I glanced over at Jazlyn as the leader of the Black Knights punched me in the chest again. Instead of him sticking with his brass knuckles, he switched them to a sliver one with spikes. Every punch I got, I sensed Jazlyn’s pain. I sensed the feelings she was getting as she watched on of me getting tortured.

“Victor,” said the second one in command. She stepped forward and held up a syringe. “Let’s see what he thinks about hawthorn juice.”

He nodded, “Be my guest, Julianna.”

Julianna walked forward and stabbed the needle into my neck. I grunted from the burning feeling of the hawthorn. My skin began to feel itchy and I wanted so badly to scratch it, but I couldn’t.

“How does that feel?” Julianna asked me.

“Like a mosquito bite,” I answered. “Do you mind being a doll and scratch my neck for me? I’m kind of tied up at the moment.”

Victor punched me hard in the jaw. “Careful how you talk to my wife,” he said. “Jazlyn!”

Jazlyn straightened and took a step forward. “Yes, sir?”

“You’ve lived with this thing for awhile. What’s his weakness? What’s a good way to make him talk?”

She shook her head, “I don’t know.”

Victor grabbed her roughly by the arm that made my jaw clench. “Figure it out then or else I will send you back to the states where you can live on the streets for all I care.”

“You would do that to your own family?” she asked softly. Family?

“My family doesn’t have room for weaklings.” He pushed her forward and gave her the knife that held the blood of the dead on it. Her eyes were begging for help, I sensed the distress that she felt, how she didn’t want to torture me.

She slightly opened her mouth and very softly whispered, “I’m sorry to do this. Just lie, okay?” Jazlyn stabbed me in the stomach. “Tell them what they need to know!” she shouted.

I gasped for air as the blood of the dead entered my body. I have never had blood of the dead in me before, only told. Angelina was actually the only vampire I encountered who had blood of the dead inside of her. She told us how it was the most excruciating pain she ever felt, but because she had it stabbed in her so many times, it eventually allowed her to get used to the pain. It was only when large amounts of blood of the dead that caused her to feel the pain.

I groaned and began to cough. “What do you want to know?” I croaked.

“Where did the others go?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. My leader doesn’t say where we go whenever something like this happens. She only makes us follow her.”

“So, what’s the purpose of keeping you alive?” Victor asked. “You’re meaningless if you don’t know where your coven leader is.”

“What can you tell us about her?” Jazlyn asked.

“One question at a time, Baby,” I said, looking at Jazlyn. “Keeping asking too much questions, there’s a price that needs to be paid.”

Victor pushed Jazlyn out of the way and poured the rancid blood in my mouth, placed a small silver ball in my mouth, and covered it with tape. I screamed against the tape as the silver ball burned my tongue and my mouth. As the ball created wounds in my mouth, the blood of the dead got into my open wounds and made it even more painful. It felt like acid.

Victor waited a few more seconds until he ripped the tape off my mouth. I quickly spat out the blood and the silver ball. My mouth was aching and throbbing. I cried out from the pain and realized how hoarse my voice sounded. From the corner of my eye, I saw Jazlyn covering her mouth and close to crying. When I tried spitting or coughing out the blood, my throat burned. I couldn’t even swallow because of how painful the feeling was in my mouth.

“Are you done with that stupid machismo attitude?” Victor snapped. “If you aren’t, then I am ready to do that again.”

“You know how I like it,” I crackled. “Do your worst, Victor. I got all night long.”

The torturing carried on for hours. Victor had enough of me being a smart mouth so he brought out the whip that had silver balls connected to it. After the tenth whip, he got creative, dipped the balls into the damn blood of the dead, and began whipping me with it. Victor and Julianna continuing to ask questions about where my family was and what the best way they could capture Angelina was. They didn’t take a break until the sun was up. They promised that they would be back for more questioning later and they were ready to do it for as long as I wanted them to.

I stared down at the puddle of blood that was created through the torturing. I could barely keep my eyes open. I never felt so weak before. My whole body ached and throbbed. My arms felt like jello from how long they remained over my head, my legs seemed ready to give out on me, and I never felt so hungry in my whole life. I don’t know how long I’m going to last.

Throughout the torture, I felt the pain and sadness that Jazlyn was giving out while she watched me being tortured. I had to admit, she was stronger than it seemed. I was thinking she would leave as a few of the hunters did when they were watching. I guess she knew that I wouldn’t be able to handle the torturing without her there.

I found it sickening that even though she made me go through all of this, I still love her. I love her with all my heart and I can’t be sorry about it. I can’t be sorry that I feel this way about her no matter what. Is that really what love is meant to be like?

For the whole day, I stared at the rays of the sun on the wall in front of me slowly go down. When the sun was no longer visible, I knew that the hunters would return to interrogate me some more. The sound of the dungeon door made me slightly wake up, but when I smelled a familiar scent, I gained the strength to speak.

“I wouldn’t come in here if I were you,” I mumbled to Jazlyn. “The scenery isn’t very pleasant and neither is this face.”

Jazlyn whimpered, covering her mouth. “Harry,” she whispered.

I looked up at her. “Don’t, Baby, I’m in enough pain as it is. If I see you cry, it will just make my pain even worse.”

“I can’t help it,” she wept. “I didn’t want...I didn’t…”

“I know,” I said. “I know what you are feeling, Jazlyn. I know every emotion that you are feeling. Remember, we’re connected. Is it safe for you to be down here?”

“You’ll tell me if someone is coming.” Jazlyn stepped forward, but froze when she stepped on the puddle of my blood that was on the floor. “This was because of me…”

I looked down. I couldn’t really tell her that it wasn’t because of her, since it actually was. “Is Victor and Julianna your family? Are they your parents? Did you lie about that too?”

She shook her head. “No! God, no! I didn’t lie about my parents. Victor is my mom’s brother. Harry, my family are pretty much hunters for vampires.”

“That’s how you got into this place?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “After my parents died, I hated vampires. I wanted them dead and my uncle said I can come here and learn how to fight and hunt your kind.”

I groaned and looked up at the chains. “I got to admit, you don’t seem like the type.”

“I’m surprised you aren’t threatening to kill me. I lied, betrayed you, and now, you’re being tortured because of what I did. Why aren’t shouting at me or calling me names?”

“You want me to do that?”

“I deserve it!” Jazlyn announced. “I deserve to be treated poorly. I deserve every bad thing to happen to me. All you did was treat me better than anyone I’ve ever met and all I’ve given you was lies and pain.”

“You’re wrong,” I shook my head, “You made me feel alive, Jazlyn. I have never felt so loved in my whole life. Yes, you lied and hurt me, but you were there. You allowed me to see the beauty again. You made me feel so much happiness that I thought was never to come. You’re my life, Jazlyn. I love you and I will never ever regret that.”

That triggered her to cry. “You still love me?”

I moved closer to her as far as the chains allowed me to. “I’ll never stop.”

She let out a sob as she moved in and kissed me. The feeling of the kiss hurt me, but I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to stop. Kissing her made me feel like I wasn’t in any form of pain, but when her hands went on my back. I couldn’t help but groan from the whip marks.

Jazlyn pulled away. “You’re hurt. I shouldn’t-”

“I’m fine,” I moaned. “It just stings a little bit. Baby, come back here.”

She kissed me lightly on the lips. “I’ll figure out a way to get you out of here. What if you get free and then you could pretend to get hostage and we will run far away from here. We’ll find the others and live a happy life together. I can maybe get you some blood so that you can heal faster or something.”

From the distance, I heard the sounds of footsteps approaching. “Not now, the others are coming. You have to get out of here before they come down here.”

She nodded and kissed me swiftly on the lips. “I’ll get you out of here,” Jazlyn whispered before she ran out of the dungeon. Within five minutes, all the hunters that were here from last night came down to the dungeon again. Right away, I looked for Jazlyn, who was leaning against the wall in front of me.

Victor stepped forward. “Ready for round two, leech?”

“Bring it on,” I smirked.

As Victor got a few items, someone ran into the dungeon. I noticed that he was the boy that was talking to Jazlyn and the one who dragged me into the dungeon. “Victor, you got to see this!” he said.

“What’s going on, Andrew?”

“There are five vampires outside the gates and they want to speak to you. I think they’re the ones who are in his coven.”

“No,” I gasped. The words that Angelina shouted echoed in my ears. We’re getting you back! We’ll get you back! I secretly begged that it wasn’t them and they weren’t trying to pull some stupid rescue mission.

Victor removed his silver knuckles and gestured a few hunters over. “Bring him upstairs while the rest of you grab your weapons just in case they want to try and fight.”

“Why do you think they came here?” Julianna asked.

“Probably get try and get this freak back,” Victor answered. “We’ll take them all out if they try to pull something stupid.”

They hauled me up the stairs and hid me behind a group of hunters, but, I was able to see that my family was there. They were all wearing the same clothes from the last night that I saw them and all ready to fight.

“We came to negotiate with you and nothing more,” Liam announced to the hunters. “We aren’t here to fight.”

“Negotiate?” Victor laughed. “What makes you think we want anything from you?”

“There is no need for bloodshed from any one of us,” Niall said. “We will not strike, if you do the same for us.”

Victor gestured a hunter to open the gate. Once the gate was open, they stepped inside. “State your business here.”

“I already told you, we came here to negotiate,” Liam responded.

“You have nothing we want!”

“Yes, we do,” Angelina stepped forward. “I’m Angelina, the leader and creator of the coven. I know what you want and I’m willing to give it to you in a trade.”

“Which is?”

“Me,” Angelina stepped forward. “If you return Harry to us alive, I will surrender myself to you willingly.”

My family looked at Angelina in horror. “What?” Louis shouted.

“That’s not what you told us!” Zayn shouted.

Liam stepped forward. “Angelina, don’t!”

She glared at them. “Quiet,” she hissed. Angelina looked back at Victor. “I will willingly be your captive, if you return Harry to my coven and let them all leave unharmed.”

“How do I know that you aren’t some fake?”

Angelina glared at Victor. “You can ask your little spy for confirmation of who I am. I know she is in the crowd.”

Victor looked over at Jazlyn. “Is that the leader?”

Jazlyn nodded. “That’s her,” she whispered.

“Fine,” Victor nodded. “I will let your vampire go if you give yourself in.”

“Let me see him,” she ordered.

With a nod from Victor, the hunters pushed me to the ground. My family eyes were filled with rage as they saw what the hunters done to me.

Angelina came over towards me and knelt down.

“You look awful,” she muttered.

“Don’t do this,” I begged her. “Don’t turn yourself in.”

She shook her head, “I know how strong you are, Harry, but I know you won’t survive this. I can do it. I’ve been through worse. Don’t worry about me.” Angelina placed her hands against my face and kissed me on the cheek, but I felt her tongue glide against my skin before she looked over at the others. “Liam, Niall, help Harry.”

They rushed to his side and helped me up. Niall looked at Angelina. “I do not like this one bit, you know that right?”

Angelina smiled weakly at him. “You know I can do this. I’ll be back for these.” She handed Niall the jewelry that he gave her. “I love you, Niall. Liam, watch out for them.”

“Angelina,” I began.

“Don’t,” she said, “Go.”

“Angelina,” Niall began.

“I order you to go!” she hissed. Liam and Niall seemed defeated, along with the rest of our family. While the gates closed, we watched as Angelina approached the group of hunters. She stood tall in front of Victor and the others. Instantly, Victor threw a punch with his silver knuckles at Angelina, making her fall back. He kicked her violently repeatedly. Liam and Zayn had to pull the cursing Niall away from the gates before he could climb over them. Louis was trying so hard not to do the same thing, but I knew that he wanted to jump over the silver gates just as bad as Niall did.

“Go!” Angelina shrieked at us. “Go now!”

We all ran off deep into the forest, until we were miles away from Hawthorn. We all slumped down on the cold ground.

“Why?” I cried out. “Why did you come back there?! You should’ve left me with them!”

“Angelina said they had something they wanted,” Liam said. “She said it was an item she stole and it would be a fair trade for your life. We didn’t know that she was lying.”

I slammed my fist against the ground. “This can’t be happening.”

Niall sighed, “I know the real reason why she wanted to be traded.”

“What do you mean?” Louis asked.

“She wants to take down Hawthorn Academy.” He slumped down on a boulder. “Angelina said that she is going to destroy it from the inside out.”

“How the hell is she planning to do that?” I asked.

“Angelina got blood from you, didn’t she?”

Remembering her licking some of my blood from my face, I nodded. “Yes.”

“And you drank Jazlyn’s blood as well?”

“Yes.”

Niall looked at all of us. “Since Harry is a link to Jazlyn and Jazlyn is a link to Hawthorn Academy, she will be able to know the castle thanks to Jazlyn.”

“She’s going to destroy Hawthorn Academy from the inside out,” Liam understood. “How is she planning on doing that?”

Niall shrugged, “I don’t know. She will signal me when to return to Hawthorn when she is planning to do that.”

I froze. “Jazlyn…”

“What about her?” Zayn asked.

“She’s there. Angelina is going to kill Jazlyn. I can’t let that happen.”

Liam sighed, “Harry, I know that you love her, but-”

“No,” I shook my head. “You don’t understand. We made amends. She wanted to help me get out before you came.”

“Harry, even if Jazlyn was being honest with you that time, what makes you think she won’t choose the Black Knights over you again?” Louis asked me.

“I saw how her uncle treated her. Trust me, she knows who she should really be with.”

“Uncle?”

“The man, the leader, is her uncle. He treated her badly. Trust me on this, Jazlyn will figure out a way to help Angelina.”

“If Angelina doesn’t kill her first,” Niall added.

I tried my best to stand up on my own. “I need to go back and tell Angelina.”

“No,” Liam came in front of me. “Harry, if Jazlyn is going to pick us over the Black Knights then she will find a way to convince Angelina on her own. If any of us go back there, Angelina’s plans will be ruined. We can’t let that happen. All we can do is hope for the best and let Angelina do the rest.”

I slumped down on the ground. “So what are we supposed to do?”

Liam sighed. “First, let’s get you healed up. After that, we wait and hope that everything goes according to Angelina’s plan.”

I looked up at the stars, “Give her strength.” I sighed, “Lord knows she’s going to need all the strength she can get.”