One more chapter! :D

But I probably won't publish the next chapter until Monday, I've got a busy weekend ahead of me.

There's a nice twist in chapter ten as well… ;]

Reviews are nice…please?

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THIS, EXCEPT FOR ANY CHARACTERS YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE. JK ROWLING IS JESUS!

CHAPTER 9

"So your father is considering it?" Sven asked, turning to her.

The two sat on a high wall, watching the sun set.

"Yeah." said Audrey, running a hand through her hair for a moment. "I'm surprised."

"Are you really that surprised, Audrey?" Sven snorted. "You're good!"

"Sven, I'm not nearly as good as-"

Sven gave her a look that said to shut it.

"Audrey, you're a brilliant musician. You need to stop doubting yourself." Sven said, but Audrey wouldn't let him have the final word.

"I will stop doubting myself when you stop doubting your drawing skills." Audrey said, mirroring the look he gave her before. He laughed.

"Fine, fine. It's a deal." He held out his hand and Audrey shook it.

After a few moments of silence, Audrey spoke.

"Are you still nervous?" She asked quietly.

Sven nodded. "I've heard nothing good of that school; I was talking to Karl about it. He goes there as well."

"Karl, the boy who works in Gregorovitch's shop?" Audrey asked, remembering the boy. He was incredibly good looking.

"Yes, he's Gregorovitch's grandson." Sven said, as though it were obvious.

"Really?" She asked.

"Yeah! How did you not know that? They're seen all the time around the city." Sven replied.

"Well." Audrey said pointedly. "I'm only here for three or four months out of the year, Sven. During the most populated season in the city might I add."

"Alright, that is true." Sven laughed, he changed the subject. "So what about you? Are you nervous?"

"I don't know…" Audrey began. "It's fifty-fifty. I'm excited, and I think that's just boosted by the fact that I have a cello instructor other then my father. I'm also going to be around beings my own age most of the year which will be fantastic. But there's this creeping fear that they won't like me, or they'll figure me out…that I'm not like them."

"Well, I didn't notice anything different about you in the eight years we've known each other until that run in with Vladimir last year." Sven said honestly.

Audrey laughed, remembering that night and how crazy it was.

"It's funny now." Sven said. "But at the time I had never been so scared in my life."

"Is Afanasi still in the city?" Audrey asked in a hushed voice, looking around carefully.

"I am not sure." Sven replied.

"He is." said another voice.

Audrey and Sven nearly fell off the wall in fright as the aforementioned vampire had jumped right in between the two and now sat on the wall.

"Dear Merlin." Sven said clutching his chest.

"Af! Don't do that!" Audrey said, playfully hitting him.

"Fanged jerk." Sven mumbled, the vampire chuckled.

"I couldn't resist, the timing was too opportune." He said.

"You are a creep." Audrey joked.

"And you have a horrible memory." Afanasi replied. "Did I not tell you last summer that I'd be watching?"

"You're still a creep." Sven said flatly, and then laughed.

The vampire put his arms around the two and stared off at the now pink and orange sky. "You both will be fine at school, don't worry."

Audrey strangely felt comforted by this, and hoped he was right.