It was nearly midnight when the loud banging on our door had us clutching our weapons and bravely standing behind it. Mandy reached out to open it but I pushed her hand back, who knew who was there. Had we been followed home?

"Who is it?" I called out, glancing at Mandy who was pale and holding her knife up proudly. I wasn't sure if she would be able to actually to use it but if needed to, I was willing to find out.

"Lucy it's me, Owen" We both breathed out relieved and Mandy opened the door, keeping the lock in place the door swung open as far as the chain would allow.

"What's going on?" I stood behind Mandy peering out at him in the navy uniform the Night Watchers wore and as his eyes met ours, he began to calm down.

"I saw you talking to those guys this morning and after your questions I was so worried you'd gone there tonight" Turning he leant his back against the wall by our door and nodding to Mandy she undid the chain and we ventured out to stand with him.

"Really?" Mandy looked at me cautiously and so I asked the obvious question.

"What happened?"

"There was an attack, the vamps got out and made a real mess. I was so worried you girls were going to be at that house I came straight here to check"

"But wouldn't the people in the house be safe, the vamps can't go in uninvited" Mandy's guilt was all over her face, we let them out and we were responsible for this.

"They couldn't go into the house but they were already underneath it. The ones that got out locked the basement entry to the ring and anyone left in there" His eyes glazed over as his lips pressed tightly together, "Fucking weak bastards. Leaving them down there to die like that! I don't blame the vamps, the whole set up was bound to fail eventually and the cockier they got the more likely it was to happen"

Owen didn't like what they did, but he was right. Self-preservation kicked into the humans like it had the vampires, who were the real monsters in all this? "Mr. Stephenson, what's going to happen now?"

"I don't know Mandy; I am on my way there with some of the others to see what we can do. We don't want word of this getting out. It will only make things harder on both sides. I'm just glad you girls are ok" He hugged each of us and after telling him to be careful we headed inside.

"If we were still there, we'd have ended up like those poor people. Luke did us a favor" Mandy put away the knife and I left the lighter by the door after ensuring it was locked.

"I know"

"Lu, maybe we can trust a vampire?"

"No. I don't think we can trust anyone we don't know" Yet in my mind I knew we couldn't even trust the ones we did.

Who knows how many people are dead because of what we done but what would have happened to those vampires if we hadn't got them out. Should we care?

"He's your family, he was looking out for us" Mandy defended. I knew she had a point but knowing that family member then went on a killing rampage didn't sit well.

"Yeah, what about all those people who died?"

"Well, they kind of deserved it"

"Nobody deserves to die like that" We stared at each other for a moment, knowing we were both right and that's just how messed up this whole situation was. "Mandy, I'm sorry. You're right. They weren't people that died tonight; they are just as fucked up as the vampires are"

"You're right too. Since when did death loose its meaning? We talk about it as commonly as we talk about shoes or going to work" Mandy came over and hugged me and the tension had gone between us.

"When we found out death wasn't the end" My grandmother had died when I was twelve. I cried for weeks, the space in my heart she had occupied had died with her but life goes on and I learnt to deal. It was one of the most traumatic events to have happened to me and Mandy was right, our school mates died. Her parents have died. None of them have ever had the same impact as losing my only living grandparent. Maybe if I had been older it wouldn't have hurt so much but the more life experience I gain, the less I care.

"Come on, let's go to bed. We can be depressing tomorrow instead" And ironically that made us both laugh. Somehow I managed to fall asleep, a real sleep not littered with nightmares or tormented with memories.

Sunday we made sure to have a normal day. We went to the cinema; we had lunch in a restaurant and wandered around the closed shops with the few who braved the cold. Mandy didn't mention stopping now when we saw people lying on the side of the road and she no longer played spot the vampire with me in the street. Something had changed within her now and when she suggested having more sessions with Owen, my suspicions were confirmed.

The innocence she had managed to maintain had been ruined.

Getting home I was about to follow her inside when a movement out of the corner of my eye had me turning around and sure enough, Luke was coming up beside me in the corridor. Instinctively I reached into my pocket but my lighter was missing, it was in the bag Mandy had just disappeared with inside.

"Lucy"

"Lucas"

His eyebrow rose curiously as he tucked his hands into his pockets casually. He looked better than he had last night. The redness was gone from his now pale skin; the bruises that had been around his neck were gone and I was certain the cuts would be too. I guess feeding would do that for a vampire and I shuddered at the thought.

"Lucy, did you want me to freeze the...." Mandy appeared in the doorway, hesitating as she saw Luke and her eyes narrowed cautiously.

"Ladies I offer my gratitude for what you did last night but you shouldn't have done that" Mandy and I glanced at each other briefly.

"You're her family, which is my family. When Lucy found out what could have happened to you, how could we have stayed here and done nothing?" I was surprised at Mandy's sudden boldness but noticed her hand shift to her own pocket where the telltale bulge of the cylinder sat.

"Oh so you know about that then?" It seemed to be more of a challenge as his eyes met mine.

"I do. I saw a photo of you and Georgina with your daughter, Amelia" His laugh was bitter, harsh and had Mandy stepping back behind me slightly as her new found confidence deserted her.

"That was a lifetime ago; do not make assumptions on what it means"

"You said you look after your own"

"True. But last night you walked into a lion's den. Had I been there any longer your little friend there would have been an entrée and you would have been part two. That little mark there wouldn't have saved you either let alone this family bullshit" There was a truth to his words that again had us doubting what we had done last night. "Relax. I came here to thank you"

"Well you put it so nicely" Mandy tensed beside me as my sarcasm was obvious. "You've said your piece. Goodbye"

Mandy disappeared inside and I headed in behind her, unable to stop the scream as he grabbed my arm. "Invite me in"

"No. How stupid do you think I am?"

"Someone is coming. Let me in" There wasn't anything vicious about his words, it was more like desperation and Mandy lowered the can, the words coming out before I could stop her.

"Come in Luke" I was inside the apartment in a quick movement, the door slamming shut behind us I was practically thrown towards Mandy who stopped me from falling and we turned to watch as Luke did the locks on the door back up before turning to look us and signaling to be quiet.

"I'm sure it's one of these ones" I knew that voice and so did Luke, his face changing and that had Mandy backing up towards the kitchen.

"Are you sure she's suitable?" I neared the door and Luke and he pushed me back, shaking his head.

"Yeah, Owen always goes on about how great she is and dude, don't tell anyone but she kicked my ass. Apparently she was attacked a few years ago, vampires killed her boyfriend or something" The sound of knocking echoed down the hall.

"Oh cool. So she'll be wanting revenge and shit" The pair laughed and knocked again. If only they knew the truth.

"Don't let them inside" Luke whispered and sure enough the knocking came from the other side of our door. Nodding, I flicked the lock, half opening the door the chain was kept in place once more.

"Hello?"

"Lucy isn't it? I'm Joe and you know Michael, can we come in?" Michael tried to peer in over my head, but the space didn't offer much of a chance to see in.

"No. What do you want?" I leant against the door frame, holding the door.

"We want to talk to you, it'll only take a minute" Joe smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes and with Luke beside me I knew that wasn't possible.

"I don't let strangers in" The pair looked at each other before Michael rolled his eyes and Joe stepped back from the door.

"Will you come out then?" I nodded, looking at Luke as I closed the door to release the lock and stepped back into the hall. "I'm sure you're aware we're part of Night Watchers and last night we were attacked by a mob of vampires"

I swallowed hard; did they know we were behind it? Luckily my shock wasn't taken in another context other than I was a simple girl who didn't like what I had been told.

"I know, those vampires scum are starting another revolution. This attack was well thought out hit us where it hurt. We lost some valuable members of our organization and that is where you come in" Michael pulled out a folder, passing it over to me. "We want you to join our cause.  

We need to build up our numbers and teach them a lesson"

"What?" My mouth was dry with what they were asking and I glanced at the folder, not daring to open it. If they were on a recruitment mission, their lies of attacks would surely help their case and I wondered what would happen if they knew Mandy and I were the ones behind it. They didn't take kindly to sympathizers but were we really? We only helped those who needed, human or vampire I am sure it wouldn't have mattered.

"We've heard you can fight and handle your own. Have you killed vampires before?" Joe asked seriously. It wasn't just death that had become a lunch time topic but talking about murdering people had to. Knowing Luke was on the other side of the door, I wondered if he knew that I had killed his kind and didn't want to answer but my hesitation made it clear enough.

"Yes" I cringed at the memory of watching Sasha turn to dust but it had been life or death, before I knew what the mark meant. It wasn't senseless killing like they did and I didn't enjoy it.

"Awesome. That's our initiation taken care off then" Joe was grinning now, his bloodlust rivaling even the most starving vampire. It made me sick.

"I don't want to join your little club. I killed because it was necessary, not some revenge kick" I passed the folder back, not even wanting to look at it and neither guy liked that.

"We're giving you an opportunity here Lucy. Think you're too good for us?" Michael snapped stepping forward I held my ground as Joe pushed him back.

"Settle down. It's her choice. But think about it Lucy; let us know your decision after you have read it ok? You'd make a great addition to our team" He extended his hand and I warily shook it, eager to get inside.

"Fine" I opened to the door but before I could stop him Michael pushed it open and Mandy leapt back surprised. "What the fuck?"

I had him by the back of his shirt and pulled down, tripping him up he fell onto his back and Joe burst into a laughing fit at seeing his friend fall. "You weren't invited in asshole. Now get out of here!"

"Watch yourself Lucy" Michael warned before storming down the hall Joe followed still laughing. I couldn't help but slam the door behind me and Mandy bit her lip nervously, not sure what to say.

"Jerks" I muttered, putting down the file Luke picked it up with interest.

"He was right, watch yourself. Going against them could bring more trouble" Luke warned, glancing over the pages.

"I'm not joining. Besides if Owen knew they'd be the ones watching their backs" I had once wanted to join, I was still in hospital and was keen for revenge. Thankfully my Dad talked me out of it and instead we moved away from home. But the war was still happening then, it was a different time.

"I should have killed them when I had the chance" Luke growled, low enough for me to hear but Mandy was in the kitchen making noise and wouldn't have heard.

"Enough with the killing" I snapped and he only shrugged, moving to sit in the living room and making himself very much at home. He only looked my age; it was hard to imagine he was the same person in the picture and that his age was in three digits.

"Well at least I can warn the others, properly this time" Luke pulled out a mobile phone, amusing me that someone so old had adapted to our technology.

"How did you even get caught?" He didn't seem the kind to be stupid enough to get into that situation easily.

But looks can be deceiving.

Mandy sat beside me on the opposite sofa nursing a cup of tea as we waited for him to talk. "I went to help a friend and was in the wrong place at the wrong time"

It was so simple, being captured, tortured and whatever else they did was summed up in one sentence. Wrong place wrong time. "What did they do to you?" I knew Mandy didn't want to know but we both held a morbid fascination in what went on under the house.

"Nothing I can't handle. You start off where we were, the lights and lack of feeding is to weaken us before they take you behind the door and then you're used for training. If you survive that, you're the bait for the ring" Everything was so casual, missing the element of shock or horror that should have been there. He could have nearly died, he was beaten and starved but he seemed numb to those facts.

"Are you old for a vampire?" My interest was suddenly growing, I wasn't sure why but in the end this was a good learning opportunity.

"No. I am perhaps in the human scheme of things a child?" He continued flicking through the pages, absorbing whatever was printed in that file.

"What's the oldest vampire?"

"Who knows? The oldest I have met was over a thousand" Mandy gasped, it wasn't comprehendible but taking over, it was her questions now.

"Did they look it? Do you ever age at all?"

"No he was forty when he was changed and he didn't look a day different. We don't but we can look older depending on how long we go between feeds but once we've fed we return to our normal appearance"

"Do you have to feed on humans?"

"Yes. In desperation we can feed on animals, but it's like drinking off milk. No one wants to do it but it might get you through until the fresh stuff is available"

"Do you eat food like steak or chocolate?"

"No"

"Do you have any super powers like flying, turning into bats or reading minds?"

"No but we do have keener hearing and sight especially in the dark. Our perception on things is rather developed which helps reading body language"

"How do you become a vampire?" This distracted Luke long enough to look up from the page and I stared at Mandy with him. It was a good question, so many died at the hands of vampires but they never became one of the reborn. What was the deciding factor?

"Do you want to become one?"

"No" We both answered in time to each other; going quiet Luke glanced between us before going back to his reading.

"Well?" Mandy spoke up; clutching her tea cup so tight I was afraid she'd break it.

"You have to be chosen. You couldn't walk up to a vampire and ask them as you'd end up six feet under permanently. The elders of our society created an army of newborns when the humans fought against us, they didn't stand a chance in battle but gave you all the confidence you were winning. They were only pawns, tiny specs in the grand scheme of life. Those that survived were either killed by those who made them or they are the ones who end up in such facilities like the one you visited" Even talking about his own kind barely raised any sign of emotion in his voice; they turned humans to save themselves with no intention of letting them actually survive as one of them. It made sense I guess, it was no secret the reborn that came about during war time rarely survived the battles. Their movements were slower, their bodies not at full strength as they never fed to their capacity. They were easy targets and we had underestimated them. The vampires had always planned it that way.

"Turning human into vampire isn't as simple as a bite, being drained or you feeding on us so I'm going to leave it at that" Mandy nodded, sipping her tea and I didn't know what to say after that.

"Have you changed anyone?" Clearly Mandy wasn't done yet.

"Yes. I've tried twice. The first time I lost control and she died. The second time I was older and it worked" The hint of sadness was obvious and finally he showed some emotion with what we were discussing.

"What happened then?" Mandy leant forwards interested, as if he was telling a fairytale not his life events.

"Ironically, she died in nineteen ninety nine. She died saving her daughter when the car she had an accident in burst into flames. I arrived too late, she was trapped in the cars inferno but her daughter was saved. For thirty years she watched over her family, I never even thought of mine until she was gone. She said it kept you human, gave you some grounding and a purpose" He laughed sadly and I was certain his eyes were glazed over with unshed tears. "Her daughter told everyone her Mother saved her, an angel sent from heaven to rescue her"

"You loved her?"

"Very much, it was selfish of me to change her but for three years I watched her before I did it and then it took her another two before she forgave me. I don't know when exactly she discovered she loved me too" There was a hint of finality in his voice now and going back to the file it was clear question time was finished.

Mandy and I left him to it, starting dinner the evening was slipping away from us. "I wonder how they choose you?"

"What?"

"Like he said, you are chosen to be a vampire" Mandy put our pizza in the oven and stood against the counter thinking.

"You get marked" Luke had his eyes narrowed in on me like a target and I couldn't help but jump at his sudden inclusion to our conversation. I hadn't even heard him get up from the sofa.

Dam vampires.

"Lucy, you have a mark!" Mandy's face went whiter than Luke's as she pointed at my arm. I hadn't told her anything about what he had already told me but that seemed obsolete now. Luke had told me before he had barely told me a thing and he wasn't lying. If he had told me that instead of his stupid analogys I would have listened. Was this just a game to him?

"What? I thought this was more of a reserved table sign!" I didn't mean for my voice to sound so hysterical but it did and my eyes began to burn with the promise of tears as I held my arm up as if to prove a point.

"Well, it kind of it is. Did you not think about what would happen when those who reserved the table came to claim it?" I hadn't, the thought had never even entered my mind. "I have to go, keep your doors locked. I don't trust those humans" He turned and was gone before I could think to stop him.

"LUKE! Come back! Now!" I screamed after him, running down the hall I followed him into the car park to nearly be run over by his motorbike as he disappeared onto the street and into the night. Mandy came up beside me, shivering as the cold took over and seeing the figures by the corner common sense kicked in and we went back inside. Not only did we have to be careful of humans, but now we had a vampire who could come into our apartment without invitiation.