Chapter 11

It had been a nice dry walk back to Selene's home. As Michael and Selene walked up to her door Selene actually began to get nervous.

Michael heard Selene's heart begin to speed up. He knew she was contemplating inviting him in or not. He thought he'd have a little fun with her.

"Well I guess this is where we say goodbye. " Michael shrugged.

"Oh. So quickly? I suppose if you have other plans then you should. " Selene's voice betrayed her feelings.

"What would your parents say about bringing a boy home? A little early isn't it?" Michael teased.

"Well I'm sure my mother would be thrilled actually. But it's not that big of a deal is it? I mean I like you, but I don't known if I like you, like you...or what that even means..." Selene rambled.

"You like me, huh?" Michael smirked and crossed his arms.

"I do?" Selene looked confused. "Oh my god did I say that out loud?"

Michael chuckled.

"You didn't hear that." Selene turned towards the door and unlocked it. She turned back to Michael who stood waiting to hear her decision. "Well why don't you come in anyway. If you want to warm up a bit more if you're still not dry yet." Selene smiled shyly at him.

Michael followed her in.

"I had not exactly planned on having company but...this is my home. I hope you won't think we're messy. It is small but comfortable." She led him into the living room. Just one small cozy couch that sat against a pale blue wall across from the t.v. there was a small mock fireplace with a few family photos. Michael took in a deep breathe as waves of nostalgia crashed over him. He would never be able to have that family anymore. But he was glad that Selene could and if he could just be around her to protect and watch her live that out, he wanted to do just that. He turned to her and realized she was watching him and she looked nervous. She must have been wondering about what he was thinking.

"I think its perfect. " He smiled. And he meant it.

"Great, I'm glad you think so." She brightened up. "Can I get you anything? Tea?" She added with a smirk.

"Are you mocking my taste in beverage, Miss Knight?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I would never. But I'll put some water on and I need to go change into something dry." She disappeared into the kitchen.

Michael tried to fight the thoughts of her that immediately his mind.

"Don't kid yourself Michael" he mumbled to himself.

"Hey do you want me find you a sweatshirt or something else to wear?" Selene came back into the room.

"No I think I'll be okay. If you don't mind I'll just leave my jacket hanging here until it dries." Michael placed on the coat rack by the door.

"Okay. Well you can turn on the t.v...or the radio...whatever you would like. Just make yourself comfortable...I promise not to take too long." Selene looked at him for a moment longer and then turned and walked up the steps. Michael watched her go up.

He hadn't had feelings for anyone ever since he turned. For half a second he thought the look she had in her eyes was almost inviting him to follow her. His canines dug into his gums, he winced and moved away from the staircase. He knew this woman more barely more than a couple weeks. And he could not easily forget exactly what he was. He walked over to the stereo system and began looking through her cds. He smiled when his eyes passed over a Michael Jackson CD. The song thriller popped into his mind and the irony was just too much. He didn't know what she would like to here so he settled for just turning on the radio and skipping through the stations until something familiar caught his ear. "Stranger" by the Secondhand Serenade.

All of a sudden a hand landed on his shoulder.

Selene had to teach herself how to walk up the steps to her room. She had stared at Michael and hoped she wasn't caught mentally googling his body as his shirt had still club to his body revealing his well toned muscles. She had lost herself in thinking what it would have been like to invite him upstairs... She quickly tried to flush the thoughts from her mind when he had looked at her after hanging up his coat. Her faced was flushed when she looked in her bathroom mirror. she splashed cold water on her cheeks and slapped herself lightly.

It had been a while since she was last so attracted to a man. Michael was charming, thoughtful, protective, and he was even willing to stand up for her and himself to Kraven. A chill ran down her spine just at the thought of Kraven. She wondered if she'd ever see him again. And his eyes. what could explain that? What was the night in the park about?

The radio playing downstairs disrupted her thoughts. Michael was still here. And he was still waiting downstairs for her. She'd worry about Kraven later. She began removing the wet clothing from her body. And as the music played she danced around her room to her closet and dresser. Today was turning out better than she ever thought it could. She picked out a red low cut long sleeved shirt, feeling in a show-a-little-skin mood, and a pair of jeans.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Michael tried to keep his voice down.

Lucian raised his hands offering a surrender after Michael shrugged his hand off his shoulder. "I'm here for you. You have to leave. Now."

"No you should leave. Now! See this is your problem. You keep barging into people's lives and act like you belong there." Michael stepped toward him. "You have no business with her. And whatever business you have with me can be dealt with at some other time. Maybe even in a different universe."

"Michael there is no time for the dramatics, I only came for you. Kraven is up to something and you are pretty high on his hit list. He's coming this way. You should not be here when he does." Lucian looked genuinely concerned.

"What are you talking about? He doesn't have a reason to come back here. He knows what will happen if he does." Michael looked cautiously towards the steps straining his ears to make sure Selene wasn't coming.

"He isn't coming alone." Lucian sighed. "Michael I know you have some sort of fascination with this human...but her family's roots run a lot deeper with the vampires than you know about. You are not willing to join me and I am not willing to expose myself and cause a scene in trying to ward of a group of death dealers. So I am warning you now to leave."

"And what is supposed to happen to Selene? I leave her with to "death dealers" and expect her to fend for herself? I don't think so." Michael pushed around Lucian to go towards the stair. He would take Selene somewhere safe away from them all.

"Michael listen to me!" Lucian raised his voice now.

"No! Those creatures tried to attack her before the other night. If I wasn't there then she would have been dead." Michael spun around to him. "I'm not going to leave her here."

"And you're not going to be much help to her dead either. And if you think you can take them in all by yourself without knowing anything about them, then you are most certainly already dead."

Michael stared at him. Then looked back towards the stairs.

"How am I supposed to know that she'll be safe?" Michael asked helplessly.

"I will help you. I'll tell you all you need to know to get her back." Lucian placed his hand over his heart as a promise.

Michael nodded reluctantly and followed Lucian out of the door.

After Selene finished freshening up she did a quick recheck of herself in the mirror. Once she felt confident enough again she started towards her bedroom door. She stopped for a moment when she thought she heard the front door close downstairs. Maybe her parents got back home? She had only been in her room for 15 minutes ar the most.

She went downstairs and looked into the living room. She couldn't see Michael. But she saw his coat still hanging up. Maybe he went the bathroom, she thought. She slapped her hand to her forehead. She forgot to show him that the bathroom was through the kitchen. She was a horrible host.

Then she heard her parents' window creak. The old thing squeaked whenever you opened or closed it. Her mother had constantly told her father to put oil on it or to get a new window installed. He'd always tell her he'd get right to it, then he would try to make her forget by kissing her over and over until she was bright red and giggling. Selene rolled her eyes at the thought but she knew she wanted someone who would love her like that.

She went back up the stairs and knocked on her parents' door. Only silence answered her. But she felt a breeze coming from under the door. She hoped her mother hadn't forgotten to close the window especially when it had been raining. She sighed and opened the door.

"Mom? Did you-"

Selene's hands flew to her mouth and she fell to her knees at the sight of her parents.

She screamed.