Lightening flashed through the drawn curtains, filling my room with a substantial amount of light. I shivered, resisting the urge to throw my covers over my head. You're not a wimp, Melanie. Be strong! I thought.

The clash of thunder was so loud, I had to clap my hands over my ears just to hear myself think. As the next round of flashes followed the continuous booming of thunder, the glass door that led to my balcony suddenly crashed open. Rain pelted in from outside, the wind breathing into the room like a cold kiss.

I jumped at the sound of glass shattering to the ground and quickly jerked the covers off my body. Dashing to the doors, I struggled to shut them, the rain drenching me and the wind pounding against me.

Stupid curtains! I cursed silently. They blew into my face and I pushed them away angrily. My head jerked up when I heard what sounded like a flute from below. Music? At a time like this? I wondered. Puzzled, I was drawn out onto the balcony. I looked over the edge, the hair on my neck standing as the music abruptly broke off.

After a few moments of standing in the freezing rain and the pelting wind, I realized that it wasn't going to resume its melodious tune. I turned away, wondering if what I had heard was just my imagination. A flash of movement to my right caught my attention but before I could react, a hand grabbed me from behind.

I opened my mouth to scream, but it was covered hastily. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it echo in my ears. Clawing at the hand that covered my mouth, I inwardly screamed when I was pulled over the rail. I was falling blindly downward.

God, don't let me die! I prayed, pleaded. Total and complete darkness overtook my senses when I felt myself hit the ground.

I was falling, falling rapidly toward the ground. When I tried to scream, nothing came out. As the world spun around and around, I felt nausea swell within my stomach. The ground rushed up to meet me. A moment before I hit the ground, a shriek escaped my lips…

waking me from my dreams.

My eyes jerked open. There was someone screaming. No, I was still screaming! My scream died away and I couldn't contain the shiver that wracked my body. I still felt nauseated and I was breathing so quickly, my heart was beating so erratically. It was just a dream. Just a dream.

I tried to sit up, but I couldn't. What if I really did fall?! What if I'm paralyzed?! I closed my eyes, drawing in a long shaky breath. Slowly, I opened them and looked down at my hands. Perplexed, I frowned. They were bound together, so tightly, in fact, that I couldn't feel them anymore. From what I could see, I was lying on a bed, facing a blank wall.

A small click sounded from somewhere behind me. Where am I? I suddenly wondered.

"Are you awake?"

That voice… I know that voice. Recognition swelled within my breast.

I couldn't see the speaker, but I knew he was there. Someone touched my hair, slowly and tantalizingly drawing their fingers through it.

"Did you have a nightmare, Melanie?" The voice asked.

I shuddered when I felt a warm breath on my ear. The gentle hands swept away my hair to expose my neck. I jumped in pure shock when I felt lips brush across my skin.

That voice…

I cringed when a tongue grazed my neck.

"Don't you remember me, beautiful one?" Laughter filled the air.

Suddenly my eyes lit up in recognition. I rolled over, facing my old friend.

"Alex!" I cried. My eyes traveled the length of him; he still looked exactly as I remembered. His short, spiked, golden brown hair was the same, his crystal blue eyes were the same and, I blushed, he was still deathly handsome.

He sat down beside me on the bed. "Did I scare you, Mel?"

"You jerk! Why didn't you call?!" I sat up, thrashing out with my feet and bound wrists. "I've waited so long for you!"

Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks. Alex caught me in a hug, softly kissing my head.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't realize how long I'd be gone."

I stifled a sob. "I've waited two years, Alex. Two years!" I looked up into his face. "You couldn't call?"

Alex smoothed away my tears with his thumb. "Where I was, I couldn't. No. It would have been dangerous and I'd have been caught."

"Why are you back? Why now?" I whispered. "Did you…finish?"

"No, not yet. They've moved, Melanie. They're here."

"Here? No, that's impossible! Why would they be here?"

He touched my lips lightly. "They're looking for something, for someone."

I whispered, "Who?"

Alex shook his head. "I don't know yet. But I'll find out." He smiled. "Here, let me undo this."

He slowly unwound the rope wrapped around my wrists.

"Why the rope?"

He shrugged, his eyes glimmering.

"Why did you "kidnap" me, Alex? My parents will be worried sick. You did enough damage to make them think I've really been kidnapped."

"Just like old times, Mel. You think they'll remember? Unlike you?"

"I remembered!" I exclaimed.

"You didn't," he teased. "It took you until I licked you to figure out who I was."

"Who else would lick me? You're such a pervert, Alex!" I banged my fist on his chest.

Alex suddenly pushed me backwards on the bed. "I know." He laughed. When his laugh died down, his expression became serious. "Can I kiss you?"

He smiled when I blushed. "I'll take that as a yes, then," he murmured.

His lips came down on mine rather quickly, softly, yet passionately. My heart ached at the emotions Alex's kiss brought me. Alex ran his hands through my hair, stopping when they cupped my face. I wrapped my arms around his neck, heat filling my face when his mouth slid across my skin to my neck.

"Melanie…" He murmured, nuzzling his face in my neck where it dipped to meet my shoulder.

I couldn't sustain the sigh that escaped my mouth.

"Melanie," Alex kissed my neck over and over again. "Can I…bite you?"

My eyes flashed open. Is he joking? He wouldn't actually joke about something that had killed his family…would he? My eyes widened in horror when I felt sharp teeth graze over my skin.

Suddenly, my thoughts were in chaos. Did they turn him while he was there?! Is he one of them, now?! No, he'd never let them. He'd rather die. I know he would! This isn't Alex!

I cried out when the teeth pierced my neck. A…a…

"Vampire!" I cried out, struggling against his arms, struggling for all my life was worth.

The vampire chuckled, making the very blood running through my veins freeze like ice. He lapped up my blood, sucking the very life out of me.

"Stop it!" I cried, breathing heavily.

"Ah, Melanie. Sweet Melanie." The vampire laughed again. "How sweet is your blood."

Loosening my feet from underneath the vampire, I kicked him off me. He fell to the floor, a malicious grin on his face. I shuddered; his face still resembled Alex's.

"Who are you?" I demanded.

"Don't you know, Melanie? I am your beloved Alex."

Fury lashed out within me. "Don't you dare play games with me, vampire! Show me your true form!"

Smirking, he replied, "Very well."

His image shifted before my eyes. No longer was he my beautiful, blue-eyed Alex: his eyes turned red; his hair grew longer, grew darker, blacker; his skin color paled considerably. The vampire's crimson eyes caught my gaze and he smiled, showing off his fangs.

"Who are you?" I whispered, inching back away from him.

Licking his lips for any remnants of my blood, the vampire crouched as if ready to spring. "Just another hungry vampire."

At the moment when he leaped towards me, I cried, "Don't let him hurt me, Jesus!"

A brilliant light briefly encircled me and the vampire flew back, slamming against the wall across from me. The light vanished, just as fast as it had come. I sat there on the bed, my chest heaving.

The vampire looked at me, trying his hardest not to look so horrified. "You Believe!" he spat angrily.

I nodded, the only movement I felt I could do. My eyes abruptly fell to the door a few feet from where I sat. Hastily, I looked at the vampire, glancing back at the door. If I could just reach it…

Finally, resolved, I bolted for the door. I opened it, my heart nearly beating through my chest. The door crashed closed and I jumped, turning in time to miss the hand that slammed on the door near my head. I opened my mouth to speak, but the vampire's hand roughly covered it.

"Don't even try to call Him for help," he hissed. "Neither aloud nor in your mind!" I froze in fear when he smiled. "Do you still want to know who I am, Melanie?" I shivered at the way he said my name, as if he was trying to seduce me, to tempt me. "Fine then." Stepping away from me, his blood-red eyes warning me not to say a word, he bowed elegantly. "I am Raven, the undefeatable Vampire Knight of the Dark Realm."

Raven caught hold of my hand, raising it to his lips and lightly pressing a kiss to the back of it. I shuddered, wrenching my hand out of his grasp.

"What do you want with me, Raven of the Dark Realm? Why do you visit me in the middle of the night, impersonating my friend and colleague?" I asked, trying to keep anger in my words.

His lips quirked into a smirk. "Your job has overstepped its bounds. Your colleague was found on vampire land, killing innocent vampires."

I clenched my hands into fists. "Vampires are hardly innocent! What did you do to Alex? If you've hurt him, I'll-"

"You'll do what, kill us all?" Raven laughed cynically. "You humans are pathetic! No, you'll do naught a thing." He fingered my blonde hair. "My King as asked for your appearance. Consider it an honor, Melanie. As for Alex, some say he's dead, tortured to death. However, the King would never bring him to the castle and just kill him. No, he'd need to make him suffer. And so, you're going to come, willingly, with me."

I jerked my head away from his hand. "And why should I?"

"Because my orders are to obtain you, and if you refuse, to kill you," Raven stroked my neck. "In any way I desire."

Slapping away Raven's hand, I glowered at him, saying, "I would rather die then see you kill Alex!"

"Such a pity. And you're such a beautiful human, too. Under different circumstances," Raven leaned closer to me, brushing his lips over my ear. "I'm sure I would have fallen in love with you."

I froze. Crimson stole its way onto my face. His breathe on my neck sent a wave of shivers down my spine. When his lips fell to my neck, I pushed Raven away.

"Stay away from me, vampire! Remember your place or I'll have to put you in it."

Raven's eyebrow rose elegantly on his face, and his lips twitched into a smile. "I'm sure you would. Now, I'll take you back to your room and give you ten minutes to get changed. Bed attire will not do for His Majesty. As soon as you're ready, we'll be off."

"I never said I'd go!" I challenged.

"You will."

I sighed gazing at the broken door, shaking my head slightly. "Mom and Dad are going to flip when they see the damage that you've made," I mumbled.

Raven smirked. "What damage?" He asked, feigning innocence.

I snorted, grumbling, "Liar." Crossing the room to my closet, I shifted the clothes until I was at the very back. I couldn't contain a smirk as I reached for my hunting outfit; black leather shorts, a black shirt, a belt full of deadly weapons- a silver knife, wooden stakes, a bow, a quiver of arrows, and a various assortment of other weapons- and a red trench coat. I grabbed the clothes and threw them on my bed, sifting through the bottom of my closet for my boots. When I found them, I hastily checked to make sure the small dagger was still tucked away.

"Good," I murmured.

Raven spoke, causing me to jump, interrupting me from my thoughts, "I hope you don't think you can get away with walking through our land with all those weapons."

I shrugged. "Better to be safe than sorry."

"Don't be surprised to find them gone in the morning."

I whirled around, instantly furious. "Don't youdare touch any of my stuff," I exclaimed.

"I'll touch anything I want." To prove his point, Raven caught me around my waist, pulling me roughly to him and kissing me. A resounding smack filled the room.

Breathing rather heavily, I warned him, "Don't ever try that again, vampire, or you won't live to see another night!" He just smiled.

Grumbling under my breath, I swept past him, reaching for my clothes. I hesitated, slowly turning to face Raven. "I need to get changed," I said, hinting that he should leave.

"Continue, by all means," he replied, that infuriating smirk still on his face.

I shut my eyes, praying that God gave me patience. When I opened them, I pointed to the door. "Out!" I commanded.

"So you can vanish the moment I leave? I think not. I'll be staying here."

"Will you at least turn around?" I pleaded.

Raven's blood-red eyes sparkled. "What will you give me?"

"Nothing!" I gritted out. He crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes boring into me. Finally, I exclaimed, "Fine! What do you want?"

"I want…" he hesitated. "I want a mate."

I shuddered at the way his gaze fell over me. "Stop looking at me like I'm your dinner! No! I will not be your mate!"

Raven stood still, not moving a muscle.

"I'll give you a kiss," I said, hoping I could at least bargain my way out of his thinking that I could become his mate.

"Three."

"Fine. Now turn around." I couldn't help but notice the grin still on his face as he turned. "Stupid vampire," I muttered.

"Let me just remind you how thrilled I would be to watch you," he said, not masking the amusement in his voice.

Sighing, I said, "Stay as you are, vampire."

I watched his back wearily, shedding my pajamas and donning my hunting clothes. I pulled my hair into a ponytail, glad that he at least stayed silent while I changed. Suddenly, I blushed.No, he was probably listening to my every movement. Listening to my clothes sliding off, the rustle of them as they fell to the floor… What have I gotten myself into?

"Can I turn around, yet?" he asked.

I started. "Yes, go ahead."

When he turned, the amusement was still clear on his face. It had been said that vampires could hear human thoughts, that they knew their secrets with just a glance. I'd never had to opportunity to find out; they usually died too quickly. I swallowed uneasily, wondering if he did know my thoughts.

"Somehow that suits you," he murmured.

I rose my eyebrow, wondering what he meant. "You're happy I'm a vampire hunter?"

"Maybe," he answered. Turning, he beckoned me to follow him out onto the balcony. I followed, wondering what was going on in that small, evil mind of his. "Do you trust me?" he asked suddenly.

Blinking in shock at the strangeness of the question, I answered, "No."

Raven nodded. "Good. Come here." Puzzled, I stepped closer to him, pausing when he reached for me.

"What are you-"

"Hold on to me. It's easier to fly on the winds of the world when you're in my arms."

Is he just trying to get closer to me again so he can…touch me? I wondered. I frowned, slowly saying, "Such poetic words don't fit you, vampire."

Raven pulled me into his arms, gripping me close. His arms seemed to cradle me, holding my body gently as if I were a small fragile bird; if he held me too tight, he'd crush me, but if he held me too loose, I'd fly away.

With my head being pressed into his chest, I shivered when I felt his muscles ripple underneath his clothes.

"I'm sorry I can't warm you," he said softly, mistaking my shiver for coldness. "Warmth isn't one of my best abilities."

I clutched his waist when I felt the air rush by my face. The air around us suddenly sprang to life, humming around us, flowing every which way. I glanced below us and had to squeeze my eyes shut in terror. There wasn't anything below our feet.

Despite my urge to stay calm, my mind exploded into chaos. Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down! I chanted over and over in my mind. When I heard Raven's chuckle above me, my fear gave way to anger. When we land, he is so going to die! I swore.

Abruptly, the air stopped moving, lurching my already queasy stomach to my throat.

"Now, what was that about killing me?" Raven whispered.

My head jerked up, my eyes staring straight into his. "You can hear my thoughts!"

"Only the loud ones," he admitted. "Most of the time you shield them, but sometimes a thought slips through."

I tried to step out of Raven's grasp, but he wouldn't let go. "Like what?" I challenged.

Raven smirked. "Like when you were changing. You thought I was listening to you, listening as every single article dropped from your luscious and curvaceous body. What would you do if I told you I was?"

"You jerk!" I yelled. I tried to lift my arms from around his waist. Raven's grip tightened on me as I struggled against him. Feeling I had no other choice, I opened my mouth to cry to God. I froze in horror when Raven's lips covered mine in a passionate kiss, plunging his tongue into my already opened mouth. Trying to jerk away, a sob escaped my throat. I will not allow myself to be trapped! Finally, I kicked Raven's shin as hard as I could.

Raven broke away from me with a yelp. "Human brat!"

I'm sure his thoughts would have liked nothing better that to kill me at that moment.

"Serves you right," I muttered, turning around to survey the land before me.

Turning your back on a vampire isn't a very smart decision and I had to learn the hard way. Raven slipped an arm around my waist from behind, tilting my head at just the right angle to cause my hair to fall away from my throat.

"You owed me a kiss," he rasped in my ear. I could feel his very body pulsate with anger.

I tried to breath, fear stopping anything from entering my mouth. No! I need to be strong! Give me strength, God, I prayed.

"Maybe I should kill you here, you aren't worth the hassle."

At the insult, my mind snapped back into focus. "In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to release me!"

Raven flew back away from me, landing on the ground with as much grace as a dog. I whipped around, pulling my bow from under my trench coat and slipping an arrow into it. With one swift motion, I had the arrow sailing toward Raven, striking him just a bit to the left of his stone cold heart.

"Don't think I'm weaker than you just because I'm human. I could kill you in an instant, vampire. If I had willed it, that arrow could have struck your heart and you would have died." Slowly, my mouth twitched into a smirk. "No," I cooed. "I take that back, you're already dead. You'd just whither away to dust."

Raven jerked the arrow out of his chest, wincing. "You'd kill me and then what? You need me to take you to Alex. Without me, you lose!"

I opened my mouth to argue, and I realized, he was right. Slipping the bow over my shoulder, I spun around and stalked off, anger buzzing through me. After walking a ways, I sat down heavily, wrapping my arms around my knees. I won't cry. I won't! Despite that small will, I couldn't keep the few tears from escaping my eyes and trailing down my face. Feeling shamed, I buried my head in my knees.

After a while, I felt Raven's gentle touch on my shoulder.

"Go away," I sobbed.

He sat down beside me, staring off into the cold, bleak distance. The more he sat there, staring at nothing, the more I tried to contain my thoughts, contain my tears. Neither worked.

I suddenly shouted, "Why did they have to catch him? Why are they doing this?! Isn't it enough that they killed his parents? Why must they torture him so?!" I smashed my fists into Raven's chest, feeling more tears well up in my eyes.

Raven slid an arm around my shoulder, drawing me into his arms. Feeling at such a loss and feeling disgraced for showing him my tears, I collapsed into his chest, my shoulders heaving as I wept.

"Sleep," he murmured into my ear. Tenderly, he touched my temple, ceasing my thoughts. My eyes immediately closed. Before I could feel any anger at him controlling me, I slept, falling into darkness with nothing but blissful feelings.