Rosalie looked at her watch, it was already nine o'clock and she was running late. A deep scowl marred her fine features, she hated being late for anything. She was on her way to Hell's Broth for a meeting with Edrys and Felicia. They would discuss further fortifications of the barrier and other measures. As the head of Havenswood protection guard she had been edgy lately.

That week had been eerie, even for her. It was as if the supernatural creatures that usually hid in the shadows of the woods outside of the town had gone crazy. Every night there were at least ten incidents where one of them would try to cross the barrier. They'd never done anything like it before. The various charms and wards around the barrier repelled them as well as humans and yet over the past few nights' wards didn't seem to work properly. The creatures' actions were unnatural as well and Rosalie had a bad feeling in her gut that someone was behind all of it.

When she brought her concerns up at the Town Elders' secret meeting, they did what they always did. Most them were more than happy to hide everything and act as if things were normal. They voted three to two, to downplay it and keep things quiet. As Edrys didn't get a vote unless there was a tie, Felicia and Usui were the only two that voted for action. The other three voting against any action stating that the last thing they wanted was panic and chaos to spread through the town as their reason. She thought this was a foolish plan, but not being a Town Elder herself, she had no choice but to comply.

Rosalie thoughts were consumed by mulling over how she would protect the town without violating the Elders decision. As she rounded the outskirts of the town, a thunderous explosion lit up the sky, its Shockwave nearly knocking her off her feet.

Steadying herself, she pulled back her sleeves, exposing her forearms. As she ran each hand over the opposite forearm, it emitted a bright pink light that crackled and popped. Slowly, a swirling map of the barrier appeared on her forearms. When the next explosions went off her arms lit up in orange dots. This showed where the blasts had gone off and that they had weakened the barrier in those spots.

A string of very colourful expletives flowed from her mouth as she looked at her arms. It wasn't just one place the attackers were trying to break through; it was around ten. She could've punched a hole in the road with rage as she saw that the explosions all occurred where the barrier seemed its weakest. A chill as cold as winter ran down her spine as a thought ripped her head; she knew Thorsen was after Julia.

Cupping both hands to her mouth, she started whispering into them. Then raising her hands to the sky she let off a huge burst of blue energy. It swirled and separated into sixteen small orbs. Each of the tiny blue orbs shot off in different directions. Rosalie had just informed everyone on the protection guard of what was happening. They would need to regroup and rally more reinforcements and that meant she had to head back to the town centre.

Before she could do that, another explosion went off; this one was ten times stronger and shook the whole town. With her eyes still wide from shock, another array of blasts went off with the same amount of strength as the one before. This time red dots flickered on her arms telling her the barrier had been breached.

Rosalie let off three bright red power orbs into the sky. They expanded and then exploded in a supernova of energy, bathing the whole town in crimson. This was the signal that Havenswood had been breached.

There had been a yearly drill where the whole town would take part. The kids would gather in the high school along with anyone who was too weak to fight. Everyone else would take up arms and defend the town. Havenswood was one of the safest and most guarded towns on the planet and no one other than Rosalie thought the town defences would be breeched.

She knew Thorsen's style; he was the type that loved to make a bold entrance, and shot off toward the first breach. He was like a tiger, spending the time needed stalking his prey in the shadows and then striking, taking down anything that stood in his way.

The first breach was near the south-west entrance of the town. As she approached it, she saw Thorsen's relaxed body sauntering up the road. She stopped dead in her tracks. Taking a defensive position, she let all the anger, hate and need for vengeance pour out of her body and into her hands. An acid green column of hot raw power erupted from them.

Mormo and twenty of Thorsen's slaves stepped in front of Thorsen, creating a wall. Mormo deflected half of her attack and the slaves that took the other half, disintegrating in a puff of ash.

Rosalie's eyes burned with a loathing so deep it turned them black. "Don't think hiding behind your slaves and that lap dog of yours will stop me from ripping out your heart."

Thorsen laughed opening his arms to her as if he would embrace an old friend. "Dear sister, it has been so long since I last saw you. Don't you have a friendlier welcome for your beloved brother?"

She gave him a smile full of venom. "Why don't you come here," she mocked his tone, "and I'll give you the welcome you deserve," and let off another burst of acid green power, which Mormo easily deflected.

Thorsen frowned, his whole demeanour changed from light and playful into a cold, businesslike manner. Snapping his fingers, a slave brought out Julia kicking and fighting. "Don't be too hasty sweet, Rosa. If I die your precious daughter dies too."

Crippling fear and dread washed over Rosalie, as she watched Julia fighting against her captor, it almost knocked Rosalie to her knees.

Thorsen let out a triumphant laugh. "Now, Rosa, you know what I want," his tone once again turning playful, "Unbind Julia or I will kill her and everyone in this pathetic little town."

She knew he wasn't bluffing. He had killed both of his brothers without a second thought. The townspeople were nothing but annoying fleas to him, and although Julia was related to him she was nothing more than a pawn. Paralysing guilt consumed Rosalie; the weight of it painfully kicked her in the stomach. It was the final blow that brought her to her knees.

If she had only listened to Ren and unbound Julia none of this would've happened. Julia could've defended herself and the town.

As that thought floated around in her head another thought exploded, like a bright white light, clearing everything else away. She had known what those kids were up to from the very first day Ren snuck Julia out to train with the dark faeries. Of course, Ren thought he was smarter than her and in a lot of ways he was. But Rosalie knew him like the back of her hand and she had known that he would sneak Julia out. Rosalie had wanted Julia to focus on her training more and Rosalie knew if she told her daughter and Ren that they couldn't train that's exactly what they would do. That was why she made it easy for Ren to get around the seal on Julia's wrist.

Rosalie had seen the bruises on Julia; she had also been secretly watching her daughter train in the woods. Julia was a fighter through and through; she had inherited that trait from her father. And there was no way Julia would've gotten captured without a massive fight.

She also knew both Ren and Alex would've given their lives to protect Julia. Rosalie didn't like the fact her daughter and Alex were secretly dating. Once the whole truth about what Julia was came out, it would break her daughter's heart; and it would be so much worst because of Alex. However, Rosalie knew without a shred of doubt that Alex would die before he let Julia get captured the way Beatrix did.

Rosalie looked at the 'Julia' that was across from her. That girl didn't have a scratch on her nor was she distraught. This realisation was a healing balm. She picked herself up, looked Thorsen in the eyes, and a powerful orange orb shot out of her hands ripping through Julia, turning her to dust.

"Nice try, Thorsen," she spat at him.

He gave her a murderous look and a smile spread across her face as she watched him trying to rein in his anger. Once he got his anger in check and his face was once again a picture of calm.

Letting out a fake laugh Thorsen slowly clapped his hands making a meal out of the act. "You always were a cold-hearted demon just like your father." He snapped his fingers and a hundred slaves swarmed Rosalie. "This is why I don't like to take any chances and always stack the deck in my favour."

She put up a hell of a fight but there were too many. They soon overran her and held her down raining kicks and punches on her.

Thorsen once again snapped his fingers, and the slaves froze, and then parted allowing him to walk up to her. He crouched down and grabbed a fistful of her auburn hair yanking her up. "You never knew when to give up."

Rosalie laughed and spit a mouthful of blood in his face. "Bastard."

He calmly reached into the breast pocket of his suit, pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his face. "I'll give you that one for free," he said then dragged her up by her hair. "Don't think I'll let you off so easily next time." Thorsen looked at Mormo and said, "You take half of the slaves and go have some fun. Make sure you kill as many people as you can, I want you to keep the annoying ants busy." He started walking down the road with Rosalie. "Come Rosa, let us find my darling niece."

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