Kind of a short chapter here. Like I said, it's filler, and I think the writing quality took a bit of a dip here, but eh. It'll get better soon.

Anyway, here it is.

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After three more drinks Claire felt almost ready to vomit, thus I took this as the signal that it was time to leave.

"Where's Artemis?" she asked Minerva, her words slightly slurred. She swayed on her feet, not at all used to such amounts of alcohol. Minerva, an annoyed expression on her face, dragged over a very silly, very drunk Artemis by the elbow.

"Claire!" he snorted after another fit of giggles. "You look positively ravishable in that skimpy halter top!"

"Ravishable isn't a real word," Claire muttered, gripping the bar for support. A-Anthony?

I appeared next to them in an instant, smirking.

"Too much booze?" I asked with a snicker.

She glared up at me. "Get me home."

I snickered again. "Okay, okay."

"Anthony, take her while you can, because if you don't I'll steal her and—"

Holly punched him in the back. "Don't even think about finishing that sentence. Gods, this is the last time I'm ever letting you drink; you're an absolute creep."

"…And then after Claire and I are finished, perhaps you and Minerva could—"

Holly punched him again, this time visibly harder. "Don't even." She made a face.

"You pansies," Mulch scoffed, and punctuated his remark with a belch. "Can't take a little bit of alcohol. Pathetic."

"Mulch, I'm going to kill you," Claire said simply.

At that, I simply cackled more. I opened the rental car door and got Claire and Artemis inside, and they were followed by Mulch and Holly. Minerva was about to slide in after them when she winced and drew away from the car.

"What?"

"I forgot my purse. I'll only be a second."

I rolled my eyes, folded my arms, and leaned against the car, not wanting to enter it for fear of what the drunken Artemis might be saying. All around me, happy ravers stumbled over themselves as they got in their cars and taxis. I yawned and stretched my arms skyward, before catching a glimpse of a trio of young men. They grinned at each other, laughing at some joke one had made. I smiled to myself, remembering with a twinge of bittersweet emotion the days when I was human, when I used to laugh like that with people.

Then in a moment, I was alone.

Fate—no—I had taken away everything I'd cared about, everyone I'd loved. I'd ruined everything in a moment of sheer stupidity.

…Woah, she's hot…

…Come over here…

…What I'd like…

…We'd show her…

My head perked up, looking for the unfortunate young lady who'd caught the attention of the three creeps. My eyes narrowed as I saw one of them grinning stupidly at Minerva. The three guys whispered to each other, laughing at each other's downright nasty jokes and not-so-hidden innuendoes. My fist curled.

One of the guys inched forward, like a crab creeping towards a body of water. Minerva, oblivious to them, lingered at the curb and searched for our car.

"Hey," greeted the creep who'd made his way to the girl. She nodded briefly in acknowledgement and began to step out into the parking lot. He got a hold of her arm.

I don't think so, I let the thought ring clear into his head, and I was there in a nanosecond. My arm wrapped itself around the confused Minerva, and I shot a wicked amber glare at the three guys. They all seemed to shrink a few inches.

I steered her to the car, my spine rigid with anger, and almost ripped the door off. Thankfully Holly opened it from the inside before I could break anything and helped Minerva in.

I drove a little too fast that night.

And the second we parked at the hotel, Artemis lost his drinks all over the pavement.

oOo

I leered at the Berlin skyline, still annoyed by those goons who had tried to seduce Minerva. My reaction had startled me, though. I'd never felt so… protective, so territorial; not even with Claire. Not since Lisa.

I pressed my lips together when Minerva padded onto the balcony behind me.

"Hello," she muttered.

"Hey," I replied, trying not to sound mad. I don't think it worked.

"You…I…eh, thank you."

"For what?"

"For rescuing me from whatever that boy was planning."

"Don't mention it."

"To be honest, I feel rather stupid. I—"

"Seriously. Don't mention it."

"Sorry…"

I sighed and turned around. She stood before me, wearing the same outfit she'd worn to the rave, only she'd donned a long pink angora cardigan. She walked silently to my side.

"Hey."

"Hm?"

"You look good tonight. I'm diggin' that hair clip."

She smiled and fingered it self-consciously.

We stared out from the balcony together, leaning against the wall as we gazed upon the Berlin cityscape. My gaze shifted the slightest to Minerva, huddled in her angora cardigan, her face spangled in starlight. My breath slowed.

I stared out at the city again, at the lights, the people, the general nightlife. Somehow, however, I couldn't bring myself to see it as more exciting or interesting as the girl standing next to me.

"Minerva." It was a murmur, a breath on my lips. Her ethereal blue gaze flickered to meet mine.

"Yes?"

I took a slow, measured breath, catching her scent as I did so. She smelled of lilies.

The words caught in my throat. "I…" I choked. I could see the wonder in her eyes, the anticipation of what she knew I would say next. My eyes swept across her face, from her beautiful eyes to her mane of golden hair, to her graceful jaw to… her throat…

"I just want to say that…" The words died again.

It was stupid that I was so caught up. I should just be able to blurt out what I needed to say, just as I did on a regular basis. Somehow though, when I tried to say what I'd felt for ages it seemed, I couldn't.

I tried a different form of communication by extending a hand. Without looking away for an instant, she reached up and clasped my own larger hand in her two small. Lilies…

She slowly brought my hand to her face, holding it tenderly to her cheek.

Lub-dub. Lub-dub.

She was silent, patiently waiting for me to get my head straight. I stepped closer. I leaned in. Our faces were just inches apart.

Her eyes said endless possibility, boundless dreams. Her pulse said, I'm curious to see how far this goes, too.

Lubdub. Lubdub. Lubdub.

With my other hand I began at her forehead, tracing a line with the caress of my fingertips to her right cheek, then down her jaw to her chin, down her chin and along her neck, stopping with my index finger between her collar bones.

Lubdublubdublubdub.

I can't do this… said a quiet and disdainful voice in the back of my mind. I was too far gone, we both knew that.

I leaned in as though I were about to kiss her, and I probably was. Her cheek brushed mine as I held her. That's when she knew what was happening, what was about to go down. She didn't even struggle as my instincts took over, as I lost every shred of control, as I dipped my head and bit her.

With my lips pressed against her left collar bone, I drank. Her eyes fluttered, and her lips drew back in a wince as she felt her blood being sucked from her body. It was beautiful, the taste of her sweet, metallic blood. I cradled her, holding her as she became weaker and weaker. Her knees buckled until she finally collapsed in my arms.

My eyes grew huge as I drew away and realized what I'd done. Her pale, limp form hung lifelessly in my arms.

My stomach turned to ice as I fell to my knees and gingerly set her on the ground. Minerva's pulse was slow—too slow—and her face had turned pale and sallow.

"C-Claire…" I called with a trembling voice. "CLAIRE!!"

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And there's chapter 21. Enjoy the cliffhanger ^_^