A/N: Hello! It's been way too long since I last updated this story and I apologize for that. I'm just having a bit of a time issue when I have work to deal with and original publications and other projects on this site and others. I hope that I haven't lost your support though. Please, enjoy this little update.
OOOOOOOOO
Iona was tormented by images of her grandmother's burning body through the time that she spent asleep. She woke up tangled in sheets that were soaked by cold sweat and clinging to her exposed skin. Pressing a hand to the side of her neck, she looked around at her surroundings and tried to ground herself in reality.
"Breathe, breathe," she whispered, taking slower breaths as she repeated the mantra like a needed prayer. "Breathe, Iona, breathe."
The gypsy girl's eyes watered with sad tears as she remembered that today was another day that she would be without her grandmother. She was completely alone and had no home to call her own. With a small sob, the girl drew her knees up to her chest and cried into the small space that her arms and knees made. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest as she cried until she couldn't cry anymore.
Wiping away the sticky remains of her tears, Iona lifted her eyes to the bleak surroundings around her. A small clock told her that it was just turning four in the afternoon.
"Only four more hours until I can see Dwayne again," Iona muttered to herself, extracting herself from the sheets that had ensnared her. "Four more hours."
She allowed herself the luxury of taking a shower in the surprisingly clean bathroom before gathering her things. A new security person sat at the front desk when she went into the main office. His eyes turned towards her and she felt them mentally undressing her.
"Here are the keys," Iona said, setting the keys down and shoving them towards him so she wouldn't have to touch him. "Thanks for letting me crash for the night."
"For you, any time, Sugar," he told her with a disturbing smile.
Mentally shaking the creepy feeling off, Iona slipped back out of the office and headed out onto the street. Tourists were moving around, checking out the local culture in the heat of the afternoon, but Iona managed to find a small space for herself at a local pizza place. She ordered a pizza for herself and settled back in her booth seat. Her eyes wandered over the people that surrounded her, thinking about who would make the perfect victim for vampires.
You can't tell if they're vampire chow just by looking at them, Iona reminded herself. I've seen posters of men that were almost bodybuilders on the missing person's board at the boardwalk. Little grandmothers, bratty children, anyone is not immune to the choice of vampires. She lowered her eyes. Vampires will eat who they want to eat and there's nothing that a person can do to protect themselves without looking crazy to other humans. Grandmother taught me that.
Iona shook her head again as more tears threatened to swim in her eyes. "Don't you dare cry in public," she told herself quietly. "Don't give people a reason to think you're a weirdly emotional teenager." She propped her chin up on her hand and looked out the nearest window again. "Dwayne, I could really use your company right now…"
OOOOOOOOO
Dwayne opened his eyes and felt his human guise slip back onto his face. He had a feeling that someone was looking for him, calling out his name across the space between them. The vampire fell to the floor of the sleeping chamber shortly before his brothers did. He could feel David and Faith doing the same in their private chamber.
Without waiting for anyone, Dwayne passed through the cave and headed into the main lobby. Paul and Marko were howling behind him.
"Hey D-man!" Paul called out, speeding up to match Dwayne's stride. "Where are you heading that you have to break the sound barrier to get to?"
Dwayne glared at his brother and fished his keys out of his pocket. Marko laughed and bumped Paul with his elbow. A large smile hid behind the second blonds thumb.
"He's got to get to his dancer," Marko said, biting his thumbnail.
"You two leave him alone," Faith ordered, coming into the lobby ahead of David. Her grey eyes turned in Dwayne's direction and softened. "We'll keep Max away from you and Iona. Be there for her and let us take care of the problem that you're both facing…" She turned slightly. "Laddie, c'mon. We're heading to the boardwalk and if you'll help us keep Max busy, I'll see to it that you get all the candy you want tonight."
Dwayne didn't stick around to see Laddie or his reaction to Faith's words. The older vampire headed out of the cave and mounted his motorcycle. Iona's scent seemed to reach out to him, guiding him towards her. He knew that she wasn't at the motel anymore and he couldn't really blame her. It had been a complete dump and it had been the place that Faith's ex had been killed by David, so no one liked to go there in his small family, but it had been the only option that they had within the hours they had left with her.
We'll help her find somewhere better for her to stay, Dwayne told himself, turning onto the road that would lead him to the boardwalk. Until the day that she makes her final decision about this new world that she's found herself living in now. A frown touched his face. Even if it's the decision to leave town and leave me behind in her past.
Dwayne shook his head to clear his thoughts and pulled up to his usual parking spot. His nose led him to the gypsy girl, who was standing near the spot that she used to dance in. She was leaning against the rail, looking out at the dark horizon beyond the boardwalk. She didn't seem to notice him until he was standing next to her.
"What are you thinking?" Dwayne asked quietly.
"About life," Iona told him, not looking in his direction. "And how it's going to be different now that the people I loved the most are no longer in it."
"I'm sorry for what Max did."
The gypsy girl turned her gaze towards him and she took hold of one of his hands. "Don't apologize for something that you had no part in, Dwayne. You couldn't have done anything to protect my grandmother and she knew that. I should have known that, but life is funny. It takes what you love and does things to it." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "But life won't take me away from you. You're the only person in my life right now that I love….well, you and your brothers."
Dwayne's undead heart did a little backflip at her words. "You still haven't met them all."
"I don't have to. If they're anything like you and stand up against bastards like Max…then I love them too."
The vampire heard his brothers react to those words and shoved their voices away from the front of his mind. He slid his arm around Iona's waist, pulling her closer to his side. He could feel the eyes of unseen people on their back, but didn't let it bother him. All he wanted was to be close to the girl that had captured his undead heart.
He smirked when he heard the girl's stomach grumble. "Have you eaten recently?" he asked, looking down at her.
She shook her head and slid a hand over her stomach. "Not really. I had some pizza when I woke up, but I gave most of it away to a homeless family that I saw on the street. I honestly haven't thought about food since then."
An image of a cozy Italian restaurant flickered in Dwayne's mind, coming from David, the most romantic of the Lost Boys. He mentally thanked his older brother and turned his attention back onto the gypsy girl at his side.
"How do you feel about Italian food?" he asked. "Or are you all done with Italian because of that pizza?"
Iona smiled up at him. "I could go for some Italian food."
OOOOOOOOO
Dwayne had taken Iona into town on his motorcycle, driving her to the local Italian restaurant that she'd heard about but never been in before. The waiter escorted them to a quiet corner where they could be alone and the vampire had taken his seat next to her rather than sitting across from her. Iona ordered herself some chicken Alfredo and heard Dwayne order the normal spaghetti and meatball special. A bottle of wine was ordered to be split between the two of them and Iona felt herself relax after her first couple of sips.
"I needed this," she commented, setting her glass down.
"The wine?"
Iona threw a breadstick at him. "No. I needed this moment right here where nothing bad in this world can touch me. Where I can relax and be happy for just a little while." She let her head rest briefly on his shoulder once more. "I need more moments like this. And I want to spend them with you."
Heat flooded her face when she spoke those words and realized what she had said to him. She lifted her head from his shoulder and grabbed her wine glass once more.
Why do I keep doing that? Iona wandered, taking a hearty sip of wine. Why do I keep talking to him like that? We haven't known each other that long and already I am kissing him and telling him that I want to be around him for long periods of time. Maybe even forever. Why am I doing this?
Love. It was love that kept her in that frame of mind. It was what was keeping her from seeing the monster that he was behind that beautiful face. It was what kept her coming back to him instead of running off and disappearing completely from his world. She loved him and there was no denying it.
"Iona?" Dwayne's voice brought her back to the real world. "Are you okay?"
The gypsy nodded and smiled at him. "I'm okay. Better than okay." She clapped her hands together when the waiter returned. "Let's eat."
Iona's chicken Alfredo was mostly consumed, but something told her that the Italian cooks in the restaurant had a different view of serving sizes that most people. She pushed away a good third of it and helped herself to a couple more glasses of wine while talking with Dwayne about their respective histories and opinions.
"I really don't want this night to end," Iona told him as they wandered around town after finishing their meal. "I'm happy and being next to you, well, it makes me very happy. Even though I know that my life is broken into dozens of little pieces, you've made me feel better."
Dwayne's fingers squeezed hers as they held hands while walking past stores. He had taken hold of her hand when they had left the restaurant and hadn't let it go as they walked. Not that she had a problem with that because she felt better with him moving so close to her.
"It doesn't have to end for a few more hours," Dwayne told her, glancing down at her as they walked. "My brothers are probably looking for a place for you to crash when it's time for you to hit the sheets."
Iona tightened her grip on Dwayne's hand. "Can I meet them?"
"Meet who?"
"Your brothers and your sister. Can I meet them tonight?"
Dwayne's eyes darkened. "Are you sure that you want to? They can be very annoying."
"Please, Dwayne," she said, hugging his arm against her chest. "Please."
The vampire rolled his eyes playfully and let out a small sigh. "I guess that we can arrange a small meeting with the others."
"Thank you," Iona said, bouncing onto her toes and pressing a kiss to his cheek.
A smile touched Dwayne's lips and he wrapped his arm around her waist. Iona was all smiles as the Lost Boy led her through the crowd to meet the family.
OOOOOOOOO
A/N: What did you think? I know that a lot didn't happen, but that could change with the next update. Or not. I haven't decided yet. Please leave a comment in the little review box and I will try to get back to you. -Scarlet