DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING BUT MY OWN OC'S.

Chapter Six: The Bite

I woke a few hours later to an almost intolerable pain in my chest. It hurt to breathe! Feeling like I was choking on the air, I forced myself to my feet, trying to get to my parents' room. Last thing I remember, I fell down the stairs...

"Fight back!" Gregory yelled. "Make these mortals blood run cold!"

I exchanged looks with Tony as we raced into the crypt.

"And you could do it, Gregory," Frederick was saying back. "You're young, strong, and ruthless... and willing to risk a stake through the heart to prove it!"

"Better a stake than this prison!" Gregory shot back. I lost track of what they were saying as I saw a shiny object make it's way into their home.

A light!

All of a sudden, their argument turned into screams as the light came on, shining very brightly all around them. Tony picked up the first rock he found and launched it, hitting the light dead-on, causing it to go out. It was quickly retracted and we ran forward, myself catching Frederick before he could hit the floor. I slowly eased him to it, then stepped back.

"We found out about the coat of arms," Tony said hesitantly. The entire family looked at him. "It's Lord McAshton's, my Dad's boss. The stone could be at his house."

When he got no real reaction, he tried again.

"Did you hear me, sir?" he asked carefully.

"You just barely saved my life," Frederick said.

"He's very weak," Freda added. I exchanged looks with Tony and he smiled.

"I know just what you need!" he told them. Gregory and Freda were supporting Frederick while we walked.

"Where's Chrystal?" asked Rudolph. Tony and I both winced.

"She wasn't feeling well," I said, trying to stop it there. Tony, on the other hand, still hadn't learned when it was best to not speak.

"She woke us up in the middle of the night, falling down the stairs," he continued. "We took her to the hospital where she ended up staying the night. They said she had begun to freeze from the inside out. She's hyper-sensitive to temperature, you see. It was taking all she had just to keep her lungs and heart going. They don't know how she dropped so far in temperature so quickly, but-"

I covered Tony's mouth as I saw Rudolph's face.

"That was more than enough, Tony," I said softly. Regret was etched into every inch of Rudolph's face. "Rudolph, don't blame yourself."

"But I'm the reason she got so cold so fast!" he tried to argue, despair in his voice. I walked over and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, barely noticing that the entire procession had stopped as soon as Tony had begun talking.

"Ru," I said, turning his face to me. "Don't worry about it... If it's any consolation, she asked that we at least bring you to visit... She was asking for you all last night and all day."

He seemed to slowly absorb that, a goofy grin slowly making its way onto his face. I just shook my head with a smile, then continued to lead the procession to the barn. After they all had fed, Frederick looked over them. Gregory was in a straight-jacket and muzzle, something I giggled at. He shot me a dirty look. I just smirked.

"Be glad Chris isn't here or you'd never live this down," I told him.

"I need to find a place to hide you children," Frederick said suddenly, his voice heavy.

"You could stay at our house," Tony offered.

"We need darkness, dampness, and decay," Frederick continued dramatically. I rolled my eyes.

"Then you need our cellar," he told them with a victorious grin. Wordlessly, I picked up my phone and dialed home. Now, I wasn't near as good of a liar as Chris, but I hoped any story I put to this would hold.

"Hello?" came a raspy, barely distinguishable voice over the phone. I had it on speaker. You could hear every breath Chris took, including the effort it took just to take it.

"Chris!" I said, appalled. "You shouldn't be out of bed!"

She gave a soft chuckle, though even that sounded strained.

"Mom... and Dad... are... out and... asked me... to keep... an eye out... for you two... since I can at least... walk now without... dizzy spells," she explained slowly, taking a short, shaky breath every few seconds. "They're getting more... firewood... for my room."

"More?" Tony asked, incredulously. "But your room's all ready an oven!"

She chuckled again.

"Yes, Tony... more," she answered. "I'm supposed... to be kept... ungodly warm... until my organs... thaw again."

I saw Rudolph wince at that and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Well, I guess I don't need to worry about an excuse then," I told her. "Rookery now knows where the vamps live so they're gonna stay with us for a while."

"Sounds reasonable," was the reply. "Just... be careful... coming here... Rookery isn't... the only vamp hunter... out tonight, not... according to Mom... She called not... too long before you did... to tell me about... four other strange vehicles... like his wandering... through town... Be very careful."

Then, she fell into a coughing fit, her breaths weezing...

"Chris?" I asked urgently, worry filling my voice. I heard a low thump and went chalk white, especially when the phone line went dead. I looked at Tony and he looked at me, just as much fear in his own gaze.

"We'll go on ahead," Rudolph said, stepping up next to me. "We'll wait for you there."

Then he grabbed my hand and the two of us shot into the air. This was the fastest I'd ever seen Rudolph fly before...

We reached the house in record time and I burst through the front doors, running to the phone area. Chris was struggling to breathe, leaned up against the wall. She gave a rueful smile when she saw us.

"That... was fast," she said painfully. Rudolph didn't think twice as he picked her up in his arms, then swiftly carrying her upstairs to her room. He set her down on her bed and pulled the covers up over her. Feeling like I was intruding, I turned and waited by the door for the others to arrive.

I smiled weakly up at Rudolph as he gave a very soft, almost forced smile to me.

"How are you feeling?" he asked. I gave a soft laugh.

"I don't think... okay... would be the... right term," I told him. A real smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. I swallowed painfully, looking at a wall in my room. "I... didn't really... think you would... come."

"Why wouldn't I?" he asked, seemingly offended. "You're my friend, are you not?"

I gave a weak nod, looking at him.

"Then I highly doubt I'm gonna deny a personal request for me," he said with a cheeky grin. Using all my strength, I shoved him off the bed, then collapsed back to my pillows with some laughter escaping me at the surprised look on his face. Then I shook my head and relaxed again, looking at him with a sad smile.

"What's wrong?" he asked. I sighed.

"Ru... the doctors predicted that... I'll die about four hours from now," I answered heavily. "My organs are far too... damaged to be repaired... not even by surgery or transplants."

He looked at me in horror, then in regret.

"It's all my fault!" he groaned, getting up and sitting on the edge of the bed. He had his head in his hands, his body shaking with his remorse. I gave a soft, sad smile.

"There's just some things... we cannot change," I told him. Then, slowly, his head lifted up out of his arms and he looked at me with a determined look.

"Yes I can," he answered, getting up and leaning over me. "Do you trust me?"

I nodded.

"Good," he answered, then leaned down, going towards my neck. I felt a tiny prick like a needle, then... Then I felt an unnatural arousal tear through me. My hands went to his body, pulling him to me as my own body arched against his. A very, very soft moan escaped my lips as he drank from me. Colors of unspeakable variety flooded my eyes...

Then, he pulled away, licking my blood from his lips with a puzzled look. The longer I lay there, the more I felt tired.

"Rest," he told me. "It will all be over soon."

Then he went and closed every drape I had, making the room pitch black. I heard the door open and close, telling me he had left. Slowly, I let the darkness take me...