"Okay. So what you're saying is that she is your soul mate." Pause. "Right?" The end part sounded to Kristian's ears as if it was just an afterthought; a little unsure, as if the speaker only realised at the last second that he might not be right.

Kristian knew that vampires were known for their outrageous arrogance and cocky-ness, but a werewolf? It was simply stretching it. And quite frankly, it was getting a tad bit frustrating.

He took a deep breath, and started talking, as if to a child because despite his appearance Guy might aswell have been a child. "No, I don't think she's my soul mate. In fact, I didn't even imply at any point, any possibilities whatsoever, that she could be m-"

"Okay, witch-boy. I get it." Guy didn't seem to be aware that cutting people off at the middle of saying something was considered rude- but then again, werewolves had never been recognised for their genius, and Kristian doubted that they would ever be any time in the distant future.

"Trust me on this one Kris, I know about these things." He carried on regardless, unaware of anything with that hint of arrogance once more. "You look into each other's eyes. You think you have seen each other before. You feel as though you will never be whole without the other…" That was the cue for Kristian to tune out; he did not think he could possibly stand not drowning out the rest of the waffling.

Never in his whole life of over seventeen years had Kristian ever known a male to display this much insight into cheesy nonsense. Yet, what really astounded him was the fact that Guy actually seemed to genuinely believe all that he spoke of.

Now, there was a truly unsettling thought.

Kristian allowed himself to lean in more comfortably on the couch whilst drifting to his thoughts- thoughts of a particular person. He could still remember her from the morning; remember the mesmerising eyes- the way they held his. He dad decided he would talk to her, in fact he on the verge on doing so when Griffin, with his amazing talent for bad-timings, had chosen that precise moment to run off yet again.

Kristian was left with no choice but to follow him and make sure he was brought back safely to their Daybreak quarters. Unfortunately, for him, that meant that he had to leave the girl behind without talking to her, which he had wanted to do very badly.

He had felt some sort of connection with her- not necessarily the soul mate bond as the moron in front of him was ranting on about, but he had certainly felt something interesting from her. And now, there was definitely no chance in hell that he would see her again.

Curse his luck, or rather the lack of it.

"You've started scaring me, and I'm your soulmate. I can't even begin to imagine the horrors going through the poor boy's head right now." Kristian looked up to see Trish; Guy's supposed 'soulmate', leaning against the doorframe. It was amazing how the two managed to stay together, they were polar opposites- Trish was the one with all the brains of course, seeing how she was a vampire and Guy a werewolf.

He had nothing against werewolves in general, Guy was just an exception who must've been dropped on his head at least half-a-dozen times at birth. In fact, looking at it closely, Kristian could see that the top of Guy's head was somewhat flat.

Kristian must have been scrunching up his face in concentration, because when he looked up Guy was looking at him rather accusingly. He pointed a finger at Kristian, and started whining to Trish -"But he doesn't even believe in us. Look at him!" God, what was wrong with this guy? Oh yes, he remembered that he had already established that the 'wolf had been dropped on the head numeral times as a child.

"Ok, whatever." Kristian drawled as he stood up. "I actually have a meeting to attend." He didn't bother adding that it was being held in a classroom full of students, and was headed by a teacher. Just as he was about to reach for the door, he heard Guy's voice behind him.

"Fine. But next time you see her, touch her. Who knows, if you apologise thoroughly enough, I might just forgive you." Kristian wondered if he should do Guy a favour and just deflate his ego right now, but thought better of it. Poor boy didn't need any more tampering with his head.

Instead, he started walking out of the building, muttering in a voice just audible enough for them to hear "Yeah, and get assaulted for sexual harassment." How right the person had been who said common sense was not very common.

How right indeed.


"Make sure you're on time, okay?" Raen was doing the whole 'mother-routine', and Acasia couldn't help but smile at her sister's thoughtfulness. "I hate waiting around. Seriously though, the dude who said patience is a virtue must have been completely retarded!"

Trust Raen to provide the daily dose of humour necessary for Acasia to go through the day without completely breaking down. Yet she didn't need to act to sound grim when she spoke "That's heresy darling. You just insulted a virtue listed in the Bible by some wise saint-types. You are a blasphemer, and shall promptly go to hell after death."

Raen clutched at heart melodramatically while falling down on her knees and exclaiming loudly- "Forgive me father, for I have sinned!" Acasia didn't want to laugh; she didn't want to feel temporary happiness that would inevitably just fizzle out too soon.

Especially not today, no it wouldn't feel right. She was getting a sense of foreboding from the depth of her stomach that something was going to happen today. And it wasn't something that she was looking forward to encounter either.

Raen, seeing that she still hadn't managed to make Acacia's mood seemingly lighten, was just about to say something else -probably trying out a new tactic- when she was promptly cut off by an oncoming teacher.

"All right, Ms. Louise, I will take pity on you and forgive your sin for not attending you class on time." He peered down closely at her from under his glasses as he continued, "I do believe Lunch finished over five minutes ago. Do hurry up, before I decide to peruse this matter further."

Raen hastily got to her feet, almost tripping over her own bag. With a short 'bye' she retreated to her lesson as quickly as possible, her cheeks bright with embarrassment and muttering something along the lines of 'hating stingy teacher who tried sounding clever'.

Acasia finally set her eyes on the teacher, he seemed unfamiliar to her. He nodded towards her as if acknowledging her, and said, "I suggest you do the same thing as your sister, Ms. Louise." She nodded her head once and started walking away, not bothering to tell him that she had a free period.

The teacher obviously didn't know her, yet he had recognised her to be Raen's sister. It didn't surprise her in the least; the two could practically be twins bar their hair, eyes, and height. She had long black hair and stormy grey eyes, whilst Raen had rich brown hair and warm chocolate eyes.

She sighed looking around her; the corridors were all empty, as the students had already gone in their designated classes. She herself was just about to head into the library, when she saw a lone figure standing on the top of the stairs.

Normally, she would neither the least bit bothered, nor interested at all by a stranger. But looking at his dishevelled dirty-blond hair, and pale green eyes, something struck her as familiar about him.

He was walking towards her, getting closer by the second and he still didn't appear to have noticed her. When he was nearly in front of her, she stepped ahead as to be seen and instantly realised who he was.

He was the guy from the morning.

To say that he was surprised to see her would've been a complete and utter understatement. His eyes went wide with shock, seemingly darkening as his pupils dilated. Not wanting a repeat from earlier, she decided to say something before she either lost her guts or her chance.

"Hey, uh…I'm Acasia" she said hesitantly, not knowing why she was doing this. There was no need for her to do so, and no way in hell was she in the mood to act chummy with some random guy. And yet, something kept on compelling her to carry on.

He was still staring at her almost as if he didn't believe she was actually there, he even rubbed his eyes a couple of times. "Kristian" he finally managed to choke out, sticking out his hand to her as an afterthought. She frowned at that, but shook the offered hand nonetheless.

He looked even more surprised as he looked at their entwined hands, his pupils widening so much that you couldn't even see his irises save for a light green outline. He kept on staring at it as if expecting something to happen, not letting go of his hold. Finally, he dropped his hands limply at his sides as he realised nothing was going to happen, and stuck them in the front-pockets of his baggy jeans.

He slowly turned his head as he looked at her, his eyebrows furrowed together in confusion as he once more tried to make something of her- what exactly, she didn't know. Then, almost hesitantly, he lowered his head once more, as if when he looked away from her she wouldn't be in front of him anymore. She thought she heard him mutter softly something about stupid wolves who think they're too clever for their own good, but then again maybe she just misheard.

"Come on" she began tentatively, trying to break the awkwardness of the situation. "I'll show you to class. You seemed kind of lost to me." She looked at his timetable once and started walking towards his classroom, which just so happened to be in the opposite direction from that he was headed.

Looking at him from the corner of her eye, she once again wondered why exactly she was doing this. Acasia never did things like this; Raen was the type who got spontaneous urges to help out the unaided.

Perhaps it was because he looked so familiar- she wanted to know exactly where from. He had this strange aura about him, and she couldn't help but feel curious.

Or maybe the real reason was that she wanted a distraction, so she wouldn't have to think about what her mind was so intently telling her to focus on.

She wouldn't- no, she couldn't let herself wonder exactly what it was she was so afraid to think about.


It was fast approaching the given hour, and the crowd were gradually growing restless. They couldn't wait for the ceremony, and yet they would have to contain their excitement for a while longer. They weren't allowed to question the appointed time.

They weren't really here yet, and they wouldn't be- not until the last drop of blood was tainted with her magic. Unless of course you were counting their bodily forms, their souls belonged to her as they were bound to her by her magic.

Just as the next two's would be.

The next, were the chosen two. They had no choice in the matter, and to refuge would mean eternal life as dead. So they didn't breathe a word, nor did they feel any thoughts.

They simply waited, silently.

The large hall itself spun circles in silent protest, each wall reflecting the morbid anticipation of what was to come. Its entire inner shell was littered by hundreds of candles, and yet they created no light. They simply existed, just like everything else, in only them self and not affecting anything else. They were pinpricks of light, frozen forever as unblinking eyes in a transparent torture.

For they weren't real, only imaginary- just like everything else.

The only part of the hall which was truly laminated was the alter. It glowed with her magic- a fire so intensely green, it would be imprinted for eternity on the inside of anyone's eyelids who just so much as glanced at it. It spread out just enough to envelop her, and the two that knelt before her, awaiting their fate.

They looked to be about the same age, and at the same time both looked somewhat ageless. They could almost be a mirror image of each other, kneeling on the bare ground side-by-side with their heads bowed. They both were naked from the waist up, revealing the intricate lines, which intertwined together from their wrist, all the way to their shoulder blades.

The marking was still gleaming a deeply dark-green, showing it to be freshly done, and a sign to prove that they had both seen, and accepted their destinies. It would slowly darken as time passed, but it would never fade- her magic now run deep in their blood, and nothing could ever take it away, bar the ultimate.

"It is time."

The sentence rang out clearly in the hall, its echo being carried out far beyond the boundaries created by mere walls. The chosen two looked up, their faces emotionless masks, and offered both their wrists out in acknowledges submission, knowing it wasn't necessary.

"Understand this."

Once more, her voice echoed melodically through the empty space.

"The final price will be paid…"

With that, every vein in their upper body from face down, visibly relaxed, blood seeping through their skin.

"In blood." The voice declared.

Far off in the distance, a single haunting scream rang out chilling all the souls who heard it.


Acasia woke up from a scream, the shrill sound still ringing clearly in her ear. It took her some time to realise that it was her own. It took her even longer to realise that both her mother and her sister were standing at the door asking her what happened.

It was a good question.

She was panting frantically, finding it hard to breathe regularly. She felt as though a heavy weight was being pressed on to her chest, cutting off the circulation in her lungs. She was also finding it extremely difficult to see clearly- there appeared to be a green tint on everything she laid her eyed upon and no amount of blinking or rubbing her eyes seemed to make it go away.

It was almost as if the colour was transfixed in her memory from the vision in her dream.

"Acasia, enough of this. I am sick, and I am tired of you dramatising everything for attention." Acasia blinked up at her mum, how could she think that of her? It was hardly her fault that she got traumatised regularly with nightmares.

Did her mum honestly think that she liked waking up hyperventilating after surreal dreams she could make nothing out of? Did she really think Acasia enjoyed being tormented by her own subconscious mind making her see things she'd much rather not?

Of course, she said none of that, she just stayed quiet and let her mum think whatever the hell she wanted to. If she wanted to assume the worst of her own daughter without even giving her a chance, Acasia wasn't going to stop her- she hardly cared what her mother thought of her anymore.

The feeling was mutual for both parties.

"Fine. You know what; I really can't deal with this right now. I have got an important meeting tomorrow, and I can't afford to mess it up." That would've hurt a lot in the past, but Acasia had learned as a little child that she could never attain a place in her mother's priority list.

Her mum was still looking down at her pointedly, as if she wanted an apology from Acasia for wasting her time. Oh, the notion was too funny; it was so bloody hilarious that she wanted to laugh out loud.

"I honestly can't believe this. Where did I go wrong with you? Why can you not just behave normally?" Her mother turned and walked back to her own room, Acasia could hear the soft click of the door being shut.

That was the solution to all her problem- just walking away. She could never understand Acasia, and walking away meant that she wouldn't have to deal with her until the next time. Which inevitably would eventually come.

Acasia hadn't realised Raen was sitting next to her until she felt Raen's hand go around her tightly. She was murmuring softly that everything would be all right, but they both knew there was no chance for that.

Raen was offering her false hope, but she didn't mind, she was well used to it by now. She nudged Raen towards the door, softly whispering in her ear "I'm fine, go to bed."

Raen nodded and walked out of the room, calling behind her in a voice barely audible "You too, and try to get some sleep."

Acasia made sure Raen was in her room, before she got up from her bed and walked to the opposite side of her room where all her canvases were placed.

She stood in front of a blank canvas.

"I'll get plenty of sleep when I'm dead." Acasia quoted quietly, gathering all her painting materials.

She opened her curtains just enough to let in the glorious spill of light the moon provided- it was a truly beautiful sight. The night sky littered with millions of tiny stars.

That was enough to get her started.

The natural scene before her now, blended in with the image pressed into her memory from her dream until she could no longer differentiate between the two.

She smiled as she picked up her paintbrush

It looked as though she was going to end up with a whole selection of morbid paintings from the haunting dreams she was destined to have forever.

She just didn't realise how long a time forever was for.


A/n: ok, i used the 'final price will be paid in blood' thing from the L.J. Smith prophecies, but i wont be using the rest of the prophecy.also, im not trying to make it seem as though i came up with it so no one get offended.
Im sorry i took so long for the next update, very tied down with my exams, and my internet wasnt working, and computers in general hate be with a fiery passion. thanks so much for all the riviews- i love you guys. please dont hesitate to give me any constructive critisism, yes sherie even you. and tell me what you think of the characters, etc..(yes, that includes you too, alan. lol.)

Mary Lou - im glad you like my work- dont knowif you've read it all, but if you have, give me a shout. dont be jealous, your stuff is excellent- cant wait for more of your poems. but i guess were all tied up too tight with our exams.

Iceheart161- i hope this chapter clears things up a bit, or rather complicates things more- either way, im glad you like it. hope you like this too.

Twichy wichy- here the chapter with you. have you guessed who you are yet? if not, ill tell you tommorrow in school. if you have, then well done you have managed to develop that teenie bit of the brain which stores our intelligence. did that make sense to you, i swear it made sense in my head. i hope the commas in this chapter drive you completely insane, more so than you are already. i promise there werent THAT much green squigglys- im innocent. so, do you like it, huh? do you? haha! im ahead than you, sucker! ps- can i be your betta reader?

untilhellfreezesover- hehe, heres the next update. i know i took even longer than last time, but i swear it wasnt my fault. curse exams, coursework, and all things to do with study in general. im glad the switchingp.o.v thing made it easier for you to understand- i guess different people have different prefferences. im hoping you'll like this chapter as much as the rest- tell me what you think!

incarnated soul- thank you so much for being my betta reader- i love you. and i am so glad we share the same brain because if it wasnt for you then acasia wouldve been completely out of character in the original last scene. i owe you so much. i'll betta read yours, but im hopelessbecause i practically worship your story. cant wait your next chapters, dude! Theo!