China saw the panther and that night came back.to her like a slap in the face. She screamed and jumped at Rome, the chains snapping taunt. She clawed viscously at the air. This was it. This was the turning point. If.somebody got her to reneger who and what she was, she would be cured.

Rome kept his head low as he approached her, moving slowly. He dodged her claws and suddenly leaped forward, pressing himself against her. The moment he touched her a golden light flashed quickly in the room. 'Remember...you are the vampire who saved Rome. You are China Sorrows, the vampire my son loves.' said the woman's voice to China only.

China closed her eyes and her mind.started to.seal.

Rome looked up and lifted his head carefully. He gently nuzzled China's cheek with his muzzle, wondering if she was okay.

China's hair slowly turned black again. Her eyes went back to normal. Her nails and teeth shrunk back down, and her tattoos turned back silver. She looked up, her face dazed, and tried to stand, taking an unsteady step towards Rome before falling back.down.

Rome shifted back to a human and managed to catch China before she hit the ground. He held her tightly in his arms as if the moment he let her go she would disappear. He was still weak and confused, but he was beginning to understand more of what was going on. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice trembling. He was barely holding back tears.

She tried to say something but couldn't find the strength. Her hand moved up.slowly to stroke his cheek.

Rome leaned into the touch, a small smile on his face.

She looked up at him, confused.Where have you been? Where have I been? Her voice was soft and toned down to a whisper, as if all the screaming she had been doing had damaged her voice.

Rome sighed before shaking his head. "It doesn't matter. You're back and that's all that anyone cares about." he told her quietly. He brought his hand up and pushed her hair out of her face. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and finally noticed Silva and Keltoh by the door. He reluctantly pulled back from China. "I'll let you be with Keltoh if you want." he mumbled.

Keltoh looked at Silva. He knew China, and he was only making her life worse.Tell China she doesn't have to worry.He turned and ran into the shadows. China looked at Rome. Her eyes were full of confusion.I... I want to be with you.

Silva turned quickly and watched as Keltoh disappeared, trying to decide if he should chase after the vampire or not.

Rome's eyes widened. "But...Keltoh is your mate isn't he?" he asked.

She shook her head. You weren't even a second thought when he was my mate. That was then and this is now.She smiled, then realized that she was dog tired.

Rome's eyes widened slightly at her words, but quickly shoved his sudden hope back. He had no idea if Keltoh would show up again and what would happen if he did. He noticed how tired she looked and scooped her into his arms. "Do you want to stay here, wherever we are, or do you want to go back to the hideout?" he asked her as he stood up.

I don't care as long as.you're here. She kissed him lightly and leaned her head on his chest.

Rome smiled down at China and turned to face Silva who was waiting anxiously by the door. "What do you think Silva?" he asked his friend. "Let's get out of here. I don't know this place and Thistle has to be going crazy by now. Neither of us do well in closed in places." he said quickly. Rome nodded and took a step forward when his knees suddenly buckled. Silva rushed forward and steadied him at the same time he took China out of his arms. "You're still to weak. Come on. I'll carry her until we find Senshi and Thistle." he said already moving out the door. Rome nodded and followed as quickly as he could.

China was already in the space between awakeness and dreams. Her eyelids fluttered as her dream came together.

Rome and Silva finally found the two demons and got out of the castle as quickly as they could. Thistle shifted the moment she was outside and raced into the trees, happy to be free from the closed in spaces. Silva helped Rome get onto Senshi's back and then lifted China up so that Rome could hold her in front of him. Silva checked to make sure that both of them weren't going to fall before he shifted into a silver wolf and disappeared into the trees after Thistle. Rome held China close to his chest then nudged Senshi's sides and the huge horse started the trip back to the hideout.

China was dreaming. She was in a meadow. Soft, green, luscious grass grew all over, and multicolored flowers blew in the breeze. China was sitting on a boulder, Rome beside her, his arm around her, his hair tickling her cheek. China sighed in bliss. Her arms automatically wound around Rome's body in real life, her mouth in a small smile, her head leaning into him.

Rome smiled down at China when he felt her arms wrap around him. He softly kissed the top of her head.

The sun had set just before they reached the hideout and Silva and Thistle were already there. Silva held China as Rome dismounted and Rome finally convinced his friend he was able to carry China. Silva and Thistle stayed at the entrance just in case anyone had followed them while Rome carried China into the hideout. He placed her gently on the bed and pulled the covers up over her body. After a quick kiss on her forehead he went over to the far side of the huge room where Senshi stayed when the horse wasn't wondering around. He added another blanket on the large pile and watched as the horse laid down with a content sigh. He put a bucket of oats and a few carrots next to Senshi then head back towards the bed to check on China.

China's dream was turning. Rome pushed her away. While she tro regain balance he gave her a look that stopped her dead, that look of betrayel that had haunted her for 2 years. He turned around and walked away. Her screams did nothing to bring him back. In real life.China's face was agonized, and she was moaning softly, whispering Don't go, don't go, Over and over in her sleep.

Rome heard China and rushed to stand beside the bed. He shook her shoulders roughly, trying to wake her up. "China, wake up!"

China's world started falling down around her feet as she dropped to her knees and wept. In real life China screamed Rome's name and jolted awake, gasping for breath.

Rome jerked back, startled. He quickly moved forward and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling China into his lap. He rubbed her back soothingly and kissed the top of her head. "Shhh. You're alright. I'm right here." he whispered against her hair.

China's jaw dropped. Was she still dreaming? But no, she was awake and in Rome's arms. She threw her arms around him with a small squeal, in an embrace that would crush an ordinary human. She kissed every bare patch of skin that she could see before pushing him back and kissing him until she couldn't breathe. She buried her head in his chest and sobbed softly.