So Long and Goodnight

So... hello everyone. Long time no see. Not much of interest on my homefront.... Rodrigo and I haven't spoken in..... nine days now, and it is slowly eating away at my insides. I've tries talking to him numerous times, but he still won't respond, not even when I closed a door in his face leaving PE. Oh yeah, we've got PE together. Anyone got a sugggestion that will force him to acknowledge me? I mean, I have a last resort, but I don't want to use it, due to the fact that it addresses something I'm probably not supposed to know about him.

Hm.... what else? Oh yeah, Mindless Self Indulgence is doing a meet and greet today down at Zia Records, so I'm gonna go to that. I'm not going to the concert, though. I gave away the tickets to one of my friends.

Oh yeah, and is anyone going to see The Academy Is... on October14th? I want to go so bad, but my mom hates the House of Blues and it doesn't look like I can. *sobs*

So that's it for now, I think I'll come back and update from time to time. But right now, I need to go do a large amount of homework I've been procrastinating on. See you guys soon!

Update: Apparently when you close your buzznet, it doesn't close your f.o.e. or maybe I just didn't do it right. I don't know. Either way, it looks like I'm here to stay. But don't expect me to be on all the time anymore. I've got a deviantart that I'll probably be on, but expect a new update every time I go to a concert.

I'm closing my account on friendsorenemies. Not today, but after xxmynameherexx is finished with I'd Tell You, But Then I'd Have To Make You Mine. Then I'm done. Allow me to share with you why.

1. paranoia

My mom is even checking my email on aol now (not that she knows I know). If she ever found out about this, she'd throw another shit fit and I'd get upset and destroy whatever I'm currently writing, which leads to number two.

2. conficting schedules

I'm on to something big that I'm writing. An original story, not a fanficton, that I may get published someday. Quite frankly, I'm not even interested in finishing It's Hard To Say 'I Do' When I Don't anymore. I think doing a long sequel was just a bad idea.

So this is going to be my last journal. Thank you for the support over the past almost year. If you want to reach me, drop a line at sacrificextheory@yahoo.com. As a parting gift, here's two things for people to read before I go.

1. What happened when I went to Paramore

When I went to Paramore on Tuesday, It was crazy. First, my sister traded the Calavera Conspiracy tickets I had gotten from a friend that had won them for Mindless Self Indulgence tickets, which is AWESOME! Then, the same friend and my sister, my mom, other friend and I all had FRONT ROW SEATS! Not only did I get to high five Hayley, my sister gave her the necklace I wanted Zac to have (it's got a drum set on it) and she put it next to his set! *is happy* then at the end of the show, when Jeremy gave my sister his pick, his bass hit me in the face! And yes, it was the most awesome thing that's ever happened to me. How many people can say something like that happened? It almost topped meeting William Beckett (but not quite).

2. The general plot of the rest of It's Hard To Say 'I Do' When I Don't

Andy is being mentally tortured through his dreams. Helena tries to escape with Zac, but she gets recaptured along the way and is brainwashed by William and none other than... Ryland! (yep, he's evil too). Patrick finds a cure, but finds out it will only work if  given to the vampire that turned them all; William (Like in Blade: Trinity). Meanwhile, Trace tries to recapture Zac, but Zac kicks his ass and escapes to the woods where he joins up with the hunters. Andy realizes that it's going to be practically impossible to rescue Helena this time around, via reverse hypnosis (Dracula refrence *cough*). Zac copes with becoming a vampire and gets a crash course in vampire hunting. Andy is lured back to the Dandies after being unable to deal with William's mental manipulation (yay, alliteration!). Meanwhile, Zac wakes Pete to tell him he knows where Andy is. Helena wakes up and she and William are blood bound in a very heavy scene. Her tells her that Gerard is dead (she doesn't remember from the brainwashing) and introduces her new chevalier; Andy. The hunters reach the castle, only for Zac to get killed by Andy and his new sword Caliburn (Lords of Avalon: Sword of Darkness. I don't care if you don't like comic books, go read them. Or the book, which I haven't read.) Defeated, the hunters return to their hideout, where Patrick shows off his new weapon: a stake launching bazooka thing. (in my mind, it looks awesome). Helena gets ready for her coronation. William and Helena are crowned king and queen of the vampire population (cameo by the Volturi). Pete, Patrick and Joe burst in and start attacking and William tells Pete off for coming and ruining the ceremony. Helena's hypnosis wears off, but tells William that they both need to grow up and that she'll stay with him. She also reveals that she's pregnant. Commence happy ending.

Rodrigo H***** is a disturbed bastard. What kind of fucked up person tells someone who says they sometimes want to die that they should kill themselves? You know, if I was totally pissed off, I would not only post his email address here, but also his myspace, his home and cell phone numbers, and his home address! He better watch his fucking back, because when school starts, he will learn what comes from a woman (or a psychotic teenage girl) scorned...

Chapter Eleven

“Peter panda, wake up!”

Pete groaned softly, pulling a pillow over his head. They had just arrived in Albania late last night and he already hated it. Whether it was because of the overwhelming vampire presence or some unknown cause, the lure of blood was practically irresistible. He had tried drinking more of his blend, but it wasn’t helping. He looked up and saw Andy glancing at him.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Pete shuddered, digging his nails into his arms.

“I-I have to get out of here,” he stammered, throwing off the sheets and heading for the door to the inn they were staying at.

“Wait!” Patrick exclaimed, jumping over the couch.

He shoved a glass of red liquid into Pete’s hand. Pete sniffed it tentatively.

“What is it?”

“Just drink it!” Patrick snapped. Pete quickly gulped it down and felt his stomach pains subsiding.

“Now will you tell me what I just drank?” he asked.

“Cow blood.”

Andy turned a strange shade of green and ran out of the room. Patrick rolled his eyes.

“It’s just a temporary solution for now. How do you feel?” he asked.

Pete waited until his shaking subsided.

“I think it worked.”

He collapsed into Patrick’s arms.

“I hate this, ‘Trick!” he cried. “Why did it have to be me? I just want Beckett to die!”

Patrick clutched his best friend tightly.

“I don’t know why he picked you, Pete. But I know this. I am going to find a cure if it’s the last thing I do!”

X                                                          *                                                          X

Joe ran confidently through the forest, enjoying his monthly transformation. Up in the sky, the full moon shone above the tree tops. Nothing felt better than running wild. In fact, it was better than pot. This was a new high.

A fierce snarl erupted from the bushes in front of him and another wolf pounced on top of him. It had shaggy dark fur and grey green eyes.

I know who you are and why you’re here, it thought. But you can’t beat him. Go home while you still can.

You work for Beckett!

Maybe, maybe not. But right now I’m just the messenger.

The other wolf climbed off him and began to walk away.

Wait! Where are they?

It paused and seemed to think for a moment.

There’s a castle on the other side of the forest near the mountains. But he has a new group of followers. It’s best if you just leave.

The wolf bounded into the shadows and disappeared. Joe got up and hesitated. Should he follow the other werewolf, or go tell the others what he had learned? He made his decision and ran into the night.

X                                                          *                                                          X

Ryland descended into the dungeon. He knew what he had done was both stupid and wrong, but he couldn’t help it. They deserved at least a warning. He walked through the hallway of cells, ignoring the prisoners’ cries.

“Saving her will not redeem you! You are all damned to hell!” one girl screamed. He vaguely remembered that she had been a devout Christian when William brought her here, and when he turned her she went insane.

“Shut up, Lacey,” he told her. “Going to hell with William is better than being in heaven with you.”

Satisfied by her silence, he continued until he found Helena’s cell. Trace had done his job well, judging by the number of cuts and bruises covering her lithe figure. She watched him come in with mournful eyes.

“Hey,” she said weakly.

“Hey yourself,” he replied. “I saw your friend Joe today. The others must have come with him to save you.”

“Great,” she scoffed. “So they can be killed or worse too.”

“Don’t you think you’re being a little negative?” he asked. “They haven’t even tried yet.”

“You don’t understand!” she yelled. “I might be . . . I might be . . .”

“Pregnant?” he finished.

“Yes,” she said in a choked sob. “Now please just go.”

Reluctantly he left as she continued to bleed and cry on the stone floor.

X                                                          *                                                          X

William watched the footage from the security camera in Helena’s cell, torn. He knew he needed to stop before he accidentally killed her. But he couldn’t afford to lose her. So he sat in his study and watched, imagining her blood dripping from his hands to the ivory carpet.

“Master Beckett?”

He turned his chair around.

“Yes, Ryland?”

“The hunters are here.”

“Excellent. Tell Gabe I will be downstairs shortly.”

“Yes, Master Beckett."

EDIT: Anyone who is planning on spamming Rodrigo's myspace, please don't. He has his own issues, and it was wrong of me to even put it up here even for one day. Yes, he was rude, but I was rude to him too.

This is what I did last night.

Chapter Ten

When Helena woke up, she let out a steady stream of curses as she took in her surroundings. She was lying on a lumpy mattress in a dungeon cell that seemed to be straight out the dark ages. The only light was coming from far outside her cell. She could hear the cries of other prisoners somewhere beyond the dark walls.

“How dare you condemn me to your life of evil!? All of you will burn in the fires of hell!”

“Where am I? What have you done with my brother?”

“He told me he loved me . . . I never should have gone with him . . .”

She pressed the thin pillow to her head, trying to drown it all out.

Why didn’t I stay with Andy?  She silently asked herself. Why did I do that stupid video for Gerard?

But she was broken from her thoughts by the arrival of a strange visitor. He was a thin teenager, dressed in tight black jeans and with a grey t-shirt with wild grey eyes and long black hair. Tattoos ran up both his arms and he had two piercings just above his lip. He eyed her sadistically.

“Well, well, you must be Miss Dracul,” he said. “My name is Trace. You’re my five o’clock.”

She glanced at him nervously as he approached. He calmly picked her up from the bed and slammed her into the stone wall. She sank to the floor, her mind reeling. Who was this psychopath?

As if reading her thoughts as he began to beat her with a crowbar he manifested from nowhere, he started to talk.

“My life was just starting to get good. I had a band, I had an up and coming clothing line; it felt like I was finally starting to break out of my sister’s shadow. Then one night after a show, a shadow came up behind me and attacked. I blacked out and woke up here, where William told me what he had done and why.  Now thanks to you and your stupid boyfriend, I’m stuck here forever!!!”

He brought the crowbar crashing down on her skull, striking harder with every blow.

“That’s the problem with you assholes; you never think about what you’re doing! Do you think I wanted this?! To be trapped in the dark for the rest of my life, never to see my family again?! You just don’t get it!!! ”

He kicked her over and started stomping in her ribs. She gasped as one broke and punctured her lung.

“You all act like these perfect beings, but you’re not! You’re just a bunch of murdering sluts!” His wild grin grew wider as she looked up at him questioningly. “You think I don’t know my history? The night of your engagement, you slept with that Gerard. You know, I’m glad I’m not you. All your life you’ve been used! Gerard, Pete, Brendon. Heck, even William was only using you at first.”

“My past is none of your business,” she managed to retort.

“It is now,” he sneered, stabbing her in the side with a silver knife. “See you soon, sweetheart.”

Just like that, he left her battered and bleeding on the stone floor and walked out the door. She weakly tried to prop herself up, but her aching bones were no use. She slumped back to the floor.

“You got what you deserve, hellspawn,” a female voice spat. Helena looked toward the source. A petite young woman with tattered brown hair in a moth eaten dress and gloves looked at her through the bars in her cell.

“You have blue blood. That means you truly are the devil’s child.”

Helena looked down. As she eased the knife from her side, she saw the blood pouring from her wounds was no longer black, but a shimmering blue.

“My royal blood. It’s time for me to rule.”

“But you cannot rule without your mate, can you?” a familiar voice added.

She whirled around, causing a stab of pain to flash through her. William stood outside the door, watching her.

“You need to feed,” he said pointedly. She realized none of her injuries had begun to heal.

He unlocked the door and strode in, crouching to where she lay. She closed her eyes, wishing he would leave. He smiled wistfully and began caressing her gently.

“How long has it been since you fed?” he asked softly.

“Awhile,” she admitted drowsily.

“Please just give in,” he begged. “This is killing me; doing this to you.”

“I . . . I don’t know. Let me think.”

“What is there to think of?!” he demanded. “If you and I do not take over from those damn Volturi, we are doomed. We were supposed to begin our reign almost two hundred years ago! If you wish to sit down here and rot, very well. But I do not understand why you have acquired this death wish.”

He angrily stormed out, slamming the door behind him. With her last remaining strength, she mentally summoned Jared.

Long time no see. What are you doing in Albania?

It’s a very long story. But I think there’s something wrong with me.

What?

She paused.

I’m afraid.

Of what?

Ruling over all the vampires. It’s what I was trained for, but that was a long time ago.  And I don’t want to take away your freedom. If William and I are bound, then you will be forced to join his new legion of Dandies.

But what about Shannon?

If William can’t control him . . . I’m afraid he will be killed.

At least I'm trying.

My friends, I have a confession to make. I don't know how much longer I can do this. A number of factors are contributing to this. The first is my ongoing... correspondence with my... aquaintence Rodrigo. Another is this website called stardoll, which is stupid but I love. I also haven't had much time to type. And lastly, my heart just isn't in it anymore. I mean. I'm trying, but I just can't bring myself to care. It seems like since school got out, my interest in writing has diminished. Everytime I write another chapter, I hate it. I'm not sure what to do.

Chapter Nine

            When Ryland entered the lab, he found Gabe with headphone on his ears, humming along while a young man he recognized as William’s newest “recruit” moaned in anguish on a gurney. Gabe noticed Ryland’s inquiring stare.

            “Pleasure Ryland! Don’t mind him; he just started his treatment,” he said as he pulled off his headphones. “So what’s up?”

            “Well, as you can see, William is tired of waiting for his future bride to be more obedient, so he set me to give her to you,” Ryland replied, gesturing.

            “You know, people who say I’m crazy have obviously never met him.”

            Gabe examined her for a minute.

            “She’s not my type, but I’ll admit she’s hot. Lay her down over there for a minute while I go get Zac back in his cell.”

            Ryland gently laid her down on a gurney.

            I could take her away, he thought. Somewhere far away, where she’ll never be found.

But he knew it was just a pipe dream. Gabe came back, wiping his hands on his purple hoodie.

“Alright, let’s see what I can do for her.”

He placed a hand on her forehead and she softly groaned, pulling away from his touch.

“She’s not going to be easy, I can tell you that right now,” he remarked.  “I’ll probably need Trace’s help.”

“But Gabe, he could kill her!”

“Does William know you like her? Because I’m pretty sure that’s a good way for you to get killed.”

Ryland stopped.

“Look, I’m sorry, but I have no choice. And if I remember correctly, neither do you. Go tell him I’ll give it my best. But there’s no guarantee.”

“Fine.”

X                                                          *                                                          X

            Zac clutched his head in agony, trying not to cry out. Something was very wrong. It felt like his head was going to explode.

“What’s happening?” he finally cried as flashes of memory rushed through his head. He looked up and saw the same Latin looking man who had caused this pain; a pale woman slumped in his arms. Zac fought a wave of nausea. Was she dead?

She’s not dead, only sleeping, like you should be. Close your eyes. Everything will be right in the morning.

Yes, that would make things alright. But before he could, Zac felt the sudden urge to say something about the woman; something that somehow, he just knew.

“She will die tragically by the hand of he who loves her more than his life.”

With that said, he fell into a dreamless sleep. Gabe studied him curiously.

“Prerecognition, huh? William will probably want to know about that.”

He lightly licked Zac for good measure.

“Beware the hunters,” he muttered.

With a shrug, Gabe took Helena and locked the door behind him. As he walked past his various “patients”, he telepathically continued to examine her.  After a good beating from Trace, she would be easy to bend. Of course, there were the hunters.  From what William had said, they were certainly a foe to face. But with Ryland on his side, he wasn’t too worried.

He laid Helena in an empty cell at the end of the hall. She was even paler than usual, her veins a river of blue on her translucent skin. She needed to feed soon. Which was just the way he needed her.

X                                                          *                                                          X

Meanwhile back in Chicago, Andy slashed through a group of punk vampires, his sword flashing in the dim light.

“Have mercy!” one screamed.

Andy responded by cleaving him in half. It felt good to be slaying again, and his powers provided him with an advantage. He was killing with lightning accuracy. Another punk tried to jump him from behind. He broke the vampire’s neck.

Soon Andy stood alone in the circle of corpses, not even sweating. He went out slaying every night, trying not to think of the strange dreams that plagued him during the day. He had a feeling that William was causing them, but he didn’t mention them to anyone else.  They didn’t need to know.

His phone began to ring, breaking him out of his contemplation.

“Hello?”

“We have a problem,” Patrick said.

“What is it?”

“Pete’s building a resistance to the blend. If I don’t a cure or we kill Beckett, we’re screwed.”

“If we kill him, he might not be the only one we end up killing.”

“I’m afraid we have no choice.”

I have nothing left to say. I'm tired of doing this, but I figure if I throw myself into writing, I won't have to think about my email. But on the plus side, I finally got my Northern Downpour stuff. But next time I join a fan club, I'm joining Santi's Little Helpers.

Chapter Eight

Jared stared out at the Arctic landscape, his mind wandering to find the woman who changed his life. Shannon walked up next to him.

            “Can you feel it?” Jared asked quietly.

            “Feel what?”

            “There’s something wrong. She’s upset.”

            “You turned me, not her.” Shannon sighed, exasperated. “Jared, look around. We’re two hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle. Tomó survived. Sure, Matt ditched, but would it kill you to enjoy yourself for once?”

            Shannon turned to head back to his drum set.

            “Besides, isn’t she in L. A.?”

            “No,” Jared murmured to himself. “She’s not.”

X                                              *                                              X

            Helena uneasily walked back into Matron’s dreaded classroom. What she found surprised her. They were obviously supposed to be practicing stitchery, and unlike before, Hayley was actually doing it with Audrey and Amanda. She was so absorbed in their chatter; she didn’t even notice her friend approach.

             “Hayley?”

            She looked up at Helena.

            “Go do your work,” she sneered.

            “Hayley, what’s wrong?”

            “What’s wrong is you. Why don’t you give up your little noble act already? I swear you’re as bad as Peter. Maybe you should just move back in with him and the hunters.”           

The other girls laughed cattily. Hurt and confused, Helena sat in the back of the room instead.

            “Josh took her down to the infirmary.”

            She saw that Amy was talking from under her shroud of hair.

            “What did they do to her?”

            “They brainwashed her. William thought she was asking too many questions about where he took you. He basically runs this place you know,” Amy continued. “The others are just purebloods that went into hiding who share his warped logic, if you could call it logic.”     

            “But what did they do?”

            Amy shrugged.

            “It varies for each person. The guy that runs the place- Gabe, I think his name is- he’s a mad scientist. Likes to experiment what works for each of us. He can’t stand me.”

            “Why?”

            “Nothing worked on me. No matter what he tried, I was still ‘defiant’.”

            “Oh.”

            She waited for Amy to say more, but once again the strange young woman fell silent. She shrugged and picked up a needle and thread. Suddenly a strange compulsion overcame her. Checking to make sure Matron wasn’t watching, she pushed the needle into her arm. A thin stream of blood pulsed out, but she dug it in deeper.

Keep going, A voice in her head urged. You can do better than that.

Staring at the string dangling from her arm, she got an idea. She pulled the needle out and began stitching into her arm. Climbing vines of roses and broken hearts soon created a melancholy tattoo sleeve.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

She calmly looked up from her work.

“Practicing my needlepoint, of course.”

Matron glared at her furiously, her face turning the color of a beet.

“Stop that right now,” a familiar voice added.

She smiled as William burst in the room, Ryland silently following.

“No.”

She pulled out a knitting needle and held it to her throat. William’s eyes glowed bright red.

Put it down.

Her hand trembled slightly and her eyes looked faintly glazed, but she held firm. He gazed at her without remorse.

You can’t resist me. Put down the needle and go to sleep.

She looked at him hopelessly and then lowered the needle.

“Fine,” she mumbled, lying on the floor.

He smiled with satisfaction.

“Good girl. Now let’s get you fixed up.”

Ryland watched William picked her up. Matron eyed him with scorn.

“So you’re still here,” she spat.

            “Yes, because despite what you might think, I’m more valuable than you,” he countered.

            “Ha! William has sired many children. What would make you so special?”

            “Must you two always bicker?!” William interrupted.

Matron and Ryland glared at each other sullenly.

            “Now, I need to go see Gabriel. I can’t keep putting her under temporary hypnosis like this. I may need something permanent.”

            “Which I told you from the beginning!” Matron cried.

            “Silence, crone,” William ordered. “You answer to my commands.”

            Matron looked as though she had been slapped. Ryland smirked at her as he followed William out the door.

            “She’s going to be the death of me, I tell you,” William muttered. “This one too.”

            “If you mean Helena, then why do you pursue her?” Ryland asked as they walked down the hall to Gabe’s lab.

            “It’s . . . complicated.” He sighed. “Actually, can you give her to him for me? I need to get some things sorted out.”

“But we’re already-”

William handed her to him and disappeared.

“-here,” he finished. “Jerk.”

Weak ending. I don't care. I met Mason from Metro Station at the Honda Civic Tour. I'm leaving now.

I hate this chapter. Actually, just the second part. But in these past two weeks, things have been a little crazy, and if I try and reedit it again, I'll probably throw my computer through a window. So here you go. I'm going to go try and be more productive somewhere else.

Chapter Seven

 Helena watched through half closed eyes as William entered her room. For a moment, he seemed genuinely concerned. He sat on the bed and brushed her tangled hair from her face.

 “Why are you doing this to me?” she asked softly.

 “You have left me with no choice,” he said sternly. “I have sacrificed everything for you. It is time you do the same.”

 She saw that his wrist was also bandaged.

 “William, did we . . .?”

 He shook his head, smiling.

 “Not yet, my love. It was just to keep you subdued.”

 She glared at him furiously.

 “You drive me mad, William Beckett, you know that? I could just kill you sometimes!”

 “Ssh, you mustn’t get so angry. Especially in your condition.”

 She froze as he continued to caress her.

 “What do you mean?”

 “Well,” he said conversationally, “You might be pregnant.”

 “WHAT?!” she yelled as the memories began to flicker back. A dungeon, the two of them covered in blood, her pained screams as he violently had his way with her. . .

 “I hate you,” she sobbed, pulling away from his touch. “I hate you so much.”

 “It wasn’t just me,” he snarled. “Or would you like to see the scratches you left down my back?”

 “B-b-but I can’t be pregnant! I thought we were naturally barren!”

 He chuckled darkly.

 “With your bloodline? Never.”

 “Oh, William,” she sighed. “You wonder why I don’t love you anymore, and then you go and knock me up? Actually, I consider this rape.”

“It’s not rape; it’s just sex you didn’t know you wanted.”

 She snorted. “Oh, that’s nice. So what am I supposed to do now?”

 “We wait. If you are pregnant, make sure you are taken care of. If not, we’ll try again later when you are more . . . compliant.”

 She rolled her eyes.

 “William, I’m not going to ‘comply’ with anything until you realize that can’t keep pulling me along like this. People aren’t playthings; you can’t just do what you want with them until you get bored. Besides, who said I want children?”

“I want a child, so you don’t have a choice. But unfortunately, I must leave you now to class. I have something urgent I must take care of.”

“Going to turn someone else?” she asked as he headed for the door.

“That’s not your concern.”

“I feel bad for him already.”

X                                              *                                              X

“Let me go!”

Zac Farro frantically looked around the lavish room. The last memory he had was of sitting at his drum set back home in Tennessee. Then he blacked out. When he woke up, he was tied to the bedpost in this strange place. As he struggled to free his wrists, he heard sharp footsteps come in from outside.

“Have you ever thought of your death?”

A pale young man spoke up from the shadows. He didn’t appear to be much older than Zac, with girlish features and dressed in strange clothes.

“What are you talking about?!” Zac yelled.

“How do you imagine dying? Do you think you’re going to heaven?” the stranger mocked.

Zac thought of the rosary tucked under his shirt.

“M-m-maybe,” he stammered. “Are you going to kill me?”

The young man’s sadistic grin grew wider.

“Yes.”

Zac’s panic kicked into overdrive. The stranger came closer, his hypnotic gaze paralyzing the terrified teen.

“Don’t worry, Zachary,” he assured him. “It won’t hurt for long.”

Zac squeezed his eyes shut as the stranger bit into his neck. An awful feeling of agony overtook him.

“Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,” he moaned.

William released his hold for a moment and smiled, Zac’s blood all over his face.

“God can’t save you. You’re mine now.”

He bit back down and Zac whimpered pitifully as his whole body began to go numb. He closed his eyes, waiting for death to embrace him. Maybe the vampire was right. Death couldn’t be that bad. He lay quietly in a pool of his own blood. The pain was unbearable.

“Please kill me,” his managed to whisper. “I’m so cold . . .”

“Why would I do that?”

Zac tasted something bitter and a voice echoed from the void he found himself in.

“You have been condemned . . . prepare to join your brother as one of the damned.”

He cried out in terror as the world fell into a pitch black void.

Is this not one of the worst chapters I've ever written? Don't lie; I know it sucks. Don't expect any updates this weekend. Friday's the Honda Civic Tour, Saturday I'm going to see The Incredible Hulk, and Sunday's my birthday. Did you need to know all that? Probably not, but I felt like sharing. See ya later!

Somewhat related rant, part one

How's everyone doing? No one else's mom tried to choke them in public? No one got their Honda Civic Tour and Decaydancefest tickets taken away for a week because they didn't want to wear a pink dress? Almost stabbed themselves? Just me? Man, my life's nuts. But let's talk about happy things. This chapter makes me happy, but I won't spoil it for you. Read below!

Chapter Six

“Stop fighting me, my love. Just open the door.”

William smirked as Helena removed the barricade from behind the door and came outside. Holding out a wrist with a voice like poisoned honey, he began.

“Do you, Helena Dracul . . .”

X                                                          *                                                          X

“Helena, please wake up!”

Helena slowly opened her eyes to see Ryland standing above her, his voice full of worry.

“Oh, thank God you’re alive,” he breathed. “I would’ve murdered William. . .”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been missing for three days. I came here after class the next day, but you weren’t here. But when I asked William where you were, he told me it was ‘none of my concern’. What happened to you? You’re covered in bruises and cuts. I tried to fix you up, but I’m not a doctor.”

She tried to recall the chaotic night, but only drew a blank.

“I don’t know. I can’t remember.”

“Maybe this has something to do with it,” he remarked, tugging at the gauze wrapped around her wrist.

She pulled away the bandage to reveal a set of puncture wounds an inch apart on her wrist.

“He . . . there’s no way he could have. . .”

“What?”

“It appears that, during my absence, William and I have become blood mates.”

She slumped back against her mattress, sighing.

“Where is he?! I’ll kill him!” Ryland threatened.

“Don’t bother trying. You’d be dead before you got in a punch. Besides, I’m sure he’ll be in here in a moment or two.”

Ryland sat next to her on the bed.

“I wish you would have come with me instead of going out with him.”

“I know, but clearly if William can’t have me, no one can.”

“Do you want me to stay in case he comes?”

She smiled.

“I appreciate the offer, but I wouldn’t recommend it. He’s got a nasty temper, and if he thinks you and me. . .”

“What? You don’t like me?”

“No!” she said hastily. “It’s not that! It’s just. . .”

“If he knows, he’ll kill me.”

“Yes, that’s what I mean. I don’t want you dying because of me.”

“I gladly would, you know.”

“Why would you do that?”

He shrugged, standing up and kissing her forehead.

“I like you. But I know I can never have you.”

X                                                          *                                                          X

Knock, knock.

Andy ignored whoever was at the door, his eyes glued to the TV. Ever since William had escaped, he had isolated himself to his house. He despised what he had become and hadn’t adapted at all. He suffered from insomnia during all hours of the day, and for whatever reason, he couldn’t tolerate Pete’s blend. At least today there was a Star Wars marathon to keep his mind off of it; for now. In the back of his mind, his thirst gnawed at him, urging him to give in to the darkness.

Knock, knock.

“Go away,” he growled.

“Andy, let us in already!”

He froze.

“Joe?”

“And Patrick and Pete too. Come on, it’s important!”

With one last look of longing at the TV, he got up from his couch and opened the door.

“What do you want?” he asked irritably.

“It’s Helena,” Joe said. “She’s been kidnapped. Er, vampire-napped.”

“Why should I care?” Andy snapped. “I’m not her keeper. If she gets into trouble, it’s her own damn fault.”

“Because, dickhead,” Pete retorted. “It was William who took her. Now get the stake out of your ass. I know you care about her; what I don’t know is why you’re acting like a little shit.”

“I. . . I. . .”

“Look,” Patrick interrupted. “Can’t we all just get along? Not only did we bring your sword, I made a variation of the blend that may be able to hold you over.”

“Slayer,” Andy murmured, taking his shining blade from Joe’s hands. He looked up at his friends. “Okay, I’ll take whatever you got. Anything that keeps me from ripping someone in half.”

“Maybe after this, Fall Out Boy can come back!” Joe said hopefully.

“Maybe,” Pete said. “But first, to Albania. Patrick, do you think you can find her?”

“Jared would probably do it better, but he’s up at the Arctic Circle, so I’ll give it a shot.”

Patrick closed his eyes and sought her out.

"She's at Blackinton Castle. William’s made it his new home. She. . .”

He stopped as he saw what had happened to her over the last few days.

“We need to get out there, now. I don’t know how much longer she’ll survive."

Somewhat related rant, part two

First off, I know I keep really weird hours, but I haven't slept right in three weeks, so this gives me something to do. Secondly, wouldn't Helena and Ryland make a cute couple? Better yet, do they stand a chance? Knowing the way my mind works, probably not. But you never know. Thirdly, I can't help but feel bad for Andy in the chapters ahead. But changing the subject (no spoilers here!), I hightly recommend Goodbye Blues by The Hush Sound. It's definitely one of my favorite CDs right now. Yes, I still collect CDs. I don't like Ipods. So that's it for now, and if you know any FBR/Decaydance band members looking to adopt a teenage girl from Las Vegas, I'll be in my closet. Oh (long, isn't this?) and by the way, Jeremy, the pocket emo, is my little mascot. Also. . . crap! I can't remember what else I was going to say! (NOW I guess I'm done.)

Meh, not too pleased with this chapter either. I don't think I'm as good at this as I thought. I like The Hush Sound.

Chapter Five

Helena glared at the large stack of books in her arms with disgust.

“Why should we learn Latin?” she complained. “It’s a waste of time.”

Hayley shrugged miserably.

“Who knows? At least it’s been quiet on your end. William still hasn’t come to talk to you?”

“I know, it’s really-” she stopped short. “Crap in a hat.”

William was leaning against her bedroom door.

“Is that any way to greet me?” he asked.

“I could think of worse things to say, but you’re not worth my time,” she said acidly. “What do you want?”

“A chance to talk.”

“Why? Am I not living up to your mindless drone expectation?”

He scowled.

“Because, I said so and here you follow my orders. I expect you at the dining hall in fifteen minutes.”

He tipped his hat and disappeared. She and Hayley stormed into her room.

“What are you going to do?” Hayley asked.

“I guess I have to go. It’s not like I have a choice in anything I do here,” Helena replied.

She opened her closet and began flipping through her various black band shirts when Hayley picked up a package from her bed.

“What’s this? It’s addressed to you,” she said.

Helena warily opened it and pulled out a red velvet dress with gold ribbon laced through the bodice.

“That asshole expects me to wear this?” she exclaimed.

“I’m gonna say yes.”

“Fine,” she grumbled. She quickly stripped from her AFI shirt and struggled to get the dress on. “How do I look?”

“Probably like his dream come true.”

“Fan-fucking-tastic. Wish me luck.”

She gathered up her skirts just as there was a knock at the door. She tentatively opened the door. Ryland stood outside the door, holding a bouquet of lilies.

“Hey,” he said nervously. “I got these for you.”

“Thanks. What’s up?” she asked, putting the flowers in a vase on her nightstand.

“Well,” he started, ruffling his hair, “I was wondering what you were doing tonight.”

“Sadly, having some kind of discussion with William. Either that or he’s going to do something ghastly to me.”

“Oh.”

She noted his disappointed expression.

“Ryland, was there something you wanted?”

“Well, I was going to ask you to dinner, but I don’t want to interfere with William’s plans.”

“I wish you could. But my friend Hayley is free.”

Helena gestured to Hayley, who was watching the conversation with a mix of awe and shock. Ryland smiled and gave a half bow.

“Pleasure to meet you, Hayley.”

She nodded.

“Well, I better go,” Helena said grimly. She ran through the dormitory and up a flight of stairs, wracking her brain to remember where the dining hall was. Finally she made her way into the dark and elegant room.  William sat at the head of the table, dressed in a black suit that flawlessly set off his pale skin. He nodded cordially in her direction.

“My lady,” he murmured.

She glared at him as she sat down across from him.

“I get it; you’ve never looked better and I can’t stand it. What do you want?” she demanded.

Surprisingly, he had a wounded look on his face.

“I merely wanted to explain my actions.”

She sighed heavily.

“Fine. Explain yourself.”

“I need you. I lived without you for almost a year and it nearly killed me. When I came back, when I saw you with Gerard. . . I couldn’t think of anything but taking you back. Making you mine.”

He paused, scrutinizing her intently. She said nothing. With a sigh, he continued.

“I hate this world. Yes, sometimes a human shows promise, but it’s just not worth hiding anymore. Starting petty fights with hunters who think they can destroy me . . . it’s a waste of my time. I want more.”

He stood up and walked behind her chair.

“Would it really be so bad, being my queen?” he murmured in her ear. “You would have ultimate power, power to do whatever you desire. . .”

She managed to find her voice.

“How did you find me?”

He smiled as he traced random shapes on her skin.

“You could say it was a parting gift from Aro. He saw how miserable I was and told me to go.”

His hand trailed down to her waist and she knew if she didn’t stop him now, she’d never leave.

“William, for fuck’s sake, stop!” she cried, wrenching out of his arms. “I can’t do this! I told you before, you lost your chance! You’re nothing to me now!”

She ran from the room without looking back.

Where to go , where to go, she thought, hearing William’s footsteps close behind her. She ran into the first room she saw and slammed the door behind her.

“You can’t hide,” he taunted. “I own you here.”

She locked the door and began shoving furniture against it, finding herself in another small bedroom. He rattled the handle furiously.

Get out here, he commanded.

Fuck off!  she retorted.

You don’t want to fight me. Let me in.

No . . .

Yes. It will be so much easier if you just give up.

 She winced, rubbing her temples. His telepathic persuasion was more powerful than it had ever been.

Pete, wherever you are, help me!

X                                                          *                                                          X

Pete woke up suddenly, laying on the weather beaten couch in the warehouse living room.

Helena? Where the fuck are you? he thought.

Albania, where the fuck are you? I called for you when he first grabbed me!  Came the frantic reply.

I’m sorry, we’re trying to find Andy. We’ll come as soon as we can.

You’ll be too late- shit! He’s getting in!

Wait! I’ll get Patrick!

But she was already gone.

I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave. 
I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for *you*!

William's musings were based on quotes by Jareth the Goblin King from Jim Henson's Labryinth. For not knowing that, I order all of you to go watch it after you read this chapter and comment. But seriously, it's an amazing movie.

Chapter Four

“GET UP!”

Helena pulled her pillow over her head. The screaming voice made her long for her coffin back home. She fumbled on her nightstand and threw the first thing she grabbed. There was a thud and abruptly she was yanked out of bed.

“You think you get to sleep in late?!”

She blearily opened her eyes. Matron was screaming in her face, suspending her by her hair.

“Ungrateful wench! I can’t even begin to understand why he wants you!”

As she slowly tried to focus on why she was being screamed at, Matron dragged her out the door until at last she was taken into the infirmary. Matron brusquely shoved her into a wooden chair.

“What are you doing?” Helena demanded.

“You are currently truant,” Matron said as she bound her to the chair with thick leather straps. “As such, I must ensure you are never late again.”

Helena could only watch as a large syringe of pale yellow liquid was jabbed in her arm and slowly fed into her. Each drop sent horrible burning pains scorching through the veins she thought born dead, and it only got worse.

There’s no way I’ll let this douche bag see me suffer, she though, gritting her teeth.

But the fire spread through her quickly, causing more agony then all the suffering, physical and mental, ever inflicted on her. She tugged fiercely in the straps, but they wouldn’t budge.

“Embedded with sliver!” Matron cackled. “There’s no escaping those!”

The fiery pain flooded her head, searing the pain into her very thoughts. As it took away her only refuge, she could bear it no longer. She let out an ear piercing scream that resonated throughout the castle.

“That’s it! Scream like the whore that you are!”

Helena hung her head, ashamed of how weak she was. She didn’t even notice when another needle pushed through her skin and the pain died away.

Andy would be embarrassed by what a coward I am, she thought bleakly.

Matron removed the straps and shoved her to the ground.

“That will teach you to be late to my class. Now get upstairs.”

She stumbled out of the room as fast as she could, which in her current state, wasn’t fast at all. When she got about one floor above the dungeon, she finally collapsed onto someone.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She looked up. He looked a bit like William, but somewhat taller and with darker hair. He gazed at her with the most beautiful olive green eyes she had ever seen.

“I honestly don’t know anymore,” she admitted.

“Well, you’re obviously new here, so I’ll let the tumble slide.”

She was taken aback by the kind stranger.

“How did you know?”

He shrugged as he pulled her to her feet.

“The new ones always get it worst. I’m Ryland. You are…?”

“Helena.” She studied him. “You know, you don’t really seem like the kind of person who would…”

“Kidnap lovely young women and participate in Victorian dress-up?” he finished. “I’m not. But as long as I don’t interfere, it’s a free place to live. Now if only I could get all these assholes out, I’d be able to claim by inheritance.”

“Inheritance?”

“Yeah, this is my castle. Blackinton Castle; population a shitload of nutjobs who destroyed my life. I’ll tell you about it on the way upstairs if you want.”

“Well, it’s not like I have anything better to do,” she replied.

As he walked her to class, he told her his story.

“I just found out about the castle a few months ago. But by the time I came with my girlfriend Victoria, William was already here. He told me if we tried to leave, he’d kill us both.  I almost wish he had.”

“What happened?” she asked.

“He took Victoria from me. Slowly, he began to brainwash her into all this. But once she realized what was happening, she couldn’t take it anymore. So she jumped off the tower.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he said angrily. “At least she got out of here. When William found out, he bit me. And because of his stupid hypnosis, I can’t leave the castle. Unless someone kills him, I’m trapped. And I know you won’t do it, because you’re his puppet.”

“Let’s get something straight,” she snapped. “I am not his puppet. We haven’t been together in a year. He brought me here.”

“Well he obviously still wants you.”

“No shit, Sherlock.” She stared at the classroom door. “I should go.”

“See you around.”

As she walked in the classroom, not caring whether she was late or not, the evening’s exhaustion came rushing back. She sank into the chair next to Hayley.

“Where have you been?” she asked.

“Getting tortured by liquid fire.”

“Oh. She injected you with essence of garlic. Stings like heck, doesn’t it?”

“Big time. Have you met Ryland Blackinton?”

Hayley’s eyes grew wide.

“You mean he really exists? To us, he’s like an urban legend. He’s such a recluse; none of us have ever seen him. ”

“He’s very . . . interesting.”

At mentions of Ryland, the other girls started to look up with interest. But at the moment, Matron came in and the room fell silent.

X                                                          *                                                          X

“Did she fall for it?”

Ryland smirked at William.

“Hook, line, and sinker.”

“Excellent. Earn her trust, then bring her to her knees when she least expects it.”

“She’s so desperate; it will be a piece of cake.”

“And Ryland? Don’t get attached.”

He nodded dutifully.

“Whatever you say, Master Beckett.”

I don't really like this chapter much either. Maybe by chapter five I'll be happy. Anyway, I wish it was Monday. I need to talk to Rico or I will lose my mind. I can't stand how much I like him!

I'm sorry, but I think It's Hard To Say I Do When I Don't kinda sucks. I mean, I'm still typing it up, but I have two major problems in school (where I do all my writing) that are making me insane.

The first's name is David. For some reason, even though he has a girlfriend, even though he knows I hate him to the core of my being, he insists on trying to get me to date him. I'm sure it sounds wrong, but I really wish he would die. He annoys the crap out of me and I see him every day, even though I'm on a block schedule.

On the complete other end of the spectrum, there's Rico. He has been haunting me for a month now, and I can't get him out of my head. He's so beautiful, with his big brown eyes and long black hair. And he actually likes wearing a suit and top hat to school. He's a dream come true for me, like a real life Dandy. I never thought I'd want to go to school so badly, just so I can see him. He's everything I could ever ask for. But it's hard for me to talk to him. I wish I wasn't such a social retard.

So if I can get out of this chaos, I'll get back to posting soon. But I don't know if that will happen anytime soon.

Nothing new here, except for my Decaydancefest tickets! WOO! Anyway, that's all I have to say for now.

Chapter Three

Matron eyed Helena’s My Chemical Romance shirt and black jeans with disapproval.

“My, my, we have work to do with you,” Matron said, spinning her around and clucking her tongue. “Your father would be disgusted, dressing like a common human. Nevertheless, soon you will be worthy of the title bestowed upon you.”

“What title? William Beckett’s sex slave?”

The class gasped as Matron blazed with fury.

“You are a disgrace! An outrage to vampires everywhere!”

She yanked Helena up from her chair.

“I’m going to keep a very close eye on you, and if you set one toe out of line, I’ll sent you straight to the infirmary!!!”

Amy flinched as Matron threw Helena to the floor and stomped to the front of the room.

“Miss Kitching will show you to your room later. But it is time for today’s first lesson; embroidery.”

Helena and Hayley shared a look of dismay. It was going to be a very long night.

X                                                          *                                                          X

“So, Audrey, tell me about yourself.”

“Well, I met Brent in London through a friend, a law student named Brendon. We were dating, but I liked Brent more. So when Brendon was killed, we finally got together. But what about you? How could you abandon someone like William?”

Helena sighed as the snobbish girl led her to the dormitory.

“Because, I got tired of him killing everyone who crossed him and using me as his excuse. It’s lazy, and not even right. Yes, Brendon was trying to take me for his own selfish reasons, but now William’s doing the same thing. He’s a fucking hypocrite if you ask me.”

“Brendon?”

“Yeah, Brendon Urie. He’s off in Las Vegas now, but he was William’s successor at the time.”

Audrey paled considerably.

“W-well, I have to go, but lessons start at dusk. Any questions?”

“Yeah. Where can I find the asshole that brought me here?”

“Master William’s quarters are off limits to us. If he wants to see you, he will send for you.” Audrey looked at her strangely. “You do have a lot to learn.”

X                                                          *                                                          X

I’d chime in with a “haven’t you people ever heard of closing the goddamned door?”

Patrick glanced up from his research at his ringing phone. His attempts to find a cure vampirism had continued to fail. His eyes wandered over his notes as he answered the phone.

“Hello?”

“Patrick, it’s me. I need you to pack your bags and get out to L.A. as soon as possible.”

“Pete, what’s going on?”

“I’ll explain when you get here. I already called Andy and Joe. Just hurry!”

Patrick stared at his phone in bewilderment.

“What the hell, Pete?” he muttered.

He hesitantly picked up his notebook and hat from off his desk.

“Off to L.A., I guess.”

His hand brushed a book he had found a few nights before. The title read Turning Vampires into Humans.

“This just might come in handy,” he said, adding it to his pile.

He went to his room to pack.

X                                              *                                              X

“So is there hope for her?”

“I’m not sure. It may be best to just condition her.”

William silently weighed his options.

“I suppose it would be for the better. . . I’d rather her be obedient than have her try to do something irrational.”

“It’s settled then. I’ll have Gabriel prepare the operating room.”

“I said only if she doesn’t adapt. She just arrived yesterday.”

“Lord Beckett, she referred to herself as your sex slave! I doubt she will ever adapt.”

“Give her time,” he urged. “She’ll have no choice eventually.”

“We don’t have time for eventually! If you don’t bind her to you soon-”

“That is enough! I know of the impending consequences. You are dismissed,” he snapped, waving a hand.

As Matron huffed out of his office, William wrapped his hands around his usual drink of choice- blood mixed into a steaming cup of Earl Grey- and sighed. He gazed longingly at the portrait on his desk of Helena practicing ballet, painted before their engagement was announced.

Why have you caused me to do this? he wondered. Just do as I say and I would be your slave. Yet you continue to spurn me. Well, no longer will I turn the world upside down for you. Just watch. . .

Do WIlliam's musings sound familiar? Major brownies to whoever knows what movie it's from.

So it appears that, like the beginning of Best Kept Secret, I only have one reader. Thank you Molly, for sticking with me. May the Fueled By Ramen gods smile upon you, and let's do this thing!

Chapter two

“Let go of me, you bastard!”

Helena struggled against William’s grip on her wrists, but it was no use.

“Not a chance.”

Pete! She thought frantically. Help me!

“No one’s coming to save you this time,” William sneered at her silent pleas. “You’re mine.”

“I hate you,” she said scathingly. “Gerard’s gonna come back and make you pay.”

“Gerard is dead, love. As for your temper, that will be fixed in time.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll see soon.”

He trailed a finger lightly down her spine. Ice seemed to radiate from his touch and encase her. She crumpled to the floor, trying to ignore the cold, but his newfound power overcame her yet again. He picked her up gently, like a concerned parent and took her away to the unknown.

Help me, Peter…

X                                                          *                                                          X

When Helena woke up, the first thing she noticed was that the knife that killed Gerard was once again in William’s hands, this time grazing across her skin while he sat on her hips. The second was that she had no clue where she was, save a sparsely furnished bedroom with no windows and a flickering candle.

“You have two choices,” he murmured, his voice low and seductive. “Take your rightful place as my queen, or meet the same fate as your precious Gerard.”

“What is the point of being queen?” she demanded. “Our monarchy was destroyed nearly two hundred years ago!”

“So rebuild it with me. Join me so we can claim the world for our kind.”

“You only need me because I’m the one with all the power,” she spat. “Without a Dracul blood bound to you, you’re nothing. And I’m the sole surviving member. Besides, the entire vampire population hates you more than Deacon Frost.”

“That’s where you are wrong, my love. Which is why we are here.”

“And where is here?”

“Albania. Now make your decision, I haven’t got all night.”

As if to emphasize his point, he dropped the dagger, catching it right before it nicked her skin. She sighed irritably. Obviously he had handed her a Hobson’s choice.

“Fine, I’ll stay. But only so I can make you regret this later.”

“I knew you’d see things my way.”

He climbed off her and offered a hand, which she declined, swinging her legs over the bed.

“Now as much as I hate to cut our time together short, you are late for class.”

“What class?”

“All the young ladies here are enrolled in etiquette classes.”

“Lucky me,” she said dryly.

He scowled at her.

“Just come with me,” he grumbled.

As he led her out the door and up a spiral staircase, she realized there was no chance of escaping. He forced her to walk in front, the dagger pointed at her back. Out the windows she saw that the surrounding forest went on for miles.

“In there,” he instructed when they reached a plain wooden doorway.

She said nothing, just glaring at him with the same look of loathing she gave Brendon what seemed like so long ago.

You can’t beat me here, he thought. Go inside like a good girl.

Outraged, she punched him in the jaw.

“No problem, asshole.”

She flicked her hair haughtily over her shoulder and stormed inside. About ten female vampires sat around the room, talking quietly among themselves. They all seemed to come from different periods of time, from the 1920’s starlet with bright pink hair, to the stringy black haired girl in a Victorian Goth dress and a familiar face with orange hair in a Sunny Day Real Estate shirt and jeans.

“Hayley!” she exclaimed.

Hayley’s face turned white as a sheet.

“No! You can’t be here!”

She took a seat next to Hayley.

“What do you mean?”

But she only shook her head.

“It’s too late now. So what happened?”

“William came to my house, killed Gerard and kidnapped me. What about you? I thought Brendon and you split up.”

“We did. I met this guy Josh in Tennessee. We went out, talked about music and I guess he put something in my drink because I fell asleep and woke up here.”

“Do you know any of the others here?”

“Not really. The class is basically divided into two groups. There are the brainless drones, who are the most boring people you will ever meet, and then there’s me, Amy, and now you. The leader of the drones is Audrey, the girl with pink hair. I’m sure she already thinks you’re garbage.”

“Why?”

“Because of, ‘All the trouble you caused Master William’. She keeps trying to get his attention, but he’s dead set on you.”

“Lucky me. So is everyone here a snobby pure blood?”

“You, Amy and me, but Audrey claims she is. She’s lying.”

The door burst open and the burliest, cruelest women Helena had ever seen stormed in the room.

“And that is?”

“Matron.”

Iron Man. Even if you don't like comic books, go see it. That Green Gentleman, adorable. Oh, and thank you to Cobra Starship, The Academy Is... and Gym Class Heroes for coming back to Vegas June 27th. I can't wait!

Woohoo! I'm working again! I know these first few chapters probably aren't the best, but bear with me. I swear it gets better. Anyway, I really wanted to post this adorable Sweeney Todd cartoon my friend Amanda drew me, but my scanner isn't working. Stupid scanner!

Chapter one

Helena stared miserably out her bedroom window at the full moon. It had been three weeks since Edward Cullen had come and shattered the delicate new life she had created for herself. Her life had been going fine, until he brought her the song William had wrote for her while in Italy. Since then, everyone had been trying to cheer her up, but to no avail.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Gerard asked, wrapping his arms around her.

“I’ll be fine. Go back to Jersey with your friends,” she replied, brushing him off.

“Okay, but remember I’m always here for you.”

She solemnly nodded as he hugged her tightly before he left. The last year had been so surreal, like a warped fairy tale. Just when she thought she would be able to live happily ever after with William, everything fell apart. Then when she thought she could at least lead a stable life, he still managed to ruin everything.

The worst part was how it was affecting her. She had renounced him when he seemingly gave in to a new kind of bloodlust. But now, things had definitely changed. She lay back against Gerard as he gently stroked her head.

“Gerard, I’m sorry. Please just go home,” she begged.

“Who said anything about Gerard?”

She froze, paralyzed by the hands grasping her wrists.

“William…”

He smirked cruelly, his brown eyes glittering hungrily.

“My, my, you haven’t changed a bit,” he remarked.

“What do you want?” she snapped.

“My things back. And you.”

“You can’t have them. You had your chance with me; you blew it. Get out.”

He laughed.

“What makes you think you get a say? Better yet, what makes you think I care?”

“Um…”

Grinning, he pushed her against the wall and slid a hand between her thighs. A tiny gasp escaped her lips.

“You know you still want me,” he whispered huskily.

“No… stop it…”

He drove his hips into hers and she moaned desperately. Just when he thought she was going to give in, her leg shot out and knocked him to the floor. She ran for her bathroom, but he reached out and pulled her down.

“It’s time someone taught you your place,” he hissed.

His eyes glowed red and he stroked her forehead. She was overwhelmed by the sensation of falling into eternal darkness. She weakly tried to pull away as he whispered in her ear before she blacked out.

“Don’t worry. Vampires will never hurt you.”

X                                                                             *                                                                              X

William glared at Helena with disdain, as if she was the one that caused all his problems. He thought he would be content in Italy, but he soon grew bored and roamed the world, eager to cure his restless spirit. He went back home to London, only to find that his childhood home had been demolished.

In my desperation to preserve the past, he thought, the world changed without me. What choice do I have now but to adapt?

He found his answer in Albania. A castle, long abandoned by time and modern culture, buried deep within a thick forest. It was here he found his new home and the answers he had been searching for. As the Volturi’s influence wore off in the following months, he realized how foolish he had acted. Once he found Helena, he would stand outside her apartment, trying to think of what to say. Until the night he saw her with Gerard.

At first they were only kissing, but Gerard had soon gained confidence and they began to strip. William couldn’t bear the heartbreak, knowing that she was really lost to him. And that was when he lost his mind.

He picked her up from the floor and began for the door when he remembered Gerard was still unconscious in her bathroom. As walked in the small room, he fingered the jeweled dagger hanging at his waist, then pulled it from its sheath. It had been a parting gift from Aro, a blade of pure ebony. Without a second’s hesitation, he plunged it into Gerard’s back. His eyes shot open.

“You bastard!” he snarled. “Get away from her.”

“You are in no place to be making demands, Mister Way,” William said curtly. “Not with the vampire dagger sticking out of your spine. Tell me, is it as painful as they say, feeling the blood drained out of you?”

“Fuck. You.”

“Oh, I’m so insulted. Well let me tell you something. In a few minutes, you’ll be dead. I’ll take my bride and in a matter of months, we will take this world as our families intended.”

“She’ll never agree. Or did you forget she turned her back on you?”

“She’ll do it. Just watch. Oh wait, you can’t.”

William tossed Helena back over his shoulder as she was beginning to come around. Gerard lay in the tub, waiting for his death. But he knew it wouldn’t be the end. This was just the beginning.

“Gee?” she asked faintly.

His vision was getting blurry, the edges growing dark. Wouldn’t be long now.

“Gerard!” she screamed.

He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on dulling the pain. But he heard a struggle and soon Helena was cradling him in her lap, sitting against the bathroom door.

“You came back,” he rasped.

“I won’t leave you alone.”

“You tell that fucker that I’m gonna come back and get his sorry ass, you hear?”

She nodded, fighting back tears.

“Three cheers for sweet revenge, right?” she said bleakly.

“Good girl. Don’t take his shit. Tell Pete to come get you since I obviously can’t.”

“Okay.”

“Take care of Mikey for me.”

He surrendered to death just as the door came crashing down.

So, any comments? Sorry it's taking so long to type. My retarded hospitality teacher has me swamped.

Epilogue

Los Angeles, California

February 11, 2007

 A pale young woman unlocked the door to her small apartment and walked inside. Most people knew her as Tracy Phillips. Most people were wrong. Very few people knew her actual identity and only one of them lived in town. Although her life had taken an unexpected turn, she was content, even if it meant working part time as a burlesque dancer.

 “Are you Helena Dracul?”

 She turned to face the stranger sitting calmly in her living room. He had bronze colored hair, dark gold eyes and was casually dressed in designer clothes. There was a manila envelope in his lap.

 “I was once, but not anymore. Why does it matter?” she asked carelessly.

 “Because I have something for you.”

 He handed her the envelope. It was addressed to her and she immediately recognized the handwriting. With trembling hands, she tore it open and pulled out its contents. Inside were several sheets of paper.

 “Where did you get this?” she asked hoarsely.

 “His bedroom. He obviously wasn’t planning on giving it to you.”

 She imagined what he must look like now; his eyes ruby red, his pale skin emphasized by a black robe.

 “You shouldn’t have taken this.”

 “I’m lucky I escaped.”

 “What is your name?”

 “Edward Cullen.”

 “Thank you Edward. I think I need to be alone now.”

 He left without another word.  She began to read one of the pages.

 Helena,

I have loved you since the moment I met you. Now that you are gone, I feel hollow. I cannot forget you. I will always love you, no matter what. I pray that someday you will return to me and I can make you mine forever. But I know you won’t. So let this be my parting gift, and perhaps someday we will meet again.

Eternally yours,

William

She began to read the other pages.

You were the only face I'd ever known.
I was the light from the lamp on the floor,
and only as bright as you wanted me to be.
But I am no gentleman, I can be a prick,
and I do regret more than I admit.
You have been followed back to the same place
I sat with you drink for drink.
Take the pain out of love, and then love won't exist.

Everything we had,

Everything we had,
 Everything we had,

Everything we had
is no longer there.

It was the only place I'd ever known.
Turned off the light on my way out the door.
I will be watching wherever you go,
through the eyes of a fly on the wall.
You have been followed back to the same place
I sat with you drink for drink.
Take the pain out of love and then love won't exist.

Everything we had,

Everything we had,
 Everything we had,

Everything we had
is no longer there, longer there.

Well, you saw for yourself, the way it played out.
For you I am blinded.
For you I am blinded,

 For you.

I am no gentleman, I can be a prick.
And I do regret more than I admit.
You have been followed back to the same place
I sat with you drink for drink.
Take the pain out of love, and then love won't exist.

Everything we had, everything we had,
Everything we had, everything we had.
Everything we had, everything we had,
everything we had...

I'll be with you wherever you go,
through the eyes of a fly on the wall.

Fin

A word from the author (that's me):

Thank you everyone that has been reading, whether you read the whole thing or a few chapters. I have never put so much effort into anything I've written. Although I originally said I was going to write a sequel, I don't think I can. I've been trying, and if it does work out, it probably won't be for a while. I'm just going to relax for now and if I get any of the other stories I'm working on finished (there's three) I'll be sure to post them here. In the meantime, I might post some sections of the sequel, which would include:

Expanding on Hayley's role, Zac Farro becoming a Dandy, Ryland Blackinton, Josh Farro, Amy Lee, Audrey Kitching, Brent Wilson and Jade Puget along with: self mutilation by needlepoint, rape, brainwashing, a cure for vampirism and some other stuff I can't remember right now.

Final comments are greatly appreciated.

This chapter wouldn't have been possible without the help of my school's copy of New Moon. In randomness, I like Fall Out Boy's cover of Beat it and the pictures from the set of That Green Gentleman are... unusual.

Chapter Twenty-three

 “The Volturi will see you now.”

 William looked up from the piece of paper he had been furiously scribbling on. In the six weeks since Helena had abandoned him, he had drastically changed. He decided he wanted to completely start over. So he sold the mansion and everything in it and went to live in the city. He bought a new wardrobe (courtesy of his job at the Gap) and had gone back to writing songs. But eventually he knew he couldn’t pretend nothing had happened anymore. So he decided to end it all.

 Gianna, the receptionist, stood with a vaguely female vampire he remembered to be Jane.

 “Jane will take you the rest of the way,” she continued coolly.

 “Follow me,” Jane said in her innocent voice.

 She led him through a set of double doors and half way through a set of double doors to a plain wooden door. Through there he went through a small antechamber and into a small circular room.

 “William Beckett, what a pleasant surprise!”

 “Aro,” William greeted the older vampire with a bow.

 “Such manners are rare in this age. What can I do for you?”

 William avoided Aro’s milky red gaze for a moment, staring at the hem of his black robe.

 “I have lost the one thing I cannot bear to live without. I have come to offer myself as the newest addition to your family,” he finally admitted.

 “And if we refuse you?” Caius sneered, gliding into the room.

 William gazed out the window with pain in his eyes.

 “Then I wish for death.”

 Aro laughed jovially.

 “Such a passionate one! What happened to cause you such pain?”

 William extended a hand.

 “See for yourself.”

 Aro took it in his papery grasp and William laid out his pain for him to see.

 “Such sadness for one so young,” Aro said sympathetically.

 William nodded and Aro grabbed Caius’s hand, silently conversing. Caius glared at William.

 “I don’t agree with making decisions about our family without Marcus.”

 “I understand.”

 “However, Aro believes, you would be a valuable addition. Therefore, until Marcus returns from dealing with the Cullens, you may stay.”

 “Thank you.  I’ll do my best to prove myself.”

X                                              *                                              X

Three months later

 “What are you doing in here!?”

 Edward looked into the burning red eyes of the newest member of the Volturi and dropped the notebook he had been reading. He didn’t usually come out of his quarters and Edward wanted to know why.

 “No one is allowed in here, least of all you,” William continued scathingly. “Who do you think you . . .?”

 He stopped. Edward tried to hide the envelope he found behind his back, but William was quicker. He snatched it from Edward’s hands.

 “What are you doing with this?” William hissed.

 “Delivering it,” Edward retorted.

 He took it back and ran out the door.

Comments make my world go round!

Chapter Twenty-two

 William staggered into the room slumped over his bloody sword. For a moment, it seemed that he would collapse on the spot. But then he fixed Brendon with an ice cold stare.

 “Get away from her,” he hissed.

 Brendon merely smirked as Mike continued his work.

 “You’re too late, William,” he sneered. “Your gothic angel is now mine. Isn’t that right, Pandora?”

 Helena sat up, looking dazed and confused.

 “Brendon, what’s going on?”

 She shook her head as though waking from a bad dream and her voice turned disdainful.

 “What is Beckett doing here?”

 William watched with horror as she snaked an arm around Brendon’s waist and her tongue flicked across his ear. A malevolent glint twinkled in her eyes, courtesy of Brendon’s hold on her.

 “Come for a little show, I suppose,” Brendon replied, feigning innocence.

 As the duo began kissing passionately, Mike rolled his eyes and headed out the door.

 “By the way,” he muttered so only William could hear. “I gave her a trigger word. Just say her middle name and she’ll be fine. Call it my parting gift.”

 “Thank you,” William managed to sputter.

 Brendon had just bit down on her wrist, her breathing turning into pleasured gasps when William finally found his voice.

 “Elizabeth!”

 Her eyes cleared of the daze, but it was too late. Even without vows, the bonding ceremony could be completed; and Brendon had already begun to pour his blood into her waiting mouth.

 “William?” she mumbled, blood spilling from her mouth and staining her delicate features. “I’m so sorry. . .”

 She closed her eyes and seemed to resign to her fate. Teeming with rage, William swung his blade at Brendon’s neck. Brendon caught the sword, blood flowing from the deep blow to his hand freely and gave William a look of loathing.

 “Killing all your children in order tonight?” he asked sarcastically.

 “Actually, Peter is still alive. Barely, but alive. I wish the same could be said for you.”

 “If you kill me, you’ll only be doing me a favor.”

 “Then let thing be the last favor I do for you.”

  “Don’t kill him,” Helena commanded. She stared at William with a fierce intensity as she wrenched her wrists out of Brendon’s grasp and stood up. No longer was she the frail young woman he remembered.

 “But I’m doing this for you!” he stammered. “Everything has been for you!”

 “Did I ask you to sire Patrick or Andrew? No. Did I ask you to mutilate Peter? No!” Tears welled at the corner of her eyes, but she continued. “Did I ask you to send Gerard to the brink of death, where he will never speak to me again? Without a doubt, no. This isn’t about me anymore, this about you and your passion for revenge. We are through. Feel free to keep acting like a child now.”

 She haughtily tossed her hair at the two stunned vampires and stormed downstairs. William sank to the ground, his mind a complete blank.

 “She’s leaving. She’s actually leaving me,” William said, dumbfounded.

 Brendon stood up and laughed.

 “And I thought I was going to be the demise of your relationship. Turns out it was your own fault in the end.”

 “What am I going to do now?”

 “The way I see it, you have a few options. You can try and win her back, but I don’t think that will go over well. You can move on, but knowing what a hopeless romantic you are, I doubt that will happen. Or . . .”

 “Or what?” William demanded.

 “Or you could go to the Volturi. You’re a healthy pureblood, something I’m sure they haven’t seen in a long time. They might have a use for you.”

 Joe stumbled upstairs.

 “Um, Ryan was hiding behind the stairs, something about he’s obviously not meant for combat, but he wants to talk to Brendon about some band he’s in.”

 “Panic at the disco. He’s been wanting to go public with it for a while.” He looked at William and shrugged. “Good luck.”

 He followed Joe downstairs and left William to suffer in silence.

X                                              *                                              X

 Pete knew something was wrong. As a vampire, he was supposed to be able to recover from lethal wounds. But after William ran him through, he knew he was finished. His whole body ached and he kept waiting for death to release him from the pain. But it wouldn’t. Someone was bandaging his wounds and he heard Patrick asking anxiously, “Will he be okay?”

 “Of course he will be,” a female voice replied. “William forgets that although his sword is coated with a lethal poison, it doesn’t affect sired children as severely. With Ryan’s help, I can fix him.”

 He opened his eyes and saw Helena dressing his wounds under Ryan’s direction. She was wearing one of the hoodies he designed and a pair of Andy’s jeans.

 “Shouldn’t you be tending to your blood mate?” he asked sarcastically.

 “If you are referring to William,” she stated icily. “No. He could drop dead for all I care. Actually, I’d prefer it.”

 “Harsh,” Patrick commented. “So, what are you going to do now?”

 “Well, Andy’s gonna let me stay with him for a while. But after that, I think I’ll go to Los Angeles. Become a dancer.”

 “Wouldn’t you rather go to New York? You’d have better luck making it big there.”

 She laughed; a musical sound compared to her crying they had heard so often.

 “It would be too conspicuous if I were in the limelight. Besides,” she said seriously. “I can’t stay this close to him.”

 “That should do it,” Ryan said, his injury already healed. “Now if you’ll excuse Brendon and I, we need to go pick up Jon and Spencer.”

 “Where are you four going?” Andy inquired.

 “Las Vegas. Brendon has an apartment there where we can start writing.”

 “Well, when you’re done, feel free to contact Decaydance records.” Pete said. “What are we going to do about the deranged vampire upstairs?”

 Everyone turned to Helena.

 “Fine, I’ll go,” she muttered.

 She left her new friends and rapped on the door to the loft.

 “William? We need to talk.”

 But when she opened the door, he was gone.

 Okay, so there's technically two chapters left. One is about William and the Volturi, but it's optional. If I just typed the epilogue, it wouldn't really make a difference. So once again, I'm leaving it up to you. Should I post twenty-three, or just skip it?

I was going to post this earlier, but Fairly Odd Baby came on Nick and I kept missing the beginning, so I had to get off before I missed it again.

Chapter Twenty-one

 Andy dodged another one of Joe’s attacks. He had become a master of the blade, and Andy was barely winning. Andy fought back with equal ferocity, determined to prove himself. Fueled by newly acquired bloodlust, his attacks became fiercer and he quickly gained the upper hand. Joe watched him with pleading eyes from where Andy knocked him to the floor and took back his sword.

 “Would you really kill me?” Joe asked. “No matter what Beckett has done, would you really kill your best friend? You’re better than him, Andy. Fight it! Don’t let this bastard control you!”

 Andy glanced at William, who was fighting fang and claw with Pete. Then he looked over at Patrick, who was clearly torn between his the two.

 “You could have killed me before,” Joe continued hastily. “But you helped me escape. Now you’re going to change your mind?”

 “I. . . I. . .”

 Don’t listen to him, Andrew! William commanded him. He was going to kill you!

 “You were going to kill me,” Andy said flatly, moving the sword to Joe’s neck. One stroke and he would be dead.

 “Only as a last resort. Now take your life back!”

 Andy’s eyes hardened and he tossed the sword aside. He sank to the floor and began muttering furiously under his breath. Joe approached Patrick, who was sifting through his notebooks.

 “Here we are, biding our time while Pete fights for his life and God knows what is going on upstairs. Not to mention I’m the only human in a warehouse full of vampires,” Joe remarked casually.

 “You aren’t human,” Patrick replied quietly, moving a rack of test tubes.

 “Then what am I?”

 “A werewolf.”

 “Oh.” Joe ruffled his hair. “So, shouldn’t I be . . . wolfish or something?”

 “It’s a side effect of your addiction. It suppresses your transformations.”

 “So nothing happens because I smoke pot?”

 “Pretty much.”

 Silence settled over the pair.

 “Shouldn’t you be attacking me, or defending William or, I don’t know, picking a side?”

 “You know I’m not a fighter.”

 Joe stared thoughtfully up at the ceiling.

 “I wonder what’s going on.”

 “Mike’s about to wipe her memory.”

 “I kind of feel bad for her.”

 “It’s not like she’ll remember any of this chaos. Mike is the best at what he does.”

 “I know, it’s just . . . shouldn’t we do something?”

 “No.”

 Andy, obviously free of William’s control, came and sat on Patrick’s desk.

 “This wasn’t our fight to begin with,” he continued. “If we get in the way, she’s as good as dead.”

 “Would Brendon really kill her? That’s extreme, even for him.”

 “He’s completely lost it. I wouldn’t put anything past him. But still, we better stay out of this.”

X                                              *                                              X

 Mike eyed Brendon’s mess with disdain.

 “Was there any point in practically ripping her clothes off?”

 Brendon considered this for a moment.

 “Probably not, I guess it’s just my inner attention seeker.”

 “Well, if you’re going to do you know what with her, at least let me leave the room first. I have no interest in seeing you naked.”

 Brendon grinned devilishly and snapped his fingers.

 “Let me go!”

 He calmly approached his prey, straining against her chains and freed her. She fell to the floor rubbing her sore wrists when he kicked her in the stomach. She shot him a look of pure poison as he yanked her up by her hair.

 “Don’t be mad at me, love. Be mad at William for bringing this on your pretty little head.”

 “You can’t harm me,” she spat. “We’ve already bonded.”

 “You’re lying,” Brendon hissed. “I can see it in your eyes.”

 She looked down to the floor, as if the answer to her problem was ingrained in the wood.

 “What makes you think I’ll allow you to do this to me?” she finally questioned.

 “Because,” he purred, kissing her cheek. “One, you’re completely helpless. Two, even if you did have a choice, I would kill you without a moment’s hesitation. Then I would go after William and kill him as well.”

 “Fine.” she said flatly. “Then you might as well get it over with.”

 “Okay Mike,” he said eagerly. “Let’s do this.”

 “How could you?” she asked Mike sadly as Brendon laid her on the floor.

 “It’s nothing against you,” he replied apologetically. “It’s just that, well, William deserves it. But don’t worry, it won’t hurt much.”

 He placed a hand on her forehead and a drowsy sensation overcame her.

 “Just relax,” he assured her.

 There was a loud crashing noise and everything went blank.

In vaguely vampire related news...

First off, although, I am pretty much politically neutral, when I saw this it made me change my mind a little, not to mention the lead vampire reminds me of Blackheart from Ghost Rider.

http://www.barackula.com/watch_lrg.html

Anyway, I'd work on posting chapter twenty-three, but I've got an English paper due when I go back to school on Monday. (I think it was due Thursday.) See you all later, and as always, comments mean more to me than buzz/brownies, because you can't read a brownie.(/buzz.)

I'm sick and stayed home today, so I finished this chapter.

Chapter Twenty

 After Brendon went upstairs, Joe pulled out Andy’s sword and gave it an experimental twirl.

 “Very amusing, Joseph. I would think you were planning on trying to stop me.”

 Joe saw William roaming around the makeshift living room.

 “I must admit, your security system is quite complex. I don’t know how I would have gotten through it without its creator.”

 “You wouldn’t,” Patrick said smugly, stepping out of the shadows with Pete and Andy.

 “How did you ever live here?” Ryan asked.

 Andy narrowed his eyes at Joe.

 “You can’t use that against me. It would be so . . . tacky.”

 “What are you doing here?” Joe demanded.

 William quirked an eyebrow.

 “Taking back what’s rightfully mine, of course.”

 “I don’t have anything of yours.”

 “Patrick?”

 “She’s upstairs in the loft. You better hurry.”

 Joe pointed the sword at William.

 “You aren’t going anywhere.”

 William chuckled.

 “I believe you’re greatly outnumbered, Joseph. Now step aside.”

 Pete was suddenly behind William, his own sword at the vampire’s neck.

 “Not completely.”

 Joe aimed at Andy and Ryan ran for the stairs. William smiled bitterly.

 “I should have known.”

 He unsheathed a sword concealed in his walking stick. Patrick backed away from the fight nervously.

 “Leave me out of this.”

X                                              *                                              X

Snap.

Helena blinked slowly, trying to remember what happened. Before she could comprehend what was happening, someone pressed up against her and kissed her fiercely. She found herself compelled to kiss back. The person slid his tongue into her mouth and held her up by her wrists. She wrenched her head away and he began kissing down her collarbone.

 “Don’t stop,” she pleaded.

 Dark eyes flickered up to meet her gazed and she gasped in astonishment as his spell broke.

“Brendon?”

 He eyed her hungrily.

 “Hello, love.”

  Panic began to rise in her throat. She realized she was chained to a wall, her dress hanging in tatters.

 “Look at me.”

 She shook her head, knowing what would happen if she did. He tilted her head up and forced her to look anyway. As he took control of her again, she silently cursed the day she met William Beckett.

X                                              *                                              X

Castle Dracul

Winter 1896

 “May I have this dance?”

 Helena looked at the strange young vampire in front of her through her mask. They were at a masquerade ball held by her father when he shyly approached her. He was tall; quite taller than her, and seemed very uncomfortable even being there. She had been watching him all night and he had mostly been sitting alone, politely rejecting any offers to dance.

 “Of course.”

 He expertly twirled her away from her current partner and began to waltz with her. William hated dancing as much as he hated social events, but his father had insisted he dance with Dracula’s enigmatic daughter.

 “You are very skilled,” she noted.

 He nodded, counting silently and praying his father was watching so he could leave.

 “What is your name?” she asked quietly.

 “William,” he mumbled.

 She reached behind his head and slowly untied his mask, the removed her own.

 “What are you-?”

 She pressed a finger to his lips and kissed him tenderly as the music slowed to a stop. For a moment, they were the only ones in the lavish ballroom, swaying from side to side while their fathers looked on from upstairs.

 “Do you approve?” Lord Beckett inquired, holding out a sheet of paper. “They seem meant for each other.”

 Dracula’s eyes widened as he read the paper.

 “Marriage?” he said incredulously.

 “If we were to untie our clans, there would no longer be a reason for war. No more of our precious blood would be spilled over selfish rivalries.”

 “Very well. A year from now, they shall be wed.”

I feel like shit.

That's right. Double posting. My arm hurts and I don't know why. I don't ask for much but if you read this, could you please comment a little? I don't care about the brownie/buzz thing, just show a little kindness. = )

Chapter Nineteen

 “Master Beckett! Come quickly!”

 William opened the door to his bedroom and found a hysterical Hayley sobbing outside, a tearstained sheet of paper in her hand.

 “I’m so sorry Master Beckett! I had no idea he would-”

 She stared at the white silk pajamas he was dressed in.

 “Miss Williams, I was sleeping. Whatever you are trying to say, I suggest, you come inside and tell me what is wrong,” he snapped.

 “It’s Brendon,” she said as he ushered her inside. “He took Helena somewhere, but not even Jon can find them.”

 He stopped.

 “Are you positive?” he asked quietly.

 “I just came from his room. Oh, if I hadn’t let him take her! All he left was this note.”

 She handed the paper to him.

Oh, Master Beckett, what a fool you are. If you found this note, it means your lover and I are already long gone. Why did I do it? It’s painfully simple. You ruined my life, so I’m ruining yours. After all, isn’t she the most important thing to you? Don’t deny it. You know she means the world to you. But don’t worry; I’ll take care of her. Once I’m done manipulating her, she won’t even remember you. Good luck living without her.

Brendon

P. S. Did I mention Mike came with me?

 His face was grave.

 “Start from the beginning.”

 So Hayley explained Brendon’s slow descent into obvious insanity. William said nothing, listening intently the entire time.

 “Well,” he said when she finished. “Do you have any ideas where he might have gone?”

 “No,” she said sadly. “He’s been so distant lately. What does he mean by ‘manipulating her’?”

 “I’m afraid I already know the answer to that.” he stared thoughtfully into space. “Is Peter here?”

 “I don’t know.”

 Pete burst in the room, dressed in his new Dandy attire.

 “My sincerest apologies for intruding, but I just heard from Joe. Brendon brought Helena to the warehouse.”

 “Hayley, can you read Brendon’s mind?”

 “I. . . I can try.”

 She closed her eyes.

 “He has her in a trance right now. He- Ow!”

 She rubbed her temples, wincing.

 “He blocked me out.”

 “Peter, go with Hayley and fetch Patrick, Andrew, and Ryan. We don’t have much time.”

 “Yes Master Beckett.”

X                                              *                                              X

“What’s wrong?”

 “Hayley tried to read my mind, obviously at William’s request.”

 “How do you know that?”

 “Because, she’s in on this and so is Ryan.”

 Joe stared at Helena, lying like a fairy tale queen in an enchanted slumber on the ragged couch.

 “I think Andy has some kind of thing for her. He was the only one who could talk to her. I guess he knew more about what she had missed, being a Guardian. What does that mean, anyway?”

 “They are employed by the church solely for the purpose of slaying vampires. They are trained from birth to be the personal assassins of the Pope.”

 “But Andy is, like, an atheist.”

 “It doesn’t matter. I don’t know how they pick, but the decision is final, unless you either get bitten or refuse to kill. Then they strip you of your title.”

 Helena turned over and mumbled something with a sigh.

 Are they actually in love?” Joe asked. “Her and William?”

 “She’s devoted to him. There was another guy, Gerard, but William beat him within an inch of his life.”

 “Why?”

 “He was trying to force himself on her in the library. William was so pissed.”

 “So what will you do now?”

 Brendon idly strummed the plastic guitar.

 “That depends, but most likely I’ll end up joining Ryan’s band. He needs a guitar player.”

 “You play?”

 “I play a few different instruments, plus I can sing a little. I’ve had a lot of time on my hands.”

 “Why are you doing this? Don’t you have a girl friend?”

 “Yes, Hayley. But I need to do this. You don’t even know the torture I’ve endured at his hand.”

X                                              *                                              X

 “Come here, Brendon.”

 “Please, I didn’t mean for him to escape.”

 “COME HERE!”

 Cowering, Brendon approached his sadistic master. Fangs bared, William roughly grabbed Brendon and bit into his shoulder. Brendon squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ignore the pain. He knew if he made a sound, his punishment would only get worse. But when William began digging into his shoulder blade, a faint whimper escaped.

 ‘Are you complaining?’

 “No!”

 William dug in deeper and Brendon felt the bone snap.

X                                              *                                              X

 Brendon showed Joe the mangled scar that ran across his shoulder.

 “Not even Ryan can heal it, and he’s our best healer. He’s worked miracles, but after so many years of it being torn open again and again. . . Do you see why I’m doing this now?”

 Joe nodded as Brendon pulled his shirt back on.

 “You should probably get ready. I’ll go upstairs and wake Mike. Hayley says he’s bringing Andy, Patrick and Ryan. We’ll be evenly matched, but we should try and sway one of them on our side. Patrick would probably be easiest. Ryan’s pretty loyal and I’m sure Andy’s wrapped around William’s finger.”

 Brendon walked over to Helena.

 “Wake up and follow me,” he ordered her.

 She instantly obeyed, a blank expression on her face as he led her upstairs.

 “Where are you going?” Joe asked.

 “To get my revenge.”