1 I stared at him with disbelief. How could what he's saying be true? Trolls? Vampires? No way! Trolls were ugly, short creatures that lived under bridges and terrorized people, not kill them.

And vampires! They were evil too. They went around drinking blood, human blood! None of this can be true, it just can't. I was starting to get dizzy so I sat down on the chair. I put my face in my hands and tried to concentrate.

When I looked up Gabriel wasn't even looking at me. He was staring blankly at wall. I couldn't help but feel for him. So what if trolls and vampires were real? He said not all vampires were evil, right?

But if he is then… he still drinks human blood. How could he be evil though? He saved my life. I sighed then took a deep breath. Ok, it doesn't matter what he is, if he wanted to hurt me or kill me he had plenty of opportunities.

I walked over to him and stood behind him. He didn't move an inch. We stayed like that for at least two minutes. I don't think he even breathed, does he have to? I decided to wait to ask him that. I took another deep breath and hugged him from behind.

"I don't care what you are, Gabriel." I whispered into his back.

He went ridged as soon as I touch him, and then turned around, my arms still around his waist. We stared at each other for a while. I think he was trying to guess what I was thinking but after a moment his confused face turned to relief and he hugged me back. After a second I started to laugh.

"This is so a twist version of some soap opera." I said still laughing.

"Yes, it is, isn't it?" Gabriel said, now laughing too.

We pulled apart from each other and I went back over to the chair and sat down.

"So what do we do now?" I ask.

"We nothing, you are going to go home tonight and I am going to try and ditch the trolls that are after me." He said with as much authority as he could.

"NO!" I gasped. "I want to stay with you."

"Its not safe with me, Crystal." He pleaded.

"Oh and its much safer for me being at home." I stated sarcastically.

"Yes! It is!" He shouted.

"Do you remember when you first met me?"

At the mention of that his eyes became a blaze of anger, "How could I forget?" He said through clenched teech.

"Well that was an everyday thing for me at home."

He looked up at me confused. "Just stay inside and you'll be fine?" He stared at me questionably.

"That's usually where it happen." It was my turn to whisper. Thinking about all this was getting to me. "The big guy with the knife… he's my mother's boyfriend. He lives with me Gabriel."

His eyes clouded over, trying to hide his anger, he finally understood. I couldn't hold back the tears that blurred my vision any longer. Just as the first tear fell so did I. Gabriel caught me before I hit the ground.

I couldn't go back. I didn't want to. How could I just leave Gabriel? 'You don't even know him!' I yelled to myself. That doesn't matter though and I new it.

He helped me to the bed and laid me down, I curled up. He went over to the door, which like the last one, had locks up and down. He locked everyone before turning to look at me with longing in his dark eyes.

I gave him a small smile then closed my eyes. No sooner did my eyes close that I felt a warm arm around me and Gabriel kiss the back of my head.

"I thought vampires were supposed to be cold." I laughed.

"Another myth." He answered. "We're only cold when we're hungry. After we eat the blood flows through us, warming our bodies."

Then I remembered something. "Why don't you bleed?"

"I can." He said confused.

"But you didn't when that guy shot you in the ally." I said equally confused.

"It wasn't a bullet. It was more of a... tazer, like the police use. It didn't really do any damage."

I reached back to touch my shoulder remembering how I felt a sting when I heard the gun shot.

His eyebrows came together and he look to where my hand was. He reached out, moved my hand, and stretched my shirt down. I heard him growl... I think.

"What?" I asked .

"I will make they pay for getting you too." He said angrily.

I looked back to where his fingers were and I saw my should had been burned. It was then that I registered how much his fingers touching it hurt. He noticed my flinch and pulled away.

"Why don't you try to get some sleep? Tonight we have to decide what our next move is." Gabriel said softly.

I closed my eyes in response. I started thinking about everything he said to me. It was all so far out there, things from my nightmares.

Well it wasn't all a nightmare, Gabriel was my dream. I didn't know why but I new I wouldn't be able to leave him. My thinking became slower and slower until it eventually stopped.

I woke up and first thing I noticed was Gabriel wasn't beside me anymore. I jolted up right in a panic then calmed down when I saw him still sitting on the bed leaning against the wall.

He looked at me in confusion then gave me a smile when he realized why I panicked. I smiled back then laid down still staring at him.

"Good morning." I said.

"Good night, really." He laughed

I made a 'whatever' face then my stomach growled. We both laughed a little before Gabriel got up and walked to the door. It took him less then thirty seconds to have all the looks on the door undone and the door open.

"You're going to leave me again?!" I gasped.

He chuckled a little before turning to look at me. "Of course not." He said then held his hand out to me.

I gave him an 'I don't think so' look.

"What?" He asked confused.

"I just woke up and you think I am going to go in public?" I circle my face with my hand. "Looking like this."

That really got him laughing. "You look beautiful come on. Unless…" he trailed off. He got an amused looked in his eyes, which was new to me. "You are expecting to meet someone." He said this with mock hurt.

"You're incredible!" I laughed and threw a pillow at him. He caught it, of course.

"Come on you can fix your hair in a restroom, where there's a mirror." He laughed again but this time came over, grabbed my hand, and pulled me threw the door.

"Ok, ok." I said still laughing. "I'm coming, but if you get stared at and hear people whispering 'what is he doing with that ugly thing'" I said that in a disgusted voice, but still laughing. "It's not my fault."

"Well then I'll just have to make them see your beauty then, wont I."

We went on like that and laughed most of the way. It was the most I remembered laughing in a long time. We stopped at a restaurant and he started pulling me in.

"Table for two, please." He said very politely.

He had a strained look on his face. I looked up at him questionably but he just forced a smile and looked away.

We were led to a table along the wall. We both sat down and started looking at the menu but them something occurred to me. That has been happening a lot lately.

"Can you eat real food?" I asked, frowning.

He looked up at me and smiled. "Of course I can. I don't need to but I usually do. Old habits ya know."

"Oh… um Gabriel…" I stammered. "How… ah, how…ol…"

"How old am I?" He finished for me. "You don't want to know." He said emotionless.

"Yes I do.' I whispered. I didn't know why I dropped my voice. "I don't care, I'm just curious." I said louder this time.

He sighed and I didn't think he was going to answer but then he did. "I was born in 1844. I am 153 yeas old."

"Ok" I said then dropped it. The waiter came and asked what we wanted. "I'll have the chicken."

He seemed a little confused that I just dropped it. He stared at me for a minute then said. "I'll have the same," still staring over at me.

"What?!" I gaped.

"Nothing." He said looking away. "You're just a very beautiful, very strange girl."

I straightened up a little before saying, "Thank you."

At that he shook his head and gave a little chuckle. Then he became serious again. "I know some people not far from here. I'm going to drop you with them. You'll be safe there."

"NO!" I screamed. Everyone in the restaurant turned to look at us. "I'm not leaving you." I hissed in a lower voice. "I'll follow you!"

"I have a feeling I'm faster than you." He said sorrowfully. It was then I realized he didn't want to leave me either.

"Why?" I whisper

"You're not safe with me." His eyes were full of pain.

"I haven't been safe since I was five." I pointed out.

He gave me a weak smile. "This is a little different sweetheart." At that I smile. "What?" he asked.

"No ones ever called me that before."

Gabriel chuckled. The mood lightened considerably. "Cant understand why." He said staring at me.

It was then I thought of a solution. But would he agree to it? Probably not. My mood fell big time. His face went from somewhat happy to confused. Damn he is too good at knowing my mood. I guess I could never hide anything from him. Like I wanted to?

"What?" he asked pained.

"Nothing." I answered quickly. Our food arrived and I welcome the distraction.

"Here you are young lady." The waiter said putting a plate of food in front of me.

He was very handsome. He had light brown hair and I could tell he had some muscle under his uniform. He was staring at me the whole time.

"Is there anything else I can get you." He asked leaning down to me.

"Um. No, thanks." I said turning away from him.

Gabriel had a murderous look on his face. He noticed I was staring at him and smiled, changing his appearance completely.

"Please tell me what's wrong?" He begged.

"There isn't anything wrong." I said looking down at my food.

"Ugh, don't be like that.' he said.

"No really it's nothing. I was just wondering how much longer the food will be." I lied. "But its here now so…" I looked down at my food and started eating

"Crystal, please don't lie to me.' He said annoyed. "Now will you please, please, tell me what is really bothering you?"

"I wasn't lying, I'm hungry." I said taking a bite of my chicken. I noticed Gabriel didn't even touch his. Not like he needed to anyway.

"Crystal…" he seemed to be getting angry.

"Well… um…. I was just wondering…." I trailed off. I couldn't finish it. I wasn't sure how he would take it.

"Crystal." He growled.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and calmed down, a little anyway. I could still see traces of anger in his expression.

"I'm sorry Crystal. It's just, not knowing what's bothering you is hard. I don't like to see you like this."

"I just… I just don't know how you will react." I confessed.

He looked hurt for a second then his face became placid.

"Just tell me. I won't get angry or whatever you think I'll do. I promise to be completely calm."

"Ok" I gave in. "Its just I don't want you to leave me and I don't think you want to either so…"

"Go on." He urged

"So, I was thinking that since you want to leave me because it will be too dangerous for me and I'll probably slow you down that you could…" I sighed in defeat. "That you could turn me into a vampire." I whispered.

I looked up and his face was emotionless. It was just as bad as if he were angry with me. I looked back down.