I didn't expect what I saw when I came home from school. What I did expect was the normal greeting she would have gotten from her mother. Dad would still be at work as he got off from work at five. Dinner at six and my parents would ask me about my day you know normal stuff.

But when I got home I saw mom in tears holding onto dad with a man with dark hair standing in front of them. They all turned to me as I rushed to mom's side. The man stares as I tried to figure out what was happening.

"You have until tomorrow Paul. My brother isn't one to be reasonable I'm sorry"

I looked towards dad still holding on to my sobbing mother. Never did I take my eyes off him even when the door slammed shut with a resounding echo.

"Daddy? What's going on?" I knew if used the old saying of calling my dad I would get answers. Dad brought mother into his arm and me and the other.

Dad wasn't much of crier and he rarely ever cried so seeing my dad cry was a bit unsettling. I was told to get cleaned up and went back down as he asked. We sat in our circle dinner table the warm light above us giving the only warmth. The food left untouched.

"Why was that guy here?" I asked wanting to get straight to the point my mother sighed as my dad nodded his head at her.

"Ava. That was Elijah. Before you were born your father and I needed help to start our business. We heard of a man who could give us the loan but was warned against it"

"Wait so we're in debt? Why didn't you guys tell me? I could have gotten an extra shift at the restaurant or taken up a second job"

I stopped my mouth when my father gave me a look that pretty much said 'let your mother finish look' I crossed my arms and looked towards my untouched plate of meatloaf peas and mashed potatoes.

"Anyway. We were unsure about it at the time and we were really struggling with opening our family's restaurant so we decided to talk to Elijah and asked to speak to his brother...Klaus"

"And this is the guy we owe money too?"

Dad gave me another look and mom rubbed her eyes.

"What!? I can't ask questions this is really serious what if this guy is dangerous what if he takes the restaurant or worse our house!? What if he -

"Ava! Listen!"

My dad shouted I shrunked a bit in my chair. My dad hardly ever yelled too and when he did it was scary. My dad had to take a deep breath I mean I was babbling and sometimes it can be a bit annoying to those around me.

"He is dangerous. What I'm going to tell will be hard to hear and unbelievable at first but you have to be prepared for when you go-"

"Go? Wait hold on I'm not going with him daddy you have to be joking!"

"We tried Ava. We offered everything we have but he feels that if he takes you we will be able to pay off our debt faster" my mom cut in. I felt the air leave my lungs as I let out a soft gasp.

"...you hear yourselves!? Mom dad what's the worst that he can do? I'm not leaving my home!"

"Then he will kill us all!" Dad shouted I shook my head that my vision blurred.

"Then we call the police or something I refuse to go!"

"ITS DECIDED AVA! You will go, now go pack your things your leaving in the morning. I will not have you sign your own death warrant do you understand!"

My eyes overflowed with tears as I pushed my chair back and stomped up the stairs. Slamming the door that it shook the frame. I screamed in my pillow for what felt like an hour.

I felt like fodder. Heading to the slaughter house. If this guy could kill us what's to say he won't kill me when he comes for me? I punched my pillow and knew my dad would check if I was packing.

Grabbing my luggage from our trip to Hawaii I kicked it as we could have used that money to pay of the debt. But I was bare foot and pain shot up my toe that I bounced on one leg holding my injured toe.

After my break down I packed. My clothes, tooth brush I even threw in a few extras. My blanket I had since I was a baby, pictures of friends and family and most important was my stuffie. A stuff bunny I had since I was also a baby. It's fear was black with shining blue eyes mom didn't know why dad had gotten it for me but I always felt protected whenever I had it.

My door opened and the light from the hallway streamed into my bedroom. The light purple walls slightly more calmer and relaxing then in the small lamp light I had on by my bedside. Mom came in a sad smile on her face. I quickly wiped my eyes and sniffed.

"I'm almost done"

Mom nodded her head. She grabbed me to turn me to face her. I looked into her brown eyes the same as my own. Then she held my hand my eyes narrowed in confusion. Her hand squeezed mine and I looked down to see a small piece of paper. Opening it was just one word 'Go'

I looked at her quickly eyes wide. She was shaking and mouthed go. But what would happen to her and to dad if I did?

"I can't risk you and dad mama. I can't lose you guys" my voice shook. She pulled me into a hug and we cried.

*Morning*

We didn'teat breakfast. We just sat at the dining table all of us looking at the clock. My luggage by the front door. With everything quite the knocked on the door scared them all. Mom quickly getting out of her chair to place her hand on my shoulder.

Dad made his way to the door and outside was the man from yesterday looking down at the luggage that was hers. Mom brought me closer to her side.

"Elijah please" mom begged tears forming and falling from her eyes. Elijah looked at me and I felt uncomfortable under his gaze. My outfit was black baggy sweat pants with black muscle shirt that left my arms exposed. And a little bit of my stomach.

"I am deeply sorry but know I cannot change a thing do you understand?" He asked me. I looked between my mom and then my dad who kept looking anywhere but at me. I bit my lip and nodded my head.

"Good. Now we go, our limo is out front."

I nodded again and stepped away from mom but she didn't want to let go and I looked at her tears in my own eyes. "Remember Maria you will have no contact you will not look for her or ask about her all you will have is the account to put the money in same goes for you Paul "

I gave mom one last hug and my dad almost crushed me to death with his hug. He put something in my backpack I had left also at the door along with something in my hand. Elijah didn't notice when I looked at him as he was busy giving the account information to my mom.

Dad nodded his head quickly and I knew it was something I had to read quickly. 'Keep this with you at all times it's called vervain and try to find it whenever you can it will help you please do this to ease our minds you can put it in food or drinks'

I must have looked weird as dad smiled and quickly took the paper out of my hands. The small paper never crinkled it was weird.

"Let's go"

He softly pushed my shoulders and I had to grab my things on my way out. The limo driver never said a word as we got closer. He only opened the trunk and put my things in. I looked up at the man who sat next to me I jumped when the locks of the doors clicked sounding a lot louder to her as it would a cell and a key.

It was quite for a while but I was dying for conversation and I felt Elijah wasn't one for chit chat. I looked out the window watching as my home got smaller and smaller. A tear I couldn't hold back fall from my cheek that I was quick to wipe away.

"For what it's worth I'm sorry it came to this"

I turned to look at him his leg was crossed and he somehow had a newspaper out in front of him wondering how he could do that without me noticing and more importantly where did he keep it?

"So what are you guys really? Mob? Gangsters? I'll even go far as some sort of type of The Godfather here"

Elijah chuckled. Glad to know he found me funny. He folded his paper with such grace it never made a sound like a paper would. "Sort of. What have your parents told you?"

"Nothing besides that you are dangerous as well as your brother consider me blind to everything "

"Give me what you have in your pocket " he stated. My hand went to my left pocket and felt that I had put my father's army knife in it unknown to my father he loves the thing as he said it got him through the army when he was just a boy then as she said.

"No." My eyes narrowed dangerously I wasn't going to let go of the only thing that can protect me. Elijah sighed and as fast as I can blink I felt my hand being pushed away and the heavy feeling of my father's knife was now gone and in his hand.

"How the hell-hey OW! What the hell man!"

Elijah had turned my hand as I tried to reach for the knife and cut a deep cut on my palm. My eyes widen as black lines formed around his eyes as well as blood shot eyes. Elijah noticed and wrapped his handkerchief around my palm and I was able to pull my hand back my breathing heavier and coming in pants my insides screaming to find a way out as I looked at him in fear.

"See my dear we're more dangerous then common criminals and we are far scary"

I nodded and held my cut hand closer and went back to looking out the window. I could feel Elijah's eyes staring into my back every once and a while and I hope that I wouldn't spend too much time with...vampires.