Monday rolled around as if Sunday had never happened. Marcelle couldn't get him out of her mind, although she couldn't figure out why exactly. She was scared to death of that little leech, and yet, there was something about him that drew her to him. Like a moth to the flame. He'd said some weird things, like going crazy if he were to drink her blood. And how did he know what she was? Was it her smell? Celle leaned her head down and sniffed, pursing her lips as she tried to process the scent. But it seemed normal to her.

"Let me see your arm." She suddenly blurted out, looking at the person who sat next to her. Who just so happened to be Jan. She was confused, but did what her friend asked without question, cocking a brow. Marcelle lifted her hand to her nose, nose wrinkling as she took another whiff of herself. "Do I smell weird to you?"

"No, you smell how you always do. Like the forest. I don't really know how else to describe it."

"How do you smell?" Jan shrugged and held her arm out to Kelly, who took one smell and leaned back suddenly.

"Like cheap perfume and body wash." Everyone in the group rolled their eyes.

"I'll meet you guys in class."

. . .

Aiden ran as fast as he could. He needed to get to her house in time, before she got there. Finally, he was there, out of breath, but hitting the door with pure determination. It finally opened, an older woman opening it and staring at him strangely.

"Can I help you?" He pushed past her easily, calling out Marcelle's name as he took the stairs five at a time. The vampire burst into the room, taking in the empty space. She wasn't here. "Marcelle isn't here!" The woman huffed as she finally made it to her daughter's room.

"Where is she!" Perhaps a little to aggressive. "I'm sorry. She's in serious danger. She needs to leave this place before she gets caught. You do too. A woman named Riannon is after her, and if she gets here and you're still here, she'll shred you."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Aiden."

"The vampire." His nose twitched. How the hell did she know? "Marcelle told us about you. How can we trust you?"

"Because I haven't ripped out yours, or your daughter's throat." Proof enough, right?

"You touch her, I'll track you down and rip your throat out, understood?" Aiden gave a nod. "She's at school. Not sure why a fae wanted to go to school, but who am I to say no."

"Thank you." The woman gave a nod before he disappeared in the blink of an eye.

He'd arrived at the concrete jungle quickly, following her smell the whole way there. Riannon wouldn't be too far behind him. Hell, that crazy bitch could have already been there for all he knew. But he had to keep going. Had to find her. Finally, the smell of sage and rain radiated out of one of the rooms, and when he opened the door, all eyes fell to him.

"Marcelle." The words fell from his lips, relieved to see she was alright. Eyes shifted between the two as he made his way towards her.

"Aiden. What are you doing here?" The vampire held a hand out for her to take, eyes glancing up to gaze out the window.

"We have to go. Now. Someone's coming after you. And trust me, you don't want her to find you."

"Excuse me! Who do you think-" Turning around suddenly, his eyes met with the professor's.

"Go sit down, and don't say a word until we leave." The man did as Aiden said, he turning to look back at Marcelle. "Please. I already told your mom to leave."

"Celle?" Jan looked over at her friend, who returned the same confused expression. "I would much rather see you in one piece tomorrow. I'd go if I were you." Hesitantly, her placed her hand in his, Aiden yanking the fae up and turning to rush from the room.

But it was too late.

"Nice to see you've brought me my prize, Aiden. Hand her over and I won't have to kick you ass. Again." The blonde stood across the courtyard, smiling at the two. She looked like a character straight out of Underworld, or even the Matrix, her body adorned in a black leather jumpsuit that was just a little bit too low cut.

"Bending over backwards for little Damon again, I see? You know he won't screw you, no matter what you do. We royals don't date dogs." Her face seemed to turn red, furious with his words.

"You will address him as your King! And I wouldn't be talking, you little shit. I'm not the one dragging a faery around." They'd begun to build a crowd, students emerging from their classrooms to watch the scene as it unfolded. "Lowest of the low, if you ask me. Disgusting life form, only good for their blood."

"How about you? Made only to please your master. Now that's pathetic. At least her blood is pure!" He definitely had a way of pulling her strings.

Aiden glanced down at Marcelle, taking his eyes off the blonde only for a moment.

"You need to get out of here." He handed her a small piece of paper. "Go to that address. I'll meet you there."

"Why?"

"Don't ask stupid questions. Just go." She was hesitant, but her feet began to move.

. . .

She could hear the fighting. Hear the screams of her fellow class mates as the two vampires went at it in the court yard. How the hell were vampires able to go in the sun? Wasn't that a thing? No sun, or they'd burst into... flames or ash, right? Apparently not.

A familiar black vehicle came to a screeching halt next to her, a face she knew so well leaning out the window. As she shouted at Marcelle to get in, she did so willingly, huffing and shaking.

"What the hell is going on! Who are those people!" She was visibly shaking, horrified by what she'd seen. "That blonde chick threw Aiden like he was a football! And don't even get me started on how fast they moved! I couldn't even keep up!"

"They're vampires, Jan. I'll explain it all when we get to this address."

The building was massive. A beautiful plantation home that seemed to have been abandoned for years. Everything was peeling and rubble sat at the base of the pillars. Was it safe to go inside? The fae was hesitant until the door opened, an older woman with black hair and grey eyes standing in the frame. She seemed happy enough, a warm smile plastered upon her withered lips.

"Ah, you must me Marcelle. Aiden hasn't stopped talking about you for a moment." She chuckled. "Please, come in." The woman stepped aside to let the two girls in, both gasping at the sight inside. It was truly beautiful, looking as if it were built just yesterday. The fixtures and furniture matched the time it was built, lights dim, giving it an eerie but homey feel. "Please forgive me, but what was your name?" The woman walked to Jan, holding out a hand.

"Janice. It's a pleasure Mrs...?" She trailed off, waiting for a response.

"Nora. It's wonderful to meet you." The room fell silent for a long while, Marcelle finally being the one to break it.

"Nora, what are you doing here?" The woman looked to the two girls, confused for a moment. But she smiled quickly,

"You mean why is an old woman working for a vampire?" Jan still didn't seem to be believing it. But nonetheless, Nora giggled, shaking her head softly. "He's kind to me. My family was killed in this place long ago, and I was devastated. But Aiden showed up on the front door one day and then next thing I knew, he was staying here, treating me like his own mother!" She giggled once more, shaking her head. "I have to admit I was quite shocked when I found him sucking the life out of a young girl one day, but somehow I accepted it. He never kills anyone, which is the only reason he's allowed to stay in my home." The fae glanced over at Jan, who's eyes were as wide as the ocean. "Where is he, by the way? He told me he was going to pick you up then be right back. 'I can't have my little butterfly running around in the open,' is what he said. He was afraid another vampire would find his treasure."

"He'll be back shortly. He had to run an errand." Worrying the old woman was the last thing the girls needed to do.

Nora had showed the two to the sitting room, scurrying off to make some tea.

"What the hell is going on!" Jan was baffled. And she wasn't happy about it. "Why the hell are these people after you! And why you! Why not someone else?" With a sigh, Marcelle stood. She'd kept the secret from her friends for years.

"If I show you, you can't tell anyone. You might get yourself killed if you tell people what I am." She stayed silent, just watched in awe as the girl shed her over shirt, wings fanning out around her.

"Holy. Shit. You're a fucking... holy sh-"

The front door slammed open, sending a loud cracking echo through the house. Janice stood to stand next to her friend, petrified of what might be coming.
"Marcelle!" Her feet moved quickly to the doorway.

"Aiden!" She was strangely happy to see him. Even as cut up and bloody as he was, the sight brought peace to her, and when his arms went around her and squeezed, the girl couldn't help but do the same.

"I'm so glad you're okay." He whispered, finally releasing after taking a calming breath. His words tugged at her heart strings, the sincerity in every syllable. "Riannon isn't going to be out for long. She's stuck with a flagpole through her chest, but that won't hold her forever. We've got to go."

"Where?" Where could they go? And why did he want to protect her so?

"I don't know. I could take you back to Ireland, and you could find sanctuary in the faery realm. But you'd have to stay there, and I don't know if there are any more of your kind left..." She was so confused. He looked up at Janice, watching her for a moment before her moved towards her. "Thanks for picking her up. You can go now. I'll do everything I can to protect her." Giving a nod, the two girls hugged before Janice disappeared out the front door.

She sat quietly while she watched Aiden converse with Nora, a mess of questions flying through her mind. Why did he want to protect her so badly? Who was that blonde girl? Why did Aiden allow Nora to stay here? Would she ever see her parents again? Were they even alive? He finally turned around and noticed the look of bewilderment on her porcelain like features.

"You okay?" He took a few steps forward, sitting on the couch beside her.

"Confused about a great number of things, Aiden." Not much she wanted to ask to him about, though. He was, after all, her enemy. At least, he was supposed to be, right? "I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about you." Was she supposed to hate him? Be thankful? It seemed like everything was fine until he showed up.

She watched as he stood, confused as he took a step towards her.

"Well, you may be confused about it. But I'm not." What the hell was he doing? He had her backed into the wall, face lowering closer and closer to hers. Lips finally brushed against her own, the girl freezing. Was he kissing her? Finally, Aiden pressed his lips against hers, and for a brief moment, she kissed him back. It was a strange feeling, her warmth mixed with the coolness of his skin. Euphoric in a way. But she came to her senses quickly, pushing him away roughly. Marcelle stared at him, angry and confused.

"I'm going... to go find something to do."

What the hell was going on?