Phoebe couldn't see where she was as she sat up. She had a headache, an awful headache.

The room was dark, damp. The floor was clean, at least. The last thing she noticed was a young brunette with bright green eyes looking over her.

"You're human." The pregnant girl said. She couldn't be more than eighteen Phoebe estimated. Her hands glowed all slightly, the nerves coming off her in waves.

"You're a witch." She nodded.

"Where is this?"

They heard approaching footsteps coming from behind the wooden doors.

"Don't upset him." The witch whispered worriedly before scurrying back to where she was sitting.

In walked a well dressed man. Young, handsome but Phoebe had only seen him in a portrait.

He led her to a large room, with two expensive armchairs near the front of the room. A stark contrast to the decrepit science lab that was the theme of the rest of the room. He sat her in one chair and he took a seat across from her.

"Do you know who I am?" Phoebe shook her head.

"I'm afraid I don't, I do apologise." She replied politely.

He smiled ruefully, "That's alright. I blame my father for that. He didn't tell my dear little brother about me, so he couldn't tell you. Father loves his secrets."

"Your brother? You mean Marcus?" Phoebe asked and he nodded.

"I'm Benjamin Fuchs, but I think you realised that when you saw me." He said, "I've watched you, you're very intelligent. I can see why my family like you."

Phoebe tried not to tremble as he came closer to her, but she couldn't. 

"Relax. You are shaking like a leaf." Benjamin smirked.

"Where am I?" She demanded.

Benjamin tutted, "That would take the fun out of it. You are a historian, yes?" He gestured around, "Evaluate."

Phoebe evaluated her surroundings. Buildings weren't her strong suit, but looking around it was a makeshift lab? Morgue? But the building was old, despite the new equipment. The walls were peeling, exposed brick and pipes.

This was his hideout. That girl, one of his many victims.

"Marcus, he only creates those with blood rage, doesn't he? Do you know what it is?" He asked. Phoebe swallowed.

"Blood rage is a disease-"

"Bloodrage isn't a disease." Benjamin growled, but then smiled, "Its a gift. We can topple countries. Reproduce. Do you think your love's siblings are a disease?" 

"I think you enjoy using your.. gift to hurt people." Phoebe replied.

Benjamin smirked, "I do. And yet, you still aren't scared. Baldwin - that's what he calls himself now, yes? He must have a lot of fun with you. But you see, the benefits of bloodrage, whether you carry it or embrace it are that we can sense everything so much more than the ordinary vampire."

"For example..." He sniffed against her neck, "You have the most intoxicating scent. You are beautiful, delicious perhaps. I'm surprised Matthew can even stand to be around you. Or does my brother keep him away?"

Phoebe's eyes remained on him as he spoke "Has Marcus had a taste yet? Or is he too honorable? I see no bite marks on the neck. He used to do that in some of the feeding clubs in the 1800s, such a card."

"Well, I don't go to feeding clubs, I wouldn't know." Phoebe replied.

He unbuttoned the top of Phoebe's blouse and she froze. He looked at her collarbone, "Is he waiting until marriage, I wonder?"

"No, no bite marks." Benjamin leaned back and observed her and laughed, "You are just the perfect gift! I don't know what to do! I mean, the Grandmaster's beloved? My dear sister in law? Matthew's daughter. And not a single bite mark."

Phoebe's gaze was steely as he continued, "I could bite you, have a peek into your memories. Let you go. Or I could keep you. My own personal blood bag. You would keep me going for a while," He brushed a curl out of her face and Phoebe flinched as his cold hand ran down her cheek, "Or you could have a purpose as one of my experiments. And then let you go if nothing comes to fruitation. But would they still have you, I wonder. The de Clermonts are a harsh family, believe me I know, and they aren't a fan of...used goods." 

He nudged the side of her face as he spoke, breathing her in. Her fear, anxiety. But Phoebe could tell what he was trying to do. Trying to tear her down, perhaps turn her against the family.

"You are ridiculous, aren't you?" Phoebe said after a while. He tilted his head at her, slightly amused.

"How so?"

"You've spent centuries trying to topple the de Clermonts and where has that gotten you?" Phoebe scoffed, "You are hiding in a basement that I would estimate hasn't had a good clean in, five, maybe ten years. Most vampires move on from their daddy issues, I thought at least."

"Excuse me-"

"All because you're insane? Definitely. Jealous? I would say so. I mean most egomaniacs go into politics but you've chosen centuries of failure. It's pathetic." 

Benjamin suddenly pushed her against a wall.

"You can kill me. You can. But then you'll have to contend with the entire family going after you as well as the Knights, and from what I've been told, you aren't too keen to see Baldwin or Matthew again." Phoebe continued, meeting his gaze.

Benjamin punched the wall behind her, covering Phoebe in brick dust.

He breathed in harshly, angrily "You do like to make your life a lot more difficult, don't you?"

She didn't remember what happened next. But it hurt. A lot.

.....

When Phoebe woke up, a light shone in her eyes. This time she was lying on something really soft. A bed.

"Phoebe? Phoebe can you hear me?" It was Matthew. She opened her eyes fully to see she was in a bedroom and Marcus was sitting to her right, holding her hand and Matthew to her left, stethoscope wrapped around his neck.

"Easy, easy." The old vampire said, helping her sit up, "There you are."

"Thirsty." She croaked out and Marcus instantly poured her a glass of water, helping her sip it.

"Phoebe, what do you remember?" Marcus asked worriedly.

All she did was wrap her arms around Marcus who hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head, murmuring words of comfort.