Congrats to armedwithapen, she won the 'From the POV of Charity' contest! Here it is...

Curiousity

"Aw, come on Mags!" I wailed, wrapping a curl around my finger flirtatiously.

I was lying on my stomach, remembering the time I could hear my heart beating against the floorboards, and how I could feel my pulse beating when I laid my head on a comfy pillow at night. These days, I didn't do much sleeping.

Magnus stooped down to my level, his bright gaze pouring into my... not so bright stare. If I could feel my heart right now, it would be hammering so hard against my ribcage. Because that's what Magnus does to me.

"Hey," He whispered softly, "Not right now, ok? I got... business."

I dropped my gaze. "With Slade?" I asked.

Magnus lifted my chin with his thumb. "Does it matter? All I care about right now is solving it so I can be with you."

I smiled weakly. But something was still tugging at my conscience. "But... why?" I queried. I didn't mean to come across as a clingy, whiny girlfriend. Jeesh, I was never that before I was bitten. "Why are you messing with such a dangerous guy?"

"'Cause it's my job," was Magnus's reply, "It's what I do."

He kissed my forehead, straightened, and walked out, his weight causing the boards beneath him to groan.

Not that Magnus is huge. I mean, he's tall, but underneath all that black, he's totally toned. I should know, I've seen it.

Ew, not like that, pervs.

I curled backwards, stretching, feeling peckish. Not good. Especially when Mags wasn't around.

As Mags and I don't hunger for food and/or alcohol. We hunger for something a little more... OK. Odd.

But I won't get to that right now.

The front door creaked as Magnus called, "I love you, Charity!"

"I love you too," I muttered. Mags waved his hand in frustration, slamming the door behind him. I guess he's kinda the artist type. Dark, moody, sensitive. But you get used to it.

So there I was, lounging on my kinda moth-bitten sofa, experimenting with headstands, biting my nails, snoozing, when something hit me.

Not literally. But the worst non-literal thing that could ever occur. You got it. Curiousity.

But didn't I have a right, though, to be curious? The guy I love, being his moody sensitive self, decided to leave me on a Saturday night to go chase some guy. If it hadn't been for that affectionate outburst, I may have been left questioning his orientation. But I know he's totally attracted to girls, even if he did resist the whole hair curling thing.

Whatever. Guys are weird.

Anyway, curiousity. Bad thing. Because curious feelings lead to curious actions... ie. following Magnus.

It wasn't hard to guess where he'd gone. I mean, for one thing, his Batmobile(OK, it isn't a Batmobile, but it totally should be) lef oil tracks till past the mailbox, and really, what else would a vampire do at night besides a little... vampiring?
Yeah, you heard me right. Mag and I are vampires. The pointy incisors and ivory complexions are kinda major giveaways.

I spun on the spot, cursing the pain I felt as my skin became black and my eyesight turned poor. My legs curled inwards and the skin between my fingers stretched. I flapped my wings ferociously, baring my murderous fangs. Yes, it's true. Vampires can really turn into evil-looking bats. Not my favorite way to travel, but it gets you wherever fast enough.

I felt the air cool my skin, wishing it would instead feed my thick, straggly locks. Soon, I'm faced with a grim gray semi, and only the fact that there's no light coming from the windows on one half clues me in that it's Slade's. He's not much of a furniture buyer. Even through the gray curtain and little moonlight, I could see the faint silohette of Mag's build.

I slid back into my beautiful(ha, ha) vampiress form, and stepped stealthily up to the KFC takeout box-littered path. I guess Slade's not much of a maid, either.

There was no point in ringing the bell(that thing lost it's batteries years ago) so I heaved the door open. It gave way a little easier than I anticipated, and I kinda stumbled ungracefully into the hallway. I strained my ears to hear muffled voices.

"You know, Magnus, you were bitten a long time ago. You've learned to accept yourself as what you are."

"Yes Slade. But what are you saying? Be sharp, I've left Charity alone for two hours, and you know how she gets suspicious."

I felt extremely offended by that remark. Suspicous? Me? I think the word you're looking for, Magnus, is curious.

"That's just it, Magnus. Charity, she gets in your way." A burning anger seized me right then. Was Slade trying to break us up? Didn't he know that it couldn't be done? "And more of these hybrids are about now, mediators. And they'll be out to get me. And then you'll be in charge. Do you need a girl like Charity holding you down?"

A girl like me? Yes, I could be a little tough. But he rather me be a whiny damsel in distress? I would so not be in the way being the way I am now.

"I love her, Slade," Magnus whispered, "I can't just throw her away."

An icy feeling swept through my insides. Magnus loved me? For real? So much that he was willing to give up his inheritance?

"You loved that girl back in Arthur's time too, didn't you?" asked Slade scornfully. "And you got over her, didn't you? Then you'll get over Charity, too. If you won't leave her, I'll get rid of her, she's vulnerable enough."

"No!"

Both Magnus and I cried at the same time, and I was relieved from my hiding place behind the lounge door. I found myself with a confused Slade and a fuming Magnus.

Suddenly, a murderous gleam appeared in Slade's eyes.

"Uh..." I stuttered, "I mean..." I cleared my throat, and added, "I'm not vulnerable, Slade, no matter what you do to me."

"Oh yeah?" Slade laughed, "Well, as long as you have Lover Boy here to protect you, anyway."

Magnus started to retaliate, but I stepped forward and interrupted.

"I don't need him to fight my battles, Slade. If you want me, come and get me."

"No!" Yelled Magnus, but Slade set his jaw, revealing ivory incisors. Then, quicker than the blink of an eye, he'd lept at me, hurling me to the wall. I slid down it helplessly, blood dripping from my skull.

I felt it wet on my fingers. I sniffed it, horrified. But then I felt hungry. Really hungry...

"Magnus!" I shreiked warningly. He rushed fowards, knocking Slade off of his feet. Mags cradled my head in his arms. "Magnus," I wavered, "I feel so... hungry... but so weak... Magnuuuus."

"Ssh," Assured Magnus, blowing cool air in my face. "It's ok..."

My sight was becoming blurred, and I felt so weak, I could hardly hold my body there in Magnus's arms. My head lolled in Magnus's hands, and I met the gaze I was so in love with. Then, in the shadows behind Magnus, was an angry silhoette, creeping nearer and nearer...

"Magnus!" I shrieked, and he dropped me genty on the floor, baring his fangs dangerously.

"You know, Slade, Charity and I are a team," Magnus said conversationally as he circled Slade. "You, however, do not seem to be familar with the word. Would you like me to elaborate-"

"Do not taunt me, Magnus," sneered Slade, "Your beloved Charity doesn't seem to be in a team at the present, I dare say."

Right then-right then- I finally snapped. OK, I couldn't exactly see the guy, but I knew I was one of the guys before me. And nobody-nobody- got away with calling me names.

Not that Magnus wasn't capable of handling the situation. Only, I wanted to show Slade I could kick some butt of my own.

I lept at the figure in front of me, scratching at his clothes, pulling his hair. His soft, cotton clothes, his thick hair...

Magnus!

"Charity!" He yelped, "Get off me so I can-"

BANG.

A sickening explosive sound burst my eardrums, and I was propelled backwards. I coughed, tar and dust clogging my throat. I wafted smoke away from my view, and the space before me ad revealed that Slade had gone. Disappeared... just like that.

Magnus came hurrying over, coughing as badly as me, his shirt torn, his hair ragged. It was amazing how hot he still looked.

He scooped me up heroically as I clung to his neck like a damsel in distress.

"Let;s get you outta here. We need to talk."

Uh-oh. Not the four greatest words in history.

He dropped me delicately into his Batmobile(sorry, it should SO be one) and got into the driver's seat, scowling.

000

"Would you like to tell me what the HECK you were doing following me to Slade's and then attacking me?"
"I..." I started, "I..."

"Maybe Slade's right," muttered Mags, releasing the clutch and speeding down the road back home. "Maybe you are just getting in the way."

I didn't say anything. Because what could I say? I did get in his way.

We were pulling into the driveway when Magnus sighed. "OK." He said solemnly. "I didn't mean that, I didn't mean to yell. I'm sorry. You know that I love you, don't you?"
"I used to believe it," I found myself saying. "But you loved that girl from Arthur's time. Didn't take you long to love again."

"It took 700 years!" Magnus cried, sounding exasperated.

"Whatever." I shrugged my shoulders spitefull and started to get out of the car.

"Wait!" Called Magnus, grabbing my wrist. "If you're going to be like that, why are we together?"
"I love you," I said, my voice cracking, "How can it suddenly just not be working out?"

This time Magnus shrugged his shoulder. "I'll always love you, Charity," He whispered. "We're good together."

"Too good," I added.

"Exactly. We'll always try and protect each other, but endanger ourselves. And I don't want to be responsible for your injury."

"Likewise," I replied, feeling a great fat tear rolling down my face. Fabulous. I was crying. In front of Magnus.

"Which is why-"-I could tell Magnus's heart was breaking-"I think we should just be friends."

One tear. Two tears. Three, four...

"No!" cried Magnus, squeezing my hand, "Don't cry. I'm not worth it."

"Magnus, don't pretend. You know as well as I do that we love each other. Why should we split?"

Magnus looked uneasy. Oh my gosh.

He didn't love me.

He so didn't love me. I could see it on his face.

"I'm doing this because I love you and I want you out of trouble."

"But trouble finds me, it's not like I welcome it-"

"Charity."
I looked intop Magnus's sapphire gaze. It hurt so much, but I had to let him go.

"Friends till the end," I decided, wrapping my fingers around his fist. Magnus smiled weakly and took something out of his jean pocket.

It was a knife, gleaming in the moonlight.

I dropped Magnus's hand sharply.

"Is the end sooner than I thought?"

"No."

"So you're not going to stab me?" I asked cautiously.

Magnus laughed. "Of course not. Give me your hand."

I lifted my arm. Magnus took my wrist and tore through the skin with his knife. I gasped, but not because it hurt. I guess us vamps are immune to pain.

No, I gasped because the blood gushing from my open vein was blue.

Seriously. Blue.

Magnus did the same to his wrist, yet his blood was a deep, dark red. I didn't understand.

"How-"

"Ssh," Magnus silence me, and pushed our hands together so that the blue and red merged. Purple.

"There," Continued Magnus, clearly satisfied. "Now your blood runs in mine, and mine in yours. United."

"United," I repeated.

000

Wow, that was a year ago, nearly. I turn my gaze to Magnus, his dark hair covering his eyes as he read on the floor. I looked at my hand in the dim light of the lamp. The cut had healed over, but beneath the skin I could see something. Something purple.

I guess we'll always be just friends till the end. United. I guess we're better off that way...

000

OK, this is Dreamcloud. There's another contest, entries are due August 2, and it's on from the POV of Magnus. No cursing, M material, MA material, no slash, all that. Same rules as with the Charity one. Go to His Eyes are Blue for the rules of that one. I'll update soon, PROMISE!