The world definitely felt different when Cass opened her eyes. For starters, she knew she was alone, and that wasn't because she saw she was alone. No, she knew that before, because she could hear everyone down in the main part of the cave talking. That's definitely something new. Her eyesight had become significantly better, in fact she saw particles floating through the air.

Her ears perked when she realized everyone had stopped talking, probably figuring out she was awake. She couldn't really remember what happened, other than seeing Marko holding her, dried tears on his face. Had she died? She didn't remember dying, but she supposed most people didn't. Her mouth felt stale and had a lingering taste of copper within it. That was weird, but then again she had been slapped pretty hard, tasting blood was usual. She finally got up and made her way down the narrow corridor, finding herself face to face with the Lost boys, and Erin.

"Erin!" she grinned laughing and running towards her friend. The blonde gave her a weak smile and engulfed her in a hug.

"Oh my God, I missed you so much!" Cass cried, hugging the girl tighter. Erin coughed but laughed and buried her face into Cass' hair.

"Erin" Dwayne warned from beside them. Erin abruptly let Cass go and backed away into Dwayne's arms. Cass frowned.

"What's wrong?" She questioned to no one in particular.

"We're unsure of your hunger" David spoke for the group

"Hunger? I mean I guess I'm kind of hungry" she shrugged and thought, "yeah a cheeseburger sounds nice" she mused aloud, nodding her head when she realized that's exactly what she wanted.

"A… a cheeseburger?" Paul scoffed, sounding confused and a little angry.

"What have you got against cheeseburgers?" she accused, whirling to face the crazy blonde.

"Nothing, nothing! Just figured you would be craving something else" he held his hands up and shrugged.

"Why would you figure that?" she asked puzzled

"What do you remember Cassandra?" Marko finally spoke, stepping away from his previous leaning placement against the wall.

"I remember you, you were crying. I don't remember much else" she gave him a beaming smile and started towards him. His jaw clenched and he shook his head violently before speeding out of the cave. Cass stopped half way from where Marko had previously been standing, a frown taking over her features.

"Ok, can someone tell me why he's mad this time?" she yelled, whirling to give a glare at anyone who met her eyes. The only ones willing to look at her were David and Paul, though Paul's eyes would linger away every so often. Erin wouldn't look at her, choosing instead to bury her face into Dwayne's arm, and Dwayne chose to look at David.

"I think that task will be appointed Paul. You two have much to discuss. Paul." David barked, gesturing to start talking.

Paul smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck "you see Cass.. Cassandra, you're not really the same" he finished and it made her even more confused than before. She knew she wasn't the same, she could tell. But she figured it was from almost dying, or dying. Then again she felt better than she should have, especially considering the wounds she had been given. She looked down to her arm, where a once long jagged open line of blood lay, was now merely an angry red line, completely closed up. Her head shot up.

"Explain in greater detail Paul" she gritted out

"Well you died Cass.. We didn't know what else to do" he looked away from her then.

"We? What did you do?" She yelled

"We're gonna….go" Dwayne jabbed a finger over his shoulder towards the entrance and took off quickly with Erin in tow. Cass watched them go, fire blazing in her eyes.

"You leaving to?" she swirled to glare at David.

"No. I think I'll find more entertainment right here tonight" he smiled sarcastically and encouraged Paul further. Paul grumbled incoherently before exhaling loudly.

"You're a vampire, Cass. Well a half one" he confirmed. It didn't register that he had said anything at all at first, her thoughts bouncing around quickly. She had many questions, how, who, what, when, the usual. She went to voice these thoughts, but instead screamed "WHAT!" and then she was sprinting at Paul. Who had half a second to register that Cass was in fact running full speed at him, and he had absolutely no escape, and that David was laughing, before she pounced on him.

Marko

He walked on the beach, kicking sand angrily and hating his life. Never before had he hated his life, but this was unfair. He wanted to be there for her, but he didn't know how. David was unsure of who her actual sire was, and until then he was allotting the title to Paul of all people. After he almost watched her die, and after mulling over Paul's words of resentment, he didn't know how to be around her. He did feel guilty, and he definitely blamed himself. Perhaps it was better that he stayed away from her, after all he hurt her more than helped her in the 6 days that he had known her. 6 days felt like a damn lifetime but was more like a blink to them, still they had been through so much already. He didn't know if he or she could handle any more hardships.

His thoughts got darker and he started wishing he had never met the blue eyed, now brunette girl. His life would be easier, and she would still be living her life like she always had. He was used to fucking up things, it was in his nature. He had never been a regretful person, nor did he ever want to turn back time to fix something. But now? He wished he had never met Cassandra.

Erin

Erin walked along the beach with Dwayne right by her side. His presence was both comforting, but also nerve wracking. He comforted her because he normally remained silent and she could get lost in her own thoughts without any one interrupting her. She really needed to figure out the next plan of action, because she didn't know if her or Cass could go back to their boring lives in Washington. She had seen and learned too much. And now Cass was something else, she was no longer the shut off human she used to be.

Nerve wracking because he was cute, obviously. But also because they had this weird connection that neither of them talked about. It's like they were just stuck in this awkward position that neither of them knew how to talk about, let alone find a way out of it.

"What are you thinking about?" Dwayne's deep voice came from beside her, she jumped not expecting him to talk.

"A lot. Mostly about Cassandra, home, and you." she replied honestly.

"Tell me more" he grabbed her wrist to effectively stop her from walking further. He abruptly sat and pulled Erin to join him on the sand. She sighed and mulled over her words before speaking them.

"Well, for Cass. She's never been an open person, in fact I don't know much about her. Her past anyways, I know she isn't originally from Washington like me, but that's practically it. She handles stressful situations quite well, but I don't think she's going to handle this well at all. I don't think either of us are going to be able to go back home and just forget about all of this." she shrugged and stopped talking, sighing and thinking more.

"Cassandra will not be able to go back with you" Dwayne stated and Erin's eyes instantly met his.

"What do you mean she won't be able to?" Erin sputtered

"Cassandra will be a vampire Erin, she cannot remain a half for very long or she will die. She cannot just go back to being human, she will die. Once she has completed the change, she will no longer be able to go into the light. Sunlights burns and kills us, so her home must be the cave. Paul is her sire, and she needs to remain close to him, and he to her. Marko is her mate, and being apart would drive them both mad, no matter what either of them say." he grabbed her hand then and stroked the back of it. His words made sense but dread filled up her entire body.

"So I have to go back on my own?" she asked in a small voice, hugging herself the best she could.

"If you want to, though you could stay here if you'd like"

"Would you want me to stay here?" she asked, looking away from him. He didn't say anything for a long moment.

"I would especially like if you were to stay. And I know the others would like that as well, they have already accepted you." he tilted her chin towards him, looking into her eyes once again. His words caused her heart to thump wildly. "Now what were you thinking about me for?" he gave her a rare smile and quirked a brow up. She giggled and rolled her eyes.

"I can show you better than I could tell you." she whispered before leaning up and attaching her lips to his, finally.

"I think I like that much better" he whispered against her lips, diving down to place his lips on hers again, pushing her backwards onto the sand. Good, she thought. She knew neither of them were good with words, so this was an effective way of speaking.

Cass

She had pinned Paul to the couch effortlessly, she was stunned at first, and then smug at the look on his face. She raised her brows, prompting him to speak further.

"Jesus Cass, that hurts!" he pouted, trying to push her off lightly. Her grip increased and she gave him a glare.

"Fine fine! Devil woman!" she smiled proudly at the nickname. "We all got there and Marko and I found you downstairs. You were covered in blood, sitting in a puddle of it" he swallowed thickly and shook his head to erase the thoughts "you weren't breathing. Marko gave you his blood at first, but it wasn't working. He almost bled out from giving you so much. He couldn't give you anymore so I took it upon myself to give you mine. Almost immediately you took to it and started drinking it on your own. We don't know if it just took you awhile to come to after dying, or it was solely my blood that awakened you." he took a deep breath and she let him go, leaning back on the couch and thinking over his words.

"So I definitely died?" she frowned

"Definitely" Paul confirmed

"And Marko is mad because?" she questioned

Paul looked at David then. David shrugged and gave him a look that read 'you're on your own buddy' Paul groaned and scrubbed a hand down his face.

"When you turn someone, they immediately feel attached to you. And you to them. It creates a bond that is almost virtually unbreakable. That's why Marko's mad, because he knows that we're going to be protective over each other and he thinks you're going to want me more that him." he looked away and clenched his jaw.

"But Marko says that we are mates?"

"You are. Which is why I think his blood didn't work. That would be too much connection." he looked at her again and frowned.

"So why would I pick anyone over him?" she cocked her head

"I can answer that." David spoke up from his wheelchair. "The bond is strong with a sire and his child. You will both be protective and will seek comfort whenever possible from each other. You will know each other's thoughts, feel their feelings and overall be incredibly connected to the other."

"He's afraid my connection with Paul will outweigh my connection to him?" she summed up.

"Essentially." David clarified

"He's an idiot" she scoffed

David chuckled but shook his head, "don't underestimate the sire bond. It will have you doing things you never thought possible."

She gulped and stole a glance a Paul who was already looking at her.

"What do you think in all of this?" she questioned

"I think that things are going to get messy, but I don't regret saving your life. I would do it again with the same outcome. I wish Marko wasn't so stubborn but he's always been like that."

She nodded "so how do I become a full vampire?" she asked to no one in particular. No one answered her and she looked from Paul, who was looking at David. David was looking at Paul, the two engaged in a silent conversation. They both looked at her and then immediately looked away.

"Hello?" she waved her hands. Paul groaned and got up, pacing large steps away from Cass. She didn't like that one bit.

"You must feed" he stated bluntly

"Feed?" she mumbled the word

"Yes feed. Off of a human. Take their blood, kill them." he nodded.

"WHAT!" she yelled, chasing Paul who had already begun to run out of the cave.