I wake up the next morning to the sun shining through the windows and quietly get dressed, careful not to wake Tara. As I walk into the kitchen, I see a note on the table.

Recognizing Dad's handwriting, I pick it up, my eyes scanning the words. 'Bella, I'm sorry for such short notice, but I have to go out of town again tonight. I'll be back tomorrow, okay? I love you.' I flinch as I hear Tara walk into the kitchen. "Hey," she says.

I force a smile as I turn around. "Hey," I reply.

She glances at the note. "Dad again?"

I nod. "He has to go out of town tonight. He says he'll be back tomorrow, but I don't know. Why does he keep hiding things from me?"

Tara shakes her head. "I wish I knew." She smiles at me before grabbing her bag. "Thanks for last night. I had a great time."

I smile. "Me too."

After Tara leaves, I glance at the note again, then head to the graveyard. As I walk through the forest, I hear twigs snapping underfoot. I flinch, whirling around, and come face-to-face with Vincent.

"What do you want, Vincent?" I ask, my voice sharp. He smirks, grabbing his phone and pulling up a video feed. All the colour drains from my face as I see what's on the feed. Dad unconscious in the woods. "What do you want with him?" I growl.

He shakes his head, the smirk still on his face. "Nothing... yet. If you want to try to save him, be my guest. But be careful, Bella. You never know who might be watching." He disappears seconds later.

I fumble for my phone, quickly texting Tara. 'I found Dad. Meet me in the woods. Hurry.' I break into a run, fear making my heart pound.

A few minutes later, I run into the woods. "Dad?" I call as I run. A heartbeat later, I stop dead in my tracks. Dad is on the ground in front of me, unconscious. A faint growl makes me flinch.

As I turn around, I come face-to-face with familiar blue-grey eyes. Zach. "What did you do to him?" I ask, hating the way my voice trembles.

"What he deserved," Zach snaps. He nods to someone in the distance and Vincent steps out of the shadows, a knife in his hands.

A terrifying realisation hits me: he's going to kill Dad. "Bella!" I hear Tara's voice and my heart leaps, but before I can move, he grabs me, putting the knife to my throat. "Let her go, Vincent," Tara says as she walks up to us.

"You actually care about this girl?" He asks, a hint of disgust in his voice.

Tara locks eyes with him, not a trace of fear on her face. "She's my friend. She and her dad took me in like I was one of their own. After what Dad did to her mother, I knew that I wanted to be with them. They are my family."

A whimper escapes me as Vincent sighs. "That was beautiful, Tara. Pity, it didn't save her." He raises the knife again and I gasp.

"Wait! I'll make you a deal. Take me instead and let my dad and Tara go." Tara shakes her head as Vincent contemplates this.

He nods. "Fine with me." A heartbeat later, he plunges the knife into my chest. Tara screams as my eyes close and I collapse to the ground. I never thought vampires could show mercy.

Final chapter! Thanks so much for reading!