Wow. You guys are amazing with the reviews. I'm gonna have to bump up my request just so that I can have some time off of writing ;)Onwards, Casper The Friendly Vampire: You read my freaking mind. Here's your little snippet of Callum's POV

vampiresuck…blood: Thank you! I love praise hehe

Kennady: Dude, seriously. If you must review, review one a chapter you lame-o. I don't understand why you review at all. You could just walk out of your bedroom when you're done reading the chapter and tell me what you think! Dork. Anyways, thanks- I guess. Not that I'm much a fan of pity reviews, especially from my sister.

Okay, enough of that. Here's your new chap!

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Callum's POV - Third person

Steam raised in thick, lazy, wafts. Callum winced slightly at the heat of the pellets of water hitting his injured arm. Damn mole. He turned the shower off and stepped out, snatching a towel from the counter and feeling more tired than he would ever willingly admit. The small bathroom was filled with steam, tiny dots of moisture floating through the air like flakes of snow. Callum scowled at them, his glare turning icy. Instantly, the steam evaporated and the room was clear, and without the uncomfortable feeling of suffocation. Callum turned to himself in the mirror, the boy staring back at him had no emotion on his face. No affection, no hatred, only a faint hint of complete disdain and scorn. Faster than the human eye could follow, Callum's hand shot out, and the mirrored glass cracked and crumpled beneath his fist. He pulled his hand back and examined it with blank, clinical curiosity. His head swiveled back to the glass and he smirked at the distorted image of his face, grinning menacingly back at him through the mirror. Unable to keep his anger bottled up anymore, Callum lashed out at nothing, and everything. He destroyed everything his eyes laid rest on, and then, once he was satisfied with the ruined bathroom; Callum smirked, threw the towel over his shoulder in a nonchalant gesture and walked from the bathroom and into his closet. He doubted he would be taking a trip to Centralia, Pennsylvania anytime soon unless it was to peel the flesh off the bastard that dared to seal him, Callum Black, in a mine. He smiled at the thought of presenting his father with a coat made of flesh. If his father wanted a monster, he would show him one.

Callum picked up a dagger, and twirled it idly in his hand. Just as he was about to throw it at something, anything, a sound interrupted. Breaking his focus. Callum glowered at the door.

"What?" He demanded harshly, replying to the knock. The voice that answered him, stopped him short and he froze.

"Um, Callum? Are you alright? Kiera said you wanted to see me…" said Echo from the other side of the door. His glower didn't falter, but the tension immediately left his back and shoulders.

"I can come back later if you want…" Echo continued unsurely, guessing Callum's mood with perfect accuracy. With a sigh, Callum through on some black sweats laying on his floor and collapsed into a chair.

"No, you can come in" He said, not even bothering to put up a false charm. She already knew he was mad. Slowly, the door cracked open and Echo's face peaked in, she had an unusual look on her face, almost frightened but not quite. At least, the fear wasn't directed towards Callum, himself. She took two quick steps into the room, closing the door behind her as she glanced around with an expression of…horror. Callum smirked at her deep frown. The look would have been cute, had her delicate face not been covered in bruises and large, angry looking scrapes.

"Callum," Echo started, her frown deepening as she walked closer to him "What happened" She said, sighing breathlessly.

Callum looked around the destroyed room apathetically. He had ripped the sink from the wall completely and water was shooting out, spraying the wall. The toilet was also ripped off, but somehow it had landed in his closet. There was a large chunk of wall missing where the bathroom door should have been, but now sat in splinters across Callum's bed. And that was only half of it. Callum rested his eyes on Echo's frowning face and he sighed tiredly.

"I fell" He replied with rolled eyes. She looked at him incredulously, obviously not believing him.

"That is not" She began but broke off, glancing at the room again. Her hand came to her mouth to stifle a giggle and Callum felt his heart stutter and then start up again twice as fast. If he could have ripped his heart out to glare at it accusingly- he would have. He was weighing the thought of doing it anyway…

"Funny" Echo finished, a small smile tugging up her lips. She turned back to him with raised eyebrows.

"Seriously, I can come back" She repeated. Callum, stared at her. She had an unbuttoned black pea coat on over a lavender camisole and some fleece pajama pants- also lavender. Now that Callum thought about it, she even smelled like lavender.

"No. I was just leaving anyway" Callum said, quickly getting to his feet. He took her hand, and pulled her from his room.

"Come on" He said "I have something to show you"

Callum led Echo through the twisting hallway that led away from his room, and began climbing stairs. Echo followed still frowning at his hand, tightly encasing hers. Callum rolled his eyes. Girls, and their sensitive feelings, he would never understand it. He loosened his grip on her hand impulsively, and continued dragging her along behind him.

A feeling of growing anticipation grew inside him. Was he really about to do this?

He was about to stop, and turn around before realizing that it was already too late for that, he had already walked them inside the room without noticing.

He turned back almost gasping at Echo's awed expression as she looked around. Almost.

Instead a small, knowing grin grew over Callum's face. She wouldn't be smiling for long. And somehow, he didn't feel guilty about what he was about to tell her. Misery loves company. And until he got what he wanted, he would make everyone miserable. Whether he really wanted to or not. Echo wasn't one of those people he would ever intentionally hurt. Actually, she was one of the few people he wouldn't. But he had a feeling that his little confession, was going to hurt her. Not because it was mean, or sadistic like he would have liked it to have been. But because it was the truth. For the first time, Callum was going to tell someone the truth. And the truth hurt Callum, not that he would ever, ever admit that to anyone. Not even on his dying breath. Echo, was one of those people who took other's pain and bore it like it was her own. That's how Callum knew it would hurt her. But he didn't care. Echo was the one person he was willing to confess to at the moment. She was new, and so also by that right naïve, and a sort of outcast among the other people in the group. Therefore, she would have no reason to betray anything that he was about to tell her.

And, said a darker voice at the back of Callum's head If she ever did, I would kill her.

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Echo's POV

I slowly turned, trying to capture everything in the room. It was made of a deep maple wood and shaped like a dome. Like a giant, warm, igloo. The ceiling was glass, and showed the starry night sky like I had never seen it before. Like every single star was magnified, and somehow shining a warm glow of light into the room. There was a fireplace between to large bookcases filled with old, leather bound books. Of what, I didn't recognize. Then there were the large portraits that hang along the circular walls, divided by bookcases. Each portrait had a light shined on it, and made the photos seem as if they were glowing. There was a large, red, leather sofa across from the fireplace and three work tables scattered throughout the room. Other than that, it was empty. I stepped up to a particular portrait that caught my eye. In it there was a familiar, strong- yet gentle looking man, with dark brown hair cropped short and a beard and mustache. His deep black eyes, seemed wise with a hint of something else. Cruelty?

His arm was wrapped around a beautiful, delicate looking woman with pale skin and golden hair. Her smile was radiant, and also very familiar. Just like her deeper than deep blue eyes. I stood rigid, my eyes widening. I stepped back and continued to stare incredulously at the man in the portrait. I knew him.

"Those are my parents" Callum said, staring at the photo with barely concealed contempt. I turned to him with wide eyes. Callum's hands were in tight fists behind his back, as he glared at the two figures in the portrait.

"My father" Callum said, inclining his head towards the man. His voice was hard, and icy. He turned his head towards the woman.

"And…my mother" He said in a softer voice. I glanced from the man in the portrait and back to Callum.

"But…" I started, frowning at the portrait. "But he's the leader of the council. And his last name is Penstern. Not Black."

I stared at Callum, still struggling to see the resemblance. He turned and walked to the next portrait, his hands still folded behind his back. He looked back at me impatiently and I hurried to catch up. The next portrait was of a handsome, muscular man. He was smiling charmingly- a smile that I recognized immediately to be Callum's. He had Callum's golden wheat colored skin and straight, delicate looking nose along with most of angular features present on Callum's face, right down to the stubborn set of his jaw. He had the same build as Callum, but that was it. The man's hair was a pale blonde, far lighter than Callum's, and hung at his jaw in thin, wispy, strands. His eyes were the same black color as Callum's father's and it was far easier to see the cruelty in this man's eyes than it was in the other's. I wondered if his mother had lied and told the man- Penstern- that the child was his, when Callum was actually the son of this man. But then I remembered that he could probably be related to this man and simply took after him. So I kept my mouth shut. Callum was already showing the signs of being scary-calm angry

"This," Callum said, in a voice that sounded surprisingly affectionate, "Is my uncle. He raised me"

I stared at Callum, my brow furrowing. He glanced at me from the corner of his eyes and smirked.

"Well up until I was fourteen, that is" He added " Then, I killed him"

My eyes widened. But I tried not to look too freaked out.

I studied Callum's expression intently. He still had that charismatic, arrogant bravado- but something was wrong. There was a restlessness in his eyes that was very unsettling.

He must have sensed me watching him, because his face immediately smoothed over into the familiar mask of confidence.

"You see," He said, eyes growing clouded "My uncle, wasn't the…kindest of people. He hated kids. But my father just handed me over to him. He had said 'I could never love a monster that would kill its own mother'" Callum shook his head and chuckled.

I blanched at this. Killed his own mother? As a baby? Callum gave me a knowing look.

"Yeah, I know. It's stupid, right? How could a baby kill its mother? Well, it can't." Callum said in a hard voice, before muttering under his breath in a sarcastic tone. "As if it was my fault she was too weak to survive giving birth. Because women don't die during childbirth everyday.

"My father- he didn't see it that way. He loved my mother as much as someone like him is capable of. He blamed me for her death, said that I slowly drained her life away and I should have been the one that died. But I didn't. So he did the next best thing he could think of next to me dying- sent me off to be raised by his brother. My uncle, Liam, was a complicated man. He didn't really have emotions. He was one of those people that lived off of instant gratification. For the first few years I was just ignored. You know, left for the staff to deal with. When I was four, old enough to comprehend things, that was when he started paying attention to me. I was forced into learning twenty seven different languages, five different instruments, developing my powers, and schooled in combat. For what he was training me for, I have no clue. I think he just mostly liked to punish me- when I couldn't pronounce a word right, I'd get three lashes. Talking back- ten lashes. Speaking out of turn- six lashes. Then there came a time when he just believed I was too old for lashes and started beating me for every little thing. It wasn't all abuse though. As demented as my uncle was, he was also very smart. He made me strong, impenetrable, unable to be hurt. I learned to fend for myself and eventually, got a little cheeky about it."

Callum made a sound like a 'Tsk' and continued.

"He did not like that. I had just turned thirteen and I was mouthing off to him about something- I can't remember what and he just exploded. Faster than I could have imagined, he grabbed me by the hair and slammed my head into the wall over and over and over. I could feel my skull cracking with each slam. He killed me. Well, kind of. That's when I became a Death Walker. I knew I was dead, and I knew I wasn't in heaven, it was like I was in this limbo. Just existing, but not really. I was angry, I didn't want to be there. I didn't even believe in a heaven or a hell- and all that me being there was proving, was that there wasn't one. That when someone died, they were just stuck in this white room, completely alone. Waiting for something, or nothing at all. I didn't realize I had said that out loud until a woman appeared in front of me. She looked really pissed, and I apologized, but she didn't seem impressed. It didn't really look like anything could impress her- she was one of the most beautiful creatures I had ever seen. She made the fey look like hags. I watched something in her face soften, and she said. 'You have been dealt a great wrong. I will give you the power to heal, and become better from it.' It was then that I actually looked at her. I first thought, she was wearing all white, but they were wings, wrapped around her. She was an angel. A real angel. Well, that certainly changed my view on a few things. She handed me a goblet with a thick, golden liquid in it and told me to drink it. And when I did, I woke up, covered in blood- but completely fine. Better than fine. I was stronger, faster, better-looking…" Callum flashed me a tight smile.

"But there was also something else, I could sense death, I somehow knew that I wasn't all there. That something had been taken away and replaced by something else. And I could look at someone, and see the exact time when someone was going to die- and how. Imagine my surprise, when I ran into my Uncle in the hallway and saw myself shoving a dagger right through his heart"

Callum sighed, and walked along the room in slow circles, trailing his hands along the wood lining of the bookshelves.

"The next year- my Uncle gave me my most memorable lesson. He called it the secret to invincibility- and it was surprisingly simple. 'Care about no one' he said 'When you love a person, that gives them a certain power over you. They are able to hurt you more than anyone else ever could. And they will hurt you. So destroy them.'" Callum broke off into a smile. By now I could feel my stomach churning uneasily, and started to get a sense of vertigo. Why was he telling me all of this?

"He even had a motto. 'Keep your friends and family far, far, away. And your enemies within range of your fist.'"

"But, Callum. You can't believe what he said. It's completely insane!" I blurted. Callum was rubbing dust between his fingers, he looked at me over his hand with raised eyebrows.

"Is it?" He replied, walking very close to me. "Think about it. How would you feel if I were to kill you as opposed to a complete stranger, hm?"

I stood rigid. Did he know? Oh my god. Was he threatening me. I stared up into his eyes.

"Betrayed" I replied coldly.

"Exactly!" Callum said, clapping his hands together "And why is that? Because you and I know each other- are friends even, I think. So therefore, I could hurt you more than a complete stranger ever could. Do you see, now?"

I shook my head stubbornly, not liking the sick feeling in my stomach at all.

"No. And you aren't giving people enough credit, Callum. I'm sure if you let someone get close to you- you wouldn't be betrayed or disappointed"

Callum snorted "Oh yeah, I'm sure. Because it's not like half of the other side isn't trying to assassinate me or anything. But I'll just go ahead and cozy up to people and see where that gets me- I'm pretty sure it'll be dead"

"That's not what I am saying" I said softly "Callum, it is impossible not to care about people. Even if you don't want to- you will. And you can't just go around killing everyone who has ever showed you kindness just because you're afraid that they'll use it against you. The only power that someone can have over you is how much you allow them to have. Besides, I'm not saying you have to trust every person you meet. All I'm saying is to give them a chance"

Callum stared at me, there was something like calculation in his eyes and he seemed unsure. But he was taking in what I was saying, even though I doubted that anything I said got past that shield of an exterior that he wore like an encasement of armor. But I waited, shivering slightly. Was he going to kill me?

"Fine." Callum said suddenly, completely shocking me still. Did he just…agree with me?

"Then I'm giving you a chance. I'll trust you with something" He added, completely freezing the blood in my veins. What was I supposed to say to that? No, don't trust me! I didn't mean me, go trust someone else. Anybody else. Anyone who isn't going to turn around and tell everything you said to the council. To your father.

I was saved from saying anything though, because Callum was already talking again.

"Earlier you wanted to know, why I was really doing all of this. And how I got the scars, I'll tell you. And I'm trusting you to never share this with anyone. Not that there would be a reason to tell anyone where I got my scars from. Or why I decided to become a terrorist at the age of eighteen. But I'm not talking about that, although I would prefer it stayed between you and I. I'm talking about what I plan to do, once I have the power. You can never tell a soul. Promise?"

What was I supposed to say? It seemed easy enough, but misguiding a vampire was way harder than it seems. Especially one who could slip into your mind and snatch the information out like he was snatching a piece of cake. Freaking vampires…

I turned to Callum, putting on the most believable smile I could manage- which turned out to be pretty believable and nodded.

"I promise" I replied.