The Hidden World

~Chapter 1~1

Samantha propped her legs up on the table sinking down in her seat wearing a turquoise belly shirt, showing some of the lily tattoo on the lower left of her stomach and a belly ring with aced wash skinny jeans with low top converse. She pulled a black switch blade out from the pouch around her ankle, a tattoo on top of both of her hands of flowers and other intricate designs, it had assassin inscribed in white on the black handle and three diamonds on either side of the blade, she stuck it into the arm of her chair and chuckled when Leonardo gave her, ‘the look’.2

“Put that thing away.” He ordered his hair pointing in every direction, he was wearing a Vans t-shirt, and tan slacks with a pair of work boots.3

“What’re you? My dad? Hell no. So, nope.”4

He just rolled his eyes and looked down at Alyssandria, who had shrunk down into her seat lowering her head so her black hair made curtains around her petite face, she was wearing beige stretch cargo capri's and a white tank top. Samantha frowned and put her blade away and stood stretching making her shirt inch its way up her stomach more, “Sorry Aly. Anyway I'm gonna go look around.” She said walking off. She came to a book shelf and pulled out an Edgar Allen Poe book flipping through the pages, looking for The Raven. Leonardo watched as she disappeared around the corner and then looked back at Alyssandria and hesitated, “Hey, Aly, you never told me what your dad did to you…”5

Alyssandria grimaced, and said “Well, when I was s-seven, h-he started beating me, and m-my mom just ignored it. And Rodel, m-my brother, was the only one that s-stood up for me. And just t-two years ago, before I met you Sammy and Zane, he…he” tears started to fall down her cheeks at the memory, Samantha was coming back with her nose in the book, she looked up and narrowed her eyes at Leonardo, “What did you do?” she walked over to Alyssandria and sat down on the arm of her chair rubbing her back shushing her, “It’s okay. Nothings gonna happen to you. I swear.” A tall man with dark hair and dark eyes walked up a drunken grin on his face, “Hey,” he said to Alyssandria and Samantha, “You two lesbians?” he smiled a toothy smile showing a pair of yellowing teeth “’Cause I'd like to see you guys gettin’ a lil action”. Samantha bobbed her head a smirk on her face and stood, Alyssandria looked up at her, her eyes wide, “You know what?” Samantha said standing in front of him putting her hands on her hips, “I can't stand guys like you.” She said poking his chest. “And no…we're not.” She said getting closer to him her lips just a few inches away from his. “If you want some real ‘action’ meet me in the back alley in a few. If you catch my drift.” She said laying her hands on his shoulders closing her eyes and breathes, “If that’s okay with you?” He grabbed her butt, and she jumped a little but kept her place.6

Leonardo looked everywhere but at Samantha and saw Zane standing there his eye twitching, clutching drawing books in a pair of sweat pants and a white V neck shirt, his hair going from a dark brown, almost black, roots lightening into a almost white blonde to the tips, the back of his hair messy, and the front combed to curve just across the blood red eye, the aqua blue eye twitching. Samantha turned back around her cheeks a light pink, and wiggled her hips in front of him then walked back to sit down. Zane started to twitch and shuddered, “I wish I never had to see that.” He walked over to Alyssandria and laid across her lap taking her glasses off and putting them on himself blinking a few times, “How, the hell do you see through these things?” his hands above him waving trying to see them, he looked over and rolled off her lap and hit his chin on the table and bellowed, “OWWIE! THAT HURT!” he was laying face down in the carpet. Alyssandria giggled and tried to pick him up, but he wiggled away from her and wiggled across the floor to a table of girls and jumped up, “Hey, there, lil ladies.” He said putting on a bad western accent and put his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his palm and made the table flip over and he fell over again, there coffees spilling all over them, they screamed and he chuckled, “Whoopsies.” He said touching his lip ring and wiggled it back and forth, and skipped away rocking his head back and forth and laid down on the table rocking his head back and forth mumbling to himself then goes into a little outburst yelling, “NO, DON’T CUT ME OPEN DOCTOR!” The manager walked over looking down at the little group who were holding their sides laughing. “Excuse me but if you don't stop I'm going to have to ask you to leave.” She said putting her hands on her hips. Zane looked up at her his eyes wide, “What’re you sexist?! You mad because I’m more of a man then you?!” The woman’s eyes widen and her mouth dropped open, and she pointed to the door, “Get. Out!” Zane jumped up and nodded, “Yes, ma’am sir…or is it sir ma’am?”7

“Get out!”8

Samantha snickered and stood and stretched, “Well, that was interesting…haven’t seen a man-whore before. But…” she said looking the woman over, “That wasn’t really on my bucket list.” She jerked her head to the side for Leonardo and Alyssandria to come with them; they stood Alyssandria in a fit of giggles and Leonardo trying to be a gentleman, not laughing at all. When they got outside Leonardo busted out laughing walking up to Samantha’s Blue Mustang Convertible and jumped over the door and into the front seat. Zane opened the door for Alyssandria and bowed, “And that’s how you get kicked outta the book store,” he said and Alyssandria giggled and slid into the car, and mumbled, “What if we didn’t want to get kicked out?” Zane cocked an eyebrow and slid in next to her, “Huh? Never thought of it that way…oh well we weren’t gonna stay here very long any way’s.” Samantha waited a few seconds, trying to remember something but shrugged and finally opened the door and got in putting her keys in the ignition and sped down the road, “I don’t care what you say…that was funny as hell. It was too much damn fun.” Zane gestured to Samantha, “See? She doesn’t care.” 9

Alyssandria giggled and nodded, “I see, but I like book stores. I wanted to stay at least past nine.” Zane shrugged not knowing what to say about that and squinted up at the sun, the sun irritating his eyes, “Damn, sun.” 10

“Hey, at least you don’t burst into flames like fully fledged vampires. You little half-breed you.” Samantha said with a chuckle looking in the rear-view mirror. Zane scoffed, “All, Lewis’s fault.” He stuck his tongue out and yawned. “He just had to find my mom and have me and Salice. Speaking of her…I wonder if she’s a stripper yet.” He thought for a second then shuddered at the picture of his sister in hooker clothes. “I wouldn’t doubt it.” Leonardo said putting his hands behind his head shutting his eyes. Zane started bouncing up and down in his seat stopping every few seconds doing a pose then he stuck his head out the back window and started singing, “FREE AS A BIRD! As? HA! That sounds like AS- AUGH! FLY IN MY MOUTH FLY IN MY MOUTH!” he screamed at the top of his lungs making Samantha swerve the car a little, he rubbed his tongue with his sleeve turning it a little red, “I fink ith beeding! ITH IH BEEDING?!” he said his tongue hanging out of his mouth. “Agh! Zane! That’s so gross!” Alyssandria said barely over a mumble. Zane swung his head over his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. “Yuth?” Leonardo opened his eyes and looked back at them and grinned, “Play nice you two.” Zane blushed a little and sucked in a breath and bit his tongue, “AUGH! MY TONGUE IT NEEDS TO BE SURGECLY REMOVED!” he fell over and laid his head in Alyssnadira’s lap, “Hey, toots, you wanna play doctor?” he asked wiggling his eyebrows but his cheeks turned a darker shade of pink. 11

Alyssandria giggled and blushed pushing his head off her lap, “No,” she smiled at him and shook her head looking out the window. Zane stuck out his lower lip and pocked Samantha on the shoulder, “Hey, you Blondie, can we get Taco Bell?” 12

“If you poke me one more time I will break that finger from your hand.” Samantha said sweetly, “Got it?” Zane pursed his lips and poked her again, “Poke, hehehehe…” Samantha took one hand off the steering wheel and reached back for him, Zane jumped back and cowered into the corner, “No, mommy I dun wanna see you like that again. IT BURNS!” Samantha’s mouth dropped open and hit Leonardo on the arm to wake him up, “Wha-what?” he asked confused. 13

“Take the wheel. I’m gonna teach our little buddy here to shut it or I’ll shut it for him.” Samantha said glaring at him through the rear-view mirror; Leonardo shook his head and rolled over, and yawned, “Too tired. I will in the next two hours.” 14

“Just leave him alone, Sammy, he’s just trying to lighten everything up.” Alyssandria said a little defensively. Samantha turned her glare to Alyssandria and softened her eyes, “Fine,” she grumbled, “and yes!” she said when she saw Zane’s mouth open, “We can get Taco Bell.” Zane punched his fist in the air and wiggled his butt in the seat. “Taco Bell, Taco Bell, that’s where all the poor people go!” he sang over and over again until they got there.15

They got to the pull-in and Samantha rolled the window down and Zane crawled to the front sticking his head out the window. “Yeah, do you sell surgery tools?”16

“Uh, sorry, what?” she asked confused.17

“Do. You. Sell. Surgery. Tools?” he asked slowly.18

“No, sir, we don’t this it Taco Bell…” 19

“Oh, this is Taco Bell I thought this was Fuck Me Bell!” He let out a high pitched squeal and Samantha pushed him back and laughed. “Sorry about that. 20

We’d like six tacos with lettuce tomatoes and cheese.”21

“Uh, okay. That will be five thirty four. Drive around.” 22

“’Kay thanks.” She said driving around and stopping at the window turning back at Zane, “Fuck Me Bell?” she asked cocking an eyebrow. Zane shrugged and wiggled his shoulders and started singing, “Closer, come closer.” He said putting his hand behind his head and kissed at her, Samantha rolled her eyes and turned back around and handed the lady the money and took the food and drove off and parked in a space. Zane took two, Alyssandria took one, Leonardo took two and Samantha took one. Leonardo sleepily ate his tacos and Zane ate his quickly, and then started to hiccup, 23

“Oh,” hiccup, “shit!” he said.24

“Oh, shit it right. He’s gonna make something retarded out of that now.” Samantha said taking a bite of her taco. Alyssandria giggled again, and patted him on the back. “This,” hiccup, “really,” hiccup, “sucks,” hiccups, “AS!” he yelled and hiccupped again. Samantha chuckled, “That’s what you get for eating so fast smart-one.” She said tapping her temple with her finger taking the last bite of her taco. “But,” hiccup, “it,” hiccup, “was,” hiccup, “so,” hiccup; “GOOD!” he said smiling a toothy smile and grew out his fangs. Alyssandria jumped and put her hand over her chest her heart beating fast. Zane immediately grew his fangs back in and his eyes grew wide, “Sorry, sorry, Al Pal. Didn’t mean to scare you like that.” He said putting his hand on her shoulder. She breathed a sigh and nodded, “I-it’s okay. I’ve had worse.” Samantha glared back at her, “Don’t talk like that,” Samantha said. 25

Alyssandria shrugged not looking up her hair falling in her face; Zane pushed her hair behind her ear, “it’s okay Alz. Nothing’s gonna happen.” He said smiling. “I’m only half a vampire! I can control myself!” He smiled broadly. “You happy?” he asked putting his finger at the corners of her lips and pushes them up, “Happy, happy, happy.” he chanted. Samantha chuckled shaking her head and looked over at Leonardo, “Hey, Leo,” she whispered in his ear. He rocked his head to the side and blinked slowly, “Mommy?” 26

Zane snickered and threw his head back letting out a loud laugh. Leonardo shot up his eyes wide, “Wha- Damn it you guys!”27

Alyssandria giggled and yawned stretching, “Can we get a hotel now?” she asked rubbing her eyes. Samantha nodded still smiling and revved the engine and quickly drove down the street. 28

She parked in a space and got out opening the door for Zane and Alyssandria. Leonardo just jumped over the door again, “I swear, Leo, if you scratch my car, I will kill you.” Samantha threatened. Leonardo chuckled and almost fell but caught himself before he hit his face on the concrete. Zane jumped on Leonardo’s back and grabbed his collar, “Get along lil dawgie! Literally, you little werewolf.” He said and let out a high pitched giggle, Leonardo stood up straight and Zane fell off his back and landed on his butt. “Ow! I need surgery! I BROKE MY AS!” Alyssandria giggled and helped him up, 29

“Hey, my as hurts…wanna massage it for me?” he asked her wiggling his eyebrows. Alyssandria let go of him and he hit his head on the ground, and moaned, “Ow…” 30

Alyssandria jumped and covered her mouth, “I-I’m so sorry!” she said and helped him up again. Samantha held her sides from laughing, “I’m not. That was hilarious. Anyways c’mon.” Samantha said walking through the door, Leonardo dragged his feet and Alyssandria was trying to drag Zane through the door who was thrashing and throwing a fit, “No! Mommy! I hate hotels! They make me see dead people! AUGH!” he said when he saw a boney woman, “See! ZOMBIE!” he jumped and crawled under the rug, from the waist up was under the rug his butt up in the air. 31

“Hey, how much for two rooms?” Samantha asked the man behind the counter Leonardo was hanging on her trying to sleep. Alyssandria grabbed Zane by the ankles and tried to pull him back out, “What’re you doing?!” 32

“No! I DON’T WANNA SEE THE SCARY ZOMBIE LADY!” The woman rolled her eyes and walked out, Zane turned around under the rug and stuck his head out, watching the lady walk away, “Damn she ain’t go no ass!” he said cupping his hands around his mouth in her direction. She looked over her shoulder her hand on her hip and then strutted out. 33

Alyssandria rolled her eyes, “She’s just a little slut.” She said with a giggle. 34

Samantha walked over to Alyssandria and Zane, “C’mon, we got our rooms.” She said picking Zane up by the elbow. “Aly you're staying with me and Zane’s staying in a room with Leo.” Zane looked over at Leonardo and wiggled his eyebrows, “How’s about you and me play strip poker. I get your clothes!” he said running for the elevator, brushing past people as he went. They got in the elevator and a woman and man in the back walked to the front there floor coming up. One was tall with very pale skin with waist length mahogany hair with a aqua blue tube top and knee length cut-off jeans, the male also had pale skin with shaggy dark garnet hair that came to his ears he was wearing a un-tucked pin-striped button-down shirt with a pair of denim jeans. Leonardo, and Alyssandria stiffened smelling the scent of vampires, Zane and Samantha also stiffened feeling a lot of power coming from the other two in the elevator, the elevator rang and Alyssandria jumped, then sucked in a breath and let out a shaky chuckle when the two walked out. “Did everyone feel that?” Leonardo asked. Everyone nodded sternly, even the joking Zane. “Vampires.” Zane breathed and let out a shaky laugh and asked, “Sh-should we, you know, go to another hotel….?” 35

Samantha shook her head, “Then we'd be classified as weak. And the hell I would want to be under that classification.” Samantha said smugly. 36

“I wouldn't mind.” Alyssandria said playing with her lower lip. Zane shook his head taking her hand to make sure she doesn't fall, “Nah, three against one…that isn't really gonna work. Sorry Al.” She sighed and jumped again when they got to their floor. Great, she thought, one floor away from the full fledged vampires. They got off and walked down the hall, Samantha glanced down at the number and stopped in front of a door, the guys kept walking, until they got to room 609 all the way down the hall, Zane rubbed his hands together, “Good, now no one can hear you scream with pain…I mean they won't be able to…IS THAT A UNICORN!” he squealed and pointed down the hall and ran into the room flying into the room closes to the door. 37

Leonardo shook his head, “It’s kinda hard to lie when unicorns are real smart ass…” he said shutting the door behind him.38

Zane ran out of his room, in a pair of old cut-off sweat and no shirt, a scar coming from shoulder down to his opposite waist and another one on the other shoulder making an x on his chest, and into the kitchen then out to the den on the couch then the recliner chair then into Leonardo’s room then out then back into his room. Leonardo looked up from his seat in the wooden chair at the computer reading the news, wearing night pants also without a shirt, showing the tattoo of a wolf with wings, a scar over its eye and a crystal necklace on his side, drinking coffee. “What're you doing?” Zane stopped mid-step and looked over at Leonardo then stood straight, “I do this every time I'm in a new place.” He said a broad smile on his face then slowly goes into a frown, “Is that a problem?” he asked furrowing his eyebrows. Leonardo shook his head and read the title of a video then read it out loud for Zane to hear, “Does this sound demonic to you? ‘Woman found slaughtered in central park’” Leonardo asked looking over his shoulder at Zane, who was now comfortably lying on the couch. Zane shrugged, “If ya ask me every little thing would sound demonic. But…since we're just looking for one particular Demon I have not one clue on how he kills. So…dunno.” He said shrugging again. Leonardo nodded looking back at the computer then turned if off frustrated, “Gah, damn. I'd like to help people but I can't. Werewolves have to be what humans, fucking, think they should be. Blood thirsty monsters.” He practically yelled. 39

“Well, it’s not like vampires’ lives are some frolicking through the flowers either. We have the reputation that people say we're blood thirst monsters too. Even though we are. But they could be friends with one and they'd never know. Even though it’s against the rules to have a vampire as a friend…or even date one…” 40

“Yeah, I hate it when ever living mythical creature reminds me…’No, hybrids, you can only marry in your own species.’ I mean between you and me, what if someone likes someone that’s not in there species? What're they gonna do? Send assassins out to kill them?” He laughed but this one was without humor, “we're friends with an ex assassin.” 41

“Hm…I’m gonna use you as an example…if that’s okay. Which is ‘cause everything I do is okay…with me that is. But let’s say you and….” Zane said then paused pondering on whom he should use tapping his chin, “Sammy.”42

“Me and Sam?” Leonardo cocked an eyebrow at him. 43

“Yeah, now shut up and let me finish. Okay you and Sammy get married have a kid named either Tookie for a girl or Toenail for a guy.” 44

Leonardo chuckled, “Yeah, Zane, very classy.” 45

Zane chuckled and nodded, “I know, but you and Sammy get married have a kid named either Tookie or Toenail. Or Tooknail if it’s a trans. They send assassins after you they kill you off one by one and then no more Leo, Sammy or Tooknail.” Zane finished shaking his head. 46

“Okay, thank you for the example and all,” Leonardo said sarcastically, “But why’d you have to use me and Sam for an example?” 47

“Because I wanted to kill you two!” He said his eye twitching then he cackled and started running around again. “Yeah…that’s just terrific. I guess.” Leonardo said getting out of the chair to sit on the couch. Someone knocked at the door and Leonardo muted the TV and answered, it was Samantha and Alyssandria.48

“We leavin’ now?” He asked cocking his head slightly. Samantha shook her head. 49

“No…the vampires from down stairs are in our room.” Leonardo gritted his teeth and let out a growl. Zane came out of his room panting a little cocking 50

his head to the side, “What’s goin’ on?” 51

“Th-the vamps from d-down stairs are in our r-room.” Alyssandria said stumbling over her words. 52

“Uh, wh-hy?” Zane complained to keep from hissing. Zane sagged his head and walked out the door with Leonardo and down the hall. Samantha opened the door to their room and walked in with the guys, Samantha pulled her hat off and rubbed her long pointy ears. “Damn hat. Uh, Zane, Leonardo this is Falk and Zabrina, Falk, Zabrina, this is Zane and Leonardo.” Samantha introduced them, waving her hand still rubbing her red ears. Zane wiggled his fingers at them smiling happily. “Hiya! I’mma vampire too!” 53

Leonardo waved once, “Werewolf.” He said not looking at them. 54

Zabrina nodded, “Nice to meet you two.” Then looks at Alyssandria and Samantha, “You two didn’t tell us what you are.” She said cocking an eyebrow. 55

“Elf,” said Samantha in a tone that said isn’t it obvious. 56

“W-werewolf,” Alyssandria said shyly. 57

“Ah, very nice,” she said smiling and stands, and stuck out her hand for a hand shake from at least one of them. Zane grabbed her hand and shook it roughly. “Hiya there! BUDDY OLE PAL!” Zabrina’s eyes widen not expecting such a warm welcome and then smiled, “Uh, hi.” She replied with a smile. 58

“Hey.” Falk finally spoke his voice a little rough, being very uncomfortable being around a bunch of other creatures. Leonardo looked him over and nodded once crossing his arms over his broad chest not wanting to make friends with fully fledged vampires. “I know you guys don’t want to be here. But we sensed you alls power last night and…well,” Zabrina smiled sheepishly, “Do you think that would could join you?” A bright light came from the cracks of the bathroom door and a woman about average height with white blonde hair and silvery blue eyes wearing a light pink off-shoulder shirt and a pair of blue denim jeans walked out. “Angela? Really? The bathroom?” Leonardo asked cocking an eyebrow. Angela just shrugged and hugged Alyssandria, Zane, Leonardo then Samantha. “You guys should accept their offer. They can really help you.” She said sadly at the thought of someone getting hurt or even killed. “Who’re you?” Zabrina asked cocking an eyebrow. “Angela, Guardian Angel at your service.” Angela said giving her a tight hug and smiled at Falk, who automatically stood. “Oh, nice to meet you Angela.” Zabrina smiled down at her. 59

“Ah, you’re the motherly type. And you…you’re the fatherly type. You two are perfect!” Angela said happily clapping her hands once. Zane cocked his head to the side pursed his lips, and started to hum the Barney song rocking his head back and forth then screams and jumps, “BARNEY’S A RAPPEST?!” His eyes widen then he starts to suck his thumb laying his head on Alyssandria’s shoulder. “Ma I dun wanna get raped by a big purple and green…and yellow dinosaur!” He shot up straight his eyes wide and started to skip around Alyssandria pretending to throw flowers on her, “Look! Aly’s a princess! A pretty, pretty princess!” He gasps and stops skipping his eyes wide looking serious, Leonardo, Alyssandria, and Samantha’s eyes also widen as they look at Zane worried. A smile slowly creeps up his lips and squeals, “I WANNA BE PRINCESS AROURA!” he put both hands on his cheeks his mouth forming into a small ‘o’ shape then starts skipping around her again. Zabrina cocked an eyebrow, her grey-ish black eyes confused, she looked at Samantha, “I-is he okay?” Samantha watches Zane skip around Alyssandria and nods, “He was just dropped a little too much when he was a kid…” Zabrina furrowed her eyebrows, “I thought he was a vampire?” 60

“Only half,” Zane said, and stopped skipping a broad smile on his face, “Half vampire,” he said putting his hand to one side, “Half human,” he said putting his other hand to the side, then brought his hands together, “All in one.” He smiled and started to sing, “We’re all in this together, once we know, that we are, we’re all stars, and we see that, We’re all in this together, And it shows, when we stand, hand in hand, make our dreams come true!” Everyone in the room covered their ears at his high-pitched voice; even though he sounds much better then he wants people to think. Alyssandria grabbed Zane by the lips smiling, “Will you just stop.” She laughed. 61

“Sure,” he said from the corner of his mouth smiling down at her. “Just let go of meh lips please.” Zabrina and Falk looked at each other smiling, and then back at the group, “So..? Is this a yes or no?” Everyone looked at Angela, and she nodded ecstatically. “Then yeah.” Samantha mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. “We’re leaving tomorrow morning. Be ready.” She said. 62

“We. Should. Go. To. FUCK ME BELL!” Zane yelled jumping up and down shaking Alyssandria, “C'mon, c’mon! I’LL PAY!” “No!” Everyone said immediately.63

“How about a movie?” Zabrina offered.64

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!” Zane screeched. 65

“Dear, Lord. Can’t watch anything with Zane.” Samantha said with a chuckle. “That’s why we rent movies when he’s not around.” 66

“You rent movies when I’m not around?!” Zane asked frowning, “That’s not very nice.” Samantha shrugged nonchalantly, “What movie?” she asked running a hand through her hair.67

“How about Scream?” Leonardo asked looking around the group.68

“Why does it have to be a bloody movie?”Angela asked her eyebrows furrowed and lower lip sticking out.69

Samantha clapped, “Perfect...c’mon, Leo let’s go get the movie.” She said walking back to her room to get her money; she walked out waving the money, “I just realized something…am I the only one that works?”70

“I work…” Leonardo said.71

“Sleeping doesn’t count.” She said hitting him on the chest, he shrugged smiling.72

“You want us to come too?” Alyssandria asked.73

“Um…I don’t wanna leave Zabrina and Falk here by themselves…” She said looking at the sun, “And if we leave Zane here he’ll scare them off.”74

Alyssandria pursed her lips and nodded, giving them a small smile, “True…I’ll stay.” She smiled broader. Zane stuck his head in between Falk and Zabrina smiling, “It’s like a portrait.” Zabrina and Falk looked at him there eyebrows cocked.75

“You’ll get use to him.” Samantha said, “even though some of us haven’t after two years…let’s go!” She said grabbing Leonardo by the back of his t-shirt and out the door.76

Leonardo and Samantha came back an hour later, Zane and Alyssandria in the tiny kitchen watching videos on the laptop, Falk and Zabrina lying on the couch talking. Zane looked, “Fweeeeeeeee! They is home!” He said throwing the computer up in the air, and caught it. Alyssandria smiled at him, and then shook her head standing up, “What movie did you get?” She asked walking out of the kitchen, Zane behind her still holding the computer. 77

“Scream 2,” Leonardo said taking the DVD from Samantha and walking to the DVD Player, he looked at it for a second then turned around, “Does anyone know how to work it?”78

Alyssandria giggled, and Samantha rolled her eyes to the ceiling, “Give it to me.” She said walking over her hand out, he handed it to her. “Okay, Leo, watch me closely. You press the ‘open’ button. You put it in here, you press the ‘close’ button then you turn the TV on to Video 2 and you wait for the menu button to come up.” She said slowly. “Got it?” She asked, grabbing the remote and sitting down on the couch.79

“Got it!” He said sitting down next to her, draping his arms behind the couch, Zane and Alyssandria sat in the recliner chair together, Samantha smiled up at him, and pressed play.80

“No…no…no! Don’t go in there! Oh! She went in there…LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU! Oh…she didn’t look out behind her,” Zane yelled at the TV. 81

Samantha threw a pillow at him, and he caught it in his mouth, he took it out and made a face, “Taste like sand…mixed with a little salt.” He said with a nod, everyone looked at him, either there mouth slightly open or an arched eyebrow. “What?” He asked then someone screamed on the TV and made Alyssandria jump and start to shake; Zane put his arm around her, “It’s alright. It’s just a movie.” He said all the joking drained from his face.82

She nodded and stood, “I think I’m gonna go to my room…”83

“Want me to come with you?” He asked turning around in the recliner to watch her.84

She shook her head, “Just come get me when the movies over.” She said and disappeared into her room.85

When the movie was over Leonardo had fallen asleep on Samantha’s shoulder, Falk and Zabrina were standing up to leave, Zane was standing, too, turn off the DVD Player and walked back to Alyssandria’s room, “Hey.” He said sticking his head into her room, “The movies over.”86

“’Kay.” She said smiling up at him from over her book, she had changed, she was now wearing pajama pants and a black tank top.87

“What’re you reading?” He asked sitting on the edge of the bed.88

“The Scarlet Letter.” She said not taking her eyes from the pages.89

“Oh…cool…” He said lying down on the foot of the bed, putting his hands behind his head staring up at the ceiling.90

“Zane?” Alyssandria said finally breaking the silence, “Can I ask you something?”91

Zane rolled onto his side, “Sure thing. Shoot.”92

“I was wondering…what happened to your parents…?” She asked softly.93

Zane shuddered and sat up facing the door, getting ready to leave, images of his grandmothers body flashed through his head, tears welled up in his eyes.94

“Zane?” She asked crawling over to him, “You okay?” She asked sitting on her heels behind him.95

“Yeah,” he said blinking quick, “Um, I’m gonna go hunting.” He said standing up walking out the door, his head low and shoulder slumped.96

“Where you going?” Samantha asked from the couch.97

“Hunting.” He said grabbing his coat, then stopped, “Sam? Can you come with me?”98

Samantha looked at Leonardo worried then back at Zane, “Sure, Zane.” She said grabbing her coat on the way out the door. “Okay. What’s the matter?” Samantha asked turning in the driver’s seat outside the park.99

“Aly...” He trailed off.100

“Aly what?” She asked, furrowing her eyebrows.101

Zane kept his eyes on the dashboard, then he finally spoke after a few minutes, “She wants to know what happened to my parents.” He said glaring now.102

“Oh…is that bad?” She asked staring down at him, her electric blue eyes going from worry to curiosity.103

“I’m gonna go hunt. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He said getting out of the car walking into the forest.104

Zane sat on a bench waiting for someone or something to come by, a woman with a stroller walked by, Zane internally shook himself, I can’t kill a mother… he thought then remembered his own mother, that died giving birth to him. “Get outta my head you stupid memories.” He growled to himself, but the memories came anyway, these were the ones of him and Salice living with his grandmother.105

~106

“Salice, dear, would you be so kind as to help me set the table.” Grandmother Jakie said.107

“Yes, ma’am.” She said glaring at Zane, who was sitting in the middle of the floor staring off into space.108

“Zane,” his grandmother called, and he look up at her, “how was your day at school?” She asked carving the chicken.109

“Uh, it was okay. Felicia was there, and there was a new student.” He said in a bored voice, smiling at the picture of Felicia in his head.110

“You didn’t eat the new kid did you?” Salice asked sarcastically.111

Zane ignored her sarcasm shaking his head, “No. I didn’t. But I’m pretty sure you ate something but it sure wasn’t a person’s neck.”112

“Salice! Zane! Will you two stop it? I’m an old woman. I don’t think I can take this much longer.”113

“Sorry gramma.” Zane and Salice mumbled.114

“It is okay sweethearts.” She said giving them both a loving smike. “Now, let’s get dinner ready.”115

That night after dinner, Zane hadn’t fed in a four months, and all that he could remember was walking out of his room and into his grandmother’s room, his one aqua blue eye turned blood red then all he could hear was blood curdling screams coming from his grandmother’s mouth.116

~117

Zane grabbed the sides of his head and started to throw his head back and forth, tears welling up in his eyes, when the memories faded he stood up and ran into the forest pouncing on the first thing he saw, a deer, and started to feed. When he finished he threw it into the bushes, and whipped his mouth, slowly walking back to Samantha’s car.118

“Do you want something else to eat?” She asked, “McDonald’s? Wendy’s?”119

Zane looked up at her, and shook his slowly, “I’m not hungry.”120

“Are you sure…?” She asked, then laid her hand on his shoulder when he didn’t answer, “Zane, you’re scaring the crap outta me.” She said.121

Zane let out a dry chuckle, “My past…it wasn’t very good after Lewis left…” He said staring down at his hand.122

“What happened after Lewis left?” She asked.123

“We, me and Salice, went to live with my grandmother in Roma, Italy…” he trailed off, “I didn’t feed for months after Lewis left. Then one night, when I was starving, I went into my grandma’s room, and…and…” He sucked in a breath the rims of his eyes turning red. “I can’t tell Aly that…she wouldn’t talk to me ever again.”124

“Zane it’s not your fault that you…” she racked her brain for something to say that wouldn’t make him upset, “did that. It’s the way vampires live.”125

“I know…” He said getting frustrated, “I just…I dunno.” He said grabbing the knob on the bottom of the chair and pushed the seat back rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands.126

“You’re just depressed.” She said, she let out a humorless chuckle, “I would know.” She said running a finger over one of the scars on her wrist absentmindedly, “My parents’ death hit me pretty hard.”127

“So what did you do about it?” He asked, looking over at her, his eyes glassy.128

She grabbed her wrist then showed it to him, his mouth opened slightly, “I’m sorry Sammy but that was just stupid to do that.” He said staring at her 129

wrist.130

“I know.” She said rolling her sleeves down, “I thought I didn’t have anyone.” She said looking at him now, “But now I know I actually did. And I have more…you, Aly, Leo…and now Zabrina, and Falk.” She said with a smile and messed up his, already messy, hair.131

“Yeah, you better say that.” He said snapping his fingers, “Does this mean you’re not gonna beat me up anymore?” He asked his eyes lighting up.132

“I can’t promise it.” She said with a chuckle, and laughed louder when he crossed his arms in a pout. “We better get going.” She said revving the engine, driving quickly back to the hotel. “So what’re you gonna tell them when we go in?” She asked parking in a space.133

“Um…I was hungry and I haven’t fed in a few weeks?” He asked.134

Samantha pondered it, and nodded, “I guess that’ll work.” She said getting out of the car; Zane hesitated on the door handle, the pictures coming back, then opened it walking with Samantha up to their room.135

“How was hunting?” Leonardo asked looking away from the TV; Samantha jumped over the back of the couch next to him, “It was okay.” Samantha said lying on the couch putting her feet in his lap.136

“Yeah…very intense.” Zane said making a fist and put it over his chest.137

“Yeah, what he said.” Samantha said sitting up and reaching for the remote, but Leonardo held it away from her, she groaned and crawled across his lap and snatched it out of his hand, “Don’t make me hurt you.” She said pointing the remote at him, then at the TV changing it to Charmed. Leonardo groaned loudly, Samantha glared, “Aly! Charmed’s on!” She called. Alyssandria walked out of her room, her eyes wide, “When did you two get back?”138

“Just a few minutes ago.” She said kicking Leonardo when he tried to get the remote back.139

“Oh, okay.” She said softly and sat on the other end of the couch with Zane; Zane fidgeting a little.140

“The older sister scares me…what’s her name again?” Leonardo asked looking at the girls.141

“Prue.” Samantha said sitting up crossing her legs, keeping her eyes on the TV, a commercial came on and Samantha ran into her room and quickly changed into silk pajama pants and a tank top and ran back out jumping up and onto the couch again. She looked around, “Where’s the remote?” She asked looking at Leonardo, he waved the remote at her and she reached for it, he held it out again. “You little!” She said crawling across his lap then hit him with the remote when she got it, plopping down next to him smiling.142

Leonardo rubbed his cheek, “That hurt…” He said, kicking off his shoes and laying his feet on the coffee table. “Why do we have to watch a chick flick anyway?”143

“Because there are two ‘chicks’ here. One can kick your ass but chooses to be nice and the other can also kick your ass that will if you don’t stop complaining.” Samantha said patting him on the head, “Got it doggie?”144

“Got it elf butt.” He said.145

“Can I be a flying chick?!” Zane asked then whispered, “’Cause I heard chickens can’t fly.”146

Samantha and Leonardo looked at each other then; Samantha looked back at Zane smiling, “Of course you can…” She said, “You want your first flying lesson now or later?”147

Zane tapped his chin, “I choose later…” He said reading the message clear on her face.148

Samantha shrugged, “Suit yourself. I was gonna take you on an airplane…”149

“You were!” He said sitting up straight looking at her, “Can I take it back?!”150

“Nope…too late.” She said putting her hands behind her head staring at the TV.151

“Darn it.” He said crossing his arms.152

Alyssandria giggled, “She’s lying Zane.” She whispered in his ear.153

“Shhhh! He doesn’t know that.” Samantha said and Leonardo put his finger over his lips.154

Zane looked back and forth at them, “What is Aly!” He yelled and flew into the Alyssandria’s room.155

“This isn’t Jeopardy!” Leonardo called over his shoulder.156

“I wish.” Samantha said turning the TV off, the show finally over, “You going back to your room?” Samantha asked Leonardo walking into the small kitchen.157

“Nah, I’m thinkin’ about crashin’ here tonight…maybe you can get rid of that room and just pay for this one.”158

“Good idea.” She said putting the water down and walking out the door, and down the stairs.159

“I’m gonna come too.” He said standing up and walking out after her. Alyssandria just sat on the couch staring at the blank screen; she grabbed the 160

remote and turned on the TV, changing it to Crime Stoppers. 161

“Whatcaha watchin’ Aly Girl?” He asked walking back out of her room.162

“Crime Stoppers.” She said softly.163

“Ah, is that show any good?” He asked sitting down next to her.164

“Of course it is.” She said happily.165

“I guess I’ll take your word on it. I mean you have great taste.” He said laying his head in her lap; she blushed not know where to lay her hand, so she laid it on his arm.166

“Wow, you were right.” He said sitting up straight and stretching, “That was a good show.”167

Alyssandria curled up on the couch, smiling up at him, “Told you.” She said sweetly.168

“Aly…” Zane said her name slowly, “About earlier I’m-“ she cut him off with a wave of her hand.169

“It’s okay. You were hungry. I wasn’t going to stop you.” She said smiling up at him again.170

“It wasn’t that I was hungry…” He said staring at the blank screen.171

“Then why did you leave with Sammy?” She asked worried.172

“I wanted to talk to her ‘cause she’s been through hell too…” He said staring at the ground.173

“All of us have, Zane.”174

“Well, also because she’s pretty much your best friend.” He said this time looking down at her, “I didn’t want to tell you what happened in my past, because…” He breathed, and then Samantha and Leonardo came back in.175

“You and Leo are now staying in here.” Samantha said, “Go get your clothes packed, you’ll be taking my bed room, I’ll bunk with Aly.”176

“Can Zane bunk with me instead?” Alyssandria asked, a little annoyed that they came in at the wrong time.177

“You two better not play house.” Leonardo said laying his hands on Samantha’s shoulders wiggling his finger at them.178

Zane and Alyssandria looked at each other then blushed, “C’mon…” Zane whispered, “I’ll tell you while I get my clothes…” He said, “I’ll get yours too.” He said to Leonardo, also a little annoyed.179

They walked down the hall in silence, they stopped outside the door, and he swiped the card and opened the door for her, “Okay…” He said closing the door behind them, “Where do you want me to start?” He asked walking into his room.180

“From the very beginning…when you were born.” She said opening his drawers taking out some of his clothes and laying them on the bed.181

He shuddered, “Um…my mom was human, and my dad was a vampire…you know Salice was a full vampire…but I got the short end of the stick. Like I always do.” He said looking into the mirror a few seconds then started to take out his clothes tossing them on the bed, “My sister had a normal birth but mine killed my mom…”182

“How?” She asked, a lump in her throat.183

He hesitated a moment “Lose of blood.”184

Alyssandria cocked an eyebrow looking back at her, “How?” She asked again.185

“Um…well, I was born covered in blood…her blood.” He said sadly, his hands clamped on the dress making slight indentions.186

“Oh…Zane, I’m sorry.” She said walking over to him.187

“That’s not the worst…” He said his Grandmother’s screams echoing in his head.188

“What’s the worst?” She asked a little hesitant again.189

“When my mom died Lewis just abandoned us. So we went to Roma, Italy to live with our Grandmother.” He said gripping the table harder.190

“What happened to your grandmother?”191

“Well this was back in seventeen sixty three…” He said with a humors chuckle, “I bet you could picture how stupid I looked then…” He said the image of him at seventeen with shoulder length blonde hair, all pulled back in a small pony tail, “But I hadn’t fed in at least three months and I was starving myself to see how far I could go…so that night a few years after my grandmother took us in I fed off her and killed her too…”192

Alyssandria was standing behind him her fist over her heart, “Zane…” She mumbled.193

“I can still hear her screams in my head.” He said his eyes tearing up. “Then a few years before I met you all…” He said hesitating if he should go into any further detail; he laid his hand on his chest, glaring at his reflection in the mirror, accidently braking chips of wood off the dresser.194

“A few years ago?” She prompted.195

“Let’s get this stuff ready.” He said opening his drawers and throwing the clothes on the bed; Alyssandria nodded and backed up to Leonardo’s dresser.196

They packed the clothes quietly, Alyssandria sneaking looks up at Zane; he was just staring at the bags, then he put on a big smile, and finally looked at her, “Let’s go.”197

She gave him a half smile and put the bag on her shoulder, and walked back down the hall; when they got to the other apartment, Leonardo was sitting on the couch watching Law and Order and Samantha was behind it in a gray sports bra and black pants doing yoga; Samantha opened her eyes and smiled, “About time you two got back. We were about to order pizza. Whatcha want on it?” She asked taking out her cell phone.198

“Pepperoni, sausage, olives and extra cheese!” Zane said jumping up and down, clapping his hands.199

“Um…pepperoni…” Alyssandria said and thought, He made a quick recovery…200

Samantha looked over her shoulder at Leonardo, “What about you?”201

“Pepperoni and sausage.” He said keeping his eyes on the TV.202

“Okie dokie.” She said writing it down; then dialed the number. “Um yes, I’d like to place an order for delivery. Okay, one with pepperoni, sausage, olives and extra cheese.” She paused a minute looking down at the note pad, “Two, with pepperoni, three, pepperoni and sausage, and four, extra cheese. And that’s it.” She paused again listening to him repeat it back to her, “And how much would that be?” She listened a moment, “Thank you.” She said and hung up.203

“Leo!” She complained, “I don’t have any money can I use your credit card?”204

“Will it keep you from complaining so much?”205

“One less complaint.” She said with a smile, and took the card from him when he held it out to her. “And you all call me stupid.” She said walking into her, now her and Leonardo’s, room.206

Leonardo cocked an eyebrow and looked at Zane and Alyssandria; they shrugged and dropped the bags.207

“Sammy, you left your mat in the den.” Alyssandria said walking to her door and knocking.208

“Okay.” She said and walked out, “Thanks.” She said tossing the mat behind her, and ran at Leonardo knocking him off the couch, and wrestled him to the ground; Leonardo pushed her up and over his head with his feet slamming her on the ground. “Ouch…” She said rolling over onto her stomach 209

resting her chin on her hands. “That was fun.”210

Leonardo sat up holding his head; he looked at her, “Yeah, wonderful.” He said; his voice laced with sarcasm.211

“Oh, you know that was fun.” She said getting a little closer to him, “Buddy.”212

Alyssandria giggled and turned to Zane, whispering in his ear too soft for them to hear her, Zane burst into laughter, Leonardo and Samantha looked at them, “What?” They asked at the same time.213

“Nothing, nothing.” Alyssandria said waving her hand and pulling the laughing Zane into their room, grabbing his bag.214

Leonardo and Samantha cocked an eyebrow then looked at each other, there faces a few inches apart, they shrugged and stood, sitting back on the couch.215

Alyssandria and Zane were both laughing while they unpacked Zane’s clothes, “That was hysterical.” He said unpacking the last of his clothes.216

Alyssandria shrugged, “I think it was cute.” She mumbled sitting on the bed.217

“Well there are three kinds of cute…me cute, doggie cute, and kitty cute.”218

“Which one am I?” She asked giggling.219

“That depends…” He said falling onto the bed laying his head in her lap.220

“On what?”221

“Some would consider you kitty cute ‘cause you’re scared most of the time, and some could consider you doggie cute, ‘cause you have those puppy dog eyes.”222

“So…I’m both?” She asked cocking her eyebrow.223

“Yuppers.” He said smiling up at her.224

She smiled back down at him, her baby blue eyes twinkling; she bit her lip and looked out the window, feeling eyes on them, and saw a crow perched outside the window; her eyebrows furrowed and stood up closing the curtains roughly.225

Zane sat up looking at her his eyebrows furrowed, “What’s the matter?”226

“I don’t like crows…they scare me.” She said softly looking down.227

“Hm…maybe we can get Sammy to scare it off.” He said laughing.228

Alyssandria let out a shaken laugh and laid down on the bed next to him, “So…can you please tell me the end?” She asked.229

“I can…” He said sitting up and taking his shirt off now only wearing an undershirt; Alyssandria blushed and cocked an eyebrow.230

He stood up at the end of the bed, and pulled off the undershirt, and Alyssandria gasped.