Edge lunged at Kael, wrapping his hands tightly around his neck, slamming him back into the counter. Christian leapt up to stop his brother from killing Kael, which seemed to be Edge's only thought at the moment. It would only draw Gabrielle deeper into her insanity. Try as he might Christian could not pry edge off of Kael, who's face was growing increasingly red from both oxygen deprivation, and from being slammed against the cupboards behind him repeatedly. In a futile attempt at retaliation, Kael instinctively bared his fangs, trying to growl at Edge. Christian continued to pull Edge off until he was swatted into the wall with a sharp backhand from his brother. At the same time as his head hit the doorframe, Christian heard a hoarse yell, low and painful. Sitting up and turning his attention to the living room, he saw Aspen standing over the couch, glaring down at whomever was there. Seeing the blood stained knife help in one hand, Christian scrambled to his feet, remembering Gabrielle as he ran to the living room. He silently prayed for her as he surprised Aspen with a tackle, knocking her down as she yelped in pain, her body crashing against the fireplace. Her head smacked the stone with a sickening crack, and her body landed in an awkward position on the floor. Christian could smell the blood that dripped from the gash on the back of her head. With dull, pleading eyes she looked up at Christian, barely able to speak but for the same words she had said so many times before.
"Make me a vampire…one of you…" Christian knelt down beside her, putting his hand around her neck, lifting her head up. In her mind all of the dreams, all of the prophecies she'd had about becoming what he was came alive. Her vision grew blurry and she couldn't see the stoic expression in Christian's face as he bend his head and slid his fangs into her neck. Almost busting with happiness, Aspen knew this was it. The moment she had waited for forever. But Christian decided it wasn't meant to be. Aspen died with a smile, ever-awaiting a vampiric eternity that would never come.
Gabrielle couldn't speak and could barely breath. Her skin was already beginning to lace its way closed, but she was bleeding a great deal, slowing the healing process. She smelled blood, not her own, but Aspens, and then smelled the familiar scent of death. Aspen was dead. Christian stood up; wiping his hands on his dark jeans, he turned to Gabrielle. Blood dripped from her wound onto the couch, on the floor forming a dark puddle. He lifted her from the couch carefully, intent on taking her into the kitchen where Kael and Edge still fought. If they saw her, they'd stop fighting in an instant. He stood in the doorway with Gabrielle's hurt, blistered and bloody body in his arms, hoping she would heal as they ceased fighting.