Argh, I'm in a predicament. As the 'Half Dead' Chapters draw longer and longer, I consider Putting them into a second Fanfiction so that it's kinda like Book 1, 2 etc. But I wanted to ask your opinion. D'you guys think it'd be confusing if I put it in a second one? And also, I'd like to ask an opinion on names for it if you guys think it's a good idea – I would need your consent to use it of cours Thanks!

Chapter 24

For the first time, in a long, long time, my mind had gone clear.

I wasn't having a nightmare, or a dream, or anything really – more like... darkness speaking. I heard a young, smooth, beautiful voice that I somehow recognised speaking inside my head.

'Venus,' it spoke very slowly 'I can tell that you have chosen him. And I beg of you, listen very closely'

Suddenly I was in my head. I was just floating through the black, but I felt at peace, comfortable – safe.

'When you leave this dream state, questions will be asked that you cannot answer. Only I can answer them.' She spoke clearly, with an obvious yet unrecognisable accent.

'Who are you? And where the heck are you from, your accent is really weird' I spoke, but my mouth didn't move, I just looked around me.

'I can't remember where I am from, but I am fluent in multi languages. A long life leads to many things.'

I smiled suddenly, but I didn't understand why.

'That still doesn't answer my first question... who are you?' I asked, moving my arms about as if I was in water, trying to move.

'You, child, will find that out later. For the moment, remember – make sure to know who your friends are, things are only getting harder from here'

And with that it went black.

I opened my eyes heavily to Eric's back. Though I can't say I wasn't enjoying it, I wasn't half surprised.

The last I could remember, Eric was jumping in front of me to take the maenad's hit – protect me – and then I just...

I didn't remember. I sat on the stairs leading down to the basement where we slept, watching Eric work.

He moved our coffins together, and as they touched he placed his hand on their meeting sides and pulled them off. In a way, it was a kind of makeshift double coffin – like a double bed, only for the dead.

Eric leant forward on the coffins and threw himself into deep thought. I tried to enter his mind, but found myself blocked by a mind wall. Eric had a very strong character – and sometimes that reflected his mind, making his mind near on impossible to read, even for me.

Almost like he felt my mind budging on his, Eric turned and his gaze slowly fell on me. I smiled weakly up at him, feeling like an old bitty in a bed.

'Hey' I smiled, blushing a little at my stupidity.

'Welcome back to us' Eric grinned lopsidedly. He shifted slightly, and thrust his hand into his pocket.

'Feeling... thirsty?' He smiled.

I hugged my knees – probably just to hide my growling stomach, but mainly to hide myself from Eric's eyes. He'd always had eyes on me – y'know before I'd told him – but now he made it more obvious, and I have to be honest that it made me insecure.

Slowly I nodded, and Eric chuckled lightly.

'I suppose I will have to go then...' Eric's smile fell slightly, and I stood up and stepped towards him. I went on my toes and gave him a peck, which he answered by leaning forward for more. I clutched the collar of his shirt and kissed him again.

As I pulled away, I smiled 'I'm glad that I told you...'

Eric pulled his arms around my waist. 'I'm glad as well'

'Do you have to go?' I dropped my smile. Hell, we'd only just been re-united and released from any worry that it could end soon.

'If you do not feed...' Eric began, and then drifted off into silence.

'If I don't feed, what? What'll happen?' I questioned. Eric shook his head, shaking off the whole back and forth of this particular conversation.

I dropped from my tip toes and put my head on Eric's chest.

For a while we just stood there silently. Life felt weird normal. After a little while, Eric ducked and kissed my head, caressing my hair a little and then he was gone.

Sometimes I forgot that Eric was a vampire. I had seen so many weird, detestable vamps since I'd been changed that it really just seemed like me and him were normal. But we would never be normal, and we would never be safe. For a moment – just a moment – I had this itching feeling inside of me, that told me things were far from over.

I went over to the wall and sat down, putting my head to my knees and listening to the world around me. Upstairs I could hear Eric talking to someone, and after a minute or two I knew who it was. Before I could even get up Chow was in front of me.

'Chow!' I beamed, jumping up and hugging him.

'I see it worked out' Chow smiled over my shoulder. I pulled away enthusiastically and grinned, 'It most certainly did'