Real Reason

Back on the second floor, Stella was still talking with Austin, but this time, in another room.

“This room is gorgeous.” She trailed her eyes over everything. It seemed like it has been an office once upon.

“This is the Carrington library. A while back was Archibald’s office.” Stella nodded and walked deeper into the room. She went over the desk and looked at the small and old picture of a small child and an older version of him. Austin walked behind the girl and looked at it too. “That’s me…and my father.” Stella looked at Austin’s father’s face. Same green eyes, same brown hair, same happy face.

“What happened with him?” Austin’s eyes fell to the ground. Stella looked closer to his face, though. Something about his eyes changed. He looked at the moon and that’s when the change was clear. Stella’s eyes widened. Her eyes changed colors fast from instinct.

“He was killed one year ago.” Stella walked closer to Austin and put a reassuring hand on his back. Green eyes met another pair of green eyes. “The worst part is that I know who did it.” Stella quirked an eyebrow and waited. “Cameron. Cameron Arche.” Stella gasped.

“But…that’s…”

“Impossible? I know he’s Eric’s father, James’s brother.” Stella turned her back to the young teenager. Her eyes were red like fire and blood was pumping through her veins.

“Eric’s father is dead.” Austin looked at the vampire female intently.

“I know.” Stella’s eyes went back to normal, and walked to the door. “Take care of you, Stella Blanche.” Stella stopped and glanced over her shoulder at Austin. He was smirking. “I may be silent but this doesn’t mean I’m stupid” Stella nodded and walked out the door and back to the party.

Back down Nate was back to water and both he and Eric were talking at the bar. The bachelors were on a break so women could decide which one they wanted the most. Stella just entered the room when a smirking Alex went to her.

“Where have you been?” He didn’t seem too occupied with the fact that a big part of the females were glancing at them. He narrowed his eyes, expecting the answer. Stella didn’t look at him, though.

“Around.” She left the proud vampire behind with a bewildered expression while she went to Eric. She first glanced at Nate’s glass and saw it was water, making Nate raise his eyebrow, amused. She chuckled lightly and turned to Eric, with a much serious expression. She took him by the sleeve and signed for Nate to tag along. From another part of the room, Alex narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Outside, Stella stopped the two older vampires in a secluded part.

Stella's POV

“Austin knows.” Both men raised eyebrows and looked at each other. I rolled my eyes and mentally slapped myself. They can be slow sometimes. “Austin knows we are vampires.” Eric looked rather worried but Nate didn’t look bothered.

“Does he know anything else?” I glanced at the moon and sighed.

“It’s something weird about him. I don’t know what but…” Nate raised his eyebrow and looked up, where my eyes wondered slowly. There he was, watching us. “His father was killed by yours.” I said, looking back at Eric. He looked surprised.

“What?!” I sighed. “But that’s…well…I…”

“What’s with this party without me?” We all glanced back to the front door to see Alex. He was still smirking but had also a half bothered expression.

“We were talking important matters. You would just make everything worse.” He raised an eyebrow and went closer to the other vampire. Their noses were almost touching and they both had expressionless faces.

“From what I know, I haven’t done anything since I came here.” Alex’s words had such an evil tone. Nate rolled his eyes at both of them.

“Down boys. You two should stop bickering about who’s the best and powerful vampire for my sister and come back to reality. If Austin knows about vampires then it’s obvious his father was killed by one. He hates us but this doesn’t mean he’ll run around yelling that vampires are real.” Stella narrowed her eyebrows together in concentration.

“Actually, before I left he said ‘Take care of you, Stella Blanche.’” Six pairs of eyes watched Stella intently. She looked right back at them. “What?”

“Take care of you? What does that mean?” Nate mumbled.

“I told you they’re coming!” Alex said turning to Eric. The older male glared at him.

“I already knew that! And I told you we’re going to get rid of them!” Alex and Eric started fighting again while Nate and Stella simply took a step back, practically.

“Wait, wait. Who’s coming?” Stella asked the two vampires. They stopped in an instant and bend their heads down.

“Vampires from other parts of the world. You’re Stella Blanche, powerful, dangerous, etc, etc. They either want to kill you or mate with you. I guess it depends on each of their level of knowledge.” Nate raised an eyebrow at Alex.

“No.” The three vampires stared at her. “They’re not coming after me.” she trailed her eyes to Alex, remembering the phone call. “They’re coming after you.” Nate and Eric turned their curious and surprised faces to a shocked Alex.

“What?! Wait…how do you know?” Their faces turned to me.

“I got a phone call earlier this day. I don’t know for sure who it was but it said to take care of you because they’re coming after you. It also told me they don’t even know I’m alive.”

“That’s because they don’t.” everyone turned their heads behind to see James and dad. They walked closer to us, James much relaxed than dad.

“Now that I look better at you, you kinda look alike.” James chuckled at Nate’s words.

“Anyway, Stella is right. No one knows she’s alive except us…and well Austin.” James continued. The ‘teenagers’ stared profoundly at the older males. “Austin is from the Carrington family. “ They nodded again. James rolled his eyes. “Carrington…doesn’t it sound familiar? Like, I don’t know, Archibald Carrington?” I chose not to comment. James huffed and looked bewildered at the younger vampires. “God dammit, you killed him!” He finally said, his eyes back on me. My eyes widened and I gasped. “Oh, now you get my drift.” Alex looked between me and James.

“Wait. What’s that supposed to do with vampires coming after me?” Alex raised an eyebrow waiting for the answers to pour. James and dad looked at him like he said the most stupid thing in the world.

“You killed their human lovers, you slept with their lovers, you changed their lovers, you killed their supposed to be human families, you killed some of their friends, you slept with some of their female friends, you…” James was cut short by an annoyed Alex.

“Ok, ok I got it. I’m bad, I’m pathetic, I don’t care about anything and anyone, I don’t have feelings, I’m shit but why now? I bet they could’ve done it before.” James glanced at dad and he glanced at me. Nate and Eric were slightly amused by what Alex said but not me. I knew how it is, I guess. It’s just, it keeps going on and on that little movie of me killing and persuading people on doing what I want and flirting and killing again, in my head.

“You weren’t like that, Stella.” Every vampire there looked stupidly at my father. “Ok. Fine, you were but you’re brain was going overdrive and…” I stopped dad by chuckling.

“I get it dad. I was everything Alex has been but is ok.” Again the vampires looked weirdly at me.

“You were much worse. Alex could never do what you’ve done.” Alex nodded at James’s words. Nate looked amused at the vampires.

“When I said you were devil on Earth, I wasn’t joking.” Alex continued, Eric and James approving. My eye started twitching.

“Ok, fine. Don’t you have something else to do? Like go inside and have a drink…” I stopped and looked at Nate and Eric, making them glance at each other. “…or turn a filthy human woman on by just smirking over your shoulder or glance at her.” The men in front of the young female vampire were staring at her with either WTF faces or amused. “Go!” I shooed them away and they actually started laughing but nonetheless walked inside. I stomped my foot on the ground like a child and humph-ed. “Bastards.” I sighed again and trailed my eyes back to the moon, wondering what’s going to happen next.

The Portrait

Stella’s journey wasn’t as she expected. People were walking everywhere! She finally decided to take the adventure to the next level and practically walked to the next level, the second floor. Everything was pretty weird up there. A lot of mirrors and sculptures. She finally decided to enter in one of the many rooms. She chose the closest to her. When the door knob turned and opened, her eyes widened when she saw it was another corridor.

“Wow.” She was speechless. The entire room was full of portraits. There was a man with moustache, there was another man with a gay-ish hat and then, in the very front of the wall…there it was. The biggest portrait of a noble with piercing brown eyes and an expressionless face. It almost made Stella flinch. Almost. When her eyes trailed around the painting she couldn’t help staring at one thing in particularity. She went closer to it and trailed her fingers over it. She flinched.

It was a deadly night and everyone could feel it. Around the entire state Arizona, people started dying. In an apartment, there were two men sitting at a table, talking.

“We have to get rid of it. I don’t care what we have to do.” The man who just talked looked strict and calm but it was obvious that the lately events pissed him off. “Bloodsuckers. They’ve been in Firehole and acted innocent.”

“But they did help the city develop. There were just two families: Arche and Blanche, noble and proud. They wouldn’t have done this. They wanted a normal life.” The second man was clearly not as mad as the first. He was also much apprehensive when it came to vampires. “Adding to that…they died.”

“I know! But no one can kill vampires except other vampires! The Blanche children escaped and disappeared! It’s obvious they killed the others! What were their names again?” The second took out a file and read it.

“Stella and Nathan. No one knows what happened with them. Stella was a young and nice woman. She looked about 17 years old while Nathan was a younger version of his father.” The first man narrowed his eyes at the file. There were also two photographs of the two. “Should we look after them? Do you think they did this?” The expressionless man closed his eyes and sighed. He threw the photos away and opened back his eyes. He looked on the window at the moon.

“We won’t succeed but in the future, I will count on my nephew and on his children. Carrington will protect the world. The moon will guide us.”

“Stella?” The girl jumped, scaring the poor guy who was shaking her. She turned around to see Austin. “Are you alright?” The girl nodded and looked closer at the young human male in front. Now, after that flashback, something didn’t seem right with him.

“I just spaced out.” Austin looked weirdly at Stella but didn’t comment. She glanced back at the portrait. “Who’s he?” Austin walked closer to the painting and trailed his eyes over it. It was obvious they were family. Austin had the same eyes, the same facial expression when he was thinking and they both had that calm personality that makes you want to figure out what are they hiding.

“Archibald Carrington. He’s my great-great-great-grandfather. I don’t know much about him but father never spoke much either. From what I know, he lived here in the late 1880’s. Then he moved out but no one really knows why. The craziest stories are that he was a vampire slayer.” Stella glanced from the corner of her eye at Austin. His expression was one of longing, depression, sadness.

“What do you think?” He turned to her and smiled.

“I think these are bullshit. He made this family what it is now and I’m proud to be part of it. If vampires excited then, it means they still do and this is impossible.” Stella inspected Austin closely. Maybe she was getting paranoid but something about his aura has changed.

“Do you think vampires are real?” He chuckled and turned his eyes back to the painting.

“I guess we’ll never know.” Stella nodded.

Back downstairs things were going smoothly like they should. Nate was still at the bar but not drinking anymore. Eric was talking with Roy, his long lost friend, while the bachelors were ready to get on the stage. A microphone interrupted everyone.

“Sorry.” The woman on the stage apologized for the highly disturbing sound. “Ok. We came here for a reason. Before we start I want to thank the city’s bachelors for accepting.” There was a loud round of applauses. “I also want to thank everyone who’s here. It’s such a pleasure to see so many citizens of our dear Firehole, in the same place. Thank you!” another round of applauses. “Now. As you know, we’re not doing this just for the fun of it. We’re getting funds for a noble cause. No, not our city but for the children who doesn’t have school and well, a proper life. That’s a real tragedy. Those children need all the help possible and even if we’re just a small city, we want to contribute.” Yet, another round of applauses. “Now, please all the bachelors come up here!” Nate watched amused as the ten men walked up, looking more than uncomfortable. First one, being his father. “First bachelor’s name is Ronald Montgomery….” The noise was ignored by Nate as Eric came next to him.

“They don’t look too happy. Not even Alex, the womanizer.” Nate chuckled lightly. At first he didn’t know what to think of Eric. He was a very complicated person. But then, he became friends with Stella…again, and things changed…again. Nate could compare Eric with Edward Cullen, seeing how he wanted to stay away from Stella and he was so caught up in his own thoughts but he was far from being an Edward. He’s Eric and he’s fun to be around. It’s also fun to see him and Alex bickering about things, like they’re a married couple. Nate couldn’t stop the chuckle coming from that one simple thought. Eric raised his eyebrow at him but Nate simply shrugged him off.

“Alex accepted this shit just for Stella. I bet he’ll leave his ‘date’.” Eric watched the older vampire and smirked. Nate caught Eric’s eye and smirked too. “I bet 50 bucks that he’ll leave.” Eric nodded.

“I bet 50 bucks he’ll kill his date.” The two shook hands and chuckled. They both turned back to the stage and watched as James was the next victim.

“James Arche. What can you tell about yourself?” He smirked and raised an eyebrow making some women behind the other two vampires melt. Eric smirked. He was proud of his uncle.

“Well…I can tell you what you want to hear but I would be too honest about myself.” The people started laughing. Nate looked weirdly at Eric.

“I thought he’s mature and all that jazz…?” Eric looked surprised at the male vampire. “I guess I was wrong…” Nate said drinking up his glass of…this time, water. Stella does have too much influence over him.

“James is very…complicated. His mood changes drastically. He can be flirty now and evil in the next second.” Nate looked disappointed at the lack of alcohol from his glass. He was actually pouting.

“Isn’t this how vampires usually are?” Eric chuckled and nodded. Seeing the depressing face of his mate he paid for a glass of whisky and put it in front of Nate. The older vampire’s face started shining brightly, like that of a kid unwrapping his Christmas presents. Eric turned back to the stage.

“So what do you do for living?” James smirked, his eyes trailing over every woman there.

“Nothing. I’m rich.” Eric chuckled. James heard his amused nephew and winked at him. Next was Stella’s father. He was quite a nice man. Eric couldn’t figure how this vampire slayer could control two of the most dangerous vampires as they were actually his children.

“Adrian Monroe. The father of two teenagers. Wow, impressive.” He nodded smiling. “How hard it is to keep them under control?” Adrian laughed slightly.

“Very easy. Stella and Nate are one of the nicest kids. They act like adults.” Nate glanced back at his father. He had all the respect for that man. He raised him and his sister like his own children and he didn’t give them up on rough times. No, he took them back to their rightful home.

“Isn’t he such a nice man, girls?” The room almost full of women started applauding making Adrian chuckle. “Are you rich too? You moved into the old Blanche mansion.” Adrian stared for a few seconds at Nate and finally responded.

“No. I’m not rich. I work as a doctor in Firehole’s hospital.” The woman on the stage smiled flirty at him and went on to Alex.

“And the last bachelor is Alexander Smith. He’s the youngest.” The girls started applauding again. “How old are you actually?” He smiled flirty at her, making Chelsea and Natalie groan in the back. Nate chuckled slightly.

“Call me Alex. I’m just 23, ladies.” He winked at the audience making some girls melt or stare at him perversely.

“Oh. We have a heartbreaker here!” He chuckled and got a hand through his hair. Eric and Nate rolled their eyes. Alex smirked contently, seeing how he got them both annoyed. He looked over the audience after Stella but there was no scolding face of a beautiful vampire. “Do you work, Alex?” He chuckled.

“No. I’m a traveler. I like to see new places and meet new people.” He smirked and looked over the two other vampires. Nate wasn’t too fazed and Eric just rolled his eyes.

A Moment to Remember

When we first met, when we first kissed

When you wrapped your arms around me

And I could feel your body's warmth

While I could hear your beating heart

When you grabbed my hand and spun me around

I've never felt so safe in my life

This is what I would call a moment to remember

Let the Party Begin

The day progressed even worse. The sisters were fighting over Alex while Emily and Ashley were with their mother already at the party. I sighed and rolled my eyes. I went upstairs and into dad’s room.

“Can I enter?” Stella heard her father yelling ‘yes’ and opened the door. The room was very different than hers and Nate. For example there was a small bed near the window and there was a total mess. Stella now could understand why her father was such a bachelor. He and his wife, because she couldn’t call her ‘mother’ anymore, weren’t made for each other and Adrian was still a young vampire slayer. Stella was quite surprised when her eyes landed on her father’s figure. “Wow.”She was amazed. He looked pretty nice and he had a cool personality yet there was no waiting line of women behind him. “You look hot.” Adrian turned around and looked at his vampire daughter.

“What? Have you thought your father is old and grumpy? I’m in a perfect shape.” Stella entered more into the room while chuckling. He wore a nice buttoned up shirt with his two first buttons opened to show the start of a nice and fit chest, and a pair of black comfortable pants. The most amusing was the fact he wore a pair of black converse. Stella inspected closer her father and could help raising an eyebrow as a sign of her approve.

“You really look interesting. There will be many women stalking you. Actually, you might be better than Alex.” He rolled his eyes and turned back to look in the mirror.

“Hopefully, no one will die.” The vampire rolled her piercing green eyes. People took Alex too seriously. He won’t kill anyone. Stella was sure he won’t, for her. She walked behind him and hugged him lightly.

“He’s a nice boy. I will be there too and so will Eric and Nate. Plus, there is one extraordinary hot and brave vampire slayer who can take down any bloodsucker.” He chuckled and hugged her back.

At Arche mansion Nate have been forced to interrupt the blood fest and Supernatural marathon by the older Arche, and change in formal clothes for the party he didn’t even know about.

“You should stop acting like you’re a celebrity.” Nate said rolling his eyes at Alex. They’ve been sharing a room just for the fun of it. Eric wasn’t too happy with Nate’s decision but the big brother had his reasons. However, back into the messy room that actually screamed Alex, the so named younger vampire was all over the mirror. Nate was getting annoyed from the simple fact that Alex was half drunk and half thirsty, which was equal to danger for humans. “I hate formal clothes.” That was the second reason why Nate hated Alex at that moment.

“These aren’t formal clothes.” The younger vampire occupied completely the mirror, checking himself up, completing with some thing or another. However, even if he looked pretty happy with the situation, getting human females without doing anything and practically throwing themselves at him, he wasn’t. There was one girl he wanted to impress and going out with someone who, who knows how much will pay for who knows how much attention she wants wasn’t a good way.

“Are you two ready?” Nate trailed his eyes to the already wide opened door and to the face that appeared. James Arche was really one of the best looking vampires. Plus, he’s one of the oldest too. Many women would beg and pray just for one glance over. However, no one saw him as such a hot character. Nate, Alex and Eric where as cool and hot as the older male, that was a fact.

“I hate parties.” James and Alex rolled their eyes. Eric came into the room too, looking as grumpy as Nate. However, there was someone he was very thrilled to see soon so he wouldn’t dare to comment. Plus, he could rub it in Alex’s face, even better.

At the party, which was held at Austin’s house, the Carrington residence, people were practically invading the whole mansion. The house was indeed huge and there were millions of rooms. Stella felt quite inferior, being around such a rich family. Austin doesn’t talk about his family at all. Maybe that’s the reason; maybe he doesn’t want people to treat him differently.

The vampires entered groggily inside, looking at everything and anything. Stella was right next to Eric and the three bachelors of the group were already getting lost into the crowd. Nate went directly to the bar and the ‘family’ got lost too, thankfully. Stella really didn’t want them around her anymore.

“Are you sure it’s good to let Nate drink?” Stella glanced at her brother. Her intense gaze made the older brother flinch and put the glass of alcohol slowly down. Eric looked amused between Nate and Stella. It was amazing how much power she had over all three powerful vampires.

“You’re something else, you know.” Stella smirked and walked forward, Eric right behind. While still walking around, every bachelor was in his own fan club. For example: James. Women went to him from the first time he put his foot in the house. He was talking with three women at once and still looked like it wasn’t enough. The vampire slayer, Adrian, was smiling and trying to look good while the woman he was talking with, and it was surprisingly, Tracy’s mother, was rambling on and on about something. Next was Alex. Oh my…girls were going crazy over him.

“Aren’t you going to call him over? I think your nieces will kill any girl that dares to glance at him.” Stella simply laughed and continued watching people around. Her eyes went to Alex and saw he was enjoying way too much the attention he got. Also, Eric was right. Chelsea was ready to jump on him and Natalie was glaring at her sister. She sighed and rubbed her temples.

"He's so annoying. It’s like he dares them to go and take a bite or something.” Nate and Eric looked at the unfazed Stella and started chuckling. She rolled her eyes and got up.

“Where to?” Nate asked his sister. She glanced at the boys over her shoulder, a bored look on her face.

“Exploring.” Nate almost spilled his drink while trying not to have a fit and Eric simply shook his head.

Troublesome

It seemed I fell asleep because when I woke up Nate wasn’t there and I could hear laughter from downstairs.

“What…” I raised myself groggily and got off the bed. I looked around to see a lot of Nate’s things in my room. I chuckled softly and walked out of the room. While still on my way downstairs I could feel annoyance. I chuckled again. In the living room was everyone: adults, sluts and children. Nate was on the couch, Emily of course, flirting with him.

I walked slowly, getting myself ready for what was about to come. Nate flinched when Emily put her hand on his back and looked behind, to me. Help He mouthed. I rolled my eyes but went and sat between him and Emily.

“Nice to see you, cousin Emily.” I fake smiled. She narrowed her eyes for a few seconds and turned back to her originally fake and plastic expression. I glanced at Nate to see him sighing relieved. Thank you He mouthed again. I nodded and turned back to see cousin Emily gone and Ashley’s oldest bitchy daughter looking at me from head to toe. “Is there something you need?” I tried to sound as nice as possible, but it sounded evil and bitter.

“No. You’ve changed from the last time I saw you.” I smiled innocently.

“Of course she did.” Nate responded in my place smirking. “You don’t have any idea of how much she has grown, lately.” He said, his smirk growing wider. I chuckled under my breath and glanced back at her face. It was priceless. Angry but surprised. She glared at both of us and got up. I glanced back to Nate and chuckled while leaning more on him.

“You didn’t have to do this. Now who knows what she may think or tell her siblings, the devils.” Nate laughed lightly and shook his head while getting me in a one sided hug.

“We are the devils.” I laughed too and got up. He grabbed fast my hand and stopped me.

“What do you think you’re doing? Don’t leave me here to die.” I smiled innocently shook his hand off. His face paled while I simply went upstairs, still chuckling.

I entered into my room right on time because my phone started ringing.

“Yep?” The voice on the other side seemed frantic.

“Is this Stella?” I raised an eyebrow and responded.

“Yes. Who’s this?” I heard someone shifting on the other side and the voice came back.

“Take care of you and Alex. He thinks they’re coming for you but they don’t even know you’re alive. I know I’m just a strange voice calling out of nowhere but, please, take care of Alex.” I furrowed my eyebrows together and frowned.

“What?! Who’s this?! Who’s coming?” I couldn’t hear anything except a long beep, meaning the other person hung up. I looked at the phone in my hand, thousands of thoughts going overdrive in my head. I sighed and closed my eyes. I went on the bed and rubbed my temples. While trying to relax and clean my head off those horrible thoughts the phone rang again. I flashed fast and answered it. “Who’s this?”

“Chill girl. It’s me…Tracy. I just wanted to tell you there’s a festival in the city.” I sighed relived. “It’s about dancing and teenagers and how can dance influence someone’s life or something like that. There will be a lot of contestants.” Hopefully she didn’t drag me in. “I signed us up for it.” And she actually did. Damn my luck!

“When is the actual contest?” I said while going back on the bed.

“A month or two but we have to practice until then. I already have a song, you just have to learn the moves.”

“Who else have you dragged in?” She scoffed. I could almost imagine her scolding face on the other side.

“It’s an opportunity. And I didn’t do it for me. I did it for Sam. She had always dreamt to become a choreographer but her parents have other plans. Now, this is for her. She does the choreography and we learn it. Embrace yourself."Unfortunately I didn’t feel any kind of feeling, at least not intense. I guess there was a small amount of pity. “And for your question. There’s me, you and Sami, obviously, Austin, Roy, Mandy, Matt and Randy. Four boys and four girls. So, get ready cause tomorrow it’s the first day of rehearsals. Bye, bye!” I hang up and groaned.

“Great. After I have to deal with my problems, I have to deal with hers too.” I put my head in the pillow and groaned again.

Downstairs, Nate wasn’t too fond of his cousins and he didn’t need bonding time. He flashed upstairs in his sister’s room and saw her sleeping peacefully on the bed. He smiled softly, event that happens rare, and sat on the bed, next to her. It’s unbelievable how such a nice girl can transform in a demon in just a few seconds. His smile stood on his lips while his hand moved the fallen hair behind her hear. She stirred making the male vampire take his hand back.

“What do you want?” She asked groggily.

“I’m going to Eric’s. I’ll spend my time there and maybe sleep over.”She nodded approvingly and rubbed her eyes. She opened her eyes and looked at Nate, who watched her like an older loving brother would.

“What?” Nate’s smile was replaced by a small laugh. Stella furrowed her eyebrows together and watched her brother weirdly.

“You don’t really look like a vampire. I remember you were even softer and baby-ish before.” She stuck her tongue out at him in a childish manner. “Are you coming?” Nate asked Stella while opening the balcony doors. Stella shook her head and fell back on the bed.

Stella's POV

“You go. I’ll come later if I feel too annoyed.” He nodded chuckling and took off. I sighed and closed my eyes back, enjoying the silence. However, it didn’t last long. I heard a big noise, like something just broke, and went downstairs. There were Ashley’s older daughters fighting over something. I seriously didn’t want to know what about but I did have to stop them.

“Troublesome kids.” One of them, Chelsea glared at me and smirked smugly.

“I’m older than you. I’m 20 years old already. You’re still 17.” I rolled my eyes. That’s what she though. I’m so much older than her. However, I didn’t comment.

“What are you fighting for?” Chelsea glared more at me and scoffed.

“I met a guy. Plus, tonight’s this weird party for money. Something about the most wanted men in Firehole. The women pay for some fun.” She smirked. I knew exactly what was she thinking about. “Mom and her sister will be there. Uncle Adrian too. He’s for sale” I rolled my eyes. Wait, the most wanted men…My eyes widened. That means…Alex is too! And so is Eric’s uncle! I glanced at Chelsea curious.

“You met a guy and you’re fighting a 16 years old teenager for him? How old is he?” Both girls glared at me. I raised an eyebrow, still waiting.

“He’s somewhere in his early twenties.” I heard the youngest girl, Natalie, mumbling. Thank God for great hearing. “But he looks younger.” She continued. “He has these blue eyes that simply get you entranced.” I was perplexed. An sixteen years old is crushing on someone who might go for her older sister any time? Humanity has gone on a weird path.

“Wait…” I stopped for a second. “How does he look again?” Chelsea glared at her younger sister and got in a dream state.

“He’s a little taller than Nate. He’s so handsome. He practically yells sex! Those blue orbs of his shine clearly and it simply amazes you. And his charm. And his voice! It’s so deep and sexy. And he’s really funny too! What more can a girl wish?!” My eyes widened again. I breathed out slowly, trying not to get worked out.

“It’s his name Alex, by any chance?” They both nodded and got back in a glaring contest. I sighed and closed my eyes. I could feel my eye twitch. “He really needs help. If I’m going to save his ass, he should at least restrain his habits.” I mumbled rubbing my temples.

To Believe or Not To...

The day seemed to go faster than I wanted. In no time I found myself at the front door of my house.

“To get in or not to get in…” I heard something shift behind and turned right in time to get out of the way of a very powerful punch. When I got up of the ground I glanced around but no one was there. I closed my eyes and sighed. I opened them after flashing to the door. “Here goes nothing.” I sighed again and opened the door. The first thing I heard when I entered was a very annoying voice complaining about the house and other toddlers and kids running through the living room. I was blocked in that spot. Nate wasn’t home yet. “Lucky bastard” I mumbled and went in the kitchen. There was my father, his step-sister and her two daughters. Ashley was with her boyfriend, who it seems was a different one than the last time I saw her, but still young, and her sister Emily, with one of her daughters on her lap. Everyone turned to look at me when they heard the door opening.

“Stella! My dear Stella!“ I tried smiling my best but I already had that gagging feeling. “You’ve grown! But dear, you should really stop eating fast food. We don’t want you to gain.” I could feel my eye twitching. I glanced to dad to see him watching me sorrowfully. I glared at him, my eyes changing slightly to red. I sighed and gave my aunt a fake smile.

“It’s nice to see you too, Aunt Belle.” She smiled again and pinched my cheek. I narrowed my eyes at her but she didn’t let go. She stopped on her own after a few more seconds, thankfully. “I will go in my room. I have homework to do.” She nodded.

“Stella.” I stopped and looked at dad over my shoulder. “Nate will be sleeping in your room this week.” I glared at him for the last time and went into my room.

I was just closing the door when I heard something shifting behind. I closed my eyes and turned around. “You and I are sleeping in the same room from now on for a week.” Nate’s expression was priceless. However, his eyes didn’t change. He smirked.

“I don’t think so. I talked with Eric and James. It seems we are welcomed anytime to hang out over the Arche mansion.” I raised an eyebrow and smirked too.

“Really…Nice. We will see Nathan.” He chuckled and rolled his eyes, then jumped on the bed and turned on the TV. I shook my head and flashed next to him. At least we didn’t have to stay home too much.

Meanwhile, at the Arche residence, Alex was lazing off. The young vampire didn’t have anything fun to do and blood wasn’t needed for now. He thought of going to Stella and maybe annoy Eric a little more but he couldn’t actually enter the house. That vampire slayer had put defense around the house, just so he will be sure neither he nor Eric will enter and surprise them with an innocent visit. However, he got interrupted from doing nothing by Eric. He seemed to be in a rush. Alex raised an eyebrow and watched the vampire, amused.

“What’s got in your pants?” Eric didn’t seem at all fazed, which intrigued Alex. Usually, he got mad. “Really, now. What got you so…rushy?” Eric stopped and sat on the couch. He put his head between his hands. Alex raised an eyebrow and sighed. He got closer and that’s when Eric raised his head.

“They’re already here.” Alex’s eyes widened and looked worriedly at Eric. “They will start attacking soon. They will start with us, maybe with Nate too and then…” Alex sat down, his eyes looking straight ahead.

“She’s strong. She’s done it before. She can kill anyone, I know it. She’s even better than before.” Eric sighed and let his head fall back.

“She is. But they won’t give up. If Stella loses control then Firehole will become a battlefield.” Alex gulped and looked down at his hands. “Someone has to be there.”

“Nate is strong enough to protect her. We are here. I will call some friends if I have to.” Eric looked at the younger vampire. Even if he was a smartass and he hated him, they did have something in common. That’s the reason they were there, it was the woman they both supposedly loved and maybe still did. It’s Stella Monroe.

“It’s ok, Eric. Stella changed, as you’ve seen. No one will hurt her. And if they do, then they are already dead.” Eric sighed and closed his eyes, leaning deeper in the couch.