Chapter 2

When your mind is filled with nothing but the thoughts of one person, it's really hard to focus on other things, say like walking in a straight line on the side walk, not almost getting hit by a car, or protecting your thoughts from vampires.

All the way to Dragun's nest, that stranger was all I could think about. His beautiful pale blonde hair, his storm gray eyes, that long scar over his right eye, his tan skin, his strong face, these things all filled my mind as I entered the warehouse where the master vampire and his nest slept in the day time hours. I think, somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew I should be shielding my thoughts, but it never really hit me until I saw the look on Dragun's face as I bowed in front of him.

"And who just might be that handsome fellow?" Dragun asked me in his dreary, clear voice with a sly smile on his face.

My face reddened and I instantly closed a steel wall around my mind, "No one," I said simply as I diverted my eyes from his. I was all but shouting my thoughts in the air.

He chuckled, "I think not, Angel Seraph Noelle Reave," he said not amused now at the sight of my distaste to him using my full name, "Does it bother you, Angel Seraph Noelle Reave, my using this power over you?"

I bit the inside of my cheek, refusing to speak. He knew the answer already, there was no point asking me, he just loved to make me suffer. It was part of my punishment for having him save my ass that "fateful" night in the cemetery. I turned my face rudely away from him, it was childish, I know, but I was angry, I don't exactly respond well to angry.

"You will look at me when I am speaking to you," Dragun said as he tried to charm me, which I was immune to it.

"I will do as I please," I said trying not to sound as pissed as I felt, "The only reason I am here is because I seek shelter. It is unsafe for me to return home, and I need a safe haven for a night and day, no more."

Dragun didn't say anything for a long while and I began to think he would refuse me. He put his finger to his lips and grinned almost evilly, "You may stay for one day and one night," Dragun said and I felt myself let out a breath I didn't know that I was holding, "On the condition that you lay with me this night."

"No!" was out of my mouth before I could even register that what he had said, "I will not sleep with you in exchange for a haven. I refuse! I will find shelter elsewhere!"

Dragun moved faster than I could track and I knew before he reached me that I had just seriously fucked myself over sideways six ways to next Sunday. Dragun held me by the throat, gently, as he pulled me into his face, forcing me to look into his eyes. They were an icy green I knew had to be fake, if they had been a humans eyes, but he was an old, powerful master vamp and I knew he could do whatever the hell he damn well felt like doing to his body if he so felt the urge. I felt his power roll over my skin like thick, humid Arkansas summer air in the middle of August after a heavy rain, but as I held his stare I felt no impulse to do anything but spit in his face, "You will sleep with me this night, in exchange for a safe haven," Dragun said in a voice that demanded to be obeyed.

"You can go fuck yourself," I managed to say through my rage, "I'll never sleep with you, not in a million years, not for anything in the world."

Dragun's eyes turned blood red and his hand tightened painfully around my throat and I involuntarily cried out at the pain. I gripped his wrist with my small hands, trying feudal to make him release me, "Dragun," I said in a small voice, "You're hurting me. Let go!"

I saw the muscles in his biceps flex and my body tensed in anticipation for my throat to be crushed, but all I felt was cold and the sensation of falling as Dragun released me to let me fall to the floor, coughing and holding my neck, "You will spend this night in my chambers," Dragun said with no room to argue in his words as he left, his long brown hair trailing behind his tall, slender build and he left the room.

I lay there stunned, I knew I had to obey him, if I wanted to live that was. But I'd rather be dead than sleep with a vampire. If he was going to force me, I was going to kill him. I barked a strangled laugh at that thought, grimacing at the pain of that act. Yeah, me, kill a master vampire? Me thinks not, not a chance in hell! But I wasn't just gonna lay there and be raped. I sat there on the cool concrete floor of the warehouse and contemplated my options, which I knew I didn't have a lot of options, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

I stood and walked out of the dark, gloomy room and out to the hall that led to the rooms Dragun had had his men build. Mine was one of the far back ones. I opened the soundless door and walked into a room made for sex and whores. I frowned, not my ideal location. I walked in and dropped my things next to the bed in the farthest part of the room. The room walls were a deep, warm red and the bed was red and black cotton, all fitted to make the bed perfect and comfortable. I sighed and dropped to the bed, suddenly very tired from the day's excursions, too tired to argue when Shane came in and lay in the bed beside me.

His smile, which was meant to charm me out of my clothes I was sure, only succeeded in making me more furious, "Hello, beautiful," Shane said quietly as he ran his hand down my chest. I was suddenly very glad that I wore my green quarter sleeved shirt with my white tank top under it and my dark blue jeans, because Shane's trailing fingers would have been in my cleavage at that moment had I not worn it.

"What do you want, Shane," I demanded pushing his hand away, "I'm not in the mood for your crap today."

"Touché," Shane smirked while he put his hand even further down my body than it had been, "I like it when a girl gets rough."

I turned my gaze to him, freezing his hand in place when he saw my anger, "I said I'm not in the mood for your crap today, Shane," I said through my teeth, "Get out, before I make you get out."

Shane paused, just for a second, and then continued to trace circles on my inner thigh, far too close to my womanly parts for me to be comfortable, so I sat up and slapped his hand away, "What is your problem, Shane!" I shouted, "Leave me the hell alone. The next time you touch me, I will hurt you."

Shane smirked and followed me off the bed, backing me into a corner, I realized, as my back hit the wall. Shane brought his hand up and lightly touched my cheek with the back of his knuckles, making a shiver run down my back. I liked the way his skin felt on my shin, and I didn't really want him to stop stroking my cheek so soothingly.

I turned my mouth to his hand, and bit down on his fingers as hard as I could. He shouted and pulled back his hand, shaking it out to the side, "What the hell, Ann!" Shane exclaimed looking at me like I was crazy, "Why the hell did you just bite me!"

"I told you not to touch me or I would hurt you," I said calmly, "I don't believe in empty threats. Now, what the hell are you doing in here? If you're here to 'prim' me for Dragun, I'll save you some time, don't. I'm not going to have sex with that monster."

"So nice to see that my children love me," came Dragun's cool voice from beside me and I jumped, moving as fast as could to hide behind Shane's large body, "Come now, Angel, I do believe we had a deal."

"I will not sleep with you, Dragun," I spat at him as I peeked out from behind Shane, "No way in hell."

Dragun waved his hand and Shane stepped aside. I was out in the open, defying a master vampire with no hope of getting help. Then Dragun was in front of me and I stumbled back onto the bed trying to get away from him. Dragun leaned down over me, pinning me to the bed and without meaning to, I stared him right in the eyes. They were the same color as mine now and I couldn't look away, "Come now, Angel," Dragun said, voice calm and cool and soothing and all the things that made a woman weak in the knees, "Surely we can have some kind of compromise. I know why you do not wish to lay with me, but we must find something you are willing to do. Can you think of anything, Angel Seraph, or shall I make suggestions?"

I couldn't speak, my words were held in my throat with fear and desire, though I would never admit the last to him, so Dragun continued to speak, "Alright," he said, his eyes alight with pleasure and amusement and I knew he knew the truth, "Since you are so innocent, you will not have to lay with me this night. Instead, we will share blood. Does this sound fair to you?"

I knew I had to speak; it was the only reasonable deal I was going to get, so what could I say? No? So, I did the only thing I could think of. I closed my eyes and nodded, fighting the urge to burst into tears. That wouldn't do at all if I was intending on getting through this night with my reputation and dignity intact.

"Very good," Dragun smiled and leaned in to brush his lips against my neck and I shivered at the coolness. I didn't like it; this was too weird for me. I didn't want to do this! It was wrong! So wrong! I couldn't, I just couldn't sit here and let this happen. I leaned into his neck and bit down as hard as I could. I felt hot liquid run down my face and throat then the taste of copper and iron tinted blood. I gagged on Dragun's blood as it burned in my throat, but I held my grip. Dragun's moans filled my ears and I felt him pull my closer, holding me tightly, "Yes, Angel Seraph Noelle Reave," Dragun moaned into my ear, "Yes, drink, my little angel of death, drink your fill."

I pulled off him and tried to get away from him, gagging and cough on his blood, what little I had had to swallow, but he held me tightly to him, "Let go of me, Dragun," I said with my best commanding voice, but I could feel his lips caressing my neck and his teeth scrapped against my delicate skin.

But I knew I sounded like I wasn't serious, because even though I said I wanted him off of me, I didn't want him to stop. Yet I still couldn't find the strength to push him off of me, aside from the fact that he was immensely stronger than I was. I could feel his fangs extend and touch my flesh, and then they pierced my neck. I cried out, but it wasn't from pain, oh no, not pain. As he fed from me, I thought I would die as pleasure ripped through my entire being. I felt him hardening against my inner thigh and I couldn't help but rub against him. It was like the purest ecstasy I'd never felt and I screamed as I pulled Dragun closer to me.

When he pulled off of me, I let out a cry, not wanting to lose the feeling but feeling disgusted with myself, pretty much letting myself get raped, in a sense. Dragun looked down at me, running his hand through my blood soaked hair, cleaning it as he went, and smiled, "My angel of death," he whispered, "You are truly unique."

He closed his eyes and licked his teeth clean of my blood, a look of pleasure crossing his face as he shook, "Leave," I ordered in a whispered voice as I lay there, drained of all energy, "Just leave, Dragun, you got what you wanted."

Dragun leaned down, his lips at my ear, "No, little cherub," he whispered, licking my wounds which made me moan, "Not even close."

Then he was gone and I was left alone on the bed, curled in a ball of shame. I couldn't believe had just let a vampire feed off me. I felt tears run down my cheeks and I began to shake as I cried, screaming, in my shame.

"I never really understood you, Ann," Shane's voice said from a corner of the room and I sat up too fast, getting dizzy and seeing spots, "Easy now."

Shane was by my side holding me steady so I wouldn't faint, "Did you see that?" I asked my voice weak and cracking.

Shane didn't say anything as he made me lay down on the bed, helping undress me (at that point I didn't really care, though I knew I would in the morning), "You need to rest," Shane avoided the previous question (smart of him) as he pulled the black cotton sheet over my shivering body, "I'll be back in the morning with some food and I'll have someone outside your door at all times."

I didn't say anything back, though I knew I should thank him. I just couldn't make myself do anything but wallow in my misery. I felt pathetic. I had let that monster feed on me. Disgusting. I gagged, but I knew none of the blood would come up no matter how much I vomited. His blood was in my system for good, or at least until his demise. There was no escaping the power my blood game him over me now.

Shane opened the door to my room and stopped, turning his head, "I'm sorry, Angel," he whispered, "I know I should have done something, and I couldn't, so, I'm sorry."

He closed the door and left me in peace, "Thank you, Shane Thomas Grimm," I whispered and knew he would hear me. The power of names was a magnificent tool.

I was running through trees, the low lying branches catching my face and my hair that was rolled into dread locks. My bone necklaces jangled on my neck as I ran for my life, I had to find a place to hide and wait for him. I spotted a tree with roots that formed a small cave like structure and I darted into it, my turquoise blue, knee length tunic catching on the roots that jutted out of the existing ones, ripping the thick fabric. I ducked down as I watched them run by with torches, all looking around for me. I pushed myself against the sheltering roots to hide from the fire light that illuminated their paths and I listened as they spook in a language I had never heard before. I just had to wait long enough for him to catch up with me and find me; I just had to have faith. I was trying to catch my breath as quietly as possible as I heard them begin to search around my hide out and I slapped my hand across my mouth to keep my voice from crying out as fear gripped me. They were going find me, I just knew it.

I heard yelling, something had surprised them and they were fighting it off. I wanted to look and see what was potentially saving my life, but I didn't want to risk being seen by someone. I heard screams as the men were being slaughtered and tears ran down my face, if whatever was after them was killing them, I'd be gone before I could look into the eyes of whatever beast had appeared. Then it struck me, I could raise a protector, but it would cost dearly and I ran the risk of them finding me. But what else could I do? Sit here and wait for my death? That wasn't an option.

I closed my eyes and bid my time, hoping that whatever was out there would be satisfied with the men that were after me. I didn't want to raise anything, I hated it, but if it came down to living or dying, I would do whatever I had to survive. I heard one last scream then the forest was silent, unnaturally silent, and I knew without a doubt that what was out there knew I was in here. I held my breath, holding back the cries that threatened to escape my lips. I heard a snap just outside of the entrance and knew it was too late to raise anything, I was going to die.

Then a bright light filled the root structure and I opened my eyes to see the most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on. He stood before me, clad in nothing but a black fur loin cloth. His hair was a color I had only seen once, like faded sun light, and longer than mine, his eyes were the color of purest ice. He was beautiful and I couldn't take my eyes from him, then I saw where the light was coming from. On his back were immense wings, the feather matching his hair, folded so that he could stand in the rooted entrance. I knew he would not do me harm, how I was unsure, but I knew. He was who I had been waiting for to save me, I knew with stone strong certainty.

"Who are you?" I asked quietly staying as far away as possible.

"You know me, Spirit Keeper," the man's voice was like warm honey and sunlight, "We know each other, as we have known each other in past lives, as we will know each other again in our next life."

"What is your name?" I called to him as he turned and began to walk away, "Can I not know your name?"

He turned to me as he spread his wings wide, "You already know it, Spirit Keeper," he said just above a whisper. Then, with a great thrust of his wings, he was gone, consumed by the late sunlight that spilled through the trees.

I watched the place where he had disappeared into in the trees and without thinking whispered, "Gabriel," and it fit him perfectly.

I was jolted awake by the slamming of my door and I sat up, ready to defend myself, "Easy there, tiger," Shane said as he walked to me carrying a tray of food, "It's just me. I come baring gifts, so don't kill me."

I couldn't help but laugh, wincing afterwards, Dragun choking me had been rough on my fragile windpipe, "You're so ridiculous," I sighed and lay back in the bed, "What 'gifts' do you bring?"

"Food," he said and my stomach grumbled and he laughed, sitting the tray in my lap.

"Thank God!" I exclaimed and began to devour the food as quickly as possible, barely tasting it.

"What were you dreaming about?" Shane asked as I took a drink of the apple juice that sat on the corner of the tray.

I stopped mid sallow and looked him straight in the eyes, "Why?" I asked sound as hostile as I felt.

"You were talking in your sleep," he said matter-of-factly like I should know already.

"What was I saying?"

"I couldn't really tell, you mumbled more than you spoke clearly, but you said a name, Gabriel, that was the clearest of all the things you said."

I didn't want to talk to him about it; I didn't ever talk in my sleep unless it was something stressful. And that dream was defiantly stressful. Strange, now that I thought about it, Gabriel looked strangely like the man I had run into just the day before. It must have just been a coincidence, it had to be. It kind of reminded me of a conversation with Papa, about past lives and Dream Remembrances.

I shook my head and continued to eat, ignoring Shane's question on purpose. I didn't want to think about the night before, or the stranger I had run into. I didn't want to think at all, to be quiet frank. I just kind of wanted to be numb and do nothing if I could, "Look," I said through a mouth full of toast, "I was only planning to stay tonight, so I'm going to be leaving."

Shane nodded his head, his mind obviously elsewhere. His was stroking my thigh, and I wanted to tell him to get his hand off me, but it seemed like it was an absentminded thing, a type of comfort in a way for him, "About last night," he said as he turned to me, "I'm sorry I didn't stop him, I know I should have. But he's my master."

I waved away his comment, "Forget about it," I said looking him in the eyes, "And I mean that literally, forget about it. It never happened, and it will never be spoken of again."

Shane looked doubtful, but he nodded, "Ok," he said in a low voice, "It never happened."

I nodded and handed my tray to him, "Good," I said and throw the comforter off me, "Now, get lost. I need to change and head out, I have work."

"Oh," Shane mumbled and stood, turning to leave, "I'll get out of your way, than."

Shane left, this time without turning back, and I stood. I was weak, as I knew I would be.

I pulled on a shirt out of my bag that was long sleeved and gray turtle neck (which was stupid given the heat of Arkansas in June, but I had to cover the bites and the scraps). I pulled on a pair of dark blue jeans and slipped on a pair dark green converse. I shoved the rest of my clothes into my bag and left the room as silently as a human could. I was out the building in record time.

I walked as fast as I dared in my state of weakness. The sun was out and, at nine thirty, it was almost unbearable, so I pulled my long, shapeless hair into a pony tail and pushed up my sleeves. I would be in an air conditioned building most of the day anyways so the sweater wasn't too bad (and I tended to get a little cold anyway so the sweater was actually a good idea). I pulled my iPod touch out of the front pocket of my backpack and stuck the ear buds in my ears, turning it on so I could listen to some Blue October, Linkin Park, Bullet for My Valentine, and more of my favorite artists. It started out on Bullet for My Valentine and I sang along as the lead singer sang about his bittersweet memories. I could relate to that, I had a few memories like that too.

With Matt Tuck as my boost, my morning was going great considering last night's events. I turned the corner and before I knew it, I was facing Jack's Grocer, the grocery store where I was a stock girl. I went around back, taking the employee's entrance, and stowed my back pack in the lockers in the break office. I pulled on the dark green vest that was our uniform, clocked in, and walked out, shutting the door behind me. I went into the storage room and looked at the list that had been made of all the items that needed to be restocked throughout the store. I grabbed a push rack (about 7-8 feet tall) and piled about half of the items onto three of the racks and pushed out the door. It was really boring work, but it was work and I was getting paid for it. It was about ten fifteen when my boss, Jack Thomas, came down the lane I was in.

"Ann," Jack said as he walked up and patted me on the back, "Good to see you in this morning."

Jack was about five feet eight inches tall with short cut blonde hair and dark brown eyes. He was slight, but under his plaid short sleeved shirt, Jack was built and strong. I nodded to him and went about my job piling different items onto the rack and taking them out to resupply the store. I looked down at my watch and I smiled, I only had an hour and a half till I got off work.

"Ann," Jack said as he walked up to me in the bathroom isle, "There's a man in the break room asking for you."

"Ok," I said and continued to stack the toilet paper.

"Ann," Jack said and I turned to him again, "You can go see him now, it's time for your break anyways."

"Yes, sir," I said and finished putting the last package of toilet paper on the shelf, took the moving rack back in the storage room, and went into the break room.

I froze when I saw who stood in front of me.

"Miss Reave, so good to see you," he said. Mr. Toque smiled at me and I had to remind myself how to breathe, "I was worried about you. You seemed unwell yesterday, a little uneasy. I thought I would check in on you."

I circled around the table, keeping something between him and me, and tried to smile back, "I'm doing just fine, sir," I said weakly, "Much better, actually. Thank you for considering me so."

Mr. Toque smiled an easy smile, one that would have melted a girl to a puddle of goo, "Miss Reave, please, call me Matthew," he said in a thick, warm voice, "You are my most talented and favorite student, Miss Reave, how could I not be concerned?"

He stepped closer, coming around the table. His back was to the door now and when he realized this, Matthew turned and locked the break room door. My pulse elevated as soon as I heard the click of the lock catching. Then, Matthew turned his six foot two frame to my five feet three inches and my body shook with anxiousness. I didn't like the way this was going.

"Mr. Toque," I said in a shaky voice, "I have to return to work, I get off in an hour and a half and I really don't want to have to make up time."

Matthew just grinned at me and my stomach did flips. This startled me and I didn't understand what was going on with me.

The vampire blood, I thought.

That made sense, though I didn't know the effects of it, I did know that it had a profound effect on the bodies urges.

Blush covered my cheeks, "Miss Reave," Matthew said in his deep voice, his British accent sending shivers up my spin, "Ann, may I call you Ann? Have I told you why you are so very much my favorite?"

I shook my head, not trusting my voice at this point.

He smiled, "It is because you are so confident, so talented, and so. . ." he trailed off as his eyes moved up and down my body, "Beautiful."

I felt like I couldn't breathe no matter how many deep breaths I took. This was so unreal, I had heard stories of teacher/student relationships happening, but I never imagined them happening to me. It just didn't seem likely at all. I wasn't attractive at all, and I sure didn't give that 'Come and Get Me' vibe like so many of my fellow classmates did.

"Thank you, sir," I managed to say, "Honestly, thank you, but I really do have to be going."

Matthew was now within arm's reach, closer actually, and I couldn't remember letting him get this close. He reached out and put his hand on my cheek. I felt my entire nervous system come alive at his warm touch and I knew it showed on my face due to his grin that wreaked victory, "Now, Ann," he whispered leaning closer to me, "You can't pretend you don't feel this, too. I know you want me as I want you. Your body is all but screaming it at me, and I cannot help but oblige it."

I inhaled sharply when his hot lips touched mine. They covered mine, enveloped them in heat that soon engulfed my entire body, and there was nothing I could do. Then my cell phone rang (thank you God that I had made all the ringtones Disturbed songs) and I jumped, pulled away from Matthew and dug in my back pocket for it. I flipped it open, "Hello?" I answered it shakily.

"O, did I call at a bad time, dear?" my grandmother's voice came through the phone, "I can always call back."

"No!" I said a little too suddenly, "No, it's fine. You couldn't have called at a better time."

"Good," Grandmother Reave said, I could hear the smile in her voice and I immediately felt much better, "Andrew called me and told me he would not be home for a while and that you should come stay with me until he could return."

I fingered my protection necklace through the material of the sweater and said, "That sounds like a wonderful idea, Grandma," I smiled, thinking of how much more prepared Papa was then I, "I haven't seen you in so long! I've been meaning to visit you since graduation, but I never seemed to find the time."

"That's quite all right, my little seraph," she chuckled over the line, "I know how busy you must be. I hope this will not interfere with any of your obligation."

"Don't worry, Grandma," I smiled at her thoughtfulness, "We've got a break after today at school and I've been planning on quitting my job for a while now, so it's not bothering with anything."

"Wonderful!" Grandmother Reave exclaimed, "I'll be there by tomorrow morning."

"That sounds just fine," I replied moving to the door and unlocking it, "I need to stop by the house and pack first so that works out just great."

"Angel," Grandmother Reave said her voice becoming serious, "Be extremely careful in the house. Take someone with you; it will be much safer if you do not venture alone. Keep the necklace I gave you on at all times, do not remove it under an circumstances. Do you have the other pieces I made for you?"

"Yes," I said patting my front pocket where my rings resided, "I have them with me at all times."

"That's my Angel," she smiled, "Wear them as well. I must go now, my little seraph, I love you."

"I love you, Grandmother," I said and her end went dead. I locked my phone and stuck it back into my pocket, holding my hand there as I focused on what I had to do next. I walked to the locker and pulled out my back pack, slung it over my shoulder and walked out, leaving Mr. Toque behind without a backward glance, ignoring his calls.

I pulled my iPod out of my back pocket and stuck my ear buds into my ears and played a song I loved o, so much. Bag pipes, fiddles, drums, all filled my head as Heather Alexander sang the battle song of Cambreath. I loved it so much I was humming the tune but eventually sang along.

I was so into the song I didn't sense what was coming up on me until I was pushed to the ground. My heart was pounding and I could smell the death rolling off of the creature that had pinned me to the ground. My iPod skid across the pavement and my backpack was ripped off me before I managed to turn to my attacker. Teeth snapped at my throat, just missing me, as I fought off the Hell Hound trying to kill me. I tried to focus but I was filled with fear, something Hell Hounds did very well, so I fought blindly. I was sure some passerby would see me struggling with the creature and help, or call for help, until I realized I had taken the alleyway behind the store (and the short cut where almost no one ever went) to get home faster, so there would be no one to rescue me. Not to mention, normal people couldn't see Hell Hounds, or any other worldly supernatural creatures either. I was effectively on my own with this one.

Its teeth gnashed out at me again only this time it caught my arm and I screamed as pain shot like lightning through my entire arm, the poison in the Hound's saliva contaminating my blood stream.

Now, I was pissed.

I managed to get my left arm out from under the Hound's paw that held it pinned and wrapped my hand around the upper part of its snout. I dug my nails into the sensitive flesh of its nose and pried it off my forearm. It yanked out of my grasped and jumped off of me, shaking its head. I flipped backward and into a crouch as I faced the creature. It was new, just raised. It still had clumps of dirt all over its decaying body. It had no tail, but still resembled a Rottweiler (minus the fur obviously). Pieces of its muscle hung off it and puss seeped out of different gashes along it sides and neck. Its eyes, trained on me, were hollow pits leaking blood and unidentifiable liquids with a yellow, red glow emanating out of them. Its front paws were not paws, but disfigured hands with two inch long, serrated, broken, ragged nails. I closed my eyes (bad idea when there's a Hell Hound about to kill me, I know) and laid my palms flat on the ground. I focused, reaching out with my 'gift', and looked for something nearby to rise. I felt something close enough, just barely, and prepared to call it to me. I heard a growl; knew the Hound knew what I was going to do and attack to prevent it, but, as I prepared for it, it never came. Instead, I heard a yell (more like war cry for all its worth) and the clank of steel on pavement. I looked up and saw the stranger I met the day before standing between me and the Hound with a four foot long pipe in his hand wielded like a sword.

"Get up," he called to me, not taking his eyes off the now limping Hound, "You can't lie around and let a man do all the work."

I shot up, and dove for my bag, digging inside for my weapon. I wrapped my fingers around the cool hilt of it and slid it easily out of the backpack. The silver blade gleamed in the noon sun light as I let the blade extend to its full five foot length. It was beautiful and deadly sharp and when I turned it to the Hound, directing the point to its heart, I saw it hesitate just as it charged us. I ran at it, right past the stranger, and swiped the air where the Hound was headed.

I felt the sickening slink as the blade slid in to the Hound's breast, piercing the heart, and then come out the back just as I felt the weight of it hit me. I stumbled backward as the hound slumped onto me, dead (again), and I pushed it off of me, the sword going with it. I bent over, my hands on my knees and gasped for breath as I vomited, sweat almost drenching my body now. The stench was terrible, worse now as the beast caught fire and crumbled to ash and filled the air around us with it stink, my sword falling to the ground as the remains crumbled to dust. I coughed and wiped my mouth on the inside of my shirt and looked down at myself to survey the damage. The sleeve of my right arm was completely gone and I could see the black veins of poison running up my arm and it burnt like hell. Without thinking, I tore off what little was left of my shirt to get a better look at myself. The black purple veins were already up my neck and half across my chest, the wound itself was oozing puss were the teeth ripped open my flesh. I hissed as I gingerly touched around the wound and puss continued to spilled out.

"That's bad," the stranger said from my side as he took my arm, "We need to get the poison out before it gets to your heart."

"There's no point," I said and turned to face him, showing that it already had, "I'm immune to it, so I'll be fine," I hissed as I felt it begin to pulse as my body fought it off, "It'll only hurt, so I'm gonna be fine."

"Hold still," he said as he pulled a necklace out from under his shirt. It was a long syringe (actually it was about two inches long, needle included). The glass casing was etched with different symbols I didn't recognize and the holder for the glass case and needle was steel, an almost perfect protection metal. It was filled with a metallic black liquid. He popped the cap off and my heart started to pound.

"No," I said firmly and I tried to pull away from him but he held my arm firmly, "Absolutely not! Let go, the poison won't hurt me, well, at least it won't kill me, but you are NOT using that needle on me! So get it the hell away from me!"

"Don't be a child," he said and stuck the needle in the oozing wounds of my forearm without hesitating and I bit the inside of my cheeks to keep from screaming as the steel tip buried deep into my arm, "See, that wasn't so bad, now was it?"

I turned my face to him (wondering why the hell he carried around a needle in a necklace) and gave him my most menacing glare I could muster through the pain, "Yeah, sure, not so bad if you're not terrified of needles and really don't mind strange men jabbing things into you, then yeah! It was just peachy!"

The man rolled his eyes and pulled the needle from my arm, and I saw that not even a quarter of the strange liquid inside was gone, "Look," he said holding my arm out for me to look at, "It's already working."

I looked down at my chest and saw that the veins that were slowly crawling down to my stomach were now retreating back to the source of the poison. It would have done this all its own (maybe after about a week of being sick and in pain) because of my immunity to it, but I was actually relived as I felt the pulsing and pain slowly deteriorating (though I was never going to admit it to him), "Yeah, so?" I said as I jerked my arm away from him, "It would have been just fine without it."

"You know, it's normally polite to say thank you when someone saves your life," he smirked at me and my heart jumped at the sight of it, spreading heat through my body to my cheeks.

"I had it under control," I mumbled turning away from him to fetch my pack, iPod, and sword, not caring that I was pretty much topless in front a guy I didn't know.

"Yes," he said in a condescending voice, "Crouching with your eyes closed while facing off with a Hell Hound is totally having things 'under control'. You're right, my mistake, what could I have possibly have been thinking?"

I picked up my pack and iPod and turned to face him. His shaggy, dirty blonde hair was lit like a halo in the sunlight as he stood facing toward me with his arms crossed. He wore a black tee-shirt with a red Linkin Park band logo, a folded navy blue bandanna on his wrist, a pair of dark blue jeans, and black sneakers. I tried to stay mad at him, but it just wasn't possible when he looked that handsome, "I do believe it's also polite to tell someone your name, yet you have failed to do just that," I smirked as I dug in my pack for a shirt, "So it seems we're both impolite people."

He looked at me, like he was evaluating me (which was a little annoying), as he slipped the syringe back under his shirt. Then he smiled and it was the most beautiful smile I had ever seen, and it was the kind that could dazzle anyone, "I apologize," he said and uncrossed his arms, offering me a hand, "My name is Gabriel Riedder, your guardian angel."

I offered my hand after slipping into my v-necked tee-shirt (expecting him to shake it) and he took it, bringing it to his lips, and planting a gentle kiss upon the soft, sensitive skin, "A pleasure to meet you, Gabriel. My name is Angel Reave, and I don't need a guardian angel. I can handle things just fine on my own."

Gabriel dropped my hand and sighed, "Is it really so hard to say 'thank you'?" he asked me as I straightened my shirt around my torso.

I couldn't help but smile at him, "Fine," I sighed kneeling on one knee so I could dig out my protection jewelry, "Thank you, Gabriel Riedder, for distracting the Hound so I could kill it in a more conventional and less energy consuming manner, though your help was not nessecery."

"I can't win for losing, can I?" Gabriel asked as he put his hands on his hips (which I noticed were shaped very nicely).

"I guess not," I shrugged and slipped on my bone and turquoise choker necklace (mainly to hide the bite mark), clapped my antique silver turquoise bracelet along with my iron turquoise ring, the band was in the shape of vines or roots that came together to hold the stone, and slid my turquoise Tree of Life earrings in. I stood and looked at Gabriel. His eyes were fixed on me, concentrating hard on whatever he saw, "What?" I asked.

"You're more beautiful than I remember," he mumbled and I was worried I might have heard him wrong. I knew for a fact I'd never seen him before in my life, well aside from yesterday when he picked up my things for me.

"Excuse me?" I asked a little confused.

"Nothing," he said and shook his head, "Well, Angel, where were you headed?"

"Call me Ann," I said shaper then I meant to, "Please, it's what everyone calls me. I was heading to my house to pack."

"What are you packing for?"

I opened my mouth but closed it. How did I know I could trust this stranger? How did I know that he wasn't the one who sent the Hound after me? Was I sure I should tell him? Without a doubt in my mind, I knew all the answers; yes I could trust him; no, he wasn't the one who sent the Hound on me because he didn't smell like a Necro; and yes, I should tell him. In fact, I realized, he could actually help me, "I was headed to my house to pick some clothes up," I said as I pulled my pack onto my shoulder, slid my iPod into my pocket, and retracted the sword to its original seven inch long sheath and slid it into my back pocket, "I have to go to my grandmother's and stay until it's safe for me to be back, which as you can tell it's not."

"Yeah, about that," he asked running his hands through his hair, "How the hell did you manage to get someone pissed enough to send a Hell Hound after you, in the day light no less?"

I shrugged and winced at the pain that radiated from my right arm. I looked down at it and saw the veins of black were down to the wounds and slowly seeping out of them, "You know," I breathed through the pain, "I don't really know. All I know is that they're really pissed, but who would risk raising a Hell Hound period! It just doesn't make any sense."

Gabriel gave me a questioning look, "How do you know about all of this?" he questioned.

I bit my lip, "How did you know about this?" I asked now curious why he carried antidotes around with him and how he could see the Hound.

"It doesn't matter," he said with a wave of his hand, "Let's get outta here; there's no telling what will show up next."

I cautiously pushed open my front door with the silver hidden sword, the blade extended at one and a half feet. It was getting on dark now, so I wasn't really worried about our neighbors see me creeping around with a stranger and a sword. But it also meant that I had to worry about vampires and zombies (different from dead-reanimated, but I'll explain that later).

I was shaking as I walked into the mud room, terrified. I was never scared about stuff like this before, dark creepy things never bothered me, so I couldn't understand why all of the sudden I was absolutely terrified. I knew it couldn't possible from any of the creatures that emanated fear, I was immune to that except from Hell Hounds because the fear they imitated was a different type, so there had to be a different reason for the fear. Was I actually afraid to go into my own home? That made me angry. This was my home, I shouldn't be afraid to go into my home! The anger moved over the fear and suddenly, I couldn't wait to get inside.

"Easy," Gabriel whispered and put a hand on my shoulder, "We don't know what's inside, so we have to be alert."

His warm hand on my shoulder calmed me and I took a deep breath, willing my heart to slow and my body to quit shaking. I wondered if being close to Gabriel was the reason for my reactions, but that didn't seem right, at least it couldn't be right. I shook my head and focused as I walked into my living room. The room was still and silent, the air stale. No one had been in or out all day. That was bad, Papa was always home. Where was he anyways?

"Where is your room?" Gabriel said just barely above a whisper.

"Upstairs," I said just as quietly, "Third door on the left, it has my name on it."

He nodded and took the lead before I could protest, if it was killing me people were aiming for, my room would be the first place they would set for. I raced after him, at least as fast I could, trying to quiet (which was actually pretty fast to my surprise).

"Gabriel, no, wait!" I hissed up the stairs at him as I went after him, "Gabriel, wait for me!"

I hurried up the stairs after him. I got up to the hall to see him leaned against the wall. He paused and pointed to my bedroom door and looked at me as if he were asking "This one?"

I nodded to him to confirm. He pulled a strange looking silver pocket knife with a cross on the handle out from under navy blue bandanna he wore on his wrist. He hit a button and a sharp looking curved silver blade popped up from the side. He gave me a stay put look as he slowly opened the door. He took one step into my room and was blasted back into the wall across from it.