Author's Note: I hope I still have readers. There are some revelations and explanations in this chapter that are key to moving forward. Read and Review :) Happy Thanksgiving to American Readers

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars."

Khalil Gibran

Chapter Five- New Reveals

*** Two Days Later in Present Day Ireland***

Dressed in his all black attire and trenchcoat, Wilhelm Alexandrov silently stood in the Supernatural Council chambers at the center podium. The SC headquarters was located in Ireland, nestled far away from locals and any chance of human eyes spotting it. The large headquarters and lush green land adjacent to it was owned by the SC Council under the pretense of preservation purposes. Very few humans had ever encountered the sight of the concealed building and lived to tell the tale. Most were killed, or the other lucky few had their memories wiped out by vampires. Due to witch magic, the outside of the building looked like ancient ruins and overgrown land to human eyes. One would never know there was an enormous institution hidden in plain sight, but witch magic could be very powerful and deceiving. However, once the front door was opened and the supernatural person stepped inside, one could only see the grandeur and beauty of the shrouded building. Polished marble flooring, numerous white marble columns, and ancient paintings lined the two large main hallways that ran east and west. Upstairs were the private rooms for the SC and forbidden to any other non-council member. Downstairs were two main halls that held several interrogation rooms, training rooms, and secret magic doors to supernatural prisons worldwide.

Wilhelm had entered the main lobby, briefly glancing up at the three immensely large glass chandeliers and then down at the ruby red Persian rugs. Barely acknowledging the other supernaturals that worked there, he walked straight towards the downstairs SC chamber, which looked like any other courtroom. However, this courtroom was much larger with twelve foot arching ceilings, enough seating for a large audience, and large open windows that showcased Ireland's green beauty. This room may have been beautiful once, but its history, marred by legal proceedings, war conferences, and executions, made it ugly in Wilhelm's eyes. He hated coming here. As it often did, his presence at the SC court chamber had brought in many of the supernatural crowd. Hazel eyed Colleen McHardy, the Irish Supreme witch, was dressed in a dramatic purple velvet robe-styled dress with her orange curls framing her angular freckled face. She stared at the Russian as he stepped towards the center podium. Her large coven, surrounding her, took up one side of the pews while Dublin's vampire master, Ferguson O'Malley and his clan took up the pews on the opposite side. Colleen and Ferguson had a passionate fling centuries ago that ended in horribly and with a lot of bloodshed, and the two harbored a hatred for each other ever since.

Ferguson O'Malley, was a short vampire with red wavy hair that reached the nape of his neck. He had a large, crooked nose, and an extremely volatile temper, which he often lost at the expense of others who made fun of his odd looks for a vampire. Wilhelm curtly nodded at Colleen who flashed him more than a smile as she gave him an obscene hand gesture for copulation. Of course, it had the obviously intended effect as Wilhelm felt Ferguson's aura darken, but the vampire knew better than to act on his jealous rage especially picking a fight with an Enforcer. Over the past few decades, Colleen had expressed interest in Wilhelm many times, but he always politely refused her advances. He did not care for her cruelty or her penchant for many lovers. She was a user, and Wilhelm had been used enough by people in his life.

The middle pews were occupied by his four Enforcer brothers: Nehemiah, Ezekiel, Lazarus, and Jeremiah. Nehemiah, built like a giant at nearly seven foot with muscles so large a body builder who kill for them, was the opposite of everything kind and gentle. He lacked compassion, but was efficient at executing any malicious order of the SC. With bronze colored skin, long black hair, and equally cold maroon colored eyes, he often could be every bit the monster that he looked. Wilhelm and he certainly never got along in their long history together. Their brotherhood bond was the only tie between them. Nehemiah was a stickler for laws and since Wilhelm had broken one long ago, he never forgave him. The two were like oil and water.

Ezekiel, with light green eyes, bearded heart-shaped face, and short corn colored hair, was the scholar of the lot. He knew the long histories of vampires, witches, humans, and their kind like the back of his hand. He tried to stay out of any and all conflict, preferring to spend his time with his nose in the books. Lazarus was the peacekeeper of the group with an easy-going temperament. He had rust colored hair and similar colored eyes and had recently grown a dark goatee. He was the athlete, excelling in all sports and always training for battle because he simply enjoyed the thrill of it. Wilhelm found him to be an equal match training wise and the best backup on the battlefield. Last but certainly not least, little Jeremiah beamed at Wilhelm when they made eye contact. With a tanned round, youthful face, Jeremiah always exuded positive energy and a zest for life. His flawless boyish face would crinkle with little laugh lines at the corners of his sapphire colored eyes whenever he smiled or laughed, which was often. He was the youngest and had recently cut off his long ash-colored hair to a more respectable length even though his fashion choices were less than to be desired. Jeremiah adored Wilhelm for his sensitivity, calm presence, and quiet fortitude. Because of his banishment, Wilhelm was not allowed to join his brothers, a wound that still was raw in Jeremiah's heart.

Unlike the Russian who had a penchant for all black attire, his brethren wore crisp white military style uniforms with a black replica of the Enforcer's celtic sword crest on their backs. The tattoo that had emerged on his skin at the Blackstone pack complex was the sign of the SC enforcers. All of the men had their fiery swords of 'justice,' as the Council called them, sheathed at their hips. Gifts from the SC, the men used these particular swords for defense and executions. When in full display of their powers, the sword's blade shared their internal fire that mirrored their eye color. Wilhelm's fire was gold. Nehemiah's was crimson red while Lazarus's was a burnt orange color. Ezekiel's fire was forest green and Jeremiah's a light blue. The four of them worked as a team while Wilhelm worked alone, part of his punishment for sparing Malachi's life. He was banished for life from his brothers in arms.

Nehemiah scowled at Wilhelm, obviously disappointed in his appearance there, but the Russian ignored him and gave quick hugs to his three other brothers. Lazarus inquired about the whereabouts of his silver-alloy line sword, to which Wilhelm informed him that it was in a safe place. Ezekiel and he discussed the implications of increased rogue activity while Jeremiah listened with an impatient look on his face. Typical to the youngest of the group, Jeremiah grew bored with their conversation and interrupted, "Eliam, have you been able to search for Luca Blackstone? I have asked around and sent feelers out, but it appears his being is masked by magic. Witches won't turn on their own without cause, so what do you think needs to happen so we can find him?"

Wilhelm had abandoned his birth name, Eliam, after Luca saved him from imminent execution. He had ceased being Eliam the day he, in essence, committed treason by allowing his biological brother to live after being turned into a vampire. He shook his head in the negative, but was interrupted before saying anything when the court announcer bellowed, "All rise for the honorable Council of Supernaturals." Turning his back to the enforcers, Wilhelm gripped the sides of the podium as he watched the men and women of the council wordlessly file in with black robes and the crest of the SC, golden double-headed eagle broaches pinned on their shoulders. Two females and two males made up the SC, the most powerful of each of their kind. With all of them in one place, their combined power was stifling and intimidating for those that faced their possible wrath.

Talia, a very old and powerful Dark witch, curiously stared at Wilhelm as he respectfully bowed his head towards her. Priya Naveen, the human daughter of a very wealthy oil tycoon in India, sat down with a look of interest at the crowd. Her family was one of few humans worldwide heavily involved in the supernatural world. Priya, a descendant in a long line of her family members, aided in keeping the supernatural world's secrets. With her family's wealth and status, they were able to keep the cover of and protect the secret identities of vampires, witches, and werewolves. Talia and Priya were exceptionally beautiful, but extremely cut-throat when it came to business or pleasure. Talia Espinosa had rich dark chocolate colored hair that she always kept braided and in a bun that made her features harsh. Priya hid her hair with colorful silk scarves from her Indian culture.

Their male counterparts, Constantine and Alistair, were equally unforgiving and formidable in the courtroom and out in the world. The oldest and closest living descendant of the original werewolf, Constantine Lupei had little restraint on his wolf or temper. He kept his long silver hair tied in a loose knot on the top of his head whenever he was conducting business. His long gray beard and ruddy brutish face struck fear into the hearts of those who dare cross him. The only one that could temper him on the battlefield had been Wilhelm when he was Eliam a long time ago. One particular incident when the Russian saved Lupei's life was the only reason the werewolf king held him in high esteem.

Alistair Kozak was perhaps one of the oldest remaining vampires in the world, but that had yet to be proven. Most vampires his age were extremely reclusive and rarely sought out the world beyond their created ones while his other counterparts had died during conflicts and wars. One wouldn't know Alistair's old age because he still looked youthful with stylish black spiked hair and a tidy shadow a black beard growing on his sharp featured face. Having almost no body fat, the tanned and toned body of a warrior when he was turned, and piercing almost white glacier colored eyes, Alistair proved to be a contradiction. Many looked at him and assumed he was like other newer vampires, but that was only when he reigned in his power. Wilhelm had only seen the full extent of his power once. During a particularly bloody human versus supernatural war during the Russo–Turkish War in the 1870s, Count Andrássy had ordered Alistair's execution for his involvement in the Ottoman Empire at the time. He sent an army to take him down, and Wilhelm had tried to intervene to stop the humans from certain death. However, by the time he arrived to Alistair's fortress, the vampire king had slaughtered the army even after acquiring a critical wound to his chest that almost killed him.

"Our great Enforcer, Eliam, you have requested our audience this date. You have stated this is an emergency and time is of the essence. We await whatever you must tell us with great reverence for your continued services." With a strong Indian Accent, Priya smiled sweetly at him after speaking. She was used to being the one with diplomacy, tact, and affinity for tradition out of the group. Talia leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as Constantine crossed his arms across his chest. Alistair sat, still as a statue, with a blank stare at the enforcer. Wilhelm sighed and approached their higher bench, "Council, I have requested this meeting so that you all may hear my testimony on what tantamounts to a war crime. As you all are aware, I currently am on assignment in the Northeastern territory of the United States trying to locate the artifact. During my brief time there, Alpha Luca Blackstone and Supreme witch Raven Spencer of Portland, Maine were made aware of increased rogue activity. Raven has increased her coven's defensive shields in the city and Luca and his pack officers have sought to intensify patrols and fortify their homes."

Wilhelm paused, refraining from mentioning Luca's sister or her involvement, not that the Council wouldn't know. They knew everything pertinent to the enforcer missions. He stared at Talia first, "I was on my property when I was struck down by a witch. Ophelia Bonafelt trespassed on my land and attacked me on order of a werewolf. I put her to death in accordance to your laws. Before her death, she confirmed working with Hugo Mendoza, a rogue werewolf who seeks alpha status for the Portland pack. For what gain the Bonfelt witch sought, I do not know, but it appears that Mendoza leads a pack of rogue werewolves in hopes of a pack takeover…"

Constantine abruptly interrupted with his gruff voice, "Eliam, we do not find fault in your job thus far. Your actions have been justified, but why should we involve ourselves in such a petty affair of a potential pack takeover in a small city? Werewolves constantly fight each other for territory. It is customary and allowed long as they follow our laws."

Wilhelm took a moment and looked at each of the council member's faces before firmly responding, "I understand Alpha Lupei, but Hugo Mendoza is blatantly trampling on those laws that you all have set forth long ago. Pack takeovers happen, yes, but he is using witch magic to shield himself like a coward. He is attacking without getting personally involved. He did not ask for the Alpha fight through the SC channels set forth for such claims. I also have reason to believe he is in alliance with another powerful witch and is gathering an army of not only rogues werewolves, but also rogue vampires too."

At this revelation, Talia's eyes widened and Constantine grumbled while Alistair's face broke out in complete shock and mortification. When his bewilderment caused a slip in his facade, the vampire master unintentionally released a sliver of his dark power, which felt like an electric current under the skins of everyone in the room. With a Ukrainian accent, Alistair's deep, hypnotic voice bellowed, "Eliam, tell me that you do not believe this Hugo Mendoza has the artifact as well?"

Shaking his head, Wilhelm shrugged, "I have no way of knowing, Master Kozak. I do not believe so because the rogues kidnapped Luca during a battle. If Hugo had the artifact in his possession, he would have immediately killed Blackstone with it. Unfortunately, there is more. After I was attacked by Ophelia, Raven Spencer came to my residence to inform me that Luca's pack was attacked, and he was missing. I went to the Blackstone property with Luca's sister…" Alistair's eyes lit up at this piece of information, but Wilhelm ignored him and continued, "The pack was in complete disarray without their alpha. They mistakenly tried to attack Luca's sister in their ire. The beta, Landon McKnight, took position as temporary alpha in Luca's absence. Together, he and I calmed the scene down without unnecessary bloodshed. He showed me why the pack males were so out of control…"

"I am asking you all to step down here. If Talia performs a connection spell, you will be able to bear witness to what I have seen. No words I can say will do justice to the horrors I saw at the Blackstone property." His brothers exchanged worried glances among themselves as the Council members stepped down, all curious about what Wilhelm saw. The only one of the council that was taller than the Russian was Alistair. Talia stood behind Wilhelm and placed her hands on each of his temples, her cold fingers soothing his raw nerves. Constantine placed a rough calloused hand on his shoulder while Alister mirrored the action on Wilhelm's other shoulder with his smooth hand. Priya tentatively grabbed Wilhelm's hand in hers as Talia began chanting the spell. He exhaled as he cleared his mind of everything except for the massacre in order for the witch to gain entry to his memory.

Unfortunately for him, the connection spell hurt like hell. It was similar to a surgeon cutting into one's brain with repeated stabbing motions at the base of the skull. Alistair and Constantine never released their hold as Wilhelm dropped to his knees in agony. His brothers held back Jeremiah, who wanted to throttle them all for hurting his favorite brother. The Irish coven and clan greedily watched the scene, unaccustomed to such a treat as this sight. Talia's eyes shone with apology as she pressed harder into Wilhelm's temples, causing him to groan in anguish. At the highest precipice of pain, he opened his mind to let the witch's magic affect him. First, he felt Alistair's dark presence peeking in his brain, similar to the feeling of a slug or leech on one's skin. Then he felt Constantine's bestial presence barrel in his head like an elephant stampede. Wilhelm almost vomited but he managed to clamp down on his nausea as he led the witch, werewolf, human, and vampire to the Blackstone pack in his memory. The five of them were like ghosts of their normal selves, transparent observers that no one saw while they watched Wilhelm's memory self make the wolves cower.

Alistair stared at Elizabeth with a keen interest that Wilhelm did not fail to notice. In the memory, the SC members followed the memory versions of the enforcer, Luca's sister, the beta, and male wolves to the site of the massacre. As soon as the council members saw the bloodied, beaten, and deceased bodies of the women, children, and babies, their transparent bodies were sucked out like a vacuum when Talia abruptly broke the spell. As soon as she released her hold on his head, Wilhelm collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily and waiting for his massive migraine to slowly dissipate. Talia slumped to the ground with Priya, horror etched on their faces, as Constantine roared with fury. Alistair, maintaining his reticent facade, bent down next to the Russian and rubbed between Wilhelm's shoulder blades. They watched the women slowly stand and Constantine angrily pace between bouts of human and wolf transformation. The other enforcers half-stood, unsure what to do or what was going on, while the audience observed with a perverse pleasure. The women were taken aback and unable to speak and Wilhelm's head was ringing so loud that he was useless to address the crowd. Constantine struggled with his wolf, so it was up to the vampire king to restore order.

Standing up, he let his vampiric side out. Eyes turned red, fangs elongated, and black veins showing through transparent skin around his red eyes showed Alistair Kozak's formidable strength and true vampire nature. He left no room for questioning and his voice echoed in the courtroom, shaking the walls with its strength and power, "All of you gawkers, LEAVE NOW! Leave us or I will ensure you leave in body parts!" Wilhelm nodded to Jeremiah and his other brothers that he was fine and the room quickly cleared at Alistair's command. After the crowd was gone, the vampire returned to his more human side as he helped Wilhelm to his feet. The others came forward and stood in a circle as Alistair spoke to the Russian, "Killing not only women and children, but also innocent infants is an atrocity we will not ignore. We, the council, will support your endeavor to eliminate such filth as Hugo Mendoza and his ragtag team of miscreants from the face of the earth. Wipe them out, Eliam."

Wilhelm nodded solemnly. "I will need more time in Portland. Right now Hugo has some type of sick fascination with Luca's sister. She may be the key to luring him into the open. When he slips up, I will be there to make sure he never draws another breath." The other council members nodded and retreated back to their inner chamber for other consultations. Alistair and Wilhelm were left alone, and the vampire king's glacier eyes narrowed at the enforcer, "Despite what you told my counterparts, Eliam, I know the truth. You care for the human girl." Wilhelm stood straight to his full height and stared equally hard at the vampire king. "Yes, I do care for her. She is an innocent with a pure heart. She loves her brother, who happens to be my only friend, and he is now missing. Alistair, I ask you, man to man, that you do not let your partners know about her. She doesn't even know who she is, but we know who her father is and what that would mean for her."

Alistair sighed heavily and ran a hand through his dark, spiky hair and nodded, "Yes, Eliam, I agree. Elizabeth is my granddaughter, but that will not save her should the others discover who her father is… I have stayed away from her life, but she is my progeny...She carries my blood in her veins and her existence is a miracle. No one but you and I know that the warlock was not her father, but it is best that Luca and Elizabeth believe he was. But with her unintentional involvement with the rogues, it will be next to impossible to keep the truth hidden for long. I will do my best here to keep appearance here, but Eliam, it is in our best interests, you get rid of the rogues in the Northeast and restore peace as quickly as you can. For our sakes and hers too..." Wilhelm nodded and got ready to leave, his concern for keeping Elizabeth safe growing with each passing second.

***One Day Earlier in Portland, Maine***

Wilhelm had been gone for one day and without his presence, Elizabeth's nerves were quickly unraveling. Raven and her coven were busy with trying to locate Luca as well as fortifying spells and wards to defend the city. No rogue activity had occurred since Malachi Montgomery had saved her life. She thought about calling Wilhelm through the necklace and chant, but she didn't want to bother him when she was clearly not in any present danger. Taking Malachi's advice, she stayed with Raven and Daisy loved all the attention the witches bestowed upon her. More than once, Elizabeth heard the spells from the other room and then see her dog trot in with huge bones, toys, and other doggie treats. Shaking her head, Elizabeth couldn't help but smile. Leave it to Daisy to find food and fun wherever she went. The more time that passed without leads to Luca's whereabouts, the more anxious and irritated she became. It was awful not knowing if her brother was dead, alive, tortured, near, or far.

Elizabeth had tried to take her mind off things otherwise she would go crazy. She spent most of the day catching up in her few online classes while calling the university to take a partial leave of absence, citing family issues. The sun had just set when Raven and the witches came in from visiting the grave of their ancestors in hopes of gaining any valuable information. The looks on their faces revealed that to be a failure. Elizabeth smiled and waved at the witches who continued upstairs with Daisy trolloping after them. Raven must have felt more agitated than usual because her black pixie cut sported red tips with matching red facial piercings, and a red baggy T-shirt that had 'Shoot me Now' on the front. When she plopped down on the oversized green sofa her violet eyes looked tired and irritated when they found Elizabeth's questioning green ones. "Elle, whatever magic is shielding those assholes comes from a powerful witch...And her magic is dark….Darker than anything I have encountered. The city is too quiet and the rogues have simply vanished, but it can never be that easy. Hugo is up to something."

Elizabeth nodded and slumped down in the desk chair, swiveling side to side when out of nowhere the window behind her shattered with an explosive force. Startled, she fell to the ground to avoid getting hit by more projectile as Raven put out the flames from the molotov cocktail that had been thrown inside her house. The other witches rushed down the stairs and stared at the scene in disbelief before looking to their leader for guidance. Raven conjured a fire spell, sending blasts of purple flames to the unknown offenders outside her coven home. Elizabeth crawled to the nearest wall and stood on trembling legs and that was when she heard the maniacal laughter outside of not just one voice but many throaty ones.

"Come now Spencer witch! Your blasts of fire will do you no good. We have one of the most powerful witches on our side. I have come here for some bargaining...You do want Luca Blackstone back with his pack? Your witches will be safe and Luca will back where he belongs as long as Elizabeth comes with me…" Glancing out the broken window, Elizabeth saw Hugo standing just outside of Raven's gates with at least twelve rogue werewolves in wolf forms and twenty of the rogue corpse-like vampires with their dead eyes surrounding him. His dark, evil eyes stared right at her as a malicious grin spread across his face. "My darling mate, I see you look beautiful as always. You, out of all those in this house, will have the most reason. Either come with me, love, or they die…including your brother."

Raven barked, "Yeah, right Hugo! You or your mangy mutts step foot on my property and you will be roasting like marshmallows along with those zombie-eyed vamps!" Elizabeth clutched her necklace and was about to mutter the words Wilhelm had taught her when a piercing wail penetrated the air. The wailing was so loud it brought the witches to their knees. The women looked at each other in alarm as they covered their ears against the mental wailing while Elizabeth stood petrified at the sight of blood leaking from their eyes and noses. Seeing Raven incapacitated by the spell of the mystery dark witch, rocked her to the core. She rushed to Raven who was curled on the floor with her eyes squeezed shut in pain. Hugging her friend's rigid body in her arms, Elizabeth screamed, "Stop! Stop this, Hugo, and I will go with you!" Raven groaned no, but it was too late.

The spell died down and the witches collapsed on the floor in a heap while Raven tried to stop Elizabeth with a weakened hand grab. "Don't...Elle...don't listen...to him. They're all...liars." With tears in her eyes, she kissed Raven's forehead and hugged Daisy goodbye before stepping out of the house. They couldn't touch her or maim her with the silver cuffs on her wrists, vervain and wolfsbane on her skin, and Wilhelm's necklace. She clutched the diamond sword necklace in her hand as she surveyed the rogue army just outside the gates. None of them moved and they looked like eerie macabre statues in the dark night and low moving fog. Hugo's grin never lost maliciousness as he read her movements, "Don't even think of summoning the Enforcer, dear. Even if you succeed and he came, Luca and those witches will fall dead before either of you can stop me."

Her heart hammered against her chest and she let go of the necklace. Her brother and Raven needed her to be strong. She had to trust Wilhelm's ability to find her when he came back from the SC headquarters. Stopping at the large gate, she spoke with a quiet voice, "If I come with you, I have no guarantee that Luca or the witches will be safe. Your word is not enough for me. I want more affirmation of this promise of no harm to my loved ones. I want to invoke the SC Mediation of Non-Involved Party for negotiations…"

A look of consternation crossed Hugo's face before he grumbled with irritation, "I see that your brother has taught you well in the ways of our world. How inconvenient for me...You know I could just kill him now and take you…"

With more bravery in her voice than she felt, she quipped, "No. If you kill him, I will summon the Enforcer and all of you will die...He will bring other enforcers too, and the SC will come after you if they fail. You cannot take me as long as I stand on this side of the fence. But I am willing to go with you...There does not have to be loss of life for either of us as long as I name the mediator."

There was a lengthy pause as Hugo debated this offer. She warily stared at his several facial piercings, black and blue spiky hair, and huge frame. He could crush her with his thumb...easily. Nodding, Hugo finally spoke, his minions still unmoving next to him. "Fine, I agree to the MNIP...Name the mediator...and Elizabeth, if this is a trick, your brother will suffer a long and agonizing death." Gulping at the threat, she nodded in understanding.

"I request Malachi Montgomery, vampire elder to Manchester, New Hampshire." Never taking his molesting eyes off her, Hugo motioned for a cloaked figure from the far right shadows to approach. When the person removed the hood of her cloak with feminine hands of blood red painted fingernails, a semi-young beautiful woman's face appeared. Taller than the average woman, she had long, luxuriously black curly hair that reached midway on her back, milk chocolate brown eyes, full red stained lips, button nose, and a flawless face. Based on her beautiful face, there was little doubt the woman had a to die for curvy body hidden in the cloak. As modelesque as she looked, there was malice and hatred swirling in her eyes, but it wasn't directed towards Elizabeth. Hugo addressed the witch with as much tact as you would a worm, and she saw the witch's perfectly sculpted eyebrow twitch in silent anger.

"Summon the elder here, witch. We had a deal." The witch didn't say anything to him, just rolled her eyes, and uttered a transportation spell, something only old and powerful witches could accomplish. In the blink of an eye, Malachi appeared standing before the gate dressed in a dark gray tuxedo with a loosened teal colored tie, a wine glass filled with blood in his hand. His confused and irritated countenance took in the scene before him and when he noticed Elizabeth, Wilhelm's brother, growled, "What the hell?!" Elizabeth shrugged at him and he shook his head at her in a way that said, 'You're more trouble than I anticipated…' Draining the glass of blood in one gulp, he retorted, "The party was a drag anyhow. Can I ask why I was teleported to this godforsaken city in the middle of the night?"

Hugo grimaced and his nostrils flared as if catching a whiff of something detestable, "Elizabeth wants you to be the mediator in a SC MNIP." Malachi's blue eyes zipped back and forth between her and Mendoza with a calculated interest before tossing the wine glass over his shoulder, the sound of it shattering somewhere in the fog echoing in the quiet night. Scratching his head, Kai looked at Elizabeth, "Is everything ok here, Ms. Blackstone? You seem far more intelligent than to hang around the likes of rogue wolves and sketchy wannabe vampires. I mean after our last encounter with those abominations, I did not think you would willingly fling yourself at them." Hugo shot a warning glare at Elizabeth that indicated if she said anything about his force of hand, then the witches could die and her brother certainly would.

Mustering a sweet smile, she replied, "No, Mr. Montgomery. Everything is fine...We just need to work out an agreement and I trust you to bear witness to this verbal contract. I certainly don't want to get screwed over…" Pointedly she stared back at Hugo when she said this. Grumbling, Hugo waved a dismissive hand at her before turning to face Malachi with a bored expression. The witch, who remained silent, had put the hood of her cloak back up and quietly slipped back into the shadows with the other minions of Mendoza.

"I, Hugo Mendoza, have offered to spare the lives of Supreme Witch Raven Spencer and her coven as well as the life of Portland Alpha Luca Blackstone in exchange for the right to make Elizabeth Waterford Blackstone my mate." Elizabeth had to bite the inside of her cheek really hard to squash any remarks of how slimy he made her feel and disgusted that notion was to her. She had to go along with Hugo's plan to give Wilhelm time to come back. With Malachi as a key witness, there was a place he could start...She would call him when she had the chance. She felt the vampire elder's eyes on her. His blue ones assessed her and he seemed to realize something was amiss, but luckily he didn't address it in front of the others. Sighing heavily as if he would rather be anywhere else, he looked at Elizabeth, "Do you, Elizabeth, agree to such terms as laid out by werewolf Hugo Mendoza?"

His blue eyes pleaded with her to reconsider, but she couldn't as much as she wanted to run far away from Hugo Men-jerk-face. "I, Elizabeth Waterford Blackstone, attest in the presence of Vampire Elder, Malachi Wade Montgomery, that I am of sound mind. I choose of my free will to become Hugo's mate only if he releases my brother and leaves the Portland witches and Blackstone pack alone and alive." She didn't miss the smug smirk that erupted on Mendoza's ugly face as she stated her condition of leaving them alive. Malachi nodded grimly and stepped between her, the fence, and Hugo. "I, Malachi Wade Montgomery have witnessed this exchange and in conjunction with the SC MNIP will testify hereon that Elizabeth Grace Waterford Blackstone has accepted Hugo Lorenzo Mendoza's offer for official mating only if he releases Luca Blackstone from confinement and leaves the Portland witches and Blackstone pack alone and with their lives. Should either of these conditions agreed upon be breached, then this contract shall be null and void."

Elizabeth stepped through the now open gate as Hugo's disgusting grin of victory made her stomach churn with repugnance. Slowly she closed the large gate behind her, the sound of it closing sounded ominous even to her own ears. Hugo went to grab her hand when Kai slapped it away from her, "Now, now, Hugo...don't get so handsy. You need to procure her brother and let him return to his pack. You also need to stop your witch's spell on Spencer's coven, so she knows you have kept your word."

Though he said it with tact and diplomacy, but there was a warning in his icy blue eyes. If the rogue wolf disregarded his words, Malachi would show no mercy and kill them all. It was then, seeing the vampire's imposing stance and lethal focus, that she finally saw the similarity between he and Wilhelm. Hugo, always seeking self-preservation, snarled at two colossal rogue werewolves to retrieve Luca. Elizabeth tried to mask her excitement and dread at the same time...All she could think about was her brother was here! She would get to see him. The two mammoth sized wolves came from an abandoned lot across the street, dragging her brother's limp form on the ground.

The two brutes carelessly tossed her brother's body in front of her feet as she shrieked in anger and panic. "What the hell did you do to him, you son of a bitch!" Hugo's eyebrows raised in ire at her insult as she wiped bloody grime from her brother's bruised and bloodied pale face. His curls were matted from clumps of his tissue and dried blood. He was breathing steadily, but she couldn't wake him. Looking at Malachi helplessly, she silently begged him to do something. His blue eyes stared at her with compassion and pity before he morphed into true vampire form. His fangs snapped at Hugo, his red eyes full of ire, "Do you this is a game, Mendoza? Do you really think it is wise to test one of the oldest vampires on the East Coast with such nonsense? Clearly, something is wrong with her brother!"

Lifting his hands up in surrender and stepping back from Kai's blazing red vampiric eyes, he griped, "Hey, hey, Blackstone is alive as promised...just in a special spelled coma...You neither she specified what condition her brother was to be returned other than alive. Other than being alive, that was it." Having been tricked, Elizabeth felt so full of rage her hands quivered. Kissing her brother's cold forehead, she whispered, "I will make this right, Luca. I will find a way. I love you so much." Setting his head down on the damp grass, she stood up and grabbed Malachi's clothed arm to calm him down.

Walking towards Hugo, she slapped him so hard in the face that her hand stung and she smiled in satisfaction at the sizzling sound of his burned skin . He turned back to face her as his skin repaired itself. She groused at his bemused expression, "That was for my brother, you perverted asshole! Let's get on with this. You wanted me; you have me…" She continued walking towards their vehicles, all the while feeling the grubby presence of the rogue werewolf behind her and his filthy eyes ogling her. Before they got too far away, Malachi, true to his vampire speed, flitted in front of her causing her to almost fall back into Hugo.

Pulling her into his arms, Malachi held her stiff form in his tight embrace, carefully avoiding direct skin contact. He whispered in her ear, "This is a miscarriage of justice. Be safe, little spitfire, and stay strong...My brother will find a way to save you..." She nodded at him with grateful tears in her eyes before Hugo yanked her away, not acknowledging his newly burned hand. Getting into one of the army of black sedans, she waved goodbye to Wilhelm's brother as she rode off to whatever hell awaited her. With the powerful witch shielding Hugo's movements and locations, she had high doubts that anyone would find her in time, but Wilhelm seemed more than capable. In the meantime, she had to figure out a way to save Luca's life otherwise her sacrifice had been made in vain.

***One Day Later Manchester, New Hampshire***

According to Raven Spencer, Malachi learned his brother had departed for Ireland two days ago. As soon as Elizabeth left with Hugo, the vampire had called to Raven, not taking a chance to become a fiery effigy by stepping on the property. She answered and confirmed she and her coven were fine and safe. He quickly left and returned to Manchester, determined to make contact with his brother. Wilhelm, for decades had avoided any contact with him and after their last encounter left them both near death, they decided avoidance was key to survival. However, Elizabeth certainly did not deserve a fate being left to rogues, so he had to reach out to his brother.

Unfortunately, SC headquarters purposely did not have cellular reception, phones, internet, or the other modern conveniences of the world, so he would have to reach out to Alistair. Vampires had special talents, and it depended on a myriad of things. Some had exceptional sight while others had even more superspeed. Some had stronger show of strength and others could compel other vampires. Fledglings, or newly made vampires, typically were stronger and faster due to bloodlust whereas older vampires were smarter, could stay longer in the sun though it caused painful blisters, and compelled better than younger ones.

He had no choice but to contact the Supreme elder, Alistair Kozak. Alistair, due to his age, was the only one of their kind that was able to last a few hours in the sun minus the time when the sun was highest in the sky and only suffer a 'sunburn.' Malachi's special vampiric talent was telepathy, something he and only a few dozen vampires in the world shared, including the SC vampire elder. Sitting at his large office desk in the main corporate office building in downtown Manchester, he lowered the blackout curtains and closed his eyes. Clearing his mind, he mentally reached out to Alistair, "Master Kozak, I need to speak with you on a very urgent matter."

There was a few moments of static, which was a common indicator that Alistair was trying to get to a more private place. Too many people caused interference with their thoughts. Soon, he heard Kozak's stern reply, "Montgomery, this better be urgent. The SC is dealing with some important events." Exhaling, Malachi gave him a terse breakdown of what occurred and the deal that was made between Elizabeth and Hugo Mendoza. "She was threatened when she tried to call my brother. He will not listen or acknowledge me, so it must come from you, sire. He needs to return or I fear the human girl will fall victim to the rogues."

There a long moment of silence when Alistair replied, "Do you know where they went? Do you know the witch that is helping the rogues?"

"No, the witch retreated when I was summoned and they left due east in an entourage of black cars. I was stalled by making sure Spencer and her coven survived without any ill effects. Though she stated otherwise, Elizabeth Waterford did not go of her own free will. Hugo used extortion with the lives of her loved ones to manipulate her. Luca Blackstone is in a coma caused by a witch spell...Whoever did it had to be an old witch. Raven Spencer has tried several spells to wake him up with no results. My brother gave her vervain,wolfsbane, silver cuffs, and the necklace. Yet, these things won't shield her long especially if there is a witch involved."

"Thank you, Montgomery, for reaching out to me. I will inform Wilhelm and send him to rescue the girl. Please keep this discretionary. We do not want to cause more conflict and potential war to break out. If you hear anything else, let me know. With rogues so close to your territory and you being the main witness, they may try to eliminate you next. Guard your territory."

"Master, I will keep watch and anything I discover, you will be first to know. Tell my brother to hurry because I fear that the girl will not be left alone for long...The only item that is truly keeping her safe if the Guardian necklace. How long will she have once they drain her blood?" Alistair abruptly disconnected once Kai said the last statement. Malachi sat back and wished his brother success for once. The girl was special. There was something about her scent, her blood, that called to the primal side of him, and that had not happened in a long time.

***Unknown Location, USA***

Of all the horrible things that she could say about Hugo Mendoza, Elizabeth could say that he was efficient. Though he couldn't touch her, he made sure that she suffered in other ways. Once they were in the vehicle, he duct-taped her mouth to prevent her from talking or uttering Wilhelm's incantation. Apparently, Mendoza conducted business in an old fortified abandoned prison that was located out in the middle of no man's land. She could feel the power of a witch's spell as soon as she set foot in the prison, surrounded by Hugo's goons. The rogue leader would steal glances at her, his evil eyes raking over her body. Turning her head away from his gawking stare, she gnawed on her bottom lip, worrying about her brother's precarious coma and Raven's coven. He had his vampire lackeys compel humans to chain her to a concrete wall in a barred cage of an empty cell.

The chains rubbed painful blisters in the skin of her wrists, ankles, and legs. She had a cot for a bed, but she couldn't sleep. She had been there for two hours when Hugo dressed in khaki pants and a crisp navy blue button down coat came in the cell. As if he could ever look truly civilized, she mentally scoffed. Setting a metal chair down with its back facing her, the massive werewolf sat down and stared at her pitiful form. His gritty voice crawled under her skin like a parasite. "I would love to bring you to my personal bedroom where you can enjoy all the comforts and pleasures I can provide…" Though she couldn't speak because of her taped mouth, she rolled her eyes at his insinuation. Another quality Hugo possessed was a short fuse, and he abruptly stood up and rushed towards her before she had time to react. He slapped her so hard that the back of her head hit the concrete wall behind her. Dazed, she tried not to vomit for fear of aspirating even as she saw stars in her vision.

While waiting until his burning hand heal, he hissed in her face, his hot breath making her more sick, "I have been very patient with you thus far, but tonight you will be mine in every way. I have plans to break you to my will…" Elizabeth simply stared back at him with a mute expression, even when he then removed a knife from the pocket of his khaki pants. Without any warning, he sliced two wounds on her inner arms. The chains rattled as she yanked her arms away, her scream muffled by the tape. Staring at him with wide eyes, she then looked at her arms as rivulets of blood poured out and onto the floor from her arms. Perspiration dotted her forehead and she realized that the cuts weren't meant to be life threatening but meant to drain the silver and supernatural poison from her blood. Hugo's smirk of satisfaction rippled through her and she was filled with a hatred for him unlike anything she has ever felt for someone in her life.

He motioned for one of his werewolf goons that had bolt cutters to approach. With a nod, Hugo sent the bulky man towards her. The werewolf effectively cut both silver cuffs from her wrist using the bolt cutters, and the ruined items clanged loudly when they hit the floor. Hugo sent the werewolf away as he leaned down to her level, pressing the blade of his knife to her cheek, drawing a slight amount of blood when he pressed it into her cheek. Nearly gagging from his hot breath on her face, she refused to give him the satisfaction of whimpering from the pain. He sneered at her, "In one hour, your blood will be fully clean of wolfsbane, vervain, and silver...And I will be back to consummate our arrangement. I cannot wait to see what lies behind these clothes and taste you fully…"

She swallowed thickly as he laughed uncontrollably. He continued to laugh while walking out of her cell and out the door. She was finally alone. Uselessly, she struggled against her chains and tried to remove the duck tape but her arms were going limp from bloodloss. Sweat droplets fell into her eyes, burning them, further adding to her aggravation. Feeling weak and light-headed, she slipped down on the cot and rested her head on the hard pillow, falling asleep from exhaustion and pain. She was unsure how long she slept, but based on what little she could see, it appeared to be early evening. She had been awakened by the sound of the cell door swinging open with a clamor. Sitting up on the cot, she instantly regretted it as an intense migraine settled between her eyes. The pain throbbed behind her eyeballs especially when she remembered where she was and why. Groaning, she closed her eyes and took deep breaths to calm herself until she felt Hugo's hands on her. A voice inside her head screamed in rage and disgust though she was helpless to stop him from cleaning the dried, caked on blood on her arms and face with a moist towel. She could see the hump in his nose and slight pockmarks in his face as he leered over her with lust in his eyes.

A predatory grin spread across his face when he realized that he could touch her without being burned and he quickly began to unbutton her shirt buttons. Adrenaline spiked through every cell of her body when she realized his intentions, and she kicked him off her, struggling against her confines with renewed gusto. From the floor, he stared at her before chuckling darkly. Springing to his feet, he quickly climbed on top of her body with a crazed look on his ugly face. She continued to fight and swing her fists at him, but he deflected them with ease. One of her fists managed to connect to his jaw, and his response was a hard punch to her face. Her vision clouded at this, but she refused to stop fighting him. She spat in his face. Enraged, he slapped her twice in the face so hard, she bit her tongue, filling her mouth with blood. The only sounds in the desolate cell were her heavy breathing, his grunts, and the chains rattling against the walls and floor as she continued to duel him. He managed to tear her shirt open, exposing her bra and bare skin.

Her whole body ached, her breathing was difficult due to the tape, and she was so tired. But she was not going down without a fight. She dug her thumbs in his eyes drawing blood before he punched her face twice. She cried out, her voice inaudible, as her vision darkened. She could already feel the black eyes forming and the swelling at her temple. She was growing weaker and soon wouldn't be able to keep up with the altercation much longer. He knew it, the evil gleam in his eye intensified as his husky breathing echoed in her ear. He smelled like smoke and spice, a putrid smell that burned her nostrils. Screaming at him, she valiantly pushed at him, but he overpowered her. She felt his rough hands grope her breasts, thumbing her as she prayed for someone to rescue her. Wilhelm wouldn't come...He had no way of finding her. Tears streamed down her eyes as she stared listlessly at the ceiling while Hugo's hands lowered to touch her intimately. She cried when she felt his fingers touch her through her underwear and fondle her. "You are mine and always will be…"

Suddenly, several explosions in the prison facility rocked the whole building. The ground rumbled and shook the whole frame of the building, rattling the chains and cell bars. Hugo jumped up and barked orders to his goons while Elizabeth struggled to sit up. The whole place violently shook, pieces of plaster falling from the walls and ceiling around them. It felt like an earthquake as Hugo and his men stumbled around unsteadily before quickly transforming into the mangy looking werewolves. They howled and ferociously growled towards the door, and Elizabeth shrieked in surprise when a huge ball of fire blasted the wolves back further into the room next to her cell. She stood up and haphazardly tried to cover herself as she gripped the bars of her cell. Her heart accelerated and tears of joy and relief freely flowed down her cheeks when Wilhelm stepped into the room. Those familiar golden flames covered his body as his glowing yellow eyes scanned the room until they landed on her. She reached through the bars out to him, pleading with her eyes due to the tape covering her mouth. His mouth tightened as he clenched his teeth in his ire.

She could feel the heat of his flames from her far away corner as they exploded out from his body. The wolves wisely stayed back, but growled at him as he stepped forward into the room. The ground shook again, and she realized Wilhelm was the one responsible for the explosions and quaking. The werewolves knew better than to attack him as he made his way to the cell where she was confined. He ripped the door to the cell open and stepped inside. She rushed into his arms and he held her tight against him, the flames warming her body. Staring up at his serious face, she whimpered when he removed the tape from her mouth, the skin on and around her lips red and raw. He traced a warm thumb on her red bottom lip before trailing his index finger to the wound on her cheek, swollen eyes then down her throat, collarbone, and her arms. Lifting her arms, he examined the cuts Hugo inflicted on her skin. She gasped seeing the bruises covering most of her arms and swollen wrists for the first time. His hawk eyes, never missing any detail, saw her tattered bloody clothes and exposed bra-clad breasts. His jaw tightened even more, and his eyes expressed a level of fury the world had never seen.

His yellow eyes softened when she met his eyes, and they drew her in their warmth and comfort as he whispered, "I will make this right…" Releasing her, he backed out of the cell but not before giving her his signature half smile. His smile evaporated as soon as he faced the wolves. Hugo, the largest brown werewolf, was nowhere to be found. Coward. He had somehow fled during their interlude, leaving his army of rogues to do the dirty work. Dozens more wolves poured in as well as the corpse like vampire rogues. The room soon was smothered in them, outnumbering Wilhelm by the hundreds. Elizabeth worriedly looked around and a scream ripped from her throat when they all attacked him at once. Despite being burned, two rogues managed to rip into Wilhelm's shoulder with their teeth before he effortlessly threw them off with one hand. He unsheathed his golden fiery sword and made quick work of the wolves, slicing their heads off in clean slices, the floor covered in slippery dark red blood of the deceased wolves. The vampire rogues proved more savvy in their fight by avoiding any physical contact with him. Instead they threw daggers and other sharp objects at the enforcer with their super strength, then ran from him in superspeed.

One of the rogue vampires was able to hurl a dagger when another distracted Wilhelm, and the blade sank into his shoulder. Elizabeth gasped in fear and reverence as he pulled the bloody blade out of his shoulder without so much as a whimper, dropping the weapon to the ground. The quaking began again and out of nowhere, Wilhelm's voice, or what sounded like his voice times a hundred blended with it, boomed, "Leave now or die!" When none of the vamps moved, Wilhelm replied, "So be it!" She fell down on her butt in complete shock when a pair of HUGE, light golden wings sprouted from his back. The wingspan from one tip all the way to the other had to be at least six to seven feet long. Wings, like angel-freaking wings! One of the vamps tried to assault him when one of Wilhelm's wings struck the rogue in midair, sending the attacker crashing through the concrete wall. The other rogue vampires looked at each other uncertainly before coming at him at the same time. Roaring, he spread his wings out, taking two of them out before slicing through the others like scissors to paper with his sword, their black blood splattering the room. The fireball he had sent into the room earlier had caused the place to catch on fire. Flames and smoke poured into the room, and she sat down on the cold ground to avoid inhaling more smoke than necessary.

Skillfully like a true swordsman, Wilhelm effectively slaughtered the remaining rogues, and by the end of the fight, was covered in blood including his wings. The trauma of what Hugo did to her as well as seeing Wilhelm in his true form caused her to feel faint. Was he an angel? When he turned to face her, he let his wings recede into his back as if they never existed. As he quickly approached her to save them from the inferno, her eyes rolled up in her head as she passed completely out. A few times, she woke up to being in his arms but she buried her face in his chest, afraid to look at or see anything. She felt like she was floating, hovering between the dream world and the real one until everything went black again.

Several hours later, a cool sensation on her skin slowly pulled her from her dark sleep. She realized that it was a damp rag on her forehead when she opened her eyes. Blinking several times, it took her several seconds before she realized she was back in her room at Wilhelm's mansion. Before she could sit up, she felt his pair of warm hands gently grip her shoulders to push her back down on the bed. Wilhelm's melodious, deep voice whispered, "No, little one, you need to rest. You are safe now." At this statement, her face crumbled when she remembered everything that happened to her. She managed to control herself and wiped away the tears before facing him.

Her green eyes found his hawk-like golden ones staring intently at her. He sat in an armchair next to her bedside with his hands now folded in his lap. His chestnut colored hair was slightly unkempt at the top and damp from a shower. She could smell his heavenly masculine scent that reminded her of a rainy day in Maine's many forests, and her eyes scanned his black dress pants, crisp white button up shirt, and his faithful black combat style boots. She noticed the top few buttons of his shirt were undone and she looked away to hide the color that crept to her cheeks at her unladylike thoughts. His voice interrupted her studious attention to his body, causing her to blush harder. "I know this might be difficult, but I need to know exactly everything that happened...How did you know to contact my brother?" There was an edge to his voice at the mention of Malachi, and not for the first time, she wondered why he had such hostility towards him. Slowly, she sat up in the bed and told him everything from Kai's sudden arrival, how he saved her, to Raven coven's attack. His face remained blank during her story and he waited patiently until she mentioned the assault on Raven's coven.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes before exhaling a long sigh of frustration. She watched the tendons in his neck tighten when he looked back at her. "I must apologize to you, Elizabeth…" Startled, she looked at him with furrowed brows. "For what?" He stood up and began to pace the room. "I have severely underestimated the rogue organization...I thought my protection and presence would be enough to thwart direct attacks...Ophelia's attack should have been enough for me to realize that I will need more help. The SC is aware of the crime against your brother's pack, so the other enforcers will be here soon. Hugo is still out there, hiding behind the witch you described, no doubt. However, witches can be fickle to any kind besides their own, so it is likely she will turn on him in the end. Time is running out and I need to talk to you about something very important…"

He sat back down and stared ahead, gathering his thoughts, before bluntly asking, "Did Hugo bite you? Did he violate you?"

She must have looked at him a certain way because he quickly elaborated, "I would not ask you like this if it wasn't important."

Nodding, she scooted back to the headboard and placed a hand over her tired eyes, "No. He didn't bite me...He violated me...but not fully…You stopped him from taking it further than just his fingers" She was almost afraid to look at him, to see disgust and rejection in his eyes. What she found was worse: pity. He stood up when she did, but did not make a move to touch her. They stepped around each other in an odd dance. His eyes drifted over her person and that is when she realized why. She was wearing the same bloodied and tattered clothes from earlier. Gross. Taking the torn shirt, she covered her ample chest, feeling devoid of what little dignity she had remaining. Wilhelm's face may have been stoic, but his eyes always gave him away. There was anger, pity, horror, and reservation swirling in the golden orbs. Wilhelm's heart stuttered in his chest. Elizabeth was so beautiful, and she did not even realize it. His chest heaved as he tried to overcome his fury over her sexual assault by the rogue werewolf leader. He would slaughter that bastard if it was the last thing he ever did...Hugo would pay for his many crimes.

She was gnawing on her bottom lip, staring at him. He realized then that he was giving off the wrong energy to her and he willed himself to calm down. Sighing he took a step back and handed her his black jacket from a nearby ottoman. She gave him a small smile of gratitude as she slipped the large jacket over her shoulders. She stifled a moan when his scent washed over her again, this time much stronger. Wilhelm's brows furrowed as a frown marred his handsome face. His voice was serious when his eyes caught hers, "You did nothing to deserve what happened...what is happening to you. I want you to know it, to believe it. What that...animal did to you was wrong...Not just him, but being attacked by Ophelia and rogues...None of it is your fault. This is why Luca did not want for you to get sucked into this world. The supernatural world can be far more violent than the human one…"

She nodded and clutched the coat tighter to her body. His eyes lit up with an internal fire from past memories as he continued, "Your brother's coma was caused by old magic, and Raven is working on contacting the elder witches to find a cure. I made sure he is being kept at a safe location due to his vulnerability...I will take you to him when it is safer. At this time, he seems to just be in an eternal sleep. Landon is working with new recruits and training them for battle. Since I killed more than half of Hugo's rogue army, the rogues won't try to attack for now until they get their numbers up. Mendoza doesn't appear to have the dagger, so that means it is still out there and I need to find it quickly."

Nodding that she heard him, Elizabeth couldn't stop the question she had been dying to ask from coming out of her mouth, "What are you, Wilhelm? I saw your wings when you rescued me...Are you an angel?" At this, he looked at her with a lopsided grin that melted her insides. Chuckling, he shook his head no. Closing his eyes, he then let out the wings, but did not release his golden flames. He motioned for her to go ahead and approach, and she giddily ran her fingers over the incredibly soft golden feathers While she explored the massive wings, he finally answered her question in a scientific manner.

"No, I am not an angel. Angels do not meddle in the affairs of humans or supernatural world. In fact, they have long left Earth millenias ago. Because of my kind's wings and attachment to saving humanity, many humans have erroneously associated us with angels. No one truly knows how my people are created...some speculate we were touched by angels as God's way of protecting his Creation from the evils of the world. I do not know if that is true, but I would like to think so. I do know that I am what was once known as a Guardian. The other enforcers, like me, are also former Guardians. They were my brothers in arms until...my biological brother was turned into a vampire. And to answer one of your many questions, all of my clothes are spelled to accommodate my wings should I ever release them." He flapped his wings and she smiled at the gust of air that blew in her face. She asked if he was like Superman since he saved people and could fly.

"No, no, nothing like that. With technology as advanced as it is, we seldom fly anymore. The wings are better used for protection and acting as a shield for us in battle. Very rarely do they come out, however, because our flames are just as effective. A Guardian's primary role is to protect mankind and level the playing field with regards to other supernaturals. Our wings shield us from most bites and vampire attacks. Guardians are immune to witches and we cannot be compelled. Malachi was a Guardian like me a very long time ago...He was turned by a very powerful vampire...When one of us is turned, there is a chance we retain the fire and become invincible to everything-sun, vervain, silver, etc. A Guardian-turned-vampire could wipe out whole cities day and night for weeks or months. With bloodlust as powerful as it can be for newly turned, it would be disastrous for the world... There was a law put in place that if one of the Guardians were ever turned, then immediate execution must occur. I violated this law by sparing Malachi's life, an egregious act of treason."

Elizabeth stopped stroking the feathers and quietly asked, "Well, Kai burned his hand when he rescued me from the rogues, so I am guessing he lost his Guardian power when he was turned otherwise he wouldn't have been affected...Can you be turned? How does it work?" Wilhelm sighed and shook his head. The wings fluttered with his movements, and she couldn't help but stare into his captivating eyes again. He caressed her battered face with a gentle swipe of his knuckles before answering her questions.

"Malachi lost everything that made him a Guardian when he was turned: his honor, his moral fiber, and all of his power. A Guardian's blood is poisonous to vampires. We have to be turned by a hybrid...Hybrids were wiped out a long time ago because of how violent, uncontrollable, and deadly their bite was. Unfortunately, Malachi was turned by the last remaining hybrids in the world, a vampire-werewolf hybrid. Those hybrids were the only ones that could turn us into vampires or werewolves. Now, there are only five Guardians left in the world. My bond brothers, Nehemiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Lazarus, like me, are Enforcers for the Supernatural Council. We try to be the peacekeepers for all the races, but we are still warriors at heart. When we acted as Guardians of humanity before the Great Supernatural War, we were known as the Five Punishers of God to the supernatural community and The Guardians to mankind." He paused before informing her, "My partners will be here tomorrow to help me find the dagger and finish off the rogues in the area. The SC wants this handled as soon as possible because we are risking possible exposure. I know you have more questions, and I will tell you what I can."

Elizabeth tried to absorb all of this information, and she had a realization about Wilhelm. "Your brother and Guardian colleagues all have biblical names...Yet, your name…"

Wilhelm retracted his wings back into his body and looked very much like a human again. He stared off in the distance, something she noticed he did when he was cycling through memories and information he would tell her. His gold eyes gazed back at her with a guarded, haunted look. "When I was a Guardian, my name was Eliam. I ceased being that man when I turned my back on my other brothers...by sparing Malachi." He could see the revolt in her green eyes, and knew she was on the verge of rebutting his claim. Instead, he changed tactic, "I ask that you call me Wilhelm or Will. Others may call me Eliam, but you have seen who I am now, and that is Wilhelm Alexandrov. And now that you are awake, I would like to heal your injuries…"

Confusion then recognition flickered in her beautiful emerald eyes which then strayed to the dresser mirror near where she stood. Releasing her hand he remained standing where he was when she went to the dresser for a closer look. After moving her exquisitely soft brown hair over her shoulder, her fingers trailed over her two black eyes, purple contusions dotting her arms, and the crusty dried blood on her cuts. The air around her changed and when she turned to face him, there was a quiet defiance and despondency in her green eyes. "You didn't heal me like you did before...Why?"

"I must receive permission to heal someone. You must tell me that it is ok for me to heal your wounds...Part of the Guardian ways. And I used much of my power and strength to save you, so I am a bit weak at the moment." She nodded and turned back to the mirror for more observation. While looking at him through the mirror, she asked how he knew where to find her and what was so special about her. Wilhelm halted the words he wanted to say from exiting his mouth, that she was special to him for her innocence and her strong moral character. That he found her intriguing and exceptionally beautiful.

Instead, he gave her a half-truth. "When I returned here, Raven told me what happened to you. I realized they probably prevented you somehow from talking. The celtic circle on the Guardian necklace I gave you contains a small sample of my blood. I handed over some of my blood to Raven and she performed a locator spell. That's how I found you. Oh and trust me when I say that I will get you out of the MNIP verbal contract you orchestrated with Hugo to save Raven and Luca."

Wilhelm was interrupted by a telepathic message from Jeremiah informing him that he and the others were a few hours away from being in Portland. Sighing heavily, the Russian knew he was stalling, but he had to tell her the truth now. He and Alistair had decided to tell her part of the reason she needed so much protection. Elizabeth waited patiently for him to continue. Passing a thumb over her cheek, he spoke more to himself than her at first, "Elizabeth, my gentle one, it is time you know…"

She peered at him with eyebrows raised as if to say, 'What do I need to know?' while trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach that he seemed to inspire with every touch and term of endearment. He cautiously stepped back from her, holding her small hand in his larger one, and softly answered, "Luca and I had another reason to keep you out of the supernatural world...You might be human, but your blood isn't...Your supernatural blood, if discovered by outside forces, can be utilized and turned into a weapon."