[Susan Foster]

They're so good together!

If Susan heard that phrase from one more person, she was positive that she would fall over and die.

Here it was Friday night, and there she was at Robert's family dinner table choking down uncomfortable talk from his parents. She hated it -- but it was better than going out with him which prompted paparazzi raids as people rushed to snap pictures of the budding quidditch star's private love life.

The night got more awkward as the dinner went on. Susan couldn't put her finger on it, but it was clear that everyone else in the family was in on it but her.

And then it happened. Dinner was over and the family relocated to the living room with glasses of wine.

Robert pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket and chose a knee. He went on for what felt like hours about her and how wonderful she was and the infinite amount of love he had for her and then the words slipped out.

'Will you marry me?'

Susan's face lost all color. There was nothing wrong with Robert. He was great and sweet. But this? This life forever?

"I....have to use the powder room."

So down the hall she went. She wet her face and paced the floor. Her heart was pounding and she didn't think she'd ever be able to face the question...to answer it.

Susan opened the bathroom window and stared down at the side yard from the second story.

It seemed far more doable than the conversation waiting downstairs.

First one shoe. Then the other.

Susan perched awkwardly on the sill for a moment and then leaped.

*SNAP* *THUD*

Susan cried out in pain and then immediately stopped herself. She still had to make a getaway, and her leg was now in no condition to do it. She grimaced when she tried to move it and then looked around awkwardly in the dark for some sort of plan b.

[Claire Green]

Acacius had been trying to sustain himself on the blood bags Claire had always provided, but they had no zest, no life. He'd drink seven in a row and it'd have no effect on his need. It was like a constant ache in his mind and body, pushing him to rip out the throat of the most succulent human he could find, feel their blood spill into his mouth and down his throat, filling him with their life.

This had been going on for months, and it eventually had gotten so bad that he had to quit that job at the fair. He looked gaunt, pale, and worn. His fangs wouldn't shrink back into his gums, and every heartbeat that crossed into his range of hearing piqued his attention, and he couldn't distract himself. He was turning into a monster, and he knew it. He would have to kill in order to survive.

He left in the middle of the night, not telling Claire where he was going. She was most likely panicking, and it would have a hard effect on her, especially taking into consideration that first Raito had left, Carter was pretty much dying at the hospital, and now Ace had run off. All of the most important people in her life whisked away in a week. Ace had just been roaming around in the woodlands, hunting animals. He'd came across several humans, but he hadn't had the heart to kill them. But it was getting worse over the last few days... thankfully he hadn't run into anyone.

Acacius stumbled across fallen logs, and eventually broke out of the treeline. The smell of human blood hit him, and he felt the adrenaline and the fast paced heartbeat. His snapped immediately to his right and a small human figure caught his attention, moving on the ground. He immediately charged ahead to the figure without thought, only longing for his fangs to sink into human flesh and satisfy his hunger.

[Susan Foster]

Sus was in the process of limping around for her shoes when Ace knocked her back to the ground. She screamed out but couldn't be heard from where Robert's family was sitting chatting at the other end of the house.

[Claire Green]

Acacius grabbed her wrists with one hand, and pulled her hair roughly away from her neck with the other. He clamped down onto her neck with his fangs, growling. He felt her blood rush forward and began to drink deeply, pinning her to the ground with his body.

[Susan Foster]

Susan cried and shrieked as his teeth broke the skin and she began to writhe beneath him. After wiggling away proved too difficult, she kicked at his torso and tried make him stop.

The blood loss was beginning to get to her.

[Claire Green]

It didn't work. If anything, it was just more of an annoyance - like a fly buzzing around your head while you're trying to work. After he had enough blood to fill his tummy, a different need started to arise itself. Something just as carnal, and something just as urgent. He started to unbutton his jeans and wrestle off her bottoms hurriedly, still laying on top of her.

[Susan Foster]

Susan let out blood curdling screams as he pulled at her skirt. "Stop! Stop it!" She demanded.

As he started on his buttons and released her hands, Susan pushed at him and clawed at his face, all the while refusing him.

And then a light flooded the side yard as the Harker's flicked on their porch light.

Susan's eyes went wide as she got a clear look at her attacker. "Acacius!?"

"Get off of her!" Robert shouted and tackled Ace in the direction of a nearby tree.

[Claire Green]

Ace's eyes went wide as he realized who his meal had been. He spluttered with surprise and horror, as his humanity started to come back into his consciousness.

He crashed against the tree, his animalistic instinct gone, replaced with the numbness as he realized that he'd attacked and almost raped the girl he was trying to get to fall in love with him and that he'd deeply cared about. Jesus. What were the chances of that?

He took the beating. He deseved it. In that moment, he would have accepted death.

[Susan Foster]

Robert wanted to throttle the boy, and he got a good start before Susan's cries interrupted him.

"I'm bleeding!" She squeaked, having stuck her hand to the pain on her neck and then having to be confronted with the mess that was left there.


Robert hit Ace once more and then fled to her side where she lay in the grass crying her eyes out.

"It hurts!" She choked out in between terrified gasps and tortured sobs.

"I know. We're going to get you help okay?" Rob sighed as he lifted her. His brother Peter appeared in the doorway. "Call the hospital!" He told him as he sent his gaze back to the monster.

"And the police!"

[Claire Green]

The physical pain was nothing compared to the psychological. A pit had dug itself in his stomach, the disappointment in himself and the hatred of the creature he'd become. Hurting Susan was punishment enough. He didn't want to live anymore. He fell into a crumpled heap and the bottom of the tree trunk and stayed there, not trying to flee or hide.

[Susan Foster]

Landon and Luca both arrived on the scene. Luca went straight into the house while Landon stared at Ace with vague recognition and began to pull out his cuffs.

"When we get the jail ...we'll contact your mother for you."

[Claire Green]

Ace nodded meekly and held out his wrists. First time he'd been arrested, strangely enough.

[Susan Foster]

Landon cuffed him and Luca came outside long enough to swab the boy's mouth for Susan's blood. He didn't know what to say to Ace, feeling absolutely infuriated with the boy. Susan was a sweetheart, and Claire's orders to the hospital hadn't been small.

Ace got transported to the world's most unappealing office. It would be illegal to book him without his mother there seeing as he was still technically a minor.

Landon called Claire and filled her in on all of the details and requested her presence.

[Claire Green]

Claire was positively livid when she found out the news. She was there in good time, looking like an absolute mess with her hair messed up, bags under her eyes, and unmatched clothes. This wasn't from not eating however, this was from stress.

Claire marched to the office, looking at Landon but avoiding her sons gaze, staying silent. She was so disappointed in him. What had possibly overcame him to do this?

[Susan Foster]

"We're still waiting to hear whether or not the little girl's family will be pressing charges. Until then the attack will be added to the creature registry, and it's safe to say your son will be under house arrest for a while. You can speak to him if you like." Landon nodded.

"If they press charges...it's the law, Claire, I'll have to keep him here."