Two

In comparison it was like nails on a chalk board. I literally flinched at the sound. Staring up at the stranger, my eyes practically blew out of my head. I was surrounded. Oh god! It was like my dream, but only worse, Strigoi Dimitri wasn't here. However instead, there before me was a swarm of Strigoi. Okay I shouldn't say swarm, but there were at least five or six of them circling around where I sat.

Remembering my training I instantly sprang up preparing to fight my way through them. Let's just say I wasn't even able to pull the stake that was strapped down to my belt into my grip before they had me. I was pinned against the frozen ground by two of the Strigoi. Struggling at the Strigoi's grip, a small mental barrier I had set around me started to break revealing the raw power of my grief. Oh great so this was the place where all my emotions would finally leak out from my body. In front of the enemy, yes very tough. Yay cheers for me. So what did I do, I started sobbing. Sure I'm about to die, why not get it all out. Maybe death will be better this way, less painful. That's when I thought of Dimitri. I had let him down. I was to destroy him, but instead I had failed him, by getting myself killed, by the enemy, by our enemy. Now he is to run full Strigoi for the rest of eternity. And what did I have to say about it? I was being ignorant. I was too tired to be aware of my surroundings. Yeah that's a great excuse right there.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry." I began choking out. The other Strigoi were staring down at me in confusion. But I didn't stop. I kept going on saying those two words for what felt like hours. Eventually they dragged me to an abandon house in the outskirts of the village. I must have been pretty bad at the time, I kept crying all night, but eventually I guess I passed out from exhaustion.

Waking up in the morning I scanned the room, small slivers of dim light danced around from a hidden source as I stared down at a small tray that laid next to my bed. Strange why didn't they just kill me? Oh hell they probably want to turn me, that's why didn't kill me. Rushing to the closest window I pulled the shutters away. Revealing a setting sun high above the snow capped mountains.

"Huh." Huge iron bars were skewed in front of me, blocking out my only reliable exit. Now the only available escape route besides the window was the door. Creeping towards it I carefully placed my ear to its surface, listening for even the quietest of sound. Nothing. Huh. Maybe they left, maybe they thought that I'd be passed out for the rest of the day. But I didn't stock too much onto that theory. Unlike some people I've learn from past mistakes. However, resorting back to my previous train of thought they did allow me to live and they gave me food. Even if I do believe that is was poisoned it.

So I guess the only logical thing now would be to at least to attempt to escape. Placing my hand on my belt. Shit. Oh great now I'm really screwed, my stake was gone. At this point I really wished I was dreaming. And yes I'd already cross examined that might of fallen asleep on the bench, but everything was too realistic and everything that happened last night was too real to be a dream, even if the majority of it was seen through blurry eyes.

Taking my chances I decided that maybe it was best to ease up my strength, since this time I really wasn't going down without a fight. So sniffing the food with my sense of smell I verified that perhaps it was just food instead of some sort of toxin. Allowing myself to take small bites of it, however, I soon devoured the tray practically fighting back tears of how hungry I truly was. Getting up from my sitting position, on the bed, from where I ate. I justified that my strength had definably increased from the meal and stepped silently towards the door. Looks like make shift weapons are absolutely necessity for this situation.

"You'll never get me alive." I murmured just as I creaked open the door to a deserted hall way. In particular it was actually a fairly decent home. Even the room I was staying it was highly approving, even for my standards. But I didn't let the home and garden thoughts corrupt my mind, instead I looked for any possible ways out. So far all I saw were barred windows and small vents. Damn.

Then the staircase leading to the first floor came into view. Great I was in a two story house. How inconvenient for me? Of course, when is anything ever convenient for me? Downstairs small voices could be heard. Probably guessing who should get the first bite into me.

"Hey!" A voice called from one of what I thought was a vacant rooms. I whirled to the voice. I didn't recognize it, at this though I just didn't want to get caught. Glaring down at me however, was what I presumed a young Strigoi with blond hair and about from appearance a foot taller then what Dimitri had been. Gasping I turned to run back to the current room I was supposedly staying in, the only sanctuary I had at the moment. But he was faster, already he had a firm grip on my arm and was practically dragging me down the stairs, one thump at a time. Oh yes this is a fabulous way to show your guests around.

Shoving me into what I guessed was the living room five other Strigoi greeted to me to my entrance. Immediately I shot up ready for whatever this set up was. Determining on who I would strike first I looked at every Strigoi face. And each one (except the one that rudely dragged into the room) had a face of confusion on their face masking their entire expressions. It was the exact same look that they had given me last night when I thought that I had failed Dimitri.

They weren't even looking for a fight; all of them including the rude Strigoi were either slouching on a sofa or sprawled out onto the floor. Confusion began to mask my own face as well. What is this? They must truly want me to become one of them if they aren't even going to attack me, or at least put up a fight. Then why hadn't they already start the process, why wait? Backing up into a corner I thought that maybe at least having my blind sides blocked out would give them less of an element of surprise. Sighing I guess I had no other choice, I had to council with them. Damn Strigoi and their upper advantages for everything.

"Hi." One of the Strigoi chirped to me. I raised an eyebrow at her. I couldn't help it; common courtesy is a rarity in the Strigoi race. Especially a perky greeting to a supposed enemy.

"Hi." I murmured back remembering my manners, ugh god what was wrong with me? Even in the dark room I could still make out everyone of their shapes and forms. Thank you Dhampir vision. Getting a good look at the Strigoi that had just spoken to me I realized she was beautiful. Once again what the hell was I thinking? Anyway this was weird. Aren't Strigoi suppose to look cruel, mean or even grotesque like? Instead this flapjack had stunningly, curly hair that fell way past her shoulders, along with amazingly flawless skin. Her eyes. They weren't even red; they were just a very dark color, almost black, but they still illuminating her stunning facial design.

"Okay what is going on here?" Not realizing till just now that I had spoken theses words out loud.

"Whatever do you mean?" The preppy Strigoi retorted back. She didn't even sound mean or callous from her remarks. She sounded kind and concern. But my anger was raging and my patience thin. So I explained, trying my hardest to show a little self- control here. One thing that I didn't want to reveal to these scumbag Strigoi was another advantage they had on me.

"I mean why the hell haven't you guys killed me or least turned me yet! Your Strigoi aren't you, I don't know aren't suppose to be tearing me down limb from limb! What the hell is the matter you? What is this?" My temper was flaring as I readied myself for a fight, but seeing the expression on the pretty Strigoi's face. She was shocked as well as several other of the Strigoi creatures in this room. They were Strigoi right? Of course, the nausea in the pit of my stomach told me they were. Funny I didn't feel it last night when they jumped me. I guess it doesn't work with exhaustion and emotional break downs.

"Leave her alone." The rude Strigoi seethed.

"No Benjamin." The pretty Strigoi replied. "Its okay, her exclamation is understandable I mean with everything that's happened to her. Think of how I would feel if I was seperated from you? Right Rosemarie?" Wait what how did she know my name!

"How the hell do you know my name?" I put into worded form.

"Shh. All will be answered in time." She assured me.

"Okay." I breathed, hating that I would have to be patient especially for a Strigoi.

"Oh I'm so sorry how rude of me, I'm Mary." She said while raising her hand. Did she actually expect me to shake it? What kind of world is this?

"Okay then…" She said finally understanding that I would never play on her field. "Well this is." She said while pointing to the other five Strigoi."Alexandria."

""Hi." Alexandria remarked seeming almost shy to my presence."You can just call be Alex if you want." She mumbled. I swear if she were actually alive her cheeks would be a violent red from embarrassment.

"Okay then." Mary continued."This is Paul. Umm Charles…"

"Mary please, Rose you can call me Charlie." He said while giving off a sincere smiling to me. Seriously what is with all this homey hospitality? Okay I must be dreaming, none of this real! None of this is even possible!

"And then here is Rebekah. You'll get use to the spelling of her name eventually." Eventually, did I suspect some double meaning in her tone. "Then last, but not least." She added with a smile."We have my husband, Benjamin!" She exclaimed with a heat of pride and passion. .God. was it possible? No it can't be true. Strigoi actually marrying Strigoi. Never in my life had I heard such a thing. But I couldn't contain it any longer.

"Okay seriously, what is your deal? What is with all of you? Why are you so nice? Do you even know what a normal Strigoi is like? Do you even know what normal is?"

"Yes Rose, yes we do." A dark tone leaked into Mary's voice. But I wasn't finished,

"And why the hell do you keep calling me that?" I almost thought that Mary's eyes were going to blow out of her head when I said this. Not from anger, but from fear. Okay how the hell can a Strigoi be afraid, it's not like I was that much of a threat. Not that it would be hard to tear apart this group of Strigoi. For all I knew they were a bunch of Strigoi pacifist.

"That is your name isn't it?" Mary finally squeaked.

"Yeah, but what I meant was how do you know it?"

"Oh." She replied, calming down to the fact that she actually got my name right." Like I said before, you'll learn in time." She repeated the annoying quote once more.

"Then can I least learn something now?" I queried.

"Well sure, pop a squat." She said gesturing me to come join her on the couch. Instead, I silently protested and sat where I stood cradling my knees into my body.

"Okay then." Mary said now realized of how my actions were going to be."What do you want to know?"

"How do you know my damn name?!" I exclaimed.

"Next question." She murmured.

"What?" I asked feeling by blood boiling over on the inside of my veins.

She only shook her head "Anything but that one."

"Fine. What do you want with me?"

She smiled I guess to some secret plans she has for me, but what?"Well silly, you were practically frozen on a bench, like we were going to let you freeze to death while we have a warm place to crash here." Okay, so I wasn't expecting that for an answer.

"So can I leave whenever I want?" I examined. Seeing on how much leeway I could actually give this group.

Her face twisted with something undecided."But where ever will you go?" Was she stalling!

"You know, got places to go people to see." I countered

"Oh." Her face falling into a frown."Well can you at least stay here for a few more days… or weeks?" She mumbled the last part.

"Weeks!"

She turned sympathetic now."It's not what you think!"

"Oh really what do I think then."

She exhaled before replying."You think we're either going to kill you or turn you into a monster like us. You think that us making you stay here will go along with some evil plan that we concocted when we brought you here."She sighed."We're absolutely not like that. We don't kill people for pleasure. Heck we don't kill people at all. Most of the time we get some sort link of donated blood to package it and send it here."

"But why?" I blurted out.

She looked up at me. Whoa. If she could cry she would she bawling her pretty little eyes out."Because we don't want to be monsters."

"But I don't see how, it's your nature."

"Not anymore." She breathed."We're not like them we're a new form of Strigoi. A new breed."