As Lucian descended into the grand hall of the vampire conclave, the murmurs of the councilors ceased, and all eyes turned to the young prince. His mother, the Queen, sat upon her throne, her expression a mixture of regal elegance and sharp concern. The conclave began to discuss Lucian's punishment for crossing the border, their voices weaving a tapestry of reprimand and censure.

Lucian's defenses rose as the councilors questioned him, their tone dripping with disapproval. He felt like a child being lectured, his actions being scrutinized by those who knew him all too well. The air was heavy with the scent of old blood and worn tradition, making Lucian feel suffocated.

"I don't care about the border!" Lucian lashed out, his words piercing the tension. "They're not a threat! My mother's just scared." The councilors' gazes snapped toward him, and Lucian's mother's eyes flashed with warning, her voice rising in pitch.

"The border was your father's idea to keep us safe," she declared, her words dripping with conviction. "He fought tirelessly to protect our kind, and you're willing to throw it to the wolves like that?"

The queen's tone was laced with a warning, a subtle yet potent reminder of the power that lay within her grasp. Lucian felt a spark of defiance ignite within him, but it was quickly extinguished by the weight of his mother's words.

"A Wolfbane and a vampire can't be together," she said, her voice low and deadly. "They're a threat to our very existence. You know the laws, Lucian. I taught them to you myself."

As she spoke, a cold dread crept up Lucian's spine. He knew the weight of his actions, the potential consequences that lay hidden beneath the surface. His mother's words were like a dagger to the heart, slicing through his very identity.

"You're just scared for me, too," Lucian spat, the anger boiling over. "You're scared I'll choose them over my own kind." He turned to leave, but his mother's voice stopped him.

"Lucian, don't walk away," she called out, her tone firm but trembling. "You need to understand why your actions are so treacherous. You're playing with fire, child."

But Lucian's heart was ablaze, fueled by the flames of his own desires and fears. He stormed out of the conclave, leaving behind the familiar halls of his mother's court, and the stifling expectations that bound him. The darkness swirled around him, a vortex of uncertainty, as he plunged headfirst into the unknown.

In the shadows, Boris watched as Lucian vanished into the night. "The Queen will likely strip him of his title and privileges," whispered Valtor, one of the councilors. "And perhaps even expel him from Bloodhaven altogether." The others nodded in agreement, their faces stern and unyielding.

"I think she'll want more," said another councilor, her voice low and calculating. "A public demonstration of her disapproval would send a strong message to any others who might be tempted to defy her." The room fell silent, the weight of their words hanging in the air like a challenge.

Boris's expression remained grim, his eyes shadowed with concern. He knew that once Lucian chose his path, there would be no turning back.

/////////////// TW: Blood!! 🤮 You have been warned… 🤡 //////////////

“You should have known that meeting him would lead to this.” He laughed as Rio dropped to the ground lifeless, blood oozing from his forehead.

Sarah attempted to pull her arm free, instead slipping in the blood, her left heel flinging off. The ringing in her ears beat louder than her heart.

Zion came up behind Sarah, fully conscious now, and grabbed her collar.

“Where’s an exit?” He forced her to look away from Rios body.

“Why should I tell you?”

“Because if you don’t that puddle of blood is about to get bigger— now tell me where a goddamn exit is!”

Sarah pointed to an emergency exit to the left.

“Come on.” He pushes her in the direction she pointed.

“What?” Sarah stumbled. “No— why!?”

“Stop it with the questions! Just listen to the guy with a gun!”

“Can I grab my shoe?”

“No.” He smirked. “And no questions about it.”

🩵

…

I didn’t love writing this one yall— I HATE blood and wounds, hence why it is so short 😰 um, so, I hope you have a good day/night!! <3

(Shoutout to Hollow Oaks! This is draft #12. Sequel to Deadly Assignment and Deadly Meeting.) ———

“We need to write down as many details as possible from our stories,” Brielle commands, taking charge because someone has to. And none of them are stepping up.

“Why?” Anette asks, looking at her black painted nails, unimpressed.

Brielle takes a breath. She needs to stay calm and be confident. “If they changed any part of the story, that can lead to clues or hints or something about the person. We can compare them to the actual articles of these events.”

They need to think this through logically. All of them have to work together to find this perpetrator. If they brought their stories to life, who knows what other stories they’ll try to use.

Song hands out notebooks and pencils to each of them. It is quiet for a few minutes. Anette and Ellis were a bit begrudging and would give a huff of annoyance but did it nonetheless.

Her hand aches as she scribbles down important aspects of her story as fast as she can. It’s like her brain is a sieve and she’s afraid all the morsels of information will slip through with each passing second.

Soon her page is filled with her messy cursive. Peeking up from her paper, Song is calmly writing, in probably beautiful print. Her eyebrows scrunch together in complete concentration. Anette looks as though she is attacking the notebook with her wide writing and the pressure of the pencil. Ellis leans back and casually scribbling like it’s a grocery list, not for a teenage investigation.

With the extra time she has, she flips the page over and starts to write down facts that they know.

• they all wrote horror stories for Professor Tark’s class
• the police called them all in after the Warner’s Park attack
• someone would have had to tip off the police to the similarities of Ellis’ story and Warner’s Park attack (possibly Prof. Tark)
• only Ellis’ story is confirmed to have happened
• Officer Minton indicated that the rest of the stories may have happened
• all of them have alibis for the Warner’s Park attack
• the police sees them as suspects

“This person obviously has resources.” Brielle rips her gaze from her paper. Anette does have a point. To mass murder people at an amusement park and get away with it implies there resources. The plan, the weapon, and the getaway.

Ellis’ relaxed stance became rigid in an instant which does not go unnoticed by any of them. “That doesn’t mean it’s a rich person. Just someone with not so good connections. Which is not always people with wealth,” he defends quickly.

“Of course you feel like that,” Anette says with sarcasm deep in her voice. Song opens her mouth but closes it without a single noise. It’s like an angry tennis match between the two. Not something one wants to get in the middle of.

“Excuse me?” Ellis is now ticked off. His notebook slips from his lap as he sits up straight, leaning forward to look Anette in the eye.

She is not one for intimidation. As long as Brielle has ever known her, Anette doesn’t scare. At least not easily. “You’re an Allister,” Anette shoots back like it is the ultimate insult. Brielle isn’t sure what his last name has to do with what she’s saying though.

Song appears to know because she objects, “Anette, you shouldn’t be using that against him.”

The only male in the room ignores Song and addresses Anette’s words. “What’s that supposed to mean? Just because my parents have money means what? Newsflash, I can’t change that.”

It takes her a second to understand the situation. Ellis Allister’s parents own a hotel chain in the area. While she doesn’t care to keep up with the local wealthy people, she does recall hearing about their success before. What shocks her more is Anette’s reaction to it. While Ellis does act a bit macho at times, he doesn’t brag about money.

“That you can take risks,” Anette answers.

“You’re at this college too you know,” Ellis quips. He makes a wide gesture that almost hits Song in the face. She has to lean back as to not be swung at.

Anette scoffs. “Yeah, on scholarship.” That surprises Brielle. She’s also here on scholarship. She had no idea that Anette was too. She always appeared so self assured. Like she was just made for success.

As Song tries to mediate between the two glaring members of this suspect group, Brielle takes the time to retreat in her thoughts. Her notes of all the things that are known leave her with more questions than answers.

One of the bullet points that interests her the most is the one about another one of their stories being carried out. Ellis’ amusement park slasher came true. But what about the rest? Officer Minton indicated at least one of the others also happened.

Taking out her phone, she goes to local news and checks the headlines from the last couple of days. It could be a fruitless search. Now that the police suspect their stories being used, they may not put any details out, but it doesn’t hurt to check.

Most are about Warner’s Park, but one of the titles catches her eye.

HOME INVADERS PICK THE WRONG WOMAN

Clicking on it, she skims the information. A woman faced a home invasion where she killed the people trying to hurt her. Remembering back to when they each announced what they wrote about, it could be Song’s story.

Ellis and Anette have stopped arguing and quietly glowering at one another. Without a single word, she hands her phone to Song.

Song’s eyes rapidly devour the details of the article. Her eyes get wider as she reads.

“Oh god.”

“What?” Brielle asks. There must be something. “Is it your story?”

“Yes. But it’s slightly different.” Song gives Brielle her phone back and whips out her own. She sees that Song sent herself the article from her phone.

With the change of topic, Ellis appears to be a smidge calmer now. “Different how?” Confusion leaks into his voice. Different doesn’t make sense in line with this perpetrator. They followed Ellis’ words like a script.

Why change that with Song?

She appears to know. Brielle can’t describe it any more than to say Song is a living, breathing epiphany. Posture jolted up, eyes wide with disbelief, slacked jaw.

“They don’t know. It isn’t Professor Tark.” Song looks visibly shaken. She can barely hold her phone still as she pours over more and more of the news.

In the other hand, a roll of Anette’s eyes indicates her irritation. “That’s not very helpful Song. Without any context,” she says.

“How do you know? He’s our only suspect right now,” Brielle points out, a bit nicer than Anette. It doesn’t help anyone to be rude to the person with the answers. And Song literally doesn’t do anything that could cause such negative feelings.

She twists her hair in her fingers, making a curl a bit tighter. “Because I wrote a short story for another assignment. Then for this exercise, I wrote a continuation. There are inconsistencies between this article and both my stories. Whoever is using our stories obviously hasn’t read the first part. Because they don’t know there is one.”

A silence blankets over them as they process her words. What does this all mean? Does this eliminate Professor Tark? Since he would have knowledge of both parts of Song’s idea.

“So the Story Snatcher only knows these specific stories,” Ellis summarizes, looking at Song for approval of what he deduced. She nods in agreement.

Brielle squints at Ellis in confusion. “Story Snatcher?” She questions.

He shrugs but grins at his nickname. “Trying to find a cool name for our killer, like in the movies.”

Turning over a page from the notebook, he shows a couple names he was storyboarding. Brielle doesn’t catch any others before he closes it because ‘Story Snatcher’ is the biggest and circled on the paper.

“We are not calling them the Story Snatcher,” Anette deadpans. “It sounds like someone who checked out a book but forgot their library card.”

Even with how absurd and potentially dangerous the situation they are in is, Brielle bursts out laughing at that. Soon, the other three join in and they don’t stop.

They laugh until their have tears coming down from their faces. Anyone passing by the room might hear and think they are nuts. But who cares? It feels good. To not think. Even for a moment.

“Fine, not the Story Snatcher. I’ve got other ideas!”

Brielle wipes the tears that trickled down her cheeks. While this meeting may end with smiles on their faces, she knows what they should do next.

They need to face the only person who for sure had access to their stories. Song’s epiphany may have cast doubt on him, but they need to officially rule him out.

Professor Tark.

Good thing they still have class tomorrow.

——— (This is the last draft from the numbers people commented. Thanks to everyone that selected a draft number. It always helps when I have writers block. It forces me to revisit a draft and finish it!)

‼️ TW ‼️ ‼️SELF HARM‼️

I watched the flame of ember melt my skin as the blood from my knife tripled down my body. 1… 2… 3… 4… I pulled the lighter away and stare at mark it left. I ignite the flames again and put it back to my skin. 1… 2… 3… 4… I turn off the lighter and hide it under my mattress. “Honey are you in there?” He says, his voice echoing in my head. “I’m coming, one second.” I stare at the knife on the floor that stained with blood. I pick it up and take it over to my Duchess and clean it off with a paper towel. as I do that, I glance at myself in the mirror. And I see the marks I’ve left on my body. The red dripping lines on my skin where my knife had greeted it. The red circles of hot flash that covered the remanding skin on my shoulders and thighs. What has that man done to me? Why have I done this? Why do I keep doing this to myself? I want to stop. I need to stop but I love seeing the blood run down my arms and legs and the burning feeling I get. I need to stop but the pain and the risk of being caught is adrenaline. It’s such a start in the rush for me. I need to stop but how would people know that I’ve struggled? How will people know that I’ve survived all these years after that man has done to me? I’m still fighting for that peace? I need to stop but I can’t.

My grandfather was a superstitious man. Any body ache meant rain was coming, and every new year he always included black-eyed peas and greens on his plate for good luck. As a child, he’d chastise me for playing while he swept the floor, saying if I don’t move, I’m gonna gain bad luck. On his deathbed, he asked to speak to me alone, claiming he needed to tell me something that he had dreamt the night before.

“You better run, boy, if you see a fox on your tail,” he uttered with all his strength.

I looked at him baffled because we lived in the city where things like foxes just weren’t around. I wrote it off as delirium, never thinking about it again until that strange day at the park. Every morning, when I run in the park, my earbuds are always at the loudest volume as I focus on keeping my legs moving. Almost every time I saw someone with a little dog, there was a bit of fear that swirled up inside of me, but only for a moment, as I was brought back to my grandfather’s words.

I am not a superstitious man. I don’t keep a Bible under my pillow to ward off witches. I don’t think a spider in my house means someone’s coming for a visit. I live my life always planning for the next day, never dwelling on past mistakes or taking preventive measures to ward off supernatural beings. In my eyes, there’s no such thing as bad luck, just a lack of access to a good opportunity, and with every step I take, I get closer to having a seat at the table.

“It’s good to be ambitious, boy, but don’t play with your luck. You never know when you gonna need it.” My grandpa once said to me when I was thirteen.

I was in his driveway, shooting hoops after coming back from the barber, where I got a fresh new fade. My grandfather was always getting on me about my hair. It was always, “You look ridiculous!” or “Why you letting it grow that long?”I remember always feeling like everything I did was a problem for him.

“I make my own luck, papa,” I replied, using a name for him I hadn’t used since I was seven.

I stopped using it after feeling embarrassed when my friends overheard me call him that as I thanked him for the bike he gifted me over the phone. They laughed and said it was weird because they just called their grandfather's grandpa. After I stopped using it, my mom got on me, saying I’m “always letting others define how I be,”which is ridiculous. It was just normal kid embarrassment that has nothing to do with who I am as a person.

“You gonna wish you listened to me one of these days, boy.”

I had to hold back a snort as I continued to shoot hoops.

On the strange day at the park, I took a break near a bench, bringing the water bottle in my pocket now hot from the heat to my lips. I take a long sip as I look around the park. An officer was lingering nearby, so I immediately put my bottle back in my pocket, and get back to running. As I run, I press my earbuds to pause my music and make sure I’m aware of my surroundings. A strange sound is near by me, almost sounding like the pitter-pattering of feet. I look behind me to see a fox trailing me.

I stumble over my feet and hit the pavement hard as I put my arms out to lessen the pain from my fall. The palms of my hands sting with pain and I’m sure I’m bleeding. I look around baffled, thinking the fox trailing me was some kind of hallucination, but then I see them. It's to my side now, waving its tail, its nose held up as it looks at me like I don’t belong here.

I close my eyes, counting to ten and the fox is still there.

“I’ve never seen you around here before,” the fox says, his eyes narrowing.

“Are you…am I…” I mumble, on the verge of losing my mind.

Or is my mind already gone?

“Are you here to make trouble?” The fox says, walking around me like I was the predator in this situation.

“No, sir, uh, fox, sir?” I say, standing up with a wobble. “Just running.”

“Where are you running to?”

"Uh, just for a run, no real destination just yet.”

“There’s a rabbit around here that matches your description,” the fox says, looking me over in a way that makes me shift under his gaze.

“I’m not a rabbit! I’m a person,” I say, baffled.

“What’s that on your hands?”

“Blood…” I say, wiping my hands on my pants, then clarify my statement. “My blood.”

“Mmm, your blood,” the fox repeats, not believing a word I’m saying.

“Yes, my blood. I just cut myself on the pavement just now.” I showcase my cuts but the fox looks at my hands as if I’m lying.

"Sure, you did,” the fox says, then sneers at me. “Keep those hands up.”

“What?” I say this as the fox snarls his teeth at me, ready to bite.

“You heard me, keep those hands up, rabbit.”

“S-Stop calling me that,” I say, getting angry.

“You threatening me?” The fox says, his tail swaying as he gets closer.

“What, no?!”

“I don’t like your tone.” The fox says this as he bares his teeth even more, looking ready to pounce.

“Look, I’m not looking for trouble. I’m just on a run and I...”

“Shut up, rabbit,” the fox says with a growl, his teeth appearing sharper and larger somehow.

I back up into a tree, a kite string hitting my face. I look up and see that the kite is a beautiful ruby red. I push the kite string off me and it swings as I turn my attention back to the fox. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself.

“Look, I have proof that there’s no reason to be suspicious of me at all…” I say, then reach into my pocket to grab my phone.

The fox attacks me, biting into my stomach. My blood turns his snout ruby red, the same color as the kite stuck in the tree. I think of my grandfather’s warning all those years ago as I fight to live. When I saw that fox, I should’ve ran. I should have known that meeting them would lead to something like this.

‘I should have known that meeting them would lead to something like this,’ Daniel thinks.

He was sitting across from his ex-boyfriend, Jerry, and they had decided to catch up that evening. Their relationship ended on good terms, it was a mutual decision to break up and Daniel didn’t regret it.

The evening started off well enough, with good food at a new restaurant they found and funny stories that happened to the both of them over the past few years. It continued that way until the wine made them both a bit tipsy.

Suddenly Daniel was flirting and Jerry was flirting back. It was fun in a way that felt forbidden. Like, ‘how can we be doing this? We broke up years ago.’

Daniel wasn’t in a relationship at the moment, he wasn’t even looking for a new partner. His last girlfriend caused too many problems, and he had to clean up her mess before he started something new. But does a reignited relationship count?

Jerry was as handsome as always. He was funny and smart. He may be a bit arrogant and stubborn at times but it was part of his charm(or that was the alcohol talking). Jerry had been kind to Daniel in their past relationship. It was a sweet romance. After all this time, Daniel couldn’t even remember why they had broken up.

After dinner the two decided to go for a walk, all the while they continued their playful flirtations. Daniel wasn’t sure if it was real or just for fun. Perhaps he should leave it at that and not think further.

But perhaps the alcohol got to his head. And maybe it got to Jerry’s too.

Because the second they were getting ready to part, they looked each other in the eye and didn’t want to leave each other’s side. They were soon booking a room at the nearest hotel and the night grew steamier than ever.

After their shared desires were(mostly) extinguished, Daniel felt a sort of shame. He didn’t really regret it, he only felt this outcome was to be expected.

As single men who are both extremely compatible, in bed and out, it was only natural they felt drawn to each other again. But Daniel could only say, “I should have known that meeting you would lead to something like this.”

To which Jerry laughed and snuggled into his side. Daniel also smiled and the two fell asleep together.

As for what would happen in the morning, Daniel will have to figure that out when he wakes up.

They’ll never accept me. Though, I suppose I don’t even accept myself. Not yet at least. “You have to stop doing that.” Rowan remarks shaking his head. “Doing what?” Rowan huffs, “Thinking you’re not enough. You just need some training. Come.” I reluctantly get off the rock I’m sitting on and follow Rowan through the thick foliage. My sword lays heavy on my side, but it’s no use to me. I don’t know how to wield a weapons or even…fight. Rowan turns towards me, his dark hair shining in the afternoon sun. “Kaida, your power abilities are already a weapon, but you may not always have them in disposal.” I take off my vest, feeling the summer heat kicking in. I stand in front of Rowan, “So today you’re teaching me how to fight?” He nods his head and stands in a fighting stance. I copy him. He thrusts his fist forward then retreats. “Copy my movements.” And so I do. For the next hour or so, I copy his movements like it’s a dance. Sweat and heavy breaths show my hard work. When the sun is almost below the horizon, Rowan stops the training. “You did good today, Kaida.” I nod my head while drinking from a canteen. “So what now?” I ask. Rowan looks up and smiles. “Now let me see your power.” I shake my head, “Rowan, you know I can’t wield it.” “Try.” “Rowan—“ “Just try, Kaida.” I close my eyes and focus on the humming power swirling within me. I strain my focus and attempt to wield the ice that threatens to burst. “Come on.” I whisper to myself, urging the power of ice to showcase itself. My hands suddenly numb and and I can feel the power snake my arms. I open my eyes at the sound of Rowan’s awe. Ice flakes my hands. “I knew you had the power.” Rowan says with a smirk. “I can’t control it.” “That’s why we are going to see the Iron Pearls. They will help you.” Rowan looks at me with so much sincerity that I nod my head and begin to walk to the Iron Pearls.

When we reach a stone castle, small in size, but large in beauty, Rowan warns me. “Now I’ve told you that the Iron Pearls are very strict and harsh, but don’t let them get to you. They’ll accept you, I know it.” I take a breath and walk through the stone doors. Three women with iron masks meet me at the entrance and nod for me to follow. I look behind and Rowan trails behind me. I clench my fists to stop my shaking. If the Iron Pearls refuse to accept me, I may never control my powers.

Seated in a cold room covered with symbols and artifacts, one of the woman with red hair speaks, “Kaida the wielder of Ice, why dare step into the Iron Pearl?” Anxiety creeps up on me, but Rowan grabs my hand. He’s here, nothing and nobody can hurt me. I look at the three women and confess, “I am new to the powers that swirl inside of me. I do not know control or even understand the power.” The woman with red hair tilts her head and questions with poison in her tone, “You were gifted the power of ice and do not know control?” The woman with golden blond hair and a scar down her left arm laughs, “You are a weapon, yet you don’t know how to wield.” The silent woman, with deep black hair shakes her head and says softly, “Kaida you are dangerous, if you do not know control, and we cannot accept danger.” No. No. No. I need their help. They need to accept me. I let the words out, “Please, I need your help. I can prove I’m worthy of training.” The Iron Pearls silently look at each other and nod in unison. The woman with red hair gestures her arm and says, “Show us what you are capable of Kaida.” Rowan looks at me and nods. He whispers, “Show them what you can do.” I close my eyes and find the power flowing through my veins. I catch it and force it out. I let it trail between my finger and through the room. I open my eyes to find trails of ice crystals dancing in the air. And with a close of my fist, the ice crystals burst into small snowflakes. “Impressive.” The woman with golden hair remarks. “She is worthy.” The woman with black hair says with honor. I am worthy! The Iron Pearls stand and offer, “Kaida, you will train with Rowan the wielder of Fire. We have gifted him the knowledge and skills. Go and make yourself something.”

We exit out of the stone door and into the night. Stars twinkle above. I smile and twirl in the starlight. I’m worthy. I allow ice to swirl me into a dance. Rowan laughs at the sight of my joy. “I should have known that meeting them would lead to something like this.”

Jane pushed against the current of people heading to work, holding two cups of coffee and her leather work bag. At this hour she would have been asleep, waiting for the seven o’clock alarm to ring. Instead, she headed towards the city library.

She had anticipated this day for weeks, and thought of it for all of the two years she corresponded with Archer V. Becket. The boy behind the papers that kept Jane on her toes, and her job on the line. 

Her fingers thrummed with anticipation as she entered through the library’s revolving doors. The warmth of the building instantly embraced her, and she was ready to remove her trench coat and scarf, damp from the light drizzling. 

Jane stood amidst the hushed library, her gaze flickering to the rows of tables by the mythology section. She wasn’t quite sure how exactly she was suppose to find Archer, or is she even came to the right place for that matter.

When he wrote in the papers, “and to my fiercest competitor, meet me at the heart of Luce at seven”, he could have meant a thousand different places. The thought sent a pang of unease that made Jane curl her toes in her boots. 

“Excuse me” Jane asked a woman with a golden pin engraved with ‘Assistant: Claire’.

“Yes?” The woman responded. She was older, with slicked back grey hair and an elegant stance Jane couldn’t mimic. 

“Has any boy come here by the name Archer? Probably arrived at seven or so?”

The woman hummed. She scanned the tables to her left, and then pointed the farthest one out with her long red nails. “That lad just came in.” 

Jane thanked the woman and began half-walking half-jogging towards the final table. Excitement and nerves both beat widely in her chest, and she didn’t know which one weighed on her more.

Someone sat on the table, their face hidden by a book titled “The Art Of Bullshitting.” That, if anything, made her ever the more certain it was Archer.

“Archer?” She said in a hushed voice. “It’s me. Jane Crawford.”

“Ah, Jane. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance” he responded, putting the book down. Jane was not sure if she gasped or not. 

The yellow lights of the library made his blonde hair golden, and casted shadows at the rigid plains of his faces. He looked like a boy from a story book, one who slayed dragons and left a trail of broken hearts. Not someone who spent the past two years of his life competing with a local columnist. Sending her riddles and messages every day. 

“The pleasure is mine.” 

Jane put down the cups and extended her gloved hand to him, noting how when he shook it, it was stiff and rigid like the rest of his body. 

She took a seat across him, handing him one of the coffee cups.

“Oh. No thank you. I find coffee to be distracting.”

Jane was shocked, but said nothing more. Coffee, if anything, calmed her nerves.

“We’ve been at our back and forth for quite some time” Archer said, sliding the book to the side and clasping his hands on the table.

Yes, it has been, she considered. Two years ago when she first got a job as a columnist for Vin Burrs candidacy, she was more than thrilled. The Belford Papers let her write on whatever she wanted, unlike the university who she wrote the weekly mail for prior. So she began poking fun at Devin Channing candidacy, pointing at all the flaws in his arguments and stances. And while she did that, a certain columnist by the name Archer began doing the same for Vin Burr and all his supporters. 

It became a regular thing not only for them to tear down the candidates, but each other and their writings apart. Jane was still not sure when those notes for each other shifted from taunts to friendly messages and riddles. At least, as friendly as they could get with each other.

“I am delighted you invited me” Jane said, stirring the lukewarm coffee. “But I am curious why now?”

He smirked, and his gaze dropped from her eyes to her clenched hands. “Is it so hard to believe I come here with no other motive?”

Yes. 

Her stare said it all. 

“Very well. I suppose drawling this out won’t lead to any good.” Archer took out a pen and paper from his briefcase and placed it in front of her.

Janes stomach clenched, but she didn’t dare let her face flush or give away her startle. “What is this?” Jane asked, knowing full well the answer.

“It’s a contract” he explained, chin tilted up. “Curtesy of the Channings. Stop writing about his office, and they will pay you whatever amount you please.”

Jane pursed her lips. “I will never sign that, Archer. You know that.” And she would have stuck by that, no matter what they offered. Devin Channing was a nasty man with no morals.

“Oh, come on Jane. He won the election. You lost. These papers only tarnish his image, and yours as well.” He slid the paper closer. “Please. Sign this and be done with this ridiculous grudge.”

Janes mouth was left agape. She would have never asked him to compromise his morals, never would have raised his hopes and shattered them like glass.

Her hand flung in the air before she could stop it and slapped Archer across his face.

He looked shocked. She mirrored the same expression. Still, slapping him was the most honest thing Jane ever did.

“Expect to see a very long column on Channing and his columnists tricks to silence the press. Don’t worry, I’ll send you a copy.”

Jane grabbed her coffee, and his to, leaving before he could say anything more.

She should have known that meeting him would lead to something like that. Nothing good ever came out of those people.

I was spending the day with my friends at the mall. It was three days until I would be meeting Draya’s “family” and my friends thought I needed a new “meet the family” outfit. I was as nervous as a person could get; I didn’t even know it was possible for a person to get this nervous without having a panic attack. “We totally get it Sare Bear meeting the parents is the worst. make a bad first impression and it’s like you are blacklisted for life!” Hallie said “I don’t think it will be that bad and anyway they aren’t even her family just friends she considers like family” “That’s even worse!” “How?” “Well, if her parents don’t like you that’s one thing you can get through that, but if the friends and relatives don’t like you then it’s like everyone on their side of the relationship is against you it causes major tension in the relationship and can ultimately cause it to end just ask Tracy.” Tracy was now sending a death glare at Hallie. “I thought we agreed never to bring up Richie ever again.” “Girl, get over it, that boy was no prize you were only with him for what? A month you can do better.” Raquel said. I remembered the Richie phase and it was still a little bit of a sore subject for Tracy, she had fallen head over heels for the dark-haired blue-eyed boy and he seemed to like her but that was where the romance ended. Richie's friends never seemed to like Tracy. Richie came from money and Tracy didn’t and that was something his father did not approve of, and his mother didn’t like that Tracy was a car girl, apparently it wasn’t lady like to be into cars. I don’t care what anybody says if I could pick one person to be stranded with because of car trouble it would be Tracy. Her father owns his own car repair business and Tracy had been in there with him since she could walk, started working on engines and helping to repair cars since she was five. Sure, the only way she helped was by handing him tools but the older she got the more she was able to do to help, by the time she was 10 her dad even started to pay her and by the time she was 15 she could take an entire engine apart and put it back together faster than any other mechanic I know. she just had a knack when it came to cars but there was more to Tracy than cars, she was kind and loyal and funny and smart and not too hard on the eyes either. I had the biggest crush on her freshman year, shame she was straight, but the point was Tracy was a great person. when Richie dumped her, he let go of the diamond in the freaking rough. he found out the very next year at homecoming when Tracy walked in looking like a goddess among mankind. “Sarah, you listen to me and listen good, if these people Draya introduces you to try to tell you that you are not good enough you give ‘em hell! Tell them that if you and Draya are going to be together then it is up to the two of you and nothing, they can say will keep you apart, I will not stand for a repeat of what happened to me, you fight for Draya, whether it’s a short-term relationship or not if she means something to you then you fight for her.” “Wow Tracy that was one hell of a pep talk thanks.” “Ok enough of this talk we came here to get Sare Bear the best “meet the family” outfit and that is what we are going to do or die trying” Kelsey declared. “Ok way to get over dramatic Kelsey…” said Hallie “…but you are right, let’s get to shopping.” We went into nearly every clothing store in the mall and ended up purchasing four different outfits, first was a long baby blue floor length dress with long billowing sleeves and left everything to the imagination “I may be a bit of a rebel, but I know a thing or two about making a good first impression” was what Kelsey said. The second outfit was an off the shoulder white midriff top and a black denim knee length skirt “hey if you got it flaunt it” Raquel said. The third was a long floor length strapless dress that tied around the neck it was white with sunflowers all over it “innocent yet mature” Tracy said. The last outfit was a simple spaghetti strap black tank top and distressed blue jean capris.” “Simple and sexy” Hallie said. Then we ate lunch at the food court I paid for everybody since they each paid for the outfits, and we were talking and laughing the whole time all in all not a bad day.

That night Draya climbed into my bedroom through the window in that sexy cat woman like way that honestly turned me on a little, I never told Draya this but I think she knew and somehow she made everything she did sexy including climb through my window walk around my bed and toe off her shoes before crawling into bed behind me wrapping her arms around me and pulling me close snuggling herself against me then she was planting soft kisses against the back and side of my neck I sigh in contentedness then Draya spoke “did you have fun with your friends today princess?” “Yeah, Hallie said some stuff that made me a little nervous I mean more than I already am but then Tracy gave me a pep talk and that calmed me back down but other than that I had fun.” “That’s good and you don’t have to be nervous Celeste and David are looking forward to meeting you, Celeste barley gets to meet any of my romantic partners and David is usually so busy with his duties as leader he rarely gets to meet anyone so this will be a treat for both of them.” “Draya considering you are taking about a couple of vampires referring to me as a treat isn’t doing wonders for my nerves.” “They won’t eat you and anyway they don’t… well let’s just say when they do feed from humans it is mostly voluntary, and they don’t kill them.” “When you say mostly voluntary you mean they compel them don’t you?” “Not all the time. there are some humans who know what we are and will willingly let us feed from them, but they are few and far between so sometimes, when necessary, yes they will compel a human to let them feed and when they are finished, they take them somewhere to make sure they get a good meal then they tell them to go home go to sleep and forget the whole thing ever happened.” “Is that’s what you do?” “I feed mostly from blood bags I only ever feed from a human when my supply runs low and even then, it’s a last resort, I don’t like messing with people’s minds also I believe in consent and well if you compel them then they can’t really give you consent although I doubt they would do so anyway.” “Could we talk about something else this topic matter is making me a tiny bit uncomfortable.” “Sure, what would like to talk about?” “Anything I would settle for the weather at this point.” “Well, I heard it was sunny today.” That made me laugh “Okay maybe not the weather but anything else just so long as it doesn’t involve eating people.” “Agreed…how about I tell you about when I lived in New Orleans?” “Okay” “I was born in New Orleans in 1851 and given the name Lorelei Emily Boudreaux too my very wealthy parents and never wanted for anything except maybe real freedom but otherwise my every whim was tended to and my parents although strict were also very loving we lived on an old plantation the grounds and gardens were beautiful and on nights when there were no parties and it was just me and my parents we would sit on the front porch and listen to the jazz and blues music drifting up from the city and it would mix with the sound of crickets and bull frogs it was my own personal favorite lullaby” “Sounds like a fairytale.” “Yes but then Mardi Gras of 1868 happened I still remember the masquerade ball my parents threw I remember the lavish gown they forced me to wear and I remember the suiters they kept introducing me to and how much I hated all of them so stuck up and stuffy and full of themselves and every single one of them perfect in my parents eyes I used to enjoy the masquerade balls my parents threw up until then. I was not naïve I knew what they were doing they were trying to set me up with my future husband and I hated it, not them because it was all they knew their parents did it to them and now they were doing it to me and I hated it, I couldn’t wait to get out of there, it was only a few days later that I went out with Louise, she was sort of my servant and best friend. We snuck out to go see the parade and enjoy the celebrations and well that was the night I was turned. A few weeks later I found Celeste. After I was able to control my hunger, I returned to my parents against Celeste’s advice and better judgment. They were so happy that I came back they had thought me dead. I told them that I had hit my head when I went out on Mardi Gras and lost my memory for a while and that a woman named Celeste had found and helped me and that I was and would like to continue living with her. My parents didn’t approve at first, but I was able to convince them. I started having dinners with them even spending the night in my old room sometimes, for a time I was happy, but I still remember the day they died leaving me everything. I felt so alone, that was when I really started to rebel against Celeste, I mean I was always a bit rebellious, but I was getting tired of her treating me like a child. I was angry and felt misunderstood by the entire world and I felt like I was cursed to a life I didn’t ask for an eternity of never-ending darkness and night.” “This just took a dark turn feels less Disney and more brothers Grimm.” “The end is happy because I found a princess and she rescued me and brought the sun back into my world…I found you darling.” “You make me sound like Xena or something.” “Or something you are far more beautiful than Lucy Lawless.” "I don't think so I mean Lucy Lawless is like gorgeous." "I must disagree because although Lucy Lawless is undeniably beautiful she pales in comparison to you, because you are the most stunning creature in this universe." "Second most stunning creature." "What?" "I am the second most stunning creature in this universe because you my angel are the first." “Then it seems we will have to agree to disagree.” “Afraid so.” I said turning around in her arms so that I was facing her and then pressing a firm kiss to her lips she responds immediately pulling me closer and kissing back I only break the kiss when my lungs began to plead for air. When I pulled away Draya was smiling at me, I was about to go in for another kiss, but Draya shook her head “As much as I would love to continue kissing you darling it is late, and you should get some sleep." “Will you wake me before you leave?’ “Of course, I always do darling.” she said before placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.

It was still dark out when Draya woke me, I tried to beg her to stay but she smiled and shook her head “You know I can’t do that.” she said before gently kissing my lips “Now go back to sleep darling and dream of me.” “Even the most vivid dream could never compare to the real thing.” “Then you will have something to look forward too.” and with that she diapered into the darkness.

I stand in front of my floor length mirror; I was wearing the floor length white with sunflowers dress. my friends and I, had voted on which outfit I should wear earlier, and the decision was unanimous. I decided to go with a makeup that had more natural tones and I was wearing a pair of gold dangling earrings and a gold necklace with a matching star shaped pendent. my nails were still painted red, but the little black stick-on diamonds had since fallen off. On my feet was a pair of white sandals. I was now trying to figure out what to do with my hair, no matter what I do it just didn’t seem to look right. I grumble at myself in the mirror as I pull the yellow scrunchy out of my hair for what must have been the hundredth time, I groan in frustration then hear a chuckle come from my open bedroom door, I turn to see my mom leaning on my door frame with her arms crossed casually “Mom…how long have you been standing there?” “Long enough…bad hair day?” “No, it just refuses to look right no matter what I do.” “Maybe I can help” she says walking into my room and coming to a stop next to my vanity pulling the chair out “Come here and sit down.” she says and I do, she grabs the brush that I always keep on my vanity and begins brushing through my hair “You know I remember the first time I ever met my significant others parents I was a nervous wreck but my mother gave me some advice just relax and be yourself and the rest will work its self out and turn out alright in the end and she was right it was such simple advice but so true and the same goes for you just relax and be yourself.” my mom said then pulled a round gold beret with a heart shaped ruby in the center out of her pocket “And a good luck charm never hurts.” she said “Is that grandmas hair beret?” “It’s been passed down from mother to daughter for generations, it was given to your grandmother by her mother and her mother before her and so on and so forth your grandmother gave it to me and now, I am giving it to you” she said pining it in my hair securing it in a half up half down do I stand up with my back facing the mirror. My mother hands me a handheld mirror, I angel it over my shoulder so I can see the back of my head the light glinted of the gold surface of the beret the crimson hart in the center shining bold and bright it looked just right. “It’s prefect absolutely perfect” I say.

My mom waited for Draya with me on the front porch swing, when Draya pulled up getting out of the car and opening the door for me, my mom gives me a hug “Now mind your Ps and Qs and have a good time baby girl.” “I will thank you Mom.”

I got in the car and Draya shut my door and made her way around the car getting in herself putting the car into drive and pulling away “You look beautiful tonight darling although you could wear a burlap sack and I would still think you look breathtaking.” “Your opinion is biased but thank you anyway.”

The longer we drove the more nervous I became. I looked out the window fiddling with my fingers my nerves were justified, firstly I was meeting my girlfriends “family” for the first time and secondly I was going to be in a house full of vampires, thirdly the vampires I was meeting were rather important…Celeste, the vampire who taught and took care of Draya after her sire left her for dead and then there is David, he was sired by Celeste, as a human he had hunted and killed vampires but made the mistake of killing the mate of a powerful vampiress, she had wanted to toucher, feed from and kill him but Celeste did not want to see him dead. He was a good man misguided for certain yes but good, so she suggested turning him, making him the thing he claimed he hated most, it was the only way for her to save his life. At first, he resented her but soon accepted and embraced his new life and for the last 300 years he has been the coven leader and his coven has known nothing but peace ever since he rose to power. So of course, I was nervous, Draya seemed to since this and placed her cold, hand on top of my hot and sweaty ones stilling them “Don’t be nervous princess everything will be just fine, and Celeste and David will adore you.” “Are you sure?” “Yes, darling you are kind, intelligent, funny not to mention beautiful what’s not to like?” I smile at the praise “Well I am glad you think so highly of me at least.” Draya smiled too lacing her fingers with mine and held my hand the rest of the way there. I couldn’t help but notice how perfectly they fit together like they were made for each other.

When we arrive at our destination, we pulled up to a big two-story stone house with a wraparound porch and the second story had a large walk out balcony and I could see smoke coming out of two of the five chimneys I counted poking out from the roof. Draya got out of the car walked around the car and opened the door for me. I got out of the car and after closing the car door Draya clasped my hand in hers and led me up the front steps of the porch and opened the front door. we stepped inside to a small entry way then to the right was a large living room with a fireplace in the center of the far wall of the room, a fire already in the hearth, there was a couch, a love seat and a chair and 1/2 arranged around the fireplace. In the far-right corner of the room there was five recliner chairs in a semi cercle around a flatscreen tv and in the far-left corner were a couple of tall bookshelves and two chairs by a table with two small desk lamps on it.

A woman who had been sitting in the chair and 1/2 stood up and made her way over to us “So is this the Sarah you haven’t been able to stop telling us about?” she said with a strong French accent she was wearing a long red spaghetti strap dress her skin the color of cinnamon and eyes the color of Hershey kisses her onyx hair fell in soft curls across her shoulders. “Celeste, Sarah, Sarah, Celeste” Draya introduced “Enchante Sarah” Celeste said. “Nice to meet you, Draya speaks very highly of you.” “As she does of you.” “Celeste where’s David?” Draya asked “I believe he was checking on the meal.” “Which is on the table and ready to be served.” said a man who was now making his way towards us he is wearing a black button up shirt, black pants, black leather shoes and a white tie he had light brown hair that was long and tied back in a ponytail like Terry Silver from karate kid 3 and kind hazel eyes “Sarah I presume?” “Yes, nice to meet you.” I say extending my hand for him to shake he takes my hand but instead to shaking it he places a cold kiss on top of it. “The pleasure is all mine.” he said with a smile. “Well, I believe we should all go to the dining room before the food gets cold.” Celeste said. We went through a door leading to a room with a long table with enough seats for at least 12 people it has a white lace tablecloth with white pillar candles in ornate candle holders the plates where white with gold trim there was white cloth napkins and gleaming silver wear and crystal drink and wine glasses the food was on silver trays with silver covers, I felt like I was walking into a scene from a movie. Draya pulls a chair out for me, and I sit down David does the same for Celeste before asking me “Sarah would you like anything to drink? We have water, milk, iced tea, and soda.” “Milk would be just fine, thank you.” He left the room returning soon after with a pitcher full of milk he fills my glass and sets the pitcher down next to me he was holding in his other hand a decanter filled with a think red liquid that I was sure was not red wine. Draya leans over and whispers “I can ask them not to drink it in front of you if it makes you feel uncomfortable.” I take a deep breath before replaying “No that’s ok I will just pretend that it’s the candy blood my friends and I used to get at Halloween time.” David was pouring Celeste and himself a drink then he turned to Draya “Would you like me to pour you some Draya?” she glances at me, and I smiled and gave a nod she smiles back at me “Yes David I would appreciate that thank you.” she said handing her glass to him so he could fill it. “Well let’s dig in, shall we?” David said and began lifting the lids off the trays revealing pasta meat balls garlic bread and spaghetti sauce.

I filled my plate with lots of pasta and sauce and 6 large meatballs. After taking my first bite I had decided that I had never tasted better spaghetti in my whole life “My complements to the chef this taste wonderful.” “The credit all goes to Draya and Celeste,” said David. “Oh, don’t be so modest you prepared the sauce and garlic bread.” “My sweet Celeste buying two jars of sauce from the supermarket and heating it on the stove doesn’t take a culinary genius nor does putting frozen garlic bread in the oven and turning it on making pasta and meatballs from scratch however…” “Oh, please pasta is one of the easiest things to make a child could do it” Celeste said. “Same thing for the meat balls a child could mix some spices in with ground meat and shape it into balls hell I even used an ice cream scoop to make sure they were all relatively the same size,” said Draya. “Doesn’t matter it tastes great and as long as nobody here has poisoned me everything is perfect.” “Why would anyone try to poison you” Celeste said sounding a little offended. “I think she was joking, weren’t you darling?” Draya said. “Yes, I don’t actually think anyone is going to poison me, I am sorry if I offended you.” “No, I am sorry forgive me it has been a few years since I have socialized with humans perhaps, I took things too seriously.” “It’s alright you don’t need to apologize” I assured. After the dinner David said, “I hope everyone saved room for dessert?” “I always have room for dessert” I said. David left the room and returned moments later with a very yummy looking cheesecake “I can’t really take credit for this either I purchased it from the Cheesecake Factory.” “I hear they are the best.” I said. “It’s true they make the ambrosia of cheesecake,” said Celeste. David cut the cake and gave everyone a slice and after my first bite I completely agreed with Celeste it was the ambrosia of cheesecake. After eating David said he would clear and meet us in the living room. Draya and I sat in the chair and 1/2 together, mostly so we had an excuse to snuggle close together. Meanwhile Celeste was at the bookshelf taking out what looked like two large leather-bound books before making her way over to us "What have you got there?" Draya asked her. "Well, you said that Sarah's family looked through photo albums after the meal so I thought I might as well dig these old things out of storage.” “Oh no” Draya practically moaned. Celeste smiled “Oh yes, honestly I don’t know why you dislike them so much you were always very photogenic.” she said as she handed me what I now realized was a photo album. I opened it up to reveal a family portrait, a beautiful blonde woman in a light-colored gown sat in a chair holding a tiny baby with a long white dress that covers her feet and a pretty bonnet on her little head a man stood behind the woman’s chair he was tall and had dark hair and a mustache and was wearing a dark suit. “Your family?” I asked. “Yeah, that is the illustrious Boudreaux family.” We continue to look through the photos they all appeared to be very old there were more family portraits, the child in them growing older in each one the dresses were shorter so you could see her leather clad feet the bonnet was gone replaced by a bow in her short blonde locks there were some of the girl alone usually sitting in a chair with a stuffed animal or doll and as she aged she went from sitting to standing the toy replaced by flowers as the girl continues to grow older she stops sitting on her mother's lap in the family portraits instead standing up beside her mother sometimes holding a doll or flowers otherwise her hands are clasped in front of her, her arms down her hair falling in gentle waves “So you’re originally a blonde.” I commented “Don’t remind me.” “What? I like blondes.” “I hate the stereo type that is associated with blondes.” Then I came across a picture of the girl in a Masquerade costume the dress was white with feathers around the collar and the cuffs of the sleeves she was also wearing a white feathered headband the mask she was wearing seemed to consist of black feathers but what struck me was the large expressive eyes behind the mask that seemed to look straight through you and pierce your soul. Draya’s eyes I would recognize them anywhere. “The costume was supposed to represent a swan that was my last masquerade ball as a human.” "The one where your parents kept trying to set you up with a suiter all of which you hated?” “The very same.” That was the last picture of the first album at this point David joined us and started a quiet conversation with Celeste but I was too interested in the photo album to pay any attention to what they were saying the second photo album had newer color photos in them they were pictures of Draya in front of monuments like the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty there were pictures of her and Celeste together there were even a few with David in them and many other people I didn’t know then I saw a picture of Draya with a girl she has wavy shoulder length dark brown hair with eyes to match a slightly tan complexion with freckles splashed across her nose and cheeks she has one arm around Draya’s shoulders; Draya had her arm around the girl’s shoulders as well. Draya’s hair was dyed black in the picture. She looks so happy in the picture I don’t know why but I felt a small pang of jealousy at seeing the picture “who is that?” I asked pointing to the girl in the picture. “Shaylyn” Draya answered but her voice had a strange tone to it that I never heard before and her eyes had a faraway look like her mind was in a different time and place. “Who is she?” I asked again. “A hunter; but she wasn’t like others. Draya was quite close to her.” Celeste said. “I think you would agree Celeste that they were more than close they were in love.” David said. “David it is not our story to tell perhaps we have said too much already.” Suddenly the photo album was shut with a snap “Darling it’s getting late I should probably take you home.” I could tell from her tone not to argue with her “ok I just need to use the bathroom first." I said getting up from the chair. “It’s down the hall last door on the right.” Celeste informs me. “I’ll meet you in the car.” Draya says getting up and leaving the room.

I splash some water on my face and look in the mirror; so Draya had been in love, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but she had told me she doesn’t get attached to people, maybe there was an unsaid 'anymore' that was supposed to be on the end of that sentence, and I was very curious about this Shaylyn girl I mean the way Draya described hunters I find it hard to believe she would fall for one but apparently she did and sounds like this Shaylyn had fallen for Draya too; it occurred to me how little I actually knew about Draya but I also knew that I shouldn’t pry, Draya clearly didn’t want to talk about it so despite how curious I was I would have to let it be. Put too much strain on a pressure point and eventually it will break; best not press my luck with this one.

I exit the bathroom and David is having a conversation with Celeste that I couldn’t help but overhear “So what do you think?” “I think that Draya clearly cares for the girl, but you know how she is ever since the death of Shaylyn.” “I know but this time seems different I mean I know I have only met two of her other partners not counting Shaylyn one of which was a woman the other a man, but she acted differently around them it’s hard to describe but with Sarah there’s a sort of…of...” “Je ne sais quoi about her yes I sensed it too I dare say I do believe our Draya is falling for her.” “You think so?” “David I am an empath I can feel it Draya will never admit it to herself, but she is falling hard and fast for this girl.” “But if she is falling for her that makes her a consort, she is our new foster sister.” I couldn’t stay quiet and hidden anymore and so I revealed myself causing David and Celeste fall silent instantly. “Consort? Foster sister?” I ask. “Just terms we use but nothing bad my dear I assure you. When a vampire has a human partner or mate, they are called a consort we consider consorts as part of the coven, and we call them foster sisters or foster brothers depending on gender of course these terms only apply to humans if you were to ever be turned you would be Draya’s mate and our sister is this making sense to you?” David explained to and asked me. “Yeah, I think I basically get it.” “Good” he replied. “You shouldn’t keep Draya waiting you should go.” Celeste said. “Right well good night to both of you and thank you for the meal.” “You are welcome, good night, Sarah.” Celeste said. “Good night.” David said. I go out to the car and get in, the drive back to my house was made in silence. Draya turned to me when we pulled up to my house “I hope you enjoyed yourself tonight?” “I did I really like Celeste and David I hope I can spend some more time with them, maybe get to know them better.” “I’m sure they will be delighted to hear it.” “I should probably go inside knowing my mom she is probably watching out the window waiting to bombard me with questions.” “Very well I will see you later tonight my darling.” she said gently kissing me on the lips. “See you later tonight.” I said getting out of the car and going inside and as expected my mom started asking me questions right away, I told her I was actually quite tired and going to bed but that I would tell her all about it in the morning "alright sweetie good night.” “Good night mom.” I said heading up the stairs to my room. Once inside I lean against my bedroom door, I had a shit ton to process after tonight. I should have known that meeting them would lead to something like this.

THE END of the Glowing Eyes saga Sarah’s and Draya’s story will continue in a story titled 4th of July.

'I should have known that meeting them would lead to something like this. Now I am being pure pressured into doing drugs. I’m at a party that I never should’ve come to. I should’ve known better. But it’s too late now.

I managed to sneak away to make a phone call. I called Justin my brother. as soon as he picked up I said please I need to get out of here! Could you come get me? Or could you call mom and dad? I don’t have time to explain anything right now. I will explain it to you later. I just need to get out of here.

“Ok Jamie mom and dad are at dinner. So I will come and get you. I am getting in the car right now.”

“Before I New it brother had arrived so he could rescue me from the trouble I got myself into.I was so glad to see him.”

“ ok let’s get you out of here now!”

“But how do we get out of here without being noticed? Or causing a big scene?”

“You leave that up to me Jamie. If I made it this far, then I think I can finish the job. Just follow me. And do exactly as I say.”

“Ok Justin I trust you. So I followed my brother. And did exactly as he told me. And we managed to leave the party without being noticed. Thanks to my brother.”

“I told my brother everything that happened. He listened to me patiently. And for the Second time I heard myself say, 'I should have known that meeting them would lead to something like this.”

“I am just so glad that you are OK little sister. And that you did not give in to peer pressure. Also that you did not let them peer pressure you. I can guarantee you that mom and dad are going to be so proud of you.”

“I replied with a smile on my face thank you Justin. I don’t know what I would do if I did not have you as my older brother. Especially when I get myself into very sticky situations. from then on I made sure to be careful not to make the same stupid mistakes that I made the day that my brother had to come rescue me from the tricky situation I got myself into.”