Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Return to the Cave

When they get closer to the Lost Boys' cave Paul lands on the ground smoothly and gently puts Stacy down, who is still holding her cat, Gracie, in her arms.

"That was fun," Stacy said smiling.

"I'm glad you thought so," Paul said and then reached out his hand to Stacy, "Now come on let's tell the others."

Stacy set Gracie down on the ground and then took Paul's hand following him into the cave. When they entered everyone was there and Laddie was the first to greet them.

"Stacy!" Laddie cried out and ran up and hugged Stacy, making her blush. He then hugged Paul's waist.

Gracie starts growling and hissing at everyone in the cave, except for Stacy.

"Gracie, no," Stacy said, "These are our friends. You be nice."

Paul chuckles, "You got a really good guard cat."

"Thank you," Stacy said smiling.

"Hey," David greeted Paul and Stacy as he walks over to them and said to Stacy, "I see you're back, little one."

"She knows," Paul tells him.

David frowns deeply, as Stacy wasn't suppose to know yet, "How? Why?" David demands.

"Star," Paul answers glaring at Star, who shrunk back, "When I went to see Stacy we found out Star went to see Michael, their brother, Sam, was their too. We were listening to their conversation."

Star's heart sank at that and David glared angrily at Star.

"I'll deal with you later," David growls.

"So that stuff you had me drink that was blood and now I'm a vampire?" Stacy asks as she sits down on her bed and Gracie hops up on the bed too.

"No," Paul answers, "Remember what Star said you're only half, along with Laddie, Star and your brother, Michael."

"Oh right," Stacy said remembering and then asked, "Are there other vampires like you?"

"Yes," David answers, "And not all vampires are like us, some are bad, dangerous too, same goes for humans too. They can hurt kids, like you and Laddie, so you two will need to stay close to me or one of the boys at all times while we're out. Well more like you stay close to Paul, seeing as you two have a strong bond with each other."

Stacy nods at this and then smiles at Paul.

David nods satisfied. "Now since you now know, you need to know some other things," David begins, "First off, you, along with Laddie, will not become full vampires yet. The rule of vampires is all vampires must be at least sixteen. We will wait until you are sixteen to turn you same goes for Laddie."

Stacy frowns in confusion as she strokes Gracie, who lies on her lap, "I still age?"

David smiled at the young girl, "Only when you're half vampire."

"Why does nobody under sixteen get turned?" Stacy asks.

David and the other lost boys frowned as they all look at each other. "Because once you turn into a full vampire the thirst becomes almost unbearable if you're underage. The older you are though the easier it is to control," David explains, he sighed before continuing. "This is mainly because your body hasn't fully developed so this kind of change causes huge tension on you. Your brain is still growing, and the blood makes you go crazy," David continues to explain, "Do you understand?"

Stacy nods looking at David as she tries taking everything in.

"Good," David smirks and then his face grew serious, "And under no circumstances can you tell anyone anything about us."

"My brothers know," Stacy states, "But I didn't tell them anything."

"Well your brothers are an exception, even though it was too early for you and Sam to know," David said, "I mainly referring to someone outside your family."

"But why would I tell anyone?" Stacy asks, "Even if I did wouldn't people just think I'm crazy?"

"Well not exactly," Paul told her gently sitting down next to her, "There are humans who do believe in vampires, like the two comic nerds who run the comic book store."

"Edgar and Alan Frog?" Stacy asked, remembering them.

"If those are their names, then yes," Paul said, "But anyway don't tell anyone, not only is it for our safety, but for yours too. Do you understand?"

Stacy nods, "I understand Paul."

"And if you are having trouble with controlling your thirst let me or one of my brothers know and we'll take care of it," David states putting his hands on Stacy's shoulders and looking at her in the eyes.

"Like how you did before when I almost attacked that boy?" Stacy asks remembering what happened.

"Exactly!" David smiled, happy that Stacy was catching on quick, "Which reminds me until you become full vampire you can still eat human food, but you'll need to drink this." He held up a root beer bottle.

"I get root beer?" Stacy asks with her face lit up.

David and the others chuckle at this.

"Yes and no," David answers with a smirk and explains, "This is root beer, but it's mixed with blood, since the wine seems to make you sleepy. But this way you are technically not making your first kill, so you won't turn into a full vampire. Once you turn sixteen is when you will get turned. For Laddie, he's ten, so six years for him. How old are you again Stacy?"

"I'm eight," Stacy answered.

"So eight years for you," David said and his face grew serious again, "Now you should know that you have our blood in your system and we will know where you are always. We can also read your mind. You can call it a safety thing."

"You mean if I think something to you you will hear it?" Stacy asks.

"Yes," David answers, making Stacy smile.

"Why? What is it?" Paul asks.

"I think Michael and Sam might try to hurt you next morning," Stacy tells them.

That got all of the vampires' attention.

"Might try to hurt us?" Marko asks looking amused.

"Yes," Stacy said.

"How do you know?" David asked.

"After Star left, Sam yelled at her to not kill anyone until they get back to her and he was saying how he has connections, I think he was talking about the Frog Brothers," Stacy explains.

David scoffs, "Like they could stand a chance against us."

"Do you want to take that chance?" Stacy questions.

"She has a point David," Paul points out.

Stacy answers, "And Paul was there too. He heard the conversation too."

David sighs, "Well if that's the case we'll have to stop them before they have a chance."

"Just please don't hurt Sammy," Stacy pleads, "I'm still mad at Michael, but I still care about Sammy, so please don't hurt him."

"We won't hurt him if it can be helped," David promises Stacy, "Michael though, I don't know yet."

"Thank you," Stacy said.

"But Stacy, if you're right then I want you to promise me that whatever happens you won't get scared," David said with seriousness and concern in his voice.

Paul frowns in concern. What exactly did David in mind? He looked like he wanted to speak out, but it was as if something was stopping him.

After a moment's thought Stacy answers, "I promise."

"Good," David says with a smirk. "Now let's all get some sleep."

Paul held Stacy in his arms for a few minutes before tucking her in with Tod in her arms. Gracie snuggled up next to her owner and purred with contentment. David was watching them carefully. It wasn't very common for vampires to care for children, however there were some exceptions like Laddie, who had parents who were dead, and Stacy for obvious reasons. But then again they didn't know of any other vampires who did care for children. Sometimes in a coven one vampire in particular had the strongest attachment to a child. Dwayne and Laddie were an example as the bond they both shared was very strong and could not be changed. The other vampires felt similar, but Dwayne felt stronger as he was the most paternal, until Paul became deeply attached to Stacy, which rivaled Dwayne's and Laddie's bond.

This feeling could be dangerous however. About a decade ago, another female vampire had existed in their coven. Unlike Star, she was a full vampire and incredibly beautiful, her name was Lilith and she had grown very attached to a little boy she had met while hunting. She found the child eating out of garbage cans, because his father was starving him. Lilith decided to take him to live with her and the boys after offering him a sandwich. His name was Benjamin, he was a six year old boy with blond hair, beautiful blue eyes and a smile that could light up the room. He loved the vampire, Lilith, as much as she loved him and didn't even care that she was a vampire.

Unfortunately, some humans are more monster than vampires themselves. During a shooting, Benjamin was taken hostage, but the criminals didn't get what they want and they didn't like that, so the boy paid the price. Lilith made the killers pay by burning them alive. But life wasn't the same without Benjamin, Lilith blamed herself for what happened to him and eventually she became so depressed that she took her own life before any of the boys knew or could stop her.

David feared something like that would happen if something would happen to Laddie, all of the vampires were close to the boy, and now Stacy too, especially Paul, who grew relentless for the girl. What would they do if Stacy or Laddie were snatched away, and not just by bad humans, but by bad vampires? That couldn't happen, not again.

Paul looks at Stacy's sleeping form with paternal/brotherly feelings as he ran a hand through her hair making Stacy smile unconsciously. If what Stacy said is right her brothers will try to her away, along with Star and Laddie. He couldn't let that happen.

Paul reluctantly walked away from her bedside and backed to his brothers. He looked backed to where Stacy slept, along with Laddie, and Star not far away, and sighed.

Marko put a hand on over his brother's shoulders and said, "She'll be okay."

"He's right, Paul," David said, "We won't let her brothers take her."

"And we'll know if they come here," Dwayne states.

The four vampires then headed to a separate part of the caves where they slept to get some sleep. If Stacy's brothers did show up they would know and they would be ready.

I almost forgot to ask. Do you think the Frog Brothers, should get turned along with Sam?