The Trap:

The girls walk a bit down the street until they came upon the bookstore. They're surprised to find how it looks on the outside. It's simple, but has an old, antique-like feel. It has stone bricks that are various grays and slate blues. The girls like its antique style, as they can't help but compare the shop to the rest of the modern styled shops around it. They found it rather refreshing and cool to see.

When they entered the store, they thought it was just as beautiful. The style they couldn't quite peg, but it was old, they knew that. With lighted candle lamps around the foyer, a grand chandelier that looked antiqued, but well kept, book shelves that were dark wood, having interesting carvings on them, also looking antiqued, they couldn't help but admire the shop. It was like they stepped back into time, while staying in the present thanks to the person who worked there.

The girl was young, had a few colored streaks in her hair, blonde bangs and the rest of her hair dark. She was pretty, reading something. They didn't know what, but she greeted them, before going back to her reading. They couldn't help but think the employee not only complimented the place, but she fit in with the bookstore. They walked around a bit, looking at some of the closer shelves, surprised by all the books that were on them. They didn't think there would be such an array, let alone books they never heard of before.

"This...this is amazing." Jackie was amazed. Kendall nodded.

"I know." She let her fingers glide past the spines of the books. "This is just remarkable." She breathed. "I've never seen most of these books, plus they're so well preserved." She added.

"Aren't they?" They turned to see the employee from the previous bookstore. He was smiling at them again. "Hope I wasn't interrupting too much again. My shift ended and I start here now."

"No." Jackie shook her head, also smiling.

"This place is amazing." Kendall continued. "And is just filled with so many books." She glanced around. "I don't think I even seen most of these."

"This place is my favorite to work at because of all these glorious books." He commented. "I love them too."

"Where did the owner get them all?" Jackie was curious.

"Not sure." He shrugged. "I'm sure from donors, heirlooms, estate sales, and such." He assumed.

"Amazing…" Kendall remarked.

"Why don't you girls come with me?" He asked with the recommendation. "There's a vast selection of books towards the back all about vampires." He informed.

"Really?" They were intrigued as they followed him.

"Like I said." He reminded. "We have a vast selection of texts about the subject and more." He responded. "So I am sure this will help with that…essay right?" He raised an eyebrow at them.

"Uh, right." Kendall nodded as they walked past a hall, under an archway into a room filled with books. The girls started to look through the books as they found it even more marvelous with all the books.

"Finding what you're looking for?" He inquired.

"Surprisingly, yes." Kendall was reading through one of the books. It was about full vampires and some of their family lines, along with different types of halfling vampires. Jackie was skimming along with her.

"Not many suspect there's so much about vampires." He laughed.

"Tell us about it." The girls looked at each other.

"Might I ask, what made you interested in working at this place?" Jackie wondered, as she glanced at him briefly.

"Simple," He shrugged. "Like you, I have a thing for the supernatural and wanting to know about it." He replied. "Plus I think it's always interesting to know about a world that's beyond my own, don't you?"

"I suppose…" Kendall agreed.

"Although, I guess you can also say, I did it for a few other reasons as well." He admitted.

"Is that so?" Jackie glanced.

"Yes, though, I doubt those reasons are important at this precise moment." He said. "Did you know there were different types of vampires like full, halfling, changed and pure?" He was curious.

"We…um, may have heard about it." Kendall replied. "But we kinda wanted to know more."

"Yeah, especially about certain types of vampires." Jackie confessed.

"Is that right?" He was intrigued. "And what types are those?" He questioned as Kendall placed the book back on the shelf wanting to grab another.

"Mainly the pures." She answered.

"Not that we wouldn't mind learning about all of them." Jackie mentioned. "You have so much about them." She tried to shake off. "It will be great to learn…you know for our…um report."

"I see." He nodded. "Well, if you want to learn about pure bloods, sadly you won't find much in here." He spoke.

"We won't?" Jackie asked. Kendall also looking at him.

"Does…does this mean you don't have anything on them?" She continued to question.

"No, I do." He calmed them. "The books just aren't in this room." He told them. "Normally people don't really ask about them. Nor want to know about those mythical families." He chuckled. They had to laugh a little to, as they were somewhat nervous, but trying to shake some suspicion.

"Yeah, well like we said we're very curious." Jackie commented.

"And we would love to know more about them." Kendall added.

"Is that right?" He quirked an eyebrow. "Well did you know they have been around for centuries, and depending on the pure blood, and even on the full blood vampire, that can change the type of changelings' blood?" He inquired, walking over to them, guiding them now more to the back as they talked.

"No, that's interesting." Jackie was intrigued.

"What do you mean by change the type of changeling?" Kendall couldn't help but wonder, as they continued to walk.

"Well surely you have heard of humans being turned into vampires." He opened a door for them all to step into, the girls nodding at him with a reply as they went in. "Well…ah…in some of the books I have read there are…shall I say, different changed vampires, or sometimes called changelings." He informed. "That have different blood, depending on the type of vampire who changes them. To which they can be even considered more than a "normal" changed vampire themselves." He explained.

"I don't get what that means…" Jackie glanced at him then Kendall, who shrugged also, for she didn't fully understand. They then both looked around amazed by the huge room of books.

"Are these books all about pure bloods?" Kendall asked.

"Well somewhat." He answered. "They're about their history, some wars, vampire pasts, some doctrines in regards to the various rules that have changed throughout time, familial lines, and more." He described. "But there is more than just the pure bloods." He smiled. "But it's all about vampires."

"Amazing…" Both girls were awestruck as they looked around.

"How….How did the store get all of this?" Kendall questioned as she got out a book, looking through the pages, finding out some stuff about a few wars back in the medieval era with the vampires. She was enthralled by it all.

"You be surprised by what I have." He smirked, closing the door. The girls didn't notice as they were too busy reading. "And how I got them." Kendall glanced with the way he said that. He was walking around also looking at the books. She got a suspicious look.

"Will….will you tell us exactly, how you got them?" She inquired. He looked at her. "There is quite a lot." She glanced at the books, putting the one she had away. Jackie noticing. "And it's interesting that no other bookstore nor the internet has any information like this." She commented. "And the fact you seem to know so…much." She was staring at him. He let out a small laugh.

"Like I said…it's an occupational desire." He replied.

"Occupational desire?" She raised an eyebrow. "If I recall you said it was an interest into a world that was beyond your own." She said. "As I believe those were your exact words." He quirked an eyebrow.

"My, my you really are smart." He sat on a chair, folding his legs. Jackie got close to Kendall.

"Who…who are you?" Jackie asked.

"I don't think that's very important." He shrugged.

"I think it is." Kendall narrowed her eyes.

"A bit gutsy don't you think?" He quipped. Both girls glanced towards the door, wanting to make a run for it. He chuckled. "It won't work." He rolled his eyes when they tried to go for the door finding it locked and they couldn't open it what so ever. They looked over at him.

"Who are you and what do you want with us?" Kendall questioned, her tone harsh. He just let out a small breath.

"I guess I can give my name, not that it's really any of your concern…" he stated. The girls just continued to glare, trying to keep their distance wanting to figure a way out, but the only way was the door, being that there were no windows or any other methods out. "I am Tristano." He told them "And call this payback." He replied.

"What do you mean?" Jackie wondered. "We don't even know you." She was confused. He rolled his eyes again.

"Not payback against you two, my dear girls." He shook his head. "You're more like my bait for my real targets." He smirked.

"Our friends will come for us." Kendall told him. "They know we're here. They'll know something is up if we don't go meet up with them. They'll…"

"I know." He interrupted her, his tone causing her to gulp, as they both didn't like the way he said that nor how he looked at them. "I'm planning on it." This shocked the girls. "Too bad they won't find you."

"Want do you mean?" Jackie asked, concerned now.

"Simple, I know their abilities. How to counter them, plus this room is sound proof, and acts as an interesting shield against them." He informed. "It makes for the best defense, not to mention blocks your scent and mine." He continued. "They won't find you for a while, which gives me enough time to go into the next phase of my plan."

"Next phase…" Jackie repeated.

"What… plan?" Kendall continued to ask. His smirk turned a bit wicked, which caused both girls to get more frightened.

"You'll both find out soon enough." He responded. "Although, right now, like I said, I have a plan to continue with." He got up. His movements were quick as he was suddenly behind them. They turned, scared as they didn't expect him to move so fast. "And unfortunately for you girls, I'm afraid your research is going to have to come to an end now." They backed up.

"This was just a trap from the beginning…" Kendall kept looking around, as Jackie was trying to see if she could find anything to use against him.

"And you both fell for it, so easily." He chuckled. "Shame your boyfriends didn't tell you much, otherwise this might not have happened."

"Have…have you been watching us?" Jackie glanced at him, a little creeped out by that statement.

"How else would I know about your girls' curiosity?" He walked closer, as they kept backing up. "Plus I had to keep tabs on you girls and my targets if I wanted to get my vengeance." He explained. "I must say, these past two and half years were quite interesting, seeing things develop, plus well seeing things progress with you girls." He smirked. The girls didn't like hearing that.

"Just…just who are your targets?" Kendall asked.

"You'll find out soon enough." He smirked. "Right now…" He appeared behind them, knocking out Jackie. Kendall watched as she fell to the ground.

"Jackie!" Kendall was concerned. She turned hoping to do something, but found him gone, which got her worried, her pulse quickening even more.

"It's time for my next steps." He knocked her out as well, as she landed next to Jackie. He let out a few chuckles. "They won't see it coming."

To be continued…

L: Oh wow! Next please. Who is Tristano? What's going to happen? Can't wait to see what happens.

S: Glad you are enjoying it. I'm having fun with this series. Plus we all know I love my cliffies. Lol.

L: Yes…yes you do…

S: Hey, I think I'm getting good at them…I hope.

L: No you are. They're still annoying though.

S: Really….

L: Just saying. Still good chapter, though. Hope the readers enjoyed as well!

S: Yes, thank you all for reading! See you soon!

Both: Please keep safe! Bye!