He spun away from David and opened himself to her presence. Nothing but darkness encompassed him as the beast burst forth. "Holy shit!" Mike yelled. "Not here Liam! Not here!"
He shook off their hands as he shoved his way through the crowd. He could smell her blood. He knocked someone to the ground in his haste. "Hey!" they shouted.
Liam burst out of the crowd as he followed the scent of her blood to the sunroom. "Jack!"
Mike and David shoved past him as they ran to Jack's side. They grabbed hold of his arms and shook him forcefully. Liam stepped out of the shattered windows and into the snowy night. His eyes rapidly scanned the horizon as he searched for any sign of her presence. There was no movement within the shadows of the still forest, but he could still feel her.
"Get Doug!" he yelled over his shoulder before disappearing into the night.
***
Sera woke slowly, her head ached unbelievably and there was an awful metallic taste in her mouth. She swallowed heavily. Her jaw and cheek were sore, but it was nothing compared to the stabbing pain in her skull. She moaned as she rolled onto her side.
"Sleeping beauty's awake."
Sera stifled a groan as she recognized the haunting, cold voice. A hand brushed over her forehead and brushed her hair away. She scuttled away from the touch as her eyes flew open. Agony shot through her battered skull as she blinked against the dim light. Beth knelt before her, a small, hate filled smile on her beautiful, blurry face.
"I see my boys were a little too rough on you. I'm sorry about that."
Sera swallowed heavily as she closed her eyes. The pain was beginning to subside. She put her hands beneath her and shoved herself into a sitting position; a small moan escaped her as she fell backward. Thankfully, a cool wall braced her. She slumped against it, breathing shallowly as she allowed the chill of the wall to ease the pounding in her head.
She opened her eyes again. They were in a small cave with jagged rock walls. A small fire danced in the center of the cave; Beth sat on the other side of it, studying her with a bemused smile. Sera's gaze drifted past her to the long tunnel that led out. Even with her enhanced vision, she couldn't see the end of it.
The three men behind Beth were half hidden in the shadows that played across the walls. Their arms were folded over their chests as they stared at her with reddened eyes. "Can we keep her?" one asked.
"Maybe," Beth replied absently. Sera knew that no matter what, Beth was not going to let her leave this cave alive. She tilted her chin defiantly as she met Beth's hostile gaze. Beth smiled chillingly as her eyes flashed with hatred. "Maybe not."
"She would be fun to play with," another said.
"Oh trust me boys, we will be playing," Beth assured. "But not yet. First we have to wait for lover boy."
Fury suffused Sera; it burned through her veins and gave her the strength to move. She climbed unsteadily to her feet, her gaze locked upon Beth's as she leaned against the wall. "That's part of the reason why I went back for him, why I changed him. One of the best I ever had. Then, he left me."
"Do you blame him?" Sera managed to grate out.
Beth's eyes flashed as a cruel smile twisted her face. "Then, he found you. I've always heard about the soul mate thing, I personally never believed in it, but I guess it is true. Do you know that if you die, he dies? If he dies, you die?"
Sera tilted her chin defiantly as Beth moved unhurriedly around the fire. "You go insane if you do not immediately die," she continued. "I wonder what happens when you witness the death of the other?"
Some of Sera's defiance melted as a wave of cold terror washed through her. Her heart seemed to stop beating as her chest constricted. She couldn't bear to have anything happen to Liam. Her legs began to tremble, and it was only sheer willpower that kept them beneath her. Beth's eyes were gleaming as she stopped before Sera.
"Maybe I'll just keep you alive, and make him do whatever I want in order to keep you that way."
"I would rather be dead," Sera stated.
Beth's laugh was chilling as she touched Sera's cheek. Sera glared hatefully down at her as she jerked her face away. "I could probably even force him to make love to me, and make you watch."
The new demon inside her burst instantly free as she lunged forward. Sera managed to hook her fingers into Beth's shirt and claw into her skin as a haze of red clouded her vision. Beth snarled viciously and ripped free of Sera's grasp as hands seized her throat. Sera choked and thrashed violently as she was hauled against a solid chest.
Beth panted heavily as one of the men cradled her throat within his firm grasp. "You are so lucky that I want you alive for this!" Beth spat.
Sera went limp in the man's hold, but he didn't release her. She panted heavily as she tried to think of a way that she could get herself out of this mess before Liam arrived. She had no doubt that he would come for her, but she couldn't risk losing him, and these monsters were so much stronger than he was, so much crueler.
Her breath froze in her lungs as her head jerked up. "No," she breathed.
Beth flashed a grin as she turned around. "He's here."
Sera kicked and spit furiously as she renewed her struggle. "Stay still little girl!" her captor grated in her ear. "Or I'll break you like a twig."
