I couldn't see clearly. It was like I had been rendered blind. All I could see was darkness. I didn't know how far I was under the ground. Time was useless. I screamed for someone to turn the lights on, yet it felt like the screams were stuck in my throat. My hands shook so hard from fear that it felt like jelly. I tried to reach my fingertips out, desperate to feel something but the empty, stale air.

The lights flashed back on.

It took a second for my eyes to adjust. When it did, my jaw went slack and my heart leaped. Standing in front of me was my parents and Flora. She was clutching Father's leg. He was tall and handsome, wearing a charcoal suit with a matching black bowtie. His thinning hair was gelled back into a gentlemanly butch. He held a card made of gold and one white rose in his hands but his blue eyes were dull and lifeless.

Mother was dressed in a red gown. Her blonde hair was brushed back and curled into something of a princess. Her lips were a deep shade of red. The pink rings around her eyes from years of doing drugs was gone. In place remained flawless tan skin that contrasted deeply with twinkling blue eyes. There were things out of place though, the tiniest things like the lone tear that fell from her eye and the small bite mark on her neck that gave the whole scene a paranoid feel. She looked beautiful, but it seemed terrible. A beauty that wasn't meant to be. I couldn't out my finger on it.

Flora was in a pink dress and held a basket of loose rose petals in her hand. In the middle of the basket, nestled gently into the pastel colors was a sharp knife. When I looked closer, I saw that the tip was colored with the slightest hint of blood. She wasn't smiling either, and stared as if I were a stranger.

"Oh, Victoria...." Mother whispered softly. Her voice sounded far away and distant. It was deeper than I expected. My heart yearned to run into my parents arms and cry, if I hadn't been so frightened. She smiled at me, but it was cold and lifeless. It didn't reach her eyes. "You look beautiful," she said.

It was then I realized what I was wearing. My body was stuck in a wedding gown, I thought with horror. It was old-fashioned, with a high neckline that reached my throat and a tight lacy corset that made my chest ache. The sleeves were puffed out like clouds, embroidered with little birds. Pearls and diamonds strung from me. The bottom part flowered out to an enormous train, with silken folds and lace ruffles that made me feel as though I couldn't walk. A lace veil stuck to my hair and tumbled to the ground that ended in white silk.

Panic rose in my throat. I touched my hair, horrified to see the normal color of brown return. My cotton candy hair was gone. Instead remained straight caramel colored hair that reached my waist. I suddenly noticed the bouquet of white roses in my hand and dropped them.

Something was definitely off. We weren't in Draycott. Instead, we were in a room. Dirt and mold clung to the brick walls. I couldn't see a door. It felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. Nothing felt real. This couldn't be happening.

"I'm so very proud of you, Victoria." Father spoke. His voice was deep and cold. He sounded pleased, but it felt wrong. "We all gathered here for you today, my dear. I simply cannot wait to see my daughter get married." He flourished to something behind me and laughed joyfully. I turned around, tears gathering my eyes.

Facing me was a horrendous sight. People sat in folded chairs, but they were dead. Moldy skeletons in beautiful dresses and impeccable suits stared back at me. Every one was devoid of any skin or muscles. In place remained yellow bones and hollow eyes. The skulls seemed to be smiling at me, with their bony hands folded neatly and watching as if they were really here. Flies danced around the room. The smell of rotted meat and decayed flesh rose up and filled the air. My head starting spinning. I began tugging hysterically at the wedding gown, trying to get it off me.

This wasn't happening.

I couldn't be getting married.

Mother and Father were gone.

They wouldn't do this.

This was all a very bad dream.

"No!" I shrieked. No matter how hard I pulled, the satin seemed to be stuck to my very skin. Flora and my parents merely watched me struggle with the dress. "No! This isn't happening! This isn't real. You're lying, Father! I'm not getting married- get this fucking thing off me!" I fell to the floor, hitting my elbows and screaming hysterically. The bottom of the dress began seeping up tendrils of red. It seemed like droplets of blood being sucked into the dress. I yelled again and ripped the veil off my head.

"This is very much real, Victoria." A different voice said. In an instant I froze. That voice sounded so familiar, yet none of the warm butterflies came back when he spoke. Father smiled coldly at someone behind me. A hand grabbed my own sweaty one and pulled me up. I faced Lucian, crying softly.

"My beautiful bride." he whispered, touching my mouth with his forefinger. His eyes were a liquid yellow. Lucian smiled, showing glistening sharp teeth. He grabbed my waist and held me close enough that I could smell the disgusting stench of decaying flesh on him. I sobbed softly, fighting to get free. Behind us, the skeletons remained still although I could have sworn I saw one sit up straighter and smile.

"Victoria! Wake up!''

Reality slapped me in the face so hard that I sat up, my head spinning. Sweat dripped down my back. The constricting panic in my throat loosened as the familiar purple color of my room faded into view. I touched my face, realizing there was tears on there. Flora sat in front of me, jumping happily on my bed. With a gasping breath, I let my head fall back onto the pillow.

It was all a dream.

"Wake up, Vic! The nice man made pancakes, and I need you to help me take a bath. I feel yucky." Flora shouted. She seemed oblivious to the nightmare she woke me up from. I was grateful I had woken up, yet pictures of yellow eyes swam in front of my eyes. With a deep breath, I pushed them away and grabbed a strand of my hair.

It was a light pink again.

"Come on, Vic!" Flora pulled my hand impatiently. "I'm hungry!"

With a sigh, I climbed out of the bed and picked Flora into my arms.

○○○

After one hour of struggling to give Flora a bath (seriously, rubber ducks were not all that interesting) and another trying to get myself clean without Lucian or her walking through the door, I was utterly exhausted and the day hadn't even started. Pulling on a white camisole, grey cardigan, and jeans, I picked up Flora, put down the dead cigarette butt she held, and walked down the steps for breakfast. I had yet to see Lucian, although Flora had said he was making breakfast.

Flora jumped down from my arms and ran into the kitchen, where pots and pans could be heard banging together. I glanced around the little living room. The vase Lucian had shattered when he threw the man into the wall the first night we met was still scattered on the floor. I suppose it was useless cleaning the mess up anymore, seeing as though Lucian would never allow me to see this place again.

My thoughts traveled to the night that put everything in motion. The simple twist of fate had changed my life. This was the second time I had seen Lucian kill someone, and I was pretty sure it wouldn't be the last. Why had he pulled the trigger that night? What had that man done to him? Watery images of the blood splattering from the man's leg marched into my head. Lucian was dangerous and out of control. He had killed twice, he was a murderer. It was all the reasons I should have grabbed Flora and ran, yet I found myself walking into the kitchen.

"-and the big bad wolf grabbed the man by the throat and snapped it in half. A sound like twigs breaking could be heard. Little Red Riding Hood screamed as the blood ricocheted onto her face. The wolf turned on her, snarling and growling. His red eyes were-"

"Lucian!" I shrieked, catching the tail end of his story. Flora and him both turned. I flailed wildly with my arms, at a loss for words. I had tried to protect my little sister from bad things all her life, and here was Lucian putting morbid stories into her head like nothing.

"Oh relax, Victoria." he scoffed. "Flora is a big girl, isn't she?" he bent down and kissed her forehead, an action that made me go 'awww' and looked back at me. Flora laughed and nodded, her blonde curls sticking to her head. "She can handle the guts and gore, unlike her big sister."

I glared at him.

There was a sudden ring tone from his pocket. Lucian reached in and pulled out a sleek new phone. His eyebrows knit together when he looked at the screen. I was about to ask who it was when he suddenly answered the phone and walked away.

I shrugged and helped myself to a piece of waffle that was sitting on a plate. Flora ate her food, a breakfast consisting of perfectly round pancakes and bacon. Flavour exploded in my mouth. Who knew werewolves were such good cooks?

While Flora and I ate, Lucian strode back into the kitchen. He looked worried. Lucian met my eyes for a brief second. They were definitely lighter than usual, with almost a yellow hint. He looked at Flora, then back to me, then back to his phone.

"Problem?" I asked through my mouthful of pastry.

Lucian rubbed his temple. "We need to leave, Victoria."

"What?" I asked in surprise. Picking up the coffee cup that was probably meant for him, I took a sip and cleared my throat. Flora had stopped eating and was watching us in rapt attention.

"Vic, come on. Get Flora and let's go." Lucian stressed. He began pacing up and down the small kitchen. With 3 people inside, it seemed smaller than usual. Mostly because Lucian was huge. Flora jumped down from her chair and ran up the steps, leaving us with empty silence.

"What the hell is your problem, Lucian?" I took Flora's plate and threw the contents away. Before I could start washing it, Lucian quickly shut the water off. His eyes were darker now, with a tiny warning simmering inside. Worry crawled its way into my stomach.

"Please, Victoria." he said softly. "We have to leave, now. Something came up. I know that's a really dumb, generic excuse, but it has to do with my pack and I need to leave. And I'm not leaving you alone in this house. We'll go back to my place and when I get back, I swear I'll explain everything. Just come with me right now. Don't pack anything. Just get Flora and let's go."

"Lucian, I don't understand." I murmured as he hurried out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I don't think he heard. I walked to the front hallway and pulled on my jacket. My eyes fell on a photograph sitting on the small table beside the coat rack.

It was a picture of Flora, Mother, and I standing next to the River Thames. Behind us was the vast circle of London's Eye. Flora was just a tiny baby in Mother's arms, and I looked to be about 15 years old. It was before Mother had started doing drugs. Her skin wasn't as baggy and her blue eyes glowed happily. I swallowed down the lump in my throat. Just as footsteps started on the stairs, I grabbed the photograph and shoved it into my pocket. Draycotthad been my home. This run-down apartment building had been my home. The least I could do was take one memory with me.

Lucian appeared with Flora in one arm, her pink jacket on the other. I took her from Lucian, accidentally brushing his chest with my fingers. He stiffened and warmth ran down my fingertips. Recovering quickly, I pulled the jacket onto Flora.

"Come on." Lucian muttered. We hurried down the steps. I had to almost run at times to keep up with Lucian's long strides. When we got outside, I finally put my foot down. Lucian took a couple more steps towards a waiting black car before realizing I wasn't walking behind him anymore.

"Victo-"

"No, Lucian." I snapped. "You're going to tell me right now what's happening. I'm tired of all these fucking mysteries. Just tell me what's going on. I'm not taking another step without an answer. I swear to God I'll start a scene. Draycottis a shit town, but I doubt no one would just ignore my screaming in broad daylight. That Italian man is watching us right now."

"Victoria!" Lucian lost his temper. "There is a time and place for everything, but this is not one for answers! I need to go right now, but I can't leave until I know you're safe. I've drugged you once, don't think I won't do it agai-"

"Yeah, yeah spare me the lecture." I could see he wouldn't budge on this. For once in my life, I held my tongue and walked to the car. "You're going to tell me everything, Lucian. When we get back, I want to know. I hate being kept in the shadows."

"For fuck's sake..." he muttered, pushing me into the car. We drove to his mansion for the third time yet. Although I had promised I would never try to leave again, it didn't mean I would actually ever stop running. From what exactly....I didn't know.

Lucian faced me as soon as we arrived at his prison, which was what I liked to call it. He eyed me dangerously. The silence was nearly suffocating. A bird chirped right outside my window. Lucian drew a breath and tipped my chin to his direction with one finger. I immediately scooted away with Flora in my arms. His grey eyes were cold and lifeless.

"Don't you dare, Victoria, don't you dare try to run. Yes, I am a monster. Yes, I'm a controlling bastard who ripped you away from your life. You have every reason to hate me. But understand that there are far worse things out there than I, Victoria. I'm nothing compared to those who hunt us. My house will offer protection for your sister and yourself until I can return, so please, I am begging you. Don't leave. Don't do anything stupid. I can't rescue you from across an oce- from where I'm going."

I paused, dread and realization crawling through me. "You're leaving the whole fucking continent, Lucian? You have got to be kidding me!"

Yes, I hated him.

Yes, he was mean.

Yes, this was practically a kidnapping. For the third time.

And yes, I cared.

"Really?" he eyed me strangely. "I thought you'd be all but pleased."

"I am." I lied. Nothing but paranoia could grow inside me. As much as I hated Lucian, he was still my mate. It may have been the mating bond talking, but I realized how much Lucian suddenly meant to me now that he was leaving. "I might just throw a party."

That earned me a smile before everything became serious once more. "Victoria..." he whispered. I moved away once again when he reached for me, but the car could only offer so much room. Lucian easily captured my arm and dragged me to him. Before I could jump out the car, he placed a soft kiss in my hair that made wonderful tingles run down my spine.

Without thinking, I turned my face and caught the edge of his mouth with my own. Lucian seemed physically shocked that I would kiss out of my own will. The edges of his mouth curled up in a smile as he grabbed the back of my neck and tugged me closer, his lips burning with just as much desire as it was exploding in the pit of my stomach. How could the one person I had come to despise make me feel like I was floating on cloud nine? Suddenly, I realized what I'd done and broke the kiss, moving back. Our heavy breathing made my face flower up with heat.

No. You are supposed to hate him, remember?

"Sorry." I whispered, embarrassed beyond belief. "Heat of the moment thing."

"Don't be, I quite liked that."

"Well, of course you would." I rolled my eyes.

He caught my arm before I could open the car door. "Are my instructions clear, Victoria?"

When I didn't answer, he slammed his hands down onto the seat. Flora whimpered softly. "Is that clear, Victoria?" he asked again, but with a small warning in his tone this time. I nodded fearfully and stumbled out, my nerves a complete mess. It was only when the car had sped away that I could finally take a deep breath.

Maybe I might throw a party after all.