It's like watching a rose bloom in a time lapse, but without time lapsing. Watching someone fuse from something normal into what you would only see in televisions.

Like knowing that what you're seeing is hundred percent real, unedited, uncharted, but still crazily deciding against believing it. Because, not believing it is what you have been doing since you could remember.

I believed everything I knew I had seen that night. And even though my aunt kept telling me that it was just some figment of imagination my clever mind had devised to portray the kind of man who had saved me, I didn't buy it.

I had seen it. I had seen him — and his golden eyes.

What was even realer?

I had felt him.

Jolting up abruptly, from a medicine induced slumber last night, tense and sweating like a pig, the only thing that I had managed to deliver out of my dry throat had been a scream.

I admit, the first few seconds of consciousness felt like I had woken up in hell. Every part of my body was in pain, I didn't know what was going on. I just wanted to escape. Truth be told, I was not ready to meet Lucifer yet.

I cringed as I chased the thoughts of that horror away. The hospital robes around me clutched tighter against my skin because of the sweat.

My eyes skimmed around the empty room again and I sighed. Almost happily, at finally having a chance at being alone.

I could think now.

Tiny jolts of electric jolted in my neck, spreading warmly down my chest, my breath hitched when I realised my fingers were unconsciously caressing the bandage on my neck.

Strangely, even though the accident had occurred three days ago, and I had woken up on the night of the second, the pain I knew I should be experiencing from my neck never came.

Aunt Prue seemed to be trying to coax out the information from me from the moment I had regained conscious.

I however refused to tell anyone.

"Beasty."

My whisper seemed like a loud declaration in the cold yet strangely comfortingly silent room. A sigh left my lips as I eased back into the hospital bed.

The man in grey suit with the golden eyes; the man whose canines dripping with my blood had been the last thing I had seen, the man who had apparently brought me into emergency, bloodied in his arms.

The man about whom I knew the nurses would spin romantic tales about for ages.

It was sad though, and fate was being a bit of a ninny with this, that I couldn't remember exactly how the man looked like. Just Inhuman blazing golden eyes, a rock strong chest and black hair that fell over his cheekbones.

Yes. My mind agreed. Even his human form emitted what his name suggested.

Human.

My heart jolted in my chest and I made an attempt at calming it down. It was clear my saviour was not human. After everything, I would be foolish to think he were.

But I would be even more foolish to tell anyone that the man who had saved me was a... a vampire.

Yes. That's what he is. A vampire.

From the moment I had regained consciousness — the debate was something that seemed constant in my thoughts. In the end I couldn't deny it— certainly no other beast would be so fascinated with piercing girls' necks and drinking their blood.

It was surprising how much my life had turned over in just a night— from finding these creatures in fairy tales I was suddenly seeing that they existed in the real world too.

Something else that I had debated long hours about was whether I'd tell someone. It was decided, I wouldn't. There was no need to make such a confession and end up in a loony asylum.

I shuddered.

"Hey, you okay?"

Looking up, shocked, I relaxed when I realised it was only River.

Jaydin and River visited often. No, in-fact, visit would be a word quite on the under-exaggeration's list. They had lodged temporary base at the hospital, whenever deemed possible.

Somehow it had settled into their brains that the accident wasn't much of an accident at all — but an attempted murder. I had an inkling that somehow Abigail was behind all their nonsensical thinking.

Or maybe they are watching Crime Investigation channel a little too much.

Over the past day I had noticed how Abigail looked around the room, searching, how she made sure the windows were locked. It made me suspicious. But that was the last thing I could do right now; suspect my best friends of being vampires.

I wasn't even done getting over having one vampire in my life — Lord knew I didn't need three!

Despite myself, I rolled my eyes, an amused grin already in place of my usually blank straight lips, "Okay?! Oh, no no! I'm ready to visit the queen!"

River grinned as he settled on the seat beside my bed.

"Madame Crawfort came over when you were resting, she sends you all her warm get well soon, a basket full of chocolates, and she's given you a week off, with an extension of another. She says you should rest," River's hand found mine and I squeezed it appreciatively.

"Thank you for telling me, Riv," I mumbled, sending a small smile at him.

His grip tightened, and he squeezed back. "That's what families are for Liv,"

"We bring news!"

Both River and I's head snapped towards the room's entrance and I groaned.

Jaydin.

Jaydin grinned as he strode into the room, Abigail walked in behind him. I frowned when I noticed the absence of Aunt Prue.

"Here's your phone. Keep it somewhere, okay?"

Reaching as much as I could for the phone I quickly grasped it and unlocked it.

Then locked it again and slid it under my pillow. I'd check the notifications later.

"Prue told us to let you know tha—" he turned to River for a second, "—Mrs. Welshnit dropped Lolette by today afternoon, so she can't drop by until Lolette has a sitter."

River's hand—which I barely noticed was still holding mine, tightened on mine and I cringed.

"My parents have lost their minds."

Easing my hand out from his grip, I muttered, "Didn't you know your mum was flying over from London?"

His stormy eyes turned to me and he shook his head, "No! And it's no shock really, they never tell me anything anyway!"

I sighed as I eased into the hospital bed and closed my eyes.

Guardian.

I was now guardian over a three-month-old baby. And then there was my saviour.

The Lord was testing me.

~^~
There was a lake. A black lake.

It stayed stagnant. Almost dead.

But I knew it was alive.

I sat on the edge of the dock, my legs folded instead of touching the black water.

I was afraid.

The air was calm, but the sickening chill was indefinite.

The lake smelt like brine.

Salt water lake.

Dead lake.

The sky was brown. Not a cloud in sight. Just a brown sky.

Everything around me... foggy.

I watched, still, as I waited for something to happen. For something to emerge from the black lake. For something to move out of the fog.

Something.

Anything.

And then it happened.

Beep beep.

The black water bubbled, a singular bubble that widened before it popped. Then another. And another.

Beep beep.

I frowned at the sound each bubble caused.

Beep beep.

Beep beep.

With each bubble the sound grew. Heightened. Deafening.

Beep beep.

My eyes widened as the large bubble emerged from the black lake, it grew and grew until it almost reached the dock's height.

And then it burst. The dark water splashed on me and I realised it was blood!

Beep b-

I screamed and launched up.

A layer of sweat coating me, I panted as I looked around me with wide crazed eyes.

Nightmare. It was just a nightmare!

The dark room stayed silent as my panting decreased and I calmed down.

It was just a nightmare.

My grasp on the hospital bed sheet loosened.

Beep Beep.

My ears caught the sound and I turned, the blinding shot of pain that bombed my head left me crying for a second.

It soothed, and I reached for the still ringing cell phone.

Unknown number calling...

Hmm... Strange.

I stared at the ringing cell phone until it stopped, content with the outcome of patience, I sighed as I closed my eyes and eased down onto my back.

Then it began again.

Beep beep.

"The punk is going to get a piece of my currently damaged mind," I hissed as I grasped the iPhone again and stabbed a finger on accept.

"Hello,"

I stilled.

The tingles that spread around my body hearing the deep husky voice completely shook me. But I knew who he was. I knew.

"Beasty,"

The man growled, and I listened as he moved about before I heard a soft thud. Him sitting on something.

"Is that how you thank me? Giving me horrible nicknames?" The man hissed, and I flushed with embarrassment.

Maybe I was being rude.

"I'm sorry," I whispered back, my heart felt like it was about leave me in a minute or two. Each thud seemed to echo around the room back to me. I suppose even my saviour could hear them.

I remained quiet as the man heaved out a frustrated sigh. What was he frustrated with?

Me?

Or himself?

"How are you feeling?"

I almost gasped aloud with be softness his question now held. Something in my chest stirred and I shivered.

What was happening to me?

Was I having a case of Hero Worship?

Startled with myself I blurted out the first thing I thought about.

"The bite you gave me on my neck doesn't hurt. Why?"

The silence that found its way into the conversation was punishing.

"I think you're mistaken. I did no such thing."

I jolted up in my bed and whimpered when the pain returned.

"You did!" I ground out, grinding my teeth trying to keep the pain out.

Another growl.

Don't vampires hiss?

"Foolish girl! Take care of yourself!"

Foolish girl? ... Definitely a vampire.

"You think I'm a... a vampire?"

My breath hitched, and I griped my iPhone harder.

Damn it Liv, you said that out loud!

I blinked, then gulped. "Yes. You drank my blood. I'm not oblivious."

"And you have not screamed Monster, yet?"

I scoffed. Did his man take me to be a sixteen-year-old kid?

"And be sent to a psychiatric? Because I'd be declared mentally insane the very minute I'd scream that. Yes, no. I.... I just want to know. For myself."

There was silence for a minute, but then to my surprise the man chuckled, the husky sound did another take of shaking me to my core.

How could his voice do this? Was this even normal?

"Alright. I'll indulge you. I may be something. But not a vampire. Find out. If you can, that is. "

I frowned. This game sounded rubbish and with my head aching this badly I was at my wits end.

I lost all patience.

"How hard is it to just admit it?" I demanded, my lips thinned, and my frown hardened. So, did my voice.

"Quite easy, really. But oh Olivia, I am so much more."

I stilled.

"Thank you. For... saving me... doctors said it's a miracle I survived."

The man growled, and I flinched.

"Goodbye Olivia."

Ooh that hurt.

It did. Something in my chest just snapped. I blinked back the strange sense of hurt.

"I'm never going to hear from you again, am I?"

"Probably."

It snapped more. I felt like I was losing something.

I wasn't losing anything. Still, I held my phone closer.

"At least tell me your name. Y–you know mine," I mumbled helplessly, my grip on the bed sheet tightening and loosening.

The silence that followed was thick, and cold. But then he replied. His voice a little humorous, still husky but slightly croaky.

"Beasty."

And then the call went dead.

~^~
One Month Later

"Did someone take a wee in her nappy, ha, did someone–oh wahewww! That's nasty, Letty! I'm reporting this crime to the potty minister, ya hear me?"

Watching Letty gurgle up a baby laugh at Jay's mock outrage I couldn't help but grin.

Jay seemed to have bonded with Letty, he never minded cleaning up her dirty nappies, and he was always at my place, beside me and Prue while we made Lolette sleep, fed her, bathed her, clothed her.

It was clear Jay loved her like his own kid.

I think even Abigail was impressed by the Jay that Lolette had seemed bring out.

"Here," I mumbled warmly as I walked over and handed him the milk bottle just as he settled with a freshly cleaned and changed Lolette on the sofa.

Jays bright eyes met mine as he took the milk bottle and placing it carefully between his two thighs, grabbed my hand and pulled me down on the sofa beside him.

I smiled as I quickly snuggled against him while he fed Letty her milk.

It was when we were on our second episode of Scream Queens, when the doorbell rang, and I let out a startled scream of my own.

Instantly a grumpy Letty that was only seconds ago asleep on Jay's chest, let out a frightened scream as she began to cry, very loudly.

"There you go waking up the baby," Jay grumbled as he got up and tried to soothe a now pink and very angry Lolette.

I sighed as I got up and took the screaming baby from his arm. Bouncing her against my chest I began walking around, cooing soothing words into her ears.

"Go check who's at the door, will you?" I whispered to Jaydin as Lolette began to calm down, her large stormy grey eyes that she had inherited from her dad, filled with unshed tears twinkled at me with the sort of warmth I'd only seen babies give their mothers.

I held her closer to my chest. Touched by the tiny realization.

A now much happier Jay smiled and nodded as he turned around and walked towards the door.

"Letty looks so much better with a smile on her face, ooh yes she does!" I whispered to a wide eyed Lolette. Immediately as if she understood what I had said, a toothless grin replaced her smile and I found myself grinning along with her.

I couldn't help but melt every time she sent one of those toothless anything's my way.

"Aweeeee!!! Now let's go and see where your uncle Jay is, okay? He's taking a little too long, isn't he?"

Letty grinned again. My heart melted into mush.

"Jaydin I've been looking everywhe—"

"Erm... Jay?"

Jaydin immediately turned around, his brown eyes stormy, I frowned at the scene before me.

The tall, lean, heavily tattooed guy with piercing hazel eyes stood at the door. His white shirt rolled up to his sleeve.

He looked absolutely bewildered.

My frown hardened.

"What the hell man, this your baby and the momma? You've barely gotten out of college Jaydin!"

Strangely, still calm, I sighed.

For a business man he's pretty dumb.

Jaydin made a move to hand him some, but I quickly wrapped my hand around his arm and pulled him back.

Just then Lolette cooed against my chest and I bounced her lightly, soothing her to sleep. She sighed.

"Jaydin!?" The man exclaimed, his hand up in the air in exasperation.

"Quiet Dom! She's sleeping! And this is my best friend, Olivia, and her niece. I told you about her, you idiot!" Jaydin turned to me, his eyes glistering with embarrassment, "Olli, this is my cousin, Dominic"

The guy, Dominic, froze.

Then sent an apologetic look my way.

"I'm sorry, I ... get upset easily."

I waved it off with a smile. "It's all right, I would have thought the same thing. Well... maybe."

I moved back, motioning towards the house. "Do you want to come in for coffee?"

A spark if gold rushed through Dominic's hazel eyes and I gasped, moving back, Dominic didn't notice, or if he did he didn't show.

Instead he smiled and shook his head.

"Maybe not today, I just came to get Jaydin. It's a... family emergency."

Smiling I nodded, then hugged Jay back as he hugged me and kissed a now sleeping Letty.

"I'll see you later, okay?"

I grinned. "Oh, I'm sure I will. Aby is coming over tomorrow after all."

Jaydin blushed, and my grin widened.

Turning my attention to Dominic. I waved.

"See you later," I hesitated, not sure if I wanted to use his name.

"You can call me Dom, everyone else does." He chuckled as both Jay and he began to walk away.

Dominic suddenly stopped and turned around.

My eyes widened. A little bit surprised.

"Maybe I'll come over next week, how does Thursday, sound?"

I couldn't help but laugh.

Cheeky man, turned a friendly invitation to an extended invite.

Beside him Jaydin wiggled his eyebrows.

Amused, I nodded, "Sure! See you both soon then."

Both Dominic and Jaydin grinned. Both their left hands coming up for a wave as they walked towards a black Porsche, they both called out in sync.

"Bye Olli."

I stood gaping as the car rolled out of my driveway.