I'd fallen asleep and awake to find myself wrapped in thick blankets and Doom's arms. His eyes were closed, he seemed like stone, like he wouldn't wake up. I untangled one of my arms from the sheets and ran my fingers across his cheek gingerly, afraid he would crumble under my touch.
His eyes fluttered open and stared at me with blazing intensity that had my heart pounding in my ears and my breath caught in my throat. His hand mimicked mine, touching my cheek as I touched him. He seemed lost and confused
"A-am I dreaming?" he whispered, I took my hand away from his cheek and placed my hand over his, smiling.
"No, but, I think I am" I whispered so quietly, I almost thought he couldn't hear me. He suddenly held me in a tight embrace, his face buried in my hair.
"You're not. I'm really here...so are you" the last part sounded more to himself than to me; I wrapped my arms around him and held him tightly, ignoring the sudden screams of my leg. He released me and threw back the covers, the perfect sculpting of his stomach and chest was suddenly visible and I found myself blushing; Doom noticed my reaction as he rolled off the bed and plucked a dark blue collared shirt from the back of a chair, he smoothly pulled it on and folded the collar then looked at me. He left the front unbuttoned as he walked around the bed at human speed and pulled me from the bed and into his cold, strong arms. My mind began swirling with his intoxicating scent, he leaned down, his velvet black hair tickled my cheek as he kissed my forehead.
"How are you feeling?" he whispered, his arms securing tighter around me as mine curled around his neck and I tried to pull him -or myself- closer
"Sleepy" I yawned
"Still sleep time for the humans, huh?" he joked, I secretly rolled my eyes
"Feeding time for the vampires, huh?" I tried to joke, only it came out wrong and Doom's lips fell into a frown
"I'd never hurt you Halo, you know that right?" he asked, serious.
I nodded. "Of course, it was meant as a joke but..." I trailed off
"I know. But" he sighed. His eyes flickered to mine and he was suddenly very serious. "If I ever hurt you, I want you to tell me. Screw hurting my feelings, tell me immediately. Promise?"
Fear was clamping my heart at the thought of him hurting me. "I promise...but, what if"
"No!" he suddenly snapped. "No if, buts or maybes. I can't stand hurting you, I've done it once and it almost killed me"
"What happened?" I whispered, trying to hide my curiosity.
"It was just before you turned seventeen. We got into an argument about...about Maverick -Peter at the time-; I was enraged at the fact you didn't listen to my warning about him. We got so angry that you picked up a butchers knife and attacked me" he'd placed me on the chair his shirt had been hanging on. He sat down on the bed and pulled aside his shirt on his left shoulder; I looked closely to see a very pale, silvery scar that was almost invisible on his perfect skin. It was long and was at least two inches down from the top of his shoulder; he pulled the shirt back over, covering the scar.
"I...I was so mad at you and lashed at you, slapping you across the face. I didn't mean too, you flew across the room and, the loOK you gave me was one so hurt. I thought..." he sighed and looked away "I thought you'd never love me or speak to me again. You ran out crying and I was left in such a mess, I demanded Annie and the others leave me for weeks." He almost loOKed like he was crying, I reached out to touch his cheek again but he caught my hand and held it gently
"Wh-" he stopped me for asking by looking at me with blazing eyes, his dark hair formed a curtain as he looked down.
"You had a bruise on your right eye from a month, have you never wondered where that scar came from?" he looked at me again and then brushed his fingers just under my right eye, a pale scar that was barely visible. I'd never really given much thought, I was always told it was just a birthmark.
"I thought you would never forgive me, but..." -he gave one hard laugh- "you always surprise me. After the bruise went away, you forgave me and we were engaged." I couldn't stop my left thumb from brushing against my ring-finger.
"Y-you never told me, we were engaged" I whispered "why?" I stared deep into his eyes, feeling the want to cry growing stronger and stronger. Doom sighed and looked away
"I let you down. You trusted me, believed in me and I let you down. Of all the things, I'm the most ashamed of what I did to you" his eyes wouldn't meet mine. "You trusted me with your life and...I let you slip right through the cracks. Haliana. Ninety-eight years ago, on our wedding day, we were attacked. Maverick wouldn't let you live and I was helpless to stop him, you were right there. Screaming for me and I did nothing" he held my hand tightly "I can't blame Thor or Annie for holding me back. I blame myself for not getting to you quickly enough, I would give everything in my power to turn back time and make things right again. That was why...why I tried to stop loving you.
"You died in my arms. No matter what you say, I can't erase that one memory; I can't let it go. There is no way out of the dark place that that memory hides, I can't be free, no matter what. It haunts me and I still feel as helpless as ever. I'm sorry Halo. I'm so sorry" before I could speak one word, my sight was overtaken.
I looked at myself in the mirror. My long white wedding dress hung from my chest, its beautiful velvet material was gentle against my tingling skin. I smiled and pushed the final white rose into my long French braid; excitement bubbled in my stomach and twirled in my heart. There was a knock at the door
"Come in" I called, still smiling at the mirror. The door opened and a tall man in a suit stepped in; the familiar face made the happiness vanish and fear clenched at my heart as I turned to face Peter.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded "you weren't invited. Get out!" Peter smiled at me with that vicious smile I hated so much.
"Derek!" I screamed as Peter lashed at me, crossing the room, from his pocket he drew a long blade and thrust it into my heart; I gripped his clothing tightly and gasped for air as the door was thrown open and I caught a glimpse of Derek before the blade was ripped from my heart and I fell to the floor. My dress was splattered with my own blood and I began convulsing and crying for Derek. Annie and Thor's arms were held tightly around him as he thrashed against them in rage. Vicious growls and snarls erupted from him, I tried to reach for him; he suddenly lashed out and threw Annie into the wall, for a moment, it seemed Thor had him but he too was thrown like a rag doll. Derek ran to attack Peter but Annie was there again, forcing him back against the wall, Thor recovered and slammed his body against Derek's as he snapped, hissed and growled at Peter.
"NO! HALIANA!" Derek screamed as I tried to scream his name but my voice was lost in the blood that was filling my throat; I choked and coughed up the blood. Peter stood by and laughed, the blade at his feet; suddenly he vanished and Derek was pulling me into his arms crying tearlessly. He held me tightly as I convulsed in pain against him
"I'm sorry" he whispered over and over again
"Not...your...fault" I managed to gasp out and coughed more blood, he turned to loOK at Thor and Annie who stared at him in horror
"Leave us!" he shouted but when they didn't move he screamed so violently, the room shoOK. "GET THE HELL OUT!" I grabbed his hand and held it to my bleeding chest
"I. Love. You" each word was a painful effort that drew me closer to the darkness as my eyes closed
"No, don't leave! Please. I'm sorry!" I heard him cry, his voice sounded far off. Like we were miles apart; darkness finally took me, the pain stopped and I knew I was dead.

I threw my arms around Doom and held him as tightly as I could
"It's not your fault. It never was" I whispered, Doom wrapped his arms around me just as tightly as I buried my face into his shoulder
"It is" he whispered, I shook my head
"No" but the argument was useless. It was my opinion against his, neither of us would win; I leaned away from the embrace and, placing a hand on Doom's cheek, I made him loOK at me. He could have easily refused, but he didn't; I stared deep into his eyes, flooded with emotions that had me wanting to cry again. I crashed my lips against his, kissing him with as much passion as I could; using my good leg, I pushed myself up and forced Doom back onto the bed where I laid on his and kissed him deeply. I knotted my fingers through his hair and pulled him as possibly close; his cold skin was beginning to affect me, though my skin felt like it was on fire, his was still cold enough to kill the fire and I found myself shivering. His smooth, cold lips pulled apart from mine as the fire in my skin began to rise again.
"You're burning" he whispered
"I don't care" I snapped and kissed him again only to have him pull me up
"Halo...you're burning too hot. Some thing's wrong" his voice was firm now, Derek pulled me off him and back onto the chair as he touched my forehead only to pull away as if I burnt him "Annie!" the small vampire appeared in the room immediately, she was instantly alert as if we were under attack.
"Get Turnble on the phone. Tell him to get here immediately" he ordered, she nodded and left the room as Carmen and Thor entered
"What's going on?" Carmen demanded as she stared at me, I began puffing and sweating, I was burning up. Doom grabbed my bad leg and gently placed it on his knee, I hissed in pain as he began to unwrap the bandage; within seconds he revealed the wound, multiple punctures circled my shin and the skin was discoloured making me feel sick.
"It's not healing" he snarled as he probed the skin, I winced and gasped as his gentle touch moved over the small deep holes, in total there were at least eleven teeth marks. Annie was back in the room beside Carmen
"He's on his way...he'll be here somewhere near midnight"
"That's no fast enough. Call him back and tell him we'll meet him in Iceland" Doom yanked me into his arms and after a moment we were standing near the boat, it took Annie, Thor and Carmen a few moments to catch up. Doom's arms no longer felt cold, they were the same temperature as my burning skin; Annie placed her phone in her pocket
"He'll meet us there. Jaxon and Jacobi are waiting with the plane so we better hurry, we've only got limited access to air field." she said, by the time she'd finished, we were already halfway through the river. Doom felt my forehead then pushed my hair away as it began to stick to my face; I could feel my heart beating too quickly but my breathing was shallow and slow, small spasms were rippling through my muscles and my teeth were clenched tightly together I could almost taste my own blood. The night sky zoomed past me and then nothing.

The firm buzz of my muscles and the extreme heat that encased my skin and burned my throat. I twisted uncomfortably and felt a spasm kick through me and I curled uncontrollably; my knees rammed into my ribs and my hands curled into fists so tightly, I was sure I'd brOKen a bone.
"Wake up!" a women's voice demanded in the darkness. My eyes were shut so tightly, it felt like I was prying them open. Annie and Carmen were the first two I saw, they were standing over me, Carmen was injecting something into my arm and Annie was wetting my face with a damp hand towel; then Doom and Thor came into focus in the corner, their heads were down and their lips moving in a silent conversation that I couldn't hear.
They both looked up as I attempted to say Doom's name but my voice came out in a croak against my aching throat. Dr. Turnble appeared with a glass of water, Carmen helped me sit up as Turnble practically drowned me with the icy cold water that partially disguised the burning sensation of my throat
"Ms Harper? Ms Harper do you remember me?" he asked, I tried to nod but my neck felt frozen in place
"Yes" I rasped, he smiled slightly.
"Good." he turned to Annie and whispered something to her, she nodded and walked to Doom and Thor, whispering just as quietly. Her voice finally rose so I could hear her
"We'll move her, away from the moons light" she finished
"Why out of the moon light?" I rasped out, my throat argued more aggressively with each word, all three vampires turned to stare at me
"Ho-"
"She's turning" Turnble interrupted Thor's question. I suddenly screamed in agony, my body gave a full spasm and my heart kicked into overdrive. The fire that burnt in me intensified until it felt like I would spontaneously combust into flames; cold hands held me down with firm grips that made the spasms and fire fight back until I could barely bear it. The taste of blood swirled in my lips, I was biting down hard on my tongue; my lips were pried open and something was placed in my mouth to stop me from biting down.
"Close those blinds! Get that door shut!" Thor ordered, the silent ruffle of feet was clouded by the pain that rocked through my body. A thunderous crash echoed in my mind, a muffled scream escaped my bleeding lips at the noise.
"Lycanthropes!" someone shouted and my eyes shot open, just in time to see Annie launching across the room.
My body moved.
I tackled Annie and threw her into the wooden wall of the room then spun and lashed at Carmen, sending her into Thor; as surprised as I was, my body just moved without me having to tell it too. It was an instinct to protect the lycanthropes...but why? The fire disappeared and the spasms stopped.
Doom stared at me in horror
"What are you doing?" he shouted at me. I didn't answer, I didn't know how too. A hand touched my shoulder and I looked up to see Garret beside me, his face gentle
"Come on" he whispered, I nodded, overwhelmed with the utmost respect that seemed to beam off of him.
He was the leader.
Garret turned with me in hand and we walked out of the door, shadowed by six wolves that growled ferociously. As the cool night brushed against me, my mind acknowledged the still buzzing pain from my leg but it barely seemed to hurt. Garret quickly launched himself and transformed into a large black werewolf in mid-air; digging his paws into the earth he crouched down and I threw myself onto his back and gripped his thick fur like I would with a horses reins. Garret let out a mighty howl that was echoed by the following wolves.
He moved quickly and swiftly through the forest as I held onto his tightly, everything seemed in focus. The trees that rushed toward me and those that passed us, Garret snarled and took a sharp left, the trees were thinning until we came to a waters edge. A small plane sat waiting just off the water bank; I jumped off Garret's back and landed lightly on my feet whilst Garret formed back into a human. I looked away as he pulled on his pants hen threw himself into the water; I followed behind, diving into the icy water and swimming with him to the plane. He reached it before me and helped me up then shouted orders at his pack; one howled back and then they disappeared.
Garret climbed into the pilots seat and then I climbed in beside him. He started up the plane and began stirring it until we took off from the water and glided through the air
"I want answers" I growled in a demanding voice, staring at him.
"You were bitten by my kind. You're changing, that's why I could find you" he explained swiftly
"Why!" I shouted
"Would you prefer I left you with the leeches?" he looked at me now. I didn't answer. "Didn't think so. LoOK, I'm taking you to Thenon"
"Who?" I asked abruptly
"Our seer. She will tell us what's going on...you're not a normal lycanthrope. You should have phrased by now" he was staring out the large window at the large full moon that hung in the sky "damn. Daylights not for another six hours"
"So? Guard your place with lavender and silver flakes" I said in a sour tone. Garret stared at me
"Lavender?" he questioned
"Yeah, the scent irritates vampires sight and sense of smell...thought a werewolf would know that" I scoffed.
"Well, least the ill-temper has kicked in" he muttered, I threw a punch to his large arm, it was followed by a loud crack of a bone. Garret winced "as well as the strength...anything else odd about you?"
"I can hear and see better...by the way. You smell like a wet dog" I covered my nose dramatically swatting the air around me jokingly. Garret laughed
"Geez. And I just saved your ass" he shook his head
"Just fly the damn plane" I ordered in a final tone.
"LoOK who's giving orders" he mused teasingly. "And I thought I was the Alpha male"
"So that's what that freaky smell was...I thought something had died and you were wearing it" I couldn't control the teasing, it just came out. Garret laughed
"Werewolves are very...teasing. Least you have that down pat" he chuckled and stirred the plane right, over acres of land, lit up by buildings and passing cars. I closed my lips to stop from saying anything else; Garret leaned across and touched my shoulder
"You OK?" he whispered, his voice concerned; I looked at him. The planes light was bright enough for me to see him clearly; a pale scar ran down his right eye and another marked his forehead and cheek in a C shape. His eyes weren't black but a deep, liquid brown; his lips gently curving into a warm smile on his cocoa coloured face. His hair long and so dark brown it was almost black.
"I'm fine" I shrugged, his hand was warm and strong, thick veins ran under his smooth skin to his large shoulders; he wasn't Doom-gorgeous but he was very...fascinating and beautiful to loOK at.
"Where are we going?" I asked looking out into the midnight sky
"Back home. Australia...we will meet with Thenon and then, John." he stared at me when he said my fathers name "I know you miss him. He called right after you called him, he was worried about. I told him I'd make sure you were alright" worry clenched down hard on my heart. John was so worried, he still is; Garret squeezed my shoulder tightly "You're safe Halo...Doom won't get to you, or John" he was sure. His voice was one I could believe, even on the brink of death. His voice was strong, like an order yet soft like a lullaby sung by an angel. That reminded me of my mother; her voice was so beautiful when she sung to me, her face was beautiful and her eyes shone like stars against her ivory skin. She was like a vampire: incredibly beautiful and youthful, but she was more human than anything. I missed her so much. It was at her funeral that I met Greg...a wonderful boy. At the time. Now, I had no idea what to believe was real or fake; I never believed you could fake love like the one we shared but, then again, I never believed I'd been in love with a vampire for each of my lives. I guess, life is something so screwed up and full of imperfections, it's impossible to find why we continue to bring more humans into this world. Seems greedy almost, like we want our generations to suffer worst than we had. I found it funny I was thinking of these things, about how stupid living was but I guess that makes me a human. Questioning life when I know, the only answer I will ever get. Is death. So truly. Life is the question and Death is the answer...is it not?