Where Secrets Lie

"If you wanted to get me alone just say so." Kara smiled devilishly, as Michael closed the bedroom door behind them. The sounds of everyone celebrating went mute with the click of the door.

"I have something to give you," said Michael, as he opened up the dresser drawer. He reached in and brought out a small vial, which he then gave to her. Kara held the small item in the palm of her hand, giving Michael a puzzled look, "It's my blood," he said.

"How… romantic?" Kara responded, slightly amused.

"I'm not always going to be there to protect you. If you are ever hurt, you can drink this and it will heal you," explained Michael.

"I can't. No one is supposed to have your blood."

"I don't care. Keep it with you."

Kara sensed how worried her new fiancée seemed. "I will," she assured him.

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Two days passed quickly while the gang prepared to infiltrate the mansion to take back Alyssa. Henry read held a checklist, reading item by item, to ensure they had everything they needed.

"Knives, check. Stakes, check…"

Alex walked over and picked up a stake, looking baffled. "What kind of stakes are these?"

"Rumor is that the vampire hunters were starting to have a hard time getting close enough to decapitate the vampires," Amy explained. "And although the hunters are skilled, they are not strong enough to pull out a vampire's heart. Since regular stakes only put a vampire to sleep until it's pulled out, they created the exploding stakes. Once the stake enters the body, spikes extend from the sides and puncture the heart deep enough to be pulled out with the stake."

"What will they think of next?" said Henry, looking at his list.

"How do you know all of this?" Logan asked Amy, curiously.

"You hear lots of strange things while living in the Caswell mansion. Anyway, some super-obsessed dude with vampires sold them to me online," she responded.

"Now, all we need are the ingredients for the spell," Michele interrupted the discussion.

"What spell?" asked Kara.

"Catherine is too smart to leave the necklace unguarded. She probably got a witch to put a protection spell around it," Michele said. "I have a spell that can break through such a barrier, but we need the ingredients first. I'm leaving soon to get them. You know, just in case"

"Well, you can't go by yourself," said Amy.

"I'm going too," Hannah said.

"You three be careful," Kara said, nodding. "I will meet up with you all again later."

Michele, Amy, and Hannah wasted no time in heading for the car, and half an hour later, they reached the shop. It was an unsuspecting, hole-in-the-wall book store owned by a very old family friend of Michele. They headed inside, but it was pitch black as if the shop hadn't even opened yet.

"Something is wrong," Michele said. "Turn on the lights."

Amy felt along the wall for the light switch and flicked it. The overhead lights illuminated the room, revealing the body of Michele's friend lying on the floor in a pool of her own blood.

"Took you forever. I was hoping it'd be Kara, but you will do," said Catherine, stepping out of the shadows.

"Stop this, Catherine," protested Hannah.

"Ugh, whine, whine and whine. No wonder dad never loved you," said Catherine, grinning.

Hannah looked down, unable to respond to her sister's cruel statement because she knew she was right. She spent her entire life trying to get their father's approval only to realize in the end, she would never gain it. She couldn't pretend to be who they wanted her to be any longer.

"Poor little Hannah," Catherine said, still grinning.

Hannah fumed and she pushed her self-sympathy aside. Catherine had to be stopped. With determination, she marched toward her sister.

As Michele watched the two sisters begin their face-off, she dropped her guard. A vampire approached Michele from behind and sunk his fangs into her soft flesh. Amy quickly reacted, pulling out a stake from her jacket pocket. She jabbed the wood into his back, then pulled it out along with the vampire's heart. Amy held out her hands and caught Michele as they fell to the ground.

On the other side of the room, Catherine and Hannah were exchanging blow for blow. Catherine pulled out a knife and stabbed Hannah in the leg.

"Really? A knife?" Hannah cried. She pulled it out, disgusted by the sick, sucking sound it made as she freed it from her muscle. She tossed the knife aside and the clang from the metal hitting the floor, echoed in her mind. Suddenly, Hannah fell to one knee, her vision becoming hazy. She tried to focus on her sister but now there were multiple of her. Her vision became darker and darker until she passed out.

Amy attempted to jump in, but Catherine threw her across the room. Amy collided into a shelf, knocking dozens of books to the floor. She dug her way from underneath the book avalanche only to find Catherine gone, taking Hannah with her.

"Michele," she thought and ran over to check on her just as Michele was waking. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, thanks to you," Michele replied. She wrapped her arms around Amy's shoulders for support as she pulled herself up. "Where is Hannah?"

"They took her," said Amy, looking ashamed. "Let's just get what we came here for before the police show up."

"Agreed," Michele said, pointing at the mandrake root. "There's one..."

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"Where am I?" Hannah spotted Catherine and tried to attack her, but she was much too weak to fight.

"What's wrong, Hannah? You're looking a little pale," Catherine said.

"What did you do to me?" Hannah asked as she used all her strength to sit upright.

"The knife you pulled out of your leg earlier, my witch put a hex on it," Catherine explained. "See those dark veins spreading from the wound. The poison is taking over your body. All you need is some blood to heal you. Would you like some blood, baby sister?" She gave her little sister a sadistic look, then threw her the pack.

Hannah seized it and quickly gulped down the life-saving blood. As it traveled down her throat, it burned, and the fire spread throughout her body. She abruptly stopped drinking, vomiting the dark red liquid.

"Oops, did I forget to mention it has to be family blood or else it only worsens the poison?" Catherine giggled. "Oh well." She turned and left the dungeon, and Hannah could only watch as her chance of survival walked out the door.