hello, hello!!!! skittles, m&m's, and every other sugar coated candy for everyone, cause i've now got over 80 reviews!!! (squeels and jumps up and down excitedly)

IMPORTANT!!!READ THIS!! there is kind of a time lapse towards the end of the chapter, i skipped 'bout half the day, so no lunch/dinner scenes, it just flowed better without them

i want to thank one particular reviewer that caught a mistake in the last chapter. Bloodywolf pointed out to me that i put Selene in a tank top!!(she's been abused people! she needs time to let the scars heal!) i could NOT believe i had slipped up and put that in!! after staring at the review for a moments in complete silence, i finally breathed and yelled "SHIT!!!" which, of course, scared the crap out of everyone in the previously silent house. so, since this bugs me to no end, i'm fixing it after i post this chapter

so, thanks again Bloodywolf, here's a bag of sour gummy worms, enjoy:)

As we walked into the house, all the happiness I had felt only moments ago faded away, my smile disappearing along with it.

Adam and Evelyn were no longer smiling. Not only that, they looked furious. The expression was strange on their faces, particularly Adam's, it was such an opposite to their normally carefree smiles.

And they weren't alone.

Vince stood before them, a dark and menacing sight in all black. As he slowly turned to face us, I stopped breathing.

His eyes were a bright, brilliant crimson.

As he smiled sweetly at me I repressed a shudder, Dorian placed himself in front of me, his arm held out slightly as if ready to shield me if necissary. I couldn't tear my eyes from the blood red gaze, all the more menacing since I knew the reason.

"Hello, Dorian." Vince said with a smile, and this time I could not repress the shudder that went down my spine at the sight of his brilliant, white teeth. "Selene." he nodded in my direction.

A low growl rose in Dorians throat.

"Evelyn," he said sharply, turning towards her," Why don't you and Selen go upstairs while we go for a walk."

She opened her mouth as if she were about to protest, but after one look at my face, pale with fear, she nodded. "C'mon." she said with false cheerfullness, trying to smile.

I took her hand without protest, following her up the stairs after a reassuring nod from Dorian.

"So," she started, clearly trying to distract me as we sat down on the bed," did you enjoy breakfast? I'm so sorry that Adam went overboard." She said smiling genuinely.

Though I did not want to be distracted from the current situation, her comment had reminded me of something, and my curiosity got the better of me.

"I didn't mind at all, it tasted amazing. You two seem really happy together."

I hoped that she wouldn't see past this to my true intent, but at the mention of her and Adam's love for each other, her face grew excited, her blue eyes bright with the love that she felt.

"We are." she said with a happy sigh," I can hardly remember my life without him. I love him, he was the one to pull me out of the dark, and since then our life has been unclouded and vivid."

She was beaming as she lost herself to her memories, and I spoke quickly, glad that it had been her to open the subject.

"When were you ever in darkness?"

At my words her face clouded over, and I saw pain flit across her features.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly, suddenly ashamed,"I shouldn't have--"

"No, no." she said quietly, struggling not to let her obvious misery sink into her tone."You would have found out anyways, it was inevitable that you shouldn't." She sighed, growing silent once more.

I waited patiently for her to begin speaking, and when she did her voice was slightly stronger, yet she was unable to hide her anger and pain.

"It was very long time ago that Dorian and I were changed, we were new to this life, and though I was grateful that we had each other, I often felt more alone than I had ever felt before." Her voice drifted of sadly.

Anger was clearly stronger as she started again, but there was still the underlying layer of misery. "Eventually that loneliness led to me becoming less of who I was, I began to lash out. Yelling at my brother as he tried to comfort me, hunting more often, enjoying the thrill of the hunt, and more atrociously, the kill. And I hated myself for it."

"Then I grew resentfull. I should not be ashamed. I was a huntress, it was who I was, what I would always be. I argued with Dorian many times over that point, and then in my rage, I left him alone."

As she continued, her voice had faded to a whisper, so great was her pain in what came next.

"I ran from him, and almost immediately came upon the scent of human blood. I drank from the man, and as he died I remember smiling, the huntress in me free at last."

She turned quickly to me, shame written on her features. "I'm sorry," she said," I'm frightening you aren't I?"

I took in a shaky breath, though I wouldn't tell her so, she had. The idea of the bright, cheerfull friend I had gained ever being a monster like that was inconceivable, and much to closely related to the situation at hand.

"No," I lied," I'm fine."

I could tell I hadn't fooled her, but she continued anyways, and I could tell that she was editing parts of her story for my benefit.

"I lived like this for about two years, and as my previous depression returned, the thrill of hunting fading, I hunted more, desperate to rekindle any emotion other than the self loathing, anger and resentment. The forest trail was one of my regular places, people disappeared more easily, my prey simply becoming a hiker that had grown lost, or had been attacked by a wild animal, never to be seen again. Although," she said and her smile was brief and self mocking," a wild animal is an apt description for what I had become."

She was lost in her story, her eyes far away, she never noticed that my breathing became faster and ragged as she progressed.

"One day I was at the trail, when a scent so amazing, so pure, delicate and delicious came to me. I didn't even think, I attacked. Something, or someone rather, had put themselves on front of me, they were dealt with quickly, how dare they seperate me from my prey!, I had thought. Once I had gotten past it, I snapped the neck of the owner of the beautiful scent."

Her face was in torment and I longed to comfort her. The misery was deep and she shook silently with sobs, I wrapped an arm around her shoulder as she continued, sounding on the verge of tears.

"I came back to myself quickly, and stared around me at the scene I had created." As she continued it sounded as if she had to choke out the words. "It was a mother," she said with a sob, turning to face me, her eyes filled with tears that streamed down her face. "It was a mother, a mother with her child. She tried to protect her, to protect her young daughter, but she couldn't, she just couldn't. Her name was Emily, you know." she said turning to me,"The little girl. It said so on her necklace." She continued to sob.

I hugged her tightly, wanting so badly to take away her misery, despite all she told me. And after a while her sobs quieted.

She continued in a shaky voice. "I held onto them both, unable to stop cying for hours, or maybe days, I don't know, I lost track. After I gave them a decent burial, I returned to Dorian. He welcomed me back and tried to comfort me, but I was beyond anyones reach in my grief. Adam had been away on a hunting trip, and when he came back, the feeling that went through me was indescribable."

As she had talked her sobs had quieted, and now a glimmer of a smile appeared on her face. When she started again, her mood changed abruptly, and she was smiling brightly again.

"He brought me out of my misery,telling me stories and jokes until one day I laughed again. He smiled so wide and said happily that I had the most beautiful laugh he had ever heard, and that he would never forgive me for keeping it from him for so long. I knew right then that I was in love."

Her expression returned to the bright and joyfull one that always came when she spoke of Adam.

"I just can't wait!" she said excitedly, and I could not figure out what she meant. "Just a couple more days--"

"Hold on, hold on." I said quickly, holding up my hands. "You lost me. Whats happening in a couple days?"

"Oh!" she said surprised, and then she continued, beaming excitedly. "I'm sorry, I'm so used to having to tell everyone that we're just dating, on account of how young we look." she explained, and she held out her hand to me, showing me an exqusite ring of white gold that had a fragile web of diamonds surrounding a deep blue saphire. "We're getting married in only a few days time!" she announced with an exicted squeel.

I stared at her openmouthed, and blinked rapidly, trying to compose myself. "That's great!" I exclaimed, throwing my arms around her. "I'm so happy for you."

She giggled, pulling me back to face her. "And we'll have to find you a dress!" she suddenly exclaimed," I can't wait!" she repeated, and so wrapped up we were in our conversation it surprised us when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in." we both yelled out at the same time.

As the door opened and Adams face came into view, Evelyn jumped up immediately and ran to him, jumping into his arms and wrapping her legs around his waist, kissing him deeply. But my eyes were only for Dorian who had entered shortly after Adam.

I smile automatically, and I reached up without hesitation to kiss him.

"Are you all right?" he asked, pulling me onto his lap as he sat down on the bed.

"Yes." I sighed happily, noticing that Adam and Evelyn had left the room. "Even better now that you're here."

He smiled and leaned down to kiss me again.

"I talked to Evelyn." I said.

"I noticed." he sighed, "Whatever it was, she seemed happy enough when we came in."

I smiled. "She had just told me that her and Adam were getting married."

He laughed, "That would explain it."

"And she told me about Emily." I said quietly.

He stiffened, and I looked up at his face, his expression was a mix between sadness, shock, and anxiety.'She did?"

I only nodded, and he sighed. "That was a rough time for her."

"Yes," I agreed," Its a good thing she has Adam." The I pressed my lips to his cheek,"And its a good thing I have you."

He turned his face so that I no longer kissed his cheek but his lips, and his mouth moved against mine passionately."And I am lucky I have you." he breathed. I sighed happily as he cradled me in his arms.

I didn't want to lose the moment, but I had to ask. "What happened with Vince?"

His face clouded, and he instinctively held me tighter. "He slipped." he said in a dark voice.

He refused to elaborate, and I knew that I was probably happier not knowing.

He held me in his arms a while longer before kissing my forehead and shifting me off his lap. "I'm sorry,but I have to leave tonight." I started to protest, but he cut me off," I won't be gone long, I need to go hunt. Either Eve or Adam will stay here with you so don't worry."

I grumbled my consent and he only smiled and kissed me again.

"It's late," he noted as I tried to stifle a yawn. "Go to sleep, I'll see you soon my love."

And after one last, swift kiss he left.

I looked out the window, surprised at the lack of light. I pulled on some sweatpants and a large, baggy shirt before climbing into bed, surprised by how tired I really was. I fell quickly into a deep and restless sleep.

xxxxxxxxxx

I don't know what it was that woke me, it may have been a sound or it could have been the dreams I had of conflicting images, one dark with red eyes villains the other filled with happiness, but I was awake, and I doubted that I would be getting any more sleep soon, despite the fact that it was still night out side.

I heard a small sound, and for the first time noticed that someone sat on the bed next to me.

"Dorian." I said with a smile, attempting to push myself up.

A low chuckle sounded in the darkness, and I froze.

"Guess again." said a familiar deep voice, and I turned to meet a frightening crimson gaze.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

dun, dun DUN!!!!!!!!! cliffhanger, cause i'm evil like that :)

okay, okay, so its like a day over a week even though promised a week or less, its not that late and for me, its currently early in the morning, 'bout 10:30, and that IS early for me, not to mention that i woke up at like 7 to finish this for you people(shows you how slow i type:) ) i think i deserve some reviews:)

btw, a lot of crap is going on right now, so don't be surprised if, sadly, i can only put up a chapter a week. some of that crap includes: mom going to hospital to get surgery and the yet-to-come recovery of said surgery, older sister getting her tongue pierced without moms knowledge or approval, then my mom finding out about the tongue ring from step dad(grrr). then of course, there was the fact that i tried to call my sister to warn her that my mom knew and i got caught, then grounded, oh and of course the fabulous prospect of having to go back to school in the three days...joy...(sorry bout the complaining, but hey, it really did feel good to rant:) )

know i promised someVincent action for this chapter, and sorry that there wasn't really any, but next chapter and chapters to follow that will NOT be disappointing! i've got plans people, they have yet to be written, but i've got plans...(rubs hands together evily)

so now, you know the drill, REVIEW!!!!!!!

stephanie