A/N: Happy 4th of July, everyone! I decided that I would update all of my stories as a present! And...maybe even write this new one I was thinking of. It's a Hawksong story, based before Falcondance...with a few changes from Snakecharm. It'll be up soon...as soon as I fix the bugs in it. Hope you like this!

Reviews:

CrystleDragon: I love reading your reviews! They always make me really happy, and always inspire me to write a new chapter! Keep 'em comming!

Scharfen Leid: Well, I'm so glad you came out of the closet! Um, well..you know what I mean. Anywho, how can't you love cliffhangers? They're so much fun! MUAHAHAH.

Kara Adar: I'm sorry if it gets a little confusing at times...sometimes I loose track of the characters, too, which is pretty sad if you ask me. I try to make sure that I write who's PoV the section will be in before I start writing it. Tell me if there's anything else I can do to make things a little clearer. Thanks.

DreamFantasy13: So glad to hear it! Hope you like this one too...

Undeserved Marks

(Sadie Aurn's PoV)

I looked from Sarah and Lyssia to Nikolas and back. Sarah was staring Nikolas down, distrust in her gaze. Lyssia seemed vulnerable; being put in this situation had done a number on her 'Vida Reserve.' Nikolas...well, he looked like Nikolas. I had been around him a bit, since Kristopher and Sarah lived in his house, and I liked to visit Sarah. He seemed a little too happy, though. I didn't like that.

I cleared my throat, bringing attention to myself and Silver. Relief seemed to flood over Lyssia's face when she saw me. Sarah held a light smile, while still managing to glare at Nikolas. He, however, didn't seem too pleased. "What's going on here?" I asked.

Nikolas took on a smile. "Well, my dear Sadie, it seems Lady Lyssia had forgotten something when she rushed into my house a few days ago." Nikolas stopped, looking at my cousins and I as if we were to supply the answer. When none of us did anything, he sighed. "I still have bloodclaim on all of Sarah's kin." My eyes narrowed in anger.

"Oh, but surely you have forgotten something." Silver now stepped forward, placing an arm on my waist. "Blood claim only applies to a human. And Sarah is now one of our kind." I smiled triumphantly, sure that we had Nikolas beat.

However, his smile didn't falter.

"That would be true, Silver, if Lyssia hadn't been trained to fight as a Vida. Poorly trained, I might add. Or that may just be her." He seemed calm, teasing almost. I took it as an insult to my kin and drew a blade.

"Get on with it, Nikolas, or you may find any friendly feelings I had for you quickly forgotten," I hissed. I may not take pride in the fact that I am a vampire hunter, but I wouldn't sit and listen to Nikolas insult one of my kin. Especially not Lyssia, who was by far my favorite cousin. Lyssia looked over at me, alarmed. She knew I avoided fighting these days. But she also knew that Nikolas would be in trouble if I decided to fight him.

Nikolas eyed my blade. "That wouldn't be wise, Sade." I flinched slightly at my nickname. I loved it...but not at this moment. Now was a time to be serious. I glared at him, my eyes narrowing into slits. Silver's arm tightened around my waist comfortingly...but protectively. I wasn't sure if he was protecting me or Nikolas, though. He may have simply been holding me b back.

"You see, dear Lyssia drove a knife into my stomach the last time she crashed one of my bashes," Nikolas announced. My face fell, my blade falling limp in my wrist. Sarah's face went even paler than possible, her eyes holding pure hate. "I have bloodclaim on her now, too."

"Non Merita quella, Nikolas! Non merita I vostri contrassengi!"(1) Sarah suddenly shouted at Nikolas, pushing Lyssia behind her, and showing off the marks on her arm. I reached out and pulled Lyssia to me, determined to protect her, bloodclaim or not. I looked to Silver, who looked quite sick to his stomach. I had understood what Sarah had said, since I was taught to speak Italian as a child. Most witches were taught how, since many vampires knew how to speak it also. I still didn't understand why he looked so upset, though. Or why his arm tightened around me.

"Ci รจ niente che possiante fare, Sarah. Gli ho reclamo di anima! Ed ho reclamo di anima sulle sue parentele! Quale significa Sadie, anche. E Salem e Daley." (2) With Nikolas's words, my blade fell out of my hands. I could feel my world sliding away. What had Lyssia gotten me into? Silver pushed me behind him.

"Nikolas, be rational. Why on earth would you want to call claim on all four of the Cousins?" Silver held his head high, daring Nikolas to give him a reason. I recognized that his dare was false, though. If Nikolas truly wanted to call blood claim on my cousins and I, there was nothing Silver could do to stop it. It would be all up to Lyssia and me to get ourselves out of there alive.

Nikolas's smirk reappeared. "On the contrary, Silver. You know as many reasons as I do as to why it would be beneficial to call blood claim on the Cousins." Silver frowned. "You're just afraid that I will mark your little girlfriend there." Silver went ridged, anger rushing through his veins. I lowered my eyes, thinking for a moment. Finally, I pushed Silver and Lyssia away and stepped towards Nikolas.

"What do I have to do to ensure that Lyssia and I will both walk out of this house tonight with out any...unwanted markings?" My head was held high, my arms crossed at my chest. I had picked up my blade before stepping forward, and it now rested in my right hand. My eyes were steady, unwavering. All I had to do now was wait for Nikolas's answer.

(Lyssia Vida's PoV)

To say I was surprised by Sade's reaction would be an understatement. My mouth fell open in shock. I assumed that she was going to start lashing out with her blades. That's usually the only way to ensure your safety against a vampire. But maybe...maybe Sadie knew something about this Nikolas that I didn't.

He stared at her, surprised. He hid is surprise a considerable bit better than I did, though. I looked around us. All of the other party goers had fled, leaving just me, Sadie, Sarah, Nikolas, and this mysterious Silver character. Of course, I knew who Silver was. But apparently, I didn't know him. I trusted Sade's judgement, and if she trusted this Silver, he must be worthy of it.

I looked back at the situation I had been forced into. Nikolas was now openly smiling, something that slightly creeped me out. It was a little scary. One minute, he's yelling with Sarah about blood claim on 'the Cousins', and now he was simply gazing at Sade with curiosity.

"Actually, Sade, I'm not sure what to say. I could simply say that you have no options, which is quite true. But what fun would that be?" His expression darkened for a moment. A smile broke out across his face, as if he had suddenly had an inspiration.

"I seem to be having a problem with a few vampires right now." I saw Sadie sag at his remark. Obviously, she could see where this was going.

"What are their names?" She asked. Nikolas smiled again.

"Well, it seems I haven't had time to properly dispose of Kaelo since Sarah turned..." Sarah frowned. I could see where she was coming from. He made it seem like some great accomplishment, like a date on a timeline. "You will take care of him. And any other vamps I might need taken care of in the future. Better yet, you will get all of your cousin's to help you." Sadie growled in frustration.

"Is that all?" She bit out unhappily.

"Dear Sadie, when has it ever been that easy?" I scowled at him. "You and your cousins seem to need a little...intervention. It seems you are already quite taken with Silver here, and if rumors hold true, it seems Daley has become quite taken with a vampire, also." I couldn't see where Nikolas was coming from. Nor did I understand his comment about Daley. What had happened to her?

Sadie frowned. "Get it out, Nikolas." She said seriously. Nikolas smiled.

"Well, Sade. It's quite simple, really. I'm quite sick of all of these little attempts at my bashes. In order to get out of my house unharmed tonight, you must agree to become the very thing you hunt. Along with your cousins."

A/N: Well, that's all for now! Muahaha, I love cliffies. They make things interesting, don't you think? Read and review!

But I want a little input. So tell me...do you:

A. Want Sadie to agree.

B. Have Sadie disagree.

C. Have Sadie disagree, but agree to have each cousin partnered up with a vampire.

Let me know!

Translations:

(1) Italian- "She doesn't deserve that, Nikolas! She doesn't deserve your marks!"

(2) Italian- "There's nothing you can do, Sarah! I have blood claim on her! And I have blood claim on her kin! Which means Sadie, too. And Salem and Daley."