Thank you to everyone who read and/or reviewed the last chapters.

Elle: Evil author strikes again! Mwahaha! =D I would say Ruby just wants to be a vamp and have fun. Not run around getting revenge for a pack she never knew and cared about. ^^ Logan's done a great job at messing up. She certainly doesn't take to new people very well.

Raindrop: I'm glad you've been enjoying the stories! And thank you for your feedback on the characters!

Daniella: Peace indeed! Thanks for trying to keep the balance! :)

Jojo: Maybe... maybe not...

Polly: Thank you! Glad you've been enjoying the story!

I'm gonna try and reply to each guest - it's a little tricky when most of them are anon and I have no idea who I'm replying to. I'll have to number them.

Guest 1: It's a shame you want to walk away when there are only a few chapters left but fair enough. I see that it wasn't the outcome you were probably hoping for but I'm afraid this is the story I wanted to write and explore so I am sticking with the storyline. I won't change what happened to Alan.

Guest 2: Stone cold and proud. :) It's the life of a horror writer.

Guest 3: Thanks for the feedback on the writing!

Guest 4: That simile had me snorting in my drink.


Bonnie lifted her head when Edgar and Sam had walked into her hospital room. She glanced at her clock. The time showing it was almost midnight and she frowned.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

"Alan's gone," Sam said.

"Shit," Bonnie pushed herself up into a sitting position. "Have you been out searching for him?"

"We've just come back from town and we can't find him anywhere," Edgar replied. Bonnie had never heard Edgar's voice carry so much fear before. He looked completely dishevelled. Hair stuck up everywhere and there were dark, purple shadows forming underneath his eyes. When he spoke, every word cracked and shook. He looked completely lost and Bonnie had never seen Edgar like this before. Not for any vampire hunt… not last summer. Edgar was always the one who kept things under control. He had naturally become the leader of the gang, arranging all the hunts and keeping everything and everyone together.

"Edgar, I'm sorry," she said.

"Has he been here?" Edgar asked, desperately looking for a 'yes' but she slowly shook his head and he closed his eyes. His shoulders hunched.

"I haven't seen him. Have you tried Bridget's house?"

"It's in complete darkness. We tried throwing stones at her window but there was no reply," Sam said.

"I've got an awful feeling they've both gone to hunt the vampires," Edgar said. "We were supposed to attack tomorrow in the daylight but I don't think Bridget ever wanted to agree to that plan. And if she went off hunting, Alan probably tagged along. It's not the first time they've both gone off together. They're a bad influence on each other."

"We could do with knowing where the vampires' nest is," Bonnie said.

"But I don't know where that is!"

"Ed, calm down," Sam mumbled. His eyes were bloodshot and he kept yawning, just as tired as Edgar. Bonnie frowned at the both of them.

"Neither of you are in any shape to keep hunting," she told them.

"I can't just go home," Edgar argued. "What if something's happened? Like…"

He pressed his lips tightly against each other.

"Like he's feeding?" Bonnie finished for him. She glanced at Sam who had lines creasing in his forehead and she knew that even he was worried that Alan was sealing his own fate tonight. Sam had been so positive up to now but seeing him just as concerned made her feel sick. The three of them would be stupid to believe that Alan was a hundred per cent alright. He wasn't. Bonnie knew of his situation too well. There had been so many times she had come close to feeding. Hell, she had even started drinking blood at one point before she managed to take control and break away before she made that first kill and lost herself forever. No doubt Alan was at that stage where those little things about being a vampire were starting to tempt him. His feelings and approach to humanity would certainly be changing.

"We've got to keep going," Edgar whispered with a helpless shrug.

"Fine but… just keep checking in, okay? I'll stay awake in case Alan comes here. Hopefully it's just Alan who's missing and Bridget's at home." She looked at Edgar and Sam before sighing. "No. Knowing her, she probably will be out with him."

There was a knock at the door of Bonnie's room and Lucy peeked her head in. "Sam, what are you doing up?"

"Alan's gone off on his own again," Sam said, unable to help another yawn.

"You haven't been hunting in this state? Sam, you're exhausted."

"Lucy, my brother is out there and I'm worried he's taking that next step," Edgar said.

"Phone Michael then. He'll come with you both. No, Sam!" She raised a finger up before her youngest son could protest. "I understand you feel you have to do this but not when it's just the two of you and not when you're clearly not awake enough. Michael will go with you."

Sam sighed, shutting his eyes briefly. He was too exhausted to argue with his mother. And the more he thought about it, the more her suggestion – or rather, her order – made sense and he would be quite happy to have a third person with them. Especially if it was Michael who he knew could pack a punch if he had to.

"Okay, Mom," he said and she patted his shoulder.

"Thank you."

Sam gestured "We'll head out again. If Alan or Bridget turn up, can you tell them to come to us? We'll be around Downtown."

"Sure," Lucy smiled and waved the boys out before turning to Bonnie. Seconds after Edgar and Sam left the door opened again and Star popped her head in. She flashed a small smile when she saw Bonnie sitting up.

"Sorry, I know visiting hours are over but I just wanted to see how you are," Star said and walked in. "And get a little break from A&E. It's busy tonight, even for a receptionist."

Bonnie nodded, trying to force a smile to her face but she didn't have the energy or the heart to tug her lips up. Since she woke up in hospital from Marko's attack and remembered everything that had happened she had been switching emotions in the blink of an eye. She had been crying, feeling numb and staring blankly into the distance, crying again, staring blankly. Sometimes the tears felt like they had run out but then there would be an awful tug on her heart, the flip of her stomach and she was suddenly thinking about what her mother's death meant. How she wasn't going to be there anymore. She wouldn't be seeing Bonnie graduate, celebrate her grades, support her when MS got too much for her, no Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday… she wouldn't be there for anything else and those thoughts sent Bonnie into hysterical wailing again.

"I don't know how I am," Bonnie admitted. Star came to sit next to her in the chair, placing a hand on Bonnie's and she continued to smile sympathetically. Lucy had moved to the foot of the bed and the company was almost comforting for Bonnie.

"Honey, if there's anything we can do to help…" Lucy's voice trailed off and Bonnie could tell by the weak smile she flashed that despite her age and experience, she had no idea what to say to her. Nor did Star as they held hands. All she could was gaze at her with those wide brown eyes but that was enough. It was probably best none of them tried to talk much about it to her or try and offer her advice. Bonnie's eyes were too sore and puffy from the crying she had already been doing.

"Thanks," she said, eyes flickering back and forth from Lucy to Star.

"They'll be stopped," Lucy added and there seemed to be a flicker of determination in her eyes as she said that. "I know it looks like everything is against everyone but I have faith in all of you."

Bonnie's eyes watered and finally that smile tugged up on her face. She couldn't bring herself to fully believe what Lucy was saying, feeling a sort of surrender herself that these vampires were going to succeed in getting revenge for last summer. But it was still nice to hear those words. She was grateful that Lucy had put her trust in all of them to beat anything supernatural that threatened their lives. She knew it was terrifying for Lucy to have her son wander out at dark, secluded hours to hunt down creatures that could tear a person's throat out in seconds. But she allowed it, trusting Sam and the rest of them.

"That means a lot, Lucy," Bonnie said and the older woman smiled before pulling up a second chair.

"I'm sure Alan can fight it," Star added, having her turn now to be optimistic and encouraging. "I've been there before. When you think everything is completely hopeless. And then suddenly it turns out alright in the end."

Bonnie nodded. "You were a half vampire for quite a while."

"A few weeks. And I did it," Star said.

"So it's possible to fight," Bonnie said.

Star squeezed Bonnie's hand. "I've seen Alan hunting vampires. Unfortunately, he was hunting me at the time but I saw how driven he was. He considers himself a hero and I'm sure that dedication to killing vampires will be the key to him fighting. He can do it."

"No, he can't."

The voice startled them. None of them had heard the footsteps. They weren't even sure how long he had been there.

Bonnie's skin turned cold at the sight of Marko. There was fresh blood around his blood. Stains down his top and there was a shine to the liquid. It was still fresh. He had recently fed, which wasn't an advantage for them. Vampires were always pumped straight after feeding. At their strongest.

Marko stood in the doorway before he smirked and took a step in. Just one step. But it had Lucy and Star standing up, inching closer to Bonnie who trembled underneath the sheets. She was still sore. Weak. Not in any position to fight and while she was glad that there was at least two other people, she couldn't muster up any faith in Lucy and Star. It was horrible to think that when they were both lovely women but Lucy wasn't a vampire hunter and Star had relied on others to help her when it came to David's pack. They weren't fighters.

"The brat gave in," Marko declared, flashing his fangs. "There's one more body thanks to the toad."

Bonnie fought back tears. She breathed in loudly, trying to control the flood of emotions that wanted to drown her. "You're lying."

"No. And you're other friend… you know the annoying, mouthy one? Dying. Hopefully. If her sister and toad boy don't do the stupid thing and turn her. The emotional idiots have done a disappearing act with her."

"I don't believe it," Bonnie snapped.

Marko sighed, raising his hands. "Fine. Don't. Go and find Alan and Bernice. I'll be there to say I told you so as they rip out your throat. They're your enemies now."

"I have crosses in my drawer," Bonnie said. "Lucy, the water in the bottle is blessed."

Star and Lucy were quick to move. Marko chuckled as Star opened up the drawer in Bonnie's bedside table, taking two of crosses out. She kept one, passing the other to Bonnie. Lucy unscrewed the bottle and gripped it tightly with her two shaking hands.

"Weapons?" Star asked.

"Edgar left a bag underneath the bed with stakes in."

Star nodded sharply and stretched out her hand, holding the cross towards Marko. He had taken another step forward.

"Is this supposed to scare me away?" Marko asked.

Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "You know, thinking back, every time you've attempted to kill me, you're always chased off harmed. Don't you think you should start taking it as a sign?"

"Harmed," Marko repeated. "You never manage to kill me though. You couldn't even get me killed when I was sleeping. Bit pathetic when a vampire hunter can't even aim properly at a sleeping vampire. Maybe you should starting taking it as a sign that you're never going to get rid of me."

"What's going on?"

Bonnie's eyes widened as Doctor Mathias walked in. His mouth hung open at the sight of three females armed with crosses and a water bottle. Then at the boy who would have looked like a normal teenager if it weren't for the fangs, demonic face and glowing eyes. The clipboard dropped from Doctor Mathias's hands as his eyes focused on Marko and Bonnie knelt up on the bed.

"Ask questions later. Doctor Mathias, you need to get out!"

"No, I see what's going on," Doctor Mathias said. The horror on his face softened. His parted lips closed, becoming a grim, straight line and he slowly shook his head.

"Mathias?" Lucy whispered.

Max, she thought. Max Mathias.

"What is it?" Bonnie asked Lucy.

"You're doing whatever the hell you want, boy," Doctor Mathias said. A voice so calm for somebody who had just walked in on a vampire. Realisation quickly hit Bonnie as pieces rapidly put themselves together. She swore under her breath and edged closer to Lucy.

"You're him, aren't you?" Bonnie asked. She slid of the bed, wobbling as she tried to stay up. She felt Lucy's arm around her waist for support. "All this time…"

"I wasn't especially close to my dear, deceased brother but he did have a good idea in blending in with humans. You really can find the perfect disguise," Doctor Mathias said although he kept his glaring eyes on Marko. "But this isn't the plan."

"You say you want revenge but you're allowing most of them to live? Edgar staked me!" He pointed towards Bonnie, then Lucy." That bitch threw everything I gave her right back into my face! That woman got Max killed!"

Lucy's jaw tightened as did her grip around Bonnie.

"Max got himself killed. I told him all those months ago he was causing trouble trying to turn a whole family. He could have got us all exposed."

"So what was the point? If you're not killing them, what is the point of getting revenge?"

"Life long suffering," Doctor Mathias whispered.

"Living with my mom's death for the rest of my life," Bonnie said through gritted teeth. Her cheeks were wet with tears.

"Edgar living with the fact that he couldn't save his own brother from turning," Doctor Mathias added.

"You bastard," Star whispered, shaking her head.

"The children need to learn not to play around with vampires," Doctor Mathias growled. "That includes you, Marko."

Marko bared his teeth at the Head Vampire. His fingers flexed, looking ready to claw into Doctor Mathias. The older man's face stayed human apart from the threatening glow of yellow in his eyes. The three females watched them carefully, unsure of what to do. Neither vampire seemed ready to team up and kill them but there was also doubt that they would be able to escape out of the room.

"Vampires don't start fights with each other," Doctor Mathias warned. "We'll get exposed. You'll find yourself being the hunted."

"Vampires are stronger than humans," Marko sneered.

"You're an idiot and you'll be responsible for death of vampires."

Marko's lips twisted in a scowl. He scoffed once.

"My family's dead. Those guys were my brothers and while Max was annoying as fuck, he gave me a new life when my human one was full of shit. Everything's been taken away from me. I don't care anymore."

"Son –."

"I am not your son!"

They moved too fast for Bonnie, Lucy and Star to see properly. There was a sudden snap and Doctor Mathias was on the floor, holding his arm that was bent at an unnatural angle. Marko was at the doorway, ready to leave but his head turned for one last glare at Doctor Mathias. Then at Bonnie.

"I'm done with your pack. I want revenge and I'll get it. My way this time."

By the time Doctor Mathias had stood up, Marko was gone.

"A shame," Doctor Mathias said. He cringed at his arm, gripping it in his other hand. Clenching his teeth, he made a quick jerk. Still, despite the injury he had just received he laughed. "He's a strong vampire. You can always do with the strong ones."

"You've been here for nine months," Bonnie said. She held out her cross as she stepped forward. "All this time you were the Head Vampire."

"You can attempt to attack me now but it won't do anything. I'm afraid Marko was telling the truth." He grinned. A cruel, mocking grin. "Your dear friends, Bernice and Alan, are like us now. It's too late to save them."

"You know, I'm getting very tired and fed-up with all the vampires around here," Lucy snapped. "You've destroyed these young kids' lives. They're only teenagers."

"Like I said, children need to learn not to play with vampires," Doctor Mathias repeated calmly. He laughed when Star dived under the bed for the bag of stakes. "Dear, there's no need for them. I have everything I wanted. I have a gang of vampire hunters torn apart. You've witnessed what happens to your loved ones when you go against a species that are stronger and more powerful than you're ever going to be. It's Marko I'd watch out for now. Maybe you all should start practising your aiming skills."

He picked up his clipboard, nodding politely at the three females as if nothing had happened. Going back to the professional Doctor Mathias and acting like he was checking in on a patient. "We all have a problem on our hands if that boy really wants revenge. Perhaps we need each other now. I'll be in touch."

"Be in touch – what the freaking fuck?" Bonnie growled but it was too late. Doctor Mathias had left the room. It took her, Star and Lucy a while before they felt brave enough to put down their weapons and Bonnie sank back onto the bed, trembling all over.

"Did he really mean what he said about Bernice and Alan?" Star asked.

"I want to say no. But Marko also said Alan had turned. And Bridget…" Her voice trailed off, hand flying to her mouth. She took a deep breath in, closing her eyes briefly as she used her breathing to calm herself down.

"Alan and Bernice have disappeared with Bridget," Bonnie said. "I think we've definitely lost two of ours to the vampires." Her head dipped thinking about her two friends, unable to help picturing them as full vampires now. Blood stained mouths and snarling. A different image to the poker-faced, quiet boy and gentle, calm girl she had known for years.

"To kill her?"

"I don't know what's happening," Bonnie said. "We need to get in touch with Edgar and Sam." She tried to get up but wobbled, still feeling pretty weak and exhausted. She was due out of hospital tomorrow but after being attacked by Marko, this room felt incredibly insecure. She'd feel better protecting herself and setting up defences at home, in a place that she was familiar with.

"I don't think you're going to be able to walk out of here right now," Lucy said.

"I can't stay here tonight. They're letting me out tomorrow anyway."

"I'll stay here tonight with you," Star said. "My shift ends in a hour. I'll just sneak back up here."

Bonnie fidgeted uncomfortably. While Star had stepped up to protect her just then she still felt unsure of having her help keep watch. She still remembered that lost half vampire Star who didn't make any move to help herself get out of David's pack. The girl was gentle and incredibly sisterly. There wasn't a nasty bone in her body. She would never be the first person Bonnie turned to for protection.

Her lack of energy stopped her from arguing. She slumped backwards, resting her head against the wall and shrugged. "Fine. Take a look in my bag. You've got stakes and more Holy water. You know where the crosses are. Everything you need."

"I'll try and get in touch with the boys," Lucy said, moving to leave. "Explain what's happened."

Bonnie nodded, fighting back the tears as Lucy left the room and Star went over to the bag under the bed for supplies. Her heart was racing again, this time for Bridget and what had happened to her. It was too late to worry about Bernice and Alan. From the sound of it, they were long gone and the enemies now. But Bridget was still human and… dying? She was dying and had been taken by Bernice and Alan. Marko suspected they were turning her.

Bonnie squeezed her eyes shut again to stop the tears that continuously threatened to flow. Whatever was happening there was only Edgar and Sam left to go up against them all. Their numbers were lower than ever.


Marko found himself in a place he hadn't set foot in for months. Not since the night he lost everyone.

The cave was a mess. With his old pack gone, people had clearly taken advantage of the situation. Through the months, people had ventured inside. Finding that nobody actually lived here anymore. The boys had collected trinkets over the weeks they had been living there. As he searched, most of them had disappeared from the cave. He wanted to find whoever had stolen their old things even though they would have been left here when it was time for the boys to move again. Still, they always liked to fill their temporary shelter up with their interests.

Like the pile of books Dwayne used to have in the corner. Some of them had been torn up. Whoever had trespassed must have thought it was funny to go around ripping out pages. He picked up one book, a battered and ripped copy of Lord of the Flies that Dwayne reread until the spine had multiple creases and wrinkles. He and Paul always used to joke at Dwayne's fondness for reading. Not to be cruel but they found themselves amused by a vampire who killed and wandered the Boardwalk, assisting in causing trouble, yet would return to their shelter to spend the rest of the night reading. It was always brotherly teasing between all of them.

He had been a meek, little thing when David came across him. A nineteen year old boy with no proper home after running away at sixteen. It had been a hasty move. His friends had decided to leave their hometown to pursue their music. Search for fame. At the same time, Marko had been getting fed up with failing school and constantly arguing with his father over art. It was the only thing Marko cared about but that was never good enough. Not in his father's eyes. It was a rash, maybe selfish, decision but when he found out his friends were packing in school and searching for a chance to become famous musicians he followed. South Philadelphia held a life he didn't want. School, his father, being compared to an academically successful older brother. Not all the memories were there but they were enough to keep reminding him how he glad he was to be free of that human life.

He hadn't known he was being changed. The boys had welcomed him and invited him to hang out. He had ended up stoned and drunk most nights with them but David, Paul and Dwayne were fun. Easy to talk to. On one of those nights, David must have slipped him Max's blood because the next day he had woken up and already had that burning thirst. It had been scary at first. Feeling himself change and become someone who revelled in hunting others when he always saw himself as a non-confrontational sort of guy. He had given in a few times to test his newfound strength and agility, finally getting his own back on a group of older guys who had decided to mug him as a human. It had been fun showing them that the short, quiet boy was nobody to mess with.

When he decided to turn fully, taking the life of his former best friend, he was welcoming the vampire life. Ready for a whole new Marko. David, Paul and Dwayne were his family.

"Logan's pissed us both off," Charlotte said, wandering into the cave. She glanced around at Marko's former home. "So, this is what's left of the old hotel."

"David, our leader, was interested in local history. The minute we came to Santa Carla, he went straight to this place." Marko began to wander around the fountain, gently touching the chandelier that had fallen into the middle of it. "We've been in a lot of places but this was my favourite."

"You miss them," she stated.

"Of course. They were like my brothers."

"I'm sorry."

"I'll get revenge," he said, kicking a crushed can of beer out of his way.

"I'll join you," Charlotte said. She had her arms folded, feet apart like she was ready to act there and then. "Logan was supposed to help us. Help me win Alan and help you avenge your old pack."

"Logan talks bullshit," Marko said. He clenched his jaw, feeling his free hand ball up into a fist. Marko wanted the revenge to be cold blooded murder. That's all he wanted. Each one of those hunters dead. He was willing to put up with Alan's turning so Charlotte could get what she wanted but then Bernice had been turned. That blonde, timid friend of Bonnie's and it was one hunter too many. Now Bernice had taken off with Bridget with Alan following them and he knew what was happening. They still had traces of their humanity left and they weren't prepared to lose Bridget. A sister and a girlfriend. The relationships were too close. And in turning Bridget, that destroyed Charlotte's hopes. She wanted Alan and she still wasn't getting him even though he was a full vampire now and supposed to be on their side.

"He said I'd get Alan. That when he's fully turned I'd have him. He wouldn't want anything to do with that sour faced bitch. But it's always her." She spat those last words out through her teeth, feeling her fingers flex into claws. Oh, how she would love to rip out Bridget's eyes or claw out her heart and crush it into mush. Seeing Alan and Bernice turn didn't feel like good enough revenge. It wasn't enough to see Bridget losing two people she cared about. She wanted to see Bridget lose her own life too.

Like Marko, she just wanted death.

"Maybe you and I should just take things into our own hands," she said.

"You want to team up with me?"

"If you want them dead, you kill them," she told him. "Logan once told me if I want something, I should go get it. Of course, he never told me it wasn't as straight forward as that. But we should, you know… get what we want. We'll team up and get it."

Marko rolled his eyes at the recently turned vampire. "Girl, give up on that toad boy."

Charlotte gave a determinate shake of her head. "I can still get Bridget out of the picture. She's the only obstacle. Besides, I always planned on getting rid of her. Serves the bitch right for trying to steal my guy."

"I still say give it up. But who am I to deny someone their plan? I'm not Logan." He jumped off the fountain, glancing around the cave. "But there are only two of us. With vampires and vampire hunters after us now, we're outnumbered. And we need numbers."

"Starting new packs has been nothing but trouble for you," Charlotte said. "Even Logan's had a nightmare doing it."

"I don't need a pack. I just need pawns. Enough to be causing trouble and keeping everyone busy. Then we sneak in and kill who we want to kill." Marko grinned at her and she responded with her own. "We'll lay low for now. Let things calm down while we get a few new vampires running around and bringing the attention. Welcome to the big leagues, girl. I'll show you how to really deal with the people who piss you off."


Thank you for reading. If you would like to leave a comment, feel free. Chapter 30 will be up next Saturday.