THE ARMS OF THE OCEAN ARE CARRYING ME

Victoria stormed the castle and as a shapeshifter went to grab her, she glared him down. "Touch me, and so help me God I will take a bat to your head when you sleep!"

The shapeshifter laughed loudly, mocking her, but she grabbed a vase right off the table, whipping it right at him and as it hit impact with the ground, shattered into a million pieces. Everyone stopped and stared, the shapeshifters eyes grew wide and he growled angrily– but she didn't care.

Tears filled her vision from what had happened previously, after her mother's betrayal and Scar's trick all she wanted to do was give up. Her future was no more, she'd be a wife to Scar, he'd defile her and make her someone she hated and felt disgusted. Out of impulse and frustration, she screamed, "I DON'T CARE. KILL ME." She prayed that he would. It would end all the misery that was being bestowed upon her.

"Oh, believe me, princess." He got in her face and glared her down. "It would be my pleasure, but that ain't what Scar wants, is it?"

Raising her eyebrows, she tilted her head, "And you always do what he wants?"

"If I wanna survive." He stated, grabbing her arm tightly, almost yanking it right out of its socket. "And just so we're clear… if you ever threaten me again I will throw your ass outside on the next full moon. Do you understand me?" She didn't nod, she didn't do anything but stare and that's when he shook her. "I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

Her eyes locked within his own and unexpectedly the man's face twisted into pain. His grip loosened from the arm and once he fell to his knees, let go, holding his head. "Don't you ever… threaten me again." She said darkly and Ayden, Opal and Phil all stood there with wide eyes. Asher, Jace and Ed began coming hear them to grab her, but instead they stopped and stared at what was happening – it was clear that they didn't want it, Ayden knew they had experienced this before. "You have no idea what I'm capable of."

Victoria shoved the shapeshifter over violently with her foot and Ayden quickly put down the tray, cautiously moving over to her. "Vee…" He tried and she viciously snapped her head towards him… snapping out of the trance and breaking down into tears.

"I-" She tried, practically collapsing into his arms. He held her for a moment, looking over at Opal and Phil – but they appeared to be just as shocked as the shapeshifter who got what he deserved. But now Victoria was weakened by how much power she used.

"I'll… bring you upstairs, yeah?" he asked, but shook her head. "Why?"

"I need to see someone." She wiped the tears away from her puffy, red eyes.

"C-Can you walk?"

"I can try." Victoria stated. It had been the first time since she was ten using that power. She noticed that it came out of nowhere; it was as if it happened when she desperately needed it to, but other times when she tried to practice in her room… nothing happened, nothing ever triggered it enough. This time, she remembered doing it – unlike when she was ten years old. Now if only she could remember how she did it…

Getting out of Ayden's arms she weakly walked over to the dungeon trapdoor, pried it open and almost fell forward from being lightheaded.

Ayden grabbed onto her, frowning. "Are you sure you-"

"Yes, Ayden!" She snapped. "I'm not an invalid!"

"Ayden… Scar is going to expect the drinks soon. You need to go serve him." Opal's calm voice entered their ears and at first he seemed hesitant to leave, but unwillingly had to do it – of course, Ayden didn't understand why Victoria was acting like this. The blond merely thought she was angry with the shapeshifters, when in all reality she was hurt beyond measure from her own mother's betrayal and the idea of marrying a monster.

Opal and Phil continued looking at her, she could feel their eyes burning into the back of her skull, but she ignored this and pushed on through, walking into the dungeon, holding onto every banister she could find, "J-James?" She coughed; her eyes felt heavy and her head, light. "James are you down here?"

He emerged from around the corner, hobbling over to her. What a pair they made. "My dear, Victoria… what happened, you look…"

"Horrible?" She asked and he slightly smiled. "I need to talk to you."

The two hobbled over to some chairs. Elizabeth had been gone – doing the laundry for Scar and his shapeshifters. No one was down there but them. "Alright, tell me what's on your mind."

James had always been a father figure to her, but even more so now that he didn't have a child anymore and she found that she desperately needed a father since her mother decided to stab her in the back.

Tears flooded her eyes and she looked at the ground, feeling angry again. She wanted to throw something; she wanted to yell at her mother for putting her into this situation. "I-…" she began, shaking her head. "I don't know what to do!"

"Why don't you fill me in on what's happened?"

She nodded, and as Victoria told her story of her friends not going to school and being sentenced to death, being tricked into marrying Scar by trying to save them and having to hear that her mother was in on this scandal the entire time, she had to keep composure and tried controlling the anger in her voice.

James shut his eyes angrily, however he kept calm. "Why would Isabelle do that to you? You're her daughter!"

"To protect her and Nick." Victoria gritted her teeth.

The one and only king in her eyes shook his head, "That sounds incredibly selfish of her… not on Nick's part, but her own."

"Yeah." She thought of her mother with disgust but something snapped in her head. "I bet there's a spell to go back in time! What if we change what happened?"

James shook his head. "Victoria what's done is done. You can't change the past and yes, you can be angry over it… but it won't change a thing and you know how I know that?" She shook her head. "Because everyday I yell and scream, asking why my son had to be taken away from me… I've come to realize that nothing is going to change and that the angrier you are… the less they care."

Victoria thought of his words of wisdom and then her mind reverted to Drake, and how he would handle this. "What do you think Drake would have done about this?"

James sighed. "I think that Drake… would have something cooked up." She slightly smiled and kept her eyes on the ground. "He loved you, Victoria." This made her look up and she appeared confused. "You may not have known it, and he may not have known it… but deep down there was a special place in his heart for you. I truly believe that if he were here right now, he'd gladly give Scar a piece of his mind." James paused and tears flooded to Victoria's eyes again, "Which is exactly what I'm going to do."

"W-What?"

"My son may not be here to protect you, but I will be." James said, "You're like a daughter to me, I don't want anything to happen to you… and that's including what my brother has planned."

"James, he'll kill you!" Victoria cried, "You can't-"

"Victoria," he sighed. "I once told Drake that I'm only brave when I have to be, I don't go around looking for trouble… but this is one of those times. I will not have you married off to him."

Aurora slumped down in the den, and Riley and Evan stared at her. "Is he ok?" Evan asked and the vampire just shook her head.

"GREAT!" Riley dramatically exclaimed. "Now we have a pissed off vampire in the house. How great for us, Evan. He'll probably kill us the moment he snaps-"

"No one's snapping."

All heads turned to Drake, who stood in the doorway. Riley, already frightened, leapt by Evan, hiding under a stack of pillows. Aurora stood and frowned in Drake's direction.

"I'm sorry…" She frowned, "I truly am."

"About what exactly?" He asked, "The fact that I'm a doppelganger curse or the fact that you lied straight to my face."

Aurora grew confused. "What did I lie about?" She didn't lie, she just didn't tell him the truth. She never said a lie.

Drake took a few steps in the den, tilting his head. "Hating me…" he slowly said, "Not being in love with me anymore."

Her jaw dropped and her eyes grew wide, "B-but… wait." Riley and Evan both peered over the couch, watching as Drake's eyes turned from a golden brown to an electric blue.

Aurora gasped and practically stumbled backwards. "W-WILLIAM?"

He smirked, "Did you miss me, love?" Then his fangs extended and he rushed over to her with lightening fast speed, biting into her neck.

Aurora sprang out of bed, breathing heavily as she heard the raindrops pelt against the window. Though she knew otherwise, it felt like her heart had been racing a million miles an hour – of course this was just a feeling, it wasn't certain. Her heart still did beat, but much slower than a normal human's.

Placing her hand on her forehead, she swiftly got out of bed and left the safeness of her room by going downstairs, turning every single light on as she entered a room and when she entered the kitchen, she heard a voice speak to her. "Can't sleep?"

Frightened, she flipped the switch on, spotting Drake sitting at the kitchen table. "W-What are you doing?"

He shrugged and kept his hands wrapped around a glass. "Can't sleep either."

She sighed and as soon as she felt calm, she took the seat next to him. "Drake, I really am sorry…"

"It's alright." He stated after taking a swig of God knows what. "I think that nightmare was enough."

Aurora froze and stared at him with wide eyes, her breathing stopped dead. "How-"

"Who do you think made it happen?" He asked and she shook her head, not following. "In one of William's journals he talks about vampire powers and he said something about mind manipulation." Drake slightly shrugged. "I wanted to try it and see if it worked."

"Wait," Aurora stayed frozen by the strange news. "You can compel?"

"I can get into your head and trick you into thinking things… if that's what that means."

"Drake, were you… manipulative in your human life?" She cautiously asked and he stayed quiet for a moment, this frightened her.

"I guess so." He finally answered. "Everyone did what I wanted." Aurora inspected Drake for a moment, coming to the conclusion that he was more like William than she wanted to admit – possibly worse. "What does compel mean exactly?"

Aurora felt a deep reluctance about telling him this, she felt like he would abuse his power. However, William was manipulative, but not to a point where he was able to reconstruct your entire mind as a vampire. His gift resides with clairvoyance. As a human, he always stayed one step ahead, and that heightened as a vampire so much, to where he was able to see the future based on decisions or motives. Drake, however, was able to manipulate the mind - but her question was… why was William so interested in mind manipulation if he couldn't do it himself?

Drake stared at her, waiting for an answer and she sighed, giving in. "You can make others… do things just by telling them… It's hypnotic almost." She should have realized that just by the hypnotic gaze he gave off in those amber eyes of his. "You manipulate the brain. It's a rare ability… It allows you to control another person's mind by making eye contact, you can even astral project into someone's dreams." He slightly smirked at this and she frowned, "… you can erase a person's memory or change who they are completely… you can … control somebody. It only works on humans, but dream manipulations can work on anyone, including vampires. Like what you did to me."

He lifted his glass in the air. "Cheers to duplicity."

She eyed what was in the glass and her face looked shocked. "What the hell are you drinking?"

He glanced over to the bottle. "I believe… I'm drinking scotch, Aurora."

"Oh, no you are not!" She grabbed it out of his hand and he glared. "You're fourteen years old!"

"But according to you I look eighteen… or sixteen or…" he waved his hand. "Whatever."

"You are too young to be drinking this." She growled and he started laughing.

"What's it gonna do?" He asked. "Kill me?"

Aurora tensed. "How on earth… are you even drinking hard alcohol? Doesn't it taste bad to you?"

"In the journals, William said hard alcohol helps with the blood cravings. I was feeling a little angry and it was either drink that-" He pointed to the glass in her hand. "Or have a feast with Riley and Evan."

"WILLIAM SAYS?" Aurora gritted her teeth, her light blue eyes wide. "WILLIAM? THE MAN WHO USES PEOPLE, GETS WHATEVER HE WANTS AND PROBABLY MANIPULATES BEYOND MEASURE?"

Drake stared. "Well, apparently he doesn't do it all that much. He can't control a person's mind the way I can."

"Drake, look at yourself!" She exclaimed with a frown. "Willam Ashburn… the man who started the massacre of the kingdom you're from!" He looked away from her and she knew she had gotten to him. "HE'S EVIL AND YOU'RE COMPARING YOURSELF TO HIM?"

"Of course I am." Drake said, without looking at her. "I look just like him, Aurora. I'm the doppelganger, I'm his double. If you thought that he was a manipulative bastard from the beginning, why did you make another?"

With this, she was quiet and just stared at him, finding that she couldn't find words. Drake didn't understand. It was either do what he said, or you died. Besides, she was young, stupid and in love with a man who would never return those same feelings back. She did it because she loved him and because she thought he loved her.

"Can he compel people too?" Drake finally asked, after the horrid silence. "You said he's just as manipulative. If I can do it, I guess he can."

"He can't." Aurora stated. "At least, as far as I knew he couldn't. He could see the future. Drake, to be honest, I didn't know him as a human. He may not have been manipulative. I think personally, he was neglected… being the second born son, he held no importance to his family. His parents favored Thaddeus, they cared for William but not as much as they should have." She sighed, "I remember him telling me the story after I turned…"

"When you turned…" Aurora began, looking at William. "Did you kill anybody?"

William slowly nodded his head. "I killed my father first."

Aurora looked at him with wide eyes, jaw dropped. "That's how King Arius died?" She knew it was difficult to control yourself as a newborn vampire. She herself had been having a difficult time and didn't know how to stop feeding. The hunger never ceased. "I'm so sorry, William."

"Don't be." He said lightly, peering out into the darkness, watching as his army of newborn vampires resided in the Black Forest. They were just what he needed uncontrollable, vicious monsters that were unable to feel remorse until the deeds were done. While they killed the people, he'd kill his family unless they stood down. "My father never loved me… only Thaddeus. He was all he cared about."

"I'm sure that's not true." Aurora smiled. "He may have worked with Thaddeus more, because he was to be king… but I think he loved you both the same."

William shook his head. "Young Aurora… you'll never understand what it's like to feel neglected by the two people who are supposed to love you. My mother died giving birth to me and my father never forgave me for that. He married, of course, to a wench named Jona… and she was the mother I knew. But she didn't pay attention to me… my father just let me live there, but he practically disowned me. Thaddeus was the only child they cared for, he was to be king while I was merely a peasant." Smiling, he lifted his eyebrows. "But I got my revenge."

"Jona is still alive though." Aurora slowly said and William nodded.

"I never cared much about her to be honest, though, to have her dead would be a brilliant sight to see." He smiled, stroking her face lightly. "I'll allow you to do the honors my pet."

"Him being neglected from his parents caused much anger to him." Aurora said, "As a human, I'm sure William loved… but he also hated, and that hatred only heightened. Jealousy consumed him as a vampire and nothing else mattered but spilling the blood of what he used to call family, getting every title that he ever dreamed."

Drake looked down at the table, finding a strange understanding with William. His first kill was his father, and that was Drake's first kill – though his wasn't intentional. However, Drake didn't use people, he was just always able to get someone onto his side – he knew how to be manipulative with getting what he wanted, but he also knew his barriers. "I know he loved." Drake whispered. "He talks about some Annabelle girl a lot."

Aurora tensed and her eyes widened. "Do not speak of her…"

"Why?" Drake then sarcastically asked, "Will the walls come crashing down?"

"No," She gritted her teeth. "Just… look, do not pay any attention to what William Ashburn says, ok? He is a liar! He uses to get what he wants. He's using you! He's always one step ahead!"

"That's funny," Drake began, standing up. "Because so far, he's the one that's told me the truth about being a doppelganger curse … you're the one who's been lying to me."

"I thought we dropped this!"

"We did." He growled, "Until you brought it back up again. Aurora, he may have used you, and he may be using me to get back into the kingdom… but so far he's the only one who's been giving me answers."

"OH MY GOD!" She exclaimed, appearing shocked. Her light blue eyes focused on Drake, tears filling them. "Don't you see what's going on here? He's trying to make you mad at me, he's trying to split us!"

Drake stared at her for a moment. A lion doesn't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep. To be honest, he felt like he could trust no one, but the truth resided inside these journals. Of course, Aurora doesn't want Drake to believe William's writings because she disproves of him, but he had to be telling the truth. Did his entire existence mean it was a lie? Why would he continuously write lie after lie in his life journals? Coming to a strange conclusion, Drake sighed lightly, finally answering with, "Aurora… you did that to yourself."

He moved over to the door and Aurora stared at him, "Where are you going?" He didn't answer, and she followed him to the door, but then he practically disappeared into the darkness and this frightened her. He was angry, disappointed and vulnerable. Who's to say that William wouldn't grab him now? "DRAKE!"

But he was drifting off into the forest, like a rowboat being drifted off to sea by the arms of the ocean. The darkness was only delivering him into his fate, into who he should be; Drake Ashburn was done pretending to be something he clearly wasn't, he felt different... darker somehow and that same darkness was growing inside him, waiting to be left out.

Perhaps he was more like William than he thought. This slightly bothered him, he didn't consider himself to be evil... but he sure as hell wasn't good.

Scar walked stood alone in the drawing room, staring into the blaring fire that resided inside the stone fireplace. Hearing the crackling and pops of it's intense heat, he also came across another noise.

"Ah, brother." He mused and turned to see him. "And whom let you out of the dungeon? I must let them know not to be foolish. Was it my future bride?"

"No," James answered and Scar raised his eyebrows. "It was Victoria."

The dictator laughed lightly and sat upon a chair, closest to the fire. "I'm guessing you haven't heard the news then. Victoria and I-"

"No, you're not."

He raised his eyebrows, slowly standing. "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

"I said, no." James gritted his teeth, hands balled into fists. "She's just a girl. She's youthful, pure and innocent. You can't do this to her, brother! Elvira seems to be perfect for you, if you just open your eyes-"

"That is exactly why Victoria will be mine, James." Scar seethed. "Her beauty entrances me… it consumes my very being." James's jaw jutted forward and Scar grew closer. "Don't tell me what I will and will not do, you have no say in this. I'm king now."

"So you're just going to take my son's girl away?" James asked and Scar looked at him like he had three heads, it was clear that Drake Ashburn was dead. "Drake and Victoria were to be King and Queen, to marry her is to practically betray him and I know you wouldn't do that to your nephew."

Scar stared at James for a moment and a slow, crafty smile fixed across his thin lips. "I know what you're trying to do, James, but let me assure you that it will not work. Drake's gone… dead… he doesn't care about you anymore, he doesn't care about Victoria. If he had, he would have made a journey back by now. So far," Scar glanced around sarcastically and James glared, "I haven't seen him."

"He can't come back, Scar." He spoke through gritted teeth, "He's dead. Have you heard of anyone coming back from the dead?"

"I have." Scar smiled. "Vampires do it all the time, my dear oldest brother, it isn't out of the ordinary to see their lifeless bodies roaming."

"Don't insult my dead son by calling him a vampire." James glared.

"Oh, please James. Listen to yourself. That son of yours is gone, I saw him buried. He died by poison, a vampire would survive that-" He stopped for a moment, remembering how they couldn't find Drake's body at first, that it disappeared and somehow the three shapeshifters found it elsewhere - where apparently no one else found it, not even the guardian's... "Excuse me, brother..." Vampirism is impossible inside this kingdom, isn't it?

Victoria listened to their conversation outside the door until the voices subsided and she sighed, turning her vision away and spotting a figure standing in the hall. He had light olive skin, straight and thick dark auburn hair, amber eyes and a smile ear to ear.

Her entire being froze, eyes completely wide. "D-Drake?" She asked, but the apparition didn't go anywhere, he stood very still – smiling over to her. "Oh my gosh…" She whispered and took a step forward, to which he took one step back. "No, no. I won't hurt you!"

She moved again, and he did as well.

Victoria stopped and realized that no matter how much she moved, he did too, and they were constantly in the same space. "Drake!" She whispered loudly, bringing her hands up and gesturing towards herself, "It's me… It's Victoria." But he mocked her movement.

What the hell is this?

Beginning to walk forward, Drake turned around and walked, but then she began running and he did as well. Why was he doing exactly what she was? Maybe this was a game. This had to have been Drake's spirit – probably restless from what's been going on.

Victoria continued running and noticed that Drake rushed out the door. She stumbled to a stop and remembered what Scar's words were. He'd kill everyone she loved if she ran off, but she wasn't running away. She'd be back. A walk was a must – the young girl needed a breather after the information she had just received.

Following Drake's spirit, the both of them ran and continued running into the Black Forest. Normally she would have cared about going in this creepy place at night, but since the previous events that awakened in her future – she didn't care anymore - it felt like the arms of the ocean were carrying her where she needed to be, she felt alive, she felt infinite.

A sense of light formed through her being and she giggled, a smile etching onto her face. "DRAKE!" She called out with a laugh, "WHERE ARE WE GOING?"

He never answered her, he never turned around. This adventurous boy may have been showing her to her doom and the sense of uncaring overflowed her. Adventure… it was what she craved, what she missed. It died when Drake did.

As they went deeper and deeper into the blackness of the unknown, a light shined upon them and he suddenly stopped, Victoria found herself remotely close to him now. He was allowing her to get closer.

She peered at the beautifully lit cabin in the woods and gave him a strange look. "Why are we here?"

He said nothing, only pointed at the door. Drake wanted her to go inside…

"A-Alright." She whispered and moved over to the door, but stopped to face him again – however, the boy was gone and this made her incredibly sad. "I miss you, Drake…" She whispered again and slowly walked inside, spotting weird statues in the beautiful cabin.

A fireplace was going and there were pillows surrounding it. There was a bedroom connected to the little den area and then a kitchen and a bathroom… who's house was this?

"Ah, Victoria." She jumped and gasped, turning to face the voice but saw that it was Asaka, the witch doctor. "What can I do for you, young one?"

"I-" She began and found herself stumped. Why did Drake lead her here? "I don't know…"

Asaka laughed. "Did you sleep walk or something?"

"No," She smiled. "But… I uh… I'm not sure why…" sighing, confusion washed through her and she shook her head. "I was told to come here, but the reasons for this are unknown."

Asaka's face fell and she tilted her head, face becoming serious. "What do you mean? Scar sent for you?"

"No," Victoria said, "He doesn't know I left, but… this is going to sound crazy…" Asaka nodded her head for her to continue. "But I think Drake wanted me to come here…" The witchdoctors eyes widened and she quickly grasped Victoria's hand. "Hey, what are you-"

"Shh." Asaka hushed her and held her hand in both of hers, her eyes moving as if she saw something – something that either disturbed or amazed her. Victoria watched in silence… maybe she wasn't crazy. Maybe Drake really was there, guiding her. Perhaps he saved her from Scar?

Abruptly, the witchdoctor ripped her hands from Victoria's and the young girl looked taken aback, just as much as Asaka had. "Victoria Morlet…" she whispered with a smile. "You have got a touch of destiny inside of you."

AN: Yupyup! End of this chapter. It was interesting on all three parts.

* Scar finds the need to question himself after saying something of vampires.

* Victoria goes to James because he is her fatherly figure, and he gives advice about the past and how it's unchanging, but he also gives insight on what Drake would have done, making him realize what he should do.

* Victoria seeing Drake, and him leading her away. Asaka's thoughts. - touch of destiny - Totally got that from POTC! I picture Asaka to be like Tia Delma. [Forgive me if I misspell her name.]

And last but not least.

*Drake and Aurora's part. Aurora's dream. Drake admits to being manipulative in his human life, to which he got the power to compel. How much is Drake like William and how much more is he going to listen to him? Is William lying in those journal entries? Surly he knew Drake would find them, he's allllways one step ahead.

Drake is also becoming a little darker now, he's done with playing nice with people and not getting the proper answers and he comes to a strange conclusion about himself.

Anyone notice the little part about the ocean in both Drake's and Victoria's part?