A/N: oh my gosh, I'm sooooo sorry I haven't updated lately! I just had my birthday...and school just got out...so I've been reaaaaally busy. And my dad keeps hogging the computer with his homework. Do you know how weird it is to have a dad that has to do homework? And then Fanfiction wouldn't let me upload any of my documents... Sooooo sorry, but here's a chapter to repent for my sins.

Reviews:

PaJamas: Well, I did say in my profile that I can pretty much come up with any paring. If this were about the actual book, then I would say, of course Aubrey is with Jessica! But since this is a fanfic, she might not be.

Faery's Wings: Hahah, lol. Thanks!

Waking Up to Reality

(Salem Smoke's POV)

I think I realized where I was as soon as I saw the first building. New Mayhem was definitely not a place I wanted to be. The vampiric aura hit me like a brick to the head; it was all I could do to keep from stumbling. I had never, never, felt an aura this strong.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to compose myself slightly. My eyes snapped open, however, when an arm fell across my shoulders.

I didn't care if the hand was there in a comforting gesture. I didn't trust anyone in this area to be truly comforting. How could a being without a soul be comforting? My arm flew up, knocking the vamp's arm off of my shoulders. I turned hastily, empowered by my grief and anger.

"What do you..." I trailed off, looking at the vamp that stood before me. Never had I seen someone so utterly perfect; so utterly handsome. How could this being -who had no soul, who would never age, who murdered nightly- be so handsome? I found myself gawking at him, unable to tear my eyes away.

His deep brown hair was on the longish side, tousled around his face in an array of curls. He was as pale as any of his kind, but it seemed to suit him. On first inspection, his eyes seemed to be the oh-so-familiar vampiric black. In reality, that blackness was swirled with an emerald so bright, it could outshine the true gem. He had broad shoulders, and extremely muscular arms. A barbed wire tattoo wrapped around his right bicep.

I bit my lip, nervously reaching up and touching the moon and star tattoo on my arm. He stood up a little straighter, watching me. Now, I could tell that he was about a head taller than me. Perfect height for a dance partner. Wait...WHAT? I mentally scolded myself for even thinking of him in a fond matter.

The vampire smiled lightly and I knew he had picked up a train of my thoughts. Crap. I took a deep breath, getting ready to confront the vamp.

"My name's Rowan." He said to me. His voice had a tint of an English accent to it. Or was it a British accent? I couldn't tell...but it was gorgeous. I looked up, shocked. The vampire didn't seem to want to threaten me. Could I have been wrong about vampires for all of these years? Could my sister really have been right about them? I shuddered slightly at the prospect.

"And your's?" He asked the question lightly, as if we were two normal people, meeting for the first time.

"Salem." I whispered lightly. He smiled.

"Odd name for a witch, don't you think? I mean, wasn't that the place where the Witch Trials were held?" I laughed at that, then blushed. He made me laugh so easily... I bit my lip again; it seemed that this had become my nervous habit. A look of worry crossed over Rowan's face. Slowly, he walked forward until he was close enough to touch me. I shivered at his touch, but did not pull away. I never thought it would happen, but I wasn't repulsed by this vampire's touch.

Rowan enveloped me in a caring hug, lightly placing my head on his shoulder, guiding my arms up around his neck. His arms fell around my waist, leading me into motion. We stayed that way for a while, dancing to music only we could hear.

Perfect height for dancing.

(Daley Light's POV)

I woke slowly, not knowing where I was. It felt as if glass and fire were being pushed through my veins. Slowly, I blinked and sat up, trying to keep my head from spinning anymore than it already was. I felt a hand land on my arm, steadying me slightly. Thank Goddess. I thought. Had it not been for that steady hand, I surly would have fallen onto the ground by now.

I closed my eyes and winced, the pain overbearing. I would do anything-anything-just to end this pain.

I felt the hand close around my forearm, pulling me to its owner. The other hand came to the back of my head, lightly stroking my hair. I was pulled forward again, until I found myself resting against a body. Gently, the owner of the body tilted his head away, drawing me to his neck.

Thoughtlessly, I latched on. Fangs that I didn't know I had pierced the skin over his carotid artery. Rich blood flowed into my mouth, bringing memories with it.

He looked upon the author for the first time. Never did he think that this is what he would find when he set out to kill Ash Night. The girl smiled slightly, and he already knew that this was something to cherish. She wasn't the type of person who smiled much. Her ebony hair flowed down her back, her eyes a blazing green. She was beautiful. Perfect. Never had he seen such unearthly beauty in a simple human.

Caryan looked up at him. "I can't do it. I don't have enough magic." Her words hit him like a brick. Without thinking, he offered up his own lifeline to the author. Anything to save her. Caryan did all she could, but Jessica still wouldn't survive. She needed blood desperately. After getting her consent, he drew her to his neck and allowed her to take his blood, stopping her heartbeat in the process.

"Siete wants to meet me." Jessica didn't seem nervous at the prospect of meeting the creator of vampires. No. She seemed overjoyed. He didn't want to let her go...but he knew she was too determined for him to stop her. She went into her room and dressed quickly, walking past her dusty laptop on the way out. She had stopped writing almost a year after being changed. Without a word, a hug, or a kiss, Jessica walked out the door. She had always given him a kiss goodbye. Until today.

Jessica's black-green eyes were rapturous. Her posture screamed 'predator' louder than it ever had before. Her aura was tainted; she had taken a life. Jessica never took lives. "So sorry Aubrey," she said, her voice full of false empathy, "but I'm leaving. Siete is a much better kisser." He stood shocked. What had happened to his Jessica? This monster that stood before him was not Jessica. "Oh, by the way," she added as an after thought, "the name's Azura now." With that said, she disappeared from the room and from his life.

I pulled back, finished. It was as if I had cut off a conversation. I looked reproachfully at the vampire in front of me. Sure, he had changed me. But what had I really had left in my life? I was the last of the Light line; a sure target for death. I couldn't stay with Salem and her mother anymore. I refused to go stay with Adianna and Dominique Vida. This was actually my only other option.

Aubrey was watching me as intently as I was watching him. I knew that he didn't want me to see how much pain that last girl...Jessica had caused him. I knew that he vowed never to change another human again.

"So why did you change me?" I asked, speaking my thoughts. A dark look crossed his face for a moment.

"You would've died," he said. I was shocked.

"I'm the last Light! Isn't that what you would've wanted?" He looked at me with a look I couldn't place. I stared him down, waiting for the ball to be hit back into my court. He shook his head and cursed.

"You really have no clue, do you?" I cocked my head, completely confused. "You are the most gorgeous person I have ever seen in my life. Alive and undead." With that, he drew me into a loving embrace, placed a kiss on my temple, and disappeared.

For once in my life, I didn't know what to think or how to feel.

A/N: I am so, so, so, so, soooo sorry it took to long. If you ask me...I think this is one of my best chapters so far. They aren't my favorite characters in this story (my favorite is Sadie), but I think the chapter came out pretty good. Read and review!