Chapter 11: Set Fire to the Rain

When Paul's eyes fluttered open, he had to blink many times before his vision focused. As it did, he saw Shelby and sat up, slowly. He was back home, in bed, and she was sitting at the end of the mattress, looking careworn. His head throbbed with pain and suddenly all the events of the past day and a half came back to him in a whirlwind. His whole body ached with the memories…

"Welcome back," Shelby whispered, standing up to come sit beside him. "How do you feel?"

Paul's throat was a little hoarse, but he spoke up, "Alright, I, uh… I guess." He looked at her, and asked, "How long was I out?"

She raised a hand to stroke his face and hair, gently, "About two days. We were worried. And the boys were so pissed when I told them what Chase did. Marko was making all sorts of death threats towards him, and –,"

"But you look much better," Paul observed, getting a good look at her; she was still bruised, but she looked much more well. The color had returned to her cheeks and she no longer looked sickly.

"David told me that normal injuries – like stabs and cuts – heal faster for us. So, yes, I am better, but –," she lifted her shirt up to her middle, showing off the word Chase had carved and a bandage that was covering her stab wound, "- I will have some scars. That fucker basically branded me with 'SLUT' – dug his knife in real deep for each letter."

Paul felt his heart constrict as he gazed at her wounds. As many times as he told himself it wasn't his fault, he felt guilty. So guilty – because there was always this little voice in the back of his mind telling him that he could have done something to prevent all of this.

But he couldn't have…

"A-Are you okay?" She asked, quietly, "You've got that look on your face… The one you get when you're thinking hard about something. What's up?"

Not wanting to make her pity him further, he lied, "Nothing. I'm fine. A little worse for wear, but I'm okay. And… And you're okay, and everything's okay. We're okay."

All the words sort of tumbled out of his mouth, and she giggled, taking his hand, "Yes, we are."

"So… Chase, uh… He got away?"

Looking down at their intertwined fingers, she nodded, "He was too fast. They came in through the window, I screamed, and when I looked back, he was gone."

Paul groaned, "Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck." Rubbing his eyes, frustrated, he murmured, "We have to find him. I'm gonna kill him – I have to kill him –,"

"No!" She cried, suddenly, a look of alarm flashing across her face, "No, Paul… He's fucking crazy, and we just barely got away with our lives." She met his eyes, and held his gaze, her tone serious, "Promise me that you won't go looking for him."

"What? Shelby, he knows where we live! He'll come back –!"

"Please. Promise me."

She put on her best puppy dog pout – knowing that he couldn't say 'no' to that face – and he sighed, "Shit. Okay, I promise. But we have to be more careful from now on."

"I agree, and so do the boys; I've already talked to them about that."

Paul nodded, "Good. Because, I swear, if anything happens to you again… I don't know what I'll do."

"Don't worry about me – you're weak, and you need to relax. Without relaxation and rest, you'll never get back to your old self."

Blinking tiredly, he mumbled, "So, can I get a kiss now? Or do I have to wait longer?"

Smiling, she replied, "I think you've earned one," and leaned in to press her lips to his.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The next few days passed, un-eventful. Paul was still recovering and not at his full strength, and Shelby was with him every second. Things felt pretty normal again, except for the fact that one of the boys always stayed behind from hunts – in case Chase decided to pay another visit. Even though David kept saying that Chase couldn't possibly be stupid enough to try anything again, they had to be careful.

Paul was starting to get annoyed from how often he was asked to re-count the story of their kidnap. He felt like he must have told it at least ten times now. Marko was especially curious, wanting to know every last detail that they could remember. As much as both Paul and Shelby loved Marko, the last time he'd asked about the ordeal, Paul cracked:

"Dude! Stop asking about it, okay? I'm pretty sure we've both told you everything by now. So fuck off."

Shelby gave an apologetic nod to Marko, who promptly left them alone, then turned back to Paul, "Can we… talk – about what happened to you?"

He raised an eyebrow, "You mean what Chase did to me?"

"No," she shook her head, "I mean before he kidnapped us. I… You were fucked-up, Paul… You had me terrified. I've never seen you like that before."

"Maybe that's because you barely know me."

She was taken aback, but answered quickly: "I know you better than I know myself – but you were a different person that night. And I want… I need to know what was running through your head. I need to make it better. Please let me… fix you."

Paul looked up at her; his face tired, and murmured, "You can't. You… You can't fix me, sassy. I'm not broken." Even as he spoke the words, he knew it was a lie.

And she didn't buy it for one second. "If the way you were that night isn't 'broken', then I don't know what is." He looked away, hanging his head, and she reached out to take his hands. "Listen to me: Sometimes… even the strongest people break. And you've been through so much – more than most – and you've lost your way a few times, but you know what? You have people who would do anything for you. You've got those three crazy assholes – your brothers – who've known you for decades and stuck with you all the way. And you've got me," she ran her thumb across his palm, gently, "And I love you. I'll always love you, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm always going to be here to fix you when you break. So… talk to me. Please, let me in."

There was a long silence after this, in which Paul took many slow breaths and held onto her hands tightly. And then, he spoke up, his voice thick: "I don't know what to say… I'm… a fucking mess – inside and out," she glanced at the scars on his wrists as he said this, "I just… I feel like – no, I know that… I'm not good enough – for you."

She instantly began to argue with him, "That's –,"

"Don't tell me it's crazy for me to think so. You don't know what I've done, sassy – you can't begin to imagine the things I've done to people. The things Chase and I did…"

"So what?" Shelby cupped his face in her hands, looking him in the eyes, "You're better now. You're a better man."

He shook his head, "It doesn't matter – none of it. I've never been anything but bad, baby. I've always been wrong – ever since I was young, and… human."

That threw her off guard, "You… can still remember your human life?"

He nodded. "Bits of it. I remember my mother's face… and my dick of a father. I had a brother named Adam, and a little sister named Grace…" A smile spread across his lips, "I remember how much I loved them, too. Especially Grace. She was the one person who never judged me or told me I would never amount to anything... But my father was always yelling at me to do something with my life. 'You're lazy, boy! You've been a useless little good-for-nothing ever since you were born!' He knew what I really was, inside. God… If he could see me now, he'd fucking cringe."

Shelby's mouth was open slightly, in awe, because Paul had never talked to her about his human life. Never. "How old were you when…?"

"When I got turned?" Paul laughed, humorlessly, his eyes filling with self-hatred, "Eighteen. I remember it perfectly – down to the very last detail… Fuck – when Chase offered me immortality, I didn't hesitate. I just said yes. I was an idiot and a moron and any other term there is for 'stupid fool'."

"But," she was having a hard time taking in all of what he was telling her, "But you've always acted as though you enjoy being what you are."

"Well, the company certainly is remarkable." Another melancholy chuckle, then: "If I could go back to that night, and say 'no', I would – in a heartbeat. It's gotten to the point where I don't… want this anymore. I spend so much time killing and fucking and not giving two shits about anyone or anything that I've lost who I am. I've lost myself, and I can't find who I used to be."

She nodded, finally beginning to understand, "Is that why you fell off the rails that night? Were you… trying to kill yourself?"

He fell silent again, for a moment or two, before shrugging, "I don't think I was trying to, but I knew that, if I did go too far, and I ended up losing my life – for lack of a better term – that I wouldn't care. Not one bit. And that feeling… scares me, baby. I'm scared of my own thoughts, and of the things I feel. I'm scared of what Chase will do if he ever gets his hands on you again, but – most of all – I'm scared of what I might do to myself. Because… I have no sense of what's right or wrong anymore."

As he finished his thought, Shelby looked at him – really looked at him. She tried to picture what it must be like to have gone through what Paul had. To have suffered what he had. He'd gone from being a human boy, with a family and a life, to being a dead, creature of the night. He'd been thrown around like he was nothing, spit on by the ones he trusted, betrayed, scorned, and used by assholes like Chase for years and years and years. She felt an aching sense of guilt, mixed with overwhelming amounts of sympathy for him. Not knowing what else to do, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her fingers tangled in his messy hair, her face pressed to his neck.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, eyes wet with tears. "I wish there was something I could do to make it all better."

Paul shook his head, rubbing her back, "Sweetheart, you have made things better – believe me. You've done so much for me, and I couldn't possibly ask for anything more from you."

She couldn't stop holding him, though. Couldn't help how bad she felt for him. Her hands held him as close as they could, her lips brushing against his collarbone as she cried.

He didn't protest, of course; merely looped his arms around her middle and quieted her tearful breaths and words. "Don't feel sorry for me, please. I can't stand having you cry over my twisted problems. I'm surprised you're not mad at me for getting you kidnapped –,"

At that, she pulled away suddenly, her tear-stained face full of an emotion Paul couldn't identify. "Shut up. Don't ever say something like that to me again. That's such bullshit, and you know it. What happened wasn't your fault – don't argue with me – and I'm not going to allow you to blame yourself for it."

Paul was momentarily taken aback, but nodded, "Alright then. You're the boss…?"

"You bet your ass I am, mister."

He chuckled, then sat up straight, "Tomorrow night, let's go out. It's been a while since we did, and I need some fresh air. And… I don't know. But we're going out."

Shelby thought about this prospect for a second, and then shrugged her shoulder. "What the hell – sure."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

When they did join the boys the next night, they found the Boardwalk to be even more crowded than usual; the band that was performing had attracted a large number of wailing teenager girls.

Shelby felt glad to be back in the swing of things once again. Paul was at her side, keeping a protective arm around her at all times, and it felt great. The boys were all in good moods as well – even David was showing her a sliver of kindness tonight. Marko was being his typical spazzy self – running around with a cone of cotton candy in his hand and playing all of the games in the various booths. Dwayne was substantially calmer than his friend, but still quite chipper. She had never seen the stoic vampire smile as much as he was now.

After convincing Paul to try out one of the games, he ended up winning Shelby a large stuffed panda bear, which earned him a playful smack on the ass and a grateful kiss. As they embrace, Shelby felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see David standing behind her.

"Could I, erm… borrow your girl for a second, man?" He asked, awkwardly, "I'll give her right back."

Paul laughed, "Sure you can – but play nice, my friend." He winked at Shelby before moving away to watch Marko run in manic circles around Dwayne, who was laughing hysterically.

Shelby turned her attention back to the blonde vampire in front of her, and asked, "What's up?"

David looked extremely uncomfortable; he was shuffling back and forth on his feet and looking down at the floor. "I just… uh… I just wanted to apologize for the way I've acted towards you – since the day we met. I've been a dick, and I'm sorry. You're pretty cool, to be honest, you're a part of the group, and I need to start treating you as such. Do you forgive me?"

She was completely silent for several moments, as she took in all that he'd just said. And then she did the only thing she could think to do: she flung her arms around him, happily. "Of course I do! All I've wanted for the past few months is for us to be friends. Thank you for apologizing."

David chuckled, hugging her back loosely, before they broke apart. "It's the least I can do. You've been so great to all of us, especially Paul."

Just as he spoke his name, Paul appeared beside them, a look of slight incredulity on his face. As David walked away, Paul asked, "Did… Did you two just make up?"

"Yep!" Shelby replied, grinning widely, "He apologized to me, and I told him I forgive him."

"That's great, baby! I'm glad –,"

"Paul?" A voice spoke, out of nowhere, "Is that you?"

Eyebrows furrowing, Paul spun around to locate to the source of the voice. Shelby did the same, and saw that it was a girl who'd spoken. The girl was tall, with wavy hair – that was dyed a bright, bubblegum pink – and willowy limbs, which made Shelby think she might be a dancer. The girl was also very pretty. Annoyingly pretty, actually, and she was gazing at Paul with a look of badly masked adoration on her face.

"Oh my god," Paul gasped, a smile spreading across his cheeks, at the sight of this mystery chick. "Hey!" At this, he pulled her into a hug, and asked, "What the hell are you doing here? It's been ages since we last saw you!"

Annoyingly Beautiful Mystery Chick nodded, her smile showing off dazzlingly white teeth. "I know, but I'm going to have to insist that you introduce me to your friend first…"

"Oh, yeah, of course!" They broke apart, and Paul wrapped an arm around Shelby's waist, "Shelby, this is my good friend, Regina – we all call her Reggie. Reg, this is my girlfriend, Shelby."

She smiled brightly at Shelby, who faked one in return. "If this isn't too rude of a question, un… Who are you?"

Regina laughed, "That's not rude at all! I'm a vampire. I used to live with Paul and the guys – a long time ago."

"Yeah, but she ditched us after a couple of years," Paul said, a humorless smirk on his face.

"I had to leave, and you know why," she snapped, the smile disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. "I didn't want to go, but I couldn't stay with you all anymore."

Shelby raised an eyebrow, "You were like me? I mean, you lived with them and… all that?"

Regina nodded, shortly, regaining her painfully sweet grin once again, "But I was forced to leave them a while back – it's a long story –,"

"She's a seer." Paul interrupted, quietly.

Regina promptly hit him on the shoulder, "Paul."

"A what?" Shelby asked, confused and out of the loop.

There was a silence, and then the pink-haired vampire sighed, "I'm a seer. It, uhm… It means I can see the future, and read people's futures. I don't know why – I was kind of born with the ability. Anyway, about a decade ago, when I was still with the boys, we met another vampire coven, somewhere in Europe, and we became quick allies with them. But once their leader discovered my 'talent', he got it in his head that I was too dangerous to live, and tried to have me murdered. I had no choice but to run away. I had to disappear – for a while."

Paul snorted, "I wouldn't exactly call ten years 'a while' –,"

"But," she continued, glaring at him, "I'm back now, and I thought the least I could do was pay my old friends a visit."

Shelby nodded, a smile – which looked much more like a grimace – on her face now. "How… nice."

After this, Marko, Dwayne and David crowded around Regina – all of them looking very pleased to see her: none of them as much as Marko, Shelby observed. And as she watched them all hug and catch up, she experienced a feeling that she hadn't really felt since becoming a vampire; jealousy. She glanced around the group, dejection plaguing her mind, as old bonds were made young again. As previously broken relationships were repaired, and feelings re-kindled. She understood what they must all be experiencing. Regina had been their friend for much longer than she had. They'd missed her, and now they had her back… She wondered if – all this time – they had been secretly been hoping for Regina to be with them instead of her. The idea of that possibility hurt more than anything else. The idea that she was merely a stand-in for Regina; a shadow of what the group used to be.

Then, her gaze wandered over to Paul standing a few feet away. He was smiling – she didn't expect him not to be happy – but once he caught sight of her, his smile faded. In a flash, he was right in front of her, his face inches away, clasping her hands gently. "What's wrong, baby?"

Hearing the pet name softened her a little bit, but she replied, "Oh, you know – just admiring this love-fest from afar."

Paul sighed, "Are you jealous – of Reggie?"

"Stop calling her that," Shelby snapped, firmly, "It's just… How am I supposed to be feeling right now? How can I not be jealous?"

"Because you have no reason to be. Regina's great, but she's got absolutely nothing on you. She's our friend, and we haven't seen her in years, you know?"

She looked up into his eyes, "I just… Don't toss me aside, okay? Please, don't forget about me, or – or –,"

"What are you talking about?" He asked, pulling her into his strong arms and holding her tight. "Huh? Baby, listen: You're my whole fucking world, and more. You're mine – and you know I'm wrapped around your fingers. I'm not letting you go, and I'm certainly not going to 'toss you aside' simply because an old friend comes back into the picture. You have to know that."

Shelby nodded, slowly, "I do know that… I-I do, but I can't help feeling a little bit jealous. I mean, she's gorgeous –,"

"You're gorgeous."

"–and sexy–,"

"You're sexy."

"–and you all love her–,"

"We all love you, too."

At that, she sighed, giving up. "You're right. I'm stressing over nothing. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it." Just then, a look of realization dawned on his face, "I have an idea. A good idea – Reggie!"

The vampire turned to respond, "Hmm?"

"Can I ask you a favor? It's really, really important."

She looked slightly taken aback, but shrugged, "Well, it depends on what the favor is, but sure. Lay it on me."

"Okay. I need you to read Shelby and I's future. Please say you'll do it."

Shelby's mouth fell open at his request – and Regina's eyes widened. "Paul… no – don't ask her to do something like that," Shelby murmured, shaking her head. Not only was this none of the girl's affair, she also didn't want to know what the future held for her. She didn't want to have to be scared of whatever was in stake for her and Paul.

"Why do you need me to do this? What's going on?" Regina was curious, but Shelby didn't want to get another person involved in this mess.

"It's nothing, really –,"

"It's Chase." Paul replied, his voice low and hostile as he spoke the name. "He wants the two of us dead."

Regina's face darkened at these words, her nostrils flaring and her teeth bared. "That fucker's back? Is he here? You tell me where he is – I'll go rip his heart out right now –,"

"Reggie, calm down, he's not here. We don't know where he is, but he did some serious damage to us last week –,"

"What did he do this time? What did that asshole do to –?"

Shelby slowly lifted up the hem of her shirt, showing off her midsection and the letters that would probably mar her forever; 'SLUT'. Paul did the same, lifting his white t-shirt up to reveal the long, jagged cut running diagonally across his chest.

"He's a fucking dead man," the vampire girl hissed, eyes glowing with anger. "I'm gonna kill him –,"

"Reggie! Stop for a minute. I don't want you to kill him – I'd much rather do that myself – I just want you to read our future. That's all." He fixed his dark eyes on hers, "Will you do it?"

There was barely a second's hesitation, "Of course I will."

Paul nodded, lacing an arm around Shelby's waist once more. "Thanks, Reg. Knew I could count on you."

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Once they were all back inside the cave, Regina instructed Shelby and Paul to join her in a circle on the floor. David, Marko and Dwayne watched as they joined hands, and Regina's voice broke through the silence, "I need both of you to try and get as calm as you possibly can. Take a few deep breaths – whatever you have to do to relax your bodies and your minds."

Shelby glanced over at Paul, who was smirking, and sighed, deeply. She did her best to empty her head of all negative thoughts, but that was hard. So, she settled for simply taking a series of calming breaths – listening as Paul did the same.

"Alright," Regina said, closing her eyes, "Now, let me see what I can find…" Shelby watched her face carefully, holding onto her and Paul's hands. All was quiet, and then Regina snarled, "I see him… I see that sick bastard… He's not alone – there are two other beings with him, but I… can't tell who they are. It's all very dark and everything is difficult to make out, but I can see that he's angry. He's… seething, wherever he is." There was a pause. "Oh, and I can see you two. I…" Her pale face grew even whiter, and her hands began to shake, "Oh my god… God… This is… No… I can't watch this –," She dropped their hands and stood up, backing away with her eyes still closed, looking horrified.

"Reg," Marko spoke from a few feet away, "What's wrong? What did you see?"

The girl shook her head, opening her eyes. "I can't. I can't..."

Paul was beside her quickly, taking hold of her arms, "You have to tell us what you saw. Please."

When Regina looked up at him, there were tears brimming in her bright blue eyes. "I… I saw… the two of you… die. Th-They ripped you apart… Blood – everywhere – and… screaming. You… aren't going to survive. You're going to die. I'm so… so sorry."

And with that, she was gone – in a flash on pink – before anyone could do a thing to stop her, leaving the cave silent and its inhabitants shocked. Shelby had a moment's warning – in which she began to feel woozy – and then she felt her legs begin to tremble, before they gave out on her altogether. She collapsed to the floor, but Dwayne rushed forward and caught her before she could get hurt, and held her steady. Paul was beside her in seconds, taking his brother's place by her side. She didn't realize that she was crying until he reached out to wipe her tears away.

"Guys, can you give us some privacy?" Paul asked, quietly.

Silently, the boys all disappeared from the main room – evidently to retreat to their dark room for the night – leaving the couple alone.

It was only once they were gone that she really started to cry. Frightened sobs escaped her lips as Paul pulled her close for the second time that night, rubbing her back. "Baby, please, don't cry. I can't take Sad-Shelby right now. Ssshhh…"

But she couldn't stop. Her body shook from the sobs, and she clung to him, desperation on her fingertips as she held on to the fabric of his shirt. Without another word, he scooped her up in his arms, as if she were a child, and got up. He carried her to their bed and set her down, gently, before climbing in beside her and pulling the covers up over them. Shelby moved so that she was as close to him as possible, and he wrapped his arms around her trembling body. "I'm so scared," she whispered, her voice thick from tears.

"Well, don't be." Paul replied, softly, "I'll sooner kill myself than allow anyone to hurt you again."

She furrowed her eyebrows, and sniffed, "B-But, Regina said –,"

"Reggie's readings are the future, but they aren't always set in stone." He explained, running his fingers through her hair. "Some things can be changed – and sometimes the future can be re-written as well. This is one of those times. And you have my word that you aren't going to die. I won't let it happen – not ever. Trust me, okay?"

Shelby's sobs had quieted, but she still cried – more out of worry than actual fear. She wanted to believe Paul's words, but she didn't know what was going to happen, and that was the worst feeling she could imagine.

"Sweetheart, please, take my word on this. You're safe, and I'm going to do anything and everything I can to keep you safe. Forever."

Their eyes met, and she saw a truth and sincerity in his that, in all their time together, she'd never seen before. It made her feel closer and more thankful to him than ever. So, she did the only thing made any logical sense to her at the moment: pulled him in and kissed him.

At first, he was too surprised to respond, but then he moved a hand to the back of her neck and slid his tongue into her mouth. Their kisses were feverish and passionate, desperate and lustful, and she felt fire coursing through her veins now.

In-between kisses, she managed to gasp out, "Make love to me..."

He didn't stop, didn't falter – merely began tugging at the hem of her shirt, while she raised her arms over her head. Once he'd pulled the garment off, and she'd done the same for him, he fell upon her chest, his lips roaming all over her breasts, her neck, her shoulders. He did his best to avoid the scarred part of her torso, which she appreciated, feeling strangely self-conscious about it. She clutched at his hair and held him close while he un-hooked her bra, expertly; his mouth was cold against her nipples, causing her to shiver and moan. She un-buttoned his pants, as he pulled her long skirt down her legs. Slipping under the sheets, he peeled away her underwear and moved in-between her legs, spreading them apart, gently. She could just barely make out a tiny noise from him, before she felt his lips on her bare legs. Quiet gasps fell from her mouth as he worshipped her lower half with his tongue; running it up her legs and swirling it around her thighs. She could feel his hot breath on her now-throbbing center, and it made her sigh.

Paul slid his tongue up and down her entrance, rolling it around her clit over and over, until she let out a proper whine of pleasure. He chuckled softly, before beginning to suck on her swollen clit, hungrily. Shelby's whole world was tilting at a new angle, spinning out of orbit, and – god – it felt absolutely delicious.

Reaching down under the covers, her fingers knotted in his soft hair, and she bucked upwards into his mouth. "Paul…" She moaned, as he slid a finger into her soaking wet folds, "Oh, god, oh, god, ohhh…!" He continued to suck on her clit while his finger pumped in and out of her, and, fuck, if this wasn't what Heaven felt like, she didn't know what was. "N-Need you – in me… Now, please, fuck, oh –,"

Nodding, he pulled his finger out and promptly pushed himself into her tight core, filling her completely and causing her to cry out. He held her close as he began to thrust, and she grasped his hair and sighed as the pleasure enveloped her.

It felt like years since they'd last had sex, and she was drinking every minute of it in. Paul was whispering things to her, his hot breath tickling her earlobe, while he pumped himself in and out, in and out, in and out – a rhythm that was so familiar to Shelby at this point, yet still so new. She felt like her whole body was on fire, her senses heightened and her mind reeling.

"Love you, baby," he gasped, burying his face in her hair, his thrusts growing more and more erratic, "Love you…"

She nodded, whimpering when he hit that one spot and throwing her head back in ecstasy. "Paul –!" She cried, her eyes shut tight as she felt him lose himself inside of her, his low groans muffled against her neck. Her arms held him tightly, while they both came down from their highs, and he kissed her collarbone. "I love you, too," she whispered.

"I'm never letting you go. Don't forget that."

She smiled, stroking his tangled hair affectionately, "I know."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Shit, man – what are we going to do about Shelby? How could we have let something like this happen to her in the first place?"

Edgar hung his head, looking down at the ground. "Vampirism is a lethal curse. We can only do so much to stop it, you know? Once it's got someone, though, it's got them. No way to stop it, or save her, or anything like that."

Alan tossed one of the rocks in his hand off the side of the bridge, watching it fall down into the ocean below. "I just feel so guilty… She was our sister."

"I know," Edgar sighed, leaning back against the bridge railing, "I love the girl as much as you do, but I don't see what we can do to help her now. I don't want to kill her, do you?"

Alan shook his head, "I can't. I could never – even if that is the only thing we can do for her. Never."

"If someone had come up to me a year ago and told me that my older sister would become a vampire soon, I would've laughed in their fucking face. I wish we could get her back somehow."

"Me too –,"

But before Alan could finish his thought, a voice spoke to them out of the darkness, pulling them out of their conversation quickly: "Well, hello there, cuties."

Both boys turned to locate the source of the voice, and saw that it belonged to a girl. A beautiful girl, with long, wavy, brown hair, and a billowy skirt – that made her look very much like a gypsy – on. She was barefoot, with many multicolored bangles on her wrists, and smiling at them.

"Uhh," Edgar stammered, eyebrows rising, "Do we know you?"

She laughed, shortly, "I don't think so, no, but I've heard great things about you two. My name is Star, and I was wondering if you boys could help me out?"

Alan was quick to answer: "Depends on what you need –,"

"–But we'll do our best." Edgar interrupted, smoothly.

"Actually, guys," Another voice said from behind Star, "It's more about what I need." This voice belonged to a male, and when he stepped out from behind her, they saw that he was tall and looked pretty tough. "I'm Michael, and I need you two geeks to do me a little favor."

A/N: Hahahahahaha cliffhanger! Oh my gosh it's been so long since I last updated! I'm so sorry you guys! I hope you haven't all given up on this story, because I'm still writing it and I haven't given up! :)

I hope you all enjoyed this nice long chapter, because I've been working on it for ages now. I'll update as soon as I can! And don't forget to leave me a review!