Unexpected guest.

 You will have to pass through me first father.” Lucy protested.

Her father's eyes widened in surprise and disappointment. He raised a hand to one of the guards who had already reached for Tony's right hand to stop.

Trying to keep calm the king turned to Anna,“ Why is she here Anna? Punishment awaits you for disobedience of royal order. ” 

“ Leave her out of this father.” Lucy interrupted. “ I acknowledge my mistake upon the land. But you left me with no choice father.”

“ You are my only child Lucy and the last thing I'll ever do is hurt you despite your unforgivable mistake.” he walked to his daughter and cupped her cheek with his right hand, his thumb gently stroking her temple accompanied by a faint smile. “ I need just one thing from you daughter.”

“ Anything I'll do to save the father of my unborn.”

The king flinched at her words. “ I do not want you around him till it is born.” Lucy opened her mouth to say something but she was cut off, “please.” 

Her teary eyes diverted to Tony and back to her dad. “ Yes father.”

AS THE LEAVES OF THE SACRED OAK TREE FALLS OFF, SO SHALL YOUR DAYS BE NUMBERED.

WAR WILL COME UPON THE LAND.

THE CAUSE WILL BE THE CURE.

THE CURE WILL BE SACRIFICED.

ITS BEATING HEART AND BODY AT THE ISTHMUS.

ONE IT SHALL BECOME

FIRST COME FIRST SERVE 

THE CAUSE WILL BE THE CURE.

THE CURE WILL BE SACRIFICED.

A BELONGED BEATING HEART AND BODY AT THE ISTHMUS.

ONE WILL LEAD.

Audrina's POV.

BORING!!!!!!!!

Every single thing around me yelled.

The popcorn I was masticating for the past one hour thirty minutes felt like tasteless whitish balls, the TV was just an aquarium of mastered fishes. How I wish Jess was here—she lied to me but I didn't mind. In friendship there are ups and downs, laughter and sadness just like in relationships. All I had to do is walk to her and tell her I already knew about Alex being a vampire and no need hiding it in case she was trying to protect someone or something.

I sighed and dashed a popcorn into my mouth. I wish Scott was here too— he ditched me for god knows what, I wonder what was more important than dinner or an intimate moment with me, talking about intimate, he won't even get as far as just a peck for the past two months. He makes me wonder if he really was smitten by me or just like he bet on me and had rules to abide to. well, All I have to do is just walk up to him and tell him my mind. 

I flinched at my own thought.

If I do that, I'll be acting like one of those shamless college bitches.

I dashed another popcorn in my mouth focusing my attention on the only source of light in the dark sitting room.

“ I've got something i wanna tell you.” the boy said as they walked.

“ Yes Michael. ”

“  I'm not like other guys.” he stopped, his attention now focused on her.

“ Of course not, that's why I love you.” she smiled at him.

“ No I mean I'm different. ”

The girl looked puzzled. “ Oughch!” he yelped.

She ran to him to see if he was ok just to be chased by a different face. “ Go away!” 

Micheal's once handsome and smooth face turned into an awfully hairy and ugly one, eyes of a  golden yellow shade and sharp pairs of canines in its mouth. She screamed and ran into the woods.

If I hadn't watched this scene a thousand times I swear I would be joining the girl for a marathon. The boy howled before he set on following her and I could bet a million bucks that he wasn't the only one who howled because the one I heard sounded near and real. 

Strange!

I switched off the TV to make sure I wasn't hallucinating but found myself in total darkness. Fear crept all over me. Oh god let me be hallucinating. I mentally prayed.

Two minutes gone, no howling. Three, four and now five. I sighed and reached for the remote control when I heard it allover.

Oh no!!!

This is real, clear and near. WOLVES. Not just fear was in me. A simple description of me right now is a feeling smoothy— mixture of feelings. I hugged both legs on the sofa not knowing what to do.To say i was perplexed was an understatement. The howls were becoming incessant. This were one of the times I needed my parents, to wash away my fear by making me believe it was my imagination, walk me to bed and hush me to sleep.

Knock! knock! knock!

I let out a gasp which I swallowed by putting both hands on my lips making sure the intruder doesn't hear it.

Just when I thought he left, the knock sounded again.

“ Wh...who's there?” I picked up the only courage I had at that point in time to ask.

No answer.

My palms were now sweaty.

Courage Aud. Don't be such a fear bag.

With jellied legs, i reached for the switch before walking to the door, held the knob and gently opened it. My eyes met with ice blue ones.

“ What are you doing here?” I whispered opening the door a little wider.

“ let me in Aud.” He ordered.

Oh man! I forgot I was facing the guy who found pleasure not answering my questions.

“ And why should I do that?”

“ Because you need me.”

Actually....not you in particular but anyone will do at this point in time.

I really didn't like the way Alex and I were buzzing around each other lately but thankfully he's here, I just hope he answers questions which awaits him. “ so?” he added.

I shifted to the side creating enough room for him.

“ Come in.”

The first five minutes were awkward. We were both staring at the TV. I tried to offer him a drink or anything but he turned it down, I have the impression of boring him to his grave....PFF! I didn't invite him anyways.

“ How did you...”

“ Do you really...”

We said in unison. Which made me flush a little. Know not why

“ Ladies before Gentlemen ” he said.

We were both seated at the sofa, about ten centimeters apart facing each other.

“ How did you know Scott wouldn't make it?”

“ It's a little vampire gift.” he shrugged as of it were normal thing to say the vampire as it was for dog or cat.

“ What did you want to ask?” 

He faced me “ Do you really love Scott?”

Why was he asking me this? Me dating him simply says it all can't he see that? “ sure.”

“ Then why did you hesitate to answer?”

I sighed not able to contain what i felt about the whole scott thing. “ Actually I don't know if I love him or not. I feel like i know nothing about him.”

Shit shit shit....what did I just say? 

He reached for my hands resting on my tigh.

“ You can't force yourself to love someone. If you try and it doesn't work, the best thing is to let go.”

I nodded then stared at his hands still on mine. “ Do you guys....I mean vampires have your own world?” I asked, trying to change our topic of dialogue. I'm really thankful he's here right now, I totally forgot about my fear a moment ago and the howling magically became mute the very moment he got in here.

Alex's POV.

“ Well, Yeah we do.”

She began to ask questions as I expected. Couldn't see myself telling her anything too soon, they might be too heavy for her to bare. I just decided to answer each questions she asked with limits not wanting to extend on explanations.

She understood the meaning of my silence and bombarded another question.

“ So why are you here and not there?”

Fuck! Least expected.

“ Just for a little mission.”

I looked from my peripheral vision, she was staring at me now, eager to hear the mission. “ Bother not. Humans aren't endangered. ” I assured her, though it still didn't answer her question completely.

She suddenly looked saddened and I quickly knew I was the cause.

“ Listen. It's better to stay in the darkness you've always been where you know nothing of what surrounds you than be in the light.” I sighed. “ You want to go to bed now ok?”

I carried her to her room and gently laid her in bed. I stood there watching her sleep. I finally get to watch her sleep this close and even touch her while she sleeps.

Good Job teddy. Just keep doing this and she's mine.

“ No...no...please don't do this no.”

She was having a nightmare. I stooped beside her bed and stroke her cheek with my index finger.

“ Hush now Princess. Hush now.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Audrina's POV.

My phone won't stop notifying as messages kept entering each minute. Urrghh. Who's got the audacity to disturb my sleep on a Saturday morning.

*good morning babe.* 

* I'm really sorry about yesterday and I'm looking forward to make it up to you tonight.*

* what do you say?”

With sleepy eyes I managed to construct a mistake free sentence.

* sure, tonight then.*

He responded in barely two seconds, * I'll pick you up at seven. Love you*

I flung my phone on the empty space of the bed behind me and covered my face with my pillow, reminiscing the previous days event. Alex intentionally denied to answer my questions, it was crystal clear. But I denied to remain in the dark too. If vampires had their world,why was he here? What exactly is this mission? I sighed and got out of bed when something bumped my mind.

I know just who to meet and I know he will tell me just what I need to fill in the blank spaces.

After a cool shower, I tried to reach Jess but I kept falling in the answering machine. I'll reach her home if I got enough time before Scott arrives. 

I reached the kitchen where my ears captured a very important information from the TV I forgot to turn off the previous night. I sipped a glass of fresh milk while walking to the TV to turn up the volume.

“ ... Harry Young's body identified at central park this morning after a severe attack from what seem to be wolves...”

Oh my God!!! I became pale at the sight of the damage, almost regurgitated the little milk I ingested. The man was completely destroyed— bloody face, chopped up flesh at the level of his chest exposing his ribs, his femur too was exposed. Eyes and mouth wide open as if cought off guard by the attacker. 

“ ...the population is pleaded upon not keep late nights. This victim is probably the first but won't be the last...”