I woke up in the morning to the smell of food. I sat up and saw breakfast was lying on the side. I looked out onto the balcony; it was bright outside. I must have slept in late. I ate the food and then got dressed. It took a lot of courage but I decided that it was safe to leave my room, and that Lex wouldn't be lurking around the corner. I slowly opened the door, the hallway outside was empty and quiet. I decided to go to the library, as ever, I didn't want to go outside, as much as I tried to be brave, I didn't think I could be brave enough to go out into the open. I found a book when I got to the library and sat in one of the corners of the room on the floor. I read until the light through huge window started to fade and then I made my way back to my room. I paused at a window on the first floor corridor to look outside. It gloomy and dull, it looked like a thunderstorm was about to happen. I quite liked thunderstorms although I wasn't too keen on the rain. I turned my head away from the overcast sky and carried on walking. I didn't get very far however, bumping into something and almost falling over backwards if the something didn't catch me. I looked up to see Alec. He looked troubled.

"There you are," he said.

"Why?" I asked looking puzzled.

"Come on," he replied leading me towards my room.

"Where were you?" he asked as we were walking.

"I was in the library."

"Figures," he mumbled.

We arrived at my room, Alec ushering me through the door. I sat on the edge of the bed; Alec stood standing.

"Rosie is staying here for a while," he said.

I was confused for a while, not remembering who Rosie was, and then it came to me, the ex vampire girlfriend of Alec's. I frowned.

"Is she dangerous?" I asked concerned.

"I don't think so, just jealous."

"Jealousy can put people in a different state of mind that could lead them to do anything," I retorted.

He frowned. "She won't hurt you," he said firmly.

"How long were you two together?" I asked, actually interested.

"Why are you jealous," he joked, slightly smiling.

"No, just curious."

"Fifty years, well forty nine to be exact."

"That's...long," I replied.

"Not really, not for vampires anyway. I was quite young to have my first lover. But we met through Maveric. Which is why she is here. Maveric is concerned about mine and yours relationship," he paused.

"What do you mean relationship?" I asked frowning.

"I mean you being my link, I haven't drank from you yet."

I shivered.

"Exactly, I don't think you're ready yet," he said. "He's worried because the Placing is soon, and I still haven't drank. If I don't like the taste, then I can find another link, but once the Placing has taken place, I'm forbidden to have another link, unless my old one dies."

"Is this what Maveric was saying to you after I left yesterday?" I asked, now what Maveric had said previously was a lot clearer then it was before.

He frowned. "Yes."

"What happens if you don't like the taste of my blood before the Placing?" I asked, not knowing if I wanted to know.

"Well you can't go home, so there are two options, you either have to stay here and become staff, or you're, well…"

I think he was hinting at death, but I wasn't sure.

"But if I didn't like you're blood, I would make sure you'd stay here."

"Great," I mumbled, thinking that maybe death was better than serving vampires for the rest of my life. "So where does Rosie come into this?"

"Maveric brought Rosie into the vampire world one hundred and fifty years ago. Which is how we met, Rosie is practically family to Maveric. Maveric set us up together. I broke up with her and didn't hear from her until the other day, which is when I'm sure she found about you as my link. Maveric I think is trying to rekindle an old flame."

"So he doesn't like me?" I asked referring to Maveric.

"Of course he does, he's just looking out for me, because it's getting very close to the Placing and if I don't drink your blood soon it will be too late to find a replacement. But I'm sure you'll be fine." He added as if reassuring me. "Rosie will always be there then incase of an emergency, but trust me, she's the last person I'd want to drink from, now anyway."

I'm not sure if that last comment was needed, it sounded as though it was there to make me jealous.

"When is she supposed to be here?" I asked.

"Anytime soon," he replied.

"Oh," was all I could say.

"Don't worry it will be fine, she'll probably be annoying me too much to even come and see you."

"Thanks," I said, not thankful at all.

Alec sighed.

"When's the latest you can drink without having to have Rosie as a link?" I asked.

He didn't answer, he stayed silent for a while before saying, "She's just got here."

It was my turn to sigh.

"You don't have to talk to her or even look at her while she's here," he said.

"How long is she here for?"

"Probably until I've drank from you and liked it, or until I find someone else."

"Great," I said.

"Look, I'd better go Darcy, if I don't go and see her; she'll come up here looking for me."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go! Hurry!" I said putting on a fake urgent voice.

He smiled and went to walk out of the room.

"Wait," I said, "One more question. Did you love her? Did you enjoy spending fifty years with her?"

He stopped and turned around, "I did, but we had our ups and downs and in the end it just wasn't working, she has the wrong type of personality for me I think."

With that he left, closing the door quietly behind him. Was it me, or did I actually care if he still had feelings for this vampire or not?