Really doing my best with pacing here buuut it's hard sometimes! Lol please disregard any errors you find, as I have to be my own beta ;_;

Chapter 4

How can it be permissible

She compromise my principle,

That kind of love is mythical

She's anything but typical

- 'Simply Irresistible', Robert Palmer

Dwayne was doing a very poor job in keeping his search for the pretty blonde girl low-key. The second he had pulled up to the boardwalk, he was off his bike and had it parked in record time. The only one who seemed to really notice his hurry was David, of course, but that was enough. He smirked at Dwayne, shaking his head a little but not seeming to care much beyond that. Dwayne himself was pretty unsure of the feelings rushing through his undead mind, but there was an innate sense of rush, of harrowing desire to lay his eyes upon that girl once more that maddened him.

"Concert's got a pretty big crowd in tonight," Marko called out to the group, who all seemed to sense something in the air that evening: the thrill of the hunt, singing through their veins as there were finally enough people in town for a decent meal. Coupled with the fact that they had fed the night before, it felt just like things should be, back to their usual routine.

"Can't get carried away," David warned, but the spark was visible in his eyes too. "Three or four tops. Stragglers, you know the drill," he gave them their orders, and with that they split into their various groups or went about their business alone, whooping and hollering as they joined the crowd at the stage. Dwayne's antsy behavior must have triggered something in Paul, as he lagged behind next to his friend, twitching a bit more than usual.

"Can't wait for summer, but man this feels good too," he quipped, flashing his signature grin at a couple of dancing girls who giggled at him. Dwayne nodded absently, reaching out with his senses on high alert. He hoped the girl was here, something desperate clawed at him wanting to even simply lay eyes on her again... and yet, part of him (a part he didn't recognize) wished for her to be tucked away safely at home, far away from his bloodthirsty brothers.

He and Paul weaved through the crowds of dancing bodies, the singing of their blood normally an intense call but strangely muted for Dwayne that evening. He paused momentarily to watch with a bit of disgust as Sam and Marko danced all over each other, making out furiously as several females watched on sighing and fanning themselves. It was a technique that seemed to work wonders, as David was able to approach them easily and flirt shamelessly without their alarm bells going off, so distracted by the attractive show going on in front of them. David certainly wasted no time, though Dwayne could see his heart wasn't in it. Michael and Star had stayed at home that evening, and it pained David greatly though he hid it well. Dwayne turned away from his brothers and pushed further through the crowd with Paul, passing by groups of drunk dancers without much care.

"Oh, it's you."

Dwayne felt a shock ripple through his limbs at the sound of her voice. His dark eyes fell on her, with her arms crossed and head tilted to the side ever so slightly as she looked at him. Her sweet scent rushed over him and he had to dig his nails into his palms to keep himself in check.

"And who's this pretty babe?" Paul cut across him, sidling up to the girl with his charm dialed up to a hundred. Dwayne felt a low growl threaten to escape from the back of his throat as Paul moved to drape an arm around her, but the girl was quick and stepped to the side.

"Not talking to you, that's for sure. Dwayne, wasn't it?" she spared Paul not even a glance as she fixed her sharp gaze upon Dwayne's face, eyebrows knitted together in a way that did not dampen her beauty.

"You've got a good memory," he replied, allowing himself a small smile. "Though I don't think I got your name last night, which is a shame." She huffed, a small laugh that sent more of her dazzling scent into his wake. God, she was going to be hard to resist.

"Well, considering the circumstances, I didn't feel like sticking around for a proper meet and greet," she snarked, but her eyes were smiling.

"I'm Alexis. Thanks for uh, everything I guess," she finished, chewing on her lower lip a bit and uncrossing her arms to reach out a dainty hand. Dwayne smirked full-on, and took her warm small hand in his own.

"Here's a dangerous place for a beautiful woman, you know. Shouldn't be out here with so many monsters roaming the streets," he replied, not letting go of her proffered hand. She raised a perfectly-groomed brow, as if in challenge.

"Dunno about you, Dwayne-o, but I'm no monster," Paul had reminded them of his presence by draping an arm across Alexis's shoulders and grinning at her. Before realizing what he was doing, he had shoved Paul off of her and pulled her under his own arm, his voice a deep growl as he spoke.

"Hands off," he threatened, his eyes flashing dangerously at his brother. Paul looked a bit put out, but shook it off and held his hands up in defeat.

"Fine, man, she's yours! I'll find someone more appreciative of my charms," he pouted, ducking around some dancing couples and losing himself in the crowd. Dwayne relaxed almost immediately, but Alexis's presence under the crook of his arm was maddening and invading his senses. He looked down at her, hoping he hadn't spooked her; she seemed amused rather than irritated or scared, which was a relief. Dwayne still hadn't decided what these feelings meant, but something was definitely different than his normal possessiveness over a kill.

"Lex, there you are, what the heck is going on over here?" a female voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling his attention towards a girl with wild dark hair and a caramel complexion who seemed to know Alexis. Dwayne's eyes narrowed and his grip tightened around her imperceptibly as he noted the company this newcomer was keeping. It was one of the vampire hunters, the eldest Frog brother. They glared at one another so fiercely that he was surprised the girls hadn't picked up on it.

"Ah, this guy was one of my knights in shining armor last night. Beat up those creeps who tried to assault me and Shay. This is my roommate, Liz," she explained nonchalantly, still seemingly comfortable under Dwayne's arm. He nodded at Liz, whose eyes seemed to soften and she smiled genuinely back at him.

"Oh wow, so you're who I gotta thank for saving my girls! Alan, do you know this guy at all?" she said cheerily, linking her arm under the Frog brother's and pulling him into the conversation. He grimaced, his glare never once dampening as he kept his eyes firmly on Dwayne.

"Unfortunately," he mumbled in response, and before the girls really had an opportunity to question it, reinforcements arrived. The second brother had caught up to them, with the other girl from the alleyway last night in tow. She looked equally as fiercely as the brothers did at the arm Dwayne had draped around Alexis, which was a bad sign for him. Perhaps they had already filled her head with anti-vampire propaganda, or was she just wary for her friend? Either way, Dwayne didn't see things going well from here on out.

"Looks like this is my cue to get lost," he said softly, unwrapping himself from Alexis, though still holding onto her hand for a beat longer. "If you want to have some real fun sometime, without these losers..." he squeezed her hand and flashed her a dazzling grin that rarely surfaced. "Come to the video store. Ask for Dwayne. Someone will hook you up," he winked at her and dropped her hand, turning away with a last lingering look at her beautiful features before losing himself in the crowd. He'd need to tear into something with extra vigor to calm the messed up emotions he was dealing with that night.

o.o.o.o.o

Shay's senses were on high alert during the entire interaction she and her friends had with the vampire who had made himself comfortable around Alexis. The pieces had clicked into place as she had sensed what felt like their entire coven park their bikes at the boardwalk and spill into the crowd of concert-goers smoothly, their feelers out with hints of bloodlust for that night's hunt. She was kicking herself for not noticing sooner, but her horror at seeing Alexis walk straight up to one from afar took over and she allowed Edgar to drag her over to his brother and Liz who had gotten distracted by what looked like two guys making out surrounded by a crowd of giggling females. With a jolt, Shay recognized the blonde mulleted guy from last night as he sidled up to one of the girls in the crowd, and waves of nausea crashed over her as she sensed his desire to tear into the innocent woman in front of him.

"We... need to get out of here," she gasped, and Edgar's grip on her hand tightened to the point of pain. He reached Alan and Liz; he muttered something to his brother and they turned to notice that Liz has wandered off in those few moments towards where Alexis and the dark-haired vampire (Dwayne?) were standing.

"Shit," Alan hissed, pushing his way after her. Shay's anxiety was peaking as she spotted another obvious vampire with a crazy blonde head of hair approaching a couple dancing in the vicinity. Before she had a chance to truly panic, Edgar's arms were around her and his hand on the back of her head, pulling her close in order to speak in low tones without causing alarm.

"Shay, listen to me. We need to all go together. The more of us against the one of him might scare him off. Then we hightail it out of here, there's too many of them total for us to get out of this otherwise," Edgar whispered in his gruff voice. His closeness and physical contact alone sent a wave of emotions that Shay was unable to process then and there, but her fear for Alexis and Liz pushed past them and she nodded her head into his chest.

"You owe me an explanation," she hissed, eyes coming up to meet his and he huffed at her, arm tightening around her waist before letting her go.

"Could say the same for you," he muttered, grabbing her hand and dragging her after his brother. With that new set of fears bubbling under everything else, Shay hoped she'd be able to figure out a smooth way of concealing her identity as a witch from him after they got out of this... if they got out.

As Edgar predicted, the vampire seemed to sense he was outnumbered and he removed himself from Alexis (but not before shamelessly attempting to set up a future encounter... something told Shay she'd have her work cut out for her in discouraging her stubborn friend from following up with him). Without further ado, Shay and the brothers pushed Liz and Alexis out of the crowds and back onto the boardwalk.

"That's enough excitement for tonight, don't you think?" Alan said smoothly, keeping them on the well lit streets as best as he could while walking them back towards the townhome. Shay had shakily told him the address a few moments prior, hoping that since he and his brother were locals they'd be able to guide them with less effort in order to leave her to her thoughts for a bit. Edgar walked in stony silence beside her, but quite clearly with his senses on alert. One hand was deep in his jacket pocket, and Shay noted that Alan was in a similar position. The one hand that wasn't being used to link arms with Liz had been shoved into his cargo pants pocket, casually enough to seem normal and not as though he'd been gripping something (a stake perhaps?). Alexis too was thoughtfully quiet as she walked, arms crossed and brow furrowed. Liz made light chatter here and there, and it was a mark on how intelligent Alan really was that he was able to keep up with it and respond accordingly while guiding them home.

They reached their front door without any disturbance, but Shay couldn't relax. Alexis unlocked it and ambled inside without a word, still pensive. Liz and Alan seemed to be reluctant to part, standing on the steps leading up to the house chatting. Edgar kept looking at the streets, his mind clearly back at the boardwalk. Shay found herself speaking before she really had coherently processed what she was doing.

"Will you take me to the store?" she asked him, loudly enough for Alan and Liz to pick up her words. Edgar looked at her sharply, questioningly. "I need some herbal tea. Can't really get to sleep properly without it. Sorry to bug you, I just... forgot to grab some like I meant to earlier," she lied smoothly, willing her true meaning into her eyes as she looked at him. They needed to talk. He scrutinized her for a moment, before nodding curtly.

"Alan, stay here until we get back. We can head back together later," Edgar's words were gruff as usual, but he was already reaching out to grab Shay's hand and pull her towards the street.

"Don't have to tell me twice," Alan said with a grin, looping an arm around Liz's shoulders as she led him inside with a small laugh. "Be good you two!" he called out with a wave over his shoulder. Edgar snorted, but continued to walk with his hand gripping Shay's as he pulled her forward towards town.

"Smooth move," he finally said after a few minutes of walking. Shay inhaled deeply, biting the inside of her cheek softly as she debated on a response.

"I figured we should talk a bit." Understatement, sure, but true nevertheless. Edgar stopped abruptly, turning to stare at her with scrutiny in those warm brown eyes. It was so sudden and intense that Shay's stomach dipped.

"How'd you know? What they were," he clarified, searching her face so fiercely that she felt incredibly vulnerable and shivered in response. He instinctively placed his other hand on her arm, gripping her tightly enough that it didn't hurt but enough to cause her breath to stutter.

"I- I could tell what they were, it's like a gut feeling I guess? I came across some in my old hometown once before. They had the same... energy, I guess. A pack of guys that seem timeless, beautiful, and deadly. Hard to explain... sorry, I know it sounds corny," she finished lamely, her heart pounding quickly in her chest as she hated having to conceal the truth from him for some reason. He stared at her for a beat, but finally seemed to relax ever so slightly.

"Look, I know we just met, but I've been hunting these bastards for years now. They love going for girls as a rule, but it's a bonus that you guys don't have family or other friends living here that would miss you. Honestly, they don't really care one way or another, they're monsters. But I just..." he paused, and the hand on her arm came up to hover near her cheek. "I don't want you to get hurt, or worse," his voice was inaudible, but Shay found herself leaning into his warm palm and closing her eyes. His energy was so alluring, she couldn't resist its pull on her.

"Thanks, Edgar," she whispered, and for a few moments in that whirlwind of a night, all was well.

o.o.o.o.o

David could sense something was off in Dwayne, mostly due to how distracted and distant the dark-haired vampire was behaving. Enough was enough, he said to himself, and he clapped a gloved hand on Dwayne's shoulder to steer him out of the crowd. The giggling brunette he had chatted up earlier was tucked under his other arm, seemingly turned on by the idea he was presenting her by dragging Dwayne along with them. Her flushed cheeks and quickened heartbeat told him everything he needed to know.

"This is my friend Dwayne, you mind if he joins us?" he said smoothly, and the girl bit her lip.

"Not at all," she breathed, and despite Dwayne's eye-roll he trudged after them away from the hubbub of the concert.

It took him only a few moments to hop over the low concrete barrier to the beach, and he pulled the girl along with him towards the sand and surf. The one good thing about winter was how few people populated the beach this time of year, so they walked merely a few feet before the dark swallowed them from view of any prying eyes. He turned on the girl and pushed her to the ground, knocking the breath out of her. She seemed to think he was simply being rough for now, as she let out a whimper of pleasure.

Dwayne sidled up behind them and smoothly settled in behind her, allowing David to take the front. They sat on the sand, the girl crawling into his lap and wrapping her legs around him as Dwayne pushed himself up onto his knees behind her, absently caressing her sides. David could tell his heart wasn't in it, but perhaps a little scent of blood would change that.

He locked his lips along her neck, sucking hard as she moaned softly. Pushing aside her hair, he felt his vampiric form release as he sank his fangs into her soft flesh. She barely had time to scream before Dwayne's hand had covered her lips, muffling any sound. He too latched on to the other side of her neck, tearing into her much more viciously than David had.

Her thrashing about in his lap as the life was drained from her shot arousal through him, and he wished for Michael to have been there to share in this with him. How he longed to run his tongue over Michael's strong jawline as he did this pathetic human's; he wanted to sink his teeth into Michael's neck and drain him. Nothing would come of it, of course, but it was a highly sensual experience for vampire mates according to lore and David ached to be able to partake in it.

The girl finally stilled and David pulled the last dregs from her veins, detaching himself from her neck and flinging her to the side. Dwayne was already standing, wiping away a trickle of blood from his face.

"Sooner or later you'll have to tell me," David said smoothly, tugging at the girl's head and detaching it from her shoulders with a sick wet crunch. He tossed it a few feet away into the surf, pleased with how easy the cleanup for this one was. None would be able to tell that she had been drained, nor would they see the injuries with her decapitated. He began to drag her body towards the ocean, turning to look back at his friend. "Better me than Max, at least."

"I'm still trying to figure it out myself," Dwayne grimaced, knowing full well that David was right by the look on his face. Whatever was bugging him would eventually need to come out. "All I know is that I want that girl. She's mine, no one else can touch her," he said in a dangerous tone. David laughed, heaving their prey's limp form into the waves.

"This is about the bitch from last night? Fine, fine. I know what it's like to get stuck on a scent. You can have her. Go nuts." He surveyed Dwayne's face, noting the absence of relief on his features as he had expected there to be. "Unless... there's more to it?" he asked, a smirk toying at the corner of his lips.

Dwayne's face told him there was.