An: Dear Reviewers, you guys are awesome. Here's the next chapter, the next last one in fact. Yep you heard right...chapter 9 is the last one. There might be a sequel if anyone's interested though...not sure yet.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, David tells me. But I insist that Bailey and Jakc are mine. So there you have it!

Chapter 8

Hungry Eyes

I've been meaning to tell you
I've got this feelin that won't subside
I look at you and I fantasize
You're mine tonight
Now I've got you in my sights


With these hungry eyes
One look at you and I can't disguise
I've got hungry eyes
I feel the magic between you and I

-Eric Carmen-

You know that feeling when you've been for a really long run and your throat feels parched? Good, then you probably know how good it feels to relieve your throat with some ice cold water. The feeling doesn't even begin to compare the feeling I felt that first time blood ran down my throat. The first time I really sated my thirst, that night when I became a vampire.

The warm liquid slid like honey down my throat, it was sweet yet bitter, spicy and soft. The taste is impossible to describe. And the euphoria, the rush that sweet, sweet nectar creates within you is beyond imagination.

At first when I stopped drinking I didn't feel any different but then I noticed I could hear the waves more clearly, crickets chirping, the boys breathing. I could see details I hadn't before and I felt stronger, mentally and physically. I raised my eyes and let go of the dead weight in my arms, the boys were all staring at me grinning. Suddenly they all started cheering and congratulating me.

"Welcome to the family," David said with a smile, I couldn't do anything but smile back. Seeing David smile still freaked me out still. Paul took my hand and led me down to the water; I looked at him in confusion as the others were starting to slowly head back to the boardwalk.

"You're a sloppy eater," he supplied with a laugh. I looked down at the water and stared at my reflection. My hair was messier than ever and half my face was splattered with blood.

"I thought vampires didn't have reflections," I said more as a statement than a question, that's when I realized my voice was smoother than before.

"We can see ourselves when we really want to, but mortals don't see it. With some exceptions," he trailed off with a chuckle as I bent down and washed my face. The face that stared back at me was mine but I noticed that I seemed paler, gaunter and my eyes were a deeper shade of brown.

The boardwalk through my new eyes was an entirely different experience. I had expected it to be brilliant but in truth it was horrible. The flashing lights hurt my sensitive eyes, the smells made me dizzy and the sound was loud and screeching. How could the boys possibly manage this every night without as much as a winch?

"You get used to it. Try to focus on something else and just relax," Dwayne said from beside me. I smiled at him gratefully and tried to do what he told me to and it worked to a certain degree, I could only hope that I would be able to stand it later, with practice. We walked around aimlessly just messing around. But soon we headed for the bikes and drove back to the cave…home.

When we reached my new home the boys all seemed to wander off somewhere, even Star and Laddie were suddenly nowhere to be seen. I looked at my only remaining companion, Paul, questions evident in my eyes. He just grinned that crooked grin and threw his arms around me and started to lead me towards one of the openings inside the "main hall". Think of it as a welcome gift, his voice sounded in my head. I jumped slightly at the sensation and he chuckled at me. We were walking through a tunnel and I was marvelled by the fact that I could see with so little light guiding us. I could see all nicks, bumps and cracks in the walls. Somewhere in the distance I could hear water dripping. I didn't understand what we were doing in this damp tunnel. Suddenly the light changed and we entered a room. I looked around in awe. This small cave was filled with candles, scarves covered the walls and a bed was the rooms' centrepiece. I turned my eyes to Paul and he gave me a grin.

"We thought you might want a place of your own," he said smiling coyly, taking in the expression on my face. I was stunned.

"We all have our own little place and well since you're a girl and everything we thought you might need it even more than us," he gave me another grin.

"Thank you," I said quietly looking around the small space. It was comfy, well as comfy as a cave could be. It reminded me a lot of the first time I visited the main cave. I turned to Paul and he was watching my with a strange look in his eyes. In a fluid motion his hand reached out as I stepped forward.

We were in each others arms before I could realize that either of us moved. Heated kisses, hands gripping, and desperation. It was feral, animalistic. Somehow we ended up in a heap on the bed. Cloth ripping, hair tugging, whimpering, harsh breathing. I withdrew my lips from his and stared at him, his eyes stared back at me. The look in his eyes was feral, passionate…hungry.

One look at you and I can't disguise, I've got hungry eyes…

We were kissing again, clothing was being removed haphazardly. I was aware of what we were doing and somehow I wasn't… I had never felt such a need to be so close to someone before, the feeling was almost unreal. Nails making marks on various body parts the smell of blood intensified the fierceness our actions further. I was panting heavily as Paul's lips left my mouth and trailed down my neck.

"I want to make you mine," he rasped out. I moaned as he nipped at my throat.

"I am yours," I panted. He stopped his ministrations and raised his head to look at me.

"No truly make you my mate," he said the hunger in his eyes intensifying. Passages from the books I had read suddenly went through my mind, I knew what he wanted. And I realized with little surprise that I wanted it too. I nodded too breathless to speak. A smirk lit up his features and his eyes glinted. I don't think I'll ever forget that moment. His eyes never left mine as his fangs appeared; silently his eyes asked me for permission. The feeling when he entered me and at the same time bit down on my neck so hard that the fangs pierced my skin in indescribable. I thought that I would feel pain but all I felt was intense pleasure. Before I knew what I was doing my fangs were buried in Pauls' neck and his blood flooded into my mouth and down my throat. Passion, content, pleasure racked through my body as the blood entered my mouth. Human blood was incredibly tasty but Pauls' blood was ten times sweeter, tastier and the smell was simply divine. The rush I felt from taking human blood was intensified by a tenfold as I greedily drank my lovers blood. When the high hit its peak the feelings subsided and pictures entered my head; bits and pieces of memories that weren't my own playing before me like a movie. Then the most peculiar feeling came over me. Like my heart, my soul duplicated itself and made its way out of my body. For a moment I felt like a part of me had disappeared, I felt hollow. But seconds later that hollow space was filled with not the piece that "left" but another…a part of Paul. Explosions, fireworks before my eyes…I couldn't breathe and then…it stopped. It was like the greatest orgasm you ever had if you multiplied it with one thousand. The sweaty body above mine rolled off me and like on autopilot I laid my head on his bare chest. Neither of us said anything, only our harsh laboured breathing echoed in the small room.

"What…what jus happened?" I managed to say as I turned my eyes to the blonde besides me. He gave me a cheeky grin as he answered;

"The greatest experience of my life." I started giggling insanely.

"Really Paul," I stopped when my arm happened to come in my line of sight. A tattoo had appeared out of nowhere, right there on my left forearm. It was some sort of tribal design and I had never seen it before.

"Huh," Paul said from above me I looked at him and found that he was staring at his left forearm, an identical tattoo stood out against his pale skin.

"Must be some kind of fated thing…" I just nodded and then this overpowering calm settled over me. I yawned and found it hard to keep my eyes up.

"The sun's setting." That explained it. Blackness came over me and I saw no more.

I felt drowsy and yet very well rested when I awoke. It was like my body just started working at once; like it felt some sort of signal…the sun must have set. I shifted and looked at Paul who still lay still besides me. I started tracing an invisible pattern on his chest and just waited for him to wake up. I didn't have to wait long. I watched fascinated as he took a deep breath and his whole body was set in motion.

"Mmm…mornin' babe," he muttered with his eyes still closed.

"Good morning," I said with a small smile. Blue eyes stared into mine and the strangest thing happened. It was like I could feel everything he was feeling, hear his thoughts…we were connected.

"Interesting," he muttered and gave me a cheeky grin. I just laughed and got up and started looking for my clothes. I held up my shirt and found it had been ripped in two, Paul snickered behind me and I threw it in his face without even looking.

When we finally managed to find some whole clothes we made our way into the main cave. The others were waiting for us, these shit eating grins plastered on their faces. My eyes found Stars' and she blushed, I raised my eyebrows in confusion. Paul's breath hit my neck as he whispered;

"I guess we could have been more quiet…" I didn't even have to look at him to know that a huge grin was on his face. I rolled my eyes and said;

"So…are we going out or what?" the boys laughed and we headed out, Star followed behind us and Laddie was in my arms. It was strange being able to lift him and barely notice it. Vampire strength rocked.

Later on the boardwalk we met Jack, I recognized him and relief went through my body. But I found that I couldn't remember some things about him, like where he worked and some other small details.

When we left him David told me there was someone I had to meet. Paul's voice in my head revealed that I was about to meet the head vampire.

"Don't be nervous," whispered into my ear. I gave him a look and said;

"I'm not…" I stopped at the look he was giving me.

"I can feel your feelings now," spoken in a singsong voice. I pushed him and he just laughed. Blinking lights, neon and the Breakfast Club playing on one of the screens. What were we doing at Video Max's? I watched as the boys walked in like they owned the place. a tall man with glasses and an over all geeky looking exterior glared at them. He had to be the owner…Max. His eyes fell on me and the look in his eyes changed. He turned to David and they seemed to have some sort of mental conversation. Was he really the head vampire? This middle aged guy trying in vain to look "hip". Really? Without even a word being said we made our way outside. I didn't say anything, none of us did. We just headed out to feed but none of us spoke about what was to happen next. Hours later we stopped in front of a house, barking could be heard from the inside. A dog, the same dog that always guarded the same video store we visited earlier. Marko was biting on his thumb again and only stopped to smirk at me. Dwayne was wearing an emotionless mask and David had a calculating look in his eyes. I turned my eyes to Paul but he was just staring off into space, thoughtful for once. The large door opened with a creak and we all entered silently. Max stood there, waiting for us. He gave us a small smile and motioned for us to sit down, five glasses of blood stood on the table, and the sixth was situated in his hand. How very disturbing on so many levels it felt sitting there drinking blood from crystal wineglasses.

"I believe a welcome is in order." I had never heard him speak before and his voice fit him perfectly. I looked at him silently, I couldn't read his face but I didn't like the vibe he gave off.

"A welcome to my first daughter," he said with a smile, a smile I couldn't determine if he was faking or not. He raised his glass and the boys and I followed. His eyes were fixated on my left arm I noticed and then they flickered to Paul's, the tattoos. Did he know?

"Ah yes, a common trait when vampires connect completely with their fated one shows you're connected." I looked at David with a confused look on my face, how did he know?

"I can hear your thoughts as well as all the boys. You have to remember Bailey that I am much older then all of you. I am also your head vampire all of you have some amount of my blood rushing through your veins. You are mostly connected to Paul yes, but never less are you one of my children." The way my name sounded when he said it gave me the chills. Despite his geeky exterior this man oozed danger, even more so then the boys. I could almost feel the rebellion they all felt against him. He was in some sort of twisted way their dad, a dysfunctional father figure that they all resented. They might have had some respect for the man in front of me but that was long gone now. And yet they continued to listen to him, obey him…well to a certain degree. Why, was it fear? I didn't know and right now I kind of didn't want to. All I wanted was to get out of there; the walls seemed to be creeping up on me, growing closer. Just as the thought entered my mind David stood, the rest of us followed quickly. Max may have been the head vampire but David sure as hell was the leader of our pack. All of us knew that. We bade Max farewell and left without so much of a backward glance. I didn't know what to make of my first meeting with Max the head vampire. I hadn't really seen a point in it, did he just want to meet me in person or was there an ulterior motive?

"Who knows, I sure as hell don't want to know half of what goes on in that twisted mind of his," was David's reply when I asked him. So I decided to forget about it and just have fun. I mean I could sleep all day and party all night now…it sure as hell was fun to be a vampire!