"I'm lost in a world that's never been kind"

Mad World by Tears for Fears

THE NEXT NIGHT Sevyn found herself walking along the moonlit beach with David. The ocean shimmered under the night sky, a beautiful contrast to the terrifying danger of being alone with the mercurial vampire.

They walked in companionable silence for a while, both lost in thought. Sevyn ached to know what was going through David's mind. Was he thinking about killing her? She fought to keep her breathing and heartbeat steady.

Unbeknownst to her, David didn't need to hear her heartbeat to sense her fear. It radiated off her in palpable waves, feeding his control over her and the situation. This girl had done nothing but exasperate him so far. Between her thievery and her evasive answers, he questioned why he was even keeping her around. He knew there was more to her story, and he was determined to unearth it.

"Ready to tell the truth?" David asked, a cigarette casually sparking to life between his lips with a flick of his wrist and a lit match. Sevyn rolled her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips. He growled at her blatant disrespect.

"What makes you think I haven't been?" she countered, unimpressed.

"I know what I saw, Sevyn. Stop wasting my time and tell me now," he growled, turning to face her squarely. David unleashed a heavy dose of his influence, desperate to crack the little thief's facade.

This time, Sevyn wasn't prepared for the assault. She crumbled immediately. "Alright, I was there," she gasped, furious that he'd managed to pry the truth from her.

"There. See, that wasn't so difficult. Now, how'd you escape?" he interrogated, his glare softening back to his usual stoicism.

Angry, Sevyn clamped down on her lip with her blunt teeth just in time to resist his influence. "High school track star. I'm fast," she blurted out. Not even a little. "We were near a bonfire, so I ran towards it and into the party. Happy now? You're such an ass, David," she snapped. Anger wasn't her usual state, but David had a knack for getting under her skin.

"Happy? Not even close, kitten. What I don't understand is the lie," David challenged.

"I don't know! I heard rumors about you guys and wanted to avoid trouble. You reek of danger, don't exactly look like a welcoming committee. You sicced your goons on me, then after a week of dodging you, you corralled me like a pack of... wolves." She almost made a Jurassic Park reference about velociraptors but thought better of it.

David shot her a withering look.

Sevyn blushed, gathering her remaining patience. "Look, you know the truth now. No grand conspiracy here, David."

"I'm not paranoid" he sneered.

A loud laugh escaped Sevyn's lips. "Oh my god, David, you are so paranoid! I mean, sure, it probably helps sometimes, but not everyone is out to get you. Honestly, it's a bit egotistical to think everyone you meet cares enough to be a threat. Although, considering you're all such assholes, I'm sure you have your fair share of enemies."

Before Sevyn could react, a gloved hand clamped down on her throat, squeezing tightly. "Enough disrespect, little girl. You don't speak to me that way," he snarled, contempt dripping from his words.

Panic surged through her. Her heartbeat hammered against her ribs, a frantic tattoo beating against her chest. Her hands clawed uselessly at his wrist and forearm, unable to dislodge him. She mentally chastised herself. David's control issues were no secret – he was cool and collected until a certain point and she seemed to be an expert at pushing him past it.

"Yes, I understand," she wheezed, voice strained by the pressure on her throat.

David held her captive for a moment longer, drawing a twisted satisfaction from her coughs and gasps for air after he released her. Putting her in her place soothed his simmering irritation. How dare she speak to him like that? He knew she feared them, him especially, yet it didn't stop her from sniping at him.

"I... I apologize," she stammered, throat raw. "That was rude. I guess I just don't get why you think I'd hurt you or your brothers. Sure, I lied, but you terrify me."

"The unknown pisses me off. I need to understand who and what surrounds me. You call it paranoia, I call it survival," David explained, his tone clipped. She wasn't entitled to his justifications; she should accept what he gave her gratefully.

It wasn't much, but a rare glimpse into his motivations. She tucked it away, already piecing together the underlying reasons for his suspicion. She could even understand his wariness of her. He had no real explanation for what happened that first night. But revealing all her secrets wasn't an option, not yet. She'd deal with that later.

How does one explain interdimensional travel, anyway?

"Maybe I just don't live in that world as much as you do," Sevyn mumbled, gazing out at the ocean. She kicked off her shoes and peeled off her socks, tucking them away before wading into the cool water. The urge to get away from him right now was strong, she needed a moment to calm herself from his assault. She'd likely have a bruise collaring her throat thanks to him.

Great.

David watched her retreat, his face devoid of expression. Dislike for her curdled in his gut. She was annoying and a nuisance, that much was certain. Yet, Paul fawned over her, Dwayne found her curiously endearing, and Marko, while hesitant, wouldn't be immune for long. The most unsettling truth, however, was the unwelcome flicker of something similar stirring within him.

The part of him that craved a little chaos, a rule breaker, despised how much he… tolerated the girl. She mirrored him and his brothers in a way – a thirst for recklessness and amusement. Hell, she even matched Paul's boundless energy. If trustworthiness wasn't a fleeting concept with her, she could be a valuable asset to their nest.

But the question gnawed at him: did she possess what it took to take the irrevocable step towards immortality? David shuddered at the thought. Another Star in their midst would be unbearable. He had had such high hopes for her until they revealed what she was, and she turned on them immediately.

He didn't want to think about that though, let alone acknowledge those thoughts. He much preferred keeping Sevyn at a distance and observing her in her natural state. She was a puzzle he wanted to solve.

All this was making Sevyn doubt her decision to help them. Was it really worth the constant fear for her life? She lived dangerously, but tonight's terror was new. In those moments, she wondered if he'd actually kill her.

Lost in thought, she barely noticed David joining near the water, their arms brushing occasionally as they set back off down the beach. The rest of the night passed in silence.