Xander sat at the top of the stairs and mumbled to himself. Now that his

taste for human energy and death had not been satisfied he did not feel

like searching for anything to eat, and besides, the others would catch

him if her tired to sneak into their rooms, and because of David's little

spell, he could not leave Darkwood Community at all. "Xander?" Xander

looked up, his heart sped in surprise. A small, blond girl stood right in

front of him on the stairs with a look of curiosity on her face. In her white

night gown she looked like a little angel. How could he not have heard

her coming up the stairs? When he did not answer her question she took

a hold of the stairwell and tried again. "Is something wrong?" What?

Oh. "Yeah, fine, what are you doing up?" Bethanie smiled, her white

teeth shone even in the dark. "I was getting a drink and you are lying to

me." Xander took offense. Who did she think she was? He tried to

stand but she put a tiny hand on his knee. "I'm sorry, I did not mean to

offend you. I just wanted to know if I could help you...or rather, if you

would let me help you. I know what is wrong." "Listen little girl," Xander

said. "You have no idea what is the matter." Bethanie shook her head. "I

know all about psychic vampires, y'all need energy like vampires need

blood. Pearl is one you know, a psychic vampire I mean. I understand

that you need energy." Xander rolled his eyes. "OK, let's just pretend, for

a moment, that you actually care that I need energy, how are going to find

me some." "Boy don't you even dare give me attitude," Bethanie said

and she reached out and took his hand. He gave her an odd expression

as she touched his big fingers to her neck right beneath her chin. A

picture of his sister flashed in his mind and he pulled away. "Are you

crazy?" He asked. "How do you know I'm not gonna kill you?" "I trust you

Xander." His eyes went wide and his mouth dropped. "What?" She

shook her head and grabbed his fingers again. "Stop being a baby and

just do it." "Fine," he said trying act like her words did not affect him. But

before he started he made her sit beside him so she would not go

tumbling down the stairs once he absorbed her energy. They sat on the

stairs together, both hearts pounding. Tingles rushed over Bethanie's

body. It felt the way her feet felt when they fell asleep. This was not a

foreign experience for her, every once and a while she had to do this for

Pearl, but the experience was different with Xander. Her heart sped with

a little bit of fear. She knew full well that nothing held him back from

killing her on the spot. But she sat by him, trusting God that she had

made the right choice.