IVY'S POV

I slammed the bedroom door shut and yelled in frustration. The lights flickered slightly at the surge of emotion before sputtering out.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!

I flopped down onto my bed and buried my face in the pillow, letting the glamour slide off me. How could I be so stupid? I flipped onto my back and stared at the ceiling, shadows danced across its blank surface as the trees guarding the window swayed in the soft breeze. Everything was still, except for the beating of my heart. The early autumn night was hot, my room was so stuffy that everything felt sticky and warped, like ice cream sagging into the bottom of a sundae glass, but I refused to open a window. I didn't want to move. I needed to change plans urgently, things were slipping away from me, soon my opportunity would pass and I'd have to wait for revenge again. I couldn't wait now, I wouldn't, not after so long. I needed to remember what they had done to me. I needed to switch off my emotions.

I sat up suddenly, my eyes alight and an evil grin on my face. That was it! I knew how to get my revenge. I knew how to kill a dragon, but I also knew something else that no other living being knew; how to raise dragons from their slumber and how to control them. I closed my eyes. Everything was going to be fine, nothing could go wrong.

I grabbed my bag and leapt off the bed, all I needed now were some supplies.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

The club was dark, fake smoke hung in the air from the fog machines in the corners, mixing in with cigar smoke. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was home. A song blasted through the speakers, the bass turned so high that everything vibrated in time to the beat. I was in the belly of a beast. A half smile slid onto my face as I pushed through the mass of people. For once I wasn't Ivy: feared and hated by everyone, constantly on the run, I was just another person, another body. I was insignificant.

I worked my way to the bar and sat down on one of the cracked leather stools. The bartender was at the far end, trying too hard to come off as cool. I could tell from here that he was nothing but a cocky witch from Circle Midnight.

"What can I do for you?" he asked, leaning against the bar.

"Can I speak to Shade?" I asked quietly.

His eyebrows shot up for an instant, before drawing back down over his eyes. "I don't know who you're talking about."

I stood up and leaned forward over the bar. "Oh, but I'm sure you do," I murmured, letting my glamour slip off long enough for him to see my true self.

I saw myself in the bartender's eyes reflected. Gold chased the fake blue in my eyes for a second before settling down as the main colour. For a second I let my glamour drop completely, my hair darkened and straightened out going its true raven black, before I concealed myself again. I saw shock, then disbelief on the bartender's face. No one had as much undiluted power as I did. Not anymore, the people who were my equals had died a long time ago. He stared at me in awe for a moment before shaking himself out of his stupor.

"Who are you?" his voice was strangled and slightly too high.

I smiled slyly, knowing that talking to Shade would no longer be a problem. "I think you know."

He shook his head again and slid away a bit. "Impossible," he whispered, "You went missing years ago...we all thought you were dead."

"But I'm not and I'm not planning on going anywhere for a while. Now let me speak to Shade."

He inclined his head slightly and I smiled as he opened up the bar and let me slip past him. Mission accomplished.

COUGAR'S POV

The club was dark with coloured strobe lights flashing everywhere. People flickered in and out of view, illuminated for a millisecond before being plunged into darkness. The smell of sweat and alcohol perfumed the air, as another unrecognisable song pumped out of the speakers, the bass distorting everything. I sat just outside of the perfectly ordered chaos in one of the red leather booths that ringed the walls of the club; for once I was alone to enjoy the scene in front of me. This was it, my very own playground.

The light changed colour, going from deep red to white as it circled the dance floor, illuminating a familiar blond head. She didn't belong, I could tell this instantly. She was ridiculously out of place, dancers twisted around and around in bright coloured short dresses, but she was dark and completely covered. I frowned and focused in on her. Where did I recognise her from? At that moment she tossed her hair out of her face in an impatient gesture, before the crowd shifted and she was swallowed up by it. But I didn't care, I barely registered it.

Only one thing occupied my mouth at that moment, only one question.

How the hell did she get in here?

I ran a hand through my hair, something I only did when I was nervous and ripped my phone out of my pocket and dialled the first number I could think of.

JACK'S POV

I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel as I waited for Cougar to leave the club and get in the car. I didn't understand why he'd phoned me of all people to pick him up at this time, we hadn't talked since –

I broke off that thought before it could hurt me. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Focus, I told myself. I couldn't afford to have another mental break down right now. I tapped at the steering wheel and turned to look at the club. A tacky neon sign hung precariously over one side of the entrance, almost blocking the back entrance to the club where black lines swirled to form the black iris that marked it as a vampire club.

I shook my head in disgust. I'd only been to a club like that once and I was never going back. Clubs like that were filled with masses of dancing bodies and humans who were so drunk they didn't object to being used as blood banks. I glanced back at the clock. If he didn't come out in the next two minutes, I was leaving. I didn't even know why I'd come, it wasn't like we were friends. Not anymore.

I blinked and refocused on the club in front of me. The neon sign flickered and a group of girls wearing skirts which were way too short stumbled out of the club, drunk. I sighed; tonight was going to be fun. Not. I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes. I would wait for five more minutes, for old times' sake, and then I was out of here and nothing would stop me. I set an alarm on my phone and went to sleep.

A/N: hey guys!

Sorry if this is a bit short...but I figured you'd rather short and sweet than a really long one and no update for ages. Anyway what do you think? Drop me a review and make me smile! Like this: :D :D :D :D :D So yeah review?