"So what's new at school?" I ask as I tried the fifth outfit on.

"Oh Roger keeps asking me out. And I keep saying no. Sam and Paul came out of the closet and are now dating."

"Finally," I mutter pulling on the tightest red dress I have ever seen, with two off the shoulder sleeves that were obviously for decoration only.

"I know right? And then the Basketball team are on their way to regional's. Mr. Tanner started the new musical theatre club."

"NO WAY!" I shout, losing my footing and falling into the side of the fitting room.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, sorry. Just lost my balance. But no fair! I leave and we finally get a musical theatre club." I grunt, pulling the dress up the last inch and a half.

"Yeah, I know. School isn't really the same without you. Hell, I feel stupid in Spanish now with you gone."

"Hey!"

"Haha, sorry. Just stating a fact. At least you got away from that class."

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. I have to take Spanish there too." I open the door and step out.

"Dang girl. You look hot! And that totally sucks by the way." She was circling me with appraising eyes.

"I do?" I sincerely doubted that. Compared to her I always looked cute where she looked sexy. It was just the way our friendship worked. And she was wearing this teal sparkly number that had every guy in this store gawking. So I definitely doubted my hotness.

"Look in the mirror for crying out loud if you don't believe me."

I laughed as I walked to the three-way mirror. And my mouth dropped at my reflection. This dress was like magic. It accentuated every curve and made my eyes and hair pop. My hair was a silky black, and my blue eyes actually sparkled. I turned around abruptly.

"See?" Nichole was smirking ear to ear.

"You think you're so wise." I say, going to take it off.

"What are you doing? Keep it on. We can buy it like that. Besides now we need shoes."

"Nicole I can't let you buy me things, we talked about this years ago."

"Yeah, I couldn't splurge on you when you would work and earn money. Now you can't and thus I have all this inherited wealth that I am compelled to share with you." She grabs my hand and pulls me towards the shoe section.

I leave the store with a makeover, new shoes, a new dress, and a new purse. I felt like I was going to prom, not a club with my best friend.

"You really shouldn't have." I grumble getting used to the four inch high black heals my feet so lovingly adorned. And by lovingly I mean they hate me right now. But I did look good, I could say that much.

"Oh shut up. I don't know when the next time I will be able to see you is, so I am going all out. Besides I bought myself a new skirt too. It wasn't all for you."

"Well thanks Nichole." I laugh. I caught my reflection in the window as I waited for her to unlock the door. My hair was curled; I had smokey eyes, and bright red lipstick. And with the short red dress I felt like an expensive hooker. Nichole however, assured me I looked like a model. Crazy woman.

"Where to?" I ask sliding into my seat.

"Well it's actually a surprise. But it isn't too far from here."

It was the first time since I had started hanging out with her that I felt something odd. Like a dark foreboding feeling. But as she smiled at me the feeling left, and I felt stupid for even thinking it.

"I still can't believe you drove all the way out here just to see me."

"It just came to me. I mean I had suggested you getting out, and I thought hey why not help you? So after school I got ready and drove straight to you."

"I love you Nichole, you know that right? Even though I've changed." My voice faltered a bit, I didn't mean too, but I had the urge to cry.

"Girl, you have not changed. Maybe your body is, but that's an exciting thing! Nothing to be ashamed about. And if you cry, you will ruin your make-up and I will punch you. Just saying."

I laugh. This whole morning has been exactly what I needed. It was funny to think of 10 pm as morning, but it felt right. After twenty minutes of singing at the top of our lungs to our favorite songs she turned into a parking lot.

"We're here!" she says excitedly.

I stepped out of the car only to be jolted back into my seat. The darkness I had felt earlier had practically pushed me down.

"What are you doing? I said we we're here. Get up you silly." Nichole says taking my hand and helping me stand. I didn't have time to protest because she was pulling me aggressively towards the door, with the words Bite Club and Bar lit up in neon red writing.

"What is this place?" I ask her, finally taking in my surroundings. We weren't in the middle of the city like I had expected; this place was out in the middle of nowhere. And unlike normal clubs this one did not have a line of anxious teenagers waiting to get in.

She didn't seem phased as she pushed through the door and let out a Ta-da! with big flashy hands. The occupants of this "club" looked like they belonged in a biker bar. They were all older, all men, and all looked frighteningly fierce. And all of them now had their attention directed towards us.

"Come on," she yanks my arm towards the bar counter, but I pull her back. These men weren't men at all. They were vampyres. And they didn't look like the friendly kind. The beer mugs in their hands held red liquid. Somehow I knew that wasn't a new type of beer.

"Are you ladies lost?" the one closest to us asks. My head jerks in his direction and I wrap my arm tightly through Nichole's.

"Actually we were wondering if we could use your restroom. Our family is waiting outside for us." I lie easily.

"Your family let's you walk around dressed like that?" another one chimes in, sounding skeptical.

"Faith, why are you lying to them? We're just here for the party!" she shouts happily. Was she completely blind? I stomp hard on her foot.

"What the hell did you do that for?" she asks angrily.

"Shut. Up." I whisper, trying to gauge the men's reaction to her little outburst.

"So you aren't with family?" the one that spoke up first asks.

"Listen, my friend here thought this was a club and she was obviously mistaken. So we can just be on our way with no trouble." I explain calmly, backing up. I bump into what felt like stone. I turned around quickly to see another one standing there blocking the exit. His smile was wicked, and it deformed his harsh barbed wire tattooed design that covered his face.

"This used to be a club and then we took over." The man standing behind the bar smirks.

"And by you, you mean vampyres?" I suggest, pulling Nichole to the middle of the room, farthest away from them. There were only about nine of them, but nine against two, not so good. And let's face it; Nichole was acting incredibly loopy right now, so she doesn't even really count.

"We're not just any vampyres."

"Are you a special kind?" Nichole asks, excited.

"You could say that."

They were all getting closer, even the man behind the bar. I was about to start hyperventilating. What the hell had Nichole gotten us into?

"We're the special kind that doesn't like to follow rules."

"Like not sucking someone's blood without their permission?" I ask, making it obvious that I do know the rules. Or at least some of them. They laughed cruelly.

"That one, and killing two little human girls who stray too far from home."

And that's when three things happened simultaneously. 1) Nichole fainted. 2) One of them lunged. 3) I punch the guy squarely in the chest, sending him sky rocketing backwards.

They all stared at me in shock. Hell, I was staring at me in shock, or my hand at least.

"Get up Avery, she's just a human girl."

One of them kneels down and helps the one I punched up.

"Hardly." I argue licking my fingers and wiping the make-up off that covered my mark.

A good majority laughed at me then. "So what, you're a fledgling? I'm scared now."

Somehow, I thought my filled in mark would make them stop. We were of the same species. Almost.

"Axe, why don't you have a piece of her. Use that affinity you talk about all the time."

The one that had blocked the door opened his mouth, and a low deep voice came out, "My pleasure."

"What affinity?" I ask politely, instead of saying what I wanted to say which was really just a big fat Shit.

"Brute strength and an uncanny ability to cause pain," one of the men shouts.

"Scared little fledgling?" he grins wickedly stepping closer.

"Nyx wouldn't be pleased if you killed me. She'd probably get pissed." I stammer, not really know what I was saying.

"Do you think I care what Nyx thinks?" he growls.

I gulped, not knowing what to do. Was I seriously doing to get pummeled to death? Punching that other guy was just luck wasn't it? Not that I have time to dwell on such things, but how in the world had I done that in the first place?

I get in a fighting stance over Nichole's body. I would fight him with everything I could muster, but before I had even thought it he had me by the throat and was lifting me off the ground, laughing horribly. The others laughed with him as he was slowly cutting off my air supply. All I could do was claw at his hand and kick wildly. And then suddenly I knew what to do. Where I could kick his chest in order to dislocate his arm, and cause the maximum amount of pain. I brought my foot up and kicked with all my might. He dropped me in a roar of pain. I landed on my feet glaring at him.

"You stupid bitch." He cries backing up from me, trying to pop his shoulder back into place at the same time.

My neck was stinging. I touched it gingerly. I smelt my blood before I saw it. But sure enough it was there on my fingertips. He must have scratched me when his hand released me. I looked up. If I had felt scared before, it was nothing compared to how I felt staring into the eyes of nine ravenous vampyres who wanted nothing but my blood. Too bad I couldn't tell Erik he wasn't the only one to react badly to my blood, it probably would have made him feel less guilty. They looked like soulless monsters waiting to tear me limb from limb. They were going to kill me, and there was nothing I could do about it. I close my eyes and wait for the pain. Only hoping that maybe after they were finished with me they would be too full for Nichole and let her leave. It was really the only thing I could hope for, as unrealistic as it was.

I heard the movement, bracing for impact, but a second later a swift rush of air flew passed me. I opened my eyes just in time to see an arrow land in the vampyre's chest who was charging towards me.

"Anyone touches her, and they die."

I turned around so fast I almost fell. There in the doorway stood Stark with his bow and arrow at the ready. He looked like an avenging angel. Another arrow was released and I heard the sickening crunch right behind me and another howl of pain.

"I have enough arrows for all of you. And I assure you, I never miss." His gaze was cold and calculated, looking every single one of them in the eye.

When no one moved Stark finally looked at me, really looked at me. "Erik." Another face showed up in the doorway, Erik looking worried. "Can you handle the smell of her blood?" Stark asks calmly. Erik looks at me and nods. "Can you please get Faith's friend then. She seems to have fainted in all the excitement."

Erik passes me and picks up Nichole gingerly. I follow him out the door, not looking back. I did hear Stark give one last threat before slamming the door behind him.

The cool breeze sent shivers down my spine. I was outside. I didn't know what to say… I was still in a state of shock. I was walking slowly, timidly towards the parking lot.

"What were you thinking?? Were you trying to get yourself killed? You stupid stupid girl!?!" Stark had taken me by the shoulders and turned me towards him. He then preceded to shake me violently, and make an awful noise. Only until he stopped shaking me did I realize that the one making the awful noise was me. I was sobbing so heavily I could barely breathe. He pulled me into a tight embrace. "Everything is all right. You're safe now. You're safe." He was whispering over and over again. Rocking me back and forth.

He pulled slightly away, his hands cupping my face lightly, tenderly. I stared into his eyes. He had saved me. He took a finger and wiped away the tears that were falling more slowly now.

"You're bleeding still. Let me help." He tipped my face up and leaned in towards my neck. A spasm of pure pleasure washed over me as he slid his tongue slowly over my wound. He pulled away slowly, his hands still resting gently on my neck. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't really formulate words. Why had he saved me? Why did he even care? How did he know I was in trouble?

He broke my scramble of thoughts as he slid his arm around my waist and started leading me to the car. "A second later and you would have been dead Faith. What were you thinking going into a place like that?" He was back to reprimanding me, but at least he wasn't yelling this time.

"Of all the people to save me I didn't expect you. Batman or Superman maybe, but not you." I chuckle lightly, looking down at the ground as I walked.

"Faith, I…"

"Is she okay?" It was Aphrodite's voice that brought me out of the trance Stark had put me under. I pull away slightly from Stark and look around to see Aphrodite and Zoey approaching us.

"I think she's fine. She had a deep scratch on her neck but it's fine now." He answers her, stepping away from me now.

"Well her friend is fine, seems to have just fainted." Zoey says. I don't know if it was because I had almost died and so now I am all paranoid, but Zoey seemed less than pleased as she looked from Stark to me.

"Now would you mind sharing with the rest of us what the fuck you were thinking?" Aphrodite shouts.

"Not here Aphrodite. Let's go somewhere else and talk." Stark suggests, probably thinking I was going to start crying again.

"Denny's. Denny's is always open." I whisper.

"Denny's it is" Erik says, joining the circle by Zoey.

"Then I suggest we get going, before these renegade vampyres decide to start another fight." Darius chimes in, standing next to Aphrodite.

How many people had come to rescue me?

"And how I'd love a fight." Stark smiles evilly, tightening his grip around his leather holster.

"Down boy. Let's just get out of here." Zoey laughs.

"Yeah, this place really creeps me out." Aphrodite adds.

"You are safe my love." Darius pulls Aphrodite closer to him.
"Did you guys bring your own car? Will I just follow you to the nearest Denny's?" I ask meekly.

"You almost got yourself killed, I don't think you're in any state to drive anywhere." Stark accuses harshly. I looked over at him, and his look of disdain had replaced any affection his face had held only moments ago.

"Can you drive a stick shift James?" I sneer, finding my voice once again. If he could change in a blink of an eye so could I. He wasn't allowed to save my life and then treat me like shit.

He was silent as he glared at me.

"I can Faith." I turned on Erik, angry at first, but let it pass. He was only trying to help. In fact it kind of impressed me. Not too many people know how to drive one.

"Okay then. I'll let Erik drive. We'll follow you guys." I say calmly to everyone but Stark. I didn't look at him. I walked right on over to Nichole's car and climbed in the front seat. Nichole was lying peacefully in the back still unconscious. I faced forward and buckled up as Erik slid into the driver's side.

"The keys are under the seat." I tell him as I reach in the back for the bag of the clothes I had left school in.

He had started the car and got in position behind the other car, which looked like a Benz of all things. It was quiet for a while as we waited for them to go. So quiet that I was startled when Erik spoke.

"Would you like to explain what is going on between you and Stark? Or shall I have to guess?"