I can't believe Silas made me sit in the back of Lazzareth's black 1969 Boss 429 Mustang. I mean, it's a nice car, and it has a nice rumble from the engine, but I won't jump out of it. I've gotten sort of attached to Laz. I like him by my side. I like the feeling of him by my side - not in a sexual way. Yes, the sex is a major plus and the best I have ever had, but we have a lot in common. We like a lot of the same bands and the only other person that has ever liked half of the bands I like has been Lacey.

Lacey and I have been friends since middle school. If anything, you could say we are best friends. She's always there for me and I'm always there for her. Lacey is what I would say a top of the line girl. She has long, wavy light brown hair and gorgeous dark blue eyes. I've always thought she could be a model or a movie star with her looks. She's not like me and prefers to wear things that are popular and in style. We're complete opposites in looks. I've always been into the punk fashion as well as the music. Lacey doesn't really get it. She has both parents who are in a happy relationship and a younger sister. She has a perfect life. She knows about how my dad treats me and always checks up on me if she hasn't heard from me in a few days. I don't want to lose contact with her.

Laz stopped the car in front of the dirty looking one story house I had to call my home. My dad would rarely do any maintenance to make the place look nice. It had fading and grungy tan paint on the outside, missing black shingles on the roof, duct tape on one of the windows where I threw a bottle at my father when he was trying to hit me, and the grass was mostly brown and overgrown. I hated this place. I hated that both Laz and Silas were looking at it and knew it existed. Silas made a disgusted sound, "This is where you live?"

"Apparently not anymore." I said as the boys opened their car doors. Silas turned to lift the seat and let me out when the front door of my house opened. Silas grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the car before wrapping his arm around my shoulders and turning to look at the person leaving my house. I smiled as I saw Lacey lift her bike from the tall grass. Silas leaned his head down towards mine, "Who is this beauty?"

"Don't even think about touching her. I'll rip your dick off." I said in a low tone.

Silas chuckled as Lazzareth came up beside us and took my hand in his, pulling me out of Silas' grip. I leaned into Laz and smiled at Lacey as she noticed us. She dropped her bicycle and almost ran towards us. She pulled me into a tight hug.

"Where have you been? You vanished last night and didn't even call me. Your dad said you hadn't come home. I was worried." Lacey said as she pulled away from the hug.

I smiled and nodded my head towards Laz, "Sorry. I didn't mean to leave you. A lot of last night is a blur."

Lacey looked up at Laz then looked at Silas. She rolled her eyes. Lacey never liked that I slept around. She thinks I'll end up murdered and pregnant. Her dark blue eyes moved back up to Laz, "So you finally caught the attention of the Shadow Dweller."

Laz chuckled, "Shadow dweller?"

I felt my cheeks getting warm. He was the Shadow Dweller, wasn't he? I was never able to see his face because he stayed in the shadows of shows. But I do remember finally seeing his face last night and knew then I needed him. I shook my head, "We always saw you at shows but you stayed in the shadows and we didn't know what you looked like. So we called you the Shadow Dweller."

Lacey giggled, "Yeah, we always knew if you were at a show the band was good."

Laz chuckled again, "I guess I do have good taste in music."

"That crap you listen to isn't good music." Silas said. "Anyways, we don't have much time. Lazzareth, do your magic."

I turned around to look at Laz. I was hoping he was reading my mind. Do not erase anything from Lacey, please. She's my best friend.

Laz gave me a warm smile, "Calm down, Silas. I want to apologize to Veronica's friend before taking her with us across the country."

"Across the country?" Lacey asked. I could hear the sadness and confusion in her voice.

I turned around to look at Lacey. What was it they were saying in the apartment earlier? "Yeah. I know it's fast, but I think I'm in love. Silas is moving for work and he doesn't want to leave Laz on his own so I'm going with them."

Lacey looked at me, her eyes wide, "Can I talk to you for a minute, Veronica?"

Here it comes. A talk. A best friend 'are you sure you want to do this' talk. I held in a sigh as I pulled my hand from Laz's and took a few steps away from the guys. A low growl came from Silas, low enough that Lacey didn't hear it but I did. I turned to look at him, "I'll be right back."

Silas cut his eyes to Laz who just nodded his head as I followed Lacey up the sidewalk towards my front door. Lacey stopped when she thought we were out of their hearing range. I knew the guys would be able to hear us. She took a glance at them before looking at me and taking both of my hands in hers, "Veronica, this is serious. You've never been interested in a guy like this before. Are you sure you want to pack up everything and leave with them? I don't think it's a good idea. You should stay here."

"Lacey, I know you are concerned but I'm positive I want to go with them. I can get away from my dad. I'll keep in touch with you, I promise." I said as I squeezed her hands to help reassure her this is a good idea.

"What if they hurt you?" She asked.

They already have. Silas broke my wrist earlier. It doesn't even hurt anymore and I can fully move it now. I guess this whole vampire thing is a perk. The downside is Silas can break every bone in my body and wait until they heal to do it all over again. Then, according to Laz, I had the worst pain in my life when I consumed his blood and my body died. I gave a smile at Lacey, "If they do, I'll come home to you."

"Your dad is a little drunk. I'll go in with you to help you get your stuff." Lacey said with a sigh. I knew she wanted to spend more time with me. I didn't want her to see anything happen but at the same time I didn't want her to leave. I gave her a smile before hugging her. The guys were beside us in an instant. I knew if something strange did happen, Laz could erase that part from her memory. That, I would allow him to do even though I hate to admit I would let him remove things from her memory.

"Let's meet daddy dearest, shall we?" Silas said as he headed to my front door. I knew my door was unlocked. My dad never locks it. I let Lacey out of the embrace and grabbed her hand as I lead her to the door. When we arrived at the door I nodded for Silas to open it. He turned the handle and walked in.

"Who the fuck are you?" I heard my dad slur.

I walked in behind Silas, pulling Lacey with me. My dad was sitting on the old brown couch, his short dark brown hair looked like he had been sleeping and his brown eyes were bloodshot. His slim figure stood up, showing his height as a form of intimidation. He's only six foot two inches, but he takes advantage of his height at every possible moment, "The whore finally brought someone home."

Laz walked in behind us and pushed me behind him a little, "Never call her a whore again."

Dad rolled his eyes and gave out a laugh, "You don't want me calling my daughter what she is? She should have been aborted."

My father's words didn't phase me. I'm used to them. I heard a growl come from Laz. I reached my left hand forward and grabbed onto Laz, "Let's just get my stuff and leave."

"Leave? You can't leave, bitch." Dad said as he walked towards us, stumbling over himself.

"Do you think your drunk ass can stop me?" I spat at him as I went in front of Laz, pulling him and Lacey with me. Dad blocked the hallway going to our rooms and gave a, drunken, mischievous smile, "Yes."

I pulled my hands free before going up to my dad and shoving him as hard as I could. My strength caught him off guard and he stumbled backwards, almost falling, but catching himself on the wall. He looked up at me, "You little bitch."

He stood up and lunged at me, but I dodged him, which made him fall to the floor. Silas burst out into laughter, "Wow, you are pathetic."

My dad looked up at Silas before trying to stand up, "What's that, fucker?"

"I said 'you are pathetic'. Want me to repeat it slower so you can understand what I'm saying to your drunk ass?" Silas said as he smiled down at my dad. My dad huffed angrily and tried to stand up, "And you just slept with my whore of a daughter, so we're equal."

Silas shook his head, "Wrong. I didn't sleep with her. That would be my younger brother. But it sounds like you're a little bitter because you can't get any action."

Lacey came up to me, "Your dad won't back down. Should I call the cops?"

I shook my head, the want to kill my father growing stronger. "Nah. He's getting what he deserves. He's no match for us."

I gently pushed Lacey into my hallway, "Go to my room and pull out my suitcase. I'll be right behind you."

Lacey shook her head, "I'm not leaving you."

I looked up at Laz, hoping he was reading my mind and he would do that mind thing and send Lacey to my room so she wouldn't get hurt. Laz turned his head to glance at me before rolling his eyes and giving a slight nod. Lacey gave a sigh, "Fine. If you scream I'll call the cops."

"Thank you." I said as Lacey nodded and went down the hallway before turning left to go into my room. I took a deep breath and turned to look at my father trying to stand in front of Silas. He was taller, but Silas was completely sober - and a vampire. Silas seemed unfazed by my dad and rolled his eyes, "Veronica, are you going to do it?"

I smiled as I walked to them. I kept it in my mind that I just wanted to punch him in the face as hard as I could. I stood in front of my dad as he looked up at me. He looked at me with his red eyes as he stood over me. Dad swung his arm at me, hitting me in my left ribs. It didn't hurt like it normally did. I gave a smile that probably looked sinister as I punched him in the face.

"You bitch!" Dad yelled before putting his hands around my throat to try to choke me. Once again, it didn't bother me not being able to breathe, but I could feel my throat closing in. It only took a moment before my dad was being pulled away from me by Laz. I grabbed Lazzareth's hand, "You know, this is how he has treated me ever since I can remember."

Laz turned his head to me, "Do you really hate your dad that much?"

I nodded, "I've always hated him. He's not my father. He's a parasite that has abused me my entire life."

"How do you want to kill him? Drain him of his blood?" Silas asked as he walked slowly behind my dad.

I couldn't drink his blood. It would be too bitter. I gave a shrug, "No. He needs to suffer."

Dad gave a throaty laugh, "You can't kill me, slut."

Lazzareth gave a defeated sigh, "Okay, fine. But we can't do anything too rash. His death has to look like a suicide."

My dad gave another laugh, "You seriously think you are going to kill me? Just be a good girl and grab me a beer."

I rolled my eyes as my dad sat down in his brown recliner. I leaned into Laz as he wrapped his arm around my back, "I want to tear him from limb to limb. Cut off each of his fingers while he's tied up, then his hands and cut his arms off then the same thing with his legs."

Silas chuckled, "You chose a beautiful evil mind."

Laz placed a small kiss on the top of my head, "How about we show you ways to kill people and not get caught?"

I gave a shrug, "As long as this piece of trash is dead, I don't care."

Laz gave a nod and looked at Silas, "Show her."

Silas appeared beside my dad. I caught his movements but my dad jumped when Silas appeared beside him, "Right here on the neck is a main artery. You can drink from here and kill them, just stop when the heartbeat gets faint."

Silas continued showing me spots on the body that were prime spots to drink from. My dad just rolled his eyes and called us names as he drank from a warm six pack he kept beside his chair. Silas looked up at me with a glint of evil in his eyes, "Are you ready for your first kill?"

I shook my head, "You want me to drink from him? Hell no. His blood is bitter poison. You can have his blood. I just want to see his dead body if we can't mutilate him like he deserves."

"Let's go help Lacey pack your things, then." Laz said as he took my hand and turned to the hallway. I shot my dad my bird finger before turning and going into my bedroom. I heard my dad give a cry of protest as I assumed Silas had bit him. I smiled. He was going to die. He finally gets what he deserves.

My small bedroom resembled Lazzareth's bedroom a lot: my clothes were on the floor, I had records strewn across the place, and I had flyers of bands shows on my walls along with pictures of Lacey and I. Lacey had pulled out an old suitcase that I found at goodwill a few years ago and had started putting my clothes in it.