[S.C, Bloodlines. CH 4]

In an instant, Amelya was back at the house. The red haired girl from earlier was staring daggers. She was at their house, the girl she’d seen at the mall. Then they were just chatting it up on the couch.

Seconds later she was in the mountains. The girl who kissed her hung on her every word as she explained how she got their. Her twin brother seemed unamused by his twins closeness.

As they kissed and the brother rushed them. She was back in reality. Cleo was just looking at the pile of other clothes that Amelya was thinking about buying.

“Her mom wiped my memory….” Amelya remembered all the previous nights events. “Lexi is going down. I’m gonna give her a piece of my mind”

“I would much rather go down” Cleo winked with a giggle.

“As fun as that sounds. She needs to know I’m not gonna just be kicked out of your life” Amelya gave Cleo a nudge out of the way and was soon angrily rushing out the store.

Well trying to. In her heist to go find Lexi, she’d forgotten about her cloths. Which were in fact not hers.

After a long chat with security and Cleo working a bit of her vampire compelling. They were ready to leave the mall.

“Slow down convict!” Cleo called after Amelya.

“No. I’m telling her off double now”

“It’s fine boo. She’s not worth it.” Cleo cooed cutely, trying to persuade her otherwise.

Instead of wasting more time, she took off running. Pushing through a large crowd of mall goer’s.

“Come on Amelya!” Cleo shouted out, but Amelya knew two things. She couldn’t catch what she couldn’t see and there was no chance she’d use her speed with all these ppl around.

Not that it would help much. She knew nothing about vampires, except that they were fast and ancient. Neither of which would help her in a fight. It was dumb. But her point needed to be made.

After a half an hour of hunting her down without any luck. Amelya found herself outside on a bench. Wondering why she’d even tried.

“Giving up now?” Cleo’s voice made her heart flutter a bit, but she didn’t turn.

“Not having any luck” She shot back nonchalantly playing with her hair to hide her annoyance.

“In Lexi’s defense. Her mother made the call. Figuring that two pairs out of one person could make for a lot of drama.” Cleo hopped up onto the back of the bench. Looking down with what could only be sympathetic yearning.

“Whatever” Amelya went to stand quickly but only felt the restraint of Cleo’s arms wrapped around her back.

“You smell so good” Cleo started, pulling her in closer.

“Aren’t you worried we’ll be seen?”

“I don’t care” She stuck her tongue out in a joking fashion. “And if anyone has anything to say, they can suck my butt”

They both laughed a bit, Amelya settled back into Cleo’s embrace. Feeling a chill as their skin touched.

“You mean my butt” Amelya giggled, fake pushing Cleo off her.

“Ahem” A gruff voice called from behind them. “I’m sorry Cleo, but the heads of house Emerald want to see you both.”

His features were so normal. Compared to the few vampires she’d met the other night. Like vampire gamer boy was in now.

“Great” Cleo sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Amelya questioned.

“I’m being a thorn in my clans side. I wasn’t supposed to come here. Especially not to come to you” Cleo buried her head in her hands for a second. “Whatever”.

Cleo looked from the boy back to Amelya. Eyes meeting each other’s for a second Cleo blew her a kiss.

“Yuck” Conner blurted out. “Is that why the clan elders are mad. Cuz your pairs a girl?”

“Never yuck us again” Cleo raised a fist to him. “I promise you I’ll make you wish for a easy death.”

“Not exactly how I meant it. Sorry. Just not used to it” Conner shrugged. “They are out at the elders chambers. Doesn’t look to good.”

“Yeah, mom was so pissed” Jayden leaped down from the roof, in a parkore fashion. Landing a few steps away from Amelya, eyes never leaving hers.

“Quit it Jayden. We’ve already made the first contract as pairs. She’s mine” Cleo glared a him.

“Kinda hot. Mad I missed it” He joked tossing up his hands in surrender.

“Where’s your yuck now Conner?” Amelya said while Cleo chuckled a bit.

“We need to downplay it in front of the elders. If not I’m sure we’ll get a tough sentence “ Jayden leaned against the wall, pulling a cig from his jacket pocket. “Hopefully they will see how your paired and will excuse your stupidity “

“He says that, but he seen me earlier and Gabe had to pull him away” Amelya ratted him out while grabbing Cleo by the arm. “What’s the punishment for disobedience??”

“Dungeon, for a few days. Sometimes longer, without any blood.”

“It’s called Drying out” Conner added in after Gabe.

“That’s harsh”

“Your worth it babe” Cleo let a cocky grin cross her lips, but inside she was quaking. She could already feel their unease, so far away. Once she was up close it would be so much worse.

Of course running of into the mountains had taken seconds. Yet it felt like forever, neither of their heads hung high anymore. Stepping up to the large building more and more memories pooled in.

All up to watching her brother drink a pool of blood that sat in the center of a huge hall. Possible the hall they were about to stand in.

Guards sat at the entrance doors. Amelya wasn’t sure why? What could kill them? What would they be afraid of? “Nothing” She thought to herself cowering behind the twins as they entered the large room of the ceremony.

“Ohhh she’s quite pretty” A woman’s voice called from the stage behind the pool of blood. Ten vampires sat on a line of podium above the blood pool. Something she’d missed during the ceremony.

“Do you know why you all were called here?” Lexi’s mother stood up, the second chair from the right.

“Yes Mistress “ The twins called out in unison like army brats.

“You were told to stay away from the human girl you both share a pair bond with”

“That’s rubbish. No person has ever shared a pair bond before” The same woman from earlier was far right. A grey haired woman who didn’t look a day older then thirty.

“Vivian. Do you accuse me of lies? Before our court?” Lexi’s mothers voice was sharp like a blade.

“I’ll settle this” A younger faced man somewhere in the middle disappeared.

Appearing between the twins, his hand gripping Amelya’s throat a foot above the floor. Gasping and clawing at his hand both twins sprung in to action. Each grabbing an arm and flinging him into the air hissing as he laughed. Amelya coughed trying to suck in as much air as possible.

“That proves it” he laughed gliding back down to his seat.

“How?” Another man spoke up from his left side.

“I didn’t let go. Their combined strength due to their pair being in trouble allowed them to toss a five hundred year old vamp skyward.” He clapped. “She may join Emerald house. I’m sorry dear for the squeeze, it wasn’t personal “

“Is that how the whole council votes?” Lexi’s mother spoke again.

Cleo was mouth to mouth with Amelya as Jayden just held them both.

“Enough, let them go. She’ll have her ceremony in a days time from now” It was the grey haired woman from before. “We must burn down their house and plant two bodies, they won’t be returning to humanity”

“Can she live with us?” Cleo looked out over the council as if trying to spot a certain person.

“What about my friends?” She gasped.

Amelya was pushing Cleo away. “I have friends that I’ve known my entire life….. I don’t want them to think me dead”

“Guess then you have a choice to make. Your love pairs or your friends” a gavel dropped and that was all.

Amelya was carried out in Jayden’s arms, Cleo not letting go of her left hand. At the entrance the younger looking vampire stopped them.

“I want you to know, they both will protect you with your life. I’ve never been bested by a youngster before. Sorry it had to come to that” He sent his hand in their direction and Amelya shook it weakly.

“You nearly offed her, yourself “ Cleo hissed.

“I look forward to your ceremony Amelya.” He smiled and bowed. “Please forgive my earlier behavior.”

Back at her house, Cleo laid next to her. While Jayden slumped over in her rocking chair. Amelya was out, but Cleo would be here when she rose. Nobody would hurt her, ever. Especially not Monticello.