I had made the biggest mistake of my life.

I had said yes.

And I knew I was going to regret it later.

Ashley seemed to agree with me on that part, but even so, lately she'd lost some of the unfriendly, metal plated surface - so much so that she even acknowledged me, talked to me, and joined me on expeditions to the local coffee shop and the shopping centre. I think it was because she realised I really wasn't fucking her brother-in-law-to-be.

As a result of my perfect timing, I had managed to invade these peoples' personal lives just in time to be made part of the alpha's wedding preparations. After a bout of curiosity, Jett had told me that weddings weren't a fundamental part of 'union' for wolves; apparently, about a year ago, the mating ceremony had already been held - which was the equivalent, according to everyone I had asked.

Even with that, Ashley had been adamant about walking down an aisle in a white dress. Both her parents were wolves - but being brought up around humans, Jett had told me that she felt she was missing out. Originally, she had even started to resort to finiding a human mate (partner, he explained. Though, some wolves preferred to think of it as 'other halves'). For two years, because of this obsession with her fantasy, Ashley had purposefully avoided Hayden's advances.

The insight into Ashley's character had only made me respect her more. To be honest, before the sudden change of attitude, my respect for her had been practically null and void.

But I didn't appreciate being included in the chaos of preparations half as much. As they say, 'it's a two way street' - either she hated my guts, or I had to put up with her emotional roalercoaster with a smile on my face. Another ghastly thing, to add to the ongoing list, was that I had to sit through several of the many dress fittings - not that I really minded. I always liked an excuse to sit in a designer, wedding-dress shop with over-priced stock and do fuck-all. "What do you think?" Ashley drew back the railing to reveal herself clothed in a very snug, very elegant gown. Naturally, the dress was fine - what ruined it was the scowl on her face.

"The dress is gorgeous on you." I said, a smile forming. I couldn't help it. Seeing her looking so uncomfortable brought a spark of joy to my frail heart. "The only thing you have to sort out is the crease between your brow. It doesn't quite fit with the whole blushing bride image."

Instead of ripping my head off and trampling my skull into a mushy pulp, she collapsed into the chair next to mine and groaned. "I know." Those two words were the last words I expected to hear from her. "It's just... I thought I'd be more excited about this. I thought that as soon as I put on the dress... it would seem, I don't know... magical, maybe."

The idea of having a heart-to-heart with Ashley, of all people, was beginning to make me feel uncomfortable - but I wasn't heartless. "You and Hayden are already together - already mated and whatever." I tried to smile encouragingly, but I was having trouble because I couldn't help feeling paranoid that she might suddenly lash out at me. "I mean, it was never set in stone that you were going to enjoy the whole wedding process. When I still got on with my mother, she told me to elope because the only people who enjoy weddings are the guests that don't have to help pack up afterwards."

"That's not helping." She grumbled, buring her face in her hands. Peeking through her fingers, she asked: "how old were you... you know, when your mother told you that?"

"Five." The look on Ashley's face was priceless. "I didn't even know what elopement meant - but I've always remembered those exact words."

"You know, I told myself I was going to save myself for my wedding night." Ashley muttered, trying to change the subject. "I made such a big deal out of it - I even managed to abstain from sex throughout my entire high school career, and my first year of university."

"What happened in your second year?"

"Hayden happened." Not that I hadn't anticipated her answer. Jett had given me a brief description of it, but I was a generally nosey person; and I never did find out how Hayden and Ashley happened. "He had been chasing after my affections for at least two years at the time, and... well, after a very valiant effort on his part, I gave in."

I tried not to look disappointed at the vague description. It was cool. I was just a close acquaintance, after all.

It was only when Ashley's bottom lip quivered that - my favourite phrase - 'oh, shit' replayed in my head like a mantra.

That, and I had run out of encouraging words to say; forced to resort to looking as sympathetic as I could manage.

"Now I don't even have the whole... I dunno, the excitement of it to look forward to anymore."

Guilt. It hung over me like a bad omen, because my pep talks hadn't really been all that peppy. I had just been realistic - and, as a result of that, there was nothing I could say to save the conversation. Ever since Ashley had started to open up, she was like a completely different person. She was normal... Dare I say it, nice - and there was me, under the assumption that she had been a bitch with a massive pole wedged up her ass.

"How did you do it?" I choked, spluttering as I rapped my knuckles against my chest, blinking back my surprise. Comfortable with being the quiet listener, the sudden attempt to get my active participation in the conversation caught me off-guard.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"How are you still a virgin?" I drew in a deep breath, relaxing my shoulders, and smiled up at her. Jett had told me that his kind were more open about themselves in general, but I had been gradually figuring out that they were also extremely open about their sex lives, too.

"One, I spent the majority of my teenage years at a 'convent'. Two, I'm only nineteen - I've still hopefully got a lot of my life ahead of me." Ashley looked at me, wide-eyed, before nodding like she had just asked a stupid question. "I got a few advances from this one guy... but he turned out to be a vampire - which had added to the creep factor, even before I found out. It wasn't hard to tell him 'no'."

But she wasn't listening to my little anecdote. Ashley had stopped listening as soon as I said the word 'nineteen'. "You're younger than Jett."

She sounded shocked. "A lot of people think I look older than I actually am. Death does that to people - or, at least, that's what I'm told."

"I'm sorry." Ashley apologised, though I had no idea why she felt she that she needed to. "All this time, I had you pinned as some woman perving on that kid."

Me, perving? Preposterous! "Ha-ha. I don't know whether to laugh at that or be offended."

"Sorry." She said again. "I can't help it. Jett is like a little brother to me."

"How old did you think I was-?"

My question was left unanswered; because, at that exact moment, Jett and Millie stalked into the room. Millie was beaming like a little kid, and Jett's eyes were twinklling with mirth (most likely at my expense).

There wasn't enough time to make a run for it before Millie caught me, wrapping me in a chokehold of an embrace. "Hey, sweet-cheeks! You guys look so cute today." At that, she looked up at Ashley. "'Specially you, Ash. Hayden's heart is going to melt when he sees you walking down that aisle."

"Hi, Millie." Was my pathetic response to her greeting. "Jett." He was still smirking. Damn him and his insatiably good looks.

Ashley caught me staring - and I don't know whether it was because I had sat through an hour of dress adjustments, or it was something to do with our little chat - but she actually smiled. No. She was smirking, too. What the hell was so funny?

"I think you're going to like this, Jade." Ashley said.

"Like what? Why are all of you grinning at me like psychopaths?" This only made their smiles grow wider, to my absolute horror. "What's going on?"

"Nothing that you won't like." Jett told me, being as vague as was humanly possible - but, then again, he wasn't exactly human. "Ashley, do you mind if we borrow her for a bit?"

"Go ahead, I'm already done here."

And so, with Ashley's consent, I was dragged out of the store, down the street towards his apartment as the sun began to disappear behind the horizon.

"What's the matter?" Geraldine straddled Heath's lap, running her sharp, manicured nails down his torso. He glared back up at her, through his hair. The steady pulse of the base thrummed through the club, as bodies gyrated in the cramped space. The combined scent of sweat, cigarette smoke and blood had the vampires reeling.

But it wasn't enough to sate their thirst.

It never was.

And soon, that wouldn't be a problem anymore. "He's upset because his little girl is in another man's bed." Isaac drawled.

"That virgin?" Heath ignored them both, licking the dried blood off his wrist. His last victim had put up a fight, and he had enjoyed it... but in the end, the blood tasted the same. Bland.

It always lacked something.

All of his control - that was what it took not to drain Jade dry, and it frustrated him to no end. Leaving his mark on her had been a major part in his plan, and he had stuck to it - but not without great difficulty. Because, of course, his bloodlust seemed to have a mind of it's own.

"She's still a virgin, that was obvious - but she stank of that mongrel."

"I heard that some find the wet dog smell a complete turn on."

Heath shot a dark glower at Isaac, who simply chuckled, making light of his temper. The mood of the club was already bitter enough.

"You do realise that we're going to have to act fast because of this... set back." Heath's grimace darkened, remembering the scent. It hadn't spoilt the taste - but the longer they waited, the worse it would get. "That is, if the plan is going to work."

"It's cute." Geraldine purred, watching him through lidded eyes. "You want to be the first to taint her." Her hands trailed lower, lower until Heath's hand caught hers. Snarling playfully, her lips twisted up at the corners, and she slid off his lap, spotting someone else to toy with. "Can I be the one that gets to break her?" She called over her shoulder.

"If there is anything left to break."

Heath turned back to the bar, leaving her to do as she pleased. Skilfully, she skulked through the crowd, searching for her next victim.

"Are we going to wait for her before we start?" Isaac leaned in, eyes shifting between the curvaceous vixen behind the bar and Heath. "... or, a better question might be: do you even have the patience left?"

Heath swirled his drink, having lost interest. The buzz was dull, and didn't last long enough. Not nearly long enough. Letting out a strangled sigh, he crunched the glass into glittering shards, watching with muted interest as they scattered across the granite surface. "I'm bored." He conceded. "Let's have some real fun."

Isaac grinned.

Within seconds, the music died along with the luminescent glow at the bar; leaving only the flickering white blur of the strobe lights.

Everyone stopped moving, followed by a crescendo of confused murmurs, then yells, then screams.

And then everything was deathly silent.

There, perched on the table, was a giant cake. The mother of all cakes. "It's your belated welcome cake!" Millie squealed enthusiastically, clapping her hands together, eyes glittering with excitement.

"With everything that happened, as soon as Millie caught ear of it, she thought it would be a perfect way to lighten the mood." My eyes darted between the two of them - both Jett and Millie - then towards the cake. It was a marble, layer cake doused in a generous helping of sticky toffee sauce. Sudden death by cake. And I fucking loved marble cake. They had even put strawberries and whipped cream on it.

Heaven!

Forgetting any previous qualms, I wrapped the two of them in suffocating hugs. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" I wanted to happy dance right then and there... but it didn't seem appropriate. They could see my underwear, sure, but I hadn't got comfortable enough to make a fool of myself infront of them willingly.

Even so, their smiles were infectious - I didn't try to surpress my glee. I couldn't. Instead, I basked in the moment, on my little high.

Then the front door opened, and the 'er' brothers stepped in, followed by a whole bunch of people I'd never even met before. However, all of them came and said 'hi' and patted me on the back, shook me on the hand, or even planted kisses on my face. All of them welcomed me. All of them smiled at me - and for the first time in so long, I felt like I actually belonged.

The atmosphere in the room was stifling - everyone was having generally good time, drinking, pigging out, dancing to the music that pounded out of the speakers. I couldn't help but get dragged along into the midst of it; laughing, eating, enjoying myself along with everyone else.

I couldn't remember the last time I had just let loose, and had fun.

Ever since Jett had persuaded me to stay, things had gradually been getting better and better - and as we danced together, no matter that I was completely piss-head drunk, it just seemed so easy to forget. To bask in the awesomeness of great food and great tunage.

That is, until the reality of it all came rushing back to me.

I don't know how, or why it happened. I just know that the sinking feeling as I watched Hayden and Ashley swaying together, amongst the crowd, looking so care-free, so vulnerable... it pushed me right off that peak.

And I impacted against earth with a massive thud.

I couldn't believe I just forgot about it. I couldn't believe that I had allowed myself to indulge in that misguided comfort that everything would be okay.

Because it wouldn't.

The closer I got, the more danger I put them in. These people had years of happiness ahead of them, of success - and, because of me, all of that would just... crumble in to dust.

It was so, so painfully wrong.

And it was the horrible fate that awaited me.

"Jade... what's wrong?" Jett jostled me, trying to break me out of my trance. My eyes met his, and in that brief moment, he saw everything... the anxiety, the confusion and the fear.

The fear.

I was so scared.

Shaking my head, I broke free of his hold, running outside. I could hear him cursing as he struggled to follow after me. But I had the advantage of being smaller. I needed to get away. I needed fresh air to calm down, because the proximity of all those bodies was starting to mess with my head.

And then I saw it.

The more the unfamiliar bodies pushed against me, the closer to the exit I got, the faster the images flicked through my mind. It was a confused blur of panic, or chaos, of mindless slaughter. Puce. Each image was encrusted with blood, every time the strobe lights flashed on the face in my head.

It wasn't my face.

These weren't my thoughts.

"Heath..." I gasped, collapsing to my knees when I finally made it out of the front door.

"No matter how far you run, no matter where you hide, we will find you Jade." His voice whispered through my mind. "You're mine."

My hands searched for something, anything to grip onto as the images slurred together, and suddenly, it was as if I was watching the world through his eyes, watching the macabre display of power as helpless victims were torn limb from limb.

He channelled it through my brain like a live broadcast.

A sick, twisted, live broadcast. "I never got the chance to make you watch as I ripped your friends to pieces." He was taunting me, messing with me because he could. Because we now had a metaphysical connection - his personal torture weapon.

The nightmares weren't going to end.

Not until I did. Not until Heath got what he wanted. "Consider this a gift."

No matter how many times I blinked, how many times I screamed in agony, I couldn't stop of the images from coming.

"Jade!" I could hear Jett, but I couldn't see him. I needed his touch. Needed it to chase away the shadows that threatened to engulf me. I screamed, trembling, fumbling blindly for him. "Jade. It's okay. It's okay."

The images flickered, like there was some sort of static, some sort of blockade.

More people rushed outside... I could hear more voices, feel the confusion in the atmosphere. All I wanted to do was bury my head in the warmth of Jett's body, rub myself in his scent, because somehow, the shadows inside my head didn't like it.

And if the shadows didn't like it, then I could win - even if only for a night.

"We're coming, Jade." Heath snarled, the sound ripping through the dulling ache as the images gradually faded into nothing. "Don't forget that."

"Jade...?" I looked up, skin as pale as a sheet; as if I had just seen a ghost.

I hadn't seen a ghost.

I had seen a vampire, and that's just so much worse. Because vampires can hurt you.

Vampires can kill.

"What's our next move, Heath?"

The room was bathed in red, walls splattered in the drying remnants of the once living. "We burn this place down." Bones crunched under foot, but other than that, the absence of life had left an empty reticence.

No beating hearts.

No laboured breaths.

Nothing.

Just the empty carcasses of their victims.

But it wasn't enough, and it never would be.

"I want to see how long it takes before she comes to me, willingly." He grinned. "-And if not - we get creative."

A/N: THE VAMPIRES ARE BACK! and they've got a sharp bite. Ahahahaha.

So, what do you thiiink?

I was on a bit of a roll - been listening to some classic tracks to help me get into the writing mood! Gotta love The Cure and Depeche Mode. Mmhmm.

Just Like Heaven - The Cure, anybody? It's a great song! I've been jamming to it all day :D Lol. In this story's case, it's more like Hell...

Disclaimer: I own no rights over Depeche Mode or The Cure but they are EPIC!

Again, I apologise for the use of swear words. Got a wee bit carried away.

Do you like the horror-ish twist? I'm starting to get really really into this! It's looking hopeful, because so far, this is going really smoothly! YAYYY!

THANK YOU FOR READING! XD