Dark Chronicles

Chapter 12

The First Crack

"Wow, she's pretty hot. Around about 103of according to this thing," Lauren chimed removing the thermometer from Amanda's forehead and waving it professionally, "And her glands are swollen but she doesn't appear congested at all. Obviously I can't give a proper diagnosis but I'd probably put it down to sea sickness. Some people react weirdly on boats for the first time. Has she ever been on a boat before?"

"No…" Anastasia murmured slowly pulling the blankets back up to Amanda's chin. Truthfully she didn't know, for all she knew this could be some sort of strange reaction she was taking with her psychic abilities or simply too much stress and toil. She flinched as another spear of pain sliced through her head. Lauren looked up with some concern and brushed some locks of Anastasia's hair from her forehead as she pressed the thermometer to glistening skin. Seconds later she removed it with a small frown.

"You're pretty hot yourself. You're past a hundred…is your head sore? Here, I got these Ibuprofen tablets, take a few. They might relieve the pain a little but drinking plenty of fluids should help," Advised Lauren earnestly as she passed Anastasia a packet of red tablets before retreating over towards the sink, a moment later running water could be heard. Anastasia glanced back at the bubbly blond who looked so out of place among them. By them she of course meant Mikhail, Raven and Zacarias who had not left the room and remained stationary like statues with their intense eyes taking in her every gesture and word like hawks.

"Thanks," Anastasia said quietly accepting the glass of cold water. Popping two tablets into her mouth she gulped down the liquid feeling its coolness sooth some of the burning in her throat. She finished the rest of the glass setting it down on the tiled floor; Lauren watched keenly, her blue eyes and smile contrasting the atmosphere of silent tension.

"So…you all related or something?" Lauren asked with a nervous giggle. Anastasia went rigid and shook her head.

"We're very good friends of Anastasia's…" Mikhail put in elegantly, his deep soothing voice washing over Lauren who nodded in acceptance. Anastasia couldn't mask her discomfort. She didn't want to be associated with them, she sighed turning back towards Amanda's immobile figure wrapped under the blankets sweating volumes. Time and time again she had tried calling but nothing happened, she felt scared not liking the sudden loneliness the lack of connection brought with it.

"She'll be fine. Honestly, once she wakes up just give her the Ibuprofen," Lauren reassured confidently. No sooner had the words left her lips than Amanda groaned batting an eye lid. Anastasia leaned over her brushing her forehead while her arm went to the younger girl's wrist in an act of assurance.

"Amanda…it's me. Are you alright? I have medicine for you…it'll be okay. There's a nurse here," Anastasia intoned gently picking up her half empty glass of juice. With one arm she raised Amanda's head gingerly propping it up and with the other she held the two red tablets bringing them to her lips, "You need to take these. Just swallow them with the water. They're ibuprofen, trust me they'll relieve the pain." Amanda obediently sipped the water after the pills went into her mouth. It took her a few gulps to swallow them but once she did, she relaxed back into the bed.

"They take ten minutes," Lauren supplied kneeling over Amanda; Anastasia didn't miss the slight look of agitation as her cerulean eyes beheld some of the bruises marked on Amanda's skin. Anastasia panicked, supposing Lauren jumped to some crazy outrageous conclusion? What if she thought Anastasia beat up her little sister? It was bad enough she had to pretend to be friends with that lot in the corner.

"So Lauren, you train to be a nurse?" Mikhail prompted with sincerity. Distracted from her wandering eyes Lauren smiled and nodded turning around to face him. Anastasia glared at the white linen sheets, she was scared. She wanted to vomit and her heart wouldn't stop pounding. Any moment now she was sure they were going to do something…her gut instinct just told her they were going to do something horrible. She couldn't trust them…and she couldn't run.

"Oh yeah. I've been at it for two years now since I left Melbourne. It's great so far, really interesting," Lauren enthused cheerfully completely forgetting about the bruises, "So what do you lot do? Sorry, I'm nosy. Bad habit," Lauren laughed but she glanced back her eyes resting on Anastasia for a brief moment. Anastasia was too preoccupied in her own thoughts. The gun? What had happened to it? And her insulin? Back in the bathroom probably, maybe if she went back for it and found the gun she could do something? Most likely that would only enrage them further…besides she wasn't sure where the other load of them had gone and Zacarias's harsh onyx eyes and deep commanding voice frightened her.

"I own properties in Europe," Mikhail supplied sociably, his voice enchanting and delighting to the ear, "Zacarias is a business associate of mine and a good friend. This is my wife Raven." Zacarias gave a curt inclination of the head and Raven smiled graciously offering a hand warmly. Anastasia felt sickened…the words sounded so honest and bewitching. Why couldn't they see the lie? And why couldn't Zacarias stare at something other than the back of her head for once? It was seriously beginning to irritate her.

"Sounds neat. What about you Anna?" Lauren asked interrupting Anastasia's musings with her bright sunny voice, "How old are you anyway? Sorry, that was rude wasn't it? I never know when to shut up sometimes." Anastasia gave a small smile; Lauren had a ditzy sort of charm about her. A sort of innocence, she almost reminded Anastasia of an old friend at University named Bella who had been studying Accountancy. Funny, until she'd met Bella she'd presume all accountants were very uptight, snobby serious people.

"I'm twenty one and I'm a journalist," Anastasia said truthfully but she smirked slightly awaiting the gasp. Three…two…one…yes there it was. A surprise gasp. And now the golden saying. Sometimes people were so predictable it was boring. Lauren didn't fail to disappoint either. There was an arch of her fair eyebrows, a widened flash of blue eyes and an apologetic smile.

"Jesus Christ! I thought you were in your late teens!" The Australian said incredulously.

"Nope. Definitely twenty-one," Anastasia said rolling her eyes. Brilliant. On the bright side maybe when she reached sixty she might still look forty. There had to be an upside to having a round face that screamed youth. On the other hand it was so annoying. Every time she tried to order a drink she got asked for ID. There was even that one time some stuck up check out girl three years her junior had asked for ID when Anastasia had tried to buy a lottery ticket! That had been humiliating…twenty and still looking sixteen. Her genetics truly were crap.

"Wow! Cool though, hey is your head feeling any better?" Lauren asked hopefully.

"A little," It wasn't a lie; the dull ache had faded slightly. She moved her hand to Amanda's forehead. It was slightly cooler; visibly the ibuprofen was working its magic. "Amanda? How are you feeling?" Amanda blinked opening her wide hazel eyes looking tiredly into Anastasia's own. Anastasia smiled weakly, how had it come to this? The question kept repeating itself in her mind. This time yesterday she had been flying on a plane, this time four days ago she had been kneeling on the floor with a gun at her head, this time six days ago she had been back in her flat wrestling her socks from the mouth of her pup. Charlie…how was he?

"Pain's gone a little…but it's too hot," Amanda wriggled kicking the blankets off her body. Anastasia promptly tucked her back in again. She didn't know much about fevers but she knew that sweating them out was one way of ridding them. She turned to ask Lauren her opinion but found the blond nurse was engrossed in conversation with Mikhail about the decline of the economy. Brilliant, she caught a flash of Zacarias's dark eyes and glared. Take a damn picture because it might last longer, she found herself thinking grouchily.

"You need to keep the blankets up, just for a little while longer okay? God I'm glad I can talk to you again. I hate being alone with these people!" Anastasia communed conveying her frustration to the only person that could comprehend. Amanda flinched but relaxed slightly as she held tightly on to Anastasia's hand.

"So Anna, are you up for that drink now?"

"Huh?" Anastasia shot her head in Lauren's direction. Lauren rolled her eyes good naturedly and gestured to the crimson stain, "Oh…ah…" Anastasia turned back to Amanda. Damn. She didn't want to leave Amanda but she had a feeling Lauren would be persistent…besides she did sort of owe her. And a drink was tempting, a French Roulette might temporarily wipe this whole mess from her brain….but there was no way in hell she was leaving Amanda with these people.

"I'm sorry Lauren but…well I don't really want to leave her while she's sick," Anastasia excused sadly.

"I understand…if you want though I could have Jamie look in on her, he's a mate of mine and he's probably lazing his ass off right now. He's good with kids…so how about it?" Lauren inquired brightly, her blue eyes wide and hopeful. Anastasia sighed looking down at Amanda. Guilt, a part of her really wanted to go with Lauren; to forget this whole entire situation and pretend to be normal…but the bigger part was rapidly reprimanding her. No, there was no way she could leave Amanda here with them. They couldn't be trusted; she couldn't trust a word that left their mouths.

"Amanda, Lauren wants me to go with her for a little while…she says a friend of hers will stay with you if I go. Do you want me to stay though?" Anastasia waited with baited breath. Amanda blinked groggily, obviously she was exhausted. Already she seemed to be slipping into sleep. Anastasia bit her lip; she didn't like this one bit. Why couldn't she just pay Lauren the money? But she did owe the blond girl for the medicine and the blouse. Kissing Amanda's forehead tenderly she looked up at Lauren who nodded darting over like a dragonfly towards the door, nudging it open before yelling brashly. Moments later a boy appeared with a mop of fuzzy black hair and perplexed brown eyes that widened as he was shoved roughly into the room by the tiny blond.

"Hey Jamie, this is Mikhail, Raven and Zacarias and that's Amanda. You're going to stay here for ten minutes okay? Just watch over the kid…come on Anna!" Lauren chimed impatiently. Anastasia nodded giving Amanda's hand a final squeeze…ten minutes. No longer, no less, she quickly demanded that Amanda call her if anything at all was to happen. She quickly rose to her feet before finally looking over into the shadowy corner. She pretended to laugh.

"So long as she's in one piece when I get back or I may have to kill someone," Her voice trilled childishly. Jamie nodded gormless of the true sinister intention of the words. Anastasia accompanied the statement by a pointed glare trying not to cringe as Zacarias's black gaze burned through her own one. Outwardly he looked composed and indifferent but those eyes…no. Anastasia tore her gaze away abruptly before leaving the room shutting the door with a remorseful pang. Lauren quickly locked arms with her dragging her along enthusiastically. Anastasia inwardly wondered if it was healthy the amount of caffeine she must be consuming. Ten minutes though…one quick drink.

They approached the bar and slid up on to the stools. Anastasia took in Laurens true appearance for the first time. The blond was quite tall and leggy, her blond hair bounced at her shoulders in ringlets and her eyes were outline in blue eyeliner and some traces of baby blue eye shadow. She was pretty, not on the same level as Raven or Mary-Ann but still beautiful enough to make Anastasia feel like trash. Almost like she was sitting next to Barbie, a lot of men also noticed this as they were clearly eyeing her up. The bartender glanced at Anastasia.

"You slipped off quickly madam," He teased looking around as if to try and spot Selene or Amanda, "And where are your relatives?"

"Her little sister's not too peachy Harry," Lauren supplied as her eyes scanned the cocktail menu, "So what'll it be Anna?"

"Huh? I thought I was buying?" Anastasia asked puzzled.

"Nah, forget it. The blouse is crap anyway and I was sort of looking for an excuse to ditch the party," Lauren confessed dismissively, "I know the birthday girl from school…believe me I'm glad to be out of there." Anastasia smiled slightly but felt slightly unnerved. Wouldn't she get into trouble for skiving off work? On the other hand she seemed to be familiar with all the staff. School though, didn't she just move from Melbourne? "So what'll it be?"

"French Roulette," Anastasia answered shooting out the first thing she could think of. Lauren smiled sweetly paying for two French Roulettes. Anastasia felt doubtful, as much as she felt like drinking herself into oblivion she wasn't sure it was wise to do so in her current state of affairs. Lauren tilted her head to the side as though reading Anna's expression.

"Bad break-up?"

"Huh? Um dear lord no! I haven't had a bad break-up in three years," Anastasia blurted out as a glass was put in front of her. The liquid inside swirled a lively colour of shocking pink complete with a tiny yellow umbrella. Picking it up she took a deep sip, it tasted fruity and tangy with a slight burning sensation- a definite hint of strawberry and cherry and something stronger. After a sip she set it down again choosing her words carefully. She needed advice…so many things had happened that she felt like her head was going to implode, "I guess you could say I have a stalking problem though."

"Let me guess, that guy back in the room. Zeck? Zack?" Lauren guessed amusedly.

"Zacarias," Anastasia corrected automatically.

"Sort of obvious. The guy couldn't keep his eyes off you," Laughed Lauren, "So what's the deal? He's rich, quite good looking…how come you're not drooling? I know the rest of the plastics would be," Lauren jerked a thumb behind her in the direction of the disco. Anastasia shook her head, money and physic were things that she normally found appealing but she could never approve of how he used his money or how he made her skin crawl. Besides he was missing a crucial third factor – a personality transplant.

"Are you implying I'm plastic?" Anastasia said dryly, "No, it's not that simple. He scares the hell out of me and he's really creepy." She found herself scanning the area just to check he wasn't there. Thankfully she could find no sign or sight of him and relaxed slightly. Lauren didn't fail to notice her obvious display of paranoia or the way she lowered her voice. She frowned taking a sip of her own drink.

"An arrogant prick then?"

"Oh yeah."

"Well if he's that scary to you I think you should tell him to take a hike…but I'm guessing you already did that. If he's the kind of man I'm thinking he is I'd suggest you go to the police. Get him a warning or something…" Lauren suggested. Anastasia smiled wryly. Go to the Police? How the hell was she supposed to escape them once the ferry docked? Lauren would never understand…and Anastasia could never tell her. She sighed downing the rest of her drink enjoying the way it gave her a temporary light headed sensation of giddiness.

"Whoa, try sipping it," Giggled Lauren, "I don't want to have to carry you back to your mates such as they are. Anyway," She added sobering up slightly, "try to relax okay. You mentioned a bad break-up? I didn't realise thirteen year olds had them." Anastasia rolled her eyes once more humming a little bit to the music. The lyrics were catchy; the bright flashing lights glowing from under the door also attracted her attention. Although she was coiled waiting to spring if anything should happen she found that Lauren was good company. Easy going and easy to talk to, somebody she could talk to for the first time in a few days without having to put on pretences – well maybe she was pretending by trying to pretend that everything was normal.

"Ha. Ha, whatever," Retorted Anastasia, "And before you ask yes it was a bad break-up…sort of…well it was awkward anyway. I'd been friends with him for a while, then we went out…and then we broke up. He was too good for me, his family were rich, his parents were surgeons…big house, big car…nice clothes, nice hair…sort of snobby…and then there was me. I felt like an alien…no wait I felt like a piece of trash washed up on the street." She went to take another sip but found her glass empty. Maybe she was exaggerating. Mr and Mrs Newton had made her welcome but they were a huge family. Anastasia felt small, stupid and grimy like a child. It was sort of a relief to break up with Kevin in a way because she didn't feel like garbage anymore. Of course that was down the pan now, around Zacarias she didn't even feel like trash she felt lower than dirt.

"Too bad but you shouldn't have to feel like that. I'm sure you were too good for him," Lauren assured briskly. Anastasia shrugged staring down at her empty glass. There were lots of reasons for her break-up with Kevin, for a start he was simply too nice and left Anastasia feeling like a horrible person, he was too good, too needy and too…too average, boring, normal. Anastasia found herself constantly looking for something more and never finding it leaving her unsatisfied.

"I went to University, things changed, I changed. I did meet other guys…oh God Janine set me up on this awful date once! The guy's breath reeked of garlic and shellfish. I mean shellfish? I'm kosher and I had to kiss him! It was gross! I think it put me off men for life!" Anastasia blurted out reminiscing her hideous date. Garlic bread? What sort of moron ordered garlic bread if they thought they might be kissing somebody later? A little bit inconsiderate. Lauren laughed doubling over into peels of giggles until she was pink in the face.

"You must have the worst luck with men ever! I'm surprised you don't join a convent!" Lauren declared. Anastasia grinned and added that she might. Becoming a nun in some small reclusive convent seemed appealing. No men, no stress and no stalkers. Well, it might work if she wasn't already part Jewish and technically classed as a Jew by the law. Lauren smiled standing up offering up a hand, "Come on. Dance with me. I like this song."

Anastasia felt a prickle of doubt nagging her. Amanda…she checked the clock above the bar. It was twenty to nine; she'd been gone for precisely ten minutes now and had been on the boat for forty minutes. Lauren watched her closely as Anastasia teetered unsurely. "Amanda? Are you alright?"

"I'm okay…just stuffy and hot. I'm pretending to be asleep and I think its working! They're not even looking at me. I think they're asleep Anna! They're sitting still…maybe we could go now?" Anastasia breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the hopeful childish voice in her head. They had fallen asleep? No, she doubted they were asleep but most likely pretending much as Amanda was. Perhaps they were though; they must have travelled all night and day to get to Calais for the ferry. They were human after all, still. Anastasia eyed the party room doubtfully.

"One dance won't kill you," Joked Lauren nervously.

"Alright…I guess…yeah come on," Anastasia said moving to her feet. Feeling slightly dizzy she walked forwards. Thankfully she wasn't staggering so she was doing well. Entering the crowded room and throng of people Anastasia felt hot and sweaty. Bodies were crushed together, cheering, singing, and applauding. Arms waved in the air and vibrations thrummed through the floor in time to the music. Bright lights flashed and mist seeped at her knees making everything appear hazy and smoky almost dreamlike. Lauren guided her through the sea of dancers to a spot. Anastasia swayed for a few seconds.

"Loosen up Anna! Come on! I thought you university students did this sort of thing all the time!" Lauren cheered. Anastasia laughed awkwardly as Lauren linked there hands together and raised them in the air. Slowly her body found a rhythm as she swayed her hips dancing on the spot closing her eyes to block out the people around her. Everyone was so busy dancing crazily themselves that they weren't getting any glances anyway.

Midnight. I'm drunk, I don't give a f***

Wanna dance by myself. Guess your outta luck.

Don't touch. Back off. I'm not the one. Buh Bye.

"My sister is so into Pink, seriously a couple of years ago this was all she'd listen too!" Shouted Lauren over the heavy pound of the music. Anastasia nodded and smiled twirling under Laurens arm so they were back-to-back. Pink was good, she liked pink. The lyrics were good and meaningful and some of her songs were uplifting. She found by the time that they reached the chorus her voice was also yelling out the lyrics lost among the buzz of everyone else's.

I'm not here for your entertainment!

You don't really want to mess with me tonight

Just stop and take a second

I was fine before you walked into my life

"Cause you know it's over! Before it began! Keep your drink just give me the money! It's just you and your hand tonight!" Anastasia sang out feeling the exhilaration and high addictive buzz of the crowd infect her spurring on her careless attitude fuelled by cocktails and strained nerves. The song eventually grew to an end and was replaced by a slower calmer number. Stifling hot, people drifted away from the dance floor as couples gravitated towards it swaying idly with hands intertwined around necks and waists. Playfully Anastasia and Lauren did the same with Anastasia's arms around Laurens neck and Lauren's arms around Anastasia's waist. Her thoughts flowed towards Amanda as she checked up on the girl once more. She seemed fine, reported that they still appeared to be asleep.

'Just this dance and then I'll go,' Anastasia told herself. Watching the other loved up couples made her feel uncomfortable. She'd never been a soppy person, she'd even admitted she'd rather get tickets to a theme park than a bunch of dried up flowers. That was Abby's forte; her older sister was the gooey mushy one. Romantic soppy movies had her cringing for a sick bag. Forget the roses, she wanted fun and passion but everyone seemed to lack those traits. She wanted somebody to make her feel alive, nobody ever did. She watched those couples with a mixture of repulsion, embarrassment and slight jealousy. Was it really that easy? Did there hearts skip beats when they spied each other across a room? Hers never did a slight thrill if they chatted her up, a slight flip to her ego for the flattery but it always faded within a few days.

"You seem distant," Lauren noted as the twirled.

"A little thoughtful I guess," Anastasia murmured. Lauren watched her and shrugged before a small smile appeared on her face. The journalist froze as hands drew her in closer. Lauren was taller by a head; this left her at eye level with her throat. Lauren leaned in her voice purring in Anastasia's ears leaving ghosts of hot breath tracing her throat. She couldn't ignore how Lauren's hands were tightening around her waist. Something inside her was mentally shrieking but her body was paralysed in shock unable to react.

"You know…I was right early. You are pretty hot," Lauren whispered teasingly. Anastasia stared, her mouth was slack, her eyes were wide and her heart was thrumming with a new emotion. She stood frozen as Lauren dipped her head pressing her lips on her own.

This was definitely not what she wanted.

Zacarias loomed in the shadows of the large dance area. The air reeked of human toxins and sweats and did nothing to endeavour him any. His new sense of colours however was taking in everything rapidly trying to process it. The flashing lights flaring from amber, to indigo, to aqua and then to ruby almost blinded him. The bright colours of the clothes, the shiny gold and silver of jewellery bewitched him. He drank it all in, savouring every sight. It was a miracle; he'd forgotten what colours were like, only vague ideas of what they should be. And she'd given him this…this mirage and oasis of shades and brightness.

His eyes found her figure easily through the dense crowd. She was dancing with that noisy babbling blond from earlier. Lauren? That was her name; he touched her mind gently before leaving it. She was no threat, she wad curious. He paid her no more heed. His new sight was only for one and she stood dancing dreamily. The lights flared ruby emphasising the undertones of bronze present in her dark hair, her pales skin gleamed; the way her body was swaying was hypnotic. The sensual wave of her hips, the way when her eyes opened they were mysteriously detached as though she were no longer there. She didn't belong there…he was sweating blood now and everything was clenched.

It was taking all of his restraint not to go over there and drag her away from those ridiculous humans, to whisk her off the damned boat, to make her his. Zacarias had been praised for patience but now suddenly with emotions he had none. She had given him this surge of emotions, this incredible gift and suddenly he didn't know what to do with it. He had listened to her conversation earlier…it had aroused his curiosity among other things. She had felt inadequate? No, everyone else should feel inadequate. The story about the garlic man had left him feeling slightly amused though. That was one less thing she would have to worry about – he made a mental note to keep away from shellfish and garlic (not that he could consume them anyway).

The Carpathian was knocked off his thinking perch abruptly and he stumbled. His eyes caught her figure; he could sense her discomfort and his eyes shot glaring at Lauren. He skimmed the blond's girls mind finding what he sought quickly and easily. What he found enraged him but his blood was boiling even more as he watched her dip her head towards his lifemate. Fangs elongated in his mouth, his fists tightened and he lurched forwards. Inside he was demanding a reprisal for those actions. Thankfully, it was his lifemate herself who acted by pushing Lauren away and darting off through the crowds.

'Deal with her; she should never have touched her…' Hissed the voice inside him, he cast Lauren a deadly glare. No…she was still female…no…yes…no…voices argued inside his head loudly each making their demands. Turning around reluctantly he stalked from the room glowering as he located Anastasia once more by the bar. Her face was flushed, her heart was fluttering. A mixture of shock and embarrassment, he could tell that much. He placed a firm demand in Lauren's mind to leave his alone. It was obvious that his lifemate was shaking; her voice trembled slightly as she ordered a drink.

Distaste rolled in his mind. Why did humans turn so easily to harmful toxins? Drugs, smoking, alcohol; he could never find the logic. He watched her now sipping her drink restlessly. She was anxious, nervous and afraid. Zacarias bit back a growl of repressed fury. Nothing! Why couldn't he do anything? This wasn't how it was supposed to be at all! He needed to talk to her, to make her understand. She was so unpredictable though, how would she handle such news? Concern mounted…he watched as she placed down the empty glass before swinging her legs over the bar stool to stand up.

Zacarias knew that Amanda had woken up a few minutes ago; feigning sleep had become become boring and exasperating. She was now with Selene in the children's play area. He knew that it had taken a lot of persuasion to get her there and mainly it was thanks to Savannah's efforts. The former performer had a knack for entertaining children and her warm alluring smile had won Amanda round. Did Anastasia know this? He watched with intrigue as she changed route following towards the play area. So she and the child could communicate…this new ability would have to be explored. How had she extended it to Amanda and could she extend it again? Had she done so consciously or unconsciously?

Her pulse was escalating with every step; he could smell the scent of sweat and terror. She didn't want to go near them; he knew she wanted to run. A few feet from the bold play area with bright primary colours and large squishy chairs she paused breathing deeply. To her this was the dragons den, a trap and Zacarias was helpless and could not reassure her in any way. "I have to do this…" She murmured out loud chewing on her bottom lip wiping some hair away from her face. Little quirks like that made him smile momentarily and he applauded her silently as she walked forward.

The nursery was a small area. There was a small dolls house, large toy bricks and squishy red chairs. There was also a television showing off a vivid cartoon which Selene was engrossed in sitting cross legged with a stuffed rabbit on her lap. Amanda was at the door already and she hugged Anastasia forcefully. Zacarias slipped in unnoticed and stood next to Manolito as though he had always been there. Mary-Ann, Mikhail and Raven were there. Many others had lingered away…

"Mary-Ann thinks it would be better if there were less of us. That way we won't apparently appear as intimidating," Manolito informed him. Zacarias recognised the wisdom in this and nodded. Anastasia released the embrace and stood forwards awkwardly once more presenting herself as a shield between them and Amanda. Her eyes were lowered to the floor, everything about her posture and heart rate spelt fear. It was taking everything in her just to remain still and not to run.

"You don't need to be afraid sweetie," Mary-Ann soothed taking a slow step forward. Anastasia's eyes darted up and she tensed but did not move back. Mary-Ann smiled encouragingly, it reminded Zacarias of being on one of the ranches in Brazil. Once they had found a damaged horse that had been ill treated and would allow no-one near it. It had taken months of calming words and whispered reassurances for it to even be touched. Eventually after a year it had calmed enough to be mounted…patience had been required. "Listen, I know you don't trust us and I don't blame you. What we did by drugging you was wrong. We don't want to hurt you Anna…please just listen to us…just listen to us before you make your decision."

Anastasia nodded slowly. Amanda ran from behind her back over towards Selene. Zacarias was sure some sort of silent demand had been made and Amanda obliged only too happily. Nervously she stood by the door. "Let her leave last…that way she won't feel like we're crowding her. Zacarias keep back…no offence but she's petrified of you the most." Mary-Ann issued her instructions pointedly and professionally. She was used to dealing with frightened people and she was obeyed. Zacarias swallowed a menacing growl but knew her words were true. Anastasia shifted her gaze away from him swiftly as though the sight of him burned her.

Yet she followed them. She lingered some paces behind them but having the option, the choice seemed to assure her slightly. They led her outside; he acknowledged this was the best idea. The cool air seemed to sooth her more than any words. Her eyes were drawn towards the sea captured by the rhythm of the waves before they tilted skyward at the veil of inky darkness and the mirage of twinkling stars. He watched her exhale, her heart rate calmed a little bit as she every so slightly relaxed. Zacarias sent his sister-in-law words of thankfulness. Mary-Ann visibly knew what she was doing.

"Look," Spoke Anastasia after a few moments. Her voice was still shaky, quiet but determined, "I-I don't exactly know what's going on…but if its money your after…I'll get it somehow. Please…look, just please leave us alone. Amanda and I…we just want to be left alone…" Her eyes were begging as they looked at Mary-Ann – the person she seemed to be most at ease with. Zacarias could see her desperation. She had little money, not enough to pay them the figures she was expecting but he knew that she'd find a way of getting it. She was willing to do anything just to be left alone with the child.

"Honey, you've got us all wrong," Mary-Ann said gently with a smile, "We don't want any money." They didn't need any. Each of them was rich enough. Zacarias had no need for any least of all from his lifemate. It would be a cold day in hell before he accepted so much as a dollar from her. It wasn't her place to work, she wouldn't work again. No more working for ignorant men like her pathetic editor. He could provide her with as much money as she wanted.

"Let me get this correct," Mikhail said calmly. Anastasia flinched slightly at his voice but outwardly remained relatively steady as she looked at Mikhail, "You assume that we are involved with those men who capture and examine psychics? You think we are there…let me see…investors? And now we either want money from you to compensate or we want you and the child?" Anastasia nodded. Zacarias wanted this assumption corrected as quickly as possible. The idea repulsed him; even more now was his hatred for those butchers and their vampire masters.

"You don't need to tell me it sounds stupid. I know but…"

"Then let me put your mind at ease," Mikhail intervened swiftly, "We are not investing as you call it there sick ventures. We are nothing to do with those people; they revolt us and disgust us as much as they do you." Anastasia nodded, her gaze turned away tilting her chin towards the sky. She was beautiful…Zacarias felt strangely almost trance-like as he drank in her features in the moonlight. Her pale skin looked like ivory; her blue dress exemplified her small waist which flared out into curves. She wasn't built like a twig, good. Zacarias didn't understand why women went around parading their skeletal figures. Where they that desperate for a meal?

"How do I know you're not lying…?" Sighed Anastasia wearily, "I'm tired…I'm so tired of being afraid and scared. I can't trust you…if you don't want me for my money then why don't you let me go? You say you want to protect me but then why not simply go to the police? Or is it that they cannot protect me from the people at Morrison? Please can you just tell me what's going on…?" Exhaustion, he hated how she sounded weary and tired. He wanted to hold her, to tell her it would be alright but she couldn't even look at him. Was he that much a monster that even his own lifemate shied away?

"You're right…this isn't very fair on you. You've had to put up with a lot in the last few days and the least we owe you is the truth," Mary-Ann continued softly, "You are right. The Police cannot protect you from those people, we can. We only want to protect you." Zacarias felt her heart rate speed up. The prospect of being chased with nowhere to run frightened her. She managed to nod quivering.

"We are different from most people Anastasia. I think you already realise that, you're obviously not stupid. We call ourselves Carpathians, we keep together as a community," Raven encouraged warmly. Anastasia looked curiously; her head was tilted to the side almost like a puppy as she took in Raven. What was running through her mind? Zacarias wanted to know badly. Shock? Fear? Panic? She seemed curious. That was good; if she could overcome her fear with curiosity then they were getting somewhere.

"Carpathians? Is that because you're from the mountain range?"

"Yes, I suppose," Manolito spoke, "Originally we are from the mountains but many of us travel and move away. I live in Brazil but I think of myself as predominately Carpathian."

"And you're all psychics?"

"Yes, that's one way of putting it," Mikhail murmured. They were all silently asking the same question. How did they tell her that they were not even human? In her fragile precarious state it might not be prudent to enlighten her to this crucial detail until she trusted them…on the other hand to avoid it would be to lie. Zacarias couldn't lie to her, it would be dishonourable. Lifemates never lied to one another. However it was not as if Anastasia would outright ask such a question. She may not trust them but he doubted she thought of them as anything other than human.

"You want to protect me and Amanda? Hypothetically, let's just say I believe you. What then? You take me to a safe house…what about my family? Would those people go after them? My friends, my dog, my job and those other children? What exactly do you want me to do?" Anastasia asked demanding explanations and information. Once more he could feel her panicking. While he couldn't read her mind he could take educated guesses. The idea of leaving her home, her family and the familiarity of home frightened her. Placing trust in strangers who could do things beyond her was terrifying. She had every right to be afraid, to doubt them.

"Hypothetically then," Mikhail said with a slight smile, "We would like to place you under our protection and take you back to our home until we have dealt with the threat. Then you would be free to leave if you pleased. As for your family, we will offer them our protection. They will be able to continue as normal without the knowledge we are watching over them. Finally we can compensate you for any wages you may lose, besides I am under the impression that your boss is perhaps in your debt?"

"Okay…okay…" Anastasia breathed deeply even though he could see her shaking slightly, "How long would it take…to stop them? How long would I be in Romania? A month? How do I know you're not making this up to get to us? No offence but the whole Carpathian thing sounds a bit like a cult."

"We're not a cult honey. Trust me, I don't do all those weird ritual things…not in these shoes anyway," Reassured Mary-Ann. Anastasia seemed to stare at Mary-Ann perhaps taking in the expensive quality of her clothes before nodding. Zacarias, although now feeling some affection for his sister-in-law didn't know if he could ever comprehend her obsession with clothes. It seemed rather petty and useless.

"You would be with us for as long as it takes, I'm sorry but I can't give you more than that for present," Mikhail said honestly. Anastasia bit on her lip, her troubled gaze seeking refuge once more in the waves of the sea.

"And If I refuse?" She said quietly.

"You cannot refuse," Zacarias intoned sternly, "If you were to do so then you place yourself in danger and I will not allow it." He would never allow it. Safety first above all else even if it meant forsaking her happiness. If he had to he would lock her in a room in a tower. Then perhaps she would be safe from everyone including lecherous teenagers and mischievous lesbians. She was too proud and anxious for her own good. He wouldn't allow defiance, not in her or anyone else. Lifemates weren't supposed to be defiant or rebellious. They weren't supposed to be like this. He ignored Mary-Ann's glare of frustration and Raven's rolling eyes.

"Well done! Now you've gone and terrified her again!" Snapped Mary-Ann accusingly.

"What Zacarias means honey is that-

"No…please just leave me alone! I don't know what his problem is be he's not right…he doesn't have any right to act like that towards me!" Anastasia cried fearfully as she turned around backing once more towards the entrance into the boat. Zacarias bit back a roar of frustration and exasperation. Her green eyes looked up to him much like a small child would look if it was about to receive a whipping. There was something distinctly childish about her features, her ridiculously youthful face and wide wan eyes. Everything inside him yearned to protect her, to whisper words of comfort but he only found that when trying to explain these desires and emotions he ended up choosing the wrong words, the wrong phrase.

As expected when he took a step forward she flinched further backwards. He could hear her heart beat thundering in his ears. Before she could react he was right in front of her, towering over her. She was small in height, using two fingers he titled her chin so he could see her face clearly. A curtain of dark hair slipped down her cheek waiting to be pushed aside. Gently he brushed it aside before suddenly lunging forwards he took possession of her mouth.

If you have ever studied physics it is a well known fact that two positive magnets repel each other. They can only go so close before they ultimately push each other away until a person takes matters into their own hands and forces them together pushing through the magnetic field they create.

Anastasia felt like that a bit now. Like somebody had just rammed themselves through her own private magnetic field she had in place to shove away Zacarias De La Cruz. Strangely she couldn't think very much…she could feel her body go limp, her heart was no longer pounding but was now pumping so fast that it felt like it was about to fly. Blood was roaring in her ears but she could no longer feel any of it. He was addictive, like a drug. She'd never felt this sort of ecstasy before, she wanted more. Her breath hitched in her throat.

Now it felt like she was occupying the space between the two magnets. She could feel two things pushing against each other inside her. Pain erupted through her head spreading and unfolding sending waves of it crashing through her mind. Instinctively she felt suddenly sickened, she could feel her stomach churning in disgust. She felt suddenly a feeling of loss and grief. As though something or somebody had died, the raw feelings of loss stunned her do suddenly. Tears rolled down her cheeks…wrong…wrong…wrong…this was wrong! Everything was screaming that at her. Two separate physical reactions were warring each other. Abruptly she slammed out an arm striking him in the chest.

It ended…she whimpered backing away. She felt dirty…unclean…she couldn't stand how he was looking at her now as though she were a monster. His dark eyes were wide in horror and fury. She turned, she ran blindly back into the boat shoving past people. She wanted to run outside her own body, to curl up in some dark unknown corner. Pain curdled inside her, bile rose in her throat. She slid on the tiles as she crashed into the girl's lavatories barely making it to the toilet before she heaved.

Once the retching was done her throat burned. She flushed the toilet and ran to one of the sinks picking up the bar of soap. He was like a germ, contaminating her, poisoning her system. She could feel him all over her, smell him almost. She began to scrub dementedly at her hands, her arms washing them with scorching hot water as she hiccupped anguished sobs. She cried, she didn't know why. Some small rational part of her was watching in shock. It was just a kiss…it didn't mean anything. She had kissed people before. So he was a forceful arrogant jerk. It wasn't like he had raped her or anything…

The soap slipped through her fingers sliding along the floor. Anastasia crawled after it before finally curling up. Something was gone, it felt like he'd taken it. It felt like something had died inside her. She felt dirty, common and cheap and she didn't know why. He'd looked at her like she was something revolting and repulsive afterwards. Maybe she was now. There was no escape, she knew it. It burned, they would take her and Amanda. She'd never go home. Never see her family. All because she was too weak, too pathetic, too stupid, too Anastasia! She looked up at her reflection in the floor length mirror.

She was anything but pretty now. All her faults, all her imperfections seemed on display for all to see. The fuzzy texture of her hair, her round cheeks, her damned ugly body. Fat, ugly, miserable, pathetic. Why did she have to be that way? Why couldn't she have been born looking like Lauren, like Mary-Ann, like Raven? Why couldn't she be strong like the heroines in her book? Or brave and daring like Arianna? Or determined and strong like April? Or likeable and beautiful like Abigail? Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! She picked up the bar of soap. She hated being weak, she hated feeling horrible and selfish, she hated being Anastasia. Screeching in a furious frenzy she threw the soap with all her might watching as it crashed into the glass.

Cracks began to spread like spiders webs creating intricate patterns before finally the whole thing slid down smashing to the floor spraying glass everywhere. Anastasia doubled over breathing heavily. Why? Why did things have to be this way? 'Given up already have you? So that's it…game over and he won? You really are weak and pathetic! You've just sentenced yourself and another little girl to doom and you can't do anything!' Taunted a voice in her head. Amanda…had she given up? All those feelings were they just stupid crazy induced illusions? Maybe she didn't care about anything at all really. Maybe she should stop pretending she did.

"No…" Her small whisper echoed around the dim room. Wrong…wrong…wrong…it was wrong to give up. But she was so tired…she couldn't go on. She felt like she was going insane slowly. She didn't want to lose her sanity. But what could she do? She was on a boat with no escape from a bunch of freaks from some sort of crazy cult. A cult…some weird freaky cult. They lied, she couldn't trust them. She needed help…where could she get I from?

'Sink or swim…what do I do? I feel like I'm drowning again…'

A vicious snarl erupted in her throat as rage boiled inside her, fury that caused her body to tremble violently. Fists clenched, wrong! They were wrong! They had no right, he had no right! She would show them, she would show all of them. Somehow…somehow she was going to get herself and Amanda out of this. Even if she had to jump off the side of the boat she'd do it. Anything to escape those monsters in human form.

"Screw this!" She snarled leaping to her feet. This time she walked with no doubts, no fears, just a blinding furious determination. It felt like something had been born from the ashes of her humiliation and fear. A fire was blazing that no one would ever be able to smother or put out. This was her, Anastasia Montrose and she was pissed off! Nobody was telling her what to do and nobody was taking away her freedom.

'Sink or swim?'

Did she even need to dignify that with an answer?

Loooonnnnngggg chapter. Oh well, I'm fairly pleased with it although I'm sure many of you are ripping your hair out wondering when i'm just going to get them together :). I promise when they do get together it will be worth the wait. Anyway next chapter things go from bad to worse, Anastasia does something incredibly risky, has a lovely talk to Amanda and then ends up face to face with a vampire. Its just not her week. The next few chapters see's her dealing with the reality of Vampries, Carpathians and lifemates...oh she's going to love that concept.

Please R&R! xxx

Daydreamer!x