She took a step backwards, immediately regretting her choice of words. "No, I'm sorry." She was ready to leave. She needed to be alone, her mind was carrying her thoughts to dark places and making her say things she didn't mean. She tried to explain herself further, but in the end, she hurriedly went back through the door. Her mind began to spin upon being exposed to the music again.

Anxiously, she slipped through the crowd, shoving, pushing, and clawing through people to find Lilith.

In the end, her efforts were fruitless.

Some woman ran past her in a hurry. Ivory was certain the woman was screaming, but the music drowned out her voice.

Another woman, this one carrying a tray, offered Ivory a drink.

She flinched at the drinks displayed before her and retreated, running as fast as she could to escape.

Relief washed over her upon spotting a clear opening in the back. The fumes didn't seem to carry this far which she was also relieved about. Her head was still spinning like a carnival ride. She rested her against the wall, trying to calm down her nerves and block everything out.

A man's voice spoke in a clear voice near her ear. "You don't look so good." He noted. "Why don't you come with me?" Ivory tried to pull away but found she had no strength left. He pulled her into the back room and guided her up the stairs.

She called for help but her voice came out more of a slur instead of anything comprehensible. Fear truly washed over her at this moment. "Who are you?" She mumbled as they headed up the next flight of stairs. Does this go to the roof?

Her afterthought vanished when the voice beside her changed suddenly, becoming something twisted and monstrous. "Don't play games with me, Ivory Nightshade. After seeing me this way, you know very well why I'm here."

The way he said her name sent an unpleasant shiver down her spine. This had to be what Seth was trying to warn her about when he said she'd be in danger. She tried to pull away but the hand yanked her right back, keeping steady and firmly placed. Every passing moment, her fear began to grow louder, beating faster like her heart.

"Don't try to run again, you'll only make things worse for yourself. Besides," He added a bit more positively with an eerie smile. "We might just let you go after you give us what we want."

What exactly did "they" want from her? That part was never clear in the manuscript. If she knew what they wanted, maybe she could make an offer for her life.

He hurried them up the stairs and through the doorway that led to the roof.

The wind was colder on the rooftop. She bit back the chill in her bones. He placed her in a chair and tied her legs and feet with some rope. Her situation kept looking more bleak by the minute. She had to think clearly and assess her options.

The drug they had somehow gotten in her system was beginning to wear off and to her dismay the man took notice. "Jeez, that stuff wears off fast." He complained to no one in particular. He had pale skin, combed hair, and looked awfully young, but there was clearly something unnatural about his presence.

The two men that were guarding the door jumped onto the roof. Yes, they literally jumped like they were made of the wind itself.

"Oh, I wish it wasn't her." The one that Lilith was fond of said disheartedly. "I like her."

The other one shook his head at the ground. "Be quiet. You're going to get us fired."

"What exactly are you guys?" Ivory asked warily with a hint of disgust.

"Dear child," Her kidnapper said. Was he not a child himself??? "Are you really not aware by now?" The three of them began to morph their faces into stiffer, much uglier versions of themselves. They were thinner with fangs hanging from their mouths. "We're vampires." He said proudly.

"Oh I see..." She said with sudden disinterest. "How boring."

They muttered among themselves, staring in disbelief.

"I mean don't get me wrong." She said, trying to explain. "I am afraid, but if I'm going to die, why can't I be killed by something cooler?" She asked them. This wasn't a bluff to buy time, she actually meant every word. Vampires were so cliche, predictable, and apparently even ugly. Her face grew disgusted at the thought of dying by their hands.

The three inhumanly men standing before her changed back to their normal selves as if they had their manhood stolen.

A laughter erupted from the staircase. "I'm sorry, I can't hold it in anymore." Seth appeared with tears of joy in his eyes and was holding his stomach from having laughed so hard. The other hand held a long scythe trailing behind him like it was a toy. "What a circus I've walked into." He commented.

The three vampires glowered at their intruder unpleasantly.

Seth sent a smile her way, brimming with confidence. "Sorry I'm late, darling. Did you have to wait long?"

She shook her head, trying to hide her own smile. "I think you're right on time."

"Excellent." He swung the scythe a little at the ground like he found the motion fascinating. "I do love being fashionably late."

"Seth!" Her kidnapper called with annoyance. "Long time no see, brother."

"That's your brother??" Ivory blurted out.

"I know." Seth replied airly. "Can hardly believe it myself."

The kidnapper cursed under his breath, losing his patience.

"Will, this is why no one likes you."

"Speak for yourself." He spat.

Quietly, Seth stood in front of Ivory, wielding his scythe. "Is this really what you want?" He asked. He probably didn't want to fight his brother.

Will clenched his jaws tightly. "What I want doesn't matter. This is a matter of survival and I'll always choose myself." He declared. With his decision made, he appeared to take a stance to side step Seth and reach Ivory.

Ivory was having a hard time pressing herself into the chair anymore. She was trying to squirm out of the ropes and was slowly making some progress. Will launched in her direction and she flinched. The scythe Seth was holding suddenly left the ground and swung outwards with equal persistence.

Will was apparently more agile than he looked and dodged the attack. He leapt backwards and completely avoided the blade in the process of his swift movements. He reached for Seth's throat, immediately attempting another attack.

Seth used his scythe to push himself off the ground. His body moved perfectly in sync, tipping backwards to avoid the hand reaching for his throat.

They continued like this for a little while, neither quite admitting defeat.

Ivory managed to free her hands and started to untie her feet. The rope slid off without much effort. She looked back at Seth, finding him growing cornered to the edge.

A risky idea popped into her head like a bolt of lightning. She glanced towards the door, thinking of Lilith for a brief moment. The thought of leaving her behind weighed on her conscious, but not enough.

Sharply she ran towards Seth, but was stopped by the security guards that she seemed to have forgotten about. Before they could get close to her though, Seth was by her side spinning his scythe around to tear them to pieces.

Instead the results were less gruesome and they merely fled, which she thought was a bit underwhelming.

"AHH-" She yelled, feeling her arm being yanked so hard she thought it might rip from her socket. Her body dangled over the building suddenly. Will stared down at her smiling coldly like he won. Instead she smiled back at him.

His smile faltered.

She dug her feet against the edge of the building, grabbing his mobile arm, and pulling him slightly with her. "Seth." She called, looking at him with a steeled gaze.

He looked at her as though he was about to intervene. His eyes widened in fear, but he stood completely still listening closely.

"At this moment," She said, closing her eyes. "I'm about to do something very stupid." She declared.

"You're crazy." Will muttered, trying to shake his grip on her and gain control.

"Guess you should have thought about that before messing with the wrong person." She said sweetly. Having him annoyed at her was the most satisfying feeling and she savored every moment. Honestly this whole business started because of him. This was the quickest way to resolve the situation.

"Remember when I catch you," He said, throwing away his scythe. "To hold on tightly."

She nodded, meeting his gaze one last time and pushed herself off the building. Will fell after her and let her go, kicking her away so she would release her hold.

She was sent flying to the ground much faster. She didn't have time to recognize the pain in her side, only to watch as gravity pulled her towards the ground. The world around her blurred with highlighted streaks of many colors.

Seth suddenly held her closely. His arms wrapped around her.

She grabbed onto him tight. "Fashionably late of course." She commented near his ear when she could breathe again.

"Yet right on time."