The wedding was starting to wind down when Samantha approached me for the first time during the wedding. I stepped away from my friends to speak with her, just in case Samantha said anything that they didn't agree with. I didn't want to start a fight after everything was going so well. The bride gave me a big smile, and took my hand, "Come and take a walk with me. I need to get some air."

"We're already outside," I pressed my lips together.

"It's just a saying," she laughed, and guided me away from the wedding. I followed obediently. I didn't know why Abbey was so set against keeping me close to the house. The ghouls didn't even notice when I left their side, they were getting drowsy and their excitement was starting to crash. They weren't as focused anymore. I didn't want to get another spiel from Abbey about not leaving her sight either, and she was focused on a story that Frankie had been telling us about her parents and how they met.

The sounds of the party muffled as we travelled into the woods. Samantha hooked our arms together, and held up her skirt as best as she could to minimize the amount of dirt and leaves that would get stuck to the fabric. Neither of us spoke until the wedding was just a distance noise. I couldn't distinguish voices amongst them anymore, and I knew that meant she could barely hear the party.

"I never really talked to you about the wedding before it happened," Samantha started off, stopping and bringing me to face her. She squeezed my hands, staring down at me with a slight smile. "We've gotten off on the wrong foot, Laura. I just entered your world, and suddenly I'm your mother."

I wanted to tell her she'd never be my mother, but kept my mouth closed. No need to cause trouble.

"Your father and I, we are so close," she explained, reaching up and cupping my cheek. "He cares so much for me, and I hope you can see that and understand why this wedding happened."

I nodded my head. "I do."

"That's good," Samantha nodded her head, and then took my arm again and guided me further down the path. I didn't feel calm in the slightest, but the woods were beautiful right now and I wished I was with anyone but Samantha. Again, I wished it was my real mother standing in a white dress as we walked through a beautiful night lit wood. I realized Samantha had said something when she stopped and looked at me with a bit of confusion.

"Hm?"

The woman smiled, "I just asked you if you knew why the library has been a mess the past few days?"

"That's Uncle Vlad's research, he does a bunch of research on lore and things like that," I explained offhandedly, "He's always done that."

She nodded her head, "Why so much interest in Vampire hunters? They are just fictional characters, are they not?"

I felt like someone injected ice into my veins, and I let out a giggle. Avoid the subject. Avoid it. "Vampires aren't real, Samantha."

"Of course they are," Samantha said, casually.

I nodded, and then froze. Her grip on me made me continue walking, though I stumbled. "What do you mean?" I asked her, fear starting to constrict my chest. Abbey was right. I should've stayed by the house. I needed to go back. I tried to pull my arm from her grasp but she held on tightly.

"If you're uncle has studied lore then you should know that there are people who drink blood and believe that they are vampires," Samantha explained, lightening the panic in my chest.

"Well, of course."

Samantha turned towards me, smiling. "Do you know much about the lore your uncle researches?"

"No –"

She lowered her voice, as if telling me a secret, "Did you know that vampires will feel the pain of their loved one's passing more potently than a human could ever feel?"

My chest tightened and I ripped my arm away from her. "What are you talking about?"

"Did your father feel the pain of your mother passing?" Samantha tilted her head, her face a perfect picture of concern and sympathy. Anger flared in my chest, and I stepped away from her.

"Stop this! What are you talking about?"

"You are exactly what I need to break him," Samantha reached forwards, her finger tips brushing my cheek. I took a step away from her back towards the house but she tutted. "I wouldn't leave."

"Why are you doing this?" I asked her, glancing over my shoulder. I was too far away to be heard by the others. Those that could hear were too drunk.

"I think you already figured that out," she smiled, the sadness seeping from her features and were replaced by pure psychotic joy. "You're father is a monster, and monsters will never win against the light."

I turned and started running."Don't run, this'll just get worse for you!" she snapped after me. I did not want to attack her, even if she was trying to kill me. I dove off of the path, but something collided with my back and I fell forwards. Skidding along the dirt floor, hot pain scraped against my cheek. Whatever it was got off and I twisted around, a man lifted me up by my arm and growled.

"Monsters are so easy to control with new technology," Samantha chuckled as the man tossed me into a tree. My hip flashed with pain and I rolled to look at her.

"My father will kill you," I hissed in warning but her mouth just widened.

"Which is why I haven't touched hurt you yet!" she laughed, "Only this beast has, if he discovers your dead body, smelling of werewolves. It will send the monster world into another war! Weakening all sides and finally the five slayer families will rise to power once more!"

I knew there were five families. If only my uncle had believed me.

The werewolf didn't seem to be irritated by being called a beast, or belittled. I stared at the man and felt pity for him, these days no one wanted another war. Samantha was right, technology was advanced and there was no way another war would escape humanities gaze. Any monster with any sense of common sense would have already killed her or ran away.

"Then I guess I'll have to kill you," I whispered looking at her, her eyebrow quirked.

"And get your dress dirty? I doubt you could," she taunted. I jumped to my feet, ignoring the pain in my hip. The werewolf threw a punch and I landed on the ground again. Pain flared in my cheek and I hissed. Samantha laughed, clapping her hands together. "The stories must be false, how could you have fought in the werewolf-vampire war?"

I rolled out of the way as the werewolf moved to grab me. I scrambled to my feet, but the man grabbed my foot. Kicking as hard as I could, I managed to get my foot free from his grip at the sacrifice of my shoe. The wolf snarled and lunged towards me, but I scrambled to the side, immediately tore off my other shoe, and threw it at him. It crashed into his forehead, leaving him dazed for a moment. I turned towards Samantha, and I saw a moment of fear in her eyes as she stumbled backwards. Her dress caught on a twig. She yanked at it, and a piece tore off.

The werewolf grabbed my arms, and slammed me against a tree. My head swam as it slammed against the bark.

No longer threatened, Samantha straightened. "In my original plan I was just going to kill you in front of Dracula. Now? I just thought of a way to hurt you as well, and draw out Dracula's pain."

My thoughts went immediately to my father. He had been through enough heartbreak; he didn't need to add anymore. I struggled as hard as I could against the werewolf, but he twisted one of my arms up till a point where the pain caused me to see stars. The more I struggled the worse the pain got.

"If you kill me in front of my father, you won't live to see another second," I warned her, gasping in pain.

Samantha smiled, "I was going to kidnap you, wait till your father is at the breaking point of his despair and have you reappear. Just for you to die right in front of him. Now? You are going to disappear, and in the mean time I am going to have that despicable mans child. Your father will have a blood child," she placed a hand on her bodice. "I hear that Dracula has always wanted a male heir of his own flesh and blood. It will be the thing that brings him back from his despair. He will forget all about the child he lost, and you will feel his betrayal. You will be the forgotten child," she whispered.

"I'll probably work on the details, but I think kidnapping you will be more devastating for everyone. So, beast. Take her alive."

The werewolf snarled, his claws digging into my arm. He pulled me away from the tree, but kept a tight grip on my arms as he marched me through the wood away from Samantha. Panic, fear, and fury rolled through my body. If this werewolf succeeded and kidnapped me, then how would my father figure out that Samantha had any part of it? She was right, there was no evidence that Samantha was a Monster Hunter, and no evidence that she had been on the kidnapping side. I pulled away sharply and spun around.

She would not hurt my father!

I wouldn't let her, even if it was the last thing I did. My father gave me too much.

I lunged forwards, but the werewolf grabbed my hair and yanked me back against him. He snarled, and a bit of fear plunged through me. His claws scraped against my throat and I swallowed thickly. What good would I do if I forced their hand and they killed me? I closed my eyes.

All I had right now was the hope that my father wouldn't give up looking for me.

Samantha made a noise and shook her head, "I hope you said everything you wanted to say to your father, because you won't see him alive ever again."

"You bit-"

Before the words came out of my mouth, my vision went black.