Michael Emerson was on a search. For what? That was simple. He was looking for his sister. His twin. The literal apple to his pie. They had slept the entire day away and Michael was confused when he woke up to his sister missing. He knew that she had been there with him. She was his twin after all, and he would sense his sister anywhere. Michael had noticed that she had been acting strange when he invited himself into her room. Her curls were all over the place and she seemed to be out of breath. Maybe even a little aggravated with him for even knocking on her door and coming in. Okay so maybe is the wrong word for it. She was absolutely aggravated with me. He had been worried and maybe just a tad scared. His memory from the night before was a bit hazy. A rolling fog and laughter were the prominent features of the night that ran around in his head. There was also an echoing, a chanting of his name. It sounded proud in a way. For the life of him, he could not remember. But some part of him knew that Bell knew. She knew everything. Always had. Their entire childhood Bell always knew what to do.

This evening, she had seemed withdrawn. It was almost like she was not even in the room. It had scared Michael. He could not imagine his twin not being there. Just a door away or within arm's reach. He had thought a ride to the boardwalk would have cleared her head and brought him the answers he needed to what was going on. But she had leapt off his bike before the engine had even quieted, disappearing into the moving crowd. In a second, she was gone, and Michael was left on his bike with so many questions on his mind. Pushing down on the kickstand, he stepped off his bike and took off after her. She was always the faster of the two. Michael could remember one time when they were seven. Their mom had taken them to a park not far from their home in Phoenix. Sam had gotten a little sick in the car and she had taken him to the restroom to clean him up. The twins were supposed to stay outside the bathroom while she cleaned up their little brother. In all honesty, it was not the twins' fault for doing what they did. By the time their mother had returned from cleaning up Sam, both twins were covered head to toe in mud, laughing together in a puddle. It was one of the rare times they had seen their mother furious. At seeing them, their mother had sat Sam down and took off after them. Michael would never forget that moment. Bell had seen their mother coming and had launched herself out of the puddle they had been sharing, running as fast as her little legs could take her. Their mother had instantly given into chasing Bell, leaving Michael alone, watching as his sister gave their mother a run for her money. It would be years before Michael understood that Bell did that so that their mother would focus on her and leave him alone. She had always put him first. His twin had always been protective of her brothers.

Pushing through the endless crowds, Michael heard a familiar laugh, echoing across the distance amongst the screams and music of the boardwalk nightlife. He would know that laugh anywhere. It was one he had spent his entire life hearing. It was one he could not imagine his life without. Picking up his speed, ignoring all in his path, he heard her laugh again. Whipping his head toward the sound of happiness, he found her sitting on the back of a very familiar bike. She was surrounded by the others as they lounged on their own respective bikes. Her curls bounced as she nodded at something Dwayne said, a wide smile on her face. Paul and Marko seemed to be pushing at each other while joining in on their conversation. Where is Davi-

The question was abruptly answered as the object of his wandering mind came into sight behind his sister. A gloved hand drifted over her wild curls before curling around her shoulder and pulling her back toward his chest. Michael was shocked to see Bell not even flinch at the contact or even glance to see who had touched her. Did she truly trust those that sat around her that much? Michael opened his mouth to call out to her when blue eyes locked onto his own. It was quite possibly the first time that he had not seen David harboring a winter glint. If anything, there seemed to be warmth basking underneath the surface. David's eyes remained on him as a voice whispered Star is waiting for you. Michael's eyes widened at the intrusion. It was not exactly a pleasant feeling yet not a terrible, grating pressure. How did he-

Now is not the time for questions, Michael. Go to Star. Michael quirked his eyebrow at David and began to retort as another errant demand reached him.

We will meet with you later. All will be explained.

This was his sister here. The person that had been beside him his entire life. It made no sense for him to follow the command of the voice in his head that sounded oddly just like David. Yet even as he wanted to fight, his feet were already moving him in the opposite direction. His back had just turned when her laughter rang out once more. Hands clenched at his side, Michael began the march away from his sister. All at the command of another.

David had told him to go to Star but was that even really an option? Star had been giving him both a welcoming smile and a cold shoulder since the night he met her. He truly had no clue where he stood with the gypsy beauty. There was something about her that just stumped him. Maybe it was the little light in her eyes that he only saw when they were alone. He had noticed how withdrawn she had become when they were around the others, and it had made him question the situation. Why was Star living with the others? Was she on the run? The idea of being a runaway and having absolute freedom had been a passing thought of Michael's in the early days of his parents divorce, but, in the end, rationality ruled out. Star could not be any older than him and yet there were no parents in the picture for any of them. It only made him wonder if they were in trouble. Was Star hiding? It could explain why she tried to hide herself around him. Michael had a good feeling that she liked him at the base level. It was something that they had in common, but he was unsure if she would even think of entertaining a romantic relationship with him. Entertaining- I think I have been reading one too many of Mom's romance novels. Gotta tell Sam to stop slipping them into my room.

Michael took one last look at his sister as the other patrons of the boardwalk wandered between them. Bell had always been stunning. Their grandfather had always joked that Bell had gotten all the good genes from him while Michael had inherited his looks from his father. The joke was only made funny with the fact that the twins were nearly identical minus their differing genders. Tonight just further proved that. Underneath the post lamps, she was glowing. Her smile was radiant as she laughed at something Paul was saying while David continued to run a leather clad hand down her arm. Marko was pitching into the conversation, his hands moving wildly as though trying to emphasize the coolness of what he was saying. Dwayne was leaned onto his bike, shaking his head at the antics of the three, but there was a small smile curling his lips. The sight of it was what had stayed Michael in the first place. Dwayne had been nothing but silent since he had been introduced to him. Minus the laughter that had emanated from him as they had raced to the sunken hotel. The scene was picture perfect and his sister was truly the star.

Oh shit. I forgot about Star. Not really good at this whole romantic situation, Mikey.

He once more looked into David's direction and thought, Keep her safe. His back was already turned and he was already marching before he could see the reaction of David to the demand. If he had only stayed in his spot for just another minute then he would have seen the four teens nod their head in sync while carrying on their conversation. Running a hand through his hair, he let out a rather loud sigh. Romance was not his forte and he would have to be at the end of his rope to ask his mother for advice. She would never let him live it down and she would demand to meet the girl that had stumped her son. It was not the thought of Star meeting his mother that spooked him, but the thought of Star actually wanting to meet his family.

I may be in too deep.

"I will have you know that I am a master of disguise. Not even Marko would recognize me."

Bell lifted one brow, "Really? Cut your hair then."

Both of Paul's hands shot up as though to protect his golden glory as he took a step back from her.

"Lil' Bit, that is too far and you know it."

A leather clad hand tugged on a lone curl, "Be good, flower."

She was quick to spin around and tug on the lapels of his black trench coat, pulling him closer. His firm chest was quickly pressed against her own, sparking a pang of hunger that she was quickly beginning to associate with him. One hand released his lapel and trailed down his abdomen, noting the tensing of muscles at her movement. The other ran over his shoulder and began to curl through the hair at the base of his neck. She noticed his quick intake of breath at her actions. With one hand still in his hair, she reached up and tugged on the feather that dangled from his left ear, "You first."

Leaning back from him, the wild smile that was on her face began to fade at the look on his. It was not a lack of happiness that made her smile go away. Oh no. That most definitely was not the case in this situation. Her smile of mischief died at the very heat that smoldered from just the look in his eyes. One side of his mouth was quirked in a smirk as his eyes danced across her face. She could feel the fire of his gaze on her skin, causing goosebumps to rise even with the humidity of the evening. The hand that had been playing in her curls tightened, drawing a gasp from her. It was such a small sound. She would not have even noticed that it had left her if not for his reaction. That hand left her curls and found a new home at the nape of her neck, drawing her toward him with a firm grip. She could hardly fight against him. I don't want to fight him. Bell let him pull her in. The air between them was electric with tension. Her eyes nearly fluttered shut as he drew closer. His scent was surrounding her. It was spice and heat all rolled into one and it made her mouth water. Leaning forward with the guidance of his hand at the back of her neck, her lips were quick to find the band of skin between his shoulder and neck. His scent was strongest there and she could not stop herself from nuzzling into the heated skin. A rumble left the male underneath her and his other hand was quick to wrap around her waist and pull her closer. She had been sitting on his bike prior to all of this and now she found herself in the same position with the added owner of said bike between her legs. A hand was quick to grab the back of his neck and pull him in. Always pulling. It was almost like he could not get close enough to her. She wanted him branded onto her skin. Her lips trailed up his neck, barely grazing the flesh underneath her own, noting the tenseness of his body beneath hers. She watched with rapt fascination as his Adam's apple shifted as she drew closer. Before she even realized what she was doing, Bell had latched onto that bit of skin. David did not rear back. If anything, he pushed even closer to her. The hand that was at the back of her neck serving to only bring her in further.

A rumble came from beneath her, "It's time."

A leather gloved hand released her waist and cupped her face, pulling her away from her previous location. His thumb was quick to run over her bottom lip as she continued to stare at the spot she had been forced to leave. She could still taste him. Unconsciously, her mouth opened and she was quick to nip at the pad of the finger that had roamed across her bottom lip. Her tongue followed to soothe the bite. Bell watched through heavy eyes as he seemed to have to fight off a groan. Her attention was now on his own mouth. Both of her hands were raised in an instant, cupping his face and reeling him in. His lips were on hers and his taste engulfed her. David had not even tried to fight her. He was vicious as he returned her ferocity with his own. Soon enough, he was quick to sweep into her mouth and lay claim, drowning her in him. A whimper left her as she gripped his face tighter as she leaned further into him. Her breaths were starting to leave her in gasps but she refused to pull away. What a way to go out. She had no complaints. Bell could feel it as David began to lean back as though to give her room to breathe and she was having none of that. Her teeth found themselves latched onto his bottom lip without any hesitation. A ragged groan left the male in front of her and she found herself melting further into him.

Harder.

That was most definitely not her voice. That was not her thought. His voice was echoing in her thoughts. So lost to the heat of the moment, she did not question the command or how it had come to be delivered to her. Her teeth sunk into the soft flesh of his lower lip. Bell was sure this is what it felt like to be high. She was not talking about smoking a little green and getting some munchies type high. No. The high she was feeling could only be compared to what a high roller would feel after inhaling a line of white. Warm liquid began to flow into her mouth and she welcomed it without a thought.

Distantly, she could hear her name. She could hear David's name as well. Everything seemed so far away. The only thing that existed in this moment was him. Them. Together. An unexpected hand on her shoulder yanked her out of her stupor. Releasing her bite, her head whipped around to whoever was touching her. Marko stood behind her with a sheepish expression on his face. His hand was quick to drop from her shoulder, "Didn't take you for an exhibitionist, Poison."

Paul was quick to pipe in, "I knew I smelled bloo-"

Marko launched a smack to Paul's lower abdomen, causing him to hunch over instead of finishing his sentence. It did not matter anyway. The ringing was still loud in her ears. Fingers grasped her chin and pulled her face back around. She had to bite her lip to keep herself from launching at him once more. David looked wrecked. The very definition of the word. His hair was in a disarray and he was still inhaling deep breaths as though to calm himself down. The bold red smeared across his lips is what really caught her attention and kept it. I want it. His fingers tightened on her chin and she was forced to meet his stare. Fire still danced in his eyes but there was something else accompanying it. He looked almost proud. Paul's coughing and yelling at Marko began to fade once more into the background as they stared at one another.

"Time to join the club."

Over his shoulder, she caught a glimpse of Dwayne, standing silently behind them as though shielding them from the rest of the boardwalk. He gave her a single nod, his acceptance clear. Marko's voice called out from behind her, "Time to raise some hell, Poison."

Paul's laughter followed, "Speaking of setting the world on fire… Anyone in the mood for a bonfire?"

Her gaze still entrapped within David's own, Bell called out, "Is initiation already over?"

"It was over the minute you stepped foot in Santa Carla."

Leaning into David's space, she ran her tongue over the now dried blood that lingered on his lips. Her eyes shut as the taste lingered on her tongue. A small, crazed laugh left her, "What if I don't want to join the club?"

Lips met her ear, "It's too late. I'm already in your veins, Belladonna."

AN: So sorry about the delay in updating. University is wild and times are tough right now because of COVID-19. I hope this chapter finds you well and that everyone is doing okay - sierra :)