Okay, chapter 9 is here! I'm not going to say anything else! So... enjoy!

Chapter 9

It started almost like a painful jolt, as soon as she touched his hand; a pulsating thrill that started up her arm and then swept through her body. She gasped but she couldn't let go of his hand, she was frozen in place.

Her first thought was that he was doing something to her but she soon realized that this was something happening to both of them. He was as caught up in this as she was.

She knew all this was a stupid mistake as soon as she had spit out her convenient at the moment excuse to Sam. She didn't know why she did it but it had seemed like a good idea at the time.

The truth was that she was more than willing to follow this stranger to wherever he was taking her. It simply felt so right. But that wasn't the only thing that kept her going. She didn't know why she felt so light and happy being around him when she should be walking the other way.

The guy standing in front of her, offering his hand and not really answering her questions was the same guy she had dreamed twice about in just two days. She should be in shock, running away and finding Sam so they could leave but she only felt confused and with unreasonable trust.

"What are you doing?" the thought wasn't hers it was his; she could feel that he was confused too. Not in the way she was, she could almost see the images floating in his mind but as soon as she tried to focus she stopped trying.

The images were changing so fast for her to understand or even to see and she already felt dizzy.

"Now that is really weird" she thought not really expecting any kind of response but as soon as she spoke she felt him receiving her thought and more images and now voices were going through his mind – again everything was happening too quickly for her to make sense – but she could separate the voices.

The first was a man's voice completely foreign to her and the second she could recognize as his. She could feel above all of his emotions rushing through both of them that he was trying to make sense of the situation they were in and that it was beyond his control. Britt could also feel that he hated not being able to take control because he wasn't the kind of guy to lose it.

After what seemed like an hour to her but it could have been just a couple of heartbeats, she felt his understanding overflowing her and him trying desperately to get away from everything, her, his memories that now were coming slower and it was easier for her to see and understand what each of them meant.

He was still touching her hand but he was trying to retreat, to put some distance between them and she was stunned. He started to turn away and she could feel all of his strength and self-control behind the act.

"No, Will wait." She thought unable to stop herself.

She didn't really know how to send her thoughts to another person but surprisingly it felt so natural to her. She knew his name was William Redfern and that he preferred to be called Will, although almost no one ever called him that and she also knew that he was a vampire, one of the lamia.

The word didn't really mean anything to her but she was certain that she had heard it before, a long time ago. He had stopped and she could feel him trying to regain some of his control back. He hadn't expected her to be able to read him so clearly.

She knew he was scared. Scared of this thing happening to them, scared of his lack of control and above all scared of her. He felt exposed and ashamed. She could easily understand why he felt exposed; she was feeling that way too. She felt her memories her thoughts everything she was, baring itself to him. And so were his memories and his thoughts. But why ashamed?

He was trying to shut her out again but was to stunned to succeed anything. For her sake he was too stubborn to quit trying. She tried to grab his wrist and shake him. Tell him it was okay to let her in but she couldn't feel her body anymore, so she tried to touch his hand mentally.

That's when she felt her world explode.

She didn't know if it was her attempt that had brought this on but she instantly knew that she was in his head. Was that even possible? Oh well, she was standing facing a vampire. Being inside his head was probably the only normal thing that could happen.

She could easily think of something else too, that no doubt he had done many times probably but she shook her head to clean it before the thought had the time to complete inside her head. She was sure he could still hear her and she really didn't want to think about it or have him hear it.

He was still distracted about what had happened but just like she feared he had caught her thought and she could see him smile, not a particular nice smile. He knew exactly how the thought made her feel.

But she could tell that he wasn't going to bite her. Or harm her in any other way. She didn't know why she was suddenly so sure about that but she was. Her trust and belief in that fact had him frozen for a few seconds as he was surprised to find himself knowing that she was right.

But he didn't stay like that for long. His control returned and he was suddenly cold and emotionless. But the pull was stronger and he couldn't get her out of his mind.

"You shouldn't be so sure about that." She was shocked by the ice in his mental voice. She knew that he could kill her only to prove his point.

"I don't believe that." She answered softly.

She thought that she was an idiot. She could feel that he had done things in the past and that he was really capable of hurting her. She was a total idiot. He was telling her not to trust him and she could sense that he was telling her the truth. But she was an idiot with a death wish. Obviously.

"You should. If you don't then you really are an idiot." He told her his voice combined with anger and ice.

"What happened to you?" She said her voice was hesitant and close to a whisper.

He stopped, his anger drained, surprised by her question.

"It's none of your business." He finally said but as soon as he spoke she heard a voice and then a shattering sound like a glass or a vase was just broken. Then images were rushing through her mind and she was suddenly standing in the middle of a dining room a little boy was sitting wide eyed looking at the two adults a black haired woman and a redheaded man.

She instantly knew that the little boy was Will and the woman was his mother Lily Redfern and his grandfather Hunter. He had just broken a vase and he was looking at his grandson with a fierce expression written clearly on his face. He was really good looking just like the woman sitting expressionless next to him; there was no doubt where Will had gotten his looks.

She stopped focusing on their faces and she turned her attention back to their conversation.

"We will not have this conversation again. Do you understand me William?" He was saying and Will nodded hesitantly.

"Good. Now go to your room. Your mother and I have something to discuss."

Will swallowed visibly and got up getting out but not going to is room just hiding silently behind the door listening to the conversation.

"You need to take care of this. We can't have people knowing the truth." Hunter said in a low voice.

Lily looked down and after a few painful for Will minutes she said hesitantly.

"Of course father, but don't you think he has a right to know. He'll never stop asking. He's my son. Your grandson. I don't like seeing him hurting."

He thought about it and then slowly nodded Will sighed heavily. "You do what you have to and I will talk with William." Hunter said finally.

The scene suddenly changed taking Britt to a room, that looked a lot like an office; and an older and colder Will was talking with a guy sitting across him on the other end of the desk. It took her a minute to understand that this was Will's teacher and that they were talking rather than studying.

"Look, Will, it's just a few more years. Then they will tell you as they have promised. You know your grandfather better than most people; you know the way he is. There's no way to find out. He would kill me."

Will sighed and his cold and dispassionate expression was gone. "I just want to know. How old should I be for Hunter to finally decide I'm old enough to know who my father is. All he cares about are the stupid trainings."

There was a pause and then Will looked around consciously, making sure no one was listening.

"Alan?" he whispered.

Alan noticing the change leaned forward and said. "What is it?"

"What do you know about the soulmate principle?" Will said without hesitation still keeping his voice low and watching Alan curiously since he had jerked back looking stunned and terrified.

"W-What principle? No, no, no. I-I have no idea what you're t-talking about." he said looking nervously around too.

Will chuckled slightly and caused Britt's heart rate to rise. He looked so beautiful, powerful and strong.

"You know I don't believe that. Come on tell me." Will insisted.

She knew that this moment contained the answer they were looking for; or rather she was looking for.

"How do you know this? Where did you hear it? Who told you?" he said hastily fighting to keep his voice from breaking.

"Just tell me what it is and then I'll tell you in return." Will said flashing a quick smirk and then turning it off as quickly as it had appeared.

"Are you...? Oh whatever... but you have to promise not to tell anyone about this, okay? I'm serious Will." he added looking at Will's expression closely.

Will nodded urgently and turned serious. "Okay. Not a word. I swear." Alan sighed.

"Okay, well, rumors are saying that the Soulmate principle is... mostly nowadays well... it's the idea that every person has a perfect match. Not just someone with whom you are compatible, but someone with whom you have an undeniable connection." Alan stopped and took a deep breath before continuing.

"One true love and they say the souls are bound for eternity. Some Night People claim that they have experienced it. They say they see a silver cord connecting their and their partner's hearts and minds. But that was years ago. It doesn't exist anymore. It buried itself when the Old Powers faded."

Alan stopped talking and both he and Will were silent for quite a few minutes.

Britt's head was spinning. Soulmates. Soulmate Principle. Old Powers. Lamia. Why did she think she had heard this before? And what did it all that meant?

"What do you believe? Do you think it's true? Or even possible?" Will asked.

"No, no... I... I don't know what to believe Will. But please promise me you won't tell anyone. Not a soul." Alan answered and when Will nodded he relaxed.

"But why if it's just a story now, then where is the harm in telling." Alan sighed and shook his head looking tired and disgusted.

"Because it didn't happen only to Night People, Will." Will stared at him confused. "What do you mean?" Alan smiled sadly. "It also happened between humans and Night People."

Will swore under his breath and faced Alan with serious eyes.

"I promise, I won't tell."

Alan exhaled heavily and smiled a nice but still a little bitter smile and said. "Well lets go back to studying mister you have a lot of work to do."

Will shook his head and laughed out loud.

The scene changed again to a slightly older Will looking exhausted and Hunter talking to him.

"You have to try harder. You almost did it this time. But almost isn't good enough for my grandson William. Do you understand me?"

Will looked at him and nodded breathing too hard to be able to talk.

"Good. Now try again."

Will concentrated hard, he looked like he was in pain, and his whole body was tensed. After a few minutes nothing happened and he relaxed his body. Will looked up at his grandfather's face looking apologetic.

Hunter was looking disappointed but he touched Will shoulder and said.

"You're tired. Go have a bath and go to bed. We'll try tomorrow again."

Will shrugged and left running to the house. When he reached the door he turned back to look at Hunter but he was no longer there.

"That was awful and weird and unfair." she said to him. "How old where you, eleven?"

"Twelve, and from everything you just saw that was the one that struck you as awful, weird and unfair?" He said his tune angry but with a hint of surprise in it.

"Family is not supposed to be like that..." she answered, not giving the answer he wanted.

"Oh, well... then how?" he said ironically but she said anyway.

"Family is supposed to be there for you. People who love you and care about you, not want something from you. It's about doing things together... like this."

She stopped talking and concentrated hard to remember the best memories with her dad and mom, Tommy and Amy, Sam. She showed him first a memory of her and her father sitting on the beach covered in blankets and warm jackets. She was seven years old and she was looking at the ocean hearing her dad reading Shakespeare. One of her favorite parts of Romeo and Juliet.

She was too young to understand what the words meant back then but now she could and she loved it.

And then the day her dad had taken her with him to the kitchen to prepare dinner and they had ended up tossing food to each other and laughing so hard.

Another time with her mom telling her that she is going to have a baby brother. Coming home with baby Tommy. Holding Amy for the first time. Reading her dad's first novel dedicated to her, for her fifteen birthday. Her mom taking her and Amy shopping and then for a walk in the city.

She could feel that he was curious about a lot of things. He had never known his father and his mom was almost never there. He was seeing how a normal human family like hers was living, laughing and fighting.

Her trance in thought left her family and went to Kim and Luke. When she first met them. How Kim and she were inseparable. And how much Britt still loved her. And Luke on their first date confessing how in love with her he was. Their first kiss. That's when she stopped.

She tried to seal her thoughts but he was curious to know more about Luke that he actually started searching her memories. He saw how Kim and Britt had different fights and how Luke and she had broken up. Britt meeting Sam, Sam giving her a shoulder to cry on; supporting her.

And finally he reacted to her first dream with him and then the second. He didn't know what to make of it. Especially the first. She knew he already knew who the guy was and that he was Poppy's brother, Phil and that he must have a psychic link, connection with her, or whatever the witches called it.

"Witches? They are real too?" A light chuckle escaped his lips.

"I should have figured as much. I guess it's normal, right?" He was laughing now. "Why are you laughing?"

She said feeling a grin spreading to her lips.

"You're standing here having a mind conversation with a vampire. Not a problem. Finding out witches exist. The world ends. It's funny to me." He said.

She frowned. "Okay, now that you proved you have no sense of humor, any ideas how to get out of here?"

She was teasing him now. She wanted to get out of his head and feel her body again but she liked the way she could talk to him. There were no stupid walls to hide his emotions and feeling.

She felt him appreciating her teasing since no one had ever spoken to him like that.

"I have no idea, probably if you concentrate hard on your body or to the outside sounds, the music inside?" He said slightly confused.

"So you think this is the soulmate principle thing? What's happening to us?" She asked softly.

He tensed but when he answered, she could feel that he was telling her the truth. "Yes, but that doesn't mean we're going to do anything about it."

This truth struck her hard. She didn't want him to go and she could feel that he felt the same way but he was also determined not to do anything about it.

She knew that this was an argument she couldn't win.

"Britt?"

"Brittany!"

With a jolt colder than the first one Britt was out of his head and in her own body. He was still holding her hand and he seemed to get out of this just like she did. As soon as he realized that he was holding her he let her hand go and took a step backwards.

"Britt?" The voice continued to call.

Their eyes were locked, neither she nor he moved and Britt realized that the connection was still there, it didn't matter that they weren't touching; just the realization of being soulmates was enough for that almost invisible silver cord to connect their hearts and minds.

"Brittany Evans where are you for goodness sake?" The voice said and Britt realized it was Sam.

She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Will looked away and turned around and disappeared into the darkness. Britt felt her heart weigh a ton.

"I'm glad I... met you." She said softly into the darkness just before Sam reached her and wrapped her arms around her into a tight embrace.

"I was so worried, where have you been? Didn't you hear me and the others calling? I could have sworn that James came by here but he said he didn't see you." Sam was saying sounding relieved and confused.

"It doesn't matter. I just needed some air and I got out. That's all." She answered her own voice sounding cold even in her own ears.

"Are you okay? Do you want to go home? Is it about Luke? Forget about him." Sam said.

"It's okay, never mind. Let's go back. I'm sorry I made you worry." Sam watched her carefully for a minute and then nodded.