So, how's this for longer? =) I'm feeling a little bit better, so I'll probably have the next chapter up in a few hours. In the meantime, enjoy!

Neona-Deniker: Thanks for the criticism. I was feeling hella crappy last night, so I didn't really have the drive to type out a fight scene, plus it would get monotonous with all of the fights they'll be in later. This chapter is longer, so hopefully you'll like it!

Tamashii: Okay, okay, my big English summary writer, that better? =)

Adelaide E: It just wouldn't be fun if I didn't give their relationship a little conflict, now would it? And this chapter only pushes it a little more. Hehehehe.



*Chapter 8*



Pulling up to the safe house, Tala was exhausted. She was drained emotionally, physically and mentally. The sun laughed at her from above her head.

She walked up to the door, searching for the keys in her pockets. Unconsciously, she began to reflect on the past two hours of the trip. Silence. Other than the stereo, the three travelers kept there opinions to themselves. It had almost driven her insane with Monroe's mind on the other side of the vehicle. His mental presence had been weighing on hers, while she tried her hardest to block every hurtful and upsetting thing in her mind. She hadn't wanted him to know how torn she was.

She finally managed to get the door unlocked. Opening it, she gave a mental chuckle. The irony, a vampire having to stay in a wooden beach house. She hoped he tripped and stabbed himself on a loose wall panel.

Resentment filled the side of her mind his presence was dominating. She laughed out loud, realizing she had forgot to shield that thought.

Vesta grabbed Tala's hand, running in all directions of the house, looking through all of the rooms. Her heart broke a little, knowing that she was leaving this poor little girl with such an dishonest, arrogant-

"Stop thinking so loud!" Monroe was yelling from the living room.

Walking back out with Vesta, she retorted. "Why don't you ignore me? You seem to be pretty good at that."

"Weren't you leaving?" He stood in front of her, glaring.

"I was just on my way out." She turned on her heel, heading for the door.

"No, Tala!" Vesta grabbed her waist, hugging tightly. "Please don't go. I want you to stay with me, to protect me. Is it because you don't like me?"

Tala's heart ripped even more. She kneeled down and took the child in her arms. "Oh sweetie, don't think that. I like you bunches, I swear. Just, Monroe and I have a conflict of interests, so to speak. I can't stay, honey. He'll be here to take care of you." Not that I can trust you to do the job, she sent him, shooting bullets with her eyes over the girl's shoulder.

She began to stand, but was shocked to find that he was right beside her, grabbing her arm forcefully. "Excuse me, Vesta," he said in a low voice, still looking Tala in the eye. "We're going to go have a little chat."

He practically threw her in the master bedroom. She regained her stance, almost falling on the bed.

Slamming the door, he turned on her. "Will you just get over yourself?"

She folded her arms over her chest. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He took his jacket off, throwing it on the floor. "Quit being such a bitch! You keep treating me like you're better than me, like I'm some lowlife that just walked off of the streets to volunteer at the Circle."

"And you treat me like I'm an eyesore! Like I'm a mangy, three-legged dog off of the road, just because you have some idea in your head that werewolves are inferior to vampires."

"Do you want to know why I joined Daybreak? Do you want to know why this mission is so important to me, what we're keeping from you?"

She turned her head. Sure, she was curious, but she was mad. "I could really care less."

"Too bad. I'm going to tell you." He paced the room, not even looking at her. "Ten years ago, I was a witch. That's all. I had a mother, a father, three sisters, and one brother. My oldest sister, Adonia, her husband, and their two-year-old baby lived with us. Life was great, just freaking peachy. Unfortunately, Adonia's husband was a human. When the Night World found out that not only was she breaking laws, but that my whole family was fostering them and their half-witch, half-human child, the Council attacked us. They sent in a pack of wolves and killed them all. I was able to escape, barely, with the baby. Not one of them lived." His voice grew dark. "At the time, I didn't have great faith in Circle Daybreak, since they were so small and insignificant. I did the only thing I knew to do. I took the baby to a healer and asked her to take of it. Without explaining the whole story, I took off.

"An eleven year old boy, hating the Night World and the real world all at one time. I joined a gang of renegades and traveled with them, causing trouble for nine years. Finally, we stepped into territory that we couldn't dominate, and I got hurt, badly. One of my friends had the ingenious idea of changing me while I was dying. The last thing I wanted in the world was to become a vampire. I just wanted to die. Unfortunately, I didn't get a say in the matter.

"I found out a few months later that the baby was being taken care of by Circle Daybreak. I came to look in on her every once in a while, nobody knowing that I was, especially her. After studying them for a while, I realized what a great organization this was, so I joined to help, and to take care of my niece."

"Vesta . . ." Tala hadn't noticed that she was getting so into his story.

Nodding, he continued. "The only person who knew was Thierry. That's how I got on this case. He said I was going to be working with a shifter," his voice suddenly became detached, "but he didn't mention a wolf." Straightening his clothes, he leaned over and grabbed his jacket. "Do whatever you want, Tala. Stay on the job or go home to your mother. It makes no difference to me. I'm here to take care of her, with or without your help."

She got up, reaching his arm as he began to leave the room. "I'm sorry, Monroe. I had no clue . . ."

He jerked his arm away from her. "I don't care, Tala. Like you said earlier, don't talk to me, don't get near me. People can live without their soulmates, and so can I. I've done fine so far." And with that, he walked out of the room.

She couldn't tell if the sound she heard was the slamming of the door, or if it was her heart shattering to pieces. She was aware that she had been overreacting earlier, and it's true, she couldn't stand him. But he didn't even want to take the opportunity to get to know her. He didn't see her as who she was, only what she was.

A wolf. One of a species that had destroyed his life at such an early age, taking away almost everything he had ever known. For that reason alone, she was nothing to him. Even as his soulmate, cosmically bound to him for eternity, he was prejudice against what she had always been, and always would be.

She stood, pulling her keys from her pocket. Walking into the living room, she went directly to Vesta, not even glancing toward Monroe. Picking the girl up, she squeezed her. "I'm going to go somewhere, okay? I'll be back. I can't promise that I'm going to stay, I have to think about some things." She set Vesta back on the ground. Looking into eyes of unforeseen knowledge, she continued. "Monroe will take good care of you until I return. I promise, I'll be back to see you."

Vesta began to pet her hair again, smiling. "Okay. I'll miss you."

Tala was holding back tears. "I'll miss you, too, sweetie. I'll be back soon."

Her sensitive ears picked up the sound of Monroe standing from the couch. Making her way to the car, she ignored the footsteps coming from behind her.

He didn't speak until she got into the car. "Where are you going?"

Her only reply was the sound of the engine revving and a cloud of dust behind her.



Monroe slammed the door walking back into the house. He saw Vesta look up quickly, so he plastered a smile on his face.

"I don't understand why you don't like her." The little girl was sitting on the floor, playing with some building blocks she had brought from the hospice.

He sighed, sitting next to her on the floor. "We just have some personal differences."

She looked up, meeting his eyes. "Do you not like me because I'm only half white?"

Stupefied, he shook his head. "Of course not. Why would you think that?"

She went back to her toys. "You don't like Tala because she's a werewolf. I'd say that would make you, in an odd way, racist. So what should stop you from disliking me?"

*This girl is smart*. He was still trying to think of an answer, a way to justify his thoughts, when she continued. "Besides, her family isn't the one that killed ours."

Completely dumbfounded, he searched for words. "'Our' family? Vesta, were you listening to us?"

The child rolled her beautiful hazel eyes. "I'm young, not stupid. I mean, I may have been two, but I can remember what happened. The wolves came in and attacked Mom and Dad, and you took me away before they could get me. And I knew when you checked up on me, too. That's not the point, though. I heard her say that you guys are soulmates, when I was in the car and you two were fighting. There's a reason destiny brought you together. But if you want to be a prick and hate her, by all means, continue. I just think it's pretty foolish." She stood, not even looking at him. "I'm going to lay down."

Monroe only sat there, staring at the floor. "Sure." He heard her close one of the bedroom doors and he leaned back against the coffee table. The cell phone in his pocket began to ring. The caller-ID read, "Daybreak."

"This is Pierson."

"Have you made it to the safe house, yet?" Thierry's voice seemed concerned.

Monroe smacked his hand to the side of his head. "Yeah, we're okay. Sorry, I completely forgot to call. We just got here less than an hour ago."

"What took you so long? That should have only been a three hour drive, and you guys have been gone for six."

Shaking his head, he stood and walked to one of the bay windows. "Tala and I got in a small argument and it caused a little bit of a delay."

"Speaking of her, somebody here wants to talk to her. It's her cousin Lupe. Can you put her on the phone?"

He sighed, setting his forehead on the cool glass. "She's not here."

"Where did she go?"

"I don't know. She said she had to go think about some things. She found out that we were keeping something from her."

"How did she figure that out?"

"It's funny, actually." Monroe gave a slight chuckle. "It turns out we're soulmates."

"Well congratulations."

"Don't bust out the champagne just yet, old man. I'm not sure what I think about it, yet, not to mention I probably screwed it up, no matter what I want."

"No matter what *you* want? I'm pretty sure I have it figured out how you messed up." Then Thierry was mumbling something in the background. A feminine voice was saying something inaudible, then he came back on the phone. "Lupe's pretty sure where she'll be. She's gonna go talk to her. In the meantime, work on the mission. Where is Vesta?"

"Sleeping."

"Take this time to read her mind. Figure out what it is that the Council wants from her. I doubt they'd put this much effort into trying to get rid of a half-breed."

"Gotcha. I'll get to work." He set the phone on the counter, heading toward the room the girl would be in. At least he could concentrate on something and get his mind off of the guilt he felt from hurting Tala.