CHAPTER 10

"No" I said more to convince myself than argue. "Rory, that's impossible." I repeated like a child.

"Cassie, I know that it's hard to believe but, it's the truth. And you have to understand to keep yourself safe."

"Rory, it's not that I don't want to believe you." Though that was all it really was. "Rory how can you even be sure."

"What do you mean how can I even be sure?!"

"I mean exactly that. You were changed practically yesterday; you have no idea what you are talking about!" I shouted. He was silent for a moment, keeping his eyes closed though he spoke. It was quiet and calm and it scared me.

"I have to bring you to my house to pick up an extra bag of clothes for you."

I sat quietly as we drove but I couldn't help but asking.

"Rory, where are you going to get clothes from for me?"

"Melanie, Elyse, and Jill went shopping for you a while ago." He said not moving his head to look at me. At his words my guilt worsened for yelling at him. The rest of the ride was quiet. When we got to Rory's house I only got to sit in the car alone momentarily before he was back and we were driving again.

He stopped in front of my dad's house. I sat in the car for a moment before getting out; I did silently hoisting up my bag with me. I closed the door slightly sullen that he hadn't said anything. I turned and started to walk, but spun on my heel when I heard the window roll down.

"Just keep yourself safe, I'll see you Monday." And with that he drove off, I watched his car until it rounded the corner. I slowly turned and trudged back up to the door. I arranged my face as best I could to look happy. I opened the door.

"I'm back dad." My voice broke, and I took a deep breath to choke back the sob I was holding in. No, I told myself. I won't be some prissy little girl who cries over a stupid argument with a stupid boy. But Rory wasn't a stupid boy, He was the boy. Of this I was almost sure.

"Cass? Are you alright? Did Rory do something to you?" he asked like a concerned father should, not like a vampire.

"No." I answered. Rory had done something to me, but it wasn't what my dad was talking about.

"Are you sure?" he asked again. What if Rory was right? Would it matter? No, it hadn't mattered about Rory either.

"No, really everything is fine." I said looking at him pleading for no more questions. "So what are we going to do today?"

"Well, he said judging whether he should ask one more time if I was okay. But he seemed satisfied. "I was thinking that we could go to a movie." He said.

Of course, I thought, a movie. Somewhere no sunlight would be. Shut up! I told myself. Don't buy in to Rory's stupid little ideas.

"Yeah, that sounds like fun." I said.

The movie turned out to be good. But the entire time I couldn't help the suspicion of my father from pushing its way to the front of my thoughts. I just didn't understand why Rory would lie about such a thing. I decided to make a pact with myself. I would look for as many vampiristic things as I could without scolding myself. If by the end of the week he had the characteristics of a …vampire, I would apologize to Rory. But not until then.

The drive home was short I sat in the back of my dads black BMW… with extra tinted windows. Why were they tinted, so the sunlight couldn't get in?

I jumped out and looked up at the skies. They were still bright but the sun would set in about an hour.

"Cass," my dad said as he rolled down his window while still in the car. "I'm going to go out and pick up some groceries; we don't have any in the house. Do you want anything special?"

"Not really, just nothing with meat." I said.

"Oh yes, I forgot you're a vegetarian. All right, I'll be back in an hour or so." He said with a slight chuckle.

"'kay" I said walking into the house. I sat on my bed that I'd bought last time he visited. I wrapped myself in the blankets, quickly falling asleep.

Again I wasn't in this. My body appeared invisible to me and I couldn't move. I was on the hill that the haven's owned. In front of me stood both my father and Rory. I was surprised to see how equally matched they were. How similar yet different they looked.

"Rory" My father greeted.

"Robert" Rory said my dads name in a greeting.

"You obviously know what I am and I know what you are." My father spat. It was unusual for me to see him sound so malicious.

"Yes." Rory said. He looked like he wanted to say something more but held his tongue.

"Now you will listen to me and obey." My father commanded. "You will not stay near Cassandra; you will not harm her in any way. You will not go near her or bring any harm to her. If I find out anything happens to her I will personally rip you to shred and burn you." I wasn't surprised when Rory let out a sarcastic remark but after he looked scared as if his words could get him in to trouble. From the scene so far I had a feeling it wasn't that he wanted to make a good impression.

"Hah! What you think I'm going to hurt her? Well, take a look at your eyes. You're more likely to hurt her."

My dad reached his hand under Rory's jaw bone and squeezed. I screamed at him to stop, though it didn't make any audible noise. Rory only winced.

"Never will you say anything like that ever again." My father said in a deadly whisper.

I opened my eyes and gasped for air. I had been holding my breath. I sat up and pinched the bridge of my nose. I looked at the clock. I couldn't make out the numbers, I rubbed my eyes. I knew that it couldn't be a decent hour because there was no light in my room. The clock said 3:59 AM. Great.

I lay back down on my bed, to fall back asleep. It was to no avail. I tossed and turned but sleep didn't come. I even turned my pillow over to see if the cooler side would soothe me into sleep.

I silently pushed back the covers and stepped lightly onto the floor. The padded carpet made no noise. The cold of the house caused me to pull one of the blankets off of my bed. I was still wearing my sweats from the day before.

I tip-toed into the living room and arranged myself and my blanket on the couch. I reached under one of the cushions to find the remote. I took it out and flipped on the TV. There wasn't anything really interesting on, but after all it was only four in the morning.

"Cass?" I jumped at the sound of my dad's voice.

"Dad, you scared me." I said.

"What are you doing up?"

"I just had a bad dream and I couldn't get back to sleep." I said.

"What was it about?" he asked with a bit more intensity than warranted.

"I can't remember." I lied quickly.

"Are you sure?" I nodded.

"What are you doing up?" I tried to ask innocently, but my suspicion made me sound like I was interrogating him.

"I heard the television and I was wondering why." He said. That seemed simple enough. I knew that vampires didn't sleep though.

I turned my attention back to the television where a woman was desperately trying to have her husband forgive her for cheating on him. Stupid soap operas, I thought. My dad and I sat on the couch though. Neither of us ended up falling asleep though I watched him out of the corner of my eye the whole time. Morning came eventually, though I could barely tell. The skies were an overcast gray. There wasn't a glimmer of sunshine.

I ate some of the oatmeal that my dad had bought yesterday. He had bought a lot. It was like when a kid goes shopping and they don't know exactly what to get so they get everything that looks edible.

When I was done I walked slowly to my bathroom. Unpacking my shampoo, conditioner, and razor from the plastic back it was in was a noisy affair. I turned on the hot water and got in letting the shampoo suds slowly wash and slide down my body. I didn't need to rush.

I turned the water off and stepped out. The cold of the house instantly chilling my body, sending goose-bumps down my freshly shaven legs. I staggered back to my room almost slipping on the linoleum bathroom floor due to my wet feet.

When I unzipped the bag of clothing that was from Jill, Elyse, and Melanie I felt overwhelmed by emotion. They had been so thoughtful and I had treated part of their family like crap.

Sunday passed at a snails pace. In the late afternoon my dad left, he said he had some errands to do. I couldn't help but wonder if he was going to see Rory like in my dream.

I sat at the computer looking at silly sites like seventeen and myspace. I didn't have anything to do. I logged on to Google and clicked the news section to see if anything had happened. I typed in Marin and clicked enter. The first thing that popped up was a breaking news report.

TEEN'S LIFE TAKEN AT CARNIVAL, NEW INFORMATION

Kirsten Farsby, 16, went missing on Halloween night. She was a prominent high school student at Marin High School . She was active in cheerleading, student council, and a great friend to many. On Halloween there was a mysterious scream that deeply resembled her voice. Later officials went to look for her body and find only a pool of blood. A sample was sent to a local laboratory. We have just gotten confirmation that it was hers. We are sad to say that the amount of blood present made it impossible for her to be alive. The belief is that she came in contact with a mountain lion which ended up carrying her off. There is still a search team looking for her body but that is about all that we can do. Below we have some animal safety precautions.

I didn't bother to read the safety precautions. It wasn't like she was really taken by a mountain lion.

I turned the computer off, not bothering to go through the proper procedure of it. I didn't want to be tempted to look at any more information about her.

I decided to do some homework that I had been neglecting. Trudging to my room I fished out my Spanish binder. On the front under the plastic was a picture of us together at the mall. I roughly opened the binder and started conjugating words.

"Cass!" my dad called from the front of the house. I had written almost my whole report in English though only an outline was due for Monday.

"I'm in my room" I said in a normal conversation voice. It was my type of a test. If he could hear than that was an affirmation to the vampire theory.

"Hey Cass, I brought you a burrito." He said. He had heard me.

"Thanks, will you sit and eat with me?"

"Sorry, I already ate in the car. But I'll still sit with you."

"Nah, that's all right." He gave me an apologetic smile and handed me the burrito.

I ate it faster than I would have thought. I guess writing took a lot out of me. Once I was done I walked into the kitchen where my dad was going through the mail.

"Any for me?"

"Not unless you want the bills" he joked.

"I guess I'll pass on those." I sat at the kitchen table. "So, how have things been?" I asked.

"Fine I guess, just busy." He said non-chalantly.

"Do you want me to help with anything? I've already finished my homework."

"That's all right Cass; I've got it pretty much covered." I gave him my best smile. "You are getting older everyday. Before I know it you're going to be married." I scrunched up my nose. I hated it when he got all sentimental.

I glanced at the wall clock. It said it was 9:42 PM. I needed to start to get ready for bed.

"I'm going to bed, love you dad." I said as I walked down the hallway. "Shit" I said under my breath. I quickened my pace and grabbed my cell phone, dialing Jenn's number. It rang twice and then she picked up.

"Hey Cassie." She said.

"Hey Jenn, I'm just calling to tell you, you don't need to pick me up tomorrow."

"Oh, is Rory driving you?"

"No, I'm with my dad."

"'Kay. I'll tell the others tomorrow morning."

"Thanks, that's great. See ya."

"See ya."

I hung up. That took a load off of my mind. I then washed my face, brushed my teeth, and changed my clothes. I got into the uncomfortably lonely bed and urged myself to fall asleep.

I didn't dream that night. My speculation on it was little. My guess was that Rory hadn't come last night to see me. Those were the only nights that I ever remembered my dreams. I wondered what he thought of my dream.

I went through my normal routine of getting ready for school. When my dad and I left in the car for school there was no conversation. I was nervous about what I was going to do. I would see Rory today but how would I handle it.

The car stopped. I stepped out after bidding my father good-bye. The sky was still overcast. I walked up the few steps and into the building. I walked down the halls feeling awkwardly alone. I had grown used to Rory walking with me. I rounded the corner to walk down the hall to my locker.

Rory leaned against the locker next to mine. Some of the girls were taking advantage of my absence but he didn't seem to care for their attention. He looked up and our eyes met. I instantly felt myself turning around and heading in the opposite direction. He called after me but I pretended like I hadn't heard.

I walked up the stairs carefully as to avoid an incident like the first day he had been here. I entered my chemistry class right before the warning bell rang. I took down the chair and sat in it. The entire class I listened vigilantly but never raised my hand. When someone asked me a question, I answered in a monotone voice.

In P.E. we played dodge ball because of the cold outdoors. I was a popular target, but I didn't mind sitting on the 'out' bench. That was pretty much how the day went until lunch. The bell rang signaling the end of fifth period, Spanish for me. I stepped out and walked into the halls. I didn't want to go to the cafeteria. But where else would I go.

I walked to the library. The last time I had been in here was with Jonathon. I decided to sit at one of the study tables; the religion section had too many painful memories. I pulled out my back pack and got to work. Before I knew it the bell rang. The day continued and I did too. At the end of school I called my dad, to pick me up. The bus didn't rum to his house.

At home I read books and watched the prime-time television shows. My dad didn't eat with me again. I went to bed promptly at ten, anxious to start a new day. Not that the next was any better. I followed that pattern all week. I knew that I should apologize to Rory, but I couldn't swallow my pride.

On Saturday I packed up all of my things and said goodbye to my dad. I was almost positive that Rory was right. From all of the things that I had seen over the week. By the time I was back at my mom's it was well into the evening. I did a load of wash of all of my clothing and went to bed.

I could see myself sitting in the library. It was raining outside. My face looked awestruck and scared. I was hyperventilating. Over head the bell rang obnoxiously loud.

I woke up, slightly confused by my short dream. I had just sad there looking scared and helpless. The only good thing about the dream was that it meant that Rory had come that night. I had slept in to about one, which was abnormally late for me. I stumbled down the hall. My mom was sitting at the kitchen table doing a design drawing.

"So sleeping beauty is finally up." I just made a noise for my response. I put a bagel in the toaster and slumped myself in a chair parallel to my mom.

The toaster pinged. I got up put jam on it and wolfed it down. I retreated to the couch where I stayed for the rest of the day.

I went to bed early but still fell asleep fast. I had the same dream again, which meant that Rory had been there. But this time it wasn't the bell in my dream that woke me. I distinctly felt a pair of icy lips press against my own. I didn't move. Once they were gone I cautiously opened my eyes. Rory wasn't there anymore. Great, I thought, our first kiss and I'm asleep. Seconds later my alarm went off. I stood stiffly and began my morning.

That morning I had a doctor's appointment. I was a bit aggravated. I had wanted to see Rory. But now I wouldn't be able to until lunch. I wasn't going to be back until fourth period.

All was well with me apparently, or at least that was what my doctor said. My mom drove me to school. I checked in, in the office. As I walked to my fourth period class I worried myself about what I was going to say to Rory. Maybe I should go to the library first to think of something. Yes, that is what I'll do. But I had a feeling that I wanted to do something to distract myself from the real issue. English and Spanish passed quickly.

I hurried down to the library, where the librarian had become accustomed to seeing me. I sat in an off to the side table.

I pulled out my Spanish binder and unhooked a piece of binder paper, leaving the binder on the table. I took out a pen and got to work. I jotted down little things to say.

"Were you and Kirsten friends?" a melodic female voice asked from across the table. I guessed she had seen the picture on the front of my binder.

"Yes." I answered without looking up.

"It's so sad what happened to her, don't you think?" the beautiful voice asked.

I sighed "yes."

"Did you really even care about her??" the voice had become harsh. I looked up taken aback.

I was met by the face of Kirsten, her glowing blue eyes burning into my soul.

"Wha …what are you doing here?" I asked trying to keep my cool.

"Oh, I was just in town." She said mockingly. "What do you think Cassie? What have you gotten stupid since I left?" I leaned forward and whispered my words.

"You are supposed to be dead." The last word sent a chill down my spine.

"Oh yes, I guess I forgot about that. Well I should hurry along then before anyone sees me. " She sighed; her breath had those same luxurious undertones as the way Rory smelled. I was slowly piecing things together. Kirsten was a vampire. She stood and swiftly and walked over to the fire alarm. I didn't want her to go. I needed to talk to her, my face showed it. "Don't worry Cassie, you'll see me again, before…" her words drifted off into nothingness.

"Before what?" I asked a sense of unease filling my stomach.

"Before, how do I say this politely?" She pondered. "Before you are 'tragically taken'" she said quoting the article I had read about her death. My face paled. Kirsten pulled the alarm it rang obnoxiously loud. I saw people moving in the hallway. I turned to see her inconspicuously slip out the door.

I was sitting in the library, the sky an overcast gray, the buzzing continued, though almost everyone had filtered out of the building. My face pale and scared, I shook my head and grabbed my stuff. I walked as fast as I could without falling. My knees were weak, they felt like Jell-O.

I pushed open the glass door into the open air. I was aware that as I stood on the elevated surface next to the building that all the students who stood in the parking lot were staring at me. I just didn't care. I was scanning the sea of people for Rory. My gorgeous, perfect, caring, never wrong Rory.

I spotted him his golden hair in messy disarray. He looked nervous; I started my way towards him as fast as I could. I stumbled down the few steps and into the parking lot. I ran as fast as I could towards Rory, shoving past people and ignoring their questions about why I was still inside. I ended up running right into Rory, which was about as painful as running into a brick wall.

I rubbed my head with my hand and whispered urgently. "Rory, I really need to talk to you. I'm so sorry. I really am. I shouldn't have said any of those things I said. I love you Rory, I really do." I hugged him tightly, "please don't ever leave me." I whispered into his chest. I knew that I was causing a scene; I could feel the overly nosy stares boring into my back.

"Let's talk, over there" he said pointing to a planter box. I thought that a good idea, it would give me a chance to tell him about Kirsten. We walked over to the other side of the giant vegetation filled box.

"Rory," I started quickly. "Kirsten, I just saw her. She is…" I stopped he was staring at me strangely. Not surprised or 'I think you're insane' strangely. It was more like 'I'm captivated by you' strangely. I appreciated his flattery but now wasn't the time. "Rory pay attention, this is really important." I said frustrated by his lack of interest. "Kirsten she is a vampire." I said.

"You love me right?" Rory asked.

I sighed. "Yes, but what has that got to do with this." He didn't answer instead he just asked me another question.

"You trust me right?"

"Yes."

"You don't want me to leave, right?"

I blushed. "Yes, but I still don't understand what this has to do with Kirsten being back and a vampire." He pulled me close to him and wrapped his arms around my waist in a steel vice of a grip. He gave me a grin as I wriggled trying to get a bit more room. I couldn't help from my eyes flashing to his teeth. They weren't fangs, but I already knew that. They were perfectly straight and a dazzling shade of white. I felt uneasy because he still wasn't giving me any room.

"I want to change you Cassie." He whispered into my ear. I felt my body go limp.

I wanted to run and I wanted to now, but his arms held me in place with no chance to escape.

"Rory I don't think that that is such a good idea." I said my voice shaking.

"Why? Do you not love me? Do you not want to be together forever?" he knew what to say to get to me.

"I do love you, and in a perfect world we will spend eternity together, but just I'm not ready for that not now." I tried to take a step back, but it was impossible.

"Why not now?" he said. "It's just one little bite. Do you not trust me? I'll be able to do it. Are you afraid that I'll lose my control? Well it isn't my fault that you smell so tempting, I can just imagine the taste now." He was actually thinking about drinking my blood, I stood shocked and disgusted. This wasn't him, he was acting so different. I took the moment that he was reminiscing about how my blood might taste to pull away from his weaker grasp.

I sprinted at top speed into the crowd of students. I ran right up to Jill, Elyse, and Triston. They looked at me like I was an escapee from an insane asylum. I suddenly felt stupid; I shouldn't have gone to them. Who said that I could trust them anyways? I could see my scared face reflecting in their eyes.

"Cassie, what's wrong?" Jill asked empathetically.

I quickly turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

"Cassie?" Elyse called. I laughed out loud at myself. How was I this stupid? I was running from the possibility of three different vampires coming after me. My father, my best friend, and my boyfriend were all a threat to me. Talk about emotionally scarred for life, if mine was even that much longer. I felt to stone strong hands grasp my shoulders; I shuddered in fear then looked up to Triston's face.

"Cassie, what is going on? Are you all right?"

I gave him a weak smile. "No".

He put his hand against my back and steered me back toward the other Haven's minus Rory.

"What is going on?" Elyse asked as soon as I got back.

"I don't think that this is the best place to discuss it." I said quietly.

"That's fine; I'll drive us back to the house." Triston said. All around people were milling about which made it less obvious for people to notice us when we walked to the car and drove away.

The drive was full speed to the house. We walked into the house.

When we arrived Melanie was in the living room but Damien was working somewhere. Triston quickly made the call to him.

"Damien, we need you home now."

Pause for Damien's response.

"Yes it is very important."

Pause.

"We will explain when you get here."

Pause.

"Everyone except Rory, try and find where he is and get him here."

"NO!" I interjected without thinking, Triston looked at me.

There was another pause while he listened to Damien.

"Damien, it would actually be better if you didn't get him, but please be here soon."

Triston hung up the phone. Everyone walked to the living room and sat. They waited for me to sit with them but I remained standing. I still wasn't sure if I should be here. I was probably putting myself in major jeopardy. And even if I wasn't, how was I supposed to explain what had happened between Rory and me? 'Oh yea, so Rory, being a vampire just tried to trick me into letting him suck me dry.' I could only imagine how offensive that would sound.

Explaining about Kirsten seemed like cake compared to my Rory ordeal. Damien walked in the door. He put his briefcase down and sat in a chair. Everyone's undivided attention was on me, I shifted uncomfortably.

First I told them about Kirsten, their faces didn't move a fraction of an inch so I continued on about Rory. Since I didn't know how to explain what had happened I just said the whole story of exactly what happened.

"He just wasn't acting like him." I said when I was done. I thought about my story, was I missing some extremely obvious thing. Aside from him being a vampire that is.

Damien opened his mouth like he was about to say something, but then closed it. He slumped back in his chair and closed his eyes. Everyone stared at him intently. He opened his eyes again, his forehead wrinkled in confusion.

"What is it?" Melanie asked confused as the rest of us.

"Cassie is right he isn't himself." He paused. "I'm not quite sure how to explain it. It's like he has two voices in his head, and one of them definitely isn't his." He was right he didn't know how to explain. I didn't understand him at all. How can he be thinking two different voices?

"I don't get it." Elyse said.

"Neither do I" Jill joined.

"I'm not sure I understand, how does that even make sense?" I said.

"I'm going to have to agree with them." Triston said.

"He has someone else's voice in his thoughts." Damien said his eyes closed again. "I really don't understand this; the other voice is a girl. She keeps telling him to do things, but he is refusing." He had an abrupt pause, then "Jill, Triston, take Cassie up to your room, lock the door and don't come down until I tell you to. If you feel the need to leave the house under an emergency of Cassie's safety, do so immediately." I looked at him like he was insane. I stood, petrified. But it wasn't my choice to move or not, Jill had picked me up and raced to her room. Triston had stayed momentarily; talking to Damien then followed us.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked as soon as I was set down.

Triston shot Jill a glance then turned to me.

"Cassie, you know how some of us have 'gifts'?" I nodded slowly. "Damien believes that Rory is being controlled by someone's 'gift. You see, my gift is to persuade people to do things. But it is more like to buy something or agree with someone. I couldn't make some actually do something. They person who is being 'persuaded' by me doesn't know that I am having power over them. This person however the controller, their gift seems to be that they have control over someone's body and words."

I nodded again and he took it to continue talking.

"This girl, she is controlling Rory's actions, through his brain. Telling him what to do. Even though Rory is refusing, he can't stop himself." He finished.

"Who in their right mind would want to do that?" I asked.

"We think we may have an idea, based on your story." Jill piped up.

"Who?" I asked completely dumbstruck.

"Kirsten." She said. I felt my eyebrow crease, my throat tightens up, and the feeling of hurt that I had been suppressing rise to the top of my emotions.

"I still don't understand why we have to be up here rather than downstairs." I choked out.

"Kirsten told Rory to come here. So the others are going to try to somehow snap him out of this control." Triston said.

"Oh."

There was a sudden crash from downstairs that made my heart jump. We could all hear the conversation going on downstairs.

"Where is she?!?" Rory yelled.

"Who are you talking about." Damien lied confidently.

"You know damn right who I am talking about. Cassie!" he continued to shout.

"We have no idea. Why is it so important that you see her anyway?" Melanie pitched in.

I was surprised about how confident and calm they were, but I didn't know how this was going to break the control that Kirsten had over Rory. There was a small crash from down stairs and it sounded like some type of tussle had broken out.

"This is our queue to leave." Jill said throwing me onto her back and following Triston's lead of jumping out the window. I was sure that I wouldn't survive the impact of her hitting the ground but miraculously I did, I barely even felt a thing. She took off running. The wind whipped past my face as I had no idea where we were going. I could only hope that it was somewhere safe, somewhere that everyone would be safe.

But my biggest hope was that I would get to see Rory again and it wouldn't be right before he killed me.