Father's hand reached over me before I was sat up, shifting the music. Bass thrummed enough to vibrate the mirrors and anything in the car. I was sat upon Eric's lap, legs resting between his with my back shifted to rest on Eric's shoulder and toward the middle of the car. Wind harshly snapped at my hair, music, drive and knowledge of what was to come had the adrenaline pumping hard in me.

"So you said they were impersonating me?"

"Yeah," I respond without looking to the man mostly behind me. "I'm definitely assuming it's a trap."

"It is." I turn to look to Eric. He frowned at the roads Dad raced down. Dad may put Eric to shame with his driving. I spare a look to Dad after another too hard turn. "The location is where we found you previously."

"Seriously? Can we use a bit more care here? I'm going to get tossed from the car at this rate, Dad."

He spares a bored look, eyes flicking to the arm behind me. "Then your vampire is to blame. He let you fall if that's the case."

My jaw drops, twisting to look to him. "You are such a prick."

"A genetic trait, dear. We go over this too often."

"If I'm tossed from the car, I'm maiming you."

He sighs, smiling contentedly. "Ah. The things you miss with time. Shame really. Your brother was far gentler."

I lightly cuffed his leg. But Dad was master of multiple topics at once.

"Found her previously? Dare I ask?"

"When she was attacked. We think by the Authority."

I make a face at Eric, nose crinkling up. He smirked, eyes flicking from the dark to me. Dad sighs behind me.

"Best to assume the bitch is there. And I'd so hoped for simple."

I light up, turning to Dad. "If she's there, we can eat 'er."

The breathless excitement was shared with him. The matching feral grins were given, eyes blazing. Eric rolled his eyes.

"I find myself glad you can't be turned to a vampire."

"Oh, no," Balial speaks up. "She'd become so boring. I'll never understand what father was thinking when he decided to make you lot."

The silence rang. I slowly turned to better see him. Eric was stiff, eyes locked upon the side of dad's head.

"What?"

Balial spares a small glance. "Hm?" Seeing the wide eyed look and the stone faced one, he looked back to driving, further from population. "Oh. Apologies. I forget I'm one of the few to know that. Forgetful of me."

"Are you saying….Vampires were made by demons?"

Dad spares a cheerful smile to Eric. "Oh yes. Father had rather an attachment to the woman. Seeing as we have so few females, he'd hoped to find a way to make females for us. Rather a failure. But you all are rather delicious. So there was that happy fact."

"Dad…."

"Oh fine. Yes. That's why the woman has been after our line," he huffs. "I'd had such a game of it too."

"But why me?"

I was utterly confused, trying so hard to understand it all. Dad shrugs. "Females of our kind are rare, dear. Possible she wishes to keep you like a pet. Pity her stupidity."

"Does she know this? That Faelyn is related to the one to..."

"I believe so. Though she possibly doesn't realize how close genetically."

"And you are?"

"Wait. I really don't want to think about all this. I'm really happy just not thinking on it," I cut quickly, eyes staring widely out at the dark road passed the headlights.

Eric motions. "There."

Balial pulls to the side of the road, a distance from the lot for where I'd… I remembered the supreme terror I'd felt, eyes widening as I stared ahead.

"How shall we do this?"

"They expect her. Not us."

I turn, looking in horror at Eric. "You don't mean to-"

"Send her ahead without us," Balial muses, head tilted as he looks to the area. "A good option. We shall take to the woods."

And Dad was gone. My heart sunk, whipping around to look to Eric as my hands clung quickly to his shirt and shoulder.

"Eric, don't you dare," I breath, heart hammering in my chest.

He looked directly up at me, seeming hardly moved by the terror I assumed he could feel from me. Blue eyes flick away.

"Doubting yourself already?"

"Eric, you don't understand what-"

"And here I'd thought you were so confident. Strong."

My jaw snapped tight, blood tasting in my mouth as razor sharp teeth cut cheek and tongue. I flopped backwards, eyes narrowed and refusing to look at him. My legs pulled from him, roughly getting in the seat Dad abandoned.

"Get the fuck out of the car," I growl without looking to him. Long nails scraped the gear shift as I felt rage and pure terror sharper than I'd felt in so long.

"We'll-"

"Get. The. Fuck. Out."

I didn't want to hear a word he said. I had half a mind to just take the car and get the fuck out of town. After a moment, he got out. And he stood there, staring down at me.

"Don't do anything stupid."

"It's not like one of your plans got me hurt before."

The coldness to the tone was accented with a pointed gassing of the car and not looking at him. I didn't look into the mirror, too busy amping myself up internally. I was trying to let the rage push off that terror. This wasn't like that night. Dad's here. Eric's here.

They wont let anything happen to me.

The lot was empty. That alone eased me. I shut the car off, stepping out to pocket the key. Without my demonic eyes, it was harder to see in the dark without the lights of the car.

"Chris? Dad?"

My voice echoes over the area. Yah, tha'd be too easy. Sighing, I roughed my hair. I really didn't want to go in those woods. Right. Tit up. Breath sucking in, I strode for the path to the mess I'd made previously. Maybe there?

Every muscle was a hair from tensing. My senses alight as I kept imagining terrible things happening.

The clearing was just ahead. I could tell by the easy view of light, no trees to blot it out there. I hesitated just before the opening, hands fidgeting at my sides.

"Here."

A gush out breath left me, head snapping up to the voice. A female stood in the middle of the space. Petite, but she easily stood taller than me. My eyes flicked about behind her, frowning.

Her hands were clasped before her, standing patiently. Dark brown hair hanging loosely about her pale face. The hair was to her shoulders, front pinned back simply. She'd dressed in jeans, boots, a maroon shirt and leather jacket.

My brows pinched as I stepped from the woods, chin high.

"Decidedly the wrong sex."

"And yet I hear you favor the female form."

I couldn't help the scoff of a laugh, lips lifting to the lopsided smirk. My eyes flicked away a moment. Seated on the ground not far from her was a male. My attention turned to him, eyes flicking insure she hadn't moved.

Still as still as a statue. The guy was attractive, I give that. Easter European, turned at his peak. Dark hair cut to almost shaved. Black stubble of a beard. Vampire in a suit. My eyes snap back to her, chin lifted.

"The hell do you want, fangy?" I cut across the quiet.

The guy scoffs a laugh, letting his eyes rest upon me. The woman shifts her hands. I tensed, form arching forward some as my head tilts at the threat I took it as. She slowly opens her hands for me to see.

"I don't mean a threat, Miss Lynwood."

"The fuck you don't," I hiss out, pushing hard on not just letting my demonic side out. I was fighting to keep in control. "You had somebody pretend to be my father and call. All a trap to get me out here on my own."

She spares a glance to the guy before looking imploringly at me with her hands still lifted for me to see.

"I was sent to try and bargain with you."

Heat surge, fangs out as I let the roar out without meaning to. I steamed in the cooling air, breath coming out in clouds. That comforting change eased the fear, gone as I just basked in this heat and feeling. The man's eyes went wide up at me. He looked ready to lurch to his feet if she hadn't put a hand out to stop him. She'd jumped, jerking back at the sound and sudden change.

But she looked on in some near star struck wonder now. I could see far better in the dark now. Just those two. No others.

"You're magnificent," she breathes.

My eyes snap to her, narrowing as my lip lifts on one side in a sneer to show the razor sharp teeth.

"Not the first I heard that," I cut. My chin lifts more, scenting the air. My eyes snap over to the man at a shift. He'd lifted a small twig, shifting it to twirl in his fingers. Just an idle fidget. Glowing eyes flick back to the woman. "State your shit."

"I'm Nora Gainesborough, Chancellor of the Vampire Authority. With me is Hayes. He works within the Authority." My eyes flick to the man at the mention of name. But I looked back at her, waiting impatiently. She tilts her head some as I don't respond. "And you're Faelyn Lynwood. Correct?"

"I don't care for formality at this point."

She frowns some, trying to reason with me. Trying to draw at the kindness she seemed to think was there. "It's only polite to introduce ourselves."

My eyes roll, stance shifting so a hip popped out and a hand went to my waist. "I've never understood the British. We plan to kill you, but let's have tea and pretend we are on good terms before we do so." I scoff, eyes narrowing as I look to her. The male's brows lift and lower, smirking as he looks to the woman too. "I'm meant to be at work. Speak so I can go change for work."

Her brows pinch, eyes searching my face. "Do you believe in God, Miss Lynwood?"

"I'm against organized religion. Including the bullshit your people follow."

"It is hardly bullshit, Miss Lynwood. Lilith was a real woman, the first of my kind-"

"And the first mistake of mine," I snarl at her. She let out a sound, jumping a small bit. She very expressive. I take a breath, eyes closing as I roll my neck. "I don't take well to preaching, Nora. Best to spit out what the bitch wants before I get hungry and try to eat you."

"Eat me?"

She shot a questioning look to the man. My eyes snap open to lock upon her, feeling that warmth in my belly that came before the burn of hunger. She shot a look to the man, her nerves steeled as she looked to me. "We've an offer." My brows lift, silently urging her on. Her hand lifts and extends to motion the man. "Sleep with him."

Brows furl, confusion clear. I keep replaying her words to insure I heard that right.

"D'wat?"

She takes a small breath, arm still out to motion the man. "Have sexual intercourse with him."

I lift a hand, quickly waving it. "I mean, no. No. I got that," I laugh, head shaking some as I spoke. My eyes flick to the man a moment before locking upon her. "But what the actual fuck?"

A mocking laugh escapes, hand lifting to help cover my mouth and the laugh. Nora's brows pinch a little, arm lowering a little. I could see her questioning something as she watched my reaction. I belted out a laugh, arching forward some.

Oh, gosh. Of all the things. I felt the tears in my eyes at the laughter, gasping a breath as both hands go to my face. I'd been so scared. So very scared and this was it?

"Oh my fuck," I gush through laughter. I motion to the guy, catching my breath. "No offense to you, bud. But-pftt!"

It took another minute to get control on the laughter.

"I'm being serious."

"If I wanted sex," I chuckle, wiping the tears from my eyes. "I've more than a list of people to sleep with. Don't get me wrong, I love some good sex. But, I'm not sleeping with somebody because yall ask or demand."

"Is he not to your liking?" She twisted at two fingers, brows pinched as she seemed to be thinking. Like a child trying to get just the right thing for it all to be perfect. "I could have another sent if you'd like."

My hands go to my face, eyes looking to the sky as if to ask for the will to not laugh again.

"I'm leaving."

Decided, I whirled on my toes to march right back to the car.

"Wait!"

The call echoed loudly in the too quiet woods. I pulled up short, twisting to look back. She look almost frantic.

"Why not?"

"Why not?"

"Why wont you sleep with him?"

"Why are you so adamant that I do?"

My arms crossed at my chest as I fully turn to look at her. She spares a look to the man then to me. "He's skilled. Vampires have-"

I sigh, shaking my head at her. "I've been with a vampire."

"You...have?" She spares a look to the man then furls her brows at me, taking a small step closer. "Who? How long ago?"

"Probably the oldest living vampire there was before my cousin staked him." I sounded far calmer than that thought made me feel.

My eyes close, remembering that time we had in the in-between. I sigh, pushing it all away. In honesty, having time to properly think on it. I think it really was the hormones and genetics. Just as father said. I think I was more infatuated with the idea of somebody who'd take me for me. All of me, all the oddity and quirks. It was all a first for me. Just as Godric did.

I fucking missed Godric like all hell. I'd do anything to just lay on him and play Pokemon. I'm calling him after this.

My eyes open, looking to the ground. "Look. I'm not sleeping with him. And go tell your friends to leave me alone. All or your zealot kind." I look up to her. "The Authority and you lot have no right to make demands of me."

"Don't make this hard," she almost pleads, eyes looking sad.

I look to her a moment, searching her face. "I think you lot made it hard already. You threatened mine."

I didn't look back, marching from the woods to the car.