Adventure in Arcadia

"Will you stop that!" Jane complained, batting away Vicky's hand as she tried to apply Jane's eyeliner.

"Well if you'd just stay still then we'd be done by now!!" Vicky complained back.

They'd decided to meet at Jane's dorm where Vicky and Camile fussed over prettying Jane up. Cycling her through a good dozen outfits, and yet they still weren't that satisfied.

"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO STAY STILL WHEN YOU ARE STABBING ME IN THE EYEBALL!?" Jane found herself shouting.

"Oooooh, angry...." Camile whispered.

Victoria folded her arms "Look, I know you're nervous, but I'm trying to help you. You don't need to yell at me."

"I'd be yelling too if I had such shaky hands around my eyes too." The voice was low and absent. Rose had been sat on her bed, eating a bowl of chopped carrot sticks... with Hot pepper sauce.

Vicky turned and narrowed her eyes "I have been doing this for literal years, I'm a make-up queen okay? who are you?" Vicky shot back sarcastically.

Rose grunted, pushing herself up, one hand on her slightly swollen belly and the other gripping her... strange snack tightly.

Moving over the redhead met Vicky eye to eye "I'm a very emotional pregnant woman, who has been unable to consume anything but caffeine, carrot sticks because my Son craves vegetables and Hot sauce because my Daughter craves heat... for 68 hours... so give me the fucking eyeliner pen, and get me a chair... Please." Rose was different, she wasn't like Jane or Camile or even Vicky herself. Rose was a well of authority and power, even **** as she was.

Victoria could do nothing but blink "Well shit. when you put it like that." She handed Rose the stick and moved over to the corner where the talky-talky bitches sat. They had been keeping quiet and too themselves... they knew better than to get involved in Vicky's business and when she said a quick "Are you using this? no? thank you." Rolling over one of their swivel chairs, they didn't dare mutter a word in protest.

Jane huffed as Rose sat next to her and looked on at Jane with her indifferent face "If you move, I will actually stab you in the eye, got it?"

Jane gulped "Yes, Ma'am."

Rose's hands were soft and warm like silk left in the summer sun, she was so dexterous and careful that Jane barely felt a thing as the redhead coloured her eyelids.

"Wow... she's good," Millie noted, looking up from her phone with fascination.

Vicky folded her arms, sulking quietly in the corner.

Rose seemed curious, her dark blue eyes analyzing Jane thoughtfully "You have a really creepy stare, you know that?" Jane eventually said.

Rose grinned "It's hereditary. Why are you so nervous? have you not spent time with Charlie already?"

"Of course I have! ...I just, we've never been out on an actual date...." Jane's voice became small "...I've never been out on an actual date."

"OMG, YOU TOO!? I'M SO GLAD I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE" Millie cried, leaping out to hug Jane from behind while Rose looked vexed.

Jane burst out laughing as Vicky joined in, even Rose couldn't help but crack a smile.

"Okay, you're done." Rose said, getting up crunching away at her carrots.

Vicky and Millie sized Jane up, looking on with awe "Oh yeah... we're good."

"Damn gurl, you fine as hell!" Millie said enthusiastically.

Jane made a face, feeling underwhelmed. All make up did was make her face feel heavy, but when Vicky brandished her mirror to show Jane what she looked like.... she paused.

_"Wow... that's me?" _She thought as she smiled.

Jane Got up and grasped Millie and Vicky into a tight hug "Thank you. You guys are actually... you're the best."

"Aw your the best too."

"CAREFUL, YOU'LL RUB OFF THE BLENDER!" Vicky roared.

Jane peered out from her friend's shoulders and looked at Rose who merely continued to munch away. She let Millie and Vicky go and stood over Rose. the Redhead frowned.

"Please don't hug me --omph." Rose breathed as Jane wrapped her arms around her, careful as to not harm her belly.

"Thank you, Rose. You're... You're a good friend, in this life, and hopefully the next." Jane smiled as She hugged Rose... and Rose cracked the smallest of grins.

"Yeah alright. Just go, you're already late." Rose might have tried to sound as blank as a canvas, but they could all hear the subtle joy in her tone.

And so, Jane got a jacket and set off to meet Charlie in front of the dorms where their date would begin.

20 minutes Earlier

You sat on one of the benches in front of the Dorms outside garden walkway. Checking your watch you smiled... 5 minutes late, you'd expect nothing less from Jane Watson.

By now, the moon peeked over the black clouds, painting the night in a hue of silver.

You sat and whistled and waited quite chipper, quite exited... until you started to hear it.

░F░E░E░D

Shooting up to your feet, you looked around... that wasn't in your head? it sounded like somebody whispering in your ear, what the fuck?

░Y░O░U░W░I░░L░L░F░E░E░D

"AGH!" writhing whipping and storms tore across your mind, as you began to roll into a cold shiver "GRAGH YEAGH." Your eyes twitched, as within the heart of the gold in your iris, began to glow with a deep demonic light.

░T░H░E░G░I░R░L

"Girl? girl, what girl? what's happening? what's going on?" You growled, as the world intensified, became fuzzy and fluid, hard to track.

The sky began to vibrate as You clutched your face, claws digging into your forehead as a long echoing and manic laugh boomed from your now pale lips.

░K░I░L░L░T░H░E░G░I░R░L.░K░I░L░L░T░H░E░M░A░L░L.░S░O.░M░U░C░H░B░L░O░O░D!!!!░

"No no no no no, no. No, I'm not a monster, I'm not a murderer! I'M NOT! YEAAAAAR" Falling to your knees as the world began to twist and turn, the smell of iron invading your nostrils, the symphonic drum of a thousand heartbeats booming in your ears. Your stomach churned with hunger and on your hands and knees, you suddenly upchucked a torrent of thick, black fluid, that you only just managed to aim into the bushes.

Heavily breathing, laboured and weak, you slowly shambled to get up. Your head spun violently as your short breaths became harder and harder to draw out from your spasming lungs.

...I warned you... you would not listen

"Just shut up, Vlad, please just shut up."

Shaking your head, you heaved again and again, but nothing came out... catching your breath, you shakily grasped the bench and pulled yourself up.

Your face was icey pale, with blackened veins bulging... You... You had to fix this, quickly before jane showed up.

Taking a deep breath, you cut your hand with a taloned finger and drew the symbol on your palm.

That is a very very bad idea.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

Taking a deep breath, you whispered "Dragon's breath... Fl... Floruish."

The mark burned, searing your skin as air suddenly invaded your lungs, the cuts on your face slid closed as a wave of relief flooded into your being.

Standing up on your wobbly feet, you shook the haze from your head as reality became to flood back in.

They are called "Blood" Rune for a reason, Chip. All you are going to do is push yourself even further down the rabbit hole.

"I'm not a Vampire... Not a complete one... You could be wrong."

We, are rarely wrong.

"Just, please, let me go on my date in peace, like a normal god damn teenager."

You would not be defeated, not by this... You wouldn't let Jane down, not again, and so wiping your watering eyes, and straightening out, you retook your seat trying to avoid looking at the vicious black spew that pooled in the bushes behind you.

After a few minutes, trying to calm your mind... you heard the dormitory doors open and you looked up.

Walking out in her heeled boots, Jane walked over with a nervous look on her face. But that isn't what you saw.

What You saw was the foxiest little number that You had seen so far today, she was unlike anytime that You had seen her before, her long frizzy hair was replaced by a mane of deep mousey brown and mahogany curls that relaxed on her shoulders.

She wore a brown/maroon mini-dress with deep lines, that clung tightly to her form. A golden Gucci belt contained her flat stomach, but immediate arched outwards, showing off her full thighs and athletic legs, which were blackened by her smooth stockings. A beige tench coat with deep brown buttons hung over her shoulders to keep her warm, and she clutched a matching Gucci purse tightly in her fiddling fingers.

But damn... was she pretty, with her eyeliner pronouncing her big emerald eyes, dark crimson matte lipstick was dusted expertly on her lips, as her complexion was smooth as cocoa butter, pronouncing her round cheeks and sharp features.

Jane marched over, frowning deeply before halting in front of you. She looked you over and opened her mouth to speak... before closing it again, in the end she just smiled and said "S-Sorry I'm late."

You stood there, mouth half open like some big dumb idiot.

"What? What is it, do you not like my outfit? ugh I knew it was too much!" She growled.

"NO! --*AHEM* umm, no..." You moved in, and took her hand, smiling deeply "You are a magnificent beast."

Jane cracked a smile and took a breath of relief "Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life."

"hehe, shut up." She cheesed widely now, what was a cute grin became an angelic smile.

"Come on, I guess we should head off."

"Not that I don't trust you, I do, but... where are we actually going?" She asked lightly.

You merely gripped her hand tighter and winked "You'll see."

Walking over to your car, you opened the door as Jane slipped in, and then jumped in yourself. The Torino roared to life as the engine turned over and after slipping into gear, you pulled off into the night and off of Academy grounds.

Jane sat mostly in silence, You could tell that she was nervous, she never did do well with inexperience... and to your knowledge, this would be her first date, well... her first proper date, you both used to hang out all the time but, this was different.

"I'm... I'm sorry if I'm acting all nervous." She clearly caught you staring.

You smiled, shifting into second gear... you always preferred stick. "Well, I'd be lying if I wasn't. We haven't really done anything like this before so... still, any time spent with you is always worth it."

Jane licked her lips, and tilted her head, narrowing her eyes as if to unjumble some kind of puzzle on your face.

"What?" You said "Come on, take the compliment."

"I am... I just. I don't get it, You say you're nervous, but you look so calm, and stoic and happy, I really don't get how you do it?" She asked.

You huffed "I don't really know, everything used to scare me so much... they still do. But now I know that I can get through it, all I have to do is smile and push and smile again, and I as long as my will holds, then I can defeat any enemy, I can fool the smartest of men and walk-in places I couldn't imagine." You admitted.

"But it's all so sudden, the Vampires, the Hunter thing with your family... doesn't it catch you off?"

"Maybe a tiny bit, but since this all began, it's hard for any of it to affect me."

"...You mean, since you found out the undead walk the earth?" she asked light-heartedly.

You looked at her and gave her a short smile "...Since my dad died. After that... nothing surprises me anymore."

She frowned at herself "Yeah, of course... I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise. You were there for me, even that day. I'm the one who left you behind."

Jane's hand reached over, and rested on your thigh "Well, you're here now."

And with this, with her and the other girls, you felt like you could face the world forever, and smile.

It wasn't that far a drive, maybe 8-10 minutes weaving in and out of back roads to avoid the traffic on Main Street. Jane flicked on the Radio, laughing and jigging as you both sang along to I don't feel like dancing.

After pulling out into the West Square, not far from the Wally Walker Monument. There were plenty of activities in the West square, which itself was the height of entertainment, one could find the biggest mall in the city here, plus the dozen or so restaurants, plenty of places to shop, but most importantly of all, where three activities that you knew would make her night.

"Oooh, West square, you know I love it here!" She giggled excitedly.

"Mmmm-Hmm." You hummed, finding a place to park and opening the door for her again.

Jane clutched your arm tightly as you walked down the busy street, she was cheesing and talkative, laughing away as you escorted her through the street, where a merry-go-round carried happily screeching children, men and women called from their stalls selling hot chestnuts, Brockhurst and popcorn to those walking by.

The Late-night market was open, where people sold food, necklaces, watches, of copper, silver and gold, the night was full of life... and life was deeply intoxicating.

░S░O░M░A░N░Y░B░O░D░I░E░S░S░O░M░U░C░H░B░L░O░O░D

The blood is life, the blood is forever.

"Hey..."

You looked down at Jane.

"Are you okay? you look a little sick?" She asked sweetly.

"It's... nothing, just a headache."

"We can... go if you want to?"

"No way, come on. You're gonna love this."

The closer you got, the more and more her smile grew, until you led her up to a wide and long building, almost completely blue, decorated with stripes of various colours and with giant buttons on one side, a giant joystick on the other, its sign was huge, the letters stretched into a tall glowing white rectangle to resemble a screen.

Jane grasped you tight, eyes wide "No way, no fucking way!"

"Way." You grinned.

"THE ZONE? You're taking me to the fucking ZONE? I've always--"

"Wanted to go?" You finished

She nodded like a happy 4 year old "Did you know--"

"It's the biggest arcade in New England, yeah, how could I not, you've told me 1billion times." You chuckled.

Jane bit at her lips and reached up, kissing you lightly on the lips "You are the Best!"

"of the Best." You agreed.

Roaming inside, you came to the grand vista of hundreds, and You meant hundreds of arcade machines, it was damn near heaven with this unimaginable cascade of retro classics.

Jane tutted as she stood a little awkwardly "I uh, I don't have any coins." She cringed.

You raised and eye brow and smiled "Hey look the Original street fighter!"

Her eyes bulged "LIKE THE ORIGINAL ORIGINAL, THATS FUCKING EPIC!"

With the claw on your thumb you slit the middle of your index finger and in a near silent voice, whispered _"Mhalia." _The blood bulged in your hand, and you gripped it tightly as it grew and grew and grew.

When Jane turned back, dripping with excitement, You brandish a great big back of coins almost the size of your head. You raised a single eyebrow and smiled like a Hyena.

Jane shook her head in disbelief, and placed her hands on her hips "Are you seriously giving me Dwayne Johnson eyes?"

Your brow skipped up once or twice "What can I say, accept..."

"Don't ruin this."

"Allllright, lets go play some games!" You took her arm and ventured off into this sea of joy, and a sea of joy it was. Mortal kombat, Street fighter, Asteroids, Joust, Space invaders, pac-man, you name it they had it, Jane wanted the resident evil shooting game, she got it, the Star-wars lightsaber duel simulator? absolutely, DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION, PUT ON YOUR DANCING SHOES GIRLY!!!!

You played and played, and played for hours, she only became more radiant with each game, moving closer, clutching you tighter, laughing more and more as You cracked jokes and lost (Purposefully, but she didn't need to know that.) over and over again to her in all the two player homes.

You'd stopped only when Jane shyly asked for something to eat, and so you stopped at the restaurant, a neat little comfort food bistro with a Game over theme.

Jane chomped on a plate of thick wedges while you helped yourself to a glass of water.

"Are you sure you're not hungry?" She asked, dipping one of her crunchy wedges into a pot of barbecue sauce.

You smiled "Nah, I told you, I already ate. So, you like the place huh?"

"You know I don't like it, I love it. My Dad always promised me and my sister that we'd come here one day... He could barely afford a stick of gum."

"Do you... do you miss him?" You asked.

Jane scoffed "Maybe once, but he gave up on us, not the other way around. If he wants to spend time with his new step-family... then that's his business."

You took her hand "I know you hate him, but..."

"I know, I get what you mean, I called him a couple months ago. I had to hear his voice, after what happened to roman..." She frowned and squeezed your fingers.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to keep bringing it up." She apologised, but oddly enough, you didn't mind.

"No, it's good, It's good to remember him. I actually miss his coldness sometimes." You grinned, picturing your fathers face, but that grin became melancholy "...But it's those rare times that he smiled and was warm that I think about, maybe... if I'd just been better, maybe, just maybe he would have smiled more."

"You did everything to get approval, Charlie. And he loved you, even if he didn't always show it, do you remember when I came over for diner, after we finished high-school?"

The thought alone was enough to make you chuckle "Hehe yeah, I think that's the only time I've ever actually made him laugh."

"What did you say again?"

"Oh, I was making fun of Diana with my Dexter voice." You cleared your throat and put on a high pitch nasally voice with an outrageous accent "DEE-DEE GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY LAB!"

"hehehhahaha" Jane belly laughed as she drank her Over-juice... or orangeade by the look and smell of it.

Jane seemed burnt out with most of the games, no doubt in your mind she played until her fingers hurt, and so she decided to watch you play guitar hero 3... more importantly, through the fire and flames, the one song that you could never beat on expert.

But with greater senses, more powerful hands, and more importantly your enhanced mind, even as the notes flew at an impossible pace and in great abundance, you knew that you could do it.

"Pft, there's no way you're gonna pull that off!" Jane heckled.

"Oh? why's that?"

"Because you suck at video games." She spoke nonchalantly.

You turned, guitar in hand, tactfully chained to the tall screen so nobody could see it "Hey, careful you might be surprised."

"I doubt that."

"Okay then, cocky, how about we bet on it?" You knew that above all things, Jane Watson could never decline a direct challenge.

"Oh? and what is it that You want to bet?" She asked curiously.

You thought for a moment and smiled devilishly as a devious idea came to mind "Okay... If I lose, then I'll take you here every weekend for a month."

Jane beamed as if she had already won, "Seriously? wow, what's the catch then?"

You might as well have had a pair of horns just then, beckoning her over with a gesture. Jane folded her arms and moved over as you leant down to whisper in her ear.

Whipping her head back, Jane bit her lip and looked around "Are you serious?" Her tone alluring and gentle rippled with temptation.

"Mmmm-Hmm."

She batted her hair back and pointed "Well then, good luck. You're gonna need it."

Turning back to the game, You gripped the guitar tightly, a shit-eating smirk crossing your face as you scrolled through the songs, enjoying the flaming rocking theme that had carried you through childhood, the strums chimed through the speakers... and the song began.

You flexed your fingers and cracked your neck, you wouldn't cheat, not with forevermore or even nevermore, both would be equally useful in this case, you'd even try not to flit through it, not that you really knew how to turn that off, it was just kind of automatic.

Still, the notes waited for no one, and flying down the long track after a short charming little chime, Your mind exploded into action.

The slashing beginning of the hook flew into sight and in a flurry of lightning-fast movements, your fingers sparked across the notes.

A rainbow of Green, red, yellow, blue and Orange filled the huge screen, the thumping of the drums beckoned in the voice of the mighty Dragon.

Twisting your fingers dramatically, you grinned, as your fingers lashed dexterously at every single note, not missing a single one as you grinned, mouthing the words to yourself.

"On a cold winter of morning

In the time before the light

In flames of ****'s eternal reign

We ride towards the fight!"

Jane's eyes opened wider, and wider until her lids stretched to their fullest, the dark matte of her lips parted in silent awe and deep foreboding as You continued to absolutely smash this song to pieces, lost in wonder at finally having the ability to even see the rocketing notes that your hit with pinpoint accuracy.

"What? WHAT?" Jane roared.

Further and further into the song you went, hunting and hitting every cord with **** prejudice.

You tried to imagine them a targets, enemies, it made it a lot easier to keep on track. Your eyes especially drawn to the thrid note, crimson and round... like a circular heart, throbbing with each successful note.

"As the red day is dawning

And the lightning cracks the ░A░R░T░E░R░I░E░S

They'll raise their ░B░L░O░O░D

To the ░H░E░L░L above

Who descend unto their ░V░E░I░N░S

Running back through the mid-░N░I░G░H░T light

There's a burning in my heart

We're banished from the time in the foreign land

To a light beyond the Starts."

Just... just don't listen, keep playing, everything is fine.

"In your blackest dreams see to the need, that destiny is tied

And endlessly we're roaming free tonight!!!!!!!

And on the wings of a ░S░C░R░E░A░M so far beyond reality

░Al░l alone in d░esper░ation, ░N░O░W░O░U░R░T░I░M░E░I░S░G░O░N░E

Lost inside you'll never find, lost within ░O░U░R░O░W░N░M░I░N░D

D░a░y░a░f░t░e░r░d░a░y░t░h░i░s░m░i░s░e░r░y░m░u░s░t░g░o░n░e"

Staring at the screen... your fingers seized as you froze. The notes clinched in a painful sound, a sound of missing notes. You did not move, you could not move, you only stared, half drooling in your cold, dead, trance.

Jane erupted "YES, HA, I KNEW IT WAS A FLUKE, IN YOUR FACE DRAK...." She paused and looked at you from behind, unnaturally still, mouth half-open, eyes wide. "...hey, Charlie?"

Confusion filled you... as You blinked back into consciousness "Huh?"

She pushed back her long mousey hair, placing a warm hand on your head "You look really pale, and You're really hot. Are you sure you're not sick?"

Don't frown, Drake... she'll sense it. "Maybe I've got a bit of a headache, it's okay, I'll take some Tylenol or something." Smiling you huffed, placing back the guitar "I guess I'm not as sharp as I thought today, hehe, You win."

Jane sighed and folded her arms, as You looked on at her "Stop that..."

"Stop what?" You said childishly, intensifying your deep smile.

"Stop giving me, sexy eyes."

"This is just my normal face I don't know what you're talking about?" You knew exactly what she was talking about...

Jane bit her lip and groaned "Ugh! fine!! but You're bringing me back here mister, Come on!" She gripped your shirt, making your yelp as she dragged you away.

Amongst this metropolis of Arcadia, was a small walled off area containing a few private booths, here it seemed that groups of D&D players might accumulate, posters of many RPGs hung upon the walls, magic the Gathering was another prominent theme among these booths.

But Mana and the arcane weren't the kind of magic that you were looking for here.

Jane lead you inside, and drew the deep crimson curtain of soft silk and gestured for you to sit on one of the mahogany leather cushioned seat.

You did so, placing your elbows on the circular table and resting your head on your hands.

Jane turned to you, a flushed, biting her lip.

"You won, you don't have to do this if you don't want to." You pointed out, rather non-helpfully.

She folded her arms, narrowed her eyes into dagger slits where her emerald orbs looked upon you rather exasperatedly "Obviously. I... I just, I want to."

You were enjoying this, Jane never showed herself off, she was a humble and kind woman through and through, even if she could be prickly. Time and time again she'd always hide from the limelight, never seeing what you saw; a girl who was worthy of every goodness that came to her.

"Why do you always look at me like that?" She asked dryly.

"Come here." You drew her in, and Jane nudged herself over, her thick legs hissed as they slid across the leather seat, nestling in close to you.

Her heat was intoxicating, although where it provided comfort it now... seemed to slightly disturb you? she pulsed with life, it distracted your usual flow.

"Charlie?"

"Hmm?" You hummed, refocusing on her. "Oh right, sorry, I was just um, thinking." You smiled.

Jane played with her fingers, her nails painted with smooth crimson "T-This is kinda embarrassing, I-I'm, --I should have warned you, I'm sorry--"

"Warned me of what?" You chuckled.

"I'm... having a visit, from Aunt Flo?"

You blinked. "Wat?"

She frowned "Strawberry week has begun?"

Your eyes narrowed, trying to decipher these strange messages.

Jane Watson sucked in her lips and thumped you in the shoulder.

"Ow!" She cried, rubbing her fist "Jesus your arms are like steel beams! I'm on my period for fuck's sake!"

Your eyes opened wide as Jane shouted, looking around and holding in a laugh as she went beat red, covering her mouth; if the entire arcade didn't hear that then Jesus christ might surely appear.

You grinned evilly as a revelation crossed her face, Jane pushed her hands playfully into your chest "YOU KNEW YOU KNEW WHAT I MEANT, YOU ASSHOLE!"

"I have one sibling and she's a woman of course I do, every time Aunt flow paid a visit I'd create a bomb shelter out of feather pillows.. hehe hahaha." You laughed as she scowled.

"You're an asshole." Her sulking was nearly as cute as her smile.

You lent in and kissed her round cheek, flushed with red, the warmth made your lips tingle; made you a little dizzy. "Forgive me?"

Jane shuffled "I-I'm not angry at that... I really wanted... I really wanted to be... intimate" her voice was much smaller, that of a mouse.

Jane was standoffish, short-tempered, amazingly passionate, profoundly intelligent... and still very shy, You wanted to empower her, help her push past this nerdy faze, to bloom into the woman she was and not what she perceived herself to be.

"Well, Like I said, I wanted a few minutes alone time in here with you -- but since you won, why don't we flip it, You get a few minutes alone with me?"

She bit her lip "What do you mean?"

"Well I am not on my period, so you can do whatever you want to me, or what you want me to do to you, seems only fair. Why don't you order me around for once?"

She blinked her emerald eyes again and went quiet "I don't know?"

"What? You can sprint away from like 100 prefects but not sexually harass me, with my permission?" You smiled.

"It's... You know, You're my first. I've just kind of followed your lead, with the sexual stuff. I wouldn't know what to do."

"So you've never had any fantasies."

"All I had for 6 months were fantasies!" She went to shout although amended her volume; she had learned her lesson.

"Oh really, like what for example?" You asked.

"W-Well... Ugh I don't know."

You didn't mean to do it, it just kinda slipped out "Come on, tell me."

Tut-Tut - Mesmerising your girlfriend for your own gratification; not very ethical.

You frowned to yourself.

"Fuck! it was an accident, I have no idea how this stuff works."

We know exactly how this stuff works, you are merely losing control of your night powers, due to your... idiotic sobriety.

"'We' are not thinking about this right now, just go away, Vlad."

Jane immediately went to speak but you held up a hand and stopped her "You don't have to if you don't want to."

She folded her arms, thems was fighting words to someone like Jane, and thus counter-intuitive to your intentions, it seemed even when you won, you lost, and won again.

"Oh really, is that so? well if you must know... I've... been having, a lot of Vampire fantasies."

"Oh no."

"O-Oh?" You stammered.

"Yeah, like... me, a Vampire, biting you, You biting me, us having sneaky sex in gothic places, like churches or dark warehouses or something, a lot of it is you just holding me down, turning me into a Vampire then us rutting like animals under the moonlight, stupid stuff like that." She flushed again, you averted your eyes.

You felt a little... uncomfortable, You were not a Vampire "I don't, I can't..."

"I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, I'm sorry, it was stupid -- Ugh I'm so stupid."

"No! You're not, it's just, I'm having some issues with the Vampire thing."

She must have finally caught the smallest of hints of the Monster that sunk its teeth into you, because she took your hand and shifted closer "Oh my god, that explains the blank looks, and you look so pale, plus... You were killing Through the fire and flames, then you just stopped, it was... creepy. Is this all Vampire stuff?"

You stared at her, unsure of what to say.

"I don't like it when you don't tell me these things, Charlie."

"This isn't something that I need to talk about, it's nothing. You shouldn't have to worry about it, not today." You whispered.

She touched your face and frowned "Are you, drinking at the moment?" The question repulsed you, she noticed. "I didn't mean -- I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't have to apologise."

"Well, I am." She growled stubbornly "Are you?"

You shook your head "I am not a Monster."

Her hands rubbed your arms, as she placed her head on your chest and hugged you tightly "You are so concerned about that, I worry sometimes if it is my fault. I treated you so harshly before I even tried to understand, can't you die if you don't drink blood?"

"I am not. a Monster." You repeated. She was so warm, so full of life, her neck was so close, how it throbbed with rushing, gushing blood, Your eyes became anchored on her jugular.

"God this is so fucked up, I wish I could help."

"You can't, not with this."

Her emerald eyes looked up at you innocently, her entire body throbbed with red, and you struggled to see her, not as Jane, but as a ripe fruit ready to be picked.

"Maybe... I could. You said I could pick what we do. W-What if, What if I let you bite-"

"Don't." You warned, closing your eyes and shaking your head "Please don't do this."

"Charlie, You look like you're about ready to explode. I'm giving you my permission here, what's the worst that can happen?"

"One: I could kill you, Two: the Bite works two ways, I get blood, and you get venom, and without my blood, which isn't strong enough to turn anyone anyway, You'd die a very slow and painful ****, and Three: I. Am not. A monster." You looked at her seriously "I am not one of them, I refuse to go down that road, to give up my humanity for something so stupid, so cliche, I absolutely cannot put my friends, my lovers and my family in danger." You spoke calmly, softly, You didn't want to grow out of control.

"I don't understand, Diana told me that your mother was a Vampire, You're already one of them, or at least... half of one."

Your smile vanished, there was nothing that your ears refuted more than those words, and you put your head in your hands.

Jane soft and gentle, wrapped her arms around you to let you know she was there, that is one of the things that made you love her so deeply, she was always there when you needed her, and wasn't afraid to speak her mind "Listen, I know when you get stuck on things, I've seen you do it a thousand times, You're so stubborn about how you should feel, instead of just letting yourself free."

"I can't let myself free." You whispered.

"Why charlie? What could be so bad as to **** yourself like this?"

Your golden orbs rested on her as you spoke earnestly about it for the first time "Ever since I woke up, I've felt like I've been missing something, even now after all I've learned, it's impossible to shake the feeling that with one word, with one wrong move, I could turn everything I love into nothing, sometimes I feel so angry, so hungry for things I cannot understand, that if I let even a little amount of it out, then It could shake the foundations of the earth, sever the ties of all I love and bury any humanity I have left with a mountain of wrath. It is so powerful that I can barely sleep, it saps the courage to even feed myself, because if I cross that line; I know that there is no going back."

Jane actually smiled at you "One thing that you have always misunderstood, Charlie, is that this is not some flashy 80's comic book, you aren't superman. Wallace is filled with bad people who do terrible things, we've both known that for a long time. People die in gang wars, **** overdoses, and corrupt police, but that is exactly why this city doesn't need a Superman, what it needs is a King; the more I see and understand, the more I realise how right your father was to govern this place the way he did; there are evil things in this place and I don't know anyone more worthy of protecting it like You. You're sweet and kind, you act standoffish but you care so much it bleeds out of you even when you are mysterious and cruel, it's why I love you, Charles Drake."

There was an innocence in your eyes then, a piece of the boy you used to be, and Your smile returned, your bloodlust crushed by the butterflies in your stomach... for now that is "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry that I abandoned you, I'm sorry that I scared you. I cannot do this without you."

Jane lent up and pecked your lips "I know... that's why, if you need to feed on anyone, it should be me."

You went to speak but her finger on your lipped stopped you.

"You don't have to say anything, just-Just think about it okay?" She pleaded softly

You nodded hesitantly "Alright." You felt a little guilty "This... kinda killed mood huh?"

She smiled "Yup, I guess that means we better bring it back then." and with that she took your arm and lead you in a dash out of the booth.

"Where are we going?" You asked with a chuckle

She turned that beautiful face back at you, and gifted you with a angelic smile "You'll see."