Intricately Intertwined (8)

The car ride was quiet, except for Gavin's frequent questions in my head. He was worried I wasn’t taking everything in and that I was going to start freaking out. You think he would know me better.1

We drove to downtown Philadelphia, somehow missing rush hour traffic. Todd was unmistakably good at weaving his little black car through others, all the while drumming on his steering wheel and singing along with the stereo. Even Gabby was singing along with him, happy as could be. She acted like everything was normal. She's an extremely adaptable person. She takes life one step at a time.2

If a situation like this was thrown on me like it was her, I know I would be freaking out. But my whole life has revolved around Gavin and my theory that I was insane. Hearing his voice in my head all day. I'm so used to him. The way he looks, his smell, his voice. The only reason I get disoriented when he's so close is because my senses are so different outside of my dreams. His scent is stronger, his voice is more prominent, his looks more defined. He's out there for everyone one to see now. He's real and I'm not crazy.3

We pulled up to one of the many brick houses all connected to each other on a busy street lined with cars. It was like one of those town houses Stuart Little's family lived in. It had a stone porch with pots of flowers lining the railing. I knew this house. This was Caleb's house.4

Todd parked the car right in front and Gavin got out immediately to open my door. I laughed at his old fashioned politeness and he smiled down at me. I gave him my hand and he helped me out with ease. He was just to sweet for words.5

"Thank you." He said, a smile still playing on his lips.6

I laughed and his hand rested on the small of my back as he lead me up the steps. We didn't even knock, we just walked right in. Seems impolite.7

"Malakai is a good friend of mine." He countered, looking down at me. Malakai was Caleb's dad.8

"You two know each other?"9

"We go way back." He said simply. Inside we saw Caleb's father just getting off the phone in the living room.10

"Gavin! Caleb says you want to call a meeting." He boomed in his loud voice. How did Caleb's father know Gavin?11

"You could say we work together." Gavin said with a smile, then turned to Malakai. "Yes, it seems we've run into some trouble with Reedrek's clan. Or Nolan, so to speak."12

"I thought you set that boy straight." He said, walking back into the kitchen.13

We followed and I heard Gabby laugh from behind me. I looked back and saw her and Todd smiling at one another. They looked so perfect together. I wonder how their bloodlines connected.14

"If I set him straight he would be here with us instead of with Reedrek." Gavin gently pulled me to a chair at the kitchen table and sat me down. "He seems to keep rebelling against me more and more."15

I looked up at Gavin. "Please tell me what's going on."16

He looked around at each face in the kitchen then sat down and pulled his chair close to mine. He took my hands in his large cold ones and a shiver ran down my spine. Why was he so cold?17

"Anna, honey, there are things all around you that you've never even knew existed before this day." He said softly.18

He took my hand and put it to his cheek so I was cupping his face. He was so cold, his skin soft and pale. He smiled and I smiled as well.19

"See? I'm real." He took my hand back in his and kissed it softly, before looking up at me with soft cream eyes. "I'm not what you think I am Anna."20

My eyebrows knitted together in confusion. What did I think he was? I guess I'm so used to his oddness that it never occurred to me to question it. I suppose he is different from normal people. His eyes and the color and texture of his skin. But I guess it never mattered what he was. As long as he stayed I didn't care. I still don't care.21

"And I don't think you'll mind either, but it's time you know the truth." His eyes bored deep into mine and I was swimming in clouds. "I'm not human Anna."22

Not human? What does that mean?23

"It means I'm not like you. Todd and I, we're different."24

I looked over at Todd and he nodded his head slightly. Then I looked at Gabby and she looked just as confused as I did. What does different mean?25

Gavin put my hand to his chest and held it there with his own. "Do you feel that?"26

His chest was still and quiet beneath my hand. "I don't feel anything."27

"Exactly. I don’t have a heart beat Anna. It hasn't beat for 372 years."28

Okay, that made no sense what-so-ever. "I don't understand Gavin."29

"I'm dead Anna. But here I still am. I can walk and talk and sleep. But I'm not like you. I'm stronger and I'm faster. I can hear people's thoughts and speak in their minds. I can hear and see far more than you can ever imagine. My heart doesn't beat and it never will. I'm going to live forever because I can't die. I can't die because I'm already dead."30

My mind was spinning. The wheels were turning. What do they call the walking dead? The undead? Zombie? He's a zombie? Or a ghost? He's pale so I guess he could be, but are ghost solid?31

"Keep guessing Anna, your close." He said, taking my hands back into his and holding them tight.32

I starred down at my knees, thinking. What's dead but is alive? Vampires?33

Gavin laughed and I looked up at him, embarrassed. Zombies, ghost, and vampires. They don't exist.34

"Yes, Anna, they do. Well the last one at least."35

"Vampires?"36

"Yes. You right."37

"You’re a vampire?" I asked, incredulously. "Gavin that’s insane."38

He laughed. "I know it is. But its true. What are vampires like in movies?"39

I thought for second, thinking back to Dracula. "Cold and pale with pointy teeth and dark circles under their eyes." And wear capes? And sleep in coffins?40

He laughed again. "No we don't wear capes and I don't sleep in a coffin. And because I do sleep I don't have dark circles under my eyes. But you see I'm pale. And I'm cold."41

His skin underneath my own was indeed cold and pale. He felt like a hard block of ice.42

"But what about your teeth?"43

"I hide them. Think of cat claws Anna. I can retract my teeth just the same."44

My head cocked to the side and I tried to imagine him with pointy teeth. "Can I see?"45

He laughed again, like he was enjoying this all.46

"I am enjoying this. You have no idea how it feels to have you know. And yes I suppose you can see."47

He opened his mouth and I saw a row of perfectly straight teeth. Then amazingly enough his canine teeth grew to an extent and he smiled.48

He looked like a real vampire. He was a real vampire. This is all just to weird. I looked over at Todd and he smiled.49

"Can you do it too?"50

He nodded and his canine teeth did the same as Gavin's and slid down into place. But they were shorter than Gavin's.51

"Aw, way to put a guy down Anna." Todd retracted his teeth back and closed his mouth, with a embarrassed look on his boyish features.52

I looked back at Gavin and his were retracted too. "Why are yours longer?"53

"Because I'm older. Out teeth grow a little every hundred years. Todd is only 48."54

I laughed and looked at Todd. "Your middle aged."55

He rolled his violet eyes and smiled. "Yeah well your boyfriend's decrepit."56

My eyebrows creased again as I looked back at Gavin. His face was concentrated, reading my thoughts no doubt.57

"So that means you were born in…" I quickly did the math in my head. "1630 something."58

He laughed quietly. "I was born human you know. I was changed in 1636 and I was born in 1614. So I appear twenty-two."59

Twenty-two. I suppose he looked that old. Maybe younger. Maybe older. His features were too perfect to tell his age. Beautiful was all that came to mind.60

"What do you make of this Anna?" he asked.61

"I guess it's to surreal to take in all at once. It seems to movie like Gavin. Vampires aren't real." My face was sad and I could feel it. I wanted to believe him. But someone who is 372+ years old just does not exist. It's hard enough believing he's the same man from my dreams, who's face hasn't changed for almost eighteen years. But now to think he's some kind of living dead? It's absurd. I am crazy.62

"Your not crazy." Todd interrupted.63

I looked up at him and his face was serious for the first time since I met him. "Vampires and werewolves, everything you they tell you in fairytales, it's all real. I'm living proof!" He smiled. "Well maybe not living…but you get the point."64

"Werewolves are real too?!" I demanded. ""You have to be kidding me."65

Todd laughed. "Your best friend is a werewolf Anna."66

My eyes grew wide and I looked at Gabby.67

"What?" she said innocently.68

"You’re a werewolf?!"69

"I am?!" she yelled, looking up at Todd.70

Todd laughed again. "Not Gabby, Caleb."71

I looked up at Caleb's father, with wide eyes. "Is this true?"72

A laugh rumbled deep in his chest. "Yes. As am I."73

I put my head in my hands and closed my eyes. This was all just to much. Vampires and werewolves. Was I trapped in a horror movie?74

"Not all vampires and werewolves are bad Anna." He said softly.75

I looked up at him quickly to see his face in a twist of hurt. I'd hurt him. "Oh Gavin, I didn’t mean you or Todd…or Caleb." It was to hard to say his name, knowing the truth. Everyone had been lying to me. My friends and my family. I didn't know what or who to believe anymore.76

Gavin took my hands in his again and I looked up into his eyes. They were still. Pale white.77

"I'm sorry you've been lied to. I had your family lie to you because you weren't suppose to find out until your eighteenth birthday. It's kind of a rule in our society. I can't change you until your eighteen." He said, a sorrowful tone in his usual smooth voice.78

"Change me how?" I asked.79

His face froze. "That’s for another time…"80

Anger began to burn inside of me and my fist balled in his hands. "You keep saying that Gavin. I want to know everything now."81

He gently unclenched my fist and laced our fingers. "This is not the place to explain sweetheart."82

"Where is the place Gavin?" I demanded.83

"I'll explain everything tonight after this meeting. Now is not that time."84

"But-"85

"I said, now is not the time Anna." His voice was stern like I had never heard it before and my eyes began to sting.86

How pathetic was I?87

Your not pathetic. I'm sorry. I just don’t have enough time to answer all of your questions right now. I'm sorry, he whispered in my head and I just nodded, to afraid to look into his eyes.88

But his cold finger lifted my chin and made me do so anyways. They were soft again and I immediately felt comfortable. I smiled. He always knew how to dazzle me.89

"I promise. Tonight." He gave me a crooked smile and I could feel the blood rise to my cheeks. I didn't like the sound of that. Sounded like he was insinuating much more than just talking.90

His carefree laughter filled the room and I heard Todd snort, trying to hold back a laugh.91

Get out of my head you two!92

I screamed my thoughts loud enough that they both winced slightly. Teach them.93

But Todd was persistent. "I think she's got you all figured out, buddy. She's on to your devious ways." He snickered and I felt like I wanted to kick him in the shin and stick my tongue out at him.94

Gavin gave one more huff of a laugh before stopping short when I gave him my "death glare". He knew better.95

"Sweetheart, I assure you that you have nothing to worry about. You know me better than that, Anna." His smile was so bright and sincere, I couldn't help but blush even more than I already was. Can't a girl have privacy in her own head?96

"Not with vampires around babe." Todd said, his smile more mocking than Gavin's.97

I shuddered without thinking. Vampires. How could they say it so casually?98

"Ha! That goes for you too, you know!" He said, looking down at Gabby by his side.99

Gabby looked at me and I could see the pink in her tan cheeks. But then she set her lips into a pout and turned and kicked Todd in the shin.100

Ha! We think so alike.101

But the kick just sent Gabby hopping on one foot and holding her other. "Ow! Ow! What are you made of?! Rock?!"102

Todd burst into laughter, doubling over and holding his gut. Stupid boys.103

When he finally gained control he stood up straight and sighed as if he was exhausted. "Sorta kinda, yeah."104

I snickered and Gabby looked up at me in shock. "How dare you laugh at me too! My own flesh and blood!"105

I cocked my head to the side in confusion and she threw her arms in the air. "You know what I mean!"106

Todd patted her hair, laughing, apparently trying to calm her down, but Gabby just pushed his hand away. "Don't you touch me, Mr. Ooh-Look-At-Me-I'm-So-Tough!"107

"Oh come on, Gab. You’re the one who kicked me!"108

"Because you need to stay out of my head!" She put her arms over her head and scowled, as if that would keep her thoughts safe.109

I looked at Gavin and he was starring at her with an odd look. Haha, he did say he'd never met a human like her before. I believe him.110

But at the sound of his name in my thoughts sent his eyes looking back in my direction.111

Are you okay?, he asked, his voice a soft murmur in my head.112

I suppose, I thought, It's just all so surreal. Why didn't you tell me sooner?113

His eyes softened even more and I concentrated on them, blocking out Todd and Gabby's bickering in the background.114

It's against our rules. No human under the age of eighteen is aloud to know. Children can't be trusted with such a big secret. Surly you understand.115

But me? You know I would never tell anyone. You could have trusted me.116

His eyebrows deepened and raised in the middle. I'm sorry Anna. I wanted to tell you. There are higher people who control the way we live. They make the rules. If I was to break one, they would have taken you away from me. I would not have been able to handle that. Do you see now?117

I sighed. I couldn't argue with him. He wanted to. I know better than anyone the feeling of having a secret and having to hide it.118

I'm sorry, I though softly, starring into his dazzling eyes.119

He smiled. Already forgiven.120

"So what do you think of this postcard?" I heard Gabby say and I looked up to see her handing Todd the same postcard she pulled out on Gavin. She doesn't exactly have all the salt on her crackers, if you know what I mean.121

I smiled at I watched her lean back as if he would explode as Todd took the card. He turned it over and over in his hands, his face marked with frustration.122

"What the hell do I do with it?" he asked, looking over at her. "It's says Welcome To Sunny California."123

I snickered and Todd must have heard the memory go through my thoughts when she did it to Gavin.124

He looked back at Gabby. "Did you just try to kill me?"125

Gabby snatched the card out of his hand and put it back in her bag. "Just checking." Then I could have swore I heard her mutter, stupid stupid vampire wannabe.126

Apparently, she did.127

"Vampire wannabe! Look, kiddo, I'm the real shit!" Todd exclaimed, his hands flailing in the air.128

A soft snarl escaped Gavin's lips and he was standing up next to Todd before I could even blink.129

"I wasn't going too!" Todd yelled at Gavin.130

"You thought it." Gavin said, in a low voice.131

"I was just going to show her." Todd grumbled.132

"You take entirely to much pride in being a vampire Todd."133

I stood up and put my hand on Gavin's shoulder. He looked down at me and his expression changed from angry to concerned.134

"What's wrong?" I asked.135

"Todd was going to show Gabby just how much of a real vampire he is." His tone was dark and I figured Todd wasn't gonna show Gabby something like how he could juggle bowling balls on a unicycle.136

Gavin took my hand from his shoulder and kissed it gently before lacing it with his own. "Don't worry." He said in a much softer tone.137

I looked at Gabby and she was starring at Todd, as he was her. "Gabby that’s ridiculous." He said, reading her thoughts.138

Gabby looked at Gavin. "Was he gonna eat me?"139

Todd laughed, but Gavin didn't even smile. "No, he was going to show you how fast he could heal."140

Gabby looked at Todd with a smirk and he gave the same crooked smile and a wink. "Deal."141

Gavin sighed. "You test my patience far more than you should, fledging."142

Todd mocked him, but made it sound whiny and Gabby laughed.143

Now I knew how Gabby felt when Gavin spoke in my head. I wanted to hear what Gabby and Todd where thinking to each other. It was annoying.144

He doesn't speak to her the way I do you, Gavin thought, He's afraid she might freak out.145

She will, I giggled in my head.146

"Everyone's here Gavin." Malakai's deep voice boomed form behind me. I didn't even notice him step out of the kitchen.147

"Thank you Malakai." Gavin said, not taking his eyes of Todd.148

"What?" Todd asked innocently, his violet eyes bright with excitement.149

"When I agreed to tow you around all day, I did not agree that I would bring you back in one piece." Gavin's voice was harsh, his eyes a light shade of gray. I didn't like when they got darker. He looked dangerous and my Gavin was no where near dangerous…was he?150

Not to you Anna, he thought. Never to you.151

So he was dangerous. But not to me. What is it that vampires do that's scary?152

I felt the blood drain from my face and a sickness in my stomach. Before I could realize what was going on, Gavin had me sitting in his lap in a kitchen chair.153

"Anna. Don't worry about that." He said softly, his arms holding me tight to his chest, my head tucked underneath his chin.154

How could I be so stupid to forget that vampires drink blood? Human blood. Apparently Gabby had thought of this because she was afraid Todd was going to eat her. Was she not bothered at all by that?155

"She is, but she trust us. Don't you trust me Anna?"156

"Of course I trust you. I just don't want you…killing innocent people."157

"Anna, honey." He cradled me tighter to him and I felt his lips kiss my the top of my head. "We don't kill humans. Most of my kind don't. It's far to risky. Besides you have nothing to worry about. My coven only feeds from willing subjects. They can't even feel when their bitten."158

When their bitten. How nice. Ugh, my stomach churned at the thought of Gavin tearing into someone's neck. How could anyone be willing to do that?159

I felt him sigh underneath me. I'm sorry I'm a monster. I can't live off of anything else. Would you rather me starve?160

You said you can never die.161

I can't. But if I don't feed then there's no blood in my body. And without blood, my muscles won't react. I'll be alive, but I won't be able to move much. It leaves me weak and confused. Would you rather me be that way?162

Of course not, I whispered, feeling ashamed for even having him consider it.163

I closed my eyes and relaxed in his arms. I missed this. How every night in my dreams, he would hold me and tell me he loved me. Everything was less complicated and it was just us and no one else. I miss it already, even though it happened just last night.164

My nose was still all stuffy and I was coughing every once in a while. My stupid cold was still with me. I wish I could be all super ninja like and kick the cold's butt.165

Gavin laughed silently and tilted my head up to kiss my forehead. His lips were cool and his breath blew out onto my face. It was so alluring and made my mind relax. It was so cold when I breathed it in that it cleared my stuffed nose like Vick's would. You know that narsty stuff people rub under their noses. Yeah, I got something better.166

"You are so silly." He exclaimed.167

"Your mom's silly." I countered, feeling a little embarrassed. I wish I could have privacy in my own head.168

"It's not something I can turn off." He said softly.169

"I know." I breathed and he kissed the tip of my nose then the corners of my mouth. I wish he would kiss my lips.170

"Ugh, get a room." I heard Todd say.171

Gavin looked up, his eyes dark. "One to lock you up in?"172

Todd chuckled. "Lighten up Gramps."173

"Gavin." I whispered and he looked down at me, all of the black drained from his eyes.174

"Yes?" he asked, kissing my eyebrow.175

"Don't you have a meeting to go to?" I reminded him.176

"Ah, yes I do." He said, standing up and snaking his arm around my waist.177

"Can't we just fight those bastards already?" Todd asked, like a little kid asking for candy.178

"Your not ready to fight yet. Your far to young." Gavin explained, guiding us towards the basement door.179

"Dude come on, I can kick your ass in less than a second." He snickered. "Gramps."180

Gavin sighed impatiently. "One more time Todd. Just one more."181

I smiled as Todd shut up and watched Gavin's face turn up into a triumphant smile.182

We walked down into the basement where I had spent many nights before. It was finished with black carpet and red painted walls. There was a pool table, foosball table and giant stereo system and it usually had a long white couch in the middle with a flat screen TV up on the wall. But now the couch was gone and all the table games were pushed against the walls to make room for a huge table that fit around twenty people.183

People were already sitting in the chairs. Some of them I knew, some I didn't. Before I could take anything in I was picked up and spun in circles, while getting the life crushed out of me.184

"Anna! I've been so worried about you! I tried to catch Nolan, I really did!" He exclaimed, still crushing me against his chest.185

"Caleb she can't breath." Gavin said, worry in his voice.186

"Oh." Caleb dropped me and his big hands held me around the waist to steady me. I coughed and looked up at his tall figure.187

"Thanks for keeping me safe." I choked out.188

His hand gently rubbed my back as I coughed. "Sorry Ann."189

I sighed and then smiled. "Yeah…you dirty mongrel you."190

He raised his eyebrows at me.191

"So I was talking to Gabby and she was like, yeah Caleb seems to be acting awful wolfish with the ladies lately."192

His eyes narrowed into slits.193

I smiled even wider. "So I said, yeah but it only happens once every full moon though. Didn't we Gab?"194

I looked at Gabby and she smiled. "Yeah then we started talking about how you wolf down your food all the time."195

Caleb rolled his eyes. "You two know, don't you?"196

"Know what?" We said in unison.197

"I hate you guys." He said flatly.198

We busted out laughing and Caleb crossed his arms over his big chest and huffed like a little kid.199

"Aw! Caleb! I don't care if you turn into a big dog." I exclaimed, hugging him around his waist.200

He hugged me back and I snuggled into his big chest. There was just so much of him. No wonder all his friends and family were just as big as he was. They were all werewolves. Big wolves equal big people.201

"You really don't care?" he asked gently and I shook my head.202

"Nope, my boyfriend is a vampire. I can't really be judgmental."203

He laughed deep in his chest and it shook me. He crushed me harder and I choked as my air supply was cut off.204

"Caleb." I managed to breath out.205

"Oh sorry. I forget that I can break you." He chuckled.206

Gavin hissed quietly next to me.207

Caleb looked at him. "You I never would Gav. I'm still working on controlling my strength." Then he looked back at me and smiled. "I can pick up a car."208

I smiled, excited with him. "No way. You have to show me some time!"209

He nodded enthusiastically and looked at Gabby. "You don't mind either, do ya?"210

She wrinkled up her nose. "Just don't pee on my carpet."211

He laughed at hugged her too, but careful not to squeeze to hard. Then he punched fist with Todd. "So dude, I almost had Nolan, he was right there!"212

"Dude, I wish I could've been there! We totally would have kicked his ass." Todd just as excited as Caleb was about fighting Nolan. I saw no problem with him. He seemed perfectly fine to me.213

"Psh, Nolan is the most annoying vampire I've ever met." Todd countered my thoughts.214

"I know of another." Gavin mumbled as he towed me to a chair at the table. Gabby sat next to me and I looked at her.215

"So, you and Todd." I stated.216

"What's that suppose to mean?" she asked.217

"Nothing, but the fact that you two have big fat crushes for each other."218

"Do not!"219

"You know the only reason he was assigned your watcher was because you’re his main lady don't you?"220

"We don't have some freaky bond like you and your freaky boyfriend."221

"Do too. Ask him yourself."222

"I will!" She turned to Todd and he smiled.223

"Yup." Was all he said.224

"Ugh! Stay out of my head!" She crossed her arms and sunk down into her chair.225

…..226

The whole meeting was boring and about how Nolan was on some chick named Eleanor's turf. But I found out that Nolan was Gavin's "vamp child", as in he made Nolan into a vampire a while back. And my blood was just as attractive to him as it was to Gavin because of this. Something about vampire's find there mates when a human nears their eighteen birthday and gives off a scent that only their vampire can smell. Since Gavin turned Nolan, he was smelling me too.227

I don't know what all of this meant. I was to busy playing thumb war with Gabby and cracking quiet jokes about Caleb about his werewolf-ness while he was right next to me. He would just ruffle my hair and keep listening. His fist would clench and unclench whenever Nolan's name was mentioned and he would curse under his breath and tell himself to chill. My poor buddy.228

Gavin and Malakai talked the most and the others would give in their opinions or fight tactics. Some of them were just as big as Caleb and his father and some were extremely pale and beautiful like Gavin and Todd. Weren't vampires and werewolves suppose to be enemies? But here they are working together. Odd if you ask me. But I was new to all this so what did I know?229

Supposedly these were all leaders of some sort of "sub covens". Whatever that meant. They were all male, so did that mean that there were no such thing as vampire and werewolf girls, or that they just weren't allowed to be leaders. Sexist pigs.230

But the meeting ended after what seemed like forever and when I stood up my back hurt. I felt tired and I kept yawing. But I was determined to stay awake so I could get all of my questions answered. And I mean all of them.231

"We're going now." Gavin whispered in my ear. His breath tickled and relaxed me even more. But no! I will prevail and stay awake!232

Gabby didn't seem to be having a problem. Her and Todd were spinning around in the chairs, laughing and having fun. They were so cute together.233

"Come on Todd, lets answer their questions." Gavin said, then looked at Caleb. "Would you mind coming too?"234

Caleb nodded and we all headed up stairs, leaving the rest of the vampires and werewolves downstairs. We went into the living room and Caleb plopped down into a big arm chair while Todd and Gavin sat on the couch. I pulled Gabby down on the floor with me before she could sit anywhere else.235

"Butthead," she murmured.236

"Love you too." I countered.237

"Okay." Gavin put his hands together and leaned on his knees as well as Todd. Caleb was all chilled and laid back. Hehe, I love my Caleb. "Fire away."238

I sat and thought for the best one. "So you drink blood. Explain that process."239

Gavin sighed and I knew this was something he'd rather me not know, but he would never say no to me. "Under Eleanor's law, we can't feed from an unwilling human. Eleanor is our leader. She founded our coven of vampires and werewolves alike. She's a very old, very powerful vampire and is the sister of Reedrek. Nolan is under Reedrek's law and I guess you could call them the bad guys. They feed from whoever they want and sometimes end up killing innocent people. Their all out of control and put both of our species at risk of being found out."240

"But you have humans you feed from that know." I said.241

"Yes, their like vampire assistants I guess you could say. Their sworn to secrecy are assigned to a vampire. Like I have three and Todd has one. The older you get the more blood you need. Like I need a full body of blood and Todd only needs a little because he's still slowly burning his own blood he had before he was turned. It burns slow and is usually gone after the first hundred years. So I feed from three because I have to take a certain amount from each so they stay safe. They get paid greatly for their services and they can't even feel it when it happens."242

"Why?" I asked.243

"Because our saliva is a numbing and healing sedative. We take the blood we need and the wound is healed as soon as it was opened. No harm done."244

"How do you make a vampire?" Gabby asked, almost excited. Todd laughed and Gavin didn't approve but answered anyways.245

"There are tiny holes at the ends of our canines that we can control when our venom is secreted. Once the venom enters your body the process begins. The more venom the faster the change."246

"What's it feel like?" she asked, looking at Todd.247

His face scrunched up. "You don't wanna know. Trust me."248

She shrugged it off and I started thinking about movie myths.249

"So allergic to garlic?" I asked.250

"Nope." Todd said, popping the "p".251

"Crosses?"252

"Nope."253

"Do you have a reflection?"254

"Yup, except when we're in the sun. Then we have no form at all."255

"Why?"256

"We still don't know." Gavin said, answering before Todd could. "The humans who have seen it think we're being burned by the sun and blown into ash. It looks like it, but in reality we just become invisible."257

"So no coffins, but you can sleep?"258

"Yes we sleep. We don't have to sleep every night though. Maybe once or twice a week to regenerate out bodies. They need rest because of the speed me move at."259

"Which is how fast?"260

"Faster than your eyes can even begin to comprehend." His voice was behind me now and I jumped. He was no longer in front of me. I turned my head to look up at him but I heard him clear his throat in front of me once more. When I looked there he was, casually lounging back on the couch.261

I smiled. "Awesome. So hearing and eyesight is better too?"262

"Yes."263

"Why?" I asked.264

Gavin gave a tight smile. "To hunt our prey."265

He waited while that slowly sank into my mind. Their prey. We were their prey.266

"Yes. We can see, hear, and smell better than humans. We move faster and are incredibly strong. Just like Caleb, I can lift a car over my head with one hand with ease. We're exceptionally beautiful to humans as well. Our very scent and breath allures you. Your easy prey because we can be so very convincing. Hearing and speaking in your mind is just a bonus. To lure you in."267

I gulped audibly and he tried to smile. "But my species had become far more civilized over the centuries. You have nothing to worry about. Even the out of control ones of my kind rarely kill humans. Why would we kill you when your our only food source?"268

"Can't you drink animal blood?"269

He scrunched up his nose in disgust. "It's disgusting. Besides, it doesn't hold our thirst for very long. But yes, I suppose some vampires who can't handle the act of taking blood from humans do. Or they get blood from blood banks if their close enough."270

"Why don’t you?"271

"Because I'm old and need human blood straight form the vein."272

"Basically he's saying it taste way better. Why would you eat bread and water when you could have a fucking prime rib and a beer?" Todd said and I smiled.273

"Wait Todd." Gabby said and he looked over at her. "You two keep saying you couldn't tell Anna because she's under eighteen. What about me? I'm old enough and I'm your…mate." She had trouble saying it out loud even though she knows it's true.274

His face was apologetic. "Gavin thought it would be better if you two could go through this together. So I had no choice but to wait. I kind have to do what he says."275

"Why?" she asked.276

"He's higher up and older than me. If I break his rules, I'm breaking Eleanor's law and if I do that the consequences are pretty damn harsh."277

"What about eye color?"278

"We don't know what determines that either. I originally had brown eyes." Gavin said.279

"So is there such thing as a pureblood vampire?" I asked.280

"Hardly, we're dead so we cannot reproduce. But some like to say their pure blood if their connected to an old bloodline. Which we all are, but only the powerful ones are recognized. Now werewolves can be purebloods. Like Caleb."281

I looked at Caleb and he smiled, excited it was his turn. "Yeah. My dad's line goes way back and so does my moms. You see male werewolves are basically big, overgrown looking wolves, but female werewolves just look like regular wolves. Pureblood werewolves are immortal like vampires and half-bloods aren't. So I can never die."282

"Ha! That's great! I mean, we'll always be best friends then." I said.283

If I wasn't paying attention I wouldn't have seen Caleb's eyes flick to Gavin's. "Yeah, we will be."284

Always something I don't know about going on. "So do you have to drink blood to?"285

Caleb laughed. "Eww no. We eat food. Just a lot. We have to constantly eat all the time, because if we don’t our muscles, just like vampires will shut down. We move as fast as them in wolf form and we have heightened senses too. We're natural born enemies so we're equipped to catch and kill them. But over the years our species began to get along. It's pretty awesome."286

"Totally."287

"Alright, I think that’s enough questions for tonight. I need to get you back to your mother Anna. Same for you Gabby."288

Gabby rolled her eyes and I heard her murmur, hobo.289

I laughed, but agreed because I was tired. Looking out the window I saw it was dark. Time flew by today. Okay I did like not wake up until three in the afternoon. But whatever.290

Gavin helped me up and we said goodbye to Malakai and Caleb promised to show me how he could pick up a car soon. I laughed and agreed.291

Back in the car Todd drove and Gabby sat in the front seat with him. Gavin sat in the back with me and cradled me in his lap. He ran his fingers through my hair and began humming in my ear instead on in my head. I felt so comfortable and relaxed, his aroma filling my senses. I was asleep before we even got back to my house.