Eric sat behind his desk, staring blankly at a calculator and a sheet of figures before him. It was a decent office, in the block of the building where most of the offices were located, but it didn’t seem as nice as the others. It was actually larger than most, but it lacked decorations or personal touches of almost any kind. The large bookshelves were empty except for cheap binders holding more papers with dull numbers all over them. The only thing Eric had brought into the room was a mug with ‘World’s Greatest Dad’ scrawled across the side, which now held cold coffee.

With a sigh, Eric once more added up the numbers before him, and stood up. There was another discrepancy in last week’s cash flow, and he’d have to report to Lily. While Colton seemed to like his job, Eric hated his. Colton got to do something he enjoyed, something interesting and cool; and he had relative free reign. Eric often had to deal with Lily, and he didn’t like math. Because of his dislike for his job, he was coming to resent Lily, and that made the dealing with her much harder.

He closed the office door behind him, and trudged off down the hall. When he neared Lily’s office he could hear her angry voice, clashing against a deeper man’s voice. He knocked, but it went unheard underneath the volume of the argument.

“You are being unreasonable, woman. You will give me what is mine.”

“I give you everything! Who’s been paying for your wine and your cars and your hookers? You don’t deserve anything I own, it’s mine and you can’t have it!”

What would have seemed childish instead sounded hopelessly angry, and while Eric wanted to turn around and go back to his office, he opened the door and went inside. He’d heard anger like that before, and it had never ended well.

Lily and Brutus both turned to stare at the interruption he made.

It was true; Colton loved his job. He got to throw parties, to run entertainment and keep a select group of staff occupied. He had a smaller office than Eric, but heavily decorated with posters that various bands had given him after they played at Ace High. His desk was in the corner, and on both walls adjacent to it, Celeste's artwork was pinned and tapped in a messy sort of collage. There was a couch and an armchair and a fake plant in his office, so it held a more homey feel for the visiting guests and bands that came for interviews.

Today, Colton was able to share in Eric's gloom. He was forced to crunch numbers from his latest bash. Not forced, per say, but because he had nothing else to do, he was morally obligated to pitch in and try and do the finances for his own work. He had an adding machine and a stack of papers and recepits on his desk; all else was clear, save for three pictures. One of Jake and him three years back, one of Codi and Celeste, and one of just Celeste. His family.

Colton finished the first half; the costs. He liked to spring costs on Lily before he finished profits, especially when there was a high cost. $37,452.86 in costs. Colton estimated that the profit for his latest little event would be around $100,000 after costs were deducted, and not including the profits they made at the bar and on the tables and slot machines.

Colton was a stud. He nearly danced down the hallway.

He knocked on Eric's door and opened it to see an empty office, then decided to try Lily further down the hall. The yelling had stopped, and Eric had nearly closed the door when Colton arrived. He slipped inside the door before Eric could shut it, about to start speaking, but frozen. Lily and Brutus were there, looking cross. No one was saying anything. Colton stammered and fell silent, attempting to back out of the situation. The door was closed.

It was a party.

Eric glanced over his shoulder as Colton slipped in behind him, and shut the door, inadvertently trapping Colton inside. He bravely stepped further into the room, walking towards Lily’s desk.

Brutus lazily lounged in one of the plush chairs scattered about Lily’s office. He was irritated at this interruption while he was arguing for something he arrogantly assumed he would receive. Lily stood rigidly behind the chair of her desk, gripping onto the back of it so her knuckles, which were already porcelain white, seemed even paler.

“Get out,” Brutus dismissed the two fledglings. “And learn to knock before you enter a room.”

“Don’t tell them to leave.” Lily snapped. “You have no right.”

“I am their elder and their superior, I have every right.”

“Shut up! What do you two want?”

Eric looked from one vampire to the other, before laying his sheet of paper down on the desk. “There was a problem with last week’s cash flow. That’s the third problem like it.” He said sulkily. He didn’t like Brutus anymore than Brutus liked him.

Colton stood bewildered, wanting very much to be able to disappear in thin air. He knew about his ability to blend to shadows, but there were no shadows here. Regardless, it'd be cowardly to try and disappear because you were afraid of a little bickering.

Bickering between two very powerful vampires, none the less.

Colton flinched slightly as Brutus commanded them out, his hand slipping behind him to feel for the door handle. But, after a few more words, it was clear Lily was on the fledgling's side.

Eric laid his paper on her desk, and Colt, in the same manner and tone, put his small stapled stack of papers beside Eric's. "The cost report for the New Year's Eve benefit... I'm working on profits as we speak... We saved a bunch of money on this..."

Colton silently backed himself into the wall again, keeping short bouts of eye contact with Lily, and carefully avoiding Brutus.

“Fine,” Lily said dismissively. She barely glanced down at the papers before she raised a hand to wave them out.

Eric, however, stood still despite her gesture. “You can hear your screaming far down the hall. You might want to lower it unless you want the staff to know.” He said, glancing more in Brutus’ direction than Lily’s.

“Who asked for your advice, boy?” Brutus snapped. He quickly stood, and started walking slowly towards Eric.

“Nobody. I’m giving it anyway.” Eric replied just as snappishly. He turned to face Brutus as he advanced towards him, trying his best to look brave. Lily darted from behind her desk and in front of Eric.

“Stop it, now.” She said as she stood between the two. Eric silently stepped a little to the right – still behind Lily but not as sheltered – still staring at Brutus. Lily reached a hand out to touch him; keep him there.

Colton fiddled around for the handle once more, not wanting to look away and turn his back to Lily and Brutus. He was honestly afraid Brutus would throw something at him, and that it woudn't miss and would hurt like hell. Colton found the door handle and pressed it down, trying to pull it into Eric and make an escape.

Eric spoke up, and Colton let the door snap shut once more. Better to attempt to keep the noise in this room, though Colton trusted Eric was right and that their voices carried regardless.

While Eric was cocky and attempted bravery, Colton was not above looking like an absolute coward. He stepped behind Eric, tall enough to peer over him, but not willing to put his life on the line. He did that once, many months ago. He learned his lesson. Never again would he mess with Brutus. Never again.

Never say never.

When Eric moved behind Lily, Colton followed suit. He was well aware how cowardly he looked. Take it as a sign of respect for the damage Brutus could inflict on people. A very wary sign of respect.

"Eric, let's go... I'll help you with some papers..." Colton said, attempting to tempt him out of the office. Anything.

“Step aside, woman!” Brutus ordered, stopping a few feet away from the three vampires now huddled before him.

“Yeah, step aside, Lil.” Eric added. Sometimes – like now – he really, really wished he had less bravado, or at least the ability to keep his mouth shut.

“Being brave means nothing when you are being dumb at the same time.” Lily growled over her shoulder.

“What is the matter, Lily? Afraid I’ll hurt your little babies?” Brutus said tauntingly, a greasy smile on his face.

Lily straightened her head to glare at him, her eyes narrowing. She stepped forward, closing the distance between them and punched him on the left side. His head moved slightly at the impact of her fist on his face, but he only stared down at her. He cracked his jaw with a brutal sounding crunch, then grabbed her by the shoulder and pushed her roughly out of the way to go after Eric.

Eric stupidly stepped forward to meet him, uttering an angry cry as Lily was shoved aside. Brutus grabbed Eric’s head between two hands and slammed his own forehead into Eric’s. Eric appeared stunned, and Brutus pressed Eric’s skull between his two powerful hands.

“Let him go!” Lily screamed angrily. She rushed forward and grabbed Brutus’s wrist, pulled back on it with all her weight. Brutus’s right hand moved away from Eric’s head and, no longer held upright, Eric slumped forward on his knees. Brutus jerked his hand out of Lily’s grasp and brought his elbow back to hit her in the chest, knocking her back into her desk.

Colton tried to stop this. He grabbed Eric by the shoulder to try and pull him back, attempting to try and get himself between Eric and Lily. "Eric, it's not worth it!" he yelled, sounding desperate for Eric's attention to his caution.

It didn't work. When Lily attempted a forceful blow at Brutus and missed, Colton lost his grip on Eric, making an attempt to be in to places at once; catch Lily and still manage to hold Eric back. Instead, he was able to do neither, and stood helplessly to watch as Eric made a stupid mistake.

Lily was faster this time, and interceeded before Colton could even think of going within a few inches of Brutus. She was tossed to the side like a mere rag doll, and Colton was left facing down Brutus.

"You don't touch her like that," Colton said shyly, trying to step around a 3 foot perimetre of Brutus and help Lily up. Eric was far too close for Colton's comfort... If he tried to drag Eric out, he'd get socked and likely taken out. That was his excuse. In all actuality, he was just too scared to brave the foot and a half it would take to grab Eric and drag him out.

It was also that, to a certain extent, Colton figured Eric could hold his own. He was a strong young man, both head strong and physically strong, and that could get him by. Lily was a physically thin and more fragile looking woman. Sure, she could probably punch someone harder than Colton could, and her personality was far more commanding and powerful than Colton's, but she was a woman, and it was the man's job to protect the woman.

Call him sexist. He'd probaby apologize for his personal thoughts and make it up to all the women of the world with chocolates and roses.

He had made it nearly halfway to Lily, eyes fixed on Brutus, watching him with wide, terrified eyes.

Eric shook his head once it was free of Brutus’ grip. For a moment, he seemed stunned, but then he moved quickly. In one fluid motion, he was on his feet and driving his shoulder into Brutus’ stomach. As he was tackled, Brutus lost his balance and was pushed backwards by Eric.

They hit the wall, knocking a painting off the wall and tipping a small table over. Lily pulled herself up, pushing off Colton as he tried to help her. “Get out!” She said, shoving him towards the door.

Brutus managed to untangle himself from Eric, each trading blows as he did. Once again he took Eric’s head, but instead of head butting it again he raised his leg and slammed Eric’s head into his knee. Brutus pushed him away after he did so, and began to walk towards Colton and Lily again.

Eric rose up behind him again as he moved away. He grabbed the table they had just knocked over and bashed it over the back of Brutus’ head, breaking it into pieces.

Colton watched in horror for a moment as Eric tackled Brutus down. Eric was going to get himself killed, Colton told himself. He had to do something. Colton took a hesitant step forward. He had to get Eric out of there.

Lily charged at him and ordered him out. He couldn't do that. That would leave Eric alone with Brutus, and Brutus would kill Eric... Like he might have killed Hannah. Colton was defiant. "No, Lily, YOU get out," he said, stepping between her and Brutus. What a good kid, able to volunteer to take blows for her.

Colton grabbed Lily by the arm and forcibly tried to drag her out. "Go to Eric's office. Or my office. Just... Get out," he pleaded.

“How stupid are you?” Lily screamed back at Colton, panic starting to rise in her voice. “What are you going to do? Just go!” She yanked her arm away from him, pushing him one last time towards the door.

She ran towards the two combative vampires. Brutus had turned and started to walk towards Eric again, with a deadly look on his face. Lily darted past him and in front of Eric, who had slumped against the wall. She put a hand out towards Brutus, as if willing him to stop. “Don’t, Brutus, don’t come any closer…”

Ignoring her, Brutus slapped her arm away, and backhanded her across the face. He twisted his fist around a lock of her blonde curls, and pulled her away from Eric, flinging her down onto the ground. He dropped the hair he was left holding as her body hit the ground, the bloody ends spreading little stains on the wooden floor.

He reached forward and jerked the remains of the table out of Eric’s hands, and send them swinging into his face. He turned, and thrust them towards Lily, then grabbed Eric’s head in one hand and slammed it into the wall behind him. Brutus lifted Eric up off the ground, his head leaving a trail of red on the wall as he was lifted him up, then dropped him again.

Colton was near ready to fight Lily as she shoved him towards the door. Fight her to get her to safety. Instead he was left unbalanced as she stalked off towards Brutus and Eric. "LILY, STOP!" Colton shouted, regaining his balance and running after her.

Too late.

Colton came to a dead stop as Brutus took Lily by the hair and flung her aside like a mere ragdoll. The blood on the tendrils of loosed hair made him sick. He was beating up his own wife. He was ripping her hair out, and she was bleeding. Colton couldn't stand the sight of someone bleeding. Made him sick.

He swayed a little clearly nauseous and none too happy about it. He watched helplessly as Brutus and Eric dished out a few more punches before shaking his head. "NO," he said firmly, and Brutus made move to pick up Eric.

Colton acted before thinking this time. He charged Brutus, slamming himself into Brutus's back and aiming to knock the man into the wall. The problem with his move was that he was carried with Brutus. Colton had no idea how to fight, and he'd pay for it.

The other problem with Colton’s body check was that Eric was between Brutus and the wall. The three went forward in a mass of bones, grunting and swearing. Eric cried out in pain as the weight of both Colton and Brutus moved him into the wall. Brutus snarled angrily, making a sound more common to a wolf than a man.

He slammed one fist against the wall to push himself back, with Colton still leaning against him, and moved the other arm to deeply drive his elbow into Colton’s stomach. Turning slightly, he punched Colton in the face and pushed him off.

Lily had curled her legs underneath herself and pulled herself up. One hand was held to her skull, where all the hair had been pulled from, the other held her weight as she sat up. She saw Colton rush forward, and winced at the sound Eric made.

She got to her feet as Brutus started hitting Colton, and stumbled towards them. She grabbed Brutus’s arm again and pulled on his uselessly. “Brutus! Please, stop it… You can have a share of the casino, you can have the entire thing, just stop it, please!” She was half crying as she pleaded with him, trying to move him away from her fledglings.

Colton tried helplessly to push himself away from Brutus (And off of Eric) before he was struck, but it was in vain. Colton was slammed forward with the reflex to protect his now throbbing abdomen, hunched over himself, hacking uselessly at the fake wind that had been forced from him. The punch hurt just as much and sent Colton, squinting through tears and hands he clasped over his face, blindly backwards into the desk. Why had he even tried to get involved?

Colton swayed slightly, trying to get his mind off the pain long enough to try and get Lily away. She began making propositions, and Colton couldn't stand it. She couldn't bend to him. He'd fire Colton and Eric, and then what would Colton do? Who else would pay him his current salery, give him his current hours, and care for the well-being of his niece?

"No, Lily," he murmured, knowing he couldn't be heard. He stumbled forward and forcefully put himself between Brutus and Lily. "No, Lily," he said more forcefully. "Get out... I... GET. OUT." Colton commanded. He was aware he could get people to do things, but he really wasn't sure what caused it. He didn't know now that she'd be forced to leave. He just thought he was being threatening and scary and forceful and concerned.

It took a second to realize, but it finally dawned on Colton that he was standing right in front of Brutus, back turned, vunerable. Instinctively, he cowered, figured he'd have no chance to throw a punch, but had better hope he could shield himself from a few.

As Colton ordered her out, Lily reacted strangely. Instead of angrily refusing, her eyes seemed to glaze over as she quickly and quietly left the room. Brutus watched her as she went, then turned to stare down at Colton cowering with his back to him.

“What the hell are you doing, boy?” He sneered, before he stepped forward and landed a punch in the middle of Colton’s spine.

Colton fell forward and rolled over before Brutus. An injured puppy. "I don't know..." Colton whined up at him. He crawled back a few feet, over the broken chair, watching Brutus with quick glances to Eric. He knew exactly what he was doing. He was trying to look like the easy target so Eric would be left alone.

Brutus sneered down at Colton, enjoying how he cowered before his feet. He stepped away from Eric, advancing towards Colton. “Then stand up and pay for your ignorance.” He demanded. He pulled a foot back and sent it forward into Colton’s gut, then again into his ribs.

Without anyone to keep him upright, Eric slipped down into a sitting position; the wound on his head leaving a bloody trail down the wall as he went. “Brutus… Fuck off…” He managed to say as he watched him kick Colton again.

Colton rolled into the feta position to protect his gut after the first blow, letting to other kicks dig into and painfully hurt his ribs. He grimaced, gritting teeth and squinting back tears forced from him out of the sheer pain of the incident. He'd never get used to getting bashed around. It happened so often, you'd think he would be numb to it.

Not quite.

"Eric... Shut the fuck up... And--" And another kick to his ribs, making him groan with the pain. "--Go, Eric... Please..." This was not a command. This was a pathetic plea for Eric to listen to him. Eric was hurting a lot worse than Colton. Only blood Colton was spilling was the blood from his nose and mouth the first punch had registered. He was in far better shape.

'Course, he was going steeply down hill with every kick Brutus landed on him.

Colton tried rolling away, escaping kicks and future blows. He forced himself into a kneeling position before grabbing the desk to pull himself up. See, he could take orders. He was going to stand up and fight Brutus like a man. And lose like a man. But, see? He was being a man, instead of his usually little boy self. Good Colton.

Eric probably would have given in to Colton’s pleads and commands if he thought he could move. His head was spinning and his sides ached from every blow Brutus had handed there. He sat with his arms wrapped around himself, and he doubted he could even crawl away.

Brutus seemed amused when Colton struggled to his feet. “You idiot…” He said, shaking his head. Once again, he stepped forward and attacked Colton, punching him first in the face and then in the neck.

Colton's nose decided to give in at the blow, new blood running down his face. Colton was fast, for all his injuries, and jumped back in order to narrowly avoid a blow to the neck. He glared up at Brutus and stumbled backwards into the door. Quickly, he flashed Brutus a grin. "You're the idiot," he spat back, a hand reaching up and flipping out the lights.

In shadow, Colton could not be seen. He was invisible. He had about one minute to try and do something while the pitch black of the office shielded his movements. Swiftly, silently, he put himself between Eric and Brutus. "You're messing with the wrong vampire." He sounded so stupid, so cocky, but be saying that, he felt more confident. He felt like, hey, guess what. He was the wrong vampire to mess with. He had a chance. He could protect Eric and Lily all by himself.

With renascent, Colton rammed himself into Brutus, catching himself this time to avoid toppling over with the larger man. He kept light on his feet, adreniline and a paternal instinct rushing through his veins.

Brutus was shoved backwards into the desk, sending the heavy oak furniture and everything atop of it jerking backwards.

“You want to play in the dark, little boy? Don’t you know all the monsters come out in the dark?” He snarled out as he pushed himself off of the desk and moved forward.

Colton stayed out of his way, stepping to the left three small steps.

"I know. I think you forgot. Back up," he commanded, his words hiting Brutus like a blow, sliding him backwards into the desk. Brutus still had control of his mind. Too strong for Colton to affect completely.

Colton had very little control in this situation. If Brutus flipped on the light, it was back to Colton getting beat down. Right now, Colton was on a power trip that probably just ticked Brutus off.

“What are you going to do? What are you honestly going to do, you child. Kill me? Are you going to murder me in the dark? Just admit it; you’ve gotten yourself in too deep…” Brutus taunted Colton as he again stood up from the desk and began to move towards the lights.

“Colton… Use the chair…” Eric gasped somewhere behind the conflict. He managed to reach a foot out and nudge at the remains of the wooden chair. Two of the legs had broken off completely, forming splintered tips at the broken ends.

"I'll kill you if you don't leave Lily and Eric alone," Colton promised, shaking slightly in his shoes. His voice trembled slightly; he couldn't kill Brutus. He'd never be able to do that.

Eric motioned to the chair, and Colton obediently took a piece of the leg like a baseball bat. Hit him. Good idea, Eric.

Brutus’s slick laughter filled the room at the same instant the light did. “I’m sure you will.” He sneered, turning around to glare at the fledgling standing there with his matchstick for protection.

With another angry little growl, he closed the distance between himself and Colton. He punched Colton, again in the gut.

Colton backed up slightly as Brutus approached, smakcing Brutus's arm with his chair leg once before being slammed back into the wall with the force of the punch he took. Colton hit the wall hard and slid down, in a sitting position, dazed and hurting before Brutus.

This was where he'd die. He was cornered by a larger man, physically aching and throbbing and ready to give in. He locked eyes with Brutus, his last expression one of pain and fear. Brutus would revel in that.

Smiling now, enjoying himself, Brutus stood in front of Colton and stared down at him. “What happened to all your bravery, kid?” He mocked him.

Eric stumbled to his feet and weakly attempted to body check Brutus, to move him away from Colton. He failed, barely making Brutus move, and for all his efforts received another punch in the stomach and a shove towards the wall. “I’ll kill you next, be patient.” He spat at Eric before reaching down and grabbing Colton by the neck.

He lifted him up, off the ground, and held him there for a moment before shaking him.

Colton just kept his gaze fixed on Brutus, breathing heavily, a hand gripping his abdomen tightly. He had no reply for Brutus's mock. He was almost tempted to beg for this to be quick. No, no... Then Brutus would take pleasure in ripping him limb from limb.

"Eric, no..." Colton said, attempting to sneak away and push Eric back to where he was sitting. He cringed as Eric fell over, and attempted to crawl away from Brutus. Anything to save himself. Brutus grabbed him and held him up, shaking him.

So many things flashed through Colton it was almost painful to watch. The first was fear. Cold, fast, deep, bone-chilling fear. Bo. This was too much like what Bo had done. Colton thrashed helplessly, kicked, squirming, fighting with everything he had left in him. He didn't want to die again.

Colton took the chair of the leg and forcefully started hitting Brutus with it, trying to get him to put him down. He was hyperventilating; truly terrified. Had to get away. Had to break free. Colton took the makeshift stake in both hands and stabbed as hard as he could. Once, twice, three times. He had to get free.

Brutus dropped Colton as he was stabbed with the leg of the chair. He stumbled backwards, his hands to his chest, holding his wounds. He was breathing heavily and fell to his knees. For another moment he panted in pain, grunting every time he moved. Blood began to trickle down out of his mouth and drip down his chin.

He seemed about to say something but instead of words blood gurgled in his throat and he fell forward, still and silent. It was quite quick, really. His death was far less fuss than one would expect judging from the noise Brutus had made in life.

Eric was silent for several moments before he finally got the courage to crawl away from the wall again. “Is he… Is he really dead?” He asked, staring at the blood which steadily pooled around Brutus’ body.

Colton fell to the ground, scampering backwards into the wall, slamming into it as hard as if he had been thrown. He shoved his face down into his knees and covered the back of his neck. He was shaking. He dropped the leg of the chair in the silence, his breathing muffled by his legs.

He didn't answer Eric. He was silent for a long time after Eric, breathing unevenly. Finally, Colton dared to look up.

"I didn't mean to... I... I..." Colton sounded so tiny. He watched Brutus bleed for a moment before turning to Eric. His face was covered in his own blood, hands in Brutus's blood, front splattered with castoff. It was obvious who killed him.

"Are... You ok...?" Colton attempted to keep Brutus's body out of his sightline. What he couldn't see couldn't hurt him. Couldn't affect him.

“Get out.” Eric stood up, leaning against the wall for support. He knew what had to be done now, how the body had to be dismembered and placed in the back alley for the sunlight to completely disintegrate. He also knew that Colton would be no help in that.

“Go see if Lily is okay, but wash up first. Don’t let any of the staff see you covered in blood like that.” He staggered over towards the desk and started searching through all of the drawers before he found a silver letter opener. “Go, Colton. Go away.”

Colton was quick to listen. He stood up and nearly ran out of the room, holding his stomach. Bleeding made him queasy. Colton stumbled out into the hallway, dizzy with nausea. He looked around, aware that he could be seen. He put his hands to his face, and stumbled down the hallway.

A few staff saw him. His cover? A bloody nose. No one bothered questioning him after that. It looked like a bloody nose if you only got a quick look at him. He slammed himself into his office and shut the door behind him.

Before he had time to look for Lily, Colton fainted. The image of Brutus was burned into the back of his eyes, and it made him too sick to stand. He fainted with a soft thud on his floor.