The rest of the day went by agonisingly slow. The awkwardness was thick enough Catherine was certain she could slice it with a knife. It was suffocating being near Vincent after the incident. He hardly spoke to her after what happened, thankfully. She wasn't sure if she would be able to face him and answer any questions he had about her horribly executed plan.

She was so embarrassed! There was a part of her that pestered her about being so foolish. Vincent and his mother, and not only that, but what happened with Julian, was more than enough evidence to prove he was serious. She just couldn't accept that though, and in return for her meddling, she made things worse.

Her throat tightened with emotion and her eyes burned with unshed tears. She couldn't cry! Not right now! Not in public. Once she was home, she could wail as much as was needed.

She lifted her eyes to the sky. It was a bland blend of shades of dark shades grey. It started to rain, the droplets splashing on her face and the pavement around her. Closing her eyes, she inhaled. The scent of wet pavement and damped leaves filled her nose, and she exhaled. It was a smell she rather enjoyed, and it calmed her rattled nerves.

Pulling her jacket tighter around her body and adjusting the purse strapped over her shoulder, Catherine quickened her pace. It was getting rather dark, and fast. She couldn't wait to be in the warmth of her home, sipping a steamy cup of green tea...

"It's awfully dangerous for a woman to be walking alone," A voice from behind her said.

Catherine's body tensed at the unexpected voice. What a cliche thing to say, she thought to herself. Turning slowly, her heart leapt out of her chest when her gaze landed on a tall, broad man. His face was hidden by the shadows from the hood of his sweater, but she could see his chin and mouth.

"Aren't you cold walking in this rain? With no one to accompany you? What would happen if you were to ever be attacked?"

Catherine's heart began to race, and a voice in the back of her head told her to walk away, and fast. The hair on her arms rose and a shiver ran down her spine, her adrenaline spiking to the point she started to shake.

"I'm fine," She said, pushing her legs to move faster. If she could find a cafe or another shop to find refuge in until the stranger left, she would surely be okay-

Catherine released a scream when the man grabbed onto her arm and forcefully tugged her to face him.

"Let me go!" She wailed, tugging away from him. Her body froze, the chill she felt earlier once again racking through her body when she gazed upon blood red eyes. No, she thought to herself in horror, not another Vampire! Why were they suddenly flocking around her? She was never bothered by any before, why now? She felt like a magnet for them, and that was dangerous.

"Please just leave me alone," She insisted, "I-I'll call Vincent Kingsley if I have to!"

His chuckle was foreboding as he removed the hood, and his smirk caused her stomach to tighten into knots.

"I could care less about Vincent," He spat the name with venom, and dashed towards her.

Blindingly, Catherine dived to the left. He still managed to hit her left side, and she stumbled and fell to the ground. She turned to face him, her eyes widening when he moved to lunge at her again.

She scrambled out of the way, and when she felt his hand grasp her leg, a shout escaped her throat as she used her other leg to kick him away.

Fight, the voice in her head demanded, fight back!

The adrenaline within her heightened, and with a surge of power she didn't know she was capable of, she pushed him away. Her hand tightened into a fist and she swung at him when he charged at her again. Much to her surprise, she landed the hit. She heard a sickening crack, and he staggered to the side.

When the stranger glanced at her once more, Catherine could practically feel his rage. His jaw was lopsided, and she felt nauseated at the brute strength she managed to muster to inflict such a wound.

"You bitch," He snarled, and this time when he jumped at her, it was too fast for her to comprehend.

She was thrown to the ground with such force that the air was knocked from the lungs and she couldn't breathe for what felt like an eternity. She gasped, her lungs burning for air as she clawed at him. It was futile though, and she knew it. There was no way she would be able to escape him, not when he was holding onto her with an iron like grip.

A piercing scream, one that caused her ears to ring, filled the air when he opened his mouth and bit into her neck.

***

Vincent tilted his head, his eyes closed, as Ariana kissed his neck sensually. They were currently in the back of his SUV heading back to his house. The blonde haired woman was more than eager to begin, and he was more than willing to accept it.

He released a breath, grabbing onto her thigh when she lightly nipped at his neck. Suddenly the car jerked to a stop, and his eyes flew open.

"What the hell, Parker?" He snapped.

The tinted glass window that separated the back seat from the front slid open, and Parker's worried face could be seen.

"Sorry to interrupt, boss, but if you could look outside-"

A scream that seemed all too familiar to Vincent echoed, and he immediately pushed Ariana off of him. He glanced outside the window, and the scene before him caused a rage to consume every fiber of his being.

Catherine had been viciously knocked to the ground, her mouth opening and closing as if she couldn't get any air. A man he had never seen before was on top of her, and grabbed a fistful of her hair and jerked her head to the side.

Vampire.

With swift movements, he exited the vehicle and approached them. He was beside them in seconds. The fury grew tenfold, rushing through his body as he grabbed onto the hood and ripped the man away from Catherine. She slumped, and placed a hand on her neck.

Glancing at the man, Vincent was mildly taken back when he noticed he had a broken jaw. He didn't dwell on that fact, and instead grabbed the man's jaw and shoulder. With one, quick twist, he snapped his neck.

"We'll dispose of him once we get answers." Vincent said as Parker stepped out of the car and dutifully picked the Vampire up and threw him into the trunk.

With a gentleness he didn't know he had, he lifted Catherine off the ground, ignoring her protests, and carefully placed her in the back seat. He sat next to her, and instructed Parker to first drop off Ariana before taking him and Catherine to his house. He ignored the annoyed glare he received from the blonde, and simply glanced down at the barely conscious woman beside him.

"Thank you," Catherine muttered breathlessly and when she glanced up at him, his heart skipped a beat. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she relaxed her body into his.

Vincent swallowed nervously, placing a hesitant hand on her shoulder to comfort her. As he stared down at her, he realised he wouldn't be able to fire her. No, not anymore. Catherine was a flame, and he was a moth drawn hopelessly to her.