For once, I was really glad to get off work just a tad early tonight. Seems everyone in this town was getting a little tired of the trouble I seemed to keep bringing into the bar since even nights like Tuesday where normally you would have Football or something on, no one even bothered to come in. Even Ruben talked to me about it for a while. He wasn't so happy about what happened with the bikers the other night, or even the woman I managed to some how almost kill. I was a magnet for these weirdo's and I couldn't get away. Even people stalked me at home, stole my things, or animals. Which only made me even more mad to think about. Tristian stole my horse. He ran off, well, he didn't really run off, I told him to leave in a not so nice way, but then to take my horse with him too? It made me angry. It was one of those nights where I wanted to take up smoking again. I just sighed loudly and went into the office to put away my apron and grab my purse.

I walked out into the chilly night, luckly a patron was still out front in the parking lot, enjoying the sin I would soon partake. "Can I bum a smoke from you?"

"Sure," the gruff looking man handed me a pack of Parliament's and a lighter. I took the liberty of getting my own smoke and lighting it before giving it back to the generous man. He stood there with his back up against the brick of the restaurant, one leg straight out and the other kicked up on the wall behind him. Reminded me of the Marlboro man since he wore a thick padded, plaid jacket with a large cowboy hat on.

"Thanks," I said as I took a few puffs on the tobacco and chemical laced stick and walked towards the Jeep.

I didn't really feel like going home at the moment, so I sat on the front bumper of the Jeep and took in large drags of smoke, enjoying the buzz I was getting. Nothings waiting for me at home. Silas said he might stop by the bar, but never did. Come to think of it, I don't think I heard back from him either. Checking my phone, I only confirmed that. I would be alone tonight. The most alone I've been in months since Morrigan left. Portia was out of contact, said she was going to be in some very sketchy part of Richmond that didn't have great cell coverage and would check in when she could, which meant when she got home. Tristian was gone, who had been kind of my house buddy and protector for a while. Especially since I was on the outs with Julius and Silas at the time. Then the whole thing with Silas hit again, Julius runs away like a damn twelve year old crying about "Woe is me!" and then Silas goes running after him like a stupid pet. I assume Julius would come back eventually. I mean, really, he's been alive for over five thousand years, I would assume the man knew how to take care of himself. Tristian I learned was just a bit over protective and I couldn't stand his jealousy, no matter what chemistry was bubbling between us. Yes, I'll admit, I was attracted to the deformed man. I mean, I dreamt about him frequently, I was the star in most of his thoughts, and a few times we came so very close to our lips touching. It almost felt like electricity between us.

"You still here?" Ruben sneaked up from behind me and took the cigarette out of my hand and into his mouth.

"Jesus H! You scared the fuck out of me!" I pushed me playfully and grabbed my smoke back.

"I haven't seen Silas tonight, was he coming in to ride home with you or are you on your own?" he asked as I passed the cigarette back to him after I took a large drag and let out a thick puff of smoke.

"He said he might stop by, but he didn't. I haven't heard from him all day so I assume he won't be coming home with me tonight," I sighed and leaned back on the grill of the Jeep.

"Julius figured that this would be the first place that Silas might look for him. He looked in bad shape. Was he okay?" Ruben asked.

I turned to my friend, who was sitting next to me, completely unaware of what was really going on, still puffing on the smoke I gave him. "Hey, puff-puff pass mother-fucker. And when did you see Julius?" I questioned. When did Julius come to the bar? Was it on his way to his house? Was he at home? Or at the club?

"Sorry," Ruben passed the cigarette back to me, by this time, it was almost gone. I took a few small puffs to finish it and then trashed the butt. "Anyways, Julius came in around, oh, I'd say a little before noon today. He was hungry for food, which was odd. And he was practically naked! Seriously! I had to give him some of my clothes, he looked a little lost."

"Did he say where he was going?" I asked, wondering if maybe Silas just crossed paths with Julius and just missed him.

"Nah, just said he had to go, got up and left in a hurry. Of course, didn't pay anything for the meal I gave him. Stupid Vampyre's. You'd think, over the thousands of year's he's been around that his service gratuity might have improved a bit!" Ruben argued.

I just rolled my eyes and sat there next to my friend who continued to babble about the service lately. How people have come in the bar, they order something and think they can just walk out once there is trouble. Ruben loved to argue about money and the lack of making it. I think Ruben just liked to argue in general. He was President of the Debate Club in high school.

"So, what's his deal anyways? I didn't think that Vampyre's ate food. At least, not from what I'm experiencing with Portia. She's attached to my neck whenever we're together. Not that I'm complaining or anything, but she never asks me to cook her breakfast or a steak," Ruben asked pulling me out of my inner thoughts.

I just gave Ruben a serious glance and huffed before I started to explain it all to him. "Well, Julius isn't a Vampyre anymore."

"Right, and I'm the Master of the Universe. No, really..."Ruben joked.

"Yes, really," I told him with a slight shake of my head, mocking him.

"Wait, hold a second, so you mean, that the other night, when we saw him, that he was really...human?" Ruben asked.

I had forgotten he had been at the house that night. He and Portia drove me over there when I doubled over in pain from the bond that Julius and I had. Now that he was no longer an old and very powerful Vampyre, our bond had been muted. As if someone had just turned the volume down, but not all the way. I could still feel little bits of Julius, but not enough to tell if he was in trouble or if he was okay, or even to tell where he might be. I've learned from lots of reading, mostly paranormal romances, how bonds can work.

"Yep, really human. Supposedly, when a Werewolf bites them, they are mortal again. I suppose that gives the Were leverage to kill the Vampyre at that point because, really, let's face it, Vampyre's are pretty hard to kill," I explained to Ruben who was left with his mouth agape.

"Well, according to Stephanie Meyer, a Werewolf bite is deadly to a Vampyre and is the only way to really kill them other than chopping off their head and burning their bodies," Ruben joked.

"Okay, Twi-hard. I know since you hooked up with Portia and learned all about this new Vampyre mojo, you've jumped into every Vampyre novel there is out there, but really, most stories are just popular fiction. Fiction. Not. True."

"I know, I know. I'm just saying..." Ruben trailed off.

I took that as my cue, I stood up and stretched my arms up and over my head. Sitting on the bumper of the Jeep was stiffening my muscles. I didn't like to sit for very long, unless I was cuddled up on the couch playing a game or watching T.V. with someone special.

"Well, I should get goin'. The guys and I are setting up a late night Poker game and the pot is growing big!" Ruben exclaimed as he got up and gave me a hug, good thing I was ready as I blocked his incoming feelings for me. I didn't have to be clairvoyant to see that. I gave him a little peck on the cheek as he blushed.

"Have fun, win big!" I said as I got into the Jeep and we walked across the lot to his little pickup.

You would think with the money he makes from Poker that he would be able to buy at least a new car, or truck, but for some reason, Ruben is attached to that rusty thing. It was too bad that he had plans tonight, maybe I should have asked to come over as well, I just didn't want to be alone. It felt weird to go home with no one there to greet me or come sleep next to me at night and even more, with the fact that Werewolves are in my woods, made me scared to even want to go home to begin with. I told myself to put my big girl panties on and I turned over the engine on the Jeep and headed down the interstate home. Mumbling the whole way home, "Everything will be fine. There's nothing to worry about" over and over.

It was around midnight when I got home. Not even the porch light was on. I should remember to buy a timer for the light. Maybe I could go to Home Depot after class tomorrow. That might be a good idea. At least if I had to come home alone, there would be a light on for me. I parked in the drive, closest to the door of the house. I sat, listening, hoping nothing would make a single crunch. I learned my lesson about checking on the horses late at night, so that was a no go. Plus, I fed them and checked on them before I left. I really hoped that maybe Romeo had returned and just got loose from his stall, but I wasn't about to check. Daylight would be a better time to do that. At least then I could see everything around me.

I walked in the house and flipped on the light switch, but the bulb burst and burnt out. "Damn," I muttered as I walked through the dark hall towards the kitchen. The house was very dark inside at night. I put my hands up on the walls to make sure where I was going. I flipped on the switch for the kitchen, but the bulb blew as well. "What the hell?"

Scrambling in the kitchen I was opening drawers and feeling for the closest flashlight. "Shit", I said as I remembered the last flashlight I had, I took it out to the barn. That meant if I wanted light, I would have to go outside. I really didn't want to do that. Hands trembling, I went to the window and peered out left and right. Nothing was there, or at least nothing that I saw. Taking a deep breath I walked towards the front door again and walked outside, leaving the door slightly ajar in case I had to come running back.

I stood on the front stoop and looked both ways, I would have to start keeping flashlights all over the house now, as well as in the Jeep so I wouldn't be put in this predicament again. When I saw I was clear, I bolted for the double doors to the barn. I pushed them open just a smidgen so I could squeeze threw and then shut them quickly and locked the doors so they wouldn't slide back. Taking multiple deep breaths, inhaling the scent of hay and leather I tried to calm myself. I could feel my heart racing a mile a minute. Since the barn had glass domes over each stall, there were bits of light that filtered inside so it wasn't completely dark in the barn. I walked to my right and went to the shower room. I looked around but saw no flashlight. Not even on the table outside where I would lay out the saddles and reins. I walked across the barn floor to the tackle room where the richness of leather was overwhelming. On the shelf to my right was a large, old flashlight. "Thank you Jesus, Hallelujah!"

I grabbed the large metal flashlight that was heavy in my hands and pressed the button to turn it on. With a few shakes and a smack the light flowed out of it's large domed head. It was a faint light, but it was light. So far, so good. I flashed the light down the barn and saw all the horses were in their stalls, except for one of course. The laborious breathing and panting of their breath told me all was well in their court so I turned back and headed towards the large double doors. The moment I pushed one away I heard the sound. It was a snapping sound as if a branch or twig that was very dry had been broken. I froze. I should be the only thing on my property, but what was I kidding, a small animal of any sort could have made that sound. A bird, rabbit, anything really. I shouldn't get myself all hyped up for a small little rodent of some sort. So it was easy to try and calm myself until I heard the puffing. Something very large was breathing heavily and as it got closer, so did the patter of it's feet. I closed the doors so only a crack was left and turned my flashlight off, hoping that whatever it is, will soon leave.

I manovered on either side of the crack to see if I could get sight of what was outside. Straight ahead was the door to the house, slightly ajar. What if it went into the house? It wasn't that far away, could I get there before anything could catch me? Probably not, but I had to try. I couldn't hold up in this barn all night. What if Silas came back and saw I wasn't home, or that I was missing from the house. Would he think to come to the barn to look for me first? I had to try and make it out, so I opened the barn doors a little wider, just enough to squeeze past, poking my head out first to make sure all was clear. I looked left, I looked right, nothing that I could see. So I took a tight grip of the flashlight, held it firm in my fist, turning around to quietly close the barn doors that shut with a slight bang. The nose made me freeze and as I stood there, with my back to the doors I noticed the puffing and heavy breathing sound had halted as well. Scared, I kept my flashlight off as my eyes were adjusting to the darkness, and any light would let anything or anyone out there know that I for the taking.

So creeping along, I took one small step and broke a small branch at my feet. Damn-it! I was so clumsy even when trying to be sneaky. I really needed a sneak perk like in my Fallout 3 game where I could go unnoticed. But it was too late to think about those trivial things now. The moment the branch snapped, I took off. I ran as fast as I could. I could hear the patter of feet, multiple feet racing behind me. The sound of the howl from the distance as I sprinted for my life. I could hear them getting closer. Just a few more feet to the door. I turned back just briefly to see the jaws of a large animal reach out to grab me as the last jolt of adrenaline took my system and I crashed through the door, slamming it shut on the beats mouth with my feet as I lay on the ground, panting from throwing myself into the house. However, the door did not stop the beast from trying to attack. I turned on the flashlight and went to the door to make sure it was locked at the knob and the deadbolt. I then went to the cupboard, where I kept my shotgun, making sure it was loaded in case they got the bright idea to burst through the windows. At this point I was in battle mode. I grabbed my kitchen table, over turned it and pressed it up against the window to block anything that might come bustling through. I crouched behind the table, the shotgun holstered on my shoulder as I took aim out across the grasses. Looking left to right. I heard the howling as it got closer and the moment the howl ended, so did the scratching and beating at the door. I couldn't see the front porch from the kitchen so I ran back towards the small vertical windows on either side of the door, gun still raised, and saw nothing.

I put down the gun and sunk to the floor. My breathing was fast and heavy as tears started to swell in my eyes. I wished Tristian was here.