Authors Note: Well thanks for all the reviews everyone, it is probably one of the only reasons I have been updating so regularly; also, thanks for all the support, but if you have any advice or critics about my writing please tell me, it is very much appreciated. Plus, I'm not exactly sure were I want to go with this, it started more as a one shot and just kind of escalated, so please be patient, I'm writing as it comes to me and the last two chapters have been a bit of a struggle so I'll try the best I can to update soon but the next update after this one won't be for probably another week; we got stupid TAKS so it shall be interesting. Another one of my concerns, I seem to have a lot lately, is I'm afraid Warren may be a bit out of character so any advice along those lines and his attitude will help, I mean I've only seen the movie once and I was too captivated by his dark good looks to really focus on his personality…:) …like I'm sure most of ya'll were too, so any advice is very appreciated and needed. Lots of Love, NewGirlINblack

(Vampire Heart is a song from H.I.M.)

ENJOY!

"Hold me like you held on to life

When all fear's came alive and entombed me

Love me like you are the sun

Scorching the blood in my

Vampire heart"

Vampire Heart, by HIM

They were all staring at her; every single move she made was under constant surveillance by not only the teachers, but he students as well. Everywhere she walked, the students made a path for her, careful not to be within a two foot radius of her deadly touch; it was actually quite similar to when Moses parted the Red Sea with the gift God had granted him, though her power was a curse, a curse which would plague her for her whole existence. It was a strange sort of freedom, their fear; they were afraid that if they even talked to her, she would touch them and, quote on quote, 'suck them dry'. It was mildly humorous, this comparison to a vampire, though it was true on some accounts. Like a vampire, she stole something from her victims, except for her it wasn't blood, it was life, and for some reason, they believed that was worse.

Kathryn scratched the part of her wrist surrounding the metal bracelet absent mindedly; they were similar to jail cuffs, both trapping her and confining her in her use of powers, but it was all for the best. This way she couldn't 'accidentally' drain someone when they decided to piss her off, but then again, the threat was enough, well, for some people. Some people would rather inflict pain then stay away; they wouldn't ever admit the affect their fear had on them, and because of this twisted pride, they would rather become the predator then stay the frightened prey.

She continued to walk confidently to her locker, using her combination to unlock it. Kathryn carefully opened the locker door, not wanting anything to fall out and pretty much attack her, she couldn't help it, she was a pack rat.

The next thing she realized, pain went through her entire being making her drop all of her notebooks, paralyzing her for a moment, but long enough for the beating to continue. The blows to her stomach were the worst; she could feel a few cracked ribs and clutched herself tightly. Her eyes closed; she didn't want to give them the glory of seeing her cry, she would never cry in front of people like that, she refused to give them the satisfaction.

People had gathered, but not with the same vigor and excitement of her previous fight, but like the other, no one made a move to stop it or even flinched as the blows began to get worse to the point were she bleed, it was as if someone was beat up everyday and the students of Sky High were merely used to it and did not care; probably the only reason they had even stopped to watch the battle was because they wanted to see what she would do, if she would use her powers against them and leave another in critical condition. They apparently never realized she would chose to go through hundreds of beatings than have anyone else hurt, killed even; this was by far a better punishment.

The massacre had stopped; Kathryn lifted her eyes to see three girls standing in front of her, the resident queen and princesses of the school. They glared at her, almost angered by the fact she had let them beat her up right in the middle of the hallway. They hated her; everyone did, but they were the only ones not afraid to act on it; as a matter of fact, it was their fear that lead them to violence, it was their fear that lead them to attacks, this above everything else made them loathe her even more.

The leader started in for one final swing, but stopped, her hand caught in that of another's. Kathryn looked up, holding her breath while trying to see the face of her savior. She was so immersed in discovering who he was she didn't notice the eyes which had followed her every move, eyes which slowly looked over her bruised body in anger.

He had shoved the girl off of her and yelled something, maybe even some profanities, but then again, he didn't look the type. The only words she could make out dealt with the boy named 'Warren' and 'he would never do that on purpose.' Still the leader looked especially angry, her eyes full of something close to jealously. She gave one last scowl towards Kat and the boy before flipping their perfect hair over their shoulders and sauntering down the hallway dissipating the crowd. The boy turned towards her, holding out his hand. She placed her gloved hands into his and was pulled up easily by his strength. Since the incident, she had taken to covering up all of her body so no skin was showing except for that of her face. Today she was wearing a pair of worn in jeans with small holes located every which way with black converses; she wore an off the shoulder purple top and a black leather jacket with her hair in a high ponytail, black streaks hanging into her face.

Kathryn moved her neck quickly from side to side leaning against the lockers, trying to regain feeling in her body. The boy was still there as she gathered her stuff, tightly clutching a worn, pink notebook to her chest.

The boy gave her a wry smile and said, "You don't strike me as the type to have something, well, pink."

She looked up at him not taking the time to answer, giving him a quick glance over taking in the whole allure of the 'good guy' with his bright smile, brown hair, and plain jeans and a T-shirt; it was tempting, too tempting.

"Okay…" he stated at her blank stare, "but why do you let them win? I know you can defeat them; you have skill were as they only have instinct… so why?"

Kathryn looked at him her eyes softening from their hard demeanor. She sighed, a thing she seemed to be doing a lot lately, and walked toward him quickly taking his hand in her gloved one, aware of the wandering eyes looking at them in rage and disdain. She took him down the hallway fast; she didn't want another brawl to occur; she still needed to take care of her wounds.

He looked at her critically while she weaved them through the crowd; he was ashamed to say he had flinched at her touch though she had gloves on, he was afraid, but curiosity is a much greater emotion than fear so he went along with her to the end of the hallway vacantly wondering what Layla would think.

She stopped, quickly letting go of his hand without a thought and looked around the area.

"Why did you take me down here?" He asked.

"Why do you ask so many questions?" She snapped as she quickly pulled her bangs away from her face.

"I'm sorry, I'm just a bit on edge, plus, I'm really not in the mood to have to watch my back constantly when I'm trying to have a conversation with someone; whoever said women were good multitaskers was a big fat liar, I can barely focus on one thing at a time," she said with a laugh.

She looked at him and gave him a small smile, "Who are you anyway?"

He widened his eyes in shock, surprised she did not know who he was by now; not that he liked to brag or anything, but he was quite a popular person being the son of two well known superheroes, it was unusual for anyone not to know him.

He held out his hand, giving her a wide toothy smile, "Will Stronghold, at your service ma'am. Son of the Commander and Jetstream."

Her eyes darted to her hand which she kept to herself, he slowly retreated his hand also, the smile fading from his mouth.

"Kathryn Schech or Kat as some special few are allowed to call me; daughter of no one important, pure regular humans, at your service sir."

He laughed at her reply; so she did have a sense of humor…well sort of.

"So, does saving your life give me the privilege of calling you Kat," he asked.

"Well, Will, I'll have to think about that." She replied smiling lightly.

His eyes were kept on her face as she continued to fidget, the awkwardness of the situation getting to her; unwilling to bring up the previous unanswered question.

"So, Kat, why did you let them beat you?"

She glanced up sharply, staring him down, anger entering her features.

"What would you have had me do, Stronghold? Drain them dry? Become the vampire everyone expects me to be? Even vampires have hearts." She snapped, crossing her arms tightly across her chest.

"No, but couldn't you have fought back, they hurt you so mercilessly, it isn't right."

"In the real world, it doesn't matter what is right and what is wrong, it only matters who has the more power, the most support for their side. How can you be so naïve to think that if I actually raised a hand in self defense, without the use of my powers, that I wouldn't have been punished worse just because I happened to be cursed with this…" She yelled pausing as her face contorted into a disgusted expression, "gift, or at least that's what they call it. If I would have lifted a finger, others would have joined in and I would have been hurt worse. No one would have even moved to help me."

"I would have." He replied, causing her gaze to soften as his honesty.

"Yes, I know and that is part of the problem; that hero-complex of yours will someday get you in trouble. One day you won't have the same effect over people that you have in high school and no one will hesitate to fight against you. Besides, I know how they are, I know how they think."

She paused, taking a deep breath, "They are threatened by me; to maintain order you must eliminate the threat, it only makes sense. They would not have been comfortable with my presence until they insured their power over me, no matter how minimal, and by letting them beat me, hurt me, I saved my own life, and, hopefully, prevented any more beatings."

She let out a bitter laugh, "I am not as strong as you, Will, I would not have lasted much longer in this school if the beatings were to continue."

She shook her head, clearing her thoughts and letting a small smile trace her lips, "Well, it really was nice talking to you Stronghold, maybe we'll do it again some time, but I have to go now, people to scare, classes to attend, my ass to get kicked in that barbaric game ya'll call 'Save the Citizen', you know the whole bit."

Will stared at her, puzzling over what she had just revealed.

"Wait!" He yelled, running after her.

"How do you know all that?"

Kathryn turned her face towards him, the same fake smile plastered on her face, "Because I used to be one of them. I used to be the resident queen of my old high school."

With that sentence, she removed her arm from his grasp and walked down the hall to her next torture class, never aware of the haunted brown eyes following her the whole way.