I knew I wouldn't find Jasper, he'd have gone on without me and I'd die if I tried to look for him. I just made my way straight home, stealing some money for transport and here I am. I don't have a clue what I'm going to do now, I'm not sure how I'm going to cope. I know I will, as Cyrus said to me when I came round after he blooded me, I've always been a survivor. But as I've said before, there's a difference between surviving and actually living, I don't think I'll ever be alive again.

I curled up behind the Italian restaurant again and slept there for another night. I'd got back into the pattern of sleeping during the night and not during the day as I had been doing. Sunlight didn't affect me because I only had half vampire blood, not full vampire blood, so I was ok. The strangest thing happened that night, it was almost impossible, it seemed like fate must have brought us together, it was too much of a coincidence. I was woken that very night by a man, he was about thirty, black hair, brown eyes, fingernails bitten right down. He put a hand over my mouth, used one of his fingernails to make a small in my arm and then placed his lips on it. I bit down hard on his hand and he let go of me, falling backwards in shock.

"You moron!" I hissed, "What are you doing?"

"Shh! I can explain, please let me have some of your blood, I'm dying. You wouldn't believe me if I told you, please just trust me, I won't hurt you," the man burbled.

"Don't you use your nose? I'm a vampire as well, you can't drink from me," I whispered.

"Oh," the man said and blushed. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to forget about your lot," I snarled.

"I thought you said you were a vampire," the man said suspiciously.

"I am, I just don't much like our race of creatures," I replied, "What were you doing anyway? Why didn't you knock me out if you wanted to drink from me?"

"I'm only half-vampire, I don't have the gas," the man replied, "Help me, please, I'm desperate, I don't know what to do."

"Didn't the person who blooded you teach you anything?" I asked.

"No," the man replied.

"Were you at the council?" I said suspiciously, I though I recognised him.

"Yes, of course I was, that's why I'm so stuck, the person who blooded me died there, he did everything for me," the man sighed.

"How long have you been a vampire?" I asked.

"Four years," the man said shamefully.

"Four years and you don't even know how to feed properly?" I screeched. The man didn't say anything, just gulped. "For goodness sake! Look…I want to be left alone ok? Just go and find someone else to help you."

"How am I supposed to do that? How many more vampires do you think there are around here? I don't have the strength to go on a hunt," the vampire said pleadingly "I haven't drunk blood for almost three months!"

I looked at the vampire and sighed, I had wanted to forget about the lot of them, the Vampaneze as well, and just try and live as normally as possible. But I couldn't not help this man, he was so… desperate.

"Ok, fine," I said quietly.

"Thank you so, so much!" the man said, "My name is Kealan by the way."

"Hi, I'm Ember," I replied and this was the start of my new vampire-cross-human life.

"Kealan! What are you doing?" I snapped.

"I can't find the bleach," Kealan replied.

"What? Why do you need bleach?" I asked, frowning at him.

"I've spilt varnish on the windowsill," Kealan confessed.

"And you're going to try and get it off with bleach?" I said, "Just how thick are you?"

"Well my mum always did that sort of stuff for me," Kealan said. He'd only just left home eight months ago, he'd had a very possessive mother, which was why he became a vampire, it was his only escape from her clutches!

"You might be able to clear the varnish up with some spirits," I sighed, it felt like I had to baby-sit Kealan twenty-four seven.

"Thanks Sweetie," Kealan said, ruffling my hair and winking at me. That's what got my back up most about Kealan, he might have been an idiot, he might have been useless, but he acted like he was the best thing on the Earth! He acted like he was the one doing me a favour; he made it seem like I was a burden to him but he coped out of the kindness of his heart! Admittedly he did have a very kind heart; he was the most loveable person I'd ever met. Suddenly the phone began to ring and Kealan leapt into the hall to get it. He tripped over the rug, bashed his head on the table, dropped the phone and then fumbled with it for a few seconds.

"Err… ouch… hello?" he said eventually. "Who? One minute please," Kealan held the phone to his chest and hissed at me, "Ember do we know someone named Finch?"

"Yes! That's only my best friend in the whole world who has stayed over here on many occasions, he's the one who you accused of being a thief when you didn't realise you had your sunglasses on top of your head!" I snapped and snatched the phone from him.

"Hi Finch, sorry about Kealan," I said.

"That's ok," Finch laughed.

"What's up?"

"I just wondered if you wanted to meet me up town,"

"What now?"

"Yeah, I'm outside the post office I thought we could go and watch a movie or something, Georgia's meeting me at the cinema I thought maybe you might want to get away from Kealan for a bit," Finch said.

"Yeah ok, I'm on my way," I said and put the phone down.

I had a couple of really good friends, Finch, Georgia, and J.J. Me and Kealan had put our heads together and managed to get me back to school, which I was really enjoying. Obviously nobody knew that I was a half-vampire, they'd completely freak out and probably try to kill me! Well maybe not Finch, I had a hunch that he knew there was something different about me anyway, but he seemed cool with it, he even called me Princess Darkness sometimes! We were a strange bunch, Georgia with her face painted white, and the pencilled scorpion on her left cheek. J.J. who had dyed his hair blue and gelled it up in weird spikes so it looked like he'd just got out of bed. And Finch who was never seen without a huge bag full of books, magazines, talismans, lighters, paper, pens, small rag dolls, pins, needles, threads, rune stones, moon charts, crystals and all manner of other weird and wonderful things, slung over his shoulder. And of course Finch never went anywhere without Sebastien, his longhaired black cat who walked like a dog with a small black lead and harness. I was probably the only one of the bunch who looked semi-normal, but they had accepted me as part of their group within the first week I had started at my new school and they were the best friends anyone could have.

"How's Kealan the wonder Dad?" Finch asked, we were walking down the street together to the cinema. Finch, Georgia and J.J. were the only one's who knew that Kealan wasn't my Dad, I had to tell them, it wasn't exactly hard to work out anyway but now it was a standing joke between us.

"Yeah he's alright," I replied. "How's your brother?"

"Ok I guess, he's threatening to send me up to Scotland to live with mum and dad," Finch sighed.

"Why?"

"He's been getting ratty lately because his girlfriend's been hanging round with his best mate a bit more than he's comfy with," Finch said.

"Poor Mark," I muttered.

"I offered to make him a love potion but he just snapped at me and told me to get to my room, he really bugs me when he's like that," Finch said, frowning. "But anyway, are you auditioning for the school play?"

"I dunno," I replied, shrugging, "I probably wouldn't be good enough."

"Are you kidding! You're fantastic at drama, Mr. Swanson says he's never seen anybody who can cry on cue like you can, and the voices you can do are amazing!" Finch said enthusiastically.

"Well are you doing it?" I asked.

"Of course I am, it's the Dark Prince, if I can't do that then I don't know who can!" Finch exclaimed.

"You'd definitely get the lead," I said.

"Don't be a creep," Finch laughed. We arrived at the cinema, Georgia was standing, leaning against a lamppost and trying to look like she didn't care as people stared at her as they walked by. She always attracted attention, I think that was the basic idea though.

"Where's J.J.?" Finch asked as she came over to use. Georgia shrugged. I heard J.J. creep up on us but I didn't want to spoil his fun so I pretended to be surprised when he grabbed Finch and me into equally strong headlocks.

"Ha!" he exclaimed, "Did you miss me? I bet you did you little punks you can't do anything without yours truly!"

"Damn it J.J.! Don't scare me like that!" Finch yelled after he'd wriggled away from J.J.'s grip. "Where have you been?"

"It's cool man, I was at the library. They just got some new computers fitted so I was checking out the sites my mum won't let me look at, oh right!" J.J. said, grinning.

"They've got an Internet connection?" I asked, my ears pricking up.

"Isn't that what I just said miss?" J.J. replied.

"Can you use e-mail?" I said, anxiously.

"Of course, what's up with you, you look like you've seen a ghost or something," J.J. said, staring at me uncertainly.

"Would you guys mind if I disappeared for a bit? I've got to do something," I said vaguely.

"Yeah sure, if you have to, as long as you meet us in McDonalds at five, ok?" Georgia said, smiling.

"Yeah ok," I replied, "See you all later," and then I started to walk quickly back the way I had just come.

Dear Steve

I'm e-mailing you first to tell you how sorry I am, and secondly to ask you to do me a favour if you can. I shouldn't have been such an idiot when we were chatting last year, I learnt the hard way what these vampires are like. I won't go into details, I don't want to, but lets just say I had a very bad experience. Have you managed to become a vampire hunter yet? If you have I wonder if you could help me track someone down, I want a vampire got rid of and I'll pay you anything you want. I'll understand if you're busy, or if you just don't want to talk to me any longer, but if you want to get in touch my number is 01254884090.

Ember AKA ChatGal

I sighed and sent the e-mail, seriously doubting that I would ever hear from Steve-the-vampire-slayer, but I had to try.

I was sitting in the head teacher's office, I was shaking violently.

"I've called your father, he's on his way," Mr. Brian said quietly, "I've never witnessed anything like this before."

I gulped and stayed silent, I couldn't think of anything to say. I continued to suck my finger even though the blood had long since dried up.

"Mrs. Kay thinks that it would be wise to refer you to the school psychiatrist," Mr. Brian said after a while. I was shocked, they thought I was mad!

"Please sir, I don't need to see the psychiatrist, I was just having a bad day," I said quickly and put on a false smile.

"We all have bad days Ember, but not many people tend to destroy a classroom and then start pricking themselves with pins," Mr. Brian said uncertainly.

"Needles," I corrected in a voice barely above a whisper. Then there was a knock and the young office secretary poked her head round the office door.

"Mr. Jenkins to see you sir," she said, she gave me a funny look and then retreated back to the reception desk. Kealan came striding into the office and plonked himself down into a soft leather chair beside me, not even waiting for an invitation. He sat in the chair as though he was the child and he was being told off.

"Hello Mr. Jenkins, I suppose you're wondering what all this is about," Mr. Brian said, suddenly smiling warmly.

"Yes sir," Kealan said, not quite daring to meet the headmaster's eye.

"I'm Mr. Brian," Mr. Brian said, obviously thinking that Kealan had forgotten, why else would he have addressed him as sir?

"Kealan Jenkins," Kealan replied, still looking anywhere but at the headmaster.

"Err… yes I know," Mr. Brain said uncertainly, "Anyway, to get right to the point, we've had a bit of trouble in Textiles today haven't we Ember?"

"Yes sir," I replied.

"Would you like to explain what happened to your father so we can discuss what is to be done," Mr. Brian said. Kealan looked over his shoulder as though someone else had entered the room without him knowing, he gazed around, obviously confused.

"Dad!" I exclaimed, giving him a dig in the ribs and a pointed look at the headmaster.

"Oh yeah… yes honey?" Kealan said, realisation suddenly dawning on him. He put on what he must have thought was a fatherly face; it made him look as though he was in pain!

" Well… I was in Textiles class today with Mrs. Kay and we were sewing. I pricked myself and made myself bleed and I started crying and Jenny Liver said that I was a baby for crying at a pinprick. Finch stuck up for me and we got into a fight and wrecked the classroom but she wouldn't shut up so I started to prick my finger over and over again to prove that I didn't care," I explained quietly.

"Err… Mr. Brian, I realise that Ember's behaviour might appear… disturbing but considering her past I think that she should be cut a little slack," Kealan said. I could have hit him, why did he have to bring that into it?

"What do you mean by that?" Mr. Brian asked.

"Living without her parents, forced onto the streets and life as a vampire isn't all peaches and cream either," Kealan said solemnly. I couldn't believe he'd said it, I knew he was stupid but I didn't know he was that stupid.

"Kealan!" I screeched, standing up. "Are you crazy?"

"I'm sorry I don't understand," Mr. Brian said, frowning.

"I'm just trying to get you out of trouble," Kealan said defensively.

"Kealan, you can't say that in front of him, he'll call a doctor and they'll send us both to see a shrink or worse they'll send us to the loony bin!" I hissed.

"Is there something that the school should be informed of?" Mr. Brian asked uncertainly. Without warning the office window smashed and a figure jumped into the office, grabbed Mr. Brian by the shirt and breathed a cloud of gas into his face, Mr. Brian went limp and the stranger dropped him onto the floor. The figure had moved too quickly to be human and I didn't like it at all, I reacted as fast as I knew how and jumped at the person. He was a man and wasn't expecting me to attack, let's just say I kicked him somewhere I've heard to be quite painful and he crumpled immediately to the ground.

"Charna's guts Ember!" the intruder squealed in a high pitched voice. Except from it's highness I knew it instantly.

"Jasper?" I asked. I got down onto my knees next to him and he smiled at me weakly. "I'm so sorry, I thought you were trying to kill me!" I laughed.

"I just saved your behind from the shrink remember?" Jasper said, he took a deep breath and sat up, "Who's the big mouthed idiot?"

I glanced over at Kealan who cautiously crawled out from underneath Mr. Brian's desk where he had hidden the instant the window had been smashed.

"That's Kealan, I've been living with him, he's half-vampire," I explained.

"You've been keeping Ember safe?" Jasper asked Kealan, smiling warmly.

"Err… yeah, she's trouble sometimes but I cope, it's hardly a chore looking after her though," Kealan said, modest as ever.

"Shall we go, there's a woman running towards the office and if you want to explain all this then stay but I'd rather get the heck out of here," Jasper said. He had stronger hearing than Kealan and I because he was full- vampaneze and although we had sensitive hearing his was even more so. Jasper helped me out of the broken window, waited for Kealan to scrabble through, and then hopped through himself. There was the sound of a woman screaming and we all gave each other a quick glance before silently deciding to leg it!

We didn't stop running until we reached Kealan's house.

"We came here earlier, I tracked you down Ember and I thought you were here and when I saw the photo of you in your school uniform and you weren't there I put two and two together. But we were really hungry, we've been on the road for ages so I stole some food, I'll replace it Kealan I promise, I hope you don't mind," Jasper panted as Kealan was fumbling for his keys.

"No worries," Kealan replied.

"Excuse me, Jasper, did you say 'we'?" I asked, intrigued.

"Oh yes!" Jasper said, slapping his head as though he'd forgotten something very important. "I didn't tell you did I?"

"Tell me what?" I asked.

"Oh, he's fantastic… I can't believe I forgot… you're going to love him! Oh he's… oh I'll let you see for yourself!" Jasper stuttered, too excited to put together a simple sentence.

"Kealan hurry up and open the door!" I said impatiently. Kealan rolled his eyes, got the right key, and was just about to put it in the keyhole when the door was opened from the inside by a fourteen year old boy. I hadn't seen him for a long time and he'd grown up but I recognised him instantly, how could I forget? I screamed and fell backwards.

"Charna's guts!" I cried, I could already feel the tears starting to come to my eyes.

"Alright Sis?" the boy asked.

"Christo?" I asked, not quite daring to believe it. The boy didn't say anything, just smiled sheepishly and nodded. "Christo!" I screamed, stood up, rushed at him and knocked him off his feet.

"I missed you," Christo said quietly.

"You never told me you had a twin brother, I found him on the road and it took me two weeks to pair you two together," Jasper said from behind me.

"You!" I yelled, turning and glaring at him. "You brilliant blood sucker!" I lunged at him the same way I had done with Christo.

"I thought you'd be happy," Jasper said.

"Happy? I'm ecstatic!" I cried. "Oh my God!" and with that I was forced to rush past everybody and into the house, I ran into the bathroom and was violently sick.