Woo! This is actually up on time! Do you guys like Tuesday's or Wednesday's better for updates :)? I'm gonna try for getting this story cranked out in a timely manner. I have the entire plot and events carefully planned out in a little black notebook and it was actually me stumbling upon it and reading through it once more that made me want to come back and finish this out nice and proper like. This chapter might be a little short but with the way my schedules looking we should be looking at another Tuesday update :)! Reviews are like matches to my creative flame and I can't promise that they won't help push me to get chapters out even earlier 3! All my love guys! I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Little Vampire and all characters belong to their owners respectively.

Special thanks again to:

Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967

To my Guest review! Thank you so much! I really truly appreciate it!

Your reviews are always welcome guys!

- Chapter 14 -

Pebbles tumbled down from the dark orifices of the cave walls. Dust billowing in small clouds around Nancy's feet as she paced a trail into the ground with her ceaseless footfalls. She shivered as she recalled her memories from her most recent hex. That one had been particularly nasty. Thinking back she really should have known that would have happened. She'd still never quite gotten over the first one. She'd left herself defenseless once more to the magic forces and paid the price. Damn. She looked down at her twitching fingers, her joints still constricting with spasms of pain.

She squinted up at the tiny streams of light peaking out from the tiny holes from the surface above. Morning had come. Shit. She'd stayed up all night pacing. She really was losing it. Geeze, she needed a break.

Desperately.

With a deep exhausted sigh she raked her dirty fingers through her tangled hair. Mustering up the last dregs of her strength she gathered up her satchel and set about for the woods of the waking world.

- O -

Her fingers brushed past the hollowed trunk of a Sycamore as she continued on her peaceful walk. She couldn't remember the last time she had traversed the woods in the daylight. A butterfly fluttered airily past her on its joyous trek through the unfiltered sunlight. It was beautiful.

She didn't belong here.

She didn't belong in the light. She'd learned that a long time ago.

With a frown she pulled her jacket closer around herself. The sun would surely burn her pale skin to a crisp. Better safe than sorry, she didn't need to look like a lobster on top of all this crap.

A twig snapped to the right of her.

She stood completely still.

With a practiced snarl Nancy turned her frightened eyes in the direction of the offending sound. With practiced precision she reached into her back pocket and brandished her dagger.

The forest trees swayed in the breeze, and all remained still.

Nancy cursed to herself as her hands began their shaking. It didn't help matters that she was also sleep deprived. She was probably just overly tired and paranoid. Could of just been a squirrel or some other precious woodland creature. With a sigh she relaxed her arm and slipped her dagger back into her pants. Gregory really had been keeping her on her toes. Seriously. She totally blamed him for this paranoia, always popping in on her unexpected like. Stupid ass. Unbidden, she felt a smile creep onto her face at the thought of him. Goddamnit, she really was starting to grow fond of that Vampire bo-

All at once she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"Nancy."

Nancy felt a cold sweat form over her brow. 'Shit shit shit shit!' She took a deep breath to calm her beyond frazzled nerves before turning to face her fears in the face.

Jill stood before her. Her white coat blowing around her legs.

That damn woman. Nancy kept her features cool. She kept her expression as controlled as she possibly could as she gazed into Jill's equally expressionless face.

"Nancy Ulrich," she intoned carelessly, almost as if reading her name off a roster. As if she hadn't been on a search for her for weeks now. "You're in a lot of trouble missy."

Nancy blinked at her. Her fingers twitching to grab hold of her dagger once more.

"Nothing to say for yourself huh?" Jill ran a gloved hand through her blond hair. "I honestly thought I was hallucinating when I spotted you out here."

Nancy watched Jill closely as she circled to her side. Leaves crunching in her wake.

"You're a danger to society Nancy," her voice lowered. "Come back with me," she reached a petite hand out. "You're not in any trouble, I swear it."

Nancy recoiled away from her extended limb as if struck. Fuck if she believed that. She was lying. She had to be. Nancy's head started to hurt. She glared at Jill through her dark unruly hair and began to take steps back so that she could begin yet another escape.

Jill's composure slipped at her retreat. Her face contorting into a panicked snarl. "No!" She shrieked as Nancy took off into the forest. Her black leather jacket glistening in the sun as she once more slipped through Jill's fingers. Jack was gong to kill her. She cursed under her breath as she pulled out her walkie talkie. "Jack-come in Jack." Her coat caught on wayward twigs and branches as she tried to keep up with Nancy's sprint. "Send the hounds-I repeat-Send the hounds!" She yelled into the receiver, determined that she wouldn't lose Nancy a second time.

- O -

Nancy heaved with labored breaths as she bobbed and weaved through the trees. She had to lose Jill. She wouldn't-No-she couldn't lead Jill back to the cemetery. She couldn't put her Vampires in danger. She closed her eyes shut to stop the onset of her tears. Now wasn't the time to cry, she had to keep running. It's what she was good at. She had to protect them. If the situation wasn't so dire she'd be laughing. Here she was, back at square one. She'd stayed with the Vampires in the first place so that she could exploit them for protection. Now she really was the one protecting them.

She caught herself as her foot nearly tripped on a root.

Her Vampires with their human-less appetites. They were so harmless really. It was almost funny to think that she thought they'd be able to take down her enemies. They just wanted to be ordinary humans.

She could relate.

She risked a glance behind her to check on Jill's pursuit. She was lucky to get a head start, the woman looked frail but she sure was fast. Satisfied that she couldn't see her anymore Nancy sank down into a crouch and began to slink along the forest floor in search of temporary shelter.

The memory of Gregory's cold lips moving against hers flashed into brain. Nancy felt the tears finally fall. "Damnit," she muttered bitterly to herself, hugging her knees as she tried to catch her breath beneath a bush. Gregory. That dimwit didn't want to be human. He didn't want to ordinary. She wished that she had more time with him. There was still so much she wanted to pester him over. So much that she-

Familiar howls cut through the quiet of the forest. Birds flew from their trees at the sound.

Nancy tensed. 'Fuck'.

She needed to hide herself now.

Pulling herself back up from the earth she took off into a sprint. Her mind reeling with the very real possibility that the hounds would catch her this time. 'Was it worth it?' she thought to herself with a grimace. Her stomach seizing with running cramps. Was the lovely morning forest stroll worth the damn trouble? True to form, the literal light of day may be the end of her. She really did belong with the Vampires.

She gripped her stomach as the pain increased.

The hounds released another loud cry. They were getting closer.

"Shit!" Nancy cursed, unable to control herself. She stopped running and hunched over to catch her breath. She didn't want to give up now. She'd come too far for it to end this way. Steeling her mind from the panic that was clawing at her subconscious she pulled remnants of pure natural magic from the pit of her stomach.

Her fingers glowed blue with the light.

'There!' Her mind called to her from a dead hollowed out tree a few meters away. Securing her satchel to her back she deliberately strode over to the trunk and stroked its bark fondly as she calmly felt herself phase inside just as the first hound rounded the clearing of trees she'd just been standing in.

The hound barked and sniffed as it came into the clearing and circled around her hiding spot.

Nancy watched the creature coldly as it sniffed and dug at the base of the tree, but remained silent as it appeared to lose interest and pursue a new direction.

Nancy exhaled with a shudder as the dog left her in peace. She felt her muscles relax as she leaned against the wood grain on either side of her. She was hiding in a dead tree. 'Great.' She was trapped. "Out of the frying pan into the fryer as they say," she mumbled to herself, hugging her middle as she looked around at the tight confines of her new sanctuary. Not that she wasn't grateful for her natural magics help. She was just worried about what type of retribution it would seek from her already depleted resources. Best not to worry about that now. She winced, finally allowing her body to relax so that she could sit cross legged on the earth beneath her.

She was so screwed.

- O -

Nancy felt like crying as she watched the sun go down. She'd been trapped in this withered tree all freakin' day. Her Vampires would be up soon. She wondered what they'd think of her disappearance this time? She sighed.

The sound of crickets chirping interrupted the course of her thoughts.

The hounds were still hot on her trail. The second she revealed herself they'd be on her. She couldn't get back to the cemetery without risking Jill following her back.

Anna's face fluttered into her mind. She had to protect-Anna's mouse! She could try and communicate with them through the mouse. That mouse was imbued with the oldest magics of the world. It was worth a shot.

Then again, if she attempted this, and it didn't work, she'd be magically spent. No more freebees. She'd be stuck in this dead tree for an even longer stretch of time. That didn't sound appealing. But it was the only chance she had. She fiddled with her cross shaped earrings before putting her all into her incantation.

"In winter spring summer and fall, In our shadows we ask for the aid of all! To practice the Craft of the wise as I must, With truth perfect peace, perfect love, perfect trust! For free will of all And harm it none. As I have willed it. Now it is done! SO MOTE IT BE!"

- O -

Anna's eyes fluttered open from her slumber. Suspended above the earthy floor of the cave she blinked her curious eyes open to observe her still undisturbed family. Even more curious. She was usually one of the last of her family to awaken. It had been so for centuries. She yawned widely as she untangled from the ceiling and righted herself on the ground.

"SO MOTE IT BE!"

Nancy's voice reverberated in her head and with its absence came a loud screeching sound. Anna held her ears in confusion and terror. What was happening?