A/N: I apologise for my delayed update. Hopefully now I can frequently write but I can't promise any scheduled updates that some writers are familiar with. I will try to get something frequently up with another chapter up tomorrow or the day after hopefully. I reread my last chapter and cringed through all my grammatical errors; please people, I am in dire need of a beta. Anyone?

Anyway, a massive thanks to all those who reviewed and those who have been miraculously patient with me. I am so grateful that anyone would take the time to read this, I appreciate you all.

My injured foot was long forgotten as I jumped to meet deeper solid ground. I yanked on the straps of my bag, tightening its hold against my shoulders and assuring myself of some familiarity. I realise that I never did consider the expected fear one would feel in their belief of approaching a natural human predator. No, I was still relinquishing in the joys of discovering something. My pace was slow as I memorised my path and looked towards the subtle beams of white light to guide me. The path wasn't too wide, yet it wasn't too narrow. The walls were layered with rubble but done so in an immaculate and ordered way. Each rock stood in a methodical fashion at approximately ten inches wide and 5 inches long; they were almost identical if it weren't for their jagged ends. The floor, although gravel, was completely smooth without a rock or rough pit in its place. For that I was extremely grateful; although the throb in my foot was long forgotten, there was still a wisp of a reminder in my distant mind of my clumsy ways.

The light grew very slowly both clearer and stronger, but my path had still not come to an end. I could have sworn I had travelled half a mile at the very least but the light intensity from the odd beams only vaguely grew and my path did not appear to be coming to an end. I didn't hear a whisper of civilisation, nor did I see an insect scuttle in my approach. Silence was my companion here, and although it wasn't the best companion, it allowed me to focus on my surroundings and to be more alert of any misfortunes which I was sure would befall me. It was the silence that allowed me to weigh out the possibilities behind my research again and to actually consider the possibility behind meeting a supposed mythical creature that thirsts for human blood; in particular, my human blood. I carried a single pocket knife which I could use to defend myself, but I highly doubted that could overpower a few or even one century old vampire, or to just help me in any needed escape. My research comprised of the chances that they may actually existso I didn't pay attention to any of their supposed ways and abilities. I didn't ignore anything I could find on their characteristics but it wasn't what I was paying attention for. I think at the back of my mind I always doubted myself. I didn't believe that I could find evidence to support my paper, however much I told myself so. Every Professor and person that doubted me did manage to integrate themselves somewhere into the back of my mind. I was looking for a mythological creature; a supernatural being from ancient story.

I gathered that for them to be successful predators, their senses had to be intensified at a minimum of ten times to a normal human's. It seemed logical that only then could they be successful as humans have continued to become more advanced in technology and science making them, in a way, stronger. The question was, if humans are becoming advanced in nearly every way possible at a continued rate, surely vampires would need to do so too to continue being a mythical secret?

It was at this moment I finally came across a sharp right turn in my straight path. The lights were still slightly subdued but the walls had smoothed and the ceilings were raised higher. My searching gaze met beautifully decorated marble ceilings stretching ten feet before me, my path widening and a scatter of coloured petals littering the walls besides me. Never had I been drawn to such small imagery. The paint used to get such definitive details almost glowed in the languid beams of light. A soft gasp escaped my parted lips as my fingers hovered wantonly over the dancing colours. Serenity was at its greatest in that very moment, and although fear should have been latching at my beating heart, I was feeling the highest statures of hope. I hummed in contentment, closing my eyes to the warm trickle of happiness that danced within me. It was a sudden smooth masculine voice that broke me out of my weird reverie in delicate mutters of Italian,

"I don't believe Heidi let one slip dear"

He raised a single brown eyebrow, red eyes dancing with mirth and the slightest shift to the corners of his lips. My eyes widened and my eyebrows had probably permanently decided to reside within my hairline. Although his beauty would have had me transfixed, it was at that moment fear remembered that it did have some part in my life.

"You're not normal?" I replied in English. It was a soft mutter that I didn't believe would reach any human ears, but I was right in a way, he did not meet my standard of normal human exactly.

A mock frown danced between his smirking lips and his eyebrows furrowed into mock confusion,

"I believe I'm quite normal dear. The question is whether you are to be freely lurking these halls."

"Who knows what creatures like to play with pretty little girls behind these walls," he added as he brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ears before making a grand gesture to the area behind him.

I took an automatic step back from his towering figure and gripped the straps of my bag more tightly. I gathered every ounce of courage I had floating within me before muttering the seven words which would define my fate. He would either consider me a lunatic or my non-existent luck would prove that he was in some weird cult that actually did have some form of 'Kings' in their hierarchical system. But in all honesty, I don't believe there is any luck in meeting actual vampires apart from proving myself right, and if I got out of here, those annoying professors too. The main word here being 'if'. I realised I really didn't consider the result of my trip at all.

"I'd like to see your Kings Sir."

With a large grin uncovering a set of straight white blunt teeth he replied with dancing eyes,

"I was hoping so"

A/N: Perhaps it's the fact that I'm English, but I think I can't seem to grasp Bella's 'America-ness' haha

I hope it's not too much a problem but yeah…

I hope you guys enjoyed it all; tomorrow or the following day hopefully I'll update *fingers crossed* because I've always hated cliff hangers and this is just where I think the story is heating up. I lost my plans on my old laptop so I can only vaguely remember what I had mapped out.

Anyway, thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I appreciate it so much.