Where Secrets Lie

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Amy and Michele returned to the cottage with a bag full of ingredients for the spell.

Michael took the bag from Amy and set it on the coffee table as they entered, he looked back and noticed they were missing a person, "Where's Hannah?"

They looked at each other, then back to Michael as everyone else was piling into the living room. They explained what happened and the anger resonated from Michael, "I should have gone along, I should have -"

Kara stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on his arm. She nodded her head towards Michele. She wore a face of regret and sadness. "I'm sorry about your friend," Kara said.

Michele raised her head, tears brimming her eyes, "Thank you." She sauntered over to the table and picked up the ingredients, "I'm going to go make that potion for you."

Kara turned her attention back to Michael, "We will get Hannah back, any minute now they will call us..." Kara's sentence trailed off as her phone beeped, "It's a text."

Hello All. Hannah is fine…for now. If you want her alive and your sister's body, you'll do as I say. I want Kara to come ALONE! If I see anyone else, she dies!

She read it and smirked. "It's from Catherine: surprise, surprise."

"You knew she would contact us?" Amy asked. "How?"

"It's what criminals do when they have a hostage. They think they are in control and can make demands," replied Kara. "After everything you said happened, I knew it was only a matter of time."

Michele entered the room once more and presented a small bottle. "It's complete, just rub it on your hands, and you should be able to take off the necklace." She paused. "If you can get close enough."

Kara took the bottle. While she did, Michael leaned over her shoulder and read the message.

"No way! You are not going alone," he protested.

Kara looked at him with a sympathetic smile. Although Catherine was a certain kind of crazy, this was still her specialty. She was a damn good detective, and it was time to use those skills again. "This isn't my first hostage negotiation. Catherine may be insane, but deep down, she's no different than any murderer," Kara said. "I'm not stupid. All of you will be in the vicinity, just not close enough for her lackeys to see you. I have to go in alone, but once I think we have the upper hand, I'll call you for backup." Kara put her hands on Michael's face. "Trust me. I know what I'm doing."

Michael nodded. "I know, I just don't want to lose you."

"You won't," she said.

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Kara walked up to the entrance of the Caswell dungeons just as the sun began to set. She felt alone, although she knew her friends were nearby. When she reached the wide-open, dusty entrance to the dungeons, Catherine already waited for her, standing with a large posse of vampires. "Where's Hannah?" asked Kara.

Catherine smiled, and Kara wanted to rip her apart. The way she disfigured Alyssa's beautiful smile disgusted her. However, she remained composed. "Please, come this way," Catherine said. She turned, and the vampires split apart like the red sea. "Wait here to keep watch," she instructed them.

Kara walked through the tunnel of vampires, glancing at each and everyone one of them out of the corner of her eye. Catherine began following her as she passed. Kara slowly walked down the dungeon hallway, glancing over her shoulder every few seconds, fearing Catherine might suddenly stab her in the back.

"It's there," Catherine said.

Kara ran toward the dungeon. Within the moisture-laden cell, Hannah shivered in the corner. "Hannah!" Kara tried to open the cell, but it was locked. "Open this!" she demanded of Catherine.

Reluctantly, Catherine unlocked the door and allowed her inside. Kara rushed to check on Hannah, and just as she reached her, the cell door slammed shut behind her.

Kara spun around. "What are you doing?"

"Relax," Catherine said, "You can sit back and watch that one die, like the traitor she is." Her laugh echoed throughout the cell as she walked away.

Kara shook the dungeon doors, but they were too strong to break.

From the dark corner, Hannah spoke in a weak and fading voice. "Kara?"

"Yes, Hannah. It's me."

She drew closer to Hannah. Outside, the clouds shifted, allowing the moonlight to spill in through the tiny barred window of the dungeon. It cast light over Hannah, revealing the dark veins, which were now up to her chin and still spreading.

"What are these?" Kara asked, pointing them out.

It took all of Hannah's strength to answer. "Catherine poisoned me."

"Drink my blood." Kara shoved her arm in Hannah's mouth.

"No!" Hannah meekly pushed back her arm. "I will throw it up, and it will make the poison spread faster. Only family blood will heal me, and Catherine is determined to let me die. Just go. Try to get out and get your sister back."

"No!" Kara said. "There must be something we can do."

Hannah didn't respond or even look up at Kara. She was resigned to die. Even if she still wanted to fight, she didn't have the strength to do it. She had given up on life."

"Please," Kara begged. "You're my friend, and I won't let you die. Stay strong, and I will think of something. You have to keep fighting to stay alive. I can't do it without you."

A feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time filled Hannah, joy. It lifted her heart to know that someone as good as Kara actually cared about her. She wanted to thank Kara and tell her she cared about her as well, but her pride and tough exterior prevented her from showing it, even when faced with death. "Whatever," she said in a dry and raspy voice.

Kara saw right through the façade. "Yes, you have friends now. Get over it and accept it." Kara held Hannah's hand, wanting to shout and cry, but nothing she thought of would save Hannah. Suddenly, she remembered the vial of blood Michael had given her. Although Hannah didn't know it, Michael was related to her, so his blood could work...wouldn't it? She pulled out the vial and shoved it at Hannah. "Drink this, hurry!" Hannah didn't respond. The poison had spread too far, and it was too much for her to move or speak. Kara opened up the girl's mouth and forced the blood down her throat.

"She's passed out, but hopefully the blood will work quickly."

The door to the dungeon hallway opened, startling Kara. Thinking quickly, she glanced at Hannah, who was already recovering. The veins were retreating from her body. She scurried away to the opposite corner just as Catherine appeared.

"Did you miss me?" she asked and entered the cell. The clouds once again, covered the moon, making the scene darker.

Kara stood, but Catherine walked passed her to Hannah's body. She turned around and smiled at Kara. "It was about time. I thought she would never die."

For a moment, Kara feared for her life. Surely, Catherine was about to attack her; however, something moved in Hannah's dark corner, and a smile formed on her face. Catherine brows scrunched in confusion at Kara's expression. She turned around, shocked to find herself face to face with Hannah.

"Bye, big sister." Hannah reached for the necklace, and a red barrier appeared. She struggled and pushed her hand, forcing it through the barrier and managed to reach her sister's chest. She grabbed the pendant and ripped it from Catherine's neck, pulling her soul along with it.