We rode for what felt like an eternity, and despite the icy wind cutting into my eyes I tried to keep track of where about in town we were going. By the time we stopped my lips were as dry as my eyes felt while my body had gone stiff from the huddled position I had been forced to hold on the back of the bike. Looking around I realized we had gone down to the wharf region, and if I tried hard enough I could hear the rush of the water hitting the shore nearby. This wasn't an area I'd ever visited despite some development going on trying to make it into one of the new upmarket regions of the city. The only thing I was certain of was Owens warehouse wasn't too far from here and I knew he had a good stash of weapons there, useful things like flame throwers and machetes unlike the Watchers van which had nothing to help me. While my mind focused on how far it would actually be to get there, Ryan got my attention back by waving his hand in front of my face.

"Whatever your thinking, I wouldn't if I was you" He warned, holding out his hand to help me off the now stationary bike I ignored it and swung off on the opposite side and looked up at the building. The white face of the wall was well maintained and the oversized wooden door was varnished so it looked smooth and slippery in the streetlight. Behind us the old storage buildings were still old and neglected but the ones either side of this were covered in scaffolding and signs of the ongoing construction was everywhere.

Ryan's eyes narrowed in on me after refusing his offer and moved so he was behind me to guide us into the building. It was just as nice inside than out, the lobby floor was polished wood floors and the boots I had stolen from the van thudded across them loudly as I made no effort to walk with any kind of care. If Ryan noticed, he didn't show it and pressing the button on the elevator we stood there in silence. It was much nicer than our entrance and the elevator was a luxury our renting price range didn't offer.

"What are you thinking?" He finally broke the silence as the number one lit up as it made its descent down to us.

"How much the rent would be in one of these places" Again we fell into silence and as the doors slid open two women exited, looking at us curiously before the blonde winked at Ryan, not stopping their walk as from the way they were dressed they clearly had some plans tonight.

And they were vampires.

"All the people who live here are vampires. Try to escape and you will be at their mercy," He warned as we went up to the penthouse, swiping a card from his pocket the doors opened into one of the most beautiful rooms I had ever seen. Everything was white with bold splashes of the color around the room but the oversized black chandelier was what grabbed my attention as the tiny crystals reflected the soft light in an almost hypnotizing manner from where it hung a little to low over the dining table in the center of the room.

He let me walk in and I absorbed the room. It lacked that homely feel our apartment offered, everything in there was comfortable and well used where as this felt more like something that belonged in a display home and crossing the room the full length windows that created the outside wall, I could see the specks of color from the lights on the harbor and out in the ocean.

In the morning it would be an amazing view.

"Why did you bring me here?" I turned to find Ryan taking off his jacket as he stood by the control panel near the kitchen wall and after pressing something the hum from the central heating joined us.

"Maybe I wanted some company?"

"You said the building was full of vampires?"

"Human company" Despite sounding annoyed I didn't drop it, turning to look back out the windows he turned off the main lights so only a lamp was on by the TV and the over head lights near the kitchen counter sending the room into a variety of shadows he easily moved amongst.

"There are millions of humans out there" I answered distracted as the outline of a cargo ship formed on the horizon.

"But they're not you" I jumped as his voice was by my ear and the feeling of his breath was warm on my neck. His reflection in the glass was practically non-existent in his all black outfit and turning to face him I shoved him away, ignoring the sentimental tone. "Be nice to me Lulu, you don't want to make me angry"

"Oh right, because I have every reason to be nice to you" The sarcasm was impossible to hold back on and his infamous half smile appeared.

"You do if you want to live"

I decided to take my chances.

"Well I don't. After three years you turn up out of the blue and kidnap me to what, hold me hostage here? You're going to end up killing me anyway so what are you waiting for?" Challenging him that way could prove fatal but I had so many warnings already that if he was serious, wouldn't he have done something by now?

"You're right." He admitted, his face instantly changing before he lunged forward and screaming I raised my arms to cover my face as if that alone would save me but nothing happened and peeking through the gap of my arms the demonic eyes found mine. "Really? No fight?"

He sounded disappointed.

But I was right.

He hadn't actually attacked so straightening up I shook my head. "No"

"You look tired" His face relaxed, back to Ryan and I shrugged, not expecting him to say that. "Come on"

I followed him nervously through the living area and pausing outside the bedroom door. This room alone was bigger than the apartment Mandy and I had but that didn't mean I was about to go in there. A large king size bed was situated to one side of the room, facing the windows which like the living area were all floor length but judging the darkness of these they had to be tinted. "You can sleep here"

Ryan disappeared behind the bed, the wall it was against hid the wardrobe and as I walked in I looked around searching for anything I could use as a weapon. He reappeared holding blue striped pajamas, throwing them to a corner of the bed I practically scurried to the opposite side of the room as he passed, closing the door behind him.

That was it?

I waited ten minutes before my body urged me to risk it, the bed calling and changing into the pajamas I savored the soft thick material against my skin before sneaking a peak into the wardrobe. The cupboards were closed off with doors, a dressing table sat between the two sides and on the wall that the bed was against shoe racks had been set up though the majority of everything was empty it made me wonder how long he had been here for. Opening another unused cupboard, the hanging rail caught my attention and after a few attempts I got the pole loose. It wasn't much and it probably wouldn't hurt anyone if I hit them with but it could act as a deterrent.

Cautiously I looked back into the room, the door was still closed and there was no sign of Ryan. Creeping into the bed, the sheets were the expensive cotton you found in good hotel rooms and the bed was plush and comfortable. The pillows smelt like him, a familiar smell that managed to tug at something in my heart. Something that I thought was long gone the second I rammed a wooden stake through his.

The pole was kept at my side, hidden by blankets I kept one hand on it somehow falling asleep. It was well past midnight and I was exhausted, now that I had stopped again my body was aching from the damage I'd put it through the night. First from being beaten and exposed to the cold and then from jumping off the bike but all of that was forgotten while I slept.

The need for the bathroom woke me up hours later and feeling more well rested than I had for weeks, I rolled lazily over taking my cocoon of blankets with me. It was if it had all been a dream, a nightmare and opening my eyes I knew it wasn't. I wasn't in my room and quickly found the pole that felt warm from being wrapped up in the bedding with me.

Carefully I got up, everything was how I remembered it last night only now the windows were covered in a heavy black curtain and the sunlight was more orange around the gaps of fabric. Heading towards the bathroom I pushed open the door, carefully checking inside before locking the door. After washing my hands I sat down against the cupboard on the bathmat, trying to work out what was next.

But I didn't get much time to think.

"She's gone" I grabbed the pole; standing by the door I held my breath as if that alone would prove her right.

"Val, she has to be here!" The guy practically screamed and the sound of the curtain being opened was as intense as nails on a blackboard.

"Not under the bed, check the cupboard I'll check the bathroom" This was it. The doorknob went to turn but from where I had locked it she couldn't make it move. "She's in here"

"What's her name again?" The male asked sounding more confused than a threat.

"Who cares. Dinner?" They both voice laughed and I managed to hold back my scream as the door cracked with the force of her hit. My hand was trembling as my knuckles turned white with the pressure of the hold I had on the pole, the wave it gave way slightly didn't give me the confidence it would actually help me at all.

"You know we probably should make this look more like an accident, like she tried to escape. Boss needs to believe thats what happened" The slight thud was a sign the female was listening and she stopped her assault on the door.

"Good point. I wonder if she isn't even human, he wouldnt go to this much effort over one otherwise" Remembering to breath I listened to their movements and walking in front of the door, the slight crack was enough to see them ripping apart the curtains and then quickly tying them into knots before opening a window. "That'll work"

I stepped back, the girls' laughter getting closer before her foot appeared in the room with the door breaking apart as it swung open. I didn't hesitate in swinging the pole but like I expected it merely bent under pressure.

"Ow!" She whined, the vampire stepping in as I dropped the useless piece of metal. I was trapped and raising my fists I was ready to fight. Despite the bruises, which had gone from purple to barely there yellow, I didn't feel like I had gone through hell last night, or maybe last night wasn't as close as I thought?

"Oh look she wants to fight" The guy followed her in, the teenage face shifting to that of the vampire he now was. "Give me your best shot"

He stepped in front of his friend and as I got a quick look at her she didn't look much older than seventeen either. They looked alike with their curly blonde hair, although hers was much longer than his and she watched on eagerly as he mocked me. "You don't want me to do that"

"Why not? You're only human" He laughed and I smashed my palm up against his nose unable to hear the crack as blood began to cover his face and he stumbled backwards hissing in pain.

"Fucking bitch!" The girl defended, lunging at me I was expecting it and threw myself at her which she wasn't and as she faltered I knocked her down, quickly getting up as the guy had gotten over his nose injury and grabbed my arm and I pulled against him in a tug of war.

"Let me, go!" I growled and kicking at his knee he stumbled, tripping over the girl who had just stood up and the pair fell in the shower, the glass door not supporting their weight it shattered into a million pieces around them.

"You said this would be fun" He snapped at the girl, dusting off his hands which were covered in the tiny shards but I didn't hang around to see what they were planning on next and running from the bedroom prayed there were knives or something in the kitchen. They were two stupid vampires; clearly not old ones and I might be able to stand a chance against them if I had something to fight with. I couldn't risk leaving incase Ryan wasn't bluffing, not yet at least.

I nearly cried opening the draws; the third one had a perfect set of knives so without hesitation I grabbed the cleaver and carving knife as the duo reappeared looking like two teenage vampires who just got grounded.

"Time to die bitch" The guy exposed is fangs, as if that alone would convince me.

"Try it," I challenged, raising the knife they didn't laugh or leave any room for hesitation and as he leapt over the counter top she ran around to the other side to block me should I try to retreat. I slashed his face, the new blood mingling with the still oozing supply from his nose and a roar like sound of agony erupted from him he charged again, pressing me against the wall beside the oven I bought my knee up, using the cleaver like my axe I swung again, hitting his arm the encouraging yells from behind me silenced.

"Let me deal with this" She screamed, roughly shoving him out of the way he fell back and hit his head on the corner of the counter, a smear of red interfering with the white cleanliness of the kitchen and he continued crying of his wounds.

The girl grabbed my hand with the knife and a power struggle began that I knew she would win and started to swing the cleaver before she let go and hit me hard with the back of her hand causing me to drop my weapons. I twisted around, looking at the stove top and noticed it was gas as she pulled my hair back roughly and I grabbed towards the switch and pressing it a couple of times the flame of the hot plate came to life as I felt tip of her fangs against my neck and swinging my elbow back hit her in the side, gasping as her own weapons cut into me before shoving her down by the neck towards the flame. I barely had her against before I had moved away. Her hair only took seconds by the flame to light up and from where her skin had hit the hot metal her face was now scared red with deep wedges in the pattern of the cover.

I was forgotten as she flailed around, reaching for the tap as her skull began to burn but I couldn't move, couldn't escape as the horror unfolded. The guy wouldn't go near her, wouldn't help but the pair screamed at each other in fear and then I was remembered.

"I'm going to kill you!" She screeched, her face red with welts from the flames as she drenched her burning head with water and reaching back to the cleaver, I tried to make myself numb from what was happening in front of me and of what I was about to do.

I swung hard, but despite how sharp it was it didn't get to go through the whole way and she fell to the floor with the axe wedged in the side of the neck. I pinned her down, pulling the cleaver out and with a scream coming from somewhere deep inside of me I slammed the blade down the rest of the way.

A life for a life.

"Valerie!" The guy screamed; dropping to his knees I looked at him breathlessly and raised the cleaver again. His bravery left him and he ran to follow it out the door but I was after him in seconds and leaping onto his back we both tumbled down into the dining table. The shock of loosing his friend, sister, what ever she was had him disorientated and with him now lying face down I sat on his back, the blade pressing against the curve of his neck.

"Unless you want to end up like Valerie over there, you will do what I say. Ok?" He turned his sideways, laying flat against the carpet as his face relaxed back to human.

"Ok" Self preservation always wins.

Getting up I went back to the draws, grabbing the notebook and pen from the bottom draw I gave him my address and wrote a quick note for Owen.

"Take this here" I know I didn't stand much chance once he left the building, but I hoped I had done enough to scare him into submission at least. "If you don't, I will find you and you will beg me to make it as easy as what Valerie got"

He snatched the note nodding and ran. Nausea came over me as the door closed and holding my stomach I went and turned off the stovetop, careful not to step in the ash of Valerie. I had no idea if he would do what I said, if Ryan was waiting outside or if any others would come. Going back into the bedroom I threw the curtains out of the window, closing it and the door before pushing the bedside table against it in a bid to stop any others from trying.

I turned on the bath and using the floor mat carefully tried to avoid any of the glass from the broken shower screen and took off the torn and bloodied pajamas. The water was like heaven, the softly rose scented bubbles soothing and sitting back I gladly sunk in under the foamy layer, the silence of the water offering nothing but serenity. There was a slight thud and another and leaving my watery sanctuary I surfaced, gasping loudly the burn in my lungs made me wonder how long I had been under for.

"Lucy?" Ryan sounded frantic and the crunch of glass being stepped on had me wiping the soap from my eyes and looking up at Ryan.

"You're ok" He seemed to say it more for himself than asking me a question and as I watched he went from relieved to beyond furious. It was worse than when I had seen Owen loosing it, and this scared me even more. "What the fuck happened out there?"

Fear is a weakness; I couldn't let him see that.

"Out where?"

With my body covered by the bubbles my arms rested on the edge, turning sideways so I was no longer lying straight out and my fake innocence only made him angrier.

"You know exactly where" He snapped, clenching his fists I was certain he was going to hit something, hopefully not me.

"Oh out there? Guess someone missed your memo about the whole be at their mercy IF I tried to escape ruling" I moved back to lay my head on the headrest and closed my eyes waiting for what ever attack was next. I was over caring.

"Who could have got in, I had Valerie and André guarding the apartment" His voice softened, I was expecting him to accuse me of escaping but he didn't and I had a chance of setting up my own story.

Not that it would all be a lie.

"I don't know who Andre is but the blonde girl, Valerie was the one who came in. I went to the bathroom and heard her trashing the room before trying to get in here and well the rest is currently making history on your kitchen floor" He swore loudly and if hadn't taken care of her I was certain he would have. Without saying anything else he left me alone and after my skin had started to wrinkle got out of the bath, grabbing one of the towels from the cupboard I dried off and wrapping it around me stepped on some glass as I also realized I had nothing to change into.

"Ow! Shit!" I cursed, hobbling towards the doorway I looked down at my foot as the glass turned red around it. Ryan reappeared, and his eyes went to my foot and I instantly froze as he walked over so he was standing barely centimeters from me. I was to scared to protest as his arm went around my waist, the other behind my knees and he sat me down on the bed carefully as I made sure the towel gave me some kind of modesty. He walked back into the bathroom and seeing my overnight bag on the end of the bed I reached for it only to stop as he reappeared holding tweezers.

"Thought you might want some things" He sat beside me and held out his hand and carefully I twisted to give him my foot, wincing as he pulled out the shard of glass.

"How did you get in?" I couldn't hide the panic, had he hurt Mandy? I looked towards the pillow where I had stashed the knife, wondering how quickly I'd be able to get it and what damage I could inflict on him.

"The door. Don't worry, nobody was home" He inspected my foot once more and satisfied put it down.

"How did you even get in? You weren't invited" I got up and carefully walked to the bag, the spot where the glass had been still tender. All my muscles felt relaxed now; the bath had done its job. I was disturbed to find fresh underwear, but thankful and finding jeans and a knitted jumper was even happier with what he had got.

"I don't need to be" He shrugged, sitting back against the pillows I stopped going through the bag worried he'd find the knife.

"Mind over matter really, well and because of that delightful little scar on your wrist"

"The mark?" I looked down it, expecting more than just the familiar red patch of skin.

"Yes and you're welcome" I put down the clothes on the bed, shifting the bag to the floor and like I had with Luke, if I was getting answers I was going to keep asking questions for as long as I could.

"Why would I thank you? All it does is hurt and burn, if it hadn't decided to cripple me I would have stood a chance against Michael" I did not mean to sound angry but I had managed to push that out of my mind and suddenly all I wanted to do was crawl into a ball and cry, not just about that either but about Valerie and Andre's little visit too.

"You didn't which is why it hurt"

"What?" I was confused now and just for a moment he was only Ryan to me, the vampire factor gone I wanted my friend to help me understand this and here he was. He sat up moving to instead sit practically in front of me and gently took my arm in his hands, running his finger over it lightly I shivered as pins and needles ran up my arm. For the first time there wasn't that dull burning ache when someone touched it and I didn't like what that could mean, even more so when he started to talking so calmly as if it was all the most natural thing in the world.

"I was going to change you that night, I know now you were to young and I should have waited maybe three or possibly six years before doing it but I wanted to get it done on the blood moon. In biting you, it was not to feed but to exchange blood. I never got to feed on you then nor you on I to complete the process but it opened a connection between us. The reason why it never scared it because the venom of my blood still lies there, it should also make you unappealing to any others. Some vampires used to do it to their servants; a bargain of sorts to ensure those they feed on are looked after but it is an old practice. Blood is so much more available now and we do not need to keep a staff of donors"

"Oh. But why does it burn?" I swallowed hard as my mouth felt to dry, the new information on it bringing more bad memories to the surface.

"Because it's me thinking of you after I feel your emotions. The weaker it is, the less intense the feeling like if you were only looking at it thinking of me or minor worries and stresses." I went to protest but he was probably right, any thought of him had that dull ache going.

"Fear also lets me know something is going on but nothing that you didn't think you'd survive. Typically a marked human is never far from its vampire but you are very much the exemption of that. It took me a year or so to find you after you moved. I've been living between here and the city for the last few months and so the sensations I get from you have been easier to read"

"But last night..."

"You feared him" The way he said it had me pulling my arm away, not wanting to accept that truth but Michael did get one up on me. His week of watching and following with empty threats had made me paranoid and that weakness had nearly been my end. I wouldn't make the same mistakes again.

"I like this new you, stronger but you haven't lost that quality about you that makes you so, human" Luke said older vampires know how to mark and change people. I had a feeling he had been a vampire a little longer than I knew about but just how much longer I wasn't sure. Like I told Owen, he didn't fit the vampire stereotype Humanity broadcasted but if Night Watchers were really just pawns in this vampire game, why not them too? If they only knew what the vampires wanted them to, they probably only told us the same.

"How old are you?" I demanded, shivering as the need for clothing reminded me I was still only in a towel.

"Never ask a vampire his or her age" He lectured, standing he came back in front of me and carefully pushed back a few strands of damp hair behind my hair as he tilted my chin up to face him. I didn't want to look into those eyes knowing what monster lurked behind them now and pulled away, determined not to fall into the trap he was setting.

"Why?"

"You might not like the answer" He leaned in close and the passion we used to share was bought back to life like air being pushed into your lungs when you can no longer do it for yourself.

Was this kiss life saving or changing? I didn't know but it managed to reach into something inside of me I had missed and I hated the fact he was the one to do it. Every part of me was awakening, the moan that escaped a sign I was over the shock of the contact and wanting more.

It was how it always used to be, his lips were warm and tender with all signs how deadly that mouth could be completely concealed and letting go the buttons were instinctively undone on his shirt, which was then discarded on the floor beside my towel and his pants.

"I've missed this"

His words only gave me the courage to keep going, forgetting the past there was no point in holding onto it, nothing was going to change there and his hands roamed my body like they had a million times before, still knowing each and every part of it as I leaned against him, anticipating the way he picked me up and dropped me on the bed. I didn't want to open my eyes, not willing to break the fantasy but as his kisses fell from my collarbone, over my breast and down my stomach, the gasp of pleasure had them flying open and then what I feared to happen did.

The dream was broken.

As he leant back up to my chest as on his, right over his heart the damaging scar was like a trophy of my failure from what I had set out to do that night. That night when these kinds of feelings were meant to have been extinguished yet like the rest of the world in that moment in time, it was forgotten and we gave in to that primal urge of lust and desire which felt like the most human thing of all.