London in the middle of winter, at night, is not the most kindest of environments to be in. Besides the freezing temperatures, the insane winds blasting throughout the city, and gasoline drifting from the city roads, the on going throng of people bustling through it as time moved with the ticking of the clock was enough to drive anybody insane.

Immune to the clicking of the time clock, a thin well built guy strolled along, his hands shoved into the pockets of his baggy blue jeans, and black corduroy, fleece-lined jacket open, revealing a pale white wife beater beneath it. A black cord wrapped several times around his neck and tied neatly at his collar bone, where a guitar pick hung, black and covered in gold sparks. Over his numerously pierced ears, a pair of headphones covered his ears, blasting inside it a loud and steady beat, drowning out the sounds of the people around him. His hair was mildly disheveled from the grey weather and wind, and anybody who cared to look up to study the male would see his hair was thick, curly and blonde.

The guy strolled casually down the sidewalk, passing several cafés, and breathing in the scent of bread baking, his stomach grumbling. But he hadn’t eaten a normal meal since he died. He was one of the undead, and was out running some errands, thankful for the dark storm clouds overhead.

Whistling along with the tune to his music, he looked up at the sky as he headed for his car, not really paying attention. He regretted the choice when his foot hooked onto a solid object, and he was splaying forward, falling over the object he had tripped over, and tumbling into a heap. He grumbled in annoyance, and righted himself. Dusting off his shoulders, he realized he had hit another person, and grunted an apology.

When he didn’t get a reply, he studied the person more closely, and realized the person was curled up with his knees drawn up, and his arms around his legs. His face was buried in his knees, and he wasn’t moving. He didn’t react when the man knelt down to look at him. His black hair shifted restlessly in the wind, and the man beside him put a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey…are you alright?” The black haired male slowly lifted his head. The silver haired man was surprised to realize that his eyes were a brilliant gold color. He didn’t respond, didn’t say anything, just gazed at the silver haired male.

“Are you okay?” He asked again. A kind smile spread across his face when he realized the boy was staring at him dumbly.

“What’s your name kid?” He asked. The black haired boy opened his mouth to answer, and softly murmured his name.

“Cool. Here. Why don’t you come with me? I got some food at my house, and you can crash there for a bit.” The silver haired male said, straightening and holding out his hand. He had noticed then that the kid was covered in bruises, in cuts and scrapes, and looked half frozen. His skin had a pretty tan glow to it, regardless of the stormy weather, and the silver haired male admired his new friend as the black haired boy took his hand, and let himself be led toward his rescuer’s car.

As the blonde haired male watched his gold eyed companion, a new feeling came over him. A feeling like something was in the air. Like change.

From this moment on, the blonde haired male would come to know a new way of living, and Victor Scott Everett, would find a new way of life.

0-0-0-0

For some people, the clock of time didn’t matter. It ticked by. A rhythmic movement of time that caused things to change, and the world around them to alter.

For Juni…the time didn’t exist. She watched 2 years of her life go by . Watched everything she had once loved in her world slowly begin to change. The cruel hands of the time clock twisted her world, and added new changes, adding to her agony and pain of losing the ones she loved.

Her beloved restaurant. MJUPE. The one she co-owned with her best friend Jaimie, was never rebuilt. The two couldn’t afford it anymore. The cost to rebuild it showed to be too expensive, and the two agreed that it was time to let the restaurant go. Jaimie and Juni set off in search of new jobs. Jaimie easily found a job working at another restaurant, almost immediately rising up to become head of the kitchens. Juni, unfortunately, had a hard time finding a new job.

A few months after Jaimie began work, the restaurant in another town, Jaimie informed Juni that she was moving out to the country with Adrien, now pregnant with her second child. Juni encouraged this decision, though she was sad the day her friends left the town for good, and left Juni alone, leaving her alone to wallow in her misery.

Now that her two best friends were gone, Juni began to subconsciously grow more and more weary of living, and at one point, asked Ginger if it would be alright if the two of them, who were living in Juni’s house together to keep at bay the feeling of loneliness, moved into a smaller house, or an apartment. Ginger agreed and they sold Juni’s house, using the money they received from it, and buying an apartment close to the edge of town.

After awhile, Ginger suggested to Juni that she teach. She was smart, she liked children, and she had a master’s degree in business. Shortly after that, Juni started to help run a preschool, while running one of the classes at the same time.

Two years passed, and Juni had numbed herself from her life, moving it through it like she was in a trance. She felt incomplete, and because of it, she felt numb. Ginger was then a sophomore in high school, and working on graduating to become a dancer. She alone was the only one left of Juni’s old life that remained close to her, the others either gone or drifting off to explore their own lives. Juni, unlike most of her friends and family, no longer had much ambition to live. Until one night a week before her 25th birthday, that is.

0-0-0-0

“Hey! I’m home!” Juni cried, stepping through the threshold of her front door, a messenger bag thrown over her shoulder, her hand on the strap, while opening the door with the other.

She heard the familiar thunderous howl of Harley, a warning that he was about to get up and come make sure she wasn’t an intruder, and was not happy about getting up. Juni smiled to herself and walked into the kitchen, placing her bag on the counter and moving to check the answering machine for any messages. There was one from Ginger saying she’d be home later, something about not understand her homework and staying after for help, and then heading over to the dance studio. Ever since about a year ago Ginger had been working harder than ever to get into some dance academy in New York, working herself into a coma just to so she could meet the requirements of the application for the scholarship the school gave. Juni felt proud of the girl, and she shed her coat on the couch as she walked past the living room and into her room, a little smile on her face.

Harley was spread out on the large bed, giving her a happy tail wag as she came in, lifting his head and panting excitedly. Juni gave him an affectionate pat on the head.

“Nice work guarding the fortress big guy. Some burglar could of made off with our TV by now, you lazy thing!” Juni cooed, rubbing his ears. He gave her a soft growl in reply, and she laughed and went into the bathroom. Juni looked up and studied her face in the mirror. Her hair was short again, about shoulder length. It was pulled back into a messy bun at the moment, and she pulled it out and stripped down, throwing on some pajama bottoms and a t-shirt, and then going back into the kitchen.

She turned on the mini TV they had set up in the there, and switched it to the music station while she fixed herself a salad and a soda. Since it was almost seven at night, she considered this her dinner. On the TV, a man was talking about a bear that had attacked its owner, and was only found a few nights later inside the bear’s man-made shelter, dead and ripped to shreds.

“That’s why you don’t fuck with nature.” Juni murmured, switching off the TV and padding back towards her bedroom. Halfway across she realized she had forgotten her soda, and snapped her fingers. The glass fluttered to life and hovered after her, catching up and hovering obediently at her shoulder.

Crawling into the bed beside Harley, the large Newfoundland immediately rolled his large head onto her knee and looked through his bushy brows at her, begging for a bite. Juni took a bite and snickered.

“No boy. This is healthy food. You don’t like good food, remember? You eat junk food with Ginger when I’m not home.” Harley huffed. “Yeah, thought I didn’t know about it huh?” Juni laughed and turned on her TV, settling in to watch a little before curling up and going to sleep.

A little while later, she was flipping through the channels when she heard the front door open.

“Hello? Anybody home?” Ginger’s voice came from the front hall.

“In here!” Juni cried. Ginger appeared, working on taking her shoes off. She smiled and kicked her shoes out of the way, and waved at Juni.

“Hey. Sorry I’m late.” Ginger said. Juni shooed her comment away. Ginger had grown taller over the last couple of years, and also had started growing into herself. She wasn’t as meek and shy anymore, but she still kept a proper head about everything, and took great pride in cooking and helping take care of Harley and sometimes even Juni. Her hair had gotten longer over the years, and was pulled back into a neat bun, a requirement for all ballet dancers in the dance class she attended.

“It’s no big deal. Did you eat out?” Juni asked. Ginger held up a McDonald’s bag, and Juni immediately sat up.

“Yeah. I got you some too.” Juni was out of the bed and following Ginger into the kitchen, practically drooling.

“You know me too well Ging.” Juni muttered, making Ginger laugh.

“I know…no onions, right?” Ginger asked.

“Yes! Thanks Ging!” Juni cried, collapsing into the couch with her burger. She took off the wrapper and bit into it, and turned on the TV out in the living room. Ginger laughed and settled down in the love seat, opening her own burger package and pulling it out as Juni flipped through the channels.

“So did you go see the therapist today?” Ginger asked. Immediately Juni stiffened, her hand extended to change the channel on the remote. Harley came lumbering into the room, and heaved himself up onto the couch next to Juni. Wherever food went, Harley followed. Ginger threw him a french fry, and looked at her friend with some concern.

“Yeah…” Juni said slowly. Since the beginning of last year, Juni had been going to a therapist again. Not that the therapist could help much. Everything that bothered Juni had to do with the supernatural, and stuff like should never be leaked to normal humans like her therapist, no matter how strict the patient confidentiality shit was.

“What did she say this time?”

“That I was suffering from severe depression.” Juni replied, taking a big bite of her burger so has not to have to reply until she swallowed.

“Oh. Did she give you more medicine?” Juni’s silver gaze found hers, shimmering in the light of the television. She looked incredibly sad then. Enough sadness to cause Ginger’s shoulders to slump. She didn’t say anything. They both knew that Ginger already knew. Juni had been anti-depressant medication since she had started going back to the therapist.

“Do you think he hates me?” Juni suddenly murmured, looking over at Ginger again. Ginger didn’t say anything for a moment, confusion on her face. Then she realized who she was talking about, and she got up and went over to her friend and put her arms around the witch, pulling her into her tight embrace. Juni buried her face in Ginger’s shoulder and said nothing as Ginger rubbed her back comfortingly.

“He could never hate you Juni…stop thinking that.” Ginger whispered. Juni pulled away, and suddenly got up, her eyes shadowed by her bangs. Ginger followed her into the kitchen.

“Juni?” Ginger asked as Juni reached into the cabinet beside the refrigerator. She pulled out a little orange bottle.

“I forgot to take them…” Juni suddenly murmured, working on opening the bottle. Ginger watched helplessly as her friend took the right dosage of pills, and washed them down with her soda. She turned to look at Ginger.

“I’m going to bed.” Juni murmured. Ginger nodded and let her pass, watching Juni disappear into her bedroom and shut the door. Once she was gone, Ginger collapsed onto the couch beside Harley and pat the dog on the head.

“Harley…do you think she’ll ever get better?” Ginger whispered into the floppy ear of the dog. Harley gave Ginger a little whine that made the girl smile sadly.

“Yeah…me either.”

0-0-0-0

Two o’clock in the morning. The apartment was quiet of all noise, except for the murmuring coming from Ginger’s TV in her room, and the TV in Juni’s room. Both girls were asleep, Ginger asleep with Harley curled up beside her, and the comedy central station playing softly on her TV. In Juni’s room, the witch lay on her side, wrapped up deeply into her blankets, hiding from the world, and also asleep. Her TV was turned onto a random station, and as the girl slept, the television shows went on loyally, running for all the insomniacs in the world.

At the moment, Juni was having a dream. She was standing in a dark hallway, with windows overlooking a large expanse of starry sky, and a tall staircase stood in front of her. It was a golden hue in color. At the bottom of the steps, dressed in a black suit, was Victor, watching her with a serene smile on his face, his hands behind his back. He waved at Juni as she stepped towards him.

“Vict-“ She started to choke out, but it stopped there. There was a sound like glass breaking from behind her, and she turned and watched as the hallway before her began to shatter apart, like glass. Terrified, she turned around and started to run, though it was unbearably slow, and called out for Victor again. He just watched with that little smile again, and she darted down the hallway and reached the stairs. He turned and started up them, running from her, laughing and calling her to come with him. He never looked over his shoulder, to check if she was following. She tried to run as fast as she could up the stairs, but she couldn’t. She was lagging behind, and he was getting further and further away. She yelled for him to wait, but he ignored her. Finally the shattering hallway and stairs behind her caught up with her, and she fell back, losing her balance, and falling backwards down into an empty blackness, screaming as she fell.

Juni woke with a start. Her silver eyes flowing up, and shortly after, throwing herself up into a sitting position. She gasped for air for several moments, the familiarity of her bedroom focusing in on her, and she sighed with relief, and disappointment. Kicking off her blankets, she reached over for the glass of water Ginger always left for her, and gulped down its contents. She wiped the cold sweat from her brow, and her attention turned to the TV in front of her.

It was some late night talk show or another, with a skinny overly blonde woman with the face of a skeleton/banshee seated behind a large desk, and smiling at the camera with an overly forced happy face that looked kinda scary. Juni watched with a blank expression on her face.

“So Mr. Avalon, tell us, how goes the life of living on the road?” The woman asked, smiling broadly. The guy on the couch beside the desk was stretched out on it comfortably, looking at complete ease in front of the camera. He was a handsome guy, maybe 17 or 18 years old, with thick silver hair and dressed in a black The Doors shirt and torn blue jeans, and thick black combat boots that looked well past their prime. Around his neck was a dog collar, with what hung from it a silver dog tag. Under that was a wrap-around black cord, ending in a knot and hanging from it a guitar pick. He wore several black and white jelly bracelets on his wrists, and a worn out spiked bracelet. He gave his hair a thoughtful scratch as he gazed up somewhere past the cameras sights, then looked back at the woman.

“Well it wasn’t bad. Just kinda cramped. Me an’ the gang kinda got sick of each other after a few days.” The silver haired guy said with a chuckle. The rest of the audience laughed, and Juni sighed.

“Gimme a break…” She murmured. The male and the host of the show had thick English accents, so she assumed this was a British run talk show.

“Are you happy to be back in London?” The woman asked. The boy nodded.

“Oh yeah. I miss my bed. Joey missed his guitars.” The boy replied, the rest of the audience laughing. Juni sighed, picking up the remote, and preparing to change it to something that didn’t want to make her vomit.

“So as this tour across Britain change you and Mr. Everett’s relationship, by any chance?” Juni’s hand froze.

Everett…?

“He whined the entire time about sleeping on the bottom bunk of the tour bus…but other than that he’s as fun as ever. Nothings changed.” The boy said. The woman smiled.

“And where is Victor at now?”

“Oh you know, at home. Probably unconscious…” The boy said. Juni dropped the remote in her hand, and her mouth dropped open.

“Well thank you so much for your time Christian! We really appreciate it!” The woman finally said. Still gaping at the TV, the woman turned toward the camera and smiled.

“There you have it, Christian Avalon, Bass guitarist of The Sweet Miseries, who’s JUST released they’re hot new single, Silver Over Gold, stop in and buy one today! Haha, not that you need it, considering how popular you and the band have gotten since the start of this tour! Plus the reputation of your other albums have been a TREMENDOUS catalyst in you and the bands popularity! Thank you for coming in, Christian!” The woman cried. The boy called Christian smiled, and kissed her cheek before disappearing off stage. By this time, Juni was at the edge of the bed, staring at the screen.

“Victor…he’s alive…GINGER! GIIIIIIIIIIIINGER!”

0-0-0-0

“Remember the feelings, remember the day

My stone heart was breaking

My love ran away

This moment I knew I could be someone else,

My love turned around and I fell!”

“Victor…”

“Be my bad boy, be my man!

Be my week-end lover

But don’t be my friend!

You can be my bad boooooy, but understand!

That I don’t need you in my life again!”

“Victor…please…”

“Won’t you be my bad boy, be my man?

Be my week-end lover,

But don’t be my friend!

You can be my bad boy

But understand!

That I don’t need yoooou again!

No I don’t need you again-“

“VICTOR I AM TRYING TO WATCH TV! WOULD YOU PLEASE SHUT YO BLOODY MOUTH BEFORE I SHOVE MY FOOT DOWN YOUR BLOODY THROAT!”

Victor Scott Everett froze in mid hip bump, standing behind the couch, holding an unplugged microphone with the cord hanging around his ankles, his honey colored eyes wide. He dropped his arms in a defeated manner, and threw himself dramatically over the back of the couch. Standing at a comical 5 feet, 3 inches, Victor Scott Everett was a pain to handle. He was loud, he was obnoxious, and he had a hard time calming down when riled up. But it was his two special talents that kept him from dying an early death at the hands of his guitarist, Joey Miblige. He was an extremely well singer, and most of the time, good at writing songs for the band. He had the type of charm that made you want to strangle him, and at the same time, tie him to a bed and perform some X rated actions on the guy. At barely five feet tall, it was shocking to discover the guy was actually 24 years old.

Victor jumped over the back of the couch and landed beside Joey, who immediately stiffened and frowned at the television. The couch they sat on took up a lot of room, a cream colored leather sectional, and for the love of god Joey couldn’t figure out why Victor was sitting so damn close to him when there was so much room.

“Erm…Victor.”

“Yes Joey!?” Victor cried excitedly. Joey growled. Having just gotten back from their last stop on the tour, coming home to the big house had been a relief to him, considering he wouldn’t have to be confined in such a closer space with the hyper singer.

“Could you move over…” Joey growled.

“Why?”

“Because. I spent enough time with you practically on me during the tour, and I’d like some space.” Joey snarled. Victor smacked the leather beside him with his palm.

“Hey! You said awhile back that the couch was free game! I can sit wherever I want!”

“Yes but…right next to me?”

“I like sitting next to you.” Victor retorted. Joey gave a huff of annoyance and got up. He smacked Victor hard on the side of the head, though it hardly fazed him, and stomped up the spiral staircase behind the couch up to the second floor.

“Hey where ya going?!” Victor cried, turning around.

“MY ROOM!” Joey’s voice roared, and there was a definite sound of a door slamming. Victor waited a few seconds before finally letting out a sigh and turning back toward the plasma screen TV in front of him. He turned it off, and instead looked out the window across the large expanse of grey England Countryside, and sighed.

“Well that was incredibly easy…” Victor said with a roll of his gold eyes, and stretching out comfortably on the couch. He and his band mates had been living in the same house since about the beginning. The house was enormous, so sharing it with 3 other people wasn’t so bad for Victor and his other two band mates, Christian, who played the bass, and Robby, who played the drums. But for Joey, who played the guitar, he got sick of it really quick, and spent a lot of time sulking and threatening to run off to start his solo album.

Victor didn’t really care, however. Staring up at the ceiling, he stretching a hand over his head and looked at his fingers, studying them carefully as he thought.

How long as it been now? Since I’ve seen her? He wondered, mentally counting the numbers on his fingers, then losing count after 12 months. He missed her. That was for sure. Missed her more than anything. He wondered what she was doing at that precise moment.

Probably sleeping…Victor thought, dropping his hands back down onto his chest, remembering that there was a large time difference between London and America. Shutting his eyes, he brought the night he had last seen her back into his thoughts.

There was a horrible roaring sound in his ears, as Juni performed the spell. Trying to call out to her, and tell her something was wrong, that his ears were starting to hurt, Victor realized he couldn’t speak. Reaching out to get Jaimie’s attention, he found his hand slipped right through her shoulder, and horrified, he gave a sudden weak cough, and looked at his hand.

In his hand, was a small mouthful of blood. Horrified, Victor wondered if he was dying. Looking over at Signea and Madie, they were also cringing in pain, and coughing, bent over like they were throwing up. Turning back to Juni and the other girls, he tried to yell again, but he fell to his knees then, and threw up, coating the ground in blood.

Horrified, it hit Victor like a ton of bricks.

This is what happened when I was made a vampire…Victor realized. As the last of the blood in his system drained out, he felt something in his brain click on, and suddenly there was a new feeling flowing through his body. Through his veins. His heart gave a steady thump, and echoed in his ears. Shocked, Victor opened his mouth as he felt an ache, and felt the sliding of teeth on gums as his fangs retracted, and disappeared, returning to normal human like canines.

Like when a vampire is made, the mortal body of the vampire dies, leaving only the body of an immortal, forever beautiful and young looking forever. Whatever was happening now, Victor realized, was that the body was reverting, and turning BACK into its natural human form.

In a way, he and the other vampires were being born again.

Just as he began to feel real circulation flowing through his veins, and he started to straighten, he lifted his head and realized that Juni was looking straight at the spot where he stood, her silver eyes wide, and filled with tears.

“Juni! Look! I’m human!” Victor screamed. “Your spell made me human again! It changed us all to normal!” He cried happily. Juni didn’t say a word, her mouth wide open in horror.

“Juni…?” Victor murmured, tilting his head and waving his arms.

“Juni can you see me?” Victor asked. Juni didn’t reply.

“Victor…oh no…Victor…I killed them all…I killed Victor.” Juni murmured, falling to her knees and sobbing.

Seconds later, Victor felt his head begin to spin, and he collapsed, his world going dark.

Victor opened his eyes slowly, taking in a deep breath and letting out a sigh.

“What are you doing?” A voice said above him. He looked up into a pair of chocolate brown eyes.

“AH!” Victor screamed, flailing in surprise, causing him to fling himself right off the couch. The boy hovering over him smiled, arching an eyebrow.

“Christian! Don’t do that!” Victor cried.

“Hahahaha sorry. You alright/” The silver haired boy asked, called Christian. Tall, handsome, pale and usually grinning, Christian was the peacemaker of the group. He kept Joey from killing everyone, kept the band’s drummer, Robby, from getting arrested for sexual harassment, and seemed to have a way about him that made Victor almost obedient to him.

Victor hauled himself off the floor, brushing off his shirt, then looking up to scold Christian for scaring him. However, he was silenced (for the moment anyway) as Christian leaned across the couch and grabbed him, pulling him closer and easing his lips over Victors.

Through the last 2 years, Victor had found himself falling into a fit of depression, as hard as it was to believe. Christian helped fill the emptiness he sometimes felt, and because of it, he and Christian began to become sexually involved with each other, though Victor could feel there wasn’t the same spark when he had been with Juni. Christian was a solid barrier he could put between himself and his vampiric past, even though certain things in that past, he wanted back more than anything.

Moving back into his past, Victor had woken up in London, and Christian of all people, sitting beside him was sitting beside him and asking if he was alright. Beyond traumatized, Victor let Christian take him home, which turned out to be a large mansion in the English countryside, where he and two other band members of The Sweet Miseries had been living. Christian and the other two had been making an honest living with a former singer they used to work with, until he ran off with some Australian guy to start some duet album, Christian had explained.

After a few days eating warm food, and sleeping in a warm bed, Victor regained enough sense to ask if Christian would help him find someone. With Christian’s help, Victor dialed for America, and after several difficult moments with an obnoxious operator, he was put through to Juni’s house.

Upon hearing her voice, Victor came to realize something. Everything that had happened was because of him. Everyone would have been okay if he wasn’t such a burden, especially on his beloved witch.

Realizing this, Victor said nothing into the phone, listening to her voice was what he assumed would be the last time, then gently dropped the receiver back into the cradle, and wiped the tears, the human tears, out of his eyes. Concerned, Christian asked if he was alright, and Victor nodded.

He had caused nothing but problems for his friends, and for that he decided leaving behind his past would be the wisest choice he could make .

“Victor?” Christian’s voice shook Victor from his thoughts. Looking up, he smiled big and pounced on Christian, his arms going around his neck and tangling into his silver hair, and his legs going around his band mate’s waist.

“What? Come ON! Let’s go to bed!” Victor cried excitedly, jabbing a finger at the stairs.

“But its not even six yet…” Christian muttered. Victor kissed him passionately. When he pulled away, Christian’s e yes were wide with comprehension.

“Oooh…alright then.” Christian purred, and the two trotted up the stairs and into Christian’s bedroom.

As Christian set him on the bed, and set to work on making love to him. Victor’s gold eyes clouded over as he writhed under Christian’s lavish touches. He blocked out all thoughts of her as he tried to ignore his memories, ignore making love to her. Ignore everything that had to do with her.

Victor once sung a song that there was no river too wide that could keep him and Juni apart.

He had never expected an ocean.