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Returning

When my brothers and I got back to the cave that night, I couldn't sleep. When everyone else had gone to sleep for the day, I was still awake, pacing the floor and thinking of Allan's questions.

I hadn't seen the alleged older brother that night, but the dreamy look in Star's eyes couldn't be ignored, nor could the slightly jealous, slightly curious waves coming off of David. I had asked Marko who they'd met that night, and he had confirmed my suspicions. My brothers had met with a boy, around 17 years old, who had shown interest in Star…which explained both Star's and David's expressions.

Allan had said that he and Edgar had wanted the older brother to stay away from my brothers…but could I pull him and Star apart? Once a vampire fell in love, it usually lasted for life (which I didn't usually like to think about because it made me think of Edgar and how much I loved him.) And humans were naturally drawn to vampires because of their beauty and ability to seduce their prey…that's what had happened to Star and David, but while Star's attachment to David had been severed when she'd Changed, David's had increased.

I didn't think I would be able to keep the older brother away, but I would try…and as for Allan's other question, I definitely was not sure what I was going to do. Of course I wanted to help them; it was what I wanted most of all, and it was making my decision all the more painful! But I was still unsure about my commitment to abstaining from human blood, and that right there was reason enough to be careful of what I decided. If I hurt Edgar or Allan…I shuddered at the thought.

Eventually, bright light seeped in through the opening of our hotel-cave and I realized that it must be around noon by now. I wondered what the Frog brothers were doing then…what they were thinking about…Were they wondering if I would call them to help? Were they were preparing for major vamp sabotage? Panic at that thought made my heart flutter anxiously. They couldn't do it alone…and it was my responsibility to protect them. I knew that now, and I had known it all along, I suppose. It was probably one of the reasons I couldn't keep the steel over my heart, couldn't let them go, couldn't forget them. And it was certainly why I had left them in the first place. I had to protect them from myself, but now, with them in new danger, I had to put that issue aside to protect them from the more immediate possibilities.

Those thoughts passed through my brain in a matter of seconds, and before I knew it, I was dressing in the "go-out-in-the-daylight-just-in-case-I-have-to" clothes that I had stolen from my house a week ago. I donned the large black hoodie, put on a baseball cap and then placed the hood over the hat. I then slipped on my long jeans and my Vans, then finally slipped on my long gloves and put my sunglasses on. I then headed out into the daylight for the first time in weeks, being careful that the shadow of my hood and hat lay over my face, shielding me from the deadly light of the sun.

As I flew out over the sea, I marveled at how powerfully gorgeous the world was. For the first time in a long time, I was seeing the daytime version of what had become so familiar and it was amazing. I could see down so deep into the depths of the ocean, I could see every particle floating around in the ever-churning waves, and every creature living in those waves. The sunlight, the deadly dangerous sunlight, was even beautiful as it glinted in white-hot sparkles off the glistening waves.

When I landed, I was amazed at how different the day smelled from the night. The day was more alive, more enticing, and definitely more confusing. There were so many smells that bombarded my enhanced senses that it made my head reel for a moment. After I had marveled at the new world around me, I remembered the task at hand and headed off in the direction of the comic book store.

I had forgotten how busy and crowded the Boardwalk was in the day. Humans cluttered the streets, drawn to the bright, lively lights of the amusement park rides like moths. Everything familiar hit me in a wave- the heat and the smell of hot tar rising from black pavement, and the sweet scents of cotton candy and popcorn combined to create a rich aroma that made my senses tingle. The bright sound of laughter and seagulls and little kids splashing around in the water, everything! It was so familiar that it was heartbreaking, and for a moment I was struck with a homesickness so deep and harsh that I stopped breathing in that moment.

"Megan?" a voice called from a little ways away and I whipped around to face the source of the sound, jolted from my nostalgia as if someone had splashed Holy water on my face. When I saw the face peering at me from the crowd, it was as if someone had shocked me with ten thousand volts of pure joy. Edgar!

I raced over to him, forgetting, in that moment, all my fears of bloodlust because, in that moment, all I felt was my overwhelming love for him. He caught me in his arms and spun me around and it felt as though the steel that had encased my heart, cracked last night by Allan's pleading, melted away.

The feel of Edgar's skin on mine, so soft, made me tingle. I breathed in his sweet smell hungrily, burying my face in his chest- the unexplainable sweet and smoky scent of burning flowers, or of the bark of apricot trees (if you've ever smelled that), the scent that made him Edgar. My Edgar.

"Edgar, Edgar!" I murmured, nuzzling his neck. I didn't even care that I could hear the blood rushing through his veins, or smell it beneath his skin. It didn't bother me, and I hoped that it wasn't just because of my pure happiness at seeing him. I hoped that my sudden aversion to human blood would stay.

"Megan, you came!" he murmured, sounding surprised. "Yeah, of course I did. I couldn't leave you and your brother to face this alone," I replied, emotion coloring my voice like a rainbow. Edgar grinned down at me and I smiled back at him. "C'mon, let's get you inside. I don't want you out in the sun," he said after an endless moment of staring into each other's eyes. With that he led me through the crowd, lacing his fingers in mine.

Once we had reached the comic book store, I was surprised at Allan's reaction. "Megan!" he cried, racing over to hug me tightly just as he had last night. And, just like last night, he let go immediately, remembering my bloodlust, even though it still didn't bother me.

"Jeez, Allan, you act like you haven't seen me in years," I muttered and he grimaced. "Yeah, well, you're kinda like my sister and I worried about you while you were gone…" he growled and I smiled at him. "Aww, you worried about me?" "Not as much as Edgar. At least I knew you could take care of yourself. He thought he wouldn't see you again," Allan replied, indicating his brother with a glance in his direction.

I raised an eyebrow at Edgar and he shrugged sheepishly. "I worry," he admitted. "What an understatement," Allan muttered. "You know I can take care of myself, right? I have vampire powers now," I told Edgar and he nodded. "Yeah, I know…I just love you, and I couldn't stand living without you at my side," he replied, cupping my face in the palm of his hand. I shivered and stroked his hair, each of us drawing closer to the other.

"I felt the exact same way," I murmured, breathing the words up his throat to his mouth. My lips lingered there for a moment until Edgar pressed his down onto mine, soft and sweet. His tongue slid into my mouth as his sweet breathe filled my throat.

"Oh, jeez, would you guys save that for the bedroom? Please?" Allan yelled, making both of us jump apart. "Oh, calm down, Al, I haven't seen her in two weeks!" Edgar growled and then blinked, turning to me. "You kissed me," he said and I nodded. "Well, yeah, I love you. Didn't you hear me?" I replied, surprised at his reaction. Was he freaked out that he'd kissed a vampire?

"Yeah…but the last time I saw you, I couldn't even hug you because of your bloodlust," he explained. His eyes widened and I was dismayed to see him move an inch away with his next words. "You've fed, haven't you?" I sighed and nodded. "But not on human blood. I only hunt animals. I've never tasted the blood of a human before," I assured him. Relief was clear in his eyes, but the euphoric mood had dissolved and we had returned to reality.

"So, are we going to discuss this new problem, or what?" Allan demanded and I nodded. I was slightly surprised at how swiftly we all fell back into our old mannerisms- Allan was bossy and annoying at times, Edgar was serious but sweet. They didn't seem bothered by my vampirism, even now, after I'd told them I drink blood. I slipped off my jacket as we began our discussion. I had forgotten how hot the days could get here.

"Okay, first of all, are you able to get the kid's older brother away from your friends?" Allan asked and I shrugged, uncertain. "I don't know. It seems that Star- that's one of my friends- has fallen in love with him, and when vampires fall in love, it's usually for life," I explained, feeling my gaze travel over to Edgar.

"Well, that's not good…" Allan muttered. "Yeah, and the brother seems to have feelings for Star, too. Ties between humans and vampires can last until the human dies, and sometimes forever, in the vampire's case, as long as the bloodlust doesn't get in the way," I went on. "Is there anyway to break the tie?" Edgar murmured, and I saw something flash in his eyes- fear? Anxiety? Was he worrying that our tie could be broken?

"I'm not sure. My other friend- David- and Star had a tie sort of like this when Star was human. But then David Changed her and Star forgot her feelings for David." I didn't add that David still loved Star. Somehow it seemed too private.

"Well, if we can't get the kid's brother away from your friends, at least try to prevent him being Changed. We can't afford another vampire running loose, no offense," Allan said. I shrugged. "It's okay, I understand."

"Alright, now let's talk about this bout of new murders," Allan began but I interrupted him. "Uh, I think I know who's responsible." "Well, who?" he demanded. I sighed and launched into my story. "There's a vampire named Damien who hates my friends, so he's gathering together a coven of vampires and werewolves so he can destroy us, and since there's a lot of them in the area they are probably causing all the murders," I said in one breath.

When the Frog brothers were silent, I wondered if they'd understood what I'd said since I'd been talking so fast. "Did you get all that?" I asked and they both nodded. "Uh, how many vampires and werewolves are coming here?" Allan asked quietly. "I don't know, more than my coven, that's for sure." "And how many are in your coven?" Edgar inquired, equally as quiet as his brother. "Um, seven…" I replied.

"WHAT?" they both yelled at the same time. "What? What's wrong?" I demanded, alarmed by their reaction. "You mean to tell us that there are going to be more than seven vampires and werewolves in this town, fighting with the ones that are already here?" Allan hissed. "Yeah…" "Holy hell!" he cried, throwing his hands into the air. "But don't worry, we can fight them off," I assured them.

"No. I don't want you fighting; it's too dangerous," Edgar growled and I glared at him. "Excuse me? Before I became a vampire, you didn't have any problem with me helping you hunt vampires," I retorted. "That was different," he said, appearing to struggle for an excuse. "I didn't know that I loved you then."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, sure, okay. All I am saying is that if I could survive being attacked by vampires, then I can survive this too," I insisted. "You got turned into a vampire when you were attacked!" Edgar yelled. "Okay, bad example…but if any of us can survive a day out there-'' I growled, throwing my arm toward one of the windows to indicate the Boardwalk outside- "then we can fight!" Edgar and Allan just stared at me, their mouths agape, their eyes wide with shock.

"What?" I asked self-consciously. "Your arm…" Allan murmured. "What about my arm?" I growled impatiently, glancing down at my arm, which was still stretched out to indicate the outside world. I gasped. My arm was stretched out right in a pool of sunlight that filtered in through the window. But my arm wasn't burning. It wasn't on fire, and it didn't even feel uncomfortable. Just warm.

"Oh my God…" I murmured, pulling my arm back toward my body and inspecting it. Nothing seemed to be wrong. "Uh, did you just stick your arm in sunlight and it not burn up?" Edgar asked me and I nodded, appalled.

"Come with me," Allan hissed, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the front door. "Allan. What are you doing?" Edgar demanded, his voice thick with suspicion and worry. "I'm testing this out," he informed his brother quietly as we both stepped out into the sunlight. Fear quivered through me- what if it had just been a fluke when we were inside?

"Hey! Allan, don't do this!" Edgar cried- it seemed he'd had the same thoughts as me. But if there was anything to be worried about, it was too late. The sunlight fell down onto my skin in warm rays…but nothing happened. It felt a bit hotter on my skin that it had when I was human, but I didn't burst into flames.

"Holy shit…" I whispered, turning my eyes up in the direction of the high sun. Joy filled my heart- so I really wouldn't have to give up the daytime! That had been one of the regrets I'd had…I'd always loved the sunlight and the warmth, although the nighttime seemed more natural to me now.

"Yes!" Allan cheered, grinning from ear to ear. Edgar just stood in the doorway of the comic book store, frozen, a look of shock on his face. Slowly, I a smile unfurled across my lips. "Well this is awesome," I murmured. Edgar didn't smile back. His eyes were flaming with anger, and the anger was directed at Allan.

"How could you do that?" he hissed at his brother, stalking over and towering above the dark-haired Frog. "What?" Allan asked, confused. "How could you drag her into the sunlight? She's a fuckin vampire, Allan!" he roared, and several people passing by gave us all strange looks.

"Hey, she didn't get hurt, now did she?" Allan growled as his brother shoved him. "Yeah, well what if she had, huh? What would you have done then?"

I watched with surprise until anger at their stupid fighting filled me. "Stop it! Stop it!" I screamed and they both screeched to a halt, turning to stare at me. I realized self-consciously that my voice had projected outward louder than I had yelled before. Maybe it was a physical power that vampires received when they were Changed- the ability to speak of what they want and get it to happen through their own body language. Maybe that's how we seduce our victims, I thought dryly to myself and then turned back to the brothers, who were still staring at me.

"Alright, you two, listen. We can't be yelling and fighting with each other when there are more important matters at hand!" I barked and they both nodded obediently. "Alright, now let's go back inside and try to figure out what we're going to do," I ordered and they nodded again, following me back inside. Somehow I knew that returning to the comic book store now would be like returning to my old life.

I didn't care now.

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