Chapter 4

Four

When Kari came back to the apartment after she dug up the box from the ruins of her house, she immediately started to get ready to summon the Vampire Lords. But her patience with Vincent was starting to grow thin, his blood smelled different than when he left and knew he went to pick up some drugs.

The first glance she had when she first placed eyes on Vincent was that he had done drugs. Most humans don't realize it but it's almost a permanent marking on your system the moment the drugs enter the system.

Kari almost had half the heart to go over to the bar and tell Kyle that she thought Vincent started up on drugs but right now she had to get started. So she picked up her silver dagger that she bought just recently and a few minutes ago put a Vampiric spell on it while carving into the metal with one of her claws the symbol of the Vendetta as she sat on Vincent's bed, but before she could do anything else she had a knock on the door.

"Kari, can I have a word with you?" The voice asked.

"Sure Vincent, come on in the door's not locked." Kari sighed before quickly putting away her things and hid the bag underneath the bed just as the door opened.

"Sorry I've been such a jerk to you lately . . . " Were the words that came out of Vincent's mouth as soon as he had walked in and closed the door.

"It's alright . . . but I have some questions I need to ask you." Kari said as she pulled up a chair for Vincent which he gladly took.

"Throw them." Vincent said as he rose and dropped his arms on his lap, showing that he was ready for anything.

"You're doing drugs aren't you?" Kari asked, straight to the point, she was never someone to go around the bush as some might say.

"Why do you ask?" Vincent panicked.

"Because...you don't smell the way I remember . . . it smells like you're doing meth." Kari explained as she leaned forward a little bit.

"Wait . . . only vampires can . . . " Vincent started saying before he was interrupted.

"Smell human blood, I know that." Kari sighed. "And it's about time I tell you my oh so dark secret."

"What do you mean?" Vincent asked, a little confused.

"I'm a vampire." Kari answered, and to prove her point, she grew her fangs, thinking about a river of blood and blood curling screams.

Vincent's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates as he stood up and stumbled back all the way against the door, his mouth opening and closing as he was either lost for words or he was pissed cause his face started to turn red. "You're a what!?"

"I'm a vampire . . . that's my big secret from you Vincent." Kari sighed, her fangs going back to normal and she reached under the bed to pull her bag back out again.

"W-What are you doing?" Vincent asked, his hands looking for the door handle with fail.

"I'm calling the Vendetta . . . " She answered, pulling out the silver dagger as she stood up and walked to the opened wall by the dresser.

"How are you doing that and who in the hell is this Vendetta?" Vincent asked.

"They're Vampire Lords, they're the ones that set laws on vampires and punish those that break them." Kari explained as she cut open a finger and let the blood drip down her hand a little bit before she started writing on the wall with it. "They're more like a Vampire Council but they insist on being called Vendetta or Lords."

"You better find a way to get that off my wall! If my landlord saw that I'd be kicked out within a heart beat!" Vincent nearly yelled.

"It disappears when they arrive." Kari explained. "But bring me that book that's in my bag please."

Vincent hesitated but he did what he was asked since she was polite, but when he reached into the bag and grasped the book, he shrieked and removed his hand from the bag quickly, "What in the hell is it!?"

"It's just an old leather book, it feels different than the others because it's ten times older than me." Kari explained and sat down on the floor Indian style. "And I'm two hundred-twenty one."

Vincent said nothing, completely oblivious to what she said her age was but looked back at the bag and just picked it up and tossed it to Kari who caught it easily, "You get it, I'm not touching it again . . . it's slimy."

Kari only laughed and grabbed her book, opening it to the page she marked and drew in a few more signs before standing up and walked a precise measure of foot steps from the mess on the wall. She muttered something that Vincent couldn't understand or barely hear but jumped nearly all the way to the ceiling as Kari turned around and threw the dagger into the wall by the blade. Once it made contact with the wall and embedded itself in it, the circle of blood and all the symbols started glowing a bright blue color before three people stood in front of it. The glow disappearing along with the circle.

"Well, I was wondering when you'd be calling us forward Kari." One of the three people said.

"Sorry my lord, I apologize." Kari said, she was a little annoyed hearing that they've been waiting for her all this time.

"Apology accepted Kari." Taller male said.

Kari's head bowed to the male that spoke and Vincent finally found his voice box, "I'm so fucking dead!" were the only words he could find.

"And you are?" The same male asked as he looked over to Vincent.

"I'm Vincent . . . Vincent Gaiden." He answered, still a little shaken up.

"He's the one I'm calling you about.”

"Why him? He's merely a human." The female asked.

"Five vampires among this area have been visiting his place of employment and feeding off this employee while in an intoxicated state." Kari explained as she shifted on her feet. "The names are Psyren Adams, Belle Carpenter, Dale White, Sean Austin, and Raphiel Valen. Although Dale and Sean didn't feed, they don't lift a finger to tell them to stop."

"Oh I see." Another male nodded.

"And Armada, will you calm down, your aura of anger is pressuring me."

"Sorry Rikuzo." The one named Armada said and calmed down some, but not completely.

"I will like you to gather all five of these younglings and bring their parents along with you if you don't mind Kari." Rikuzo said.

Vincent growled as he turned to leave his bedroom. “Wait . . . They're not coming into my house! And I want all of you out of my bedroom right now!”

"He's mad . . . " Armada snickered, her pearly white fangs showing as everyone went to the living room.

"No feeding off the human Armada.” Rikuzo growled, smacking Armada on the back of her head.

. . . . . . . . .

Kari was annoyed, she didn't want to be around these people that burned her house down and she was getting close to ripping each of the younglings heads off as she walked with Belle, Dale, Sean, Raphiel and all their parents walked up the pathway to the front doors of the Adams residence when the door burst open and Mr. Adams stood there looking furious, his face was red with frustration but he knew that Kari was doing the right thing, but he didn't want to think that it was. It was his own daughter that Kari was turning in.

“How dare you Kari!”

“How dare I what? I got from Raphiel that it was Psyren leading the expedition to burn my home down, Belle got the idea first though.” Kari explained as his eyes turned from their onyx color to a bright red within seconds.

“You aren’t taking my only daughter to the Vendetta!” Mr. Adams screamed.

“I have no choice, they ordered me to bring all five of them up with their parents, refuse this and you’ll be added. My patience has grown thin enough with her as it is.” Kari growled, her patience growing even more thinner by the second when Psyren walked up to the door way.

Mr. Adams stood there shaking until a few minutes later, he gave in and placed one of his hands onto

Psyren's shoulder, signaling that they were leaving and called Mrs. Adams over to the front door. “We've got to go Eve . . .”

“Where are we going Gary?” Eve asked as she grabbed her cardigan and threw it over her shoulders gracefully.

“We've got to go see the Vendetta.” Gary said quietly and they were on their way.

“What?” Eve shrieked.

“We are leaving with Kari and the others Eve . . . it's mandatory.” Gary explained, using short words because they were running late. “Where are we meeting the Vendetta Kari?”

“I'll show you, just follow me and make sure you keep up.” Kari hissed and ran off towards the bar with her

vampire speed.

. . . . . . . . .

When the club doors opened, the Vendetta turned in their seats with their drinks in hand and looked at the group. Armada's expression changed from one that was bored to one that was excited. She always loved being the bearer of bad news. She put her now empty glass down as she licked her lips slowly before standing.

“Well, we've all gathered here because we, as in Rikuzo, Genzo and I, understand that this is where five, young and under-aged vampires attacked an intoxicated employee by the name of Vincent Gaiden. The report made by Kari Von Wolfgang.” She listed off in a . . . fashionable manner. “Are there any that oppose?

“Well I do!” All the parents screamed at once, most of them putting their children behind their backs.

“You don't have any real proof that this was happening.” Mrs. Valen protested.

“That's where you have it wrong.” Kari smirked and pulled out her laptop that had the camera connected to it.

The room tensed immediately as the five young vampires tried to find escape routes.

Kari put the tape into the camera and pushed play when she had the screen facing the families, all the parents stepping in to get a good look of the video.

“Lets make this more interesting and have him completely stripped, you girls wanna use him as a sex toy?” Raphiel suggested as he took his coat and sweater off, leaving his torso bare as the camera got a good shot of him

“That’s an excellent idea Raph.” Psyren smiled and looked at the camera like she was talking to the people that were watching.

“I love it when you come up with ideas that I can agree to.” Belle laughed and stood up after she moved Vincent out of her way.

Psyren and Belle took their clothes off, making sure to do it slow for the camera as Raphiel got Vincent ready, striping him of his clothes and brought him back to consciousness. Vincent only groaned and stirred a little bit and Raphiel grabbed some rope that was under the bed and tied Vincent’s hands and feet to the bed boards.

Vincent's eyes opened slightly as the camera zoomed in to get a good look of his face but he could barely see because his vision was blurred really bad and the next thing he knew, he felt a hand gently touch his groin and fingers gently making small circles up and down around his lower stomach and groin, this caused him to moan and arch his back, unannounced to him cause of the alcohol, he was starting to get a hard on.

"Your camera on Dale?" Belle chimed happily.

"Yes Belle, it's been on for three minutes." He sighed in annoyance.

Raphiel said nothing but grinned as he began working on Vincent's nipples, he sucked on the right nipple as he twisted it between his teeth, causing Vincent to groan and moan at the same time as his hands pulled at the ropes. Just then, Psyren and Belle joined in as Psyren moved Raphiel's hand away from Vincent's hard on as she hungrily licked his length slowly before she slid it into her mouth, thrusting it in and out at a slow pace as her eyes closed. Belle just climbed to the other side of the bed where it was free and licked Vincent's neck slowly as she used her left hand to gently tease his free nipple. All this excitement was making Vincent begging for more as his back arched a little more, but he didn't remember he was in the room with vampires.

Belle, Psyren and Raphiel continued to toy with Vincent until he was close to reaching his climax which came rather quickly due to the alcohol again and at the same time, all three vampires pulled back and sank their fangs into him; Raphiel took the right nipple, Bell took the neck as she covered his mouth and Psyren sank her teeth into his pulsing hard on. When Vincent felt the pain that immediately rushed through his body, he thrashed and pulled at the ropes around his hands and feet as he screamed into Belle's hand as loud as he could but his screams could barely be heard.

The door to the room then blasted off it's hinges when all five vampires nearly jumped out of their skin from the unexpected interruption.

“What are you guys doing back here?” A female voice asked.

"U-um . . . n-nothing Kari." Belle tried to lie but she knew it wouldn't work since they didn't have

time to cover Vincent or put their clothes back on and hide the camera.

"It doesn't look like nothing Belle . . . " Kari growled.

There was a clicking noise in the background close to the camera as a red light flashed in one of the corners of the screen. Dale had saved the footage before quickly turning it off with a blur of color before the screen went black.

“Psyren!”

“Dale!”

“Raphiel!”

“Sean!”

“Belle!”

All five of the kids' names were screamed at once by their parents. All the adults going on the offensive as they turned to their kids and were ready to lash out at them when something stopped them. They couldn't move their bodies except for their head as they sort of froze in place when Armada's hand went up.

“Vincent Gaiden, were you overtly intoxicated when this happened?” Rikuzo asked, looking down at his glass before averting his eyes over to Vincent.

“I have no recollection of this ever happening.” Vincent answered truthfully. “And when I don't remember things like that, I'm usually beyond intoxicated, almost needing to be sent to the hospital.”

“You five are sentenced to fifty years of isolation on the south pole, no contact with anyone, you are forbidden from any outside contact other than the guards we'll be stationing there.” Genzo barked. “Now get out of my fucking sight!”

The five convicted vampires got out of the Vendetta’s sight quickly but Mr. Adams and the rest of the adults stayed behind next to the Vendetta and Kari, but they lost interest and went home when Armada released them. They were tired, had massive headaches and just wanted to be left alone for a while. It's not every day a parent gets to see their own child become a sex addict and break the laws intentionally.

“Just kill them all, I’ve suffered enough with them so just get rid of them, take their fucking existence off the fucking planet! I'd like it if you all disappeared from the face of the earth. Just get out of the bar now so that we can open before I kill you myself!” Vincent barked out as his eye-teeth started to grow into short, thin fangs as his eyes started changing into a reddish, rust color as his pupil looked like a cat's eye.

Everyone just stared at Vincent, Kyle started to worry again and Kari was aghast along with the Vendetta who were growling at him, Kyle had to try to hold him back so he wouldn’t attack the group as one of the Vendetta said, “You got guts kid, but don’t ever say that again, we’ll just grant us a wish of getting rid of you instead of the vampire race, not all vampires are like the one’s you’ve met, Kari on the other hand in the most innocent vampire in the world so get to know her . . . oh that reminds me, I want to talk to you when we’re done here Kari.” Genzo said.

“Yes sir.” Was all Kari said and bowed her head slightly.

Kari silently came up from behind Vincent with a bottle in hand and broke it over his head with barely any strength as she knocked him out cold so he wouldn’t do anything else stupid saying, “I’m sorry Kyle, it’s for his own good…”

Kyle mumbled under his breath and went to the back to put Vincent on one of the beds until he woke up.

“Would you like to join us Kari?” Rikuzo asked.

“Why would I join you guys?” Kari asked as she rose an eyebrow. “You didn’t help my clan when they were being killed off by my brother over two hundred years ago, and I’ll never forgive you for that either. It’s one reason why I didn’t go straight to you guys when I found out what they were doing…”

“Hmmm . . . your brother is a pain too, we’ve found him but he’s moved since then and that was just before we came here.” Genzo noted.

“He was in the area, here in Vermont.” Armada added.

“We’re also here for a few days to make sure you don’t do anything stupid to go after him like you did a hundred years ago, Synyster was one of our prized vampires that we had to get rid of because of what he was doing to humans. He on the other hand, we gave the death sentence to . . . ” Rikuzo sighed.

“He killed over a hundred in just one year . . . no, over a thousand if I remember correctly, I think. He also did experiments on them.” Armada too added with some question in her voice.

Kari without thinking went after Rikuzo and grabbed him by the neck as her fangs were grown to their full length and her eyes were a blood red as she said, “And you never had the fucking heart to tell me? It’s my job to make sure he’s fucking dead, not yours. Now leave my business alone and get out of this country before I do kill you all.”

Armada was the first to move and dragged Kari off of Rikuzo. Throwing her across the room like she was a rag doll.

“You don’t threaten the elders child, if you threaten us like that again, we will see to it that you and your brother get the death penalty.” Armada snarled and the three left within a blink of an eye while Kari got on her feet.

Her head was pounding and the bangs on the club doors weren’t making it better so she walked over and opened them just to scream, “We’re opening late, come back in a little bit!”

At that, everyone left because they were mostly vampires and knew who she was and the others left because they were thinking about going to another bar if they were closed anyway and she slammed the door closed, locking it as she walked to the back just to get punched square in the face by a woken up Vincent.

“Don’t do that to me again!” Vincent barked and then started cradling his now broken fist.

“I’m sorry Vincent but it was either what I did or you would be dead by now.” Kari explained and then

healed Vincent's hand before she went to the door of the bar and left for a walk.

Vincent followed her quietly and said, “Thanks for healing my hand . . . and saving my life, I’m sorry for hitting your face like that.”

“You’re fine, we need to straighten this place up before we open in a few hours.” Was all Kari said and she went the direction that the mountains were in. “And your welcome.”

Vincent then nodded his head slightly and watched her leave before going back into the bar. He was tired and the lump on the back of his head was starting to be a real pain. Him and Kyle decided that they would open tomorrow because no one was in the mood to work that night. Kari went out, Vincent had the headache of his life and Kyle was starting to get one.

chapter 3

Three

Morning came and Kari was yawning and stretching as the sun shined through a gap in her close curtains. When she was done stretching, she put her right arm over her eyes and sighed, she didn't want to get up from where she was lying because it was warm and she already knew that the day was going to be a little off because it was sunny out, she'd have to go into hiding until the storm that was going to set in around ten, she could smell the rain in the atmosphere a distance away.

Yesterday it was raining like hell...why didn't it stay like that? Kari asked herself and sighed heavily. It's been a few days since I've been back over there...maybe I should pay them a visit since I don't have anything to do . . . I did forget to go over and help them fix the place up . . .

She sat up and walked over to her computer desk where she typed in her password so she could listen to some music before she went over to apologize for not coming over to help clean up, she had forgotten that night she had college classes that she couldn’t skip anymore.

Right now she was extremely bored and didn't want to do anything but she went to the refrigerator where she grabbed a blood pack and opened it. As she leaned back onto the counter sipping at her breakfast, all she could think about was if Vincent was alright. Usually she didn't think much about humans because she tried to keep herself separate from them as much as possible. But before she would go anywhere, she wanted to take a shower and get clean clothes on so when she was done drinking the blood pack she threw it away and headed for the shower.

. . . . . . . . .

“Hey Vincent, why don’t you go out for a little bit, I haven’t seen you go on walks other than coming to work.” Kyle suggested.

“It’s going to be raining soon, I’ll go tomorrow.” Vincent said as he started looking through the internet to see what new songs were out there so that he could buy them for the play list, the last DJ called this morning and said he quit.

“Vincent, go out for a little bit, take my raincoat in case it rains before you get back. You’re going to have some fresh air and that didn't stop you from walking home the last time it rained.” Kyle growled out slightly and threw Vincent the coat angrily.

“Fine, I’ll be back in an hour.” Vincent sighed and put the coat on and walked out, Kyle walking up to the door right behind him and locked it up again.

“I finally got him to go outside, I don’t know why he doesn’t go outside anymore, it’s like he’s afraid of what’s out there.” Kyle said to himself.

. . . . . . . . .

“God I hate being out here!” Vincent noted out loud to himself as he walked among the streets of

Middlebury near the bar. “I don’t trust anyone in this world but Kyle anymore.”

Vincent walked the streets that he knew well in a slight daze but very alert because of what’s happened to him in the past.

The faces of the two men. The images never leaving.

His pleas, begging them to let him go.

His cries for help, never being answered because no one cared.

The taste of their seed still stung his tongue to this very day. Making him want to vomit whenever he ate.

How the men used him for their physical pleasure no eight year old should see.

Their names ringing in his ears as they muffled their moans of physical pleasure so one could find them.

The permanent scars on his ass reminding him the pain he will live with for the rest of his life.

The nightmares he will always have of those few hours in hell.

Tears had started to fall down Vincent’s face as he held his stomach. Just thinking about it make his stomach hurt. Made his body tremble in pain like he went through it again just then. The numbing of his legs made him fall to his knees before falling to his side next to the road All Hallows Road. Curled into a ball of pain only to be found just minutes later by Kari who was driving by on her way to the bar.

The car skidded to a stop.

“Vincent!!” She screamed as she opened her car door, leaving the engine running but Vincent had already passed out by then.

. . . . . . . . .

Kari and Kyle were sitting at the bar, talking about something that sounded like an argument. They had been going at it for what seemed like all day since it was now around five in the evening and it was almost time to open the bar.

"Kari, we need someone to help Vincent, he's about to collapse from how many customers we've been getting lately that are just pushing him to the edge." Kyle begged.

"I'll think about it, I'm usually in the mountains at night." Kari argued.

Kyle just sighed and palmed his forehead before he rubbed his face a little, they had been going at the same topic for the last three hours and Kari wasn't letting up any whats so ever. They didn't know that their

arguing was loud enough for Vincent to hear in his bedroom.

"They're never going to shut the fuck up are they?" Vincent growled to himself out loud, he had his head buried underneath his pillow and blankets and he could still hear them. He sighed heavily and forced himself out of bed. "It's already five thirty!?" Vincent screamed and ran to the bar in the front.

"Why didn't someone wake me up!?" Vincent yelled as he burst through the door, scaring the two that were sitting at the bar.

"I thought you needed the rest and I was going to give you the day off." Kyle said as he turned to face Vincent and saw that he was venting.

"You know me damn it, I never take a damn day off." Vincent growled and walked behind the bar to get a glass of water.

"I'm the one that suggested it." Kari butted in as she leaned forward against the counter.

"Oh . . . sorry." Vincent said as he lowered his head in embarrassment.

"It's alright, you didn't know." Kari said, a grin forming on her face. "I think I'll take you up on that offer Kyle."

"That's wonderful Kari." Kyle said with a heavy sigh of relief. "You start working tonight and what your wearing is fine, you don't really need a uniform of any sort."

"What are you talking about?" Vincent asked as he scratched the back of his head.

"Me working here as a helper." Kari explained. "It seems you're too good to resist."

"You stay away from him understand?" Kyle growled and pointed at Kari with a warning.

"Don't worry I will." Kari laughed and got up to stretch slightly.

"It's almost time to unlock the door, decide who's going to do what and quick." Kyle yelled from the kitchen.

"I'll take the first three hours on the floor, you help preparing food until then." Vincent said and walked over to the doors to unlock. Kari had already went to the kitchen without another word.

. . . . . . . . .

Psyren was pissed, she hated being grounded and stuck inside her room all day and night with nothing to do but talk to a whining Belle for hours and lay on her bed.

"What do you want to do Psyren, we're all grounded, that's a no fucking feature." Belle whined from

her end.

"Yea Psyren, and all that was your idea." Sean complained.

"What ever you're going to do isn't going to involve me, you fucking understand?" Dale growled through on his end and hung up, he wanted nothing more to do with her.

"If you're planning anything, I'm all in for it." Raphiel chuckled. " I know you're going to plan something sooner or later."

"Why don't we burn her house down?" Belle asked through.

"Belle, that's the best idea you've ever had all day." Psyren smiled as she moved her hand away from rubbing her eyes. "Neither of my parents have a power so I can sneak out."

"Yay, we'll meet you at Kari's place?" Belle chimed, Psyren could tell she was giddy with excitement.

"I'll grab the matches and the alcohol." Raphiel offered. "Meet you in ten?"

"Yea, meet you guys there in ten minutes." Psyren said and hung up on the now three way conversation as she grabbed an old shirt and tore it up into strips to be shoved in the bottle of alcohol and put them in her pocket as she opened her window. She jumped out and landed softly on the grass before she used her vampiric speed and disappeared into the night towards Cedric's place.

"She's taking so fucking long Raph." Belle whined as she tapped her right shoe on the ground, her arms crossed in front of her.

"She'll be here, it's only been five minutes and she lives further away from him than we do..." Raphiel started to explain then she started to come into view. "Well there she is now."

"Finally, you took forever Psy." Belle complained when Psyren stopped running.

"Shut up Belle, you're always complaining." Psyren laughed.

"Well lets get started so we can hurry home." Raphiel suggested as he held up the alcohol and matches as Psyren pulled out the cloth.

She shoved the cloth into the bottle as Belle kept watch to make sure no one came around, they knew she wasn't home because the lights were off and no music was coming from the place.

"Where's Kari anyway?" Belle asked as Raphiel started lighting a match. "She's usually never away from her house."

“She's hunting." Psyren grinned. "She hunts for mountain lions all night."

"Ooh, you stalk her too much." Belle laughed and they ran towards the house as the cloth was lit.

Raphiel threw the bottle and the three watched it shatter onto one side of the house. They were in awe as they watched the flames engulf that side completely before they all turned and rushed home before someone noticed that the fire had started.

. . . . . . . . .

"Everyone seems to like our new helper." Vincent grinned to Kyle as he walked up to the bar to pick up a drink order.

"Yea, lets hope she stays longer than the last kid that tried to help." Kyle sighed. "I don't think it'd be as easy

as this time to find a new one if she leaves."

"I know what you mean, and isn't it time for her to have a break anyway?" Vincent asked just before he left to give his order away.

"Hey Kari, come on over for a break." Kyle said over the music the customers had blasting from the jukebox.

Kari looked over to Kyle and nodded before she served the table she was at and sat down at the bar.

"White Russian please."

"Sure, like Tuesday right?" Kyle asked. "Double shots of everything except milk and shook not stirred."

"Yea." Kari sighed and buried her face in her hands as she leaned against the counter. "Is it hot in here or is it just me?"

"It gets hot in here after a while, you'll get used to it though." Kyle laughed as he put the drink together in a tall metal cup and covered it with another and shook it.

"Alright." Kari agreed with a smile and pulled a cloth out of her pocket to wipe her face of the sweat that was dripping. "And thank you for the drink and the job Kyle."

"You're always welcome." Kyle smiled.

"Did Vincent have a break yet?" Kari asked just as Kyle was finished with her drink, pouring it over a tall glass of ice before handing it to her.

"Yea, he's in the back on break now." Kyle answered as he nodded over to the door.

"Alright." Kari nodded and sipped at her drink.

. . . . . . . . .

Vincent closed the bathroom door as he leaned with his back against it and locked the handle. He was happy for a few moments of silence as he slid to the floor, putting his hands behind his head as he leaned forward to rest his head on his knees. He closed his eyes for a few moments and nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard sirens driving by the bar but they passed by and he realized that they weren't cop cars, he figured that they were an ambulance or something as he rose his head and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and speed dialed a friends' number but quickly hung it up before it started ringing and stood up to wash his hands before he went back to work.

"He's taking an awful long time in the bathroom." Kari sighed and looked to the door just before someone opened the bar doors and ran in towards her, breaking her concentration.

"Kari!" The male said as he got to the bar.

"What is it Gary?" Kari asked as she finished her drink and was just about to go back to work.

"You need to get to your house, it's on fire." Gary huffed, Kari figured he ran here instead of driving here.

"What!?" Kari nearly screamed and shot to her feet.

Gary led her out of the club and too his house, both of them using their vampiric speed and was there within seconds. Kari's face was glowing with a lot of hatred that she felt towards her now very ex-friends and oh how she knew how to get back at them for this, she hated using this method but she had no choice and she was going to bring up the tape she still has in her pocket.

. . . . . . . . .

Kari pissed when she saw that her house burned down, she didn't file any charges and said that it might have been electrical problems, she got away with it because the house was over two hundred years old and she didn't replace the electrical wires in it yet since the mid nineteen sixties...but she didn't bring up that she was alive that time. But since that day, she locked himself in the bathroom of Vincent's apartment where she was invited to stay. She had been in and out of there for almost two weeks and he didn't know if she was going to get out of the phase or not.

"Are you coming out sometime soon Kari?" Vincent asked as he knocked on the door. "You've been in there for two hours now, you need to come out.”

"I'll be out shortly." Kari said with a depressed voice.

"No, you're going to come out now . . . Kyle wants to talk to you anyway." Vincent tried to lie.

"He's not here, but I'll be out in five." Kari sighed and there was movement in the bathroom so Vincent decided to give her some space and went back to the living room.

When Kari was out of the bathroom, Vincent was sitting on his couch watching a drama series. Kari recognized it as House but she wasn't sure since she didn't watch a whole lot of television anymore.

“Wanna sit next to me?” Vincent asked as he scooted closer to the side of the couch closest to the front door.

Kari nodded and sat on the edge of the couch closest to her. She had an idea on what she was going to do with Psyren and the others, but she needed her books and they were buried under her house when it burned down. She'd have to go through the wreckage in order to find it and soon, but she would get it later, she wanted to think through what she was going to tell them.

“I hope you don't mind Kari, but I was going to go on a small walk for a short period of time. Do you mind watching over the place while I'm gone?” Vincent asked, a little uneasy in asking someone he didn't know for very long to watch over his personal belongings.

“I don't mind Vincent. I'll make sure no one comes around while you're gone. What would you like me to do if the phone rings?” Kari nodded.

“Just let it ring, I'll check the caller ID when I get back. I shouldn't be too long ok?”

“Ok, I'll be here.” Kari nodded once again as Vincent stood up and checked his pockets for his keys and phone.

“My number is speed dial two on the phone if you need anything while I'm gone. Be back soon.” Vincent nodded. She nodded back as he left.

. . . . . . . . .

Vincent sighed as he decided to walk a distance away from the apartment. He took all the back roads he knew and eventually ended up near the mountains where he wanted to end his walk before calling a friend of his, but if Kyle ever found out about what he was doing oh he'd be getting his ass kicked all the way to his personal doctor, Dr. Evelyn Young. She's a bitch sometimes when there was a need for it and she could be pulled off as Vincent's biological grandmother, he did have the dark brown hair and somewhat similar personality.

But as Vincent came to a stop behind an abandoned building and he leaned against the wall with his back as he pulled out his cell and speed dialed a number. The building used to be a warehouse but was condemned when it was reported as a marijuana factory, the people that worked here ended up in prison for life but hardly anyone comes by the building anymore so no one stayed around here unless the drug dealers came behind here to sell their stuff, it was perfect for drug business.

When the phone rang, it only rang twice and a male's voice sounded from the other end, "Hello, Jake speaking."

"Hey Jake, it's Vincent...how you doing man?" Vincent said with a grin on his face.

"Long time no talk Vince my man, I've been doing fine you?" Jake asked, his voice sounded like he was very excited.

"I've been doing fine but I don't have long to talk, do you think you can bring me a quick order for me?" Vincent said quickly, the sweet talk over with.

"Of course, how much you need?" Jake said as rustling was now heard in the back ground.

"Four shots...meth if you have any...that stuff was always the best...worked quickly too." Vincent said, his spine shivering at the thought.

"I have enough, credit or cash?" Jake always let Vincent pay later if he didn't have the money...he trusted him enough to go that far.

"Credit, I didn't bring my money along...and I forgot to stop by at the bank..." Vincent said as he padded his pants for his wallet and realized he forgot it too. "I even forgot my wallet, oh wait...found it." He said as he dug through the extra pockets in his pants.

"It's alright man, I'll be . . . where you at anyway?" Jake asked.

"I'm at that abandoned marijuana factory . . . in the back." Vincent answered before he rested his head against the wall.

"Alright, I'll be there in five . . . don't you work tonight?" Jake wondered, he always wondered if Vincent was on or off work when they talked.

"I'm working tonight and for the next three days . . . but I can also call today off if you want." Vincent said, nodding as he said this . . . he wanted the day off anyways so he could be with Kari but didn't know if Kyle would give it to him.

"Alright, but anyway, I'm on my way now so get a hold of your old man real quick." Jake said, Vincent could hear the engine coming to life in the background so he nodded to himself and they said their goodbyes as he hung up.

Calling and asking for the night off . . . is going to be a nightmare as always, but I can make the time up this weekend I guess. Vincent convinced himself as he dialed his work number.

"Yea Vincent?" Kyle asked.

"Is it possible that I can have the night off?" He asked, preparing his ears for the yelling.

"Sure, I'll just call in a friend of mine so it'll be fine . . . don't talk to Jake . . . you know how much I hate the kid.." Kyle said, his voice getting deep in warning.

"Don't worry dad, I don't talk to him anymore." Vincent lied.

"Alright, have fun tonight." Kyle said and the phone hung up as a car drove up, yea right normal time, that would be like don't come home the next morning or something.

Vincent decided to stay where he was in case it wasn't who he thought it was . . . a lot of drug dealers came to this location so it was always dangerous to be here on your own . . . but Vincent sighed a sigh of relief when it was his friend Jake. "Long time no see dude." Jake said as he walked up with a wide smile.

Jake had red hair and black circles under his eyes from lack of sleep these last few weeks. He was skinny like he was anorexic and he was just as tall as Vincent was which was no fair at all especially since he was an ex-boyfriend.

"Yea dude." Vincent agreed with the same wide smile and held his fist out as they did their welcoming handshake, which if you didn't see it before looked really stupid.

"So do you work tonight?" Jake asked as he handed Vincent his merchandise.

"Nope, Kyle's calling in a friend of his to work with them tonight." Vincent answered, his eyes on the meth the whole time.

"I heard you got a helper at your father's bar. Who is it?" Jake asked, his curiosity building as he and Vincent climbed into his car.

“Yea we did, her name's Kari Von Wolfgang. Very nice girl too.” Vincent answered with a slight nod.

"Not a familiar name around here is it?" Jake asked, his voice a little grave since he didn't get the position instead.

"No it isn't. But she's at my place right now cause someone or something burned her house down to the ground. It's in a pile of ashes.” Vincent noted.

“She's sleeping on that convertible couch right?” Jake asked, sounding jealous now. “But I hope she finds out who burned it down.”

“Me too-” Vincent started saying when his cell phone started ringing. “Hello?”

“When do you think you'll be back Vincent? I have to find something under the burned remains of my

house.” Kari said through the receiver.

“I'll be home late. I ran into a friend while I was out, just make sure you lock the door when you leave and leave a window open so you can get back in.” Vincent nodded.

“Alright, have fun Vincent, see you when you get home.” Kari said and hung up.

"So where you wanna go tonight?" Jake asked as they buckled their seat belts when Vincent shoved his phone into his pocket.

"Anywhere but the bar . . . " Vincent noted and they drove off to a different club on the other side of town.

. . . . . . . . .

Kari sighed as she put the phone back on it's cradle before she grabbed her shoes from beside the door and slipped them on. She didn't have to leave the window open to get back in. She could bend another paperclip and pick the lock to let herself in. She did it before already a few weeks ago, but she wasn't really in the mood. All she cared about now was to get the book and some other things she had out of the ruined bits and pieces of her house before someone went over to collect perishables. She looked around to see if any windows were unlocked and left a moment later.

. . .  . . .  . . .

Vincent and Jake were sitting at their own table/bar as they were being served with probably their tenth drink already and were just about to do something they'd both regret but neither cared. Vincent still had some feelings for Jake and visa versa. Neither man had the guts to say anything to the other and it wasn't until their next drink that Vincent said anything.

"Jake, you know I still kind of love you right?" Vincent asked after he downed his shot of Rum.

"Of course I do . . . and I wouldn't talk to you either or give you such good deals if I didn't still kind of love you either." Jake said, then hiccuping before drinking his next shot of Whiskey.

"Good deals, I gave you three hundred dollars . . . " Vincent retaliated before he was pulled into a kiss, and in his drunken stupor he didn't try to break it.

The kiss went from a short one into a very passionate one very quickly, both men wanting more of the other as they tried to take each others' clothes off before they were interrupted by their personal bar tender.

"There are rooms in the back, I think it'd be best if you go back there before you go any further." She said, trying not to be rude or anything but she wasn't interested in watching two men have sex at her table.

Neither man objected as they payed her and they went to the back where she pointed. Jake wanted to go to the rooms on the right and Vincent wanted to go to the rooms on the left...so they played rock paper scissors to get the arguing done and over with. Vincent had won and they went to the rooms on the left but Jake went to the last room on the right before Vincent could say anything else and dragged Vincent with him, closing the door behind them as they went into another passionate kiss...both tongues dueling for dominance of the other.

"God Vince, how can you taste the same as on our first time six years ago?" Jake asked in between kisses as they shuffled over to the bed, both of them falling onto it with Jake on the top, Jake loved being on the top just as much as Vincent loved being on the bottom.

"I don't know, maybe it's because I haven't changed much." Vincent tried to explain, but his head was so out of it because of the alcohol he drank.

"What ever." Jake muttered before he lifted Vincent's shirt over his head with one hand as the other teased a perked nipple that was begging to be pinched.

"Aah . . . " Vincent moaned softly as his back arched, he was always sensitive.

Jake just smirked to himself and leaned in to give the neglected nipple some attention before he was interrupted.

"I have to get back . . . " Vincent muttered between moans.

"Why now?" Jake whimpered.

"Kari's at my house. She's living there until she can get a place." He explained and tried to sit up.

"Well it's our night tonight and no one's taking it from us and besides, we can't go back with these boners right?" Jake asked as he tilted his head some.

"F-Fine, 69?" Vincent agreed and blushed a deep shade of crimson.

Jake didn't say anything as both men then took off their pants and Vincent put his shirt back on, he wanted

to get back to the club when they were done and it'd be faster to just put his pants and boxers back on if he already had his shirt on.

. . . . . . . . .

Kari pushed her way through the ruins of her house as she went to where her bedroom used to be. She remembered where it was because she had been living in the house on and off for centuries. She made it a vow to make sure that Psyren and the others were destroyed after what they did. This was a felon in both human and vampire laws but knew that human punishment wasn't as severe as what vampire punishment could be, that's why she lied to the police when they asked questions.

Just thinking about the slut Psyren made her blood boil so much she almost changed her mind to go after her and rip her to shreds. Then she remembered that by doing so she'd get in trouble also and she didn't want that. She wanted to spend as much time with Vincent as she could. She didn't know why but just thinking about him was calming her down so she took a heavy sigh and started digging where her bed used to be. She had buried her books and ceremonial equipment underground because she didn't want other people to find it if they somehow got into her house but she was careful enough to make sure that it was inside a locked titanium box so that nothing would be worn from the elements. Why she didn't have it out and out in the open like what most vampires have with theirs is for a couple reasons;

She didn't like using her books and ceremonial equipment

She wanted to keep her past tucked away so she would forget.

She hated, no wait, utterly loathed the people that wrote the book to the day they died.

It was all personal reasons as to why she buried the books and equipment deep into the ground.

Within seconds of her digging into the hard dirt her house was sitting on, her hands slammed into a titanium box. She winced slightly but she started digging around the sides of the box so it would be easier for her to pull out as she breathed slightly heavy. The ground was harder than what it was a few hundred years ago but she was alright with it. It didn't bother her much, but the thought of why she buried the box in the first place always sent shudders down her spine.

When the box was free of the surrounding dirt, she heaved the box onto the side of the hole and heaved herself out. It was much more work than she thought it would be, it didn't take that much energy to bury it, but she was younger then. Sighing heavily, she put the dirt back into the hole and heaved the box onto the back of her shoulders, using her vampire speed to get back to Vincent's apartment.