A/N- ramble, ramble, rumble-err, I mean ramble again…

Ugh.. Sooo bored here...

Might as well put my brains to good use. :P

Rebecca- uhm, the Japanese vampires where only passing by… but don't worry, Leah and Seth's love-life will- er- see the light of day…

Hunted

Sacrifice. It all comes down to sacrifice. He circled me, waiting for any sign of weakness in my defense. But I wouldn't give up that easily, and he knows it. He views me as an entertainment only, not a formidable foe. I scowled as he smirked.

Looking bored he said: "Give up, you know you can't win."

A low rumble escaped from my chest as I realized that I was growling. He chuckled at my rather pathetic attempt to look unfazed and unrattled by his mere presence.

"No," I said adamantly.

"Yes," he says nearing me.

The clearing in the forest that had served as my sanctuary suddenly became the place that I wouldn't really visit for a while. A place that I couldn't go to any longer. A swallowed the urge to sob.

"You do know that by the end of the day I'll have my way, right? That's always the case." He said smugly. I resisted the urge to jump at him, instead I scoffed and said: "Not this time."

He looked bored as he merely flicked his hand at the stone I threw at him. He smirked- and admittedly, my heart was fluttering again, but I willed it to stop. His satisfied stare was more than enough to finally break my concentration.

I screamed as I lunged at him with all the pent up frustration that I had for the past few weeks. It did nothing, of course. His granite skin only made my feeble, mortal hands hurt with every punch and slap that I gave. I glared with as much venom as I could muster, but he looked at me with kindness and love. He caressed my cheek and all the pent up emotion that I had suddenly evaporated. I let out the breath that I didn't realize that I was holding and relaxed; I put my head on his shoulder and mumbled my apology.

"What made you think that you'll have your way?" I asked grudgingly.

"Because I always do." He said simply. I looked at his face to look for any sign of smugness: there was none.

"Cheeky know-it-all."

He was silent for a while.

"How many times do I have to tell you to behave?' he asked me in a light tone, but we both knew that he was keeping his temper in check. I pulled at an invisible loose thread on my wool jacket. "Samantha, why do you always disobey me?" clipped, monotone. I'm on thin ice this time.

"I miss the outside." I said sadly- which is partly true.

"You always say that." He sighs. "What else, Sam? What are you not telling me? I mean don't you trust that I will always do what's best for you?"

I was beginning to tear up. Always the same explanation, always the same excuse: that I was the baby of the family and he'll always be the big brother.

"I don't need protection from anything!" I finally said through gritted teeth.

His eyes turned dark and his face contorted in fury. "You have no idea what you're talking about." He suddenly lifted me up and ran the short distance back to our house. I could do anything except fume in silence- as always.

"If you could just-"

"No."

"If you'll allow-"

"No."

"if-"

"For the last time, no!"

He set me down none too gently on our sofa. "I will not let you become this-this monster that feeds on others!"

"But I'll be invincible! I'll always be safe! I'll always be with you! I won't be a burden anymore…" I was crying by the end of my argument.

"You were never a burden." He says sadly. "Stay safe always Sammy… I love you, you know that right?"

"yes." I mumbled. It's our form of apologizing to one another.

He turned to leave and as he disappeared in the shadow of the surrounding fauna, I can't help but feel somewhat at ease by him stopping me from turning into what he is- again. Lapses in my judgment are brought about by being left alone in this house.

"I love you too, Riley." I whisper in the dark.

A/N I know it's kinda diff from the others, but I just feel sorry for Riley. After all he was just misguided and tricked by Victoria…

As always reviews-good or bad- are very much appreciated and loved.