Ever since I first arrived in Bon Temps I've felt alive and free. With each breath I took I was feeling more and more human. I was just starting to get used to this life and it could all be soon gone.

I did my best in trying stay calm, but not knowing what I may have to face next made staying calm a challenge. I spent some time worrying on what could come, causing my nerves to knot and leaving me pacing the floor. There were no windows throughout the room so I had no way of knowing if sun had risen yet or not but either way I wasn't tired. I needed time to pass quickly and I knew sleep would be the only solution to that. My body was tense and I needed to relax if I was going to even try to sleep. I decided to take a hot shower. I knew that was the one thing that seemed to calm me down. I walked myself into the bathroom that followed the same red and gold theme that was throughout the room and building. The bathroom was fully equipped with everything I could possibly need for grooming but I didn't touch any of it. I turned on the hot water and after undressing myself I stepped in and let the water rush over me. I leaned my head against the deep red tiled wall and tried to keep myself from crying, but once I thought what could happen if the vampires knew everything, I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

I stood in silence with my eyes closed under the water until it ran cold. I was beginning to feel a bit more relaxed. I grabbed a towel and then searched the bedroom for my things that were said to be there. I looked through all of the closets, but I had no luck. All I could find were a handful of long silk and lace tops that seemed to be more for show than sleep. I took the black silk one in hand and changed myself into it. It hugged tightly around my breast but the rest flowed loosely down and stopped an inch before my knees. The bed was large enough to fit at least five comfortably. The wall facing the bed was occupied buy a large flat television. I decided to turn it on and lay in bed until I could eventually fall asleep...

I was slowly starting to wake, but my mind felt like it was being smothered by fog. I opened my eyes only to see nothing but darkness. The air was cold and thick with the smell of wet wood and mold. I realized I was no longer in bed. I was on my back laying outside in mud. My hands gripped into the moist ground as I tried to lift myself up but I was too weak to move. My neck and sides were throbbing in pain and I heard a blood curdling cry leave my lips as my hand reached out.

"I'm here." A man's voice broke through the silence he sounded too far away for me to recognize, yet all the same I felt safe. I tried to speak but no words would come out. I felt his hand meet mine and then a cold touch swept the hair away from my face. My vision was blurred but I could see a dim glow in front of me. "My Love, please forgive me." He painfully choked out. I could feel his cool breath close to my ear but still his voice was a faint whisper far off in the distance. With my free hand I searched my collar bone.

"The locket.." a weak voice that did not sound like my own spoke.

"I'm afraid that is the least of what has been lost tonight." his voice was getting closer, it was coming in clearer. I could hear a sadness in his words. I felt his fingers gently inspect my injuries as I tried to gain focus. I slightly turned my head to the side to get a better look at where I was but what I saw wasn't what I was expecting. A lifeless body covered in blood laid next to me and panic started to set in. Before I could see anymore I felt him quickly turn my head away. "NO! Keep your eyes forward. Focus on me. " He demanded and I did my best to obey. My vision was coming in clearer and I focused in on his blood shot eyes that were piercing through mine. I felt him lift me up and my chest heaved from the intense pain. My head flew back as I gasped up for air. Then before I could take another breath, the pain was gone. I opened my eyes and found myself in the dark, warm and under the covers. I was back in bed and confused. I sat myself up and looked around.

"I was dreaming..." I spoke to myself aloud.

"You were." A voice cut through the darkroom and caused me to jump along with my heart. I looked to where the voice was coming from and saw a silhouette of a man standing in the doorway.

"Mike?" I watched as he walked in towards a lamp and flicked it on.

"Sorry I didn't mean to startle you. I was sent over to give you this." He laid a large flat black bag on the foot of the bed.

"How long have you been here?"

"A while...I know that must sound creepy but I couldn't leave without giving this to you...and I wanted to make sure you were okay. I didn't want to wake you so I waited...not in here of course."

"You wanted to make sure I was okay?"

"Yes." He faintly smiled.

"Why? " Whatever hint of a smile that was on his face had now vanished.

"Guilty conscience I guess.."

"Well I'm fine....I think...what exactly do they want from me? What have you told them?" I wasted no time in getting the important questions out but he ignored them.

" You will be accompanying Felipe to the Vampire's Ball tonight. He wants you to only wear what is in that garment bag and you have until eight to be ready....which gives you two and a half hours to get yourself all prettied up for the king."

"A what?"

"Vampire's Ball..It's not as exciting as it may sound....Once a month the vamps here like to have one, it attracts a lot of tourists and all the vampires in the area have to attend. There's a live orchestra, a lot of dancing and a lot of drinking on both vamp & human sides."

"And if I choose not to go?" Something about being in a room full of vampires made me feel uneasy. I stepped out of bed and walked myself towards him. I saw his intense green eyes scan me over then lock on mine.

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice."

"Why don't I?....what have you told them? What do you know?" I asked again as I closed in the distance. He pulled his eyes away from me.

" I'm sorry, I have to go now...If I were you I'd be ready by seven-thirty. He is big on being on time. " He turned on his heels and made his way out of the room and towards the doors. I quickly ran myself in front of him and blocked his way forward.

"Mike, please...I have to know...The least you could do is tell me what's going to happen to me." I pleaded. I could see there was a battle fighting within him.

"Tonight he will be showing you off to the others and once they see you with him, his claim on you will be official....You are his." I felt my heart sink to the pit of my stomach.

"No..." I breathed out "But why? Why me? There's nothing special about me..."

"You are way more than just special Daniella...you know that."

"What do you know.." I heard him let out a sigh before he took my hand and guided me back into the bedroom. I watched as he closed the door then turn towards me.

"I know everything." He whispered. I stood there in the center of the room. I could feel my nerves twisting.

"And by everything, you mean?"

"I know you're not human, well...not completely anyways. I know you can get inside minds at contact...see everything the way they see it..their memories...thoughts... emotions. Past and present.. You can change those thoughts and emotions...change their actions..Almost like how a vampire glamours. But that's not the only vampire quality you have about you." He smiled.

"It's not?"

"No..." He stepped in closer and took my hand in his. He raised my wrist and with his other hand he trailed his fingers up along a visible vein in my arm. "Your blood...like a vampire's, it can heal the wounded although not as fast as theirs could.... but unlike vamp blood....yours has no risks...or I should say, no side effects. It's quite amazing what you can do..you're very unique...I've never met anything as close to the fine package you've come in....and this is what they know as well."

My heart was racing. I didn't know my blood could heal anyone other than myself so how could he know? While I got my questions together he continued to speak.

"But they don't know everything I know about you.....for some reason I decided to keep one very big important part out."

"What would that be?" He leaned himself in closer so that his lips were now beside my ear.

"Vampires aren't immune to your touch." his whisper was almost silent. He did know everything and I knew this could be very bad.

"But why? Why leave that part out? You've told them everything else.." though I was grateful he did. Mike took a slight step back and walked past me to sit himself down on the bed. He looked bothered.

"Normally I wouldn't have.....I am made to follow demands. That's the way it has always been. I do what I am ordered to do and move onto the next. I have found hundreds upon hundreds with abilities...never did I hesitate on turning them in.... not once have I cared what the vamps did with them once they were out of my sight. Never has it had my insides twisting with guilt.... But you.....you don't understand how frustrating this is for me. I don't like feeling guilty....I don't like caring." He paused for a moment and closed his eyes taking in a deep breath. He then looked up at me. "I haven't told them everything yet because I knew they wouldn't hesitate on killing you. Having you around would make them feel vulnerable, which is a feeling vamps aren't too fond of."

"Yet?" My stomach turned at the word.

"Daniella, you have to understand that this is who I am. Everything that I have done has all been working towards this..this find could be the big one that I've been searching all these years for. I could finally break free from this curse. I should just tell them everything...but it's never felt this wrong."

"What do you mean by curse?" He remained silent for a moment then he stood himself up.

"I've told you too much as it is. I have to go." He quickly walked out of the room and towards the doors out once again. I would have stopped him but my mind was too busy still trying to take in what I've just been told. I stepped out of the room quickly to catch him but he was already at the door.

"But wait!...Once I'm His.. then what?" I blurted out before he could walk out. With his back facing me he spoke again before opening the door.

"I'm sorry." he then turned the door's handle and slipped out. I ran forward trying to catch the door before it completely closed but by the time my hand wrapped around the handle, it was already locked. A part of me wanted to curl up in a corner somewhere while the other part refused to give up so easily. I didn't know how exactly I could get myself out of the situation but I figured I'd have to at least try something.

I walked back into the bedroom and opened the garment bag Mike left on the bed. Inside was a beautiful long purple gown with black beads sewn on the breast and straps in a pattern. Also in the bag were a pair of sparkling black shoes with thin heels and straps. What is with vampires and giving out nice dresses?

I took the dress with me into the bathroom and hung it on the door while I had another hot shower. I took my time washing my hair and body, letting the warmth from the water sooth me. Once I was out and wrapped in a towel I went through the bathroom's fully stocked cabinets and found every kind of make-up I could possibly use along with different hair products and body lotions.

When I was satisfied with my make-up and hair, I carefully got myself into the gown. From my waist up the dress hugged around my body tightly and the straps tied around my neck, lifting and holding my breast in place so there wasn't any need for a bra. The neck line was cut in a low "V" shape and the back of the dress didn't begin until right at my lower back. If I hadn't of had my hair down I would of felt practically nude with all this skin showing. The lower half of the dress however flowed a bit looser and just slightly touched the floor.

By the time I had the last shoe strapped on there was a knock at the front doors.

"Daniella, I hope you're dressed my dear." A man with a thick accent called out from the other room. I had only assumed that it was Felipe. I slowly made my way out of the bedroom as carefully as I could on high heels and sure enough, there he was with two other vampires at each of his sides. I felt the anxiety hit my chest. Nothing in his fake smile made me feel at ease. Felipe reached out for my hand as he walked closer towards me.

"Ah you look deliciously stunning. You will catch the eyes of everyone tonight." He took my hand placed a light kiss on my knuckle which made my skin crawl up my spine. An image of him sinking his fangs in my neck flashed through his mind and I quickly shut him out and remained silent even though I wanted to scream. "I have brought another gift for you that will go perfectly with that mouth watering neck of yours." I swallowed back my nerves as he reached into the pocket of his suit jacket. I watched him pull out a bulky blue box. Inside was a long necklace with thin layers of black stones draping down to a point. "Black diamonds....extremely rare.....like you." He smiled as he lifted the piece out of its box and then unhooked the ends.

"Turn around.." I did as he asked and then felt his cold fingers brush against my neck and shoulder as he repositioned my hair out of the way. His fingers lingered on my neck once the necklace was in place resting around my collar bone. I closed my eyes and wished for him to go away but no luck. He turned me back around and smiled at the sight. "Perfect...Shall we?" he motioned for the door with his one hand pressed against my back forcing me to move forward. One of his guards walked ahead while the other was a few steps behind. I still kept myself quite the whole way down the elevator and to the limo. Felipe tried small talk but I refused to give a response.

"In time you won't be so bitter." were the last words he directed towards me until we reached the front doors of our destination. Before we could enter he was pulled aside by a short red haired female vampire who was waiting outside of the doors.

"Excuse me you're majesty. May I speak with you a moment." He nodded to her and walked a few paces away from where I stood.

"The telepath is missing." She whispered low enough that no human ear would be able to hear. I turned myself away so that they couldn't suspect that I was listening in.

"Impossible..." he growled. "Search Nevada."

" We have...there is no trace of her or your pet tiger for that matter. We have reason to believe they have taken off together."

"And what reason would that be.." his tone sounded almost challenging.

"Please...come with me.." I could hear their foot steps coming closer. I turned my head slightly to get a look and he was right behind me. With his fingers he was playing with the pendent that hung from his neck

"Sorry my dear, I'm afraid there has been a slight change of plans." Through the corner of my eye I could see someone walking out from the building's front doors.

"Ah Michael! Just the man I was hoping to see." Felipe spoke in a false joyful tone. I looked to Mike but his full attention was on the king. "I have been called away suddenly. I wish for you to escort Daniella inside. She is not to leave your sight until I return..." He the started to speak to him in a different dialect like the night before. Mike did not speak, he only nodded in acknowledgement. When he was done, Felipe gave me one last nod before he left with his guards and the female vamp. Mike turned to me with a slight smile once they were out of view.

"Daniella....You look....absolutely... beautiful." His smile grew wider, showing off his dimples as his eyes looked me over in approval. I blushed. I must admit, his looks improved since I last saw him earlier. He had cleaned up and was dressed in a very expensive looking black suit. His straight brown hair was in a perfect disarray and his face was freshly shaven leaving only a tiny amount of hair at the bottom of his chin and upper lip.

"Thank you...I have to say you clean up well."

"I try." he smirked as he pretended to adjust the collar of his shirt. "Well...let's not keep your future admirers waiting." He held out his hand for mine.