Serena woke slowly to see a woman sitting next to her. She looked around herself, struggling to translate what the woman was saying in her groggy state. She took the tea offered to her with shaking hands and sipped it. Her mind started to clear as she drank. The woman was speaking again and Serena's eyes widened, "Sono morto?"

She started to shake her head as the woman continued to speak. She had to be understanding wrong... she couldn't have died. None of this could be true. However, the woman didn't seem to be the kind that joked either, not about this.

Serena shook her head when the woman offered to kill her again and prevent her from feeling Sebastian's emotions... but she said that she could help, "I want to help," she whispered, pulling the blanket up to her chin. She realized then that her neck was not covered and her scars would be seen by anyone who entered her makeshift room. Her secret was out, she thought as tears welled into her eyes. She pulled her hair forward, "Can I see him?"
~
Gunner pulled Anna back toward his bed, feeling dizzy. He sat on the edge and kissed her. His hands rested on her hips, pulling her close to him, "You are your soul," he whispered, "The Strigoi," he didn't even want to think about Anya in that way, "took that way from you. That wasn't you. This is you," he kissed her again, "I love you...."