... I love you. I don't know..." She took another deep breath and continued, "I don't know how I'm going to deal with losing you at Graduation..." She shook her head, "I've... I've been considering requesting Basil as my permanent ward instead of Seb... He's got Serena and... he's got you. He doesn't need me to and if we... if we split I don't think I could handle seeing you every day... not without... complicating things..."

Serena smiled at Sebastian, seeing him calm down a little, feeling it as well, "Yes, you are back at the Academy..." When he mentioned bringing her back, she could feel the relief in his words well up inside of her. His emotions were all so strong... She was struggling to figure out what was her feelings and what were his. She brushed some of his hair out of his face when he apologized for bringing her back, "It is okay... I did not want to be lost..."

She stood back a little, still holding his hand as the nurse spoke and explained things that she wasn't able to. When she finished, Serena bit her lip, "Can.... we be alone?"

The nurse gave her a wary look, clearly not comfortable with leaving Sebastian unsedated in his state. Serena looked at her, "It is okay... I can help..."

The nurse seemed to be trying to decide before she nodded and turned away, leaving the two of them alone. She turned back to Sebastian and sat on the edge of his bed, "Looks like I get look around in your head now," She said trying to make light of their new situation.

She looked at him for a moment, debating what it was that she was going to do before she laid down next to him, curling up against him slightly. She rested her head on his chest, "Thank you for bringing me back..." She started crying again as she turned into him, "I'm scared, Sebastian..."
~
Gunner looked at her as she spoke, He didn't like what she was saying, beyond the I love you. He pulled her in tighter, "I don't want to lose you... I think I'd be an idiot if I did... We can make this work though," He whispered, "Guardian Hathaway and Belikov have... Why can't we?"

He looked at her and kissed her head, "Why can't Sebastian be a normal Moroi and hang out with Moroi... It would be easier for me knowing you'd be with someone who would see Sebastian a lot..."

He glanced around, "Speaking of Sebastian... He isn't yelled anymore... Do you think they sedated him again?"

Anna smiled, glad that he'd said exactly what she needed to hear. She didn't want to think about loosing him. She ran a hand through her hair, "Well... Basil is pretty cool. I think she and Seb would get along. Besides, I know Seb is going to that Moroi college and I bet Basil will be too. It's a popular place.." Anna hesitated, "Also, there's another option..." She rubbed the back of her neck, "I know we've always talked about Guarding Seb but...The Queen put together the Elites... some of them are made into Guardians for the Queen herself or at Academy because they have high rankings, others are used as Hunters against the strigoi and are occasionally assigned temporary Wards as a compromise to the rogue Dhampirs hunting Strigoi alone... If we were a good enough team, they'd probably make us hunters... It would be more dangerous that Guarding but we'd be together..."

She shrugged, "We have options... we can make this work. Guardian Hathaway and Belikov do it... and I hear they're married now."

She listened, "It's possible... poor Seb. We should go check on him when you feel better."

~*~

Sebastian wished he could put his arms around her but part of him was thankful for the restraints.... He knew he could be dangerous if he lost it for even a minute. He didn't want to hurt her. "It's alright... I'm never going to ask you to take any of this from me so you'll never go crazy yourself if you don't open yourself up to the other stuff. I've managed it alright so far, I just have to avoid using it whenever possible..."

He kissed the top of her head, the only way he could show any kind of affection but he was sure she felt it, he couldn't suppress the way he felt about her emotionally. He'd chosen her over Anya, he knew that... He could have maybe turned Anya back if he hadn't saved Serena but the thought of not saving Serena tore at something inside of him. He grieved for Anya but he'd be ruined without Serena... It made him feel guilty in a way. "Serena... I don't want you to do anything you don't want to.... I care about you too much. You don't owe me, I did what I did because I couldn't handle the thought of you not being here..."

Gunner looked at her, "Spend my days with you... Allowed to protect you without compromising someone else... I think I could live with that," He squeezed her slightly, "Serena can protect Sebastian and we can visit them whenever we want... Sounds like a life worth living."

He kissed her head as she answered his question about Sebastian's lack of yelling, "We will... After a nap... I'm tired..." He held her closed to him and closed his eyes, "Waking up takes a lot out of a person," He joked, considering he had hardly done anything since he woke up. His hold on her loosened a little as he relaxed and drifted off to dreamland.
~
Serena looked up at him and gave him a soft smile through her tears, "I know... Even if you did not do it for that reason... I cannot imagine you hold it against me. You are too sweet."

She liked having a sense of what he was feeling when it was nice. Relief or... even affection toward her. She leaned forward and kissed his head before she took the ring off her finger. She felt the darkness inside of him again, inside of herself. She could practically see it, feel it. She wanted to reach out and touch but some part of her told her not to. Not now. Not when she didn't really understand this bond that she had with Sebastian. She took the ring in her hands and slid it onto Sebastian's little finger. She looked at him, "They told me that it is for when things get bad for you... and start to slip into me..." She played with the ring a little, "Maybe it will help with your darkness...."

She curled back up against him and laid there for a moment. Enjoying being able to lie there, despite the fact that Sebastian was strapped to the bed. Her eyes casted downward as she remembered the reason she had originally wanted to see him, "They know... about my scars..."

As soon as Serena placed the ring on his finger, Sebastian seemed to relax somewhat. The hallucinations seemed to stop and his mind cleared a bit, "Thank you..." As she curled back up with him he rattled his arms and sighed a bit. "I think I'm sane enough to be out of these... I don't feel like I'm going to slip anymore, at least so long as I'm not ambushed by people or made angry..."

As she noted her scars he frowned, "If I could make them forget... I would." He closed his eyes, "As it is, I don't even think I have enough in me to light a match." He looked at her, "You proved yourself a great Guardian, you... died defending me, to protect me. You killed off two or three Strigoi on your own. No matter what they say, half of them haven't given half as much for their wards." He smiled, "And NONE of them are as beautiful as you... not just your looks... you have a beautiful soul... one of the brightest auras I've ever seen. Don't forget that."

~*~

Anna watched Gunner fall asleep and though she felt better, a lot better, she still couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Anya's face and she saw Gunner lying there pale... Serena dead. She shivered and snuggled against Gunner trying to focus on the beat of his heart. It took a while, but she finally fell asleep in his arms.

Serena sat back up when he wiggled a little against his restraints. She looked at them for a moment before she managed to undo them. She hopped off the bed to do the same to his feet as Sebastian spoke about how well she did. She gave him a small smile, "You said that Gunner and Anna's aura are bright around each other... Maybe that is why mine is so bright... because I am around you..." She shrugged, "And I could not let her change you... any of you... You are my friends... But," She bit her lip, "I died because of my scars though... She saw them... and used them and I... wanted it," She said quietly, not meeting Sebastian's eyes. She looked down at her hands, "I let her kill me... I didn't even try to stop it...."

She sniffled a little, feeling like she was a disappointment. She might have just left, feeling as though she were going to be rejected but she could tell that that was not what Sebastian was thinking. She met his eyes, knowing there was no judgement, "I... do not know... If I can be a Guardian..." She didn't realize just how badly she wanted to be one. Her entire life it had just been an escape from home but now realizing that she may never be able to be a Guardian because of her past, upset her. She wanted to protect Sebastian but she couldn't do that if she kept letting Strigoi kill her... She laid down beside him again and rested her head on his chest, "I want to protect you..."

Her words made him smile, "It's definitely a possibility..." He grew serious, "Serena... I didn't tell Anya soon enough, I spent so much time fighting what I felt and worrying that I wasn't good enough that I missed out on her life.. I... don't want to make the same mistake with you..." He took a breath, "I don't just care about you Serena... I'm in love with you. I don't care about your past or your scars and I don't care that I'm noble and you're a dhampir, nobility has never been my thing anyway."

He looked away embarrassed, "I'm nuts... completely insane sometimes... half the time I don't know what I want, but I know I want to be with you. Guardian or not, I want you with me. That's why I did what I did..."

Sebastian could feel the shame and disappointment radiating off her, her aura was brushing his enough he could manage that. After she'd freed him he sat up, caught her around the waist and tugged her onto the bed with him. He wasn't sure what he wanted to say but he wanted to say something... anything to make her feel better. He considered his options and wondered...

"I have an idea..." He rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm not sure if it will work, but it's something worth trying... if you want." He sighed a little, "Addiction is an illness, it's your body relying on what you were getting. I can heal an illness but an illness like that would take repeated healing over time until it's out of your system again... Then, there is another method... Humans use hypnotism to make people forget or remember things. I can't make you forget your life but maybe I can make you forget the biggest problem... the way the bites felt. That will take repeated compulsion too... but if we stretch it out over time and do only a little at a time I should be alright. I can't do it until I'm better but... it's an option..."

Serena looked at him as little shocked when he said that he loved her. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach that he felt just that. She laughed a little when she said that he was insane at times and looked at him, "Apparently, I might go insane because of this bond too... Sounds like we are a perfect pair," She bit her lip, "I chose the bond..." She said quietly, "I did not understand all what they told me... but I chose it because I can help you with it and I want to help you."

She leaned into him as he wrapped his arms around her waist, enjoying being close to him. She looked at him when he mentioned his idea and started to shake her head, "Both of those need you to use spirit... I do not want to feed... the darkness."

She wasn't sure if she would have said no before she could see and feel the darkness. Now that she could though, she couldn't let him do that to himself, especially for her. She placed her hand on his cheek, "I am happy... That you want to do that for me... But I cannot let you..."

She rested her head against him, "This is something I need to get over myself... and I might one day..." She looked at him, "I can try my best to protect you and.... You can stake Strigoi quite well," She smiled softly. Yes, said Strigoi had been Anna but he had done everything perfectly. She brushed his hair out of his face, "I am very proud of my student."

Seb smiled somewhat though he was beginning to grow tired again, he was struggling to keep his eyes open as another Spirit user came it. It was Jace, he didn't look pleased. "I'm here to help you... unfortunately," he eyed Sebastian. "Don't get the wrong idea, I'm only helping you because maybe it'll make Anna's lapdog stand down."

Sebastian grimaced, "I'd rather wait for someone else."

Jace shrugged, "You'll be waiting a while then. All the Spirit users the school has have used you to practice their powers these past couple days by helping heal you... They're all tired. I'm the last one left... at least for several more days. So, unless you want to be bedridden for another week and probably forcibly restrained... I'd let me help."

Seb sighed, "Fine, though all it will do for you is keep Gunner from sending his fist through your face for looking at him wrong... If you look at Anna though, I'm not promising helping me will save you."

Jace shrugged again, "I'll chance it."

However, there seemed to be some ulterior motive driving him... remorse maybe? Seb could see his aura and there did seem to be a great deal of sorrow... whether that was due to regret or maybe not getting his way over something remained to be seen. Jace glanced at Serena, "I'll make it quick and get out of your hair..."

He placed his hands on either side of Seb's head and closed his eyes... After a moment Seb shuddered and his own eyes fluttered closed as he slipped into sleep. "He'll be asleep for a big, I suggest staying with him... might help the nightmares." Jace stepped back, stumbled a bit, righted himself and walked out without another word.

It was several hours before Seb woke back up and when he did, he was starving for both food and blood. Having Serena so close didn't help matters and he felt a huge sickening guilt at even GLANCING at her pulse. He promptly looked away and rang the bell for the nurse, he would NEVER use her like that... EVER... for any reason. If he was dying and only her blood could save him he STILL would not do it.... Unfortunately, he couldn't help the impulses that came with the hunger even if he COULD keep from acting on them. The nurse came and then went, when she came back she brought a Feeder. He glanced at Serena, hoping she was still asleep because even if he wanted to he wasn't going to be getting up till he fed... not enough strength. He put his back to her to guard her from seeing if she was awake and tried to feed as quickly as possible.

When he'd finished he felt like he could stand again and wiped his mouth carefully before turning back to her, "I could use some fresh air... this place smells like bleach and other cleaners..."

~*~

Anna woke with a start, she'd been having a good dream but a sad one... sad now that she'd woken up anyway. She rubbed the back of her neck and looked at Gunner, wondering if he was awake yet.

Serena looked up at Jace, clearly uncomfortable with his presence, not just because of what he did to Anna but the knowledge that he might very well know what happened to her. That she had let someone do exactly what he did for much longer. She watched him carefully and was slightly worried when Sebastian fell asleep. She looked up at him again when he told her to stay with him. She nodded and curled up against Sebastian. As exhausted as she was, it didn't take her long to follow him to sleep.

She managed to sleep rather soundly with only glimpses of nightmares. Anya's face, Anna's red eyes, Sebastian collapsed on the ground. She was pulled out of her sleep when Sebastian spoke to her telling her he needed to go outside. She yawned and nodded, climbing out of bed with him. She took his hand and walked with him out of the camp.

When they got out, she was instantly drawn but the sound of yelling, "Ridiculous. That what it is. Absurd, harbouring a runaway and not even realizing it until she nearly dies!" A thick accented man yelled. Serena froze and looked at her father as he saw her, "Serena!"

He called, sounding relieved. He rushed over to her pulling her into his arms and speaking in rapid Italian. Serena's hands shook, "Papa...."

He shook his head, "I've been so worried about you. I took the earliest flight I could," he pet her head, saying something to her in Italian which caused her heart to pound. He kissed her head, "You're mother has been terrified, we have a flight tomorrow, first thing. I'll let you said good bye to your friends, but come to my room tonight. We'll eat and catch up."

Serena nodded, "Si, Papa..."
~
Gunner rest his head against her's, "Hi...."

He kissed her head, "I think Serena and Sebastian walked outside..."

Sebastian walked out the doors with Serena and had just taken a deep breath of cool air when Serena's aura, which was brushing his with how closely they were walking, informed him that she was in shock. His eyes narrowed and focused on what was going on around him just as the man calling to her came over, his aura spoke volumes as well. Seb's mood promptly darkened and his stance became wary, his attitude shifted to that of haughty nobility as he looked at the man. He didn't say anything yet though, it wasn't his place... He didn't want to risk making Serena angry by stepping in too soon. Still, when he spoke in Italian it made Sebastian suspicious as to what he was saying... Serena didn't exactly look over joyed.

When the man insisted she leave with him Sebastian's eyes practically flashed, "You're planning to take my Shadow-kissed Guardian from me? I think not.... not unless she tells me she wishes otherwise and that conversation will happen in private."

His tone broached no room for argument, maybe Serena would get mad but this man was making him uncomfortable and he wasn't sure whether it was HIS emotions or hers. Either way, he needed to talk to Serena alone before anything was decided.

When the man suggested that Serena go to her room rage almost blinded him, he wasn't sure why... he couldn't assume such things about Serena's father... could he? Still, every instinct he possessed warned him that he needed to protect her. He smiled charmingly at her father, just a touch of compulsion behind his eyes as he spoke. "Wouldn't it be appropriate for us to get acquainted now that your daughter and I share the Shadow-kissed bond?"

~*~

Anna nodded, "We should catch up... make sure he and Serena are alright."

Anna headed outside and once she stepped out and saw the rigid set of Seb's back and the odd goings on she frowned, "What's going on here..." She moved to Sebastian but directed the question at Serena, "Is everything okay?"

Serena's father's eyebrows knitted together when Sebastian spoke, saying that he was not going to take Serena away. He stood talk and glared at the young man, "I don't believe you have much of a say. Serena is not anyone's guardian. She is merely a class project," He looked at the headmistress, "Is she not?"

"Yes..." The woman agreed, "The Wards are only for the year... Although, they can be made official after graduation."

"Which has yet to happen," The man added. He placed his hands on Serena's shoulders, "Not to mention, Serena is yet to be an adult. Meaning, I have the right to take her where ever I so desire."

Serena gasped when Sebastian's anger flared, sending her back into his head. She sat there a moment before being able to pull herself back into her own body. Just as Sebastian started to compulse her father, Serena moved out of her father's hold and pushed Sebastian gently, hoping to stop him, "Stop Sebastian!" She wasn't angry that he was using compulsion but she knew he wasn't in the state of mind to. It could something that simple that pushed him right over the edge of insanity. She looked at him, "Please..." She didn't ever want to see that happen. It had been bad enough for her when he was on the cusp of it...

Her father seemed to get over it quickly, realizing what had happened, "Look here young man," He said ferociously, as Gunner and Anna arrived, "You don't know what you are dealing with," He pulled Serena's hair off her neck, showing her scars to those around her. She closed her eyes tightly and held her breath. She heard the headmistress make a notable gasp. She guessed that her secret was not yet campus knowledge, "Did she tell you that she is suffering with an addiction? That we were putting her through rehab before she ran away? That I found her in a room with multiple men when I made the decision to send her there?" He glared at her, "Shadow-kissed or not, you do not get a choice in what my daughter does or does not do."

He wrapped his arm around Serena before dragging her away from the small group, "And I think it best that you stay away from her."
~
Gunner nodded and stood slowly, following Anna outside. Everything kind of happened in a blur, which might have been do to the fact that he wasn't fully there. Sebastian didn't seem to impressed by something, Serena looked her normal uncomfortable self, Anna was making sure everything alright, and then all of the sudden the man, who Gunner found out was her father, started to nearly yell at Sebastian. He looked at Serena as he moved her hair, showing off her neck that he just realized she always covered, and now he knew why. It looked at though it were almost all scar tissue from Moroi bites, including the new one from Anna. Then Serena was being whisked away. Gunner looked at Sebastian, "What is happening?"