Chapter 5

I searched the Gates for a familiar family member that had passed away recently, I found my grandfather's Great Uncle Aldo. My white robes made my face look like a vampire's- I was so pale it scared me; I felt the greenest grass between my toes: I wore no shoes. Aldo hugged me and said he was sorry I had to drown. I laughed and said it was painless at least.

Aldo was in white robes as well but he spent so much time outside he barely looked pale, his eyes were still hazel from when he was alive and his hands were smooth. When he was alive his hands were so rough from working for seventy years, it hurt you to even touch them. Aldo lived in Italy for a few years and finally change his name to match his home- he built houses in Italy because he was good at it and because he never married or had children he was free to do such things.

The dead man's face was already goin hazy as Alberto hugged me one last time as he disappeared.

I opened my eyes lazily; it hurt to open them honestly. I closed them and wondered where Aldo was?

"Aldo?" I whispered, someone took my hand.

"Who's that?"

I knew that voice, "My dead uncle." I muttered. Arubey and Edam chuckled, "Where are the guys?" I opened my eyes finally turning away from the bright window; one of them closed the shades.

"In a coma, good job." I sighed, "You drowned you know, dead at least nine minutes before they brought you back." Arubey's voice still sounded like he was wanted to cry, I looked up at me. My head felt like lead, he sat down in a chair so I wouldn't have to strain my neck that much. "You fool, why didn't you wait for them to drag you on a dry-flat surface?" he scowled at me.

I frowned, "You're gonna yell at me for being taken by three men? Wow you really were scared-."

"You have no idea." I looked at Edam, Arubey turned around. "He forced the EMT guys to bring you back with the air thing." I looked at Arubey he got up as he continued to look away from me, "What did they want? Did they say?" I then remembered the book, I sat up but someone pushed me back down.

"Stay." Arubey's voice was commanding and firm, I only nodded. He then reached over and flopped the biography on my lap. I took it and held it against my chest. Arubey reached for it, then pulled away- again, I acted like I didn't notice. "You'd die for this thing?" he asked in a solid whisper.

I nodded, "This is everything to the dedicatee." I mumbled. Arubey took it finally and set it back in place on the table next to me, he brought his chair to the other side so his back was to the window although they were further down from both of us. He moved so he could see who was coming in and going out. "When can I go home?" I asked him.

He laughed at me sarcastically, "Not for at least a week."

I tried to sit up again, but like last time, he pushed me down with just one hand. "A week? What about school and Cyrus, he needs me there." I cried, not with tears but with defeat in my voice. He said he'd tutor me in whatever I miss and he'll personally check up on Cyrus for me, "No you won't. You'll grow tired of it within a day."

Arubey laughed this time and told me this: "I keep my promises Lilith, just try me on this- okay." I said nothing so he that as my answer that I would. "I'll make you a deal, if do this for you and its everyday you're in here… you have to do something for me. If you win- that I can't do it everyday you're in here, then I'll tell you my family's secret." Edam nearly fell out of his chair.

"What? Arubey-!"

"Shut it Edam," he snapped as he looked up at him, then he turned back to me. "Deal?" he held out his hand lightly. I took it and made our bet.

"Fine, deal, what would I have to do?"

"You're just gonna have to wait and see." He said and smiled at me, I looked to my left at Edam and back to my right to Arubey. He stood up and gripped my shoulder a little, "You just rest and let me handle everything, okay?" I could only nod, "I'll let the doc know you woke up." He muttered, I could tell he didn't want to leave me alone but Edam didn't leave, so he hurried out once he realized that.

"Who were they?" I asked Edam Dawson, he shrugged and moved his chair closer to the bed. The heart monitor beeped, I glanced up at it in disgust. The sound was annoying after the fiftieth beeping noise.

He cleared his throat and said, "Well I do know that the driver was hurt pretty badly. The impact of the water, when the car hit, forced him to go into a coma so quick that the blood didn't have to time to get to the brain. He had a stroke under the water. The other two- this is all I know." He reminded me, I nodded and waited. "They were under water for so long Lilith; they're in a coma as well right now. The driver passed away a few hours ago." I sat up; this time he pushed me down.

I groaned when Edam pushed me down, "How long have I been in here?"

"A couple days. Arubey refused to leave until you woke up; the doctor thought you were a vegetable too." I exhaled slowly and closed my eyes again, "I'll let you sleep Lilith. Congrats on getting killed and waking up and stuff." He muttered, he made me smile.

The doctor came in and told me I drowned…. Pretty much it was the stuff that Arubey and Edam told me. Although he added that they had to remove a kidney, I was surprised by that. They said that it was nearly about to burst from all the battering it's been- according to them- receiving over the last decade. I knew the real reason: it was beaten and nearly nonfunctional because of me being a slayer for nine out of the twelve months. The kidneys were where I get kicked and punched a lot.

He then acted like a cop and asked me questions if I was in an abusive relationship or if my father abused me. I answered his questions with one answer: my parents are too busy to beat me and I'm to busy to be beaten. He was surprised by my answer, I laughed a little after he left. I saw the scar for myself when I was alone and I honestly like the scar, right now it was in stitches but the thought of having one was kind of cool to me.

The first night I wasn't in my coma, I unplugged the heart monitor myself. I've seen enough of the show ER to know what plug to pull. I slept better without the constant reminder I was still alive, I knew I was alive- I didn't have to be told every five seconds.

When I woke up the next morning however I groaned when I heard the familiar beeping sound. "It has to be in, in case you die on us again." I rolled over away from Arubey. He chuckled, "in a coma for a couple days and slept all day again. Do you want to know what you should have learned or not?" he asked me.

"Did you check on-?"

"Yes. He's feeling better, loads better actually. Maybe he just needed time away from you," I heard the sound of a page turning. "By the way, how do you know so much about her?" I turned and he moved quickly when I tried to get the Biography away from him.

I sat up, "Arubey that's mine and I'm a big fan. I like to pretend to be an author, give it back. Please," I added. Maybe that'd persuade him more. He glanced up at me, "You're an ass, and did you know that?" I said and leaned out to get it. He stood up and moved to the foot of the hospital bed.

He smiled at me, "I know already, you don't have to remind me Lilith. How did you get this picture?" he asked. He held it out so I could see but far enough where he could pull back the book in time. I bit my lip and lied.

The photo was of Gloria and Ellen together at a mall, they posed for the picture as they came from the dressing rooms. "I was just there and asked for a photo. I was lucky that day. Please Arubey, can I have it back?" he shook his head. I rolled my eyes and moved to get out of bed, he dropped it at the foot of the bed and came over and pushed me down again like yesterday.

I suddenly thought of something, "You saved me because you cared." He growled and I reached forward and grabbed the biography.

He snapped at me, "They were willing to kill you for this damn thing. It's not worth it Lilith," I rolled my eyes. He grabbed it out of my hands again, I gasped. "This is not worth your life." He repeated.

"So? I died- big deal. I have before." I crossed my arms and pouted; he sighed and took it with him when he left the room. Later that afternoon when he didn't return, like I assumed he was going to, I asked the nurse if I could take a shower and clean up after a couple days. She let me and waited outside while I washed my hair five billion times and she handed me a new gown; I thanked her and she only grunted something- I think she told me to hurry up under her breath. I wasn't sure.

After I was done with that I snuck out of my room and walked around the floor I was on. My legs felt weak and I kept putting my hand on my stitches which the nurse had to cover up with plastic before I could actually take that nice shower. The next day while Andy would be having lunch at school, I took another walk, this time with a purpose.

I disappeared for several hours; I walked up to visit the people whose lives I had taken. The two remaining men were young, fragile looking and had the kind of face that was neither handsome nor ugly- it was plain and cute. The kind that a girl wouldn't looking at for a few hours. I took the younger man's hand in mine, and held it for a moment. I sighed and began my two hour long talk about Gloria, about school life today my father and what happened three days ago. Then I began on the dog I used to own before she left me and then my old friends from GB. They were awesome listeners, and no doctor or nurse came looking for me or to check on them either... I was doing what girls love to do: talk about nothing and yet everything. …I sat with my legs folded under me in one of the visitor chairs and set back against the wall between the beds. Then I began on about how it was like to live in London, Nice (France), a few places in Germany and Ireland for a few days. Then about how I've visited most every country in the world. They listened still without interruptions, I appreciated that and I told them this too.

After two hours of doing nothing talking non-stop I realized that I was talking to myself by medical terms and that I had been gone long enough. But, before I could leave I got on the subject of how the book they tried to take, I got back and yet it was still taken away from me! When I began on how I was a real author- I went into detail about my books and what they were about…. I left where I got the ideas out… (I wouldn't tell a comatose patient about my being a slayer). Then I went into detail even more about the characters and the plots and enemies and plans for a sequel to a current novel.

"What do you two think? Have her killed by a demon or she gets hit and drowns? Well since they are based off my life I guess I should end that series of how Samantha drowns… nah, I don't like that ending-."

"Miss Cross?" I turned to look at the open door. A doctor was smirking at me, "we've been looking for you, did you know that you've been here for the last four hours?"

"Four hours? Really it's been that long?" he nodded, I got up and he hurried to help me. "Thanks, but I can manage." He let me go slowly and I walked back to my room.

I already saw Arubey and Nickolas waiting for me. Arubey looked upset. "Where have you been?"

I rolled my eyes at him and said, "You save me from drowning yet you won't come find me? I got lost," I muttered and he ordered I get back into bed. "Well duh!" I snapped. Nickolas smirked at me, I smiled back. "Hello Nickolas."

I walked over to the bed and pulled back the blanket and climbed in. I sat against the pillow and moved it up so I was actually laying down more so. I looked at the heart monitor and scowled at it as Nickolas asked. "Feeling better?"

I shrugged, "Yeah great." I looked at Arubey to ask, "When I can I go home? What about Cyrus and what did you do with the bio?" I asked Arubey.

He muttered something but I didn't hear it. I looked at Nickolas, asking him the same question with my eyes, "He burned it."

"What!" I turned away from them both.

Arubey grunted, "I had too."

I turned back my anger showing a little, "No! No, you didn't, you had a choice Arubey. It wasn't even your business-."

"It is if you die because of it!" he yelled back. He sat in his chair and put his face in his hands and pushed his fingers through his short black hair, "Fine!" he yelled again. I looked at him, "I care, okay. Dammit Lilith," he added. A nurse came in.

"Quiet down, what is going on? Miss Cross should I call security?" she asked me, I would have loved to say that she should, but for some reason I shook my head.

"No, thanks." She nodded and closed the door after her. "I went to see the two guys. That's where I was." I whispered finally. They both looked at me.

"Why?"

I looked up at him, I wanted to cry suddenly. "Arubey I kicked the back of the seat. That driver hit his head, he died because I kicked him from behind and the other two didn't stand a chance. I killed that man and put the other two in-." Arubey got up so quickly I barely noticed it until he was standing over me, I looked into his eyes. "Guilt comes naturally with me; I put them up there and placed the other guy in the ground."

He shook his head smiling kindly, "You did what you had to, too survive." He whispered to me, he took my hand. We looked over as the door opened. Andy, Devin, Josh, Amanda, and Joe came in.

"Heard you ran away for a few hours."

"Sure did." I said weakly. Josh smirked at me.

"Cyrus said you would have killed us if we got you anything, so we took his word for it."

"Good idea Andy." I told him. He nodded toward the flowers, "My mother had Cyrus get those," I explained quickly. I suddenly smiled that they'll be meeting Gloria and they'll have no idea. "She's here," they nodded.

Glory came into the room and hurried over to me. "Lilith, you fool. Why did you do that?"

"Sorry ma, kind of in Kidnapped Mode." I muttered, she scowled and I returned it. "You should be in bed resting yourself. What about Dr. D, what'd he say?"

"He told me to get my ass over here and see my kid. So I followed Dr. D's orders," she said happily. She looked around the room, to my friends and to Arubey and Nickolas. She turned back to me and took a deep breath, "You're coming back to GB with me, next week when I come to visit-."

"What?" they all said it, including Arubey.

"Mom, no. I have friends and what about dad?"

"It's dangerous here, that judge was a fool and Ellen- oh Ellen. She planned this thing…" I frowned. Glory nodded, "Like you said LA crime rate is ten times higher then GB's-."

"Mom, I trying to get out of moving here. Besides what about Dad? School? I can't go back-."

"Why not? It'll be easy. Punky wants to see you again and Duane is going insane with worry- oh that reminds me. I'll be right back," I stared after her. Devin ran to me once the door was close. Arubey sat back down unable to say much, Nickolas stood behind me.

"I don't want you to go."

"I'm not going anywhere Devin." I told her and Arubey made a move when I got up again. "I need to talk to my mother for a moment, stay here." I told her and she nodded.

I spoke with my mother for almost a hour before my father finally got it settled down, I'd finish off my senior year here with him and then Gloria and Lily will be together again for their final summer so 'Lilith' could go to the University somewhere in the world, I plan on attending a school in London, England. Devin felt better and while the guys left the room, she and I talked about school and home and things. They came back a while later; Devin and I shared the food that the nurse brought for me.

"I don't mind hospital food as of now." She told me, I laughed and settled against the pillow again.

My mother came back the next morning to find Arubey there already. "Don't you ever sleep Mr. Karew?" she asked him. He shrugged a little and said when he felt tired he did. "Lilith sweetie, Cyrus asked that I drop this off and said that he's sorry he didn't come himself. He's been busy," I nodded.

"I know ma, don't worry. I can go home today, is he coming after work?" I asked her, she nodded.

However, Arubey had to disagree, "I'll take care of everything Ms. Cross." We looked at him; I reached for his hand when he wasn't looking. He looked down at me when he felt my skin against his; I was already looking at my mother again.

She nodded and looked at him, "I'll let Cyrus know then. I love you baby," she said and came over to me almost in tears. She hugged and knocked the wind out of me, and nearly suffocated me. "Sorry luv," she muttered and kissed my forehead.

I coughed a little, "Don't worry ma. I think I won't die again for another few years," I teased. She frowned and so did Arubey I was sure. "What will happen to the two guys-?"

"That's none of our concern," Arubey told me sternly, he sounded not too pleased I even asked about the kidnappers.

I glanced at him. He wasn't pleased about the question, I could tell by how his eyes looked down at me. Glory agreed with him, "If they ever wake up, they'll be taken care of. I'll make sure of that," she told me. I sighed and looked away from them both toward the window. "Lilith, they almost killed you-."

I groaned a little in anger, "I'm fine mother, I'm not six feet under!" I muttered still looking away from them; Arubey took my face in his hands and looked at me securely. I didn't know what that look was and I wanted to know the mystery behind it so badly it hurt inside.

He told me, "I will do everything in power to protect you from people like that. Do you understand the severity of what that would have done to your parents if you had died and I couldn't save you?" he asked me, my mother was so silent I thought she was gone. When he kissed my forehead I knew she left the room.

I found my voice nearly gone because my anger had been drained and I was whispering. "But I am here, alive. Be- because of you," I said to him. He chuckled. When he started to sit back in his chair, I reluctantly let him go and got comfortable again.

The door opened as I started to lie down, to try to take a morning nap, I was surprised by who entered my room. Charles Gunn, my Watcher's good friend was wearing day clothes instead of his usual suit. He looked a little unorthodox to me. He smiled and glanced at Arubey; he came over and hugged me tightly.

He muttered as he hugged me still, "I'm so glad you're alright. We all are."

"Thanks Gunn," I said. He handed me something, I winced when I realized it was a gift. I didn't take it so he set it down on my knees.

He smiled, "I met your mother outside. Nice woman; said you'd kill me if I gave you this as a get-well-sort of thing-."

I had to interrupt him, "You know what? She's right. Gunn I hate getting gi-."

"Fine," he said still smirking. "Consider this homework." He looked at Arubey finally, I looked at him too. He was ready to start laughing at me.

I sighed a little, "I can do that." I turned back to the book on me knees and picked it up.

Charles looked at Arubey once more, "Charles Gunn, friend of Cyrus's."

"Nice to meet you." He hesitate as if he wasn't, finally he pulled through and said. "Lilith, I should get to class."

I frowned; Gunn however said the same thing, only he had to get back to work. "Bye Charles- thanks." I muttered and he left the room almost as quickly as he had come in.

Arubey was next to me and took my fingers lightly and held them for a moment, he eyes lingered on me, and then moved toward the large brown book. "Stay. Please," I whispered. He smiled at me.

"I have to check on Cyrus and what about that tutoring thing we made a deal on?"

"Forget, I don't care. You win, please just stay," I was sure he didn't want to, but then again… maybe he did. I couldn't tell.

He sat down again and moved right against the bed, "I shouldn't." he told me.

I snorted unconvinced and rolled my eyes, "Oh like you abide by the rules twenty-four-seven."

He smiled at me, I sat up; this time when he went to push me back down. I grabbed his wrists and held them, "I can mar you."

I shook my head, "No you won't." In fact it was a fact.

"I can, I know I can and you should know that." He said, he was talking fast. I shook my head and let his wrists go slowly.

I winced when the doctor came in and said we needed to do a check up. Arubey sighed and kissed my forehead again and left in a hurry. "Can we at least turn the damn monitor off?" he heard me ask as he left. Both of them laughed a little, I scowled at Arubey more then at my doctor.

After another few hours of waiting Jager came and took me back to Cyrus's house. It was Thursday when I got home and Thursday night when I slept in my own bed for the first time in about four or five days. I buried my face in my pillow and didn't look up again until Cyrus knocked on my door asking what I wanted from take-out. I laughed and wrote it down without even looking up from the pillow to tell him directly; I was sure I heard him laughing at me as he climbed the stairs. Cyrus spent the last half week eating greasy foods, like pizza, fast food, and Chinese take-out, which cause heart attacks and what not so the next day I called him in sick and I stayed home from school (I go back Monday) and we did yard work for about eight hours. He grumbled that he'd rather look at dead people. I told him he should learn to cook and he mumbled something about me having spent way too much time with Glory. I could only say that this way we get our exercise together. The gardens needed de-weeding and trimming and the grass needed cutting badly, that jerk had gotten a Rider while I was incarcerated at the hospital. He sat for two hours while I was on my knees and hands!

The shock that got me was, when Arubey came over, "You should be resting." He growled at me as he came over to me I scoffed at him.

"I've been in bed for five days and I needed be outside for a while." I told him. Arubey still wasn't pleased, "If you don't like it then do something about it otherwise I'm not even half done and I have those two over there yet." I pointed at the two flower beds a few yards away, Arubey turned to look and then faced me again. Cyrus was too busy too even notice he was even here. I smirked at him again.

He groaned, "You drowned, and also got a kidney taken out. Aren't you tired?"

"No!" I snapped, "Arubey- listen to me. I'm fine, the doc gave me meds in case I feel woozy and I don't. The kidney thing… I have a scar no big deal and I'm not tired, in pain, delirious, or dying. Thank you for everything you've done and for worrying, but really-."

"The thing you have to do for me-."

"Forget I'm not done here." I frowned and picked up the black garbage bag full of weeds and dead plants.

Arubey followed me, he sighed first. "Fine then. The thing I want you to do for me is: let me kiss you." I paused.

"That's a waste; I would even if you weren't saying it like this." Arubey frowned at me, "what?"

"Can I?"

"Now?" he nodded, "I've been working all day and covered in earth and… no. Not like this," I said. I hated myself.

Arubey took my hand, "Fine, let's go clean you up then." He pulled me to the back door under the raised porch and slid open the door.

He pulled me inside and pushed me into the bathroom and came in with me, Arubey Karew was the one who closed the bathroom door. I glared at him- if Cyrus caught him in here with me… we'd both be killed. He started the water for the shower and waited, turned around, as I undressed and got into the shower. Arubey turned to face me and reached in, the water was cold but the weather was warm so it didn't matter to me.

I snuck around and grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me and got out, Arubey glared at me. I went over and turned the water off. My hair was drenched and the dirt was off my skin at least. Arubey Karew placed his hands on my waist and lifted me up so easily I felt like air; he set me on the counter and moved his hands slowly up and then behind my neck and pulled me toward him.

Arubey's lips were soft and comforting; he held me against him very tightly. I took his free hand and put it on the side of my thigh. He wouldn't let me go from this and pulled me toward him more. My heart raced a little. I could feel Arubey shaking ever so slightly as he moved his fingers up to my lower back. The towel covered me and I felt cold so that was a good thing. I suddenly felt his mouth at my neck, he cradled me gently and I got my fingers in his thick dark hair.

"I can make you do anything." he told me, I doubted that but I didn't say anything. "Can I come back tonight?" he whispered. I only nodded; I was supposed to go patrolling tonight but I can take care of that easily. "Ten." He said, I nodded again. As he turned I grabbed his shirt tightly and he came back to turn around.

"Don't be late," I told him. He smirked and kissed me once more on the lips, short and sweet and simple.

I let go of his T as he told me, "Don't worry," he said and left so I could get dressed again.

A few minutes later, I entered my room and found the futon in bed mode; even though I was the only one around, I blushed and began wondering of what sleeping with Arubey Karew would be like. He'd take control of every thing; that was no secret. I placed my hand over my neck where he had kissed me; I frowned as I felt a new scar on my neck. I've seen them in books, movies, in real life. The two little small scars were from a vampire when they feed on the blood from the veins from a human's neck. Arubey had lightly penetrated the skin of my neck although he didn't take any blood…. I lowered my hand and looked at my pillow when white showed against the dark.

Written clearly and perfectly was the message from a vampire that I was falling for. From a being that was against the rules of slaying… Arubey wrote it clear and it made my, very educational, guess- correct:
'You still got to know my family's secret'