Hi Everyone! Thank you for being so patient... I need to get my laptop fixed ASAP
I literally had to re-write this chapter 3 times because it kept on shutting off on me! D:
Thank you to my new Beta and chapter co-writer Alouet !
I love you! So thanks, Em... *smirk* or shall I say Blythe ;)
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nikochan23, and My fellow Darren Shan Weirdo Club members: Kberry, vamapnezegirl97 and my newest reviewer HOAnubisTS I love you guys for all your comments and encouragement and elightenment... So Thank you! xD
I'll stop getting in the way of your entertainment now, have fun! And don't forget to review and let me know how I did -xoxo

Chapter 4 – Acquaintances

A week has passed and Steve has been making me work out non-stop.

I am tired every second of the night because every second he is working me to my limits. Never have I done so much exercise in my life.

I do laps, push ups, chin ups and scrunches. Every night, but that's just "warming up".

Now he's teaching me how to fight, how to punch, kick and duck.

THAT'S the fun part. Although I am not AS fast as him or any vampire, I am not so bad.

Actually, I am being modest. I am REALLY good at fighting.

I manage a punch in, and Steve bends forward a little.

"Good" –He says, smiling.

"Thanks"

"Once you're stronger and faster you might be able to inflict some damage with that" –He smirks.

"Always making me sound modest"–I say sarcastically.

He chuckles.

I try to punch him again, meaning to catch him by surprise. But he sees me coming way before I could really put some force behind my punch and intercepts my fist with his hand, twisting sharply, he pins my arm against my back. I hiss.

"Nice! You play dirty, I like that." –He whispers in my ear and it makes me shiver.

He lets me go and I start rolling my elbow and shoulder to wear off the stiffness.

"Keep it up. That's how we do it, always try to go in for the kill when they're distracted and always remember. DO NOT HESITATE" –He said seriously.

I give a sharp nod.

"Look for the openings and don't hesitate."

"That's right… So now that you've improved on your fighting skills –I'm not saying you're perfect but…" –he says as soon as a smile starts creeping on my lips– "I wanna show you something else."

He walks back to the base of a tree where we have put all of our supplies. He comes back bringing a bottle of water and something I could only describe as a big gun. My eyes widen at the latter.

"Where did you get that thing from?" –I ask.

He hands me the bottle of water and says "I have my ways" then winks at me.

I drink thirstily, so thirstily I almost choke on it.

"Actually, why be modest? I made it myself." –He grins proudly.

I choke and almost die.

"Are you ok?" –He asks, while clapping my back. I nod.

"You what?" –I croak out once I could get myself back together.

"You mean this?" –He asks, lifting the gun up a little.

I nod once again.

"This silly little thing? Yeah… I made it, I like building things." –He grins– "Had some time in my hands and a purpose in life. Then decided to use that time properly and build something that could help me meet my purpose."

I have no words to describe how stunned that statement left me.

"So you build guns in your free time?" –I say astonished.

"Guns and other stuff…" –He says vaguely.

"Well, that is a side of you I never expected… never thought … wow" –I cough a little more, still recovering.

"This is my baby" –He gloats proudly– "Let me show you how it works"

With this, he aims the gun towards a tree and pulls the trigger, an arrow goes flying and it strikes the tree.

"Come…" –He says

I follow him up to the tree, as we stand in front of the arrow stuck in it, Steve grabs it and pulls. The stick breaks, leaving the point of the arrow inside the tree.

"See that?" –He grins– "I am brilliant, imagine how much damage this thing can do?"

I could only stare.

"Your turn" –He hands me the gun.

I take it without realising what I was really doing because I was still too stunned by the whole situation. The weight of the arrow gun is what makes me snap out of my daze.

"Wow… wait, what?" –I stutter.

"Lift it up. Choose a target. Aim. Shoot" –He says patiently.

I Breathe in and out slowly, then do as he says. I set my sights on a tree about 10 meters away from me and pull the trigger. I hit it.

"Alright then… My job here is done" –He mutters, staring.

"Oh my gosh! I did it! Did you see that Steve? I did it!" –I jump and hug him, he hugs me back.

"You actually have better aim than I thought… You know, for a girl" –He smirks.

I punch his upper arm, hard.

"Not bad… Not bad" –He chuckles and grimaces, rubbing his sore arm.

I practiced with the arrow gun until there were no more arrows left.

"Awww… I was having fun" –I say after Steve tells me that there are no arrows left.

He smiles and takes the arrow gun from me, once the weight is taken from my hand I realise how sore my arm really is. The arrow gun is very heavy after all and I have no idea how long it's been since I first started to practise.

"Oh well! What's next?" –I say excitedly, looking up to him.

"It's 4 am Shiloh… Almost dawn, we have to go back home and get some rest." –he says picking all the stuff up.

We walk back to the hotel we were staying at, we changed hotels about 4 days ago and the new one was 30 minutes further away from the first one we had lived in.
Half way there I started realising how tired I really was, walking is the last thing I want to do now. But Steve can't carry me back to the hotel because he is already carrying a bunch of other stuff.

I asked to take a rest but Steve was hard on me and hurried me along. Saying: "We don't have time for that, you have to toughen up."

I was in pain, he was harsh on me and all I wanted to do was lie on the floor, give up and have a good cry.

Because I was slow, it took us a good 10 minutes more than usual to get back to the hotel.
Steve only said that it was my own fault and that those extra 10 minutes of walking would serve well as punishment for my laziness.

Once inside the hotel I took a quick shower first, I was exhausted and wanted to go to bed as soon as possible. I get out and only manage to put my panties on when suddenly, Steve barges in the bathroom.

"STEVE! I am not dressed yet! Get out!" –I yell, blushing and covering my breasts because I just couldn't find my towel, I was freaking out.

"You're out of the shower and I'm tired too, I wanna go to bed soon" –He shrugs, not really looking at me, as if he standing beside my half-naked self was the most normal thing in the world.

I see my reflection in the mirror. I notice my flat abs, and recently toned legs and arms. I see my face blushed and flustered. I see my dark brown curly hair down to my waist, its tips and some strands by the sides still wet. My grayish hazel eyes stare back at me for a second, and then notice him checking me out from the corner of his eye. He thought I couldn't see him, but I did. Finally, his gaze catches up with mine and looking at my reflection in the mirror he realises I notice him staring.

He smiles wickedly and turns around, entering the shower he mutters: "You are beautiful. You shouldn't be embarrassed of that". With that he turns on the shower and gets in.

After that I had no doubts, I loved Steve Leopard. I am in love with him, completely and irrevocably in love with him. He is a great man, capable of great love.
He is smart, curious, handsome and arrogant, but also kind and sweet. I love every single thing about him and all I wanted in life was to stay with him, forever. Even his flaws were perfect to me.
Now I know that running away with him is the best decision I had made in my life.

I get dressed, put on some pyjama pants and a tank top. I walked out of the bathroom, because I take my clothes inside it so I don't have to get out of the bathroom naked and have to dress in front of Steve. Obviously, that plan isn't working out so well for me. Might as well start not caring about him seeing me naked, I mean, it's not like HE cares about ME seeing him naked…

I walked up to the bed and grabbed the book I've been reading these past few days, I am at page thirty. Mostly because there would be times were I would mean to read but would lay down in bed and not even realise I fell asleep until the next night, when Steve would be waking me up to go train some more.

I love it and hate it.
I love how strong I'm getting –I was already lean enough from ballet classes but never like this. I love how much fate he has in me and how much he supports me. I love proving myself to him and showing off.
But I also hate every single exercise he puts me through. I hate the pain and the sweat. I hate the harsh schedule and how harsh HE is on me.
After all, I am only human.

I lie down on the bed, to read while Steve gets out of the shower and groan because my sore muscles complain once I finally relax for the night.
My aching muscles only feel about 0.01% better after that warm shower, but I take what I can get.
I groan again, my abs and butt are killing me, silently lusting after an Advil or two.

Out of nowhere, a tall, bulky guy bursts into the room. Looking sweaty and out of breath, eyes wild.

"Holy shit!" –I curse, jumping off the bed as far away as I can from him– "What are you and what do you want?"

Looking quickly around I spot Steve's arrow gun on the floor by my feet and take it, although I still need a lot of training with it, I know fairly well where the trigger is.

"What do you want?" –I yell again

This time I really look at him and see how different he is. He had purple skin, red hair, eyes, lips, and nails!

'What the hell is this creature?' –I think.

He is such a shocking, frightful sight. I am at a loss for words or threats. I feel myself pale in fear and decide pointing the arrow gun at him is the best I can do, the least I can do…

"Where is he?" –He growls. Then taking me in, he relaxes a bit.

"I see…" –He smirks– "You must be his little night-time snack."

"I beg your pardon?" –I snort, insulted.

"Well then! It seems I've underestimated Steve…" –He laughs, checking me up and down.

"Excuse me... –No, really! What are you talking about? Who-what are you? Why are you purple?" –I stutter and then slowly narrow my eyes– "And why are you looking for Steve?"

Suddenly wondering whether he's friend or foe, I burst out "I swear I will not hesitate to fire this thing!"

"If you were actually going to fire it, you would have already…"

I ignore that and instead demand: "What do you mean you underestimated Steve?"

In response to that he just bursts out laughing.

"Well, well… Aren't you a fierce little thing!" –He says, an amused smile playing in the corners of his crimson mouth.

"Seriously, answer my questions!" –I was growing more upset by the second.

"Who I am is of no concern to you! I am looking for Steve and you will tell me where he is woman!" –He snarls.

My jaw hits the floor, who does he think he is!

"You are no one to treat me like that! Get out! Leave!" –I yell desperately.

He strolls around the room instead.

"One more step and I'll shoot" –My voice trembles.

"His scent is thick in here…" –He muses, openly smelling around the room and then starts snooping around!

"Off course IT IS! HE LIVES HERE!" –I yell. 'But you won't hurt him…' –I think.

I shoot the arrow gun.

Yet he sees it coming and catches the arrow mid-air with inhuman speed, for all I know he could be a vampire. And I am truly scared now, I am not strong or fast enough to fend him off on my own and Steve is still in the shower.

"Bad move… woman." –He snarls.

Swiftly, he moves across the room in a blur. Closing in he grabs me by the throat and holds me up against the wall, ready to claw me to bits.

And just like that all the blood rushes out of my face, leaving me as pale as the wall behind me, shivering with fear I realise I can no longer breathe. I start to panic.

Finally, Steve steps out of the bathroom, dripping wet, with just a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Gannen!" –He yells at the man squeezing my throat– "What the hell?"

I can only choke a strangled incoherent noise out, having this hard time breathing I was no longer trying to hide my fear.

"Let her go Gannen! NOW!" –He commands– "And step away!"

I have never heard such authority from Steve. Not even when he's harsh to me in training. There's always some kind of "caring love" behind his harsh words then, he doesn't really mean to be mean to me. He only does it for my own sake, I know he's only hard on me because he wants the best for me, I know he means well and that he only pushes me far enough to get the best from me. Not now, now he is literally "commanding" this guy like a general commands a lowly subordinate. This big, tall, powerful creature with red, pointy nails just ready to rip you apart, breath like blood and speed like lightning.
This creature that scares the shit out of me and would certainly kill me without a second glance, this powerful being is so strong that he holds me against the wall like I weight nothing more than a whisper.

Yet what blows me away is not the power that Steve radiates behind his commands and authority, but rather the fact that this purple skinned, red eyed creature known as Gannen is actually letting me go and backing off.

I slide down the wall and fall to my knees, choking for the second time tonight. Instead, this time I was choking in the air I so desperately tried to get back into my lungs.
Still working on my elaborated breathing, I manage to get myself off the floor and up to Steve's side.
I stand behind him but just ever so slightly to the side so I still get a good look at the creature known as Gannen.

Caressing my throat, I ask hoarsely "You know him?" I quickly clear my throat and hastily dry off some tears.

"Yes" –He answers without looking at me– "This is Gannen Harst. He is my protector."

"Hmph." –He grunts unamused.

"What?" –My voice breaks, my throat still hurt.

He ignores me and rather directs himself towards Gannen.

"Gannen… I am sorry I left like that but… I had some business to attend to…" –He says vaguely.

I feel like I've heard this before... But cannot dwell much on that because they both just glance at me and I try my best not to blush under the scrutiny.

"W-what do you mean protector? Why do you need a protector anyway? Wait…Why you didn't tell me this before?" –I have a lot of questions today and these men have a lot of explaining to do!

"I was going to tell you. I just never got around to it…" –he says non-chalant.

"My Lord, you have more, urgent… business to attend to. You MUST return to the… others" –He says, nervously stealing furtive glances towards me.

"The vampaneze, of course, I was wondering when you'd get caught up with that…" –I say.

"Fine… I will return at dusk, Gannen" –He says, rolling his eyes– "But I will demand the protection of this young woman."

Despite the fact that everyone seems to be calling me 'woman' a lot tonight, I still think it is so cute the way Steve demands for my protection so decide to rub it in.

"Hear that Gannen? No more trying to kill this young woman!" –I smirk.

"So she knows My Lord?" –He asks wearily.

"Yes, yes she knows"

Then Steve looks around uncomfortably, still avoiding my gaze "And she is important… to… me. So until she is fully trained we must immediately find someone to protect her when I am away, as well as help to train her. Something YOU are also going to help with."

"She just didn't know you existed… or why you are purple." –I look at Steve meaningfully.

"We will discuss that later."–He responds harshly.

"She also has a name…" –I say.

Yet he ignores me once again.

"It is getting late and we need some rest, all of us. Gannen, you are welcomed to stay"

"Thank you My Lord" –He answers shortly bowing his head.

"Well! If you won't introduce me, Steve, then I WILL!" –I glare at him.

"I'm Shiloh." –I say, smiling sweetly and extending my hand.

Gannen looks plain disgusted and sneers at me.

"Would you rather have a hug?" –I lift my eyebrows questioningly. I would so rather make him suffer…

"Alright!" –Steve sighs loudly– "Let's hit the hay."

"But…"

Gannen grunts.

"C'mon ladies, cool it down!" –He says heading over to the bed.

"Ok… There is ONE bed in this room and I will NOT be sharing with the purple guy… No offence." –I say

Gannen simply walks to the couch and makes a big show of plopping down on it, glaring at me.

I scoff at him.

"You don't like me very much, do you?" –I point out.

I see Steve rolling his eyes and Gannen rolling over so that he's now turned his back to us.

It was just beyond me. I was always liked (even by the emo broody guy in school a.k.a. Steve Leopard) I was always popular, people thought I was nice and funny and simply appreciated life enough to know they wanted to stay on my good side.

"Why doesn't he like me? I am awesome! Everybody loves me! What is WRONG with him?" –I whine.

I know, I know, I am being petty…

"Just leave him alone Shiloh… Come to bed."

Steve was already under the covers, ready to go to sleep, just like that. He pats the spot beside him.
So I sigh theatrically and get under the covers with him.
Getting closer, I suddenly gasp and move as far away from him as the bed allows me without falling over. Realizing he never got dressed after all.

"What the hell Steve Leopard?"

"What?" –he says innocently.

"Steeeeve!" –I groan.

"This is how I sleep. If you don't like it then you can go sleep with Gannen on the couch or if you prefer, the floor." –He says expressionless.

"WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN TO ME?" –I yell, mortified.

"I like to make you squirm." –He smirks

I feel the heat of my blood rushing back all over my face and I know I'm blushing like a little school girl.

"Now let's go to sleep."

"This is so awkward…" –I mumble putting my head on the pillow and turning my back to him.

"You don't want to cuddle." –He teases, I can practically see the smirk on his face right now.

I sigh loudly and groan.

He chuckles.

"Stop it!" –I turn around and lightly punch him.

"Never!" –He winks.

"Oh really? Do you even know me? I am not scared of you or anything you think I would never do!" –I glare at him.

"Are you sure about that?"

To prove my point I move over and cuddle him, my arm over his chest, my legs intertwined with his and I am honestly just so glad I am wearing pyjama pants instead of shorts this time!

"Yes, I am sure" –I say confidently.

"Now that is more like it!" –He grins.

"Aren't you a piece of work!" –I laugh.

"You have no idea!" –He laughs.

"Just shut up and go to sleep… Lord!" –I snort and go in a fit of giggles while hiding my face in his arm.

He gives a deep chuckle.

Then Gannen starts snoring loudly from the couch!

"Oh wow! HE SNORES?" –I complain.

"I guess so… Oh well! Too bad… Live with it!" –He says.

"Mean! So, so, so mean to me!" –I say, shaking my head. 'And yet I still love you and would do anything for you... How messed-up can I get?' –I think.

He only smirks.

"You should be nicer! Give me kisses! Presents! Celebrate me! Worship me! Raise statues in my honor!" –I say, being the Drama Queen that I am.

"I did not realise I was dating a Goddess!" –He says sarcastically.

"You are!"

"That was sarcasm, my dear" –He says quietly.

I gasp dramatically.

"You are a horrible person!" –I say, getting up on an elbow and kissing him.

He kisses me back, holding my head in place with both of his hands.