Disclaimer: If you don't take chances, you'll never learn from your mistakes. If you don't make mistakes, start taking chances.

Learning to Breathe

Chapter seven: What have I gotten myself into?

It was Thursday. Normally, tonight would be spent preparing for Friday, but some had other ideas. Kristen, again, slipped away from the main base and flew off into the night. It would be their last night on the Florida base. The team left for New York in the morning. To her, it seemed, this was the last hurrah.

The other vampires were waiting on her. Solomon, Almira, Raphael, Sabrina, and a few others whose names she couldn't remember, gathered on top of a county records building. She swooped down and landed beside Sabrina.

"Sorry I'm late." Kristen apologized. "My boss had us packing up until after eleven."

"Do not be so worried, child." Solomon said. "The night is still young."

"Good." She smirked. "Where to?"

"There's a club on south Davis St. that I thought we could check." Sabrina replied. "I know that you aren't yet sixteen, but we can get you in."

"And the drink specials are to die for." Raphael smiled. Kristen recoiled a little. Being around Raph made her thoughts run in circles. Her heart even considered beating in his presence.

"Sounds bode." Kristen replied. 1 "Count me in."

"Then let's fly." Sabrina smirked. The troop took to the air and soared to their destination.

XXXXXX

The music was pounding; that dj was rockin'. The entire club shook as the tunes bounced off of the walls. Set up on the outskirts of the dancing area, the tables seemed vacant. At least, all but one.

"I told you this would rule." Sabrina smiled.

"And you were right." Kristen smiled as she sipped on the virgin margarita she had ordered. "But I still haven't gotten to the real special."

"We must wait until after the poor bleeders get wasted to make our move." Raphael shrugged. "But in the meantime, we can boogie."

"You took the words right out of my mouth." The onyx-haired teen grinned. The older boy stuck out his hand, which she greatly accepted, and led her out on the floor.

As they moved together, she let the beat of the music pulse through her veins. They had been at it for a while when he spoke.

"It's so amazing to have someone younger in our group." He whispered in her ear. "Sometimes it gets so boring."

"What about Sabrina?" She asked. "How old is she?"

"Much older than she looks." He shrugged. "I'd wager thirty."

"And you?" The ice-eyed girl said huskily.

"Eighteen." The hazel eyed boy shrugged. "So, you going to school here?"

"Will next semester." She answered. "My team is going to Albany for winter break."

"Sweet." He smiled. "I can't wait to see you there."

"Why wait that long?" She smirked. The dialogue stopped after that. The rest of their communication was the non-verbal kind made in close proximity to one another.

XXXXXXXX

After the club had thinned out, the pack of fanged patrons invited a few drunks outside. None of them stood a chance: they all succame to the loss of blood. Secretly, Kristen wished to stay with them, but knew that she couldn't. Business called.

However, during the friendzy, Solomon and Almira had separated from the group. Curious, she slipped into the shadows and caught their conversation.

"She will make a fine warrior." Solomon said. "And so willing to join our cause."

"Indeed." Almira replied. "She's one of a kind. But you knew that."

"But so are her friends." He said. "And they will not be easily taken out."

"Leave that to me." Almira replied. The raven-haired vamp heard the smile in the woman's voice from around the corner.

"You have always been my best lieutenant." Solomon said softly. "Our time has come!"

"What's going on?" Raphael whispered.

"Sssssshhhhhhh!" Kristen hushed. "They're plotting to kill my friends!"

"What?" The brown haired boy asked.

"Listen." Kristen whispered. "You'll see." The two pressed in closer to the wall and hung on every word of the topic.

"All we have to do is take down the mayor." Almira said. "Then this town will be ours."

"But not before we take out that Cobra base." Solomon replied.

"The spy and the children are leaving tomorrow." Almira said. "All we must do is keep Kristen here as ransom. The others are weak fighters and the base is underprotected."

"Be that as it may, we must not take any chances." Solomon said. "We must keep Vampira imprisoned and take out the others while they are vulnurable. Tonight is the night!"

"That bastard!" Raphael hissed.

"What, you're not in on it?" Kristen asked.

"Hell no." Raphael whispered. "He told me that we were going to stop hiding in the shadows, but I never thought that he'd go this far."

"We have to do something." Kristen said.

"Do what?" The pair whirrled around to see Sabrina and the others blocking their exit. "We have you now."

"It matters little that you found out." Solomon said. "You will both be our 'guests' tonight."

"Shit." Kristen said. "What now, Raph?"

"Up!" He shouted. Grabbing her by the wrist, he bolted upwards and tore through the city skyline with her coming behind him.

"They're gaining on us!" She shouted.

"Don't look back." He yelled back. "Keep flying!"

"Come back here!" Almira shouted. The entire pack was hot on the tails of the rogue pair.

"We won't outrun them!" She shouted. "We need backup!"

"Who would help us?" He shouted back.

"I can think of one." She said. "I just hope she's awake enough to hear my thoughts!"

1) term meaning cool, fly, and otherwise totally amazing. At least that's what it means in the book Define "Normal"

Holy vampires, Batman! What will our two pursuees do now? Stay tuned to find out!