Knock, knock. Will answered the door and they placed a few drinks on the table.

"Thank you." They nodded to Will and left.

Will pushed a glass in front of him.

"You got me a drink?" Jason asked, looking at the milky liquid.

"It's a milkshake," Will rolled his eyes.

"Oh... Ha ha... Thanks."

"My sister would ring me out if I got you alcohol," Will took a swig of his red drink.

"What are you..." Jason trailed off, wondering if it was blood. "Never mind..."

"So, you wanted to ask some questions?"

"A ton of questions, like... aren't vampires supposed to be allergic to the sun and burst out into flames or something? Or are you two daylighters?"

"We don't burst out in flames by going into the sunlight – obviously – but we aren't special vamps or anything. Vampires, in general, do fine in the sunlight, but it's easier to move around in the darkness of night, so we tend to prefer night time."

"Oh..." he sipped on his milkshake as he thought about his next question. "You said something about a clan, right? How does that work? Are vampires born?"

"Vampires can be born... well, technically, we're born human with vampire blood in our system and when we die as humans, we turn into vampires."

"Wait... so both of you have died? But you're both..."

"So young? Yes, we are. In our clan, when we reach our peak age or the age we wish to stay forever, we're killed through a method that isn't decapitation, staking or ripping the heart out; vampires can survive pretty much everything else... so long as silver isn't involved."

"So you picked to be eighteen forever and she's... twenty-five?"

"We died the same year..." Will took another drink, readjusting himself as he readied himself to talk. "Most vampires choose to be around thirty when they die... Samantha, she didn't choose that age, she was killed while protecting me."

Jason's eyes widened. "W-who killed her?"

"The former leader of the clan... Samantha, she has special blood, which you've had first-hand experience with."

"She healed my sister and me."

"Most vampires can't heal with their blood; she is extremely rare. But not only can she heal others, but she can amplify vampiric abilities with it too. That's why the clan leader wants her."

"They want her so she can feed him?"

"He's been her... betrothed for centuries. But yes, they want her for her blood, but it wouldn't only be him. While he would be her husband..." Will shuddered at the thought, the word like poison on his tongue. "And he would probably be the only one to drink directly from her, he'll regularly siphon blood from her for the rest of his 'noble' group that runs the clan."

"You guys are vampires; why do they need more power?"

"Because they've been fighting the werewolves and losing too many men."

"Werewolves are real too?!" Jason nearly dropped his drink.     

"Yes, and are the supposed natural enemy of vampires, but I call that malarkey."

"I guess there must be all sorts of people or creatures around that are real and not just in stories..."

"Indeed."

"Um, I hope you don't mind me asking—"

"Quit with the niceties and spit it out."

"Were you killed too? I mean, eighteen isn't exactly an age most people would choose to stay at."

Will swallowed. He knew the question would come up after he explained things, but it still left an odd taste in his mouth. "I killed myself."

Jason's jaw hung open. "You... committed suicide? Why?"

"Even at eighteen, I was a weak, fragile boy. I couldn't help it. I couldn't stand the clan using me to get to Samantha anymore, and then after threatening to give me a true death... and they were about to, she jumped in the way and was killed. Thankfully she wasn't decapitated or anything, but after that, I was determined to find a way to get stronger."

"And what better way to get stronger, than to become a vampire."

"Exactly."

Jason took a deep breath, a bit overwhelmed. "So... the vampire that attacked my sister."

"He was a useless vampire sent by the clan to stir up trouble. Old enough to turn to dust, but probably a moron overrun by bloodlust."

"But why my sister? She doesn't have any classes with Miss Gilbert..."

"Just call her Samantha when it's the two of us; it's weird to hear her being referred to like that outside of school. And I don't know why it was her. It could have been purely coincidental that it was your sister. Or..."

"Or what?"

"You have a tendency of hanging out with her at lunch, right?"

"Well," Jason laughed, scratching his reddening cheek. "I will admit I've seen her sitting on that one bench and joined her on several occasions... Wait... Are you saying my sister was attacked because I hang out with Samantha?"

"It's possible. Either that or the vamp just attacked her because she was alone... Does she normally end up in the park area beside the parking lot? I mean... you'd have to go out of your way to end up there, wouldn't you?"

"What are you trying to say? She went over there for a reason?"

"Or she was lured away. With that vampire already dead and your sister hypnotized, there's no way for us to find out for certain."

"Mags normally doesn't take long at the end of school because she knows I'll be waiting for her. I have no idea why she went over there."

"Things are getting more... suspicious. Does Mags know Roy?"

"Yeah; he's been my best friend since kindergarten."

"So if he asked her to meet him somewhere, she'd go there without much of a fuss?"

"I suppose... Roy wouldn't hurt Mags though..."

"Not willingly, no, but under hypnosis, it's quite possible."

"But you have no real proof, right?" Jason gripped the glass tightly.

"Don't get angry because I'm suspicious of your friend. You are the only two I've seen around my sister outside of the school—"

"I'm not mad because of that... I'm mad because my sister might have been attacked because of me..."

They sat in silence for a few moments. Jason didn't know what he'd do if it was his fault and his head went dizzy thinking about it.

"Look, if you don't want to help now, I'd understand. Also means I'll have to erase all of this," Will said.

Jason shook his head. "No... Just trying to figure out how to help."

"We're on a bit of a time crunch, by the way; the clan sent a letter about offing her students if she doesn't return, and the Evan will come for her in a week."

"Evan? Is he the clan leader?" Will nodded. "That is... terrifying. Maybe I should tell Mags to stay at home."

"Sure, so long as you don't tell her why. I think I've covered most of it; any questions?"

"How can I really help? And how do you kill a vampire?"

"Stab them through the heart," he tapped his chest. "Or cut their head off."

"Any other weakness?"

"Silver does burn for some reason... but it's only bad if it goes straight through you. And there was some herb centuries ago, but I think it's extinct. I'm sure the witches know a few weaknesses though, but I don't of any in the area. As for what else you can do... You love my sister, right?"

"L-love? I mean... I like her... in a romantic way. She's so amazing... and gorgeous and the best—"

"Would you quit rambling and answer the bloody question with either a simple yes or no?"

The conflicted look on Samantha's face after she killed the vampire ran through Jason's mind, and then how she helped Maggy and tried to keep him safe. She had always been his favourite teacher; she had been his English teacher for all of high school. She was patient with her students and showed she cared both inside and outside of school – to him at least.

"I'm not... I mean... I might be..."

Will's eyes narrowed and he grabbed Jason's collar, dragging him over the table. "Answer the damn question, Jason!"

"I love her! Gah! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Jason shoved his hand away. "Why would you want me to admit that? I'm... no," Jason covered his face and stifled a yell.

"That's a good thing." Will sat down like nothing happened.

"What? I thought you said that I should give up on her? I thought it was a super bad thing and it doesn't work for vampires and humans?"

"It's good because it means I can trust you enough to ask you to give her your blood."

Jason froze. "Um... Do you mean all of it as a sacrifice or..."

Will rolled his eyes. "Of course not, you idiot... Why would I ask you to kill yourself, when you can be a sustainable source of food for her?"

"But I thought she didn't want to drink blood?"

"And she's weak because of it!" Will snapped and thumped his fist on the table so hard he cracked it. "If she wasn't so damn headstrong and hung up on a dead boyfriend, she'd be strong enough to help in fighting back! Heck, if she wasn't so caring, we could've just bailed and found somewhere else to hide, but no, she wants to keep her students safe."

"And as one of those students, I thank her..."

"Ugh... I'm sorry... it's just..." Will took a few deep breaths.

"It's okay... You're just frustrated and worried about your sister. I understand, trust me..."

"I guess you worry about your sister a lot too, hmm?"

"Oh boy, do I worry. So, do you think she'd drink my blood if I offered it to her?"

"Only if she had no other option. The thing about Samantha is that more than just her blood is special. When she drinks blood, she tends to connect energetically to the person she drank from. It's probably one of the reasons she hates blood bags."

"Being connected to some random person?"

"Or a dead one... I don't have the problem myself – most vampires don't – so I can't really say how extreme it gets or how uncomfortable. I think it's like having extreme empathy..."

"Does that mean she felt what I was feeling after she drank my blood?" Jason asked, his cheeks flushed.

"Probably, but only she knows for certain."

"If she's going to drink my blood, then she'll know that I know about vampires," Jason winced. "She really didn't want me involved..."

"Even I'm reluctant to get you involved, but we're in a bit of a pinch."

"So, how do we get her to drink it?"

"I could take some of your blood and slowly put it in her drink, but I think she might notice your energy or something along those lines. Gah, this makes me want to force-feed her."

"I know the feeling..." Jason couldn't help but think of Mags, and how she used to avoid eating and went around hiding food. When they finally noticed what she was doing, he found himself making sure she was eating and couldn't help watching her.

"It's the weekend tomorrow, so the students should be safe... I'll talk her into drinking again; if it's you, she might give it a chance."

"Why would it being me make a difference?"

"She already drank from you once, for some reason."

"To save my sister from a living nightmare."

"No offence, but that doesn't seem like a good enough reason to give up decades of drying yourself out."

"But that is the reason."

Will took a good look at Jason. His messy brown hair and green eyes. His strong jawline. And the look of both determination and worry strewn on his face. "Maybe you just remind her of him."

"The dead boyfriend?" Jason's eyes widened. "Seriously? Are you saying I look like him?"

"Actually, yes; I didn't notice before, but it's been so long I've nearly forgotten what he looked like..."

"And here I thought I might've been special," Jason mumbled, slouching back on his couch. "I guess she'd buy anyone dessert and save anyone in need..."

"She probably would save anyone, but I would've been the one to clean things up," Will said, having done so in the past. "She knows she's not strong because of the lack of blood, and we've had some issues over the... centuries."

"Centuries? How old are you two?"

"Are you certain you want to know? It might break the illusion of the hot twenty-five-year-old teacher."

"Technically, she's a vampire and doesn't age... at least body-wise."

"So you're not afraid to find out her real age?"

"Not really; I've already come to terms with the whole 'vampire' thing, so it's not unexpected that she's super old. That said, she's still a woman and it feels wrong to ask for her age."

"Touché, my young friend. Are you free tomorrow?"

"I haven't made any plans yet, why?"

"Do you remember where I live?"

"Kinda hard to forget that adventure."

"Come to my house tomorrow evening for supper; we'll get her to eat, assuming you're still willing to feed her."

Jason laughed. "So long as she doesn't drain me dry, I'm okay with it... though isn't that exactly what she's trying to get away from."

"Except you're willing; she isn't. That and you would only be doing it for her – whom you love – and not giving blood eternally to a horde of greedy, power-hungry vampires."

"Do you have to keep saying it?"

"Saying what?" Will asked, smirking.

"You know... the 'L' word."

"Love?"

"Y-yeah..."

"Why? If it's the truth, it shouldn't matter."

"But it super embarrassing to fall for your teacher. Damn it, dude, why don't you understand?"

"It's my understanding that a lot of students have a crush on Samantha; no one will notice that it's more."

"You did!"

"I have hundreds of years of life experience; of course, I noticed. By the way, if you had those feelings before she helped you, she might know already..."

Jason paled, his heart racing. "Oh man, how can I face her? There's no way I'm coming to your house tomorrow."

Will's expression dropped. "I guess you were lying about helping then. Maybe I should leave you tied up outside the school for the vamps to feed on."

"You... What?" Jason mumbled.

"I was being nice before because of the whole love thing, but my patience is running thin," Will sighed, tired of his flip-flopping.

"I'll help, promise, just... I can't believe she knows."

"Interesting though; I thought it was the act of saving your sister that made you fall for her past the crush phase."

Jason frowned, not knowing himself when it happened. He did know he liked her the first time he saw her though.

"So, you'll come tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Finish your drink and I'll drop you off at your house."

"Okay, thanks," he slurped on his milkshake.