Scrambling through these half made tunnels proved difficult. Obviously whatever Amber wanted to do was to get out of this sodden pit they called home. There’s only a few inches allowing me to raise my head slightly but they tunnel is really thin. So I’m crawling on all hands and knees with the torch in my mouth which was chucked lazily about three quarters of the way in this claustrophobic shaft. Wait, I think I can see some light coming up ahead. It’s then that I feel some grating underneath me and I hear some muffled voices from underneath me. It’s Talon’s voice and he doesn’t sound best pleased with my escape, he’ll just have to deal with it.

“She’s gone!” he yells at the others. I can just about see Derren slinking in the corner of the room from the slits of the metal grid.

“What do you mean gone? She was locked and guarded. There’s no way she could have evaporated out of that there,” Derren bites his nails or what are more like claws now.

“Search the parameter. She couldn’t have gone far,” said Hatchet who was leaning against the wall lazily.

“She’s a vampire, Hatchet. You can never judge how far or fast they can go,” Talon shakes his head and sits down looking very tired and with a deep bite mark on his hand.

“The girl hasn’t fed for a couple of days so that means that she’ll be severely weakened without feeding,” the others murmur in agreement.

“If you haven’t noticed but she’s been trapped in that sleeping most of the time. I visited her twice. Before I went to see her I stood outside the room and I think she was talking to someone. Derren, did you know if she had any communication devices on her at all? Mobile ? Walkie talkie? Anything?”

Derren shakes his head, “If you hadn’t noticed but I kind of dragged her out from school in her pyjamas.”

“Ah, so that’s what she was wearing. Alright send a team to scout around the Den,” he punches the dining room table almost splitting it. “I can’t believe she just vanished under our very noses. How long have we got till this dimension splits Councillor Fralt?”

A man with a heavy set of silver eyebrows furrowed them in thought, “Well it says that we’re safe until one of the Evils of the other realms discovers the loop hole. If I may suggest Alpha…”

“Address me with my first name…” Talon retorts with a surly tone.

“Very well Talon. but you should understand that most of the Council and Elders believe you should take the responsibility. It makes fair sense,” the others murmured in agreement again all except one who glared at him.

“We’ve spoken about this before and I don’t think I should be the one. If you are to take a new Alpha, let it my friend Hatchet.”

Just then the door bangs open and a young girl with short wild raven hair clung to the doorway panting.

“You’re Lordships…” she puffs a few breathes, “There’s been a vortex cited…” The others jump immediately and start bickering loudly to each other.

“Silence!” Talon yells. “Alright, now that I have your attention...”

“I thought you said you weren’t to take responsibility”, a short French man retorts snidely.

“Remy, just quiet it for once and listen to me or you can go and bugger off to the Other Realms and die there, and on your contract we could easily do that right now,” the others silently bickered behind his back.

“What are we to do then, Talon? If you aren’t our Alpha…” the Councillor grins as Remy crosses his arms sullenly while muttering about ‘politics’.

“I will not take my Father’s job, we still don’t know if he’s alive or not. However I can make suggestions and whether you follow them or not, I don’t care. I just want this Pack to know that we’re stronger as a team. If we keep bickering like some old hags in a kitchen over boiling stew, then we’re not going to succeed in this at all are we? I say we get off our ass and defend this Realm before its completed dissolved”

The others shouted heartily at Talon’s little pep talk. The girl at the door shakes her head, “You don’t understand it’s been cited over in Bermuda ,” in which they all fall silent.

Talon points to tall elegant man with glorious blonde curly locks, “Alex and Pierce take your teams over there and do what you can while I try and contact some of the other Packs...”

“I’ll take care of that,” the Councillor replies. “I know a few others who are on friendly terms with us and I’ll have a look at our Brother and Sister Packs too,” Talon bows to the Councillor in gratitude.

“Zach and whoever’s left can stay with me and search for the girl,” they all stood up and bowed to Talon.

“Let’s get a move on then,” he responds to their gesture, “I hate formalities”, he whispers to himself.

I waited until all the people were out of the room but Derren remained where he was sitting and glares up towards the ceiling. They all filed out and left him to wallow in his thoughts. He didn’t look much of a were-vamp to me. He looked miserable, not the strong beast Talon thought him out to be.
“It’s alright now, you can come out,” he whispers with a trace of fear. I didn’t move or take a breath to signal that I was there.

“I’m sorry what’s happened. I didn’t mean for them to get you, or Adrian. I didn’t know this mess would crop up. Please come out,” he says regretfully.

I didn’t move and crept back silently away from the grating.

“Carolyn. They’re killing you’re boyfriend.”

Still, I didn’t move. I was shocked.

“PLEASE, Carolyn. You don’t know how much mess you’re in. I thought they were just going to keep you here for a while. Not torment or hurt you or Adrian.”

“You hate him though,” I said through the slits.

His head jerked up to the vent system and walks over to where I am.

“Carolyn?”

“What?” I asked sardonically.

“I’m sorry. When They said that they needed you, I didn’t realize how important or dangerous this whole thing would get. You know I love you. You’re my sister,” his eyes search for my face but I tuck back further.

“Who wanted me, those fleabags? I’m no different from you and you know that the only thing that separates me to you is my sense of morality. Brother? You virtually left us standing alone with that God while you had your face in the dirt. That’s not what brothers do. Yes, I love you but only on sympathetic and compassionate terms.”

Derren steps back aghast, “What have I ever done to you? I’m trying to save you now. I knew you’d be fine and you know what happened. Adrian was there to protect you, even though he’s the one who betrayed you. Just listen to me when I say this. You’re in grave danger.”

Kicking down the grate I jump down gracefully in front of him with my eyes tight with anger.

“He wouldn’t. He went back and saved you. Even though he knew you deserved to be left he saved you. I even asked him. Don’t you ever dare to say that he betrayed me, Adrian wouldn’t do that,” I pace away from him towards the door and put my ear to it. I could hear people walking up with their heavy footsteps. Had they Changed, or were they carrying armoury?

“You know you won’t be able to get out of here. Please, let me help you. I’ve been here longer than you” Derren walks straight up to me and stares me straight down into the eyes pleading with me.

“Fine, let’s do it your way then but once I’ve got Adrian I’m leaving you here…” but before I could finish off the sentence than he grabbed my hand we zoomed off to the corner where he was standing and pulled down the antler of a rather ugly looking stuffed moose’s head on the wall leading down some stairs that took us to a chilly corridor. The door swings back creakily into position in which we’re left in the dark.

“Why is it so cold down here?” I ask.

“We’re going to the Torture chambers,” he tugs at my hand and urges me to run with him.

“Hurry before they come and check down here,” we come to a cross section and take a right. We didn’t really need a torch or candle with us. We could both see in the dark and he could smell out if anyone was near.

“Wait,” he pushes me back against the wall with a hand over my chest warning me not to move.

The metallic click of a door could be heard as two men entered the passageway talking to each other quite excitedly.

“Yes, but it’s improbable that the Vortex would show in Europe . We don’t have the dimension or magnetic leyline that would create such a huge worm hole. I really doubt about this prophecy. It just doesn’t make sense. If one vampire girl comes onto this dimension, it shouldn’t just rip apart. Now if a demon came from a Hell dimension, that would make logic, but coming from where she comes from? It just doesn’t all add up, I mean, what’s so special about this girl?”

“Shh…I smell something,” the shorter man twirled around pushing his nose in the air. I instantly recognised it to be Remy with his very pointy nose and his particular height and rather podgy belly.

“It’s probably just you. Certainly smells it,” the tall man waves pinches his nose, “Come on, they wouldn’t come down here. This place gives me the creeps…”

“You are what the British call a ‘scardey cat’ non, Leo?” to which the other one punches him and Remy falls to the ground.

“That’s for calling me weak,” he glares up and sees the both of us pressed against the wall and backs away from Remy’s body.

“Intruder!” he shouts and points to us, “Intruder!” he bolts off down the passageway but Derren zooms off from my side and the sound of heavy fighting and growling could be heard. There was a hefty ‘snap’ and drop the drop Leo’s body falling to the floor.

“Derren, are you alright?” I shouted.

He comes back with scratches all over his arms, face and neck, “Don’t worry, I’ll heal up. Let’s find your Adrian before he dies in there,” he grabs my hand with a slight red tint in his eyes suggesting the Lust from the fight. He went to the heavy guarded door and scanned his eyes into the little machine and tapped the pad. It opened up to another empty passageway in which we raced down and because Derren was clinging onto me I nearly got smacked into the wall as we took another sharp left.

“Jeez Derren, careful with your driving.” He remained mute and points to a cell at the end of the corridor.

“He’s in there. Be quick and make sure that he doesn’t attack me again.”

“It’s locked and it’s protected with some sort of charm,” he chucked me a key.

“I’ll head back to the entrance and stay on watch. God knows that I’m not staying near that git,” the red in his eyes begin glow with anger and before he ran off, I made a mental note. His ears had just gone Vulcan like but covered with wolfy fur. He had certainly changed.

“Wait, Derren. What’s it like? I mean, being a hybrid,” his glare softens down.

“It kills. It’s worse than being a vampire,” a faint smile touches his lips.

“I know, you get extra accessories, just check out your new fuzzy ears,” he covers his ears slightly embarrassed and scampers off towards the entrance.

Mentally I push down the barriers of the protection charm and ignore the burning feeling on my skin.

“ Adrian ? Can you hear me?”

“Carolyn? Is that you? What are you doing down here?”

“It’s my turn to come and rescue you,” I laugh nervously, “I heard about what they did to you…”

Silence. He backs away into the dark away from my vision.

“They’ve been torturing me. They wanted you dead, especially Talon. I thought I had seen quite a few mean vampires at Ghastidon but he’s the worst. We should’ve left Derren first chance we had. Now look what mess we’re in.”

“ Adrian , let me see you,” he backs away even further. With the charm trying to rip my skin off, it took an extreme force of my mine to unlock the heavily guarded door. Fire ran through my brain as screams of pain seared through my body. The door opened with a heavy swing almost flattening me to the floor.

“Sweetie, it’s alright. Just take my hand and we can leave this place. I know a way out of here. Derren can take us…”

“He’s not coming with us,” he booms authoritively.

“And why’s that?”

“He can’t be trusted.”

“He could say the same to you apparently.”

“That’s another reason though.”

“Oh? Why would that be? Is it because you nearly left him to die?”

“No,” his head hung in the shadows. I walk towards him even though the charm was still very much active and I had to hold a hand to my searing head and finally I collapse in his arms. He cradles my head and strokes my hair lovingly.

“I’m glad you came back,” he muses, “It was a stupid risk and you’re a bit of a fool, but I’ve always loved you for that.” He kisses me lightly on the head and lifts an arm round his shoulders even though he was already quite weak.

“We’ve got to get you out of here and back to Ghastidon, where’s you brother?” he asks.

“I thought you said you didn’t like him,” I smile impishly.

“Yes. Well, I need him for now as he’s the only one who can get me out of this Castle of Dirt .”

“You mean this place wasn’t built by them?”

“No, of course not Silly One, that’d be too expensive. This place wherever it is, is probably a house built on a hill in which extended into the ground. Honestly, honey…” he staggers slightly as the Charm wears him down too and it was my turn to drag him.

“Come on you great Lug. Get on my back.”

“Oh no, you’re not going to degrade me. I’m alright thanks,” I roll my eyes and quickly tickle him into submission and carry him onto my petit back. Although I was weakened without eating or drinking anything I still had enough strength to take him. Derren almost laughed as he saw the huge figure riding on my back but Adrian gave him a long stare suggesting that he would rip open his throat and carve his ears off. He jumps of my back and walks up to him and reaches out to strangle him but Derren poises into an attack stance ready to pounce on him.

“Stop this you two,” I shouted at the both of them and step in front of them both.

“I’ve had enough of all of this. Either you can explain this rivalry between the two of you to me right now. OR we can wait until the Guards come here again or have the choice of getting caught by the Wolves. In which I think they will happily lock the both of you up for letting Adrian escape,” Derren whines disapproving that he hadn’t allegedly let him escape.

“Just be quiet Derren for a minute. Or we can have the other option of heading out of this place before any of them notice we’re gone…Which would you prefer?”

“Plan B, Miss,” Adrian mutters. Derren glares at him but sighs with a nod.

“Don’t you take that tone with me,” I mimic one of our teachers and they both laugh uneasily.

“It’s not going to be easy though…” Derren points out.

“We’ve got you on our side though,” I pat him gently on the shoulder.

“You forgive me?” he asks.

“Not entirely but you’ll always remain the little Brat that I’ve always loved. Even if that means that you did steal me out of school twice and almost killing all of us,” smirking I take the lead walking between the two of them,

“Now let’s get out of this flea-hole.”

“Man that was cheesy,” Adrian chides wincing at the bad joke.

“Someone’s gotta supply the food somehow,” I shrug.

“Let’s just get out of here before she cracks anymore,” in which both of the boys exchange a glance and nod in agreeiance. It was the first time I saw them unite on something.

“Hey! I’m not that bad, am I?” I ran after them as they opened the door as we were swallowed into the maze of passageways again. As we retraced our steps we were cornered with a team of werewolves, all Changed in their were-form. We all backed away and looked at each other sharing the same word that hung around in our minds.

“Shit,” I said a loud.

“I second that,” Adrian says.

“I third it,” we both turn Derren and I smack him on the forehead.”

“No need for third helpings you daft idiot,” I whispered.

“Yeah, but how are we going to get out of here?”

“Dig?” They both shake their heads at me

“Fly?” Again they said no.

“Fight?” and a snide little smile crept over Adrian and a thought occurred to him.

“Do you still have the Ring?” he asks.

“I thought you had it.”

“No, Talon took it away from me when he felt its Power. It’s weird. It’s like the thing reaches out for people.”

Derren coughs.

“I have it.”

We both looked at him and Adrian reaches a hand out towards him trying to source out if he had it.

“How did you get it?” he asks.

“Meh, he left it out in the Dining room. Didn’t know what it was but thought the thing was quite pretty.”

“Pretty?!” Adrian gasps.

“You don’t feel its power?”

“No…it’s more of a mind. It talked to me.”

Ok, that’s slightly worrying. Just when I thought he couldn’t be more deranged out pops another secret. When are people going to explain the whole story to me?

“Derren, if you can feel its mind. Is it on friendly terms with us at the moment?”

“She seems to like us. Otherwise she would have made a noise by now if she didn’t.”

“She?!” gasping out loud Adrian covers a hand over my mouth.

“Shh….Listen,” he ropes an around me and clings onto the ceiling just as Derren was doing right now while he had the other on my mouth. The party of wolves passed us as they tried to follow our scent. Man that was a close one. Then one of the smaller grey brownish ones lifts its muzzle to the ceiling sniffing and barks an order. They all look up and stare at the empty space where Adrian had scurried me off.

“They wwhhheeerrreeeeee chlooooseee…” one of them growls out.

- does a lil jig -

Hope you guys like this chapter. I'm starting to like Derren's character a bit more as I write him in. He's actually based on someone in real life and it's very tempting to shade a bit more from him. To be truthful I don't find it that easy writing in characters so I tend to borrow a few traits from real people.

Please don't forget to read and review on your way out.