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