“I’m not your lover. I’m not your friend. I am something that you’ll never comprehend.” –I Would Die 4 U –Prince

I’m aware Izze’s hurt, knowing I’m hiding something from her. She knows I’m running from something and she wants to help me. But I don’t want her involved; I don’t want her hurt. Payton knows this.

I step off Payton’s front porch and exit the white picket fence gate. It’s a warm day and the clouds are the color of printing paper; fortunately the sun is taking an evening nap.

I step out of the neighborhood and onto an empty, automobile-less road. It’s peaceful. Perfect for a short walk with my thoughts.

The trees blow in the breeze causing my gut to ache. My heart moves so fast I can hardly hear the beat anymore.

This could either be paranoia or instinct, but I know it’s better to be safer than sorry.

I turn, heading back to Payton’s.

I try to make my walk casual, but when I sense a figure approach from behind, I hasten my pace. The figure follows me like a shadow.

The figure from behind zooms past, a flash of black and nothing more.

Mocking sun I despise you. Come out! Come out!

I start running, which is pretty pointless since I’m in no shape and even if I were, it’s not like I can outrun a blood-sucking beast.

The vampire flies behind me, around, in front, repeatedly.

I’m getting dizzy.

Did I pass by Payton’s neighborhood? I can’t tell!

Suddenly, the flash stops in front of me and it takes all my little strength to stop from barreling into it.

“H-Hi?” I stutter as I trip over my feet, finding courage I never though I had. Even the vampire seems surprised I managed to speak in his presence. It was a stammered reply, but a reply nonetheless.

The vampire was a man who towered above me, wearing a black business suit. His snow-white hair was smoothed, blending into his pale skin and making him appear almost bald. His vicious crimson eyes locked me in place, and I wondered what he saw looking at me.

I wince as he reaches towards me with his left pasty hand, purple thin veins visible through the thin flesh. Instead of pushing me, he grabs the ends of my hair.

“Gold,” he says, eyeing it dangerously. His voice sounds like one of those long-life smokers, rough and ugly. “Are you Page Fare?”

Smart people would shake their head. They’d ask, “Who’s that? I don’t know a Page Fare. Funny name, don’t you think? Nope, I’m not her.”

But he was forcing, pulling the truth out of me like thread from a ball of string.

“Yes,” I answer. No “Yeah”, “Yep”, or “Uh huh”, all sloppy ways of confirming.

Yes is official. Yes is a stamp on a legal document. Yes is a solid confirmation that I am Page Fare, a half-breed meant to die.

“The half.” The vampire nods. “Stand still.”

Like I could move.

The vampire smirks as if he heard that and bends down, tugging my pigtail to tilt my neck upward.

I shiver.

I’m about to be kissed on the neck by someone who looks like they could be my dad. He’s going to break through my skin, suck me dry, and probably leave my corpse here for someone to stumble upon.

A creep is going to kiss my neck.

I stifle a cry. It’s so unfair. Why him? Why an old man and not-

A wind, the strongest I’ve ever felt, interrupts us.

The next thing I know, the vampire is gone and I’m all alone. I touch my neck and feel no punctures.

Relief fills me, though I’m still not sure what happened. There was wind and then the man was gone.

Suddenly, I hear a hiss and an agonized scream. Other grotesque sounds follow. I can’t identify what they are but I know where they’re coming from.

Normal people would’ve ran off, but I want to know what happened. If I left now, I would never understand why I survived.

I sneak across the street into a playing field with light feet and small exhales.

“Master Evabranch,” I hear the vampire’s voice pant, “you are hesitating.”

I conceal myself behind a pinewood tree. On my right side, I can barely see Damien and the man that tried to kill me.

Damien’s face has deep scratches sporadically clawed across his body. He looks like he had been mauled by a ravenous tiger. His jeans and black t-shirt is shredded, but not in a sexy way. Only the hem, the collar, and a sleeve has been attacked. Damien’s hair is damp and his eyes are the color of Payton’s bloody nose last summer when Izze accidentally hit it with a baseball bat.

I thought Domestic Damien was as hot as he could get, but I was wrong.

“Look,” Damien wiped his mouth with the side of his hand, “I don’t intend to follow father’s rules.”

His father.

The other vampire appeared wary, looking pretty beaten himself. That suit was beyond repairing, and I’m certain it cost a pretty penny.

“That’s a pity,” the vampire sighed, crouching. “I really liked you.”

The enemy was on Damien before he could reply.

I saw…things that ere probably going to give me nightmares. I turned and slammed my eyes shut, stamping my hands against my ears. But I could still hear the breaking of bones, the smell of death.

One of them was going to die.

My imagination is scrambling.

I should get out of here. That’s what I’m thinking, but that’s not what I’m doing. I want to stay here. I want to stay here and see who survives. I want to stay here for…

Pathetic, Page. Pathetic.

Suddenly, a shriek like no other, worse than in horror movies or haunted houses, breaks through my hand shields and nearly shatters my eardrums. It’s all I can do not to yell out in agony.

Then it’s silent.

My chest heaves and I’m freaking out.

Who won? Who survived? What if it’s the bad vampire? I’m still here so will he…

But what if it’s Damien?

My hope rises and I pull myself to my feet.

I remember what Damien said about not following his father. What does that mean? Is he-

“What are you doing?”

I scream and reluctantly open my eyes. Damien stands to my right looking worse than before, but not as bad as I imagined he would.

“You’re alright,” I breathe with relief. “How did you know I was here?”

“What are you doing here?” Damien glares.

I look away from him; he’s so angry.

“I, um,” my tongue twists, “that vampire. Is he dead?”

I try to look but Damien grabs my shoulder and gently pushes me back. “You don’t need to see that.”

“Oh. Okay.” He’s right.

“I’ll ask again,” he begins, “what are you doing here? In the middle of nowhere?”

I’m not sure I want to answer this question.

“I was, err,” I look around, “taking a walk?”

Damien’s eyes seem to burn through me as I struggle to return his gaze. It’s not a staring contest but it feels like one-I’m worried what will happen if I lose.

“I can’t believe you.” Damien shakes his head and snatches my hand.

It’s shaking. And it’s bloody.

“Hey,” I protest, stumbling over roots as he drags me out of the small woods. “You can’t be mad at me. I haven’t done anything.”

...

Damien flings open his passenger door and throws me in like I’m luggage.

“Ouch.” I rub my hand as he slams the door shut and vanishes.

“What’s wrong?” I ask as he appears in the driver’s seat and drives down the road at warp speed.

“Nothing,” he snaps.

“Whoa.” I sit. Something is wrong. And, if it was two weeks ago, I would’ve cared less. But he saved my life, and I’m high on adrenaline rush and some other things so I’m looking through this situation from a different lens.

“Tell me.”

Damien shrugs, but it’s more like he’s trying to shake something off his shoulders.

“Look,” I sigh. “I don’t know what happened back there but you can tell me.”

Silence.

I turn my body to him. “I’m just saying-”

“No, I know what you’re saying,” he disrupts. “I know. And I get it. I’m here to kill you, he was going to kill you, but I saved you so now you’re confused. Again. And don’t trust me.”

I wait patiently. Is he done?

“That’s not the problem. Well, actually, I guess it is.” I pause. “I just don’t understand why you haven’t killed me yet. And yeah, how can I trust you, when I’ve only known you for barely over a month and most of it was a lie?”

“I don’t care if you don’t. You don’t have to trust me. I’m going to protect you.”

“Why now?” I ask. “Why do you say that now? Are you saying this because you have feelings for me?”

He says nothing.

I’m not happy, I don’t think I’d ever have been happy if I learned this in the past. Depending at the time I could have been amused, irritated, scared or confused. But I’m mad.

“I can’t believe you,” I hiss. “You’ve been toying with me from the very beginning.”

“I haven’t even said anything,” Damien finally replies.

“You’re right. You haven’t,” I agree ferociously. “So tell me. Do you now have feelings for me?”

Silence.

“Do you, Damien? Stop avoiding me! Look at me and tell me!” I kick the dashboard in front of me.

“Fine!” Damien slams and I find we’re in the middle of nowhere.

“Where,” I look out my window, “are we?”

“I like you, okay?” Damien practically yells at me. I cringe and shrink against the door.

Scary.

“Okay,” I whisper softly, trying to calm him down. I reach up to the handle.

Damien is talking fast, not even noticing me. He’s wrapped up in his own words, his own frustration, and I worry that with one misplaced flick of the wrist he could break me.

“Okay,” I repeat, unlocking the door. It’s definitely safer and smarter if I get out of a car containing a maniac with fangs.

“…I might even love you.” He finally turns to me, and I’m already outside of the car, except for my head, which faces him in terror.

Is it terror for being caught or terror that he might love me? Or love me at all?

It’s too sudden. We don’t know each other. Why would he? He’s misplacing his feelings.

I’m scared of him, of us, of everything.

I want to run.

We stare at each other like a snake and a mouse.

“What are you…?” Damien begins slowly, confused and bewildered.

“Okay…” I repeat, as that’s the only thing I seem capable of saying.

“Page, are you trying to run away?”

“You called me Page!” This gives me the strength to completely exit the car. The air is crisp and fresh. It’s refreshing if I ignore my current situation.

“There’s nothing out here, Page. Just me and you,” Damien replies eerily. And suddenly he’s right before me. I scream.

“Okay, okay.” Damien flashes and appears yards away from me. “Look, see? There’s a big gap between us. I won’t touch you.”

He shoves one hand in his jean pocket and the other rakes through his hair. I can’t help but feel the corner of my lips tug upwards.

It’s such a small action-him brushing his own hair-but I love it. It makes him seem…normal.

“You don’t have to trust me,” Damien repeats.

I warily watch him step closer, waiting each time to make sure I don’t protest.

“Well, I don’t,” I retort, crossing my arms. I step back, making him cease his walking completely.

My eyes scan and we’re on an endless, isolated road that only goes one way, slicing through a forest I’ve never been before.

“Are we even in Chicago anymore?” I asked him, holding down my panic.

Is he going to kill me here? Now?

I can’t handle the anxiety of waiting anymore. Of him postponing and the consequence being I end up being killed by someone else. Someone older and creepier.

I can’t handle that.

“Just do it,” I say. “Kill me.”

“What?” Damien asks, confused.

“Kill me.”

“Page…”

“Don’t!” I shriek, throwing my hands up in front of me. I think I’ve surprised both of us. “Don’t call me Page! What happened to Sunscreen Girl? And Fare?”

Damien looks at me sadly, or maybe warily, waiting for my rampage to end.

“So,” he takes a wide step forward, “you want me to kill you?”

“Yes.” I nod.

“Right here and now?”

“Yes.”

“What about Lee and your friends?”

This makes me stop. I can’t be selfish now and die. Then again, I will die soon anyway. Might as well do it on my terms.

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

I feel a sweet breeze and find Damien before me. I find myself drowning in his green eyes, wild with life, and I expect them the last thing I see before I die.

His hand reaches forward and wraps around my waist. I want to close my eyes but I can’t.

When we’re nose-to-nose I feel his free hand slide from my hair to the side of my neck.

Then he slowly, so slowly, leans down and presses his lips against my skin. I shiver at the contact, a mixture of fear, anticipation, and pleasure.

I expect to feel his frightening teeth break through my flesh and veins, draining my very soul. But there’s nothing. It’s just a fragile kiss against a fragile girl.

Damien releases me and steps back, looking forlorn.

“What?” I touch the part of the neck he touched, puzzled.

Damien grabs my other hand and tugs me back to his car. “Let’s take you home.”

“No, not home. I have to go to Payton’s. She and Izze’ll be wondering where I am,” I explain.

I wonder what excuse I can come up that can possibly explain why I’ve been gone so long.

“As long as you stay with your friends,” Damien agrees.

“Wait,” I say as he sets me into the passenger seat, un-luggage-like, “why didn’t you kill me? Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?”

“I don’t want to kill you.”

“Why not?”

Damien glides into his seat and looks at me. “Because I love you.”