"Hey, Bride? Can I get some help?"
She looked toward the entrance of her store where one of her regular customers stood with a dress in her hands. "Sure, Teresa. I'll be right there," she said, moving away from the odd man in front of her. He pulled his boots on, then followed in her wake.
"What are you doing?" she asked as he trailed her into her store.
"Keeping an eye on you. Just ignore me."
It was hard to ignore someone who was so much taller and scarier than she was. "How long has Vane been gone?" she asked him as she walked across her boutique.
"I don't know, he must have had to go real bad. Might be a bladder thing. I'm not sure."
She gaped at him.
He looked extremely uncomfortable. "I'm just going to shut up now and stand here looking tough. That's what I'm best at."
He did and she had to agree. When silent, Fury was quite intimidating. She had to give the man credit, he definitely knew his forte.
Vane materialized in Peltier House, just outside of Fang's door. He stood perfectly still, listening.
Sensing.
There was no disturbance. No scent of anyone else. No sensation of feelings probing the psychic plane for him or Fang.
Everything appeared completely normal.
Relaxing, he pushed open the door to find Fang just as Vane had left him.
Alone in his bed.
Vane walked slowly into the room, just to make sure Fang was okay.
He went to the far side of the bed. Fang didn't move or twitch. His throat went tight. Fang didn't appear to be breathing.
"Oh God, no," he said, choking in panic.
Vane grabbed his brother, who instantly yelped and growled.
He tightened his hold on Fang's fur. "Damn you, you bastard!" he snarled angrily. "You die on me and I swear I'll tear your throat out."
Fang nipped at him until Vane released him. His brother settled back down in the bed into his comatose state.
"Fang, listen. Dad knows we're here and he's sending a squad after us.
C'mon, wolf, talk to me."
He didn't. Fang just lay there staring into space.
"C'mon, Fang, this isn't fair to me. I don't know what to do to help you. I miss Anya too"he tried to make Fang look at him"and I miss you."
Still, his brother didn't respond to him.
Vane wanted to choke him for his obstinacy.
It was then he felt a strange ripple in the air around him. He glanced over his shoulder to find Stefan standing there with a smug sneer on his face.
Without a second thought, Vane attacked.
Vane caught Stefan about the waist and the two of them went bursting through the hard oak door, into the hallway.