I feel as if the wind has been knocked out of me, all the oxygen in my lungs escaping from the cage of my ribs as I process Tyler and Benjamin's betrayal. They are like my brothers, I vouched for them, I cried for them. And here they are, aiding the man who has tried to kill me and everyone I love.

"Alessandra, what is it?" My father whispers, and I jump slightly. I remember we're still in the hall, pressed against the cold of the painted walls.

"Nothing, papa. We need to wait for the people to go away."

He nods, and I listen for more footsteps or voices. The halls are silent once again, as if we were the only ones here for years. I look around the corner, making sure the path is clear.

I grab my father again, and we slowly make our way down several more halls, all identical and eerily similar.

After a few minutes of walking, my father's labored breathes are too loud to ignore, and I rest him against a hidden wall so he can rest. He lays a hand over his heart, taking deeper and deeper breathes.

Octavius, where are you?

I mind-link Octavius, and wait for a response. There is silence.

Octavius.

Nothing. My heart skips and ignores several beats.

I try again, this time screaming in my head for Octavius, but the other end is silent, as if his head and mine have been trapped in pools of cement. I struggle to control my breathing, I need to be calm right now, for my father.

I try to tune into the pack-link, listening for anything at all. But silence is a common theme here as well, and I hold my breath.

Oh god, don't let them be dead.

I listen around me for any sounds of approaching guards or enemies, but there is nothing. I take the time to slide down the wall, leaning my head against it.

"Mother said, don't play with fire

As I stood by the pyre

Flames run high with yellow light

Embers rising to the night.

Goddess, Goddess, hear my prayer

The one with wisdom oh so rare

Goddess Luna, sing to me

Do so, and I might be free."

I don't realize that I'm mumbling the song until I look up to see my father's eyes filled with tears. I straighten up, and smile at him slightly.

"Before today," He whispered, his eyes wide with wonder, "I had forgotten that song."

I sigh, and rub my eyes with the back of my hand.

"Mama used to sing it to me at night."

My father's eyes glaze over, and I know he is lost in some distance memory.

"Her voice was so beautiful, she could tame any beast with her melodies."

We are silent for a moment, both swimming in a sea of songs and thoughts.

Alessandra.

I jump at Octavius' voice in my head, and I hurry to mind-link back.

Octavius, where are you?

I'm...I'm outside in the large field, come quickly.

I hurry to my feet, and I help my father up as well. We steadily but slowly make our way to the door, and I'm grateful for the absence of dead end hallways on the way.

I look around quickly before twisting the door handle, and stepping outside with my father. The bright evening light blinds me momentarily, and I shut my eyes, raising a hand in front of my face to escape the beams. Once I've adjusted, I blink open my eyes, and take in the scene in front of me, and I choke back a scream.

A few feet in front of me, surrounded by a growing sea of red snow, is Aunt May. I shudder closer, my father still at my side, and I lean down to touch her hair.

"M-May?" I sob when she doesn't move. My voice is barely a whisper as I watch her body still.

"May. May!" I'm screaming now, falling on my knees in the crimson snow, shaking her lifeless form, begging her to wake up.

"Please don't do this!" I scream and scream and scream. My father is next to me, shocked into silence and paralyzed. But I am diving in a pool of terror, horror, disbelief, and pure hysteria.

I fall onto May's chest, hugging her tightly, sobbing into her blood soaked sweater. I feel warmth on my cheek and touch it gently, my fingers becoming coated in dark dark blood.

I stare for a moment and look down at her chest wound, torn open, as if a bear had come and swiped away her last breath, her last moment.

I lean my neck back, facing my head towards the sunless sky and I let out a cry so loud and so shrill, I suppose the Goddess herself will hear me.

"Hermana." My father reaches a boney hand down towards her, stroking her cheek, and slides his fingers over her open eyes to close them. A tear falls down his cheek and falls upon the snow, burning a hole into the icy material.

Alessandra, come here, come quick.

I hear Octavius' voice in my ear, and I race to my feet, and I whirl around, trying to search out where he could be.

Octavius, where are you?

"You really must learn to be more observant, love."

I jerk around, and I almost fall back in shock at what I see.

Titan is in front of me, his cruel smile stretched onto painted skin. And next to him, well, more below him, is Octavius, shackled in what smells like silver chains.

"Octavius-"

"Oh, spare me your 'I'll save you' speech." Titan snaps, a deep crease forming in his forehead.

"I'm going to kill you!" I scream, and I am about to charge at Titan when he holds out a hand to stop me.

"I admire your courage, dear, but it is useless. I have yet another proposition for you, and this one is more exciting than the last."

"I'm not interested in your fucking deals, Titan." I snap, and I can feel my claws coming out. "You're going to die tonight."

"I don't believe I am. You see, I plan to live for decades dear, just enough time to torture you to madness."

"You fucking-"

"For shame, dear. Young, pretty girls like you should never curse in the presence of a child. Or rather, two children."

"What the hell-"

"It amazes me that you have yet to notice, my girl. Your mood swings, the fact you're a little chubbier than usual?"

I hear Octavius' growl, but he gags when Titan yanks on the chain around his neck.

"Quiet, son. I am speaking."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"It's really a shame," He says, but his smile shows he means nothing of it, "That Octavius will never get to meet the child growing in you."

I freeze, and grasp a bloody hand to my stomach.

"What?" I hiss. "I've had enough of your lies, Titan."

"It really wounds me, how much of a monster you see me as."

"I'm not - I can't be - How the hell-"

"I suppose it occurred the way most children are conceived, child. Oh, how I envy my son, it must be so....exhilarating, when you-"

Octavius' savage growl cuts him off, and he snaps his jaws at Titan's legs.

"Heel, boy. Doesn't this bring back memories for you, Octavius?"

"Titan, I swear to the Goddess, if you touch her or my child-"

"You'll what? Bark at me? You may be strong, Octavius, but I am far far stronger. Just looking at your back, oh, you could never stand up to me, you pup."

"Now," He says, turning his attention back to me. "My offer. Tyler!"

I shift my eyes towards an incoming noise, and I see Tyler coming out of the house, holding a small child, its face covered with a sack.

He comes in front of me, but averts his gaze, not matching my own burning glare.

"Now, who do we have under there, hm?" Titan pinches the top of the sack and reveals.... Lacy.

"Lacy!" I shout, and I begin to move towards her, but Tyler grows viciously.

"Hush, dear." Titan tuts, and he smirks even wider than before.

"We're going to play a little game, Alessandra. One I surely will enjoy. I hope you can find at least a little bit of humor in it as well."

He reaches his hand down to stroke Lacy's hair, and I have to restrain myself from lunging at him for touching her.

"You get to choose yet again, dear. You get to decide who lives, and who dies: Lacy, or Octavius."