The night I had killed the vampire they called Sasha haunted my dreams. Each time I closed my eyes my body would shudder as the feeling of forcing the axe blade to break through something living, even if she technically was undead, vibrated through my arms and if it wasn't that nightmare I would be in a pit of snakes that licked my body.

Waking up gasping I was drenched in sweat despite the coldness of my bedroom. The blankets were in a twisted pile at the end of the bed and half on the floor. Tonight it had been a different dream and my arm ached as the scar seemed to throb in time to my hearts frantic pounding.

I hated how it did that.

The fact they called it a mark was playing on my mind and I knew it had to mean something; it was always reacting with my body and emotions and that scared me more than anything.

Taking a deep breath I got up, grabbing a hair tie from the bedside table my hair was damp and stuck to my neck. Having it put up helped cool me down and going into the tiny bathroom, the light flicked unsteadily not helping comfort me as I held the mark under the cold water. But tonight it didn't help ease the burn and each time I blinked the hollow black eyes of the vampire who did it stared back at me. It was only two o'clock in the morning and dawn was a good few hours away. Work would be hell if I didn't go back to sleep but even so, it would be better than the one that had taken over my dreams. Going back to bed, the time to get up came too soon.

Mandy drove us in; casting worried looks in my direction every two seconds not happy with the fact I wouldn't stay home. It wasn't as if I could take time off work. I wasn't injured. Not physically at least and hiding in our apartment wouldn't help anything. All week vampires I served acted normally, clearly unable to detect whatever this marking thing was about or that I had killed one of their own not even a week ago. But Mandy knew and each one had her glaring at them, her eyes never leaving me as if she was waiting for me to break down.

She should know me better than that.

"What is going on with you today Mandy?" Owen stared at her expectantly as Mandy's eyes drifted back to me and knowing that meant something was going on between us, he was now looking at me too. "Lu?"

"Woman problems" I shrugged, spraying the disinfectant on the grocery belt and kept on cleaning. That answer shut any man up from asking further questions and this was no exception as he backed away.

"You should ask him, he knows stuff about vamps" She whispered angrily, standing in front of my register she glanced back to where Owen now stood staring at a noticeboard in a bid to avoid hearing anything he might not want to.

"Or me since I am one" Somehow I'd missed Luke coming in and Mandy and I both squealed at his surprise inclusion to our conversation. That was the problem with being so tired, you weren't as aware of your surroundings and these days that could get you killed.

It didn't take long for Owen to come over, staring at Luke who only seemed amused.

"Everything ok here?" It was the second time he had been seen startling me and to Owen that made him a threat.

"Its fine, thanks" He nodded, still staring at Luke who only smiled and went back by the door. "I don't know if I should tell you"

"Well, how about this. I'll be at the Corner Mile tonight. Come by if you change your mind" He walked out confidently and Mandy was nearly beside herself as I was seriously thinking about it. Sure people still went out at night and the rules of the nightclubs were clear to all but it just easier and safer to just avoid them.

"Are you suicidal?" She practically screamed it as I shushed her; thankful Owen was on the phone to Mr. Sloan.

"No. But I really want to know"

"Lu, you've been attacked twice and somehow been lucky enough to survive, if you go you're tempting fate. I can't believe you'd be so careless" She scolded and while I loved her for caring, I needed to know.

"Fine, I won't go" Sighing I held up my pinky which she looped with hers, "Promise" Thankfully she didn't see my other hand had my fingers crossed.

Luke had a point, why not ask a vampire?

It was eleven when I left the house and I hoped the perfume I had on covered the dusty smell of my shirt. It had been a long time since we went out, the sequins had been stashed away in the back of the cupboard but I at least wanted to look like I belonged there, blend in so I didn't stick out. I drove there with no intention of stopping no matter what I came across and seeing the neon light outside amongst the otherwise dark street my nerves kicked in but I had already come this far.

"ID" The bouncer was more intimidating than Owen could ever be and I flashed him my license as the cold of the night tore through my jacket. Nodding he pushed the door open and the pounding music greeted me along with the warmth of the packet out club. Taking of my jacket I checked it in and as girls walked by drunk and laughing, I had never been more self-conscious as I regretted my option of high heels and jeans with the sparkly shirt as I tried to blend in amongst the figure hugging mini-dress dominated room. Heading to the bar I ordered a drink, bobbing my head in time to the music and finding a spare space by the dance floor I played spot the human. We were slightly outnumbered yet no one seemed to care.

"Hi there" The words were for me and turning to find a man standing there was surprising.

"Hi" I glanced around not sure what else to say or do. I hadn't dated anyone since I was eighteen, I wasn't even interested in doing so after that ended so badly and really it was just easier to be on your own.

"I haven't seen you around before" He sipped his beer, coming closer so he wouldn't have to yell so much to be heard.

"I don't go out much," I admitted, playing with the straw a new kind of nervousness came over me. He wasn't particularly attractive but his brown eyes were filled with a gentleness you didn't see very often.

"Would you like to dance?" Looking towards the dance floor the mass were moving together as if it was some kind of mating ritual and a part of me was dying to be amongst them. Shutting out a social life shut out a lot of others thing to. I couldn't remember how to flirt, I couldn't really remember how to dance like that but I was suddenly willing to try. I didn't feel like myself and regretted ordering my vodka and soda but the drunken feeling was taking over and I couldn't refuse him even if I tried.

"What's your name?"

"Jamie"

"I'd love to Jamie" His grin was infectious and he downed his drink before guiding me down the stairs. His hands were on my hips in seconds, the warmth of his body fueled mine as he pressed himself against my back and we swayed in time to the music. A sensation I had never felt flowed through me as his lips found my shoulder and as he spun me around to face I eagerly anticipated for those lips to find mine and closing my eyes I titled my face up to his, ready.

"Back down" Opening my eyes Jamie's were glowing golden and screaming I fell backwards to get away, slamming into someone to close behind me. Twice I had escaped death, perhaps that's why I felt so detached from the danger I would have to face and came out tonight. But Jamie wasn't a vampire and as the glow in his eyes vanished, his smile returned and he walked away without another word. My head seemed to clear, the drunken confidence disappearing as quick as it came and the tight grip on my arm had me pulling away in a bid to run, get out of this place and go home where I should be but it didn't let go. "Calm down, it's me"

"That's not a comfort" The green lights that danced over the crowd lit up Luke's face and he finally dropped my arm and glancing around, I had a feeling looks were more than deceiving. "He wasn't a vampire"

"Observant. Come on" I hesitated following him but that's why I was here and followed him up the stairs at the back of the room. The music was a muffled thumping upstairs, the thick glass windows kept the noise away and secluded booths were blocked off with rich red velvet curtains. Hesitantly I felt for the can in my pocket, the glorified lighter was like pepper spray to vampires and I wasn't stupid enough to offer Luke any trust. We went to the last booth and as

I sat on the black leather lounge he pulled the curtain over and a glass panel closed it off completely. "Sorry did you want a drink?"

I had learnt my lesson downstairs and shook my head, watching him as he shrugged and sat opposite me. "What was he?"

"Nothing to worry about. Now, let me guess..." His voice trailed off slightly as his eyes wandered up and down over me curiously, before he nodded slightly. "You were wondering about that ugly little scar on your wrist?"

He sat back casually, resting his arms on the top of the lounge as he spread out. I had it covered with a leather cuff and never let it be seen at work so just how he knew was beyond me. Maybe he was like the ones on Saturday night and sensed it?

"It was called a mark. What does that mean?" I rested my elbows on the table between us; sitting forward I needed to know what I had been living with.

"Do you really not know?"

"No. Should I?" Sighing, he mimicked my own posture, staring at me closely as if he was trying to work out if I was lying.

"Well usually, yes. Few humans are ever marked as not many vampires know how to do it successfully"

"Do you?" He grinned, nodding.

"Yes. But it isn't something you do to any and everyone"

"Why not, what does it mean? I was attacked and they ran off because they said I was marked" Again he only nodded, a sly smile appearing on his face.

"Well, you could say if you were to go out for dinner and you reserve a table, that is the reserved sign warning everyone else to stay away" My blood ran cold at his analogy, I was marked like a reserved dinner table? "A mark is a permanent sign there is a vampire, typically an older stronger one as the young ones wouldn't be able to and he or she is looking after you. If another vampire was to try and sit at his, or maybe her table, death would be to kind a consequence"

There was no mistaking the evil in his tone and the fear I had been ignoring was like a hand around my throat. He seemed to be waiting for my response but I had nothing to say as my mouth dried up and I was well aware of how hard my heart was beating.

I needed that drink now.

"So was it a she?" He teased, this whole thing seemed to amuse him but I guess these kind of things must seem trivial to a vampire. "Or a he?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and it took me a moment to click on to what he was implying and unable to stop it, my cheeks instantly reddened but I wasn't going to answer.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I look after my own" He stated simply, the playful edge to his words gone now and the vampire was back.

"Your own, are you implying that's what I am?" He snorted; clasping his hands together he rested them on the table as he looked up me.

"Not implying child, telling" He stood and with a quick movement the table had been shifted from its blocking position between us as he grabbed me by the next and forced me to stand as his face crumpled in the disfigured form of what he was really was. "Do you feel safe Lucy?"

My hand slipped into my pocket and positioning my finger on the button pulled out the can and the orange flame shot out between us sending him flying backwards with a snarl. "Do you Luke?"

His eyes glowed in the most unusual blue colour, similar to his natural shade as his head titled back slightly revealing his fangs as he laughed. A hollow clapping followed as he watched my movements go towards the exit, trying to work out how to make the door slide open. "You're brave, smart - I'll give you that, but perhaps to confident. Settle down child, I mean no harm"

"Like I believe that, let me out or I will use this" I threatened, keeping my finger in position to set the flame free once more if he tried anything further. I had killed a vampire before, I could do it again and if he referred to me as 'child' once more, they'll be calling me Buffy in no time.

"That will not hurt me. Now sit, you're making me angry" His face calmed down, and from there table was turned up against the back wall of the booth he flipped it down back into place and casually took a seat.

"Let me out. You've told me all I need to know" He raised his eyebrow in a way that made me doubt that but I wasn't willing to risk any more of my time trapped in here with him.

"I have barely told you a thing. Do you see her? The one who marked you?" Luke looked at his fingernails as if they were the most interesting thing in the room, knowing full well he had just the set the bait to lure me back in and I took it.

"It was a he and no" The surprise on his face almost had me laughing if not for the fact that surprise turned to worry.

"Not since it was done?"

"No. I think driving a stake through his heart got the message across that I didn't want to see him again. I always just thought this was a scar from where he bit me" If Luke could look any paler, he did and he was practically stuttering after that.

"Y-you staked him a-and he even after that, he didn't kill you?" I nodded, finally dropping my arm from where I still had the can directed at him. Pins and needles flooded through it and the slight ache in my muscles disappeared. "Who was he to you Lucy?"

"No one" But I was lying and clearly we both knew it.

"I don't believe that for a second. Be careful, I can only do so much to help you" He waved his hand and to my surprise the glass wall shifted open offering me freedom.

"I'm fine without you helping me Luke"

"Like I said Lucy, I look after my own and you'd be smart to listen" I didn't answer and taking the chance to leave when I had it I practically ran to the stairs and grabbing my coat, I was surprised to see it was nearly three. I had stayed out much later than I planned and the whole way home my mind was a jumbled mess. Sure he had answered my questions but I was left with a lot more he wouldn't be able to answer.

On Saturday we skipped training and with everything that had been happening, it was the first time Mandy wanted to actually go. We had my Fathers birthday on Sunday so we were staying with them over night and not wanting to risk any surprises going there or coming home we planned our travel for early-morning and afternoon. Heading down the familiar highway I was glad when the tell tale signs we were close started to appear. Our town was like a city compared to where we grew up.

The rural setting left large open spaces between houses and heading in the farmers still grazed their cattle in the paddocks. It was as if time stood still, the homes closer to the main street failed to have the standard fences and warning signs out of the front and in summer, the well-manicured lawns all competed with brightly blooming rosebushes and the smell of hay was like the countries own brand of perfume. But for now the region was semi covered in a blanket of sludgy white and grey snow, the remains of the snow storm that had plagued us a couple of weeks earlier.

The one thing that had changed was the vampire welcome signs that littered the windows. Like my mother, the people here were hopeful of a peaceful existence like before the out coming and as evidence went about the lives as if nothing had happened. I knew in the back of their minds they were fearful, you could see it in their eyes each time someone new came to town. There had never been a large vampire population here, why would there be? It was a farming community and spending days out in the sun chasing after cattle or planting crops wouldn't have helped them blend it.

But they did live here and I had learnt that the hard way.

"Mum!" Mandy was out of the car before I cut the engine and my mother welcomed her with open arms. We had known each other since we were kids and with all that had happened she became the second child they never had.

"Come on my girls, the kettle is on" She ushered us inside like a mother duck with her arms over our shoulders as my Dad got our bags. Mandy and Mum went into catch up mode and I headed out the back to the shed with my Dad. Not having any relation, it was amazing how alike Mum and Mandy were. Naïve to the world that we lived in, it was only since my attack Dad opened truly opened his eyes yet Mum pretended it never happened. Hidden behind the cupboard doors, a variety of weapons were hidden from my mother. It made me feel better if anything happened while I was here we would be able to defend ourselves despite Mum not wanting them to exist.

But for now. what she didnt know wouldn't hurt her.

"Finally cleared out the attic the other day love, look at this" The box he pushed over was old and still covered in dust despite the obvious attempt at cleaning Dad had done.

"What is it?" I lifted the lid to find old photo albums and other family artefacts that had been long forgotten.

"It was your grandmothers, one of the boxes we kept when she died. From what I can tell it goes back a couple of generations. I can't believe I never looked a few years ago" My Dad had been interested in researching our family history after a high school project when I was thirteen. When the vampires came out, the time for those kinds of hobbies was cut short. I had been fascinated in knowing about our past too so for us to be sharing this was one of those moments I would remember.

"Dad, who is this?" The woman in sepia stood graciously in front of a garden painting, the pout on her face resembled my own and that wasn't where the similarities ended.

"Oh look at that, you can see the family resemblance in that one. That's your great great grandmother, Amelia Dartson"

"Weird" We stared at the picture for a few moments before I continued to flick through the ancient page, careful of the cracking plastic that had protected the images for so long but that was nothing compared to the photo that followed and I couldn't stop the gasp as I tried to make sense of the image.

"What's wrong love?" Dad sat back down beside me on the old futon, looking at the picture as I felt dizzy. This had to be a coincidence, like how I looked similar to Amelia. He looked over the picture, thinking hard before the name came to him.

"That's Lucas Stepworth, he was Amelia's father but died when he was quite young. Luckily Georgina, that lady there was able to remarry which wasn't a common occurrence in those days and then had Thomas and Annabelle which are..." He moved through the album stopping at another image with a different man beside Georgina and in front of them a young boy and baby had been propped up in an old pram with Amelia standing beside it. "Those babies. I could never get another picture of them"

'I look after what's mine'

I understood it now, it wasn't a possessive threat or reference to the fact I was living blood bag to his kind.

He looked after what was his.

His family.

"Dad, Lucas never died - he's a vampire"