A week pasted since that night; I locked myself in my room and sat in my desk chair facing the glass balcony doors waiting for Ashton to come back. Even through the Mister Herren visited me to see if I was alright I didn't open the for anyone or anything. "Abigail...," father was pounding on my door,"...please open this door. I want to know that your alright." I closed my eyes as I felt tears start to form. I wanted to forgive him but my love for Ashton was fogging my other feelings. Even though I knew that being in love makes you stronger I feel weak for not being able to help Ashton. I heard the door knob jiggle as my father tried to get inside my room. "Abigail, please let me in," he stated as he knocked on the door calmly.

I rose from my chair and dragged my feet toward the door. I unlocked the door and opened it just enough to see my father in a pair of navy trousers, white dress shirt, and a blue tie. His shoulders fell as he saw me merge from my room. I was a mess still in my nightdress and my brown hair on the tip top of my head held back with a satin ribbon but my bangs were out and ruffed also my green eyes smudged with liner. My father let out a sigh or relief as he smiled, "Thank the Heavenly Father above that your alright. Ramon and I were so worried." I looked into his green eyes as he stared back into mine. Tears started to well as I slung the door open and jumped into his arms; my water works started to pour I rubbed my face in his chest. My father chuckles to himself as he wrapped his arms around me. "I just wanted you to know that I love you, Abigail. I was already upset about your engagement to Tom La-Flu but to find you in the arms of a local poor-" I shoved my father away as I stood back. "Ashton is not poor! He's waiting for his step-mother to resign and give him his late father's money!" The words just slipped from me, I knew that my father would want to know more about Ashton.

My father placed his hands on my shoulders, "Can you tell me more about Mister Lanning, only if your willing, Abigail." He crossed his arms and stood before me like the alfa dog he was, "I would recommend that you tell me for his safety." I looked up from my hands to see a stern look on father's face. I averted my eyes as the sun started to set. "I'll tell you after dinner, if that's alright with you, father?" His face softens as he unfolds his arms and rests his hands on my shoulders once again, "Alright but your mother will not approve your outfit so you better change, quickly."He opens the door to my room and guides me in, "Will you need Maria to help?" I shook my head 'no' as he nodded his head and closed the door. "Thirty minutes to bathe and change,chop-chop."

I had no desire to eat as I paced my room. Father had said 'for his safety' which means that Ashton was still somewhere in the city. I had to find him but where would I look first. Colt! Maybe he was still in the haunted house in the middle of the Samberlin forest. I sprinted to my closet and dug around trying to find my horseback riding outfit. It was still dirty since my last practice but it was the only trousers I had. I pulled the long sleeve over my head, buttoned the three buttons on the detachable vest and pulled on my skin tight pants. As I struggled with my riding boots I thought if this was a good idea. I sat at my vanity mirror and brushed my brown hair into a high bun with my bangs, slanted, resting on my forehead; as I tie the forest green ribbon, I began to think of supplies I might need. I bolted to my closet and pull my small black backpack from the shelf. I grabbed an evening gown, a pair of flats, stockings, my journal and pen, also a lighter that I hid in my night table drawer. Then there was a knock on the door. "Lady Lanning may I come in..." I shoved the lighter in my vest pocket. "No I'm fine. Tell father and mother that I'll just be a couple more minutes." I heard her shoes click down the hall as I started to wondering if I was making the right decision. To be honest I felt like I wasn't but after meeting Ashton I had let my heart guide my head. Even though my father has told me and Ramon that his grandmother had warned him about listening to your heart.

I did not dare apply make up or wear the Lawrence family seal, I rather not have be detected my law enforcement or allies of the family. I blew out the candles that were lit, opened my glass balcony doors, and walked to the snow white railing. I leaned my hands against the railing feeling the cool night air on my face. I dreamt of Ashton standing behind me with his arms wrapped around me and his warm breathe tickling my ear. Shaking my head I had to focus on the task at hand, I had to find Ashton. I grabbed onto the vines growing on the side of the house, terrified that I would fall but my love was helping me fight. Once my feet touched the ground a breath of air I didn't know that I was holding was let out as I wiped off any leaves that were still on my clothes.

I sprint as fast as I could toward the Lawrence garden, stopping to grab some apples and stuff them in my backpack. I then turned my attention to the thick Samberlin forest. It had rained the last couple of nights and the ground was mushy and muddy. My riding boots stuck to the forest floor so I was unable to run so I had to walk on the over grown roots of the trees. When I finally reach the house I was shocked in horror. The words 'stay away' were written on the windows in what appeared to be...blood. I prayed to God that it wasn't Ashton or Colt's blood as I made myself climb the creaking steps to the porch. My palms started to sweat as the door to Colt's abandoned hideout and I became face to door? Perhaps but now was not a time for play on words. I placed my hand on the doorknob turning it to open and walked in the dark room. The foyer was still dark and there was no sign of Colt anywhere. The silver lantern from before was resting on the floor, the glass was shattered around it.

I reach into my pocket and grabbed my lighter and lit what was left in the oil. As I stood I saw two blood red eyes stare back at me. "I need your help..." the red eyes blinked and its body descended the staircase, "...if Ashton is hurt I'll need your help to find him." Colt finally revealed himself, he was dressed in a white suit with a black shirt underneath. "Are you sure you want my help...," he stood at the bottom of the stairs with his pale hands stuffed in his pockets, "...I'm sure my brother warned you about me." Colt lips stretched flashing me his fang-like smile just like Ashton. I take a deep breath as I reply, "I haven't seen Ashton in, at most a week. I was hoping if anyone knew were he was besides my father it would be you."

He approached me, eyeing me with his blood red orbs. "Why are you so in love with my brother? He won't be able to take care of a woman like you but if you decide to become my new lover I'll full-fill your wildest fantasies..." His breath hit me; he was so similar to Ashton but different at the same time. I step back. "Why are you so infatuated with me? Is it because your brother has something you want even though your the heir to the Charlen wealth. I will love Ashton till the day I die..." Colt grins then bursts into laughter. I was started by his sudden change in attitude. "You want have to worry about 'till death do us part' if you become his wife;..." my ears perk up as I listen to his words, "...You most likely know that me and Ashton have different mothers but we have a lot more in common than the same father." The glow of the lantern starts to wear off as it gets harder to see Colt standing only a short distance away.

"Ashton may kill me after I tell you this but..." he then turns his back to me, "...we are creatures of the night. Like owls, wolves, and other nocturnal animals." I stare into Colt's back as he looks up at the moonlight coming from a second story window. "What do you mean nocturnal? Like vampi-" All of a sudden Colt is standing in front of my face mere centimeters from my lips. "Your such a smart young woman no wonder Ashton likes you." He leans in and kisses me. His lips felt like a rose, my eyes fall faint to his seductive kiss. My body melts not from pleasure but knowing that by allowing this to happen I was betraying Ashton's love for me. Suddenly I feel a sharp pinch as I shove Colt's chest away from me...I taste blood. "Your lips are very soft, Abigail. AB positive my favorite...," he cornered me and let his index finger run along my cheek, "...has Ashton tasted your blood?" I slapped his hand away. "Stop stalling! Tell me who or what you are?!" Colt smiled as he reached in to his breast pocket and brought out a white handkerchief. "Ashton and I are vampires, Abigail; I thought for sure he would have informed you by now, since you are..." Colt then shoved the handkerchief over my mouth, "...his mortal lover." I struggled as Colt held me in the corner. The smell of the cloth was intoxicating; poison and venom. The next thing I knew I had blacked out.

The morning sun wakes me from my slumber. As I sit up I realize that I am laying on a large bed with canopy curtains; I sling my feet to the side of the bed and pretty much have to crawl to the edge. My feet touch the cold hard wood flooring, the windows were all open letting in the sun and morning breeze. I walk toward the sun's powerfully rays that bloom. Then do I realize that I am wearing a white gown. It was longer than my 4'9" height; pure satin, with thin straps, and oval shaped back-opening. I gaze in a distant mirror my hair was missing its bun and green ribbon but the gown fit me beautifully. I felt like I was in heaven; dressed as an angel but I haven't seen the Lord of his son Jesus Christ.

I start to panic wondering if I had really died, I fall to my knees knowing that if Colt had killed me I would never see father, mother, and Ramon again. Not to mention Ashton's soft and caring presence that embraced me when I was near him. I try my best to hold back tears as the door opens to revealing a perky blonde woman with her back to me. She was dressed in a black evening gown with light green ruffles decorating every opening. Her hair was in a low ponytail with tight curls; if her hair had been straight it would have been dragging on the floor. She also carried a pitch black umbrella also with light green ruffles around it. "Your up..." before she turned to face me she popped open her umbrella shielding the sunlight from her, "...I thought for sure I would have to notify the city's doctor." She stated as she reached in to her dress pocket and put on her black sunglasses. "I say Eric should have listened to me about fixing this 'sun room' was what he called it." I rise to my feet, "I'm sorry to intrude on your estate but I need to get home..." I rush to tie my hair back, "...if you will please tell me where the Samberlin fore-"

The woman chuckles, "My darling, we're no where near Samberlin..." she walks toward the closet using the umbrella to shielding the sunlight once more, "...we're in Firesh, home of the House of Bloomington." She hands me a purple sundress and light gray ballerina slippers. "It seems that my son...," I look over the dress she handed me, "...didn't introduce us properly. Allow me, I'm Lady Darcy Bloom but most people know me by my late husband, Sir Eric Alexander Lee Charlen the Fifth." I lift my gaze as she removes her sun glasses and blood red orbs stare back at me.