LOL, I'M WRITING SO MUCH. It's amazing - usually, my chapters are short and slow coming into action. Not this time! 8D

Quick insight: I think I'm going to have to explain Nyx to you now. Yeah. I probably should. Nyx is an old, old vampire, created beyond the times of any of the other vampires. She's much older than Amelie, Oliver, Bishop (she created the vampire that made Bishop, though), Myrnin, etc. And she's also a different kind - her blood is rare in the world because she is in fact, Nyx, the goddess. The Goddess of Night, so it's logical to make her into a character; more specifically, a vampire character. When she talks of master vampires, she means vampires she chose and created, seeing as she's the master vampire. As time wore on, they began to create other vampires, and that's why she called them 'failed creations'. Because she killed off most of these vampires, including several master vampires, she was once the most feared creature on the earth. She then dropped out of sight, which is why Amelie didn't know she was a master vampire. As to her relationship with Myrnin, he was simply a customer who knew a little too much. He drank her blood, which means he's a pureblood, but not a master simply because she didn't choose to make him one.

So that's it. If there's any questions, leave them in a PM or a review and I'll answer them. Also, won't you all be dears and leave me a review?

PS; Apologies for the late update. I've been busy.

Chapter Three - Interruptions.

Nyx's POV.

Nyx stood awkwardly in the Glass House's parlour, watching Claire's three housemates asses her. They were a colourful bunch, she could see, and stared at them each in turn. Michael was a vampire, no doubts. Claire didn't have to tell her he was - he had shining golden hair and bright blue eyes, but his skin was too pale and his movements too controlled for a mortal. Next was Eve who stood close to him in defiance. Her face was as white as Michael's, with dark blue lipstick and black eye make-up that reached her brows. Her eyes, though, were a warm dark brown that were now alight with fear. Next was Shane who hovered protectively near Claire. He was tall and built, and his skin shone in a lovely tan. His hair was a golden brown and fell around his sharp face in straight, unruly locks. His eyes, though, were contained and hot as he stared at her. She could feel the distrust and anger radiating from him in thick, menacing waves.

Delightful.

''Um - Michael, I know that I shouldn't have, but I kind of invited her to crash here for a while.''

Claire spoke with a false brightness in her tone, and her eyes were wide and almost panicked. Nyx's slender frame was leaning near the door, her arms crossed over her chest and one foot cocked against the wall. She had just began to relax her muscles, and God, she hadn't realised how tired she was until that very moment. She could feel their eyes on her, even though her own were closed. ''Bro, you know it's a bad idea,'' whispered Shane furiously. ''Come on, you can't have forgotten that bastard Bishop and his two evil minions already, can you?''

''I haven't,'' said Michael loudly, and then shot Shane a sharp-edged look. ''And stop whispering, moron.''

Shane rose his eyebrows, turned his eyes back onto Nyx, and shrugged. He lay off and went into the sitting room, and moments later, Nyx heard the whirring of a disc inserted into a console of some sort. Modern video game, she guessed, but didn't go investigate. Michael gave her an assessing look, but Eve spoke up before he could say anything. ''Why don't you go rent out a Founder House or something? Aren't you besties with the Founder?''

There was no mistaking the venom in the young girl's tone.

''There would be no need, since I only require a few hours sleep. I don't plan on staying in this cesspool of a town,'' she said, and couldn't help the resentment in her voice. Michael was watching her now, his steady blue eyes enthralled by her. Then he shrugged, and said to Nyx's utmost relief, ''fine. You get to sleep a couple of hours - but then you're out. No more services.''

''Why, thank you kindly,'' said Nyx almost sincerely, and felt the awkwardness return. Claire waved her into the sitting room, and then retreated down the hall to push open what she assumed was the kitchen door, and Michael and Eve followed - Eve not missing the chance to send her glare over her shoulder before disappearing through the swinging door. Nyx rose her slender brows and sauntered with ease into the sitting room where Shane sat on the three-seat couch, his gaze fully focused on the screen and the controller in his hands. Nyx glanced around, and sat in an armchair, gazing around, not really interested in the house, nor its contents, especially its inhabitants.

Eve's POV.

''God, Michael, what the hell?'' was the first thing I said when we were securely in the kitchen. He leaned against the counter by the stove and looked at me with extreme exasperation as Claire went and got a Coke from the fridge. I set my most hateful glare on him, and her, seeing as she's the one who brought the stray in. ''Why'd you let her in?''

''Oh, come on, Eve, she showed up here with Claire - and she didn't threaten her or us. I couldn't just leave her out there. Didn't you see her?''

Yeah, I'd seen her alright. Masses of thick, silken - if a little tangled - raven-black hair with flawless, creamy pale skin and wide, sparkling midnight blue eyes with thick, inky lashes framing those stormy blue orbs. True, the skin beneath her eyes looked bruised, and she seemed a little… Zombie-like? But still. She was a female vamp, and worse, she was a pretty female vamp. Dealings with pretty female vamps and Michael didn't go well. Gloriana had gotten what she deserved, and Naomi disappeared out of sight, but that still left the fact they'd gotten his attention. Too much of it.

I looked at him now, and really studied him. His body language was tough to read, but it was tensed yet it had a forced languid pose now, as though he was waiting to pounce, and always, always there was that maddening gleam in his eye that occasionally let the red sparks of hunger show. He was a vampire - so was the chick in out sitting room. That made me think, wouldn't it be easier for Michael to go for a girl without a pulse? One he didn't have to worry about attacking? I sighed, and he rose his eyebrows at me - waiting for a response.

''Sure I saw her, but I've seen a lot of vamps. Like, oh, I don't know, Gloriana for instance. She was nice - until she wasn't. Like always. Aren't I right? Just tell me I'm wrong, Michael, tell me they're not all bad. Tell me you're all just misunderstood bloodsucking fiends!''

Then Claire spoke up, preventing a fight that was bound to happen 'cause of me and my smart mouth.

''You guys - no, wait, Eve, stop it!'' she said, and put her opened Coke down. ''God, what's wrong with you? She's actually all right. Like, she's crazy, and really, really old, but Nyx is Myrnin's apprentice now -''

''What? I thought you were!''

''- and she's doing something really important for Amelie.''

That stopped anything more snappy being said. That vampire - she'd called her Nyx? Wasn't that the goddess of night or some crud like that? I frowned. Sure, I'd loved Greek Mythology as a kid, but I didn't think parents took it so literally they'd name their child after a God. Or Goddess. Or Titan. I paused in my thoughts - which was she? Goddess? Yeah, I thought so. I'd go look it up later, but I turned to the current problem at hand. I looked at Claire, and there was that small gleam of contained panic in her eyes that always told us she was lying; or keeping something from us.

''What something really important?'' asked Michael cautiously. Claire rarely spilled the beans when it came to Amelie, or especially Myrnin. A flicker of movement caught my eye, and there was the cutesy vampire herself. She wasn't especially tall, but with the rockin' boots and slim-legged pants, she looked it. Her torso was covered in cascading ripples of beautiful silk, and she was wearing a long black velvet coat that I would have killed for. She looked, from that angle and under the dim glare of the kitchen light, like an untamed yet sleek panther, watching its meal go by. Kind of creepy.

''I believe it's none of your business,'' said the vamp and shot Claire a kind of warning look. I took note of her accent - oh, God, it was Greek; so cliché given her name - and licked my lips nervously. I felt like a kid caught cheating on a spelling test. It sucked.

''Hells yeah it is, lady, if you're under our roof. Plus, we're Morganville Neutrals.''

I knew the second it was out of my mouth it was a mistake. Nyx just moved and it was so much faster than I'd ever expected because I didn't even have to blink. Even with the vamps, it was possible to see them coming. Not her. She was just there, and then she wasn't. And then she was right in my face. Well, not quite, because I staggered back from horrific shock. Nyx's eyes weren't crimson like they should have been; no, they were a bright, gleaming silver, only a tiny dot of pupil in their centres. ''Your petty town rules mean nothing to me. And it is better you do not know what I am here for. It might break your little heart.''

And just like that, she was gone. Not even in the kitchen, and when I looked around, I saw her through the glass in the kitchen door - sitting in Michael's seat, staring vaguely into space. She looked… Broken. Fragile. Confused. Human. Not as though she'd just threatened me. ''Hell no,'' I snarled, ''gimme a stake, 'cause seriously, that bitch needs some manners!''

Michael's hand closed around my wrist. ''No,'' he said quietly. ''Don't do anything to piss her off. I mean it, Eve. She's… She's not like Bishop. She's ten times stronger, and she's on her own. There's something way different about her, and she'd kill you before you could blink.''

And weirdly, I believed him.

''Michael's right,'' said Claire, trying to keep her voice quiet. ''Apparently, she's a master vampire, higher than Bishop was. She's badass all the way through, and she threatened Amelie. But what they're doing… It's really important. She's not here just to have fun - or so I think. I honestly don't know what she's really like. We have to let her sleep, or - well, it'll be a seriously bad outcome if she doesn't.''

That shut me up.

Nyx's POV.

She was sitting on the chair that smelled so strongly of the young vampire, Michael. Shane stayed seated on the couch, never even sparing her a glance. She realised quite quickly he wasn't there to make conversation. She could sense the hatred spilling out of him, but yet he stayed, and she had a feeling it wasn't just to play the video game he didn't seem to have much enthusiasm for playing any longer. He was just sitting there. Why? She blinked, yawned, and stretched out her leg muscles. Eventually, he paused the game, and stared straight at her just as she felt about to doze off.

''Who the hell are you?'' he asked very quietly. Nyx sighed. She didn't like being asked that question, because she always had to be so careful of how she answered it. Instead, she went with an answer that would shut him up. ''Possibly your worst nightmare if you do not let me retire.''

He blinked and instantly, his gaze narrowed. He got up off of the couch, and turned off the console and TV. Then he walked over to where she was sitting, curled up, and put his hands on both arms of the chairs. His eyes were dark and humourless, and quite frankly, Nyx was surprised. She'd never seen that come from a human's eyes before.

''Listen, vamp, I've had way too much of all this crap,'' he said with a hateful tone, ''and I'm pretty sick of it. Keep your claws to yourself and we'll have no problems. Touch any of us, and you'll be out on the street on your ass before you can even say sorry for offending us.''

That made her see red.

''Dear child, I am far too old to take part in offending your immature, pitiful dignity or whatever's left of it. I do have manners, you know. You are aware of what they are, yes?'' she said in a voice like cold poison. ''Now, if you are done making your point, may I sleep?''

He blinked, and stepped back. Clearly he'd been expecting her to retaliate with something pathetic, or something that would give him reason to hit her. She felt a burst of triumph blur her thoughts for a moment, and then it was gone, and she rose her eyebrows. ''Alright - just… Yeah. Okay.'' And he walked out, heading for the stairs. Finally, Nyx rose to her feet, walked to the couch Shane had vacated, and dropped onto it, immediately falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The dawn was just sweeping over the horizon when Nyx's eyes fluttered open. Brilliant hushed tones of pinks, reds and oranges mixed with faint whites and blues all began to colour in Morganville, and it brushed into the windows of the Glass House, creating a soft golden glow in the front room - where Nyx lay on the couch, still encased in the fog of sleep. Someone had thrown a blanket over her, though she really had no need for it - the chill inside her had set in her bones so long ago, she had become accustomed to its feel - but still, the gesture did not go unacknowledged. Nyx carefully got up, and winced as the sunlight began to creep further and further and further into the room. Her eyes weren't used to the light just yet, but she blinked, and the lemon-yellow haze faded from her vision. She yawned and stretched, and got up.

Nyx felt so much better now - sleep was truly the best medicine. But an empty stomach wasn't, and so, she wandered into the kitchen, only to find Eve sitting at the kitchen table. Locating the ticking of a clock, Nyx glanced in its direction to see it was 7 am. How long had she slept? She didn't record the time she'd fallen asleep at. ''Looking for a nice, tasty Insta-meal, Sleeping Beauty?'' asked the Goth girl, her nose still stuck in a glossy magazine and a cup of hot coffee sitting next to her on the scarred kitchen table. There was something of irony in her voice, and there was no hiding her disgust. It amused Nyx.

''Are you offering?'' she asked sweetly, and turned to leave the kitchen, not in the mood for childish banter just at the moment.

''Uh - wait,'' said the girl, and got up out of her seat. She stood at the edge of the table, a tight nerve fluttering in her jaw. Her eyes were fierce and there was a hot blush burning through her white make-up. ''I - I wanted to apologise. For last night. I was kinda out of order. I just got a little jealous. Too many vamps have shown up here, and too many of them have caught Michael's eye, y'know?'' she said, fidgeting with the ends of her long-sleeved white shirt. ''So… Just, if there's anything you need - I'm your gal.''

Nyx couldn't believe the abuse the children offered to the English language these days, and sometimes, it really appalled her. Still, the offer was nice, even though it wasn't said in the nicest of ways. ''Actually, I require a drive,'' she said, ''Please.''

Ten minutes later, Nyx was crammed into Eve's big, black car uncomfortably, cradling a sports bottle of warmed blood in her hands. Eve expertly navigated her way through the town without any instruction from Nyx at all - she knew where Myrnin's lab was. As the car smoothly pulled to a halt against the kerb, Nyx unlocked the door, opened it, and climbed out. She stood there a moment, basking in the glorious sunlight, and then bent to nod her thanks to Eve. ''No problem,'' she replied, waved, and as Nyx shut the door, began to back down the street to drive away. Nyx watched her go, and then went into the Mad Hatter's lair. When she descended the steps, Myrnin himself was busy muttering to himself and flipping through pages of old journals.

''I see you've been busy,'' said Nyx, slightly startled; and for good reason. Sitting sparkling beneath the artificial lighting were rows and rows of test tubes all sitting in racks, with clear-crimson liquid in each. She noticed how all the pieces of glassware were labelled, marked carefully with black pen. She counted them, and there were at least ten test tubes - a dose in each.

''Yes. Busy, busy, busy I've been while you decided to abandon me for a few hours,'' said Myrnin lightly, but she heard the odd tone of his voice. She cocked an eyebrow, but said nothing and went to investigate. ''I… Honestly am surprised you've achieved this.'' She picked up one vial and held it to the light. She could see little flakes in the end of the tube, swirling softly in the liquid. ''What did you use for the distillation?'' she asked, shaking the tube. Myrnin spread his hands. ''Does it matter?''

''Yes,'' she replied a little too sharply, ''of course it matters if we're to create more doses.'' It looked suspiciously close to fish food.

Myrnin shook his head, dark hair flying. ''I honestly have no idea what it is,'' he replied. ''But I tested it with a few samples, and it seemed to provide the correct results.''

Nyx let out a sigh, but said nothing more. She wasn't going to argue with him just for the sake of it, and set the tube back down. She hoisted herself onto a clean part of the table and began to swing her legs, and gripped the sports bottle in her hand. Human blood she was not too fond of, but there had been nothing else within the Glass House. That sparked something in her mind, and she blinked.

''How many vampires in Morganville are there?'' she asked with her eyes narrowed.

''I am not quite sure. Over four hundred, I assume. I don't tend to keep tabs on all of them.''

''And how much blood did you make these from?'' she asked, her eyebrows creasing gently.

''More than I'd like to admit.'' He paused, and stared. ''Why?''

''Because… If I am to dedicate most of the contents of my veins to this, I cannot be sustained only by human blood. It isn't nourishing enough, and the process of converting human blood into vampiric blood, then further into pure, it is too weakening.''

''You're saying you require vampire blood.''

Nyx nodded, but it was stiff and shameful. ''Master vampires, if you have noticed by Mr Bishop, tend to need twice as much blood as a regular vampire,'' she explained in solemn tones, ''Whereas I am in neither of those categories. I have different needs.''

It was a sad fact, but also a true one. Nyx had discovered that in her early days, and it had not been pretty. Many human deaths had been caused, and because she had to convert humans to vampires to sustain her needs, it had almost killed her, too. She may be powerful, but she wasn't indestructible. She was only as strong as her blood, which, if drained enough, wasn't that strong at all. She shamefully clasped her hands in her lap, and looked up, only to find Myrnin watching her intently. There were many emotions storming in his eyes, and she couldn't read even one of them.

Run.

Nyx blinked. The word echoed softly in her mind, a voice she didn't know. It was soft and musical and feminine, but one she had not heard before. The accent was unknown to her, which was unusual. ''Run?'' she repeated aloud, her head cocked to the side in slight confusion. Myrnin whirled on his heel, and stood there, clasping his hands behind his back. ''I shall not,'' he said firmly. ''I will give my assistance where it is needed, and if this is required by Amelie, I am glad to do so.'' His tone was brisk and sharp, and it sent something shivering through Nyx's body. But he wasn't talking to her, those harsh words indirect. He was aware of her existence, and it did sound like something he'd say to her - only he didn't, which made her wonder. Slowly, fluidly, Nyx slipped from the counter and with gentle, silenced steps edged closer to Myrnin. She halted inched away, facing his back. ''Myrnin?'' she said, and put a hand up on his shoulder.

And that's when he reacted in a most feral way.

His body was like liquid as he turned, his clawed hand fastening around Nyx's throat. Like a rag doll, he spun her around and slammed her against the nearest bookshelf, sending volumes raining down on top of them. She would have screamed, yelped, made some noise, only he was cutting off her airways. He was strangling her, and there was nothing she could do, because he yanked both of her arms incredibly fast up, slamming them against a jagged-edged shelf. The wood sliced her skin, and her eyes widened in utmost fear. Oh god, oh god, he was going to kill her. Myrnin's face had contorted into an animalistic form, his eyes glowing crimson beneath the dim lighting. He snarled, an infuriated sound, and shoved her against the bookcase again, and she heard something rock atop it. Seconds later, hot wax spilled over Nyx's hands - still locked in Myrnin's grip - and slid down along her bare arms, and she gasped, a wheezing shallow sound. Bliss cascaded through her veins a moment, and then the wax cooled and she was frightened again. Myrnin watched her with hungry, crimson eyes, a manic grin lewdly curving his lips.

''Dear girl, I thought we had come to a conclusion - you do not touch me unless I say it's alright. But this time, I do not recall giving you permission.''

Nyx was taken aback at his tone, and she felt like screaming obscenities at him. ''I'm… Sorry!'' she choked out, only it came out in a bare whisper and sounded extremely pathetic. Nyx was not one for letting her pride be stepped on frequently, only in this position, what choice did she have? There was no way to seduce him, and he was simply fascinated with her now. A true sadist, she thought in disgust, but something reacted with a keening purr inside of her. She silenced it abruptly.

''Apologies,'' he snorted, but some of the hunger drained in his eyes. Yet, there was something lurking in his bloody orbs, and it wasn't fading. It frightened her, and chilled her to the bone. Myrnin saw a sliver of mercy and slackened the grip on her throat. And then she froze. Slowly, his fingers traced the pale blue veins protruding evidently from her neck, and continued down along her collar bone. She whimpered. No, no, she chanted, no no no! God, what did he want? To rape her? She widened her eyes at the very thought, and gasped softly, a noise of which he took no notice. He couldn't possibly, the thought was irrational and panicked.

Only his hands said otherwise.

Slowly, his smouldering touch grazed along the exposed, pale skin of her breasts, not quite handling them, but not quite not either. And it was torturous and slow, and she felt hot, angry tears flood her eyes. ''Stop it,'' she growled, her voice laced with malevolence and fury. ''Stop what? This?'' he replied in a seductive purr, dropping his hand down to her stomach. With expertise, he grazed his fingers in along the inner skin of her thigh and even through her thin-fabricated pants, she could feel his touch like her skin was bare. ''Not there, you fool,'' she snarled at him, elongating her deadly fangs. He paid no heed to her voice, nor to the threatening aura unfolding from her body, and then moved his hand up.

She gasped, and all the malicious intent drained away from her. Her back arched and she exposed her throat to her merciless kisses and sharp nips, her body leaning towards his. Slowly with a humming purr growling in the back of his throat, he stroked her softly. His fingers suddenly, roughly pressed into her soft spot and a strangled cry left Nyx's mouth. Her hips bucked against his fingers, and her cheeks flushed a faint pink. God. What the hell was happening to her? Myrnin simply chuckled, a low, throaty chuckle and his lips vibrated against her throat, causing shivers to cascade along her spine.

''Myrnin… Stop,'' she gasped, her voice laced with trembling please, ''please.''

He seemed to come to his senses, and the fondling fingers paused, and withdrew almost immediately. He stepped away from her and Nyx's hands fell down by her side, and she wrapped them around her slight torso, gazing at him in delirium and confusion. He looked horrified with himself. ''My dear, I - I apologise most sincerely.'' His voice was genuine and filled with self-loathing as she crumbled against the book case, her knees buckling beneath her thin body. ''It's okay,'' she said softly, her midnight blue eyes gazing absently into his, a silver sheen of lust clouding their vision. ''You didn't hurt me.''

Only… She wished he had.