Dash’s legs pushed him forward but his mind screamed at him to turn back, as if warning bells were sounding trying to warn him of sort of danger. The last time he’d felt like this he’d come home to family home for Sunday dinner to find everyone dead. He pushed down the feeling as they broke through trees and into the clearing. His body was tired from the exertion that came with moving through snow the way that they had. As they entered the clearing outside of the mill his senses were overwhelmed with the scents and sounds. The blood was the first thing he caught and his stomach turned with uneasiness. Next he could sense something else. Something that felt unnatural. He could see Gideon and Colton entering the mill ahead of them. “Come on, we can help them.” Dash said tapping Rowan’s shoulder as his feet hesitantly moved forward. Making his way to the entrance Dash stepped into the abandoned Mill and the sight before him was terrifying. Colton had apprehended the culprit. From where he stood he could see Gideon helping Cassie. Vince and Jack were there and then his eyes saw her. Rose. Her lifeless body crumbled on the ground, blue eyes staring lifeless out of focus. Dash felt like his heart had been ripped out of his chest. Amongst all the chaos that was happening in the mill at that moment Dash’s focus was on his first love and the mother of his child. The same woman he’d planned a future with and was once upon a time going to marry. His feet carried him forward and he pulled her limp body into his arms cradling her form against him. “Rose,” He cried shaking her body. “Wake up Rose. Wake up.” He pleaded as her body shook his arms. “Wake up,” he muttered over and over again. 

If he hadn’t had a bad gut feeling before, it was definitely there now. Rising up, pressing on his chest, demanding that they all stop. Rowan could be as stubborn as the next one when it came to being positive, to look ahead instead of backwards, to see the light and bright and even funny side of most situations. Though this was not a situation any kind of positivity could turn. Which was why, even as he kept up with Dash, the twenty six year old was preparing for the worst. Preparing to know that when they stepped into the wooden building, what was going to meet them, wouldn’t be what they were hoping for. His mind was calling out, asking him to stop, to just stop here and stay here until the others came back out. Rowan felt the urge to reach out and hold Dash back as well. He also knew, however, that his brother would not be dissuaded. Seeing the others up ahead, it was clear who would get there first, though it only seemed to add to his brothers determination. “Dash I don’t think..” Rowan began, trying to catch his eye, his expression wary. But there was no stopping what was about to happen, or so it seemed, which was why he ignored his instincts and followed. No matter how hard you prepared, no matter how many times you told yourself you could handle what was coming, there was no amount of preparation that could save you from the sight of a dead loved one. As his eyes fell on her, this rising started in his ears, and he felt completely disconnected from his body for a minute, as if he was watching it all happen from above. Though when Dash cried out, Rowan was cruddy yanked back. Standing there, watching the scene around them, watching what felt like an absurd horror show, so much so that he was tempted to go the easy route of denial in a heartbeat, he felt weak. His entire body felt like dead weight, and he could hardly move from the spot he was in. He did eventually, stepping over and sinking down next to Dash, utterly speechless. All Rowan could do, was clamp down on his emotions as hard as he could, every cell in his body working to exert control as he stared, teary eyed and helpless. There were no words to speak, no comfort he could offer. Frankly it was all to much. Too painful, too unfair, and all too unreal.  

Hugging her knees tighter to her as she tried to grasp some semblance of comfort. Her whole world had been turned upside down in one night and she was grasping for straws on how to keep it lal together. It wasn’t something that Isabelle was particularly good at to begin with. Dealing with things was not exactly something she often did, it was usually easier to run from it. Hop on a plane to some exotic location and drink away the world and even if she did stay, booze was usually the only way she knew how to deal with things. Now she found herself trying to be better but being better left her with no way to process what was happening. She wish it didn’t hurt when he said it, that he didn’t feel guilty getting close to Rose, but it did. There were scars on her soul that were never going to be fixed, hidden under the surface of girl just trying to keep her head above water. Nodding her head at his words before rested her head against her knees just trying to digest all the emotions that came with being here. With a tearful express she nodded her head once more, a sniffle escape her lips as he gave her knee a squeeze. “I’ve missed you.” She said and her words broke as she started crying now. “Please don’t ever leave.” She managed to say through her tears. 

There was no greater pain he could think of, than seeing those he loved in pain. As his eyes took in the sight of his best friend, how she was holding herself, curled in, small and breaking at the seams. Rowan could feel his own hands shake, as the desperation, but also realization, that he could do very little to ease her pain. Despite the fact that he had some experience, some serious practice, in dealing with the death of several family members, he never knew quite what to say to others. But Isabelle wasn’t just anyone, just like his brother wasn’t just anyone. These were the people he were supposed to protect, to support, and care for with all he had. Yet he felt inadequate to the task.. what worse was, he felt utterly responsible. In order to help though, he had to shelve some of his own emotions, he had to suppress them. If he kept feeling guilty, then he wouldn’t find the right words to say to her, or think of what he specifically could do for her. And there had to be something, right? Anything. At her words, he couldn’t stand it any longer, the space between them, the awkwardness he added by being insecure and hesitant around her. Which was why he moved over, swiftly, but carefully as to not startle her or stand, fearing that the house might break if he did. Rowan seated himself next to Issy, so they were facing the same way, and he could put his arm around her shoulders, and hug her tight to his side, placing a kiss a top her head, before softly shaking his head. “I won’t ever leave you. I promise. I am here, I am always going to be here.” 

“I’m not the one you want to fight.” She was doing her best to reign in her own temper, to keep herself from lashing out just because he was asking for a fight. She normally had no interest in showing that amount of restraint, but she was granting him an opportunity to find a better place for his anger, before she broke every bone he had and left him in the precinct to heal every single one, little by little. She let her fangs slip out at his growl, showing that if he wanted to keep pushing her, he could, but he wasn’t going to like how it ended. She would be damned if she let anyone talk to her the way that he was, and it was the mark of the respect she had for the Hastings family that explained why she hadn’t bodily ripped his heart out of his chest and thrown it to Cecile. She followed him when he left, happy that he had chosen to take the door that would lead him out of the precinct. It would keep them away from Cecile, and maybe the cold air would help him regain some semblance of his sanity. “I know you’re pissed, alright. I get it. But don’t you ever fucking talk to me like that again, do you understand me? Do not misplace your anger on me, because I didn’t do shit. And if you want to fight, ask for a fucking sparring partner. I’ll kick your ass for the next sixteen hours straight if that’s what you want, but that was not the way to start that.”

Rowan knew she was right. She wasn’t the one he wanted to fight, hell she wasn’t even the one he harbored all this anger for. It wasn’t any one person. Yes he was furious, he hated Cecile and it was killing him that the entire situation was what it was. He was benched. He had benched himself for this very reason, that he couldn’t be around here and think straight. That he wouldn’t be able to keep his emotions in check like he usually had no problem doing. This was too personal. And Rowan prided himself on being able to stay detached yet oriented, that he could look at a case and see the pattern, the motive, the thought process, and not get caught up in who was hurt or how they might be feeling or how unfair it was. This was what he had trained for, to be able to one day work and understand the inner workings of a killer, a murderer. Just.. not on this case. Not today. Once outside, Rowan reached for one of the lamppost, grabbing onto one in order to keep himself standing on two feet, hunching forward. His body shaking and his claws growing out slightly. He breathed hard, trying his best to calm down. This was not helpful. This was not doing any good. He was painfully reminded of being in this position before. Where an altercation had made him so angry he could hardly know what to do with himself, and he had started shifting in public. He remembered how out of control he had felt when his parents died. How his anger had consumed him more often than not. A small groan escaped his lips as he straightened back up, diverting his glowing eyes to Scarlett as his claws retracted and the burning sensation in his joints eased. “I’m sorry..” he said, his tone quiet now. “You’re not the one I’m angry with, and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you..” Sparring partner? God she’d end up breaking him in half. Or he would loose control and bite her. Neither would be a good ending. “I am not sure that I would be able to keep from shifting in any sort of fight, friendly or not..” He shook his head a little, the cold air helping calm him down, though his brain wheels were still spinning. “This just.. twists everything around.  She ought to be sentenced to death. Why isn’t she dead yet?” 

Dash wanted to believe that this wasn’t the life he was suppose to have a part of him just wanted to scream. He’d spent the first twenty five years of his life just trying to do the right thing. Always doing what he was told, trying to make his parents proud, his back proud. He was aware that being good and doing the right thing didn’t exclude you from tragedy. He’d learned it the hard way over and over again, but it shook his very foundation. Made him question why he was the way he was if none of it mattered in the end. Dash nodded his head listening as his brother agreed with him. It was enough to keep him pushing forward. He was trying to put on a brave face, trying to push through like he always did. They just needed to get there, but the snow continued down with no end in sight until suddenly it came to stop. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. As they reached the gates of the cemetery the snow stopped abruptly, as quickly as it had started. Dash looked back at Rowan with curious eyes, unsure what it all meant. The sky cleared and he heard his phone sound as he regained cell phone signal. Dash opened his mouth to speak but found himself at a loss for a words. “She’s fine,” Dash reassured Rowan, knowing that his brothers mind might go some where terrible by the sudden change. “Let’s check the mausoleum,” He nodded towards the old  mausoleum that probably pre dated the towns creation. A  relic of the world that came before them. Then he heard the text sound as his phone flooded with the messages that came to his phone as the service was restored. The most recent one causing him to stop dead in his track. “There not here.” Dash said looking up at Rowan. “Jamie texted, Issy did a locator spell. There at the Mill just like you said. Colton and Gideon are on their way. Come on, its just through the woods we can be there in no time. We’re going to get them back.” Dash said leading Rowan out of the grave yard with haste. They were so close and Dash was so certain they were going to make it and all his mind could do now was just go.

Rowan was holding out for hope. He was choosing, for once, to not think too realistically about the situation, about what outcome it might have. Though his other investigative traits were very much being utilized in order to push trough and forward, he allowed himself to paint this happy ending in his mind where they got there in time, where all the girls were saved and nothing bad truly happened. He wasn’t prepared for another tragedy, for their family to suffer once more. They’d truly dealt with a lot in the past five years and so weren’t they supposed to be allowed some semblance of peace? The chance to get themselves back on their feet. He felt as if they all, him, Dash, Clara, had just been able to do that. To pick themselves back up, to continue living and not let their losses cripple them. And yet here they were. At the edge of another cliff. He ignored the burning pain across his side and leg, pushed trough even though it hurt like hell and he felt as if they had been running for hours, when in truth they couldn’t have been out here that long. Could they? As the storm abruptly stilled, died down, almost as if it had never occurred in the first place, Rowan looked around with raised brows. Had Issy gotten the hang of it all of a sudden? Or.. what if this meant the opposite, that she was not okay, but.. yes, his mind went there, as his eyes refocused on his brother, there was a glint of panic in them. Rowan pressed his lips together, swallowing hard. «Yeah.. yeah she has to be.» he agreed, thought his mind automatically turned a little fussy, some of his previous focus slipping. He couldn’t loose Issy. If he did.. he just couldn’t. Eyes scanning the white covered cemetery for signs of life, irony was not yet lost it seemed, he started moving towards the mausoleum as Dash made the suggestion. Though not two steps later the ping of the message tone had him slowing down, halting as he turned around, eyebrows rising once more at the newfound information. For a second, he felt a wave of relief, hearing that Issy was okay, and then he felt a little guilty, because though she might be fine, Rose and Charlie and Cassie were not.. at least not yet. «Really? Damn man, I knew it. We better pick up the speed then. Its not far, we’ll get there. We’ll get to them.» He agreed, quickly following en suite once more, breathing deeply as he gained speed to run beside Dash as they flew trough the snow, in between trees and snow covered bushes. Finally there was an end to the trees, and they could see the mill up ahead. Rowan could smell.. what was it that he was smelling? Blood.. and a scent that was in no way familiar to him. What was that?

‘Don’t get involved.’ Maggie, Noah, and Lukas’ voices echoed in her head, causing Joslyn the desire and pull to do the exact opposite of what they told her to do. Besides, she was nosy as hell when things that hadn’t ever happened in the history of her existence occurred. Like these damn hybrids and Cecile’s purpose in doing that ritual in the first place. Joslyn had been around tons of witches, none as evil as this one. If neither one of her siblings were going to talk to the witch bitch, Joslyn was going to. Making sure no one was at the mansion, the brunette left, marching straight toward the precinct. It looked just like it had the past 30 years, nothing was different. There weren’t any extra walls or reinforcements on the outside to keep Cecile inside. So why the hell hadn’t she broken out yet? Her thoughts broke when the front door was shoved opening, the loud thud of the door hitting brick and slamming back into place. Tilting her head, Joslyn studied the male–wolf–that met her gaze, and plopped with heavy defeat on the front stair. “Someone’s an angry pup.” Joslyn remarked, wondering why the male looked so familiar. “Cecile piss you off?”

Based on his last visit to the presinct, he probably should not have come back for round two. Luckily for him Scarlett had not been present, or his walk out would potentially have been a lot less vulentary, or worse yet, he might have ended up with a black eye. Had the circumstances been different, Rowan would be the first one in there to prod and poke the witch for some truths regarding the nature of the hybrids. He would be looking to understand them as a species, from a biological standpoint, instead of screaming insults at her. Instead of standing there seething with a rage so great that he could hardly think straight. It made his eyes glow, and he could feel his canines threatening to slip down from their sockets. So he took a deep breath, then another, wanting to calm himself down. feeling stupid for letting his anger get the best of him. “Whats that meant to do? Antagonize me further?” He inquired, wondering if she was simply stating a fact, or actually making fun of him. “No.. well, technically. I didn’t get that far. One of my co workers wouldn’t allow me entrance..” 

There was no such thing as happy ever after, nothing came from fairy tales of wolves and witches. There was no such happiness grantee when you had centuries to make enemies,  even when those enemies lived as long as you did.  Though many humans glamorized the life of supernatural with sparkles and epic love stories they always forgot about the tragedy. The agony, the pain, the suffering and sorrow that came with these powers. No one knew about this better then Rowan Hastings, Danielle heard about the events that lead them to this point. Rosemarie Cresswell was added to the list of souls taken too soon. Isabella Cresswell and Cassandra Cresswell followed by Charlotte Daniels were engraved into the pain of a survivor.  Rowan’s words struck close to home Danielle knew what it felt like to lose someone and know that there was no possible way of saving them. That  no matter how much your mind retraced the steps the outcome would still be the same. Dead was dead, dead men can’t talk about the failures of the living. 

“I don’t have one doubt in my mind that you won’t go back and save her - but sometimes things are cruel and out of our hands. We failed her. This town, us, who had made an oath to protect everyone in this place. This will be a burden we all carry, don’t isolate yourself with the guilt because the truth is – you won’t have known that witch bitch might have been planning that since forever and if it wasn’t Rose it could have been anyone. This pain , this guilt, this rage you have use it to make yourself better to be the amazing person Rose believed you are. Just because she is gone doesn’t mean everyone will forget her. You might not be able to have saved her but you can do right by her Rowan.” Danielle understood his pain in some ways, she lived with a burden similar pain from her childhood. “That doesn’t make things easier – there is pain that helps a person grow and change then there is pain that is agonize, that’s freezing. You have to choose what to do with your pain? You choose how to live with your pain and no words I can tell you can sooth that ache. Someone you loved was murdered – that will never change and she will never come back. I know it’s cold and cruel for me to say it like that but Rowan, I can see so much potential in you. I can’t stop the pain but I’ll be here each step of the way if you need it.” She said as she positioned herself for his attack Danielle brought her fist up as he charged at her.

Sophia looked at him with a look of sadness as she nodded her head. “If that’s what you want. I’ve known you since you were just a boy Rowan and I know right now your probably trying to be strong for everyone else. Some times being strong for everyone else means not allowing yourself to grieve in the process. I just wanted you to know that if you needed that moment, that its okay right now.” Sophia said softly as she shrugged her shoulders. “You forget I to am a second born child.” She pointed out as she tapped her fingers on the table top. Driven by science she made most of her decisions based on logic, her heart often times losing out in that battle. “I can ask that. I can ask that because she should have been stopped sooner. We should have stopped her after the first death. I’ve known Cecile for a very long time. She’s been nothing but trouble. We should have gotten what we needed and stopped her before.. before Camden could die…. before Rose could, before Charlie and Cassie had their world turned upside down. This should have ended months ago. So while I understand you’re beating yourself up over what happened that night, please know that this doesn’t just all fall on you.” Reaching out she rested her hand on his arm and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

Rowan pressed his lips together in a mix of hurt and frustration. Giving in was dangerous, giving in meant opening the floodgates and letting it all in. Which wasn’t an experience he’d be having alone, it was one she’d be very much witness to, affected by even. Being honest about your emotions when they were this dark, reached this deep, wasn’t a help to anyone else. And if he was going to admit to his feelings, leave it all out on the table, to everyone he cared about, he wouldn’t be left standing at the end of the road. “Yeah, I am, I have to be. They need me to be.. why do you think I keep holing myself up like this and not seeking anyone out? I am trying to process. I am trying to accept this and figure out how to move on.. but I can’t..” he was forcing his voice to stay low, to keep from yelling like he wanted to, hell he wanted to scream and scream, the anger boiling beneath the surface was so great he hardly knew what to do with himself. But he also knew that the second he let it out, he would find what was underneath.. The anger only camouflaged the real pain, only distracted for as long as he could keep it flourishing. “I’ can’t.. I I appreciate it but its.. It is not okay Sophia.. h-how am I supposed to accept this? How do I get right with this? I want her back. I want to go back in time and change this, undo all of it.. but thats not possible. Its not even plausible.” he was trying to be realistic, to keep from holding onto irrational notions that otherwise would never have existed in his mind. This though was why Rowan relied so heavily on science, why he trusted statistics, why he preferred theory. Because all those fields cut out the emotion. And he really wished that he could do the same right now, because his compassion and his love was tearing him up inside. Rowan slowly shook his head, his eyes not leaving hers. “I can’t start blaming someone else.. you see that was the easiest part when my parents and siblings died.. I could blame that vampire. Better than that I could throw all my energy and mental capacity into capturing him. But here.. the murderer is already in custody. She can’t be harmed. The legal system is handling it all, as it should but.. That just leaves me, stranded with my emotions.. my thoughts.. No it doesn’t all fall on me. But thats another difference. I was present this time. I was here.. and we were so close..” Those last words came out in a whisper, and he quickly reached out for Sophia’s hand with his free one, laying it atop of hers, holding on tight. 

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