Three Months Later

Abbey stopped the SUV at the front of the building. My body never shook the way it did today. I was so nervous, my bladder was about to burst and my stomach was ready to show me my breakfast again. I studied the structure. It was large and mostly made of solid bricks. It stretched out and covered most of the flat land between the small rolling hills. I turned back and looked at Abbey.

She gave me a small smile and tenderly touched my cheek. "You don't have to do this, you know."

I shook my head. "It's my assignment. I can handle it."

She stroked my hair affectionately. "If things get out of hand, call me and we'll pull you out of there."

I sighed. "I have to get experience in the field. I hate staying back at headquarters and doing all the mundane stuff. I want to do this, more than anything."

Abbey nodded. "Just be careful, okay?"

"Always am," I replied.

I opened the door and stepped out into the brilliant morning light. After slamming the door and waving goodbye to Abbey one last time before she drove off, I faced the building and all the people buzzing around it. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and began up the flight of stairs leading to the front doors.

Humans my age stared at me with slight interest. I was officially Zoey Winters, the new student at Fairview High School. I glanced around at the other students weaving their way around other kids trying to get into the school, and I tried to blend in. But my new flawless skin, and perfectly streaked hair stood out amongst the crowd of pimple faced, rag-haired girls around my age. My slim body hid my abnormal strength and my self control kept the possibility of fangs or glowing eyes at a minimum.

I followed the signs that led to the front office. When I reached the counter, I saw an older woman with frizzy red hair and a pencil tucked behind her ear. Of all the movies I saw that were based on high school experiences so I could take this assignment, this woman reminded me most of the secretary from the movie Grease, my favorite.

"Excuse me," I began. She looked up and gave me a piercing look. "I'm the new transfer student. My name is Zoey Winters."

The woman huffed and turned in her swiveling chair to reach into a filing cabinet and pull out a manila folder. I waited patiently as she sorted through the file and found several sheets of paper and brought them over to me.

She set them on the counter and began to instruct me where to sign and which paper is which. "This is the map of the school. Your classrooms have been highlighted, so has your locker. This is the combo to get into your locker, which is located in yellow hall, or senior's hall. Your parents need to fill out this form and you need to return it by the end of the week. Understand everything? Good. Now first period starts in five minutes. I suggest you get acquainted with your locker and the map before it does."

I mumbled out a thanks and headed in the direction of yellow hall. I followed the map's instructions to where my locker was, dodging people in the process. Students gave me lingering glances when I reached my locker and confidently opened it using the combination written on the slip of paper. I through some binders inside and slammed it closed.

I studied the map for a minute while students' eyes studied me. I felt a presence to my right and waited for the person to speak up.

"Hello, Zoey," he spoke.

I froze. My mind groaned, and by body shook with anger. I looked up to see Caden standing next to me, his eyes piercing into mine. "What the hell are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "Same reason you're here."

I almost stomped my foot in frustration. "Abbey said I could do this alone!"

"She did. But I'm not about to let you."

I sighed. "You suck."

He chuckled and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. "You love me."

"Love you?" I laughed and playfully hit his chest. "You're delusional."

People watched as me and Caden flirted openly. They might think it odd that the two new students at school knew each other. But who cares? They didn't know the real reason why we were there.

I let Caden pull me into his chest and hug me tightly. It took me a month and a half until I allowed him to touch me. Another couple of weeks until he could kiss me, but by then I trusted him whole-heartedly. When I asked him why he was at the masquerade ball all those months ago when I first met him and he told me his name was Phillip, he told me he was there to locate me. He accomplished his mission and reported by to Abbey, who then sent in Cynthia, another undercover, to protect me. I haven't seen Cynthia since the day of the battle, but I've been told she's on another mission. Caden was assigned to be my "bodyguard", even though I ran away from him and his watchful eyes several times. I grew to care for him more and more every time he ran after me and tackled me to the ground, then dragging me back to headquarters. It soon became a game-one he kept winning.

I breathed in his scent. With my new heighten senses, I could detect his smell anywhere-soft lavender with a mix of soap and light cologne. I grew to crave his touch and tender kisses, but not while I was on an assignment.

I pulled away from him. "I can do this on my own."

Caden looked at me for a moment before leaning in and giving me a gentle kiss. When he pulled away, his purple eyes were sharp with determination. "I'm not going anywhere."

I pouted. "Pretty please?"

He kissed me again, this time a little more seductively. Oh, his ways of getting what he wants. In the distance, I heard the bell ring. We ignored it. He said in between kisses, "You're so cute when you whine."

I ended the kiss abruptly. I stepped away from him. My arms crossed over my chest. "I do not whine."

He motioned to me, amusement clear in his expression. "What are you doing now?"

I squinted at him. "I'm asking you to, please, let me do this on my own."

He stepped closer to me. "And I'm telling you, no."

I smiled. "I'll just run away from you."

His hands snaked out and grabbed my waist, pulling me into his chest once again. He leaned forward and put his forehead against mine. "I'll catch you."

"Not this time," I whispered against his lips.

"Always," was his answer before he captured my lips into a kiss once more.

Another bell rang, and we broke apart. I glanced at the clock that hung on the wall. "You made me late."

Caden chuckled and offered me his arm. "Milady, may I have the honor of escorting you to first period?"

I laughed, remembering when he first asked me to dance in the same fashion. "You may, handsome sir."

And so, with my knight in shining Aeropostal shirt and jacket, I began my experience in high school along with my first field operation.

I'd tell you what it is, but then again, you might know the target, or even worse, be the target.

My life after Drake and the manor was as expected; nightmares haunted my sleep, small glimpses of Drake's court in my peripheral, but they weren't really there. My life was turned upside down by a single vampire, but was then turned right side up by a Night Stalker, with his gentle embraces every time I woke screaming and his tender kisses whenever I felt the slightest bit lonely. I would never forget Drake and his . . . attitude toward me. When I have even the smallest need to drink, Blade gives me one of his medication devices. Because I am the only living (no pun intended) progeny of the Vampire King, Abbey and Blade share the idea that vampires might try to contact me and either try kill me or attempt to serve me. Either way, Abbey and Blade have tried to keep my whereabouts as secret as the Night Stalkers.

As I walked with Caden's arm draping over my shoulders, I smiled. Even though my life was in danger most of the time, and my past had a darkening shadow over my head, I was most happy in the presence of him, Caden Phillip Something-Of-German-Descent. I hugged him tighter and he kissed the top of my head.

"Thank you," I whispered to him later that night, as we laid in my bed after an episode of one of my nightmares.

He stroked my shoulder affectionately. "For?'

I touched his stubbly cheek. My thumb grazed his lips. "For pulling me out of the dark."

His hand captured mine and he kissed each fingertip. "I should be thanking you."

"What for?"

"Showing me that there is more to life than just killing bad vamps. For allowing me to care for you, hold you, kiss you. But most of all, for helping me find a reason to wake up every morning with a purpose."

I shifted my head on the pillow, trying not let any tears escape my eyes. "And what reason or purpose might that be?"

He pulled me closer and wrapped his arms around my body. "To love you more and more each day."

I smiled. My tears vanished behind my eyes as I cuddled closer to Caden. I pressed my nose to the crook of his neck. I rarely felt any need to drink blood, this Caden knew and was comfortable with me resting my face against his skin. I kissed the tender spot between his neck and shoulder. "I love you, too."

I hugged Caden closer to me and allowed the darkness of slumber pull me under its spell, all thoughts of Drake, the manor, the battle and the deaths of my friends faded away to give room for light and memories of those I love today.

The End . . .

. . . is only just the beginning.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Author's Final Note:

I will not be doing a sequel. I think that I would have really nowhere to go with it. I could say Drake comes back to life and haunts Zoey, blah blah blah. But I think I would end up on dragging it out more and more. I sincerely hope this ending was up to everyone's expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed writing this epilogue and the entire story. I hope you all enjoyed the story as much as I did. It will be terribly sad to let it go.

I hope you can share this with friends that enjoyed the movie or the storyline.

I reread the entire story earlier and realized that my writing as evolved over time and I might edit the earlier chapters. (I spelled wine wrong, for Christs' sake!) But then again, maybe not. (It brings character to it, I guess.)

Please, review or message me with any feedback or questions. If there are FAQ, I will upload another chapter to this titled "Frequently Asked Questions" and answer them all then.

If it pleases you, read my other stories located on my profile page.

Also on my profile page is the URL to my Facebook page. If you wish to friend me or simply talk to me, you can do so there. I also have a Twitter account, URL located on my FF profile page.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank each and every one of the fans. You have all been my inspiration and encouragement. I love all of you. Thank you so very much for reading and reviewing, and patiently-or impatiently for some-waiting for new chapters to be updated. I am so super sorry for delaying updates. (Computer viruses are a pain in my ass!)

With all my love,

Willow Jane

P.S. There is a fan who wished to write a fan fiction on "They Never Came". How awesome is that? Her name is Poetgirl616. She has my permission to write story. The fan fic is about Lee and Zoey! So please, go check it out! Thanks, readers!