10

Days passed into weeks and as they did, I got to know more and more about David and I even grew close to Dwayne and the others, even Max. Star and I grew to be best friends and I got to meet Laddie who was also a half vampire. Still the two had not decided to hunt and become full vampires. Lucy and her boys were still hard shells, but they seemed genuinely kind to me. I could tell in their eyes, they did not want to see me hurt. All of them had a beauty about them. They were indeed like statues, never aging. As for David and I, I would say we grew closer. He was mostly spending the night at my place in my attic. At night, he took me to all of his hangs outs like the board walk and this old hotel he and his brothers mostly hung out at.

My sleep schedule had changed mostly, so I could stay up with David. My parents called of course from time to time and things were well with them. I was glad that David didn't pressure me about becoming a vampire, although I did see his animalistic nature when he was upset about something. But he kept it mostly from me. He didn't talk about hunting nor did he ever care to explain all of the missing people on the board walk walls. I understood why Santa Carla was known as the murder capital of the world.

It was eleven, and I was hanging out at Max's house. I always expected the head vampire to be mean and cruel, but he always had a smile when I came over. The boys were being reckless in the living room and Star and Laddie were still bringing home human food. I had some of the pizza they brought. At the moment, Star had gone off with Michael and I was just passing time and washing the dishes against David's advice.

I was putting some of the dishes away, when I felt a chill shoot up my spine.

Ophelia

Someone was calling me. I looked around, but saw no one there. Maybe it was the boys speaking in the other room, and I mistook one of them calling me or something. I continued to put the dishes away before hearing Lucy's soft fluttering steps come into the kitchen.

"Oh you don't have to do that dear." she responded moving over toward me. I smiled and shrugged and smiled.

"Oh it's no trouble at all." I responded, and she just smiled at me.

"Usually Star would do these or me or us both. You're a guest. It would be rude to make you do any work in the house." she said taking a dish and using the wash cloth to wash it. I stared at her feeling beside myself not knowing if I should ask. I cleared my throat.

"Do you and your sons think you'll ever be happy as vampires?" I asked. Her movements stopped and she just stared at the dish for a moment.

"Well I do not know if happy is the right word for it. I mean… I was already starting to like Max. Maybe had things gone differently, who knows." she responded with a smile, but I could tell she was sad.

"It may not mean anything now, but I am just glad you three are still together. Maybe being immortal alone would cause anyone to go crazy, but at least your sons will be with you." I explained hoping I hadn't offended her. She stared off for a moment before looking at me with happy eyes.

"You know I never thought about it like that. I mean, we have all the time in the world. Michael has Star and I have Max. Maybe it will not be so bad. Sam will one day find his mate. And it will be a happy thing for him." she explained wiping her hands off on a towel and slowly embracing me. "You have brought life into this house of the dead. I have heard Star talking about becoming a vampire and she has never once spoke about even thinking about that."

She said this in my ear and I nodded pulling back.

"You were a sweet and kind woman in your human life, I can see it in your eyes. I just can't stand by knowing you and your sons were unhappy even though it isn't my business about all of this." I told, and she nodded in understanding.

"Thank you for caring Ophelia." she responded. I nodded and left her in the kitchen moving to the living room where David and the others were.

"Hey I am going to head home." I responded softly. Marko raised his arms.

"Awe you just got here." he responded. I shrugged.

"I must go. I am very tired." I replied and they all laughed. David got up and moved beside me, his arm wrapping around me.

"If you were one of us, then you'd never feel tired." Paul said. I smirked.

"Except when the sun comes up." I said and looked at David.

"Come on I'll walk you home." he said. I shook my head.

"No it's okay. You stay here. I can tell you are having a good time. I can get home by myself." I responded. And he scoffed lightly.

"Yeah not happening let's go." he said and took my head causing the boys to start laughing as we left. We walked on the road this time and I heard crickets and birds. David's hand found mine, and I did not stop him. He started to laugh and shake his head.

"What?" I asked tilting my head. He looked at me.

"Your eyes." he said.

"What about my eyes?" I asked. He glanced up at me smiling wide.

"They look happy." he told. I smiled myself and looked ahead.

"Well I have you to thank for that and your family. My parents still had to travel after Maine's death. I felt so alone and depressed." I responded. His hold on my hand tightened.

"You know my family is your family. They were your family the minute I found out you were mine." he said. I felt honored to know this and very happy. My parents could only do so much, but with David's coven, even with what they were they were still as normal as I was.

Once we were on my porch I smiled and looked up at him.

"Now I am safe. Hurry and go back to your brothers." I replied. He shook his head smirking.

"They can wait. I want to stay here tonight." he said. I smiled expecting his answer.

"Okay." I responded, and opened the door inviting him in. Hours went by and it was about two in the morning. It was completely dark and I had fallen asleep in the attic with David.

There was darkness in my mind.

Ophelia

Someone was calling my name again and I looked around wondering who was calling me. I did not recognize the voice. Now I was walking on the beach. The sun was up and there were people running all over the beach. Kids were playing and adults were talking amongst themselves. I looked down to see I was in a red bikini.

"Red is such a fangtastic color on you my queen." I heard David say, his voice echoing. I turned around and saw him standing before me shirtless, pants less… naked.

"David, what are you doing here? People will see you." I replied. He shook his head.

"You have nothing to worry about my queen." his voice echoed again. I looked around wondering if anyone saw him, and now the beach was isolated and empty. I looked back at David to see he was smirking down at me. "It's just us." Now I was completely naked and I looked down and gasped yet I did not cover myself. I have never been naked in front of anyone and I was twenty-two.

So beautiful. Gorgeous. No one will ever take me from you

I looked back up at David to see his vampire form staring at me growling lowly. I gasped, but his feral eyes calmed down some and his hand raised to gently run his claws over my face. I have never seen his animalistic face so calm.

"Come here." he growled and pulled me into him, his lips crashing into mine. A sharp spark burst through my body, and I gasped and my eyes snapped open. Darkness was around me again, and I looked all around me. I was back in my room and I looked up to see David was still hanging upside down on a wooden plank that was closer to the ground. My dad said something about hanging a punching bag from there. His jacket and everything was still on. I just stared at him for a long minute and moved the blankets off my body. I got up and continued to look at him. I knew exactly what I was doing and exactly what I wanted. I moved over towards him and I was quiet and still. Now he was inches from me. He was so still. He seemed frozen almost.

I slowly moved my face towards him thinking that maybe this was not a good idea. But I continued to move towards him until our lips eventually touched. Like the first time he kissed me, his lips were cool but smooth and that same spark shot through me like in my dreams. I got no response from him, but I would not give up. I continued to kiss him gently nibbling and sucking on his bottom lip for a moment, before finally letting my tongue gently slide across his lips. This would be my last attempt before giving up and going back to bed and pretending this did not happen. What was I even doing? He was asleep for Christ sake.

That's when I felt his mouth open, and his tongue meet mine.