Chapter 5

The next morning the Sands family sat at the large dining table, all staring at the tray Madame Varcolac placed in the centre. Madame Varcolac had already placed the sausages on the tray and was now pouring the plate of cooked bacon on to it.

"This looks great!" David smiled, handing the tray of meat to his blonde son.

Hunter smiled, grabbing hold of the tray, "Did you guys hear anything weird last night?"

Jordan, who was staring at the meat, turned to her brother, "Not me, I slept like a dog."

Hunter paused before putting some bacon on his own plate, "You mean log."

Jordan smiled, going back to staring at the meat, "Yeah, that's what I said." She licked her lips as the meat passed right in front of her face, her eyes going slightly cross-eyed as it did.

Madame Varcolac, who took the tray from Hunter, looked at Jordan suspiciously, "'Vhat is wrong? You don't like porridge?"

"No!" Jordan protested loudly, "I love porridge!" She then proceeded to take a large spoonful, "Mmm, yummy!" But as soon as she did the tray of meat had once again landed in front of her and she found herself staring at it longingly. She watched as if transfixed as her father ate some sausage. Jordan mentally shook herself, "Hey Dad! Tell us about your date!"

Hunter, who was once again having trouble with the fact his father was dating, protested, "It wasn't a date!"

David nodded, a hint of a smirk on his lips, "It was just business."

"Sure, it was Dad."

"Alright," David paused, "To tell you the truth," but Jordan was once again transfixed at her dad cutting into his sausage, "It was great to go out with an attractive woman."

A long line of drool slipped past Jordan's lips, making Hunter stare at her in slight disgust. "Dude! You're drooling!"

Jordan snapped out of her trance once again, wiping her lips. "What?! I don't drool!"

Madame Varcolac stared at Jordan in suspicion.

David, who seemed to have missed the small interruption, "Well, we did talk about the castle and all, but she did seem pretty interested in your dear old dad." He gave his daughter a knowing look, which she missed as she was staring at her napkin in slight confusion.

"Who is interested in you Mr. Sands?" Hunter didn't even jump as Lillian appeared behind him. She gracefully pulled out her chair and sat on it, pushing herself in (closer to Hunter than her chair originally was).

"Paulina Von Ekberg." Hunter stated, through a mouth full of bacon. He swallowed, turning to Madame Varcolac, his arm brushing Lillian's. "Madame V? Where will you live after we sell the castle?" And just like that Lillian's hand was tightly gripping Hunters, not that he minded in the least.

Madame Varcolac had an interesting reaction too. She swiftly put down her teacup and her face, which was usually emotionless, took on a slight depressed expression.

David was still eating, "I'm sure she has some family she could stay with." He shrugged, taking a bite of his scrambled eggs.

"Dragonmire was my family." Madame Varcolac revealed.

"What about your parents?" Hunter asked Lillian, "Will you go back to them?"

Lillian shrugged, a sad expression, "They're still in Africa and Dragonmire was kind to take me in as well. He was truly family to us."

"Guys," David sighed, "We'll figure this out, alright? We wont leave anyone out on the street, okay?"

Madame Varcolac's eyes once again trailed over to Jordan who was staring at the tray of meat (again) and was licking her lips in hunger. Hunter spoke up, "So, how did Uncle Dragonmire die anyway?" Madame Varcolac stood silently and swiftly, 'accidentally' dropping her plate, which Jordan caught with amazing reflexes.

David looked towards his son, not noticing the exchange between his daughter and the housekeeper. "Hunter, I'm sure Madame V doesn't want to talk about that."

Hunter, who did notice the exchange looked slightly shocked at his sister, who had put the plate on the table. He turned towards the girl sitting the other side of him, who was actually still holding his hand, to see if she noticed.

But by the way she was staring at him, with a look of slight disbelief, he figured yes.

Madame Varcolac, who was pretending not to notice the exchange between her niece or the young boy (or the fact they were still holding hands) turned, "Is okay. Dragonmir died in a horrible hunting accident."

"What was he like?" He paused, a large smirk coming to his face, "Was he like Dr. Frankenstein?" Lillian looked over to him in amusement, something Madame Varcolac did not share.

"Dragonmir vas brilliant man, with kind heart." Madame Varcolac then picked up her plate, and went on to the kitchen.

There was a sad silence, David and Hunter looking as if they were trying to imagine Dragonmire, Lillian actually remembering Dragonmire and Jordan staring at the meat with a look of want. Suddenly Jordan slammed her hands down on the table, making all sitting at it jump. "Dad!" She had a large, excited smile on her face, "You know what you should do? Bring Paulina flowers, women love that stuff!"

"Or chocolates and candy." Lillian offered sarcastically, something in which only Hunter seemed to pick up on. Hunter chuckled, squeezing her hand slightly.

"Uh, okay." David said, looking towards his son who suddenly looked a lot less happy. Standing up, David said to Hunter, "Plate?" He nodded and picked up not only his own, but Lillian's once he saw she was finished.

"Why thank you, good sir."

"'Welcome, kind lady."

The three of them went into the kitchen, leaving Jordan alone to finish her porridge. She looked at the tray of meat wistfully, before turning to check they had gone.

When Madame Varcolac came in later to clean up, Jordan, the sausages and the bacon were gone. However, the porridge remained.

Later on, the Sands family had once again made it into the town. David stood in front of Properties by Paulina, lowers in hand. "Paulina? It's David." He knocked twice, to receive no answer.

"Hunter, you're not gonna like anyone Dad goes out with." Jordan stated, smiling and waving her arms as the two siblings walked.

"That's not it." Hunter denied, shaking his head.

Jordan smiled, turning to Hunter, pulling his face closer and shaking his shoulders, "Sure it is. It's natural!" She slapped his cheeks, touching his nose, "But it's okay! We'll get passed it."

"What are you doing?" The two turned towards Lillian, who stood in a to the left of Jordan, next to a flower cart. She walked over to them, which is when they (Hunter) noticed that she was wearing a dress. It was a dark red, with black out lines and on her feet were a pair of black converse.

Jordan shrugged, answering her question, "Nothing." She turned back to Hunter pulling his head towards her, feeling his face and messing his hair, "My sweet, sweet, little brother!" Jordan paused to look at his face before going back to feeling his face, "Everything will be okay!"

Hunter, who was confused and trying to free himself from his sister's hold, reached out, grabbing Lillian's hand. "Ugh," Hunter groaned as Jordan continued to feel his face, "What are you doing?"

Jordan, who was creepily happy smiled, looking up to the sky, "I have no idea!" She paused, sniffing the air, "Do you smell that?"

Lillian was pulled into Hunter side, something in which an elderly couple across the way smiled at, "Smell what?" The asked in unison.

Jordan's smile grew, "Cotton candy!" Which was shortly followed by her running off to find the source.

"That's not right." Lillian commented as they turned a corner, seconds later. Jordan was staring intently at a small, blonde girl who did indeed have cotton candy.

Hunter watched in silence, his arm tightening around Lillian's waist his only sign of acknowledgement.

Jordan turned to them, "This place is amazing!" She walked ahead of the two, twirling as she talked, "The costumes, the shops, the people! It's so beautiful!" She looked off into the distance.

Lillian shared a look with the boy holding her, before turning to the older teen, "Are you okay, Jordan?"

Jordan spun around fast, her arms latching onto Hunter's shoulders, causing Hunter to drop his hold on the other girl. "I don't know! Do I look okay?" Before Hunter could answer, with what probably would have been a sarcastic answer, Jordan turned her head, unknowingly hitting both of the other teens with her hair, "Let's go to the park!"

"What park?" Hunter questioned.

Jordan looked at him, "Can't you hear it?"

"Well, no-" but Jordan had already taken off again. "Jordan!" Hunter sighed and grabbed Lillian's hand to go after his sister.

"Oh my gosh! Look at all the grass! I love grass!" Jordan cried, running forward excitedly.

Hunter looked at Lillian with anger and confusion, "What? No you don't!" He shouted turning to his sister who was now sitting on said grass with about four dogs, "You're allergic to grass… And dogs!"

It was while Hunter was trying to get through the pack of dogs that surrounded Jordan (while Lillian looked on with amusement), that Goran rode past on his bicycle. Jordan's head snapped up and she shouted in glee, "GORAN!"

Which caused Goran to fall of his bicycle, and into the bush. Jordan ran up, hurdling the bush, "Hey you!" She held out her hands, pulling him up with any problems.

"Jordan." Goran panted slightly, "You are very strong."

Jordan smiled, "Thanks, what're you doing?"

"I was delivering," Goran replied, "And now I must tenderise."

Jordan got a dazed look on her face, which was accompanied by a smile. Hunter, who had finally broken free from the pack of dogs, stood behind the bush Jordan had previously jumped with Lillian. "Goran, I've been thinking… Maybe I was wrong?" Hunter turned around to stare behind him, before looking back to his sister with a heavy look of confusion on his face.

Goran smiled also, "About 'vhat?"

Not missing a single beat, Jordan spoke. "You know at first I thought this whole vegetarian-butcher thing was gonna be too weird, but now I'm thinking not so much!"

"Really?" Goran asked quietly, trying to completely understand what Jordan had just said.

"Really!" Jordan smiled sweetly, Lillian was probably the only one to notice the slight smirk on her face, "So if the offer is still open, I'd like to take you up on that moonlight tour."

Hunter interrupted loudly, "You would?" Lillian smiled, putting her hand on Hunter's arm gently.

"Quiet Hunter!" Jordan said through clenched teeth, before turning back to Goran, "So… are we on?"

Goran nodded quickly, "Yes, yes! 'Ve are on."

Jordan smiled again, "Yay!" And then she did something so out of character Hunter actually thought she could have been possessed. "Grrr." She growled at him, hand motions and all. Goran smiled, before grabbing his bike and riding off with Jordan staring at him the whole time.

Hunter, who was still stood to the side, silently mouthed 'what' to Lillian who shrugged, but still with a large smile on her face.

As Jordan went to adjust the glasses on her face, she noticed that they were clearer without them. Acting as if nothing happened she turned back to her little brother with a smile on her face, "What? He's cute!"

Hunter was now frustrated, even a little more so as Lillian nodded, clearly agreeing with his sister. "He's a butcher!"

Jordan smiled, once again looking a little dazed, "Yeah." As she walked off Hunter turned to Lillian.

"You think he's cute too?"

Lillian smirked, turning her head towards him, "Not as cute as I think you are." She playfully kissed his cheek (something made both of them go slightly red) before winking and trailing off with Jordan.