The concept of the NW and all it's characters belong to LJ Smith and her publishers etc. Not me. OK? But all the original stuff does belong to me. Got it?

Thanks for all the great reviews I've got so far! I am flattered by them - they are all good ones so far! I am seriously getting suspicious. Right, keep reading; coz things are about to get interesting. Oh and don't forget to review!

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As the car sped along the freeway, Ella gazed unseeingly through the dark tinted windows of the Mercedes, her mind full of sorrowful, painful thoughts. The damp tracks of her tears were beginning to dry now, though she could still taste the salty trace of them upon her lips. She resolved not to look back; the past always seemed to cloud and twist her present, and doom her future. Ignoring it was her way of dealing with it, and even though she was fully aware that it was not healthy or wise to do so, she was weak. She hated the half-helpless state that she was currently in, as she was used only to being strong, superior, in control. As she felt her life slowly slip from her grasp, Ella grew afraid, the fear gnawing mercilessly at her insides. But still, she kept herself composed, never letting the calm mask of imperious, beautiful mastery slip. If her defences fell now, all would be lost.

Searching for some release from the haunting, never-ending chain of bittersweet memories, she scanned her surroundings. Stylish and beautifully made leather, the kind that was comfortable and high quality, upholstered the entire interior. Also, there were some bits of highly polished mahogany panelling, and soft lighting. She felt that the place was almost too big for her solitary, silent figure. It needed a group of sophisticated, fashionably dressed aristocrats to carry to an important, swanky party, not one tear-drenched, depressed loner vampire who was being dragged to assassin's school.

"Hello?" she called, wincing, as her voice sounded tiny, almost swallowed up by the massive vehicle.

"Yup? Are you alright miss? Need anything?" The 'wolf's rough but friendly voice floated back.

"No," she said poutily. "I'm bored. Can I come and sit up at the front?" Ella was half surprised at herself. Normally she wouldn't look twice at any werewolf; they were second-class after all. She couldn't help but think that she must really be desperate for company to sink so low as asking a 'wolf to join her in conversation. But privately she knew that something had changed within her. Unwilling to analyse these strange feelings, she attributed them both to misery and to maturity. Everyone knew that she had been the most juvenile, carefree, silly lamia in the world until Alex had gone off and left her alone to take up his job. Recognising that she was about to lapse into another self-indulgent walk down memory lane, she pulled herself together.

"Uh, yeah, OK, uh, hang on; I'll just pull over." Evidently the 'wolf was surprised by her kindness too. The rebel in her smiled; she couldn't deny that subverting people's prejudices was fun.

Ella leapt out of the back, blinking as the sunlight that had been denied her in the shaded backseat now focused its golden beams upon her. She slammed the door, flung open the front door, and elegantly slid in.

The werewolf stared at her for a second. Ella stared back, taking in his scrawny, skinny and scruffy appearance, and the frightened but sly look in his beady black eyes. He was about her age, she guessed, and even in the smart chauffeur's uniform, he managed to look unwashed and ugly. His lanky, greasy black hair fell shoulder length, and his face did have a canine look to it, complete with dark stubble and doggish mouth. But of course, judging people by appearances always backfired; everyone had a hidden trick up their sleeves. Didn't stop her from doing it though; it was a habit that was hard to break at the best of times.

"Whatcha staring at?" she queried with a disdainful look. "Get going already!" Ella took a look at the clock that was conveniently situated in the dashboard. "12 o clock! I'm starving. When's the food stop?"

In reply, the 'wolf revved up the engine in an unnecessarily loud and masculine way, and the Mercedes sped off again at a breakneck pace. "We'll be stopping soon," said he coolly, before turning his concentration back to the long, blank road ahead.

Ella got the unmistakeable inkling that she was being lied to. Though physically she slouched in her chair and again began to stare lazily out the window, mentally she was probing the 'wolf's mind. Funnily enough, she could barely sense anything. Ella thought that was totally weird. There was no way one mangy little mutt had enough mental power to shield his own mind this strongly, unless he was extra powerful. Somehow, she did not think this was the case. But then, what was the explanation?

Ella decided to let it go for now. After all, there was plenty of time for investigating when she finally arrived at the infamous Bloody Thistles training place. No need to worry about stuff that was really insignificant.

"So, what's your name?" she asked, more out of boredom than genuine curiosity.

"John Feverfew," he replied shortly.

"Yeah? I'm Ella... Oh, but you knew that already, didn't you... So, how did you get this job? It must be great; getting to drive this car around."

"It's OK. I got the job when my dad died last year. I took over the family business, you might say."

Ella got the feeling that she'd touched on a nerve. She did not reply. What do you say to that sort of blunt statement? It was no wonder this guy was so moody.

"You want a mint to tide you over?" asked the 'wolf, as he proffered a small, white, tablet in his hairy, coarse hand. "We're nearly at the rest stop."

"So suddenly vampires eat mints instead of being bloodsuckers, right?" said Ella sarcastically, as she was beginning to regret moving to the front. More mysteries, that's what comes of being too curious. But she took the mint anyway. No harm in a little sweet.

As it dissolved on her tongue, Ella immediately realised that something weird was going on. She felt all her energy drain out from her body. It was as if she had never fed. But it was more than that. A complete and utter bout of lethargy had imprisoned her in her own body, and now she could barely move, barely think, barely feel. She felt sleepy - a sleeping drug, she thought in angry disgust.

"What the fuck have you done to me?" she managed to croak. The 'wolf's anxious, expectant face swam dizzyingly before her blurring vision. Ella found herself fighting to keep her lead-rimmed eyelids open, trying to stay awake for as long as possible. The icy numbness was seeping into her bones, paralysing her painfully, keeping her restrained and immobile.

She gathered her weakening strength and flung herself wearily at the mutt, trying to force him to undo his witchery. But she was far too exhausted to do much damage. She managed to gauge a deep red scratch in his cheek with a fingernail before he pushed her forcefully back into her seat. She gasped as the breath was knocked out of her lungs. She was winded, and that now made her weaker than ever.

"Bastard," she hissed, overcome with agony. It felt as if she was being frozen alive and knocked out all at once.

"Sorry. It's the standard policy at Bleeding Thistles. Location must be kept secret..."

"Wha..." she began drowsily. But it was hopeless. She fought and struggled, but nevertheless she closed her eyes, feeling all thought just drift away into the abyss of darkness she was now entering. As the powerful drug dragged her, drowned her in the foggy, blurred mist of unconsciousness, she wondered just what she had let herself in for.

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There! Mysterious... Please review ASAP! Thanks!