Driving to work the following morning something felt different. Mandy seemed to feel it too. In one day she had completely changed, as if she had just woken up to the fact the world we knew really didn't exist anymore. Her childlike innocence to the horror of the world had completely gone; she looked at everyone suspiciously as we passed them in the car. Her moments of reality rarely lasted any longer than a conversation and with her hardness; I felt my own only increase. I had used her for normality and I was already missing it.

"Where is everyone today?" Mandy asked pulling into the car park. Owens car was already parked in his bay by the rear of the building and as if hearing us the back door opened and he reappeared looking worried. The streets had been as deserted as if it was midnight and we couldn't even blame the weather. The morning was crisp and clear, cold but the sun was a welcomed sight.

"Dunno. Come on" We got out and headed over to Owen and as he opened the door for us I saw the glimpse of silver of his gun tucked against his side and didn't miss the way he refused to look at either of us.

"Mr Stevenson, what's going on?" Mandy had seen the gun too, and as we put our things away in the staff room the tension was heavy in the room.

"You joining the Night Watchers Lucy?" His tone was as sharp as a knife and unwillingly my heart rate picked up.

"No" I answered quickly, glancing at Mandy who only frowned at Owen.

"I know two guys who think otherwise. Wanna tell me what the fuck that's about?" He slammed his fists down on the table; his anger rolling off him in a way I didn't think was humanly possible.

Something was off about him today, the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach worsening. I knew what ever was going to happen wasn't going to be good.

"They came over last night, Michael and Joe. They wanted me to join because they know I can handle myself and have killed vampires before. I told them no, they weren't happy but they left" I got the folder out of my bag, wondering what exactly was in it and wishing I had looked through it. Luke found it interesting; maybe I should have paid attention to that fact. "I don't want to join. I was going to ask you after work to take this back"

He closed his eyes, taking deep breaths in a bid to calm down but it was as he reopened his eyes I saw the glint of blue in place of his pupils and involuntarily stepped back surprised. His eyes found mine, now completely normal and I had to wonder if it was just my eyes playing tricks on me. The guy from the bar, Jamie came to mind. He wasn't a vampire but he had been something else and the way my mind was working made me shudder.

"I'm glad you told them no. I will make sure they don't bother you again" Owen left Mandy and I speechless, the familiar grinding of the roller door out front soon cutting into the room.

"Have you ever seen him that angry?" Mandy whispered as if scared he could hear us. Maybe he could.

"No and I don't want to ever again" She nodded agreeing and taking off out coats, headed out to set up our registers and all three of us barely said a work to the other all morning. By the time it came to close up Owen was back to normal and saying goodbye we decided to head into town a little before the bulk of the stores closed as Mandy was still interested in getting a cat. Everyone seemed jittery and it seems Mandy's new wiser act didn't come with confidence as she looped her arm around mine, allowing me to lead us down the street. The shouts of people from nearby had the attention of the bulk of the crowd, and looking over the domestic was over a parking bay. I didn't understand what was going on.

"Everyone has a bad case of PMS today" Mandy muttered and I didn't miss the trembling of her hands as they gripped my arm. Before I could response a man roughly shoved past up, nearly tripping her over as I had to try and steady us both.

"Watch where you're going" He yelled, standing dominantly over us. He was as tall as Owen but lacked the muscle but either way he was very intimidating. My first instinct was to argue back, he had pushed her but common sense told me otherwise.

"Sorry" I mumbled, putting Mandy in front of me I urged her to keep walking.

"Sorry ain't gonna cut it! You think cause your girls you don't have to show respect to us" I hated the fact a few people now stopped to watch. No one would help anyone these days, including as he put it, just a pair of girls and then I realized what he was. Did he mean respect to him because he was a man or vampire? Everything about him gave off the impression of an alpha male, did his ego get in the way of his manners? I couldn't help but feel anger, for everyone you help there is another vampire ready to make you dinner.

"I don't know what you're talking about. It was an accident, you bumped her - sorry for getting in your way but we have to go" I was proud at calm I was able to keep my voice, but saw my mistake after saying it.

"I didn't bump her" He stepped closer and I retreated. How did this mark thing work? I'd have to ask Luke how they know about it but even if he did clue on I didn't want him making a show of that fact with people watching. I put my hand on my bag, trying to undo the zip and reach the lighter and as his eyes settled on the movement I stopped. "You know, I should..."

"No you shouldn't and you won't" I nearly cried with relief as a stranger stepped out from the flow of people passing and the ones who had stopped so inconspicuously all retreated knowing a fight was bound to come from this. My relief was short lived as I felt Mandy sob against my back and the stranger was a vampire, in fact I remember serving him this morning.

"Stay out of it Curtis" The larger man demanded, the twitch of his cheek grabbing my attention as I noticed the fangs now appearing above his lower lip. He was struggling not to show his other face, the twitch in his cheek happening again.

"No Darvid" Curtis stepped up to stand between us, "leave girls. You will not be bothered again" Mandy and I didn't need telling twice and practically ran down the street, crossing we took a long way back to where our car was still parked from this morning. I got out the keys, eager to get inside.

"I thought we were going to die" Mandy started to cry and leant against the car, hiding her face in her hands. Hugging her I didn't want to stay out much longer but she needed the comfort first.

"It's ok, we're ok. These things happen" Her crying finally came back under control and pulling away from me instead she screamed, fumbling into her own bag for her weapon. Turning I was surprised to see Curtis, instinctively moving as to block Mandy from his line of sight.

"I'm not going to hurt you. Darvid apologizes, he is a little bit cranky today" Curtis stopped a few of meters away, observing our fear and I passed Mandy the keys to open the car.

"Why did you do that? Other vamps passed and didn't think to help" And neither did the humans. I couldn't help but be suspicious of his sudden appearance and glanced around the empty parking lot glad to see we were still in fact alone.

"Two reasons. One, I am friends with Luke whom I believe you know and two; I was also in the basement that night" That was why he helped us? Luke said he was only there as he was in the wrong place at the wrong time helping a friend, was that Curtis?

Mandy stopped trying to open the door, coming to stand beside me. "Was Darvid there too?" Her voice was slightly croaky from her crying and she sniffed, wiping her eyes.

"No he wasn't but he respects your actions towards our kind. He wouldn't have been so aggressive if he knew" Mandy went to say something else but I cut her off. As nice as this all was, I wanted to go home.

"Well thank you Curtis but we need to go" I opened the door with more ease than Mandy had had and got inside, opening the passenger door Mandy followed my lead. She had just got in when Curtis was at the window and he signaled to wind it down. Starting the car, I obliged but only dropped it a few inches.

"He's coming Lucy" A sly smile took over his face, his tone so cold goose bumps broke out over my skin and he glanced down at my wrist that was resting on the steering wheel.

"Who?" He looked at me doubtfully as if I should already know the answer and started to walk away. "Who?" I called out again, not hiding my anger or my fear and despite Mandy's protests I got out of the car and went to follow after him as a black suv pulled up and sprinting after him, the car drove away.

"What did he mean?" Mandy asked when I got back in, putting the car into gear I didn't speak incase my voice was as shaky as hers. "Lu? Who is coming?"

"I don't know. Vampires" With my sarcasm heavy on my words I rolled my eyes and forcing a laugh, thankful Mandy turned away with a sigh so she couldn't see the worry on my face that stared back at me from the review mirror. Logical thoughts were pushed aside and my throat seemed to close up as fear took over. 'He's coming Lucy'

Getting home I headed straight to the kitchen, eager to start dinner but something wasn't right. I stopped in the hall as Mandy closed the door, not noticing anything she didn't see me stop and bumped into me as she came to follow.

"Hello?" I was almost expecting Luke to be waiting in the living area and Mandy pulled out her lighter as I cautiously moved back towards the door and found the axe hidden in the umbrella stand. Nothing but silence answered me and we headed into the kitchen. A coffee cup sat beside the sink, and I knew someone had been here. We had made our coffee in our flasks this morning as we were running late.

"Is someone here?" Mandy called out and we headed towards the lounge room.

"Welcome home ladies" I heard Mandy breathe out relieved at seeing Michael sitting on our sofa but then what she was seeing dawned on her as she stepped up beside me in the doorway.

"What the hell are you doing in our house?" She snapped, lowering her hands but I kept my grip tight on the handle and neither of us moved further into the room.

"Well your friend here, clearly didn't want me in inside last night; I wanted to see if you two were hiding something. You can put that down" He signaled to the axe and while I dropped it from my attack stance, I didn't put it down.

Human or not, he was trespassing and I didn't trust him.  

"Get out" I warned, pointing to the door.

"Are you always so friendly?" He mocked, getting up he put down the magazine and took a couple of steps towards us. It was then I heard the step on vinyl, our old kitchen floor had parts that had become unstuck over the years and had never been more appreciative of that fact as I swung around with the wooden handle, not caring who or what was there yet I couldn't help cringing as I made impact with Joe's arm as he had been reaching out towards us.

Mandy screamed as he stumbled into the small kitchen table, sending the vase and flowers smashing onto the floor. Dropping the axe I kicked him in the stomach before he could regain his balance, pushing him over before he could respond and sat on his back reaching over to the axe, I grabbed his hair and pulled his head up awkwardly, rested the blade against his neck. As the first tiny slice from the blade registered, he stopped struggling as Mandy ran to the opposite side of the room and a furious looking Michael stalked towards us.

"What game are you playing?" I demanded, pressing the blade a little in Joe neck didn't move a muscle as he spread his hands out innocently on the floor and seeing the tears on his face I couldn't make myself care.

He should be lucky I used the handle, not the blade.

"We wanted to talk to you about your decision not to join. Don't listen to Owen, he knows shit" Michael growled, and I didn't miss the way his eyes were searching for a point of weakness in my hold on his friend.

"He knows enough but despite that I am not like you" He laughed bitterly, almost amused.

"Said the girl with an axe to Joe's throat and is already a vampire killer"

"You broke into our apartment, what was he going to do if I hadn't stopped him? Mandy, call Owen" I really wanted to call our vampire 'friends' but if these guys were already planning war I didn't want to make that any worse. I know they had a code to follow, I didn't know the details but if Owen knew what was going on they would have their own level of discipline to deal with. Mandy nodded, grabbing her bag from where it had been knocked off the table and quickly rang him as Michael cursed. For a second I thought he was going to make a run for it and really expected nothing less from him.

"Fucking bitches" Michael punched the wall and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on with everyone today. "Get off him"

"No"

"Do it or I'll hurt her" He pointed at Mandy who glared at him.

"Owen, Joe and Michael are here, can you... Ahuh.... Ok" Hanging up she kept hold of her phone and inched closer to me instead.

"Put a finger on her and I will kill you" I promised.

"Then get off him" He whined. I don't understand how these two actually thought they stood a chance with a vampire. If they had only been finding the reborn, I guess the vampires really had been cunning enoughto lull us into a false sense of security. I wonder how they would go against Luke?

"If either of you try anything, we will hurt you both" I whispered into Joe's ear and standing I stepped away to be with Mandy. Joe rolled onto his side clutching his stomach where I had kicked him and careful of his arm, he struggled to stand. Michael didn't even move to help him up and my opinion of him managed to drop even lower.

"You would be an asset to our team Lucy, I really hope you reconsider" Joe looked nervously between Mandy and I looking as if he wanted to say something else but didn't.

"If I had to work with you two idiots I'd end up getting killed"

"What if you weren't on the patrol teams? What if you helped with training? I'm surprised Owen never thought of that" Joe seemed to perk up with his idea but I was confused as to why they were so eager for me to join them.

"Why do you want me to join you guys so badly?" I folded my arms, still keeping hold of my axe.

"Girls make good bait in traps" Michael said it with an almost pleasure watching our reactions, "Most of the ones killed in the vamp attack were our women members"

So not only were they discriminatory against the vampires, they were chauvinistic too. Again I managed to keep control of my mouth and only glared knowing full well his intentions. It must have really bugged him I had beaten him in that ring, more than I thought and every other time since then. If I joined I had no doubt I would be the first nominated to go out as 'bait' and probably Mandy too.

"Lucy? Mandy?" Owens voice was angry, and the murmurs with him sounded much the same and as the trio appeared I stepped back with Mandy against the fridge. "You two ok?"

"She..." Owen turned and glared at Michael who cowered in submission.

"We're fine" The other two men looked us over, and then at Joe who hesitantly touched the cut on his neck. "But this isn't on. I don't want to join you, I'm happy how our life is and don't want to bring any vampy attention our way ok? We can defend ourselves and that's all we care about"

The blonde one that kind of resembled Owen nodded as if understanding. "Our younger members need to learn their place"

Mandy and I both gulped at his tone, if angry Owen from this morning scared us having all the three of them looking as furious had us wanting to crawl under under the bed and call for Mum.

And we weren't even the ones in trouble.

"Let's go. You two - out" Joe looked at us apologetically and as the group left Owen stayed behind.

"I'm sorry girls. I'll come back and put new locks on for you. I don't know what came over them and it's not going to be left unpunished" He promised, hugging us both before he left I knew from the way he squeezed a little too tightly he was checking to make sure we were uninjured and I didn't miss the odd way he seemed to sniff the air around us either.

With the apartment now empty, I had never felt more violated. The fact people, not even monsters, had broken in un-nerved me. But they were a whole different breed of monster really. I didn't stop to think what would have happened if we hadn't been the ones in control, my first thoughts made me sick and heating up left over pizza we had only just settled on the sofa with a wine when there was a knock on the door.

Sighing Mandy got up and I turned down the TV to listen in as she opened the door.

"Oh hey Luke" I groaned at having another visitor, not willing to get up and took a bite of my pizza as the pair came in and Mandy took her seat beside me, so relaxed in his company. Considering this afternoon a vampire had bought her to tears, humans had also placed a bigger threat in our home so either way we were pretty messed up with the company we keep.

"I just saw Curtis and.... What happened here?" He was moving to the kitchen before we could stand and despite having cleaned everything up, there was a faint trace of Joe's blood on the axe blade which he now held up. Vampire senses, blood, made sense he could pick that up.

"Nothing, we handled it" I shrugged, really over caring at that point in time.

"He was one of them here last night wasn't he?" Luke demanded, dropping the axe.

"They both were but Owen took them away" Mandy piped up.

"Owen? The dog from the store?"

"What?" Mandy and I both asked quickly, his use of words catching our attention. He only sighed, shaking his head.

"Big dopey guy that watches out for you? He follows you lot around like a guard dog"

"Yeah Owen" Mandy answered uncertainly and the weird way the light had caught his eyes this morning came to mind, well that's what I had told myself it was the light. Jamie's eyes had seemed to glow a golden color at the nightclub and as I looked at Luke it was as if he could read my mind.

"Forget it Lucy. You two are obviously fine; do you need to keep attracting trouble all the god dam time?" He said it seriously but he smiled slightly and I was sure if was more Mandy's benefit, not mine.

With a slight nod he left and this time I didn't chase after him. What happened to the days when our only visitor was Maureen?

"Everyone is acting so weird today" Mandy pondered as we got comfortable back on the sofa.

"Lots of weird shit keeps happening. Makes sense I guess?"

"You're right. Do you still think we can't trust Luke?" I shrugged, not sure what to make of our friendly neighborhood vampire. He denies his good intentions as much as his bad ones, but since he now had access into our home I guess we didn't have much choice.

"Well, I guess so. But end of the day, he is a vampire. If he tries anything, I will kill him" Killing Sasha still played on my mind but I had to stop letting it get to me. If it came to life or death, that hesitation would get you killed and I wasn't willing to say goodbye just yet.

"Me too" Her admission shocked me, but she said it with such conviction I didn't doubt her.

The following morning we had just opened up and as Owen went to check the lock on the back door Mandy went by the magazines and dumped the pile of newspapers. Unwrapping the brown paper from around them her gasp had my attention and as she started to rip it open more frantically I headed over.

"What..." Joe's smiling face graced the front cover, the headline Vampire Attacks Increase in bold above it. "Oh shit"

"Joseph McAllister, 22, was found dead last night, completely drained of blood in what could only be a vampire attack" Mandy stopped reading out loud as I grabbed a copy quickly reading the article too.

We didn't notice Owen return from the backroom but we did notice him leave as he ran out the front of the store and drive off.

"Lu, this isn't good" Mandy whispered, putting down the paper as a lady and her son entered. We headed back to our checkout, suddenly feeling very exposed without Owen in the shop. He had never left us before, ever and with Joe now dead especially after the other attack we didn't know what this would be the start of and I didn't want to know. Since Luke entered our lives everything was getting complicated, confusing and even more dangerous. I guess in a world of vampires, it was only a matter of time for it start to impact us even more than it had and Curtis's parting words were still heavy on mind.

"Do you think it was," she lowered her voice, looking around as if someone was listening. "Luke?"

"I dont know. He just walked in, why dont you ask him?" When ever he comes in he acts like any other customer but with the store empty and Owen missing he didn't need to play the part.

"No Amanda, I did not do it" She opened and closed her mouth, she was never called Amanda. The only place that name existed was on her birth certificate. "I am leaving town, all the vampires are. It is not safe right now for us here"

"Because of Joe's death?" Mandy asked, looking at me fearfully as if I had the answers.

"Partly. You'll be safe, don't worry" The way he said it I believed him, but what did he know that we didn't? A customer came in and he turned to leave but I wasn't done like I had been last night. With Mandy in the store, I knew he would tell me more than if she was around.

"What is Owen?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, I know he is different. Is he like Jamie?" Confusion was clear on his face before he must've remembered who I was talking about.

"Like chalk and cheese. I was serious last night about attracting trouble. Stay inside after dark Lucy. When I come back I don't want to be visiting your grave. You're a smart girl, but stubborn. Don't count on that to save you" He pointed at my wrist and knew what he meant.

Getting onto his bike I stood there like a deer in headlights, unable to bring myself to say anything and without another word he disappeared down the road. Was it a vampire thing to be that infuriating but then again my Dad had a tendancy to be vague, maybe it was a family trait?

I headed back inside, deep in thought and sat behind my register with a new question joining the every growing list that was on constant fast rotation in my mind; what else really did exist besides the vampires?