I Am Human - Moss

Love that song <3

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I chewed on a mouthful of pizza, ignoring Michael's protests because I was damn well starving.

Michael stood behind the couch pacing, his thumbs flicking quickly over his phone screen.

"What does this mean then?" I asked quietly, shutting the pizza box. Well, at least the vampire didn't do anything to the pizza.

Michael didn't mutter a word as he continued to text. And sure enough within ten minutes Pamela, Nick, Ethan, Celia with little Jonas, Anastasia and Nathaniel walked in.

Ana smiled lovingly at me and I smiled right back. Ana was the grandmother of the family and I adored and loved her with my whole heart. If it wasn't for her, the witches of the group wouldn't know how to make the rings and pendants for vampires to go out during the day.

Nick settled beside me and smiled. Nicholas wasn't much of a talker. He tended to watch and observe a lot but from the way Pamela looked at him and vice versa I could tell she and him were madly in love.

"Once again, I ask what does this mean." 

"It means," Pamela said. "By the end of June Vancouver will be 'Vampcouver'. That bitch is turning humans more and more every night. And soon enough there won't be any humans left."

"More and more reports on murders and killings on the news has arose questions from the American government." Nate added

"My god, she got the American's involved?" I bolted from my seat knocking the pizza onto Nicholas's lap. I caught him eyeing it before hesitantly opening the box and taking out a slice.

I rolled my eyes at him before turning to the rest. "FBI? DEA? What?"

"Worse. CIA. Washington, Obama. Shit like that." Nate grabbed the remote and switched the TV on. The channel rarely changed from the news because we'd all been watching it religiously. Although this week had been quiet it didn't mean the killings had stopped. First we started with CBC, then CNN, FOX News and BBC World News shocked me the most. The world knew? 

I slumped back beside Nick and glared at the fact he'd eaten two slices. I snatched the box from his lap and put it in the kitchen before returning.

This was the one night I'd wanted with Michael without all of... this.

I watched as everyone interacted, speaking in hushed tones. Celia bounced Jonas on her hip and I blinked at the growing boy. I'd only seen him two weeks ago and he looked almost like a one year old. A few more weeks and he would definitely look like one although he had another four months. 

His bright brown eyes watched me before reaching out. 

"Let me take him. You guys can... Carry on." 

Celia handed me Jonas and I took the beautiful child with me into the study. His fingers curled into my hair, twisting it in his curious hands.

"Mom and dad are doing grown up things right now, sweetie. So you'll have to stick with me."

He made a gurgling noise as he fiddled with my hair, which almost sounded like a small cry. Thanks Jonas.

 I entertained him for all of half hour before letting him onto the floor to crawl about. I watched him stand himself up only to fall onto his bottom. 

He looked up at me as if he was asking whether to cry or not but I only smiled and crawled toward him myself. "Did you fall, Jonas? Are you hurt?"

I rubbed my noise against his and he giggle and squealed.

"That'd be a no." A voice said behind me.

I turned to the door and smiled at Nate. "Everything okay?"

"Everything's fine. They're just... Debating really."

I sat cross legged on the floor and brought Jonas in to sit on my lap. "Finishing any time soon?"

"Probably twenty minutes." He sat beside me and tickled Jonas's side. The boy smiled at Nate and grabbed his finger. "You look good with him."

"The little monster's grown on me." I laughed. "I'm surprised he's awake though."

"Dhampir thing. He'll get used to his sleeping patterns when he gets older."

As if we'd muttered a command word, I felt his small body fall backward into me. I looked down and chuckled at his small sleeping form. "He's like the perfect baby."

"He is." Nate smirked. 

I wrapped my arms around him to support his neck and left him cradled within my crossed legs and arms. "So how are you? Any jobs yet?"

"Actually yes. You'll be happy to hear I've got a job helping that old bat at the library in your college for the new semester."

I smirked at the memories of us sitting in the library all those years ago. "That's perfect for you."

"It'll be quiet and I'll probably spend my days reading anyway."

"Will you change jobs in the future?"

"Maybe... I mean I could start taking classes."

"In what?" 

"Hm... I'm not sure."

"Come on Nate what do you love to do? What have you got a passion for?"

His grey eyes never wavered from mine before he shrugged. "Math was a strong point."

"What about history? You helped me with mine."

He shrugged again. "That was more Michael's thing."

"English? You're literate."

He rolled his eyes with a small smile. "I suppose."

"Look into English."

"Alright, only for you." 

I patted his cheek. "Good. Study in that library, Nate."

As I stroked my thumb over his rough cheek, I watched Michael step into the room. I sent him a small smile and dropped my hand onto my knee. "Nate was just telling me he'd accepted a job at SFU."

Michael's eyes searched Nathaniel's face for what seemed like forever before he turned back to me. He crossed his arms over his chest and said, "Oh yeah? What department?"

"The library." Nate answered before I could. He carefully took Jonas from my lap and stood. "I'll be seeing you around campus then."

Between the two of them, the tension rolled off Michael more and it bothered me. What could he possibly be thinking? Something stupid probably. I joined them both and stood beside Nate. "Is the mother's meeting over?

"Yeah. Celia's waiting for Nathaniel." Michael's gaze flickered over him. "So goodnight."

I lightly shook my head at them both and brushed past Mike to say goodbye to the others. I smacked Nick on the back of his blonde head after noticing the empty pizza box. He only winked at me and followed the rest of them out. 

After shutting the door and locking it, I made my way into the living room realising we hadn't technically eaten. Not that he had to anyway, but hell I did. And I was still starving.

Two slices of pizza wasn't exactly satisfying. I disposed of the empty box and took out ingredients to make a cheese and ham omelette. 

From the corner of my eye, as I poured the mixture into the pan, I watched Michael walk in from living room. In his pyjama bottoms. 

"Ready for bed?" I glanced at him.

"I know this wasn't how we wanted the night to go."

"No, it wasn't." 

"Would you rather I'd have waited to tell the rest of them tomorrow?"

I didn't answer because honestly I didn't know. As selfish as it sounded I did just want this one night to love Michael; to lie with him and just talk. But something, something, had to happen. Because it's just my friggin' luck.

His thumb came out of nowhere and pulled my bottom lips from between my teeth. "You're thinking pretty hard."

I turned the omelette over and sighed. "Yes, I am."

He didn't utter a single word after that not even as I served the omelette and sat at the island to eat it. He just watched me. After locking up downstairs at one-thirty in the morning, I showered, brushed my teeth and shrugged on one of my long t-shirts.

My reflection in the mirror startled me slightly. I looked tired. I had slight bags under my blue eyes from lack of sleep. 

I heard the creak of the bathroom door but I didn't turn. Michael stepped behind me and his jaw visibly clenched.

"We could leave," He murmured moving the hair away from my neck. "Get on a plane and disappear."

"That'd be running away from the problem and it wouldn't help anyone but us. We'd be leaving everyone." I caught his eyes in the mirror. "I couldn't do that to them."

His pressed his cheek against the side of my head. "I'd do anything for you."

I leaned backwards into his chest. "I know."

"Say the word and I'll take you away from all of this."

I turned around and lay my hands on his bare shoulders. "I'm not ready to cry wolf yet."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. Let's go to bed."

Getting Michael to settle into bed was slightly more difficult than I'd thought. He asked me whether I was still hungry or thirsty, gone downstairs to get me a glass of water, gone back downstairs to turn home security on and then finally allowed me to push him onto the mattress. 

"Sleep now, okay?" I smirked as I settled my arms over his naked chest and rested my head on top of my arms. "You can stop worrying about me I'm fine."

"Well, you didn't get to eat your favourite pizza."

"I had two slices."

His mouth curved up into his first smile since the rest of them had left. "And I watched Nick eat the rest."

My eyes darted from his lips to his eyes before copying his smile. "I'm surprised he even finished it."

"He was keeping himself busy whilst we all talked."

"He doesn't talk much himself does he?"

"He never did, really. For all we know he might talk Pamela's ear off when they're alone."

I pressed my lips against his breast bone and trailed it to the other side where his heart quietly beat beneath my palm. "I wouldn't be surprised." His sigh as I continued to feather kisses along to his neck. Half of my body lay over him as I faced him. I pecked his lips and said, "We should be getting to sleep. We both have class in the morning."

"Might call in for a study period." His fingertips skimmed along the back of my thigh. "We could both use a day of just you and me."

"Unfortunately, I need my lecturers help with my dissertation. And so does Laura. So that means you need to be in tomorrow." I curled my hand around his, stopping his teasing before I actually took him up on his offer. "Now, I love you and goodnight."

Before I could move to my side of the bed, he grabbed my head and devoured my mouth in a mind scrambling kiss. He nipped my bottom lip and smiled. "Goodnight."

**

The stream in front of me ran down the small hill into a circular creek. After breakfast this morning, I left Michael to shower and dress and walked out through the back to the creek. It was barely half seven and usually the sun would be heating the cool morning but it was oddly cloudy today. 

I blew the steam over the edge of my cup and took a sip of my coffee. I was still in my pyjama top sat by the slightly damp edge of the stream but I'd stepped into a pair of jogging pants. This was the time of the morning I loved. Whenever I jogged, walked or sat out here it was just so quiet and relaxing. The constant chirping of birds, the scuttling of animals through the forest. It was perfect. I couldn't imagine being a vampire and hearing this. It would be ten times better.

I heard a scuttle behind me and turned to watch a rabbit run past and down the small hill. I smiled at the brown rabbit before taking another sip of my coffee. As I took a larger gulp, I heard a quieter noise. And as I swallowed, I choked on the last bit when a body, female, dropped beside me with a heavy sigh.

"You know, I'm surprised you got Nathaniel to get a job." That sickly alluring voice said beside me. "Honestly, I was shocked."

I sobered quickly and stared at her. 

"I thought you'd be happy to see me. I won't hurt you, turtledove. I probably only have about fifteen minutes before the clouds clear up." Florence smirked and crossed her legs. 

"How did you know Nate had a job?" I growled.

"Funny story really, you must hear it. I come home last night from a little fun with Jonah- Remember him? Anyway, one of my protégé's walks in after his shift at work and he says to me, 'a customer knew I was a vampire.' Weird, I know. So where does he lead me to? Michael's house of course."

"Of course." I mumbled to myself. And of course that delivery guy would run back to his maker. 

"So, I stuck around and watched you play with that cute half vampire."

"Don't you dare-"

"Oh shush, I don't hurt anyone under five."

I turned my gaze away from her and spoke into my coffee, "You're a liar." 

She grinned. "I'm glad you're getting to know me. You know what I find amusing? You, Michael and Nate. The jealousy that rolls off Michael is almost visible."

"As if it were any of your business which, oh, wait a minute it's not."

Florence's smile twitched. "You know you're awfully confident during the day."

"That's because you probably only have about," I looked up at the sky. "five minutes before I get to watch you burn."

"A shame it won't happen then, hm?" 

I sat, tense, in silence debating whether to scream or say her name extremely loud for Michael to hear or something. But that'd be absolutely stupid because it wouldn't take more than five seconds for her to do damage.

"Oh, by the way," She turned to me. "Kudos on the bar kill."

My shoulders stiffened further.

"I know you didn't do it but I wasn't there, I reassure you. But," She sighed and I flinched as her finger lifted and skimmed down my neck. "Did you know a Maker can feel every single one of their protégé's die?"

I hid my surprise and interest and waited for her to continue.

"I felt him die. What was his name anyway? Scott? He was a complete asshole but he was still mine. Every one of my protégé's that your boyfriends and friends kill, I can feel. My emotional tie to them is zero but it still stings right here," She pointed to her heart with pouted lips.

"You don't have a heart." My eyes narrowed as odd ideas swirled within my head.

"Maybe, maybe not but I don't take kindly to insults on my heart whether I have one or not." She leaned toward me. "My, you do smell delicious."

A ray of light shone ahead of us and I glanced toward it. Florence smirked at it and turned back to me. "Some other time it seems. Have a good week, buttercup. And just remember Evie... I don't forget."

My palms tightened around my mug. "Forget what?"

"Anything. Insults specifically. Bye, Evie." And she disappeared. 

The ideas hit me left right and centre at Florence's new information. Things that were obvious like her not being able to go out during the day, things that I didn't know like every protégé that dies effects her in some ways. I shoved her small threat of her 'never forgetting' to the back of my mind though. I could deal with that later.

And as I ran to the house and burst into the bedroom, I said, "We're going to Ana's."

He fixed his tie. "But what about-"

"It's only eight o'clock and class is at ten. Call Lewis, Nate, Pam and Celia."

Immediately his nostrils flared. He could smell her, the flare of anger in his eyes proved that. He didn't ask any questions before we arrived at Ana's. He just drove silently and followed me into the house with a permanent scowl. 

Nate answered the door and when we walked in, I saw Micah sat with Ana and the little vampire clan in the living room. I told them Florence had visited me again by Michael's house and I allowed the surprise to pass over them for a good minute before quietening them down. 

"I figured something out," I started. "And it is as plain as the day in front of us as well, literally. We know Florence's weakness is the day don't we? Because she doesn't have a daylight pendant or ring. Then why haven't we worked it to our advantage? You've been searching for her at night when's she's obviously moving around. Her protégé's can't move around during the day either. Now, this time during the day is when you can try to find her. And there's another thing," I turned to the oldest vampire in the room which was Callum. "When a protégé dies, do vampires feel it?"

"Yes. No matter the relationship we feel it why?"

"What's the worst feeling?"

"Well, in her point of view I'd say she was getting pricked at the back of her neck by a sharp pin. She's probably as emotional as a shark. The worst I'd say is, to compare it to a hypothetical human tragedy, falling off the Empire State building and somehow living."

I cringed and shook the shudder away. "Then why not gather as many as you can, and kill them at once? Lure a handful into one place. It'll be simple, like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs but instead a trail of blood. Lead them out into one place and kill them."

Ana stood from her seat and started to smile. Most of the vampires turned to her but few remained still, contemplating my plan.

"What would killing a bunch at once instead of one at a time do? What difference will it make?" Celia asked curiously. She was only young in the sense of vampire's so her question was taken in stride. 

"Depending on the amount," Cal stood and joined Ana. "It'll be as if a car or maybe even a train had hit her. We do it enough she'll get tired."

A hand slid over my shoulder and squeezed. Michael nodded down at me with a spark of pride in his eyes and I smiled at him. He turned to the rest of them and said, "The only flaw is most of us work."

"College ends in a few weeks." I stated. "And Pam you could get someone to take a few shifts at the resort couldn't you?"

She nodded and I observed as they all began to discuss strategies. Michael whispered the words, 'I'm proud of you' into my ear before pressing a lingering kiss to my cheek. I chewed on my bottom lip to hide my smile and looked toward Micah and Ana talking. I frowned at Ana's face. I didn't notice it last night but she looked... different. 

Ana was, surprisingly, almost the same age as Michael. She was that powerful. But lately, her eyes had started to look even more tired than usual. The aging lines on her mouth stretched as she smiled at Micah. Cal stood behind her keeping a vigilant eye on her as they worked and I couldn't help but become curious. Was something wrong with her? I know her and the other witches had been working more than usual but...

Anastasia looked... older.

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I'm sorry for any of the mistakes it's late :)

SO: What do you think of Evie's revelation? Could things go wrong? And yet another visit from Florence? Oddly enough I love writing her character, no matter how evil she is! OH and Ana? Looking older...?

COMMENTS GUYS ;)