Blood Brothers

Chapter 4: Decode

Vlad

I didn't have to turn around to know whose voice it was. All my fears were confirmed as I heard "For you, Cecile" and I dodged out of the way, knocking Cassy to the ground to protect her.

"Hide, Cass!" I shouted to her, motioning for her to run behind the tree over my parents' grave.

Joss McMillan stood in front of me, stake gripped in his hand, his dirty blonde hair hanging over hateful green eyes. He sneered as I pushed Cass behind me, trying to keep her from his view. "Well, Vlad…It looks like you've found someone new…Hmm, I wonder what Meredith thinks about that…" Joss smirked, stroking the tip of his stake.

I snarled. "Don't involve her in this, Joss. She has nothing to do with this, alright?"

"Oh, I know…She's Abi's best friend…Cassandra Martinez, am I correct?" He sneered at her and I felt her jump a little.

"Y-yes." She stuttered a little, resting her head against my shoulder blade in fear. "Why are you here?"

He snorted and I gripped her waist harder. "Ask your boyfriend, Cassy. He's the one with the secret."

I felt my face go blank and I felt Cassy's gaze on me, before she turned to glare at Joss. "Leave him alone, Joss."

"Ha!" He laughed darkly. "Yeah, babe…That'll happen." He smirked before jumping off my parents' tombstone, coming at me with the stake.

Cassy screamed, dodging out of the way and I grabbed the stake, using my vampire speed, before it could get five inches from my chest. I snarled, kicking Joss in the chest and he flew backwards, his body thudding against a large statue of an angel. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and sneered.

"Wow…Vlady boy's got game." He growled, jumping to his feet.

"'Vlady boy?' Wow, Joss…I thought you could do better than that." I smirked before dodging another hit from him, while I kicked him hard in the side. He groaned and I laughed darkly. "What, Joss? Can't take a hit anymore?"

"Vlad, stop this!" Otis's voice made me freeze as he ran into the cemetery, with Vic running right behind him.

Joss got to his feet, grabbing his stake. "What is this? Two Tod boys? Oh, I bet D'Ablo will be glad to hear that one, Vlad." He shook his head, laughing.

I held up my hands. "Joss, I don't want to kill you. You used to be my best friend…I couldn't stomach the idea ok killing you."

Joss stood there, glaring at me. "Does she know?" He jerked his head in Cass's direction and I swallowed.

"No…Like I said, she's got nothing to do with this." I answered quietly, trying to ignore the questioning look in her eyes. "Just…leave town, Joss. I've got too much to handle right now and I don't need some wanna-be slayer after me, alright?!" My voice had risen to a shout and I saw Cassy cringe and Joss growl.

"Fine, Vladimir Tod…But this won't be the last time we meet…I promise you that, Tod." Suddenly, Joss disappeared and I slumped my shoulders, feeling the weight that had been gone for two days dump back on me.

Cassy

"V-Vlad?" I breathed, stepping forward to put my hand on his arm. "Are you alright?"

He looked down at me, his hair covering his eyes in a way that almost scared me. "Yeah, Cass…I'm fine. Did I hurt you?" I shook my head. "Good…Vic, Otis, I'm gonna run her home…Meet me back at my old place…I don't want Nelly to get involved in this right now…"

They nodded and Vlad held out his hand to me, before leading me out of the cemetery. I had to practically run to keep up with his fast pace but his eyes kept darting around, as if looking for Henry's cousin.

"Vlad!" I finally cried, tugging his arm so that he would stop. "Would you mind explaining to me what's going on?!"

He sighed and ran his hand through his arm, looking like he was debating whether or not he would tell me the truth. "Cass…I can't explain it now, alright? It's…complicated. I'm sorry. I know you're confused and freaked out from Joss—"

"Freaked out?! Vlad, he tried to kill you! 'Freaked out' is a bit of an understatement!" I was on the verge of tears, feeling like Vlad didn't trust me enough.

"Cassy, please…" Vlad pleaded, taking my face in his hands. "Just give me time to explain because I will tell you…eventually. Right now is just not the right time…"

I looked down, my face still in his grasp. "Do you not…trust me?" I sniffled a little, letting him know that I felt almost betrayed.

Vlad closed his eyes, like he was aggravated with himself. "Cass, I trust you more than anyone…But I'm doing this to keep you safe. If I tell you, you'll be in danger…And if anything happened to you…" He broke off, squeezing his eyes shut again. "I'd never forgive myself."

"Is this really that bad?" I whispered, looking up at him.

He nodded, opening his eyes. "Cass, look, you need to go home tonight, lock your door and go to bed. I'm sorry I sound like a jerk right now, but please…I'm doing this to keep you safe."

I bit my lip, nodding. "Okay, Vlad…" I murmured as he walked me to my front porch. I turned to face him on the stairs. "Can I see you tomorrow?"

"I don't know, Cass." He reached up, cradling my face in his hand. "Otis is probably gonna wanna talk to me and Vic's is probably wondering what's going on himself…"

I looked down, biting my lip again. "Oh…Just…please be careful, Vlad. Joss didn't look like he was playing. I may not know what's going on exactly but I want you to be safe."

Vlad stepped up, towering over me on the stairs. "Don't worry about me." He murmured, caressing my face. "I'll be fine. Right now, I want you to worry about how you're going to keep yourself safe, alright?" He licked his lips, waiting for my reply.

I nodded and rested my head against his chest. "Be careful, Vlad."

"I will, Cassy." He tilted my head and pressed his lips to mine, causing me to go dizzy for a moment. When he pulled back, he hugged me tightly. "Be safe, Cass." He whispered in my ear and kissed it before I felt a whoosh and when I opened my eyes, he was gone.

Vlad

Vic and Otis were waiting for me in the living room of my old house, pacing around in front of the fireplace, looking solemn.

"Vladimir, would you like to explain why Joss McMillan was about to stake you tonight?!" Otis exclaimed, throwing his hands up.

"Otis, I don't know where he came from…But I just had this uneasy feeling and there he was. Honestly, I wasn't thinking about him staking me…I was thinking about getting Cassy out of there and away from him." I sighed, plopping down on the couch.

Otis scratched his chin, looking at Vic, then back at me. "Vladimir, how strongly do you feel for Cassandra?"

I looked down, not knowing how to honestly answer. "Otis…I think I love her." I finally murmured, looking up at him.

A faint smile appeared on his lips, lightening the mood for the moment. "Vladimir, I think that that's your father's instinct coming through you…All he cared about after he left Elysia was hiding your mother and you from the Council at all costs."

I rubbed my forehead with my hand. "I told her I couldn't tell her what was going on yet but the look in her eyes made me feel like an idiot. She thinks I don't trust her…" I muttered, looking up at my uncle, then at my brother.

"Vlad, maybe it'd be best to keep your distance from Cassy for now. Or at least until we handle this Joss dude. She could be in serious danger, man." Vic sighed, sitting down next to me. "It'd be for the best."

I took a deep breath and tried to think straight, trying to come up with some sort of plan because I honestly didn't know what to do. "Otis, do you think she's safe? What if Joss goes to her for answers that she doesn't have? What if he tries to hurt her?" I felt my anger rising as I thought of Joss trying to hurt Cassy.

Otis sighed, looking from me to Vic. "Vladimir, I just let my two nephews meet-the only real family any of us has had in almost 6 years. I really don't think picking a fight with Joss right now is the best option. After all…there is your trial to think about, Vladimir."

I looked down, swallowing nervously and felt Vic pat my shoulder. "Is Vikas around?"

Otis nodded. "Yes, he's on his way now. Vlad, don't mention Tristan, alright? He's still grieving." Vic and I nodded in response as Otis went upstairs to his bedroom.

Cassy

I stared blankly out the window the next day, waiting to see if Vlad would turn the corner, heading towards my house. But he never did, which was something I almost expected. Abi tried to pry answers out of me about what happened the night before but I had promised myself that I wouldn't tell anyone until I got answers from Vlad.

I kept glancing at my phone all day, waiting for a text or possibly a call from him but nothing ever came. Finally I gave up waiting and grabbed my jacket; intent on going to Nelly's to see if he was there.

I knocked on the screen door when I got their and Vic opened it. "Oh, hey, Cassy."

"Is Vlad here?" I asked quickly, then pressing my lips together.

"He's, uh, actually with Otis, at his old place. They're, uh, training, I guess you could say."

I sighed, biting my lip. "Do you know when he'll be back?"

Vic shook his head. "No idea, Cass. Besides, Otis didn't want Vlad to be bothered while they're training. Sorry." He shrugged, shutting the door before I could answer.

I stood there for a few extra minutes before finally deciding to go to Henry's, to see what I could get out of Vlad's best friend. Aunt Melinda let me in and I headed straight to Henry's room, to see him lounged out on his bed, his headphones in his ears.

"What's up?" He asked, taking them out and sitting up.

I bit my lip, walking in and sitting at his desk. "I was wondering if you can explain to me why Joss tried to kill Vlad last night…"

Henry's eyes bulged out of his head. "He's back?"

I nodded, swallowing hard. "He tried to stake Vlad, Henry…And Vlad won't tell me what's going on and Vic won't let me see him." I sighed in sadness and frustration. "I need answers, Henry. And right now you're the only one I'll be able to get them from. Can you please tell me what's going?"

Henry sighed, like he was trying to decide what he wanted to do. "Alright, fine. But you can't let him know I was the one that told you. I'm only telling you because I know how much he cares about you and how much you care for him."

"Henry, thank you so much!" I sighed, biting my lip. "I'm just so worried about him and he wont' tell me what's going on and—"

"How do you expect me to tell you if you won't be quiet?" He smiled kindly and I shut up, nodding, urging him to go on. "Alright, I'm gonna come out and say: Vlad's dad was a vampire. Vlad's mom was a human. They got together, made Vlad, and he's the only half-human, half-vampire in existence."

I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes at him. "Ha, ha. Real funny."

"Cassy, I'm serious. Vlad's the first of his kind in the vampire world. Plus, he told me about some kind of prophecy the vampire world has, about the first half-human vampire, and how he's supposed to take over vampirekind and enslave the humans." Henry shook his head, looking down. "That whole prophecy freaks him out. He doesn't like talking about it, Cass."

I looked down, shutting him out. Vlad…was a vampire? Was that even possible? I couldn't think of it but when I thought back on the fight with Joss, how skillfully Vlad fought, how he snarled at Joss…Slowly, the pieces started to fall in place and I gasped softly.

Vlad really was a vampire.

A/N: Please don't hate me for making it end so short but I wanted to be able to end the chapter so I can start the new one! :D Hope ya liked it! Don't worry-the drama is far from over!

MWHAHAHAHAHA!

Disclaimer: I don't own Vlad (I so wish I did) or Decode by Paramore (I love this song! =D)