Rane and Talon lectured me about what I was doing. But I was firmly convinced that I was doing what had to be done. Rane had taken some pills and dropped off

into a deep sleep. Good, he would listen to my thoughts while I did some planning. I was on my way downstairs when someone grabbed me and pulled me into the closet below the stairs.

Talon.

We crushed closer than ever now. "What, are we making this our routine?", I asked him. He didn't reply. I pushed him aside to leave but he didn't budge.

"Going to see Rane?", he snapped, an undercurrent to his emotions.

I just looked at him, hurt that he had assumed that. He sighed and apologized since that was uncalled for.

"But what you're doing to Stephanie and Dex is wrong. They don't deserve it. Why are you being like this?", he asked.

"Well, I loved them but they didn't love me. So I'm moving on", I spoke tonelessly.

"You think they don't LOVE you?", Talon snapped.

"I know they don't", I stated.

Talon gripped me and pulled me closer, probably to intimidate me. But it had the opposite effect; my heart began to hammer ten times harder and faster. Talon heard it and groaned. "I hate it when that happens", he muttered and dropped his hands.

"So why do you think they don't love you. They didn't mean to avoid you. They're in love, that's all", he spoke coldly but his voice never failed to excite my heart, it began to race. Talon's face clouded. There was emotion I couldn't place.

"Well it's not the love. Trust me", I said. "I'm in love too. But I never let love come in the way of Stephanie and Declan".

"Y-y-you're in…l-love?", there were so many emotions washing over those words that I couldn't even process them.

"Uh, I-uh- I guess I am", I looked down, blushing.

The expression on his face puzzled me.

"Who's the lucky guy?", he managed but emotion colored his voice. He was whispering, like he was about to cry. Like he was terribly unhappy.

"Rane?", he asked softly, almost as if he was bracing himself to hear it.

"Oh my god! I just don't believe this! Are you seriously asking me who I love?", I shouted. I cut him off before he spoke, "I can't even believe that we are talking about this. I mean, I forgave you after everything you did to me. I told you I loved you, you compelled me to forget, then I saw it, I became a zombie, I almost killed myself and you saved me, you tried to commit suicide for hurting me by starving yourself and I forgave you in a heartbeat. Now you're asking me who I LOVE?"

Oops the wall I had built to suppress my feeling crumpled to dust.

"Do you know how it feels like to know that even if you hurt me today I could never stay mad at you? I would take you back at once. Knowing that I would and could never stay away from you? Knowing what effects you have on me? Knowing that I would stay with you no matter how much you hurt me. And I could give my life for you without a second thought. Do you know how it feels to stand before you feeling like this? I LOVE YOU, damn it!", I screeched and sobbed uncontrollably.

I began to sink to the ground, my face in my hand when Talon gently pulled me up. I flinched from his touch.

He pulled me into his chest where I sobbed my heart out. No matter the extreme diplomatic, practical person that I was, when it came to the matters of the heart, you always turn gooey.

I didn't know how long I had been sobbing because I knew at that moment, that I wanted to run away. Talon knew that I loved him more that he could ever imagine. And he would never feel the same way about me.

I lifted my head and tried to run away but Talon caught me.

"Where are you going?", he whispered. I pulled against him but I gave up and sighed. He sighed too, his cool breath fanning my over heated face.

Talon leaned into me, brushing his lips to mine. I instinctively froze. But my insides were churning. Did he feel the same way about me? I sooooo wanted to kiss him back. But I stood rigid.

"Don't fight it, Damien. Don't", he said against my lips. I tried to stop, believe me, but I couldn't. I gave in almost willingly and returned every bit of his passion.

I had lost track of time and when we broke apart, gasping, I just pushed past him and walked into my room. I locked the door and leaned against it, biting my lip. Gosh, I was feeling so good. I was gushing with joy. I fell into a lovely dreamless sleep.

I woke up, certain it was a dream. But I wasn't entirely sure. I walked down the stairs and looked at the dining table. Everybody was seated and looked up at me. but my eyes caught Talon. He looked into my eyes and smiled widely, like he was excited to see me. Was it real? I sat down across from him, cautiously boring my eyes into him. He grinned.

Rane looked annoyed and moody.

"What's up?", I asked him. He shrugged.

"I am on pills so I can't read anyone's minds", I smiled and sighed in relief. I was so glad he couldn't see the hysteria in me. But everyone could hear my heart thumping hard. I kept looking into Talon's eyes hoping to see if I could get a clue as to whether last night was a dream.

Then I felt Talon's legs nudge my knee. I stiffened and pulled my legs back. I noticed a flash of pain in his eyes but he just looked into his meal.

I steered clear from him all day. I didn't want him to know how amazing I felt when I got a notion that perhaps he didn't hate me so much. Talon tried to catch my eye all day but I stayed away from everybody. I was still acting like Blondie didn't exist. I didn't speak to anyone either. Not even Rane.

"Did anyone hear shouting last night?", Stephanie said, during dinner. I choked on the food I was eating and dropped my fork.

"W-what?", I stammered.

"Yeah we all heard shouting from Talon's floor or even above that. And then we heard sobs. Were you crying, Damien?", Stephanie's sharp eyes caught me blushing.

"How could you make that assumption, Stephanie?", I snapped. "Excuse me", and I left the table. I needed to think. So it WAS real.

I lay on my bed and fell asleep.

I woke up when I felt cool hands, touching my forehead softly. I glanced up to see Talon sitting on the bed next to me.

"What are you doing here?", I mouthed.

"Watching you sleep", he smiled, making me sit up. I studied him gravely for a moment.

"Penny for your thoughts", he said leaning in. As if he expected me to be able to speak when he did that.

I lost myself when he pressed his lips to mine. I drifted to sleep, listening to the almost non existent beating of my vampire's heart.

When I woke my, my hands automatically felt around for Talon. But I was alone. Rejection washed over me. I sat up and got dressed mechanically. I went downstairs, trying to hide my anxiety to see him. I saw Rane lounging around.

"Where is he? Talon?", I squealed looking around wildly.

Rane looked surprised and amused.

"I didn't know you cared so much. Well, I don't know where he is. He went off to the forest or something", Rane motioned towards the door.

I bolted out before he could even ask me. I ran by Stephanie ignoring her confused expression. Outside, it was bright and a little sunny. The forest looked lovely. But I was just focusing on finding Talon.

Then a thought hit me; why was I looking for him? I didn't really have anything to say to him. I made a face and turned around to go back.

I was walking when I realized I hadn't come that way before. I went the other way and soon found out that I had gone in deeper. I spun around and re-traced my steps back, but then I saw a huge tree and realized that I hadn't ever passed that. This way and that way, I kept walking before accepting that I was completely and hopelessly lost.

And everyone back at the house would think I was with Talon and wouldn't even worry. Okay, maybe when he went back, they would look for me. Maybe they wouldn't even find me. I would probably die before then. After all, this was a risky area.

But I never gave up hope that I should find my way back and I kept walking. I must have walked for over five hours and at least a hundred miles. I had left the house at around 9am and now it was well over 4pm now. Still no sign of being able to find my way out of this maze.

I suddenly heard rustling behind me. A wave of joy hit me. Had Talon found me? Was I safe now? I eagerly turned around and looked but I saw no one. Strange. I turned to leave ad I heard it again.

"Who's there?", I called weakly. As expected I didn't receive a reply. i slowly wheeled back. To my violent shock, a face was breathing down into mine as I turned. All I could see with my blurred vision was a pair of sharp teeth sticking out on the man's lower lip. Fangs!

Then all went black.