I was still sitting in that love seat in Skye’s cottage. I didn’t even know what time it was and the TV was still on to that cheesy romance movie. I finally moved my hand and the rest of my body decided it was all right to follow.

I held up my hand and put it on Skye’s left cheek. He leaned his head into my hand and closed his eyes in pure pleasure. I smiled weakly and sighed slightly.

“Skye,” he opened his eyes and looked at me with all of his attention. “I feel the same way, but, I’m just not ready to marry, and I don’t exactly feel I can marry you. I barely know you.”

He sighed deeply and looked sad.

“I’m sorry Skye!” I said, feeling bad.

“No need for an apology. Love is different in many senses between vampires and humans. Though, are you now going to get up and run away from how far I might want to move with you?”

“No.” I said with another weak smile on my face. Skye smiled and he hugged me.

“Thank you.” He whispered in my ear, and then he kissed my cheek. I smiled and felt the heat rush to my face. I heard a small agonizing breath and I moved back.

“Skye? Are you okay?” I asked in worry.

His head was down and his hair was covering his eyes. His hands were balled into fists and I saw a drop of blood fall on his jeans from his face.

“Skye?” I asked again.

“J-just, m-move over t-to the s-single seat p-please.” He stuttered.

“Okay.” I said quickly and I moved to the single seat, closest to the archway. I couldn’t see Skye’s face and I was beginning to worry. “Skye?”

He looked up at me and his eyes were glowing red, fangs were dug into his bottom lip and his hands were still balled into fists. I gasped and he stood up.

“Skye, what are you doing?”

“I-I’m sorry I b-brought you here.”

“Skye?”

“I-I will not attack you. I-I promise!”

I heard a huge crash at the doorway. Then Damien came running in the room.

“Skye!” yelled Damien.

He came over to me, picked me up and was cradling me in his arms. A growl started to emerge in Damien’s chest, and Skye growled back.

“Let go of her Damien.” Said Skye through his teeth and then he started growling again.

“I won’t let her fall into your grasp when you only want to be with her to –“

“Don’t you dare!” yelled Skye, full of rage.

“Stop it!” I yelled at them.

They both froze and I wiggled out of Damien’s hands. I stood by the single chair and I walked between them both.

“Look, neither of you are fighting over me. Damien, I am with Skye, I can take care of myself. You and I are just friends, okay? Skye wasn’t even going to attack me. Now, let’s all calm down.”

“He will kill you.” said Damien under his breath.

“Will you relax? Everything will be fine!” I snapped, defending Skye.

Damien scowled at Skye and then looked at me in shock. Then he left the cottage with his head bowed for some reason.

I looked over at Skye and he had calmed down, his eyes were back to their beautiful aqua blue. His fangs were still out but he had them only touching his bottom lip. His hands were loose and he looked at me in full apology.

I walked over to him cautiously. He nodded his head and I stood in front of him.

“Will it make it better if I let you drink some of my blood?” I suggested.

He shook his head with wide eyes.

“Why?”

“If I drink from you, then I won’t be able to resist the next time. It’s dangerous for you.” He said.

“Then would it be better if I left now?”

“No!” he said and he took my hand in his.

I nodded my head and opened my arms. He walked into them and we hugged. I kissed his cheek this time. He hugged me tighter and I sat back down on the love seat. He joined me and he pulled me into him, though his fangs were still showing. But, to be brutally honest, I kind of liked it.

Now a horror movie was on and I was totally into it. I was staring at the screen in full tension and concentration. I felt Skye sit up straight and move his arms a little. I kept staring at the screen, and then Skye grabbed my arms out of the blue and yelled. I screamed and flailed my arms. Skye burst into laughter.

“Skye! That was mean!” I pouted and he kissed my forehead. I fought the urge to blush and it worked, luckily.

“I’m sorry, you were just so tense, and it was tempting.”

I scowled at him and stuck my tongue out. He grabbed my tongue and I sat there, looking un-amused. He laughed and let go of my tongue. I scowled at him and he laughed again.

I kept watching the movie, now comfortable in Skye’s arms. I was content on the movie, but I was slowly closing my eyes, and soon enough I was resting against Skye’s chest.

I didn’t realize I was that tired until I wasn’t watching the movie anymore. I felt Skye caress my arm. He was holding me tight, and he started to kiss my cheek. I kind of had this small hope that he was going to just bite me, I have no clue why, but I did. However, the thought was somehow nice, not scary.

“Are you comfortable my love?” he whispered in my ear.

“Yes.” I whispered back.

“Then you should sleep.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I want to stay awake; I don’t want this dream to end.”

“Dream? This is like a dream to you?”

“Yes.”

“Even after what just happened?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think it’ll just disappear after you wake up?”

“No, and I sincerely hope that it won’t.”

I heard him chuckle slightly and I could hear his heart beat. It was beating slightly faster than the average heartbeat. I wanted to ask him all about vampires, which legends to check, how it all worked, and somehow I did.

“Where should I look for information about vampires?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, later I want to just look up your history and if the legends are true, but I don’t want to bore you with my questions.”

“You won’t bore me.”

“Okay, I just don’t feel like asking even though my curiosity is raging inside me.”

He laughed at my comment.

“Do you know any reliable resource?”

“Sadly, there is none, since we are in hiding from your race, well, most of your race. However, I can answer any questions you would like.”

“Maybe some other time then, I just want to stay here for a while.”

“Okay.”

We stayed there, cuddling, for a long while. I wasn’t at all watching the time pass by, and I personally didn’t care.

“Are you going to have dinner here or at your place?”

“What time is it?”

“It’s quarter to five.”

“Are you serious?” I said now sitting up straight.

“Yes.”

“Do you mind if I have dinner here then?”

“Not at all, what do you want?”

“Um, you chose.”

“How about chicken Alfredo?”

“Sounds wonderful.”

“But, I need to get up to make it.”

“Then do you mind if I rest here while you make it?”

“Not at all.”

Skye got up and I laid there. Suddenly, I felt some soft cloth touch my cheek. Skye walked away and I breathed in deeply, inhaling Skye’s scent full on. I opened my eyes to see Skye’s black Silverstein shirt beside me. I smiled and closed my eyes again. I breathed in deeply, imagining how it would be to kiss and make out with Skye, feel his fangs on my tongue and to have him bite my neck again, for some odd reason. However, I didn’t stop myself from thinking about it, since it was actually a hot image.

After a while I could smell the Alfredo sauce being made. I sat up and I took off my blue and white-stripped sweater. I pulled on Skye’s shirt - which was way too big for me - over my white spaghetti strapped tank top. I got off the love seat and started searching for the kitchen. I found the kitchen, since it was right through an archway across from the fireplace. I walked through to see white tiled floors and a maple dinning table with six chairs around it. There’s a white marble and granite counter with a sink and a large silver fridge/freezer. The table was already set for two, right beside each other, with blue plates, silver utensils, a beautiful green leaf table cloth, red place mats, white napkins, blue slightly iridescent wine glasses and a white, lit candle in the middle of the table.

I looked around to find Skye cooking at the stove, steam coming up from a pot in front of him and cupboards on the wall straight ahead from the arch and to the left, which was directly above the counter (which was attached to those walls as well).

I walked up behind Skye, whose beautiful upper body was showing all his muscles, bringing back the memory of him in my room, with the dim yellow light accenting shadows on his abs.

Skye turned around to see me gawking at him, which was kind of embarrassing. Skye waved at me to come closer and I did. He smiled down at me and pulled me towards him. I could feel my heartbeat accelerate.

“Do you like what you see.” He asked, smirking at me.

Then the time beeped three times for the pasta. He walked over to the stove, turned it off and took the pasta off the stove. He quickly sieved out the water and placed the pasta in a large bowl, placing the Alfredo sauce and cut up chicken in the pasta. He mixed it up and then returned to me.

“Hungry?” he asked.

“Yes. But, do vampires eat human food?”

“Yes. However, it’s not something that will keep us strong. We like the tastes, we just don’t really need it, per se.”

“I see. Well, let’s eat then.” I said and tapped his nose.

He lifted me off the counter and cradled me in his arms, walking me over to the table. He placed me in one of the chairs and kissed my forehead.

“You know, I feel better now.” he said happily.

“What do you mean?”

“Before, I couldn’t go near your face without feeling an urge to drink your blood, yet I don’t feel that way anymore. I haven’t since Damien left, actually.”

“Well, that’s good. Why do you think you were bothered before?”

“I don’t know, but I have a theory.” he said, getting the pasta.

“Can I hear it?”

He walked over to the table and placed some pasta on my plate. He poured some water into my wine glass and sat down beside me, placing water in his glass and pasta on his plate.

“Well, I believe that Damien had put something in my lunch this afternoon, a pill that some vampires give others to make them thirst blood more than usual, like they haven’t had blood for months, and it’s only to make them kill many people and get in trouble with our higher vampires of our world.” explained Skye.

“Higher vampires? And why would Damien do that?”

“Because, I think he loves you too.”

“No way! I can’t handle that.”

“I don’t think you have to. Don’t worry. This is just a theory.”

“Okay. But, what about those higher vampires?”

“There is a group, like a political party, so to speak, and they are the ones who make sure our vampire race stays secret. So, there are older vampires in this group, much wiser than the other vampires in this world. If any of us break the rules, then the spies of this group would find out, report back to the group and then that vampire would be dealt with.”

“Dealt with?”

“They would either warn them or even kill them if it is needed.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, it happens.”

“And what’s this group called?”

“Well, the group is called Strix, a Latin word meaning screecher. This name was given from Roman mythology as a legendary creature that is a nocturnal bird of ill omen that fed on human flesh and blood. They stay in Romania and they are very powerful. They all have their own special power that is unlike any other. The vampires in the group are known as elders, and no one messes with them. They always keep high respect with others, and are trying their hardest to protect both races, humans and vampires.”

“Wow.”

“Now, eat your pasta and then you can finish asking your questions.”

“Okay.”

I took some pasta and ate it. It was heavenly! I didn’t know that Skye could cook so well. Once we were finished Skye and I moved to the living room again.

“Thank you for dinner.” I said, kissing him on the cheek.

“It was my pleasure.” he said and pulled me to his side.

“What time is it?”

“It’s seven p.m.”

“Um, maybe I should be heading back home.”

“No more questions?”

“Like I said earlier. I’m not in a great mood for question asking today. Tomorrow?”

“Sure. I’ll bring you home.” he said, pulling me towards him.

“Thanks.”

He kissed my cheek and started moving down. He kissed my neck and then paused where my neck and shoulder connect.

“Why did you pause there?” I asked.

“This is the spot I am forbidden to bite, unless you permit me to.”

“Whoa! One: you are going to bite me other places? And two: why are you forbidden to bite me there?”

“Well, the answer to your first question is no. But if I was, I would be forbidden to bite here. The reasoning is because, if I bit here, then you would become a vampire.”

“What?”

“I thought you weren’t in the mood for questions.”

“Please explain this one last thing to me.”

“Okay.” he looked me in the eyes. “Us as vampires feed on blood, but we can also turn humans into vampires. However, we have to bite at the base of the neck, where the neck and shoulder connect.” he touched the spot and lightly caressed it with his fingers. “It’s because, there is a vein there where the blood travels fast and connects everywhere in the body. If you turn into one of us, it’s only a day of pain from transforming your bodies characteristics.”

“Do you have venom or something like that to transform our characteristics?”

“No. We have to chose to turn you with our minds. Since we don’t have venom, every vampire has one power, where they can control transformation with their minds. However, we can have other powers, but that’s a different answer to a different question. But, if we chose to turn a human into a vampire, when we bite and have that mind set, a sort of knowledge gets transferred into your mind and body, since your body then knows how our vampire body works, and how we survive, and the connection that occurs when we bite travels through that fast vein, straight into your mind at first and then your body, turning you into a vampire quickly. Then, after a day, you are a vampire, but it can’t be turned around. Once you’re a vampire, you’re a vampire.”

“Wow.”

“That’s why I stop there. I have to think to myself that this spot is off limits. I can’t do anything there, if it so happens that I bite you, - which I won’t - so you don’t become a vampire against your will.”

“I see.”

“I need my shirt back.” he said, putting his hand out towards me, palm side up.

I pouted and he laughed. I laughed a bit too and I took off his shirt, putting it in his hand. I took my sweater from the love seat and put it back on.

“Well, let’s bring you home.” he said and pulled me to our bags.

He picked me up, and walked out of the cottage with our backpacks. He placed me on his back, with our bags, and he bolted for the edge of the forest, towards the school. Everything was a blur again and the sun was beginning to set.

We arrived to the school and he ran towards the end of the parking lot. He stood in front of a blue Dodge Viper. I stood there in shock.

“Whoa! You have your license?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“How old are you?”

“I turned seventeen three days ago.”

“Wait! You have your license at seventeen?!”

“Yes I do.”

He opened the back seat door and threw in our bags. He brought me around to the passenger seat and opened the door courteously.

“When did you get your license?” I asked.

“Two days ago.”

“Two days ago!”

“Yes.”

I sighed and went into the car. He shut the door and I buckled up my seatbelt. Skye walked around the car and got into the driver’s seat, buckled up and looked over at me with a smile.

“Is this compensating for something?” I asked, looking at him skeptically.

“You American people are so vulgar.”

“Thanks!” I said sarcastically.

“You also give bad habits to the Canadians.”

“Well, at least you know there is a difference.”

“Yes, the difference is that Canadians are slightly smarter and are fond with saying the word ‘eh’ a lot.”

“Hey!”

“I am only speaking the truth out of experience.”

I glared at him and he started the engine. The car purred to life, not that roar of my brother or father’s car. This car was silent, and I was probably in for a smooth ride.

Skye calmly drove out of the parking lot, and then when he was on the road he was speeding. I immediately grabbed onto the passenger door handle with my life.

“Will you slow down?! You’ll get caught or kill someone!” I almost yelled.

“Trust me, will you?”

“Why?! You’re driving like a maniac!”

“Because, I will not get caught or kill anyone. That won’t happen to me.”

I stared at him in shock.

“What?” he asked confused.

“You say it won’t happen to you, and everyone who says that are the people who have it happen to them.”

“Actually it’s the other way around. The ones who don’t say it will have bad things happen to them. Only on movies do people have bad things done to them when they say it. It’s reverse psychology.”

“Sure.” I said, actually understanding what he was saying.

I just looked out the window and kept my tight life grasp on the door handle.

We got to my house at half past seven. I sighed and finally realized how fast we were going, about one hundred and sixty miles per hour! Talk about teen boy testosterone.

Skye got out and opened my door with my backpack in his hand. I got out and he shut the door behind him. I took my backpack happily and thanked him.

Suddenly, Max ran out of the house and was staring at the car in amazement. I sighed and cocked my head over to my brother. I smiled at Skye and he nodded. I waved over to Max and he ran over to the car like a child seeing his life long dream toy.

“Whoa! Is this yours?” asked Max to Skye.

“Yes.” replied Skye.

“Sorry for my brother’s rudeness. This is Max, and Max, this is Skye.” I said, pointing to them as I said their names.

“It’s okay, it’s very understandable.” Said Skye, smiling.

“When did you get this?” asked Max in excitement.

“I got this when I turned sixteen, a year ago. My parents decided to get me one since this was the only car I actually liked.”

“You’re lucky! I have to deal with a used Mustang.”

“Mustangs aren’t that bad.”

“I guess you’re right. So, how fast can this baby go?”

I decided to leave the two boys there for their car talk to go and start on the Philosophy essay due in one week. Skye stopped me and I thought he was going to make me suffer through this boy talk I didn’t understand or couldn’t even slightly follow if my life depended on it.

He pulled me towards him and kissed my cheek, then hugged me tightly.

“Goodbye my love. I will see you soon.” He whispered in my ear.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I whispered back into his ear.

We hugged tightly and he swiftly kissed me on the cheek one last time before we let go. I waved goodbye like a little love-struck schoolgirl and walked into the house, with Max’s eyes glaring curiosity holes into my back.

I went inside and I ran straight upstairs to my room. I started on my Philosophy essay, which I had to write by hand and then use the school computers to type it up, seeing my parents won’t let me buy a computer, which I need!

I sighed in frustration and started writing. I totally wanted to give up and not work at all, seeing I was still tired. However, I forced myself to work through it.

After writing about half of the essay, it was nine thirty p.m. and I suddenly felt like a snack.

I got up and placed my paper to the side, knowing I will have to edit it later. I walked out of my room and I walked downstairs, listening to the rain crashing down on the roof and the windows.

When I walked in the kitchen, everyone stared at me in curiosity while I stood in pure shock. Sitting in the kitchen, beside my seat was, Damien! I was extremely confused.

“Hi sweetheart.” Said my mother, surprised.

“Oh, hi. Um, why are you here Damien?” I asked, perplexed out of my mind.

“Pandora! Don’t be rude!” said my mother, now upset.

“It’s no harm,” said Damien, placing his hand on my mother’s arm.

I don’t know why, but I wanted to kill my mother for some reason since Damien wasn’t putting his hand on my arm. It was strange since I shouldn’t be feeling jealousy. I love Skye!

“She has probably been either asleep or working hard, unknown to her surroundings she couldn’t hear. She deserves an explanation.” He said courteously.

“Please sit,” said my mother in an annoyed sigh.

I sat down cautiously while my mother, Max, and father all got up and left the kitchen to go upstairs.

What is going on?!

“Now, Pandora. I need to tell you something important.” Said Damien once the last door upstairs was shut.

“What is it?”

“Skye isn’t as strong as he seems.”

“Are you talking about earlier today?”

“Yes.”

“Does my family know what you are?” I asked in shock.

“Yes.”

“Oh no.”

“Now, that is beside the point. Skye will kill you, no matter what you say or believe. You can’t see him. He was glaring at you on the first day of Science class with you because he wanted to kill you there and then. He is an outsider Pandora. My family makes him act like that, because his last girlfriend went missing, one could say. However, she was only used for his thirst of blood.”

“But, he told me that-“

Damien cut me off by putting his hand up.

Annoying bastard.

“He might have told you he loves you and was never going to attack you, but, he is lying. Since us vampires lure in our prey from everything we do, how we smell, how our voice sounds, et cetera. So, he can easily fool you to believe something that is a lie. I am sorry he used his powers to fool you Pandora.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not, and I am sorry you must face this truth after what he has done already. I was going to tell you at his cottage, but he would deny it and try to show you he loves you and I am lying with his power to manipulate minds. He even showed you his monstrous side to seem less threatening, like he had become submissive towards you. I am sorry for my brother’s heartbreaking lies.”

I stared into his eyes and I felt myself sinking into him. I felt like I was becoming consumed by a new emotion I had no control over, or never felt before. But how? How could I feel this way when there is no such thing as magic?

I felt like I was in love with Damien, like my love for Skye was slowly changing into love towards Damien. I was confused and flustered. I had no idea how to reverse it and it seemed like I truly didn’t want to.

“Damien.” I finally said and I snapped out of his grasp on me and now I felt slightly drawn towards him, but I still had more feelings for Skye.

“Yes Pandora?”

“I’m sorry, I never knew. I feel so ashamed.” I said lying to Damien purposefully. I knew he liked me and that Skye was right in his assumption, well, at least part of it. So, I’m trying to fool him into thinking that I no longer love Skye and I’m falling for him, while I see Skye behind his back.

“There is no need for you to feel ashamed Pandora. You never knew.”

“I’m still so sorry! I should have always seen that you are better than him. I just fell for his power.”

“It’s all right. You are human. Mistakes are made.”

“I should have seen it though! I should have seen your love before his!”

“It’s all right. Now you know. And now we can be together.”

“Yes we can.” I said with a fake smile on my face.

Luckily my fake smile was very convincing. I was able to make anyone believe the emotion I spill on my face and set in my voice. Somehow, no one thinks of looking in my eyes, which deceive everyone in their fake emotions.

He smiled back and pulled me in for a hug. I looked in his eyes and somehow saw something fake there, like he wasn’t truly happy or he was angry. Someone’s eyes may deceive someone in their emotions but they can never tell the truth of why they feel that different emotion, unfortunately.

“We will stay together forever.” He whispered in my ear.

“Yes, we will.” I said, lying.

We hugged for a short while and then he stood up and smiled at me happily.

“Are you hungry my sweet?” he asked, now seeming happier.

“I am actually.” I said honestly, holding my stomach, which was growling.

“I shall get you something to eat. What would you like?”

“Um, just some cheese. It’s in the fridge, in the top drawer. Then, in the first cabinet of the kitchen island are knives to cut it.”

“All right.”

He walked into the kitchen and I heard him take out the cheese, cut it and put everything away. He walked over to me and placed a plate with marble cheese slices on it.

“What shall my lady have to drink?” he asked with his head by my ear.

“Some water please.”

“As you wish.”

He walked to the fridge and I started eating my snack as he was pouring water into a tall glass. I ate at a humbling pace and he brought my water over as he sat down beside me, his hand on my thigh.

I finished eating and my water was done in about half an hour. Damien smiled at me and was about to take my plate and glass to the kitchen. However, I took them from him and he willingly let me put them in the dishwasher.

I felt like we were an arranged married couple. Feeling as though we should love each other, but we don’t truly love each other, more like tolerate each others presence. I felt bad for him, since I felt this way, however it seemed like he felt the same. I don’t know how or why, but it did.

“I need to retire for the night. I shall see you tomorrow though, right my sweet?” said Damien, walking to me.

“Yes darling, you shall see me tomorrow. However, I have a question first.”

“What is that question?”

“Are we now together? As friends with, I mean boyfriend and girlfriend?”

I almost said friends with labels, like Skye calls boyfriends and girlfriends. I sighed at that fact, feeling like I was cheating on him with his very own brother.

“We are together in that sense. Goodbye and goodnight.”

“Goodbye, and goodnight.” I said and he was gone.

I sat back down in my chair, sideways and looked blankly at the blank television screen across from the kitchen table, which was in the living room.

I felt tears starting to form in my eyes. The feeling of regret, unfaithfulness hit me like a speeding car. I felt the pricks at my heart, like what you feel when you’re rejected, or you know you did something extremely wrong.

The tears spilled over the side of my face and Max came down to see me like this. He walked over to me and sat in the seat Damien was sitting in. He placed his hand on my knee and he looked at me with worry.

“I know it will be hard, but it is the best to just forget Skye.” Said Max.

No! He was on Damien’s side! How could he be?! He’s my brother! I need to see if he’ll believe my side. I mean, he loves Cali, shouldn’t he know what true love is like? Shouldn’t he know that you know it’s right, it just feels that way, no matter what other people think?

“Max, Damien is a liar. He loves me but Skye loves me, he isn’t weak! He is strong and he will never attack me! I’m sure it was a mix up or a lie with his other girlfriend. He would never so something like that! Skye is different from the rest in a good way.”

“You’re just saying that because it’s hard. But Damien is here for you, and as you said, he loves you.”

“No! Damien used this power, I can’t explain what, but he looked deep into my eyes and was exchanging my love for Skye with love for him that I didn’t want or have before!”

“You’re in denial Pandora. Get over it and move on already! All of us think this is the best for you.”

“You know what true love feels like Max. God damn it, you know how you feel for Cali! That’s how I feel with Skye.”

“Pandora, this isn’t even close to what Cali and I are like. Get over him already. It’ll be better for you.”

“I guess you’re right.” I lied.

Then the hurt in my heart grew wildly as I knew my parents and now my brother - who I could tell anything to - were on the same side as the guy who hates his brother and “loves me”, are wanting me to never see Skye again.

“I’m going to bed, I think I need a good nights rest from all this excitement, stress and confusion.” I said, getting up from my seat.

“Do you believe this is the best for you Pandora? Can you live with this decision?” asked Max.

For a moment I believed Max was coming out of this trance, but I forced myself not to, because I was probably trying to feed this false hope.

No! I believe this is all a lie! Just some hoax or trick, maybe even a trap I’m supposed to fall into! Or maybe Damien is using me, or maybe he loves me and can’t stand seeing me truly happy with someone else! I will not be able to live with this at all!

“Yes, I believe this is right. I can now see it from your side. I was just confused and still getting all the information in. I will be fine now. Tomorrow will be a new day for my new beginning. I will survive.” I replied with an emotionless tone.

Max smiled at me and I walked upstairs with him following me at my heels. Probably following me to tell mom and dad about my decision, since he was probably the one who was told to come down and ask me these questions.

I went into my room and flopped down on my bed, feeling absolutely depressed, like I shouldn’t live life anymore since Skye was going to be out of it.

My life was just twisting every which way, causing complicated to become the perfect word to describe my life.

I listened to the rain and then it stopped. Then a knock on my window made me stop and think that maybe Skye was there. Maybe he came and wanted to see me! Maybe I can ask him all the questions that were spinning in my head and I could explain everything then tell him how we have to see each other stealthily!

I quickly got up and opened the window to see my beloved Skye in the very same tree he was in the first time, crouched like a predator. Again, he was only in gray stretch pants and his favorite black sweater, unzipped. His bleach blond hair was messy and wet, since it had been raining.

His eyes were bright with content and love, and then they quickly changed to worry and confusion since tears started to spill down my cheeks once again. I stepped out of the way and he jumped in. I quickly turned on my radio, since I sometimes fall asleep to music, especially when I’m in a stressful situation or time in my life.

He walked over behind me and I turned around to his chest. I looked up and his eyes were staring me down, waiting for my explanation of why I started crying.

“I guess you want an explanation, huh?” I asked, knowing the answer already.

“Yes, why is my love crying when she sees me? She should have a bright smile, which lights up any room she walks into.”

A tear streamed down my cheek and Skye wiped it off with the tip of his thumb. His skin was soft and he still smelt so wonderful. I fell into his chest; crying and he picked me up, cradling me in his muscular, yet lean and safe arms. He walked over to my bed and he placed me on his lap, cuddling me up to his chest and stroking my hair.

“What’s the matter my love?” he asked in a worried tone.

“I, I don’t know where to start!”

“When did this occur?”

“Just half an hour ago.”

“Where and who did it occur with?”

“In the kitchen, with Damien.”

“What did he do now?” he growled.

“Well, he said you weren’t as strong as I thought. He said you use this power that allows you to manipulate minds, so I would believe that I was in love with you and that Damien was wrong with anything he said against you. He said you would kill me no matter what I believe or say. He said your last girlfriend went missing because you used her for your thirst for blood, and he said you only showed your monstrous side to me to show you were no threat and that you were technically being submissive towards me. He said everything you told me was a lie!”

“Damien is a liar. I love you more than anyone else in the world! I have been waiting for you for so long! It killed me everyday not to have someone I loved this much and loved me back the same. Do you believe him or me?”

“You!”

“What else happened?”

“Well, he stared into my eyes and I felt like he was changing my love for you into love for him, love I didn’t want but I was allowing in anyways. I couldn’t explain it!”

“That is Damien’s power, sorry to spill his secret. However, he can make manipulate anyones emotions and minds through his stare. He only said I had his power to make his story believable. Did he by any chance say that I glared at you because I hated you and wanted to kill you when you had your first Science class here?”

“Yes.”

“He is a liar. I know it. I live with him. He is my blood brother for crying out loud! And I am ashamed to say that. Also, you know how he said my first girlfriend went missing because I drank her blood, right?”

“Yes.”

“That was Damien, actually.”

“No way!”

“Yes, and I had to save his ass by staging it to look like a suicide. It couldn’t have been me since all the girls that live in the area never seem to give me the time of day.”

“Well, now he has my family convinced that you are bad news and that he’s the right choice for me. Now I have to see you in secret.”

“We will, I will see you after school some nights and at this time. How does that sound?”

“Perfect.” I said in a happy sigh.

“Now, do you have any questions?”

“Well, just tell me about vampires, their history and what bothers them and stuff like that.”

“Okay, well where should I start?” he asked himself, smiling at the wall across from my bed.

“Our vampire history is sketchy. All we truly know is that we are created from a prehistoric animal called Strix that lived after the dinosaurs. They are apparently these creatures that were like a large owl. It had hands on the ends of its wings and could crawl on the ground and act slightly cat like. Apparently the Strix had eye sensitivity to the sunlight. They would only hunt at night and they would prey on small birds and rodents. However, when people found their prey later on, they only saw the animals blood dry body. Also, the feathers of these creatures were used in love potions, they also smelled sweet, looked gorgeous, like a heavenly bird, and the noises they made sounded like a siren song.” He said, very contently.

“Then they somehow evolved into a human like creature, along with monkeys.” he continued. “Ever since then, we live on animal blood, and only a set few decided to try human blood. However, we only usually drink human blood if we get it from a special and secret human hospital that gives us out blood. Many of us don’t attack humans and drink their blood unless they are traitors or if they hurt our family at all. We don’t have any reactions to anything but the sun. And we only have it hurt our eyes, so when the winter is over and the sun comes out I will be wearing sunglasses a lot, and so will Damien. We just say we have light sensitivity.” He said, looking in a daze like he was remembering a good memory.

“Every other legend is a total lie. We breathe, we sleep and we have a heartbeat.” he continued, once again. “We are just always cold. We have to visit special hospitals and doctors for our medical needs. We bleed like humans and can get hurt, but not easily. We are extremely fast and strong, with amazing hearing, and we have an amazing long and short-term memory that is very sharp. Our eyes, as you know, change color when we are bloodthirsty. They turn red and glow to attract and hypnotize our prey. Our fangs are retractable and the only way we can get killed is if our blood is sucked out fully, we are ripped to shreds and burned in a fire for ten minutes with holy water poured over the fire to burn it out. Also we don’t freeze in time. We function normally and we do age, but if we only drink blood type O negative, then we don’t grow in age and we look like how we were when we start drinking only that one blood type. Also, the group of higher vampires thought it would fit best to call their group after the animal we apparently descended from.” He finished looking down at me and smiling.

“Wow, you even brought me back to the prehistoric era! You know your history. Thank you!” I said, with a huge smile on my face.

“I do, because I need to know, since I need to pass this down in my family like my family did. And I will always answer your questions to the best of my abilities any time!” he said, and then he kissed my forehead.

“What was that pill you talked about earlier that you think your brother gave you at lunch today?”

“The pill decreases your strength in resisting to kill. So it makes you thirsty pretty much, just like when you humans drink coffee, only a hundred times worse. It makes you feel like you haven’t had blood for a month, or like you drank about thirty cups of coffee. It’s agonizing. Anyways, someone, probably my brother, put it in my drink at lunch, when I had a glass of water. That is why it was so agonizing before. Now it won’t bother me since I am no longer thirsty, since I had a snack before I came. I will be more careful with my food from now on.”

“Okay, I’m glad to hear that.”

“Well, I guess this means we have to act like enemies for most of the time at school and sometimes after school, especially if Damien brings you to the house. However, I will get my parents on my side, which will be easy because of Damien’s bad rebel streak.”

“Okay.” I said happily.

“But, can you explain the powers for vampires a bit more?”

“Sure. Us vampires can have powers. Damien, for example, can manipulate minds. However, some don’t have powers. These powers are given to us when we are born, but we are taught to control them. We don’t know exactly why we are given these powers, but fortunate ones get these powers and most of them are used properly, while others abuse them. This is yet another thing the Strix watches for among our race.”

“Oh.”

“What time is it?” he asked, looking around my room for my radio.

“It’s ten, why?”

“I’m just curious. I want my love to have a good sleep after everything today, and so she can be happy and ready to act tomorrow in front of my brother.”

“Oh, I see.”

He smiled and pulled me closer to him. I was no longer that upset and I was feeling happy and safe in his arms. I was against his bare chest and I just felt like staying here forever, like I didn’t want him to leave. I wanted him to stay and sleep beside me, so I would know that everything will be okay, but I know that would be too awkward and too soon in our relationship, even though we are moving fast, I don’t want to push it.

I closed my eyes and I listened to his heartbeat. It was fairly average, but I’m not a doctor. I kind of smiled at that comment and I snuggled closer to him, wrapping my arms around his back. He hugged me tighter and he kissed the top of my head. I felt like I could stay here forever, just thinking about him, no one else.

“My love, I should go now.” Said Skye sadly.

“Oh.” I said, pouting.

“You should get some rest for tomorrow. I need rest as well, plus I should probably get my parents on my side before tomorrow, they will be home soon and I should work out a proper way to explain all of this mayhem to them so they are fully convinced, even though Damien’s power doesn’t work on them. Our powers don’t work on other vampires.”

“Oh, and I forgot to ask, what is your power?”

“I don’t have a power.”

“What?”

“Only a few of us vampires have powers, and most are in organizations against humans being involved with vampires.”

“Wow, is Damien?”

“I’m not sure, but I haven’t thought of looking, since he’s my brother. I thought I could trust him and know he isn’t that kind of guy. However, now I know that he used his powers against a human who is in love with me and I love, so he might actually be apart of one of those groups. I’m going to keep a better eye on what he is doing as much as I can.”

“What are these groups exactly?”

“Well, they are like a mafia group mixed with a cult. They bond like a family, actually tighter than a blood family and they kill innocent humans who are infatuated with vampires.”

“Infatuated! That makes me sound like some school girl.”

“I don’t mean it in that way, I was just explaining.”

“It’s okay.”

“Well, I really should go.”

“Fine.”

He stood up and placed me on the ground. I stood there in front of him. The light from my bedside lamp was creating light on his toned body. He looked amazing there, and I just wished that he could stay forever.

He pulled me in for another hug and he hugged me tightly. I hugged him back, staying in his grasp as long as I could. I didn’t want to let go, but he did let go. He faced me and stared into my eyes.

“I will never trick you. I can’t. Don’t you feel that I have no magic in me?”

“I don’t feel any magic in you, unlike your brother.”

“Exactly. So, I will never trick you.”

“I trust you Skye.”

He smiled and kissed me on the cheek again. He hugged me quickly and headed towards the window. I felt like this was a dream and I would wake up in my bed at either this house, still about to start off at a new school, or at my old home, figuring out I wasn’t going to move again.

He opened my window and was about to leap out of the window when he paused and turned around to face me. He had a smile possessing his mouth and he walked back over to me.

“Pandora?”

“Yes.” I said, curiosity consuming my mind.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” I said smiling.

“May I, just,” he said while he brought me closer to him, his hand on the small of my back. He placed his forehead on mine and he had his eyes closed, with a smile still possessing his face.

“May you what?”

“I have always wondered, what it would be like.”

“What are you wondering about?”

“What would happen if I did this.”

He leaned in, his lips so close to kissing mine, when footsteps were coming down the hall. He froze and backed up towards the window.

“Goodbye my love.” He said quickly.

“Goodbye” I whispered.

He nodded and jumped out my window, into the tree he was in when he came to my house. I quickly shut my window and changed into my pajamas. I got into bed and I shut off my bedside lamp.

The footsteps stopped at my door and I pretended to be asleep. Someone came in and I opened one eye to see my father. He turned off my radio and he walked out, shutting my door quietly.

I lay in my bed and I was trying to fall asleep. However, it was hard to fall asleep when you have a sexy vampire on your mind!

I sighed deeply and curled up in my bed. Trying to think about something relaxing, not my longing to kiss my vampire boyfriend. I giggled to myself happily.

I have a vampire boyfriend; that is pretty cool.

That was my last thought before I blacked out into a deep sleep of bliss, waiting for the next morning to come and greet me to a day of hell.