I'm done running.

[Scarlett Devereaux]

My dreams were scattered as I slept and they kept me tossing and turning endlessly. There were shining, happy moments from before..everything. There were loving moments with Tristan; the first time he held my hand, our senior prom. And then there were moments with my mamma.. A soft, sad moan escaped my lips as my subconscious showed me things I did not want to see; My mamma braiding my hair, wiping tears from my cheek when Sue Ellen Beauchamp had said that I looked like a little boy in my favorite tee shirt. All of these happy moments were mixed in with the most miserable moments of my life. My body thrashed as i caught blips and glimpses of a slaver camp and my mothers bloody body. I saw flashes of bars on a cage..from the inside. And then.. Then there was him. Jackson. With his light blue eyes that saw right through me. His intense need to help and save everyone. Even when it was a monster like myself.

I came awake with a start as a coughing fit racked my body. I felt liquid on my chin and wiped away the blood with my dirty hand. I saw him in real time then. He was sleeping in a chair across the room and it was the first time I'd seen him relaxed since.. Since so long ago. His face was slack and he looked peaceful. It didn't matter what the reasons were anymore. I couldn't risk being away from him again. I glanced down at the ruin that was my body. I had lost everything and I had let it consume me.

Glancing back up at the man in the chair, I realized that I hadn't lost everything. I had him. Whether he liked it or not, we were joined. Forever. And I was done running from forever. "Jackson." I whispered in to the darkness. I didn't know what I would say but at that moment, speech would have to wait. I was..starving.

[Jackson Church]

"Jackson" her voice echoed through the dark.

My head snapped back, and my eyes flew open at the sound of her voice. Droggy I responded, "Hmm?"
I tried to shake off the tiredness that still consumed me, rubbing both hands over my face, I let out a yawn. I had to squint my eyes to see her through my sleep induced haze.
I was drained. I mustard up enough energy to stand to my feet and move closer to her, sitting myself on the edge of the bed,"Are you okay?" I asked. I reached out to touch her forehead with the back of my hand. Her coolness quickly reminded me that this wasn't just another human being I was attending to. I felt stupid for checking if she had a fever, "Sorry." I whispered. I wanted to remove my hand from her forehead, but couldn't. I turned it palm down this time, and slid my hand down her face, resting it on her cheek. "Where have you been?" I asked half curious and half furious she left.

In that instant, that instant of kindness, I felt the walls around my heart fall down. There they were. Those feelings of lo..love and longing. I had missed her and I could finally admit it. I wasn't ready to admit it to her though, that my heart carried such feelings toward her, Or for her- but they were there. I quickly removed my hand at the sting in my heart and stood to my feet, "Food. I bet you're hungry." I could still hear the thunder roll and crack outside as I put a coat on, "I think we have a meal already prepared for you," I smiled softly.

[Scarlett Devereaux]

He put his hand on my forehead and I couldn't help but smirk at his apology. Jackson was just one of those people that would never get use to the changes humans had gone through. His hand slid down to my cheek and I melted in to his palm. He was warm and reassuring, all the things I needed right now. "Where have you been? He asked me. I let my eyes flutter shut from exhaustion but thankfully, I didn't pass out again.

A brief moment of comfort and silence was all we were allowed and then he pulled his hand fast away from my cheek. "Food. I bet you're hungry." He said, as he got to his feel. Thunder cracked loud outside as Jackson put his jacket back on. "I think we have a meal already prepared for you," I watched silently as he left the room. He wasn't gone long and when he returned, he had half a dozen blood bags in his hands.

The first one barely even registered as I gulped it down like a child with a fresh soda pop. The second I took a little slower but it was still gone just as fast as the first. On the third, I was able to take my time. I could feel the fresh blood running through my veins, strengthening me and knitting the wounded skin at my side back together. I looked up at him as a bead of blood ran down my chin. "A cage at Cartella, a slaver camp in Atlanta, and a beach house town in California." He looked at me with confusion. "You asked where I'd been." I said, as I finished the third bag and reached for the fourth.

[Jackson Church]

I watched as she tore through those bags of blood, kinda made my stomach churn. I'm sure my facial expression showed just how unappealing it looked. A couple of times I thought I was going to throw up, watching her choke those bags down. Made me glad I still preferred things like hamburgers and tacos. The blood was malodorous it had sit for so long, and I was elated when she finished the last bag. She had blood dripping down her chin, and I handed her a napkin, "Here. " I said squeamishly. It was hard to concentrate on what she was telling me with it there.
"A slaver camp?" I looked puzzled at her. The last I heard, word on the street was that a slaver camp had been busted, and shut down. I was shocked to hear it was still there. "How did you get there?" I asked.
The thunder and the rain was getting more intense by the minute. It made me nervous that the weather was about to drop a bomb that no one had any warning of.
I stood up and walked over to the small window and pushed back the curtain. The sky was almost black and the wind was intense, "We should be safe down here. You're not leaving are you?" I turned back to her and sat down next to her on the bed again.
I had all these burning questions and needed answers. And right as I was about to throw caution to the wind, I heard a knock at the door.

[Rex Langley]

I stood there, rain hitting me in the face. Banjo was tucked between my legs, he never liked to get wet, "Hang on buddy, hopefully someone answers." I knocked again, each knock getting harder. My patience was wearing thin and I was about to knock down the damn door. I was tired, wet, and hungry. Banjo and I had been trailing a real bad dude named Harvey Giovotto. He was wanted for the slaughter of 3 young shifter girls. Brutal. Brutal murders.
The thunder clapped loud and a lightening strike hit a branch in the cemetery, leaving chills up my spine. Banjo whimpered. "You're right, time to take it down." Just as I was about to bust through the old wooden door to the basemen of the church, a young fella opened it, "Can I help you?" He asked. "Um, yeah," I said pushi my way through him, and flashing my badge, "My partner and I need a place to rest our heads."

I walked into the middle of the small basement room. It was dark and dingy, but inviting. I gave it a little nod of approval, "Will work." It had a small camper style stove, some filin cabinets, half bathroom, and a bed... With a girl in it... I smirked, "Hope I wasn't, you know-- interrupting anything padre."

[Scarlett Devereaux]

I could see the questions in his eyes and at this point, I would answer anything he asked. "We should be safe down here. You're not leaving are you?" I didn't even have time to answer him before there was a loud pounding on the door. I was feeling better than I'd felt in months so I sat up quick and threw my jacket back on. I was sitting cross legged on the bed when Jackson came back with the stranger. Though, for a moment, I wasn't sure he was a stranger..

I kept my eyes on him as he made a smug comment,"Hope I wasn't, you know-- interrupting anything padre.", I wanted to smack the smirk off his face. He stunk of wet dog, or was that his dog? No, it was him. He smelled of wet forest and old leaves. This stranger was wolf. "You're not interrupting nothin', darlin." I put on my southern charm as I straightened up on the bed. I wasn't so sure I liked the look of this stranger. "You got a name?" I glanced at Jackson and tried to put in to my eyes that I did not trust this visitor. And he most certainly WAS interrupting.

[Rex Langley]

Nothing was going on, sure. I could see all over both of their faces that there was something' going on. These two were as conspicuous as the fur on Banjo's hyde. I shook my head and went back to looking around. Banjo laid quietly by the door. Once in a while I looked back at the guy nervously following me around. It was obvious he was concerned I would find something. However all I saw was useless medical equipment, and blood specimens. As I circled back to the girl she asked my name.
"It's Rex. That is Banjo." I said matter of factly. I wasn't here to make friends and they needed to know that right away, "We'll be leaving soon as the storm passes."

I turned to the guy, "Hey. Buddy." His love lorn gaze was making me ill, "A place to sleep, got one? " I asked finally finding a place to sit down. I propped my feet up on a box, my gun still in hand and ready to fire if necassery. I could smell the poisoning and her thirst for blood, there was no where else for us to go though. I would have to take my changes with Romeo and Juliet. Banjo stood up and stretched, then made his way to lay beside me.

[Jackson Church]

I didn't like that he was snooping amongst my things. I had valuable research here, and if fallen into the wrong hands, it would be wasted. I could tell Scarlett didn't trust him either. I watched as he sat down and made himself comfortable. I don't think my eyes ever left him- well until they met with Scarlett's again.
"Hey. Buddy." His voice broke my trance. He wanted to know if I had a place to sleep, "You and your companion can sleep in the sanctuary tonight." I replied. I wanted to keep him far away from Scarlett and I.

I didn't want him here, but I remember my dad always preaching about showing hospitality to everyone. He would say that Jesus showed his kindness to all mankind, not just the people society approved of. And after all, was it not my calling and duty to provide help and shelter to those who needed it?
I turned behind me, and collected some blankets off the shelf. " You can stay here, come and go as you please. " I walked the blankets over to the door leading up to the sanctuary and stood there, hoping bout new guest would get the hint that I wanted him out of my personal quarters.

[Scarlett Devereaux]

I watched as Jackson led the man out of the room. I listened to their footsteps as he walked him to a place where him and his dog could sleep for the night. My skin was buzzing, I was on high alert. There was something that didn't feel right about Rex. I stood up, zipped up my jacket and looked around the room. I was looking for an exit. I wanted nothing more than I wanted to run right now. I knew Jackson and I had things to discuss and I knew that if I left right now, I could never come back to him.

I walked over to the small window in Jackson's bedroom. The sky was so dark and the rain was pouring down in sheets. Where would I even go if I left. I had nothing left, no where to call home. There was no where left in this world that I felt safe. I closed my eyes and felt the memory of cool bars against my back. The smell of antiseptic was so strong in the lab and the stench of blood always lingered just under it. I opened my eyes and ran my hands through my hair. It felt soft and familiar on my finger tips and it pulled me out of the memory. But, I would never forget the weeks I spent in that cage. The needles, the tests, the blood.. Her.

I heard the door creak open and turned slowly to see Jackson standing there. The darkness framed him in shadows making him look large and menacing. "Jackson.." I wanted to tell him everything. I wanted to open myself up to him, emotionally and physically. But.. I just didn't know if I could anymore.

[Jackson Church]

A look of disappointment came over Jackson's face when he stepped back into the basement. Both hands in his pockets, he stood there watching Scarlett plot her escape- or at least it looked like she wanted to escape. She turned and said his name when he startled her, "Jackson."
He slowly removed his hands from his pockets and crossed his arms, "planning on leaving, huh?" The disappointment was evident in his voice. He let out a deep sigh and shook his head, "Right when I think we're gonna get somewhere."
He moved slowly across the floor until he stood next to her, "Why do you do this? Why do you come in and out of my life ? You must enjoy the emotional stress it causes me." His words were sharp and cutting. He felt his disappointment revert back to anger.
"I don't understand you Scarlet. I don't understand how one minute you can be so human, and the next you can be this monster." His voice trailed a little, " We've been playing this game since we met. I'm tired of it." He walked over to the bed and plopped down into it, his hands running over his face, he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and his face still buried . After a few seconds he looked up, at Scarlet still standing there,"Because of you, I question every aspect of my life. When you left Scar-Scarlet, I lost faith in self and the ability to help anyone."

[Scarlett Devereaux]

"Planning on leaving, huh? Right when I think we're gonna get somewhere." I was instantly angry. "Why do you do this? Why do you come in and out of my life ? You must enjoy the emotional stress it causes me. I don't understand you Scarlet. I don't understand how one minute you can be so human, and the next you can be this monster." I heard the anger in his voice an it just fueled my own. How could I be such a monster!? I had had enough of his complete hypocrite attitude. He had no idea what I had been through and when I had tried to tell him, he'd practically ignored it. I was so angry, I couldn't make words. Every time I had encountered him, it had always been about him. "We've been playing this game since we met. I'm tired of it." He walked over to the bed and plopped down into it, his hands running over his face, he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and his face still buried. After a few seconds he looked up at me,"Because of you, I question every aspect of my life. When you left Scar-Scarlet, I lost faith in self and the ability to help anyone."

The hitch in his voice cooled my fire, slightly. I understood what it was to lose all hope in everything you had once held dear. However, I hadn't chosen this. If I had had any choice at all in this matter, I'd have died that horrible day with Tristan's mother. "Do you think I chose this?!" My voice was stern but gentle. I didn't want to yell at him but, I wanted him to snap out of his wallowing and notice that he wasn't the only miserable person on this planet. "Do you think I chose to become this.. monster!?" I basically spat the word from my mouth like a mouthful of chewin tobacco that had lost its luster.

I felt my anger rising again and had to reign it in quickly. I took a step toward him with all intentions of sitting down beside him. I wanted to rest my head on his shoulder, sigh deeply, and forget the world for even just a moment. But, I didn't. I took the one step but, that was all I took. I needed to say what I had been wanting to say for far too long. "You ask why I constantly come in and out of your life.. It's because I'm so drawn to you that I can't help it, Jackson. I spent the past year in so much duress that on several occasions, I barely made it out alive." I took another step closer to him and he lifted his head to look at me. "Yet, when I tried to tell you about the hell I've been through, you thought of nothing but yourself." My voice was quiet but firm. I was hurt and it was high time I let him know it.

I swallowed hard and kept going, "You say that because of me, you have lost of faith. Well, I want you to know that because of you I HATE myself." I felt the first tear roll down my cheek. "What I felt for you the first time we met was the first time I had felt ANYTHING since the day I.. changed. And you called me a MONSTER." A sob ripped from my throat and the tears came harder then. "Do you think I WANT to live like this!? Stealing the life of others to keep my own!? Do you think I WANT to be drawn to you!? Drawn to someone who think I am such a lothsome, horrible CREATURE. I'd choose anything over the feelings I have for you." I was yelling through the crying and practically hyperventilating. I dropped hard to my knees in front of him and pulled the .22 from my jacket pocket. I stared down at the gun for just a moment before forcing it in to his hands. "Please, if I am such a monster.. Do what I couldn't, put a bullet in me and end this for both of us. Because, I can't take the way you look at me anymore." I hung my head, hoping he would pull the trigger. My voice was a whisper when I spoke next, "When I saw you in the graveyard, I was relieved.. And you were disgusted."

[Jackson Church]

"Do you think I chose this?! Do you think I chose to become this.. monster!?"
I did it. Was I happy now? I managed to make her see herself now. I could tell those words were the hardest thing for her to utter. Where was the grace in making her feel this way?
Her voice trembled, woven in fear and anger as she stepped toward me,"You ask why I constantly come in and out of your life.. It's because I'm so drawn to you that I can't help it, Jackson. I spent the past year in so much duress that on several occasions, I barely made it out alive." She took another step closer to me and I lifted my head to look at her, ashamed of myself for what I had done to Scarlet, she continued her words full of hurt now, "Yet, when I tried to tell you about the hell I've been through, you thought of nothing but yourself."
She swallowed hard and kept going, "You say that because of me, you have lost of faith. Well, I want you to know that because of you I HATE myself." A tear rolled down her cheek. "What I felt for you the first time we met was the first time I had felt ANYTHING since the day I.. changed. And you called me a MONSTER." A sob ripped from her throat and the tears came harder then. "Do you think I WANT to live like this!? Stealing the life of others to keep my own!? Do you think I WANT to be drawn to you!? Drawn to someone who think I am such a lothsome, horrible CREATURE. I'd choose anything over the feelings I have for you." She was yelling through the crying and practically hyperventilating. She than dropped hard to her knees in front of me and pulled the .22 from her jacket pocket. She stared down at the gun for just a moment before forcing it in to my hands. "Please, if I am such a monster.. Do what I couldn't, put a bullet in me and end this for both of us. Because, I can't take the way you look at me anymore." She hung her head, hoping I would pull the trigger. Her voice was a whisper when She spoke next, "When I saw you in the graveyard, I was relieved.. And you were disgusted."

I looked at the gun in my hand, and then I looked up at her again. Her fragile frame sitting there in a ball of shame. Shame that I had placed on her, I wanted to help her, but all I did was abandon her, and for what? My father was right, I would never be the man he prayed that I would be. Every opportunity God gave me to do good, I managed to screw up. I couldn't be there for people the way he had intended. Deep down I was a selfish man. No, no not selfish.. Judgmental. I had become jusgemental.

I looked back at the gun again, it's slick design weighing heavy in my hand. I could never hurt Scarlet. I stumbled over the first few words to come out of my mouth, "I'm sorry." I laid the gun down at my feet, between her and I, "You know I won't .." My voice trailed. That was a sentence I didn't need to finish. I stood up quickly from the bed, and walked over to gaze out the window, my arms now folded over me, "I know you are doing the best you can to survive." Perhaps I wasn't ready to admit all my faults to her yet, but I could at least acknowledge I was wrong. I turned toward her, her body sitting still behind me on the ground. It was hard for me to see her like this. I knelt down and gently placed a hand on her cheek, "Scarlet." I whispered her name, "I didn't know..." I thought for a moment about what she said, "And you're right ... I didn't ask." All this time I thought she was running from me, and I couldn't see she was running to me, "I was so blind ." my voice broke.

I removed my hand and quickly stood up. I was so angry with myself. She needed a friend and I let her down. I walked over to the door, throwing my coat on. I looked at her, and let out a sigh. The wind and the rain was still beating down on us, but I needed to clear my head. There was still a secret I was keeping from her. I pulled up my collar and walked into the elements into the night.

[Rex Langley]

Rex watched in the shadows, listening to the Vamp and the sick kid fight. He stepped out of the dark, swallowing whatever he had in his mouth, "You guys are so gonna sleep together." His arm came up to his mouth, where he wore a smirk, chewing off another piece of beef jerky. He walked over to where Scarlet had stayed, "Wonder where the kid took off to?" He looked down at her, and a grimace came over his face, "Can't stay on the ground forever sweetheart, Romeo will return." He took another bite of jerky and stood before the door, "They always do."

Taking his last bite he turned and sat on the step he had come off of. His muscular body barely fit. He watched Scarlet with intent, his eyes never leaving her. He didn't trust her and he could sense she didn't trust him either. No skin off his back. His plan was to stay until morning and then head south. He had a friend in danger, and he wanted to rescue her. In fact he was pretty sure he had a lot of friends in danger.

[Scarlett Devereaux]

He knelt down and gently placed a hand on my cheek, "Scarlet." I whispered her name, "I didn't know... And you're right ... I didn't ask." I could see the turmoil in his eyes. Maybe he was finally starting to get it. "I was so blind ." his voice broke. He pulled away and stood up quick. I watched in silence as he went to the window, the air around him was filled with anger. He walked to the door, put on his coat and sighed. He didn't look back and he didn't pause, he just walked out.

I sat there on the floor, tears cooling on my cheeks, in stunned silence. He'd just walked out on me. I'd bared my soul, something I'd never even done with Tristan, and he walked out on me. I felt the last straw break within me. And then I heard it. "You guys are so gonna sleep together." His mocking tone had my lip curling in anger. I breathed deeply and felt my body vibrate with such strong hatred. It was as if every thing that had happened to me and everything that had happened with Jackson, was finally boiling to the surface. And it was going to boil over on this man. "Wonder where the kid took off to?" He looked down at with a grimace on his face. "Can't stay on the ground forever sweetheart, Romeo will return." He took another bite of jerky and stood before the door, "They always do."

Taking his last bite he turned and sat on the step he had come off of. He watched me with intent, his eyes never leaving me. I saw the wheels turning in his eyes as I let my body unfurl in all of the unnatural grace that came along with my vampiric abilities. I let it take me over then, as I had never done before. I stalked to this man like he was a sickly gazelle and I was a hungry lion. I breathed in his scent as I got closer and the memories wrapped around me. He was there, and a blonde woman, small and fragile. He cared for her. He was angry, I was scared.

I visibly shook the memory from me as I took the step that had us nose to nose. "I. Know. You." The words tore from my mouth. "Cartella." The one word was like acid on my tongue. The look in his eyes said he knew exactly what that one word meant.

[Rex Langley]

"Cartella."

That word echoed in Rex's head. He hadn't heard it, or dared to speak it. It induced panic in people of all ages and races. It was a scary place, and he sure as hell was glad he escaped. There was one problem though. Jezebel. He had to leave her behind, he was too weak to fight for her too, when he springed. It was time to go back for her now. He was whole, healthy, and strong. All he thought about was getting back to save her from those evil dicks.

He looked up at Scarlet, trying to wear his best poker face, "What's your point, bat-girl?" He had to play it cool, pretend that place meant nothing to him. He couldn't let anyone in on his plan to re-enter the facility. He didn't want to risk his mission being blown. He remembered her though. She was tough as nails until it was dark, and she was all alone. That's when he heard Scarlet cry. In the middle of the night. Perhaps it was for her sick little boy toy. Rex shook his head, "It wasn't me you saw in those four walls, darlin'. Nope." He continued to eat his jerky. Deep down though he felt for her. He knew the torture and the secrets she kept hidden.