Time seemed to be frozen as I stared into the eyes of the charming devil, my blade pressed to his throat. He arched a brow, "Well what's it going to be? You're wasting time snowflake...it's a simple choice, do you want me dead or alive?" 

"I don't want you anyway..." I clenched my teeth together in aggravation, yanking my hand free from his hold—making sure the tip of my blade bit into his flesh as I did. A small layer of blood peaked through the small cut I had made, slipping down the pale column of his muscled neck. I could have killed him—we both knew it but I have restraint, something this psychopath does not. 

His eyes grew darker as he reached up and wiped away the blood with his hand, looking down at it smeared across his skin, "Honestly didn't think you had that in you—glad to see you are full of surprises." I glared up at him, questioning whether or not I made a mistake by staying my hand. I ran my tongue of my teeth, "Tell your friend to let go of my brother..." I pressed with a cold tone.

Anna still held firmly to my  brother who had begun to struggle, her face was twisted up in annoyance as she glanced toward Alexei—awaiting for his orders. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, as he continued to stare down at me—he was calculating something behind his dark gaze, "And If I don't?"

I narrowed my eyes, "This isn't a negotiation wolf boy—let go of my brother or I'll take it as a personal attack against the druids. I really don't think you'll enjoy a bunch of angry Druids knocking down your door..." He gave me toothy grin—only a mentally unstable person would be so happy to be threatened. He tilted his head to side, lifting a hand in the air, "You heard the girl...as much as the prospect of war with druids has me curious, Niklaus would kill me." Anna released my brother with a roll of her eyes, tossing him in my direction. 

Darren gave Anna a dirty look, as he readjusted his shirt. I holstered my blade back in the wrap around my thigh, knowing that they are no longer a threat to either of us. I notice the way Alexei's eyes raked over the bare flesh as it was revealed through the slit of my dress. I sneer at him, "Keep your eyes to yourself wolf or you might just lose them." I don't like the way my body heats up under his gaze—a strange tightening in my chest. 

He gives me a wicked grin, "Even if you took my eyes...my hands will do well enough to see you..." He winks. I feel my face heat up from the implication of his words—my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth as I fall short of a comeback.

"Looks like we've got trouble..." Anna comments, drawing my attention quickly. My eyes roam over the crowd, watching as guards meant to keep the peace, rushed toward our group with their weapons drawn. They surrounded us, forming a small circle, "Hands up where we can see them! Now!" I heaved a sigh and slowly lifted my hands into the air. 

Darren dropped the demons heart—following my actions, "This is bullshit...is this how you treat people who save you?" 

The guard closest to Darren, shoved his gun into the back of his head, "Shut your mouth witch." I felt my anger surge—something about all of this seemed off. My mind swirled as I tried to adjust to the new circumstances—these guards would certainly have noticed if a demon walked in, which means they had to have allowed it to enter.  This was definitely a bad situation for us to be in. 

One of the guards poked Alexei in the back with his gun when he didn't immediately follow their request, "That means you too Dog! Hands up!" Alexei held my gaze as he lifted his hands toward the ceiling. I could see the mischief swirling in them—I narrowed my gaze in suspicion. I caught the slight tensing of his muscles, that was the only warning he gave before he spun around—grabbing the guards gun in his hand, "I believe that the proper term is Lycan..." he squeezed the gun muzzle so hard that it crumpled inward. 

Anna followed his lead, knocking another guard in the face with her elbow. He stumbled back in surprise—quickly the circle turned to chaos. I grabbed Darren and pulled him in the direction of the exit—all that mattered was getting us to safety. I pulled up short when a gun was pointed directly at my face. 

The guard sneered in victory, "Don't move or I'll put one through your skull..." 

A fierce growl echoed through the room—I felt all the nerve endings in my body vibrate with awareness. My soul magic bloomed under the vicious sound—surging outward like a crazed sea monster, invisible tentacles wrapping around the guard—pulling and squeezing at his limbs. I tried to reign it back in but it was out of control, like it was answering to someone other then me. I watched with wide eyes as it seared the flesh from the guard, unable to do anything else. His screams only seemed to incite the bloodlust more.

"Poppy! Stop it, you'll kill him!" Darren yelled in my ear. 

I gritted my teeth trying again, nothing seemed to be working, "I can't—I can't control it."

Darren wrapped his arms around me, using his own magic to dampen mine--successfully caging my lustful beast. The guard dropped to his knees, breathing heavily through the pain—patches of his skin red and boiled from where my magic had touched him with it's poison. His eyes were wide as he stared up at me like I was some kind of monster—and at the moment I couldn't disagree with that feeling.

A grey Lycan came into view, chest heaving heavily as it stared down at the guard like its last meal. My heart was beating rapidly in my chest—I wasn't sure if it was fear or excitement. I knew it had to be Alexei from the way my magic seemed to be pulsing in my body as if it wanted to reach out toward the creature. He crouched forward, ears pressing back into his giant skull—lips peeled back to show white razor edged teeth meant for tearing and shredding. 

"Wait..." I could tell he meant to kill him—none of this was right, it had all been off from the moment we entered the ballroom.

He gave a fierce howl before he leapt onto the guard, claws slicing through his ribs as his teeth ripped through the main artery in his neck. When he was satisfied with his kill—he turned his attention in our direction, dark eyes focusing in on my brother. He pushed up to his full height, fur matted down with blood. 

"Let go of me..." I whispered to Darren.

"Are you crazy? Who knows what your magic will do if I release you..."

The Lycan let out a low threatening growl and I knew it had everything to do with Darren touching me. I growled in frustration as I elbowed my brother in the ribs, forcing him to let go of me, "I'm trying to save your life you idiot!" My magic surged toward the lycan--I expected the same reaction as what happened with the guard. Instead the invisible threads were petting gently at its fur—pulling a deep purr from the beasts chest. I watched in silent shock as it stalked towards me, shifting at the last moment, "I don't understand any of this..." I whispered. 

Alexei leaned in toward me, breathing in deeply, "You are mine little snowflake—I already told you..."

I stared up at his face, "I don't want anything to do with you...any of this..." 

His eyes darkened but his lips pulled up into an animalistic grin, "Perhaps you misheard me..." He reached out a clawed hand, running the tip of his taloned finger across my bottom lip, "You are mine...the moment I saw you—you became mine...I gave you a chance to kill me, you chose to let me live...now your life belongs to me druid." 

Before I could respond a shot rang out and a bullet pierced my shoulder, taking me by surprise. I let out a small cry, stumbling forward into Alexei—who caught me in his arms. It felt like my shoulder had been shoved into a fire—I gritted my teeth against the pain.

Another shot was fired but Alexei pulled us out of the way, "Looks like we'll have to fight about this another time snowflake..." I gave him a nasty glare as he scooped me up into his arms, calling for Anna to follow us.

"My brother!" I screamed—trying to get out of his hold, only to cry out against as I bumped my wound into his firm chest.

He growled down at me, flashing his canines, "Be still foolish girl! You'll only do more damage to the wound." My body obeyed his command immediately even as my mind raged against it. He through a look over his shoulder, "Anna—grab the boy. Happy?" he questioned with a harsh tone that did nothing to hide his irritation.

"I'd be happier if I had stayed home tonight..." I mumbled to myself.

A few moments later my brothers curses were filling my ears. I glanced over to see that Anna had him thrown over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes as she ran beside us. He met my gaze, "You better never tell anyone about this or I will kill you..." Darren hissed at me. 

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Song: Trouble--Cage The Elephant 

A/N:  These two are going to need some serious couples counseling. haha