Alana's dead…Alana's dead…

Those words kept repeating themselves over and over in my head. No, it couldn't be true. Alana was always so confident and so strong. She was my best friend. There wasn't any way she could be dead.

I shook my head. "No, not Alana. There's got to be some mistake." Please, God, let there be a mistake.

Shayne shook his head. "Gregory and James have already been down to identify the body. It looks as though Alana was murdered."

I couldn't breathe. I felt the tears sting my eyes and I didn't fight to hold them back. "H-H-How?"

"She was completely drained of blood," he said.

I nodded. That was to be expected. Hunting vampires was a dangerous job and every night that went by, we were all risking our lives. It was something we'd all accepted. It had just never been this real before. I never thought I would ever have to go on living while my best friend didn't. It just wasn't fair. But then again, I learned a long time ago that life wasn't fair.

I looked at the faces of the men that stood in my living room. Gregory's eyes were rimmed red from crying. James just stared at the floor and Kaige gazed out the window. Shayne stood next to me, ready to catch me in case I was going to collapse or something. But I didn't fall. I turned and ran. I ran out the front door and halfway down the street. I didn't know where I was going; I didn't really have any particular destination in mind. All I knew was I had to get out of there. I had to get away.

"Persephany!" James called as he ran out of the house after me. With him chasing me I pushed my legs to move faster. I pushed myself harder than I'd ever pushed myself before. "Persephany!"

"Leave me alone!" I screamed. I was crying again as I ran. I was just about to round the corner but didn't see the part of a tree branch lying across the sidewalk and I tripped. I put my hands out in front of me instinctively to protect myself from the fall.

James reached me then and tried to help me up. I kicked away. "Leave me alone," I cried. The boy didn't know how to listen. He grabbed me and held my arms against my sides. I struggled against him. Yes, he was a man and was stronger than me but that didn't mean that I was going to be that easy to subdue. I kicked him in the groin. He grunted but didn't let me go.

"Let me go now or I will freeze your balls off and you know I can do it," I threatened. He smiled and held my wrists together—away from his groin.

I kicked him in the groin again and then in the knee. He cried out in pain and his grip on me loosened just enough so I could get free. I tried to take off again but he grabbed my ankle pulled me back. He crawled on top of me and pinned my arms above my head.

"You need to calm the fuck down!" he yelled.

"Fucking let me go or I swear I'll kill you!"

He laughed. "There's the Persephany I know and love."

I shrieked and struggled against him.

"Now, now, I know you're upset about what's happened but—"

I pressed my lips against his, cutting him off. I don't know what got into me but I suddenly didn't want to hear him talk anymore. All I wanted was his lips against mine and the feel of his body against mine. He kissed me back and oh my goodness, it was amazing!

He pulled back, his breathing ragged. Neither of us said anything. He was lifted off me enough for me to squirm out from under him. He didn't fight me; he just stood up and took my hand. I dusted my butt off and wiped the now dried up tears from my eyes. We walked in silence back to the house, which was now empty. Shayne's car was gone and I could only assume that Kaige and Gregory had gone with Shayne wherever he'd gone.

I stormed past James and headed upstairs. I just wanted to be alone. James, however, didn't understand that. He followed me silently up the stairs. I stopped him just as he reached my bedroom door.

"You should go," I mumbled.

He took a step forward but I held my ground. "Why?"

I swallowed hard. Don't even think about it, Persephany, it's over between us, I scolded myself. "Because you just…you need to go." My voice was no more than a whisper and I hated that he still had this affect on me after six months.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me the truth. Do you really want me to go?" he breathed.

And I did. I stared into those deep brown eyes and couldn't look away. All coherent thought disappeared and all that was left in its wake was pure, unadulterated desire. I wanted him and I wanted him bad.

"I—" I never got to finish that sentence because just then his lips found mine and I was lost. He wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to the bed. I had to admit he felt good in my arms. His hands found their way under my shirt. I lifted up just enough so he could pull my shirt off before his strong, calloused hands glided down my sides. I shivered at his touch.

"If you want to stop, I'll stop," he said softly.

I shook my head. It was already too late. There was no turning back now.

He smiled and pulled his shirt off revealing his rock hard abs and chest. He looked like an angel in that moment. His lips found mine again and he pressed his hips against the most sensitive part of my body. I let out a soft moan and lifted my hips against his. I needed him and I needed him now.

In the midst of all the desire and passion the rest of our clothes disappeared and our bodies became one. It was the most amazing experience of my life. I wanted to lay in that bed with James forever. But like everything else, all good things must come to an end.

The sun had set when I looked out the window. The moon had taken her place and the stars filled the sky. James and I lay there, side by side, his arm around my waist. I could hear his quiet breathing which told me he was already asleep. I lay there for a while longer staring out the window before sleep overtook me.