Chapter One: Honesty's the Best Policy

I leaned back against the massive trunk of the Great Oak in the 100 acre garden. From higher up in the tree I would have been able to see the mansion but here was just fine.

I narrowed my eyes as I heard someone approaching, male. He came into sight and I drew in a sharp breath that made a hissing sound. Harvey Blackthorn. He heard me and looked up and smiled as he saw me.

"Hiding again, your highness?" he smirked, staring up at me.

"Oh, go away." I spat back.

"I do believe you have no power over me." He pointed out.

I growled at him, right, why was he always right?! "Shouldn't you be combing your hair or something?"

"Or something."

He leaned against the nark of the tree and didn't move. Goddess, couldn't I go anywhere to get some peace.

I hopped down off the tree easily and marching away. When I looked back I saw Harvey following me.

"Leave me alone!" I yelled.

He didn't reply, just smirked and kept following.

"What do you want?"

"Maybe I just want to go back to the house."

I stopped and put my hands on my hips, "Then go!"

He didn't move. Goddess this boy was infuriating! When I glared at him and walked back to the mansion he started walking again.

I grumbled under my breath as I stormed into the housed and slammed the back door shut behind me. Half way down the corridor I snapped, enough was enough.

"WHAT?!"

He smirked, again. I shook with anger. I couldn't stand his annoying stuck up smirks. So I punched him. Right in the nose, and a good punch might I say, no hesitation what so ever.

"Ah! You bitch!"

I laughed as our parents came running in. When he charged at me his dad restrained him. I laughed harder. He growled at me. His dad continued to restrain him, saying "Never hit a woman, never hit a woman."

Harvey yelled back at him, "She's not a woman, she's a brat!"

"Hey!" I yelled back, charging too. Suddenly I too was grabbed from behind and held back.

"Let me go!" We both yelled.

Our parents looked at each other and nodded once.

Mom turned me around and pushed me forward, "Come on, walk."

"How am I supposed to walk when I don't know where I'm going?" I argued.

"Well, most people put one foot in front of the other then repeat." Harvey said seconds before Jez whacked him around the head.

We were led up through winding hallways until we reached a door. They opened it and marched us down some old, stone stairs into a huge cellar where most of the interrogation rooms were. We moved down a few halls which were dark and cramped, all four sides made from damp stone. It made me feel claustrophobic, making the cat in me want to whimper.

We were courted to the end of the hall. They opened another door and the moment it was open we were shoved inside. Our parents called out "Have fun!" before slamming the door shut, which was followed by the sound of a heavy old lock banging into place.

Harvey and I stared at each other in total confusion. Our shared look was soon interrupted by a crackling filling the room. Up on the wall was a speaker and suddenly voices erupted from it.

"Morgead give it here." Jez demanded.

"No, I want to say it." He replied.

"Morgead, no."

"But I want to!"

"Give, now."

"No."

"NOW!"

There was a commotion through the speaker. Harvey hung his head in embarrassment.

"Off!"

"There," Jez said, "Next time you'll just give it to me."

"Yes, dear." Morgead said obediently in the distance.

"Could we just get on with this?" Mom asked impatiently, I could almost imagine mom tapping her foot.

"Okay, okay."

Harvey and I looked at each other in confusion.

"Here's the deal, kiddos, you two get to stay in there until you make up and become friends and we'll sit back and enjoy the show." Jez announced simply.

"What!" Harvey yelled, "That's a forced order! We have no choice!"

"That's enough Harvey Algernon Blackthorn-Redfern." Jez warned.

"Algernon?! Hahahhahahhah!" I cried, peeing myself with laughter.

"Shut up," He replied through gritted teeth, turning a little pink.

"Sorry Ally." I giggled. He growled back.

" I don't know what your laughing at Engela Krishna Lola Drache."

I let my hair fall in front of my face as I felt my face turn deep red. I was so embarrassed. Harvey barked with laughter.

"Alright!" I cried, "I get the point."

Harvey wiped away mock tears from his eyes and sobered up, still grinning.

"How long do we have to be in here?" I asked grumpily.

My mom replied, "How ever long it takes. Days, weeks…hell, if it takes months you're staying in there."

"Why!?"

Finally my dad spoke, "Darling, you two have been fighting for 6 and a half years, enough is enough. I'm sorry baby girl but you have to do this."

"But daddy!"

"I'm sorry honey, no buts."

"Daddy," I started again and whispered, "What if something happens?"

"Oh," he said, "Keller, she has a point."

"Oh, don't be such a push over Galen. Nothing will happen, quit trying to crawl out of this Cai. You're doing this and that's the last I want to hear of it."

I let out an angry breath then flopped onto the bed, arms crossed.

"Dad, come on," Harvey said, "This is stupid."

"Sorry son, this is out of my hands."

"But dad I have to have those samples done and sent in two nights!"

"Do you need any prototypes made?" His mom asked.

Harvey frowned, "Uh…no."

"Then we'll send the paper work down to you and you can do them in there."

"But…I…we…ah!" He threw his arms in the air and turned away.

"Right, now that's sorted. There's a camera that runs 24/7 in here but no camera in the bathroom, there'll be someone on the camera at all times. Meals will be brought to you. If you want anything else, ask and we'll decide if you can have it." Keller informed.

"And what do you expect us to do in the mean time?"

"Talk, get to know each other…again." Jez answered.

"That's it?" Harvey asked.

"Well, you'll just have to wait and see what happens." Morgead said.

And with that the line went dead.

Harvey looked over at me. I glared back, said, "Whatever." and rolled over on the bed so I was staring at the wall.

A sudden bang of metal against metal made me open my eyes. I realized I'd fallen asleep. I sat up and looked around; the room had dimmed and by the door was 2 trays, both with food and drink on it. Harvey casually pushed a tray towards the bed then grabbed his and went back to slumping against the wall. I picked up my tray. The meal was basic, very rare steak, new potatoes in butter and peas. Next to it was a can of diet soda. I glanced up to find Harvey had the same. He was already tucking in and his rare steak was oozing blood. We ate in silence. The room grew steadily darker throughout the meal and by the end of it Harvey was a dim figure across the room. He reached up and switched on the light only for it to burn out seconds later. I closed my eyes holding back my anger. Clearly Harvey was not trying so hard.

"Oh, for God's sake!" He yelled at the camera, "Do we not even yet a working light now?!"

"Uh…uh…I-I" someone spluttered over the intercom, "I'll – just…a…a minute…I'll…um…get someone." The poor vampire stammered.

"Don't bother." I called to him, "I'll fix it."

The vampire sighed with relief and thanked me.

Though I couldn't make out Harvey's face I knew he was looking questioningly at me. I took no notice and concentrated at the task at hand.

I focused on the image of fire. The feeling of heat on my skin, the bright glow, the crackling sound and the hint of burning wood on my tongue. I wrapped the fire around me until it was so real that I could reach out my hands and feel the intensity of the fire, the blistering heat. Slowly I opened my eyes to find a roaring fire in the middle of the room. It crackled and burned bright, and was rimmed with silver instead of orange. I smiled slightly and my eye lids drooped heavily. I slipped from the bed to the floor and curled onto my side next to the fire, hand stretched towards it. The fire was designed for heat and light, not harm so it wouldn't burn either of us.

so theres the longer vewrsion,please R&R!!!!!love you all!