Me- look, another one!! GO ME!!! Sorry, a wee bit tense. Just got finished with fighting a vampire! –growl, whips out long blade and starts swinging it around- Run you bad Vampire, RUN!!! –Laughs evilly while chasing anyone who looks like a vampire!-

Chapter Nine

Ghostly Dreamer

I lay against Jason's chest, feeling him breath in and out. You would never guess he was a vampire by the way he slept. I chuckled softly and slide my fingers over his cheek. I traced my fingertips over his lips. Oh those full, wonderful lips of his. He had grown his strawberry blonde hair out and pulled it into a loose ponytail. I smiled as I tugged loose the ponytail holder. He moaned and rolled over, swatting my hand away. I chuckled and rested my chin against his shoulder. His eyes were closed tightly as he tried to sleep in more.

"Jason?" I called softly, sweetly.

"I hate it when you talk like that. It makes it very hard to concentrate on things."

"Such as sleeping?" Jason sat up a little, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes.

"Sleeping is an art, especially for us vampires." He protested. I smiled and leaned into his chest, nodding. He wrapped his arms around my body and pulled me closer to him. There was suddenly a sharp knock on the door and I stood to my feet. I walked over and answered the door.

"Jen?!" I shouted. "What happened?!" I asked as she walked inside. She had cuts across her face and along her arms. She was out of breath and her hair was messed up.

"It seems Mr. Trueheart knows where we are."

"Of course he does, I could have told you that." Rush stepped in next to her. "But, I do know how to get your father back."

"Do you, do you really?" I asked as Jason stepped up next to me. He braced his hand against my arm and clutched it tightly, pulling me closer to me.

"Don't trust him, Dani." He whispered into the shell of my ear.

"I never did." I told him through my set teeth. But if Rush did know how to get my father back, then I would at least have to believe him.

"Yes, of course I do. Do you not trust me?"

"No." I said sharply.

"Now that is cold…"

"But I will believe you if you can get me inside."

"On one condition…" Rush began.

"I knew it…" Jason muttered.

"What?"

"I be the one allowed to turn Dani if and when she decides to become a vampire." Jason was suddenly charging Rush, hands balled into fists. I ran and grabbed his arm to hold him back. But he was already swinging for a punch when his elbow slammed into my face. My cheek to be exact. I fell to my knees as Jason punched Rush.

"You filthy bastard…"

"Jason…"

"…I would never let you…"

"Jason."

"…Touch her again!"

"JASON!!" I shouted above his roar. I stood to my feet and brushed Jen's hand off of my shoulder. Jason looked over his shoulder to me, his breath running fast and he stopped.

"Dani…? Did I …?"

"Yes, and before you go all teary eyed on me, think about who you are talking about here. I have yet to say my comment on this."

"Dani…what?"

"He said if and when…I will make my own decisions, thank you very much."

"Dani, how can you say that?!" Jason shouted.

"It's my life! I can do what I want with it!!"

"Not while I am in it!!"

"And what if you weren't, what would you do then?!" Jason's hands trembled and he suddenly sighed.

"Is that how you really feel, Danielle?" I half choked. He never used my full name. Not once.

"Jason…all I am saying is…"

"That in order to save your dad, you'd give your life up for his?"

"If that's what is comes down to."

"And is that time now?"

"Jason…he said if and when…that doesn't mean now."

"But that still means that you can change. If you want that, then I won't be around to stop you." Before I could say anything more, he was out the door. I watched the door close behind him as Jen was at my side.

"He'll be back, right. He didn't mean it, did he?" I asked her shakily. Jen just sighed and followed her brother outside. Rush was left standing in the room with me.

"Dani…?"

"Out." I pointed to the door as I buried my face into my hands. He shrugged his shoulders and walked out of the door. I slowly walked over to the large bed and fell into it, crying hard. I soon cried myself to sleep, not knowing Jason was still outside my door, feeling his heart break along with mine.