Vampire Gifts

Chapter 2

Rachel: Wazz goin on?

Nicole: . Your face.

Ava: O.o lol? -_-

Nikki: Yes, Ava. Lol. -rolls eyes-

Ava: Oh...... huh?

Rach: Never mind, Ava. Too complicated.

Nicole: I don't own anything to do with Naruto, or any of the lyrics used. Hehe, I wish!!! P;p

Ava: Yeah, you do wish.

Nicole:...... Shut up! -cries- Y.Y

Ava: Sorry. XD

Nicole: Aww... I give you this rose. -gives rose- Hopefully you, unlike this rose, will not be cut down in your prime and your corpse displayed as a sign of affection.

Everyone: .......

Ava: Dude... Nikki... You're not my bro anymore.

Rachel: .... -_-* Read.... on....?

Nicole: Yeah, READ ON!!!!!!! -waves pompoms around- !

(Rachel's POV)

I try to keep my eyes closed, trying to prolong the uncertainty of what has happened, which I know is something bad, because.... you know.... we were drugged and everything. I feel pressure around me, so I slowly open my eyes, meeting a pair of onyx ones.

I jump as the onyx eyes keep on staring into mine. It's definitely a male. I study his features. His hair is as black as night, with two parts of his hair framing his face. His features are pale and perfect, not an imperfection can be found.

"Do you recognize me?" the onyx eyed man finally asks.

"...Should I?" I ask back quietly. He smirks.

"Well, yes. Try to remember back to when you were in the orphanage... Then you'll realize who I am." he states, getting up and going into the bathroom. I sit up and put my head in my hands, trying to remember like I was told to.

"Haha! Keep away, keep away!" the other children taunted me, throwing my puppy to one another.

"Let her down! Please, let her down!" I beg, tears streaming down my face.

I'm around 8, a day or so after I was first sent into the orphanage.

"You know, it's not nice to pick on someone younger than you." I hear a girl threaten behind the big boys who are teasing me. They turn around, hiding my struggling puppy behind their backs.

"N-Nicole!" the leader stutters.

"I, however, have no argument against picking on people older then I am. Back off and give the new girl her puppy back." the girl orders. They nod but don't go to pass the puppy to me.

"Give the puppy to me, then, or you will be hurt. Badly." the girl growls, scaring the older children and terrifying the younger ones. The leader of the group eventually holds my shocked puppy out to her. She takes it gently from him, but then shifts my puppy to her left arm and twists the leaders arm around. He cries out in pain and she smirks.

"If I ever catch you doing anything else to any of these children again, I'll hurt you so badly, you'll be in a hospital for weeks, understand?" she snarls in his face. He nods and she releases his arm. They make a walkway for her to me, and I get my first good look of her.

She has long, black hair, she's tanned and has orange eyes. The surprising thing is, she looks around my age. She walks with confidence and an aura that screams, "Touch me, and you will die". She walks up to me and hands me my puppy. I smile in joy and hug her close to me.

"Thank you." I whisper to the girl, still cuddling my pup.

"Your welcome. I'm Nicole Peters." she introduces, smiling at me.

"Rachel Winter." I reply, smiling back.

I smile to myself at that memory. It was the first time I'd seen Nikki. My smile turns downward at the onslaught of the next memory.

I'm sitting on my bed, crying my eyes out. My puppy has just died from a brain tumor. Nikki has only now left from comforting me. I'm just a few months older now then before, when I first met her. She has told me her story, I've told her mine.

My parents were part of a sacrificial ritual done by a group of rogue Vampires. My parents had told me to hide, which I did. I'd thought that if I was good, then they'd come back. Of course, they never did.

"Rachel, you have a visitor." Julia, our Administration lady, calls from the other side of the door.

"Just a second please!" I answer, sniffing. I grab a couple of tissues, wipe away my tears and blow my nose. I then run a brush quickly through my black hair.

"Come in." I sniffle, turning around to face the doorway.

My bedroom door opens, revealing our blonde, green-eyed Julia, along with a man, mostly obscured by a black cloak. I become wary. Black cloaks never come with anything good.

"Hello. I'm Rachel Winter." I greet, standing up and holding my hand out to shake hands with him. I hear my bedroom door close and the man bends down to kiss the back of my hand.

"Hello, Miss Winter." he replies in a smooth tone. I blush slightly.

"How may I help you, sir?" I ask nervously.

"I've come to pay you a visit and to give you a present." he tells me. I can see a smile on his lips beneath the cloak.

"Why thank you, mister." I state, shocked.

"Here you are." the man says, reaching behind him and pulling something gently out of his cloak. I can't believe my eyes.

"Oh. It's gorgeous." I sigh, tearful. This stranger has bought me a new puppy. I burst into tears and hug the man. I know it's not proper, but stuff being proper. He stiffens but eventually returns my hug.

"Not to be impolite, sir, but what is your name?" I ask, burying my face in the folds of his cloak.

"Sasuke." he answers, petting my hair down.

My eyes widen as I look to the bathroom door. Him? No way. The door opens and he reveals himself. The smile pinches at his lips and he looks into my eyes, knowing that I've figured it out.

"Who are you, Sasuke?" I ask. He sighs happily as I speak his name.

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I am of the four Vampire Leaders. I have received you as a gift of peace. You now belong to me." he answers.

"A... Vampire?" I repeat.

"Yes." he answers.

I put my head on my knees.

"You... visited me... at least once every week... at the orphanage. I looked forward to you coming..." I cried. "All this happened... and I was raised to kill you."

"I know you won't, though." he replies, confident.

I look to him. "Not now I can't. Not knowing it was you."

"I didn't think so." he states. He pauses and listens for a few seconds, then chuckles.

"It seems that Gaara is having a hard time controlling that friend of yours." he laughs.

I glance worryingly around as bangs and a muffled shout of "Get back here" is heard. Then I hear two sets of footprints on the roof. I jump up and look out the window just in time to see Nikki land heavily on the ground. I gasp.

"Be careful, Nikki." I whisper to her. I see her get up and start running into the forest. I look back up and see Gaara jump nimbly after her and start following her.

I feel Sasuke wrap his arms around my waist from behind and rest his chin on my head. I smile slightly but then watch as Gaara reappears with Nikki being dragged along behind him. She trips slightly on her sore ankle. That must've hurt.

"What is he doing to Nikki?" I ask, worrying.

"I don't know. But at least he won't kill her." he answers, trying to sound hopeful.

"How are you so sure?" I question, watching as Gaara kisses Nikki. And, of course, being Nikki and all, she struggles and turns away. He takes her into the castle.

"Because she is his mate. Just as you are mine. If she dies, he dies. He won't take that chance." Sasuke smirks.

"Wait, rewind and pause. I'm your what now?" I scoff, stepping out of his arms and glaring questioningly at him.

"Mate. We are joined by an unbreakable bond. Your friend seems to be having a hard time accepting that and Gaara isn't the patient type." Sasuke answers, shifting the focus back to Nikki and Gaara.

"Well, I'm not going to accept that to easily, either." I sniff, running away from him, super speed style. I skid to a sudden stop and take a couple of steps back. I look at the huge bookcase and stars appear in my eyes.

"So... many... BOOKS!" I squee, whipping the first one I touch out, jumping on the bed and opening the front cover. Sasuke sweatdrops.

"Well, this is going to be interesting." he sighs, shaking his head.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

(Tenten's POV)

I wrench my eyes open, even though my mind is still fogged.

"You're weak." a man states to me. "Your destiny is to always lose."

At hearing this, I take hold of everything in the room that can do damage and raise it into the air. I point them all in the direction of the voice. A slight flash and the man is next to my ear, chuckling.

"You are very lucky to be my mate, Tenten. I'll be the only one strong enough to protect both of us. You'll be practically useless." he sighs.

"You should know all about being useless, won't you, Neji." I smirk. He looks taken aback. "Yes, I know who you are. How is it possible to not recognize one of the the four Vampire Leaders?"

"I'm glad to know that you know all about me." Neji smirks as I sit up.

"I am not weak. I was, but no more." I snarl, glaring at him. "My parents were taken by the Vampires you control to come here, for your food. I was too weak to protect them. You brought me here too, but I was set free."

"You are my mate. I don't regret not killing you, but I regret never trying your blood." Neji laughs, sniffing in my direction. "You smell absolutely edible."

"Okay, ew." I sneer, backing away from him. "That's gross."

(Hinata's POV)

"Wake up! Please, wake up! I wanna talk to chuuuuuu!" I hear a hyperactive guy call, jumping on the bed I'm lying on. I blush and try to open my eyes.

"S-stop it." I groan rolling onto my side. The jumping stops and I feel hands on my waist. My blush increases.

"Wh-who are you? Wh-what are you d-doing?" I stutter, finally managing to open my eyes.

"You're pretty..." the blonde haired, blue eyed man smiles.

"Uh... th-thank you?" I question, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm Naruto!" he exclaims, giving me a thumbs up.

"I-I'm Hinata." I answer, trying to wriggle out of his grasp feebly.

"Do you have a family?" Naruto asks. My face turns into a sad expression.

"Not anymore. A long while back, a relative of my family was taken. They told my family that he had been turned and that they had taken him in for testing. I felt so sorry for him at first, but then I realized what Vampires were capable of. Then, more Vampires came and burnt my family's house to the ground, my mother and father inside, tied to a statue of my lost relative. Luckily, I was out shopping then. I was walking home when I saw smoke billowing from where I lived and when I got there... I saw the smoldering remains of my house and the charred body of my parents." I explain, my eyes watering.

"Oh. Wait, what's your last name?" Naruto questions.

"Hyuuga. I'm a relative of Neji Hyuuga." I reply. "He killed my family."

"Don't worry Hinata. I will take care of you." Naruto pledges, giving me a tight hug.

"Thank you, Naruto." I reply, blushing.

(Nicole's POV)

I don't know how long I've been down here, but I've been unconcious for most of the time. After I woke up, I went straight into training. I'm still training now. Sweat is dripping slowly down my forehead, making my eyes sting slightly and my ribs are throbbing almost unbearably.

I stop my torturous training as I hear echoing footprints coming down the stairs.

"Who's there?" Kakashi asks from outside my cell.

"Gaara Sabaku with Nicole Peters' night time meal." Gaara replies smoothly.

"Forgive me, Lord Gaara. Nicole has been unconscious for the most part since she has been brought here, but when she has been awake, she has been training very hard, which would be highly painful to her, counting her injuries." Kakashi reports, sliding open the iron door, revealing the blood haired Vampire that I detest so much.

"Well, good evening." Gaara purrs to me, like a chocolate covered razor.

I face the wall and don't respond to him entering. I hear him put the tray on the ground and then he is suddenly right behind me.

"It is polite to reply, you know." he states, an edge to his voice.

"Well, it's not very polite to lock people up in dungeons, is it?" I sneer walking away to the other side of the cell.

He huffs. "Seems you haven't learnt anything. Let's see how long it takes to break you." he smirks. I gulp silently and face the wall.

"I'll be here until I die then." I answer, trying to sound as brave and as confident as possible.

"I doubt that. See you tomorrow." Gaara sighs, waving me off as he walks out of the door. The iron door slams closed behind him. I glare at the door for a while until the sound of footsteps fade.

"Yeah. I bet he poisoned the food or something." I conclude, glancing at the thin soup, bread and water on the tray.

"Like hell am I ever going to eat that." I state defiantly.

A month later.......

"When did my life start being so unfair?" I ask myself.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe the night that your family was murdered!" the voice inside my head answers.

I've long since accepted that I talk to myself. I no longer think of it as crazy, just as someone to talk to. As soon as Gaara found out I was befriending Kakashi, he had him removed from his post outside his door.

Gaara has brought me news of my friends. He says they are worried about me and have adapted to living as a Vampires mate fairly easily. I can't believe them.

"But... I suppose... they do have the better end. I mean, I'm the one that has been stuck in this cell for an odd month." I think.

"Yeah. You are. Is it so hard as to accept that you are now Gaara's mate?" my other side sighs.

"Yes. It is hard. It's god damn impossible. You're me! You're meant to understand. Even you're on his side." I snarl at my other side. Curling into a mental ball in the corner of my head.

My other side rolls her eyes. "You're being over dramatic."

"No, I'm not. You're being underdramatic." I argue stubbornly. I suddenly freeze as footsteps echo down the stairs.

"Shit, he's coming." I whisper to myself.

"Woah. You're the reincarnation of Einstein aren't you." she huffs sarcastically.

"....Shut up self." I hiss.

"Who goes there." the heavy voice of the new guard demands.

"Gaara Sabaku, here to take Nicole back up." Gaara answers.

"Wait, what?" I gasp. Up? As in, to my friends and to open air?

"Yes, Lord Gaara." the guard coughs.

The iron door opens and there appears my worst nightmare, with which accompanies my escape.

"Come on then, Nicole. Let's not keep the others waiting." Gaara smirks, holding his hand out to me. I look at it like it's something foreign. I lean against the wall and lift myself up.

"Before we reach your friends, we are going to have to get you cleaned up." Gaara orders, I nod numbly. I've found it best if I don't answer verbally.

We walk in silence up the stone staircase. I squint as we reach the top. Only spending half an hour a day in light kills when you come out.

My hair has grown a bit longer and I'm fairly dirty. I've lost quite a bit of weight and my tan has lessened so it seems. I'm led up another set of staircases and into the room I was in on my first day here. His bedroom.

"Go into the bathroom and get yourself cleaned up. Try to escape and back down to the dungeon you go." Gaara threatens, pointing to the bathroom door. I nod and go into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I strip out of my dirty clothes and get under the hot spray of the shower. It feels so good against my tired muscles.

I walk out of the cubicle when I'm finished and see a towel robe waiting for me. Wonder when that was put there.

I pause at the doorknob before going back into the bedroom. I back away from the door and spend a few more minutes away from Gaara. I hear him coming towards the door so I jump up and stand as if I was just about to go out.

I twist the doorknob and see Gaara slightly towering over me. He bends down a bit so that he's level with my neck. He leans forward and puts his face so that it's leaning on my shoulder and his face is beside my neck. He takes a deep breath in.

"You smell delectable." he sighs. I shudder in disgust as his lips brush my pulse point. He leans away again.

"Let's find you something suitable to wear." he suggests. I follow him over to a walk-in-wardrobe and watch as he opens the door. I follow him into the wardrobe and over to the isle of the dresses. I hesitate, which he notices.

"What?" he questions.

"Um... dresses." I sigh. I wince, preparing myself if he hit me. Instead, he laughs.

"It's just for when we're with the others. You can come up and change later, if you want." he offers. I nod.

He looks around for a while, before he picks out a dress. It's actually quite nice.

It's like those older style ones, like in Elizabethan times, when the Plague and all those sicknesses were around. It's floor length, is blood red and has a corset top. It pinches in at the waist and then poofs out a bit at the hips. It's sleeveless so it shows off a bit too much of my cleavage for my taste.

"Great." he mutters to himself.

'Great my ass crack.' I think. My other side sighs impatiently at me.

"Go put this on." Gaara orders, giving the dress to me. I practically run back into the bathroom and then look at the dress with a look that probably stands for, "How the holy fudge fucker am I meant to put this monster on?"

I sigh and take my robe off. I slip into the bottom layers of the dress easily. It's the top layer that's the problem. I slip it on like the others but can't get it done up. I curse the little slippery fucker to hell, until Gaara comes into the bathroom. He laughs at me and walks behind me. I freeze as his fingers fiddle with the top, doing it up tight as.

"There. Turn around." he states. I quickly turn around and he looks at me as if I'm a piece of meat.

"That red is very much your colour." he smirks. I scowl at him slightly. He just shakes his head in amusement.

I follow him as we exit both his bathroom and the bedroom. My mood immediately lifts at the thought of seeing my friends and my steps pick up in speed. Gaara looks at my passive, yet undeniably excited expression and smirks. I look up in time to see him watching me and scowl at him and turn my head to the side. I feel him look back to the front.

Gaara pauses before the doors and his hand rises up to touch my neck. I flinch away from his touch. He sighs impatiently.

"Why'd I have to have such a difficult mate?" he grumbles.

"Why'd I have to have such a murderous, pain in the ass Vampire?" I retort. He sighs again.

"You're not going to get over that in a hurry, are you?" Gaara asks, already knowing the answer.

"Oh, you mean, you murdering my parents and then taunting me about it all the time?" I answer angrily. Gaara glares down at me a bit.

"I don't have to let them meet you." he threatens. I scowl a bit more then turn away from him. He sighs impatiently again and opens the doors gracefully, giving me a full view of the room and the members inside.

"Nikki!" I hear three voices cry and hear footsteps racing over to me. A wide smile envelops my features and I hold my arms open as my friends crash into them.

"God how I missed you." Tenten laughs.

"How long has it been since we saw you last? A bit over a month, wouldn't it be?" Hinata asks. I shrug.

"I have no idea." I reply, my smile still in place.

"Where have you been?" Rachel questions. I narrow my eyes at Gaara a bit.

In a jail cell in the dungeons. I answer with my mind, sending the message to the other girls and shifting my vision to the other three males that Gaara is talking to.

"Who are they?" I inquire, gesturing with my eyes to the males.

Hinata and Rach blush and Tenten just sighs somewhat annoyed.

"They're our 'mates' or so I'm told." she answers.

"How are they?" I continue.

"Neji, the brown haired one, is kinda pushy, uber protective and the murderer of Hinata's family. He thinks that everyone around him is weak and everything happens because it's destiny." Tenten states, glaring kind of playfully at the brown haired male, now dubbed 'Neji'.

"Naruto, the blonde one, is hyperactive and fun to be around. He is really cute and determined. Even though he acts really silly sometimes, he's really strong." Hinata stutters, blushing as 'Naruto' winks at her.

I hold down my disbelief and slight disgust.

"Sasuke, the black haired one, is my mate. Remember that man who visited me at the orphanage but we didn't know who he was? That was Sasuke. He is dark and mysterious and really nice when he wants to be. He's understanding and kind." Rachel sighs, glancing briefly over at 'Sasuke'.

I can't hold it in anymore and let the emotion cloud my face.

"How's Gaara?" Hinata asks tentatively. I close my eyes and control the wave of anger that coils inside me. The battle lasts only a second, but doesn't go unnoticed.

"Let's just say, he's not very pleasant." I growl, glaring at Gaara from the corner of my eyes. He glances at me from the corner of his own eyes and sees me glaring. He just rolls his eyes. This infuriates me and I mumble incoherently.

"What?" Tenten asks.

"Nothing." I reply harshly.

Tenten looks taken aback and I take a deep breath and close my eyes. When I open them again, I paint on a sorry smile.

"I'm really sorry, Tenten. I'm just kinda hungry." I laugh, sending another glare at the egotistical, selfish, short-tempered Vampire beside us. Gaara seems to hear what I said and puts his arm around my waist. I slap his hand, but he doesn't remove his arm.

"That's right, Nicole. You must be hungry. When was the last time I gave you food?" Gaara questions.

"Three days ago, you bastard." I grumble. Gaara thinks playfully.

"Oh, really? I thought it was longer ago then that." he smirks. I elbow him in the ribs and he winces a bit.

"That wasn't nice." he mumbles. I glare at him and he sighs in frustration.

"Take a seat and food will be brought to you. It's time for us to hunt." Neji says, gesturing to the table with eight seats.

I don't say a word as I go over to a seat. I stand behind it as I wait for the others to join me. They're all farewelling their mates as if it's the last time they'll see them... and that that's a bad thing.

"What, no goodbye kiss?" Gaara chuckles from right behind me.

"No." I answer harshly without turning around. He leans forward, his chest against my back.

"Why not?" he whispers, pressing his lips to the base of my neck.

"Because it'd be like kissing Satan himself." I hiss back, leaning forward.

He grabs both my arm and my waist and spins me around. I fight against his grip and he just tightens his hands. I wince at the pain. He leans forward again but he doesn't leave me the ability to lean backwards.

His lips gently, yet with a rough edge, press against my own. I try to turn my head, but the arm that was holding my arm raises to hold my head straight. I use this chance and raise my hand up.

Before he can stop me, I slap him across the face, turning his head at the impact.

I manage to smirk through my fear. He looks kinda pissed off. He glowers back down at me, a hand print appearing on his cheek. I hear the others gasp.

He raises his own hand and brings it down with an unmatched speed... or it would've been if I hadn't expected it. I drop to one knee so that the blow misses my head entirely.

I brace myself for another attack, but he just composes himself with a smirk.

"Like kissing Satan?" he asks, anger still glittering in his eyes.

"Worse." I reply calmly. We have a glare off before he leaves the hall. I let out a deep, relieved breath when the three other males leave as well.

"What was that about, Nikki?" Hinata asks. I stare disbelieving at her.

"That's what I thought when I saw your farewells to the Vampires." I retort, putting a hand on my hip.

"I think, if you gave Gaara a chance, you'd like him." Rachel states. My disbelieving stare turns to her.

"You're kidding me, right? You have to be, or your insane! You're even on first name basis with those monsters! That Vampire murdered my parents, had me kidnapped, got pissed at me so he locked me in a dungeon cell for a month, gave me just enough food and water to survive and now wants to act like a happy couple." I roar, clenching my fists. "Like I told him, I'd rather die then accept him."

There is a lengthy silence between us.

"... A month?" Hinata questions weakly.

"Yes. A whole fucking month." I snarl. She shrinks back.

"Cool down, Nikki." Tenten orders, looking at my arms. I look down at them to see them coated in flames. I close my eyes and focus on lowering my temperature.

"Sorry. It's just that he gets me so fired up. My temper runs shorter then usual when he's the topic of a discussion." I growl, taking deep breaths.

"Um... we can see that... uh... let's eat." Rachel suggests.

I sigh and nod, moving back to my chair. We all sit down at one end of the table Rachel across from me and Hinata and Tenten across from each other beside us.

After a while, two waiters come out from a door on the opposite side of the room with two trays per waiter.

They place the trays in front of us silently and then leave through the doors they came through before.

I watch them with wide eyes. A new wave of anger rushes through me. The waiters had chains/collars attached around their wrists, ankles and necks. I didn't miss what the neck braces covered up though.

Bite marks.

Hell no.

"What's wrong, Nikki?" Rachel asks, looking at me with a questioning glance. I take on last look at the doorway before replying.

"Nothing."

I turn my view down to the platters before me. I raise my hand and lift the silver lid off the platter. My mouth starts to water as soon as I look down at the plate.

Sitting there is a piece of choice steak with roast potatoes, peas and carrots. It looks so good!

I drop the silver lid on the table, startling the other girls. I can't even comprehend that this could be a chance to escape. The force of my hunger takes over and I dig into my food. I finish far before any of my friends, my stomach no longer in pain but half-full.

I moan in satisfaction.

"Good, Nikki?" Hinata smiles. I manage to nod at her.

"We know how your always cranky when you're hungry." Tenten laughs. I pause in my brief happiness.

"It's not because I was hungry that I was cranky." I grumble. "It was because I was starved for a month."

"You said he gave you food." Rachel inputs.

"Barely." I answer grumpily.

The others finish in silence and a few minutes after that, the waiters come back in, carrying four more trays and taking our used ones away wordlessly.

I lift the lid of this tray and see a chocolate soufflé with cream and a strawberry. I almost faint at this sight. I take my time eating this one, savoring the flavour. Halfway through dessert, the waiters come and bring tall glasses brimming with my favourite drink. Coke. Yeah yeah, childish, yeah yeah. I chug half of it before finishing my soufflé.

I finish the last of my drink and let out a content sigh.

"That's better." I smile.

"Chocolate makes everything better." Rachel chuckles. I sober up.

"Not everything." I reply sadly.

"What do you mean?" Tenten asks. I look at her with disbelief again.

"Chocolate doesn't make the war go away. You can't forget that we are still stuck in the middle of it. In fact, we should be doing something to help the other humans! We're in the middle of the enemy headquarters. Why not take down as many Vampires as we can? That's how we were raised! We were raised to help the humans against the Vampires!" I state, trying to get some of my old friends back.

"Why should we help the humans?" Hinata asks, the same sadness in her voice as I had before.

"What do you mean?" I inquire, frowning.

"Well, they are the ones that betrayed us and gave us to the Vampires." she continues.

I refuse to give up. I hear the great front doors open and footstep echo.

"Forget it. It seems that I'm the only sane one left in the Four." I growl, raising from my seat. The others look troubled over me but ecstatic to see their mates again. I turn to the doors that connect to the entrance hall just as they swing open. I place a dignified scowl on my face as I spot Gaara. He says a quick farewell to the other four Vampire Leaders before almost speed walking over to me.

"Calmed down any, Nicole?" Gaara smirks. I answer him with a stony glare. He gives the other girls a questioning look and they all shake their heads at him.

Oh.

I get it.

I scoff.

"I can't believe it." I laugh, close to chuckling hysterically. "You're working with him!"

"Nikki..." Tenten sighs, reaching her hand out towards me.

"You know what? Don't even bother." I snarl, turning away from them. "I'm tired."

I feel so betrayed. I don't care where I go, just as long as it's away from here. Gaara catches the hint and starts to walk out the dining hall, with me trailing behind. I ignore the further attempts from my friends at communicating with me.

My footsteps, along with Gaara's lighter ones, echo in the empty hallway.

"They were o-" Gaara starts.

"Don't talk to me." I growl, a warning in my voice. "Just because you took my weapons, that does not make me defenseless."

"Are you ever defenseless?" Gaara asks.

"Not anymore." I answer harshly.

Thankfully, he doesn't try to make anymore conversation. Otherwise, I probably would've ripped his head off... or tried to.

We finally reach his room.

"What am I going to sleep in?" I ask, still in a foul mood. Instead of answering verbally, he walks into the closet and to a different section then before. I follow him. He spreads his arms wide, an invitation for me.

"Pick whatever you'd like." he states, smirking a bit. I glare at him a little and I look over the sections.

I end up picking a pair of satin boxers and a black tank top. Gaara watches as I stalk out of the room and into the bathroom. I fiddle around on the wall for the switch and, when I finally find it, I realize why it's so dark.

The window in the bathroom has been blocked out, either for preventing another escape attempt or to blot out the sun.... or both.

Either way, I was tired. I'd learned to sleep during the day, when I was sure it's safe, instead of at night when the Vampires were out. Unfortunately though, I suddenly figure, that isn't a good thing in this situation. I lock the bathroom door and think.

Gaara will also need to sleep, and I doubt he has a couch he can sleep on, or if he would if he did. I'm also in desperate need of sleep, which is already making me vulnerable. If I sleep now, it'll leave me almost completely defenseless.

I change out of the dress anyway, hating wearing the damn things.

I slip on the boxers and tank top much easier. I give out a small sigh at being in something more familiar than a dress. I don't want to go back out to the other room again, where my own, personal hell is waiting.

I sit down on the edge of the bath and wait for a few minutes. I don't want to stay here. I've got to leave, with or without my teammates. I shudder at the thought of leaving without them. I don't think I can do that. So... I either have to leave by myself and comeback for them, or bring them to their senses and take them with me.

I sigh. My mind isn't working on the same level as it usually would. To much has happened and I haven't gotten enough sleep. But, I doubt I'll be able to sleep very well with that monster in the room, let alone on the same bed.

I walk over to the door, pausing before twisting the doorknob and opening pushing it open. I shift the dress on my arm and wonder where I'm meant to put it now. I see a small girl with chains on her neck and wrists and old and fresh bite marks all over her. My breath catches and tears build in my eyes.

"May I take your dress for cleaning, mistress?" she asks. I bite my lip and close my eyes, not letting my tears escape. I glance around the room for Gaara and spot him watching me from the bed. I can't talk to the girl out loud with him there. I take a deep breath and focus my attention on her.

Don't be scared and don't react to this voice. I say to her, watching as she suppresses a jump and then a shudder at the heat that arrives with my voice directed into her head.

"What's your name?" I whisper out loud, making the jump and shiver look like a reaction to being talked to.

"Lyna." she replies softly, looking at me with wide eyes.

I'm going to get you out of here. As soon as I can, I promise.

"It's nice to meet you, Lyna. Thank you." I state as she takes my dress from me.

"Your welcome, mistress." she bows, looking at my eyes and smiling a bit, obviously trusting me.

The door closes behind her as she exits, making a soft creak and a click.

"You're sick." I growl at the Vampire that I can sense is approaching me. "How can you imprison and drink from such a young girl?"

"Blood is blood, my pet." Gaara purrs, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind.

"Don't touch me with the hands that murdered my parents." I snarl, ripping his arms from around me. I go over to the bed and lie down on it, facing away from Gaara.

The light gets turned out, bathing the room in darkness, despite it being daytime.

I miss the sun. I'll never say that I don't. I miss the times when I used to be able to run outside and play in the sun without a care in the world.

I feel the bed shift as Gaara lays down on the opposite side of the bed.

His arms wrap forcefully around me, tightening to an almost unbearable grip. I gasp in pain, trying to wrench myself free. I try to heat myself up, but it's like it doesn't even effect him.

"I can make this most unpleasant for you, Nicole." Gaara warns from behind me.

I suddenly feel a moistness in my eyes that I haven't felt for the longest time. I reach my hand up and touch my cheeks, feeling a wet trail flowing down my skin. I feel Gaara shift a bit closer to me and I shove my face into my pillow, not wanting him to see me like this, so stupid and vulnerable.

"Are you willing to co-operate, Nicole?" Gaara asks, a tolerance in his voice.

"Do what you will. I don't care." I reply harshly, curling up into as much of a ball as I can manage. I hide my face in my hands, unable to stop the tears now that they've started.

I feel as if something has been ripped from me, something vital. My pride. My strength. My willingness to fight. It's all gone.

My fellow humans have betrayed me. My friends have abandoned me. My strength has disappeared on me.

I have nothing left, except the hope of escape.

I finally succeed in crying myself to sleep, unwillingly in the arms of the man who stole everything from me.

(Rachel's POV)

I sigh contently in the arms of Sasuke and he brings me closer.

Sleep is about to overwhelm me, when his voice interrupts my stupor.

"I was hoping, my love, that you would let me drink form you soon, allowing me to finally claim you as my own." he states, nuzzling his face into my neck.

My eyes snap open in horror and shock.

"So soon?" I ask, breathless.

"Of course." he chuckles.

It feels as if, suddenly, I've been thrown into a bath of icewater after hours of lying in the sun.

How could I have been so stupid? Of course all he's been thinking about is my blood. He wants to drink all he can from me, then turn me into one of his own kind.

I resist hyperventilation at the new found revelation.

Nikki was right. What have we become? Mistresses to bloody Vampires.

"We'll see how these next months go, Sasuke." I whisper to him, listening as his breath slows down dramatically, so that it's like he isn't breathing at all.

Sleep doesn't come to me that night. Not once.

Nicole: Well, there we have it. Installment deux!

Rachel: You have such a small brain capacity, Nikki.

Nicole: You know what? You, my friend, are what the Italians call, 'Le Bully'!

Rachel: Don't you mean the French? e-e

Nikki: Yeah, yeah. Sure. The German call them 'Ein Bulich', I bet.

Rachel:...... Right.

Nikki: That means the Italians call them, 'Le Bullicini'!! :D

Rachel:............................ !!! OMFGROFLMAOWTMFHBBQ!!! TOTES!! xD

Nikki: Heehee. R + R plze.

Rachel: -dies of over-laughter-