Lyra blinked and looked around at her unfamiliar surroundings. With a start she realized that the movie had been over for some time, she was still in Tabitha's living room, her phone was buzzing angrily, and Tabitha was sleeping peacefully on top of her. Carefully Lyra fished out her cell phone.

"Hello?" She whispered softly.

"You'd better be kidnapped or dead." A very angry voice said.

"Thanks mom, I love you too." Lyra rolled her eyes.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" Her mother hissed.

"Um, no actually I don't." Lyra admitted.

"Why are you whispering?" her mother asked suddenly.

"Tabitha is asleep." Lyra explained. There was a long silence on the other end.

"Look I know you're getting older and it's natural that you are going to want to do things with your new girlfriend…"

"MOM!" Lyra hissed as loudly as she dared, "it's not like that. Tabitha's father went to go investigate a vampire attack and her mom's at work. She was worried that the vampire might come after me because I have super special werewolf blood or something…anyway I said I'd wait for him to get back and we were watching a movie and we fell asleep. That's all that happened, honest!" She hastily explained.

"Lyra it's five o'clock in the morning and he's not back yet?" her mother sounded skeptical.

"If it's that late and he's not back then something bad must have happened. I have to go mom I'll call you when I know more." She clicked the phone off without waiting for an answer.

"Tabitha…" Lyra said gently. Tabitha mumbled something incoherent and snuggled deeper. Lyra kissed her forehead.

"Tabitha please wake up." I heard her take a quick breath as she woke and rubbed her eyes.

"I told you not to let me sleep damn it." Tabitha said with a frown. Lyra took a deep breath.

"Tabitha…your dad isn't home yet." Lyra said slowly.

"Well what the hell time is it any…way…" She trailed off as she looked at the clock on her phone. She grew really quiet.

"What…what should we do?" Lyra asked.

"We aren't going to do anything." Tabitha said.

"Well we have to call the police or…"

"Lyra, I'm going after him, you have to stay here." Tabitha said firmly.

"Like hell I am." Lyra said.

"I don't want you to be in danger!" Tabitha pleaded.

"I'm supposed to just let you walk out of that door to go off, by yourself I might add, to face a vampire of unknown strength and power?" Lyra asked crossing her arms.

"Well when you put it that way…" Tabitha admitted quietly.

"Yeah, that's a 'hell no.'" Lyra reiterated.

"I can't just sit here and not know what happened to him." Tabitha said angrily.

"I'm not suggesting that we do. I just think we should get some help first. Do you know any other vampire hunters in the area?" Lyra asked. Tabitha shook her head.

"There aren't enough vampires here to warrant more than one hunter." The blonde said.

"Ok get your hunting gear and one of your dad's shirts." Lyra said, "You're going to call your mom so she knows what is going on then we're going to my house to get my dad and his friends.

"How are your dad's friends going to help and what do you need my dad's shirt for?" Tabitha asked with a raised brow as she pulled out her cell phone to call her mother. Lyra smirked.

"Trust me." Lyra said as she picked up her phone as well.

A few hours later Tabitha stood with her mouth hanging open at the group of people gathered in her living room. The smell of werewolves was overpowering and Tabitha was afraid she might faint.

"What exactly is going on here?" Tabitha asked as she watched Lyra being put in a head lock by one of the older boys.

"This…" Lyra said as she reversed the hold and threw the boy on the ground, "is my pack. We don't get together often because a large group of werewolves makes kind of a target out of us, but we get together at holidays and when someone in the pack is in need." She explained.

"But…I'm not in your pack…" Tabitha stammered. Lyra took her hand and turned to the people in the room.

"Hey guys?" They quieted somewhat, "Tabitha seems to be under the impression that she isn't in this pack." Lyra had a smirk on her face. The room laughed loudly and advanced towards the vampire. Lyra tried to back away but was held tight by her girlfriend. A few seconds later Tabitha was encompassed by one bone crushing hug after another. When everyone had finished hugging her Lyra turned to her girlfriend.

"Do you still think that you aren't apart of this pack? If so they'll keep hugging you until you relent." Lyra was smiling. Tabitha rolled her eyes.

"Ok fine, I guess that makes me a werewolf." The room erupted in cheers.

"Alright everyone settle down please." Tabitha's father said. The room quieted immediately.

"Dad's the Alpha." Lyra whispered. Tabitha nodded in understanding.

"Ok so we have a missing man. Tabitha was kind enough to provide us with one of his shirts so we can scent him. Everyone I want you to be careful, no one goes out alone. Do not get separated." The werewolves took turns getting the scent off the shirt. Lyra stood at the end of the line.

"Dad," Lyra said softly to her father, "You know that if we don't go with someone then she's going to sneak out later. I know you want us to be safe here but I don't think that she's going to let that happen."

"I know…I'll go with you two." He replied.

"Ok thanks dad." She gave him a big hug and went back to where her girlfriend was standing.

"We're going with Dad." Lyra said.

"We're going with them?" Tabitha asked with surprise.

"Well, I figured that if I tried to get you to stay here you'd probably wait until I got distracted and then sneak out to go look for him yourself, which would not only be dangerous but would really piss me off. So I talked to my father and he agreed with me that it would be safer if you just went with us." Lyra explained. Tabitha hugged her girlfriend tightly.

"Thank you for understanding." She mumbled into the brunette's shirt. Tabitha turned and watched as the werewolves inspected their weapons of choice which ranged from simple knives to shotguns. The vampire noticed her girlfriend had disappeared. Curiously she went to Lyra's room and watched with wide eyes as her girlfriend inspected and loaded an impressive looking gun.

"What the hell is that?" She asked.

"It's a Colt 1911, 45 Acp." She said as she picked up the holster and extra ammunition. She attached the holster to her belt and pocketed the bullets.

"How the hell do you have a gun?" She asked.

"You can get one at 16 with parent's permission on the gun license." Lyra explained, "My dad got me this last year for my 16th birthday."

"You know how to use that thing?" Tabitha asked.

"I'm a dead shot with it." Lyra assured, "I'm pretty useless unless the moon is full but I just want to be able to protect you. I probably won't even use it."

"My dad won't let me shoot a gun. He says it's too dangerous." Tabitha said.

"What do you use when you go out with him?" Lyra asked.

"Um…it's going to sound silly…" Tabitha said, "I use a sword."

"Oh, well…" Lyra rummaged in her closet. She pulled out several swords.

"Rapier, katana or cutlass?" Lyra asked.

"Wow, um…rapier I guess, it's what I'm most familiar with." Tabitha said as she ran her fingers reminiscently over the steel. She drew the weapon and tested it's weight. She swung it expertly a couple of times to get used to the sword.

"Um…would this be a bad time to tell you that I think it's hot that you can fight with a sword." Lyra said with a blush. Tabitha smiled and sheathed the sword.

"Yes I suppose it is. But when this is all over I can give you a demonstration if you'd like." She grinned.

"Come on," Lyra said, "let's get your dad." The two girls headed downstairs. Lyra's father raised an eyebrow at the rapier that Tabitha was strapping to her belt. Lyra grabbed a coat to conceal her gun.

"How do you plan on hiding that sword?" Lyra's father asked.

"Trench coat." Tabitha said simply, "If you don't mind stopping by my house to grab it."

"We're going to start there anyway." He explained, "We're going to see if we can scent him from there. If not we're going to split up and see if we can pick the trail up."

"If someone finds something are they going to howl or something?" Tabitha asked with a smirk. Lyra held up her cell phone.

"Welcome to 2010." She said. Everyone climbed into their respective cars and drove to Tabitha's house. Once there Tabitha got her trench coat and felt in the pocket for her vial of holy water. She smiled at her lucky charm and took a deep breath before returning to Lyra who was helping her father coordinate the search. Lyra's mother had gotten home as soon as she could get away from the hospital. She was speaking with Lyra's father.

"Mom!" Tabitha called out and ran to get a hug. Her mother grabbed her tightly.

"Honey I'm so glad you're safe." Her mother said.

"Mrs. Vigeto, the information you've given me will be very helpful." Lyra's father said.

"I wish our parents were meeting under better circumstances." Lyra said with a sad smile.

"I know, are we ready to move out?" Tabitha asked with her hand resting on the hilt of the rapier.

"Honey you aren't going with them are you?" Tabitha's mother asked with alarm.

"Both of the girls will be coming with me." Lyra's father said, "I know that my daughter won't stay at home idly and I am certain that yours isn't going to be any less likely to just sit around. Lyra pointed out that they would be safer accompanying me that sneaking out on their own."

"I see your point but…her father's missing and I don't like her going out there." Tabitha's mother said.

"Mom this is what Dad has trained me to do." Tabitha insisted, "I'll be okay, Lyra and her father will be there to protect me."

"I guess there isn't any talking you out of it." Her mother said.

"Ok so we've split the group up to take look at the outskirts of the town first. I figure that if you're taking people someplace, you want it to be off the beaten path. After that we form a perimeter we're going to work our way into the city in case this vamp has an underground basement or something. We've contacted our sources in the sheriffs and police departments as well. We're going to get the asshole." Her father said adamantly. Tabitha said a quick goodbye to her mom and then headed outside to where Lyra and her father were waiting. Lyra and Tabitha climbed into the back seat. Rex raised an eyebrow in the rear view mirror.

"No making out back there…" he said.

"DAD!" Lyra protested. Tabitha blushed.

"I'm just saying!" He replied.

"We'll behave." Tabitha said. She took Lyra's hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. They pulled out of the driveway and began their search of the town. They'd been driving for about a half an hour when Rex's cell phone rang.

"Did you find something?" He asked. He listened intently.

"He's what?!" He exclaimed. Rex's gaze hardened, "Thanks for the information."

"Dad, what is it?" Lyra asked as Tabitha gripped her hand tighter.

"We think we've found the hideout, but we're not just dealing with one vamp now." He said.

"What do you mean Dad?" Lyra asked.

"He's starting a Family isn't he?" Tabitha asked softly.

"Yeah…we've got at least six vamps, maybe more." Rex replied.

"Look, you girls need to go back, this is too much for you." Rex said as he pulled a u-turn.

"But…" Tabitha began.

"Tabitha…" Lyra said softly, "please listen to him. I don't want you getting hurt ok?" Tabitha saw the tears threatening in her girlfriends eyes and hugged her tight.

"Ok Lyra, I'll go back, don't be upset." Tabitha whispered. Lyra hugged her back, just as tightly. She pulled back just enough to kiss her lovingly.

"I'm taking you guys back to my house." Rex said, "if the vamp comes back then I don't want him getting either of you…and no making out!"

"Ok Dad." Lyra smiled slightly. The rest of the trip was made in silence. Rex dropped them off at the house and waited until they entered the house and locked the door before pulling away. Tabitha sighed heavily as the door closed. Lyra searched the house for her mother and noticed a note saying she'd gone to keep Tabitha's mom company.

"Well, it looks like we have the house to ourselves." Lyra shrugged. Tabitha let out a frustrated groan.

"I am going to go absolutely crazy waiting for them to get back!" She said.

"We could put in a movie?" Lyra suggested.

"I don't think I can sit still." Tabitha admitted.

"Well, what do you want to do?" Lyra asked. Tabitha paced for a minute.

"I want to go out there and look for my Dad." Tabitha said irritatedly.

"Ok, what's number two on your list?" Lyra asked.

"I don't know!" Tabitha exclaimed with tears in her eyes.

"Hey…" Lyra said softly as she pulled the blonde into her arms, "We'll find him."

"I just keep thinking that he might be hurt, or turned, or…or…" Tabitha sobbed.

"He's a strong guy, he'll be ok." Lyra assured.

"I just need to stop thinking about it…" Tabitha sniffed. Lyra thought for a moment

"I…think I know a way I can distract you…"