Crimson Nights.

Book I. Part IV.

Authors rant: Woah, lots of mixed reviews for the last chapter, I've taken the photos down so you can imagine the characters as you had intended, originally I had based the characters on my friends so I put their pictures up, but I guess people weren't happy with that, so they've come down. :)

But I do agree part of the mystique of a story is imagining the characters as you want to, so continue to do that. :)

Also, people seemed to be very unhappy about Ryke leaving, and are getting very impatient with the story, to that I say patience is a virtue and Ryke hasn't actually left yet so don't get your knickers in a twist just yet.

Anyways I really appreciate the reviews and keep reviewing, I LOVE it! :D

And I really hope you like this chapter better then the last.

Oh and those usernames STILL didn't come up so the users were: Medusa's Protege and gee thanks. :D

Also this chapter is kinda like two chapters combined because the first was really short so I combined chapters, so it kinda like completely changes, haha, hope you don't mind. :)

Chapter twenty, Kryptonite

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Close the door," Hope mumbled, her voice muffled by my chest, I obeyed and kicked the door shut with my foot.

Hope backed away from me and collapsed on her bed.

"Vanessa's dad has made Ryke an offer," Hope began.

"What kind of offer?" I asked suspiciously.

"Ryke said that Toby had made him a deal, if he comes and works for him as a full time, fully trained vampire hunter, he'll make sure Ryke stays human, as in he'll stop his transformation to becoming a vampire," Hope whispered through sobs. "Is that even possible?" Hope asked as she looked up at me through thick black lashes.

"I- I don't know," was all I could manage.

Toby Ward was evil, he knew once Ryke's transformation was complete he'd have the powers of a vampire along with all the powers of a descendant from the original vampire hunter, Ryke was his secret weapon, Toby Ward was planning war and Ryke was his pawn.

After the war was over Toby would keep his promise, he'd stop Ryke from becoming a vampire because he'd kill him before he could turn eighteen and legally become the head of the vampire hunter association.

It was obvious, Toby Ward wanted a war, but why, I didn't know.

"He's leaving in two days with Vanessa," Hope said her voice dragging me out of my thought. "I don't trust him Trace; I don't trust Mr. Ward at all."

"You want Ryke to stay?" I asked.

Hope nodded into my chest.

"Well then I'll make him stay," I said, I pulled Hope closer to me and kissed her gently on top of her head.

"Thank-you," she whispered almost inaudibly.

I didn't know how I was going to do it, but I had told Hope I was going to do it, so I had to stop him now.

Secretly I wanted him to go, he had caused Hope so much pain being here and I would prefer him to leave, but I couldn't bear to see Hope as sad as she would be without him, because although she wouldn't admit it she cared for him a lot more then she let on.

I walked out of the room, the silence was chilling, the only sound was my footsteps, I had an idea of where Ryke would be, because I had seen him there before.

It was about a fifteen minutes walk from Theodore's house, most people didn't know it existed, but I went there to think sometimes and apparently so did Ryke.

It was a small river, it had a picnic area and a small, old gazebo that was covered in ivy now and a red bridge, I saw Ryke standing on the bridge sometimes just staring at the water or the ice depending on the season.

Sure enough I saw Ryke standing on the bridge, his face tense, he looked deep in thought, his eyes were glowing red, he was hungry, very hungry.

Vampire eyes usually only turn red when we have a human in front of us, but if we are extremely deprived of blood vampire eyes can turn red until the thirst is satisfied or the vampire manages to control the thirst,

"You know, I come here to think too," I said before taking a step on the bridge.

Ryke didn't look phased by my speech so I assumed he had known I was here since I first took a step into the meadow.

"What do you want?" Ryke asked icily.

"I think you know why I'm here."

"Hope sent her little puppy dog to come do her dirty work?" He said.

I laughed, "do you really think anyone can help you Ryke? Nobody can undo what's already been done, Toby Ward doesn't want to help you, he wants to use you."

"How the fuck would you know? You don't know anything Trace; you don't know what it's like to be everything you hate-"

"Don't be so whiney Ryke, of course I do, do you think I enjoy being prince of blood thirsty savages, do you think I like wanting to drink Hope's blood more then anything every time I see her, do you think I like loving Hope when doing that puts her in danger, you're not the only one with problems Ryke." I spat my voice filled with a bitterness that I never knew I had.

Ryke was speechless for a moment, before he furrowed his eye brows and began once again.

"That's exactly why I'm going to go to Toby he can get rid of that monster inside me, and nothing you or Hope or anyone else says is going to change that, and I hope that I never have to see you or her again." Ryke spat.

"Ryke don't be so stupid, you're deluding yourself, he's going to use you and then he's going to kill you," I stated.

"I guess that'd make everyone's life easier," Ryke stated almost sadly, I almost felt sorry for him until he shot me a glare filled with so much hate, it was almost scary to wonder how much hate that boy had bottled up inside.

"What about Hope?" I asked softly.

"What about her?" He shot back a little too quickly.

"Do you know what that would do to her?" I asked. "Do you not care about anyone besides yourself?"

His facial expression stayed the same, but his eyes gave him away, the hateful wall built around him faltered slightly, his eyes softened and were filled with sadness.

"Why are you doing this Trace? You should want me gone," Ryke said.

"I do, but Hope doesn't and I don't want to see her unhappy."

Ryke scoffed, and just looked up towards the full moon; the moonlight was hazy and shone down illuminating the beauty of this meadow.

"You know no one can change you Ryke, no matter what they say. The only thing Toby Ward wants is another vampire war."

I saw Ryke turn around to reply but I was already gone because I could hear a familiar sing-song voice calling his name.

I ran and hid in the darkness of the ivy filled gazebo.

"Typical Vampire," Ryke muttered venomously.

"Ryke," Hope called from a distance, "Theodore told me I could find you here, where are you!" She called, her voice was high and frightened, I desperately wanted to run out and guide her but I couldn't, I had to see what Ryke would say, he'd have to make up his mind here and now.

"Ryke," she called her voice slightly closer this time, "Ryke," she called again this time her voice sounded relieved and I saw her running towards the bridge where he was standing looking up at the moon.

"What? Your boyfriends' pestering wasn't enough so now you had to come?" Ryke asked emotionlessly.

"What?" she asked confused. "Trace was here?" She asked.

Ryke grunted, "What do you want?" He asked.

"I don't want you to leave, I don't trust Mr. Ward; he wanted to assassinate you, why all of a sudden would he want to help you?" Hope asked; she was radiating innocence.

"There's no use going through this speech again, Trace has already been through it, and I'm still leaving." Ryke said his voice void of any emotion.

"But Ryke, please, you can't leave, just stay... I'll let you drink my blood whenever you want, just-"

"Hope!" Ryke thundered grabbing her shoulders and holding her gaze, "don't you get it, you're the reason I'm leaving! Your blood is the reason I'm leaving," Ryke said.

I saw glistening tears stream down Hope's face.

"Please," she murmured, "I need you here, I don't want you to get hurt Ryke, I'll help you, just please stay!"

Ryke let go of her shoulders and sighed, "You're not making this easy for me Hope," he mumbled aggravated, "I want to go," he forced out.

"Ryke, please, I'll do anything you want, he can't help you; he just wants to kill you."

"Maybe that's for the better," Ryke mumbled sadly.

Ryke wasn't expecting but Hope hugged him tightly, "don't say that Ryke, I know you hate me, but that doesn't mean I hate you." She stated strongly.

Ryke looked taken a back, "I-I don't hate you Hope," he said softly, more soft then I had ever heard him speak before.

Hope just looked up at him and he looked down at her, "if you don't hate me, then why are you leaving? If you didn't hate me, you would stay." Hope said firmly.

"I can't stay," he sighed.

"But you can Ryke! All of this is my fault, and if anything happens to you because you go off with Mr. Ward it'd be my fault for not stopping you, do you know how much that would hurt me?" Hope asked.

"Hope-" Ryke began

"No Ryke! You can never deal with this if you just run away, running away won't solve anything!"

There was silence.

Ryke closed his eyes, he looked tired, "if I stay will you promise me something?" Ryke asked slightly annoyed.

"Anything." Hope said in anticipation.

"If I ever become more monster than human, kill me."

I didn't get to see Hope's reply because I ran off, I saw what I needed to see, there was no point in being nosey at the rest of it, he was staying, I could stop worrying; he was staying.

I never thought I'd be happy to hear that Ryke was staying in Richwood but I was.

I knew Ryke's weakness now, his kryptonite; it was the same as mine, Hope.

*

As long as Ryke stayed in Richwood I didn't have to worry about Toby Ward, I heard Vanessa was reluctantly still going back with her father, but she would be going back without Ryke.

"Where are we going?" Hope giggled, her eyes were still closed, I held her hand and dragged down the pathway.

Winter had slowly begun melting into spring and today happened to be a surprisingly warm Saturday, the perfect picnic weather.

"Surprise," I said as I continued to pull her down the path, she giggled as she nearly tripped over a rock.

I had decided that we needed to talk, that kiss had been a mistake, but that didn't mean we couldn't talk and have fun. So I had packed a picnic, well I had packed Hope a picnic.

"You can open your eyes now," she opened them, and I watched the amazement twinkle in her eyes, I would have given anything to watch that look again and again, the wonder in her deep brown eyes was breath taking.

"Oh My God, it's beautiful," she whispered as she stared around.

I had taken her to my secret place, the place only someone who had lived centuries in Richwood would find; I hadn't taken anyone there before.

It only looked pretty in the spring and summer in winter is just looked sad and depressed, it was in between where one part of the forest stopped and the other started. It was a fifteen minute trek up the sloping land, and the path was a little hard to follow, but the walk was worth it.

There has once been a castle built here, a small one, but it was never finished and now only some of the concrete remains were left, it was beautiful and creepy.

Behind the castle was a small waterfall about two meters high and a small pond inhabited by small green frogs in the summer.

"Can we go inside?" Hope asked.

"Sure, but how about lunch first?" I suggested, pointing to the picnic that was set up already.

Hope smiled brightly, "you're amazing," she whispered.

*

"So, can vampire's show up in photos?" Hope asked as she nibbled on the end of her chocolate danish.

"Yes," I laughed, "In fact, I bought some photos," I said.

"You did?" She asked, "Of what?"

"Well, I thought you'd like to see some photo's of your mother," I said unsurely.

Hope just stared at me; she froze and dropped her danish, "You have photos of my mother?" She asked, tears welled up in her eyes but she blinked them away quickly, "I've never seen what my mother looks like," she said sadly.

"Would you like to?" I asked.

Hope bit her lip before nodding; I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out a small stack of photos.

I passed the photo of her mother to her; Hope looked a lot like her.

"Wow," Hope mumbled, "she was so... beautiful."

"She looks just like you," I whispered, Hope just smiled.

"We have the same brown eyes," she mumbled dreamily.

She just stared at the photo, "would you like to see some others?" I asked.

"No, this is enough," Hope said with a small smile.

"You can keep that if you like." I said to her.

She looked up at me happily, "really?" She asked, I replied with a smile but she understood and tucked the photo into her pocket.

"Okay, now how's about we go look at that castle?" She asked happily.

"You've been looking forward to that haven't you?" I asked, with a smile, she nodded happily and ran off before I could catch her.

"Hope," I called as I ran after her into what was left of the now green walls of the old castle.

I heard a giggle in the distance, "hurry up," she hollered.

I froze, I had lied, well partially lied to myself, I had taken someone here before, well they had taken me here.

Back in my misfit days, Arianna, the beautiful Arianna.

"Hurry up, Trace!" Arianna hollered, her golden brown hair flowed behind her, trailing after her so I could see where she was, I heard her giggle.

"C'mon you're faster then me, no fair!" I called back.

"Oh don't moan Trace, now hurry up, I need to show you something," She called back.

I clambered up the concrete stairs, to where I could hear her voice, she was waiting around the corner for me, she pulled me in by my collar and kissed me, she was teasing me and stopped just before the kiss could get interesting, she left me standing there wanting more as she glided carelessly up the concrete steps, her long, wispy white dress dragged on the ground, the hem was stained with blood and dirt, but she still looked like an angel.

"C'mon," she called happily.

The castle walls weren't so green then; you could still see the grey stone back then.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," I called back.

I finally reached the top of the tower to where she was standing; she was looking at me a gleeful look on her baby face.

"Look, I've been having some fun!" She explained excitedly.

I looked around the top of the tower; there were bodies everywhere, some fresh some, not so fresh.

Dead bodies, of women, men and children, it was gruesome, blood stained the tower, there were piles of them, all drained of blood.

"Nobody will find them here," Arianna chirped happily, "two years worth of hunting," she stated proudly.

I felt sick, I loved her, but this was horrible.

"Well don't stand there so speechless Trace, a girls got to eat," Arianna said with a sadistic smile on her face.

I stayed silent and she rolled her eyes. I had killed, and I was in a bad frame of mind, but that sight was horrible, disgusting, it was like a scene from a nightmare.

"Well my collection isn't why I bought you up here, you see I have another human I haven't even begun to drink from, I thought you and me, together could-"

"No!" I yelled.

"Trace, Trace, where are you?" Hope called.

"Sorry, I'm still down here; I'll be up in a minute."

I ran up to the tower where Hope was standing, the sun streamed through the small window, she was staring out of it.

"It's beautiful," she said dreamily.
I was shaking, why had I bough Hope up here? The memories were too vivid, too much, I felt sick. I looked around the room, and I swear I still saw the bodies piled up by the walls, the blood splattered all over the wall.

"Oh, come on Trace, don't act like you've never killed a human, we're vampires, it's what we do," Arianna said carelessly, her bright blue eyes losing their babyish charm and becoming fiery pits of anger.

"Arianna, I can't do it, look you've killed innocent children," I stated.

"Well it was that or leave them orphans, if anything I was doing them a favor, now come here Trace," she stated.

As much as I didn't want to I waked robotically towards her, she smiled at me.

"Open the chest," she said pointing to the large chest sitting in the darkest corner of the room, I obeyed.

I opened it and inside was a shaking, fragile frame, a child. By the looks it couldn't be any older than twelve.

"I found her on the street, she had lost her parents, I offered to help her and well..." She smiled broadly, "she has great smelling blood; she'll be a treat."

I couldn't do it, I couldn't kill the child, but I did the next worse thing, I watched Arianna as she did, she was a monster and I loved her.

"Trace? Are you alright?" Hope asked.

"We need to go," I said.

"Why?" Hope asked confused.

I followed Arianna for years, lusting after her, she had me wrapped around her pinky finger, she was a misfit too.

She forced me to do things I didn't want to, but she was my kryptonite, my only weakness. She finally took it too far when she wanted me to help kill a household of humans for her, I refused, but she kept trying to persuade me, something inside of me snapped then and I ran, ran as fast as I could to Theodore's house, he was holding the annual Vampire Hunter meeting, I begged the hunters there to lend me their services, but everyone refused except one, a brave hunter named Leo, but by the time we reached the home Arianna had disappeared.

I never saw her again, but years later, I ordered a bunch of vampires to search the tower for her and the bodies, she was gone, but there were fresh bodies, I ordered them to clear the bodies out and clean up the place.

I expected Arianna would come back to add to her 'collection' but she never did.

"Just come Hope, this place isn't safe and I shouldn't have bought you here."

A/N: Soooo, yeah that whole Arianna thing you don't need to worry about atm, its for later on in the story, waaaaaaaaaay later, anywho hope you liked it. :D

Back to either Hopes or Ryke's POV next chapter, don't know who yet, so I'll surprise you. :D