Chapter 31:

I honestly just wanted to get this chapter over with so I can move on to what is in my head next for this story. Not in a bad way, of course! Larten re-enters and I just wanted to get there to keep things moving. Also, I would like to thank KoreanMusicFan for following my story along with FenRen16, Iloveallcookies, MerelyAnotherWriter, Sharon Nashor, and Silver Twig! Thank you, my friends!

Enjoy this new chapter, short though it may be! R&R

It had been two weeks since the attack and Erin and Brigid were making do the best they could with their healing injuries. Brigid finally had a walking cast so she was able to get around for short periods of time before having to stay off of it. It was torture for her. She had only ever rolled an ankle from a track competition so only being allowed to walk around for short periods of time was brutal. When she had to take off the walking cast she used her crutches. Erin constantly monitored her but she knew Brigid was conscientious enough on how to take care of it. If she didn't do exactly what needed to be done she would risk permanent damage and there would go her running track days and possible scholarships. But it still frustrated Brigid to an extent because Erin was handicapped even more so from her injury. Her shoulder was entirely wrapped and in a sling and she couldn't move it whatsoever. Her right eye had opened and her black eye was healing though it still was quite evident. Her stitches in her lips had come out and the fingers that had been broken were still wrapped unable to move. The frustration of having such extreme immobility made Erin cry at times; but there was something else that would bring frustrated tears to her eyes though she never let them fall.

"Here. Drink." Brigid nudged Erin out of her reverie forcing a mug of hot tea into her hand.

Erin sighed and accepted it taking a small sip.

"Good thing I'm right-handed or all of this would drive me mad." Erin sighed.

Brigid sat down propping her ankle onto a chair.

They were silent listening. A neighbor's dog barked distantly. It was getting late autumn; Brigid's mid-terms had passed meaning winter was imminent and the year was winding down.

Erin shivered slightly taking another sip of her tea.

Brigid looked over at Erin. She had a blank look on her face as she stared into the backyard garden. Brigid had been concerned ever since they were discharged from the hospital. Erin had been forlorn, her face drawn, an unknown burden behind her eyes. Brigid could make a decent guess as to why and what, but would not mention the reason or even let that name cross her mind. She had stuck by what she said, she never told Erin about the visit from Larten. It pained her to see her older sister silently sad over…him.

"Hey," Brigid broke the silence, "are you going to be okay when I go back to school tomorrow?"

"Hmm?" Erin turned her head, "Oh, yes, I'll be fine Brigid. It's time you went back. It's downhill from here and it'll be Christmas break soon. This year has really flown by, hasn't it?"

"Well, from a vampaneze attack to a vampire living here— "Brigid stopped mid-sentence when she saw Erin flinch.

"I mean," Brigid looked down, "flown by with-with a lot of…surprises. Even more than we're used to, right?" Brigid gave a forced laugh.

Erin looked at Brigid and gave a small smile.

"Yes, even for us, psychic and all." She chuckled half-heartedly.

Neither of them had had any flashes or equations or anything really significant pop up on their radar other than the usual day-to-day occurrences. Erin would never admit this to Brigid but she had been hoping for something, anything, that would tell her that…he was okay. Brigid had searched and calculated and hadn't come up with anything either. Of course, she had done this secretly.

Nothing. Back to normal. Literally back to normal.

"Do you think Murlough is still out there and after us?" Erin asked suddenly.

Brigid tensed, giving a quiet answer.

"I haven't seen anything but considering what happened to us…I would say better to stay on the safe side and assume yes. We were tracked. Murlough hunts but there's a connection. I don't need an equation to assume that. Maybe I'm grasping at straws but, well, he has nothing but time. He's healed by now, too." Brigid shifted her ankle.

Erin nodded.

"I know he is. Something is going to happen-but for now, we should just go about things as if any of this ever happened. At least until something is revealed to us. For now, we're back to normal." Erin finished softly.

She sighed and stood up, Brigid doing the same.

"You need to get to bed and I'm exhausted."

Both went inside and Larten heard the door lock behind them.

He had been standing behind their fence the entire time. The sun had just set. He stood there thinking hard. Brigid would be at school tomorrow, but that was during the day. The days were shorter but Brigid would be home before it got dark.

Larten paced a few steps back and forth before turning abruptly and briskly walking towards the forest hitting flit speed back to the Cirque. They would be moving on to the next town in the next county. Truska had taken care of him after he had gone to the hospital and had his confrontation with Brigid. His arm was healed after these two weeks. He had been searching for any sort of clue from Murlough or these sudden new human hunters that had been sent to hunt him. That meant Murlough still knew he was a threat. He had searched every inch of the town next to Erin's where Murlough had also been hunting victims. He had not seen much except for an old campsite Murlough had used.

Larten knew he could not stray far from the two towns. The Cirque would have to move on without him. He still could not fathom why Murlough would set human hunters against him by diversion of Erin and Brigid.

But this was good, Larten kept telling himself. He was a threat still. He could still protect them. There would be a final fight with Murlough eventually, but he would be there when it happened, never leaving them for a minute unless it endangered them all the more.

Larten arrived and headed straight to his trailer. He gathered his extra clothes and rubbed a hand across his coffin. It was the kind of good-bye only a vampire could understand.

Stepping out of his trailer Mr. Tall was outside waiting for him.

"You are leaving us I see."

Larten nodded.

"It's time I right my wrong and clear my name." Larten said firmly.

Mr. Tall walked with Larten to the edge of the campsite. Truska had heard them walking by and thrown herself into Larten's arms unexpectedly giving him a hug. He had an inkling she had intuitively figured out his dilemma. She had something that he didn't understand, but it must have been very serious for she looked into his eyes intensely before smiling. Other members of the Cirque had waved their good-byes as well.

Mr. Tall and Larten stood quietly together before Larten threw his bag across his back ready to make the trek.

"Be safe, Larten," Mr. Tall said to him, "Apparently there is another vicious individual far more frightening than Murlough that you will have to face again."

Larten looked up at him in surprise.

"Who-" Larten started before realizing who Mr. Tall was referring to.

Larten cleared his throat, his neck reddening that a skinny, teenage girl with her strawberry blonde hair always in a messy ponytail could be so terrifying.

"The Cirque will always be open to whomever whenever. Good bye, Larten." Mr. Tall said, turning from Larten walking back into the campsite.

Larten took a deep breath and started walking. He still didn't have a clear plan how to go about what he needed to do, but he would do it and that was that.

Larten slipped into Erin's garden stuffing his bag behind a rose bush. He hid behind the shrubbery under a nearby tree blocking the sun. He could hear Erin moving about inside. There was a crash, the sound of a glass dropping to the floor and breaking into pieces. He heard Erin give a frustrated cry. His chest constricted with anxiety. He scratched his scar to calm himself. Once inside he should be free from most of the sun's rays but not completely. Her room had the curtains drawn, but he didn't know if it would be appropriate to enter there.

No. He needed to just go in.

"Just go, you coward!" A voice in Larten's head said.

With that, Larten stood up and quickly passed through the light into the shaded back patio. Giving a snap of his fingers the lock to the back door was unlocked.

He steadied himself and slipped inside.

Most of the curtains and drapes were drawn just like they had been when he had stayed with them. He was guarded from the sun. He stood in the kitchen tense. He couldn't move so he waited. He heard Erin and watched as she walked into the living room to sit down. She had no idea he was there. Her eyes were red and tired. She winced in pain as she settled herself leaning her head back, her beautiful suave neck exposed, eyes closed. She was wearing the same green shirt she had worn when he had decided that green was a good color. Her feet were bare, her legs in tight black leggings. He had almost forgotten how shapely her legs were. It was like he was seeing her all over again. And there, revealed on her fair collar bone was the necklace he had given her. Seeing it made his stomach clench.

His body jerked when she suddenly opened her eyes and looked in his direction.

She must have had one of those split-second visions.

He heard her heart beating fast, her eyes wide in disbelief. She started breathing quickly to the point of hyperventilating.

He took a step towards her causing her to jump off the loveseat.

He stopped.

She lifted a shaky hand covering her mouth.

"Y-you." Was all she could gasp out.

Her breathing quickened even more. He didn't want her to hyperventilate and end up fainting. He was in front of her so sudden Erin stepped back bumping into her coffee table. Larten caught and steadied her before she could fall.

"Larten…?" She whispered.

"Yes," he said gently, "Please bre- "

"Larten!" Erin gasped in relief before giving a cry of severe pain.

"You idiot!" Larten snapped at her as she clasped her left shoulder.

She had gone to throw her arms around him completely forgetting her injury.

"Agh-" Erin shuddered.

Larten was gone and back in a second with her nursing kit. He opened it finding a prescription for pain. He immediately held out a pill and a glass of water.

Erin took it as if in a dreamlike state. She couldn't take her eyes off him.

Larten slowly lifted his eyes to meet hers once more. A few tears had trickled down her cheeks.

"Erin," Larten started to say, but she had grabbed onto his cloak and slowly pulled herself close, burying her face into his chest. He could feel her shaking against him.

Larten swallowed wishing she had thrown something at him, yelled at him, tell him to get the hell out, instead of this.

He slowly laid his face against the top of her head, carefully wrapping her in his arms.

"Is it really you?" She asked clenching her fistful of his cloak even tighter.

"Yes." He said firmly.