PART ONE

Ember sat up in bed, frowning. She slowly pushed back her thick comforter and swung her legs around, pressing her feet down onto the cool wooden floor. There it was again, that noise. She crept to the large, oval window and peered out, unable to see much, the new crescent moon not providing enough light.-

She jumped, clamping a hand over her mouth to keep from shrieking when another pebble clattered against the window pane, now placing the earlier noise for what it was. Cautiously, she opened the window. "Hello?"

"Ember, come down here."

Her eyebrows drew together in confusion. "Matt?"

"Yeah, come down here."

**********

"You look like shit." Ashley commented, staring at Alexander over her toast.

"I didn't sleep all that well." He muttered, putting out his cigarette in his uneaten scrambled eggs.

"Hey! I worked hard to make those!" Jeff shrieked, placing his hands on his hips, the glare on his face at odds with the purple, heart covered apron he wore.

"You freaking whisked them to death." Alex replied, pressing the heel of his hand against his forehead, not sure if he could deal with Jeff's drama today.

Jeff apparently knew today wasn't a good one for Alex and backed off, whistling some song from the Jungle Book.

Ashley frowned, resting her head against the palm of her hand. "Why didn't you sleep all that well?" She asked curiously.

"Just didn't." Alex grunted, pushing away from the table. He didn't spare her a backwards glance as he headed outside.

Jeff patted Ashley's back sympathetically, seeing the hurt expression on her face.

**********

Matt splashed water over his face, staring at his pale reflection in the mirror. He blinked, studying the yellow rings around his irises, shaking his head. "It was just a dream." He murmured, mentally shaking himself. "Just a dream."

**********

"Ember, I think it's time we left. We've imposed on you for almost two weeks now." Alexander said, sitting down on the edge of his cousin's bed, watching as she brushed out her hair at her vanity.

"You're more then welcome to stay Alex, you know that." Ember arched an eyebrow at him, sweeping her hair back over her shoulders.

"I know, but-" Alex frowned, his dark eyes narrowing and stood up, walking over to stand behind her. "What's this?" He asked in a casual tone of voice, staring pointedly at her throat.

Ember turned to peer in the mirror, reaching a hand up to lightly trace a small wound on her neck. "A rash or something." She murmured, scooping up a wide red ribbon and tying it around her throat, covering the spot. "Nothing to worry about cuz."

"Em, you know how my friend Cat died don't you?"

"Impaled herself didn't she?"

He nodded, his mouth set in a grim line. "Impaled herself. That was AFTER she'd been turned into a vampire."

"You trying to tell me something cousin?"

"Let's hope that's really a rash."

**********

Alexander shot up in bed, sweat covering his body. He shook his head, willing the images to fade from his mind as he slipped out from under the sheet, clad in only a pair of blue jeans, his upper body slick with perspiration.

His dark eyes narrowed when he seen someone walk by his open bedroom door. He NEVER left his bedroom door open. Cautiously, Alex reached under his pillow, pulling out his Beretta 9MM and crept towards the door.

His breath caught in his throat when he seen long black hair disappearing around the corner. Alex forget caution and followed, his eyes widening as he watched the woman in a white dressing gown glide across the living room, already down the stairs, her light tread making no sound as she headed for the front door. "Alexandra?" He whispered.

"Alex." Her voice floated back to him, a light wind caressing his face.

He shivered, smelling his twin's favorite perfume 'Sweet Honesty' on the breeze and closed his eyes. Alex swallowed hard and followed her, wishing she'd just stop and turn around, talk to him, do something besides walk away.

Alexandra was waiting on the front lawn when he walked out onto the porch, her bare feet hardly making an impression on the wet grass. She stared at him, her eyes a mirror image of his own. "Alex…" She held out a pale hand, her long fingers beckoning to him.

Soundlessly, Alex quickly covered the distance between them, taking her hands in his, flinching at how cold they were. "Alexa?" His eyes searched hers intently. "How can this be? You're… awake… you're here, what's going on?"

She just smiled at him, a tear sliding down her pale cheek.

Frowning, Alexander peered at her, the faint glow from the crescent moon enough to show him the tear was crimson.

*********

Alex shot up in his bed. "NO!" He shouted, sweat mingling with tears, both streaming down his face.

"ALEX!" Ashley screamed, her footsteps pounding on the hallway floor, a second later bursting through his bedroom door. "What's wrong? What happened?" She stared at him for a second, padding over to sit down on the edge of the bed. "Alex, what is it?"

Alex couldn't say a word, he tried to make his tongue work but he couldn't form the words, couldn't get enough air to do it.

Her eyes widened when she felt his strong arms wrap around her midsection, realizing after a moment, Alexander was crying. "Oh honey…" Ashley murmured, slowly moving her own arms about him, threading her fingers in his damp black hair. "It's all right Alex, it's okay."

**********

Matt paced the floor of the kitchen, his wet hair hanging down over his shoulders, not caring if rivulets of water were still pouring off of him. When he'd woken up an hour ago, it had been to the sound of rain pouring down, raining cats and dogs as the old saying went.

He'd immediately slipped outside, always loving the rain in all it's forms be it a light sprinkle or the beginnings of a deluge. Matt had only just returned, discarding his soaking clothes and opting for a pair of jeans, knowing today would be a day they'd spend indoors, something not normal at Ember's house. Ember.

THAT was why he was having problems sleeping. Each and every night since he broke free of the orb she and Jeff had bound him in, he had dreamt of her. Of luring her outside in the dead of the night, of guiding her underneath one of those massive willow trees in her yard and taking her against the tree, almost as if the werewolf inside him was rearing it's ugly head, taking over the man.

At the end of each dream, Matt would sink his teeth into her throat, breaking that sweet, soft flesh and draw blood, lapping at it as it trickled forth. He always left his mark on her.

Matt groaned, leaning back against the counter, wondering what had brought these dreams, nightmares, night terrors, whatever they were, on. He hadn't even LOOKED at Ember in that way, until these damn dreams started. Now, however, was a different story.

"You're up bright 'n early."

Matt watched as his brother, Jeff, bounced into the kitchen. "Yeah."

Jeff didn't seem to notice Matt's mood, just proceeded to raid the refrigerator like he did every morning, pulling out the eggs and orange juice. "Hungry Mattie?"

"Not really."

Jeff danced around the kitchen, drinking juice and whipping up scrambled eggs, humming to himself.

Matt arched an eyebrow, watching his baby brother, trying to determine what put him in such a damn good mood. "All right, why are you grinning like a damn fool?"

"Oh… nothing." Jeff smiled secretively.

"Bullshit." Matt was curious now, studying Jeff shrewdly. "C'mon baby bro, you can tell me." He coaxed.

Jeff looked around, his cheeks flushing, meeting Matt's gaze, a sparkle in his green eyes. "I'm in love!" He whispered, sounding thoroughly excited.

"Ember." It wasn't a question.

"Yeah… Emmy." Jeff sighed wistfully, jumping when he remembered he was scrambling eggs, scraping them off the bottom of the pan before they burnt. "Do you think… think maybe she likes me too?" He asked, trying to sound casual and failing miserably.

"You'll have to ask her I expect." Matt replied, his tone neutral, trying to refrain from strangling his brother to death, suddenly feeling like this… INTRUDER was pushing into HIS territory.

Jeff didn't even notice the change in his brother's attitude, just continued humming as he cooked.

**********

Ashley watched as Ember trimmed herbs in her workshop behind the house. "He's been having nightmares."

Ember didn't look up, cutting the stalk at an angle. "Alex?"

"Yeah." Ashley accepted a twig Ember held out to her, sniffing it before slipping it between her lips, sucking on the end. "What is this?"

"Parsley, freshens breath."

"You saying my breath stinks?"

"No, I'm telling you what it does." Ember set down the rest of them, reaching for a small string.

"So Alex has been having nightmares. What about?"

Ashley sighed, propping her elbows up on the heavy wooden table, chewing on the parsley thoughtfully. "I don't know. I heard him screaming, about three nights ago, and I went to check on him. He'd just woke up, covered in sweat and he was… crying." She sounded disconcerted.

Ember arched a brown eyebrow, hanging the stalk up on a beam. "He was crying? You sure we're talking about the same Alexander Blackheart here?"

"Swear on a stack of Bibles."

"I don't believe in the Bible."

"You know what I mean." Ashley sounded exasperated.

Ember frowned, now cleaning her workspace. "I know… I'll brew him a tea tonight before he goes to bed."

"What'll it do?"

"Give him a good night's sleep."

**********

Alexander was sitting on the front porch, watching as the rain came down, smoking a cigarette. His gray eyes were almost black, his mood reflecting the weather. He looked like he hadn't slept in days, which he hadn't. Not after that last dream, not after crying himself back to sleep on Ashley's shoulder.

Ashley. He had scarcely spoke two words to her since. He didn't have anything against her, it was just that she had been there to see him at his weakest, most vulnerable and that bothered him to no end.

He was supposed to be calm, cool and collected. He had practically carved a reputation out of being a living statue, nothing ever seemed to affect him. Except other people's stupidity.

But damn it, what was he supposed to do? It was his worst nightmare, Alexandra becoming a vampire. He'd rather she die in that coma, at least then he wouldn't be the one to take her out.

**********

He was growing stronger. With each passing night, each passing night terror, they were feeding him. Their fear was feeding him, nourishing him on black silk and satin horrors.

Soon. Soon he would feast, soon he would be invincible.

**********

"Thank goodness this rain has finally stopped."

Ashley looked up from her place on the porch, where she had been sitting, when she heard Ember's voice. "Yeah."

Ember smiled slightly, dropping down to sit besides her friend, removing her shoes to skim her bare toes over the wet grass. "If it dries off enough, maybe we could have a bonfire tonight."

"A bonfire?" Ashley echoed.

"Mmm-hmm." Ember nodded, pursing her lips, looking thoughtful. "It might do everyone some good to get out of the house for a bit." She didn't add what else was on her mind. Lately it seemed something stalked their steps, haunted their shadows. She gave herself a firm shake, attributing it to the fact that they'd been shacked up indoors for a week straight.

Ashley ran her fingers through her hair, nodding, finally managing a small smile of her own. "That sounds nice."

**********

Alex listened as Ashley, Ember and Jeff gabbed away. He was sitting on a large rock, polishing his gun. He looked up, eyes narrowing when he seen Matt walking towards them. Now there was a strange one and getting stranger by the day.

Matt had become withdrawn it seemed. Oh, he still talked and laughed with them, but there was always a look in his eyes, a speculating look, almost as if he was continuously sizing up people and things around him.

"Pull up a rock." Alex greeted, inclining his head.

Matt looked around, arching an eyebrow.

"Hey Ember! We need another rock."

Ember looked up from her spot on the other side of the fire, nestled firmly between Ashley and Jeff. "Do I look like your slave?" She demanded good-naturedly before tossing a pebble.

Matt arched an eyebrow, looking down at the pebble.

"Watch."

Slowly, the pebble began to grow, finally stopping when it reached a comfortable size.

"How'd you do that?" Matt demanded, sitting down, glancing at her, his eyes studying her, drinking her in.

Ember faltered under his stare, a hand jerking to her throat, feeling the ribbon that wound around it. "I infused it with personal energy." She explained finally.

Jeff looked back and forth between the two, green eyes narrowing.

Alexander was also watching the pair, taking in the way Ember caressed the ribbon round her neck, arching an eyebrow.