Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
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Prompt: Purge

I stood staring at him, gaping like a fish out of water. He wanted to kiss me? Why?

He began to chuckle while closing all distance between us. "You don't believe me?" he asked, his hands lightly taking hold of my shoulders. My heart was beating out of my chest, but not with fear. His cold touch sent a shot of heat down my arm and straight to my heart.

"I know Alice is keeping things from me," he continued. "I see shadows in her vision, as if a person is walking beside me and both throwing and blocking the light." Pulling slightly on me he wrapped me in his embrace. "I'm afraid of what she's hiding. It's why I keep my distance."

"What are you afraid of?" I asked, snaking my arms around his waist. I was in his arms! This was more intimate than any hug, since it seemed that every part of me was pressed against every part of him.

"Killing you," he whispers into my hair. "We've already exposed you, for purely selfish reasons." He paused a few moments. "Actually, it was my selfishness more than anything."

My heart began to beat faster from a combination of fear and anticipation. "How were you more selfish?"

"Because I want you for myself," he said, "and I think I may have to fight someone for you."

"Who?"

He took a step back, holding me by my shoulders to look into my eyes. "Let me tell you a story." His hands slipped off my shoulders, one trailing down to twine with my fingers. With a gentle tug he started us walking further down the beach.

"What happens in a society with no government?" he asked, staring out at the ocean.

"Easy, anarchy. At first things can be calm, but after a few years those hungry for power will reach out to take it." A smile formed on his face as he nodded, a look of expectation in his eyes. "Are you telling me that there's a vampire government?"

"For all intents and purposes, yes, but they are more like a military organization. There's a triumvirate leadership directing a guard. Those in the inner circle are far more loyal than you find in any human grouping, with the possible exception of a close-knit family, and will die to protect the triumvirate." He glanced down at me. "They will also kill to protect them and their way of life."

That fissure of fear that was becoming all too familiar made itself known again, causing me to shiver. "Surely I'm not a threat?"

"No, but Aro, the leader began to think that our family is." We were now at a very deserted part of the beach. No lights, other than the sliver of moon and the stars still shining where the clouds hadn't moved in, were visible. "They think we've grown too large, too strong. Alice sees them coming after us at some time in the future, unless…"

"Unless?" I asked, not sure I wanted to know the answer.

"She sees you talking to them, as a human, convincing them that we aren't a threat." He ran a hand through his hair, making it stand up on end. "We were in Washington, trying to find a new home, a place where they couldn't find us, when we, I, came across you. Alice was the first to tackle me to stop my attack, so was quite close when I watched her vision change."

He pulled me to a stop, only to drag my body against his. "She saw you, human, talking to Aro, their leader. We have no idea what you say, only that he agrees to a compromise and leaves.

"For the next year we kept an eye on you. Alice watching for your future, one of us always nearby, then her vision changed again. You couldn't stay in Washington." I looked up at him in shock, only to see that he wasn't looking at me, but in another direction. "We're being followed."

"Human or vampire?" I asked, not sure which was more frightening.

"Both, although I think the human is on the dinner menu," he said wryly.

"Shouldn't we do something?" I asked, the thought of anyone dying that way bringing out a strong protective instinct in me.

"There are some humans the world is better off doing without," he said, turning to walk in the other direction. "Now, where was I?"

"For some reason that area seems to attract vampires. Perhaps it's the weather, allowing them to be out in the daylight, or perhaps it's the plethora of lone hikers making for easy prey, but you were too often in their sights for our comfort. We started to watch you closer, and that's when we met the shape-shifters."

This time I pulled him to a stop. "Shape-shifters," I said flatly. "You're telling me there are vampires and shape-shifters? What's next? Frankenstein? Sirens? Werewolves?" I noticed my hands were moving a bit more animatedly than I would like at the end of my mini-rant, so pinned them to my sides.

"Well, I don't know about Frankenstein or Sirens…"

"What? There are werewolves?" I asked, a bit too loudly.

"Yes, in fact some of your friends refer to themselves as werewolves, but they're really shape-shifters." He was trying not to laugh, the corners of his mouth twitching as his eyes danced.

"My friends. Who of my friends?" My hands were on my hips in what Charlie said was the one thing I truly got from my mother, the stare-down.

"It's their secret, not mine. I will tell you their job is to purge the area of vampires, though. It's why we waited so long to make contact with you, figuring you were safe. But Alice had another vision, we talked to their leader, and agreed to move you here."

With another tug on my hand he pulled me in the direction of my mother's house. "We're being missed. Renee thinks we're necking on the beach," he said with a laugh.

"Great, she's never going to give me a moment's peace about you." I trudged alongside him for a short distance. "What should I tell her when she asks?"

He dropped my hand and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "How about that you've just agreed to go steady with me?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Were you a teenager in the fifties?"

"Nope, the teens," he said whispered in my ear as we stepped onto the porch. Giving me a wink he dropped his arm and took hold of my hand again. "Hello, Renee, dinner smells wonderful."

Sorry to be so long with this, but this past week was insane. Hopefully things will get back to normal soon.