"What the-?" I sat up suddenly. I was very uncomfortable. I wondered how I'd even managed to fall a sleep in such an uncomfortable spot.

I looked around. It was dark, but there was a small amount of light coming from a crack in a door. Instinctively, I walked over to the door and tugged on it. "Damn it." I muttered. I tried pulling harder.

"It's not going to work. Trust me." Came a voice from a dark corner. The light didn't reach that far. I backed against the wall, frightened. I was locked in a room with someone I couldn't see. A male someone.

"Who- who's there?" I asked. I tried to sound calm and fearless, but I failed.

"Emma?" The voice asked. How did he know my name? "It's Richard."

"Oh, god, Richard!" I said, and threw myself at the shadows where he sat. He wrapped his arms around me. "I'm so glad you're okay. And I'm so sorry that you're here. It's all my fault."

Richard pushed a strand of hair back from my face. I had no idea how he saw it, in this dim light, but he did. "It's not your fault. I don't blame you at all." He said, and soothingly rubbed my back.

"But, wait... what about Jason?" I asked, standing up again. "Did they bring him in? Or did... did she... Kat. She was trying to-"

"I'm fine." Came a voice from the other corner. I looked over towards is and squinted. Jason.

I would have launched myself at him, too, but suddenly everything felt awkward. Being locked in a strange room forgotten, I realized that I had given both Richard and Jason much reason to think I was interested in them both. Which I was. I think.

But Jason didn't actually care, anyways, right? It's not like he expected me to be with him, not after what he said.

"I need to get out of here." I said, and started pacing. "There's no way out, obviously, but they have to feed us, right?"

"Yes." Richard replied.

"How long have you been in here?" I asked him.

"Since that night that you sang at Common Grounds. Right after I dropped you off I was attacked." He answered.

"And no one's been looking for you? You're the mayor!" I said, shocked.

"Everyone thinks I went to some conference. I was supposed to, but I decided it'd be more fun to hang out in a dark room and play prisoner." He said bitterly.

"Do you know when they feed us? And who does it?" I asked, suddenly coming up with a plan.

"Kat usually comes in, but I have no idea how to tell when her next visit will be. Not really any ways to gauge time in here." He said.

Voices outside the door caught my attention. I shushed everyone.

"She's getting stronger." Kat said angrily. I must have really hurt her when I scratched her. "If you're not careful, she might figure out her full potential before you can stop her."

"I have her completely under my control, thank you. Do you really think that I can't control one little human child?" Bishop asked, his voice full of scorn.

"But that's the problem!" Kat shouted. Her anger was making her carelessly loud. "She's not human. You made sure of that! And once she feeds, she's going to be much more than just half a vampire. And she'll be strong. Maybe even stronger than Amelie. You know that!"

Feeds? Once I what?"

Bishop laughed. It held no humor or joy in it. "You know she's pathetically good. Do you honestly believe that even if she had the urge, she would actually feed from someone?" He paused, and I imagined Kat was wildly shaking her head. "Exactly. There's nothing to fear."

"Fine." Kat snapped. "But next time you want someone to drive her around town, I'm not doing it. Do you see these scratches? They're not healing! That shouldn't even be possible. You made a freak. And she's strong enough to get you back for that."

"How dare you talk to me like that." Bishop said. He didn't shout, but calmly spoke. "If you ever treat me as if I am less intelligent than you again, I would be sure to teach you that you are very, very wrong."

I shuddered. The menace in his voice, even though it wasn't even directed at me, was frightening.

"That's it, then." Jason said. Richard and I pushed away from the door.

"What's it?" Richard asked. He sounded annoyed at Jason, but also curious.

"We'll have to give her our blood. It's the only way any of us will make it out of here." Jason said, his tone implying that Richard was obviously an idiot.

"I can't. I can't do that." I said, a knot in my stomach. "Blood makes me sick."

"But you're part vampire. It won't taste like blood, it will taste... well, I'm not sure, exactly." Richard said, getting on board with Jason's idea. "Do you want to save us?"

I nodded. Of course I did. It was my fault they were in here, and I would get them out. But I couldn't do it. I just couldn't.

"I never said you had a choice." Jason said darkly. I felt him move beside me. He slipped something out of his sock. It reflected the little light in the room.

"You've had that this whole time? Why didn't you use it?" Richard asked suddenly.

"Because it won't do anything against them. You should know that by now." Jason said. He touched the blade to his wrist.

"Don't!" I shouted. I pushed the knife away, but Jason fought me at the same time, and I ended up slicing it into him. A thin line of blood appeared on his wrist.

I watched, mesmerized, at a single line of it dripped from the wound to the floor. "Are you okay?" I asked, not taking my eyes off his wrist. I knew I should look for something to cover the wound with, but I didn't move. Couldn't move.

"I'm telling you to do this, Emma. It won't hurt me." He said, but I could tell he was lying. I knew it would hurt him. And I just couldn't.

Something small inside me asked why that was so impossible. It was in my blood, right? And I'd be doing it to save everyone. I had to save them, and only I could do it.

I took Jason's arm and lifted his dripping wrist up to my mouth. I hesitated. So gross. So gross, I though, while I put my mouth over the wound. Was I supposed to bite? Isn't that what vampires did? But he was already bleeding, so that seemed pointless. Instead, I just ran my tongue over the bleeding line.

It didn't taste horrible. It was slightly sweet, but salty. Not coppery the way your own blood tastes when you bite your tongue. Part of me was repulsed, but a large part started sucking more blood out of the wound. I shut down at the point. I stopped paying attention to what I as doing and pictured shopping with my mother in New York. We picked out a lot of pretty dressed and shoes. I loved shopping with my mom. I pictured our old apartment, and the way we had sat on the couch eating ice cream after mom had a break up with one of her ex's.

Suddenly something pulled me back to reality. Richard. He had my arm and was dragging me away from Jason.

Jason was lying limp on the floor. I couldn't see his chest moving in the dim light.

Oh, god. I'd killed Jason.

Short chapter, but there will be another one coming soon.

I think this story will probably have a maximum of 25 chapter. Possibly more, but not sure. I might do a sequel, but first I really want to do a fanfic from Eve's point of view, set before Glass House. I love Eve. Anyone else think it's a good idea? Get back at me with a review! :)