A/N: So it has been a long time since I've updated this. The past few months have been hectic and crazy and I don't want to adult anymore. But I have obligations like this story to uphold and here we are. Enjoy this rather short update.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Hey asshole, get a life," Jessi said and Paul laughed, not thinking that she had had it in her to speak up to his big brother. "It might make you feel a hell of a lot better."

Paul glanced up at David and his family as they stood just on the outskirts of the light given off by the dancing flames. He tried to think of how they looked standing like that to a human. Would they seem more intimidating or scary? He wasn't sure since he wasn't afraid of anything.

Faith says you're lying…

Faith can kiss it if I am.

The redhead in question moved into the light of the fire. Paul was taken aback by the way her hair seemed to be made of the same fire, but her attention was not on him. It was on Jessi.

"Jessi…are you all right?" Faith asked, her voice lilting towards Adalyn and back again.

"I'm fine," Jessi lied, and they all knew it. "Seriously, don't worry about me." She tried to stand up, but Marko pushed her back down onto the log. "I'm okay."

"The bruises on your face tell us differently," David stated, ice blue eyes watching her as he sat across from her.

"There's a dozen bruises on her ribs," Iona announced, glancing at Paul and then David. "They weren't kidding around when they said they exacted punishment."

Paul lost his happy smile. His eyes turned to Jessi and he saw the pain in her eyes. He felt bad for her. If she went back to that house, smelling like him again, would she end up worse off? The answer was probably yes, but he couldn't just leave her. This was the first girl that got his attention and kept it, making every day a new adventure which for a vampire was an amazingly rare thing.

"Look," Jessi began, glaring at them all. "I don't know what you mean about anyone exacting punishment. I'm just dealing with some rowdy, obnoxious roommates that don't know how to keep their hands to themselves. I don't need your help. And more importantly, I don't want your help. I'm not a damsel in distress, waiting to be rescued."

"Except that you are," Dwayne pointed out. "You don't fight our brother very hard in an effort to push him away. You're still here, talking to us. You're still coming back to the same story of if you had the money, you could go. So don't lie to us."

"Liars end up in a bad place," Marko commented from behind his thumb nail.

They really do, Paul thought glumly, reaching out and putting a hand on Jessi's knee. Like bloodless at the bottom of the ocean.

Jessi looked at him and then back at the others. "I almost have enough on my own to get me and my brother out of town and on the road. A couple more paychecks and we're good."

"Do you really think you'll last that long?" Faith asked, looking at her with soft gray eyes. "Your roommates -"

"Faith," David warned.

The redhead turned her head. "She has the right to know, David. I'm tired of hiding this from her. She needs to know. For her and her brother's safety." Her eyes narrowed. "You're not going to stop me."et,

David let out a curse and pulled out a cigarette. "It's your funeral…"

Faith looked back at Jessi and Paul. Paul wished for a moment he could hear his sister's thoughts. To know why her brain was working through this the way that it was. Sometimes, he and his brothers secretly thought she was going insane.

"Jessi," Faith said, kneeling on the ground in front of her. "I know why you're so scared of your roommates. I know that you think no one would believe you, but trust me, I do. I've been there. I've had to have a lot of help."

Paul held his breath.

"You can't possibly understand," Jessi argued.

"I do because I know you're roommates are vampires," Faith said, her voice firm, unwavering. "Just like the vampire that attacked me when I was little." She took a small breath. "Just like several others in this city."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Jessi looked at Faith and wanted to cry. She knew about vampires existing? And she'd been attacked by one?

That would explain why she ended up surrounded by tough bikers, Jessi thought, clutching her new guitar tighter. She wanted to make sure that no one would mess with her.

"You – you know about the vampires?" Jessi asked, almost afraid to trust her voice.

"Yes, and I know of vampire hunters," Faith said, nodding her head. "They haven't killed a single vampire yet, but that's not from the lack of trying." She squeezed Jessi's knee. "You're in safe hands."

Jessi stared at Faith. There was something almost scarily ethereal about her. Something that seemed too perfect.

Then it hit her.

"You're a vampire," Jessi whispered, pushing her hands off of her.

But that means…!

Jessi's eyes were wide as she looked at Paul and the others around her. "You're all vampires!"

Paul offered her a wan smile. "Surprise."

The rocker girl moved away from him and dropped the guitar. "You lied to me."

"You technically never asked," Paul said, rising to his feet. "And we're not technically supposed to announce it to humans."

"Otherwise they end up dead," Marko said, sliding his finger across his throat which was really not helpful.

"We're not going to hurt you, Jessi," Faith promised, rising to her feet.

"Yeah, right," Jessi scoffed. "The last time I was around vampires, I lost my guitar and got tossed around. So forgive me for not believing you."

"Jessi," Paul said, moving to approach her.

Jessi reached under her shirt's neckline and pulled out a gold chain with a cross attached to it. "Stay back," she ordered, taking small steps back. "Don't come any closer to me and I won't scream." She was shaking. "Just leave me alone and I promise – I swear – I won't tell anyone what you are."

"But Jessi –" Paul protested and her heart shattered.

"Just leave me alone," Jessi repeated, eyes watering.

Jessi turned and ran up the beach, feeling tears burn her eyes. She fought back sobs, not willing to break down in public.

She couldn't believe this was happening. She couldn't believe how long she'd been oblivious to the fact that they had all been vampires.

Paul, how could you?!

OOOOOOOOOOO

Paul stood where Jessi had caused him to freeze, wishing that he could go after her. Someone had to protect her. Especially now that she knew.

"Well, that went so great," Marko commented, sarcastically. "We should do it more often."

Faith moved over to Paul and rested her forehead between his shoulder blades and hugged him from behind. "I'm sorry, Paul."

"Yeah, yeah," Paul said, patting her hand. "I know, Sis. I know."

"Now we have another person out there that knows our secret," David said, sounding pissed. "And you don't seem to remember that everyone that knows we exist, is another threat to us and therefore, should be in the fucking ground."

Paul felt Faith flinch against him. "Easy man…you're yelling at the wrong people here. We know the damn law."

"Yeah, well, you fuckers don't seem to act like it," David spat, taking a hard drag on his cigarette.

"Fuck you," Paul shot back. "And for your information, I'm not done with Jessi. I plan to make her see that we're okay. That we have her back because get this, I want her to know she's safe. With us. Forever."

David glared at him for a moment before turning his back. "If you can't convince her, both her and her brother forfeit their protection by us and they're dead meat."

Paul frowned and looked away. Laddie moved into his line of sight with the guitar in his hand and Paul mussed up his hair.

"Thanks, buddy," Paul said, taking the guitar from him.

Laddie smiled and went back to playing his videogames.

Don't worry, Jessi. Nothing bad is going to happen to you.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

A/N: I did try my best to make it worth it. It's a start in the right direction, I think. Though I've apparently lost my compass for this story. Oh well, we'll see what happens. Please leave a comment in the little box. Thank you and good evening. -Scarlet