The revelation that Luke was my relative had Dad and I quiet over dinner, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by Mandy who pounced as we did the dishes.

"What's going on with you and Dad?"

"Nothing"

"Bullshit Lu, did you have a fight?" She put down the tea towel and turned to look at me frowning.

"No, I'll tell you after everyone has gone to bed" I didn't want Mum to find out, she was so fragile at the best of times when it came to vampires and she'd be more likely to invite him in to join us for dinner than threaten him with a flame thrower.

"Tell me now. Is it vamp related?" Mandy's concern went up about twenty notches, and so did her voice. Glancing towards the living room Dad looked over to us holding his finger up to us to be quiet.

"Yes" Her mouth dropped open as she clutched her chest, her panic and fear obvious and I knew why. "Not that vamp related. Luke - the guy from the store"

She breathed out relieved before realizing what I had actually said. "What about him? Oh my god, is he here?"

"No. He's actually related to us. Dad found some more old photos and oh look there he is" I slammed the plate down a little to hard in the draining rack, causing Mandy to jump and my parents to look through the doorway at us. He clearly knew who I was, why didn't he say so? He had to be around a hundred years old, so was this all just some kind of a game to him? Clenching my jaw I continued to scrub at the dishes, suddenly furious.

"Lu, relax. That's kind of cool" Mandy hesitantly put her hand on my arm and I resisted shrugging it off knowing she was only trying to help.

"Yeah it's fucking ice cold" I snapped bitterly, and we finished the dishes in silence. By the time we joined my parents in the living room, I had managed to calm down and made Mandy a cup of tea as a peace offering. After my parents went to bed I double checked all the locks on the door and took a seat beside her.

"Lu, are you ok?" Nodding, both our heads turned to the window beside us as the tree in the front yard swayed in the breeze, the movement only adding to our nerves we had otherwise been able to ignore. "Sure?"

"Yeah, you?" Coming home was nice, familiar but sometimes it was too familiar as not all the memories here were good. It was the other reason why I rarely stayed the night.

"Yup. It will be good to see your family in the morning, I wonder how things in town have changed" Breakfast was taking place in the local diner and my aunty and cousins would be coming too. It would also be our first time going there in three years and I wasn't looking forward to it.

"Dunno" This time when we looked I was positive it wasn't the tree and closed the curtains, turning off the light as I did so. In the dim light of the living room I could see Mandy was frowning, she had seen it too.

"We're safe in the house Lu, there have never been any attacks reported here. Come on lets go to bed" Getting up she nervously twisted the golden pendant that hung around her neck around in her fingers, moving quickly past the window as if what ever was out there could reach in and grab her. Instinctively I looked down at the scarred skin around my wrist, its typical ache started from the attention I was giving it but that was all. I didn't want to say that if it was who we were both thinking about it wouldn't matter that we were inside and it's the reason why I made sure Dad kept his weapons handy.

He had already been invited in.

Sleep didn't find me, every time I closed my eyes I was left with the lingering vision of bloody fangs and by the time Mum came in to wake me up to get ready I had never wanted to go home more. Rather than waiting until lunch, we'd be leaving after breakfast and entering the diner I wished we had already gone. Nothing had changed. Mr Benno was still standing in the window to the kitchen in his white chef uniform. The black and white checkered floor was still squeaky clean, the neon jukebox still played crackly out dated tunes and the red leather booths were well worn and had not been replaced in years. In our tiny country town, it was the most out of place restaurant around but the eggs were always sunny side up, the bacon crispy and the liter milkshakes came in ten different flavors for only four dollars.

But it was as we passed the counter that I realized how much things never really do change and the all to familiar face smiled sheepishly back from the cheap gold frame.

There he was.

Frozen in time like Luke in his family portrait, Ryan Miles. Winning that award ensured he was now forever immortalized under the engraved plaque for 2001 beside Tina French 2000 and Allen Smith 2002. But it wasn't as if he needed an award for that to occur like Tina and Allen. I remembered that day clearly and my feelings were still willing to betray me as I stared at him and from my daydream I couldn't help but notice the thin layer of dust that sat on top of the frame, clearly Mr Benno had dropped his standards.

Going down, my eyes rested on the sheepish smile which was still firmly in place, not that a photo could change and it now made sense to me why he hadn't wanted his picture to be take. It wasn't just because he had been embarrassed to win the award for overall employee of the year. Did he have relatives that could one day stumble upon an old photo like we had with Luke? His story of being an orphan made sense too.

How long he had been living for was beyond me and I never bothered to ask that question. The sixteen year old me never questioned the fact he had nineteen on his resume when he applied for the job though he did look a little older than that. It only added to his charm, he was the new 'older' guy who that I had been crushing on since I first saw him when he rode into town on his motorbike. I hadnt been the only one but I had once thought I was luckiest when he chose me, our high school formal had been the best night of my life and I had been the envy of my classmates. Every female in this town was in love with him, the young developed their first crush, the old imagined what their lives would be like as cougars but it was when I was eighteen when I saw him for what he truely was and he shattered my teenage dream along with my heart and I literally put a stake through his.

Loves a bitch like that.

"Lu, everyone is waiting" Mandy put her arm around mine to try and lead me away from where I didn't realize I had stopped. My family all shuffled around their booth with Dad and my cousin Jay looking over concerned. I shiver went through my body and I followed Mandy to my seat, loosing myself in idle conversation, trying to forget. I had been trying for three years; it wasn't going to miraculously happen over pancakes.

The drive home didn't take long thanks to Mandy's ability to make my old car move twice as fast as I could make it go and come Monday morning I was almost hoping Luke would show up. I doubted our last conversation would do much to scare him off but with every customer my hopes were dashed. I had no idea what I was going to say to him or do but the fact he had been trying to tell me something more than what I had given him the chance to say. He had clearly been watching over his lineage for all those years, maybe that is what helped to keep him connected to the living?

By Thursday he still hadn't showed up at the store or around town and after Mandy went to bed, I decided to look for him at the Corner Mile again but he wasn't there either. Had I scared him off? Had my unwillingness to let him in pushed him away? I finished my drink, not looking or talking to anyone after my Jamie run in and that was when I realized there were hardly any vampires in here.

"Where are the other vampires?" The girl beside me looked young, barely eighteen if that and my question clearly sparked an interest as she flicked her curly black hair over her shoulder, grinning flirtatiously.

"You looking for one?" She raised her eyebrow curiously, her eyes wandering over my neck before she licked her lips hungrily, leaving no room for miscommunication. "I'm sure I could help you, upstairs?"

The enclosed booths came to mind and I shook my head, deciding to try a different approach. I rolled up the sleeve of my top, not missing the way her eyes widened slightly at the sight of my mark. The control I now had was almost empowering and my confidence grew with her paranoia. "Luke, his name is Luke Stepworth"

"Honey I don't know no Luke Stepworth" She glanced around nervously as if expecting him to materialize at simply mentioning his name. But he didn't. "With my kind, you don't want to be part of the crowd. Its safer to be on your own, always has been"

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"Night Watchers were out over the weekend, it explains the low numbers. We have always kept a low profile, the coming out wasn't the smartest idea and some think they are better off in their groups but it makes it easier for them to be tracked. I keep an eye on them, I don't want to be mixed up in their dealings and I don't remember a Luke being amongst them" I only nodded, as the fights came to mind, what else would the Night Watchers want with a group of vampires? "Maybe he got bored of you"

It was clearly a challenge and I felt my heart beginning to race as the flight or fight mode kicked in. "I wouldn't take that bet"

Her laugh was cold, bitter and shaking her head she disappeared into the crowd and I took that as my sign to leave. But I couldn't let it go, what if Luke had been taken for the fights or killed? Why should I even care, he was a vampire. Our blood connection had long since died but by the time I got home I couldn't shake the feeling of dread blooming in my conscious.

"Where the hell have you been?" Mandy was beyond furious and I didn't bother trying to be silent as I entered our apartment. Her lip was trembling like to her body as she opened and closed her fists tightly, glaring at me as I took off my shoes and coat. "I woke up and noticed your door was open and you were gone. What the fuck?"

"I went looking for Luke," I admitted, hating how worried I had made her but she was meant to stay asleep, she wasn't meant to know.

"Why? I can't imagine him suddenly taking the roll of dear old grand papa. He is a vamp-ire"

"I know and I don't expect that, its just he knows stuff and is clearly willing to help us out" I bit my tongue, holding back from blurting out the fact I'd done this before.

"And what did he have to say?" Her arms were crossed tightly in front of chest as she continued to glare at me. I had never felt like more of a child in trouble before in my life.

"Nothing. I couldn't find him. I thought he'd be at Corner Mile but he wasn't. There was a vamp chick there and she said Night Watchers took a bunch of them in. He hasn't come by the shop Mandy, what if they caught him?" I didn't realize how upset I was about it all until I told her that and she seemed to see it too.

Compassion. Dr. Stafford had declared in one his rants that it is just another part of being human. That they, the vampires, lose their compassion, thatempathy for the suffering of others the second they are reborn. They are driven only by a selfish need to survive, feed. Could he be right? I had been lost in the grey between them and us for some time. Apart from our food sources, what really makes us different? The vampire we had seen be entered in a fight to the death was scared; it is not a lack of emotions that divides us. In that fight, there was only one monster and it was not the one with fangs.

Mandy was thinking the same way I was. There is good and bad amongst all people and it is not subject to race. "Do you think he was captured and that's why he has disappeared?"

"Yes"

"Shit" I sighed as she continued to curse and it could all be for nothing; I had no evidence to back me up. Until recently I never knew he existed, he could have moved on. He could simply be staying at home or going to a different bar. But my gut instinct told me not to be so naïve. "What do we do?"

"We do nothing. I will think of something"

"Lu, stop being the hero. Two is better than one, don't keep shutting me out thinking you're protecting me" Mandy waved her hands in the air frustrated and stormed into the kitchen and hesitantly I went after her.

"I'm sorry. I just, you don't need to be involved in this"

"You're my sister. If anything happens to you I'm going to make sure I get my revenge or go with you" Her smile was weak and I understood what she meant. Luke is despite everything my family by blood and if something had happened, I couldn't ignore it. Mandy is my family by choice, trust and loyalty over the years led us to where we are and no matter what was next I needed her more than anything. "Lets go to bed. It's nearly two o'clock. We'll suss Owen out tomorrow at work and go from there ok?"

"Ok. I love you Mands" Her smile was genuine this time and as we went towards our bedrooms, I knew she had a good idea. I just hoped we weren't to late but the fact Owen was as much against the fights as we were could only work in our favor.

"So Mr Stephenson, at training tomorrow, I was just wondering but do you think those guys will be there?" Mandy idly looked at her fingernail as Owen did up the locks on the front entry.

"Michael? Why Mandy? I don't want to sound like a parent but stay away from those guys" Owen was instantly in defensive mode and I was silent as Mandy pouted.

"I know but I think we got off on the wrong foot. Surely they don't do all that fighting stuff all the time"

"They do. I don't want to admit it and girls like you two don't need to have anything to do with that world" He started towards the back and we followed behind obediently.

"Really? If fights always happen at that house, why haven't the authorities shut it down? Is that the only one in the area?" I knew her angle, and Owen was oblivious to it all.

"They don't care and yes. The vamps don't get out alive to tell anyone, the others in their own communities don't know where to look and trust me they do it too. Michael is a minor player; he is new to the Watchers. The house is his Grandfathers and it has been used since the vamps first came out. The government funded it to begin with as research and when the treaty as formed it was deleted off the books. It's sick. I stick to the patrols and leave it at that" After saying goodbye we had the location confirmed, now we just had to work out a way to go back.

That chance came Saturday after training and seeing Michael with another guy we didn't recognize Mandy made sure to strike up conversation while I worked with Gerri in the ring. By the time I finished, we were in.

"So do you ladies need a ride?" The unknown guy asked Mandy hopefully.

"We're good thanks Cam, oh hey Lu. You remember Michael?" Mandy introduced as and Michael warily looked me up and down. Maybe he didn't even notice the fact we left early last time and looking towards Owen he was busy coaching a couple of newbies.

"Been practicing? You don't look like such a girl up there today," He taunted and my hatred for him only grew deeper.

"I guess last time you were to busy having your ass beat you didn't notice" Mandy poked me in the ribs as Cam laughed, "Rematch Michael?"

"Not today. We're just leaving" He grabbed his bag and waved to Mandy as Cam only shook his head and followed behind. Mandy opened her mouth to speak and I knew what was coming so turned and headed back to our gear.

"If I was nice, he would have got suspicious" I defended, grabbing my water bottle she only shrugged and got her things ready to leave. By six we had dressed in what Mandy called our combat gear, our black jeans matched our black boots and somehow we ended up with similar leather jackets. We looked the part of tough chicks but how far that went, I wasn't sure.

'We look hot. Like total biker babes or something" Mandy giggled, checking herself out in the mirror by the door. I had to laugh, even if it was more in an effort to stop the worry about all the things that could go wrong tonight. "Buffy hasn't got shit on us"

"Alright tough girl, put this in your boot and keep this in your pocket or up your sleeve" I handed her the knife and pumped up lighter before adding them to my own outfit and grabbed the tiny tool kit for my bag. "Ready?"

"Hells yeah!" Mandy strutted down to the car park, nodding as if she was some kind of gangster to the people on the first level as we passed. It took as a little longer to get there on the account of we didn't really know where we were going and after stopping for dinner at a fast food joint, it was nearly eight. Cars lined the lawn area surrounding the side of the house as the tell tale sign of heavily based music thumped from the building like its own heartbeat.

"I can't believe we're here," Mandy whispered, adjusting her jacket as we surveyed the house. Everything was set up underground and while we entered via the internal staircase last time, I was certain there had to be another entrance.

"Come on, let's check around the back" We kept to the shadows as Mandy quietly hummed the mission impossible theme song, ignoring the looks to shut up I kept sending her way. The pool was like a pond, undisturbed it was weird to be kept so clean and full considering it was winter but it was the faint glow down on the ground by the shed in the corner of the yard that had my attention. Voices were muffled from inside and we snuck across the patio and past the pool going to the shed as our steps crunched on the gravel drive leading towards it.

"We can't just open it and go down. We have no idea where or what we're walking into" Mandy stopped me as I was about to pull up the wooden doors.

"What can we do then?"

I asked to soon as she opened her bag, pulling out a mirror she barely lifted the door and popped her hand inside, revealing the staircase emptying into a rather clinical looking room but we couldn't see if anything was down there apart from white vinyl floors.

"I'm going in" I lifted the door up and slipped inside with Mandy right behind me. It was to quiet and not even the stairs made a noise as we made our way in. Peering over the railing the set up of computer monitors lined part of a wall, two had the internal cages on them while the others were filled with images of dna chains and other things neither of us understood.

But as we left the stairs and turned to enter the room the sight sent us both flying backwards against the wall. Clear walled cells were lined up along the back of the room, the light so bright it was like a heat lamp in a fish tank over the tiny bench that ran along the cell wall and the red bodied vampires were all huddled in the corner furthest from it, their demonic faces twisted into pain. The men only had on white linen trousers and the women had on tiny white dresses which only made the red of their skin that much worse. Some whimpered, some were silent and upon seeing us some started to bang on the walls of their prison. There were two or three in some of the cells, a couple had cuts all over their bodies but one thing was for sure with each set of glowing eyes that landed on us, they were hungry.

"Lets go" Mandy turned to head back up the stairs but I couldn't move. What were they doing to them?

"Lucy?" My name was muffled but undeniably said and taking a step forward, more cells appeared starting from beside the staircase and down towards a door. "Lucy!"

All the vampires stopping their crying, standing to watch as I entered the room completely and searched through the glass trying to see who said my name. I could feel the change in the room; it was no longer full of despair or fear but hope. Mandy clung to my side as relief flooded through me, a couple of blocks from the door, Luke screamed my name again before I heard the rest of what he was saying. "Get the fuck out!"

"No. We're here to help you!" I yelled back and started searching for a way to open the door and Mandy found it first, pressing the tiny silver knob the door disappeared up towards the roof. Luke's skin was as red as the others only deep purple bruises appeared like a marble pattern over his back and he to was covered in deep cuts and burns.

"Leave" We both stood still in shock, expecting a thank you or some kind of reunion but his eyes were blank and saliva pooled at the corners of his mouth.

"But..."

"NOW!" He roared, revealing those deadly fangs that little bit more as he took a step towards us as deadly as a wolf stalking it's prey. But that's what we were to them, prey. Humans were no longer the top of the food chain and his eyes bore beyond my skin, focusing only on the treasure held within my veins.

We were in trouble.

I thought I knew how I was going to approach him now; I was going to accept my vampire relative. He had said himself that there were just as many humans amongst us lacking the humanity we declared made us so much more superior. He clearly wanted to be known in our lives; surely he could done the same with any other generation. But now? Was Mandy right? was I expecting a grandfather, forgetting that he really was nothing more than the demon plague wandering the earth acting human? Seeing him so raw had me doubting everything all over again.

And now despite our act of compassion, of wanting to save him from what ever cruel fate those in the house had planned, he was more like a stray dog who would bite the hand that feeds it. We werent blood bags and he was right, we had to leave. Mandy hugged my arm, fearfully looking around as the other vampires seemed to feed of his mood and without needing to be told twice, we did as he said and wasted no time in getting into the car scared he had just sent his target off into the forest to be hunted.

"Lu, what was that?" Mandy was trembling in her seat beside me as I had trouble getting the key into the ignition. "We saved him, possibly all of them if he lets them out too but he looked like he was going to eat us if we didn't leave"

"They're monsters Mandy, it was a mistake coming here tonight. Family or not, you don't trust vampires. Ever" Again I felt like I had cheated death and blinking their hungry eyes invaded my mind. Shrugging it off I didn't have the ability to care for it at that moment and focused on getting the car going and back on the road home.

If I kept playing with fire, how long until I get burned?