You asked for drama? I delivered :) ...I better get some feed back on this, I felt pretty excited writting it lol XD

~Selene

Chapter 11

To be honest, I've never even heard of a guy who didn't know how to dance. I guess, after a while when he loosened up it was okay.

He moved his hands over my hips, and I closed my eyes, leaning my head back into his shoulder. I didn't pretend not to shiver when Hristea kissed my neck. It was difficult to keep reminding myself of what he was all the time.

It seems like forever since I'd actually enjoyed dancing. Ya know, after I quit everything after that seemed, I dunno, mandatory? At dances, at parties...it was just like, required.

This felt like...like what? Like grinding? No...that wasn't it – but it is – it just didn't feel the same. It didn't feel like, um, gross maybe? Yup that works. This didn't feel gross and required and...just straight up dirty altogether.

Hristea spun me round, abruptly pulling me against him. Which, probably would've been cool with me if I wasn't getting a really bad vibe off him. Hristea's eyes were all guarded and dark, his expression totally fake.

He squinted at me, "Who is Salem?" He asked, not bothering to try to make his tone at all kind. I rolled my eyes, putting myself away from him.

Way to kill a mood there, buddy.

I groaned, turning clumsily and pausing the song on my iPod. The room felt really crowded and loud in the sudden silence. Pressing my fists into my hips I twisted my mouth to the side.

"Who cares?" I shrugged, determined not to talk about this. Hristea shook his head a fraction definitely not needing to read my mind to understand that.

He folded his massive arms over his chest, big fat veins pressed up against his ivory skin like vines wrapped around tree trunks. He clenched his teeth. "I do," Hristea's words were tight and crushing coming through lengthy fangs.

"Why?" I pressed, thinking I'd kill two birds in one shot. My undecided feelings for just about everything, and his feelings for...what? My blood? I cringed, playing with a messy layer of blonde hair dangling in my face.

The guest room seemed small when he was in it. The walls closed in on me in a smothering way, that made me wanna run in circles, or duck or something.

Hristea's brow furrowed, those mixed emotions coming back again. He looked frightened like he did in the memory he showed me. "I...I don't know." He shook his head jerkily, angrily. "Because I asked you to tell me, that's why."

I snorted back a laugh, suddenly feeling sick of him. "Hey, in case you haven't noticed, I stopped doing what people asked me to do like, nine years ago." I waved my hands dramatically, "Welcome to reality."

Hristea's eyes became vivid and impatient, his lips twitching in annoyance. I rubbed my eyes, "Look, Salem's my boyfriend, why does it matter a-"

He jumped right into my sentence, green eyes flaring. "Boyfriend?" The way he said it made it seem like a bad word. It made me feel as if I'd just confessed to slapping a dolphin, or gone streaking through a church – something stupid like that.

I muffled a laugh. Streaking in a church, that'd be golden.

Nodding I tried to look as serious and agitated as he did. Hristea pinched the bridge of his nose, pivoting on his heels to face away from me.

"It matters greatly." He finally mumbled, "I thought..."

My brows arched in surprise, "You thought...?" I prompted, catching his glare – a look that came so icy and hard I had to turn away.

Hristea exhaled though it sounded more like a growl, his eyes closing for a good ten seconds. "I need to go." Before I could say anything he was ducking his huge body out my window. "I'd suggest that you get some sleep, I plan to keep you up late tomorrow."

Just like that he was gone, my window slammed into place again, the curtains whooshing out towards me. I stared at them, waiting for them to fall back into their usual position.

Gazing at the clock I read midnight, sighed and clicked the lamp off, drawing the curtains and crawling into bed. Half of me was begging for rest, pleading that I just give up and sleep. The other half? I dunno, I wasn't tired.

I just felt so restless, so sleepily wide awake – caught right smack in the middle. So, I needed to think...more. I needed to think about what was right in front of me.

Hristea so random, so unreadable finally made a mistake: he hesitated. He hesitated right when I really needed him not to. I just wanted a straight answer, is that so bloody hard?

Besides, Mr. Inadequate has probably already found another cute blonde to woo. So what was holding me back? Oh, yeah, how could I forget? Hristea's a vampire!

Was it really that hard to forget? I mean, he's got fangs! He. Has. Fangs. It's like he's wearing a giant flashing sign saying: HEY LOOK AT ME – LOOK AT ME! I'M A VAMPIRE! HELLO!

Wake up! I wanted to shake myself. For one, he's twenty. Scratch that. He's 126 not just twenty. Secondly, his diet is liquid protein – and not the energy drink kind.

Like, c'mon Sawyer! That's just yucky! All he wants is to suck your blood and be done with it, no need to make a big fuss or anything.

Sighing, I rolled in my bed tossing back and forth under the too-hot sheets. I flopped there for an hour, before making myself so frustrated I fell into a dark, shallow sleep. The kind that puts you in a pointless black void, then leaves you with a crazy bad headache in the morning.

Monday morning felt weird, like, weirder than usual. I picked out the acid washed jeans I swiped from Harlow and a faded blue t-shirt, pulling my curtains apart to find yet another ugly, cloudy day.

Rolling my eyes I turned to the dresser, plucking my brush off the floor and ripping the bristles through my hectic hair.

Hair is a nightmare, sometimes I wish mine wasn't so long. One time, I tried to buzz it off but Dad caught me before I got the chance.

Carrying my clothes down the hall, I avoided the rush that came with sharing a house with four boys. Really, I swear between Kellen and Stellar it's pretty much impossible to get even three minutes in the bathroom.

Gavril wasn't so bad he was smart and, got up before everybody else and did his business before the chaos started. Uncle Nick was usually gone when everybody woke up so he wasn't a big issue either.

I got the butt end of everything. Ya know, the icy cold shower water, the smog of axe that lingered in the bathroom, not to mention the bathroom mirror was all fogged up by the time I got there.

And do not get me started on the frigging kitchen.

Kristine still made lunches for us, I mean, I couldn't remember the last time my Mom made me my lunch since like, kindergarten. No, wait, that was Dad.

Gavril didn't wait for me when we left and he was halfway up the street when I finally caught up with him.

"What's your damage?" I growled, panting heavily as I tried to keep his pace. Gavril shot me a look, his green-brown hazel eyes squinting until I could barely see the colour of them.

"My damage?" He spat, "I dunno, there was an Undying in my house – nothing serious or anything." He shook his head, shaggy blonde hair bouncing across his face.

I pursed my lips, swallowing my laughter as the image of his petrified expression came back to me. I shrugged a shoulder, squeezing my backpack strap. "Well it isn't going to happen again." I murmured, "He needed a place to stay so-"

Gavril stopped completely, grabbing my shoulder. "Are you insane?" I heard his voice drop to a whisper when a group of people came buy us. "Do you have any idea who Hristea Dragomir is?"

I clenched my teeth, pressing my lips together. "Well no duh, I didn't just let a random person climb through my window, ya know." My voice was defensive and the words came out too fast to be even a tad bit believable.

"And you're one to talk," I slapped his hand away taking a step back. "What about Analeigh – she's a vampire too!"

Gavril's nostrils flared as he jabbed me in the chest with his gawky index finger. "Don't you dare." He growled, "She's not like them – if you knew – if you knew what he's done..."

Gavril threw his arms up groaning loud enough to draw eyes. "Ask him about the five guys he – no, just ask him how many people he's killed."

I went to say something but Gavril was already storming off, his lanky legs moving faster and faster. I clenched my teeth balling my hands into fists. What did he know? I'd seen Hristea kill someone....then it hit me.

I saw Hristea kill that man...and now there was that maybe I do maybe I don't thing to worry about. How could I even consider liking a dude that went around terrorizing people – murdering people?

My stomach looped and looped around itself, tying up in the most uncomfortable way. I clenched my teeth. Angry at Gavril for coming into my room yesterday, angry at Hristea for ever coming into my life and, furious at myself for feeling things – anything for him to begin with.

School was busy and loud, something I really should've gotten used to by now. I slunk into my seat at the back of English, avoiding all possible questions that could be directed at me. And then I slept through math and science, sluggishly heading to my locker after math to get my camera.

Then I saw it, the bright fuchsia orchid leaning on the back of my locker, staring at me. Grumbling to myself I pulled it out, grumpily gripping a petal to yank off. I slouched, I couldn't do it.

"Stupid flower," I grunted, dropping it on the ugly tiles of the hall to dig around for my camera. I found it, although what was beneath it seemed to take my attention more.

It was my picture of Hristea, the black-and-white photograph of him as a wolf. I gnashed my teeth together, wanting to drop it down with the flower he'd left me too.

What a jerk – bringing me flowers. Ugh! I flipped the picture over, leaving it face down at the bottom of my locker, as I slammed the door and headed off to photography.

Stomping into the classroom I stepped good and hard on the foot Eliani had slipped in my way. She yelped loudly, her blonde ponytail swaying as she clutched her ankle, a fog of her friends surrounding her.

Falling into my chair in front of them I rested my head on the cool tabletop, just beginning to fall asleep when the teacher walked in. We all pretended to listen when she turned the lights out, playing some stupid movie on how to work our cameras the right way and how to take proper pictures.

Something hit me in the back of the head, I whirled around to glare at Bianca and Eliani. They giggled, crushing up more paper balls.

Eliani leaning over her table, vicious eyes fixed on me when she said, "Hey freak, what's that? Bring yourself presents to make yourself feel better?"

I balled my hand into a fist, totally ready to knock her out when her words sunk into me. I froze, pivoting in my seat to gawk at the orchid on my desk.

Eliani and Bianca burst out laughing, while I raked my eyes over the bright petals of the flower I was sure I'd left in the hall. "What the hell?" I narrowed my eyes, deciding against picking it up. Maybe I'd just leave it there after class.

When the movie ended, I spun around in my seat catching the last of Eliani's paper balls and chucking it right back into her face. She squealed, drawing eyes back to us.

Chuckling, "Whoops!" I threw my hands up, "Hope I didn't smudge that spray-tan."

Eliani growled, her shoulders pulled back as she shook her head, bone straight blonde hairs lashing over her cheeks. "Seriously," I added, "You look like an Oompa-loompa."

The teacher shushed us, the class stifling their laughter as Eliani gazed around, glowering. Our teacher went on about some stupid assignment I probably wasn't going to do anyways, while I stared Eliani down.

"I swear, Sawyer, you're going to regret that." Eliani hissed, her manicured nails grating across the top of her table. "I'm gonna make your life a living hell."

I snickered, wanting to tell her who I'd been hanging out with all weekend, sure that'd freak her out. "I dare you to try."

We were dismissed early, and I headed straight for my locker wanting nothing more than to go home. I stopped by Gavril's locker hoping he'd have some kind of apology made up for me by now.

He wasn't there. He wasn't outside. I started walking, ignoring Eliani and her friends calling after me, Kristine would never let me out tonight if I beat anyone up.

I just needed to get back to the house, being alone let me think. At least at the house I could fight with Gavril, which didn't seem like much of a challenge but something to keep me busy.

Running up the drive, I avoided the rain by like, five seconds. I came inside already knowing what argument I wanted to start first. But somebody was already fighting.

I didn't think it could be Nick and Kristine, simply because they weren't anything like my parents. Ya know, these two were golden.

When I came into the kitchen actually, Gavril was arguing with a short redhead. Her hair draped over her right shoulder lashing at her cheeks while she shouted at him.

I knew it was Analeigh, but without one of her fancy dresses it took me a moment to recognize her. She wore a set of tight designer jeans and an olive cashmere sweater, looking more normal than I'd ever seen her before.

I rushed towards them, meeting Gavril's flaming eyes as I squeezed Analeigh's arm. She shot him a glare, when she gazed at me I realized she'd been crying.

"Sawyer I wanted to ask you if you'd come to my birth-" I interrupted, clearing my throat and trying not to look at Gavril.

"I'm already going..." I said it, yeah, but the rest of my sentence seemed to die right on my lips. Did I really want to see Hristea again? Gavril raised his hand at me, the look in his eye begging me not to say any more. "Hri-Hristea already...asked me."

"She's not going Analeigh! Do you have any idea what he could do to her?" Gavril hissed, throwing a black glare my way. I clenched my teeth, now more determined than ever to go – just to spite him.

Analeigh shook her head, "Just trust me, I know what I'm doing." She looked at me warmly, "He wouldn't hurt her."

Gavril snorted, "Right, like Dorian wouldn't hurt you?" He crossed his gangly arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes at her as if it was a dare.

Analeigh growled, baring her fangs at him. "No, you're right, he wouldn't! What happened with Lilly was..." She shook her head, "Leave it alone. It's not your decision it's Sawyer's."

"I want to go." I nodded, leaning myself towards Analeigh. A voice murmuring in the back of my head: You really wanna go? "I want to go." I said again, not sure if I was just repeating it to satisfy that voice or Gavril.

Analeigh's lips twitched in a familiar way, it took me a second to place it as Dorian's. Dorian's from the memory Hristea showed me. She looked so smugly victorious I almost laughed at the horror creasing Gavril's face.

"Sawyer's sick Analeigh – don't act like you don't see that, if she gets hurt then it's on my hands. You just want me to let you take her to a vampire party? You almost died when you went! And Mr. Fantastic was right there beside you wasn't he? Didn't seem to make much of a difference."

Analeigh's smirk faded, her lips curling back to suit her snarl. "Oh stop it!" Analeigh's eyes welled up, voice betraying her. "I would've died if he wasn't there." Her shoulders shook hands tightening into fists. "The fact is: Sawyer's coming with me."

There was a finality to her words, something that was pretty much tangible. The thing that was freaking me out, was that Analeigh was cracking – I wondered if Gavril could see it. See the seams busting all over her, if she got mad enough...

Analeigh jumped up then, turning to me and glancing out the kitchen window. "We have to go." She grabbed my hand, "We have to go right now."

My backpack fell off my arm just as Gavril grabbed me. "She isn't leaving, Red." He snapped looking at me and biting his nails through my sleeve. "Sawyer don't do this," His voice shook. "Please."

"I would rather not resort to violence over something quite so futile but, I'm bored so..." Gavril and I stiffened when Emilia glided into the room, Analeigh not the least surprised. Emilia made the kitchen seem small and ugly.

She gazed at the red paint of her lengthening nails, green eyes appraising Gavril thoroughly. Emilia's long hair held in a ponytail, she wore these tight dark jeans, ya know, the kind that you'd need the Jaws of Life to get into the pockets. Topping the whole thing off with tall knee high leather boots and matching black corset.

It was hard to see her as the glamorous little imp from Hristea's memory. Emilia sent me this look, a glance so pointed so vicious I remembered that she could read my mind.

Then she smiled, turning her eyes back to Gavril. "Now, I have three dresses I'd like to finish," She sighed, her expression exasperated. Emilia smirked, and I saw the gleam off of the golden strokes of glitter, fanned out like wings around her eyes. "And besides, my brothers aren't very patient."

She gazed at Analeigh nudging her chin towards the door, Gavril's fingers slithered from my arm as Analeigh lead me back to the front hall. Emilia's laughter was mocking and sadistic when we'd got out side, like she'd done something evil.

Analeigh snarled, "You didn't have to do that to him!" The tears came relentlessly down her cheeks now, she looked furious her red hair lashing over her face.

Emilia gasped in mock outrage, hand flying up over her lips. "Did you want your little friend to come or not?" She asked, raising a slender brow. Analeigh's fangs descended, red eyes raging.

"That doesn't mean you needed to play with his thoughts." Analeigh argued, though the anger in her voice had almost entirely faded.

Analeigh lead me around the back of the house, towards the thick brush and trees. I yanked my hand from hers but she didn't seem to care at all, then I saw the figure emerging from the trees, the screaming they left in their wake.

Dorian's scarlet eyes met mine with a force that made me stop in place. There was something totally bad...something totally sinister about that look.

His shirt had been well soaked through, his brown hair turned entirely black, holding fast to his face and neck. My stomach lurched when I saw the deep, ugly stains of blood splattered over his clothes.

Dorian's skin was so pale it made the bright red of his lips scream at me. My heart jumped into my throat when his forked tongue jumped out, to swirl at his lips though it still managed to miss the droplet hoping for the escape of falling from his chin.

Analeigh pranced forward, her dark hair clinging to her face and shoulders, arms springing around his neck. I put the hair out of my face turning to Emilia, she was cringing.

Dorian curled his fingers in her hair, saying something I couldn't hear. Analeigh smiled faintly, rolling up on the tips of her toes to save the dribble of crimson falling down his chin.

I winced, yelping when Emilia's nails gouged into my shoulder. I gripped her wrist, trying to pull free while glancing frantically at Analeigh. She gazed at me, eyes sweeping over Emilia in a way that could've substituted an apology.

Gavril's voice could be heard from the front of the house, my heart leapt into overdrive as a million regretful thoughts pulsed through my head. I screamed, jerking upwards my feet flailing in search of the ground.

Emilia cackled, the last thing I saw was Dorian taking Analeigh's hand before they both vanished and, I shut my eyes. I held onto Emilia's arm in a death grip, digging my nails into her marble skin. Through the feel of cutting through air, I couldn't bring myself to so much as peek up at her.

She laughed, "Don't you like to fly, Sawyer?" Her voice was maniacal, wicked. And I was the perfect, fleshy little baby for her to sink her teeth into.

My stomach flipped, ears popping. With a breathy intake I forced my eyes open, looking down at my dangling feet while they swayed above a sea of green. "Oh God." I gagged, feeling my insides bouncing and banging against each other.

Water.

I saw water. Ugly, greasy, green water churning with hate for me and, lapped up in thrashing, furious waves in an attempt to reach us. Arms of disgusting brown beasts, stretched and floundered, encouraging the thick, green swells.

Tilting my head back, I looked beyond Emilia's large, bat-like, unbelievable wings to stare into the blackening sky. Flinching when a piercing pelt of rain splattered on my cheek, it was just in that second that I felt the rain again – soaking through my clothes, dousing my hair.

Closing my eyes I felt my fingers tremble, sliding across Emilia's slippery skin. They were cold and sore, I clenched my teeth to keep them from chattering.

I went through the procedures when entering the bucket. Deep breaths in – savour every intake. Hold jaw firmly in place to lock in the screams. Never close your eyes, it's easier to see yourself sinking than be unprepared for it. Clutch arms of chairs to keep your upper half as still as possible. Hold your breath.

And then, plunge...

Hands were on me.

I kicked out, the first person coming to mind being Dr. Harbour and his jerk off goons. Arching my back I planted one right in Analeigh's stomach, she winced out of habit then, looking surprised she grinned nervously at me.

Pulling my leg in I scrambled back, Analeigh reaching out for me just as I tumbled off the edge of the bed, smacking my head off the floor. The laughter that came shortly after my fall was, totally in itself an insult and I rolled over, crawling up to peek over the edge of the bed at Emilia.

She carried a shimmering fabric over her arm, when she sauntered in her usual way I saw the shine of a rich brown – almost gold undercoat. I narrowed my eyes, standing up as I looked around another gigantic room.

This wasn't dark and creepy like Hristea's, it was bright and full of lavender coloured silks and extremely expensive furniture. I smirked, Aunt Charity would have a fit if she saw this place. I mean, she probably thought her mini McMansion couldn't be beat. This room by itself could eat up her house.

"You kind of passed out a little." Analeigh murmured, tilting her head the way a puppy might. "I'm really sorry about what happened to Gavril."

Emilia snorted loudly, "I'm not." I glowered at her, but she didn't so much as give me a glance, her hands speedily cutting away at the fabric.

"Thank you for coming." Analeigh said with a wide smile, "It's really not as bad as Gavril made it seem. I promise."

Emilia laughed, making her haughty self known. "Oh, it will be – wait until the twins see you with Hristea, they are going to have a fit." She eyed Analeigh as she talked and I could tell by the look on the redhead's face that she'd missed something real important.

I squinted at Emilia, seeing a chance to squeeze some info about Hristea outa her. "The twins?" I emphasised, pushing my damp hair outa my face.

Analeigh bit her lip nervously, shuffling around anxiously. Emilia grinned triumphantly, "His 'pets,' as Dorian likes to call them." She teased, waving the answers I wanted in my face like it was a free ticket to Alice's wonderland.

I nodded for her to continue, Emilia leisurely dragging her fangs over her bottom lip. She knew this was killing me. Gnashing my teeth together I stomped my foot, crossing my arms over my chest.

Emilia giggled, ignoring Analeigh's urging to stop. "They are not people of considerable importance, nothing like me. However, Hristea wasted much of our adolescence courting them." She narrowed her eyes mercilessly at me. "Bedding them. One would come to think he actually cared for them, when in truth they are both pawns willing to play his game."

Analeigh hit herself with the heel of her hand, blowing out a heavy breath. I sucked in a deep breath, clenching my teeth and making fists as I made my way around the hanging bed and the redhead, toward the doors.

Analeigh scampered after me while I stormed out, I couldn't hear her footsteps but I felt her there. "Sawyer, really, Sabina and Sorina aren't important – not anymore. If you knew Hristea like I do you'd understand but-"

I waved my hands at her, "Stop." There was something in my voice a shaky hiccup that, if I didn't know better, was something that came before tears. My nose tingled and I glared at her until she stopped in place, determined to get rid of her before she so much as glimpsed any tears.

She held still, chewing the inside of her lip while I went on. There were so many people, so many uniforms running up and down the halls, barking orders and carrying different objects.

Holding my breath, I waited until I'd pushed through these huge doors and snuck into this giant library to let loose.

What I didn't see coming were the big, weak, loud sobs that came over me. They were like, that overdramatic irritating weeping that the preps back home did when they broke up with their boyfriend of the week.

Inhaling I clenched my teeth, clutching the edge of the shelf beside me, waiting for it all to bypass. Why was I even crying? It's not like I really expected somebody that old, that hot, to never have a girlfriend.

I just don't get why it impacts me so much. As far as I know, I was still undecided about this whole...issue. And besides, maybe this is good I mean, I get out of being a 'pet,' for an ass of a player.

"Ugh." I moaned, "I don't feel good." Gavril was right, I should've stayed home. Now I'm stuck here, have to go to this dumb party with a dude I absolutely hate, just to end up being ditched for two probably gorgeous twins.

Sniffling, I snapped my head up at the sound of laughter. And I mean, not like the Ha, ha laughter I mean the creepy, girly, childlike laughter you hear in those freaky horror movies.

Wiping my eyes I looked at the smudges of eyeliner on my hands and scowled. "Perfect." Shaking my head I continued through the maze, going along with the giggles.

Knowing that, if this was a movie, I'd totally be the girl in the audience shouting for the main character to turn back. I mean, this was so idiotically cliché. Ya know, instead of being smart, the dumb blonde goes toward the mass murderer.

I started cussing when I came to dead ends, not at all in the mood for some stupid Jedi mind game. By the time I got out I was considering using The Force, when I ran into three people and quickly ducked back into the maze.

Clenching my teeth and closing my eyes I held my breath, hoping they didn't see me. Someone cleared their throat and I knew, in some odd little cranny of my head that I'd been caught with flapping red hands.

"It's a little late for that now, Sawyer." Some guy said.

Cursing, I peeked around the corner, gut flopping when I saw Dorian and the other dude that looks like him, but isn't. Hristea's Dad smiled at me, it was an old, familiar smile that made my insides twitch.

Waving, I pretended not to be mortified. "Sup?" I saw her then. The itty-bitty body pressed against Dorian's leg, that I probably wouldn'ta seen if it she wasn't wearing that big doll-like red dress.

An alarm went off in my head. Didn't Analeigh say she killed her kid? 'Cause from this angle she looked very much alive.