A/N: And I'm back lovelies! Wow I can't believe I haven't updated in 11 days, it feels like forever. I spent a few days planning out the rest of the story in excruciating detail so hopefully you will not have to wait that long again.
Hugs and happiness for everyone who favourited and followed, and especially to 'bay', Mystic Vampyre and Emzy211k for your reviews!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Lost Boys, but Sarah is all mine!
Enjoy lovelies!
X.
Third Person POV
David didn't love.
Not that way.
What he felt for Sarah before she drank from their bottle was about the closest thing he had ever felt to what he imagined to be real love. And even that had disappeared after a short while. To know what real love was, all David had to do was look at Sarah and Dwayne.
No, he definitely did not feel love like that.
Not that Star believed he didn't love her. In some way, he probably did, but she was convinced that they were destined to be the soul mates that Sarah and Dwayne were. As if.
Star served her purpose in the group quite well, once Sarah had taken her aside and explained exactly what she had become, Star seemed to adjust quite well to her new life. She was a distraction, something to entertain the boys when humans became… boring.
David felt for Star more or less what he felt towards Sarah even now.
They were both his.
Not romantically, Dwayne would murder him, but he still felt incredibly possessive over both girls, which tended to lead to little displays of power over, if no longer Sarah, then Star. And a bit of jealousy never hurt anyone either.
In a month Star had settled perfectly, with Sarah there every step of the way. Even though Star too hadn't fed yet and completed the change, she seemed far more likely to go through with it than Sarah had been.
Thank God for Sarah. If not for her David may have had to deal with Star in a different way.
Which was why it was more than a little devastating when David and the boys realized their first lost girl was dying.
It was unnoticeable at first, she seemed tired even at night, her breathing louder than usual.
But as the weeks passed, David spent every moment he could watching her, taking in the signs that something was very wrong. Her complexion dulled, something that never happened to any of them, until she looked sick. She of course was adamant that nothing was wrong, but when she thought no one was looking, she'd sit with her eyes closed and seemed to concentrate on just breathing for ages until someone would say her name. Then the smile would return and no one could tell the difference.
Eventually he couldn't take it anymore, and had gone to the only person who would know what was going on with Sarah.
The words still echoed in David's head as he watched his two girls chatting on the boardwalk a few feet away.
"If what you're saying is accurate, David, then Sarah's body is rejecting the change. The only defense the human body has against turning into a vampire is to shut itself down slowly."
"You mean?"
"Yes, lad. If Sarah doesn't feed soon, she'll die."
Sarah let out a joyous laugh, the night returning some of the life he knew was slowly leaving her, and David felt his chest constrict slightly.
He didn't want to lose his lost girl. She may have been one of the most insufferable, stubborn people on the face of the earth, but she was family just like the others.
Dwayne appeared next to him a moment later, his face set in stone, masking the despair David knew was tearing him apart inside.
That guy loved Sarah more than anything.
And David had just told him she was going to die.
This would kill him.
He'd pulled Dwayne aside not long after they reached the boardwalk that night, and had blurted out the truth without much room for hesitation.
David watched Dwayne's eyes harden, his natural reaction when something threatened to make him feel something, and he'd left him there to gather his emotions.
David knew Dwayne better than anyone. No one would ever see him cry or scream, but later when there would be no witnesses, he would let rip. And everyone within reach would suffer.
David had to tell the others as well, it was inevitable, eventually they were going notice that Sarah's body was slowly deteriorating.
He wasn't sure how they would react, but he didn't want to be around to witness it.
So he would make sure Sarah didn't die on them.
Sarah had a right to know what was happening to her, whether she'd started to notice the change in her body or not, but David didn't want to tell her just yet. He just had a gut feeling that she wouldn't change her mind about feeding even if she knew there was only one other option for her. He'd told her before that if she didn't feed she'd die. But that hadn't been true then. Half vampires didn't die from not feeding, the thirst just became so desperate that they attacked the first source of blood they could find.
That was what would happen to Star. Hopefully it didn't come to that, the body count was usually quite high when a half vampire was driven mad with thirst.
And the prospect of dying didn't even sway Sarah's reluctance to just kill someone! It really wasn't that hard, and it would be the end to her problems once and for all.
But now Sarah's life was truly on the line, going through something none of the boys had heard of before and she didn't even know it yet.
He couldn't sit back and watch his lost girl die.
Dwayne had been staring at Sarah for several moments before he spoke.
"I hate her, David."
The blonde nodded, knowing the truth behind those harsh words.
"I wish you'd never picked her out amongst all those people. I wish everything was different and that I didn't know her."
"Yeah." David leant back on the railing, 'We're going to save her, though. Don't worry."
Forcing Sarah to feed hadn't worked, they now had a second lost girl with them because of that clever idea.
So they were going to have to be more persuasive about it.
One thing was for sure though, Sarah was not going to die. He and Dwayne were going to make damn sure of that.
David didn't love.
But he wasn't heartless, either.
Dwayne had joined Star and Sarah now, having gotten his shit together and clearly uninterested in whatever crap Marko and Paul were talking about, and David watched as his brother stood with his arms around his soul mate, now aware of how short their time together was.
She turned her head around and smiled at Dwayne, her eyes lit up as if there were a fire inside her, and put her hands on his arms, leaning back against him. Dwayne turned his head to look at David and the blonde knew what that look meant.
You better help me save her.
Star of course drank up the little scene in front of her like a typical teenage girl. David knew if he were different, better, he could give Star that kind of love. But he wasn't better. For now she'd just have to contend herself with being a lost boys play thing.
David's attention became focused elsewhere as Sarah and Dwayne both turned their heads towards a shout that reached them from a few feet away. David smirked as Sarah's savior happened to come bounding down the boardwalk with his eyes set on their lost girl.
Sarah's POV
A lot can happen in a month.
If you're wondering, I hadn't fed yet. It was driving Dwayne and David mad with frustration because I refused to kill people even now. They tried everything, persuasion, trickery and even flat out bullying. One particularly horrible night David, in a fit of rage, had threatened to kill me himself if I didn't feed. He'd held me over the railing of the stairs by the cave and threatened to let go.
Dwayne had of course stepped in, but I was stubborn even then.
Speaking of Dwayne, my supposed soul mate was becoming increasingly hostile the longer I tried to put off feeding. I get that he was worried about me, but there was nothing I could do about it.
I could feel the thirst becoming stronger every day, my ability to withstand it getting weaker, and I knew it was only a matter of time before my mind no longer had control over my body. But until then I was going to fight. I hadn't been given a choice to turn half, but I was damn well going to decide when I became a full vampire.
Said that before?
Well it is as true now as it was when I first decided not to feed when I was told to.
What I didn't expect was feeling tired all the time, even at night. If I had to put it into words, I would say it was like I was only half here and half… elsewhere. In a black pit of nothing.
Sometimes it scared me to no end, but I explained it as one of the side effects of the thirst. And I sure as hell didn't mention anything about it to the boys. I didn't need to give them more reason to try and force me to feed.
What confused me the most was why they weren't being so bloody persistent with Star. When we'd gone back to the cave the night after she turned, they'd told her it was basically feed or die and they left it at that.
So what, did they not care if she died, or did they think she wouldn't try to fight it off like I did?
I was inclined to believe the former when I watched her with the boys. Though Paul and Marko treated her much the same as they did me, like a little sister, and Dwayne didn't really speak to anyone in general, there was something missing in Star's relationship with them.
They didn't joke around with her, or hug her and ruffle her hair like they did just to annoy me. It made me so sad to think that Star had been forced into this life and now this was a disappointment to her as well because the boys didn't dote over her like she was led to believe they would when they turned her.
The worst was David.
I knew he didn't love Star, I mean it was obvious when you took in the way he looked at her when she hugged him or kissed him, which was rare.
He had made it clear that Star belonged to him, but that didn't mean he cared about her. He was quick to control her and be all possessive, which only managed to convince Star more that David was showing he cared instead of just being a jackass.
She was a peppy little thing though, certainly had enough energy for the both of us. But the more time passed, the more I realized just how gentle and reserved she was. She hated being alone and was so desperate for companionship that she pretty much went along with anyone.
My heart truly broke for her though. I'd asked her if she was going to feed, and she was just as reluctant as I had been.
She'd asked me already why I hadn't changed completely yet, and had tried to dig deeper when I just said, "Because I value human life." But she, like the boys, quickly realized I liked to keep a lid on some things, and to her credit she didn't ask me again.
In the month she'd been with us, I got to know her pretty well. She was seventeen, from Florida and had run away a year ago, eventually making her way here where her journey abruptly ended, poor thing. And she loved music as well, a girl after my own heart. When I was working, she'd often come and look around, hijacking the turntable as often as she could.
She also frequented my couch, not really comfortable yet with sleeping with the boys. I didn't blame her. I only ever spent the day there when… well, you know.
Yes, I thought of her as a little sister, and people often thought we were related. Truth be told, as much as I didn't want any more people to have to care about in this all around situation I'd gotten myself into, I did care about Star.
She was someone I could just be a girl with. Yeah I had Lexi for that, but did Lexi know what I was going through? She knew something was up but she didn't understand and there was no way I was telling her the truth.
So Star quickly became my best friend.
We were gathered outside Max's video shop, waiting for David to finish whatever he wanted to talk to Max about, and I watched as a few minutes later David walked out the store and we moved on to the boardwalk. Something had happened in that store. I wasn't sure what but David looked different as he marched in front of us. I mean he always stood out in the crowds, duh, but now he didn't look so mischievous and alluring anymore. He just looked… troubled.
And it freaked the hell out of me. David never showed when something was bothering him.
This was big.
But as I settled with Star near the beach and started talking about… whatever, it was a while before Dwayne appeared behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
I would never admit this out loud, but when I wasn't near Dwayne it didn't feel right.
I always got this stupid smile on my face every time he was near. It was something Star pointed out to me a few days ago, and now I was acutely aware of it and unable to stay straight faced when I caught sight of him.
I turned my head to smile back at him and was pleasantly surprised when his lips crushed against mine. A few seconds later he pulled away and I laughed, "Nice to see you, too."
I turned back to Star and it hit me just how tightly Dwayne was holding me. He rested his chin on my shoulder and I felt his breath on my neck as he let out a heavy sigh.
I turned my head a bit again, trying to see his face out the corner of my eye, and asked, "You okay?"
I could feel the hesitation and then he sighed again and said absently, "I'm fine."
Well, now I was downright worried.
I looked at Star and she seemed to mirror my concern. First David looks like a whipped puppy for the first time since I met him and now Dwayne was being all quiet and brooding. Well, more than usual.
I didn't have a chance to dig though, as a little voice called my name and all heads turned to Laddie as he ran towards us.
I stepped out of Dwayne's grasp and walked forward, suddenly so happy to see the little guy again.
The last few days I had been worried sick for him. I hadn't seen him since I asked him to stay away from me, and I didn't realize just how much I had missed him.
He shouted my name again as I smiled at him. His arms went around my waist and he hugged me with surprising strength. I bent down slightly and wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
"I missed you Sarah." he pulled away from me and stood with something of a frown on his face, "Where have you been?"
I ruffled his hair and laughed when he pouted at me messing up his locks again, "Around, bud."
"Can we be friends again?"
I felt my smile falter at the hope in his voice. Did I have the heart to send him away again?
It had been hard enough the first time to force myself to break his trust.
If I was him I'd have run the other way when I saw me standing here.
"Laddie-"
"Who is your friend, Sarah?"
Star came next to me then, with such a warm smile on her face that Laddie returned happily.
I was starting to feel a bit cold the longer Laddie stayed in view of the boys.
"Um," I swallowed past the dryness in my throat, "Laddie this is Star."
Star reached out a hand that Laddie shook timidly, "Hi there, Laddie. Sarah didn't tell me she had such a sweet little brother."
"I'm not her brother. She looked after me for a little bit." I couldn't have ignored the hurt in those words if I tried.
Star just smiled wider, "Well, even so. You must have the girls fighting over you."
The little looked smug and Star laughed as she straightened up.
Laddie gave her one last look before he returned his gaze to me.
"So can we be friends again, Sarah?"
Star gave me a curious look and I didn't blame her. I could just hear her wondering what had happened.
The girl took Laddie by the shoulders and smiled again, "Sure you can be friends, Laddie. Come on, Sarah and I can take you for some ice cream if you like?"
I wanted to stop her, I wanted to tell her to leave Laddie alone before he got hurt, but I couldn't speak.
"Oh yes please!" he looked at me with a pleading smile, "Please, Sarah?"
"Laddie I don-"
"Oh come on, Sarah, let the kid have some fun."
I shot Paul a warning glare as he stepped up to Laddie and shook his hand, introducing himself as the fun one.
Laddie looked more than a little frightened at being faced with the boys he had warned about. But after a few moments he loosened up and seemed to enjoy Paul's joking playful mannerisms.
Marko did the same and then David stepped up. I knew that look anywhere. It was the same look he had when he brought Star to the cave.
No.
"So, what do you say, Sarah. Can Laddie come out and play?" Paul was standing with his arm around the boy's shoulders, smiling at me.
I took Laddie's hand and pulled him away from the boys, desperate to keep him away from David.
I knelt down to look him in the eyes and took hold of his arms, my eyes pleading.
"Laddie, listen. You shouldn't want to be around the boys. You remember what you told me when we first met, don't you?"
"Yeah, I remember-"
"Well everything you said is true."
He looked over to them and then back at me in confusion, "But, you're with them."
"That's how I know you were right. Laddie please, bud, you don't want to be around me anymore, or them, trust me."
"My grandma died."
His words were like a physical strike in my gut. I knew he wasn't just saying it either, as his eyes filled with tears and he said in a quiet voice, "I don't have anyone else."
I could feel my own eyes stinging as I pulled him towards me.
His little arms went around my neck and he started crying on my shoulder.
"Please don't send me away Sarah."
I felt horrible. I felt like an even worse monster than the boys.
I had been trying to help Laddie and all I had really done was hurt him and leave him alone to fend for himself.
What have I done?!
"It's okay, Laddie. I'm here." I pulled away to look into his eyes again, "I promise, you. I'm never going to leave you alone again."
I was so focused on the promise I was making to Laddie, vowing that I would keep it this time, that I didn't see David step up next to Dwayne and sling a casual arm around his shoulders. I didn't see him lean towards his ear and I didn't hear him say, "Looks like we've found a way to keep Sarah after all."
I seriously suggest that if you ever trouble writing sad scenes in a story, then you listen to the song below. I listened to it while writing David's POV for this chapter and I very nearly cried!
The song is called EPIC-Ancient Cry (Celtic Female Vocal)
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