Marcus knew his words had been a bit on the harsh side and Amelita shot him a glance that clearly told him her thoughts on the matter. It didn't matter, until he could make sure he had the witch that had managed to get control over Damien in custody. Until he was sure it wouldn't happen again, Marcus wouldn't trust Damien. It was just safer to have his lover be mad at him and sulk away until he had either killed or imprisoned the witch.

Tessa smiled at Damien when she actually felt the connection break. Her work was done for now, but that didn't mean it was a permanent fix. "You should be good for a few hours, however, I cannot with good conscious guarantee that it won't happen again. Marcus was right about one thing; until that witch is found, you're in danger. So I'm afraid you're stuck with me to safeguard your freedom until then." Untying Damien again, she sat down on his bed and sighed softly.

~*~

William loved the way this particular vampire was so sure there was something he could do to change his mind about what he had in store for the kid. From the way the kid would ask why he wanted to kill him to asking why he did what he did? Since he obviously wasn't going to drink the blood bag he'd been given, William went and found another syringe.

"I didn't want to have to do this, but since you seem intent on sobbing like some little baby, I have little choice."

Pulling the cap of the needle, William stabbed it into Alec's neck again and pushed the same sedative he'd used before into the hybrid's system again. It was a stronger dosage this time, designed to knock him out for longer so he'd actually be able to get some work done.

Damien wasn't too fond of the idea, but he said nothing and just left his room, going into the kitchen to get a blood bag. He poured the contents into a cup, drinking the liquid like it was nobody's business. He was really thirsty and it wasn't good that someone had taken control of him like that. He didn't know who this witch was, but whoever they were, they weren't weak. He remembered what the witch had said to him about Alec, he was genuinely worried and wondered if Marcus was going to rescue Alec or not. He came back into the room."My brother Alec is in danger....it's Marcus going to go after him." He asked.

Alec saw the needle, immediately he panicked, trying to pull at the restraints, but the needle went into his neck anyway before he passed out.

Tessa watched as Damien left the room. He was free to do whatever he wanted, as long as he didn't leave the townhouse. As long as he stayed inside, it would be more difficult for his assailant to try again. She eventually ventured out into the kitchen and leaned against the door frame as Damien asked her a loaded question. "Gale is with him looking for leads. You need to stay inside to stay safe yourself."

Despite being out with one of the best trackers he'd come across in a long time, Marcus and Gale had very little luck finding the guy who'd taken Alec or the witch that had attacked Damien. It was frustrating to say the least, he could only hope Arya had better luck. "Let Arya find Alec, we need to get Damien back to himself as soon as possible so he can help." With that, he was gently ordering Amelita to stop searching for Alec and rather try to find the witch. He did text Arya though and tell her she was on her own.

Arya had looked through records with her sister until she finally found one of her old journals containing the information she was looking for. Alexis and Arya finished up their research before Arya left the Order to go looking for William in a place she thought he could be. She'd been close with the hunter back when he was still human. Too long had passed for him to still be alive without being supernatural, so she had to look for something on the outskirts of town that was familiar to something they'd shared in the past.

~*~

William left Alec in the room he had him locked up and decided to go see if he couldn't find himself a witch. Imagine his surprise when he walked past a face from his past. He stopped, turned around and walked over to sit down next to Arya. "You made a mistake when you took my brother. Some very dangerous people are looking for you." William couldn't help but stare at Arya. She was so cold and calculating, just like he remembered her. "Your point being?" He asked, shrugging slightly.

"Let me see him, I'll give you a chance to get even for what happened all those years ago if you do. If not, I can just kill you right now and find my own way to the boy. One way or another, I will see him." Somehow he didn't think she was bluffing. He knew how determined the blonde could be, how she really meant it when she made threats.

"If I take you to him and you convince me to trade his life for yours, when the time comes, I will kill you in his place." He said and got up, motioning for Arya to follow him. Before long, he'd taken her to where Alec was and snapped one of his enchanted cuffs around her wrist before she could protest. "I never said I'd let either of you go." With that, he walked to his desk and pulled out his journal.

Damien hated just sitting around. He tried remembering the wwitch's voice and.words, hoping that maybe what he said could help. The witch seemed to know alot about who kidnapped Alec. The witch was hiding out in a underground bunker, he realized that his ties with Damien were cut shot, making the witch growl at this. He had a feeling that Marcus would be after him now and that his plan to take Damien had been put to a halt. He wondered if Damien even knew who he was, he certainly knew the blue eyed vampire. He heard rumors about the boy, how many vampire lords coveted for the boy and even he had thought of maybe trying to find the boy and have them to himself but refused to give into lust and instead wanted the boy for his nature based powers and telepathy, surely the boy knew secrets on Marcus. Many vampires had wanted some dirt on the famous Marcus and who better to get those dirty little secrets than his beautiful lover.

Alec laid on the ground, not even hearing or sensing that Arya was here with him. He did wake up with a start, looking around before he saw Arya was chained up beside of him. "Arya!" He exclaimed. He tugged at the restraints, looking up and saw the hunter who.had kidnapped him. Anger went through Alec, it was one thing to take him but another to take a family member. He felt his eyes turn bright yellow and werewolf like claws grew, the only vampiric feature he had were two sharp fangs that replace his normal canines. He growled like a caged animal at the hunter, roughly tugging at the restraints till they were creaking and moaning from the shear force that Alec was using. Nothing but animalistic rage was in the boys normal innocent and even docile face and eyes, he hissed."Let her go!" He shouted, pulling at the restraints even harder, keeping his bloodlust eyes on the hunter.

Gale truly was drawing a blank as far as finding the witch that attacked Damien like that. She kept returning to the same spot over and over and it made no sense at all. She'd tracked people before with less to go on that this, and now she couldn't find some stupid witch? It was as if the answer was right in front of her, she just couldn't see it. Turning to Marcus again, she merely shook her head and closed her eyes, determined to listen to her instincts rather than rely on her eyes. It had worked in the past when she was just a human, why shouldn't it work with her enhanced senses?

~*~

It was almost flattering to see how enraged Alec got when he thought she'd been taken in the same manner as himself. Resting her free hand on Alec, she smiled slightly. "I asked to see you, please calm down. I needed to know you weren't hurt." Looking up at William now, she noticed the hunter staring at Alec with great fascination. "I didn't know I'd caught myself a hybrid. No matter, a deal's a deal. Make me an offer I can't refuse and I'll let the boy go," he said and turned to Arya.

Turning her full attention to William, Arya used her free hand to forced the hand she had chained out of the restraints. Sure, it hurt, but she didn't flinch or show it, instead she bent the joints of her now free hand into shape and smirked. "Let my brother go free," she said, once again removing the pendant from around her neck and handing it to William as she leaned close to whisper in his ear, "And I won't resist while you get even for killing you all those years ago." Leaving a brushing kiss on his cheek, some lipstick rubbed off before she knelt in front of Alec.

"You OK?" she asked, tilting his head gently to get a good look at him. "Marcus would never forgive me if I didn't get you back to them. They'll understand why I came here."

He glared at the hunter, wanting nothing more than to just maim him. He didn't calm down till Arya reassured him that she was ok. He wondered what she meant by a deal? He watched as she got herself loose from the chains and didnt know what the two were taking about and blinked confusly at what she asked and said. "I'm.ok.....what did you mean by a deal?" He asked.

Was Arya giving up her life for his? He didn't know what was going on, but glared back at the hunter for a moment.

Arya sighed slightly at Alec's question. It wasn't as simple as offering her life up to die for her brother, it was more a case of Marcus would be able to find her if Alec got back to him and updated him. "We're trading places, Marcus will understand that it was the right thing to do," she said and turned her attention to William.

"Now, how about you let my brother go and I'll even throw in a witch and a superhuman, free of charge?" she said and got on her feet. Moving over to William, she sat down on his desk and made him face her. "You asked me once, why I wouldn't turn you... Have you figured out why it was a very bad idea to use a witch to trick me into giving you some of my blood yet?" While she was talking, Arya was very discretely checking out the room they were in. She also located the keys to free Alec.

William couldn't help it, it didn't matter how much he'd grown to detest supernatural creatures for what they were, he was still a man. So he was distracted when she got all handsy. It wasn't until she was on his lap kissing him that he realized she was up to something and pushed her away. "Your tricks won't save you this time, Arya."

It didn't matter, Arya had fished the keys out of William's pocket without him noticing before he pushed her away. Walking back to Alec, she winked at him before grabbing his hand as if she had something important to say. "When you're free to go, I need you to go straight home to Marcus. Damien was assaulted by a witch earlier and they could use your help locating him," while she was talking, she gently slid the keys from her hands and into Alec's. "Please?" It was important that Alec didn't attack William at this moment, because she needed to bring him in alive. He needed to be tried and punished for his crimes, something that could only happen if he left his hideout alive. Besides, Marcus would know where to find her if he understood her message, and Damien could have a go at William if he was OK again.

Alec didn't know if just leaving like that was a good idea..but then again this was Arya. He knew that she could take care of herself, he only worried because he cared alot for her and didn't want anything to happen to her. He just watched now as she made her way back over to the hunter, looking away and didn't really want to just watch his sister seducing another man.

He looked back up once she walked back over to him, he felt something being slid into his hand and knew it was the key to the shackles. He didn't say or do anything, not wanting the hunter to know that the keys were now in his possession. "Okay." He said.

He quickly gotten the shackles off him and took off as fast as he could. He tried to sense where Marcus was, catching onto his scent and Gales before running over to where the two were. He finally caught sight of the two."Marcus!!" He exclaimed, stopping now infront of the man."Arya is with the hunter that had kidnapped me!" He added.

Arya was glad when Alec got her message and promised to run off instead of trying something heroic. She could handle herself if it came to that, but she didn't think William was truly going to kill her right away anyway. After giving Alec the keys, she turned her attention to William to distract him from Alec getting away. They had an agreement, but that didn't mean she trusted he would honor it.

Sure enough, the moment Alec was gone, all innocence was gone from both vampires and William didn't waste any time before he poured a liquid onto Arya's skin that made it sizzle and sting just to prove that he'd learned a lot since their little affair. Nothing seemed to be left of the blacksmith she'd once cared for, it was like he'd turned off all traces of humanity. It made for a fun challenge for the blonde since she was trying to stall him for as long as possible while still keeping up her end of the deal.

Marcus and Gale were still going in circles when Alec called out for him and he couldn't help but hug the boy tightly when he stopped in front of him. "I'm just glad you're not hurt," he said, finally releasing his hold on the boy. "Arya can handle herself for a little while longer, now that you're safe, we need to make sure Damien is as well and I could really use your help to locate the witch. He should be around here somewhere.." He did realize that it sounded like he didn't care about Arya's safety at the moment, but he discreetly removed the ring that prevented him from knowing where she was. As long as he could tell where she was, he knew she was safe.

Alec wondered if Marcus was going to find Arya as soon as he told him that she was still with the hunter. He was somewhat surprised at what Marcus said, but said nothing and just nodded. There was so much going on that they really had to do one thing at a time. He couldn't help but to smell something that wasn't normal in the air.

He looked very focused now, moving past Marcus and Gale. He looked to his right."I smell a witch....but...its odd.....it's like.....the witch is underground or something." He said, looking back at the two with a confused expression.

He knew that since he became a hybrid that his senses have heightened way more than when he was a vampire. He could smell and hear things that nobody seem to catch on. He started walking, not even paying attention to Marcus and Gale now as he continued to smell something foul in the air. This had to been the witch....what other being could produce this. He stopped at a huge oak tree that had a large but naturally carved opening at the base of the trunk. He poked his head in, seeing what looked like a small camouflaged door inside and hidden rather well. He pressed his ear up against the door and heard someone inside. He looked back at Marcus and Gale, signaling that he thought the witch was in there.

Marcus knew that he was making a selfish choice when he chose to save Damien first. Especially since they had a witch keeping his connection to his assailant severed. Turning to Gale, he sighed slightly. "Update Damien on the situation," was all he said, knowing that Gale knew what he meant. It didn't take her long to get out her smartphone and send Damien a text to tell him Alec was safe and Arya had taken his place.

The two vampires watched as Alec got to work and when he led them to a tree and told them this was it. At least that would explain why Gale couldn't track him down properly, as she'd never been good with things that were in hiding like that. There hadn't been any leads either to the tree, so it was just good for everyone that Alec's sense of smell was so good.

Walking up to where Alec was standing, he didn't bother being stealthy and just knocked the door off its hinges, revealing the path they had to go down to reach the witch. "Amelita, find someplace to take cover that allows a clean shot in case the bastard slips past us," he instructed before he led way down into the underground lair.

Damien was.alittle surprised that Arya had taken Alec's place like that? He sent a text back, asking Gale if Marcus was going to go after the witch now. He wanted to leave, the waiting was wearing him thin when it came to his patience.

Alec stood off to the side and followed Marcus behind him. The witch was simply reading a book on a stronger spell. He didn't hear the noise till he open the door and saw Marcus. Immediately he closed the door and locked it, but knew that was going to keep the vampire out.

Marcus was surprised when the witch was stupid enough to not only open the final door, but instantly shutting it and locking it. Sighing slightly in annoyance, he moved on to kick the door off it's hinges this time. He didn't have the patience for childish tricks or attempts like locking a door when he needed to save one of his loved ones. The faster he could deal with this witch, the faster he could save Arya.

"I did warn you to keep your hands off Damien, did I not?" he asked as he towered over the witch. "A puny little creature like yourself should known better than to cross immortals," he said with a sinister chuckle. Alec hadn't had the misfortune of seeing how bad he and Arya could get when it came to protecting their loved ones. They did their most grievous acts when trying to save someone they loved. Grabbing the witch, he flung the pathetic creature across the tiny room.

"Tell me who sent you," Marcus said, crouching on the floor in front of the witch. "You obviously know my reputation. Tell me what you know and I might let you leave your little cave here alive."

Alec was surprised to at how stupid the witch was and justfollowed behind Marcus but stayed out of the man's way. He knew what kind of mode the man was in and it was protecting his lover. The witch couldn't even get a sentence out much less a word when Marcus thrown him across the room. He wasn't very strong when it came to defensive spells, his ability came with affecting the mind and control, he spent a long time perfecting his mind control ability to one day get past the telepathic barrier that Damien has around his mind.

He tried moving away from Marcus, but didn't have any room. He tried putting on a brave face before cracking into a smirk. "I am after him the same reason you were Marcus, nobody sent me I did this because I want him and you don't deserve him...everyone knows it." He said, actually spitting in the mans face."Not only is he beautiful but his abilities are quite rare, I've spent years waiting to take him and I won't let you or anyone come inbetween me having him...his mine!!" He exclaimed and started saying a chant, the puppets in the room came to life and surrounded them, holding knifes and stakes.

Marcus just smirked when the witch replied to his question of who sent him. "If you know so much about Damien, you also know what happens to anyone who tries to take him away against his will; they die." A chuckle escaped Marcus when the witch started to say a chant like that to create more puppets. "Such a cowardly little witch," he said, remaining calm before he bit his wrist, pulled the witch in front of him and pressed his bleeding wrist to the others lips to force him to drink.

"The puppets are perfect for practice, Alec. Take care of them and show our witch friend just what kind of trouble he's gotten himself into?" he said, pulling the witch closer. Leaning in, he whispered so only the witch could hear him: "Sooner or later you will be forced to swallow, and the moment my blood enters your system I can either make sure you turn into a vampire and lose your magic, or you can give up this foolish venture and run away."